Star Trek the Next Generation: Unification by Jeri Taylor

Author:Jeri Taylor [Taylor, Jeri]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Picard; Jean Luc (Fictitious character), Fiction, Spock (Fictitious character), General
ISBN: 9780671770563
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Pocket Books/Star Trek
Published: 1991-10-08T00:00:00+00:00

"Serious enough for the leaders to suddenly embrace a Vulcan peace initiative? I have a difficult time

accepting that."

In that sentence, Spock heard the intransigence and

stubbornness that disturbed him. He admired the fact

that this captain had courage; he would never be

intimidated into altering his position. But could he

not embrace the possibility of change? Was he thoroughly inflexible?

"I sense you have a closed mind, Captain," he

retored. "Closed minds have kept these two worlds

apart for centuries."

He saw Picard give him a look that suggested

puzzlement. Perhaps he had spoken a bit sharply.

Spock continued, determined to win his support. "In

the Federation, we have learned from experience to

view the Romulans with distrust. We can either

choose to live with that enmity or seek an opportunity

to change it." He paused and looked at Picard with his

most penetrating gaze. "I choose the latter."

Picard seemed unaffected by the stare. "I will be the

first to cheer when the Neutral Zone is abolished, sir. 1

only wonder if this movement is strong enough to

reshape the entire Romulan political landscape."

Again, it was a familiar tone that Spock heard from

this man. Surprising that it did something to his

stomach that was vexatious.

His eyes shifted and fell on the flower in the glass,

already wilted and gasping in the Romulan heat. "One

can begin to reshape the landscape with a single

flower, Captain."

He didn't look at Picard to see what response that

observation had produced, because he had noticed

D'Tan approaching, his wiry child's body full of

angles and joints. He was carrying something.

"Jolan tru, Mr. Spock," he said. D'Tan always spoke

as though he were half out of breath, probably because

he never walked when he could run. "Look what I've

brought you."

"This is my friend D'Tan," Spock told Picard. "He

is very curious about Vulcan."

"Hello, D'Tan." Picard's voice was friendly, if

somewhat cautious. Spock sensed a man who, though

warmhearted, was not comfortable with children.

D'Tan handed Spock a book and he turned it in his

hands. It was worn, with a cover made of wood that

had been carved by hand, and pages that were

smudged and brittle. "It is very old," ventured Spock.

"Where did you get this?"

"They read from it at the meetings. It tells the story

of the Vulcan separation--"

A new voice knifed into the conversation, startling

them all. "You should not bring that out here, D'Tan.

You've been told many times."

They turned to see Pardek approaching, his benign

face a ruddy red from the heat. D'Tan looked sheepish

and took possession of the book once more. "I just

wanted to show it to Mr. Spock," he said lamely.

Pardek's smile was not threatening. "Off with you.

We will see you later tonight."

D'Tan's eyes sought Spock's, as though to feed from

him once more before he left. "Will you tell us more

stories about Vulcan?" he asked.

"Yes," answered Spock, and enjoyed the smile that

D'Tan gave him in return. Then the boy sprinted off,

hurling back over his shoulder as he did, "Jolan tru."

Spock saw Pardek casting his practiced eye around

the denizens of the food center and lighting on the

grim-faced old woman who had brought their gletten.

"Perhaps this is not such a good place to talk," he

murmured, and the three moved casually out of the

court and into the colorless world of the Romulan

streets.

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