Waywardness of a Vulcan Heart Chapter 44 - Consequences Part 10

At the morning meal, after Spock and Nyota and the others re-powdered themselves after she attempted some degree of cleanup after being loved by Spock three times the night before. She remembered carrying evidence of him on her was a kind of badge of honor among childbearing women known to be trying to conceive, so she just did the essential cleanup. Spock was particularly playful in reapplying her powder this morning. The way he touched her always drew a yelp and a thrill, no matter how prepared she was for it. She often kidded it was his other secret weapon – the 'Vulcan sex pinch', which actually amused him a great deal. The other Nibirans were always entertained by their love banter that they enjoyed from the last time they were here.

"Didn't you get enough of me last night, Spock?" she thought to him with a grin.

"I am merely assuring my fastidiousness at siring our child, Nyota."

"Like I believe that," she snickered.

J'aal and Z'ek met them and joined them at the daily 'time of talking', a sort of informal business meeting that preceded each day in the village.

With more jobs to do in the village, it took awhile to get through the work list. When that was accomplished, Nyota stood and spoke her turn.

"Tomorrow is our family's weekly day of rest. So we will make it a day of fun. I will show you how my tribe, a people who are part of The Other People of the Fed'Ra'Shun, the Swa'hi'li, used to dance when they were a tribe just like you. Most dances are for everyone, but two dances are ladies only for their husbands and those will guarantee you a good night, brothers. All those betrothed or thinking about it may just watch and dream."

The young unmarried couples grinned at each other and snickered.

The women whistled and all the men just rolled their eyes at Nyota's pronouncement. Except for Spock. She'd done those dances in their apartment alone for him. The Nibiran men had no idea what was about to happen to them.

…

The following day when all sorts of recreational relaxation occurred, Nyota danced and twirled the various communal dances while Spock drummed. Soon more and more of The People, both men and women, joined together in the powerful beats. The dance moves and the drumming were more complex than the Nibirans currently did, and everyone enjoyed the dance practice immensely. At the end of several numbers everyone was exhausted, but Nyota, in her perfect physical condition after years in space, was just getting started, but breathed heavily. Her bosom rising and falling got her husband's total concentration.

"Don't get any ideas t'hy'la, you and your men friends are about to be dismissed for awhile," she thought to him.

"OK, all the men and boys - you must leave. These next two are for mated women only. No kidding."

Elder N'Tam's wife added, "You heard the messenger Ny'o. Scoot! Don't spoil the surprise for Hok'um'ig!"

With considerable grumbling, all the men left. The betrothed and single women could watch, but this was only for married women.

Away from the activity field, with the religious guards posted to prevent any eavesdropping, Spock could hear Nyota barking out moves and steps and turns and showing the older women who did not want to or could not dance how to drum. He had to suppress a reaction to the sensual beat and his vivid memory of his wife privately dancing for him alone in their quarters.

Z'ek noticed his rise and asked slyly, "It's that good, brother?"

"It is Z'ek. Truly. It will be hard to concentrate on anything else but your wife after those dances. Fortunately, Ny'o plans that dance to be the last evening activity of the Hok'Um'Ig."

"I look forward to that, To'ok. You and Ny'o bring much cultural richness from the Fed'Ra'Shun to The People that is well suited to us."

"We have barely begun, brother. That is what the worlds of the Fed'Ra'Shun do for each other. And we as messengers."

Z'ek gave a contented nod.

To distract himself, Spock examined some pieces of albino white tree wood that resembled the rough shape of a Vulcan lyre. The men and children, especially Ton'yok and L'Tel, watched with fascination Spock's work. He carved with an iron knife which made his work easier, but did still use a razor sharp obsidian blade and strung the lyre with dried intestinal sinew from one of the few meat producing animals The People consumed. Spock kept to his discipline of rarely eating meat, but here he compromised accepted the use of the parts of an animal already butchered and planned for other uses, as long has he didn't make the kill himself.

By mid afternoon, he had fashioned a reasonable Vulcan lute.

Nyota came back from the dance practice covered in sweat, and plopped down beside him with a very satisfied smile.

She admitted, "I'm exhausted."

"I trust the instruction and practice was successful?"

"Successful? It was fantastic, To'ok. The women are naturals and they ate it up."

"It is unfortunate I was not present to witness your instruction."

"But then I would be even more exhausted, based on the last time you watched me. You didn't let me finish the best part."

"The best part was after I interrupted you," Spock said with a half smile.

"That is hard to argue with you To'ok," she recalled fondly.

They smiled at each other, fully aware of what happened after that sensual dance. They kissed lightly in front of the others, who were still gathered around his work.

"What have you been doing, Spock?" she asked. She occasionally used his real name among The People. It was imprinted in the Garden of Banners anyway. Nothing was hidden any more.

He held up the nearly finished lyre, and she smiled broadly.

Spock suggested, "I would propose we demonstrate our ability to sing and play during the homecoming to entertain The People. I see no harm in exposing them to our culture of song as well as you teaching them dancing."

"This is so exciting Spock. You know how much I enjoy singing with you while you play."

That evening at the meal, they did sing and play for them for the first time.

The people were in rapt attention at the beautiful alien sounds of the lyre and her wafting singing voice. At this stage of development, the villagers were still mostly chanting. The People cheered and were anxious for more at the Hok'Um'Ig.

…

Nogura checked in on them from time to time, staying away from any nighttime observations, although he discovered the hard way that just about any time of day they could be having 'fun' together as a couple, generally with family or friends, even during a very dedicated work day. Also, investigating the recreational activities, he was amused they were teaching the Nibirans the most sensual of African dances and ancient pre-Surak Vulcan love songs.

It was very appropriate in post-First Contact expansion of relations to share culturally. It showed the commonality between those civilizations of the Federation with the Nibirans, so as to not overwhelm them with the differences in technology if they saw that people were fundamentally the same everywhere in the universe, and that all advanced cultures had primitive roots. Spock and Nyota were brilliant teachers. He was very proud of them.

"There is going to be a population explosion soon as a result of their teaching," he chuckled, but didn't saw any implications that weren't good in expanding their cultural knowledge of others worlds, and flipped off the viewer. He did wonder what progress was being made on understanding the gift more in depth, but there was no pressure. He knew they would do their job, and hoped personally for the mental health and well being of his Away Team duo, hoping himself that they'd have their child.

…

After only a barely a week back, Spock and Nyota were well settled into the routine of daily life of the Nibirans, and they were blessed with gifts from the others befitting their own household of cooking utensils and other necessities. It was like a housewarming tradition on Earth for a married couple. They wanted to be a real Nibiran couple anyway since they were here for five years. Plans continued for the homecoming, but they did their assigned chores too. They returned to their agricultural assignment in the paddies and fields and discovered the natives more advanced methods, to which they added their own knowledge of organic farming methods also, now that they really didn't need to hold back.

Z'ek and J'aal, on their spare time between communal chores, took the couple on tours of the new facilities to show them proudly all of the changes. They saw every operation in detail. The People were very proud of their achievements and advancements. Z'ek was especially proud of this, as he had seen the videos and had supervised all the work on the new technology and buildings. Z'ek was taking more and more day to day leadership of the Nibirans and was highly trusted and respected.

N'Tam remained the spiritual head of the society, but Nyota put it succinctly and humorously one day while all four adults and Ton'yok worked the paddies she said, "Z'ek you are the mayor of the temple of The People in our society."

"A 'mayor'? What is that?" asked Z'ek.

"You lead the People in all their work days production and al the construction and repairs of every building."

"That is so true," J'aal said with a hug.

Another task Spock set about doing is to assure himself that the technology they had discovered and established for their culture was safe, He especially wanted to assure himself of the structural integrity of their new temple and the iron itself, so that it would not collapse and kill anyone. Including him, Nyota and their future child.

So quietly and unobtrusively, as they toured all the buildings and structures in the expanded village, he used his metal pendant to engage the sensors on their shuttle to inspect all the major metal structures. He did the same with the granary, smelter, and textile factory.

The results were very positive. It appeared they learned and applied the lessons of the videos and information derived from the crashed shuttle for their 17th technology level equivalency. The integrity of the smelter and furnace, the weaving looms, and the water wheel and raceways were all very sound. This race was very intelligent. Especially Deacon Z'ek, the architect of this technological explosion and his Nibiran brother, was the smartest of all of them.

Spock and Nyota suggested improvements and alleviated safety concerns that the Nibirans were grateful for.

…

Spock and Nyota learned quickly how active Ton'yok was. He really liked his new aunt and uncle and he liked learning simple Federation games and stories of The Other People in the stars and their journeys among the stars. Which actually held his parents' rapt attention too.

He was a bit of a daredevil and liked to show off to L'Tel. whom they learned just as quickly how deep this very young couple's love was for each other even at such a tender age.

One day he was clambering around the iron infrastructure of the sky temple. And shouted, "Hey L'Tel! Watch this."

Those words of male certainty of success in the face of pure stupidity never accomplished anything good with any species.

He jumped, but an unnoticed sharp iron cross piece gave way, and he fell, slicing a major artery neck and he hit the ground, quickly soaking the ground in his bright red blood. She screamed. She knew enough to staunch the bleeding.

Both sets of parents ran quickly. J'aal screamed seeing her son in a pool of his own blood, but quickly took over the direct pressure from L'Tel.

"To'ok! Nyo! Come quickly!" she shouted as loud as she could.

They raced and saw the damage which would be fatal. They knew, since he was pre pubescent, that he didn't have the gift.

In her tears for her beloved, L'Tel would not stop her attempts to staunch his blood. She was covered in it. The blood had washed off enough of the covering to show a deathly paling of his dark skin.

To'ok and Ny'o quickly exchanged very concerned glances.

"We have to Spock. This is their only child. Our namesake, Spock."

"It is an acceptable risk," he agreed.

He touched his voice activated Star Fleet pendant that was actually a communicator.

He stated, in Federation Standard, 'Computer, six to beam up."

Z'ek, J'aal and several others startled at Spock's use of the alien language but were almost in fear with what happened next, when a voice came from nowhere. And it was like To'ok had transformed his persona.

A mechanical but clearly female voice replied, "Warning! Transport request exceeds capacity limits."

Spock stood as the experienced Federation Officer that he was, and stated emotionlessly, "Emergency Command override. Spock Alpha Beta 365 Zulu. Compensate for two small humanoid youth. One female, one male. Each Approximately 35 kilos."

"Compensating. Within acceptable limits. Ready. Beam up authorized."

Spock added, "Adjust interior shuttle temperature to match current planetary ambient."

"Working…. Complete."

He didn't want anyone to 'freeze' in standard shuttle temperature of 74F when they were used to 100F and above on a daily basis. And unclad.

"Energize."

To the utter astonishment of the many Nibirans who surrounded the coming fatality, the four adults, the boy, and girl glowed and disappeared right in front of them.

In the moments that all the Nibirans were complete in shock with the transport into the long range shuttle interior, Spock and Nyota acted. She grabbed and pressed a wound sealing electronic scalpel to Ton'yok's neck, while Spock gently but urgently took the somewhat stabilized boy and placed him on the med bed. Nyota jammed a communications device in her ear and contacted McCoy.

"Doctor we have an emergency situation here. Stat!"

Clearly annoyed and shirtless the Doctor, drenched in sweat and hair unkempt, and a pair of female arms still interweaved around his neck, turned and faced the viewer, "Dammit Spock, Natira was at her…"

And then he looked at his remote medical monitors and realized the grim nature of the situation with all the med readouts on the boy.

He separated from Natira, stood up and rushed across the room, and the viewer followed him to his study, "You have a critically injured Nibiran child aboard the shuttle. Nogura's gonna hate that."

Spock said dryly, "And his parents and girlfriend. Forget all that for now, Doctor. Please initiate emergency surgical repairs of the child's major artery."

It was fortunate that the four months they had in situ before the Doctor had a mostly complete knowledge of Nibiran anatomy and normal biological processes, even if the gift was a complete mystery.

The other Nibrians were mostly in fear and cowered together speechless not far from the transporter pad. Z'ek and J'aal had experience with the smaller older shuttle but in a highly damaged state with limited functionality. This was a fully operational shuttle and it was huge. It hummed with power and all sorts of noises strange to their sensitive Nibiran ears. A high pitched tweeting sound synched with a red flashing dot over the med bed, not realizing it was their son's ragged heartbeat. It should have been green.

Nyota turned Z'ek, J'aal, and L'Tel and said in a soft voice in fluent Nibiran, "We will do everything we absolutely can to save our nephew Ton'yok. Our friend Doctor McCoy is the best healer in the White Star god's heavens."

"I heard that, Commander," said McCoy with satisfaction from the compliment while he gravely manipulated a dozen different controls on his remote terminal in his Fabrini home medical office. Natira appeared behind him with concern, wearing…. nothing. Which was no real difference than what any of them were not wearing and she could see also.

"High Priestess Natira, we are sorry to… have to interrupt you."

"It is all right, Commander Uhura. Leonard told me of your gallant efforts with the primitive culture to live with them and help them in your time off together. We both knew there will be moments like this that require his help."

"Thank you High Priestess."

"Just Natira please. I feel like we are friends since our first encounter when you liberated my people."

While the women talked, a robotic surgical device emerged from the med bed on the shuttle, flexed its many appendages and three dimensional imaging system, and the Doctor instantly went to work repairing Ton'yok remotely through the instant subspace connection between the doctor's surgical robot and his expert surgeon's hands.

Nyota assisted with swabs and cleaning and anesthetics and antibiotics compatible with Nibiran physiology, following the Doctor's explicit instructions, Nyota felt herself wishing that Christine was here to help them. McCoy was glad he never really stopped studying these people with what little he had been allowed to keep and had access to again the past few weeks the mission had been restarted. Otherwise he would have lost the young man on the table. Internally Nibirans were arranged differently internally than Vulcans or humans, despite the outside similarities, even if the overall appearance of those organs and their bio chemistry was otherwise similar to humans.

About ten minutes later, the Doctor finally spoke. It was completely silent in the shuttle except for L'Tel's and J'aal's crying. Knowing the boy's parents were there with him, he spoke in what he remembered of Nibiran, "Boy all right. Weak. Days rest. Muchly blood loss."

Upon hearing this, J'aal and Z'ek cried in each other's arms in tremendous relief. L'Tel still crouched clutching J'aal's leg, but understood Ton'yok would be all right now due to the kind man in the pictures that moved and the silver tree whose branches moved and touched her true love.

Nyota said to J'aal and Z'ek, "That is Doctor McCoy. He helped us the first time we were here. He is the one who could make us look like you. We could see each other through the 'talking moving pictures'."

Z'ek with a dry throat, managed to get some words out, still hugging J'aal tightly, "We are grateful to you for the life of our son, Dok'tor Mc'Koi."

He looked human like Nyota, only a paler color. They remember seeing him in the shuttle moving pictures. It was amazing to see a human face covered in hair.

McCoy's Nibiran was coming back, "My pleasure sir. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

J'aal managed to become brave enough to speak, responding to his very kind manner with their son, "Uh… us too, Dok'tor Mc'Koi."

The boy rested sedated. and cautiously approached the med bed. J'aal, Z'ek, and L'Tel looked over him and touched his limp but still living hands. The sutures and other repairs were evident.

In Federation standard, McCoy warned his colleagues, "You know we have to tell Nogura. Heck, he might even already know. Who knows what he's still got lurking cloaked in the skies over Nibiru."

Spock responded, "This is the only child of our Nibrian brother and sister and the second in command of the indigenous species. We can accept the consequences, even if it means resigning our commissions. We could live here a lifetime."

Uhura squeezed Spock's hand at his confession of his degree of commitment to her and future family to have a simple life together if necessary.

McCoy addressed Spock and Nyota, "As your ship's doctor, I'd like to check you both please. You've been there a couple of weeks. Just to make sure you didn't pick up any Nibiran bugs."

He had the Vulcan on the bed, and pronounced, "Spock. As usual you're as healthy as a horta. But... Uhh. Your testosterone is kind of off the scale."

McCoy could never resist the opportunity to yank Spock's chain, "Any unusual activity you'd like to report, Captain?"

Nyota snickered.

"I think not, Doctor," Spock said with real annoyance and concluded with a terse, "Thank you."

With Spock done with his examination, Nyota hopped up, and laid out on the table.

"Fit as a fiddle too, Commander," McCoy said, but looked at the monitor with greater concentration. She noted his scrutiny of the readings.

"What's wrong Doctor?" Nyota worried.

"Nothing is wrong at all, Commander," he grinned.

She caught the grin, and watched Natira break into an equally broad smile, and pressed him, "So what did you see, Doctor?"

He started to chuckle, "Well, let's put it this way. Do you want to find out on your own in a few weeks or want me to tell you now?"

Nyota was about to explode in nervous anticipation with his dragging this out, "What? Doctor you're driving me crazy. Tell us."

Nyota grabbed Spock's hand. They guessed.

"I'll give you a hint. When was your last period?" asked the Doctor slyly.

Realizing she should be in cramps right now, she gushed, "Ohmigosh. You mean… I… I'm…?"

"Yes, Commander. You're pregnant."

Spock and Nyota jumped up and down literally for joy embraced in each other's arms. J'aal and Z'ek were very pleased and hugged them.

The doctor leaned back and admired the celebration, "I promise I will never report that blatant emotional outburst Captain."

"Unless you can achieve some kind of personal gain by threatening me in the future, that gesture is quite welcome."

"Captain Spock, really? You have so little faith in doctor-patient privilege. I'm a doctor, not a blackmailer."

Spock raised a very arched eyebrow at that lack of innocence.

"How about your friends… or rather your siblings?" the Doctor asked.

It would give McCoy first hand direct insight and confirmation of their internal biological processes to his remote sensing. They all knew it.

Z'ek volunteered. His entire anatomy was revealed in the med bed display. Every read out gave vital information. He looked at it in fascination.

"That's me, inside, To'ok?"

"It is. This machine makes it like all your skin seem as clear as a pond of water."

"Fascinating," Z'ek said.

Everyone knew Spock's favorite line, even in Nibiran. The adults all laughed.

McCoy suppressed wide southern grin. In five minutes he had more information on the male Nibiran than he had in four months.

"Other than a few common parasites Mister Z'ek you are fine, sir."

"Thank you, Doctor," Z'ek's pronunciation came out much better this time.

"And you Mrs. J'aal."

"Yes Doctor?"

"I would like take a look inside you to make sure you are as healthy as everyone else, please. It doesn't hurt, other than the beds are a little hard and cold to lay on."

"Our sleeping cots in the temple are hard too, Doctor. I will do this for you."

A little tentatively J'aal laid on the bed. He narrated his examination of her strong health as he went along, so she would not be nervous simply laying on the hard med bed in silence.

McCoy smiled again, "Mrs. J'aal, you can get up now. You are just as healthy as your husband and siblings."

All the adults stood together looking at the viewer.

"Doctor I know that look," Uhura observed.

Without teasing or hesitation this time, McCoy asked a question he already knew the answer to, "Commander, What the fondest desire you and your Nibiran sister wanted to share if you were ever together again?"

With open-mouthed looks of joy, Uhura and J'aal clutched and kissed. J'aal turned to the viewer, and asked, "Does that mean I'm going to have a baby too?"

"That is correct, Mrs. J'aal. Both of you are a couple weeks along."

J'aal did the mental math, "That means…"

Ny'o finished her sentence, "The first night's festivities. How wonderful!"

Z'ek looked at Spock and said with a very self-righteous look, "I told you being honor couple would work, brother!"

"It would seem you were quite correct, Z'ek," replied Spock with a raised eyebrow, but very pleased with all the news. He wondered if his father was this pleased when his mother found out she was pregnant.

Z'ek smirked and shook his head, "You realize, brother, that we are in real trouble now with both of them pregnant together."

Spock mused, "At least we also will share the experience together with them, Z'ek, and able to commiserate together."

"Listen to both of you! You know you both love this, fathers-to-be!" Nyota teased.

That had a great sound to it, and they all hugged in complete joy. L'Tel joined them. Ton'yok would have a little brother or sister. She already had two pesty little sisters back home.

Spock reflected, "Though I am older than you Z'ek, now you get to be the elder brother in educating me about my mate's pregnancy and child rearing."

"I would be honored, To'ok,"

When at last the excitement subsided, the Doctor asked, "Will the little girl agree to a medical check up?"

She looked shyly at the Doctor's image.

"What's your name little girl?" McCoy attempted his best pediatric bedside manner with her.

"L'Tel."

"That's a very pretty name, L'Tel. As a healer, I am very proud of you, young lady. You saved Ton'yok's life by stopping his bleeding."

Much of his dried blood was still caked on her.

"Thank you Dok'tor."

"Would you hop on that bed for me? I want to make sure you're healthy. I bet Ton'yok would like that. I understand you two like each other a lot."

Unabashedly she said, "We love each other. We're going to be mates. We are pledged."

The adults had a bit of shock at that.

J'aal asked, "When did this happen, L'Tel?"

"The other day at the river. We committed to each other forever, Mother J'aal."

"Did you…?"

"No. but we want to some day. When we are of age."

J'aal cautioned, "It's all right to commit but you must to nothing more until it is time. We would love you as a daughter in law. You are both very right for each other."

She laid on the bed holding J'aal's hand for comfort. All the colors and flashing and whistles and tweets on the read out board were unnerving to her.

"We won't, we know that."

"Good. We accept your bond, and have our blessings because it a promise made is a promise kept. And we must tell your mother and father. They must approve too. I think they will," she smiled.

Doctor said a bit anxiously exchanging glances with Natira as he spoke, "Do you need us any more? The boy will be fine after he sleeps off the meds. Call me if you need anything."

"That's fine," Nyota replied but bit back a grin seeing them make eyes at each other.

McCoy didn't cut the communication before he said to Natira, "Now where was I?" and she yelped as the screen went blank. Spock and Nyota were amused.

Ton'yok was fully repaired, but weak due to his blood loss, came around and looked groggily into the three sets of eyes he loved most.

"Mommy, Daddy. Where are we?"

Z'ek told his son, "We are all on your aunt and uncle's sky canoe in the heavens above our temple. You got hurt. The messengers knew how to heal you if they brought us all here."

"In… in the heavens?" he smiled, rather excited about it. He was as fearless about technology as his father.

Nyota, who had become close to him very quickly, asked softly, "We would have liked to have brought you here on different terms, but as long as we are here, do you want to see?"

J'aal hugged the little girl, and spoke soothingly, "We are on the messengers' sky shuttle above our world that we see every night now. Would you like to see what our world looks like from the heavens?"

As they viewed the majesty of the skies above Nibirua from the vastness of space, they all cried happy tears.

"It's more beautiful than anything we have ever seen!"

"Here's our temple." To'ok said pointing to the sensor's magnified view of the ground.

They could barely whisper. It was remarkable they were taking all this in, and nobody fainted.

"Its late, your medical bed will tell us if Ton'yok is in trouble."

Nyota said, "You can share our bed. It is very comfortable."

They all tried out the shower - all four and the children. It was a tight fit. Privacy was not an issue with any of them in the communal natural behaviors of the tribe.

"This is really fun! It's like being under a water fall or our own private rain shower," J'aal noted.

The lavatory completely baffled them. Nyota was brave enough to demonstrate.

"Why would anyone ever want such a thing?" J'aal laughed.

"A long story for another day, sister," smiled Nyota.

"Mommy I am hungry," interrupted Ton'yok.

Most of the food aboard was Federation veggie. But it was pretty bland.

After downing several portions, Ton'yok said, "Fed'Ra'Shu food is all right. But I like Mom's better."

After everyone had dinner, they took a tour of the ship. Z'ek observed, "Much is the same on both sky canoes. But what is this?"

Nyota state, "A room for our baby. It's called a nursery. Sometimes we will want to come here."

J'aal and Z'ek had to know the function of every piece of furniture and the toys. And books.

"What a beautiful place for our brother and sister's child," noted J'aal.

Nyota said firmly, "Mine and yours will play here together, I promise it. Both are children of the Fed'Ra'Shun now as much as being of The People."

"I suppose it is time to go."

They all stood on the transporter, they all glowed and disappeared from the Shuttle. They beamed down a safe distance away from the The People, but they were quickly mobbed with questions about how they traveled within the light. Fortunately, No one thought it was a spiritual miracle. They just considered it something amazing The Other People had made that they wanted to some day.

As they headed for their living quarters, Z'ek asked, "Ton'yok?

"Yes Father," the boy answered strongly.

"You and I need to talk, son. About you and L'Tel. I am pleased you are want to mated in spirit for now, but there are some things we need to be very clear about, young man!"

"Oh…" the little boy blushed right through his covering.

…

Frank Morrow was incensed, "They beamed them into the shuttle in space?"

Nogura was much calmly, "Do you think for a moment they don't know space travel exists now? For pity sake man, they spent months in the wrecked shuttle watching videos. They know space exists and that there are dozens of friendly species that live in the skies above them. They have a gallery of them. Not to mention their giant sky temple replica."

"Get realistic Admiral. We are way beyond violations here. We…" and then Nogura cut him off.

"Let's get this straight, Frank. We just made a Presidential approved First Contact, and they are never going to stop learning from us. Frank, these people are very smart. They could be space faring themselves in a century even without acceleration of their knowledge."

Nogura paused, "And remember they have something we want. We want these people as our friends. Am I clear?"

"Yes sir."

Nogura was also upset their exposure to space flight, hoping for a more prolonged introduction rather than instant immersion came so quickly, but understood. Other than their initial shock at beaming, the family took it well, not screaming like it was a celestial miracle. He understood that this Nibiran pair were was the most advanced, forward looking, and understanding of the Nibiran race, and had been instrumental in bringing them this far along technically. They'd seen the pictures that move and seen the inside of the wrecked shuttle. The trip to space didn't bring any greater knowledge than they already had, except the shared thrill with the rest of them of actually being in space, something that never wore off.

Nogura turned back to Spock and Nyota who were awkwardly watching this blistering conversation silently on the viewer. They were embarrassed for Morrow to get a dressing down by Nogura in front of them. His legendary anger was sure in full display right now.

Nogura actually smiled at them, "A glimpse to the future isn't so bad. Especially since it was an emergency."

"Thank you for being so understanding sir," Spock appreciated.

Nogura reassured them, "As long as there are going to be more disclosures, at least the Nibirans are in the hands of the right people. That's you, Captain and Commander. We are in a post First Contact protocol by choice. For them it's just a protocol we've never experienced before. I will be damned if we cause another Archon or Ekos on this innocent race. Dismissed, Captain and Commander."

…

Authors Notes: This is the last chapter of Waywardness that I can write. I am sorry. I had plans to take you through the Hok'Um'Ig dances and the communal activity that it caused (hahaha), visit to the wrecked shuttle to find out what and how they learned it, an unwelcome visit by the Klingons, a humorous twin pregnancy, the dual births, and a little baby 'fun action' in time snapshots throughout their five year sabbatical, when they were urgently called home with their two children (4 year old boy and 2 year old girl) to encounter V'Ger (feasible with canon timelines).

And yes they do find the secret of "the gift" but find out it is incompatible with other humanoid physiology, because it is activated by the Nibiran pheromones as a kind of bio catalyst. Morrow doesn't take it well. The one exception is that Z'ek and J'aal learn Spock can live to 200+ years and Nyota will die at not much more than 80, so J'aal in a tearful exchange with Nyota donates her blood, from which McCoy extracts an enzyme that lets her live to 180 years with a very happy life with Spock (an echo of the Grups, only it is successful). And of course the Doctor tests it on himself first, and he lives to 137, which has significance to his cameo in STNG…

It has been a good run and I thoroughly enjoyed the great fans for my exploration of the world of Nibiru. I will be putting my Private Messenging on 'won't accept' but you are welcome to comment. Good bye and thank you!

-ayziks