Daughter of the Stars

As a Child

Stardate 2231.140

A cry was heard from the room that Sorren was outside of. But, not another cry of pain, a cry of life. Sorren let out the breath that he had been holding, because he knew that the child he was having with Jeanette, his child, was born, and alive.

After a few minutes of hearing the baby's cries, a midwife came into the hallway that Sorren was standing in.

"It is a healthy, baby girl," The midwife said evenly, "You may go in and see them."

Sorren gave a simple nod before entering the room his wife, Jeanette, and his child were within. Upon entering, he saw Jeanette, her blonde hair clinging to the sides of her face and forehead, holding a bundle of blankets which contained their newborn daughter.

Sitting beside his wife, Sorren began to speak, "We have discussed it for many months. Now is the time for a final decision. What name would you like for our child?"

Silence fell between the two as the newborn was starting to nod off. Jeanette thought for a minute or two before speaking.

"Sala," Jeanette said in a soft voice as one of her fingers ghosted the infant's cheek.

"Sala," Sorren said in a calm tone, pausing for a moment, "You know, it is not typical for Vulcan women to have a name beginning with an 'S.'"

"Well, she isn't typical either now, is she?"

"I suppose you are correct in that," Sorren said, the smallest hint of a smile on his lips.

There was a light knock on the door frame, causing Sorren and Jeanette to both look at the door, attempting to discover who it was that was in the room.

"Sarek," Sorren acknowledged as he stood to greet his friend, "It is pleasing to see that you have made it. The baby is a girl; Sala."

"Congratulations, Sorren," Sarek said, as he, as well as Amanda, who was carrying a one year-old Spock, entered the room.

Amanda, still carrying the one year old Spock, walked over to Jeanette.

"So, a baby girl? That's exciting," Amanda mused.

"Indeed. And she is beautiful. Much like Spock, she has her father's ears," Jeanette said with the smallest of laughs, "She does, however, seem to have my blue eyes."

Amanda sat beside Jeanette and moved Spock so he could see Sala, "Look, Spock. She is like you. A child of the stars."

Baby Spock reached out with curious hands, his fingers catching on the cheek and upper arm of the newborn girl.

Sala stirred as Spock poked at her. The newborn's eyes opened slightly to see who or what was poking at her, seeing the baby Spock above her.

Spock let out a few sounds as Sala opened her eyes and looked up at him.

"Maybe this means that these two will be friends as they grow up," Jeanette said in an amused tone as the two babies continued to interact.

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Stardate 2241.214

Sala's lessons for the day had finished a touch earlier than typical. She made her way to the hall she knew her childhood friend, Spock, was having his lessons. As she entered the hall though, she heard several familiar voices speak.

"This is your thirty-fifth attempt to elicit an emotional response from me," Spock said in an even tone.

"You're neither human nor Vulcan and therefore have no place in this universe," One Vulcan boy said.

"Look. He has human eyes," A second said, "They look sad. Don't they?"

"Perhaps an emotional response requires physical stimuli," The first Vulcan boy said before pushing Spock.

"Leave him be!" Sala called, running towards her friend, "He has done nothing to provoke you. Your actions of provocation and retaliation have no logical merit."

"Look. It seems the only one willing to intervene for you is another half-breed. And a female as well," The third Vulcan boy said.

"They're traitors you know; your fathers. For marrying them. Those human whores," The first boy said.

Spock let out a scream as he ran at the boy who said that, pushing him into one of the "learning valleys".

"You take that back!" Sala screamed, anger showing upon her face as well.

Sala ran towards one of the two remaining boys as Spock slid down the walls of the pit to where the first boy had fallen. Spock threw punches at the first boy while Sala tried to land solid hits on the other two boys who only succeeded in throwing her around.

A while later, the two were sat outside the headmaster's office, waiting for their parents.

"I am sorry, Spock," Sala said in a small voice as she looked down at her hands, "If I had not intervened, then perhaps they would have stopped before things became violent."

"Do not be. They insistently pester me, trying to elicit an emotional response. This sort of thing was perhaps inevitable," Spock said softly, "But, I do thank you for trying to stop them."

"Sure. It is what I would want someone to do for me. I get picked on, too."

"I was unaware of this fact. Why have you not said anything?"

"Perhaps for the same reason you have not mentioned this before. The information was simply not relevant."

Spock was about to continue the conversation when the sound of shoes echoing in the hall stopped him.

The two children looked up to see their father's approaching them.

"Sala. Let us walk. Allow Sarek and Spock to speak privately," Sorren said evenly, gesturing for his daughter to stand and walk with him.

Sala gave a small nod before standing and walking with her father, his hand on her back to guide her.

"They were making a mockery of you and mother. And even of Spock and myself," Sala said softly, finally speaking.

Silence sat between the daughter and father before Sorren stopped walking. He let out a sigh before kneeling down to get eye level with his daughter. Sorren moved his hand to his daughter's shoulder, lightly turning her so she was facing him.

"Emotions, run very deep within our race. In many ways, more deeply than in humans. Logic offers a serenity from emotions, allowing for more sound rationalizations. More simply, the control of feelings, so that they do not control you," Sorren spoke evenly.

"If it is the Vulcan way to abstain from the influence emotions have on decisions, then what reason did you have for marrying my mother?" Sala asked softly.

Sorren paused to think before speaking again, "Like Sarek, I am an Ambassador of Vulcan. It is ideal that relations between Vulcan and other planets are favorable and constructive. Marrying your mother, and in turn having you, was, logical."

Silence sat between the daughter and father once again. Sorren drew a deep breath before speaking again.

"My dear Sala, you have every ability to decide your own destiny. Perhaps then the question you will face is, which path you will choose to live on," Sorren said calmly to his daughter, "This is something that no other person can choose for you. You must make this decision yourself."

Sala nodded her head twice, showing her father that she understood what he was saying.

"You do not need to know the answer now. But you will know when the choice will need to be made," Sorren said softly.