Series: ST: Intrepid (Part of the United Trek universe)
Notes: This story takes place in March 2377, approximately three weeks after the conclusion of “Treacherous Waters.”
Length: 2,681 words
Commander Shantok, executive officer of the USS Intrepid, rose from the meditative position she had occupied on the deck to greet the new arrival.
“Mother,” She said to the visitor. “It’s agreeable to see you again.”
“Is it?” The other woman asked. “One could hardly tell by your attire.” She gave her daughter a suffering look. “If I’m intruding, we can reschedule this reunion for a more convenient time.”
“I wasn’t aware that your visit required pomp and circumstance.” Shantok rejoined dryly. “Perhaps I should have prepared a dinner party and honor guard attachment.”
Sha’Ler sniffed indignantly at the sarcasm. At the age of one hundred and seven, she was considered middle aged for a Vulcan, yet still within what was considered her “functional prime.” Her blonde hair was stacked into two disheveled buns that overlooked restless green eyes; eyes that seemed to abhor prolonged contact. Altogether, she appeared almost flighty, if such a term could be applied to someone of her species. In fact, humans from the distant past might have compared Sha’Ler to an aging ‘flower child’ from their era of social revolution.
Shantok’s jet-black hair was in direct contrast to her mother’s. It hung ruler straight to her shoulders, a customary arrangement when she was off duty. She indicated a decanter, which squatted on an end table. “May I get you some tea?”
Sha’Ler wrinkled her nose at the offer. “I loath tea.” Then she brightened upon seeing the replicator across the room. “But I wouldn’t mind some Risian chocolate.”
“The replicators are offline. As I’m sure you know, Intrepid sustained heavy damage during our last mission in the Gamma Quadrant. Extensive repairs are underway.”
“Hmmf.” Her mother groused. “You’ve served on this ship for three years, and you pick now to invite me; when it’s drained and empty.”
Shantok picked up the pot and refilled her cup with hot tea. “It’s hardly empty. There are no less than three repair teams aboard. However, none of them are scheduled for work on this deck tonight.”
Her mother folded her arms, examining the lounge with mock approval. “On the other hand, perhaps a gloomy room in the dead of night is the appropriate venue for our reunion----given how our last encounter went.”
Wisely, Shantok decided against opening that particular Pandora’s box.
Instead, she gestured to a leisure chair. When Sha’Ler was settled into it, Shantok took the seat across from her.
Sha’Ler appraised her with the same skittish gaze that Shantok had always found so unsettling as a child. “As you stated, I know of your last mission in the Gamma Quadrant.” Her mother brokered softly. As usual, her moods were unpredictable. For the moment, she was offering an olive branch. “And I know about the sacrifice you made; unleashing your telepathic gifts against an enemy that was determined to destroy your crewmates.” Sha’Ler’s chin dropped. “And I know better than anyone what it cost you.”
“I’m mending,” Shantok sipped her tea methodically as if to diminish the importance of the subject. “I took the only logical course available to me. The matter needs no further attention, mother.”
Sha’Ler looked down at hands that stirred continuously in her lap. They moved in rhythm to her emotions, which she had given up controlling years ago. “Then there is Captain Zorek, who was lost on that same mission. I can only imagine your grief.” She looked trepidatiously at her daughter. But whether she was afraid of an outburst or hoping for one was a matter for debate.
Shantok stiffened imperceptibly. “While my loss is great, the loss to Starfleet and the Federation is incalculable. Zorek was a great man and a revered officer.”
Sha’Ler nodded meekly. “He meant every bit as much to me, Shan’Tel.”
“Mother, I have not answered to the name ‘Shan’Tel’ since I was a youth, as you well know.”
Sha’Ler patted her hair bun distractedly. “Forgive me, it must have slipped my mind. After all, it’s unheard of for a Vulcan to forsake her birth name in favor of one she made up herself.”
“I have been Shantok for many years now.’”
“Well,” She harrumphed, “It hardly rolls off the tongue.”
“Never the less, I’m asking that you respect my choice.” Shantok set her cup on the table harder than she intended. The resulting “clack” echoed through the deserted lounge. Hot tea sloshed over the rim of her cup and puddled.
Pleased at the reaction, Sha’Ler pressed the subject. “Shan’Tel is the birth name I gave you,” She persisted. “At least be honest about why you’ve forsaken it.”
Shantok looked sideways at the older woman, unconsciously imitating her. “You mean…you don’t know?”
“Don’t know what?”
She leaned forward in her chair. “Shan…TOK,” She emphasized carefully.
At first Sha’Ler frowned with impatience. She opened her mouth to tell her presumptuous offspring that she knew perfectly well how the word was pronounced, thank you very much…
And then it registered.
Her hand fluttered to the base of her neck and her eyes widened. “I never saw it before.” Sha’Ler said in chocked wonder. Her gaze went off on another roaming expedition before coming back. “Tok. As in Bredon Tok.”
Her daughter lowered her head in confirmation.
“Bredon Tok,” Sha’Ler echoed with growing amazement. “Your biological father.”
“Yes,” Shantok confirmed coolly. “The Betazoid fugitive whom you harbored from Federation authorities. Back when you were a revered priestess.”
Sha’Ler smiled humorlessly. Then she put her head back and looked beseechingly at the ceiling. “Well, at least your judgmental assessments are being delivered with more calm this time.”
“I’m stating facts, mother…nothing more. And the fact is, you were once a disciple of Surak’s philosophy. And it’s true you gave up that life up because of your infatuation with a criminal. And while it’s also true you abandoned me----“
“I take back that last observation. I do believe I preferred the angry accusations over this.” Her mother noted philosophically. “Now you’re embalmed with icy contempt. Now you hit with surgical strikes.” She cocked an eyebrow, but it trembled. “Your Starfleet training is serving you well.”
Shantok looked openly surprised. “You’re mistaken, mother. I harbor no animosity towards you.”
Notes: This story takes place in March 2377, approximately three weeks after the conclusion of “Treacherous Waters.”
Length: 2,681 words
Commander Shantok, executive officer of the USS Intrepid, rose from the meditative position she had occupied on the deck to greet the new arrival.
“Mother,” She said to the visitor. “It’s agreeable to see you again.”
“Is it?” The other woman asked. “One could hardly tell by your attire.” She gave her daughter a suffering look. “If I’m intruding, we can reschedule this reunion for a more convenient time.”
“I wasn’t aware that your visit required pomp and circumstance.” Shantok rejoined dryly. “Perhaps I should have prepared a dinner party and honor guard attachment.”
Sha’Ler sniffed indignantly at the sarcasm. At the age of one hundred and seven, she was considered middle aged for a Vulcan, yet still within what was considered her “functional prime.” Her blonde hair was stacked into two disheveled buns that overlooked restless green eyes; eyes that seemed to abhor prolonged contact. Altogether, she appeared almost flighty, if such a term could be applied to someone of her species. In fact, humans from the distant past might have compared Sha’Ler to an aging ‘flower child’ from their era of social revolution.
Shantok’s jet-black hair was in direct contrast to her mother’s. It hung ruler straight to her shoulders, a customary arrangement when she was off duty. She indicated a decanter, which squatted on an end table. “May I get you some tea?”
Sha’Ler wrinkled her nose at the offer. “I loath tea.” Then she brightened upon seeing the replicator across the room. “But I wouldn’t mind some Risian chocolate.”
“The replicators are offline. As I’m sure you know, Intrepid sustained heavy damage during our last mission in the Gamma Quadrant. Extensive repairs are underway.”
“Hmmf.” Her mother groused. “You’ve served on this ship for three years, and you pick now to invite me; when it’s drained and empty.”
Shantok picked up the pot and refilled her cup with hot tea. “It’s hardly empty. There are no less than three repair teams aboard. However, none of them are scheduled for work on this deck tonight.”
Her mother folded her arms, examining the lounge with mock approval. “On the other hand, perhaps a gloomy room in the dead of night is the appropriate venue for our reunion----given how our last encounter went.”
Wisely, Shantok decided against opening that particular Pandora’s box.
Instead, she gestured to a leisure chair. When Sha’Ler was settled into it, Shantok took the seat across from her.
Sha’Ler appraised her with the same skittish gaze that Shantok had always found so unsettling as a child. “As you stated, I know of your last mission in the Gamma Quadrant.” Her mother brokered softly. As usual, her moods were unpredictable. For the moment, she was offering an olive branch. “And I know about the sacrifice you made; unleashing your telepathic gifts against an enemy that was determined to destroy your crewmates.” Sha’Ler’s chin dropped. “And I know better than anyone what it cost you.”
“I’m mending,” Shantok sipped her tea methodically as if to diminish the importance of the subject. “I took the only logical course available to me. The matter needs no further attention, mother.”
Sha’Ler looked down at hands that stirred continuously in her lap. They moved in rhythm to her emotions, which she had given up controlling years ago. “Then there is Captain Zorek, who was lost on that same mission. I can only imagine your grief.” She looked trepidatiously at her daughter. But whether she was afraid of an outburst or hoping for one was a matter for debate.
Shantok stiffened imperceptibly. “While my loss is great, the loss to Starfleet and the Federation is incalculable. Zorek was a great man and a revered officer.”
Sha’Ler nodded meekly. “He meant every bit as much to me, Shan’Tel.”
“Mother, I have not answered to the name ‘Shan’Tel’ since I was a youth, as you well know.”
Sha’Ler patted her hair bun distractedly. “Forgive me, it must have slipped my mind. After all, it’s unheard of for a Vulcan to forsake her birth name in favor of one she made up herself.”
“I have been Shantok for many years now.’”
“Well,” She harrumphed, “It hardly rolls off the tongue.”
“Never the less, I’m asking that you respect my choice.” Shantok set her cup on the table harder than she intended. The resulting “clack” echoed through the deserted lounge. Hot tea sloshed over the rim of her cup and puddled.
Pleased at the reaction, Sha’Ler pressed the subject. “Shan’Tel is the birth name I gave you,” She persisted. “At least be honest about why you’ve forsaken it.”
Shantok looked sideways at the older woman, unconsciously imitating her. “You mean…you don’t know?”
“Don’t know what?”
She leaned forward in her chair. “Shan…TOK,” She emphasized carefully.
At first Sha’Ler frowned with impatience. She opened her mouth to tell her presumptuous offspring that she knew perfectly well how the word was pronounced, thank you very much…
And then it registered.
Her hand fluttered to the base of her neck and her eyes widened. “I never saw it before.” Sha’Ler said in chocked wonder. Her gaze went off on another roaming expedition before coming back. “Tok. As in Bredon Tok.”
Her daughter lowered her head in confirmation.
“Bredon Tok,” Sha’Ler echoed with growing amazement. “Your biological father.”
“Yes,” Shantok confirmed coolly. “The Betazoid fugitive whom you harbored from Federation authorities. Back when you were a revered priestess.”
Sha’Ler smiled humorlessly. Then she put her head back and looked beseechingly at the ceiling. “Well, at least your judgmental assessments are being delivered with more calm this time.”
“I’m stating facts, mother…nothing more. And the fact is, you were once a disciple of Surak’s philosophy. And it’s true you gave up that life up because of your infatuation with a criminal. And while it’s also true you abandoned me----“
“I take back that last observation. I do believe I preferred the angry accusations over this.” Her mother noted philosophically. “Now you’re embalmed with icy contempt. Now you hit with surgical strikes.” She cocked an eyebrow, but it trembled. “Your Starfleet training is serving you well.”
Shantok looked openly surprised. “You’re mistaken, mother. I harbor no animosity towards you.”
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