NEW TOS In the Garden [G] 2/4 (S, Sa/Am)
Title: In the Garden
Author: Artemis (ArtemisOK@aol.com)
Series: TOS
Codes: S, Sa/Am
Rating: [G]
Parts: 2/4
Summary: Spock has visitors at his forever home
Disclaimer: CBS-Paramount owns Star Trek. No infringement intended, no money being made.
Feedback: Will write for feedback
Beta: Thanks to Sally for the beta. All mistakes are my own.
Author's Note: Part II of the Bridge Crew series.
Archiving: ASC, ASCEML THFFF, Spock/McCoyote’s Den, Artemys Aquiver and the like. All others please ask.
In the Garden
Spock awoke in a sleeping chamber styled after his quarters on the original Enterprise. The red velvet curtains made it feel warm and cozy. First things, first; he checked his limbs. Yes, he was still a black cat. So he stretched, arching his back so that his hind legs nearly touches his ears. He made a huge yawn displaying an impressive set of white fangs.
After completing his morning ablutions, he jumped on the window seat to gaze out at the xeri-zen garden. It contained carefully raked sand patterns and wind chimes. A garden bridge spanning a dry stream bed. The plants were cacti of a dozen worlds.
Little birds and insects flitted among the blossoms and thorns. Tiny reptiles basked in the sun atop the boulders that served as islands in the sand seas.
Into this arid oasis strolled two cats, a solid, black Burmese male and a petite flame-point Siamese. They strolled nonchalantly across the immaculate sand, leaving a double trail of paw prints. As one, they leapt up on a pink granite bench and sat side-by-side, looking outward at the perpetual rainbow. Their tails hung down just touching.
At his window, Spock’s ears perked up. //Mother, Father?// he thought.
//Yes, we are here.// the red-blonde Siamese looked over her shoulder. Amanda’s blue eyes seemed to fill Spock’s world.
//Come, Spockam// Sarek’s warm baritone purred. //Join us in the garden//
Spock streaked to the cat door. It swished open. He paused for a second to orient himself. The garden look different at ground level than it did from his window seat. There - he sensed his parents to the right and up the path. The cat-named-Spock trotted up the petrified wood stepping stones, careful to not mar the sand.
He stopped at the last stone; his heart full. It had been so long since they had all been together. He wanted to laugh, he wanted to cry. He wanted to roll over on his back and wiggle?! Oh, yeah - cat.
They turned facing him, and made room between them for their son. Sarek inclined his head. Spock lightly bounded up into the space.
Sarek touched Spock’s forehead with his own. “Greetings, my son.”
Amanda rubbed her buff-colored cheek against his black head. “How are you?”
“I am fine, Mother.” He met her eyes and he was overwhelmed with the love and peace he found there. “More than fine.” He sighed.
“Good, good” she crooned. She lay down on the bench and Spock knew this was an invitation to join her. He lay down beside her and she began to lick the back of his head.
“Mother! I am a Star Fleet captain and an ambassador…” He started to rise.
She draped a paw over his shoulder. “…and still my little Spockam. Why do you taste like catnip wine?”
Spock began an intricate story of Mr. Scott and his search of potent potables. Sarek excused himself and went to explore the garden.
Sarek circled back. He crouched down, wriggling to gather himself and leapt up swatting Spock on his left flank.
“Tag, you’re it!” Sarek exclaimed.
“Father!” Spock was aghast. “That is not logical.” he admonished.
Sarek replied; “Logic is a little tweeting bird chirping in a meadow. I’m going to get that bird.” He zinged off at right angles.
Spock chased after him. “Stop, where is the logic in this?”
Sarek stopped so suddenly, that Spock ran into him. The former ambassador to Vulcan spun around and pinned his son. “We are cats. Where is the logic in that? Spockam, this is Ap-Lau (Heaven) and quite possibly Sha-Ka-ri (Domain of the Gods) as well.” Sarek sat up, suddenly serious. “Surak taught us that IDIC had no end and that it name was only a shadow of its true meaning. Here is indeed infinite diversity. We are cats, for now. And for now, you are it. Catch me, if you can.” He bounded off a boulder, glancing over his shoulder, he saw that his son was in joyful hot pursuit.
As they ran under a mesquite tree, Amanda pounced them. The three of them wrestled and tussled; chasing up and down the garden over rocks and around the thorny plants. When at last they came to a panting halt; the three of them were grey with sand.
They climbed up on to the broad base of a square fountain. It was made of Vulcan red sandstone and stood at the south end of the garden where the flowers danced in the sweet breeze. The water chuckled down from the spout to the basin. They lapped from that cool water and it revived them. There they rested content in each other’s company.
Presently, Amanda sat up and said. “It’s time for your father and I to go home.”
“Go?” Spock was alarmed. “Will I ever see you again.?
Sarek rubbed against him. “Yes, my son, you may come to visit.”
“How will I know the way?” He asked.
His mother answered; “When you are ready to walk on two legs, you will find this fountain again. Turn west and follow your heart.”
END OF PART II
