Open Secrets

Gesturing for them to follow, Sinar proceeded across the room to the door on the opposite wall. After passing down another corridor, this one decorated with tapestries and paintings, they crossed a larger sitting room and finally came to another door. Sinar paused before it, knocking on its aged wooden surface.

“Come,” a raspy voice called out from the other side. Sinar opened the door and led the way into the room.

Pe

Standing at the foot of the bed, his withered hands held before him and his eyes closed, was the oldest Vulcan Pe

After nearly a minute of standing in silence and watching the Vulcan say nothing nor move a single muscle, Pe

“I am Sobon,” he said.

M’Benga replied, “Healer Sobon, I’m Dr. M’Benga, and this is my friend, Timothy Pe

“Thank you for helping us,” Pe

Instead, Sobon replied, “It has been some time since my last interaction with humans. I had come to realize that I missed the differences between us, which I view as opportunities for exploration, rather than hindrances or inconveniences as so many of my colleagues once believed.” Nodding toward T’Pry

For the first time, Pe

“Are you able to help her?” he asked.

Moving from his stance at the food of the bed, Sobon knelt beside T’Pry

Feeling Sten’s hands around her throat, T’Pry

T’Pry

Sten bent to the sand and picked up the knife that had fallen there during the struggle. “You grow weak,” he taunted, waving the blade toward her. Blood streamed from the ghastly wound she had inflicted on his face, and he stared at her with scorching hatred, his emotions all but consuming him. “Soon you will have no choice but to submit to me. It is inevitable.”

“If I’m dead,” she countered, “is that truly victory?”

Stepping forward, Sten replied, “If that is all that is attainable, then it will have to suffice.”

“No.”

Turning to the sound of the new voice, T’Pry

“Leave us, old man,” Sten said, pointing the knife at him. “This is a private matter and does not concern you.”

The aged Vulcan moved until he stood between Sten and T’Pry

“Not until I have what is rightfully mine,” Sten said, stepping forward.

T’Pry

Then, simply, he was gone, swallowed by the sand.

Sobon’s body jerked, and he wrenched his hand free of T’Pry

“I am well now,” he said after a moment, patting the younger Vulcan’s hand.

“What happened?” M’Benga asked, his expression a mask of worry.

Pulling himself to his feet, Sobon cleared his throat. When he spoke, his voice was broken and raspy. “Her condition is worse than I first believed. T’Pry

“What’s a katra?” Pe

Sobon said, “It is the embodiment of a Vulcan’s consciousness. During mind melds, it is possible to transfer this from one mind to another. Such exchange is supposed to happen on a voluntary basis, but on rare occasions, it has been done without consent from the receiving individual.”

“And that’s what happened to T’Pry

“That is correct,” Sobon replied. “She is now what we call val’reth,one who hosts another katraagainst his or her own will. Because of the trauma of forcing a meld at the point of death, his katrahas become entwined with T’Pry

“Good Lord.” Pe

“I have created a temporary separation,” replied the aged Vulcan, “but it will not last. However, there is a meld ritual that may prove successful. It is called Dashaya-Ni’Var,to separate that which has become one. Through this meld, we will be able to remove Sten’s katrafrom T’Pry