The Alfore Encounter

Article by R. K. Wigal

After a busy, day Shara was relaxing by engaging in what had become a weekly ritual. She was grooming her Track Cats.

She'd already groomed Venus and Setti. Shara was so proud of them. Both were nearly full grown and had been with fitted for their training harnesses earlier. Tomorrow they were going to begin their Katin, or pull training. This is where they would learn to pull a sled as a team. 

Now as Shara groomed Kiki, the adult cat was showing her appreciation by purring loudly like a outboard motor. Shara was fascinated by the sound because the universe's best xenobiologists had yet to determine how or why felines purr.

Kiki stopped abruptly and gazed at Shara. He comes, she thought at her Vulcan friend.

Shara sighed and removed the grooming gloves. She meticulously picked up the shed fur and put up the grooming supplies.

Shara had not seen Dr. Gomez for the past ten days. She had indeed gotten her wish for him to be too occupied with the Greya to visit her.

Apparently that fascination has worn off, Shara thought as she steeled herself for this unannounced visit. She privately wondered if he would barge in as usual.

You not like visit, Kiki queried. For the first time in a very long time, Shara was speechless. It was impossible to lie to Kiki because she was telepathically bonded to her. The most Shara could do was to close her mental shields. But, when she did that Kiki simply lay in wait until she relaxed, then pounced.

He brings friends, Kiki said from her mind.

Friends, Shara queried mentally as the entrance chime rang.

"Enter," Shara said crisply. The hanging tapestry was pulled aside and in stepped Dr. Gomez with two Greya. Both entered and sat quietly and obediently at his feet.

"Two," Shara asked, as she raised her right eyebrow in typical Vulcan fashion.

Her mate, Kiki mind whispered to Shara.

"I forgot to tell you that he showed up later on that night. I named her Lula and he is Tau," Dr. Gomez said as he proudly pointed each out to her. Shara immediately noted that Lula was more delicate and fine boned than Tau.

Before she could make her thoughts known, Venus and Setti had crept forward to sniff the Greya. The next event took both Dr. Gomez and Shara were totally taken off guard.  Lula and Tau assumed the downward facing dog posture, which Shara knew as the universal cainine invitation to play. However, when both kits mirrored the same behavior, Shara and the doctor were equally flummoxed.

They wish to play. I take, I watch. Kiki mind whispered to Shara.  In a flash all five creatures were gone leaving Dr. Gomez standing there with a rakish smile on his face.

Sacre Bleu! I've been set up, Shara thought as she gave the doctor a hard stare.

"Aren't you going to invite me in for tea and crumpets," Gomez asked.

"You may come in but I cannot prepare tea.  I used my last bag this morning and I neglected to stop at the Shuk.  As for crumpets, I do not possess those either," Shara replied. The Shuk is the community market where Alforians trade and barter for everyday goods. 

Unfortunately, this was also a  breach of the Alforian hospitality custom. One was always supposed to have a repast ready to set out for guests, even if it was merely a snack.

"Not to worry your pretty Vulcan head. I've come fully prepared." Dr. Gomez said as he unslung a hand woven Alforian sling bag. He sat on the small sofa like chair and pulled the central table closer.

Shara stiffly sat on the other end of the sofa and watched as Dr. Gomez removed a woven sheet of fabric and covered the table.  Next, he took out an insulated tea carrier and unscrewed the two attached mugs. He then set out two plates. On one he set a pack of black wheat crackers and on the other he set out a pre-sliced hunk of Ikkla (or ice goat) cheese.

"Unfortunately we have no merlot so Sweet Grass Tea will have to do," he said as he poured out two steaming mugs of tea. "The Shuk was out of fresh bread, so I bought crackers instead, and the cheese I brought because it's your favorite," he continued.  Shara stared daggers at him because the significance was not lost on her.

A loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and thou..., Shara mentally recited Omar Khayyam's oft quoted romantic line.

"Antonio, what is your real purpose for this visit?" Shara asked. It still stung the doctor when she called him by his proper given name.

"T'Shara, you wound me. Would it kill you to call me Tony?"

"Do not attempt to distract me with the petty dislike of your given name. Again I ask, why are you here?"

"We must discuss us," Gomez said before taking a sip of tea. Shara's cup remained untouched.

"There is no us, Antonio. This conversation is terminated. Unless you have something relevant to discuss...," Shara started coldly. All she needed to say is "I suggest you take your leave!"

"Au contraire, we have much to discus," The doctor replied, cutting her off. "How long have we been here so far? Approximately three months?"

"One-hundred eighty days, fifteen hours, ten minutes," Shara replied. Dr. Gomez smiled. He was well aware that she'd know the exact numbers.

"Which leaves us with approximately how many more days until Alforian Spring officially arrives," Gomez asked.

"One hundred eighty-five days, twenty hours and fifteen minutes," she replied, wary of his line of questioning. It was starting to sound like an interrogation.

"Estimated date and time of rescue?"

"Unknown. Although the probability of rescue is much higher during the fair weather seasons." she replied. Her voice trailed off as she slowly realized where he was going with this line of questioning.

"Meanwhile, a critical deadline is approaching. Shara, we will not be rescued in time for you to return to Vulcan." Gomez said. It was as if time as well as Shara froze.

"I had not intended to return to Vulcan. No Vulcan male in his right mind would... would... I have close friends who made arrangements for me previously..." Shara whispered after several moments of uncomfortable silence.

Since Dr. Gomez was the Valkyrie's CMO, he knew exactly what she meant by "arrangements". Though Vulcans had what he considered to be the universe's biggest secret society, the right information could be gotten from the right source and for the right price. Gomez had spared nothing for his beloved...

He eased closer as he watch a tear leak out of Shara's right eye and run down her cheek. He'd seen her cry before when the Vulcan science team derided her for eating meat.

"No Vulcan man would have you because they are closed minded fools, T'Shara," Gomez said as he moved closer and handed her a hand kerchief. She was crying openly now and gratefully used the hand kerchief to wipe her eyes and face.

Gomez reached out and drew the distraught woman into his embrace.

"I'm here, Chica. We'll get through this together." he whispered, as he held her close.