VULCAN, T'NAVAT CITY OPEN MARKET, 2283

He was at the height of his current level of power, and in his company was his new wife's grandmother, though this was hidden from both newlyweds by way of complex mental shields. Despite his own disciplines, Peter Kirk couldn't help but overhear talk aimed in the direction of the two humans. Much of this talk was hateful.

"Sra Amanda? Can you hear them? They're talking about us. They're not even saying what they really feel. They're just telling old rehashed prejudicial stories. To hear them tell it, Humans probably drink infant blood."

Amanda had always seen the two Vulcans on one world. But to the idealistic young champion, it was still a shock.

"So you say they're telling lies, Peter? Well, I wish I could say that was a surprise. I suppose they feel if its phrased logically, it isn't prejudice. So foot placed firmly in mouth, they talk up a storm."

Peter was adamant. Coming off the cosmic high of his bonding was hard.

"But can you see them, the way I can? I can see right through them. They don't even bother with a shield of civility, sometimes. They strut and act like they have no secrets to reveal."

"Peter, whether on Vulcan or on Earth, people play jealous games. It renders their words almost wholly irrelevant. Its simply careless talk, through stone walls that might as well be paper."

Peter felt sick to his stomach.

"We can't stop them?"

Amanda held his hand.

"We can only laugh at them."

The Rock Of Prophecy was still not convinced.

"Look at all of them. Spreading rumors so far from true. Horrid things dragged up from the underworld just like some precious pearl. Rumors about Saavik-kam."

There were times his pain and rage were far more in evidence than others. But Amanda still did her best to fight it, as she had for five years.   "Pay no mind to what they say. It doesn't matter anyway. We have no need to even refute their trash. You're a physical person, Peter. Just like your wife. But you fail to realize sometimes that fists and speeches aren't the answer. There's only one weapon that we must use in our defense. Silence."

Away from view, Peter's eyes glowed, and he looked down.

"You're not a telepath. When I look at them, I look right through them, and its an ugly sight."

Amanda pulled the third boy to be raised in her house a little closer.

"One day, the universe will know just what kind of monster their Order called to this quadrant. There will be hell to pay, then. That's when they'll disappear. That's when you'll be feared."

The glow stopped, but the eyes were still red from pain.

"So they just get to say whatever they want, while we endure and abide? How can I let that kind of talk go?"

She now held him lightly, and hummed.

"Hush, my darling. Don't you cry. Quiet, angel. Forget their lies."

He turned and walked back with her to the crowd. He tried to use the perspective he was given.   "Can you hear them? They talk about us. Telling lies--well, I guess that's no surprise. Can you see them? See right through them? Against what I am they have no shield. No secrets I can't reveal. It doesn't matter what they say in the jealous games people play."

Just then, a remark of particular hatefulness reached the Human shoppers' ears. When Peter tensed, Amanda determined that she would restrain him by force if she had to. However, she wisely chose merely to put her forefingers to his mouth. After half a minute, she spoke.

"Our lips are sealed."

Back at their home, Sarek was once again stirred from his work by Saavik's frenzied practicing for the formal bonding ceremony.

"We strike the great drum once, and the gong twice.. or is that the gong once and the great drum four times?"

Just as the stick was about to once again hit the great drum, Saavik had it grabbed from her by a Sarek who was still rubbing his head.

"Saavik-kam? You need practice no more. We have the beat