Healer T'Nia did not fear for Peter's life. But the pain he was in caused her to wonder about her sister T'Pau's sanity.

"He is stronger than most adepts are at a much more advanced age. He will emerge whole--until the next cycle begins. He is fortunate. Most who have had a forced annulment either die, commit suicide, or go insane. In fact, I had almost expected this of James Kirk, after Spock's departure to Q'onos. But Uhura's bond to him is just as strong, in its own way. Saavikkam?"

“Yes, T'Nia?"

"If you touch him directly, your strength will still flow to him. He needs that, now."

"But he--is far stronger than I."

T'Nia put away her tricorder.

"You have survived alone. He fears that same loneliness even more than dread Ghidorah."

So Saavik knelt down beside Peter, and took his hand. He was crying.

"Hold me, Saavik-kam."

She lay down next to him, and held him. But he repeated.

"Hold me."

"I am holding you, husb--Peter-kam."

"I can't feel you. I feel your hands, but you're not here. Where are you?"

T'Nia bid Sarek walk away from the scene.

"Sarek--have you sought the boy out, to replenish your own control?"

Sarek had often counted on Peter's ability to normalize his deteriorating emotional regimen. But he shook his head.

"No. The nightmares of Ghidorah have grown far too frequent. He has little enough strength for himself."

T'Nia raised an eyebrow.

"Is it not so that you once tricked him into 'recharging' you against his will?"

Sarek seemed shamed.

"It is. A despicable tactic, I concede."

T'Nia moved to leave.

You must now repay the debt you incurred by doing so. Meld with him, Sarek. By knowing, you may end his pain."

Sarek did not treasure the idea she proposed. His diplomatic schedule was still a full one, and bringing Peter out of what was essentially a bad mental head-cold seemed unwise.

"My Aunt--if his life is not in danger, must this happen?"

T'Nia looked up, her diminutive form taking nothing away from her presence.

"You will do this, or I will direct my sister to direct you in turn. And I have the power to take her place as Sra Sra, if need be. Given her almost-hormonal, disgraceful decision-making process of late, I just may do that."

Sarek was confused.

"Aunt--define hormonal."

"I shall. She aligned herself with The Order, believing that she was using them more than they were using her. She allowed the great-great granddaughter who is her physical duplicate at that age to be tormented. She then silenced all inquiries into T'Pring's death, fearing that her role would be exposed. She dissolved the bond of her own descendant--because she herself desires the boy."

That last revelation caught Sarek like a body-blow. He needed to sit down.

"But--what of the unfortunate, rather repulsive incident that occurred last year, during their bonding? Surely, T'Pau's hidden rage over that is justified."

T'Nia gave one last answer.

"My sister's hidden rage is no concern--when she hides it. But Sarek--she uses Emotion, and calls it Logic. She lies more and more frequently to herself. Though she is my elder by almost seventy-five years, still know that the harsh life she has lived has made T'Pau--a stranger to her own mind. Now, I must go. You will do as I have said."

Sarek had Amanda take Saavik away. The poor girl was herself exhausted, and subject to nightmares of The Ancient Destroyer's rampage. He knelt beside the male half of The Rock.

"Your poet, Robert Burns, asked that we be able to see ourselves as others do, Peter. In fact, on Vulcan, one common prayer is that this never occur. It is a thing that brings one--dangerously close to another."

The meld began, and Sarek walked into the world of Peter Kirk. Two children ran by him.

"Mister--can you give us money for Ice Cream, and so's we can go to the amusement park?"

The little girl nodded.

"Peter used to, but now he's so mean!!"

Sarek shook his head.

"Life--is not all play and snacks. What are your names?"

"I'm Sam Kirk, and this is my girliefriend, Aurelan. Sometimes, we play doctor, and look at each other's stuff."

This scene made horrid sense to Sarek. Peter saw his legal parents as small children, for that was how they had acted around him.

"Peter--you poor soul. Where are the giants of your life? Your ego is not large enough for self-worship. So if your parents are not giants to you--then who is?"

Sarek pressed on.

Sarek next came to a neatly-kept cottage. Its two residents were very familiar to him.

"James? What are you and Uhura doing in this place?"

Kirk shook his head.

"Why, isn't it obvious? We keep this place ready for Peter. Because I left his care to Sam and Aurelan, he was used as a servant."

Nyota nodded.

"Because I let my parents force me to end my early pregnancy by Jim, Aurelan had him, and everything went wrong. But in this little place, everything is right again. But he won't come home."

Jim put down his head.

"We wanted him to come home--but he found another. We failed him."

Sarek disagreed.

"He knows--you both did your best. One day, he will dwell here with you again."

Before Sarek could go any further, a large, buzzing fly flew at him. He swatted it away, and it spoke.

"Pleezzzzze, Peeeeeeetteerr, I'mmmm yerrrr grandmoooother!!"

Sarek had no sympathy for this one.

"A just fate for a bully, Brianna--or for a bully's image."

Now a preacher stood upon a pulpit. It was Admiral Cartwright.

"Hear me, all you sinners! I refused to embrace The Rock! I resisted The Rock--but Ghidorah lies! We are all of us damned to hell! Why didn't I accept salvation?"

The pulpit sank into a circle of flames.

"What--is that?"

A being on gossamer wings descended, smiling--and very, very beautiful.

"Greetings, Traveler. I am Ebeniel. What do you seek in this place?"

Peter saw Saavik as an angel. But then, who had lifted him out of hell?

"Greetings, Ebeniel. To each being, there are individuals who stand above, who have shaped their lives, and who they see as larger than life or reason. In short, I would see Peter Kirk's giants."

The angel seemed confused.

"But why would you need to see that, Sri Sarek?"

He shook his head.

"I have come far, and I must know. Am I forbidden to see this?"

"It is not forbidden. Touch but my hand, and we shall ascend, to see The Giants."

Sarek took her hand, and they indeed went straight up.

"His parents were children. His heroes all normal-sized. Is his giant Ghidorah?"

The angel Saavik indicated no.

"The Evil One has no place here. Behold now, Sri--behold!"

And Sarek saw those mountainous figures, and was very happy then that he did not allow himself tears.

The meld was withdrawn. Peter looked up at Sarek.

"Are you really that surprised? Where else have I known sanity and stability, order and reason, truth and consequence, cause that is followed by effect?"

The young champion then drifted off into a more peaceful sleep.

Later, as Saavik lay with Peter, Sarek asked Amanda a question.

"Wife--how tall are we?"

Amanda shrugged.

"Haven't checked, lately. But we must be close to 2 meters apiece. Why?"

Sarek gathered himself for sleep.

"Because--I think that we two are, in the minds of some, a great deal taller than 2 meters. To one at least--we are like giants."

And in a young man's mind, the giants watched securely over all that was. In that small corner, there was peace. There was Logic.