Retreat
The
Vulcan Embassy is forever complaining about various translations embedded in
the Universal Translator. The Vulcan word for 'retreat' is an example. I
remember clearly the first time that particular translation became a problem…
Earth,
(Another lunch date with Sarek, but this time at the Vulcan
Embassy.)
Halfway
up to Sarek’s office my PADD called to receive a download from linguistics. It
was nothing important, just a problem with the translation of a particular
word, but they needed an ASAP reply. So,
as I entered Sarek’s office, I hardly even noticed as he got up and walked over
to greet me. Then he touched my elbows and I was totally taken by surprise. He
also seemed a little self-conscious over the gesture, but was obviously trying
hard to accommodate my expectations. This was as the closest thing to
a ‘hug’ that he'd ever given me.
Hiding
the sudden colour to my face I remembered my PADD and the difficult word. “Oh
yes, kroykah.”
He
froze, his hands literally dropped and then he pulled himself away, retreating
backwards and hitting his desk.
“I
apologise Amanda. I assumed… had
believed that physical contact was desirable, indeed a pre-requisite in human
relationships. It was obviously an error.”
“What?”
I had to stop him, he was uncharacteristically babbling.
“It
will not happen again, Miss Grayson.” Then he straightened, clasped his hands
behind him and an impassive Vulcan mask descend across his features. He looked
exactly like a Vulcan ambassador, which was disappointing as he'd
previously stopped behaving like one around me.
“Ok, what did I say wrong?”
He
didn’t answer and actually seemed unwilling to speak, he just stood brooding.
“It’s
that word kroykah, isn’t it?” He almost winced when I
repeated it. “I just wanted a proper translation of the word, Sarek. We had it
down as ‘stop’, then ‘cease’, even ‘listen’, but I came up with ‘retreat' which
we all agreed on, but now your lot has just complained about the mistranslation
again. That’s the fourth time that word has bounced on us. Surely ‘retreat’ is right?” I held up
my PADD as proof.
“Yes and no.”
“Oh,
that really helps and so does this…” I waved my hand at him, “…Vulcan attitude,
Sarek. What did I say wrong?”
He turned and moved towards the window,
deliberately hiding his face. “In the context of the present situation, you
just asked me to control myself and to stop harassing you.”
“I
DID NOT… did I?”
“Effectively, yes. Kroykah is an ancient word used
often at formal occasions. Mostly it is associated with bonding ceremonies as a
command to control the…” he seemed to be choosing his words carefully here,
“irrational behaviour that sometimes occurs in Vulcan males of a certain age.
However, it can also be used by a bondmate as a clear signal to cease emotional
behaviour. Most Vulcans are trained to respond instantly to the command from an
early age.”
“Kind
of like back off?”
“Yes,
but with an emotional accusation attached, probably a combination of the terms
‘back off’ and ‘calm down’ with an emphasis on ‘right now’.”
“So
‘retreat’ wasn’t too far off then?”
“A
little understated.”
I
followed him to the window to look out at the
“Sarek…
I’ve put my foot in it haven’t I?” Before he could even begin to question that vernacular
expression, I
went on. “What that means is, well I should
never have thrown you like that… well not actually thrown you… but put you off.
I made a mistake and I’m sorry. Look, I really like physical contact and I want
us to get closer. Actually the elbow touching is a little weird, but I can get
used to it and I swear, you can touch me anytime, anywhere. You can even touch me now if you want.” I
held out my hand, palm upwards, hoping that he’d take it.
Instantly
I knew it was a mistake. Holding hands was a purely romantic gesture, one that
Sarek probably knew and something that he would never reciprocate. He wasn’t
even looking at me, but still staring out the window. The silence became
uncomfortable, as did my arm, so I allowed it to drop in total disappointment.
It
was then I felt him touch me after all and his touch was quite firm and
deliberate… but it was on my behind.
I was
so stunned that it took at least half a minute for me to realise what he was up
to. "Okay, I fell right into that
one and I suppose I asked for it."
He looked down at me dead-pan, but his
eyes were dancing. “Indeed.”
(Another
long pause.)
“I got the point Sarek, you can move your
hand now…”