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Post by dragonfan on Jan 6, 2008 14:32:02 GMT -5
Chapter 22
A/N: Please take this warning seriously. I hate rapists with an extreme passion. Tolaris dies in this chapter. It is an extremely gruesome and bloody death even though it takes place fully within the mental landscape of the mental connection he established.
Trip knew that it wasn't his body that was in pain. Suddenly the pain eased to manageable proportions. When the pain receded Trip saw that the area around him was flickering between T'Pol's meditation white space (a place that he had only seen twice) and the red sands of Vulcan. In front of him was T'Pol and Tolaris and he realized that they were battling over the environment. Whoever could dictate the landscape would dictate the tide of the battle. And he knew that it would be a battle. T'Pol would not submit to this jackass for anything.
But neither was gaining the upper hand. T'Pol was distracted by the sensations of a world she hadn't seen in years. But Tolaris couldn't overcome T'Pol's years of discipline. But there was one place where he and T'Pol could turn the tables on Tolaris.
Tolaris may have distracted T'Pol with images of Vulcan but she was as comfortable meditating in the Florida Keys as she was in her white space. Tolaris on the other hand, was familiar with both the white space and the Vulcan desert. But the Atlantic Ocean should freak the hell out of him.
Trip reached out and took T'Pol's hand. A quick look and T'Pol threw her mental strength behind Trip. Together they easily overwhelmed Tolaris and took control of the mental landscape. The area stabilized into one of Trip's favorite places, his father's fishing boat at sea. "Ya know, ya'll shouldn'ta gone an done that," Trip drawled. As with every time they came here Trip was wearing one of his Hawaiian shirts and tan cargo shorts while T'Pol was dressed in a blue and red bikini.
"You cannot prevail against me Human!" Tolaris snarled. "And when you are dead she will be mine!"
"You are not worthy to clean my mate's maintenance shafts!" T'Pol snapped, recalling the worst and dirtiest job in the Enterprise's Engineering department.
Trip just laughed, "Boy, you really picked the wrong people to try this with. My wife ain't no shrinking violet you can sweep off her feet. And me, well you really picked the wrong way to fight me." Trip knew that as a Human he had been using his imagination to build fantasy worlds for far more years than either Vulcan.
The only warning Tolaris had was a low rumble. Then the boat was engulfed in a hurricane. Wave after wave crashed over the sides, drenching the shocked Vulcan but missing the couple standing hand in hand on the deck. Trip easily rode the rocking of the boat, having gotten his sea legs before he could walk. T'Pol drew on his skill through their bond. Tolaris tried to reject the imagery but as it was actually one of Trip's memories it was too real for him to overcome. He had spent so long seeking out sensation that he could no longer reject it.
That was when Trip really struck. No one was going to hurt his wife if he could help it. Drawing upon his well developed memory of old horror movies, Trip brought monsters on board. He sent drowned sailors crawling up the sides and a Kraken's tentacles as well. The sailors grabbed Tolaris' ankles with bloated pale blue hands and the Kraken grabbed him by the throat. They dragged him over the side and the gale subsided, turning the waters crystal clear once more. Trip leaned on the railing and looked down at Tolaris hundreds of fathoms below the boat. T'Pol stood behind him with a hand on his shoulder.
Tolaris was struggling. The dead sailors were dragging him down and the seaweed that was a part of them was attaching itself to him as well. He couldn't break free. The Kraken was trying to pull off his head but wasn't quite managing more than a tug of war with the sailors. While the two groups were fighting over their prize, sea creatures were converging on the struggling Vulcan.
T'Pol could feel Tolaris' fear but made no move to stop her mate. She was interested in finding out what form of execution Trip had chosen. Simply frightening the man to death was not enough as far as she was concerned. Tolaris had tried to break her marriage bond and had to pay for that with his life.
A moray eel was the first to strike, tearing off a piece of Tolaris' arm. A manta ray sliced a piece of meat off of his leg with its stinger. A sand shark went for his fingers. And so it went, as more and more of Tolaris' blood flooded the water, more and more sea creatures, both real and imaginary came to take a bite of the Vulcan. The carnage reflected Trip's cold fury over Tolaris' actions. Mental or not, the man had just tried to rape his wife and he could not allow that to pass unanswered.
Tolaris fought back; pulling drowned sailors apart, ripping the Kraken's tentacles off, and breaking the bodies of the carnivorous sea life. Trip brought in Sirens with mouths filled with shark's teeth and Kelpies in water horse form. The Sirens feasted on his entrails that the Kelpies ripped out of him with their clawed hooves. Tolaris managed to fight them off and then struggled back onto the deck of the boat. When he arrived, Trip straightened up and caused iron chains to fall all over him. The chains then fastened themselves to the deck.
Tolaris was struggling to reform his mental body but T'Pol did not give him time to focus his attention. She had something she wanted to say to him. "I am very angry at you Tolaris. Your feeble attempts at a logical argument were difficult enough to ignore but Captain Archer instructed me to 'play nice with the other children'."
"That's Human for the diplomatic art of not getting into a fight with someone you want to strangle," Trip said as he called up a flood of small crabs. They swarmed over Tolaris, taking small chunks of his flesh in their claws and ripping them off of his body.
"You have caused my mate and I a great deal of pain," T'Pol continued from where she stood beside Trip. She had moved her hand from his shoulder to his hand when he had stood up straight. "You tried to sever our marriage bond. You know the price you must pay for your actions." She could see when he realized that the damage Trip was inflicting wasn't going to stop. They intended to kill him, slowly and painfully.
Tolaris began ripping crabs off of himself and flinging them at the couple leaning against the rail in an attempt to strike back. He was shocked to see that instead of making the deadly creatures disappear, they both stood relaxed while the crabs landed and then scurried down their bodies. The crabs headed directly for him as soon as they reached the deck. This was not how any mental duel he had ever fought before worked!
By now Tolaris was a bloody wreck. His clothes were gone and the only places that weren't bleeding were those covered in chains. He truly started to panic when the crabs began to enter his body. No part of his body, external or internal was safe from the crabs. He tried to pull away and sever his connection to T'Pol's mind but she refused to allow it. He disappeared under a swarm of crabs.
They could both sense when Tolaris died. His malevolence gave one last shove at them before disappearing forever. Trip dismissed the crabs and the chains, and then turned to T'Pol. "Are you alright?" he asked, quickly looking her over. He had been so intent on their enemy that he had not had time to check.
"I will recover with time, as will you," she replied serenely. "I find your method of execution most intriguing. What caused you to select it?"
Trip snorted and pulled her onto his lap as he sat down on a deck chair. "Well, the monsters came from old horror movies but the rest came from stuff I've seen out here." He gestured to the surrounding islands. "There's nothing like seeing a feeding frenzy to give you ideas. Besides, I swore to my sister that's what I'd do to any rapist I got my hands on."
T'Pol looked carefully but she could see no sign of distress on Trip's face. "You are not upset that I refused to allow Tolaris to escape death?" she asked.
"Nope, any man who tries to force a woman into intimacy of any kind deserves exactly what Tolaris got. Rapists of all sorts make me extremely angry T'Pol," Trip explained. "When someone tries to hurt someone I love it only makes things worse."
T'Pol nodded. His anger was normal, coming from both the attack on their bond and from his own moral stance. "Why did you promise this to your sister?" she asked snuggling into his arms.
"An older friend of ours was raped when Lizzy and I were kids. We were old enough to understand what had happened but we were too young to do anything about it. So we did the only thing we could do. We talked about it a lot and what we would do if we ever got our hands on the guy. As for doing it to Tolaris, well I figured he'd never even seen an ocean before and it would help keep him off balance."
"You are undoubtedly correct about Tolaris' experience with oceans. It was very helpful. We should rest now. We shall have many things to explain once we awaken." T'Pol pointed out.
"You're right," Trip agreed and they drifted off; the feeling of their bond washing over them like a healing balm.
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In sickbay Phlox was monitoring all three patients as well as keeping an eye on the small group of Vulcans gathered in an out of the way corner. Concerned because of the damaged that one of these unvulcan like Vulcans had already done to members of his crew, he called Hoshi to 'remind her' about a non-existent check up.
When Hoshi arrived in sickbay she had a pretty good idea of what he wanted. The fact that he greeted her in Denobulan simply clinched it. "Hello Hoshi. I hate to impose but they have been down here conversing for the last hour. I'm starting to get a bit worried for my patients." Phlox's smile never wavered as he set Hoshi down on a stool and ran a scanner over her.
Personally she agreed with Phlox, this should be looked into. With two of the senior officers suffering from a psychic attack from a member of that crew, it was a good idea to find out what they were talking about. What she heard surprised her. They were quoting Surak! She could have sworn that T'Pol had said that this group had rejected Surak's teachings.
(Tavin's group speaking in Vulcan)
"I don't think that the Humans will allow us to help with any treatment. OTHER, why did Tolaris have to strike these two people in his madness?" A young Vulcan woman said bitterly. "Even if a ship of Vulcans would have blamed us all, at least the victims would have been properly cared for!"
"'The spear in the other's heart is your own'," Tavin quoted. "The true tragedy isn't that they aren't on a Vulcan ship where they can be cared for, but that they were attacked at all. That's why we're out here in the first place. So that no one who is unaware of the dangers is placed at risk. We must find a way to help them once they destroy what is left of Tolaris. We must also find a way to ensure that we do not descend into madness as well."
"'Within us all is the capacity for barbarity'," Kov agreed. "Has anyone had mental contact with Tolaris in the last year? I have not." Heads shook all over the group as they searched their memories.
"You believe that increased mental contact within our group will prove beneficial?" another Vulcan man asked.
"At the very least if we had know that Tolaris was experiencing difficulties we would have tried to help," Tavin pointed out. "And we certainly would not have allowed him to interact with anyone without strict precautions. We all know that on our path the madness that engulfed our ancestors is possible."
Hoshi softly translated for Phlox as the Vulcans continued to discuss ways to help the injured couple as well as ways to prevent their own descent into madness. She believed that they were sincere.
Phlox agreed. There had been no attempt to disguise the anguish on Tavin's face when he had accepted what Tolaris was doing. He walked over to the group. "What is the correct treatment for an assault such as this?" he asked.
"As they are bondmates, physical contact with each other is paramount," Tavin said in English eager to help. "Isolation from other minds is also helpful. It can increase the speed of healing by quite a bit. They will be extremely sensitive for at least a week. I do not know about Humans but for Vulcans repeated deep contact with a bondmate in mental isolation is the best treatment."
"What about Tolaris?" Phlox asked. What Tavin had said agreed with what he already knew.
"He is dead," Tavin said flatly. "And no one will mourn him, not even among us. He could have asked for help in controlling himself at anytime and did not do so. If we do not ask for help when we need it we will fail. We all know this." Tavin closed his eyes in pain. "Trying to break a mating bond is madness. It will only damage and possibly kill all of those involved. A chosen mate bond is far stronger. The only outcome possible is the death of the attacker."
Just then the alarms on Tolaris' biobed began announcing his death. Phlox waved off Crewman Cutler and silenced the alarms. Although he was a physician, and thus sworn to aid whenever possible; he would not attempt to revive Tolaris. He turned to check on his other patients. To his relief their brainwaves showed that they were settling into a deep sleep. "I need to inform the Captain."
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Post by dragonfan on Jan 6, 2008 15:29:26 GMT -5
Chapter 23
A/N: Ok people, from here on in things are going to get mixed up. Some episodes are going to be skipped, as in they never happened in this universe and others are going to be really different. All of this is due of course to finding out about the bond so early and the ever expanding repercussions of that discovery.
"So they need isolation, mental isolation?" Archer asked Phlox, looking over at the pair sleeping on the biobed.
"Yes Captain. That is what everyone agrees on, from the texts the Vulcan healers provided me and Tavin's crew. The real problem is providing such isolation," Phlox said. "We cannot just drop them off on an isolated planet and take off leaving them alone there. They still must be monitored for signs of physical distress. The best thing we can do is go to a planet where the entire crew can take shore leave. Then either we can find an isolated place on the planet for the two of them to go to and I can stay in communications contact with them or they can stay on the ship while everyone else takes leave on the planet."
"Risa, you must take them to Risa," Tavin said eagerly. "My family owns a small island there. It is completely isolated. They use it for meditation and certain medical emergencies." Tavin wasn't sure if Phlox knew what sort of medical emergencies he was talking about but it was best to talk circumspectly with Archer there. "It is my fault that Tolaris was exposed to your crew. I brought him here. Please allow me to provide the best place for their healing."
"Risa is a famous pleasure planet Captain. It is THE vacation spot in this quadrant of the galaxy. It's perfect," Phlox said eagerly. "The crew is in need of leave and the government does its best to provide something for everyone."
"I wish I could but Admiral Forrest just sent us orders to go and pick up a Vulcan ambassador. We're supposed to transport her to Vulcan as soon as possible." Archer really didn't want to deal with that right now but orders were orders.
"The longer it takes to isolate them, the longer it will take them to heal," Phlox warned.
Archer nodded. Just as he was about to speak a groan came from the biobed where Trip and T'Pol lay. "Oh man, now I know what you meant by us healing," Trip moaned.
"It will be extremely painful for some time," T'Pol agreed tightly. She had her head buried in his neck and was clinging to him tightly. Trip had one arm wrapped around her and one hand clutching at his head.
Phlox was at their side instantly, giving them a shot of medicine. "This will lessen the pain but it won't block it completely. I'm sorry that I can't block the pain completely but I'm not a telepath and I need to be able to monitor your bond. That means you need to be aware of whether or not you're still in pain."
"Ok doc," Trip said with a sickly grin. "But I gotta tell ya, it was worth it." They both sat up, T'Pol sitting between Trip's legs and leaning back against his chest. Trip had his arms around her and was leaning his head on T'Pol's shoulder.
At that Archer stepped in. "Trip, we know something happened, some kind of psychic attack but we don't know the details. I'm afraid you're going to have to give a statement. Tolaris is dead."
"Couldn'ta happened to a nicer guy," Trip said which brought a smile to his friend's face and a look of consternation to the three aliens in the room. T'Pol wasn't sure what to think of Trip's response but from what she was feeling through their bond she assumed it was merely another example of his strange sense of humor.
"Yeah," Archer said, letting Trip know that he was aware of what sort of person Tolaris was. He was also letting his officer know that for the record he couldn't say anything until after the reports had been made.
"We were working on our bond in our quarters when Tolaris tried to break it," Trip said flatly. "He wanted T'Pol for himself and was willing to kill me to get her. Captain, the mental assault that he attempted was essentially rape. I don't know how long it's going to take for us to heal from the damage he did. And we already knew he was dead. I'm the one who killed him."
"We killed him husband," T'Pol was determined that he was not going to shoulder that alone.
"I'm the one who did the killing," Trip said flatly. "I was the one directing the attack. You've never even seen half of the stuff I threw at him. And I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I couldn't let him hurt you!"
"As good as it is to hear you two bicker again," Archer interrupted. "I'm afraid I still need the details."
Trip shrugged. "It was a mental battle Captain. He tried to take over and make us fight on his terms but he couldn't fight both of us at the same time. Two heads really were better than one in this case. I took us to the Keys and well, I attacked him with sea creatures. I killed him with a swarm of crabs."
T'Pol wasn't about to let Trip take all of the blame for Tolaris' death. "It was I who refused to allow Tolaris to leave the link Captain. What he tried to do is a death sentence on my world."
"I understand that T'Pol and as far as the Earth government is concerned this is a case of self defense," Archer turned to Trip. "Are you saying you did the beetle scene from the mummy? The one where they sealed the bad guy in the mummy case filled with flesh eating beetles?" He shuddered. He had always hated that scene. Just the thought was enough to send his skin crawling.
Trip nodded. He knew how much that scene turned his friend's stomach but he'd do it again in a heart beat if Tolaris was still alive. Archer shuddered again but got down to business. "Alright, now that we've gotten that out of the way, we've got a slightly bigger problem. Phlox says that the two of you need to be isolated to heal properly and the Enterprise has been given orders to pick up Ambassador V'Lar and bring her back to Vulcan."
Trip could feel a shot of joy and determination shoot through T'Pol. "We will heal regardless of whether or not we are isolated Captain. It is simply faster for the healing to occur if those who have suffered the assault are mentally isolated. As you will need us on duty, we will cope until a more suitable arrangement can be made," T'Pol insisted.
"Don't worry about us Captain," Trip agreed. "It won't be the first time I've had to work feeling like the fourth day of a three day leave."
"To insure our top possible performance of our duties Captain, we should remain together," T'Pol said.
"I don't want to have to order you to work when you're both injured," Archer said. "If I don't have to I won't. We're just not going to be able to give you and the rest of the crew shore leave. So you'll be off duty and stay where ever Phlox decides is best until we can get to Risa."
"Two things wrong with that Captain," Trip said firmly. "First off, all I'm going to say is milk run. Second, this is the first time Vulcan has ever asked us for anything. T'Pol and I are going to need to be on duty."
"You also need to be well by the time we reach Vulcan," Archer pointed out. "Or have you forgotten that the two of you are supposed to get married the next time we're there?"
"We have not forgotten Captain," T'Pol said. "It does not change the facts. You will need me on duty as much as possible at the very least for this mission. There is also the chance that Trip will be needed in Engineering"
Archer sighed, he had known for years that Trip was as stubborn as they came and he had learned that T'Pol wasn't much better. That was usually because he could hardly ever figure out a logical argument that was better than hers. "Alright, since you're both going to be stubborn about this, Trip run Engineering through Hess until Phlox says otherwise. T'Pol you are both on light duty. I don't want either of you to push yourselves or each other trying to get stuff done. Pass as much of your duties as you can to your seconds. They both need more experience running a department anyway so this will give them the chance. I wasn't going to say anything but Admiral Gardner let slip the fact that they are both in the running to head up the Science and Engineering departments on Columbia."
"Well in that case," Trip looked down at T'Pol and she looked up at him. Archer could tell that they were communicating but he had no way to tell what. "Don't worry Captain, we'll make sure they're ready for it by the time Columbia needs them."
"I'll leave you in the good doctor's care then," Archer said and gestured Tavin to follow him. As they left Archer could be heard to ask, "Now exactly where on Risa is this island?"
"I'm sorry but I am going to need to examine you separately," Phlox said to his two patients. "I realize that it is going to increase your discomfort but I need to check the physical damage. I can't send you off to your quarters until I'm sure that the damage hasn't been too extensive."
Wanting to get the exam over quickly, T'Pol slid down off the biobed. The separation made them both flinch but Phlox hurried through the exams and didn't force them to go any farther from each other than they had too. "There is bruising but no bleeding," Phlox announced. "You may resume physical contact and return to your quarters. I will have Chef have your meals delivered to your quarters. Unless you are on duty, I want you in your quarters and away from the rest of the crew as much as possible. You will need to be examined three times a day. Either one of you can do the scans and send them to me or I can do them here in sickbay, which ever is more comfortable for you."
"Thanks doc, Thank you doctor," they both said and walked hand in hand back to their quarters. Once there T'Pol dragged Trip straight to their bunk and threw the body pillow on the floor. Trip was amused but grateful that she was getting rid of it. He wanted to hold her until it was time for them to be back on duty. They crawled into bed and resumed snuggling. The alarm would go off soon enough. Now was time for them to rest and heal.
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Post by dragonfan on Jan 6, 2008 16:01:40 GMT -5
Chapter 24
Once more Trip met T'Pol in her white space. "Ok Darlin'. Are you going to tell me what has you so excited about meeting this V'Lar lady?" Trip asked as he leaned against nothing. He was dressed in sweatpants and his blue tank. T'Pol was on the 'ground' in front of him, wearing her silk pj's.
"V'Lar was my sister's T'Pau's mentor. Many of the people of my clan become either scientists or diplomats. It was very obvious from the time she was small which life path T'Pau would take. V'Lar was often around our home when I was a small child. She was, kind to me when I could not control my emotions. As small children it is a very difficult thing to learn but it is necessary that we learn before we mature," T'Pol explained.
"Ah, so you admire her. But why did you end up with Soval as your mentor? I mean, you're a scientist not a diplomat like he is," Trip asked. He went over and sat down behind her, pulling her into his arms. Even here, he couldn't seem to get enough of snuggling with her.
T'Pol avoided looking at him. "Soval is more patient than most with emotional outbursts. I was a slow learner."
"Aw hell," Trip huffed, "you do realize that you just torpedoed any remaining resentment I had with Ambassador Grumpy? First Hoshi figured out why your people acted like we're a bunch of kids and now you tell me that he helped you out with being a proper Vulcan."
"He is not grumpy!" T'Pol said indignantly.
"Honey, do you remember when I said that there were bad nicknames? Well, Soval collected quite a few. He got them because of his disposition, not that he was emotional. And he is grumpy, mind you he has more than enough reason to be grumpy dealing with the people that he does," Trip pointed out.
"Are you saying that the Humans Soval interacts with are the cause of his grumpiness?" T'Pol asked.
"Diplomats and bureaucrats are the worst sort of people to have to do anything with. They both have a terrible tendency to follow the 'it's my way or the highway' philosophy of life," Trip said sourly. "It's enough to make anyone with any sense grumpy."
"Are you so sure that Soval has sense? I seem to remember that you dislike him intensely," T'Pol said.
"I did, until I started to realize just what Hoshi was saying, that your people didn't mean to do the things that they did. Soval was merely the focus point of a lot of Human's resentment, especially Star Fleet's because he's the ambassador. That meant that it was his job to tell us no."
T'Pol frowned as another thought occurred to her. "I am aware that Captain Archer has said that the Earth government will consider our actions as self defense but what of Star Fleet?"
"As far as Star Fleet is concerned, the matter is closed. We were injured by an alien who we killed in self defense. But I'll bet you anything they're going to be worried about the Vulcan High Command's stand on it." Trip didn't have to wonder about that one. He had been involved in more than a few 'incidents' at one time or another to figure out how this was going to work.
T'Pol peered up at him quizzically. "Why do you think that the High Command will have anything to say? The facts speak for themselves. Tolaris attacked our bond, therefore he died." She said it like it was the most obvious thing in the universe.
Trip shrugged, "If you say so. Now, where are we," he stopped as he heard a buzzing sound. As the buzzing sound echoed in their ears, they awoke. Not only was their alarm going off, the door buzzer was as well. "That's got to be breakfast," Trip said through the pain of the headache that he had just realized was the source of the pounding that he heard. T'Pol reached over and picked up a hypospray and gave it to Trip. She remained in physical contact with him which was all that allowed either one of them to move. Once the medicine had kicked in, they got up and started their day.
It wasn't easy doing things attached to another person. 'The only thing that's good about it, other than the fact that I can feel our bond so much easier, is that we aren't chained together and can switch where we're connected when we need to,' Trip decided. During breakfast he finished asking the question that he had started earlier. "Where are we going to put the ambassador up? I mean, the guest quarters we have are kind of small. I got the feeling that might be a bit of an insult."
"You are correct that V'Lar is a high status ambassador," T'Pol said. "I think it would probably be best if we give her your old quarters. They are larger than the guest quarters and no one is occupying them at the moment." She finished her breakfast as she told him what would have to be changed to accommodate the ambassador.
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Captain Archer waited while his Armory Officer read the recorded account of what had happened in the mind link that had killed Tolaris. "My God," Malcolm whispered. "I had no idea the Commander was capable of such cruelty. Not that I blame him for an instant, sir," he said as he belatedly realized that he was talking about not only a superior officer but to one as well, even if they were both his best friends.
Archer waved Malcolm's comment away. "I know what you mean. I knew that Trip had made a vow that he would do that to any rapist he managed to get his hands on but I had no idea that he'd actually do it more than twenty years later."
"Sir?" Malcolm asked surprised. "Why would the Commander do such a thing?"
Archer shrugged. "When we were kids an older friend of ours was raped and she never recovered. She committed suicide a couple of years later. Trip has never really been able to get over it. You're well aware that he considers himself a gentleman," Archer continued when Malcolm nodded, "well, part of that is defending the ladies around him. Sometimes I think that gets him into half of the trouble that got him his trouble magnet reputation. He may not show it but sometimes he really does have a white knight complex."
"At least where the ladies are concerned," Malcolm agreed. "He really cared for her then?"
"Worshiped the ground she walked on," Archer agreed. "And I don't blame him, we all did."
"Are we sure that T'Pol didn't influence the outcome? Not that I blame them at all," Malcolm said. "I'd have killed the B*st*rd too, if I could."
"She freely admits that she refused to let Tolaris leave the link. In fact she tried to take as much of the blame as possible. But I don't think this is a situation that we can blame on her. If anything I think Trip's emotions were probably overwhelming her. Once this report gets back to Vulcan we're probably going to get those bastards at the High Command coming down on all of us for excessive violence," Archer growled. "On the other hand, you're not going to believe this one. Soval sent a letter along with our orders from Admiral Forrest. It seems that something T'Pol said to him has knocked him off of his high horse."
"Well, Hoshi did explain to you what she figured out didn't she?" Malcolm asked. "I know that T'Pol went to send Soval a letter about it."
"Yeah, but I'm still not sure I believe it. But the thing is, Soval believes it. First he actually apologized to me for his people's treatment of my father. Then he told me that he was sending one of his younger attaches to a Human school to learn more about how we mature as a species. Get this, he's sending someone named Sarak to kindergarten!"
"KINDERGARTEN!" Malcolm spluttered. The thought of a young Vulcan dealing with five year old Humans was enough to get him snickering.
"Ahuh," Archer said, trying to hold his own snickers in. "Soval wants him to write some kind of book or paper or something on the way Humans mature in order to help them figure out what mature members of our species act like."
Malcolm snorted. "Don't count on that working," he warned.
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EARTH - Miss Angela Barstow's Kindergarten
Miss Angela was nervous. While she had certainly heard about Vulcans before she had never thought she would be having one in her classroom. And if she had entertained the thought, she never would have pictured a young man around her own age. But for some reason the embassy had asked and her principal had agreed. Thus here he was, dressed in Vulcan robes and watching her kids run into the room like they were an alien species he had never seen before. 'Well, that just might be true,' she thought to herself as she patiently herded her charges into the morning circle.
As for Sarak, he wasn't sure that the small Humans WEREN"T a completely different species than the one he encountered on a daily basis. The Humans he was used to didn't shout, they didn't laugh and run from someone who was trying to tell them something, and they didn't have nearly so much energy! He watched as the teacher finally settled her students onto a rug at the front of the classroom. He watched the morning ritual with complete astonishment. Why were they singing such a completely illogical song? Yes, some Human songs were very illogical but these? These made no sense whatsoever!
The teacher introduced him to the children. Then to his complete astonishment the children started telling him the most strange and varied things. Why would he wish to know the names of Human reproductive organs and which gender had which ones? Why did they want to tell him that baby Humans did not have control over their bodily functions? Or that canines ate their own feces? He was even more astonished by the fact that the teacher, who he was now certain had the patience of Surak himself, was gently turning the strange conversation to what the children were learning in her class.
After a short time at this, the children were sent off to their tables and school supplies were handed out. "Don't worry, it's perfectly natural for children this age to talk about socially awkward, or taboo subjects. They are full of curiosity and a need to tell people about what they've just learned," Miss Angela told him. That was only partially reassuring to Sarak. From just the few minutes that he had already spent in this classroom, he wasn't sure if he was going to be able to explain how these creatures turned into the Humans his people were used to dealing with.
Miss Angela sat him down at one of the tables and a small girl smiled up at him. "Hi! I's Manda!"
"Hello Manda," he greeted her. "I am Sarak."
Chapter 25
Over the last three days the crew of the Starship Enterprise had become used to seeing SubCommander T'Pol and Commander Tucker walking around hand in hand. With the gossip grapevine being what it was, several messages had been left in their mailboxes; mostly get well wishes. Trip had been the one to return thank you notes. T'Pol had been busy teaching the senior officers the proper protocols for dealing with the Vulcan ambassador. Fortunately Trip was able to let her know when she was going too far in her efforts to make certain that everything was prepared.
What they didn't expect was just how eager the Mazarites were to get rid of V'Lar. While the three of them were waiting for V'Lar's shuttle to dock, Archer standing to one side and Trip and T'Pol hand in hand as usual, they were exchanging glances wondering just what was going on. Vulcans, or at least Vulcans in good standing within their society and V'Lar would be that as they had been asked to pick her up, didn't commit the sort of crimes she was accused of.
T'Pol was mentally reeling from the accusation. *Darlin' we don't know the circumstances and it isn't polite to ask. For all we know she accidentally walked in the wrong place and they're calling it abusing her position because she's not being punished the way they want. It doesn't have to be that she did something wrong on purpose.*
*We don't know that for certain!* T'Pol shot back at her husband.
*T'Pol, this is just a reaction from the scum bucket that hurt us.* Trip soothed. *You can't help but feel wary and upset at meeting another Vulcan accused of wrongdoing right now. I'm not too thrilled with it either. But you know V'Lar. And Vulcan is calling her back home. They wouldn't want her if she was doing something like robbing banks or assaulting people or if she really was abusing her position.*
T'Pol mentally sighed. *I thought I was supposed to be the logical one.*
Trip smirked. *Nah, you still are. It's just that I have more experience with emotional reactions. I know why I don't want to be here and it has everything to do with the jerk and nothing to do with V'Lar. From what you've shown me she's a pretty neat lady. It's just easier for me to control my knee jerk reaction because I've had them before. This is your first one so you're having a harder time dealing, that's all.*
"Is this going to happen a lot?" Archer asked them. They had been silently watching each other for a while now. He had come to realize over the last three days that when they did that they were communicating mentally. "I thought that the two of you weren't supposed to be able to talk to each other like that for months yet, maybe even a year or more."
The two officers looked up at their captain startled. "That would normally be the case Captain," T'Pol said addressing the second question. "However, normally we would not have been aware of our bond for sometime yet. Between the fact that we are aware and have been working on increasing our awareness of each other and the assault, we have," she paused to try and translate the concept.
"We been diving head first into this Jon," Trip jumped in. "By the time we get to Vulcan we just might be all the way bonded."
"I see, you've been taking the crash course instead of the scenic route," Archer smirked.
"Yeah, I kinda wish we'd of had time for the scenic route but," Trip shrugged. They all knew the consequences of the scenic route. "Besides, this way I get her sooner rather than later." The two Human males chuckled together while T'Pol raised her eyebrow as though to tell them they were being childish. But Trip could feel her agreement through their bond. She too was pleased to have her claim known sooner rather than later. Who knew what sort of trouble her mate could attract as a single male?
The shuttle landed and the Vulcan Ambassador was practically thrown off in their haste to leave. V'Lar greeted Archer politely but couldn't seem to take her eyes off of Trip and T'Pol. Although it made them nervous they were both doing their best not to show it. Needless to say, T'Pol was doing a better job of it than Trip was. Archer was both a little amused and a little concerned over the silent by play between V'Lar and T'Pol. V'Lar looked very pointedly at the very Human hand holding before raising her eyes to meet T'Pol's. T'Pol raised her chin slightly in defiance, daring her to say anything. For some reason V'Lar let it pass, although Archer was sure that if he hadn't been studying T'Pol's body language for so long, he would have completely missed the entire thing.
Later that evening at dinner, Archer was doing his best to run interference between the two Vulcans by making small talk but wasn't having much luck. V'Lar still wouldn't stop watching T'Pol and Trip. Archer couldn't really blame her. He knew just how out of character both of them were acting. Not only did Trip have his left hand on the back of T'Pol's neck so that she could use both hands to eat but she was practically in his lap they were sitting so closely together. Archer was glad that they hadn't had dinner with him before this. The medical restrictions they were under had already made for some interesting contortions on the bridge. He really didn't want to wonder what else that restriction had affected. He was having a hard enough time keeping his mind out of the gutter. "Commander Tucker, are you aware that such physical contact is not usually welcomed by a Vulcan?" V'Lar finally asked.
"We're chosen mates ma'am and our bond was attacked recently. The doctor ordered us to remain in physical contact even when we're on duty to speed the healing process," Trip answered politely.
"The doctor also has us on light duty," T'Pol also answered. "To limit the time we are most exposed to other's minds."
"Child, you have always been unusual. There have been unsubstantiated reports spreading throughout the diplomatic core for some time now about yourself and your situation here on Enterprise. The facts of your bonding did not show up anywhere." If the older Vulcan's expression showed anything, Archer would have to say it was annoyance that a critical factor had been left out.
And she could call them unsubstantiated reports all she wished. Archer knew a term for rumors when he heard one. "It was a surprise to all of us," he said. "But a Vulcan Mind Healer confirmed the bond was that of chosen mates. As for the telepath who attacked them, he's already been dealt with."
"Of course," V'Lar said to Archer. Then she turned to Trip and T'Pol. "I do not wish to hinder your healing. Captain, would it be possible for you to escort me to my quarters?"
"Of course Ambassador," Archer replied. He was thankful that the ambassador wasn't demanding that T'Pol escort her, something that T'Pol had said she was entitled to do. He didn't think that he was ever going to get used to Vulcan customs. Why on Earth would an older Vulcan female need a female escort while T'Pol hadn't needed one at all? Such puzzles were more Hoshi's bailiwick than his, but it didn't stop him from wondering.
It turned out that not all the Mazarites were so willing to let the ambassador just leave. After a short battle with a Mazarite ship, Archer went to confront V'Lar. V'Lar admitted to Archer that the reason she had been on their planet had been to collect information on corrupt government officials. The leaders of the government and a majority of the civilians had wanted to know who was involved so that the corruption could be rooted out as quickly as possible. Without her testimony, the corrupt officials would go free. The corruption charges against her had been false, meant to prevent the very sort of action that Archer's ship had been involved in.
"I apologize Captain. They were not supposed to pursue me. I can only suppose that the ruse has been discovered," V'Lar said.
"It is hardly your fault Ambassador," Archer said mollified. "I can understand these sorts of security precautions. But I needed to know about the situation. I have almost a hundred souls on this ship whose lives I am responsible for. Being prepared for a possible attack under these conditions saves lives." He went over to the wall intercom. "Archer to Tucker," he said.
"Tucker here sir," Trip called from the bridge.
"Trip, you and T'Pol head down to Engineering. There's a good chance our latest friends will be back."
"Aye sir!" Trip said and motioned to Reed. "Malcolm you're in charge til the Captain gets back." He and T'Pol didn't wait for acknowledgement.
"Now Ambassador," Archer looked sternly at V'Lar. "What are the Mazarite ships capable of?"
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Down in Engineering Trip was very loudly cursing the three new Mazzrite ships in every language he knew, and a few he didn't, including Vulcan. Those idiots were going to blow up his engine!
"Archer to Engineering."
T'Pol reached over to punch the button while Trip dragged her all over the Engine Room. "PLEASE TELL ME YOU'RE READY TO SLOW DOWN!" Trip yelled in the direction of the comm.
"Sorry Trip, but we need a little more speed."
"I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE I CAN GIVE YOU!" Trip yelled again. He really didn't want to hear what he knew was coming.
"It's called a Warp Five engine."
"ON PAPER!" Trip squawked.
"We don't have a choice Trip."
"AYE SIR!" Trip snarled. A quick glance between the bondmates resulted in them separating and monitoring separate systems on opposite sides of the room. Inspite of the pain of separation they neither flinched nor hesitated in their actions. "Don't take your eyes off that antimatter stream!" Trip told a crewman.
"Four point nine seven!" T'Pol called out.
"Port injectors are hot!" Trip called, waving smoke out of his face.
"Warp Five!" T'Pol called out.
The engineering crew didn't seem to notice what T'Pol was saying but there was a distinct feeling of giddiness running through out the room. They should have blown something by now. The Warp Five engine might have been able to make it to Warp Five, but no one had ever thought that it could run at that speed for any length of time. Something should have blown or shaken apart seconds after reaching that speed. They weren't shaking nearly as much as they should have though.
"Trip we're pulling away!" Archer called. "How much longer can you hold her?"
"MAYBE TEN MINUTES," he yelled. Then he muttered to himself, "Just what did you do to my engine Scotty?" He knew that something had been changed. It couldn't have just been the change in crystals that had stabilized the Enterprise this much at high warp.
"That's all we'll need," Archer said. "They're already about to blow their engines. They can't hold on more than a couple of minutes if that."
"UNDERSTOOD!" Trip yelled. "Well you heard the man people! Ten minutes and we'll have these jerks eating our dust!" Trip called. The news thrilled the engineers even more. This time it wouldn't be the Armory or the Helmsmen who saved the ship. It would be them, guiding the fastest ship in the fleet as she ran her heart out.
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An hour later V'Lar and Archer walked into the Engine Room looking for Trip and T'Pol. They were laying on top of the engine itself, going over every millimeter of every circuit and crystal. "Trip, T'Pol! Good job guys!" Archer called up to them beaming.
"Just tell me I can get my hands on that Scotsman!" Trip snarled.
T'Pol inched her head over the side of the engine. When she saw Archer looking up at her astonished she explained. "Mr. Scott made a few minor modifications sir." She saw by the wince on his face that Archer understood. It did not matter that Scotty's modifications had helped Enterprise sustain high warp for eleven minutes and sixteen seconds. What mattered was that Trip had been unaware of the modifications. She turned her attention to the Ambassador. In Vulcan she explained, "My mate is highly protective of his engine. Another engineer made modifications without discussing it with him. He is highly disturbed by the man's rudeness."
"Sorry Trip, I don't know how you could talk to him. But think about this, he may have not known what he was doing," Archer pointed out. "If the changes are that minor," he trailed off.
Trip grumbled but made no real comment. "I have tried to explain that Captain," T'Pol said. "He merely informs me that it does not matter. Nor does it matter that the modifications probably saved our lives. Mr. Scott should have made him aware that he had made the modifications. I believe that Mr. Scott was unaware that these were modifications. He seemed to be an exceptional engineer, almost as good as Trip."
"Of course he knew!" Trip snarled.
"Ah, I see," Archer said, knowing that meant that his two officers were in the middle of yet another one of their frequent discussions. "We'll leave you to it then." He reached out and making sure not to actually touch skin, snagged the Ambassador's sleeve. "The last thing you ever want to do is get between them when they're like that. It may seem like they're blowing up at each other but they're really having fun," he tried to explain as they walked out of Engineering.
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Post by dragonfan on Jan 6, 2008 16:20:17 GMT -5
A/N: dialogue surrounded by * indicate that the language is Vulcan.
Chapter 26
Vulcan was a planet of deserts, lethal alien animals and the usually logical people who were as a species named after their planet. Captain Archer knew without a doubt that the planet itself was the least dangerous thing down there on its surface and it wasn't the animals that had him worried. Ambassador V'Lar had been handed over to the Vulcan High Command with little fanfare aside from a few guards to accompany her to the planet's surface. Now he just had to get Trip through his other wedding ceremony without his best friend the trouble magnet causing an interplanetary incident. "Hoshi, how's Trip doing with his Vulcan lessons?" Archer asked quietly. He was standing behind her watching her station on the bridge.
"Well sir, he knows the words to the ceremony." Hoshi peeked over her shoulder and Archer could see that she was smiling timidly.
"Hoshi?" Archer asked. He wasn't sure he wanted to know what the trouble was but he was the Captain.
"I'm sorry sir. I just can't get rid of his accent. We've been working on it, all three of us but that southern accent of his is terribly hard to get rid of." Hoshi said wincing at the memory.
"I didn't even think about that," Archer said rubbing his eyes. "Wait a minute, all three?"
"T'Pol's been trying to help as well sir. But the only thing she's managed to do is some kind of stop gap measure where she gives him her fluency for a short time. It only works when they're in physical contact. Apparently bondmates can lend each other their skills but I'm not really sure how it works or for how long they're able to do it without stopping."
Archer sighed, "Can you at least tell me that he can be understood? The last thing any of us need is for him to accidentally cause an incident because he said something wrong."
Hoshi shrugged. "I can't tell if a native speaker could understand him or not sir. It's one of the downsides of my linguistic abilities. I, sir the Vulcan High Command has opened a channel." All business Hoshi opened the channel and put the image up on the viewscreen. Archer quickly returned to his command chair.
"This is T'Penna of the Vulcan High Command," the screen showed a young looking Vulcan woman. "Enterprise NX-01 you are here by ordered out of the Vulcan Home System and all of her territories. If you do not comply immediately you will be fired upon. You will be given no further warning." The young woman hesitated for an instant and then continued. "I believe that you will not comply without further information. Members of your species have committed great crimes against ours. No Human is welcomed on Vulcan at this time. Leave immediately, I do not wish your lives on my katra." She ended her transmission.
Archer turned to Hoshi. "Katra?" he asked.
"Soul sir," she said.
"Two Vulcan ships approaching sir!" Malcolm called. "Their weapons are hot!"
"Travis, get us out of here," Archer said. "The last thing we need to do is provoke these people any further. I wonder what the hell happened."
In the rush to get away and not set off a battle with the Vulcans who had been their allies for so long, no one listened to Hoshi until it was too late. T'Pol, Trip and Dr. Phlox had been left behind on the planet's surface.
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Dr. Phlox was deep in discussion with several colleagues over a late lunch. He had delivered the Tuckers to SubCommander T'Pol's family and from there they had been taken to the monastery where they would be examined by Mind Healers before their wedding. Now he was at the cafeteria of the Medical Wing of the Vulcan Science Institute, doing what doctors all over the galaxy did best; exchange information in order to learn. Most doctors in general he had found were insatiable when it came to learning everything they could, the good ones at least. Working lunches and other such informal meetings had generated more innovations in modern medicine than any other type of information exchange. They were also the best place to learn the latest gossip, no matter where in the galaxy you were, especially when the doctors were all participants of the medical exchange program.
*Vulcan has been buzzing with rumors for months now, mostly about your patients,* Dr. Ahjess Pren, a Trill burbled. *I've heard everything from 'the Vulcan observer on your ship married a Human to get out of her arraigned marriage' to 'she's gone crazy from living among Humans for so long'.*
*I heard that the Humans have finally had enough of the Vulcans and started killing them on sight,* Dr. Chell, a Bolian chuckled.
*Oh please,* Phlox laughed. *That can't be right. For one thing Enterprise was ordered here to deliver a Vulcan ambassador alive and well from her previous post. Not that I don't think a few Humans of my acquaintance haven't had thoughts in that direction a few times but it always passes. The Humans that I've had the most contact with tend to have a 'think about it and decide not to do it' attitude when it comes to unnecessary violence. Necessary violence on the other hand, they're quite good at.*
*I never believed that one. And while I don't really care if she wanted to marry her betrothed or not,* Dr. Pren admitted, *I am concerned about her mental health. We just don't know that much about what happens when a telepath spends that much time among non telepaths.*
*Ah yes, the bonding,* Dr. Phlox smiled brightly. *Let me see, it was about three, no almost four months ago now. We ran into a little problem with another ship that was more advanced than ours, in almost every respect. Or rather, they ran into us. We had five casualties, no fatalities thank goodness. Their CMO was quite helpful with them.
*Their first officer was a powerful telepath and he was the one who realized that SubCommander T'Pol had bonded with Commander Tucker. No one, least of all the couple in question, realized that they were in the process of bonding. It really is an amazing phenomenon. Even though neither of them initiated a bond consciously, the first time SubCommander T'Pol came into contact with Commander Tucker's mind, a chosen mate bond began to form between them.*
*Chosen mate bond? What's that?* both doctors leaned in towards Phlox eager to hear the details.
*Well you see,* Phlox began. He quickly finished the explanation. *You can come to the wedding with me if you like. I'm told that I can bring two guests of my own.*
*When is it?* Dr. Pren asked, going over her schedule in her mind. There was no way she'd miss this chance if she could go.
*Three days from now,* Phlox said. *It's being held at Mount Seleya.*
*That's the big ceremony?!* Dr. Chell asked excitedly. *There have been rumors going on about that for the last two months! All anyone really knows is that the preparations are being done at the T'Karath Sanctuary and it's supposed to be really big. All of the Clan Matriarchs have been gathering at the Sanctuary to take part. It's going to be huge!*
*But I thought it was supposed to be a uniting of the Clans ceremony? Something about Clan alliances?* Dr. Pren asked.
*Well I supposed they could see it in that fashion, after all this is the first time that a spontaneous bond has formed between a Vulcan and an alien. And I imagine that whenever this sort of thing has happened in the past it has been the basis of Clan alliances before. I see no reason that they shouldn't continue in the same fashion now.* Phlox mused. Agreeing, the three doctors continued their lunch.
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Trip was doing his best not to fidget by trying to figure out just how the water systems worked here in the Sanctuary. He had always known that Vulcan was a desert planet and that water conservation was a priority. But there were a few things that didn't make sense. T'Pol rose from her position beside him and left the small courtyard. They were supposed to be waiting for one of the Healers to come and get them. She quickly returned with a data PADD. "The schematics are on here," she said quietly.
"Thanks," he said sheepishly. He really didn't like sitting around on his hands and liked to keep busy if he could. And productively busy was even better for him; busy work sucked. Something about the water system bugged him. He couldn't place it just yet but now that he had the schematics he was sure he could figure it out. He quickly lost himself in the plans.
A Vulcan priestess sat down next to T'Pol. *May I enquire as to the reason you have given your mate the maintenance instruction manual for the watering systems?* she asked curiously. The question of their bond had already been settled, although the implications were still being discussed. T'Pol knew that those would be raging for months, if not years.
*My mate finds inactivity without purpose to be difficult. As he is an Engineer he has been trying to visually study the mechanics of the water system to learn how they work. It is difficult to do so without the schematics. Humans as a species are driven to learn new things. I did not wish for him to try to dismantle the water systems to try and learn how they work,* T'Pol said calmly. Trip would not be doing here what he had done at P'Jem. The memory of his pacing and fiddling with artifacts was bad enough. She was determined that he was not going to repeat it.
"I wouldn't do that and you know it. Might drive myself nuts trying to figure it out though," Trip said absentmindedly. He pulled out a stylus and began modifying the diagrams.
"According to your mother you are as bad as your father when it comes to new mechanical systems. I am also well aware that you find it difficult to keep your hands to yourself when you are bored," T'Pol said. Trip could feel her amusement and flashed her a grin. He sent back a feeling of chagrined agreement through their bond.
*What is he doing?* Curiosity was the one emotion allowed to Vulcans and while it too was controlled, most gave into it often.
*He is redesigning the system to function more efficiently,* T'Pol said.
*That cannot be done.* the Priestess said. *The system is as efficient as possible.*
*You have never encountered Humans before,* T'Pol said. *It is difficult to describe as they are so illogical but they are exceedingly capable once they have the proper information. I have no doubt that my mate will be able to improve the systems.* She did not doubt it. Trip was an extremely capable Engineer. She was also pleased that in a moment of idleness he was doing something that would show his worth to those who doubted him. She was even more pleased that he had no clue that he was doing so. He was simply being himself and that was the best thing of all.
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Post by dragonfan on Jan 6, 2008 16:26:56 GMT -5
Chapter 27
T'Les was pleased with the solution that T'Pau had come up with. The situation was far more dire than she had ever imagined. Administrator V'Las, the head of the Vulcan High Command, was falsifying reports. Or rather, he was limiting the facts so that the reports slanted in a particular direction, particularly in regards towards certain alien species. The raw information that had been collected at P'Jem had merely solidified an already on going investigation. The pattern that had been revealed was clear. The man was trying to start a war with Andoria and make certain that Vulcan would have to fight that war alone. The only questions were why and who else was involved?
The entire situation made little sense to her but she trusted that T'Pau knew what she was doing. This was politics and that was where her oldest daughter's greatest talents lay. HER job in this matter was clear. And it was a job that she was very pleased to have. She was to ensure that her youngest daughter was married in as public a display as possible. Logically there was only one option, the full kal'i'farr.
The full rites had not been held for centuries. The last time was when a daughter of one Clan Matriarch had formed a chosen bond with the son of another Clan Matriarch. And that was how she had decided to ensure that few realized just what was going to happen. It had to be kept a secret until the wedding itself took place. But a full meeting of the Clan Matriarchs to announce new Clan alliances, that was something that happened every generation or so and it was just about time for another one.
"Just please tell me that the words haven't changed." T'Les could hear her daughter's mate pleading.
"Is something wrong?" she asked, walking into the room and over to T'Pol and Trip. They were sitting on a bench in the stark room that they had been given for the time that they would be waiting. She noticed that Trip was gently banging the back of his head against the wall. She also noticed that her daughter was doing nothing to stop him. Just as she was wondering why T'Pol did not stop this self injuring behavior Trip stopped.
"The words have not changed Trip, at least not the words that you have memorized," T'Pol said gently.
"Thank God, I don't think I could have taken that. I have a hard enough time with those. There's no way I'd get it right if the script changed on me. I'd scramble things worse than usual," Trip sighed. "I just hope that everyone can understand me."
T'Pol knew that he was referring to his accent. They just couldn't get rid of it. "I can give you the words," she offered one more time.
"No darlin' I gotta do this on my own," Trip smiled at her. "Don't try to logic it out. It isn't logical. But it is something I gotta do. I need to show them that I'm willing to do something that is next to impossible just for you." T'Les did not understand why he considered saying his vows next to impossible but she did approve of his motives. Trip saw that she didn't understand and said, "Ma'am I'm an Engineer, not a linguist. I've memorized what I'm supposed to say and I can say it after a fashion. But I simply can't say the words properly no matter how hard I try. My accent keeps getting in the way."
T'Les understood. Humans weren't the only ones with regional accents. Vulcans had them as well. "That is irrelevant. The fact that you are doing your best to honor our traditions is what matters. And in doing so you are proving yourself to be pudor-tor, one who is worthy of honor and respect."
Trip blushed bright red, "Thank you ma'am."
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"What happened?" Archer demanded to know. He was speaking to Admiral Forrest, the one man who was closest to the Vulcans on Earth. If anyone knew just what it was that had set off the Vulcans it should be him.
"Someone killed almost every Vulcan in the embassy here in San Francisco." Archer could see the bleakness on Forrest's face. "And they did it with some sort of virus. The only survivors are either hanging on to life by a thread or weren't there when the virus was released. Thank God the building was totally sealed. They did it so that they could make the inside climate more like Vulcan."
"Is the virus contained?" Archer wanted to know first. Then he could ask the other questions that crowded his mind.
"The building has been sterilized of any and all viruses and what virus remains is in the hands of Star Fleet Medical. There is a full investigation going on but we're having trouble. There are so many people who go through there on a daily basis that it makes it almost impossible to find out when the virus was planted much less who set it off.," Forrest said.
"Did Soval make it?" Archer asked. He knew that the ambassador was somehow connected to T'Pol, although he wasn't sure of the exact connection.
"Yes, he was with me here at Star Fleet Command when the virus was released." He didn't say it but Archer could see the relief on Forrest's face. He had finally figured out that the two crusty old men were friends. "But until we figure out who did this and why the Vulcan High Command is breaking off all relations with us. Hell, they may just end up shooting us all back to the Stone Age in retaliation!"
"I doubt they'll do that sir but we had best get to work on figuring out this out before anyone else dies. I doubt whoever did this is just going to go away," Archer said respectfully. Personally he wasn't sure they wouldn't. No terrorist in Human history just gave up after just one attack.
The Vulcan government had always been a thorn in his side, he admitted. But while he had always thought of them as one of the biggest bullies on the block, he had never wanted them dead. And they were changing. He had gotten an apology from Soval; probably the first that dried up old prune had given anyone. He had also given him T'Pol; a fine first officer and friend, not to mention a wonderful wife for his best friend, and what about Sarek? Wasn't he T'Pol's nephew or something? Archer tried to recall if he was the same person Soval had sent to the Human kindergarten to study how Humans matured. He dimly remembered that the kid was doing his first stretch in diplomatic service and wasn't even considered an adult yet.
"There was a young man from T'Pol's family working at the embassy sir, I think his name is Sarek. I think he was studying how Humans matured, do you know if he's alright?" Archer and Forrest both knew that T'Pol was likely to already know the information but the Enterprise crew had taken T'Pol into their family months ago. Her family was their family.
"I know who you mean. That kid is as lucky as Soval. The school where he helps out as a teacher's aid was in the middle of a field trip when the virus was released. I personally never would have thought that escorting a bunch of elementary school kids to a farm was lucky until now." Archer remembered his own school field trips and nodded. He and Malcolm would have been laughing their heads off at the idea of a Vulcan chaperoning a school field trip before. Now he could only be thankful that the kid was there instead of in the middle of what had to be a massacre.
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Little Amanda Grayson watched as her friend Sarek packed up his things that he had in his desk. It was just like the teacher's desk only it didn't have as much fun stuff on it. "But why do you have to go Sarek?" she asked mournfully. "I don't want you to go. I like you! You can stay with my mommy and daddy. They won't make you leave!"
"I must go. Many of my people have died and we are being recalled to our home planet until the investigation is over." He paused. "I too do not wish to go. Your people are fascinating and I am learning much about you. But the High Command must ensure that all of our people are protected as much as possible." He hoped that the explanation would suffice. He had come to learn that young Humans, especially when they were this young seldom listened to logic if they did not wish to.
Amanda pouted. That was not what she wanted to hear. "But you're safe here! Mr. Thomas and Miss Angela and Mr. Johnson and Mr. Ellington and Mrs. March all take good care of us! They won't let those meanies hurt you! You don't have to go!"
Sarek sighed; he did not want to have to explain this. For some unknown reason Amanda and the other children he was studying could get him to do just about anything when they made that expression. At first it had totally bewildered him but he had soon learned that it meant that they were extremely unhappy. They had an air of innocence that he did not wish to disrupt. And this would cause a large disruption. Indeed he feared that the disruption would be large enough to cause them to cry. He did not wish to see the children crying because of him.
Then he remembered something that he had seen earlier. He knelt down on the floor so that he was closer to the small child's height. He had learned that this is what one did when a serious matter was to be discussed. "Amanda, just as there are things that you do not wish to do that you must, so there are things that I must do that I do not wish to do. The adults in our lives make the rules and we must obey them."
Amanda's eyes grew wide. "You're not a grownup?" she whispered. He solemnly shook his head. "How come you aren't in school?"
"I am Vulcan, Amanda and my people do not become 'grownups' as you say for much longer than yours do. I am finished with my schooling and now I am learning the beginnings of the job that I will make my life's work. That is what I am doing here at your school. But I must still do as I am told. Just as when you are told to go to school and to take a nap and when you are not permitted to eat candy." Sarek hoped that this time she would understand.
Amanda sighed. She did not like to take naps and she loved candy. She hated it when she was told no too. "I understand but I'm going to miss you!" she said as she threw her arms around him.
Sarek was startled but rallied quickly and patted her on the back as he had seen Miss Angela do with the other children. "I will miss you as well." She let him go and he stood to gather his things. She wasn't the only one who expressed sadness at his leaving. The entire class stood on the front lawn to watch him leave. But it was one little Human girl that he would miss the most. She had accepted him before any of the others and some were still wary of him. He hoped that he would be allowed to return soon.
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Post by dragonfan on Jan 6, 2008 22:38:57 GMT -5
A/N: Conversations in " are in English, in [ ] are in Vulcan and in / are telepathy through the bond.
Chapter 28
In the private room that had been set aside for Trip and T'Pol, her immediate family was gathered. Her mother, sisters and sister's in law were seated on cushions in a circle and their mates stood behind them. T'Les sat on the cushion farthest from the door and was the only one without a man behind her. T'Les was a fortunate woman. She had survived the death of her husband and bondmate and most of her children had survived to adulthood. One of her daughters had not survived the kahs-wan. One of her sons had not survived an encounter with Andorians during his service in the Vulcan High Command. The other five were gathered here for T'Pol's wedding.
T'Pau sat on her right and her face was more controlled than any Vulcan Trip had ever seen before. He knew by now that the more controlled a Vulcan's expression, the stronger the feeling behind it. She had just told them of the events that had occurred on Earth. And the fact that she had proof that V'Las was behind it. [What of your son Sarek?] T'Les asked.
[He was not at the embassy when the virus was released,] T'Pau answered. [But his betrothed mate was. She has died from the virus. She had survived the initial attack but succumbed later.]
Trip realized who she was talking about at the same time that T'Pol did. He didn't know why it hadn't occurred to him that Sarek, father of Spock in the next reality over, would not have a Vulcan betrothal in this one. /Darlin' do you think he's going to marry a Human girl in this reality too?/ he asked T'Pol.
/I do not see why not. It is more likely to happen now that his betrothed is dead./ she answered. T'Les and the others noticed the look that the two were sharing. [T'Pol, you and your mate have some knowledge of this event?] she asked.
[Not of the event itself Mother,]T'Pol said. As first officer it was her place to explain and even more so as she was female and this was her culture. She had explained earlier to Trip that here, as a male, he was to remain silent, only speaking to her through their bond. She would say anything that needed to be said for both of them. [Within the family is silence,] she requested. Everyone nodded their agreement before she continued.
[Four months ago the Enterprise was involved in an interdimensional rift. It tore open the boundaries between this reality and the next one over in the branches of probabilities. Enterprise encountered a ship from that universe. Spock, son of Sarek, was the First Officer of that ship. It was he and his bondmate that informed my mate and I of our bond. The Sarek of that universe was not bonded to the same woman that my nephew was bonded to. As Sarek would not bring shame to our family, I thought that Spock's parentage was merely a matter of the differences between his reality and ours.] T'Pol carefully explained.
Heads nodded around the circle. It was a logical conclusion to come to. [Who was this Sarek bonded to?] T'Pau asked.
[Spock's mother was Human,] T'Pol admitted. [In order to care for him the Healer of that ship had to know how he was created. He genetically engineered enough zygotes that my mate and I will not have to use a donor for the entirety of my fertile years.]
/d**n right! You're not having anyone's kids but mine!/ Trip said firmly.
/I wish no other man's child./ T'Pol returned. [Dr. Phlox is even now sharing the information on how the genetic engineering necessary is possible with the Healers and Doctors working at the Science Institute. With this knowledge other interspecies couples will eventually be able to conceive children.]
[Are you aware of the identity of Spock's mother?]T'Pau questioned. Trip could practically see the matchmaking plans hatch in her eyes. He was grateful that no one knew just who she was. Few Humans still participated in arraigned marriages and most considered the practice to be barbaric. It would not do to have T'Pau trying to track the poor girl down. Heck, they didn't even know if she had been born yet!
T'Pol easily picked up the thoughts flashing through Trip's mind. [We do not. However, it would not matter if we did. Humans do not arrange marriages as we do. It must be her choice to accept Sarek as her mate when she is old enough to make that choice. And it must be his choice to court her in the Human fashion. He will not experience the chosen mate bond as my mate and I did.]
T'Pau and her mate both nodded. [Then he shall be allowed his choice. Whether the mate he chooses be Human or Vulcan she will be welcomed in my home.]
/What about Ambassador Grumpy?/ Trip asked.
[Did Soval survive?] T'Pol asked, as she sent her mate a mental tap. She still did not approve of his use of Soval's 'nickname' although she was aware that Trip meant no disrespect.
[He too was not at the embassy when the virus was released.] T'Pau answered. She could understand her sister's concern. Soval was not only her mentor; he was also deeply involved in the Human's Star Fleet. [V'Las has recalled all of the survivors and had demanded the remains of those who have died. He is blaming his actions on Human terrorists. All will be returning to Vulcan on the Enterprise at my request. It is unfortunate that the Enterprise will not be here for your wedding.]
[Because of this, we have made other arrangements for the wedding.]T'Les announced. [Dr. Phlox as you have said is still at the Science Institute. I have informed him that he is required to participate in the wedding as one of your mate's attendants as he is the only other male here who serves on Enterprise. He was quite pleased at the honor although he was startled to learn that the Enterprise had left. There is currently only one other member of Star Fleet on Vulcan. His name is Major Hayes. He was on leave and exploring the Fire Plains when V'Les expelled all Humans from Vulcan. He was brought here to ensure his safety. He will be your mate's other attendant. This will be our Clan's alliance for this generation.] T'Les' voice was firm. As Clan Mother her word was final on Clan matters.
For his part Trip was in a state of shock. First was the shock that Enterprise had left without them. He knew that Jon wouldn't have left them voluntarily, especially without telling them. The second shock was that it was T'Les who had made the announcement. He had learned about the Clans of Vulcan in his studies and was aware that only a Clan Mother could make such a statement. He hadn't had a clue that T'Les was the Clan Mother for T'Pol's Clan. The thought that she was making a Clan Alliance with Star Fleet was enough to knock him over with a feather.
T'Pol on the other hand was amused at the announcement although she was grateful to learn that Enterprise would be returning. She had no wish to remain on Vulcan until the speculation had died down. She was amused because she knew that T'Pau was behind her mother's announcement. A Clan Alliance with Star Fleet would publicly state just how her family and Clan viewed Humans. And with her marriage there was nothing that anyone could do or say to prevent it. It was just the sort of political maneuvering that T'Pau was becoming famous for.
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"I just don't understand it," Archer said quietly to Admiral Forrest as he led Ambassador Soval to Trip's former quarters. As it was the largest of the open quarters it was becoming the unofficial VIP quarters. The higher the passenger's rank, the more likely it was that the passenger would end up there. The Vulcan Ambassador walked silent behind the two Humans. "Why would the Vulcan High Command kick us out of their territory and then turn around and ask us to bring their people back to Vulcan? Not that I'm not grateful. They didn't give us enough time to recall our people from Vulcan. I still have three crewmen there."
"You are correct that these actions would not be logical Captain Archer but you are working under a faulty theory," Soval stated. "It was not the Vulcan High Command that requested that Enterprise transport us back to Vulcan. It was the Vulcan High Council."
Archer wasn't surprised that Soval had heard him but he was surprised that the elderly Vulcan had answered. He opened the door to the VIP quarters and ushered them in. "I've never heard of the Vulcan High Council sir. What is it?" he asked respectfully.
Soval settled on the bunk and gestured to the men for one to take a seat at the desk. Archer deferred to Forrest and leaned against the bulkhead. "The Vulcan High Command is our military. Centuries ago they were charged with all dealings with alien species. That is why all Vulcan Ambassadors work for the High Command. The High Council is our government. It is they who have requested your services. As to the reason behind their request, I do not have that information." That was an outright lie, although it was one that Soval did not wish to make. He was one of the undercover investigators for the High Council into Administer V'Las' actions.
"May I ask which crewmembers are still on Vulcan Captain?" Soval changed the subject not so much to distract the Humans from the direction the conversation was taking as to distract himself. The knowledge of what was now being loaded into the Enterprise cargo bay was a heavy one. One that he felt he should have been able to prevent. How could he have not seen that V'Las would have gone that far to protect his interests?
Archer sighed. "SubCommander T'Pol and Commander Tucker were being seen by the Vulcan Mind Healers. It was mostly a check up to see how much they've recovered since the attack on their bond. After that they were scheduled to get married in a Vulcan ceremony at Mount Seleya. Dr. Phlox went with them to deliver them to the Healers. I wasn't given any time to contact them much less retrieve them before we were ordered to leave Vulcan space."
Soval nodded. Although he would have preferred Dr. Phlox being available to treat those still ill from the virus he was confident that the doctors the Earth government had provided were capable. "Do you know when the ceremony is to take place?"
Archer sighed. "It'll be long over by the time we get there. Lieutenant Reed and I were to be Commander Tucker's attendants. I hope they found someone to take our place. For that matter, I hope nothing goes wrong and we can get them all back here on Enterprise."
"There should be no problems on Vulcan," Soval said. 'At least no problems for your people,' he thought. "Are the arrangements I asked for complete?"
Archer had learned from T'Pol that the stonier the face, the stronger a Vulcan was controlling his or her emotions. "Yes sir. Everything is set up in Cargo Bay Three," he said quietly. That was where the bodies were being placed for the journey to Vulcan.
Soval nodded. "When we will be leaving for Vulcan?" he asked.
"As soon as everyone is on board, perhaps another hour," Archer said. He didn't want to tell the Ambassador that Star Fleet was taking the opportunity to restock Enterprise as much as possible while he was getting the Vulcans settled. "We'll leave you to get settled in. There are meditation candles in the cabinet here," he said and ushered Forrest out. He still had to get the Admiral settled in for the journey as well.
"How bad is it?" Archer asked once they were in the Admiral's quarters.
"It looks like a Vulcan did this Jon. I just can't figure out why!" Forrest growled as he sat down on the tiny couch. "Hopefully we'll get some answers when we get to Vulcan."
"I wouldn't count on it sir," Archer said.
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Post by dragonfan on Jan 6, 2008 22:50:07 GMT -5
Chapter 29
(Language is English)
Major Hayes was in a quandary. First off all he was supposed to be on short term leave. Having a weekend leave wasn't much fun on this planet but he had managed to find a volcanic phenomenon to study. Volcanoes were his hobby and the Vulcan Fire Plains were frankly the best site he'd ever seen in person. They were hands down better than anything he'd seen on Earth. They were almost enough to make him want to shift over to those Star Fleet punks if this was the sort of thing they got to see regularly. On the other hand, Star Fleet was for those who couldn't make it in the MACOs and MACOs were the ones who guarded embassies. They had inherited that duty from the Marines their service was descended from. It would be far easier to sign up for more guard duty on other planets.
The second problem was that everyone around here had seemingly gone nuts. There was no way a Human had smuggled a virus into the Vulcan Embassy on Earth. Not with two different security systems and teams going over everyone and every thing going into that building. Plus there were security measures in place that no one knew about outside of those who served on those security teams. He also knew for a fact that both teams had secretes that they'd kept from each other too. Hayes had spent six months there preparing for his tour of duty here. It just wasn't possible; which meant that a Vulcan had to have created the virus on site. There were enough scientists running around that building to make it possible.
So here he was, stuck in a Vulcan monastery, while the Vulcans in general went nuts. He wasn't sure if he was a prisoner, or a guest or what. If he was a prisoner he had the duty to escape. Only he was behind enemy lines if that was the case, and in the middle of the worst desert on the entire planet. There was a reason it was called the Forge. There was no way he'd survive an escape attempt. If he was a guest, then he had overstayed his leave and was now AWOL. That was something that had never happened to him before. He was a MACO and extremely proud of if. He would never bring shame to his service like that.
On the other hand, from what he had been able to pick up from the locals, you didn't ever disobey the old broads that were hanging out here. Learning the local language was something that every embassy guard did their best to do as you never knew what sort of information you could pick up from listening to the man on the street. Listening, not talking; embassy guards stood duty, they didn't talk to tourists. Who knew, the old ladies might just be the equivalent of the local governor. And he was under orders to obey any reasonable request from the locals.
He was pacing the guest room; he guessed it was proper to call it a cell either way as it had belonged to one of the monks before he was put in here, when another Human walked in. "I thought all of the other Humans got kicked off the planet?" he asked as he held out his hand. "Major J. Hayes, MACO."
Trip smiled, "Commander Trip Tucker, Star Fleet, Chief Engineer of the Enterprise."
"Why don't you sit down Commander? I'm afraid I don't have much in the way of accommodations but we can share the bunk if you're willing."
"Better than those pillows they use around here. I know these guys are priests and such but would a chair inside the rooms kill 'em?" Trip chuckled as they both sat down on the bed. It was the only piece of furniture in the room other than a meditation pillow in front of a firepot.
"Do you know what's going on Commander?" Trip noticed that although the guy was as relaxed as possible under the circumstances, he didn't stop using Trip's rank. Hayes had to be career MACO.
"Well, I got good news and I got bad news," Trip started.
"I'll take the bad first."
Trip nodded. He'd expected no less from a MACO, they were as bad as Malcolm in his opinion. "It's pretty bad. The head of the Vulcan High Command has committed mass murder of his own people and blamed it on us. Almost every Vulcan at their embassy is dead, killed by a virus that he ordered released. His name is V'Las and he's using their deaths to kick us out and cut off diplomatic relations. What I'm really afraid of is that this guy is planning a coup. The High Command is the Vulcan Military, the High Council rules the planet and right now the entire council is right here." Trip pointed to the ground. "Normally they're scattered all over the planet taking care of their own Clans and the Clan Mothers just send their chosen reps to the High Council meetings in Shi'Kahr. But they're having this huge ceremony right now that involves all of the Clans. It's a perfect setup for V'Las and whoever is working for him."
"How does kicking us out work into that?" Hayes asked, his mind searching for answers.
Trip grinned evilly. "I don't think he knew that I was down here. He knew just when Enterprise was supposed to get here but we made it in a little early. I think he wanted to make sure that my wife and I weren't on the planet when he set things into motion. You see, I'm married to Enterprise's FO and she's Vulcan, and the daughter of a Clan Mother. We're having a Vulcan marriage ceremony as part of the big to-do here. And when that happens, it will cement an alliance between her Clan and Star Fleet. That in turn will take some if not all of the power away from V'Las if I'm reading the situation right."
"You're married to a Vulcan, sir?" Hayes asked.
Trip laughed. "I know what you're thinking. I'm a sick B*st*rd for hooking up with a Vulcan. But they're a good people in general and you can see from what's going on that they aren't that different from us."
"And you love her," Hayes said. He'd seen it before. Tucker might be around his age but he'd seen enough youngsters in love among his troops to know all the signs.
"Yep," Trip said smugly. "And the really weird thing is she loves me back, although she'd never admit it. You see for Vulcans, admitting that they have emotions in any way is rude and uncivilized behavior. You're a MACO so you've probably seen enough of the Human equivalent of that over the years to understand why a lady like she is won't admit it."
"So how did the two of you hook up if she's not going to admit it? And how do you know she does?" Hayes wanted to know. What Hayes really wanted to know was how disturbed this guy really was. If he had a rational explanation then he could probably be trusted and if he didn't, well then, he'd probably have to call the priests to come take the mental patient away.
"That's easy enough. You see Vulcans are touch telepaths and they form permanent mental connections with their mates called bonds. Their religions says that any bond that forms on its own with no conscious help from those involved is a bond created by God, who they call the Other by the way. Now the bond that T'Pol and I have is one of those spontaneous bonds. You can't hide how you feel from someone who is inside your head."
Hayes had to admit that was one smooth setup for Earth. He knew about the bond stuff, it was in his briefing and he'd asked about the generalities before. So Tucker probably wasn't talking out his *ss about him and his wife. And if he was it didn't really matter. None of the Vulcans were going to be able to say crap about the wedding if the priests said it was set up by God. And if Tucker was right about this V'Las guy then Earth and Star Fleet was going to need the wedding and the alliance that went with it.
Xon, one of T'Pol's brothers and Skon, T'Pau's bondmate entered through the room's open door leading Dr. Phlox. "Commander Tucker, have you had time to inform Major Hayes as to the part we need him to perform in the kal'i'fee ceremony?" Skon asked.
Hayes knew that kal'i'fee meant marriage. So Tucker was serious. He looked over Tucker and noticed that he was dressed in Vulcan robes similar to what the unknown alien was wearing. He decided that he would go along with whatever Tucker would ask him. He had to support Earth in anyway that he could.
"Nope not yet, I was just getting to that." Trip turned back to Hayes. "I need a Human groomsman for the ceremony. Dr. Phlox here is going to be my best man because he serves on Enterprise with me but you're the only other Human on the planet right now. What do you say?"
"What do I have to do?"
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(Language is Vulcan)
T'Pol waited in the small courtyard in her wedding finery. There was just one last person in her wedding party who had yet to arrive. T'Pol rose to greet him as he entered. "Koss," she called as she bowed her head.
"T'Pol," he returned as walked up to her. He had wondered why his family had been called to participate in the Great Gathering. Although his family was prominent in these times, they had not been so in the days of the Awakening. His only connection to the families of the Clan Mothers was his once betrothal to T'Pol. Now that he saw her finery, he understood. As her former betrothed he would stand beside her to champion her should she call the challenge. "Does the Clan Xtmprsqzntwlfd require a champion?"
"Only as a formality," she assured him. "My marriage is to take place as part of the Clan Alliances, thus the full rites are to take place."
"I had heard that your mate was, Human." he said uneasily. Koss wasn't sure whether or not the rumors were true. The reports were so conflicting as to be utterly worthless. The only thing that was certain was that T'Pol's bond was that of chosen mates. He himself had known that for months now as the bond between them had withered. It had died a full death months ago. Skon's announcement had been merely a formality for him.
"Yes," she said simply. "My husband is the Chief Engineer of Enterprise."
"Your husband?" he asked.
"We have already married in the manner of his people. We now marry in the manner of mine," she said.
"I am curious to meet the man who the Other has chosen for you."
"He is Human," T'Pol warned him. Then she changed the subject. "Have you found a new betrothed? I do not wish you ill."
"I was fortunate. One of my colleagues had no betrothed as her parents wished for her to choose her own mate. Her name is T'Pring and she has accepted my proposal." Koss was actually pleased with the new arrangement. He was not fond of non-Vulcans and would rather spend his days in his studio designing buildings than have to deal with aliens. T'Pol, he knew was fascinated by the unknown. T'Pol was far better off with her mate just as he was with T'Pring.
"I wish you both well," T'Pol said without rancor. She had never truly wanted Koss. She personally thought he was the dullest person on the face of Vulcan; halfwits had more personality than he did. She had said a prayer of thanks to the Other every night since the Healer had proclaimed her bond to Trip was real.
"It is time," called T'Pau. Silently the wedding party together to travel to Mount Seleya.
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