Disclaimer: Don't own 'em. Wish I did.
Spoilers: For this chapter, TOS "Star Trek III: the Search for Spock" and ENT "Kir'Shara".
Pairings: T/T'P implied.
Notes: This is kind of an experiment for me. "Guardian Angels" is a series of stories that involve the ENT crew as guides. They influence certain people make certain decisions, even if they've been physically gone for 150+ years. The settings are important events in Star Trek history. You'll see what I mean when you read it.
This first one opens at a very familiar place, at a very important moment. We start on Vulcan...
One
2285, Mount Seleya, Vulcan
"Forgive me, T'Lar. My logic is...uncertain, where my son is concerned."
T'Lys, Priestess of the Temple of Mount Seleya and acolyte of the formidable T'Lar, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at Ambassador Sarek's admission. She stood in the shadows with the other priestesses, out of direct sight of Sarek and the Humans, but she knew her mentor could feel her astonishment across the courtyard. To her credit, T'Lar didn't turn around to stare at her in disapproval T'Lys winced inwardly; she had to control these emotional impulses before they did her irreparable damage.Her familiarity and fascination of Human behavior was unseeming for a daughter of a noble House.
Hence, her study of Kolinahr, the eradication of all emotion. Yet these Humans fascinated her, despite her best efforts. T'Lys reminded herself she was Vulcan and she followed the Vulcan way. It was much safer, much more predictable.
Even if it meant denying her very soul.
T'Lar pressed on with the formal ceremony. "Who is the keeper of the katra?"
Another surprise, as one of the Humans stepped forward. "I am. McCoy, Leonard H. Son of David." This Human looked exhausted, as if he carried the weight of the universe on his shoulders, but his voice was steady. T'Lys's sharp ears identified the accent, from the southern part of North America, probably from Alabama or Georgia or thereabouts. Again, she repressed a stab of amusement, and again, she felt the disapproval radiate from T'Lar.
"McCoy, son of David...Since thou art Human..." T'Lys watched the man's reaction as T'Lar outlined the gravity of the situation. He showed a hint of impatient amusement, as if he was accustomed to courting danger, and all he wanted was to go ahead with the Ritual. It was strange how she could read his emotions, but there they were.
She identified the other Humans: Admiral James T. Kirk. Captain Montgomery Scott, Commander Pavel Chekov, Commander Hikaru Sulu, Lieutenant Saavik. T'Lys could sympathize with Saavik, but she kept that emotion to herself.
"...but McCoy, you must be warned...the danger to thyself is as grave as the danger to Spock. You must make the choice."
His answer was immediate. "I choose the danger." Then, sotto voce to Admiral Kirk standing next to him, "Helluva time to ask." The dry quip threatened to put a thoroughly un-Vulcan smile on T'Lys's face, but she schooled her features to Vulcan impassiveness. When T'Lar's command echoed in her brain, she was prepared for it.
Escort him to the altar stone, T'Lys, and have him lie down upon it. And please, child, try to be dignified and not stumble over your formal robes. This is not the time to be accident-prone.
T'Lys chuckled mentally at the senior priestess's dry tone, with equal parts of sarcasm and warmth. No one believed the Vulcan had a sense of humor, but the T'Lar would only claim she was being "logical". For a master of Kolinahr, T'Lar was not a typical master.
She and a fellow priestess walked down to McCoy and brought him up the steps to the altar. Although she kept her gaze away from his, she could feel the weight of his scrutiny. Then she helped McCoy stretch out upon the altar stone. He gazed up at her with a mixture of trust and fear in his clear blue eyes; T'Lys allowed a shadow of a smile to cross her face. Before he could react, she had returned to her place in the shadows.
They were ready for the Ritual, and T'Lar said the opening words. The senior priestess placed one hand on Spock's forehead and the other hand on McCoy's. He closed his eyes at T'Lar's touch. They all could feel power gathering among the Vulcans; T'Lys closed her eyes with the rest of them, lending T'Lar her strength for the task ahead. No one had attempted a fal tor pan in millennia.
Her consciousness strove to join the others, but as she reached with her mind, she found herself in a different place entirely. Well, almost entirely...a new vista opened in front of her, both strange and familiar at the same time.
"What is this?" Her own voice seemed to echo over the mountain. It was Mount Seleya, but not the Mount Seleya of reality. T'Lar, McCoy, Spock, and everyone else had disappeared. Instead of the grand temple of the Kolinahru behind her, a modest adobe structure stood in its foundations. Then she saw a figure sitting on a stone ledge, admiring the view of the desert below. That figure turned to address her.
"Beautiful view, isn't it? I always wanted to come up here and see for myself, but I never got the chance." He turned back to the desert and said, "Well, here I am."
"Yes, you are here...sir," T'Lys said, unsure of what to say, "but I don't understand the significance of this...hallucination."
His mouth quirked upwards in amusement, much like T'Lar's when she was presented with sheer illogic. "You sound just like your ancestor, don't you know? She tried to analyze when all she really needed was to let things...be. Come up here; let me take a good look at you. No sense in staying in the shadows."
There was a very Human warmth in the order. T'Lys walked up and stood next to the strange Human. He was tall, with sandy brown hair and green eyes, and wore a jumpsuit of blue. Yellow stripes adorned his shoulder. T'Lys glanced at his right hand and noticed the canine sprawled on the ledge, asleep in the warm sun. The man's hand scratched the canine's ears with practiced ease.
Even if she hadn't seen the canine, she would have recognized the man anyway.
"Jonathan Archer," she whispered. "Son of Henry and Sally."
Archer smiled at her and replied, "T'Lys, daughter of T'Mir, daughter of T'Lissa, daughter of T'Pol and Charles Tucker the Third." He pronounced her name "T'Liz", an uncommon variation of the Vulcan name.
She stared at him. "How did you know my bloodline? It is..."
"A state secret?" He sounded amused. Despite herself, T'Lys allowed herself a smile at his words. "Remember, I was your second forefather's best friend. You were named after his sister, who was killed in the Xindi attack on Earth."
"Yes, Elizabeth. I remember the family story."
" I was also your second foreparents's commanding officer and watched their relationship grow." Archer's smile vanished. "I was also responsible of hiding T'Lissa after her parents were killed."
"Ah," was all T'Lys said. "I owe you my very existence, then."
"Let's just say it was the right thing to do." Archer turned and looked over the desert again, so she couldn't see the expression on his face. They stood in companionable silence for a moment.
T'Lys finally got the courage to ask what was uppermost in her mind. "Why are you here at this particular time, Del'haiu? There must be a logical reason for your presence. I would have thought perhaps one or the other of my second foreparents would be here.
He laughed, a rich tone that surprised her. "'Elder'. That really makes me feel old, T'Lys." Then he sobered. "Well, that's true...T'Pol nearly decided to appear instead, but there is a 'logical' reason why I'm here, as you put it."
"Indeed?"
"You seem surprised that a Human can carry a Vulcan's katra around in his head."
T'Lys shook her head. "Surprised, but not shocked. I have had the honor of knowing a good number of Humans and friendship between them and Vulcans are not unheard of. I believe you and my second foreparents had some influence in those kind of relations."
Archer inclined his head at her. "Doctor McCoy isn't the first Human to carry around someone's marbles in his head. I can honestly say that I sympathize with his dilemma. You believe you're going to go crazy...or worse."
She raised an eyebrow. "But how...I never heard of..."
Archer took a deep breath and told her the story of Surak, and of the Kir'shara, and how he had carried Surak's essence within him for a short time. T'Lys's eyebrow climbed higher and higher as he talked. Midway through the story, the canine flipped over onto his back, and Archer rubbed his stomach as he settled back into a doze.
"That is...extraordinary..." she whispered. "Little wonder that no one ever told us about this..."
"The point is that a Human can understand a Vulcan's heart and vice versa. Your second foreparents knew this. Trip and T'Pol argued, fought and disagreed with each other sometimes, but they knew each other pretty well. What's that quote...'the spear is the other's heart----"
"'---is the spear in your own. You are he.'"
"And tell me something, T'Lys...you are studying, what, Kolinahr?"
"The complete banishment of emotion, yes, Del'haiu."
The emerald eyes flashed and his lips flattened into a thin line. "You're making a big mistake."
She jerked away as if he had burned her. For once, she was stunned into speechlessness. As if on cue, the canine opened his eyes and growled softly. She gazed down at the canine---Porthos, the legendary dog of Captain Archer of the original Enterprise---then realized her hand went automatically to pet the animal on the head. T'Lys hesitated, then saw Archer's nod of permission. She stroked the dog until its hackles subsided.
"Think about it. You've interacted with Humans, you can read our emotions, you can predict what we'll do---at least, somewhat logically." Again, he chuckled. "You have an inner gift, T'Lys, one that will help the Federation tremendously, if you choose to take the challenge."
T'Lys gazed at Porthos with a thoughtful expression. "How can I tell my mentor that I wish to abandon all I have worked for all these decades?"
"I think T'Lar will surprise you. Give her a bit of credit. She's known about the Human blood that flows in your veins, so I don't think she'll be overly surprised." A grin quirked upon his lips. "Your family has always been...contrary, especially for Vulcans. Your second forefather had a bit to do with that."
Porthos looked up at her with intelligence in his dark eyes. She looked at him, then nodded to herself. "Yes, you are correct, Del'haiu. I understand why my people still hold you in high regard."
"Good." He reached over Porthos and patted her on the shoulder. "You'll do all of us proud, T'Lys. Trip and T'Pol want you to know that they're happy for you, and when the time is right, we'll all be waiting for you."
T'Lys felt hot tears prickle the corners of her eyes. This is illogical, Vulcans do not cry. Yet here, in this place outside of space and time, it was allowed. Archer smiled at her one last time.
"Go back now and change your life."
Morning upon Mount Seleya.
T'Lys helped Spock with his white Vulcan robes as the Humans waited at the foot of the stairs. Sarek's son looked at her with a steady gaze, but she kept her own eyes lowered, as was proper. Then Spock walked down the stairs to face Admiral Kirk. T'Lys watched as Kirk tried to jolt the Vulcan's memory. When he succeeded, Kirk spun and looked at McCoy. The doctor smiled and tapped the side of his temple with his finger.
A Human can understand a Vulcan's heart and vice versa. Archer's voice reminded her. Perhaps it had all been a hallucination, but T'Lys knew that her second forefather's best friend had shown her the way to her destiny. All she had to do was take it. Perhaps Ambassador Sarek needed someone on his staff who understood these Humans.
The spear in the other's heart is the spear in your own; you are he, she thought. Rest in peace, Jonathan Archer, and tell my second foreparents...I look forward to meeting them at last.
T'Lys (my creation) is the great-granddaughter of T'Pol and Trip Tucker. Her "Guardian Angel" is Jonathan Archer and Porthos.