Chapter 2-

The alien craft was being repaired with reverence by Commander Tucker, with Ensign Mayweather eagerly pitching in. T'Pol ran scans, of her own, while looking over the interior.

"This is amazing." Travis marveled at the console that sat before him.

"Like Christmas mornin', huh?" Trip smiled over at the ensign, noticing the sub-commander inspecting the chains.

"Wonderin' what his crime was?" Tucker asked her.

"These are crude restraining devices for a species with this sort of technology." T'Pol ignored Tucker's question. "There are no weapons in this vessel. The male could easily have overpowered the female and escaped prior to being imprisoned in the stasis tube."

"So why didn't he?" Mayweather asked.

"Perhaps the main purpose of these bindings were not to physically restrain him." T'Pol offered.

"More mental than physical?" Trip clarified.

T'Pol raised her eyebrows and nodded to the commander. Mayweather looked from one officer to the other.

"I still don't get it." Travis sighed.

"He was not a prisoner." T'Pol told them. "He was her mate."

"Hello!" Now it was Trip's turn to raise his eyebrows.

"You get this, sir?" The ensign looked over at the commander, who just grinned and nodded.

"There are other ways to subdue humanoids other than just physically, Ensign." T'Pol explained.
"One can break them down mentally; spiritually, by using devices such as those to humiliate and degrade them."

"But he was her mate." Travis tried to comprehend. "Why would she want to do that to him?"

"Well, Travis..." Tucker started, then turned to T'Pol. "Do you want to take this one?"

"It was merely a symbolic gesture." T'Pol said.

"Now that's tellin' him." Tucker rolled his eyes unimpressed.

"Symbolic of what?" As soon as he asked the question, the ensign's eyes grew wide. "Oh..."

"Well, Ma," Trip looked at T'Pol. "I do think our boy's growed up."

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Treianna, the alien woman, sat regally at the table in the captain's dining room. Archer sat at his place and poured a cup of tea for his guest.

"The team is still working on your ship." Archer told her. "They say it shouldn't be too much longer."

"You have been most kind and generous with your time and your crew." Treianna said.

"You were defenseless out there. Drifting. We couldn't just leave you like that."

"Many would, and have I assume." Treianna sighed. "It has been nearly four months since we set out from our vacation to go back home."

Archer nodded politely and sipped his tea. Treianna studied the captain.

"Your tea all right?" Archer asked.

"Yes, Captain." She smiled at him. "But your eyes search for answers to questions unasked."

"You're very perceptive." The captain smiled back. "I won't deny it. Finding out the other was your mate did stir up questions"

"And rightly so. Many of my planets' customs and traditions are confusing to off worlders. Perhaps when we reach my home world you will join me for the festival. We will be in time, thanks to your kindness."

"Festival?" Archer asked.

"Every fifth year there is a festival where my people celebrate our way of life." Treianna explained. "The chosen way of our ancestors hundreds of years ago. Prior to that time, our people lived much as yours, with males as equals beside females."

"I've heard that. And, somehow, that way of life didn't work for your people."

"The males became restless with one female and began to seek multiple partners." Treianna sat back in her chair. "That made for a very unstable society. Our female ancestors stood up and fought for their right to one male. In doing so, they secured those rights would never be
violated by claiming their male in a ceremony."

"I see." The captain nodded, uneasy.

"No, but thank you for saying so."

"Then perhaps when I join you for your festival, I will have a better understanding." Archer laughed.

"I will settle for just your acceptance of my people as friends with ways you do not understand." Her smile turned to a troubled far off gaze. "But that would be a first, since travelers in the past have tried to interfere in our way of life. I do not believe you would attempt to change our ways, but it would be your loathing that would be unsettling."

"Loathing?" The captain repeated. "That's a pretty strong word."

"Believe me, Captain. You will either detest my people or you will accept. There will be no in between."

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Lieutenant Malcolm Reed entered the alien vessel and saw Tucker and Mayweather working under the console.

"Commander, the captain wants to see you in his dining room." Reed told him.

"Now?" Tucker all but whined. "Travis and I are real close to puttin' the finishin' touches on this. And I already ate my breakfast."

"Treianna is with him." Reed smiled.

Trip jumped up in seconds flat, dusting himself off. "Well, can't keep the lady waitin'." And he was gone.

Malcolm went over and inspected the chains in the broken stasis tube. "So, do you know what his crime was?"

Mayweather sighed and returned to work. "Sir, lately it seems there's a lot I don't know. And some I wish I didn't."

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"There should be one female for every male that you will be bringing to the festival, Captain." Treianna was telling Archer.

"I'll keep it small. Maybe just four of us."

"When we are within range, I will contact my people." Treianna said. "They will be very appreciative to your crew."

The door opened and Tucker entered and stood by the table, with his hands clasped behind his back.

"Treianna, this is Commander Tucker. Enterprise's chief engineer." Archer introduced.

Trip nodded. "Ma'am."

Treianna's eyes lit up. "Your address is appreciated."

"My momma taught me well, ma'am." Trip told her.

"Mr. Tucker, I'd like you to sit with our guest, and answer any questions she may have." Archer told him. "I have to prepare an away team for a visit to Treianna's planet. We've been invited to a festival. You in?"

"Yes, sir." Tucker answered, eagerly.

Archer rose and bowed slightly. "If you'll excuse me, Treianna."

"Thank you, Captain." Treianna said.

Archer left and Treianna turned to Trip. "Sit down." He took the seat opposite her. "You are a very polite young man. I know your people have two names; the former being familiar and the latter being the formal."

"Yes, ma'am. My first name's Charles."

"Charles. I like it. Straight-forward and strong."

"Thank you, ma'am. I'm the third in my family to carry that name. Charles Tucker III. My mother thought it sounded much the way you do."

"Mother?" Treianna frowned and then her face should recognition. "Ah, the female that birthed you. Our young males are taken from their "mothers" at birth and are raised in the hermitage with several female providers."

"Den mothers." Trip smiled.

"Den mothers?"

"Well you see, ma'am, back on Earth we have these groups that children get into." Tucker explained. "Clubs that females, usually their mothers, kind of organize activities for. Camping, that sort of stuff."

"I see. Well, our females guide the male children into their adulthood and prepare them to take their place in our society."

"Really." Trip replied, looking down at the tablecloth and picking at a wayward thread.

Sensing his discomfort, Treianna changed direction. "Are you looking forward to the festival?"

"Yes, ma'am. I wouldn't miss it for anything. I signed up for this mission to learn about
other worlds and customs."

"You may not find my planet to your liking." Treianna cautioned.

"Why do you say that, ma'am?"

"Our customs are different from yours. You may find a disadvantage where you are concerned."

"I'm sorry, but I don't agree." Trip apologized. "We're just going for a visit."

"You have freedoms that our males do not." Treianna smiled at him. "That opinion being one of them. But that is appealing to me. And that you are not inhibited is refreshing."

Trip laughed, nervously. "I've always been very outspoken, ma'am."

"I like you, Charles. I think you and I are going to get along just fine. You will sit nearest to me at the festival."

"Well, I don't know how the Captain's gonna feel about that." Trip replied. "I think he should be the one..."

"Do you think this has anything to do with what he feels?"

Trip looked into Treianna's eyes. He wasn't sure, but he felt very uneasy in her presence now. She was the guest, so she was in control of the conversation. But he felt the control was moving farther. His palms were getting sweaty, and he felt the hairs on the back of his neck start to bristle. "No, ma'am."

"Tell me, Charles." Treianna began, "Do you enjoy serving Captain Archer?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I respect him." Trip answered.

"And does pleasing him satisfy you?"

"Yes, ma'am, it does."

"What about females? Do you engage in relations with them?"

Trip shifted in his chair, becoming increasingly anxious. "I've had girlfriends. None of them worked out long term."

"Why not?" Treianna ignored his discomfort, now.

"I don't really know." Trip answered, annoyance tinging his voice. "I guess I wasn't attentive enough to their needs."

"So, you are professionally, but not personally." Treianna surmised. "Attentive to others' needs." She added.

"Ma'am?"

"You serve your Captain and this ship and want to do your best. But in a relationship with a female, you lack the training to succeed."

Trip tugged at the collar of his uniform, feeling heat rising in his body. "Look, could we change the subject?"

"Not yet." Was the direct response. "Tell me why this makes you so uneasy?"

"I don't know you very well and the questions you ask are personal."

"Exploring and learning about other planets and cultures will not be successful unless exchange
of personal information is forthcoming."

"Yes, ma'am." Trip agreed. "But it should be willingly given."

"And your will is something you hold in the utmost sanctity." Treianna probed.

"It's what's gotten me where and what I want." He told her, his eyes narrowing.

Treianna regarded the young one, so full of life and fire the likes of which she had never seen.
"But not what you need...yet."