Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Mild langauge.

Soval shifted as he felt Theo's eyes find him yet again. She seemed to stare at him a great deal, and it was making him uncomfortable. He decided to meet her gaze.

She raised her eyebrows and looked back at her cup of tea. They were sitting in her living room, listening to the wind rattle the windows and to the fire popping in the fireplace. Soval was glad for the extra warmth, and Theo was kind enough to wrap his ankle, make him tea and loan him a blanket. He was currently composing a cover story for his appearance, and the best he could think of was genetic problems. He figured that would do. She didn't seem suspicious when he had given his name as Maxwell Forrest.

"So, umm..."

He glanced back at her. "Yes, Ms. Jackson?"

"How did you get those ears?"

He took another sip of tea before responding. "It is a rare genetic mutation."

She frowned. "Oh," she murmured, also taking a sip of tea. She giggled, and he raised an eyebrow.

"I'm sorry, I don't find your medical problem funny, it's just...nevermind."

She composed herself and took another sip of tea, and Soval was left bemused.

"So...where are you from?"

He paused. "San Francisco."

"Oh, California boy, huh? What's it like there? I've never been."

"The weather is pleasant."

She laughed again and he frowned. "Have I said something amusing?"

She laughed harder, but managed to settle down. "Ok, I've got to ask...are you a Star Trek fan?"

"I am not familiar with...Star Trek. Why do you ask?"

She seemed disappointed. "Nothing, just wondering."

Theo fell silent and moved to put another log on the fire.

"The storm is only getting worse out there. You may be here for a while."

"I understand."

She gave him a knowing look and drained her tea, and he followed suit. She took his mug from him and exited the room through a door to his left.

He heard light footsteps and looked behind him, and a small orange tabby cat stared back at him with bright green eyes. It lept onto the back of the couch, then down to the seat next to him. It tilted its head at him as if examining him, its ears swiveled forward. Then it promptly walked up to him and pressed its head to the back of his hand. He could feel its purrs vibrate through his hand, and he cautiously raised his hand and stroked the cat.

It purred in approval and moved closer, and he heard Theo's footsteps. She sat back down on the loveseat and stared at the cat, who had by this time climbed into his lap.

"She doesn't usually do that to strangers, but I've seen her do the same thing to my brother. If that's the case, she'll be loving on you until you leave, unless of course I ban her to the garage."

"I do not mind her presence. She seems like a very agreeable creature."

Theo grinned and looked away, shaking her head. "What sort of work do you do, Mr. Forrest?"

"I work as a...government official."

She raised her eyebrows and laughed mirthlessly. "I saved a fed," she murmured. "Well, at least dad will be happy."

"What does your father do?"

"He's a businessman in New York City. He's CEO of a private organization that makes data consoles. If he didn't have his job, I wouldn't have dared drop out of college, despite what's going on in Chicago."

He raised his eyebrows and leaned forward slightly, and she seemed to take that as a lead-in.

"Look, I'm not an anarchist. I mean, what's the point? There's no way to enforce your beliefs if you want everyone to fend for themselves. There's no way to keep a country free of government. Humans are naturally inclined to make government. Nomads in the freakin' desert even chose leaders."

She paused and he leaned back into the couch. The cat on his lap shifted and purred as he absentmindedly scratched behind her ears.

"But I do know that today's government needs to change."

Soval glanced back down at the cat in his lap, who had fallen asleep.

"Here," she murmured, standing up.

"I do not mind, Ms. Jackson," he said before she could take the cat from him. "Besides, I do not believe I should stand for a while. Not without assistance in any case."

She grinned heartily. "Ok...I'm just gonna come out and say it. I know you haven't heard of Star Trek, but surely you've heard of Mr. Spock."

His heart stopped for a split second before starting again. Spock was a very Vulcan-sounding name.

"You know, the Vulcan on the Enterprise with Captain Kirk? Never smiled? Always telling other people on the ship how illogical they were? Never heard of him?"

Soval shook his head. He wasn't sure how to respond to her, and he wasn't sure how to react to her describing an average Vulcan to him.

"What I'm getting at is that you look like a Vulcan. I don't mean in a bad way, I think a lot of Vulcans are awesome. They seriously kick ass! And maybe I wouldn't be thinking this so much if you didn't sound like a Vulcan. You talk in that logical, intelligent sort of...nevermind. I know, it's stupid. Forget I said anything."

He raised his eyebrows and remained silent. It would be logical to let her believe that she was simply making irrational judgments. He didn't want to interfere with the timeline by giving her the knowledge she shouldn't have for another forty years.

"It's getting dark. I'll go set up your room for you."

"Thank you, Ms. Jackson. And I am not offended by your comparison."

She smiled. "Thanks, Mr. Forrest. I'm glad you understand."