Soval found himself wandering the ship with Sovar in awe of how far they, and the humans had come in technology and their relationship. Sovar, a fellow ambassador, told him that some of his treatises on negotiations were required reading, not only on Vulcan but in Federation schools as well. It appeared to Soval everything had come a long way. He found he wished Shraan could have been there to see what had come of the seeds of alliance he and the Andorian had sewn. Sovar gave him a copy of Skon's translations of Surak's teachings, and Soval was surprised Skon was still so well known. Their society rewarded merit, and the undertaking of translation, a skill Soval never knew Skon had, was definitely a worthy thing. He turned to Soval because there was a personal query he needed to make, "What of the Klingons? I met one in T'Lyn's rooms, she was teaching…"

Sovar nodded, "A longtime friend of T'lyn, Gelly. Yes, I know of her. The Empire still exists but the Federation and the Empire have been allies now for one hundred years. There was a small dispute during the Dominion war, thanks to the Changelings, but thanks to the efforts of a Star Fleet Captain named Sisko and his crew things were made right again."

Soval was amazed but hid it well, "Gelly made reference to her half human half Klingon husband…"

Sovar nodded, "Dula, yes I know the child well, he visited often with his mother and father when T'Lyn was growing up. He gained some reputation on Qo'nos as warrior, so much so that Chancellor Martok welcomed him into his great House when Dula proposed marriage to his youngest daughter, Gelly. Dula and T'lyn both spent time training in their mother's temple on earth. They have a fascinating culture there, if we get back to Earth again I'll introduce you to my chosen grandchild, Wu. He is the master of the temple. "

"He is Vulcan?" Soval asked in wonder if a Vulcan was running a human temple.

"No, he is human. Solok and his bondmate, adopted him when they were first bonded. They raised him together, but he returned to the temple just before she died. He is now the master."

"Fascinating." Soval said as he listened and watched the Vulcan crewmen work around them.

"If you will excuse me, I must Com my wife T'Pel. There are things we must discuss." Sovar stiffened, and Soval could see the conversation would not be a pleasant one.

He nodded, and watched as the other Ambassador walked away, passing his son Solok in the hall without acknowledgment. Soval stepped forward, "Ambassador Solok, it is agreeable to see you again."

"Your greeting is acknowledged." He said raising the Ta'al.

Soval studied the man; he was much stiffer than his father much more distant than many of his Vulcan peers. After what had transpired between him and his daughter, Soval thought some of it may stem from the emotion he was now attempting to suppress. "I have spent time with Sovar, and T'Lyn. I would find it acceptable to speak with you, Solok. I am about to have my evening meal, would you join me?" He watched as Solok's chin stiffened, "I would consider it a diplomatic meeting, Solok." He added, knowing that any Ambassador worth his title could not refuse such a thing with another Vulcan ambassador.

Solok offered a stiff nod, "I was going to my quarters to dine, it is agreeable that you join me there."

"This ship, this time, it is all very remarkable, Ambassador Solok. " Soval said as they strolled toward his quarters, "You daughter is a remarkable woman as well, a credit."

Solok eyed Soval, "If you desire an arranged bond with her I am sure you know that the logical person to approach would be Sovar. Neither she nor the business of her arrangements is in my control."

Soval shook his head, "No, though I will admit I thought it would be an advantageous match for me. A well placed family, Surak's child, she is agreeable." The elder ambassador watched as dissatisfaction rolled in the undercurrent of Solok's face, "But, she does not stir my Katra in that manner. "

Solok pursed his lips and his nostrils flared, "And what precisely does that mean? You find her agreeable but unworthy of you?"

"No, it was actually something she said while she threw away her possessions. She said that Surak himself spoke about the stirring of the katra between those who should be mated; he called it the twinning of the soul. I was bonded a long time to my late wife, and while we were both agreeable to the pairing, she never stirred my katra. She was not aesthetically pleasing." He paused and watched Solok's reaction, " I have no doubt, were she alive she would say the same of me. T'Lyn said she would bond again in no other way."

Solok entered his quarters, "That sounds like emotionalism to me."

Soval entered behind him, "Are you telling me that your prior bond-mates were, arranged and purely logical?"

Solok rounded, and stared at Soval in silent contemplation.

"I have an affinity for humans and their planet. I lived among them for more than thirty years, at a time when they were far less advanced than they are now. When we first made contact with them, we thought them dangerous, and kept them on a short tether. They were as arrogant as a tellarite, quick to temper as an Andorian, as prone to violence as a Klingon, and just when we thought we could quantify them, they confounded us and embraced logic." He leaned forward, "We saw them as dangerous because they reminded us of ourselves, Solok." He took a seat and leaned back, "If there is one thing I have learned dealing with other species it is that those things that frighten us most, are those things that remind us most of ourselves."

"And what do you see as the logical recourse of such a finding?" Solok asked, his face softening for the first time since meeting up with the other ambassador.

Soval let the smallest of sighs, "I found that further exploration of it was the only logical thing to do."

"What if there is no communication in which to explore." Solok asked as he replicated to cups of tea.

"You are an Ambassador Solok, what does one do when the lines of mediation break down, especially when you know you or your race are at fault?"

Solok handed Soval the tea, "You issue an apology, if one is warranted, and take actions to gain the trust of those involved."

Soval sipped his tea, "Spoken like a true Vulcan Ambassador. I could have used you in my contingent." he looked at his tea and cup, "It is amazing they have come so far with this technology, though, on the NX-enterprise they had the most agreeable human chef."

Solok replicated some salads and served Soval, "Our conversation has been most insightful."

"It is would be my desire that this is the first of many, Solok."

"Where are you settling when we reach Vulcan?"

"I plan on following your daughter into the Forge. To me, she is Reldai, Solok a priestess of logic and the mental disciplines of Surak. She is entering the Forge until her child is born, giving herself a chance to become centered again. I wish to learn, and at my age it is a good thing to have more to learn."

Solok stared at his plate, "She is entering the Forge, to give birth. That does not seem a safe or logical thing."

"She lived in the embrace of the Forge for many years, Solok, it is the place she feels most at home." Soval said studying Solok.

Solok leaned back in chair, placing his fingers together resting his chin on their tips. "Her mother was, very Vulcan in her logic, in her manner, but I have the thought that she would be displeased with me, and thinking of her displeased with me, displeases me."

Soval put his tea down, "As Captain Archer once said to me, Solok, I will say to you. The ball is in your court." He smirked at what he felt was an expert use of the earth idiom." That means it is your move. Your daughter has her foot in both worlds. I have seen what this does to full Vulcans, one can only contemplate what it does to half Vulcans."

Solok looked at Soval, "How do you even know that what she is telling you is the truth?"

"Finally a logical inquiry." He picked up his tea and sipped it, "She appeared in my house one night, when Syrran was there for a meeting. I saw her transfer Surak's katra to him. I saw who he became. I touched Surak's mind through Syrran. I felt the way Surak burned for his Adun'a, and because he did, so too did Syrran."

Solok's eyes widened, "Then what she says is true?"

"I am so sure of it I followed into this time, and will follow into the Forge. Unless you question my logic, my Vulcan-ness, then you know the answer."

Solok looked at Soval again. He knew this history of this man; he was a Vulcan of merit. His logic was unassailable. "You have given me much to think on, Soval. You have my gratitude."

The pair felt the ship drop from warp, and the light change to yellow, they looked at each other and stood together, Solok spoke first, "I will go to the bridge, see to the others."

Soval nodded and left.

O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O

The doors to the lift opened and Solok stepped on the bridge, "Report."

The Captain spoke, "Our scanners have picked up three anomalies off the starboard. We have nothing like them on record, Osu. They are three centimeters in diameter, and appear to be three dimensional spheres."

Solok went to the science station, the officer there offered Solok his screen and spoke, "The energy is nothing we have on record, Osu Solok. We are launching a probe."

Solok looked at the star charts, this was a normal route to and from Vulcan, and these anomalies had never been seen before. He looked at the Captain, "Call Soren to the bridge, he has a specialty in sub-space anomalies. He might prove useful."

The captain gave a curt nod and his communications officer sent the message to Soren.

"We will not get underway until we have an answer Osu."

Solok nodded and left the bridge.

O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O

T'Lyn opened her eyes. Her meditation had done wonders for her. She was more centered and calmer than she had been in weeks. She bent and blew out her candles and lamp. Taking in another deep cleansing breath she was content. Turning to answer the chime at her door she felt the hair on her neck prickle, something was not right.

She said Enter but instead of the door opening a white flash filled the room and once again she was in the white space between places she knew to be the place Q met with her.

"Q?" T'lyn asked into the whiteness.

"Oh Mon Cheri! Welcome back. I've missed you." He said appearing before her, dressed like a star Fleet Cadet. He patted her bum and winked, "You are positively glowing in motherhood these days."

T'Lyn jumped at his touch and sighed, "What do you want of me now, Q?"

He tsked his teeth, "Not a hello, no Ta'al raising, no I'm happy to see you too Q." he shook his head, "After all we've been through together I would think it only logical that you be…nicer to me." He leaned in over her, offering his cheek to her, "A little peck on the cheek perhaps."

T'Lyn snorted softly and turned away, "When you show up I know life is about to change. So what now? You wish to send me back to the time of the dinosaurs and have me teach them logic?"

His eyes widened, "Now that would be fun!" he raised his fingers like he might snap them and take them away, giggling as he watched T'Lyn flinch. "But now, something far less eventful than that." He snapped his fingers and Solok appeared, turning his attention to Solok he draped his arm around the Vulcan and grinned, "Welcome Daddy-o, I may call you that right? I mean I feel like I know you. "

Solok looked at T'Lyn and tried to shrug Q off of his shoulder, "No you may not address me that way."

Giving an overly dramatic sigh, he rolled his eyes, "Come now, I practically arranged your daughters marriage for you, and I might say I did a fine job of it as well. That makes us practically…"

"Nothing," Solok finished, "It makes you an alien being who took my daughter."

"You wound me, Solok. "he snapped his fingers again and was dressed like a musketeer, he slapped Solok across the face with his glove, "Pistols at dawn for dishonoring my name."

"Q!" T'Lyn said loudly, "Enough, of this play." She sighed, "Please. You have us, now, what is it you require?"

He flashed again and was once again in a Cadet's uniform. "If I didn't adore you, T'Lyn. See Picard was never so polite." He looked distracted for a moment, "But I never thought about turning him into a Vulcan. I'll have to make note of that. Anyway…Those anomalies outside your ship, they are pretty dangerous, so I wouldn't get too close to them." He snapped his fingers and the three of them were suddenly floating in space next to the small round spheres. T'Lyn started to panic, but then took a breath, and realized they were warm and breathing normally. Looking around she realized their hair was floating they were floating yet both her father and she were safe.

Q was pointing at the spheres, "See, look at them. Small and harmless looking but…"

O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_OO_O_O

Soren was speaking to the Captain and the science officer, "I will take a shuttle to get a closer look, if after my initial scans I believe it wise I'll launch to small probes.

"Captain," the science officer said, "Two life forms just appeared on scanner…It's Ambassador Solok, and Reldai T'Lyn."

"Lock onto their life signs beam them to sick bay." The captain said without hesitation.

"I cannot lock onto them."

Soren pushed the officer aside and began clicking at the panel.

O_O_O_O_O_OO_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O

"Oh my," Q said, "I believe we are raising alarms."

He snapped his fingers and they were once again in that white between spaces place.

T'Lyn spoke first, "Never put me in space like that again, Q, I am serious when I say that was most unpleasant."

"Oh Mon Cheri, the space you are in now should be far more disconcerting than that." He grinned, "But that is not all I brought you here for. I wanted you to see those…" he shivered and his voice took on a serious edge, "things…Tell your Captain to put warning strobes out for a light year around them, make this section of space forbidden."

"What are they Q?" Solok said, finding his voice.

"They are the future, and not something your probes are going to figure out." Q's voice took on a deadly seriousness, "They are what your daughter and I are going to be working on...together…" he grinned and winked a T'Lyn.

Solok looked at his daughter and she made a small facial twitch indicating she did not have a clue what Q was going on about.

"For now though, I have another mission for you both." He rolled his eyes, "Fine ok, come out I know you've been dying to…."

From behind Q another light flashed, and before T'Lyn stood Surak. He looked calmly at Solok, "I suppose it is a little late to introduce myself as your daughter's suitor, Solok, but for what it is worth." He made a formal bow to Solok, "I am Surak, he who burns only for your daughter."

Solok went to his knees and Q laughed, "Now that isn't fair, Solok, I'm the one with the power here, you should be on your knees to me."

Surak took Solok by the elbow, "There is none of that now, not here. It is agreeable to meet you, Solok."

T'Lyn was looking at Surak, "Q, this is not humorous."

Surak answered, "My Adun'a, ever the logical woman, is trying to extrapolate the reality of seeing her dead husband now standing before her." Solok looked at Surak, and saw his face was soft and full of love and compassion.

"You have his Katra, Q?" T'Ly asked thickly, still not addressing the man before her.

"In a manner of speaking, not really, but I do have something of him…he's helping me. " Q smiled proudly.

Surak caressed T'Lyns face, and she felt the familiar tremor in her own Katra. She could not stop herself she embraced him, and he returned it, enveloping her in his arms kissing the top of her head. "My Adun'a." he whispered.

Q leaned on Solok, "It makes me so jealous." He pretended to sniff away tears, "They make such a good couple don't you think Solok? Oh, he is going to kiss her, I promised him he could…" he turned them both around.

"What are you doing to her…to me…to Surak?" Solok asked coldly.

"I'm saving you all, Solok. No need to thank me, just doing my job…I do have such a fondness for you linear beings. Oh I know, it's not logical me being omniscient, but I am a sucker for love stories."

Surak held her face in his hands and looked deeply into her eyes after he reluctantly pulled from their kiss. "I need not have the powers of Q to know my Adun'a and her heart. You are working at suppressing this beautiful love you have to give, because it pains you too much to carry it through the loss of me."

Tears rolled from her eyes, "But I have not lost you, not of Q spared your life somehow, you are here! You are with me." She kissed him again and he greedily accepted her lips against his.

Solok glanced backward and saw his daughter in a tender embrace. He felt the deep pang, and quickly suppressed it. It was astonishing to watch him be so tender with his daughter. He found both envy and happiness in the sight, as it provoked something primal within his veins.

"You have lost me, perhaps not forever, but for now. But the hope of tomorrow, cannot leave you barren for today, Adun'a. You must live and allow yourself to find another to stir your Katra. It will not be as we had, it should not, but you must live. You cannot wait, do you understand." He said nuzzling her nose with his.

"I do not wish another's touch on me, Adun. I wish only for you."

Q spun Solok around and spoke, "You two are so sweet, I want to vomit. That might sound like nothing, but the last time one of my kind threw up, Vorta were born."

Solok looked at Q and raised an eyebrow, "Your joking?"

"Perhaps, but it is too sweet you have to admit." He made an ick face but winked secretly at T'Lyn. "He is helping me, he is with me, and his Katra as you call it, is some place on Vulcan. That still isn't why I brought you both here, though I did promise Surak a kiss." He leaned in on Solok, "He really is simple to please for a genius…" he stood straight and cleared his throat, "To business. You have time to save just one of them…so make your choice wisely." He looked at Solok specifically, "It's time for a little daughter father time."

Surak kissed T'Lyn one last time and rubbed her stomach, "Remember what I have said, Adun'a. Don't stray from the path." He reluctantly pulled away, and stood next to Q, "Keep your minds and hearts open, both of you."

Q smiled, "You can just save one…" he snapped his fingers and T'Lyn and Solok were standing on the bridge of a Federation ship. Atmosphere was venting and com panels were exploding. Before them were five crew members trapped under a metal beam, they both heard Q around them. "You have three minutes…" and a vortex opened behind them.

T'Lyn looked at her father, "Welcome to my world now…"

A/N: Yes I left it on a cliffy but I am working on the next chapter so it won't be too long…