A/N: One more chapter and then the epilogue.
Saven had joined Rand in escorting Talla, Tarran, and Tobin to the Caves of Mak'ala, where hopefully one of the Guardians there could break the telepathic link that had bound the three for the last several days. Rand and the three watched in amusement as Saven gazed around his surroundings in wide eyed fascination. A pale skinned Guardian walked by before coming to an abrupt halt and turning to Tobin Dax.
"Oh my, someone's been naughty," he murmured softly as he held a hand above the place where Dax rested and scrutinised Tobin's eyes.
"I can't break the link," Tobin replied. "All three of us have tried."
"I didn't think so," the Guardian replied nonchalantly. "You're both still young and you've only recently been joined. Come with me, the rest of you stay here," he said and lead Tobin away.
Talla and Tarran followed the pair with their eyes while Saven kept watch over the two women. Where ever the Guardian had led Tobin, it wasn't beyond the limit that caused pain in their link. Tobin and the Guardian returned shortly after having Tobin change into pants and a tunic like those that the Guardians wore. The Guardian scrutinised two of the pools before deciding on the smaller one. "Come on, wake up," he said patting the edge of the pool.
Tobin was instructed to wade into the pool and let the resident in there take care of the rest. The Guardian joined the others as they watched Tobin carefully enter the milky water. Saven reached for his scanner only to have the Guardian snap it closed and confiscate it from him. "There's no need for distractions, I'll let you look in a moment." Saven murmured his apologies which the Guardian seemed oblivious to.
Once in the pool a shape briefly broke the surface as it swam towards Tobin. Tiny sparks of static emitted from the symbiont and Tobin's head fell back as he let loose a sigh of relief. Talla and Tarran's heads also fell back and Rand and Saven managed to catch them as they swooned. The two recovered moments later but remained a little shaky. The Guardian glanced over at Rand as he held Talla steady and narrowed his eyes. "No need to be jealous because the youngster managed to ensnare two beautiful women," he softly chastised the symbiont residing in Rand.
Coming out of the trance like state he'd been in Tobin slowly opened his eyes and glanced over at the others. He no longer possessed the confidence that he'd borrowed from the two Andorians. His face flushed bright red and he hung his head mumbling apology after apology. Rand chuckled and stated that that was the Tobin Dax he knew as Talla and Tarran fully recovered from the ordeal.
"It is so nice to have you out of my head," Talla teased as she looked over to Tarran.
"Likewise," Tarran smirked before turning her attention to Tobin.
"It was a good thing Gelad was here resting between hosts," the Guardian murmured as he helped Tobin from the pool. The Guardian began to lead Tobin away and handed Saven's scanner back to him as he passed. "Don't get too inquisitive please?" he added as he led Tobin away to change.
Saven ran the scanner over the two Andorians first and was satisfied that they appeared fine after their ordeal. Quickly turning his attentions to the pools he began taking discrete scans of the symbionts residing within. Several of them came to the edges of their pools to investigate him but most of them ignored Saven.
Tarran glanced at Talla and then over to Rand. "Jealous huh?" she teased. Talla placed a hand over her mouth to hide her amusement. Rand simply pointed to his abdomen to indicate the Rand symbiont.
"Not that I disagree with the Guardian's description of you both, but this is the jealous one," he replied.
Tobin returned just then and hung his head shyly as he came up to the two Andorians to offer his profuse apologies. Talla shot Tarran a look and Tarran nodded as Talla placed a comforting hand on Tobin's shoulder. "It's alright, we forgive you," Talla said softly.
"Besides, it's been an interesting experience," Tarran added.
"Since your memories were integrated into the Dax symbiont," the Guardian interrupted as he ambled back into the main chamber. "You both will now be well remembered for a very long time."
Talla gave Rand a questioning glance and he smiled softly. "My symbiont is over two thousand years old, and I can recall all the memories of all twenty seven hosts prior to me," he told her.
"That one's not even a hundred yet," Tarran said, pointing to Tobin.
"This is almost as good as the Wall of Heroes on Andoria," Talla grinned.
"Now before we overstay our welcome in the caves, I suggest we leave and I'll escort you to your guest house in the capitol," Rand offered politely. He and Tobin had to return to the Jandar for their next cargo run.
Once they were in the capitol, Tarran headed back for the Hokkaido to inform Sato that the link had been broken. She also wanted some peace for herself, saying that while she vowed to protect Talla with her life, being linked telepathically to the Ambassador had been a bit much. Since they would be staying in orbit around Trill while Talla handled negotiations between the Federation and Trill, it had been decided that the crew would take shore leave in shifts. Sato followed the senior staff down a few days after they'd departed.
"Do I even want to know what the boys have been doing?" Sato asked Nameela when the four members of the Tribal Trio had walked by laughing and chatting excitedly. Sato and Nameela were going to dinner with Talla and Saven at a local restaurant that they'd heard rave reviews about.
"They discovered that the Trills have something similar to their surfing," Nameela replied with chuckle. "Apparently they entered a local amateur competition yesterday. Ian and Karal are going to be in the final tomorrow," she added.
"Did anyone remember to bring down the leashes?" Sato asked, shaking her head.
"Perhaps we should have them sent down," Nameela added with a cheeky grin. "It would seem that the boys have quite a following among the young ladies they've met at the beach."
"Which is why I've taken upon myself to babysit," Tarran said as she came up to join the two women. Sato and Nameela both raised eyebrows at Tarran's appearance. She was wearing a long, white, backless halter dress with deep slits up both sides of the skirt. Her long white hair was hanging in a braid over her shoulder and her make-up complimented her blue skin without appearing over done.
"I might borrow that from you if you don't mind," Nameela said after a moment.
"Looking good Lieutenant Commander!" Anu stated boldly as he returned from his guest quarters dressed for a night on the town.
"You look presentable," Tarran replied as she eyed the black suit he was wearing. His collar was open and the sleeves were rolled up slightly.
"Look out Trill, here comes Tarran the Magnificent!" Silongo laughed as he and De Vaal appeared in the hallway. De Vaal was dressed similarly to Anu only in dark grey and Silongo had opted for slacks and a button down in black.
Talla entered the hallway of the guesthouse as Jassyk came out of his quarters. "And where are you going all dressed up?" Talla teased as she walked with Jassyk to meet the others. Jassyk had opted for a stylish tee and slacks in white.
"We were invited to a club," Jassyk replied eagerly.
"I see," Talla smiled as they rounded a corner. Talla spied Tarran and pointed. "I can borrow that for the dinner tomorrow night?" she asked referring to Tarran's daring gown.
"This one or the black one I have?" Tarran asked and Talla replied that she wanted the white one Tarran was currently wearing. "Sure."
"M'lady," Silongo said, offering his arm for Tarran.
"Flatterer," she teased as she slid her own into his and the quintet turned to leave for the evening.
"Behave!" Sato called out after them.
"I want you home by midnight," Nameela added teasingly.
"Yes Mum. We'll think about it!" Anu called back.
"I'll show you 'Mum' boy," Nameela retorted, as Sato and Talla laughed.
"Tarran, gentlemen," Saven greeted as he came upon them in the hallway. He watched as they left before turning to the three women further down the hall. "Not that I wish to brag," he said as he joined them. "But I think I received the better deal. You all look stunning." Nameela was wearing a deep burgundy evening dress that accented her curves. Talla had on a sleeveless white gown that was more reserved than the one Tarran was wearing, while still being complimentary to her figure. And Sato had decided on a cream coloured summer kimono with a bamboo pattern for the evening.
"So do you," Nameela smiled as she looped her arm through his proffered one. He was wearing a Vulcan style tunic and slacks in a rich russet colour.
Towards the end of dinner, Saven rolled his head on his shoulders and took a deep breath. Nameela glanced over as did Talla and Sato as he let the breath out somewhat shakily. "Are you alright Doctor?" Sato queried.
"I will be," he replied after a moment.
"I was wondering when that would kick in," Nameela said, reaching over to take his hand in hers. He gripped it tightly and she smiled sympathetically at him.
Figuring out what was happening; Talla and Sato shared a glance before Sato suggested that they head back for the guest house. "I believe that would be wise, Captain," Saven stated, grateful for her discretion.
Back at the guesthouse Saven headed for the quarters he was sharing with Nameela, who stayed behind with Talla and Sato for a moment. "You'll excuse us if we aren't at the embassy dinner tomorrow night?" she asked.
"Of course," Talla replied. "Are you going to be okay?"
Nameela smirked and waved a hand in the air. "We've got this down pat after the last time. He'll be fine in a day or two," she assured Sato and Talla. "As for me, I was kind of looking forward to it," Nameela added rubbing her hands together in anticipation.
"You better go take care of him then before he starts wrecking the place," Sato chuckled softly.
"I want to thank you both for your discretion," Nameela replied sincerely. "Like your typical Vulcan, Saven is a bit skittish on the topic of Pon Farr."
"Of course," Talla replied with a nod. Nameela waved to the duo before retiring to tend to Saven.
"At least he waited until we were planet side," Sato muttered after a moment. Talla snorted a laugh and linked her arm through Sato's.
"Come on, I have ale in my quarters," she offered.
"Oooh goody! Let's go get drunk," Sato enthused and the two laughed all the way to Talla's room.
Late the following afternoon, Sato and Talla were sitting in the gardens adjacent to the guesthouse when Nameela and Saven walked by. Nameela had a satisfied smile on her face and Saven appeared to have returned to his usual casual ease. "Feeling better?" Sato asked as the couple joined them.
"Much. Again thank you for your concern last night," Saven replied. From his tone Sato figured that the topic was done and nodded.
"You'll be joining us at the dinner tonight then?" Talla asked and Nameela grinned while Saven nodded. "That's good. I was hoping to have the whole crew compliment of species present."
"Any idea how the boys did today?" Nameela asked changing the subject.
"Karal came in second and Ian third. Apparently one of the locals had been saving his best for last," Sato replied with a smirk.
"Hey Doc, Hullo Mum," Anu teased as he joined them. The rest of the Tribal Trio was walking along with Tarran to join them in the gardens.
Nameela reached back and placed a friendly smack to Anu's backside. "I hear the locals got one up on you," she said.
"Yeah. No worries though eh," Anu shrugged.
"I told you that I thought that one was holding back," Silongo added.
"We'll come back one day," De Vaal vowed.
"To kick arse!" Anu stated suddenly.
"And take names!" De Vaal crowed.
Saven cleared his throat in an attempt to interrupt the cheering and laughter among the Tribal Trio. "What time is our shuttle arriving for the dinner?" he asked changing the subject.
"About an hour from now," Tarran answered, checking her chronometer. "Oh! I put the dress on your bed," she added to Talla.
"Thank you!" Talla clapped her hands.
"I suggest we all get ready then," Sato stated.
"You'll behave?" Nameela teased the young men as they dispersed to get ready.
"We will Mum," came four responses at once.
"That's Commander Mum to you," she laughed.
The embassy dinner had gone off perfectly. A Federation ship would be arriving in a few days from Earth to set up an embassy on Trill and fine tune the trade and Federation application negotiations Talla had made. After spending one more day on Trill, the crew returned to the Hokkaido and set off to their next destination.
"I hear the Betazoids are an interesting species?" Sato suggested with a grin.
"How about someone who isn't telepathic?" Talla winced.
"Betazed it is then! Ensign Anu, set in a course," Sato laughed.
"Aye Ma'am."
"I loathe you," Talla grumbled, throwing a printout she'd been reading at Sato's back.
To Be Concluded...