Chapter Nine: Blue Amber Dreams
Night, in some placed of the world it is brief and in others it is nearly endless. The closer an individual travels toward the poles the further away the sun seems to be as the world of the dark creeps in. It is natural for a child to fear such places, especially the arctic, where the night takes over and so little light reaches it, that it remains frozen. The terrain it's self is rough with mountains and drifts of snow, evergreens have managed to survive in a few places which receive just enough light, but those are few and far between. The arctic is the worlds coldest and most barren dessert, it is dangerous beyond compare with deadly wildlife, below freezing temperatures and the maddening darkness, which envelopes all who visit.
Amanda looked over the bags, it wasn't wise to pack too much, so she opted for the lightest possible load, that would still ensure their survival until they arrived at the cabin. Once at the cabin they would be safe, it was the journey to it that proved to be the most dangerous aspect. She pulled out the sleek white coat, it was the latest in winter wear, the material was acquired from the Andorians, who felt right at home at the poles, well it was still a little warm for them but they didn't complain. They loved Russia, Canada, Finland, and the Antarctic, at least that was the rumor that circulated with Commander Shran cuddling with an Emperor Penguin.
There was a shuffle behind her and she looked over her shoulder to see the familiar gray eyes of Suran, his salt and peper hair was perfectly combed in place and he stood stiffly. "Major Cole, I have packed the Ambassador's bags, I will have him put on the arctic gear before departing," he stated, his voice was flat and lacked any and all emotions. Amanda nodded as she reached off to the side and picked up a slick black case, "Okay, I'll tell Kate," she stated as she opened the case.
Suran looked at her curiously, she could practically feel the questions buzzing in his mind. She chuckled lightly as she reached into the case and pulled out a brass cylinder, she held it out to him and said, "Here." Suran held out his palm and collected the brass cylinder, cradling it in his hand as he did so. He turned it around in his hands she watched his fingers sweep over the leather grip before gently tugging the eyepiece forward, extending it fully. "What is it?" he asked curiously as Kate smiled, he was like a child observing the world, then again, he probably had never seen one before it wasn't common on Earth these days.
She reached into Kate's bag and pulled out another object, something Kate also loved bringing with her. "That is a spyglass, it's an old Terran device used to look great distances. It was commonly found on navel vessels, and predates the telescope, actually it is the telescope's ancestor, and this," she stated as she opened another black case, nestled inside was an astrolabe, there really was no point in possessing one, but the Admiral had given them to Kate when she was a child. Suran looked at the box in her hands, nestled inside was a large brass disk with several rings, there was a bar across which could be adjusted. The outer ring consisted of longitude markings, the bar down the middle consisted of degree of the angle and the latitude lines traveled across the piece, "an Astrolabe, I'm sure Vulcan's had something similar. It was used for navigation as well as determining time, and could be used to determine location in reference to it," she stated.
She closed the case and slipped it into the bag, "Why are they taking both items? They are very rare," he stated. Amanda nodded, she was well aware that most of the time items like those were in museums and privet collections, using an Astrolabe wasn't normal and many considered it outdates. "Simple, there are some places in the poles which are not covered by satellite, there are magnetic disturbances and the cabin is nestled in a valley. Of course they will have digital maps, but just in case I have her packed with the necessary tools," she replied as she picked up the other black case once again.
Suran picked up the spyglass and looked through it experimentally only to lower it and then gaze through it once more, "Aren't most spyglasses made of glass?" he asked. Amanda smiled, he had just asked the one question that nearly everyone did when they looked through the spyglass the first time. "Yes, but that is a very special spyglass," she stated as she held her hand out for it. Suran returned it to her his eyebrows were lifted and he looked even more confused, "This one has a Blue Amber lens," she explained, "When you look through it you'll notice light appears differently as do other items."
The Vulcan handed the spyglass back to her, "It is fascinating, it is able to pick up phosphorescent molecules. I was not aware that there was such a stone," he commented. Amanda quickly collapsed it and placed the guard on the lens, "Blue amber is extremely rare, and can not be replicated in a lab, the piece in the spyglass is well over eight hundred years old," she explained. Tentatively she placed the spyglass in the case that was surrounded by shock absorbent material, "It had unique properties, the piece of blue amber used in this spyglass is the largest to date and also cut the thinnest. Making the spyglass priceless," she stated as she closed the case and slipped it into Kate's bag.
"If it is valuable, wouldn't it be logical for it to remain here?" asked Suran curiously. Logic, Vulcan's and logic were perhaps the most predictable combination of all time. She huffed, of course Kate had the gig with the most difficult race on earth. She turned her attention to Suran and replied, "I know, however it is also a tool that she will need up there," her tone was clipped causing Suran to look even more confused. She wasn't happy about Kate taking the spyglass up there, it was an ancient heirloom from her father, she had been there when the Admiral gave it to her, the first time she went with the Starks up to the arctic.
Before she could apologize the door of room opened, Kate and the Ambassador stood in the threshold, "Osu, T'sai Forrest," greeted Suran with a slight bow, it was then Amanda realized that Suran's priority wasn't just the Ambassador, it was Kate as well. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the Vulcan beside her, he was up to something and she was going to find out what. "Suran, Major Cole," The Ambassador acknowledged as he swept into the room, slipping out of his large outer robe as he did so, Kate followed after him, throwing her blazer into a chair and slipping out of her heels.
"I have the standard gear packed, as well as the spyglass," she stated as Kate slipped her shirt off. It was then Amanda remembered the Ambassador and Suran were in the room, "Good," Kate stated. The black tank top rippled as the young blonde slipped into the tight thermal gear, it hugged her skin, "I also took the liberty of ensuring that there was another mode of transport available, to avoid being tracked," she stated. She watched the young woman slip out of her slacks to see a pair of compression shorts, this wasn't the first time she had spotted this. She frowned knowing all too well why she had done such a thing, Amanda watched as Kate slipped the tight pants on as well.
She slowly placed a hand on Kate's shoulder, "You going to be okay?" she asked softly, her brows knitting together as she did so. Kate's ocean blue eyes flickered up to meet Amanda's browns, there was hesitation in them something she hadn't seen in a long time. "Yeah," she replied softly, Kate sounded vulnerable and it took Amanda all she had not to pull her best friend into her arms and give her a bone crushing hug. "He's not like him Amanda," Kate said softly, "He won't do that to me." Amanda wasn't convinced, men around Kate made her uneasy, she would never be able to erase that image of Kate standing before her covered in bruises and clutching her sides in the rain, a battered little girl who was crying.
Amanda sighed as she hung her head and watched Kate slip her feet into the black snow boots she had procured for her the pants slipping over the tops of them to hide them. "I know, but I worry about you," Amanda remarked as she held out an elastic for Kate's long hair. The blonde accepted the black band and twisted her hair into a bun, "I know, just look after Suran for me, and keep your ear to the ground," she instructed. Amanda watched the woman she knew transform from the battered little girl to a warrior, it was unnerving, but caused pride to swell in her chest. For years Kate told her how important she was, but in truth Amanda didn't consider her self important, it was this blonde warrior before her that mattered.
As always she was giving Amanda orders, only she really couldn't blame Kate. At this moment she was probably one of the only people on her side, other than Soval and she hoped Suran. Something dark was brewing, something that could not only get the Ambassador killed but she had a feeling everyone was in danger. There was a click and Amanda watched as Kate loaded the phaser and then slipped it into it's holster in her belt, before tucking it under her black leather jacket. She had her coat tucked away in her bag, for future use, "I'll listen for demons, as for Suran, I'll keep an eye on him but what about the High Command? They won't be happy about this and I have a feeling the Ambassador hasn't told them," she said after a moment.
Kate lifted the black back pack and adjusted the straps, "Leave the High Command to them Amanda, you have two things to do, the first see what you can find about this group her in Sausalito and San Fransisco, there's no way that this place was simply spared," she stated. Just then there was a rustle and she looked over to see Soval dressed in white attire, it was snug and thick, she had heard Vulcan's had arctic gear but never seen it, until now.
She turned her gaze back to Amanda, "Find out what they are up to, I don't want to see anymore explosions like the one from several days ago, these guys mean business, they wouldn't over look us, which means," she paused and Amanda nodded, "they have something bigger planned," Amanda finished. Soval slipped a bag over his shoulders, he looked comfortable carrying it, and Kate wondered why this was, for the longest time she had never seen him carry anything heavier than a PADD, yet there he was with his pack. "Someone's got to be supplying them with explosives, I'll see who's still running," said Amanda after a moment.
The Ambassador's aid stepped beside Amanda and suggested, "Perhaps that is something I am able to aid you with," he seemed interested. There was a pause, Amanda didn't need him injured or Kate would kill her, "No, you need to keep an eye on the High Command and the other delegates, since you are not traveling with the Ambassador you'll probably be in charge," she stated. She could smell exotic spices caress her nose and looked over to see Soval standing near her, "Suran will be kept up to date and will not contact us unless the High Command requires it."
Amanda turned to look at the silver haired ambassador, his word was law when it came to his subordinates, "Suran, remain vigilant, Major Forrest is correct that there is no way we were spared," he stated. Suran nodded and Amanda noticed something flicker in the Ambassador's eyes as he turned his attention to Kate, the young blonde stood stock still before them, "Hang on, Soval take the winter coat off, I need you to put something else on," Kate said after a moment of thought, her sky blue eyes swept over the Ambassador, analyzing every detail.
The Vulcan Ambassador looked irrevocably confused as he did as she asked, "You're still taking the coat with you, since you'll need it once we reach the Yukon, however, you can't walk around Sausalito like that," she stated. Soval slipped the heavy white coat off and Suran held his hand out expectantly, only for the Ambassador to fold it and slip it into his pack. Amanda watched with interest as Suran held his hands at his sides, looking slightly exasperated, it was as though Soval refused his assistance because he was able to, rather than necessarily desiring to. Kate walked over to the closet in the room, her fingers lingered on the silver handle, her hand trembled slightly. Amanda's hand shout out as though to give Kate support, she noticed how the blonde began to chew on her lip.
With a shake of her head, Kate had the door open and reached inside. Just as Amanda was about to ask what the young woman before her was up to she knew instantly. Clutched between the young woman's hands was an all too familiar item. Her gaze softened instantly as Kate ran her fingers over the supple brown leather, it was dark and soft. Blue eyes drifted to Soval as she approached him with the jacket, the Starfleet logo was on the front, it was trimmed with lamb's skin, soft to the touch and looked like a classic World War Two Bomber jacket. The brass zipper wasn't as glossy as it had once been and there were scuffs in the leather, and yet Amanda didn't see these imperfections as such, they gave the jacket character.
Kate stood before Soval, holding the jacket in her hands tenderly, "Put this on," she said in a small voice. Amanda's jaw hit the floor, the Ambassador eyed the garment with curiosity before recognition dawned on him. Olive skinned fingers paused before taking the garment from the young woman, "Was this?" he began only to pause. Kate nodded, "It was my dad's, he would agree with me, that you need it," she said softly. Soval gently brushed his fingers over the leather, she knew Vulcan's didn't like killing animals, they didn't believe in it, yet he was willing to touch this garment.
Soval looked to Kate once again, "Are you certain?" he asked hesitantly, Amanda was silent as she watched the exchange, never had Kate allowed anyone to even handle the jacket, le t alone wear it. She had met Admiral Forrest once, it was a professional encounter, in which the Admiral radiated confidence, as well as integrity. It was a 20 minute exchange, and probably a trivial duty to the Admiral, but in Amanda's world, it had changed her life. In that conversation she had been recruited to become a MACO. She had seen the jacket in his office, and learned later from Kate, that her father used to ride a rather large motorcycle, that was a classic spin on a 1940s bike, without the sidecar.
Soval nodded as he slipped it over his shoulders, the jacket oddly fit him, another example as to how Vulcans and Humans were not that different. He zipped the leather jacket halfway and turned his attention to Kate, who was smiling slightly. "Good," Kate finally breathed before Soval picked up his pack once more, "We will be taking my bike to the terminal and then loading it as cargo, it may not be helpful in the Yukon, but with Stark chances are that isn't the first stop," she stated nonchalantly as she hoisted her own pack over her shoulder and stepped to the side to begin their walk.
Amanda had to trot to keep up with the long strides of both the Ambassador and Kate, she had a bit of practice chasing Kate though. She quickly turned on her PADD and was greeted by a notice that not only had the tickets been processed but there was room in cargo for the motorcycle. "I have confirmation o the tickets, now remember you two aren't traveling as the Ambassador and his guard, you're officially Katharine Forrest and Soval, you'd be surprised how few people know you, Ambassador," Amanda explained. The Vulcan nodded as they continued down the hallway, each step drew them closer to the door and Amanda realized that these two were about to do something very dangerous, "Remember Kate, come back in one piece right?" she stated as she followed the pair into the garage. Suran had opened the overhead door to the garage and Kate was quickly slipping her pack into what looked like a cube.
Amanda stared curiously at the square as it seemed to collect the bag, "It's a cube, something that my dad gave me from one of his trips, it can't hold a lot, but it can hold our bags," she commented before reaching for Soval's. The Ambassador stared at the silver device as though he had never seen it, then again there was a large possibility of such, "I will carry mine," he stated as he held his hand out for the cube. Kate's eyes narroed as she looked at the hand in great confusion, "I will also carry the cube," he stated as though it were apparent.
At first Amanda though Kate would go lateral only to watch Kate shrug and hand him the slick silver cube. She was going to comment but decided not to, at least she knew they wouldn't kill one another, yet.
~~vOv~~
The blonde chuckled as she slipped her driving glasses on and proceeded to slipping a headset over her ear. She heard the distant crack of her head set registering her communicator, "Major Katharine Forrest," she said simply causing the headset to accept her vocal signature. She revved the engine, there was a rush through Kate's veins as the sound of the engine of her motorcycle growled in her ears, sending a tingle of excitement down her spine. No matter how frequently she rode her Yamazaki it never got old, and she knew it never would. There was something about the raw power between her legs that made her feel as though she had an intimate relationship with the bike.
She glanced over her shoulder and noticed a very hesitant Vulcan Ambassador, "Ambassador, this is the best way to get there, the Ambassadorial Convoy is too conspicuous," she stated. The Vulcan arched a brow as he examined the motorcycle; he then glanced to her before slowly slipping behind her on the bike. She could feel his weight on the back as he settled making the springs dip, it was a good thing she had opted for a two seater, it wasn't much larger but would due, they didn't have to go far.
She waited patently for his hands to wrap around her waist, she didn't need him flailing helplessly behind her, and if the weight wasn't evenly distributed she knew from experience that they were going to crack up. Kate waited a little longer only to realize he was probably at war with himself, he was a Vulcan and they didn't touch others, especially humans. Kate suppressed an eye roll as she reached behind her and swept her fingers of the leather of her father's jacket. Soval was as still as stone as she did this, "Grab my waist, we don't need to wreck," she commanded softly. The Ambassador was still and she glanced over her shoulder to see his conflicted expression, "Don't worry you won't hurt me," she encouraged. It was then she noticed a light green sweep across his cheeks and ears, Soval was blushing.
Kate smiled a little, it was actually endearing to see the fearless Vulcan blush. "Just hold on Soval, I'll take you there," she stated. The Ambassador finally slipped his arms around her waist, his large palms radiated heat that she had never known. In passing she noticed that Vulcan's had a higher body temperature but to feel it through her jacket and seep deeply into her skin caused her stomach to flutter. She could feel his powerful chest against her back and his strong arms enveloping her. Amanda stared at them, a knowing smile curling her lips, of course she had seen it. Kate mentally cursed her for being so keen and glared at her with a great deal of irritation, silently daring her to say a word.
Once Soval was settled Kate quickly turned out of the garage and slipped into the street. She smiled a little at the realization that no one, excluding Suran and Amanda, knew that she was taking the Ambassador out of the country, including the press. She had instructed Suran to release the information that the Ambassador was going to leave the Consulate once they were on the flitter leaving for the North. That way they would avoid the vultures known as the press.
The beat of the city is infectious, it manages to worm its way into the hearts of not only its inhabitants but visitors as well. Traffic is governed by this and the sound of a Yamazaki ripping through the streets passing flitters with easy made the rest of the city stand still. Kate shifted with ease as she powered through the traffic, weaving through it with ease, she leaned into the curves reveling in the speed and feeling of the air rushing past her face. This ride felt even better than most, she smiled a little as she passed a bus, reveling in the fact that she blew by it.
Powerful arms were wrapped around slender waist, tightening slightly, broad palms were pressed against her stomach, their heat searing her skin. She felt something stirring in her blood, she wasn't sure if it was because Soval's hands were hot or the fact that he was pressed against her and she could smell the exotic spice of Vulcan. It was enough to drown her senses. She could tell he was nervous however, she didn't understand how, but she could sense it.
Kate changed lanes as she got in the proper lane to cross the Golden Gate Bridge, Kate chuckled as she said swiftly, "Soval, relax and let me take you for a ride," The Ambassador huffed and felt a grin split her lips. The innuendo hadn't escaped her, at first she wanted to kick her self for saying such a thing, yet he didn't berate her. She hummed as she turned down a ramp that lead underground, the shuttle was being prepared and since it was a research and recreation shuttle, the only ones that might recognize them were Vulcans and she doubted there would be many leaving for the Yukon. She pulled up to the platform and quickly turned the bike off. She dismounted with ease and watched as Soval slipped off it as though he had been riding it for years.
She watched him curiously, he moved with the same fluid grace she had come to expect from the Vulcan. The dark brown jacket made his skin seem lighter and slightly golden, with a hue of green, as though he were a copper sculpture. "This is our transport?" asked the Ambassador as he looked a the small flitter, it was the size of a regular shuttle, it's sleek silver body was bulkier than most and the vents on it had black guards to prevent the ice from settling in them, the windows were tinted nearly black and Kate nodded. "Yup, standard transport to the Yukon, one of the snowiest regions in the world," she stated.
Suddenly one of the transport crews jogged over to her, "Forrest?" he asked nervously, his brown eyes flickered from Soval to her. Kate nodded and replied, "Yup, that's us. This needs to be put in cargo," she stated. The young man looked at the Yamazaki and replied, "Of course, I have a create and tags ready," he remarked as he ran his eyes over the Cobalt Blue machine, his tongue swept over his lips and she smirked, she knew he was imagining what it was like to ride her. "Thanks man," Kate said as she slapped him in the arm playfully before turning to Soval, who fell in place behind her.
Their boots made a racket against the metal flooring and grates of the station, the doors of the shuttle hissed as they opened, and the inside was a blinding white, with silver accents. Kate hummed as she was greeted by a rush of warm air and the chatter of researchers and tourists, Soval was the only Vulcan. She looked at the Ambassador and noticed he seemed calm, but she had a feeling he was uncomfortable. "Pass me the cube," she said softly as she turned her back to the rest of the cabin, it looked as though she were reaching into something. Dark fingers held out the small cube and she smiled as she opened it and pulled her bag out, "Hand me dad's jacket," she said softly as she slipped her own leather into it. Soval complied with ease and after a second both jackets were put away.
Kate slipped her bag over her shoulders and looked over at the many seats, many of the cabin's inhabitants were staring, she gently wrapped her hand around Soval's wrist and lead him to an empty area. She felt the Ambassador stiffen and whispered, "We have to act like friends," it was soft but she knew he would hear her. Soval was silent as he settled into the seat beside her, she had forced him to sit near the wall, it was easier to guard him that way. The chatter increased and she heard a boy ask, "Mom will I see Ice Bears?" The mother laughed and teased, "Perhaps."
Soval looked greatly confused and asked, "Doesn't he mean Polar Bears?" Kate paused, she was about to tell him only to see the book on the boy's lap, her lips curled upward and instantly she knew just what he was talking about. "No, he means Ice Bears, from Svalbard," she said brightly, she couldn't stop smiling, "they are characters in a famous earth work, His Dark Materials, specifically the Golden Compass." She glanced over to see the boy curling up against the bulkhead, book in hand, his eyes gliding over the pages, it was nice to know some things didn't change. She could remember the first time she had read the work, it was on a similar trip with her father to the North.
The Vulcan eyed the book keenly, he was about to ask another question when the captain's voice cracked over the intercom. Kate hummed as she scanned the room, ignoring the voice of the captain and his checks. "Stark had asked that you bring a spyglass," he said after a moment, "Suran informed me that Amanda had packed it." Kate's gaze fell on him as she felt the shuttle lift on the ground, now she understood why the spyglass was in her bag, the only thing she truly needed was the Astrolabe. She slowly opened her bag and pulled out the black case, "You mean this," she remarked as she held out the brass spyglass nestled in gray padding and velvet to Soval.
He slowly reached out and swept his fingers over the brass and leather grip. "Why would he ask you to do so?" he asked curiously as he wrapped his hands around it and pulled it out of the case. The shuttle pulled forward and Kate drew a deep breath before saying, "There are things which can be seen through that spyglass that can't be through any other." Soval took the cap off and she watched the Ambassador gaze through it, "It does not utilize a glass lens, I do not recognize this substance," he said with genuine interest as he looked at the lens it's self. "It's made of a very thin piece of Blue Amber," she replied, "It is able to pick up wave lengths that most stones can not." Soval nodded as he collapsed the spyglass and then slipped the cap back over the lens.
He handled the item with care, as though he was aware of just how rare it truly was. "He had also instructed me to remember the following. But the stars that marked our starting fall away. We must go deeper into greater pain, for it is not permitted we stay," he recounted with the ease of any scholar. His voice caressed each word with the same supple tone she had come to expect from him, part of her wondered how long it had taken him to learn Standard. He spoke it with such conviction and confidence that it must have taken him many years to master it, either that or he had a gifted tongue. Kate blushed as she thought about his tongue, she didn't understand why as she shook her head.
Soval's brown eyes were locked on her, and she noticed his hair was slightly out of place thanks to the ride on the back of her motorcycle. To see a single hair out of place was odd and she had to restrain herself from reaching out and attending to the disarray. "It is from Dante's Inferno, a famous epic about purgatory and hell," she replied, it was then she wondered why Stark had quoted such a work. In no way was Stark religious, she knew that was certain, he was an atheist through and through. Soval lifted a dark gray brow and asked, "What does an epic poem have to do with our situation?"
Another riddle, Stark loved riddles, he had given her one that evening just to execute a hand off of information. The world was being tossed into turmoil. The terrorist group was rallying up long forgotten circuits of organized crime. She hadn't missed the Ambassador's comment about Stark becoming unable to contact them again, "He's foreshadowing," she replied softly, it was his way of telling them that things were about to become even more complex and violent, "He's anticipating even more violence." Soval was silent and an uneasiness settled between them, she didn't want to see anyone injured, especially not her charge, she wasn't going to fail, she couldn't.
The Ambassador drew a deep breath before saying, "I require meditation, please rouse me when we arrive." Kate jumped and immediately turned her attention to the Ambassador, already he had assumed a meditation posture and his eyes were closed. "One of these days he's going to have to teach me how the hell he does that," she mused as she watched him slip into a trance flawlessly.
~~vOv~~
Memories are some of the most powerful things, it isn't about the amount of information an individual is able to retain, but the power of emotions locked with in these moments. Moments which at the time had shaped who we are as an individual, they are fleeting, succulent and rare, they have enough power to impact us for life.
A gray landscape surrounded the Ambassador, once again the color from Vulcan's sands had been drained and he was surrounded by a bleak gray world that was nothing like his home. His brown eyes flickered around the rocks, there wasn't a drop of color, he was trapped in an old Terran monochrome photo. He yearned for the mind he had once that was filled with color, it was vivid and alive, yet time had managed to drain every last drop of life from him.
There was a flicker and suddenly the sand beneath his feet and between his toes had vanished, he was falling. Soval was alarmed by how rapidly he was falling, his mind was turbulent but he had never lost control of his ability to keep memories in place. He staggered slightly as he stumbled into his own memory. It was unnerving, but apparently there was a portion of his mind that desired to show him something, if only he understood what had caused such a rapid fall. As the world seemed to steady he found himself sitting at his desk, his eyes landed on his own form sitting at the desk. He scowled in confusion as he rounded the desk and looked at the date on the chronometer, before he could even question it he heard the tap of heels, it was quick and echoed off the walls of the consulate.
Immediately he knew it wasn't a Vulcan approaching, they didn't wear such shoes, they weren't practical. Human, their owner was human and he knew of only one Terran female that always wore heels. Soval watched his younger self perk up and look toward the door, the sultry voice that belonged to one of the most energetic women was heard, it bounded off the walls and seemed to cause a stir in the consulate. Then again, there were very few instances where the arrival of Katharine Monroe, Maxwell's fiancée, didn't cause a stir. Suran, who was currently hovering in the doorway, he was dressed in dark brown and orange robes, an ensemble that was typical for a Vulcan, said nervously, "Osu, Katharine Monroe is here to speak with you."
Soval suppressed the urge to smile, "SURAN I TOLD YOU TO CALL ME KITTY!" she shouted. The Vulcan Ambassador watched confusion flutter across Suran's face, it was a fascinating response. His lips quirked up as he began to mentally count, 3… 2… 1… "But you are not a cat, human's are descended from apes, not felines," he stated.
Expressions were lost on Suran, no matter how long the aid had worked on Earth they were still confusing to him. Katharine stood in the doorway, her eyes narrowed and she tossed her brown hair over her shoulder before directing he glare to Suran. Soval noticed she was standing in a pair of towering high heels, jeans, a violet blazer with a white shirt and had a gray scarf covered in white tigers on it. Her hair was down and she had a pair of 1950s sunglasses on her head. Over her shoulder was a familiar black camera bag, something that was so natural that everyone in the Consulate had given up asking to inspect it.
Suran didn't even flinch and stated, "It is illogical." Katharine crossed her arms before stating, as she always did, "Humans are illogical, get used to it." Soval's lips quirked up, she always did sass Suran, who had learned to simply except it. She turned her attention to Soval in the memory and asked, "Did you get a chance to look over my proposal?" Katharine stepped into his office, by that point Soval was standing and gestured to the seat across from him. Now he really did remember the day, it was one of the most anticipated in her career and one of the few times he was able to use his power as Ambassador to benefit a human.
"Yes, I have and it was presented to the High Command," he replied. Katharine settled into the seat across from his desk and Soval asked Suran to bring in some tea, something mild that he typically served humans. He had learned long ago, with Max in particular, that Vulcan Spice tea was an 'acquired' taste. She sat up straight in the chair and he noticed the bag was sitting on the floor by her feet, clearly she was anticipating his result. "The High Command wasn't in agreement, however I have spoken with a number of artists who had viewed the expedition and decided to assist you. Kuvak, the Minister of Culture has agreed with me and is willing to assist you," he stated. He watched Katharine's eyes light up and she nearly leapt out of her seat. She smiled broadly as she leaned forward, "They don't mind being painted?" she asked.
Soval knew that was a huge part of the shoot and shook his head, "They were nervous, however after seeing the original prints they believe it will be fascinating," he stated. In reality he had pressed Kuvak to agree, the photos when added to the massive exhibit that she was planning to include all the members of the fledgling Collation of Planets was going to be explosive. He was already well aware that the Andorians and Tellarties had agreed, which meant Vulcan, Earth's longest standing guide would be absent. He wasn't going to allow that.
"So when do they arrive?" asked Katharine and Soval blinked, apparently she hadn't realized what he stated, "They are not." She looked even more confused as she crossed her arms and he continued, "You are going to Vulcan for the session, there are a number of people who want the images to be presented in our National Gallery, as well as the Collation's Exhibit." At that point her mouth fell open and he noticed she looked even more shocked, he was planning on taking her with him when he returned, he had invited Max as well. He had a feeling the pair would enjoy Vulcan, even if it was hot and very different from Earth. "NO WAY! That's amazing!" she shouted with joy, he had a feeling she would.
Suran returned with the tea, it was then he noticed a smile curling his Aid's lips, it was just as well considering her excitement was something similar to a small child. "So the expenses are paid? When do I have to get on a shuttle? I have to tell Max," she began rambling. Soval held his hand up and shook his head, "You're expenses are covered by the High Command, and public transportation is unnecessary as is informing Lieutenant Forrest," he stated.
He paused and steepled his hands before him, in an attempt to hide his slight smile, he couldn't resist with her, she was like a child stepping into his world, "He was informed as soon as the information that your proposition has been approved was delivered," he began as he wrapped his hand around his tea cup, "As for transportation, you will be travelling with myself on the T'Mir, Lieutenant Forrest will be going with us," he stated.
Katharine was sipping her tea happily, he took a moment to breathe only to have her ask, "I was wondering if I could shoot your kids, you know, as the Ambassador of Vulcan I'm sure your kids would be all for getting covered in pain to amuse the illogical human." Soval froze his grip increased on the cup to the point he was worried about breaking it. He placed it on his desk, he drew a breath and noticed she looked insulted, "My wife and daughter are dead," he said softly.
Silence fell between them, he could feel her sadness, "What happened?" she asked. Soval continued to look into his tea, he couldn't look at her, he just couldn't. "There was a bombing on Vulcan, the Romulans had set off charges across the city, my wife and daughter perished in one of the blasts," he said softly, he couldn't tell her the full story, and he hoped she wouldn't ask. There was a rustle and he felt a hand rest on his shoulder, it was cool. He looked up and noticed Katharine's tender gaze, "It's okay, we all lose people, but you know what's great about life?" she asked.
Soval stared at her and remained silent, she took that as her cue to continue, "You somehow always get back what you've lost," she stated with a knowing smile.
"How can one acquire once more what they lost?" he asked.
Katharine smiled, "Oh don't worry, you will, and it will be in the most unconventional way and unusual time," she replied, "but, you'll be happy again, I know you will."
"How?" he asked as he looked up at the woman before him.
Katharine smiled softly, "I just do."
Soval was silent as he watched the memory end and slipped back into the morose desert. Katharine Monroe, the photographer who would be one of the first to travel among the stars. He slowly looked at the horizon, and smiled fondly as he looked to the horizon. He pondered for a moment, why such a memory would come to the forefront of his mind, without his permission. There was a spark of red on the horizon and warmth surrounded him, it caused color to flood the sky and the realm around him. "Soval," called a voice softly. The voice was soft, lush and made his katra stir.
"Soval, we have arrived," she called once again, her voice was like that of a siren from old Earth lore, alluring. His eyes flickered open to see a pair of sky blue eyes gazing at him, she was so close, he could smell her soap, the woods, musk, and spices, she smelt like twilight in the woods.
She was leaning toward him, a breath away. A golden strand of hair slipped from behind her, falling in her face and he fought his desire to touch the strands himself and sweep it back. It looked as soft as silk, and he wondered if it was just as fine. "Soval?" she asked curiously, concern flickering in her eyes. His eyes slipped over her face, her full lips they were a light pink, her clear skin with a faint flush. "Soval?" she asked once more and placed a hand on his shoulder.
He shook himself to awareness and looked at the hand on his shoulder curiously, only for her to rapidly release him, "Sorry I was worried the cold was affecting you, we landed at the port," she stated. Soval looked up to see everyone leaving and he rose from his seat, "As we have yet to leave the compartment the possibility of the exterior temperature affecting my system is 0.172%," he stated logically. Kate's expression hardened and he watched as she pulled back, looking slightly irritated. He relied on logic, it kept his world up right, and prevented it from falling apart. He couldn't allow himself to slip into such a state.
Their bags were still heavy and he noticed how she handled hers with ease, they left the shuttle and he was met with a blast of cool air. It wasn't as cold as he anticipated, he had expected an icy wind, only to be greeted by a small terminal where the researchers were breaking up. The young boy was still clutching the novel. He walked past a large glass sign greeting them and noticed several bulletins flittering across it, in both Earth Standard as well as Andorian, it wasn't a surprise, he had a feeling many Andorians made their vacation plans to this region. He continued walking through the terminal, Kate was standing ramrod straight, and it was then he noticed her fingers at her sides, while she seemed relaxed there was a particular rigidness in her hands, as though she were prepared to pull a phaser at any point.
They walked with ease through the terminal, its inhabitants entirely unaware of their true identities and purpose. Just then Kate's PADD rang, he watched as she pulled out the black PADD and turned down a side hallway, "This way," she instructed as she continued down her path. Their footsteps echoed against the tile floors and the chill seeped through the tinted windows, the sun had long since set and the darkness of the night had arrived. She stood outside the doorway and looked over at him, "Alright, it's peak of winder, meaning it's going to be very cold," she stated.
Soval nodded as he watched her type in her pass code, part of him wondered if he should even question how she had managed to acquisition the information, and the other part realized this would be part of his daily life with her. The doors slid open and he was met by an icy wind, it chilled him to the bone despite the number of layers he was wrapped in. Waiting for them several feet from the door was a sleek silver flitter, it was radically different from the box like ones he was accustomed to. "Evora sent it, it's one of Stark's, no one will question it," Kate offered in explanation as she opened the door.
Without hesitation Soval slipped into the rather luxurious compartment, her stared at the fabric seats that were made of a custom weave, the seats hugged his body as he sat in the passenger seat. Kate was already sitting in the driver's seat and ran through the checks, his eyes flickered over the dashboard, only to realize there weren't any buttons. He was about to ask how it worked when he noticed several displays appear on the glass, "All go," she said simply and he noticed her tap several panels before finally lifting away.
Clearly it was another piece of Stark's technology, "Who is Evora?" asked Soval after a moment as Kate slowly turned the flitter about and continued vertically, the ground growing further away as she did so. "Evora, is the house keeper who keeps the Cabin in shape," she stated, "She also usually sends a ride." The flitter flew even higher until it was just above the towering evergreens. It was then he realized that the entire day she had been at the helm, that in reality he hadn't made a single decision after the speech, and yet he was comfortable with it.
Kate flew over the trees slowly before tapping a button on the steering column, Soval felt the flitter jerk forward and listened to the hum of the throttle as the engines switched from auxiliary thrusters to the major set. The flitter moved faster than even he anticipated, in fact, it was as fast as his privet shuttle on Vulcan. He wasn't aware of Terrans possessing something this fast. The trees were a blur as were the mountains, his focus was on the dark skyline, "You haven't argued with me at all, it's odd," stated Kate.
Soval looked at her, her eyes were locked on the scene before them, she wasn't using auto pilot, and it was then he realized just how capable she was. "You have made logical decisions, based upon our options," he replied stiffly, "You're responsible for my safety and since we have acquired this new task, you will do the best you can," he stated. Kate smiled a little as she pulled through the mountains, it was then she flew toward the valley. Soval was confused for a moment as she flew at a lower altitude. "We are nearly there," she answered, even though he never asked the question.
Rising out of the darkness were golden lights, as they drew nearer he noticed a structure rising out of the ground. Kate had mentioned that Stark owned a Cabin and he had anticipated a small structure, this wasn't small in any sense of the word. The structure was two floors, however it seemed grander with the massive glass front. The roof was tinned from what he could tell and there was a large traditional stone chimney. As they drew closer her realized just how tall the peak of the house was, the pitch of the room was nearly a perfect 45 degree angle, the frame work of the glass was stunning, the golden light flooding the dark valley made the golden hue of the wood stand out.
There were several black panels on the roof standing out against the white snow, windows, there was a great deal of light that seemed to get into the house. Kate navigated the portal with grace as she began to set up to set down. She gently lowered it to the ground, "Did I mention Stark really doesn't have to work? He just likes to tinker?" asked Kate as she turned the flitter off. He stared at her and Kate shrugged, "Come on, it's cold and it'll be warmer inside," she stated. Soval was greeted by another icy blast as she opened the flitter door. He wrapped his arms around himself and quickly to stave off some of the chill. His brown eyes were locked on the structure and he trudge through the deep snow, obviously Evora hadn't had time to prepare.
Kate quickly walked up to the door to the foyer, it was covered in carvings of the north, the details screamed the level of planning that went into building and furnishing the cabin. The large brass handles were old fashioned as he watched her open the double doors. He stepped over the threshold and found himself being wrapped in the warmth of the house, the lighting and furnishings were welcoming, as compared to the minimalist tendencies of Vulcans. He looked up to see the exposed beams over his head, the massive A frame created a grid of rafters and beams, the wooden columns that had erupted out of the floor made him feel as though he were part of the forest.
He heard the doors close behind him and he stared at the massive carvings of tree trunks on either side of the door. His eyes traveled over the pseudo exposed roots that had been carved to look as though they were breaking apart the dark tiles of the floor. "They are hand carved," Kate's voice caused him to look to the side, she was sweeping her fingers over the smooth wood, "They were carved by Jack Carter, Dr. Nathan Stark's husband, they built this place." Kate slowly waved him through and he followed her out of the foyer, he noticed a large staircase rising out of the floor and wrapping up the side of the building, it was lined with book cases and drawers. His eyes jumped from surface to surface, drawings of inventions and places hung on the walls. Most of these images were technical drawings of machines which flew, he noticed images of starships and planes. There were also tapestries of Inuit weavings and he looked over the bright colors.
He walked through another doorway only to find him self in a large room that was near the kitchen, the house seemed to have an open floor plan for the most part, so few walls that he felt as though he were in a wide open space. The living room was sunken in, he had to walk down the stairs and the sofa and chairs were nestled before an expansive fireplace. "Evora is asleep," stated Kate. Soval nodded as he looked over to the side to see a breakfast bar and massive kitchen off to the side. It was as though a single expense hadn't been spared in the construction of the cabin.
Soval turned his attention to the windows and asked, "What are they made of?" Kate smiled as she replied, "It's an impenetrable transparent alloy, the name escapes me. Honestly Stark would know." Soval nodded, it was an acceptable enough answer.
~~vOv~~
Kate shivered the cold of the outside world had slipped through her thermals and she looked over at the Ambassador who was eyeing the environmental controls. She hummed as she called out, "Raise the temperature 15 degrees," she said. Immediately the room responded and she looked at the control panel. She sighed as she slipped out of her coat and placed it over the back of the sofa, rolling her stiff shoulders as she did so. Her body was stiff from the tension and the amount of time she had spent sitting in the shuttle, the motorcycle ride and running around the consulate, for her it had been a 20 hour day and her muscles were protesting to every movement.
She slipped her hands over her neck and slowly kneaded at the back of it while tipping her head back, she closed her eyes and exhaled. "Alright," she said after a moment as she looked at the Ambassador who was slipping out of his coat, he looked a little more comfortable. "What do you want for dinner? We will have to run into town in the morning for fresh produce and such," she stated. The Vulcan Ambassador picked up her coat and carried his own to the closet, she watched as he hung them. "I have no preference outside of my dietary requirements," he stated. Of course he was attempting to make it easier on her and Kate sighed as her hands rested on her hips, "Alright, soup and bread it is, it's too late to make anything else," she stated.
She was about to walk into the kitchen only to pause and sit on the sofa, she sank into the cushions of the navy blue sofa that had a large and colorful tribal blanket across the back and slipped her boots off. She listened to the black footwear hit the floor and then gathered them up, "My feet are sore from these things," she stated absently as she walked toward the foyer and placed them on one of the shelves. It was then she noticed that Soval's were next to hers, she paused and noticed the size difference, his were much larger and she sighed why the sight of her boots next to his made her pause was beyond her. She rubbed her hands together as she wandered through the living room, it hadn't changed since she had visited as a child.
The high ceilings, the colorful Inuit tapestries and wood that surrounded them. She hummed as she swept through the house and entered the kitchen, just as she pulled a pot and went through the fridge for vegetables Soval asked, "Would you like some assistance?" Kate looked up and paused as she placed a stack of carrots on the block, standing at the entrance of the kitchen was the Vulcan Ambassador in a sleek black turtleneck sweater, his sleeves were rolled up and the charcoal gray snow pants he had been wearing were still present. Kate's lips suddenly felt dry and she slowly licked her lips, "Sure," she replied, her voice soft and sounded nervous even to her own ears.
Soval stood beside her, his sleeves were rolled up as he looked at the food, "We do not handle our food with our hands," Soval stated. Kate smiled at him as she asked, "Then could you open the stock and keep an eye on the stove?" Soval nodded and proceeded to do as she instructed. Kate quickly opened a container of vegetable stock, it looked as though Evora had intended to use it later, "Here, use this for the base," she said as she held the white container out to him. The Ambassador grabbed the top of the jug and said, "Thank you." The pair paused and Kate looked up at the Ambassador, his dark eyes fell on her blues and he replied, "Of course," as he took the container.
Kate hummed as she turned her attention to the carrots she was chopping, there was silence between them as they cooked, each moving around one another as though it were the most natural dance they had ever done. They moved with grace as Kate added ingredients to the pot and Soval checked the bread as well as stirred the pot's contents and added spices in small precise increments. His fingers moved deftly as he tapped the spices free of their confines and into the stock.
The sound of the gas stove's flame burning in the range coupled with the sound of a knife hitting the cutting board made the room settle into a serene silence. For that brief amount of time, the world seemed to fade, there wasn't Terra Prime, they weren't in the Yukon to meet an unknown man to get the Logic Diamond Reader, Vulcan's economy wasn't under distress, the weapons signatures didn't exist, all that mattered was that they were cooking a meal, together. Kate looked over to Soval, she admired his powerful shoulders and back, they had been highlighted by the thick sweater he was wearing that seemed to hug him.
Oddly she mentally thanked Suran for selecting the garment, she had a feeling that Soval hadn't selected it for himself. "I shall set the table," stated Soval as he lowered the heat on the soup and looked through the cabinets. "Here," she rushed as she reached over his shoulder, only she hadn't seen his hand hovering over the handle. Her fingers brushed his elegant long fingers that stood out against the golden wood of the hand crafted cabinets and the silver handles. A spark slipped through her skin, sending a shiver of pure pleasure through her spine, she gasped at the strength of it. Her heart sped up and suddenly she felt her stomach flutter. Soval was frozen and she noticed the tips of his ears turning green against his silver hair. His regal profile was dusted with an olive green blush as he stiffened, slowly the Vulcan closed his eyes and drew a breath. Kate was enthralled, as his dark eyes opened, his pupils were dilated and he turned his head, they were so close she could see the streaks of gold in his irises. He smelt of the desert moon, and exotic spices from his teas and incents.
"Major Forrest," he breathed, his voice was lush like velvet but raspy. Kate stared at him, she wanted to move, but couldn't find the strength to. She was trapped by this clever Vulcan, "Katharine," he whispered as he slowly drew back, his hands behind his back in a flash. She stared at him in confusion until she noticed how his chest heaved, "Soval," she said softly and shook her head, "Sorry, what was that?" she asked. She slowly rubbed her temple with her fingers and closed her eyes. There was a humming in the back of her mind when they had touched, yet now there wasn't. It was then she remembered Vulcan's were touch telepaths but didn't realize that a brush of the hand would result in something that powerful. She had touched the Ambassador before but never felt the spark.
Soval looked at the bowls and cautiously pulled them out of the cabinet, avoiding her reach. "A Vulcan's hands are very sensitive, what you had experienced inadvertently is how many mates display affection," he explained cautiously, observing every rule of propriety. Kate's blue gaze never left him and she nodded, it was always a joy to learn about the mysterious culture, "So it's like a caress in human terms?" she asked curiously.
The Ambassador shook his head and replied, "No, it is the Vulcan equivalent of a kiss." Kate felt her cheeks heat up and she wanted to hide, Kate ran her fingers through her hair, tugging at it a little as she did so. "I k-kissed you? By accident?" she asked softly, her hand covering her eyes as shame swept over her. She had just managed to kiss her charge, the man she was to protect. It was then she realized it was actually more than that. She had just kissed the Vulcan Ambassador Soval, one of the most powerful forces on Earth and respected diplomats known.
He retreated to the dining room carrying the white square bowls and a black whicker basked for the bread. She watched curiously as he reached into a cupboard and pulled out red cloth. Red, the color of the skies of Vulcan and her sands, Kate knew there were blue clothes as well as white ones, yet he had selected a vivid color, something bold and daring. She watched him move about the dining room, it was painted a daring navy blue, which contrasted the golden wooden walls that glowed thanks to the soft filters placed on the LED fixtures hanging from the ceiling off to the sides. The sides were lined with dark mahogany sideboards and a buffet as well as a drop leaf table, all of which looked as though the woods had slipped into the room. There were branches and leaves carved into their sides and the glass panels were held in the door panels by what had looked like a thicket of thin branches, the glass sparkling like due in the morning sun. Glasses were lined up behind them as well as various other necessities to host a diner of grandeur.
However, it was the dinning room table that stood out the most. It was a tangle of branches that had been sanded and sealed, they varied in color. Some branches were nearly white, others gold and a large mahogany branch twisted through the middle. The table it's self was a large piece of scratch resistant transparent aluminum. She watched as Soval placed several cloth place mats on the table, they were also a bold red. Kate took the hint and put the soup in a large bowl and watched as Soval grabbed a smaller mat and a cast iron wheel. He had set the places so they were at opposite ends of the large table, it was as though he had created a barrier between them. Obviously he was taking precautions, to which Kate couldn't object, she had no interest in once again finding herself in such an awkward position.
She returned to the kitchen and brought out a wooden board, the bread resting atop of it as though it always belonged there. Soval was standing at attention, waiting for her to enter, it was then she wondered if he would always be so ridged around her. She placed the board on the table and slowly took her seat, only for Soval to follow suit. Dinner was a silent affair and she had a feeling it was going to continue on like this. The awkwardness that had settled between them made her want to leap across the table and ask him why he was behaving in such a way, it was an accident.
~~vOv~~
Pages flickered and with each passing day Archer learned not only how Max had seen the world, but just what the world truly was. Each page told him of the man's life and his vision and the more he read the more he learned of Katharine Monroe and Max's undying affection for her. Yet, there was darkness, it was so black he wondered how Max had managed to fight it. He shifted in his chair on deck and watched as the stars flew by, he was on duty and yet his mind wandered back to the journal. Admiral Forrest had stated it held the answers they sought, but he couldn't figure it out. He had yet to find them in those pages. While he had learned a great deal about how the Admiral went from Lieutenant to Captain in a blink, he still wondered just what else was hiding in the shadows and how much Soval had known.
Soval and the Admiral were friends, closer than anyone else had achieved with the Ambassador, and yet the Vulcan's were keeping secrets. The lack of trust from the newly appointed High Council of Vulcan spoke volumes of the treachery that the culture had been subjected to. T'Pol had managed to clean house, however there was still a question as to if all of the followers of V'Las had been located and disposed of. There was no reason for Kuvak and T'Pau to question Soval's ability as the Ambassador, he had always been working in their best interest and had been there preventing Vulcan from tearing it's self apart.
There was more, there had to be. "Captain," called Hoshi, "I'm receiving a distress signal from a Vulcan vessel." Archer snapped to attention and leaped out of his seat, a vessel in peril would be just enough to pull him out of his musings and perhaps clear his head, the journal and questions surrounding the previous events had been clouding his mind. "On screen," he commanded, as he looked over to T'Pol he noticed her standing as well with her hands clasped behind her back. His hazel eyes fell on the screen before them as it flickered, "Captain Archer," drawled an unfamiliar voice, it was stiff and nothing like those of T'Pol or Soval. Archer stared at the young Vulcan on the screen, he had dark brown eyes and a head full of black hair, his skin was bronze and had a slender build. "Who am I addressing?" he asked inquisitively. Vulcan's weren't known for reaching out when in trouble, they were much too proud, in fact they were just as difficult as Andorian's when it came to asking for aid.
"Sarek son of Surak and successor of Ambassador Soval," replied the Vulcan stiffly. Archer froze Surak was the father of Vulcan logic, his name was only whispered in corridors, he didn't realize there was still a family on Vulcan that had a stake with the name. Archer watched the Vulcan grip the consul as the ship jostled slightly, "We are experiencing engine failure, as well as life support failure, I have already had the crew evacuate," he stated. Even though he was emotionless and as calm as the surface of a serene lake, it was possible to see a hint of fear in his eyes.
Archer sobered to this statement, for a Vulcan to abandon a vessel meant they truly were in trouble, they would never do it other wise. "Sarek is there any hope for the engines?" asked Archer quickly before calling to Hoshi, "Get Trip up here." If there was anyone that could aid the failing Vulcan vessel it was Trip. Sarek was rapidly hitting buttons on several panels, his eyes becoming wild as he replied, "No, and I have less than five minutes left of oxygen," he said as he gripped the consul, his dark skin was turning far too pale, it was nearly translucent.
Archer stared in shock as the Vulcan swayed, it was less than that and Sarek was facing damage. "Archer to Trip," he called, Hoshi had him on stand by as always, "Trip, Cap'n," replied the blonde engineer. "Trip get him out of there, the last thing we need is to deal with a dead citizen of Vulcan," he commanded rapidly, knowing it would take a minute for Trip to reach the transporter. He turned his attention to the screen and watched as Sarek slowly began to close his eyes, "Sarek, lower your shields, we'll beam you out," he stated. Shran slowly opened his eyes and nodded slightly as he set to work.
"Shield on the Vulcan ship have been lowered," called Malcolm, the Captain only nodded and watched as Shran grabbed a black box, he assumed it was for the star ship, it wouldn't be the first time the remaining officer made a move to save the ship's black box. "Hoshi, get Phlox to the transporter, tell him to be equip to handle a Vulcan," he stated as he watched the Commander clutch the box to his chest. "Aye, sir," she replied diligently and he listened to her chatter in the background.
"Archer to Trip," he called only to hear Trip's voice acknowledge him on the other end, "Energize." He watched on the other end as Sarek was split into particles and waited, the Vulcan was out of the ship, now his only concern was if Phlox could help him. "T'Pol, you have command," he stated as he swept across the bridge, making his way to the turbo lift, he was going to see that Sarek had arrived himself. T'Pol settled in his chair and began firing orders Hoshi, vaguely he heard his First Officer instruct them to locate the scattered crew as he entered the lift.
The doors of the turbo lift closed and he grabbed the side railing waiting for it to arrive, someone had attacked Sarek and from what he could tell it had done substantial damage. It was probably Klingon, at least he thought it was, there had been a great deal of unrest with the Klingon Empire, much to the delight of the Collation. The lift came to a halt and Archer nearly sprinted down to the transporter room. "Captain," greeted Phlox, who was already kneeling beside Sarek, he was administering hypos and scanning him constantly. The Vulcan's prone form was on a stretcher, "He is suffering from mild asphyxiation, I'll have him better soon enough once we get him to sick bay," he said shortly. Archer nodded as he watched the stretcher be moved from its position and rushed down the hallway.
He was about to leave when he spotted the black box, he sighed as he slowly picked it up. It was unusual and didn't look like a piece of Vulcan technology he knew. His fingers swept over the sides of it, it was made of an alloy of some kind and was heavier than it appeared to be at first. "Bridge to the Captain," called a familiar voice, he quickly walked over to the wall and hit the intercom, "Archer," he replied as he looked at the box in his hands. "Sir, we have located the debris of the escape pod," T'Pol stated, "It was only large enough for five members." Archer paused, five crew members and Sarek, it was a small vessel, one of the smallest he had seen travel through space at such a distance before. Sarek was going somewhere and traveling light. "What can you tell me about the ship?" he asked after a moment.
T'Pol instantly replied, "It is designed primarily for speed, it has limited weapons capabilities and utilizes a warp drive unlike our own." Now he was very intrigued, from what he knew the Vulcan's could just barely reached Warp 7, for T'Pol to say it was significant meant that the ship could go far faster than that. "How fast?" asked Archer. It was then that Trip decided to make himself known and replied, "Warp 9, perhaps faster, I'm not sure how they did it, but the core failed." The Captain stared at the box in his hands, it may have been Vulcan but he doubted it, they didn't tend to make things as simple and ambiguous as this devise.
He looked to the intercom before responding, "Scan the ship and tell me how it all happened. T'Pol, set up a room for Sarek, make sure he is comfortable and then contact Vulcan. They will want to know about this, I'll see if I can get a hold of Ambassador Soval," he stated. He listened to them acknowledge his commands and began to walk down the hallway, he was unaware that Soval had a protégé, he would have been one of the first informed after the amount of work they did together. His boots clomped against the flooring as his fingers swept over the cube, before he realized it he was standing in his quarters.
He had to contact the Vulcan High Council, they would want to know of what had transpired involving their envoy. Archer waited for a response, all the while he was composing just how he was going to inform them that he had located the ship and learned that Sarek was in danger. The screen crackled to life and Archer was greeted by the image of T'Pau, she hadn't changed since he had met her in the Forge. He had been expecting to speak with Kuvak, he lifted his hand and formed a rather cumbersome Ta'al, no matter how long T'Pol had instructed him he was still unable to make the gesture. "Live long and prosper, T'Pau," he greeted. She nodded and greeted stiffly, "Captain Archer."
The captain looked at T'Pau and realized there was no point in small talk, she was Vulcan and as T'Pol often stated they didn't simply chat. "We received a distress signal from a Vulcan vessel, a majority of it's crew is dead, the only survivor is named Sarek," he stated. T'Pau was silent and he watched the woman carefully only for a spark of something appear in her eyes, he knew Vulcan's weren't unfeeling but this Vulcan in particular didn't mind suppressing her emotions. "How is Sarek?" she asked after a moment. Archer paused, he was about to tell her more of the ship, but to hear her ask about the young man who was clearly the captain oddly interrupted the thought. "He is suffering from Acute Asphyxiation, he is currently in a healing trance, but Phlox assures me that the damage is minimal," he replied.
She stared at him and asked, "There are no other Vulcan vessels in your vicinity, what happened?" Archer noticed the ice that seemed to settle in her voice. He blinked and replied, "We are currently investigating that, he had stated that he is a member of the house of Saruk, I was hoping you would be able to contact his family and inform them of the incident." There was silence and he watched as T'Pau shifted before him, it was strange in a way to watch a Vulcan shift when they were typically sitting rapidly at attention. "There is no need," she replied.
Archer glared and began, "They will want to know what has occurred and to be frank his family as the right to know that their son is out of danger." T'Pau held up her hand gracefully before responding, "There is no need, because I am his mother." Archer stared in confusion only to realize he was gaping rudely, "You are his mother," he repeated as though testing it for himself. Of course he had known the man in question for less than five minutes but honestly couldn't see the resemblance. "Yes," she replied tritely, or what he assumed to be trite.
It was then Archer remembered the device he was holding in his hand. "T'Pau, do you know what this is?" he asked as he held it up to her. T'Pau eyed the object curiously, he watched her eye brows shoot up, "No Captain, why?" Archer turned it over in his hand, his fingers sweeping over it's pointed corners and straight edges. "It was found on Sarek, he was very determined to keep it with him, or at least he was during the beam out," Archer stated. T'Pau folded her hands before her, "I have never seen it," she replied. Archer huffed and his head drooped, he would just have to wait for Sarek to rouse. "Thanks T'Pau," he stated.
She nodded, "Peace and Long Life, Captain Archer," T'Pau said smoothly before the screen went black. As always she didn't wait for him to finish communicating with her. He turned the cube over again and decided it was time to contact Soval, perhaps he would hold the answer, or at least he hoped so. He quickly dialed the consulate only to come face to face with Suran, it was odd usually Soval answered himself, since the Enterprise was known for getting its self tangled in diplomatic issues. "Hello Suran, I'm looking for Ambassador Soval," he said simply. Suran stared at him, for once he seemed nervous, "The Ambassador is not in," stated Suran as he glanced to the side, "He will be back in a week," Archer stared at the screen in pure shock. Ambassador Soval wasn't available, that was impossible. Soval had practically taken every communication of his especially after the Andorian affair and loss of Admiral Forrest.
Archer stared at Suran and asked, "So he's off world?" Suran drew a deep breath and he heard someone say, "For god sake, Jon!" called a very familiar voice. A young woman with dark brown eyes and brown hair appeared, "Major Cole?" he asked in confusion. She groaned and stated, "Yeah, hi. Look is this line secure?" Archer nodded, he always used a secure line when contacting Soval. Why he wouldn't confused him, "Good, the Ambassador and Major Forrest are currently in the Arctic Circle, well outside of range. They are going to pick up something required to read a piece of software," she explained.
Of all the places for Soval to go, the arctic wasn't one he would think of. He nodded, "Kitty is with him?" asked Archer after a moment, his mind flew back to the journal and Suran nodded. "Why?" he asked. Suran was the one to speak and replied, "It is a long story." Archer could tell it wasn't something to speak about and nodded, "Fine, just tell him that we have his protégé Sarek," he stated. He didn't wait for them to reply as Malcolm had just asked for him.