Now: January 2261(a), the Vulcan colony
Her visitor quickly scanned the small room before taking the proffered seat across the desk. She could not determine anything about the other woman's state of mind from her facial expressions or body language. This ambassador had mastered the science of Vulcan discipline. When needed, T'Pau suspected, she would exhort more self-control than her half-Vulcan mate was able to manage.
"You and your mate share what you will of your time and keep the rest from us," T'Pau accused, getting straight to the point as was the wont of her people. "Do you seek to lead us in a direction of your choosing, as if we were nothing but your marionettes and you the puppeteer holding the strings?"
The only evidence of T'Khio'ri's surprise at the her hostess's use of metaphor was a slow blink.
"Neither Spock nor I wish to direct the unfolding of your future, Elder T'Pau," she stated. "He could not save Vulcan, but did what he could to help ensure the rest of the Federation would not suffer the fate that befell your planet.
"I understand and respect his decision, but I have not done as he did. I have not made the same choices he was forced to make because I have not faced trials as grave as the one he faced. I have only shared my personal experiences with those who might benefit from the knowledge of what happened to me."
"Do you believe that by limiting yourself to telling only young Nyota Uhura what you have seen, you are somehow protecting the rest of us?" T'Pau asked, leaning forward slightly.
"I believe that I am honoring a promise I made, Elder. It is not my place to influence your world," was the simple, honest answer. "This, however, I will share with you: If you continue on the course you appear to be on, you will fail. I do not know what the cost of your failure will be — your time is too different from my own for events to unfold now as they did then — but there are still… those who will not let you succeed. In stopping you, they may exact a heavier price than you wish to pay."
"Do you think that you know me and what my intentions are?" the old Vulcan asked. Her eyes scanned the PADD lying on the desktop. "Perhaps you are correct in your assumptions. My choices may be beyond your comprehension, and perhaps that makes you think me evil."
After moving her fingertips over the screen in a swift sequence, she looked up again and stared at her less-than-willing companion. Nearly two minutes passed. The formerly human woman did not break her gaze. T'Pau inclined her head infinitesimally and picked up the PADD she had been viewing.
"I believe you might be an acceptable mate for Spock, but my first duty is to what remains of Vulcan — its people and the way of life we took millennia to build," she continued, tucking the PADD away in a desk drawer without ever looking away. "I will fight against anyone who attempts to endanger that — even against members of my own House.
"I hope you are not under the impression that you should deal with me as you dealt with the one you once knew."
T'Khio'ri smiled, a deliberate reminder of her human origins, T'Pau was certain. The action was unnecessary; the woman's origins were the reason she had been invited.
"On the contrary," she retorted, "I know very little of you, Elder T'Pau. Although only twenty-seven years separate you from the female who bore your name in my time, I expect the events of this timeline have made you into someone entirely different. Even if this is not the case, I never had opportunity to become particularly well acquainted with her. I do not expect to you to remedy the lack."
"You should take more care, El'es T'Khio'ri, once Nyota Uhura… bint Wakufunzi," T'Pau said slowly. "The one you call t'dahsu is very intelligent and already well-regarded among the elite of a particular organization. She is also very young and still searching for the path that will lead her through the remainder of her life. It must certainly be your wish for that 'star to rise' as you humans are wont to say."
"Again, you are mistaken, Elder," T'Khio'ri returned coldly. "You have, in fact, made two incorrect assumptions. Whoever I once was, Nyota Uhura, is her own woman. I wish only for her to reach whatever goals she sets for herself.
"You should also not forget, Elder, that I am no longer particularly human. You see the species of my birth as weak, inferior. I am neither of those things, and have never been. You would do well to remember that."
She did not point out that her t'dahsu was also neither weak, not inferior. The sentiment, T'Pau decided, was implicit.
______________
Spock curled himself around T'Khio'ri soft, naked body. Even two months, one day and seven hours after being reunited, he still reveled at the feel of her against his flesh. He had been willing to take a Vulcan wife to satisfy the needs of his people, but had been unsuccessful in securing one. Now he wondered if his difficulties had been because he already belonged to the woman lying in his arms, rather than the human heritage he had blamed for more than two years.
His lover stretched a little, her body still trembling in post-coital bliss. She hummed quietly, deep in her throat and pushed her bottom across his lok. He shivered at the pleasure she gave him.
"I will have to go to Earth," she told him, breaking the contented silence. "I must speak with the Director. It would be unfair if my history were to damage Nyota's future."
Spock felt both her reluctance and her determination. He knew this choice could not have come easily to his k'diwa. From the first, she had dealt differently with her young t'dahsu than he had with his. Whereas he had been more than willing to nudge his counterpart onto a course he believed would lead the younger Spock to happiness, she maintained that the Nyota Uhura of this universe would only be satisfied with forging her own path. She offered advice, but not direction.
He tightened his embrace, letting his lips brush against her pointed ear.
"When shall we leave?"
T'Khio'ri stiffened slightly before turning in his arms. Her small hands crept up to cup his face as her dark eyes bore into his.
"You must stay here, my love," she told him. "Someone must watch over Nyota, and satisfy the entity while I am gone. I will return before the Enterprise, and in time for the bonding, but I must go alone."
He spoke before any conscious thought formed.
"No."
She arched an eyebrow at him. The gesture spoke of volumes about how his presence had molded her life.
"No?" she echoed.
Knowing he was treading dangerous ground, he went on anyway.
"You will not risk going alone," he elaborated. "I will travel with you to Earth, and we shall both return in time for the bonding ceremony. You have said it yourself on many occasions; Nyota is strong, resourceful. She will not suffer from our absence."
His lover's brows came down and a pair of deep furrows appeared above the bridge of her nose.
"I will go alone," she said firmly. "Nyota is not weak, but even she cannot take on the entity without you or Spock by her side."
"She is his mate!" he countered. "Now that she has accepted her role, surely that is enough."
Seeing that she was about to deny his assertions, and that she would likely be correct in whatever reasoning she employed, he delivered his true argument. "I was without you for too long, ashayam," he whispered, stroking a thumb across her cheek. "It was longer still for you. Do not make us part again."
T'Khio'ri's beloved face softened at his words, and she slid her hands back until they were enmeshed in his grey hair. Her lips found his and he allowed himself to be lost for several exquisite moments before she pulled back.
"We were never truly parted, Spock," she promised. "I will return to you, and once we have bonded in the Vulcan way, you will believe me."
He already knew she spoke the truth, but the link between them, however strong, was nothing like holding her in his arms as he did now. The sentiments he could not adequately convey in words seeped into her through the link, and he felt her reassurance flow back to him.
"We can never be parted, my love," she repeated.
Now: January 2261(a), the Vulcan colony
"I've got years before I'll even be a blip on the Director's radar," she protested. "Securing my future position isn't worth the risk to you and Spock."
"Nyota, I did not even know when I was until the day I felt your birth. Even then, I had not easy way to get to you. And still, there was no Spock. Knowing you were out there was my only hint that I was when I needed to be. It was my comfort. It helped me believe that I only needed to figure out where I needed to be and how to get there.
"You have more worth to me than you give yourself credit for. But I am not doing this solely for your benefit.
"It is better that Spock remain here with you. We have no way of knowing how the entity might reaction if it knows that there are not at least two of us remaining near T'Pau."
"T'dahsu, forgive me, but your reasoning isn't sound. We don't actually understand what the entity wants of us, or how exactly it perceives 'togetherness.' For all we know it might be enough that both you and I intend to formally bond with our respective Spocks," Uhura said, changing her argument. "Conversely, maybe the only thing keeping it from interfering with the work on the grid is knowing that you and Spock are here, together. We just don't know. Take him with you."
"Nyota, this disagreement will not break what I share with my mate. We have overcome far more daunting obstacles than this. You're correct: we don't know what the entity wants of us. However, although I have shown you everything I experienced with it, I continue to be connected to the being in a way that you and both Spocks are not. I feel that this is the only solution right now. And I am still human enough to trust what I feel."
"The Enterprise returns in just over six weeks. If you could just wait, my… my mate will be with me and you can take yours with you."
"This can't wait, t'dahsu. I do not understand why I believe this to be true, but neither can I convince myself that I am incorrect. I must reveal myself to the Director. I must take the chance on that T'Pau's position within SI is not so secure as she would like to believe, or it won't matter if we are four of four and all together in one room; she will use her influence to accomplish whatever it is the entity wishes to prevent her doing. I know that, Nyota. And if I am to return in time for my bonding, I must go now."
T'Khio'ri knew the moment her young counterpart gave in.
Now: January 2261(a), the Enterprise
Kirk frowned over the board. Something was seriously off. He moved his piece anyway.
"Mate," he said.
Spock didn't even blink.
"So it is, Jim," he said and began resetting the board.
Kirk reached over and grabbed several pieces, holding them out of his first officer's reach.
"That was the third game, Spock," he said. "What gives?"
He didn't realize he'd been holding his breath until Spock rolled his eyes, and he let it out. Good, he thought to himself, at least he's not going to be all Vulcan tonight.
"Well?" he prompted. "I saw the eye-roll, Spock. I know that means you actually want to talk — even if you think you shouldn't. Spill. You can't lose three games in a row and then pretend nothing's wrong."
The half-Vulcan visibly struggled against rolling his eyes again, and the young captain bit back a smile. He wasn't sure if he was amused or just happy to see this evidence of their progressing friendship — in spite of Bones's attempts to keep them each for himself. It really didn't matter, he decided.
"Lt. Uhura — Nyota — is distressed," Spock admitted. "Ambassador T'Khio'ri plans to travel to Earth to complete what she believes is necessary business. The two have formed a close… friendship, and I believe Nyota will feel her absence acutely. I am at a loss as to how I might ease her mind while she and her t'dahsu are parted."
Frowning again, Kirk ran hand through his already tousled blond locks. Bones was the one on woman-duty; his job was supposed to be teaching Spock to have fun. Damn!
"Captain," Spock began, "if you are uncomfortable discussing this matter, I am sure Dr. McCoy will have insight to offer. Psychology was a specialty of his prior to his enlistment."
Jim felt a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. The irony of Spock worrying about his feelings was not lost on him.
"No, no. That's not it," he said, letting his grin spread. "It's just… well, this is kind of… it's family stuff, Spock. It's almost like the ambassador has been sort like Uhura's mother all this time, and now she's leaving, and… did you ever attend nursery school?"
"No," Spock said, his tone unchanged, but his eyes gleaming. "But I am familiar with the practice of tearing an underage child from its mother bosom and thrusting into the care of paid supervisors along with others in its peer group."
Jim only just managed not to flip his friend the bird.
"Yeah, well, maybe this is like Uhura's first day at nursery school, you know?" he said, knowing he was pulling the explanation out of his ass. Nyota Uhura had been thriving on independence since he's met her.
"I believe the situation is more complicated than that, Jim," Spock suggested.
It occurred to the captain that his first officer was merely humoring him; that he would go seek the CMO's counsel as soon as they were finished for the night.
"Wanna go see what Bones has to say?" he asked.
Jim found himself biting back another laugh at the look of relief that fleetingly crossed Spock's face.
"I'm not really that good with women—I mean, I'm good in some areas, but their feelings, not so much," he confessed as they made their way out of his quarters.
Spock didn't miss a beat.
"I have had many occasions to observe the truth of you statement, Jim," he said.
Jim paused just outside the door.
"You're not going to go all buck-nutty again, are you?" he wanted to know. "Because, if you are, we can set a course for Vulcan Beta right now."
Spock heaved out a sigh that Kirk would have sworn bore a touch of amusement.
"I believe seeking my best man's advice will be sufficient," the half-Vulcan retorted.
Laughing at the unsubtle dig, Jim slapped him on the back and the two continued down the corridor.
A/N: Twelfth chapter in the sequel to Once and Future. Most of the questions left unanswered there will be addressed in this fic. Didn't read Once? Find it at /s/5293456/1/Once_and_Future .
My sincerest apologies for the late update; I had to completely rewrite this chapter (four times). Hopefully, the developments are a little clearer than they would have been had I posted the original version. Please review and let me know. No update this Friday.
Disclaimer: I don't own them.