Challenging Destiny

Disclaimer: See Part One

01/31/2008

A/N: Telepathy and Thoughts in Italics

Part 27 A Family Road Trip PG

Admiral Maxwell listened to the request by Ambassador Soval. He smiled at the request. Unlike his Star Fleet counterparts he had little problem helping the Vulcans. Soval had been rather shocked to see Maxwell come over and Hug Amanda Cole.

"Hey Mandy how are you doing kido?"

"I am fine sir." She said with a smile.

"How is Gunny doing?"

"Dad is fine sir. He told me to let you know he misses fishing with you sir. He wanted to know when you are coming down again."

"I will call him. I have leave coming up in a few months." He let her lose and was shocked to see Soval was tense as if he was barely restraining himself from ripping his head off.

Amanda noticed this and sighed. Uncle Max it was good to see you again." She pulled out of his embrace. "Ambassador the admiral is my godfather."

Soval seemed to force himself to relax. "It is fortunate you had such a mentor." He said.

"Ambassador I would be happy to have you go along with us. We owe Vulcan much. However the ship belongs to Mrs. Maryweather and her family it would be her decision."

Masie Maryweather looked at Soval. She could tell that he truly need her help. She tilted her head and said "Travis said that you adopted the crew into your clan?"

"Yes, It was the best way to protect the crew after the mission to the expanse." Soval said.

"You consider the crew your family?"

"Yes, They are a part of my clan. They have the same rights as if they were my children."

"Well, I am not so certain I like your attempt to steal my son." This was said with a smile. "However, Travis considers you to be family. That is good enough for me sir. I will be happy to take you to the Enterprise. We are heading there anyway because of taking replacement MACO's. I can not promise you and your people luxury quarters but we can get there rather quickly. The upgrades your people provided six months ago have the Horizon II going up to Warp 4.0 and in an emergency 4.5. It was almost enough to convince Travis to come home."

"I did not know Lt. Maryweather was considering leaving Starfleet?"

"It is a joke sir." Amanda said grinning. "It means that they are a lot faster."

"Ah…Humor. I see." Soval replied. "I would be honored to travel on your ship. Travis has said your family is most skilled. I would require passage for myself, Amanda Cole, Tuvol and His bond-mate T'Ven along with the healer T'Pel."

"Well I can only provide three rooms sir." Maisie said. "Miss Cole could bunk with the MACO's. If that would be alright."

"I do not believe my wife will need to bunk with the MACO's" Soval answered.

Masie was shocked and the Admiral blushed. "Congratulations sir. I did not know." Masie said.

"That is alright ma'am. We wanted to keep it quiet for now." Amanda said.

"Well then we can easily accommodate you all." Masie said with a smile. "After all what is family for."

Soval nodded. He rose. "Then I will go inform my clansmen. Mrs. Maryweather, Admiral I am in your debt."

"There is no debt between family Ambassador." Masie said. "Your upgrades have helped my family immeasurably. And Vulcan ships have kept the trade routes relatively safe. There is no debt."

Soval nodded and left to inform Tuvol and T'Ven of the news.

Amanda smiled at them. "Please let us know when you would like us to be ready to go. I will see to it that we will be ready. Admiral Thank you for your support."

Admiral Maxwell forced his smile away at Amanda's formal answer. He nodded. "Amanda you will have the MACO's full support."

She nodded and replied. "Thank you sir." She then followed Soval out. He was waiting for her at the door.

Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Koss watched T'Lia dress. She was the most magnificent creature he had ever seen. He could barely breath without wanting her again. The fires however were cooled. It had taken seven days of seclusion. Seven days to regain some control. Seven days to learn about his new wife. He was pleased with his bond-mate. She would fit into his life in a way that T'Pol never could. Not only was she an architect she was a highly gifted one. She wanted a family and seemed to want him. Again something T'Pol had not wanted at least not with him. His anger over T'Ppl's betrayal was fading with each hour he spent in T'Lia's arms. If he was honest he was far better off with T'Lia. She would stand at his side and not run away from him.

T'Lia looked back at Koss and winked. She could not resist teasing him. He looked so hot sitting on the bed in his formal robes. She grinned and resisted the desire to go and take him out of them again. Koss said he owned her. Well T'Lia knew it was the truth. She was his heart, mind, body and Katra and deep within her soul. However it was also true that he was hers. He could no more resist her then she could him. Even without the fires he still needed her. Their Katra needed to touch. It was the most intimate of embraces. Their minds needed each other even more then the body and he knew her deepest desires. His contentment depended on hers. While he still insisted she could not go back to Earth he was working on a way to send Mestral home. She had every confidence that in time he would understand she needed to let her people know the truth.

A week Latter-

Jonathan Archer tossed his ball against the wall of his quarters. He watched the water polo game as he absently sent the ball against the wall. He was sipping a cup of hot tea and knew that this down time was not going to last. He had a bad feeling. Besides it was going into the second half and disasters always happened in the middle of the game.

On cue Hoshi called him to tell him that there was an emergency call.

Jonathan M. Archer got up and went to the com unit. "What is it Hoshi?"

"Sir it seems that there is an emergency and that Ambassador Soval needs to meet with Enterprise. Sir we will be meeting with the Horizon II and Admiral Maxwell."

"Alright I will take the call." The Captain said. Well at least there luck seemed to be consistent. Archer pulled on a shirt and sat down to take the call.

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

Marly sat and sipped tea with Janel. She was despite their differences beginning to respect the Orion woman. She was rather shocked to learn that they had been educating T'Lia and Mestral. The boy was highly intelligent and fiercely loyal to T'Lia. That was an honorable thing but it did present a problem. They now knew who Mestral family was. He was far to important to be kept in this colony. Yet they had to be careful returning him to his family and clan as he could reveal the fact that T'Lia was alive. It was rather shocking to learn that they had been taken from Earth. She still could not believe Vulcan citizens had been so easily abducted. Then again given the attack it made sense that no one would look for them. It would be assumed that they were killed and the distance would make family bonds weak. If any family survived which was still being researched. In any case the clan Mestral was from demanded that he be given a chance to return home. Today Marly was attempting to make this point clear to Janel. It was one thing for a bond-mate to own his wife but T'Lia could not legally own Mestral. Or at least not according to Vulcan Law. Janel insisted that Mestral belonged to T'Lia and that T'Lia was hers. At least until she bonded with Koss and an alliance was formed. Marly had no problem with this. However she worried that T'Lia may have family who would. So far all attempts to find her family and clan had failed. Now they would have to use a genetic scan one that could not be obtained until the couple came from seclusion.