Disclaimers: See Part One
A/N; Thoughts and Telepathy in Italics
2008/2/5
Challenging Destiny
Part 37 Fabrications PG
Koss shuttered but held on to T'Lia. Her holding him made him feel secure. In that moment he knew she would never willingly leave him and it made him relax his grip some. He had been afraid. Emotions were not something he embraced like all Vulcans he repressed them to the best of his ability. However T'Lia/ Elizabeth made him feel. He needed her. Since they had bonded and the fires that need only seemed to grow. He could no longer remember how he has survived without her at his side.
"I was afraid for you. That beast looked as if he was going to attack you." He blamed the quadropad for his rage. Far better his mate think that then he wanted to shoot her brother.
T'Lia's brow rose at this evasion. "Well I am certain Porthos seemed very dangerous. I mean he is the size of a sehlet cub." She grinned at Koss who had the grace to blush. She pulled away and went to Tuvol and T'Ven.
"It is agreeable to see you both. Mestral said the family bond had not severed. I am grateful for that. I Am sorry you were worried. I could not get word out about our survival. I beg your forgiveness."
T'Ven looked up. She had tears in her eyes and she hugged her son tightly. She passed him to Tuvol and moved to Elizabeth.
"There are no words to express our gratitude to you. There is no debt. Know that we will call you family from this day on Elizabeth Tucker. Ask any favor and if we can grant it to you it will be done." T'Ven then hugged her tightly in a very human gesture.
Tuvol looked at Koss. "Your willingness to protect our son honors us. However we would take him home."
Koss stiffened at this. Suddenly he realized he might lose the boy child. He was surprised that this thought held little appeal. He was growing fond of the child. "He was gifted to T'Lia." He was unwilling to let the boy go if it hurt his mate.
T'Lia sighed. "Of course he will go home with you. But, there are a few things you need to know. Promises I made. While I know you are not bound by them I request for Mestral's sake you honor them. Come it would be easiest if I only have to tell this story once."
They all headed into the common room. Porthos bounded after them not wanting to be left alone. As they entered the room if looks could kill Porthos would be roasting on a spite. He went over to his master and plopped down.
Jonathan Archer looked down at his dog. On one hand he should be angry at the little brat, but….how could he be? "Could someone tell us what is going on please?"
Elizabeth Tucker sighed and pushed back her hair. Trip gasped at the Vulcan ears on his sister.
"Lizzy your ears are pointed?"
She chuckled at this. "I would hope so. I can hear so much better now. No need for those hearing aids. Remind me to ask Mom and Dad why they bobbed them in the first place."
Koss looked at her incredulously. "They mutilated your ears?"
"Hey….She had a birth defect." Trip said. "Her ears were all pointed the docs said she needed it to hear better."
"Indeed, but the cure made her hearing impaired. Clearly the procedure failed." Koss shot back. "They should have known better."
Elizabeth chuckled at this. "Well yes they should have. Remember Koss he does not know the truth. Mom and Papa never told him."
"Huh? Lizzy please make some sense here." Trip begged. "How the hell are you here? We thought ya was dead. We grieved for you and …I …I named my daughter after you."
Lizzy looked at Trip a wide smile forming "I have niece?"
"Our daughter was a binomial clone created by Terra Prime agents. She did not survive. It seems humans and Vulcans can not produce a child." T'Pol said taking Trip's hand in hers. "Dr. Phlox tried to save her but she died from an infection."
"That is impossible." Elizabeth said. Her hand flew to her own stomach. Koss Pulled her close.
Charles Tucker III noted the action and lost it. "You son of a bitch!" He went for Koss.
"Kadith Trip." Lizzy ordered. The Vulcan word and the shock of his baby sister using it brought him up short. "Koss is my bond-mate. Harm him and you harm me. We truly are one. I grieve with thee for your loss."
Trip looked at his sister she looked so different. Was she even Lizzy anymore? She seemed Vulcan.
"Trip sit. Everyone please sit down. I will try to explain everything to you." Koss led Elizabeth to a chair she sat down on it next to him. "Humans and Vulcans can produce children. They are generally stronger then both races. They lose some of the lifespan but they gain far more in other areas. If your baby died it was not your fault. It was likely due to something those monsters did to her. Yes, Trip I am pregnant with Koss's child. I am very pleased with this fact. Get over it already he is my bond-mate and we will be married. I just was holding out. I wanted mama and papa there." She glared at her husband who had the grace to look away.
"So what did you--"
"Trip be quiet. Let your sister explain." Archer ordered.
"Indeed I to would like to know what is going on here." Ambassador Kevan said. "You did not tell us you had living family T'Lia. We had no idea they would be coming here."
T'Lia flinched and looked down slightly ashamed. "I beg forgiveness. I would never have broken my word sir. I meant it. I am T'Lia Bond-mate of Koss. My other self is gone."
"Why?" Trip demanded.
T'Lia looked up and sighed. She looked over at Jarkel and Janel and back at her brother. A debt and love. There was no real choice. She had given her word.
"Trip do you remember the off world commission I was offered?"
Charles Tucker looked back at his sister then at Jarkel. "Him? He was the one who offered you that commission. You designed this place?"
"Yes, It all started when Jarkel came to my office." T'Lia said "He wanted me to help design this building and the grounds. Jarkel came to visit the day of the attack. I was watching Mestral for T'Ven and Tuvol who had been called away on business. While we were talking Jarkel got a message from Janel. They had spotted the weapon. He had only a small ship one that was lightly armed. He could have left us and ran away. Instead he stunned us both and grabbed us. Jarl had to carry Mestral. They do not like each other much. Anyway they beamed me to their ship along with Mestral. It was to late to warn anyone and they fled. They had no way to know if more attacks were coming. Jarkel latter learned that the Xindi were killing all the humans they came across. So he had the medics alter my appearance. I became Mestral's older sister and their slave. I will not lie we clashed. I did not want to obey them." She gave her master and mistress and apologetic look. "They saved my life. They are honorable people. In time I got more and more freedom."
"You could have let us know. Lizzy we would have bought you back." Trip said.
She laughed. "It would have broke mama and papa Trip. They were offered a million credits and turned it down."
Trip was stunned. "Huh? For you?"
Janel offended for T'Lia said. "She is highly skilled in many areas. We would have taken no less then 150 million for her. Then nothing as she became a part of our family. She was drawn to Koss." Janel looked away blushing. "So an alliance was offered. She was free to accept or not."
Admiral Maxwell spoke up. "I can see why you ran away. But, latter why not send the scans to earth. We would have paid well for the information."
Jarkel looked away. "The Xindi had a large fleet. Earth was alone in it's fight. We could not risk it. I had my people to protect. I wish I could have saved more then two. But, it was all I could do. The Xindi have been allies of mine for years. It is not a something I wished to risk for a people I did not know. The reptilians are a deadly foe. They would have hunted down my people as well if they thought we betrayed them. It is why Elizabeth Tucker must remain dead. They know I was in the system seeking an alliance with Vulcan. If they learn I saved a human then We would become a target."
It was the truth with a slant. T'Lia found she could live with the lie. "Trip I will never again go to Earth as Elizabeth Tucker. It may be best that I never return at all. Despite everything I am very happy. "
Charles S. Tucker III looked pale at this. "Why to protect them. They made you a slave and sold you to him."
"Koss did not buy me. He tried but, Janel said no. I was a slave for a little while true. But, because I was they changed. MY time as a slave made them see it is wrong to do. It is a worth while trade brother. Besides I got Koss out of the deal. A fair trade I think. He suits me. I also gave my word. A Tucker never breaks their word Trip. They were afraid Earth would think they were involved. We have not had the best relations with the Orions. He was only protecting his family. You can understand that."
He sighed. Hating he had taught her that. To keep her word and to see all sides of an argument and be fair in your judgments. It seemed he was to good of an example. All he wanted to do was shoot them. But Lizzy had a point they did save her life. "Alright but are ya gona tell mama and papa? I can see ya feel ya owe them. But, I don't think they will agree and Nana will be annoyed." That was an understatement to be certain.
T'Lia looked at Jarkel. The Orion leader cursed. He could not resist her soft eyes. "Alright, as long as your daddy does not want to kill me."
T'Lia flew from Koss's side and hugged the big Orion. "Thank you sir."
He sighed and ruffled her hair. "I swear you are more trouble then a thousand slaves ever were. You ruined us you know."
"Papa may not kill you but no promises about my mother or Nana." T'Lia warned. She was grinning however.
Jonathan and Trip laughed at this both recalling how easily Elizabeth wound her father around her little finger. Their mother on the other hand had a core of steel and their great-grandmother scared even Jonathan. She made a Vulcan look emotional. She was the true power in the Tucker Clan and no one questioned her will.
"Fair enough" Jarkel said with a smile. "I will just let Koss take the blame."
T'Lia slugged him playfully no longer intimidated and actually feeling affection for him. It seemed their fabrication might well work.