Tilly landed the shuttle perfectly. Saru found himself very proud of the growth he had gotten to see in her over the years. "Are we ready to meet our guides?" Saru asked, schooling his smile to be small.
"I am." Tilly said pressing the button to power down the shuttle, "Baby."
Saru looked confused, "Baby?"
Tilly chuckled, "Sorry, I'm trying on different pet names for you, Commander."
"Ah!" he said, returning the chuckle. He felt he better not ask why she would call him an infant as a term of endearment, that seemed like something a normal human would know. He did make a mental note of it to look it up later though. It didn't seem like a name that inspired confidence in his masculine and virile nature though. He wouldn't read much into it now, especially without all the information.
Saru stood and shouldered his pack. He saw Tilly reach for hers and he put his hand out, "Please allow me to carry that for you. I think a good mate would not make you carry such a heavy thing, especially when gravity is going to be more once we get off the shuttle."
"Not going to argue." she said with a smile tossing her pack to him, "Sugar lips."
Saru realized she was having fun with these pet names and he shook his head, "What did you call your former lover?"
"Um, Ew." She said cringing, "Former...lover...that just sounds dirty to me. I called my x-boyfriend Steve, so if you want me to call you Steve…." she added with a chuckle, "I also called him colorful things like, jerkface…."
"So, it was an unpleasant experience." Saru replied, realizing he never knew this part of her.
"To say the least." she added making her way to the back of the shuttle to disembark, Saru following close behind her.
"Then allow me to give you a good experience, or at least a reasonable facsimile," He said, slipping his hand into hers as the automatic door opened. He took her hand and gently placed it on his thin arm, and then placed his hand over hers.
Walking down the plank he noted two Vulcans waiting just off the tarmac for them. Both of them had the Surakian haircut, one was in purple and gold robes, the other in a grey suit with a long robe-like jacket. "Ready?" Saru said, looking down at the woman on his arm.
"Ready," she said, looking up at him. "Wow. Your whole kind eye thing just made me feel so much more relaxed."
"I was not aware of the eyes I was giving you, but...good." He said, moving her gently closer to him and placing his hand over her hand on his arm. When they were close enough to the Vulcans to greet them he nodded his head, "Hello, I am Jonas Jones, and this is my Wife Sylvia Jones, we greet you in service to the Federation and your planet."
Both Vulcans raised the ta'al, but the one in the robes spoke first, "Your service honors all of Vulcan. I am Sokal, and this is Dr. Surek. We are to be your guides to the animal sanctuary run by the human woman Theda Naldi."
Saru nodded, "Indeed, we are looking forward to working with her and studying the Fungi here on Ni'Var."
Sokal gave a cringe that, if Saru hadn't been trying to observe reactions he would have missed and he spoke up before Dr. Surek could, "Yes, Vulcan has interesting mycelium, especially in the caves near the Forge where T'Sai Naldi lives and works" he said flatly.
"Tell me, will you be permanently relocating to Ni'Var?" Dr. Surek asked, placing his hands behind his back, straightening his posture.
"No." Saru answered directly, "We merely wish to study the fungi and be of service for a short time."
Dr. Surek nodded, "This is...what is the term humans use? A vacation?"
Tilly took the opportunity to speak, "A working vacation." It came out bolder than she would have liked.
"Understandable." Dr. Surek said, he motioned for them to follow him to his flitter, "Be advised, T'Sai Naldi is a hard working human woman. She was raised by Romulans on this planet, and the work she does at the animal sanctuary is strenuous, even by Vulcan standards. The animals she rehabilitates are not benign human animals."
"It sounds as if you admire her and her work," Tilly said, letting go of Saru's arm to step into the flitter.
"Her work is necessary." Sokal replied,"and she is adequate to the need."
Dr. Surek looked at his colleague, "Some would say it suits her species."
Tilly blinked, her mind trying to sort if her whole race had just been insulted. It was so hard with Vulcans sometimes to determine what a complement and what an insult was. Were they trying to say humanity was best left to taking care of brainless beasts or that this lady's compassion and strength make her fit for the job. She looked at her supposed husband, he looked equally confused.
"How did Ms. Naldi come to live on Ni'Var?" Saru asked to break the awkwardness both he and Tilly were feeling.
"A romulan male and female were on assignment when they found a ship dead in space with one weak life form. They retrieved the baby and raised it as their own." Dr. Surek answered, "The two of you will be, I believe one of the first humans she has met. We have other humans living on Ni'Var, of course, but I do not believe she has traveled out of the Forge's edge, ever."
"Fascinating," Saru said honestly.
"My best friend, Michael Burnham, said that the Forge was inhospitable, that you go there as children to prove yourself."
"Yes." Sokal replied, "But where she and the sanctuary are, the conditions are better. Her parents also placed a shield on one of the highest points of the northern Forge to protect from some of the more extreme conditions. Other than the shield and some handheld scanners, you will find that not much technology works."
"Specifically, our flitter and communications." Dr. Surek said finishing the thought, "We will be landing in North Shir'kahr and walking the rest of the way to the animal sanctuary. According to T'Sai Naldi, we will be met this day by tribal vulcans who will guide us."
"Tribal Vulcans?" Tilly blurted out.
The smallest of frowns touched Sokal's lips, "They are a tribe of vulcans without logic who have chosen to live as luddites, with no technology, no logic, and very much like Vulcans of old."
"You don't approve?" Saru asked.
He shifted in his seat, "A vulcan without logic...is dangerous." He said, and then pointed to the doctor where to land.
"May I ask what you do at the sanctuary?" Saru asked.
"I go once a month for several days to aid in medical issues for the animals and for T'Sai." Dr. Surek replied, "My colleague is security, but at this time will be functioning as an engineer. There are mechanical repairs required that are above what T'Sai can accomplish."
"She usually has a Romulan couple who aids her in the work, they are away at this time. My government asked me to help guide the two of you and do repair work." Sokal said, and swivelled in his seat to look at the two of them, "Do either of you have engineering experience?"
Tilly raised her hand, "I can help with repairs, at one point I was considered one of the best theoretical engineers in Starfleet."
Sokal raised and eyebrow, "Then we will, as humans say, muddle through as best we can."
Tilly cocked her head slightly, now that, she thought, was an insult. She opened her mouth to rebut Sokal when Saru placed his hand on her arm. "That is very good of you, my darling girl."
She blinked, turning her attention to the man who was supposed to be her husband. Feeling his hand on her arm she calmed and leaned back into the flitter chair. Her mind then turned to the fact that with a gentle word and touch, this Jonas guy could relax the venom right out of her. Weird. Nice but weird. She patted his hand to assure him that she wasn't going to let her mouth carry her away. They had missions, and Paul was especially interested in her findings. She closed her eyes and thought of how proud Paul was going to be when she brought samples and findings back to Discovery.
Sokal passed out head coverings to both Saru and Tilly when they landed, "We will be in the high sun for the next two hours, it is advisable as we walk that you both wear these or you will suffer unfortunate consequences of severe radiation burns from the sun."
Tilly excused herself to the back of the flitter as the two vulcans exited and waited on their human companions. She was struggling with her long curly locks to get it all tucked up under the head covering. This mission was frustrating already. Just when she was about to give up on the head cover and throw it out the flitter door thin fingers brushed over her forehead.
"Here, allow me." Saru said, tucking in errant hairs.
"Thank you," Tilly replied, once again relaxing after her momentary frustration, "This…" she started, "This whole heck'n…"
Saru nodded, "I know." he lifted her chin, "Prove to them, like you have proven to everyone else." he paused and considered how he might tell her what he wanted to say without giving away he knew her personally, "When I was preparing for this mission, I read your file. You were a third year ensign, who is now a full lieutenant, because you went above and beyond in proving to your crew what you were capable of. This is no different." He lifted her chin, looking over her face to make sure her hair was tucked back, "There, you are ready."
"Thank you Jonas." She said, her chest swelling with pride that a complete stranger would see that in her record. Tilly went up on the tips of her toes and kissed his cheek, "Thanks, Hubby." she said with a blush and chuckle, "Now, let's show these vulcans what humans can be made of." She moved to the open door and turned back smiled at him before joining their vulcan guides.
Saru was pleased.
They had been walking for two and half hour and Saru could tell Tilly was miserable. Her pale face was hot pink, and she was drinking non-stop. For him, he may appear human, but the heat didn't really bother his Kelpian body. He found himself feeling horrible for her.
Just when he decided he was going to "piggy back" her, Dr. Surek held up a hand indicating everyone should stop moving.
Saru stopped and found himself at eye level with a spear. He carefully held up his hands, as did everyone else. Moving from the camouflage positions, suddenly very thickly muscled Vuclans movies into view. They were nothing like vulcans that Saru had ever seen before. They were males, bare chested, some had paint or markings on their face, others were tattooed with vulcan scripted over their muscled chest and arms. Two had a kind of mohawk hair cut, while three others had long hair, shaved into a design on the sides. From their smell, they were wearing leather of some kind, but otherwise smelled of the land.
The largest of the group approached the doctor, looking down his nose at the robed man the large tribal vulcan frowned, "You are late." he spat, "If we waited on you to enter sanctuary land we would be followed by a storm. I will not allow your softness to kill us all." with that he motioned for four of his people to come forward. These vulcan males were just as thickly built as their leader, and they had a strange saddle looking harness on their backs, "You will mount these." he said forcefully, "They will take you where you cannot walk."
Tilly didn't waste time. She wasn't too proud or ashamed, marching right over to the one Saru would estimate was the most attractive. He found himself frowning, and a twinge of something started in his stomach. Tilly smiled,"I'm Sylvia." she said, looking him over, thinking that Michael never told her about These vulcans. The large vulcan man squatted slightly and held out his arm for Tilly. "Oh my," she said touching his arm, "That's hard." she said mostly to herself as he mounted the strange back saddle.
"Hold my neck and shoulders." he said in a deep commanding voice.
"Whatever you say." she squeaked.
Saru's eyes narrowed. A vulcan approached him with a saddle, and he shook his head, "I will be fine." he said, knowing he still had his Kelpian speed and strength.
The leader approached him, "If you do not take aid, then expect to be left behind when you cannot keep up with us, human."
Saru stood a little taller, "Lead on."
The tribal leader laughed, "Then we will not go easy, if you can keep up with us, you will earn your place in the tribe. If you do not, you will earn your death in the hands of the Forge."
"Then I hope you have face paint that matches my eyes." Saru said defiantly.
The vulcan laughed again, "We go, keep pace, for we race the storm!" With that they began running.