A/N: I hope you all are enjoying this so far. I realize it's a sloooow start, but I intend on this being a long piece so as Morcheeba says, "Enjoy the Ride" I also hope I am getting better. I have not done much writing lately so I feel like I am sloooowly getting my groove back. So, on with the shooow!

Saru realized as he ran with the tribal vulcans that he couldn't do all the things he could actually do, because they wouldn't be possible by an actual human. Though his male pride, a trait not exclusively human as it turned out, was not going to allow these bare chested muscle men to show him up. Could he have leaped over rocks they were running around? Yes. Should he? No. So he kept a pace, making sure that he was even with or slightly behind the vulcans carrying others on their back.

The one thing he could say about them was they were accurate about the brewing storm. He could hear it in the distance behind them. The one pause from running they made to climb down a small rock face gave Saru the chance to look in that direction. There was a formidable black cloud moving in their direction, with the largest streaks of lightning he had ever seen.

Once they had scaled down the small rock face they ran for another fifteen minutes, stopping about two hundred yards from a fence line that arced in front of some kind of habitat that looked carved into the rock surrounding them. The biggest of the V'tosh ka'tur, this groups leader stopped them. He turned to Saru and held out his hand, "You are a worthy brother. We accept you." He grabbed Saru be the arm and pulled him into a hug. He let go of him and looked to his tribes people, "Leave them, we must return to our camp before the storm." He looked at Saru again with a nod, "You and your mate will always be safe on our land." He cast side eyes at their original vulcan companions and spat. A few seconds later they were gone.

"Don't mistake their acceptance of you as a good thing," Sokal said, brushing himself off from the ride, "They have no logic, and at any moment may turn on you." He turned and jumped back slightly when he saw someone had snuck up behind him while he was speaking.

Removing her black cloak hood, she looked between them all. Saru noted her looks, she was Tilly's height, with long black hair that stopped just short of the ground. Her skin was pale, her eyes grey. She was wearing strapped overalls, under her cloak, that showed the bare skin of her shoulders and arms. Her right arm held the same tattooed calligraphy as the tribal vulcans had, he also noted that she was well muscled. Interesting, Saru thought, given the time origin of her genetics, he somehow expected different.

"Sokal, I presume. It never ceases to amaze me how negative people with the concept of IDIC can be about internal diversity." she said, looking first at him and then the group, 'Come on, the storm is very close and I need to get the shield up."

She turned on her heels and started walking back to the fence.

Dr. Surek motioned toward her, "That is Theda Naldi."

"That much should be obvious." Sokal said raising an eyebrow.

Theda turned slightly, "Are you all coming or should I send dinner out to you as you get eaten by that storm."

Saru walked over to Tilly, "Shall we?" he said looking at her with a gentle practiced smile.

"Sure thing." Tilly said, taking his hand, "You...can move!" she said looking up at him. "That's impressive."

"As impressive as hulking muscles and skin art?" He asked, partially teasing her, and partially seriously curious.

She blushed hot, "Oh, some...somethings are nice to look at but you wouldn't bring them home." Tilly whispered. "Eye candy."

"Ah, I see." He replied and kept walking with her to the fence.

The second they were all behind the fence, the lady who greeted them pressed a button on her lapel and a shield went up over the property. "Welcome to my home." she started, taking off her cloak, "I know the Doctor, but you three I don't. Not to be rude, but none of you look sturdy enough to work." She gave them an appraising look.

Tilly stepped up and held her hand out, "I'm Sylvia."

Theda's eyes widened, "You-you touch?" she questioned taking a half step back, "I didn't think humans did such things…"

Dr. Surek moved forward, "Mrs. Jones, Theda is a touch telepath, as such she doesn't shake hands."

"Aren't all humans?" Theda asked, and just then a crashing sound deafened everyone for a few seconds. "Come let's get away from the barrier, the storm has finally hit. I have food fixed for you all, it is the afternoon rest period."

Saru noted that in his mind. His information said the woman would be given the ability to receive telepathy or some kind of mating bond, but to his knowledge there was nothing in the agreement between humans and vulcans that allowed for adding traits like that.

While her fake husband looked lost in thought Tilly stepped up to walk with Theda since everyone was walking behind her. "Sorry." Tilly said, "I didn't know."

A hint of a smile crept up on her lips, "It is fine, I was just surprised. I haven't met other humans before, and given whether I was talking with a Romulan or Vulcan I got two very different pictures in my mind of what you might be like. Neither, or possibly a mix, is what I got. " She opened the door to the first building carved into the wall of the rock, "I am...glad to meet you, Sylvia." she said softly and bid her enter.

"This is your home while you stay with me." she looked at the group, to the two vulcans she said, "The doctor knows where your rooms are. I will show the humans to their room. After we all clean up show them to the back patio where I have food for you all." She bowed to all of them and motioned Sylvia and Saru to follow her down the stairs. "It is cooler down here than it is on the main floor. Am I correct in saying you do not thrive in high heat?"

Saru nodded, "I am Commander Jonas Jones, by the way, Ma'am."

"I am sorry again. I do not get many visitors, and those I do are just...different. Forgive me if my social skills are lacking." Theda said, crossing her arms over her chest, "I am Theda Naldi." she moved so they could enter their room, which was very large, and comfortably cool, "This is my guest house. It sits on the front of the property, away from the animals. My home is down the lane, I will show that to you later, as well as the animal. Your bathroom and WC is down that small hall. Your bed," She pointed to one large bed, "To join us on the patio, you may take that door over there," She said motioning to the only door, "It will take you outside and you can go up a few steps and onto the patio. Before the vulcans tell you, you and your wife will be making breakfast in the morning. It is vulcan tradition that guests provide the first meal, and the homeowner provides the last meal. Last meal will always happens in my home after today."

Saru was mildly amused that Theda seemed uncomfortable, but was also very down to business. She was clearly not raised by humans. "It is a pleasure for my wife and I to meet you." Saru said smiling. "I think we'd both like to get to know you better. Your eyes are fascinating."

Theda raised an eyebrow, "Thank you? I think. My parents told me grey was a rare genetic trait."

"And long straight black hair," Sylvia said, "It's so long!"

"In my parent's family, who are Romulans, it is custom that females do not cut their hair until they are married. At almost forty, I have had plenty of time to grow it."

Her age caused Saru to swallow thickly. She looked much younger than that. The thought that he may have to report that she was an augment, really unsettled him.

"We are wasting time." Theda said abruptly, "You need to clean yourselves and ready for food on the patio." She nodded and left immediately out the door she had shown them earlier.

"If she is nearly 40, sign me up for that." Tilly said, shaking her head, and then poked the man she thought was Jonas, "Your eyes...they are fascinating." she said with dramatic flair, "Eye candy for you?"

Saru looked at the floor, shaking his head as if he was ashamed, "No, not at all. Her appearance bothers me some, I think. I can't explain why."

Tilly's shoulders relaxed, "I was just teasing, I mean...we aren't really married."

Saru looked up at her and smiled, "You are the only eye dessert I require."

"Eye dessert?" Tilly asked as she walked toward the bathroom, "Well ok then," she whispered to herself, "I hope you don't have to go to the bathroom, because I am going to get cleaned up. I have a feeling that is going to be a huge Sylvia Tilly theme this mission...Let's get cleaned up because I am a stinky mess." With that she vanished into the bathroom.

Saru stood there looking between where Theda had gone and the door Tilly disappeared behind. It may be one of the more challenging missions of his life.

888

Tilly went back upstairs when the man she knew as Jonas was getting cleaned up. Theda had gloves on and was laying out food on what looked to be a charcuterie board. "Can I help with anything?" Tilly asked softly, not wanting to startle her.

"In that bowl is something that looks like brown paste. If you could pour it into the wooden bowl and place the knife in it."

"I can manage that." she said, "This looks like...hummus."

"I suppose it is a type of hummus, vulcan hummus." She said laying out each vegetable and cracker on the board and placing individual small prongs in each piece, "Vulcans don't eat with their hands, Sylvia." she said pointing to the prongs, "You pick them up with this and eat them."

"I...kinda knew that, I guess. My best friend grew up on Vulcan."

"Michael Burnham, yes. Nothing was known about her on Ni'Var, until they rediscovered Sarek's katra."

"Oh wow, where is that now?"

"In the temple on Mount Seleya. All of the dead of their clan rest there." she said carefully spooning other other dips and spreads for the vegetables. "I have also made two human beverages for you and your husband. They are in the chiller, they are called Leeemonaid and Iced tea."

Sylvia smiled, "That is very thoughtful of you." she moved to the chiller to get them out, "Was it hard growing up here without other humans?"

Theda shrugged, "I knew no other life, Sylvia, so I have no comparison really. Most of the Romulans are indifferent to me, those who aren't act like I am a science experiment. Vulcans, for the most part, are indifferent to me, except the ones who aren't and they treat me like I am a sehlat in a zoo." she looked back at Sylvia, "Take those to the table."

Saru was standing out of sight listening to the two speak, pleased Tilly was unwittingly doing some of his research for him.

Tilly returned, "I thought vulcans were polite to people, I mean infinite diversity and all that, right?"

"Except those who believe that Vulcan should be for only the most logical of vulcans, they are."

"How did you get those really cool tattoos?"

"It's part of an agreement with the tribal vulcans who brought you here."

Tilly grabbed a carrot looking piece of food and popped it in her mouth, "Are you some honorary tribe person?"

"Oh no, we are allies. I aid them with dead animals when one of my charges die. They make things out of the carcass, including clothing. In return, they don't hunt near my land, and we do odd favors for each other. Like bringing you here." She said and picked up the board, "If you could open the door for me, please, and gather your husband for the meal."

Tilly opened the door, and Saru, hearing it was time to eat, came out from where he was hiding at the top of the stairs and joined them. "Oh this looks lovely." Saru said, putting his arm around Tilly as he had seen many couples do. "This is very kind of you."

She nodded and bid them all to sit. "We are waiting on the Vulcan men, and then we may eat."

Saru pulled Tilly's chair out for her, and gently pushed her in, "What will we do after our meal?" he asked.

"I will show you around the property." Theda said with a small smile, "You will meet the animals you will be caring for, and I have been told one of you wants to study the fungi I have in the deep caves. We don't have time today for that, but I will show you where the deep caves are."

"My wife is very interested in that. She is also an amazing engineer. She is going to help repair some items." He said, patting Tilly on the hand.

Theda said nothing but nodded, and then she stood when the vulcans entered the patio, "Please have a seat, the meal is prepared."

Saru had a hard time not staring at Theda as they ate. She was the same height as Tilly but very well muscled. That could be from the hard daily work, or it could be genetic manipulation. Then again, the thought, what would genetic manipulation actually look like on a human. Though he tried to be discrete Theda saw it one too many times and cocked her head, "Is there something wrong?"

"Your tattoos, I have never seen them on a vulcan or person raised on vulcan until today. What do they mean?"

"They are a pact and a warning. None of the vulcans without logic may touch, approach, or harm me, to do any of that would bring the wrath of the local tribe."

"They are….it is illogical, in this day and age, for our people to live as they live, " Sorak said, placing his plate on the table while he spoke.

Dr. Surek raised an eyebrow, "I think that is the point of their lifestyle, Sorak. To be as illogical as possible. A counter balance to our logical life."

"I cannot debate either thing, but only accept what is, is." Theda said firmly. "They are as much a part of infinite diversity as I am." She then went silent, and so did the rest of the table for the remainder of the meal.