There are always wars and rumors of wars. However, to prevent any possible legal battles, I will inform you all of the following: I do not own Star Trek, any of the canon characters, nor do I make any profit from my writings.

The Jorian War III

Queen Viella had just informed them that she was trading dilithium to the Ferengi. This was a clear violation of the trade agreement Erdrusia had made with the Federation several years ago. The very agreement Sarek had been hammering out when Viella had taken him hostage.

Sarek stood up from his bench to offer his protests, but Shrelb shook his head and motioned for him to be seated. Apparently he had another tactic in mind.

"My lady Queen, might I ask just what the Ferengi have offered you in trade for your dilithium?"

"Certainly, though it might be easier to show you than to describe these wondrous things."

Queen Viella rose and indicated that the party should follow her on a tour of her palace.

When Sirin, Rachel, and the family arrived at the shuttle terminal in New Shannai'Kahr, it was the hottest part of the day. Thankfully, the Inn was close by. The family retrieved their bags and checked into their suite. Sirin noted that the mixed heritage of his family seemed to go unnoticed by the Inn's staff. He had prepared himself for disapproval and snide comments.

Esther gave Hannah a quick scrub-down to remove the rest of the lubricant from her arm. Sirin had had a serious talk with the child about the hazards of machinery and behavioral expectations. Rachel changed T'Lonna and fed her a teething biscuit. Sirin found the room service menu and let Jason do the ordering from the terminal. It was a good opportunity for him to practice his Vulcan skills.

While they waited for their food, Sirin contacted the orphanage and notified them of the family's safe arrival. An appointment was made with Director Tranil for their first meeting with Torel.

When their lunch arrived, Jason was almost too excited to eat it.

"Dad, this is so cool. I'm going to get a brother!"

Queen Viella was quite proud of her home and all the decorative items she had traded for. Her very favorite spot was the nursery where her little son Jiver slept. There was a crib, changing table/dresser, a rocking chair, and several other items of baby furniture. These all had a matching white finish and were decorated with baby African animals.

Spock could not help but raise both eyebrows when he saw this. Sarek noted his reaction and stood beside him.

"What is it my son?"

"These are Queen Viella's valuable treasures? Nyota and I recently purchased items from the same line for our child from Nebula Galactic."

Kehel nodded his agreement.

"They sell the same set on Rigel, just with different animals. My wife is expecting, too. By the way, Spock, congratulations."

"Likewise, Kehel."

Shrelb had absorbed all of this while still seeming to listen to Viella exclaim over her "valuables."

"Fascinating" was all he said.

Videla took one of the tablets the healer had given her. She would need to do so three times daily for the next ten days. This would induce her body to release the maximum number of eggs in preparation for extraction.

A year ago, she and T'Shen lived in New York City, where they both taught music at Julliard. T'Shen was a renowned piano instructor as well as an acclaimed concert pianist. Videla taught music theory and voice and was a composer of both classical Vulcan and Terran music.

After the Genocide, both women had wanted to travel to the New Vulcan colony and assist in the rebuilding of their people and civilization. However, fear had held them back. They were both daughters of prominent and honorable houses. Each had been bonded to a male as a child. As they grew to maturity, they and their families realized that the girls preferred their own gender. The childhood bonds were dissolved and permission given for them to find their own mates. Videla and T'Shen met at the Vulcan Cultural Institute and became bondmates while still students.

There had been no shame involved. It was illogical to expect a person to mate against their preference.

Yet the Genocide had rocked Vulcan society to its very core. In the early days, the number of surviving Vulcans had been underestimated and the shortage of females of childbearing age exaggerated. The Council of Elders had assumed the power to dissolve any bonds they felt illogical or not beneficial to Vulcan society as a whole.

Three Elders, T'Pau, Tauril, and Selek all encouraged them to come. Music teachers were needed. Art and music were a part of Vulcan life and would help ease the pain of loss and lift the burden of the hard labor the people endured to build a world. There were assurances that only unsuitable bonds would be broken, such as the one between an adolescent girl and an older man. The man had paid the child's father and the child had been forced to bond.

True bondmates would not be separated. To do so would result in extreme mental trauma, akin to losing a mate through death. Instead, the Elders had asked same-sex couples to assist with the re-population program in whatever way they could. Females would be asked to bear children or to act as surrogates for those who could not. Males were asked to make donations to the colony sperm bank. All same-sex couples were encouraged to adopt orphans. Most were glad to comply.

T'Shen had agreed to act as a surrogate for any couple who needed her services. Videla would bear the child that the couple would keep and raise. T'Shen had convinced her that their child should have a beautiful singing voice. Videla informed her that they must obtain sperm from a male who was also musically gifted. And so, they had chosen Spock.

Queen Viella was proud of her colony, so she was happy to arrange for the diplomatic party to have a tour of the mines and the surrounding community. She gave them permission to wander about the town freely, asking any questions they wished.

Kehel was a recent addition to his father's diplomatic team. Previously, he had worked for the Rigelian Labor Relations Ministry, settling labor and management disputes. Kehel borrowed a pair of sturdy work gloves and joined some of the miners in their work. After a time, they seemed to forget that he was an alien using a translation device to speak with them. The pair of well-trained security officers from the Enterprise also managed to blend in.

The workers told Kehel that on the whole, they were satisfied with their lives and working conditions. On Erdrusia, they had a greater variety of food, more time to spend with their families, and religious freedom. They got rest periods in the middle of the workday and padded bunks on which to take them.

Queen Viella had tried hard to make everything more pleasant and decorative. In fact, she had tried a little too hard. The bright colored coveralls she required the miners to wear were not sturdy enough. The thin, cheap fabric didn't stand up to the hard wear the miners gave it, often shredding on the dilithium crystals. This lead to many cuts and infections, and even a few amputations.

Director Tranil ushered Sirin, Rachel, and T'Lonna into his office. His assistant T'Vedna took Esther, Jason, and Hannah to the shaded courtyard where some of the children were playing. She introduced them to Torel and the children played together in a large sandbox.

Tranil served the adoptive parents tea and gave them a few more details about the little boy they were to adopt.

"Torel has a very high I.Q. and an aptitude for mathematics and music. He suffered cruelly at the hands of his masters and sometimes has nightmares that recall his abuse. His physical difficulties make him somewhat uncoordinated. I believe that the Romulan overseers punished him for his clumsiness. In spite of this, he is an amiable child, and should thrive in a positive environment. Obviously you are interested in adopting him, or you would not have come all this way. Shall we go observe him with your other children?"

Sirin and Rachel both agreed that this was a good idea, so Tranil led the way.

The children were playing Shau-zehl, a game similar to Red Rover. When Torel was selected, he had difficulties breaking through the line of clasped hands, but he was undaunted. He simply refused to give up.

When the children tired of Shau-zehl, they moved to the playground equipment, newly built and installed by visiting Starfleet personnel. Torel liked the climbing frame, but slipped and fell, tearing his shirt in the process. Fearing punishment, he scrambled to a corner of the courtyard, lip trembling.

Jason was next to him in a flash.

"Don't cry, Torel."

"But I tore my shirt. I might get in trouble."

"It's okay. You can have mine."

"Why would you give me your shirt?"

"Because I'm going to be your big brother and it's my job to take care of you."

Hannah had been observing all of this, and went to comfort Torel too. She put her little arms around his neck and gave him a hug.

"You're my brother, too. Oh, I brought you something."

Hannah reached into her pocket and handed Torel a bag of gummy bears.

"They're good to eat and they always make me feel better. Well, that and hugs."

She hugged Torel again and he hugged her back.

Director Tranil was most pleased with what he saw and decided that it was time to introduce Torel to his new parents.

T'Vessya had majored in History and Political Science at Berkeley, with a minor in Comparative Religions. She had been on Sarek's staff for over a year and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities to travel and study other cultures that her position afforded her. She and Sipel bundled up against the cold winter air and left the palace in order to visit the surrounding community. Two security guards came with them. One of Queen Viella's aides accompanied them, a woman named Felda.

The common Erdrusians lived in small cottages that seemed to withstand the harsh weather. The people that T'Vessya observed in the streets seemed well-fed and a variety of foodstuffs were available in the shops. There were a few merchants who sold locally made clothing, but there was little else available in the way of consumer goods. As on Joria, the computer and communications equipment all seemed to be in the hands of the government.

Felda led them to a bench in the middle of the town square.

"Lady T'Vessya, if you wish to speak to people on an individual basis, this is the place to do it."

"That is indeed what I wish to do. However, while we are waiting for someone to come along, perhaps I might ask you a few questions."

"I have no objections."

"When did you first come to Erdrusia?"

"I came with the Queen ten years ago, when the dilithium was first discovered. My husband was one of her advisers and a mining expert. He was killed in a mine accident."

"I grieve with thee. Why did the Queen and her supporters leave Joria?"

"We fled religious and emotional persecution. On Joria, we were taught that the only way to please the Creator was to live a life devoid of passion. We were to practice self-denial at all times and to insist that our children did the same. Otherwise, the Creator would hold us responsible and we would have no reward in the afterlife."

T'Vessya had heard of other such religions. The leaders usually encouraged their followers to engage in some type of meditative process to help control excessive emotion and passion. There were many who claimed that the Vulcans worshiped Logic as a god, and that suppressed emotion was the tribute he demanded from his followers.

"What techniques do the Jorians use to control their passions, to temper their reactions?"

"We had no such techniques. We were simply required to suppress our emotions."

No wonder the Erdrusians left! Without some type of stress release valve, the physical and mental health of the people would soon be compromised. There would have been violence, perhaps even insanity.

"I see. How many centuries has this religion been the prevailing faith on Joria?"

"Oh, it has not been centuries. It has only been about sixty years, since King Gerlhu took the throne and the prophet Issow became his adviser. Suddenly everything changed. Feelings were to no longer be expressed, food was not to be seasoned, and color was removed from our daily lives."

Felda stopped speaking, as though she was remembering the misery of times past. T'Vessya did not press her further.

As they sat there on the bench, a mother exited a shop, accompanied by two daughters. The one child was quite a bit older, perhaps twelve or thirteen, the younger one about five. The little girl was obviously upset about something.

"I wanted a toy!"

Her mother sighed.

"There was not enough money for both of you to have a plaything. You got one the last time. It was your sister's turn."

This only seemed to make the child angrier. She picked up a stone from the ground and threw at at her older sister, then began to hit her. The stunned mother did not know how to react, so Felda ran to intervene.

"You daughter needs to learn some control."

"Control is repression!" The mother nearly spat the words out at Felda. "That would stifle her emotional expression. We left Joria in order to be free!"

"What about your older daughter's right to be uninjured? What about her happiness? There must be a balance between where the freedoms of one end and the other's begin."

The Erdrusian mother looked stricken.

"I have never before considered such a thing. I must speak to their father about this."

Felda returned to the bench, knowing T'Vessya would have more questions.

"As you can see, our new-found liberty is not without its flaws. The children born on Joria under repression still possess some degree of emotional control. Those born since we arrived here do not and most receive little or no discipline from their parents. I fear for what will happen to our colony when these youngest ones come of age and take their places in society."

T'Vessya could only nod in agreement. The Erdrusians were headed for trouble.

Jason noticed that Torel had a cut on his arm and another on his chest where his shirt had torn.

Jason saw his parents in the courtyard, so he ran to then.

"Torel fell and ripped his shirt. I think he hurt himself, too. We need to check on him."

Sirin and Rachel hurried over to the boy. Jason introduced them.

"Torel, these are our parents. They're both doctors. You need to have your cuts taken care of. They won't hurt you."

Torel allowed Rachel to hold him on her lap while Sirin tended to the cuts. Sirin was a bit concerned by the sound of Torel's breathing. His mishapen ribs were definitely causing a problem. Sirin finished his ministrations and went to speak with Tranil.

"Director, his breathing is not good. His lungs can not fully inflate, so they work too hard to provide his body with oxygen. I can increase his medication, but he will need constant monitoring. Is there someone available on the orphanage staff to do this?"

Tranil thought for several moments, all the while observing Torel. He seemed happy with his new family, all of whom were clustered about him giving careful hugs and kisses.

"We do not have adequate staffing for this issue. In this case, perhaps it would be in the child's best interest to waive the second meeting requirement. He would be much safer with healers to watch over him. However, I must ask him a few questions first."

Tranil walked to Torel's side and bent down to the child's level.

"Torel, are you content with your new family?"

"Yes, Director Tranil."

"Enough that you would like to live with them?"

Torel looked at Tranil, not quite believing his ears.

"Yes. Is this possible?"

"Yes, child. That is why they have come from Terra, to make you part of their family."

Torel's smile was blinding. They wanted him that much.

Tranil was satisfied that all was in order.

"I will have an assistant pack Torel's things."

Jim, Spock, and Sarek had been given an extensive tour of the dilithium mining operation. Admiral Pike had also visited the mines with Shras and Korem. Everything seemed efficient, but somewhat antiquated. Jim was quite concerned about the substandard safety equipment the miners were using.

"The gear these men are using is not much better than what we found in the mine on Hellguard. Bones had commented that some of the kids we rescued had dilithium dust in their lungs and high levels in their blood. He treated them for it. He also said the consequences of dilithium toxicity could be serious. Spock, we should have all been wearing protective gear. Dilithium is radioactive."

"That is true, Captain. The Erdrusians are not affected by the radiation in the same way as we are. However, our exposure has been minimal. Dilithium is most toxic in its refined forms."

"Yeah, I'll still be happier once we're out of here. Let's gather our party and return to the ship. It's time to visit Nalthus."

TBC