A/N: dialogue surrounded by indicate that the language is Vulcan.

Chapter 26

Vulcan was a planet of deserts, lethal alien animals and the usually logical people who were as a species named after their planet. Captain Archer knew without a doubt that the planet itself was the least dangerous thing down there on its surface and it wasn't the animals that had him worried. Ambassador V'Lar had been handed over to the Vulcan High Command with little fanfare aside from a few guards to accompany her to the planet's surface. Now he just had to get Trip through his other wedding ceremony without his best friend the trouble magnet causing an interplanetary incident. "Hoshi, how's Trip doing with his Vulcan lessons?" Archer asked quietly. He was standing behind her watching her station on the bridge.

"Well sir, he knows the words to the ceremony." Hoshi peeked over her shoulder and Archer could see that she was smiling timidly.

"Hoshi?" Archer asked. He wasn't sure he wanted to know what the trouble was but he was the Captain.

"I'm sorry sir. I just can't get rid of his accent. We've been working on it, all three of us but that southern accent of his is terribly hard to get rid of." Hoshi said wincing at the memory.

"I didn't even think about that," Archer said rubbing his eyes. "Wait a minute, all three?"

"T'Pol's been trying to help as well sir. But the only thing she's managed to do is some kind of stop gap measure where she gives him her fluency for a short time. It only works when they're in physical contact. Apparently bondmates can lend each other their skills but I'm not really sure how it works or for how long they're able to do it without stopping."

Archer sighed, "Can you at least tell me that he can be understood? The last thing any of us need is for him to accidentally cause an incident because he said something wrong."

Hoshi shrugged. "I can't tell if a native speaker could understand him or not sir. It's one of the downsides of my linguistic abilities. I, sir the Vulcan High Command has opened a channel." All business Hoshi opened the channel and put the image up on the viewscreen. Archer quickly returned to his command chair.

"This is T'Penna of the Vulcan High Command," the screen showed a young looking Vulcan woman. "Enterprise NX-01 you are here by ordered out of the Vulcan Home System and all of her territories. If you do not comply immediately you will be fired upon. You will be given no further warning." The young woman hesitated for an instant and then continued. "I believe that you will not comply without further information. Members of your species have committed great crimes against ours. No Human is welcomed on Vulcan at this time. Leave immediately, I do not wish your lives on my katra." She ended her transmission.

Archer turned to Hoshi. "Katra?" he asked.

"Soul sir," she said.

"Two Vulcan ships approaching sir!" Malcolm called. "Their weapons are hot!"

"Travis, get us out of here," Archer said. "The last thing we need to do is provoke these people any further. I wonder what the hell happened."

In the rush to get away and not set off a battle with the Vulcans who had been their allies for so long, no one listened to Hoshi until it was too late. T'Pol, Trip and Dr. Phlox had been left behind on the planet's surface.

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Dr. Phlox was deep in discussion with several colleagues over a late lunch. He had delivered the Tuckers to SubCommander T'Pol's family and from there they had been taken to the monastery where they would be examined by Mind Healers before their wedding. Now he was at the cafeteria of the Medical Wing of the Vulcan Science Institute, doing what doctors all over the galaxy did best; exchange information in order to learn. Most doctors in general he had found were insatiable when it came to learning everything they could, the good ones at least. Working lunches and other such informal meetings had generated more innovations in modern medicine than any other type of information exchange. They were also the best place to learn the latest gossip, no matter where in the galaxy you were, especially when the doctors were all participants of the medical exchange program.

Vulcan has been buzzing with rumors for months now, mostly about your patients, Dr. Ahjess Pren, a Trill burbled. I've heard everything from 'the Vulcan observer on your ship married a Human to get out of her arraigned marriage' to 'she's gone crazy from living among Humans for so long'.

I heard that the Humans have finally had enough of the Vulcans and started killing them on sight, Dr. Chell, a Bolian chuckled.

Oh please, Phlox laughed. That can't be right. For one thing Enterprise was ordered here to deliver a Vulcan ambassador alive and well from her previous post. Not that I don't think a few Humans of my acquaintance haven't had thoughts in that direction a few times but it always passes. The Humans that I've had the most contact with tend to have a 'think about it and decide not to do it' attitude when it comes to unnecessary violence. Necessary violence on the other hand, they're quite good at.

I never believed that one. And while I don't really care if she wanted to marry her betrothed or not, Dr. Pren admitted, I am concerned about her mental health. We just don't know that much about what happens when a telepath spends that much time among non telepaths.

Ah yes, the bonding, Dr. Phlox smiled brightly. Let me see, it was about three, no almost four months ago now. We ran into a little problem with another ship that was more advanced than ours, in almost every respect. Or rather, they ran into us. We had five casualties, no fatalities thank goodness. Their CMO was quite helpful with them.

Their first officer was a powerful telepath and he was the one who realized that SubCommander T'Pol had bonded with Commander Tucker. No one, least of all the couple in question, realized that they were in the process of bonding. It really is an amazing phenomenon. Even though neither of them initiated a bond consciously, the first time SubCommander T'Pol came into contact with Commander Tucker's mind, a chosen mate bond began to form between them.

Chosen mate bond? What's that? both doctors leaned in towards Phlox eager to hear the details.

Well you see, Phlox began. He quickly finished the explanation. You can come to the wedding with me if you like. I'm told that I can bring two guests of my own.

When is it? Dr. Pren asked, going over her schedule in her mind. There was no way she'd miss this chance if she could go.

Three days from now, Phlox said. It's being held at Mount Seleya.

That's the big ceremony?! Dr. Chell asked excitedly. There have been rumors going on about that for the last two months! All anyone really knows is that the preparations are being done at the T'Karath Sanctuary and it's supposed to be really big. All of the Clan Matriarchs have been gathering at the Sanctuary to take part. It's going to be huge!

But I thought it was supposed to be a uniting of the Clans ceremony? Something about Clan alliances? Dr. Pren asked.

Well I supposed they could see it in that fashion, after all this is the first time that a spontaneous bond has formed between a Vulcan and an alien. And I imagine that whenever this sort of thing has happened in the past it has been the basis of Clan alliances before. I see no reason that they shouldn't continue in the same fashion now. Phlox mused. Agreeing, the three doctors continued their lunch.

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Trip was doing his best not to fidget by trying to figure out just how the water systems worked here in the Sanctuary. He had always known that Vulcan was a desert planet and that water conservation was a priority. But there were a few things that didn't make sense. T'Pol rose from her position beside him and left the small courtyard. They were supposed to be waiting for one of the Healers to come and get them. She quickly returned with a data PADD. "The schematics are on here," she said quietly.

"Thanks," he said sheepishly. He really didn't like sitting around on his hands and liked to keep busy if he could. And productively busy was even better for him; busy work sucked. Something about the water system bugged him. He couldn't place it just yet but now that he had the schematics he was sure he could figure it out. He quickly lost himself in the plans.

A Vulcan priestess sat down next to T'Pol. May I enquire as to the reason you have given your mate the maintenance instruction manual for the watering systems? she asked curiously. The question of their bond had already been settled, although the implications were still being discussed. T'Pol knew that those would be raging for months, if not years.

My mate finds inactivity without purpose to be difficult. As he is an Engineer he has been trying to visually study the mechanics of the water system to learn how they work. It is difficult to do so without the schematics. Humans as a species are driven to learn new things. I did not wish for him to try to dismantle the water systems to try and learn how they work, T'Pol said calmly. Trip would not be doing here what he had done at P'Jem. The memory of his pacing and fiddling with artifacts was bad enough. She was determined that he was not going to repeat it.

"I wouldn't do that and you know it. Might drive myself nuts trying to figure it out though," Trip said absentmindedly. He pulled out a stylus and began modifying the diagrams.

"According to your mother you are as bad as your father when it comes to new mechanical systems. I am also well aware that you find it difficult to keep your hands to yourself when you are bored," T'Pol said. Trip could feel her amusement and flashed her a grin. He sent back a feeling of chagrined agreement through their bond.

What is he doing? Curiosity was the one emotion allowed to Vulcans and while it too was controlled, most gave into it often.

He is redesigning the system to function more efficiently, T'Pol said.

That cannot be done. the Priestess said. The system is as efficient as possible.

You have never encountered Humans before, T'Pol said. It is difficult to describe as they are so illogical but they are exceedingly capable once they have the proper information. I have no doubt that my mate will be able to improve the systems. She did not doubt it. Trip was an extremely capable Engineer. She was also pleased that in a moment of idleness he was doing something that would show his worth to those who doubted him. She was even more pleased that he had no clue that he was doing so. He was simply being himself and that was the best thing of all.