Chapter 27

T'Les was pleased with the solution that T'Pau had come up with. The situation was far more dire than she had ever imagined. Administrator V'Las, the head of the Vulcan High Command, was falsifying reports. Or rather, he was limiting the facts so that the reports slanted in a particular direction, particularly in regards towards certain alien species. The raw information that had been collected at P'Jem had merely solidified an already on going investigation. The pattern that had been revealed was clear. The man was trying to start a war with Andoria and make certain that Vulcan would have to fight that war alone. The only questions were why and who else was involved?

The entire situation made little sense to her but she trusted that T'Pau knew what she was doing. This was politics and that was where her oldest daughter's greatest talents lay. HER job in this matter was clear. And it was a job that she was very pleased to have. She was to ensure that her youngest daughter was married in as public a display as possible. Logically there was only one option, the full kal'i'farr.

The full rites had not been held for centuries. The last time was when a daughter of one Clan Matriarch had formed a chosen bond with the son of another Clan Matriarch. And that was how she had decided to ensure that few realized just what was going to happen. It had to be kept a secret until the wedding itself took place. But a full meeting of the Clan Matriarchs to announce new Clan alliances, that was something that happened every generation or so and it was just about time for another one.

"Just please tell me that the words haven't changed." T'Les could hear her daughter's mate pleading.

"Is something wrong?" she asked, walking into the room and over to T'Pol and Trip. They were sitting on a bench in the stark room that they had been given for the time that they would be waiting. She noticed that Trip was gently banging the back of his head against the wall. She also noticed that her daughter was doing nothing to stop him. Just as she was wondering why T'Pol did not stop this self injuring behavior Trip stopped.

"The words have not changed Trip, at least not the words that you have memorized," T'Pol said gently.

"Thank God, I don't think I could have taken that. I have a hard enough time with those. There's no way I'd get it right if the script changed on me. I'd scramble things worse than usual," Trip sighed. "I just hope that everyone can understand me."

T'Pol knew that he was referring to his accent. They just couldn't get rid of it. "I can give you the words," she offered one more time.

"No darlin' I gotta do this on my own," Trip smiled at her. "Don't try to logic it out. It isn't logical. But it is something I gotta do. I need to show them that I'm willing to do something that is next to impossible just for you." T'Les did not understand why he considered saying his vows next to impossible but she did approve of his motives. Trip saw that she didn't understand and said, "Ma'am I'm an Engineer, not a linguist. I've memorized what I'm supposed to say and I can say it after a fashion. But I simply can't say the words properly no matter how hard I try. My accent keeps getting in the way."

T'Les understood. Humans weren't the only ones with regional accents. Vulcans had them as well. "That is irrelevant. The fact that you are doing your best to honor our traditions is what matters. And in doing so you are proving yourself to be pudor-tor, one who is worthy of honor and respect."

Trip blushed bright red, "Thank you ma'am."

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"What happened?" Archer demanded to know. He was speaking to Admiral Forrest, the one man who was closest to the Vulcans on Earth. If anyone knew just what it was that had set off the Vulcans it should be him.

"Someone killed almost every Vulcan in the embassy here in San Francisco." Archer could see the bleakness on Forrest's face. "And they did it with some sort of virus. The only survivors are either hanging on to life by a thread or weren't there when the virus was released. Thank God the building was totally sealed. They did it so that they could make the inside climate more like Vulcan."

"Is the virus contained?" Archer wanted to know first. Then he could ask the other questions that crowded his mind.

"The building has been sterilized of any and all viruses and what virus remains is in the hands of Star Fleet Medical. There is a full investigation going on but we're having trouble. There are so many people who go through there on a daily basis that it makes it almost impossible to find out when the virus was planted much less who set it off.," Forrest said.

"Did Soval make it?" Archer asked. He knew that the ambassador was somehow connected to T'Pol, although he wasn't sure of the exact connection.

"Yes, he was with me here at Star Fleet Command when the virus was released." He didn't say it but Archer could see the relief on Forrest's face. He had finally figured out that the two crusty old men were friends. "But until we figure out who did this and why the Vulcan High Command is breaking off all relations with us. Hell, they may just end up shooting us all back to the Stone Age in retaliation!"

"I doubt they'll do that sir but we had best get to work on figuring out this out before anyone else dies. I doubt whoever did this is just going to go away," Archer said respectfully. Personally he wasn't sure they wouldn't. No terrorist in Human history just gave up after just one attack.

The Vulcan government had always been a thorn in his side, he admitted. But while he had always thought of them as one of the biggest bullies on the block, he had never wanted them dead. And they were changing. He had gotten an apology from Soval; probably the first that dried up old prune had given anyone. He had also given him T'Pol; a fine first officer and friend, not to mention a wonderful wife for his best friend, and what about Sarek? Wasn't he T'Pol's nephew or something? Archer tried to recall if he was the same person Soval had sent to the Human kindergarten to study how Humans matured. He dimly remembered that the kid was doing his first stretch in diplomatic service and wasn't even considered an adult yet.

"There was a young man from T'Pol's family working at the embassy sir, I think his name is Sarek. I think he was studying how Humans matured, do you know if he's alright?" Archer and Forrest both knew that T'Pol was likely to already know the information but the Enterprise crew had taken T'Pol into their family months ago. Her family was their family.

"I know who you mean. That kid is as lucky as Soval. The school where he helps out as a teacher's aid was in the middle of a field trip when the virus was released. I personally never would have thought that escorting a bunch of elementary school kids to a farm was lucky until now." Archer remembered his own school field trips and nodded. He and Malcolm would have been laughing their heads off at the idea of a Vulcan chaperoning a school field trip before. Now he could only be thankful that the kid was there instead of in the middle of what had to be a massacre.

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Little Amanda Grayson watched as her friend Sarek packed up his things that he had in his desk. It was just like the teacher's desk only it didn't have as much fun stuff on it. "But why do you have to go Sarek?" she asked mournfully. "I don't want you to go. I like you! You can stay with my mommy and daddy. They won't make you leave!"

"I must go. Many of my people have died and we are being recalled to our home planet until the investigation is over." He paused. "I too do not wish to go. Your people are fascinating and I am learning much about you. But the High Command must ensure that all of our people are protected as much as possible." He hoped that the explanation would suffice. He had come to learn that young Humans, especially when they were this young seldom listened to logic if they did not wish to.

Amanda pouted. That was not what she wanted to hear. "But you're safe here! Mr. Thomas and Miss Angela and Mr. Johnson and Mr. Ellington and Mrs. March all take good care of us! They won't let those meanies hurt you! You don't have to go!"

Sarek sighed; he did not want to have to explain this. For some unknown reason Amanda and the other children he was studying could get him to do just about anything when they made that expression. At first it had totally bewildered him but he had soon learned that it meant that they were extremely unhappy. They had an air of innocence that he did not wish to disrupt. And this would cause a large disruption. Indeed he feared that the disruption would be large enough to cause them to cry. He did not wish to see the children crying because of him.

Then he remembered something that he had seen earlier. He knelt down on the floor so that he was closer to the small child's height. He had learned that this is what one did when a serious matter was to be discussed. "Amanda, just as there are things that you do not wish to do that you must, so there are things that I must do that I do not wish to do. The adults in our lives make the rules and we must obey them."

Amanda's eyes grew wide. "You're not a grownup?" she whispered. He solemnly shook his head. "How come you aren't in school?"

"I am Vulcan, Amanda and my people do not become 'grownups' as you say for much longer than yours do. I am finished with my schooling and now I am learning the beginnings of the job that I will make my life's work. That is what I am doing here at your school. But I must still do as I am told. Just as when you are told to go to school and to take a nap and when you are not permitted to eat candy." Sarek hoped that this time she would understand.

Amanda sighed. She did not like to take naps and she loved candy. She hated it when she was told no too. "I understand but I'm going to miss you!" she said as she threw her arms around him.

Sarek was startled but rallied quickly and patted her on the back as he had seen Miss Angela do with the other children. "I will miss you as well." She let him go and he stood to gather his things. She wasn't the only one who expressed sadness at his leaving. The entire class stood on the front lawn to watch him leave. But it was one little Human girl that he would miss the most. She had accepted him before any of the others and some were still wary of him. He hoped that he would be allowed to return soon.