A/N: Conversations in " are in English, in [ are in Vulcan and in / are telepathy through the bond.

Chapter 28

In the private room that had been set aside for Trip and T'Pol, her immediate family was gathered. Her mother, sisters and sister's in law were seated on cushions in a circle and their mates stood behind them. T'Les sat on the cushion farthest from the door and was the only one without a man behind her. T'Les was a fortunate woman. She had survived the death of her husband and bondmate and most of her children had survived to adulthood. One of her daughters had not survived the kahs-wan. One of her sons had not survived an encounter with Andorians during his service in the Vulcan High Command. The other five were gathered here for T'Pol's wedding.

T'Pau sat on her right and her face was more controlled than any Vulcan Trip had ever seen before. He knew by now that the more controlled a Vulcan's expression, the stronger the feeling behind it. She had just told them of the events that had occurred on Earth. And the fact that she had proof that V'Las was behind it. [What of your son Sarek? T'Les asked.

[He was not at the embassy when the virus was released, T'Pau answered. [But his betrothed mate was. She has died from the virus. She had survived the initial attack but succumbed later.

Trip realized who she was talking about at the same time that T'Pol did. He didn't know why it hadn't occurred to him that Sarek, father of Spock in the next reality over, would not have a Vulcan betrothal in this one. /Darlin' do you think he's going to marry a Human girl in this reality too?/ he asked T'Pol.

/I do not see why not. It is more likely to happen now that his betrothed is dead./ she answered. T'Les and the others noticed the look that the two were sharing. [T'Pol, you and your mate have some knowledge of this event? she asked.

[Not of the event itself Mother,T'Pol said. As first officer it was her place to explain and even more so as she was female and this was her culture. She had explained earlier to Trip that here, as a male, he was to remain silent, only speaking to her through their bond. She would say anything that needed to be said for both of them. [Within the family is silence, she requested. Everyone nodded their agreement before she continued.

[Four months ago the Enterprise was involved in an interdimensional rift. It tore open the boundaries between this reality and the next one over in the branches of probabilities. Enterprise encountered a ship from that universe. Spock, son of Sarek, was the First Officer of that ship. It was he and his bondmate that informed my mate and I of our bond. The Sarek of that universe was not bonded to the same woman that my nephew was bonded to. As Sarek would not bring shame to our family, I thought that Spock's parentage was merely a matter of the differences between his reality and ours. T'Pol carefully explained.

Heads nodded around the circle. It was a logical conclusion to come to. [Who was this Sarek bonded to? T'Pau asked.

[Spock's mother was Human, T'Pol admitted. [In order to care for him the Healer of that ship had to know how he was created. He genetically engineered enough zygotes that my mate and I will not have to use a donor for the entirety of my fertile years.

/Damn right! You're not having anyone's kids but mine!/ Trip said firmly.

/I wish no other man's child./ T'Pol returned. [Dr. Phlox is even now sharing the information on how the genetic engineering necessary is possible with the Healers and Doctors working at the Science Institute. With this knowledge other interspecies couples will eventually be able to conceive children.

[Are you aware of the identity of Spock's mother?T'Pau questioned. Trip could practically see the matchmaking plans hatch in her eyes. He was grateful that no one knew just who she was. Few Humans still participated in arraigned marriages and most considered the practice to be barbaric. It would not do to have T'Pau trying to track the poor girl down. Heck, they didn't even know if she had been born yet!

T'Pol easily picked up the thoughts flashing through Trip's mind. [We do not. However, it would not matter if we did. Humans do not arrange marriages as we do. It must be her choice to accept Sarek as her mate when she is old enough to make that choice. And it must be his choice to court her in the Human fashion. He will not experience the chosen mate bond as my mate and I did.

T'Pau and her mate both nodded. [Then he shall be allowed his choice. Whether the mate he chooses be Human or Vulcan she will be welcomed in my home.

/What about Ambassador Grumpy?/ Trip asked.

[Did Soval survive? T'Pol asked, as she sent her mate a mental tap. She still did not approve of his use of Soval's 'nickname' although she was aware that Trip meant no disrespect.

[He too was not at the embassy when the virus was released. T'Pau answered. She could understand her sister's concern. Soval was not only her mentor; he was also deeply involved in the Human's Star Fleet. [V'Las has recalled all of the survivors and had demanded the remains of those who have died. He is blaming his actions on Human terrorists. All will be returning to Vulcan on the Enterprise at my request. It is unfortunate that the Enterprise will not be here for your wedding.

[Because of this, we have made other arrangements for the wedding.T'Les announced. [Dr. Phlox as you have said is still at the Science Institute. I have informed him that he is required to participate in the wedding as one of your mate's attendants as he is the only other male here who serves on Enterprise. He was quite pleased at the honor although he was startled to learn that the Enterprise had left. There is currently only one other member of Star Fleet on Vulcan. His name is Major Hayes. He was on leave and exploring the Fire Plains when V'Les expelled all Humans from Vulcan. He was brought here to ensure his safety. He will be your mate's other attendant. This will be our Clan's alliance for this generation. T'Les' voice was firm. As Clan Mother her word was final on Clan matters.

For his part Trip was in a state of shock. First was the shock that Enterprise had left without them. He knew that Jon wouldn't have left them voluntarily, especially without telling them. The second shock was that it was T'Les who had made the announcement. He had learned about the Clans of Vulcan in his studies and was aware that only a Clan Mother could make such a statement. He hadn't had a clue that T'Les was the Clan Mother for T'Pol's Clan. The thought that she was making a Clan Alliance with Star Fleet was enough to knock him over with a feather.

T'Pol on the other hand was amused at the announcement although she was grateful to learn that Enterprise would be returning. She had no wish to remain on Vulcan until the speculation had died down. She was amused because she knew that T'Pau was behind her mother's announcement. A Clan Alliance with Star Fleet would publicly state just how her family and Clan viewed Humans. And with her marriage there was nothing that anyone could do or say to prevent it. It was just the sort of political maneuvering that T'Pau was becoming famous for.

888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

"I just don't understand it," Archer said quietly to Admiral Forrest as he led Ambassador Soval to Trip's former quarters. As it was the largest of the open quarters it was becoming the unofficial VIP quarters. The higher the passenger's rank, the more likely it was that the passenger would end up there. The Vulcan Ambassador walked silent behind the two Humans. "Why would the Vulcan High Command kick us out of their territory and then turn around and ask us to bring their people back to Vulcan? Not that I'm not grateful. They didn't give us enough time to recall our people from Vulcan. I still have three crewmen there."

"You are correct that these actions would not be logical Captain Archer but you are working under a faulty theory," Soval stated. "It was not the Vulcan High Command that requested that Enterprise transport us back to Vulcan. It was the Vulcan High Council."

Archer wasn't surprised that Soval had heard him but he was surprised that the elderly Vulcan had answered. He opened the door to the VIP quarters and ushered them in. "I've never heard of the Vulcan High Council sir. What is it?" he asked respectfully.

Soval settled on the bunk and gestured to the men for one to take a seat at the desk. Archer deferred to Forrest and leaned against the bulkhead. "The Vulcan High Command is our military. Centuries ago they were charged with all dealings with alien species. That is why all Vulcan Ambassadors work for the High Command. The High Council is our government. It is they who have requested your services. As to the reason behind their request, I do not have that information." That was an outright lie, although it was one that Soval did not wish to make. He was one of the undercover investigators for the High Council into Administer V'Las' actions.

"May I ask which crewmembers are still on Vulcan Captain?" Soval changed the subject not so much to distract the Humans from the direction the conversation was taking as to distract himself. The knowledge of what was now being loaded into the Enterprise cargo bay was a heavy one. One that he felt he should have been able to prevent. How could he have not seen that V'Las would have gone that far to protect his interests?

Archer sighed. "SubCommander T'Pol and Commander Tucker were being seen by the Vulcan Mind Healers. It was mostly a check up to see how much they've recovered since the attack on their bond. After that they were scheduled to get married in a Vulcan ceremony at Mount Seleya. Dr. Phlox went with them to deliver them to the Healers. I wasn't given any time to contact them much less retrieve them before we were ordered to leave Vulcan space."

Soval nodded. Although he would have preferred Dr. Phlox being available to treat those still ill from the virus he was confident that the doctors the Earth government had provided were capable. "Do you know when the ceremony is to take place?"

Archer sighed. "It'll be long over by the time we get there. Lieutenant Reed and I were to be Commander Tucker's attendants. I hope they found someone to take our place. For that matter, I hope nothing goes wrong and we can get them all back here on Enterprise."

"There should be no problems on Vulcan," Soval said. 'At least no problems for your people,' he thought. "Are the arrangements I asked for complete?"

Archer had learned from T'Pol that the stonier the face, the stronger a Vulcan was controlling his or her emotions. "Yes sir. Everything is set up in Cargo Bay Three," he said quietly. That was where the bodies were being placed for the journey to Vulcan.

Soval nodded. "When we will be leaving for Vulcan?" he asked.

"As soon as everyone is on board, perhaps another hour," Archer said. He didn't want to tell the Ambassador that Star Fleet was taking the opportunity to restock Enterprise as much as possible while he was getting the Vulcans settled. "We'll leave you to get settled in. There are meditation candles in the cabinet here," he said and ushered Forrest out. He still had to get the Admiral settled in for the journey as well.

"How bad is it?" Archer asked once they were in the Admiral's quarters.

"It looks like a Vulcan did this Jon. I just can't figure out why!" Forrest growled as he sat down on the tiny couch. "Hopefully we'll get some answers when we get to Vulcan."

"I wouldn't count on it sir," Archer said.