-1Jon, T'Pol & T'Pau are resting in the shade of a rocky outcroping, Jon was having a harder time of making it through the desert than he had thought, and had passed out from exhaustion almost as soon as he had sat down. T'Pol sat near her husband, her concern for him clearly evident in her eyes. She still was unsure of the things he had been saying, about him carrying the Katra of Surak, about what they were going to do with the Kir'Shara once they reached the city. If they reached the city. Jonathan's fatigue was becoming more pronounced. He no longer had any more of the tri-ox compound left. T'Pol hoped he would be able to continue.

T'Pau returned from her scouting trip to find the Human still asleep.

T'Pau: "He is not well. We should proceed without him. The Kir'Shara must reach the city."

T'Pol: "I will not leave him behind."

T'Pau crouched down near to T'Pol, she stared at her with an intensity that reminded T'Pol of her father.

T'Pau: "He cannot survive here long."

T'Pol: "He is a remarkable man, he will continue if he must."

T'Pau: "Very well. I have scouted the route ahead. We shall depart when it is dark."

T'Pol nodded and sat closer to her husband, she reached out and entwined her hand with his. She tried to call to him through their bond but once again found it to be difficult. She closed her eyes and drifted to sleep.

On board Enterprise, a three way argument was taking place, well as much of one as possible when one of the participants was a Vulcan.

Shran: "Look here pink skin, your Captain and I settled our debts, as a matter of fact, it is he who still owes me!"

Malcolm: "Look, are you going to help us or not? The Captain and Commander T'Pol are trying to stop a war."

Shran: "I'm not sure if I believe these claims of yours. They come from a Vulcan after all."

Soval: "Commander Shran, I have given you all the information you require to aid us in this. What more do you need?"

Shran looked from the Vulcan to the Human and thought for a moment.

"I need to confer with my government, we're going to need reinforcements."

Back On Vulcan, things were little improved. Jon had woken up and despite T'Pol's concern, claimed he would be alright to travel. The sun had finally set and in the much cooler night air the three of them had resumed their journey. It was about 4 hours after nightfall when they were attacked.

4 Vulcan soldiers jumped them from the high cliffs surrounding the area they had been travelling through, they were armed with long poles with had a flat curved blade on one end and a rounded padded ball on the other. Jon thought it still looked like it would hurt like hell to get hit with one.

T'Pol and T'Pau both were set upon immediately, they fought with their attackers with finesse and grace. Jon however was not so fortunate, The higher gravity and less oxygen had taken their toll on him and he was being sorely pressed to hold his own. After a hard kick to his gut drove him to his knees, the Vulcan attacking him stopped and looked at him.

Vulcan: "Why do you fight us Human? You are out matched. Give up the relic and we will spare your lives."

For some reason the tone the Vulcan used really made Jon madder. However instead of succumbing to rage. Jon felt a calming affect take over his mind. His thoughts were filled with images and techniques of Vulcan martial arts. Jon knew that Surak was offering him aid.

Jon stood up and basically told the Vulcan to go to hell, and entered the fight once more. This time things were more evenly matched.

T'Pau had succeeded in both disabling and disarming her attacker and joined T'Pol in her fight as she had been over taxed in her fight with the other two Vulcans. Jon only looked up briefly in time to see his wife smashed to the ground by a blow from one of the balled end of the poles, she did not get up again.

Jon wanted to run to her aid, but was being betrayed by his body. The limited surge of energy Surak had been able to give him had worn off, he was finding it difficult to even stand let alone fight against someone who had 3 times his strength.

T'Pau watched T'Pol go down, she saw how Archer was struggling, she made the only logical choice. Archer carried both the Kir'Shara, and Surak's Katra. There was no other decision, Temporarily beating back her adversary, she lunged for Archer, grabbed him and tossed him into a small cave, she quickly followed. The two of then slid down a steep incline for quite some distance before rolling to a stop at the bottom.

Jon stood and quickly grabbed T'Pau.

Jon: "What the hell are you doing? We left T'Pol back there!"

T'Pau: "Surak's Katra and the Kir'Shara are more important…"

Jon: "Not to me they're not. Damn you! She's my wife! I'm not going to leave her behind!"

T'Pau: "You must. There is no way to reach her now. They would have already called in reinforcements. We must get to the city. That is where they will take her."

Jon: "This isn't over."

He turned and stalked away. T'Pau simply followed without comment.

T'Pol was dragged to her feet, a huge greenish bruise was beginning to form along the left side of her head, she suspected she may have a fractured cheek bone as well as a concussion. She looked at her captors and stood defiant.

Vulcan: "Where are they headed?"

T'Pol said nothing

Vulcan: "I served under you onboard the Seleya, you were a fine commander. It is for that reason alone that I will not take your life."

The Vulcan signalled and two of his men took T'Pol away. She tried to send a thought out to Jonathan but was once again unable to reach him, she was able to tell that he was still alive, and that filled her with relief.

T'Pau and Jon walked for the rest of the night, finally just before daybreak they came to a small hill and stopped, spread out before them was the capital city of Shi'Kar.

Jon: "How are we going to get in? they'll nab us right away."

T'Pau: "Do not concern yourself. I have many contacts."

The two of them started down the other side of the hill towards the city.

Back in space, Enterprise had been joined by 8 other Andorian ships. More were on their way but would not be arriving for some time. The small fleet of ships set course for Vulcan.

Jon sat on the balcony of a small café and waited for T'Pau to return, she had gone off to meet with on of her "contacts". Jon was growing impatient, while he waited here, T'Pol was probably being questioned, he wondered if the injury to her head was being looked after. Through their bond he could tell that she was in much pain. The next thing Jon knew, he was somewhere else.

Surak: "My apologies Jonathan, but you and I need to talk."

Jon sighed and sat beside Surak on a stone bench.

Surak: "Now that you have recovered the Kir'Shara, you must ensure that my people will relearn what they have lost."

Jon: "How am I supposed to do that?"

Surak: "As I've said before Jonathan, the way will show itself."

Surak looks at Jon and thinks a moment.

Surak: "I know you are greatly concerned for T'Pol, It is, refreshing to see what the two of you have accomplished. Perhaps this will lead to a better joining of our two races."

Jon: "She means the world to me, there isn't anything I wouldn't do for her. I should be out there, trying to find her, not slinking around the back streets of Vulcan's capital."

Surak got a glimmer in his eye. "If I were still around Jonathan, I would probably be joining you in that venture."

Jon was suddenly back to his normal self, he saw T'Pau coming up the street to where he was sitting, she motioned for him to remain where he was. Quickly she joined him and sat down.

T'Pau: "I have obtained the security clearances we will require to enter the High Command. But we must leave now."

With that T'Pau stood up and made her way towards the exit, Jon had little choice but to follow her.

Meanwhile, enroute to Vulcan, Enterprise and its escort of Andorian ships has been intercepted by a fleet of Vulcan ships, Out manned by a count of 2 to 1, and ignoring an order to stop, Enterprise quickly found itself in the middle of a battle.

On the bridge, sparks rained down as Enterprise was caught in the cross fire between the opposing forces. Malcolm gripped the arms of the command chair tighter as the ship jolted from another hit.

Malcolm: "Travis what's our status?"

Travis: "Hull plating is down to 60, shields are holding. Shran's ship is under attack by two Vulcan cruisers."

Malcolm: "Let's go give him a hand then shall we? I had bloody well enough of being shot at today, all weapons to full power, target the lead cruiser and fire at will."

In the Vulcan council chambers, Administrator V'Las is shocked to hear the reports of Enterprise opening fire on Vulcan ships.

V'Las: "Destroy the Earth ship at once"

Minister Kuvas stands and objects to this course of action. "Earth and Vulcan are allies, you can't destroy their ship. We must…"

V'Las cuts him off: "Enterprise is interfering in a Vulcan internal matter. It is well within our rights to deal with this interference as we see fit."

V'Las nods to a guard who quickly draws his weapon and points it at Kuvas.

V'Las: "I suggest you sit down Minister."

Back at the battle, Enterprise is not fairing so well, her hull plating is offline and her new shields have partially failed. Smoke streams from a hit on her port nacelle.

Malcolm: "Evasive pattern delta"

Travis: "Helm controls are sluggish but I'll do my best"

Hoshi: "Damage reports coming in from all over the ship, we have hull breaches on C deck, Emergency bulkheads are in place. No lives reported lost."

Malcolm: "Photonic torpedoes, fire at the cruiser bearing 142 mark 12"

Four torpedoes steak away from Enterprise and strike with devastating force, blowing the Vulcan cruisers engines apart, the ship in adrift in space.

Hoshi: "Incoming signal from Shran."

Shran appears onscreen, his bridge is in shambles, there are scattered fires burning in the background. "Nice shooting pink skin! But it appears to be for nothing, Our scanners show more ships arriving, and they aren't ours."

Malcolm looks at the Ensign manning the science station, she nods in agreement.

Malcolm sighs and sits heavily in the command chair,: "Prepare to stand down, Hoshi signal our surrender."

Hoshi nods and turns back to her console, after a moment a surprised look comes across her face "Sir we are receiving a hail" Hoshi hit's a switch and a voice comes forth from the bridge speakers.

"Enterprise, this is the Starship Columbia, we're here to assist and we've brought friends."

The ensign at the science station looks at Malcolm: "Sir multiple ships inbound, Getting IFF signals from the Starships Columbia, Trident, Lexington and Titan as well as Tellerite ships."

On the Enterprise's view screen, the image of the Columbia's Captain appears.

Erika: "Even with Jon off ship you can't seem to stay out of trouble. Good thing Admiral Forrest had us keep tabs on you. Sit back and let us handle things."

The Human and Tellerite task force of ships quickly join forces with the remaining Andorian ships and quickly the Vulcan's find themselves out gunned.

In the high Command council chambers, V'Las almost screams with fury as he watches the view screen and see's the new ships appear and begin firing on the Vulcan ships. Un noticed by him or the rest of the Vulcan's in the room, the doors to the chamber open and in walk two cloaked figures, the security guard finally reacts and trains his weapon on them. The two figures stop and drop their robes.

T'Pau: "It is agreeable to see you again Administrator."

Kuvas quickly uses this distraction to neck pinch the guard and take his weapon, which he then points at V'Las.

V'Las: "No they must not be allowed to speak"

Jon steps forward and brings out the Kir'Shara which he'd been keeping wrapped up in another cloak. He puts it on the table and presses his fingers to different spots on all three sides of the stone. In the air above the table a hologram begins to form, it is Vulcan writing.

Kuvas: "Is this?"

T'Pau: "It is"

Kuvas: "This is most fascinating. It will take historians some time to study it and verify it."

V'Las lunges forward: "No it must be destroyed, it will lead to the downfall of our…"

Kuvas quickly stuns V'Las and signals the commander of the Vulcan fleet. "Cease hostilities immediately, return to Vulcan."

The Vulcan commander quickly complies with the order.

Jon looks at Kuvas: "Where is T'Pol."

Kuvas: "She is being treated of her injuries in the medical facility. She will be brought here at once."

An aid is dispatched to bring T'Pol to the council chambers. Soon enough Jon and T'Pol are reunited. However Jon is stopped in his rush to grab her in a bear hug by a not so gentle mental tug from Surak You're on Vulcan my son, What is the Earth saying? Do as the Romans do?

Jon stops and simply holds up the first two fingers of his right hand. T'Pol raises her eye brow and steps forward to touch her fingers to his.

T'Pol: "It is pleasing to see you my husband."

Jon just smiles at her.

A few days pass, in which time Enterprise returns to Vulcan orbit and the Earth, Andorian and Tellerite ships resume their normal duties. Jon and T'Pol meet with Soval, T'Pau and Kuvas. They learn the scholars are already translating Surak's writings for the rest of the planet to learn. They also learn that it has been decided to disband the current High Command council and that Vulcan will no longer be looking over Earths shoulders as much. It has been decided that the Human's have finally learned to stand on their own.

Jon is kind of saddened to learn that he must give up Surak's Katra to another. This time Surak has agreed to the transfer. He had remarked to Jon in his last message that it was rather, unsettling in the mind of a human, even though it was, refreshing.

Jon, T'Pol and Soval are on their way to the transport station to take a shuttle back up to Enterprise. Soval had been re-instated as Earth's ambassador and would be returning there with them. Admiral Forrest and other Earth dignitaries would be remaining on Vulcan to discuss a new treaty and the building of a new embassy. Enterprise and her crew would be getting another brief vacation while she underwent repairs from this latest battle. Jon looked at his wife and smiled, he knew that they wouldn't be planet bound for long. But there were things he needed to do on Earth, attending Trips funeral was one of them. He hoped that Trip knew how much he cared for him and that he watched over them from where he now was.

Once on board the ship Jon took his place on the bridge with T'Pol manning her station.

Jon: "Travis, set course for home."

Travis: "Aye sir, course laid in for Earth."

Jon: "Take us out."