9

The Vulcanorion Connection

Chapter Three: At Home with the Forrests

Admiral Forrest arrived with a lunch invitation. Soval was invited to his home, where his son Mark and his wife, Mariel were waiting for them, along with Sorral and his mother, T'Nak. Soval would have preferred to have had more advance notice of the event, but he knew that Forrest's wife was one to plan things on the "spur of the moment", as the Humans would say. His wife T'Nak was a close friend of Mariel, and both women valued "freedom of the spirit" as opposed to the rigid schedules that their husbands tended to follow.

"Ambassador, I'm sorry about this," Forrest apologized as he drove the official Starfleet Ground-Cruiser down the lane to his house in the country, "I know this is a bit out of the ordinary. Mariel insisted that I bring you to lunch—I think it's to talk about this Mars placement that Mark and Sorral want to go on together. Mark has already been accepted for the placement, and he's raring to go. He especially wants to work with the Vulcan Embassy there, although he'll be based with Starfleet. I know you haven't decided yet about Sorral going, but I think they're all hoping you'll reconsider."

"Dr. Fer'at was also hoping I would reconsider, just this morning," Soval replied without enthusiasm, "But I have reasons for keeping my son closer to home. I'm sure his mother will disagree with me."

"I know one of your reasons has to do with the Vulcanorion issue—perhaps not the Vulcanorions themselves, but the danger of this drug trade following some of them to Mars. Admiral Washington and I are anxious to try to nip any kind of drug trafficking there in the bud, before it begins."

"That may be difficult," Soval told him, "I and my fellow Vulcans have been trying to 'nip it in the bud', as you say, for the past one hundred years. Once the Orion Syndicate establishes their presence in an area, they are difficult to remove completely. They send groups of their people into planetary populations to create hybrids with them, and they establish a "doorway" into these worlds—very slowly, over a period of time, so that they do not cause alarm. They also have a network of drug cartels and bootlegging operations, which actively recruit members on the 'host worlds', as we call them."

"But how can these Orion people just waltz in and inter-mate with other species? From what I understand, hybridization between different species requires a lot of fiddling around with genetics—it's unlikely that these things would occur naturally."

Soval paused for a moment as Forrest pulled into his drive-way and parked the Cruiser. He looked at the burly Admiral for a moment and Forrest waited for him to continue, knowing that the diplomat often took time to consider his words.

"We do not know how they did it," Soval responded at last, "but somehow they have genetically engineered adaptive DNA which can be passed down through many generations. Once the DNA is in a particular family, the members of that clan may mate with almost any bipedal species and produce offspring. The children which are produced through the mating may then go on to create offspring of their own with the host species, or they could conceivably mate with a third species. Thus, a Vulcanorion could mate with an Andorian and produce a tribrid child—offspring with the genetic characteristics of three separate species. For that matter, it could involve a fourth species...or even a fifth. We do not know how just how far the "adaptability" progresses."

"Soval...these hybrids...the people who are created out of this adaptable DNA. What has been happening to them, on your world?"

"They have been marginalized," Soval admitted, "and the same thing has been occurring on Andoria. This is the opposite of what needs to happen. The antidote to the Orion Syndicate's schemes is to include the Hybrids in our societies, so that they will be more likely to be loyal to the host culture as opposed to the Syndicate. Most of these "hybrid" people want nothing to do with the Orions or their government, because they know that they will be enslaved the minute they begin to work for the drug runners and their ilk. This is the crux of the difficulty, from the host culture's perspective...determining which people are involved with the Syndicate and which are not. Because the hybrids are family members of our own people, there can be tensions between those who wish to persecute the Hybrids for reasons of planetary security, and those who feel that they are entitled to individual rights."

"I can see how that would be a nightmare, from a Security standpoint," Forrest concurred, "but the Hybrids' individual rights do have to be taken into consideration. We've had a lot of experience with Human societies taking away rights from others, and the last thing we want to do is to go back to that. Earth is, for the first time in its history, united in a real, lasting peace between the various nations. We're still very sensitive to issues regarding genetic manipulation, though—a result of our two atrocious Eugenics Wars over a century ago. I'm not sure people on Earth would respond favorably to the idea of Human-Alien hybrids living among us."

"You are seeing the problems involved in inter-species relations that Vulcans have been dealing with for centuries," Soval replied, "and your Mars colony is already beginning to deal with these problems in the form of the Vulcanorions who are immigrating to Mars in order to find the opportunities that Vulcan has failed to offer them. Soon, there will be Orion Hybrids from Andoria arriving on your door-step as well."

"Ambassador..." Forrest asked, "Do you think that there are any Human-Orion hybrids that may have been created?"

"It is highly likely, Admiral, given that so many ill-prepared Earth vessels have been launched into space. It is conceivable that there are many Humanorions in the galaxy, as many of your "lost vessels" that were fleeing the second phase of the Eugenics Wars might easily have been drawn into Orion smuggling rings in exchange for needed technologies, or even such basics as food. Once drawn into these rings, Humans would have had little choice but to become slaves of the Orion Syndicate. This has already happened to many an unfortunate Vulcan crew that has wandered out into hostile space, unprotected by weaponry. Many of these Vulcans have been young people from my home district of Shir'Kaya, and they have been lured into the trade by other, unscrupulous Vulcans who have given up following the teachings of Surak and who have chosen instead to live a life of lust and unbridled passion. It is not only the Hybrids that you will fear, but also your own people, as the more vulnerable ones become slowly drawn into these kinds of nefarious activities."

Forrest stared at Soval, his facial expression indicating deep worry and concern over the issue. The pair was not permitted to brood over the matter further, however, as Forrest's wife, Mariel Woods, came striding over to the cruiser and opened the door.

"Come on, you two!" she chided them, "That's enough shop talk. You didn't drive all the way out here to spend lunch-time in a car. Out, now."

Forrest gave Soval a pained look. "Well, Ambassador, I think we've just been given our marching orders."

Soval made no further comment, but instead exited the vehicle obediently. They followed Forrest's blonde-haired wife into the house, where they were met at the door by a big golden canine, who greeted them with a series of loud barks. The dog jumped up on Soval, his two paws resting on his green Ambassadorial robes. Soval had experience with the animal, however, and calmly guided the dog's paws to the ground.

"Barker!" Forrest commanded the dog, "Down! Sit!"

Barker was so excited to see his master that he failed to obey him. Forrest called for his son to put the animal in the basement so that he would not cause quite so much commotion. Soval could never quite get used to the idea of the Humans living with their animals inside their own homes. Vulcans had domesticated versions of the sehlat, or desert bear; but these animals had their own dens constructed for them outside of the home and were never allowed inside with the family. On Earth, however, animals such as canines and felines were not only allowed inside the house, but seemed to actually become members of the family themselves. These kinds of pets were regarded with such great reverence that many Vulcan visitors had come to the conclusion that Humans worshipped the beasts.

"Oh, poor Barker is whining!" cried Maxine, the fourteen-year-old daughter of Forrest, "Couldn't we let him out? He'll calm down after a minute or so."

"No, Honey," Forrest told her, giving her a fond "peck" on the head, as Human parents often seemed to do with their offspring, "Ambassador Soval is not accustomed to animals running all over the house."

T'Nak emerged from the kitchen with a bowl and a utensil in her hand, accompanied by Sorral.

"Let the dog loose, Admiral," T'Nak told him, "Soval is used to much larger animals than that—he had many sehlats which he cared for."

"Those are the Vulcan bears, right?" Maxine asked T'Nak, "Wow—bears in the house!"

"No. Not in the house, Maxine," Sorral corrected her, "Vulcans don't allow animals in their houses."

"You do, Sorral!" Maxine challenged him, "T'Nak and you allow your Border Collie in your house—what is it you call him—some Vulcan name..."

"I-Chaya," Sorral reminded her, "it's a common name for pet sehlats on Vulcan. Dad used to have one with that name, so I thought I'd call my Border Collie I-Chaya to carry on the tradition. I don't think Dad totally appreciated it, though."

Soval decided to stay out of that particular discussion, as he did not want to give his wife any ammunition with which to attack him. She had insisted that they allow I-Chaya the dog into their house, just as the Humans did. He had found the situation to be so intolerable that he could only manage visits with his son at the Vulcan Compound in San Francisco from then on. Soval rarely visited his wife's home in Western Canada, as just about everything there had become a source of contention between the couple.

Today, however, Soval was determined not to let his wife upset his emotional equilibrium. All emotional impulses were to be studiously repressed, using every Surakian technique at his disposal. The last thing that he needed was for his respected colleague, Admiral Maxwell Forrest, to witness a disagreement between himself and T'Nak.

Thankfully, the canine issue was effectively neutralized as Mariel ushered them hurriedly into the dining room.

"Sit down, everyone, and let's eat!" She commanded, "We've got some Plomeek soup that T'Nak made for us, and I've got an amazing array of Earth vegetables straight from our garden. Max and Soval—remember the Forrest-Woods Rule!"

Soval knew from experience that the so-called "Forrest-Woods Rule" was a household edict that Mariel had passed, which stated that neither Maxwell Forrest nor he could refer to the other by their professional titles of "Admiral" or "Ambassador". Instead, Mariel had warned them sternly, they needed to refer to each other as "Max" and "Soval" as long as they were within the jurisdiction of the Forrest-Woods abode.

After Forrest had intoned an ancient Earth blessing upon the meal, the diners were free not only to eat, but to take part in a dynamic conversation as well. Soval had always been secretly intrigued by the Human ability to vacillate between eating and talking. Whenever he was asked a question, Soval immediately stopped eating to answer it in as brief a manner as was possible, given the number of inquiries that Humans made throughout their meals. He did not resume eating until after the conversational interaction was complete. The Humans, on the other hand, seemed to be able to weave the conversation artfully between mouthfuls, all the while managing not to "talk with their mouths full", which according to Mariel was a forbidden act.

Sorral had mastered this odd Human art, but his mother T'Nak had not. She tended to "talk with her mouth full", and the Humans were too polite to chastise her for it. Soval resisted the temptation to take her aside and lecture her about the faux-pas; for he knew that it would not be worth the trouble.

The Forrests' son, Mark, was the only one at the table besides himself who did not actively participate in the culinary chat festival. Mark Forrest had proved himself to be remarkably adept at learning the Vulcan language and customs when he had performed his placement at the Vulcan Embassy last year. Mark had also traveled once to Vulcan to see Sorral while he was spending his marital year there, and he had returned to Earth with a very strong desire to live on Vulcan for an extended stay in order to study Surakian principles. Soval had, with the permission of Mark's father, begun tutoring the young man with the hope that he might encourage Sorral to practice the principles of Surak more vigorously.

"I apologize, Ambassador, for the incessant chatter," Mark said to the diplomat when the meal was complete, "But you know what Humans are like. I should warn you that our main purpose in bringing you here is to convince you to allow Sorral to go to Mars on his next placement."

"Yes, I had deduced that," Soval responded drily, "and Dr. Fer'at has offered to supervise him when he goes to meet his daughter Jovan there next week."

"So...Dad, does that mean I can go?" Sorral queried hopefully, "I meant to say, 'My Honored Father', that is."

"I have been considering the possibility, my son, since Fer'at highly recommended that you go. But I would need assurances from you that you would not engage in any activities of a raucous or licentious nature. If there were to be the slightest hint that you were attending "parties" as you call them, Ambassador Sirtek would send you home immediately. He may do so anyways, within your first few days. He is not one to suffer fools gladly, as the Humans say."

"Hey, Dad—does that mean you've actually budged from your position of my not going?"

"Soval," T'Nak began, "Our son is not as much of a fool as you seem to think he is. You can't keep him on a leash forever! He needs to get out and experience the Universe. I should perhaps mention that I've already co-signed the consent form with Sorral, for him to go to this Mars placement. I believe that it would be a good learning experience for him."

"I had some inkling that you would do so, T'Nak," Soval replied, keeping his tone as neutral as possible, "and so, rather than to argue with you, I will give my permission for the venture; however, it is to be accompanied by a strict warning to you, Sorral. You must not allow yourself to be drawn into a compromising position with any female of Orion heritage. Do you understand?"

"Yeah...sure, Dad...Honored Father. It seems a little prejudiced, though. Do I even have to be snobby towards Dr. Fer'at's daughter, Jovan?"

"Jovan has her own mate," Soval responded, "and, she has been well-trained by Fer'at in Surakian principles of emotional control. As I have said, you will be under the strict guidance of Fer'at. There will be no time for you to go gallivanting, Sorral."

"I'll keep an eye on him, too, Ambassador," Mark promised.

"Okay!" Mariel chimed in, "Then it's been decided. Mission accomplished! Now it's time for dessert...and Maxine has a surprise for you all."

As Maxine ran into the kitchen to prepare her "surprise", Forrest leaned over to him and whispered, "That was quite an about-face, Ambassador...I mean, Soval."

"Yes...Max. It was," Soval replied in a regular tone of voice, "When in the company of my wife, surrender is often the only option."

T'Nak peered at him with a victorious look upon her face, but he ignored it. He was spared any further comments from her when a "Human" male entered the room, walking in such a mechanical fashion that Soval quickly surmised that he was an android of some kind.

"Guys, I'd like you to meet Tomm," Maxine introduced the machine to them, "Don't be nervous, Tomm. Put the dessert down on the table."

"Hello, Maxine," intoned the android in a robotic voice, "I am the Tomm-1000 series, and I am happy to assist you."

"Yes, I know you are, Tomm," Maxine told him gently, "now put down the dessert—on the table, please."

"I am capable of over ten thousand commands," Tomm continued, "and have been programmed for household assistance."

"Okay—so assist, you bucket-of-bolts!" Mariel shouted at the device, "This thing is driving me crazy. He lists everything that he can do, and then he doesn't do any of it!"

"I see your androids are still in their primitive phase," Soval noted.

"Hey, come on, you guys!" Maxine protested, "How about giving Tomm a break? This is just his first day. Don't let them get you down, Tomm."

"It's an android, Maxine," Mark told his sister, "It can't feel."

"How would you know, you would-be Vulcan?" Maxine snapped at her older brother as she attempted to "tune" Tomm in with her remote control.

Tomm responded by immediately dropping the dessert on the table, splattering it all over the guests.

"Oops," Maxine murmured, "Sorry about that, everyone."

"So much for artificial intelligence," Mark muttered sardonically.

"Honey, I think maybe you need to shut Tomm off," Forrest told her gently. The girl appeared to be on the verge of an unfortunate emotional reaction.

"Perhaps I could assist," Soval offered, taking the control from Maxine. He fiddled with the buttons for a minute, until finally Tomm powered down into the "neutral" position.

"Let's bring him downstairs into the work-room," Forrest suggested. He lifted "Tomm's" front torso while Soval took the lower portion, and together they brought the incompetent android down to the basement to join Barker the dog.

"Now both Tomm and Barker have been exiled!" Maxine moaned after they returned from performing their task, "It's not fair."

"Tomm will need a bit of work, Maxine," Forrest informed his daughter, "I'll see if we can get our cybernetics expert to have a look at him. Right now, though, I think Ambassador...that is, Soval and I...need to be getting back to work, as much as we'd love to stay and have dessert."

"All right!" Sorral exclaimed happily, wiping the whipped cream off his sleeve, "So...in spite of Tomm and the spilled dessert, I can go to Mars with Mark and Dr. Fer'at?"

"Yes," replied Soval to his son, "but I should warn you, Sorral, that I have decided to accompany you as well."