He was really starting to hate his travelling companions. The people all around him gave off a distinct aura of distaste. Even the Vulcans were unable to fully mask their dislike of him. Being a V'Tosh Ka'tur he was used to being disliked by his own species but when that Human male had given him what could have only been called a "stink eye" he felt angry. A feeling he wallowed in, relishing the ebb and flow of unsuppressed emotion. The Human female who sat next to the male drew Tolaris' attention. She was unlike anyone else on the transport. She looked Human, was travelling with a Human, and even answered to a Human name but she felt different. The air around almost hummed with mystery and there was nothing Tolaris loved more than a mystery.

He double checked that his "package" was safely tucked away and approached the woman. Her companion, whom Tolaris assumed was her mate, was otherwise occupied. She sensed him approaching and turned to face him. Again he was struck with just how unusual this woman was.

"Perhaps I have met you before?" He inquired. She did seem familiar in a sense.

She raised her right eyebrow and tilted her head to the side. "That is not possible. I would remember if we had met." Her brush off didn't faze him. He was determined to be near her for the duration of their trip. "Perhaps you are mistaking me for someone else?"

Tolaris shrugged slightly. "Even so, I would still like to converse with you." He could feel the presence of someone standing behind him. He knew it must be the woman's mate. As Tolaris slowly turned around he suppressed his annoyance at the Human's need to always interfere with his interactions. It was a rare occurrence that Tolaris actively suppressed any emotional response but he needed to do so if he was going to get to know the woman better.

"What's goin' on here?" The Human male had a strange accent that made understanding his Earth Standard very difficult. Tolaris couldn't understand how the woman could so easily converse with him.

The woman turned to her mate and responded in clipped tones. "This man has mistaken me for an acquaintance of his. I have informed his that we have never met."

The man turned an annoyed look upon Tolaris. "Well fella' looks like the lady isn't interested in bein' bothered any more. Maybe you should move along." The man walked around him and grabbed the woman gently by the arm and pulled her away from Tolaris. He watched them go with ever increasing annoyance. He double checked that his "package" was concealed and then moved on to his own sleeping area.


The ship shook violently under Trip's feet. He glanced over at T'Pol who seemed to be handling their predicament with enviable Vulcan calm. Once again the intercom crackled to life and the strained voice of the captain filled the air.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we have been alerted by the nearest UESCA ship that there is a star base ready to receive us. Their security vessel will intercept in fifteen minutes. We expect the Nausicaans to move off at that time. Fifteen more minutes people and we'll be safe."

Once again Trip was struck with just how dangerous their mission was. He'd never been in a ship fired upon by pirates before. Another stolen glance at T'Pol and he could see the calm façade still in place. The fifteen minutes rocked and shuttered by as the ship was hit with volley after volley of weapons fire. As their transport limped towards the star base Trip and T'Pol quickly packed.

They moved about their small cabin grabbing the few things they had unpacked. T'Pol corrected the duvet on the bed while Trip replaced his borrowed pillows. Once the cramped room looked and smelled as it did when they had arrived four days earlier they sat down on the sofa. He turned his body slightly so he could face T'Pol who noticed the shift in his body language and moved to mirror him.

"Pretty exciting stuff huh?" His attempt at opening dialogue was met with silence and a barely perceptively raised eyebrow. "When we get to the star base we're going to need to find a new ship. Preferably something without your new best friend."

T'Pol sat up even straighter. "It is peculiar that he is so insistent. For a Vulcan his behavior is unusual and unacceptable."

"Trust me, it's rude to Humans too. We're traveling together as a married couple. He's pretty bold to think that he could get close to you with me on the same ship." Trip couldn't quite understand their fellow passenger. He was unlike any Vulcan he had ever met. His emotions were right on the surface. T'Pol was different, he could read her pretty well, but her emotions didn't make Trip uncomfortable.

"Perhaps bold is not the proper way to describe him." Trip returned this with a raised eyebrow of his own. "I think that Tolaris is more than likely a V'Tosh Ka'tur."

Trip frowned. "Okay, you have my attention. What is a V'Tosh Ka'tur?"

T'Pol took a deep, cleansing breath. "They are Vulcans without logic. They have rejected the teachings of Surak and allow their emotions to control them."

Trip's frown deepened. "So they're like humans?"

"No, they are not like humans. They are dangerous. On Vulcan they are considered deviants. They are social outcasts. V'Tosh Ka'tur experiment with certain techniques that Vulcans find repulsive or criminal. They are unwelcome on our world. If Tolaris truly is a V'Tosh Ka'tur his violent and unchecked emotions could cause him to act out irrationally. It would be wise if we avoided him from now on."

Trip nodded silently. "You won't hear any complaints from me. I don't like the guy, he gives me the creeps?" T'Pol raised a questioning eyebrow at that. "It means he makes me uncomfortable. It's just an instinct telling me to avoid him and to keep an eye on him if I can't avoid him."

"Fascinating. Perhaps in this instance trusting your instinct is the logical thing to do."

Trip smirked. "Perhaps."


The star base was quickly approaching through the view port. Tolaris waited in the secluded hatch by the outer hatch. He would watch his new favorite couple and follow them. He knew eventually the woman would come to him. He would be successful. What woman could possibly choose a weak Human male when she can be the chosen mate of a strong Vulcan male? He knew that soon she would see the logic. Tolaris had infrequently put much stock in the idea or implementation of logic but if it would bring him that woman he would stake his life on it.