Chapter 14
Vahklas
By Blacknblue (aka Bluenblack)
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek. I wrote this for fun. Anyone is free to download and/or redistribute this story as long as you keep it complete and intact, and as long as you don't make any money from it.
Vulcan terms used in this story were taken from the online Vulcan Language Dictionary, the Vulcan Language Institute, or I made them up myself.
This is not edited. Take it as you see it, typos and all.
Author's Note: I can't be certain, but I think this one and one more will do it. Maybe. Depends on what the characters decide, of course.
A/N (Standard note): This story makes several references to events that took place during earlier stories in my series. It also incorporates aspects of the Vulcan social and economic structure, as described in my prior stories. If you have not read my earlier work you might have issues following along. Enter at your own risk.
Anyone is welcome to use anything I invent in these fan fics as long as they don't make any money off it. I also appreciate it when they take the time to give me a brief nod. Otherwise help yourself.
In order, the stories in this series are:
1) For Want of a Nail
2) In The Cold of The Night
3) Father To The Man
4) Purgatory
5) Hess + Kov
6) and this critter, Vahklas
###
Finally. It would be today.
Tolaris proceeded with dignity along his self-assigned route, as he had been doing every morning since the second day after his hearing before the High Council. His arms were tucked under his cloak, and his cowl was pulled well forward over his bowed head. His pace was measured and slow, as befit someone who was using their morning constitutional as an opportunity for a period of walking meditation. There was absolutely nothing unusual about his appearance or behavior. He had even taken a second shower that morning to make certain that not the slightest scent of blood from yesterday's hunt remained on his skin.
Scheduling his interception of T'Pol had proven to be more challenging than he had originally anticipated. Her daily regime, due undoubtedly to her unnatural bonding, was abnormal and unpredictable. However, even Humans needed to adhere to some semblance of order to keep their society operating.
Tolaris had noticed a key fact. Tucker was obsessed with his project. If, for whatever reason, he was called upon to spend time away from it he invariably made up for it by putting in an even longer period of time at work the next day. On such days, the probability of T'Pol leaving home or receiving visitors was less than six percent.
Yesterday Tucker had returned to his home only three point six hours after leaving it. He and T'Pol had gathered their child and departed for two point nine hours before the females returned to the domicile and Tucker once again left, presumably to resume his work. Therefore, Tolaris was confident that he had a minimum of nine hours to gain entry and conduct an investigation, via mind meld, of T'Pol's involvement in the conspiracy which had destroyed his career.
The only remaining difficulty was going to be evading, or neutralizing, the sentries that stood watch over the home. After extensive evaluation, Tolaris had concluded that neither the Vulcan nor Terran government had seen fit to post guards in the area. Unfortunately, the Andorians were not willing to take chances. Perhaps Tucker's status warranted an honor guard? Whatever the reason, Tolaris had identified three sentries posted in position that allowed them to have unobstructed views of the house from all directions.
At least one of those sentries would have to go. He gritted his teeth and fought down the shivers of excitement. Tolaris turned his attention inward and concentrated on the Disciplines, trying urgently to bring his bloodlust under control. Since the day that he had killed that priest in the desert, he had thought of little else. The feel of the old man's neck snapping under his hand asily surpassed any other pleasure that he had ever experienced. He had been fighting the urge to find additional sapient prey ever since. And now, he had the chance to do it again.
He swallowed hard, trying to convince himself that what he was feeling was the desire for water, and not the burn that only the blood of an enemy could slake. He simply could not afford to lose control now. Not if he wanted to live.
He made a decision. The sentry to the northeast would be the one to die. He was located in a well concealed position. So well concealed that not even his comrades could see him. With his position vacant, it should be possible to approach the side door without being observed by the remaining guards. Andorians were very close to deaf in Vulcan atmosphere without artificial aids. Even with artificial aid, their hearing was substandard. Stalking the blueskin would be no challenge.
It wasn't.
Tolaris stood over the body, shaking while his gasping breath roared in his ears. It was incomparable. Indescribable. How could his ancestors have given this up? Surak had been a madman. A true madman, and he had led his people into madness. No sane Vulcan could ever feel like this and then turn away from it.
His hands were shaking almost too badly to readjust his cloak, but he finally got it back into place. Tolaris stood upright and concentrated on getting his breathing under control for three minutes. Then he paced solemnly to the side door of the Tucker house and pressed the announcement button. The sound of footsteps paused on the other side of the door. There was no further sound for an extended time. Then the door opened to reveal T'Pol. She was wearing a grimly careful expression.
Tolaris offered the ta'al. "Peace and long life to you, Lady T'Pol. I am here in an effort to facilitate a more agreeable association between our clans. After consultation with my Elders I now have a deeper understanding of the inappropriate nature of my behavior. With their concurrence, I have come to express remorse for my offense, and to offer recompense in the traditional manner."
T'Pol's expression changed slightly. She looked conflicted. "Your effort is acknowledged, Tolaris. Recompense is not appropriate nor desired. You may inform your Elders that my clan considers the matter closed, and that no further attention is required."
Tolaris inclined his head. "And your husband? My former shipmate, Kov? His Human mate, Anna Hess? Do they also consider the matter completely closed? I have not yet called on Kov or his Elders, and I am insufficiently familiar with Human social standards to estimate the degree of compensation required for my offense."
T'Pol closed her eyes briefly. "My husband is willing to let the matter be consigned to the past, where he states that it belongs. As for Kov and Anna..." She hesitated. "I do not know. Based on my knowledge of Anna's character, I estimate that she will agree with Trip. But I cannot say for certain. I am not authorized to speak for any member of Kov's clan."
"Would it be possible," Tolaris injected a note of humility into his voice that was barely above obsequious. "to arrange a joint conference at some time with all the principles involved? A conference by comm would be acceptable. This would permit me to present my offer openly to all parties and expedite the conclusion of this unfortunate matter."
T'Pol's face smoothed. "A logical suggestion. As it happens, Anna and Kov are currently home and we could call them from here. If Kov believes that consultation with his father or his clan Elders is advisable, it would be simple for him to arrange it from his house. I do not consider it necessary to disturb my husband at work for this matter. As far as we are concerned, the matter is finished."
She stepped back and opened the door wide. "Enter my home and be welcome. I will prepare water."
Tolaris locked his jaws and kept his eyes downcast to hide the hunter's gleam. Surely, she would take it as a sign of his repentant mood. His throat was suddenly much drier.
#
Assistant Attache Larka was puzzled, and striving mightily to remain as tactful as possible while expressing that fact. Despite her dedicated study, there were still many subjects that she could not be certain about. Fortunately, the Humans at the table did not seem offended.
"The truth is," Lieutenant Isabella Jorgens said, "nobody knows. You can find all kinds of references and theories in the database from all kinds of people, going back centuries. But all we really know is that some Humans can still digest milk after we grow up, and some of us can't."
"How could that be a survival advantage?" Technician Mirne's antennae twisted thoughtfully. "There can't be that many women producing milk in excess of their children's needs, can there? And in the long run taking milk away from the next generation would be contra-survival."
"Animals," Crewman Ling said. "We use domesticated animals, specially bred to produce large quantities of excess milk. We drain them daily and pump it into storage."
"Oh!" Mirne brightened. "I see. That clarifies... But how did that start?"
"Technician." Larka gave him a warning look and he subsided. "We do not mean to be intrusive. It is simply that Humans are the only race we know of who do this. We are curious, that's all. I have wondered about this since I first came to Earth, but I never got the chance to actually talk to one of your people about it."
"We're not offended," Isabella said. "We have spent a lot of time debating it ourselves. Don't ever be afraid to ask about something. If we don't want to talk about it we'll just say, we don't want to talk about this."
Technician Second Class Birnalla smiled. "That's why I like working here. You don't have to creep around, ready to drop into defense every time someone makes an idle remark."
"A remark about what?" Captain Tucker walked past the table and Larka snapped to her feet, followed instantly by the other Andorians. The Humans looked at each other, shrugged, and stood up also. To Tucker's obvious amusement.
"I keep telling you," he said, looking at Larka, "that it's not necessary to do that. But thanks."
"Is the commander all right?" Ensign Brown wanted to know. "Off yesterday and today both? Last time that happened she was real sick."
Tucker tightened one end of his mouth. "She and her husband have some important family business to take care of. It can't wait, and on Vulcan family business takes priority. Especially when the head of your House is a High Council Minister."
"Got it." The Ensign nodded, and everyone else at the table made signs or gestures of understanding. Larka reflected that Anna Hess was fortunate her husband permitted her to have a career at all. By Vulcan code, he was not required to do so. It was one of the most intense reasons that she had for disliking these people.
"So it looks like spaghetti again." Tucker glanced over the Human plates. "They're never gonna get any catfish, are they? I'm givin' up the dream, I guess."
"Catfish?" Birnalla looked interested. "I have never heard of that."
"A fish that inhabits the fresh water drainage pathways of Earth," Larka told her. "I was not aware that you desired catfish, Captain Tucker. I will notify the embassy. A delivery will be arranged as soon as possible."
"Oh for... No. Larka, thank you. That's one of the nicest things anyone has every offered to do for me." Tucker smiled widely. "But don't you dare go to all that trouble. Especially to ship me a special kind of meat all the way from Earth to Vulcan. I get enough grief from the Vulcans about eating meat at all. The last thing my wife and daughter need is to have me get a reputation as such a ravenous carnivore that I have to have extra hauled in."
Isabella giggled. "Boss. The next Vulcan meal break, you should bring in a huge beef roast and start ripping into it barehanded, roaring and gnawing chunks off like a starving dog. I'll sign over my entire week's paycheck if you do."
"I'll add mine and a bottle of bourbon," Brown said.
"Mine along with it, and a case of German beer," Ling told them.
"Shut up, fools." Tucker snorted and walked away, shaking his head and leaving the three Humans chuckling behind him. The Andorians looked uncertainly at each other. Larka made a gesture and they all sat back down to resume eating. In a moment the Humans did the same.
Larka decided that Terran tomato sauce was a poor substitute for bluemoss, but it was certainly edible. More to the point, it was digestible without difficulty. Not always the case with Human or Vulcan food. She finished her plate and upended the coffee mug.
Her one, semi-secret, vice was a single cup of mocha with her midday meal. She made sure to keep the concentration weak, and never drank more than one. But it was really asking more of her self-discipline than she could endure, sitting down in a Human cafeteria every day where drinks containing pure chocolate were freely available to anyone who asked for one. It wasn't like she was addicted. She could stop anytime she chose.
Larka walk to the recycling slot to dump her dishes and stack her tray. She was turning to leave when a strangled scream cut through the room. Every head snapped around to see Tucker jerk to his feet, grabbing his skull. The captain staggered two steps, dropped to his knees, and fell forward. He did not move again.
But Larka moved. She did not even have to give her body the order, she was already in motion before her mind had time to realize what was happening. A crowd of mixed Andorians and Human were gathering around and looking confused. Someone, one of the Humans sprinted for the comm.
"Medical emergency. Code Blue. Man down in cafeteria. Human male. Unconscious, not breathing."
Larka hit the back of the crowd and broke through like a bullet. "Let me pass!" One of the Human women, Mei or something like that, was kneeling beside the captain and checking his life signs manually. She took her hand away from the captain's wrist and laid her head on his chest. Than she sat up and shook her head.
"His heart is stopped."
Larka landed on her knees on the floor next to Tucker's other side. "Do you know CPR?"
"Yeah. I'll take the breathing if you can do the heart compression."
"Go," Larka said. She made as tight a fist as she could and measured off the designated distance from the bottom of Tucker's ribs. Then she raised her arm and brought down her fist as hard as she could. Something cracked slightly when she hit. The Human woman laid a finger on Tucker's throat and shook her head.
"What are you doing!" The demand came in Andorian, and a blue hand appeared from behind her to seize her shoulder. "Bad enough to die like this. Will you commit abomination by abusing his body?"
"He's not dead yet!" Larka jerked loose and interlaced her fingers, laying her palms over the proper spot on the captains breastbone. She started counting and applying pressure. "This is not abomination. A Human can live for four minutes without a heartbeat."
"Four- What?"
"It's part of their diving reflex," she snapped, only sparing a sliver of attention. "He's alive in there and we still have time to save him. IF we can get his heart re-started in time." She added, "Call the embassy. Have them notify his wife. Go!" One of them obeyed, she did not see or care which one it was.
Mei coughed and turned her head to spit. "It's not working. Where's that goddamned emergency cart?"
Larka stopped and made another fist. She raised it and begged, "Come back, captain. Please. We need you." Then she brought the fist down with everything she had behind it. The sound of snapping ribs was clear to everyone in the surrounding crowd.
Tucker jerked and coughed. His arms reached for something, and the women grabbed one apiece. "Lay still, Boss," Mei told him. "Medics are on the way." Tucker showed no sign of hearing her. His eyes were not tracking anything in the room, while waves of different emotions surged and ebbed across his face. "Just lay there and breathe."
The medical technicians arrived, finally. "Good advice, Boss," one of them said. "Let's see if we can keep you doing that." They administered tri-ox and placed an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose. "We need to get him to the local hospital. The embassy medical bay isn't set up for anything really serious."
"Take him to my car," Larka jumped up. "It has diplomatic overrides. I can get him there as fast as an ambulance, and we won't have to wait for a transport to come here."
The medics pulled a folded stretcher off the cart and the nearest six Andorians promptly took it away from them. They slid the captain onto the stretcher with the gentle care of a mother handling her newborn and stood up, three lifting each side. "This way," Larka said, and took off at a sweating, breathless trot.
Two Vulcans met them in the hallway and fell in beside her. "Has a medical team been dispatched to the Tucker home yet?" The Vulcan glanced down. "Given the captain's condition, Lady T'Pol is undoubtedly in need of assistance."
Larka swallowed. "I told one of my people to have the embassy notify her. I didn't realize that it would effect her so strongly."
"What caused this?" The other Vulcan wore a grim expression. From Larka's briefing, she recalled that he was a member of T'Pol's clan.
"Nothing," Mei growled. "He jumped up, screamed and grabbed his head, and collapsed. Her face changed. "Oh, shit. T'Pol."
One of the medics grabbed his communicator. "Embassy, this Medical Technician Ident Code CE22G8 Omega 4. Require emergency distress response at the local residence of Charles and T'Pol Tucker. Confirmed distress. Notify law enforcement and summon medical transport as well as emergency response. Priority Red Flag Alpha One."
"Acknowledged. State nature of emergency."
"Just get someone there. We're busy trying to keep Captain Tucker alive right now. Get over there!" The Technician closed his communicator as they reached the turbolift to the roof parking area. Larka's vehicle was not far from the entrance, luckily, and she sprinted ahead to open the door. Then tried to gasp in enough air to keep from collapsing.
The Human in charge said, "Put him into as secure as position as you can, then clear out and make room for at least one of us to ride with him." They obeyed and secured the car. Larka lifted off, set the autopilot for the local hospital, engaged the diplomatic overrides, and told the autopilot, "Maximum speed." Acceleration threw them against the seats.
She hit the comm for the embassy emergency line, and the ambassador's face appeared. He looked as grim as she felt.
"Report."
Larka gave a crisp summary of events so far. "ETA hospital..." she glanced at the locator map. "Two minutes."
"Acknowledged. Reinforcements will meet you there and relieve you of responsibility."
"Sir," she said. "Lady T'Pol is certain to be in distress, according to the Vulcans at the plant. If she is in distress, so are the captain's children."
"We know, Attache. Their home was under guard. One of your comrades died in their defense. The captain was felled by the telepathic backlash from Lady T'Pol's attacker. He is dead and she is already on her way to the hospital."
Larka choked. "Their baby? The little girl?"
"The girl T'Lissa is being transported with her mother. T'Pol's clan will take custody of her until the matter is settled. We have no word about the unborn infant."
Larka looked ahead. "We are landing at the hospital, ambassador. I will report against as soon as I have further information."
"Confirm."
The comm went dark.
#
"Is he dead?" Anna's jaws hurt. They hurt really, really, bad. But she absolutely could not unclench them to save her ass. The muscles refused to loosen.
"Captain Tucker is stable for the present." The Vulcan clerk at the emergency station was holding onto her patience with great effort. But the presence of the annoying Human's mate reminded her that she was dealing with the family of a Council member. One simply did not lose one's patience with the family of a Council member.
"I meant Tolaris," Anna said, looking at the far wall and speaking in a toneless voice. "I wondered if he was already dead, that's all."
The clerk froze and glanced at Adjunct Assistant Kov, who did not meet her gaze. "I believe that he perished during the attack," she said carefully. "Although I have not received official notification."
Anna nodded. "Where is T'Lissa? Their little girl. We were told that she wasn't hurt."
"She is with her family," the clerk said.
"Where?" Anna looked down at her again. "We want to see her."
The clerk carefully modulated her voice. "After the trauma she has endured, the senior staff healer has determined that it is in the best interest of the child that contact be limited strictly to family."
The Human's face changed color several times. The clerk almost wished she knew enough about Human's to interpret the pattern. "Where is the senior member of T'Pol's clan that works on the staff of this hospital?"
"That is not relevant."
"Kov?" Anna looked at her husband. "Would you please call your father, Council Minister Kuvak, and let him know that this clerk is being illogically uncooperative about publicly available information, and ask him to find out the name and contact information of the senior healer in this place who is kin to T'Pol?"
"That will not be necessary," the clerk held onto her dignity. "I meant that the senior healer of T'Pol's clan will not logically have any reason to overrule the current arrangement. However, Healer Jul is the eldest on staff who is a member of Lady T'Pol's clan."
"Jul?" Anna nodded. "We know her. I have her contact code." The Human smiled. "You have been most helpful." She turned and headed for the nearest comm terminal, followed by her rueful spouse. The clerk watched him with sympathy.
Anna dug out her communicator and opened the memory storage. She painstakingly copied Jul's code into the hospital comm unit and hit send. A minute later the healer's voicemail kicked in. Anna spoke slowly and clearly.
"Healer Jul. This is Anna Hess, aduna by bonding as defined in the Kirshara, of Kov, son of Kuvak. I am calling in my capacity as lawfully designated godmother of Elizabeth T'Lissa Tucker.
"Probability favors you being unfamiliar with the term godmother, so I will explain. In compliance with ancient Human tradition, Charles Tucker and T'Pol Tucker formally expressed the desire that in the event they became incapacitated or deceased, their child or children should be placed in the care of Kov and myself. We are here to carry out our responsibility until such time as they recover from their current difficulties. Please contact me or Kov as soon as possible to authorize our access to her. I am certain that it will not be necessary to invoke legal processes in this matter. The situation is already too stressful as it is."
She switched off and sagged. Kov murmured, "I doubt that a veiled threat was necessary, beloved. I gained the impression that Jul is a dedicated healer. She will do what is best for T'Lissa. Given her background, we are the logical choice."
"Maybe it wasn't," Anna admitted. "I am tense and it shows. I really don't want to offend anyone. I'm just worried and frightened and I think T'Lissa is most likely panicking. She needs someone there to hug her and let her cry without scolding her."
"Meanwhile," Kov said. "I wish to use the comm. If I may?" Anna moved aside and he rapidly keyed in a sequence. The screen cleared to show Eldest Mother Laritkla. "Eldest," Kov said respectfully. "I request emergency aid. I wish to speak to Eldest Mother T'Para. Captain Tucker and Lady T'Pol have been incapacitated, and we wish to take custody of their daughter in compliance with our sworn agreement. However, the hospital administration is being uncooperative in this regard. It is my hope that direct instruction from the eldest of T'Lissa's clan will rectify this matter."
"I will deal with this matter, son of my clan," Laritkla told him. "Return to your vigil, and whatever additional duties are required." The screen went dark.
Twenty-three minutes later, a harassed looking orderly came into the waiting area and abruptly ordered them to follow him. Anna and Kov followed the young man through a rat maze of hallways and past two doors marked 'authorized personnel only' before reaching the intensive care unit. He pointed and said, "The designated waiting area is that room. The child is there."
T'Pol's cousin, T'Leera, was sitting in a conference room and watching the little one, who had curled up on a couch. When they came in the little girl looked up listlessly. Then her eyes opened wide and she jumped to her feet.
"Anna!" The commander barely made it down to one knee and got her arms open in time to receive the charging torpedo. The frantic impact would have knocked her over if Kov had not been there to prop her up. "Anna the bad man hurted Ma-Mehk 'n I tried to make him quit but I couldn't and 'n then they felled down and Ma-Mehk went to sleep but it isn't sleep cause she won't wake up 'n I heard Sa-Da in my head and he was hurted too 'n then I can't hear him no more 'n now I can't hear either of them no more 'n nobody will tell me anything."
She exploded into tears. Anna grabbed her in a bear hug and stood up, squeezing her and stroking her hair. "It's gonna be all right, baby. It's gonna be all right. Go ahead. Get it out." She carried the child across the room and sat on the same couch, with T'Lissa on her lap this time and started rocking gently. "We're gonna make sure it's all right. The best healers in the world are here. They are going to fix your Mom and Dad. It will be all right."
T'Leera watched with a raised eyebrow that Anna interpreted as disapproving. "She needs to purge the negative emotion before it poisons her," she snapped. "Tears are a natural biochemical mechanism for doing that." Anna planted a gentle kiss on T'Lissa's head and resumed whispering reassurance.
"I offered no objection," T'Leera said. She looked from Anna back to T'Lissa. "It is unusual for a child her age to be so trusting of someone who is not blood kin."
"Why won't nobody tell me anything?" T'Lissa sniffled.
"I don't know," Anna said. "But we are going to find out how they are doing in just a few minutes. Then I will tell you everything I can."
"OK." T'Lissa's sobbing morphed into hiccups. She curled into a ball and tucked her head under Anna's chin.
"We might as well be blood kin," Anna looked at T"Leera. "I've been changing her diapers and feeding her since she first arrived on Enterprise. Plus, Kov and I are her godparents. He can explain it."
Kov launched into a quiet briefing while Anna continued to comfort her charge. It didn't take long at all before stress fatigue took its inevitable toll and her eyes closed. Anna leaned back and arranged T'Lissa in a more comfortable position against her chest. "Have you heard anything yet?" she asked. "All we know so far is that Tolaris broke in somehow and attacked T'Pol. Apparently it affected Trip through their bond, because he collapsed at the plant and went into cardiac arrest. That's it."
"That is the approximate extent of my own information," T'Leera said. "My adun is one of the senior operatives for the Security Directorate in this region. I anticipate further knowledge when he contacts me again."
Kov sat down next to Anna and invited her to lean on him. She gratefully accepted, and they settled in to wait. And wait. And continue waiting. Anna's butt was numb from the couch, and her arms were numb from holding T'Lissa, before Healer Jul walked into the room looking exhausted.
T'Leera stood and offered the ta'al. "Greetings, krei. You appear fatigued. Do you desire water or other assistance?"
Jul lifted a hand and let it drop tiredly. "No. I am adequately hydrated. Merely tired." She looked at the you couple on the couch. "I regret not responding to your message until now. I was occupied in assisting T'Pol and Trip with their telepathic linkage."
"Not important," Kov said. "Healing must take priority. May we inquire as to the status of your patients?"
Jul took a slightly deeper than normal breath. "The stress of the telepathic assault Tolaris launched caused T'Pol to go into premature labor. We were forced to perform an emergency removal of the baby."
"Oh, God," Anna locked her teeth. "Please tell me he's safe."
"He is stable," Jul said. "The child was within thirty-six days of delivery in any case. We do not anticipate any insurmountable difficulty maintaining his health."
"This is highly agreeable news," T'Leera looked openly relieved. "And his parents?"
"The surgery, in addition to the attack," Jul looked somber, "inflicted significant trauma on T'Pol. This trauma was also reflected on Trip through their bond. It seems that the Human lack of telepathic shielding allowed the full impact of the attack to strike him, just as if Tolaris had attacked him as well as T'Pol. I was able, with some difficulty, to assist the two of them with establishing a true mind meld. Following this, I assisted T'Pol with achieving a healing trance. Trip is still melded with her, and he is on full life support with constant monitoring. All we can do now is wait and give them time to repair themselves."
Anna closed her eyes. "Does anyone know how Tolaris got into their house?"
"That is one of the aspects that Ganlas is currently investigating," T'Leera said. "Among others."
Anna nodded. "Would either of you object if I called the factory and gave the crew a summary update? Everyone there is worried sick over this."
"I perceive no reason to object," Jul told her. "Krei T'Leera, you have been associating with T'Pol and Trip for an extended time. Do you believe that they would object?"
"Highly doubtful," T'Leera said. "I will hold T'Lissa while you make the call."
Anna followed Jul's directions down the hall to a comm booth and sealed herself inside. Her signal was answered instantly and a pair of anxious faces filled the screen, followed at once by a third. She briskly gave them the gist of the situation, then said, "Kov and me are here with T'Lissa. We're staying today and probably tonight. I'll do my best to get in there tomorrow, at least for a while. Gary, you and Stephanie will have to take over for a while. If there is anything that you can't handle, defer it until tomorrow. I'm in no shape to concentrate right now." She stopped to get a breath. "Any questions?"
"Did you eat?" Gary, her secretary, asked in concern. "You need to eat something, Anna. Quit trying to pretend that you operate on anti-matter like a warp drive. Eat and take time to rest, at least a little."
"I'll try." She smiled wryly and cut the connection. "Eventually," she added to herself.
#
Ambassador Kilruym pressed the button and watched his screen brighten into a split display. The right side showed the general meeting room for the Vulcan High Council. The left half displayed the office of his Human counterpart, Ambassador Trask. Kilruym glanced across the room. Attache Tegrath occupied a chair well out of the comm's line of sight, but with an angled view that let him watch and listen the conversation easily.
"The Council will come to order," T'Pau said. "We are joined in consultation today by the ambassadors of Andoria and Earth. The business of this meeting is to decide upon the most appropriate response to the attack upon T'Pol, daughter of T'Les and Charles Tucker the Third. Ambassador Trask has requested to address this Council before debate begins. Proceed, Ambassador Trask."
"Your courtesy is acknowledged and appreciated, Chief Minister," Trask said flatly. To Kilruym, it was obvious that the Human was fighting for control. He still didn't feel like an expert on Human body language. But after working with the man for some time, Kilruym was fairly certain that Trask was ready to explode. As far as Kilruym was concerned, the Human deserved a medal for not showing up at the meeting in person with a weapon in his fist.
Trask continued. "It is imperative that the Council recognize the profound severity of this situation to the people of Earth. Captain and Mrs. Tucker are heroes on our planet. More pragmatically, Captain Tucker is a Starfleet command level officer. He is in charge of a project that holds the potential to be a matter of life and death to our entire civilization. To have him suddenly disabled like this is a crippling blow, and Starfleet command is strongly inclined to suspect deliberate military motivations. If evidence to confirm, or even strongly support this suspicion is found, my government could very easily consider this attack to be an act of war."
Kilruym sat perfectly still, with his antennae pulled down tightly. This situation held the potential to be either a fantastic opportunity for his people, or a total catastrophe, based on his words and actions over the next few moments. T'Pau permitted an expression of mild distress to cross her face.
"Such an imputation is illogical, ambassador," she said. "Tolaris had an established record of hostility to both Lady T'Pol and Captain Tucker. Probability highly favors the theory that he attacked T'Pol as an act of revenge for his dismissal from employment."
"We hope so," Trask said. "I, and my superiors, sincerely hope that this is merely a case of a disgruntled former employee who went ballistic. If it turns out to be the case our people will still flare like several billion torches. But they are not likely to actually turn feral. However, until such time as the reason for the attack is fully settled I am going to insist on having Human guards in place over the Tuckers, at the factory, and as personal bodyguards for Captain Tucker's second-in-command."
"That is neither necessary nor acceptable," T'Pau said.
"In that case," Trask said, "Please notify your hospital personnel that Captain Tucker and Lady T'Pol will be transferred to the Human embassy, along with their children, for immediate transport to Earth."
"You lack the authority to do that, ambassador," T'Pau said coldly. "They are all Vulcan citizens."
"To the contrary, Chief Minister," Trask said, with equal lack of warmth. "They are all citizens of Earth as well. Moreover, Captain Tucker is a Starfleet officer on active duty. He is subject to being recalled to our homeworld at any time. Further, Lady T'Pol swore an oath of service to Starfleet. Although she has resigned her commission, the oath remains. A member of Starfleet is subject to hold themselves available for emergency reactivation for a period of ten years following their discharge from service, even though she would be reactivated as an enlisted crewman. Your government has demonstrated its inability to adequately protect our people. This is unacceptable, and we have no intention of permitting the situation to continue."
Kilruym said mildly, "I offer a compromise suggestion."
Every eye on the screen turned to look at him. "Ambassador Kilruym," Trask said. "I have not yet had the opportunity to express my personal gratitude, and the gratitude of my people, for the sacrifice that one of your soldiers made in an effort to protect Lady T'Pol. If you are willing to provide his name and contact information, I would like to compose a personal letter of condolence and appreciation for his family. Unless you think it would be inappropriate?"
Kilruym was briefly knocked off-balance. "There would be nothing inappropriate, ambassador. No doubt his family will treasure it, and hang it on their family's wall of heroes. I will send you the information after this call is complete."
"Thank you." Trask inclined his head in what Kilruym recognized as a gesture of respect. "You mentioned a compromise?"
"Yes." Kilruym looked at T'Pau, then back to Trask. "Ambassador Trask is concerned that People's Hero Tucker and his family receive proper protection. And quite rightly so. Chief Minister T'Pau is uncomfortable with permitting armed Human warriors to patrol unrestricted, when Ambassador Trask has already acknowledged that his people's passion has been aroused. This is certainly understandable."
Kilruym continued, "I propose that my embassy provide security for People's Hero Tucker and his family. I believe that we have demonstrated our commitment to their welfare. No doubt the Council intends to secure the hospital in any case, so our people can coordinate the operation with your Security Directorate. The Humans can provide a bodyguard for Captain Tucker's staff, which is entirely reasonable in my opinion. Again, I believe that Captain Tucker's second-in-command is married to the son of a Council member, so she will be under Vulcan protection also. And all three races can combine forces to provide security for the manufacturing facility, since all of us have people working there."
Trask's expression worked for a moment, then he sighed. "I admit that this situation has pushed the limits of my self-discipline," he said. "It is not impossible that I may have permitted emotion to influence my choice of words. I would accept Ambassador Kilruym's suggestion, with the addition of Human security on stand-by in case an additional attack occurs. However, I am not authorized to accept continuation of the status quo. My orders are quite explicit in that regard."
Kilruym reflected that Trask was the best imitation Vulcan he had ever seen. It was almost frightening sometimes, how similar the two races were. "You are far from alone in being provoked, ambassador," Kilruym said. "None of my people would consider your behavior less than exemplary."
The Council member to T'Pau's immediate left spoke up. "T'Lissa Tucker is currently in the care of my son and his wife. If this suggestion is implemented, it would result in a situation where Andorians were guarding T'Lissa, Humans were guarding Anna, and Vulcans were guarding Kov." He paused. "Not that I would object to multiple layers of security. But the redundancy might be inefficient."
"They would be tripping over each other," Trask said, twisting his mouth. "How about our people guard Anna and T'Lissa inside the hospital, and your people can cover anything outside their immediate area? That will leave the Andorians free to concentrate on the rest of the family without distractions."
"Agreed," Kilruym said, feeling increasingly pleased.
T'Pau looked grimly displeased. "It seems that the Council is being manipulated into agreement with this suggestion, regardless of its lack of logic. However, in the interest of peaceful coexistence I will concur. The senior officer of the Security Directorate for the district containing Shi'Kahr hospital is a member of T'Pol's clan. Will that sufficiently reassure you, ambassador?"
"It helps," Trask said. "I will also reassure my superiors. And when this finally gets away from us and our people learn of it, it will help mitigate the reaction on Earth, too, knowing that her own family is watching over them. Now, all we have to do is pray. Pray real hard that they all recover."
"If such activity provides benefit to you," T'Pau said, "by all means do so. Are there any other issues that either ambassador wishes to discuss before the Council reconvenes in confidential mode?"
Trask shook his head. "Not at the moment. But I have faith that a new disaster is lurking in the shadows, just waiting for its chance. Meanwhile, I wish you a good day." His face disappeared and the Council chamber filled the screen.
Kilruym said, "I will notify my security forces to contact your Directorate and the Human embassy for scheduling." He punched the button to disconnect.
"My compliments, ambassador," Tegrath stood and stretched. "Another short term military alliance with the Humans to add to the building momentum. The Vulcans made to look like unreasonable children. And if the High Command chooses to use it, a lever that can cause real damage to the Human/Vulcan alliance. A good day's work, I would say."
"It would be a better day's work," Kilruym said tightly, "if we could find some evidence of cohorts. I urgently want to kill someone over this. Did you find anything about anyone? What about his former shipmates? Or his kin? Tucker has drawn blade against that clan in the past. Literally."
"Nothing so far," Tegrath said in a regretful tone. "After his hearing went badly, the renegade's kin dropped him. None of shipmates wanted him either, it seems. It could be that he just snapped. Perhaps he decided that if he was finished anyway, he might as well get some revenge on the way down. It happens, even with Vulcans sometimes."
"Is the autopsy done yet?" Kilruym asked, clutching at straws.
"Probably," Tegrath told him. "But it will take another half day for our mole to smuggle it out to us. The technician we have in place isn't much, but he was the only Vulcan that we could find who needed something badly enough to sell out. His son is a criminal, and we provided the lad with a new identity and a new start. The father agreed to route any medical data our way that we might need, but he's nervous. We almost never use him. I don't want to push too hard or he'll break."
"It's not like we're asking for anything dishonorable," Kilruym grumbled. "One of our own was killed. All we want is complete information."
"That's what we told him," Tegrath said. "But for some reason this one made him real jumpy. We're keeping an eye on him. If he doesn't deliver on time, we will go in and get it ourselves."
"If he doesn't deliver, hold off," Kilruym said. "I'll make a formal request first. That way if you get caught we can always point out that we tried to play by their rules, but our duty to our fallen takes precedence. If nothing else, I don't see how they can avoid giving Trask a copy, and he would gladly share it with us. I'm almost sure of it."
#
"He's scared, krei Jul," T'Lissa looked up at the healer. "I know he is. Ma-Mehk isn't there anymore, and he don't know where she went. Sa-Da isn't there, and Malcolm don't know where he went either. He needs somebody to tell him it's gonna be all right."
Anna fought hard to keep from sweeping the child up for a hug. She finally won and merely squeezed the little girl's hand. The trio continued down the hallway side by side, with T'Lissa in the middle holding Anna's hand. They reached the large double doors of the obstetrics ward and Jul input her access code.
The babies were lined up along the wall of a long room, with each basinet separated by sound absorbing panels. Prior to entering the main room they went through a basic decontam, washed their hands thoroughly, donned masks and gloves, and put on smocks over their clothing.
Malcolm was at the far end of the room, in the isolation section reserved for premature births that did not require incubators. T'Lissa marched past all of the other basinets unerringly and straight up to her brother's spot. The newest addition to the Tucker household was enjoying the repose of the full and slightly soggy. Like the others, he wore a diaper and nothing else.
"He's tired." T'Lissa stared down, fascinated. "He's been cryin' a lot. I can tell."
"The child has indeed exhibited distress at being separated from his mother," one of the nurture/healers on duty came over and told them. "Are you his blood sibling?"
"Uh-huh." T'Lissa nodded. The nurse looked puzzled.
Jul said, "Human slang, krei. It means yes. This is T'Lissa Tucker, daughter of T'Pol. The woman with me is Anna, aduna of Kov, son of Kuvak."
Anna offered the ta'al, "Long life and prosperity to you. T'Pol and Trip have requested that we care for their children whenever they are unable. I regret that my mate was forced to return to his duties. But the children are my priority now."
Jul told the little girl, "Since you have washed thoroughly, you may touch his abdomen with the fingertips of one hand, briefly."
T'Lissa eagerly peeled off a glove and reached over the edge of the basinet. She hesitantly grazed her brother with the lightest of touches, and his eyes opened alertly. The baby started searching until he saw T'Lissa. Suddenly he squealed happily and began to kick and squirm in an effort to turn in her direction.
"It's OK, Malcolm," T'Lissa crooned. "It's all gonna be OK. Ma-Mehk and Sa-Da need to rest and get better. But then they'll come and get us and we can all go home."
Her brother succeeded in half rolling onto one side and started kick-shoving his way across the basinet, aiming at T'Lissa. She giggled and looked up. "C'n I hold him? Please? He wants me to hold him. He's cold and lonesome and scared and he wants somebody to hold him who loves him."
Jul asked the younger woman, "Are there any known complications listed on his record?"
The nurture/healer powered up the display at the foot of the basinet. Her fingers danced over the menus and scrolled through several screens. "None. As long as proper decontam procedures are followed, there should be no difficulty with brief contact. Reinforcing the familial bond will certainly comfort the children."
T'Lissa was carefully deposited on a heavily padded chair with wide arms and her brother was laid across her lap. "Let his head rest on the crook of your arm, honey," Anna said. "There, like that."
T'Lissa looked down with shining eyes, mesmerized. Meanwhile her sibling reached up with both hands in an effort to grab something. Anything he could catch. "He 'members me," she said in awe. "He 'members me talking to him when he was in Ma-Mehk's belly."
Anna knelt beside the pair and slipped her arms loosely around both children. "You're going to make a great sister, T'Lissa. Brothers can be a trial and an annoyance sometimes. But I wouldn't trade mine for anything. Before long it's going to feel like he's always been here. You won't be able to imagine what it was like before he got here."
T'Lissa suddenly giggled again. Malcolm had managed to grab her chin and squealed in triumph. Then his expression to turned to consternation when he couldn't drag it down to chew toy level. So applied both hands, and still had no luck. The baby's face darkened with effort and frustration and he vented a cry of pure anger.
Anna reached over by reflex and touched his cheek. "Easy there, big guy. You can't just go yanking people's faces off. They might need them later." She smiled affectionately.
The baby let go of his sister's chin and turned his head to look for the new voice. Anna slid around and smiled again, letting him see her. His mouth opened in a loud squeal.
"He members you too, Anna," T'Lissa said happily. "He heard you talking to Ma-Mehk and Sa-Da lotsa times."
The baby started reaching for Anna with both hands and making urgent grunting noises. She looked hopefully at Jul. "May I?"
The healers hesitated and looked at each other. "It is unusual for a newborn to be given contact with anyone but blood kin," Jul said. "They tend to react with fear and distress. However..." She looked at the tiny one, still squealing and trying to climb out of his sister's arms to get to Anna. "This is a unique case. Please take a seat."
Anna blinked happy tears when Malcolm settled into her arms. "Hi there, little man. It's good to finally see you." Malcolm responded by kicking and thrashing, waving his arms, and squealing at a deafening level. The ladies all winced. "He sounds like a tactical alert klaxon," Anna said, chuckling. "His namesake would be proud."
Jul's comm signaled for attention. She checked the ID and her face changed. "I must take this in privacy. I will return as soon as possible."
T'Lissa and Anna hovered happily over the writhing bundle and traded comments until Jul returned, wearing a tight non-expression. "T'Lissa, perhaps you would enjoy spending some time here with your brother while I escort Anna to the refectory in order to obtain a beverage. As a Human, it is important that we ensure she remains properly hydrated."
"Uh-huh," T'Lissa nodded emphatically without looking up. "Ma-Mehk says that a lot. She says Sa-Da needs to get reminded all the time to take enough water 'n cause he gets distracted and forgets."
Anna met Jul's eyes. "That's probably a good idea, now that you mention it. Here, T'Lissa. Let's get him situated on your lap again and the two of you can discuss how you are going to decorate his room when you get home."
In the hallway Anna looked at Jul and asked, "What is it?"
"I would prefer to defer that answer until we reach a conference room." Jul headed out and Anna followed. The nearest conference room was outside the obstetrics ward and down a long hallway. It was marked Occupied-Private when they arrived and Jul had to input her code to open the door.
She gestured and Anna walked in to find Eldest Mother T'Para waiting on a bench, equipped with a cane and glittering eyes. For a heart stopping instant the ancient one almost looked angry, and Anna's knees nearly buckled.
"Anna Hess. Sit." T'Para pointed.
Anna took the chair she was ordered to occupy. She tried as hard as she had ever worked at anything to control her nervousness. This one might even be worse than Laritkla, if that was possible. She locked her jaws and lifted her chin.
No. We are in the right. Trip and T'Pol wanted us to take charge of them. I don't give a fricking damn what Vulcan law says about clan elder authority. I will fight her on this.
"I need to inform you of the autopsy results for Tolaris," T'Para said. Anna blinked and jerked a bit.
"What about them?"
"They are missing," T'Para said. "A member of our clan who worked in the laboratory is now dead. Evidence indicates that he may have attempted to wipe the record and steal the only extant copy of the results. If so, he was intercepted. The corpse has been disturbed post-autopsy, and a portion of the brain was removed and discarded."
"A member of your clan?" Anna was incredulous. "T'Pol's own family?"
"Circumstantial evidence is not conclusive proof of guilt, young woman," T'Para reproved. "Plainly, someone skillful and experienced has been at pains to distort and hide the truth of this matter."
"So they framed him as a smoke screen?" Anna rubbed her face and tried to think. "I am so tired right now, my head won't function properly. I'm guessing you plan to repeat the autopsy on whatever is left of the body."
"Yes," T'Para said. "Although it is distressing and distasteful to disturb a corpse to begin with, much less to do it twice. But the murder leaves us no other option. In the interim, I am increasing the number of clan members that will be keeping watch over T'Pol and her family. It is my understanding that a compromise has been negotiated which permits Human guards to protect you, while Andorian guards are supposedly designated as protectors for the others. Well and good, but I intend to depend on my own people foremost. I trust that you have no objection to this."
It was not phrased as a question or a request, and Anna was sure that any objection on her part would result in consequences that were unpleasant to a remarkable degree. But she truly didn't mind at all. "The more security, the better," Anna said.
#
"Dead." Kilruym sat back and rubbed an antennae thoughtfully. "Were you able to salvage anything from the file storage unit before the Vulcans found him?"
"No." Tegrath looked disgusted. "Whoever took the autopsy also used a sophisticated program to wipe the system clean. Whatever was on that report must have been damning."
Kilruym slowly began to smile. "Well, then. It seems we are going to be able to kill someone over this situation after all. Are there any more Vulcan assets in place?"
"Not in a position to be helpful," Tegrath said. "Ambassador, you should be aware that the dead Vulcan was a member of Lady T'Pol's clan. We used this fact as leverage in persuading him to cooperate to begin with."
Kilruym lunged forward in his chair. "So she might not have been targeted because of Tucker after all? It could have been clan rivalry?"
"A real possibility," Tegrath agreed. "Tolaris could have been a suicide strike, for example. His Elders may have ordered him to do it to redeem his family's honor. Or who knows? With Vulcans, there are a hundred irrational possibilities.
"T'Pol's Elders have assigned extra security at the hospital and their home. Tucker and T'Pol are under lock and ward, with at least two of our best people on guard at all times. The newborn boy is already in the most secure portion of the hospital. One of our people and an agent from the Security Directorate are watching over him. Tucker's daughter is in the care of Anna Hess. She's a veteran, and the Humans have given the two of them a military bodyguard in full battle gear."
"Good. Sensible." Kilruym bared his teeth. "More intel is critical, obviously. I'm sure you're doing as much as you can. Have any results come from the factory?"
"Preliminary possibilities," Tegrath told him. "Nothing conclusive yet. Commander Hess has requested Attache Larka's act as courier to expedite transferring data to and from the factory, so that she can at least provide minimal oversight to the warp seven project while waiting to see if the Tuckers recover. We're monitoring her trips as closely as possible, hoping that someone will try to use her as a way in. So far, no one has taken the bait."
"Good. Dismissed." Tegrath saluted and marched out. Kilruym rubbed his chin with a hungry look in his eyes.
#
Anna moved with exquisite care, standing up in slow motion and drifting gently across the room to lay T'Lissa's sleeping form on the waiting room couch. The little one had fought hard, but she finally gave up. Anna's rocking and humming had pushed her over the edge into deep sleep.
Anna straightened painfully and rubbed her lower back. She stepped close to the sergeant on duty, his name tag read Robinson, and whispered, "I need to duck out and visit the head. Be right back." He nodded and glanced at T'Lissa.
"Everything's under control, commander," he said. "Nothing will disturb her." The look in his eye was enough to make her believe he meant it. She smiled approval and headed for the door, slowly.
When it slid open and she stepped outside, 'moving slowly' suddenly became 'stopped dead in her tracks'. The door slid shut and Anna snarled, "What the HELL is he doing here?!"
Jul and Jorin stood between the two Security Directorate guards that T'Para had sent. All of them turned to face Anna. Jorin looked down the hallway at her with a haggard expression. "I have come to offer recompense, Commander Hess, on behalf of my clan. Council Minister Stark and our Eldest Mother are already meeting with the elders of Lady T'Pol's clan. However, I considered it my duty to come here and acknowledge personal responsibility."
"A. Bit. Late." Anna snarled like a leopard guarding a fresh kill. "You wanted to assist us in casting out fear, you said. We had nothing to fear from your clan, you said. You dragged us up in front of the High Council and accused us of a crime because I made Tolaris leave the factory before he had the chance to do this to some of the other women there. So instead, he hunted down poor T'Pol at her home." She stalked forward with a killing glare. "And NOW you want to apologize! Get him out of here before I rip his throat out!"
The door slid open behind her and Sergeant Robinson stepped into the hallway. "I heard you through the door, commander. What's wrong?" His eyes flickered over the scene.
"This is Jorin," Anna's teeth were still uncovered. "He's one of the higher-ups in Tolaris's clan."
Robinson stiffened and he stepped forward. "Maybe it would be best if I handle this, commander," he said tonelessly. His eyes were fixed on Jorin like a laser targeting system.
"Hold position, sergeant," Anna said. "That's an order. If anyone kills him, he's mine."
"I recommend that you present your offer to our elders," Jul said hastily. "I submit that the circumstances would be more opportune."
"Perhaps that would be best." Jorin looked defeated. "I regret the behavior of my kinsman. When your anger cools, please remember that." He turned and headed down the hallway, with shoulders that were almost slumping by Vulcan standards.
Jul came toward Anna. "Commander. I am here to serve. As a healer, I can provide medication to assist you in maintaining control if it would be helpful."
"I don't need drugs!" Anna dug her fingernails into her palms. "I need to kill Tolaris. But he's already dead. And I can't prove that the rest of his family was in on it. It wouldn't be right to kill them until we know for sure. I don't need pills, I need to tear someone apart!" She looked down and away, shaking. It was all coming down at once.
"Commander." Sergeant Robinson stood at attention. "If we can get another couch for the waiting room, it might help for you to get a few minutes nap, too. While Miss T'Lissa is resting, I mean. Keeping up with one that size wears a person out, and you will need your energy. I could also order you some food. You haven't eaten today."
"No food at all?" Jul raised both eyebrows. "That is significantly sub-optimum for a Human woman of your age. It cannot fail to increase your stress levels." The two guards had returned to walking their abbreviated patrols, and neither of them had the slightest trace of an expression. The recent episode might just as well have been a polite discussion of flower arrangements, for all the reaction they displayed.
Anna sagged and nodded. "I guess I could eat a sandwich." In the back of her mind she could feel Kov closing in at warp speed. Her little temper tantrum had got him up and moving like nothing else could have. If he got here and found out that she hadn't been eating, it would be just like him to drag her off someplace to feed her. She couldn't have that.
"I will arrange for food and an appropriate resting surface for you," Jul said. "It will be at least another day before either of them regains consciousness. You must maintain yourself."
"Thanks," Anna muttered. She staggered off in the direction of the sanitary facilities.
TBC