Their presence was Vulcan. Nestled against her flank, the sehlat's growl rumbled through her.

It's alright. They are - pulled from her quiet contemplation of morning, Juliette stumbled for a concept the sehlat would understand. Friends? Family?

Mine.

Juliette let herself drift along the sehlat's sensations. A dark, cool cave to ward off the sun, her pack safely away, and a full belly. She didn't think too much on the sehlat's meal and instead let her awareness drift outside the dozing sehlat and beyond the cave with its spidery alloy framework to P'Nem and Lorot approaching the entrance. Their voices were too soft to hear, but the thoughts that made their speech were more than loud enough.

"We can wait here," P'Nem said.

"She very well could sleep all day. Perhaps we should get her."

"Then you can wake the sehlat, mine husband."

"I … do recall a proverb to that effect. Perhaps it is best we wait."

Sleeping all day. That sounded perfect, but would be rude. Juliette forced herself up. Cuts, bruises, scrapes made themselves known. The sehlat twitched, and Juliette made more effort to keep the aches and pains to herself. She'd been connected so long she had to drag herself free, like pulling her leg out of thick mud. Her scab-caked fingertips cracked and bled as she pushed herself upright, the sharp pain pulled her all the way back. She stumbled. That's right, two legs, not four.

From the Vulcan's expressions - muted as they were - Juliette guessed herself to be quite a sight. Lorot remained silent as he pulled out his medical kit and Juliette took a seat at the edge of the cave. The sun was just rising. For Vulcan, the morning was mild; the sun eased over the amber-tinged horizon. Lorot wet a towel, then wiped at her hands and face.

P'Nem crouched less than a dozen feet away, always searching the horizon. She looked so much better than last night. Her gash at her chin was smooth and glistened with a gel that almost matched her complexion. Had Lorot put it on, making art of the Romulans' brutality? To Juliette's senses, P'Nem felt better as well, - not as coiled and jagged. But now that Juliette had experienced it, she realized that tense vigilance had always been there, restrained by a lifetime of Vulcan training. Her control was a disguise - from the Sas-a-shar? Or herself? Juliette promised to ask someday when P'Nem might answer.

Juliette tried to speak, the words sounded garbled. "I regret the damage to your home." Her throat was raw from the dry dust and the fact nothing she had said last night had much resembled words.

"Our home repairable," Lorot said. "I had, at one time, considered widening that hallway." His mouth pulled into a small frown as he tilted Juliette's chin upward. "We'll have to stock up on drops for your eyes."

"At least it's over, right?" Juliette asked.

"I had thought," P'Nem said in a dull voice, "it was over years ago."

Lorot dabbed at Juliette's cheek, rubbed raw from riding the sehlat. "Pylkau said security took two Romulans into custody, so I suppose it is over."

Juliette caught Lorot's hand and paused to avoid a telepathic connection. "There were three Romulans at the Monastery."

Lorot plucked at Juliette's sleeve with two fingers, pulled her hand away and continued applying derma-gel. "I'm sure they are still looking. The monastery is still closed."

"I could help find him."

"I am quite sure,your family is quite done with you being used in that capacity," P'Nem said, her voice rising to an edge, "I know that I am."

Juliette pushed at towel in Lorot's hand as she protested. "But T'Mar and Danek-"

"-Are well protected. You were manipulated into a situation between Vulcan and Romulus that should have remained so. I see no reason to continue that charade."

"But then Danek would have been -"

"Most likely," P'Nem said with finality.

"I'm glad I could help. I-" Juliette caught the words before she said them, and amended. "I hold all of you in high regard."

Lorot abandoned wiping her face, and instead lightly scrubbed at the scrapes on Juliette's knees. Finally, P'Nem said, "I am not ungrateful, but what happened at the house, you did not deserve-"

"We are grateful," Lorot said. "It is illogical to regret the past. It is done. One can only do better in the future."

A scowl disturbed P'Nem's placid face. "Those that should have done better are-"

"Then we must be better than they."

They brought a fresh robe and sandals. Juliette's was ruined, and her sandals lost between the cave and the house. Across the back of her old robe was a dark olive smear. When did that happen? During the explosion? She glanced toward movement further in the cave. The sehlat lumbered by. Juliette pressed to the wall to make room, then threw on the new robe and followed. Together they blinked toward the sun. The Sehlat stretched, honed her claws on a slab of basalt outside, then loped to a dune to roll in, throwing plumes of sand. Juliette crouched at the edge of the dune. P'Nem joined her, and offered a packet in foil.

"You need to eat," P'Nem said.

Juliette glanced at the bar in P'Nem's hand. "Thank you, but I'm not hungry."

"You are not? Did you eat the rations that are left in the cave?"

"No, but I drank some water."

"The stocks are for hikers that lose their way. We shall replace that before we go. Are you sure it is you that is not hungry?"

Juliette tried to remember when she had eaten last. Last night? No, that wasn't her, that was- She shoved the memories aside and took the ration.. She forced herself to bite into dry, crumbly bar and chew, sipping from P'Nem's water.

"I wouldn't have made it to the caves without her."

"Few could have reached the caves before the storm without assistance."

Juliette tore her gaze from the sehlat. "Then why did you send me if you knew I couldn't make it?"

P'Nem assumed a patient tone. "It was the best of our limited options - most of which left your fate all but certain. Sending you to the caves had a measurable chance of success, especially if the sehlat had claimed you."

"Claimed me?"

"As you already know, she is not your pet."

Juliette nodded, "It's more - she thinks I'm hers."

"I had a sehlat when I was a child." She showed Juliette the parallel row of pale scars that ran a few centimeters along her calf. "She was considerably smaller when she marked me."

"To shows you're hers?"

"Perhaps. It could be because they forget that our skin is not as tough of theirs. It is a learning experience for both the sehlat and the Vulcan. A sehlat is not a Vulcan, and likewise, a Vulcan is not a sehlat. When one mistakes one for the other, an injury is inevitable."

Juliette rubbed her arm and watched the sehlat stand and shake off a small sandstorm. The sehlat returned her stare with amber eyes. Some learning experience.

There were a few hours of early morning left before she would want to get shelter from the sun. Juliette suggested another cave, a non-reconditioned cave that a lost hiker would probably not use, and disrupt her rest. The sehlat seemed to take the request well as she turned her attention to the farther caves.

P'Nem said, "We should return to the house. T'Mar and her mother and several neighbors are there."

Juliette started back the way she had come until P'Nem halted her.

"We will take the other way around, passed the ravine and to the other side of the mesa," P'Nem said.

"But it's longer," Juliette said.

"Yes, there are things on the other trail you do not need to see," Lorot said.

Juliette scowled. "I know what's there. I've seen dead Romulans." She immediately felt both Vulcans' sharp stares.

"Juliette Sri," P'Nem's tone was firm. "Am I to report to your mother that you have spoken so?"

Juliette winced. "No, I regret doing so, and will be happy to take the other way around." She turned to the sehlat padding toward her and felt her contentment as she snuffed at Juliette with humid gusts, then turned her head to regard her with one eye that flicked from gold to red.

"I have to go the other way."

The sehlat's head swung between Juliette and the Vulcans.

"Go ahead. We'll catch up later."

With a rumble, she turned, and sauntered down the other path to finish her meal.

#

'Several Neighbors' did not describe the sprawl of activity. There were dozens of Vulcan on the mesa. Wreckage was scraped aside, and piles sorted, consoles prodded. There were other Vulcans, crisp and efficient in their gray uniforms, who took readings with tricorders or talked with members of the enclave and some novices.

"Security forces," P'Nem said. "I will speak to them first. I see no reason to continue anyone's charade by hiding your presence, but if they question you, say you must wait for your parents to arrive."

T'Mar spotted them before any of the other Vulcans. Her surprise echoed as she thrust the boxes she'd been carrying to P'arama but she managed to walk, not run, over.

"Juliette, I-we were quite concerned and are gratified-"

Juliette lunged, but felt no tension from T'Mar as she returned the hug. Still, she murmured into T'Mar's shoulder to explain, "It is a Betazoid custom."

"I have seen other species do similar. It is unusual for Vulcans."

"Unusual?"

"It is not usually done between acquaintances, or even friends."

Juliette started to pull back but T'Mar held her fast, asking, "Does it make you feel better?"

Juliette couldn't trust her voice and nodded against T'Mar's shoulder.

"Then I shall maintain this as long as you wish. It is...not unpleasant."

Juliette took several disciplined breaths to keep from sobbing and steadied herself before breaking the embrace. She wiped at her face, but her tears had already evaporated. "I must look crazy."

"If you were Vulcan, I would be concerned, but I am relieved you are, for the most part, unharmed." T'Mar remembered her familial bow to P'Nem and Lorot. "Mother and Father of my bound. I regret the damage will take many days to repair of any quality. My Mother and I would be very pleased to provide you and yours," she looked pointedly at Juliette, "a home while yours is being repaired."

Both Lorot and P'Nem bowed to T'Mar, and Lorot said, "You and your mother are generous in your hospitality to my family and our ward. Come, mine wife, let us express our gratitude to the mother of our son's bound."

Juliette felt P'Nem's chagrin as Lorot started down the path, and heard Lorot's "Attend Mine Wife" as he continued. She also felt his surprise when P'Nem complied.

Juliette murmured, "They are-"

"Mother says P'Nem is unusual, and when she came to our enclave, many suspected her of being a spy."

Juliette's laugh was high and light as her stomach felt tight. "A whu?"

"Sent by the High Council to watch the enclave - they eventually changed their minds, but Mother didn't like P'Nem at first, and didn't like her bind to Lorot, whose bound had chosen another. But, mother accepted the idea and now holds P'Nem in regard."

Questions burned, but the topic could become more of a minefield of lies that it already was. "What happened after I transported?"

"We were told to evacuate to the summit. I found Danek there. He had been hiding from the Romulans. I was relieved to see him but concerned I could not find you and Danek had not seen you either. I overheard Pylkau tell Master Surot that he had transported you to P'Nem's house. The fact Pylkau knew of the transporter was most concerning, and then we saw the explosion, and Danek said that could have been the house, and then I was-" T'Mar paused, her eyes intent on Juliette's.

"The mostest concerned?"

Her brows furrowed. "That is not a word. But I cannot think of one better. Security arrived from ShiKahr city with a shuttle to take us to our homes. My mother did not know what had happened with P'Nem and security would not tell us. I spent my time analyzing probabilities, and I - I have not slept. And you-"

"I will tell you more later. P'Nem had me go to the caves, the sehlat helped me there. There were Romulans, but they didn't survive the storm."

"I am pleased there were factors I did not consider. I wasn't as analytical as I could have been. I kept thinking about before you left."

Juliette knew it wasn't the sun making her cheeks feel hot. "The bind-"

"Yes, the bind - was that what made you - the bind?"

She pursed her lips and shook her head. What did she feel? There had been Danek, and then T'Mar - a sense of safety, but something wonderful unsafe. What could she say, other than the truth? "Not entirely, but I under-"

"Do you?" T'Mar's whispered, "I cannot entirely blame the bind either, but I am-it is a complicated situation."

Juliette was relieved she felt no one paying attention to them. Despite everything, somewhere Mother was laughing at her. Only a mother's curse had power. A curse, a blessing. The gods are fickle. T'Mar was just starting to enjoy being bound to Danek, and now she was thrust into a perfectly normal situation on Betazed, but on Vulcan, it was at the very least, as T'Mar said, complicated. But what was normal? For Vulcans, Juliette wasn't sure she'd ever known.

"We shall figure it out eventually. But no matter what we decide, you have my highest regard."

"And you mine."

#

Where T'Mar was demonstrative, Danek was conspiratorial. She had felt has attention during the day as what could be salvaged from the house was stacked and loaded onto a cargo shuttle, but avoided further contact.

Dusk was a tolerable temperature for Juliette to find a flat rock on the mesa, separate but in view of the wreckage of the house. She encouraged the Cor-lizard beneath to rest just a little longer before coming out to hunt.

Danek approached as if admiring the stars, brilliant in Vulcan's black sky. Juliette indicated space on the rock next to her before he asked.

"I asked T'Sana to recover your helmet from your room," Danek said.

"I am grateful, though it is a shame it was not destroyed with-"

"Everything else that was destroyed with the Romulan explosive?"

Juliette allowed herself to smile at Danek quoting the Vulcan's report. Why the Romulans had brought a bomb that was centered on Juliette's room was not questioned, though she doubted P'Nem had been forthcoming with the exact layout of her home. "I am surprised that Vulcan science cannot determine the origin of the explosive."

"It can, I'm sure. However, making the explosive appear Betazoid in origin is exactly what the Tal Shiar would do. There is no logical reason Betazed would send an explosive device."

"Of course not."

"Nor an assassin hairstylist."

"A-"

"Mother told some about what happened last night. Other parts - she is being frustratingly parental about."

"Did she say why the Security forces were not surprised to find me in the enclave?"

Danek shook his head. "She did not. In fact, she seemed rather surprised herself." Danek fumbled within his robe. "Not everything of yours was completely destroyed in the explosion. I found this."

He presented it with the warm thrill conspiracy of their own. Juliette let her fingers brush his as she took it from his hand. The outer crystal was gouged and clouded; one corner had been roughly sheared away to a jagged edge, but the leaf inside remained floated unharmed. How long had he dug in the detritus to find it? Juliette took a deep breath to steady herself. T'Mar better understood her bursts of emotion; Danek would be upset.

"I am gratified that the leaf is still contained, and quarantine was not broken."

"I am sure they can restore the crystal at the Vulcan Science Institute. I will be-"

Juliette touched his sleeve with her fingertips. "I have not decided to go. I would not make a decision like that without consulting my parents." They would be arriving in a day. As she had slept exhausted in the cave the night before. Family had already been two days mid-warp to the Beta Quadrant.

"It would be illogical for you not to go."

The junior scientist with the security forces at least had a proper dermal regenerator to heal her cuts and scrapes. The new skin was paler than her desert tan, but felt completely normal. He was very thorough in describing the climate and gravity-controlled room that was available at the Academy. The description of the showers by themselves had been tantamount to bribery. All through the discussion he continually explained that had they known she had been in the hot, dusty recesses of a Syrrannite enclave, of course, there would have been allowances to take her in while her case was being discussed.

As Matron would have said, Of course. She would have also reminded Juliette one was always on their best behavior with envoys, so she remained as cordial as she was evasive, adding that one very much wanted to see their family, thank you, which was as much truth without commitment as she could provide.

"I am not always logical."

"That is for certain."

Juliette turned the crystal in her hand. The explosion had marred the translucency of the crystal so that parts reflected the night sky back to her. She liked the effect. Maybe they could polish some of the sides clear and leave others cloudy. Matron or Papa would see to it. She didn't need the Vulcan Science Academy for that, though the offer had been tempting. A modern city. Climate control. A real holodeck.

Danek broke her contemplation. "You must do what is best for yourself, but I hope you do not go."

Juliette propped herself on her knees to lean closer. She wondered if he would react as T'Mar did if she were to caress his ear. "There are certain advantages here."

Danek leaned back at first, then eased closer. Juliette felt the turmoil in his mind even as he remained silent for several seconds, then he bolted upright. "I should finish packing my things. I - I hope you stay."

Juliette curled demure on the rock as he flustered away, fighting to keep her joy from turning into laughter.

#

The third Romulan was not found in the monastery. Logically, he had fled to the desert. Shortly after the novices and Initiates returned, the Betazoids arrived by shuttle - Matron, Lars, Kanara, Lara all red-faced and wilted from the short walk on the terrace to a large meditation room. A small cooling unit chilled the room, and there was tea - real Jestral tea even though the steam from the kettle added to the heat of the room.

Matron brought staff. Not maids, but bodyguards - not the private security or even students of defensive studies - real bodyguards from the Decadet. Juliette wondered which of the ten great houses had lent them.

And why.

P'Nem took no offense to the bodyguards, with whom she shared an almost professional courtesy. Lorot sat near Lars. It pleased Juliette they seemed to get on so well.

Juliette kept the helmet on while she centered her thoughts and sought balance, but the sight of them overturned it all, and everything that had happened seemed so far away from civilized Betazed. Center. Focus. Concentrate. Juliette deliberately undid the straps at her chin.

"Daughter-," Matron said. Her tone was enough to draw Lars' attention.

"It is fine, Mother." She braced her mind, draining away her own feelings to try and recapture the void of the Masters. Closer, but still not complete. She felt her mother pulling back her own awareness - where had she learned that? Betazoids didn't hold back, they gave and gave. Juliette met her mother's eyes, coal black but still warm, and felt her mother's presence, even in reserve powerful and loud, like thunder across the sands. It shuddered Juliette's mental walls, but that which passed through was beautiful.

Mother.

Scion. Daughter.

She felt Las' presence join her mother's. She missed them both so much. Her longing filled the wall rent, the void flooded.

I'm not sure how long I-

The well filled, and turned to poison, her head burned, She floundered against the pressure, all training forgotten as she felt the seizure approach.

But the seizure didn't come. The wave of emotion retreated, then cooled. She felt a hand on her wrist.

One regrets being late.

One is grateful, Master Surot.

One is grateful, Juliette Sri.

The void was drained of poison, and she sensed her family, confused but unhurt, on the others side. They were far away across the void; their emotion was a tickle in the distance.

In time, you may learn to close the distance for longer.

But it will always be there, will it not?

Without the void, there is only madness. I regret, for your sake, that it will always be so.

Juliette sighed, and closed the distance slightly, until she felt a moment of pressure, then pulled back. Sharing couldn't, wouldn't have the same abandon that was the birthright of almost every other Betazoid; She could not live within the void like the Vulcans. Both yet neither, so much less, and perhaps a little more. Her mind was like the Sas-a-shar, dry and barren but with life determined to survive.

Her family looked at Juliette, perhaps a little startled by the distance. Annoyed, Lara pressed for more of a connection. Juliette slid away from her sister, who persisted until Matron pinched Lara's arm.

"We'll adjust," Matron whispered as she kissed Juliette's forehead. The touch brought a sharp pang of emotion, but Juliette maintained the connection as long as she could, and from across the void, She told them everything.

Juliette's mood soured when she realized while she'd been sharing memories with her family he had arrived. Tall, peppered hair and parchment skin. He seemed to take the joy out of the room.

"They have done a most thorough scan. The third Romulan is not at the monastery," he said as he sat down on the floor. They all sat mats, even Matron, who felt that any civilization that could have developed warp travel should have been able to invent chairs.

Juliette nodded to agree, and decided she'd search herself with Danek and T'Mar. They were absent for this meeting. Lara and Kanara were red-faced by restrained. They were attending, which meant an adult conversation. About her.

The Vulcan's voice was pleasant, but his mind a duranium wall. "Juliette Sri, I realize we have not met-"

"You're the man who came in through the summit of the monastery and talked to Master Surot a couple nights before I arrived."

Matron was right. It had the desired effect. A waver in the wall and an arched brow.

"Indeed?"

"You said it was important I be here, and made sure that the Science Academy couldn't decide whether to take me."

"That is quite an assertion, for a-"

Matron's smile was pleasant, but her tone was cold. "It is my assertion, delivered by my Scion."

"It is still far-fetched, no matter the source."

"I'm sure the lead scientist-delegate from Vulcan on Betazed will make the same protest."

"And sour Betazoid-Vulcan scientific relations. Relations which have had a long history of being mutually beneficial. And such a search will reveal nothing untoward."

"I hazard it will not. But we have no illusions of identifying malcontents and purging them from the Vulcan Science Academy. We are quite sure they will do that themselves, once they realize they've been manipulated. I'm sure they have no more love being used for ulterior motives."

"No," Master Surot said, "I cannot imagine anyone would. And since Juliette's presence on Vulcan is no longer a secret."

The gray-haired Vulcan arched a brow.

"It's true," Matron said. "The Federation Council actually wants to present Vulcan with a commendation of interspecies cooperation. The Andorians put forward the motion. Its expected to pass unanimously."

"Of course, that means the Daystrom Institute will want to review the data, as well as the Trill Science Ministry."

"And Betazed will be very interested in sharing the results with all member worlds." Lars said with that smile-not-smile of his. Now that Juliette could sense the emotion behind the expression, it seemed much more menacing."

Surot coughed politely. "All observers and academics will be welcome as long as they do not disturb the monastery or deter it from its primary function. But it will be gratifying when all motives are plain. Ulterior motives or no, not all has been for naught. I believe the data which we sent to Betazed speaks for itself."

"And corroborates with the data we gathered," Lars said, tapping at Juliette's helmet. "While less than a minute is no miracle, it is better than she was able to do in over a year. There is a pattern of improvement."

"Does this mean she will be staying at the Monastery?" P'Nem asked.

"Unless she chooses to attend the Vulcan Science Academy," Lars said.

"Do I have to choose?" Juliette asked.

"The Academy will want data to analyze," Master Surot said, "in order to make their own recommendations for treatment. Perhaps after they have made their recommendation, you can decide."

"The Academy would have a real holo-projector. I do not know how many upgrades we can add to the one here."

Juliette sighed. Even a perfect holo array couldn't replicate presence. But leaving T'Mar and Danek - how strange to be fond of people who would probably find expressions of that fondness to be dementia. But sand and all, that was Vulcan, and maybe she couldn't decide now, but she had time.

Epilogue

He had cut his hand on the cabling to the lift and now shimmied down holding bloody rags. The small light held in his teeth cast a golden beam that flickered occasionally. Didn't anyone in this wreck check on the emergency lights? Without it, he would have been like his fellows, groping in the darkness.

He may so again. But at least there had been a spare in the cabinet.

At last, a floor. He looked up, the light playing on the greasy cable that stretched into black infinity. The runners along the wall were dusty with corrosion; the lift never slid down to these depths. He had lost track of how many floors he had passed as he rapelled down. Many.

His communicator chirped loudly. It was close! Finally. He caught the shadow of its shape on the dirty floor. He picked it up, weighing it in his hand. Feel that? That's a promotion, maybe even two if he could edge out D'Var in the decryption effort. Perhaps with his newfound prestige of being the one to actually recover-

A whir of machinery caught his attention. A dim light seemed to float on its own, until he played the beam of his light over a column that rose from the floor, supporting the sphere. Three lenses in a triangle moved as one over his form.

The words came from the sphere. "Daitli aa"

He studied the sphere a moment, until his light flickered, and in the darkness all that shone was the light from those lenses. Unnerving, but no matter. He had a long climb ahead of him. He grasped the cable just as the sphere fired a pale beam. For a moment, he glowed, a luminescent ghost scattering photons where there had been none, and then he was gone.

A/N

I am very pleased to have completed this initial draft of The Stone That Sings. I very much appreciate all the encouragement and reviews, negative and postivie along the way. I think all the work and observation has helped make a better story.

What's next? Well, revision of course. I have learned things at the end that are not in the beginning, and I like the voice that has come out of it.

Thank you all for reading.