Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Thank you to Fameanon for helping me write this.

Sopek was pleased that Carl had acquired for him a reasonably sized shuttle, more than enough to get to Vulcan and back. He programmed the autopilot and then set about learning more about Shija's family. His eyes widened when he saw confirmation that the eldest of that clan was V'Las. As strange as it seemed, that was the place to start, and then on to the parents.

He now had a solid plan, especially since he knew enough about V'Las that it would serve him in this mission. V'Las had an ego, and he liked the finer things in life. He liked to maintain levels of comfort. It was odd, sometimes, and in some ways, the minister reminded him of Letant. Sopek knew he would have to appeal to his ego, but that would be no issue; he could easily manage that.

When he arrived on Vulcan, he took some time and investigated various things. He found his old home, and purchased it again, so he could say he owned his home. He then gathered all the information he could on V'Las and his schedule. He didn't want to mess this up; he needed to be precise.

Discovering that V'Las ate at the same restaurant every day for lunch was his first step in. It wouldn't take much to bump into him then, but how to impress him? That was the key. He wanted V'Las to see him and recognize him for something positive. He couldn't think of how to impress him off hand, so he decided to take a reservation in that same restaurant near the same time, so V'Las could casually see him.

Sopek lifted up his PADD and started to link to them to make the reservation when his stomach failed him. "No," he said out loud. "I will do this straightforward."

Instead of ringing the restaurant, he found himself linking to V'Las himself, or at least his secretary.

The assistant answered. "How may I assist you?"

"I need to speak with Osu V'Las. It is for a personal matter."

Sopek waited for nearly an hour before V'Las was available to meet him, but the wait was of no consequence if it got him closer to his ultimate goal.

Finally, the secretary allowed him in, and he entered the large, spacious office of the minister and raised the ta'al. "Honored Osu, I am grateful that you have allowed this meeting today."

V'Las, bent with age, stood slowly from his chair and returned the traditional greeting. "Your service honors me and all of Vulcan, Sopek. You said you had a personal matter you wished to discuss with me."

Sopek bowed his head. "Yes, regarding your granddaughter, Shija." He looked the minister in the eye and saw clearly that though V'Las was quite old, he had not lost his cunning. "I wish to make her my wife, and so arranged this meeting to obtain the proper permissions."

V'Las raised an eyebrow. "The matter of her bonding is her father's responsibility. I apologize for making you wait on me just to turn you away, but I can arrange a meeting with my son if you are truly resolved in this matter."

"Honored Osu, you misunderstand me." V'Las frowned. "I am not asking you for permission to wed your granddaughter. I am asking your permission to speak with your son on the matter."

V'Las paused and both his eyebrows raised. "Go on."

Sopek bowed his head slightly. "You are the patriarch of your clan, honored Osu. I wished to submit myself for your consideration before I approached anyone else, including your granddaughter, who has no knowledge of my desire to make her my wife. Logically, it made no sense to put myself forward until I knew that the keystone of the family would accept me, find me beneficial to their clan, and support his son's choice. I have made reservations at T'Koma restaurant for this evening, if you wished to question me, and for me to determine how I might serve you and your clan if I am allowed to approach Shija's father."

V'Las had to admit, privately, that Sopek was wise, and cunning as well. "I will meet with you this evening. Your logic has its merits and I am open to speaking with you."

Sopek bowed. "Thank you, honored Osu." He looked up at the aging V'Las. "I will, with your permission, pick you up in my shuttle this evening, at your compound."

V'Las nodded. "You are a pilot?"

"Of course, honored Osu."

"Interesting." He gave it some thought. "If you wish to truly make an impression on me…." He paused, eyeing him up and down. "My family believes I am too old to go off-planet. I wish to return to the P'Jem monastery where my first human wife's bones are laid. My son believes me too frail. Do this, and we may have come to an understanding."

"Honored Osu," Sopek said, a small smirk playing over his lips. He was medically trained now, and in the perfect place in all ways to make V'Las' wishes come true. "It would be a privilege to do this for you. I will pick you up in a place of your choosing."

"Tonight, as you would if we were going to dinner," V'Las replied, pleased that he was going to get one over on his overprotective son.

Sopek bowed and left the office. He called the restaurant and changed their reservation for take-out. He ordered the same thing for them both and would have it ready for V'Las for their trip. He then gathered his medical supplies and programmed the replicator for any medical supplies they might need. He would leave nothing to chance.

Sopek stood primly by the passenger side door, ready to open it once V'Las approached. The man walked confidently from his family compound, and his eyes gleamed with conspiratorial mischief.

"My son is still in Gol on business," the minister said, and stepped into the shuttle with surprising deftness. "He will be none the wiser that I have done this."

Sopek nodded and waited until V'Las was completely strapped in before retreating to the pilot's seat. Within minutes they were clear of the atmosphere, and they would reach P'Jem in two hours.

The first ten minutes passed in relative silence until V'Las spoke. "Sopek of Shi'Kahr...I investigated your records, and I must say, your service has been exemplary. What drew you away from military service?"

Sopek raised an eyebrow. "As our people say, I come to serve. I find...gratification in serving others through medical means."

"I see." He paused in contemplation for a moment. "Is medicine what my granddaughter does these days?"

"Oh yes, honored Osu. She has a title and works for Strom of Ra'al, who is a prestigious neuroscientist and friend to me."

Once their shuttle was stable and their course laid in, Sopek rose and set out the delivered food. "I ordered takeout, honored Osu. I thought we may need sustenance on our trip."

"You think of everything." V'Las was impressed that the food he was laying out were many of his favorite dishes. He lowered himself into a chair, put a few things to start on his plate, and was just about to put food in his mouth when his personal communicator dinged. He stopped mid-bite and glanced at the screen, then over at Sopek. "It is my son, V'Lorik."

Sopek nodded. "Give me a moment."

He tapped on his console, and then looked to V'Las. "Send it to the main screen."

V'Las obeyed and Sopek tapped to answer.

"Father," V'Lorik said in greeting, then his eyebrows furrowed. "It took some time for you to answer."

Sopek leaned in. "Forgive me, Osu, we were just receiving our food from the restaurant." He looked at V'Las and pointed out that they had a filter on, giving them the appearance of being out in public back on Vulcan.

V'Lorik eased a bit. "Ah, forgive me, I did not know you were in a meeting. It is not on your schedule. According to what I had read, you should be at home."

V'Las waved him off. "I do not put all things in that schedule," he groused. "Especially things I do not wish you to know right away. I am interviewing this young man and I will not speak on why until I know whether he is worthy or not."

V'Lorik's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Interview…."

"Yes, V'Lorik, an interview. My reasons are my own and will be revealed to you in due course. Do you not trust the logic of your forebear?"

V'Lorik bowed his head, though he was not totally convinced. "I only wish for your health and well-being, father. I meant no disrespect."

"I am old, my son, but not an invalid. As I have stated, you will know of this in due time."

Without waiting for a reply, he clicked off the transmission and walked back to the table. "I am not about to allow idle prattling from that fool of a boy let my ganot stew get cold."

Sopek suppressed a smirk and joined the elder at the table.

"Now," the minister continued after a few bites of food. "Last I had heard, my granddaughter joined a religious order. Catholic nuns who must remain celibate."

"Yes, honored Osu." Sopek filled the minister's plate and scooted plenty of food his way. "She collapsed before taking final vows, and was released from the order. She had an unknown ailment, but has since recovered."

"I am not dissatisfied with her leaving the order," V'Las said bluntly. "I thought it a waste of her talented mind." He fell silent, gobbling up stew, appetizers, roast squash with basil and fredak leaves.

"She is brilliant. She is a Doctor of Nursing now, and has staff under her."

That gave him pause. "My son did not tell me she had achieved her doctorate." Sopek could tell he was impressed by the news. "Admirable. Tell me, what do you want from her?"

"The same thing all males want from their mate," Sopek responded without hesitation. "Contentment, dedication, safety…yet, I do not think of those things that I want from her. I have had a successful career in the military and done much. I am of a mind and age that it is logical for me to support her in her advancement. Her employer is on the cusp of a breakthrough that may become renowned. I believe that will be the beginning of many scientific breakthroughs that your granddaughter can be a part of. It is important work, and in this case, it is logical for me to be her support so that she may learn, grow, and be honored with achievements."

V'Las raised an eyebrow, but nodded. "I am pleased that Shija is bound for great things. She will bring merit to our clan...but she will bring in that much more by marrying a Vulcan and furthering our line."

Sopek bowed his head. "I am sure you have read my military record, but my paramedic training will be completed next year. I own a modest but comfortable home on Vulcan, and one on Earth. Your granddaughter would want for nothing if she were my mate."

V'Las nodded. "I am sure you could keep her quite comfortable, and she deserves as much. But she is also partially human. We must make some concessions for her upbringing and unique temperament. Are you prepared to satisfy her as a human would demand?"

"Ah, honorable Osu, you are very wise," Sopek said honestly. "I have factored in her human needs, and I do believe I will be able to serve her humanity as well as her Vulcan nature. Though, I would be agreeable to hear the wisdom of those who have married humans. I am open to learn."

V'Las nodded. "They aren't always logical." He leaned in and lowered his voice despite the fact that they were alone in the shuttlecraft. "They touch all the time. You will need to meditate more often if you are to maintain your own personal control. They desire intimacy, sometimes daily, sometimes weekly, and then…" He sighed. "There is a week of the month when you will be required to bring her chocolates, wine, and such items as to comfort her. There is a little-known fact about human women."

"I am listening, honored Osu."

"They shed the lining of their reproductive organ every month," V'Las said gravely. "It is a painful process, full of hormonal fluctuations, literal pain that can incapacitate them. At times, they lose their emotional regulation. Human males often say they are over dramatic, or minimize this event. I felt it through my bond. It is unpleasant, painful, and you will need to aid her with your bond."

Sopek blinked, having never heard of such a thing. "They shed the lining of an organ, and people believe it to be…minimal?"

V'Las nodded somberly. "Human males have no idea. The first time I felt the pain of my wife through our marriage bond, I left council chambers, grabbed a lirpa, and prepared to fight whatever was harming my dear Estrell. When I found her, she was washing dishes, and preparing for the evening meal."

"So brave." Sopek breathed, his eyes wide.

"I demanded she lay down. I sent for the physician, who gave her analgesics, and explained the process to me. She who was my wife never worked during that time again." He shook his head. "I have great respect for the women of Earth."

"Why have I not heard of this?" Sopek asked.

"Much like our fever, they do not speak of it openly."

"I will do whatever is necessary to aid Shija when this time comes for her. Please, I would have your wisdom in this...does taking on some of their pain help diminish the unpleasantness? I should like to aid her in whatever way I can."

"Bolstering them with our mental disciplines does help. But more often, rest and certain foods are the best medicine."

"I thank you for telling me this," Sopek replied. "The more I am on Earth, the worse my opinion of Earth men becomes."

"They are not all worthy of scorn," the minister retorted with a small chuckle. "There are many rational men to be found there. But their average male, it seems, cares little for the plight of their females."

Sopek finished the rest of his meal and discarded the trash, then continued piloting the vessel. "We should reach the monastery within the hour, honored Osu."

When they landed, Sopek carefully helped the minister out of the shuttle. "I will stay here, honored Osu."

V'Las turned and looked at him, nodded in silent thanks, and walked directly into the mausoleum section of the monastery.

Sopek opened the side of the shuttle and sat down in the doorway, quietly meditating while V'Las was paying his respects. He didn't know how much time had passed, but eventually he felt the presence of the elder Vulcan.

"I am going to put forth your name to my son as a worthy candidate for my granddaughter. I will give you many praises, as I believe you are an honorable and logical man, who will care for my granddaughter with all you have." He placed his hand on Sopek's shoulder. "This kindness will not be forgotten either." He held up an ancient looking simple gold ring before stuffing it away in the folds of his robes. "Now, let us depart."

Sopek aided the elderly Vulcan into the vessel and buckled him in. Once he himself was in, he could see that the minister was nodding off. In silence, Sopek flew them home, letting V'Las sleep until the elderly Vulcan jerked himself awake as they started to enter the planet's atmosphere.

Within a few minutes, Sopek was landing in front of V'Las' family compound. Once landed, Sopek aided him again out of the craft. He raised the ta'al to him. "Peace and–"

V'Las cut him off, "Don't wish more life on me, Sopek. Peace is enough." He raised the ta'al in reply and made his way into the compound alone.

Sopek was pleased with the evening. He felt that this was a solid beginning for him not only winning V'Las and V'Lorik as allies, but also asking for Shija as a bride.