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"I'll admit, I thought you were being a bit condescending when you said I couldn't handle more than a walk in that thing, but God, you were right."

Captain Vrenik smirked at me, tilting his head in obvious amusement. "Your ambition is to be admired, T'Sai, but every person has their limits. In any case, the ambassador instructed me to introduce this process to you slowly. It would not be conducive to your health to overexert yourself."

I had come down to exercise in the high-gravity simulator with every intention of at least running, but the sheer exertion from walking was almost too much for me at this point.

"Right," I breathed, bending over and resting my hands on my knees. "That was...that was a lot."

I could have swore I heard him chuckle. "You will acclimate, Ms. Forrest. Before you know it, you will be able to exert yourself freely in the chamber, just as you wished to do today."

He handed me a PADD, and I scanned the contents as I tried to catch my breath. "You are set in the schedule for time in the simulator twice a week. You will spend the first month simply walking, and then you may attempt to run if you feel able. Within three months, you may be able to attempt lifting light weights and calisthenics. Until then, T'Sai, you will not overexert yourself. I am sure the ambassador would have me dismissed if I did not adequately monitor your activities."

I nodded and handed the PADD back, retrieving my own from my bag. I accessed my calendar and filled in the dates he had set for me. This, I felt, could take the place of my usual run, and hopefully I could simply do my usual workout in the simulator instead of having to go outside.

"I will see you next Tuesday, Ms. Forrest. Have a pleasant evening."

"Thank you," I said with a smile, and I limped out of the exercise room, folding my hands on my head in an attempt to get more airflow in my lungs.

About five Vulcans were waiting for the turbolift, so instead of force them to ride with a sweaty human, I opted for the stairs despite my exhaustion. Even if it took me longer to get to the fifth floor, the stairwell was blessedly empty, so I could take my own pace up the stairs and keep away from the sensitive noses of the Consulate residents.

I slowly made my way up to the second floor, pausing briefly on the landing before continuing upward. My heart sank as I heard the door open on the first floor and steady footfalls make their way up the stairwell, but there was nothing for it. Whoever was coming would pass me soon enough, and they would simply have to deal with my stench.

A middle-aged Vulcan man rounded the corner, keeping steady pace as he climbed the stairs, and I moved to the side to let him pass me. He slowed his steps, coming to a halt on the landing with me, and I noted his nostrils were flared wide. His blue eyes flashed with some unreadable expression as he stared down at me, and I was suddenly quite aware of how tall he was.

"I am not certain it is wise for you to be wondering the Consulate in your current state," he said, his warm voice dropping into his lower register. I frowned.

"Well, I don't exactly have a choice here, do I? It was this or stuff myself into a turbolift with five Vulcans, so I think this is the lesser of two evils, isn't it?"

"Ah," he said, nodding sagely. "I see now why you took the stairwell. In any case, perhaps you would do well with an escort the rest of the way. Shall I walk with you to your rooms?"

"Uh..." I folded my arms across my chest. "You're sure you want to subject yourself to that? I smell awful right now...sorry."

His brow furrowed in confusion. "Do you demand an apology from the roses when they perfume the night air?" He took a step closer to me, his gray eyes piercing as he stared intently at me. "I am surprised the ambassador allows you to walk about without an escort."

"Since when would I need an escort?" I asked, taking a step back away from him, the small of my back hitting the railing.

A knowing smirk played over his lips, and he narrowed his eyes in apparent disbelief. "By Surak, has the ambassador told you nothing? Where is the logic in leaving you to wallow in ignorance? Why does he delay?"

I shook my head, sliding along the railing away from him. "I don't know what you're talking about."

The man's smirk faded into a hard look, and I swallowed thickly at the darkness of it. "Will he do nothing, then? Will he leave us all to fend for ourselves until we are all broken husks of what we once were?" He shook his head, then looked back to me, stepping forward once again. "I promise you this, Genevieve Forrest...if he does not act soon, others in this Consulate will. Not all of us are cowards."

And with that, he turned and exited the stairwell, leaving me confused and alone.

Although I had every intention of making my way up to our rooms and taking a shower posthaste, I turned my steps instead to the third floor, hoping my stench wouldn't be too much for the people working there. I needed to talk to Timok while that conversation was fresh on my mind, because though I'm sure the man didn't intend it to be threatening, the wording sounded too much like he might incite violence if the ambassador didn't do something. But what that something was, I still had no idea.

Thankfully, the third floor was mostly empty, and I was able to maintain some distance from the two Vulcans walking down the corridor. I knocked on Timok's office door, and heard a gentle summons to enter.

"Hey, old man," I said softly, grateful to find him alone. I sunk into the visitor's chair and sighed heavily. "Can I tell you about something? I just had the weirdest interaction with one of the staff, and I...I'm not sure how to take his parting words. Sounded kind of ominous, if I'm being entirely honest."

Timok frowned, setting aside his cup of tea. "That is most troubling, Genevieve, what happened?"

I relayed all I could remember of the brief encounter, and Timok's gaze was dark by the time I was through.

"Most troubling indeed," he murmured, typing something on a PADD. "Did this Vulcan give you his name?"

"No," I sighed, shaking my head. "He was middle-aged, I think? Dark hair, silvering at the temples, blue eyes, tall as all get-out...and he and I were the only two people to use the first-floor entrance to the stairwell, if that helps."

"Security footage will find him. Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Genevieve. I assure you, it will not happen again."

"What the hell did he mean by 'if the ambassador won't do something, others will'? He promised me that others would act, but how exactly? It just...it sounded like he might try to hurt Soval, and I can't imagine one of your own staff turning on him like that."

Timok sighed, apparently completing his report and setting it aside. "Never mind that, Genevieve, I do not believe he intended it as a threat against the ambassador. We will take care of this, I assure you."

I crossed my arms across my chest and considered pressing the matter, but I knew Timok would only tell me so much, and he had probably already reached his limit. So I changed the subject.

"You know, I still don't understand why he stopped to talk to me in the first place. I mean, you'd think my stench would act as a natural repellent to your staff, right?"

Timok raised an incredulous eyebrow. "Genevieve, what are you talking about? What stench?"

"The stench I have right now, old man! I smell like garbage, so why did he stop to talk to me if I smell like this? He mentioned something about roses, but let me tell you, there is nothing floral going on here! So what gives?"

"Genevieve, I think you may be suffering under a gross misunderstanding of our olfactory systems. You might smell slightly unpleasant to a Vulcan female, but to the males in the Consulate, I think I can say with confidence that your scent is nothing less than lovely. And it is more pronounced now – I presume you have just completed some sort of physical exercise?"

I stared at him blankly. "What?"

"Your scent is amplified by exercise, Genevieve. And to us...your aroma has distinct notes that tell us much about your physical health, as well as other factors. You, as a young, healthy human female, secrete certain pheromones that are easily detected by our olfaction, and I suspect that the man you encountered in the stairwell was, at the very least, intrigued by your scent."

I frowned, shaking my head slightly at him. "Why am I just now learning about this? I thought humans smelled awful to Vulcans!"

"Hardly," Timok said, his eyes glinting with some unreadable expression. "Perhaps some have exaggerated how unpleasant you smell, but I suspect some sense of bigotry and superiority are to blame for that assertion. I assure you, humans, and you especially, do not smell unpleasant to my people. The ambassador should have made you aware of this from the moment you came to us, but I suppose it may have slipped his mind."

I blushed and shook my head. "I...he may have already said it, but I don't think I wanted to believe it."

"Why not?" he said, frowning at me. "This is a distinct pattern for you, Genevieve – you downplay your assets and refuse to see your own appeal. It pains me to see it...have others broken your sense of self-worth so much that you cannot acknowledge your own beauty?"

I didn't reply, staring intently at my shoes. "Thank you for listening to me, honored elder," I said finally in a small voice, "and for handling this issue. Now if you'll excuse me, I think it's best if I take a shower."

I turned to leave and ran face first into Sorak's chest, and he immediately braced my shoulders and took a step back. "You called for me, Osu?" the aide said over my shoulder, and Timok made a noncommittal grunt of affirmation as I mumbled an apology.

"Yes, Sorak, please escort the T'Sai to her quarters, and then return here. We will need to review security footage and inform the ambassador of the need for disciplinary action."

I winced at the trouble they were going through for one offhanded comment, but then I reasoned that if this man did have violence in mind, it would be best if he were disciplined. Besides, their protocols and standards for their staff were none of my business, so there was nothing I could do about this anyway.

"Of course, Osu. Ms. Forrest?"

I glanced up at him and smiled wanly, and he gestured for me to leave the office. He walked beside me to the turbolift, and by now, about seven or eight staff members lingered in the corridor, speaking in low tones to each other as they worked. A few glanced my way, and I felt my cheeks flush as I thought about Timok's words. Apparently I didn't smell like rotting garbage to the Vulcans, which was a plus, but on the other hand...my scent was still strong, apparently, currently amplified by my exertions in the high-gravity simulator.

Two of the Vulcans strolled down the corridor, heading in our direction, and I glanced up under my lashes as they passed us. Two pairs of eyes, one brown and one a bluish gray, locked onto me, and I noted their nostrils were flared as they came closer. I tore my gaze away and hurried after Sorak, my heart pounding for some reason I couldn't fully articulate.

We blessedly had the turbolift to ourselves, and I turned to my escort with a contrite glance.

"Hey, sorry about running into you...you kind of snuck up on me."

"The mistake was mine, T'Sai, think nothing of it. And rest assured, this...lack of discipline will not go unpunished. The ambassador will see to it."

"Right," I murmured, staring down at my shoes again. Was Sorak bothered by my amplified scent? Did he find it obnoxious, or were Timok's assertions true?

I scrubbed myself thoroughly in the sonic shower once Sorak dropped me off, hoping to dampen whatever smell I was giving off; after my scrub, I changed into clean clothes and lounged on the couch. I was finally up to chapter four of Surak's writings, and this portion told me all about propriety and manners expected of the Vulcan people.

I was only a few pages in when Soval walked in the door, and I met his gaze with a slight smile before it faltered. He looked down at me with dark, narrowed eyes, and I frowned up at him, suddenly wondering if I had done something wrong.

"Hey..." I started lamely, tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear. "How was your day?"

He slowly lowered himself onto the couch, his eyes fixed on the book in my hands, and he shook his head slightly, finally meeting my gaze with a weary expression.

"I apologize on behalf of my staff for his behavior today. I assure you, it will not happen again."

"It was nothing terrible, but those closing words were...ominous," I insisted, glancing away from him. His gaze bored into me like a laser, and I felt like a bug stuck to a pinboard. "And I don't really like that he called you a coward. I don't think you're cowardly."

He breathed out sharply, then breathed in again with a more measured breath. "The discipline has been carried out, and he will not bother you again. I will arrange for Sorak or Timok to escort you back here after your time in the simulator. I do not wish for this incident to repeat itself." His gaze softened, and he stared pointedly at my book.

"What chapter are you reading today, Genevieve?" he asked gently. I smiled at him.

"Propriety." I flipped back a page and scanned the text for the relevant passage. "While I've got your attention, could you clarify something for me?"

"Of course. I come to serve." He bowed his head, and I nodded, looking back to the page so I could read the passage aloud.

"Okay...it's this bit right here: Any man who touches a woman without first establishing bonds of marriage will shame himself and his house. It is not logical to deny her the protections of marriage, nor simply use her to satiate one's desires. But what does he mean by 'touch'? If it's a more literal interpretation, I'm sorry to say that you and I have grossly disobeyed his teachings. Perhaps it's a mistranslation?"

Soval shook his head. "The nuance of the original is lost in the translation, yes. Surak does not mean it in a literal sense per say; the original word is...difficult to express in English, but essentially means something like 'intimate touch with the intention to seduce'. He was condemning sexual misconduct, as this often left the woman in the equation without the protections that a marriage bond would afford her. This was, of course, coming out of an age where women were treated as little more than objects to be won, and polygyny, which you rightfully found so distasteful, was common. This edict sought to give women more protection and rights within our society, to guard them against unscrupulous advances or single parenthood."

"Okay, that makes a lot more sense," I said softly, turning back to my place further on in the chapter.

He raised an eyebrow. "I am pleased to be of service. However, I should make note that this is only referring to touch that is intended to seduce the target. Neuropressure, such as the type I have taught you, is an established ritual intended to relax both parties and more easily bring their mental disciplines to a point of meditative focus. Surak was not condemning such rituals."

"Duly noted," I said, sighing internally in relief. "But...question...what about touch that's not meant to seduce the target? What about touch that conveys things like love and affection? Also, another question – and I'm sorry for rambling – does this go both ways? He's forbidding men from touching women, but what about women touching men like this? Is that forbidden too?"

His pupils bloomed, consuming the bright brown of his irises as he stared down at me. "Firstly, as to your question regarding touch...I would appreciate if you would not repeat this fact, but..." He sighed heavily. "Men on my world are unused to being pampered by women. We do not expect touch that conveys affection or tenderness, and thus would likely take it to mean something different than how it was intended. Unbonded men can be extremely single-minded when it comes to finding a mate, and any touch from the object of their fixation would probably be seen as seductive, even if the woman meant it in a more platonic sense."

I swallowed thickly, staring at him as I digested this information.

"And as for if this goes both ways, I believe I partially answered that question just now. In order to prevent unwanted advances before they occur, it is improper for a woman to attempt seduction of a male through overt sexual touch. More subtle signals, however, have been a part of our courtship rituals for generations. Furthermore, if we are to call ourselves enlightened and egalitarian, we must apply such a rule to both sexes equally." He tilted his head at me, his eyes still dark. "Does that answer your questions, Genevieve?"

I sighed. "Yes, but now I have about ten more." I could feel my face flush slightly as my mind drifted into dangerous territory. "And I'm not sure it's appropriate to ask them."

He frowned. "In what sense? I would rather you be informed, as that is the entire purpose of this exchange."

"The questions I want to ask are highly personal," I said, closing the book. I glanced up at him with a strained smile. "But I appreciate you clarifying that passage for me. Thank you."

I made to get up, but he gently grasped my forearm, keeping me in place. "I would rather you be informed," he repeated gently, his eyes intent on mine. "Ask your questions, Genevieve."

I stared at him for nearly a minute before I gathered the nerve to start talking. "Okay...okay, where to start...?" I sighed. "Okay, first things first...do Vulcans reproduce sexually?"

He blinked, tilting his head. "Yes, Genevieve, we do."

"And do you carry out pregnancies naturally? I mean...I'm not sure...you don't, you know, grow babies in petri dishes or put fertilized eggs into pods or...look, you're aliens and I don't know much about-"

"We carry out pregnancies naturally, just as your people do."

I took a deep breath. "Okay...so then if you reproduce sexually, and you still carry out pregnancies naturally and don't have other means of gestation...well...god, this is so awkward...at some point in your life, then, you would experience sexual desire? Or...I don't know, is that too close a remnant to your past, or...?" I trailed off, rapidly losing my nerve. "You know, if at any point this gets too personal, just let me know and I'll shut up, okay? I feel like this conversation is going to only get more awkward from here, so..."

His brown irises were nearly swallowed by his pupils, and he tilted his head to the side with the tiniest of smirks, breathing out slowly. "Yes, it stands to reason that we do experience sexual desire. And not to discourage this line of questioning, but what brought this about?" His smirk faded and his eyes narrowed. "Is there something you are not letting on about your interaction with K'Vor? Did he insinuate something inappropriate?"

"No, Soval, you brought this on. You told me about how your ancestors would start wars on a whim to feed their...for lack of a better term, appetites...most of this chapter on propriety has been about the relationships and interactions you have with the opposite sex. I was mainly curious if, maybe, sexual desire was something you had eliminated from your society."

"Your curiosity is anthropological in nature, then?" He blinked at me, then cleared his throat and stared pointedly at the book in my hands. "To answer your query, no, we have not eliminated sexual desire from our society. While our mental disciplines allow us to more easily eliminate improper thoughts, the biological imperative to mate and produce offspring is still ingrained in us."

I nodded, then glanced up at him contritely. "Ready for another inappropriate question? Last one, I promise."

He furrowed his brow, then nodded.

"So if the timing was right and your...I almost said partner, but I guess the correct term here would be mate...if your mate was willing and the timing worked out...would you embrace sexual desire if it came to you? Or is it something more tightly controlled?"

I could hear his throat constricting in a tight swallow. "For our females, it is a rare occurrence to desire to mate outside of what is necessary to induce pregnancy. The majority of them have managed to...divorce themselves from most sexual desires, but our males are...it is still..." He cleared his throat again.

"I'm making you uncomfortable, you don't have to tell me," I said quickly, crossing my arms across my chest. "I'm sorry..."

"No, Genevieve, I was simply unprepared for this line of questioning...Vulcan males do experience sexual desire, and we are perfectly capable of controlling it, but...it is harder to ignore for us. It is especially hard to ignore when a male is unbonded, and has been alone for some time."

I remained silent for a while, absorbing this plethora of information I had gathered today. K'Vor had implied that Soval was failing at something, and swore that others would succeed where he had failed if he did not accomplish this unknown goal soon. I apparently did not smell as bad to Vulcans as I had originally thought. Nothing less than lovely, Timok had said. It still boggled my mind that my smell did not repel every Vulcan who came within ten feet of me, but, as Timok had said, the rumors I had heard were perhaps greatly exaggerated. At least I wasn't as offensive as I thought, which was a comforting thought.

"I really appreciate you telling me all this," I said sincerely, tucking a bookmark in my book. "I suppose at some point, if you have questions for me, it's only fair I answer them. Hopefully I won't be so awkward next time."

Soval nodded, quirking an eyebrow. "It would only be fair to return the favor. I assure you, Genevieve, I have several questions for you. But we will end this conversation here for now, I think. It's past time for me to begin preparation for evening meal."

He stood, but glanced down at me with a gentle expression and lightly grasped my shoulder. "I am pleased to have been of service, and to further your education. Please...there is no shame in curiosity, Genevieve, especially one so deeply rooted in science and anthropology. It is a good thing that we will have come to a greater understanding of each other, and how our species differ...and how we are perhaps more alike than we think. That is, after all, the entire point of this exchange."

He retreated to the kitchen, peeling vegetables for dinner, and I tried my hardest not to stare at him, and not for the first time I wondered what exactly I had gotten myself into.