Chapter 5
When Sakrana arrived at her old family home, the home she’d grown up in, eight hours later than she’d expected to be, she received no answer to her knocks, and so simply unlocked the door and went inside. She noted the slight mess of the normally tidy main area. Cushions were thrown around the room, and a few things had fallen. It was deathly quiet in the house. Antennas quirked in curiosity she walked to the playroom and carefully and silently pushed the door open. She grinned broadly when she looked inside.
Seven people, five children and two full-grown men, were splayed out on the floor, all sound asleep. Erib was resting his head on Thy'lek’s chest, his thumb in his mouth. Avena was curled up at Thy'lek’s side, his arm around her. Mey was asleep on his front, head on Senkrad’s shoulder. Sakrana’s youngest, Jhe’lek, only three, was lying on top of Senkrad’s chest, rising and falling as her uncle breathed. And Nairon was curled up between Sakrana’s two younger brothers, who were sleeping side by side. Sakrana bit her lip and decided to leave them to sleep.
‘Now where does Thy'lek keep his imaging device?’ she wondered as she went into his bedroom to search for it. When she’d finished taking pictures with the device, she made herself something to drink, and after finding a book in the main room she began to read it, willing to wait a while until her brothers woke up or her sister came home. She wanted to ask someone about this child Thy'lek claimed was his. As it turned out Lissiel came home first and Sakrana shushed her urgently, unwilling to wake them. After they shared a laugh at the image, Lissiel, slight tipsy from having been out drinking with her friends, as usual, told her the story of Soval. Sakrana listened patiently and then said
“I take it you were your usual charming self with the Vulcan?” Lissiel narrowed her eyes.
“To bring one to the house-”
“Lissiel, this is a tricky situation, nothing like this has ever happened in the history of Andoria.” Sakrana cut in, keeping her voice down, “Thy'lek’s probably anxious and concerned with all the issues he’ll have to deal with such as how people are going to react to this.” Sakrana set her drink down, staring her sister hard in the eyes, “There are people on Andoria that still harbour great hatred for Vulcans, and although they won’t harm Soval, they still might make things difficult for Thy'lek. Lissiel, you once told me, years ago that you regretted ever being horrible to Thy'lek and you wished to make it up to him.”
“I did, didn’t I? I was the one who-”
“We all had a hand in that. Lissiel, you know Thy'lek as well as I do, and you know that he’s going to be a mess of emotions. He’ll need everyone’s support, and the one thing he certainly won’t need is you insulting the mother of his newfound child.”
“Then you don’t hate the Vulcans anymore?” hissed Lissiel, her eyes furious and bitter, “After everything they did!”
“I hate the Vulcans that commanded the ship that kill our brother. I hate the Vulcans that took Thy'lek away from us, and I hate the ones that hurt him. But I don’t hate all Vulcans anymore. I’m willing to try to like them, if only to help Thy'lek move on with his life. If he can aside all his anger, his pain, and bitterness and sit beside a Vulcan and talk to him and even like him, then you can at least be polite to the one who’s now the mother of a new member of our family.” Lissiel stared at the counter, a stubborn look on her face. Sakrana finished her drink and set the empty glass down. “I’m going to leave the children here. I’ll come by in the morning with their school uniforms and bags. I’d just let them be, although maybe put a cushion under Thy'lek and Senkrad’s heads or else they’ll be very sore in the morning.” Lissiel nodded, still staring at the counter. “Goodnight Lissiel.” She nodded again and then looked at her briefly. Sakrana could see her words had hit her sister the way she’d hoped. Sakrana left, picking a flower as she left the garden, as was her habit, back to her strangely empty house, leaving her sister to think and re-evaluated her opinions.
Big brown eyes stared up at her.
“Hello. I am your mother.”
“Your child is safe and sound, FINALLY sleeping through the night.”
“We could have more. That’s sort of comforting.”
“You will need a name.”
A tiny hand reached out for her. She reached out to it, knowing she had to grasp it and never let it go.
“Please save my son.”
“He needs a bond.”
“Hello. I am your mother.”
A new hand appeared. A blue hand. It wrapped around the baby girl, Elizabeth, and pulled her away from her. She reached out as far as she could but could not reach her daughter. Suddenly Elizabeth changed. Her skin turned to aquamarine, antennas sprouted on her head, but the eyes remained the same. The aquamarine hand reached out to her but the blue hands pulled Soval away from her.
“Hello. I am your father.”
T'Pol awoke with a jolt. She rolled out of the bed and bolted to the crib in her quarters. Soval slept on peacefully, unaware of his mother’s unsettling dream. She felt her body relax slightly and then she went and sat down on the bed. She closed her eyes and willed her emotions to settle.
She was confused as to how she’d had such a vivid dream as she’d meditated before she went to bed like she always did. The dream flashed through her mind again with such a force she almost jumped. She stood up again and walked back to the crib and stared down at the baby. He snuffled slightly in his sleep and then one hand awkwardly rubbed at his face. His little eyes opened and met hers. She stared at him, seeing her own eyes staring back. He suddenly smiled at her and reached a hand out to her. She found herself reaching down and slipping two fingers into his small hand. He gripped them tightly and she felt a tingle as his emotions touched her. He was happy to see her. She found herself… feeling oddly touched by this.
Reaching down she hooked her hands under his arms and lifted him up. He reached out and touched her cheek, his little nails lightly scratching her cheek. She took the hand and held it within her own. Soval let out a little babble, and he smiled at her, or at least she assumed he was smiling at her. She sat down on the bed and crossed her legs, then let Soval sit between them, letting him lie back on one crooked knee, like he was in a hammock. He clapped his hands together once and then stared at his now clasped hands in fascination. He twisted them this way and that as if he was trying to figure out how the limbs had joined together like that.
She suddenly found herself raising her own hands and clapping them together lightly, just enough to make a sound. Soval jumped and looked up at her wide eyed. She stared back, not sure why she’d just done that. Soval clapped his hands together again, and again. His fingers were splayed out and it was more like his hands were slapping each other back and forward, but he seemed delighted.
T’Pol clapped her hands again and Soval clapped back. T’Pol clapped twice and Soval clapped twice and then laughed, kicking his legs, his feet pushing against her knee. She wasn’t sure how long this game was played, but eventually he seemed to tire and he nestled into her leg-nest yawning widely, his little tongue sticking out, revealing his gummy mouth. She reached out and touched his antennas, stroking them softly and he seemed to enjoy this immensely. His emotions were touching her and she didn’t feel uncomfortable with them, as she knew she would if she and Shran happened to touch skin. She suddenly felt something else, but it wasn’t from him. It was from herself. Protectiveness. She thought of Paxton and of Elizabeth. Then she lifted Soval up and said softly
“I will not allow anyone to harm you or take you from me.” Soval stared at her and then reached out and pulled her hair.
“Do you think it’ll be an issue with the Commander?”
“I don’t think so. I mean Shran loves any opportunity to brag, so he’ll probably have no problem taking us on a tour. I’m gonna ask him now, but I just wanted to see who wants to go. I’ve got Trip and Malcolm and Travis. Can I count you in?” Archer grinned at Hoshi and she smiled back,
“Oh ok. I have to admit I am curious.”
“You’ll like it down there, it’s very beautiful, all that ice and snow, it’s like something out of the Ice Queen story.”
“Sounds like a good place to spend Christmas.” Trip chuckled,
“You're not wrong.” Archer agreed. “Hoshi, would you contact Shran’s home? After yesterday I want to make sure he knows we’re coming.” Hoshi nodded and keyed in a few commands into her consol. It beeped as it made contact. There was no answer. Archer furrowed his brow. “What time is it on Andoria?”
“1600 hours, midday.”
“It’s not early… I wonder what’s taking so long. Try again Hoshi.” She did and this time she nodded, getting a response. “On screen.” She nodded again and switched on the viewer.
“Yes?” asked the man who answered. It was Shran’s brother and Archer was struck again by just how much the two resembled each other. “Oh, Captain Archer.” he smiled pleasantly, “Looking for Thy'lek?” There was a crash as the words left his mouth. He glanced to his right briefly before looking back at the screen.
“Yes please, unless this is a bad time.”
“Not at all. One minute.” Senkrad said and then walked out of view. They could hear raised voices, people were shouting at each other and then there was a crash. Archer shared a look with Trip, wondering what was going on. Then Shran appeared in the screen, breathing heavily, a thin sheen of sweat on his brow.
“What is it pink-skin?” he asked, glancing back at something, as there was another crash.
“This is a bad time isn’t it?”
“Nah, we’re just sparring.” he said airily, then ducked as something flew at him, just missing him. “Lissiel! No throwing things!” he yelled before looking back to Archer with an incredulous look. “Honestly, she always breaks the rules.” Archer was nonplussed about how to respond to that, so he quickly redirected the conversation.
“I was wondering if you would mind taking me and a few of my people on a tour of the city, show us what there is to see and do. But if this a bad time-”
“Give me an hour and then come to my house, I’ll take you, but not right now.” He ducked another throw object, which had looked suspiciously like a Klingon dagger. “Oh I don’t believe this! I don’t mess with her weapons! Why does she always mess with mine? I have to go captain. One hour.”
“Gotcha.” Archer barely had time to get the words out before Shran cut the link. Trip bit his lip, sniggering loudly. “Shut up Trip.”
An hour later they were in the city and, after getting a little lost once, they got to Shran’s house. It sounded like things had calmed, as there were no noises coming from the house that suggested murder was occurring. Archer knocked on the door rapidly and then stepped back. The door opened and Senkrad smiled at them.
“Good afternoon captain, please come in.”
“Thank you. And please, call me Jon.” Archer told him as they filed inside. The others got their first look at Shran’s house as Senkrad nodded.
“All right Jon. And the rest of you?” Each of them introduced themselves. Archer noticed the sound of beautiful music coming from one of the rooms. He also noticed the absence of anyone else in the main room. “Thy’lek!” Senkrad called. The music stopped at once.
“What?” Shran called back,
‘No way!’ Archer thought to himself. ‘He couldn’t have been.’
“Captain Archer and his crew are here.”
“Oh. Coming!” a door opened and Shran came out. He was dressed again in black trousers and boots, but had swapped his sea green shirt for a high necked, blood blue shirt made of silk that hugged the body, outlining his muscles and toned torso. It was extremely striking and Archer had to blink twice when he saw him. “Afternoon pink-skin.” he greeted cheerfully.
“Afternoon. Thanks for doing this. We appreciate it.”
“Ah, never mind, its something to do. And thank you for calling ahead this time.” Archer flushed,
“Yeah, sorry about that.”
“Forget about it, could have been worse. I’d take Sanakral pulling me out of my bed to Lissiel’s methods any day.” Senkrad shook his head,
“She really needs to stop jumping on you to wake you up. She’s going to give you a concussion one of these days.” Shran raised an eyebrow at his brother in a manner that seemed decidedly Vulcan. Archer decided not to mention it.
“Sen, she sent me flying across the room where I split my skull open and spent two days unconscious. And you're worried about a concussion?” Senkrad pursed his lips.
“I see your point.”
“I’m glad.”
“You know, you two make me sound far worse than I really am.” Lissiel said as she came out of her bedroom, and brush in one hand and clips in the other. She put these in Shran’s hands and turned her back to him.
“No we don’t.” the brothers both said as Shran began to brush his sister’s hair out.
“I’m not that bad.”
“Yes you are.” they said firmly and Shran asked
“What am I doing here?”
“Just put it up out of the way, I can never get it all up.” Shran sighed and shook his head then winced and rubbed his neck.
“I’m never sleeping on the floor again!” he declared as he gathered her long hair into a twist and flipped it up so it was pulled into a twisted knot. He then secured it with the clips. Archer questioned his vision. “There Lis, that’s done.”
“Thanks. Oh I’m excited about today. We’re hopefully gonna get him walking today.” she grinned at them all and then breezed out. It was the only word for the way she seemed to glide out on a breath of air.
“What did she mean by that?”
“Lissiel is a physiotherapist, one of her current patients hasn’t walked in a while. Apparently that might be changing today.”
“Isn't it a violation of doctor-patient confidentiality that she told you that?” Malcolm asked, frowning lightly.
“Not when we know who she’s dealing with ourselves. He’s a friend of ours, most of the people in the city are.” Senkrad shrugged. Shran suddenly frowned and regarded his brother like he’d only just realised he was there.
“Don’t you have work?”
“Don’t you?”
“We called a week long recess.”
“I’m not needed on the cliffs today.”
“Oh.”
“Cliffs?” asked Travis eagerly.
“The ice cliffs, just north of the city. I work there, I’m a climbing instructor.”
“Oh, cool!” Travis grinned broadly, “Is it anything like rock climbing?” Shran snorted before Senkrad could answer.
“Sen here has never even seen a rock cliff with his own eyes. He’s afraid of space travel so he’s never been to a planet that has them. But yes it is more or less the same.”
“Well maybe you wouldn’t mind showing me how.” Travis smiled at Senkrad who nodded,
“I’d be glad to.” Shran frowned again.
“Where’s T’Pol and Soval?” he asked, sounding a little crestfallen. Archer shifted where he stood feeling uncomfortable.
“She uh… she said she had work to do, so she’d stay on Enterprise.” Shran looked visibly disappointed.
“Oh.” His antennas drooped a little and then he sighed and turned to his brother, “Are you coming with us?”
“Nah, I think I’ll stay here, finish up some drawings. I’m way overdue for a touch up on them.”
“Suit yourself. I’ve got my communicator if you need me.”
“I know. It was nice to finally meet you Jon, Thy'lek’s told me all about the trouble you get him into.”
“Trouble I get him into?”
“I’m glad you agree pink-skin. Now come on, you said you wanted a tour, so hurry up!” Shran walked past them and out the door, calling goodbye to Senkrad. Archer shook his head and followed him with the others right behind him. “We’ll go to the city centre, the shops are all open at this hour.”
“Sounds good.” They made their way down and into the lively crowd. People were walking around, all well dressed, cheerful and smiling as they went. For some reason this was not what Archer had expected. True he’d no idea what to expect but this was probably the last thing that would have come to his mind.
“Hmm, it’s quiet enough today, then again, everyone’s at work.” Shran said more to himself. Archer looked at him bewilderedly. He’d have called this busy, not quiet. “Anywhere you want to go in particular?”
“Well I’m all out of Andorian Ale so maybe somewhere we can get it.” Shran looked at him bewilderedly,
“I gave you five bottles after you stopped V’Las, you drank them all since then?”
“Well I had four. The fifth I um, gave to your counterpart.” Shran’s face seemed to tighten at the mention of the other Thy'lek.
“Oh.” he said, going quiet for a moment. It was clear he was uncomfortable with that topic. “Well, uh, you can get Ale over here.” He led them to a shop that was crammed with bottles of all shapes, sizes and colours. The shopkeeper looked up as they entered and smiled, “Welcome. Thy'lek. You want your usual things?”
“Come here often?” Archer grinned. Shran smirked,
“I liked to keep the Kumari well stocked.” Archer didn’t miss the flash of pain behind the smirk in his eyes. “And no Jelit, Pink-skin wants some Ale I think.” Archer nodded behind him.
“Ale eh? My most popular drink among aliens.” Jelit chuckled at Archer’s expression and Shran grinned at him too. “Thy’lek always uses it when he encounters alien species.” Shran shrugged at Archer’s bewildered look, a small, amused smile on his lips.
“You didn’t think you were the only one did you pink-skin?”
“I really shouldn’t have.”
“Granted, I don’t usually drink the whole bottle with them like we have.” Archer flushed at that. Technically he should never drink that much on the ship. Jelit walked over to a shelf that was groaning under the weight of countless bottles of blue drink.
“Hmm.” he tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Thy'lek, which year do you think would be best for… I didn’t get your name.”
“Jonathon Archer.”
“Ah, well, Jonathon Archer, do you have any idea which year you’d like?”
“Uh…” Archer shrugged, “I’m not up on the finer points of Andorian Ale.”
“In other words you haven’t a clue?” Jelit chuckled in amusement. “Well let me see. May as well give you the same year I give Thy'lek.”
“It’s a good year. Don’t make it sound bad.” Shran said with a grin. Jelit took down a bottle and gave it to Archer,
“Oh I’d never dream of it. Now come here Thy'lek.” He went behind the counter and drew something out from under it. The bottle was small enough, only about half the size of a regular wine bottle and the liquid in it was a glowing yellow.
“What the seas of hell…?” Shran picked up the bottle and held it up to the light.
“It’s new, only just got it in.”
“Looks like radioactive waste.” Shran said setting it down.
“You know I always sample a bottle myself before putting something on the market.”
“Mm hm, you sample so much it’s a wonder you're ever sober.” Shran smirked. “No thanks Jelit, I’m adventurous, not suicidal.”
“With you that’s a very fine line that you don’t balance very well on.” Jelit countered with an amused smile. Shran smirked at him wider and then stepped away from the counter.
“You lot going to buy anything or are you just going to let pink-skin have all the fun?” he asked the others who started to look around a little more freely.
“How do I pay you exactly?” Archer asked, walking over to the counter with the bottle of ale.
“You charge it directly to the Embassy. Earth is paying for you.”
“That all you're getting?” Shran asked in surprise. “Not much is it?”
“Well what would you recommend?” Archer turned to him,
“Hey, that’s my area of expertise thank you.” Jelit said straightening up. Shran shrugged and stepped back, indicating he would stay quiet. “Klingon bloodwine is popular with the Tellerites.”
“Although woe to the pig that admits it.” Shran muttered, leaning his back against the wall. Archer chuckled.
“No thank you. I generally avoid anything with the word blood in it.”
“Alright. How about some Risen pre mixed cocktails?”
“What mixes do you have?” Hoshi asked, coming up beside him. Archer gave her a slight look of surprise. “Do you have Rel’tek?”
“Gah!” Shran shuddered and shook his head with a grimace.
“I take it you don’t like it Commander?” Hoshi asked smiling,
“I don’t after downing about 30 and somehow ending up…” Shran snapped his mouth shut, “Never mind.” He shook his head when Archer pressed him. Jelit chuckled.
“You always end up in trouble out there don’t you?”
“Don’t remind me.” Shran grumbled, but his lips twitched into a smile.
“So it isn’t just us!” Archer said triumphantly.
“Maybe not but you get me in the worst kinds of trouble, not the fun kind I can laugh about later.” Shran reminded him, smirking. Archer shrugged chuckling,
“Well rest assured, you’re not the only one to suffer.”
“Mmm.” Shran’s smirk stayed put on his lips.
‘Genetic. Definitely genetic.’