Chapter 12
Telev sat in a small room where only three days ago a man had wept his soul out, mourning for his supposed failure. A man seemed to break in this room. He scowled deeply and turned the PADD in his hands around over and over again. How could this be? How could that powerful pair be gone just like that? Almost no drama, no magic, just sudden and quick as if they were meaningless, that their lives had been completely pointless. It was not so! They� touched so many hearts, affected so many people, altered so many lives� how could they be gone? It wasn�t possible. He gripped the PADD tightly in his hands till it gave a warning crack and he had to stop. His eyes stung from crying earlier and his throat was raw from his shouts of pain.
�Damn you Thy'lek!� he gasped now, feeling anger mixed with grief. �Why didn�t you listen to me? Why didn�t you listen to T�Pol?� He swallowed hard and stood up abruptly. His feet took him away from the heavy aired room, he let them take him wherever, he didn�t care anymore.
�Telev?� He nearly had a heart attack at the familiar voice and spun around to face T�Pol. But not their T�Pol. No it was the Terran�s T�Pol. He scowled angrily at her, wishing she would go away.
�What do you want?� he asked bitterly.
�I wish to see T�Pol and Shran�s son.� she answered straightforwardly.
�Why?� He couldn�t hide the snarl in his voice as his instincts told him to protect the child his best friend had adored with all his heart.
�I am concerned for his well being.� she admitted almost with out hesitation. He frowned at her for many moments and then said, turning away,
�Follow me.� He lead her to the nursery where there was a child screaming as if in agony. �That�s Soval.� he informed her curtly trying to hide the fact that the screams hurt him like a knife going through his chest. And he knew what that was like.
�I suspected as much.� she answered calmly. He scowled even more. In the nursery all the children save one were silent, as if they too were in mourning. Sheli, the Denobulan was doing her best to sooth Soval who was screaming bloody murder. She looked up and her eyes widened in shock when she saw T�Pol, but then understanding entered her eyes and she looked back at the screaming child. He looked so distressed that Telev�s heart broke to see him like this. He thought of how happy the little family was when they were together and his heart shattered even more to think that it would never be so again.
T�Pol stared at the child being rocked, unable to tear her eyes away. She saw so much of his father within him and not just in the obvious feature such as skin tone and antennas, but in his face was a striking resemblance, particularly in the nose, which turned up significantly. But the eyes and ears were like her own. Instinctively she reached out for him and Sheli, after a slight hesitation, handed him over. She held him to her and stared at the emotional, distressed face. His cheeks were marked by his tears, which poured from his eyes just like his mother�s had been when she died. His eyes suddenly opened and looked at her curiously. She held her breath as he seemed to study her. He was clearly bewildered. This woman who held him looked like his mother and yet he didn�t have that connection with her that he�d had with the woman who�d given birth to him. His cries subsided and he went almost eerily quiet. T�Pol tightened her grip on him as his antennas moved forward curiously, touched by the adorable gesture. She was unaware of the looks being sent her way by those around her. She was unaware of Telev and Sheli sharing a significant look. All she saw was this child that was by almost all technicalities her son. She suddenly felt an urge within her to run back to Enterprise with this baby in her arms and take him with her. Never mind that he was a different T�Pol�s son. Now, as far as she was concerned, he was hers. Her logic argued that he wasn�t, that he was someone else�s but her instincts were telling her it didn�t matter, he was hers by blood. Telev suddenly cleared his throat.
�Look, I�ve got to go, but�� he held up a PADD, �take this. Thy'lek said to me to give it to T�Pol if the worst should happen. Well, the worst has happened, and you're T�Pol so I suppose that I am fulfilling my promise by giving it to you.� He held it out to her. She was going to take it but didn�t want to put Soval down. She shifted him awkwardly to rest against her body with his head on her shoulder, so she had a free arm. Once he was reasonably comfortable she took the PADD and then Telev turned to walk away.
�Telev?� she called. He looked back at her. �Do you know what happened to Sh- to Thy'lek?� He sighed and his eyes took on a miserable look.
�It was a fleet of Terran and Tholian ships. Thy'lek didn�t stand a chance. We tried to call them back but there was some kind of jamming signal and we couldn�t reach them.�
�Will you be having a ceremony for him and his wife?�
�Yes, it will be at 2300 hours. Why?�
�Captain Archer, Commander Tucker and I wish to attend if that is acceptable.� Telev looked unsure.
�I�ll check with Sten and Gral but I suppose�� he shrugged, �Not like it�ll make much of a difference to them, being dead and all.� He grimaced as the words left his mouth, clearly he was having difficulty saying the words. He turned on his heels and left. T�Pol looked down at Soval who seemed to be nodding off. She searched for a chair and, sighting one, went and sat in it, letting him rest more in her lap, as well as in her arms. She made sure he was comfortable and then began to read what was on the PADD.
T�Pol,
If you're reading this, it means the worst has happened and I am dead. If I�m dead then you, who are reading this, you are not my T�Pol. You are not my wife, because if I am dead then so is she and that means so is our unborn daughter. I won�t pretend that writing those words isn�t unbearably painful. The mere thought of it is too terrible to put into words, so I will not try. If my wife is dead, then you are the T�Pol from the other universe, the one where hope exists in some form or another for so many people. I know Telev well enough to know he will give you this even though I only said give it to T�Pol. You may not believe this but in my life there were only two hopes, and that was my son and wife. If she, after all she went through at the hands of the Terrans (things I shall never repeat), can still hope for a peace, still believe in goodness, then hope truly exists. I won�t continue, I know that sort of talk will make you uncomfortable, and please don�t deny it, it isn�t respectful to lie to the dead, I just need you to know that I did truly love my wife. Our love created the child I know you will hold in your arms soon if you have not already. I ask, no, I plead with you to take that child and bring him with you to your universe. I can't bear the thought, having already lost one child if you are reading this, of my beloved son living his life in this universe. I know it is a great thing to ask, but I plead with you to take him with you. Let him experience true freedom like his mother and I wanted so dearly.
T�Pol, if Soval stays here, and the Resistance falls, he will be killed in the most horrible of ways just because we were his parents. I love my son so much, I would give anything to ensure his happiness. Even if you do not wish to care for him, please take him to the Shran in your universe. I know he will care for him, we may be different, but I know this as a fact, the other me will care for Soval. If you are wondering about timelines and other things such as that then stop, believe me, it does you no good. You cannot go against nature. Time is a part of nature and anyone who thinks he can control time is a bigger fool than I was. Once more T�Pol I plead with you to take him. Please save my son! You cannot ever know how much it would mean to my wife and I. We might even have asked had we still be alive. If you agree then all I ask is that you take the file �Hope� from my private files in our homes main computer. It contains pictures and letters my love and I wanted to give to him when he was old enough.
Peace and long life T�Pol,
Thy'lek Shran.
T�Pol reread the letter several times, touched by the desperation of it. She was a tab perturbed by the way Shran had been able to predict her actions. How had he known she�d go to see his son? How had he known she�d be uncomfortable with his declaration of love to her counterpart despite how sweet it was? She took in a deep breath to calm herself and her eyes flicked to the babe now fast asleep in her arms. How had he known that she would consider taking his son with her? Oh it may not have been said in the letter but it was obvious he�d known she would otherwise he would not have risked writing the letter alone and would have maybe approached her himself. She knew now that she could never leave the child behind. Abruptly she stood up and began to walk to the door.
�Hey!� She froze and turned around as Sheli hurried over angrily, �Where do you think you're taking him? Give me Soval!� She reached out for the child clearly intent on taking him by force if necessary. T�Pol turned away and partly curled her body up around the small creature.
�I am taking him with me.� she stated calmly.
�Oh really?� The sky blue eyes flashed dangerously and T�Pol reminded herself that this wasn�t the type of Denobulan she was used to dealing with, a glance down at the dagger at her hip confirmed that.
�Yes.� she said, keeping her voice calm and bland as a Vulcan�s was meant to be. �Thy'lek requested that I take him with me to my universe.�
�Oh he did?� The same sarcastic questioning as before.
�Indeed, in this letter.� T�Pol held it up but when Sheli reached for it she pulled it back, �It�s contents are of a personal nature. I believe Thy'lek wished for myself only to read it.� Why was she suddenly referring to him as Thy'lek?
�Then you are not going anywhere with that child.� Sheli fixed her with firm and dangerous gaze. By now every adult in the nursery was watching them. T�Pol�s logic told her to allow Sheli to read the letter, but another part of her said to keep its contents private, to honour a lost soul�s last request. She debated inwardly when someone came up behind her. Looking she recognised the tall young Vulcan as Sten.
�What seems to be the problem?� he asked calmly, stepping so that he was between the two women.
�She�s trying to steal Soval!� Sheli exclaimed, �She claims Thy'lek asked her to.� Sten�s eyebrows rose to meet his hairline, but nothing else on his face moved.
�I see.� He turned to T�Pol who clutched onto the child. His eyes moved between the babe and the woman. �When did Thy'lek ask you to take his son?�
�In this letter, Telev just gave it to me.� she explained, Sten made a move to take the letter and once again she withdrew it. �I don�t wish you to read it, it was addressed to me.�
�You can understand our reluctance to believe you.�
�I am Vulcan and we do not lie in my universe. I have not abandoned that practise here.�
�Yet if Vulcans did lie then stating you always spoke the truth could easily be such a lie.� Sheli frowned very slightly in confusion. �However� I am inclined to believe you, Thy'lek said you and our T�Pol became friends in the short time you�ve known each other. I will trust my instincts and trust your word.� He turned back to Sheli who gaped at him, �Let her take Soval, Surak knows nothing worse can happen to him with them than if he remains here.�
�What do you mean?� T�Pol asked sharply. Sten gazed at her stoically,
�Our sensors detected a large fleet of Terran ships on a course that will bring them straight here. They�ll be here within a day.� Sheli gasped and Sten, forgoing the Vulcan distaste for touch, laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. To T�Pol he said quietly, �You should hurry.�
�Thy'lek wished I take a file from their home�s main computer, it contains letters and images they wished him to have.�
�I will take you myself so no one else stops you.�
�I�d appreciate it.� She shifted Soval in her arms slightly and Sheli, who seemed to be in some kind of shock, suddenly said,
�Wait!� She turned and went to a crib, pulling out a blanket. �It�s cold outside. Wrap him up warmly. He doesn�t quite have his father�s resistance to the cold.� She kissed the top of his head as she wrapped the blanket around him. T�Pol could see she cared for Soval, cared for every child within the room. The two women shared a look and an understanding passed between them. �Take good care of him.�
�I will. I promise.� she assured her. Sten beckoned her and said,
�Perhaps you should alert Captain Archer to your plans.� She realised he was right, she ought to alert her captain. Still holding Soval she took out her communicator and they continued on as she contacted Enterprise.
�T�Pol to Enterprise.�
�Enterprise here, what�s up T�Pol?� Captain Archer�s voice, heavy and sad despite the light words, came through.
�Captain, I simply wished to inform you that I shall be returning within the hour and I shall be bringing Soval, Shran and T�Pol�s son, with me.� There was a silence for a moment and she wondered briefly if the communicator had stopped functioning.
�I see.� Archer said finally, clearly unsure of what else to say.
�His father wrote a letter to me asking that I take him. I am at present going to retrieve some items from their home for him.�
�Need any help?� She looked at Sten questioningly and he shook his head.
�I doubt it.�
�No captain I believe we have everything under control.� She knew he was simply refusing because there were other Resistance members that would not tolerate a human being in their presence. �I should be returning within the hour.�
�Ok then, Enterprise out.� She closed the communicator and once it was returned to her pocket she resettled Soval in her arms. Despite how small and light he was her arms were beginning to become stiff. She began to wonder if his parents carried him everywhere. As if reading her mind Sten said
�Thy'lek designed a sling for him since his grip isn�t as strong as an Andorians.�
�I beg your pardon?� Sten lead her up a stairs as he explained.
�Young Andorians possess an incredible grip, so that they can grip onto the clothes of their parents, freeing the parent�s, usually the father�s, hands so they can continue working unhampered.�
�Intriguing.�
�Indeed.� He stopped at a door and opened it slowly. He led the way and T�Pol stepped into the place her counterpart and Shran had called home. It was of poor quality by any standards she held and loosely furnished, yet it was clean and supplied what little comfort and need it could. Dust had not yet begun to gather and there was still the faint smell of plomeek soup coming from the tiny kitchen, her favourite root and everything. She noted also the lone figure in the room. He was short, squat and slouched.
�Gral?� Sten questioned quietly.
�I remember the last time I was here.� Gral said dazedly, �The blue skin had cooked a good meal and my wife and T�Pol were clearing up. We sat here and I remember having the best argument with him. We argued, and shouted till we were hoarse and T�Pol told us to quiet so we wouldn�t wake Soval. Strange though, I can't quite remember the topic.� T�Pol stared at the man and compared him to the Gral in her universe. So much more reserved and yet� so much more open. She found herself remembering how things went when it came for Gral to leave Enterprise after he and Shran, along with Captain Archer, began their discussions of peace. The Captain had been quite happy to say goodbye for the simple reason that he was sick and tired of the way both Tellerite and Andorian had just thrown caution to the wind and hurled insults at each other left, right and centre. Yet Shran had been upset to see his new friend leaving. His antennas had been drooping slightly as he and Gral shared parting insults and it seemed as if the Captain couldn�t get rid of Gral fast enough, muttering that the two could go at it all day. She quickly returned to the present to see that Gral had gotten to his feet and had just noticed her. A look of obvious pain crossed his face as he said with little gusto,
�What are you doing here skinny?�
�She�s taking Soval with her.� Sten spoke for her, she was grateful, it sounded better if he said it. �Thy'lek wrote to her and asked it of her.�
�Oh? Did he leave me a letter?� Gral looked hopeful.
�I�m afraid not.� Sten said with what sounded like regret in his voice.
�Oh.� Gral looked away, and then said, �I�ll be in the control room.�
�Gral!� Sten stepped closer and spoke in an undertone. �We must speak with them soon.�
�Yes, soon, after the funeral.� Gral said, a hitch in his voice at the word funeral. He then left as fast as his little legs could carry him.
�Did Thy'lek�s letter say where to find the items?�
�In a file in the main computer, it is called Hope.�
�How appropriate. Soval was indeed Thy'lek�s hope.� Sten said more to himself than her. He went over to the consol on the kitchen table and keyed in a few commands. She joined him and he pointed out the right file, opening it up. Within it were letters, hundreds of them. T�Pol noted the dates of some of them, and some of them were written before Soval had been born, one seemed to have been written just after T�Pol had conceived. Along with the letters were many pictures and one caught her eye. It was of her counterpart, sleeping, and Soval was asleep behind her head, splayed out over her hair. Underneath the pictures were little comments. It was quite touching and she knew Soval, when he was older, would appreciate it. Sten said �I�ll have this all downloaded for you and while we wait we can pack some items for him.� She nodded in agreement. �Set him in the crib, we can leave it to last.� Again she nodded and he noted her silence. �Are you well?�
�I am fine.� she said, �Though I am a bit� overwhelmed by it all.�
�You mean the obvious and passionate emotions Thy'lek displays even though he is no longer with us?�
�Yes, that is overwhelming in itself. However I was more referring to the idea of being a mother to this child.�
�I am sure you shall adapt.� Sten told her kindly, although his voice remained emotionless. She followed him into the bedroom and laid Soval in the crib, noting the small, cartoon-like version of a sehlat. It was similar to how humans made the dangerous creature of a bear into a cuddly soft toy that bore very little actual resemblance to the creature it was named after. She lifted it up and found herself wanting to hold it close and bury her face in the soft furry material. She fought the desire and merely examined the toy.
�Sheli made that for Soval before he was born.� Sten informed her. �Thy'lek said that he cannot sleep without it.� As if to prove his point Soval let out a small moan and his tiny hands seem to grope for something. She set the toy down and he grabbed it in a tiny fist and yanked it closer to him. He calmed then. Sten meanwhile had taken out a bag and had been packing clothes for him. He suddenly paused as if a thought had occurred to him and he went to a drawer and from within it, removed something made of silk and was blue. He then took out something made of brown material. He brought them over and unfolded the blue item first. Before T�Pol�s eyes it was revealed to be a dress made of silk. She knew its style was Andorian straight away.
�This was T�Pol�s.� Sten explained, �It was the most precious item of clothing to her, despite how illogical it is, for the simple reason that it was made by many of her friends for her wedding to Thy'lek. She wore it only once after that.� He did not say when only held it out to her. �I believe it is appropriate that you take it.� She took it and marvelled at the silk, it was very beautiful, and the obvious skill required to weave the cloth appealed even to her logic. �Will you be seeing Thy'lek�s counterpart?� She looked up and then said, carefully folding the dress,
�I do not know. He is busy, as are we, and I may not see him for a very long time.�
�You do not approve of him?� Sten raised an eyebrow at her and she said
�He is a difficult person to� get along with. His distaste for Vulcans only adds to that.�
�Yet I believe I sense something else in your voice. Perhaps, despite your ridged dislike of him, there is something about him you find appealing.�
�I can assure you there isn�t.� she stated calmly although there was a part of her that was not enjoying this conversation and wished it would end. He raised both his eyebrows and held up the brown item. She had an instinct she knew what it was.
�These are the robes Thy'lek wore on their wedding. I think T�Pol would have approved if you gave them to him at some point.� Slightly confused as to why he�d said T�Pol and not Thy'lek she took it and placed it carefully in the bag. Regardless of her opinions on the Shran in her universe, she still felt the one here was owed respect. They pack a few more handmade toys into the bag and then more practical items such as nappies and the items required for such a change. Sten gave her the PADD once it had completed its download. �I took the liberty of adding a few extra things, such as lullabies and a recipe for a meal Soval favours.�
�Thank you.� she said it with as much sincerity as she could, she truly appreciated his gesture. It was obvious, despite his suppressed emotions that he cared a great deal for the little family. �I believe we have everything.� She looked around and then her eyes fell on the crib.
�Not quite. Lie Soval on the bed and I will begin to take the crib apart.� She nodded and carefully and, slightly awkward, scooped out the babe. He snuffled in his sleep and then fell silent. She carefully set him in the very middle of the bed so he could not roll off any direction. Sten was quickly taking the crib apart and she went to assist him. Soval chose that moment to begin crying. �Go and care for him. I shall complete this task.� Sten told her. She returned to the bed and picked him up. However her touch was not sufficient to sooth him. She began to rock him and then decided he must be hungry. �Where could I find something to feed him?�
�In the kitchen, the cabinet near the stove.� he told her without looking up from his job. It suddenly occurred to her that it was going to be difficult to fit all of this into her quarters but she didn�t wish to refuse. She settled the crying Soval in her arms and walked out of the bedroom and into the kitchen. Locating the correct cabinet she opened it and found a bottle and what looked like a formula. She took it and sniffed it slightly. Her nose wrinkled in distaste, however it said on the container, handwritten in Vulcan, �Will not go out till next month.� There was a date underneath it so she assumed it was safe to feed to him. One handed she filled the bottle and screwed the rubber nozzle on it. She lifted it and slipped it into his mouth. At once he started to suck hungrily. Then he suddenly began to cry again and spat out some of the formula. Sten came out with the bag and the crib taken apart and the pieces tied together.
�Is there a problem?�
�He does not seem to want the formula.� Sten came over and said, an eyebrow raised,
�Did you heat it first?� She looked at him, fighting the feeling of embarrassment.
�No.� If she hadn�t known better she would have sworn he smiled.
�Allow me.� He took the bottle and she rocked Soval to try and quiet him as he warmed the bottle. Thankfully it didn�t take long and he soon passed the bottle to her. She put it in Soval�s mouth and he tried again. This time he stayed quiet and sucked the bottle dry.
�Is this what he eats only?�
�No, Thy'lek and T�Pol were trying to get him to eat some soft solids, since Andorians often start their mixed diets at his age.�
�What kind of soft solids?�
�He favours pur�ed plomeek root, although we do not have much by the way of variation.�
�I see. Dr. Phlox will no doubt be able to instruct me in what other foods he can have.�
�No doubt.� When he was finished Soval let T�Pol burp him while Sten packed up the bottles and a few jars of pureed plomeek and formula. He then said, �There is only one more item he could wish for.�
�Oh?� Sten pointed to where some chairs and a couch were.
�The rug there. Soval is extremely fond of it, and it serves as a safe place to let him roll around.�
�Then we should pack it.� T�Pol didn�t even bother to ask if it was real fur or not. Sten folded it up and then managed to just fit it into the bag which was beginning to strain against its stitching. That was it, they had all of the items Soval would ever need from here. T�Pol knew it was time that she, and Enterprise, left. They could not say goodbye to Shran and T�Pol. They had to leave right now. The two Vulcans shared a look of understanding. They walked in silence to the transporter. As she stepped onto the pad, Sten said,
�Make as if you are heading into a different direction and then curved to the area. Good luck.�
�Thank you. I wish you well.� Raising her hand she gave him the Vulcan salute. �Dif-tor heh smusma Sten.� He nodded and raised his hand in salute as well.
�Dif-tor heh smusma T�Pol.� He then nodded to the woman operating the controls and she began the transport. The blue light filled her gaze and when it faded she was on Enterprise.
�T�Pol?� she met the gaze of her Captain. His eyes moved from her to the child in her arms who had begun to doze. His lips were curling into a sad smile as he drank in the child and then he said, looking back at her, �Want a hand with all that?�
�I would appreciate it.� She stepped down, and the captain picked up the bag with a grunt.
�What�s in here? Bricks?� She didn�t answer the rhetorical question, only waited for him to take the crib under his arm and straighten up. He followed her to the turbolift, both of them noticing the way the guards seemed lifeless statues in the wake of death. Who would have thought two people could touch so many others. As the door hissed open T�Pol met the blue eyes of Trip. He gave her his trademark grin and then his eyes fell on Soval. The smile disappeared, replaced by a look of confusion.
�T�Pol�?� he trailed off, clearly there were many questions in his mind and on his lips. She decided to tell him straight away.
�I am taking Soval with me. I cannot leave him behind.� Trip stared at her gob-smacked. The moment was shattered by the captain gasping,
�If we�re gonna stand here a while, can I put this bag down?� His face was going red and she reminded herself that humans weren�t as strong as Vulcans, and even to her the bag was heavy. Trip pushed past her to help him.
�Damnit this is heavy!� he exclaimed as he took a handle. T�Pol wondered if she should help. �C�mon T�Pol, hurry up!� he said strained by the weight of the bag. He seemed for the moment to have decided to just help the captain and deal with his emotions later. She was grateful for his good nature. They were all silent in the lift, T�Pol between the two men, absentmindedly patting the Soval on the back, even though he was asleep. Trip leaned back and studied him curiously.
�Cute little fella, ain�t he?�
�Yeah he is.� Archer agreed with a grin, �Those little antennas.� He chuckled as the items in question twitched.
�And those ears too.� Trip smiled. T�Pol wondered why these things were so fascinating to the two men, it was nothing they had not seen many times before. She led them to her quarters and set Soval down in the middle of the bed. They dropped the bag as quietly as they could and then Archer set down the crib.
�What a hand putting this together?� Trip offered.
�Thank you.� she nodded and the three of them began to figure out how the whole thing went together. As they started T�Pol said softly,
�I don�t believe we should go to the funeral.�
�Oh? Why not?�
�Despite the fact that he did not say it, I was aware that Sten doesn�t wish for us to be there. I believe it would be best if we just left.� Archer tried to hide his disappointment. �Captain, the Resistance�s sensors has picked up a large Terran fleet, it will be here within the day we really ought to leave soon.� He looked at her alarmed and then nodded. He stood up and said
�I�m gonna go and apologise to Telev and the other two over a communiqu�, and then we�ll go. I just wish we could do something to help them.� He sighed and then left. Trip meanwhile seemed to be enjoying trying to put the crib together.
�This is a clever little crib.� he commented, �Look, each piece is needed to support the others, and there�s no screws or anything like that in it.�
�Intriguing.� she agreed, sitting on the bed to check on the baby. She felt Trip�s gaze on her and looked at him. He swallowed and then said
�Are you sure you can do this? Raise a baby?�
�I may not have any experience but I believe I can learn.�
�Yeah, but� I meant after� Elizabeth.� He stopped as soon as the name was past his lips. She stiffened and stared at the ground.
�It is� difficult.� she admitted, but then stared at him defiantly. �But I will not leave this child behind. He is of my blood, regardless of how. I am in a position to save him. If the Terrans come and he is found they will murder him brutally to make an example of him. I will not let that happen.� He stared at her, mouth open slightly and then he stood up and sat beside her on the bed. He moved his hand as if to take hers but then seemed to think the better of it. He let it rest beside hers, close, but not quite touching.
�I�m sure you�ll be a great mother to him, and if you ever need help� just ask.� She looked at him and said sincerely
�Thank you Trip.� He gave her a small grin and then returned to the crib. After a few moments of comfortable silence the comm. went off.
�Archer to T�Pol!� Soval jumped and his eyes opened sharply. He let out a cry of fear and T�Pol instantly picked him up and rocked him slightly to sooth him. Trip grinned at her and answered the comm. for her,
�She�s listening cap�n.�
�Just thought I�d let you know T�Pol, we won�t be going to the funeral, and we�re going to be heading off once all the Resistance fighters have departed.�
�None of them want to stay?� Trip asked, bewildered.
�No, they all said that they would keep fighting, hopefully it would inspire a new generation to do the same.� Archer sounded sad as he spoke, no doubt mourning over the loss of life. Trip sighed, and T�Pol just bowed her head slightly. Soval seemed to be trying to reach her hair and she took his hand and lowered it. She gasped lightly at the electric sparks that flew up her arm from touching the child�s skin. He was filled with emotions, but the sensation was not unpleasant oddly enough. Perhaps that was because he was part Vulcan. Or perhaps it was because there was no ill feeling between them. Vulcans and Andorians were supposed to be telepathically negative to each other, skin to skin contact with each other caused an unpleasant sensation doubled by the mistrust between the two species. Perhaps that was not as the High Command stated. Considering her counterpart and Shran�s marriage it must have been. Trip looked up and grinned at her again as Soval gripped her finger tightly.
�He has an impressive grip.� she said softly, running her eyes over him she realised how perfect he was, such a delicate mix of blue and green, defining antennas and ears. Trip reached out and slipped his index finger into Soval�s other hand and Soval instantly gripped it. Trip�s eyes widened,
�That�s a really strong grip.�
�Sten told me Andorian babies have a grip capable of supporting themselves so that they can hold onto their parents clothes to free the parents hands.�
�Wow, I can believe it.�
�Sten also told me Soval�s grip wasn�t quite strong enough.�
�Really? Feels strong enough.� Trip tried to extract his finger so he could complete the crib but Soval refused to let go. His head turned to Trip and his antennas moved forward curiously. Trip grinned in what T�Pol had come to learn was a goofy way.
�Those little antennas are so cute!� he laughed, Soval suddenly copied him, a smile appeared on his face and he made a gurgling sound, he was chuckling.
�Would you like to hold him?� T�Pol offered, Trip looked at her and then said slowly,
�Sure�� she shifted the child and then carefully passed Soval to Trip. However the child did not seem to appreciate this and began to cry straight away. Trip attempted to sooth him by rocking him but he would have none of it. His cries quickly became screams and Trip passed him back to T�Pol. Almost at once he stopped crying but he didn�t seem sated.
�Looks like he just wants his ma-ma.� Trip said with a slight smile.
�He knows I am not his mother.� T�Pol said softly, �We do not have a telepathic bond, that was torn from him when they both died. He just thinks I look like his mother and that is enough to sooth him for now.�
�Is that a Vulcan thing or an Andorian thing?�
�It is more of an Andorian quality than a Vulcan one I believe, however I cannot be certain. I hope Shran will be able to clarify it for me.� Trip�s eyebrows shot up to his hairline,
�Shran?� he asked blankly. She nodded,
�Yes, I believe it is only proper that I inform him of the situation. It will not be long before Starfleet, the Council and the Andorian Government are aware of his existence, I must inform Shran before that.�
�Something tells me he won�t take it well.�
�In the letter Thy'lek wrote to me, asking me to take Soval, he said he was confident that Shran would care for him if I didn�t wish to.�
�Well I hope he�s right, a kid should have a father. I can't really imagine Shran as one but, then again, that man seems to be full of surprises.�
�That is true.� she agreed. They both started in surprise as they felt the hum of the engines change and they saw the stars outside T�Pol�s window begin to move. They were leaving. T�Pol stood up and brought Soval over to the window,
�Say goodbye Soval.� she told him softly. He stared out the window and then raised his hand as if he was indeed saying goodbye, and then he began to cry again.