Forks In the Road

Chapter 12: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

Summary: This is about T’Pau. Of course our heroes are never far away. Also thanks to whoever first mentioned Torquemada chairs. When I re-read the applicable story I will give an updated shout out.

Disclaimer: Star Trek: Enterprise and its characters are copyright CBS/Paramount. No copyright infringement is intended by the author of this story, which is solely for the purpose of entertainment and is not for profit.

DISCLAIMER (additional): see chapter 1

A/N: In the Forge etc. arc it is clear that T’Pau has no use for humans and is ruthless, but in TOS’s “Amok Time” Starfleet forgives Kirk’s diversion to Vulcan because T’Pau (a bit older mind you) asks them to. It is obvious by TOS that Starfleet will fall all over themselves to please T’Pau. This is my way of beginning to solve that major canon issue.

Weeble

Aka Steelchaser

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She had arrived on time at the High Council Building and was currently ensconced in an uncomfortable Vulcan style chair. She was trying to remain motionless. Apparently part of being Vulcan was to sit in these damn seats and suffer or meditate or contemplate Surak’s navel. It certainly kept you awake. Finally the secretary or whatever he was informed her that T’Pau was available. She doubted that the doorman understood that she was keenly aware of his revulsion as she sauntered past. She decided that she had passed her first diplomatic test by not saying, in precise Vulcan, what she had on her mind.

T’Pau rose from behind her desk and raised her hand in the ta’al. “Live long and prosper, Lieutenant Sato,” she said in English.

Hoshi responded in perfect High Vulcan with the subtle accent of T'Pau's home province. “Peace and long life, Councilor. I am here to serve.”

T’Pau motioned her to another of the Torquemada chairs. “Your service honors us. It is agreeable to see you dressed in Vulcan robes. They suit you.”

Hoshi knew Vulcans didn’t, as a rule, engage in small talk. T’Pau had asked her to come here, so there was something she wanted. She put her people watching skills on high alert and didn’t respond.

“Lieutenant Sato, I do not understand humans.” Hoshi noted that she slightly spat out the last word. “I need to be educated.” Left unsaid was T’Pau’s obvious belief that the course could be conducted in 15 minutes, including the final exam.

“Where would you wish for me to begin, Councilor?” She decided to continue in High Vulcan. She also felt some poking at her thoughts; knowing that T’Pau was a gifted telepath, she decided to think in Portuguese. T’Pau’s face gave away some confusion. Score one for Hoshi. Maybe Xindi Insectoid next.  She decided to think a specific thought in ancient Vulcan. It is improper to take the thoughts of others without their permission.

Score two for Hoshi, if the green blushing was any sign. She switched her thoughts to Navajo. T’Pau looked mad. Hoshi decided there was no way T’Pau knew anything about the Navajo people. She had been fascinated by how the ancient Americans had out-foxed her ancestors using their language for codes. It had been a passion of hers to learn it, and in the process she had become quite enamored of their culture.

She continued to wait for T’Pau. She was now confident she could answer her questions in Vulcan and keep her thoughts in other languages. Hoshi knew that T’Pau knew what she was doing, but could hardly call her on it.

“Lieutenant Sato, explain why humans display emotions.”

Without preamble, since she had thought about this before, she replied, “It is a necessary part of our communications. Humans may express emotions to varying degrees. For example, my own culture tends to be far less emotional than others. Regardless, it can be said that humans who display no emotions are often found to be sociopaths and dangerous to society as a whole. Expression of emotion is part of our psychological make-up.” She quickly returned her thoughts to Navajo as she felt the mental tendrils probe.

Hoshi knew that what T’Pau was attempting was a serious violation on Vulcan, and couldn't understand why she persisted. She did note that T’Pau looked very frustrated. “Councilor, may I make an observation?”

T’Pau looked momentarily nervous, but regained her stoic face and nodded.

“Humans are far more varied than modern Vulcans. We have more cultures on our planet by a few orders of magnitude. Human anthropological studies are quite complicated. There is no shortcut to the understanding you seek. I can recommend a few books. I was a professor of languages before I joined the crew of Enterprise. While I can instruct you, I doubt I can teach you everything you have to learn. You must experience humans to understand them. There are no shortcuts. You might consult with Ambassador Soval.”

She watched as T’Pau slumped back into her chair.

“I had hoped there was another way, Lieutenant. I find humans disconcertingly primitive.”

Hoshi decided to smile. Screw her. “Councilor, T’Pol did as well, and she just married one of us. She has even told me her age, and I know what that means to a Vulcan. Quite simply, ma’am, I know much more about you than you know about us.”

Hoshi paused and watched T’Pau’s eyes flare. “No one has explained much to me, but I am a communications expert. I see and sense things. You would not have taken the risk you took if it was not important. I will teach you Navajo, too, if you wish.”

Now she saw anger in T’Pau’s eyes. Best dial it back. “Councilor, you appear to be lacking in sleep, you probably haven’t meditated properly, and I doubt you have eaten today. I have some experience with a Vulcan female who neglected herself regularly. How may I assist you?”

“It would appear that you are quite perceptive, Lieutenant.” Hoshi noted that while she snarled a bit, she also seemed somewhat chastened.

“Perhaps we can begin to answer your original question, Councilor. Will you join me for dinner, and do you like sehlats?”

######

T’Pol signed off the comm and turned to Trip. “Apparently Hoshi has decided to bring T’Pau over for dinner. She also indicated SOS in sign language.” She watched her ashayam’s tongue press against the inside of his cheek.

“Honey, the last time you spent any quality time with T’Pau she cured you of Pa'nar. She also probed around a bit, didn’t she?”

She sensed his concern growing. Then she felt a wave of love and confidence infuse her.

“I bet Hoshi just decided to bring a friend home for dinner. Don’t worry.”

T’Pol did worry. She was struck by her husband’s confidence. T’Pau was a formidable woman who cared little for humans. She had also passed judgment on T’Pol in the forge. She felt another barrage of love sweep over her.

“You are not the same woman you were then, my love. You are at peace with yourself and with the many decisions forced upon you. Besides,” he swept her into his arms, “I’m here for ya. First cast out fear, T’hai’la. Then we'd best get some more goodies out of the garden.”

She was awestruck. How could he have that much confidence in her?

Because I know my bondmate better than she knows herself. She rolled her eyes.

Trip turned back to her and stared into her eyes. “Damn it, T’Pol, you can kick a Klingon’s ass, and yet this bugs you. You’re nuts. Be at peace. Now go meditate. I’ll get dinner ready.”

“Charles”, she said, her eyes hooded demurely, “Wouldn’t you rather do something else?”

###########

Trip, Habin and Dabin met T’Pau and Hoshi at the door. T’Pol almost snickered as she watched T’Pau sniff the air around Trip.

“Peace and long life,” he offered. The two visitors returned the greeting and followed their hosts inside. T’Pol had instructed the sehlats that T’Pau was an honored guest, but they ignored her anyway and welcomed their bestest buddy Hoshi.

T’Pau showed surprise at the sehlats' reaction to Hoshi. After the initial obligatory head scratch was out of the way, Hoshi directed Habin to T’Pau for a scratch on the head. Habin complied and T'Pau's hand was lifted up. T’Pau instinctively began to rub her ears. At a wink from T’Pol and a cue from Hoshi, Dabin slid under T’Pau’s other hand. T’Pol saw a slight relaxation in her posture.

Trip had slipped off into the kitchen and returned with a tray of cold drinks. “Minister?” he said, offering the tray to T'Pau. She took a glass of fruit juice and Dabin, losing his source of scratching, decided to lean and rub instead. Trip had moved over to Hoshi, who accepted a glass of water. He returned to T’Pol, who also selected water.

“Please sit, Minister, Hoshi. Welcome to our home. We can eat at any time. Do either of you wish to refresh yourselves?”

Hoshi begged her leave, while T’Pau seemed entranced by Habin. She had an almost wistful look on her face.

“Did you have a sehlat as a child, Minister?”

“Briefly.”

T’Pol watched as her face briefly saddened, then returned to its normal slight scowl. Habin apparently sensed her mood change and would have none of it. She growled and swished her tail. T’Pol watched T’Pau battle herself, alternately stiffening and relaxing. The stiff posture won, but T’Pol sensed that something inside T’Pau had relaxed. She knew T’Pau had been orphaned, but hadn't known how young she might have been. Now she was certain she had been very young.

Hoshi returned, and they moved to the dining area and ate in silence in the Vulcan manner. Following the meal Trip stayed in the kitchen, letting T’Pol know through the bond that he wanted no part of the cluck-fest. The thought was accompanied by an image of female earth fowl squawking and pecking in the dirt.

“Minister, I have not meditated this evening. I usually do so in the garden. You are welcome to join me if you wish.”

“Thank you, T’Pol. It would be agreeable to join you.”

The two Vulcans stood and made their way outside, Habin and Dabin in tow.

Hoshi joined Trip in the kitchen and helped tidy up. They communicated in sign language to circumvent sensitive Vulcan ears.

“Do you think I can leave, Trip?”

“Yup, they will be out there for a while. You done good Hoshi. Have you decided if you will stay here at the house?”

“Probably, at least as a retreat, if that’s okay.”

“You don’t have to stay here at all. It’s your choice. Just let T’Nek know when you’re coming so she can have Habin and Dabin over. It’s a very dangerous planet, Hoshi,” he cautioned.

######

T’Pau noted that T’Pol had picked up a few meditation cushions on their way out to the garden and set them on some flagstones near the east end. She scrutinized Habin and Dabin as they assumed positions where they could observe and protect them; they had certainly done this before. It was quiet and cool this late in the day. She doubted that any winged predators were about yet, but it was logical to have the sehlats on alert regardless. She hoped that she would be able to achieve the state she desired; this secluded garden was in its own way more like her recent home in the Forge. She missed the Forge’s simplicity.

Now that was an illogical thought; Vulcans didn’t ‘miss’ things. She must need to meditate. She settled onto her cushion, let her mind go, and was struck by the turmoil. She had been meditating regularly for the prescribed durations; she had performed the expected introspective analyses. She decided that maybe it was different in this quiet place. It had been difficult to suppress her memories of Jendren, her own sehlat of so many years before. She had no idea what had become of him after she was whisked away to the Temple following the deaths of her parents.

As she looked back on long ignored memories she realized that while she knew her clan name, she had not had any contact with them, ever. Why was that? Who were they? Did they even know she existed? Perhaps she could ask … who? It was unthinkable for her to involve her ministerial staff in such a personal matter. She shuddered at the thought that perhaps she was alone on a planet where clan and family affiliation were paramount. She didn’t have a betrothal bond either. If she had become a priestess as planned, such a bond would have been superfluous, as she would have been sequestered in a temple permanently. Instead she was the titular head of the High Council of Vulcan, with billions of souls relying on her judgments, and she doubted she knew a hundred individuals. Who was she anyway?

Somehow she needed to sort this out, but her duties had given her no time. She was also coming to realize that the contempt she felt for the aliens around her, and for many Vulcans as well, was directly at odds with the principles of toleration that were at the heart of IDIC. Her attempts to invade Lieutenant Sato’s mind earlier had been reprehensible. At the time she had done it without compunction – the needs of the many required it – but she had a disquieting sense that she was rationalizing deviant behavior. She thought of returning to the peace of Mount Selaya, but now it was becoming clear that her lifetime of isolation was a major contributor to her current problems. She broke her trance and returned to the garden.

She took in her meditation partner. She had melded with T’Pol just months before and been aghast with what she had found. She easily forgave the Pa’nar, which was not her fault, and the invasion by the alien telepath. But T’Pol’s mind had seethed with anger towards her mother and her husband Koss, who had attempted to enforce her planet's longstanding social traditions. She should have been relieved that she had been allowed to reenter Vulcan society. Instead T’Pol disregarded the opportunities that T’Pau herself had been denied. Now she understood there had been something else at work inside T’Pol. She looked closely at the serene figure kneeling nearby. The Kir’Shara had revealed much of what a true Vulcan was. She must have been bonded to the human Tucker even then. Forced to give up her mate, T’Pol’s katra had fought back as a true Vulcan must.

She doubted that T’Pol had understood it at the time, but T’Pau saw it clearly now: Koss was fortunate to be alive. T’Pol could probably have killed him for making a claim on her; it was her right and she doubted the unfit architect - another emotional response she would have to analyze – would have had a chance. Probably, if the truth had been known he wouldn’t even have bothered. The custom of arranged marriages was logical, but the Kir’Shara had spoken the truth of t’hai’la and every Vulcan's right to seek it until pon farr and bonding.

T’Pol had overcome many obstacles to join with her mate. In hindsight, she had proved many truths handed down by Surak. Her journey was perhaps to be celebrated and revered rather than scorned. She looked at again at the young Vulcan. T'Pol effused peace from every pore. This was not the same woman she had met in the desert. At that time she had thought to save T'Pol from her folly. Perhaps this time she was the one who was most in need of saving. She was certain she was as far from peace as she had ever been. She looked down and found herself rubbing Habin's head. When had he come over? As her companion looked up at her it seemed almost as though he understood her thoughts, and for the first time in decades T'Pau felt a small sense of comfort.

At that moment T’Pol ended her own meditation and looked at T’Pau, perhaps sensing her disquiet. “Is there something I can do for you, Minister?”

Pride warned her not to admit any weakness, but there was an opportunity here, she sensed, that would not come again. It was time, she decided, to take the first step. “Yes, I wish to speak with your Eldest Mother. Could you contact her?”

“Certainly.” They both rose and went indoors to the comm. T’Pol tapped in a contact code and waited. Several minutes passed before V’Nin appeared.

“Peace and long life, Eldest Mother.”

“Live long and prosper child. How may I be of service?”

“Eldest Mother, Councilor T’Pau is here and wishes to speak with you.”

T’Pau took her place in front of the viewer as T’Pol withdrew.

“V’Nin”, said T’Pau, holding her hand in the ta’al.

V’Nin returned the greeting. “Yes, Minister?”

“I seek your aid. I do not know who my own Eldest Mother is. I thought perhaps you might be able to inform me.” T’Pau kept her face as stoic as possible, though she didn’t know why.

V’Nin softened her eyes and looked at her. “Minister, her name is M’Rene. Here is her contact information. No doubt she is concerned about you. I suggest you contact her now. It is mid-morning on her side of Vulcan. Is there anything else, Minister?”

“No, V’Nin.”

They exchanged the ta’al and she signed off. She quickly entered the contact information she had been given. The face of an elderly Vulcan female filled the screen.

“T’Pau, child, it is most agreeable to see you. Live long and prosper,” said M'Rene, raising her hand in the ta’al.

T’Pau took her in and hesitated momentarily, trying to reign in her emotions. “Peace and long life, Eldest Mother.”

“That I continue to have, child. What is your location?”

“I am at a private residence in Shi’Kahr.”

“I will receive you in four hours.” She raised her hand again in the ta’al and then the screen went blank. Eldest Mother M'Rene, it seemed, was not one for wasting words.

T’Pau attempted to compose herself and went into the main living area. T’Pol looked at her. “Minister, I sense you require additional assistance.”

“I am to be received by M’Rene in four hours. I must arrange transport.”

######

After T’Pau dematerialized, Trip looked at T’Pol. “I think we done good, honey.”

“Agreed, husband. I think T’Pau needed the friend you told Hoshi about. Instead, she might have discovered she has many.”

“And maybe a family too.”