It was an ill-advised move, T'Pol understood that when she made the decision. But, ill-advised as it was, it remained the only one open to her and she did not know how else to handle the matter.

Retrieving a phase pistol and beaming down to the planet was far easier than it should have been. The crew was too accustomed to giving the senior staff their leeway and she resolved, should she live, she would speak to Lieutenant Reed about the matter.

When she materialized at the coordinates she had been given, she was unsurprised to be relieved of her weapon.

"You won't be needing that here, Sub-Commander," Nidani said, her gaze sorrowful as she walked out of the shadows.

"Oh you need it, T'Pol," a familiar voice said from behind her. "But it would be highly foolish of me to allow you to keep it."

"Tolaris," T'Pol did not turn to look at him. She was not sure her control was in any condition to withstand such a test. She had known there was something her subconscious had been trying to tell her and now it became clear. "I had not expected you to be here."

"Didn't you?" Tolaris asked, his voice still soft as he circled around to face her. "I'm surprised at you, T'Pol. If there was anyone that would have surmised who murdered the Chancellor, I would have thought it would be you."

She inclined her head, acknowledging the point. "I have been somewhat distracted."

"Yes," he said and smiled, quick and cold. "I had hoped to keep you that way. It's pleasing to know I succeeded."

"Not so much from my perspective." T'Pol looked past him at Nidani. "Your presence here I expected less than his."

"I had nothing to do with it," Nidani assured. "I didn't. I –" She looked at Tolaris, her voice breaking. "You must believe me, Sub-Commander, I –"

"She couldn't help herself, I did not permit her the option of a choice." Tolaris said, reaching out to touch two fingers to Nidani's temple. It was a touch that made her shiver in revulsion. "I required a certain amount of unfettered access and Nidani was so eager to learn of my world. It made her the logical choice. It was a simple matter of will; whose would win the day. Hers or mine?" He looked back at T'Pol. "Circumstances dictated that it needed to be me, there could be no other outcome if I was to be successful."

"You have not been," T'Pol took a step away from them, one he did not seem to notice. "The truth has been revealed, a DNA sample sent to Vulcan, it is only a matter of time before you are identified and you are caught."

"Perhaps," Tolaris allowed. "I regret that my primary goal has failed, Skon and his family remain intact. However, I cannot say that this entire endeavor is a complete failure. Damage has been done to the relations between Mondar Prime and Vulcan." He looked at her. "Before I am done here, more still will be done between Earth and Vulcan."

She did not ask how; she did not need to. The truth of Tolaris's intentions were held in the darkness of his eyes.

T'Pol lifted her chin. "It is too late for that, Tolaris. You, yourself, saw to the further bonding of the two."

He frowned at her, not comprehending.

"All of Vulcan will know of Earth's involvement here, yes, and success or fail, they will know that it was Solkar who called them here. He trusted them with the safety and freedom of his son and his family's future. Enterprise has delivered both." T'Pol lifted a brow. "I can think of no better validation. We owe you thanks."

The comment had the intended effect and she dropped to the floor seconds before he fired her own phase pistol.

---

"She did what?" Archer thundered, staring in shock at his communications chief.

"Sub-Commander T'Pol beamed down to the surface several minutes ago," Hoshi said, shifting nervously from one foot to the other

"And she didn't say why?" Trip asked. "Didn't give you any idea of what was going on?"

"No sir," Hoshi said with a shake of her head. "Sub-Commander T'Pol received a call from the Vice Chancellor that she took in the captain's ready room. Shortly after that, she left the bridge without saying a word to any of us. The transport showed up on Malcolm's station a few minutes later."

"And that was it," Trip said.

"And that was it, sir, yes." Hoshi nodded, looking relieved.

"Okay, thank you, Ensign, dismissed." Archer waved a hand toward the door, dismissing her with a tired smile. As soon as the door slid shut behind her, he looked at Trip. "Tell me again how the Vulcans are supposed to be the calm, rational ones?"

Trip grinned wryly at him. "This one is personal, Captain, you know how that goes. Can't imagine it's any different for her than us, even if she is better at lying about it."

"Might be the last lie she gets a chance to tell, we don't find her in time," Archer said, turning toward his desk and tapping the console there. "Mr. Reed, I'm guessing you've got a team ready to go?"

"Yes sir," Reed said immediately over the comm. "We have a go?"

"Just as soon as I get down there it is," Archer agreed. "And double the guard on Skon and his wife, I don't like the way this feels."

If the Vice Chancellor had been compromised, he didn't want to think about all the ways this could go wrong.

Until one of them greeted him at the transporter. Skon drew himself up, dignified and composed, and waited for them to reach him before saying, "I am going with you."

"With all due respect? Like hell you are," Archer said. "I can't allow you to go down there with us, Skon, it's too dangerous. The safest place for you and your people right now is this ship. After we beam down, the rest of the expedition will be brought aboard and given guest quarters until we can sort this out."

"Captain, it is likely that the man that committed murder in my name is with Sub-Commander T'Pol as we speak," Skon reasoned, his expression one of perfect composure. Too perfect. "I am going with you, I must see this man for myself."

"You'll see him, I promise you that," Archer said. "Just not right now, if the killer is down there, he may have already incapacitated Sub-Commander T'Pol. Taking into account the likelihood of there being a firefight? I'm sorry but I can't let you go into that kind of a situation." He reached out, taking a phase pistol from the waiting Lieutenant Reed. "See to your people. I'm sure they'd like to see you."

With a polite (but firm) smile, he stepped past the Vulcan and up onto the transporter pad. "Be right back."

---

The unmistakable sound of a transporter beam gave T'Pol reason to look out from the relative safety of the stone column. "Captain?" She called out, diving forward again when Tolaris fired in her direction. She pressed into a shallow alcove, using what cover it provided as Lieutenant Reed's security team immediately returned fire.

"Sub-Commander?" Archer hollered back over the firefight. "You okay?"

As if to reassure herself, as unnecessary as that was, T'Pol checked before affirming, "I am undamaged." It certainly was not for Tolaris's lack of trying and there was the matter of having revealed her position to answer the captain, thereby making herself vulnerable. "Though I cannot make any assurances I will remain that way."

"You're the one who beamed down here," Archer said, his hand closing around her arm and pulling her around the corner with him. "Alone," he said the last with a scowl. "What the hell were thinking?"

She looked at him, stoic, and said nothing. He huffed a breath and muttered something uncharitable under his breath. She could not begrudge him the sentiment; she had acted rashly although she believed the risk worth it.

"Fine, don't say anything," Archer said. "Tolaris, huh?" he nodded toward the Vulcan. "Didn't see that one coming."

"Nor did I exactly," T'Pol said. "In retrospect, however, we likely should have thought of his group."

Archer nodded. "Probably. A group of Vulcans flirting with their emotions, rejecting Surak's teachings of emotional control and logic at the same time as they're rejected by followers of those teachings?" He grinned. "Yeah, we should've seen that one coming."

"He is alone," T'Pol said.

"What makes you think that?"

"He does," she took the phase pistol he held out to her and rose up. "Tolaris, you will lower your weapon and stand down."

He spun toward her, gripping the phase pistol tightly. Behind him, Nidani cowered on her knees with her hands pressed tightly over her ears. "I cannot, Sub-Commander," he said. "You know this."

As a matter of fact, she did know exactly that. T'Pol knew what awaited him on Vulcan. The rituals had not been used in many centuries, they had not been needed in many more, but the laws stood. "You will be remanded into custody for trial. If the outcome is guilt, you will be incarcerated and re-educated."

She allowed her expression to soften slightly. "Please, Tolaris. It is the only way."

"Sent back to Vulcan?" He spat out. "Re-educated?" He looked past her at Archer. "Do you know what that means, Captain Archer? Do you have any idea what they do to someone like on my world?"

T'Pol didn't give him the chance to elaborate. "Your mind will literally be changed by means of a group meld. You will face the truth of your actions in the meld and then the process will begin. You are ill, Tolaris, your actions have proven this just as they have proven that your group's experiment has failed."

She saw his finger begin to move and reacted, firing before he could. Stunned, Tolaris crumpled into a heap.

"It has been a thousand years since any Vulcan has committed murder," T'Pol said, looking down at his unconscious form. "Until now." She could not quite keep the disdain from her voice as she added, "You shame us."

---

"Tolaris," Skon said, repeating the name the Sub-Commander had given him. "I do not believe that I know this man. Of course, I cannot be certain," he added. "But the name is not one that is known to me." It was an unfortunate part of the demands his duties to his family that he encountered a great many people. So many that, even a Vulcan possessing of perfect recall, would find it difficult to remember them all.

"It is highly unlikely that you would," T'Pol said. "You travel in highly different circles; Tolaris is a member of a radical group that was exiled from Vulcan a number of years ago."

"Ah yes," Skon nodded. "I believe I recall discussion of the matter." He did not elaborate further to reveal that, for a time, he had observed Tolaris's group with some interest. On the whole, he had found their theories highly intriguing. Though he could not, and had not, condoned their methods, he believed further study would have been warranted had they not left Vulcan. "Do we know the whereabouts of the rest of his group? It would please their families greatly if we were to return home with news."

"Lieutenant Reed is attempting to answer that question as we speak." T'Pol said, nodding a greeting at the approaching Captain Archer. "I will ask him to update you on his efforts."

"Thank you," Skon said then turned. "Captain."

"Skon," Archer returned. Skon was gratified by the fact the human did not hesitate to meet his gaze. Solkar's opinion of Jonathan Archer had been proven to be quite accurate and Skon intended on telling his father such. It did not escape him that he would have the opportunity to do so largely because of Archer's own actions. "I believe I promised you that you would have the chance to speak with Tolaris."

"You did," Skon agreed. "I am aware that his mind and logic are compromised but I must speak with him. Knowing his background has made that imperative."

Archer frowned, the action suggesting how deeply troubled by Skon's wish he was. "I can't stop you but I am advising against it." He looked at the brig. "The last thing we need to be giving Tolaris a platform for his cause."

"We will not be," Skon said. "In his own mind, Captain, Tolaris believes that his logic is sound. Unless we attempt an understanding of how he reached such a place, we will be unable to effect change and prevent it from happening again. One man has already died, a woman's life is now ruined, I believe that is more than enough damage and I will do all I can to see that is so." Skon could not ignore the possibility that his people bore a measure of responsibility for the Chancellor's death. "Now, please, stand aside."

The captain hesitated, not moving until T'Pol reached out and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Skon is right," she said. "Vulcan cannot pretend we bear no responsibility in this matter. If we don't try to understand why, it will happen again."

It was intriguing to watch the emotions play across Archer's face as he mulled over what his executive officer had told him. The connection between the two suggested a fascinating future might lie between their two peoples. Skon regretted that he would have little time to truly observe the beginnings of it on Enterprise. "All right," he nodded, moving aside. "But no physical contact. The cell stays locked up. If he really was controlling the Vice Chancellor's actions through mind melds -- "

"You cannot permit him near any of us," Skon nodded. "I have no objections to this." The man had attempted to harm Skon's wife, it worked to his own protection that Skon would be permitted no physical contact with him. Skon was a Vulcan, a man sworn to peace, but there was a part of him that would derive much satisfaction from strangling the man with his own entrails.

It was almost regrettable he would not have the chance for when he looked the man in the eye, the urge was nigh overwhelming. He quelled it ruthlessly before stepping closer to the enclosure to ask simply, "Why?"

Tolaris shrugged and said. "Ashv'cezh."

The word shocked him and Skon stood silent, staring at the renegade Vulcan while fighting to maintain his own composure. "Ashv’cezh?" He repeated, not quite convinced of what he had just heard. He wanted to ask what in the name of the Other had led Tolaris to believe ashv’cezh would be necessary? What had he ever done to him?

"Yes," said Tolaris. "It very nearly worked."

Behind him, Skon heard Archer quietly ask T'Pol about the meaning of ashv'cezh but it was Tolaris who spoke, explaining it. "It is an old Vulcan concept, Captain," he said, getting up and walking forward to the cell's walls. "Translated into your language, it means revenge-worse-than-death." He smiled, the action unpleasant and cold. "If it is successful, the victim of ashv'cezh finds himself in a situation that makes death seem an uncomplicated and pleasant option. It is a quite efficient method of punishment."

"What the hell did Skon ever do to you that he'd deserve that?" Archer demanded, angry.

"Nothing," Tolaris sat again. "Merely be unfortunate enough to be born of the House and lineage of Surak. Surak's teaching destroyed my people, turned them into weak, spineless shadows of themselves." His face twisted into an expression of disdain. "We did not need saving, our civilization would have emerged victorious from that era and we would have been the stronger for it. Surak interfered with the natural order of our history and his descendants walk our world as privileged citizens. They dare to speak for all Vulcan, they who are nothing more than bloated ticks, living on our indulgences." He arched a brow, meeting Skon's gaze. "The eldest son of the eldest son arrested for a murder born of petty hate – there could be no better example. Even if Vulcan refused to admit how far Surak has forced us to fall, his lineage would forever carry the stain of disgrace."

Skon set his jaw and said nothing for a moment. His control threatened to fail him with the situation as Tolaris had presented it. It was patently obvious the man was mad; the healers of Seleya had much work ahead of them if they were to ever reconstruct his psyche. It would be illogical to waste breath attempting to reason with the man at this juncture.

"Say something, Prince," Tolaris mocked, grinning at him.

"There is no need," Skon said and turned away. "This is at an end."

---

"I apologize," T'Pol said when the door closed behind them, sealing Tolaris away from their sight.

"There is no need," Skon shook his head. "Madness has no impact upon reality."

"It would have if he'd succeeded," Captain Archer put in, his voice heavy with what very nearly had been. "He damn near did it."

"Damn near or not, Captain," Skon said, "Tolaris failed. There is no logic in wondering what might have happened. It did not and will not. His illogic is his own to deal with. We will repair the damage done on Mondar Prime, we will mourn the Chancellor, but we will not spare time to pander to the wishes of a madman."

T'Pol nodded. "You are correct; however it is unfortunate that we had not anticipated the true extent of Tolaris's instability. We might have avoided this matter entirely."

"No," Skon said. "There was no avoiding this. If it had not been Tolaris, it would have been someone else. The universe has a particular talent for teaching us lessons we would rather avoid."

"And what lesson would this be?"

"Never forget." Skon looked at Archer. "We preserve the history of Surak carefully, Captain, we teach it to our children. Our fault does not lie in allowing a movement like Tolaris's to flourish but in allowing them to perpetuate falsehoods about our history. If there had been no Surak, it is likely Vulcan would have destroyed itself and pretending otherwise leads to folly."

"Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it." Archer agreed. "And old saying on my world."

"A wise one," T'Pol said. At another time she might have implied a humorous slant upon the response – the captain did enjoy it when she indulged in such behavior – but this did not seem an appropriate time.

"Indeed," Skon nodded.

T'Pol turned away from the conversation, hearing someone approaching at a rush, in time to see Lieutenant Reed round the corner. The expression on his face did not suggest anything encouraging. "Lieutenant?"

He came to a stop and held out a PADD for her. "We found Tolaris's ship." He paused long enough to give her time to read before adding, "It was locked into orbit around one of Mondar Prime's outermost moons."

"They're all dead," T'Pol murmured, passing the PADD to Archer. "The rest of his group – they're all dead."

"Murdered by the look of it," Reed nodded grimly. "He killed them. I sent a team to check it out and they're reporting it's quite a mess over there, sir," he said to Archer. "It looks as though he left them where they fell."

"My God," Archer said.

"Captain," T'Pol turned. "There are rituals to be observed – "

He nodded. "We'll leave the disposition of their bodies to your people. I'm sure, Lieutenant that you'll be able to wrap up the investigation quickly?"

"Yes, sir it shouldn't take much longer to complete it," Reed assured. "We've already taken all pertinent scans of the bodies and Doctor Phlox tells me he'll be enlisting the expedition medical staff in the post mortems. According to Hoshi's last check, the T'Plana-Hath should arrive by late tomorrow evening if you wish to make arrangements with them."

T'Pol nodded and looked at Skon. "Would you like to me to contact them?"

"Yes," he said. "If you'll excuse me, I believe I will spend some time with my wife. We've much to discuss."

T'Pol inclined her head in respect and watched him go. There was a weariness to Skon's step that troubled her but she could think of nothing that would alleviate it other than the presence of his wife. She suspected his thoughts traveled a similar route and left him to it. She focused her attention on the waiting humans, Lieutenant Reed in particular. "Thank you, Lieutenant," she said. "Your discretion in these matters is appreciated."

Reed smiled tightly. "Unfortunately, all I can do now is the very least I can do. If I had my way, none of this would have happened."

"You're not the only one," Captain Archer sighed. "T'Pol?"

She turned to look at her captain. "Yes?"

Archer's smile was more sympathetic. "Would you like a little help with the arrangements?"

She would have liked to have made none of them at all. "I would, but this is something which must be done alone." There were traditions that needed to be observed and they were not for the eyes of outworlders.

Taking her leave of them with a nod, she stopped and rested a hand on Archer's shoulder. "Thank you."

He nodded. "Anytime."

Were she human, she would have smiled. "With respect, sir, I sincerely hope not."

---

She thought of Tolaris when she heard the news. It seemed as if the whole of the galaxy had an opinion on the matter but T'Pol did not particularly care to listen. She had long ago learned to keep her own counsel on many matters and this would be no different.

The news of Spock's birth meant much to everyone, a hallmark of a new era no matter what opinions there were and T'Pol resolutely ignored her own personal feelings on the matter, suppressing the memories of the past, and when she received the birth announcement, she sent a politely worded note of congratulations to Skon. Even among Vulcans, becoming a grandfather was cause for celebration.

She had not expected that she would see Skon so soon thereafter. Though, in retrospect, she might have realized it was likely with his return to teaching at the Academy. The quiet life of retirement did not suit either of them particularly well.

"You appear well," he said, polite as ever.

"As do you," she returned. The halls of the Science Academy were familiar comfort though, even now, she sometimes caught herself longing for the feel of deck plating beneath her feet. "How is the boy?"

Skon's eyes warmed and he produced an image for her perusal. "Growing quickly."

She examined the picture with interest. "So I see," she agreed. "He resembles you." It was illogical to be pleased by such a comment but T'Pol knew from personal experience that logic rarely entered into it. "I have been following some of the reaction in the media.” She suspected she wasn’t the only one, much of Vulcan would likely be observing the announcement of Spock’s birth with interest – Skon chief among them.

"It has been positive," he agreed. "I admit that I had feared it would not be so." She nodded. The freedom of age gave them much latitude on the matter of emotions. "It seems much has changed over the years."

Not entirely for the better but T'Pol had long ago learned one took what was offered and waited calmly for the rest. She thought of the time when they had first met and the controversy of Tolaris. "And more will change still," she said. "Spock has the look of purpose about him."

Subtle amusement glinted in Skon's eyes. "His mother's influence I am sure; she is a driven woman."

T'Pol's lips suggested a smile. "Humans so often are." She thought of her own experiences with them. "It will not be easy for him."

"Among humans?" Skon asked and she nodded. "Perhaps not, but it will be no easier here. Much has changed, T'Pol, and yet little has at all."

She looked out at the Forge, watching the sand score over the outer most wall of the Academy. A sandstorm was approaching from the east, moving slowly toward them over the hills. "It is a peculiar dichotomy," she said. "But so are the worlds he has been born of. Spock's path will not be easy but those worth traveling rarely are."

"A fact you, above anyone, may speak to." Skon said.

T'Pol did not respond. The fact her service on the Enterprise remained a subject of controversy among many Vulcans needed no comment. "Things do not change until they are given impetus to do so," she said, redirecting the conversation. "I can think of none better than the birth of a child, Spock's mere existence forces questions that some would rather see forgotten."

"Apathy is no longer an option," Skon agreed. His gaze held a hint of amusement as he looked at her. "And so it begins."

T'Pol inclined her head. "And so it begins."

fin