"May the Wind Be at Our Backs" by Lady Rainbow Rating: PG-13 Disclaimer: Don’t own ‘em, don’t make money off ‘em. Notes: Technically, this is the third story in the “Switcheroo Series” (after “Captain Sato’s Enterprise” and “Whips, Chains and Plomeek Soup”), but this tells the very first mission of Captain Sato’s Enterprise, before the events of the other two stories. The series presumes that Humans and Klingons haven’t met yet at the time of the First Mission, so it’s not like “Broken Bow”. The Vulcans are different from the canon universe. They have their own agenda. Last chapter for this story, but there are some “hooks” for other future stories in the series. Thanks for all your comments and reviews (and ideas!). Your encouragement keeps me motivated to write more. And A BIG THANK YOU to my reviewers so far: Begoogled, rfortstars, Ladyhawke Legend, poohka hare, Vulcan Commando, and extra kudos to Pesterfield:) Seventeen Nine days later... Ensign T’Pol sat in the meditation garden at the Vulcan Medical Academy, but found it hard to concentrate. Even after more than a week later, her experience still bothered her. She had talked to her mother, T’Pau, V’Lar, Soval, and Doctor Reed about the “accidental” meld. The five of them had been just as mystified by its occurrence. T’Pau had speculated that it was happenstance, chance, that T’Pol was able to send the mental summons and that others were able to respond. T’Pol wasn’t so sure it had been mere chance. She went over the event in her memory, but only s found more questions than answers. Could the event be duplicated? She’d thought it was worth more study and research. “No, T’Pol,” T’Les had told her in a stern voice. “You walk the thin line between Vulcan and the V’tosh ka’tur. Do not allow T’Marui’s influence to affect your judgment. I would not want you to share her fate.” She shuddered as she remembered T’Marui’s blank stare. Her body breathed, her heart beat, but her mind had been completely wiped. Essentially, T’Marui was a physical shell with no trace of the dynamic personality that had lived within it. Now, the former archaeologist occupied a solitary cell in the temple at Mount Seleya. Holy men and women would care for her for the rest of her days, however long that might be. She looked up as a shadow fell over her. A sense of relief came over her, though she made an effort not to betray it. Nevertheless, she knew it showed. “Here’s where you’ve been hidin’. We’ve all been lookin’ for you.” Trip Tucker grinned and looked at the greenery around him. He seemed delighted at the mix of Vulcan and Terran plants. “Nice place. A little piece of life in the desert.” “The desert has its own beauty,” she corrected him. She gave him a curious look as he acknowledged the correction with a nod. “You have not been to Vulcan before?” “Nope. I’ve known Soval for nearly a decade, but this is my first time here. I think it’s pretty.” His smile faded a little. “Mind if I sit a minute?” She nodded and slid aside for him. T’Pol noticed a slight air of unease around him and guessed at the cause. “I have talked with my mother and V’Lar about the...group meld.” “Yeah, I meant to ask ya about that...I thought I was going nuts,” Trip admitted. “Last thing I remember was bein’ on the bridge, then I was...somewhere, but I wasn’t alone, ‘cause Jon and Malcolm—Doctor Reed—was with me, then I woke up in Sickbay feelin’ fine.” He made a helpless gesture. “I don’t get it. I’m not psychic; all the standard Starfleet tests turned up normal. I thought ya’ll were touch telepaths—“ “We are,” she confirmed, breaking into his ramble. “And yes, normally we have to be touching our subject to form a meld. I cannot explain the phenomenon completely, but I have some suppositions. In extreme conditions, others with a previous link to a melder may join without any physical contact...but the link must be there, between at least two of the melders. For example, I have melded with my mother before.” Trip seemed thoughtful. “Hm...I can understand why Doc Reed might have a link to one of you, but...I don’t have—“ He broke off, his eyes widening, then he corrected himself, “Um...never mind.” She gazed at him, confused at his change of expression. Then it made sense. “Soval?” He was talking more to himself than to her. “That makes sense, after the fact. I’d thought I was goin’ crazy, there for a while. I guess that’s why Jon never told me what happened after—“ Trip shook himself. “It’s a long story, T’Pol. Remind me to tell ya sometime.” T’Pol nodded, respecting his need for privacy, though she was brimming with curiosity. Has Soval melded with Trip before, for some reason? I had thought Soval was reluctant to do a mind meld unless it was under dire circumstances. I must ask him next time I see him. Aloud, she told Trip, “Very well. I will remind you to tell the story...later.” He smiled again. “I’m sure you would. C’mon...your mom and Doc Reed are in one of the wards, looking over a couple of the Doc’s old patients. Never thought to see him get mushy over a pair of Vulcan twins...” There is plenty you do not know about the good Doctor...but I have the utmost confidence that you and he will be good friends and brothers-in-arms in the future. She followed Trip out the garden gate, but not without catching his bemused look, as if he could hear her thoughts. And for all she knew, he just might. “We do appreciate your assistance, Captains,” High Minister V’Lar said, as she, Captain Sato and Captain Hayes stood on the balcony of V’Lar’s private residence in Shi’Kahr. “It will take some time before life returns to ‘normal’, but I have every confidence that the conspiracy will be destroyed, root and branch.” Hoshi nodded and said, “It amazes me that T’Marui was able to amass as much influence as she did.” V’Lar’s mouth flattened at the words. “Remember, she had been working on this master plan for nearly seventy-five years, fifty as the head of Archeology at the Science Academy, in addition to having resources not...permitted to the average Vulcan.” “So that ‘expedition’ was all a fraud?” “Not completely.” V’Lar replied. “The dig site is still there at Beta Polaris; T’Les will head the second expedition there. Beta Polaris will be declared off-limits to others in the meantime—“A sharp chirp interrupted her. Hoshi glanced at Matt, who realized it was his communicator. “Excuse me,” he apologized to the women. He flipped it open and said, “Hayes.” “Communique from Captain Shran,” said the voice of his communications officer. “He says, ‘All is forgiven, yet not forgotten. Until next time, pinkskin.’ And he sent a liter of Andorian ale with your name on it, sir.” Matt sighed and shook his head with a rueful smile. “Tell him that the scorecard’s even. Send him the liter of Kentucky bourbon from Stores as a return gift, but don’t mention it to Commander Daniels, all right?” The comm officer sounded hard pressed not to laugh. “Aye, sir. Columbia, out.” “Hayes, out.” At V’Lar’s raised eyebrow, he explained, “The Andorians and I have settled our differences, ma’am.” “I am gratified to hear that, Captain Hayes.” V’Lar inclined her head, as if listening to a silent message. “Please excuse me, Captains, there is a matter that requires my attention.” “Of course,” Hoshi said, and the Vulcan gracefully left the balcony. She sighed and leaned her elbows on the railing. Matt moved next to her and put a hand on her shoulder. She sighed and leaned back against his chest. “I was surprised to see Columbia enter the system, but I’m glad you did.” “The Andorians had their own problems,” Matt said, “and Captain Shran figured that the Vulcans were having some...disagreements among themselves too. He literally kicked us off Andoria and told me to ‘go and render assistance to your woman before harm befalls her’. That’s a direct quote, by the way.” She forced herself to smile. “That’s a rather...Andorian way to put it.” “Well, Shran is a bit old fashioned with certain...issues,” Matt said with a wince. “Between what happened here and on Andoria, I’m wondering if there’s a bigger issue.” “Something going on behind the scenes, you mean?” Hoshi nodded in agreement. “Admiral Forrest thinks so too. He told me to keep an eye out for any suspicious events and suspicious people on our mission.” His grip around her tightened slightly. “What do you think? The Orions? The Syklonians?” “Hard to say. I have the feeling we’ll find out, though.” She decided to change the subject. “So, about you and Commander Daniels—“ “We’re colleagues,” he said, with a trace of humor in his voice. “And about you and ‘Malcolm’—?“ She sighed and wondered how she was going to answer him. What about me and Malcolm? I think there might be something there, but...it’s too early to tell. I don’t believe in love at first sight. If there is something, it’ll happen. If not... Finally, she replied, “We’re colleagues and friends, but nothing more than that. Besides,” her voice sounded cagey, “who else is going to make sure you don’t get into too much trouble?” “I think it’s a bit late for that,” he joked, as he bent down and kissed her cheek. Together they watched the sun set over Shi’Kahr. V’Lar frowned at the starmap on the screen. “I do not understand, T’Pau.” The Security Minister exchanged looks with Jon Archer and Soval. Both men seemed recovered from the unexpected group meld, but V’Lar suspected that wasn’t the cause of their discomfort. T’Pau reached over V’Lar’s shoulder and pushed a button. The screen changed to a view of Vulcan and its system. “Commander Mayweather from Enterprise, Doctor T’Les and Commander Daniels from Columbia made an extrapolation of the heading of that signal from T’Marui’s transports. Here is what they calculated.” A solid red line extended from the starting point on a course through the system and directly into uncharted space. “It is on a heading diametrically opposite to Beta Polaris.” “That is not logical,” Soval said as he stared at the screen. “If T’Marui’s goal was to contact any of the...Lost Ones...she would have sent the signal towards and past Beta Polaris, wouldn’t she?” Jon shook his head. “Assuming she didn’t make a mistake, T’Marui might have thought this would have been the mostly likely path the V’tosh ka’tur set out on their journey. Her notes all indicated that possibility. We don’t know what lies in that direction...yet.” “Which makes exploration a top priority,” V’Lar said. “Hence, the importance of Enterprise, Columbia, and any other sister ships that follow.” She glanced at Jon. “Assuming also that the Lost Ones did take that route, how long before the signal reaches them?” Jon looked uncomfortable, but he replied, “Unknown. It can take weeks, it can take centuries. I don’t know.” “We must be prepared for whatever happens,” V’Lar said. “I will speak to Admiral Forrest about this, but we must not let anyone else know for now. If they respond and do come...they will come to Vulcan.” T’Pau raised an eyebrow. “Will we welcome them home?” V’Lar did not smile as she answered, “That remains to be seen.” Back to Part 16 This series continues in The Logic of Emotion.

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