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Logic, Inescapable Part V: Truths

Author - Hopeful Romantic
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Logic, Inescapable Part V: Truths

By HopefulRomantic

Rating: PG
Disclaimer: See Part I
Website: http://www.geocities.com/hopeful_romantic@prodigy.net/
E-mail: Hopeful_Romantic@prodigy.net
Summary: T’Pol confronts T’Les with a surprising revelation.
Date: 1-31-07

A/N: Thanks to my betas TJ, boushh, and Stephanie.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Part V: Truths


After T’Les showed Commander Tucker out through the west end of the house, she returned to find the sand garden empty. No matter; T’Pol would return, no doubt armed with renewed defensiveness and denial. Though Koss was responsible for reviving the subject of their betrothal, T’Pol would find some way to ascribe blame to T’Les. Such was the way between mother and daughter, now that Sochya was no longer present to mediate between them.

T’Les was meditating when she heard T’Pol approaching from the east wing; perhaps she had gone in search of Tucker. With her eyes still shut, T’Les heard the footsteps cease... but T’Pol did not speak. Are you waiting for me to read your mind? T’Les thought wearily. Even a Syrrannite melder cannot touch minds from a distance. “It’s difficult to meditate with you standing there,” she said, allowing a touch of irritation to color her voice.

When T’Pol spoke, her tone was not sharp or combative, as T’Les expected, but quiet. “This retirement wasn’t your choice.”

This was wholly unanticipated; T’Les had never intended for T’Pol to learn the details of her departure from the Academy. T’Les found herself struggling not to display emotion.

Koss must have told T’Pol, of course. His father was highly placed in the Education Ministry; it would have been a simple matter for him to learn the specific circumstances surrounding T’Les’s “retirement.” She was highly displeased that Koss had revealed the facts to T’Pol; it was most improper. And what did this have to do with Koss’s visit, or the marriage? Why would he make T’Pol aware of information that would only distress her?

With an effort, T’Les composed herself for the difficult conversation to come— quite different from the one she had expected. “That’s not entirely accurate,” she amended, without meeting her daughter’s eyes. “I chose to retire rather than face dismissal. I was under investigation by the Security Ministry; they claimed I had taken restricted data from the Academy archives.”

She sensed T’Pol’s gaze intent upon her. “Did you?”

“No.” T’Les turned away, unable to conceal the deep unsettlement she felt at T’Pol’s words. Had their relationship deteriorated to such a degree that T’Pol could believe her mother capable of thievery?

“I don’t understand.” There was uncertainty in T’Pol’s voice now.

“Their accusations were fabricated,” T’Les said matter-of-factly. “I was told that if I left the Academy, they would end the inquiry.”

T’Pol crossed to the low steps nearby and sat, her eyes huge with confusion, her thin frame little more now than a gawky jumble of elbows and knees. Again, T’Les was reminded of a much younger T’Pol, long ago. “Why would the Ministry do this?”

Clearly, T’Pol had not considered the reverberations of P’Jem... or the ability of some in power to rationalize their acts of retribution as logical recourse. In reply, T’Les looked squarely at her daughter, letting the silence speak for her.

Slowly, T’Pol’s eyes widened with realization. “Because of me,” she murmured softly. “They blamed me for the incident at P’Jem.”

T’Les nodded. “After the monastery was destroyed, the First Minister was dismissed. You’ve made many enemies here.”

“They couldn’t reach me on Enterprise, so they punished you.” T’Pol’s face twisted into a snarl of naked fury. “It’s criminal!”

T’Les found herself stunned into immobility by her daughter’s transformation. T’Pol leaped to her feet, her hands balling into fists as she stalked across the room like an angry le-matya. “How could you let them do this?” she demanded.

For T’Les, the matter was no longer an issue; it was done. Of far greater importance was T’Pol’s troubling lack of emotional control, and the reason behind it. “You’ve changed,” T’Les said quietly, her voice betraying her concern. “Your emotions were always close to the surface, but you managed to suppress them. It’s because of this Commander Tucker, isn’t it? He’s the reason why you refuse to bond with Koss.”

T’Pol was behind her now, still and silent. T’Les knew she was stating the obvious, but T’Pol needed to face the facts— as did T’Les herself. “Do you really believe that a human and a Vulcan can have a future together?” she pressed. She knew her words must sound inordinately harsh and prejudicial; they seemed so even to her. But T’Pol and Tucker’s affection for one another would do little to protect them against the enormous pressures they would face— both professionally and personally, from humans, Vulcans, and even each other— were they to attempt a permanent union.

And if they were ever to investigate the possibility of a family... that idea presented a number of scenarios that T’Les hardly wished to contemplate: T’Pol ostracized and exiled from Vulcan... a life of isolation on Earth, as some sort of oddity... a premature end to a promising career. “Imagine the shame your children would endure,” she continued. “Assuming that the two of you could have children.”

She heard T’Pol approach, her steps measured and deliberate. T’Les felt a dangerous calm coming over her daughter. The change was as startling as T’Pol’s earlier outburst.

T’Pol spoke in a low, icy tone. “That wouldn’t be your concern.” Without another word, she turned and left the room.

So they had already envisioned children, if T’Pol’s response was any measure. T’Les sighed. Just as she thought she understood this involvement between her daughter and Tucker, it became inexplicable once more. Discussion of offspring— especially offspring that would require medical intervention to create— typically indicated a relationship of long standing. But for T’Pol to teach Tucker the ozh’esta for the first time only this morning attested to an affection in its early stages.

So many inconsistencies. Perhaps, with a human involved, things would never be completely comprehensible.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As soon as Commander Tucker returned, T’Pol spent the remainder of the day with him, taking him to several notable Vulcan landmarks. She hardly spoke at all during the evening meal, while Tucker, by contrast, seemed the relaxed and eager tourist, enthusing over their visits to the Osana caverns and the Temple of Amonak. T’Les could not discern whether her conversation with T’Pol had had any influence on her daughter’s decision regarding Koss.

The following day, after T’Pol and Tucker had departed for the Fire Plains, T’Les received a message from Toral, Koss’s father, informing her that, at Koss’s request, he had begun discussions with the Security Ministry and the Science Academy to restore T’Les to her previous teaching position. Suddenly, a great deal of the mystery regarding Koss’s conversation with T’Pol yesterday seemed clearer.

T’Les could infer with a high degree of certainty that T’Pol had agreed to marry Koss, and for what reason. T’Les wished that Koss had not resorted to what amounted to coercion to achieve his objective, though he would undoubtedly characterize his actions as a logical exchange of valuable commodities to benefit all concerned. T’Les suspected, however, that Koss’s affection for T’Pol had likely clouded his logic.

T’Les wondered whether, at this juncture, anyone’s logic remained clear regarding this matter.


Part VI


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