The Need to Understand

Posted on Monday, 1 June 2020 - 5:31pm by Commander Soral & Lieutenant T'Lanna Vali

Mission: Operation: Recall
Location: Soral’s Office
Timeline: Upon T’Lanna’s return

{ON}

Having arrived back onboard T’Lanna was still wound up pretty tight, she’d spent so long holding back the emotion from her mother’s funeral that she was starting to feel the need to be more ‘staunch’ Vulcan, as she thought of it, than her normal fully emotional self. She’d have time to let go at the end of her shift when she could spend the night wrapped up safe in Raith’s arms. Right now she needed some answers and was hoping Soral could help her. Arriving at his office she pressed the chime and waited.

"Enter." He called out.

T’Lanna walked inside and struck a pose more like that of her father or Soral when he entered a room. “Commander, may I speak with you regarding a personal matter?”

"Of course." He indicated a seat. Please have a seat. May I get you a drink?"

“Please” T’Lanna nodded. “A juice please, I don’t mind what sort.” She took a seat and made herself comfortable.

He filled a glass with juice and got a water for himself. Sitting down he seemed slightly different. More Vulcan if possible.

T’Lanna gave Soral a curious look but passed it by for a moment. “Soral, my father tells me that he must remarry within the next two years. He didn’t elaborate as to why and I need to know.” She picked up her glass and sipped her juice hoping Soral would be able to shed some light on it.

Soral was quiet for a long moment. It was something Vulcans just knew but she was still new to her own culture. "When a Vulcan bonds with a mate the bond is until one dies. More then likely when your mother passed your father felt it. Not even the Borg can sever that kind of bond. Chances are that he was very ill at the time. Usually when a mate dies naturally the transition is easier. When it is sudden or in battle or from an illness the other partner may die." He paused to see if she was following.

T’Lanna nodded. She’d undergone Pon’farr herself before but never taken a mate to survive it. “So he’d have known about my mother when she died. Yet he never contacted me to say.” She sighed.

"In the cases I outlined he would need a child or family member to enter into a healing meld with him to ensure his Katra did not separate and he did not die. The body...it is still damaged, reading as incomplete. It will speed up the Pon Farr and he or she will undergo it within a two year span. He must take a mate to prevent his death."

“He’ll die!!” T’Lanna looked at Soral in surprise. “Why didn’t he tell me this?!” She hadn’t meant it as a question for Soral but more of one for herself in an effort to understand. “I was so angry with him! All because I didn’t realise the importance.” She paused.

"Vulcans do not speak of this easily." He paused.

“So I’m learning” T’Lanna nodded. “Thank you for explaining it to me Soral.” She paused to take a sip of her drink.

He gave nod. "Of course." He drank a little more water. "Did you want to resume the meditation classes?"

T’Lanna nodded. “Please. I have been ... holding myself back a lot whilst I’ve been off ship, I need to centre myself again.” She looked curiously at Soral. “Are you well Soral? You seem ... different.”

"I am well. I have been able to reach a new level with my meditation recently and am finding I am able to control my emotions better." All of this was thanks to Alex.

"I did not understand what was meant by attainment of better control until I had gone through the bonding." He realized in that instant that he'd not told anyone yet.

“Bonding? You bonded ... with Alex?” She looked at Soral in surprise yet felt happy for him.

"Indeed. It was accidental but for the moment we have both decided to maintain it. A test run, if you will."

T’Lanna nodded. “I’m pleased for you, both of you.” She smiled. “I spoke to my father about Raith, I also met the man that my father had once considered as a mate for me.”

"Indeed. You will need to chose between them then?"

“As I told my father, I love Raith there is no other choice.” She smiled. “He has offered to have us bonded by a priestess when the time comes, if Raith agrees to it.”

"That is an excellent suggestion. It is safer for both and will ensure a proper bond." He studied Vali. "I can fathom that this was difficult on you, the trip. Are you well?"

“I ...” She shook her head. “I’m anything but okay” She picked up her glass and looked into the liquid inside. “I couldn’t embarrass my father by crying at my mother’s funeral, so I didn’t. I was the perfect Vulcan daughter.” She took a deep breath.

"I believe you are allowing yourself to place an illogical amount of responsibility and stress on your shoulders. Why do you feel that you are unworthy?"

T’Lanna paused. “I ... am not a true Vulcan.” She looked at Soral. “My father isn’t disapproving of me anymore, he says he’s never been disappointed in me but I feel I should be a daughter he can truly be proud of.”

"Why do you feel you are not a true Vulcan?" Soral had easily slipped into the counseling role.

“Because I’m not, I refused to undergo the Kolinahr because I didn’t want to lose my emotions.” She got up and started pacing. “As such my father couldn’t arrange a mate for me because he promised my mother he wouldn’t.”

"I see." He paused. "Kolinahr is something very few undergo. Many Vulcans refuse it. Your father agreed to not bonding you so that was his choice. And as far as your emotions they are a art of your Betazoid culture. Tell me this. Is your Father a Vulcan that believes in Surak?"

“I ... don’t know” T’Lanna looked at Soral. “What sort of daughter doesn’t even know what her father believes in!?”

"I am sure he does he believes in the IDIC. Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. You are a prime example of that. You could not disappoint."

T’Lanna stopped pacing and looked at Soral offering a smile. “I will try not to, for the first time in years we’ve sat and talked and I enjoyed it. I love my father, I never want to disappoint him.”

"I doubt you could. The world thinks us cold but... we value our family more then anyone can know."

“Indeed” T’Lanna nodded. “Family is extremely important. I had to wonder for a short time if I should be a dutiful daughter and get to know the man my father would have chosen for me with a view to bonding with him.” She paused. “All I know is I love Raith with all my heart, without him my life would be so different. I don’t want anyone else.”

"Then I am sure your father will be fine with that. If he is not then it is his loss." He paused. "Lieutenant will you and Raith join Alex and I for dinner tomorrow in the holodeck?"

T’Lanna nodded. “I would love to, I’ll be going to see Raith next so I’ll ask him to join us.”

He gave a nod. "We will be running the program when you arrive." He gave her the details. "My home on Vulcan."

“Sounds intriguing” T’Lanna nodded. “I can’t wait to see it.”

{OFF:}