Secrets and Lies - Part I

Posted on Sunday, 21 June 2020 - 5:10pm by Lieutenant T'Lanna Vali & Commander Soral

Mission: Operation: Iktomi
Location: Vashti
Timeline: Current

{ON:}

Livianna closed the door of the room and headed out to her library. She began to read and got half way through the page before she heard an unusual hum. She looked out the window and saw a Vulcan shuttle landing not far from her home. The head of the order was there already waiting. She watched hidden by the curtain wishing she could hear what would be said. She was always curious always had her mind working.

T’Mari raised from her seat, she was glad to be away from Vulcan and feeling lucky that her husband-to-be had agreed to accompany her. She smiled as she looked towards him. “Savar are you ready?”

Savar nodded as he rose from his seat. “I did say I would do this for you did I not?” He stood and walked over to her wrapping his arms around her waist. “I am more than ready T’Mari, so let us go.”

T’Mari nodded as she gave her love a romantic kiss before they headed out of the shuttle together.

Lali studied the two Vulcans as they exited. "Welcome. Jolan Tru." She gave a bow and then studied them. "You bare a similarity to your brother."

“Thank you” T’Mari nodded politely, her emotions were put aside now she was in the company of someone else. “This is my betrothed

She inclined her head.

Savar offered the typical Vulcan greeting as he looked at Lali.

She returned it. "Please come in allow us to grant you hospitality and we will talk. Fang has called ahead."

T’Mari nodded. “Thank you” As she and Savar followed Lali into her home she hoped that all would go as Fang had previously suggested.

They settled at a low table with cushions on the ground like chairs. Food and drink was brought out and consumed mostly in silence. Lali studied the woman. "Fang asks a lot. He asks you to bring back a most prised treasure."

“For his help I am willing to do whatever Fang asks of me” T’Mari looked at Savar.

Savar out of respect hadn’t asked for any fine details, he had trusted his wife-to-be. He looked at Lali “What is it that Fang requires us to do?”

Lali studied the two. "Fang wishes you to bring back Soval to assist your brother. Soval can indeed ensure that his wedding does not occur but you must know that in the process you may bring much pain to your brother."

“Yes I remember, he mentioned Soval.” T’Mari paused. “But what do you mean by bringing pain to Soral?”

Lali sat back. "What do you know of your brother's birth?"

“His birth?” T’Mari looked at Savar before looking back at Lali. “Not a lot, I’ve never really asked much about it. I’d always assumed he was born in our family home on Vulcan.”

"No. You have never wondered why it was so easy for your father and mother to leave Soral behind when he was a child. To leave him to fend for himself?"

“I ...” T’Mari paused. “I did not approve of them leaving Soral but I wasn’t old enough to do anything about it. As soon as I was old enough I found him. Our parents never spoke of their reasons.”

Lali sighed. "The village you come from. Your parents lived there quite content until your father started trade in the valley below. There he met a woman. They were together. She bore him Soral and left him at the doorstep of your father's home. Your mother never forgave him and Soral's mother never forgave herself."

T’Mari looked shocked, not that it would change her opinion of Soral. “Who is this woman? Does Soral even know?”

"He knows." She laughed. "As to the woman he doesn't know who she is. If we listened to the women in your villiage of birth she is the Vulcan goddess T'Vet a goddess of battle and consort of the God of the dead." She laughed. "The truth is much...simpler then that."

Savar sat quietly listening taking it all in. He offered T’Mari a supportive nod as she looked in his direction as though looking for his permission to learn more.

“I want to know” T’Mari looked at Lali. “No matter what Soral is my brother, it doesn’t matter to me who or what his mother is he’s still family.”

"As he is so fond of saying, Indeed." Lali took a sip of water. "The truth was she was on Vulcan for a mission of great importance. She stayed in order to give birth to her children when she learned she was pregnant. One child, a son, Soral, was left with his father. His twin she took with her when she left the planet."

“What!? Soral has a twin?” She looked at Savar then back at Lali. “Please tell me the rest.”

"He does. His mother died shortly after returning to her beloved Romulus. Soral's twin is here now with us. Like her mother she became part of the order."

“Romulus ...” T’Mari looked at Savar. “You’re listening to this, are you happy marrying the sister of a half Romulan?”

Savar let the question hang for a moment. “It matters not, you are Vulcan and I ... love you.”

T’Mari gave Savar a teary eyed look before regaining her Vulcan demeanour and looking back at Lali. “She’s here? Soral’s sister ... my half sister, is here? Can I ... meet her?”

"She is here." Lali paused. "Tomorrow you will meet her. Tonight you must rest. Your journey was long and there is so much more you may wish to learn."

T’Mari nodded. “I want a complete picture, I want to know everything. At least then I can be there to properly support my brother.”

"You still consider him your brother even though only by your father and though he is half Romulan?"

“Of course I do.” T’Mari nodded. “Soral has always been there for me and I shall do the same for him. His parentage matters not, he is still my half brother and I will stand by him no matter what!”

Lali motioned to one of the nuns. "Please take our guests to their room." She stood. "I shall see you for breakfast. Dinner will be brought to you."

Savar stood and offered his hand to T’Mari, helping her to her feet. “Let us go T’Mari, tomorrow is a new day.”

T’Mari nodded. “Thank you Lali.” With that she and Savar headed to their room.

{OFF}