Sa'ren Part II

The Redeemer, the Deliverer and the Devourer

---

Forward:

There is an event in this chapter that some may not like.

It is not an attempt to change a person's viewpoint in regards to faith or religion. It is not this Author's intent to ram his faith down another's throat. It is a simple fact that in the CSU (and thereby in all the Universes that comprise the Multiverse of CSU) there is a Supreme Being. We, the Authors, are showing through the various stories how that Supreme Being is seen by the various peoples. There are atheists and agnostics in the Earth of CSU. There are also many with faith. Some in Isis and Ra, some in Allah, some in the God of Israel and Jesus, some in Oekon (The Vulcan name for God), some in the Great Spirit, and in more names than I could list.

They are all, in CSU, the same God. That is what ACFan put into Memories.

If you do not believe in a God or gods; just read it as a story.

It is what I do when I read about evolution. I even write about evolution. I don't believe in it myself, but I love it in stories, TV shows and films. I suspend my disbelief.

That is all I ask you to do here. If you believe there is no God, then remember - This is a story. Just read it as such, and you will enjoy it.

If you get yourself worked up about such things - even in fictional settings - then there is no advise I can give you other than forget reading any further. You just won't like it.

Thank you and I do hope that you will all enjoy this chapter. Joel is making some surprising improvements...

Ilúvantír

---

 

Federation System Alpha Centauri

Star: Alpha Centauri B

Planet: AC-B 7 - Centauri Colony

"What time do you think it is here?" Seth asked as he looked up at the cloudy skies above.

Abel shrugged, "Don't know. We're going to have to find a terminal."

"First, find transports to Earth. Second, think of a way to shake our tails because I'm sure there's going to be some following us. Third, find the General and kill him," Cain muttered.

"No," Abel disagreed, "first, find FOOD, bro! I'm starving!"

Seth raised his hand, "I second that."

"Fine, fine," Cain grinned. He casually looked around the boxes they were hiding behind and saw that the space-port workers they had been hiding from were beginning to leave for home. "Come on, let's go," he ordered smartly. "Food, then the rest!"

Quickly and quietly, the three triplets made their way stealthily across the landing pads and past the shuttle they had used and quickly abandoned to get there, and headed for the rapidly emptying Port Building.

---

Teri's House, Orlando Compound - Sunday Morning:

Joel felt that the world was moving, but wasn't quite sure how. He was gently being raised and lowered over and over again, and there was a weird wind blowing somewhere. He was comfortable, however, and warm. It seemed like there was something wrapped around him, keeping him secure and safe, but his sleep fogged mind was still refusing to put the pieces together.

It had been a strange dream that he had just come out of. It felt like he had been away for months, and the ache inside of himself to see his brothers and friends was all the more palpable for that absence. Spending that time with his Mammy and Daddy, with Levi and Kevvy... it had been wonderful and terrible all at once.

Above all, he wanted to see three people. His two older brothers, Blondie and Sean...

... and Juan. He seemed to remember a Bonding Ceremony, but then Juan and Koth had vanished. He had not seen them for the remainder of his time in the Realms, and Elsewhere... Now that was the curiosity. Had that been real, or a dream? In the Country of Aslan with the Great Lion Himself? Fauns and Dwarves and Centaurs? Giants and talking beasts?

It must have just been a dream, but if that were so, why did it feel like it was so real, even now?

Still, that mystery did not still the longing he had to see his brothers and... what was Juan to him now? His to-be-husband? Bonded in waiting? Did Kevvy really say it was okay for him to have two husbands? Did Koth really not mind either? Had that been a dream, too?

Husband. Kevin... Joel suddenly felt rotten. He had hurt the boy he loved more than his own life so much over the time in that 'dream'. So often he was drawn close, only to pull away in fear.

And now? Would he pull away now?

He woke fully as his mind suddenly decided what he should do. The more logical part of his mind, that is. His heart was still hurting, and his emotions were still filled and overpowered by his fear, but his logical side - the Vulcan in him - was sure of everything.

Ah, that was why the world was 'moving'. He was asleep face down on his father's chest, and the 'wind' he could hear was his father's soft, steady breathing - mixed in with a light, musical like snores from a group of small bodies that seemed pressed in all around him.

He could sense Levi just by touch, asleep at his side. He was also the loudest snorer - which Joel's emotive side found highly amusing and his logical side found fascinating. There was a familiar feeling of blood-family, so that meant Solkar was there, too. Of course, everywhere Solkar went, a Jimmy was sure to follow, so that must be the final body pressed against both himself and his father.

Joel moved his head just slightly, then sighed happily. That answered a question he had wondered at since watching Star Trek in the Hell Universe. He'd never get chest hair. He inhaled deeply, and a small smile played over his face. 'At least I'm from a race that don't get stinky so easily,' he thought to himself as he locked away the scent of his father into that part of his mind that equated itself with safety and family. He then sniffed more and giggled quietly.

"What's funny?" Levi asked in a deathly quiet whisper so as not to wake Spock, Solkar and Jimmy.

"Jimmy smells," Joel giggled back.

Levi sniggered quietly before turning over and rolling up to join Joel on Spock's chest. "He had a shower before coming to bed," Levi grinned. "He's good if he can get stinky while sleeping!"

"It's warmer in this room that it would have been in his," Joel reasoned softly. "Daddy likes the temperature more like Vulcan. So do I, I think. This is nice."

Levi purred, "Yeah."

They rested there for a while, not talking but just hugging close as Spock and the other two boys slept on. At least, that was what Joel assumed, but Spock was already awake. "Are you rested, Sa'ren?" he asked gently after five minutes had passed of the two cuddling boys listening to the breathing around them.

Joel nodded his head against his father's smooth chest, "Yes, Daddy."

"Are you in need of breakfast?"

"What time is it?" Joel asked, but then his stomach answered the question for him anyway.

"Time for breakfast," Spock answered dryly. Then he looked to the bedside clock and said, "Seven twenty two."

Levi yawned theatrically before tickling Solkar and Jimmy into wakefulness.

"Who stole the hippo??" Jimmy half yelled as he woke with a start, his mind still somewhere between dreamland and wakefulness.

"That was most likely Timothy," Spock answered as he sat up slowly, bringing Joel up with him.

Levi giggled, "Well, it wasn't really stealing. The hippo wanted to go. He said so. The zoo-keeper didn't agree, though, but he was being mean to Geoffrey the Hippo!"

"Where does he keep a hippo?" Jimmy asked curiously.

"He keeps them in his bedroom," Joel giggled as he sat on his father's crossed legs and yawned. "With Nelly and Humphrey and a whole bunch of others."

"Who's Nelly and Humphrey?" Jimmy asked, then it sunk in. "In his bedroom?!"

"Well, Nelly is his Asian elephant. She's sweet. And Humphrey is his camel. He spits, but only when annoyed at you," Joel explained easily.

"As for the bedroom," Spock continued, not looking in the least bit surprised at the revelation, "I'd assume Ish-Hassu had a hand in getting it ready for Timothy."

"Ish-Hassu? Is he not a legend?" Solkar asked.

"Yes and no. He is a legend, but quite real."

Levi offered, "You've met Galli?"

"Yes," Solkar nodded.

"That's him. The Doctor."

"Oh!"

"And he's our brother, Sol," Joel informed him.

"Really?!"

"Yes," both Joel and Spock answered, then Joel giggled.

Jimmy giggled, "I wanna meet Timmy's friends! I wonder, do his daddies know?"

"Probably not," Joel giggled again, "I heard Sean say he's scared to go into Timmy's room!"

"I do not blame them," Spock said as he moved himself to the edge of the bed and got up, with Joel still in his arms. "Shall we shower before breakfast, my son?"

"Yes please," Joel answered.

"Will you want to shower alone, Sa'ren?"

Joel shook his head. "No. Can you all be there with me? If I'm alone I'll hurt myself again like I did before... and... uh, can we ask if Kevvy can join us?" he asked plaintively.

"Of course, my son," Spock answered as Levi popped away instantly with a smile on his face. Solkar and Jimmy scrambled off the bed to stand with Spock as Joel was lowered to his feet. Then Spock said quietly to Joel, "I am going to do some research with the Kolinahr masters on Seleya, Sa'ren. This bonding between you, Kevin and Juan needs to be investigated. You hold the information from my memories, but I have never looked into such too deeply. While it is possible in this situation for you and Juan to marry, and while it is possible for Koth and Riti and Victoria to marry, such might have happened in the past with adverse effects."

"So you're gonna check it?" Joel asked softly.

"Yes," Spock nodded. "It should only take a day or so to get the information I need to give you all a more clear picture."

Then, they waited for Levi to arrive with Kevin...

---

Levi appeared in Kevin and Kenny's bedroom at the Thompson house and quietly went over to Kevin's bed. It had been slept in, but was now empty. He looked across at Kenny's bed and saw that the lump under the covers was way to large to just be the eleven year old Kenny. He smiled gently as he padded over and pulled back the covers just enough to see the two brown haired twins cuddled up together; Kenny spooning Kevin comfortingly.

"Uncle Ken? Uncle Kev?" he whispered as he shook their shoulders gently.

"Who? Where?" Kenny mumbled as he blinked blearily up and around. "What's wrong?" he asked as he registered Levi's presence. "Is it Joel?"

"Nothing's wrong," Levi smiled, "but it is about Uncle Joel. He wants Uncle Kev to shower with him, me, Sol, Jimmy and Grandpa Spock."

Kenny looked carefully at Levi for a moment, then nodded and smiled. "I hoped he'd not push Kev away again today. This is good news," he said with a smile before kissing the back of his twin's head and whispering into his ear, "Wake up, Kev. Levi's here with good news!"

With a wide yawn, Kevin woke up and stretched. He blinked at Levi for a second then swivelled around and hugged the stuffing out of Kenny. "I've missed you," he whispered.

"It's only been a few hours," Kenny giggled.

"No it hasn't," Levi smiled. "We've been in the Dream Realms helping Uncle Joel. It's not like the Tardis where it didn't seem like time passed. He really has missed you."

"Oh," Kenny grunted as he increased his own hug on his twin. "I'll always be here, Kev," he whispered to his brother, "and I'll always love you."

"I love you, too," Kevin sniffled before pulling back and kissing his twin. Then he smiled, "What's the good news about my Sa'r, Levi?"

Levi's face broke into a grin, "We're about to have a shower, and he asked for you to join him!"

Kevin sat up quickly, "Really?"

Levi nodded.

Kenny had never seen his twin move so fast in all their time together. Kevin was up and out of the bed and routing through his wardrobe and chest of draws for clean clothes in the blink of an eye. Levi just giggled at him, and was soon joined by Kenny as he also got out of bed and went over to hug his twin's back, "Calm down, Kev. Remember, this is Levi here. You're not going to miss the shower with Joel."

"But... but..."

Levi fell onto his back and started rolling around as he chortled at the suddenly hyper Kev.

"Will you be back for breakfast, or shall I ask Pop if we can all come over to the Compound?" Kenny asked as he managed to, eventually, calm down his brother.

Looking suddenly uncertain about what he should do, Kevin mumbled, "Shit... I've missed you all but spent time with Sa'r, but I don't want to miss this now... can you ask Poppa if you can all come over? Please?"

Kenny smiled lovingly and kissed Kevin gently, "Of course. I'll go wake them up now, but I'm leaving your kids 'til last. It's a death sentence to try and wake up that fuzzy group alone!"

Kevin couldn't help but smirk at his twin as he remembered yesterday evening and trying to wake up the two ferrets. Jules and Verne had fallen asleep in front of the TV and had to be carried up to bed, but doing so disturbed them and they were a little... put out. To put it mildly.

"Are you ready yet?" Levi asked cheekily. "You humans are soooo slow at times," he giggled.

Kevin glared at him before poking out his tongue. "Yes, thank you, oh Speedy Gonzales!"

"Good!" crowed the small Mikyvis before he yelled at the top of his lungs, "Undaleeeh... undaleeeh... YEEEH-HAWWWW!" Then, he, Kevin and the clothes Kevin had selected vanished in an instant.

Kenny rolled his eyes before walking out of his bedroom, still as naked as a jaybird, and across to Xain and Jake's room, while whistling tunelessly. He poked his head around the door only to find an empty bed and cot. Then he remembered that Vina was with Mamacita and his older brothers had spent the night with Pop. Still whistling tunelessly, he ran into his Pop's room and pounced the bed.

Allen's choice of words will not be repeated...

---

Back at Teri's house, in Spock's apartment, Solkar and Jimmy were busy cuddling Joel, while Spock was preparing his own selection of clothes to wear for the day. "Do you like these Vulcan pyjamas, Joel?" Jimmy asked as he cuddled his friend. All three boys were dressed alike, very much akin to what Spock was wearing as well. Topless, with loose pants that seemed to flow down from their waist to their mid calves. Joel and Solkar's were in blue with gold trim around the ankles, as was Spock's, while Jimmy's was brown with blue trim.

"They are comfortable," came the emotionless response.

Jimmy blinked and backed away slightly. "Am I doing something wrong?" he asked Solkar.

Solkar shook his head, "No. I believe my brother is using emotive control."

"Like you try to?" Jimmy asked as he moved back into the hug slowly.

Solkar nodded. "Better than I can. I can not feel his emotions at all."

"Thank you," Sa'ren said. He wrapped an arm around Jimmy tightly. "Do not think I am pushing you away by being thus, Jimmy. I am still working through my ordeal, and it helps to lock away the emotions."

"Oh," Jimmy said as he smiled. "Okay!"

"We're back! Finally! Uncle Kev had to find sexy clothes to impress Joel," Levi giggled as he and Kevin - and a pile of neatly folded clothes - appeared on the bed.

Sa'ren turned, slightly, towards the direction of the bed and said, "Clothes do not add to my T'hy'la's sex-appeal. He is perfect as he is."

"Well, that's true," Jimmy giggled. "He's naked!"

"As I suspected," Sa'ren replied as he heard foot falls on the carpet coming toward him. His link to Kevin was filled with emotion from the brown haired human, and so he sent back the calm serenity he was currently experiencing.

As Kevin drew within a foot of his Vulcan husband he stopped and waited. Sa'ren started to reach out his arms toward him, but then they dropped back as emotion flooded over the Vulcan's face.

Joel started to tremble. Kevin whispered, "Do you want a hug?"

"Yes," Joel answered softly as tears started from his eye.

Kevin reached out and pulled Joel into his embrace and held him tight, while rubbing his hands up and down his back. A second or so after the hug began, Joel's own arms reached around and held on just as tightly.

"Good morning, t'hy'la," Kevin whispered. "I love you."

"I love you, too," Joel trembled.

Solkar quickly wiped a tear from his own eye, hoping that Jimmy had not seen it. Jimmy had and grinned at him before taking his Vulcan friend's hand in his own.

"Are you ready for your shower, children?" Spock asked as he came over to the group of four boys.

Joel answered, "Yes, Daddy."

"Yeah, Uncle," added Kevin.

Levi, Jimmy and Solkar just nodded and smiled.

Spock placed his hand upon Joel's shoulder and started to guide his blind son into the en-suite, with Kevin also helping, by holding onto Joel's hand tightly. The other three young boys trotted along behind them. Once in, Spock quickly disrobed and stepped into the large shower area to get the water set to an acceptable level for the two human boys in the group, while Kevin and Solkar helped Joel to undress. Once all four boys were ready, they moved into the shower area to join Spock, guiding Joel carefully.

Kevin, however, was blushing. A lot.

Spock looked down at the brown haired boy and asked, "What is the matter?"

Joel turned slightly in Kevin's direction curiously and waited, but Kevin just mumbled, "Ah, nothin'..." He was trying his best to keep his gaze averted from Spock's body.

Spock raised an eyebrow knowingly before continuing to get the water 'just right'. Once he had done so, he turned back and brought the four small boys under the spray with him.

Kevin continued to look anywhere but at Spock, and even looking at Joel made him blush harder before a silly grin would form on his face. That caused him to blush more and avert his eyes yet again.

Spock asked again, "Kevin. There is a problem that is making you uncomfortable. What is the matter?"

Solkar opened his mouth to answer, for he had worked out the issue, but Jimmy slapped his hand over Solkar's mouth and just giggled.

Kevin looked up and forced himself to lock his gaze with his father-in-law's. He mutely shook his head, before he lost conscious control of his eyes and they darted down below Spock's waist. Then he glanced over to below Joel's. Then another blush came.

A small smile toyed with the edge of Spock's mouth. "In answer to your unasked query; I take after my father, and he after his. It is highly likely that both Sa'ren and Solkar will take after me as well."

Jimmy giggled more and looked impressed, while Solkar blushed cutely.

Kevin also blushed, and he thought his head would explode due to the strength of it. That silly grin did not leave his face, however.

Joel, blunt as always, asked, "You saying my dick will be as big as yours, Daddy? And Solkar's?" Before he had an answer, he turned slightly and asked Kevin, "Is Daddy really that big?"

Kevin did not respond. He just continued to grin - and blush.

"He's ginormous!!" Jimmy giggled before reaching for Solkar's 'soldier' and tugging it gently. "Kewl, huh?"

Solkar's blush increased in level.

Levi stood there with an innocent, inquisitive expression on his face as he paid close attention to all the various 'equipment' on view in the shower. Then he giggled.

Spock felt that he should not partake in the direction the conversation had now gone to, and instead reached for the body wash to begin with the business of cleaning down the four boys. In his mind, however, he could hear his wife's voice chuckle, 'Boys!'

---

An hour later, after Allen and his boys had transported over to eat with Joel's family, the teens and children all vacated the breakfast table with their stomachs now sated. Allen and Billy remained behind with Spock, while Solkar held forth as the 'leader' of the group to go to CIC and find out what was going on that morning. Everyone was walking, other than Joel who was riding I-Cheya. Allie and Blackie were moving alongside the large Vulcan beast and keeping an eye on the blind Vulcan to make sure he didn't fall.

Solkar was acting a little more human than he had before. Spock, true to his word, had taken his youngest son to one side and explained to him the choices Solkar had as a hybrid Vulcan, and that emotional control was not mandatory for him. Not that it was mandatory for a full blooded Vulcan, but most families raised their children in logic and serenity and those who chose to live without control did so at adulthood. Solkar had been told that his father would not insist on raising either himself or Sa'ren as such, but would help them if they chose the Way of Surak themselves.

Solkar decided to wallow in his emotions for a while, just to see if he liked doing so enough to keep them.

Jake thought that young boy was obviously pleased by the experience, going by the play-act of being 'Emperor Solkar of the Vulcan Empire' as they moved across the grass lawns towards the doors to CIC.

Joel spent the trip over giggling at Solkar's antics, which he was watching through Kevin's eyes.

"An' then... is that right, Jimmy? You do not say the 'd'?"

"That's right. And it's 'don't', not 'do not'. You sound like and old person... like Jake is!"

"Hey! I'm not old!"

"To a seven year old, you're... that right?... you're ancient."

"I like Jake being older than I, even if he is close to getting his pension."

"XAIN! You're meant to be on MY side!"

"Yes. You are correct. But the truth sometimes hurts."

"As I was saying," Solkar giggled, "Then we'll conquer the blue skins and use their world as a ice-cream factory! I like ice-cream!"

Kevin giggled, "We'd never have guessed."

"I'm not old!" Jake continued to protest to all and sundry.

Telez raised his eyebrow in a very Vulcan fashion. "Blue skins? Are you trying to get our worlds back at war with each other, Solkar?"

Solkar grinned cheekily. "Yup! Ice-cream is important!"

Telez pondered that for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "As long as you set me as governor of Andoria, then I shall serve you, Emperor!"

"Cool... I mean kewl! Although 'cool' is a good description of Andoria..."

"That was just what I was going to say," Xain put in, deadpan. Then he was pounced to the ground just outside of the doors to CIC by Jake.

"I am not old. Say it, lover, or you stay here for a while!" Jake giggled.

Xain wrapped his arms around his t'hy'la's back and pulled him in tight before kissing him seriously.

Kenny grinned, "I think that Xain don't mind that threat. We'll be inside... carry on."

"Did they need your permission?" Joel asked from inside of his hooded robe.

"No, but... whatever," Kenny grinned as he patted I-Cheya's rump to get the large beast to go through the door.

I-Cheya complied, after starting to huff the tune from 'The Dating Game'.

Inside the Rec Room they hit a tension level not normally found in the Clan Compound. Joel easily felt the unease, and even anger, from many of the kids gathered there. Much of the unease was coming from whom he assumed was Justy. The anger from Timmy. That was clear as day. "What's wrong?" he trembled nervously.

At his side, Kevin had gone just as tense as Justy. So had most of the others with Joel, apart from Deacon and Lawrence.

"Kevvy? What is it?" Joel asked more urgently, his fear beginning to rise.

Kevin cleared his throat and whispered, "Bradley and Stewart are here with Juan, Koth, Chief Tecumseh and Mr T."

Joel immediately fell flat on I-Cheya's back as he shook in fear, yet his eyes ran not with tears of terror but of sadness. "Oh," he croaked.

Chief Hawkeye Tecumseh turned at the entrance of the group, saw Joel's actions, and sighed. He turned back to the Unit doctor who had brought the two boys over from Camp Bam Bam and said, "You'd better go now, son. I will look after these two boys, now."

The doctor nodded before leaving the room for Main CIC. Once he had gone, the Chief directed the twelve and eleven year old brothers over to the Dining Room and asked them to go with his eldest son, Juan and Koth and wait for him to join them. The leader of the Seminole Tribe then turned and walked over to Joel and the Sehlat. "Little Warrior, may I hold you?" he asked gently.

Joel, still flat on I-Cheya's back, mumbled something that sounded like an affirmative, and so the late middle aged man picked him up carefully and held him close over one hip.

"Little Warrior," Chief Tecumseh spoke softly, "your love has touched both of those boys, but they are breaking up inside because of what they were forced to do to you. You were the only one who tried to save them, and, even though events did not come out as you had wished, they feel a connection to you due to that: a connection that is currently hurting them greatly, as it is so obviously hurting you greatly. The three of you need to heal, and you cannot do so by avoiding one another."

Still trembling in the man's arms, Joel tried to speak but found his voice suddenly gone and his mouth dry. He breathed in deeply and quickly to try and still his racing heart, but it was having little effect. In the end, he did manage to croak out, "I... I'm scared of them, even though I know they didn't want to hurt me... but they took something from me that I can't get back... I... I love them yet I'm scared... I'm so scared."

"They are scared of you, too," Tecumseh whispered back. "They are also scared of your family and friends because they believe that, since they hurt you, the Clan will hurt them. I believe that only you can help the boys, yourself and your family and friends by speaking to them. But you will not be alone, Little Warrior. No one expects you to talk to them alone."

After taking a deep breath, Joel nodded. "...okay," he whispered.

Kevin moved close to the Chief and reached up and took Joel's hand. "In here or in the Dining Room with less people, Sa'r?"

"Here..." was the deathly quiet response.

Over with the rest of his tribe, Timmy was still shooting daggers in the direction of the Dining Room and the Chief noticed. "Tvmketv-Lvmhe. Come here, please," he called.

Timmy looked over at him and walked over stiffly. "Yes, Chief Tecumseh?"

"Bradley and Stewart are not guilty of any crime other than surviving something terrible, Soaring Eagle," the man said seriously. "If they had had a choice, they would never have hurt Joel."

"But..."

"He's right, TimTims," Joel whispered hoarsely.

Timmy pouted for a moment before nodding. "Okay. If you say so."

Nine was sitting over on the sofa with Austin and their two boys, and he called over, "I have a suggestion, sir."

"A suggestion to do what, young one?" Tecumseh asked politely of the odd looking teen.

Nine got to his feet and walked over. "In the place I am from, when I was biologically ten years old, I was released from my maturation chamber and instructed by the Collective to use my abilities. Each had to be tested to ascertain that everything was in working order. For my assimilation task, I was instructed to assimilate a lesser species. I picked a difficult animal to do so on. Due to the unique result, my experiment was kept as a part of the Collective and assigned to me as an adjunct. When I was lost in that Other Place with Austin, my adjunct was still onboard the Cube. If it were brought here by one of the Mikyvis I believe it may be of help to Sa'ren Joel. The sounds and vocalizations of my adjunct are considered calming to most humanoids, and I have also learned that within this Universe, the species is now extinct."

Joel's interest was piqued considerably at those words. "I think I can guess, but what about Koth and Juan in the Dining Room? Will it not make a scene if it comes close to them?"

"No," Nine answered. "The assimilation process has given my adjunct a rudimentary intelligence, and it does not consider any humanoid to be a threat."

"What about Koth's reaction to it, thought?" Joel asked curiously.

"Klingons are not scared of them, only concerned about their presence in the universe. They consider them to be an ecological disaster waiting to happen," Nine said. "But I can control its breeding cycle with the implants."

"Good," Joel smiled as he lowered his hood. "Or we'd be hip deep in tribbles in an instant."

"TRIBBLES?!" Koth yelled from the other room. He stormed out and into the Rec Room just as a giggling Bryce vanished. "Who in the name of Kahless is bringing damned tribbles here? We wiped those forsaken fluffy bastards out!"

Timmy glared at Koth, who quailed back at the force of the small boy's glare.

"I... not me personally, Timmy... but you don't understand! Tribbles are... well... a menace to all who live!" Koth tried to explain, waving his arms about theatrically.

"Don't care! Don't you harm any tribbles again!" Timmy scolded seriously. "If Unca Bryce is bringing Nine his friend back, then you be nice to him!"

"But... but... it's a tribble!"

"Unca Koth!" Timmy warned as he raised his left arm slightly.

"Okay, okay!" Koth exclaimed, "but if they take over the Earth, then I told you so!" Then he turned and stomped back into the Dining Room to mutter darkly to Juan.

Joel was giggling at the poor Klingon boy and so missed the purring that was suddenly coming from the side of Chief Tecumseh. Then he felt Bryce take his hand and place something furry in it. Furry with a few tubes and gadgets sticking out of the fur. He stopped giggling as the purring from the warm, slightly wriggling creature increase. Chief Tecumseh put Joel down so that he could stand there and use both hands to hold onto the large ball of fur that was now attempting to purr the place down.

Xain had also moved forward with interest, the purrs seeming to touch something deep inside of the normally emotionless boy.

Nine walked over and laid his right hand over the top of the tribble. "Welcome back, Adjunct."

"We are Adjunct of Nine of Twelve," the tribble said, its voice robotic. The laser sighter that was sticking out of its fur swivelled to take in the entire room. "We are the Borg! We will assimilate your nourishment! Surrender all food to us at once!"

The group of kids started to laugh, causing the laser to swivel all the more.

"We do not understand. Do the un-assimilated not know that we are serious?" the tribble asked Nine.

"They think it is funny that you can talk," Nine explained. "I understand the humour, and you will as well, in time."

"You have been away from the Collective. You are not Borg any more. Explain," the tribble enquired.

Nine simply cocked his head to the side and linked his mind with the mind of his tribble.

"Now I understand," the tribble answered. "What is my name? I wish a name. Something that will make food tremble in fear!"

Nine smiled as the laughter increased in the room, especially from Joel, "You are always my adjunct, but I wish you to be the friend of Sa'ren Joel, in whose hands you now are. I wish you to help him... To be his 'pet'. He shall be the one to name you."

"Acceptable," the tribble purred. Then its laser turned to Joel's face. "I am your friend. Your pet. What is my name?"

Joel, his face a picture of joy at the feeling of love and trust that the tribble was suddenly producing, raised the creature to his face and rubbed it against his cheek. With tears running from his eyes, he whispered, "Kataui. Your name is Kataui."

"Species 3259 language - Vulcan. Meaning 'Devourer'. Acceptable name! I am Kataui of Borg! All food shall be assimilated!"

At that, the entire room fell about in hysterics. (As did Eggman when he read the draft of this scene. By the end, he was breathing into a brown paper bag. You have been warned - Author Note)

With his ribs hurting from holding back his own laughter, Joel felt about his hip for his cookie bag. Once located, he fumbled with the various compartments until he found the one containing his cookies. He withdrew one and placed it under the tribble that sat on his hand. The sound of the cookie being crunched up made the laughter in the room increased, especially as the purring from the tribble was elevated at the same time. "Assimilate! Assimilate!"

"He likes his food," Nine supplied redundantly, for all in the room were more than aware of the tribble's likes by now.

Juan's face appeared in the doorway from the Dining Room. He looked about with hard eyes until he found Timmy. He marched over and tapped the boy's shoulder. "Why did you threaten Koth?" he asked, his voice hard.

Timmy looked up at Juan, "He was going to hurt Kataui. He doesn't like tribbles, and said it was good that the Klingons had killed 'em all. That's not right."

Juan's face was serious. "And it's not right to threaten your family either. I know something about that, Timmy, and it's not a nice feeling when you remember doing it. I nearly hurt my Momma once, and it hurts in here," he explained as he tapped his chest over his heart. "We are family, and there's always a way to talk to each other without using threats. I don't like it that you threatened my Koth. Would you like it if I pulled out a gun and threatened Ricky?"

His face falling slightly, Timmy shook his head. "No. I'd be angry and hurt."

"Just like I'm angry and hurt," Juan explained, his voice still serious. "Just like Koth is angry and hurt. You go in there and say you're sorry, or I'll tell your fathers and they can tell you what is right or wrong."

Now tears were beginning to form up in the redhead's eyes, and he nodded slowly. "Okay, Unca Juan. 'm sorry..."

Juan nodded shortly and watched as Timmy made his dejected way into the Dining Room and towards Koth. Then he felt a hand touch his shoulder and he looked up to find Chief Tecumseh smiling down at him. "Very well done, young warrior," the Chief said simply.

Juan half smiled before watching the doorway carefully. The rest in the room moved about to greet the purring tribble in Joel's hands while he remained there. A minute or so after Timmy had gone in to apologise to Koth, both the Klingon boy and the smaller Timmy walked out hand in hand and both were smiling. Juan watched with a smile as Koth bent down to kiss the little fireball, and receive a kiss in return. Then Timmy let go of Koth's hand and ran over to Juan. "Sorry, Unca Juan," he said contritely. "I'll do better next time."

"I know you will," Juan smiled as he embraced the small boy, "apology accepted. Now, go meet Joel's new friend while I talk your Uncle Koth into doing so as well."

"If it hisses at me, I'm leaving," Koth warned as he stood warily by the door, his eyes fixed on the purring fluff-ball in Joel's hand.

Juan laughed and walked over to take his hesitant bonded's hand to tug him over towards Joel, while Chief Tecumseh smiled and walked into the Dining Room to talk to the two boys with his son, Mr T.

Kataui by now was perched on Joel's shoulder and rubbing against the side of Joel's face happily, purring loudly. Every now and then the laser sighter would pop up and scan the area, especially when a new hand would touch it to stroke it. Every so often, through this, Joel would place another cookie under the tribble and it would purr more and say, "Assimilate!" Then the sound of satisfied munching would be heard.

"He's going to be fat if Joel keeps doing that," Austin grinned at Nine.

"She," Nine corrected. "And no. Borg drones are designed to recharge using power supplies. Since I am now unplugged, I can do so with sleep and nourishment. However, my Adjunct, Kataui, is able to process both direct power and nourishment. If she takes in too much energy, she will stop eating - or direct a charge to me to add to my own reserves. She can hold a large backup power supply in any case. And she's armed."

"What?!" Austin asked incredulously.

"She's armed. A small plasma disruptor. Kataui!" Nine called over.

"Receiving.... ASSIMILATE!" *munch*

"Please ready your disruptor."

"Acknowledged. What is the target?" the Tribble of Borg asked as a small pen sized device appeared under the laser sighter and seemed to click against it.

"No target. Just a weapon check for the Clan."

"Acknowledged... ASSIMILATE!" *munch* "I like Sa'ren Joel... ASSIMILATE!" *munch* "He feeds us... me..." *munch*

"We noticed," Nine said softly as Timmy looked closely at the weapon attached to the laser sighter.

Right behind Timmy stood Koth and Juan. Juan was, quite frankly, curious about the purring weaponised fluffy mass on Joel's shoulder. Koth's face was twisted in disdain, however.

Without a word being said, Joel's posture changed. While the tribble was having a relaxing effect upon him, his face had seemed rather guarded unless Kevin was standing right next to him. Kevin had moved slightly away to allow the tribe and others access to Kataui the Tribble, but when Juan was standing next to him, without touching him, Joel seemed to relax in the same way he did with Kevin's close proximity. "Hi... Juan," he whispered with a slight blush, for the visit to the Dream Realms was still vivid in his mind.

Juan blushed as well. "Hi, Joel," he replied shyly.

"Did you have fun with Koth?" Joel asked mischievously.

Juan nodded with a blush, then remembered that Joel's couldn't see and so whispered, "Yeah." Then he leaned close to Joel's ear and whispered even quieter, "I let Koth be top."

Joel's face split into a wide smile of joy, for he knew that that was a massive step for Juan. An extremely massive step.

Juan continued to whisper, "Once you're better... well..."

Joel's face tensed slightly, but he did continue to smile. "Okay," he said, a small shy giggle escaping.

"Tribbles procreate easier. We eat. More food?" Kataui put in after a long purr. Then, "ASSIMILATE!" and *munch* was heard as Joel slipped another cookie under the furry creature.

"You sure it ain't no furry munchkin teenager?" Tommy asked with a grin as he walked up to the group. "Open yur bag bro; I've been makin cookies an' there somehow wuz a few dozen more than I wuz plannin on!"

Joel smiled and opened his cookie bag. Just as Tommy was about to slide the plate of cookies into it, a loud "ASSIMILATE!" was heard and, somehow, the tribble jumped off of Joel's shoulder and right into the bag.

"Where did he go, Tommy?" Joel asked curiously as he felt about his body.

"ASSIMILATEASSIMILATEASSIMILATEASSIMILATE!"

"Take a guess, bro!" Tommy laughed as he reached into the bag to pull the munching fuzzy out of it. "You stay there, greedy," he giggled as he plopped the tribble gently on Joel's shoulder. "Some o' these are for my lil'bro!"

Kataui simply purred, for it had managed at least three cookies in its brief time in the dimension bag.

Joel smiled and said, "Thanks. I love you, Tommy."

Tommy grinned and reached to hug his Vulcan brother, but stopped quickly. "Can I hug you?" he asked softly.

Joel nodded, and so Tommy did so. "I love you too, Lil'bro," he whispered before kissing Joel's cheek and walking off with the now empty plate.

Koth was shaking his head slowly. "Ecological nightmare. Trust me. That thing will breed and we'll be up to our brows in hissing food-scoffers. ALL BORN PREGNANT! Nightmare. Total nightmare."

Nine giggled, "I did say before, but you were not here. The Borg probes restrict my Adjunct from reproducing. I can allow a cycle, and all new tribbles would be partially Borg as well. They wouldn't be able to breed unless allowed by me alone."

"Oh," Koth muttered, his 'righteous indignation' punctured by the Borg boy. "Well... they hiss."

"Hiss?"

"At Klingons. They don't like us."

"Will you feed me?" Kataui asked as he sighted his laser on the Klingon in question.

Koth blinked, "I,... ah... well, yes... I suppose..."

Joel held up a cookie, and the tribble started trembling in anticipation. He held it out towards where he thought Koth was and felt Juan direct his aim slightly.

Koth took the cookie and, very slowly and hesitantly, slipped it under the excited seeming tribble.

The purrs were long and loud. Koth half smiled and petted the creature gently, not wanting to get his hand caught on some of the Borg tubes that were arcing out from its fur. "It... it is kinda cute... kinda..." he mumbled.

To everyone's surprise, the tribble moved slightly, then started to creep down Joel's arm and into his hand. It then started to purr in a slow, steady tone.

"She has had enough to eat and will now rest," Nine informed them all.

"That's fine," Juan said, "but how the fuck did it move down Joel's arm? It's got no legs, no nothing!"

"Unknown," Nine shrugged. "It is a mystery even to the Borg."

Joel giggled as he cuddled the purring thing to his chest. "It's a girl?" he asked.

"They are all female. They reproduce asexually, but are all born pregnant. Therefore, they are female... we think," Nine said, shrugging again.

"Oh," Joel smiled as he raised his new pet up to his face and kissed it. "Then she's a sweet tribble."

"Thank you," the tribble purred quietly as the pen-like disruptor unfastened itself from the laser sighter and slipped back inside of the fur. Then the laser did the same. Then the tribble went to sleep... still purring.

Joel felt that the tribble was happy, but that it was also somehow attached to his robe front. He removed his hands and found that the tribble had, indeed, somehow attached itself there. The weight and warmth of the creature, along with its purrs, was comforting. He would need that feeling.

Chief Tecumseh walked back into the Rec Room with his son and the two boys that Joel had tried to rescue the day before. "Little Warrior, are you ready?"

Suddenly beginning to tremble, Joel nodded. He felt one hand being taken by Juan and his other by Kevin as they quickly moved to his side. Then he felt a small someone press himself against his front; Timmy. Levi, of course, moved up behind him and hugged himself around Joel's waist.

A large space opened up around the now scared little Vulcan as the Clan, Tribe and Rugrats parted like the Red Sea. A path was made for the two Seminole and their scared charges to approach and stand before Joel and his protectors. Mr T stood behind the two boys with them pulled back against him securely, while the older boy held onto his younger brother's hand tightly. Both their eyes were locked on Joel's face, and dried tears were clearly seen on their cheeks. As they watched the boy who had tried to save them fight with his fear, fresh tears started tracing down the paths of the old tears.

Joel turned his face slightly towards Kevin and sent, 'Can I see them?'

Kevin did not respond other than to establish the link to allow Joel to share his sight. Then he just looked at the two boys sadly, feeling Joel's pain and remorse hammer down the bond at him.

Joel let go of both Kevin's and Juan's hands and gently moved Timmy to one side. Levi was still attached to his back, and the tribble to his robe front, as he took a step or two towards Bradley and Stewart. He paused and breathed in deeply before whispering, "I don't blame you... it wasn't your fault..."

Stewart covered his eyes with his hands as he burst into full sobs while his brother simply cried openly. Bradley choked out, "But we coulda said no... we shouldn't have d...done... done..."

"It's not your fault," Joel repeated as equally pain-induced tears fell from his face. "I was scared of them, too. I could have saved you, but I was a coward... I..."

"No!" Stewart almost shouted through his sobs. "You were braver than us! You tried to fight... you t...tried to fight... we never did that..."

"We're so sorry," Bradley added as he hung his head.

Joel reached out and, after a second's pause, linked his hands with theirs. "Don't be sorry... I... you're my brothers, now. This is Clan Short, and you are welcome to be our brothers..."

Joel's hands were joined by Timmy's, Juan's and Kevin's. "Unca Joel is right," Timmy whispered softly. "We don't 'bandon brothers."

Stewart was shaking his head slowly, unable to accept that they were being drawn into this group of boys so easily; especially after what had happened.

"Don't shake your head," Kevin whispered as he reached out and placed his hand on Stewart's shoulder. "You're our brothers because we say you are."

Just then, Dylan Chang walked in with an older teen from Camp Little Eagle. Mr T saw them and touched his father's arm. Together, the two men walked over and drew both Dylan and his companion off and to a nearby private room for a talk, leaving Joel and company to surround and take care of Brad and Stewart.

---

In the private room, Chief Tecumseh laid out the full details surrounding Bradley, Stewart and Joel to Dylan and his friend. Once done, he nodded at Chang who said, "I already knew a lot about what you've just said, and that's why I brought Donny over with me. Cabin Seven is a lot like Cabin One, and I think it may be best for those boys to be in an environment like our Cabins."

Donny nodded in agreement, "They need special care. All Dylan told me was that they had been involved in the incident with Joel and that they had lost their parents. I didn't know they'd watched their folks die." He glanced at Dylan, "What do you think: ask Uri and Simon to have a chat with them in a few days time?"

"That sounds like a good idea. I'll also ask them to come over and talk to Joel as well," Dylan added as he nodded at Donny.

Chief Tecumseh smiled, "It looks like you are both able to help them settle in. To help, tomorrow, we are getting the Clan back into a school routine. I have an idea to enable that to be a smooth, easy transition from all the excitement over the last few weeks. I will talk to you both when we are all back at the Camp."

"Okay, Chief." Donny and Dylan smiled.

Mr T grinned, "You are smiling, but I'm sure the guys this side won't be once I inform them that lessons are starting back up tomorrow!"

Dylan started to laugh, while Donny just grinned evilly.

They walked back into the Rec Room, and stopped dead. There, on the sofa, Joel was sitting with Kevin and Juan on either side, and to the other side of Juan were Stewart and Bradley. All five were chatting normally, and almost completely surrounded by the other Clan members who were interjecting their own opinions or answers to whatever the discussion happened to be on. Joel's face was still haunted, as were the faces of Bradley and Stewart, but they were talking easily.

"That's a good sign, I think," Donny said softly.

Mr T nodded before calling out for Bradley and his younger brother to come and join them. They both got up, but also, Juan did as well. The three walked over to stand before Mr T. "This is Dylan Chang," Mr T smiled down at the two brothers. "He's the Director of the Support and Recovery Division. At his side is Donny, who will be your 'Big Brother' in the Cabin group you will be going to."

Stewart nodded slowly while Bradley cast a searching gaze over the large seventeen year old before them. Juan, however, stepped forward and said, "I made a promise that Brad and Stewie would be safe. I need to check that the one looking after them will really take care of them."

Donny smiled and nodded. "You are a telepath?" he asked.

Juan answered, "Yes. Jason Evans trained me."

"Then you can look. I don't have anything to hide," Donny said seriously.

Juan did not take long to check, then he was smiling up at Donny, "Thank you. You'll be a good big brother for them."

Donny grinned, "That's something I always try to be for everyone."

After turning around, Juan said to the two brothers, "They're cool. I'll be over to see you both, often, and make sure you have everything you need. If ever you need me, you just call me on those comm-badges I gave you, okay?"

"Okay," Brad smiled softly before he hugged Juan tightly. "Thanks."

"Thank you," Stewie added as he cuddled in with them both quickly. Then, he and Brad pulled back and moved to stand next to Donny, who took one of their hands in each of his own.

"Come on, guys. Let's get you settled in, then we'll have something to eat. I'm sure they won't mind making up a few late breakfasts," Donny laughed.

"We ate before we came over," Stewie supplied softly as Donny, Dylan Chang and Mr T guided them from the room.

"But you're hungry again, aren't you?" Dylan asked gently.

"Yeah!" both brothers responded as the door closed behind them.

Chief Tecumseh sighed. "Yes, they are Clan kids already," he grinned before turning to look over at Joel on the sofa. "Little Warrior. I would like you to come stand before me, please," he said softly. He looked around briefly before saying, "Tvmketv-Lvmhe, Liketv-Lvmhe and Ee'te Yo'ga'hÈ-Lvmhe; please stand by the young warrior, as well."

He waited for Kevin and Juan to gently lead Joel to stand before him, backed up by Timmy, Ricky and Ollie, who had stayed that night with his fellow Spirit Guides.

Juan moved back from the group, but Kevin remained with Joel and held his hand. The Chief took one look into Kevin's normally brown eyes, saw that they were also mixed with blue and guessed that Joel was using his husband to see. He smiled at Kevin and nodded his thanks before looking at Joel directly. "Little Warrior, I had something made for you the day you gained your warrior markings. With the courage and bravery I have witnessed from you this morning, I am pleased to present it to you. Unlike the three Spirit Guides behind you, you have no Animal Spirit to donate a feather or lock of fur, so I shall ask that one of the three servants of the Great Spirit do so for you."

Before the old man had finished speaking, William, Duke and Iori had already pulled out a tail feather each and were presenting them to the Chief in their beaks.

We are Spirit in part

The Chief looked to the side to see I-Cheya and Black Feet standing there, their eyes glowing white. He glanced back at the three Eagles and saw that their eyes were also glowing white. He turned and bowed to the Sehlat cub and Wolf/collie pup. "Forgive me, I was unaware."

There is nothing to forgive, for my child and my friend's child were never meant to be Guides. They are Guardians

The Seminole Chief nearly fell over as a massive Wolf suddenly appeared behind Joel's two guardians.

I am the Ancient of Earth. The Ancient of the Forests. The Ancient of the Hills. I am Cynoeswr, the father of all Guides and Guardians that walk the Earth, sent by the Great Spirit

His voice was soft and his eyes respectful as the Chief bowed his head and said, "Istehopothlena Eyaha Iste-hanaunowaw-mauaoo-st-chay Wyhome Chacteka, cha i-e-ela anowah." (Wise Wolf Warrior Spirit Father, you astonished me.)

Yes. I did. It was fun the silvery Wolf sent back with a wolfish smile, his tongue lolling out of the corner of his mussel. Yistanku, Medicine Man of Family Clan Short Tribe Division. Step forward!

Yist gulped then edged his way over to stand by the three Spirit Guides, and tried to hide behind Timmy. Due to the variance in size, this was rather amusing for the Great Wolf.

You have nothing to fear, Child of the Past and Future. Take the three feathers my wingéd children have gifted. Take three strands of fur from my friend's son's mane. Take three hairs from my little four pawed son's tail. Take the gift held by my servant. Make the Warrior Band for Destiny's Child

Yist nodded quickly and gathered the three feathers from the eagles before going over to Black Feet and I-Cheya. Blackie turned around and presented his tail so that the boy could select three hairs. Then I-Cheya lay down to make it easier for Yist to get to his growing yet still small mane. Finally, with the items in hand, Yist moved to stand before the Chief, who handed him a warrior's headband.

Joel watched all this through Kevin curiously, the purring tribble on his chest almost forgotten. Kevin's hand was squeezing his, over and over, and his husband's love and concern for him was being sent in slow gentle waves down their bond-link and through their touching palms. At ease for the first time since entering the Rec Room, Joel just smiled as he waited.

"It is done, Chief Tecumseh," Yist said slowly, eyeing the rather large Wolf that was watching him closely.

The Chief nodded and took the completed headband before moving and placing it gently on Joel's brow. "You are now Ataschopco Efeki - 'Sword Heart' of the Seminole Tribe, Little Warrior."

Joel's skin immediately turned into war-paint mode, as did all the others in the room who were linked with the same markings. Joel bowed at the waist. "Thank you, Chief Tecumseh," he whispered softly.

---

The news that school would be restarting the next morning went over as you would expect, however the older Clan members realised that a permanent vacation would have been unlikely. Joel himself was interested as to what it would be like; going to school with others and not being hurt constantly or slapped and shouted at to read or learn faster. For right now, he, Kevin and their children simply sat on the sofa and cuddled together. Juan and Koth had both disappeared back to Utah, saying that they'd be coming to visit often, and the rest of the Clan were milling around doing their own thing. The two boys' four G-Cat guards were seated near to them, and Artimus had Aslan on her lap while Aphrodite had Shere Khan on hers. Both kittens were playing up being 'the babies' for all they were worth, and the two She-Cats were revelling in it.

Telez and Antony were in the doorway to Main CIC keeping watch, while also chatting generally between themselves. They heard a door behind them open and turned to see Brant and Matthew step in from the outside, and Antony waved them over. Matthew came up to them cheerfully and was immediately squashed in a hug between the two of them, but Brant was holding back.

Telez smiled at him and asked, "How are you today?"

"Good," Brant answered briefly, while the air of discomfort continued to hang in the air.

The Andorian needed no explanation as to the cause. "You do know that Jason holds no grudges, do you not?"

The vampire narrowed his eyes. "I do not wish to discuss it," he said seriously.

Shrugging his shoulders, Telez said, "As you wish, but we're all in the same Clan and you and he being at odds over something understandable forever is not going to be easy."

"He had no right to do what he did," Brant said softly and dangerously.

Telez raised an eyebrow. "How came you to that conclusion?"

"I answer to Cory, not Jason. I have the right to judge people. Kyle said I did, and before that, my own people's rules apply. Evil doers are fair game," Brant spat.

Antony, his voice soft and quiet as ever, put in, "Jason is a Patriarch, and Cory set him as second in command of the Clan in his absence."

"I answer to Cory alone," Brant repeated.

"And he answers to Spock as his father and Sarek as his House Patriarch. And he also answers to top ranking VSO officers when a situation arises that falls into our jurisdiction, and Cory answers to the Vulcan High Command when events fall into theirs. He also answers to the Federation in such situations that falls into their purview," Telez listed gently. "Jason was given an assignment by the President of the Federation, the Vulcan High Command and by Spectre, the VSO 'Top Commander', in your words. He could not let you deal with Dillon Scotman, yourself."

"And to clarify, Adam Casey reports to Cory alone as Commander of the Clan Special Forces. You are also a Commander of a Special Forces group, the vampires who directly assist the Clan," Antony said. "Only Adam Casey falls under the distinction of reporting to Cory alone. Every other Division Director reports to the Patriarch of the Clan."

"That's Cory," Brant snarled.

"Yes, but when he is on leave, who is in charge?"

"Joel," Brant said quietly, "he set Joel as in charge."

"Joel was incapacitated," Telez pointed out. "In such a situation, the authority and responsibility would devolve to the next in line, which was Jason."

"No way! I will not report to that bastard. Not ever! He pretended friendship only to know my mind so he could shut me down! Fuck him!" Brant yelled, causing Matthew to jump at the sudden eruption. "What about him?! Aren't you going to bitch him out for fighting me?"

"No," Telez said simply. "He fought you to stop you killing someone who wasn't meant to die, then. That was a correct action. And from the report, he did not fight you, but acted as a shield against you. You were the one who fought him."

"He fought me! There! My word against his!" Brant spat.

Matthew coughed, "Sorry, love. But I was there. I'm not the telepath you and Jace are, but I could tell that he was defending, and you were attacking."

"You're taking his side?!" Brant exclaimed. "Fine! Fine! Whatever, dude. Fuck you, too. Go back to your perfect Jason and leave me the fuck alone!"

"He ain't perfect. He was out of order for what he said to you in the conference in Utah," Antony said softly. "In that situation, he had no right to threaten imprisonment if you attacked him again. The form of fight between you is considered a brother-on-brother spat, therefore not worthy of that type of reaction Jace gave you. I've already given him an arse chewing for that, myself."

"Whatever, dudes. Seeya," Brant snarled before turning and heading for his apartment.

Matthew followed him to the door but found it slammed and locked in his face. "Shit," he whispered before turning back towards his brother, Antony. "Shit shit shit!" he whispered again, this time with tears running down his face.

Antony came over and pulled Matthew into his arms, "Don't worry, bro. Yeah, he's mad, but I think it's because he didn't like being told he was wrong. Neither he nor Jace will be okay until they deal with this thing between them."

"Yeah," Matthew wept softly into Antony's shoulder. "God, I'm tired. Where am I going to sleep, now?" he asked suddenly.

Antony was about to offer a suggestion when Simba ran up hand in hand with a small four year old girl. "Daddy!" Simba cried out happily. "Alice put a ribbon in my mane! Does it look good?" he asked as he let go of the girl's hand and did a twirl on the spot. Just like Aslan, the six year old Simba had a small tuft of hair that stuck up on the top of his head; his 'mane'. Now, however, there was a pretty pink ribbon tied around it.

Matthew took one look and nearly wet himself laughing silently. Once he could control his voice, he wiped his eyes and said, "Uh, it's really nice, Simba. Did you thank your sister?"

"Uh huh! Uh huh!" Simba nodded before taking the girl's hand again.

The girl, Alice, smiled sweetly. "You goin' ta bed, Daddy?" she asked.

Matthew nodded, "Yeah. But your Poppa wants time by himself this time, so I've got to find a good place to sleep instead.

Alice' face scrunched up briefly then she smiled, "I know!"

"Yeah, so do I!" Simba added as the two kids separated and each took one of Matthew's hands. "Come on, Daddy! We'll make sure no-one'll wake ya!"

Antony and Telez smiled as the two children led their father off. "It's about time he adopted that little girl. Seeing her mope around the Dragon's Nest without the one who should have adopted her months ago was hard," Antony said softly to his Bonded.

"Agreed," Telez replied. "Well, back to watching Joel. The vampire issue is not going to resolve itself in the next ten minutes."

"Yeah."

---

On the sofa, Joel had Kataui on his head and was giggling at the sensation of the tribble purring. She had woken up, eaten a post-early-morning-nap cookie and was now contentedly perched and scanning the room for possible dangers to her 'food-source'.

Kevin had a comical expression on his face as he looked at his husband wearing the 'tribble-hat', all the while tickling Jules' belly as the small ferret stretched himself out on Kevin's lap.

Paul Mills entered the room and looked around before heading directly for Joel. Mercury smiled up at him from his position on the floor by Joel's dangling feet, "How's it going, Paul? Where's that Vulcan shadow of yours?"

"Pauly? With my dad," Paul grinned. "He's helping set things up in the Auditorium, however, things might go faster if he wasn't helping. But he's having fun, which is what counts."

Mercury snorted back a laugh, "Okay!"

"Hi, Paul," Levi waved from the back of the sofa where he was lying to be close to Joel, yet not get in the way of Joel's family time.

Paul grinned back before looking down at Joel, "Hey, Joel. Dad is going to have a small service in about an hour, and he was wondering if you'd want to come."

Joel tilted his head to the side, "Why's he asking me?"

"Well, he heard you are a Christian and he's making sure everyone who claims the same gets told that services will be held on Sundays for anyone to attend. We're also making it general for others as well, of course, but I wanted to be the one telling you."

"Oh," the little Vulcan murmured. "I... I'll think about it," he whispered as he began to look unsure.

Paul caught the look and understood. "We'll be cool with whatever you decide, bro. You take care. I've got a lot more people to tell." He looked around at Kevin and the rest, "The same invite goes to you guys, too, of course."

Aphrodite nodded gently, "Thank you. Like Joel, we'll think about it."

"But if Joel goes, you'll get at least two of us," Hermes giggled. He did, however, look very interested. Unlike his older sister, who seemed to be just being polite.

Kevin smiled, "If Sa'r goes, I will. If he doesn't, I'll stay with him."

"I wouldn't expect anything less," Paul said seriously. "God says that looking after each other is very important, and right now, Joel needs you more than God needs you in a meeting," he said with a small smile.

Kevin's smile grew bigger as he nodded.

Paul then looked back at Joel, "Um, before I go... would you like a hug, Joel?"

After a second or so to think about it, Joel smiled and nodded. Lee, who had been sitting on his dad's lap, moved so that Joel could lean forward and allow the larger boy to pull him into a hug.

"Earthquake! Earthquake!" Kataui exclaimed as the laser sighter came out quickly to scan around. Then the tribble saw that it was a hug-induced-quake and relaxed. "Greetings, Quake Maker. I am Kataui of Borg! Do you have food?"

"You've just had a cookie!" Joel giggled as a laughing Paul put him back down on the sofa.

"I do not remember food once eaten. Does the Quake-Maker have food?" she asked again, blithely ignoring Joel, Kevin and their kids' laughter.

Paul checked his pockets and withdrew a wrapped sweet. He took off the plastic wrapping and then looked puzzled. "Where is your mouth?" he asked curiously.

"Place underneath me," Kataui next to ordered.

Paul slipped the mint hard-boiled sweet between the tribble and Joel's hair.

"ASSIMILATE!"

*suck-suck-suck-MUNCH!*

"That is one weird pet," Paul informed Joel. "Are there any more? I think I'd like one!" he added with a laugh.

Joel smiled softly as Paul walked away, then reached up and took down the tribble from his head. "You're a greedy thing," he said softly before kissing the tribble's soft fur and placing her on his lap.

She just purred at him.

Kevin slipped an arm slowly behind Joel and cuddled up to his side, "What's wrong, Sa'r? Why don't you want to go to Paster Mills' service?"

Sighing, Joel whispered, "Because I still feel like I've betrayed everyone... including Jesus."

Levi reached down and rubbed his hand against the side of Joel's face soothingly.

"Oh," Kevin whispered back.

"Kev. Is it okay if I go for a walk alone for a while?" Joel asked hesitantly.

Kevin nodded his head against Joel's shoulder. "Levi won't leave you. You do know that, right?"

"Right," Joel smiled. "Thanks, Kev."

"No charge," Kevin giggled briefly before watching Joel stand up carefully and place the tribble down on the sofa. The tribble then moved over until it found Shere Khan and quickly perched herself on the tiger-kitten's shoulder.

Levi hopped down from the back of the sofa and ran around to take Joel's hand to act as a guide. Aphrodite and Hermes also stood up to trail along behind them. "Where to first, Joel?" Levi asked helpfully as Joel drew the boy up into his arms.

"Don't know," Joel answered as Levi shrank himself down to a three year old size to make things easier. He moved in the general direction of the doors leading outside, "I just wanna think for a bit."

Levi smiled before starting to verbally direct Joel's footsteps to avoid any accidents.

---

Joel eventually found himself walking into his bedroom at Cory's house with Levi still carried at his hip. Both Aphrodite and Hermes remained outside the door to Joel's room, after having checked the room out first, of course. Joel moved in the direction of his bed and sat down, drawing Levi more fully onto his lap.

"Are you okay?" Levi asked.

Joel nodded before hearing a call in his mind. He turned his face towards where his Armour was hanging on its holder and sighed. "It keeps calling me," he trembled. "I can't... I won't."

Levi raised an eyebrow slightly. "Your Armour?"

The small Vulcan nodded.

"Maybe you could just... talk to it?" Levi suggested. "It might also explain why you managed to vanish from Utah and appear on Uncle Cory's bed."

Joel hung his head for a second or so before nodding again. "What is it, Fo'Wein Sa'ren?" he asked hollowly.

In a ghostly whisper, the Armour responded. ///For Hope, Keep Me; By Faith, Wear Me; With Knowledge, Use Me; In Love, Sacrifice Me. Time, Space and Matter mean naught to It which commands us. Sword and Shield - Alive in the Hand of Forever...///

"Isn't that what's written inside the Armour?" Levi asked curiously.

"Yeah. Why's it saying it now, though? I already know this."

///Know with your head only. Now you must know with your heart. We are One, Sa'ren. Sword, Shield, Blade. Living we are, and Sa'ren forever. Command. Think. Will what you wish to Be and it will Be. Command...///

"Is that how I... how I got from the Unit to here?" Joel asked with a tremble. "I commended?"

Silence.

With his eyes wide, Levi turned from the Armour to look into Joel's face, only to see his Vulcan uncle deep in thought.

Then, things got a little strange. Levi closed his eyes as he saw Time swim around him and Joel like a vortex, and he felt Space bend and twist around them as well. Then a liquid feeling started to flow all through him, which made him open his eyes wide in shock. Something of a level of power greater than he knew was now manipulating him and Joel.

And they Moved.

Through Time.

Through Space.

From one place to another.

Then they were still. Alone. Outside on a hill - somewhere.

Levi tried to reach out, but due to being so close to the Shaper of Destiny, he could not put a lock onto what time or even place they were. He looked up into a starlit sky with wonder. "Joel? Where are we?"

Joel breathed in deeply. Then exhaled and said, "I don't want to say unless I'm sure. What do you see, Leev?"

Levi glanced around as Joel stood up and made the small Mikyvis comfortable on his hip. "There's a small town or something over there. About a mile away. There's sheep around us, and it's rather warm. Different than Orlando. The sky's bright for the middle of the night... oh, there's some shepherds near to us... and we're dressed funny!" he ended with surprise. "How did this...?"

Levi stopped as he felt his pendant pulse against his chest. "I think our pendants did it, Leev," Joel said softly as he felt the clothes he was in. Coarse wool robe, a bit threadbare and worn, it seemed. He had old, leather sandals on his feet, and his eyes were bound by a strip of ragged cloth, which covered the points of his ears as well. "Interesting."

Levi created a mirror to take a look at himself. "My eyes are blue too!" he giggled. "It's cute!"

"You're always cute," Joel smiled as Levi made the mirror vanish again. "What's in the sky, Leev?"

"Stars. Lots of them," the Mikyvis giggled.

Joel poked his tongue out and asked, "Anything special?"

"Well, Jupiter and Saturn and the star Rigal are going into conjunction," Levi said. "Very close, too... any time now and they'd be a REAL bright sta...star... where are we, Joel?" Levi asked more insistently.

Joel smiled. "Somewhere special," he said softly as music seemed to flow from the surrounding hills that ringed the town. Light seemed to appear in the skies over each hill, and figures seemed to be floating in the air.

Levi's eyes were wide as a large man appeared next to them both.

"I have something for you," the man said.

"Hi, Michael," Joel whispered in greeting.

Levi squeaked.

A bright white lamb was placed over Joel's shoulders by the towering being. "Your gift for the King," the Archangel said softly.

"Gabriel busy?" Joel asked cheekily.

"Yes," Michael answered drolly. Then he disappeared.

Levi hopped down to the ground, grew back to his seven year old size and took one of Joel's hands. Joel used his other to hold the feet of the calm lamb that was warm against the back of his neck. "Take us to the town, Levi," he smiled blindly down at the still shocked Mikyvis.

Levi nodded mutely, then turned and started leading Joel carefully down the hill. From all around the town, other figures started to move in the same direction as well.

Just as they all seemed to get to the gates of the town, Jupiter, Saturn and Rigal came into full alignment, and the cry of a newborn child rang out in the air.

All the shepherds, Levi and Joel made their way towards the source of the cry; towards a small stable in the town...

---

The air ceased to swirl from the liquid effect, and Levi and Joel appeared within a few bushes in the middle of a hot afternoon. Around them were thousands and thousands of people, and Levi quietly led his uncle out of the bushes and found a place to sit.

"Where are we now?" Levi asked curiously. His eyes were still wild at what he had just been witness to, but his voice remained steady; if full of awe.

Joel shrugged and said, "I'm hungry, so I came for food."

"Food?" Levi looked around. "There doesn't seem to be much around here, except for... for..." he trailed off.

About ten feet away from where he and Joel were sitting, a group of men were gathered around an unassuming Man who was breaking fish and loaves of barley bread into pieces and placing them into baskets. As each basket was filled, one of the twelve men would pick it up and move out into the crowds, giving away the food to those who wished it.

A very young lad, about 16 or so years old, came in their direction and looked down with pity at Joel. He had obviously seen the blindfold over the Vulcan's eyes and, while assuming that Joel was human, his heart was touched with compassion. He stopped and bent down to them before pressing a large supply of fish and bread into Joel and Levi's hands. "If you want to cook the fish, move forward and cook it by our fire," he said softly. "Cephas will let you through," he added before getting back up and moving on to another group.

"Was that...?" Levi started.

Joel giggled as he managed to get to his feet. "Yeah. Yohannan."

"Wow..." Levi giggled. "He's CUTE!"

"Behave," Joel giggled as well, as Levi took the hem of the Vulcan's robe and led him towards the fire Yohannan had pointed out.

Only the unassuming Man and one other remained there, now. The other turned, once he noticed their approach, and he touched his companion's arm. "Master, I think someone wants to talk to you."

The Man turned and looked down at the smiling pair of boys, and noticed the fish and bread in their arms. He looked back at the other man and nodded toward the fire.

The other nodded as well, "Come, children. Let me help you with that."

As he sat down with Levi and Joel drawn close to his side, Joel asked, "Are you Cephas?"

"Yes," Cephas smiled as he lanced the fish on some sticks and placed them over the fire. "Place your bread here," he said, patting a rock by the fire.

Levi did so, while Joel sat there sniffing at the smell of cooking fish that was wafting up and down the hillside.

Levi looked briefly at the Man who was still standing and watching them, before quickly looking away with a blush.

The Man chuckled.

"I don't think he'll bite us, Leevee," Joel giggled as his heart seemed to lift at the sound of the Man's laughter.

"But... but he's..."

"I know," Joel said softly as he turned his face in the direction of the Man. "I know."

Once they had eaten their fill, they each felt a gentle hand on their shoulder. The Man knelt behind them and said, "Go up the hill and wait for me by the three rocks you will find at the top."

Joel nodded while Levi gulped. Taking his uncle's hand, Levi very nearly dragged Joel out of the crowd and up the hill, which only made Joel laugh. "I've never known you to be nervous, Leev."

"But.... but..."

"... or at a loss for words! You've met him once already! You even kissed his cheek!"

"He was a baby, then!"

"So?"

Laughing and giggling, they worked their way calmly up the hill, once outside of the huge crowd, and it didn't take long for Levi to find those three rocks that the Man had told them to wait by. Then, they sat and cuddled; their bellies full and, somehow, their minds at peace.

Then they fell asleep.

---

Levi yawned and stretched like a cat as he woke up. It was night, and the air, while cooler than it had been in the day, was still comfortably warm. He looked around and found nothing of interest, nor the source of the reason he had even slept like that. He glanced down at Joel and shook him awake. "He's still not here. Unless we slept through him being here."

Joel yawned as well before hearing a twig snap from just down the hill. "I think that's him," Joel grinned happily.

Levi also turned toward the direction of the noise and saw a dark shadow rise. The figure of a Man walked toward them and sat down before them. "Hi," Levi trembled nervously.

"Do not fear, Child of Forever," the Man said with a loving smile. "I have known you since before Time's Beginning and have loved you always. You are safe here."

Levi seemed to relax against Joel's side as he smiled back.

The Man reached and laid a hand on Joel's knee. "Your heart is heavy, my Namesake. I know the cause and the reason. What is it that you wish of me?"

Joel started to shake and he wiped at sudden tears that sprang to his blinded eyes.

Levi could guess what the request would be. Since he and the other High Races - even the Guardian - were incapable of undoing the damage to Joel's sight, only One greater than the one who caused the damage would be able to help. Only that One could be the logical choice for Joel to turn to in order to ask for help.

Yet, what Joel did ask surprised him.

"To know what I should do. I hurt so much and I'm so scared. Should I love or stop feeling? Should I be Sa'ren or be Joel? Can I ever be free?" Joel asked with his voice thick with tears.

The Man bent closer and gathered the sobbing child into His arms before sitting back with Joel on His lap. "You are my Shaper, and my Guardian's Sa'ren. You are also Cory's Lil'Elf and the Nexus' Joel. Be all that you can be, my Namesake. But as for your freedom from fear, that will never be, as long as another holds my place in your heart."

Levi stiffened. What on earth did that mean?

Joel, too, seemed at a loss over that statement. "What do you mean? You are... are...."

"Unless I and I alone hold Mastery over you, you will never be truly free, Namesake; another holds that place, and it causes you much pain when you hear the name 'Master', does it not? Until you have only One Master, you will never be free."

Levi raised his hand, "How can having a Master make anyone free, sir?"

The Man smiled, "When someone has the path before them and the energy to walk it, are they not free to do as they wish? If you keep to the rules and guidelines, you are truly free, but if you deviate, you are lost. To use what you know from your time, should a car be filled with water rather than petrol, would it run? Should you take a car where it is not designed to go, will it not break down? But, should you fill it with petrol as the rules say, and keep it to the roads built for it, will it not last you its full time? Will you not have the freedom to go where you wish, so long as you keep to the path?"

Levi nodded uncertainly.

"So is the same for life. There are rules. There are guidelines, not to hinder you, nor to bind you to the service of another, but to free you. In me is life and freedom. Apart, you will die."

"So, is Christianity the only way, like some of those people say?" Levi asked slowly.

The Man smiled, "I am the Light of the World. It is the brightest now, for I am here; but others see that Light also, in their own way. They respond to the Light, and do what I command and teach. What is it that I teach, Levi?"

"Love," Levi answered immediately.

"What is it that I will do, and why should I do it?"

"Die. For Love," Levi trembled.

"So what is the answer to your question?"

Levi smiled, and even though he still trembled, he answered, "Love is the truth."

"And I am Love," the Man said with a smile.

Levi grinned, then he paused, "Why do some Christians do the things that they do to my brothers and friends, then? Why don't they love?"

"There are those who use my Name for their own reasons. Who darken my Name with their evil. Lay their evil at their door, Child of Forever, not mine. They will be judged for their sins; for taking my Name and using it to bind others in chains they were never meant to bear. I bring freedom, not slavery; Love, not hate; Peace, not war. There is a time to fight, but only when Justice finds no other way - when love is threatened. To bind others under chains is not what I teach. To push those who are different away because you do not understand them is not what I teach. I will hold all accountable for their own evil, Levi. Those who have my words and do not do them, but instead go against them, are more accountable than those who have never heard my word nor seen my light. The same goes for all who follow me under a different Name by the Light that they have seen. If they do not follow the Light as revealed, then they will be judged for their evil according to what they have had revealed. In the end, it comes down to what is in the heart, for all have had the light of conscience and morality deeded. Love will judge, and I am Love, and I and I alone am Judge."

Levi nodded seriously before edging closer to be hugged by the Man as well as Joel.

Joel smiled as he felt Levi crawl up next to him. Then he thought about something. "How many names do you have? You've got over 200 that I know of..." he asked curiously.

"How many stars are there in the sky? How many grains of sand exist on the sea shore? How many times can you smile at those you love? I Am that I Am. All know me. All know my Name. To some, I am The Great Spirit. Others call me Oekon. You met me as Aslan, my Namesake. There are some who see me as simply The Maker. I hold Names and Titles in worlds and places not even the Mikyvis have been. In this time and place, however, I have taken on Man's nature; and my Name is Yeshua. But to you, to the both of you: You know me by another Name..."

Levi and Joel both rested their heads against the Man's chest, and together breathed out, "Jesus."

---

Levi opened his eyes, sat up and looked around. Joel's bedroom... Joel was right next to him... and so was a piece of fish and a piece of barley bread. Levi looked at the clock and found that only five minutes had passed.

It felt like more than a day.

He yawned, and then grinned again. Twice in one day had he been asleep. Really asleep! That was three times in less than a week! Mikyvis weren't meant to sleep! Still, he grinned. It was funny, in a way.

Joel stretched and yawned as well, before sitting up to cuddle in with him. "That was fun," Levi said softly. "Scary, but fun!"

Joel nodded slowly. "I... I have a lot to think about," he whispered.

The small Mikyvis nodded as well. "Me, too, Uncle Joel."

"Thank you, Leev," Joel whispered.

"For what?"

"Calling me 'uncle' again. I didn't know how to ask you to do so, since I made a big fuss out of you not saying it..."

"That's okay, Uncle Joel. I love you!"

"I... I love you, too," Joel replied with a soft smile.

Levi cuddled his uncle tightly for a while as both sat there in silence. Then, Levi asked, "Why didn't you ask him to heal you?"

There was silence for a moment longer as Joel thought. "Well," he said eventually, "I don't really know. Maybe because it would have been so easy for him to fix, and I've got bigger problems."

"But it might have been your only chance," Levi said seriously.

"I know. He knows, too. I... I have family who can see for me, Levi. If he'd wanted to heal me, he could have done without me asking. What he did do was help with my questions."

Levi blinked, "I don't understand what help it was, though. He told you the problem, but I can't see how he told you how to fix it."

Joel smiled, "How often does God have to say something for it to be said, Leev? The answer is already in my head. I've memorized the Bible..."

Levi blinked again, then smiled, "Okay... Ummm... Uncle Joel?"

"Yeah?"

"I... oh, never mind," Levi grinned as he bounced slightly on the bed. "What do you want to do now? We've had TWO sleeps... TWO!... and I wanna do something."

"You want to go to that meeting with Pastor Mills?"

"Kewl! Then we can say 'hi' to him as well!"

Joel smiled softly. "We don't need to go to Church to say 'hi' to him, Levi. He's always here..."

"Oh yeah... well, I'm still going to say 'Hi' there, too!"

"Okay. That sounds wonderful," Joel grinned as he moved to the end of the bed and got up. He moved over to his wardrobe carefully. "Can you help me find something to wear?" he asked as he took off his burial robe.

Levi's heart leapt. His uncle didn't feel dead inside anymore!

---

Outside Joel's room, Aphrodite was sitting with her back against the wall. Further down the hall sat I-Cheya, who had plodded over behind Joel sneakily. So sneakily, in fact, that neither of the two G-Cats had noticed him. Which was why Hermes was busy talking to the Sehlat about his hidden stealth abilities.

"Herm, leave him be..." Aphrodite sighed with a grin.

Hermes stalked back and sat down next to her looking disgusted. "I wanna know how he did that," he groused moodily as the tigress pulled him into her side for a loose cuddle. "He's... just too large to be that stealthy!"

Aphrodite tried not to laugh, but couldn't stop it.

"Hey! You're meant to be on my side, so stop laughing now or... or....!"

"Or what?" she giggled. "You'll kiss me?"

Hermes blushed so quick that his fur stood on end.

"Don't play innocent," she smiled demurely. "I've noticed you looking at me. I've also noticed your brother watching Arty, but she's playing hard to get."

"I.... I, umm.... I..."

"You're cute when you're embarrassed!"

"You! I!... wait a min! You're the shy one! And you're... you are..."

"Coming on to you?" Aphrodite teased, then blushed. "Kinda. Arty says I should take a chance."

Hermes tried to flatten his fur, but to no avail. "Ch...chance?"

"I like you, too. You're cute, and your butt is kissable, and your eyes are so nice, and...." she trailed off.

Hermes spluttered in embarrassment, so hard he nearly choked.

Aphrodite just smiled, reached out and hooked the next to glowing cheetah closer - then kissed him.

---

"Come on, Uncle Joel!" Levi bounced around as Joel arranged his Clan Robe over his clothes properly. "Come ooooon!"

Joel giggled before reaching out for Levi to take his hand. "Patience!" he smiled.

Levi grinned before leading Joel over to the door. "We're going to be late if you'd taken longer! We've gotta fetch Uncle Kevvy and the others!" he giggled as he opened the door. "Then we've gotta... gotta... oh! Oh, um.... sorry, guys..." he trailed off, his voice heavy with embarrassment.

Joel felt Levi's hand grow hot with his normal, all-over blush. "What's going on? Have they finally got together and become a couple?" he giggled to the blushing Mikyvis. "Did we catch them kissing or something?"

"Ummm... or something!" Levi choked as he tried to look anywhere but at the two Cats, who were quickly separating.

"Oh?"

"They were making kittens, I think..." Levi whispered before quickly tugging Joel out of his room and down the hall. "They definately 'got together'!"

---

And so, it was a giggling Joel, a blushing Levi, a highly embarrassed Hermes and Aphrodite, and a huff-laughing Sehlat who walked into the Rec Room in order to find Kevin and the others. At one glance, Kevin asked, "Okay. What did I miss?"

Aphrodite turned her face away from the searching glance of her sister G-Cat, Artimus, while Hermes looked like the 'cat who got the cream' - got something at any rate! - as he grinned and blushed at his twin, Mercury.

Joel smirked. Levi blushed more. Kevin worked it out. Mercury slammed his hand onto the floor where he was sitting in jealousy. Artimus rolled around laughing. Mercury got up from the floor and poked Artimus with his toe. Kevin looked around the room to make sure no Tribe or Rugrat members were in sight. Artimus looked up at Mercury and grinned.

"You gonna stop messin' me around, now?" Mercury asked plaintively.

Artimus pursed her lips. "Maybe..." she teased.

Mercury sighed sadly, "But I've liked you longer than Herm liked 'Dite... and they're together... damnit..."

As he turned away, he felt a large lioness' paw on his shoulder. Then he was spun around into a full, G-Cat style lip-lock.

Hermes continued to look like the 'cat who got the cream'.

Aphrodite continued to blush. As did Levi.

Lee the Chimp silently cheered.

Joel sighed happily after guessing what was happening by the weird sound of two Cats kissing, "You four... get some rooms. Tel and Tony will guard us in the auditorium... hormones!"

"You know," Kuan Ti said as he appeared behind Joel and I-Cheya, "I should report you to my brother for engaging in sexual relations while on duty, Herm, Dite... but I think I'll keep this one quiet. You're just too cute together."

Mercury and Artimus broke apart and cried out happily at seeing their fallen big brother standing there.

The Avenging Angel found himself pounced by two cheetahs, a tigress and a lioness.

"Well, we're going to be late if we hang around here," Joel giggled at the purrs and mock snarls of the five cats playing. "I'm going to the meeting. If you wanna come, you can."

Kevin smiled, "I'll come."

"Us too!" Jules and Verne giggled as they continued to watch the large Cats play-fight.

"Can we stay wif them?" Aslan and Shere Khan asked together.

Kevin nodded.

The others all chose to follow Joel.

Telez and Antony walked over and tapped Kuan Ti on his tail - which was the only thing they could safely get at with the mass of fur moving around in a ball. "We'll be on watch in there. Tell your siblings to go have fun."

"Will do!" Kuan Ti replied before roaring playfully at Artimus, who was mock biting his foot.

---

Kevin was thoughtful as he left the meeting. He walked quietly alongside Joel, who was riding on Allie's back again.

"What did you think, Kev?" Joel asked as he cuddled a sleeping Verne in his arms. The meeting had little to do with Shinys, of course, so both ferrets had fallen asleep. Jules was currently wrapped around Joel's shoulder's like a scarf.

"It wasn't what I expected," Kevin smiled. "I liked that he asked us to ask questions. I liked it."

Joel nodded serious, "Yeah. Well, a lot of stuff's happened and a lot of us had questions about it. I like what Paul said, though. Sunday meetings are like a 'scratch feed' while the Bible Studies in the week that Pastor Mills holds have more serious stuff."

"Are you going to go to them?" Kevin asked curiously.

"Probably," Joel grinned. "You don't have to come, Kev - unless you want to. I know you don't believe the same as me."

Kevin giggled. "I don't mind. I might come. Church was nice, so a Bible Study might be nice, too."

"Thank you, anyway, even if you don't come to a study," Joel half whispered as Lee drew alongside and randomly kissed his cheek.

"Thank you for what?"

"Coming to the meeting. You didn't have to, and it might have been real dull for you. Thanks," was the Vulcan's sincere reply.

Kevin leaned down and kissed his husband's cheek. "You're welcome," he whispered into Joel's ear.

Allie plodded over to the sofa, whereupon Joel got up and sat down with Levi on one side and Kevin on the other. He placed Verne down on Levi's lap and then gently removed Jules from around his neck and placed him with his twin. He then felt a movement by his leg and found Kataui crawling up and onto his lap, purring. He smiled for a moment, but then the emotions on his face seemed to drain away.

Kevin glanced at him, "Are you okay, Sa'ren?"

"I am well," Sa'ren answered softly as he petted the tribble on his lap. "Have our four G-Cats returned as yet?"

Kevin smiled and shook his head, "No. Not yet. I think they are taking their time... which is strange for the two cheetahs!"

"Yes," Sa'ren responded. "Indeed. Is my father here?"

Levi looked over and through the open doors leading to the Dining Room. "Yeah. He's here. Do you want me to call him?" he asked.

Sa'ren shook his head. "I will go to him. Where is he?"

Levi told him and then watched as Sa'ren carefully got up and moved slowly towards the Dining Room, Kataui purring in his hands.

"He keeps doing that," the small Mikyvis said unhappily to Kevin.

Kevin nodded, but he looked peaceful. "I don't mind. It's still my Sa'r. If he wants to stay this way forever, then as long as he's at peace, I'll be okay, too."

Levi nodded but did not look as certain as his uncle.

"Sa'mekh?" Sa'ren called formally as he entered the Dining Room.

"To your left, my son," Spock answered.

Sa'ren headed toward his voice, carefully checking with his hands so that he would not run into the table's edge or a chair. He felt his fingers taken by the warm hands of his father. "Greetings," Sa'ren said softly as he removed his fingers and held out just two from his right hand. His father's touched them briefly before parting.

"Did you wish anything of me?" Spock asked as he looked his child over carefully, noting the Vulcan persona that had once more taken over him.

Sa'ren nodded. "Yes, Father. I was thinking about my abilities and my lack of vision. There is an ability that will enable me to sense objects around me and thus enable me to move more freely when alone. Could you teach it to me?"

Spock's eyebrow raised. "I can. In your case, you may have more range than a full blooded Vulcan would, as your Vulcan empathy and telekinesis is mixed with human. I will need to meld with you."

His son nodded seriously, and so Spock raised his hand and began a meld.

---

Justy found Sa'ren walking back and forth from one side of the CIC building to the other, with Kevin trailing along behind like a concerned mother-hen.

"Ah... hey! What's going on?" Justy asked curiously, for Sa'ren did not have a cane to tap ahead of himself, nor anyone guiding him as he navigated his way around obstacles and various small bodies as Tribe members ran hither and yon.

"Our intrepid Vulcan explorer is trying out a new ability Uncle Spock taught him," Kevin said, going for levity but conveying only worry. Once Justy was at Kevin's side, the small boy added softly, "He keeps falling down, but won't let me help him any."

The older teen rested his hand on Kevin's shoulder comfortingly and squeezed. "He's tough, Kev. He'll be okay..." A loud noise of a door crashing open and bodies colliding stopped Justy mid-speech. He and Kevin blinked in the direction of the commotion. "Oh! Yeah, he does, doesn't he?" Justy said as he and Kevin moved towards the pile that Sa'ren, Yist and Pauly had become just by the door leading out to the playing fields.

"Sorry, Unca Jowl," Pauly said as he and Yist helped the blind Vulcan back to his feet. "We wasn' lookin'."

"So I gathered," Sa'ren replied. "It is of no consequence. Did you injure yourselves?"

Pauly shook his head, "Nuh huh, Unca Jowl."

"I think I sprained my wrist," Yist winced. His right hand was held against his chest carefully, and his eyes registered pain.

Sa'ren reached out until his fingers connected with Yist's arm. "Which one?"

"My right."

Sa'ren's fingers traced their way slowly and carefully down Yist's right arm and, feather light, over the wrist and hand. "You have broken three bones in your wrist. Senva, please assist Yistanku in seeking Doctor Austin or Antonio, please."

"Okay," Pauly nodded as he took Yist's free hand.

"And please be careful in future. It is easy to injure one's self if one does not take care," Sa'ren added calmly.

Pauly and Yist nodded seriously, and Yist said, "Thank you, Ataschopco Efeki. Your magics are great."

Sa'ren raised an eyebrow but let the comment pass as Pauly led his older friend around Sa'ren and off toward the Rec Room, looking for the nine year old Antonio.

Justy touched his cousin's arm. "How did you know that, Joel?"

Sa'ren turned slightly to address the older teen, "Vulcans meld by allowing our thoughts and minds to flow into another body. This is done via the nerves. I reasoned that if I could link minds with someone, I could also tell what their body was relaying to them in a similar fashion. I tried doing so and found that it was so."

"Oh," Justy murmured.

Sa'ren reached out and touched his cousin's chest, and then traced his fingers up to explore Justy's face. "Did you wish to speak with me, Justin?" he asked as he casually checked on Justy's emotions as per his expression.

"Ah, yeah. Yes, I do. Dad is getting a Halloween party ready for tonight, and I came to invite you and Kev. The rest, too, but you especially. I've even got an idea for a costume."

Sa'ren cocked an eyebrow, "Costume? What is this costume?"

"Come - I want to show you something. Kev, you'll have to come, too, as Joel'll need to see through your eyes again," Justy giggled as Sa'ren finished his 'finger-touch' check of his face.

Kevin grinned, "Okay... do you have an idea for me, as well?"

"Sure do!"

Sa'ren murmured, "This is intriguing. Lead on, cousin." Then he followed behind the sense he had of Justy's body as the teen led them into Main CIC.

---

It was Joel, not his Sa'ren persona, that ended up rolling around Main CIC floor, laughing his ass off.

Kevin was still shaking his head to Justy's suggestion for a costume, but the Angel-Boy was slowly winning the argument.

Levi was already dressed in the costume that he had just created, and was being thoroughly tickled by a laughing Seth.

There were plans for other costumes as well, and Joel already knew who he'd ask to be one of them... once he managed to control his gales of laughter and get to the comm to call him, that is!

---

After waiting for Levi to create all the random costumes, making sure they would seem as 'life-like' to the originals as possible, Joel, Kevin and Levi were ready to leave. Before they did so, Justy pulled Joel to one side. "Bro, I've got something to tell you, but I don't know if you're gonna like it," he said seriously.

"What?" Joel asked cautiously.

"It's about Cory."

"Okay," Joel nodded, feeling more than a little scared at the mention of the name.

Justy decided to just plunge right in and say it all. "We've not let any of those in Des Moines know about what happened to you, bro. Uncle Spock said that Teri knows, and Mikey is over there helping to keep them all ignorant of it."

"Why?" Joel asked. "And is that why Co... Blondie hasn't called? Nor Teddy?"

"That's right," Justy answered.

"I thought they didn't love me any more," Joel whispered.

"That's never going to happen. As for why, it's because of what you did to Cory at your birthday party. You made it so that if you get hurt again, then..."

"...then Blondie can destroy the universe... is that really going to happen?" Joel finished and asked in shock.

"Quint says yes. And he also said that only you can tell Cory without it happening as you can control all destinies. I'm sorry, bro. Really I am, but only you can tell Cory that you were attacked and ra..."

"Don't!" Joel nearly shouted. "Don't say it... okay... so I have to tell him?" he asked more quietly, obviously unable to see the shocked and concerned expression on Justy's face due to his outburst.

"Right," Justy whispered.

"Everything?"

"That's up to you, but only you can decide that, and only you have a chance at stopping Cory from making everything go boom."

"Oh... okay. Thanks, Justy," Joel whimpered before feeling around for Kevin. Justy grabbed his hand and led him back over to the door where a concerned Kevin was standing, and watched them leave. Then with a sigh, he began to sort out the transport of the 'special-Levi-made' costumes to Southcrest ready for the party.

Joel, more or less, led the way outside, with some help from the other two, as he continued to practice his newly learned ability. He sensed the approach of his and Kevin's four G-Cat guards and started to smirk. As he heard them come up and join his small group, he giggled, "Finished fraternizing on duty, now?"

Artimus growled playfully at him, while Mercury and Hermes batted lightly at his arm. "Pain," they said in unison.

Joel shrugged happily and continued to walk, scanning ahead of himself for obstacles. Mercury whispered to Kevin and asked what was going on, only to have a brief explanation whispered back.

"Cool. We'll follow along behind," Aphrodite smiled.

As Joel rounded the path that curved through the houses belonging to his brothers, he began to feel his emotions become unsettled. The memories of yesterday morning were coming back over and over and he was having a hard time ignoring them. They reached the playing fields only to find that a lot of Joel's nephews were not around. "Where are they?" Kevin asked curiously.

Levi smiled, "Pauly, Ricky and Timmy got together with some of the others to set up a surprise party for Uncle Cory in Des Moines; they're off practising with my brothers and Quint. The rest are inside the Rec Room. They'll be back before they head off to the party in Des Moines, though."

Kevin looked surprised, "Quint, Bryce and Dylan are working together? Didn't Quint piss off your brothers yesterday?"

Levi nodded, "Yeah, but I sorted it all out. I got them together and told them to talk it out. Quint was just lapsing into his species natural way to deal with trouble."

Nodding with understanding, Kevin laid an arm around Joel's shoulders.

Joel shuddered without meaning to, and Kevin looked at him in concern.

"What's the matter?" Kevin asked quickly.

"I don't know," Joel trembled as he shrugged his shoulders over and over until Kevin removed his arm. "I just don't feel like being touched right now... sorry..."

Levi reached and held Joel's hand gently for a moment before glancing at Kevin, "I think he needs to be alone for a while, Uncle Kev. He's having some trouble inside."

Nodding sadly, Kevin whispered to Joel, "I'll see you later? Maybe at the party?"

"Yeah," Joel whispered. "If I feel better before, I'll call you."

Kevin reached without thinking and rubbed his thumb over his husband's cheek. "I love you, sweety. See you later."

"I love you, too," Joel echoed as Kevin turned and walked back toward CIC, with the two She-Cats trailing after him. The young Vulcan tightened his grip on Levi's hand and said, "I wanna go for a walk."

"Where to? I could pop us there," Levi offered helpfully, looking back at the concerned yet smiling faces of the two Cheetahs.

With a brief giggle, Joel shook his head. "No-where in particular, Leev. Don't you ever just want to 'walk' some place to enjoy it?"

Levi paused at that question, his head tilted to the side cutely as he thought about it. "I... no, I've never done that. It's so slow, walking places!" he giggled.

Joel smiled before sitting down on the playing field. "Leev, you're a Mikyvis and so you don't know much about being human. I think you're missing out on a lot of cool stuff, though."

"Cool stuff?" Levi asked as he shrank down to three year old size and squirrelled his way onto Joel's lap.

As the two cheetahs settled down nearby to watch Joel, Joel started to explain to Levi, "You're not human as such, Leev, but you are from humanity. There's a lot of stuff that we do that feels nice, or is nice. I just don't want to see you miss out on some of the good stuff from your heritage."

Levi smiled, "You're not trying to make me pretend to be human, are you?"

"No, I'd never do that, Leevee," Joel said, shaking his head. "You are who you are. It's just as I said; there's stuff you can do that is nice. If you don't like it, then you don't have to do it again."

Levi mulled that over for a moment, then nodded. "Okay, like what?"

Thankful for something to take his mind off of the memories trying to resurface, Joel said, "You shower with people, don't you?"

"Of course," Levi giggled, "I did this morning, with you!"

"Why? You don't need to to get clean, so why do you shower with us?"

"I can't let Timmy have all the fun," Levi giggled.

"So, you enjoy showers?" Joel grinned.

"Yeah," Levi nodded against Joel's chest.

"Okay. That's one thing about being human that you like already. What about being towel dried? I can't remember you ever doing that. Why not?"

"The water gets cold! I just get rid of it!"

Not only Joel laughed, but so did the two cats sitting behind them. "Granted, but it feels nice to use a towel to dry yourself. Even better when you're being dried by someone else; like when my Daddy dried me this morning and I dried my little brother, Sol."

"Really?" Levi asked, looking up first at Joel, then over Joel's shoulder at the two cheetahs.

"Yeah!" Joel grinned.

Mercury pulled a face, "Don't look at us! We clean each other by grooming. I like swimming, but we don't towel dry as it would take too long!"

"Fur-Driers!" Hermes grinned. "We use them on each other, so it's kinda like Uncle Spock using a towel on Joel."

"Dilly says you just like blowing each other!" Levi responded innocently.

Mercury blushed, while Hermes blew a raspberry. "We were experimenting, imp! Kiss my furry butt!"

"Bend over and get ready!" Levi giggled.

"Haha... anyway," Mercury giggled as he smoothed his blush induced standing-fur back down, "we were talking about hair driers... sheesh!"

"And having fun with human stuff," Joel added softly.

"Mmm..." Levi murmured thoughtfully.

"Wanna try it?" Joel asked in a whisper, "we can try and get the two pussies to shower with us as well! And we can have fun drying them down... maybe put some curlers in and get them looking pretty for their girlfriends!"

"We heard that!" both cheetahs yelled.

Levi grinned at them, but then asked, "I thought you wanted to go for a walk, Uncle Joel."

Joel shrugged, "After. A nice shower first might be good."

Levi scratched his head for a second, "Okay, shall I pop... no, you'd want to walk... slooooowlllly... right?" he added with a grin.

With a smile, the small Vulcan nodded and stood up. After placing Levi back on his feet, and waiting for Levi to go back to his seven year old size, Joel started walking. Then he stopped. "Which way is my home?" he asked plaintively. "I can't sense ahead that far," he added softly.

Purrs answered his question and he felt a pair of furry paws on his shoulder, turning him slightly. "There you go," Hermes said gently.

"Thanks," Joel whispered before starting off slowly.

---

There was shampoo everywhere. And purrs. And giggles. And more shampoo. Some body-wash as well. And more shampoo.

Both cheetahs looked like miniature versions of the Stay-Puffed Marshmallow Man by the time Levi and Joel had finished lathering them up.

Suds were flying everywhere as both cats snorted the soap out of their noses, half-heartedly complaining all the while - but also getting just as even by mashing paw-fulls of suds into both Levi and Joel's faces as well.

All four kids were having the time of their lives.

Seated outside of the shower area, Slider watched with amusement. So did Blackie and I-Cheya.

Bad move.

Slider was the first to be caught and dragged into the shower. Then Blackie.

I-Cheya took a bit more effort, for the great beast had sensed Joel's intentions before the other two and had jumped from the window to the ground and started to leg it out across the playing fields.

Joel allowed Levi to do his 'Mikyvis-thing' and pop the escaping Sehlat directly into the shower.

*Huff!*

"Yes, it's cheating - but so's jumping outta the window!" Joel giggled.

"... huf...fphewpp!* I-Cheya tried to respond, but got a nose full of soap suds for his trouble.

Slider and Blackie just sat there and enjoyed the attention.

Strange canines.

After everyone was done, the hair driers and towels were shared out and everyone got busy. Hermes found it amusing to watch I-Cheya use a towel (?!) to dry Joel, while Joel dried Levi. Blackie was using a drier on Mercury (...don't ask how!). Slider had a large comb in his mouth and was raking it gently through Hermes' fur.

"These are not normal animals," Hermes decided eventually, causing Joel and Levi to giggle.

Getting dressed again was another experience.

Joel decided that since Levi was spending the day with him, then Levi should dress in his clothes. Which was amusing as everything was about three sizes too big for the small Mikyvis. Then, after dressing his little shadow in identical shorts and tee-shirt to himself - tying the shorts up with the draw-string to stop them falling around Levi's ankles - Joel called Daileass to create modified shorts and tee-shirts for Hermes, Mercury, I-Cheya, Blackie and Slider.

I-Cheya tried his 'leap from the bedroom window' escape ploy again, but Levi was too quick for him.

With the two G-Cats, they were more concerned about their weapons being on show rather than the fact of being dressed up human style.

So Joel ordered them to leave their weapons there.

That caused a fuss, until Levi tapped Joel's communicator and called to the Unit Barracks at the top end of the Orlando Compound to request stand-ins for the two Cats - for as Joel so simply put it, "You're on leave - or I tell Adz that you pussies were enjoying chasing after two pussies' pussies when on duty!"

That earned Joel a tickling by way of punishment for his threat, but it did get the two embarrassed cheetahs to agree.

The two Unit members, who had arrived by Daileass transport by that time, fell about laughing. They were both 'human' Unit members, and obviously an item by the feeling Joel got from them. "You'll fit in nicely," Joel giggled.

"Thanks," Dan grinned, while Tammy blew kisses at the little Vulcan.

Me no like shorts! Ride up butt! No comfortable!

"Stop whining, 'Cheya!" Joel giggled.

*Huffuff, huff!*

"No swearing either!"

Once done, with Dan and Tammy pretending to be drill sergeants inspecting them all, Levi asked, "Now we go for a walk?"

Joel was about to reply when his belly rumbled. Hermes was about to comment on it when his also started to make noises.

Dan grinned, "I think some food is needed before a walk. It's lunchtime anyway."

Levi nodded, "Yeah!"

"Before we go," Joel giggled, "Levi, can you help me find the sketch pads and colouring pencils I had for my birthday?"

"Sure," Levi said. "I think they're over here," he added as he ran over to the desk where Joel's Mac Pro was set up and opened a draw. "How many pads do you want?"

"Four," Joel smiled.

"I'll carry them," Tammy said, a smile on her face.

Levi grabbed the pads and some of the packages of colouring pencils and handed them to her. "Thanks."

Joel found his way over to I-Cheya and climbed onto his back. "Dining Room! Time for yum-yums!" he giggled as he thumped his heels against the Sehlat's side.

I no run in shorts! My testicles will be squished!

"Will I-Cheya's nuts get squished if he runs, Dailly?" Joel asked curiously.

'No. I made the shorts well, 'Cheya. You'll be fine!' Daileass giggled from Joel's communicator.

Huffing disconsolately, I-Cheya plodded out from the room, with the others following him, laughing and giggling.

"I like this tee-shirt," Mercury grinned as they made their way out of Cory's house and towards CIC. "Do you think Arti will like it too?" he asked his brother.

Hermes glanced at the tee-shirt to read it. "'I'm with beautiful'... yeah, she should..." he giggled.

---

After a well deserved, post-mass-shower feed (lunch to those of us who don't speak 'kid' any more) - and a nice cuddle time with a surprised yet happy Kevin - Joel and gang were back outside on their mission. Kevin remained behind with his brothers and Pop, just to give Joel more time to stabilize his emotions.

I-Cheya had stopped complaining about his 'clothing' by this point, although he had been mortified when his mother, I-Metri, and his friend, Marjur, had seen him and started huff-laughing at him.

Levi walked alongside his Uncle as they made their way in the general direction of Southcrest. "I liked the shower," he said quietly as they walked through the fields.

"And the towels?" Joel asked lovingly.

"Uh huh. It was nice... I think I'll do that a lot, now," the Mikyvis grinned cutely.

Dan and Tammy were looking around carefully, checking out the area thoroughly. "I've not been out this far before," Tammy said. "It's beautiful here, isn't it?"

Levi nodded, "Yeah.... oh, is that what you meant about going for a walk, Uncle Joel? So you can look at the stuff around and enjoy it?"

"Uh huh," Joel whispered. "I can't see it any more, but I still like the sounds and the smells. It's nice here."

I-Cheya huffed slightly as they went through a small thicket of trees into another field. In the centre of the field was a solitary tree.

"Oh," Dan exclaimed. "Wow, I wish I had my camera!"

"You're on duty," Hermes giggled. "Behave!"

"Oh, really? I wasn't the one caught with my 'pants down' when on duty, puss!" Dan shot back with a wide grin.

Hermes pulled a face at him, but didn't respond as a blush had taken over. Mercury managed a weak, "Don't call us puss..." but then tried smoothing his blush-standing fur back down.

"You don't have to worry," Joel said quietly. "All of the Compound and Southcrest grounds are Starfleet Protected Territory. Yeah, keep watch just in case, but it's not like we're out in public."

Dan reached and rubbed his hand through Joel's curly hair, "We know, imp."

"That's 'Sir Imp' to you," Joel giggled as he fended off Dan's hand.

Levi added in, "Or Prince Imp!"

"His IMP-Perial Highness?" Tammy asked before breaking out in giggles.

"Love, that was painful," Dan groaned as the two cheetahs hissed and covered their ears.

Joel continued on, following behind his Sehlat, and ignored them. The grin didn't leave his face, though.

Once they reached the tree, they scouted around it for a good place to sit down for a while. Mercury giggled when he saw a sign in very kid-like writing saying 'Potty-place! No sitting!'

"The Tribe's been here," he giggled as he wrinkled his nose.

Tammy rolled her eyes and nodded before leading the group around to the other side and finding a place to settle down. "Do you want your sketch pads and stuff now, Joel?" she asked.

Joel nodded, and was quickly given the four pads and the packets of pencils. He handed a pad to each of the Cats and one to Levi, then dumped the pencils down where they could all get to them.

"What are we doing?" Levi asked curiously, very excited about learning something more about 'being human'.

"Kids like to draw stuff," Joel smiled. "I've never had the chance, and neither have you guys... I thought it might be nice to do so now."

"Okay," Mercury nodded as he reached for his favourite colour pencil - hot pink.

Hermes said not a word.

"How are you going to draw?" Levi asked Joel, laying a hand on Joel's arm gently.

Joel blinked then hung his head. "I'd need Kevvy here to see..." he whispered sadly. "Damn..."

I-Cheya huffed for a moment at Joel.

The little Vulcan started to smile. "I can see through your eyes, too, 'Cheya?" he asked hopefully.

*Huff*

"That works," Dan grinned. "Do you guys have some spare paper? I'd like to draw something too."

"Yeah. Me as well," Tammy smiled.

Levi pulled a few sheets out of his pad and passed them over to each of them as they all moved into a circle around the pile of pencils, the afternoon sun shining down on them. I Cheya moved until he was between the tree and Joel, with the Vulcan pressed against his belly. His rear legs were splayed out to either side of Joel, and his forepaws were resting upon them. Over the top of his ward's head, he gazed down at the drawing pad so that Joel could see what he was doing.

---

"My sons," Sarek said as he entered the Dining Room where Spock and Chip were deep in conversation.

"Father," Spock said while Chip just nodded.

Sarek sat down and looked at them, "Your mother and I have to leave for Vulcan. I received troubling information yesterday, but was unable to act upon it due to the situation with Sa'ren. Now, however, I must depart to deal with this issue."

"Oh?" Chip put in, his face troubled. "This sounds serious. What's happening?"

"My authority is being questioned, and all that I have enacted in the last week has not been ratified by the High Council until I appear and show cause to these actions. Spock," Sarek added, looking at his biological son, "you might receive a call within a few days for you to appear as well. There are some who are calling into question the Ahm-Van-Kal of Sa'ren."

Spock stiffened noticeably. "None have lied about the Naming in living history. None would dare. They are calling my word into question?"

Sarek nodded seriously, "And those doing so are using your mixed heritage as the reason for the perceived 'lie'. It has a direct bearing upon my situation, so I would expect you to receive a recall order shortly." He paused before adding, "Sa'ren as well. It is likely that those opposing us will want to - talk - to him as well."

Chip's face contorted in anger, "They would interrogate a child after he had suffered what Joel has suffered?!"

"Yes," Sarek answered softly. "In their eyes, a twelve and a half year old Vulcan should be able to stand a questioning before the Council even after such an event as they should have enough emotive control to function. Those causing this are not taking into account my grandson's history, nor lack of training. In your way of saying it, Charles; they do not care."

"Twelve and a half?" Chip queried, then he nodded, "Ah, Vulcan years. Right."

"Let me hazard a guess, father," Spock said, his voice icy, "is Patriarch Siprak behind this?"

Sarek nodded slowly.

"If I am recalled, then I shall bring a few with me as witnesses to something that will cause more than a few ripples," Spock grated out. "Siprak's word does not weigh heavy with me any longer."

"Oh?" Sarek raised an eyebrow. "What has happened?"

"Until I am ready, I will not explain. This is dangerous," Spock said as he clamped down on his building rage.

Sarek nodded with understanding, "Then I shall speak to you once Amanda and I have arrived on Vulcan. Be well, my sons. Live long and prosper."

"Peace and long life, father," both men responded simultaneously. Then they watched as the aged Vulcan left the room before looking at each other seriously.

---

It was an hour or so later when Kevin and the She-Cats arrived with a small group of others, only to find Joel and the rest still drawing away blissfully. Slider and Blackie, not to be left out, were gathering sticks and making some abstract pattern with them on the field just a small way away from the tree. Kevin swore that something about the pattern was drawing him into it, and so deliberately pulled his eyes from it quickly.

With them walked Jason, Nathan, Koth, Juan and their small son, Tumelo, and all were smiling at the sight of a happy little Vulcan having fun with a group of his friends and family. Kevin's bond-link was flooded with good feelings emanating from his husband, and he practically bounced the last few yards over to them.

The gang showed off their pictures to the newcomers, and Kevin awarded marks out of ten for each of them. Most were 8 and up, except for Joel's. Joel's picture never even received a mark, for Kevin was just staring at it, feeling a little lost. "Sa'r? You did this from memory?"

"I don't think so, although it kinda reminded me of something," Joel answered curiously. "Why?"

"It's a lot like the mural in our house," Kevin said softly. "It's different... but not... it's really strange. I recognise it, but it's different. But I can't say how."

Jason looked over at the picture as well. "It's oddly compelling," he commented. "I've not seen your mural, Kev. Shall we go over after and compare the picture to it?"

Both Joel and Kevin nodded quickly. Joel reached out with his drawing pad and asked, "Tammy? Can you keep this safe for me, please?"

"Sure, cutie," Tammy smiled as she accepted the pad.

"I need to use the 'Potty-place'," Hermes said with a toothy grin as he got up and ran around the tree.

"Boys," Tammy muttered.

"You're just jealous 'cos we can pee where we want to easier!" Dan giggled. He got slapped for that one.

Levi started to giggle at the contented sighing from the far side of the large tree as Hermes attended to his call of nature. "Does peeing feel good?" he asked Joel through his giggles.

Thinking on that carefully, Joel eventually nodded. "Yeah. It does, kinda. It's like you've got a pressure inside of you and when you get rid of it, it feels real nice."

"Mmm..." Levi hummed thoughtfully.

"I thought Mikyvis converted all food and drink straight to energy," Juan put in as he looked at the thinking Mikyvis. "I don't think you'll be able to do it, Levi."

"You're right, Uncle Juan, but I could drink something and... yeah, I think that would work... I need something to drink!" the suddenly hyper Mikyvis giggled.

Dan held out a hip-flask, "Here you go."

Levi downed all two litres of it. Then his eyes crossed and he bounced to his feet. Just as Hermes reappeared from the 'Potty-place', Levi was racing for it, while gripping at his crotch tightly in desperation. There were a number of chuckles following him.

A few seconds later, a panicked cry came around the tree. "I don't know how to pee! Help!"

Joel giggled and, with Kevin's help, got up and ran around to whisper into Levi's ear. As he did so, Levi managed to work out how to use that part of his 'locked-form-energy' anatomy that had never been used that way before, and was probably never expecting to have been used anyway.

The howls and yells of laughter was not quite what the gang were expecting. Levi had his shorts and underwear around his ankles (in a classic little-kid-peeing pose) with his hips thrust forward, but he was also hopping from foot to foot, yelling about it tickling and itching like crazy. His tears of laughter were not stopping throughout.

Kevin looked over the smaller boy's shoulder and promptly fell on his own butt laughing.

Tammy came around the tree looking concerned, "What's happen... oh, God... DAN!"

"What?!" Dan whined. "What did I do now?"

"You had coca-cola in that flask, didn't you!"

"Well, yeah... I don't like water..."

"Levi's PISSING coke, right now... fully carbonated... poor little thing," the fourteen year old girl cooed as she came up and hugged the still peeing Mikyvis from behind to calm him down.

It didn't work, but Levi appreciated the thought. He was seriously regretting having drank all two litres of the coke right about now.

Joel was rather impressed. "That's one large bladder you have, Leevee..."

"IT TICKLES!" Levi cried out through his giggles and almost wails of laughter.

"I'll look after him," Joel said as he reached and touched Tammy's arm. "Do you have water, or something normal to drink?" he asked as she moved aside to allow Joel to hug Levi from behind.

"Yes, water," she smiled as she pressed her flask into Joel's hand. Then she moved back around the tree, taking the still madly laughing Kevin with her, muttering, "Poor kid."

As Levi finally finished 'urinating' the last of the coke out, he turned in Joel's arms and whimpered, "It tickled bad... that wasn't good, Uncle Joel."

"I know," Joel whispered back. "But I didn't know you'd been given coke to drink. I was expecting water, or something normal like that."

Levi shook slightly, "I dunno if I wanna try it again."

Joel giggled, then said, "Look in my mind. See what I feel when I pee, then decide if you wanna try again."

Levi nodded and then focused on Joel. A second later he tutted crossly before giggling, "I keep forgetting that I can't read you the normal way, now."

"Can't you?"

"Nope. We telepaths had to touch your pendant, and if it allows us, then we can," Levi explained as he reached into Joel's tee-shirt to hold Joel's Guardian-given pendant.

Joel had a thought. "Try focusing on your own," he suggested.

The Mikyvis pulled his hand back and did so, then grinned, "I'm in! It works!" After a second he said, "Okay - I can see you like it... I did a few things wrong, though, didn't I?"

Joel grinned, "Sure did. First, an adult's bladder usually feels full with five to six hundred millilitres. A child's would be less. You shoved two full litres into yours! Second, carbonated really isn't something that a normal bladder would contain, so no wonder it tickled. Third and last, it would be body temperature. You need to drink a cup full, or a little more, and warm it to your core temperature before peeing it, or you'll get a real cold dickie. And you won't feel like you're about to explode like a balloon either."

Levi nodded against Joel's chest before taking Tammy's flask from his uncle's hand. He drank the water slowly, simply because he wanted to know for himself what it felt like to have a half full bladder, a 'nominally' full one, then a bursting one.

He started hopping about again, but he didn't seem to be doing so as painfully as before. He swivelled back and started to pee. Thankfully, water this time - and Joel grinned as he continued to hug Levi's back against his chest. The mews of relief told him that Levi was actually enjoying the experience this time. Hermes and Mercury, still around the other side of the tree, were also giggling, for they could hear the 'Ahhhhhhhs' coming from the blissed out Mikyvis.

Once Joel and Levi returned from the 'Potty-place', Levi was met by knowing grins from the gang assembled. Juan grinned evilly, "Shall I get the play-doh so you can have a shit too?"

Tammy put her foot down, "I think that's enough biology lessons for one day!"

"Now, now. That's no way to speak to your commanding officer," Juan grinned.

Tammy grinned back.

Levi blew them both a raspberry. "Nuh huh... learning to pee is enough for now!" he said happily.

Once Joel was sat back against I-Cheya, using the beast's furry belly as a backrest, he reached and pulled Kevin in for some cuddles, while Levi shrank himself to a toddler's size to sit on their combined laps. A few seconds later, Joel found Juan squirrelling into his other side, as pushed there by Koth.

Jason grinned, "Cute. Well, do we all get to draw something, or are you guys going to hog all the fun for yourselves?"

---

As Joel cuddled Kevin on one side, Juan on the other and Levi on his lap, he relaxed back and half dosed as everyone started drawing and colouring and generally having a laugh together. He no longer felt the urge to draw anything and was even considering catching a brief nap when something he heard made him take notice. He used his ability to look through I-Cheya's eyes once more to scan around the group and saw a small African boy cuddled against Koth. He watched as the boy looked up at Koth and asked, "Is this right, Daddy?"

He looked back at the time in the Dream Realms the night before, and his first sight of the small boy. He had not thought much on the fact that Juan had adopted, then, but that was due to him being so focused on his own problems. Now? Now it hurt, in a strange way. Why had Juan not told him that he and Koth had adopted?

Juan sensed the shift in feelings from Joel. So to did Kevin, and they both put down their drawings to ask simultaneously, "What's wrong?"

They grinned at each other as soon as they said it, but became all business when Joel mumbled, "You have a son, Juan. Why didn't you tell me? Didn't you want me to know?"

"No," Juan said quickly, "it's not like that. There just hasn't been time."

Koth looked up and continued for his husband, "On Friday, Juan and I went on a mission into South Africa, Joel. We saved a lot of people there, but some of the kids came back with us to Utah. Tumelo was one of them."

"He lost his entire family, including his twin brother," Juan whispered quietly to Joel. "Koth and me talked and we decided to become his daddies. Tumelo agreed, mainly by not letting go of us. I was gonna tell you yesterday morning, but then everything happened. I'm sorry, Jo'."

Joel laid his head on Juan's shoulder. "I understand. Can I meet him? If we get bonded, he's going to be related in a way," he said with a soft smile.

"Does that include me, Sa'r?" Kevin asked curiously as he watched Tumelo draw his picture of a butterfly with great seriousness.

"Uh... yeah, I think so. All our kids will be Koth's and Juan's, and theirs will be ours," Joel said after a moment's thought. "Even with a light bond, a'nirih relationships will start up."

"You mean I'll be a father to two ferrets?" Juan giggled. "Someone save me!"

Kevin grinned, "You love them, really. Admit it!"

Juan blew a raspberry in response before looking over at Tumelo and Koth. "Tumelo! Come over here. I want you to meet someone special!" he called as he waved his hand at his five year old son.

The African boy jumped to his feet, his picture that he was still working on held tight in his hands, and ran over to be scooped up and onto Juan's lap. "What is it, Daddy Juan?" he asked cutely.

"I want you to meet two people that I care a lot about. This is Joel," Juan pointed at the Vulcan boy at his side, before pointing over at Kevin, "and this is Kevin."

Levi shifted off of Joel's lap as Tumelo was placed there by Juan. Joel pulled his arms from behind Juan and Kevin so that he could hold the squirming boy carefully.

"Hi, Uncle Joel," Tumelo giggled, "you've got a hurt. Are you okay?"

Joel felt a pair of small hands touch his face, and one was placed over his left eye socket.

"Yeah, I'm okay. It doesn't hurt any more," Joel said with a smile.

"Good. Why's your good eye all white?"

With a wistful smile, Joel answered, "Because I can't see, little one. I'm blind."

Tumelo's face scrunched up in sadness. "Oh," he whispered. Then he leaned closer and kissed Joel's right eye, the eyelids closing automatically, and then he kissed Joel's empty left one. His lips tickled against the eyelids as they covered what would otherwise be a horrific sight. "There. Make you feel better. I feel better when my daddies kiss my pains away," the small child said seriously.

"Thank you," the little Vulcan managed through a sudden lump in his throat. Tears sprang to his eyes and he could not stop them, so he bowed his head and just let them fall. The little boy's unthinking love had just touched him that deeply.

"Daddy? I didn't hurt him, did I?" Tumelo trembled nervously as he looked at Juan.

"No," Juan smiled, "he is just sad that he got hurt and happy that you are thinking about him. Hug him until he stops - he'll like that."

Tumelo nodded before getting up to his knees on Joel's lap, and pulling Joel's head against his chest, his small arms wrapped around the Vulcan's head. Then he started whispering and murmuring, "Don't cry, Uncle Joel. I'll make the baddie go 'way. Don't cry."

This only set Joel off more, of course. Kevin and Juan both cocooned Joel and Tumelo in their own hug and all three waited until Joel calmed down.

As he did so, Tumelo sat back down and pressed his belly against Joel's to look up at him, "My daddies cuddle me lots when I 'member my family an' my brothers an' sisters. Dey gone 'way to heaven. Daddy Koth says dey are watchin' me an' still love me, but it makes me sad, so when I cry, my new daddies help. I jus' hadda help you, too."

"Thank you," Joel whispered again as he wiped away his tears. Then he raised his fingers to trace over the boy's face.

"Whatcha doin'?" Tumelo asked.

"Seeing what you look like," Joel smiled.

Tumelo giggled, "But you saw me in that funny dream we had!"

"Yeah," Joel nodded as he traced over the boy's cute smile, making Tumelo giggle at the tickling sensation. "I also saw you through my Sehlat's eyes too, but I like doing this as well."

"Okay... you can see through your cuddle-bear?" Tumelo asked.

Joel nodded, "Yes."

"Do you wanna see my picture?" the boy asked happily as he reached for the drawing he'd left on Juan's lap when he had been shifted to Joel's.

Joel grinned, "Yeah! Show it to I-Cheya or Kevin. I can see through either of their eyes."

Tumelo did one better - he showed the picture to both. I-Cheya huffed his approval, and Kevin was properly impressed (as any dad or uncle should be).

Joel beamed, "I like that butterfly!"

"Yeah! I'm gonna draw another one. Everyone needs brothers, even if I miss mine, so I'm gonna draw a brother butterfly for this one," Tumelo said softly.

"Tumelo," Joel whispered, "there was something I wanted to tell you."

"Oh?"

"You've got brothers and sisters all around you as well. Not to replace those who went away, but to come and be there for you anyway," Joel said.

"Yeah. Daddy Juan says dats what the Clan and Unit is for," Tumelo nodded.

Joel's lips quirked into a small smile, "Well, yes. But you also have some brothers and a sister of another type, too. Do you want me to tell you how?"

"Yeah!" Tumelo crowed.

Joel laid his head on Juan's shoulder to his left, "You know how your daddies got married last night?"

"Yeah."

"Your Daddy Koth also loves Riti and Viccy."

"I met them! Dey my Auntie an' Uncle!"

"Yes," Joel nodded, "but when your Daddy Koth is ready, they will also get 'married', kinda. Which means that they get to be your Mammy and Daddy too, in a way."

"And Asher?" Tumelo asked excitedly.

"He'll be your brother," Joel smiled.

"KEWL! What about my sister? You said I hadda sister!"

"Well, just like Koth loves Riti and Viccy, Juan loves me too. I'm married to Kevin, but when Juan and I get bonded, or married, then all Kev's and my kids will be your brothers and sister, too!"

"You've got lots of kids?" came the excited question from the now bouncing boy on Joel's lap.

Kevin nodded and laughed, "Eight. Seven boys and a girl."

"But some are like the Cats and Badgers and Ferrets in Utah," Juan added.

"FURRY BROTHERS!!" Tumelo yelled before jumping up off of Joel's lap, grabbing his drawing and running around the tree a few times to work of his energy rush!

---

Now, with their collective stomachs rumbling - and Levi's as well, for he worked out how to simulate it - the enlarged gang returned to CIC for their post-afternoon-fun-and-pre-evening-entertainment refuelling (snack time). They were about to fall upon the food that had been prepared by Tommy, Helen and the other cooks when Helen marched out of the kitchen with Kataui on her head.

"Sa'ren Joel Short?" she called out imperiously.

Joel shrank down on his seat fearfully, and Juan immediately stood to stand between his Elf and the approaching woman (plus Tribble). "Y...yes?" the little Vulcan trembled from around the brick wall Juan was acting as.

Helen winked at Juan to show she was not really mad before saying to Joel, "Would you mind explaining to me how a creature without arms, legs, eyes, nor any visible or viable means of manipulating objects, managed to get into the fridge and completely annihilate two levels of food therein?" She paused, "Twice!"

"ASSIMILATE!"

"No, you greedy fluffball!" Helen laughed as she reached up and plucked the tribble from her head to plop on Joel's head.

"She got into the fridge?" Joel trembled.

Helen rubbed her thumb against Joel's cheek gently, "Yes, but it was the snack fridge, not the one with the main supplies, thankfully. Although Timmy was most put out when he wanted some chips and dip!"

"ASSIMILATE!"

Joel giggled and grabbed the wiggling creature from his head and held her in his hands. "Sorry, Auntie Helen. I'll try to control her."

"ASSIMILATE!"

"Good luck," Helen laughed as she walked back out into the kitchen.

Juan grinned as he sat back down next to Joel, while Kevin snuggled up to the Vulcan's side and helped pet the tribble. "What are you going to do, Elf? Put a leash on Kataui?" Juan asked.

"Might have to," Joel giggled as he felt the tribble move down off his lap and onto the floor. "Mmm... something smells nice," he commented as his nose went into overtime.

Half an hour later (after more fun when the tribble managed to eat half of a frozen leg of lamb before Helen had found the freezer door open), and the gang were in the Rec Room chatting and watching as Tumelo greeted his soon to be brothers and sisters (and decide that he wanted to sleep with them that night in the Thompson house).

Joel felt a hand come to rest on his shoulder. "Yeah, Jace?" he asked, sensing the presence of his Welsh brother.

"You're good," Jason giggled. "Can I have a word with you and Kev in private?" he asked.

Nodding, Joel and Kevin got up from where they had been playing with Jules, Verne, Aslan and the other little kids. They, and of course Levi, walked after Jason hand in hand, while Koth fetched along Juan as well behind the group. Once in one of the private meeting rooms, Jason tapped his comm-device at his neck, "Daileass, are the Chipmunks free for about half an hour or so?"

'Yes, Jace. They are only plotting their newest prank on Logan, so I'll beam them to you now. Might help keep the noise down around here!' the Utah AI laughed as three eight year old Logan lookalikes beamed in, and all three were looking rather put out.

"Hey! Transistor-breath! We'll get you for that! That took an HOUR to get ready, and now it's ruined!!" Simon yelled moodily.

'Right, whatever, bro... you have more important things to do,' Daileass giggled before the comm closed.

Alvin, his hands on his hips, glared at Jason. "Well? What?! Come on, time is money!"

Rolling his eyes, Jason gestured to the chairs around the room. "Everyone sit. This will take some explaining."

Sighing irritably, the three triplets sat down. Joel and Kevin also did so, but with curiosity showing on their faces.

"First," Jason said, looking at Joel, "I have decided that the best of us to be a permanent guard for you, Joel, is Koth and therefore Juan as well when his duties permit. Koth is the best we have at close combat, while Juan is the best marksman in the Unit."

"Don't Juan have better things to do other than defending me?" Joel asked quietly. "Koth too? There's more important stuff for them to do," he added, and everyone there felt the emotions in the small Vulcan starting to shift toward self-loathing once more. He had been riding high for most of the afternoon, but it was obviously too much to hope for for him to remain buoyed up.

Juan moved over and knelt in front of Joel. "You get that self hating shit out of your head right now. I know you don't like to hear this, but damnit, you're going to whether you like it or not. YOU affect everyone around you; it's your nature, it's WHO YOU ARE. As such, when you're hurting, so is everyone else. When you're happy, so is everyone else. It is one of the greatest things that I love about you. You just go out there and people love you."

Joel started to sniff as tears appeared in his eyes.

Juan continued, "Adam has one hell of a commanding presence, but you? You don't command respect, it's just given - just by being who you are. Everyone loves you. Now think of this; who is the most important person in this Clan right now?"

The little Vulcan opened his mouth, but Juan laid his hand over it quickly, "The first person you think of is Cory, or even Adam, and in some respects you're right. But in the most important areas, you're wrong. YOU are the most important person - in my opinion. If that means that some of us need to be around to protect you, then so fucking be it. It's not only a great pleasure for me to do it, since I love you so much, but it's also a great honour to be one of the ones that people look at to protect you. Please do not belittle my duty, or my love, by saying this type of shit, Joel."

Joel threw out his arms and wrapped them around Juan's neck before clinging on for a good, long cry. This meant that Juan, too, decided that a good, long cry was a very good idea as well. Koth, Kevin and Jason moved over with the three Chipmunks to hold or rub their hands soothingly over the two crying boys' backs.

"See? Only you could make me cry like this just by you being you," Juan sniffled as both boys started to calm down. "Please don't hate yourself any more, Joel; It hurts too much."

Nodding into Juan's neck, Joel whispered, "I'll... I'll try."

"Thanks."

Jason grinned. "Okay. Now that that is sorted, can you guys sit together? There's a few things I need to get done, here."

Juan nodded before sitting down next to Kevin, with Joel pulled onto his lap. Koth squashed himself in on Juan's other side and then the Chipmunks all piled in around them.

"Not quite what I meant," Jason laughed as Levi decided to pop onto his shoulders.

"There's no room on the sofa," Levi giggled in response.

Jason rolled his eyes. He looked down at the seated boys and said, "Okay. Now that Juan and Koth know why I brought them here with me, I have to explain a few things - mostly for Juan's benefit. Little brother, I had a word with Adam mind to mind not long before I came to find you and Koth and he's said the following. Today and tonight you are on leave from any Unit responsibilities. If something comes up, he'll let you know, otherwise your leave will last as long as you think it should to look after Joel."

Seriously, Juan nodded. "Okay. I don't want to be anywhere else right now anyway."

Jason grinned at the smiling boy before looking at Koth, "My Klingon brother, you I have chosen as, out of all of us, you will do the most to make sure Joel is safe. You are the Assassin, and you know all the tricks. You can therefore defend best against them. With the four Cats, Joel's two Companions, his armed tribble, adding you as perminant security covers all the bases."

Koth nodded seriously.

Jason looked back at Juan, and saw that the Hispanic/Klingon boy's face had regained some measure of control. "Juan, since you are currently on leave from the Unit, your Unit rank is not usable, so..."

"What?!" Juan exclaimed, but Koth's giggles made him close his mouth quickly. Obviously, something was up.

Jason grinned again. "You're sharp, Juanikins. Adam said you were on leave, as in total leave. I told him of my plans, and he wanted you to get used to what you are about to be given. Before I can finalise it, however, someone else needs to come in here and ratify it. This is a first for the VSO, you see." Jason tapped his comm, "Voice of the Dragon to Spectre. Are you ready?"

There was no response other than for a transporter beam to appear, and a cloaked and hooded adult figure was left standing there.

The figure spoke in a computer modulated voice, "I am Spectre of Vulcan. Voice of the Dragon gave information to me on Friday, Earth time, regarding a group of select children from Clan Short, and I am here now to ascertain if his suggestion can be followed through."

Jason gestured for Juan to come to them. Juan moved Joel off and onto Kevin's lap before walking over to stand before the two VSO operatives. Jason said to Spectre, "This is Brigadier General Juan Casey of the UNIT, the foremost marksman of that group, if not on Earth. Although, if you ask Riti, he is only the second best."

"So says the cheating, alien feather-head," Juan grinned, continuing the long played out joke that existed between Riti and Juan from their time in the Tardis.

"Greetings, Juan Casey of Earth," Spectre said politely.

"Greetings, Spectre," Juan responded with a nod of his head.

Spectre gestured at Jason, "The Voice of the Dragon has told me that you have been trained in all levels as VSO while onboard Ish-Hassu's TARDIS. He also informs me that you have suffered greatly in your past and he believes you have already passed that which is looked for in the Trial of Fire. Should this indeed be the case, I can give you the full station of Black Level VSO without your having to go through the real Trial. If you are willing, I will mind-meld with you in order to determine such for myself. Are you willing, Juan of Earth?"

As he always does when feeling any amount of nervousness, Juan slammed it down and refused to even acknowledge it. Instead, he took a tact that he had learned from Joel. With a total emotionless expression, he raised his head, stuck out his chest and spoke, "You may proceed."

Spectre raised a gloved hand and pressed the fingers against Juan's face. After a moment or so, Spectre said, "I find the opinion of Voice to be acceptable. You are Commander Juan Casey of the Dragon Division, Black Level Operative. Voice of the Dragon will assign your Corps and your duties, after."

Jason double tapped his comm and a uniform appeared on the chair to his right, along with a utility belt and all the equipment needed for a Commander of the VSO. "You may attire yourself correctly, Commander," he said, pointing at the uniform.

Juan knew the procedures, and even though he had not been through the real Trail of Fire - he did not even know what it entailed - he knew what he had to do. With his cheeks colouring slightly, he stripped down completely and got into the one piece jumpsuit that Draco had obviously supplied for him. The boots and gloves fitted perfectly, as did the suit itself. Along the shoulders, the bars were gold, denoting full Commander rank. Down the arms, Vulcan symbols were present. Finally, after fitting the belt on correctly, along with the neck placed comm, he slipped on the pitch black hooded robe, but left it unfastened at the front.

"Commander Juan Casey reporting, Division Commander," Juan said formally as he turned to look at Jason. "May we Defend Vulcan and Her Allies until our last heart-beat."

"May we live as the line and die to defend it," Jason responded before smiling, "Your code name and your Corps home will be given once we have finished here. Until then, please sit with your charge, Commander."

Juan grinned and quickly found his seat again, before pulling his cuddle-Vulcan back onto his lap. Kevin giggled as he was nearly shifted there as well.

"Congratulations, Juan," Joel murmured happily.

Juan pressed a kiss into Joel's hair, "Thanks!"

Levi, still on Jason's shoulders, asked, "Shouldn't you swear me to Red One with all this Trial stuff being discussed, Jace?"

Jason laughed, "There's no point, sweety. The Trial of Fire and Red One would have no hold over one such as you, the Q nor the Time Lords. We trust you not to say anything," he added.

"Oh, okay," Levi bounced on his shoulders before falling silent once more.

Jason looked at Spectre and received a nod, so he then addressed the three Chipmunks. "Come here, please, sprouts," he grinned at them.

As all three of them got up and started to walk over, Simon looked at Alvin, "Did he just call us sprouts?"

"Yeah he did... and I'm not sure what he meant by it."

Theadore had to throw his two cents in, "I doubt it was good. I think he needs to be tickled into submission... but after this is over."

"I don't know," Alvin grinned as they stopped in front of Jason, "He might be a bit busy after the Juanikins bit." Then he turned and smiled sweetly at Jason.

Jason grinned back, "Yes, I make rods for my own back, but I love rough housing, so... Spectre," he said, becoming formal, "this is First Lieutenant Alvin Hayes, and Second Lieutenants Simon and Theadore Hayes. They are collectively the second in command of the Unit's intelligence corps. Their eldest brother, Logan Hayes, is in charge, but in practice he leaves the details up to these three."

Spectre nodded before addressing the triplets, "I have been informed that the three of you have passed all tests and training required for the VSO. All that remains is the Trial itself. However, since there is no time at present to send you three to Vulcan, and since being parted from your brothers - with whom you are mentally bonded - may prove to be a major limiting issue, Voice has come up with a solution. Since the arrival of those who are now called 'N-Gens', a new form of test can be accomplished. Are you willing to go through the Trials, Children?"

The three boys nodded, then, suddenly, their eyes went blank as Jason's blazed out azure blue.

While the three Chipmunks remained motionless, Jason said in a hollow voice, "Be ready, Koth. I will run them through the Recovery, but you will be needed to help me. Joel, you as well. Your mother was once in your mind, and..."

"She's back," Joel whispered. "When I asked Daddy to teach me the sensing ability, she requested that she move back in to help me."

"Good," Jason smiled, "Then could you two come stand behind them. Juan, be ready. You are family to them more than we are."

"What happens in the Fire?" Juan asked curiously.

Kevin tapped Juan's arm as they sat there and then looked Juan in the eyes. Kevin had been told of the Fire on Thursday when Jason had freaked out, just before he, Joel and the others had beamed up to the Enterprise. He therefore relayed what he knew directly into Juan's mind.

Juan's face fell slightly. "Oh... yeah, I've been there," he said. Then he looked up at Jason. "We'll be ready," he said as he, Koth and Joel got up to stand behind the Chipmunks. Kevin also came over to support Joel.

Five minutes later, Jason's eyes returned to normal, and the triplets slowly sagged to the floor. They were caught and held tight by the four boys standing behind them. They shook ever so slightly before turning around to hug tightly the boys holding them.

Simon was the first to speak, "That was.... nasty..."

Theadore nodded silently, while Alvin just moaned out his agreement into Juan's chest.

"What was that?" Juan asked gently of the smaller boy.

"My nuts still hurt," Alvin said a little louder.

"...oh. Been there, done that," Juan whispered back gently.

Alvin looked up and surprised Juan with a slightly cheeky grin, "You bought the tee-shirt, played in the film and signed all the autographs, too, compared to us. We'll be okay, bro. Thanks for the hugs, though."

Juan growled at the imp playfully before nodding. "You're welcome."

Spectre moved forward. "I need to meld with each of you to be sure that the Trial has been done per standard. If it has, I can clear Voice for this new version of the Trials so that his Division can grow quicker as needed."

The three boys nodded before turning back. After a brief meld each, Spectre said, "I grant you the level of Black Operatives, and give you the ranks of Captain. Voice will explain your duties after this is complete."

Again, after double tapping his comm, three uniforms and extras appeared next to Jason. "Captains, you may attire yourselves correctly," he said formally to the three boys.

Giggling between themselves, even though a small glint of hurt was still in their eyes, the three boys stripped each other down before diving on the uniforms and 'toys!' as provided helpfully by Draco.

Once done, in silver banded uniforms, they turned to Jason and said the Oath, "May we Defend Vulcan and Her Allies until our last heart-beat."

"May we live as the line and die to defend it," Jason completed before gesturing for them all to sit down again. "Joel, Kevin," he called as Kevin was about to lead his blind husband back to the sofa. "Come here, please."

Joel and Kevin turned and approached.

"Kevin Thompson," Spectre said formally, "You are Red One sworn, and can therefore never ascend the Black unless by extreme situations. As you have been trained as far as is possible, I hereby ratify Voice's decision to make you a Blue Level Operative, with the rank of Captain in the VSO."

Kevin smiled and nodded. Then, after watching Jason summon in another uniform, he too did the same as those before him and changed into it. After giving his Oath to Jason, he moved to stand near to Joel, his dark blue robe standing out amidst the black of all the others in the room.

Spectre then looked down at the blind Vulcan standing quietly. "Sa'ren Joel Short, son of Spock, son of Sarek. Voice tells me that he has trained none like you before, and that you requested of him that you seek the Trials. Since you are aware of the Trials, you know that you are unable to ascend the Black in the normal fashion. However, just as in the case of Juan Casey, you have been through much in your life that may be the equal to the Trial of Fire. With your permission, I will meld with you to be certain of that fact. Are you willing?"

"I am," Joel whispered.

Spectre moved forward and engaged the meld. After a long moment, Spectre moved back and said haltingly, "I find your history to be an acceptable parallel to the Trials, Sa'ren of Vulcan, and as such I raise you to the Black, and grant you the rank of Captain of the VSO."

Jason had already called in the uniform for Joel by the time Spectre had finished speaking, and then said, "You may attire yourself, Captain. Captain Thompson, you may assist in this instance."

Carefully, Kevin helped Joel to strip down before helping him into the silver banded black uniform, equipment and robe.

Joel turned around and, using his sensing ability, walked back to stand before Jason and Spectre, "May we Defend Vulcan and Her Allies until our last heart-beat."

"May we live as the line and die to defend it," Jason responded with a smile.

Joel grinned at him, and then turned toward Spectre, "Thank you... Grandma..."

---

To Be Continued...

---

Editor's Notes:

It looks as though Joel/Sa'ren is coming closer to dealing with his situation.

It was funny that Joel recognized his Grandma.

Thank you Ilu, for refraining from your perfectly natural urge to end the chapter with a cliffhanger. I am eagerly awaiting further chapters, as soon as possible. Grin

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher