Sa'ren Part I

"Lady Teri, might I have a word with you please?" Sarek asked softly as Teri entered the Kitchen midway through the Wedding Feast.

Teri looked at the Ambassador sharply. "It must be serious if you are using Vulcan titles, Patriarch."

"It may be," Sarek said, looking past her towards Cory and Sean; or more specifically at the waif seated to Cory's other side. "It is in regard to Joel."

Teri gestured with her hand and they both left the Kitchen and made for the nearest Meeting room, just off from Main CIC.

Once they had found a seat, she raised her eyebrow at the older Vulcan, prompting him to begin.

"Yesterday evening," he began, "I looked over the sparse information regarding both young Joel and the group that came in with Kurt Farnsworth. The information on the latter group did not raise any overt concerns; at least no more than from any other rescue or intake the Clan has been involved in. What is concerning me is Joel."

Teri remained silent and simply raised her eyebrow again.

"I apologize for my thoughts not being as collected and organized as normal, Teri, but this is a situation I have not encountered before. I am uncertain as to how to proceed without causing you undue concern and worry," he said finally.

"What did the boys do this time?" Teri asked, not really sure where he was going.

"It is not so much what they did as what you asked Cory to do," Sarek replied, almost wincing.

"Okay, fill me in," Teri replied.

"You did nothing wrong, for everything that led to this was done logically. There is the possibility, however, that what has transpired has placed the Safe Haven Act in direct conflict with the Council of Houses of the Vulcan Confederation," Sarek began. "When I reviewed the information Justin placed on record last night, I was only curious as to how a child long lost from this Universe knew what his birthday was; but that was only until I realized that it must have been an arbitrary date picked for convenience sake. I must admit that I was emotionally uneasy upon reviewing those notes and seeing the visual record of your son Michael bringing that scarred child here, but I was doubly uneasy once I saw him at the wedding. I had not had a chance, considering the state of events today, to be informed as to what his true biology was until that moment.

"He is Vulcan, hybrid or not, and as with Xain, no Vulcan child can be adopted under A'nirih or M'aih relation nor join another Family's Clan without the Family or House of the child giving consent. The Safe Haven Act is technically over Vulcan precedents and Law, but has never had need of use within the boundaries of Vulcan or our dominions. Child abuse and neglect is almost unheard of, and when it does arise, our internal Justice goes further than the SHA allows. It is therefore considered to be a Law that would never find a place to be applied and used against a Vulcan Family or House; that is, until now.

"In this situation, you have legally bonded a child of unknown parentage to yourself without first confirming the lack of Family or House that would rightfully care for him. You have done this as the child in question requires stability to survive. Your actions are completely logical. However, they are also filled with the possibility of dire consequences should Joel's Family or House be located. What are we to do if any of his blood relations survive and learn of his existence and ask for his return? He is now your son under M'aih relationship, pending it being changed to Ko'mekh should it be found that he is truly orphaned. This is a relationship that is at once legal under the SHA, yet could be illegal under Vulcan Tradition - kidnap to be exact. Logic is not paramount to the love we bear our offspring, and... and I am concerned that this could grow out of control if handled poorly."

Teri nodded. "I considered that already; once he has healed mentally, if his family is found, then a discussion will be arranged to decide the best course of action from the viewpoint of all involved."

Sarek nodded, "That is the normal, logical path to follow. However, not all Vulcans act logically when it concerns their children. I know that very well from experience. They may, and do have the right to, demand his return as soon as they find out about him. Then there is also the fact that not all Vulcan Houses have a liking for humanity and are especially against the mixing of our bloodlines. Xain is again the perfect example for this. His father allowed Xain to become a part of Clan Short, and in retribution Xain's grandfather, the Patriarch of his House and Family, cast both Solak and Xain out. They are, or I should say were, outcasts. If Joel is from such a House or Family, we may face a greater issue. Vulcan is not without internal problems, and that is something I am still attempting to address and correct. It is, how you humans say, slow going. Joel may be used as a catalyst, an excuse, to weaken my position or even... even for more dire consequences."

Teri smiled. "Trust me, after talking to Janet and Angela, I think the last thing that any Family will want is to be responsible for causing an interplanetary incident. If you add our little Mikyvis family into the equation, it could very well turn inter-dimensional too. Joel may not realize it, but he has thousands of brothers who would not be happy if either he was punished for his heritage or you were to receive a backlash over something which was done by the book. I can be a real bitch if backed into a corner; the one advantage I have over the boys is that I have the full resources of the Federation at my disposal if needed. Joel's safety and well-being is my top priority; if his family is found and judged unsuitable or dangerous for him to be with, then the Vulcan Council better back up the very Charter that they authored."

Sarek smiled, and that shocked Teri to the core. "The High Council authored the SHA, and yes they will support it. The House Council is different and distinct to them, however. The House Council deals with purely internal matters as they relate to Family and House interaction. The High Council deals with Vulcan's interaction with the universe at large. However, I thank you; I am glad you are on the same page as I. Here is the situation as it stands at worst: There are five Great Houses and Fifteen Minor, or Lesser, Houses. Of that number, one Great House and three Lesser Houses are most definitely against the mixing of Vulcan Blood with that of Offworlders. Xain's old House, Suvak, is the Great House that is leading the other three, and his grandfather's despite of me and my House is well known. If Patriarch Siprak chooses to use this against me, then the Council of Houses will be in turmoil for a long while. The High Council itself, however, will side with the Law: and thus you have the perfect excuse for Civil War. There is one chance to avert this, and that is what she who is my wife is now attempting to put into place."

Teri nodded her understanding and waited for Sarek to elaborate, and neither of them heard the door open quietly as Sarek continued, "By Tradition, if a child is lost then found but of unknown parentage, then at the order of three Great Houses or five Lesser Houses or a mixture of five of both, the child can be given a place within the eldest of the Houses in question on a temporary basis. This would legitimize Joel being your child under the SHA and grant him his legal place in Clan Short until his true Family is found. Even after his Family is found, he shall always be your son under M'aih Relationship; none can deny either him nor you nor his brothers the right to see each other. There can therefore be no backlash, and no cause for war, while doubt over his heritage is still present nor afterwa...."

"M...Mama?" a tearful, frightened voice came suddenly from the door. Teri spun in her chair to see Joel standing in the doorway with Kevin, Cory and Sean standing behind him. All four boys' faces were troubled, Joel's worst of all. She suddenly remembered what she had been doing that could have prompted the kids to come and look for her: she had gone to get Kevin and Joel's energy drinks, and had not returned.

Joel's face creased as terrified tears sprang to his eyes. "I'm causing trouble... I... I... I wish I'd never been found! I don't wanna cause you trouble!" he wailed, and it was only due to Cory grabbing him that stopped him from fleeing away from them.

"Excuse me, my Son needs me," Teri stated as she turned and went over to the boys. She quickly knelt down in front of Joel, and calmly held out her hand for him to take.

Joel ignored her hand. He simply melted into her, wrapping arms and legs about her like a limpet, and trembled. "I'm a pain, a nuisance, worthless," he cried into her neck, tears falling thickly. "I'm always causing trouble," he sobbed quietly, and she only just heard him.

Teri kissed his head, "Relax and listen to me, son."

Teri felt her Vulcan son tremble more for an instant, before the tension began to leave his grip. He sniffed and pulled his head back to look at her. The pain and lack of self-worth she saw in his eyes nearly broke her heart. "You are Joel Short, son of Teri Short. I have never adopted anyone worthless in the past, and I do not ever plan on starting. That alone means that there is no way that you are worthless. A few days ago, I killed a man who was trying to use his own son as a hostage; I did not know either one of them. I was mad then; if ANYONE tries to harm you or cause trouble because I adopted you, they will find out what I'm like when I'm really pissed off. I will protect you for as long as I live, son."

"We all will," Cory and Sean added without thinking.

Sarek looked around suddenly as a massive tremor ran up his spine. He looked at the others and saw them looking shocked and puzzled as well, and he began to wonder. 'The Guardian called him the Shaper... but, what is he shaping?'

//You shall see, High Prince of Vulcan// the Guardian answered him within the halls of his mind.

Joel, meanwhile, was looking deeply into Teri's eyes when that shiver came, and he sniffed again. "But I'm always causing trouble, Mama... how can you want me? What if I cause a war on Vulcan... I'm not worth that..."

Kevin was feeling pissed off by now. Partly at Sarek, but that was only due to the bad news being relayed by the Clan's Grandfather. Mostly, he was mad at those who had made his Joel feel like this. "Vulcan can fuck off, those bastards who told you you're worthless can go fuck themselves, and the same for anyone who tries to hurt you," he grated through clenched teeth. Sean immediately grabbed onto him and refused to let him go when he angrily struggled against the hold. "I'll kill them, I swear it! Damn it to hell, Jo'... you are NOT worthless, and I don't care if Aunt Teri just said it, I'M FUCKING SAYING IT! I don't like you saying that, Jo'... I lo... I love you too much..." he finished with a whisper, his face changing from pure anger into shocked revelation in an instant.

Joel turned to look at him with his jaw on his chest. Somehow, even though he was not in contact with Kevin, a blast of Fire and Heat had slammed into him, coming right from the boy; and it was as powerful as the Fire and Heat that Cory felt for Sean, and vice versa.

"I think we'll make a good team, Kevin," Teri stated with a small smile. "I think you could have used a few more descriptive words though; you can't tell me those were the only ones you learned in Chicago. You're my eyes and ears to watch over Joel if I'm not around."

"I wanna be more than..." Kevin started to say, but stopped with a blush; a deep one.

Joel was still gaping at him. He closed his mouth with effort and limply fell away from his mother to move over to the now furiously blushing boy. He reached out and laid a hand to Kevin's burning cheek, then impulsively embraced him.

Teri glanced up, and couldn't help but chuckle at the two shocked teens who just kept glancing back and forth between her and Kevin. "What's the matter, you two? It's not like neither one of you has expressed yourself that way before."

Cory just stared at her. "Not where you could hear it!" he semi-admitted.

"That's what you thought. If you two don't hurry up and explain the rights of being one of my sons to your new brother, I'm going to do it. I'll make sure to use lots of examples from when you were younger too."

"They... they don't have to right now, Mama... they'll miss their party," Joel murmured as he continued to give Kevin the best cuddle he had ever bestowed.

Kevin was still in shock from what he had just revealed regarding his feelings for the frail Vulcan hugging his breath away. His admitting of it was a surprise even to him. He was still hugging Joel as tight as he could in return, though.

Joel turned his head, whilst still holding his best friend, and looked at the Ambassador, "I'm... I'm still nervous, though... will I be... be the cause of a war?"

"No, youngling," Sarek answered, sparing an instant to throw a glance at Teri, "I make an Oath on my Blood that I shall do all in my power to prevent that. My wife is even now starting to put into action my plans. If you all have time to spare, I can explain."

Cory nodded, "The party isn't going anywhere, and this is obviously more important. We'll stay."

"In that case," Teri said as she picked up the two still hugging little boys and sat down with them on her lap, "Sean, please go and find Dan, Doctor Austin, and Solak. Cory, please ask Xain, Telez, and Jason Evans to join us. There are a number of things we need to talk about."

Both teens nodded, glanced at each other and left quickly. As the door closed behind them, Joel heard Sean mutter, "Jesus, it's a war council. All we need now is for Adam and Logan to be called...."

"Why is my grandson being asked to come?" Sarek asked Teri as he sat down again. "I am aware of the issue regarding Xain and Telez, but Jason was not involved there."

"He was the mind-healer earlier today, and I have a feeling he could be needed," she answered as she kissed both cuddling boys on her lap.

"I like Jace," Joel murmured as he half hid his face in Kevin's neck.

Kevin continued to act like a silent cuddle-toy -- doing a fairly decent job of it too. 'I told him I loved him. I just up and said it. What... how...' was all that was repeating in the boy's mind.

"Joel, Teri: I must say something to you both first, before the others arrive," Sarek said, his face again troubled.

Teri nodded at him as she increased her hold on the two boys in her lap.

"Joel, you are Teri's son, no matter what. I am not against you in this. I was simply the bringer of bad news to your mother. I will do everything I can to make sure that, if your true Family be found, your mother is kept as your M'aih. You need her, and she you."

Joel whispered his thanks, and Teri gave him a weak smile and nodded.

The first to enter the room was Dan, closely followed by Telez and Jason. A moment later, Solak and Xain walked in. Last of all, Doc Austin arrived, leading Cory, Sean, Jake, Antony and Nathan. Teri laughed, "I should have guessed. Come on then, I don't think you lot would have been kept in the dark by your significant others, but you might as well hear it now."

"Don't forget me, Grandma. The Guardian says I need to be in the loop too," Levi announced as he popped in, giving the two boys on Teri's lap a quick hug.

Levi was about to find a seat when Joel's thin arm snaked out and caught him, pulled him back firmly, and sandwiched the seven year old into the hug between himself and Kevin. Kevin, for his part, absently started to include the little newcomer to the snuggle-fest, his eyes still lost, elsewhere.

"I think you broke him, Uncle Joel," Levi giggled.

"Nope," Sean laughed, "I think he broke himself, Leev!"

Levi was silent for a second, then giggled. "Took ya long enough, Uncle Kev!"

Kevin shook himself and looked Levi in the eye for a moment. A shy grin started to spread over his face, and it was matched by an equally shy one from Joel.

"I'm too big, you guys need more cuddle room." Levi giggled before shrinking himself down to a four-year-old. "There, now you can cuddle around me!"

Joel giggled and kissed the tiny boy's cheek before increasing the cuddles on both of them. Kevin copied Joel, and then they all settled back slightly on Teri's lap.

Sarek nearly smiled again. "I think we need to explain what it is we are doing regarding the issue with the House Council, and my plan to..." he started to say, but stopped when the door opened and his wife entered. "T'hy'la, do you have the answer?" he asked, his eyes showing a tenderness that Joel had never seen in any of the TV shows.

"I do, my husband," Amanda nodded her head, and then continued in formal address, "Matriarch T'Seela of Great House Sukaan and Patriarch Misak of Great House R'Kath concur with you. Great House Surak shall have Legal Custodianship over the Vulcan child known as Joel Short, and his rights as a member of Sub-Clan Short of the Family of Sarek are confirmed as valid until such time as his Family or House is found. They agreed to this based upon the visual evidence of his eyes."

"His eyes?" Dan asked. "He's got two, just like any other Human or Vulcan."

Jason started to laugh, but stopped as he regarded Joel. "Eyes... oh! Blue! Why didn't I... wait... blue eyes...?" his face grew pensive, thoughtful.

Sarek sighed sadly as he reached out and laid a hand on Jason's shoulder. "That thought also crossed my mind, but it cannot be so, grandson. There were no survivors," the older Vulcan said quietly. He turned to Dan, "How many of my people have you seen or heard about with blue eyes, Doctor?"

"I'm not that versed in the peculiarities of the Vulcan race, Ambassador," Dan admitted. "I've been too busy trying to sort out blonds with memory problems; it's a full-time job, but very rewarding."

"Memory problems?" Joel queried, looking between Nathan and Cory.

"Oops, sorry, Jo'; I didn't tell you that part earlier. I'll 'splain later," Kevin whispered as he kissed Joel's ear.

"Not me! I'm firing on all thrusters, thanks!" Nathan was saying with a giggle. He was immediately pulled into a headlock and noogied by Cory.

"Yep, a normal blond; one thruster consisting of a bottle rocket!" Sean laughed as he ducked behind Dan.

He found himself lifted up into the air by Nathan, then dripping wet after a brief layover in the mid Pacific by Levi. After dripping over Dan for a few seconds, both Dan and Sean were dry again.

"Hey, at least you didn't return with assorted aquatic animal life this time, dude," Jason said as he roared with laughter.

"I didn't?" Sean replied as he shook his leg, causing a baby sea turtle to slide out of his pants and onto the floor. "Levi, could you make sure Timmy's new friend finds him?"

"Sure Uncle Sean!" Levi replied as he and the turtle vanished. He reappeared a few seconds later. "Timmy says Lance will be just fine now!"

Dan reached and pulled Sean onto his lap, "Sit and shush, Sean, before you end up bringing more creatures to this mad house! You were going to explain the relevance of Joel's blue eyes, Ambassador?" he finished, looking curiously at the happily chortling boy on Teri's lap.

"Yes, but I find that watching inter-dimensional pranks to be far more rewarding," he answered as Amanda sat down next to him. His eyes twinkled as he winked at Levi. He then sat straighter and rested two of his fingers on Amanda's. "There are very few born on my world with blue eyes; it is a very recessive gene in our make-up, and is found only in the descendants of Surak himself..."

"Surak? I'm descended from... wow!" Joel exclaimed as he started to bounce in Teri's lap.

Sarek nodded, "Yes, child. Over time, those Families in whom the gene is strongest have gone and mixed with other Houses and Families, but records are kept of those Families that are most likely to have blue-eyed children born to them. The number of Families is still large, but in this situation, your link to my House allows me to grant you cover. It is quite likely that you are a member of my House as the majority of those Families are part of House Surak. There are a few in other Houses, and a very small number within less open Houses -- those against the mixing of our blood. We can only hope for you to be from an understanding Family, Joel."

"Grandfather, why was Jason so... I don't know; why did he look the way he did when he looked at Lil'elf?" Cory asked, his eyes darting between Jason and Sarek.

Jason glanced quickly at his grandfather, then hung his head. "Sorry, fa'sami; I just messed that up, didn't I?"

"Do not be concerned, my child. They are family," Sarek answered him.

'And he calls Nath a dizzy blond?' Sean thought, unaware that Cory picked up his thought.

'I heard that, teddy bear!' Cory replied as he tried to hold back a smile.

Jason looked at his grandfather and received a nod. He then glanced at Sean, "I heard that too, bro. There's a reason this time: Poppa Spock had a child once, a baby he never even got to see. The boy died with Pop's wife in the Great Transwarp Disaster."

"Shit," Cory muttered.

"That's what I thought just after asking Pop to be my Pop. I was the first child to ever do so, and it nearly broke his heart," Jason said as tears formed in the corner of his eyes. "Poppa showed me the only hologram he had of his son; and the baby had blue eyes. Fa'sami's Family is one of those where the blue eyes comes up on occasion."

"Jason's reaction to Joel just now was my first reaction at the wedding," Amanda murmured, a deep lasting pain heard clearly in her voice.

"You were not the only one, wife, for I too felt that. It is not so, however. No one survived," Sarek added just as sadly. "It did give all of us another reason to gather as many children to us as we could; and we had reason enough already. I too have lost a son, but I was fortunate in that he was a man full grown when he passed. I saw him, Named him, and loved him. It is a... a joy that has been denied Spock, for my grandson was never Named and never held by Spock. Yet in the past ten months I have seen the father arise in Spock as he played with, loved and cared for his new children, Clan Evans. He even showed it when you, Cory, became part of the Family. There is a hole in his heart that you have all filled, and I thank you."

Joel was weeping openly by now. Amanda looked over at him, "Do not cry, child. It is not your fault."

"I agree. Stay your tears, youngling. You are not the cause of this grief, but you are one of the cures," Sarek said gently as Teri comforted her boy. "Through helping you, which we do simply because it is the right thing, we are healed. We would help anyway, but there is joy in children that I will forever cling to. Stay your tears."

Joel nodded at him as Kevin and Levi wiped his eyes clear.

Sarek looked at Teri, "If you rub the outer lobe of each of Joel's ears, you shall help calm him. It is an ancient method still employed to calm and relax our young."

She smiled her thanks and began doing so, and the result was immediate.

"Never heard of that before," Sean said quietly.

Xain half smiled, "I have only told Jake. The nerves in our ear lobes have a trigger effect upon some of our glands; they aid in rest and relaxation, and, in certain situations, can also heighten..." he fell silent.

"We get it," Cory sniggered, looking at the now sleepy face of Joel as his mother continued to massage his ears.

Kevin then asked, bringing the conversation back on topic, "What puzzles me is this bonding thing Jo' is doing. He bonded with Cory, Sean, Xain and Telez. Xain may be related, but I don't know how he is or could be with Tel and the others."

"If I'm related to Joel, then it must be by my human side," Telez whispered.

"It is mainly by blood relation, but trust is also a known quantity for the Bonding," Sarek explained.

Solak looked thoughtful, "We have enough people here to run a few genealogy searches: to find the common blood relation between Xain, Telez, House Surak, Cory and Sean."

"That would take longer than needed," Sarek said as he continued to watch Teri soothe the boy in her lap. "The Enterprise is arriving shortly, and they can run the genetic search quicker than it would take for us to run those investigations."

"Far more certain too," Solak nodded in agreement.

Levi just sat there, an innocent smile on his face.

Jason noticed. "You know, don't you Levi?"

"Not about Joel, no. No-one does, except maybe my Friend. Joel's unreadable, in a way; but I know of a link between Xain and Telez..." he giggled.

Xain raised his eyebrow. "Can you inform us?"

Levi nodded, "The sister of your great-grandmother on your human side, Xain, married a Carl Fisher: your father's grandfather, Telez! You're cousins!!"

Telez' antennae perked up and he stood and grabbed Xain into a tight hug. "Blood Family! I... I only had my dad left after... after losing the rest! I have a cousin!!" he cried happily.

Xain's face was peaceful as he had the stuffing hugged from him, as was Solak's.

Cory giggled, "Congrats, guys! That's great news! Levi, what about Sean and me? Are we linked somehow?"

Levi giggled, "Y'all have a common grandfather back in Cycle Two; all the human parts of everyone here come from that one guy; he was real busy makin' babies!"

//He died with a smile on his face// the Guardian whispered to them all, bringing laugher from most.

"What a way to go!" Dan chuckled. "As you were saying?"

"I believe that covers the situation as it stands on Joel's ancestry and bonding. We shall learn more about these issues when Kirk gets to Terra," Sarek said. "I believe Doctor Michaels has a few issues he wishes to raise."

"Yes, thank you, Ambassador," Doc Austin nodded briefly. "There isn't really a lot to cover, topic wise, but this is a sensitive subject to most Vulcans, so this needs to be in confidence. Joel, you might not feel funny about this, but Xain might and other Vulcans can also feel, if I can use the term, uncomfortable by having this subject raised. So it's best to be careful whom you tell this stuff to."

Joel blinked at the Doc for a second, then froze. There was only one issue that Vulcans found uncomfortable to talk about: "Pon Farr," he whispered, a hint of dread in his voice. "But what's that got to do with anything?! I'm too young! No, noooo... not yet... please say it's not yet..." He started to shake in Teri's arms, much to her puzzlement, and he looked at Cory pleadingly.

Cory moved over to rub Joel's shoulders. "Would you feel better if Levi blocked it so that you don't have to hear about it, Lil'elf?"

"But it's gonna happen to me, Cory," he wailed as he thrust himself from his mother's arms and into Cory's. "I can't... I just can't... I'll be... I... it's not fair... I just can't."

"I don't know if it's like those movies you watched, bro. Relax, have Levi block your hearing if you want, and then we can talk about it in private later on if you think that would make you able to look at it more calmly," Cory whispered as he hugged the trembling boy tightly.

"NO! You don't understand... you don't know! I can't do it, Cory! It's... I just can't..." he finished hysterically as he pulled back violently from Cory, horror and loss showing clearly in his face. He turned and ran blindly from the room, sobbing heavily and cracking the wood in the door by the violence of his exit.

Cory stood to follow him, but Kevin had already beaten him to it. The brown haired boy ran out yelling, "I'll go."

"I'm with them, Uncle Cory." Levi replied as he vanished.

Levi suddenly reappeared, floating in mid-air. //The Two Souls move closer; do not interfere// the Guardian ordered gently as Levi was levitated by a Power the likes of which none of them had ever seen before; a glowing energy holding him gently yet firmly. //Great Heart I name thee, and Great Heart thou art, my Voice, but not the Great Heart the Shaper doth require. Please remain and help thy family here while the Strength joins his Soul with the Shaper. Thy Time to bond with thine Uncle is fast approaching//

Levi was placed back on Teri's lap by that power, and she enfolded the startled Mikyvis in a loving hug.

"Wow, our little mini-mouse gets to stay here?" Sean commented.

"Well, I see you are the first of Mikyvis-kind to be shown the true 'Power of Forever', Levi," the Doctor said as he Folded out of nothing. "'I felt a disturbance in the force'," he giggled at Cory's questioning glance.

"Wise One you be, butt smart is yours!" Levi giggled. "Movie found have I; strange be universe it from."

"If we're gonna play Jedis, then I call dibs being Obi-wan!" Telez giggled, trying to lighten the dark mood Joel's flight had brought.

"Huh?" Jake looked at him curiously.

Antony laughed, and managed to say, "Blue 'lightsaber'!"

"I can make one all kinds of colours!" Levi giggled. "Rainbow!"

Cory sighed irritably, and the others stopped giggling as they noticed the looks on both his face and Sean's. They were both worried sick, and the levity was not helping.

"Sorry, bros," Antony and Telez said together.

Sarek looked between them for a moment before resting his gaze on the ginger haired ten year old who had just appeared. "What is your name, youngling, and why have I not seen nor read reports regarding you. Your abilities are interesting."

The boy raised an eyebrow. "My name you know, but from your history only, Child of Vulcan. I am the Prince of the Time Lords: I am Ish-Hassu."

Both of Sarek's eyebrows disappeared into the fringe of his hair, "The Doctor? You mean that Doctor?! You are the one who came to my world all those centuries ago?"

The Doctor nodded. Solak just stared.

Dan's jaw had fallen open. "But he's... you can't be... can someone explain?"

Levi smiled and dumped the entire information regarding what he knew of Time Lords into Dan's mind, and Dan's eyes opened wider. "Wow!"

"Something's wrong; they've been gone too long, Merc," Hermes whispered.

Mercury was still watching the doorway that Joel and the others had used. He nodded absently, "Yeah. I don't like it. First he runs off looking for Aunt Teri, then Cory runs in and starts talking to others. Something is definitely wrong."

"Well, don't just sit there like a pair of spare pricks at a wedding, come on!" Artemus exclaimed from their side as she and her sister, Aphrodite, stood up and ran from the room. Both cheetahs glanced at each other and quickly followed.

As they entered Main CIC, they saw one of the Meeting Room doors fly open violently. Joel, his face a mask of fear and pain, came flying out and zoomed quickly through the northern doorway, followed closely by little Kevin.

"Fuck's sake! Told you!" Hermes yelled as he went into overdrive and chased after them, his brother moving with him and his sisters following as quickly as they could.

Aphrodite was the last to exit the building and she saw her brothers and sister ahead of her, and in front of them, she saw Joel and Kevin disappear into some bushes that were around JJ and Adam's house. She sped over to the other three and stopped suddenly, barely ten feet from those bushes. "What? What's stopping us?" she asked quickly, poking at the 'thin air' before her that seemed as immovable as the Earth.

"Fuck knows, but I'm getting angry," snarled Hermes as he clawed at the 'nothing' that was around the bushes.

"Don't worry, guys," a voice behind them said gently. "Joel and Kevin are okay. It's just that Joel needs some time with his best friend right now. Not even I can help."

They turned to see Mikey standing there, his face showing concern as he looked past them at where Joel had vanished.

"Who's stopping us?" they all asked in unison.

"Correct... in a way. It's complicated. Come, sit here with me," he answered as he made himself comfortable on the grass. "I'll explain everything I know about 'Who' and the Guardian. If you four are to protect these two boys, you have the right to know."

"Four? Both?" Aphrodite spluttered. "Only Joel's got a guard, and that's my speedy-brothers!"

"Not any more. Joel and Kevin are soon to be One. You four are Named "Protectors" for them both." Mikey smiled thinly, "It's going to be interesting; I'm not even sure what the next few seconds will bring, and that's unusual. But I am being given weird and wonderful tasks to do; this is one of them."

"What; to assign us Guard Duty over two boys? Sorry, dude. You may be an angel but we take orders from only two: Amur and Adam!" Mercury said defiantly as he sat next to his twin.

"Agreed: we are on general duty here at Orlando," Artemus began before Mikey raised a hand politely to gain their silence.

"You are Named 'Protectors' and will ye or no, you shall carry out that task, for a Power greater than all is at work here. You are that, will be that and have always been that. Nothing can change it. Adam Casey shall add his authority to it when the time is right. I have no idea when nor how, but he will. He cannot help it any more than you. This is what Must Be," Mikey said quietly. He then started to explain to the four shocked G-Cats all about their task... and the strange Powers that were guiding them...

"Greetings, Sellik! What brings you here?" Riti flapped up from his place at the wedding feast and flew right for a VSO uniformed Vulcan who had just entered.

Sellik raised an eyebrow as he caught the little cherub in his arms. "I am looking for cousin Sarek. Is your grandfather nearby, Riti?"

Riti nodded happily in-between pecking kisses on Sellik's cheek. "He's in the other room through there," he pointed towards Main CIC. "He's talking to Jace and some others about my new Prince-Brother, Joel Short."

"Intriguing. This Joel is the reason I am here. I-Metri and her cub were quite insistent. When I got to the report regarding this Joel's arrival yesterday, the Cub started acting in a very peculiar fashion." Sellik paused and turned as the largest Sehlat the Clan had ever seen walked in with a small cub at her side. Small, however, was a relative statement. The cub was nearly six feet long and almost 3/4 of a tonne in weight, but was still dwarfed by his mother.

"I-Metri!!" Riti crowed, drawing the attention from the room.

Timmy came zooming over quickly, but was stopped by Sellik. "Child; I-Metri is not a domesticated Sehlat. She is quite wild. She likes children, but please take it slow at first."

Timmy giggled, and I-Metri huffed out a bark. Sellik turned to see I-Metri amble over and push Timmy to the floor, snuffle her nose under the boy's shirt and start to clean him.

"Then again, carry on," Sellik murmured, glancing between the chortling Riti in his arms and the madly giggling Timmy on the floor as the she-Sehlat cleaned him.

"Timmy's a Spirit Guide, and has a way with animals!" Riti explained happily as he hopped down and joined Timmy with the serious business of greeting the large she-Sehlat. Very soon, they were joined by all the Tribe and Rugrats, with the older kids coming over at least once to meet the large animal and her cub.

"That Sehlat never ceases to amaze me," Sellik said quietly before turning and making his way to CIC.

Blackie was watching all this from near the door to CIC, and barked once. The large cub looked up, cough-barked back, nuzzled his mother, then ran at a surprising speed for one so big at the very small seeming wolf pup.

Marjur, the Sehlat that had come as part of the package with Sipek, Syzik and Skirk, ambled in at that point, and huffed his own greeting at the two new Sehlats.

After he had huffed his own greeting back, the cub turned his attention to the small wolf/collie cross at his feet.

One With Teeth, I Black Feet Blackie sent.

Where is Boy? asked the cub.

In Pain. Hurting. Boy needs us Blackie answered with a whine.

The cub huffed a few times. We find Boy. Now

They both howled in unison, Blackie's howl being high pitched while the Sehlat's was very low and rasping. Together, they sped from the room... looking for their Boy.

Joel had not picked a place to run to; he simply ran. Tears streaming, and the ghosts of pain, shame and grief clawing at his mind, he flung himself through the door and headed outside. Yells and calls from behind him were ignored, but not by intent; he simply did not hear them.

Ahead was a building, and bushes and shrubs were planted around it. A hiding place. Such places had served before; they would serve now. As he came to the nearest bush he slid under it and started to crawl further until he reached the most sheltered and covered spot. He later learnt that he had chosen JJ and Adam's personal garden as his hiding place, but right now, he just wanted to cry, hide and forget. The latter was impossible. He never forgot. Never.

As his chest heaved with his terrified sobs, he became aware of a rustling behind him. Why are they following? Why do they care?

Someone appeared and touched his shoulder. His first reaction to the contact was to sob harder and curl up in a ball. He had wilfully ran from his masters, and that was a grievous error; he was to be punished severely for that. Mid way through curling into himself he realized that strength was pouring into him; it was Kevin.

He twisted to look into Kevin's own sad eyes. Those deep pools of brown life shone with tears that seemed to match his own, and confusion and caring were both present and in force in them.

"Jo'?" Kevin whispered as he sat down next to his friend. "What's wrong?"

Joel shuffled slightly until he was half lying on Kevin's lap, while his tears and cries continued unabated.

"We can't help if we don't know, Jo'," Kevin whispered as he brushed twigs and leaves from his friend's curly hair.

"Please," came the hoarse whisper from the weeping Vulcan, "don't make me say. I... it's too... please don't make me say..."

Kevin's heart was heavy in his chest. He knew that he could order Joel to tell him, and a small part of him was tempted to do so; but the love he bore the frail boy was greater. He swore silently there and then that, without others advising him to do so, he would never ever order Joel to do anything. "I won't. I promise I won't, but... but you should tell someone, Jo'. It's not good to keep things in here all the time," he whispered as he laid a hand on Joel's bare chest. He then continued to run his fingers through Joel's hair, and whispered again, "We love you... I love you, and I want to help, but I don't know what to do, Jo'..." Kevin began to weep himself, his little heart breaking. "I want to take away this pain; I would if I could. I'm here when you want to say, Jo': really I am. Please believe me; when you want to say, when you feel you can, I'm here. Cory and Sean's here; all of us. We love you."

Joel blubbered, "... I know, b...but I can't... not yet. I'm ashamed, Kev... I am frightened; I'll be in trouble..."

Kevin was weeping just as much as Joel, now. "What can I do?" he cried helplessly. "I don't know how to help you... I want to help... tell me what to do, Jo', and I'll do it... anything..."

"Hold me..." was the answering whisper, "... keep me safe... please?"

There, sheltered from the view of the world, and covered in leaves, twigs and loose dirt, Kevin lay down behind Joel and pulled his friend tight against his chest. Spooned in behind him, he curled his body to match Joel's pitiful pose, and gently started to rub his friend's chest and belly soothingly. "Forever and ever, Jo'," he whispered into Joel's pointed ear. "Where you go, I go. I'll never leave you."

The light breeze that was blowing found them in their shaded spot at that point, and they both shivered.

"I promise," Kevin continued to whisper, "that I will protect you forever."

"A...and I... I wanna protect you too, Kev... but I'm... I'm not strong enough..." Joel's quiet sob answered.

"But I am strong," Kevin replied. "I'm just not brave, Jo'. Kenny is, but I'm not. You are brave; more than Kenny, more than anyone I know. You be my courage and I'll be your strength..."

The wind found them again, and it seemed stronger this time. The chill that ran up their spines would have normally prompted most boys to run for the nearest warm house, but not this 'chill'. This was soothing. This was providence.

"Okay..." Joel sighed, his tears slowing to a stop. "Forever and ever."

The final chill came then, the most powerful of them all.

Kevin began to sing softly, comforting Joel all the while:

"When you're weary, feeling small,

When tears are in your eyes,

I will dry them all.

I'm on your side

When times get rough,

And friends just can't be found;"

"Like a bridge over troubled water,

I will lay me down.

Like a bridge over troubled water,

I will lay me down."

"When you're down and out,

When you're on the street,

When evening falls so hard,

I will comfort you.

I'll take your part

When darkness comes,

And pain is all around;"

"Like a bridge over troubled water,

I will lay me down.

Like a bridge over troubled water,

I will lay me down."

(Bridge Over Troubled Water - P. Simon, 1969)

Both boys fell asleep as the last note faded from Kevin's lips; their souls joining and binding together as Destiny shifted around them. Shaped and Formed by the power of the Shaper and the power of the Shaper's Strength: Kevin.

//Done!// said Forever, and a sweet, bell-like note was heard ringing.

It was fast asleep that Blackie and the Sehlat cub found the two boys. The cub huffed quietly to his smaller companion and curled up around Kevin's back. He used his large, clawed paws to gently pull both boys back until Kevin was half hidden in his fur. Blackie started to snuggle into Joel's arms so that his longish coat of hair would keep his Boy warm.

A quiet yap and a huff, and both of these strange animal spirit guardians joined the boys in their slumber.

Meanwhile:

"What's the problem with Pon Farr, and why did Joel act that way?" Cory asked, a hint of anger in his voice. Something was hurting Joel, and he had no way of making it better. He was pissed, and these interruptions were getting on his nerves.

Sean nodded forcefully, glaring around at the others as if daring them to push the topic off course again.

The Doctor noticed and sat down on Cory's lap, and gestured for Sean to sit next to him. "I'll keep you steady, brothers."

Sean did as asked, and then the Doctor looked at Doc Austin, "Your turn; do your thing, Doc."

Doc Austin smiled his thanks and started. "First, I am no expert on Pon Farr, so please correct me if I slip up," he said as he glanced at Sarek and Solak. "I do not want to offend anyone over such a sensitive matter."

Sarek and Solak nodded briefly. "Of course, you need not ask that," Sarek said.

"Thank you," Doc Austin nodded himself. Then, "This is rather more serious than it would normally be due to Joel not being in puberty. Normally Vulcan males go through Pon Farr on or around their fourteenth birthday. However, I did a full profile on him after he finished his change last night, and there are markers already that show that Pon Farr is anywhere from three days to a week away."

Solak raised his eyebrow, "This is most serious; without puberty, the mild version of Pon Farr that he will face will either cripple his mind permanently at best or kill him at worst."

"The other question is, how has Pon Farr been triggered if he has not entered puberty?" Sarek asked the doctor.

"And why did you not say something sooner so that we could get him help?" Cory added, obviously not in the least bit happy.

Doc Austin looked at Cory with compassion, "We have already done as much as we can. It's the reason why Doctor McCoy is wanting to see Joel as soon as possible. He is the foremost expert in hybrid Human/Vulcans. He has had more experience in that field than even Vulcan doctors, Cory. There is at least three days, and he will be here in less than two. Puberty only needs to have started for Joel to be safe, so, while this is serious, I am not concerned about it being life threatening yet."

"All you'd have to do is ask Kyle and he could be here right NOW!" Sean stated forcefully.

"No, not yet. It isn't Time," the little Doctor said as he pulled Sean closer and gently brushed his cheek with his palm. "As Captain Spock would say, 'For all things there is a time', Sean."

Levi also added, "And if that is true, and we tried taking Joel there, I don't think the Guardian would let us..."

"WHY?" Cory exclaimed in exasperation.

"You've seen how he is with anything related to sex, haven't you, Uncle Cory?" Levi asked.

The Doctor did not wait for them to reply. He added, "What happens to a boy in puberty, guys?"

"I'm too little to hear this," Levi stated as he covered his ears.

The Doctor smiled at the kid, then continued, "Joel would start getting, as you put it, random stiffies... and he would lose what little control and feelings of safety he has in that instant." The Doctor turned to Teri, "When you were helping him with the skin cream that he could not apply to his privates, did you notice the lack of response that would be automatic in any child, pubescent or no?"

She nodded, then her eyes widened.

"Right now, Joel cannot get one. That will change as time goes by, but ONLY at the right TIME. He needs to heal, deep inside, before Doctor McCoy can do anything. And the Keys for that healing are..." he trailed off as he twisted around in Cory's lap and looked meaningfully at him and Sean.

"Us," Sean whispered.

Cory added, "And Kevin, right?"

"Yup," Levi said as he removed his hands from his ears. "I know what needs to happen, but not what will. He needs you three first, before he needs Uncle Bones."

Cory and Sean weighed all that had been revealed silently.

Sarek asked Doc Austin, breaking the silence, "Can you explain how Pon Farr was triggered without puberty?"

Doc Austin nodded, "There is ample evidence in Joel's scans that shows his puberty did start a few years ago, but it was stalled and halted. It was the simple result of that chip he had in him combined with physical and emotional stress that stopped puberty. But even that small spurt of puberty would have triggered Pon Farr, and the stress accelerated it."

"Logical. Unheard of, but logical," Solak nodded to himself.

"The next problem will be once Pon Farr arrives," Xain spoke up then. "Joel does not have, nor will have in time, the mental discipline I have learnt in preparation for my first Pon Farr; although I do not now need to use such," he continued, glancing at a blushing Jake. "Joel cannot meditate out of it. He has to let it run its course."

"So you're saying Joel turns into another Sean and Cory?" Teri asked, ignoring the glares from her sons.

The Doctor giggled half heartedly. "I make jokes that Time Lords are worse than Vulcans, as does Tardis, but... who am I kidding? Pon Farr is what Alpha Stage puberty is, just all in one burst. He will be driven to find a mate, fight for one to the death... or die of the Blood Fever. And Xain's right, this is a problem."

"Why?" Sean asked in complete bemusement. "Kevin loves him, and I'm sure as heck that Joel loves him just as much. Wouldn't that be the answer?"

"No," Jake sighed.

"Why?" Jason, Nathan and Telez chorused.

"Because Kevin is afraid of sex as well," Xain answered reluctantly. "He feels that sex and anything to do with it will make him a whore. He has not even..." Xain became silent.

Jake sighed and made the universal gesture they all understood.

"Gawd, I'm too YOUNG for this!" Levi protested, covering his eyes.

"Ah," Cory sighed. "Shit."

//They will heal each other. They will need the Heart of the Nexus to do so. Are you willing to be that help?// the Guardian asked Cory and Sean in the depths of their hearts.

'You must be the only one that didn't hear my promise if you have to ask that,' Cory responded silently.

//I did. I do not ask questions because I need the answer, for I already know the answer. I ask questions to test the one being questioned. Would you be willing to help them should they need it? Would you be willing to push Socius to the limit? Should Kevin refuse to bear Pon Farr, would you you do so to save the Shaper's life? Whether or not you need to, are you both willing?//

Cory's reply was cold. 'He's my brother; and I do NOT abandon my brothers who are needing help.'

'That goes for me too,' Sean added, obviously not happy about his devotion to family being put to question.

A strange bell like tone was suddenly heard.

//Done!//

"What in the holy hell happened?" the Doctor gasped, looking around quickly. Everyone had been watching emotions play over both Cory and Sean's faces for the past minute, for they had not heard this exchange, not even Levi. "Time is moving! What... what the hell did you two do??"

//They made a sacred promise at the instant the Shaper joined his soul to the soul of his Strength, Kevin. Destiny is moving//

"Granma Teri? Is it okay for me to say 'Oh Shit'?" Levi asked.

"In this case, I think that is mild." Teri replied.

//The Players are set; The Path is done; Love is joined; Pain shall run; Destiny moves... My brother doth come...// the Guardian intoned. Then, //Cory Short; Sean Short; my testing of your resolve was not for me, nor others, but for you. You now know, not just believe. You shall do, you shall have the strength. I shall supply it. Now go... find your 'Elven Prince'. He doth sleep in the arms that love him, warmed by those sent to watch him, and watched over by four Protectors set forth from of old. Go//

Cory and Sean vanished with another bell-like tone, and the Doctor plopped down onto the seat that Cory had just radically vacated.

"Hell, I need a vacation..." he murmured to himself.

"I second that; my head hurts," Levi responded as he curled into a ball on Teri's lap and trembled.

Jason looked at his husband, then back at Levi sadly, "Sorry, but I don't think they make aspirin that can help you."

Sarek's face was unreadable, however.

"Fa'sami?" Jason asked as he noticed the old Vulcan. "What's wrong?"

"I... I am unsure, but... I believe that something long thought to be a simple legend of the past is about to take place in reality," he answered.

"What legend is that?" Teri asked as she began to soothe another frightened child.

Sarek did not answer, for Jason's gasp showed that he had guessed.

"'He comes and It comes, and the sunlight shall tremble...'" Jason quoted hesitantly, looking at his grandfather for confirmation.

Sarek nodded, "Joel speaks the tongue of our race, yet he has never been taught it. He heals a wounded heart with the power of the Sharing, but has never learnt how to do so..."

Solak gasped, then regained control of himself. "It cannot be... it is only a legend!"

"Is someone going to explain or am I going to have to kick ass?" Dan asked impatiently.

Jason quoted again, "'Unknowing shall he speak - Words that he shall not have heard. Untaught shall he know - Using his power to heal. Unguided shall he find his Strength... and forge the Destiny of Sa'ren'. It is the Legend of Sa'ren; the re-forging of the Broken Sword of Surak, and the saving of... the saving of Vulcan," Jason looked in awe at Teri. "Your little boy is the one who will re-forge the blade, Aunt Teri."

"I hate to sound the cynic here; but just how old is this legend, and how many times has it changed over its lifespan?" Teri asked as she tried to sooth the Mikyvis cuddled into her chest.

//As old as I am, and I spoke it through both Surak and T'Klass, his pupil. It has been kept down all the years since the Age of Awakening unbroken. Whether or not it comes to pass, and whether or not the Shaper can Reforge Sa'ren is unknown. Even I cannot see what will happen. Just as the Children of Forever, I see all possibilities in the coming Time, but I cannot tell upon which path you shall tread. Joel is for now Without Destiny, yet he doth Shape it for all without knowing. We can only hope that all that has been and will be set in place is enough...//

Sean and Cory appeared in front of four determined G-Cats who were standing guard around a large bush in JJ's garden.

"What, you guys gone and become Mikyvis too?" Hermes asked, once he had found his skin to climb back into again.

"Where's Joel?" Cory asked, not in any mood to joke.

Hermes got the message loud and clear. "In the bush with Kevin, an irritable wolf pup, and the biggest fucking long toothed bear cub you've ever seen..."

Cory and Sean nodded absently at the cheetah before rushing past and scrambling into the bush themselves. They reached their target, expecting to see Marjur and Blackie watching over the two boys... instead, they were met by a big furry face that most certainly wasn't Marjur's... A face with very big teeth.

The Sehlat cub sniffed them extensively for a moment while they remained stock still. Then the cub huffed happily, moved to one side, and laid back down to gently encircle the group lying on the dry earth. He looked up and huffed softly again, and started to thump his tail.

"I think we've just been ordered to cuddle," Sean stated, relieved to see Joel relaxed and asleep.

The cub thumped his tail a few more times and huffed at Sean.

"You think?" Cory replied. "I don't think arguing is a good idea."

The cub shock his head, then reached and patted the space he had made between himself and Kevin lying in front of him.

"You first," Sean said as he moved into position to lay down. "It's my turn to be the spoonee."

The cub started laughing at them both. The 'huff, huff, huff' could not be anything but laughter.

"Oh, be quiet, you," Cory giggled as he spooned in behind his husband, while Sean gently pulled Kevin and Joel and the wolf pup closer.

Cory's giggles stopped as a huge, clawed paw was draped over him and the others as the cub completed the mass spooning.

"That's unnerving," Sean started to giggle.

"No shit," Cory sighed, then laughed lightly as the cub decided that Cory's neck needed a wash.

"Awww, Joel's sucking his thumb," Sean said tenderly.

Cory shrugged happily, "Let him. It's his to suck."

Another bell-like tone reverberated through them, and a whisper came to their minds, //It is complete. They are linked, now and forever. You can wake them, Hearts of the Nexus//

"But they're so cute sleeping like this!" Cory replied aloud.

"Whoth cewt?" came Joel's sleepy voice as he began to wake up, his thumb still jammed in his mouth.

"You are, little brother," Cory replied softly.

Joel removed his now soggy thumb and regarded it. He then shifted around in Kevin's hug, bringing Blackie with him, to look at his sleeping best friend, his brothers... and a Sehlat! He was about to gasp when he found his eyes drawn to Kevin's that had just cracked open. He smiled contentedly at his best friend, then kissed his lips lightly.

"Hi," Kevin murmured once the kiss was broken.

'Huff, huff, huff,' came the rumbling Sehlat laughter again.

"What was that?" Kevin turned his head slightly to see. "That Marjur?"

"Nope," Sean giggled. "Not sure what his name is; but he seems to think cuddles are mandatory."

Yes

Joel raised his eyebrows, as did the other three boys. "That wasn't Blackie... did you hear him too?"

"Yep; now I've got TWO cuddle-hungry teddy bears in my head!" Cory giggled.

Not head. Heart hears. Head no hear. Spirit talk. Boy; I need Name

"Boy?" Sean asked curiously as he craned his head to look at the cub.

Boy came the reply as the cub lightly patted Joel with the large paw that was draped over them all.

"I have to name you? But Blackie already had a name... why don't you?" Joel asked.

Black Feet from Earth. I from Vulcan. From Vulcan, all Named. You Name me

Joel looked nervous. "How? I might give you the wrong name..."

Knowing without knowing. Touch face, Name me

Joel moved and got up. He crawled around to the cub's head and hesitantly placed both hands on the cub's muzzle.

"I-Cheya," he said in wonder as images danced before his eyes.

I-Cheya. Thank you. I-Cheya is Boy's. Boy is I-Cheya's I-Cheya thumped his tail happily, then went back to washing Cory's neck.

Joel crept back and settled down again facing Kevin. "Why are you out here?" he asked his brothers as he nuzzled his cheek against Kevin's happily.

"You needed us," Cory replied simply.

Joel smiled his thanks as Kevin tightened his hug on him. "Told you, didn't I, Jo'? We all love you."

"I... I guess so. I'm sorry for running out like that," Joel said with the smallest of trembles in his voice. "I got frightened and didn't think. It was wrong of me."

"We understand; everyone runs when they are scared if they listen to their body. It's a part of our genetic make-up," Sean replied.

After a second's thought, Joel nodded in acceptance. "Do you want to go back to your party now? I don't want you to miss it."

"Not unless you guys come with us," Cory replied.

Kevin giggled, "That'll be nice. I think I could do with some more feeding, Jo'!"

Joel giggled. "Okay, but I first gotta see Mama and the others. I don't want them to worry more."

"Okay, Lil'elf. When you're ready, we'll go," Sean smiled.

It took a minute or two to find the easiest path out of the bush they were in. It basically became easier once I-Cheya ploughed a path through by brute strength.

"Mark is going to be royally pissed off," Cory giggled.

'Huff, huff, huff.'

"Like Mark is goofy enough to complain to a Sehlat?" Sean chuckled.

"Is he friendly like Marjur?" Artemus asked as the group came into sight of the G-Cats, I-Cheya in the lead. Unlike their two cheetah brothers, Artemus and Aphrodite had met a Sehlat in the Compound already.

I-Cheya quickly moved into a flat out run, stopping dead in front of her; then he wagged his tail.

"Fast," murmured Mercury.

Hermes nodded, "Big too. What is it?"

"A Sehlat, from Vulcan," Joel said proudly, "and his name's I-Cheya. He's my companion like Blackie is!"

"Cool," chorused the four G-Cats as they started to pet the large cub.

"We have some news too, Joel, Kevin," Aphrodite said shyly. "Saint Mikey was here a while ago. He said we four are to be your guards -- for the both of you. Our commander will ask us girls to do it at a later point, but really, we're your guards right now."

"I think you just needed an excuse to be around for more Joel-Cuddles," Cory giggled.

"If they're as good as Merc says, then yup!" Artemus giggled.

Joel moved over and climbed into her arms and proved it.

"Oh! Sweeeeeet!" she started to purr.

Teri was silent at the Guardian's pronouncement. "So... I've adopted a Messiah figure?" she asked, fear in her voice.

//All futures are open, Lady. What Time shall bring is for One to know, and Another to Shape//

"You don't even know? Then who does? I won't have any of my children put through hell if I can help it, and I'll be damned first if I just sit here without trying to help him!"

//There is only One who can see, yet He does not speak of it. Lady, all I can offer you is Hope and Strength. What is about to occur has never happened before, nor will it ever happen again//

The Doctor raised a hand, and at Teri's nod, spoke softly, "I know some, but that is only due to my first meeting with Joel being in Joel's future. It is weird, however: that 'history' I know is shifting in my mind. I know what I was told, but until I see it happen in the Now, it is not stable in my head. I cannot speak of what is To Be, as it may Not Be. I must watch, just as you have to. After the point of my first meeting with Joel, everything is blank. Everything."

"Should we keep your identity secret from him, Doc?" Jason asked quietly.

The Doctor nodded, "He... I mean, IF he is to find out, then he must work it out. I cannot say yes or no to your question, other than continue to act in public as you are now. I cannot risk anything being revealed with the Shaper about."

"What is a Shaper??" Dan asked. "I keep hearing the name, that otherworldly voice keeps saying it, and Levi and Kyle were gabbling about it earlier. What is a Shaper, and how can that poor boy be one?"

"There is only one, Uncle Dan," the Doctor said mutely as he was pulled over and sat on Amanda's lap. "There has never been one before, and may never be one again. I must go into the Laws of Time to explain this; if you can handle it?"

They all nodded.

"Very well. Levi, sweetie?" the ginger boy gestured for Levi to join him on Amanda's lap.

Levi popped over instantly, and felt the tension in his mind leave.

"Aspirin won't help, but all you need is a Doctor," the small Time Lord half giggled, making the others smile.

Levi sniffed slightly in his arms, "That's the first time I felt bad, Galli."

"Yeah, I know. It's not often you get Destiny changing," he answered, then looked up and said, "Come on, you five. Out of hiding."

"Nothing gets past you," Dylan tried to joke as he and Bryce and Peter appeared, but the sight of his appearing Dad and Pop running over to check on Levi was too serious for laughter.

"He'll be fine; just a temporal headache. Which I'm sure you're all feeling, correct?" the Doctor asked them.

They all nodded.

"Come over here and touch me. It'll clear your heads." Everyone else simply watched as the gathered Mikyvis went over and hugged the small Time Lord briefly, then they all clambered up and sat around Amanda and Sarek.

Kyle and Tyler pulled their first born over and onto their laps. "Go on, Doc," Tyler said quietly as he kissed Levi's hair. "Tell us about my brother, the Shaper."

"First, Destiny and Fate. What do you know of them?" he asked generally.

"They are the same, are they not?" Solak offered. "Fate and Destiny mean the same."

The ginger Time Lord nodded, "In the tongues of the Younger races, yes, that is true. However, in Gallifreyan, the words have a different bent to them. Fate is a point in time that cannot be altered easily, but it can be altered. It is a Might Be, or a Could Be, event. Mixed with it are Random Chances, those choices we make each and every day. Destiny, however, is not like that. It is Fixed; unmoving. There are nearly always two 'choices' with a Fixed point, but really, there is no choice at all. Example, a long time ago for me I went back and visited Pompeii before the volcano erupted. It was in another Universe. Just as here, the volcano would have destroyed all of the city. In that Universe, though, there were aliens living IN the volcano, and they were stopping it from erupting. They intended to conquer the world and kill all of humanity. I was left with a Fixed Point choice: leave them and watch all of the Earth burn in extraterrestrial flames, or make the volcano erupt and sacrifice one city."

He paused, then hung his head. In a whisper, he said, "I chose the lesser of two evils. I am the one who caused Pompeii to die in that Universe. It had to happen; it did not make it easy knowing that, however. But; if Joel had been there, and if he knew what he was doing, he could have either Reshaped Destiny, or simply Shaped a new one. That is a power that exceeds anything the High Races, or even the Guardian, can do."

Levi looked at the Doctor, "Is Joel a High Race member then?"

"No," the ginger boy shook his head. "He is The Shaper. He is Young Race. He is Joel. Special yet Normal. There is no other like him in all Creation. Without Destiny, yet Shaping Destiny."

"He has no Destiny at all?" Jake asked in wonder.

"He must have! I was told by Cory that Mikey said his name is in the Book of Life!" Teri exclaimed.

"Yes, there are things known about him, but he is still Without Destiny; well mostly. There is something, but it is unknown. However, look at what you just said; 'The Book of Life'? Who writes that, Lady Teri? Who knew?" the Doctor asked leadenly.

"Oh... oh my," she whispered. "God..."

"So, Destiny is an unchangeable event or choice, yet Joel can change them to his own ends, right?" Dan summarized.

"Yes, correct," the Doctor nodded. "Fate can be changed; not easily, but it can. And there are five little boys linked with or directly part of the Clan who are appointed to do so to save this Universe. Destiny, however, is from 'Of Old'. The Destiny of Creation was written before the First Cycle of Creation came to be. It must happen... unless the One who wrote it allows a change."

"That happened a few times," Kyle mused. "Remember Mikey saying the Book of Life had been changed for Toby and Beau?"

The Doctor grinned, "Yep, so I was told. Vae'Runam, the Guardian, has already caught me up with current Changed Points, just so that I'm aware. That was the One you call Our Father changing things in response to Faith. That happens a few times, but not as much as you think. It is still Him changing things, though." He paused, then continued slowly, "Joel is His Shaper. There once was only One who could reform Destiny, and only did so when Faith was shown. Now, there is another... and he can either reform it, or make a new one completely."

Sarek was staring at the Doctor incredulously. "You are saying that a mortal child, with a battered and wounded soul, bears and wields the power of Oekon?!"

"The full power of the Supreme Being? No," the Doctor shook his head. "One ability, that over predestination, yes. Foreknowledge? All Powerful? Creating? No. He is not God, nor a god. He is, or more specifically will be, the Shaper."

"This is crazy!" Dan exclaimed, "I'm sorry, Teri, I don't mean to belittle that wonderful little boy, but this is damned stupid! He is unstable, in my professional opinion; and I can only say that much, going by the human side he presents to us. I have no idea about the purely Vulcan issues he is going through and will go through. This is dangerous, Doctor!"

"Don't look at me, Dan, I did not choose him. El'Runi'm did, and personally, I am not going to second guess the Creator!" the Doctor said, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "Besides, right now his powers are working but not under his direct control. The Guardian says that the One who knows is using them through Joel. Remember what I said; Joel is His Shaper. If Joel learns how to do this himself, then he will still be stopped from destroying all if he tries to go too far. This ability is a mystery to me... maybe he will never learn to direct it consciously, but it may just happen when his spirit responds to specific events, as led by Oekon, Our Father, Great Spirit, El'Runi'm, God - call Him what you will... He is in control when it comes to Joel. Joel might learn to change something with the force of his will, but... Everything that has been Reshaped so far has been automatic. He has altered 'What Is' to 'Be' something else. He has not even used the Shape aspect of his ability yet. So far, he has only moved Destiny, not Created a new one. Until he does, then the promise he shows will not be realised. The Hour of the Shaper is not yet. The reason for him being the Shaper, though... I don't know, I really don't."

Nathan hugged himself closer to Jason, "I'm a Christian, and I will trust what you have said, Doc. But I'm still scared; for Joel... this is something no-one has told him yet, right?"

Kyle shook his head, "Right."

"That's good. I can think of no easier way to completely flip that boy's head open than to tell him he is a Lord of Destiny!" Nathan sighed as he snuggled more into Jason's arms.

"He must have been told," Levi whispered.

Kyle nuzzled his son's neck as he increased his hug on the boy, "No, sweetheart, he wasn't. I've been in his head, and no-one told him."

"Someone must have, Dad... in that thing this morning, when he got lost in that hole in his mind? That 'other' personality was yelling at him and hurting him. It said '...you shall not live to be His Shaper...'. That was another personality within Joel... how did it know that?"

Kyle and the Doctor looked at each other, and shrugged. "Don't know, but I'll keep an eye on him. That work for you, Doctor?" Kyle offered.

"Doctor who?" Joel asked as he came smiling into the room, followed by Cory, Sean and Kevin. A 'huff huff huff' could be heard from outside the door.

The Doctor rolled his eyes as Jason started howling with laughter.

"What?" the little Vulcan asked Jason curiously. "And who are you?" he asked politely, glancing at the Doctor.

"Joel, this is John Smith. John, this is Joel Short, my big brother!" Kyle introduced them with a grin.

"Hiya, Joel," the Doctor grinned at the boy.

Joel giggled. "Hi, Joh... John Smith?" Joel started to tremble as his Vulcan mind put together all the clues and Jason's reaction at a phenomenal speed. "Doctor? Nooo... wait, THE Doctor??"

The Doctor started to giggle, "Nice one, kiddo. Yeah, I'm him!"

Joel's mouth was hanging open, then he too giggled, "You really ARE Doctor Who, then!"

"Doctor WHO?" Dan asked with a chuckle.

Telez and Antony, who had both been sitting there silently, smiled. "You're feelin' better now, Joel?" Antony asked the boy as Joel ran over and pulled the Doctor in for a massive hug.

"Yeah! Thanks to Kevin, and my two companions... and then it was even better waking up to see my bros!" he giggled from the Time Lord's arms.

"Companions?" Telez looked curious.

'Huff huff huff'

In though the door came I-Cheya, and his tail was wagging a mile a minute.

Sarek's eyebrow raised, "You have bonded with Commander Sellik's cub? I did not know that my cousin was even here."

Jason smiled at his grandfather, "Yes, I was going to say, fa'sami, but all this..."

"I understand. I shall go and speak to him after," Sarek nodded.

"And I thought Timmy collected animals..." Teri commented with a small grin.

Blackie walked in, followed by the four G-Cats. One Wolf, One Bear, Four Pussies; Not many they all heard in their hearts.

Aphrodite looked at her sister, "Now I know why cats dislike dogs!"

Mercury picked up the wolf pup and started tickling him, but since he was a canine, this was bliss to the pup.

Timmy walked in and giggled at the sight of a G-Cat tickling a dog. "Poppa; Lance says that you need to let Lew outta your shirt pocket."

"Lance? Lew?" Peter asked. "Did I get some new brothers while I wasn't lookin'?"

Sean gingerly reached his hand into his pocket, and slowly pulled it back out with another turtle hanging by his fingernail. "I assume this is 'Lew'?" Sean asked as he placed the little turtle in his hand and passed it to Timmy.

"Yeah Poppa; he's Lance's little brother!" Timmy replied. "They're goin swimmin' with some fishies Allie brought me."

"Joel, I'm envious, bro," Jason giggled as the Fireball trotted back out carrying his new friend. "I was hoping that the cub would bond with me, but I'm just super glad he did with you."

"Thanks," Joel smiled happily as he ran over and climbed onto I-Cheya's back, pulling Kevin up behind him. "This is I-Cheya."

"I-Cheya?" Sarek asked. "That was the name of my Sehlat when I was a child. He became my son's but..."

"I know," Joel nodded seriously. "He died protecting Captain Spock when he was seven."

Sarek nodded in amazement. "So it is true, you know more about this place than would be imagined."

Joel smiled again, "Yessir, I do. Didn't know that Vulcan's Named by touching and seeing weird stuff, though."

"The Ahm-Van-Kal, the Naming," Solak explained. "We do not always See in that, Joel; you and I-Cheya are fortunate to have experienced it."

I-Cheya nodded his head and huffed at them all for a moment, before turning and ambling back out and towards the Dining Room with the two small boys on his back.

"I think that is the signal for more food," Sean giggled.

As everyone got up to leave, Jason moved over to Kyle quickly.

"Little Angel," he whispered as he picked up the brown haired Mikyvis and cradled him over his hip, "Tony and I need to have a quick chat with you."

Kyle smiled softly at the name, "Sure, Jace."

Jason and Antony left the room and headed to the far side of Main CIC and began an earnest conversation with the smaller boy.

Last to leave the room was Solak, Sarek and Xain. Jake was nearly at the door to the Dining Room when he noticed his T'hy'la was not moving.

"My son, there is something I need to tell you and explain," Solak started.

Xain nodded, "Okay, Father."

"Please, sit. You may be here as well, Jake," Sarek said, directing them all back into the room.

Once they had all been seated, Solak started, "Xain, he who is your grandfather was not pleased with my decision to allow you entrance into Clan Short."

"I did not think he would," Xain murmured. "What has he done to counter it?" he asked, a sick sound in his voice, and Solak watched as he grasped at Jake's hand for emotional support.

Solak looked at Sarek, as if appealing for help, before answering slowly, "We have been cast out of House and Family, my son. We are no longer of House Suvak."

Xain went stiff, then seemed to melt into Jake's arms. His eyes became haunted and tears appeared there.

Jake gripped his Bonded tightly, for down their Bond-Link, the true horror of this was made known to him. "Outcast?" he asked Sarek, his voice trembling. "We can't marry? You're gonna let Xain die in Pon Farr??"

"No," Sarek answered, laying his hand on Solak's shoulder.

Xain and Jake quickly focused their waning attention on the Ambassador.

"Your paternal grandmother was, until her Union with He who is your Grandfather, a member of House Surak. Both you and your father are therefore distant kin, cousins, to me and my House. As of nine o'clock this morning, He who is your Father has been Accepted within House Surak as the Patriarch of a new Family, Family Solak," Sarek explained, moving to sit with Xain and Jake.

He pulled them both closer and into his arms, "I am now your House Patriarch, and never shall you be Outcast again."

Jason and Antony stood near the door and watched as Kyle approached Tyne and Rusty as they were finishing their dessert. "Tyne, we have a Founder issue that you need to help sort out," Kyle said softly as he came to stand next to his friend. "It's about Antony Parnell, Jason Evans' Clan Archivist."

Tyne looked up at Kyle as he set his fork down, "Okay, is it serious enough that we need to return to the Ark Compound or would you like to just slip into the conference room?"

"That depends on you," Kyle answered, lowering his voice. "Antony is a fully trained VSO operative, loyal to Vulcan above all, trained to kill... and a Founder with his abilities locked out who wants to have a talk to the 'leader of his people' as he is interested in being unlocked and trained."

Tyne frowned as he slowly stood up, "Well, that's...different. I think its best that we move to the Council Chambers at the Ark Compound, just to avoid being bothered." Tyne turned to Rusty, "I'll be away for a little while, Rusty, would you..."

"I'll cover for ya," grinned Rusty. "Though I don't think anyone but maybe Dominic or Nyo would be looking for you right now anyway. Hurry back."

Tyne smiled and then turned back to Kyle, "Well, Mr. Richardson, if you would be so kind."

Jason started to bounce happily as they all vanished from the Clan Compound and reappeared in the Council Chambers of the Ark Compound, "Hoo boy! I've been looking forward to this since yesterday! Tony, I'll have a promise from you, though."

"What?" Antony asked hesitantly.

"No getting lost in Ark's memory core and seeing what buttons do what. I don't think the Seer would be impressed if Ark came down with a case of nervous tension brought on by an inquisitive Welsh boy playing about in her processor!" Jason giggled, earning him a slap from his best friend.

<Her? I am just meeting you people in person and already you are trying to assign that gender to me? Tyne, this is a serious issue, I am not female.>

"I'll look into getting them to call you Mom instead then," grinned Tyne as he took a seat in one of the open Council chairs. "So, let's see; Jason, I believe we were briefly introduced before, though I don't remember exactly what it is you do. And I'm guessing that the other young man with you is Antony."

Following Tyne's gesture, Antony and Jason sat down next to him, and Kyle took up lap space on Antony. "Yeah, we met briefly Sunday and yesterday, Seer," Jason smiled. "I'm a Clan Patriarch for a brother Clan to Clan Short, and also a Vulcan Division Commander for the Vulcan Special Ops. Antony is my brother and best friend, and Clan Archivist, as well as a Commander in my Division. Oh, and before we go further, just know that Antony won't be being rude by being quiet at first. He's very shy, and takes a while to warm up to people he's never met." Jason reached out and linked his hand with Antony's, and the taller boy smiled shyly at Tyne and nodded.

Kyle smiled, "That's why I'm having cuddles with him, to help with that."

Antony hugged the boy closer with his free hand, then looked at Tyne fully. "Pleased to meet you, Seer. I hope I'm not going to cause you a problem with all this."

"As Seer of the Founder Council I am here to help my people, so even if you were causing me a problem, it would be my job to help you with that problem if you asked for help in the first place; that is part of my job," said Tyne. "And you can both call me Tyne; we may be in the Council Chamber, but this is not a formal situation, I don't think. So now, Kyle briefly mentioned why we are here, but what is this exactly about and why is it an issue?"

"Thank you, Tyne. If you will, please call me Jace, and he's Tony. We tend to prefer our nicknames. Anyway, I think I'll start explaining, but Kyle will need to explain his part," Jason started. "Ten months ago, Levi appeared to us and healed my Klingon brother. That is what started this whole thing with my Clan. A few days later, he came back just as I and my sister and boyfriend started getting very ill. We were changing and our powers would have killed us. He brought with him two boys who were shrouded like rainbows, and together, they healed me, Nath' and Viccy.

"They also opened up latent gifts in the 'core' group who were there, including Tony. He became our 'dreamer'. I took a look in his head, and to me it was very strange. He had two extra 'rooms', as I understood them, but they were sealed off. However, when he slept he would see things that could or would happen a few days ahead. A useful ability that has more than helped us over the past ten months."

Antony nodded and spoke softly, "That's all I called myself. Dreamer. Then on Sunday, Ark downloaded a lot of information into Clan Short's database for Aunt Teri, and I was the first to read some of it. I found a reference to 'Founders' and that they saw the future or past. There was instructions for what to look for genetically, and so I tested myself. I have those 'tags'."

Jason continued then, "We guessed that those sealed areas of his mind was done that way by Levi or the other two 'Rainbows'. The information we had said that Founders need training or they could hurt themselves or others. Since we knew no Founders, it was logical for Tony to be blocked. But, we don't know why Tony never showed any signs when a child of 7 or 8, like the info said should have happened."

"My turn," Kyle spoke up, "The reason I and the others went back to ten months ago was to close off a circle in time involving Jason and his brothers and sister. As I was scanning everyone, I found that Tony was a Founder; or should have been. There was a slight problem in his mind, though, and it would have caused some major issues for him once he got older. It was why he didn't show the signs as a younger child. I repaired it, and that meant he became a Founder with full abilities. 'Cos I knew Founders would not 'be around' for the best part of ten months, I closed off his Past and Future parts of his mind until he could be trained, just allowing him to access the future subconsciously in his dreams."

"So that is how it stands," Jason said seriously. "Antony is a Founder, but also not one at the same time. As can be expected, he wants to know about his people and take part in his heritage. I'm all for that, but he and I both know there is a problem here."

"I'm trained to kill, if needed," Antony whispered. "I have rarely done so, though. I don't like field work that much, so I've not gotten into as many fights or battles as my fellow Commanders have. The real kicker is that I've read that Founders are generally peaceful and refrain from killing period. I cannot be that way. My first loyalty is to Vulcan. 'To be the first and last line of defence' is the VSO directive, and I will use any and all means to fulfil a mission if needed."

As he trailed off uncertainly, Jason continued for him while squeezing his hand comfortingly, "He feels that to be a fully trained Founder and then have to go and fight and kill if required would be an insult to you and his people. Yet, he also WANTS to be a Founder in all ways; it's his birthright. So... we've come to you. I love my brother, and just want the best for him, but I also respect his attitude to want the best for you and the Founders as well, Tyne."

"Well that is an interesting situation," Tyne said as he stood up so he could pace.

To Be Continued...

Editor's Notes:

Well, this chapter is certainly full to brimming with important situations. There are a lot of things happening here that will indeed shape things to come. It seems that finally Joel and Kevin have bonded and are now as one. There are obviously still some issues that they need to deal with and hopefully with some help, they will be able to get past those issues.

So, Joel is The Shaper. I wonder what that will mean and what responsibilities he will take on. It sounds like something very important indeed.

It also looks like Anthony has some issues that he will need to deal with. Hopefully Tyne will be willing and able to show Tony what he needs to know.

This story is going to continue the saga of the CSU along with some others, however, we will need to watch this one very closely, because it will definitely have some powerful pivot points, and they will impact strongly on all the other stories which will need to be addressed before part three of Memories can start. It looks to me as if Ilu has a big responsibility ahead of him. I have confidence in him though, so let us sit back and enjoy this wonderful story.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher