Whatever - Part II

Posted on Sun Jul 20, 2025 @ 1:13am by Commodore T'mpest Michaels & Lieutenant T'Lul

1,761 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Time After Time
Location: Captain's Ready Room

[PREVIOUSLY]

"The more rigid Vulcans will, yes. But we are spreading out across the galaxy and intermarrying with other species. That is changing some of the dynamics,” T’mpest countered.

"Indeed," T'Lul replied. "Which is what makes individuals like you so fascinating."

T'mpest gave the counselor a half smile. "Fascinating is not the word I would use. I do not believe there is a typical half Vulcan."

[CONTINUED]

"Which also is fascinating. After all, are Vulcans now subconsciously using pon farr as a loophole to find mates who are not logical. Is it a case of opposites attracting? What was once taboo is becoming more accepted. Yet, my topic still is shown prejudice. It is highly illogical."

"And yet, your thesis, to them, is highly illogical. Their way of life has proven itself time and again. They will not easily accept such a radical way of thinking." Before T'Lul could challenge her on it, T'mpest raised an eyebrow. "I do not include myself because, while my father is Vulcan, my mother is Scottish. I was not raised to be entirely logical. However, I am Vulcan enough to live and work on Shi-Kahr."

"Can you tell me how that came to be?" T'Lul asked starting to wonder when the pastries would arrive.

Just then there was a knock on the door and T'mpest's secretary entered, carrying a box of pastries. "These just arrived." Millie set the box on the coffee table, then set out a stack of napkins.

"Thank you," T'mpest replied as Millie turned and headed back out the door.

She took a napkin before opening the box and selecting a custard-filled Bismarck. "Help yourself." T'mpest sat back. "My mother was a professor of Earth literature in a Federation university on Vulcan. My father was a professor of communications at the Vulcan Science Academy. They met at a conference and fell in love."

"Isn't that interesting, though? For all the talk of logic and suppressing emotions, your father, a Vulcan, not in pon farr, fell in love." Rather than taking the anise bread, she picked up a pastry with the tips of her fingers, placed it over a napkin, took a bite, and then put it back down on the napkin.

"I do not know if he was in pon farr or not--they would hardly mention that to their daughter. However, he did say it was illogical." She was still holding on to her Bismarck. "Ambassador Sarek married two human women, so there is precedent."

"Of course there is. Sarek, though, originally claimed it was the logical thing to do. He never provided the logic and only later in life admitted that he loved her. Love is not logical. Spock was bullied for having a human mother, also not logical, though Vulcan children have not yet gone on the path of kolinahr. So either, emotions must be balanced with logic in some way, or Vulcans are hypocrites. Do you see another possibility?" T'Lul asked as she continued to nibble on the pastry.

"That was over a century ago. Much has changed since then. And, while T'Pol did work with the Federation, Spock is technically the first Vulcan to actually join Starfleet," T'mpest countered. "My father is not a hypocrite, but he loves my mother and is logical. He says that love can be logical. I agree with him. I also think you are oversimplifying the matter in order to prove your point."

"Am I?" T'Lul asked raising her eyebrow and inching forward. "Please explain how you believe an emotion is logical."

"One part of your argument is that humanity is born with emotions, yes? Then having emotions is not illogical. Letting them control you is. To that end, loving someone is not letting the emotion control you, it is finding peace with that emotion while still being logical."

"That is an interesting interpretation." She put her hand to her face with her index finger over her lips and her thumb under her chin. "I agree that having emotions is not illogical but suppressing them may be. If those following Surak's teachings suppress emotions, then theoretically, they should not allow themselves to feel love except every 7 years. It is a bit of an enigma to me."

"I would say they control them more than suppress them," T'mpest countered. "Control to the point of not showing them at all, but only some are strict enough to not allow any emotion at all."

"So, would it be fair to say that you believe that Vulcans have emotions influence their decisions more than Vulcans claim to do so?"

"No. I would not say emotions influence them, rather I would say they have them and keep them under control."

"Surak's teachings say they must be suppressed. That is one form of control. To allow them to come out, is another. I think there is a difference there."

T'mpest nodded. "Something for you to consider, yes."

"Indeed," T'Lul answered thoughtfully. "Tell me how you handle your emotions, if you do not mind."

"The same way I use my mind." T'mpest shrugged. "They exist and are a part of me. I feel emotions, but they do not control me, just like my curiosity does not supersede my reason."'

"That is a very Vulcan-like response," T'Lul noted. "However, you do not strictly follow Surak's teachings. You do not suppress the emotions. Am I correct?"

"No. I do not suppress, I control. Surak's teachings were necessary for our people to stop killing each other. For some, that is still necessary. But I do not believe that we should suppress emotion to the point of locking it behind a wall. I also do not believe that it is acceptable to allow emotions free reign. Calm and rational self-control is, to me, the most logical approach."

"This theory aligns well with mine. I am interested in how you learned to merely control rather than suppress, especially as Vulcan emotions are stronger than human ones. Are you able to teach this?" There was a hint of eagerness in T'Lul's voice - something that was odd for a trained Vulcan.

"I do not know if it can be taught. I am the product of both my parents. A Vulcan scholar and a human antiquities collector." At least that was her mother's current occupation. "I believe I am more a balance of the two. Living with both examples helped me choose what I felt was the best of both. Although it would be more correct to say that I eschewed the more radical behavior of both of them."

The Vulcan exhaled heavily. "I have to believe that any skill can be taught or learned given sufficient time. However, I am curious what you mean when you stated that you eschewed the more radical behavior of your parents."

"My father is a Vulcan scholar and professor. He spends much of his time reading or working on computer programs. My mother is...outgoing. Extravagant. She loves life and taught that to her non-Vulcan students. Now, she spends half her time collecting. Sometimes she donates what she finds to museums. Sometimes she keeps them. She does not care what people think of her, or if they wonder how she could be married to a Vulcan. She can come in like a storm or she can sit quietly waiting to erupt. It is her way."

"Vulcans and computers..." T'Lul replied, allowing her eyes to slightly roll. "Your mother, however, sounds unpredictable. I could only imagine what your childhood was like."

"It was...educational." T'mpest gave her a half smile. "And it made me the person I am, so I have no regrets." She paused, going back to T'Lul's question. "I suggest you watch people. The promenade is an excellent place to see how different people act. Or take a class. There is an adult learning facility on the station. This is not because you need to learn, but it is an excellent place to observe."

"I do watch people and I, of course, counsel people. The nuances, though.... I do not always know how to read through those. I do wonder when my time comes, whether that will help clarify matters."

"It will help you understand emotion better, yes. People...take time and exposure." T'mpest paused. Perhaps just watching would not be enough for T'Lul. "Instead of just watching, I think making friends and spending time with them will better suit your needs. You will learn more of the nuances of human behavior through friendship, and shared interests than merely observing."

"I tend to agree. However, most of my friends have left. Yolanthe and I had a good understanding of one another."

"She ran the Box of Delights, yes?" T'mpest didn't have the chance to meet her, but she knew who the woman was. "There has been an influx of new personnel. Perhaps one of them can become a new friend?"

"She did and perhaps. The odds do favor it, given the amount of beings on this station."

"Indeed." T'mpest had covered all she wished to for now. "Is there anything you wish to bring up?"

"I believe that I already did. Is there something more that you wish to know?" T'Lul inquired curiously.

"No. I asked you what I wished to know. I will let you go back to your department." There were likely still things the counselor needed to do today, or people to see.

"Thank you, Commodore. You have given me some things to consider." She looked over at the remainder of the anise bread. "Would you mind if I requisitioned the remainder of the anise bread?"

"Not at all. Help yourself. And thank you for coming to speak with me."

"I should thank you both for the break and the discussion. It is rare that I have interesting information to process."

T'mpest smiled, pleased that the conversation was so productive. "Do let me know if you gain any new insights."

"I will," T'Lul answered, as she gathered the bread. "I believe that we will have more discussions."

"I look forward to them," T'mpest replied simply.

T'Lul raised her hand, and gave the Vulcan sign. "Live long and prosper, T'mpest. I believe we may become friends."

"Indeed." T'mpest returned the hand sign. "Prosperity and long life, T'Lul." They might not see eye-to-eye on many things, but T'mpest agreed that friendship was definitely a possibility. She might even help Cara and T'Lul to become friends. Some day.

A post by

Commodore T'mpest Michaels
Commander
Deep Space 5

Lieutenant T'Lul
Chief Counselor
Deep Space 5

 

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