Disclaimer: Don't own 'em, don't make money off 'em.

Notes: Story #3 in the AU Switcheroo Series. Occurs a couple of days after "Musica" in time for Valentine's Day.

The Enterprise crew makes an important First Contact with the Betazoids from Betazed. It's a learning experience for everyone involved...and sometimes actions speak more than thoughts. Kov, T'Pol and Phlox trade cultural insights, while Hoshi has an unusual conversation.

Rating: T

Eventual pairings: R/S, TnT

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Empathic Tendencies

One

"So Humans have a special day to lavish attention upon their mates? Or search for a potential mate?" Kov frowned as he regarded the bowl of egg drop soup in front of him. Commander Phlox had highly recommended the dish; it was a delicacy from a region of Earth called "China". Kov wasn't sure if it was as appealing as Phlox claimed.

T'Pol raised her eyebrow at the red, white and pink streamers in the Mess Hall. A generous selection of desserts adorned a separate table, chocolate silk pie and peanut butter parfait, sticky pudding and caramel sundae. Next to the table was a large whiteboard with various messages scrawled on it.

She brought her attention back to the inquisitive fellow Vulcan at the lunch table and stifled a sigh. "Yes, and it is called 'Valentine's Day', for an ancient holy man by that name."

Phlox nodded as he twirled his egg noodles around his fork with practiced ease. "It is a rather tragic story. This Valentine was a priest among his people during a time of religious strife. He presided over the bonding ceremonies of many couples, although those ceremonies were outlawed. He was eventually discovered and executed by the authorities."

T'Pol winced at the story. "Yes, tragic indeed."

"Of course, in this current day, those with mates exchange gifts and those who do not, eat sweet food in consolation. Of course, there are those who don't care much for this Valentine's Day and treat it as any other day."

"Sweet food? Like this substance, 'chocolate'? I have seen the captain indulge in it on occasion," Kov mused. "It is the source of many complaints of weight gain among the female crew, yet it seems they cannot stop eating it. It must be very addictive."

"Yes," T'Pol murmured, as she regarded her own salad. "The substance contains chemicals that induce a feeling of well-being, of euphoria."

"Ah, that explains its popularity, then." Kov nodded to himself and added, "Have you tried it, Del'haia?"

She only shrugged at the formal address of "Elder Sister" and answered, "I have. It is much too sweet for my taste, even more than saya fruit. Yet I will accept a piece, if it is offered to me."

"Perhaps I should sample it, as a scientific experiment, of course."

Phlox chuckled good-naturedly as he gestured toward the Galley with his fork. "I'm sure Chef would oblige you, Kov. I don't suggest asking any of the crew, especially the captain. My observation is that most of those with chocolate are quite possessive of them...what is the word? 'Stash'?"

T'Pol's features were impassive, but there was the slightest hint of humor in her tone. "You have been consulting with Lieutenant Commander Tucker about terminology again, haven't you?"

"On the contrary. I heard the term from Lieutenant Cutler in Sickbay, when she informed Doctor Reed that the top drawer of her filing cabinet is 'off limits' to him and any other male."

Kov chuckled a little, earning a look of disapproval from T'Pol. "Yes, and Elizabeth was quite vocal about that yesterday. I believe it had something to do with the shipment from the ECS Pretwell last week."

"Elizabeth?" T'Pol asked. "You refer to her by name?"

He shrugged. "It is by her own request, that I call her that when we are both off-duty. When we are on-duty, I treat her with professionalism due her rank and experience, T'Pol."

"I see."

Phlox sensed the tension between the two. He'd hoped that both of them would at least get along, since they were both Vulcans. Unfortunately, a shared race didn't ensure a shared friendship. For her part, T'Pol treated Kov cordially enough, and Kov did the same, but neither sought the other out if they could help it. Phlox suspected the sight of each other reminded them of recent events they would rather forget.

I do hope they would learn to reconcile their differences. T'Pol and Kov do have quite a bit in common. Phlox had seen such attitudes within his own family---in a large Denobulan clan, conflicts were inevitable. He had confidence that the two would succeed in a mutual agreement.

Aloud, he said, "In a way, I'm glad Denobulans don't have a similar holiday. With three wives, their husbands and children...providing gifts for them all would seriously strain my monetary reserve, even on a Starfleet officer's salary."

Kov nodded. "Indeed. I cannot even imagine the complications of such an endeavor, Commander."

"Please, we are all off-duty. You may call me Phlox."

"Very well." Kov gazed over to a nearby table and raised his eyebrows. Phlox followed his gaze to Crewman Cunningham and Crewman Delostrino, who sat quite close together in a booth near the window. Both crewmen seemed comfortable in each other's presence. Very comfortable.

"This is the seventh time I have seen them intruding in each other's personal space. I'd thought most Humans take offense at the intrusion. Doctor Reed certainly does."

Phlox chuckled. "Doctor Reed is unusual. Commander Tucker and Lieutenant Commander Archer do not have the same inhibitions. Crewmen Cunningham and Delostrino are...'going out'."

"'Going out'? To where? I am not familiar with the Human expression."

T'Pol looked up from her salad with a slightly annoyed expression. "They are merely exploring the concept of being together physically and emotionally, Kov. It may or may not lead to the Human equivalent of bonding. Such liaisons tend to be fickle and do not last."

Kov shrugged again. "They do not permanently bond like we Vulcans do, T'Pol, so it stands to reason they have to be more...discriminate in their choosing."

"Indeed, though 'discriminate' is a matter of opinion."

"Come, come, T'Pol. Some are more selective than others," Phlox chided her, "and each courtship ritual is unique to the parties involved. You can't generalize the process like a piece of machinery or a chemical reaction."

Kov nodded in understanding. "This discussion is enlightening, Comman---Phlox. It certainly explains certain behaviors among the crew, such as Captain Sato and Doctor Reed."

Phlox blinked in surprise and T'Pol glanced up with a look of disapproval. "Excuse me?"

"Have you not noticed?" Kov made a gesture with his soup spoon. "Just yesterday, I---" He frowned and glanced over his shoulder at the window, but there was nothing there, just the streaks of stars as Enterprise cruised at warp.

"What is it?" Phlox asked. "Kov, are you all right?"

"I thought I felt a presence---"

T'Pol put her salad fork down on the table and narrowed her eyes at a specific point past Kov. "Yes, I did as well. A light brush against my mental shielding. It was unsettling."

Phlox flipped open his communicator and called, "Phlox to Lieutenant Commander Tucker."

"Go ahead, Phlox," replied the distinctive drawl of Trip Tucker. The Armory Officer sounded unusually upbeat, more than usual. "What's up?"

"Lieutenant T'Pol and Doctor Kov informed me of psychic presence nearby. She described it as 'unsettling'."

The humor vanished from Trip's voice. "There isn't anything on sensors, but if they both say they felt something...let me check again and let the cap'n know. T'Pol?"

"Here, Commander."

"If you or Kov feel anythin' else, let me know immediately, okay?"

"Of course, Commander." She glanced at Kov, who nodded in agreement. "We shall do so."

"Tucker, out."

Phlox snapped his communicator closed. Kov raised his eyebrows and commented, "He does not doubt what others would consider 'figments of imagination'."

"Commander Tucker is well-known in accepting what his 'gut instincts' tell him, so it is not outside the realm of possibility, as far as he is concerned." T'Pol got up from her seat. "I should go to the Bridge."

"And I will consult with Doctor Reed. Perhaps he too has felt something odd."

Phlox nodded. "Go, the two of you. I need to return to Engineering in a few moments anyway." He watched the two leave the Mess Hall and go their separate ways, with only a cordial nod of farewell to each other. Phlox sighed and shook his head. There were some instances where only time could tell whether or not friendship happened.


Captain Sato? You are Captain Hoshi Sato, are you not?

Hoshi opened her eyes, slightly disoriented by the darkness of her quarters. Barely a month into the ship's new mission and she still needed to get used to the captain's quarters. It didn't help that the stars in the viewport seemed to go from right to left, which threw off her equilibrium.

Perhaps you should use Captain's discretion and swap quarters with someone whose view of the outside isn't 'backward'. Really, life's too short to spend it suffering in silence.

She blinked several times, then asked aloud, "Hello? Who's there?"

This is indeed amazing. Other races usually cannot hear us among great distances. Are your people telepathic or are you a special case?

"What?" She sat up and ordered, "Lights!" The lights came up at her command, but she was alone in the room. Slowly, she scanned the area around her, then got to her feet and searched the entire cabin, including the bathroom and the day room/office. Nothing.

My apologies, Captain, I didn't mean to startle you. It's just that I didn't expect any results for my usual scan, but this, this is indeed unusual.

"Who are you and what are you doing in my head?" Hoshi scowled and put a hand to her temple. "I don't appreciate being wakened in the middle of the night by voices. It's just unsettling."

Light, silvery laughter rang in her mind. Then, Ah, forgive me. I tend to become overenthusiastic when I make new discoveries. I am a scientist, you see, and I enjoy what I do. Oh, and I can't talk with everyone, just those who are sensitive to it. You aren't a Vulcan, so at least you're not ready to throw me out of your head yet.

Hoshi sighed in frustration. "One more time. Who. Are. You?"

I'm Saphia. Saphia Daro. We're not too far from your ship's position. I'm sure we'll meet by morning. I can tell you're a unique individual, Captain. I'm looking forward to meeting you and your crew. I should let you get some sleep. Until morning!

"Wait a minute!" Hoshi felt the mental equivalent of a pat on the cheek, then the unseen presence faded. She blinked again, then immediately hit the comm button. "Sato to Tucker!"

Trip sounded distinctly annoyed. "Lemme guess. You heard somebody talkin' to you in your head."

"You heard her?"

"Her ? Actually, nope, not me, but you're the fourth person who's called me who has. Both T'Pol and Kov felt somethin' in the Mess Hall. Then Malcolm wanted a security detail down in his quarters because he was convinced someone was there. And Malcolm said the voice was a 'him'."

"Malcolm heard another person. Mine was a woman named Saphia Daro, and she reminded me of a chatty bird...friendly but somewhat flighty." She chuckled as Trip snorted in humor. "She said she was a scientist---"

"Oh boy. One of those."

"She said that her people weren't far from us and that they'd meet us in the morning. She seems harmless, but I don't want to take a chance. I want to go to Condition Yellow, Trip. Have Travis do constant scans, and I want Security ready for anything. Have Jon monitor all frequencies, just in case they decide to call."

"You think whoever these people are, they're hostile?" Trip didn't sound surprised, but he seemed willing to reserve judgment.

"I don't know. I didn't feel anything hostile from this Saphia Daro, but out here, anything's possible."

"Okay, I'll let Travis and Jon know. We'll take care of things up here, Captain. Try to get some rest and I'll call you in four hours."

"Thanks, Trip." Hoshi cut the communications link. For a moment, she considered going up to the Bridge, but Saphia and Trip were right. She needed rest after pulling a double shift earlier that day. She shook her head and tapped on her PADD. There was no way she was going to go back to sleep, but at least, she could make some use of the time.