TITLE: Signposts on the Road Not Taken
AUTHOR: MikeJaffa
SYNOPSIS: An old friend of T'Pol's and a young Argelian woman spell troublefor Hoshi and T'Pol. Slashy. Rated M for language and sexual situations. Hoshi/T'Pol, Hoshi/O. C. Set late in S1.
DISCLAMER: Enterprise is owned by CBS TV. I am not making any money off this fic.
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Sub-Commander T'Pol sat on one of the two bunks in a cell in the brig of the Vulcan Starship *Vorka,* her eyes closed in meditation. She was the only prisoner in the cell block, the only occupant of the brig except for the guard manning a console by the door.
The door to the brig opened and a Vulcan woman in a Vulcan navy uniform entered. About T'Pol's age and just as attractive, she stopped on the other side of the cell's force field from the sub-commander. "T'Pol."
T'Pol opened her eyes and stood. "Captain T'Zara."
"There is no need for us to stand on ceremony, my old t'hy'la," T'Zara turned to the guard and nodded. The force field dropped. T'Zara entered the cell, and the force field went on again.
T'Zara said, "Please, sit." They sat on opposing bunks. "I have only just returned from a mission. I grieve with thee. Ensign Hoshi Sato was a capable young woman, one of their finest translators, I understand…"
"The finest, bar none," T'Pol interrupted. "Her death is a loss to Starfleet."
"She was a valuable officer."
"And a friend."
"And you…" T'Zara trailed off. "Forgive me. I did not wish to reopen the wound so soon. I shall appoint a legal advocate."
"I do not want an advocate. There is no defense."
"Not from what I have been told."
"You probably do not know the whole story."
"Indeed. But I want to help you. We saved each other's lives dozens of times in the old days. Please let me help you one more time. Tell me what happened."
"It is…difficult."
"I know. But it is between us."
"And a rather long story."
"I have time. Please. Begin when you are ready."
T'Pol took some deep breaths, then said, "On my advice, the captain had set a course for Risa, where I hoped the human crew would satisfy their sexual—and other—needs enough to improve their efficiency level. Our journey had been interrupted on two occasions, and I hoped we would complete the voyage without another one. As it happened, I was wrong…"