KATRA

Three Months Later.

It was 6:00 am. Trip lay facing the bulkhead. He slowly opened his eyes and tried to roll over, but a small frame snuggled closer to him and prevented him from moving. He smiled a small smile and pulled her arm across his body a little closer. She liked to sleep either right up under him, in his arms or on top of him. Either way was fine with him, he just found it a little funny though. He never would have figured her for the type. But in the last few months he had found out a lot of things out about T'Pol that he would have never thought or believed.

For one thing, he found out that not only did she have a sense of humor, but that she really was pretty funny. More than a few times she had said something in a staff meeting or on the bridge that cracked him up, but of course no one else caught it, and there he was laughing his head off with everyone else just staring at him like he was two kinds of crazy. He'd also found out that she was by no means a "cold fish", but sexy as hell, and willing to try and explore human sexuality rather freely. And though she would never openly show it or express it, she was very compassionate and cared about her colleagues very much.

After T'Pol had helped Trip defeat the inimical and accidently formed a bond with him, they had initially planned to try and dissolve it. When they determined that it would be too difficult to dissolve by having no contact they decided that when they returned home they would seek out a priest on Vulcan for advice. In the meantime they would remain friends and colleagues. Well, they became close friends, then closer friends, then friends who occasionally slept in each other quarters. Now, he didn't know what to call them. He smiled and kissed the back of her head as he thought back to their first intimate encounter.

They had had breakfast together, they had worked together for most of the day alone in a Jefferies tube and they had had dinner together in the mess hall. They had retreated to her quarters where she had given him Vulcan neuro-pressure and vice versa. They had spent the rest of the evening talking. He had finally said good night and returned to his quarters, alone. But he couldn't stop thinking about her, and she knew it. He couldn't get those big brown eyes out of his mind, those full lips and the shape of those lovely ears. He longed to touch them. Try as he might, he couldn't forget her smell, her hair and her perfect, petite body, with all the curves in just the right places. He lay on his back on his bunk and looked down at himself standing at attention, sweating and frustrating as hell. Suddenly, his door chime sounded. Before he could react or say anything, someone was entering his room.

He sat up slightly on his elbow. "T'Pol?" he said.

"You were calling for me," is all she said. "Then she came over to the bunk and got in the bed with him. She was very careful to let him take the lead. He cupped his hand behind her neck, pulled her face toward him and kissed her deeply.

"Are you certain this is what you want?" she asked.

"More than anything," he replied.

And for the next few hours it was as if they were the only two people in the entire universe.

Mess Hall. Present Day.

Trip sat at a table talking to Hoshi, Malcolm, Travis and Amanda Cole, one of the MACOs. They were laughing as T'Pol entered the room. She saw them and froze. Trip felt a chill run through him. He shook his head, then looked up in her direction frowning. Only Hoshi noticed.

T'Pol walked by acknowledging no one and approached Trip. "Commander, when you are finished…frolicking," she said abruptly, "I could use some help with the Science Station Console. As I have made you aware before, there is a malfunction in the unit that needs attention."

Trip grimaced slightly before speaking. "Well, good morning to you too, Commander," he replied. "And like I told you, I will look at your console sometime today, as soon as I get a minute."

"See that you do," she said snappily, and turned to go.

"Ooooh," Amanda said as the others bit back giggles. T'Pol turned quickly and caught Amanda's gaze.

"Corporal," she said in an icy tone. "It would serve you to attend to your duties rather than making unintelligible sounds, at least that way one still has cause to wonder."

"T'Pol!" Trip said rising, as Hoshi and the others just stood there with their mouths hanging open. T'Pol then turned on her heels and exited the mess hall. Trip hurried after her. Amanda was steaming mad at the unnecessary insult, but did not react. She just picked up her tray and quietly put it away and left the room.

"Bloody hell!" Malcolm said to Travis and Hoshi, "What was that all about?"

"Sub Commander T'Pol was fighting mad about something," Travis said. "But I thought Vulcans didn't get mad?"

"She was mad alright," Malcolm said, "But was she mad at Trip or Amanda, or both?"

"And why?" Travis replied.

"You men," Hoshi interjected. "Can't you see it? She was jealous; jealous because she saw Trip sitting next to Amanda, and they were laughing and talking and having a good time." Malcolm and Travis just stared at Hoshi blankly.

"Why would Sub Commander T'Pol be jealous of Commander Tucker and Amanda Cole? Travis asked. Hoshi looked at Travis then back at Malcolm.

"Oh brother," she said laughing. She then picked up her tray and laughed some more as she put it away. "Oh brother," she said shaking her head as she exited the room.

But down in engineering Trip wasn't laughing. He had asked T'Pol to follow him there after catching up with her in the hallway.

"T'Pol this has got to stop," he told her. "The way you acted back there was totally uncalled for."

"She was touching you and you were letting her," T'Pol replied in an angry tone.

"She was what?"

"You were laughing and talking and she leaned over and touched you on your arm several times."

"So what!"

"It was inappropriate."

"We were all just kiddin' around. It meant nothing."

"She should not have been touching you."

Trip sighed deeply and leaned on his desk with both hands. "Look T'Pol," he began, "there is no reason for you to be so jealous all the time. I'm not interested in anyone else."

"I am not jealous."

"Yes you are. And it's getting' real annoyin' too. At first I thought it was kinda cute, flatterin' even, but enough is enough. Now I'm tellin' you to stop it. There is no reason for you to be jealous, I don't want anyone else."

"Then why is it that every time I turn around some female is speaking to you, smiling at you, practically inviting you into her bed."

"T'Pol!"

"Women find you attractive Trip!"

"And what am I supposed to do about that?"

"Stop speaking to them, being friendly toward them, encouraging them!"

Trip looked at her and frowned. "Look!" he said a little more forcefully than he intended as he rubbed his temples trying to soothe the headache that was building, "let's get something straight right here and right now! You don't own me," he said firmly and walked away.

She stood there with balled fists, her control slipping. She could not believe he had this kind of effect on her. She would need much meditation tonight.

Morning Staff Meeting. The Next Day.

Captain Archer had called his senior staff in for a meeting to report some disturbing news. Reports of thermo-baric clouds from other ships in the area had been coming in for the last several days, along with reports of mysterious attacks on members of their crews shortly afterwards. When Trip heard it, he cringed. It had been three months since the attack by the inimical and his recovery had not been easy.

"I have been attempting to contact U'don and his crew but so far we haven't been able to find them," Archer explained. "If there is another inimical in this area of space, someone is going to need their help and need it soon."

"I was under the impression that they were only tracking the one inimical," Malcolm replied. "Perhaps they've already returned to their home world by now."

"They didn't seem like the kind of guys that would just cut and run," Trip interjected. "They knew there were other inimicus out here. How could they ignore that? They were among the few that knew how to kill those things."

"But they'd spent almost their whole lives chasing T'Vier," T'Pol said. "It would have been logical that once she was killed that their mission was fulfilled and they were free to return home to their families."

"Nevertheless," Archer replied, "I want to keep looking for them. Malcom, T'Pol see what you can do to find them. Travis set a course for the Alpha Quadrant. That's the area where the last ship was attacked. I wanna see if we can lend a hand."

Archer then turned to Trip. "Commander, are you going to be okay with this mission? You realize we may be encountering another one of those life forms". Everyone was silent.

"Capt'n, there's no reason to believe that there's another one of those things out there hunting me down, so I'm fine with the mission Sir. Besides, what were you gonna do, drop me off somewhere until it was all over?"

"The thought had crossed my mind."

"Capt'n!"

"If you say you're okay with it Trip, I'll take you at you word. Dismissed," Archer said and everyone dispersed. Before turning to go Archer looked back at Trip warily. Trip forced a half-smile and waived the Captain off. Archer sighed and left the room with a worried look on his face.

Trip waited until everyone had left and leaned over the smart table with both hands. He hadn't said it, but the idea of encountering another one of those monsters like T'Vier actually scared the hell out of him and now he could feel the anxiety building. He hadn't had a panic attack in months and didn't want to risk having one in public in front of crew members, especially since he'd just assured the Captain that he was fine and dandy. When he could find his legs under him, he retreated to his quarters. He needed a few minutes to digest what he'd just heard and to calm himself.

Once inside he leaned up against the door and held his fingers up to his temples. His head was pounding. He had suffered from headaches ever since the attack by the inimical, the mind melds and the treatments for neurological damage. Phlox had given him something for them and meditating with T'pol helped a lot at first but even that was not as effective as it was in the beginning.

By now he was in so much pain he slid to the floor and just lay there for a few minutes. After a while he dragged himself up and stumbled over to his desk drawer. He pulled out a hypo spray, injected the contents into his neck and stumbled onto his bunk. He lay on is back looking at the ceiling, head pounding. It was driving him crazy. He was still on duty but too bad, if anyone needed him, they'd just have to comm him. A few moments later, darkness claimed him.

Two Days Later.

Enterprise entered the Alpha Quadrant and docked with the Nephiteri, one of the ships that had sent out a distress call two days ago. It had been attacked by an inimical three times. Seven crew members were dead, four were catatonic and one was in a coma. There were only 39 crew members aboard the ship, now twelve had fallen victim to the attack of the inimical. Their sister ship, the Berringer, which had a crew of 46, had also been attacked. They too had sent out a distress signal, but Enterprise had been unable to find them.

Archer had sent a shuttle pod to the planet surface nearby to determine if they had crash landed there. Trip had gone with Malcolm along with five Macos and a medical team. They found the ship as well as 21 survivors. Sixteen had been killed by several inimicus, nine had been killed in the crash, several others were injured and the ship was badly damaged. But the away team found a small docked ship inside the Berringer as well. It belonged to U'don and his crew.

Malcolm, Trip, and his team transported some of the crew of the Berringer aboard Enterprise, brought others in the pod, then reported their findings to Captain Archer. U'don had been killed by one of the inimicals and Armdor and Quilla had not survived the crash. They had been very helpful to helping Captain Archer and his team understand and ultimately defeat T'Vier. Now they were providing assistance by leaving their technology behind for Malcolm and Trip to study and use.

"Capt'n, their ship is damaged, but it may be repairable," Trip said. "I just need a little more time to assess the damage. We were just tryna get these people out, so I didn't get a chance to really evaluate the situation."

"I tell you what Trip," Archer replied, "Pick a team of your best engineers and send them down to the surface. They can assess the damage to the ship." Trip looked puzzled.

"Sir?"

Malcolm and Archer looked at each other. Then Trip understood.

"Capt'n, it's like I said before, I don't think there's another inimical out there hunting for me. The one that was after me is dead. Besides, if one of 'em wanted to get at me, they could just as easily get to me here on the ship as they could down there on that planet." Malcolm looked at Archer.

"We understand that Commander," Malcolm replied, "it's just that, well, we're not taking any chances. So wherever you go, I must insist on accompanying you, at least until this mission is over."

"C'mon Mal. Babysitting me isn't gonna keep one of those things from gettin' to me if they want me, now is it?"

"We're not attempting to baby sit you Trip," Archer replied. "But you're a valued member of this crew and you've been through a lot already where those things are concerned. You've gone above and beyond the call of duty and put it all on the line, no one can ask any more of you. You deserve to be protected from those creatures as much as anyone else. Besides, Malcolm worked really hard recalibrating those phase pistols used by U'don and his crew as well as those ultra violet lights, and he's got something he wants to show you that's probably going to make a real difference."

"What we have here Commander is an entirely new weapon. And I'd like an opportunity to show you how to use them. Once I'm confident you're up to speed, I'll feel better about leaving you alone, or going to the surface."

"Great," Trip began. "The sooner we get started, the better…" Then all of a sudden Trip fell to the floor with his hands on the side of his head, screaming. He writhed around on the floor as if he were in excruciating pain.

"Trip!" Archer said as he raced over to where Trip had crawled over to on the floor. "What is it, what's the matter? Malcolm, get Phlox, hurry!"

Malcolm hurried over to the nearest comm. "Reed to Phlox, emergency!"

"Phlox here," the doctor answered.

"Emergency, doctor, in shuttle bay one. It's Commander Tucker, please hurry." A few minutes later Phlox made his way to launch bay one and after running scans over Trip, sedated him and had him moved to sick bay.

Phlox put Trip inside the imaging chamber and was astonished as to what he saw. He also took some time to do some research before informing Captain Archer, Lt. Reed and T'Pol of his findings. He knew they were anxiously awaiting for the news, but he had to verify what he believed the evidence revealed. After a couple of hours he summoned the senior officers to sick bay.

Two Hours Later.

"What is it doc?" Archer asked. "What made him collapse in pain like that?"

Phlox sighed. "Captain, you are not going to believe this," he said. Archer frowned. "I scarcely believe it myself. But it seems our good friend T'Vier left Commander Tucker a parting gift," Phlox said.

"Meaning?" Archer asked.

"When T'Vier began to mind-meld with Mr. Tucker in the cave several months ago, it appears that the meld was partially successful."

Archer, T'Pol and Reed were all stunned at what they had just heard. "What!" Archer said as he glanced at Reed and T'Pol.

"Of course you know her meld did not last long enough to cause any permanent damage or transformation, but look here," Phlox said pointing to the screen above Trip's head. "You see this area of the Commander's brain. This grey area was not present on previous scans, nor does it appear human. This area is Vulcan and telepathic."

"Doctor, what exactly are you saying?" Archer asked getting more and more impatient.

"Captain it appears that according to these findings, my research of ancient Vulcan beliefs and my consultation with a noted Vulcan Priest, T'Vier has left her "katra" in Commander Tucker's head.

"Her katra?" Reed asked. "What the hell is that?"

"Some believe that it is the essence of what one is." T'Pol spoke up. "Their thoughts, feelings, emotions."

"Why would she do that? Archer asked. "And why are we just now finding out about it?"

"My guess would be Captain that because she chose the time and place to make her presence known. My next educated guess as to why she left it with him is that she wished to communicate something to him even in death," Phlox explained.

"How is that even possible and how do we get rid of it?" Archer asked, looking at T'Pol.

"I will need to contact Ambassador Sovol for advice Captain."

"Sovol, why him?" Archer asked.

"Captain, while I am somewhat familiar with the concept of the katra, I am not well versed on it."

"You don't believe it, do you?"

"I neither believe nor disbelieve it," T'Pol replied. "I am simply not well versed on it. The concept was not a subject of regular Vulcan teaching. It was considered a radical concept. However, I cannot ignore the evidence Doctor Phlox has presented us with. Therefore, I need advice. Sovol will know those who are considered to have radical views on the subject. He will be able to advise us as to what to do. I must contact him at once."

"The sooner the better," the Captain replied. "Trip has had enough meddling around with his head. He doesn't need any more of this!" Archer was visibly angry. "How is this going to affect him doctor? Is he fit for duty?"

"I have no experience with this Captain," Phlox replied. "Perhaps we should wait for advice from our Vulcan friends."

"Great!" Archer said."Call me when he wakes up doctor," he then turned on his heels and left abruptly. Lt. Reed followed. T'Pol was just about ready to go when Phlox stopped her.

"Uh, T'Pol, just a moment," he said. She turned slowly.

"Yes?"

"There is something else I would like to discuss with you, but I wanted to wait until we were alone." T'Pol shifted on her feet as she knew what the doctor was about to say.

"Commander Tucker's brain scans show some other activity that previous scans do not show. He has some other areas of the brain that now appear to be uh…different as well."

"You said that he was carrying the katra of T'Vier…"

"This is the area where the katra is located," he said pointing to the screen above Trip's head. However, these other greenish areas show entirely different and new brain activity; very vibrant and active brain activity that is stimulating areas of his brain that is most unusual in humans, they are Vulcan as well. And I am sure that if I took brain scans from you, that I would find some uh, human brain activity, would I not?"

T'Pol hesitated. "Yes," she said, knowing that the doctor was familiar with Vulcan culture and mating practices.

"So, you have bonded with Commander Tucker?"

"Yes."

"Did this occur when you mind melded with him several months ago when you were trying to teach him to control his emotions?"

"That is when the bond was initially formed. However, since that time it has grown and it continues to become stronger."

"So you have become intimate?"

Again T'Pol hesitated. "Yes," she finally replied.

"Does Commander Tucker fully understand all of the ramifications involved here?"

"I have attempted to explain it to him."

"But does he understand it?"

"Not entirely."

"So then I gather you have not told the Captain either."

"No."

"T'Pol, you must speak with Commander Tucker immediately and explain everything to him fully. Tell him about the full effects of the bond, the panar, your betrothed, the pon farr and the blood fever. You cannot keep these things hidden from him anymore, he has a right to know, and he will know sooner than later whether you want him to or not."

"I will speak to Commander Tucker when the time is right. He is ill right now, this will only further distress him."

"T'Pol, it will distress him to find out that not only is he connected to you psychically, but that he is in fact married to you; that he cannot be parted from you, without experiencing great distress, pain and discomfort; that you are dying from an incurable disease; that if you die, he could die as well; that you have a legal husband and a bonded husband; that at some time in the near future you will enter into the Vulcan mating cycle and that you will need to mate or die and that during this time you could conceive a child-though highly unlikely, but not outside the realm of possibility; that if you did conceive a child and your disease is not cured, it could very well leave him to raise a child alone; that is if he survives your death; that is if the child survives; that is if the Vulcan government does not claim the child."

T'Pol stood there stunned. She felt as if her control was about to shatter. Listening to Phlox recite a litany of all her secrets, personal problems and potential future problems that not only affected her, but now affected Trip, was more than she could deal with at the moment. She closed her eyes and straightened her back and thoughts of her leaping on the doctor and ripping him to shreds with her bare hands slowly started to dissipate.

"While a portion of what you say is certainly a very real assessment of my current situation doctor, a portion of your recitation is simply conjecture and speculation of things that may or may not ever occur, and I will not concern myself with them at this time," she said calmly. "I must meditate now. Then I will return to sit with my husband." Then she turned on her heels and left.

Phlox watched her go. "Vulcans!" he said out loud. Then he turned back toward the bio-bed where Trip lay. "Humans," he said out loud, and shook his head as he walked away.