Chapter Eight
In order to show Captain Hernandez respect since he was actually a commander acting as a captain, Trip asked to meet with her in her situation room. He brought Malcolm with him. As they docked in the shuttlepod, the ship's number three officer Lieutenant Ahearn was waiting for them along with a crewman.
"Sir, I'm here to escort you to the Situation Room," Ahearn said.
"And you would be?" asked Trip.
"Lieutenant Allen Ahearn, Tactical Officer," he answered.
Trip looked over at Malcolm and smirked causing Malcolm to roll his eyes.
"Mal, I bet you and Ahearn here have a lot to talk about," said Trip.
For the rest of the walk from Deck E to the turbolift to the Bridge, Malcolm peppered Ahearn with questions about Tactical. By the time they got to the Situation Room where Hernandez and T'Pol were waiting for them, Trip knew that the Defiant needed Malcolm assistance. Ahearn was only eighteen months out of the academy and had been fast tracked to lieutenant in order to be the Tactical Officer for the mission.
"Captain," Trip nodded, "We've discussed the suggestion about an exchange of some key personnel. I reviewed this with Lieutenant Commander Reed and Major Hayes and we have a suggestion."
"Okay, Captain, let's hear it," said Hernandez.
Trip glanced over at T'Pol, who stood there with her hands behind her back looking serene and, in his opinion, desirable.
"I have five crewmembers from my Engineering crew ready for swap, including Rostov, who is highly experienced, as well as my XO," said Trip.
Inexplicitly, Trip felt that T'Pol was pleased with this offer. He looked over at her to see her still standing there serenely and showing no emotion, yet somehow he knew she was pleased. He stuck his tongue into the right cheek and rolled it around for a moment contemplating how he knew this.
"Why XOs?" asked Hernandez.
"One of your biggest weaknesses is Tactical. This is Malcolm's bailiwick. He already has plans to improve your photonic torpedoes yield, as well as increase the yield and accuracy of your phase cannons. Along with the shields we installed, this will give you a fighting chance in a firefight with the Xindi," Trip said.
"T'Pol, what do you think?" asked Hernandez.
"It appears that the exchange is not without merit," she said. "Our Engineering could use some experienced hands and Mister Reed is an expert at Tactical."
Hernandez looked down at her feet for a moment. She had made the suggestion, but Trip came back to her with a final solution. Even if he didn't realize it, he was asserting a rank over her that he did not possess in her opinion, yet he was the more experienced captain in regards to this mission.
Taking a deep breath she exhaled, "I agree."
"I think we should let our XOs work things out, don't you, Captain?" said Trip.
"I agree," she said.
Trip smiled. It didn't take great insight on Trip's behalf to know that he had annoyed Captain Hernandez.
"Malcolm, let's' be off. You can contact T'Pol later and start working on the exchange," stated Trip.
Malcolm nodded and they were off.
STSTST
The prospect of having T'Pol onboard caused excitement and concern for Trip. He had to admit that he was either falling in love with T'Pol or that he was already head over heels in love with her. The only thing causing him confusion on that matter was that he'd never really felt like this this about a female before, not even when he was seeing Natalie. Of course, what was causing him concern was the fact he was feeling the way he was in the first place. His attention needed to be on only one thing: finishing the mission. T'Pol took up space in his mind that needed to be focused on Jon's final orders. She was a distraction, but what a distraction.
Trying to straighten his head out and get some prospective on what how he felt for T'Pol and how he should deal with it, Trip decided to take a walking tour of the Enterprise, which was how he found himself on Deck F in the Main Faring Impulse Rocket Control Room at the very aft of the ship. He never even noticed how far he'd come until he ran out of room. Instead of taking the long about way back to civilization, Trip chose to use the fact that he had been through this ship from aft to stern more than any Human. Taking a maintenance corridor that no one outside of the Engineering could find he attempted to exit in the Launch Bay, but someone was either leaning against the corridor hatch or had blocked it, so he gave it a good hard push.
"Watch what you are doing, you damned Deck Ape," growled Hayes.
Trip opened the hatch all the way to find Hoshi and Hayes on the floor. They must have been making use of a deserted Launch Bay because so many of his Ops and Engineering crew were finishing up the Defiant's shields installation. Hayes turned the shade of a polished apple when the Deck Ape turned out to be Captain Tucker, while Hoshi started to laugh hysterically.
"Don't you two have quarters where you could spend time getting to know each other?" Trip asked.
"Sir, I'm… sorry. I thought… you were some engineer, you know what I mean. Nothing was happening here," Hayes stumbled with his words.
"It's me, Jeff. I know you and Hoshi are fraternizing. I don't have a problem with it, though I'd prefer if you'd avoid places like say a Launch Bay to do it," Trip chided him.
Hayes got up and helped Hoshi up.
"We just wanted to spend some time alone, Captain," said Hoshi.
"Who is at Communications and Tactical?" asked Trip.
"Arroyo is taking Tactical," said Hayes. "He wanted some time on the Alpha shift."
"Edelman wanted a turn on the Alpha shift, too, so I have him one," said Hoshi.
"I wonder if taking advantage of being a Department Head is the kind of extreme behavior I should worry about for allowing fraternization instead of putting my foot down," said Trip. "You make me think I should reconsider my turning a blind eye to the fraternization rules."
"I understand, sir," said Hayes coming to attention.
Hoshi started laughing again. Hayes looked at her as if she was going to be thrown in the Brig and he was going to be demoted to lieutenant.
"Jeff, he's teasing you," said Hoshi.
Trip's face broke into a big grin then he chuckled.
"Carryon," Trip said then he walked over to the ladder and went up it and out of view.
"How did you know he was teasing?" Hayes asked Hoshi.
"Because he was acting more like the Trip we used to know. Something or someone has giving him hope. He almost seems like the old Trip," she smiled.
"Well, the old Trip had a wicked sense of humor," said Hayes.
"Sometimes," smiled Hoshi.
STSTST
They were finally heading off to Norellus. Hoshi was reacquainting T'Pol with the Enterprise, including showing her to her old quarters, which Malcolm had been using. Trip was in his Ready Room considering Hernandez latest suggestion, which was to drop some subspace communication satellites. She had three in her Launch Bay waiting to be dropped. She said the thermobaric clouds surrounding the Delphic Expanse were starting slowly break up, so maybe there was a chance to get a message to Earth and Starfleet.
He knew that she wanted to do this for two reasons: one, it was the by the book thing to do, and two, she probably hoped that Admiral Forest would put Trip in his place and make him subordinate to Hernandez for the rest of the mission.
Trip pressed the comm button connecting him to Communications.
"Yes, sir," said the voice of Ensign Edelman.
"Hail, Captain Hernandez and patch her into my Ready Room," said Trip.
"Yes, sir."
My Ready Room. When did this become my Ready Room? You really left me holding the bag this time, Jon. You upped and died on me and then left me a ship to run and now I'm Captain Tucker and this is my Ready Room. Trip smiled and shook his head then turned on the small view screen on his desk. The image of Hernandez soon appeared.
"Yes, Trip," she said.
"I agree with your subspace communication satellite suggestion, Erika," he said. If he was going to be Trip, she was going to be Erika.
"That's terrific. How do you want to handle it?" she asked.
"We should drop a satellite near the thermobaric clouds," he said. "The Enterprise can now reach warp 7. We could shoot off and drop one off then meet you at Norellus."
Trip had a suspicion that Hernandez would want to drop the satellite off herself, so she could contact Starfleet first.
"You know Norellus, Trip, and who to deal with. You shouldn't delay getting there for this job. We'll take the satellite to the thermobaric cloud and rendezvous with you at Norellus," she said.
"I'll forward you the coordinates for Norellus, as well our logs and reports, so you can forward them to Starfleet Headquarters. If I going to be judged they might as well have the whole story," said Trip with a smile.
Hernandez looked surprised for a moment. He knew that she wanted to speak to Starfleet without him. Trip also guessed she wanted to contact Starfleet Command without his input.
"I'll transfer the logs and reports once we contact Command," said Hernandez.
"Well, I'll see you at Norellus, Captain," said Trip then he broke the connection.
Just then, his door buzzed. Trip glared at the blank view screen for a moment then at his door.
"Enter," he barked.
T'Pol entered. She still wore one of the new uniforms. All his annoyance at talking with Hernandez washed away, as his eyes fell on her. She was beautiful and he desired her more than he desired any other woman he'd seen.
"You are upset," said T'Pol.
He stood up then motioned her to sit. T'Pol sat down in front of Trip's desk. He sat back down. T'Pol knew she needed to discuss their fledgling bond. She could see back in the Defiant in the Situation Room that he felt her emotion.
"I'm fine," he said.
"Captain, there are a few things we must discuss," said T'Pol.
"I know, T'Pol," he sighed thinking about the incredible sex they had on the Defiant. "There's a lot I'd like to discuss with you, too, but I'm not sure now is the best time. Finishing this mission is my priority."
She was Vulcan, more sensitive to the bond, born with inherent telepathic skill, so she could feel his emotions more strongly than he could fee hers. He was anxious, unsure of what he wanted, and in love. Yes, he was in love in the way Humans were in love. He desired her, felt secure when she was near, and wished to reach out and take her in his arms. T'Pol felt her ears blush. Trip needed to know about their bond.
"Captain, may I speak for a moment?" she asked.
"Of course," he answered.
"Vulcans are in many ways incapable of sexual relationships without commitment. It goes against our psychology and physiology. The reason for this is complicated, having to do with our sexual mores and sex drive, but also, and more importantly, it is almost impossible because of our instinct to telepathically bond with our mate," she said.
"Telepathically bond?" Trip said.
"We bond. It allows us to share emotions, and in some case when the bond is particularly strong, we share thoughts," said T'Pol.
Shit, Trip thought, we couldn't have bonded, could we?
Because of the strength of his emotions, T'Pol heard his thoughts. She looked at him and raised her right eyebrow.
"Yes, we did," she said.
Trip blanched. Suddenly he had a rush of conflicting emotions from anger to curiosity and fear to need. T'Pol had to close her eyes to process the emotions. There were too many coming at her. It was hard to believe that their bond was this strong this quickly. With discipline, she closed off their young bond and placed a mental barrier up. Trip noticed that she appeared distressed for a moment.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"You were flooded with strong emotions and it flooded our nascent bond," she said.
"Oh," he said then took a deep breath, "so you feel my emotions."
"Yes, but not all the time. I can place a mental barrier up in order to block them," she said. "I apologize for this. I should have warned you that this could happen. It was my mistake. Our bond is young and hasn't even begun to reach full strength and maturity. If you wish I can arrange to have it severed once we are done with this mission."
Trip heard the word severed and cringed. Suddenly, all his apprehension, nerves and concerns about his relationship with T'Pol evaporated in the heat of passion He didn't want to be severed from T'Pol; he wanted her.
"No," he said. "T'Pol, I want to explore this bond. I… I want you. I think I need you."
He saw that her eyes smiled.
STSTST
One of the benefits in the upgrade of the impulse and warp engines was that transporter worked more efficiently and at greater ranges. Trip, Major Hayes, and two MACOs, dressed in their excursion uniforms and field jackets with all patches, rank, and braids removed in order to hide their Starfleet association, beamed down to Norellus. On the planet there was a barroom were the deuterium miners, mercenaries, and merchants drank. This was their destination.
Entering the bar, a darkly lit and grim place filled with sex workers, grifters, and the their usually allotment of patrons. Trip scanned the bar looking for the being he was there to meet. They had been told about an Illyrian mercenary named Mod, who dealt in hard to get information, by B'Rat Ud. Finally, Trip saw him sitting alone at a table and drinking. He recognized him by his v shaped forehead ridge that came to a point at his nose. Trip turned to Hayes.
"You and I will approach him. Your two men can stay here and watch our back," said Trip.
Hayes turned to his two men, Hill and Boykins.
"Head on a swivel and nerves on ice. Don't go for your weapons unless necessary," he ordered.
"Yes, sir," they both said.
Trip and Hayes walked over to Mod's table and came to a stop beside it. Mod looked up at them then snared dismissively at them.
"Who are you?" asked Mod.
"Captain Charles Tucker III of the Enterprise," Trip whispered in a threatening tone.
He and the Enterprise had become known in the Expanse. His reputation was such that no one wanted to cross him in case the legend was real. Hayes suppressed a smile, as he noticed Mod changed his body language from aggressive to defensive.
"Mind if we sit?" asked Trip.
"Sit," said Mod.
Trip and Hayes sat down at the table.
"I heard you collect information at a price," said Trip.
"I do."
"I want to know where the Xindi are creating their super weapon. Can you find that information out?" he asked.
"I can," Mod answered.
"Price?" asked Trip.
"Spices are like gold in the expanse and gold is like gold. I have spoken to B'Rat Ud about you. I want cayenne pepper, this thing called nutmeg, cinnamon, and something called sage," said Mod.
"I can get you portions of each," said Trip, knowing he was going to have to deal with Chef, who'd bitch about it.
"One hundred strips of gold, also," said Mod.
"Spice and gold," Trip said.
"Can we interest you in any condiments?" smirked Hayes.
Mod looked at Hayes with confusion, while Trip tried to hide a smile.
"How long do you need?" asked Trip.
"Ten days," said Mod. "In ten days meet me at Oran'taku. Do you have the coordinates?"
"We know the planet," said Trip.
"You will enjoy it there. It has some of the best sex workers in the Expanse. They are amazing," smiled Mod.
"Glad to hear it," said Trip, as he stood up. "You see in ten days."
Trip and Hayes started to walk away, when Trip turned to the MACO and Tactical Officer.
"You want a drink before we leave," he smiled.
"To be honest, sir, as a MACO I've had drinks in some unseemly place, but this one just makes me want to shower," said Hayes.
"Well, we'll have a stiff drink in my Ready Room when we get back to the ship," said Trip.
STSTST
It was a blissful five days of getting the ship in ship shape and Bristol fashion, while they waited for the Defiant. Engineering caught up on repairs, the crew on sleep, and Trip with T'Pol. She instituted a daily nocturnal visit to his quarters to begin teaching him Vulcan neuropressure. She explained that Vulcan couples used it for them to explore each other's bodies, as well as to assist with health and healing. Trip had to admit that his sleeping habits started to get better, but it could have also been from the sexual intimacy that occurred after the neuropressure session.
Slowly, he was starting to sense T'Pol more and more in his conscious mind. At first, he feared that it would become a distraction, but instead it was a comfort having her there with him and knowing that she knew what he was feeling. Of course, the fact that she also at times knew what he was thinking did irritate him, but T'Pol explained to him that once he learned how to meditate properly, as well as some mental exercises including how to put up mental barriers to block the bond, that he would be able to know her thoughts when he wanted to and they would be able to share thoughts in a silent conversation when they wanted to do so. He looked forward to that level of intimacy.
Seated in the command chair, he was happy to be hailed by the Defiant. The moment he had Hoshi put Hernandez on the screen he knew that she had already spoken to Starfleet. What surprised him was that she didn't seem happy with the conversation. Captain Hernandez appeared tightly wound and incapable of smiling just now.
"Captain, I'm glad you arrived today otherwise we were going to have to bug out of here to keep an appointment," said Trip.
"You have a lead on the super weapon?" she asked.
"Maybe," he answered.
"Well, I'm glad we showed up then," she said. "Admiral Forest sends his condolences on Captain Archer and his compliments on the job you have done so far. I've orders he transferred to me, which I am to transfer to you. In his orders Fleet Admiral Fedorov himself officially promotes you to captain and officially makes you the commander of this mission. We stayed around for two days while they read quickly through the logs and reports and Starfleet Command endorses you and your actions."
"Ooohrah," Hayes interrupted from his station.
Trip looked over at him and saw a big smile on the MACOs face. Turning his headed, he saw Hoshi was smiling. She also gave him a wink. He then noticed everyone else on the Bridge was smiling, except T'Pol, but he felt her support for him through their bond. No longer was he the acting captain, but once he read, noted, and signed off on the orders, he'd be Captain Tucker of the Enterprise. Somehow, even in death you got your way, Jon. I am Captain of the Enterprise, so I can finish you mission.
"Thank you, Captain," he said.
"You deserve it, Captain Tucker," she said. "Where are we headed?"
"A planet called Oran'taku. I'll have Travis send over the coordinates," he said. "We have a meeting with a mercenary."
