'Captain's Starlog: Supplemental. Doctor Phlox reports that Sub-Commander T'Pol has not suffered any permanent injury as a result of the severe allergic reaction she had to the tranquilizing gas. She is expected to make a full recovery. The Argelian government has extended its apologies. Apparently, they license "legitimate" troops, but Tauriel's group was part of a criminal element that preys on unwary travelers. The *Vorka* has taken the *Aniel's* crew into custody and will transport them to their home world. We have resumed course for Risa. I hope the rest of the voyage is uneventful.'
8
8
Hoshi paced back and forth in her cabin. Then her console beeped.
She sat her desk and tabbed a control. Karen appeared on the screen.
Karen said, "Your call has gone through, Hoshi."
"Thanks, Karen."
Karen left the screen, replaced by a woman with curly blonde hair about Hoshi's age. "Hello?" She spoke with a French accent. "Hoshi?" Her eyes went wide and she smiled. "Hoshi fucking Sato? Oh, my god! Is it you?"
Hoshi smiled back. "Hi, Chloe."
"Oh my god! When they said someone at Starfleet wanted to talk to me, I never dreamed it would be you. Is everything all right?"
"Everything's fine, Chloe. I just felt like catching up. Seeing how you're doing."
"Well, I'm not in front of the camera as much anymore, and I'll probably retire from the business in a few years. But look at you! I am so proud of you, Hoshi. Every night I look at the stars and wonder which one you're at and…" She turned somber. "…I have to say this: I am so, so, terribly sorry for the things I said that night. I should have been more supportive. I shouldn't have kicked you out. I must have started a hundred letters but I never had the courage to finish them."
"Well, that's a hundred more letters than I started. And sometimes, I wonder about the road not taken."
"Doing what? Doing what I wanted? No, I remember the night you helped out that Vulcan guy, how your eyes lit up when you knew you could help him. You never would have been happy following me around. You had to do what was right for you. I only wish I hadn't been such an asshole. Can you forgive me?"
"Well…ok."
"Good! So tell me. How's life on that starship? Make any friends, or…anyone special?"
"I have some friends, yeah. The crew is awesome."
"How's that Vulcan? I hear she's a real bitch."
"She's not so bad when you get to know her. She's part of the crew; any one of us would take a bullet for her."
"And that's all?"
"We meditate together. She's helped me with some of my anxieties. There's really a lot to admire about her."
"There must be if you're praising her. Can I see a picture of her?"
Hoshi tabbed her console. "Sending now."
Chloe looked at something on her end and gawked. "Wow, she's gorgeous! And you two are just friends? Because I don't believe for a minute they only do it once every seven years. Some say yes and some say no. What's the truth, Hoshi?"
"I'd tell you, Chloe, but I'd have to kill you."
Chloe laughed. "Ok! I'll leave it at that…for now. How long before you get back to Earth?"
"A long time."
"Well, when you get back, we'll have a girl's night out, and bring your lady Vulcan friend. We'll hit the shops on Rodeo Drive, get her all glammed up, and then hit the clubs."
"I don't know if that's her scene."
"Honey, she'll own the scene when we're done with her. Trust me, there won't be any ant—" Chloe looked off to her side, then back. "Sorry, Sweetie. Duty calls. But write to me! And I will see you and your lady Vulcan after you get back to Earth!" She blew Hoshi a kiss and the screen blanked.
8
8
Dressed in her pajamas, T'Pol knelt on the pillow on the floor of her cabin and studied the hologram floating before her. It was of her and T'Zara wearing uniforms of Vulcan intelligence. Of course they didn't look any younger, and of course they were stone-faced.
The door chimed.
"Come in," T'Pol called.
The door open and Hoshi came in, dressed in a tank top and sweat pants and wearing sneakers. "Hi."
"Ensign."
"Captain let me out of the dog house. He said since I've already been dead, house arrest wouldn't matter." Hoshi knelt next to T'Pol. "Happier times?"
T'Pol stared at the hologram, then said, "You could say that." She turned off the small projector and the hologram vanished. "Is there something I can do for you?"
"I just wanted to see if you were ok."
"I…will be better. How are you?"
"Ok."
"Hoshi, the things I said-"
"You weren't yourself."
"In some ways no, in some ways, yes. Before the Awakening, when Vulcan men fought for their mates, Vulcan woman had tremendous power over mating, and some delighted in cruelty, towards both their suitors and women they considered rivals."
"That Princess T'Linn you mentioned. Sounds like a real whack job."
"I am a direct descendant of hers. I even look like her from the statues I've seen."
"Oh. Open mouth, insert foot."
"No, you were right. She was a 'whack job,' and her blood runs through my veins. I could have killed you. You were extremely brave. I can only imagine what you think of me now."
"T'Pol, I have a hunch that on her best day, T'Linn would not be half the person you are. You could have killed me but you didn't. And we got through it together. And…I'm going to take your advice about Risa."
"Oh. So between Risa and…recent events, you may not want…intimacy right now?"
"Is this your way of asking me if I want to cuddle?"
"I think I could have someone hold me when I meditate, yes. If it's not too much trouble."
"Well, I was going to the gym, but that's not going anywhere. Can I pick the music?"
"Of course. And I'll get the incense."
8
8
This time, T'Pol lay on her back with Hoshi half on top of her, T'Pol's arms draped around the young woman.
Hoshi said, "I spoke to Chloe a few minutes ago."
"Indeed?" T'Pol said. "How is she?"
"All right. We…patched things up. And we've been invited to a girl's night out when we get back to Earth."
"I'm afraid you will have to contact her again and give her my regrets."
"I'm afraid you don't know Chloe. You'd have better luck getting out of movie night…fifty times in a row."
"Only fifty?"
"In other words, it's virtually impossible. Don't worry. I'll get you through it. Compared to your 'allergy,' it will be nothing."
"In that case, Hoshi, I accept."
"Good-"
The door chimed. Trip's voice called, "T'Pol?"
T'Pol wondered, "What does he want?"
Hoshi's eyes had shut. "I have no idea," she murmured.
Trip again: "T'Pol?"
T'Pol shouted, "GO AWAY!"
Hoshi chuckled.
"What!?" Trip yelped. "Is everything ok in there?"
Hoshi laughed softly. "Are you trying to freak the poor guy out?"
"As first officer," T'Pol deadpanned, "it is my duty to keep the crew…'on their toes.' But perhaps we should see what he wants." Louder: "Come in, Trip!"
Trip entered and scowled. "You ok, Sub-Commander? Over that allergic reaction? Should Phlox have a look at you?"
"I'm fine, Commander," T'Pol said. "Just maybe a little relaxed. Hoshi and I are cuddling-"
"'-and meditating' again," Trip finished. "This a thing now?"
Hoshi said, "Hope so."
"Uh-huh," Tripp said. "You guys sure you aren't breaking regulations?"
T'Pol said, "As our contact is not sexual in nature, regulations can give us a wide latitude. You are welcome to join us."
Trip made a face. "Cuddling? Just cuddling? Yeuh! Too weird for me. That's your thing, you're welcome to it. Anyway…T'Pol. With all due respect, could you please do with fewer candles? The life support system isn't happy with the carbon monoxide level in here. It's right on the line. No disrespect to your culture, but a few less, please?"
"Of course, Commander. I will attend to it in the morning."
"Ok. And Hoshi? Suit storage is still going apeshit about the suit UT's."
"Oh, right, forgot all about it while I was faking my death. Remind me in the morning and I'll get on it."
"All I ask. Good night, ladies." He left.
Hoshi asked, "So how are things going with Trip?"
"Well, I suppose," T'Pol said. "Why do you ask?"
Hoshi pitched her voice lower: "Because back in my room, you kept calling his name."
"I did?"
"Mmm-hmm. Screamed it, actually."
"I don't recall that."
"I'll never forget it."
"I hope you weren't offended."
"Nah. We're good."
"Good." T'Pol closed her eyes and relaxed. "It has been a fascinating couple of days."
"Fascinating? Try totally nuts."
"Indeed. I believe the human expression is, 'Someday we will look back on this and laugh.'"
"We probably will, T'Pol. Well, I will anyway."
"In that case, Hoshi, perhaps you can laugh for both of us."
THE END