I Naviganti 2: "K'lalatar Prnak'lirli K'lalatar Prkori
(Infinite Combinations in Infinite Diversity)"
by Monica MicioGatta
with Seti's collaboration.
Author's note: Please, let me know if you like this story. Translate is a hard work, and it's not worth it if nobody's reading.
§21
T'Pol rushed over to the sink, just in time to avoid vomiting on the floor. The ship spun around her again. She clung to the sink and pulled up with all her strength. She hadn't suffered from space sickness for at least thirty years.
She rinsed her face with cold water, then returned to the bunk and sat down, pulling a blanket over her shoulders.
For a month and a half life on the Enterprise had returned to normal with their brave captain Archer, with their sweet communications officer Sato.
The only thing that had changed was the neuropressure sessions between her and Trip, that generally, by now, were not only neuropressure.
Except the last week.
They had the opportunity to upgrade the engines, so they could reach warp 5.5 for a few minutes, and had been so busy at work that they had not had time to meet.
She lay down when the ship began to spin around her again. She breathed slowly and deeply until the feeling vanished.
Phlox had warned them about microbes, when they were landed on the planet where they had recovered the technology and equipment for the upgrade. She hadn't touched food or water but, as usual, Trip had been unable to resist tasting a kind of alien fruit salad with fluorescent colours. T'Pol thought that probably he had got an intestinal virus that had no effect on human physiology and he had passed it to her. She closed her eyes. The microbes probably transferred to her through that kiss that he had given in the engine room, in front of the engine, just after coming back on board. T'Pol put her fingers to her lips. Trip knew how to kiss very well.
T'Pol opened her eyes suddenly, when the ship shook. This time, the vibration of the Enterprise was real and not just an impression given by her upset stomach. She pressed the intercom. «T'Pol to Commander Tucker.»
«Trip here.» he said.
«Is there a problem?»
«No, it's all okay. We're dropping down to warp 4, the engine can't hold warp 5.5 for long. But it's alright.»
«If you need a hand, call me. T'Pol out.»
The shuddering faded slightly and T'Pol closed her eyes, trying to push the nausea away, but it slowly grew. She sighed when she realized that she would have to see Phlox.
«Commander T'Pol,» he said.
The Vulcan asked herself how he managed to keep that happy and jovial mood.
«What can I do for you?»
«I think I got a virus when we went to retrieve the equipment for the warp 6 upgrades.»
Phlox picked up a tricorder. «What are your symptoms?»
«Nausea, dizziness.»
«It could be a digestive problem, because I don't think you suffer from space sickness.» The doctor ran the tricorder over T 'Pol again. «No, your gastrointestinal system is fine. I find no trace of any viruses that cou...» His voice faded into nothingness.
«Dr. Phlox?» she asked, her Vulcan voice calm.
«Uhm...» he said. He was silent for a moment. «T'Pol... I think I understand the problem...»
«Meaning?»
Phlox sighed and turned off the tricorder. «Well, commander... you're pregnant.»
T'Pol was silent for a moment. «I have not had the pon farr.» she said, her voice flat.
The doctor shrugged. «Yes, but... I clearly see an embryo.» He hesitated. «It is two months old.»
She gasped, momentarily losing her Vulcan poise, but then went quiet. «Can you tell me exactly how many days old it is?»
Phlox looked at her, raising an eyebrow. «Commander?»
«The exact day of conception.»
Phlox rose again the tricorder. «It's hard to say, you did not have the pon farr and the embryo... it seems half human.»
«It *is* half human.» she explained. «Phlox, do I need genetic testing to tell me who the father is?» she replied quickly. «I have been in a relationship since then... with another human being.»
Phlox let out a half-smile. «I can do a genetic test, but it will take time.»
«Do what you must.» she said. «It's important.»
(To be continued...)
Thanks to Zero Credibility who's betareading this story in English, and to Seti and Franz who had betaread it in Italian.
All my stories are published in Italian on my blog.