Chapter 25 - A Night On The Town
August 4 2156 1645 (Pacific Time) – Enterprise in orbit around Earth (Sol III)
The chime in T'Pol's cabin rang. She opened the door to see Trip standing there, dressed nicely in civilian clothes.
"You look lovely, T'Pol," he said.
She looked up at him, at those blue eyes and the neatly combed blond hair. So unlike the standard Vulcan bangs. She knew that a smile would be the standard Human response but she knew any attempt at a smile would look awkward.
"I'm looking forward to the evening, Trip," she said, and he smiled broadly. "Please come in," she continued. "I need to get my hat."
"Is that new?" asked Trip as she put it on.
"Yes, I purchased it in Japan." She pulled out her pocket comm and tapped at it. She looked at Trip. "Did you bring any flowers?"
"Um…sorry, no."
"I see," she said and tapped at the small screen. "Candies or other small presents? Perhaps a stuffed animal or other token symbol of a successful hunt?"
"'Symbol of a successful hunt?' What is that, T'Pol?" He tried to peer at the comm.
"It is a 'date checklist'," she said as she kept it out of his view.
"It says that? Where did you get it?"
"I am 'reading between the lines'. The checklist is from a 'women's publication'. The questions are a fascinating insight into human psychology."
"Are you really going to grade me on this date?"
"Yes. Your score on this checklist will influence the probability of our having sexual relations at the end of the evening."
Trip laughed. "OK, OK, do it your way. I'd forgotten that I was trying to date the science officer. Shall we go?"
The flight from Spacedock went smoothly. The shuttle reached San Francisco just as the sun was setting into the Pacific. Approaching from the southwest they skimmed over the huge offshore fog bank that was waiting for evening to come onshore. Passing over the city, they made a turn to land in Sausalito. They could see the Golden Gate Bridge through the window next to their seats. Up front, the pilots were busy with the final approach. A few more seconds and the shuttle flared up and then gently came to rest on the landing pad.
They stepped out into the chilly air. T'Pol longed to have Trip put his arm around her but this was not the place for it. She said to him, "What do you have planned for this evening, Commander Tucker?"
He smiled at her. "Let's just let the evening unfold. How about we start with a little walk to build up an appetite?"
"But you do have a plan?"
"Oh yes."
"Very good," she said and pulled her comm from her purse and tapped another item on the checklist.
They traversed the headquarters building walkway and climbed up the steep path leading to the vista point at the north end of the bridge. When they reached the plaza, T'Pol looked around and didn't see anyone she recognized from Starfleet. Without their uniforms they were just another anonymous couple. She took Trip's arm. On Vulcan this would be scandalous. She enjoyed the simple pleasure of touching him, as well as a strange satisfaction at consuming forbidden fruit.
"I thought we could walk across the bridge and then take a taxi to the restaurant," said Trip.
"That would be agreeable," she said.
They walked onto the span, looking out at the San Francisco skyline. The dying rays of the sunset lit the city with orange and red highlights. Joggers and bicyclists passed them on the sidewalk. Tourists took pictures hanging over the rail. The wind whipped in from the ocean and T'Pol's hat almost blew off her head. She snatched at it.
"Whoa, you gotta watch out for the wind here. Did Hoshi help you buy that?"
"Yes, we visited a department store in Nagoya."
"So, what else did you and Hoshi do in Japan?" asked Trip.
"We stayed at her family's house the first day. I found it very tranquil."
"The only time I ever visited Japan I was just at the Osaka Starfleet base for some meetings. I snuck out to the shopping mall to pick up some gifts to bring back. That was the least tranquil place I've ever been."
"I agree, the shopping mall was very noisy. I was very nearly overwhelmed by all of the sensations. However, once we left that vicinity it was much more agreeable."
"What did you do the second day?"
"We visited Ensign Sato's family gravesite, then we spent the night at a ryokan, a Japanese inn. We had a traditional Japanese meal and then we took a bath together."
"Together?"
"It's common in Japanese culture apparently. The bath was the size of a small swimming pool and heated to a very pleasant temperature. It was an agreeable place to talk. I learned a lot about differences in Human culture during the trip. Your species is much more flexible than I realized."
"Really?"
"Yes. I learned that Americans such as yourself and the Captain are much louder and more emotional than Humans from some other cultures."
"Well, I guess that's true. Do you have a hankering to go live in Japan now?"
"Perhaps when we return to Earth we could visit together."
"We could do that. I think you would like Venice as well."
"Venice is in Italy, is it not?"
"Yep. It's a very old city. It's mostly for tourists now, but it's beautiful. I thought it was very tranquil when I visited. There are no roads for cars, only sidewalks and canals. You either walk or you take a boat. They don't allow any advertising, either."
"It sounds…soothing." Her nerves were still a little jangled from her return through the mall and spaceport in Osaka just a few hours before.
"We'll go someday."
They walked along, arm in arm, with all of their cares and worries put aside for the moment. All of the other pedestrians on the bridge were Human, except for three Rigelians who were several hundred meters behind them.
By the time they reached the south end of the bridge, it was twilight. The fog had almost reached the bridge. They walked down some steps into the observation area at the south end of the bridge.
"Well, do you have an appetite now?" asked Trip.
"I could eat," allowed T'Pol.
"You need to rate the excursion part on your checklist. Looking at the San Francisco skyline at sunset is considered to be very romantic, you know."
"I will keep that in mind."
Trip pulled his comm out of his pocket and punched for an autotaxi. While they waited they looked out at the bay. The three aliens from the bridge headed towards them. Trip automatically went on the defensive.
"Do you see those three?" he asked.
"Yes, they appear to be Rigelians."
"Weren't those the people who kidnapped Phlox?"
"Yes."
The Rigelians approached. One of them gestured at Trip with a black tube mounted on top of a pistol grip. He said something in Rigelian and then his translator boomed out, "Human! Make a still icon!"
Trip stepped in front of T'Pol and raised his hands. The Rigelian pushed the black device towards him again. T'Pol reached into her purse. "I hope you brought a phase pistol," Trip muttered to her.
"This may be better," T'Pol said as she stepped around him. She brought out her Universal Translator. "Please repeat your request," she said and the translator emitted a phrase.
The lead Rigelian said something and this time T'Pol's UT said, "Would you take a picture of us, please?"
"It's a camera?" said Trip as he took the device from the Rigelian.
"Yes, please look through the rear and press the button on top," came the instructions through the UT.
"You know, that translator of yours isn't very good," Trip told them.
"We have been having poor interactions all day long. We thought merely that Humans do not like tourists. This is our first visit to Earth."
"No, that thing is terrible. Where did you get it?"
"From some traders. We didn't get the name of their race but they were short with very large ears. They told us this translation pack would produce excellent 'Hewmon'."
Trip and T'Pol traded a look. "We have met them," said T'Pol. "They are not trustworthy."
A few minutes later the Rigelians went on their way with a picture of themselves in front of the now fog-shrouded bridge.
"I'm glad you had your translator instead of a phase pistol. I would have hated to get into a firefight on our night out," Trip said to T'Pol.
"I think Starfleet would disapprove of us stunning tourists."
"I never used to be so jumpy. I'm getting way too used to violence," said Trip as an autotaxi pulled up at the curb. They got in and Trip confirmed the destination on the screen in front and leaned back. The autotaxi went along the elevated highway that led down from the bridge, onto the surface streets of the Marina District and headed to North Beach. It stopped in front of a restaurant and flashed, "Destination reached" on the screen.
"Right you are, Jeeves," said Trip, tapping his universal credit card on the reader. T'Pol declined to chide him for talking to machinery. She exited first, then Trip. "Well, here it is. Chef said it was one of the best restaurants in The City and that you would enjoy the food."
T'Pol looked at him. "You have been talking to Chef."
Trip looked a little sheepish. "Well, yes."
T'Pol felt a flash of rage as her nostrils flared. "About us."
"I needed to talk to somebody. I had myself all tied up in knots. Chef whacked some sense into me. Besides, what were you and Hoshi talking about in that bath?"
T'Pol deflated a bit. "It doesn't matter what we discussed." She knew that Humans needed to talk about their private lives and it was illogical to expect Trip not to do so. And Chef was trustworthy. Calm returned to her features and she looked up at Trip. "Shall we have dinner?"
Trip gave her a skeptical "Hmmmm" as they walked towards the door.
They entered the restaurant. It was busy but not too loud. The lighting was low with candles on every table. The hostess smiled warmly at them. "Good evening, welcome to Incanto. Do you have a reservation?"
"I believe so. Should be for Charles Tucker?"
She led them to a table towards the back of the restaurant and seated them. Soon after, their waiter introduced himself and told them, "Chef Ryder had a recommended course for you. Would you like to hear that, or shall I bring some menus for you?"
"Shall we just go with Chef's recommendation?" Trip asked. T'Pol nodded. Trip said to the waiter, "We trust Chef. Why don't you just surprise us with what he recommended."
Wine was brought out and poured. Then, an appetizer of caprese, slices of heirloom tomatoes topped with fresh basil and house-made fresh mozzarella was served.
T'Pol cut a slice of the caprese and put it in her mouth with her fork. Her keen sense of smell made the flavors very intense, but pleasurably so.
On the other side of the table, Trip was enjoying the meal immensely. Aside from being with T'Pol, the food was damned good. He was used to institutional food after years of being in Starfleet. What Chef made was several steps up but the freshness and quality of the ingredients available in deep space limited what he could do. No tomatoes grown in Enterprise's hydroponic garden could match what they were eating. These were the flavors of Earth. You couldn't take this with you out into the dark. But you could take your friends and maybe even a loved one with you. And you could defend this; protect it, so that you had something to come back to.
Following the caprese was a salad of baby greens with caramelized walnuts and a balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Trip's had Gorgonzola cheese on top but T'Pol's did not. The waiter also brought a basket of focaccia bread.
They sipped their wine and ate their salads and bread. The focaccia was warm and tangy with rosemary. When the salads were finished, bowls of Chef's "kick ass pesto" were brought out. This turned out to be a basil pesto with a variety of fresh, cooked and preserved ingredients. The pasta had been freshly boiled but the other ingredients were mixed in cold, making it pleasantly warm.
T'Pol raised a fork full high enough that she could take in all of the aromas. She could smell each ingredient separately but wasn't familiar enough with Earth foods to identify them all. She knew the smells individually were agreeable and the combination smelled irresistible. She saw no reason to resist so she put the forkful in her mouth and savored it as she chewed with her eyes closed.
Trip almost burst out laughing. "Are you enjoying your meal, T'Pol?" he asked.
She speared a piece of lightly fried eggplant with her fork, put it in her mouth, chewed and swallowed before saying, "It is agreeable."
Trip laughed. "Chef said you would say that."
She quirked her eyebrow at him, speared a piece of pasta, chewed, swallowed and defiantly said, "I like it."
"If I'd known fine food was your weakness I would have taken you out in San Francisco a long time ago."
"This will rate positively on the checklist."
As Trip smiled broadly, T'Pol reached out and took his hand. She took another bite and worked hard at projecting the flavors she was experiencing to him.
Trip gasped. "Is that from you, T'Pol? Is that what you're tasting?"
She nodded.
"That was intense."
Dessert was slices of apple tart with vanilla bean gelato. Trip asked for a small espresso and T'Pol had chamomile tea.
"That was a damn good meal," said Trip.
"As I said, I liked it," agreed T'Pol. "I wonder why Chef has never prepared this dish before. He makes many other vegetarian specialties."
"He said his ex-wife used to love it and making it brings back too many memories for him." Trip shook his head. "T'Pol, I don't want us to be ex-anythings."
T'Pol reached across the table and touched his hand. "Trip, I am not going anywhere."
Trip grinned at her. She relished his joy, letting it leak through the bond to her. Her face remained composed as she looked into his eyes. Emotions were hard for her to handle, but not him. It was logical for each partner to experience and share what they were best at.
Trip said, "Maybe you're not going anywhere but I'm going to take you someplace. The night is still young!"
They settled the bill, made some small talk with the owner, who had come out of the kitchen to see them off, and exited into the chilly night. The fog was high off the ground, but still made everything damp, and the cold wind cut through T'Pol's light jacket. Trip wrapped his arm around her and they walked up towards Mason St.
T'Pol asked Trip, "What is that noise?" as she began to hear a humming noise, intermixed with occasional muted clanks.
Trip said, "It's the cable for the cable cars. Haven't you ever ridden on one?"
"No," she said. "I've seen them from a distance and in pictures and videos. I thought they were electric."
"Oh no, darlin'. These are traditional! See that slot in between the tracks? The cable runs down there and the cars grab onto it to move around. It was originally powered by steam engines but they use electric motors now. I don't think they've really changed anything since the 20th century. I love this stuff. You can fix it with a hammer!"
A cable car came up the street, its headlight somewhat dim compared to the hover cars. The gripman rang the bell as he came to the intersection, manipulating the levers to bring the car to a stop.
"That does not appear safe," said T'Pol. "There are no safety restraints!"
"Oh, it's pretty safe. They don't go very fast. Come on, live a little. They're fun!"
She couldn't deny him. He was like a small child sometimes. It was pleasant to feel his enthusiasm. Why had she denied their bond for so long?
"Very well."
"Look, there's a space at the front. That's the best spot."
"Hurry up you two, I haven't got all night," called the grip man to them.
They scrambled up the running boards and onto the bench. T'Pol sat at the very front, right behind the window with Trip sitting close behind her. The grip man reached up and jangled the cord for the small signal bell rapidly, the traditional cable car crew signal for "hot girl on board". Trip and T'Pol were unaware.
Bing,bing. The small bell rang twice as the conductor on the rear platform signaled that it was OK to go. "Lovely night for a date," the grip man said, as he rang the big bell lustily and pulled on the grip handle. The cable car smoothly accelerated across the flat intersection and climbed up the hill. The conductor came up front and Trip paid with his credit card as the man checked out T'Pol.
They climbed the hill, intersections came and went, the grip man worked his levers and pedals and rang his bell. The rhythm of the cable car, the quiet, competent cooperation of its crew and its slow but steady progress was calming to T'Pol.
"Hold tight there folks!" called out the gripman as they went full speed into the turn onto Powell Street. Trip grinned widely at the rush, even though the cable car never topped nine and a half miles an hour, the steady speed of the cable. They went up the Powell Street slope, stopping close to the crest at California Street to let passengers on and off.
They clattered across California St and then tilted sharply downward. Suddenly T'Pol could see all the way down to the shops at the bottom of the hill, their lights glowing intensely. T'Pol clamped down on a minor frisson of fear. There was no logical reason there would be a problem. The system had been in use for hundreds of years. She felt Trip's calm and knew everything was OK. She leaned back into him.
The grip man and the conductor were both working now to slow the car, the grip man standing on the foot brake and the conductor on the back platform working his handle, ratcheting the steel brakes against the rear wheels.
T'Pol could hear the ratchet, the hum of the cable, the hiss of the brakes against the wheels and tracks. Suddenly she smelled a sharp smell that hadn't been present before.
"Something is burning!" she said loudly. Fire was a constant threat on hot, dry Vulcan and the cable car was made completely of wood. It was not something to ignore or it could get out of control rapidly, consuming one, just like emotions.
"Don't worry ma'am. That's just the brakes. They're wood blocks rubbing against the tracks. Get a little hot and put off some smoke, that's all." The grip man chuckled.
"Next stop, please," said Trip. The cable car came to a stop in the middle of the intersection. Hovercars waited politely. T'Pol and Trip climbed down quickly. "Thanks for the ride!" shouted Trip as they walked around the front of the car. "Any time," replied the grip man. He watched T'Pol walk away until the two bells sounded and it was time to go.
"That was the most primitive vehicle I have ever ridden on," T'Pol said as they walked up the street.
"Oh. Well, we don't have to do it again. I just wanted you to try it," said Trip, a little crestfallen.
"We may ride it again. It is traditional, is it not?" she said as she turned her face to him and lifted her eyebrow.
Trip looked into her eyes for a long moment. "T'Pol," he started.
"Don't talk, Trip," she said, putting a finger on his lips. Talking always led to misunderstanding.
"No, I gotta talk. You don't have to, I know it's something you can't do, so I gotta say it for both of us. I love you. I want to be with you however you'll have me."
She looked down at the ground. "Trip, you must know. I…I am not whole. I cannot be a proper Vulcan and I cannot be a proper Human, either. I am 'damaged goods'."
He put his finger under her chin and lifted her head to look into her eyes. "T'Pol, there is nothing wrong with you. I love your logic. I love your bravery. I love the way you argue with me and I love the way you tease me. I love how beautiful you are. I love the curve of your back and the points of your ears. You don't have to be a 'proper Vulcan' for me or a 'proper Human' for me. Just be T'Pol. That's all I'm lookin' for. You don't have to say you love me. I already know how you feel."
He put one arm around her and his hand behind her head and kissed her on the lips. She kissed him back, clinging to him. They were not Human and Vulcan, they were just Trip and T'Pol.
They broke the kiss. He held her in his arms. She put her cheek against his. "I want to be with you, Trip."
"Well, after that kiss I kinda figured. But if you feel the need to cool things down, just let me know. I'm not going anywhere. We've got five years out there in the dark coming up. We got plenty of time to figure things out and work on our relationship. All I ask is that you be honest with me. I didn't want to waste any more time getting started, though. Now, how about some jazz?"
"I would…like that," she said.
"Good. It's just another block." They held hands and started walking again.
Trip spoke, gently. "And you don't have to say you like things. Things can be 'agreeable'. I know what you mean."
"You don't like it when I say I like something?"
"I do, but I don't expect it. It's an extra. You don't need to change for me. Just be yourself. Whatever you want to be. I'll be there for you."
She had always thought he wanted her to be more emotional, to be more Human. She had never just been accepted before. Everyone always wanted her to be something that she wasn't. Maybe this was love. Whatever it was, she liked it.
They found the club and a quiet table. Trip ordered a beer, T'Pol a hot cocoa. As before, the music elated her. This time, however, there was no guilt. No one she cared about would censure her for being here, for enjoying the music. She could be in control of her emotions. She could follow the path of Surak and be happy, be content.
A couple of hours passed pleasantly. She wound up with her chair next to Trip's, leaning against him with her head on his shoulder. It was good.
Trip checked the time. "We'd better get going or we're going to miss the last shuttle up."
She kept her head on his shoulder. "I do not wish to return to Enterprise tonight."
"I thought you had duty in the morning. I know I do."
"I asked the Captain to take my shift and I have already notified Lieutenant Hess that she should take over the alpha shift in Engineering tomorrow. "Rank Hath Its Privileges," I believe the Captain would say."
"You sneak! Well, if we're going to stay planet side, let's do it in style. Let me find us a nice hotel."
He pulled out his comm and started tapping, "Uh, one or two rooms?" he asked.
"I must check your score on the checklist. There were no grading instructions so I will have to make up a grading curve. Please tell me expected outcomes for a date and their likelihood."
Trip rolled his tongue in his cheek. "Let's see. Five percent end in a slap and a huffy exit before the end of the date. Twenty five point three percent result in a hug. Twenty seven point eight result in a good night kiss and thirty seven point five percent result in being invited in for tea with sexual relations following."
"That does not sum to one hundred."
"Seventy five percent of all statistics are made up on the spot."
She raised her eyebrow at him. "I see. That explains much of the difficulty the Vulcan Science Academy has had analyzing Human society."
She focused on the screen in mock calculation and let him wait for a moment before saying flatly, "One room will suffice."
Trip jabbed fiercely at his comm and finished the reservation. The "express check in" gave him a room number.
They left the club and walked down to Union Square. The cable cars clattered past on Powell St. The doormen blew their whistles and ushered guests in and out of autotaxis.
Into the hotel, across the lobby, up the elevator. Trip's credit card served as the key and then they were in the room slamming the door behind them. Kissing her, he backed her onto the bed.
T'Pol eagerly pulled him down to her. This time she had no doubts about what she was doing. The first time had been good but this was better.
Afterwards, they lay in the bed, cuddled up close together. It was wonderful and, most importantly, it was.
August 4 2156 2320 (Pacific Time) – Inner Oort Cloud, approximately 2 light weeks from Sol
The modified warbird Alidar dropped out of warp in the area known to Humans as the Inner Oort Cloud, two light weeks or three hundred sixty billion kilometers from Sol and two and a half hours, at warp five, from Gardner's perimeter patrols. The Oort Cloud was the source for many comets, considered bad omens in ancient times, but in reality only harmless spectacles.
The crews worked rapidly, launching the drones away from the carrier. Three minutes later the last drone was deployed and the carrier returned to warp, its signature tuned to imitate a Tellarite freighter.
The drones turned toward Earth and engaged their impulse engines. When they reached ninety percent of light speed the crews on the Alidar shut them down and they continued inward, dark and undetectable. There would be no omens to announce them.
Author's note: I always felt that the TV show really underused San Francisco as a backdrop. They could have at least come up with a decent Chinese restaurant name (I mean, seriously, "Madame Chang's"?). I grew up in San Francisco and it's one of my favorite spots. I convinced my wife to move to the US and part of the convincing was taking her on a date like this. I think the cable car ride was the clincher.
I'm sure that Trip tipped their waiter, so be sure to tip your author and leave a review!
Thanks to Alelou for her advice and support.