Thanks as always to Alelou for advice and support!
Chapter 28 - Spike!
August 17, 2156 1230 (Pacific Standard Time) – StarFleet Headquarters, Sausalito, Earth (Sol III)
The weather had cooperated for the crew's last day on Earth. The grassy field south of Starfleet HQ was an ideal spot for a cookout. Several volleyball nets were set up and games were getting started. Archer had given his requisite speech and disbursed some long overdue promotions first and now had no responsibilities for the remainder of the day. He got a burger and some potato salad from Chef, holding court at the grill, and went looking for a spot to sit.
Trip and T'Pol were sitting together, of course, and he plopped down beside them. T'Pol was looking at her plate with distaste.
"What's the matter, Commander? You didn't get meat by mistake did you?" Archer asked.
"No, it is a 'veggie burger.'" T'Pol tilted her head to look at it from a different angle.
"She's trying to figure out how she can eat it without touching it with her fingers," said Trip. He took another bite from his burger as he watched her with amusement.
"Why didn't you get something you could eat with a fork?" asked Archer.
"Chef insisted," replied T'Pol as she finally wrapped the sandwich in a paper napkin. "He said I 'owed him'."
"Better add another layer just in case," teased Trip. He received a glare from her and laughed.
Phlox approached, carrying not a plate, but something large enough to be called a platter. "One of everything, Doc?" asked Trip.
"Yes, yes indeed. Chef was most accommodating. I've never had an opportunity to sample Human outdoor cooking."
Travis, Hoshi and Malcolm joined them.
"Lieutenant Commander, Lieutenants, have a seat," said Archer.
"Congratulations!" said Trip. "Those promotions are long overdue."
"I understand you should be congratulated as well, Doctor Tucker," said Malcolm as he sat down.
"Yup, finally got my thesis finished and accepted!" replied Trip.
"Wait, Doctor Tucker?" asked Hoshi. She sat down beside Trip on the grass.
"Yes, why do you ask, Doctor Sato?"
"How did you get a doctorate? You told me you never even got your bachelor's!" she said, voice climbing.
Archer laughed. "Hoshi, I know you don't need to use a dictionary but you should look up 'gullible.' I think your picture may be in there. There's no way Starfleet would hand over their premier starship to someone without a degree. Though, they did stretch it a bit for Trip and his degree in 'Boat Engines'."
"Oooh! I can't believe I fell for that!" Hoshi punched Trip in the arm.
"It's getting pretty rarefied on the bridge," said Malcolm. "I suppose I shall have to go back for a Masters or something."
"Going to be lots of time on this TREC mission," said Trip. "T'Pol was a big help in getting my thesis all organized."
"This corn is delicious," said Phlox, waving a piece of corn-on-the-cob. He took another bite off the end.
"Doctor, most people don't eat the middle part," Travis said.
"Really? The texture is remarkable!" Phlox replied.
"T'Pol, what is your degree in, anyway?" asked Hoshi. "It seems like you know everything."
T'Pol put her veggie burger down on her plate. "I studied at the Vulcan Science Academy. They only grant one degree, the ek'tal-vah-k'lekta. It is the equivalent of a Human doctorate in most areas of science and mathematics."
"How long does this degree take to get, or is that classified information?" asked Archer.
"Sixteen years."
"Sixteen years?" asked Trip. "Talk about your perpetual students! I don't suppose the Vulcan Science Academy is known for its parties, is it?"
"No. That would be the Vulcan Science College. They are on the other side of Shi'Kahr." She returned to eating her veggie burger.
"She's doing it again, Trip. Did you spend your shore leave giving her humor lessons?" asked Archer.
"No, we found other things to keep ourselves occupied," said Trip, with a grin. "T'Pol learned how to scuba dive!"
The volleyball competition had been hard fought. Eight teams had been formed and two rounds of elimination had been completed. Science Team had narrowly defeated Engineering in the second round and the MACOs had edged out Security. There was a thirty minute break before the final round and Science Team was concerned.
Ensign Spector was the team captain. Growing up in New San Diego, outdoor volleyball had been a common sport, at least on those days when the wind wasn't blowing from the north or south and carrying radiation from the cratered remains of Old Los Angeles or Old San Diego. She wasn't tall, but years of practice had made her an excellent setter.
"We haven't got enough height", complained Ensign Park, an astrophysicist. "We were lucky Rostov can't manage to spike to save his life. I think the MACOs are going to run over us."
"We can dig, and we can set. We just need a spiker." Spector rubbed her chin in thought. "Hmmm…maybe we should try to get Commander T'Pol to play."
"One, she never plays anything. Two, she's even shorter than you are! Haven't you noticed those heels she wears?" said Park.
"It's not about how tall you are, it's about how high you can get off the ground," said Spector as she started looking around for T'Pol.
Melek walked along balancing a disposable plate atop a cup, distinct in her black Imperial Guard uniform. Many of the Humans had complained about how chilly San Francisco was but she found it sweltering. Five years with these people was going to be a challenge; one she would have forgone without the enticements offered to her by both the Guard and Kralek Heavy Industries. She took another bite of the "hot dog." At least their food was good.
"Melek, come join us," called Rostov from a circle of Engineering personnel. The Humans were friendly, too, if sometimes a bit dense. As long as she could stay out of fights with the Vulcan it would be fine, she told herself.
After the bridge team finished eating, they broke up to mingle with the rest of the crew. T'Pol migrated to a cluster of scientists and soon was deep in a discussion of stellar evolution. Ensign Spector, dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, came up beside her.
"T'Pol, how high do you think you can jump in this gravity?"
She considered for a moment. "Perhaps a little over two meters. Why do you ask?"
"That's what I thought. Science Team is going up against the MACOs in volleyball in a few minutes and we need an edge."
"Sporting contests are illogical."
"Amanda Cole is playing for the MACOs."
T'Pol raised an eyebrow. "The Captain has requested that I work harder to raise morale."
Enterprise's new Foreign Ministry team, Tom and Veena, relaxed on the grass with beers as the Science and MACO teams got themselves organized on a volleyball court. The MACOs won the toss and the server, an Asian man, unleashed a perfect jump serve that sizzled across the net. In the Science team's back row a player dove and managed to pop the ball up. It came down and was set, this time high into the air.
Tom said "Kind of a high set…" as the Vulcan First Officer suddenly sprang into the air, topping out with her knees above the net, and smashed the ball down onto the MACOs' side. The young woman with the black hair who had dove for it rose, shaking her head ruefully.
Veena took a sip of her beer. "There's a lot of hidden depths in these people," she said.
Tom snickered. "More like hidden heights. Speaking of surprises, when is your poker rematch?"
Archer walked along with Trip, looking out over the water.
"I wonder when we'll be able to have another cookout like this," Jon said, turning his face up to look at the blue sky.
"Hopefully not too long," replied Trip. "Chef's got a fine touch with the grill."
"His food's a big boost for crew morale. It was tough getting him assigned."
Trip grinned at Archer and rolled his tongue in his cheek. "You know, I had a chat with Chef the other night, and he said that he told you that he was going to be on Enterprise."
Jon gave a little laugh and shook his head. "There's some truth to that, but what Chief Petty Officer Ryder forgets is that even in the old, more relaxed StarFleet, Chief Petty Officers didn't write their own orders. Captain Chang did not want to lose him. I got Admiral Forrest to override him."
"How'd you manage that?"
"I had Cunningham make him dinner."
T'Pol sat in a quiet spot a distance from the festivities and upwind from the grills. The volleyball victory had been agreeable and now she felt that she had contributed enough to crew morale for the day. She saw Ambassador Soval arrive, wearing a simple brown suit instead of his Vulcan robes. She watched him exchange greetings with Captain Archer and Trip before he collected some food from Chef and headed towards her carrying a bowl and a plate. She rose when he got close.
"Ambassador," she said in Vulcan, inclining her head.
"T'Pol. It is agreeable to see you."
They sat down on the grass. She looked at Soval's food. The bowl held some kind of a reddish-brown stew and the plate had something that looked like a…dessert? She looked pointedly at the sweet.
Soval said blandly, "I have known Chef Ryder many years. It pleases him when I eat his desserts. Your participation in the volleyball game was unanticipated."
"It helps to improve crew morale."
Soval looked at her sidelong and ate a spoonful of chili. "Perhaps we have both been among Humans too long. It was not my intent to alienate you from Vulcan society when I assigned you to Enterprise. You have exceeded my expectations in accomplishing the task I set you and I know it has required a great deal of personal sacrifice."
T'Pol inclined her head. "I believe that what I have done has been in the best interests of Vulcan. It is agreeable that my logic matches yours."
"Vulcan is in turmoil. The changes in government and society were necessary but they are having the effect of making us reliant on the Humans for more and more of our defense. I, and Administrator T'Pau, may need your insights into humanity while you are on your mission." He reached into a pocket and removed a small box. "This is a secure communications link. It can send transmissions through the StarFleet network disguised as protocol overhead."
She made no move to take it from him. "I will not conceal secrets from Captain Archer."
Soval nodded. "You may tell Captain Archer about this link and let him make the decision whether to accept it. We value his advice as well."
She reached out and took it. Soval returned his attention to his food and she watched the crew at their festivities. When Soval was finished he placed his plate and bowl on the grass and stood. She stood as well and he faced her and looked her squarely in the eyes. "You will be going where no Vulcan has gone before. I wish you a safe voyage." He raised his hand in the ta'al. "Live long and prosper, T'Pol."
She raised her hand and mirrored his gesture. "Peace and long life, Soval."
