She found him in the engine room, as expected. Already hard at work installing whatever new engine modification that had prompted his volunteering to retrieve supplies in the city. Because it had allowed him the opportunity to…'scrounge' in the shipyard there, as she had suspected.
"Mr. Tucker." She said, as she approached. "If you…"
"Aw, hell." He replied, pulling his head back out of the engine manifold. "What happened?"
She blinked. "Excuse me?"
He frowned at her, searching her eyes for clues regarding whatever he expected she must be displeased about.
"You only call me 'Mr. Tucker' when you're trying to be detached about something." He said. "And, hey, if this about the kov-masu, just give me a second to explain."
"Trip, this does not concern the kov-masu. That is a small matter."
"Oh." He said, warily. "Okay. So what's with the 'Mr. Tucker'?"
"A regrettable lapse. I apologize. I wish to discuss something of significant import before our meeting tonight. I have allowed that contemplation to distract me."
"Oh, okay." He said, already distracted himself, peering in to tinker with the engine once more. "So which one is it tonight?"
"Which what?" She asked, turning to dig in the tool box at hand. He would require the micro-caliper in a moment.
"Which mating ritual, I mean." He said, popping back out again. "I forget."
"Tu'ash katra." She reminded him, offering him the tool.
He accepted it, grimacing. "Jeez, T'Pol. I was afraid of that. That's a tough one."
Once inside the manifold, he continued to speak as he worked. "But…I was thinking about when I was a kid. Maybe fifteen I think. I did something pretty…well, inappropriate with this girl in class. She was a nice girl. Never did say I'm sorry or anything. That bothered me for a long time and I always felt like…"
As she listened, she dug through the tools again. She had difficulty determining which one she was looking for but she recognized it when she found it. She had it ready to offer when he emerged again.
"Well, never mind. I guess I better just save it for tonight." He said, frowning. "So, if I understand how the tu'ash katra is supposed to work, that'd make a good topic, right? Oh, hey, thanks. I needed that."
He accepted the tool and went back to work.
"If you believe relating the incident would require a vulnerable and deeply contemplative personal exposition, then it would of course be appropriate. The overall point of the exercise is to elicit intimacy through personal revelation requiring trust on one's own part and acceptance on the part of one's mate."
"So, you think these mating rituals will work?" He asked, nearly hip deep in the engine now. "Some of them are hard as hell. And some of the others are just plain weird. And what were you going use for yours tonight anyway?"
"They have a exemplary reputation for promoting success in mating, Trip." T'Pol said. "That is, in encouraging the formation of mating bonds. And I have not yet made my decision regarding my own topic."
"Really? I figured you'd have yours picked out three months ago or something."
"It may no longer be required."
"Yeah, okay." He said, missing the implication. "Kinda wish we were doing the neuropressure one tonight, though."
Of course, he emerged far enough and long enough to grin slyly at her about that.
"That is scheduled for tomorrow evening." She replied, coldly. "As you would know if you had read the…"
"It's right there, darlin'." He said, pointing out from the engine manifold at a spot on the far wall.
And, indeed, the schedule was readily at hand there, tacked up amidst a wide variety of scribbled notes and mathematical equations.
"And before we have that argument again, I read that chapter in that book you gave me."
Once again he emerged, to give her a stern look. His hair tussled from repeating dipping into and out of the engine in the course of their discussion.
"'Darlin' is a title." He said seriously. "Granted in acknowledgement of your continued success in provoking affection, which is considered admirable and worthy of encouragement…among Humans. So it's perfectly appropriate."
T'Pol considered that. Then nodded.
"Very well. I acknowledge the logic and will accept the title."
Trip smirked and nodded right back. "Good."
Then ducked back into the engine.
"You know, one day I'm going to get a handle of that logic thing, then you're gonna be in real trouble."
"Highly doubtful." She said.
And she observed curiously as her hand reached out, almost of its own accord, to take the micro-sealer from the tool box.
"Hey, can you hand me the…oh, hey, thanks. Damned tacks on this thing are giving me fits."
Interesting.
"So what did you want to talk about?" He asked, from deep within the engine.
Something lingered at the back of T'Pol's mind. Something trying to nudge at her attentions, convinced that it had something important to offer. Something relevant that she would want to be aware of.
"T'Pol?"
Ah, there it was. Now to investigate it and determine what about it had attempted to provoke her awareness.
"Concerning the kov-masu, Trip. Was there something you wished to say?"
"Oh, right!" He said, grinning. "I almost forgot about that."
He turned and tossed the micro-sealer on the work table behind him. Then leaned one-handed on the manifold to tell his tale.
"Okay…uh…when I was talking to the Vulcan traders in Hedeya I noticed this one girl who was just…chewing on this…thing. I didn't know what it was. So I finally had to ask about it. It turns out there's a root that grows on Betazed that has the same effect as kov-masu. Better, it turns out, if you chew the root instead of brewing tea from it or something."
"But it's a little bit sweet. So the girl mentioned that she'd prefer it if it wasn't sweet. That got me wondering why. And that got me thinking about the logic of food. Because I read that chapter, too."
"Oh, and that also got me thinking about this candy shop they had across the street from the shipyard. They have tailor-made candies for all kinds of species. Ship them all over space. I asked around about them and they have real reputation for being amazing at it. They even made Andorian snacks. Now, imagine that."
"So I bought about twenty kilos of this dried root and went by there when I picked up the expansion grids. For the engine upgrades. I talked to the guy and explained what I wanted…it took us about a half hour to get it right…but we finally figured it out. Take a look at this."
He turned and rummaged around for a moment on the work table…
"Okay, wait…got it here somewhere…"
…and produced a rather large box, adorned in white paper. Which he flipped open to reveal, by her quick calculations, one hundred and forty-four individually wrapped squares. Twelve rows, by twelve columns. With approximately six levels of the same contained within the dimensions of the box.
"There we go." He said, proudly. "Each one's as good as about a fourth of a cup of kov-masu. Bittersweet, so they aren't offensive to taste and they aren't so good you're even tempted to indulge. Plus they've each got about a third of your daily B12 and copper requirements. And some other stuff. I've got the paper about that somewhere around here. Have to dig that up. But it's not candy. It's a dietary supplement. And a stimulant. Like kov-masu. So, whatcha think?"
T'Pol blinked.
Slowly. In case this thing was going to disappear and she would find something that actually made sense in it's place.
"Trip…why did you do this?"
"Well, it's our six month anniversary." He chuckled.
"That is irrelevant. Our bond is the purpose of mating. Mating is no cause for…"
Whatever this was he'd done. She didn't know what to call it.
"Okay, look." He said, carefully closing the box to put it aside. "I was just joking. I don't know why I figured you'd think that was funny. It'sjust been rolling around in my head since before you got here, for some reason."
He shrugged.
"I just…well, I don't know. I was standing there, when I figured out about the root, I mean…and the pieces just all came together. You wanted kov-masu, they had this root, the candy shop…I dunno. Just…Well, don't kick me or anything but it just seemed like the logical thing to do."
She stared at him, contemplating this. And a couple of other things that had come to her attention since she entered the room.
Which was long enough to make him uncomfortable.
"Look, I'm sorry." He huffed. "I guess it's a Human thing. I thought you'd appreciate…"
"No. Excuse me." She said. "I acknowledge it a very useful gift, which represents significant appreciation, awareness and concern for your mate."
"Oh." He said. "Okay."
Then, as an afterthought…
"That is good, right?"
"Indeed." She said.
He smiled. Just a little. "Good, then. I'll lock 'em up in your little stash in the kitchen. So no one else gets into them."
"That would be agreeable." She said, reaching for the synchrometer.
"Right. So I better get this done so I can shower before our…oh, hey. Yeah, that's just what I needed. Thanks."
She watched as he dove in once again, continuing his work. With the synchrometer she had provided.
The one she had anticipated his need for. Without knowing in the slightest what a synchrometer was.
"Trip, where are the discs containing the correspondences of our alternates?"
Inside the engine, Trip laughed. "Kinda hard to figure out what to call them still, isn't it? They're around here somewhere. I think they're on the reactant monitor over there."
T'Pol looked. They weren't there.
"I notice that you seemed to have lost interest in them." She said.
"Yeah, can't get into 'em anymore." He said, distractedly. Focused on his work in the engine.
So T'Pol watched him work for while. Considering things. Coming to conclusions. And then…
"I will meet you in your quarters in two hours, Trip."
"You got it." He said.
Before she turned to go, something occurred to him. So she waited to see what it was.
"Oh, T'Pol!" He said, loudly. Expecting she had already departed, until he yanked himself out of the engine and saw she was still standing there. Waiting.
"Oh. So what did you want to talk about? We kinda kept changing the subject."
"Nothing important."
"You sure? Seemed pretty important."
"It is no longer relevant."
Bird-of-Prey NaS'jach
Sirius System
Lieutenant Verg noticed the passive sensor detection and was surprised. He hadn't expected to be accosted by Humans again until they crossed the outer boundaries of the system.
G'Resh beat him to it, though.
"Humans again." She said, snarling. "They aren't even hailing us."
"Several hundred thousand off our port." Verg pitched in. "Moving laterally, at approximately six impulse…
Except…now…
"Now they are closing, on an intercept course." He said. "Did they only just notice us? Or did they now decide we required another inspection?"
Captain Hargash frowned, tilting his head to crack his neck.
"I grow tired of these ceaseless provocations." He growled. "We are on a research mission. Hail them!"
G'Resh growled as well. "They do not respond."
"Captain…" Lieutenant Verg said. "I think their ship has been damaged. They are venting plasma slightly. And, yes, several compartments are open to space."
Captain Hargash's eyebrows rose in surprise. And humor.
"Of course." He laughed. "They've probably been starting fights in every system they passed through. Perhaps they will start one with us! Hail them again, G'Resh."
"Hm…they still do not respond, captain."
Hargash growled and bared his teeth with frustration. Then stood abruptly. "Put them on the screen, Verg."
The ship appeared instantly. Indeed, trailing plasma vapor somewhat. Heavily damaged as well. She must have seen several conflicts recently.
Hargash looked around the bridge, questioning. "Have the Humans gone to war without inviting us? That ship has been busy. Are you not able to identify them, Verg? It is clearly a Starfleet vessel."
"I…wait, yes, captain." He said. "But our intelligence lists them as 'missing in action'. It is the Gladius. They appear to be attempting to come alongside."
"Hrm." Hargash rumbled. "That is Pike's ship. I think we are missing out on an interesting story here. Once again, G'Rash. Hail them."
"No resp…ah, they respond now, captain. But…there is something…"
G'Rash furrowed her brow, listening intently. Then looked up in surprise, her face evidencing confusion.
"What is it, Lieutenant?" Hargash demanded.
"Captain…" Verg reported. "They continue to close in. I may have to take evasive maneuvers…"
Hargash snapped his fingers impatiently at G'Rash, growling.
"Put them through, G'Rash!" What was Pike up to here?
"Captain!" Verg exclaimed. But too late.
Just before the ship impacted, G'Rash keyed the channel open on her console…
…and the bridge was filled with screams.
That's all, folks.
Sweet dreams. ;)
- Mary