AN: Initially I was going to gloss over the after-lecture meeting with the Admirals. In a way I still have. This chapter gives a little Trip/Jon friendship and introduces just how much of an influence Professor Sying has been on Tucker's life, while hinting at what can be expected in future chapters. Our couple will always be the main plot of this story, how they got on Enterprise is so interwoven, that the story has to be told.
"Marty's missed you, young man," the voice of Prof. Tanamal Sying issued in the crowed transport a moment before Trip was engulfed in a tight hug. "You never call, since transferring to Stanford. I ought to put you across my knee and spank you."
"Hey, Prof, for a small woman," Tucker teased, a wide, delighted grin matching the joy shining from his blue eyes as he returned the embrace, "you sure pack a punch."
Pulling away, the petite Indonesian woman dissected her student. Those brown orbs scrutinising, while missing nothing. "Well, someone had to look after a lanky sixteen-year-old when he moved out of home. Besides, I promised your mother I'd take care of you, when I took you on."
"Not a woman I'd cross," Trip responded good naturedly.
"Have you been home?" Tanamal demanded, watching Trip's reaction. Tucker's embarrassment told its own story. "I thought not. If you can't bother coming to Massachusetts to see your foster family with all that research to be done, what hope does you real family have? They don't even have any warp theory to attract your attention!"
Trip chuckled, "you sound just like my Mama the last time she called. I guess that's why she let her baby go two thousand kilometres away to college. I want to introduce you to someone." Pulling Jonathan Archer closer in the confined car, Tucker did the honours. "I lived with Professor Sying and her family while at MIT. It was a condition my Mama made. Like all my Mama's decisions, it was the best."
"Marty?" Archer asked with a raised eyebrow after the introduction.
"My five-year-old English Beagle," Tanamal responded with a twinkle. "He was a present for my children, but I think Trip got the most out of the deal."
"Aw, come one," Tucker mocked, slinging an arm around Dr. Sying's shoulders, "I took Marty for walks, with the kids. By the way, how are they doing? Rimbo must be about to enter High School?"
The remainder of the journey to Starfleet HQ proceeded in pleasant company. Jon learnt a lot about the three years Trip lived in Massachusetts. His boundless energy a perfect match for Tanamal's four children and dog, often aided and abated by her husband. Jin taught at the local school, happy to play the homemaker while his wife gained academic acclaim for her work.
"So, I get this call," Tanamal laughed so hard, she was almost crying as she told the story to an actively listening Archer, "from the local constabulary. Seems Trip's decided to play a joke on the head of Science and got caught. Not a humorous bone in that man's body."
"I didn't know the two of you were arguing," Tucker defended himself. "Besides, it was funny. Even the police officers couldn't stop laughing at my prank."
"The departments were in a fit, when they found out the next morning," Tanamal agreed.
"Basic science classes were better after that," Trip smiled widely. "We had the deputy head for the rest of the term."
"You're lucky he let you off with a warning, and three months cleaning up the lab," Tanamal shook her head. With a heavy sigh, all the joy evaporated. "It hasn't been the same since you left, Trip. We miss you in the working group. Are you sure Starfleet's really in your future? Wouldn't you like to come back as the head of Warp Mechanics, when you become Dr. Tucker? Your students would love you!"
"I'd rather be come Chief Engineer on the first warp capable starship to leave this solar system," Trip answered, his own voice cracking with supressed emotion. "It's not that I don't appreciate the offer, but…"
Pulling away and placing a tiny hand on Ensign Tucker's shoulder, the petite woman sighed heavily. "I hope you know what you've gotten yourself into, Trip. If you thought those Vulcan's gave you a grilling, expect much the same from the Admirals. I believe Leonard, Black and Coto will attend this little soiree. They all have a vested interest, one way or another."
Lowering her voice to a near whisper, Tanamal made sure she had eye contact. "Watch your back with Black, mean bastard but has a mutual dislike of the Vulcans, so play to that. Coto's all about Cochrane's ideals of exploration. However, the man's only a Vice Admiral, so he doesn't carry that much weight. The one you really need to impress is Rear Admiral Leonard. If anyone can get this project off the ground, he's the man. He also has the Fleet Admiral's ear, being his brother-in-law. Yamamoto relies on him for intelligence, so anything you say to Leonard, goes all the way to the top."
Lt. Commander Archer didn't bother to hide his surprise at the politically savvy woman's information. It proved close to his own thoughts on the officers Starfleet had inherited from UESPA almost ten years ago. They'd been juniors in the game then, pushing aside the likes of Max Forrest, who might have had an original idea and gotten humanity into the stars. The admirals Jon would have liked to mingle with, the ones who vocally supported his father's ideas, had long since retired or been promoted sideways as the Vulcan strangle hold on the NX program tightened. Lt. Commander Archer was beginning to understand the devious demands under which Commodore Forrest toiled, not to mention what he'd have to do, to be with Trip on that first Starship.
Listening to Tanamal and observing Trip's reactions, Archer suddenly realised they'd arrived. Landing on a pad attached to the Officer's Commissary, Jon held Tucker back, allowing the scientist and engineers to proceed them. "Make this a grand entry, Ensign," he commented softly.
A slightly confused expression covered the younger man's features. Waiting until the other passengers alighted, Trip took in a long, fortifying breath. He'd finally worked out Archer's meaning when he noticed four Admiral's in dress uniform standing near the transport's exit. "Let's get this show on the road, so I can get home and unwind."
"Ah, here comes our man of the moment," Rear Admiral Daniel Leonard greeted with a wide smile. "Ensign Tucker, Commander Archer, let me introduce you to Fleet Admiral Neoga Yamamoto," stern and uncompromising Japanese façade, "Admiral Gregory Black," frowning with an expression of boredom, "and Vice Admiral Manny Coto," a slight man with piercing brown eyes.
Oh, Trip thought, this is going to be a barrel of laughs. It's just like that first Engineering conference I attended in New York with Prof. Sying. They all looked down on me because I was seventeen and couldn't possibly know anything. I didn't need to hear them saying 'what's that kid doing here', I could see the thoughts on their faces. Well, you aren't going to intimidate me. Truth is, if Starfleet ever wants to leave our solar system and really explore, you need young, intelligent individuals to pave the way. Maybe it's time to remind you of that fact with all that protocol Captain Layton forced me to learn.
"Sir's," Trip responded easily, ensuring his posture was regulation at ease. "I'd like to talk to you privately for a moment. I've had an idea for the plasma manifolds…"
Yamamoto interrupted, "they are the component those injectors you redesigned fit into?"
"Yes, Sir," Tucker grinned, his eyes alight with fervour.
"If we've upgraded one component," Black seemed to get the idea, "then the rest of the system needs overhauling."
"That," Professor Sying, who'd been hung back to ensure her protégée was well received, chimed in, "has been my catch cry for several months, only you removed my access to Ensign Tucker. I hope you appreciate the resource you have acquired, Gentlemen. If not, I have offered Dr. Tucker a permanent position within my team. We are more than happy to have him back."
The four men looked at the petite woman with scorn. Rolling his eyes, Trip knew he had to use the opening she'd created. "Let's see if we can get Henry Archer's engine to fly, together. There are some amazing engineers at the Complex and MIT. With a redesigned manifold…."
At least, Jon felt like a fifth wheel as they discussed a project the Admiral were obviously very familiar with, Trip seems to have made a good impression. Oh, I spoke to soon, there was the first of Black's barbs. If I can just steer us away from this group and into the arms of the Engineers, I'm sure we can get through this relatively unscathed. I see the Professor has a similar idea and is steering Trip towards another group. Time to take the heat, Jon, after all that's what Commodore Forrest expects.
"So," Archer asked a little morosely, staring at the neck of his bottle, "what now?"
Ensign Tucker gave his final lecture of the series an hour ago, followed by the obligatory mingling with the principle scientist and engineers on Earth's orbital station. Thankfully, apart from their first function, there hadn't been an admiral in sight. It seemed Trip impressed them enough to leave well enough alone. As an Ensign assigned to the station, Tucker had been allocated quarters in the crew section when they arrived three days ago, while Archer took up residence in temporary rooms. The young officers sparkling personality, quick smile and wit meant he'd made several acquaintances already.
Eyes lifting from his drink, Archer knew official orders for his next posting would be transmitted from Starfleet HQ and waiting on the terminal in his quarters. Trip's had been set in stone from the moment he'd been head hunted for Starfleet two years previously. Nothing had changed in that time, even being assigned to this lecture series and meeting the Fleet Admiral. A twinkling star field in the background, the pair sat at the commissary, sharing what could be their final evening together for a while. Jon wanted to make it last as long as possible, slightly apprehensive about his next post.
"Three months up here to finish up some research," Trip responded, eyes suddenly down cast, as if he didn't want to think about the future.
A month in each other's company forced the two men to become friends, not that the relationship had been difficult with the very obvious chemistry between them. Jon wouldn't allow anything else while Tucker remained an Ensign. Neither chose to acknowledge the attraction, talk about it, or wished to take it further since Trip's outburst the first day on their assignment. It had become their silent companion, waiting and ready to spring upon them at the perfect moment.
"Then," Archer almost demanded. His expression softening as Tucker looked up. Those baby blues were glassy and full of unspoken emotion. Just, Jon suspected, as were his.
"Another month or two at MIT," Trip deliberately lifted his beer as if in a final salute, "finishing up the details before I'm recalled to the Complex. I'll have about six weeks to complete the final draft of my PhD before the oral defence. I'm not looking forward to that."
"Oral defence?" Archer questioned.
"Yeh," Tucker frowned, taking a large swig and calling for another from a passing steward. "Three experts in the field get to question me for about two hours and I have to defend my research."
"Let me guess," Jon understood only two well. After all he and Trip had met every major player in the industry over the last month. "Vulcan?"
"At least one, most probably two," Tucker agreed. "Professor Sying can't be on the panel because she's my supervisor. She'll be seated at my side to make sure the questions are fair and only about the data in my thesis. Unfortunately, there's no one else qualified at MIT to sit on the panel. I'm not sure anyone from Starfleet would volunteer in the current climate. So, the last interrogator will be someone from another University. Probably Dr. Haiku, from Tokyo, who doesn't agree with my theories which will work in the Vulcan's favour."
"Rock and a hard place," Jon agreed, feeling for the younger man. "You allow to bring a support person?"
"Volunteering?" Trip finally smirked. It was forlorn. Obviously, he wasn't looking forward to the cross-examination.
Archer answered with his own sad smile as Tucker's expression told him what he needed to know. "You know I would, if I could. I bet I might even be able to answer a question or two, after listening to you sprout all those facts and figures about my father's engine."
"At least the lecture series did something if a pilot got the message," Trip attempted to get the conversation onto a more cheerful topic. "I don't think they'll be as condescending and arrogant when I face them. All that publicity worked in my favour. Not to mention the meeting with Ambassador Laval and Professor Sying."
Gazing at each other, Archer and Tucker recalled the 'discussion' at MIT. They'd barely escaped Trip's first lecture at the Complex and the required official post function when Commodore Forrest requested their presence in his office, ASAP. Laval wasted no time contacting Sying's assistant, demanding the meeting. Their schedule had been rearranged to accommodate the Vulcan's 'request'. The next lecture in the series took place at MIT on Friday at ten hundred, to be followed by a private presentation to the Vulcan representatives of the High Command, headed by Laval. A transport would leave San Francisco at eighteen hundred with Lt. Commander Archer and Ensign Tucker aboard, giving them time to liaise with Dr. Sying prior to the meeting. They'd gone home, packed and made it with only minutes to spare.
"I'll never believe scientist are docile creatures after that," Jon shook his head, recalling the tone of the discussion. I learnt that Vulcan's do possess emotions, they just attempt to repress them, some better than others. It seems Trip's able to bring out the worst in them, arguing with emotions based in logic. Never seen a Vulcan shout before!
A short burst of laughter had Trip's eyes twinkling. "I remember the first time I saw Sying and the head of theoretical physics go head to head over something really stupid. They defend their position with vigour, at least that was their excuse when the dust settled. Arguing with a Vulcan, that's a whole lot more difficult, but the data always speaks for itself."
"What happens if you don't pass?" Jon threw in, suddenly worried. That meeting at MIT gave new insight into the Vulcan mind set, especially with respect to how they regarded human research into warp mechanics. It seemed they'd become more severe in their approach since his father's death.
"Not a chance in hell," Trip's smile lit up the room, confidence oozing from every pore. "I've worked too damn hard for that to happen. Besides, Starfleet wouldn't have accepted me, or arranged the lectures if they had any doubt. Don't worry, Commander, it's just the politics of science."
"I wouldn't have believed it," Archer groaned, "unless I'd seen it with my own eyes. Still," pausing, he took a swallow, watching Trip's expression, "I'd like to keep in touch."
"Try stopping me," Trip frowned, looking around for their drinks. After they'd been delivered, he added, "although I could take not meeting those pilots ever again."
"You got it," Archer chortled. "That was quite a grilling they gave you, when we finally got back to San Francisco. I've known A.G. and the others for years. Robinson's one cocky SOB. You know, there's a reason he calls himself A.G. If my parents saddled me with something like his name, I'd have changed it before entering Starfleet."
"Well," Trip demanded, "don't leave me hanging in the breeze!"
"Alasdair Gilliasbuig," Archer couldn't hide his delight.
The laugh that erupted from Trip couldn't be contained for several minutes. Archer joined in, more at his friend's amusement than the very traditional Gaelic name. Tears finally drying up, they clinked the neck of their newly opened bottles.
"I'll have to remember that," Tucker's enjoyment continued to light his face, "next time I'm at the 602."
"When you finally make it back to the Complex," Jon offered, watching the younger man carefully, "it's a date."
Ignoring the offer, Tucker kept his growing emotions close to his heart. Aware of the rules, he'd have to get that Lieutenant's bar before even thinking about going down that particular road. Besides, Trip was still researching the topic in his spare time, and talking to Pieter about his experiences. Ensign Wagner made himself available to answer any question Tucker could pose, openly, honestly and without hesitation. It was helping come to terms with his feelings and acceptance of being attracted to someone of the same gender.
"You ever been scuba diving?" Trip finally broke the lengthening and uncomfortable silence. It hadn't been heavy with expectation exactly, more laden with unspoken hope. Hope that would have to survive the next months stationed about as far away from San Francisco and Jonathan Archer as possible.
"Been meaning to learn," the Lt. Commander answered carefully, well aware of the subtle but polite rebuff. Encouraged by the fact it wasn't a complete no, Archer continued to test Tucker's readiness to deepen their friendship. "I've heard it's a lot like EV."
"So, I hear. I'll let you know, after my first spacewalk tomorrow," Trip offered with a delighted smile. "I have to qualify to stay on the station."
"Fail," Jon teased with a sly smirk, "and the Vulcan will have your arse!"
Shaking his head at the pessimistic humour, Trip lent over and smacked the Lt. Commander on the head. "Not a chance. I've been waiting months to put my training to the test. Been looking forward to seeing the stars with my own eyes since I was a kid and this is my big chance. I'm not about to screw it up. Anyway, I'll teach you to dive, when we're both planet side again so you can make up your own mind. I guess we can compare notes afterwards."
"You're on, Ensign," Jon found his face radiating happiness with the realisation they wouldn't lose touch.