What if Night Never Comes?
"The temporal rift has been detected on long
range scanners." said T'Pol, glancing over her shoulder at Tucker and Phlox,
who were attempting to relax at the stations they had taken.
"Has it moved any?"
"No, commander."
"That's good to know."
"And what is our estimated time of arrival?"
questioned Phlox.
"Ten hours, twenty-three minutes."
"I have lost all sense of time, T'Pol. What
about you?" asked Trip.
"I must admit to a certain disorientation."
"Doc?"
"Time is very subjective thing. The days aboard
this ship have always seemed too short, if you ask me. I wouldn't even
want to guess."
Commander Tucker yawned and stretched.
"If you are tired, commander, then it is probably
late. Perhaps you should rest." suggested T'Pol.
"I can't really decide if I'm tired or just
bored."
"Really? The two sensations are not distinct?"
"Not at times like this."
"You mean when there is little to do but wait."
"That's it exactly."
"I don't want to make it 'doctor's orders',
but I do feel that both of you could use some rest." insisted Phlox. T'Pol
almost seem to glare at the doctor as she rose slowly from her seat at
the helm station, but if so, then it was a very tired glare. Tucker seemed
to be dozing, rousing himself only slightly as he left his seat.
"Very well, doctor, but you must contact the
commander and me once we are within two hours of the temporal rift or if
our situation changes in any way."
"Reasonable." said Phlox with a nod.
"Then you have the bridge, doctor." she said
before turning to Commander Tucker. "You have been ordered to rest as well,
commander."
"You won't get any disagreement from me, T'Pol.
I feel absolutely beat."
"I must admit that I find my own conduct less
than professional." T'Pol told him as they stepped from the lift and into
the corridors of E Deck.
"How so?" questioned Tucker as they walked.
"A Vulcan officer does not leave her post
because of fatigue."
"You don't think that extraordinary circumstances
might have something to do with that?"
"To what circumstances do you refer?"
"Time deprivation, unexpected changes in the
daily routine, dietary changes, and going through a temporal rift." listed
Tucker.
T'Pol considered the factors and said, "And,
of course, the hypospray that Dr. Phlox administered earlier."
"Well, there you go."
"Thank you, Trip. I no longer consider my
performance unsatisfactory given the circumstances."
"So you feel better now?"
She raised an eyebrow as they stopped at the
door to his quarters, telling him, "I am a Vulcan. I never feel better."
Trip roared with laughter at the statement
before managing to a chortle, "I'm sorry, T'Pol."
"That was not what I meant."
"Of course not." said Tucker, his lips still
twitching.
"Good-night, Trip."
"Good-night, T'Pol."
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Note: Time deprivation really freaks me out.