CHAPTER 7
****************
First thing the next morning, T'pol was on the bridge when Hoshi intercepted a distress signal. A Kantarian Science Station orbiting a nearby primitive M-class planet required assistance for repairs to their main power generator. Archer had placed T'pol in charge of organizing the away team.
T'pol now stood in Trip's office doorway. "Commander, your expertise is required for repairs on a nearby science station. Could you please assemble an engineering team to assist us?" She spoke a little louder and more pronounced than was usual for her.
Trip sat in his chair, and couldn't help but smile at her. She was trying to hint that he bring Ensign Woodhouse along. He winked at her, before answering in a loud voice. "DON'T YOU THINK I HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO THAN SCURRY OFF TO FIX OTHER PEOPLE'S MESSES?"
If it hadn't been for his wink, T'pol may have missed that he was following her advice from their prior conversation. "I would appreciate your cooperation, Commander. Please have your team, including yourself, in the launch bay within the half hour." As she left, she announced loudly, "I will be leading the away team."
As they had both surmised, Cher was eavesdropping from her office. She would have to find some way to get on that away team. Hoping that the commander would accept volunteers, she hustled to his office. "Hello, Commander. I could not help but overhear the Subcommander's orders. May I be of some assistance?"
Trip did not look up from his computer. He merely raised his arm, as if to shoo her away. "Yeah, whatever. See you at the shuttlepod in 25."
"Thank you, sir! You won't regret it." Cher cheerfully skipped off, secretly hoping that the experiment was nearing completion.
Once he could no longer hear her steps, he softly replied, "Nope, but I bet you'll surely regret it." He then got up and started to collect the necessary tools for this job.
**************
The 15 minutes that the 3 members of the away team spent in the shuttlepod had been in silence. Cher watched as her 2 superiors pretended not to notice each other, all the while kept giving each other sideways glances. After they docked and came on board the small science station, Trip and Cher were directed to the problem while T'pol followed the head scientist who was eager to share some of his findings with a fellow scientist.
It took just over an hour to repair the malfunction. Trip feigned being in a bad mood, and only communicated with Cher in grunts and nods. Inside though, he was bursting to just come out and confront her, but was following T'pol's directions - "You should allow her to make the first move, voluntarily. That way we may be able to determine what her intentions truly are."
For her part, Cher could no longer be patient. She wanted to see the experiment come to a successful end, soon. As they were packing up their tools, she ventured to speak. "Um. . . Commander. Is there something wrong? You and the Subcommander do not appear to be on friendly terms."
Trip responded angrily. "Well, I think she is on friendly terms with enough of the crew!"
"So, you've found out about her and Lieutenant Reed. Must have been quite a shock, especially since well. . . you know. . . how you feel about her."
Trip maintained his scowl, but also attempted to show an expression of hurt. "That's life, I guess. Shoulda taken my chance when I had the opportunity."
Cher was surprised that he had just admitted this to her. She would have to use this to her advantage. Putting her hand on his shoulder in a gesture to comfort him, she said, "Well, it's her loss."
"Ensign, could you do me a favor? Could ya go and collect 'Vulcan's Gift to Men', since we're done here?" Trip's complexion seemed to sallow, as he stood staring at the ground, shuffling his feet.
With a smile, and a "Sure," she went off to find T'pol. After she rounded the corner, Trip pulled out his communicator which had already been activated. "Hey, T'pol, did you catch all that? She's on her way."
"Yes, Commander. We will meet you at the shuttlepod." He could have sworn that there was a hint of annoyance in her voice. He chuckled and thought: 'Maybe it was that last insult. . . .'
****************
Cher met up with T'pol as she walked in the corridor leading to the shuttlebay. "Oh, hello, Subcommander. We have completed the repairs, and we are to meet the Commander at the shuttle."
"Ensign, may I speak to you a moment before we depart. I am concerned by Mr. Tucker's hostility towards me. I am also preoccupied by the notion that you may have been correct in your assessment that he desires me."
"Well, I now know for certain that he has feelings for you. He just said as much to me. I feel sorry for him though, as I know that you are incapable of reciprocating." Cher hoped that this approach would result in T'pol being at least a bit defensive.
"You are correct. I will have to explain this to him as soon as possible."
Cher felt panicked. This was not what she wanted to hear. All her efforts could not have been in vain!
Her last chance would have to be when T'pol actually confronted Trip. "Subcommander, if I may, you should speak to him as soon as we are on board the pod. You should not prolong his pain any further." As she said this, the doors of the shuttlebay opened, to reveal that the Commander had already arrived and was just completing a pre-flight check.
Cher entered the shuttlepod first, and took a seat where she would best be able to observe. She hoped that T'pol would take her advice, so that regardless of the outcome she could at least be a witness to the confrontation.
Wordlessly, Trip and T'pol entered, and took their respective seats. The pod's engines ignited and they left the confines of the space station. It was a full minute before anyone spoke.
Trip turned around and looked at Cher. "Can we do it now, T'pol?"
Puzzled, Cher watched as T'pol spun around in her chair, and eyed her suspiciously. "Proceed."
Trip stood up and crossed the short distance that separated them. He now towered over her. "Ensign, we would like to know just what the hell you think you're doing!"
"Excuse me, sir?" Cher felt like an animal trapped in a cage. Her eyes flitted around the small space, looking for a way to escape.
"The Commander and I are aware that you have been attempting to interfere with our relationship, although the intended outcome does remain a mystery." T'pol now stood up and placed herself next to the Commander.
Cher stood up as well. She could not think of what to say, as she looked into the mistrustful eyes of the couple standing in front of her. "It wasn't my fault!" Taking a deep breath, she decided that she was going to explain everything.
Then, a change occurred in the young Ensign. She appeared to enter into a trance: her eyes unblinking, her pupils dilated, her sclera glassed over, and her body stiffened. She then spoke, in a voice that was her own, and yet differed in timbre. "I am Nih."
Trip and T'pol watched as the petite red-head swooned and then collapsed. Trip had been swift, catching just before she hit the floor. For a moment, they just stared at her.
Lying on the shuttlepod floor, Cher seemed awake and yet not conscious of her surroundings. Her eyes remained open, but were not moving. She spoke again, slowly and well-enunciated. "I meant no harm. I am Nih."
T'pol attempted to fetch the tricorder, so that she could assess the stricken shipmate. Her movements, however, were blocked by a lucent entity which now hovered about 10 centimeters off the floor. Measuring about 2 meters cubed, it had no definite form with its edges almost evaporating into the air of the room, yet there was a faint bluish-purple light emanating from it. "Commander!"
Trip turned, and looked with bewilderment at this strange light. He pulled out his pistol that he had holstered to his hip and pointed at it. T'pol simply stared at it, not moving.
Again, Cher spoke. "I am Nih. I wish to learn. I too search for answers."
"What the hell's going on?" Trip stood such that he was between Cher on the floor and the floating life form. He kept turning his head from one to the other, all the while aiming the pistol at the entity. "What have you done to Ensign Woodhouse?"
T'pol, who seemed to have grasped the situation with little effort, now spoke. "Nih, as I assume that you are speaking through Ensign Woodhouse, please explain what are your intentions."
Cher responded, "I learn through observation. But I have no tangible form. Cher provided a shell."
"Well, just what were you up to, then? Get your kicks outta messing with my head?" Trip's frustration was now directed at Nih. He felt like shooting it, or throwing it out of an airlock, for all the turmoil it had caused.
"No. You are bi-gendered. A review of your ship's computer made me want to know more about courting."
"Courtin'?" Trip had to laugh at that. "Don't think that word's been used since the 19th century!"
T'pol stepped up, "Nih, we need to bring Ensign Woodhouse to Sickbay. Then you may meet with Captain Archer, as I am certain that he will have many questions for you."
"What do you think you're doing, T'pol? You're not trusting him?"
"Commander, I would have preferred to not be an experiment subject, however I do understand Nih's pursuit of knowledge." She returned to speaking to Nih. "May I now contact the captain, and Dr. Phlox?"
The response now came from the entity itself. "Yessss. And, sssheee will beeee ffffine."
TBC . . . .
****************
First thing the next morning, T'pol was on the bridge when Hoshi intercepted a distress signal. A Kantarian Science Station orbiting a nearby primitive M-class planet required assistance for repairs to their main power generator. Archer had placed T'pol in charge of organizing the away team.
T'pol now stood in Trip's office doorway. "Commander, your expertise is required for repairs on a nearby science station. Could you please assemble an engineering team to assist us?" She spoke a little louder and more pronounced than was usual for her.
Trip sat in his chair, and couldn't help but smile at her. She was trying to hint that he bring Ensign Woodhouse along. He winked at her, before answering in a loud voice. "DON'T YOU THINK I HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO THAN SCURRY OFF TO FIX OTHER PEOPLE'S MESSES?"
If it hadn't been for his wink, T'pol may have missed that he was following her advice from their prior conversation. "I would appreciate your cooperation, Commander. Please have your team, including yourself, in the launch bay within the half hour." As she left, she announced loudly, "I will be leading the away team."
As they had both surmised, Cher was eavesdropping from her office. She would have to find some way to get on that away team. Hoping that the commander would accept volunteers, she hustled to his office. "Hello, Commander. I could not help but overhear the Subcommander's orders. May I be of some assistance?"
Trip did not look up from his computer. He merely raised his arm, as if to shoo her away. "Yeah, whatever. See you at the shuttlepod in 25."
"Thank you, sir! You won't regret it." Cher cheerfully skipped off, secretly hoping that the experiment was nearing completion.
Once he could no longer hear her steps, he softly replied, "Nope, but I bet you'll surely regret it." He then got up and started to collect the necessary tools for this job.
**************
The 15 minutes that the 3 members of the away team spent in the shuttlepod had been in silence. Cher watched as her 2 superiors pretended not to notice each other, all the while kept giving each other sideways glances. After they docked and came on board the small science station, Trip and Cher were directed to the problem while T'pol followed the head scientist who was eager to share some of his findings with a fellow scientist.
It took just over an hour to repair the malfunction. Trip feigned being in a bad mood, and only communicated with Cher in grunts and nods. Inside though, he was bursting to just come out and confront her, but was following T'pol's directions - "You should allow her to make the first move, voluntarily. That way we may be able to determine what her intentions truly are."
For her part, Cher could no longer be patient. She wanted to see the experiment come to a successful end, soon. As they were packing up their tools, she ventured to speak. "Um. . . Commander. Is there something wrong? You and the Subcommander do not appear to be on friendly terms."
Trip responded angrily. "Well, I think she is on friendly terms with enough of the crew!"
"So, you've found out about her and Lieutenant Reed. Must have been quite a shock, especially since well. . . you know. . . how you feel about her."
Trip maintained his scowl, but also attempted to show an expression of hurt. "That's life, I guess. Shoulda taken my chance when I had the opportunity."
Cher was surprised that he had just admitted this to her. She would have to use this to her advantage. Putting her hand on his shoulder in a gesture to comfort him, she said, "Well, it's her loss."
"Ensign, could you do me a favor? Could ya go and collect 'Vulcan's Gift to Men', since we're done here?" Trip's complexion seemed to sallow, as he stood staring at the ground, shuffling his feet.
With a smile, and a "Sure," she went off to find T'pol. After she rounded the corner, Trip pulled out his communicator which had already been activated. "Hey, T'pol, did you catch all that? She's on her way."
"Yes, Commander. We will meet you at the shuttlepod." He could have sworn that there was a hint of annoyance in her voice. He chuckled and thought: 'Maybe it was that last insult. . . .'
****************
Cher met up with T'pol as she walked in the corridor leading to the shuttlebay. "Oh, hello, Subcommander. We have completed the repairs, and we are to meet the Commander at the shuttle."
"Ensign, may I speak to you a moment before we depart. I am concerned by Mr. Tucker's hostility towards me. I am also preoccupied by the notion that you may have been correct in your assessment that he desires me."
"Well, I now know for certain that he has feelings for you. He just said as much to me. I feel sorry for him though, as I know that you are incapable of reciprocating." Cher hoped that this approach would result in T'pol being at least a bit defensive.
"You are correct. I will have to explain this to him as soon as possible."
Cher felt panicked. This was not what she wanted to hear. All her efforts could not have been in vain!
Her last chance would have to be when T'pol actually confronted Trip. "Subcommander, if I may, you should speak to him as soon as we are on board the pod. You should not prolong his pain any further." As she said this, the doors of the shuttlebay opened, to reveal that the Commander had already arrived and was just completing a pre-flight check.
Cher entered the shuttlepod first, and took a seat where she would best be able to observe. She hoped that T'pol would take her advice, so that regardless of the outcome she could at least be a witness to the confrontation.
Wordlessly, Trip and T'pol entered, and took their respective seats. The pod's engines ignited and they left the confines of the space station. It was a full minute before anyone spoke.
Trip turned around and looked at Cher. "Can we do it now, T'pol?"
Puzzled, Cher watched as T'pol spun around in her chair, and eyed her suspiciously. "Proceed."
Trip stood up and crossed the short distance that separated them. He now towered over her. "Ensign, we would like to know just what the hell you think you're doing!"
"Excuse me, sir?" Cher felt like an animal trapped in a cage. Her eyes flitted around the small space, looking for a way to escape.
"The Commander and I are aware that you have been attempting to interfere with our relationship, although the intended outcome does remain a mystery." T'pol now stood up and placed herself next to the Commander.
Cher stood up as well. She could not think of what to say, as she looked into the mistrustful eyes of the couple standing in front of her. "It wasn't my fault!" Taking a deep breath, she decided that she was going to explain everything.
Then, a change occurred in the young Ensign. She appeared to enter into a trance: her eyes unblinking, her pupils dilated, her sclera glassed over, and her body stiffened. She then spoke, in a voice that was her own, and yet differed in timbre. "I am Nih."
Trip and T'pol watched as the petite red-head swooned and then collapsed. Trip had been swift, catching just before she hit the floor. For a moment, they just stared at her.
Lying on the shuttlepod floor, Cher seemed awake and yet not conscious of her surroundings. Her eyes remained open, but were not moving. She spoke again, slowly and well-enunciated. "I meant no harm. I am Nih."
T'pol attempted to fetch the tricorder, so that she could assess the stricken shipmate. Her movements, however, were blocked by a lucent entity which now hovered about 10 centimeters off the floor. Measuring about 2 meters cubed, it had no definite form with its edges almost evaporating into the air of the room, yet there was a faint bluish-purple light emanating from it. "Commander!"
Trip turned, and looked with bewilderment at this strange light. He pulled out his pistol that he had holstered to his hip and pointed at it. T'pol simply stared at it, not moving.
Again, Cher spoke. "I am Nih. I wish to learn. I too search for answers."
"What the hell's going on?" Trip stood such that he was between Cher on the floor and the floating life form. He kept turning his head from one to the other, all the while aiming the pistol at the entity. "What have you done to Ensign Woodhouse?"
T'pol, who seemed to have grasped the situation with little effort, now spoke. "Nih, as I assume that you are speaking through Ensign Woodhouse, please explain what are your intentions."
Cher responded, "I learn through observation. But I have no tangible form. Cher provided a shell."
"Well, just what were you up to, then? Get your kicks outta messing with my head?" Trip's frustration was now directed at Nih. He felt like shooting it, or throwing it out of an airlock, for all the turmoil it had caused.
"No. You are bi-gendered. A review of your ship's computer made me want to know more about courting."
"Courtin'?" Trip had to laugh at that. "Don't think that word's been used since the 19th century!"
T'pol stepped up, "Nih, we need to bring Ensign Woodhouse to Sickbay. Then you may meet with Captain Archer, as I am certain that he will have many questions for you."
"What do you think you're doing, T'pol? You're not trusting him?"
"Commander, I would have preferred to not be an experiment subject, however I do understand Nih's pursuit of knowledge." She returned to speaking to Nih. "May I now contact the captain, and Dr. Phlox?"
The response now came from the entity itself. "Yessss. And, sssheee will beeee ffffine."
TBC . . . .