Rival 05

He was the first person she looked for when she entered the Mess the next morning.  She had gone early, knowing he preferred it when it was quieter, before the shift change when he could eat quickly and get back to work.  He was sat in a corner on his own, leaning his head on one hand.

"Trip?"

She had to say his name twice to get his attention.

"Hoshi," Trip responded, some surprise in his voice.  He looked up, looking a little disorientated.  "How are you?" he asked, a little stiltedly.

Hoshi, supposing his demeanour was a reaction to their last conversation, sat down in the seat opposite without being invited.

"Trip, I'm glad I've seen you.  I want to apologise for the way I spoke to you yesterday.  It was petty, and I'm sorry."

Trip had so much else on his mind at that moment he had to search for the memory.  "Ah, Hoshi, it's doesn't matter," he said, remembering their argument in the turbo lift.  "It was way out of line for me to talk to you like that. I should be the one apologisin' to you."

"Can we just forget about it?" Hoshi said cheerfully.  "Friends have arguments, don't they?"

Trip smiled softly at her, but even having Hoshi talking to him again couldn't take his mind off other worries. 

"Seems to be my week for havin' arguments," he sighed.

"Oh?" Hoshi looked up with interest as she started on her breakfast.

Trip contemplated telling her.  He knew he could trust her to keep a secret and he could really do with a sympathetic ear himself; but it wasn't his place to discuss Andy's story with anyone but the Captain.  And in Trip's own opinion, the fewer people who knew, the better.  Besides, Hoshi liked Andy, and maybe she wouldn't react too well to hearing what he had done.

"It's nothin', Hoshi.  Look, I'm sorry, but I've got to see the Captain now.  Can I take a raincheck on breakfast?"

"Of course," Hoshi said politely.

-----------

"Stealing technology!!  Andy, it's an insult to everything my father ever achieved!" Archer fumed.

"And what happened to your father?  He was pushed down and held back by the Vulcans so that he was long dead before his work was realised!  They owe us, Jon!"

"My father may have died before Enterprise was built," Archer said testily.  "But his work has carried on after him, as he knew it would.  It speaks for itself, Andy.  Cochrane and my father achieved what they did all by themselves – they didn't have to steal a damn bit of it!  And if you think I'm going to let the next generation travel through space using stolen technology as some kind of petty revenge against the Vulcans, you're insane!"  Archer was shouting by this point, his voice giving full vent to his anger.  "They've been trying to hold us back because they don't think we're ready to experience deep space.  Do you really think this is going to convince them?"

"We shouldn't have to convince them," Andy retorted sullenly.  "We have as much right to be out here as they do.  As any species does."

"Yes," Archer nodded, lowering his voice a little.  "Of course we do.  But if there's one thing I've realised out here, it's that we don't have any idea what we're stepping into.  The Vulcans do.  That's why they've been trying to help us – even if the way they went about it was wrong."

"So we just roll over and do what they tell us, do we?" Andy asked bitterly.  "Just like we always have?"

"No, we move forward – on our own.  That's why Enterprise is out here."

"With a Vulcan Science Officer to spy on us for them."

Archer shook his head.  "She's not a spy, Andy, you're wrong about that.  She's a member of this crew."

"So you know where her loyalties lie if it came to it?"

"I know she would do her duty."

Andy snorted derisively.  "Ah, what's they point?  You're all too mixed up in this to see what's really going on!  Why don't you just hand me back to the Vulcan ship and let me spend the rest of my life on some distant moon.  You're obviously going to side with them."

"Is it really a question of sides?" Jonathan asked seriously.

At that point the door chime went and Trip came in.  He looked apprehensively between Andy and Jon. 

"So what's happenin'?" he asked, looking at Jonathan.

"You're washing your hands of me, that's what's happening," Andy answered for him.  "Let's all bow down to the Vulcans and to hell with Andy Sawyer!" he shouted, walking angrily to the door Trip had just entered by.  "Boy, was I a fool to think I'd get some sympathy around here!" he said as he stormed out of the room, leaving Trip and Archer to themselves.  Trip stared at Jonathan blankly.

"Didn't go well, huh?"

Archer couldn't help giving half a smile to his Chief Engineer's customary bluntness.  "No, Trip, it didn't go well.  He doesn't seem to realise that he's done anything wrong."

"Well, a year surrounded by Vulcans could turn any guy's head," Trip said with a sigh, sitting down on Archer's couch.

"Trip?" Archer said, confused.

"Cap'n, I was up all night thinkin' about this, tryin' to see it from Andy's side…  We're used to T'Pol now and we know she's okay, but I can remember us both callin' her a spy and behavin' more than a might unfriendly to her at first, don't you?  Andy's been surrounded by Vulcans for months and they probably were tellin' him he was inferior and uncivilised all the time…  We've met our fair share of rude one's out here, haven't we?  All I'm sayin' is that from his point of view… maybe the Vulcans do owe us somethin'."

"You're not suggesting that we use this technology, are you?" Archer asked, eyebrows raised.

"No… but to Andy, bein' sent to a colony in the middle of nowhere probably seems like a pretty harsh punishment when he thought he was helpin' us."

"He broke their laws, Trip; we have to respect that."

"So we jus' give him up?"

Archer let out a deep breath.  "I honestly don't know."

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Trip was busy the rest of the day in engineering.  Andy hadn't shown his face and Trip had decided to let him stew.  He was grateful for once for the usual bedlam that main engineering represented, and was happy to leave his problems at the door to concentrate on work. 

Which was why he didn't notice Hoshi until she was stood nearly at his elbow…

"Hoshi?" he called to her in surprise.  "What are you doin' here?"

Hoshi smiled a little awkwardly.  "Er, hi, sorry, I didn't mean to bother you."

"No bother," Trip said smiling.  "It's nice to have a visitor."

"I wasn't sure you'd be here – Malcolm said you were still with the Captain."

"Well here I am," Trip said.  "What can I do for you?"

"I… erm, well the door to my quarters hasn't been working properly, but I'm sure I can ask someone else-"

"- No, Hoshi, it'd be a pleasure to help.  Jus' let me grab my tools."

Trip disappeared to his workbench and Hoshi saw a crewman she was friendly with pass by. 

"Billy," she waved him over to her.  "Is Commander Sawyer on duty this afternoon?" she asked quietly.

"He was supposed to be, but he never showed up," the crewman told her.  "Obviously found something better to do…  From what I've been hearing I thought he might have been with you," he added with a wink.

Hoshi stared point blank at him. "Yeah, well he isn't," she hissed.

"Hey, Hoshi, no offence," Billy held up a hand in surrender.  "It was just a bit of gossip."

"Maybe you should get to work instead of gossiping, Billy," Trip's voice said, entering the conversation.  Hoshi closed her eyes briefly in dismay.  Trip stared at her.  "You sure it's me you came to see?" he asked Hoshi, his friendly tone gone.

"Trip-"

"You thought I wouldn't be here… you came to see Andy.  I guess dinner went better than I thought last night?"

"Trip it's not what you think," Hoshi shook her head.  "Andy and I did have dinner last night but… look, he just said something to me that I wanted him to explain, something about-"

"You don't have to tell me anything, Hoshi," Trip interrupted gruffly.  "If you wanna talk to Andy I suggest you try his quarters.  And maybe askin' him a few questions is what you should be doin'.  Andy Sawyer might not be quite the man you think he is."

"What do you mean?" Hoshi asked, puzzled. 

"I'll be fixin' your door, if anyone should need me," Trip finished, walking away.

"Trip, wait!" Hoshi called out after him.

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"Have you decided what you are going to do, Captain?"

Archer looked up at T'Pol and shook his head at her calm tone of voice.

"I suppose you have an opinion?" he asked.

"My views on the issue have not changed, Captain.  Cmdr Sawyer has committed a crime and has been penalised accordingly.  He must be returned to the Shelan when she arrives."

Archer nodded his head slowly.  "I appreciate your views, T'Pol, but I'm afraid I don't agree with you entirely."

"You mean you will keep Cmdr Sawyer onboard Enterprise?" she asked, with a raised eyebrow.

"For the time being," Archer explained.  "At least until I've spoken with Admiral Forrest.  Andy has committed a serious offence and I can see why the Vulcan High Command felt that he should be out of contact with Earth.  But for how long?  Don't they realise that at some point someone was going to ask where he was?  Star Fleet headquarters were not informed; no officers, no diplomats were advised.  The Vulcans are supposed to be our friends – is this really how friends want to treat one another?

From what I can see, your people seem to want to send Andy as far away as possible so he can't pass on the information he stole."

"He cannot be returned to Earth," T'Pol said.

"Well maybe Earth should have a say in where he goes," Archer said squarely.  "He's a member of Star Fleet and he has rights… and I intend to tell Captain Puruk that when he arrives."

T'Pol looked at Jonathan, eyebrows raised.

---------------

"Hey Hoshi, I heard you were looking for me," Andy caught up with Hoshi outside the turbo lift on deck five.

Hoshi glanced at Andy – he looked dishevelled and was out of breath from running after her.  He also looked like he hadn't slept too well either, but she withheld her curiosity.

"It doesn't matter now," she told him.  "Excuse me."

He'd got her into enough trouble that day. 

"Going to your quarters?  I'll walk with you," Andy said, trying to smile. 

"Do you want something, Commander?" Hoshi asked turning round.

Andy stopped.  "Well… I'd like a friendly word if it's not too much trouble?  My life's pretty much crumbled around me in the last twenty-four hours."

"Mine too," Hoshi said quietly, almost to herself.

"Hoshi, what's wrong?  What have I done?" Andy said gently.  "Whatever it is, please tell me.  I thought we'd become friends."

"Why did you tell me Trip had feelings for me?" Hoshi said sadly, blinking a little.  "You know you guessed right about my feelings, so it hurts when you make up a thing like that."

"Hoshi, I didn't make it up," Andy said with a laugh in his voice.

"Ugh, for heaven's sake," Hoshi started walking again. 

"Hoshi really – the guy's crazy about you!"

Hoshi kept walking.  Andy followed at a trot.

"So why doesn't he act like it?" she asked.  "Why does he argue with me or ignore me every time we meet these days?"

She finally stopped outside her door.  Andy rested an arm against the wall and looked at her sweetly.

"Because Trip Tucker couldn't articulate his feelings to a woman he really liked if she asked him too.  Think about it – he wouldn't react so extreme if he didn't care."

Hoshi shook her head.  "How do I know you're telling the truth?"

"I guess you don't," Andy shrugged.  "Let's just hope he proves me right some day," he added sincerely.

Hoshi smiled at him gratefully, but the smile faded when she saw Trip walking towards them.

"Hoshi," Trip started at seeing her stood there.  Then he saw Andy.  "Oh, sorry if I'm interruptin'."

"Oh you're not," Hoshi said quickly, making Andy smile.  "Why are you here?"

"I thought I should apologise for yellin' at you before.  I overreacted an' I'm sorry."

"You should've got here earlier, Trip," Andy said lazily, slouching against the wall.  "We were having rather an interesting conversation."

"Well I'll let you get back to it," Trip bit back at him, turning to leave.

"Oh, I think you should stay – you might have an opinion on this.  The lovely Hoshi here was just asking me whether she can trust my opinion?  What do you say about that, Trip?"

Trip looked from him to her.  "I'd say she should think mighty carefully before she believes a word you say, Andy."

Sawyer whistled through his teeth.  "Ooh, bad answer," he said with a wink at Hoshi.  Hoshi was just staring at them both in confusion.

"What is going on here?" she asked.

"That's a good question, Andy.  Jus' what are you playin' at here?" Trip asked threateningly, taking a step closer to him.  "Haven't you got some more important stuff to be thinkin' about right now?"

"Ah, Trip, be a gentleman.  What could be more important than Hoshi?"

Trip threw a punch into the wall panel adjacent to Andy's head.  The shock waves reverberated around the corridor and Hoshi put her hands over her mouth.

"Dammit, Andy I'm not putting up with this crap anymore.  Stay away from her!"

Andy pushed Trip away from him.  "Why?  Aren't I good enough for her?"

"No," Trip shook his head, his eyes wide open.  "I don't happen to think you are anymore."

"And who is good enough for me, Trip?" Hoshi asked suddenly.  Trip whirled around at the sound of her voice, and she walked up close to him.  "Are you?  Because that's what we were talking about!  Andy told me that you… that you're interested in me," her voice tailed off towards the end.  She looked up at him earnestly, her eyes bright.  "And I was talking to him because I needed to know if it was true… so now I'm asking you.  Do you feel that way about me, Trip?"

Trip looked from Andy to Hoshi, speechless for once with what they had said.  He stared at Hoshi helplessly, losing himself in those eyes so that he couldn't help nodding his head slowly at her.

"Yes," he croaked.

And it's to be continued!  Please read and review.