That night, Captain Archer found himself bouncing his water polo ball
against the deck. He wasn't bored, he was simply waiting. The Krappians
were to
join the Enterprise crew for a celebration of the successful first contact, and the evening was sure to be exciting. Jonathan smiled at himself; he felt like he was in
high school again. His blood was pumping at the prospect of the party in the mess hall and a chance to see T'Pol in a more relaxed atmosphere. "Speaking of
T'Pol".... Jonathan glanced at his chronometer on the desk. It read 20:25. Jonathan rose from the bed, crossed the room to his closet, and wondered what he
would wear tonight. Suddenly, he stopped. Why was he so concerned with his appearance all of the sudden? Shaking his head, Jonathan picked out a dark, V-
necked sweater and put on some black corduroy pants.
"Screw what I look like," he told himself. And with that, he headed out the door and towards the Mess.
* * *
By the time he reached the corridor to the Mess, he could hear the sounds of a party in full swing. While some would consider it a bit much for a first
contact, Jonathan believed it was just what the crew needed. Since they entered the Expanse, they had met with nothing but trouble. These Krappians were the
first to show any kindness or willingness to be civil, and he couldn't have asked for more. Still, T'Pol was right to be skeptical. It was almost too good to be true,
meeting a kind species in the middle of the Expanse. However, security teams were in place should anything go wrong. "God knows those Marines won't take a
break," he thought to himself, chuckling. He was immensely grateful to have them onboard; they had made countless contributions already to the mission.
As he entered, Jonathan saw what an excellent job Hoshi and Trip had done decorating the place on such short notice. They had managed to turn the
rather boring eating hall into a veritable night club. He guessed that they had been waiting for a break for too long. The music, something he believed was from
Earth's 20th or 21st centuries. It wasn't so strange, really. During the next century, musical development had been pushed to the back burner for space and warp
development. So, nobody had really come up with any major changes in the style of music yet.
He saw the faces of happy crew and even happier aliens throughout the room. But there was someone missing... "Ugh, where is she?" Jonathan asked
himself. T'Pol was nowhere to be found. Saying hello to some Ensigns and a few Crewmen, Jonathan made his way back to the door. He found a quiet spot in
the corridor and paged T'Pol on the comm. "Archer to T'Pol."
Her voice came back clear, "Go ahead, Captain."
"Where are you? I thought you would be here at the party."
"I believed it would be necessary to go over today's Engineering reports. I am still the Science Officer."
Archer smiled at her subtle coyness. "Yes, but I told you, you need to take a break. Don't fight me on this, T'Pol. I expect to see you here within 10
minutes. And don't forget, wear something civilian-esque. This is a party after all."
There was a brief pause. "Aye, sir."
T'Pol rose from her desk and moved to her closet. Upon opening it, she wondered what exactly she was supposed to wear to this...party. She
believed it was a bit of an over-reaction on the Captain's part, but the crew was in need of a distraction, to keep up morale. She scanned the items in her
wardrobe, and her eyes rested upon the outfit that Ensign Sato had given her. She believed the Ensign said it was a Christmas gift. Taking the pants and shirt from
the hangers, T'Pol wondered if this was a good idea. Clearly, something was different tonight, she felt ill at ease. Upon analyzing her thoughts, she discovered that
they stemmed from an unlikely source: Captain Archer. Lately, even she could not ignore the growing attraction he felt towards her, and she could not truthfully say
that it was not reciprocated. She was, after all, still a sexual creature. All Vulcans were, they simply disguised their true nature. Rationally she knew that her
attraction toward Jonathan was not frantic or urgent, simply.. there. And while she knew that it would be inappropriate and, frankly, illogical, to pursue any type
of romantic relationship with anyone on Enterprise, she still pondered what it would be like. From a scientific point of view, that is. Shaking her head, T'Pol
finished changing, and she headed out the door to the turbo-lift.
* * *
Well, what do you think???
join the Enterprise crew for a celebration of the successful first contact, and the evening was sure to be exciting. Jonathan smiled at himself; he felt like he was in
high school again. His blood was pumping at the prospect of the party in the mess hall and a chance to see T'Pol in a more relaxed atmosphere. "Speaking of
T'Pol".... Jonathan glanced at his chronometer on the desk. It read 20:25. Jonathan rose from the bed, crossed the room to his closet, and wondered what he
would wear tonight. Suddenly, he stopped. Why was he so concerned with his appearance all of the sudden? Shaking his head, Jonathan picked out a dark, V-
necked sweater and put on some black corduroy pants.
"Screw what I look like," he told himself. And with that, he headed out the door and towards the Mess.
* * *
By the time he reached the corridor to the Mess, he could hear the sounds of a party in full swing. While some would consider it a bit much for a first
contact, Jonathan believed it was just what the crew needed. Since they entered the Expanse, they had met with nothing but trouble. These Krappians were the
first to show any kindness or willingness to be civil, and he couldn't have asked for more. Still, T'Pol was right to be skeptical. It was almost too good to be true,
meeting a kind species in the middle of the Expanse. However, security teams were in place should anything go wrong. "God knows those Marines won't take a
break," he thought to himself, chuckling. He was immensely grateful to have them onboard; they had made countless contributions already to the mission.
As he entered, Jonathan saw what an excellent job Hoshi and Trip had done decorating the place on such short notice. They had managed to turn the
rather boring eating hall into a veritable night club. He guessed that they had been waiting for a break for too long. The music, something he believed was from
Earth's 20th or 21st centuries. It wasn't so strange, really. During the next century, musical development had been pushed to the back burner for space and warp
development. So, nobody had really come up with any major changes in the style of music yet.
He saw the faces of happy crew and even happier aliens throughout the room. But there was someone missing... "Ugh, where is she?" Jonathan asked
himself. T'Pol was nowhere to be found. Saying hello to some Ensigns and a few Crewmen, Jonathan made his way back to the door. He found a quiet spot in
the corridor and paged T'Pol on the comm. "Archer to T'Pol."
Her voice came back clear, "Go ahead, Captain."
"Where are you? I thought you would be here at the party."
"I believed it would be necessary to go over today's Engineering reports. I am still the Science Officer."
Archer smiled at her subtle coyness. "Yes, but I told you, you need to take a break. Don't fight me on this, T'Pol. I expect to see you here within 10
minutes. And don't forget, wear something civilian-esque. This is a party after all."
There was a brief pause. "Aye, sir."
T'Pol rose from her desk and moved to her closet. Upon opening it, she wondered what exactly she was supposed to wear to this...party. She
believed it was a bit of an over-reaction on the Captain's part, but the crew was in need of a distraction, to keep up morale. She scanned the items in her
wardrobe, and her eyes rested upon the outfit that Ensign Sato had given her. She believed the Ensign said it was a Christmas gift. Taking the pants and shirt from
the hangers, T'Pol wondered if this was a good idea. Clearly, something was different tonight, she felt ill at ease. Upon analyzing her thoughts, she discovered that
they stemmed from an unlikely source: Captain Archer. Lately, even she could not ignore the growing attraction he felt towards her, and she could not truthfully say
that it was not reciprocated. She was, after all, still a sexual creature. All Vulcans were, they simply disguised their true nature. Rationally she knew that her
attraction toward Jonathan was not frantic or urgent, simply.. there. And while she knew that it would be inappropriate and, frankly, illogical, to pursue any type
of romantic relationship with anyone on Enterprise, she still pondered what it would be like. From a scientific point of view, that is. Shaking her head, T'Pol
finished changing, and she headed out the door to the turbo-lift.
* * *
Well, what do you think???