Title: "Gateway" 25/45
Author: Quills
Contact:the_quill_pen@yahoo.com
Series: ENT
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Paramount owns Startrek and I derive no financial
gain from this story.
Codes: A, T/Tu, Ma, S, R, P angst, drama, romance, humor,
action/adventure
Summary: Captain Archer is relieved of command for a secret mission
into the 24th Century . To find and stop the Suliban renegade Silik.
While he is gone, a Vulcan Starfleet Captain from the future is given
temporary command of the Enterprise NX-01 with his own orders to to
investigate the 'Temporal Cold War'.
Chapter 26
All heads immediately turned as Captain Soma entered the ship's 'mess'; all eyes were on him. The Captain glanced around the room catching the stairs from his new crew. He felt like he was a first year cadet up for review. He knew the crew was still getting used to having a new Captain; A new Vulcan Captain. Still, it didn't make his job any easier. After a few awkward moments crewmembers went back to what they had been doing and Soma continued walking towards the Captain's dining room. On the way, he caught site of Ensign Sato. She was standing alone serving herself at the buffet table. Soma made a quick detour and made his way over to her.
Sato looked up and saw Captain Soma approaching her. She immediately tensed, going into full nervous mode. Had she done something wrong she thought to herself? She still hadn't been able to raise Starfleet for the Captain, but that wasn't her fault. Enterprise was still out of range. Maybe she shouldn't have complained about the job Commander Tucker's staff did reassembling the comm station. She had to have done something wrong. Why else would he be coming over here?
Soma stopped at the buffet table across from Sato and smiled at the nervous Ensign "Good evening Hoshi."
"Captain!" the Ensign replied in an elevated voice. Several crewmembers turned, but when they saw the Ensign they turned back to their conversations, smiling or chuckling as they did so. Everyone knew Ensign Hoshi Sato all to well.
Soma looked at Hoshi sympathetically and smiled "At ease Ensign." he said gently.
"Yes sir." said Hoshi relaxing a little "Is something wrong."
"Not at all." he replied shaking his head "I was just heading to the Captain's dining room. I saw you and I thought I would say hello."
"Oh" said Hoshi audibly relieved. "I was just getting a quick dinner so I could get back to work on the sub space comm system."
"No rush Hoshi." said Soma "Enjoy your meal. I don't want you in sickbay for an upset stomach."
"No sir" smiled Hoshi "Um...w..would you like to join me?"
Soma cocked his head and gave her a smile "Maybe another time. The Chief and Sub Commander T'Pol are going to meet me for dinner. We need to discuss several matters before we reach Pentax."
"Oh, of course, sir." responded Sato with a hint of dejection in her voice." Some other time."
"But thank you for the invitation, Hoshi." said Soma "Enjoy your dinner."
"Thank you sir." she said as he headed for the dining room "You too sir."
'Great move Hoshi' she thought to herself 'He probably thinks you were hitting on him.'
She leaned over the table as she watched the Captain disappear into the dining room
and let out an audible sigh.
Soma entered the dining room and found both Commander Tucker and Sub Commander T'Pol had already arrived. Both officers began to rise from their seats, but Soma held up his hand as he made his way to his own seat.
"Don't trouble yourself " he smiled as he sat down "We're informal here at the Savoy Grille."
This elicited a laugh from Tucker, but T'Pol remained stoic as she sat back down.
Soma turned towards Tucker as he opened his napkin "So how are things shaping up in Engineering?"
Tucker gave his Captain a frown and then a smile. "I gotta admit" said Tucker "Those Andorians can build a hell of a warp core. I didn't think it would be this easy Cap'n, but she's holdin at warp 4.5."
Soma smiled "You're being modest Chief. You and your crew did an exemplary job installing an alien warp core. Don't you agree Number one."
T'Pol avoided looking at the Captain as she poured a glass of tea "Commander Tucker is an excellent engineer. He and his staff keep Enterprise in excellent working order."
Tucker looked at T'Pol; He wasn't offended. He knew the Vulcan science officer all to well. She didn't give compliments easily and from her that was a compliment. He had even come to find that the Vulcan had a grudging respect and even appreciation for him. He sometimes wondered if it was as close as Vulcan's came to acknowledging friendship. However, he could tell there was more to what she said. He sensed an underlying tension in her voice and so did the Captain.
Soma looked at his first officer with a raised brow. "I sense a 'but' in there."
"Not all Captain." replied T'Pol
Soma pressed the buzzer signaling the yeomans "Come now Number One."
"Captain..." T'Pol began but paused "I would appreciate you not calling me that."
Soma bristled but tried not to show it. He didn't do a good job.
Two yeomans entered with serving plates they laid on the dining table.
The officers suspended their conversation until the yeomans had
finished serving dinner and exited the room.
Soma pursed his lips "My apologies Sub Commander. I didn't mean to offend you."
T'Pol raised her brow and shook her head "You have not given offense. I am a Vulcan.
You should be aware that we do not take offense. I merely find the reference inappropriate."
Soma poured himself a glass of tea "May I ask you why?"
Trip Tucker glanced from Soma to T'Pol as he served himself some of the cajun
vegetable melee that was the main course of their meal.
T'Pol countered with her own question. "Why did you ask me whether or not I agreed with your
assessment of Commander Tucker and his staff's performance?"
"I merely wanted to hear your opinion." Soma replied as he took the serving dish Tucker passed him.
"My opinion is of no consequence Captain." replied T'Pol
Soma looked at Tucker incredulously "Of course it is. I value your opinion very much...both yours and Chief Tuckers."
"Why?" said T'Pol. It was more a statement than a query "You know neither Commander Tucker nor myself and yet you assume a casual familiarity that does not exist. Your reference to me as...'Number one' is just another example of that casual familiarity. A familiarity you have no right to."
Soma straightened at that last comment.
"T'Pol!" said Tucker in shock.
Soma raised his hand "Easy Chief, let the Sub Commander say her piece. It's apparent she has something on her mind."
T'Pol looked at Tucker who was giving her a penetrating stare. It was apparent he did not approve of what she was saying.
"I am merely stating that your casual attitude is inappropriate." said T'Pol "This is not your crew
and your assignment here is temporary."
Tucker stopped just as he was about to take a bite from his fork. He looked up at T'Pol and then
at Soma.
"You are correct." agreed Soma "I do assume a familiar approach with the crew. It's my hope that
it will alleviate some of the tension they are experiencing. Being half human I can appreciate the
conflicted feelings they may be having. However, you are mistaken on your second assesment. This IS my crew."
Soma gave T'Pol a hard stare daring her to dispute it. She returned his gaze, but said nothing.
Trip could see the two Vulcan's were heading for a blow up. He wasn't sure what was going on.
He hadn't noticed any earlier tension, but he had been in engineering for the past day and a half.
He hadn't seen either T'Pol or the Captain much during that time. Whatever the problem was
he was pretty sure it lay with T'Pol. He needed to do some quick damage control.
Clearing his voice he asked Soma to pass him one of the side dishes "Cap'n, do you mind."
"Oh, of course Chief." replied Soma snapping out of his stare as he picked up the
serving dish.
"This is pretty good." said Tucker trying to stear the conversation "What is it?"
"Oh, it's a spicey chicken jabbalaya with rice." replied Soma as he looked back at T'Pol.
"My apologies Captain." replied T'Pol "I did not wish to challenge your right to command. I merely
meant that I do not believe it is how a Starfleet Captain should act."
Tucker looked at T'Pol 'What the hell are ya tryin to do, T"pol' he thought to himself.
"You mean how a Vulcan would act." said Soma with forced smile.
"I would not expect you to behave as a Vulcan, Captain." replied T'Pol "It is plainly obvious...you are not one."
Trip looked at T'Pol in shock. He could not believe what he was hearing. T'Pol was actually insulting the Captain. It wasn't a direct insult to be sure. He found that Vulcans, even T'Pol, didn't insult directly. No, they insinuated their insults into a conversation...which is exactly what T'Pol was doing to Captain Soma.
"I'd have to disagree with you Sub Commander." replied Soma politely "Granted, I'm unorthodox...However, I embrace my Vulcan heritage as fully as I embrace my human heritage."
"I cannot see how that is possible." replied T'Pol raising her brow "You quite clearly have embraced the human side of your dual heritage. Your mannerisms are..."
"Distateful?" said Soma
"Human." countered T'Pol
Soma shook his head "I'll grant you that as well Sub Commander." he conceded "I have embraced my human heritage as a fundamental aspect of my life, but does that make me less a Vulcan?"
T'Pol pondered the question a moment before replying. This conversation had moved in a direction she had hoped to avoid. She did not wish to create an air of dissention between herself and Captain Soma, but the distaste Soma left her with was one she could physically feel. She had felt the discomfort the moment he had greeted her on the bridge. She fought to suppress her response to the Captain's question. She wanted to lie..anything to avoid saying what she felt; she couldn't. "Yes"
she replied
Soma frowned "And nothing could persuade you that I have the right to call myself both Terran...and Vulcan?"
T'Pol raised a brow "I do not see.."
"The fact that I spent half my childhood growing up on Vulcan?" said Soma angrily "That I attended Vulcan schools? Studied Vulcan disciplines. Graduated from the Vulcan Science Academy?"
Tucker turned to Soma "You graduated from the Vulcan Science Academy...and Starfleet?"
Soma nodded his head as his smile returned. "My parents insisted I explore both my heritages." explained Soma "I attended the Science Academy and took a leave of absence to attend Starfleet. After graduating Starfleet I knew I had to make a choice for the direction my life would go in. I chose Starfleet."
"You chose your human heritage." said T'Pol making her point.
"Yes Sub Commander." said Soma raising his voice a little higher than he had meant to "I chose my human heritage over my Vulcan heritage. Does that make me incapable of acknowledging the part of me that is Vulcan? I don't think it does. There have been individuals like yourself, who viewed my choice as betraying my Vulcan heritage. Nothing can be further from the truth. I AM a Vulcan. I am also a human. I am sorry YOU find difficulty in accepting that. I do not."
Soma stared at the Vulcan. She met his gaze but once again said nothing. Trip Tucker just looked at the two Vulcans. He wasn't sure what to expect. He had never seen two Vulcan's come to blows but he was pretty sure T'Pol and Soma were pretty close. Finally, Soma pushed his chair back and stood.
"Well, its been...interesting." he said with a diplomatic smile" We really need to do this again sometime."
Trip was about to stand, but Soma motioned him to remain "No, no Chief." said Soma "Don't get up on my account. I'm going to turn in. You finish your meal without me."
"But ya haven't eaten Cap'n." said Tucker
"I find I'm not as hungry as I thought Chief." replied Soma
Tucker realized any argument was pointless and he merely nodded to his Captain. "G'night Cap'n."
"Good night Chief." replied Soma with a nod. He turned to T'Pol who was still staring at him "Sub Commander." he said stressing the title.
"Captain" replied T'Pol unwilling or unable to hold her stare.
Soma made his way out of the dining room and through the doors. Once they closed behind him Tucker looked at T'Pol. An uneasy silence hung in the room as the two officers sat at the table. She knew he was staring at her intently and she was doing her best to ignore him. It wasn't working. T'Pol lifted her glass of tea in an attempt to focus on something other than the Commander's stare. She put the glass down suddenly and looked up at Tucker.
"You have something you wish to say Commander?" she asked
"Something I WISH to say." said Tucker venomously "Yeah..I got something I WISH to say, but I'm to much of ah gentleman ta say it."
"Indeed" said T'pol tilting her head
"We got a word on Earth to describe what you were tonight SUB COMMANDER." he replied as he pushed his chair back.
T'Pol looked up at Tucker as he stood "What might that word be Commander?"
Tucker walked around the table to T'Pol and bent down so his head was next to hers. She had always found his habit of assuming close contact with her to be most uncomfortable, but as of late it did not seem to bother her quite as much. She was uncertain why. Unfortunately that was not the case this time. His hot breath elicited a pained shiver up her spine
"If yer interested, ya can look it up in the ship's database. Its a colorful metaphor that rhymes with 'witch'." he said stressing the final word
Trip Tucker stood up and walked out the door leaving T'Pol to herself. The Vulcan remained motionless for a what seemed an eternity before she raised a brow and bristled to the shudder that went through her body.
To Be Continued.....
Author: Quills
Contact:the_quill_pen@yahoo.com
Series: ENT
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Paramount owns Startrek and I derive no financial
gain from this story.
Codes: A, T/Tu, Ma, S, R, P angst, drama, romance, humor,
action/adventure
Summary: Captain Archer is relieved of command for a secret mission
into the 24th Century . To find and stop the Suliban renegade Silik.
While he is gone, a Vulcan Starfleet Captain from the future is given
temporary command of the Enterprise NX-01 with his own orders to to
investigate the 'Temporal Cold War'.
Chapter 26
All heads immediately turned as Captain Soma entered the ship's 'mess'; all eyes were on him. The Captain glanced around the room catching the stairs from his new crew. He felt like he was a first year cadet up for review. He knew the crew was still getting used to having a new Captain; A new Vulcan Captain. Still, it didn't make his job any easier. After a few awkward moments crewmembers went back to what they had been doing and Soma continued walking towards the Captain's dining room. On the way, he caught site of Ensign Sato. She was standing alone serving herself at the buffet table. Soma made a quick detour and made his way over to her.
Sato looked up and saw Captain Soma approaching her. She immediately tensed, going into full nervous mode. Had she done something wrong she thought to herself? She still hadn't been able to raise Starfleet for the Captain, but that wasn't her fault. Enterprise was still out of range. Maybe she shouldn't have complained about the job Commander Tucker's staff did reassembling the comm station. She had to have done something wrong. Why else would he be coming over here?
Soma stopped at the buffet table across from Sato and smiled at the nervous Ensign "Good evening Hoshi."
"Captain!" the Ensign replied in an elevated voice. Several crewmembers turned, but when they saw the Ensign they turned back to their conversations, smiling or chuckling as they did so. Everyone knew Ensign Hoshi Sato all to well.
Soma looked at Hoshi sympathetically and smiled "At ease Ensign." he said gently.
"Yes sir." said Hoshi relaxing a little "Is something wrong."
"Not at all." he replied shaking his head "I was just heading to the Captain's dining room. I saw you and I thought I would say hello."
"Oh" said Hoshi audibly relieved. "I was just getting a quick dinner so I could get back to work on the sub space comm system."
"No rush Hoshi." said Soma "Enjoy your meal. I don't want you in sickbay for an upset stomach."
"No sir" smiled Hoshi "Um...w..would you like to join me?"
Soma cocked his head and gave her a smile "Maybe another time. The Chief and Sub Commander T'Pol are going to meet me for dinner. We need to discuss several matters before we reach Pentax."
"Oh, of course, sir." responded Sato with a hint of dejection in her voice." Some other time."
"But thank you for the invitation, Hoshi." said Soma "Enjoy your dinner."
"Thank you sir." she said as he headed for the dining room "You too sir."
'Great move Hoshi' she thought to herself 'He probably thinks you were hitting on him.'
She leaned over the table as she watched the Captain disappear into the dining room
and let out an audible sigh.
Soma entered the dining room and found both Commander Tucker and Sub Commander T'Pol had already arrived. Both officers began to rise from their seats, but Soma held up his hand as he made his way to his own seat.
"Don't trouble yourself " he smiled as he sat down "We're informal here at the Savoy Grille."
This elicited a laugh from Tucker, but T'Pol remained stoic as she sat back down.
Soma turned towards Tucker as he opened his napkin "So how are things shaping up in Engineering?"
Tucker gave his Captain a frown and then a smile. "I gotta admit" said Tucker "Those Andorians can build a hell of a warp core. I didn't think it would be this easy Cap'n, but she's holdin at warp 4.5."
Soma smiled "You're being modest Chief. You and your crew did an exemplary job installing an alien warp core. Don't you agree Number one."
T'Pol avoided looking at the Captain as she poured a glass of tea "Commander Tucker is an excellent engineer. He and his staff keep Enterprise in excellent working order."
Tucker looked at T'Pol; He wasn't offended. He knew the Vulcan science officer all to well. She didn't give compliments easily and from her that was a compliment. He had even come to find that the Vulcan had a grudging respect and even appreciation for him. He sometimes wondered if it was as close as Vulcan's came to acknowledging friendship. However, he could tell there was more to what she said. He sensed an underlying tension in her voice and so did the Captain.
Soma looked at his first officer with a raised brow. "I sense a 'but' in there."
"Not all Captain." replied T'Pol
Soma pressed the buzzer signaling the yeomans "Come now Number One."
"Captain..." T'Pol began but paused "I would appreciate you not calling me that."
Soma bristled but tried not to show it. He didn't do a good job.
Two yeomans entered with serving plates they laid on the dining table.
The officers suspended their conversation until the yeomans had
finished serving dinner and exited the room.
Soma pursed his lips "My apologies Sub Commander. I didn't mean to offend you."
T'Pol raised her brow and shook her head "You have not given offense. I am a Vulcan.
You should be aware that we do not take offense. I merely find the reference inappropriate."
Soma poured himself a glass of tea "May I ask you why?"
Trip Tucker glanced from Soma to T'Pol as he served himself some of the cajun
vegetable melee that was the main course of their meal.
T'Pol countered with her own question. "Why did you ask me whether or not I agreed with your
assessment of Commander Tucker and his staff's performance?"
"I merely wanted to hear your opinion." Soma replied as he took the serving dish Tucker passed him.
"My opinion is of no consequence Captain." replied T'Pol
Soma looked at Tucker incredulously "Of course it is. I value your opinion very much...both yours and Chief Tuckers."
"Why?" said T'Pol. It was more a statement than a query "You know neither Commander Tucker nor myself and yet you assume a casual familiarity that does not exist. Your reference to me as...'Number one' is just another example of that casual familiarity. A familiarity you have no right to."
Soma straightened at that last comment.
"T'Pol!" said Tucker in shock.
Soma raised his hand "Easy Chief, let the Sub Commander say her piece. It's apparent she has something on her mind."
T'Pol looked at Tucker who was giving her a penetrating stare. It was apparent he did not approve of what she was saying.
"I am merely stating that your casual attitude is inappropriate." said T'Pol "This is not your crew
and your assignment here is temporary."
Tucker stopped just as he was about to take a bite from his fork. He looked up at T'Pol and then
at Soma.
"You are correct." agreed Soma "I do assume a familiar approach with the crew. It's my hope that
it will alleviate some of the tension they are experiencing. Being half human I can appreciate the
conflicted feelings they may be having. However, you are mistaken on your second assesment. This IS my crew."
Soma gave T'Pol a hard stare daring her to dispute it. She returned his gaze, but said nothing.
Trip could see the two Vulcan's were heading for a blow up. He wasn't sure what was going on.
He hadn't noticed any earlier tension, but he had been in engineering for the past day and a half.
He hadn't seen either T'Pol or the Captain much during that time. Whatever the problem was
he was pretty sure it lay with T'Pol. He needed to do some quick damage control.
Clearing his voice he asked Soma to pass him one of the side dishes "Cap'n, do you mind."
"Oh, of course Chief." replied Soma snapping out of his stare as he picked up the
serving dish.
"This is pretty good." said Tucker trying to stear the conversation "What is it?"
"Oh, it's a spicey chicken jabbalaya with rice." replied Soma as he looked back at T'Pol.
"My apologies Captain." replied T'Pol "I did not wish to challenge your right to command. I merely
meant that I do not believe it is how a Starfleet Captain should act."
Tucker looked at T'Pol 'What the hell are ya tryin to do, T"pol' he thought to himself.
"You mean how a Vulcan would act." said Soma with forced smile.
"I would not expect you to behave as a Vulcan, Captain." replied T'Pol "It is plainly obvious...you are not one."
Trip looked at T'Pol in shock. He could not believe what he was hearing. T'Pol was actually insulting the Captain. It wasn't a direct insult to be sure. He found that Vulcans, even T'Pol, didn't insult directly. No, they insinuated their insults into a conversation...which is exactly what T'Pol was doing to Captain Soma.
"I'd have to disagree with you Sub Commander." replied Soma politely "Granted, I'm unorthodox...However, I embrace my Vulcan heritage as fully as I embrace my human heritage."
"I cannot see how that is possible." replied T'Pol raising her brow "You quite clearly have embraced the human side of your dual heritage. Your mannerisms are..."
"Distateful?" said Soma
"Human." countered T'Pol
Soma shook his head "I'll grant you that as well Sub Commander." he conceded "I have embraced my human heritage as a fundamental aspect of my life, but does that make me less a Vulcan?"
T'Pol pondered the question a moment before replying. This conversation had moved in a direction she had hoped to avoid. She did not wish to create an air of dissention between herself and Captain Soma, but the distaste Soma left her with was one she could physically feel. She had felt the discomfort the moment he had greeted her on the bridge. She fought to suppress her response to the Captain's question. She wanted to lie..anything to avoid saying what she felt; she couldn't. "Yes"
she replied
Soma frowned "And nothing could persuade you that I have the right to call myself both Terran...and Vulcan?"
T'Pol raised a brow "I do not see.."
"The fact that I spent half my childhood growing up on Vulcan?" said Soma angrily "That I attended Vulcan schools? Studied Vulcan disciplines. Graduated from the Vulcan Science Academy?"
Tucker turned to Soma "You graduated from the Vulcan Science Academy...and Starfleet?"
Soma nodded his head as his smile returned. "My parents insisted I explore both my heritages." explained Soma "I attended the Science Academy and took a leave of absence to attend Starfleet. After graduating Starfleet I knew I had to make a choice for the direction my life would go in. I chose Starfleet."
"You chose your human heritage." said T'Pol making her point.
"Yes Sub Commander." said Soma raising his voice a little higher than he had meant to "I chose my human heritage over my Vulcan heritage. Does that make me incapable of acknowledging the part of me that is Vulcan? I don't think it does. There have been individuals like yourself, who viewed my choice as betraying my Vulcan heritage. Nothing can be further from the truth. I AM a Vulcan. I am also a human. I am sorry YOU find difficulty in accepting that. I do not."
Soma stared at the Vulcan. She met his gaze but once again said nothing. Trip Tucker just looked at the two Vulcans. He wasn't sure what to expect. He had never seen two Vulcan's come to blows but he was pretty sure T'Pol and Soma were pretty close. Finally, Soma pushed his chair back and stood.
"Well, its been...interesting." he said with a diplomatic smile" We really need to do this again sometime."
Trip was about to stand, but Soma motioned him to remain "No, no Chief." said Soma "Don't get up on my account. I'm going to turn in. You finish your meal without me."
"But ya haven't eaten Cap'n." said Tucker
"I find I'm not as hungry as I thought Chief." replied Soma
Tucker realized any argument was pointless and he merely nodded to his Captain. "G'night Cap'n."
"Good night Chief." replied Soma with a nod. He turned to T'Pol who was still staring at him "Sub Commander." he said stressing the title.
"Captain" replied T'Pol unwilling or unable to hold her stare.
Soma made his way out of the dining room and through the doors. Once they closed behind him Tucker looked at T'Pol. An uneasy silence hung in the room as the two officers sat at the table. She knew he was staring at her intently and she was doing her best to ignore him. It wasn't working. T'Pol lifted her glass of tea in an attempt to focus on something other than the Commander's stare. She put the glass down suddenly and looked up at Tucker.
"You have something you wish to say Commander?" she asked
"Something I WISH to say." said Tucker venomously "Yeah..I got something I WISH to say, but I'm to much of ah gentleman ta say it."
"Indeed" said T'pol tilting her head
"We got a word on Earth to describe what you were tonight SUB COMMANDER." he replied as he pushed his chair back.
T'Pol looked up at Tucker as he stood "What might that word be Commander?"
Tucker walked around the table to T'Pol and bent down so his head was next to hers. She had always found his habit of assuming close contact with her to be most uncomfortable, but as of late it did not seem to bother her quite as much. She was uncertain why. Unfortunately that was not the case this time. His hot breath elicited a pained shiver up her spine
"If yer interested, ya can look it up in the ship's database. Its a colorful metaphor that rhymes with 'witch'." he said stressing the final word
Trip Tucker stood up and walked out the door leaving T'Pol to herself. The Vulcan remained motionless for a what seemed an eternity before she raised a brow and bristled to the shudder that went through her body.
To Be Continued.....