Title: "Gateway" 27/45
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 27
Jonathan Soma walked down the quiet hallway. It was the ship's
late shift and only on duty personel were walking the halls. It was just as well; Soma needed some time to himself. Dinner with Chief Tucker and Sub Commander T'Pol didn't exactly go off without a
hitch. In fact, it was a complete disaster. The Sub Commander had expressed her disaproval of not only his heritage, but of his right to command this crew. Her words had hurt him deeply. The pain he
felt turned into an arguement which had almost become a fight.
Soma had left before the situation reached that point. He was
afraid he might let his anger get the better of him and he might say something to T'Pol that he would regret.
Soma had continued walking for a few more minutes, not paying much attention as to where he was headed. When he looked up he found himself outside the ship's engine room.The irony did not escape him. He wandered and saw only a handful of crewmembers on duty.
Chief Tucker's crew had been working for nearly forty eight hours straight. They were enjoying a well deserved break. As Soma walked around the main reactor a voice called out.
"Cap'n?" the Chief engineer said "What are you doin down here sir?"
"Chief?" he said looking up to the upper level "I might ask you the same thing."
"Oh, I was just workin on a few projects." he said as he leaned on
the railing "I come down here when I can't sleep. You?"
"Same, I thought I'd take a walk." he replied
"Hold on." he said disapearing for a minute. Soma tried to see
what his Chief Engineer was up to, but couldn't see past the railing. He could Tucker moving something around and he called out to
him "Chief?"
"Just a sec Cap'n" was his reply
Soma saw the engineer climbing down the ladder with something in
his hand. When Tucker cleared the ladder he held out the object.
Soma raised a brow "Alcohol, Mr Tucker?"
"I'm off duty Cap'n" he said defensively "and so are you"
"Well when you put it that way." Soma replied
The two men walked over to Tucker's office and sat down. The
Chief pulled out two glasses from his desk and poured the liquid.
He handed one glass to Soma and held the other up in a mach
toast. Soma put the glass to his lips and drained it in one swallow. Tucker shot his Captain a look.
"Damn Captain!" cried Tucker "This is sippin whiskey."
"Don't live dangerously, you don't live it all." he smiled
Tucker frowned for a second and then drained his own glass
in one swallow. Then began to sputter, cough and wheeze as
the strong liquid slid down his throat.
Soma smiled as he patted Tucker on the back "Easy Chief."
"I...I think I'll go back to livin safe." sputtered the engineer
"Good idea." added the Captain
Tucker looked up at the smiling Vulcan. He really liked the man.
He was probbly the first Vulcan he had ever really taken an immediate
liking to. Even T'Pol had to grow on you. T'Pol he thought and then his mind turned to earlier that evening. It didn't take a genius to figure out what had Captain Soma roaming the halls of the ship.
"Capn...I'm...I'm sorry about what happened tonight." said Tucker
Soma shook his head "Not your fault Chief.'
"I know, but still..." he said "She didn't have any right talkin to ya the way she did."
Soma shrugged and poured himself another drink. "She's entitled to her opinion."
"With all do respect sir" said Tucker "No she's not and pardon me for sayin so
but yer a damn fool for lettin her."
Soma's eyes widened in suprise. He was being attacked on two fronts in one evening. "Seems she isn't the only one with an opinion to voice."
"I got an excuse." said Tucker pointing to the bottle.
Soma frowned at him. "You've only had one drink Chief."
"I never could handle my liquor." he said as he played with his glass.
"I see" replied the Captain
"Excuse or not, T'Pol has a lot on her mind Chief." added Soma "My being here probably isnt helping."
Tucker gae him a puzzled look. He obviously didn't know what the Captain was talking about.
"She's looking for answers Chief." explained Soma
The quizzical look on Tucker's face deepened. "Answers for what?"
"For who she is" explained Soma "Why she's here. She's alone Chief. You know the High Command doesn't look favorably on her extended stay."
"Yeah" agreed Tucker shaking his head. The Captain had a point. The High Command had tried their damndest to pull T'Pol off the Enterprise on more than one occasion.
Soma looked down at his glass. "Every day she remains aboard Enterprise brings her that much closer to being ostracized."
"Ostracized?" said Tucker not willing to believe it would come to that.
"Yes, Chief" said Soma "Vulcan's may be very logical, but they are also very
proud. T'Pol's choice to stay aboard a human ship rather than return to Vulcan and fullfill her obligations to her own people and culture is seen as a betrayal."
"The High Command thinks T'Pol has betrayed em?" said Tucker
"That's a lot of bunk!"
"No Chief, T'Pol believes SHE as betrayed them." corrected the
Captain
"What?" said the Chief even more confused
"She was supposed to be married about this time last year,
wasn't she?" asked the Captain
"How did you..." Tucker started and then stopped when he
realized who he was talking to.
"Ancient history Chief." said Soma with a wink "She gave up her marriage to remain here."
"Yeah, I remember." said Tucker "I'm the one who stuck my nose
into her personal life."
"Yes, well that was not the first time T'Pol has seen fit to stray from the path others have made for her." said Soma "But it was a choice that was heard in the halls of the High Command...as well
as her own family."
"So your sayin that she sacrificed her future on Vulcan to stay on Enterprise?" said Tucker
"Doesn't sound very logical."
"I don't think logic holds all the answers for her Chief." he said "I think she realizes that
and it frightens her."
"And she sees you as a reminder of the choices she's made."
added Tucker
"Exactly" answered Soma
"I never realized..." said Tucker
Soma nodded his head "She does hide it well."
Tucker looked at Soma for a moment before speaking "Why did you
just tell me all this?"
Soma shrugged "Maybe I think she could use a friend Chief."
"Why me?" asked Tucker as he pressed the question.
"I think you know why." answered Soma "Sometimes we build up
walls to seperateourselves from those we care about."
"Next thing you'll be tellin me I'm attracted to her." scoffed Tucker
"Are you?" asked Soma
"T'Pol?" said Tucker "Are ya kiddin. She's a Vulcan."
"I'm a Vulcan." said Soma smiling
"Yeah, but your not a Vulcan Vulcan." added Tucker
"Oh, so T'Pol is a Vulcan Vulcan." said Soma as he shook his head.
"You know what I mean Cap'n." said Tucker defensively "Besides, humans and Vulcans? Never work."
Soma raised a brow and gave the engineer a credulous look. "Where do you think I came from, mail order catalog? My father was human and my mother is Vulcan..."
Soma leaned in close "...and she's a Vulcan Vulcan."
"Well your father must have been insane." responded Tucker
Soma shook his head "I'll go in on you with that one Chief." replied Soma "He definitely had his moments, but he loved my mother very dearly and they were married until the day he died."
"I'm sorry John." said Tucker felling as if he'd put his foot in his mouth.
"It's Jonathan Chief." corrected Soma "You already have one John captaining this ship. I'd just assume you kept it that way. But it's alright....my father lived a long life, but he was human and humans have a much shorter life span than Vulcans. My mother
always said that humans didn't have the good sense to live longer."
"Sounds like she took your Dad's death really hard." said Tucker
"She did." he nodded "She loved him very much. She regretted not always being able to show it the way he showed his love for her, but he always knew and he always told her so. See Chief, love does
conquer all."
The two men sat quietly for a few moments, neither knowing quite what to say. They had shared a moment together and learned a little about one another. There really wasn't much one could say.
Soma put his glass down "Well, Chief I think I'll turn in." said Soma "Thanks for the drink."
"Anytime Captain." replied Tucker
Soma stood up and headed for the office door. Tucker called back to him.
"Jonathan, I'll think about what you said." he told him
Soma smiled and nodded as he exited Tucker's office.
Trip Tucker sat at his desk for sometime after the Captain had left.
He had a lot to consider he told himself.
TBC....
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 27
Jonathan Soma walked down the quiet hallway. It was the ship's
late shift and only on duty personel were walking the halls. It was just as well; Soma needed some time to himself. Dinner with Chief Tucker and Sub Commander T'Pol didn't exactly go off without a
hitch. In fact, it was a complete disaster. The Sub Commander had expressed her disaproval of not only his heritage, but of his right to command this crew. Her words had hurt him deeply. The pain he
felt turned into an arguement which had almost become a fight.
Soma had left before the situation reached that point. He was
afraid he might let his anger get the better of him and he might say something to T'Pol that he would regret.
Soma had continued walking for a few more minutes, not paying much attention as to where he was headed. When he looked up he found himself outside the ship's engine room.The irony did not escape him. He wandered and saw only a handful of crewmembers on duty.
Chief Tucker's crew had been working for nearly forty eight hours straight. They were enjoying a well deserved break. As Soma walked around the main reactor a voice called out.
"Cap'n?" the Chief engineer said "What are you doin down here sir?"
"Chief?" he said looking up to the upper level "I might ask you the same thing."
"Oh, I was just workin on a few projects." he said as he leaned on
the railing "I come down here when I can't sleep. You?"
"Same, I thought I'd take a walk." he replied
"Hold on." he said disapearing for a minute. Soma tried to see
what his Chief Engineer was up to, but couldn't see past the railing. He could Tucker moving something around and he called out to
him "Chief?"
"Just a sec Cap'n" was his reply
Soma saw the engineer climbing down the ladder with something in
his hand. When Tucker cleared the ladder he held out the object.
Soma raised a brow "Alcohol, Mr Tucker?"
"I'm off duty Cap'n" he said defensively "and so are you"
"Well when you put it that way." Soma replied
The two men walked over to Tucker's office and sat down. The
Chief pulled out two glasses from his desk and poured the liquid.
He handed one glass to Soma and held the other up in a mach
toast. Soma put the glass to his lips and drained it in one swallow. Tucker shot his Captain a look.
"Damn Captain!" cried Tucker "This is sippin whiskey."
"Don't live dangerously, you don't live it all." he smiled
Tucker frowned for a second and then drained his own glass
in one swallow. Then began to sputter, cough and wheeze as
the strong liquid slid down his throat.
Soma smiled as he patted Tucker on the back "Easy Chief."
"I...I think I'll go back to livin safe." sputtered the engineer
"Good idea." added the Captain
Tucker looked up at the smiling Vulcan. He really liked the man.
He was probbly the first Vulcan he had ever really taken an immediate
liking to. Even T'Pol had to grow on you. T'Pol he thought and then his mind turned to earlier that evening. It didn't take a genius to figure out what had Captain Soma roaming the halls of the ship.
"Capn...I'm...I'm sorry about what happened tonight." said Tucker
Soma shook his head "Not your fault Chief.'
"I know, but still..." he said "She didn't have any right talkin to ya the way she did."
Soma shrugged and poured himself another drink. "She's entitled to her opinion."
"With all do respect sir" said Tucker "No she's not and pardon me for sayin so
but yer a damn fool for lettin her."
Soma's eyes widened in suprise. He was being attacked on two fronts in one evening. "Seems she isn't the only one with an opinion to voice."
"I got an excuse." said Tucker pointing to the bottle.
Soma frowned at him. "You've only had one drink Chief."
"I never could handle my liquor." he said as he played with his glass.
"I see" replied the Captain
"Excuse or not, T'Pol has a lot on her mind Chief." added Soma "My being here probably isnt helping."
Tucker gae him a puzzled look. He obviously didn't know what the Captain was talking about.
"She's looking for answers Chief." explained Soma
The quizzical look on Tucker's face deepened. "Answers for what?"
"For who she is" explained Soma "Why she's here. She's alone Chief. You know the High Command doesn't look favorably on her extended stay."
"Yeah" agreed Tucker shaking his head. The Captain had a point. The High Command had tried their damndest to pull T'Pol off the Enterprise on more than one occasion.
Soma looked down at his glass. "Every day she remains aboard Enterprise brings her that much closer to being ostracized."
"Ostracized?" said Tucker not willing to believe it would come to that.
"Yes, Chief" said Soma "Vulcan's may be very logical, but they are also very
proud. T'Pol's choice to stay aboard a human ship rather than return to Vulcan and fullfill her obligations to her own people and culture is seen as a betrayal."
"The High Command thinks T'Pol has betrayed em?" said Tucker
"That's a lot of bunk!"
"No Chief, T'Pol believes SHE as betrayed them." corrected the
Captain
"What?" said the Chief even more confused
"She was supposed to be married about this time last year,
wasn't she?" asked the Captain
"How did you..." Tucker started and then stopped when he
realized who he was talking to.
"Ancient history Chief." said Soma with a wink "She gave up her marriage to remain here."
"Yeah, I remember." said Tucker "I'm the one who stuck my nose
into her personal life."
"Yes, well that was not the first time T'Pol has seen fit to stray from the path others have made for her." said Soma "But it was a choice that was heard in the halls of the High Command...as well
as her own family."
"So your sayin that she sacrificed her future on Vulcan to stay on Enterprise?" said Tucker
"Doesn't sound very logical."
"I don't think logic holds all the answers for her Chief." he said "I think she realizes that
and it frightens her."
"And she sees you as a reminder of the choices she's made."
added Tucker
"Exactly" answered Soma
"I never realized..." said Tucker
Soma nodded his head "She does hide it well."
Tucker looked at Soma for a moment before speaking "Why did you
just tell me all this?"
Soma shrugged "Maybe I think she could use a friend Chief."
"Why me?" asked Tucker as he pressed the question.
"I think you know why." answered Soma "Sometimes we build up
walls to seperateourselves from those we care about."
"Next thing you'll be tellin me I'm attracted to her." scoffed Tucker
"Are you?" asked Soma
"T'Pol?" said Tucker "Are ya kiddin. She's a Vulcan."
"I'm a Vulcan." said Soma smiling
"Yeah, but your not a Vulcan Vulcan." added Tucker
"Oh, so T'Pol is a Vulcan Vulcan." said Soma as he shook his head.
"You know what I mean Cap'n." said Tucker defensively "Besides, humans and Vulcans? Never work."
Soma raised a brow and gave the engineer a credulous look. "Where do you think I came from, mail order catalog? My father was human and my mother is Vulcan..."
Soma leaned in close "...and she's a Vulcan Vulcan."
"Well your father must have been insane." responded Tucker
Soma shook his head "I'll go in on you with that one Chief." replied Soma "He definitely had his moments, but he loved my mother very dearly and they were married until the day he died."
"I'm sorry John." said Tucker felling as if he'd put his foot in his mouth.
"It's Jonathan Chief." corrected Soma "You already have one John captaining this ship. I'd just assume you kept it that way. But it's alright....my father lived a long life, but he was human and humans have a much shorter life span than Vulcans. My mother
always said that humans didn't have the good sense to live longer."
"Sounds like she took your Dad's death really hard." said Tucker
"She did." he nodded "She loved him very much. She regretted not always being able to show it the way he showed his love for her, but he always knew and he always told her so. See Chief, love does
conquer all."
The two men sat quietly for a few moments, neither knowing quite what to say. They had shared a moment together and learned a little about one another. There really wasn't much one could say.
Soma put his glass down "Well, Chief I think I'll turn in." said Soma "Thanks for the drink."
"Anytime Captain." replied Tucker
Soma stood up and headed for the office door. Tucker called back to him.
"Jonathan, I'll think about what you said." he told him
Soma smiled and nodded as he exited Tucker's office.
Trip Tucker sat at his desk for sometime after the Captain had left.
He had a lot to consider he told himself.
TBC....