Hi folks!

I've been woefully derelict in updating this story. I'm going to try to put myself in a strict weekly update routine. I hope you all will stick with me just a while longer. I hope to have a little more action next week.

Emrys: Yeah yeah, I should say that I'll only update after you update a chapter of "Following Orders." But that would be extortion. Of course if it works.

Zealousgirl: ff.net has been a bit of a bear. (I've tried to download this chapter for almost a week) Thanks for keeping an eye out for my little story.

Aleda: Dying to know what happens? Me too. My inspiration - Good ole Trip just hasn't been whispering in my ear at night - so I went and hunted him down. I pin most of my hopes on Season Three

Gotta Love Trip: Screamin' Mimis

Chapter 13 - And Then There Were None

Jon couldn't help himself as his head snapped back toward Trip's direction after the doctor's startling revelation. His accusing stare was also a manifestation of the many, often unpleasant, surprises that surrounded Commander Tucker's relations with females of several intergalactic species.

"Don't say it. Don't even think it. This is not my fault. I've been a perfect gentleman. I never touched her." Even to Trip, this litany was getting just a bit thin. Trip saw the all-too-familiar look of disbelief in his captain's eyes. "Fine, I touched her, but not the way you're thinkin' of. I danced with her for crying out loud. Held hands."

Phlox interrupted as it did looked like these two were headed down well- worn paths that led anywhere but to the point at hand.

"Actually, Captain, this all happened because T'Pol touched the Commander." Before Phlox could explain further, Trip wagged a finger at him and smiled smugly at the Captain in the universal way that little boys everywhere that said without words: See, I told ya' I didn't do it.

Before Phlox could continue, the Captain interrupted him.

"So you're saying that T'Pol did something to Trip to make him be able to sense her presence?"

Not meeting the Captain's eye, Trip added rather softly, "Actually, if I'm close enough, I can kinda read her thoughts."

"You can kinda WHAT?"

Tucker looked like he was about to come unglued. His face was red with embarrassment and even a bit of frustration. Phlox stepped in before he would need to see both men in sickbay. In his most soothing bedside voice, he tried to explain.

"It happened when T'Pol went to rescue the Commander while he was trapped in engineering."

The Captains lips started to move, but Phlox cut off interruption with his next sobering statement.

"When she got to him, Mr. Tucker was dying. Compound fracture of the left femur, head injury, and severe trauma due to impalement on a length of conduit." Trip seemed to wince at the memory. The Captain's face turned pale at the grim reminder of his friend's close call. Phlox forged on now that he knew that he had their full attention.

"She instituted a Vulcan mind meld. T'Pol has done much research since the unfortunate incident last year with the renegade Vulcans we encountered. You may be aware that humans in intimate proximity often experience a period where there heart rates and breathing regulate to mimic their partners, T'Pol had found that a more sophisticated form of this can be achieved in melds by Vulcan healers. In this way she was able to stablilize most of Mr. Tucker's vitals until help could arrive. The commander was so gravely injured that T'Pol was forced to strengthen her link to a level that is only experienced by a certain segment of Vulcan society and the secrecy surrounding this has kept almost all knowledge of this unknown to outsiders."

"And what segment would that be, doctor?" queried the Captain.

"Lifemates."

He must be slipping. The small, slightly shaky hand that rested on his arm completely took the security chief by surprise. Malcolm and Hoshi had checked every floor and found no evidence of the Subcommander or any possible attackers. They were now on the ground floor, where Malcolm had be ascertaining as many possible escape paths when Hoshi snuck up behind him and scared him out of ten years of his life. Of course, true British aplomb asserted itself and only a very careful observer would have noticed the hitch in his breath that marked his surprise.

Hoshi's powers of observation were distracted by the odd and perilous situation in which they found themselves, so she completely missed how her touch had startled Lt. Reed. Instead, her thoughts had been with Ensign Mayweather, who was alone at the shuttle.

Another sign of Hoshi's preoccupation was that she called the lieutenant by his first name as she broached her concerns. "Malcolm, we've covered every square inch of this building and we can't find T'Pol. I'm not wild about staying here, but I'm more concerned about Travis. He's all by himself at the shuttle. Can't we head over there to await the away team instead?"

Malcolm was not unaware or unpleased with Hoshi's use of his first name, even though he was a superior officer. Probably would feel differently if subordinate officer was not as attractive, Malcolm pondered.

Responding to the brief smile on the Lieutenant's face, Hoshi tipped her head to the side and peered at Reed. She was still relatively new to this space adventure stuff and a little sensitive to others opinions. She was only partially successful in preventing an accusing tone from creeping into her question. "Something amusing about returning to the shuttle?"

"Uh, no. indeed not!" answered Malcolm just a trifle too loud. A little more sheepishly he added, "Caught me wool gathering, Ensign. I'm worried about T'Pol, and I can't figure out she disappeared on a planet that has no signs of life. If she was attacked, shyActually, I tend to agree with you. I think it might be advisable to go back and stay together until a larger security contingent arrives. When they do, Mayweather can take you back to the ship."

Hoshi was not sure whether she resented the fact the it seemed like everyone still seemed to have the attitude that everyone felt that they needed to protect the little communications officer or appreciated that the lieutenant wanted to get her out of harm's way. Assuming a woman's prerogative, she decided that it was perfectly acceptable to feel both.

"You know, I'm not the same Hoshi that stepped onto the Enterprise last year. I can take care of my self. As a matter of fact I seem to remember an pleasant stay on Risa, while others who will remain unnamed," Hoshi blinked a coy eye at Malcolm, "ended up loosing their shirt and a few more items besides."

Malcolm cleared his throat. Hoshi was charmed to see the boyishly disarming grin. "I'm sure that I can't know to what evens you may be referring. And I will remind you that I was in the presence of a senior officer."

"So you're saying that the commander ordered you to be a robbery victim and get stripped to your skivvies?"

"How.?"

"Let's just say that I have friends on Risa and you and the commander's little misadventure has made the rounds of amusing small talk at dinner parties and such around Risa."

Malcolm headed out of the main entrance to the building. Shaking his head, hoshi thought she could make out the Lieutenant mumbling something about women, gossip and the ruination of male humanoids throughout the galaxy.

It was just a short hike to the shuttle. Everything seemed normal when they approached. Mayweather, waved at them as they approached and all Hoshi would think about was getting off her feet for a bit and having a bite to eat. If she concentrated on trivialities, she could almost push the fear for T'Pol to the back of her mind. All thoughts of the mundane, concern or fear were forgotten as all three occupants of the shuttle were enveloped in a shimmer of energy that left the shuttle unoccupied in its wake.