From the Ashes
by LonegunGirl
Disclaimer: Enterprise and its characters remain the property
of Paramount.
Category: Vignette, Trip/T'Pol
Description: Back on Earth following the defeat of the Xindi,
Trip finally says goodbye to his sister with the help of
T'Pol.
Archer exited the turbolift at a brisk, agitated pace. He scoured the
room quickly, then frowned to note that T'Pol wasn't there,
either. Frustrated, Archer turned on his heels and headed for his
ready room.
Only after a few strides did he stop abruptly. He turned back slowly
to gaze across the deserted bridge. The momentous nature of the
moment began to sink in, as Archer realized this was the first time
he had set foot onto his new command center. He smiled.
Archer walked back to the center of the bridge and stood at attention
behind his new chair. From there, Archer cast an awed eye
meticulously across the refurbished and glistening bridge. As he took
in the sight a wave of pride swept over him and he sighed
contentedly.
He continued to scan the bridge until finally his eyes fell on
Malcolm who was sitting at his station quietly engrossed in work.
Malcolm, I didn't even realize you were there,
Archer said quickly, flustered. At last someone who's
where he's supposed to be.
Malcolm glanced up from his console and greeted the Captain with a
smile.
Good morning, Captain. I didn't want to disturb your
little moment there.
An embarrassed smile flitted across Archer's features. He
cleared his throat self consciously as he moved out from behind his
chair and approached Reed's workstation.
So, how's everything going with the new armory?
Swimmingly, sir. I'm just completing my final checks now,
but I think it's fair to say that everything's shining like
new. It's almost hard to believe it's the same ship that
limped into spacedock.
Archer glanced around the bridge again, thoughtfully.
She's definitely risen from the ashes, Archer
readily agreed. And all it took was the entire Starfleet Corps
of Engineers working round the clock for 2 months.
The two men shared a grin.
Sometimes I wonder it it mightn't have been easier to
build a whole new ship, Malcolm mused.
Easier, maybe, Archer considered. But then she
wouldn't have been our Enterprise, would she?
Malcolm smiled. No, sir, she wouldn't.
Archer smiled back, then turned and headed back for his chair. As he
sat down, his mind returned to his reason for entering the bridge in
the first place.
Say, Malcolm, Archer called over to his armory officer,
I don't suppose you've seen T'Pol
anywhere?
Malcolm thought for a moment then shook his head. No, sir, I
haven't.
Archer flung his hands in the air in exasperation. Two hours
till our official relaunch and my First Officer's nowhere to be
found. Nor my Chief Engineer, for that matter.
Oh, well, I did run into Trip - quite literally, in fact -
before I caught my transport from the surface. He seemed in an awful
hurry to get somewhere. I suppose it's reasonable to assume that
wherever he is, T'Pol's with him.
It's reasonable, Archer considered.
Trip assured me he'd be back in plenty of time for launch,
but he said there was something important he had to do before he left
Earth again.
Archer furrowed a curious brow. Sounds mysterious.
Indeed, Captain, Malcolm agreed. I believe
that's what I said to him.
The silence was finally broken by Trip.
It's hard to believe it's been over a year, he
murmured, continuing to stare ahead blankly.
Again, a long silence ensued. A gentle breeze whipped up through the
trees of the memorial reserve, and Trip shivered slightly.
The park, positioned at the leading edge of the great scar that had
penetrated the earth, was immaculately cultivated, stretching out
into the distance in every direction. At the center of the park,
where Trip and his companion stood now, a bronze plaque was set into
a larger marble structure ascending to the heavens, with radiating
rose beds forming a reverential border. The monument marked the
center point of the giant memorial and it dwarfed the two standing
before it. It was an awe inspiring sight, bearing witness to the
memory of 7 million lives.
The early morning light filtered softly through the swaying trees
above as the monolith cast an eerie shadow over Trip and T'Pol.
The sky before them was lit up gently with soft tones of red and
orange.
It's a lovely memorial, T'Pol noted after a
time, sensing Trip's unease.
Trip glanced sideways at her and, touched by the compassion and
concern in her expressive eyes, he smiled down at her.
It really means a lot to me that you came. I don't think
I'd have been able to do this on my own.
Of course, T'Pol replied, holding his gaze
intently.
Trip smiled ruefully. You know, one thing I really regret is
that you and Lizzie never got the chance to meet.
I would have liked that, T'Pol agreed.
Lizzie would have loved you.
T'Pol raised a skeptical eyebrow at Trip, causing him to
chuckle.
Well, okay, maybe not right away, but certainly once she got to
know you. The first time you met she probably would have gotten into
an argument with you about emotion versus logic, or something. She
was always so damn opinionated, Trip trailed off, struck by a
wave of sorrow. Just like her big brother. Trip stared
down at the ground.
T'Pol reached out and tenderly grasped Trip's arm.
Then I'm certain I would have loved her, too, she
responded firmly.
Trip's eyes shot back up to meet hers. He was surprised by her
words, as he knew all too well how difficult it was for T'Pol to
express her suppressed emotions. Indeed, it had almost become harder
for her since the onset of her addiction. The unsettling nature of
her new found emotional freedom had rendered the manifestation of
those feelings all the more difficult and disturbing for
T'Pol.
So when Trip saw the tenderness and sincerity in T'Pol's
gaze, he knew at once the torment she must have fought in expressing
her sentiments. Trip breathed in deeply, thoroughly speechless. For a
time, he was lost in those expressive eyes, overcome with the love he
felt for this remarkable woman beside him, whom he knew in that
moment loved him as deeply as he loved her.
But as he stared at her, Trip's expression dissolved again to
one of anguish.
What's wrong? T'Pol asked, clearly
concerned.
Trip braved a smile.
It's nothing, he insisted.
T'Pol continued to hold his gaze, and under its weight
Trip's resolved crumbled. She had a way of extracting the truth
from him.
It's just, sometimes, when I look at you, he began
again, his voice audibly shaking, and I know how content I
am... Trip trailed off, choking back a tear. He steadied his
eyes on the ground again. I can't help but be reminded
that it was my loss that enable this. That enabled us. If Lizzie
hadn't died, we would never have started the neuropressure
sessions, and we would never have found this, uh.. Trip
stumbled over his words.
T'Pol prompted gently.
Trip nodded. There are times that I can't shake the
thought that it's because of her death that I've found the
most meaningful relationship of my life.
He faced T'Pol squarely, his expression one of genuine
affliction. What right do I have to be this happy, knowing that
if it wasn't for her death, and the deaths of millions of other
innocent people, that happiness would never have been possible?
Isn't that dishonoring her memory?
T'Pol was clearly effected deeply by his words, although she
tried desperately to hide it. She thought for a long moment before
answering, holding Trip's gaze intently as though to impart her
own strength to him.
If there is a human trait that has confounded me from the very
beginning of my interactions with your species, she began
finally, considering and measuring her words carefully, then it
is the human capacity to draw hope and strength and life affirmation
from the ashes of tragedy.
Trip nodded again, slowly.
I feel from my interactions with you, however, T'Pol
continued, that I have come to understand this tendency, and
appreciate its virtue. As our relationship has developed, I have
found that this very human quality runs deeply in you. So, if it is
true that Elizabeth was indeed like you - and I believe that she was
- then it would seem logical that she would also possess this ability
to extract positivity from despair. She must have shared your
conviction that wallowing in grief is destructive, and I am certain
she would have wanted you to go on with your life. In that case, I
can't think of a more fitting tribute to your sister than the
attainment of...
T'Pol hesitated. The attainment of love, she
finished, surely the epitome of hope, stimulated by her
memory.
Trip was speechless again. It was all he could to stare back at
T'Pol in loving awe.
There was silence between them again for some time.
You really believe that? Trip finally asked.
As you are aware, Vulcans do not lie.
Thank you, Trip whispered back, grasping
T'Pol's hand tightly and interlacing his fingers through
hers. He lent forward and gently brushed his lips against
T'Pol's.
Then he released her hand, and turned back to face the marble
structure before them, filled with new determination. He inhaled
sharply.
Well, I guess I better do this, then, he murmured. Still
he hesitated.
Are you certain you want to? T'Pol asked gently.
Yes. I need to do this, Trip replied resolutely.
He steadied himself for a moment, breathing in deeply. Then he slowly
approached the memorial.
Trip reached out with a trembling hand and traced the words carved
into the cold stone. After a moment, he knelt down in front of the
shrine, and reverently placed the envelope clutched tightly in his
hand at the base of the structure. He nestled it amongst the sea of
similar tributes left by other grieving survivors.
For a moment he studied the word scrawled across
the paper, and felt a tear begin to well behind his eye. He choked it
back, and lovingly placed before the envelope the single white rose
he had brought.
Goodbye, Lizzie, Trip murmured, as a cathartic tear broke
through his resolve and rolled down his face.
After a time, Trip felt a supportive hand on his shoulder.
T'Pol whispered.
Trip looked up at her, his eyes glistening with tears. He reached up
instinctively and covered her hand securely with his own.
Are you all right? she asked.
Trip stood up slowly, all the while maintaining his grasp of
T'Pol's hand.
He smiled over at her and this time, his smile was genuine.
Yeah, I am now.
Together, they stared up at the memorial for a moment longer.
Just then, Trip's face crinkled into a playful grin. Oh,
and by the way, Trip said, shooting T'Pol a sideways
glance, I love you too.
T'Pol proceeded to stare back in her impassive Vulcan way. she responded plainly, although her eyes betrayed
far deeper emotion. A meaningful look passed between them, silently
communicating volumes.
Trip began to laugh happily as he draped his arm gently around her
shoulder.
Come on, he said. We have a transport to
catch.