The
Cultural Addition
a Star
Trek: Enterprise - based fan fiction
by: Joycelyn
Solo
Author's note: This story takes place Season Three, so expect general episodic references, but with definite AU qualities.
Disclaimer: Star Trek: Enterprise and associated characters are property of Paramount Pictures. I mean no copyright infringement, this story is for entertainment purposes only.
Special Thanks: To Stub: the alpha of all betas.
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Trip/T'Pol Romance; Mystery
Chapter Fifteen - Have you ever seen "Scanners"?
With interest, Rajiin watched the reaction of the Enterprise officers as Jonathon explained the timing of her request to the Ceidé. How could she have known that her attempt to help the crew of the Human vessel would have yielded such a bizarre twist? Rajiin's only desire had been to atone for her mistake in assisting the Reptilians, but what new betrayal had she set upon the Humans?
"And you think because she asked these Cedar scientists to lend us a hand, they decided to kidnap me and T'Pol?" Commander Tucker glared at Rajiin. "You're the reason we lost three days?"
"It seems rather preposterous, sir," Lieutenant Reed added, his accent -- so different from the rest of the Humans she'd met -- clipping his sentences into accusation. "If the Seedy wanted to assist us, why not simply contact Enterprise instead of laying in wait for the survey team?"
"It's Ceidé," Rajiin offered, earning a scowl from both Reed and Tucker. "And I don't know why they acted the way they did."
"If you don't know why, then how can you be sure the twins' creation are their doing? What makes you think they carry the cure to the bio-weapon?" Reed looked pointedly at Archer. "Has she provided any proof?"
"When I contacted the Ceidé," Rajiin explained, "I provided them the same biological information I had the Xindi. That included scans of Vulcan and Human biology and a sample of the original batch of the bio-weapon."
"That would explain how they knew enough about Trip and T'Pol's genetics to create the hybrids," Archer offered.
Tucker, moving for the first time from his protective stance near T'Pol, stepped toward Rajiin. "Why did you suddenly want to help us after you'd just betrayed us?"
Rajiin stood, meeting the Human's gaze. "After spending time on your ship, with your crew, I knew you couldn't be capable of what the Xindi had been lead to believe. "
"Yet you still provided them with the information necessary to create a weapon to destroy us." Malcolm snorted. "If you were so convinced that we weren't going to harm the Xindi, why not simply refuse to turn over the information?"
Rajiin shuddered, remembering one of her earlier dealings with the Reptilians. She had been a slave once and sold to the Xindi for use of her bio-scanning skill. When she had refused to use her gift for their purposes --
The shudder intensified and she felt Jonathon lay a hand on her shoulder. As horrible as her experiences with the Xindi had been, her knowledge of their "methods" had been enough to get Jonathon to listen to what she had to say in defense of her actions. She hadn't expected his forgiveness so easily, but he only proved how kind Humans were.
"It is not easy to refuse the Reptilians anything." Rajiin swallowed hard, regaining her composure. "After I was released from my 'contract' with them, I contacted the Ceidé."
"Rajiin believes an examination of the hybrids and analysis of the bio-weapon will provide some of our missing answers," Jonathon supplied. "I've already told Phlox to be ready for us."
As they waited for Phlox to complete his analysis, Rajiin watched the Enterprise engineer and science officer with great interest. Though Tucker had protested to her presence in Sickbay, Archer had overridden his protest. Rajiin had noticed the way the commander hovered protectively near T'Pol since she first came aboard.
From what she knew of Human psychology -- which was still very little -- they were similar to Xindi primates in their paternal nature. The safety of their children outweighed all consequences. It was understandable that the engineer would feel a connection to the hybrids, even if he didn't remember playing a part in their conception or knew what his involvement had actually been.
What was surprising, however, was the connection -- a true, psychic connection -- to T'Pol. I didn't realize Humans could form telepathic bonds, she thought, even as she sensed the mental exchange between the two officers.
Though she could have easily "listened" into the conversation, Rajiin refrained from intruding. Jonathon had been willing to give her a second chance; the rest of his crew was not so quick to forgive her.
Having been betrayed herself on more than one occasion -- by fellow slaves looking for their own chance at freedom -- she could understand their hesitance. What the Humans did not seem to realize now was that she wasn't far removed from their status in the eyes of the Xindi; she was a threat that needed to be extinguished. If she had not been under the protection of the Aquatics, it was likely she would not have left Xindi Prime alive. The Reptilians were not known for treating their allies much better than their enemies.
"I've completed my analysis," the Denobulan doctor announced, causing Rajiin, T'Pol and the three Human males to all look at him expectantly.
Phlox smiled uneasily, as though not entirely sure if he was delivering entirely good news. "It seems that Rajiin was correct about the hybrids' purpose."
"The twins are a cure for the bio-weapon?" Tucker asked, his hand resting over T'Pol's as the two sat on a nearby biobed.
"From initial study, it appears the unique combination of Human and Vulcan genetic material has resulted in a mutated antigen that halts the progression of the bio-weapon. I would like to perform further study, of course, but at this point I can guarantee that the hybrids are immune to the effects of the bio-weapon."
"Can you make an antidote for the rest of us from your findings?" Jonathon asked, his tone tense.
"Without further analysis I cannot say for sure, but it is likely." The doctor laid his eyes on Rajiin. "If our guest would be willing to help me, I believe my analysis may go a little faster."
Though Tucker, Reed and T'Pol bristled at the doctor's request, Jonathon nodded his head and turned to her. "If you're willing to lend the doctor a hand..."
"Of course," Rajiin answered, happy at the chance to prove her commitment to helping the Humans. "When would you like to begin, Doctor?"
Back in T'Pol's quarters, reluctant to leave for his duty shift, Trip paced the length of her cabin.
"Our children are going to save Humanity," he said, trying to convince himself of the recent revelation.
"It would appear so." T'Pol, seated on her bunk, stared unseeing at the unlit meditation candles.
"Kind of trumps anything they'll do in school."
At his absurd comment, T'Pol focused her attention on the man who, only that morning, had allowed her to share his mind.
Trip stopped his pacing and looked back at T'Pol. "Does this make you feel any better or have we just added another level of weird to the mix?"
"We still have a great many questions, Comman -- Trip." T'Pol watched him smile at her correction and noted how much she enjoyed seeing that particular expression on his face. If it weren't for their particular situation, would she have ever admitted that to herself? What effect would discovering the origin of their children have on their developing relationship? "I do not know how to react."
Sensing that T'Pol wasn't just talking about Phlox's support of the captain and Rajiin's theory, Trip took a seat on the floor before her. After studying her features for several moments, he finally asked, "Y'think this means we can trust Rajiin?"
With the straightest face he'd ever seen -- even for a Vulcan -- T'Pol replied, "I believe the Human expression is 'not as far as I can throw her.'"
Trip laughed out loud, remembering how well T'Pol had been able to throw one of the MACOs during a sparring match under Major Hayes' and Malcolm's watchful eyes. "A good ten...fifteen feet, then."
Though T'Pol did not react as loudly in her appreciation of his joke as he had hers, Trip felt her amusement through the bond.
"Did you just laugh?" he asked.
"I do not know what you mean."
"Right now, in my head." He tapped a finger to his temple. "I think I made you laugh."
"Vulcans do not laugh."
"Maybe not on the outside, but you just did. It's kind of nice knowing you appreciate my humor. I'll have to tell a couple more jokes while this connection lasts."
The sense of amusement disappeared quickly from T'Pol's mind. "That may be longer than you think."
"What do you mean?"
T'Pol resumed her vigil of watching the unlit candles, the intensity of her stare enough to light the fragile wicks. "I believe the meld we shared has done more than simply solidify the paternal bond."
"Like what?" Trip asked, pushing himself to his knees and moving forward so that he was eye-level with T'Pol. Whatever she was on the verge of revealing, it seemed difficult for her to divulge. "C'mon, T'Pol. Tell me. We've got nothing to hide from each other, right? My thoughts to your thoughts and all."
T'Pol's eyes locked back onto his, their brown depths darkened by the heavy thoughts she carried. "On Vulcan -- between Vulcans -- this is the bond of mates," she confessed.
"Mates? Y'mean like couples?"
"Not in the sense you are referring. Vulcan relationships have a stronger sense of permanence. Most Vulcans share only one bond in their lifetime. The connection can only be severed by death or ritual performed by a High Priest."
"Sort of a 'til-death-do-we-part-type of thing?"
T'Pol nodded, studying his face as he processed the information. Though she could have easily removed the light barrier he had over his thoughts, she refrained out of respect for the man who had come to mean a great deal to her.
But what did she mean to him.
"This really throws a bit of a wrench in my plans," he finally said, rising to his feet and resuming the pacing of before.
"I am sorry I had not realized the meld would link us like this. I should not have attempted it in the first place." Though his words hurt her, T'Pol hid her reaction using the mental disciplines she'd mastered long before the hormones of a half-Human pregnancy began to wreak havoc on her system. "When this mission is over, we can petition the priests to sever the link."
Trip whirled quickly from mid-pace to face her. "Whoa, T'Pol. I didn't say anything about severing the link."
"But your plans --"
"I was planning to ask you to marry me, but I think you've beaten me to it."
