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: As always, to Stub for being my ever-patient beta.
And to my chiropractors, without whom this chapter would probably be another week behind (see author's note).
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Trip/T'Pol Romance; Mystery
Chapter Seventeen - You've got questions. We've got answers
Hoshi had a strange sense of deja vu as she and Travis approached the Command Center for another early morning briefing. It wasn't that staff briefings were that unusual, but when the captain announced them with no indication of what was to be covered --
Travis, voicing Hoshi's thoughts, asked, "Remember the last time we had a meeting like this?"
"You don't think someone else is pregnant, do you?" Hoshi shuddered at the thought.
"I hope not. It's going to be weird enough when Commander Tucker and the sub-commander's kids arrive. This ship wasn't really built with a nursery in mind." Travis shrugged. "Besides, what are the chances that we'd have two mysterious pregnancies aboard?"
"Not all pregnancies are that mysterious, Travis." Hoshi gave a soft laugh, then sobered in seriousness. "I wonder if the captain is going to tell us what's going on with Rajiin? I heard from Corporal Hawkins that none of the MACOs have been assigned to the Brig."
"Maybe Lieutenant Reed is handling the security," Travis offered. "He's been more than a little territorial where the MACOs are concerned. I don't think he cares much for Major Hayes' team."
"I noticed," Hoshi agreed, turning the corner as they drew closer to the Command Center . "But it's still peculiar that the MACOs wouldn't share shifts covering the Brig while we've actually got a prisoner. Plus, I heard from Pam Isley that Rajiin was in Sickbay with Phlox."
"What's peculiar about that? Other than the fact that Pam spends more time in Sickbay than Botany recovering from aggressive plants?"
"Rajiin wasn't being treated by Phlox, she was helping him."
"With what?"
"Pam wasn't paying a lot of attention to details while Phlox was pulling thorns out of her arm." Hoshi stopped outside the Command Center and pressed the door release. "Maybe the captain can shed some light on --"
"Hoshi?" Travis followed her gaze as the doors parted and understood the look of surprise on his fellow ensign's face.
The sight of Rajiin, seated beside Dr. Phlox at the table, was enough to rattle anyone.
Recovering, Hoshi and Travis entered the Command Center and took their respective seats. As the linguist sat, she gave Malcolm a questioning look, inclining her head in Rajiin's direction. From the way the security officer's face tightened, Hoshi guessed he was just as surprised -- and disturbed -- as she was at the Xindi sympathizer's presence.
Looking at the other assembled faces, Hoshi noted that no one seemed overly pleased with Rajiin's presence -- save maybe Phlox who was quietly discussing something with the alien woman.
Commander Tucker, Hoshi noted, was dividing his attention between glaring at Rajiin and playing "keep away" with the PADD T'Pol was attempting to read. The sub-commander, for her part, was ignoring him. Fascinated, Hoshi watched as the halfhearted tug-of-war ended with the PADD between them, the commander's hand resting over T'Pol's.
That's interesting, Hoshi thought. She knew from experience the commander was protective of both T'Pol and the twins, but did the open display of affection mean --
Her speculation was interrupted as Captain Archer entered the Command Center and stepped to the bank of monitors at the front of the room.
"We've suffered a lot of setbacks since entering the Expanse eight months ago," the captain began, accessing the Xindi database and allowing what little information the crew had appeared on the various screens. "I know, at times, the potential success of our mission was questionable. I know we've all shared the same fear: that we may not be able to find the Xindi in time to stop their second attack on Earth."
Though she'd never said it out loud, Hoshi had to admit that she'd certainly felt that way on several occasions. Whenever Enterprise had seemed on the right track, a new threat would emerge that put them farther away from their goals.
"With the arrival of an unexpected ally," Archer continued, gesturing to Rajiin, "I think our luck's about to change."
Ally? Hoshi wondered, her expression of surprise matching the one on Travis' face.
"As you are aware, Rajiin has returned to Enterprise . I know you all remember the first time she was aboard, how she had been gathering information to help the Xindi against us. Now, however, Rajiin is here to help us. She has been in Sickbay with Phlox, working to create an antidote against the bio-weapon the Xindi have developed."
Based on the lack of response from T'Pol, Malcolm and Commander Tucker, Hoshi figured the three already knew this information. Nice to know at least someone knew what was going on.
Archer pulled up a star chart, indicating he wasn't quite finished. "A defense against the bio-weapon isn't the only thing Rajiin has brought us."
T'Pol, Malcolm and Commander Tucker straightened at that. Hoshi figured the three did not already know this information. Nice to know I'm not the only one in the dark.
"Rajiin has provided the coordinates of Xindi Prime -- the new Xindi homeworld." As the captain spoke, two dots appeared on the starchart. "Once Phlox and Rajiin have finished with the antidote to the bio-weapon, we're going to pay them a visit."
Though Hoshi, as a student of language, didn't care much for clichés, there was no better description for the silence the followed the captain's announcement: it was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop.
Technically, the pulse of the warp core made it nearly impossible to catch such an insignificant sound, but even that steady background noise seemed to fade in reverence to this paramount news.
Hoshi stared at the star chart, at the red dot that marked Xindi Prime.
The Xindi homeworld.
For eight months Enterprise had searched for a lead on the Xindi, to find the ones responsible for killing seven million people on Earth. Could this fortunate turn of events be true?
Sharing Hoshi's doubt, Commander Tucker eyed Rajiin with suspicion. "Why didn't you tell us this yesterday?"
"Rajiin did tell me yesterday," Archer answered, drawing the engineer's ire. "I thought you and T'Pol would want to know about the hybrids first."
"What about the hybrids?" Travis asked.
"Rajiin is under the impression," Malcolm explained, "that a race called the Ceidé created the hybrids as a cure to the bio-weapon."
"What?" Though Hoshi knew it to be less-than-professional behavior of a senior officer, she couldn't help but shout her question.
"According to Rajiin," Phlox said, "she contacted the Ceidé shortly after completing her mission for the Xindi -- at great personal risk to herself, I might add. The Ceidé were supposed to contact us but, for reasons unknown, left us a clue to the antidote in the form of Commander Tucker and Sub-Commander T'Pol's children."
Hoshi found this new information difficult to grasp. "How can the twins be a cure to a Xindi-created bio-weapon? Why not just give us a vial? Why'd did they --"
"We don't know why the Ceidé acted as they did," Archer interrupted, drawing everyone's attention back to him. "But we're going to find out."
"How are we gonna do that?" Tucker asked, the hand that had been laying playfully over T'Pol's now gripping hers tightly. "Or is this something else you and Rajiin are holding back from us?"
The captain's brow furrowed at the engineer's accusation, but he let it slide as he turned back to the starchart and indicated the second dot on the screen. "This is the Ceidé space station where Rajiin made her contact. It's a two-week detour from our present position to Xindi Prime. That gives Rajiin and Phlox time to create the antidote and before we make contact with the Xindi."
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Author's Note: I'm sure you're all disappointed that this chapter took longer than promised...but I threw out my back and haven't been able to sit at the computer for the past week. However, thanks to the care and dedication of my two wonderful chiropractors, I am feeling much better (I could dance -- if only I knew how) and the rest of the story should be on track for the duration.
