The
Cultural Addition
a Star
Trek: Enterprise - based fan fiction
by: Joycelyn
Solo
Summary: An unexpected pregnancy has some interesting consequences
for Trip, T'Pol, the Enterprise and the future of Humanity.
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.
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Trip/T'Pol Romance; Mystery
Chapter Twenty-Seven - Logic is as logic does
After the Denobulan doctor finished his examination and tended the sub-commander's wound, he left the two Vulcans alone so that he could check on his other patients.
T'Vin, curious after reviewing Phlox's notes and T'Pol's medical history, commented, "It is difficult to believe the Ceidé scientists successfully created a Vulcan-Human hybrid in a matter of days."
T'Pol, still seated on the biobed, regarded the healer. "Dr. Phlox believes the biological integration of our two cultures is only a matter of time. However, even if Vulcans and Humans were to attempt such an endeavor, it is doubtful that any true progress would be made for several years. According to Rajiin, the Ceidé are a scientifically advanced race. Genetic manipulation could be well within their realm of expertise."
"They used this expertise to provide a defense against the bio-weapon the Xindi developed." T'Vin examined the second PADD Phlox had provided, reviewing the doctor's and Rajiin's notes for the cure they had developed. "It is curious that they chose this approach to offering assistance."
"'Curious' is one way to describe it." T'Pol shifted, placing her hand atop her protruding stomach.
"You have formed a connection to the hybrids," T'Vin observed. "And to Commander Tucker."
T'Pol's face tightened, then smoothed when she realized that it was only a matter of time before T'Vin would notice the bond. Vulcan healers were sensitive telepaths; their skills used to treat the mind and body of their patients. Though T'Vin had sensed T'Pol's true relationship to Trip, it was unlikely Soval had noticed it.
For all her father's intelligence, his telepathic ability was almost nonexistent. It was this lack of gift that made him a perfect candidate for brokering relationships with new species that did not employ proper shielding to their thoughts.
T'Pol, though not nearly as adept as a healer or even as sensitive as her own mother, had developed her own shields so that she, too, could be a part of first contact.
Little had she known that her efforts to shield her mind from Humans and other beings would be no match against her feelings for a certain alien.
"Commander Tucker is my bondmate," T'Pol finally answered.
One dark eyebrow arched over the healer's eye. "Though I have worked with Humans for a number of years, I had not realized they had the ability to form a bond."
"Commander Tucker seemed as surprised as I," T'Pol admitted, relaxing at T'Vin's far-from-judgemental attitude. "He first noticed a sensitivity to what the twins were feeling, and then my own feelings. Perhaps his ability to form a connection was another side effect of the Ceidé experiment."
"Or perhaps it was a result of your feelings for him." At T'Pol's widened eyes, T'Vin said, "Please remember, T'Pol, that healers are more in tune with their own feelings than most Vulcans. I can understand your caring for the commander. He is, after all, the father of your children."
"I do not believe that is the only reason I care for him."
"Nor do I. However, the Ambassador is not likely to be as understanding. He is already concerned for you and he sees this situation as another indication that he should be."
"My father has spoken of this concern to you?" T'Pol asked, clearly surprised.
T'Vin, in a somewhat Human manner, lowered her eyes as she confessed, "Soval did not seem to realize how loudly he was broadcasting his thoughts. Sometimes it is difficult for me to ignore them even with my own barriers raised."
T'Pol, who for all her life could not remember one instance when her father had been without the utmost mental and emotional control, found that hard to believe. Of course, it was hard to believe her father would have commandeered a Vulcan vessel and approached the Andorians for assistance in order to aid a Human ship on a doomed mission.
Perhaps she had underestimated her father.
Perhaps I have underestimated my daughter, Soval thought as he followed Lieutenant Reed toward T'Pol's quarters.
When he had first seen her condition as she flaunted both her pregnancy and her relationship to the Human engineer on the Enterprise bridge, Soval had fully believed that he had failed as a father and T'Pol had found the ultimate form of rebellion.
However, after listening to Captain Archer's explanation of the bizarre circumstances of his daughter's pregnancy, the Ambassador could not help the relief that flooded him. Though his daughter was in an unusual situation, she was not completely lost. The effects of a pregnancy on a woman -- especially one carrying half-Human genes -- was enough to tax even the most logical of Vulcans. No doubt, in an emotional state not dissimilar to the illogical bouts her own mother had experienced, T'Pol had turned to the Enterprise engineer for comfort and support.
Once T'Pol had some stability back in her life -- namely by taking her away from the irrational influence of the Humans -- they could contend with the future of her unborn children.
"These are T'Pol's quarters, Ambassador," Reed announced, stopping before the cabin door.
"Thank you, Lieutenant." Considering the security officer dismissed, Soval paid little attention to the man as he pressed the button to announce his presence.
After only a moment, the doors parted -- but it was not T'Pol who answered.
"Hey, Soval," Commander Tucker drawled, adjusting the collar of his uniform as he regarded the ambassador. "I guess you were looking for T'Pol."
"Yes," Soval said, eyeing the still-present Reed. "I was informed that these were her quarters."
"Oh, they're her quarters, all right. Actually, they're our quarters."
If the Human's intention had been to upset Soval, he quickly achieved his goal.
"You share quarters with my daughter?"
"Ever since the wedding."
"What wedding?"
The commander's face faltered for a moment, confusion marring his brow. "The Cap'n didn't mention that part?"
"No. Captain Archer failed to mention your wedding. It matters little since he does not have the authority to bind my daughter to you."
"To tell you the truth, Soval, Cap'n Archer didn't bind your daughter to me. She did that all herself. T'Pol's a grown woman. She can -- and has -- made her own choices."
"This wasn't her choice. This was an experiment by a race that should have known better than to meddle in matters that are not their concern. It is an emotional instability caused by your Human hormones that are clouding my daughter's judgment."
"My judgment is far from clouded, Father" T'Pol stated, drawing both men's attention as she approached down the corridor. "And I would prefer if you did not refer to my children as an 'experiment.'"
"This is certainly an interesting turn of events, Captain."
"Y'know, Shran, I thought it was Vulcans who had the gift for understatement."
The Andorian commander smiled, reaching for the bottle of ale he'd brought aboard. As he topped off theHuman's drink, he said, "It is still difficult to believe that this mysterious race of scientists would have kidnapped your two senior officers in such a roundabout way of helping you."
"I've had a couple of months to wrestle with the idea and I still find it difficult to believe," Archer admitted.
After a moment, as both commanders enjoyed their drink, Shran commented, "It is interesting. If T'Pol were going to end up with any of you pink skins, I would have assumed it would be you."
Archer smiled, the look less than comfortable. "T'Pol's not really my type."
"Yes," Shran agreed, smiling at Archer's discomfort. "Rajiin seems more like a woman after your hearts...I mean heart. I forgot that not all species are fortunate to have two."
"Rajiin has been very helpful since coming aboard, trying to atone for her past mistakes. Her motives, at least, I can understand." The Human captain leveled his gaze at his Andorian counterpart. "Why, exactly, are you here, Shran?"
"I am here at the request of Ambassador Soval, of course."
The Andorian's sentiment was as sincere was Archer's uniform was orange and the captain told him so. "I would think Soval asking you for help would be a reason for you not to enter the Expanse."
Shran set his glass aside, leaning slightly forward over the table. "In truth, Captain, I am here because I still owe you a debt and I consider this payment. The fact that Soval will be the one in your debt when this is over is merely a bonus."
Though his reasons weren't as altruistic as Archer would have liked, he couldn't deny that the presence of the Andorians and the Vulcans -- two species not usually in accord -- gave him a measure of hope for the mission's success.
"With my crew's help," Shran continued, "Repairs to your vessel should be completed within two days. However, even then, it will be a week's journey to the Xindi Prime coordinates. Perhaps you would like to accompany me aboard the Kumari."
"As generous as that offer is, my crew's invested too much into this mission for me to leave them and Enterprise behind."
"Very well. We will complete the repairs and travel together. If these Xindi want to fight the Humans, they'll have to get through us first."
If not for the disappointment his wife was feeling, Trip would have taken a small measure of satisfaction at Soval's barely-contained frustration.
"Your actions are illogical," the ambassador said for, if Trip was counting right, the seventh time since joining him and T'Pol in their quarters. Though Malcolm was no doubt curious about the father-daughter conversation about to take place, Trip wasn't keen on the idea of continuing the family discussion in the corridor for all to witness.
Of course, Soval hadn't been too keen on Trip's continued presence as the ambassador attempted to convince his daughter to return to Vulcan with him aboard the Surak.
"I do not expect you to understand my actions any more now than you ever have, Father," T'Pol said, her voice calm as she stared up at her father. While she had taken a seat on the bunk, Soval refused the chair Trip offered. Trip, for his part, was leaning against the far wall; his stance casual as he lent his wife silent support.
"If your actions had any semblance of logic to them, perhaps I could understand." Soval paused, looking over at Trip when the engineer made a sound very similar to a muffled laugh. "Do you find this situation amusing, Commander?"
"My husband has been known to find humor in the most inopportune moments," T'Pol explained, shooting Trip a look. Though her face was impassive for her father's sake, Trip could tell she was also appreciating the humor. "According to his tally, that was your eighth reference to logic in this discussion."
Soval, clearly not sharing the Tuckers' amusement, turned his attention back to his daughter. "You would choose this Human to raise your children? He who cannot even observe a serious conversation without making a joke of it?"
T'Pol, though she didn't like it, had an idea of where her father was leading the discussion. "And what would you suggest, Father? Do you believe Koss or another Vulcan suitor would accept half-Human children?"
"I am sure that, with the proper explanation, a suitable candidate could be found."
"Now just a minute," Trip said, pushing away from the wall and moving to stand beside the bunk. "T'Pol's my wife. Maybe that doesn't mean much on Vulcan, but I'm sure as hell not going to stand here while you try to take my family away."
Soval, in the most moderate of voices, said, "The sanctity of the marriage bond is honored with highest regard on Vulcan, Commander Tucker. However, what you and my daughter share is not a true bond."
"Sure feels like one to me." Trip looked down at his wife and laid his hand on her shoulder. "How else would I know that, despite her proper upbringing, T'Pol would like nothing more than for me to pop you one for even suggesting that a Vulcan could do a better job raising our kids than me?"
"I highly doubt my daughter has entertained such thoughts."
"On the contrary, Father, my husband is quite right."
"He is not your husband, T'Pol," Soval stated firmly, his tone louder than any he'd used previously. "He, like yourself, is the victim of alien meddling. No matter what you may...feel...for him or he for you, it is only logical to assume that your entire relationship is based on the stressful result of the experiment."
"I have already asked that you not refer to my children as an experiment."
Soval looked at his daughter, his face hard. "Your emotional attachment to the hybrids is not logical or healthy, T'Pol. Nor is your attachment to this Human."
Trip took a step toward his father-in-law, ignoring the ambassador's intimidating presence as his patience reached an end. "The twins may have been an experiment at first, Soval, but we chose to keep them. Just as we chose each other. You may not agree with those choices and you may have very valid, very logical reasons not to, but this is my family and I'll do whatever it takes to protect them."
Soval's face remained impassive as he regarded the engineer.
Continuing, Trip nodded his head toward the door. "Now, if you'd be so kind, my wife needs to rest. As you've noticed, she's in a delicate condition and doesn't need her father or anyone else bothering her."
The ambassador did not move for several moments, his eyes going from Trip to T'Pol and back again. Finally, bowing his head slightly, he moved toward the door.
His hand poised over the controls, Soval turned once more toward Trip. "Your loyalty to my daughter is commendable, Commander. I leave her in your hands. For now."
And, with that, Ambassador Soval left to return to the Surak.
