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-Eight - I'm not sick, but I'm not well

One week later, the Enterprise dropped out of warp on the outer edge of Xindi space with the Surak and the Kumari in flanking positions.

No one aboard either vessel was surprised by the Xindi fleet that welcomed them. Malcolm, paying close attention to potential hostilities, recognized Reptilian and Insectoid craft in addition to two other distinctive designs. He wondered, briefly, which of the five Xindi species was not represented in the small fleet that lay before them.

"Captain, we're being hailed," Hoshi announced, her hands moving deftly over the controls of her console.

That's a change of pace, Malcolm thought. All previous encounters with the Xindi had involved them shooting at Enterprise without the pleasantry of conversation first.

At the captain's nod, Hoshi patched the communication through. A furry-faced Xindi -- a Sloth, perhaps -- appeared on the main viewscreen.

"You have entered Xindi territory. Identify yourself."

"I'm Captain Jonathon Archer of the Earth vessel Enterprise."

Though the Xindi seemed to flinch a bit at the mention of "Earth," he didn't seem overly surprised by their presence.

"You are a long way from your home planet, Captain," the Sloth finally said.

"The issues that bring us here are extremely important. We've traveled a long way for an audience before the Council."

The Council -- as Rajiin had explained to the command crew -- was a governing body of representatives from each of the five Xindi species. All decisions concerning the collective race were made by them.

Malcolm wasn't entirely sure the captain's intentions to discuss things rationally with the Council was the best course of action, but, considering that -- even with their Andorian and Vulcan companions -- Enterprise was sorely outnumbered, he didn't know what else they could do.

"Outsiders are rarely granted audience with the Council."

"I'm hopeful that, this time, an exception can be made. This is a matter that concerns the future of both of us -- all of us."

The Xindi seemed to consider this. "It will take time to confer with the Council. Do not move from your present position."

Abruptly, the transmission ended.

"That went better than I thought," the captain said softly, then turned his attention to T'Pol at the science station. "How long do you think it will take for a response?"

"It could be a manner of minutes or days, depending on the diplomatic tactics of the Xindi." T'Pol paused, then continued, "Ambassador Soval may be of more help in providing an estimated time."

Before Archer had a chance to consider this option, Hoshi announced, "The Xindi is hailing, again, sir."

All eyes were on the viewscreen as the Sloth's image reappeared. "You have been granted permission to speak your case to the Council. You and one other will board my vessel and be escorted to Xindi Prime. Your vessels will remain here."

Though Malcolm could think of at least a dozen reasons why the captain shouldn't agree with those terms, he knew it was likely the best opportunity they would have to appeal to the Xindi and stop the launch of the weapon.

With the slightest amount of hesitation, Captain Archer nodded. "That is acceptable."

- - -

After a short, uneventful and less-than-sociable trip aboard the Xindi vessel, Archer and T'Pol were surprised to be transported into the heart of the Xindi Council Chamber.

The captain cast a glance at his first officer -- grateful for her presence. Though both Trip and Phlox hadn't been pleased, there was no one Archer wanted by his side more than his first officer. He may not always agree with her, but with Earth's fate in the balance, having T'Pol as an anchor of logic was probably a good idea.

As they faced the empty table where, no doubt, the Council presided, Archer could see that T'Pol was very subtly examining their surroundings with her tricorder. The two Insectoid guards who stood near the entrance did not seem to mind her use of the instrument -- either because they did not notice or did not think it posed a threat.

Shortly after T'Pol finished her scans and put the tricorder away, a series of Xindi transporter effects drew their attention to the Council table.

One by one, the five representatives of the Xindi materialized before them: Reptilian, Insectoid, Sloth, Primate and Aquatic -- the aquatic representative appearing in a large, liquid-filled tank for the species' unique needs.

"Captain Archer," the Reptilian representative addressed, "we understand that you have come before us with a matter of some import."

"That is correct," Archer answered, resisting the urge to take a step forward as he presented his case. "I believe there has been a misunderstanding -- a grave misunderstanding that has already cost the lives of seven million Humans and fourteen Vulcans. Not to mention the Xindi who piloted the probe and others killed during skirmishes in the last several months.

"This all began with the unexpected and unprovoked launch of a probe that destroyed a significant portion of Earth. By coming before you, I hope to resolve this misunderstanding and prevent any future hostilities that may erupt between our species."

- - -

As the captain spoke, T'Pol was impressed by his -- thus far, at least -- logical progression of facts over accusations. Though she had opted to stay aboard Enterprise to offer her assistance in locating the Xindi, she often wondered what exactly the captain had in mind for resolving the conflict.

His current approach, that of a diplomat, was a pleasant surprise. Her Human companion was a far cry from the eager and irrational one she'd met more than three years before.

Of course, a lot could change in three years -- as the band she wore on her left ring finger reminded her.

From her place beside the captain, T'Pol continued to study their surroundings. The Council members were intent on listening to Archer's case, the Primate and Sloth nodding occasionally in a way not dissimilar to Human. The Insectoid guards -- the two who had been in the chamber when she and the captain arrived, continued to stand vigil near the entrance. In addition, a Reptilian and Primate stood sentry on either end of the table -- they had beamed in with the representatives.

"There is a chance that, given the opportunity to talk, Xindi and Humans could even develop formal relations," Archer continued. "I am sure there are many things we can learn from each other, opportunities that would be lost if we continue on this course to annihilate each other."

With the captain's speech concluded, the representatives spoke softly to each other; each casting glances at T'Pol and Archer on occasion.

"You bring up several interesting points, Captain Archer," the Aquatic said, her -- though T'Pol couldn't accurately determine a gender -- voice translated by a device attached to the holding tank. "You come before us, claiming that the probe killed seven million of your people with no provocation. However, we consider the loss of an entire Xindi species to be a significant cause for such a consequence."

Loss of a species, T'Pol thought, seeing that the captain seemed to struggle with the same disbelief.

"I am afraid I do not understand, Representative."

"One hundred years ago, the there was an Avian race of Xindi. One hundred years ago, a vessel from Earth witnessed -- and was responsible for -- their destruction."

"That's impossible!" Archer shouted, clearly surprised by the accusation.

The Primate stood at the captain's outburst, providing one of his own. "Do you accuse this body of lying?"

Before the captain could respond, his intention to, no doubt, reclaim superiority of volume from the Primate representative, T'Pol stepped forward. "What Captain Archer is saying is that it is impossible for the Humans to have been involved in the demise of the Avians as Humans were not capable of travel this far into space until the last twenty years."

The low and even tone of T'Pol's explanation had a calming effect on everyone in the chamber -- save one. Too late, T'Pol saw the Reptilian step away from his post beside the representatives and launch something at them.

T'Pol attempted to shove the captain out of the way, just as the vial broke at their feet. T'Pol felt the air in her lungs constrict, as though its presence was no longer welcome in her body. The sensation lasted only a moment and she recovered in time to see the captain collapse beside her, his hands clutching his throat as he fought the same ailment that had plagued her.

She heard shouts above her; heard the sound of the Reptilian who'd attacked them subdued to the chamber floor. During this, however, her attention was on her captain -- her friend -- as he slipped into unconsciousness.

The Sloth representative approached, his voice hesitant. "Do you know what that was?"

"I believe it was the bio-weapon the Reptilians developed," the Vulcan answered, her gaze going to the subdued guard. "Our doctor has been developing a defense against it. I request his presence to administer the second stage of the antidote."

"At once," the Sloth agreed, turning to his assistant and speaking quickly. He turned back to T'Pol and joined her as she knelt once more beside the unconscious Human. "Your doctor and vessel will arrive shortly."

Some minutes later, Phlox materialized in the middle of the chamber with Shran, Soval, Lieutenant Reed and Trip. Without hesitation, the doctor and engineer moved toward T'Pol and Archer.

Even as the doctor readied the injection he'd prepared enroute, he asked, "You were unaffected, Sub-Commander?"

"I believe carrying the twins has made me immune to the bio-weapon," T'Pol answered as Trip took her into his embrace -- more for his comfort than for her own. Allowing her emotional Human to appease himself, she continued, "I felt a momentary reaction to the gas but it has passed."

"Let's just hope this works as well for the captain," Phlox said, monitoring Archer's vitals and waiting for the injection to work with the first phase of the antidote he had administered to both the captain and T'Pol before they left Enterprise.

Almost immediately, Archer gasped loudly, pulling in much-needed oxygen.

"You're all right now, Captain," Phlox said, placing a hand on Archer's shoulder to keep him in a reclined position. "The first phase of the antidote kept your cells from becoming fully depleted of oxygen while the bio-weapon worked its way through your system. Phase two should have you breathing normally in just a couple of minutes."

The captain nodded, looking up to see Trip and T'Pol.

The engineer smiled. "We were more than ready when the Xindi gave us the call. I don't think they finished telling us we were cleared before Malcolm ordered us to Warp 2."

The captain looked over at Shran and Soval, who were talking with the Insectoid representative. At the questioning look in Archer's eyes, Trip answered, "Soval and Shran insisted on coming aboard shortly after the two of you left. I guess they figured if there was going to be any action, Enterprise would be in the thick of it."

"Gla...gla..." Archer wheezed, his lungs still recovering. "Glad they could make it."

As the captain struggled to stand, Phlox and Trip bent to help him. Leaning heavily on his chief engineer, Archer looked pointedly at the Primate representative who had remained nearby.

"The Reptilians were told not to pursue the bio-weapon," he said by way of an apology.

"In favor of the other weapon you're developing to use against Earth?" Trip asked.

"The weapon was meant as a defense against your people. We know what the Humans have planned for us."

"How could we have anything planned? We'd never even heard of the Xindi until your probe killed seven million innocent people."

The Primate seemed offended by Trip's outburst, and T'Pol placed a hand on her husband's arm. "The Xindi are under the impression that it was Humans from Earth who were responsible for the loss of their sixth species, the Avians."

"I don't remember us ever coming across any Avians," Trip denied.

"They say it was more than one hundred years ago, Trip," the captain said, his voice and breathing back to normal. "And I've already told them that's not possible."

"How were the Avians..?" Phlox asked, allowing the question to trail off.

The Primate hesitated, his eyes going to the Reptilian representative as he questioned the guard. "It was a bio-weapon of some kind. It targeted only the Avians, forcing them to waste away before our very eyes."

"It was their death that brought the remaining five species together," the Aquatic offered, her voice coming from a communicator the Primate held that only those around him could hear. "We were embroiled in a civil war when the Avians became ill."

"And you combined forces to find the ones responsible," Archer guessed. "But why do you think Earth had anything to do with this?"

"We were told by a reliable source that we were not first, nor the last, that the Humans would exterminate from the galaxy. We were told of your xenophobia."

"Who told you this?" Phlox asked. "You only have to look at me to know that Humans endeavor to form alliances with all races, not to wipe them out."

Before the Primate or Aquatic could answer, the attention of everyone in the chamber was drawn to a shadowy figure in the corner. "I am afraid that Captain Archer is quite right, my friends."

"Silik!" Archer yelled, lunging at the meddling time traveler. "Are you behind all this?"

"Am I responsible for this particular experiment? No. However, I convinced my superiors that it wouldn't be long until you figured things out and shared them with our Xindi friends. In anticipation of that, I volunteered to handle things."

"And how exactly are you going to handle them?" Trip asked, taking a protective step in front of T'Pol in case Silik decided his pregnant wife would make a nice bargaining chip.

"What experiment are you talking about?" the Reptilian representative asked, joining the crowd that had gathered around the unexpected visitor. "The Suliban have been friends of the Xindi for generations."

Archer frowned. "From what I can tell, the Suliban aren't really friends with anybody. Everyone is a pawn they can use in their attempts to mess with the timeline. It was a Suliban who told us that the Xindi were responsible for the attack on Earth, and I'm guessing they hinted that Humans had something to do with the forced extinction of the Avians." Archer turned his attention to Silik. "You know what I think? I think that sometime in the future, the Xindi and Humans form an alliance and make life very difficult for the Suliban. So, what do you do? You come back to the past, pretend to be helpful and convince us to point our most threatening weapons at each other so that we're too busy trying to annihilate ourselves to bother with you."

"Well, Captain," Silik said, "You're not wrong."

"But, there was evidence," the Sloth protested. "We would not have launched an attack on Earth without proof."

"'Evidence' doctored by the Suliban, I bet," Archer practically growled at Silik. "To start a war that didn't need to be fought."

Silik stared at Archer, then at the Xindi Council members. Finally, his eyes rested on Trip. "What of you, Commander Tucker?" Silik asked, his tone low in an attempt at sympathy. "No matter what prompted them, the Xindi were responsible for the death of your sister. Shouldn't they be forced to pay for that?"

Trip's eyes narrowed. "Seven million people were killed in that attack, Silik -- an attack initiated because of a lie you told the Xindi. If someone should be made to pay, I would think it should be you and the rest of you meddling time travelers."

"That is what I thought." Silik turned back to Archer. "Though this experiment failed, events have been set in motion, Captain, and the game is far from over."

With that cryptic -- and irritating -- message, the Suliban was surrounded by transporter effect and disappeared.

"Guard!" the Insectoid demanded, "Track the Suliban's ship."

Archer hung his head, knowing full-well that any attempts to track Silik would be useless.

"Captain Archer."

The captain looked up, seeing that the Reptilian representative was addressing him.

"Perhaps it is time we discussed this alliance the Suliban seemed so worried about."

---
Author's Note: We're in the home-stretch here, folks. Only two chapters remain and I want to thank all of you, again, for your continued support and enjoyment (hopefully) of this story.