Series Title: Star Trek—The Continuing Voyages of the Enterprise

Author: ginamr

Story Title: Ragnarok

Story Number in Series: Two

Story Part: Three

Season Five

Episode Number in Season: 02

Episode Number in Series: 102

Genre: Science Fiction/Angst/Action/Adventure/Mystery

Rating: PG-13 (For Implied Violence and Adult Language)

Possible spoilers: Broken Bow through Terra Prime

Disclaimer: Only new characters and the new plots are mine. The original characters belong to Paramount. I receive no monetary reward for my work; my only reward is the joy of creating.

Author's Note: Some names of the Briliarins taken from Norse mythology. And just so you all don't think I'm stealing, I did read a ST: Enterprise fanfiction story about a culture similar to the Briliarins but the Briliarin queen is a bit more open than the monarch in that story. Plus, this story moves in a different direction than that one…Plus that one was an A/T'P pairing…this one is T/T'P.

I'm going to assume Vulcans can tell white lies. ;) So, when T'Pol says she and Trip "hadn't been intimate in six years ("These Are the Voyages"), I'll assume she fibbed and that what she meant was that they hadn't been intimate on regular basis and that their intimacy wasn't common knowledge. As for anyone being suspicious…they (most of them) think they're meditating together and/or comforting one another…or better yet, that she meant other than this incident ;). Okay, so I'm not quite sticking to that canon piece…but honestly---what Trip/Tpoler wants that to be canon anyway?

Last time on Star Trek: Enterprise… Ragnarok Part 2

Play Intro.

The next morning…

"Do you have anything yet, Doctor?"

"A little patience, hmm? I haven't worked with this species' DNA before. There are differences."

"Does that mean that the blood is not human?"

Phlox nodded. "However, it is going to be difficult to identify whom the DNA belongs to without a database."

"I shall see if Her Majesty has a database. If she does not, we will have to take a sampling of DNA from all of the Briliarin males."

"That would be helpful."

"And maybe then we could attempt to ascertain what really occurred in Commander Tucker's temporary quarters."

"Most certainly."

T'Pol nodded. "Thank you. I will inform the Captain of your findings."

"Commander," Phlox called as she made toward the door. T'Pol turned back toward him. "I can't help but notice that you seem more troubled than usual. Is there something you wish to discuss."

T'Pol paused for a moment, the look on her face as neutral as she could make it. "It was a difficult night."

"How so?" Phlox asked in his usual optimistic tone.

T'Pol could sense from the Doctor's insistence on pushing the matter that he felt her difficult night was related to Trip's incarceration when in fact this was only one of the issues causing her restless nights.

"I see. Have a seat, Commander." T'Pol raised an eyebrow at him. "I'd simply like to do a check-up." Reluctantly, she did as Phlox asked. "Hmm."

"What is it?"

Phlox looked up from the scanner he was using with a worried expression. "It seems that the pheromones from the Briliarin females have triggered your Pon-Farr."

"My Pon-Farr is not expected for another several years."

Phlox nodded. "Of course, but the pheromones seem to have served as some kind of external signal."

"Why were the others not affected?"

"The others, being human I suppose, were not effected in the same way. However, because of your bond, Commander Tucker will most likely suffer the same symptoms. In his case, fortunately, they will not be fatal."

"How long?"

"The symptoms should become more prominent in a day or so."

T'Pol nodded and slid off the biobed. "Thank you, Doctor."

"I would speak with Commander Tucker if I were you," Phlox shouted after her.

T'Pol paused in the door and turned to him, nodding in acknowledgement before exiting Sickbay.

Phlox sighed as the doors closed, shaking his head. I hope the situation is resolved more efficiently this time.

T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T

Later in the dungeons of Briliarus IV…

Trip looked up when T'Pol entered the cell, a half-smile on his face. "So…?"

"The Doctor has discovered that the DNA is not human."

Trip frowned. "I was hoping for a bit more than that."

"We must give him time. He needs the DNA sequences of the Briliarin males to discover the true identity of the culprit."

Trip nodded and sighed, running his hands through his hair. "I think I'm goin' ta have nightmares for the rest of my life. I just can' get the picture out of my head." He paused, his features tightening. "I hope the bastard who did this gets what he deserves," he mumbled angrily.

"He will be held responsible for his actions," T'Pol assured him, laying a hand on his shoulder. "You must try to sleep. You are tired."

"I can'. Every time I close my eyes, she's lyin' there covered in her own blood, her eyes glazed over…and she looks so stunned…" Trip broke off, his voice cracking with emotion.

"I will stay with you until you are asleep."

Trip nodded and lay down on the makeshift mattress, T'Pol lying down facing him. "Phlox said you wanted to talk to me about something."

"We will talk once you have rested."

Trip sighed, closing his eyes. T'Pol turned over so that she was facing the other way and Trip wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tightly against him. "T'Pol," he whispered. "Thanks."

She nodded and closed her eyes, placing her hands on top of his. She listened as his breathing deepened and slowed. Soon, she too drifted off.

T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'TT'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'TT'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'TT'N'T T'N'T

Later on Enterprise…

"I believe I have identified whom the DNA belongs to, Captain."

Archer nodded. "Who then, Doctor?"

"Did you have any contact with a male named Talvic?"

Archer frowned slightly. "We saw him, but none of us were ever closer than 100 metres."

"I believe he is our culprit."

"You're sure, Phlox? He didn't seem like the type to commit a murder---"

"I believe there's an Earth saying…'it's always the quiet ones'."

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Her Majesty's chambers, the next morning…

"You're certain?"

Phlox nodded. "DNA doesn't lie, I'm afraid."

Freyja shook her head. "It's just so difficult to believe. Talvic is my most loyal mister."

Archer was wondering if this Talvic wasn't the first of many that would rebel against the queen. He had a bad feeling about that Lvor, whom T'Pol had mentioned as a suspect because of the happenings of that evening. Perhaps they had unknowingly walked right into a civil war.

"Jealousy can be a strong motive in many cases," T'Pol added thoughtfully. As you should well know, she chided herself.

Freyja looked at the Vulcan, a shocked expression on her face. "Jealousy?"

The Vulcan nodded. "Commander Tucker suggested jealousy as a motive to kill and rape your Second House Mistress. Perhaps Talvic felt that our arrival would influence his status and therefore attempted to speed up our departure."

Archer paused before adding a few thoughts of his own. "I mean no disrespect, but isn't it possible that Talvic is the leader of a rebellion fighting for men's rights?"

"Impossible. There hasn't been an uprising for two centuries."

"It seems logical considering the behavior of the men toward our arrival."

Freyja sighed. "Very well. Commander Tucker will be released. There is enough evidence to at the very least prove his innocence. We will further investigate Talvic's possible role in the crime. I ask that you not leave orbit until this matter has been cleared up."

Archer nodded. "That sounds fair to me."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Freyja nodded and grinned. "My pleasure, Commander."

"If I may be excused, I would like to speak with my th'yla."

Without waiting for an answer, T'Pol exited the room leaving behind a confused Archer, a grinning Phlox, and a pleased Freyja.

T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T T'N'T

A few moments later in the dungeons…

Trip stood when T'Pol entered the cell, looking hopeful. T'Pol's expression remained neutral, but he could feel a nagging feeling of alarm through the bond. "T'Pol…" he began.

"You are free."

Trip frowned. "T'Pol, what's wrong?"

"It is my Pon-Farr. My time among the Briliarin females has triggered it."

Trip's eyebrows shot up. "Isn't Pon-Farr…?"

"The Vulcan mating drive, yes." She hesitated. "Those who are not bonded die if they do not mate."

Trip's eyes widened. "Die?"

T'Pol moved closer to him brushing a hair from his temple in a gesture of affection she'd seen a human male or female use with their chosen one. "It is alright, Trip. We are bonded. I will not die. But because of our bond, you will share the symptoms."

Trip ran his hands through his hair. "I knew that dream wasn' just me." T'Pol raised an eyebrow and Trip's cheeks became slightly pink. "So---since we're bonded---"

"The Pon-Farr will not be fatal. However, we must mate to break the plak tow."

"Mate? As in---"

"Have sexual intercourse."

Trip gave her a half-grin. "Do you have ta always be so clinically dry, T'Pol?"

"I am being truthful."

"You know it means more to us than that," Trip said softly, his eyes meeting hers revealing burning desire. T'Pol's features softened and Trip chuckled. "You can't hide it now, darlin'. I can feel it. Right here." He took her hand in his and placed it over his heart. "I love you, T'Pol---so much it hurts."

She nodded, unable to deny it. He could see into her heart because of the bond. She knew that she couldn't even deny to herself what she felt.

The way she desired his presence, the pleasure she received from even his simplest quirks, the way she purposely did and said illogical things to hear his laugh---and the helpless feeling she had when he was upset or in pain. Yes, she did not like to see any of her colleagues upset; but with Trip it was different. She loved him in a way that she did not love anyone else. She would give up her own contentment to see him fulfilled.

"But we cannot be together in the way that you wish to be."

Trip's features grew somber. "Why can't we be together, T'Pol? Are you afraid of what being us might mean?"

T'Pol turned away from him. "I cannot give you children and I cannot love you as you love me. I am Vulcan and that cannot be changed. You deserve someone who can give you all of the things that will please you."

Trip grasped her chin gently with his hand, forcing her to look into his eyes. "T'Pol, I can imagine the perfect woman---and she wouldn't even come close to you," he said softly.

He tilted his head brushing his lips against hers and his tenderness made her knees weak. She felt rushes of emotion she had not experienced since her Trellium addiction. When she felt his hands gently cup her face, all of the barriers she had put up against her emotions crumbled like a dam bursting. She felt herself responding freely to the desire his scent and his kiss ignited in her.

She didn't struggle when Trip laid her slowly onto the mattress in the corner, raining butterfly kisses up her neck, nibbling the points of her ears. She gasped as the sensations only served to stoke the fire already burning in her abdomen that begged for completion.

"When things went wrong with Natalie, I started wonderin' if I'd ever find the right woman. And then you came along. It took me a long time to realize that you're exactly what I need and exactly what I want. You're not like any other woman I've ever met, T'Pol. You make me want to love you." T'Pol looked into his eyes, for a moment unsure of how to respond. "Shh. It's alright, darlin'. I can feel it, remember?" His mouth descended upon hers, deepening the kiss when she began to respond. A soft, feminine whimper passed her lips when his fingers glided gently over her softness, avoiding her clearly hard nipples.

"Trip."

The gentleness of her voice enticed a groan of pleasure from deep in his chest. He felt himself responding to her pleasure with intensity so great that he felt it sizzle through every nerve in his body. The look in her eyes was so fiery that it became hard to breath.

"The Pon-Farr," she stated, sensing his thoughts through the bond. "It is upon me."

"I can feel it, too," Trip replied, his voice deep with need. He gasped at the intensity of his bondmate's desire, feeling it echoed in his own body. "T'Pol," he groaned. "God, it's so strong."

T'Pol's right hand came up to touch the contact points on his face. She clenched her teeth breathing heavily. "I claim thee…in the rite…of Pon-Farr," T'Pol gritted out in a hurried voice. "My mind to your mind---our minds are merging---our minds are one."

Trip heard himself repeating the last four words with her as though it were only natural to do so and he sucked in a breath as he sensed something in the back of his mind. Its presence was familiar, yet he knew it was not a part of him. The presence drew closer and soon the white room became visible around him.

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T'Pol?

She nodded. Yes.

Trip's eyes closed against the longing flooding through him. Jesus, darlin'---Is this---how it feels---for you---every time?

Yes. He gasped when he felt her hand slide boldly to the bulge in his trousers. Is this what you're looking for? she asked huskily.

He nodded, not sure he trusted himself to speak. She responded in a way that was so unlike her that it unsettled him for a moment. The feeling quickly disappeared as he felt a nearly unbearable flash of heat in his groin. He growled and grabbed her face in his hands, kissing her savagely and pressing his body fully against her, one of his hands sliding down to rest at her waist, his fingers massaging her soft hips.

She sucked in a quiet breath and released a breathy moan, her back arching at the feel of his cold fingers against her heated skin. She wanted to feel him everywhere at once and the closeness they had now was not enough. A strong desire to crawl inside him encompassed her senses.

She closed her eyes when she felt the heat of his body cover hers, her hands sliding into his hair to bring his head down and she pressed her lips to his, her tongue sliding past his lips deepening the kiss.

He moaned into her mouth. Christ! Where'd you learn to do that?

I had a skilled teacher, she replied huskily, sealing her lips over his once again.

TBC…