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

Author: ginamr

Story Title: Ragnarok

Story Number in Series: Two

Story Part: Four

Season Five

Episode Number in Season: 03

Episode Number in Series: 103

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 3

Continued...

Play Intro

Sometime later…

Trip felt T'Pol stirring in his arms and he smiled when she gave a small yawn before opening her eyes. "Mornin', darlin'."

"Good morning," she offered in return, yawning again. "Why did you not wake me?"

Trip smirked. "I figured you were worn out is all." His features softened. "Besides you looked so peaceful that I didn' want to wake you."

T'Pol nodded and buried her face in his neck, kissing the sensitive spot just behind his ear that she had discovered the night before.

"You alright now?"

"If I am correct, the Pon-Farr will run its complete course. Although the Doctor could no doubt synthesize another serum…"

Trip frowned. "What do you mean 'another one'?"

"It isn't important."

"The hell it isn't," Trip growled. "If it wasn't, you wouldn't have brought it up."

T'Pol paused, looking away. "When the Captain was taken prisoner by the Tellerite pilot, a virus trigged my Pon-Farr. I was not expecting it for several more years. Phlox managed to synthesize a serum that eased the symptoms."

"So you were stuck in Decon with Phlox when your last Pon-Farr hit?" Trip asked in shock.

T'Pol nodded solemnly. "Fortunately, as you are aware, the Doctor suffered no permanent harm."

"Why didn't you just tell me?" he asked softly, sounding hurt.

"My behavior was extremely inappropriate. I preferred that it remain between the Doctor and myself."

"So why didn' you ask Phlox for the serum this time?"

"There was a more practical solution at hand."

He chuckled. "And what would that be?"

T'Pol raised an eyebrow. "The natural conclusion. We are, after all, bonded."

"That's as close as you'll ever get to admitting emotion, isn't it?"

"Perhaps---perhaps not."

"You know, you never answered my question."

"The mating cycle will take several days."

"Days!"

"We must return to Enterprise. Phlox has begun synthesis of a serum that will temporarily ease the symptoms. It should be completed upon our return."

"I thought you said you weren' using a serum?"

"I am only using it to ease the process. We will still need to maintain physical contact when possible. The investigation shall continue until the responsible party is found and I am needed for it to continue."

Trip sighed. "Alright. Does Phlox have any leads?"

"The Doctor has identified the DNA sample as that of Talvic, the queen's first."

Trip frowned. "I thought for sure Lvor was involved."

"I don't feel he was personally involved with Hlathguth's murder. However, the Captain has suggested that the men of this planet could be part of a rebellion."

"So basically these people are in the middle of a civil war and we've gotten ourselves tangled in their nets."

"As I have suggested to Her Majesty and the Captain, perhaps Talvic was attempting to speed our departure by putting you at the scene of the crime."

"You know, I'll bet Hlathguth knew about their plans and went along with it for a chance to gain power."

"It's possible."

"Well at least we've got a better motive than jealousy."

T'Pol nodded. "This will certainly provide a strong case. However, we will need proof for your theory."

"Well, we'll just have to find them some."

T'Pol nodded and pulled a communicator from a hidden pocket. T'Pol to Archer. Silence. Captain. Silence.

She and Trip exchanged a look. "The Queen's chambers."

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Meanwhile in the Queen's Chambers…

The Queen looked on in horror as several males carrying weapons entered her chambers. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Do you mean that you didn't see this coming?" Talvic taunted.

"Why?"

Talvic chuckled. "Did you really think we enjoyed our enslavement? Did you really think that we could not overthrow you if we chose?" He turned to Archer. "I must say that I'm impressed, Captain." Archer said nothing. "You are an excellent Commanding Officer. You would make a superb addition to our forces."

"I don't condone slavery, but this isn't Starfleet's war."

"It became your war the moment your ship entered our space. Speaking of which, your vessel's weapons and shields will be quite helpful with the rebellion."

"Fleet! Where did you get the ships!" Freyja shouted, outraged.

"A freighter crashed on the farside of the continent. From it, we drew blueprints for our own fighters."

"You attacked my ship!" Archer said sharply.

"And an impressive ship it is Captain."

"You're not getting Enterprise without a hell of a fight."

"Never fear. Our fleet is great in number. Our ships will be able to disable yours with little difficulty."

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Bridge of Enterprise…

"Sir, I'm picking up a fleet of ships off the starboard bow."

Reed sat up straight. "How many ships, Ensign?"

"At least a hundred," Tanner replied.

"Evasive maneuvers, Travis. Bring hull plating and weapons online, Ensign Tanner."

"Hull platting and weapons online, sir."

"Target the lead ship and disable their weapons."

The ship shook violently as she took several hits. "It looks like they're trying to take out our weapons," Tanner said with a cocky grin.

"Target the cluster that's attacking. Any luck getting through the dampening field, Ensign?"

Sato shook her head. "None, sir."

Reed stood and turned, looking around the bridge. "Any suggestions?"

"We could modify a couple of torpedoes to disperse large amounts of cesium. Assuming they use a power source fueled by an element similar to the xenon used in Earth's old Xenon Ion Propulsion engines, it should disable all of their main systems." Reed gaped at her. "I took Chemistry at the Academy."

"Do we have any sources on board?"

"I'll bet the Doctor has a couple of cases he uses for the imaging chamber."

Reed nodded. "Tanner, you have the bridge. Rocson, you take Tactical. Travis…keep us alive and healthy." He then turned to Hoshi. "Get the cesium from Sickbay and I'll meet you in the Armory."

Hoshi nodded and the two entered the lift. "That seat getting warm yet, Travis?" Tanner asked.

"Not as warm as its going to be if those ships get one too many hits through to the warp core."

"Well, let's try to keep it cool downstairs then, shall we?"

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Meanwhile down on the planet…

"Not another step, Archer," Lvor shouted, aiming the weapon at the monarch.

Archer halted where he was "Settle down. Maybe we can help you work out a compromise."

"The time for compromise is over!" He fired the weapon, getting the matriarch in the shoulder. Archer began moving to her aide, but Lvor turned the weapon on Archer. Again, Archer halted.

"Violence isn't the answer. People don't have to die. Things could be resolved peacefully."

"She's wounded badly, Captain," Phlox said. "She's losing a great deal of blood in a short amount of time."

Archer turned to Talvic, his gaze almost pleading. "You don't enjoy killing anymore than my people do. You can stop it. You can't possible want to kill."

"What I want," Talvic began. "Is my freedom. And if I have to kill to get it, so be it."

"Let me tell you a story about two male chimpanzees. One of the younger males in a group challenged an older male called an alpha male. The alpha male didn't do so well and became badly injured. But do you know what the younger male did? He offered the alpha male a piece of fruit. The older male took it, accepting it as a peace offering."

"What is the point behind this ridiculous story?"

"The point," Archer began. "is that the younger male could have easily killed the older male. But instead he chose compassion. The two compromised. You can do the same." Talvic's face softened and he appeared to be personally impacted by the story. He turned to look at his Queen lying on the floor bleeding badly and his lips quirked oddly.

"We will be killed if we surrender! We have committed the ultimate treason!" Lvor shouted.

"I will face my punishment for the Second Royal mistresses' death," Talvic said calmly.

Lvor turned on him, glaring at him angrily. "You? You said it was Tucker's crime!"

Talvic turned to the other man. "She knew too much. She was prepared to go to the matriarch with the information. It would have ruined everything." Talvic turned to the queen, bowing before her. "Your majesty, please…I will take the punishment for the others. I beg your compassion. Please…let the killing end."

To Archer's shock, the queen smiled and nodded. Talvic stood smiling and pulled out a communication device. "This is Talvic to Freedom Squadron. Call off your attack. Repeat, call of your attack." He brought the device down and raised the weapon to his head. "I die by my own hand and by the weapon with which I spilt the blood of my beloved."

Before Archer could stop him, Talvic fired the weapon and his body crumpled to the ground, landing with a heavy 'THUD!' The matriarch looked on, eyes wide and mouth open in shock.

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Meanwhile aboard Enterprise…

"Got it, sir!"

"Alright, now…we need it to disperse at a rate of 125 parts per million so…"

The shuttering halted and Reed paused for a moment before sprinting toward the nearest comm. panel. Reed to Bridge. What's going on?

The vessels are moving off, sir.

Reed frowned. Are any other ships approaching?

No, sir. Silence. Sir, there's a message coming from the surface…they've been ordered to withdraw.

Reed smirked. Well played, Captain. Very good, Ensign. Power down weapons. Ensign Sato and I are on our way. Reed out. He turned to Hoshi who was grinning as well.

"It looks like the Captain managed to negotiate."

"Yes, sir. It does."

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Queen's Chambers, Briliarus IV

Suddenly, they turned to see the doors to the chamber burst open to reveal Trip and T'Pol. Trip stopped, his face going white at the sight of Talvic's crumpled body lying in a pool of his own blood. Even T'Pol's normally composed face was a little paler than its usual olive green. "What in the hell happened?"

"It appears he committed suicide rather than face the consequences of his actions," T'Pol offered.

"He gave his life for us," Lvor said quietly, still in shock.

"And his sacrifice will not have been in vain. From today forward, I vow there shall be equality for all, male or female. It will take time, but I intend to insure that a ruling council made up of males and females will be instated in the place of the monarchy so that such events as today will be less likely to occur."

Lvor looked at her stunned. "Your Majesty, you would divide your power in such a way?"

Freyja nodded. "If it will prevent any further killing, then so it shall be." She turned to Archer. "What is the way the leadership on your planet is selected?"

"We choose people to represent us by way of vote. Whoever gets the greatest number of people to choose them fills the role that the vote is taken for."

"So you were chosen as the representative of your planet in this way?"

Archer paused and nodded. "I suppose you could put it that way, yes."

Freyja smiled. "Then that is how we shall select our council. All will be allowed to choose who they wish to represent us."

"Your Majesty," Lvor interjected, bowing to her. "We will still need one with to make the final decisions. I choose you for this role. You have chosen to give up your right to sole ownership of decisions. I know not of any other in our history that has done so---not even in the name of peace. You are truly a wise and dedicated leader. It would please me greatly to have a leader whom will do what is in the best interests of each and everyone of us."

The other guards around them put down their weapons and bowed to her as well. The monarch looked overwhelmed as though she couldn't quite believe her eyes. She smiled and nodded. "If the others agree, I would be honored, Lvor."

"I have no doubt that once they hear of your decision, they will feel the same."

"Captain, I need to get her to Sickbay. Her wound is most severe and I fear that if it's not healed soon it could be fatal."

Archer nodded and looked down at the queen. "Do you think that you can walk?"

"That wouldn't be wise. She has lost a great deal of blood. It would be better if she didn't."

Archer sighed. "Alright, Doctor. You get your medical equipment. I'll help her get aboard." To everyone's surprise, Archer slipped a hand under the woman's back and another under her knees, lifting her so that she was cradled in his arms much like one would a child and he exited the room. The others followed them, Trip and T'Pol exchanging a look of amusement, Phlox closely behind grinning jovially.

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Sickbay aboard Enterprise, 12 hours later…

"She should be just fine, Captain. A surprising number of her people volunteered to offer their blood to replenish the amount she had lost. She should be returned to the surface and given a couple of days to rest before becoming heavily active."

"Will she be able to walk any time soon?"

"The Briliarins are a surprisingly resilient species. She should be able to walk at least to her quarters on the planet."

Archer nodded and slipped behind the curtains to see Freyja clipping the last of her jewels to her tail. He smiled. "You should be able to return home now."

She turned to him and offered a warm smile. "Thank you, Jonathon, for all of your help. You have helped to avert a civil war that could have ended in disaster."

"It seems that's our primary mission at times."

"We owe your people a debt of gratitude. Please don't hesitate to ask if there's ever anything that we can do for you." Archer followed her out from behind the curtain and saw Trip and T'Pol as well as Lieutenant Reed standing beside Phlox.

Archer grinned. "Excellent work, Mr. Reed."

"Thank you, sir. But I can't take all the credit. Ensign Sato came up with a brilliant idea that we were about to put into action before the fighters pulled away."

Archer nodded. "Good work, Ensign."

"Thank you, Captain," Hoshi replied grinning.

Freyja stepped forward meeting Trip's eyes. "I owe you an apology, Commander Tucker. I am sorry that we held you accountable for Talvic's actions."

Trip grinned. "It's alright. No harm done."

"Still, your people have my gratitude." Her eyes flickered to T'Pol. "Your beloved is fortunate to have you."

He nodded and gripped T'Pol's hand in his. Archer looked on in surprise while Reed smirked and Phlox smiled knowingly.

Archer felt a hand on his cheek and turned to find Freyja standing in front of him smiling. "Thank you, Jonathon---for everything." She then leaned forward brushing his lips gently with hers before pulling away and exiting Sickbay. He smiled somewhat dazedly as he watched her leave, a cough snapping his attention back to the others in the room. Trip and Reed shared an evil grin and T'Pol's eyebrows were so high that they nearly disappeared into her hair. Phlox had a wide grin on his face, his eyes sparkling mischievously.

"Found a little romance here, huh, Captain?"

Archer chuckled at his friend. "I see you did, too, Trip," he said motioning toward T'Pol.

Trip's cheeks colored slightly. "Ah, shove it, will you?"

There was a moment of utter silence before everyone burst out laughing with the exception of T'Pol whose eyebrows were raised even higher.

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Captain's Log Supplemental

Freyja of the Briliarins sent me a communication today to inform me of the beginning of talks among their people concerning the formation of their new government. The talks seem to be going well and it would appear that the planet is on its way to planetary peace.

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Archer's quarters, a few days later…

"So…how did it go from 'she hardly looks at me anymore' to 'beloved?" Archer asked, an eyebrow raised.

Trip nearly choked on the Bourbon he'd just took a drink of. "Like I told Malcolm, that's between me and T'Pol."

"Come on, Trip. Is there something going on that I don't know about?"

"Don't feel to left out. Only three people on this ship know what's going on: T'Pol, me, and Phlox."

"I'm going to assume that Phlox's part in this falls under Doctor-patient confidentiality?"

Trip nodded. "Right in one. Now, Jon---I'd appreciate it if you would keep any of your theories to yourself on this. It's a big enough deal that you, Malcolm, and Phlox know what you do. The last thing T'Pol and I need is for Starfleet or any of the crew to find out about this."

Archer nodded. "Oh and T'Pol will be in command temporarily. I need to remember to inform the rest of the crew."

Trip gave Archer a knowing smile. "Going to see Captain Hernandez?"

Archer nodded. "The Doctors are saying she should be waking up from the coma any day now---and I want to be there when she does."

"I understand, Captain. I figured you would when you got the news." Trip paused. "I want to be there, too. And it just so happens T'Pol has a little something she needs to take care of on Earth so we'll both be there."

Archer grinned. "Well, then I suppose Mr. Reed will be in command until we get back."

"It'll be good for him. Hoshi, too."

Archer raised his glass. "To an adventurous four years. May we have a great many more."

"Here, here," Trip said raising his as well.

With this, each took a swallow of the Bourbon, basking in the warmth of it.

TBC…