Chapter 5

Trip awoke hours later, aware that his arms were wrapped around another figure, he looked around as his eyes adjusted to the darkness, these weren't his quarters. He scanned his memories trying to figure out how he got there. His mind registered, I was only suppose to close my eyes for a few minutes he thought to himself as he realised he was in T'pol's quarters. Looking to his side he saw the Vulcan, eyes closed and a restless expression etched on her face. She was muttering words Trip couldn't understand, Vulcan he assumed. She seemed to be having some sort of nightmare he figured. Did Vulcan's even have nightmares or dreams for that matter Trip asked himself, it didn't matter but whatever it was it was obviously distressing her.

"T'pol, wake up." Trip said. Nothing happened

"T'pol, wake up." he said again, louder this time and shaking her slightly

This did get attention and she shot up, her eyes darting around the room, she was shaking slightly.

"Trip?" she whispered. Trip noticed that her voice quivered slightly.

"It's ok, I'm here" he said soothingly wrapping his arms around her, she hugged him back with just as much force.

"Do you want to tell me what that was all about?" he asked

"My father." she responded.

Elaborating further she continued, "right after he died…. I mean right after I found out he was supposedly dead." she said correcting herself. "I kept having dreams about my father. He was in so much pain that it felt as if I was the one suffering, he kept asking me to help him but every time I failed. It became so overwhelming that it was decided I undergo the Kolinar to purge myself of the dreams and the emotions that came with them, it worked but the nightmares have returned." she sounded ever so slightly scared as she said this last part and that in turn scared Trip.

"You don't have to worry T'pol" Trip soothed "I'm here and they're just nightmares, they've probably just been triggered by your dad showing up that's all."

T'pol nodded "It's 0600 now, our shifts should be starting in a few hours. Do you want to go and get some breakfast? There will be hardly any one around" Trip asked just now noticing the food which he had brought last night for her had remained untouched.

"I believe it would be best if you should shower and change uniforms first commander." T'pol replied an eyebrow raised

Trip looked down, his uniform was completely creased from sleeping in it last night, not the most suitable attire for a senior officer and skipping his shower yesterday meant he wasn't doing T'pol's sensitive nose any favours.

"Good idea." he said sheepishly "I'll meet you at the mess in half an hour ok?" he said walking out of the door, she followed slightly behind.

"Trip, wait." she said walking up to him. "Thank you." she said "…For everything."

Trip nodded and T'pol pivoted around about to go back into her room when Trip turned her around, leaned down and softly kissed her.

"You know I'm always here to help." He grinned back to her and walked off down the corridor. T'pol went back into her quarters and touched her lips where Trip had kissed her. Even though her Vulcan mask didn't change, inside the emotions her culture had taught her to suppress surged within her. She had defiantly made the right choice about being with him. She had never met anyone, Vulcan or human for that matter who evoked such feelings within her.

Sovek had finally persuaded Phlox to release him for a short time on the basis that he 'stretch his legs.' Archer had deemed that he was not a serious security risk given that he possessed no weapons, was co-operating fully and if he had to admit it didn't, for now possess enough energy to do much else than walk slowly around the corridors of Enterprise. That however didn't mean a security officer, trailing several metres behind him trying to go un-noticed, unsuccessfully following him. In truth the officer was doing quite a good job but Vulcan hearing and military training gave Sovek a significant advantage. He couldn't blame Archer, Sovek was being given freedom to go around Enterprise, just a limited amount of it; past experiences had taught the crew to be more cautious of visitors. Sovek considered some of the mission reports Phlox had been kind enough to give him during his 'resting' period. He hadn't been given any potentially dangerous information just some of enterprises early mission reports- which could be easily obtained. Sovek thought it interesting at just how much trouble these human's seemed to attract, at least he had some thing in common with them in that respect he reflected.

Sovek had also wanted to get out of sickbay for another reason, the main reason to see his daughter, she had always been an early riser and hopefully she still was. He wanted to perhaps talk to her - try to convince her that he had done what he had done to keep her safe or find out what he had missed in the forty-five years that he had missed, either way he just wanted to see her. He rounded a corner indicating that he was nearing the superior officer quarters. He stopped and backed up slightly round the corner as a door opened, he had hoped that he wouldn't encounter many personnel, which was why he chose this time to 'explore' Enterprise. He recognised the man that walked through the door- a Commander Tucker if he was not mistaken. His hair was ruffled and he appeared unshaven.

The name commander Tucker had come up on several occasions in the reports he had read. Two things had stuck in his mind regarding the commander and they weren't very good- first known man to become pregnant and an incident with pollen causing him to become delusional and threatening T'pol. Not the best examples of human behaviour, looking at the direction the commander was going in Sovek decided it must have been time for shifts to start and so was about to turn back when he heard his daughters voice.

"Trip, wait."

Sovek knew he should leave, the two didn't know he was here, he should go now but he just wanted to see his daughter. The commander stopped.

"Thank you…. For everything."

The commander smiled and just as T'pol was about to enter her quarters he turned her around to face him then leaned down and kissed her.

Sovek was shocked. Was T'pol in a relationship with this human?

Sovek thought over what had just happened, why had she said thank you? Thank you for what? He wondered. What had Tucker done that T'pol needed to thank him for? Sovek needed to investigate this further, he wasn't sure what he thought of this new revelation. Especially the fact that he was coming out of his daughter's quarters at this time in the morning looking like he had slept there. Sovek had believed fraternization between staff was not allowed, yet this Tucker was obviously breaking this rule and had gotten his daughter caught up in it. He may have been 'missing' for forty or so years but he still cared about what happened to his daughter and he would be damned if he let anyone hurt her. Especially some womanising human who had already gotten himself pregnant through his 'exploration' of other species.

0800 arrived quickly. Captain Archer had arranged for his senior officers and his newest arrival to meet in the briefing room to continue the discussion from the previous day. As he arrived he found all of his staff, plus Sovek seated and waiting for his arrival. Was it him or was Sovek glaring at his third in command? Archer dismissed it as his imagination and greeted the people before him. After a brief exchange of conversation the captain pressed Sovek to continue his story.

"After leaving Soval on the Horizon, I realised I needed to discover what the Romulans and my government was conspiring to do. I couldn't do this as effectively when I was 'alive' as this would have brought me too much attention, but I had the chance now. Years passed before I found any thing concrete and in that time, I made numerous enemies. What I did discover though only confirmed that what I had done was in the best interest of my family and my people…. I found a Romulan research facility."

"A lab, that's what all the suspense was about." questioned Trip, he sounded unimpressed.

"Yes commander, a lab." Sovek responded sharply.

He continued, "It wasn't the lab that was of interest, it was what was being conducted there - genetic research. Research into Vulcan and human genetics along with many other species in this quadrant. This I found was then being used for the development of bio weapons, amongst other things. Weapons to eliminate your species, mine and others. They were years away from getting a result, but I managed to set back their progress even further." Sovek sneered slightly "I paid for it too."

This elicited a bigger response. "Why would they see human's as a threat, we had barely mastered warp by then." said Archer, his jaw clenched.

"The Romulans were unconcerned with who would pose a threat to them Captain, they wanted domination, plane and simple if they had a weapon that could control worlds, entire species and wipe them out if necessary it gave them absolute power. That is what the Romulan Empire seeks."

"How come we've only started getting trouble from then lately then?" questioned Trip "If they are such a big bad enemy then why hadn't we heard of them before."

"You can't honestly believe the Romulans have just decided this year to star causing trouble, they've been planning for years, biding their time. The altercations you've had with them lately have just been a test- to assess how much of a threat you are and soon they are going to strike!"

The room fell silent, contemplating what Sovek had just revealed.

T'pol broke the silence, this had been the first time she had addressed her father since the altercation yesterday. "You said soon, do you know when and how they plan to act?"

Her father faced her "That piece of information nearly caused my death- for real this time. It is what led up to me floating in the ship you found me in, I believe they thought I was dead, or at least getting there." he said, anger slightly apparent on his face.

"I managed to access the co-ordinates for their main weapons facility. We are fortunate that they have limited protection, but that will not remain so for long; we will need to act quickly. The only way we will be able to stop them is to gain control of their computer system and set the self-destruct manually. It will not be an easy task to accomplish in the slightest. Their will no doubt be several security measures in place, but Phlox has told me that it would be no problem for you miss Sato" Sovek said causing Hoshi to blush. Even with all her talents, Hoshi still became embarassed when her skills were praised.

Captain Archer looked unsure of the plan. "You realise if we go through with the plan our actions would be the prelude to war."

"Captain, if you do not do this there will still be a war; millions will die and you will have lost your only advantage. I for one do not wish to see that happen!"

"I will need to contact my superiors and I will need proof of what you are saying is true." Archer replied.

Sovek stood up "Captain I will give you all of the proof you need but do not tell them from whom you received it." Archer looked confused

"I have been considered dead for over forty years, if your leaders tell my people about me- which they no doubt will my sacrifices would have been for nothing."

Archer considered this and nodded. "I will need to contact Starfleet and inform them. In the meantime you will be assigned temporary quarters, you may go anywhere around the ship with the exception of; the bridge, engineering and the armoury which are off limits, unless you have an escort present."

"Thank you for your hospitality captain it is much appreciated."

Archer smiled at his courtesy. "We will need your data to back up the information you gathered, I want you to work with Trip, Malcolm and Hoshi; get them up to speed with what you know. I want a report on how best to proceed, if we do get the go ahead." everyone acknowledged "T'pol can I talk to you for a moment." Archer asked

Everyone else filed out of the room; leaving just Archer and T'pol.

"T'pol I just wanted to know if you're ok with this, it must be a shock for you finding your fathers still alive. I mean I don't know how I'd be handling this if I were in your shoes, I just wanted to let you know that I'm here for you if you ever need help- someone to talk to." Archer resisted the urge to place his hand on her shoulder showing his support, which he would have normally done any other member of the crew.

"I appreciate your concern captain." T'pol answered. The two stood in silence for a few seconds.

"I should go, I need to contact Starfleet and talk to the Admiral." the Captain said breaking the silence. "This isn't a conversation I'm looking forward to" he sighed and left to go to his ready room.

Next update should be in about a week.. or two

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