CHAPTER THREE
Words, Words, Words

Together, they had taken the better part of the day getting the teraphasic coils back into fighting shape. Trip was glad that he'd asked T'Pol to help. Many times she suggested solutions that he was just on the verge of working out. He couldn't deny that they made a good team. So much so that he found himself wishing he'd had her with him the first time around. Of course, they hadn't been on exactly friendly terms back then.

"That should do it," he said as he slid out from under the coils, "and I'm pretty sure we did a better job than last time."

"Yes, I believe everything should be fine now," Ah'len said. "Thank you both for your help."

"No problem," Trip replied at the same time that T'Pol said, "You are welcome." He turned to smile at her but stopped short when he noticed how rigid the Vulcan was as she looked at Ah'len. Uh oh.

"Well, now that's out of the way," Trip said quickly, hoping to diffuse a potentially tense situation, "I think maybe we oughtta get some grub and turn in for the night."

T'Pol raised a brow. "That would be prudent." She glanced at the Xyrillian. "Good evening, Ah'len." She nodded then walked briskly out of the engine room.

Trip threw a "'Night!" over his shoulder as he jogged a few steps to catch up to T'Pol. "Hey," he said as he kept pace with her. "You, uh, wanna have dinner together?"

She paused and turned to gaze at him. "I believe I should meditate," she answered, "but perhaps we could meet later."

He grinned. "It's a date, then."

T'Pol raised her brow, amusement plain in her eyes as she resumed her walk. Trip let her go, feeling more confident that things were still on track with her. Maybe she really had been just teasing him the other day in the captain's ready room.

"Commander Tucker." Ah'len interrupted his happy thoughts. "Do you have a moment?"

Trip turned around. "Uh, sure," he answered as he waited for her to catch up, feeling more than a little apprehensive. "What's up?"

Ah'len glanced at the ceiling. "I don't understand."

He chuckled despite his mild anxiety. "Sorry. It means 'what do you need?' Hoshi says the translator can't quite handle my special turn of phrase."

"Oh, I see." She flashed him a small smile. "Can I take you to see our daughter? She's looking forward to meeting you."

Trip's gut twisted in a knot. He knew that he couldn't avoid this, and yet he had secretly hoped that Ah'len and the Xyrillians would suddenly forget this little snag. "Why do you keep calling her 'our' daughter? I mean, don't get me wrong, I'd like to meet her, but I didn't exactly contribute any genetics to her." He wanted to use this opportunity to set the record straight.

Ah'len looked confused. "Of course you didn't provide any genetics. You were the vessel."

His cheeks began to burn. "Only for a few days. Just long enough to find you and a...a new vessel for her."

"Yes, and Trena'l has been a good second father."

"Trena'l? I didn't know you two were a couple." Trip was surprised. He had a hard time picturing the ship's commander pregnant.

"A couple?"

Trip searched for the right words. "You know, like partners." When she didn't seem to understand, he tried again. "Life mates?"

Her eyes widened with comprehension. "Yes, I have heard that many species practice this. Xyrillians do not have life mates. Do humans?"

"Most humans do," Trip answered, feeling a twinge of relief. Whether or not they agreed on his parentage, he was glad to know that he and Ah'len weren't considered an item in her culture.

"Do you have a life mate, Commander Tucker?"

"I'm not sure yet." Trip wasn't ready to get into that discussion. Before Ah'len could question him further, he said, "Let's talk about the kid. You were saying that Trena'l..." The words died on his lips when he remembered that she had called Trena'l the second father. Just how nuts was this ordeal going to get?

"Ah'len, who is her first father?" he asked, suspecting the answer, but at the same time hoping she'd say someone else's name.

"You are, of course," she replied with mirth in her voice.

Trip felt his knees wobble. He reached out for the nearest mossy wall. First father? What the hell did that mean? What exactly were they expecting from him?

"Are you well?" Ah'len asked with a voice thick with concern. "Your epidermis has become completely devoid of color."

"I, uh," he mumbled, stumbling over the words, "maybe I could use a little more rest. This is a lot to take in, right now."

"I understand. Perhaps it would be best to wait until morning." Ah'len looked him over. "Do you need help getting back to the resting quad?"

"No, I think I can get myself there just fine." Trip waved her off weakly and forced his legs to walk down the corridor, barely noticing her expression of worry as he left. Why did he always end up in these crazy situations? Why couldn't Jon or Malcolm be stuck in the middle of a mortifying spot like this for once? It felt like the universe was keen on putting Trip in the most ridiculous circumstances and then snickered as he tried to worm his way out of them.

He needed a drink. He was stuck on a ship with no alcohol and he desperately needed a drink.

Yeah, I hear you giggling up there! He silently shouted at the stars. This time you get the laughs and the bourbon.

"Remarkable."

There was really no other appropriate word to describe the room that Soval was now in. When Trena'l had ushered him through the door, the walls had been a riot of color. It had reminded him of the phenomenon on earth known as "rainbows." The view was quite spectacular on its own, but when the Xyrillian pressed a few buttons on his remote control device, Soval's eyebrows climbed his forehead.

"Is it a good likeness?" Trena'l asked.

"It is more than adequate," Soval answered. "I was curious when you asked for information regarding my home world. I did not expect that this was the reason."

They were standing on high outcropping on the side of Mount Seleya. The large plateau had long been converted into an exquisite balcony. Behind them, Soval could hear soft trickling from the mol-kom fountains, meant to aid all in finding the deepest quiet within. At his feet lay a circle of meditation mats and tasseled pillows, each heavily brocaded with the fine designs and rich colors that his people found pleasing. In the center there were several candles of various shapes and sizes, all glowing brightly, inviting one to kneel and find peace.

Soval stepped forward and was mildly surprised that he could not tell that it was the scenery moving more than he was, as Trena'l had explained. He walked to the edge of the balcony and placed his hand on the rail, noting again the remarkable realism of it. He turned to the Xyrillian.

"Again, this is?"

"Resequenced photons."

"I see." Soval looked out at the vista below, admiring the accuracy depicted of the Forge in the distance. He found that all the details were impeccable, including the climate. It was dry and warm, though he knew that a human like Commander Tucker might describe the temperature as hot. "Tell me, how is it that you choose to use so much valuable energy for such lavish recreational facilities?"

Trena'l cocked his head to the side. "I suppose that doesn't appear logical. It is logic that guides your culture, correct?"

"Yes."

"Recreation is a large part of Xyrillian culture. As many of our deep space missions can take us away from home for very long periods of time, we found that the morale of the crew was better when they had a place to relax. It also helps with home sickness."

"Your argument has some merit," Soval replied. "Vulcans do not need entertainment. In this particular instance, however, I do find myself grateful that such facilities are available."

Trena'l seemed pleased at the implied compliment. "I hope this will work for your needs. I apologize that we do not have more isolated quarters for you and the others. Xyrillians are an open people. Privacy is not something we feel much need for."

Soval nodded his understanding, though, in truth, he couldn't quite comprehend an utterly open society. It was difficult to see how one could get adequate repose when constantly surrounded by others. The Xyrillians, on the other hand, seemed to thrive with their highly social lifestyle. Soval had once thought humans to be overly gregarious, but they were not nearly as communal as Trena'l and his crew.

Fascinating.

"This room will be yours to use at your discretion for the voyage." Trena'l held out the remote and pointed to one of the buttons. "I have programmed this place for meditation. You only need to press here." He pointed to another button. "This should bring up a fair representation of a small Vulcan homestead with several rooms, for sleeping purposes. Will Commander Tucker be joining you in using this room for quarters as well? When he was here last he did not seem to have trouble sharing our resting quad with us."

"I cannot say," Soval replied, returning his gaze back to the burning sands of the Forge. He suspected that the engineer might prefer to stay with him and T'Pol, considering the clear discomfort he felt about this situation. After reviewing the logs from Enterprise's first encounter with the Xyrillians, Soval had determined that the commander had made an innocent mistake. Of course, Soval believed that the crew of Enterprise should have been given more in-depth training with regards to making first contact with a new species, but there was no logic in judging Commander Tucker's actions when he had lacked a better understanding. Admiral Forrest had been fond saying that humans liked "learning things the hard way" Soval pointed out the carelessness of their space exploration. He found the notion to be both truthful and utterly irrational.

In the midst of these thoughts, he recalled from the logs that, in a conversation with Captain Archer, Trena'l had mentioned the Xyrillians had "a good deal of experience with alien visitors." This statement begged the question of their own behavior, particularly Ah'len's, with the commander. It was the question that Soval believed could not go unasked.

He turned back to Trena'l. "Perhaps, after I have meditated, you might join me in a discussion about Xyrillian protocols for First Contact. Considering what transpired with the humans, I believe some explanation is required."

The Xyrillian tilted his head again. "Of course. If there is nothing else you need?"

Soval gave him a nod. "I believe that is all. You may leave."

Trena'l pressed another button on the remote and a door appeared to the side, looking completely out of place in the monastery. He handed the device to Soval and stepped out. T'Pol appeared in the doorway before it closed, and she stepped through with widened eyes as she took in the surroundings. Once she crossed the threshold, the door slid closed and disappeared.

"Resequenced photons," Soval explained when she raised a questioning brow. "It is a holographic depiction."

T'Pol joined him on the balcony and gingerly touched the rail. "The likeness is. . .agreeable."

"Indeed." Soval watched her for a moment as she studied the view. There was an unmistakable tension that radiated from her. He knew that, like himself, T'Pol had not always been adept at her emotional control, but he noticed that the strain had grown since her time in the Expanse. During his recent time on board the Enterprise, it had not escaped his attention that much of her struggle seemed to be amplified when Commander Tucker was involved, especially in light of the recent return of the Xyrillians. Soval had little doubt that the two shared a connection, the depth of which remained unknown to him.

It was highly illogical.

Given Soval's years of experience in dealing with humans, he understood that sometimes the only path to logic with them was to be illogical. He raised a rueful brow at this musing. He realized that the Father of Logic might not agree with this conclusion, but then Surak had never served as ambassador to this irrational species for over thirty years, had he?

"Perhaps we should meditate," Soval said, drawing T'Pol's attention.

"Yes," she agreed.

As they knelt across from each other, Soval hoped that his influence might help the younger Vulcan gain a greater stability as she navigated her emotions regarding the chief engineer of the Enterprise.

Trip was in distress. Even if T'Pol had not seen the haggard look on his face when he had invaded her white space yet again, she could not deny the growing anxiety that emanated from him as he sat across from her. To his credit, he was attempting to suppress these overwhelming emotions as he sat across from her.

"So all this is real, right?" he asked as he took a cursory glance around.

"I believe so."

"Huh. How 'bout that?" He smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "How does this happen anyway?"

She raised a brow. "I am not certain."

"You're meditating right now?"

"Yes."

"I suppose that's one part of the equation." He leaned back on his hands. "I dunno what I'm doing on my side to end up here. I am sorry for the intrusion, though. I know how important meditation is for ya."

T'Pol blinked at the apology. Trip had never been anything but difficult when he had appeared in her white space before. His recognition of the impact of his presence in her mind was pleasing. And now that he was being agreeable, T'Pol discovered that having him there was significantly less invasive.

"I don't know how to leave without getting into a fight with you." Trip chuckled. "I mean, it seems like we just barely get into the thick of it when I snap back to reality. Got any ideas on how to give me the boot without it ending with both of us in a pissy mood? I don't wanna interrupt your quiet time."

It was a reasonable question, and one they would need to explore as they tested the bond they shared. In this moment, however, T'Pol believed that Trip's overpowering disquiet was a more pressing concern.

"You are upset," she stated. "Perhaps it would help if you talk about it. I am 'all ears.'"

Trip smiled again and this time it crinkled the corners of his eyes. An unusual warmth swelled in her middle and T'Pol found herself again questioning whether the pleasure came from her or Trip. It was certainly not disagreeable.

"Cap'n's right," he said. "You are picking up some of my habits."

"Perhaps," she replied. "And perhaps you will acquire some of my 'habits.'"

Trip laughed. The sound was odd in her normally serene space, but T'Pol found it illogically peaceful.

"Now this isn't half bad," he said when his amusement subsided. "I could almost forget what's going on out there. D'ya think we can just hang in this white room for the rest of the trip?" He sat up again and hugged his knees.

"It might not go unnoticed."

He was still smiling, but stress tightened around his eyes again. "Yeah, I guess not." He sighed. "I just keep wonderin' where the end of it is. I mean, this whole thing with the Xyrillians. Just when I think it can't get worse, it does."

"Worse?" The comment piqued T'Pol's interest, her concern growing exponentially.

Trip frowned at her. "Y'know, I was never upset with Ah'len about the... pregnancy." He said the last word as if it tasted foul crossing his tongue. "It was an accident and it wasn't like we were...well, you know. I'd almost forgotten the whole thing until the day she showed up again."

T'Pol remained quiet as she waited patiently for him to gather his thoughts. She preferred not to remember how judgmental she had been of him when the incident had happened. At that point, she had only known the commander for a short time, certainly not long enough to have accurately judged his character. She regretted now that she had believed the worst of him.

"I'm not gonna lie. I like kids well enough, but I only carried that one for a couple of days." He looked away. "I don't feel like a dad and now Ah'len tells me I'm this kid's 'first father,' whatever the hell that means. This all out of the blue years later." He sighed again. "Now I'm wondering just what other kind of surprises they've got in store for me. Am I gonna end up having to take care of her? It woulda been nice if they gave me a guidebook so I'd know what to expect." He turned back to her with a guarded expression. "And I'm a little worried about how all these new surprises affect you and me."

If T'Pol could have allowed it, a cold fury might have escaped the surface of her calm upon hearing the depth of Trip's predicament. It was unacceptable that the Xyrillians had not explained what exactly they expected of him. It was unacceptable that they had required anything from him at all after the incident. It was unacceptable that Ah'len spoke to Trip so comfortably, without apology for her behavior.

"Unacceptable." The word slipped from her lips as her understanding became clearer. She had been too lost in her own fear and jealousy before to see the magnitude of what Trip was experiencing.

"What do you mean?" he asked. She glanced at him and saw confusion and hurt. T'Pol realized that he might have taken her comment to be in reference to their relationship.

"I am not speaking of you-of us," she clarified. "I must go."

Understanding dawned on his face. "No, wait!" Those were the only words she heard from him before she brought them both back to reality.

Her eyes flew open. She knew that Trip was too consumed by the stress of the situation to see that he needed to seek clarification from the Xyrillians as to what they considered his responsibility for the child. As his friend, she would ask the questions that he was too hesitant to pose. As his friend, she would find a way to help Ah'len understand more clearly the error of judgment she made years ago and continued to make now.

She pressed the button on the remote to make the door appear. Soval's voice stopped her as she walked across the room. "Where are you going, T'Pol?"

"I am going to speak with Ah'len," she answered honestly.

He peered at her with an unreadable face. "Are you certain it is the right thing to do?"

T'Pol was hardly ever certain of anything when it came to Charles Tucker III. "I believe so."

The ambassador gave her a nod and turned his attention back to the burning candles. She took that as his acceptance and stepped through the door, intent on making at least a small part of this experience right for Trip.

A/N: Thank you for making it this far! I hope you're enjoying the story! If you want to share your thoughts, I'd love to hear them!