CHAPTER FOUR
We Need to Work on Our Communication

Trip ran through the ship to get to the holo-projection room, tossing out apologies as he nearly knocked over a few Xyrillians in his path. He wanted to get to T'Pol before she could do anything rash. In the back of his mind, a niggling thought found it humorous to put both "T'Pol" and "rash" in the same sentence. He was too worried to laugh, though. She had not been happy at the end of their encounter-not at all. In the white space, T'Pol's displeasure had been practically screaming at him. It was only in the seconds before she closed the connection that he realized the negative emotion was not directed him but at Ah'len instead.

"T'Pol!" he shouted as he burst through the door. It sounded far too loud in the tranquil surroundings. One quick glance told him that she wasn't in the room. Soval was the only occupant, sitting cross-legged on a pile of cushions. He stared back at Trip with a curious expression.

"Uh, sorry to interrupt your meditation, Ambassador." Trip ducked his head and started backing out of the room.

"It is of no consequence." Soval waved a hand dismissively. "Perhaps, you might join me."

Trip felt torn. He was concerned that T'Pol might be about to ignite an interstellar war. On the other hand, no one said "no" to Ambassador Soval-not without incurring his scathing disapproval. Trip couldn't decide which was worse: a cranky Soval or T'Pol exchanging heated words with Ah'len.

"Your concern is evident, Commander. Do you truly think so little of T'Pol?"

The question was like a slap in the face. "What do you mean?"

Soval gestured to a group of meditation pillows. "Please, sit." It was not a request.

Trip hesitated, trying to choose between the lesser of the two evils. With some dismay, he realized that T'Pol probably had already reached Ah'len by now. Damage control was all that he could do at this point. He stepped all the way into the room and plopped down across from the ambassador.

Soval gave a nod of approval. "Despite being too heavily influenced by your people, T'Pol is still Vulcan. I do not believe she would be inclined to engage in a...feline altercation."

Trip bit back an involuntary grin. "A cat fight, Ambassador. It's called a cat fight."

Soval raised a brow. "Human idioms will always be a source of obfuscation, I believe." He let out a small sigh. "The point remains, however, that T'Pol would not act as a human female might in this situation."

The ambassador was right, of course, but then Trip had seen T'Pol lose her temper before during that dark time in the Expanse. "I guess so." Trip chewed the inside of his cheek. "I'd still like to be there, though."

"An unsurprising but useless desire. Your presence would only serve to complicate matters," Soval said with an indecipherable look.

"All due respect, Ambassador, but how would you know?" Trip felt like he was getting schooled when he hadn't done anything wrong.

"I am Vulcan." Soval tilted his head to one side. "If I may be blunt, Commander, how would you define your relationship with T'Pol?"

Whoa. That was totally unexpected. "I, uh... well, we're friends. Good friends."

"Indeed." Soval eyes seemed to bore right into Trip and he squirmed a little. "Is that all?"

Trip blew out a puff of air. "Maybe not all, no. But I'm not exactly sure yet what we are beyond that." He found himself thinking of ways to get out of this conversation. Watching T'Pol tell off Ah'len would be far less uncomfortable than being the subject of Soval's scrutiny.

"I sense much the same uncertainty from T'Pol. For that reason, I believe your presence would be more disruptive than helpful to her," the ambassador explained, and then added as an afterthought, "in this case."

"Wait," Trip said, frowning with confusion, "are you saying that my being there would...fluster her?"

"Yes, that is what I am expressing, Commander. T'Pol is loyal to you as a friend, and feels obligated to stand in your favor when you are so clearly having difficulty." Soval's tone said Trip should have guessed this much already. "Alone, she can be convinced that this is the sole reason for her choice to act on your behalf. Were you to join her, however, she would be forced to question whether her motives were as altruistic as she would prefer to believe." The ambassador pressed his fingers together. "Uncertainty and logic do not often coexist peacefully."

Trip's head was spinning, trying to make sense of Soval's words. Was the ambassador implying that Trip's presence would inflame the confrontation between the two alien females? Or that it would upset T'Pol? He rubbed his hand across his eyes. Why did Vulcans have to be so damn cryptic all the time?

"So...we wait?"

Soval inclined his head. "We wait, Commander."

"Okay, then." Trip leaned back on his hands, unsure of what else to say.

Soval studied him for a few quiet moments. "Perhaps, in the interim, you might share with me your initial experience with these Xyrillians."

Trip ground his teeth. Maybe he should go find T'Pol after all.

"You will explain your behavior," T'Pol said without preamble after Ah'len had led them to an enclosed conference room. It was one of the very few places on the ship that afforded any reasonable privacy.

"My behavior? I don't understand." Ah'len seemed genuinely perplexed.

"Your behavior with regard to Commander Tucker."

The Xyrillian blinked back at her, still visibly confounded.

T'Pol suppressed a sigh. "Perhaps, we should start from the beginning." She clasped her hands behind her back, considering how she might form a question that Ah'len would understand. "Did you explain to Commander Tucker that you were engaging in an intimate, procreative activity before encouraging him to place his hands in the container of telepathic granules?"

Ah'len's eyes widened. "No, I did not."

"Is there no restriction among your species regarding non-consensual sexual intimacy?" T'Pol felt indignation on Trip's behalf pressing against her cool logic.

"I don't believe I understand you, Commander T'Pol. You speak as if sexual intimacy and procreative intimacy are the same."

T'Pol canted a bow. "They are not?"

"Not for Xyrillians, no." Ah'len shook her head.

"How is this possible? Vulcans have never discovered a species where sexual activity was not also a function of reproduction. The very definition of sexual intercourse precludes the prospect of the two being separate."

"If I asked you to explain why Vulcans or even humans, for that matter, evolved to use 'sexual intercourse' as a method of reproduction, could you do so?" When T'Pol opened her mouth, Ah'len raised a hand. "Not how it happened, but why, Commander."

"There are several theories on that subject," T'Pol answered.

"But nothing definitive, correct?" Ah'len took a seat at the long table. "I am an engineer. I can talk about the mechanics of the teraphasic coils and about warp theory. When it comes to biology, I know enough to understand how I function, but nothing beyond that. How it works is a given to me that I accept without question. I cannot explain to your liking why or how we evolved this way."

T'Pol knew that there were many Vulcans and humans alike who did not wish to study in great detail about their physiology. It was possible that Ah'len was as disinterested in her personal biology. T'Pol would have to consult with another Xyrillian who was more knowledgeable. It was a task for another time. She had come to address the wrongs committed against her...friend.

"My question regarding your behavior still stands, regardless of your unique reproductive practices," T'Pol said. "Even if the act was not sexual according to your standards, you still failed to give adequate warning or explanation to Commander Tucker."

Ah'len frowned. "I had assumed that, since Xyrillians have played the game with other species with no complication in the past, it would be harmless fun with the commander as well. I was mistaken."

"Obviously," T'Pol replied coolly. "Even now, your behavior towards him exhibits no sign of regret. Do you feel no guilt?"

Ah'len's eyes widened. "Of course, I am very sorry for what happened! But Commander Tucker did not seem particularly upset. Have I misjudged him?"

"No, you haven't." A familiar male voice answered, and they both turned toward the door. Trip stepped over the threshold and gave T'Pol an apologetic smile before turning to Ah'len. "Maybe I oughtta set the record straight once and for all. Getting...pregnant is not exactly my favorite memory, but I was naive back then. I was a willing participant too. I never thought you did it on purpose, Ah'len, and I'm not angry. Embarrassed for sure, but not angry." He sat down at the table and gestured for T'Pol to do the same. "The apology was nice, though. Thank you."

Ah'len gave a nod. "I'm grateful that you are all right."

"Indeed." T'Pol took a seat, wondering at Trip's sudden initiative.

"Well, I guess that leaves us with the next important subject I've been avoiding," he said, crossing his arms. "What is it that you people want from me?"

Having answered what seemed like a million questions about his first encounter with the Xyrillians, Trip couldn't wait any longer. Soval had been intent on excising every tiny detail of his experience, and Trip would rather avoid reliving it all. He had politely excused himself and exited the room, intending to hang out in the resting quad until T'Pol finished her conversation with Ah'len. His feet had other ideas, however.

Trip wasn't sure how he'd found the two women in the first place. He had wandered the ship aimlessly and was surprised when he stopped in front of a windowed door. Inside the room he could see T'Pol standing rigidly, looking down at Ah'len with understated but intense disapproval on her face. It may not have been a cat fight going down in the room, but it was as close as Trip knew that T'Pol could get as a Vulcan. He felt a little guilty that she had felt it necessary to stick up for him.

Man up, Trip Tucker.

He had opened the door just in time to hear the last of T'Pol's cold censure to Ah'len. Despite Soval's admonition, Trip was glad that he intervened after all. Now he sat at the table waiting for Ah'len to answer his question.

"We require just what we've asked: that you attend the naming ceremony for the child," she said.

"Namin' ceremony? She hasn't had a name this whole time?"

Ah'len smiled. "She hasn't been given her name of heritage yet, no. But we call her Sah'nelen. It means 'little wonder' in our language. It is a name of affection."

"Huh. Like a pet name?" Trip grinned a little. The name was fitting considering the circumstances of her conception.

"You call Commander Tucker Sah'nelen's 'first father'," T'Pol interjected. "What does this mean?"

Ah'len turned to her. "It means that he was the one to give her life." She sounded surprised that they didn't instantly understand.

Trip groaned inwardly. They were going to be talking in circles all night if they kept up like this. "Listen, Ah'len, it's obvious that our cultures are a lot more different than we first thought. So, you're gonna have to explain things as if none of it makes sense to me or T'Pol. Because, honestly, it doesn't." He glanced at T'Pol, feeling the tension from her lessening. Was that the bond, he wondered briefly before turning his attention back to Ah'len. "You see, for my people, bein' a father is a big responsibility. It means that a man is expected to provide for and care for his child. I'm pretty sure it's the same for Vulcans, too."

T'Pol nodded. "It is."

"Are your children raised only by those who gave them life?" There was wonder in Ah'len's tone.

"With a few exceptions, yes, that's generally the case," Trip answered.

"Fascinating. I can see why you've been so unsettled, Commander." Ah'len cocked her head. "Our children are raised by the community. We all take responsibility for a child's development. Not just the physical needs, but emotional as well. Our offspring are children of Xyrillia, not to be claimed by only one person or two." She reached a tentative hand toward Trip. "Did you think that we were asking you to care for Sah'nelen, Commander Tucker?"

He made no move to take her hand-especially when he felt T'Pol stiffen again. "Please, it's Trip. And yeah, I kinda did."

Ah'len raised her head and made a soft trilling noise that Trip thought might be laughter. "No, we never expected you to care for her, Comman-Trip. We've only come now because, for us, the naming ceremony is a very sacred and joyful occasion. Offspring are a precious gift to us, and it is a cause for celebration when one is ready to fully enter into our society. We only wished to share this joy with you-for without you, Sah'nelen would not exist."

Trip's shoulders sagged as tension ebbed from him. "So...you just wanted me to come and celebrate. That's all?"

"That is all." She grinned. "I am sorry that you believed we required more than that. This has been an enlightening experience, learning about the differences between our peoples."

"Yeah, for us too." Trip felt lighter now and couldn't resist returning her smile.

"Do you have other questions?" Ah'len asked.

"Just celebratin', right?"

"Correct."

Trip turned to T'Pol. "You got any more questions?"

"None that Ah'len can adequately answer," she replied. Trip's smile dropped. What did that mean?

"I'm glad that I was able to clarify things for you." Ah'len stood. "I have to check on the engines before retiring for the evening, if there is nothing else."

Trip shook his head and closed the door after she left the room. He turned and found T'Pol standing close behind him. With overwhelming stress no longer demanding his attention, Trip was again able to more fully appreciate her beauty. For a moment, he was tempted to take her in his arms and kiss her thoroughly as thanks for helping him navigate this crazy situation. He knew, though, she wouldn't take kindly to such an open display of affection-not with that large window in the door. He wordlessly cursed the Xyrillians and their lack of privacy.

Instead he looked down at her with affection "What was that last little comment about?"

"Ah'len was unable to explain Xyrillian biology," T'Pol replied with a raised brow.

Trip chuckled. She was ever the scientist. "Gotcha."

"Perhaps, we should also retire," she said but made no move to exit.

"Before we go, I just wanted to say thanks." Trip suddenly wasn't in any hurry to leave the room. This was probably the only quiet moment they would share on the entire trip. "You stood up for me when I wasn't able to. I really appreciate that."

She looked up at him and Trip felt warmth and affection radiating from her. "I found the outcome of our discussion with Ah'len to be agreeable."

That inspired another laugh from Trip. "Yeah, me too, darlin'. Me too." He glanced at the door and saw no one outside the window. Acting on impulse, he took T'Pol's hand and pulled her to the wall. Before she could object, he leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. It was like touching home base, relief flooding over him. When he pulled back and looked into her dark olive eyes, Trip almost blurted out exactly how he felt about her.

Not yet. Soon, but not yet.

"I hope that was agreeable too," he said with a nervous flutter in his chest.

Amusement danced in T'Pol's eyes. "It was."

"Guess we'd better head on out." Trip sighed. "Do you mind if I make my quarters in the holo-room too? Sharing a room with a bunch of Xyrillians isn't as exciting to me as it was the first time."

"I'm sure that you can be accommodated."

"Thanks." He raised an arm toward the door. "Ladies first."

The comment earned him a brow raised in amusement before T'Pol turned and left the room. He followed after her, enjoying the silence of the universe. Who's giggling now? Trip's smile stretched upward.

Everything was working in his favor again.

A/N: Thank you for having a gander! Feel free to drop a review in the box below!