Trip, who was now dressed in a navy blue tee shirt that had the Starfleet symbol over his left breast and well broken in faded jeans, T'Pol, and T'Les ate in silence. This was Vulcan custom and one Trip knew he have a hard time with in the end. The meal consisted of a rice-like dish and a purple vegetable that Trip didn't even bother to ask what it was. It tasted vaguely like a spicy carrot. To drink they had Vulcan spice tea. Trip made a mental note to himself that he was not meant to be a vegetarian. After dinner he collected the dishes and brought them into the kitchen to be cleaned. T'Les followed him.
"I am sorry for a lack of diversity with the dinner. My stasis container is malfunctioning, so we had to eat what was about to spoil. I have ordered a repairman but I was told not to expect one until next week," said T'Les.
"If you have tools I can fix it," said Trip.
"It is Vulcan technology," T'Les countered, as if that meant it was beyond his ability to deal.
"T'Les, I was an engineer on the Warp Three Project, as well as a Chief Engineer on a Starship. I have also had a hand in the design of the Excalibur and the design of our defensive shields. I think I can fix a simple stasis container," Trip told her.
"I shall get you tools, Charles," she stated then left him alone to put the dishes in the steamer to be cleaned.
T'Pol joined him. She offered him a finger kiss, he accepted it. Trip understood that she was under constraints at the moment. As their fingers caressed their was a pleasant buzz between the two of them. When they heard T'Les coming, T'Pol stepped away.
"Mother, I am going to my room to meditate. I believe after our conversation this afternoon I am in need of a long session," T'Pol said.
"I understand, daughter. Your emotions were on the surface," replied T'Les.
"Charles, I shall wake you in the morning to show you the ingredients for breakfast," she stated.
"What time?" asked Trip.
"05:30," she answered.
"Good. I get to sleep late," Trip grinned then he took the tools from T'Les.
T'Pol left the kitchen. He squatted down and started to take the stasis container apart. T'Les watched for a few moments then she exited the kitchen. He heard what sounded like the lute and harp playing and assumed that T'Les was playing Vulcan music.
For the next two hours he lost himself in his work. He took apart the machine, found the problem, then found a way to improve its efficiency, and finally put it back together. When finished Trip had grease on his hands. He stood up and looked at his hands.
"You can clean them in the kitchen sink," stated T'Les. "It has running water that recycles. There is also a liquid purifier on the side."
Trip washed his hands good then dried them in a towel. When he was done he turned and looked at T'Les, who was testing her stasis container.
"I improved its energy efficiency," Trip stated.
"Also, it no longer hums, but is silent. Thank you, Charles," she said.
"If you don't mind I noticed you had a garden. Do you mind if I go out into it? I could use some fresh air," he said.
"I shall join you," she stated.
They exited the kitchen and went into the garden. There was a small water fountain along with desert plants. Trip stared at them.
"The water is drinkable, if you are thirsty," stated T'Les.
"No thank you," said Trip. "I was admiring the plants."
She pointed to a plant and said: "That is Plomeek. It is a flowering plant. We make Plomeek soup from it. That one is an Adun Cactus. It can survive on little water. Now that one is G'Teth. Edible berries bloom on it. That one is Kal'ta. When it blooms it has deep violet leaves that are iridescent. And finally those are the the Khara Bush."
"Lovely garden," said Trip as he breath in the cooler night air. There was still a strong hint of heat but it was now much more manageable for Trip.
Trip took several deep breaths and enjoyed the slight breeze. He looked up at the sky and stared at T'Khut the third planet of Vulcan that shared a tidal locked co-orbit with Vulcan.
"You are looking at T'Khut. We call it the Watcher," said T'Les.
"Is it inhabited?" asked Trip.
"No. There has been discussions of moving our shipyards to T'Khut, but now it is an empty Class G planet," she explained.
For a moment the two of them stood in silence then T'Les broke the silence.
"You are bonded to my daughter," she stated.
Trip looked at her but didn't respond since she didn't ask a question. He had a feeling this was coming.
"There will be difficulties with this bonding. As a child she was bonded to Koss. He is a highly skilled architect and in control of his emotions. It was a good match for her. They are supposed to have a telik, but that now appears impossible," stated T'Les.
"We did not bond on purpose," Trip said.
"T'Pol was reckless in sharing neuropressure with you," T'Les stated. "She takes after her father. Suron's emotions were close to the surface, also. He encouraged his daughter to be independent and find her own path in life. There was a time I was afraid she'd become V'Tosh Ka'Tur."
"What is V'Tosh Ka'Tur?" asked Trip.
"It translates Vulcans without logic, but what they are Vulcans who have chosen to indulge some of their emotions instead of suppress them," she explained. "T'Pol always seemed unafraid of strong emotions even though she knows what we are capable of if we indulge our emotions too much."
"Maybe she'd be better off with a Human instead of a Vulcan if what you say is true," Trip defended T'Pol. "We aren't afraid of emotions and don't suppress them. We need them."
"But will a Human be able to deal with Vulcan emotions?" asked T'Les.
"Time will tell," said Trip.
"You are not afraid of this bonding, of this marriage?" asked T'Les.
"I'm not afraid of this marriage. I worry about making it work, but I'm not afraid of it," Trip stated.
"Fear is an destructive emotion," said T'Les.
"It is also part of the Human condition. We are born with a fight or flee reaction to dangerous situation. Fear is one of the things that trigger it," Trip told her. "I chose to fight."
"I should go meditate then read up on some reports for tomorrow. I am due in early for council meetings," she said. "I shall leave you to enjoy the night air."
T'Les left Trip alone. He sat down on a rock formation. It was going to be a lot of fun being a liaison.
STSTST
In the morning T'Pol showed Trip the food stuffs he had to work with, as well as a PADD with a recipe. As he prepared breakfast very little conversation passed between T'Pol and him. Trip could tell she was struggling still with the conversation she had with her mother the day before. He made a sort of Vulcan oatmeal with something called teaberry melon and spiced tea. Again per Vulcan tradition they ate in silence then Trip changed into his dress blue uniform. As he exited the guest bedroom, he saw T'Les dress in robes for work, while T'Pol was still dressed casually.
"My mother will transport to the Administrative Building," said T'Pol.
"Sounds good," said Trip.
"I notice you have many medals on your uniform, Charles," remarked T'Les. "What do they represent?"
If he was a warrior, a killer, he thought. Trip decided it was best to be free with the information.
"A few are for engineering excellence, one is for tactics, others for actions taken during battle as an engineer, as an XO, and as a commander of a ship," he told her. "Oh, and that one is called a purple heart. It's for being injured during an attack."
"Oh," said T'Les. "What was battle like?"
"Chaotic, your adrenaline gets pumping and you have to focus on your duties, whatever they may be, so that you survive the battle," he told her.
"I see. Which was more difficult being an engineer, an Executive Officer, or commander during a battle?" she asked him.
T'Pol raised her right eyebrow. Trip felt a little squeak of anger through their bond. Her mother was starting to piss off T'Pol.
"Commander. Every life on-board is your responsibility and whoever is attacking you is also your responsibility to destroy them rather than be destroyed. Oh, course, you try to scare the other ship off, but if you can't then you have to defeat it," said Trip.
"We should get going. I know T'Pau, Solkar, and V'Lar expect you for discussions," said T'Les.
"After you, ma'am," said Trip as he opened the door to exit the house.
Before leaving he glanced at T'Pol and smiled. Her reaction to his smile made him feel better. Her face softened and he thought he saw a hint of emotion in her eyes.
STSTST
At the Administrative Building Trip was escorted into what he assumed as a conference room of sorts. There were no long tables to sit at but there were plenty of seats from a hard sofa to hard back chairs and hard assed loveseat-like chair. Trip sat down in the loveseat-like chair. There was a small table on the side of it.
As he sat and waited, a Vulcan came in and placed a cup of steaming hot tea on the table for him then he left. Even though he'd have preferred a cold glass of water, he sipped the tea and read the PADD he had brought with him, checking up on reports from the Excalibur and sitreps from Starfleet Command. According to Admiral Maxwell they were forming four fleets with Jon promoted as Fleet Captain in charge of one of them. This made Trip feel isolated from what was important. Finally, T'Pau, Solkar, and V'Lar entered the room. Trip stood up.
"Please, sit," T'Pau said in a tone that sounded like an order.
T'Pau, V'Lar, and Solkar found seats, sat down facing Trip. The Vulcan with tea came back in and served them tea then left again. Solkar was the first to speak.
"I have always had a great interest in Earth and Humanity," he stated.
Trip didn't respond to this since his reaction to want to say good for you seemed inappropriate.
"My son has many fascinating things to say about Earth," said Solkar. "He told me that you were young to be a captain. How old are you?"
"I'm thirty years old," Trip answered.
"How did you find the questioning yesterday?" asked V'Lar.
"I thought that some of the questions were reasonable while some of the questions showed a per-conceived notion on Humans and that notion was negative," Trip answered.
"I agree," she said.
"Humanity is at war with the Romulan Star Empire. Do you expect to survive?" asked T'Pau.
"I expect Starfleet to defeat the Romulan Star Empire with or without allies," said Trip. "We won't back down. We won't surrender. And we will defeat them."
"Isn't that an arrogant stance to take?" asked T'Pau.
"No. I don't think so. If I was to feel we didn't have a chance or that the Romulans were so superior to us and that fighting them was futile then we have already lost the war. We must be optimistic, even in the face of a imposing enemy," Trip explained.
"Is it logical to optimistic in the face of an imposing enemy?" asked T'Pau.
"Is it logical to assume defeat before a war is fought?" asked Trip.
"You are argue well," said V'Lar, who appeared to like Trip.
"I have often noted that I believe Humanity has great potential, Captain Tucker," stated Solkar. "I wish to invite you to lunch so we may have a conversation."
"I am honored, Solkar," said Trip.
"How do you find Vulcan so far?" asked T'Pau.
"It's hot, very hot," said Trip.
"That is a statement of fact," she pointed out.
"But I am not used to such heat, plus when you put it together with the gravity and thinner atmosphere of Earth, it makes things uncomfortable for me," said Trip.
"You must see some of the more aesthetically pleasing places of Vulcan," said V'Lar.
"Last night I spent a couple of hours in T'Les garden. I found that very pleasing," said Trip. His instincts were to smile but he knew that would be lost on this crowd, so he suppressed his smile.
"I know T'Les' garden well," said T'Pau. "It is an excellent spot to meditate."
"Recently promoted Admiral Sopek asked to speak to you about your encounter with the Romulan cloaked ships. We read the report on it, plus viewed the Bridge footage, which Starfleet generously shared with us, and were impressed with your logic in assuming the energy distortions were cloaked ships," Solkar told him. "Do you mind meeting with Sopek?"
"I'd gladly meet with him," said Trip.
"Good."
STSTST
It turned into a long day of talking to Vulcans from an admiral to one of their top engineers. The engineer, Soral, who taught at the Vulcan Academy, invited Trip to the academy in order to have further discussions. Lunch was a bowl of plomeek soup, which Trip thought needed hot sauce and maybe some pieces of chicken, and Solkar offering him advice about Vulcan and Vulcan politics. By the time he took a taxi back to T'Pol's home, he was exhausted between the heat and the arduous conversations with various Vulcans.
As he got out of the taxi and started down the path to the house when the door opened and T'Pol was showing a male Vulcan out of the house. Trip continued down the path and started to hear the conversation.
"It is done, Koss," said T'Pol.
"It is not over until we end it officially," said Koss.
Trip felt T'Pol's mix of anger and annoyance. Koss looked down the path at him.
"Is that him?" he asked.
Koss stared coldly at Trip, who continued down the path. As Trip got closer Koss moved away from T'Pol and towards Trip. Getting up close to Trip, he said in a voice that had a hint of anger.
"I demand Kal'i'fee, Human."
"I have no idea what you are talking about, Vulcan," Trip growled.
Just then T'Les arrived. She left her transport and joined Koss, Trip, and T'Pol on the path into her home.
"I demand Kal'i'fee," stated Koss again.
"It is your right, but many things must clarified before we can have an official Kal'i'fee," said T'Les.
"Understood. I shall be in contact," said Koss then he left.
"Let us go inside," said T'Les. "I believe Charles needs an explanation.
Fifteen minutes later after being given an explanation what Kal'i'fee was and how it would proceed, Trip sat back on the sofa in the living room and sighed. If this got back to Starfleet his career was over, which might not mean anything because his life might be over. If he did survive the Kal'i'fee, Earth would be at war and he'd be building boats with his brother.
"I have to tell Starfleet about this," he said.
"No. You cannot. It is private to Vulcans," said T'Les.
"I'm not a Vulcan," said Trip.
"You are mated to one, which means that you are expected to keep our secrets and private," said T'Les.
"I'm going to need to tell a few people who can keep it private," said Trip.
"The less the better," said T'Les.
Trip looked at T'Pol, who was quiet during all of this.
"T'Pol," he said.
"Charles, a Vulcan is three times stronger than a Human and twice as fast. Koss will kill you if you fight him," said T'Pol. "I do not want that."
"Okay, well, I can tell you one thing that Koss is not and that is used to violence. I am. He may be stronger and faster, but I've getting into scrapes my whole life," said Trip. "For over a year I had marines training me in hand to hand combat. If I face Koss, I'd have to need to quickly if I wanted to win."
"It is to the death," stated T'Pol.
"Unless he gives up and I accept it," said Trip. "I think I can do that."
"I need to speak to T'Pau," said T'Les.
"Why?" asked Trip.
"T'Pau is the head of our clan, though she is not the Pid'kom. She is a direct descendant of Surak and we are partial descendant," said T'Les. "We will make decisions on this that none will argue about."
"Then she must be told that Charles has a physical disadvantage on Vulcan with our gravity, heat, and atmosphere," stated T'Pol.
"Can it be compensated for?" asked T'Les.
"I believe it can be improved," answered T'Pol.
"If I'm going to be in a fight to the death then I need to go back to the Excalibur to get a good meal with meat and arrange for somethings," said Trip.
"Tomorrow I shall tell you when the Kal'i'fee is," said T'Les. "I shall go to T'Pau now to discuss this. Much needs to be discussed and considered."
"We shall be here until you return," said T'Pol.
T'Les left. Trip felt as if his life was out of control. First, he accidentally mates with a Vulcan, though he has fallen in love with T'Pol, and now he was going to have a fight to death for her. He brought his hands up to his temples and started to rub them.
"I need to talk to Commander Flynn, Phlox, and Troy at minimum. Gunny has been training me lately. Maybe I should also ask his advice on how to disable a superior enemy," said Trip more to himself than to T'Pol.
"We need to return to the Excalibur then once my mother returns," said T'Pol.
She sat down beside him and took his left hand in hers.
"I do not want to lose you, Charles," she said.
Trip leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
"I know, darlin'. I know," he sighed.
STSTST
The decision was made by T'Pau that the Kal'i'fee would occur in five days. During that time Captain Tucker was to get his affairs together. He would also be able to invite two guests. Trip chose Phlox and Commander Flynn. With that settled, Trip and T'Pol took a shuttle to the Excalibur and Trip called Flynn and Phlox into his Ready Room. For the next thirty minutes he explained the situation to them without giving away too much that the Vulcan thought private. At the end, Flynn looked at him and shook his head.
"Captain, you can't do this. You can't fight a Vulcan," said Flynn.
"He's an architect," grinned Trip.
"Who has been trained in Vulcan marital arts," said T'Pol.
"Well, I've got a few days to work with gunny on some moves to disable someone quickly," sighed Trip.
"And I will prepare a hypospray that will alleviate some of your distress on Vulcan," said Phlox.
"Can you make me stronger and faster, too?" smirked Trip.
"T'Pau will not allow that," said T'Pol.
"Captain, I thought I had a way of getting into trouble with my career," chuckled Flynn.
"Charles, you do realize if you succeed in defeating Koss that you and I will be seen as bonded and married by Vulcan laws and tradition," stated T'Pol.
"I never thought a fight to the death would be my wedding," joked Trip.
Phlox smiled and Flynn laughed, but T'Pol stared at him with concern and a hint of rage.