—Chapter 09—
Trip and T'Pol made their way on Vulcan under a red sky towards T'Pol's childhood home, the shuttle drawing ever closer to the planet's surface.
"I wonder what the Columbia is doing in Vulcan's orbit," said T'Pol, for they'd seen the StarFleet vessel from the porthole of their passenger liner.
"I don't know," said Trip. "I'll give Erika a call later."
"Erika?" said T'Pol, head swiveling neatly in order to fix eyes on Captain Tucker. "You refer to Captain Hernandez by her first name?"
"I've known Erika for a long time," said Trip. "We're good friends."
"How good?" said T'Pol.
Trip snorted, and said, "How much longer to your mom's house?"
"We will get there, when we get there, Captain Tucker," said T'Pol, "but you never answered my question."
"Erika and I are good friends, T'Pol," said Trip. "Her and Jon have had an on-and-off thing for a long time, and I've known Erika for almost as long as Jon. Now, have you finished your interrogation, Grand Inquisitor T'Pol."
"For now," said T'Pol, mollified somewhat. "Oh, here we go. That is my mother's house."
Ten minutes more to reach the landing pad and disembark, another ten to make their way to T'Pol's childhood home, and eventually, they stepped through the entryway of a small but neatly put together courtyard.
"Hmmm," said Trip, looking appreciatively at the sparsely decorated courtyard. "Not like I imagined it, but it's beautiful."
"Vulcans appreciate beauty, Captain Tucker," said T'Pol.
"I never doubted that," said Trip with a grin for T'Pol. "You always were a snazzy dresser."
T'Pol spun at that, perhaps a touch nervous to be back home, and torn between desire and proper Vulcan etiquette.
"Captain Tucker, I suggest—" said T'Pol, then froze part way through her thought, as she'd glimpsed her mother approaching, and heard her voice.
"You didn't tell me that you were bringing a guest," said T'Les, eyeing them both intently.
Trip returned T'Les' look in kind, as he'd often wondered what kind of woman would produce a daughter like T'Pol, and T'Les was not what he'd expected. Where T'Pol radiated poise, T'Les radiated authority, and where T'Pol was often uncertain where emotional matters were concerned, Trip doubted that T'Les had ever been uncertain about anything.
"Mother," said T'Pol, "you're home."
"Obviously," said T'Les, looking at T'Pol. "It's agreeable to see you. You appear well."
Sensing some unease from T'Pol, Trip drew T'Les' attention from T'Pol.
"I'm Charles Tucker. Pleased to meet you, ma'am."
He gave T'Les the ta'al, and T'Les returned it a touch ironically, somehow taking in Trip with a glance containing more than a hint of disapproval, which was a neat trick, as her face was largely neutral.
T'Les addressed T'Pol in Vulcan, "Why is he here?"
"Captain Tucker is my colleague," said T'Pol in the same tongue. "He wanted to visit Vulcan."
T'Les fixed T'Pol with a look that took T'Pol back to her childhood, and then said in Vulcan still, "Yes. I am certain that is the entirety of the reason you have brought him here, T'Pol."
T'Pol had no reply, so Trip said, "I don't mean to intrude, but if T'Pol did not check with you before inviting me here, I'll take the shuttle back to the Ke'Phor District. T'Pol, I'll get in touch with you when I get a hotel room. Maybe we can have lunch tomorr—"
"Nonsense," said T'Les. "If I've been rude, I apologize. Please. The guest room is on the south end of the house."
Trip looked at T'Les and considered leaving anyway, as he'd be more comfortable in a hotel, without the family tensions, but it would mean leaving T'Pol at her mother's mercy, and T'Pol had a slightly panicked look, most likely sharing that same thought.
"Thank you, ma'am," said Trip.
He picked up his bags, managing to give T'Pol a wink, head turned slightly askew so that T'Les would not witness that illogical act, and headed for the guest room. T'Pol and her mother followed Trip inside the house, and T'Les touched T'Pol's forearm, in order to garner her attention.
"Koss heard you were arriving on Vulcan today," said T'Les.
"And how did that happen?" said T'Pol.
"I am certain that I don't know, T'Pol," said T'Les, "but nevertheless, he's coming here at 19:00 hours to speak to you."
"Send him away," said T'Pol. "I have nothing to say to him."
"He is your fiance," said T'Les.
"Former fiance," said T'Pol.
"That is a matter for debate," said T'Les. "It would be wise for you to speak with him."
"Send him away," said T'Pol, steel in her voice.
"I will not. If you want him gone, you deal with him," said T'Les, and walked into the kitchen, leaving T'Pol with her thoughts. "He will be here quite soon."
"Fine," said T'Pol. "I will speak to Koss, and you will take Captain Tucker to dinner."
"Will I?" said T'Les.
"You will, if you expect me to speak with Koss," said T'Pol. "Push me on this, and I'll take my leave of you now, before I have even unpacked my bags."
"Very well," said T'Les. "Tell Captain Tucker that we leave in half an hour."
T'Pol nodded, and sought out Captain Tucker in the guest room. The man had taken the opportunity to shower, shave and change his clothes, and T'Pol longed to taste his lips, but her impending meeting with Koss had aggravated her.
"Mom's not too thrilled to have me here, eh?" said Trip with a smile.
"She is just being difficult in order to annoy me," said T'Pol. "It forms the basis of our relationship."
"Some things are universal, T'Pol," said Trip. "So what's up?"
"I have a favor to ask."
"So ask," said Trip.
"Take my mother to dinner," said T'Pol. "I have something to attend to, and I will join you two afterwards, at the restaurant."
"Oh?" said Trip, sensing T'Pol irritation.
"Yes, it is a Vulcan thing," said T'Pol. "I can explain later if you like, but it is nothing to concern you."
"Anything I can do to help you out with this thing?"
"No, Captain," said T'Pol. "I will deal with it."
"This is a nice place, T'Les," said Trip, once they'd been seated and he'd taken a look around the dining room.
T'Les had chosen a restaurant named the Golden Shavokh, it was a fairly small, but elegant restaurant. Quite cozy too.
"It's been in operation for some three hundred years," said T'Les, "always by the family U'Rik."
The waiter had taken their order and returned now with their drinks. Redweed tea for T'Les, coffee for Trip.
"I didn't realize coffee was available on Vulcan," said Trip.
"You will find a great deal of variety on Vulcan, much off it from our colonies, or the result of off-planet trade with alien species," said T'Les.
"I see," said Trip. "And what is a Shavokh?"
"You are a curious little beast, aren't you?" said T'Les, and for the first time since she'd met the Human, T'Les took some interest in the man. "A shavokh is a small Vulcan hawk if you will, a winged predator. Now, I've answered your questions, so perhaps you'll answer some of mine, Captain Tucker."
"Sure," said Trip.
"Are you involved with my daughter?"
"Yes."
T'Les sighed at that, and said, "She's not right for you."
"I disagree."
"She was always a difficult child. Much too emotional. She would make a difficult mate, Captain Tucker."
"Difficult? When I first met T'Pol, she tried to carve my face off with a knife," said Trip. "Now that was difficult."
"This must have been shortly after she was brought aboard from the Seleya, no?" said T'Les.
"No, this was when I found her on the Seleya," said Trip. "I wouldn't advise you to try and pressure her into leaving me. It might not work out as well as you'd expect. She has quite a rebellious streak."
T'Les scoffed at that, and said, "You're telling me? She's my daughter. I know very well the devilish streak in her!"
Against her wishes, T'Les found delight in the fact that she'd found someone at last, who understood the stubborn and contrary nature hidden beneath her daughter's sweet face, and the mutual commiseration between her and Captain Tucker was satisfying.
Trip laughed, and said, "Devilish? Since our first unfortunate encounter, T'Pol's been agreeably pleasant, unfailingly loving, and deliciously eager to fulfill my desires."
The man had a nice laugh. Such open amusement was not something a Vulcan would publicly display, but it was a pleasant thing to note in others.
"Quiet before the sand storm, Trip," said T'Les, beginning to truly like this man a touch, despite her desires, "quiet before the sand storm."
The waiter approached then with two smoking hot salt blocks three inches thick, fourteen inches one way, ten inches the other way, and placed one next to each diner, then laid down two covered trays as well, removing the lids before leaving. T'Les' tray held a variety of vegetables, textured plant proteins, and synthetic proteins, while Trip's tray held the same vegetables, along with a variety of marbled meats, sliced thinly. That caused confusion.
"I know Vulcans don't eat meat these days," said Trip, "so how do you come to serve it in your restaurants, T'Les?"
"It's something of a compromise with the outside worlds," said T'Les. "The meat is grown from single cells, in food laboratories if you will."
"What?"
"Yes," said T'Les, tossing a large marinated mushroom cap on the salt block, along with some seasoned tofu, imported from Earth. "The cells are attached to large microfiber mesh sheets and submerged into a nutritive bath of fluids which provide the cells with the energy needed to increase in number, and create tissue," said T'Les. "The mesh is stretched daily, providing the same stimulus which normal movement provides in animals, so that the growing muscle fiber assumes the texture and firmness of genuine animal meat."
"I'll be damned," said Trip.
"Since no conscious life is taken to produce this meat, there are even Vulcans who consume it," said T'Les, "though their numbers are small."
"I see," said Trip, distracted by the heat he felt pouring off the salt block.
He laid down a few small peppers and sliced onions, and watched with fascination as they began to smoke and sear, distracted from the process for a moment as the waiter returned with some two dozen sauces and dips, as well as a basket of hot from the oven flatbreads.
"The salt block is soaked in plosek oil once it is heated," said T'Les. "It has a very high smoking point, and it soaks into the salt block, lubricating the surface, while providing a pleasing taste. You should add the meat now. Your pepper and onions are almost finished."
"Right," said Trip.
He flipped his veggies, then added two strips of well marbled meat. It sizzled and smoked immediately, when it hit the hot salt block, and gave off a wildly delicious smell.
Almost perfect, thought Trip, and the waiter must have thought he same, as he brought two plates with Basmati rice for them. Trip watched T'Les expertly scoop her seared vegetables and tofu off the salt block onto the rice, and he did the same, then followed T'Les' lead once more, and added more food to the now empty salt block. A few pointers from T'Les on the various sauces and then they both tucked into the food.
"Oh, my, God," said Trip, moaning with pleasure.
Despite herself, T'Les gave a slight smile. This Human was amusing. They ate in silence for a while, then T'Les spoke.
"Do you know what T'Pol is doing tonight, Captain Tucker?"
"Call me Trip."
"All right, Trip," said T'Les, surprising Trip, given T'Pol's initial reluctance to use his nickname. "So, do you know?"
"No. She said it was a Vulcan thing, and promised to tell me later if I was truly curious."
"She is meeting her fiance."
"What?" said Trip, heart involuntarily racing.
"T'Pol is engaged, Trip."
"I don't believe you," said Trip.
"And yet it's true."
"Nothing personal, but I'll hear it from T'Pol, before I believe it," said Trip.
"Oh, she will deny it," said T'Les, "but it's true, and there are rituals that can compel T'Pol to Bond with him."
Trip had studied what data was available on Vulcan marriages, so he was familiar with the concept of psychic bonds, and other assorted rituals associated with the Vulcan mating cycle.
"The kunat kal-if-fee," said Trip.
"Precisely," said T'Les, impressed that Trip was knowledgeable on the topic. "You should perhaps ask yourself now if facing Koss in battle for T'Pol is worth your life. You would face overwhelming odds. Be smart, Trip. Step back from T'Pol."
Trip smiled, but it was a cold smile, beneath slitted eyelids, and for the first time since she'd met the man, T'Les was intimidated by him.
"That's not gonna happen, T'Les," said Trip. "She belongs to me!"
At 19:00 hours on the dot, a chime sounded, announcing Koss. T'Pol walked through the house, through the courtyard and led Koss into the living room, where he sat himself on a couch, while T'Pol brought out some tea, then chose a seat across the coffee table from Koss, on an identical couch.
"It is good to see you, T'Pol," said Koss, after taking a sip of tea, for the sake of manners.
"Likewise, Koss," said T'Pol, for the sake of politeness, though she'd had no desire to see the Vulcan.
"I was gratified to hear that you still lived, after the disaster which befell the Seleya," said Koss, "but disappointed that you chose to join StarFleet."
T'Pol said nothing to that, for she was not concerned with Koss' approval or his disappointment.
"But now that you are back on Vulcan," said Koss, "we should discuss where we stand."
"There is no us, Koss," said T'Pol. "Our engagement ended when I chose to accept the position of Deputy Science Officer of the Seleya. I am certain that you recall that fact."
"I do not agree, T'Pol," said Koss. "I know that my parents were upset with your choice to serve aboard the Seleya, rather than wed and accept a planet-bound assignment, but the ultimatum was just a negotiation tactic. My father hoped the ultimatum would make you choose to make the logical choice, but he did not truly mean it."
"All this is irrelevant, Koss," said T'Pol, "as I no longer find the idea of being Bonded to you agreeable. We are too different."
"I disagree," said Koss, "and I believe that your objections to our joining is caused by another. I have been told you traveled here with a Human. Is this so?"
"It is," said T'Pol, "and it is none of your concern. He is a fellow shipmate who has never seen Vulcan."
"I am certain that is all he is," said Koss, clearly skeptical. "Tell me this, T'Pol, will this 'shipmate' be willing to put his life on the line if I choose to enforce my claim to you."
"You have no claim to me, Koss," said T'Pol, "save in your imagination. But I suspect he would indeed be willing to fight for me, and given the fact that I've seen him face death a dozen times or more since we first met, I suspect he would have no trouble killing you, despite your physical advantages. But it will never come to that. You are a Vulcan, which means you understand logic, so understand this. I will never be your mate. If you move to press your claims, I will leave Vulcan, never to return. Alternately, if you annoy me enough, I might allow the ceremony to occur, Bonding you to me, and then leave Vulcan, never to return, which will be most inconvenient for you when the Blood Fever takes you, Koss. Is your mind strong enough to survive your pon farr through meditation alone? Do you wish to find out? Find another mate, and live long and prosper, or marry me and make your life a misery, until the Blood Fever takes you, and you die without a mate to ease your symptoms."
Koss looked at T'Pol, and though his expressions were subtle, anger was visible on his face.
"You have changed for the worse through the years, T'Pol," said Koss, "but now, after your ordeal on the Seleya, I begin to think you are insane. Does your Human know that fact about you?"
"I was insane when he found me, Koss," said T'Pol, "Now, may I show you the way out?"
"This isn't over, T'Pol," said Koss. "Once we are mated I can compel you to remain on Vulcan."
"You should leave now, Koss," said T'Pol, "before we both say, or do, things which we will regret later."
By the time T'Pol joined Trip and T'Les at the restaurant, the two were on their desserts. They both looked at her with guarded expressions, and that was enough to tell T'Pol that her mother had allowed her tongue to run away from her.
"How did things go with Koss?" said Trip, and T'Les listened attentively.
"Koss and I had an amicable discussion," said T'Pol, "and I suspect that after he considers my words he will wisely decide to select another mate."
"And how did you manage that, T'Pol?" said T'Les.
"I made a logical appeal to Koss, and I believe he will see the light of reason."
"So it's over?" said Trip.
"It was over long ago," said T'Pol, "and I am free to seek out my own mate."
T'Les went stiff at the tone of T'Pol's voice, but T'Pol merely locked eyes with her mother for a few moments, then turned to Trip, her eyes soft and feminine, and said, "So what looks good for dessert?"