Abandon and Forgotten
by red rooster dawn
T&T
Disclaimer: All the characters are the property of Gene Roddenberry and Star Trek. They are use purely for entertainment value only.
Summary: The captain sends Trip & T'Pol to observe an alien culture. A few days later the Enterprise is sent on a mission of great importance leaving Trip and T'Pol behind until the mission is completed.
Author's note: I posted the wrong first part to this story. In the process I have lost the first part. I will give a brief summary as to what was supposed to have happen in the first scene.
Scene one
The Captain gets word from Starfleet to retrieve to cultural observers from a planet for debriefing. They are expected to be gone for one month.
Since Commander Tucker has had several misguided interactions with new cultures Starfleet wants him to be trained properly, preferably a Vulcan.
The Enterprise retrieves the two observers and leaves Commander Tucker behind with T'Pol to train him. Before the Enterprise can return for them Starfleet contacts the Enterprise to send them on a mission that will last several months.
The Captains pleads with Starfleet to let him retrieve Tucker and T'Pol. They are his two best people and he's going to need them on the mission. But Starfleet refuses to let the Captain and Enterprise retrieve Tucker and T'Pol.
scene three Getting to know one self
Trip and T'Pol spent the next few months getting closer to the inhabitants of Tierra Pox. For T'Pol it was an older woman whom she had gotten close to and who wondered if T'Pol was truly happy. Everyone she knew in their small community was happy.
One day she asked T'Pol "Polly are you happy here in our little town?"
"Yes and No Sabrina. I'm sad because my cousin and her husband haven't return. I'm worried about them. But I'm happy knowing you and all your friends who have welcomed Charles and myself as friends." replied T'Pol.
"Then why do you look so unhappy all the time. I don't think I have ever seen you smile." asked a concerned Sabrina.
"I don't know. It's something I have rarely do. It doesn't bother Charles. He knows I love him." fibbed T'Pol. Why was she asking her all these personal questions?
"Can I let you in on a little secret Polly? In our little town everyone is expected to be happy. They should smile and laugh. The elders of the town are very observant people.
If they see an unhappy person, they want to rectify the situation. In this case they will put you together with someone else in an effort to make you happy." offered Sabrina.
"Is that something that you want Polly?" asked Sabrina.
"No, I'm quite content being with Charles. I will make a better effort in the future to smile, but I'm not sure how successful I will be." replied T'Pol.
"Then let Charles help you Polly. He has one of the best smiles I've ever seen." responded Sabrina.
"That he has." agreed T'Pol. She could never stay mad with Charles. All he had to do was smile at her and all her anger would dissipate.
Meanwhile Trip was helping out a friend who was moving his household belongings into the new house he had built for his wife and three kids. They had outgrown the small house they were living in. As they sat down to rest and drink a beer Anton looked over to Trip.
"Charlie, can I ask you something personal?"
"Sure Anton, why not. We're good friends. What do you want to know?" replied Trip.
"Are you and Polly happy? I ..... and others have noticed that she doesn't smile." asked Anton.
"It's just her way. She's quite content living here. It's a new experience for her." replied Trip.
"The reason I ask Charlie is because there is an unwritten rule that everyone should be happy. If someone isn't happy, then the elders will do everything possible including finding a new mate for the unhappy person." explained Anton.
"I didn't know that. I'm sure Polly doesn't either. I'll have a talk with her. I knows she wants to be with me as much as I want to be with her." responded Trip.
He laughed to himself. There was no way T'Pol wanted to spend that much time with one of the villagers. She thought of them as heathens and their odor was most unbearable.
"See that you do Charlie. I would hate to see you lose her to someone else." replied Anton. When they were done Trip went home to talk to T'Pol.
Later that day when Trip arrived home he was surprised to see T'Pol with a smile on her face when she greeted him even though it was a small one.
"I'll have dinner on the table in a few minutes." She then gave him a small kiss on his cheek before hurrying off. Trip was stunned. He sat down at the table with the beer T'Pol had given him. A smile and a kiss. Hmmm ..... a beer.
T'Pol then brought in dinner. They ate their dinner quietly as was the Vulcan custom. When they were finished T'Pol told Trip of her conversation with Sabrina. Trip smiled.
"Funny, I had the same conversation with Anton today. At least we know we have to do something about it."
"You mean me. I'm not very good at showing emotions Charles. You're going to have to help me." replied T'Pol.
"It will be my pleasure T'Pol. I know you will master it in no time once you set your mind to it. They knew T'Pol had to undergo a change to be able to fit in.