—Chapter 7—
The next evening, Archer looked out a port window in his ready room, to take in the sight of the newly arrived Vulcan ships. The two Vulcan battle-cruisers were impressive as hell, and if the troop carrier was less so, it was more useful, for it would take the newly released captives back home, at least partially.
Fourteen shuttles, six from each of the Vulcan cruisers, two from the Enterprise, were ferrying these people from the planet's surface to the troop carrier in orbit. No sign of the Orion ships yet, though there was no doubt they'd return, their ships loaded with loot and captives for the slave market's of Syndicate space. The two battle-cruisers would remain in place until the Orions returned and Archer knew the Vulcans would have no trouble capturing the Orions ships for the Orions were a pragmatic people, not given to resistance to the bitter end. The Enterprise would escort the Vulcan troop transport ship to Risa to drop off some of the captives, and then Vulcan with the rest.
The comm unit beeped, and T'Pol's voice said, "Captain."
"Yes, T'Pol."
"Captains Vrill, Te'Mek and Usan just came on board. They'll be escorted to your dining room shortly."
Archers sighed, and said, "Ok, T'Pol. Turn the conn over to Lieutenant Reed and meet me there. You're not dumping them on my lap while you relax on the Bridge. I've had about enough Vulcan condescension."
"Yes, Captain," said T'Pol, "but you and the crew of the Enterprise have done well here. I assure you, the Vulcan captains will show you no disrespect."
"Right. Ok. See you soon."
Chef had served a Caesar salad as the first course of the meal, the usual anchovy paste in the dressing replaced by some fermented Porcini mushroom paste for the sake of the vegetarian Vulcans.
As the empty salad plates were being removed, Archer took a speculative look around the table and had to concede that T'Pol had been right. The Vulcan captains had been pleasant enough, as far as he was concerned. They'd asked about the events that had brought the Orions to the notice of the Enterprise, had inquired about the actual takeover of the Orion camp, and looked suitably impressed after Captain Archer had given them a concise overview of the operation.
The stewards laid plates in front of each guest, the next course in the meal. A samosa on each plate, filled with spicy potatoes and chickpeas, three arancini balls, small rice balls, stuffed with chopped grilled mushrooms and eggplant, coated with breadcrumbs and fried in olive oil and a bowl of a clear vegetable soup.
"That was well played, Captain," said Vrill, the senior Vulcan captain, after taking a appreciative sniff of the soup and samosas in front of him.
"Most of the credit goes to my people," said Archer. "Lieutenant Reed and Ke'Relle planned the operation, SubCommander T'Pol ran it flawlessly and Commander Tucker did much of the critical groundwork on the inside of the camp."
Te'Mek eyed Trip speculatively as he took a tentative bite of his samosa. He nodded approvingly and took another bite before speaking to Trip.
"I was given to understand that you were the ship's Chief Engineer, Commander Tucker. How did you find yourself in very midst of such a mission?"
Trip smiled and said, "We're generalists aboard the Enterprise, Captain, so we improvised. I suspect we'll have to do so quite often, until we get our space legs."
"You have done quite well so far," said captain Usan.
"That's kind of you to say, Captain," said Archer, looking at captain Usan. "I did not expect to hear that, given some of the Vulcan opinions I've heard so far on the topic of humans venturing into space."
"Our opinions on any topic are varied, perhaps not as much as amongst you humans, for we are generally committed to approaching life's challenges primarily through logic, but I assure you, we do not march in lockstep with one another, where your species is concerned."
Captain Archer was about to reply, but just then T'Pol entered the Captain's Mess and after a nod to the Vulcan captains, took the empty seat at Commander Tucker's right hand.
"Try the arancini while they're hot, T'Pol," said Ke'Relle, leaning a bit forward to make eye contact with T'Pol, from her seat at Commander Tucker's left hand. "I know you'll love them. We have similar taste..."
T'Pol gave Ke'Relle a deadpan look, and said, "I will do so, Ke'Relle."
Ke'Relle winked at T'Pol and gave a slight laugh, but it might as well have been a bellow as far as the Vulcan captains were concerned. Trip thought they seemed unsure in how to deal with Ke'Relle, though Vrill seemed to find her fascinating.
Oh, hell, thought Trip, I'm probably wrong. It's not like I can read Vulcans. Well, except T'Pol. Her I can read.
Captain Te'Mek took a speculative look at T'Pol and then at Captain Archer.
"How has T'Pol been working out for you aboard the Enterprise, Captain?"
"We got off to a rocky start," said Archer, "but we're working together quite well now. She's an excellent officer."
"That is interesting," said Vrill, looking at T'Pol. "I believe you hold the record for the length of time served aboard a human ship, SubCommander."
"Perhaps the High Command could give her a plaque for her quarters and a medal as large as a dinner plate, which she could wear as part of her uniform," said Trip with a laugh. "We could hold a ceremony, then have T'Pol march through the ship's halls as we throw candies at her."
Captain Archer laughed at that and both Te'Mek and Vrill looked at Trip and seemed amused. Usan just seemed confused by the idea. He was the most logical of them all, and human humor often escaped him.
T'Pol turned to look at Trip and though her glance was reserved, her eyes seemed… well, warm. She knew Trip was amusing himself at her expense, but didn't mind it at all.
"That is not necessary, Commander," said T'Pol. "I am a Vulcan. I live to serve."
Looking back at T'Pol's face, Trip was captivated. He'd been so since the first time he'd seen her and most nights T'Pol's face was the last thing he saw before he fell asleep, well, mostly because she was always on his mind. His eyes narrowed fractionally and her's widened, and just for an instant he had the crazy impulse to reach out and caress her cheek. It was probably for the best that T'Pol had no interest in him, else he'd fall hopelessly in love with her and that would be very bad, given that this was a temporary assignment for her.
Oh, Christ!, thought Trip. How long have I been staring at T'Pol?
"Your service honors us, T'Pol," said Trip.
It was something he'd heard one Vulcan say to another at one of StarFleet's rubber chicken dinners in return to the 'I live to serve' line, and it seemed appropriate here as well, for the Vulcan captains nodded and Te'Mek murmured something in Vulcan. Captain Archer looked at him for a bit longer, and Trip started to sweat, figuratively speaking, but then Archer turned his attention to a speaking Vrill, and the moment passed.
Thank God, thought Trip. No one noticed, well except Jon. I can play it off though, even with him. I'm in the clear.
T'Pol had gone through much the same thought process and come to the same conclusion: I am in the clear. Knowing that, why was her heart was still racing?
"I trust that it is clear to us all that T'Pol is quite infatuated with Commander Tucker, no?" said Te'Mek to Vrill and Usan as the Vulcan shuttle left the Enterprise's flight deck.
"Do you think they're Bonded?" said Vrill.
"That is not our concern. It is a private matter," said Usan. "But no, they are not Bonded. Yet."
"How do you know?" said Te'Mek.
"My psi rating is quite high," said Usan. "I would have sensed the existance of a Bond between them."
Vrill, who had consulted his data pad since his initial thought, said, "Usan is correct. The Enterprise has not yet visited Vulcan and I do not see how they would have had access to a Vulcan priest, to initiate a Bond. That's if a priest would even agree to initiate such an unconventional Bond."
"Still," said Te'Mek. "The attraction is there. It is strong and it goes both ways. The Commander is just as enchanted with our young SubCommander, as she to him."
"Should we notify the High Command?" said Vrill.
"That would not be right, for it might affect her career," said Te'Mek. "At the very least she would get pulled from the Enterprise."
"It is not our place to meddle," said Usan. "It is a private matter."
Vrill and Te'Mek looked at each other, then Usan, and both said, "Agreed."
The next day, T'Pol had the conn, while captain Archer was consulting with StarFleet in his Ready Room, when Ensign Sato said, "SubCommander, we are being hailed by the Tulwar. They're ready to send a shuttle over for Ke'Relle."
The Tulwar was a Vulcan diplomatic shuttle headed for Earth and captain Vrill had pulled some strings to get Ke'Relle a seat on the shuttle.
"Acknowledge the transmission and instruct the Tulwar to proceed to the Access Hatch."
"Yes, SubCommander," said Hoshi.
T'Pol pressed an alpha-numerical sequence into the number-pad built into the arm of the captain's chair. That particular sequence had been assigned to the comm unit given to Ke'Relle for the duration of her stay on the Enterprise.
"Ke'Relle here."
"This is T'Pol. Your shuttle will be here shortly. Proceed to the Access Hatch."
"Acknowledged. Thank you, T'Pol. It's been a pleasure."
"Safe journey, Ke'Relle."
"Thank you, T'Pol. It's a shame I didn't get to spend more time on the Enterprise."
"Indeed," said T'Pol. "I shall grieve your departure, Ke'Relle."
Ke'Relle laughed at that, knowing that T'Pol was secretly overjoyed to be rid of her, and logged off.
T'Pol moved to the Science Station and extended the scope. Looking into it, she entered Ke'Relles comm unit code once again. The Enterprise was equipped with an adequate audio/visual sensor net, in case of emergencies, so T'Pol had no difficulty locating Ke'Relle's signature in one of the transport tubes. Not surprisingly, Commander Tucker's signature was next to Ke'Relle's. Pulling out an earbud from the scope's base, T'Pol inserted it into her ear. She noticed Ensign Sato's surprise. T'Pol had never used the earbud before, but she was embarrased enough about what she was doing, no need to broadcast things by enabling the audio speaker, and so, she ignored Ensign Sato's glance, but the Ensign smiled, as if she knew exactly what T'Pol was about. That was troubling. Still, she took the next step.
"—was great having you here, Ke'Relle."
The cameras picked up their image as the microphones picked up the Commander's words.
"I enjoyed it as well, Trip."
"Shame you couldn't stay on a bit longer, Ke'Relle. We're due to return to Earth in a month or so, and Captain Archer would have accomodated you gladly, for the help you gave us."
"Unfortunately time is of the essence, Trip. I'm on an important mission for my people."
"Really?" said Trip, his curiousity piqued. "What could the Vulcans want of you, that they can't have their diplomatic flunkies handle?"
What indeed, thought T'Pol, unsure of what to make of Ke'Relle's statement. No true undercover operative would reveal her mission, or even the existance of a mission, to another.
"Vulcans? Who said I'm a Vulcan, Trip?"
T'Pol had scanned for lifesigns during the rescue of the Vulcan freighter and knew very well that Ke'Relle was a Vulcan. She was mystified at Ke'Relle's conduct.
Trip smiled at Ke'Relle, uncertainly, and said, "Right… You're actually a Klingon."
"Perhaps," she said with a smile, then hit the stop button, which brought the tube to a sudden halt. "As much as I'd like to stay, my people sent me here. One of our psychics, and they're few in number, predicted that one day soon a black wind would bring great harm to my people. That wind would come from Earth."
"A black wind? Travelling through space."
"It is obviously a metaphor, Trip. But he has proven his accuracy many times before, so I have been sent to gather information on humans, and Earth."
Now Trip knew Ke'Relle was pulling his leg.
"Ok, now that makes sense. You're right. You have to go."
"I do. But don't tell anyone, Trip, or I will have to kill you."
Trip laughed, and said, "Right. I agree."
Ke'Relle surprised T'Pol by moving into Commander Tucker's space and kissing him deeply. T'Pol was displeased, though logically, she should not have been surprised, given how much time the two had spent together. There is nothing between the Commander and myself, thought T'Pol, so there is no reason to concern myself over a kiss—yet this logical fact did not dispell her displeasure.
Ke'Relle started the tube on its way once more, and said something in Vulcan as she looked casually around the tube.
"What was that?" said Trip.
"Nothing, Trip. A silly superstition."
T'Pol removed the earbud and stepped back from her station. She should have been troubled that Ke'Relle had so easily intuited that she would be spying on them both, yet Ke'Relles words still echoed through her mind.
"I hope you enjoyed that kiss, T'Pol. If I was not otherwise occupied I would take the Commander from you, now. I promise, I will do so the next time we meet."