—Chapter 28—
A month later, Hoshi, Archer and T'Pol found themselves standing before Phlox' house, honoring their promise to attend a dinner at the Doctor's house before the Enterprise left orbit. It was definitely not what they expected. Instead of living in individual housing units for each family, Denobulan families liven in large complexes, housing hundreds of family members. Only natural, on second thought, considering that each husband had three wives, and each wife, three husbands. When you threw in all the relations, distant and close, well, this is what you got.
Phlox proudly gave them a tour of the complex. It took the form of a sphere, half above ground, half below. The lower portion held the large garage, many storage rooms, kitchens, and so on… The upper level held the many large separate apartments, guest rooms, meeting rooms, reading rooms, dining rooms, etc… all the rooms required for social living. The very center of the complex was left open, for a natural park with an open roof to the sky.
The next few hours were a pleasant chaos of introductions, stories, wonderful foods, more stories, songs and even a dance, and when the Enterprise's crew stumbled out onto the street, they felt as if they'd spent a night with the fairies.
"I hope you enjoyed yourselves," said Dr. Phlox.
All said they had, and the sincerity of their response was gratifying to the Doctor.
"We leave in three days, Doctor," said Jon. "We'll get in touch with your then, Doctor."
"Yes, Captain," said Phlox and after another round of thanks, both ways, the crew left Phlox behind, so that he might enjoy his family a few days longer.
T'Pol had long fallen into a routine, since the first time she and Trip had made contact in her white space. Now she meditated early while she waited for her lover to join her, and then they tore into each other with a ferocity that was quite as intoxicating as real life, for it felt quite real. Afterwards, they talked for a while, before Trip fell asleep, and vanished, and T'Pol suspected that whatever schedule he was keeping, it was brutal. This night, her mate was late, and when he eventually made an appearance, he moved stiffly.
"What is wrong?" said T'Pol.
"I accidentally got stabbed in the leg today. Don't worry, it wasn't deep. I'll be back in business in a week."
"Stabbed?" said T'Pol. "How?"
"Training accident, T'Pol. Don't sweat it. Let's get cozy."
T'Pol looked at the Commander's legs. He was just wearing a pair of gray cotton shorts, but she noticed nothing unusual, certainly not a stab wound.
"Why don't I see your wound, Commander?"
"You're seeing me as you remember me, T'Pol. My body is not actually there, it's only our minds that are touching. If you imagine the wound, you'll see it. In fact, imagine me even sexier than I am, instead, if that's even possible. Give yourself a treat."
"You are sexy enough for me as it is, Commander," said T'Pol, ignoring her mate's joke. "So, if your wound is only mental, Commander…"
Trip smiled, and said, "You're right. I'm just too exhausted to think straight tonight. Ok, I'm back in business, baby."
T'Pol's silk top vanished as Trip approached, but the Vulcan raised her arm in front of her, palm on the Commander's chest, restraining his ardor.
"What kind of mission are you on, Commander, that you're training for combat?"
"I can't talk about it," said Trip.
"Why? You have always been so vague about it. You have danced around the issue for months now and it was my fault that I allowed you to do so. I was just overjoyed by our new ability to be together even when separated, but now I wish to know the truth. I am your mate, Commander. Your Bonded mate. There should be no secrets between us."
Trip said nothing, and T'Pol would not let up.
"Commander? I am still waiting, and still hoping for an answer from you. I would hope our Bond means as much to you as it does to me."
"Ok, that's dirty fighting, T'Pol," said Trip with a sigh. "You know it does."
"Well…"
"I haven't told you anything about the mission because I didn't want you to worry. But it's a cause you'd respect. A rescue mission."
T'Pol eyed her mate, sampled the Bond, and said, "There is more, Commander. I am still listening."
"It's a rescue mission of the Vulcans bought by the Happa on the Orion markets," said Trip in a monotone.
T'Pol tensed, thinking of their last encounter with the Happa, then Ke'Relle and the damage she had caused the man she loved. But there was no way to help it from the Enterprise…
"It's ok, T'Pol," said Trip, feeling her tension. "There are no more Ke'Relles, no more Happas that I consider friends. It's just business."
"Truly?"
"Yes, T'Pol."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner, Commander?"
"Because I didn't want you to worry yourself sick about me. I know I was a mess after my tangle with Ke'Relle."
"You were," said T'Pol. "But if you say it is just business now, I believe you, Trip. You are my mate, and I believe in you."
Trip smiled, relieved.
"Ok, that wasn't as bad as I imagined it would be, T'Pol."
"How much longer, Commander? How much longer must I wait? This thing we have, this new ability, it means everything to me, but I still want you safe aboard the Enterprise."
"Well, it's been what, three months now? As I understand it, we are waiting for a window of opportunity."
"Explain."
"The Happa keep coming and going, T'Pol, and we're waiting for a sweet spot, numerically speaking. We want the fewest number of Happa present at their base, so that we can steam roll them, and the largest possible number of Vulcans to rescue. The longer we wait, the more Vulcans we rescue, but we can't go on like this forever. Of course, the appearances of any transports will immediately trigger our strike, no matter what."
"Sounds dangerous, Trip."
"We train every day for it, T'Pol, and if we're not training, we're going over the plan, the contingencies, everything. Don't sweat it, baby. I'm support. I'll be at the back of the pack, toasting marshmallows for the troops."
"Of course you will. That is why you are receiving combat training," said T'Pol, not needing the Bond to detect that her mate was trying to protect her once again.