Offices of Admiral Black - San Francisco 2145
T'Pol was waiting for quite a while outside Admiral Black's offices, before Soval was able to see her. Despite looking exactly like every other Admiral's office, there was something disconcerting about the place. The people that came and went seemed to scurry more than was normal, and they all considered her either not at all, or rather too much. This did nothing to improve her state of mind, and she found herself visibly shaken when finally seated opposite Soval - large and busy desk between them.
"You have made yourself indispensable to Admiral Black, I see," she began.
Observing her state, Soval immediately rose and busied himself at a side table for a few minutes, returning with a hot mug of liquid which he handed to T'Pol. "This is tea from our homeland, T'Pol. From Vulcan."
"It is pleasing," T'Pol answered stiffly after several long sips, although in truth the tea's provenance pleaded her more than its flavour.
"Now what can I do for you, T'Pol."
She lowered the tea to her lap, not wishing to leave a ring on Soval's desk, and cleared her throat. "I need to know if it was you."
Soval regarded her carefully. "If what was I?"
"Well... the boy, for starters, Malcolm. He was..."
"I know," Soval replied calmly. "And no. That order came from Admiral Forrest's office, not from here. Admiral Black and Stuart Reed were allies, and I serve the will of Admiral Black to the best of my abilities."
T'Pol frowned "But, you killed Stuart Reed, didn't you?"
"Well, if I did, that was before I served the admiral. Indeed, it was only because of Stuart Reed's death that I find myself able to serve Admiral Black to the best of my abilities."
T'Pol straightened her back "And because I arranged your freedom. Because you saved me once and earned my favour. Now I would like to know, did you arrange for the danger from which you saved me, in order to find yourself able to serve Admiral Black?"
Soval regarded her. "What put such a question in your mind T'Pol?"
"That is unimportant. The answer is important."
Soval nodded slowly. "Perhaps I should have asked who put such a question in your mind."
T'Pol inhaled shakily. "Answer me!" she demanded - pleaded- one last time.
"I will not. The answer would do you no good, in any case. You would be devastated by an affirmation, and would not believe a denial. You always underestimated him. You must learn from this, learn to live with the uncertainty. For this is an uncertain world."
They sat in silence for a moment.
Then T'Pol spoke again. "I have done harm in order for us to reach the Imperial Forces. I must now mitigate that harm. Give me more to do. How might I best help the rebellion?"
"I don't know. I know little of the rebellion, and nothing of how you might assist it."
T'Pol's heart clenched in shock. "But you told me that you were in the rebellion!"
Soval shook his head slowly. "I did not. I told you that there was a rebellion. And there is. But I do not intend to join it, T'Pol, and I hope you will not either, now you have a few more years of wisdom, and your freedom, and some distance from your trauma. Violence is not the way of our people, T'Pol. I plan to serve with distinction and honour, and, with time, change the minds of the humans peaceably. We can afford to be patient, T'Pol, for we live long lives. Unless that is, we are executed for pointless rebellion."
T'Pol slumped in her chair, so violently that her still-hot tea splashed and burned her thighs. She made no move to acknowledge the pain. It felt fitting. "So what should I do?"
Soval considered. "If I were you, I would work very hard and also earn the favour of Admiral Forrest. Get yourself assigned to the upcoming Enterprise in a few years. Forrest will tolerate Vulcans if they are attractive, and attractive you are. You should be permitted to do well there. Serve with honour."
"Forrest?" T'Pol frowned. "Isn't Enterprise supposed to be Archer's ship? And how would I get Forrest's favour, anyway?"
"Enterprise will be Archer's," Soval replied firmly. "The admiralty are decided on that. And you would earn Forrest's favour by servicing him sexually. For specific details on how to do that, you have access to better sources than I. Or so I hear."
Suddenly, T'Pol was exhausted. A profound exhaustion of the soul she had not felt since the day she was separated forever from her mother. "If I am just to make myself a whore to Forrest, then what was any of this for?"
Soval regarded her with what might have been sympathy. "I'm afraid I cannot answer that for you. Now.. if there is anything I can do..."
"Tucker," T'Pol replied immediately. "I want Tucker assigned to Enterprise too. Can you do that?"
Soval frowned. "I believe that can be arranged. May I ask why, however?"
T'Pol sighed. "He is useful to me. And I trust him."
"That is to your peril," Soval responded, displeased. "But... as you wish."
