After a couple of weeks on Vulcan with T'Pol's family, they were heading back to the ship for their final year on the Enterprise. As Tripp looked at his friends, he could tell that they were glad for the rest. The only person that didn't look rested was Jonathan Archer. Tripp remembered that he didn't see his captain very much since they made it home after the war. Tripp wondered what kept the captain from resting. Tripp made a note to speak to him when he got the chance.
After the ship got under way it seemed that everyone and including the captain, was relaxed. Tripp wondered if that had something to do with, they weren't fighting a war and could get back to traveling space. Once they were going in a different direction to a different part of space, Tripp and T'Pol were called to the captain's ready room.
Tripp and T'Pol stood in front of the captain wondering why he needed them. The captain was standing with his back towards them looking out the window. Tripp glanced over at T'Pol to see how she was taking the stance of the captain. He should know by now that she wasn't showing any emotion. He knew he could ask her, but it didn't seem right.
The captain smiled as he turned around to them. "How was Vulcan?" He asked.
"It was good, captain," T'Pol said.
Tripp knew that T'Pol needed a moment to be on her planet. At some point in their trip, T'Pol and her cousin went to some mountain to mediate. He had stayed back with the children and her foremother, who loved watching the children. When T'Pol came back she seemed better. Tripp knew that she was going to need moments like this. A place away from him and their children. Tripp thought that she might need a place like that on Earth. He was already thinking about finding a place for her to have. He would have to look into something and make it a surprise for her. He knew that she would thank him in her own way.
"That is great to hear," The captain smiled. Tripp had seen that it didn't reach his eyes.
"Cap, how was your time on Earth? We didn't see much on Earth," Tripp asked. "Did you have some relaxing time?"
Jonathan smiled and looked at his friends. He knew that they were concerned for him. Tripp had it written all over his face while he could read it in T'Pol's eyes. "I was very busy on Earth with everything that the government is planning."
"What is the government planning?" T'Pol asked.
"After dealing with the Romulans, they are thinking about making a permeant alliance with our friends," The captain said. There was something in Jonathan's voice that caught Tripp's attention.
"Is something wrong with that? It seems like a good thing especially if we find ourselves in another war and need them." Tripp said.
"No, it is not a bad thing, it's just we might not get a lot of exploring done. I have a feeling that we might be taking diplomats between planets and might have to sit on a few of them."
Tripp moaned he was hoping for a quiet year in space, but he should have realized that Starfleet might have other ideas.
"It is only logical," T'Pol said. Both Tripp and Jonathan nodded. They knew that T'Pol was right. "Anything else?"
"Yes," Jonathan smiled. "I know that you have only given me a year, but you will be glad to know that Enterprise is retiring in a year."
"Wow," Tripp said. He never thought that the ship would retire with him. "What are they going to do with the ship?"
"Turn it into a museum," Jonathan let out a short laugh.
Tripp smiled. "It will mostly be about its captain and how he saved the galaxy again and again."
Both men laughed. T'Pol gave them both a look. "I hope that you will have time to rest after this year," T'Pol said.
"Me, too," Jonathan sighed like he was looking forward to retiring and enjoying a quiet life. Tripp had a feeling that Jonathan was never meant to rest.
They were quiet for a moment waiting for the captain to say anything else about what was going to happen to them. "Anything else?" Tripp asked. He had to get back to Engineering if he was to be home for dinner with the kids and wife. T'Pol gave him a look to see that she was glad that he had asked that question.
"Yes,' There was a twinkle in his eyes as he handed a PADD to T'Pol. "We are getting something to go with our uniforms."
Tripp looked over T'Pol's shoulder to see that their name would be on their uniform, and everyone was getting a Starfleet issue jacket with their name. Tripp moaned. Everyone on the ship knew who he was. "Is there a reason that they are making us wear our names on our uniforms?" Tripp asked. T'Pol gave him a look like that was a stupid question.
"They think it will help with the newcomers and when we are dealing with diplomats," Jonathan said.
"That is if they can read our language," Tripp mumbled. T'Pol gave him a look and he knew that she heard. Tripp saw a small smile on the captain's face.
"T'Pol, you'll make sure that everyone is getting a jacket and that they get their uniforms changed," Jonathan said with his captain's voice.
"Yes, sir," T'Pol looked over the PADD to see who needed it.
"I hope that as my senior officers that you will lead by example," Jonathan said in a way that there was no arguing with him.
"Yes, sir," They said. Jonathan nodded and they were dismissed.
Tripp and T'Pol stepped out of his office. "You know what size to get me," Tripp said as he stepped away from the bridge to head to engineering. T'Pol grabbed him by the hand.
"And you need to change uniforms," T'Pol pulled him in the wrong direction.
"Can't you just take my uniforms to the quarter master?" Tripp asked.
T'Pol gave him a look that had Tripp wondering if he had angered his wife. He might just be sleeping on the couch tonight. For some reason, T'Pol wouldn't let him bunk with the children when she was mad at him.
"Senior staff needs to lead by example," T'Pol said as she pulled him away from the way he wanted to go.
"Don't you look handsome in your jacket?" T'Pol smooth down the wrinkles of the new jacket. Tripp looked at his wife. He knew something was up because she never calls him handsome.
Tripp narrowed his eyes. "What is going on?" He asked. Was there something going on with the children and she didn't want to tell him. If she told him, he wouldn't go to the planet with the others.
"Nothing," T'Pol said. "I just think that you look good in this jacket," Tripp raised an eyebrow at his wife. "Please just make it home tonight." The way she said the words had Tripp still thinking that something was wrong with her.
"You are not dying," Tripp had to think of something because he didn't want his wife to leave him. He knew that she would take the children with her. Tripp couldn't lose his kids.
"No," T'Pol sighed. "We haven't spent a lot of time with each other."
Tripp thought about it and knew that his wife was right. It had been some time since they spent any time alone. He had his work and she had hers. At home, they took care of the children as they got older. T'Mir was getting into things and Charlie was helping his sister. Once the kids were put to sleep, they either had work to do or T'Pol was mediating. They would go to sleep without touching because they were exhausted.
Tripp ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He saw the worry in her eyes. Tripp leaned forward and kissed her. He couldn't remember the last time that he kissed her. It felt good kissing her again. Tripp pulled her close. He couldn't remember the last time that he held her this close. He heard someone coming in the shuttle bay. He didn't want to let her go.
"Commanders," Tripp heard the voice of Hoshi. "The captain and Malcom are on their way in."
Tripp and T'Pol broke apart as the door to the shuttle bay opened. The captain and Malcom were talking about this away mission. The captain watched Tripp and T'Pol for a moment before speaking. "T'Pol make sure you have a lock on us all the time."
"Yes, sir," T'Pol said as she backed away from Tripp. Tripp wanted to reach for her and take her back to their quarters to show her what she meant to him.
Tripp heard Malcom starting the shuttle. He heard Hoshi and Jonathan entered the shuttle. Tripp reached for T'Pol's hand, but she moved away from him.
"Tripp are you coming," Jonathan poked his head out of the shuttle.
"Yeah," Tripp mumbled. He got in the shuttle as he watched his wife leave the shuttle bay. He closed the door and found his seat.
"Is everything alright?" Jonathan asked.
"Yeah," Tripp looked away from his friend because Jonathan knew when he was lying.
Tripp watched as Malcom cleared the shuttle bay and headed down to the planet. Malcom landed the ship well. Tripp was the first off the shuttle. He waited until everyone was off the shuttle.
"It looks like someone used to live here," Hoshi said. Tripp looked around the area and saw buildings falling apart around them. It looked like they were in the town center.
"Maybe they left or died out," Malcom said.
"Maybe," Hoshi mumbled as she started for one of the buildings.
"Don't go in any buildings, but look around," Jonathan said. The rest of the team nodded.
Tripp headed away from the team. He took some reading. It seemed the people that lived here were an advanced race. He just took a step when he heard.
"Ahhh," He looked around and just watched Hoshi disappear. Tripp ran over with the others. They looked around to see where Hoshi could have gone but they didn't find anything of hers.
"What happened?" Malcom asked.
"I don't…" Jonathan started before he watched as Malcom disappeared. It seemed that he stepped on something, and a hole opened, and he fell in. "Don't make a wrong step," Jonathan said.
Tripp nodded and decided not to make a move. Tripp took out his communicator and was ready to call the ship when a hole opened, and Jonathan went in. "Captain," Tripp shouted after him. Tripp was ready to say something when a hole opened under him. He yelled as he fell in. He lost his communicator on the way down. Tripp fell on a dirt ground. He closed his eyes for a moment before looking around.
The other three were standing and looking around too. Tripp saw that room was round and it looked like there weren't any doors out of here. Tripp stood and brushed off his pants. "What the hell happened?" He asked the group.
"It seems that we fell through a hole and now there is no way out," Malcom said as he looked up at the ceiling. Tripp followed his eyes and saw that there was no way out.
"Try contacting the ship," Jonathan looked at Hoshi. Hoshi opened her communicator and tried for the ship.
"I don't have a signal," Hoshi said.
Tripp fell against the wall and realized that it was dirt. "We could try unbury ourselves," He turned around and started at the dirt until he was an inch deep and contacted something metal. "Maybe not a good idea," he knocked on the metal.
The group moaned before Malcom said. "We are going to die here," He leaned against the wall.
"Maybe not," Tripp mumbled as he began to dig out the dirt. Soon everyone was helping him. When they finished, they couldn't find a single seam. "Now I think that we are going to die," Tripp leaned against the cold metal.
"Great," Hoshi mumbled as she took a seat. Jonathan and Malcom took a seat close to her.
"I don't think I will spend the night with my family," Tripp said as he took a seat. Tripp sighed; he might not even see his family again because he was going to die here. He wanted to tell T'Pol that she meant everything to him. He would never hold his children. They would grow up without him.
Tripp heard a cracking noise. He looked around before his eyes came upon a green skin person, whose eyes were a clear color. Tripp saw that they had small mouths and small noses. He smiled at them before turning around and saying something. Tripp didn't even try to make out the words. The alien looked back at him with a big smile. Tripp saw how sharp his teeth were.
Tripp turned to the group. "I don't think we are going to make it out of here alive."