Welcome back to "Love beweeten Worlds." Today's chapter reverses my previous pattern and is quite long. So, I don't wanna say too much. This will cover the vast majority of the Vulcan's Forge plotline. So, we're going to see a lot of Captain Archer. The events of restoring the Kir'Shara will not be changed. Although you will start to see major differences with this chapter. Perhaps the events on the galactic stage have not changed, but the personal ones have. And that's why we're here, isn't it? Enjoy!
Returning to Enterprise was a more difficult situation than Commander T'Pol expected. She expected her relationship with Commander Tucker to be similar to what it was before. It was not. He made a few inquiries relating to her health and her marriage, but beyond that, he kept his distance. If she didn't know better, then she would assume that he was avoiding her. Yes, their romantic relationship was over. (Something that even T'Pol did not want.) However, this did not mean that they could not maintain their friendship. She still cared about Trip a great deal. What he thought of her mattered. She did not appreciate his current behavior. She wanted to share meals with him. Talk for hours when off duty. And just enjoy his company. She did not understand why he was insisting on not doing that.
She knew that he still had feelings for her. That came across loud and clear whenever they were in the same room. Tucker probably didn't know that she could easily read his emotions nowadays. Their minds had touched intimately. They were connected now. He could not hide his emotional state from her. Just as she could no longer hide her feelings from him as well as she used to. It was part of their mating bond. Something that T'Pol hadn't been able to discuss with Tucker. Her mother was correct. She should have explained the risks before they mated. Then again, she did not know that it was possible to form a mating bond with a human. She has since realized that this is an error. A vulcan can very much form a mating bond with a human. It does not matter that humans are not telepathic. It can be done. Tucker had the right to know. She just didn't know how to approach the subject with him. It was not something that she was comfortable talking about. And with the way he had been acting lately, she had no way of approaching him about it. She was going to need a new approach.
Their mission back on Enterprise did not go well. She was kidnapped by Orion Slavers. They kept losing Dr. Soong. And they almost caused a war between Earth and the Klingon Empire. In the end, they won, but just barely. On the way, she tried to talk to Tucker about this personal matter, but failed every time. She was no closer to explaining what was going on than when she arrived on Enterprise. Tucker was still avoiding her. Yet he seemed strangely possessive of her. Which was odd.
She decided to speak with Hoshi about this after the mission was over. She left out the whole bonding thing. (She was not comfortable sharing that information.) Hoshi understood humans much better than T'Pol did. And she is good at communication. She figured that the communications officer could explain to her what was going on. So one day at the mess, T'Pol asked Hoshi about Commander Tucker's behavior.
"Commander Tucker doesn't hate you." Hoshi told her. "It's the exact opposite. He's crazy about you."
"'Crazy about me?'" T'Pol entoned. She was confused.
"It's a human expression. It means that he's madly in love with you. It's obvious by the way he looks at you. How he tries to sneak glances when he thinks no one is looking. He goes out of his way to be near you. He doesn't do that with me."
For one moment, T'Pol thought of Trip romantically pursuing Hoshi. It did not sit well with her. She said, "I don't think I would want that."
Hoshi nodded. "Trust me, I wouldn't want it either. I like Commander Tucker. Just not in that way."
"In what way do you mean?"
Hoshi shifted uncomfortably. "Y'know, the way a man and a woman like each other. When they want to share their lives with each other."
"I understand. You do not have an interest in a sexual relationship with him."
"That's right. We are just friends. Nothing more. How do you feel about Commander Tucker?"
T'Pol was silent for a minute or two while she contemplated her answer. How did she feel about Trip? She enjoyed their conversations - even some of their arguments. His appearance and scent were appealing. His touch was pleasurable. Unlike most others. He was intelligent, hardworking, loyal, and thoughtful. He had qualities about him that were almost vulcan. Yet, he was not vulcan. He expressed his emotions freely. Something that a part of T'Pol wished she could do. She did not like it when he was with other females. She wanted him for herself. She wanted Trip. She had no idea how to put that into words.
"I find his scent appealing. I look forward to seeing him every day. I feel his absence when he is not there. I find it disturbing if he is intimate with another." She finally said.
Hoshi interrupted. "Woah! You really do love him, don't you?"
T'Pol was quiet for a moment, then said, "I suppose I do."
"Have you told Commander Tucker?"
T'Pol gave Hoshi a strange look. "Not quite. I was planning to ask him to bond with me, but I was unable to do so."
"Because you got married to someone else, right?"
"Yes. My mother lost her position because of me. Koss offered to help me restore her position so long as I bonded with him."
Hoshi sat forward excitedly. "How did Commander Tucker take that?"
T'Pol hesitated, then stated. "Not well. He went off on his own for many hours. He eventually turned up at my mother's house. I do not know how he got back on his own, though. He does not speak Vulcan. And many vulcans do not speak English."
Hoshi sat back and smiled. "Oh, that's easy! I loaned Commander Tucker my prototype Universal Translator. I programmed in several dialects of Vulcan. He told me that it came in handy. I am sure that he used it to get home."
"Thank you for helping him. Vulcan is not the most hospitable planet for humans. He was outside for so long that I was concerned. I was even considering asking the authorities to look for him. He could have been injured or killed. It was most distressing."
"I can't imagine Commander Tucker running around Vulcan on his own for hours. He hates deserts. He told me once that he and the Captain got stuck in the Austrian Outback for survival training. He said that he never wants to eat snake meat ever again."
"There are no 'snakes' on Vulcan. He was in no danger of eating one. Why would this be a concern?"
"You would have to ask Commander Tucker."
T'Pol shifted uncomfortably. "I do not believe that is possible right now. I run into Trip very sparingly. I believe that he is actively trying to avoid me."
They talked for a while longer. Hoshi tried to explain a little about human males. How they court females. She also explained the significance of taking a partner home to meet their parents. It is a signal that a marriage proposal is upcoming. It is a big deal amongst humans. It might have explained why Trip had never taken her home. He wasn't sure if he wanted to marry her yet. Or it could mean nothing.
"I think Commander Tucker's feelings have been hurt. Everyone on Enterprise knows how much he loves you. It must have been heartbreaking to watch you marry someone else. Even if it was for the right reasons. This means your relationship has to change. Give him time. He'll come around."
T'Pol wasn't sure that Hoshi's assessment was correct, but she had more experience with human males. She understood the culture. She may be right, but it didn't sit well with T'Pol. The truth was - she wanted out of her marriage, and she wanted Trip back. There just was no way to do it right now. Her mother's needs outweighed her own. Even if they were in disagreement. There was nothing that could be done.
They were back on Earth only for a day or two before they had another mission. The Earth Embassy on Vulcan had been bombed. There were many casualties. Including Admiral Forest. Enterprise was ordered to investigate. So, they headed home. During the journey, she did not have an opportunity to speak with Trip. He was busy, and so was she. Once they made it to orbit, this did not change. T'Pol was busier than before, assisting in the investigation. Based on what she saw, T'Pol believed that there was more going on here than what was obvious. They just hadn't had the proof yet.
While in orbit, she received a surprise visit from Koss. He gave her an heirloom IDIC that she had never seen before. He said that her mother had asked him to deliver it to her because she couldn't. He informed her that her mother was a Syrrannite. She was hiding to avoid arrest. Suddenly, her mother's dismissal made more sense. She was not punished just for T'Pol's actions - she was punished for her own. Which made T'Pol's efforts moot. That stung more than she was willing to admit. She gave up marrying the man whom she wanted to marry for nothing. It was a waste of time and effort. If she were human, she would be angry. She would have divorced Koss right then and there. But she was not human. So, she did not do that. Instead, she thanked him for the delivery and started to investigate the IDIC.
She found that there was a hidden map inside the pendant. One that showed a secret location inside the forge. Since the Syrrannites were implicated in the bombing, she was duty-bound to inform the Captain. His response was unsurprising. He wanted to go to the Forge and find them himself. A vulcan captain would have never done that. They would simply report the issue to the authorities. Not Captain Archer; he wanted to know who did this by any means necessary. After all, this was personal to him. His friend and CO were killed in the explosion: Admiral Forest. Archer was not going to leave any stone unturned. He was going to find out who did this. Whether the high command wanted him to do it or not.
She saw Trip right before they left for the Forge. He was worried about her and the Captain. He didn't like deserts and the Forge was a brutal one - even by Vulcan Standards. The fool was never good at hiding his emotions from her. She was touched that he was concerned, but she was a vulcan. She could handle herself. She could take care of the Captain. He needn't worry so much. They would see each other again. She would see to it. He needed to trust them more. She thought, We will return, Trip. Whether Tucker heard her or not, she was uncertain.
Tucker put them down just outside the Forge, as transporters could not beam into the area. She would not hear from him again for quite some time. She trusted Trip to do his job. Even if he did not like being in command. He would continue the investigation on Enterprise. Along with doing everything that he could to keep the authorities at bay. He will not tell them where Captain Archer and herself were going. He would try to protect them even if he could not reach them. He would be anxious for them to return, but he will say little about it. Sometimes, Trip was more vulcan than he realized.
They started their walk toward the Forge. The Captain was out of his element. He was sweating and getting more than a little stinky. Fortunately, T'Pol had taken her nasal numbing agent before leaving the ship. She rarely used it nowadays, but she felt that this situation would warrant it. She would be in close quarters with a human whose body was under extreme stress. She had enough to deal with without adding nasal discomfort to it. She needed to make sure that the Captain drank every half hour or so. His body would be losing a lot of water. She needed to guide him to the safest areas of the Forge. Try to reduce his sun exposure as much as she can. All while following her mother's map. Avoiding patrols. Making sure that he rested and entertaining him. On top of all that, Archer insisted on talking constantly. This was nothing new to her. It was his nature. But it was distracting in the scenario. She had to keep answering questions about the Forge, Vulcan, and Vulcan physiology. All things that were not related to the task at hand. A vulcan would never have been insistent on talking about trivial things. But Archer wasn't vulcan. He was human and a talkative one at that. Their progress was slow and exhausting. As it would be in this situation. She couldn't help but be a little frustrated.
She didn't have a lot of time to think about Tucker, her mother, and Koss. It was only at night, when they were stopped, that she saw the time. She had a lot to say to her. Her mother should have told her that she was a Syrrannite. If she had then . . . What would she have done? Would have married Koss? Or would it have broken the arrangement? Would she have insisted on marrying Trip? T'Pol did not know the answer. She knew that it made little sense to obsess over the past. It could not be changed. It was not logical to replay it over and over again in her mind. Yet, she could not stop herself from doing that. If she had all of the facts, maybe things would have been different. She would have Tucker as her husband. He wouldn't be suffering as much as he was now. And she wouldn't miss him as much as she does. T'Pol knew that when she found her mother, she would have a lot to talk about.
It was their second night in Forge when they ran into trouble. A sehlat stalked them and forced them to the high ground. They were saved by a man who introduced himself as Arev. He appeared to have no ill intent, but he was a Syrrannite. So, T'Pol was on guard. However, they did take his guidance. He knew the Forge better than T'Pol, and he might lead them to the others. Not long after he started to guide them, a Sand Fire appeared, and they were forced into a cave. During the storm, Arev died. Hit by the electrical currents.
However, before he died, he did something to the Captain. Archer suddenly knew things about the Forge that he shouldn't know. He knew where the encampment was. He even started to think he was a vulcan. He ignored the heat. Had to be reminded to drink. Several times, he said that he would not need to drink for days. Which was not true. T'Pol had no idea what was going on with the Captain. However, she had no way of helping him here. They had to go forward.
The Captain successfully guided them to the hidden encampment. They were able to meet the Syrrannites for the first time. They stated that they had nothing to do with the bombing. The evidence was fabricated. If what they said is true about Syrrannites, then they are speaking the truth. Of course, if the fact that they do not lie is in of itself a lie, then it could be false. T'Pol didn't know. Their encounter with the Syrrannites also allowed T'Pol to reunite with her mother. Although the reckoning that she wanted to have would have to wait. T'Pol could not allow her personal business to take precedence. Not yet, at least.
They found out that the man who saved them was actually called Syrran. He was their leader. The news of his death was not a welcome one among the group. But it was the truth. And that was worth a lot here. Lies were not tolerated. It seemed that telling the truth saved them from being killed. They were not free, though. At least not yet. They were going to verify their claims. Captain Archer and T'Pol were to wait.
While they were waiting, her mother requested to see her. What started as a philosophical debate on joining the Syrannites turned into a heated argument.
"Why didn't you tell me that you were a Syrannite when I last visited?" T'Pol demanded.
"The high command had been starting to persecute Syrannites. I wanted to keep you out of it." Her mother told her.
"And you thought that my marriage to Koss would achieve that goal, how?"
She sighed. "Koss's family would protect you. As they would be honor-bound to do. When I asked you to return home, I was hoping that you would see his potential as a husband and a mate."
T'Pol looked for a moment. "If that is true, then why did you ask me to reconsider?"
There was a silence while T'Les tried to put her thoughts into words. "When I first met Commander Tucker, I questioned your choice to mate with him. However, he proved to be a reliable and loyal companion. Some of his qualities are almost vulcan. I am the first to admit that I would not choose Commander Tucker for you. But the choice was yours, not mine. I should not have intervened."
"But you did intervene."
"I am willing to admit my mistake. I believe that Koss would make a fine husband. For someone else. You were not supposed to be joined with him."
"But I am," T'Pol stated miserably.
"Yes, you are. And it was a mistake. It is causing pain for you, Koss, and Commander Tucker."
T'Pol whipped around. "How is this causing pain to Commander Tucker?"
T'Les gestured for T'Pol to sit. Once she complied, her mother continued. "I've been learning more about the vulcan mind. I have learned that for us, the joining is not just physical; it is a merging of minds. Once it is made, it is difficult to break."
"Commander Tucker is human," T'Pol interjected.
She nodded. "But you are not. And that might be enough to form the bond. Once formed, it is permanent. Only through death or combat can it be removed by force. This is why the Kalifee exists. As primitive as it is. It has a purpose. It helps resolve such connections."
T'Pol rose her rose with a hint of anger. "I cannot ask Commander Tucker to fight Koss to the death."
T'Les rose behind her. Her voice was soft. "And you shouldn't need to. If the two of you agree to end your marriage, then the bond will dissolve on its own."
"I love Trip." She stated simply.
"And he loves you. Just as any husband should." T'Pol turned around to face her mother. Confusion crossed her face. "It's not Commander Tucker's bond that you should dissolve. It's Koss's. It was not meant to be. It is dishonest to continue this way. You do not care for Koss the way he cares for you. You will be unable to mate with him when the time comes. He would suffer greatly. As would Commander Tucker and yourself."
She sighed. "Daughter, Koss should be set free. Allow him to choose another. Be honest with your feelings. Bond with Commander Tucker. Become his wife. Share your life with him."
"And what about our children?" T'Pol asked bitterly. "Won't they be outcasts? Not accepted by either humans or vulcans?"
There was another silence. "I was wrong to say those words. A child who is both human and vulcan is just as beautiful as one who is not. Remember the pendant I gave you?" T'Pol nodded. "It's not just a map. It is a symbol of what I believe. Infinite Diversity In Infinite Combinations. Such a child would be the perfect personification of that belief. A child of two worlds: Vulcan and Earth. That child would be perfect the way he or she is."
"You really believe that?" T'Pol asked.
"I am Syrannite, daughter. I do not lie."
"Thank you, mother. I will consider your words." T'Pol rose to leave.
The guard met her and returned her to the room where Captain Archer was being kept. She would not speak of this matter with him. It was a personal matter and not related to the mission at hand. T'Pol may have adopted some of the humans' habits, but she was still vulcan. She preferred to keep private matters private. The only two people that she would speak to on this matter would be either Koss or Commander Tucker. Since it directly impacted both of them. Other than that, she did not plan to talk to anyone about it.
T'Pol found the Captain in some sort of trance that she had to physically shake him out of. This was the first of many such trances that he would go into. She did not understand what he was seeing or why he was seeing it. However, she blamed Syrran for doing this. She would have rather been the one with the odd behavior than the Captain. Unfortunately, that could not be changed right now. They had to get out of this desert as soon as possible. The only problem was that she had no idea how to do that.
The only way forward was to gain the cooperation of the Syrraanites. Which the Captain was working on. They were taken to a meeting with T'Pau, the new leader of the Syrraanites. She believed that what was going on was that Surak's Katra lived inside Captain Archer. As Syrran had it inside him before he died. However, she needed proof. So, she proposed a mind-meld. Something that T'Pol was against. However, the Captain agreed, and the meld was performed. T'Pau said that she had detected Surak's Katra inside Archer. She ended up trying to take Surak's katra by force. Which failed, and the Captain nearly died as a result. Such a procedure should have only been attempted by a priest. Which T'Pau was not.
It deepened T'Pol's distrust of the Syrrannites. Although it did not seem to affect the Captain's trust of these people. Instead, he acted like now they were his people. He was leading them to the kir'shara. A text that most believed it no longer existed. Now, T'Pau and herself was on a journey to find a mythical document. It was highly illogical. Yet, that was exactly what they were doing. It made no sense. She could barely believe it when the Captain found the Kir'Shara. None of this made sense.
Right before the Captain found the Kir'Shara, the High Command started bombarding the area. During their escape, T'Pol was injured in a fall. Her leg was bleeding fairly badly. They had to rest while T'Pau bandaged the leg. If she could have, she would have told the Captain to leave her behind. But she would be wasting her breath. The Captain would never do that. Just as Trip would never abandon her. She didn't know, but she was certain that he had been trying to rescue her and the Captain. She could almost hear him calling for her. She knew that he'd be worried by now. But there was nothing that she could do about that. Just as Trip could not help her now. They were on their own.
They were going to move on when they found T'Pol's mother. She was badly injured from the bombardments. All around her were bodies of Syrrannites who did not make it. She was alive but just barely. There were no medical facilities there. No help of any kind. Her mother's fate was sealed. T'Pol had no choice but to watch her mother die.
"You always struggled so with your emotions. I came here. Did this so I could help you. It seems that in the end, I was unable to do so." Her mother told her as she died.
She didn't know what to do. She was completely helpless. She couldn't let go of her mother's body. She couldn't cry. She was stuck. Trapped in her mind. Only the Captain broke her out of it. "T'Pol, we to go." He said grimly. He was right. It was not safe here. They had to go.
They journeyed for at least another day or two. T'Pol tried to argue with the Captain. Tried to convince him to return to Enterprise. However, he refused. He insisted on going to the capital with the Kir'Shara. Now, he stated that it was the only way to stop a war between Vulcan and Andoria. A war that Surak would have no information on. Which begged the question: How did the Captain know that this was brewing? It didn't make sense. T'Pol did not like things that made little sense. Yet, the Captain did not care whether or not it made sense. He just moved forward like a man possessed. It left T'Pol uneasy. Still, there was nothing that she could do about it now. Once again, the only option was to move forward.
Three days after they started, the group had reached the edge of the Forge. They are close to the Capital. They slowed down by the fact that they had to stop frequently for the Captain. His human physiology and this Katra were starting to take a toll. He was feverish and shifted consciousness back and forth. He needed medical care right away. On top of that, the patrols were out there still, looking for them. Things were not looking good.
They were stopped for one of the Captain's most recent bout of unconsciousness. There was nothing to do but wait. They needed the Captain's guidance, and neither T'Pau nor T'Pol would leave without him. So they waited and talked. T'Pol started to understand more about T'Pau. Along with her mother. She learned that T'Pau held her in great esteem. She offered to share what T'Les had shared with her. T'Pol turned her down. She explained that she could not meld due to the forced meld years ago.
"Pa'Nar Syndrome. Do you still suffer from it?" T'Pau asked quietly.
T'Pol looked away. "There is no cure."
"Another lie perpetrated by the High Command. Pa'Nar has been known since Surak's Time. It's caused by Melders who have been improperly trained. One with great experience can correct the neurological imbalance."
T'Pol looked up at T'Pau in awe. "Is this something you can do?"
T'Pau answered by kneeling and melding with T'Pol. Sharing her mother's memories and correcting the imbalance. For the first time in all these many days, T'Pol finally started to trust T'Pau. She believed that these people were not the ones responsible for the bombing. As far as the high command or Surak, she did not know. She needed to know more before she would believe in Surak's Katra or that the Syrranites are not a radical group.
Hours later, they were attacked by security forces. Against all odds, the Captain managed to hold his own against several armed guards. He was at a great disadvantage. Being exhausted and feverish, not being used to the thin air or higher gravity. Along with dealing with the overwhelming strength of vulcans in their prime. He should have been easily defeated. But he was not. However, T'Pol was knocked out. They have to go. They could not get T'Pol and escape. The needs of the many outweighed the needs of the few. So, T'Pau threw Archer down an escape tunnel. Leaving T'Pol to her fate. She would not see them again until this was over.
T'Pol was walked in restraints out of the Forge by the Security Personnel that remained. They were unable to catch Archer or T'Pau. She lied about Archer's destination to hopefully buy him time. The guards believed her but sent another patrol to go after the Captain. She was going to be brought to the capital. Once they reached the edge, she was loaded onto a ship and brought to the high command. She was told that she was to be executed for her crimes. Once they did that, she was placed into detention with the other Syrranites.
Through speaking with the others, she found out that Enterprise had been driven from orbit. That explained the feeling that she had for a long time: That Tucker was farther away than he should be. She knew that he would never abandon them without a reason. He was almost as stubborn as the Captain. No wonder the two were old friends. T'Pol would not get the reason for Trip's sudden departure from the Syrranites or the guards. Either they would not know or would refuse to provide the information. Either way, the effect was the same: She did not know what was going on or if Trip was alright.
For some reason, she was certain that he was heading into combat. Wherever he was going. Andoria. She realized. He was heading to Andoria. She remembered Captain Archer going on about a possible war between Vulcan and Andoria. If Trip had learned about that, then he would have gone there to stop it. He was in trouble. Not that T'Pol could do anything to help. Fortunately, Commander Tucker was a competent officer and a good commander. He would survive. He had to survive. They had so much to talk about.
Within hours, T'Pol was released as Administrator V'Las was relieved of his position, and there was a change in government. The Captain was able to see a Priest and have the Katra removed. Enterprise had returned to orbit an hour later. As it had taken her two days to limp back. The ship looked a little worse for wear, but was mostly in one piece. The attack had been stopped before there was any permanent damage. It would still be a while before the ship would be able to perform her duties or even return to Earth. Fortunately, Enterprise was cleared to enter Vulcan's orbit. No one would be chasing the vessel away. The vulcans had offered to render assistance. Which Trip had been turned down earlier. T'Pol planned to accept it once she was back in command.
The High Command beamed the Captain and herself back up to the Enterprise. They were greeted by Trip at the transporter. He looked exhausted. His hair was slightly messy. Engine grease and dust covered his body. She knew that he hadn't bothered to shower again. The scent was very recognizable. Sweat mixed with several fluids that they had on the ship. It was unappealing. Knowing him, he was pulling extra duties as Chief Engineer and acting as Captain at the same time. Trip was burnt out again. She could see it in his eyes and feel it when he was close to her. He was at the point of dropping. He needed to rest. And his CO and his mate could not allow him to continue harming himself this way.
The Captain didn't seem to notice Trip's condition. Or if he did, he just ignored it. He acted as if everything was fine. He asked for a status report. Which Tucker was able to provide. It was not great. They would need a few more days before they could do anything above warp 1.5. They were towed back to Vulcan. Something Trip did not like, but the Captain had ordered them to return to Vulcan as soon as they could. They could not turn down the Vulcan's offer of a tow. Even though they turned down the offer to assist with repairs.
"Captain, what are your orders?" Tucker asked.
T'Pol answered Trip for the Captain. "You are to go off-duty immediately. Rest, shower, and recuperate. You are not to return for 8 hours."
Trip looked at the Captain uncertainly. "Captain?"
Captain Archer chuckled. "Do what she says, Trip. I've got it from here."
T'Pol turned on the Captain. "You're in worse condition than Commander Tucker. Report to Doctor Phlox for a full medical workup. Once he is satisfied, go to your quarters and rest for at least 24 hours. I will be in command in the meantime." She added in quickly. "Everything will be fine - rest."
"What about you?" The Captain asked. "You need to rest as well."
There was no point in denying the truth. "That is correct. However, I am vulcan. I can go longer without rest. You cannot. I will be fine while the two of you recuperate."
Archer smiled. "You have command, T'Pol." He nodded to Trip. "Trip, let's go."
Tucker hesitated. He did not want to go off duty. "Eight hours?" He repeated, dumbfounded. "Can't I just take six instead?"
Annoyance bubbled up inside her. He was trying to negotiate something that was not negotiable. "Ten hours." She said flatly. "And if you question me again, it will become twelve."
Tucker hung his head in defeat. He knew that she meant business. She was not going to give in. "Yes, Ma'am." He finally said before wandering off.
T'Pol would be the first to admit that she was exhausted. However, she could still focus. They could not. They were no good to the ship or the crew. They needed to rest more than she did. She was sure that there were a few others who needed a similar rest. If she found them, then she would order them to bed. Beyond that, she would not interfere with their duties. They had a lot of work to do.
She went to the Captain's ready room and started work on the report. She would not transmit it until she spoke with the Captain. She wanted to make sure that her report did not get either him or Tucker into too much trouble. She was sure that they were likely to get into a certain amount of trouble. Even though the result was acceptable. The war between Vulcan and Andoria was avoided. The Captain was able to return a priceless artifact to the Vulcan people. And the ones responsible for the bombing of the Embassy were found. These would all mitigate any punishment that they would receive. There was still the issue of Commander Tucker's disobedience when ordered to leave Vulcan's orbit and return to Earth. As well as the issue of her and the Captain's unauthorized away mission. These would be issues that Command will bring up. That they would have to answer for. She tried to justify them through her report. She was uncertain if she succeeded. She still did not understand the human chain of command enough to know if this was enough. So, she left it to Archer to decide.
Not long after she finished her report did she received a notification from the Bridge. She had a visitor from Vulcan: Her husband, Koss. She had no idea why he was there, but it was a good opportunity to speak with him. She wanted to explain to him her decision and why they must break their bond. Now was an acceptable time to do it.
T'Pol thanked Koss for his assistance in getting Captain Archer into the High Command. He stated that it was his duty as a husband to help. That was a reasonable statement, but it did make her feel a little guilty. For she knew what she needed to do next. She did not look forward to the conversation. However, Koss beat her to the punch.
"That is not why I've come. I'm releasing you from our marriage." He told her.
This surprised T'Pol, for she figured that she would need to do more convincing. Still, she wanted to know his reason. Koss provided it without prompting.
"I know you only bonded with me to help your mother. She's gone now. There's no reason for us to continue."
She was silent for a moment before she said. "I agree. I release you from our bond. Be well, Koss."
"And you, T'Pol." He said before leaving. He made it clear, this would be the final time that they would meet.
She was free, but it did not feel the way she thought it would. She regretted what happened. Had she known all the facts, she wouldn't have put them through this. However, one could not live in regret. Her mother tried to teach her that. If you make a mistake, do your best to correct it. That was what Koss had done. Now, she needed to correct her mistake with Commander Tucker. She needed to tell him the truth. She needed to ask him to bond with her. To become her husband. Like she should have done all those months ago. It didn't matter what others thought. Only what she and Commander Tucker felt for each other mattered. The rest would work itself out. It was a very human outlook on life. But humans were sometimes right. As Tucker was in this case. Denying it would cause them more pain. It was not logical to proceed this way.
T'Pol waited until Tucker was rested enough to return to duty. She did not want to disturb his rest as the fool needed it very badly. She thought about waiting until she was properly rested, but decided against it. She needed to speak with him sooner rather than later. She wanted to keep his conversation private. So, she went to his quarters. She timed it so that it would be towards the end of his ten hours of rest. Knowing full well that the crew would talk. Like they did every time Tucker went to her quarters. They just wouldn't know the nature of their discussion. She pressed the door chime and waited. She could suddenly hear rushing around in the cabin. He was clearly not prepared for guests. Which did not surprise T'Pol in the slightest.
"Come in." He finally called. The door opened, and T'Pol stepped inside. He seemed somewhat surprised that she was here. He was a little disheveled, but he was clean and smelled nice. His uniform was put on very badly, though. Which suggested how quickly he threw it on. However, she suspected that he knew that she was on the other side of the door before it opened. That is why he didn't bother cleaning himself up more. "You're not here to extend my rest, are you?"
"Would you like more rest?" She asked simply.
"Hell no, I've got a ton of work to do if this ship is going to leave the system on her own power."
She raised her eyebrow. "Engineering told me that we can get underway in a few hours."
"That may be true, but there's work that has to be done in those few hours. I'd like to get to it as soon as possible."
"Of course, you are free to go to Engineering anytime you wish. The ten hours are up, and you look rested enough. I see no reason to stop you."
He gave her a strange look. "Then why are you here?"
"I wanted to speak with you on a personal matter."
Trip's body stiffened a bit, and his focus became razor sharp. The previous Bavato was gone. "What is it?" He asked softly as he gestured for her to sit.
This was, of course, not necessary. She could stand and have this talk. And if Tucker were a vulcan she would have done so. But he was not, and it was human custom to sit down when dealing with more emotionally charged matters. It always seemed to put the humans at ease. She saw no reason to break with that tradition today. So, T'Pol sat as requested.
"A few hours ago, Koss visited me on the ship."
Trip shifted uncomfortably. "Look, it's none of my business." He said hurriedly.
"It is your business in this case. Koss and I decided to end our marriage."
He looked dumbfounded. "You guys did what?"
"We mutually agreed to end our joining."
He shifted again. "Yeah, I got that. Just what I don't get is why. I mean, this guy was so intent on marrying you. And you . . . well . . . you did it to help your mom."
"That is true. However, as my mother has passed away, there was little point in continuing our marriage." T'Pol told him.
"Your mom died?" He said worriedly. "Your mom died, and you didn't tell me." He got up from the chair that he was sitting on and sat next to her on the bed. His voice was soft and gentle, full of emotion. If she were not alone with him, she might have been embarrassed by this display. Here, though, it was comforting. "T'Pol, I'm sorry. If there is anything that I can do."
In response, she took his hand. He did not resist. Instead, he squeezed it. A human gesture of affection. "Stay with me a while," T'Pol asked as she leaned on his shoulder.
Trip took his hand away and then wrapped his arm around her back. He was so close that his scent filled her nostrils. His touch felt wonderful. She could feel his mind brush against hers. It felt right. She couldn't quite hear what he was thinking, but she could feel what he was feeling. Love, worry, compassion, sympathy. They didn't speak very much while she was there. Which was what she needed. She had so many conflicting feelings about the last week that it was hard to sort through them all. Grief, Sadness, loss, anger, and confusion. She questioned her beliefs. She didn't know what to do. Beyond holding on to Commander Tucker with all of her might. She knew that she wanted that. And now that he was this close, she could tell that he wanted her, too. She belonged here. She knew that now. She would never leave him ever again.
She didn't remember falling asleep, but she did. For when she woke up, she found herself lying in Trip's bed. Fully clothed, with a pillow under her head and a blanket pulled over her. Commander Tucker was long gone. He must have gone down to engineering while she was asleep. There was a pecan pie sitting on the desk with a note beside it. It had Trip's handwriting on it. When she opened it, it said: I saved this for you for when you wake up. Feel free to use my quarters for as long as you need. - Trip.
She sat down and ate the pie. She would be the first to admit that she liked pecan pie even if it was mostly sugar. She also appreciated the gesture. This was one of Commander Tucker's favorite foods. Along with Hush Puppies and Catfish. She honestly didn't like Hush Puppies and didn't eat meat. So, this was one of the few favorite foods that they shared in common. It was a very poignant gesture to get this for her. She appreciated it. It told her that he still cared. Even after everything that happened. That improved her mood by a decent amount.
Trip's gesture was generous but not very useful. None of her things were in Trip's quarters. She couldn't exactly prepare herself properly for duty here. So, when she was done eating, she returned the dishes to the mess. Then returned to her quarters to get cleaned up and changed. She made a point to keep the note though. It represented hope for a better future for her and Trip. She was not going to get rid of it so soon.
She returned to duty less than an hour later. She said nothing about what happened in Tucker's quarters to anyone. And it seemed that most people were aware of what happened. They were too busy doing their own thing to notice.
The Captain's 24 hrs of forced rest were over, and he was back on the bridge. He looked a little worse for wear, but he was remarkably in better shape than when she saw him last. He was cleaned up. The bruises and cuts still showed. But he didn't look feverish or ready to collapse. Which was good.
He acknowledged her as she entered the bridge. "T'Pol, good to see you back up."
"You as well, Captain."
T'Pol took her station and began her work. The reports were still bad, but nothing like before. They would have been able to get underway within an hour. She checked the chronometer, she had visited Trip almost twelve hours ago. She didn't realize how tired she was. Or how sneaky the Captain was. He was working before her 24 hr deadline. She had no idea when he showed up on the bridge. But she guessed that it was a while ago. She could have called the Captain on his disobedience, but there was little point. He was good enough to go, and if that was the case, she had little authority. She could not order him around like she could with Trip. Then again, Trip was her subordinate. The Captain was not. There was nothing that she could do.
Engineering called in a few minutes later. Tucker stated that they were good to go. It was time to leave Vulcan and put this mess behind them.
That's it for today. Thank you once again for reading and reviewing. I hope you all have a great day!