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Attraction-Part 11Attraction Written by Alison M. DOBELL
SUMMARY: "Lieutenant Reed has a plan but no one knows if it will work. Trip and T'Pol face up to the only options available to them." Part 11 "PRISM"
Captain Jonathan Archer definitely felt frayed around the edges. Trying to wrap his head around what was going on was wearing him out. He looked across the table of his ready room into the bright focused gaze of Lieutenant Malcolm Reed and felt every one of his years stamped on him in triplicate. How could the man look so cool and efficient at 3am in the morning? It was beyond indecent. He sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face, looking up with a weary sigh as they were joined by Dr. Phlox. The doctor sat next to Lieutenant Reed and now the Captain had two pairs of sharp eyes boring into his weary ones. "Okay gentlemen, what do we know?" Lieutenant Reed leaned forward. He looked as crisp and fresh as if he had woken from a good night's sleep until you looked deep into those intelligent grey eyes. Then you started to see the layered depths. Whatever he was using in place of adrenaline was damn good. The Captain wished he had some. "We know that the entity or whatever it calls itself is sentient. We don't know if it is also corporeal." The doctor interrupted politely. "With respect Lieutenant, we may be dealing with an inter-dimensional being as opposed to something non-corporeal." The Captain resisted the urge to roll his eyes and yell at them. Not this again! He forced himself to remain calm. "I don't want to know what it MIGHT be but what it is. Positive information gentlemen, not conjecture. This is not a fishing trip. I want my people back and I want them back now." Lieutenant Reed nodded. "Precisely, sir." The Captain blinked. "Going back to the harmonica..." Captain Archer bit back a sigh and nodded instead. Inwardly he was trying not to scream. "I want to go back and see if there is a way to drag them back *physically*." "Lieutenant, I appreciate how frustrated you are but you can't exactly pick Trip and T'Pol up and put them in your pocket." "No Captain, but perhaps I can explain my theory to them and lead them out. You know, a human chain." "I don't want to pop your balloon Malcolm but you've been trying to go back ever since you woke up and nothing has worked." The glum look on his Armoury Officer's face made the Captain wish he had bitten his tongue. "I realise that and that's been troubling me a bit, sir." Dr. Phlox looked thoughtful. "Lieutenant, correct me if I'm wrong, but when this started you woke up first. How did you go back?" He squirmed suddenly uncomfortable. The Captain felt himself watching the Lieutenant more closely. His weariness forgotten. "I um, I could hear Trip - I mean, the Commander - talking to me." "What?" "At first I thought I was imagining things. It's not as if I'm telepathic or anything." "Malcolm, why didn't you say anything about this at the time?" He gave his Captain a sheepish look. "I didn't want you to think I'd lost it." "Lost it?" "Yes. After all, the Commander is my friend and we've been through some pretty hairy times together. I didn't want you to think that I couldn't hold it together because he was gone." "I wouldn't have thought that, Lieutenant." He dropped his head, feeling a little ashamed but not for the reason the Captain thought. "Sorry, sir." Truth be told he had not wanted to share that intimacy with anyone. It was childish he knew but was deeply personal to him. In fact he had felt somewhat bereft once the ability had left him. As if something were missing. It did not make a lot of sense and he certainly did not want anyone analysing his reasons and coming up with something that would make him feel even more dysfunctional than he already was. Yes, he was the super efficient spit and polish officer on the outside but inside he was an emotional mess. The walls he kept to keep prying eyes out had also become a prison keeping his own emotional growth stunted inside. Very few people got through. The Commander was one of the very few and he wanted to keep it that way. At least for the time being. "Malcolm?" He raised his head and looked the Captain in the eye. "Yes, sir?" "What if you can't go back? What's the next step?" He thought for a long moment. Dr. Phlox was observing him closely, noticing many small details that the Captain probably missed. The Lieutenant's body language fascinating him. "Maybe I can no longer hear him," He said almost to himself. "But what if he can still hear me?" Captain Archer looked puzzled. "I'm not sure I'm following you." The Lieutenant's look sharpened. "If I can't find a way in perhaps I can get them to come out." "Wouldn't they have come out already if it were that easy?" He did not answer. Afraid to tell the Captain that the reason they had not come out might be literally staring him in the mirror every morning when he shaved. The Captain might seem back to normal but he had no idea how long that would last. He did not want to do or say anything to push him back over the edge. He had looked into the abyss once and it had not been a pretty sight. Besides, how could he tell the Captain how happy his friend was? Delirious with joy to be with the Sub-Commander in the one place that would not judge them. The one place where they could be together and not be parted. He swallowed carefully, suddenly not sure that bringing them back would be the right thing to do. But could he really leave them there? Could they survive for more than a limited period of time? What would they eat and how would they live? Or would they be trapped in that coloured cloud of light forever? Never growing old but never being free? It was Dr. Phlox who roused him out of his reverie. "Lieutenant, how were you planning to draw them out if you cannot go back and get them?" "I was going to play the Commander's harmonica." The room hushed. Lieutenant Reed was sure that the Captain was considering sending him to a secure unit on the backside of Alpha Centauri. Perhaps the one with the nice white rooms and padded walls. He wondered if they would give him a reading lamp. Probably not. It would be hard to turn the pages over with a straight jacket on. "I'm not going to pretend I understand any of this but right now I'm willing to try anything." He looked at the doctor. "We've been trying to get some readings on that cloud but as far as we can determine there's nothing particularly strange about it. It appears to be a very fine debris field, probably the remnants of an ancient planetary collision. Stellar dust. We did find some residual radiation which would account for the glowing light effects but I can't even begin to explain how it changes colour or mass." "Ensign Sato said she picked up something like background noise. When she tuned out other interference she said it reminded her of the song of a humpback whale." The Captain stared at him. Dr. Phlox looked interested and amused. The Lieutenant was absolutely sure the Captain would book him into the funny farm now. If not maybe he was waiting to get a price on group bookings? "Are you trying to tell me the cloud has been *singing*?" "That's one way to look at it, sir, but no that was not what I was saying. Just that there is noise emanating from the megallanic cloud. The dust particles. Call it what you will. I remember when I was doing my astrological studies there was mention of something called the Music of the Spheres. It all sounded pretty fanciful back then. Not biology, chemistry or physics if you know what I mean." Captain Archer was transfixed by the soft smile on his Tactical Armoury Officer's face as he got a far away look in his eyes, stepping back years in his mind's eye. "What was it Colin Whitehouse used to say? Ah yes, I remember now. *If it wriggles it's biology; if it stinks it's chemistry; if it doesn't work it's physics*." "Lieutenant Reed!" He jumped at the sharp tone in the Captain's voice. Flustered and embarrassed. "Um sorry, sir." Dr. Phlox smiled with amusement and could not resist a little quip of his own. "So I take it the phenomena does not wriggle, stink and doesn't work, hmm Lieutenant?" Lieutenant Reed flushed. The Captain hid a smile of his own and decided they really would have to try and get some sleep. Perhaps things would look brighter in the morning? Then again, perhaps the cloud would start talking to *him*? * * * * * The entity reminded Trip of an angel but sans wings. Such a beautiful face, her clothes sheer like fine silk but diaphanous making him think of clouds. Now why would he think that? He was staring but he could not help himself. The voice he remembered would have a body like this. T'Pol frowned, not seeing the rare creature he did but a rather superior androgynous character. She tried not to glare but for Trip's sake not out of any desire to be polite to the entity. *Who are you and what do you want with us?* The entity gave her an enigmatic smile and looked at Trip. He smiled back and tried to make up for T'Pol's rudeness by being extra polite. Fortunately he could not see the murderous scowl this produced on his lover's face. *Beggin' your pardon but what is this place and how do we get back to our ship?* *This is my state of being, Trip. You see what is reflected in you. None of the forms are my form, none of the colours are true. Each are approximations created out of your expectations and my largesse.* *Your what?* *My largesse. Goodwill.* T'Pol's scowl began to fade. It was hard to continually project anger and hate at something that did not react in kind. *What do you mean we create what we see? Is this then an illusion?* The entity smiled at her. To Trip it was beautific. A gift from on high. To T'Pol it was a smug declamation made in expression not words. It raised her hackles but she decided to rise above the rancour. Getting angry would avail them naught. *All existence is an illusion, T'Pol.* She was surprised. When on her own with the entity it always referred to her as 'Vulcan' in that half sneering contemptuous way. Was it being polite merely because Trip was with her? She could not tell and had no intention of asking. *Please, explain why we are here.* Something changed slightly in the entity's appearance. T'Pol did not know what it was but it lost some of its' superior remoteness. *You are here because of Trip.* That startled her. *I am?* *Yes.* T'Pol frowned. *Why is Trip here?* The entity looked at him and fell silent. It was as if her eyes were looking deep into his soul. In his head he heard her words but somehow knew they were not being broadcast to T'Pol. *You called me.* He blinked. His breathing speeding up a little along with his heart rate. How was that possible in a dream? *You are not dreaming.* Now 'that' was downright creepy. He could feel his palms sweating. *I'm not?* *No.* *But this isn't real.* *Is your love for the Vulcan real, Trip?* He began to flush, half anger and half embarrassment. *That's private and yes, it is real. The most real thing that's ever happened to me.* She nodded. Her look gentle. Loving. *That is why you are here.* *I don't understand.* *That is why you cannot leave.* His heart went cold. *What? Are you saying we're prisoners here?* *No. You are.* He started to feel angry but the entity was smiling so gently at him it washed his irritation away. He felt a deep sense of sadness touch him. *What are you tryin' to tell me?* He paused but she did not reply, letting him seek his own answers. *If I brought myself here why is T'Pol here? I never called her so shouldn't she be back on Enterprise?* *T'Pol has free will as do you.* *What's that supposed to mean?* *She loves you. When you did not return she found she could not remain.* *Come again?* *She missed you, Trip. Her heart brought her here just as surely as yours did.* *None of this makes sense. Why would I want to come here?* *This is your sunset, Trip.* She said gently. For some reason the gentle words pricked his eyes with unshed tears. T'Pol could not hear their conversation. Saw only that he appeared to be getting upset. She moved close to him, slid her hand in his. He gave her hand a squeeze of thanks but did not take his eyes off the entity. *So Malcolm was right? This really is my fault?* *But in that instant she had faded and was gone. Her words No. Not your fault. You were simply following your heart.* *Then how do I....?* echoed softly in his heart like the first light flakes of snow before the blizzard hits. So gently did they fall until gradually the slow accumulation chilled his heart. The tears slowly rolling down his cheeks. T'Pol put her arms around him and held him close. Not understanding what was happening but unwilling for him to have to suffer alone. *What is going on, Ashayam?* *I don't know but somehow this is all my fault.* *How can it be your fault? You did not create this place.* *In a way I think I did.* She stared at him. Only the haunted look of a distant pain in his eyes prevented her from disbelieving him. She pulled back just enough so that she could wipe the tears from his beloved face. *Whatever is happening, Trip, we will face it together.* *But if we go back we'll be parted.* He said in a small voice. Confessing his greatest fear. *I will never leave you. I will leave my people first.* He looked shocked. Upset that she would give up so much for him. *I can't ask ya to do that, T'Pol.* *I do not need to be asked. My choice is to be with you whatever fate may befall us.* He touched her face in wonder. Kissed her lips tenderly. Not sure what he had ever done to deserve someone as wonderful as her. He could not imagine his life any more without her in it. They were silent for what could have been minutes or hours. Time had no meaning. It was almost as if the universe had paused. *What will you do, Trip?" He turned the hand she rested against his cheek and kissed her palm. His eyes holding hers as passionately as his arms held her close to his heart. *We go back.* *To Enterprise?* He nodded. Paused. Papered her face with gentle kisses then paused again, his eyes searching hers for consensus. *Only if it's what ya want as well, T'Pol. I'm not gonna railroad ya into anythin'.* *Railroad?* He chuckled, brushed her lips with his before explaining. *It means I'm not gonna force ya into doin' anythin' ya don't want to, darlin'.* *If I say no?* *Then we stay right here until the stars grow cold.* She regarded him with solemn intent knowing he meant every word. Knowing he would stand by whatever she decided even if it broke his heart to do so. What had she done to deserve a love like this? A heart so loyal and true? A man like no other. Human *or* Vulcan. Suddenly the obstacles they would be facing meant nothing at all. There was only him. Only her. She never once doubted his courage. She nodded slowly, touched a hand to his cheek. So much love in her eyes. *We will go back.* *Sure, darlin'?* T'Pol gave him a smile. One of the gifts he knew would vanish once they returned. How he knew that he did not know, he just did. As if this place had a magic that freed them from themselves. Allowed them to step aside and see things through a glass more true. *I am sure.* His smile was sad, joyous, a little fearful but oh so proud of her. Her heart soared back at him, encompassing him in the depth and warmth of her regard. A thought occurred to her that could not be left unspoken. *What if the entity is lying?* *Doesn't matter.* A single elegant eyebrow lifted in surprise and disbelief. *We'll be together, darlin', and that's all that matters to me.* * * * * * Return to Attraction menu page. Have a comment to make about this story? Do so in the Trip Fan Fiction forum at the HoTBBS! Two folks have made commentsI don't trust that entity.... I had a rough week so I had to wait until tonight to read chapters 8, 9, 10 and 11. I'm as exhausted as Trip and T'pol were after their "activities" in chapter 10. |