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Beta Waves - Pt 5Beta Waves By Aquila Rating: PG – 13 == Part 5 “What did ya mean when ya said ‘Pleasure is possible any time’?” Trip swivelled the pilot’s chair, having relinquished control of the shuttlepod to the autopilot. “And Honey, don’t tell me ya fail to understand my question.” Before T’Pol joined Enterprise she read the files compiled by the Vulcan High Command about each of the senior officers assigned to the mission. Charles Tucker III was described as prone to emotional outbursts, impulsive and incapable of analytical thinking. The VHC had been right about the first two aspects. However, time and experience had tempered his outbursts. He had learned to control his talent for impulsiveness, making it a command tool that had saved their lives on more than one occasion. The VHC analysts had been completely erroneous about the third aspect. His question and the subsequent admonition added to the overwhelming evidence she had gathered since they met that analysis was as natural to the Human as breathing. “Because we are capable does not mean that we act,” she said swivelling her chair so that she faced him. “Denial is essential to the Vulcan psyche.” A moment of insight enabled him to make another leap. “Tell me what you and Phlox haven’t told me about neuro-pressure.” “Suppression is a more appropriate word than denial,” she began. “We spend so much of our lives suppressing instincts and emotions that on the rare occasions when expression is more appropriate we may find ourselves incapacitated.” She waited while he processed her introduction. “Translation: complete abandon is darn near impossible.” He winked to reassure her. “You expressed yourself very well on that planet.” “That was due to our neuro-pressure sessions.” Trip blinked, “Neuro-pressure is Vulcan foreplay.” “In a manner of speaking, but there is more to it than physical pleasure,” she did not let him interrupt, “The technique builds trust between partners.” The expression on his face was all she needed to confirm that he understood. “Our marriages are arranged. More often than not we enter into a life bond as virtual strangers, physically and mentally. Practicing neuro-pressure, escalating the postures as trust develops, eases the transformation from a single entity to a partnership.” “Was Phlox unaware of the courtship ritual aspect of neuro-pressure when he asked you to help me?” Trip waited for her answer. “He understood that it was an intimate procedure.” T’Pol sighed. “I believed, at first, that he was unaware of the role it plays in our emotional lives.” “At first?” Trip wanted to touch her, but restrained himself. “With hindsight I believe that he knew and was the reason that he suggested we apply it to your problem.” “Phlox as yenta?” Trip responded to the quizzical expression on the face of T’Pol. “Matchmaker.” When she nodded with understanding, he continued, “There had to be more to it than that?” “He was motivated by medicine, not romance,” the realization caused an eyebrow to lift. “T’Pol, before my ego is shredded into pieces, will you confirm that what we shared was more than a medicinal exchange of body fluids.” “You used the past tense,” she remarked regretfully. Two raw and vulnerable souls flew through the vacuum of space toward their destiny. The manner in which they negotiated the next few moments determined whether they faced their futures alone or together. == Phlox was angry. He had a right to be thought Jonathan Archer, watching the Denobulan struggle with his conscience. “You accuse me of playing God…” Archer pushed his face into Phlox’s. “You manipulated T’Pol to such an extent that she abandoned her post to gratify her emotions. That’s ground for commitment to a psychiatric ward on Vulcan.” “I prescribed a course of therapy to save her from the psychiatric ward.” Phlox asserted. “And I am prescribing a course of action to save the Human race.” == Tucker checked the flight monitor. “We’ll rendezvous with Enterprise in 3 hours.” He left the rest unsaid. They had three hours to chart a course for the future and it appeared as if they were flying without any navigation equipment. T’Pol moved across the pod to kneel before him, so that they were eye to eye, but not touching. “Since joining Enterprise forces beyond my control have assailed all that I believe and hold to be true.” She clasped her hands behind her back. “Discipline and control have been eroded. Adrift and alone, I had no tools with which to cope as emotions consumed me: fear, loathing, pity, grief, anger, desire and friendship. I feel as if I have been losing my mind.” Trip slid to the floor so that he was kneeling before her. Still they did not touch. “You are the vessel in which I place my vulnerability.” She leaned forward so that her right cheek rested on his left. She continued in a whisper, “I entrust my weakness to you, drawing strength from your discretion and lack of condemnation.” He answered vulnerability with vulnerability, “Honey, I was Humpty Dumpty. You put me back together, piece by piece, when no one else could.” “There is no logic to our bonding,” she admitted. “But there is a hell of a lot of chemistry.” He grinned. “My mother is going to be angry when she learns we eloped. We’ve done her out of a weddin’.” “Eloped?” T’Pol was stunned. “To run away with a lover, with the intention of getting married.” He paused. “Well you ran away to seduce me, but…I’ve been reading between the lines, T’Pol.” He took a deep breath. “You tell me that Vulcans do not normally engage in casual sex. You tell me that neuro-pressure is a bonding technique to build trust between mates. You tell me you need me to be there for ya emotionally. Sounds like you would be happiest with something permanent.” She did not try to deny his assessment. “I am aware that my way is not your way.” “I know I need ya. And I’d be foolish to deny that I want ya.” He stopped for a moment and drew her into his arms. “And it would be foolish of you to deny that you want me.” His kiss turned her knees to water, causing her to slump in his arms. “See what I mean?” She bowed her head to the inevitability of his assessment. “As far as I’m considered we just spent two years courting and the last 24 hours moving from courtship to commitment.” He held her at arms length. “What do you say?” “According to sensors there is a Xindi scout ship approaching at warp speed.” End of Part 5
Have a comment to make about this story? Do so in the Trip Fan Fiction forum at the HoTBBS! A whole mess of folks have made commentsWonderful! T'Pol's last line had me in stitches. Talk about timing, those darn Xindi... Ah T'Pol. What ever would we do without her and the Xindi? Have an uninterrupted romantic moment, perhaps? Nicely done, interesting how Trip can read between the lines like that. He's not nearly as obtuse as he seems. Wonder if it's a practice of his? So, courting for two years. So all of their arguments can be interpreted as lovers quarels, as I originally interpretted them. Wonder what the Captain's gonna say? Hee hee hee! Can't wait for the next chapter! Xindi scout ship!!! Sputter...sputter...sputter...UGH!!!!!! Aquila...you're killing me with these cliffhanger endings!!! All I want for Christmas is...MORE!!!!! This just keeps getting more and more interesting! There is more coming....right? Soon? Please? Oh, you terrible woman! A Xindi-ship?!?! But thank you for this most wonderful chapter and: Okay, I have a plan -- plastic surgery, a quick flight to LA... we'll slip you into the office next to Manny and BINGO... we're all happy! (Meaning: SoaB, how I wish you were writing the actual eps! From your PC to the screen -- heaven!) Great job! Great character development! Totally plausible! Love it! :) Okay, I just caught up with your last chapter and then this one and whoo boy! I like this very, very much! I'll be watching for the next post! Thank you! No... please tell me you'll update soon!!! This is sooooooooo good so far!!! This story just keeps getting better and better and better. Awesome!!! Awesome!!! |