Like a Phoenix from the Fire – Part 9

Season 3.5 - Summer Fan Fiction Challenge

Like a Phoenix from the Fire – Part 9

by Aquila

Category of the plot summary from the list below – Plot #10
Rating: R
Genre: Angst

Disclaimer: All things Trek, even Enterprise – the prequel, are Paramount’s – my passion for Trip and T’Pol, well that’s mine.

A short summary statement:

Although there are spoilers this story assumes that the season three cliff-hanger never occurred. T'Pol discovers the damage done by the Trellium D can be reversed. She decides to go through with the treatment, knowing she may lose access to the emotions she has unleashed, and that she may have to suppress her new emotions permanently as she has to do with all her emotions. What happens to her relationship with Trip? How does this change her views of herself?

--

Part 9

The summer Trip’s voice changed he spent at the home of his paternal grandmother and her sister, his great-aunt. Ill health had plagued him during the final months of the school year, so he had been sent to the family matriarchs to recuperate in a genteel and loving environment. That was the summer he fell in love with women.

Almost before his parent’s runabout was out of sight, the elderly Southern belles morphed from gentility to earthiness and he began a short journey from boy to man. Mornings were spent learning the fine art of seduction from dancing to table manners. During the hot afternoons wrapped in nothing but silk robes the ladies taught him the fine art of poker and other manly games of chance. Great-aunt Letty was most adept at dealing from the bottom of the deck. Late afternoons were spent developing his appreciation for fine wines and strong whiskey.

“It’s better to make your mistakes at home with family than amongst strangers, Trip.” While he had been tied up like a Christmas turkey in the basement of that bar in Risa, the advice of Grandma Gladys had returned to mock him.

The ladies retired early. To get their beauty sleep they would tell him as he pecked them on the cheek. He would watch as they climbed the stairs, leaving him alone until breakfast time, when they would greet him with, “Hope you slept well, boy” and a big wink.

He had never forgotten those soft summer nights cuddled in porch swings or wrestling under the stars with young women as curious about him as he was about them.

T’Lynn’s touch took him back to that summer in the Deep South, humid, warm and smelling of honeysuckle.

“Miz T’Lynn,” he said with a rakish smile and his thickest drawl, “If I were but ten years older, T’Pol would have some stiff competition for my affection.”

The appreciative smile swept away the last of T’Lynn’s doubts, “Do you know how to operate a vid phone, Commander?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he declared, rising in anticipation of her request. He had seen the device peaking out from under a pile of potsherds.

--

The fire crackled in the grate warming T’Pol’s toes. Her head was wrapped in a thick towel and her body in a silk robe. On the table located between the two fireplace chairs was steaming mug of green tea and a portable vid phone that began to ring just as she reached for the mug.

She did not recognize the caller id, but the prefix indicated the call came from Vulcan. Trip was the only being she knew who would not hesitate to spend the credits for such an expensive long distance call and he was on Vulcan.

Impulsively she threw her left leg over the arm of the chair, strategically adjusting her robe to provide a view of naked legs that ended in a tempting shadow where they joined her torso. She adjusted the upper portion of her robe so that only the nipples of her breast were covered. Holding the phone out at arm’s length she hit the talk key and began to pan along her legs, across her shadowed pelvis up her chest to her face. Only then did she notice the identity of the caller.

“Grandmother!”

“Don’t fret child, I had Commander Tucker push record, I’ll make sure he gets a copy to replay in the privacy of his room.”

Trip who had been standing behind T’Lynn nodded emphatically, afraid if he opened his mouth he would not be able to contain his laughter.

He watched as T’Pol hurriedly rearranged herself. “To what do I owe this unexpected communication, Grandmother?”

T’Lynn, whose eyesight was failing, peered closely at the screen. “You are well, T’Pol?”

Noting Tucker’s presence at last, T’Pol concluded that her grandmother knew more about their situation than T’Pol had ever planned to tell her. “Dr. Phlox is pleased with my recovery. Although I find my lack of vitality somewhat trying. The doctor assures me that my need for regular intervals of sleep will pass.”

T’Lynn thought the eyes of her granddaughter had shifted. The voice of Commander Tucker confirmed her observation.

“Darlin’, Miz T’Lynn thinks she can help us out of this mess, but she said she would not act without your agreement.” He placed his hand affectionately on the old woman’s shoulder. “I think you must have inherited that prudent streak from her, T’Pol.”

“Grandmother, did Trip explain that Koval was behind our difficulties?” T’Pol was suspicious. Impeding Koval’s plans was far from prudent.

“She already knew, honey,” interjected her lover.

“We may have been estranged, T’Pol,” began her grandmother, “But that did not lessen my interest in your affairs, especially since I may be to blame for some of the less pleasant consequences.”

--

Materializing from the shimmer floating over the transporter pad was a long, lean feminine form. Captain Gerry Adams straightened his posture and flicked an invisible speck from his flight suit, while he waited for the being to coalesce.

“Captain Adams?”

The voice was low and sultry. The body was streamlined, with hints of soft swellings before and aft. A heart-shaped face with compelling green eyes was framed by wisps of dark hair cut close to the head. The only family resemblance between this much younger cousin and T’Pol was the pout.

“Captain Adams?”

“Pardon me, ma’am,” Adams tamped down his sexual curiosity. “Welcome to Columbia, T’Nessa.”

--

Suspended from the tall ceiling of the public reception room of the Vulcan High Command was a cascade of jewel toned crystals, discreetly interspersed with lights that cast an erratic pattern of light across the stone floor. Sconces on the wall pushed back the darkness from the periphery of the salon. Benches were strategically placed in shadowed areas to permit intimate and undisturbed conversations between functionaries.

An aide approached Koval, who was conversing with the VHC major domo in charge of all public receptions.

“Excuse me.”

Koval and his companion turned at the interruption. “Can’t you see we are…”

Something in the eyes of the aide halted the disciplined tirade Koval was about to launch. “What is it?”

“The guest list has changed,” said the aide passing a PADD to the major domo whose eyebrows met his hairline in shock. He passed the PADD to Koval.

Koval, pale with barely contained anger, scrolled through the list of recipients of the amended guest list.

“Why was I the last to be informed?”

“This was hand delivered,” explained the aide, “After everyone else on the communication list was informed.”

The Human had out manoeuvred him again.

End of Part 9

Continue to Part 10

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Eight hardy souls have made comments

hmmmm, it's not hard to guess whose name is now on the list....sneaky Trip...I wonder what he is up too! Commnander Tucker must have done his homework on Vulcan customs, etc to stay a step ahead of Koval!!!!

Hee Polly giving Grandma a peep show..there's a kodak moment!

I love it! Please don't stop......

I can just imagine the looks on everyone's faces after T'Pol's sensuous little peep show. LOL! Excellent!

I'm excited, T'Pol's grandmother is now on their side. I have a feeling Koval's chances of success just decreased-drastically. He's in for a load of trouble and hardshiop. Good.

Great chapter! Keep it coming!

Oh, and I loved the bit at the beginning about the Tucker Matriarchs. Delightful.

Wonderful chapter! I only found this site about two weeks ago and have read everything you've written here. At first, I thought you might be from Spain or France but definitely European, now with the description of the Tucker steel magnolias, I don't know. But you do have them down pat!

Thank you for this wonderful story.

Another great installment. Koval being outmanoeuvred by Trip yet again-- it's like watching a chess match :)

Poor T`Pol! Such a perfect show, for...grandma!