The Data Had Not Changed

The Data Had Not Changed

By Aquila

Rating: PG – Developing relationship
Disclaimer: It all belongs to Paramount.
Timeline: After Cogenitor, before First Flight – with spoilers
Summary: Resolution of the premise that began in "Someone was Seeking Permission to Enter."

********************

The data had not changed. The figures were the same as they had been when he ran the report an hour ago. A human member of the crew had accessed Vulcan mating practices in the medical database twenty-two times in the past two weeks. During the same period, the only Vulcan on board the Enterprise had accessed Human mating practices. Was there a correlation between the two searches?

The doctor’s ethics did not permit him to make direct enquiries. Phlox could only note the data and wait until one or the other researcher came to him for advice. To the doctor, scientific anomalies were the highest form of entertainment. He was grateful that his ethics did not forbid him from speculation. He began a comparative study into the physical compatibility of Humans and Vulcans, just in case a consultation occurred.

**

“Archer to Tucker.”

Trip pulled a communicator from his uniform pocket. “Tucker here Captain.”

“My ready room in ten minutes. Archer out.”

A burst of energetic polishing and polite small talk announced to Trip that his crew had stopped to listen to the exchange. They had wasted their time. They knew no more than he did.

**

The treadmill had become Subcommander T’Pol’s constant companion during her off-duty hours since Charles Tucker III had declared his desire to pursue a more intimate relationship with her. She had taken refuge in physical exercise while she considered her response. Whatever her decision, it would affect more than the two of them.

“Archer to T’Pol.”

T’Pol pressed the intercom button on the wall next to the treadmill. “Yes, Captain?”

“Join me in my ready room in ten minutes, please, Subcommander.”

**

Commander Tucker and Subcommander T’Pol met at the door to the lift that would take them to the bridge. The engineer publicly greeted the First Officer with an appropriately cool nod, which was underscored by a flirtatious wink of his right eye. T’Pol chastised her body for its immediate and unmistakable response to his outrageous behaviour. The frosty nod she returned only served to fuel his interest, if she had interpreted the twinkle in his eyes correctly.

Trip gallantly stepped aside to allow the Vulcan to enter first when the lift door slid open. Satisfied that they would be the only occupants, Trip eagerly followed. Aware of his presence, but reluctant to turn and face him with the doors still open, T’Pol halted in the middle of the lift. Tucker’s solid frame collided with her soft curves. Although neither would admit it, they maintained contact longer than necessary. Trip, taking advantage of the situation, touched the tip of two fingers to a pulse point on T’Pol’s neck. She shuddered with pleasure. Trip held still, while she turned slowly, rubbing her body against his. As she turned, his fingers trailed across her skin so that when at last she was facing him they came to rest on a pulse point on the opposite side of her neck. He leaned in, increasing the contact between them, while he applied pressure with his fingers. T’Pol shuddered again, then her head fell forward so that her forehead rested on one of her suitor’s shoulders. Trip stretched across the lift and pushed the emergency stop button.

“Gosh durn it, T’Pol. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to incapacitate ya. At least not on the way to the bridge.” Trip was pleased with himself for executing this new caress correctly, but angry with himself for his timing.

T’Pol raised her head. Her dilated pupils turned her eyes into bottomless pools. Trip felt like he was falling into them. T’Pol held his blazing blue gaze, snaking a hand up to rest on his neck at the base of his skull. She pulled gently, but steadily, drawing his face down to hers.

With her lips just a breath away from his, she responded, “I have been studying the medical database also.” Her tongue flicked out to tickle his upper lip, then applying the perfect amount of pressure, brought his lips into contact with hers.

**

“Archer to T’Pol and Tucker.”

“Archer to T’Pol and Tucker.”

The captain did not hide his exasperation, the third time he hailed his senior staff. “Archer to T’Pol and Tucker.”

A flushed and smitten Trip Tucker blindly stretched out his hand flailing about for the intercom button. Only when his hand finally found it, did he break loose from the Subcommander’s kiss.

“Sorry, Captain. There was a slight malfunction with the lift. T’Pol and I were on our way to the bridge when it stopped. I fixed the problem. We’ll be there momentarily. Tucker out.”

When the couple stepped out of the lift onto the bridge, they appeared to the crew as they always had, professionally friendly, perhaps even cool toward each other. If they only knew the heat we generate thought Trip as he crossed the bridge to the ready room. Man, oh man, Tucker, you are playing with fire.

T’Pol was shaken. She had expected that her body’s response to the human-style caress would be disgust. She had anticipated the reaction with anxiety, ever since her research had unveiled the technique. The anticipation of regret that her reaction would end the relationship before it began fueled the anxiety. She had been wrong. Her body had responded as eagerly as his had. There were still issues to resolve, but physical contact as practiced by humans was no longer one of them.

“Captain, we apologize for the delay.”

Trip liked the sound of we coming from the lips of the Subcommander. With each private encounter his need to become a ‘we’ with the woman grew. He could not mark the moment casual curiosity had turned to an ardent desire for a relationship, but it had. For a moment he wondered if pursuing her would become as grave an error as his championing of the cogenitor?

“Starfleet Command has responded to my Vissian situation report.”

**

Phlox rolled his head, trying to relax his stiff neck muscles. He had been reviewing the known compatibility data for all of two minutes. Much was known about each species practices, virtually nothing was known about their compatibility. Should his hunch play out, he would become the universe’s leading expert on inter-species relations between Humans and Vulcans. His career could be in jeopardy as a result. Neither species would be willing to admit that liaisons were possible, at least not in his lifetime.

**

The reaction of the engineer to the announcement was to stand at attention, his shoulders back and his eyes on an invisible horizon. His body language confirmed to Archer and T’Pol that Trip had anticipated a negative reaction from Starfleet.

T’Pol was silent. She did not want to hear answers to the questions that she wanted to ask the captain in response to his announcement. She had expected the Vulcan High Command to lodge a formal protest and request an end to Charles’ career.

“At ease, Commander.”

Trip spread his legs a shoulder width apart. He clasped his hands behind his back. He kept his head held high and his eyes straight ahead. T’Pol flicked him a glance, running her eyes down the length of him, following the contours of his body where they filled out his uniform. She recalled how those muscles felt pressed against her body. Refusing to contemplate a future without his presence she waited.

“Trip, Starfleet has ordered me to confine you to shipboard duties for the next three months.” Archer noted that the engineer had dropped his hands to his side, the first sign that he had begun to relax. “You are not permitted to participate in any away missions during that time. Your rank and duties will not change. A command reprimand will be permanently attached to your file.”

“Understood, Captain.”

“Sub-commander,” continued Archer, looking at his First Officer, “The Vulcan High Command has asked that you submit a report at the end of the probationary period. It seems that your superiors doubt my ability to separate my friendship with Trip from my duties as captain of the Enterprise.”

The pair waited while Archer clamped down on his temper.

“Based on your report, Starfleet Command will determine Trip’s future. If, in your opinion, Trip has failed to understand the gravity of his error in judgment and is likely to make similar mistakes, he will be reassigned.”

“Understood, Captain.”

T’Pol was thankful for the emotional control that had been instilled in her since birth. The potential to share pleasure and passion with the handsome Chief Engineer had effectively been quashed, before it had properly begun.

“Thank you, Captain.” Archer was puzzled by the subdued response from the engineer.

The relief that Trip had felt at the announcement of his reprieve had been short lived. As long as T’Pol held his career in her hands, a personal relationship between them was impossible. Even if he were willing to risk it, he knew she would not – could not. He would not ask her to. That was the moment he knew that T’Pol held not only his career, but also his future in her hands and there was nothing that either one of them could do about it.

The End.

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A whole mess of folks have made comments

very good! i can't wait to see how they cope over the next 3 months......or after the 3 months is up! wink-wink!

Gulp. Consequences just keep coming but then that is how life unfolds. But the timing as always sucks. I thought this was brilliant, loved how you had Trip gently exploring another Vulcan technique then them both going a little weak in the lift. The news from Starfleet was a shock of cold water and I can't wait to see both how they handle it and how they celebrate the end of the fast afterwards. Thanks for a great story, Ali D :~)

Excellent! I don't care for the ending but I'm hoping there is more to come (note the subtle hint)! ;-) Thank you for this series. I am completely enjoying your style and your character interactions! Thanks again!

Great addition, can't wait for the next one!

MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE and now PLEASE!!
Oh this has been a compelling series. Such possibilities! And the Phlox humor has been a joy.

Oh, such a sad note to finish on, unless it's not finished...

Otherwise, I too have enjoyed the series, but was hoping for the relationship to really get going.

So don't disappoint your readers, pleeeaaase.

no! give me more!!! that's so sad!!!

Oh, so sad! And right when things were getting so good! Please tell us soon how this mess works out! Don't leave us hanging!

oh please do write more, im dying for it!!! the end to this one was so sad!... but it was really good! keep up the good work.

~Sara~

Enjoyed these stories a lot but still dont like the fact that Archer has to formally reprimand him like this considering he interferes in almost every alien culture he comes upon and never seems to suffer any consequencs. By punishing him like this he is again blaming his for the cogenitors death. It was her decision to take her own life and Trip could never have known she would do this.Loved the developing relationship between T/T,hope they get through this and look forward to another sequel.

Loved your interactions with Trip and Tpol and how close they were becoming. Such a sad ending. I hated the ending of Cogenitor and have thoroughly disliked Archer ever since so I probably shouldn't go into my reasons why I found it so unfair the way Trip was treated. I'd love to see a fanfic where Archer could get knocked off his sanctimonious perch and start practicing what he preaches! Sorry didn't mean to rant. Enjoyed your story. Thank you.

You absolutely have to continue this. It'd be interesting how the two ignore or work alongside each other during the 3 months. I hope you decide to continue it. Superb work!

Excellent story, well written and well thought out -- you've provided a plausible reason for temporily sidelining the romance (but not the feelings!). I'm looking forward to resolution in your next story (please!).

Is there more to this? I've been looking... I loved it!

It is interesting that the comment feature is still active in this particular Fanfic after nearly a decade. This story was incredible so far, it's sad that it hasn't been continued.

It is interesting that the comment feature is still active in this particular Fanfic after nearly a decade. This story was incredible so far, it's sad that it hasn't been continued.