The Final...-Pt. 15 - The End

The Final Mission

The End

by Aquila

Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Paramount owns the Star Trek universe.
Summary: A sequel to Starfleet Engineering
Category: Alternate Universe

==

San Francisco was dressed in her best spring dress, the colour of bright sunshine and cool breezes from the Bay. The city was a flirt, hiding her assets in veils of fog, which she lifted teasingly to expose her luscious hills and valleys. Kinda like T’Pol thought Trip.

“Charles,” she began her reprimand, “You have that look.”

“What look?” The smirk that accompanied the question turned into a broad smile. “Ya mean the happy-you’re-home-take-me-to-bed look?”

“Yes, that one.” That look squelched the anxiety T’Pol felt before each reunion. “People will speculate about us, should they witness you regarding me in that way.”

“They speculate about us anyway,” he reminded her. “Let them. We are apart too long and often for anyone to truly believe there is anything other than business commitments between us.”

“Before I take you to bed, I have a gift.” T’Pol passed a small box across the table. “An anniversary gift.”

Trip accepted the box, using the opportunity to brush her fingers lightly. Her shiver was invisible to all but her husband. They would never make it as far as the cabin. A stop at his apartment was required. She was too needy this time.

“Ma gift is at the cabin.” He removed the lid. “Is this the key to your heart?”

She opened her mind to ask permission to enter. The welcoming silence engulfed her in a mental hug. She relaxed, reassured that he was still hers. She projected the image that she associated with the gift.

They were entangled in bed sheets, damp with satisfaction. Her head rested on his abdomen just below his ribcage. The chain glistened in the sunlight that shone upon them through the window. The key rested on his body in line with her head.

Trip put the gift around his neck, sliding it inside his shirt. He let his thought float freely between them. I feel it, Darlin’, rubbin’ ma chest, where your head rests after we make love.

The cry of an eagle soaring overhead brought Trip out of his reverie. He held the chain in his hand. The box it unlocked was on the table in front of him. He was on the porch of their cabin, having returned from his clandestine travels the night before. It was six months to the day since he had learned of the death of his wife.

He unlocked the box, placing the chain and key inside. He closed the lid, wrapped the box in a flannel shirt of his that T’Pol had loved to wear. He placed the package inside a larger box, which would protect the contents from damage. He added a sealed envelope with one line written in his own hand: To be opened upon my death, Charles Tucker III. Then he closed the lid of the outer box.

Trip put the box under his arm, took one last look around the cabin exterior, then settled into the driver’s seat of the runabout. He placed the package on the passenger seat, before flying away, without looking back.

==

One day after the official mourning period concluded, the office of the Attorney General of Logon II issued an announcement.

Be it known that the Charles Tucker III Institute of Applied Science is under the sponsorship of the Attorney General, effective immediately. The sponsored males attached to the facility have transferred their allegiance to the Attorney General.

The former Primary Male of T’Pol of Vulcan, the legal air to her estate, Charles Tucker III, has shown his gratitude to the Attorney General for her sponsorship by accepting the position of her Primary Male. He will continue to live and work on Earth in the capacity of President and Chief Executive Officer of Extraterrestrial Engineering. He held the position during his tenure as the late Vulcan ambassador’s Primary Male.

Trip read the announcement in a Logon newsletter to which he had subscribed. “I’m married again,” he said to his companion.

Phlox and Feezal regarded him with concern. “In name only, surely?”

The doctor and his wife had accepted his invitation to visit for a few days to discuss Institute business.

“Is that what you told her, Phlox, when you explained that you have become the official boy toy of the Attorney General of Logon II.”

Feezal smiled with pride, “The Attorney General has exquisite taste in toys … and boys.”

She winked lasciviously at her host.

==

Ten years later, on top of the mesa near the cabin.

Archer let go of the sand he held in his hand to determine the direction of the wind. The group shifted to put the wind at its back.

Yuris had a hand on a shoulder of each of his sons. Phlox and Feezal held hands. Councilor Phoebus stood at their side. Malcolm and Travis held their wives close. A six year old girl clung to her mother’s skirts. This was her first excursion to Earth.

“It was Trip’s last wish that in the presence of their closest friends and family, their ashes would be mixed and scattered on this mesa.” His pause was filled by the whistle of the wind. “I thank each of you for granting his last wish.”

And I thank you, Trip and T’Pol, for granting mine, thought Ami, who clutched her daughter’s hand tightly.

On the fourth anniversary of the announcement of his acceptance of the position as her Primary Male, Ami had appeared unannounced at the door of his apartment in San Francisco.

Trip had just returned from a lengthy tour of the outer galaxy. His life as an engineering emissary satisfied him. He met knew species, discovered new places, while continuing to advance engineering science.

“Come in, Ami.”

She was even more beautiful than he remembered. The impact to his groin was immediate. Sufficient time had passed that his attraction was no longer laced with guilt. He was relieved and saddened. Trip was reluctant to let go of his past.

“Can I get you something?” The question was automatic, an expression used to cover an awkward moment.

“A baby, please.”

When she left the apartment four days later, she was pregnant. It was the only thing I asked of him in ten years of marriage, Ami reminded herself. A gift he gave willingly she remembered with a satisfied smile.

“Trip left one more instruction that I must fulfill, before the ashes are scattered.” Archer sat on his haunches. “Umeko, your father wanted you to have this.”

The child ran into his outstretched arms. With one hand Archer held her around the waist, dipping the other into the box to withdraw the chain, which he had carefully cleaned that morning.

“He told me to tell you,” he said putting the chain around her neck, “That this is the key to his heart. Cherish it as he cherished you, little one.”

==

Twenty years later, Starfleet Academy, Freshmen orientation

“Excuse me. Excuse me.” A lithe young female Human was working her way from the aisle to the free seat beside a Vulcan male.

“Hi, I’m Geraldine,” introducing herself to the Vulcan.

“I am Tucker of Logon II,” he turned to the young Vulcan who sat beside him, “This is my fraternal twin, Charles.”

Settled at last the young woman took time to examine her new acquaintances. Their mouths were different, she thought with relief. Tucker’s lips were pouty, Charles lips were thin.

“Pleased to meet you.”

She offered her hand without thinking. “I’m sorry. That was rude of me,” she apologized as she let her hand drop.

Charles spoke for the twins, “No offence is taken. You will find that we are more open to touch than most Vulcans.”

“Really?” She reviewed the introductions in her head. “Is that because you were raised on Logon II?”

This time Tucker replied, “In a manner of speaking.”

Geraldine’s eyes lit up, “You’re the sons of T’Pol and Yuris. You’re the Institute babies! Your places in the Academy are sponsored by Logon’s Attorney General.”

“You read the paper this morning.” Tucker looked uncomfortable.

“I must apologize again,” These boys were much too handsome to offend on the first day of class. “You are at a disadvantage. I know more about you than you do about me.”

The twins nodded gravely, enjoying the sparks the young woman ignited. Tucker thought she paled in comparison to Umeko. Charles thought he had never seen a more beautiful female.

“My mother is Anya Annickova – you may have heard of her. I never met my father. His name was Gerard Knightley.”

THE END

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A whole mess of folks have made comments

Ahhhhhhhhh......great stuff !!

Not the ending I had envisaged but a good way to tie it all up. The part I loved most was Trip's wish to have his and T'Pol's ashes mixed and scattered together. Sigh. Still a hopeless romantic right to the end! Thank you for a really good and unusual story. Ali D :~)

Oh ho! my my my! I love it!

Good news for all T&T Hopeless Romantics can be found on the official Star Trek website, under news. My fist is raised high!

Thanks to all for the encouragement. This one would NOT go away. ShouldKnowBetter, it was your fault!

Aquila

Wow.

Wow.

I gotta say it again:

Wow.

Great work! That was sad and heartbreaking and yet it was wonderful. It was so....It was like...I felt like.....I give up. Amazing story! Keep up the fabulous work!

Sorry to see the story end - I really liked the last chapter tying up the loose ends - I just knew Anya had gotten pregnant when she left Trip that morning (and we all knew Trip had to die at the end, right?) I do have one nitpicky thing, though. Is the last scene 20 years after the combined ashes scene? If so, wouldn't that make Geraldine a little over 30 years old (since she was conceived about a year before Trip "married" Ami) and the twins would be even older since they were already around then. Isn't that a bit old for Starfleet freshman?

I didn't make the timing clear, did I Classic?

Timing was ashes took place 10 years after T'Pol's death and the Starfleet scene 10 years after that for a total of 20 years, not 30 as you interpreted, because I wasn't clear enough.

Aquila

this part sent tears running down my cheeks ... “It was Trip’s last wish that in the presence of their closest friends and family, their ashes would be mixed and scattered on this mesa.” His pause was filled by the whistle of the wind. “I thank each of you for granting his last wish.”

And the ending... Oh lovely! When will they all learn the details???

Thanks Aquila for clearing the timing up for me. I thought that's what it might have been. I tend to overthink and over analyze sometimes. Ending really works now!

There's only one word to describe it and it's been used over and over... WOW. What a great story, each chapter was remarkable story! Just thinking about it is bringing tears to my eyes, Definitely looking forward to your next story.

A very emotional, poignant story. Teary, but not sad, and emminently believeable in context. I enjoyed reading this very much. Thank you for sharing this excellent work.

I can't believe that I managed to miss this when you first wrote it! Please accept my apologies, I didn't not review 'cos I didn't like it, just 'cos I was too stoopid to find it. What a terrific story! I absolutely loved it even though it was so sad that T/T weren't able to live openly together and were separated untimely. Definitely one of my favourite T/T stories. I'll be reading this one again ... and again ... and again.

Amazing, tears were rolling down my face :) Very bittersweet...

Well, where should one start from?
Your story speaks of forbidden love, undeniable passion, tragic loss... all elements that in my mind are directly linked to a part of literature I had carefully avoided immersing myself into thus far, (perhaps unjustly) believeing it to be repetitive, hardly original and suited only for the overly sensitive people (emotionally wise).
In spite of these preconceptions, I took up reading this work of yours, having read everything else you wrote that has been available on this site, but half expecting it to be mushy, perhaps even devoid of content; in short - empty.
How strange I felt when I discovered my error... Not only had I enjoyed this novel, but it stirred up emotions in spite of my reasoning that this was the same as any other love story I might have read instead. I suppose being a shipper breaks the culturally established barrier, dogma that only the women can truly enjoy a purely romantic story, while the emotionally deprived (or should I say, denied?) men should seek enjoyment in reading something else... You've taught me a valuable lesson today, one that I'm unlikely to forget so soon. Despite my determination to avoid reading any more love stories written to allow time to idly pass by, without having a deeper, didactic influence on the reader (the criteria I emphasise when judging a book), I shall (for a very long time) remain tempted by the excellent Trip/T'Pol fan fiction you produce.
Though I agree my thoughts somewhat lack cohesion and my efforts to reduce them to but a few core sentences and avoid sounding long-winded have proven in vain, I hope you won't hold it against me: I am no native speaker, and, alas, I can express myself no better than this.
In conclusion, I can do only what so many others have done before me and thank you very much for this wonderful insight into your world of imagination :)

Wow.
This is an excellent story. You have created such a wonderful tale of love and romance. Thank you for this.

This is a lovely story -- thank you.

We bow in the presence of your awesome intellect

LOVED, LOVED This story!! I am secure enough to say that this story brought me to tears. So heartbreaking that the spent 30 years together but never together. I hope in this universe, that with both of their deaths that they finally were able to be together.