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Above/Beyond... - Ch. 4Above and Beyond Friendship By Beeswax Disclaimers in Chapter 1 Chapter 4 Disturbed "You know I do have a couple of degrees in Engineering and some of the most advance training in Starfleet. There was a reason that I was chosen for this tour. I happen to be one of the best. Therefore, I find it real insultin’ when you constantly go back over every single one of my repair jobs like I’m a high-school drop-out who shouldn’t be allowed near a hydrospanner!" "I was merely double checking your work as a precaution. My actions in no way imply a presumption of incompetence on your part. There is no reason to raise your level of volume." "I don’t care if you out rank me or not. I want you out of Engineering. Go bother the science department, Phlox or, hell, even the Cap’n. But leave me and my people and our work, alone!" For a split second T’Pol had actually looked hurt during that exchange. ‘Course when it came to hurt, the thing that really came to mind was the lecture the Captain gave him later that day. "Damn it, Trip, I don’t care what your personal feeling are about Vulcans or the Sub-Commander, I can’t have my two most senior officers having shouting matches in the middle of my ship." "I’m sorry for yellin’ Cap’n, but she keeps comin’ in here all condescend’n and snooty and starts quizin’ my people and pullin’ out all the repair logs and then she wants me to take her into the Jeffrey’s tubes so that she can see the repairs. My people have been through enough with the Suliban and this diagnostic as it is. If I’da done somethin’ wrong to begin with, I’d kinda understand, but we are up to specs if not exceeding them in all zones. Why’s she poken’ around down here?" "The executive officer is supposed to report to me on all repairs and the diagnostic. She may have been a little over thorough, but she was just doing her job. She’s under a lot of stress too, you know. Do you have any idea what she went through on that Suliban ship?" "No." "Neither do I, because she won’t tell us. It couldn’t have been fun." "No sir, I guess it probably wasn’t." "Both of you need a break." "We all do, sir." "Well, I found an opportunity for you two for right now. You interested?" Trip crossed his arms and cocked his head. "Does it involve a dessert?" Archer laughed and shook his head. "Deep space. Just you, T’Pol and a Shuttlepod Two for three days. I need someone to survey that asteroid belt we just passed. It will take three days, there and back, but it is only about 8 hours work when you get there. Lots of time to just decompress." "With T’Pol?" "She’s the most qualified" Jon sighed, "Look I know that neither of you is the other’s favorite person, but this is the best I can do for you two for a vacation. Hoshi is supposed to work on a language database of all the new languages we’ve encountered. Travis is testing the new engine in Shuttlepod One for a few days, and I sent Malcolm with him to work on a new variance of the phase cannon. Phlox is taking another crack at hibernation for two days. Everyone else is being reduced to light duty while we cruise this sector. This is the best way for me to give you guys a break. So are you going to take it or not?" Trip sighed. "I’ll take it." Jon smiled. "Good. You leave in the morning, 0700 hours. Don’t be late. T’Pol’s liable to leave with out you." The memory was so clear, it was almost like watching a movie. Trip smile softly in his sleep. He had appreciated his friend’s effort. Archer had been trying to give everyone in the command crew a chance to take it easy. It must have been difficult for him to orchestrate all of these different mini assignments, so that everyone could have a few days of peace and light duty. It was a shame he couldn’t do the same for himself, but then a captain never really can go off duty. But what could the captain possibly be thinking by putting Commander Charles Tucker the III in a small space with Sub Commander T’Pol the Obnoxious! He got there at 0630. She had already been there an hour. Shuttlepod Two was designed to be a mobile space lab of sorts. It was about three times the size of Shuttlepod One and significantly roomier. It had a large main cabin below and two smaller adjoining rear cabins above. One room was the working lab space that also contained two bunks along one wall; the other was a small berthing space with four bunks and a small bathroom complete with a narrow sonic shower. "I took the liberty of doing the preflight check. We can depart as soon as you are ready. We have clearance. " "Ain’t that efficient of you." They worked in silence for a few moments, stowing the last of the gear inside the pod. As soon as they were clear of the ship and on their way, Trip turned to his co-pilot. "I can fly her for a while. Why don’t you go read or meditate or whatever it is you do for relaxation." "That is not necessary. I wish to get to work on the asteroid survey. We already have some data from our initial scan." "Well, couldn’t ya do that back in the lab?" "Do you want me to leave the cabin, Commander?" She did that eyebrow thing that irritated him so much. "You want me to leave." This time it was not a question. She didn’t wait for a response she simply got out of the chair and moved to the back. Trip heard the door slide open and then close again behind her as she left. He leaned back in his chair, propped his feet on the seat opposite and pulled a small device out of his pocket. He punched a couple of buttons and the cabin filled with guitar and fiddle music. Trip set the player down on the console and felt his body begin to relax. He loosened his collar a bit and got down to the serious business of taking a break. Trip knew that the peaceful moment had been short lived. T’Pol had come back and gotten all huffy about his casual manner. It appeared that the Captain hadn’t mentioned to her that this trip was supposed to be a break of sorts, a reward even for all the hard work and the stress of command duties. Trip was sure she didn’t because the next hour was anything but peaceful as they ended up launching into a full out argument. Only this time there was no crew to distract them, no captain to break it up and no meal to hide behind. Even though he was asleep, Trip’s body braced itself for this part of the memory. Only what Trip saw wasn’t what he remembered. Trip was so into the music and the view before him that he didn’t hear T’Pol return. She startled him by softly laying her hand on his shoulder. Trip couldn’t remember a time when the Vulcan had initiated any kind of casual physical contact with anyone, but especially him. He quickly reached over and turned off the player. "Commander, would you be so kind as to assist me in the lab for a moment. The Shuttle can pilot itself for the duration of the voyage if necessary." Her voice dropped and octave, "I programmed it myself." Trip felt himself being gently drawn from his chair. T’Pol’s hand slid down his shoulder and rested gently in his. When they entered the lab space, the room was softly lit with several candles. The lower bunk had been made with crimson sheets and several large pillows. The lab table had been pushed back creating a large open space and another crimson sheet had been spread on the floor along with several more pillows. T’Pol lowered herself down into a sitting position and tugged Trip down to her. He was on his back before he had finished the statement. T’Pol was already unzipping his coverall when she kissed him. Trip sat bolt upright in bed, now completely awake. The dream had started out like a memory, but the last part of it hadn’t happened. Where had that come from? At the same time, there was something oddly familiar about the images. Trip tried to hold on the fleeting edges of the dream. Had he had that dream before? As he focused on that thought, he could still see the images playing out in his head. He couldn’t make it stop. He felt like a teenager, watching his sister make-out with her boyfriend in the living room when he was supposed to be in bed. Only now there was no curiosity and he didn’t want to watch anymore. It was almost painful, but he couldn’t make it stop. T’Pol had begun to moan. They were like animals. This was not about sharing or giving. This was about taking... and they were. Trip began to sweat. He jumped out of bed, and ran for the shower. He stepped under the freezing spray in his pajamas. Even as he stood under the water, horrified by the display in his brain, he knew that at least part of the dream had at one time been his, possibly even on the very mission. But it had twisted somehow. Then he felt that odd tickling again and knew T’Pol was there, in his head, watching. She had manipulated his subconscious desire for her and was now playing it in his head like a sick home movie. Trip jumped out of the shower. He awkwardly stripped off his clothes one handed, changed into a dry shirt and pants and took off down the hall. He didn’t bother with the doorbell, but began to pound on the door. There was no answer. He reached over and opened the emergency panel beside the door. With a few quick keystrokes, the door opened. Trip raised inside touching the inner panel to close the door behind him. He was already bellowing before it shut. But T’Pol didn’t seem to hear him. She sat cross-legged on the floor in her red meditation robes. Her eyes were closed and she was panting. Trip fell to his knees in front of her, grabbed her shoulder with his good arm and shook her. "T’Pol! Wake-up. Wake-up!" And then, he kissed her and the vision stopped. Have a comment to make about this story? Do so in the Trip Fan Fiction forum at the HoTBBS! |