The Thorn and the Rose - Part 8

THE THORN AND THE ROSE

By Dinah

Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: See Part 1

Part VIII

CHAPTER 23: SOVAL

“How much do you think the humans know about our wayward cousins?” Torok asked Ambassador Soval.

The two Vulcans were sequestered in the small library, which along with an equally small bed chamber, comprised the quarters of the high priest. The only furnishings in the room were two curved-back chairs and a small octagonal table of brushed metal. An intricately stitched wall hanging adorned the wall behind the chairs. The focal point of the hanging was a large grey triangle. Wedge-shaped rays, done in muted shades of burgundy, orange, gold and dusty blue, radiated from the center, giving the entire piece a circular effect. Three bolts of embroidered light done in metallic threads shot from the top of the triangle at right angles, endowing the hanging with a power and grandeur that Soval had always found pleasing.

Floor to ceiling shelves ran along the opposite wall. Those shelves held the reading materials that Torok had meticulously collected during his lifetime. An encyclopedic collection, it contained a portion of the wisdom and knowledge of many worlds.

“Very little,” Soval answered, after giving the matter some thought. “I have made some discreet inquiries with representatives from various branches of Starfleet. To a man, their knowledge of the Romulan Empire seems to be confined to the encounter with the drone ship.”

“Wasn’t the humans’ ship damaged several years ago by a Romulan mine?”

“Yes, but it amounted to nothing,” Soval assured him. “The humans have had no direct contact with the Romulans. They are unaware of our common heritage. It would be best it we can keep them from discovering the connection, at least for the foreseeable future. Diplomatic relations between Earth and Vulcan are difficult enough without providing the humans with new reasons to distrust us.”

“Romulan agents have spent decades infiltrating our government,” Torok observed. “It is only a matter of time before the true identity of one of them is revealed. We must take precautions so that, when the worst happens, it does not become common knowledge. The humans must not learn of it.”

“I will speak with Kuvak and T’Pau,” Soval said as he leaned toward the table. “We need to begin making plans to deal with such an eventuality.” He picked up a glass and filled it with water from an elegantly curved alabaster carafe. Before setting the carafe back on the table, he held it up, offering to fill a glass for the high priest.

Torok distractedly shook his head. “I was relieved when V’Las was removed from power. I have been suspicious of him for many years now. His policies have steadily pushed us toward a confrontation with Andoria. Of course, you are aware that he was the man responsible for setting up the listening post in the P’Jem monastery.”

Soval nodded.

“Covert surveillance. Spies.” Torok waved his hand dismissively. “Blatant sacrilege. The threat of a war with the Andorians has been hanging over our heads for far too long. If this policy is allowed to continue, it will further divide our already weakened government, leaving Vulcan ripe for a coup d’etat. I don’t need to tell you, Soval, that the Romulans destroy by stealth. They burrow from within, spreading their poison, until the body politic dies. They do not want to unite our peoples; they wish to enslave us.”

“I agree,” Soval said seriously. “Given the present circumstances, we could be vulnerable if the Romulans choose to mount a well-organized attack. It might be necessary for us to seek help from the Coalition.”

Torok leaned back in his chair. “An alliance cobbled together by humans. It is ironic, isn’t it?”

“Yes. The future of our species may well rest in the hands of those same emotionally unstable humans we have disdained since making first contact over a century ago. But there can be no doubt that the humans are all that hold this uneasy coalition together. In my estimation, we must do whatever it takes to keep their loyalty. Unfortunately, it will not be an easy transition for many of our people.”

“No. We have felt superior for far too long.” Torok looked pointedly at Soval. “Where are we most vulnerable.”

“At the moment, Admiral Kiran is in a position to do the most damage.”

The wrinkles on Torok’s forehead deepened as he furrowed his brow. “Kiran is a fool. He is easily led by shrewder men who pander to his prejudices.”

Before Soval could reply, there was a knock on the door. “You may enter,” Torok called authoritatively.

The door opened and T’Pol stood in the arched doorway, her red uniform standing out in stark contrast to the tawny color of the surrounding walls. She hesitated before taking a few steps into the room. “I do not wish to disturb you, but I thought you would like to know that Captain Archer just left. I am afraid that his meeting with Commander Tucker did not go well.”

“And how is Commander Tucker?” Torok asked.

“He is deeply disturbed.” T’Pol seemed to be unaware that as soon as she spoke those words, both of her hands clenched into fists. “I believe that he is in danger of being overwhelmed by his grief.”

“You seem unsettled, T’Pol,” Soval said with concern in his voice. “I take it that Mr. Tucker is no longer able to shield his thoughts from you.”

“He is trying to protect me, but he cannot. His emotions are too chaotic, too painful.” T’Pol suddenly took a deep breath and straightened her stance. In one smooth motion, her hands disappeared behind her back. “You need not be concerned. I have dealt with Mr. Tucker’s turbulent emotions in the past. I can do so again.”

Lifting her chin, she continued, “Captain Archer was finally able to convince the commander to lie down, but I do not believe he will be able to fall asleep without assistance.”

“Have Doctor Kaal see to the commander’s needs,” Torok said. “Instruct him to give you a sedative as well.”

“That will not be necessary. If I meditate,…”

“Do as I say, T’Pol,” Torok ordered in a no-nonsense tone of voice. “Commander Tucker’s ordeal has only just begun. Tomorrow, he will need your strength and support. It would be best if you are rested.”

“I will do as you wish,” T’Pol answered.

When she turned to leave, Soval called out to her. “T’Pol, I was just about to brief Torok on a matter of great importance. I believe it is something you should hear as well.”

Soval glanced quickly at the high priest who instructed him to proceed.

“I spoke to Admiral Kiran twenty minutes ago. T’Pol, he knows that you are here with Commander Tucker. Like many others, he is aware of the furor that surrounded both of you when Terra Prime created a child from your DNA. So far, the admiral has not been able to discover why the two of you came here, but he is suspicious.”

“What T’Pol and that young man do is none of Kiran’s business,” Torok replied. “He should be spending his time reorganizing our fleet, not behaving like a gossipy old woman.”

“I am afraid it is far worse than that,” Soval said grimly. “The admiral has threatened to break off the talks with Archer and the humans unless he can be assured that T’Pol and Mr. Tucker have not entered into a relationship.”

T’Pol pressed her lips into a thin line. She was obviously distressed by the news. After a silent struggle to regain her composure, she murmured, “I can assure you that we will not allow the talks to be cancelled. When Trip…Commander Tucker is better…when he is thinking clearly…we will try to find a way…”

“That will not be necessary,” Torok said firmly. “You have more pressing concerns. Let me handle Admiral Kiran.”

“And what if he will not be handled?” Soval observed reluctantly. “I do not like to submit to threats, but we must think of the good of the many. I believe the admiral has the power to drive a wedge between the humans and our government. His distrust of all aliens could even put the Coalition at risk.”

“There are always options.”

Torok turned his attention to T’Pol. “Go and see the doctor. Tell him that I want him to sedate both you and Commander Tucker. Is that understood?”

“Yes,” T’Pol answered quietly.

“And I shouldn’t have to remind you, T’Pol, that your uniform is out of place here. While you are at the Sanctuary, I expect to see you in more appropriate attire.”

She bowed slightly, then, turning on her heel, left the room.

When they were once again alone, Torok said, “I believe I will have a drink of water after all, Ambassador.”

Soval reached for the carafe and poured a glass of water for the high priest. “Do you really think that we can stop Kiran and his supporters?”

“We have no choice.” Torok took the glass from Soval, drank deeply and returned the glass to the table. “The talks must continue. That is inarguable. We must also do all that we can to protect Commander Tucker. I believe that he can be useful to us. With the proper training, he is a man who could eventually move comfortably in both the human and the Vulcan worlds.”

Soval was caught off guard by that statement. “Commander Tucker is one of the most emotional humans I have ever known. I find it hard to believe that he would ever be comfortable in our world.”

“Do not underestimate him. He has an agile mind, an ability to adapt to his surroundings, and a gift for putting people at ease. Through his relationship with T’Pol, I believe he has also developed a genuine interest in our people. He has integrity, and he is not easily intimidated. If this Romulan threat persists, he could become a valuable advocate for us.”

“Yes,” Soval said slowly as he carefully considered his mentor’s words. “You might be right. He did make a favorable impression on T’Les, and I know that she held a rather low opinion of humans.”

Soval folded his arms and began to think out loud. “At present, Jonathan Archer is the man who holds the Coalition together. I believe that he will try to be impartial, but he has resented Vulcans since he was a boy. That mindset is hard to break. Archer is stubborn and often unwilling to take the advice of others, but if any man can get through to him, it would be Commander Tucker.” Soval found himself beginning to warm to the idea. “And if for some reason Archer is forced to step aside, Mr. Tucker is a formidable leader in his own right. He has twice prevented a war with Andoria while in command of Enterprise. Yes. It might be a viable option.”

“But this must be handled carefully,” Torok cautioned. “That young man is no fool. If he thinks that we see him only as a pawn we can control, he will resent it…and rightly so. I want him to think for himself. If he formulates his own opinions, his arguments will be far more compelling.”

“I will make a point to spend more time with him whenever possible. At the very least, it will give him an opportunity to use me as a sounding board.”

“That is very wise, Soval.” Torok allowed his gaze to travel around the room. “I believe Commanders Tucker and T’Pol represent the future. For the preservation of both species – humans and Vulcans – we must learn to set aside our differences and work together, much as they have.”

“Our people will not accept their relationship. I doubt that the humans will either.”

“It will take time. For now, it would be best if their relationship was not common knowledge. But if we lay the proper groundwork, they can eventually emerge as a symbol of the strong union between our two peoples.” Torok leaned in toward Soval. “It will not be easy. As you have already noted, it is never easy to change the habits of a lifetime, but it must be done. When I am gone, the responsibility will fall to you, Ambassador, to continue to mold public opinion. The bond between humans and Vulcans must ultimately become as strong the bond that joins T’Pol to that young man.”

Frowning, Soval quietly said, “You do not set an easy task for me.”

“Of course it isn’t easy, but it must be done.” Torok leaned forward, giving added weight to his words. “We have always lived amidst our enemies. Some of them now purport to be our friends, but I ask you, Soval, can they be trusted? Our Romulan cousins threatened us from within. The discovery of the Kir’Shara has left our people feeling confused about who they are and what it means to be Vulcan. Our fleet is ineffectual. Our government is in chaos. We do not live in easy times, Ambassador.”

“I did not mean…”

“We have adapted in the past in order to survive. We must do so again. Mark my words, these humans will not stop until they have reshaped this quadrant to suit themselves. They are not as ruthless as the Klingons or the Romulans, but they are just as determined. If we do not move forward with them, we will be left behind to struggle alone.”

“I understand.”

“I hope you do, Soval. The members of the High Command made a serious mistake when they refused to support Earth in the fight against the Xindi. For years, humans have chafed under our control. Now Archer and the crew of Enterprise have proved conclusively that the humans no longer need us. Unaided, they not only destroyed the weapon that threatened Earth, but managed to persuade their enemies to become allies. That is an impressive accomplishment.”

“You are correct in your assessment,” Soval observed, “but, whether the humans are prepared to admit it or not, they do still need us. We represent the voice of order and reason. Vulcan logic will ensure that any strides the humans make will be built upon a solid foundation.”

Torok leaned back in his chair and seemed to relax a bit. “I agree. Now you must convince both parties that this is the new reality.”

Soval nodded in resignation.

“I do not expect you to do this alone, Soval. Kuvak is too weak to be of much help, but T’Pau and Vaaris stand ready to assist you. They are still very young, but I have been grooming both of them for years to assume positions of authority in the government. Now that they sit on the council, feel free to make use of their prodigious talents.”

“I regret that Admiral Forrest is no longer alive,” Soval murmured. “His assistance would have been invaluable.”

“Another victim of V’Las and his unspeakable treachery,” Torok observed. “The admiral’s death was unfortunate, but we must concern ourselves with the resources that are now available to us. Who speaks for the humans?”

Soval paused for a moment to organize his thoughts. “Admiral Gardner has assumed Admiral Forrest’s duties. He is a risk taker with modest diplomatic skills. He is rumored to have less than warm feelings toward aliens, but I have personally seen no indication of prejudice on his part.

“Admiral Uhlani has little deep space experience, having spent most of his career in administrative positions. He is a staunch advocate for the creation of a strong, unified front to meet the Romulan threat. He is both a visionary and an extremely powerful man. We would do well to keep our eye on him.

“Mr. Samuels is a politician.”

Torok’s only response was a dismissive wave of the hand. “Can you tell me anything more about Jonathan Archer?”

“He is a good man. Some day he might even become a great man. At the moment, he is well positioned to influence history, but he must first master himself. Most of his life has been spent trying to emerge from his father’s shadow. Archer is an idealist who has been gravely disillusioned by the Xindi conflict. He has consistently shown an inability to delegate in times of crisis. By choosing to place himself in life-threatening situations, he removes himself from a position of overall command and ultimately places much of the responsibility for the success or failure of a mission in the hands of a subordinate. His strongest asset is his gift for bringing people together.

“So my recommendation,” Soval concluded, is to watch Gardner, court Uhlani, and rely heavily on Archer, T’Pol, and Tucker.”

A shadow passed over Torok’s face.

“What is it?” Soval asked uneasily.

“Commander Tucker can only help us if he is able to resume his duties. At the moment, I am not sure if that is possible.”

“Your talk with him was not beneficial?”

“Yes and no,” Torok said softly. “At some point in his life, that young man experienced a horrific event, which is slowly destroying his katra. He has buried that memory so deeply that I would have done irreparable damage to his mind if I had tried to forcibly gain access to it. In order to help him, I must know what he is hiding.” Torok locked eyes with Soval. “I want you to speak with someone who knew him as a child, preferably his parents.”

“His parents were members of Terra Prime. They may not be willing to talk to me.”

“Until recently, Commander Tucker has had a close and supportive relationship with his parents. I am sure that they will only want what is best for him. If you approach them in the proper way, they will tell you what I need to know.”

“I will do my best.”

Torok allowed his eyes to roam around the room once again before settling on the ambassador. “This young man intrigues me, Soval.” The high priest’s voice was surprisingly gentle. “We must set his mind at rest.”

* * * * * *

“May I help you, sir?” Even across the light years Soval could see the confusion in the intensely blue eyes that stared back at him.

“I would like to speak with Mr. Charles Tucker, Jr.”

The young freckle-faced man in Starfleet blue tilted his head to one side and wrinkled his brow. “Pardon me, sir, but aren’t you the Vulcan ambassador?”

“That is correct. I am Ambassador Soval. And you are?”

A lock of henna hair fell across the human’s forehead as he snapped to attention. “Lieutenant Hugh MacElvoy, Starfleet Intelligence, at your service. It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”

Soval raised one eyebrow in surprise. “Starfleet Intelligence?”

“Yes, sir. Mr. Tucker contacted us yesterday. I’m afraid there’s been a little trouble here.”

Looking beyond the eager lieutenant, the ambassador could see that the office in which the young man stood was in a state of disarray: a few glass shards still clung to the frame of a large picture window on the back wall, a cabinet door hung askew, and debris littered a large metal desk and the surrounding floor.

“What happened?”

“A terrorist group planted a bomb in the office at Mr. Tucker’s boatyard.” MacElvoy head pivoted as he surveyed the damage. “Evidently, they’re a splinter group that broke away from Terra Prime. We’d never heard of them until they took credit for this bombing.”

Taken aback, Soval asked, “Was anyone hurt?”

“No. The bomb went off at night when everyone was gone.” Lieutenant MacElvoy looked a little disappointed. “Actually, it really wasn’t much of a bomb. Just blew out the windows and messed things up a bit. Oh, and some of the boats out in the yard were vandalized.” The lieutenant shrugged. “A little paint, a sledge hammer, a couple of two by fours…you know how it goes. It looks like it was done more as a warning than anything else. I think the terrorists just wanted to remind the Tuckers that they could strike at them any time, any where. Fortunately, it appears as though the Tuckers don’t run scared. I think if Mr. Tucker had his way, he’d personally kick each of those terrorists from today clear into tomorrow.” Suddenly remembering to whom he was speaking, Lieutenant MacElvoy stiffened and instantly wiped the grin from his face.

“Is Mr. Tucker on the premises?”

“Yes, sir,” MacElvoy replied crisply. “He’s out in the boatyard. I’ll get him for you. Good-bye, Ambassador.” Soval nodded and the lieutenant immediately disappeared from view.

Soval sat quietly as he reviewed the information MacElvoy had provided. It was fortuitous that Commander Tucker was sequestered on Mount Seleya. In his present condition, who knows what kind of an effect such news would have on the already distraught human?

“Who in the hell are you and whadda ya want?” A rather florid human face glared belligerently at Soval. “I’m a little busy right now.”

Soval took in the slope of the nose and the shape of the face. There could be no doubt that this man was the commander’s father. “I am Soval, Vulcan Ambassador to Earth. I would like to speak with you about your son.”

“Great! That’s all I need!” Charlie Tucker plowed his fingers through his graying hair. “Have those terrorist bastards done something to Trip?” The stocky human in the blue plaid shirt thrust his face closer to the screen and stabbed one finger in Soval’s direction, causing the Vulcan to instinctively pull back. “I swear if they’ve hurt my boy, I’ll kill the lot of them! They call themselves the Sons of Liberty. Don’t that beat all! They’re sons of bitches, if you ask me.” Huffing, he looked away. “Those worthless scum suckers couldn’t even come up with an original name,” he grumbled under his breath.

“Calm yourself, Mr. Tucker. No one has injured your son.”

“Then why am I talkin’ to ya?” Mr. Tucker’s attention snapped back to Soval. “I don’t usually get calls from Vulcan ambassadors. We don’t exactly travel in the same social circles, ya know.”

“I am aware of that.” Soval sighed inwardly. It appeared as though the father was going to be even more exasperating than the son. “At present, Commander Tucker is staying at the Sanctuary on Mount Seleya. He came to us to try and regain his health. He has been…”

“I don’t believe that for a minute,” Tucker interrupted angrily. “Why would he go to you Vulcans for help? Starfleet has plenty of human doctors. We need to take care of our own.”

“Mr. Tucker…”

“You say he’s not feelin’ well,” Tucker growled. “What’s wrong with him?”

“Your son is struggling with depression.”

“Depression? I think you’ve got your wires crossed. Trip’s tough. He can handle anything life throws at him. Now, if there’s nothin’ else, I’ve got a real mess to clean up here.”

“I know you are upset about the destruction of your property, but do not take this lightly, sir,” Soval chided. “If we cannot resolve this problem, and quickly, the commander will probably be forced to resign from Starfleet. His career will be in ruins. I do not believe you want that any more that I do.”

Mr. Tucker stood motionless, hands on hips, as he processed what the ambassador had just told him. Finally, he muttered, “As bad as that?”

“I am afraid so.”

Tucker raised his right hand and scrubbed it across the back of his neck. “You talk like you know my son.”

“I have known Commander Tucker for five years. He is a brilliant engineer and an extremely capable leader. He is also my friend.”

“I didn’t think you Vulcans had friends,” Mr. Tucker scoffed.

“I have lived on Earth for many years. I understand what it means to be a friend. Your son stood by me when my government stripped me of my position. He helped to avert a war between my people and the Andorians. Now, I would like to return the favor. I cannot do that without your help.”

Mr. Tucker cast his eyes downward and shook his head. After a few moments, Soval could only conclude from the human’s rigid posture that he was unwilling to cooperate. It was regrettable, but not totally unexpected. This, after all, was a man who had no great love for aliens. He would not willingly entrust his son to their care.

“I apologize for bothering you, Mr. Tucker,” Soval said quietly. “This is obviously not a good time to…”

Before Soval could finish, Mr. Tucker suddenly raised his head and said, “You must think that I don’t give a damn about my boy.” He swept his arm around the room. “Compared to my son’s welfare, my business, this office, the boats – none of them mean anything to me. If Trip went to you for help…if you’re his friend, that’s good enough for me. I’ll do anything I can. What do ya want ta know?”

Soval took a split second to reflect on the unpredictability of human nature. No matter how many years he spent on Earth, he would never be able to fully fathom the inner workings of the human mind.

“Tell me, Mr. Tucker, was your son involved in some tragic event during his childhood? Something so devastating that it might mark him for the rest of his life?”

Instantly, the color drained from Mr. Tucker’s face. Turning away, he shook his head as though he was trying to drive an intolerable thought from his mind. “It can’t be,” he mumbled softly. “Not after all this time.”

“Mr. Tucker, I know this is difficult for you,” Soval said sincerely, “but I must know what is troubling the commander.”

“There’s gotta be some mistake.” Mr. Tucker turned back and looked the Vulcan squarely in the eye. “Trip got over that years ago.”

Soval managed to suppress a sigh. Why couldn’t humans be straightforward? Where was the logic in speaking in riddles?

“There is no mistake,” Soval stated pointedly. “Please tell me. What did your son ‘get over’?”

Trip’s father continued on as though the Ambassador hadn’t spoken. “He dealt with those memories and moved on. He was the same happy kid he’d always been. He laughed, he played...”

“Mr. Tucker.”

“…he was smart – smarter than any of my other kids. It never affected his school work. Trip’s the toughest kid I’ve ever known.”

Raising his voice, Soval exclaimed, “Mr. Tucker, please.”

Trip’s father immediately fell silent. He had a defiant look on his face, but there was pure anguish in his eyes.

“The commander has never been able to deal with the memories of some traumatic event,” Soval stated firmly. “They are slowly destroying his life. Tell me what happened so that we can help him finally put the past to rest.”

As Soval watched, all of the fight drained out of Trip’s father. Within moments, only a weary, beaten man remained. “I need to sit down,” he mumbled before turning slowly to retrieve a chair that lay discarded on the floor beside the desk.

When he was seated, he once again met Soval’s eyes and slowly started to talk. “You’re spot on. Trip was involved in an accident. A terrible, terrible…” Obviously distressed, Mr. Tucker rubbed a weathered hand across his mouth. “I guess I’d better explain.” He took a deep breath. “My father-in-law loved antique airplanes. After years of beggin’ and pleadin’, he finally talked his wife, Olivia, into letting him get a twin-engine Piper Seminole. It wasn’t long before she regretted her decision because Joe treated that plane better than he ever treated her. He flew every chance he got. A couple of times a month, he’d fly down from their home in Winter Haven and take us for a ride. My other three kids got tired of it pretty quickly, but Trip could never seem to get enough. He loved that plane as much as his grandpa did.

“The day after Trip’s tenth birthday Joe and Olivia flew down to spend a few days with us and take him on a special plane ride. Trip talked about nothing else for weeks. My wife and I went to the airport with them and watched them take off. That was the last time my wife saw her parents alive. The plane went down in the Everglades. The experts said it was some sort of catastrophic mechanical failure. To be honest, I didn’t want to know the details.

“I went with the rescue party. We found what was left of the plane about forty minutes after it crashed. Joe and Olivia were dead, but the good Lord was lookin’ out for Trip. He was scratched and bruised, but there were no broken bones or internal injuries. We found him sittin’ on a log beside the plane. He was in shock: shiverin’, covered in his grandparent’s blood. The medics wrapped him in blankets and, after he was stabilized, they let me hold him all the way to the hospital. I talked to him about anything and everything I could think of, but he didn’t seem to know who I was. He spent three days in the hospital before the doctors finally released him. He’s never talked about what happened that day…to anyone.”

“You tried to find someone to help him deal with the trauma, didn’t you?” Soval asked quietly.

“Of course we did – first thing,” Mr. Tucker said indignantly. As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he seemed to regret his abruptness. “Trip is just too damn stubborn for his own good. We took him to one doctor after another. He’d grudgingly talk to them about school or his dog or his favorite football team, but as soon as they’d ask him about the accident, he’d clam up. He’d just sit there, starin’ off into space. We even tried hypnosis a couple of times. That didn’t work either. We finally gave up.

“During the day, he seemed to be doin’ as well as could be expected, but at night, he’d have terrible nightmares. He’d wake up screamin’, tremblin’ all over, covered in sweat. Then things started to get a little better. The nightmares seemed to be a thing of the past. Less than a month after the crash, he collapsed from exhaustion. It never occurred to us that a kid could develop insomnia. He’d read all night or work on one of his hobbies or projects for school – anything but sleep. Trip went back into the hospital for a couple of days. When we brought him home again, a doctor sent along a prescription for a sedative, and he was finally able to get some sleep. He was so young,” Mr. Tucker said in a solemn voice. “No kid should have ta deal with so much misery.”

“But he did deal with it,” Soval observed. “He apparently learned to survive by suppressing his memories.”

“I guess that makes as much sense as anything. A month after the accident my wife asked Trip if he was uncomfortable having a picture of his grandparents on the fireplace in the family room. He didn’t know what she was talkin’ about. He didn’t know the picture was there. He honestly couldn’t see it. He never spoke about them, and to make things easier for him, we didn’t either. It was hard on my wife. She kinda figured that it was disrespectful to her parents’ memory, if you know what I mean. But Trip came first. It took him almost five years before he was finally able to acknowledge that they were dead. To this day, if you ask about his grandma and grandpa, he’ll tell you that they died in an accident. That’s it.”

“Having watched Commander Tucker over the years, I would not have guessed that he had experienced such a disturbing event in his youth,” Soval said. “When I first met him he seemed rather wide-eyed and innocent, as though the unpleasant side of life had never really touched him.”

“People think Trip’s easy to read, but they’re wrong. Nobody knows what he’s really thinkin’ or feelin’ unless he wants them ta know. For awhile, he was kinda angry – lashin’ out at everyone who tried to help – but I guess that just didn’t sit real well with him. Trip’s a fighter. He does whatever it takes to get things done. He decided that he wanted to be happy, so he worked through things until he felt happy again. He wanted his life to be like it was before the crash, so he made it happen. I know it’s hard to believe, but he did it all by himself. My wife and I were so relieved to have our easygoing, energetic boy back that we didn’t ask too many questions.” Mr. Tucker took a deep breath and sighed. “Maybe we should have.”

“Was he ever troubled again by these memories?” Soval asked.

“He hit some rough spots over the years, but I can only remember one other time when things really got out of whack for him. One of Trip’s high school buddies drowned accidentally while they were out swimmin’ together. When the police brought Trip home, he kept to his room for the rest of the evening. By the following day, he’d pulled himself together enough so that he was able to give the police a statement and talk to Vince’s parents. He tried to hold back the tears at the funeral, but it was obvious that he was devastated. His insomnia came back with a vengeance, but somehow it never really seemed to slow him down during the day. About a week after the accident, he asked our doctor for some sedatives. He refused to go for counseling. Said he didn’t need it. After a couple of months, he’d worked his way through his grief and things were back to normal.”

Soval nodded. A great many things were beginning to make sense.

“I hope this helps.” Mr. Tucker rose from his chair and pushed it back toward the desk. “Please do what you can for my son. I’ve lost one child already. I’ll be damned if I’m gonna lose another.” He swallowed hard and looked away. “You must think I’m a pretty sorry excuse for a father, lettin’ my boy suffer this way all these years.”

“Not at all,” Soval replied calmly. “I have observed that Commander Tucker will always put the welfare of others before his own. I suspect that when your wife’s parents died, she was unable to hide her grief from him.”

Mr. Tucker nodded. “Yeah, she was pretty broken up about the accident.”

“Your son wanted to make his mother feel better. He knew that he could not resurrect his grandparents, but he could restore her happy, healthy son to her. He did whatever was necessary in order to make that happen. He was simply too young to realize that his actions could have long-term consequences.”

“I should have done more for Trip.” Mr. Tucker smacked one fist against the palm of his other hand. “I should have found a way to help him, instead of leavin’ him to manage on his own.”

“Come now, Mr. Tucker. Self-recrimination will accomplish nothing. Besides, I believe that you may have just given us the key to helping your son.”

“I hope you’re right.” Mr. Tucker again looked directly at Soval. “I’d be pleased if you’d call me by my given name. You can use Charlie or Charles…whichever comes easier to ya. Just don’t call me Chuck. Whenever I hear that, it always puts me in mind of a piece of meat.”

The ambassador raised one eyebrow, momentarily at a loss for words. “I believe I would prefer Charles. And you may address me as Soval.”

“Soval, huh? Interestin’ name.” Mr. Tucker took a step closer to the monitor. “Now that we’ve got that settled, I hope that you’ll give me a call and let me know how Trip’s doin’. I won’t be gettin’ much sleep until I know that he’s gonna be okay.”

“I will contact you again in the next couple of days…Charles.” Mr. Tucker’s face broke out in a grin. Soval marveled again at the enjoyment humans derived from such simple things. So like children.

“Thanks, Soval. I’d appreciate that. You know, just when you think you’ve got life figured out, it jerks you around and points you in another direction. Last year I’d have been glad to personally escort every damned alien off the face of this planet. Now here I am exchangin’ pleasantries with the Vulcan ambassador. And you’re tryin’ your best to help my son.” Mr. Tucker shook his head as though he still couldn’t quite believe what was happening.

“That Dr. Phlox on Enterprise seems to be a real nice guy. And T’Pol – that little Vulcan gal of Trip’s…” Soval nodded in recognition. “She called to tell us to be on the look out for trouble. That was mighty nice of her.” Mr. Tucker pursed his lips and dropped his eyes. Slowly one foot began to move, tracing lazy circles through the debris on the floor. “Yeah,” he mumbled under his breath, “that was sure mighty nice of her. That son of mine had better watch himself.”

“I beg your pardon.” Soval wrinkled his brow in an attempt to understand this human whose thoughts and emotions swung so freely from one extreme to the other.

Mr. Tucker’s head came up, but instead of looking at the Vulcan, his gaze wandered off to a far corner of the room. “Trip’s got no common sense when it comes ta women. That T’Pol’s already got him runnin’ around in circles. All she’s gonna have to do is bat her eyes and swivel her hips a couple o’ times, and he’ll be roped and branded for life.”

Soval sat a little straighter. That last statement was definitely unexpected. “Do you find that possibility distasteful?”

Mr. Tucker considered for a moment. His face remained impassive, but Soval could tell there was a war going on behind the human’s eyes.

“I suppose you think I’m gonna say yes,” Mr. Tucker responded edgily, finally dragging his attention back to the Vulcan. “Well, I’m nobody’s fool, Soval. It’s pretty obvious that Trip thinks the world of her. I know that if we force him to choose, he’ll walk away from us and we’ll never see him again. I’m not gonna let that happen. If Trip loves her, that’s good enough for me.”

Evidently sensing Soval’s continued skepticism, Charlie added, “Look, I’m a big enough man to admit when I’ve been wrong. You can’t judge all aliens by the actions of a few anymore than you can with human beings. Besides, it wasn’t aliens, but a bunch of no-good, hell-raisin’ humans who blew up my office and ruined my boats.”

As soon as the last word left his lips, Mr. Tucker’s brow creased and a troubled look passed over his face. His eyes quickly glanced around the room. “Don’t tell Trip what happened here. He needs to be concentrating on getting better, not worryin’ about us. We’ll be fine. I only hope…” He hesitated for moment as his jaw clenched. “I only hope that he can forgive me for bein’ so blind. I want my son back. I miss him.”

“Rest assured, Charles, that we will do everything we can. And do not worry. I will refrain from telling the commander about the terrorists’ activities. You are correct. It will not aid him in his recovery. When he is better, perhaps he will contact you and you can tell him yourself.”

“That would be…”

Suddenly, the office door swung open and a rangy old man in a blue denim shirt stuck his head in. “Hey, Charlie, we got more problems. You better get your butt out here and…” The man’s eyes moved rapidly from Tucker to the monitor, taking in the situation. “Sorry to interrupt, but those Starfleet boys think they’ve found another bomb in one of the boathouses. Thought you’d like to know.” His grey eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Who’s this guy? Is he givin’ ya any trouble?”

“Shit,” Charlie muttered under his breath as he ran his fingers once again through his hair, leaving strands sticking out at all sorts of unruly angles. “Take it easy, Earl. I’ll be right out. Ambassador Soval and I are just about finished. He’s tryin’ to help Trip with some problems he’s been havin.”

“An ambassador, huh?” Earl let the door swing open a little wider so that he could get a better look. “You’re gettin’ up in the world, Charlie. Maybe when this here ambassador’s done helpin’ Trip, he can stop by and give us a hand. If a couple more of these bombs go off, we’re gonna need all the help we can get.” With that ominous pronouncement, Earl left, disgustedly slamming the door behind him.

“Don’t mind Earl. He’s worked for me for over thirty years. Sometimes I think he figures that he’s runnin’ the place instead of me.” Mr. Tucker fixed his eyes on Soval. “Thanks again for bein’ a friend to my boy. I’d best be goin’ now.”

“Live long and prosper.”

Soval heard Mr. Tucker grumble, “Not much chance of doin’ either at this rate,” just before he broke the connection.

The ambassador sat quietly for a moment, reviewing what he had just learned.

“You did well.”

Soval looked over toward the solitary figure seated in a shadowy corner of the room. “I believe that Mr. Tucker has given us all the information we need.

“Yes,” Torok said solemnly. “Now we must give him back his son.”

Part IX

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