The Bribe

“Clipping Clue-Pons” POV CHALLENGE

The Bribe

By Distracted

Rating: G

Genre: POV Challenge

Disclaimer: Not mine. All theirs.

Summary: Soong’s thoughts at the beginning of “Borderland”

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There is a certain satisfaction to be derived from the touch of pen on paper. The sheer tangibility of it… the smoothness of the writing surface… the acrid smell of the ink… lends itself to discoveries of importance in a way that transiently existing electronic media cannot. This feeling of mine makes no sense, for I am fully aware of the regular and cyclical destruction of everything I record on these fragile sheets of cellulose, but the data is, after all, permanently recorded within my brain. Once I have organized it and committed it to memory, I have only to call it forth again to bring it once more to life.

A visitor is coming, they tell me. It is almost time. Once I am out of this place, it will merely be a matter of time before I see my children again. They will be young adults in their prime now… strong, intelligent, and resourceful… exactly as they were meant to be… exactly as I designed them.

I am designing other things as well… projects meant to serve as bait. If I have correctly assessed the situation, Captain Jonathan Archer will be the next person I see in my captivity. I have his project prepared… a proposed gene therapy treatment for Clarke’s disease. It is by no means certain that he will contract it as his father did, but the possibility exists. Surely the man will see the benefits of my treatment… if only to spare himself excruciating pain.

The Starfleet confidential database to which I so easily gained access during my most recent escape attempt was actually quite helpful in providing me with sufficient information to guide my projects. Henry Archer’s genetic condition was merely the tip of the iceberg. At first, I didn’t quite know what to make of the fact that Commander Charles Tucker had accompanied Enterprise’s Vulcan First Officer to her home on Vulcan during his leave. After the hero’s welcome they’d all received back on Earth, it would seem that the boy would have preferred to be among humans in order to bask in his fifteen minutes of fame. His psychiatric profile on record shed little light on the situation. The engineer was a surprisingly intelligent but straightforward fellow. There was very little mystery there. He liked engines, and women, and food… in that order, apparently… and his actions in the past had been fairly predictable… until now. What was the draw of a bone-dry blazingly hot planet as compared to thousands of adoring admirers… over fifty percent of them female? There was only one possible answer. It wasn’t the planet. A file photograph of T’Pol of Vulcan in uniform convinced me, finally, despite my doubts. What human male could resist those attributes if the woman possessing them showed even the slightest interest? They were a couple.

The idea is quite intriguing. The genetic advantages of a Vulcan-Human crossbreed have consumed my attention for the past several days. There are several problems which I am working to overcome, but if I can convince Archer to provide me with laboratory facilities, I am confident that I will find a way to produce a viable hybrid. There is a flaw in my plan, however. Archer has no imagination. I doubt that he will be willing to take the risk. It’s a perplexing problem.

On the other hand, the Vulcan seems a most unusual representative of her species. If Archer won’t be bribed with my cure for Clarke’s disease… perhaps the Vulcan First Officer will see the logic in what I have to offer.

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A whole mess of folks have made comments

Bravo Distracted! Unusual and quite creative point of view. Are you suggesting that Terra Prime 'borrowed' Soong's research notes somehow? Now as to Henry Archer as he looks beyond the veil at his son's accomplishments...hmm... But Soong's nafarious mind, you have captured it.

Coolness. The Soong perspective! This definitely has the feel of something that could be expanded beyond a vignette.

Thanks for writing this. I enjoyed it.

Hmm...so you think that Soong might've been behind the creation of baby Elizabeth? It does seem as though he would've been a logical choice for the brains behind the idea of her existence, given his propensity to "play God" with DNA. I did get the impression from the show that Soong was aware of Trip and T'Pol's relationship from the get go. Interesting.

Excellent, Distracted!! You got into his character amazingly well. I love it. I also love it that you played with the idea that he may have had a hand in the whole Terra Prime thing... even if inadvertedly.

I'm with Binah... this could totally be expanded. ;)

This is a wonderful story. I can see Soong trying to bribe Archer or T'Pol with his talents. I can't see him involved with Terra Prime though. He takes too much pride in his work to allow Paxton to create a flawed hybrid.

Awesome... I could absolutely hear Brent Spiner's voice as I read... right in charcater, devious as hell. :) Great work, D!

PS: I don't think the Terra Primers used Soong's research notes to create Elizabeth. If he'd been involved, she would have lived. Soong was nuts, but a brilliant geneticist. :)

Kathy, In the back story I have vaguely swimming around in my head at this point, Terra Prime somehow gets hold of a copy of his notes. They're incomplete and flawed. Even he realized it, but he never had time to complete them. The Terra Prime scientists don't know that... or perhaps they just don't care.

You're right. I see the character as MUCH too arrogant and perfectionistic to allow a defective hybrid to be produced based on his work.

Great one, thanks for sharing.

I love Soong. He is possibly my favourite guest character on Enterprise, outside of Shran (of course). Wonderful stuff, and I really can't wait for Season Six to start up! Happy Easter, all! :)

distracted i think you did very well in capturing soong's inner thoughts at this time.

as for elizabeth i still wonder if perhaps the plan was for her to die to show what a disaster a vulcan and human pairing would be.
it would fit in with the distress the doctor and nurse were feeling.

back to soong .. have you considered continue this to show the subtle change in soong through the arc.

This was waaay neat. The way you did a pov from Soong's point is amazing. It's a refreshing idea and it seems quite reasonable. I loved Trip's priorities too. Distracted, an amazing short little fic.

"have you considered continue this to show the subtle change in soong through the arc" asked pookha.

Hmmm. I intended this to be another quick-fix for my continuing problems with comment addiction, but it is an intriguing POV. Hoshissis just asked me to finish the Round Robin. When I'm done I might just revisit Soong for a bit when I need a study break. You never know what might happen. : )

^That was me. *eye roll*

nice pick with Soong :) that was great!

nice pick with Soong :) that was great! enjoying the story so far... keep it up! cheers!

He likes engines, women and food -- yep you've got Trip figured out pretty well.

I really liked what you did with Soong. The Enterprise episodes spent too much time focusing on the augments; Soong was a much more complex individual. It would be interesting to see what happened if he ever met Trip and T'Pol again. Great job!

Wow! What they said. I love it. Way original!

that was so good! tho sometimes it seems that trip likes his pecan pie better then women.

that was so good! tho sometimes it seems that trip likes his pecan pie better then women.

Yep. I noticed that, too. I guess it all depends on what he's hungrier for at the time. ; )

Ooooooooo! I loved this one! Fabulous! Simply fabulous!