If you are seeing this paragraph, the site is not displaying correctly. You can see the content, but your current browser does not support CSS which is necessary to view our site properly. For the best visual experience, you will need to upgrade your browser to Netscape 6.0 or higher, MSIE 5.5 or higher, or Opera 3.6 or higher. If, however, you don't wish to upgrade your browser, scroll down and read the content - everything is still visible, it just doesn't look as pretty.

Logic, Inescapable Part VI: Heartache

Author - Hopeful Romantic
Fan Fiction Main Page | Stories sorted by title, author, genre, and rating

Logic, Inescapable

By HopefulRomantic

Rating: PG
Disclaimer: See Part I
Website: http://www.geocities.com/hopeful_romantic@prodigy.net/
E-mail: Hopeful_Romantic@prodigy.net
Summary: Trip returns alone from the Fire Plains, and T’Les offers him a measure of enlightenment.
Date: 2-2-07

A/N: My thanks to my betas boushh, Misplaced, and TJ.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Part VI: Heartache


T’Les was in her bedroom, laying out her ceremonial robes for the wedding, when she heard the door open and shut with far more force than was necessary.

It would appear that T’Pol had informed Tucker of her decision to marry Koss.

If the intensity of his reaction was any indication, the commander had apparently been given no prior warning. Did T’Pol not tell him that the purpose of Koss’s visit was to formally voice his intent marry her— and that her acquiescence was not merely a possibility, but a likelihood? Had she not explained her family obligation?

Perhaps she wished to spare Tucker the disagreeable developments until the last moment. Or... perhaps she had not known how to tell him earlier at all.

Humans, who choose their mates at will, must believe Vulcan customs to be incomprehensible... just as we regard theirs as selfish.

T’Les heard Tucker making his way purposefully to the guest room. Oddly, she did not hear T’Pol.

T’Les went to the central room, but saw no sign of her daughter. Evidently Tucker had returned alone.

She proceeded to the guest room. The door was ajar, and she could see movement within: the commander crossing back and forth, quickly, his body tense.

She knocked on the door. After a long moment, Tucker opened it fully. His expression was tightly controlled... but his eyes betrayed him. He was in great distress.

Beyond him, on the bed, T’Les saw his travel bag open, half-filled with clothes. Judging from the speed and haphazardness of his packing, he intended to leave before T’Pol returned.

T’Les was taken aback. Tucker had consistently shown T’Pol support, affection, and respect. Now he was acting like a petulant child. Such conduct from him was illogical. Not that humans were known for their logic, especially regarding romantic liaisons, if the humans at the Academy were any measure... but Tucker had seemed to be an exception.

His behavior was demonstrating to T’Les that he was indeed capable of committing his heart to T’Pol. In fact, he showed every indication of being in love with her.

Perhaps he had told her of his feelings— given her an ultimatum and, of course, been rejected. It seemed unlikely, however; the current inconsistency of his actions appeared to be rooted in a dearth of information, not an abundance of it.

It would be an easy thing for T’Les to step away, allowing Tucker to leave unimpeded. Her problem had been solved, after all: T’Pol had agreed to marry Koss. But the misunderstanding that was driving Tucker away would likely damage T’Pol’s working relationship with him to an irreparable degree. He was human; he would be hurt. If they were foolishly expecting each other to understand now, and failing so utterly, they would do no better after T’Pol was wed.

Was it logical to allow T’Pol’s relationship with Tucker to destroy itself completely? Should T’Les let it starve and die for lack of information?

“I have a message for T’Pol,” she told the commander. “Perhaps you can deliver it when she returns.”

Tucker hesitated. “I may not be here when she returns.”

May not... So he was reluctant to admit he was planning to escape. He knew it was incorrect behavior. Whatever was superseding his moral correctness— pain, fear— must be tremendous.

But T’Les was not one to indulge a student who had yet to learn a vital lesson. Coolly, she raised an eyebrow. “Indeed? I thought you were her friend.”

Tucker’s expression softened, revealing deep emotional pain... heartache was the human term, she believed. “I don’t know anymore,” he said.

It was hardly the response of a man who had been apprised completely of the situation. Quite possibly, he did not yet understand the nature of T’Pol’s sacrifice. “Did she tell you why she is marrying Koss?”

Tucker looked away; clearly, this was not a conversation he wished to relive. “She said Koss’s father could get you your old job back... that you resigned because of something she did.”

As I suspected. The commander is not fully informed. “That is an oversimplification,” T’Les replied. “In fact, I was compelled to resign after false charges were brought against me, as retribution for my daughter’s alleged fault in the destruction of the monastery at P’Jem.”

The play of emotions on Tucker’s expressive face were striking: shock, outrage, realization. “She’s not to blame for that any more than you are!” he exclaimed, when he found his voice. “The High Command violated the treaty with Andoria by putting that spy station there. Captain Archer was the one who exposed the treaty violation. T’Pol was just doin’ her job as first officer.”

“I don’t take issue with your captain’s actions, or T’Pol’s,” T’Les said calmly. “In fact, I support them. The High Command was clearly in the wrong. But the truth, in this case, is irrelevant.”

More emotions made their way across Tucker’s countenance: surprise, sympathy... then, finally, comprehension, and deep sorrow. “She feels responsible,” he murmured softly.

T’Les had apparently underestimated Tucker’s capacity for understanding the Vulcan perspective. Evidently they had both found enlightenment today.

“Tell T’Pol that I received a communication from Koss’s parents,” she said. “They have agreed to permit her to resume her duties on Enterprise immediately following the wedding.”

For a moment, the commander looked slightly disgruntled. “Yeah, T’Pol already told me about the ‘negotiations.’” Then he drew himself up, adopting a carefully neutral expression. “That’s good. Her work on Enterprise and with Starfleet mean a lot to her.”

“It is not merely ‘good’,” T’Les replied. “It is unprecedented, in my experience. Tradition dictates quite clearly that a newly married couple is to spend their first year together. The custom is strictly adhered to; an exception is remarkable.”

“T’Pol is remarkable,” Tucker said, with quiet conviction.

“Yes.” T’Les paused. “Koss’s father also informed me that he has begun discussions with the Vulcan Science Academy to have me reinstated as an instructor there.”

Tucker nodded. “T’Pol will be pleased to hear that. So am I, ma’am.”

“She is putting the best interests of her family ahead of her own wishes,” T’Les said. “As is Koss, in allowing her to leave. It is the Vulcan way. The decision to allow T’Pol to return to her crew on Enterprise rather than abandon her responsibility to them... the decision to restore me to my post at the Academy, where I can be of benefit to many... All of these spring from the same logic: the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.”

Tucker was silent, his face uncharacteristically unreadable now. T’Les could not determine whether she had succeeded in preventing permanent damage to his friendship with T’Pol. It would be up to them now.

“I’ll leave you to your packing, Commander.” She turned to go.

As she reached to pull the door shut behind her, she heard him say, “I’m not packing.”

She turned back. Tucker’s expression had undergone a marked change, from impassive to thoughtful. “Actually,” he said, gesturing to his travel bag, “I was going through these clothes I brought, and I realized I don’t have anything appropriate to wear to the wedding.” He gave her a small, sheepish smile. “I didn’t even pack my uniform.”

T’Les’s respect for the commander rose significantly. Again, she felt a certain regret that the present circumstances could not permit Tucker and T’Pol to pursue their relationship.

She scanned him up and down. He appeared to be the same height and weight as Sochya. Her expression softened as she met his gaze. “I should be able to find robes that will suffice.”

His eyes reflected his gratitude. “Thank you.”

They heard the door to the sand garden open. “That is likely to be T’Pol,” T’Les said. “There is no need for you to deliver my message now, Commander.”

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to.” Tucker smiled faintly. “I need to talk to her about a few things anyway.”

“As you wish.” T’Les stepped aside. As she watched the commander leave the room ahead of her, she thought belatedly, He left his uniform at home, but brought a tool kit... Fascinating.



Part VII


Return to Part V

Back to Fan Fiction Main Menu

Have a comment to make about this story? Do so in the Trip Fan Fiction forum at the HoTBBS!