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Negotiations-Ch 14

Author - Hoshi's Sis
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Negotiations

By Hoshi’s Sis

Rating: PG/13
Genre: Angst/Action/Adventure
Disclaimer: It all belongs to Paramount. No infringement intended.
Summary:

A/N: Takes place after they have left the Expanse at the end of Season 3, but before the Season 4 episode, “Home.”

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Chapter Fourteen

“The two Andorians have been dealt with,” replied the Romulan doctor, as he walked onto the bridge.

“What about the human?” asked the Captain?

“I can transmit a self destruct signal,” replied the doctor, “he will be killed instantly.”

“No, I don’t want him killed. Hopefully we can use him again,” replied the Romulan captain. “It’s time we left; we’ve waited many years to retake our homeland, another few years more won’t matter. Helmsman prepare for warp.”

“Yes sir,” he replied, as he gracefully turned the ship into an arc out of the system, undetected by all three fleets.

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“Raptures……….prodigal sons……… have you got any idea what that means,” asked Archer in a puzzled voice.

“No,” replied T’Pol as she coyly glanced at Soval.

“Come T’Pol,” said Soval, “I will bring this matter up with the high command. Although the evidence seems damming towards the Andorians, I believe that I can convince them that it is not strong enough to cause tensions to worsen and render a war between our two cultures.”

“Now why do I suspect that he is hiding something from us,” said Shran, looking highly sceptical, as both T’Pol and Soval walked out of sickbay, “what other reason would he have for not following through against us. We are hardly allies, so why would he go to bat for us like that?”

“I think your right, Shran,” replied Archer, “there’s more to that phrase than he’s letting on.”

Suddenly they were both distracted by alarms flashing on the monitor above Trip’s bio bed, “Phlox!” screamed Archer, his scepticism suddenly lost as his concern for his friend heightened tenfold.

Phlox raced up to Commander Tucker with his scanner and started fiddling with buttons on the monitor and pressing numerous hypo sprays into his neck.

“Phlox, what’s happening,” cried Archer.

“There’s something wrong with the chip,” said a worried Phlox as he began preparing Trip for surgery, “it’s shutting down and his body is going into shock. I’m going to have to operate immediately to remove it.”

The curtains closed around Trip’s bio bed as two of Phlox’s assistants rushed in carrying an equipment tray, shutting off all avenues of talk. “Maybe you should go back to your ship; I’m sure there are lots of people who want to know what’s going on,” said Archer trying his best to drown that worrying niggle, which was working its way up his chest.

“Let them squabble between themselves for a while,” replied Shran, looking just as concerned, “I would prefer to stay here for the moment.”

“He’d appreciate that,” smiled Captain Archer, pleased to know that despite everything that had happened, Trip’s friendship and well being still meant as much to Shran as it did for him.

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T’Pol glanced at Soval as they walked down the corridor towards the shuttle bay, “I believe you know more to that phrase than you are letting on,” she asked cagily.

“Is that analysis drawn from a logical conclusion drawn from clear facts, or a hunch/gut feeling,” asked Soval, “since you have no factual evidence to pinpoint you in the direction of the former, then it must clearly be the latter. I can therefore conclude that you have been around humans too long, since you are taking on their characteristics and need to come back home to Vulcan.”

“Since you offer no direct answer, I can logically conclude that my assessment is the correct one,” she replied.

“There are some things that humans are not ready to know yet,” said Soval softly, “the High command feels it is in their best interests that they remain protected from this knowledge.”

“You obviously don’t follow all of the High Commands opinions,” replied T’Pol, “otherwise you wouldn’t be in league with the melders.”

“My stance as a melder does not make me any less of a loyal subject to Vulcan, we just follow a different interpretation of the teachings of Surak,” said Soval. “Maybe you should speak to your mother; she might enlighten you.”

“What does my mother have to do with any of this?”

“I think a trip home to Vulcan would be in your best interests after all,” smiled Soval, avoiding her question.

“You practise a dangerous procedure that causes a fatal affliction.”

“Pa’nar Syndrome is not an affliction; that is an opinion spread by those who don’t agree with our way of thinking. It is a symptom brought on by the inexperienced, one that can be reversed by those who know what they are doing,” said Soval.

“Reversed?”

“Why don’t we go to my quarters,” said Soval softly, “I will explain everything.”

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Two hours later, Phlox emerged from behind the screen to a very tired looking Shran and Archer, “How did things go,” asked Archer, as Shran paced up and down next to him.

“As well as can be expected,” replied Phlox, “I’ve managed to shut the chip down and stabilise his system. Unfortunately I’m not able to remove it due to the mass of neural tissue it’s formed connections with and I don’t want to risk detaching any for risk of causing damage.”

“How will that affect him?” asked Archer.

“Physically, it shouldn’t now it has shut down, although I will monitor him for a while, just to make sure. On the downside, I don’t know how much he’s going to remember or what state he’s going to be in mentality if he does.”

“Don’t worry about that Phlox,” said Archer, looking over at Trip’s bedside, “he’s got lots of friends that’ll see him through it, whether he wants us to or not. We won’t let him down.”

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Chapter 15

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