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Child of Time- Ch. 4The Child of Time By JD1 Rating: PG, Mystery, Romance Author’s Note: Since it took me so long to get the last chapter in and I had a lot of extra time and a very tired family, I decided to post this chap early. This chapter is mostly just going to combine the last chap to the next, but it has to be in here. So, here it. Enjoy! Summary: Selack and Trip, in a shuttle pod, for half and hour, talking. My, what interesting discussions must come from that. ****************** Chapter 4 The End of The Beginning **The Next Day**
“Actually, Captain, if it’s all right with you, I don’t want to go back to Vulcan.” “Are you sure about that, Selack? I mean where else would you go?” The Captain asked the ‘desperate’ Vulcan, though he showed no visible signs of that, the Captain could hear it in his voice. “If it’s not too much trouble, sir, I would like to stay here. I can help out, I know a little about being an engineer, I also know a lot about astronomy and astrophysics. Furthermore I know much more about the region of space you are nearing more than even the Vulcans.” Selack was practically pleading, if he wasn’t Vulcan Archer was sure he’d be on the ground begging. If the rest of the plea didn’t catch Archer’s attention, the fact he knew more about this area of space than T’Pol certainly did. And even though he may have had his suspicions about this child, he was, after all, just that, a child. “All right, you’ve got a deal. You can be my advisor, you can tell me the who’s and what’s of the area. And if you’re such a great engineer, maybe Trip’ll let you hang out around with him as long as you don’t disturb anyone.” Archer said with a smile, as Selack, well as much as possible for a Vulcan, pleased, but confused by something. “I am not a ‘great’ engineer, I just know about engineering. But I thank you for letting me stay.” With that, he bowed his head ‘thank-you’ and walked out of Archer’s ready room. ******** Almost two weeks later, things had gotten back to, well, what you could consider normal. Selack, as promised, was given his own permanent quarters and got settled in. He was able to advise Captain Archer of any threats, species, and anything else of interest that T’Pol or the Vulcan databanks could not. He also proved useful down in engineering during a crisis. He had gotten very used to the ship, his surroundings, and the crew; and them him. Now, he was even given permission to go on a survey for deuterium with Trip. “The manifolds are off by point 2-3 percent.” “What?” Trip said, as he whirled around to see the Vulcan boy sanding next to him. ‘Damn, how do they do that?’ Trip thought, then asked, “What does the manifolds bein’ off have to do with the reactor going haywire?” “The manifolds ‘being off’ are causing a disbalance in the plasma flow; therefore, making the reactor malfunction.” Selack said in his Vulcan voice. “Where’d ya learn all this?” Trip inquired. “I read a lot on warp mechanics and warp ship.” Selack answered simply. Trip gave him a smug grin and asked, “What d’ need?” “The Captain wants us to take a shuttle down to the planet to perform a more accurate scan for deuterium.” Selack said without missing a beat. Trip nodded his head and asked one last question, “Now?” Selack nodded his head. With that, Trip gave out orders for who to do what while he was gone and the two walked to the shuttle bay.
“Nothing,” Selack said, just barely suppressing a smile. Trip Shook his head and smiled. “So, what d’ think of Enterprise?” Trip asked trying to make small talk, knowing it probably wasn’t going to go too far, Selack being Vulcan and all. But, surprisingly, he replied with, “It is a fascinating ship. I have been aboard a few Vulcan Vessels and they perform… efficiently. But a human ship runs mostly on instinct as I have noticed most humans do.” Trip raised an eyebrow, imitating him from earlier, earning him a shocked glare, which of course was suppressed quickly. “So, uh, have ya ever been aboard a human ship before now?” Trip asked, both to continue the conversation and out of curiosity. “Once, when I was very young.” He replied without looking at Trip. After a long period of silence, Selack inquired, “May I ask you a… personal question, Commander?” “Sure,” Trip said, with some hesitation, and shrugged his shoulders. “What is your… relationship with-“ Selack practically lost his nerve and wanted dismiss the question. Thinking it wasn’t his place to ask. “With?” Trip urged him, not really knowing if he wanted to hear the answer. “With… the Sub-Commander?” Selack finished, looking him square in the face (I did say face, not eyes). Trip’s reaction went something along the lines of: Shocked, to a wide-spread grin, quickly replaced by anger at the question, back to amusement to what it was implying. Selack, how ever, just sat there watching the display of emotions in a period of a few seconds. When Trip finally got his voice back, he seemed both amused and embarrassed, and perhaps a little angry. “Ah, um, what d’ ya mean by that?” “I didn’t mean anything by it, I was merely wondering.” Selack said swiftly, then mumbled, “Never mind.” Trip was highly entertained by his reaction. He had never seen a Vulcan behave that way. He thought it was the age that their total emotional control came with puberty or something. “We’re friends, well more like co-workers.” “You like her don’t you.” Selack, just on the verge of cracking into a huge smile, teased. He said it not as a question but a statement. “I do not! You have nothing to base that on!” Trip said, defensively. “Yes I do. I have noted that when humans are attracted to someone of the opposite sex, they tend to tease or argue with them about trivial things. Also, when accused with liking them, humans tend to become defensive and deny it. Just like you, Commander.” Selack said in his best Vulcan matter-o-fact voice without laughing. Trip, on the other hand, just throw his hands in the air and said, “Fine, I obviously can’t win with a Vulcan. I may or may not like ‘er, but I wouldn’t tell ya even if I did. I’m going int’ the back t’ check on the supplies. Call me when we’re almost there.” And on that note, Trip, who looked distinctly embarrassed, walked into the back leaving behind a very smug looking Vulcan. **************** So how was it? And the Shuttle Pod conversation, that wasn’t too lame was it? R/R and tell me what you think.
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