The Torture, II- Pt 2

The Torture Ship: Part Two

Part 2The story continues, Chapters 9-11

By JD1

Contact: JadziaxDax50@aol.com
Rating: PG, romance, and some action/adventure
Disclaimer in first part of Part Two

Part Two is a continuation of The Torture Ship and is not an independent story . Please click the link if you have not read the story from the beginning.

Chapter 9

Last Stand

Author's Note: Sorry this took so long, but with over the weekend I couldn't long on or post for obvious reasons. But here is the next chapter. I hope you like it.

Summary: The last big fight will occur, but who will stand and who fall? And how can one choice save or destroy an entire civilization?

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**Captain's Mess**

They still had no real ideas as to what the Taso's intentions were. So they continued on as if they knew almost nothing so not to raise too much attention of the Tasos. It was 1830 hours and, no matter how much tension was still between Archer and Trip, they still all ate dinner together.

"Jon, I didn't mean ta go off at ya earlier. I was... I guess there's no excuse. I sorry, no hard feelin's?" Trip asked Archer. T'Pol had made him promise to apologize for his actions and he would not let her down.

Trip extended his hand and offered it to Archer. After a second of anxious waiting on Trip's part as Archer thought about what he had just said, Archer took his waiting hand and grasped it firmly. The two men broke out in smiles and laughter over their childish behavior. T'Pol had watched the entire exchange and raised an eyebrow when they started laughing.

When their laughter subsided, the stewards came with their dinners. Steak and potatoes for the Captain and Trip and a fruit salad for T'Pol. For some reason, most likely their bond, Trip wasn't really in the mood for steak, it almost seemed to disgust him and T'Pol had thing sudden... desire to have meat.
The two of them kept sneaking looks at the other foods. Archer noticed Trip's tenth and T'Pol's ninth look and started to chuckle. "Why don't you guys just switch foods?" Archer asked when he had both of their attention.

"I am a Vulcan, I do not eat meat." T'Pol stated lamely.

"Ah, come on. Try some." Trip scooted his plate over to her. When she didn't move to try some, Trip took his own fork and steak on it. He steered it to her mouth and urged her to open it. He made a face that almost made her laugh, instead she just smiled slightly. Archer did a double take at that. T'Pol... smiling, how could this get any weirder? And it did, she opened her mouth to allow her first piece of meat to enter her mouth.

At first, it was strange. She had never tasted anything like this before. It was hard and chewy, yet juicy and soft. She found that she actually... liked it. The taste was new and alien to her but she enjoyed it all the same. Trip and Archer looked at each other, both pleased with her look of approvable as she slowly chewed the piece in her mouth, savoring every bit.

She looked at Trip once she had finished and let herself indulge in a small but warm smile. Her smiles were always small for her muscles were not use to being used. Trip gave her a lopsided grin and resisted the urge to kiss her. She had indulged herself in another completely non-Vulcan thing yet again and he loved it when she did that. It showed him she was trying to accept his people’s customs.

T'Pol continued to share the rest of Trip's steak with him as he took bits of her salad for the rest of dinner. When dinner was over, the stewards came back and took away the dishes, ignoring the fact that Trip's steak was in the middle of his spot and T'Pol's spot on the table.

Now that Archer knew about... 'them', they seemed to relax considerably around him. They were now standing talking about whatever seemed appropriate. Trip's arms were around her waist and his chin rested on her shoulder. This seemed very... odd to him but he tried to overlook who it was in order to not laugh or become uncomfortable around the two of them. He figured he'd just have to get used to it.

When it was 1030 hours the couple excused themselves since both were going to have to pull double duties with the small crisis they were having. They walked out, side-to-side and headed to the left. At first Archer didn't think about it, then a thought occurred to him, 'They live on opposite sides of the next deck. Trip always goes to the right to get there.' He chuckled to himself. They made a great couple; in love. There was only one problem; Trip is human and T'Pol is Vulcan. This would certainly be a step in the human/Vulcan relationship.

He looked out the window at the approximant area the Taso ship was in and wondered what was going on in their minds. Then he decided him too needed his sleep for tomorrow and walked off to his room.

**Med. Facility**

Uion had observed many...fluctuations in the Commander's emotional state. It seemed the stimuli of being accused of something had caused him becoming upset which in turn caused his temperature to rise slightly and his pulse to increase.

He had also noticed other things, like when the Commander saw the Sub-Commander, his pulse and respiration increased. He then became happier; when she left and his mood would greatly increase, though he would be a little sad that she left at all.

T'Pol, on the other hand, exhibited similar reactions when she saw the Commander although she was able to cover them up.

He also recorded the different emotions the two experienced during sexual intercourse. It was a process of sexual reproduction frowned upon in the Taso society. They now used implantation, sperm donation, and embryonic stem cell cloning to reproduce. But those methods were being to harm their population's reproduction systems therefore making reproduction increasingly hard. Which is why they were here...doing this stuff to these people. He just hoped some of the things they found would help in some way. Then he continued to look over the last bits of data before his meeting with Captain Terion.

**T'Pol's Quarters**

Trip had never seen a Vulcan meditate; not even T'Pol. He watched her, in total awe, as she sat in such a restricting yet relaxed position. Her chest rose and fell in an unconsciously rhythmic pattern. The candlelight was shining on her face, producing a shadow over the left side of her face. Then, when the fire flickered, on the right then back to the left half of her face.

When her eyes blinked open, she saw that he had not moved from the spot on the bed he was in when she had begun her meditation. Nor had he taken his eyes off her. 'What?' She asked telepathically rather than aloud for fear of betraying her emotions.

"Nothin', it's just...you're gorgeous," he said, with a voice and eyes filled with tender and caring love. She gazed intently into his eyes and allowed herself to release the smile that was hiding itself inside her. "Com'on. Let's go to bed," Trip cooed and put his arm out to grab her waist as her form moved closer to him. The smile he wore was one of seduction and before either on of them had known it, T'Pol had given into his romantic advances.

**Captain Terion's Ready Room**

"I believe I have gathered enough information from Commander Tucker and Sub-Commander T'Pol. They have been... most helpful in understanding the problem just that much more," Uion reported to Terion. They, along with Xion, had meet in Terion's ready room to discuss what to do next.

"And what should we do with Enterprise?" Terion asked his to ranking officers.

"They know to much, we must destroy them! No one can ever our methods!" Xion demanded.

"Yes, I do believe that that will have to be the solution. Destroy them, but not yet. First I want them to suffer," he paused for a moment to add to the drama and emotional suspense. "Hit them and cloak. Keep moving around and keep them from detecting us. Make them panic and run around. When you've had your fun...finish them."

"No problem, sir. They'll wish they never came here," Xion replied and walked out of the room and headed to the bridge so that he could prepare.

"And your patients, doctor?" Terion asked in a scheming voice when he turned back to Uion.
"They all died. I couldn't seem to do anything for them," Uion said in a very malevolent tone as delight almost sown through his eyes.

"Good, good," Terion said with a nod of his head. Their plan had succeeded and they were about to head home to give that information which could save their people's lives. Then why did he feel so awful. Was he developing a conscience? No, no, he was given this assignment because he had no conscience. He shook his head and dismissed Uion before sitting at his desk. He observed the wall changing hue, wishing it was not him who was giving these orders.

**T'Pol's Quarters**

They were half dressed and asleep in bed, when the ship was jolted hard to port and the two practically were thrown out of bed. They spared a second to look at each other with worried faces.
They quickly got out of bed and dressed themselves in their uniforms. They had known that the Taso had caught on and were now attacking. Trip ran to the turbolift that would take him to the engine room while T'Pol went the other way to get to the bridge.

**Bridge**

Once she had reached the bridge, she could see that the night shift was frantically trying to handle the situation without the orders from a superior officer. So she immediately took charge and started to bark out orders for them to polarize the hull plating, charge the weapon systems, and scan to find where they were.

As they attempted to locate the Taso, they had been hit three more times, each one helping to find them or their pattern of movement. In that time, Archer, Travis, Malcolm,, and Hoshi had made their way to the bridge and took control of their stations.

With a silent order from Archer, Malcolm started to fire blindly at the Taso's last known coordinates. As they continued to be fired upon, Travis performed skillful maneuvers to keep from them getting hit to badly. At the same time T'Pol continued scanning and trying to create a flight plan that they were using in order to anticipate were they were going to be next and Malcolm kept firing blindly at them.
Malcolm, with the help of T'Pol, had managed to hit their ship. The cloaking field in that area started to dissipate, allowing Enterprise to again see its amazing colors. Malcolm used this as an opportunity and fired directly at the spot and a little around it.

**Taso Ship**

At the same time on the Taso Ship, Xion stood at tactical. Their phasers were locked on Enterprise as they tailed it through space. Suddenly, Xion fired their phasers and hit Enterprise, shaking them hard.
He smiled and knew they weren't expecting that. This was the reason he had joined this expedition; to shot down unsuspecting ships like this one. Even though it wasn't his official job, that was being Second in Command, he still usually took over this position at times like these.

He fired a few more times, three or four, before they stopped and turned around. He ordered for them to stop as well and started to use maneuvers he had learned some time ago. As he fired they tried to fire back, blindly. He had to give them credit, they were a resilient species and would not go down without a fight. He had also learned, from their previous encounter, that they are very loyal to each other.

Suddenly, the bridge jolted and Xion, unprepared, almost fell to the ground. He looked at his console and saw that there was a brake in the cloaking field. They had managed to disable that quarter of the ship's cloak in one shoot!

He couldn't resist a smile, for he had always liked a respectable, strong opponent. They had managed to stay this far in the game with a severe handicap. Yet now they were almost even; the Taso still having a slight advantage.

The ship trembled many times as Enterprise continued to fire and hit them. Xion had hit them a few good times as well. Their cloak was gone and their shields practically nonexistent. Enterprise's weapons systems were hit and they no longer had phasers so they had started to switch to torpedoes. The Taso ship had no weapons left at all but they still had propulsion.

A beeping noise told them that Enterprise was hailing them and they were debating whether or not to answer.

"We were ordered to destroy ourselves if found out and in a no win situation," Xion countered Terion's decision to respond.

"I will not let all this information go to waste. If we answer them, they may spare us and we can leave," was Terion's rebuttal, but Xion wouldn't hear it.

"Spare us! Spare us! You must be joking! We are the ones who should be choosing if we should spare them," he argued as he pointed to the beat up ship on their view screen. "We're much faster than they are. We can out run them, get away. They're not powerful nor strong enough to do or say anything about this."

Terion considered his proposal and knew it would work and that he was correct. He nodded his head and told engineering to prepare to go to Warp 8. Since it would take ten minutes to do so, he answered Enterprise's hail.

**Enterprise's Bridge**

"They're responding, sir," Hoshi Sato told Captain Archer after they had waited approximately five minutes.

"On screen," Archer called as he hopped out of his chair. The image of Terion and his bridge, it now had wires, debris, and smoke everywhere. "Captain Terion."

"Captain Archer," he replied returning the gesture of say hello.

"You attacked my ship without warrant. Would you like to explain yourself?"

Terion just looked at him, his look was not one of apology or guilt. "We did have a reason, Captain."
"And that being?"

"Orders to destroy you once we no longer had a use for your services," Terion said, impassively, effectively confusing Archer.

"Why? What services?" Archer asked.

But before he was given an answer, Terion interrupted when he said, "Do not ask question that have answers you do not want to here," and with that, the screen went blank.

"Sir, they've just went to warp. Should we follow?" Travis Mayweather asked after checking his console. He turned, expectantly, to the Captain as he waited for his orders.

"No, no. We can stay here until repairs are finished." His reply was meet with confused stares, but they complied nonetheless.

T'Pol, on the other hand, spoke what everyone was thinking, "Why are we not following them, sir?"

Archer looked at her, not at all surprised that she asked, "He told us not to look any further, I'm respecting that."

"Respecting that! Sir, with all due respect, they just attacked us!" Malcolm said, outraged.

"I understand that, but... something about his comment... whatever their mission, it was very important... and personal. And I can respect that," Archer finished off his rebuttal and walked, solemnly, off to his ready room.

The bridge crew, now consistent of half the night crew and the majority of the senior staff, stood quiet for a time before, slowly, getting back to work.

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So how was the big fight? R/R and tell me.

Oh, and don't worry, this isn't the end. Not by far I hope. Well that is if you don't want it to be.
I'm pretty sure the next part will be the best of the story. That is if I don't blow it and write it completely wrong from what I have in mind.

Chapter 10

Have You Ever Seen The Ocean?

Author's Note: See I told you there'd be more. And here it is. If you read the changes to Chapter 7 (it's not necessary to understand the chapter but recommended), the title might give something away. It's just a small, thing but I happen to think it's cute.

Summary: While on a planet for shore leave, Trip asks a question that could have an interesting outcome and significant consequences.

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They had been working on repairs for almost a little over a week. They had managed to restore the weapons systems and fix the damage done to the engines. Trip also had two teams working on fixing the haul plating. Since the hauls were not putting the ship in immediate danger, they were the second thing fix. The engines first, while a small engineering team and security fixed the phase cannons.

They were all exhausted but none had ever complained. When they came across a small, uninhabited M-class planet, Captain Archer and a small went down to check it out. When they found nothing but a beautiful planet, he allowed, anyone who wanted it, shore leave.

They set up a campsite and camped out in a clearing in the woods. The planet seemed to have been made up of small and large forests, mountains, and beaches. The entire crew was able to go hiking, climbing, swimming, and even observe animals extinct or completely alien from those of Earth.

**Planet**

"Captain, do you know where Trip is?" T'Pol asked and Archer could see she was concerned for him.

"I thought he was with you," came his pathetic reply.

"He was for a time. But I can no longer find him." Just them, Trip emerged from the woods and ran over to them. He seemed as giddy as a schoolboy and the fact he was panting and looked as though he had run a kilometer didn't seem to bother him a bit. From the ankle down on his pants were drenched and his shoes had what looked like dirt and sand on them.

"T'Pol, I need to show ya something." He told her as he almost dragged her where he apparently came from.

"Do I get to come?" Archer asked, not meaning it, to the couple now about to enter the woods. Trip throw him a look and Archer just shook his head a laughed.

Trip had led her through the woods for a half an hour and over a kilometer without giving her an idea of where they were going. She had given up on trying to understand this kind of behavior from him long ago and merely went alone with it. She found herself becoming excited, too, for she had found that although Trip did become easily emotional, something that got him acting like this and wanting for her to see, had to be interesting.

When they finally emerged from all the trees, she saw a huge clearing. Sand covered the ground for the next eight meters in front of her and beyond that was water. It was a beach. It was a beach that branched off into an ocean. He had remembered that she had never seen a real ocean and had always wanted to.

She looked at him and smiled. It was a bright smile; one that Trip always knew she was capable of. She stepped closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She pressed her forehand to his and Trip slid his hands around her waist. She gave him a short, gentle kiss but it was enough to show her appreciation. 'Thank-you,' she whispered into his mind.

Trip looked at her and she knew he had a question, one that was weighing heavily on his mind. T'Pol was curious as to what it was but knew that he would tell her if and when the battle going on in his mind was finished and the decision to tell her won.

He kissed her again and took a deep breath. This was something he really, really wanted to do but it was hard to say; he just couldn't figure out how to say it. When he thought he had had it all worked out in his head, he looked deep in her eyes and said, in a serious yet hopeful voice, "T'Pol, I've been in love with you for long as I've known you. After I was able t' get over our differences, as not only species, but as people, I was able t' understand and accept how I really do feel about ya. And I know your people and mine are gonna have a tough time with this but," he paused and slowly removed his hands from their spot at her waist. He brought them up to her arms and allowed them to slide down his chest. T'Pol was oblivious to what he was doing especially when he knelt down in front of her. She looked at him with a raised eyebrow, interested in where this was going. He took a deep breath before removing something from his pocket. It was a black velvet box and when he opened it, he reveled a ring with a plain, gold band and two modest diamonds in the center that inter locked. "Will ya marry me?" Came the conclusion of his statement.

T'Pol was stunned. His heart-warming speech was some kind of human marriage proposal, she now realized. In Vulcan society they were already technically 'married' but she knew Trip wanted to be married in his society. She knew the risks and that she would be even more scorned by her family and people and that there was a good chance Trip would too. This union could cost them both their careers but, as she had read in human literature, 'love is a risk in itself'.

He waited, breathlessly, as she thought all of it through. He knew what he was risking by just asking and he would understand if she rejected him. When her lips began to move Trip barely registered what they said, but he did hear, "Yes, Trip, I will marry you."

His grin turned into a huge smile that covered his face and his giddiness returned as he sprung up and took the ring from its container. He took her left hand and gently slid the ring on her ring finger. She looked at it and clearly didn't understand the significance of it. "It's called an engagement ring."

"Engagement?"

"Yea, ya know, the time in between the proposal and marriage. I see Vulcan and Human wedding rituals are very different from each other," Trip commented getting a nodded from his new fiancée.

"Indeed. In Vulcan standards we would already be considered married," T'Pol replayed in her normal monotone voice but the excitement was there nonetheless.

They remained silent for a moment or two before T'Pol asked, "Where did you get this? You never had the time to get it."

Trip smiled at that and said, "It was my mom's. She gave it to me and told me to give it to the woman I love and that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. And that's you."

They spent another moment of silence before Trip's smile turned into a wicked one as a plan developed in his mind. He picked T'Pol up and walked her to the water. When he got deep enough, he dropped her in. They both laughed as the water splashed up and drenched Trip as much as the contact with the water soaked her. They splashed the other with water and had a full blown water war.

After an hour or two of playing water games and Trip teaching T'Pol the basics of swimming, the couple laid down in the sand and watched as the sun set over the ocean. The entire picture seemed so much like the memory Trip had shared with T'Pol that she almost didn't realize they were any different. But this time, this time was unique. She couldn't tell if it was the company or the fact she knew it was real, but this it wasn't just Trip's memory to share with her, it was both their memories to share with each other.

**The Same Site**

When the two returned, most of the crew was asleep. One fire was still burning and, since neither of them was really tired, they walked over there to sit by the warmth. When they arrived, Archer and Hoshi were sitting there talking. They politely stopped and looked up at their new guests.

The two smiled when they saw that they were soaked to the skin. "What happened to you two?" Hoshi asked seeing that the two were not alarmed by their appearance.

They looked down and Trip just shrugged. "We were swimming," he said as they sat down next to each other, their proximity alarmingly close.

Hoshi, suspecting but not knowing any real facts or details of their situation, smiled and tried not to make a scene of it. And that's when she saw it. T'Pol had a diamond ring on her left ring finger. She almost couldn't contain herself. She wanted to jump up and congratulate them but decided if they had not told her about their relationship, they should at least be able to tell her they were getting married on their own time.

T'Pol had observed the changes in Hoshi and the way she was starring at her T'Pol's her hand yet trying not to make it that noticeable. T'Pol almost smiled at that behavior; she would not care if Hoshi had brought up the subject. In fact, she really wanted her to for she knew nothing, besides the rings, about human marriage rituals.

Archer had seen the look that Trip was wearing and knew what it meant. He had proposed to T'Pol. When he looked over at his science officer, he could see that she had a moderately sized diamond ring on. It was an engagement ring. He gave Trip a huge smile and Trip couldn't contain himself anymore. He, too, broke out in a smile and soon after that Hoshi had followed to trend.

"Congratulations, you two," Archer said and he gave him a hardy pat on the back.

"Yes, congratulations. Just a question, but how long have you two been together?" Hoshi inquired, not to pry, but she wanted to know.

"A little after the second time we were taken by the Taso," Trip said with a shrug.

"You sure could have fooled me," came Hoshi's muttered reply. Trip gave a small laugh at that as he slid his arm around T'Pol's waist, no longer afraid to touch her in front of Hoshi. They stayed in that silence for a moment or two, just looking into the fire.

"The High Command and Starfleet aren't going to like this, you do know that?" Archer asked, suddenly, his eyes never leaving their spot from the fire.

Both Trip and T'Pol nodded their heads and Trip answered, "We know, Jon. We know."
The fire cracked and a spark flew while owls hooted and other night animals could barely be heard from the woods. The tide washed up on the shore and, if you strained your ears, you could hear it from the campsite. The wind blew through the trees, causing their leaves to rustle. Crickets, or what sounded like them, made the same annoying yet rhythmic sound in the background.

Trip and T'Pol registered all of that but they were too deep in thought to think much about it. They both wanted to be married and knew the risk they were taking were big ones, but they did not want them to control them.

**Bridge**

After their shore leave had ended, Archer sat in his chair in the dead center of the bridge. He seemed almost anxious about something yet excited at the same time. And Hoshi knew why. He was about to announce to the entire crew, Trip, T'Pol, Archer, and hers secret.

She was just as anxious about the crew's reaction to the news as he was. She knew, from being one of the biggest gossip queens on the ship, that most would not be totally surprised at this news. Sure it was unexpected but certainly not unwarranted.

Archer took a deep breath before he stood up and walked to the center of the bridge. Most of the bridge was now starring at him for they knew he only walked there if he was about to address them or talk on the view screen. He nodded to Hoshi and she turned on the comm. so the whole ship could hear.

"This is your Captain speaking. I have some very... important news for you all. In a few months our very own Science Officer, Sub-Commander T'Pol, and Chief Engineer, Commander Tucker... are getting married." The reaction from the crew, or at least the bridge crew since they were the only part of it he could see, was... different than he expected. At first they were in complete shock, but once the majority realized what he had said they were ecstatic and seemed very happy for them. The minority, however, took a little longer to process this and once they did they seemed, what's the word... flabbergasted. Both Archer and Hoshi assumed that this was the reaction all over the ship.

**Engineering**

At the same time down in engineering, when Trip heard the announcement begin, he knew the Captain was going to tell the crew of his engagement. He was a bit of a nervous wreck through it.

When his name was mentioned he got a few interested looks, but the real ones came when the marriage was mentioned. First, everyone was stunned. Of course they had all noticed how much the two had liked each other in the beginning with all their bickering, but all of them assumed it would be unrequited love.

When they got over the shock, everyone went up to him to congratulate by either shaking his hand, patting him on the back, or just saying so. This was not the behavior he was expecting. There was no prejudice against the fact she was Vulcan and he was Human. No body seemed to care that they were both officers on the same ship. And no one seemed upset that they had never even heard of them dating. 'Maybe this inn't goin' t' be so bad,' Trip thought to himself as he smiled with everyone else.

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Did you like the Proposal? I mean, it's not like I've ever been and/or proposed to anyone before. Please R/R.

One other thing, was the crew's reaction ok? Like was it real or did it seem to... perfect?

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Chapter 11

The Joys of Marriage

Author's Note: I don't think I can control who Trip proposes to, well except T'Pol. I hope you enjoy this next chapter; my sister says it's quite funny.

Summary: When a communiqué from Starfleet and the High Command arrives, what will happen when the two of them, Captain Archer, Trip, and T'Pol have a 'discussion'?

**Archer's Ready Room**

It had been a little over two weeks since they had told the crew and their wedding plans were already starting to be planned out. The couple had asked Archer to marry them and, of course, he had said yes. Malcolm was going to be the best man; Archer was Trip's first choice but he obviously couldn't. Travis had been asked to give T'Pol away since her own father could not and, most likely, would not do it. Hoshi was asked to be the maid of honor by T'Pol, after all the traditions had been explained to her, of course.

"We are planning on letting anyone come who wants t'. And I could have a couple of cameras set up and broad cat it over the ship for those on duty," Trip explained to the Captain as they went over some of the specifics for the wedding.

"Good," Archer nodded before his curiosity got the best of him and he had to ask, "So, what kind of wedding is it going to be? I mean, Human or Vulcan?"

Seeing as Archer was marrying them, he assumed it was going to be part Human, but he wanted to know if any Vulcan rituals were going to be in it. "It will be a Human ceremony. Followed by the private Vulcan rituals preformed afterward."

"Basically, Jon, in Vulcan terms we're already married. So we decided to have a human ceremony so we can be legally married in 'human terms'. But we won’t be considered husband and wife until we perform some kind of ritual," Trip said, clarifying what T'Pol had just told Archer.

Archer seemed to understand. He nodded his head and asked with a sly smile, "What about a honeymoon?"

"Honeymoon? I am not aware of any moons that have or create honey."

Trip and Archer both laughed at her ignorance of the term. They hadn't taken into account the amount of discrepancies Human and Vulcan marriage rituals had. "Um, how do ya explain a honeymoon? It's a...uh, it's like a...celebration of marriage," Trip muddled for a response.

T'Pol rose an eyebrow as Hoshi's voice came over the comm. "Sir, I have an incoming communiqué from Starfleet. It's Admiral Forrest," Hoshi paused a moment before she said, "he says it's important."

"Thank-you, Hoshi, patch it through to here."

"Aye, sir," A second later, the screen on his computer switched from black to Admiral Forrest's face. His look was stone and very intimidating. He seemed upset but not at the same time.

"What can I do for you today, sir?" Archer asked in a casual voice trying to make the situation on Enterprise anything but that.

"I need to speak with you about two of your officers, Commander Tucker and Sub-Commander T'Pol," he said in a harsh tone. Archer glanced up at the two; a worried expression covered his face. "It's all right if they are there. This does concern them."

"What do you need to talk to us about?" Archer questioned.

"They're getting married, are they not?"

"Wow, word travels faster out here in space than it does on Earth," Trip muttered to himself, not loud enough to be heard.

Archer glared at him before looking beck at the Admiral and asking, "How did you hear about that?"

"Private sources. But that's not the issue here, it's their marriage."

"What's so wrong with it?" Archer interrupted.

"The Sub-Commander is Vulcan and answers to the High Command! Commander Tucker is a Human and officer in Starfleet!" Forrest exclaimed.

"As you have just stated, Admiral, the Commander and I report to two separate people, making there no regulations against our marriage. Furthermore, the only reasoning in your statement is your prejudice against Human/Vulcan relationships." T'Pol's monotone accusation not only shocked the Admiral, but Archer and Trip as well.

Admiral Forrest stayed silent but Archer spoke up instead, "She is correct, Admiral. You're only true objection is your own prejudice against the Vulcan and way they interact with us."

"Captain, sorry to interrupt but I've just got a communiqué from the Vulcan High Command. They also say it's urgent," Hoshi's voice said as it came over the comm. "Would you like me to patch it through to your ready room?"

"Yes, please, sorry Admiral." The screen switched to that of a Vulcan's emotionless face, it was Ambassador Soval. Archer respectfully bowed his head in greeting and asked politely, "What can I do for you, Soval?"

"I have just been informed of a...most disturbing situation on board your ship that is intolerable," he replied in a normal Vulcan tone.

"And this situation, it wouldn't have something to do with my Chief Engineer or Science Officer, would it?" Archer asked, careful not to give away the fact he had a good idea of what he wanted to talk about.

Soval raised an eyebrow at Archer's very accurate description. "That is correct. I have been told that they are to be joined in union within the next few months."

Trip threw an exasperated look at Archer before moving next to T'Pol in a protective manner. Soval was annoyed by this action but he made no physical reaction toward it. He could now see Soval and knew that Soval could see him. When he started to speak it was with amazing calm and control that displayed none of the raging emotions in his eyes but was still a very firm tone, "If by 'joined in union' you mean marriage, then ya we are."

"Soval, we've just had this discussion with Admiral Forrest-"

"Admiral Forrest? Just now?" Soval asked, cutting off Archer.

"Yes, as a matter-o-fact he's still...on hold," Archer said, holding back a smile for the pathetic phrase he used.

"I wish to be able to speak with him as well for his officer's conduct." Soval's request made Trip just that more outraged but he continued to control it for T'Pol's sake.

Archer pushed a few buttons and did as Soval asked. Forrest's face appeared alongside Soval's. Since Forrest could see the Vulcan's face, he shouted, "What is this about?!"

"This is about your Commander's conduct," Soval said in a blunt manner.

"My Commander! What about your Sub-Commander?!" The Admiral yelled, seemingly forgetting that the two people they were talking about was standing right there, listening.

"Gentlemen, please," Archer said in a futile attempt to stop their bickering. He put on his best diplomatic face and used the voice to match it when continued with, "Let's just settle this peacefully."

"No, sir," his firm yet respectful statement earning him the attention of the four people he was specking to. "There will be no negotiation. We're getting married, I don't care what you two say," he stopped there; he would not make up T'Pol's mind for her. A while ago he told her to make her own decision as to or not to marry Kos and he would give the same luxury about her choice about him.

There was a grueling pause, in which T'Pol thought it through, left Trip thinking she was going to change her mind. When she broke the silence, she said, "I agree with the Comman... Trip. Neither Starfleet nor the High Command have any jurisdiction in this matter."

"We will see about that." Soval's face disappeared as the image of Forrest's face grew larger. Forrest nodded his head, also thinking about everything they had said, then his face also disappeared as the black over toke the space it was taking up.

They didn't know what Soval meant by that at first, but they did now. He had gone to his superiors in the High Command and told them of the situation. They were fascinated yet disappointed by the news. It could benefit or destroy the Human/Vulcan relationship.

Enterprise was the first Human vessel exploring space; if its Vulcan observer was to be in a compromising position...let's just say that wouldn't look so good. The Vulcan High Command needed good reason to let this happen. Otherwise, they would have to remove her from her position aboard Enterprise.

*******************

I can't tell if I was rambling, had a lot to say, or I was actually putting detail into it.
Anyway, R/R please.

Continue to pt. 3 of The Torture Ship II (Chapters 12-14)

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