Heresy - Ch 4

Heresy

By justTrip’

Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: No infringement intended. Writing for myself and others on this site. I respect the Star Trek writers who gave us these compelling characters! Thanks to my beta, who may want to remain anonymous! We'll see.

A/N: I am posting here this story AGAINST the advice of my Beta. It has a T'Pol/Malcolm pairing, which will bother many readers, although there is nothing too explicit. Those brave enough to continue reading will find a light at the end of the tunnel. The whole chapter is more upbeat than the last. We also learn more about Lorian. I hope we can all stay friends and I can still hang out with you guys at Vulkon. :? OK, here goes . . . .

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The young Triannon faced her rival alone in the darkened room. He’d called for the ritual of mutual correction and she’d come prepared.

“Docent Tiva, you spend more and more time with the Seekers, and less and less with your fellow Teachers? How do you explain your deviant behavior?”

“Docent Targon, it is written ‘As the Spheres breath life to the Chosen Realm so Teachers should breathe life to Seekers.’”

“It is also written that a network of believers transforms the Chosen Realm. You have strayed from our network.”

“I have not. I admit that the Seekers test my faith. They ask difficult questions, but finding the answers can only make me stronger.”

“What answers have you found?”

“I believe the Spheres may be technological in nature. They work according to difficult physical principles. Just as our ancestors could not comprehend the warp engine, so today’s engineers cannot comprehend the Spheres.”

“It is impossible! It is heresy! The Spheres were made in 8 days. Nothing so grand can be built in 8 days. Therefore they must be supernatural.”

“Seekers from around the Realm report to me on a wide variety of Spheres. Some appear to be older than others.”

“Why do the Seekers instruct you? Are you not here to instruct them?”

“We are all here to seek the truth. I will do whatever it takes to find Paradise for myself and the others.”

@@@@

T’Pol waited outside her quarters in her workout clothes. Actually, she was wearing Trip’s old t-shirt. Fashion was no longer a priority for the adults in the Expanse. Soon, Amanda joined her, wearing a rag that had once been a stretchy tank top. The children viewed the well-worn Earth and Vulcan clothing with disdain. Lorian often accused his mother of sentimentality. Logic would dictate that they throw these items into the recyclers.

“Where’s Destiny?” T’Pol inquired, “I understood she’d be jogging with us.”

“She went back to change. She realized she can’t run in those ridiculous heavy Triannon earrings. She’ll catch up in a minute. By the way, it was so nice of you to talk with her. She’s convinced you believe her story. I didn’t disabuse her of that notion.”

They started jogging down the hall. “Have you made any progress in convincing her to repair the scar on her arm?” T’Pol inquired.

“If I push the issue, she’ll resist. If I ignore it she may come around.”

“Lorian believes peer pressure will induce a change shortly.”

“Yes, especially now that she’s become interested in boys. Anyway, how’s your love life?”

T’Pol checked to see if hallway was empty. “Are you referring to the arrangements I’ve made to cope with my next reproductive cycle? “

“I am referring to Malcolm! You’re very lucky. He’s a good man.”

“Yes, he is. We have a bond of mutual respect.”

“And . . .”

“What else do you need to know?”

“I was hoping for some juicy details. When did you two realize you were attracted to each other? Who said and did what? Who else knows?”

“Aside from Lorian, Phlox is the only one who knows… because the relationship is basically a medical matter.”

“Oh come on. You’re no fun. What happened to your ‘multipurpose courtship?’”

“I should have shown more restraint. I was overly hopeful. I now wish to approach this matter more . . . dispassionately.”

“You wish to approach Malcolm dispassionately? Why? He’s adorable! I wish Phlox would work out.”

“Malcolm’s appearance is irrelevant. A Vulcan mating bond is not dependent on appearances.”

“T’Pol, if you don’t particularly care for this man . . .”

They both got quiet as Destiny came up behind them. She waved and smiled as she raced on past.

“. . . .there are others of us who would.”

“Meaning?”

“Phlox has two wives. I wouldn’t mind having two husbands.”

T’Pol raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“Malcolm and I spent a lot of time together over the past year dealing with the abduction. We became quite close. If you hadn’t made a move first . . .”

T’Pol suppressed an irrational flash of anger. It was wrong to condemn Amanda for wanting two husbands, when she, herself, was still defending two mates.

@@@@

T’Pol sipped on chamomile tea and studied her padd. Transdimensional physics had become a guilty addiction. The math seemed unsolvable, but she couldn’t put it down.

Was the alternative timeline stable? How did it propagate? Could be accessed? All she could be sure of was that the anomaly served as the nexus between two worlds. Apparently, the first anomaly had caused a branching of spacetime. But what happened when a branch of spacetime encountered a second anomaly—did two versions of spacetime branch again? . . . reconnect? braid?

It was too complicated to be grasped intuitively, and even the computer seemed to balk at considering it. The laws of physics broke down near the anomalies, and consequently, so did the computer. She kept getting error messages. The tea tasted stale. She felt stale. She stood up to stretch.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noted Malcolm rounding the bulkhead, coming towards her work space. She was pleased with his attentiveness. Despite her recent coolness towards him, he continued to check in regularly, informing her of his work and inquiring as to her welfare. Reflexively, she minimized her calculations, leaving a blank screen. Her reaction was illogical. None of the others could have read the math, let alone her intentions in pursuing it.

“I heard the bad news,” Malcolm began. “I guess there’s no way to tease useful information out of last year’s scans.”

“I’m afraid not.”

“If not this sphere, then possibly the next one,” he said with a sigh. “We do have a hundred years to figure this thing out.”

“I was hoping this research could be my husband’s legacy,” T’Pol admitted.

“He’s left a legacy in other ways. He maintained the ship. He was a good friend to many of us.”

She accepted his kind words with a nod. “How is the video review progressing? Did you determine the nature of the shadow we saw in the first images?”

“I can’t be entirely sure, but it seems to an artifact of the sensors. A build-up of static on the imaging array.”

“Did you find anything else of interest?”

“Yes, but not what we had hoped for.” He hesitated. “That’s why I came by, T’Pol. I’m having second thoughts about this experiment—I am advising we discontinue.”

“What did you find?”

“Nothing of scientific interest. However, halfway through our review, we’ve already captured video of three couples who sneaked into that cargo bay for some privacy—‘to make out.’”

She returned a blank expression

“You know, kissing, hugging, and whatnot.”

“I can define the term. I do NOT see how these findings are relevant to our concerns.”

“Among the lovebirds was your son and Paris Mayweather. “

T’Pol thoughts scattered. She knit her brow. This is twenty years too soon for Lorian to mature . . .He is half-human . . . Trip warned me this might happen.

“I took the liberty of reviewing the video,” Malcolm continued. “It’s pretty tame. Nevertheless, its probably time someone had a talk with that boy—you know… about adult responsibility.”

Human men are like boys. Human boys are like men, T’Pol thought. She looked up at Malcolm and belatedly processed his last sentence. “Phlox can explain the sexual practices of multiple species . . ,” she began.

“How about a human? And, please don’t pick me.”

Mentally, she ran through a list of her male friends. The list was quite short.

“T’Pol?” Malcolm said gently, interrupted her thoughts, “This experiment has me thinking . . . even if it were possible to contact ‘Alternative Trip,’ perhaps we should just let him have his privacy. I know you’re hoping for a love letter from another dimension—but that’s not realistic. Did you ever consider that Trip may have settled down by now with a nice Triannon woman? It’s been over a year.”

She considered the suggestion, suppressing a jumble of contradictory emotions. The effort showed on her face as deep concern.

Malcolm’s tilted his head, thinking his own thoughts, like Hoshi concentrating to pick out a weak signal. He gave a short laugh. “Personally, I see Trip gravitating toward the smartest woman on that Triannon ship, telling her she’s being oppressed by her crazy religion, and trying to enlighten her with some transdimensional warp theory.”

Malcolm glanced at his friend to see if she was offended. At first she wasn’t sure herself.

“I know it sounds like heresy, but look at us. Would you really want the ghost of Trip peering over our shoulder when it’s time? Maybe it’s better not to know.”

She wondered if she should be offended, but it was impossible to be angry with this man when he evidently shared in her loss.

T’Pol struggled to consider his advice dispassionately. There remained a possibility, however remote, that she still might be able to contact her husband. But the problem of retrieving him was resisting solution. T’Pol imagined her spouse resigned to his fate and then receiving a message of hope. She understood the damage it might do—it was a straightforward extrapolation from experience.

The Vulcan finally spoke. “I concur with your judgment that would be unethical to continue this experiment.”

Malcolm took her hand, gave it a squeeze, and left.

T’Pol felt both pain and relief. Trip was really gone. Further mental exertions on his behalf were pointless.

<< Trip, I wish you well wherever you are, >> she sent into the void. She listened to the silence in reply. Memories welled up within her bringing both sadness and joy. She closed her eyes and slipped into a trance, right there at her work station. She sifted through the hopes and regrets, applying logic to each, till, at length, she arrived at an emotion for which Vulcans do not apologize: she indulged in a profound sense of peace.

@@@@

Lorian tried to remain calm. Glenn, Carlos, and Paris and he had been brought to the conference room with their parents. The captain paced before them as he delivered a furious lecture.

“. . . from now on you will refer to your superiors by rank and or with “Sir” or “Ma’am” . . . ! You will be subject to the discipline of your superiors on this ship. . .! Archer paused between sentences to look each of the teenagers straight in the eye,

Lorian’s friends stared back in amazement. Until now, they had been shielded from the captain’s fiery lectures.

“I don’t have to remind you what’s at stake. . . . Seven million lives, maybe more, depend on how we conduct ourselves each day on this ship!”

Paris glanced to her peers, who signaled her to just look forward.

“You are the first of a next generation of young men and women who will carry our mission forward. Welcome aboard, Recruits. I know you will make us proud as you join your fellow crewmates in this crucial enterprise.” He paused to looked them over. “Does anyone have any questions?”

“Why isn’t Destiny with us?” Lorian asked.

“Rephrase the question, Recruit!” Jon barked, “You are speaking to a superior officer.”

“Why isn’t Destiny with us . . . Cap’n?” Lorian asked tentatively.

Jon’s hard edges seemed to melt. He began in a softer tone. “She’s a little behind in her studies, Lorian. I was hoping you could help her catch up and get on board with the rest of her class.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Lieutenant! What’s on the duty roster?”

Malcolm stepped forward. “The recruits are scheduled to help Beta shift unload the trellium shipment.”

The young men and women smiled to each other. Lorian shared in their excitement. Moving crates sounds a lot more fun than school work.

“Captain,” T’Pol spoke in a firm, yet deferential tone. “Lorian, is allergic to Trellium. Perhaps you would reassign him, . . . Sir.”

The other kids snickered as Lorian shot his mother a startled look. Why would she embarrass him like this? The trellium was sealed in containers after all. But he didn’t dare challenge her in front of the Captain. He might have to call her “Commander.”

“Ah, I see. . .” Malcolm was clearly making this up as he went along. “Perhaps, Lorian could assist me in the Armory.”

Lorian felt a measure of relief. Perhaps this special assignment would redeem him in the eyes of his friends.

@@@@

Lorian stumbled through the door of the Tucker quarters looking dazed. The color had washed from his face. He threw himself on a chair and put his head in his hands. For a moment T’Pol worried he had been poisoned by the trellium shipment.

T’Pol watched her son with concern, until he looked up. “Mom! You set me up!” he accused.

Everything was fine, he was just mad at her.

“Perhaps I should have anticipated that Malcolm would assign inexperienced recruits to moving cargo,” she began in a reasonable tone, “and I should have remembered that the cargo was Trellium. But I most certainly did not ‘set you up.’”

“No, Mom! You told Malcolm I wanted to talk about . . . human sexuality?”

“I told Malcolm you needed to talk about human sexuality,” she corrected.

“But WHY!” T’Pol made a note to thank her friend later. He had been very reluctant to accept this assignment.

“I trusted Malcolm, and it was a necessary precaution—you are half human.”

“I don’t need a talk, Mom. I’ve seen the movies!”

“Real life isn’t like movies.”

Lorian put his head back in his hands and muttered something unintelligible.

“I can’t hear you when you mumble.”

“That’s because I wasn’t talking to you,” he answered sharply.

“You said something about Paris and the movies,” T’Pol prompted.

“Yeah, she seems to think were living on the Titanic or something,” Lorian mumbled into his lap.

“The Titanic was a twentieth-century Earth ship, an ocean liner.”

“Yes.”

“She thinks our ship is doomed?”

“NO, MOM!” He looked up furious with her. “The Titanic is a movie. Forget it. You haven’t seen it.”

“So what did you talk about with Malcolm?”

“It’s private.”

“I understand. Just be aware you can converse with me on any topic. Vulcans do not feel embarrassment.”

Lorian rolled his eyes and grabbed his video game. Soon he was punching buttons in silence. T’Pol stepped into the bathroom to shower.

Fifteen minutes later she came out refreshed. Lorian was still playing his game. He didn’t look up.

“Mom?” His angry tone had disappeared, “He said I’d feel this way about hundreds of girls.”

He must mean Malcolm. “Hundreds?” T’Pol responded coolly, “That seems unlikely.”

“Yeah, especially when there are only four girls on this ship my age.” Her son put down his game and looked at her with a serious expression. “Mom? . . . I don’t think he’s like Dad.”

“Could you elaborate?”

“Well Dad loved only you, right?”

“He loved mainly me. I could read his thoughts. Sometimes he would think about someone else, but he was loyal to me. You can control your actions, despite your emotions. This is important. The four girls you refer to will be probably be your crewmates for the next sixty years. You have to be logical and think of consequences.”

Lorian scowled at the lecture, “That’s what Malcolm said.”

“Lorian, I feel you disapprove of Malcolm.”

“No, I don’t.”

“You can speak freely. I am a Vulcan. I will not be offended by your honest opinion.”

“Well . . . he’s fine. I like him. But . . .”

“You can tell me.”

“I don’t get what you see in him.” Lorian admitted. “Compared to Dad, his face is so wrinkled. Not that it matters . . . You old people should do what you want.”

“Perhaps you think I am betraying your father’s memory,” She suggested. “Sometimes you seem angry.”

“It’s like Cap’n Archer was saying . . .’bout the mission. Dad died for the mission. Sometimes I feel like the others have forgotten it . . . . even you.” He waited for a response.

“Lorian, you and I are only two on this ship who may still be alive to face the Xindi in ninety-nine years. We have a special responsibility to keep each other focused on that mission. Your father would have been proud to see you today—carrying on the work he wanted to do.”

She placed a hand on his arm, demanding her son’s attention. He looked up and she let him go.

T’Pol crossed the room to her clothes locker. Lorian stood and followed her. “Mother, what do you think happened to Dad? The other one.”

“I have been studying the equations. As you know, the math breaks down near an anomaly.”

“Denominators go to zero and the system becomes meaningless.”

“Or open to interpretation,” she said provocatively. “Secondary timelines appear to be unstable. I believe that another encounter with an anomaly would have caused its collapse.”

“That seems plausible,” Lorian admitted.

He turned and sat back down at his desk. He picked up his game, only to toss it aside.

@@@@

It was late when T’Pol headed to Malcolm’s quarters. No one was in the hall, when she knocked on his door. He greeted her in his t-shirt and shorts.

“I wanted to thank you for speaking with Lorian.”

“Certainly.”

“I suppose it wasn’t easy for you.”

He cocked his head to one side in agreement.

“I wanted to thank you for that favor. . . and also to ask if I might sleep with you tonight.”

“You mean you want to sleep?”

“Actually, I was speaking euphemistically.”

He stared in surprise.

“May I come in?” she asked.

“Please.”

He stepped back to invite her in. As soon as she had cleared the doorway she was on him. She grabbed his head and drew him into a kiss . . . and this time she meant it.

@@@@

Two days later:

T’Pol awoke in a sweat. It was the middle of the night and Malcolm was lying beside her snoring softly. Her dreams had turned erotic. It was distressing. She wanted to climb all over her partner. She was losing control.

“Malcolm, Malcolm,” she shook him awake. “I think it’s starting,” she cried in fear.

“Don’t be alarmed!” he shouted, sounding alarmed. “I’ll contact Phlox.”

“NO!” She insisted, nearly in tears, “The pon farr is a natural process. I don’t need to be hospitalized!”

“Settle down. I just mean Phlox can look out for Lorian. Of, course, we’ll be here, in my quarters.”

“I feel more comfortable here.”

“I’m pleased you do.”

“Soon I’ll need to let go . . . of my control.”

“Whenever you’re ready . . . just let go. You trust me, don’t you?”

Her desire hit her like a wave. Now she rode that wave.

@@@

A long time later, T’Pol awoke naked, drenched in sweat. Malcolm was lying beside her in his undershorts. He was leaning over her, wiping her forehead with a cool rag. He was smiling that little smile of his. She was exhausted, every muscle ached, her warm skin tingled all over, exposed to the cooler air. She felt . . . wonderful.

“My precious little Elf,” Malcolm was saying.

Her eyes finally focused and she bathed in his adoring gaze.

Finally she found her voice. “That nickname is unacceptable,” she informed him.

He snorted softly. “I suppose that’s a good sign. It means the pon farr has almost run its course. And not a moment too soon.”

“You are dressed,” she noted, referring to his shorts.

“I’m a fifty-one years-old and human. I can’t quite keep up. And I think you might have bent something.”

“I’m sorry. Are you going to be all right?” she asked with concern.

“All I can say is, next time—and I may need a week to recover—I’d like to try something a little less insane . . .” He flopped down on his back, beside her and closed his eyes. He was still smiling.

She snuggled against him as the flush of passion wore off. She clung to his arm and rested her head against his shoulder. She had survived the pon farr. She fell asleep without a care in the world.

@@@@

Malcolm walked into the gym in his sweat suit and began punching the air. Soon he was bouncing on two feet, warming up for sparing. Lorian and Paris were playing basketball with Carlos and Asatoshi, with Destiny serving as the ref. He’d have to wait till they were done to roll out the mats.

They didn’t seem to be very serious about it. Paris was guarding the ball with Carlos on her back. Carlos reached around the girl with both arms to trap the ball. He held her in a hug and she only laughed when he wrenched the ball from her hands and pulled it up over her head.

“Foul!” Destiny shouted, “REACHING!”

Paris ignored the call in her favor. She D’d up on Carlos, in an extra-legal scramble for the ball. Now they were both laughing, lost in their own one-on-one game.

“Come on guys, cut it out. Destiny’s the ref,” Asatoshi pleaded ineffectually. He shot the pair an angry look and walked over to Destiny to confer about the situation.

Lorian sighed and wandered to the bench to wait it out. Malcolm came over where he sat and stood beside him.

“Lieutenant,” Lorian said, looking up.

“At ease, Recruit.” Malcolm sat down beside him. They watched the pair now blatantly flirting on the court. “Sorry about your girlfriend,” Malcolm offered. “Just know . . . there are other fish in the sea.”

“What’s that mean?”

“It means there are other girls out there . . . somewhere.”

“Not for me.” The boy said, looking grim.

“I thought you weren’t all that interested in this girl?”

“I wasn’t,” Lorian answered. “That’s the problem.”

Malcolm eyed him curiously.

“I suspect I’m . . . . more Vulcan than human,” the boy clarified.

“When it comes to girls?”

Lorian nodded.

“Ah, I see . . . so, what you’re telling me is that you’re a perfectly normal Vulcan in this respect.”

“I guess . . . and a pretty strange human.”

“Well, your mother will be relieved to hear that.”

“Don’t tell her!” Lorian demanded.

“You’d rather she worry?”

“Yes,” Lorian answered, with a sly smile. The youth stood up and sauntered back onto the court to join the game. He grabbed the ball off Carlos and tossed it to his teammate Paris. “Play!” he ordered. Paris passed the ball back to Lorian, who of course was totally open. Lorian pounded the ball twice and shot. Belatedly, Carlos was on him, but the ball was arcing in. It was all net.

@@@@

Early in the morning, Malcolm headed to his girlfriend’s quarters.

Was it right to call her a “girlfriend”? In light of her age and regal demeanor, probably not. Maybe he should choose a Vulcan term? “Bondmate” wasn’t right. Despite his help with her pon farr, no mating bond had formed. T’Pol no longer frightened him with talk of marriage, though it might still be necessary if that bond were to develop . . .If he wanted to play it safe, he would see her less often . . . But he couldn’t stay away.

T’Pol answered the door chime. She was pleased to see that it was Malcolm. He stood there smiling at her. She loved the way his eyes turned down and crinkled at the corners. Not that it ought to matter, she reminded herself. Whatever was happening between them, it wasn’t very Vulcan. From a Vulcan point of view, their continued encounters were completely redundant.

“I have good news,” he announced. “Jon wants to send Lorian and Paris on their first away mission—a supply run.”

“A space station?”

“A Minshara-class planet. Jon anticipated that you might have concerns. That’s why he’d like you and Travis to lead this mission. So you can oversee your kids.”

“I suppose it is good news.”

@@@@

Lorian couldn’t believe he was actually his first away mission. It had been a day of firsts. Ensign Mayweather had let his daughter, Paris, control the shuttle for several minutes out in open space, at a safe distance from Enterprise. Lorian was to have a turn when they returned from the surface.

Lorian felt like Neil Armstrong, as he stepped from the shuttle onto the planet. One small step for man . . .

He did his best to act cool while being hit with some totally new sensations. The natural gravity was similar to the grav setting at home, but the ambient temperature was way above normal. He squinted, but still his eyes began to tear from the glaring light. His mother had warned him not to look towards this star. Its radiation warned his face like a open flame, while a cooling breeze flowed past. It brought a jumble of smells—flowers? minerals? things rotting? He heard squeaks and squawks from unknown fauna. Underneath all these sounds, a constant muffled roar—it sounded like the planet had a complaining warp engine.

“The market is one thousand one hundred meters north of this location.” Travis announced.

As they hiked off toward the market the crowds got thicker. The market appeared to be a gathering point for many species. Lorian tried not to gawk at the startling variety of humanoid forms.

“If my translator is working correctly, these prices are unacceptably high,” T’Pol stated. “I am certain we could do better elsewhere.”

“It’s a tourist trap!” Travis answered happily.

His demeanor led her to believe they were in no immediate danger. Nevertheless, she quickly surveyed their surroundings, checking for a threat.

He realized her misunderstanding. “No,” he explained, “I mean the tourists have no choice but to shop here. They come for the ocean view, not wholesale food; so the prices are high.”

“Then why are we here?”

“We’re tourists.” Travis smiled his widest smile and spread his hands. “The Captain wanted it to be a surprise. It’s an all expense-paid vacation. We’re staying five days.”

“Where?”

“Over there.” Travis pointed to a building that looked to Lorian like a palace, with domes and towers and spires. It was all too good to be true.

“I bought a suite for my family,” Travis explained, “And the captain purchased a suite for you and Lorian. Nice soft beds, warm mud baths, and interactive holographic game stations. It’s all part of the package! Not that any of us are gonna have time for video games. Me? I’ll be SURFING every spare minute! Other crew members will be coming down soon.”

“Who else is coming?”

“Whoever can afford it. It’s expensive to stay on the surface, but everyone will at least get to come down for a day to check out the beach.”

“So we’re not really on a supply run?” Lorian asked. He was simply astonished.

“The only shopping I’m doing is for a bathing suit,” Travis exclaimed. “Lorian, you’ll need a suit too. You’re going in the water, right?”

“Yeah . . .” Lorian answered tentatively. He would try to swim, but was just a little anxious about what form of dress or undress would be required. He remembered embarrassing photos his dad had taped to the wall of friends and family lounging on a Florida beach in what looked to be their underwear.

“Don’t worry. I’ll teach you to body surf,” Travis encouraged the worried-looking teen. T’Pol gave Travis the eyebrow.

“It’ll be perfectly safe!” He assured her.

“You three shop.” She told them. “I have to thank the Captain.”

@@@@

T’Pol stepped into a relatively quiet corner of a stall in the busy open-air market. She activated her communicator.

“Captain?” She asked.

“SURPRISE!”

“This is all very generous. Why did you do it?”

“It’s what Trip would have wanted. When he borrowed the money, he was planning to take you both on a vacation. This is as close as I could come to Florida.”

“It is a thoughtful gift.”

“I thought . . . since you didn’t find what you were looking for . . .”

“In the other dimensions . . ?”

“Yes. Well, it’s just a consolation prize.”

“It feels like a message . . . from Trip.”

The communicator fell silent for an uncomfortable duration, before exploding back to life. “Well, I’m glad!” Jon replied, “Besides, I thought Lorian needed to see a Minshara-class planet, with an ocean. It could inspire him. Help him better understand our mission.”

“Your strategy is quite logical,” T’Pol assured him. “Captain, I am reluctant to ask you for an additional favor, but could you ask Lieutenant Reed to accompany me on this vacation?”

“He’s scheduled for duty.” Jon answered hurriedly.

“But you could reschedule him,” T’Pol responded.

“I hope he has his credits. I can’t afford a second room.”

“I am confident that the accommodations you arranged for me and Lorian will be more than adequate.”

“T’Pol . .?” She heard the disappointment in the captain’s voice.

“You are aware that Malcolm and I have begun a relationship. . .”

“I didn’t realize it was this serious.” Jon sounded deflated. There was a pause and T’Pol imagined him shaking his head. The voice returned, “I’m sorry. I just don’t see it working between the two of you.”

“Jon, you said the same thing about me and Trip.”

“I did . . . didn’t I?” The captain admitted. His exuberant tone returned. “All right, then. You know best! You two—you three—enjoy your vacation.”

“I will, captain . . . Thank you for everything.”

@@@@

The Triannon senior officers were gathered on the bridge to bless the mission to the surface. They had commissioned Targon, a talented pilot and missionary, to take the shuttle to Scartrol to locate new Seekers. “Bridge to Docent Targon: May you spread Good News where none have heard it.”

“A network of believers transforms the Chosen Realm,” came the reply from the shuttle.

“All praise to the Makers,” The helmsman answered, as the vessel undocked. Jets fired and the shuttle slid down towards the planet.

“Docent Targon,” the helmsman called a moment later, “Your trajectory is off. Please check your heading.”

“It is impossible!” came the reply from the receding vessel. The shuttle pilot actually sounded offended.

“Targon, you will need to orbit the planet before you set down,” the helmsman insisted.

“How LITTLE you understand!” the shuttle pilot shot back. The bridge crew exchanged startled looks.

“Targon, ADJUST YOUR HEADING!” the Triannon captain snapped.

There was silence over the com. Finally a weak signal. “ A network of believers transforms the SZZZTTTSZZZZTZSST.”

“There’s too much static. The shuttle has already entered the atmosphere!” The helmsman announced in alarm. “He won’t make it to the landing site . . .”

“Where is he going?” the captain asked his helmsman.

“It looks like he’s heading into the ocean.”

“Either he’s mentally ill or he’s disobeying orders,” an officer suggested.

The captain blinked in confusion, “But Docent Targon has never strayed from the path.”

“Well, he has now,” The helmsman informed them as the vessel dropped off his sensors.

@@@@

Destiny clung to her seat while Trip piloted the shuttle in a dive through the atmosphere. Friction heated the skin of the shuttle till it glowed.

Tiva’s finger pressed a button on the com board, rebroadcasting her recording: A NETWORK OF BELIEVERS TRANSFORMS THE CHOSEN REALM the com board blared for the fifth time. No one would be able to hear it anymore. Friction with the atmosphere made further transmissions impossible.

“I think it worked!” Teacher Tiva announced with pride, finally releasing the button.

“Couldn’t you get the guy to say something a little less . . . religious?”

“You’ve obviously never tried talking to Targon.”

They broke through the clouds and Trip saw a beautiful steel-blue ocean. The waves reflected light, so the water twinkled, undulating in a mesmerizing rhythm. Nearest the shore, parallel lines of white crawled across the water toward the land.

“Destiny, LOOK at this!” She stared ahead through the window in awe.

“The shoreline is crowded. It will be hard to find a landing site,” Tiva worried aloud. “Why did you pick this target?”

“It’s as close as I could come to Florida.”

@@@@

T’Pol sat on the beach watching her son wade in the water with Paris and Travis. Her Vulcan son was not even bothering to hide his emotions as the waves broke around him. He was shouting to Paris over the roar of the ocean. They both shrieked as Travis sailed past them on a wave board, lost his balance, and plunged sideways into the water.

Behind her, she heard a familiar voice. She glanced up, and there was Malcolm. He was actively chatting with a pretty female, presumably a local. They were using hand signals. It seems no one had brought translation equipment to the beach. T’Pol didn’t need a U.T. to know that the woman was flirting with her friend

Now Malcolm ran towards T’Pol, looking relieved to find her.

T’Pol raised an eyebrow.

“I was explaining to that woman that I’m with you,” he replied, looking innocent.

T’Pol’s severe expression melted into a softer one. “It is difficult for me to accept that you’ve had so many ‘girlfriends’,” she confessed.

“You think it’s any easier for me? You’ve got my best friend’s name tattooed on your bum.”

They shared a look, and she silently acknowledged his point.

“By the way,” Malcolm continued, “thanks for convincing the captain to switch my schedule.”

“He disapproves of our mutual attraction,” she said.

“I know.” Malcolm flashed a wicked smile. “That makes it all the more fun. . . So, would you like to take a walk?”

“Soon. I’d prefer to meditate first. The noise from the waves is relaxing.”

“In that case, I’ll see you when you’re done.” He jumped up and ran to follow Travis, Paris, and Lorian, still wading in the water.

She folded her legs, closed her eyes, and her mind receded inward. The happy commotion surrounding her dampened in intensity and finally became a distance thrum. She reviewed her emotions—gratitude, longing, pride, fulfillment, excitement. She identified and experienced each one, before returning them to her proper place, beneath the surface. Thus, she removed their power to bias her behavior. Just as she was achieving the proper level of emotional control, she was started by a voice—a man’s voice, with just a hint of a Southern accent.

“I’m glad we’re here.”

The voice was real and alive. Instinctively, she reached out with her mind to connect with Trip. She’d explain herself—say goodbye. But Trip’s mind didn’t catch hers . . . she was floating, falling. Abruptly, she awoke to her surroundings. She opened her eyes, and Lorian was standing over her, dripping. Sand blew from his body and into her face.

“Mom, ya all right?” he asked.

“Of course,” she answered.

“I’m so glad we came!” he repeated.

“So am I. It was your father’s idea and Jon’s money. Remember to thank the captain.”

He ran back to the others and she observed them while they played. She watched the waves crash, and the nearest star set fiery red over an ocean the color of a steel-blue uniform. Soon it was dark. She gathered her family and headed back through the sand as their galaxy reappeared overhead.

@@@@

Meanwhile, in a parallel branch of the timeline:

Hoshi and the crew waited on the bridge. They’d arrived early for the rendezvous with the Forgellian freighter. Soon they’d transfer the trellium shipment and take on fresh fruit.

Hoshi searched the wavelengths for a signal from the approaching freighter. Suddenly her look of consternation turned to surprise. “Yes, I read you . . . I READ YOU. YES! . . . Absolutely! . . . . We’re 6 light years away!”

She looked up, beaming. Could it be? T’Pol was reluctant to hope.

“IT”S TRIP!” Hoshis announced, ecstatically, “DESTINYs with him!” She was almost bouncing from her chair. “They want a shuttle to bring them home!”

The bridge erupted in celebration.

T’Pol ran to the com station for confirmation, but Hoshi was now paging sickbay to spread the good news.

The distant message now played live cross the bridge: “Hello? SSZZZ ZSSSTTT. Enterprise? Have we lost the signal?” It was Trip, himself.

“How are you?” The captain shouted back, smiling from ear to ear.

“Homesick, hungry. Besides that, no worse for the wear.”

“What about Destiny?”

“In perfect condition. Better than ever. I kept her out of trouble.”

“I kept myself out of trouble.” Destiny added playfully.

“She’s a good girl,” Trip agreed. You could hear the grin in his voice

“Welcome home both of you!” The captain exclaimed, “I’m sending Travis with T’Pol.”

“Um . . . I can’t wait to see T’Pol—I love you honey, but, ah—we’ve got a small situation down here. Right now, I need Malcolm. I’ll explain as soon as I get home.”

“You need security?”

“Nah, everything’s fine. Don’t worry.”

“OK then, hold on, the team will be there soon.” In the background they heard a woman crying, and then they lost the connection.

fin

Return to Chapter 3

See the epilogue Renunion for the ending in the alternative timeline.

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!

A whole mess of folks have made comments

This might be the end of "Heresy." I'd like to continue the story in a sequel, under the title "Reunion."

I'd sure like to read the story of the alternate timeline where Trip comes home. I realize that this story conforms with canon (with the finality of Trip's death in the central timeline), and not only gives T'Pol companionship after Trip's death but provides Lorian with a foster father, but it was still painful to read. You write well, dear. Please give us our happy ending now, okay? It might not be canon, but it would sure make me feel better.

Written well but extraordinarily painful. My issues with the female pon farr aside, I have some other ... problems with the resolution you've provided based on E2 ("How's Trip" not "How's Trip & Malcolm") AND Similitude ("You're all I think about". Further, based on T'Pol's inability to "get over" her mother's death (as indicated by that Abomination of a finale), I still find it difficult to accept that she would "move on" so quickly, regardless of her need.

Again, well written though.

BTW... I'm the beta that justTrip'n is referring to. I want to go on record saying that I am in no way ashamed of being associated with this story, and that the advice I gave her was that she might want to consider posting this somewhere other than a TnT fan site, NOT that she shouldn't post it at all. I think it's a very well-written story. It's obviously a story she feels strongly about telling... strongly enough to brave fire and flames to do it. I admire her for her strength, and for her faithfulness to her vision, even though I find some of the events in her story hard to take. That's just the point, though. This is HER story... one she apparently felt an overpowering need to tell. I think that anyone who has written fan fiction has had the experience of being forced by SOMETHING beyond their control to tell a story that just HAS to come out. I think justTrip'n's very brave to share her vision with us.

This story belongs somewhere else. Not here!!! Your story has TPol screwing his best friend. What will Trip think when he comes home and finds out what happened? People will make comments behind his back, then someone leaves him a note telling him what went on. Because his friend couldn"t keep (it) in his pants.And his wife,well I refuse to believe that she would do this garbage. I'm sorry that I started to read this.I've always liked your storys,but not this one. You do your name (justtrip) a dishonor

I shouldn't explain what the story is about, but it's not about people cheating on other people's spouses, its (primarily) about someone moving on after the death of their spouse. The only thing I want to add in my defense is that I'm drawing on about 4 actual cases that happened close to me. (But not to me.) People DO move on after tragic loss, sometimes too quickly for their friends who imagine that suffering on alone would be more romantic. I think its a GOOD thing that life goes on after tragedy. That's what I wanted the story to be about.

As for the Malcolm/T'Pol pairing and the secondary timeline where Trip lives? Well, Duke, as you point out it creates great dramatic potential !!

I haven't read through this yet, but I intend to do so soon and then I'll be back with additional comments.

I would certainly hope that folks at the convention wouldn't rebuff you because of a story you wrote. That's just plain silliness.

As for the moving on after a death of a loved one...well everyone has their own unique reactions. My mother passed away over 13 years ago and my father has done nothing more than date a few women casually. For some people, there really is a one and only. Some may remarry just for the companionship, despite that fact. Others may not. Some may be able to let go of their loved one and be able to fall in love again with someone else. I had an uncle who did this and his new wife had been a close friend of the wife who'd passed on. The point being that there is no right or wrong way to grieve the loss of a spouse. I think this one may be a bit more difficult to swallow because Trip isn't actually dead even though she thinks he is. It's a well-written story though, so I'll give it a chance. Every author deserves a chance, right?

This was excruciatingly painful to read, with the obvious reading, however like a lot of people have said, it is a very good story, and more importantly, it is realistic. This site, is great, however there are some stories which are simply unbelievable, but unbelievably good. I do like this story, as it shows how T'pol may go with someone else, in the absence of Trip, and I think that overall, this is very well written and you should be proud of yourself for broaching such a sensitive subject. I am however still waiting for that light and the end of the tunnel, that silver lining, so I beg of you, please restore Trip and T'Pol back to their married bliss, or as close as humanly possible, please! LOL

Okay, this story is a classic example that a story can be well-written but not the least bit enjoyable. Which begs the question of why it was submitted to THIS site. I’m not saying it’s against the rules, but that why would you submit a story to a readership that isn’t going to enjoy it. I wrote an Archer/T’Pol story for my sister’s B-day but I’d never dream of submitting it here! Maybe before the god-awful last episode I could have stomached SOME aspects of this story. But certainly not now. I gave this story a chance because Distracted thought it might get better. I REALLY wish I would have waited for the comments before continuing reading.

Here is what really bothers me about this story. T’Pol is VULAN (not human) but she’s ready to move on sexually in what really should be record time for a Vulcan. Not to mention that the author has already established that T’Pol’s sex drive was lacking in her relationship with Trip in another story. I guess Malcolm does something for her that Trip didn’t. This just isn’t a T’Pol I recognize or relate to. I think I prefer the bonded soul-mates take on Trip and T’Pol verses the well-my-husbands-dead-who-can-I-sleep-with-now take on T’Pol. Once Malcolm’s dead does she just move on?

T'Pol's sex drive was NEVER lacking in her relationship with Trip. The exact words I wrote (Trip's internal thoughts in Forwards and Backwards): "she was pretty into it." Oh, you mean TATV? OK, but that has a slightly different backstory. Not part of this Esquared series.

Okay, I'm trying to remain positive without being antagonistic.

I don't want to offend anyone here but, the more I think about this, the less I like it. I tend to agree with Athena's interpretation of the T'Pol character as it felt EXTREMELY out-of-character for her to suddenly become intimate with Malcolm, the absurdity of female pon farr aside. Based on the fact that she was still struggling with the loss of her mother some six to seven years after the fact (as stated in that craptastic TATV), I personally find it extremely difficult to accept that she would be able to "move on" past Trip's death so quickly and so relatively easily. Yeah, humans can (and do) move on but Vulcans are NOT human; recall that, from everything we've been told, their emotions are overwhelmingly powerful, so when they love, it's with every fiber of their being and it's forever. Based on what I saw of T'Pold in E2, she was still not over Trip some hundred years later and wasn't likely to be "moving on" any time soon. Her admittedly brief interactions with both Archer & young T'Pol only serve to reinforce this belief and I (personally) find it absolutely ludicrous to entertain the belief that she became intimate with anyone else after Trip dies; it's one of the things that make her such a tragic and compelling figure ... that she was alone all this time.

I guess I'm too much of a romantic at heart or something but the apparent ease in which T'Pol "moved on" in Heresy really, REALLY bothers me - not quite to the point of offensive like the nonsensical Archer/T'Pol pairings, but treading dangerously close. That may actually be one of my issues: this reminds me far. far too much of the absurd post-TATV Archer/T'Pol tripe that seems to dominate elsewhere in which T'Pol throws herself into Archer's arms mere days after Trip dies. I've read a couple of other fics on T/T'Pers that have one or the other with someone else (usually T'Pol) and don't particularly like those either.

Sorry if it seems like I'm being unduly harsh, but I sincerly doubt that I'm going to read Heresy again and I'm not sure I'd be all that interested in reading a Return of Trip following the relationship of R/T'P. How Trip could not see this as a betrayal by both his friend AND his wife (regardless of the circumstances) is beyond me. I'm fine with angst, but I do not like reading fics where one of my preferred pair is with someone else.

I salute you for having the courage to write this and posting it on TTP, knowing that you were going to take flak for it, and I hope the ... negative feedback won't prevent you from writing more.

Well justTrip'n you are an excelent writer, an you do tell a story well, even if its a story that I really dont like.

Yes people an even Vulcans can move on, Sarek did it twice in his life. But then their are those of us that beleave their is only one true match out there in the world for us, an once that person is gone no one can fill that void, an even trying even thinking abut trying to fill the void or fall in love with another in itself is to painfull to even consider.

Both my Grand Mothers have out lived their husbands. An neither one of them got remarried, in fact my one grandmother only dated once after My grandafather died, an it was like only two whole dates, in the end she said she couldnt do it, the man just wasnt her Husband, an anythingless was just a waste of time. My other Grandmother constantly says over an over again she will never be with another man. Their devotion to their loves are probably a big influence on me, an why I have so much trouble seeing T'pol move on after Trip was gone. Especialy with a much lesser man.

I dont trust Reed. Their something about a man who can go from town to town, or in this case planet to planet an have a women on each world he "spends time with", that makes me beleave he is unworthy of a Women that can a should be so devotedly to one man. Thats one of the reasons I love TnT. Their extream sence of honor an devotion that they both share. Reed is severly lackin in this department, Shuttle pod 1 made that quite clear.

I still dont by the Female Ponn Far. It donst add up, especialy since the Vulcan socity/life style/and even their biolagy is in a lot of cases a mirrior of our own. Human women go through a cylcle while in Vulcans its the males that have to suffer through this. An the Only way I ever could see a Female coming down with Ponn Far is from an outside source like their mate, or some bug on an alien world.

Another thing that bugs me is the fact that when Trip didnt apear on the E2 verse ship, T'pol heard him say he was Ok. Even though he was no longer in their universe. T'pol should not of been able to hear Trip at all through the bond if he was indeed the other Trip from that alternate reality. She bonded with her universes Trip, not the other verses Trip. I cant buy for a sec that if T'pol knew that their was a possiblity that Trip had survived some how, she would willingly just let him go. Trip an T'pols love for onanother has always been the deepest I ever beleaved of any fictional characters, an if their was the smallest chance that the other was still alive out there on some plain of exsistance then I know in my heart that T'pol or Trip would die before giving up.

I just cant see T'pol beining convinced by any one let alone, the ships man Ho that she needs to let go of Trip. An Vulcans do not mate outside of their Bond, when Ponn Far comes a calling. Tuvok was stranded a life time away from T'pring an when his Ponn Far came he refused every sugestion that would lead to his betrayin his wife, by matin with another. Heck hie wasnt to happy about mating with a Hollo character of his wife for crying out loud. Vulcans are extreamly loyal to their mates, an the only way they move on is if they beleave with out a shadow of a doubt that their mate is truely dead. An T'pol had hard evidance that suggested other wise.

If in your next story Trip an T'pol are reunited, then I fear a great rift will be put between them, because in this story, T'pol is far from the Honorable,an eternaly loyal Vulcan she was portraid on the show. An I beleave Trip would be horrified to find that of all people T'pol had chosen Reed. he is no match for T'pol.

Im sorry I just dont really like this fic, all I see is a story where one person in a relationship tosses aside hope, an then throws away her heritage completly in chosing an unworthy mate.

I dont want you to stop writing justTrip'n, but I seriously hope that your next story only has one ship that involves the Trip an T'pol characters, Because this one is to painfull for me to ever read again.

I’m going to quote from the fic I was referring to in order to put my comment into context: “And then there were the technical difficulties. Contrary to everyone’s guess, he and T’Pol were not entirely sexually compatible. She had this dormant period—or at least her body did. Psychologically she was pretty “into it.” That’s what saved them.”

Okay, so Vulcans aren’t as sexually driven as humans, which makes sense, but T’Pol jumps into bed with Malcolm after only a year and the way it is written, she also seems pretty “into it”. Assuming she hasn’t had sex between Harbinger and Bound in the series. It seems she can hold out longer from Trip than she can from Malcolm.

Okay, this is a story about someone moving an after they have lost their spouse (again I wonder about the rational for putting a story like that here when I’m sure it would be better received at just about any other fan fiction site). The fact of the matter is, some people fall so in-love that they chose not to move on to another partner. That doesn’t mean they suffer forever, just that they truly loved their spouse and nothing can touch that. I can give more than 4 examples of situations like this. I guess it comes down to what type of relationship Trip and T’Pol had.

Frankly, I’m pretty sure I don’t want to see THIS T’Pol get back together with Trip. Trip is the kind of guy that I think loves pretty deeply. I’d like to see him with someone who would be just as devoted to him. I think Vulcans would tend to be more likely to be that way, not less, as the T’Pol is this story is.

This story has a very fitting title.

Answering a number of questions. I know I won't be shunned at the conference. I was just joking!

Why not post somewhere else? All my Enterprise friends are here!

How could T'Pol hear Alternative Trip through the bond? It was a branching universe so both Trip's were "T'Pol's" Trip. However in the face of overwhelming evidence of Trip's death she was convinced she had just been hearing things, until she talked to Destiny.

As for the idea that there is one match in the world for us. I see it differently. There are alot of possible matches. Trip and T'Pol are very much an odd couple, but a series of incidents, accidents, shared purpose, and shared loss have made them close. I find it touching that their relationship is so improbable. It probabably makes sense only to Trip and T'Pol, not to their crewmates who aren't aware of all the incidents that brought them together.

Maybe people on this site are strongly attracted to the Trip and T'Pol relationship for different reasons. I feel like they are similar to me and my husband (in some ways) in that an odd couple is brought together through a series of shared experiences that makes sense only to the couple in question. My husband is artsy, I'm a science type; he's black, I'm white; He's loud, I (was) quiet. I could go on. Like Trip and T'Pol we were friends for a LONG time before the romance. Etc. We ARE NOT the do everything together/share every thought type of couple. In fact HE HASN'T READ MY STORY YET!!!!

Anyway, that's where my "lets get real" attitude toward romance comes from. And I'm a happy person!

HERESY was also about not using people. (For instance not using Malcolm just for sex--treating him like he has feelings too.)And it was about kids. Another great outcome of marriage!

I didn't really mean for it to be such a Bummer. I thought the vacation at the beach was a happy ending! Seriously!

Athena: technical difficulties mean they can't always have intercourse, but that leaves plenty of other possibilities. Use your own imagination.

justTrip'n
have you ever seen the tng episode sarek.
because we find out there vulcans dont move along and forget their mates so easily.
and it evidently took some 20 to 30 years for sarek to be ready to marry again after the death of amanda.

i just dont see a bonded vulcan moving away so easily as tpol did in this story.
especially after just a year, and she knew he was alive out there some place.

really the impression i got was she must not have cared very deeply for trip in the first place.

which certainly isnt the impression i got from
watching her in e2.

even in humans different factors play a part in how quickly people move on.

most cases where they do pretty quickly a year or less is usually in circumstances when the one who dies has a serious illness and a time of adjustment has started to take affect.

i hate to say this but what this reminded me of was so much of the gleeful yeah trip is dead now she can be with archer fiction that sprang up after tatv.

now parts of the story were good and really well thought out.
i liked how the crew had to deal with the reality of economics ect.

the other thing..
taking into account she and trip could have been together 24 years and lorian may not have been among the first group of children born by the time trip dies there could be some of the first group of children in their early 20's.
say tpol waits five years before considering finding another mate it would in a way more more sense if she picked on of the kids who could be about 30 then members of the original crew who would be any where from their 50's to 70's.

That's an interesting idea, pookha. Assuming, of course, that choosing another mate was necessary, it would have been more logical from a strictly biological POV to choose someone from the second generation, but do you think she might have had some emotional difficulty with choosing a mate that she saw grow up from infancy? Enterprise is a large ship, but a very small community. Choosing someone from the second generation might have been more difficult for her than choosing someone she'd never known as a child. Just a thought. : )

that is possible distracted but really she would have also open to her other people they encountered like archer.

also i wasnt talking about when the person was 20 but rather an adult of say 30 where they have set themselves apart as who they were as a child.

it may just depend on the circumstances.

i even had the idea they might even had come to the rescue of one of the far ealier "lost" vulcan ships or at least attempt to rescue some of the crew before it is too late.

thanks to the vulcan database which was probably upgraded for the expanse mission they could have info about when and where each entered the expanse.

What a great idea for a story! Sure wish you had had the ear of the writers while the series was on. We'd have gotten some interesting plot twists, that's for sure. Whatcha think, justTrip'n? Want to tackle that idea in your E2 series? Maybe older T'Pol in the alternate time line where Trip comes back and old fogey Trip could help rescue a Vulcan ship in the Expanse. Sounds like fun to me! Lorian could be in his 30's by then and help them. Archer would be dead and Trip would probably be senile, so you'd have to come up with another captain, LOL! Maybe a well-preserved Travis in his 60's? : )

there still at the end could be one ship and the\burden on lorian even if for awhile they
had the companionship of another ship.

the vulcan ship also would feel the effect of the
anomalies so at some point it might still be destroyed.

Sounds like a prime opportunity for angst and drama. Why don't YOU write it, Pookha? Sounds like you've got some seriously complex plot outlines swimming around in that head of yours. Be careful, though. It can snowball on you. You might find yourself obsessively writing at 4:30 am, neglecting family, work, and housekeeping responsibilities, and dreaming about Enterprise and her crew. No... wait... that was me. ; )

Well, I understand why so many people would be againts this story, but I find it rather interesting. Besides, nobody's forcing you to read this.

Since everyone's been ragging on T'Pol jumpin' on Malcom when Trip left, my question is, what's Trip been doing with Tiva??? Trip didn't seem like he wanted T'Pol to come and get him, and Tiva was crying in the background.

That's an interesting question, t'kat. I guess we'll all have to stay tuned to find out. I don't know if I'd blame Trip TOO much if he had to romance his teacher to convince her to help him. It did get him home, after all. I think it might make HIM feel pretty guilty if he led her on, though. Even if he never slept with Tiva, if he's deceived her into thinking they might have a future together, or even just allowed her to believe it, he'd feel pretty bad about it... and T'Pol's guilt's gonna be MONUMENTAL. Sounds like a potentially therapeutic moment....

Okay, now you've got me REALLY interested. Get writin', justTrip'n! I wanna find out what happens next!

I need a little assistance here - I'm trying to work out all of the who's when and where at the end of this chapter and am failing miserably.

T'Pol A is on Enterprise with Hoshi when the signal from Trip/Destiny/Tiva comes through. T'Pol B is on the beach. Trip/Destiny/Tiva are approaching a crowded coastline that looks like Florida (which is the same description Archer gave for T'Pol B's vacation spot...coincidence?) So, Trip/Destiny/Tiva are in fact, on the same/similar planet T'Pol B is on at the same time, just in a parallel timeline and T/D/T are going to be picked up by T'Pol A's Enterprise. Is Trip's 'love you, hon' to T'Pol A out of place in her timeline? Confimation or correction will be appreciated.

If that is Tiva crying in the background - could she be having a some sort of epiphany or rapturous breakdown? I'm really hoping Trip didn't have to seduce Tiva for her cooperation - but, I guess desperate times...

This is an interesting story, but unless it ties into a sequel which somehow weaves T'Pol and Trip's relationship back into the scheme of things, I fail to see how it is really appropriate for Trip/T'Polers - not meant as a criticism, just an opinion. As an aside, T'Pol's comment to Lorian about his father, "He loved MAINLY me. I could read his thoughts. Sometimes he would think about someone else, but he was loyal to me," bugs me. She obviously never came to understand that we (humans) do admire/think of others at times, maybe even fantasize about them; but in no way is that an indicator of LOVE for that other individual.

As was discussed above, I, too, am a bit biased and believe Vulcans have a very difficult time recovering from the loss of a bondmate -AND- There's a whole other discussion about the logic in her choosing a familiar, fragile mate of fifty over an unfamiliar (and perhaps easier to blowoff afterwards without entanglements), hearty mate of his twenties.

I look forward to any sequel you have planned - but would appreciate a 'heads up!' if the T'Pol/Mal pairing will remain prominant.

-jc

The T'Pol on Enterprise should really be considered T'Pol B (from the secondary timeline) talking to Trip B (from the secondary timeline). I consider that one timeline branched into two at the first anomoly (I know, with all these time tricks, its best not to think about it too hard. Fictional temporal mechanics don't stand up well to that kind of scrutiny.) In the primary timeline Trip has died and T'Pol is vacationing. Reunion will focus on the events in the secondary timeline, where Trip lives past Lorian's 14th birthday. I hope to get out from under the bad karma of Heresy in this way.

As far as "he loved mainly me" I consider that a reference to Amanda, who Trip had a continuing affection for in my backstory. (Don't worry; nothing improper!) I meant for 'Pol to convey to Lorian what you were saying about human sexuality.

As for talk about the twenty-year olds versus the "fragile" fifty year olds, watch out! From where I stand fifty is NOT OLD! (Fifty-year olds can still be attractive to other fifty-year olds! Surprise!) And to me, a twenty-year old is still just a kid. I'm going EWWW! even thinking about T'Pol with one of the kids. Besides, according to the math (and I DID do the math) Lorian is among the oldest four in the second generation. 20 year-olds are not possible at this time, and even when they get to 20 they will still be the kids that T'Pol helped raise. Trust me. There's no way.

Thank you for the explanations - and I certainly did NOT mean to imply that fifty='old' ... just a nod to the rigors of pon farr... merely a presumption that risk for damage should be less with a partner in their 'prime'

;)

While this was a very well written story I don't think this site is the appropriate venue for it. When I come to this site I want to read about Trip and T'Pol NOT T'Pol and Malcom. I have however very much enjoyed your other stories.

I personally did not think much of this story, the beginning was well thought out, but the ending came across a bit rushed. I think the amount of time you spent responding to comments suggests a lack of confidence in your writing, how much of this story was what you intended to write and how much was affected by the unbelievable number of comments. I think feedback is great positive and negataive, but don't write your story in response to it. Use it in how your frame the next one

If T'Pol-A somehow gets together again with Trip, this would be Trip-B, from the other timeline. So, wouldn't that be cheating T'Pol-B out of her mate? I don't think this situation is fixable for the T'Pol that has gotten together with Malcom. Just change your name to JustMalcom'n and give it up. Fortunately, I don't really believe in alternate timelines; it can get so messy!