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Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear - Chapter 3

Author - Rogue
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Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear

by Rogue

Rating: PG
Genre: Romance/Angst

Disclaimer: Mirror, mirror on my door, I’ll fall and worship on the floor, Paramount who owns up to the sky so blue, they don’t belong to me—so please don’t sue!

Spoilers: Through Season 3 and 4, up to and including “Home”

Summary: As T’Pol and Trip try to come to terms with her marriage, tensions on both Earth and Vulcan do their part to complicate the situation on all sides.

~~~

Chapter 3

~~~

U.S.S. Enterprise, NX-01
March 16, 2154

“Captain, please believe me when I say that we’re trying to live somewhere where we can say what we want,” Jack Tucker said. “Look at us, Captain. You don’t have criminals or people with histories of violent behavior. We’re all professors and students. We have our children with us.”

“I find it hard to believe that the Earth government would send us out here after you without a reason,” Archer said.

“Yes,” Jack said. “We’re a danger to them. It’s not that we ourselves are violent, but that we may through our words and our calls for a free Mars incite others to violence.”

He rose, turning to examine the art on the wall of Archer’s office. “Do you know why I cam to Mars, captain?”

“No, I’m afraid I don’t,” Archer replied.

Jack Tucker turned around. “I have a doctorate in exo-literature. My doctoral thesis was on the cross-cultural ability to change entire groups of people through one work of literature. How the words of one person could change everything. I took apart and examined why some works could possibly have this kind of charisma. Surak’s teachings, the teachings of the Bible and the Koran, the Treatise on Life by Sharilin, a Tellarite. I’ve made a science of dissecting rhetoric and reassembling it. I came to create a new Martian literature. I know how to use rhetoric, Captain, and I wield it, both in the classroom and in public. That’s why they’re after us, Captain. Not because we are violent—because we dared to have an opinion and we dared to air it.”

“Jack,” Trip said quietly. “What did you all say?”

His cousin turned to face him. “We said, on the public airwaves, that it was time that the Martian governor stepped down and allowed a free election and that if enough rose up and insisted upon a more active part in the government it would happen,” Jack said. “We’re tired of Earth policies and being told what to do with no say of our own.”

“Then what of the reports of violence outbreaks?” Archer demanded. “Riots? Attacking guards and police stationed there?”

“Not us,” Jack said. “They’re rioting because convicts are being shipped to Mars to be workers for new habitats. Unions are striking over governmental takeover of Martian industry and taxing upon exported items.”

“It wounds like the precursor to the American Revolution,” Archer said.

“It is a precursor to revolution,” Jack said.

~~~

Trip banged the EPS conduit with a hydrospanner, and immediately felt guilty about the clang that resulted.

“Frustrated?” Malcolm asked.

“No,” Trip said, gritting his teeth. “Why would you think that?”

“You’ve been stomping around the ship ever since we rescued our merry Martian bandits,” Malcolm said. “Or maybe it’s been since you and T’Pol returned from Vulcan.”

“Don’t beat around the bush, Malcolm, say what you really mean,” Trip said, yanking at a wire in the conduit panel.

“You’ve been moping about, banging things around for days now. For heaven’s sake, Commander, give it a rest.”

Trip sighed. “Wish it was that easy.”

“Perhaps if you went out and had some fun,” Malcolm suggested.

“The last time you and I went out and had fun, we ended up in a cellar in our skivvies, tied up, and covered in really bad alcohol,” Trip said. “We’re not having that kind of fun ever again.”

“No,” Malcolm said, heartily agreeing. “I’m talking about dinner with the personable, ever-interesting Corporal Amanda Cole.”

“You have got to be kidding,” Trip said, fitting the cover to the conduit in place.

“What?” Malcolm said. “You know she’s still interested.”

“I’m not,” Trip said, packing up his tool kit.

“Well, you need to stop acting like a sad puppy every time you see T’Pol. Even Hoshi and Travis have noticed.”

“You want someone to double-date with you and Corporal McKenzie, don’t you?” Trip said accusingly, shaking the hydrospanner at his friend.

“That is absolutely not true,” Malcolm said. “I barely know McKenzie.”

“Then why are you acting like a sad puppy every time you see her?” Trip came back. “Drop it, Malcolm. I mean it.” Irritated, he headed back for engineering, ignoring the chuckles of the Brit behind him.

~~~

“Admiral—admiral!” the captain said, stopping Forrest in mid-sentence. “These people have done nothing wrong. I’ve seen no conclusive evidence that justifies what we’re doing. I’m housing eight children in my cargo bay. Are we going to arrest them too?”

“Of course not!” Forrest said, but there was no denying the uncertain look on his face, and Archer wished he had taken this call in his ready room and not on the bridge.

“Admiral, we cannot turn these people over without further investigation. To do so would be to deny the fundamental right of innocent until proven guilty,” Archer said. “Let Starfleet keep custody of them until we have a chance to figure out what’s going on. If we’re going to be the police of our system, running after criminals, we should investigate. We should take responsibility.”

“Jon, I agree with you, but I don’t have a choice. They want us to turn them over to them, and I don’t like it, but they’re the ones controlling our funding.”

“Our funding? We’re going to allow them to indiscriminately incarcerate people for our funding?” Archer said in disbelief.

“What if we handed them over to a third party,” Malcolm suggested. “If we asked the Vulcans to look our for them?”

“The consulate would undoubtedly agree to assist,” T’Pol remarked, stepping into the Admiral’s view. “Especially with our reminder of Enterprise’s assistance with retrieving Ambassador V’Lar from the Mazarites.”

Forrest sighed. “Jon, I’m giving you a direct order. You are to proceed with all due speed to Mars to hand over the prisoners to the military governor of Mars.”

Archer swallowed the reply that would have gotten him in front of a court-martial board. “Yes, sir.”

“Good. I’ll see you when you report in. Starfleet out.” The screen flicked off.

“Damn,” Archer said. “Now we’re stuck.”

“Perhaps not,” T’Pol said. “Ensign Mayweather, how far are we from Earth?”

“Twenty-six hours, about, Commander,” Travis answered. T’Pol moved towards the captain’s chair and pressed the intercom button.

“T’Pol to Commander Tucker.”

“Tucker here.”

“Commander, what is the status of the warp engines?”

There was a pause, and T’Pol could tell he was puzzling the odd question. “Full status. We can hold Warp 4.3 for eighteen hours.”

“Commander, if we return to Earth without a proper plan, your cousin will be incarcerated. We need time to determine an alternate course of action.”

“T’Pol, we just had an antimatter injector blow, and our spares are lying in cargo bay 1 being cleaned. It’ll take me a day to put them back together, and another twelve hours to fix the damage to the EPS grid.”

“Thank you, Commander,” T’Pol said.

Archer stared at her in amazement.

“We have little time,” she reminded him.

“Hoshi, are there any Vulcan ships in range?” he asked.

“The T’Mir is three days away,” Hoshi said. “But they’re heading for Sol.”

“Send them a message requesting their assistance. Explain what’s going and ask if they are willing to take on passengers for a short time until we can arrange transport to Alpha Centauri for our friends here.”

“It is my duty to remind you that it is a direct violation of your orders to do so,” T’Pol said.

“You have a better idea?” he asked.

T’Pol raised an eyebrow. “Of course you have a better idea.”


Chapter 4

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A whole mess of folks have made comments

Really nice start! I sure hope we don't have to wait long for the rest! ;-)

three exciting chapters all at once! *kiss kiss* love it! I like the underlying tension and can't wait to see how you continue it. And their instant connection and communication. Great job. And even though I'm glad you posted 3 at once, hurry, hurry with the next!!! please ;)

Very good. I was totally engrossed in it. You have to update soon!

^I like this. Great character interaction. Please post soon :-)

Interesting story! Poor Trip; please let him get some (and let T'Pol find out about it)!!! :)

Loving the reference to Scotty in Star Trek with the warp engines

Great story. I almost didn't get past the heartbreak in the prologue, though -- it was just so sad! Poor Trip . . . I can't wait for the next angst-filled chapter!

What an intriguing story!! Please continue sooooon!

Hey, nice!
The Mars riots kinda remind me of Babylon 5, but it works here really well, too!
Please update soon!

Loving it! Please hurry with the next update!

This is a great story. Can't wait for them to meet the T'Mir.

Great story. Can't wait to see how the rest of the story develops.

Rock on. I'm at the edge of my seat. Your dialogue with both T'Pol and Tucker is spot on. Loving it!

" “T’Pol, we just had an antimatter injector blow, and our spares are lying in cargo bay 1 being cleaned. It’ll take me a day to put them back together, and another twelve hours to fix the damage to the EPS grid.”

“Thank you, Commander,” T’Pol said.

Archer stared at her in amazement."

LMAO! Excellent!