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Consequences- Part 6

Author - Samantha Quinn
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Consequences

By Samantha Quinn

Rating: PG-13
Archive: if anyone wants it, sure.
All disclaimers in Part 1.
Additional Disclaimers: I’ve added pairings. S/R is heavy in this chapter.
Spoilers: Teeny, tiny one for “Sleeping Dogs.”

Part 6

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*I wonder why T’Pol wanted to meet with me before she met with Malcolm. You’d think she would want to exercise first then meditate,* Hoshi reflected as she sat cross-legged across from T’Pol.

*Maybe she just wants to be relaxed when she gets physical with Malcolm,* the linguist thought wickedly to herself. *Eww, the mental picture of Malcolm and T’Pol having sex is not one I needed imprinted on my brain.*

Actually, it was just the thought of T’Pol having sex that Hoshi found disturbing. Malcolm on the other hand. . .

*Hmm . . . this is not an unpleasant mental image to have in my head to meditate to.*

Hoshi’s meditative partner contemplated her next move carefully. The extra meditation had helped T’Pol enormously. Still, the purpose of meditation was to rid herself of emotions. *And the purpose of the experiment is the antithesis of meditation,* T’Pol reminded herself.

“I am gratified you came this evening, Hoshi,” T’Pol finally told the woman sitting across from her.

*Wow, I wonder if Travis got first name basis this morning?* Hoshi speculated. True, it wasn’t the first time T’Pol had called Hoshi by her first name. Still, the occasion was rare enough to warrant Hoshi adding it to the list of ‘possible virus’ symptoms she, Travis, and Malcolm were compiling.

Taking T’Pol’s cue that their meditation time was over, Hoshi stood up as she told the Vulcan, “It was my pleasure, T’Pol. I’ve been using the techniques you showed me when we encountered the Klingon ship and they’ve really helped. I’ll add these to my arsenal.”

“Your . . . ‘arsenal’? Exactly what perceived enemy threat do you need to develop an ‘arsenal’ against?” T’Pol inquired.

“Um . . . just . . . well, general fears, you know?” Hoshi hesitated momentarily, not certain how to proceed. While T’Pol had been acting out of character lately, she still wasn’t exactly warm and fuzzy enough to become Hoshi’s own personal counselor.

*Fears are a positive development. Perhaps they will invoke more strenuous emotions.* T’Pol thought. A mere nanosecond later, guilt washed over T’Pol and she mentally scolded herself. *Invoking emotions should not be labeled as positive by any Vulcan*

“What type of fears, Hoshi?” T’Pol prodded. “You may have a seat. You do not need to leave immediately.”

*First name basis and now idle chit chat? Yep, right out of the Twilight Zone or Star Journey.* It took all of Hoshi’s former cultural anthropology classes to force herself to sit down with out showing her surprise.

Of course, T’Pol noticed it anyway. *It appears Vulcans are not the only ones who value the suppressing of emotions.* she noted. It did make her wonder briefly exactly who else on her human crew was suppressing emotions. And exactly what those emotions were.

“Well,” began Hoshi somewhat self-consciously, *How do I explain my fears to a Vulcan?* “I’m sure you’ve noticed, T’Pol. I’m not exactly the most brave spirit out here.”

“I have noticed,” T’Pol responded bluntly.

Hoshi flushed. “Well, to be perfectly honest, most things about Space Travel terrify me,” she remarked.

“Why then did you chose Starfleet as a career?”

“Languages,” the woman responded. “I do love being a linguist. And I figured Starfleet would be the best opportunity for me to use my linguist skills.”

“I see,” T’Pol mused. “You did not foretell any negative side affects to Starfleet?”

*Whatever’s wrong with her, she’s as blunt as ever,* noted Hoshi. “No, I guess not. Pretty human of me, huh?”

*She has taken offense. It is quite a human quality, I believe.* “I believe humans have a saying ‘look before you leap’?”

“Yes-"

“You did not do so. However, I do not believe that it is a human flaw only. I have known Vulcans who have committed the same error in judgment.”

*Including myself.*

“More importantly, you have grown in your ability to conquer your fears. As long as you continue to improve your skills, there is no need to be ashamed in needing to overcome your flaws.”

Hoshi was uncertain what to say next. She prided herself in being open to other cultures-as linguists needed to be . . . still, the whole idea of an outright complement from the Sub-Commander was difficult to believe.

“Well, um, thank you, T’Pol,” Hoshi managed to say. “I suppose I need to go so you can get ready for your da- um, appointment with Malcolm?”

T’Pol did notice the slip. Arching an eyebrow, she remarked, “I will be meeting the Captain and Commander Tucker for dinner first, Hoshi. Then I shall be meeting with Lieutenant Reed for our exercise regimen.”

“Well, I hope you enjoy yourself tonight. Thanks again for the meditation techniques.”

“You are most welcome,” T’Pol responded as the Ensign rose and began to walk towards the door. “Hoshi?”

Hoshi stopped at looked at T’Pol curiously. “Yes?”

“I do not have romantic designs for Lieutenant Reed.”

*Ah, so she noticed my slip. Oops!* “I-um, T’Pol you don’t have to justify your meeting with Malcolm to me.”

“Ordinarily, no I would not. However, I have determined that you have romantic inclinations for him yourself.”

*How in the world did she know that?* “I-how- what makes you think that, Sub-Commander?”

“I have noticed your attention to him on the bridge when you believe him not to be looking,” replied T’Pol calmly. “Among your species, looks of longing tend to be associated with feelings of sexual attachment. Thus, I deduced your desire for Lieutenant Reed. However, I am curious as to why you do not seem to have initiated a relationship with him.”

*Well, it isn’t as though I haven’t tried!* Hoshi thought bitterly. Out loud she said, “Well, you know, Malcolm has some funny ideas about things. He’s very much against fraternizing . . .”

“So you have given up?”

“It seemed the most ‘logical’ course of action, Sub-Commander.”

“I fail to see the logic in not pursuing something you desire. Especially if that desire will not cease.” The very subject of their conversation was invoking feelings within T’Pol that she tried desperately to suppress at all times. However, feelings of desire made themselves known, along with a mental image of a certain blue-eyed engineer. A sharp pain in T’Pol’s head made her wince slightly. Hoshi, however, was too caught up in her own thoughts to notice.

“I didn’t think Vulcans would find any logic in following desire.”

*Nor did I.* “Desire is not subject to the rules of logic, Ensign.”

Hoshi didn’t try to hide the surprise in her voice. “You are encouraging me to do something illogical?”

“You are a human. Such a course of action is the most logical one for your species,” replied T’Pol.

“I guess it is more logical to confront what you want instead of longing for it,” Hoshi mused.

Longing. The head discomfort increased tenfold and T’Pol could only momentarily see blackness in front of her.

“Are you all right, T’Pol?” asked a very concerned Hoshi.

“I am fine, Ensign,” T’Pol responded.

“Are you sure? Maybe you should head to sickbay-“

“No. I am fine. I do need to go meet with the Captain and Commander Tucker.”

“Well, good night then.”

“Good night. Remember, Ensign Sato, if your species had given up on space travel as easily as you have given up on Lieutenant Reed, neither of us would be standing on the Enterprise.”

Hoshi grinned in spite of herself. “Yep, and Malcolm’s just one of those men that have to be approached by the woman first.” As she turned to walk out the door, she called over her shoulder, “So is Trip.”

To Be Continued

****

A/N: The experiment is half-way over! I’m going to combine the Captain and Malcom’s chapters, just so this story doesn’t drag on more than it already is! And don’t worry, Trip will be reappearing soon. And I PROMISE that eventually, the Mind Melder conversation, Soval, and T’Pol will all come together in a semi-cohesive fashion.

A/N, II: Enjoy the light-hearted stuff now . . . eventually, this will be a somewhat dark story. At least, several chapters will be.

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One person has made comments

I love all the T'Pol introspective. I also liked Hoshi's parting shot. Can't wait to see where you go with this one. Ali D :~)