Consequences-Part 18

Consequences

By Samantha E. Quinn

Disclaimers in Part I.
Spoilers: “Broken Bow,” “Cease Fire.”
A/N: Ugh, last chapter has a few grammatical mistakes. Sorry. I’m sure this one does too. I will get around to re-proofing it soon. The thesis is due next week, so. . . .

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Part 18

Acknowledgments

After T’Pol had returned to her quarters following her confrontation with Captain Archer, she began to meditate immediately. Verbal language was not the only one Ensign Sato spoke. Thus, even though they were technically sharing T’Pol’s quarters, Hoshi knew when to make herself scarce. She left to allow T’Pol some much needed privacy time. It was 2330 before Hoshi returned and she was somewhat surprised to discover the Vulcan still awake.

“Oh! T’Pol, I thought you’d be finished meditating for now,” Hoshi lamented. “I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

“Please come in, Ensign,” T’Pol greeted her. “There is no reason for you to believe you are intruding. Until the Ambassadors leave, these are your quarters as well as mine.”

“Well. . . I know,” Hoshi fumbled. “But. . . well. . .”

“Well what, Ensign?” T’Pol asked. Her headache had remained and T’Pol found herself having decidedly un-Vulcan irritation towards the linguist.

“Um. . . there’s something I wanted to discuss with you,” Hoshi managed finally.
T’Pol nodded. “What do you wish to discuss, Ensign?” she inquired.

“It’s just . . . well, I’m having breakfast with the Captain tomorrow,” Hoshi stumbled.

T’Pol nodded again, wondering if her headache would ever cease. “Is Lieutenant Reed joining you?” she asked the frustrated Ensign in front of her.
Hoshi sat down on the bed in surprise. *The Captain was telling the truth!* she noted. Of course, Hoshi hadn’t believed that the Captain had been *lying* but the likelihood of a *Vulcan* playing matchmaker. . . it was still too much for Hoshi to fathom.

“He is joining us,” Hoshi commented. “The Captain saysitwasyouridea.” The last part of her sentence came out together, in a rush.

T’Pol raised an eyebrow. “That is correct.”

There was a moment of silence, every nanosecond of which grated on Hoshi’s nerves. Finally, she demanded, “Well, what prompted you to . . .?” Again Hoshi trailed off, searching for the correct, non-offensive term.

T’Pol looked at Hoshi in confusion. “You indicated you were attracted to Lieutenant Reed. He reciprocates that attraction.”

Hoshi flushed. “But . . . well, you’re a Vulcan,” she managed. *Great, Hoshi, that sounded really intelligent.*

“Yes. On Vulcan, couples do not come together because of a mutual attraction, as humans are wont to do. Vulcan couples have a mediator,” T’Pol informed her. “Usually the mediator comes in form of their parents. However, that is not always the case.”

“A mediator. . . like a matchmaker?” Hoshi questioned. *What I thought was un-Vulcan behavior couldn’t have been more Vulcan.*

“A term I am unfamiliar with, but it is astonishingly accurate. The mediator is in charge of ‘making’ the ‘matches.’ In the case of you and Lieutenant Reed, I deemed it appropriate to assume the role of mediator. . . or ‘matchmaker,’” T’Pol informed her.

“Well. . . uh. . . thanks. But why us?” Hoshi wondered.

T’Pol could feel her headache increasing with the tone of this conversation. “You are equally attracted to one another. It is logical,” she informed the Ensign.

“But mediators don’t act on attraction, do they?” Hoshi pressed.

T’Pol’s brows furrowed a bit. “No, they do not. However, neither you nor Lieutenant Reed are Vulcan. Attraction is important to your species.”

Hoshi nodded and began to get ready for bed when she heard T’Pol speak again. “There is a logical component for my role as a mediator for you and Lieutenant Reed.”

“Oh, really?” Hoshi asked in surprise. *It’s okay, T’Pol, you don’t have to rationalize everything to me.*

“Indeed. Lieutenant Reed represses his emotions exceedingly well-almost as well as a Vulcan.”

*That’s for damn sure,* Hoshi thought with a grin.

“You, on the other hand, are much more . . . emotional and empathetic in your expressions. The combination shall serve to counterbalance either tendency towards extreme.” T’Pol paused then remarked, “Something your offspring should find immensely beneficial.”

Hoshi laughed softly. “Are we discussing me and Malcolm or . . . another couple?” she pressed of the Vulcan.

“It is late, Ensign. I require sleep,” T’Pol replied.

*Hmm. . . Vulcans need mediators huh?* Hoshi thought as she crawled into bed. Then she thought with a grin of her future ‘offspring.’ *I wonder how we can make T’Pol a human sounding name. . . * Despite herself, Hoshi couldn’t help but chuckle at the idea of a ‘Polly Reed.’

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The next morning, T’Pol sat quietly with Ambassador Soval in the Mess Hall. Soval, on the other hand, was not at a loss of words.

“These humans . . .how do you find them bearable to live with? They are uncouth, uncivilized, barbaric, and childish. Further, their odor is appalling,”
*I am certain they find certain Vulcan traits undesirable as well.* T’Pol thought. Unwillingly, her mind recalled confrontations with Commander Tucker.

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“Then again, loyalty’s an emotion, isn’t it?”

“Proving just how consistent you Vulcans can be.”

“Sounds like your getting a little volatile yourself, Sub-Commander. I thought you had your emotions all locked up? Having a little problem, are you?”

"Say one more word of that gibberish and I'm going to split you in two.”

“Class D! That’s uninhabitable. Why are you fightin’ over it?”

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“T’Pol. Are you listening to me?”

*It would be easier if you would say something interesting,* T’Pol thought inwardly. To Soval, she merely replied, “Of course. You are unhappy with the lifestyle of humans. It is unlikely that they will change it for you.”

Soval leaned back in his chair and crossed his hands in front of him. “You enjoy your time on the ship, Sub-Commander?” he demanded.

“I find my work on the vessel to be intellectually rewarding,” she responded carefully. To T’Pol’s great irritation, her headache had not diminished as her previous ones had. Thus, she found having the patience to listen to Ambassador Soval quite taxing on her nerves.

“How emotional of you,” replied Ambassador Soval.

“As is hatred,” replied T’Pol. “As is bigotry.” As was the feeling of satisfaction that swept over T’Pol as she saw the reaction her words provoked in the Ambassador. Changing the subject, she asked, “Has something occurred to your nose?”

“Yes. Your rather irrational engineer, Charles Tucker, I believe is his name, succeeding in breaking it,” Soval informed her. He watched her carefully for any signs of emotion such a revelation might reveal.

“His name is Charles Tucker III,” T’Pol responded. “What actions provoked Commander Tucker into striking you?”

“I did nothing,” Soval replied. “Rather, your chief engineer-“

“Commander Tucker is an irrational human. Regardless, he would not strike without being provided with what he viewed to be ample provocation,” T’Pol argued.

Soval’s look was one of considerable disdain. “You have feelings for the human,” he remarked.

“No,” T’Pol informed him. “I do not. I simply know his behavior.”

“A lie, T’Pol? You become more human than I would have thought possible.

Did you learn nothing from your experience with David? Your other human?” Soval questioned.

T’Pol was quiet for a moment. “We will not speak of that human. It is illogical to do so. He has no purpose in this conversation.”

They ate in silence for several minutes before Soval remarked, “He spoke of you. He is concerned that I would remove you from the ship.”

T’Pol regarded him. “What reason did he have to believe that?”

“I told him your illness had progressed too far for you to continue serving on the ship. You need to be removed. That much is obvious.”

T’Pol’s headache increased as she realized Trip had been protecting her. It took all of her Vulcan reserve to push the thought away. “You provoked him,” she accused the Ambassador.

“I did not,” Soval maintained.

“It was unnecessary of you to make such allegations when you alone do not have the power to remove me from this ship. You knew it would upset Commander Tucker. It was unnecessary,” T’Pol’s voice barely concealed the anger she felt for the man sitting in front of her.

“Why should it have provoked Commander Tucker? Unless you are pursuing an inappropriate relationship with the Commander?” Soval asked. “As for my authority, I am certain the High Command will agree with my recommendations as soon as they realize the extent of your fraternization with the human.”

T’Pol set her spoon down on the table, fighting the urge to strike the man in front of her. *My emotions have been polluted. I will not allow Soval to see it.* Before she could answer his allegations, Archer’s voice interrupted them over the intercom. “Ambassadors Soval and Shran to the bridge.”

Soval stood. “We shall continue this conversation, T’Pol,” he stated.

T’Pol raised an eyebrow. “Indeed,” she acknowledged.

As Soval left, T’Pol fought the illogical urge to see Commander Tucker. *It is out of character for the Commander Tucker to strike someone with such little provocation.* T’Pol told herself.

With only another moment’s hesitation, T’Pol realized what she must do. *Captain Archer will assume my questioning to be a matter of personal wanting. Lieutenant Reed will understand my questioning as a matter of protocol.*

Thoroughly convinced of her reasoning, T’Pol headed in the direction of the armory.

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To Be Continued.

Continue to Part 19

Return to Part 17

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Four of you have made comments

I loved this! Just wish Trip had hit Soval harder but breaking his nose *is* a good start! I loved it that T'Pol was getting more and more irritated with Soval and actually defending Trip. At one point I thought she was going to slug Soval - chuckle. Now that I would queue up to see! Excellent, can hardly wait for the next part. Ali D :~)

hmmmmm the story gets more and more intriguing!

Ooh I liked this part. This just keeps getting more and more interesting. I really wouldn't want to be Soval when T'Pol works out what he's been up to.

And the plot thickens... I can just imagine how interesting a conversation between T'Pol and Trip is going to be. ;)