To Have Learned Nothing at All- Ch 3

To Have Learned Nothing At All

By Samantha Quinn

Rating: PG-13, Drama/General
Disclaimer: Nothing’s changed. I still don’t own Star Trek or its characters and am still not making any money from this. Please don’t sue.
A/N: Thanks to my wonderful betas: Hopeful Nebula and K. Phillips for again whipping this chapter into shape. Any mistakes that remain are 159 percent my fault. By the way, this *does* have a plot other than T/T talking about The Wizard of Oz. It’s just forming awwwwwfuly sloooooooow.

Chapter 3

There’s a Land That I Heard Of . . .

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A circle of scowls greeted Jonathan Archer’s announcement and confirmed his earlier belief. His crew was not happy. Unfortunately, the people that they should have been angry at were not available. Thus, the Captain was destined to absorb the brunt of their abhorrence upon receiving the revolting news that they were not going home right away.

Or at least, he had expected to. The Captain felt a twinge of regret as his crew sat only in disappointed silence in reaction to his news. While their facial expressions clearly showed them to be disgruntled, they refused to express their discontent verbally. Archer chose to see such hesitation as proof of their professionalism. In truth, however, he could not help but wonder whether they would have been more forthcoming prior to their journey to the Expanse. Such reserve was to be expected from T’Pol and Malcolm, but not the other officers.

He was relieved, however, when T’Pol broke their silence. “What tasks do the colonists require assistance with?”

Allowing himself an inward smile at his pragmatic science officer, Archer responded, “They need help with their sewage and security systems. Trip and Malcolm, I want you to be in charge of correcting those.”

This did elicit a verbal response from Trip. True, it was minimal - a groan at best, a whimper in all probability – but it was enough to provoke a return response from the Captain. “Yes, Trip, I’m aware you aren’t the sanitation engineer, but I’m putting you in charge of the project anyway,” Archer replied in retort.

Archer allowed himself a feeling of satisfaction that had been considerably absent since their descent into the Expanse, as the expressions of both surprise and delight splashed across the younger man’s face. The reference to their conversations with the school children had seemed so distant to the Captain now that Archer had wondered if Trip would remember the event. From the reaction upon Trip’s face, Archer surmised that engineer had remembered indeed. Filing that information away happily, the Captain continued, “Both of you take as many men as you need. The colony is also having problems with some type of seismic activity. I’ll be sending Dr. Anders and a science crew down to the surface to investigate.”

With the exception of T’Pol, Archer’s entire senior staff responded with looks of bewilderment at hearing his last command.

T’Pol may not have visibly expressed her surprise, but she verbally acknowledged that such a turn of events was not typical. “Is there a particular reason Dr. Anders will be leading the science crew?” she questioned.

Archer had not been looking forward to this conversation. Experience had taught him, however, that it was best to be as direct as possible when conversing with T’Pol. Glancing briefly in her direction before responding to the crew at large, he answered, “It turns out that the colonists are known to have some . . . xenophobic qualities. After the Xindi attack on Earth, the APA group, and others like it, began to protest human-alien interaction.”

“What’s that have to do with T’Pol?” Trip demanded. “She’s not a Xindi.”

“That much is obvious, Commander Tucker,” T’Pol deadpanned. “Regardless, I am an alien.”

“But the Vulcans didn’t attack Earth,” Trip reminded her. “It doesn’t make any sense for them to associate Vulcans with the Xindi.”

When T’Pol responded, her voice was noticeably quieter. “In case you have forgotten, Commander, my people were not in favor of joining Earth in the pursuit of the Xindi.”

Trip opened his mouth as though to respond, closed it, and glanced down at the console in front of him. Archer noted the exchange between them, and again felt a momentary twinge of regret at being left out. The fact that never before would Trip have conceded so easily to the Vulcan was also not lost upon the Captain. Archer briefly wondered if the rumor mill plaguing his ship was correct in ascertaining the nature of their relationship. Deciding not to dwell upon the possibility that once he would have known for certain, Archer continued, “Apparently the colony’s main contention is that Earth’s morals and ethics have been compromised by alien interaction.”

Trip’s head snapped up at that, interrupting his silent communication with the console in front of him. “That’s ridiculous,” he argued.

Archer could not help but reflect that when they had left Earth, Trip had been just as pre-disposed against Vulcans as he had been. To hear his friend staunchly defending the non-human lifestyle was an interesting change of events, Archer mused. “Yes, Trip, I agree. But the political situation is delicate. We’ve been warned not to anger them.” Turning a sympathetic glance to T’Pol, he added, “Even if they certainly don’t speak for us.”

“Dr. Anders is very competent,” T’Pol responded. “Unless the problem is exceedingly complicated, I doubt it shall be beyond his capability to fix.”

Archer took the comment as the conversation ender it was intended to be. “Very well. Travis, you have the co-ordinates. Set course immediately-warp 4. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can be done and on our way home.”

With those thoughts in mind, the senior crew filed out of the command center, each of them hoping that the diversion to the human colony would be a brief one.

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From what the Captain had stated, T’Pol had been expecting coldness or hostility from the wayward colony – or both. The man on the screen in front of them presented a mood that was the very opposite of hostility. Slightly bent with age, the leader of the colony appeared to be at least in his seventies, with the thinning gray hair to prove it. His blue eyes looked sociable enough, hidden as they were behind the corrective eyewear that most humans hadn’t worn in almost half a century. T’Pol took such eyewear to be an open sign of defiance against the current state of humanity. The blatant hypocrisy of the leader wearing the glasses while simultaneously using a state of the art communication system to confer with a starship was apparently lost upon the leader. It was not lost, however, upon T’Pol and she wondered idly if the colony displayed such ignorance in the rest of their decisions. She suppressed that train of thought as the man began to speak.

“Ah, Captain Archer. On behalf of the human race, let me be the first to thank you and your crew for your efforts in extinguishing the Xindi threat,” the leader stated cheerfully.

The Captain appeared to be as surprised as T’Pol. Unlike the Vulcan, however, the human captain was weak enough to vocalize his state of mental confusion. There was decided hesitation before Archer responded. “Yes, I’m Captain Jonathan Archer of the Starship Enterprise. You must be the leader of the APA I colony?”

“Yes. I’m Mayor Roger Lewis,” the leader confirmed. T’Pol noted that when the leader spoke, his larger frame shook with mirth, as though he were laughing inwardly at some hoax of which only he was aware. Reflecting that human behavior still eluded her comprehension even after having spent so much time amongst them, T’Pol listened intently while the Captain looked her words to express his purpose.

“We’ve received word from Starfleet that you need some help with your sewage and security systems,” Archer stated.

Lewis nodded. “We are also having some seismic difficulties,” he added hastily.

A frown crossed the Captain’s face and remained there as he answered, “I’m sending down my chief engineer and tactical officer to deal with the sewage and security systems. I'll also send down a geology team to help with the seismic difficulties.”

“I shall look forward to meeting your crew, Captain,” Lewis said solemnly. “Please be aware that they must be sent down within the next twenty minutes before the storms begin again.”

T’Pol reflected that the ion distortions in the atmosphere might require a more serious moniker than “storms,” but she remained silent.

Archer nodded. “My science officer has informed me of the situation, Mayor Lewis. According to her calculations, the storms last about a week?”

“Yes. During that time, it is impossible for anyone to enter or leave the planet’s atmosphere,” Lewis commented. “Your science officer must be quite remarkable.”

“She is,” Archer responded. “She’s also a Vulcan.”

T’Pol reflected that the Captain’s time in conflict had only served to worsen his diplomatic skills. While at war, the best diplomacy had often come in the form of phase cannons, the Captain had been fond of reiterating. Still, T’Pol had to restrain a sigh at his bluntness towards Mayor Lewis. Archer’s protectiveness towards her had been completely unnecessary, as well as highly territorial.

Lewis simply nodded. “I am aware of the diversity of your crew, Captain. While I am not certain what you have heard about our organization, let me assure you that Sub-Commander T’Pol will be treated with the utmost respect during her stay on our colony.”

Archer turned to give her a surprised look. T’Pol refused to so much as raise an eyebrow. Turning back towards the screen, Archer answered, “Well, she won’t be on the science team. Dr. Anders, our geologist, shall meet you on the surface with the rest of the away team fifteen minutes from now.”

Lewis paused, as though he thought briefly about saying something else. Apparently thinking better of it, he shook his head and answered only, “We thank you for your hospitality, Captain,” before severing the connection.

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After the connection was severed, the Enterprise crew was not privy to the conversation between Lewis and his governing council, who had remained out of sight, but within earshot of the exchange.

“You should have encouraged them to send the Vulcan,” Councilman Dobrejeck argued.

“Yes, she would have provided ample opportunity to test our newly developed mental disciplines,” Councilman Trinh agreed. “Vulcans are known for their mental strengths. If she could be broken, anyone could.”

“Enough,” Mayor Lewis answered sternly. “The Enterprise has done all of Earth a great service. For that, we owe them immensely. We will not repay them by luring their crew members into duress. While they are here, they will be treated as guests.”

“As long as they obey our laws,” Trinh stated forcefully.

“Of course,” Lewis agreed.

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In the corridor on the way to the shuttle bay, Archer turned to T’Pol and remarked, “They aren’t what I was expecting.”

“You were expecting open hostility?” she surmised.

Archer scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Something like that,” he answered.

“According to Vulcan customs, he did demonstrate considerable antagonism,” T’Pol answered. At the Captain’s questioning look, she continued, “While Vulcans do not typically demonstrate open hostility, there are times when we exhibit . . . shunning. . .of members of our society. The most common method of expressing this sentiment is by ignoring their presence within our society. Mayor Lewis did this while were on the bridge. Even as he spoke about me, he did not acknowledge my presence.”

Archer shrugged. “Maybe he was simply focusing on me because I’m the Captain,” he suggested. “After all, he wouldn’t be following Vulcan tradition in any event.”

T’Pol doubted that humans’ methods of shunning individuals varied greatly from that of her people, but she disregarded the thought as they entered the shuttle bay. Lieutenant Reed and Commander Tucker were preparing to board with their perspective teams. Her Vulcan hearing could faintly detect the Lieutenant heckling the Commander about something related to their perspective homelands. The lieutenant, it seemed, was under the opinion that Malaysian summers were more unbearable than Floridian summers while Commander Tucker proclaimed that Floridian summers were hot enough to “Make Lucifer himself sigh.”

T’Pol marveled at the tenacity of their desire to return home, even in light of being diverted, and wondered if she would ever share the urge to return to her home world.

It was unlikely, she decided.

“Trip, Malcolm,” Archer was greeting his senior officers. At the Captain’s voice, the good natured banter ceased and T’Pol noted that both Lieutenant Reed and Commander Tucker seemed instantly at ill ease in their Captain’s presence. Years ago, T’Pol would have commended their increased professionalism in front of the Captain. Currently, however, she couldn’t help but remember how relaxed they had at one time been – even Lieutenant Reed - and think that perhaps the ship had been better off with such a system. T’Pol justified her change in view by noting the decrease in morale that had to be associated with the loss of the previous command structure.

“Captain,” Commander Tucker greeted his old friend formally, with his hands behind his back. “Malcolm and I have everything ready to go. The engineers and armory crew are going with Malcolm- Dr. Anders is traveling with me.”

Archer nodded his approval. “How many of you are going in total?”

“Just five of us. Malcolm’s taking Tanner and Luxin; Anders is taking Shattuck,” Trip replied.

“You aren’t taking anyone from engineering?” Archer questioned.

Trip shook his head. “From what the Admiral sent, it’s a one man job. Besides, I don’t like the idea of sending my crew down there when it could be dangerous.”

Archer winced but nodded. “I know the feeling.”

“There is no need for you to feel negligent in your duties, Captain,” T’Pol interrupted. “Given the possibly volatile environment of the colonists, it is best to keep the numbers of the away team as small as possible.”

“I know,” Archer answered with a sigh.

“In addition, the away team will be gone for at least a week. The ship should not be without her captain for that long,” T’Pol argued.

“I get the point, T’Pol. I’m staying,” Archer answered, holding up a hand to stop any additional waves of protest.

T’Pol decided not to take the comment as the rebuke the Captain intended and turned back towards Commander Tucker, who had been watching her curiously. Catching his gaze, she commented, “That will make you the senior officer in charge, Commander Tucker. Please remember that for the entire week as you are. . . making decisions on the planet.”

Trip pouted slightly before remarking cheekily, “I’ll watch where I put my paws, T’Pol, don’t worry.”

T’Pol arched an eyebrow in response. She noted that before the eyebrow had completed its elevation, the man’s pout transgressed into a smirk. “That would be wise, Commander, as there will be no Dorothy to look out for you on the planet’s surface,” she retorted. Vaguely aware of the startled glances they were receiving from Lieutenant Reed and Captain Archer, T’Pol allowed herself to be contented with the fall of Commander Tucker’s smirk.

“I guess I’ll just have to hope for a good witch to look out for me then, huh?” Trip retorted, placing his hands on his hips with slight irritation.

T’Pol responded by crossing her own arms in front of her. “I should certainly hope your activities on the planet would keep you occupied enough that you will not have time to search for any additional laps to visit,” she answered icily. In fact, it was perhaps more icily than was proper for a Vulcan.

Commander Tucker had the grace to look shocked. Perhaps sensing the direness of the Commander’s situation, Archer interjected, “As much as I hate to interrupt this conversation, the team has to leave now, or we’ll be stuck here an extra two weeks. Trip, behave, and make sure you check in once every six hours.”

After giving assurances to his capability of following orders, Commander Tucker and Lieutenant Reed entered Shuttle pods One and Two with their respective crews. T’Pol followed Archer to the turbolift silently. She remembered a time when the captain would have kept up a steady banter, and briefly lamented that the time had passed. Though she had never reciprocated the captain’s inappropriate affection, she had considered him a friend. That relationship had been a casualty of the Xindi conflict, as much as the seven million dead Humans.

Remembering her chastisement of Commander Tucker for what she had believed to be inaction in his dealings with the captain, T’Pol decided upon a proactive course and questioned, “Captain, have you been to Florida?”

Somewhat surprised by her questioning, Archer nodded. “Yes, I have. I’ve had the privilege of attending a Tucker family gathering three times, as a matter of fact.”

Forcing herself to remember that jealousy was an emotion improper for Vulcans, T’Pol asked, “Did you find the temperature unduly warm?”

If Archer wondered about his first officer’s line of questioning, he didn’t show it. “I’m from California. Both are known for year round summers,” he answered. “Both are pretty warm, but having been to Vulcan, I can safely say you wouldn’t find it ‘unduly warm’ at all. You might find it quite comfortable, in fact.”

T’Pol supposed that she would as well. She did not choose to dwell upon the fact that her comfort would have little to do with the region’s temperature. The rest of the turbolift ride continued in silence and T’Pol again turned her thoughts to the change in the Captain’s demeanor that was so evident by his lack of conversation.

When they arrived to the bridge, Ensign Sato ended any concern T’Pol had towards Archer’s change in character with one sentence: “T’Pol, we’ve just received an encrypted message from Vulcan.”

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Three people have made comments

You know I like this, but it looks like somebody forgot an tag.

Make that an [/i] tag... you know what I mean.

Exellent, I particularly enjoyed the banter between T'Pol and Trip. It is almost as if T'Pol is taking it upon herself to provide the missing light relief and boy, is it welcome! Hope there is more soon, well done and many thanks for such a enjoyable tale. Ali D :~)