To Have Learned Nothing at All-Ch 10

To Have Learned Nothing at All

By Samantha Quinn

Rating: PG-13
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: Oh, look, Hera the Muse (named after the meanest of the Greek goddesses, of course) decided to let me update.

Chapter 10

Why Can’t I?

~~~

T’Pol was waiting beside Captain Archer when Commander Tucker, Lieutenant Reed, and the rest of the away team returned to Enterprise. As she waited, she permitted herself a glimpse into the slight crack that had been ever present in her mental wall since the first day she had come aboard. The wall was stronger now, in many ways, as her experiences in the Expanse had only served as a reason to reinforce it. Conversely, however, T’Pol’s experience in the past year had reinforced the need to be ever more watchful of the crack.

*Would not an acknowledgment of truth be more helpful in preventing a relapse in loss of emotional control?* T’Pol pondered to herself theoretically.

It was logical, was it not?

Peering closely through the crack, T’Pol examined the inner most sensations wishing to break free. Along with the ever present panic that had been her companion since Commander Tucker had left the ship one week prior, at the forefront was the same . . . feeling . . . she had experienced during her days working in surveillance. She was experiencing the same increase in adrenaline that she had known while pursuing an enemy for Vulcan High Command. The same rapid increase in her heart beat thundered in her ears, causing a dull ache in her head. Equally as familiar was the internal churning of her gut, propelling the slightest sensation of nausea. The memorable dryness of her mouth and throat stood in stark contrast to the equally well known wetness accompanying the increased activity of her apocrine sweat glands.

A human would have termed it anxiety. It was most unsettling.

As Commander Tucker exited the shuttlepod, the panic instantly fled T’Pol’s system. It was replaced by another sensation, almost as unwelcome, yet infinitely stronger. The gentle warmth was not an unfamiliar sensation, as she had been frequently experienced it in Commander Tucker’s presence. As her gaze traveled thoroughly up and down his body, T’Pol carefully examined him for any sign of malady. Finding him well, T’Pol reveled momentarily in the warmth, comfort, and relief that his physical presence brought her. It was only a fraction of a second, and certainly no longer than would be appropriate for a Vulcan recently reunited with their bondmate.

*He is not my bondmate,* the louder portion of T’Pol’s consciousness reminded her.

*No,* she agreed silently to herself, *But I do hold great affection for him.* The conscious realization of the fact soothed T’Pol’s consciousness a great deal.

Until it was interrupted by a jolt of anger.

It took a moment for T’Pol to realize to understand where the anger was coming from. She knew instinctively that the sensation did not belong to her. Her momentary confusion as to its origins was cut short, however, the moment Commander Tucker chose to speak.

“Captain, we need to talk.” The content of Commander Tucker’s request was not alarming, but the intensity of his tone was.

“I’m sure we do, Trip, and I have a pretty good idea what about, but we need to get you to sickbay first and have all of you checked out,” Archer said firmly.

“Captain, I’m fine,” Commander Tucker protested.

“I want Phlox’s assurance that that’s the case, Trip,” Archer responded.

“No one else is going to go down to the planet before I’m done with my physical?” Trip asked.

T’Pol noticed the confused expression on Archer’s face, but she readily understood that perhaps something unfortunate had occurred with the beings on the planet. “I am sure the Captain will want a full report before risking the lives of any of the rest of his crew,” she interjected.

She was rewarded with another slightly confused look from the Captain, but Archer slowly nodded his head. “That’s right, Trip. Report to my quarters as soon as Phlox is done looking you over.”

“All right,” Trip sighed in defeat and, along with the rest of the away party, turned and headed towards sickbay.

As T’Pol returned to the bridge, she pondered the implications of the fact that she had so easily detected Commander Tucker’s anger. In and of itself, the fact would not have overly concerned T’Pol. Her people were, after all, telepaths, and while touch telepathy was the most frequent means of communication, it was certainly not the only means.

Commander Tucker, however, was not a Vulcan. Nor was he a telepath. Those facts combined with the nature of her dreams were leading T’Pol to contemplate possibilities that would inherently complicate her relationship with Commander Tucker, at the very least.

Taking her station at the bridge, T’Pol tried to ignore the possibly unpleasant realities of what might be. *Possibly?* Surely such a qualifier was not necessary. Her relationship with Commander Tucker was complicated enough.

~~~

Four hours later, after Trip had spent an ample amount of time in the decon chamber, both he and Malcolm had debriefed the Captain and T’Pol on the situation with the colony. Malcolm had been dismissed, but Trip insisted on staying to further plead his case with the Captain. T’Pol remained as well.

Since they had entered the Expanse, Jonathan Archer had come to miss many things. Among these were the conversations at the Captain’s Table, and the accompanying sparring matches of his fist officer and chief engineer.

Thus, while the subject matter currently being discussed was certainly serious, it must be said that Jonathan Archer was finding tremendous joy in the current discussion involving the two said parties.

“Captain, those people are completely xenophobic. You can’t seriously be thinkin’ about letting T’Pol go down there,” Trip protested.

“I am the chief science officer aboard this vessel. It is only logical that I go down to the planet’s surface,” T’Pol retorted.

“These people wouldn’t know logic if it crawled up the leg and bit them on the inside of the ass, Captain.”

“That is an . . .irrational action to assign to logic. Perhaps you would be better off associating it to the emotionalism you are experiencing.”

“Emotionalism? I’m not experiencing any ‘emotionalism,’ T’Pol.”

“Then what would you term it? You are certainly not behaving within any rational perimeters.”

“Rational . . . T’Pol – Captain, these people aren’t rational. I’ve already told you – Malcolm and I both –how they acted.”

“You became upset because they asked you not to waste food,” T’Pol pointed out. “Yet you insist they are illogical?”

Trip responded by placing his hands on his hips in a fashion Archer had seen many times the first year of the Enterprise’s mission. The return of the familiar gesture warmed a small portion of Archer’s heart, even while the other portion, the one that had been jaded by the fighting with the Xindi, weighted what T’Pol and Trip were saying.

“Captain, even Admiral Forrest knows what type of people live on this colony,” Trip said finally. “Ya aren’t really thinking of letting her go down there, are you?”

“T’Pol, isn’t there any way you can just tell Anders what type of scans to perform?” Archer asked.

Immediately his first officer responded with a stiffening of her back and a clasp of her hands behind her back. “What you propose is not only difficult, but inefficient, and in all probability would postpone the crew’s homecoming by an additional week.”

“I’m willing to take whatever additional time is needed,” Archer responded.

“Additional time is not needed,” T’Pol reminded him.

“Captain-“ Trip began, only to be interrupted by a very non-pleased Vulcan whose arms were crossed in a manner that would have translated to irate, if T’Pol had been human.

“Captain, both Lieutenant Reed and Commander Tucker have testified that, irrespective of the colony’s reputation, the colony requires only strict adherence to the laws of governance. This is a required law by many planets, including my own. If visitors were allowed to behave in any fashion they wished, it would be a detriment to the law, peace, and order,” T’Pol finished.

Both T’Pol and Trip were looking at him expectantly. Suddenly, any and all joy Archer had been getting from the conversation had disappeared as the full weight of what he was responsible for deciding settled in his mind. “While the away team was on the planet, Mayor Lewis was in contact several times. His communications grew in number the closer we got to a deadline without any progress. I’ve already spoken to Admiral Forrest about this. He left this message to play for you, T’Pol.”

T’Pol’s eyebrows rose to demonstrate the unexpectedness of the news, and Trip shifted his weight to demonstrate his anxiety as Archer pressed the appropriate button on the view screen. Within seconds the face of Admiral Forrest filled the screen. He was older than he had been the last time he’d been seen only by a year, yet the additional wrinkles and loss of hair seemed to stretch that amount exponentially.

“Sub-Commander T’Pol,” the Admiral began, a warm smile filling his tired face at the sound of the Vulcan’s name. “Let me first thank you for all that you have done thus far for our planet. Leaving High Command could not have been an easy decision, but judging from the Captain’s reports, Enterprise wouldn’t have made it without you. So, on behalf of the people of Earth, I extend my deepest gratitude.

Captain Archer has also informed me that the APA I colony is asking for you to come to the surface to fix whatever seismic problems they have. While Starfleet would appreciate any help you have to offer, we are also sensitive to the fact that these humans are among our most intolerant.

Neither Captain Archer nor I will order to you to go. The decision is entirely yours, Sub-Commander. ”

There was a brief nod before the screen went black. Archer turned to look back at his first officer carefully. She waited only for the screen to fade to black before turning back to face him. “We have only approximately one week before the next ionic distortion. If we wait much longer, the crew will not be able to return to Earth for another fortnight. I am certain no one wants that.”

“T’Pol – “ Trip began.

If possible, the Vulcan’s height increased by three full inches as she answered his unspoken protest. “Admiral Forrest made it clear that the decision was up to my discretion, Commander.”

“Yes, he did, T’Pol, and if you want to go down to the planet, no one on board is going to stop you. Now, Trip, according to your and Malcolm’s reports, we’ll need to send another engineer down to the planet to secure the sewage systems?” Archer interrupted, hoping to stall the rest of the argument. After all, as T’Pol had pointed out, the sooner they went to the planet and finished up this mess, the sooner they could go home.

“Yep, the repairs Malcolm and I made were only temporary. Another seismic disruption or two, and the whole colony will have their showers stocked with poop. Again.” Trip made a face that indicated very clearly that he was recalling being knee deep in excrement.

“Okay. Who would you recommend I send from your team?”

“Me,” was Trip’s quick reply.

“You?” Archer questioned.

“Given your intense dislike of the colonists, that would be an unwise course of action,” T’Pol argued.

“I can stifle my dislike of the colonists while I’m on the planet,” Trip retorted, “And since I’m already familiar with the sewage system, we’d save a lot of time and help the colonists a lot more. . . efficiently. That is why we’re going, isn’t it, Sub-Commander?”

T’Pol chose only to glower at him quietly.

“All right, Trip, I’ll send you. I do want this wrapped up as soon as possible. But, Trip, regardless of how you feel about them – “

“I won’t cause a diplomatic incident, Captain.”

Archer smiled and nodded. “I know you won’t, Trip. It’s not you I don’t trust. It’s the colonists. Be extra . . . nice to them. Now, unless there’s anything else, I think it’s safe for you to depart. I’ll walk you to the shuttle bay.”
~~~
On the way to the shuttle pod, Trip’s anger grew in considerable bounds. It took a good deal of Vulcan strength to block the sensation. Even as she managed to do so, however, T’Pol become acutely aware of another of Trip’s emotions.

It was fear.

~~~

Chapter 11

Return to Chapter 9

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!

Four of you have made comments

Things are getting more interesting in this litle fic. Are our favorite couple going to do the nasty down on the planet? Oh yah! Great characterization as usual and the story flows very nicely. You move in and out of characters heads with ease and your dialogue is well-placed. But then, this is not surprising. Your usual great stuff.

Oh so glad to see this back! I love Trip's attempts to keep T'Pol safe. And T'Pol's musings right on target.

Archer -- I liked the posts Archer.

Nicely done.

Great update. I wish that Trip and T'Pol would have had some down time together. But at least Trip was permitted to go with T'Pol. I wonder if Trip is sensing any of T'Pol's emotions?

Oh yes, loving this! I particularly enjoyed Jon's vicarious pleasure at listening to Trip and T'Pol verbally sparring about her going down to the planet. At least they will both be going this time. Thanks for a great story, can't wait for the next part. Ali D :~)