A Pair of Star-Crossed Lovers or Simply Poor Communicators?

“Men are from Earth, women are from Vulcan” Challenge

A Pair of Star-Crossed Lovers or Simply Poor Communicators?

By Shouldknowbetter

Disclaimer: Paramount owns the characters, the Star Trek franchise and the universe. I just use them for my own private, non-profit making amusement.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Trip and T’Pol fall out over the details of the memorial service for their daughter.
Genre: "Men are from Earth/Women are from Vulcan Challenge," Episode addition

Notes:
1. I never tried an episode addition story before, but the inevitable aftermath of “Terra Prime” fitted well with the challenge. Being a nitpicker, I also wanted to know why, in TWTV, T’Pol had never met Trip’s parents when I’m sure they’d have attended their granddaughter’s memorial service.
2. For anyone who is surprised at Soval’s behaviour in this story, I guess I should explain that, in my very peculiar version of the Star Trek universe, Soval was a good friend of T’Pol’s mother and so keeps a paternal eye on T’Pol. He has also recently acquired a Human girlfriend, and so knows that a Vulcan may have a rewarding relationship with a Human.
3. I’m indebted to the Vulcan Language Institute for the details of a Vulcan memorial service.
4. I’m also indebted to myst123 for making me get my finger out and write something.

About 30 seconds after the end of ‘Terra Prime’:

Quiet moments on Enterprise had been few and far between over the four years since her launch. If her crew weren’t fighting for their lives, they tended to be rushing to the aid of others. Even if those two circumstances didn’t prevail, the comm. system had a bad habit of interrupting private conversations, and even the engines had sometimes played up at crucial moments. So while Tucker’s grief still manifested itself in the tightness in his chest and the hollowness in his stomach, he found some surcease from sitting in silence beside T’Pol, her hand small and warm and strong under his. But he wasn’t ready to deal with the situation when she said quietly, “I have asked Ambassador Soval to locate a Vulcan priestess to officiate at the memorial service.”

He stared blankly back. “Huh?”

“I have asked Ambassador Soval to locate a Vulcan priestess to officiate at the memorial service.” T’Pol’s tone was firmer the second time, perhaps holding a trace of impatience.

“Asked …” Tucker shook his head to stop himself repeating her words: he’d heard them clearly enough the first two times. “But Captain Archer said he’d do it.”

She withdrew her hand from his. “I explained the matter to him. He said he would speak to you.”

“Well, he didn’t! T’Pol,” he frowned at her, confused and hurt, “why couldn’t you tell me yourself?”

“You were with Elizabeth. I did not wish to disturb you.”

He turned his head away abruptly as grief threatened to swamp him again. “I thought,” he swallowed, “we could keep it simple. Mom and dad’ll be there. You can meet them after.”

“No.”

“Why not? You introduced me to your mom.”

“We will withdraw as soon as the ceremony is complete. It is the Vulcan way.”

“Well, it sure as hell isn’t the Human way!”

That Tucker’s grief had transmuted to anger did not have a positive effect on T’Pol. She straightened her back, laying her IDIC to one side before raising her eyes to his. “Then perhaps you should proceed as you see fit. As will I.”

“Maybe I’ll do just that!” Tucker bounced to his feet and strode to the door, although he hesitated with his hand on the release mechanism, knowing that he was behaving badly and half willing to relent. But he didn’t know that part of the hurt he felt was T’Pol’s own, nor that his flash of temper had shaken her fragile composure. Her gaze remained fixed on the opposite wall while she calmed herself and so all he could see was her profile that he thought looked implacable. He made to speak, then shook his head and let himself out of the cabin.

~

Given time to reflect on the irrationality of their latest argument, Tucker and T’Pol might have managed a reconciliation, maybe even a rational discussion. But fate, as usual, seemed to be against them. The summons to a meeting with Admiral Gardiner at Starfleet HQ wasn’t one that could be ignored. If Archer, who had also been included in the request, noticed that Tucker and T’Pol ignored each other during the short shuttle trip, he put it down to their own unique coping method.

That Gardiner hadn’t invited the Enterprise officers to offer his condolences became clear from the moment he instructed them to take seats at the wide table. Archer took an assessing look the three admirals arranged on the opposite side, frowned briefly at Soval who occupied the forth seat, then turned to Gardiner. “This looks like a hearing, admiral. Should we have brought counsel?”

“It’s not gone that far yet, captain.” The admiral flicked a quick look at Tucker and T’Pol, seated stiffly on either side of Archer. “We hope it never will.”

“Then what’s the problem?” Archer turned a not-wholly genuine smile onto Soval. “I wasn’t aware we’d offended the Vulcans lately.”

“Ambassador Soval asked to sit in.” Gardiner glanced down at the PADD before him, then folded his hands on the edge of the table. “We’re here to discuss Starfleet Regulation 201”

One corner of Archer’s mouth lifted in a smirk that said all had now become clear to him and that he wasn’t pleased with the revelation. “Conduct unbecoming.” To his left Tucker grimaced in incomprehension while on his other side one of T’Pol’s delicate eyebrows lifted.

“I’m pleased to know you’ve not forgotten Starfleet policy, Captain Archer. May I ask why you’re familiar with the details of that one?”

“I have a very good memory.”

Gardiner’s scowled, clearly not amused at Archer attitude. “I invited you here out of courtesy, captain. This is a serious matter.”

“Then get to the point.”

“The admiral’s point is obvious.” There was a distinct edge to T’Pol’s cool voice. “He refers to the speculation regarding myself and Commander Tucker. I remind you, admiral,” and her voice hardened still further, “that our daughter was created without our knowledge.”

“But the pair of you went to look for her.” Gardiner remained unmoved by T’Pol’s glare, possibly because he had become used to dealing with Soval. “Something I wouldn’t have permitted if Captain Archer had consulted me. Any joint action by you two could only add to the speculation.”
“Is that it?” Tucker sounded incredulous. “You think we brought the service into disrepute because we tried to find out who’d used us?”

“No, Commander Tucker.” The admiral switched his attention. “I’m talking about making Starfleet the target of ribaldry. I’m sure you can imagine what’s being said in the media about how crews entertain themselves during deep space missions.”

“There’s no regulation that says two officers of equal rank can’t have a relationship!”

“Are you and Commander T’Pol in a relationship, Commander Tucker?”

“With respect, admiral, that’s none of your business.”

“Where are you going with this, admiral?” Archer cut back into the confrontation, none too pleased at having his officers harassed. “If you’re planning to put Trip and T’Pol on charges, then go ahead. They won’t stick because they’ve done nothing wrong.”

“You’re the only one talking disciplinary action here, captain.” Gardiner again looked between the erring couple, his expression easing somewhat. “Commanders, what you might have done in the past is history. No mention of this meeting will appear on your records. But if there is something between you, it can’t continue if you both remain on Enterprise.”

“Which brings us to my presence here.” Soval’s voice lacked its usual bite. “T’Pol, you may return to the service of the Vulcan government. There would then be no hindrance to your relationship – if such exists.”

“Although you’d have to leave Enterprise.” Gardiner’s hasty clarification suggested that the two men had failed to agree on the precise details of Soval’s offer prior to the meeting.

But they could have saved themselves the trouble. Behind Archer’s back Tucker directed a cautious look at T’Pol to find her staring at him with an expression he couldn’t read. The only thing he could be sure of was that it wasn’t the expression of a woman prepared to sacrifice her career for his sake. Resentment hardened his heart and his voice when he lied. “My relationship with Commander T’Pol’s strictly profession, admiral. Always has been, always will be.”

Gardiner stared back for a moment, then turned to T’Pol. “Can I assume that I’ll receive the same answer from you, Commander T’Pol?”

“You can.” Her chin was up, lower lip jutting just slightly. Unnoticed by the rest, one of Soval’s eyebrows flickered briefly before he refolded his hands in his lap and appeared to lose interest in the proceedings.

“Then there’s nothing more to be said.” Gardiner exchanged a look with his fellow admirals, received faint nods from both and rose to his feet. “Starfleet regrets your daughter’s death. Please accept our condolences.” He waited until both Tucker and T’Pol, who had of necessity also risen, reluctantly acknowledged the official sympathy. “The record will show that that was the only item on the agenda of this meeting.” Then he added harshly, “But the next time I hear rumours concerning the pair of you will be the last time you serve together, if I have to introduce new regulations to prevent it. Dismissed.”

Outside the room T’Pol strode away without a backwards look, without even waiting for her captain, but Tucker took a moment to relieve his feelings by pounding a fist into the nearest wall. “Of all the …”

“Trip.” Archer cut firmly across the incipient tirade. “Don’t say it. At least not anywhere I can hear.” The engineer dropped his head, standing for a moment with hands on hips before finally nodding acknowledgement that Archer’s intervention had been timely. The captain gave his arm an encouraging squeeze. “Looks like someone’s waiting for you. I’ll go after T’Pol.”

Tucker turned wearily, the resignation in his face when he found out who awaited him almost insulting. “What can I do for you, Ambassador Soval?”

The Vulcan moved a pace or two forward from where he had been standing to one side. “I grieve with you for the loss of your child.”

The unexpected statement caused Tucker to swallow hard. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

Soval allowed a moment’s silence in recognition of the gravity of the situation then asked quietly, “Has T’Pol instructed you in the proper procedure for the memorial service?”

“No.” A grey eyebrow rose questioningly and Tucker scowled. “We haven’t exactly decided on the details yet.”

“The procedure for a Vulcan memorial service is well defined. With no siblings to speak for Elizabeth, there is nothing to decide.”

Having Soval standking in front of him, calm and infuriatingly well informed, should have stirred up Tucker’s anger again. Instead it reminded him that he had been an idiot, although he tried to wriggle out of admitting it. “There’s not been a whole lot of time for T’Pol to explain.”

“I see.” The Vulcan’s eyes went over Tucker’s shoulder to where Gardiner and his colleagues had just emerged from the admiral’s office, then Soval set off down the corridor, a slight motion of his head indicating that Tucker should follow. For a moment he considered refusing, but lingering guilt over the ambassador’s abduction from Enterprise when he had been in command made him match his pace to the Vulcan’s measured stride. “The memorial service for the dead comes down to us from Surak’s time.” There was no hint in Soval’s even tone that he resented explaining the obvious to an ignorant Human. “The ceremony is held soon after death, although the body is not present: it will already have been buried or cremated. The ceremony is usually presided over by a priestess, and is attended by the immediate family, clan members, friends and colleagues of the parents, and any others with an interest in the matter. First the priestess speaks a brief introduction, then the parents speak of their child. If they chose, so may any other children. Then the family is left in private to learn to live with their loss.” Soval halted, turning to be sure he had Tucker’s full attention. “There is nothing in the ceremony, Commander Tucker, to which I believe you could take offence.”

“You’re right.” Tucker wished he could recapture his dislike of Soval, but he’d lost it sometime over the past two years, maybe another victim of the Xindi attack. There was certainly nothing in the Vulcan’s patient explanation to rekindle it. The engineer sighed in resignation and admitted his folly. “The truth is I walked out before T’Pol could explain because I was pissed that she hadn’t told me she wanted a Vulcan ceremony before she spoke to you.”

For a second longer Soval kept him pinned with a dark-eyed stare, then resumed his deliberate pace along the corridor. “Despite considerable experience with your species, Commander Tucker,” finally exasperation could be detected in his voice, “I have yet to determine why intelligent people are capable of acts of extreme stupidity.”

Taken by surprise at the candid observation, Tucker gave a grunt of bitter laughter. “Just practise, I guess.” Then he sighed, shaking his head. “Paxton called us star-crossed. He had it about right.”

This time he provoked a raised eyebrow along with another assessing look. Then Soval surprised him again. “You choose to believe that you and T’Pol are victims of circumstance? Yet I understand that the suicides of Romeo and Juliet were the result of faulty communication.”

“You read Shakespeare?”

“It’s included in the cultural induction programme.” They exited the building and the Vulcan turned to face Tucker again. “Juliet showed some resource in dealing with her problems. Had Romeo demonstrated a little more resolution, tragedy might have been averted.”

Tucker winced, surprised that Soval had continued the literary analogy, but appreciating the point made. “Their families still wouldn’t have approved.”

“They would have become accustomed in time.” The engineer shook his head doubtfully, and Soval continued almost gently, “Commander Tucker, the most valuable lesson I have learned in dealing with others is that open communication is essential.”

“That from the Vulcan ambassador?”

“No.” Recognising that there was no venom behind the loaded words, Soval’s tone remained kind. “That from a man who nearly destroyed a very important relationship because he assumed knowledge that the other person did not, in fact, possess.”

“Yeah.” Knowing how rare it was for a Vulcan to reveal personal information, Tucker knew that he should feel more grateful for the advice. But outside of their professional roles, he and T’Pol had never once managed a full and frank discussion that didn’t end with one of them stalking out – except once, and somehow he didn’t think the culmination of that conversation was the sort of positive outcome Soval had in mind. “But we just seem to fight over everything.”

“Then it seems that Admiral Gardiner’s fears are indeed groundless.” Soval’s voice had become noticeably more brisk. “Good day, Commander Tucker.” Then he got in a parting shot just as Tucker began to sigh with relief at having survived the encounter. “But you could consider allowing your daughter’s death to bury her parents’ strife.”

~

Archer caught up with T’Pol before she made it out of the building, steering her away from the double doors and into a side corridor. “Captain.” Firmly she withdrew her arm from his grip. “Where are we going?”

“There’s something I want you to see.”

“Another time perhaps.”

“Seems like a good time to me.” Another pair of doors opened ahead of them and Archer stepped through, halting only when T’Pol remained standing in the entry.

“I am familiar with the content of this room.”

“But not as familiar as me.” The captain’s head beckoned. “Come on.”

T’Pol sighed imperceptibly and stepped reluctantly after him. Experience told her that her much-admired captain was about to make a point. Often she agreed with him, but always she preferred him to be blunt; dealing with his liking for unnecessary peroration still taxed her patience as much as it ever had Soval’s.

Archer had halted in front of a display, his expression reflecting slightly wondering pride. “Humanity’s first warp engine, built into a missile designed to destroy millions. Instead it led to a united Earth.” He turned his head to look down at T’Pol, who was studying the model critically. She had indeed visited Starfleet’s museum before, and been as perplexed then as now that one man had achieved in a few short years what had taken Vulcan scientists centuries. “Did I ever tell you that I met Zephram Cochrane?”

“No. Commander Tucker told me.”

“My dad worked for Cochrane. One day he took me to the test facility to watch a flight trial.” Archer’s mouth curved in a rueful smile. “It failed. Cochrane used some words I’d never heard before and threw a bottle of bourbon across the room. He scared the hell out of me.”

“Fascinating.” T’Pol couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of her tone. She needed to meditate, not listen to reminiscences.

“Cochrane gave me one piece of advice I never forgot.” Archer turned to smile down at her. “‘Never trust the damn Vulcans’.” T’Pol glared back, but he only grinned, expecting her to accept that it was advice he no longer followed, and moved on to another display, skipping several intervening ones. “The first prototype for the warp 5 engine. Designed by Henry Archer.”

“He died before it had even broken the warp 2 barrier.” T’Pol did not know why she had supplied such an obvious fact, unless it was in a despicable attempt to hurt the man beside her. If so it failed. Archer simply nodded.

“He did. But he knew it would work. And that I’d see it installed in Earth’s first deep space vessel.”

“He had great faith in you.”

“I’m a lot like him. He knew that.” Archer paused and when he spoke again he appeared to have changed subjects entirely although he still spoke to his father’s engine, not to the woman beside him. “My parents divorced when I was ten. Mom told me it was because there was no room in dad’s life for anything except his work. I didn’t believe her, of course. Dad loved me, spent time with me, helped me build model ships. It took me years to understand that she was right.” He finally turned to look down at T’Pol. “Dad did love me, but he wasn’t playing: he was training his successor.”

“I’m sorry.”

He shook his head, rejecting her sympathy. “It got me Enterprise. That was worth any price. But it forced to me recognise one thing: that I don’t have room in my life for anything except my work either.” T’Pol stared back, utterly confused by the direction the conversation had taken. Then Archer finally got to the point. “Trip does have that capacity. I saw that right from the start, when he tried to guess the names of some waitress’s kids so that she’d marry him.”

“Ruby.” T’Pol supplied the name without considering the implications. “Her name was Ruby.”

Her captain chuckled softly. “Which leads to my next point. I thought you had the same capacity for love, T’Pol.”

She looked away hastily. “Vulcans do not …”

“Yes, they do.”

She took a deep breath, reminding herself that Archer was her very good friend. Once she had even thought that he wanted to be more than that. She had considered the matter logically, rejected the idea and never experienced a moment’s regret. With Trip logic had never worked. “Admiral Gardiner has made Starfleet’s position clear.”

“He has. But if it’s what you and Trip want, T’Pol,” she raised wary brown eyes to Archer’s hazel ones, “I won’t look too hard at what you do on your own time.”

~

Another evening. Another encounter in a darkened cabin. Another opportunity for misunderstanding. Or perhaps finally the time and place for meaningful communication.

They stared at each other in silence for a dozen seconds, T’Pol cross-legged on the floor before a meditation candle, Tucker just inside the door. Finally he moved stiffly forward to crouch before her, the candle between them. “Soval described the Vulcan memorial service.” T’Pol did not react and he added uncomfortably, “It sounds,” he grimaced, “dignified.”

“Yes.” Her voice was cool, but her eyes were focussed on him. “Only the immediate family speak, but others come to show respect.”

“Yeah. I worked that one out.” Tucker glanced away briefly, biting his lower lip. “I need my family, T’Pol. I need to be with them, to tell them what happened.” He took a deep breath. “I need closure. I didn’t have that with my sister, and you know what happened to me afterwards.”

“Yes. But Vulcans deal with grief otherwise.”

“How?”

“Via meditation. In private.” As Tucker’s had done, her eyes flicked away. “I cannot speak of Elizabeth as you can. It is,” she drew a shuddering breath, “too great a challenge.”

The silence stretched out, neither Tucker nor T’Pol apparently willing to compromise. Or maybe both were too scared of saying the wrong thing. Eventually Tucker shook his head, raising the thumb and forefinger of his right hand to rub his eyebrows. “I’m gonna go visit with mom and dad straight after the service.”

“Ambassador Soval has offered me the use of his private residence on Earth. I thought to go there.”

“Fine.” Tucker rose from his haunches. “I’ll see you back on Enterprise in a few days. And I won’t mention Elizabeth again.”

Slowly T’Pol leant forward to blow out the candle. “Ambassador Soval’s private residence is in the mountains. After you have visited your parents,” she paused very slightly before tilting her head back to look up at Tucker, “if you wish, you could come there also.” He blinked and she added hastily, “You enjoy climbing.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I do. But maybe,” Tucker paused, feeling his way cautiously forward in the face of T’Pol’s palpable withdrawal as she anticipated his rejection of her offer, “we could go walking instead.” He stopped to breathe, forcing a little lightness into his voice. “It’s a little hard to hold a conversation half way up a cliff.”

“What do you wish to discuss?”

T’Pol sounded suspicious but Tucker, who had resolved to be mature and sensible, refrained from reacting negatively. Instead he chuckled softly. “Just about everything! What about it, T’Pol? We know we have feelings for each other, but we’ve never talked about what that means for us.”

Her eyebrows drew together. “I thought that I had made my position clear.”

“No.” All trace of levity faded from Tucker’s face and voice. “No, T’Pol, I don’t know where I stand with you. I don’t know what you want from me. Not long term. But I’d like to find out.”

Their eyes met, T’Pol’s uncertain, Tucker’s no less so. But they both carried within them the memory of a baby girl whose untimely demise had to make a difference. After a timeless moment T’Pol nodded slowly. “Then we will talk.” She drew a difficult breath. “Unreservedly.”

~

Had Elizabeth been Vulcan, her memorial service would have been held on her clan’s ceremonial grounds. Given her unique parentage, Enterprise’s Mess Hall was as appropriate as anywhere in the universe. And if that made security arrangements less of a headache for all concerned, no one was crass enough to mention the fact.

The solemn gathering fell absolutely silent when the Vulcan priestess raised her hands. “Today we honour the memory of Elizabeth, child of Charles and T'Pol. We are all diminished by her death but we were enriched by her short life.” She paused briefly as the ceremony demanded. “Today we honour her. We honour the daughter, the niece, the grandchild, the friend. Her brief life is one to be held in the highest regard and esteem.” She lowered her hands, inclining her head towards Tucker, rigid inside his formal dress uniform.

“We named our daughter for my sister.” He had to stop to swallow, blinking the tears from his eyes. “Who also died. I will not forget them.”

T’Pol flicked him a brief glance, saw that he was incapable of saying more and took over. “Our daughter was created to expose the concept of interspecies unity as an absolute and vicious lie. But she did not. She was the symbol of diversity, but she was also the symbol of unity.” Her voice had initially been calm. But as she spoke, a little of the passionate anger she felt against those who had created Elizabeth crept into it, escaping her control. “She was our daughter, whose life should have been enriched by her duel heritage.” She paused, eyes sweeping the assembled dignitaries, daring them to challenge her. “She was important. I will not forget her.” Then she glanced up at Tucker, who was regarding her with something approaching awe. But he collected his wits sufficiently to join with her in the closing formula. “Our family and friends, peace and long life.”

“Live long and prosper.” The words were uttered by the priestess on behalf of the assembled gathering, none of whom would ever forget one brief-lived symbol of a better future. They would all strive the harder for that future because of her.

fin

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A whole mess of folks have made comments

I think I'm going to cry. That was really good.
thanks.

Now that was great. Thank You.

Perfection. Simply... perfection.

Wow. Just... beautiful. Thank you. I hope that you will continue to write more.

Really good. I'm happy to read another story from you.

"dual heritage" not "duel heritage"

Shouldknow Better A wonderful story please continue this I would like to find out how T'Pol and Trip resolve their differences of Elizabeth's loss and their feelings for each other alone at Soval's cabin please.

Please say that you're going to write a story about the conversation in the mountains. It would be nice to have my heart unbroken. The insight into Archer - very good.

Yep. Time for some hikin' and talkin'. : D

Good read. But in the next-to-last paragraph (T'Pol would say "penultimate"), where you refer to "...her duel heritage", don't you mean "dual"? Or is it a play on words regarding TnT's relationship?

I'm gonna cry. No fair! And I definitely request a sequel. I want that talk, dangit! :)

Oh, yes, I forgot to say: I request a sequel too! And like the others I want that talk!!!!

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease!

Great story.

Wow, really great, touching. Please do more. Thank you for taking the time to write this.

Terrific story! I thought the Romeo and Juliet section was absolutely inspired.

No question about it -- nothing gets past Soval.

Nice story! Very pleased to see you writing again. Hopefully you will continue.

Would love to see the continuation of this.

Perchance word of a seriously prejudiced senior officer eventually spreads and becomes fodder for public ridicule and reaches certain places within earthgov. Separately the topic arises within oh, say the greater diplomatic community and as this becomes known it just seems to blossom. Pressure builds as more become aware. Eventually there comes a point when say a senior official delegation pays a visit to the Starfleet "powers that be" and explains how racism and bigotry are percieved and the attendant effects on interworld relations, the impact of such provoncial views which apparently are becomming public knowledge on a grand scale and the attendant effects on budgets, etc. Eventually someone from the SF PTB explains the limitations such attitudes might place on careers, duty stations and reputations and potentially early retirement.

HtH

HtH

I was absolutely thrilled to see a new story from you and I was not disappointed. I love how you always manage to emotionally engage the reader. Great stuff!

Count me as another reader who'd like to see the walking and talking that follows. :)

Shouldknowbetter, it is so good to see you back with another story! And what a story - so well done on the miscommunication that can so easily occur when emotions run high. I love a story like this which does not shout, but whispers - yet the whisper is heard much clearer than the shout.

The story was great. Absolutely amazing... Even if you said that your Soval might appear different, he still seemed very OC to me. Great writing. Please, please, consider a sequel. I'd love to read about that talk on the mountains...

Really lovely. Thanks for posting this.

I believe this is the best one yet. Please continue to write more. I would love to see this develop more fully.

Lisa

I was so excited to see you had written something new and I wasn't disappointed. Great Work!!! Just love the way you write Trip and T'pol. A big gold star to myst123 for the encouragement. Let me add my vote for more of your really moving and satifying stories.

gr8 story so nice it did make me cry a bit the endin was the saddest nd i dont really lik the admral hes horible lolz thnkxs 4 a gr8 story!!!

(Sobbing Heavily) That was beautiful. Very very nicely done. T

Amazing! What they all said! I don't remember any story where Archer was written so well. Soval, Trip, T'Pol all great, perfectly in character. Seems very close to canon. Yeah, like Linda says, you don't go for the cheap chills and thrills by pushing it over the top. Its just like a bonus, high-quality TV Enterprise episode. Perfect.

That was great. really felt like I was watching the actual episode.

I don't know what I can add that hasn't already been stated before but I'll try.

Thank you for this. It is beautifully written and exceptionally well thought out. Your version of Archer in this is, perhaps, one of the best I've ever read and the approach that you take in regards to his relationship with his dad is absolutely inspired.

Soval is equally well drawn here, and I really enjoyed the brief interaction between him & Trip.

But the best part is easily the T'Pol & Trip character interactions. You captured them perfectly and I can totally hear Trip making that comment ("No, T’Pol, I don’t know where I stand with you. I don’t know what you want from me. Not long term. But I’d like to find out.") to her based on the events of the show. If he WASN'T confused about her "come here, go away" actions toward him, then he would not be a realistic character.

And T'Pol is equally well done. I like that she isn't a human with pointy ears and I loved the voice you gave her.

Thank you for this. It was powerful and moving, and is now part of what I consider to be offical continuity.

"It was powerful and moving, and is now part of what I consider to be offical continuity."

Same here.

Really can't add much more to what's already been said - it was really well written and I only wished that we could've seen the talk that they had.