A New Life - Part 3

A New Life

By: TLR

Rated PG
Disclaimer: Enterprise is the property of UPN and Paramount Pictures
Summary: This story picks up later that evening from the last part. The elder Tuckers have taken charge of the kids, to let the parents have some quiet time to sooth out the sadness they were both going through. Enjoy

March 30th, 2006

*******************************************************************

Part 3

It was well after dinner, the dishes were done and both children were getting ready for bed. Catherine rocked Lorian, who was taking the last of his evening bottle while Lizzie ran about the room chasing Poppy in a game of catch me if you can. At first grandma thought it best to not get the young child all stirred up so close to bedtime, but after knowing just how mischievous the little girl could be if she wasn't bone tired, the Human relented, allowing her husband of more than 40 years to work his magic on the young tike. Her matted curls and greenish hue told Catherine that grandpa's plan to get her all worn out was working. It would only take a cool rag and a bedtime story, to put the child into a deep long slumber. Catherine had also taken the liberty to move the crib from her son and daughter-in-law's room to give them the night off. As was expected, where the children were, so were their faithful companions. Keller and Kamute lounged in the corner of the room watching the activity between Human and child. Their tails wagged, but even Lizzie proved too much for them, as they were too tired to join in the play. Finally, Grandpa put up his hand and called for a time out.

"I'm pooped." He sat there red faced and panting. The thinner air was hard on him at times, but occasionally he would forget and have to pay for it with pure exhaustion. This was one of those times. Lizzie came over and plopped down on his lap, burying her head in his shirt and making soft giggling noises.

In the other room, Trip found T'Pol seated in a cross legged sit on the bed. She held her hands close to her body, lounging lazily in her lap in the shape of a heart. It was just another attempt to meditate before turning in. Trip had given his wife her space today, feeling the waves and waves of sadness flowing from her heart. He could relate, remembering how the grief of loosing his sister finally caught up to him in that corridor. He recalled his kicking the portable power cell and how T'Pol simply stood by and offered her support. The comfort that came from her merely listening and laying a gentle hand upon his shoulder, made a world of difference, or at least Trip thought. Perhaps it was just his time to grieve, but having her there seemed to ease that grief a little. Now it was his chance to return the favor. He came up gently and sat down on the edge of the bed.

T'Pol's eyes opened at the feel of her mate's closeness. She turned them upon him, showing the sadness that remained deep within. Trip's eyes watered, not for himself but for her. At least he could shed the tears she could not.

"How ya doing?" His voice was low and full of loving kindness.

"I apologize for my emotional outburst today… I was simply..." she was stopped by his two fingers upon her cheek.

"You need not apologize to me for feeling pain. I am your husband and know how hard this truly is for you." His two fingers were join by two more as his palm came up and brushed against her skin. It sent gentle waves of calm through her. Calm that she was most grateful to finally feel.

"Yes, but we were in public… there can be no excuse for my actions… I should not have gone out if I didn't have good enough control yet." T'Pol's voice faded off as she allowed the feelings he was bringing her to overtake her mind.

"I don't care…. You can't hide forever. You told me you are still considered to be in mourning…. Your people will understand if you have occasional lapses." His fingers began to play with the strands of hair that lay along the nape of her neck. He could feel her lean into his touch which made the Human very pleased he could do so much for her. He watched as the last of her stresses melted quickly away. It would be several more minutes before anyone would speak again. Finally Trip broke the comforting silence.

"So you are Queen of Vulcan… that explains a lot." His words held a hint of the old Tucker sarcasm. It was what she learned to love the most about him. The way he would pick an argument with her, just for the interaction it would bring. To Vulcans, a mental sparring match was like good sex, very satisfying.

"I am 'a' Queen… There are 174 direct descendants of Surak alive today, including Lorian." She kept her eyes closed feeling his satisfaction growing with her willingness to play.

"So Lizzie is a princess. Who'd a thought." Trip's southern accent made his words all the more mischievous.

"No she is not." Her words stopped his play, a sense of protectiveness coming over the parent.

"What do you mean she is not? She is as much a child of ours as Lorian is." Trip's dander was ruffled, for what reason T'Pol could not understand.

"She was not our first born child. Lorian qualifies, but because Elizabeth was created artificially, she does not." The Vulcan could see her husband becoming more confused over this discussion.

"Why is that so important? She is our child… a product of both our DNA and a pretty smart kid to boot. Why wouldn't she be considered a direct descendant?"

"Direct descendants are first born children of another direct descendant. My mother had two sisters, both younger than she. Neither were considered direct descendants. They understand this and accept it." T'Pol turned to face him, laying a hand on his to sooth some of his angered nerves.

"Well that's just not right. How is she supposed to feel seeing her brother get all this attention and not having any herself?" Trip looked off toward the direction of the door. His heart was saddened for the beautiful curly haired child that so captured his soul just by being created.

"She will come to understand that being a direct descendant is not what she would want to be. It could severely limit her abilities." The Vulcan turned her husband's face back to hers. "But she will not be considered ordinary, far from it. She is unique and very intelligent. She could one day be a great engineer, if she desires too." Her look to him was warm, knowing how much he loved having his little girl at his side in the engine room aboard Enterprise.

"It didn't seem to hinder you." He murmured still too lost in the idea of someday working with his daughter on Warp 9 engines.

"Oh but it did. First born children are expected to follow in the career paths of their fathers. Mine was an agent with the Ministry of Security, a job considered far too dangerous for a direct descendant of Surak. My father had to do a lot of convincing to allow me to follow that path."

"I thought your father passed away when you were 14." Trip scooted a bit closer to his wife, turning her around and laying her back into the crook of his arm.

"He did, however he left his wishes for my counselor and it was up to him to continue the fight with the High Command to allow this to happen. Soval was none too pleased with the idea either, but was obliged to comply." T'Pol joined her mate, staring at the swirling light on the ceiling from the setting of the planet's second sun.

"You knew Soval way back then? Yikes..., I thought you only had to put up with him for a few years while you were at the embassy." This brought a confused glare from his mate and Trip just chuckled slightly.

"I have known the ambassador all my life. He worked with my father during their military service, guarding Ambassador Solkar and his party while they lived on Earth. Afterward, he joined the diplomatic service and worked as the attaché to Ambassador Vinnov, Ambassador Solkar's successor." T'Pol laid out the Vulcan's history as if telling her own. She was calm and even in relaying the memories. This brought Trip a bit of comfort in her condition.

"So how did he have anything to do with your going into the Ministry of Security?" Her mate started to rub along the length of her arm with the hand that wrapped around her.

"He was my counselor. My father chose him shortly after I was born. It is his job to guide my education and career choices in my father's absence." Trip got a look of recognition on his face.

"Oh so he was your god father." Suddenly the Human began to realize that things were not as different on this world as he thought.

"God father?" T'Pol asked and Trip relayed the explanation through their bond. She thought a moment and realized that it was essentially the same position.

"So the High Command finally allowed you to leave Vulcan and become a spy?" Trip's sense of fun was returning, his anger over Elizabeth's dismissal almost gone.

"Yes, but I had several conditions. I could not tell anyone who I was descended from. I could not knowingly take myself into a dangerous situation and mostly I could not allow myself to miss bonding. I would have to quit or at least leave the service long enough to reproduce. Then I could return after my offspring was in their later schooling." Trip found these conditions surprisingly primitive in nature.

"So that's why your mom didn't like you putting your career first." Trip smiled as he remembered the discussion he witnessed between mother and daughter. He thought at the time it was more about her being so far away. Now perhaps it was about her commitment to her heritage.

"My mother did not like having me off world. My father was off world when he was killed, and that fact always unsettled her. When my military service was complete, she had hoped I would break tradition and return home to teach. When instead I entered the Ministry, she grew even more concerned for my welfare." T'Pol rolled over to lie against her mate, cuddling up close and delighting in the coolness of his skin. His arms encircled her, enjoying this quiet time as much as his mate.

"You're not being able to tell anyone, did that include us?" Trip was hoping to coax the answers out of her.

"Yes… It was thought that if an enemy would learn of my heritage, it would make me a target. Further more, aboard Enterprise it could have brought unnecessary danger to the Humans there. There are many species that deal in abduction."

"So they told you to keep your identity a secret from all of us." Trip was starting to see why she didn't tell her status to them at first.

"Yes…. I was under orders to divulge the truth to no one."

"I can understand that then, but we are mated…. Why not tell me? Did you think I would have told others?" Trip looked down upon the crown of her head.

"I was under orders." T'Pol started and felt his disbelief, so she didn't try to finish convincing him of this lie.

"And I felt that you'd find me illogical for some of my choices since I came aboard Enterprise." That part she eased out knowing full well he might still see things that way if he looked deeply at their time together.

"Illogical?" Trip was even more stumped by her fears. "Why would I find anything you do illogical? You have been one of the most logical Vulcans I have ever met." This made T'Pol raise from his chest and stare deeply into his face.

"My actions at P'Jem…. My staying aboard Enterprise, defying the High Command's order for me to remain. Those were not the acts of a logical being." She was fiercely concerned that his view was tainted, which means he could not possibly understand what she was now going through.

"You uncovered a secret spy station. A station that was a violation of a treaty your people signed with the Andorians hundreds of years ago." Trip's hand came up and rubbed at her back soothing the rattled nerves he was feeling just below the surface.

"You're staying on Enterprise ended up saving your world. How much more logical could you have been?" The Human was truly astonished that she could be so hard on herself right now.

"I violated the laws of my people and defied authority. That is something that is just not done here. It can not be seen as anything less than illogical." T'Pol returned her head to his chest not wanting him to see her true distain for her actions.

"Honey, you saved your planet….and a hundred others. You alone had the foresight to see the need we had, to have you on that mission and you made the difficult choice to ignore the orders of your superiors and get the job done right. They shouldn't be criticizing you. They should be pinning a damn metal on your chest." Trip was starting to wonder if his wife knew a bit more about the High Council's thoughts on the subject. "Why is someone calling you illogical?" Trip decided that he needed to get to the bottom of this cloak and dagger.

"No….No one is saying anything. They simply are courteous to me because I am in mourning." A small tear welled up in the corner of her eye and escaped to the cloth of his soft tee.

"Am I the reason you think they are questioning your logic?" Trip had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"No… Soval knows my reasons for marrying you. That is not in question." Her tone was distant and matter of fact.

"Oh really and what were those reasons?" Trip felt this needed to be clarified.

"We bonded… It would be illogical to marry someone else." She came back to him knowing he expected an explanation.

"You know that's not what I meant. You're afraid they will think you illogical for falling in love with a Human, don't you." Her mate knew that something of what he said was hitting a nerve.

"My desire to have you as a mate is not in question." She felt herself justifying her reasoning to him.

"Then why did you hesitate to tell me something as important as you’re a descendent of Surak? I think that part of you is a bit ashamed of your choice of mate." Trip was fishing, trying to get her to commit to one side or another.

"That is not so…. I chose you freely to be my mate and would do so again." T'Pol was up once more, looking directly into those beautiful blue eyes she'd come to love so. "I have done so before, or at least the other Trip and T'Pol did so…. I would do no differently if I had to do it over again."

"Well then…. Make them understand that." Her husband smiled, knowing he'd helped her solve a big dilemma she'd been grappling with. T'Pol realized at that moment she hadn't been convincing him, she'd been convincing herself.
She returned him a softer look and lay back down against his tight chiseled muscles.

"That may not be so easy…. Convincing them of anything these days is a difficult matter. My people are so confused right now. This new path, federation, brings with it many new challenges they are finding hard to deal with. I sense from them a disorientation of sorts. One I can not help them with, but I have felt as well."

"Have you resolved it?" Trip was curious about her admission.

"I believe I have, but my circumstances are different than theirs. I chose to be with Humans. They are being thrust into a relationship with another species that all are not sure they can handle." T'Pol started making lazy circles with her fingers upon his chest.

"Is that all it is. They don't know how to deal with us Humans." Her mate smiled a large grin that showed the relief he was feeling.

"As I told you, not all Vulcans have met Humans before. They choose to remain on Vulcan and keep their distance. Now they must learn to be allies with them, even if they are on our world. It is not sitting well with everyone." The Human could feel his wife opening up to him more about the private talks she must have had with Soval and T'Pau.

"Is it because we smell bad?" He asked half hearted and full of mischief.
His mate simply turned a mock disgusted look to him.

"Hey, maybe they want you on the High Council more because you were successful at learning to work with Humans, than because you are a direct descendant of Surak." His hand began rubbing more quickly, as if getting excited about the purposed council position.

"There is no doubt they wish to use my expertise on the subject, however will they be so open to my ideas for improving relations between Earth and Vulcan."

"What do you purpose, that they intermarry like we did." Trip's chuckling made it hard for her to understand his words.

"No, but I do think that your system of democratic process is a far greater one than our dictatorship style. We need to create a government that can not fall into corruption like the High Command did." Now T'Pol's creative juices were flowing and Trip could feel the sweet essence of her mind going through many calculations at once. It felt good, sensing a purpose he hadn't been feeling much himself these days.

"It sounds like you've already decided to take the position." He added knowing she could sense his mind sensing hers.

"I have not made a decision either way. The children need a parent to be with them. I am the logical one to do this job, since I know the dangers that can befall them. You…." She was stopped by his cutting in.

"I can learn all those things and what I don't know, V'Lmir can help me with. You on the other hand have the experience and the wisdom to help your people at a critical time in their reawakening. I think you should take the position. Think of all the good you could do, not only for your people but for mine as well. Federation could become more than just a dream. It could be a reality, one that a direct descendent of Surak helped bring about. What is more logical than that?" Trip knew if he played the logical card, she'd be hard pressed to argue the point.

"What about when your training starts on the Warp 7 project? Who will be here with the children then?" T'Pol was trying to keep her husband's dream of working on engines alive.

"Well first off, I don't know that I'll get the job and second if you were head of the council, couldn't you call the meetings anytime and any place you wanted. I am sure you'd have some pull. They know you have children that need you. I don't think they would mind." He lazily jested with her, knowing they were both dreaming aloud at the moment.

"As head of the council, I could decide to hold my meetings here, while you are in training." Trip laughed at that dream.

"You are really sure I am gonna beat out all those Vulcans and get the job."

"I know I would consider you the most logical choice to run the plant, however I couldn't guarantee T'Pau would vote you into the project. I believe in a diplomatic process, the majority rules, does it not?" Her voice held a bit of humor to it that tickled the Human's senses.

"Yes, but who else would vote for me besides you?"

"The democratic process I was considering resembled your three branch system. T'Pau is temporarily heading the council. If I were to take over I would make her my second in command. Naturally I would choose Soval to round out the committee. His work with Humans would prove most logical and helpful in this transition we are about to make." She felt the humor return to her mate's mind.

"Soval, huh." Trip's smile grew into a beamer. "I guess he might feel compelled to vote for me. I mean I did help him save Vulcan from a major war with Andoria. Yeah…. I think he owes me this one." He patted her on the back in time to his upbeat mood.

"Soval will see things my way. He has always valued my judgments, knowing they are rooted in logic." She saw his mind go to a memory he'd didn't understand until this moment.

"Is that why Soval and the High Command backed down after the incident with the Sulliban? I mean, you stood up to Soval, gave him that speech about the Vulcan's deceptive practices on P'Jem and they backed down. I always wondered why."

"Possibly, I know that I would not have gotten away with most of my actions aboard Enterprise if I had not been a direct descendent of Surak." T'Pol looked out the window beside their bed. A purplish haze was beginning to form now that the second sun had set fully.

"Is that why the guards came aboard?" Trip had been wondering about that peculiar move for the past 4 years now.

"I was thought to have been kidnapped by the Captain. The guards were on the bridge to insure my safety."

"Well they sure left in a hurry once you mouthed off to Soval." Trip chuckled realizing his wife held so much power on this planet.

"They were ordered to leave by Soval." This got the Human thinking, reviewing the incident for that order.

"He left in a huff. He gave no such order."

"He may not have spoken it, but it was conveyed none the less." T'Pol was being illusive and her mate could tell something else was going on here. He decided they had had enough confession for the day. When his wife wished to tell him about this, she would do so. Trip pulled her close and ran his nose through the longer strands of her hair.

"Well, it looks as though I may be heading the Warp 7 project." He stated, a huge grin on his face and an even bigger feeling of happiness in his heart. T'Pol could feel this change and relaxed in the sensation.

(Count on it, T'hy'la.) she relayed back to him and allowed herself to be lost in their closeness, once again putting the saddened memories of the day behind the heavy doors in her mind.

***
(Two days later)

Trip was up early, even for Vulcan standards. He was too excited to sleep. This was the day that construction started on their home and for him it was the time when he could get back to being busy again. He gloried in it, expecting a good day's work to do wonders for his less than lack luster soul. The day before, Trip kept himself busy preparing for the project. His parents kept the kids while he and T'Pol went over the schematics and examined the work site.

He ran scans, took geometric readings and in general immersed himself in anything construction he could. He read up on the Ske'ttrite, the Vulcan's version of mortar that would be holding the base level stones and steel bars in place. It was a strange substance, harder than that of Earth, but efficient all the same and Trip didn't want to appear like he didn't know how to handle the stuff.

Late into the evening, Trip studied the readings he obtained from the outside of the dwelling. He noted some problems and discussed his suggestions to fix them with his wife, who was once again impressed by her mate's ingenuity. The Human memorized the plans, both the English version and Vulcan so he could be able to work with Kentif in either language. Now it was 04:00am and he was dressed and ready to start building. Even though Trip was an Engineer by trade, his first job in Starfleet, way back when he was just a crewman, was to set up dwellings for the NXO1 project staffers. He also had a refresher course a few years ago when he and the Captain helped Tessic and his people relocate their living quarters. This fooled the Klingon marauders and led them into that trap. He was pumped, he was prepared and he was ready to get down and dirty. This feeling had the engineer's blood racing. He was up consuming some of that strong tea when T'Pol entered carrying Lorian. She was surprised he was so awake but pleased he was so happy.

"Good morning boy." Trip eased the child from his mate's arms and bent to kiss her once more on the lips. He turned his attention to his son, now weighing a hefty 14 lbs. "You sure are getting big." Father jested with the child, whose toothless grin sent waves of happiness into the already exuberant Human male. The drool that followed only accented the child's pleasure at having made his parent so happy. He wriggled and cooed within Trip's arms, very bright blue eyes staring back into the face he'd come to know as daddy.

Trip walked the room, holding his child close. He bounced him, watching with great interest what caught the boy's attention. Through their bond he could hear the same myriad of questions that his older sister had at this age. 'What is this? Why is that?', these all made the Human laugh. He knew that once more his mate would be explaining things in great detail and it would be the most amusing time he'd ever have. Trip eased the child into his playpen over in the corner of the kitchen. Lorian pulled himself immediately to a standing position and watched the interaction of his two parents with great interest. Walking over quietly, Trip wrapped his arms about his mate's waist. He was full of foolishness today and wanted to take advantage of this private time to get in a bit of snuggling with her before the rest of the household woke up. It would be light soon, and the activity would start, but right now was the time he liked the best. He could be intimate with his mate without anyone else around. Not confined to their room, they could be in the garden, or in the front patio, as long as they were together, it didn't matter to him. Today, they were in the kitchen, as T'Pol attempted to get the morning meal started.

Trip turned her in his arms, looking deep into the oversize brown orbs he was so taken with. "You know today is gonna be great." He was giddy, still acting like a child in anticipation of a new toy.

"You are not worried, working with a Vulcan?" She quipped back knowing nothing she would say could break his joyousness.

"Nope, not even a Vulcan can get me down today. I am just tooooo happy." He picked her up and spun her around.

"You are merely building a dwelling, not refitting the Enterprise for Warp 6 runs." T'Pol felt her mind spin more from his giddiness than from the rotations.

"Yes… but I am gonna be building something and after all that's what Engineers do. We build or fix something… I can't wait to begin. You think Kentif would mind if I get started now before he gets here?" Trip set down his wife and went to the window overlooking where the new dwelling would be.

"I believe you should have some breakfast first." T'Pol tried to curtail his enthusiasm a bit.

"I'm not hungry… I'll just have a little more of this tea." Trip grabbed for the mug of cherry tasting tea, and his mate stopped him.

"This is a very invigorating blend, perhaps you would do with a less stimulating type." This was his mate's way of saying turn down the enthusiasm, it's deafening.

"I promise to keep things less obvious when he gets here, but right now I feel like a kid again." He realized his wife could feel his emotions, and knew they were affecting her too. "Sorry if I am blowing you out of the building with my exuberance." He came over once again and kissed her softly on the lips. This decreased some of the enthusiasm and replaced it with another more edgy feeling, romance. Suddenly Trip felt building the structure could wait, in favor of a more efficient use of their private time.

The tepid kiss turned more heated, repeating over and over as he pulled T'Pol into his embrace. The Vulcan responded, realizing through their bond exactly what her mate wanted. Their hands began caressing each other's bodies with more force, the push up of a shirt here, the gathering of a hem there. It wasn't until a rather loud gurgled coo, followed by a high pitched squeal coming from the far corner of the room, cause the two to halt their love making and remember where they were.

They stood frozen in position, their hearts beating hard, lungs gasping for breath, only their heads slowly turning toward the direction of the sound. There Lorian, still holding on to the side of the enclosure stomped madly in place, a wide grin and more drool making its way across his face. This was the sobering thought they needed to halt their romantic onslaught. T'Pol turned and took hold of the counter's edge waiting to get the strength back into her legs. Meanwhile, Trip came over and knelt by the pen. He addressed his son, who was now ready to get back into his parent's arms.

"You know son, it's not nice to interrupt mommy and daddy while they are talking." He pulled the child from the padded area and held him once more in his arms. Trip wiped the moisture from his face and front then brought him over to sit in the highchair that once had been Lizzie's. As if on cue, Elizabeth and two sehlats entered the kitchen. She was dressed in her night clothes, a more modest version of her mother's lounging outfit. Her hair was tousled, her eyes half closed by the earliness of the hour. She plodded in with the big fuzzy bunny in her hand, dragging it by the ear behind her. Coming right up to her father, she leaned into his leg which made Trip squat down to her level.

"Hey sweet pea…. You're up early…. Did you sleep well?" Trip picked her up and gave her a mess of kisses on the cheek. He nuzzled his nose into her ear, which caused the child to recoil from the sensation. It was her ticklish spot and her father knew it all too well. Lizzie giggled and continued to try and rub the sleep out of her eyes. Mother came over and took the child from her father. Lizzie leaned into her, wrapping legs and arms about the svelte female. The child laid her head on mom's shoulder and decided a brief cat nap there would make her all better. Trip watched the caring interaction between mother and daughter, his heart so overjoyed by the sight his mind almost forgot about his big adventure today. After about 20 minutes, the rest of the Tucker home began to filter into the kitchen area. While Catherine finished up breakfast, Trip and his dad went into the garden for some light chores. T'Pol took Lizzie and Lorian back to their rooms to bathe and dress them. It would be a busy day ahead and all wanted to be prepared for it.

***

Kentif arrive just after the breakfast dishes were cleared. Trip went out and around to the other side of the dwelling. He had the schematics in hand, brought up in English on the rectangular palm padd. Charles Tucker walked with them, hoping to be of assistance, but also very pleased to see his son so happy and content.

"I've been reviewing the schematics and I think we have a bit of a problem" Trip started walking behind the Vulcan who was now dressed in form fitting overalls of a white and gray material.

"A problem?" Kentif turned to the Humans, seeing the older Tucker falling in from the rear.

"Yes… I ran some geometric surveys yesterday. Where the main dwelling sits squarely on an underlying plateau of graphite and slate, which extends out a bit beneath our purposed additions, there is a drastic change at this point." Trip hit the button and allowed the Vulcan symbols to come up in place of the English ones. He handed the padd to Kentif who studied it in great detail.

"See here and here, the underlying shelf is much deeper and could allow for settling of the house during tremors. Also the ground waters in this area could seriously undermine the stability of the structure." He gave the Vulcan time to take in the information. Trip watched as the dark eyes skimmed the screens one by one.

"You are correct that this will be difficult to work with, however we can reinforce the shelf height and redirect the ground waters easily with additional earth materials and duct work." Kentif handed him back the padd, confident in his suggestions for the job.

"Yes, but that would take several more days and could change the flow pattern of the water to the town below. On the other hand, T'Pol and I worked out another suggestion. Look here." Trip touched a few more screens until he saw the plans he and his mate had come up with for installing an underground tank. He handed it again to Kentif, who began to study the design with great interest. Trip's enthusiasm got the better of him and he started to explain the finer points of his plan before the Vulcan could comprehend them on his own.

"You see by installing this tank beneath the surface matter, we can use the stability of the tank to extend the shelf's protectiveness. The tank can also collect the ground water, allowing for a side irrigation system to be added. This will help bring more water to the garden."

"But won't this cut off the flow to the residents below?" Kentif was going on what the Human said, in that he hadn't examined all the plans yet.

"No… there is an overflow valve to the tank that would allow the excess ground waters to return to its existing system at this point." Trip indicated to yet another part of the plans.

"If anything, it might improve the flow of water since the return of flow to the ground system will be so concentrated. Kinda like a dam. It will get the water pressure up more and make the flow get further down to the houses at the far end of the system." Trip leaned back and waited for the Vulcan's reaction.

"Impressive…. I am seeing why you were so invaluable to Starfleet. You are quite a creative engineer. This system will still cost us several additional days though." Kentif handed Trip back the padd.

"Well I thought of that one too. My way, it will only take us an extra day at most." This statement intrigued the Vulcan, his ears setting back and brows at a heightened pitch.

"Why don't we go in to the house for a cool drink and I will explain it to you in more detail." Trip motioned around his father and watched the Vulcan walk past him toward the front gate. He turned to his dad, who was already wearing a big smile. Charles Sr. flashed his child a thumbs up, then slapped him on the back several times. With an arm about his son's shoulders, the two walked behind the Vulcan. Once there, V'Lmir brought them all some kasa juice while Trip relayed his ideas for easy instillation.

After another ten minutes, the group of males went back out and began their excavation. Trip used the communicator T'Pol gave him and contacted Stalv at supply central. Yesterday he and T'Pol discussed with him the use of their transporter equipment to help with the ground work. Now he was on the line and about to move several hundred tons of sand and clay.

The group stepped back, T'Pol having come out and joined them for the procedure. Trip set the indication switch to signal on all 4 of the markers. He gave Stalv the okay and the Vulcan, from his location beamed the material from the area leaving a perfectly dug foundation down to the level of the lower slate plateau. Ground water started seeping into the hole, as the males hurried to get the steel sheeting in place.

Next, with the antigravs in place on three sides of the tank, Trip, his dad and Kentif moved it over to the edge of the area. With a quick push, they rolled it into the hole and saw it come to a settled position in its center. The trio looked pleased with themselves at the ease of the process. Next was the more difficult job, running the irrigation system around to the garden side of the house. This was accomplished by a series of side drills. The sandy surface and light clay underlay made this process go a bit rougher than first thought, but by mid day break, they had the system in place and were about to return the soil back to the hole. Pulling the shielding plate, the ground water began to fill the tank and make its way through the irrigation system. As predicted once full, the overflow ran back into the existing system of natural ductwork with a rather brisk flow.

Trip called to Stalv, who had been hard at work for them using the transporter to separate the clay layer from the sand so they could be sent back in separate installments. The Human asked for the sand layer first which would help to better allow for drainage of the water in the underground system. The clerk beamed it onto a pallet that Trip had set up, the indicator beacons making the Vulcan's aim very exact. With the use of the antigrav units, the trio lifted the far end and allowed the sand to slide in effortlessly. It filled the nooks and crannies over where Trip had laid a stone layer. This protected the flow even better than the sand, and lent to the stability of the areas around the tank. After the sand was done, Trip called for the clay. This layer was a bit more difficult, making T'Pol have to take Trip's place on the antigrav so he could coax the sticky material from the pallet and into the remaining hole. When the ground was once more level, Trip helped his workmates ease the pallet with the remaining clay back away from the housing area.

Kentif was impressed. Not only did the Human's plan work, but he was not embarrassed at having his wife work along with them. He had heard that Human male's egos were easily bruised. This one's was not. In fact it seemed he was more into the Vulcan tradition of shared responsibility than Kentif first thought. The second sun was now high in the sky, indicating it was too hot for even a Vulcan to be out working this time of day. Trip and T'Pol invited Kentif to join them in the midday meal, but was politely turned down. The Vulcan indicated he had to take the meal with his family, but would return at 1500 hours to continue the construction work. He donned his cloak and lifted the hood, trying to keep the severity of the heat from his skin. He was confused that the Humans did not do the same. Instead, as he left, he saw them staring at their handiwork, as if looking at it would make the effort any different. This puzzled the male, who left with T'Pol who escorted him as far as the front gate.

"You know Pop….. I think I might just do all right here." Trip said to his dad, the smile on his face plastered there for all time.

"Yep son, I think you can teach these Vulcans a thing or two." They both chuckled at that. Sunburned and overheated, the two relented to T'Pol's request that they rest while she prepare the midday meal. Both hopped into a cool shower and were laid out on their beds until the women of the home had the food prepared and on the table.

*******************************************************************

Part 4

Return to Part 2

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!

A whole mess of folks have made comments

Great Story

hey looks like you put allot of efort into thiis it is AWESWOME :)

I very much like the idea that T'Pol is a queen and not the queen. It melds with canon better, but we know there are royals on Vulcan because of Spock's half-brother. Besides, I like the idea of T'Pol being a descendent of Surak.
There's just one part that troubles me. If only firstborn children are considered direct descendents, how can there be 174? Surak would have one oldest child, and that child would have one oldest child, and so on...therefore I find this method a bit problematic.
Anyway, I am enamoured of the idea that T'Pol is a descendent of Surak. It's fabulous.

Come to think of it, you got a point JadziaKathryn. I didn't think of that. Maybe instead of 174, there might be 17.4. And that is only because direct descendants live longer than 200 yrs. LOL...... Good pick up. T.

Hey I Luv This Story Its all so blevable. gr8 job cant wait 4 da next chappie! ps im changing my name 2 Cyelle Instead of pepto its pronunced kyle.bcuz my real name iz alexis tell me wat u think.ps luvd triple fudge X-)

Another great chapter! You really have an amazing talent. Thanks!

This was fantastic. I really enjoyed reading this, and I hope you continue, and congrats on that I'm sure, fantastic piece of writing you did for school. One of my teachers did that to me one time. Anyways plz update soon, I can't wait, everything is so realistic.

Yes, you are the King!

Once again a great chapter, looking forward to how it continues.

Thank you, excelent job. I'm so looking forward to the next chapter. !

Good to see that Trip has a chance to use his engineering skills. I'm interested to see how this all works out.

I turned in "The Dilithium Mission" on Weds, Bucky should have it up soon. I will be turning part 4 of "A New Life" later today. Everyone have a great Easter. T.