Competition - Part 5

Competition

By: TLR

Rated PG 13
Disclaimer: Enterprise is the property of UPN and Paramount Pictures.
Summary: This story picks up at the end of part 4. Catherine Tucker has been called on the carpet for her accusations, and is now sentenced to spending time at the Vulcan Consulate in London. Meanwhile Trip and T'Pol are going to have to deal with another threat to their bond, Honey. Enjoy.

October 30. 2006

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Part 5 Finale

The transport touched down softly on the lawn outside the massive stone mansion. It looked like the Vulcans did, cold and stony and it gave Catherine a sickened feeling deep within her soul. Was she going to be tortured by these beings that professed peace and logic, or was her time merely going to feel like torture as she watched that woman weave her magical spell, pulling Catherine's son deeper and deeper into the alien's grip. As the hatch opened, she sat wondering if it was within her power to refuse this sentence and demand to be taken home instead. It was not, for as soon as she began to speak, Charles grabbed her by the arm silencing her instantly.

"Come on now Mother, don't get into any more trouble than you already are." He led her out of the hatch, helping her down the small step onto the grassy surface. Soval and Trip came out afterward, as the pilots of the vehicle climbed back in. In an instant the transport was gone, disappearing past a long row of trees in the distance. Now it was certain, Catherine would have to stay and take her medicine like a big girl. She whipped the arm from her husband's grasp and held up her head unwilling to show the fear that truly gripped her. Taking very determined steps she caught up to the ambassador who was leading the way, as if inferring she was not afraid of anything.

"I am pleased to see you are embracing this opportunity to get to know our culture better. It will most assuredly decrease any chance of misunderstanding in the future." His words seemed quite jovial, but to the human female he was merely reminding her she'd messed up and bad. She gave no reply to him, just looked in his direction as he held her stare in his.

The cast iron gates to the large mansion swung open then closed without assistance, making this place seem almost haunted. Catherine imagined that that was how these aliens liked it, the spookier the better. Was she going to be scared by their practices, that was something she could not tell, but steadied herself all the more as the group approached the heavy wooden doors to the dwelling. They entered all mass, stopping just inside the doorway to relinquish their outer gear. The heavily embossed cloak that Soval wore, removed to reveal a rather nice looking form fitted suit of grey and brown. It wore him well, a thought that popped into Catherine's mind while waiting to be directed further. The two attendants that took their things were eager to be of assistance, a fact that the human female noticed as well. They were not Vulcan, almost human looking except for the ridge on their forehead. (A species the Vulcans have enslaved no doubt to do their bidding.) Catherine thought as she saw them being very respectful to their pointed eared bosses.

"You have returned from Star Fleet." A familiar voice came from the long hallway before them. T'Pol walked up to her mate and stopped just short of touching him. Their close proximity started rubbing Catherine the wrong way.

"Yes….. Mr & Mrs. Tucker will be joining us here for a few days to get to know more about Vulcan customs and culture." Soval looked down to the shorter woman being remarkably silent now that she was out numbered by aliens. "It was logical she do so to help decrease her misconceptions on our ways."

"Yes...imminently logical it would seem. I assume things went well with Admiral Gardner." T'Pol was nervous, wanting reassurances that Trip's mother would not be imprisoned for her actions.

"Admiral Gardner was in total agreement that this little misunderstanding did not warrant any further action except enlightenment." The ambassador was being coy, but Catherine was starting to feel like she was the lab rat in this little cultural experiment. T'Pol, on the other hand looked to her mate and his father who wore very broad smiles denoting their pleasure at this turn of events.

"Well then welcome, Mrs. Tucker. I will try to make your stay here as informative as possible." Now T'Pol knew exactly why the ambassador decided on this course of action.

(Great she is gonna be my teacher.) Catherine wanted to just crawl in a hole and die. (Why couldn't I have the tall gray haired male?…. At least he isn't trying to steal my son.)

Soval turned to the two attendants who'd by now put away the group's outer things and were waiting for further instructions. "Please take the Tuckers to their chambers. T'Pol will show her mate where they will be staying." With a nod the two men looked to the Humans. Charles gave them a tightened smile, while Catherine concentrated on the fact that now her son and that woman were cohabitating.

Trip and T'Pol followed behind the group climbing the huge stone staircase and going to the left not to the right. They walked down a long passageway that had arches so the occupants could see out over the railing down to the entrance way below. The huge frosted glass window panes that dotted each end of the entrance hall provided much if not all the light that came into the area. The rest came through two equally enormous sky lights that were frosted as well. This filtered the light into soft shadows, allowing much of the warmth to come through but leaving the harshness of the direct sun out. Halfway to their destination, Catherine noticed Trip and T'Pol turning off and entering a side door. She wanted follow them but her husband's body prevented this, as he had her elbow helping her along as they walked.

After walking another several seconds, the two attendants opened a large wooden door with coal black hinges and handle. It was something out of a mid evil dungeon scene, except when the door opened, it revealed a very quaint and cozy bedroom. The furnishings were that of English design, with lots of wood and brass attachments. The bed, a king size mattress covered by white lace bedding accented the white shear curtains beautifully brightening the room with their simplicity. The attendants left the bags on the couch and quickly disappeared leaving the couple to settle in. If she hadn't been ordered to do so, Catherine thought this place a nice vacation spot, without the obvious lesson plan of course. She went to the windows and swung them open further. The breeze that blew in from the countryside was a bit chilly but brightened up the dank cold feeling of the stone walled room.

"This place is gorgeous." Charles remarked now having seen more of the creature comforts these Vulcans lived in. "I bet you could see for miles from here." He came up behind his wife and noticed the beauty of the rolling hills beyond. Catherine moved from the window determined not to admit to having any interest in this place or its people. He watched as she was trying to hide her true stubborn streak.

"You know mother….. You really could have gotten Trip, T'Pol and /or Captain Archer in some seriously bad trouble with your accusations." His words were scolding yet held a lot of tenderness. "It is very nice of the Vulcans not to take offense and hold you accountable for your actions."

"This isn't holding me accountable?….. I have things I have to do at home and where am I,…..I am stuck in this castle having to listen to cold hearted, non feeling aliens…. One of whom has totally brainwashed our son into being in love with her." Catherine was in his face as she came closer and closer to her man.

"T'Pol hasn't brainwashed anyone. She and Trip fell in love….It happens, mother…..They couldn't help themselves…. My god, look at how they tried to deny their feelings for so long." Charles turned with her as she walked past him. "You know what true love feels like…There is no getting away from it."

"Vulcan's can't love….They said so…..what kinda life is that gonna be for our son, a life where love isn't possible." Catherine started to tear thinking about the misery that this alien was gonna bring to her sweet young boy.

"They do too love, Catherine Elizabeth Tucker." Charles was a bit perturbed by her hanging on to this vendetta. "They just express it differently. Trip knows that and is willing to accept it." The older male walked into an adjacent bathroom area to put his shaving items away. "If you don't get off this high horse of yours and start accepting T'Pol and his relationship, then Trip won't want to come home anymore. You want that, mother? You want to so alienate our son and his wife that they stay away from us the rest of our lives?" Charles circled past her and picked up his suitcase from the couch on his way back into the room. "Well keep it up old girl….. You're doing a splendid job." At that point he fell silent and finished putting his clothes into the drawers. Catherine stood there contemplating his words. Though mixed, her feelings hadn't changed. She was against the alien female, wanting to rid her from their lives. However her husband made a good point, if she did continue to make trouble, her son would no doubt keep avoiding her in order to keep the peace. This was something she was gonna have to mull over during her exile to this harsh and unforgiving place.

*****

"This is nice…… " Trip looked at the open shower and adjacent hot tub that stood in the center of their room. "I thought you Vulcan's were into roughing it?" He looked to her with a big smile on his face.

"The previous owners of the mansion were into creature comforts. We saw no reason to dismantle them since they still served a purpose. That would be illogical." T'Pol walked past the shower platform and turned on the water. It fell down like a waterfall, heaving great amounts at once into a hollowed out drainage area. "Besides, the chill in this dwelling often is difficult to ignore. The moist heat these therapies provide often help ease tired and aching muscles, especially after training."

Trip watched as she opened the zipper of her cat suit and peeled it off before him. "And you're feeling tired and achy now?" He asked a huge smile growing on his lips.

"No, but you are….Your ordeal and journey has left you quite tense. Perhaps joining me would help you relax away some of that stress." T'Pol stepped into the water and afforded her mate the sight of the heavy downpour caressing her body like fine silk. It made her skin glow with a warmth that only invited him to join in. Without hesitation Trip was out of his uniform and into the water stream with her, kissing and caressing every inch of her body. As she had predicted, his presence in the shower and its mesmerizing affects all but made the events of the last few days fade away. He was lost, too unwilling to think about anything other than the beautiful woman in his arms and the nature of their clandestine water filled play.

A short time later found them cuddled together in the bubbling water of the hot tub. The steam that rose from the rolling bubbles bathed both their skins in a warm mist. It was pleasing to the Human's senses in that he was more than aroused by their closeness. For T'Pol however, their closeness only heightened the warmth she found so pleasingly pushing away the chill of these drafty halls. She reveled in it several long minutes allowing her mate to trail kisses anywhere he liked. Her body rose from the water to afford him more areas to explore. Settling in, she straddled him and within minutes was making his head spin with the sensations she was causing. They made passionate love, slowly, aroused by the alien environment Trip found himself in. It was like the water showers on Vulcan, strange and exciting bringing new highs to his already talented libido. Climaxing into a hot wave of passion, the two lay back in each other's arms against the coolness of the marbled tub. The water danced about their skin, creating soft accents to the tingles that each were feeling after their time of exquisite love making. It would be more than an hour before either would move to dry off or dress. Having done so, T'Pol set out showing her mate about the consulate.

*****
In the entrance way a very petite female, with graying straight hair pulled back into a bun at the base of her head, walked through the doorway. She had been brought by transport, and was greeted in proper Vulcan fashion by the attendants. Low she spoke her desire to see someone to one of the attendants and they both turned to leave in a rush. The woman remained there, on the outskirts of the main seating room, dressed in a dark grey silk top with elegant Chinese embroidery, and dark black fitted slacks. She remained in silence until she heard the absent ramblings of a lone female voice down the passageway.

"Now which way do I go?" Catherine mumbled having gotten lost in the enormity of this large dwelling. "It's not bad enough that I am loosing my son to an alien that control's his mind, now I will be lost forever in this huge place." She considered calling out, but found the dead quiet an indicator that that probably wouldn't be the best idea. The human examined the walls trying to look for any markings that would tell her which way to go.

"May I be of assistance?" The gray haired stranger asked. This startled Catherine who jumped at the silent way these attendants had of getting from place to place.

"Oh……" The human female settled her nerves and tried to compose herself around the help. "Yes…thank you….. I am lost and am looking for my room." Catherine figured that these aliens were more than intelligent enough to know who she was.

"I am afraid that I no longer work here, but I will be most willing to help locate an attendant to be of assistance to you." The woman was pleasant and low spoken. Her garb and hairdo made Catherine realize immediately that she must have been Chinese. How she could have mistaken her for an alien was beyond the southern woman. Relaxing a bit to see a fellow human, Catherine apologized for her lack of manners. "Oh my lord, ma'am…. I am so sorry. I didn't realize you weren't…." Catherine hesitated forgetting the name of the alien species that were serving as attendants in this facility.

"You seem quite distressed…. Is there something I can do for you?" The woman stood there calm and collected, not at all upset for being mistaken as the hired help.

"No, but I appreciate the offer….. " Catherine was tired, and she let out a huge breath to denote so. "It's just been a very hard year….. I lost my daughter in the alien attack and now I am loosing my son to another alien attack of sorts." Her words held a bit of sarcasm that the woman couldn't understand. She turned a puzzled look to Catherine.

"Your son is dying?" She asked wondering why the woman would be standing here if she knew this.

"No…. worse… he has fallen in love with a Vulcan female that he works with and is becoming less and less human because of it." Catherine's eyes started to water.

"It is difficult to loose a child….especially due to another specie's actions…… I know….." The woman started and drew both Catherine's sympathy and her interest.

"My son was killed by aliens in the line of duty….. He was assigned to help protect this planet from alien invasion factions. After he had infiltrated their group, he was discovered as a spy and put to death." She spoke those words low and reverently as if reliving their significance over and over again.

"Your son was killed by the Vulcans?" The human's eyes opened wide in fear.

"No…. by another species the security ministry was working to protect earth from. There are many species out there that resemble humans but who have powers and weapons far superior. That is why the Vulcans set up the ministry….to help protect this planet from those that wish to conquer it." She continued to inform, although her words were drawing more sympathy than understanding.

"How long ago did you loose him? The woman could feel the human's sympathy being sprayed upon her openly.

"52 years and 4 months ago." She replied to a very bewildered Catherine. She looked the frail woman up and down and didn't guess her to be more than mid 60's.

"Wow….so long ago…. You must have been a baby yourself when you had him."

"I was at the appropriate age." Came the even response.

"How did you get over it?" Catherine wanted to know more to help the pain of loss she was feeling for her two children.

"I look to his accomplishments… and to that which he took great solace in. His family…..his child….. his doing important work that helped others." The more this woman spoke, the more Catherine was realizing she was much more than she seemed.

"You're a grandmother?" Mrs. Tucker asked wondering just how old this woman really was. "The child must have never known its father." Catherine realized the woman didn't say whether it was a boy or girl.

"She was 14 years old when he was murdered…. Young yes, but she had enough time to get to know her father." A sick feeling started in the pit of her stomach as Catherine realized she was probably talking to yet another alien. And if she was talking with such an alien, was this one who would kill her if she said the wrong thing. She remained in silence, not knowing what else to say, but wishing one of those attendants would come up right about now. Instead came a very unwanted face, that of T'Pol.

T'Pol walked up to the small woman bowing deeply and repeating the greeting that was given to her in a tiny voice. "Nee how." "Nee how". At the end of this gesture, the two reached out their hands and extended two fingers. These two fingers they used to touch each other's and held them there for several long seconds.

"It is very agreeable to see you." T'Pol started, the emotion hardly hidden from her voice.

"As it is you.. ,My'all." There hands parted and each stood looking the other over. It was T'Pol who made a quick turn to her mate to introduce the illusive woman.

"Trip…. I would like to introduce my foremother T'Vel…… Foremother, this is my mate Commander Charles Tucker, the third." Trip's face lit up as he bowed in return to the small stature of a woman.

"It's good to meet you…. T'Pol has told me much about you." Trip was surprised that this was T'Pol's paternal grandmother, the one that was still active in the ministry as an operative working deep cover in the back woods of China. "I can't believe you still work as an undercover operative."

"Our family has always worked toward the safety and betterment of my people." T'Vel stated as she pushed the long strands of gray hair back and behind her delicately pointed earlobes.

"I see you've already met my mother, Catherine Tucker." Trip pointed in her direction and saw the rather green hue growing on her features.

"We have been talking a bit about loss, but I am sorry I did not catch the name. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." The woman bowed knowing full well that many of the things the human said to her were inflammatory towards her grand daughter.

"And as to your concern over Vulcans and mind control, they are capable of it, but are forbidden to practice the art. Even if one did, it is hard to mask the act and would be quickly revealed, hence it would be illogical to even attempt it." This statement was followed by a slight bow and a sidelong glance that told Catherine her point had not been lost to the alien. Trip saw this interaction and realized that his mom had probably already insulted the woman enough. With a hand on his mother's arm, he turned to the other two women.

"You guys must have a lot of catching up to do…… I'll take mom on a little tour of the place." He pulled at his mother's arm and found her all too willing to take his lead. "We will catch up to you two later." Trip's voice echoed as they made their way down the hall. The two Vulcans watched them leave then started speaking in their native tongue, as they turned to go outside and walk the consulate grounds.

"What did you say to her?" Trip asked quietly through gritted teeth as they rounded a corner and headed toward the far end of the building.

"I didn't know she was Vulcan….. Her ears were covered and I……" Catherine fell silent knowing full well she'd put her foot in it again.

"Mom….I don't know how to get you to understand, but these people will loose their patience with you one day and then you're not gonna be too happy with the outcome." Trip meant that he'd be forced to choose, but Catherine took it as a threat to her safety.

"I thought they were peaceful people….Are you telling me that I am in danger here?" Trip returned her a perturbed look.

"Of course not…." He started almost as frustrated as his father at the woman. "I just mean that if you keep this up I will have to choose who to side with and right now that is not you. I want you in my life, but if I have too, I will choose T'Pol." He turned quickly at her which halted their forward flow. "Don't make me have too." His glare at her was long and serious. It lasted it seemed for an eternity before he turned back and began to walk again.

"It figures you'd side with her." Catherine mumbled which only got a sigh and an exaggerated eye roll from her child.

"Mom!!" Trip's impatience was showing.

"I am not gonna say any more on the subject." The human woman returned as the two of them approached a large glass window. From this view they could see the massive courtyard before them. The grounds were plush, elegantly manicured and the landscaping was that out of an English tale's dream. In the distance stood T'Pol and her foremother, side by side facing away from the building. Their heads bowed, they seemed quietly contemplating a spot just beyond them.

"What are they doing?" Catherine watched, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"I think they are at her father's marker. I'm not sure. T'Pol was going to take me there before we were told about T'Vel's arrival." He stood and reached out his mind trying to touch a little of what was going on between the two women.

"That's where he is buried?" Catherine was amazed that he would be entombed so near the building and not in a graveyard of sorts.

"No… his body was never recovered. That is just a marker that pays tribute to his lifetime of service and his dying in the line of duty. It is all they have of him..... It means a great deal to T'Pol and I would expect to his mother too." Trip spoke to his parent but his eyes stayed focused on what his mate and her ancestor were doing.

"Kinda like Elizabeth." Catherine's statement broke her son's concentration. He could feel the hurt in her voice and put an arm around her to help comfort the unsettling nerves.

"Exactly….Vulcans can hurt too…..Even though they try to hide it, they have feelings and are just as susceptible to pain and loss as we are." Trip hugged into her giving his mom a little squeeze. "That is why I went with T'Pol to her home world…. She just lost her mother a short while ago and needed to grieve for her properly…The way we do. I couldn't let her go through that alone, now could I."

Catherine examined the lines on her darling son's face and realized she'd trained him well. He was as compassionate a man as his father, one with such a good heart that nothing he could do would ever break her love for him. "No….. I suppose not."

"Now do you see why it is important for you to try and get to know T'Pol….. I mean we are married and she is your daughter-in-law…sorta." His look went from loving to a playful pout, one the elder woman knew she could not resist.

"I suppose since I am here, I could do as the ambassador wanted and try to learn more about these people and their customs." She returned in the most begrudging voice she could must against the sight of her child's playfulness.

"That a girl….I got something to show you." His face lit up and he pulled her down yet another hallway. The lighting was less here, windows fewer and farther between. As they approached a large wooden door, Trip's hand went right to the latch.

"Are you sure we should be in here?" Catherine stopped her son just short of him entering.

"Yeah, it's all right…. T'Pol and I were in here just a little while ago." His voice sounded like a kid with a new toy. Trip opened the door to reveal a large room. The walls lined with book shelves that were packed fully with volume after volume of old texts. In the far end of the room was a desk that sat in the light of a single massive window. The yellowish hue that engulfed it gave off a nice warm glow. Between there and the door was a massive apparatus that resembled an overgrown microscope. It extended toward the ceiling and penetrated the roof allowing for heavenly exploration. Trip walked right up to the massive piece of machinery with an obvious interest in the item.

"Isn't it great…." He said pointing toward the top of the telescope as it disappeared through the ceiling.

"What is it for?" Catherine asked hesitant to be caught in this room by their hosts.

"It's a giant telescope….. T'Pol's dad was a bit of an antique collector…" Trip hopped up on the seat and began squinting in the eye piece. "Her father loved to study the stars like the old timers did. Even with all those sophisticated sensors they have, he still liked the beauty of seeing them with the naked eye. Isn't that amazing?" He played with a few dials and tried to focus in on a far point of light. The still lit sky was making his viewing more difficult.

"Should you be playing with that?" Catherine wondered why her son felt so at home here.

"Yeah…it's okay… This is T'Pol's office now…" He hesitated thinking about the accuracy of his statement. "I mean when she works for them it is her office…. Vulcans share a lot of things in their culture. They don't put as much sentimental value on everyday things." Trip jumped off and offered his mother a chance to see. She declined with a wave of her hand.

"Look at all these books…." Trip began examining the walls that had shelves upon shelves, sky high packed full of reading material. "Her father has read every one of them…Can you believe that. It must have taken him forever." The human fondled a rather pristine version of Browning that was notably a first edition. "T'Pol has read over half of them herself. That would take me a lifetime right there." Catherine watched as her son seemed lost to the wonder of this place. It worried her he was so intrigued by everything.

"Did you know the ambassador and her father were friends from their time in the service together….. That's why T'Pol went to work for him after her time with the Ministry." Trip's mom noted his words and decided to ask.

"So if she doesn't work here anymore, why would she still have an office?' There was a bit of cynicism in her voice.

"She is no longer on active duty, but apparently is in the reserves. Something about not being able to ever fully quit, I don't know…. I just know that she is on Enterprise now and can be occasionally called back into duty when the need arises." Trip sounded as though he didn't approve of it but had no choice but to accept it.

"So she is part of this cloak and dagger stuff, like her grandmother?" Catherine was taking the upper hand in this conversation.

"No…. not really…. T'Pol knows she's a science officer…. She just is loyal to her bosses here too. They don't call her for much… Only once since I have known her." Her son was hesitating, not sure how to get out of this one.

"So why did she stop….." Catherine stalled trying to pick the right words. "active duty, I mean. Was she fired for something she had done?'

"No…. she had a hard time dealing with something she had to do." This intrigued the woman and she sat down on the side of the desk awaiting more.

"She had to kill a man who was about to kill her." Trip took a long breath remembering the painful admission to this they had during their time on Vulcan. "Her entire career, T'Pol managed to do her job without taking a life. Taking a life is something that Vulcans can't tolerate. The guilt was enormous and she ended up getting a lot of counseling to help her come to terms with it. In the end, she resigned her active commission to the ministry and was taken into Ambassador service by Soval. He is like her godfather. Can you believe that, they have those too, although they call them counselors and have no religious significance." Trip sat down next to his mother on the oversize wooden surface.

"So this ambassador took her in when she quit this place… then why are we here? Shouldn't we be at the embassy?" Catherine wasn't sure but thought she had gotten the upper hand in this conversation.

"Because she is still in the reserves and training is part of that. It's amazing mom…. They go to such great lengths to ensure that they can control their emotions. They actually come to places like this to test their control. I watched T'Pol take a beating by an alien male that made me want to kill him. He got her right to the point where she was about to loose control and take his head off once and for all, and then all of a sudden she stopped and pushed all that rage back inside. I don't know how she did it? I wouldn't have been able to stop myself." Trip looked away reliving the memory of her last great encounter.

"And this they find logical…. Beating each other up until they want to kill each other?" Her voice was that of a very bemused woman.

"Don't you see mom…They are so afraid of loosing it and hurting another living thing, that they constantly test themselves and their abilities to control their emotions. It's like they are in competition with themselves, struggling daily to keep to a rigid level of control that nothing or no one can break. It's amazing they care so much, don't you think?"

"Perhaps they should just go home and keep to themselves, then they wouldn't have to work so hard." Her sarcastic remark made Trip hang his head in defeat.

"You are just going to continue with this, aren't you…. Mom I don't know what else to do…. You are here to learn and I suggest for your own good, you do so and quick." Trip got up and walked away from his mother, leaving her momentarily in this large room of knowledge and enlightenment. She caught up to him seconds later in the hallway, wanting more to make a mends then to be left behind as just a memory. Trip returned Catherine to her room then went to catch up with his mate and her foremother. Together they talked a long time, until the graying woman had to leave.

*****

It was morning, a fact that was blatantly evident by the hustle and bustle about the place. Catherine didn't realize that although quiet part of the time, these people could be quite noisy when they wanted. The sounds of fighting echoed in the hallways, as she passed pairs of combatants on her way to the main seating area. On her husband's arm, a very alarmed Catherine watched as sticks flew and blows were scored all about as they passed by.

"Does this happen every day?" She asked alarmed by the number of dueling pairs they passed through the main hallways.

"I guess so… They were doing this when we got here the other day." Charles Tucker squeezed into the hand she had wrapped around his. "They call it training…. Part physical, part mental…it makes them better agents." He tipped his head to a couple of attendants they passed by. "T'Pol did it the first day of her training. It makes them calculate plans while defending themselves in battle. Kinda making them a well rounded fighter, don't you think?"

"I think it is like watching a horror picture about an insane asylum." She retorted leaning in close to his arm.

"Mother!!!" he scolded. "You know Vulcans have very sensitive hearing. I wouldn't be saying things like that."

"Or what…they will kill me… Trip told me they don't like harming other living creatures. I hardly believe they would change their policy simply because I made fun of their practices." Catherine was getting cocky now that they had passed by the majority of combatants.

"You could loose your son though…. He loves this girl and really likes her people's ways…. The least you could do is stop being so closed minded and learn a little something while you are here." He let go of Catherine's arm and walked away leaving her and her closed mind to contemplate her actions. She caught up with him a short few seconds later and walked the rest of the way to the dining area in silence.

After the morning meal, something that Catherine would later refer to as a veggie feast, the Tuckers began to seek the ambassador to find out what plans he had in store for Catherine's lesson. Instead they came across a very interesting interaction happening just meters away from where they stood.

"That's it….. I will not stand for this anymore…. You thought you were a big man hitting on a woman, now let me see you try it with someone your own size." There Trip stood, toe to toe with a humanoid looking male with wavy blond hair. He was hissing the words at this stranger, and Catherine couldn't quite understand what was making him so angry. T'Pol stood in the background looking very concerned that her mate was engaging this particular male. Trip's mom looked to her husband as she heard the words he uttered "Oh Shit!" shortly before breaking into a trot and joining in the discussion.

"Hey son…. Whatcha you doing there boy?" Charles came up and took hold of his son's arm dragging him out of the alien's face.

"I am about ready to kick me some alien ass." He shouted totally oblivious to his father or mother standing there. The southern drawl that was normally welcoming, sounded more a cry to war, coming from this red faced man.

"Ya think that's wise son…. I mean he is stronger than you… and also a trained agent." Trip's dad whispered in his ear as he attempted to drag him further and further from the scene.

"I can't take it any more… He is trying to taunt T'Pol and for that he has gotta go." Trip pushed against the pull of his father's arms. Charles added his shoulder to the mix. In the background T'Pol was speaking in Vulcan to her old colleague begging him to leave and allow her mate to cool down. The alien words made Catherine very suspicious that perhaps she was actually causing the fight to occur.

"Can't you do anything about this?" She hollered over the slow brewing chaos. "What, do you want my son to get hurt?" That came out before Catherine had a chance to think about her words. It stopped things momentarily, all eyes turning to her in shock.

"Vulcans don't wish harm to anyone… I am asking Agent Honey to stand down in this matter and remove himself from the area so that Trip can calm down." T'Pol answered her query after several long seconds of stunned silence. At this Honey started to do as she bid him. He turned and began to walk away which only infuriated Trip all the more.

"What, got no guts?…… Your species is a race of chickens." Trip egged him on….trying to goad him like he had been goading T'Pol all this time. The alien turned and took a few steps back in his direction only to be stopped by T'Pol's hand upon his chest. The sight of her touching him sent Trip into a new level of rage. He broke loose from his father and went right into attack mode.

Bursting past his mother, Trip got between T'Pol and the male within a second, using his weight to torpedo into Honey's frame knocking him backward into a stone wall. He grabbed at his shirt as if pinning this male would damage him somehow. Honey, stunned by the move, was not harmed. He actually looked forward to the chance of taking this human's ego down a notch or two, but looked up to T'Pol who was shaking her head silently in his direction. The agent kept his hands out, unwilling to return the blow that the human attempted. Trip felt his reluctance and shot a daggered look to his mate. (Don't stop this!) Trip thought at her knowing full well this male wanted to take up the challenge but didn't at her bidding.

"Trip, son… Charles came up and began to pull at his child's arm. "Let's think this thing through… I mean what happened that made you so mad?" The father thought about making his son rationalize why he was reacting this way.

"He keeps trying to go after my wife…… She is mine and he knows better than to interfere with that." His jaw was set, teeth clinched with the intensity of his rage.

"He will never have me… I am yours until all eternity… You know this. There is no logic in your attack upon him…. No logic what so ever." T'Pol added in. Her words were low but to Catherine they seemed almost chastising.

"I know he is constantly calling me an inferior mate for you. I know he wants you to quit Starfleet and comeback to work here with him… That is reason enough." Trip returned not wanted to stop now.

"He will not get what he wants. My place is with you….My heart and spirit are with you… You can sense this. I would not be content anywhere but with you. Why do you doubt that which you can feel for yourself?" Again she didn't seem to Catherine to be the loving wife type no matter what she professed.

"He has made a formal challenge to our bond and in doing so I am obligated to teach him a thing or two about interfering with such a union…" Trip tried to make the rage he was feeling sound logical.

"He has a point…. My actions could be construed by an outsider as being intrusive. Perhaps if he'd like too…" Honey was cut off by the hard stare he got from his friend. "Well again, maybe not. I wouldn't want to harm him. That would be against the oath I took upon coming here." His smugness made Trip see beyond red. Again he threw the man against the stony surface and got to within millimeters of his face to hiss the rest of his words.

"Any place, any time pal." Now it was T'Pol who was dragging him from the alien. She could see it was going to come to an all out brawl, and nothing short of that would ever appease her mate's need for justice.

"I am not going anywhere…. Here is as good a place as any." Honey seemed to be less in control as he would have liked to. With that, Trip broke free of his mate's grip and swung at the male, missing his face by inches at Honey's quick dodge. Again he took another swipe, but ended up brushing his fist against the rough stone surface. The pain that shot through him didn't phase the level of anger he was feeling. Bleeding, Trip once more moved at the alien, this time having to turn his back to the wall. Honey took advantage of this, pinning the human's frame to the hard surface with just one upswing.

The grip the alien had on his clothing, culminated at the base of Trip's throat, poking into his airway and started to occlude a bit of its patency. He coughed and sputtered a bit, bringing his arms up to try and push against the overwhelming strength this male showed. Seeing her colleague taking too much advantage of the difference in their structural makeup, she quickly sent a few helpful tips to her mate to level the playing field a bit.

(Kick into his right mid thigh hard with your knee.) Her voice came clearly to Trip's hazy mind and he did so without question. With all his might, the human brought his knee up and caught the mid point of the alien's thigh straight on. This crumpled him, a severe groan of pain coming from his lips. The grip he had upon Trip's airway was loosened and now he was able to catch his own breath.

Regaining his stance, Honey faced Trip once more, but this time angrier for the soreness he was feeling. He came at him, ready to inflict a little of his own brand of revenge. Trip eased backward, still angry, but now realizing that he might have bit off more than he could chew. As he saw the man's swing starting, Trip heard another command in his mind. (Right, duck.)

He did so and the rocket speeding punch missed him by inches. Another command came (Now left.) Without question, Trip dodged yet another one of the aliens thunder punches.

(To the midsection hard.) the commands were coming in at lightning speed, but Trip had the good sense to follow them. He came up from his position with a barreling uppercut that caught the alien in his mid six pack. He bent over, winded from the connection. Trip took the opportunity to throw a few more free punches in for good measure, but found his hits to the alien's face didn't phase him at all.

(Go for the body… Their exoskeleton is thinnest there.) His mate corrected his actions trying to be of as much help as possible. Meanwhile Catherine watched in fear as this alien tried to beat up on her son. She noted T'Pol standing silently by and came up to her in a panic.

"Aren't you gonna try to stop this thing?" She yelled more than a bit pissed at the woman for her inaction.

"I am trying to do just that." T'Pol replied and kept her eyes closed, her mind focused intently on the motions she could sense before her.

(to your left!) she hollered at him as she sensed that Honey was about to throw a punch there. Trip dodged it with little difficulty then returned a few more punches to his mid section, now exposed. Honey dropped to his knees at the pounding his lungs were getting. Winded, he could hardly see how this human could know they were located differently than theirs.

(Take hold of his collar bone and lift him to his feet again while he is weakened.) T'Pol was looking for a quick end to this fight before she missed a sign and her mate was truly injured.

Trip did as she said, finding a convenient notch within which he could get a good hold upon the alien. He pulled Honey up with all his might to face him, the alien winded and somewhat dazed. A sudden urge hit Trip and he quickly acted upon it. Lunging forward, the engineer head butted the young male, feeling the true meaning of T'Pol's words as their two skulls met. The pain was overwhelming and Trip was now a bit dazed himself. He let go of Honey's shoulder and watched through a haze as the alien fell back upon his knees. This would be the perfect opportunity to finish him off, but unfortunately Trip was too dizzy himself to do so.

T'Pol saw Honey's head start to clear. She knew her mate would not be able to withstand the beating he would get if the agent regained his stance. With all her might, T'Pol forced her consciousness into her mate's body. In doing so, her own body slumped to the floor. Trip suddenly stood erect again. His hand went to the hair of the alien's head and held his head back exposing the soft area of his neck. With a sweeping motion, Trip's arm came from behind him in a direct line to this spot. The force with which it traveled indicated this would be a deadly blow if it connected. Both Charles and Catherine held their breath in horror to see if their son could stoop to such a level. As the moment arrived, Honey's eyes opened wide to see the hand coming toward him with such velocity. His breath caught in his throat as the slicing motion stopped just millimeters from finding its mark. It hovered there, trembling with the force that it took to stop it. The look in Trip's eyes was that of pure determination as they glared daggers into the alien's face. He held this stance for what seemed an eternity then let go of the man's head rather roughly and stepped back from the sight. Exhausted, Trip leaned against a wall then eased down that wall when the force of his mate's mind left to go back into her own body once more.

"She's mine…. Don't forget that." The human managed to say as he looked to his wife's body lying crumpled on the floor. He eased over to it, pulling her into his arms and cradling her as he would a loving child. T'Pol's eyes fluttered open and saw his concerned look.

"Never tried that one before." He stated, knowing full well what she'd done to protect him.

"Me either….It leaves you quite drained." T'Pol leaned into him uncaring that those around her could see their togetherness. Honey came up and looked down upon them both. Straightening, he spoke directly to Trip.

"You are right….. I am no competition for you. She is truly where she belongs." His words were raspy, as if his voice box had been damaged by their battle. As the alien walked away, he could hear the whimsical questions his colleague was asked to answer.

"I can understand about the body shots, but why tell me to aim for his right thigh?" Trip held her close, a soft smile growing on his lips. The bruise on his head was starting to show.

"Honey's species is said to be well endowed. Their biological make up requires that they be so for procreation. I am told that males of any species are very vulnerable in that area." She answered still feeling very weak.

"You told me to kick him in the nuts?" Trip quipped with a laugh. "That's an ancient Vulcan martial arts technique?"

"Would you rather I allowed him to continue choking you?" Her flat, dry return started Charles laughing. Catherine remained quiet not wanting to admit she didn't understand a word of what they were saying.

*****

Later that day:

"I don't want to meditate when them…. I don't want that woman's mind anywhere near mine. She will take control of us like she did Trip." Catherine was applying some forcible pressure to the rather strong pull of her husband's arm.

"Catherine Elizabeth Tucker…. If you don't try this, I will make Soval keep you here another week. Just try this….Trip says it will help calm your thoughts. And besides, they can't mind control anyone." Charles was getting tired of his wife's persistence.

"Oh yes they can… That gray haired lady said so…." The southern woman was being really stubborn now.

"If you try this, I will as Soval to let you leave tomorrow morning." Her husband tried to sweeten the pot a bit.

"All I have to do is try this?" Her mind was skeptical.

"Yep…. Give it a good try and I promise you will be sleeping in your own bed tomorrow night." Charles, Sr. knew exactly how to pull this woman's strings. She relented and made the way toward the meditation gardens with little resistance from then on.

Upon entering the open area, the sandy surface was warm and dry to her feet. Removing her shoes, as instructed, Charles and Catherine took their places on the benches across from where Trip and T'Pol sat. They were on the floor, but allowed the benches in respect for the elder parents limited physical capacities. Trip sat closest to them, out of reach of his mate to make the situation less threatening. A large candle burned between them, while still others lined the room at different points. At first glance, Catherine thought this room to be quite charming, but then realized the purpose for the exercise.

"Meditation is a state through which you can reach your innermost goals. You need only concentrate on them and they will appear to you." T'Pol began and saw the skeptical look on her opponent's face. She saw an accepting and eager response coming from Trip's dad and decided that would be enough to begin. Instructing them in the proper techniques, it was only minutes before most all in the room were at a higher plain of existence. Charles marveled at the many colors he passed getting there, but Catherine remained Earth bound by her own unwillingness to comply. She began to change her mind when she heard her husband utter a single word more. "Elizabeth."

To that Catherine opened her eyes and looked into the serene face of her husband bathed in the glow of the candlelight. She worried that first this was some sort of trick that the alien was playing, but as she read the look on both her husband and son's faces, she felt that perhaps she should give it a try.

As the room faded into the distance and the colors began to swirl past her, Catherine could feel her worries staying behind with her physical being. She found herself quickly standing on a beautiful beach, one she'd seen many times during their family's outings together. There in the distance was a picnic table complete with basket and tablecloth that blew in the light breeze. The ocean sound and smell were as vivid as if they were actually there. A young woman, blond and beautiful worked at putting the food items out on the table. Catherine knew instantly it was her, the child she loved so and longed for more than life itself.

"Elizabeth" she uttered standing mentally beside her son and husband on this sandy dune. The sun danced off the waves making their reflections play off their vision of the young woman. Trip and Charles stepped forward, actually going toward her, but Catherine stayed behind. They stopped encouraging her to join them.

"Mom…. Don't you want to see Elizabeth?" Trip asked knowing this was something she longed for.

"It's a trick…. She is not really there." The southern woman's voice held much hurt to it.

"She is there in your mind as she is in your heart. You are merely seeing her from those places, so for you she is real." T'Pol gave the explanation trying to comfort the woman's fears.

"I can go talk to her?" Catherine asked and saw the alien nod.

"Yeah, even hug her.. You can tell her goodbye properly now mom…. That's what T'Pol is offering you. A chance to say goodbye….The chance you didn't get before." Trip put her arms around his mom, knowing this was something his whole family needed. "Take it mom…. You won't regret it. I promise."

The group approached the scene, all save T'Pol who hung back to give the family their privacy. She stood there on the hillside watching the interaction as the first Tucker reached the young woman. Warmly Catherine grabbed her daughter and hugged as if not wanting to let go. Her eyes filled with tears as the hand of her husband came round and took both of them into an equally desperate hug. Trip hung behind, this not the first time he was seeing his baby sister. He knew what this would mean to his mom and hoped this would be the driving force that would change things between her and T'Pol for good. As the family settled down to what seemed to be an average weekend picnic on the beach, Catherine couldn't help but keep hugging at her daughter. Elizabeth was puzzled by this action it seemed, but didn't avoid her many expressions of love and happiness. While helping to finish setting the table, Catherine ventured a look over her shoulder, back at the alien that was making this all possible. There on the hillside stood T'Pol, but behind her were two more figures. They were Vulcan like she, both resembling her somewhat, though Catherine was sure she didn't know how. She turned to her son and nudged him to look in that direction too.

"Who are they?' The southern woman whispered not knowing what to think about the change.

"They are her parents…. Like us Vulcans hold their loved ones close, even after death. They are just better at revisiting them than we are." Trip lifted his eyebrows denoted how impressed she should be by her new daughter-in-law.

"You know I'll bet that T'Pol would be willing to let you visit with Elizabeth anytime we are around….that is if you ask her nicely." The hint was not lost on the woman, however much of her resentment somehow was. In this place, there were no suspicions, or even anger. There was only love and acceptance, a peaceful-like state that filled the woman with an overwhelming joy she could not understand, but didn't want to fight. His words to her kept ringing in the woman's ears through out their visit to this mental place. After the meditation was over, Catherine actually pulled T'Pol aside and thanked her for the chance to say goodbye to her lost child. This moved both impressed and endeared her to her family, whose patience up to this point was wearing very thin.

It grew past 5PM and the group was contemplating the evening meal. Catherine noted that though she enjoyed much of the morning mash, however didn't know if only vegetables would be filling enough. This suggestion worried her family thinking the wonderment of the afternoon's meditation had worn off so soon. Instead T'Pol countered quickly no sense of hesitation in her voice. "There are quite a few Chinese restaurants in town. I know of Trip's fondness for the cuisine. If you wish I can escort you to one of them."

Nodding her head and with a broad smile, Catherine appeared to be quite receptive to the idea, then she hesitated. "What, do Vulcans not like Chinese food?' This question came as a shock to her family thinking she was back to her old ways.

"I find many of their vegetable dishes quite tasty, but I have not become very adept with their eating utensils yet." T'Pol answered back as serious as a judge.

"Then use a knife and fork….You can even use a spoon on the rice if you want." Catherine was shocked that this extraordinarily intelligent woman didn't know she could use those items to eat Chinese food with.

"But Trip and the Captain told me that when eating Chinese food, you must use chopsticks or it would not taste right?" She shot her mate a very puzzled look.

"They what……Oh honey we have got to have a talk about Human males…. If you're gonna be married to one you have to know about their warped sense of humor." Catherine put an arm around the alien's shoulder and started to walk her toward the front door. The two Tucker males followed in stunned amazement.

"The nerve of them, pulling a trick like that on you….." She could be heard to say as they got to the entrance and were leaving out the door. "You should be ashamed of yourselves for telling her something like that. She's new to this planet and how is she to know it if you don't tell her right." This ranting went on half way to the transport vehicle. Within minutes they were speeding their way through the near by countryside towards town. When they arrived, T'Pol gently pulled her hair from behind her ears and covered their obvious points from view.

"What are you doing that for?" Trip asked puzzled by her attempting to hide her true heritage.

"It is better that they not know I am Vulcan when I am out by myself. It will save us from much embarrassment if we meet anyone who is a xenophobe." She pulled up her coat and made sure her bangs hid the graceful upslope of her brow.

"Who in their right mind would be a xenophobe these days?" Catherine retorted stepping from the vehicle and waiting on the sidewalk for the rest of her family to do the same. Charles and Trip Tucker just stared at one another in amazement, their shoulders shrugging at this complete 180 Catherine was pulling.

"Who would indeed, mom….. Who would indeed." Trip was heard to say as he put his arms around both his favorite women. They walked into the restaurant and began what would be the start of a very long and happy family bond, one that included all and excluded none.

The End.

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

Hope everyone is happy. Honey got it, Trip gave it to him and even Catherine thinks her new daughter-in-law is the cat's meow. Thanks for your patience…..I know school and work have been rough lately, but as soon as The Warp 7 Project is over, I got a new story for ya. It's a real winner. T

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A whole mess of folks have made comments

Nice :) At first I was a bit disappointed by Trip needing T'Pol to coach him through the fight. But then I pondered it, and realized that Honey had the advantage of several decades of experience with Humans, while Trip knew nothing of his makeup. She was just giving him a crash course in gross anatomy so to speak. SO I am all happy now :)

So what is this new story you are tantalizing us with?

A hint.... think "All our yesterdays." No more for now. You just ponder it. T

you are going to send them back in time to Vulcan's past? Sweet.

Not Vulcan's past.....Sorry....T.

Earth's past. All right!

Nicely done. I enjoyed this, thank you! :)

I guess I came away feeling a bit let down about how the Catherine Tucker thing was resolved. You built her distaste and prejudice up so much that I just assumed it was a deeply held belief on her part and then, in a snap (story-wise), it's resolved. I would have liked to seen much more of her POV in order to understand what changed.

Methinks TLR was ready to just wrap this one up because she got all eager to start in on her new project. I just get that impression from her remarks. When her typing takes on that lunatic edge, you know she has something particularly juicy in the works.

Actually other than her being angry cause of the pain T'Pol caused her son, there was never a xenophobia issue. I thought giving her the gift of saying goodbye to her daughter and seeing to what lengths T'Pol protected Trip might be enough.

Plus she saw, felt and heard over and over again how her family would just disown her if she didn't get off her high horse about this.

Have you ever met someone who ranted and raved about something that bugged them only to be proven wrong and have egg all over their face? Didn't they always try to get out of the dog house by doing a complete 180 by trying to get back on the good side of those they have pissed off. That is where I was coming from.

Sorry Kevin if 19 pages wasn't enough. Studying for my last test must have taken my mind off the plot a bit. :) T.

Really imaginative conclusion. Loved the Lizzie meditation. But it was a bit out of the blue; could have used some foreshadowing earlier in the story to show how much Catherine missed her only daughter. Thats the trouble with installment writing, hard to go back and redo. But works for me anyway! I am a suckker for anything Lizzie. Loved T'Pol's grandmother and the way Honey was disposed of.

It has taken me three-quarters of a lifetime to be brave enough to write and to feel I have accumulated enough experience to have something interesting to say! I expect by my age you will be a many times published author. Keep up the good and prolific work and yes, school work comes first. Don't cave in to the demands of your readers (such as me, always pushing for more) at the expense of good grades! (I'm on a homework diatribe with my granddaughter, LOL, so everyone gets hit with it!)

What Linda says is largely true and good advice. Though I would add that grades are secondary to what you take from the college experience. The goal is to learn from those that have gone before and learn to think and evaluate given an appropriate reference base not just regurgitation of some professors personal views. You may or may not choose to disagree openly with any of your professors guarding your GPA and that is fine, just don't loose yourself in the process. Unfortunately many in academia today have forgotten the purpose of education, to educate not indoctrinate, and have opted for furthering personal or political agendas.

HtH

HtH, it sounds like you had a bad experience with a professor somewhere along the line. That can be so disappointing when one who is supposed to be teaching you how to think for yourself is just pushing his/her own personal political or ethical viewpoint agenda. The last round of formal education that led to a degree that I had was technical (computer programming, systems analysis), therefore hard to personalize, LOL. And it was so long ago that most of that knowledge is now obsolete. Such is life. But there are some people who could even politicize that, I'll bet. I hope TLR is having a good college experience!

You need to write a story for Honey. Maybe a background to why he cares so much for T'Pol or better yet fix him up with his own girl. Maybe Erica from the columbia?

Lisa

Poor Erica! Give her a break!