Like Father, Like Son

Like Father Like Son

By Triplover

Disclaimer: I own NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Humor
Summary: Varen Tucker and Nolan Reed go to Risa! And everything goes wrong….
A/N: I was looking at some of my old tapes when I ran into one that got me thinking. This is my first attempt at humor…. Nuff said.

~*~*~*~

Varen Tucker looked around his room and smiled. He would miss this place in the fall… when he went to the academy. San Francisco was only a few months away. A part of him was rather nervous but that was probably his human side. The young hybrid sighed then walked out. He and Nolan had decided to spend the few months they would have left before the academy to see the quadrant.

Their first stop was Risa… though his parent’s would not know about that. His father had always hated the place after what happened to him though he never was told the entire story. All he really knew was his father and Malcolm Reed had been kidnapped. But that rarely happened on Risa. It could merely be defined as ‘bad luck’. And Varen was going to be careful while there… unlike his father he was a man who was always quite careful. “Hello Father.”

His father smiled at him from the kitchen. “Hey kiddo!”

Varen frowned. “I’m a little older than kiddo am I not?”

Trip laughed. “Probably… since you’re goin’ off with Nolan for a few months without us. What are ya mother and I gonna do without you?”

Varen’s eyebrows rose. “I’m sure you’ll manage.”

His father nodded then turned back to fixing their dinner. “Bags packed?”

“Of course.”

“Got your ticket?”

“Father you know I have always been an organized person… they are in my pocket along with my ID. I have everything I’ll need. Nolan will be here any minute. I just spent an hour double checking everything. I am ready.”

Trip smiled then walked over to his son. “I’m gonna miss you.”

“I will miss you as well father.”

Trip dropped his hand on Varen’s shoulder. He had a smile on his face different from his usual smiles. It was filled with pride. Varen was honored to be pleasing his father so much. Guilt soon settled in though as he thought of him and his friend’s first stop. Varen frowned.

==

“So are you ready for Risa, Varen?” Nolan whispered to his friend with a grin. Varen’s eyebrows rose.

“Perhaps we shouldn’t go. You know both of our parents would not like this if they knew.”

Nolan frowned. “We’ve been planning this day ever since we found out we would both be entering the academy. You’re not backing out on me now! It’s our destiny. Our fathers went,” Nolan reminded him.

Varen folded his arms. “Our fathers ended up being kidnapped, Nolan. Do you truly want to follow in THEIR footsteps?”

Nolan shook his head. “Vulcans!”

“You guys ready?” his father asked.

Varen took in a deep breath. “We are.”

Finally his mother walked over him as the two embraced. His mother normally did not hug him that much. Of course when he was hurt or had a bad dream she had always been there… she just normally was uncomfortable with such things. “I will miss you dearly, mother.”

“And I shall miss you as well, son.”

She moved her hand to the side of his face as he smiled down at her. “I will contact you as soon as I can. I promise. See you both soon.” Finally Varen picked up his bag and swung it on his back. Both he and Nolan began walking to the door but before Varen left he took one last look back at his parents… his family then grinned.

==

“Next stop Risa! Varen you won’t believe this place! I haven’t been here in such a long time! Just think of it… women will be all over the place! And they’ll have unbelievable clubs with the most exotic drinks! Varen, we are gonna have a ball! This is gonna be one hell of a party!”

Varen rolled his eyes and looked over at his companion. “Are you sure you’re Malcolm Reed’s son?”

Nolan laughed. “Pretty shocking isn’t it? Oh come on Varen! Why do you Vulcans always have to be so… Vulcan?”

Varen smiled. “I am a Vulcan, Nolan. I really can’t change that.”

Nolan laughed. “I suppose not. Are you sure YOU’RE Charles Tucker’s son?”

Varen shook his head. “Pretty shocking… isn’t it?”

Nolan shook his head and looked out the portside window sighing. “You’re one of a kind buddy… one of a kind!”

==

When they finally reached Risa Nolan was already wearing a nice dress shirt. Varen on the other hand was wearing a shirt his father had gotten him when he’d been accepted to the academy. He had called it a ‘Hawaiian’ shirt. Varen had been quite confused considering the fact that he wouldn’t be going to Hawaii but he had decided to wear the strange looking shirt anyway. It certainly was… unique. “So where should we go to first? You pick, Varen!”

Varen looked over at his companion and best friend since birth. “I do not know. Perhaps you should pick.”

Nolan sighed. “It’s too bad Jennifer Archer couldn’t come… she always did love Risa… the beaches here are great for surfing I hear.”

Varen nodded. Unfortunately Jennifer was going to be spending his time in San Francisco with her father. Admiral Archer had always been very close to Jennifer and when he realized his daughter would be entering the academy he had offered to prepare her for the experience.

Jennifer was hoping to become a security officer in the academy. Nolan on the other hand was hoping to be a pilot while Varen would soon because an engineer. Jennifer was always very much like Varen. More logical compared to Nolan and far more controlled. Nolan, on the other hand was always rather… erratic. Varen too wished for the company of his long time friend Jennifer. She was certainly an interesting woman and very beautiful.

Varen frowned.

He had never thought of Jennifer as beautiful before. Of course he had always admired her… but before he had thought of her as a sister… he didn’t see her looks when they spoke. He didn’t think of her body when they would hug after a long time of not seeing each other. But now that he did think of it… she was very amazing to look at. When did he stop seeing her as a sister and more as… well… whatever he now saw her as? Varen shook his head. This was very strange. It was probably because of the Risa air… yes… that had to be it.

“HELLO! Earth to Varen! You there?”

Varen blinked and looked at his friend. “I apologize Nolan I was simply thinking of Jennifer.”

Nolan grinned. “No wonder you were in a trance… you like her, don’t you!”

Varen’s frown deepened. “Perhaps we should try the beach first. I have not surfed in ages.”

Nolan chuckled. “You can always tell when a Vulcan’s in love. You’re blushing green like never before buddy!”

==

Varen had always enjoyed surfing. He’d first learned from his father at the age of fourteen. They’d taken a vacation as a family to Florida and while there his father had decided it was time for him to learn this very complicated skill. Varen had never liked sports but surfing was one he’d always enjoyed. It was something—other than engineering, of course—that he and his father could enjoy together. Varen had always been more like his father but when there were things that they had in common they always took advantage of them. Varen smiled at the memory.

~*~*~*~

“I will never get this father… although I find it quite interesting I am unable to understand your instructions. The board is too slippery. I just cannot do it.”

“Hey! Never say that! You can do whatever you wanna kiddo! You’re an amazing kid and I KNOW you can do this. You just have to keep workin’ at it.”

“I will never get it father… sports are simply not my… ‘thing’.”

“And you never will get it if you keep thinkin’ like that!”

“I will try again, father… if it means this much to you.”

~*~*~*~

Varen had very much wanted to surf but when he first tried he’d wanted to just give up. But his father had always believed in him. Varen was sure if it hadn’t been for his father he would have never tried it again. Now he couldn’t get enough of the only sport that ever interested him. He owed a lot to his father. Guilt again settled in as he thought of where he was. Perhaps he should think of something else. “Hey Varen! That was amazing! That wave was huge! I can’t believe how well you rode that thing!”

Varen smiled as his friend ran over to him. “Vulcans are superior to humans… we’re stronger, we are very good at balancing and we have excellent muscle control… it was nothing.”

Nolan shook his head. “I know that’s not supposed to be an insult so I’ll try not to be offended by that comment.”

Varen laughed. “I meant nothing by it… just stating facts.”

“I refer you to my previous comment,” Nolan remarked sending the two into laughter. Once they were able to recover Nolan exhaled. “So what now? Wanna head down to the clubs?”

“To tell you the truth I do not understand why you want to go to a club anyways.”

Nolan rolled his eyes. “You’re kidding right? Come on Varen! We’re going to a club to meet beautiful women! In fact I remember once when I was told the story about Risa hearing that YOUR mother even encouraged Captain Archer and your father to ‘ease their tensions’… I think you should take that advice, Varen, because you’re wound tighter than a rubber band ball!”

Varen’s eyebrows rose. “And what exactly would make you think I would WANT to know about that?!” This was getting more uncomfortable by the second. “I simply do not want us to get into anything that our father’s got into.”

“I’m telling you Varen, that won’t happen to us! Come on! Live a little!”

“I live plenty!”

Nolan rolled his eyes. “Why do you have to be so damn difficult? Just come on! We’ll go to one club… just one!”

After sighing rather loudly Varen nodded. “Fine… we will go to ONE club.”

Nolan grinned. “That’s my boy!”

==

After going back to the hotel to change Varen was feeling more calm and levelheaded. Though he still did not like the idea of going to a club he was willing to accompany his friend if it was something Nolan wanted. Varen had to smile though when he saw the interesting place before him. “So many women so little time!” Nolan muttered with a grin.

Varen rolled his eyes. “Humans.”

“Hey stranger!” Varen frowned when he saw the two women walk over to him and his friend.

Nolan’s grin grew impossibly wider. “Don’t look now…”

Varen straightened instantly. “Good evening ladies.”

“Good evening,” said one of the females. And from where Varen was standing… she was ALL female. Her raven black hair swung side to side as she looked over at Varen then back at Nolan.

Varen gulped. “This was not a good idea,” he mumbled to himself. Not a good idea indeed.

==

“Care for a drink?” Nolan asked the two women.

The one woman, Trinnia, nodded. “What you have looks good.”

Nolan glanced at the other woman, Yora. “What about you?”

Yora gave him a cute little smile. “I’m sure whatever you order will be just fine.”

Varen couldn’t believe it. Nolan’s grin hadn’t left his face since the moment they’d entered the club. This would be a long night. “So where are you two from?” Trinnia asked.

“I’m from a planet called Earth… maybe you’ve heard of it but I was born on a ship. My friend here was born on the same ship but he’s from a place called Vulcan.”

“I’m surprised a Vulcan would come into one of these places,” Yora muttered curiously.

Varen frowned. “It was my idea.” That got him a shove in the side by his friend. He glared at Nolan then added with a sigh, “but I am not like most Vulcans.”

“This your first time here?” questioned Yora.

Nolan shook his head. “Not me but my friend here hasn’t been before.”

Trinnia looked at Varen and smiled warmly. “Having a good time so far.”

Varen’s frown grew. “It is… a beautiful place. It’s a shame I haven’t been able to come here sooner.”

Trinnia brushed her hand over his. “Quite a shame.” Varen swallowed hard. Was it getting hot in here? “Tell me, have you seen the subterranean gardens?”

Nolan shook his head. “No I haven’t.”

“It’s a beautiful sight.”

Nolan’s eyebrows rose. “Oh really? Why don’t we go there then?”

The girls first glanced at each other then at the two men. “Follow us.” Varen had a bad feeling about it immediately but he stayed quiet.

==

“What is this some type of short cut?” Nolan asked when they reached this sort of wine cellar. Varen looked around. Why did he feel so tense? He was just going to see some garden. It was illogical to feel this way.

“They’re very secluded,” Trinnia told them. That was it. Varen was beginning to feel panicky. Something wasn’t right here. He couldn’t say what but something was definitely up. He didn’t like this one bit. But by the time he realized what was happening the women before him were changing into strange fish-like creatures. MALE fish-like creatures.

Varen glared at Nolan. “Nothing will happen to us eh Nolan? How right you were.”

Nolan glared right back. “Just shut up Varen!”

“We don’t have time for this! Just shoot them so we can get their valuables and go!” shouted one of the creatures.

They aimed their weapons at the two. Varen gulped hard. “We have no valuables! You’re wasting your time on us!”

The aliens both smiled at them then let out a laugh that sent a cold shiver down Varen’s spine. Why he ever listened to Nolan was beyond him! “EVERYONE has something of value!”

At that they fired their weapon and Varen and Nolan fell to the ground.

==

When Varen finally awoke he was in the cellar still with a very large headache. He exhaled and looked up to see that the sun was already up… he then noticed his lack of dress with only his undergarments left for cover. And he was tied up… his legs and arms. He silently wondered if this was what happened to his father and Malcolm Reed. It was then that he saw Nolan awake. He jumped up and started looking around. “Good morning Nolan… sleep well?” he asked sarcastically.

His friend looked over at him, fuming. “Slept just fine… you?”

Varen looked around the wine cellar. “Extremely well. Now… do you have a plan on getting us out of this?”

“Get back to me on that one.”

“YOU were the one who insisted on coming here! You better come up with a plan real quick Nolan!”

“Well how was I supposed to know this would happen to us?! My dad said it was a rare thing for this to happen!”

“It happened to them… you should have been more cautious.”

Nolan moved around to face him. “I should have been more cautious?! You’re the Vulcan here with all your superiority! I think YOU should have been the cautious one!”

“I never should have listened to you.”

Nolan rolled his eyes. “Hey! Is anyone here?! For god’s sakes is there anyone there?!” Nolan shouted at the top of his lungs. Nothing happened.

“Wonderful plan Nolan.”

“Oh just shut up!”

==

Varen and Nolan walked side by side out of the club. Varen sighed. “Remind me never to go to a club again.”

“Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”

“You stink you know.”

“That bottle you used to cut the ropes smelled awful… it got all over me!”

“I apologize… I’m afraid it was the only way for us to get free.”

“Yeah well next time be more careful!”

“There won’t be a next to because I will never come to a place like this again! All I wanted to do was surf!”

“Of all the people in the world I could have been with to this place and I had to come here with you!”

“Do not get mad at me just because you got us into this!”

The two bickering men walked through the club and out the door together then headed towards their hotel. Hopefully the hotel manager would recognize them… those creatures had stolen their key. Varen scowled at Nolan.

==

He hadn’t been looking forward to talking with his parents but he knew he should. He didn’t have to tell them about what happened… though his guilt was becoming very annoying. Finally the screen changed and his mother and father appeared. “Hello father, mother.”

“Hey kiddo! How ya enjoyin’ your visit to Earth?”

Varen frowned. “It was very… exciting.”

“So you were able to enjoy yourself?” asked his mother.

Varen gave her a fake smile. “It was very exciting.” It was all he could say. He was not used to lying to his parents. Why was it that it was only when there was something to do with Nolan that he had to lie to them? “How’s Nolan doin’?”

“He’s taking a shower at the moment. Some drink spilled on his shirt… he didn’t like the smell.”

Trip’s eyebrows rose. “Oh really? What were you two guys up to?”

Varen did not like this line of questioning. “We were at a club.”

His mother seemed to disapprove immediately. “A club.”

Varen’s look of annoyance deepened. “Nolan thought it would be fun.”

Trip nodded then looked over at his wife. “Can I talk with Varen alone for a quick second honey?”

His mother nodded. “I will be in the kitchen,” she told him then left. Trip moved to look back at Varen.

“So what kind of a club did you guys go to?”

Varen did not know any clubs on Earth. His brain went crazy trying to think of something. “Uh… the 602 club.”

Trip frowned. “They shut that place down years ago Varen. You’re lyin’ to me. Where’d you really go?!”

Varen exhaled. Just perfect! “Promise you will not get angry?”

“I’m not promisin’ a thing.”

“We never went to Earth. We went to Risa.”

His father’s face went from anger to amusement and finally he chuckled. “Oh really?”

Varen nodded though surprised by his father’s reaction. “Some women came over to us and offered to show us some subterranean gardens. Then they led us to this cellar and shot us… when we woke up we were tied up and were only dressed in our undergarments.” His father began to laugh heartily as soon as Varen told him the truth. Varen would have liked it better if his father be angry. “It is not funny father!”

Trip stifled his laughter then cleared his throat. “Ya see… this is why I told ya I didn’t want you goin’ to Risa!”

“I am very sorry, father… I never wanted to go but Nolan was insistent. I should not have listened to him.”

His father shook his head still chuckling lightly. “Did I ever tell ya about the time me and Malcolm went to Risa?”

“You just said something about you two being kidnapped.”

His father was still shaking his head chuckling. “Well I guess it’s true what they say. Like father, like son!”

“I’m not sure I follow.”

Trip leaned back in his chair still grinning. “Son… I think it’s time I tell you the whole story about Malcolm’s and my first trip to that planet. You’ll see what I mean when I’m done.”

Varen’s eyebrows rose. This should be quite interesting.

The End

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Eight hardy souls have made comments

Way too funny! I loved it. I'll have to catch up on the other Varen/Nolan history because I don't know quite who they are yet. You've gotten me hooked on your offshoots universe! :)

Very nice work -- I enjoyed this immensely. Loved the glimpses of "married and settled" Trip and T'Pol. Looks like you're setting the scene for a whole bunch of "offspring" stories -- at least one with Jennifer Archer? I hope I'm right!!

I am thinking of making more of these... it's just so fun to write this universe! We'll see if my muse returns on this one.

hehe

who is Nolan's mom btw?

The world will never know! Bahahahahahahah! *evil grin*

That's just cruel... the Nolan guy and Jennifer seem like interesting characters... I hope you give us more of this!

Very funny, I liked how Trip intuitively knew that what Varen had to tell him would be something T'Pol would definitely *not* approve of so sent her off so they could have the conversation in private. You would think with her superior hearing though she would have heard Trip laughing all the way to the kitchen... And funny, but why does Malcom's son Nolan sound like Trip? Ali D :~)

I liked it twas good.....how different from Malcolm Nolan is.........