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Reflection

Author - Triplover | Genre - Action/Adventure | Genre - Romance | Main Story | R | Rating - R
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Reflection

By Triplover

Disclaimer: I don’t own a thing.
Rating: R
Summary: Trip must face some old demons when a friend from the past reappears asking to stay on Enterprise as a member of the crew.

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Chapter One

Trip Tucker grinned the moment the screen lit up and the room went dark. He glanced over at T’Pol who was steadily eating her popcorn. “Save some of it T’Pol… ya might want some durin’ the movie.”

T’Pol looked over at him raising one eyebrow but she said nothing and turned back to look at the screen as the movie started. It was a movie he hadn’t seen for years. It was called “Dances With Wolves” and it was the saddest movies he’d ever seen but it was also the most moving one. There was so much emotion out of watching a simple movie.

He’d wanted T’Pol to see this movie for a while and after pulling a few strings he had finally gotten his wish. Everyone wanted to see it, including Captain Archer. Trip watched as the movie began and moved his hand over to the popcorn bowl T’Pol had in her lap. He took a handful and began to eat. Hopefully T’Pol would like this movie just as much as he did.

==

By the time the movie had ended it seemed that everyone was in tears… including Trip himself. He wiped them off with his sleeve and looked over to T’Pol. Nothing could have prepared him for what he saw though. Nothing. “T’Pol? You okay?”

There T’Pol sat, tears coming from her eyes. She wiped them away quickly before anyone else could see her but Trip had… he’d seen it.

She looked over at him. “It was a very compelling movie.”

Her voice was just as unfeeling as always but her eyes betrayed her. He could see the greenness in her eyes. He could see the wetness on her fingers… her tears. He moved his hand to wipe away one last tear that fell down her cheek and smiled just before the lights came on. “You missed one.”

For a moment it seemed like she was going to smile but instead she cleared her throat. “Thank you.”

Before Trip could say anything in return the captain walked over to him sniffing. “Great choice Trip. I always did like that movie.”

Trip shrugged. “It’s probably the only movie I don’t mind watching over and over again and yet still gets me every single damn time.”

Archer chuckled. “Dinner tomorrow?”

Trip nodded. “I’ll be there.”

“What about you T’Pol?” Archer cocked his head when she did not answer. She was looking at the screen blankly. “T’Pol?”

T’Pol moved to look at him and nodded slightly. “I will be there as well.”

Archer grinned. “Good. See you both later. I have to go feed Porthos,” Archer told them and left.

Trip breathed in deeply before looking over at T’Pol. “Care for a late night snack?”

T’Pol nodded slowly. “As long as it’s pie.”

Trip laughed. “Of course!”

The two moved out of their row and left for the mess hall. Due to all the people who had decided to see the movie, they’d moved the screen to cargo bay one to accommodate all the people coming. When they finally reached the mess hall Trip got two key lime pie slices and took them over to where T’Pol was sitting. “You okay T’Pol?”

She looked up at him. “I’m fine… why do you ask?”

He wouldn’t have said anything but, because of how late it was no one was in the mess hall so he didn’t really see the harm. “I’ve never seen you cry before… I didn’t even think Vulcans could cry to tell you the truth.”

T’Pol froze. For a minute Trip wondered if she would smack him the way she was looking at him. “As I’ve told you before, Vulcans were not always so controlling over their emotions. But that is no matter because I did not cry.”

“I saw you.”

“You were mistaken.”

Trip was tired of those three words. He was very tired of those three words. “Don’t give me that crap T’Pol. You can’t tell me what I saw and didn’t see. Now if you’re worried that I might say somethin’ or whatever, don’t… I won’t tell a soul. I don’t know what the hell has happened since we came outta the Expanse but I’m getting kinda sick of fighting with you every time I see some ounce of emotion from you. Look, if ya wanna drop it fine… we’ll drop it. I was just worried for god sakes.”

T’Pol seemed unsure of what to say. She looked so conflicted. Trip mentally kicked himself for loosing control like that. It seemed like every time T’Pol pushed him away he was getting angry. As if it had somehow become very personal. It was as if he was getting a little too emotionally involved with her. Women would get to him before but he hadn’t really been one to yell at a woman. It was just something his mother had taught him. But T’Pol got to him every time. It was then that he noticed something he hadn’t before… when he looked into her eyes he was shocked to see such emotion in those beautiful brown orbs. She looked so sad.

“I apologize,” she practically whispered.

Trip shook his head. “No, T’Pol! I should be the sorry one! I never should have yelled at you like that! You just get me so mad sometimes… sorry!”

It was then that something changed. No longer was he upset… and no longer did she look as sad as she had not but seconds ago. He had his right hand lying flat on the table. She looked at it before putting her left on top of his. Their eyes met and Trip smiled. T’Pol moved her hand around his, holding his hand tightly. “I understand. We, as you say, ‘butt heads’ on occasion… when two people care for each other that is to be expected.”

Trip couldn’t keep his surprise from showing. That was the closest thing she’d ever come to saying how she felt about him. He tilted his head slightly grinning. “I guess so.”

==

It was Wednesday and it seemed that everyone was on edge, a huge contrast from the night before when they’d had movie night. One of their injectors had been burned badly and the engineering crews were trying hard to run on four injectors. Trip shook his head letting out a small sigh. “I’m not runnin’ this ship without at least two more injectors… we need more supplies.”

Archer rubbed his forehead. “Make a list of what we need. Travis detected a planet nearby. It’s supposed to be a good place to get supplies. We should be there in a day.”

Trip nodded. “I’ll try my best to keep her runnin’ till we get there. But things won’t be very fun down here.”

Archer smiled. “You’re the best engineer I know Trip. I’m sure you can get the job done,” he said patting his chief engineer on the back.

Trip chuckled. “Whatever ya say, Cap’n.” He then turned around to get back to work as Archer turned to look at T’Pol.

“So how’d you like the movie yesterday?”

The two began walking out of engineering and towards the turbolift. “It was… quite moving. It seemed that many who watched began to cry near the end.”

Archer laughed. “You can count me as one of them. I haven’t cried like that since… well since the last time I saw that movie actually.”

They both entered the turbolift. “Mr. Tucker was also crying,” she mentioned.

The captain nodded. “It’s a pretty sad story T’Pol. I guess you wouldn’t quite understand that since you suppress your emotions but for humans movies like that could make even the toughest man blubber like a baby,” he said laughing once again.

T’Pol was pleased to hear him laughing again. She had gotten to the point where she wondered if he would ever laugh again. “I see.”

When the turbolift stopped the two stepped onto the bridge. “I’m glad you could come T’Pol… I know it meant a lot to Trip.”

“That is why I did it, Captain.”

Archer stopped and looked back at her. A smile crept up on his face but he said nothing. He simply nodded then walked to his chair and sat down. T’Pol took her own station and after getting situated looked up at her captain. It was good to have him back.

==

Pakul stood smiling as he finished putting the rest of the herbs and spices on their shelf. It had been a good day. He’d made good money and he would soon be closing the store for the night. He was quite surprised at how well things were going for his shop. It was not everyday that so many came asking for supplies. Herbs were in high demand these days as well… with so many new races exploring space it meant more and more profit for him. Once Pakul finished putting away his supplies he began cleaning up.

It was then that his son walked out yawning from a room built in on the side of his shop. “Father? What are you doing?”

Pakul frowned shaking his head. “You should be in bed Tola! What are you doing up so late?”

Tola put his hands on his hips. “I couldn’t sleep because you’ve been working all night.”

“Go back to bed. Just lay down if you have to… just go to bed! You have school in the morning!” His son rolled his eyes and walked back in the room. Pakul had bought this shop years ago when his son was only a baby. When his wife died he wanted to start over. The death of his wife had struck him a hard blow and it had taken him a year before he even wanted to get out of bed in the morning. Buying this shop had been the best thing to happen to him after such a difficult time. Pakul turned around when he heard someone walk in. “It’s rather late….”

The man standing there smiled. “My ship needs a new warp coil. I was kinda hopin’ to find one here.”

Pakul grinned. “Well you came to the right place! Warp coils, eh? Do you have money?”

“I was hopin’ to trade,” the young man with the strange accent said. He pulled back the hood covering his head to show blonde hair and baby blue eyes. Pakul also noticed a strange silver ring on his right hand… placed on his middle finger.

Pakul nodded. “What do you have to trade?”

The man took something out of his jacket and showed it to him… it was a cloak! A Klingon cloak! “How did you ever get your hands on this?!”

Pakul asked taking the item into his hands. The man grinned. “It’s a long story… a very long story.”

“I’m sure you have many of them!”

The young man chuckled. “You could say that. The people I work for really want to get their cargo… I’m kinda on a time schedule.”

Pakul nodded while studying the new item in his hands. “With this you could have ten warp coils!”

“I only need one.”

“Well it’s not a fair trade unless I give you something equal to this… come in the back and see what I have.”

The young man nodded. “Thanks… that sounds nice.”

Pakul turned and led the young man into the back where some of his most valuable stuff was. “Look around and tell me what you like.”

The man nodded.

Pakul hesitated slightly before finally exhaling. “May I ask what species you are? I don’t think I’ve seen anyone like you before.”

The man looked back at him as he walked through the technology before him. “I’m a Human. My people are from a planet called Earth. It’s a ways away from here. That’s probably why ya haven’t heard of it.”

Pakul smiled. “You're very far from home. What brings you to this part of the galaxy?”

The young man chuckled. “It’s a long story. Let’s just say I kinda just fell into this part of space. I sorta ended up bein’ offered a deal I couldn’t refuse, that’s why I’m here. The people I work for need some cargo sent to them… along with some other things.”

“You must be a very important person. What do you do? Are you just a cargo captain?”

The young man began moving through the technology. “A cap’n? No… not me. The ship isn’t mine. I’m just using it to get done what my employers want done. Actually I’m an engineer.”

Pakul could still remember his times serving on a cargo vessel as an engineer. That was a long time ago. “Engineer eh? I was an engineer once.”

“Oh yeah? What happened?”

Pakul suddenly frowned. “That too I’m afraid is a long story. Have you found something you like?” Pakul asked.

The young man nodded picking up a few things he liked. “All this looks good.”

Pakul looked at the stuff in the young man’s hands and nodded. “Looks fair enough for me. I’ll get you something to carry it all in.”

“Thanks.”

The two walked back from the back room and over to the counter as Pakul began to go through the man’s purchases. He then put each in a silver case made just for each of the things the man had picked. “You picked well sir. I hope you enjoy your warp coil.”

The young man nodded. “Thanks. Uh… what’s your name exactly? I might wanna check this place out again.”

“Pakul Amonic… it was very good to meet you. And may I ask what your name is? I always like to know the names of my customers.”

The young man nodded. “Of course… it’s Sim.”

Pakul inclined his head. “Come back anytime… you're always welcome.” Sim smiled at Pakul then turned taking his products and left the store.


Chapter 2


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Half a dozen of you have made comments

cool story, hope to see more soon! it will be interesting to see how the sim twist will play out.

Oooooh... I was waiting for one of these!

This is very intriguing already and I can't wait to see what happens next. No guessing which planet the Captain is going to stop at for supplies! Very good, thanks. Ali D :~)

Oh... this is going to be good. I like the feel of this story already. Do hurry with your next installment.

Oh my God!!. Sim is alive, how can that be?. Well this should be very interesting. Please update soon.

Wonderful start! I can't wait for the rest of the story to unfold.