Revenge and Honor - Part 2

Revenge and Honor

By Triplover

Disclaimer: I own nothing nor do I wish to own anything!
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Varen Tucker does everything he can to find the woman he loves with the help of Jonathan Archer, his parents, and others from the original Enterprise crew.
A/N: This is the sequel to “Love and Loss.” And again I shall have to thank my beta… thank you!!!!!

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Part Two

Togi Mayweather moved uncomfortably on the transport ship as he looked outside at the stars. He hadn’t seen the stars like this in nearly a year… too long. He was actually looking forward to seeing his friends Varen, Nolan (well… perhaps him not as much) and of course Jennifer. He hadn’t heard much about what was going on, only that Admiral Archer needed him for something.

Because of the nature of his reasons on the Andorian home world he hadn’t really been able to get mail from his friends so he was very much looking forward to catching up on the latest news about how everyone was doing. He also missed his mother. More than he’d have ever thought possible. Since his father died last year, he’d gotten closer and closer with his mother. He was glad he’d get the chance to see her again. Yes, this was going to be great. Whatever was going on he was sure once it was all dealt with everything would turn out okay. It always did.

==

“You have got to be kidding me here!” Togi breathed as Varen and Nolan finished telling him what was going on. Admiral Archer sat at his desk looking down at something in his hand. It looked like some type of necklace.

“I’m sorry Togi but we’re not… we’ll need you if we’re gonna save her… save us,” Varen told him sternly.

Togi shook his head and looked down. “But… why?”

Nolan frowned. “It’s complicated… we’ll explain everything when we have more time but for now we need to know if you’re on board.”

Togi nodded. “Jennifer is my friend… I would never let her down. Count me in.”

Nolan grinned. “That’s my guy! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Varen patted him on the back. “Thanks, Togi.”

Togi nodded. “Anything for Jennifer… she let me cheat on a math test in high school once. I owe her.”

“Now we just need to find a ship, “ Nolan reminded them all.

Admiral Archer looked up from whatever was in his hand to look at them. “I already have one ready. Captain Jason Clyde has a son too you know… Erick Clyde. This is personal. It’s personal for everyone whose son or daughter is in danger because of these Klingons. He’d be happy to help.”

Varen cracked a small smile. “I should have known.”

Archer hesitated. “I also talked to both of your parents. Captain Malcolm Reed will be offering his ship just in case. Since Malcolm’s ship is stronger. Varen… you, Nolan, Togi and your father will be working from there. I’ll be with Captain Clyde along with your mother.”

Varen smiled. “Think I’d be able to explain to them how important it is for them not to be involved.”

“You could explain it all you want… but they wouldn’t be listening,” Archer muttered amused.

Varen sighed nodding. “Somehow I’m sure you’re right about that. Well, the more the merrier. That’s what I always say.”

“That and Risa is a death trap,” Nolan teased.

Varen glared at him. Nolan grinned.

==

“Father! I know what I’m doing!”

“If you did then you’d do it right… you’re not even skimming it!”

Nolan glared at his father in annoyance. “Dad, both you and my grandfather both have taught me how to shoot since I was like five! I know how to shoot! It’s the same rifle I used when we went hunting last spring and the only reason I missed any at all is because I can’t concentrate with you bugging me!”

“If we get into a fight I’ll be doing this just as much. You’ll need to get used to me ‘bugging’ you all the time or you’ll end up dead!”

Nolan let out a long sigh. “Well I’m starting to think I’d like that idea better! Besides you’ll always have your youngest son Mac now won’t you! And he’s a security officer so I’m sure he’ll continue to make you very proud,” Nolan fought.

“I’d like to have both of my sons, thank you very much,” Malcolm countered.

Nolan let out an exasperated sigh before moving his rifle back into position. “Just start it up again will you!”

“Jolly good!” his father mumbled though Nolan heard him then started up the program again.

Nolan watched as the small round ball appeared in front of her. He put his father’s face on the sphere and began to fire at the target, his eyes never leaving the ball as he waited for the moment to pull the trigger and get another hit. 1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6… 7 damn! A miss. 8… 9… 10… dammit! Another miss!

“Nolan you’ve got to stop hesitating! Go with your instincts!”

“I am! Will you stop trying to coach me?!” Nolan shouted before missing yet another target. He used to be so much better than this. When he was sixteen he never missed a shot! He was on level nine for god’s sakes! He should be better than this! Nolan got a hit two more times before the program stopped… his time was up.

“That’s twelve hits Nolan… you used to be able to get at least fifteen no sweat!” It took everything Nolan had not to attack his father right then and there. Why was it he never could have a decent conversation with his father without wanting to hurt him in someway or fashion? “You know when Varen was here he almost made twenty if it hadn’t been for that ensign coming in to give him that report he’d asked for.”

Nolan closed his eyes before throwing his rifle to the floor. His father jumped back in surprise. “That’s it! That does it! I don’t need any more lessons! I’m perfectly ready for a fight with the Klingons! I’m outta here!”

“Fine! Go but when you get shot because you can’t hit a person two meters away don’t come crying to me!”

“Believe me I won’t! You have Mac for that!” With that Nolan left.

==

Malcolm Reed let out along sigh and threw his padd to the floor cursing. “You okay Malcolm?” Malcolm looked back up at the door to see a very curious and very worried Trip Tucker standing there. “I just saw Nolan leave… he looked pretty pissed. You guys have another fight?”

Malcolm nodded. “I just don’t get it. When he was little it seemed like he wanted to do everything I did. I still remember him trying to shave just because he would see me do it! He must have cut himself a thousand times! Now he barely wants to be called a Reed!”

“We all gotta change sometime Malcolm. I still kinda miss Varen when he was still trying to logically explain to his friends how bein’ my son was a blessin’. Used to crack me up to death.”

Malcolm grunted in agreement. “Still this is different. Varen still respects you. Hell he became an engineer because of that respect. He even decided not to follow the path of Surak because he wanted to be like you.”

“Naw… he did that because he wanted to. I may have been the one to get him to think about it but he chose not to follow Surak. We moved to Vulcan just so he could have that kind of balance before he made a decision about what he wanted. I encouraged him to follow his own path… wherever that path may lead whether it makes him more Human or more Vulcan. It was his choice to do what he did.”

“Nolan hates me.”

“Oh he does not! You’re still his father… you still raised him to be the man you see before you. He’s got a lot of you in him. His fire for example… certainly didn’t get that temper from his mother.”

“I do not have a temper.”

“Whatever you say Malcolm! All I’m sayin’ is he doesn’t hate you. You guys are just two very different people.”

“But I just don’t understand. Nolan is almost exactly like his mother and I get along almost perfectly with his mother. Sure we fight on occasion but not nearly as much as I fight with Nolan. It seems like every time we talk we get in a fight and most of the time it’s over something very stupid,” Malcolm sat down in one of the chairs in the armory and looked down at the rifle lying on the floor.

“Will you just think about it… when did you guys begin to really start fightin’?”

Malcolm thought back to their first real bad fight. “We didn’t start getting this bad until… well until Mac joined Starfleet to become… a security officer.”

“Oh really? And how did you feel about that?”

“Well I was very proud of him, of course! That would be four generations of Reed men who became security officers. Even my father, who has never been happy with me joining Starfleet, was proud of Mac’s choice.”

“And how did you feel about Nolan’s choice to be a helmsman?”

Reed frowned. “Just what are you getting at, Trip?”

Trip shook his head and moved his hand through his hair. “Nolan’s jealous! For his entire life since Mac began to have an interest in security you have done everythin’ you can to encourage him and support him. Linda was the one who supported Nolan’s choice but you never did. You acted like it was okay but Nolan could see right through you. You were disappointed and Nolan knew that. Now Mac’s in security and your son is a helmsman of a very fine ship and yet you still always find fault in him whenever you can.”

“I do not!”

Trip moved his hands to his hips. “Varen tells me everything Malcolm. Whenever Nolan talks about you he talks about how you care more about Mac because he’s what you would call a ‘real Reed’. I’ve noticed it too. I know you love Nolan just as much as Mac but I think maybe you should show him that. Nolan might not see what I see.”

“Reed men aren’t known for their show of affection Trip.”

Trip smiled. “You said you wanted a relationship like the one me and Varen have. Well then you’re gonna have to get off that stiff ass of yours and show him how you feel before it’s too late! You’re just as stubborn as T’Pol!”

Malcolm frowned. “I need to get to the bridge… we’ll have to talk about this later.”

Malcolm stood and began to walk to the door but not fast enough to hear Trip make one last comment. “Go ahead… put it off. But you can’t keep putting off your son Malcolm. If you do you’ll lose him forever. Just think about what I’ve said.”

“I’ll make sure to,” Malcolm muttered and walked through the door.

==

Nolan sat alone in the mess hall looking out the window when he heard the door open. He turned his head slightly but knew who it was already. Varen’s steady walk was always a tip off. “Hey Varen.”

“Hello Nolan.”

“Any luck getting that other ‘informant’ to talk to you?”

“Not quite yet but Tolik said it wouldn’t be easy to get in touch with him. He’s a very busy man,” Varen told him.

“I’m sure he is.”

“You okay Nolan?”

Nolan smiled as his friend sat down next to him. “I just had another ‘disagreement’ with my father… that’s all.”

“I see. So I take it you and he are still on bad terms.”

“You gotta have a term before it can be bad Varen… I haven’t spoken to the guy in a long, long time and yet he’s still being just as much of a jerk as he always has.”

“Your father isn’t a jerk, Nolan… he just doesn’t understand you. I don’t even understand you but in my case I at least know you. I suppose that makes a difference.”

“He doesn’t understand me because he doesn’t care to try, Varen.”

“Then maybe you should talk to him.”

Nolan shook his head. “Reed men don’t talk. They shoot people and make things explode. My granddad told me that when I was ten years old and I didn’t understand until now. It’s hopeless Varen. I’m not as lucky as you. Your father takes the time to talk to you and to make sure everything’s okay. My father doesn’t even know HOW to do that with me. Hell, he barely knows how to TALK to me. We just don’t have the same relationship as you and Trip. I love him… but I just don’t think it’s possible for us to be that close.”

“Your father loves you very much Nolan. I know without doubt he’d do anything for you and I do mean anything. Maybe you can’t have the kind of relationship my father and I have but you could at least try and not just knock it as something that will never work. I wasn’t born with the relationship I have with my father. We made it… we cultivated it… together.”

Nolan looked at Varen, his frown deepening. He had a lot to think about. But before he could say a thing the ship began to shake violently as a voice was heard on the loud speaker. “All hands… battle stations.”

Part 3

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One person has made comments

I love this, *adore* Varen and how he tries to help Nolan. As for Malcolm, it is so easy to see how you can be blinded by something you refuse to see. Hope he realises in time to salvage his relationship with his son. Good writing, great story, thanks! Ali D :~)