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A Tryst for Two

A | Author - vandiver | Genre - Angst | Genre - Drama | Main Story | Rating - PG | T
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A Tryst for Two

By vandiver49

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: I don’t own any of the characters associated with Star Trek, I’m just borrowing them for a moment. Please don’t sue; people in the Navy don’t make that much money.

Speech in Vulcan is denoted by (*)

Flashbacks are located between (////////////)

_________________________________

Chapter One

The Past is Prologue

Dear T’Pol,

Well, I bet you were alittle surprised to find this little letter lurking in a picture frame weren’t you? Anyway, I just wanted to tell you a couple of things that I lacked the courage to do face to face. First, I’m so glad you decided to stay with us on Enterprise. I know it was a tough decision to make and I hope you don’t regret your choice. I just know the ship wouldn’t have been the same without you. You have no idea how you touched all the lives onboard, mine especially. And I suppose that’s the real reason I wrote this letter, to let you know how much you meant to me. Three years ago we were practically mortal enemies, but somewhere along the way, we became great friends. And I was content with that, but over time you became something much more than that to me. I love you T’Pol, there I said it. I know what you’re thinking; that’s illogical. Believe you me, I thought it too. But saying it’s illogical didn’t make it any less true. Anyway, it was something I had to come to grips with, being as there wasn’t anything that I could do about it. I think it was Shakespeare that said all love is unrequited; I must confess that truer words were never spoken. Well, I guess I’m rambling on, I truly hope you and Koss are happy together and I wish you nothing but the best. Hey, don’t be a stranger OK? Look me up sometime if you’re in the neighborhood, we’ll share a slice of pecan pie together.

Yours truly,

Charles ‘Trip’ Tucker III

T’Pol refolded the letter back along its worn and tattered creases and carefully replaced the twenty year old correspondence back behind the picture frame. The photo inside was a snapshot of a faded memory from her distant past of herself and Commander Tucker standing together on a bluff. Two of finger his fingers rose from behind her head like Andorian antennae, something he referred to as ‘bunny ears’.

She placed the frame back down on the table, a table that contained an assortment of Terran knickknacks. It started out simply as a collection of all of the gifts from her going-away party on Enterprise. There were two hardback books, a rarity on Earth and an even greater one on Vulcan. The first was a compellation of human colloquialisms given to her by Hoshi, so she could ‘keep up with the conversation’. Malcolm provided her the other book, the complete works of William Shakespeare. He confessed to her that it would provide unparallel insight into the human mind, something she found to be true. Captain Archer gave her a unique chess set, with three distinctive tiers and pieces of human and Vulcan influence. And from Travis, an anthology of Earth’s greatest jazz musicians, ranging from Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong to Boney James. Her small collection had grown over the years into a venerable gallery of human memorabilia. Adorning the facing wall were two prints by Georgia O’Keefe. Bordering them were four reproductions of her favorite M. C. Escher works. Resting on its stand was a weathered trumpet, one of the few Terran objects she in her possession that was older than her. When she purchased the instrument, she found its asking price appalling. But as she slowly attempted to master the horn, T’Pol realized its age and appearance gave it soul, as illogical as that may seem. The most coveted item on the table was a small Bonsai tree. It took two months of considerable haggling before Vulcan customs allowed its entrance, but the therapeutic plant was well worth the wait. She had spent over two years pruning and shaping the tree, giving it the broad horizontal limbs to compliment her lastest piece; the table itself. It was a reproduction of one designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, a late Terran architect. She actually found the piece somewhat ironic in that she appreciated it more than anything her husband had designed. That irony was by design as Koss chose not to share the breadth of his work and life with her, not that she cared anymore.

She maintained her promise and fulfilled her obligation, marrying Koss as was expected of any dutiful Vulcan woman. Later that year, T’Pol gaze birth to her first and only child, Miranda. Koss was not overly thrilled with her choice of names.

//////////////

*T’Pol, what kind of name is Miranda, it has no meaning in Vulcan.*

*Of course not Koss, it is a human name from the Shakespearean play...*

*A human name T’Pol?* Koss immediately questioned. *Where is the logic in that?*

*I am simply fond of the name. Besides you were unaware of its origin until I told you.*

*It is a stigma I do not wish my daughter to endure.* Koss contested.

*I beg to differ dear husband. It is an ancient Earth name that has long since fallen out of popularity; I doubt anyone will be aware of its origin.*

Koss simply steamed as he realized he wasn’t dissuading his wife. *I always assumed your time amongst humans had clouded your judgment, it appears I am correct.*

///////////////

This should have been T’Pol’s first inkling of trouble in her new life, but at the time, she supposed that it was only a difference on opinions. Instead of growing together as a family though, they grew more distant as the years progressed. Koss’ success as an architect carried him further and further away from home. At times, he would stay gone for months as he turned his structural dreams into reality. This also did not give T’Pol cause for concern. She had asked him to wait on her, how could she do any less for him. But when he was invited to go to Earth to study Terran architectural, the flaws of their marriage resurfaced once again.

///////////////

*How long will you be away?* She asked.

*I am unsure. The study will be intensive.*

*Perhaps I could join you?*

*T’Pol, did you ever venture outside of the area surrounding the Vulcan Compound?*

*Of course not, it was considered a safety risk.*

*Unlike Vulcan, which is dominated by the singular utilitarian style, Earth is filled with a bevy of different design ethics. It will take me and my colleagues several years to study and catalogue them all. I do not wish to subject my family to that level of instability.*

While his argument was valid, T’Pol wanted to be with her mate, and him to be with his daughter. *Perhaps we could live in a location with a large Vulcan population, say San Francisco?*

*T’Pol you have been to Earth, do you really want to raise Miranda in that environment?*

*If it means she will be able to see her father. Koss, you are away more than you are home. I believe that you are practically a stranger to her.*

Koss placed his hands on T’Pol’s waist. *I understand your concern my wife. I promise that this will be my final excursion.*

//////////////

Miranda was five when he left. She assumed she had no reason to doubt his words, because he had no reason to deceive her. However, as time past and Koss failed to return for daughters’ seventh birthday, T’Pol grew increasingly distressed, as there were only two possible explanations for husband’s absence. His return a year later signaled that their relationship was irrevocably broken.

The next eleven years the two spent together a farce, a spectacle displayed for the satisfaction of others. T’Pol raised Miranda by herself for all intents and purposes, as Koss chose to keep his distance, rather than be the subject of her scorn. She remembered being told that serving on Enterprise would be a negative and damning experience. Who would have guessed that life on Vulcan would rival those predictions.

T’Pol turn away from that memorable corner and cringed. Her life wasn’t in any way negative; she had a wonderful and brilliant daughter, who was the reason for her current reflection into what was.

*Mother, are you ready yet?* Miranda asked upon entering her mother’s bedroom.

*Yes my daughter, in a moment.* T’Pol returned her attention back towards the travel case resting on her bed.

Miranda peered over to notice the case was only half filled. *Saving room for some souvenirs Mother?*

*There is always the possibility that something may catch my eye. I have been looking for another piece to accentuate the house.*

*I figured as much. Whatever your reason Mother, we must hurry or we will miss the transport.*

*Very well daughter, let us depart.* As T’Pol grabbed her case and exited her home, she remembered how she believed that her current life would confine to Vulcan. She was so relieved this was not to be. T’Pol was escorting her daughter not only to the transport but also on an adventure, one which she herself embarked upon nearly twenty-five years ago. There destination; that pale blue dot Vulcans refer to as Terra, but common known amongst its inhabitants as Earth.

Chapter 2

Veil of Night

By vandiver49

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters associated with Star Trek, I'm just borrowing them for a moment. Please don't sue; people in the Navy don't make that much money.

Sorry for the delay, occasionally duty calls, this isn't my day job you know.

Thanks to stubadingdong and THECURSOR for the wonderful advice. I hope the grammar and descriptions are to your liking.

Flashbacks are between the //////////////////// _________________________________

T'Pol gazed out the viewport of the transport, watching the stars streak by in the night sky. It had been so long since she had seen that effect on light, a surreal reminder of her past. So much had changed in the galaxy since she left it. Humanity had proven itself to be a worthy spacefaring race, a fact that even Vulcans were forced to concede. As they were unable to stifle humanity's growth any longer, Vulcans had to accept the painful truth that humans were their equals as well. Terrans had achieved in a few centuries what it and taken her people a millennium to master. But these facts came as no surprise to T'Pol; her time abroad Enterprise gave her a clarity and insight into Humans that few Vulcans would ever realize.

The first year proved to be the most difficult as she had to adjust to her new environs. There was the smell of course, but that was a minor inconvenience and was easily remedied. Other things, such as the raw emotions and the illogical ideology of her shipmates proved far more difficult to accept. She initially thought her purpose onboard was useless as many of her recommendations of caution and patience fell upon deaf ears. There were numerous occasions when Captain Archer and his crew would follow their whims, resulting in ship and her crew being placed into some precarious situations. But over time, T'Pol began to understand their haste and why they never accepted complacency. In her time onboard she watched the humble ship grow with each innovation. Malcolm continued to tinker with his prototype energy shield, eventually incorporating it into the hull polarization system to create the first force field. Hoshi, after several frustrating attempts, finally created an algorithm to perfect the Universal Translator. And of course there was a most creative idea proposed by the ship's Chief Engineer.

///////////////////////

"I'm tellin' you Captain it'll work, I swear." Trip pleaded emphatically to his Captain and First Officer. A schematic of the warp nacelles on the central display enhanced the illumination of the Ready Room, and hopefully Trip's idea.

"Well just for my own edification, run it by me one more time." Jon replied.

"It's like this Captain, currently, when we go into warp, only the inner surface of the warp coils come into contact with the plasma, but if we saturate the warp nacelles with plasma before going into warp, we can double the surface area, thus producing a stronger warp field."

Though Jon didn't thoroughly grasp the physics behind Trip's theory, he completely understood the possibilities. "So bottom line Trip, how fast are we talking about?"

"Warp 6," He replied. Jon initially looked crestfallen until Trip completed his train of thought. "Without the turbochargers."

"And with?" The Captain asked anxiously.

"Warp 7 sir, maybe even Warp 8 Lord willin'."

Jon tried to contain his glee as he turned towards his First Officer. "Well T'Pol, what do you think?"

Her thoughts long since collected, T'Pol's response was very succinct. "Commander Tucker's theory is quite intriguing and does seem plausible. But it is an experiment that it best saved for Starfleet Research and Development, not the Enterprise." Neither man was surprised by her answer.

The Captain turned his attention back towards the Chief Engineer. "What's the worst case scenario Trip?"

"Worst case, we'll blow a couple of warp coils and be stranded until we affect repairs."

The thought of being stranded didn't assuage Jon's convictions, much to T'Pol's chagrin. "I think that those are acceptable risks, when do you think you'll be ready?"

"A couple hours, three tops." Trip said as the three rose to leave the ready room.

"Captain, may I accompany Commander Tucker to Engineering to provide assistance since you insist on pursuing this foolish endeavor?" T'Pol asked, seeing as how she was going to be ignored once again.

"Sure T'Pol, knock yourself out." The Captain replied.

On the turbolift ride down to Engineering, T'Pol continued to question Trip's motives. "Commander, why do you find it necessary to exceed the rated specifications of the ships' engines?"

"Cuz T'Pol, I just have a need for speed, that's all."

"I am familiar with that human desire," T'Pol said begrudgingly, "But why not patiently wait until that technology is created; why force it?"

"Because, I don't have the luxury of living for 200 years like you do. I'd like to see one our ships fly as a Vulcan one within my lifetime." Trip countered.

"That brings me to my second query Commander. While I cannot go into the specifics, I can tell you that Vulcan starships have twice the power output of this vessel. How can you possibly believe Enterprise will achieve such velocities without that advantage?"

"Oh that's simple; it's all in the hips." Trip said as he mimicked T'Pol's hourglass form in front of her with his hands. His lightly chauvinistic comment yielded an arched eyebrow and a curious glare from the Vulcan.

"C'mon T'Pol," Trip smiled in response to her confusion, "Haven't you ever wondered why Enterprise has a saucer shaped design?"

T'Pol's retort was uncharacteristically jovial. "No Commander, I always assumed it was a tribute to the Terran fascination with alien visitation and abduction in your late 20th Century. UFO's, I believed they were called."

"Oh here we go again, pickin' on the illogical and irrational humans." Trip said in mock irritation. "For your information, the design is one of the reasons why we can travel at Warp 5 in the first place."

As the two exited the turbolift, Trip continued to expound upon his theory. "Its like this Sub-Commander, the saucer section helps to create two warp fields around the ship, a primary node around the Engineering section and a sympathetic one around the saucer."

"So the power that is put into the primary node is reflected into the secondary node." T'Pol deduced.

"Exactly."

Though he was human, she had to admit that Commander Tucker was the most capable engineer she had ever met. And somehow he had managed to even convince her that his dream was more than plausible. T'Pol spent the better part of two hours helping Trip align the plasma injectors and check coolant levels, all in preparation for the big event. Amidst the chaotic sounds in Engineering, T'Pol stood on the catwalk, straining to her Commander Tucker's instructions.

"T'Pol, go ahead and open the plasma intake manifold all the way." He yelled from a distant part of Engineering.

Commander, I do not believe we will be able to cool the warp nacelle effectively if we continue to inject plasma into them at this rate."

"Don't worry about it, if it gets too hot we'll just vent to space." He replied as he jumped up the stairs, joining T'Pol on the catwalk.

"Archer to Engineering, Trip are you ready down there?"

"Yes sir, whenever you're ready. Just make sure to tell everyone to hold on, the inertial dampeners weren't made to handle this kind of acceleration."

"Got it Trip, Archer out."

T'Pol stood on the catwalk with Trip as Enterprise made history. The ship leapt forward in the darkness of space, hurtling towards its destiny upon the imagination of the Chief Engineer. She recalled how the ship caviated violently as it reached Warp 5, only to transition into a soothing cruise at Warp 6. She didn't even remember when the ship reached Warp 7; a memory as blurred as the stars outside. Warp 8 was clearly marked though by the cheers and adulations that went up from Engineering and throughout the ship. And she simply couldn't forget how Trip decided to share his jubilation. She was completely taken by surprise when he scooped her up off the ground, twirling her all around the catwalk in celebration. Trip hadn't realized the ramifications of his actions until he opened his eyes and found himself starring directly at T'Pol's.assets. Fortunately for the both of them their little display had gone unnoticed.

"Uh, sorry T'Pol, I got a little excited there."

"Understandable Commander, but I believe it would be advisable for you to put me down before we become a spectacle."

/////////////////////

T'Pol closed eyes and turned her attention back towards her daughter, who was reading a PADD. Her name provided only a small hint of her unique personality. Her brown hair was cropped at a modest length against the contours of her face; her bangs striated in a disorderly fashion upon her brow. The apex of her ears peaked imperceptivity through the strands, barely belying her Vulcan heritage. Her daughter was completely enthralled with alien civilizations, especially the rich and diverse cultures of Earth. She was fluent in English, Chinese, Spanish, Klingon and Andorian and was the youngest Vulcan liaison to ever be assigned to the Terran Embassy there. In a way, Miranda reminded T'Pol of a younger version of herself, except that her daughter was quite comfortable with her quirks and idiosyncrasies, something T'Pol had only recently come to embrace. She watched as her daughter's eyes darted back and forth across the PADD, a clear indication that whatever she was reading was in English.

"What are you reading Miranda?"

Her daughter looked up from her PADD before answering. "I'm reading a tourist's guide to San Francisco."

Miranda watched her mother's eyebrow raise skyward in response. "Mother, I don't understand why you refuse to use contractions."

"Because they are slang terms Miranda, but that is not the point. You are going to Earth to be an aid in the Vulcan consulate, a much-esteemed position. I believe you should be more focused on that than what 'sight- seeing' you plan to do."

"Mother, you know what humans say about all work and no play."

"Yes, I am quite familiar with the phase, but Vulcans do not 'play'."

"This from the Vulcan with a three dimensional chess set." Miranda countered.

T'Pol could only sigh in defeat at her daughter's righteousness. It was more than apparent Miranda had also inherited her poignant sense of humor.

"Mother, may I ask you a question?" T'Pol instantly knew from this leading question that her daughter's next query would more than likely pertain her past.

"Yes Miranda, what would you like to know?"

"Who's the human standing next to you in the picture?"

"Commander Charles Tucker III. He was the Chief Engineer on Enterprise."

"No Mother, I know his name and what his position was. I want to know who he was to you." It was rare for Miranda to ever ask about T'Pol's personal life, she knew it was something her mother closely guarded and rarely shared with anyone, including herself.

"T'Pol closed her eyes before responding. "He was a friend Miranda, quite possibly my best. If not for him, you would not be here today."

Though she was tempted to pry further into her mother's past, she thought better of it. "You know Mother; we will be staying on Earth for almost a month. Why not go visit him?"

"No Miranda, I cannot." T'Pol quickly dismissed.

"Can't or won't?"

"Both."


Chapters 3-4 continued in Part Two

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