Interlude- Ch. 2

Interlude and Fugue

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. I'm thrilled that everyone got a good laugh out of the first chapter. I hope the second is just as entertaining.

This story takes place before "A Night in Sickbay"

As I have no idea how to write with italics, conversations between the asterisks reference the previous night. (EDITOR’S NOTE: We have supplied italics for the indicated sections)

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Chapter 2

The next morning, T'Pol found herself sharing breakfast with the Captain and the Chief Engineer. She picked over her bowl of mixed fruit, silently mulling over the conversation from the previous night. She was completely oblivious to the daily report that Commander Tucker was delivering to the Captain.

"Most of our systems are running up to specs, though I'm thinking about going ahead and purging the warp coil manifolds. She's kinda riding a little sluggish today."

While T'Pol had enjoyed the camaraderie of last night, she had serious reservations about the proposed method of delivering Commander Tucker's retribution.

* * *

"Sub-Commander, haven't you ever noticed how guys stare at you sometimes?" Hoshi's words echoed in her mind.

"Sub-Commander, the stares you garner have nothing to do with your being alien. At least not directly anyway," Crewman Cutler responded.

* * *

T'Pol chided herself for the naïveté that she had displayed amongst the other women. She was readily aware that some might find her appearance to their liking. Just because these were Earth's first deep space explorers did not make them any less human. Indeed, such a revelation did explain some of the lingering stares she had encountered from Lieutenant Reed and even Ensign Mayweather. However, she was certain that Commander Tucker harbored no such desires for her.

"So how's the reverse engineering of the Suliban cell ship coming?" Jonathan addressed to his engineer.

"Now that is currently the bane of my existence," Trip responded. "I barely figure out what's powering the thing; to speak nothing of its combat systems suite- -"

T'Pol was also hesitant for another reason; despite the years of rigid training and strict adherence to Vulcan dogma, she herself was not above stealing a few chaste glances at those she found 'aesthetically pleasing', Commander Tucker in particular. What right did she have to deny that privilege to others? She was ready to dismiss the entire scheme as academic until she heard her name upon the Commander's tongue; or more accurately an unflattering nickname.

"- - Hell, even Our Lady of Logic is clueless." T'Pol looked up at the Commander and the crooked smile he wore upon his face as he returned her stare. His supremely confident disposition, coupled with the chuckle of laughter that his comment elicited from the Captain, forced her to recant her position.

"So Sub-Commander, do you have anything to add?" Archer was able to ask after he finished laughing.

"No Captain, the Chief Engineer's assessment is correct. The technology of the Suliban cell ship is currently beyond our level of comprehension," T'Pol responded. She paused as both the Captain and Commander turned their attention back to their meals. She noted in particular the generous bite the Chief Engineer was helping himself to. Now was the perfect opportunity, in her estimation.

"Commander," T'Pol started, placing her fork down neatly beside her bowl, "it has been brought to my attention that my appearance and dress may be a source of distraction for some of the crew. I was curious if you had experienced this phenomenon?"

Her question had the desired effect as Trip quickly choked on the eggs as he looked up at T'Pol in disbelief. Even the captain looked up from his meal in wide-eyed amazement at his Science Officer's accusation.

Trip managed to swallow enough of his meal to submit a muttered "Huh?" in response.

"I asked you Commander, if you found my appearance distracting?" she asked again.

Trip's answer was an unequivocal no, but it was an answer T'Pol had expected, or had been told to expect.

* * *

"Why would such an accusation rattle the Commander?" T'Pol questioned.

"Because guys are highly vulnerable to suggestion to begin with, especially him. Just look at all the alien women that he's already found attractive. I find it hard to believe that you're an exception. Just catch him in the act when his eyes start to drift downward," Crewman Cutler explained.

* * *

"So are you saying that you do not find me attractive?" T'Pol asked in an unusually human fashion.

True to form, Trip gaze slowly started to descend over her curves. He tried to disguise his evaluation by taking another bite of food, but T'Pol was hardly fooled. She simply waited patiently for his gaze to settle out around her chest before continuing.

"Commander, my eyes are not down there," T'Pol admonished, crossing her arms to obscure his view. Trip was forced to meet her eyes in embarrassment, desperately hoping for a change of subject. "Are you going to answer my question, Commander?" T'Pol asked, continuing to press her advantage.

Trip looked over at Jonathan, desperately looking for a lifeline. But the Captain had long since abandoned his wingman, his face buried in his plate, presumably to conceal his smile. Trip's eyes drifted back over towards his current nemesis, whose determined stare had never abated.

Finally, Trip decided to bite the bullet. "T'Pol, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but you're not as cute as you think."

T'Pol's rebuttal was, of course, immediate. "Judging by the way you just looked at me Commander, I find that hard to believe."

Trip could only roll his eyes in irritation, his Captain no longer able to restrain his amusement. "Hey, aren't you supposed to be on my side?" Trip asked as he threw hands up in frustration.

Jonathan, now struggling for air between laughs quickly dismissed his friend. "Trip, she got a point. T'Pol's the only alien female that you haven't made a move on since we've been out here."

"With friends like these." Trip started as he rose from the table. "I'm going back to work." And with that, Trip left the room, as T'Pol realized that she had just bested the Chief Engineer.

As soon as he left, T'Pol turned her attention towards the end of the table at Captain Archer, who was still reeling at Trip's somewhat childish display. She rose a curious brow at him, which caught his instant attention.

Upon sensing the Vulcan's stare, Jon took up his fork and pointed the tines of the utensil directly at her. "Don't even think about it."

T'Pol decided it was best to heed his warning, satisfied with her decisive victory.

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

To Be Continued

Chapter 3

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A whole mess of folks have made comments

oooh, this is hilarious!! Keep going. I wanna see Trip squirm some more! ;-)))

Very funny! I am really enjoying how you are portraying T'Pol.

And I can hardly wait for Trip's revenge when he finds out what T'Pol is doing.

Oy!

Hurry up with the continuation!

You can't stop now, I want to see what happens next! Love how you had T'Pol turn the tables on Trip and his teasing. I could really see him reacting that way and having Archer just leave him to get out of the hole by himself was in character too. No way does he want to end up locking horns with T'Pol *and* losing. Chuckle. Please don't leave us hanging before the next part! Thanks for a very good and funny story. Ali D :~)

vandiver! When are you going to continue this story? I'm looking forward to more installments! Please?! Thanks!

hahaha. trip was soooo totally wrecked! keep this going!

Oh, that was evil. And for T'Pol of all people to get Trip like that. How........satisfying. Please, keep this going, if only for it to be another chapter on Trip's reaction.

That is such a great way to get a guy back! Instead of a regular prank where you would put a thumbtack on his chair, a prank that would embarass his butt off is even better. I laughed out loud reading this, which earned me funny stairs since I'm at the library. Keep up the great stuff and update soon. I can't wait to see how this ends.

That was funny!

Hell Ya! Way to go T'Pol! Update!

hope it will be continued soon.

sweet ilove that my eyes are up here line i used it on this really immature guy it was sooo funnt lol great story keep up the good work can't wait for the next part hurry up!!!!!!

sweet i love that my eyes are up here line i used it on this really immature guy it was sooo funny lol!! great story keep up the good work can't wait for the next part hurry up!!!!!!

sweet i love that my eyes are up here line i used it on this really immature guy it was sooo funny lol!! great story keep up the good work can't wait for the next part hurry up!!!!!!

sweet i love that my eyes are up here line i used it on this really immature guy it was sooo funny lol!! great story keep up the good work can't wait for the next part hurry up!!!!!!