Forwarded by the ASC-VSO Posted: 8 Jan 2004 04:10:00 -0800 In: alt.startrek.creative From: shouldknowbettertt@yahoo.co.uk (shouldknowbetter) Title: Remember (1/4) (26 of 34 for series) Series: Begins with "A Logical Proposal" "Remember" is eighth in a series of nine stories Author: ShouldKnowBetter Email: shouldknowbettertt@yahoo.uk.com Rating: PG-13 Codes: Tu/T, all "Enterprise" characters, Soval, action, drama, angst Summary: A planet holds unexpected treasure for Enterprise's crew. Author's Notes: 1.This ignores Season 2 so is not consistent with any broadcast episodes of Season 2, although I do slip in any bits and pieces of character behaviour from Season 2 that seem relevant. 2.I didn't try to represent a southern USA accent in type. You all know how Trip sounds – just read the words with the correct accent. 3.This takes place a couple of months after "Cry Havoc". ********************* REMEMBER Part One "Do you know what time it is, commander?" Reluctantly, Enterprise's chief engineer looked up from the screen he was studying. "1900?" "After 2100." In some annoyance, Reed reached out and swung the screen away. "Are you still sulking because T'Pol stayed on Earth with Captain Archer?" "I am not," Tucker wrenched the screen back, "sulking." "Then why are you down here every hour of the day?" The armoury officer folded his arms, rather in the manner of a head master about to deliver a rebuke. "I admire your dedication, Commander Tucker, but I think you're taking it a bit far." "I'm not working." "Not working! Those were warp field equations." "Good eyes, Lieutenant!" The sarcasm wasn't friendly although a moment later Tucker sighed and rubbed thumb and forefinger over his eyebrows, looking up with a slight shake of his head. "Sorry." "What's wrong with you?" The other man's voice was unusually concerned. "I'm the one who gets depressed, remember. You're the one who's always so bloody cheerful it makes me sick." He frowned. "Has T'Pol dumped you?" "No!" "Then what?" Tucker grimaced, leaning back in his chair. "Nothing. It's just … D'you know they're gonna set up a Warp 7 project? I've been trying to catch up on the research." He shook his head, almost in despair. "I'm always so damn busy keeping the ship running, I'm way behind." Reed gave his friend a suspicious look. "You're not having second thoughts about space exploration, are you?" "No," but Tucker's expression gave him at least half the lie. "You need some exercise. Come on." Grudgingly the engineer deactivated the screen and followed Reed out of his office in Enterprise's Engineering deck and into the main compartment that was still showing signs of the massive repair and upgrade schedule that had been necessary after the pounding the ship had taken during her run in with Pushkin. Automatically, Tucker diverted to check the status of one of the half completed jobs and Reed grabbed his arm. "No, you don't." He got a heavy glower. "What gives you the right to start acting like my mom?" "Being acting first officer. When are you expecting the captain back?" "When they decide if it's war or not, I guess." It was Reed's turn to grimace. "Good thing Captain Archer's first contact with the Klingons went well. At least there's one human whose life they think has had some smatch of honour in it." "Don't get literary, Lieutenant." "You definitely need a break. I thought you had hordes of family to visit." "I've seen them." "One weekend? That was quick!" "That from the man who had lunch with his parents and came back in a foul mood." "I never claimed we got on!" Reed took another look at his friend's unhappy expression. "Why don't you go and see T'Pol?" "Because she's staying in the Vulcan compound in San Francisco." Reed gave up. Sometimes people just wanted to be miserable. Archer returned sooner than anyone expected. Tucker got the news the next day that his captain's shuttle was due to dock in five minutes when he was heavily involved in an argument with the head of one of Jupiter Station's repair crews who thought she knew Enterprise better than he did. He scowled, muttered under his breath and paused only long enough to deliver a final harangue on the woman's likely fate if she didn't accept his advice before heading for the locking port. If Archer expected his ship to be ready for space, he was in for a disappointment and Tucker wasn't feeling very diplomatic at the moment. Three weeks by himself, without his girlfriend, on a ship staffed by a skeleton crew, no chef, and preposterously tight timescales meant that Enterprise's chief engineer was not a happy bunny – and that was before adding in personal problems that he had no idea how to address. Archer might regret this visit. The message hadn't mentioned that the captain was going to be accompanied by Admiral Forrest. Tucker had anticipated that T'Pol would accompany her captain – although he was in such a black mood that he doubted she would have taken the opportunity to visit him – and had had every intention of grabbing her the moment she was through the hatch. Even he couldn't bring himself to do that in the presence of the admiral, however. He just had to pull himself up to attention and hope he didn't look as grubby as he felt. "Admiral Forrest, sir, I wasn't expecting you. Cap'n," the look he turned on the other man wasn't very friendly, "welcome back." "At ease, Commander Tucker." Forrest's tone was pleasant enough. "I'm afraid I didn't give Captain Archer the opportunity to warn you. I wanted to see for myself how Enterprise's re-fit is going." "It's going like the reports say it is, sir." Archer intervened before Forrest could take offence or Tucker deepen the hole he had started to dig for himself. "There's a change of plan, Trip. Enterprise has to be ready to ship out in ten days." "No!" The protest was vehement. "No way, cap'n! We need another three weeks, maybe a month." "I'm afraid we don't have that long, commander." Forrest nodded to Archer. "Let's get started on that tour, captain, and see what can be done to speed up the process." Tucker let the captain and admiral precede him down the corridor, dragging a hand through his hair. Just how much worse could things get? He got the answer to that when he turned to T'Pol, hoping for at least a quick hug while the other men weren't looking. Her expression was so severe he nearly stepped backwards as she brushed past him to followed Archer and Forrest. Maybe Malcolm was right and she had dumped him. Had he ever told her that humans expected to be told if their partner decided to call off a relationship? The tour of Enterprise took over two hours, followed by a much longer session that also included the head of maintenance at Jupiter Station. Tucker understood why the man had to be involved but it didn't improve his mood. He'd done his best to get his ship ready with the minimal resources Starfleet had seen fit to allocate – they were spreading themselves thin in order to speed up the completion of the other ships on the production line – and now he was being told that that wasn't good enough. What he wasn't being told was why. If Archer was shutting him out of the loop, the captain was going to have a very angry chief engineer to deal with. They finalised the new work schedule at last and Tucker nearly groaned when he heard Archer invite Forrest to stay on board for dinner. That meant the chief engineer would be obliged to attend as well and all Tucker really wanted to do was shut himself up in his cabin and indulge in a damn good howl. If T'Pol had left him … She still hadn't really looked at him since coming on board and she'd just spent three weeks back amongst Vulcans. Maybe she'd met someone else. Maybe Archer had … Tucker managed to stop himself. If he was about to accuse his best friend of snatching his girlfriend, he really was starting to lose it. "Cap'n, you may want to re-think that invitation. Chef's on leave. We're on food packs." It was Forrest who replied with a model answer. "That's quite all right, commander. I'll eat whatever's available." Archer gave Tucker a friendly pat on the shoulder. He had started to worry about his friend hours before but with Forrest present there wasn't a lot he could do about it. "Go get cleaned up, Trip. We'll see you in my dining room in half an hour." Maybe there was one thing he could do. "I'm sure you'd like to do the same, sub-commander." It didn't work. The only response was a twitch of one eyebrow and a cool answer. "That will not be necessary, captain." There was no mistaking the hurt that crossed Tucker's face as he turned away and Archer grimaced. He didn't know what game T'Pol was playing but it wasn't a nice one. There was meatloaf for dinner. Tucker wasn't surprised. He'd had meatloaf for lunch so it was inevitable that it would appear on the menu again. He really wished he'd stayed in bed that morning. Eventually Forrest and Archer ceased exchanging polite and non-controversial conversation and Tucker took the opportunity. "Why do we need to have Enterprise ready in ten days, Cap'n?" The guilt that crossed the man's face relieved a little of Tucker's tension. "Trip, I'm sorry, I forgot you wouldn't have been receiving the full picture up here." Archer leant back in his seat, fingers playing with his water glass. "You heard the result of the official inquiry into Dexter's conduct?" Tucker nodded although that didn't stop Archer from summarising. "Guilty as charged. There wasn't really any doubt of the result, not with the evidence you and Malcolm presented, but there are a lot of people within Starfleet as well as out of it who still don't accept the verdict. Earth government apologised to the Klingon Empire for Dexter's conduct, but it protested his execution." Archer saw Tucker wince and nodded. "That didn't go down well. The Klingons interpreted it as a criticism of their judicial system and rejected the apology. They've started attacking any human ships operating in what they consider to be their territory, although I'm informed that the borders of that territory have never been clearly delineated, which makes it hard to avoid. Starfleet vessels have been dispatched to patrol the area to protect our shipping but it's a vast area and the warp 2 ships can't cover it effectively." "So that's why Enterprise is needed?" "No. Not yet, anyway." Archer glanced down at his plate then up at Tucker again. "The Vulcans have been persuaded to mediate. The Klingon Empire has stamped and shouted but will probably come to the table. Enterprise is to transport the human and Vulcan delegations to Qo'noS where the talks will take place." "The Klingons stipulated," T'Pol interjected, "that Captain Archer must represent Earth." The look she turned on her captain was approving and Tucker managed a half-hearted grin. "Nice one, Cap'n." "It's a responsibility," Archer said dryly. "Enterprise leaves to rendezvous with a Vulcan ship in ten days time to pick up the nominated mediator then heads for Qo'noS. Trip," his voice was cautious, "the Vulcans have selected Soval for this." "No! The man's a …" "Ambassador Soval is an experienced diplomat!" Archer cut in, still aware of Forrest's presence if Tucker was not. "I've seen him in action." He grimaced but it had to be said. "He could pull it off." "That doesn't change a damn thing!" "You have a problem with Ambassador Soval, Commander Tucker?" Forrest asked in the manner of one who wouldn't accept a positive answer but the engineer didn't take the hint. "Yes, sir, I do. As far as I'm concerned, the man's a criminal and …" "Ambassador Soval has been with the masters of Gol for the last nine months." This time it was T'Pol who spoke over Tucker's objections. "He has been performing the rite of Kolinahr. Earth should be grateful that he has agreed to come out of seclusion to accept this mission." Tucker met dark brown eyes that had become utterly unreadable to him again. "Is that what you really think, sub-commander?" It was Archer who answered. "She's right, Trip. You have to accept this. We all do." "Fine." Tucker had had enough - more than enough. He threw his napkin onto the table in front of him. "If you'll excuse me, captain, admiral, I want to run over the resourcing of those schedules again." Archer nodded permission and watched unhappily as the engineer left. Trip looked rough and now wasn't a good time for histrionics. Forrest was also looking doubtfully after the man. "What do I need to know, Captain Archer?" "Nothing, Admiral. Nothing at all." Tucker was trying to work although not very successfully when his door buzzer sounded. His head was pounding and he would have liked to get seriously drunk if it hadn't been for the fact that he knew it would only make him feel worse. "Come." He glared at the woman who entered. "If you've come to tell me you don't want to see me anymore, I think you've already made that quite clear, Sub-Commander T'Pol." Her eyes widened slightly, although he had already turned away. "Charles?" The only response was a faint shake of his head and she crossed to stand beside him, hand on his shoulder. "Charles, what is wrong?" He scowled up at her, leaning away from her touch and she felt his pain echoing through her now that they were close again; she had not realised that the bond between them would attenuate with time spent apart as well as with distance. "Wrong? Oh, just that you never called me or wrote to me and then you treat me like I don't exist when you see me again." "It is not possible to make private transmissions from the Vulcan compound and you know that I must be discreet." For once T'Pol decided that the bare truth was necessary. "I missed you, Charles." She stroked his cheek. "But I cannot … indulge myself … when we are in public." Tucker shivered in hope. "You still love me?" For once her eyes held his when he asked that question. "My feelings for you remain unchanged." He gulped and snatched her into his arms, pressing his head into her neck. "Do that to me again and I'll break your neck," he mumbled but T'Pol could hear the shake in his voice and the relief coursing through him. She stroked his hair, finally letting the familiar warmth uncurl through her body and mind. It had been quiet and peaceful living in the Vulcan compound but she had missed Charles, the companionship more than the physical intimacy whatever he might think. She hadn't meant to hurt him but she clearly had, so it behoved her to make him feel better. "Come to bed." He didn't move from her arms, head still buried against her. "I've got a headache." T'Pol sighed. Tucker always thought that she wanted sex. "I will help relieve it." "That'd be nice." "Then come to the bed." She slid from his lap, tugging him towards the bunk where he stretched out on his back, eyes screwed up in pain as he rubbed at his temples, reminded of just how bad the headache was. He'd had some humdingers ever since V'Lar had melded her mind with his and with T'Pol's to convince her that he was still alive. Phlox said there was no connection but Tucker didn't believe him. Warm fingers moved his aside then began to move in small, slow circles, pressing firmly, gradually working their way over his scalp. "You should have taken the medication the doctor prescribed." "Didn't realise it had got so bad." At least he didn't feel sick this time. T'Pol hated it when he threw up, mainly because she had to clear up afterwards. "Jeez, I've missed you!" "Do not talk." He ignored the sensible advice. "I've had a really crap time. Why'd you stay on Earth so long?" "Captain Archer wished for my advice and support." "You could have visited." "There was no opportunity." Diplomacy was no respecter of personal needs. "Be still, Charles." This time he did as she said and fell asleep not long afterwards. T'Pol watched him for quite some time, lying quietly at his side. Tucker was deeply unhappy about something and she was not convinced that she was the sole cause. Tucker felt a lot better when he awoke, particularly when a warm hand stroked his cheek. "Is your headache gone?" "Yeah." He opened his eyes to smile up into the exquisite face leaning over him. "Sorry about that." "I believe I was at least partly to blame." "Yeah, you were real horrid." The curvaceous body settled itself comfortably at his side when he tugged and he sighed with pleasure. "Are you staying on Enterprise now?" "I believe that is Captain Archer's intent." He grimaced at the fact that her presence was at the whim of their captain although there was nothing he could do about it. "Not that we'll get to spend any time together. Not with that repair schedule to meet. Jeez, I'm so damned tired of fixing stuff!" T'Pol raised her head from Tucker's shoulder, gazing down at him in concern. "I understood that you enjoyed such work." "Yeah, I did … I do. Just done too much of it lately, I guess." He raised a hand to catch her chin, preventing her from looking away. "Are you really OK with this business with Soval?" "The rite of Kolinahr is not something undertaken lightly, nor is it an easy discipline." "So you think he's paid?" "Vengeance is illogical but … yes." "I don't." She began to run the backs of her first two fingers over his face and he smiled reluctantly. "You still like doing that?" "Why should I not?" "I thought I'd convinced you human kissing had a lot more going for it." "It can be pleasant." "Pleasant? Can be? Darling, have you forgotten already?" "Forgotten?" There was a teasing light in her eyes and Tucker grinned in answer and pulled her head down to remind her how much she enjoyed him kissing her – the human way. Tucker groaned and rolled to one side, away from T'Pol's satisfied body. "My headache's come back." "I did recommend that you refrain from exerting yourself." "No way." He had a hand pressed over his eyes. "I needed that." She regarded him with exasperation and slid from the bed, not pausing when he groped blindly after her. "Don't go. T'Pol!" She returned, pushing him flat again to press the hypospray to his neck. "You could have massaged me better again." "Massage encourages you to sleep, nothing more. If your head still aches, Charles, you need medication." She settled beside him on the pillow, stroking his hair, and Tucker sighed, moving his head to press against a smooth thigh. "You staying the night?" "I think not." Gentle fingers soothed his temples again. "You need to rest." "I'd rest better if you were here." "Tomorrow night." "Promise?" "Of course." After she had checked the logs to see how long he had been working. Charles was exhausted and he'd lost weight in the few weeks since they had last shared a bed. That knowledge made T'Pol feel fiercely protective and that was most irrational when he was a grown man, quite capable of looking after himself; she needed to meditate on the matter. Then she would look after her human until he lost the shadows under his eyes and laughed at her again. "No! No, cap'n, no way!" Archer leant back in his seat behind the ready room desk, regarding his chief engineer with amused tolerance. "Which part of ‘that's an order' didn't you understand, Commander Tucker?" "You can't order me to take leave." "I just did. Trip, I've had both Malcolm and T'Pol in here this morning because they're worried about you and I'd already reached the same conclusion. You need a break. Now get your sorry butt off this ship and don't come back for the next seven days." "Can't I stay here? Read? Go the gym?" Spend as much time in bed with his girlfriend as humanly possible. "No. You've got half an hour to pack. The shuttle leaves at 1200." Tucker groaned. Why the hell was this happening to him? "Cap'n …" "Have fun, Trip. Dismissed." Tucker wasn't even remotely resigned to the idea of being sent away from Enterprise when he reached the launch bay. He just couldn't believe that Archer was doing this to him. His only hope was that T'Pol would agree to his suggestion that he hide out in her cabin for the next week but he couldn't really see her agreeing to something that even he thought was illogical. He tossed his bag in through the open hatch of the shuttle pod and looked around in frustration. She should have been here, he'd said 11:55 and T'Pol was never late. "This is yours?" He swung round to see the Vulcan woman eyeing the bag he had thrown into the shuttle pod with disfavour. "What are you doing in there?" "Waiting for you." She shifted the bag into a designated storage area and Tucker boarded the shuttle, looking suspiciously around for a pilot. "Who's flying this thing?" "Crewman Rostov." T'Pol turned to regard him calmly. "Although you or I may take the helm for the outward journey if you wish." It took a moment to sink in then he stared. "You're coming too? I mean … are you just dropping me off or …" He didn't dare voice his sudden hope and she looked at him in well controlled amusement. "Captain Archer's orders were most specific. I am to ensure that you receive adequate rest and recreation." "Son-of-a-bitch." Tucker was starting to grin although he couldn't entirely believe the sudden change in his fortunes. "I didn't think Vulcans needed to take time off." "We do not. As I stated, I am under orders to care for you." "Orders?" He wasn't entirely sure he liked the sound of that; T'Pol could be very literal minded. "Does that mean you're gonna be on duty the whole time?" On duty meant no touching, no kissing and certainly no spending all day in bed. "Yes. However," she came to stand before him, head tipped back to look into his eyes, "I believe my duties could be described as unconventional." "I like the sound of that." He would have kissed her soundly if a polite shuffle of feet hadn't indicated that their pilot had arrived. Tucker waited until they were clear of Jupiter Station then leant back comfortably, feet on a handily placed console, already getting into the swing of being on leave. "So, where are you taking me?" "Captain Archer recommended a small accommodation unit in a mountainous region of northern Europe. He described it as isolated." "Sounds good. What about food?" "That has been taken care of." "Drink?" He got a disapproving look. "Captain Archer suggested that you look in the emergency storage locker." Tucker chuckled and went to investigate, already sure of what he would find. He owed Jon big time for this one. Continued in Part Two -- Stephen Ratliff ASC Stories Only Forwarding In the Pattern Buffer at: http//trekiverse.crosswinds.net/feed/ Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCL/ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:ASCL-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. From ???@??? Thu Jan 15 00:21:52 2004 Status: U Return-Path: Received: from n20.grp.scd.yahoo.com ([66.218.66.76]) by emu (EarthLink SMTP Server) with SMTP id 1aGZYw3F93NZFnx0 for ; Wed, 14 Jan 2004 21:23:24 -0800 (PST) X-eGroups-Return: sentto-1977044-12876-1074144107-stephenbratliff=earthlink.net@returns.groups.yahoo.