Forwarded by the ASC-VSO Posted: 8 Jan 2004 04:18:29 -0800 In: alt.startrek.creative From: shouldknowbettertt@yahoo.co.uk (shouldknowbetter) Title: Remember (4/4) (29/34 for series) Series: Begins with "A Logical Proposal" "Remember" is ninth in the series 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. REMEMBER Part Four Tucker and T'Pol were escorted directly to a room a little distance from the negotiating chamber and thrust inside not exactly roughly, but with enough force to suggest that non-cooperation wasn't an option. He sighed, glancing round at the lavish furnishings. "That went well." T'Pol came to wind her arms around his neck, kissing his mouth then sliding her lips towards his ear. "The room is undoubtedly under surveillance." "Yeah." Even under the present circumstances he shivered at the feel of warm lips caressing him and nuzzled his way towards an ear in his turn. "What do we do now?" "We wait." "We don't have long." "I am sure the door is guarded. We await a better opportunity." "Pity they took the phase pistol." "Indeed." T'Pol pulled back to regard her companion's face. "Charles, what are you doing?" He stopped edging her towards the bed, but only to scoop her up into his arms and place her there instead, stretching out at her side and capturing her mouth. "We're persecuted, remember?" he breathed into her ear a moment later. "Probably not been allowed to make out in months." He kissed her again, smiling against her mouth as she responded. "Just adding a touch of verisimilitude, Sub-commander." Archer halted at Soval's side where the Vulcan ambassador was staring out of a window at the view of the Klingon capital, eyed hooded. "What now?" The other man's gaze was determined. "We delay, Captain Archer. We delay and trust that your officers are successful." Even Tucker could not quite bring himself to make love whilst on a mission – even assuming T'Pol would have let him – so when the Klingon barged in an hour later it was certainly to find the pair still curled together on the bed but fully clothed and only slightly dishevelled. T'Pol sat up at once, one eyebrow rising. "Yes?" The Klingon was grinning at having caught them out. "You, human, come with me." Tucker also sat up, draping himself over T'Pol. "Why?" "To prove your loyalty to the Klingon Empire. Come." He shrugged indifferently. "OK." "No." Both human and Klingon frowned at the woman. "I will accompany him." "No." The Klingon gestured with his disruptor. "Do as you're told, woman. Stay here." Tucker rose to his feet, moving away from the bed. "You heard him, honey. I'll see you later." "No." She followed him to stand nose to chest with the Klingon, glaring up into his face. "He is completely untrustworthy with women. I will accompany him to … supervise." The Klingon leered at her then looked over at Tucker, amused. "You let her keep you on a leash, human?" "Well," Tucker shrugged again, "the sex is good." "There's nothing of her! Too small, too thin." A hard stare caught his attention. "Too annoying." "You've not heard about the training Vulcan women receive?" "No." "Well, my friend, let me put it this way: I bet there are a few things she could teach Klingon women, if you take my meaning." "Huh!" The Klingon laughed heartily and gestured at the door. "Come then, both of you." He was still chuckling when they emerged into the corridor and Tucker punched him in the stomach, which gave T'Pol the opportunity to apply a Vulcan nerve pinch that left the huge man sprawled on the floor. Without needing to speak, they dragged him into another room close by and T'Pol snatched up the disruptor. "Training?" she asked sarcastically as they hurried along the corridor and Tucker grinned even as he kept a wary eye out for other Klingons. "Particle physics? Photon mechanics? Mediation techniques? You don't think Klingon women would benefit from higher education?" "That was not your implication." "It worked. D'you know where we are?" "Approximately. If our orbital mapping of this complex was accurate, we should be within 100m of an auxiliary control centre." "I sure hope you're right. I don't think these people are gonna believe we just got bored." It wasn't going well in the negotiation chamber. A protest over the apparent defection of two of the delegates had taken up some time but not enough and now even Archer's ingenuity was being tested to the limit. There wasn't a great deal preventing a declaration of war and Murhuk was growing impatient with the diplomatic game. Soval listened in silence as Archer's final offer to restrict Earth vessels to areas of space not claimed by the Klingon Empire was summarily dismissed and then took a hand. "You should perhaps bear in mind, Vice-Chancellor Murhuk, that Earth would not stand alone in such a war." The Klingon shot to his feet. "You threaten me, Vulcan? Here, in the heart of the empire! What of Vulcan's neutrality?" "What of it?" Soval's voice was politely enquiring. "Why should you think I spoke of Vulcan involvement in a projected conflict between Qo'noS and Earth?" Murhuk sank back down and began spluttering again. The auxiliary control centre was guarded but not very well. The two guards fell to disruptor fire that did a great deal more damage to bodies than phase pistols and were dragged inside, where Tucker took up a position by the door, leaving T'Pol to figure out the computer system. "Get a move on, honey," he encouraged a few moments later. "It won't take them long to figure out what we're doing." "Thank you for your advice," she said dryly and finally accessed the right file. "I have located the chancellor." "Where is he?" "The other side of the planet." "Damn it! Are you sure?" "Of course." "We need Enterprise." "Perhaps not." T'Pol was studying a device on the far side of the room. "Charles, I believe that to be a transporter." "Maybe." Tucker left his post at the door to run a cursory eye over the control panel. "But we can't use it." "Why not?" "Because I don't read Klingon and even if I did, there's no saying what safety standards this thing's designed to." "Whatever the risk?" She came to join him, eyes intent on his. "Both you and Captain Archer have used that phrase recently. I believe that it applies equally in this case. Or does it only apply when the risk is yours?" "T'Pol, darling, you are not going through that thing." "We have no choice. Charles, I trust you to make it work." "Hell," he muttered, already studying the controls more carefully. "OK, give me the coordinates." T'Pol materialised in a barbarically decorated chamber, the smell of smoke and blood wine making her head spin as much as the after-effects of a far from pleasant transport. Disconcerted, she was forced to clutch at a tabletop for balance and a booming voice greeted her. "Woman! Come here." Really, Klingon behaviour made Tucker's antics seem quite mild in comparison. She approached the familiar voice to find Girkon slumped in a chair, inevitable tankard in one hand. "More wine!" "Chancellor Girkon." "I know who I am. More wine!" With a mental sigh and a tolerance developed over three years of close association with humans, T'Pol located a large jug and provided the man with a re-fill. He lifted the tankard to her in a salute and drank deeply. "Ah, blood wine, a good clean vice. Help yourself, woman, then take off your clothes and perform for me." She regarded him severely. "Chancellor Girkon, I am Sub-Commander T'Pol, currently assigned to the Earth vessel Enterprise." "Ah! The Vulcan with a human lover. Good for you, girl, good for you! Never could stand Vulcans. Humiliate them, that's the thing." "Chancellor Girkon, we believe that you are being confined against your will. Is this true?" "Could be, could be. I underestimated Murhuk, curse his name. Never trust anyone, girl, and never underestimate them. That's how to keep power." "I will bear your advice in mind. Chancellor, I understand you wish to avoid war. If you will accompany me to the negotiation chamber …" "Too late. Murhuk will have declared war hours ago – and I will stand by his decision." "Ambassador Soval and Captain Archer have undertaken to delay Vice-Chancellor Murhuk. Chancellor?" He regarded her shrewdly, less inebriated than T'Pol had initially thought. "You have transport?" "We have access to a transporter." "Bah! Cursed things, never use them. Splitting you into … No!" The sparkle enveloped them both before Girkon could complete his protest and then they were back in the auxiliary control room, where Tucker exchanged a relieved look with T'Pol even as he pointed the disruptor at the centre of the chancellor's solid chest. "Sorry about that, sir." "You tricked me, girl." The Klingon's voice was a low growl, which T'Pol hoped was better than a roar. "Of necessity, Chancellor. Had your acceptance been more precipitate, I would have warned you." He growled again and headed for the computer outlet. "If I've been murdered once by that infernal device, then why not again? Set these coordinates." T'Pol joined him, careful not to get into Tucker's line of fire. "What is this location?" "The barracks of my personal bodyguard. I'll not walk into Murhuk's sights with only a pair of half-grown aliens to protect me." Murhuk was on his feet, face flushed with the excitement of imminent battle. "Hear the decision of the Klingon Empire! I am Murhuk, son of … The doors swung back with a dramatic clang; they were probably designed to do so. "You are a treacherous fool! I am Girkon, Chancellor of the Klingon Empire! To me, all loyal warriors! To me!" The ensuing fire-fight was noisy and confused, leaving the non-Klingons entirely unsure who was on which side and, indeed, which side if any they should be supporting. Tucker and T'Pol edged their way cautiously around the edge of the battle, their progress somewhat hampered by the fact that they both kept trying to shield the other from danger, and finally sprinted the last few metres to end in a heap behind the overturned table where Archer and Soval had taken shelter. Archer gave them an approving nod. "Nice work." "Tell me that when it's over," Tucker muttered and pulled T'Pol closer to him as an energy beam sizzled the edge of the table. "Who's winning?" "Your guess, commander, is as good as mine." "The odds favour Chancellor Girkon," T'Pol observed calmly, for once ignoring the fact that Tucker had an arm around her. "He brought a sizeable contingent of warriors with him." "However," Soval contradicted, "Murhuk would have been foolish not to ensure that all present here were loyal to him." T'Pol looked over at her former mentor, meeting his eyes for the first time in over a year. "I do not believe that Murhuk's intelligence is of a high order." The ambassador stared back and finally gave a small nod. "You may be correct." On the other side of the table silence fell and the small group taking shelter stiffened. "Archer!" Girkon's voice echoed impressively around the chamber. "Soval! Show yourselves." Human and Vulcan exchanged looks and rose slowly to their feet, ignoring the silent protest of the other two, to find that the negotiation chamber now resembled a charnel house. "Huh! Cowards!" Fortunately, the Klingon chancellor's tone was jovial. "I rule here. Do you acknowledge me?" One of Soval's eyebrows rose. "I see no reason to do otherwise, Chancellor Girkon. I am pleased that you have recovered from your … indisposition." The Klingon grinned and started forward as the rest left the shelter of the table. "I am Girkon, Chancellor of the …" He got no further. Soval's dive caught him in the stomach and sent him flying as the disruptor beam sliced through the air where Girkon had been standing. There was an immediate fusillade of shots that reduced the already dying Murhuk to a bloody mess but Archer and T'Pol barely noticed as they both rushed to Soval's side. Gently, teeth gritted, Archer rolled the Vulcan over, provoking a groan that even a student of the masters of Gol could not suppress. Sure it was hopeless, the captain looked up at T'Pol for confirmation and was surprised by the emotion on her face, even as she shook her head; regret was the last thing he had thought to see. Soval moaned again and forced his eyes open, his fading gaze moving over Archer to fix on the woman behind him. "T'Pol," there was green blood running from his mouth, "remember … who … you are," and then he was gone. T'Pol drew in her breath sharply and stepped backwards, a hand reaching for Tucker as he came to stand close behind her, eyes hard and unforgiving as he looked down at the dead man. Archer rose slowly to his feet and found Girkon too looking at the dead Vulcan, although after a moment the chancellor raised his head to meet the human's eyes. "He died well," the Klingon said quietly, "and with honour." Then he raised his voice again. "Hear me! I am Girkon, Chancellor of the Klingon Empire! Today, the Vulcan Soval saved my life. As honour demands, I grant his last wish." He turned, arms raised, eyes fierce on his followers. "There will be no war with Earth in my time." The arms fell in a ritual gesture of absolute authority. "I am Girkon, Chancellor of the Klingon Empire. My word is law." When Archer returned to Enterprise from Soval's memorial service, he found Tucker in Engineering, puzzling over a failed power coupling. The captain hesitated and seemed to take a deep breath before moving to the other man's side. "Trip." The engineer looked up. "T'Pol wants to see you. On Vulcan." "OK." The response was quiet and Archer felt a shiver run up his spine. "Permission to borrow a shuttle pod, Cap'n?" "Granted. Shuttle Pod 2's all prepped and the destination's set. Trip," Tucker paused, already a few paces from the captain, "do you want company?" "No. But thanks all the same." The latter was an after-thought as the engineer disappeared through the doors of Engineering and Archer grimaced, wondering if he should have insisted, but somehow … he had a feeling that a decision had already been taken on both sides. Tucker landed the shuttle pod neatly beside the rocky knoll that had been the programmed destination and let himself out into Vulcan's thin, dry and blazingly hot atmosphere, grimacing at the high gravity. He still didn't like desert planets, particularly heavy desert planets. T'Pol was waiting for him at the base of the tumble of rocks, a formidable plasma rifle slung over one shoulder. "Sehlat?" "They do hunt in this area." He smiled, looking around. "I thought it looked familiar. Are you indulging in a fit of sentiment, sub-commander?" She looked steadily back, not hiding the emotions he had always aroused in her. "Yes." In reality, they might never have been there together before, but it was the scene into which alien anthropologists had dumped them when they had finally discovered that their attraction was mutual. They stared hungrily at each other for a few more seconds then Tucker sighed. "I guess we have to talk." "Yes." T'Pol turned to lead the way up the knoll and Tucker followed, glad of the occasional hand she reached down to help him up the steep bits. The view was nearly worth the climb, although Tucker slumped to the ground the better to appreciate it, hugging T'Pol close when she sat beside him. "I cannot return to Enterprise." "I know." She lifted her head from his shoulder to stare upwards. "You are not surprised … nor angry." He gazed sadly back. "We always knew it couldn't last. I love you but if you hadn't broken it off … I'd have had to." "You have known," there was acceptance and understanding in her quiet voice, "for some time." "Not the when." Tucker's voice was growing husky. "Just that … we didn't have much longer." He swallowed. "After Enterprise got back to Earth, I went to see mom. She kept asking when I was gonna settle down, have kids." He drew another deep breath. "And we can't." "No." "I've always wanted a family. T'Pol, I love you so much …" His eyes were full of tears and she raised a hand to his mouth. "I too have spoken with my mother. She is adamant that this is my last chance to return home. Charles, I care for you very deeply, but I cannot give up my family, my heritage for you. I am Vulcan. I must remain so. I understand why you feel the same." "I shouldn't. I'm human, we're supposed to be adaptable." "You are as traditional as I." He drew in a shaky breath and pulled her tight into his arms. "I'm gonna leave Enterprise too. Starfleet have offered me a job on the Warp 7 project. I can't turn it down, it's too big a break." Then he went back on every painful decision he had made over the past weeks. "You could come live with me on Earth." "I could not." Gently T'Pol pulled back, cupping Tucker's face in her hands as he had so often done to her. "Charles, you know I could not." "I want you to." He was crying unashamedly. "I fear we would very swiftly come to regret such a decision." He gulped, struggling to breath evenly. "Yeah, I know, but … Oh, jeez, T'Pol, it hurts … and I still think it's the right thing to do." "It is." He took a couple of heaving breaths. "What about you? What will you do?" "I will return to the Vulcan Science Directorate." "There won't be a problem because of me?" "Since I will seem to repent my folly, no." "Will you …" Tucker hesitated, eyes creased in pain. "Will you remember me? You said before …" T'Pol leant forward and pressed her mouth to his, tasting the salt of his tears. "I thought then that my feelings for you were destructive, changing what I strove to be. I believe that no longer. I do not wish to forget you, Charles, nor what we have shared." She stroked his face gently, knowing it was for the last time, trying to control her own grief, to be strong for him. "What about the bond? Do we have to get it undone or something?" "No." That had hurt as much as her decision to remain on Vulcan. "I consulted a master. He could not explain the nature of the bond between us, nor how it came to be formed, but he believes that if we are apart it will simply … atrophy." Tucker winced and she knew that he felt the same sharp regret. "Just like that? I thought it was more … permanent." "As did I." He tried unsuccessfully to laugh. "I guess two people always think they have something special together." She kissed him again. "Are you gonna be OK without me? After Soval …" "I am recovered. I no longer need the reassurance of your presence. I enjoy it, but I do not need it." "Oh, jeez, T'Pol, this is so hard." She stroked him again. "It is the right decision to make." "Still hurts like crazy." This time it was Tucker who instigated the kiss and T'Pol felt his desperation as it deepened. "There's a shuttle pod down there," he mumbled into her hair when it was over. "Come make love with me, T'Pol. Just once more." There were tears in the eyes of them both as they stumbled down the hill to ensure that for the rest of their lives the interior of small spacecraft would bring back memories of love, loss and bitter-sweet pleasure. Archer was waiting outside the launch bay when Shuttle Pod 2 docked with Enterprise. Tucker halted facing his captain, too wrung out to care that it was obvious he had been crying. "Are you OK?" Archer's voice was concerned and Tucker drew a deep breath. "No." His friend frowned. "But I'm gonna be." "Sure?" "Yeah." "OK." No point yet asking Trip if he wanted to talk. Archer did the sensible thing and threw an arm around the younger man's shoulders, urging him down the corridor. Trip would talk when he was ready and if he didn't his captain would just invite him to dinner one night and ply him with bourbon until he did. In her father's garden where she was supposed to be meditating, T'Pol watched instead the point of light that was a Starfleet vessel until it abruptly disappeared then slowly lowered her gaze to the man who had come to stand before her. "Father." "I have always found a flame to be a better focus for my meditation than a star." Branek lowered himself onto a bench close by. "I am pleased that you have returned to us, daughter." "As am I, father." "You may lie to your mother, T'Pol. Kindly do not do so with me." "My decision was correct." "I concur and in time you will cease to care for your human. All things change, T'Pol, even Vulcans." She looked back over at him, distress clear; and Branek gave a mental sigh and held out a hand, sighing aloud as she came to rest her head against him. He blamed T'Pol's maternal grandmother for filling the young girl's head with stories of the humans that had been handed down within her family, but he also blamed himself. He had indulged his daughter in her impressionable youth – a fact his wife never tired of pointing out – just as he was doing now. "You are my daughter, T'Pol, for whom I have great affection. We will deal with this together, but perhaps we will not tell your mother of this conversation." "I have great affection for Commander Tucker." "I think we will not tell your mother that, either." "I miss him." Branek sighed again. "Then you must learn otherwise." END of "Remember Continued in "The Rainbow's Foot" ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Inspired by Christina Rossetti's poem, "Remember" "Remember" by Christina Rossetti 1830 – 1894 Remember me when I am gone away, Gone far away into the silent land; When you can no more hold me by the hand, Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay. Remember me when no more day by day You tell me of our future that you planned: Only remember me; you understand It will be late to counsel then or pray. Yet if you should forget me for a while And afterwards remember, do not grieve: For if the darkness and corruption leave A vestige of the thoughts that once I had, Better by far you should forget and smile Than that you should remember and be sad. -- 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 00:26:42 2004 Status: U Return-Path: Received: from n11.grp.scd.yahoo.com ([66.218.66.66]) by eagle (EarthLink SMTP Server) with SMTP id 1aGZZV2HC3NZFji0 for ; Wed, 14 Jan 2004 21:24:51 -0800 (PST) X-eGroups-Return: sentto-1977044-12879-1074144193-stephenbratliff=earthlink.net@returns.groups.yahoo.