Chapter 14 - Trials and Refits

Trip and T'Pol enjoy a short holiday with an unpleasant interruption, while Vulcan gets busy refitting and overhauling two NX- class ships. Commodore Archer takes on another dangerous job.

=/\=

NX-01 "Enterprise" at Jupiter Station, July 16th 2155

"Hey, come in," Trip said as he indicated Jon and Shran to enter. "Commodore, huh, looks like you fell up the ladder. Congratulations."

"Thanks; As of three hours ago, but don't think you'll get rid of me," Jon answered and Trip mirrored the wide grin of his friend. "I'll be your fleet commander."

"Thought you'd get the Atlantis?" Trip asked, while Shran and Archer took their seats at the table after exchanging nods with T'Pol, Hoshi and Malcolm.

"No, Erika gets her, but I'll be stationed on Atlantis as Fleet Commander."

"Now if that's not a coincidence," Trip said with a wide grin. "How's Erika by the way."

"She's on the mend. Her sight's been back for a month now and she has started rehab to rebuild muscle mass."

"So what you've been up to, while we were in the Expanse, Sir? I heard something about you being attacked on Vulcan?" Malcolm asked.

"Always the security officer, Malcolm," Archer said with an amused grin. "You'll get the details when you take over your own ship next year, but suffice to say the official version differs slightly from the actual events."

"It's been decided then? I get my own command?" Malcolm asked and Trip could hear some excitement in his voice.

"Yes, NX-07 Buran will be yours, Congratulations. She'll be ready in February, together with Atlantis and Endeavour."

"Although it would've been a more appropriate choice for Shran," Trip said with a chuckle, while serving beer to the male contingent. T'Pol and Hoshi preferred juice.

"Why?" Shran asked.

"Buran is Russian and means 'snow storm'," Hoshi explained.

"With Lorian’s ship that'll make 8 in the fleet, that should give those Romulans something to think about, before they dare to attack," Malcolm said in an appreciative voice.

"Actually, ten," Archer corrected. "I thought you might know about this already, but obviously not. The Xindi are building two NX-class ships at Azati Prime."

Trip whistled in appreciation. "Looks like our trip was more successful than expected."

Archer nodded, while clinking glasses with the other men around.

=/\=

"What the hell?" Trip exclaimed, when he walked the corridor towards the briefing room with T'Pol and Lorian.

He stopped at the view port and stared at the two contraptions that floated in space near the station. They had two nacelles, slightly bigger than those of Enterprise, but their bodies mounted at the bottom were not much bigger than twice or three times the size of engineering and they had some sort of dish mounted at the front. Due to the small bulk, the nacelles, which protruded in a huge V shape, looked ridiculously oversized.

"I'm sure the admiral will be able to explain them," Lorian said. "We need to hurry, however. We should not be late for the briefing."

=/\=

Admiral Gardner grinned.

"Uh, oh, Commander Tucker might be heading our way with an opinion," he said to his aide jokingly, when the commotion in the corridor could be heard from within the briefing room.

Still grinning, he returned the greetings of the three visitors as they entered the briefing room.

"You look like an engineer with a question," the admiral said.

"You bet," Trip replied and mirrored the admiral’s grin. "Since when does Starfleet build hot rods?"

Gardner nodded towards his aide, who connected a laser projector to a PADD. Soon the picture of a well-modified NX-class appeared on the wall. No further explanation came forward, so the three officers took a look at what was presented to them. It was easily visible that the 'hot rods' were actually extensions, which were meant to be mated to the hull of a NX-class star ship, which did not much to improve the looks of the sleek vessel.

The admiral had come to know and appreciate Commander Tucker as one of the few people, who did not look at rank insignia, before making their opinion known and he did not have to hazard a guess, what the Commander would say about the slightly ungainly looks of the proposed design changes.

"I suppose there's a good reason to make our ship look ugly?" came the foreseeable question.

"I admit, we won't be nominated for a design prize," Gardner agreed. "But I think a thoroughly 'Tuckerized' and enlarged engine and a Vulcan energy shield will make up for the beauty deficit."

"Vulcan shielding? The real thing?"

"Straight out of a Suurok class battle-cruiser," Gardner explained. "Not the makeshift, hunkered down version you tested on your voyage to the Xindi."

"I'll be damned," Trip said with an admiring grin. "Does that have to do with Jon's mysterious trip to Vulcan?"

"In a way," the admiral agreed. "Captain T'Pol will receive the confident details of that mission and since you are not your garden-variety Captain-Engineer combo, I'd be ok with you sharing these details, as long as I have your word that nothing of it will leave whatever room you are in at the time."

"You have our word," T'Pol assured. "Does this permission to share information include our son?"

Gardner smiled, when he realized that they seemed to have adopted Lorian as their own, which he was in a bizarre, roundabout time travelling way, but technically wasn't at the same time.

"Since Lorian will soon be a Captain in good Starfleet standing, he will get the same report, so it's all the same to me."

"Does that mean Starfleet has come to a decision regarding our ship?" Lorian asked.

"Indeed we have," Gardner said. "According to Commander Tucker's report the internal structure of your ship is perfectly sound. So we decided to rebuild the outer hull with a little help from Vulcan. In fact the second 'hot rod' out there will be bolted under your ship's belly."

"This is satisfying news, Admiral. What will happen with the crew?"

"Every one of them, who wants to stay on board, will receive a basic training on Starfleet procedures and ranks will be assigned after evaluating each applicant’s field-experience. There is one catch though."

"A catch?"

"Yes; With all respect to your crew's sense of humor, I'm afraid you won't be getting to keep the snappy name."

"That was to be expected," Lorian agreed with a smile. "Does Starfleet have a proposal?"

"We were thinking about NX-10 Endurance."

"Considering the ship's history, the name is most appropriate."

"May I ask a technical question?" Trip interrupted, which prompted an affirmative nod from Gardner.

"Considering that these things are built separately, does that mean they are detachable?"

"Only to a degree," Gardner’s aide answered after being prompted to do so. "In an emergency situation, the two parts of the ship can be separated, but it requires 6 engineers in EVA suites to detach the nacelle pylons from the main hull. Reconnecting both vessels will require a space dock."

"So not a very useful procedure then," Trip stated.

"It can be," the young lieutenant disagreed. "In an emergency, the saucer section can limp away on impulse power, while the extension section can commence battle as an extremely nimble vehicle. We are still working on making the separation more practical."

"The thing has its own bridge?" Trip asked.

"Yes," Gardner answered. "It can be run with a minimum complement of six. That brings me to one of the reasons I called you here for. Captain T'Pol can you man the two vessels out there with officers and crewmen of your crew?"

He handed her a PADD with the crew requirements for the 'hot rods'.

"It should be possible," she answered after studying the documents. "However, logic dictates that both Chief Engineer and helmsman require a certain experience, considering that the engines in the extension sections are built to power a much larger and heavier vehicle."

"I doubt that you have any problems in the engineering department," Gardner replied with a smirking look at Trip. "So I guess you have reservations about helmsmen?"

"Indeed. Both helmsman and communications officer of the gamma shift have only recently joined the crew and it would pose a certain risk to leave them in charge of such a delicate vehicle without supervision of a more experienced officer."

"Could you spare a helmsman and a com officer, once your crew has been sworn in?" Gardner asked Lorian.

"I doubt that Starfleet has any officers more experienced than Kathryn Archer and my science officer Yuichi Sato. But our crew is already stretching thin, so they would be missing for running Endurance," Lorian answered and Gardner had to smile about the way Lorian used the new name as if it had always been the one of his ship.

"I doubt they will be needed, when travelling inside an aquatic ship," the admiral explained. "In two weeks’ time, Enterprise, the two 'hot-rods' and an aquatic ship will fly in convoy towards the T'Kuth shipyards in Vulcan space. Your ship will get a new hull and both ships will be refitted with the new extensions."

"Are the Xindi running a shuttle-service for us now?" Trip asked with amusement about the recent rise in piggy-back rides with the Aquatics.

"Well, let's say, ever since we helped them getting rid of the sphere-builders, they're practically falling over to provide any help they can."

=/\=

"Good morning, Commodore."

"Good morning, Melinda," Jon answered, falling in step with the head-nurse. "Is Erika ready yet?"

"Oh, she's waiting for you in the exercise room already, but let me warn you, her mood is foul at best."

"Torture room would probably be more appropriate," Jon answered with a slight shiver. "After what I had to put her through yesterday, I wouldn't be surprised if she tried to kill or dump me at the very least. I can't understand what went on in your heads to put me in charge of her rehab program. I'm a Captain, not a physiotherapist."

"Um, well," Melinda said. "We knew that the program would be hell in the first weeks. We thought, you'd be the only one she won't kill."

"Why, thank you," Jon said with a hint of sarcasm as they reached the door to the 'torture chamber', where Jon's victim was waiting for another day of excruciating rehab training.

=/\=

July 30th 2155, en-route to Vulcan

Trip sat in the captain’s chair of his hot-rod, effortlessly screaming towards Vulcan at a steady warp 5.7. Considering that the new engine was built to reach the same speed with Enterprise added to the current structure, it was barely above idle, while he was sure that Anna, now acting Chief Engineer, had her hands full to ensure that Enterprise would keep up with the 'hot-rods' and the aquatic ship, which provided a lift for Endurance and Lorain’s merry band of newly minted Starfleet officers.

"Captain, Enterprise asks for a status report," Lieutenant Yuichi Sato, com officer on loan from Endurance said.

"Patch them through Lieutenant."

"Enterprise to Bullet One, we require your current status."

T'Pol's voice filled the small bridge of their vehicle and Trip had to grin about the fact how long it had taken him and Malcolm to get T'Pol to agree that they may name their 'hot rods' Bullet One and Bullet Two.

"This is Bullet One. All systems are working perfectly."

"Acknowledged. The Vulcan High Council has cleared approach. Contact Bullet Two and prepare to go ahead at warp 5.85. When you arrive at the ship yards, both vehicles are to be handed over into responsibility of Commodore O'Riordan and Professor Solan."

"Understood, Enterprise."

Trip waited for Lt. Sato to close the channel. Of course T'Pol's order did only convey the part that concerned the crew. The fact that he was to prepare her mother’s house for her arrival had been arranged privately before. While the crew would spend some well-earned shore leave in the human compound, he was looking forward to some quite days with T'Pol, Malcolm and Hoshi in her mother’s home, which was now becoming theirs. If no problems arose, they were set to arrive in Vulcan space at least two days before Enterprise and the Aquatics.

"Lieutenant, patch me a channel to grandma," Trip ordered with a grin, which all bridge crew acknowledged with chuckles.

"Don't let her hear that, Captain," Yuichi Sato answered with amusement.

"Why? You are preparing to rat me out to Hoshi, Lieutenant?" Trip asked back, which caused another round of amusement on the bridge.

"Patching through," Hoshi's great grandson reported.

"Bullet Two, this is Bullet One, what's your status Malcolm?"

"All systems working," Malcolm reported.

"Did you get T'Pol's order?"

"Yes, just give the word. We're ready to accelerate."

Trip smiled. Malcolm sounded positively relaxed. If it had been the fact that he was almost alone on the bridge with Hoshi, his first command or the prospect of several days of R&R on Vulcan was hard to say, but it was good to see Malcolm open up since he was dating Hoshi.

"Bullet One and Two, Tucker to helm. Advance to warp 5.85, direct course to T'Kuth approach perimeter, NOW."

"Warp 5.85, direct course," came the almost simultaneous reply from Ensign Kathryn Archer and Ensign Carrick, Travis's second, who manned the helm in Bullet Two.

=/\=

"One more time, honey," Jon said encouragingly, while Erika hung between the wooden bars, completely exhausted.

"I can't," Erika pleaded.

"You can," Jon disagreed. "You managed 10 passes yesterday and 10 passes the day before, so..."

"Which part of 'I'm beat' don't you understand?" Erika spat angrily, still hanging powerlessly between the bars that she supported herself on in her attempts to relearn walking and building up muscles that were degenerated during months of immobility.

"Erika, I know it is hard, but if we want to get away from this place," Jon said, looking around the 'torture chamber' disapprovingly. "The sooner you get better, the sooner we're out of here. Do you think I'm having fun with this? I can think of better hobbies than watching you being cranky for weeks."

"WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?" Erika shrieked. "I nearly get killed by fucking Klingons, then I wake up with months of my life missing, blind, and powerless and fucking horny like a sixteen year old, because you read this stuff to me, while I was in the coma and now you torture the damn stuffing out of me, while you sit there like Pasha!"

Jon waited for her rant to be over.

"Got it out of your system?" he asked, trying to sound as impassive as possible. "First of all, it's certainly not my fault that all your favorite stuff is smut novels. Can you imagine how I felt reading that stuff out loud? Do you think I have fun seeing you in agony?"

Erika stared at him, still enraged. With grunts of pain, she pushed herself up on her arms and waddled forward, huffing and puffing like an old steam locomotive, her face a pained grimace of fury. Once she reached the end of the bars, she just let go and Jon nearly sprained an ankle in the attempt to catch her, before she piled into a heap on the floor. Once in his arms she started to cry heartbreakingly and Jon rubbed her back, trying to calm her down.

"I'm so sorry Jon," she muttered between sobs.

"It's ok, honey."

=/\=

"Bloody Norah," Malcolm swore under his breath. He should have known that, when a die-hard gentleman like Trip advised against usual chivalry and let Hoshi carry her own stuff, it was best to heed the warning. Instead he had insisted on carrying both his and Hoshi's duffel and he was now paying the price as the three officers climbed up the long path towards T'Pol's home. Hoshi had dropped more than one subtle hint that she would be fine with him handing over one of the bags, but his pride would not allow to admit defeat, so he soldiered on.

"You could have listened to me, you know," Trip said smugly as he opened the door for a hard-breathing Malcolm.

"How can you be so bloody cheerful in this heat," Malcolm grumbled. "I thought you were the one, who hates the desert."

"You'll get used to it in a day or two," Trip said, entering the house. "Now better sit down before you fall down, I'll get us something to drink.

Hoshi and Malcolm sat down with Hoshi giving the wheezing Brit a smiling head-shake.

"Dammit," Trip said as he came back, carrying a tray with 3 glasses of Kasa juice. "One cell of the stasis unit is out."

"Can you repair it?" Hoshi asked taking one of the glasses.

"Sure," Trip answered. "But first we have to get rid of a lot of Yon-Savas and Mashya, that shouts 'lights out!' at you in Vulcan, when you open the door."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of that. You do the technical stuff, I'll do the cleaning," Hoshi ruled.

"And I'm what, the designated decoration?" Malcolm asked.

"You come with me," Trip said with a grin. "First we got to light the kettles out there. It'll soon be dark."

"What's that for?" Malcolm asked.

"It's to keep wildlife away. If you have stray animals in your backyard around here, it aint gonna be little dogs."

=/\=

August, 2nd 2155 T'Kuth approach perimeter

"This is Captain T'Pol of the Earth vessel Enterprise. We request permission to dock."

"This is sub-lieutenant T'Kerat, T'Kuth approach control. You have permission for mooring in dock 3," came the reply in Vulcan.

"Sub-lieutenant, upon reviewing your protocols you will notice that communication with Starfleet ships is to be performed in Human Standard," T'Pol answered and noticed a bit too late that she hadn't quite managed to keep her voice completely neutral.

"Of course, Captain," the control officer answered in English after a moment of silence. "Mooring is permitted in dock 3, Enterprise."

"Acknowledged. Ensign Maywheather, perform docking maneuver. Lieutenant Commander Hess, you have the bridge."

"Aye, Captain," both officers answered, while T'Pol disappeared into the ready room.

=/\=

"You know," Malcolm said with a smirk, slightly gasping for air. "I'm starting to think you only invited us here, so you have me for helping with repairs and Hoshi for the cleaning."

"Very funny," he joked back. "It certainly wasn't my idea to let the pipes rot and the water synthesizer break. And besides, Hoshi doesn't look like cleaning," he added, tilting his head toward a bikini clad Hoshi, who was catching some sunlight on a deck chair.

"Well she has been for two days," Malcolm replied. "But I don't think she minds. I thought her cooking obsession two years ago was a one-time thing, but she does seem to have a bit of a domestic streak."

"Ever heard of nesting?" Trip asked smugly, prompting a snort from Malcolm.

Both kept digging back the soil after they had renewed the rotten pipes with new ones that Professor Solan had helped them purchase in a nearby market.

"Speaking of a break," Malcolm said. "I think we should take one. I'll get us a beer."

"Works for me."

When he passed the dozing Hoshi on his way back, Malcolm couldn't resist putting one of the ice-cold bottles on Hoshi's belly, making her wake up with a shriek."

"You!" she called and threw a cushion after the rapidly retreating Malcolm.

Malcolm handed Trip the beer and wondered, why Trip was looking somewhat unfocused.

"Something wrong Trip?"

"Don't know. T'Pol just arrived at the space docks and she's pissed off like hell."

=/\=

"Yes, honey, that's good," John said enthusiastically.

Erika made the fifteenth pass along the bars, grunting from the exertion. Progress was painfully slow, but her legs, which after months in a hospital bed had been about the size of other people's arms, were starting to resemble extremities with actual muscles again, but both knew that it was still a long road to recovery. At least her mood had gotten better. While Jon was convinced that her latest progress was the key to that, Erika maintained that it was due to Jon finally giving up his reluctance to do something about her literature-induced horniness.

"Ok, honey, sit down and take a break," he said. "Gardner will be here any minute."

"Do you know what he wants?"

"Just the normal weekly briefing. We decided, that it would be better that he comes here, instead of me going to command and interrupt your training for too long."

"You seem to have some pull with the top brass," Erika said with a smile.

"Let me put it this way. Of all the responsibilities he took on after Maxwell's death, Trip and T'Pol and the two of us seem to be Gardner's pet projects."

"Is Starfleet dealing in match-making now?"

"Not really, but I think he tries to keep a protecting eye on us because Black is still waiting for one of our relationships to blow up and interfere with duties, so he can reintroduce his precious no-frat rules."

"Don't tell me he still holds a grudge."

"Oh, he does. It got even worse after his old lady filed for divorce, when she caught him doing the secretary."

Erika gasped. "So Mr. Morals wanted to make monks and nuns out of us, but dips his wick with the secretary? That's rich!"

"Correct," came a voice from the door. "Unfortunately, saying it out loud would cost me my job."

"Morning, Admiral,” Jon and Erika said in unison.

"Morning. You look good Erika. After what Jon told me about the training, I was prepared to find you skinning him alive."

"Don't worry, Admiral," Erika said with smile. "I thought about it, but I think he's still useful."

"Hey!" Jon said, but his attempt at mock indignation failed, because he couldn't hold back his laughter.

"Good for Jon... and for Starfleet," Gardner added, equally amused. "Let's wait a minute. Shran will join us, too."

Right on cue, the door opened just a minute later and head nurse McFadden admitted a spit-and-polished Captain Shran, who was carrying a massive bouquet of flowers.

"Good morning," Shran said. "I believe it is human custom to bring some of this colorful vegetation for recuperating persons."

"Wow," Erika said, taking the flowers from Shran. "They are lovely."

"It is good to see you, Captain. You look much better than last time."

"As if that is saying much," Erika said with a playful grin. "Last time I was almost dead."

"Indeed," Shran agreed. "You fought like a true warrior. Every Andorian would be proud to serve under your command."

"Thank you Shran," she answered slightly blushing.

"Admiral," Shran said with a nod to Gardner. "I hope you are not offended that I greeted Captain Hernandez first."

"Don't worry, Shran," Gardner answered and indicated him to take a seat, while the head nurse took the flowers from Erika to put them in a vase. Once she had left the room, the briefing began.

"Jon, how are the SOP's coming?" Gardner asked.

"There's not much left to do. I think we will finish this week. The procedures are completed, but Tcherkassov insisted that we also develop training plans."

"Good man," Gardner said appreciatively. "Shran's and Dunsel's ships will be ready to test in two weeks. Once Enterprise is back from Vulcan, I want to send them, Columbia, Discovery and Challenger on a training mission to evaluate these procedures."

"Something tells me that there's more to it," Jon speculated.

"There is," the admiral admitted. "A planet called Betazed has heard about our coalition talks and is interested to join the party. They feel threatened by unknown ship movements in their space. I want to send the four ships to investigate and protect the Betazoids if necessary."

"Shouldn't we send Columbia right away?" Jon asked. "Enterprise won't be back before September."

"The Vulcans have it covered for the time being. They've dispatched a fleet of 8 D'Kyr class cruisers. We will rendezvous with them once Enterprise is back. Minister T'Pau has expressed an interest in a joint mission. Time to test if we can really work together."

"Guess we have to speed up your training or find someone else to torture you," Jon said with a look to Erika.

"No Jon, we need you here. You are the only one, who has diplomatic and deep space experience. With Soval still on Xindus, we need you to keep the coalition talks going. Shran will command the mission."

"And the Vulcans agreed to that?"

"Yes. Minister T'Pau thinks it is time to make interspecies cooperation more than just a theoretical concept."

"Well, Shran, looks like you got your work cut out for you," John said, still slightly unsure about the prospect of Vulcans taking orders from an Andorian.

"We worked well with the Ni'Vahr when I was still in the Imperial Guard. Now that I'm in Starfleet service, they will see me as the same as any human Captain. Sometimes their logic has its use."

"Ok, that'll be all," Gardner said. "Shran you come with me. I think we should leave Jon and Erika to whatever we interrupted."

=/\=

T'Pol entered the house to find it empty. Setting down her duffel, she went towards the back of the house and out to the backyard, where the voices of Trip and Malcolm could be heard. What she saw didn't do much to improve her mood. Both men were wearing shorts, their upper bodies bare and completely exposed to the scorching sun light. Nearby Hoshi rested on a chair, wearing a two-piece garment that must have had been produced during a period of severe fabric shortage.

"It is not logical to expose yourselves to the radiation in that fashion," she ranted to no one in particular. "Such irresponsibility could cause harm to your skin on Earth. On Vulcan, such outcome is inevitable."

Hoshi looked up from her spot on the deck chair.

"Hi, T'Pol. Don't worry, I got it covered," she said, holding up a bottle with an orange substance in it. "I got that in the Embassy. It is designed specifically for the Vulcan sun light. Probably sun protection factor five thousand."

"I doubt that Trip would be attentive enough to apply it regularly," T'Pol said, still not completely mollified. She came to stand next to Hoshi, looking at the two working men.

"That's what I'm here for," Hoshi answered with a giggle. "Malcolm is not much better. I'm keeping an eye on them."

"Do we hear our names spoken in vain?" Malcolm asked, as the two men approached the women.

Trip approached T'Pol and planted a peck on her cheek.

"Come with me T'Pol?" he asked with a stern look that left no doubt about which one would be the correct answer.

Without any argument she followed him into the house.

"What was that?" Hoshi asked once they were gone.

"I'd say emergency meditation," Malcolm said. "When she arrived, something must have happened. Trip said she's po'ed like hell."

=/\=

For quite a while Trip had been sitting on the beach now, watching T'Pol angrily kicking up sand. The beach was a recent compromise. While T'Pol still preferred the white emptiness, she had quickly realized that Trip's emotional impact during joint meditations was much more supportive, when he was in a vista that fit his preference. As an added bonus she had noticed that the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore had a very calming effect on both of them.

"Tell me what happened?" he asked, once she had calmed down to her usual stance.

"There was an... incident during our arrival at the ship yards."

"A bit more specific?" he dug further.

"When I requested permission to dock, the control officer replied in Vulcan."

Trip shot her an incredulous look. "That's it? You got your knickers in a twist, because a Vulcan spoke Vulcan to a Vulcan?"

"Trip. You know that we are not an expressive people. That means little gestures and seemingly banal actions can convey a most powerful message. "

"Ok, so they did it deliberately. I'm still not sure what it means. I would have thought it was a courtesy."

"That is what it was meant to look like, but in reality it was ostracism. Communication protocol demands that my request be answered in Human standard. By speaking in Vulcan, it was demonstrated that I was not acknowledged as a Starfleet officer. They also excluded the crew by using a language they do not know."

"All that by just breaking protocol," Trip said, shaking his head. "I'm starting to understand, why you were so hell-bent on following protocol when we shipped out for the first time."

"Vulcans are not the only race, where subtle gestures can cause offence."

"Ask Jon about the Kreetassans," Trip said with a laugh.

=/\=

"Hoshi, you must be joking," Malcolm grunted. "It's the middle of the bloody night!"

"No, it's 4am. We are guests in this house and we're supposed to make breakfast. Trip wasn't so keen on that, because he didn't want to get up at 4am, but now that T'Pol is here, we should honor tradition."

"Bloody, Norah," he grumbled, throwing the bed sheets back. "Don't tell me it is T'Pol banging that ridiculous gong."

"It is T'Pol," Hoshi answered, waiting for Malcolm to finish his half-asleep attempts to find the right holes to poke his arms through his pullover.

"What's that all about? What's wrong with knocking on the door to wake us up?"

Hoshi rolled her eyes. "It's to chase nocturnal predators away, silly. Trip just didn't have to do that because we never got up before sunrise until T'Pol was here."

"Let's go," he said sleepily and followed her into the kitchen after a short stop at the bathroom for the morning hygiene.

=/\=

Coming back into the house, T'Pol took a quick look at Malcolm and Hoshi, who were working in the kitchen. Seeing Malcolm's pale face and the obvious tiredness on his features, she opened a drawer after a short exchange of "Good Mornings" with her guests. Taking out what looked like a tea bag, she dipped it into a cup of hot water and handed it to Malcolm.

"This should help you," she said.

"Thank you," Malcolm said. "I guess that is the Vulcan equivalent of coffee?"

"It's an herbal tea, used for Vulcan children. It is quite stimulating for Humans."

"T'Pol, can you give me some idea what to do with all this fruit?" Hoshi asked. "I've made some salad with ingredients we got from the Embassy, but I'm afraid I don't know much about Vulcan cuisine."

"I shall help you," T'Pol and started explaining the different fruits and vegetables to Hoshi.

Several minutes later a gentle beep from a communication terminal in the main room indicated an incoming message.

"Would you mind taking the message?" T'Pol asked Hoshi while she kept washing fruit.

"What if it is private?"

"Then it would have arrived on the terminal in my meditation room."

Nodding her understanding, Hoshi went to the terminal and opened a message from the United Earth Embassy on Vulcan.

T'Pol and Malcolm knew that unfavorable news were coming, after several exclamations of "oh my god" could be heard from the terminal.

Coming back into the kitchen, Hoshi looked grim, while both T'Pol and Malcolm looked at her expectantly.

"Tolaris has been taken into custody. He will be put on trial for raping and battering T'Pol."

 

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