Reflections of Another Universe

Epilogue - Questions Answered

Disclaimer:  See first chapter

Rating:  PG-13 (for language)

i.

Archer stared at the door as it slid shut with a soft hiss. He grunted as he rubbed his chin. Debriefing Tucker had gone pretty much as he had expected. The mission was a bust. What was annoying was how content the young engineer seemed. Archer hadn't seen him like this since... well, since before the accident. Actually, that wasn't true. Tucker had never been this content. During the debriefing, his first officer's expression would often change to amusement despite reporting an absolute failure. If Archer wasn't sure that the Vulcan had something to do with Tucker's demeanor, he might have suspected that the younger man had been happy that the mission had failed.

But that wasn't possible.

The two men may not see eye to eye, they might have an uneasy alliance, but there was no suspicion in Archer's mind that Tucker was a spy for the likes of Admiral Black-no matter the insinuations that Reed had made about more being on the ship. The young engineer's hatred for Reed was all too real. After all, it was Reed that had tried to kill the commander in the first place.  No, Tucker was not a spy.

Archer blew out a loud sigh. Now he had the unfortunate task of contacting Admiral Forrest and reporting the failure of the mission. At least the Vulcans had never learned what it was. If they had... Well, no use getting worked up over something that hadn't happened.

"Hoshi!" the captain barked as he pressed the button to the comm.

"Sato here."

"Get me Admiral Forrest."

"Yes, sir."

As he waited, Archer thought of what piece of bad news to drop first. Reed's mutiny? Hmmm... maybe it was better not to bring up that one at all. The admiral would find out soon enough, but explaining that as well as explaining taking on a Vulcan crew member after the failure of the mission might put Archer in a dangerous position. Forrest might just decide that the captain wasn't worth his protection.

Dammit! It was supposed to have been a simple mission. Go to the coordinates and pick up a cloaking device as well as information about the Vulcans-damning information about their plans to attack the empire. Archer snorted in disgust. It was information that was missing from the database that T'Pol had given him, but that didn't mean it didn't exist.

T'Pol.

Archer didn't trust the petite Vulcan, no matter how much she claimed that she was a deserter. He should have killed her after taking the disk, but that would have been the end of any alliance with Tucker. Not that he needed it anymore with Reed out of the picture... but still, the engineer had almost killed him once. There was no telling how Tucker would react if he lost his little Vulcan. It was better to just watch her for now, keep her close and if she was a spy... well, that was something he'd be happy to take care of.

"Sato to Archer."

"Yes."

"I have the admiral for you, sir." 

"Patch it through, En-Lieutenant," he replied, almost forgetting the promotion he'd given her. It was well deserved after the way she'd handled Reed, and the celebratory sex afterward... Archer grinned widely. He was sure he'd never underestimate Hoshi again.

The symbol of the empire winked out on his monitor, replaced by the grim face of Admiral Forrest. The man never looked anything other than grim, but then again, neither did anyone else who had been in Starfleet long enough to have to fight for their promotions and defend their positions.

"Archer," the admiral said in greeting. "You're a little late, aren't you?"

"Let's just say something came up that required my immediate attention and leave it at that."

"Yes, I've heard about that. Admiral Black is rumored to be throwing temper tantrums," replied Forrest with a hint of amusement-dark amusement. Archer grimaced. So much for avoiding any discussion of the mutiny. Forrest spoke before he could explain, "We'll talk about that later. Right now I want a report of the mission."

"You should have known better than to trust aliens that refuse to show their faces," sneered the captain. He wasn't going to take all the blame if he could help it.

"The Romulans claim that they don't have the ability to transmit video with their communications."

"Likely story," snorted Archer.

"It's not your job to question your superiors, Captain," growled the admiral. "Now report."

Stifling the urge to sigh, Archer explained the failure of the mission, watching with growing dread as Forrest's face darkened with each word. The man turned almost purple with rage when he got to the part about Tucker bringing back a Vulcan-a Vulcan that Archer had made a member of the crew.

It was an hour later when Forrest's voice became hoarse from yelling that the connection mercifully ended. By then Archer had a growing migraine. His position in the admiral's good graces was shaky now, and he was going to have to make himself invaluable again.

In the meantime, it was time to head back to Jupiter station for a new weapons refit. At least Archer couldn't fail with that order.

ii.

She stood on the vast balcony, resting her hands on the warm carved stone rail. Before her lay the vista of a rolling red desert, broken only by the rising peak of Mount Seleya in the distance. It was uncommonly quiet for this time of day. Usually there were others bustling about with business in the large office that lay through the double doors behind her-but not right now. She had sent them away with an understanding that she was not to be disturbed for at least an hour. The quiet was soothing and she had much to think about.

There was a soft click as one of the doors unlatched, but Chancellor T'Pau chose not to move, continuing to study the vast, barren sands.

"It has not been an hour yet," she said in cool tones.

"I apologize, Chancellor, but we have just received the latest report from the V'laran." She recognized the voice of her assistant, Kov. The young Vulcan often had only a tenuous control on his emotions, but he was surprisingly insightful-his advice had always been crucial to her success as a leader.

She turned to face the portly Vulcan and held out her hand. He placed the data pad he had been holding in it and with a slight incline of his head began to walk away. "No, stay." A faint trace of a smile graced his lips as he obeyed. What had pleased him in that moment she couldn't say, and it was illogical to attempt to speculate.

The information in the report was lengthy and detailed, as it should be, but there were only three points that were important to her. The Human captives had escaped, Commander Koss was dead, and Sub-Commander T'Pol was missing, presumably taken hostage by the Humans. Not a pleasing report at all.

She looked up at Kov, who was still smiling, and asked, "Have you read this?" She already knew the answer, but formality must be observed even if it was just the pretense of it.

He inclined his head. "I have. We haven't received a report from the... other ship yet. It would be illogical to act without that information."

T'Pau turned her gaze back to the burning landscape. She felt regret. It was an emotion that she should not have allowed herself to indulge in, but she had known Sub-Commander T'Pol. Would it not be proper to grieve for one that had sacrificed everything without knowing the importance of it? The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one. The young chancellor was sure that T'Pol would have understood.

Inhaling deeply, T'Pau suppressed her regret and turned to face her assistant once more. His expression was more befitting a Vulcan now as he studied her.

"Chancellor?"

"It would seem that now we must wait."

iii.

More than half a year ago, two events transpired that irrevocably altered the life of Commander Charles "Trip" Tucker the third. The first, and more tragic in his opinion, was the death of his younger sister, Lizzie Tucker. She had died during a transport accident while on her way to the lunar colony. Lizzie had given up a lucrative offer at one of the biggest architect firms to become a philanthropist. The lunar colony was to be the first of many places that Lizzie would be designing and building housing for the more destitute members of the empire.

In a matter of seconds she was gone. When Trip got the message from his mother he felt as if he lost the ability to breathe. She was so young and full of life... and so compassionate. Her death was nothing more than a brief story in the news feeds, the accident downplayed in order to keep the people's faith in the Empire's interstellar public transportation system.

Less than two months after that tragedy, Trip went to work one morning and woke up several days later in sickbay with the memories of a clone swirling in his mind. Try as he might, he couldn't completely shut away Sim's memories, thoughts and feelings. Sim had seen the universe through different eyes, eyes that saw past all the Empire's propaganda, eyes that saw flaws in the system... eyes that Trip had inherited. He found that he was no longer passionate about serving the Empire, that he no longer believed Starfleet was the embodiment of all that was great and powerful.

The boy who had such great and unrealistic dreams finally grew up.

How the reformists had discovered the change in his sympathies he never found out, but it was only a month after nearly killing Archer that he was approached with a mission. He accepted without reluctance. It was nothing more than supplying the reformists with information about Enterprise's more top secret assignments. Gradually the requests required more effort from him, sometimes meeting other agents covertly and often monitoring communications between Archer and Forrest. 

His latest mission was the most dangerous of all, and he nearly failed when the V'Laran showed up and captured him. Trip had been willing to die to keep his secret. His commitment to the reformation was now as ardent as his love for the Empire had once been. 

Romulans, Trip snorted. He'd never heard of such aliens. They probably did exist if the Vulcans said they did, but it wasn't Romulans that had contacted Admiral Forrest.

Trip glanced at the set of crystal disks that sat on his desk. Despite their innocuous appearance, they were deadly for Trip to have in his possession. If the Vulcans had learned what he had hidden under their noses... the outcome would have been as bad as if Archer had learned it. What he had said to T'Pol days ago was correct; the Vulcans would never have let him go if he told them the answer to that question: What was he doing in Vulcan space?

On those little disks was the full Vulcan database, the information on them only accessible by the upper echelons in the Vulcan government. They had everything from the locations of all Vulcan ships to the secret listening post hidden beneath the P'Jem monastery. It was information that they would take deadly action to keep out of a Human's hands.

Ironically, it was the Vulcans who had given it to him willingly... just as he had left hidden on that moon a copy of the terran database. The swap was the last act of good faith in the covert alliance between Vulcans and Humans. It was the catalyst to start a chain of events that would lead to a major shift in power in this corner of space.

The final plans were also on those disks... plans to overthrow the Emperor's government with the help of the Vulcans. In return, the Humans would help subdue the Andorians, who had been a thorn in the pointy-eared aliens' sides for more than a century. Right now the Empire had a tenuous alliance with the Andorians and if someone discovered that sitting on Trip's desk was a strategy for a large scale attack against them...

He would be glad when they were no longer in his hands.

Earlier in the day, Trip had assigned himself the repairs on the shuttlepod. Normally he would have left the task to someone like Biggs, but he needed an excuse to get to the small craft without raising any eyebrows.

Once alone in the launching bay, he had removed an exterior panel that had fortunately escaped damaged. Deep inside were the disks, safe from the searches of those officers aboard the V'Laran. Not all Vulcans knew of the growing alliance yet and wouldn't know until everything had been confirmed.

He had placed the disk in a hidden compartment in his tool kit before getting on with the repairs to the shuttlepod. Now they sat on his desk awaiting their next journey.

It was time to contact the admiral.

He activated a program that he had written in order to mask any communications he made from his quarters. It was a program that he had to update constantly in order stay one step ahead of Hoshi. Unlike Archer and Reed, the engineer had never underestimated Enterprise's comm officer.

The bearded face of Admiral Gardner blinked onto his monitor, the man he had come to know well over the last year. Trip might even call him a friend. Gardner gave him a hesitantly eager smile. "Commander Tucker, I'm glad to see that you're alive."

"That makes two of us," Trip replied with a snort.

"Well?"

"I've got 'em."

Gardner nodded soberly. "Good work. Enterprise has been ordered to Jupiter Station for a weapon refit. When you arrive, I'll transmit further instructions." Trip nodded his understanding. "I've heard you've been through hell for this. Don't think you'll be forgotten when the reformation succeeds."

Forgotten? Trip didn't care all that much about being remembered after all of this. He had the sudden urge to disappear and live out the rest of his life with his new wife, maybe even have babies-if that was possible. Being forgotten sounded just fine.

"I want out," he blurted before he could stop himself.

"You know we can't let you go," Gardner said with narrowed eyes.

Trip shook his head. "I'll do what needs to be done, but when this is over, I want to be left alone. I don't want any special honors. I just want to live a quiet life-outside of Starfleet."

"Trip," Gardner replied, his tone softening, "You deserve more."

Trip sighed. "I've got more than I deserve right now. I just want to live to enjoy it."

The admiral's brow furrowed in confusion. "All right, all right. Until next time, Commander Tucker."

The monitor turned dark once more and he blew out the breath he didn't know he had been holding. It was almost over.

No. Trip shook his head. With these disks, it was just beginning. It would be a long time before he could fade into obscurity.

A familiar tingle touched his mind and he opened the door before she rang the chime. T'Pol had gone to her now cleared out quarters to meditate earlier and her presence in his mind had practically disappeared. Trip had felt... empty. It was not an easy admission for him to make.

He had been relieved, however, to be "alone" as he dealt with Gardner. Why he hadn't told her last night about the real mission, he didn't know. The secret would be impossible to hide for long, though, and Trip thought he might as well lay all his cards on the table now.

T'Pol raised an eyebrow as she stepped past him into the room, wearing a robe over silky pajamas. He grinned, taking her in his arms and enjoying the electrifying current that passed between them. Damn, but he loved to touch her. She responded by pressing her head into his chest.

"You look good, darlin'," he murmured into her hair.

"The fabric is agreeable," she replied.

Trip chuckled and squeezed her. He wished that he could stay longer in this moment, but he was sure that T'Pol would pick something up from their bond. "Listen, darlin'," he said, pulling back. "We need to talk."

"I know."

Trip's eyes widened. "You know?"

"Yes. I am able to keep my mind from you... but you have not yet developed the ability to keep your mind from me. I could sense your thoughts during my meditation."

"Ah, hell." Trip ran his hand through his hair. "I'm sorry that I didn't tell you before."

"Your reticence is reasonable."

"So you're not angry with me?"

"I am Vulcan. I do not get angry."

Trip threw back his head and laughed. "That's right, I forgot." He sobered after a few seconds. "Do you understand what I'm doin', though?"

He felt her tentatively pick through his mind, seeking out memories, thoughts, and feelings relating to his choice to work for Admiral Gardner. It was a gentle touch, where, unlike the mind-meld, she wouldn't force open the thoughts she sought but rather waited for his permission to access them. And he let her. This was the last secret he had kept from her, and it was a relief to let it go.

"I understand," she said after a few moments. He felt her withdraw from his mind partially. "Your logic appears to be sound, despite the emotions it is based on."

That comment gave him another laugh.

Am I so amusing, t'hyla?

More than you know, darlin'.

"I will help you," she spoke out loud.

Trip frowned. "No. I can't risk you like that."

"Trip-" Oh sure, use his own name against him... It still made him want to smile when he heard it, especially during...--"Trip!" He felt a slight exasperation emanating from her. "The success of your mission affects my people as well. You can not ask me to do nothing."

I can't bear the thought of you risking your life, darlin'. Not after all that I went through to get you in the first place.

I share your concern, t'hyla. But we must do what needs to be done.

Trip stared at her for a long moment, taking in her beautiful, delicate features, sensing her resolve in his mind. There was no point in arguing with her.

Nor should you ever disagree with me. Her thought was laced with amusement. 

But ya gotta admit, sometimes it's fun to argue. Especially when we make up.

T'Pol raised an eyebrow. "Indeed. Perhaps we should practice 'making up' in anticipation of the arguments we are sure to have in the near future."

Images began pouring through the bond of the different ways T'Pol wanted to 'practice.' It was becoming difficult to think straight, especially when his body ached to get started. 

"Sounds like a plan," he agreed in a thick voice.

He abruptly forgot about the weight that rested on his shoulders-the weight of his part in saving the empire from itself. There would be time later to worry about the disks sitting on his desk.

For now he was simply a man about to show his wife just how much he was growing to love her.

~The END~