Reflections of Another Universe

Chapter Four - ATTRACTION

Disclaimer:  See first chapter

Rating:  PG-13 (for language)

Trip sat in his bunk, a handful of cabling in his hands. Vulcan technology was different, but there had still been some information on Earth leftover from the time when Vulcans and Humans had been friends. Trip, with his insatiable appetite for understanding how things worked, had come across some old books about Vulcan technology as a boy. It was one thing to read about it in a book, though, and it was another to actually work with it.

The door opened and he grinned when he saw that it was T'Pol. She stepped in the room stiffly, wrinkling her nose a little. He remembered that the mess in the cell seemed to bother her on her last visit. 

Already things were getting fun.

"Guess you couldn't get enough of me," he said as he stood. 

She raised her eyebrows.  "Commander, you requested that I carry out your interrogation."

"Same difference," he said as he walked a little closer. She furrowed her brow slightly. 

She was so petite, at least in her appearance, but his cheek reminded him that appearances could be deceiving when it came to this Vulcan.

"Shall we commence?" she asked as her nose wrinkled slightly again.

"After you, darlin'." There it was the glint in her eyes. It was kind of cute. Cute? What the hell was he thinking 'cute' for?

"Commander-"she began with a warning tone.

"Trip."

"Trip?" she looked at him questioningly.

"Trip. That's my name."

"Commander," she began again, "You will address me as Sub-Commander T'Pol."

"Yes ma'am," he said with a hint of sarcasm, "So what are you? The first officer?" 

T'Pol's eyebrows furrowed again.  "I am, indeed, second in command of this vessel."

"So, that would make us sorta equals, wouldn't it?" Trip wasn't sure why, but he liked that idea.

"I don't see how that makes us equals. You are the prisoner and I am your interrogator," she replied with a rather confused expression. Trip sighed and leaned against the wall, even closer to her. Her nose wrinkled again.

"Those just details, darlin'," he said, but then caught himself, "Uh, I mean 'Sub-Commander." He smiled at her. 

His brain was screaming at him, What the hell are you doing? Are you flirting with her? A Vulcan? It was almost as if he were outside of his body watching this strange behavior spiraling out of control. Trip wasn't much of a womanizer-not that he didn't have any experience, the memory of his most recent exploit with the MACO, Amanda Cole, came to mind-it's just that women tend to stab you in the back when you least expect it. 

That was more of Archer's thing.

"Commander, do humans bathe?" T'Pol asked. 

Whoa, he thought, that came out of left field. He reached up and touched the three day old stubble on his chin, and then he looked at his hand. No, the question hadn't come out of left field after all.

"Usually, every day," he winked at her. What was wrong with him? He was a hardened, vicious man.... Wasn't he?

"I will make arrangements then," she said as she turned to leave.

"Wait," he said, not quite ready for their conversation to end, "Is that it? That's your interrogation?" 

She turned back around, and looked him over before meeting his eyes.  "Until you have bathed, Commander, it is." She exited the cell, leaving him feeling as if he were utterly naked.

"Looks like the princess won that round," he muttered to himself as he stared at the door. 

ii.

T'Pol walked away from the brig, relieved to breathe fresh air again. She had noticed the smell when she had questioned Commander Tucker the first time, but today it had been overwhelming, especially when he stood so close to her. There was another scent she detected near the end of their meeting, but she didn't know what to make of it. Humans were strange beings.

She would make arrangements for all three of the humans to bathe-everyday they were in custody. She wouldn't be interrogating the other two captives, but it would be illogical to force the Vulcans who would be to experience such unpleasantness unnecessarily. Also, she would increase the air filtration in the brig-at least she would not be distracted by his potent and foreign scent.

Her thoughts turned to her conversation with Commander Tucker. He hadn't been as rude as before, even though he had nearly taken over the conversation. Equals? Why would he think that? She knew that he had been second in command of his vessel from the data that they had gathered from the shuttle. However, he seemed to be oblivious to the fact that he was now a captive with little or no power. 

He managed to get you to be his sole questioner, she reminded herself. 

He also single-mindedly kept up his attempt to escape using his engineering skills. The human's arrogance was grating. The corners of her mouth turned downward.

Not much further down the hall she saw Koss walking in her direction. A small sigh escaped her lips. What she wanted most at this moment was a shower... but that would have to wait. 

His eyes lit up when he saw her.  "You are finished with the Human?" he asked as he fell in step with her.

"For now," she answered, "I could not continue because of the smell."

"Yes, I noticed that also."

"I am making arrangements for the Humans to bathe, as well as for the air to be filtered in the brig," she stated as they were nearly to her quarters.

"It is a sound decision." 

As she pressed the panel to open her door, Koss gave her a look that hinted of desire. She stepped into her quarters, and turned to him.

"I will report to the bridge once I have bathed," she said, though the underlying message was clear.

"Very well," he agreed as he walked away. 

She leaned against the door once it closed.  Koss wouldn't be going through Pon'Farr for a few years yet, long after they were to be wed, but that didn't mean that he couldn't mate at other times. Pon'Farr didn't preclude sexual relations outside of that time. 

Koss had been hinting at his desire for some time now. She did not reciprocate, and was content to wait until their wedding to consummate the relationship.

For some reason the image of Commander Tucker came unbidden to her thoughts. He was attractive, for a Human, she could admit that. But the thought of mating with him? When he smelled like that? She shivered, not entirely certain that the thought was a negative one.

iii.

It was late morning on Enterprise and Archer lay naked, spooned against an equally naked Hoshi. She was asleep... he was not. He hadn't slept most of the night, even after he was convinced she had finally dozed off. The wheels were turning in his mind. 

He had to stay ahead of Malcom, who, if Trip was dead, would become first officer. Archer needed a contingency plan and he had devised one. It was time to put that plan into motion. 

He gently caressed Hoshi's flat abdomen, kissing her shoulder. She stirred with a moan, stretching like a cat.

"Hoshi," he whispered in her ear.

"Hmmmm?" she replied groggily. 

He pulled her closer to him.  "Hoshi, I love you." Her eyes opened.

"What?" 

He smiled and kissed her lustily on the lips.  "I love you." 

She pulled back and searched his face. He made the most vulnerable expression he could muster. After a few moments it seemed like she was satisfied. She grinned, but she couldn't quite keep the wicked glint out of her eye. Archer pretended not to notice.

"You think so?" she said playfully. 

He kissed her again. "Yes," he answered between kisses, "You're the only woman I want." 

That was partly true. Juggling one woman that might try to slit his throat as he slept was plenty enough for him. Besides, she sated his appetite well enough.

She smiled wider, "You really mean that don't you?" 

He looked into her eyes intensely, and answered, "Why else would I say it? I love you." 

She pulled him to her hungrily and as she began her ministrations, his mind was already on the second phase of his plan.