Stealing aeverett's idea

[blacknblue]

aeverett posted a challenge over on HoT BBS a while back that I found mildly intriguing. I answered it with a quick little vignette, but I think I am the only one that did so. Out of sheer boredom, and a desire to make sure that all of my writing is included on this site, I decided to transfer the little snippet I wrote over here. I hereby quote the original challenge, followed by my response:

aeverett

Basically, I am issuing a Tucker/T'Pol challenge. Hating the killing off of baby Elizabeth, I want to rewrite the very end of Terra Prime.

There was no fatal mistake in Elizabeth's make up and she survives. However, due to the high profile nature of the situation, and the fact that she was artificially gestated and thus did not obtain citizenship, or a birth based claim to her parents, on any planet, Earth's Child Protective Services, in conjunction with the Vulcan Consolate decide to remove her from Enterprise till they can determine custody. Star Fleet is going along with things for PR's sake (determinging the best interests of the child, proceedure is proceedure, and the rest of that beaurocratic BS), and Archer, Phlox, Trip and T'Pol (and anyone else you want, but those four must be present) are forced to watch as two social workers, one human, the other Vulcan, take Elizabeth from sickbay.

Start from there.

Trip watched in disbelief as the Vulcan woman picked up his daughter. His eyes narrowed when the Human social worker turned and handed Captain Archer the forms to sign. He glanced at T'Pol and saw her eyeing the Vulcan woman speculatively. The two bondmates exchanged a swift glance of perfect mutual understanding.

Phlox turned to gather up Elizabeth's bottles and other gear. While his back was turned, and Archer was busy with the social worker, Tripl stepped over to adjust Elizabeth's blanket with tears in his eyes. The Vulcan stopped with a look of impatience and waited for this emotional Human to get out of her way, leaving Trip in a perfect position to catch Elizabeth when T'Pol applied the nerve pinch.

Before the social worker could react, she was stretched out on the floor next to her colleague, also napping. Phlox and Archer stood staring, with Archer shaking his head. "You two realize that I can't let you do this, don't you?"

"Well, Jon. I'm afraid that just this once I'm gonna have to defy your orders. Sorry buddy, but family comes first." Trip's fist caught him neatly under the chin and sent Archer sprawling in a heap. Phlox blinked and backed up a step when Trip turned his way. The Denobulan put up his hands.

"No argumnents here, Commanders," the doctor told them. "Denobulans are also dedicated to the principle of family first. But how do you intend to escape?"

"Simple, Doc," Trip told him. "You are going to dope these three well enough to keep them out for several hours. Then you are going to escort us to the transporter pad. If anyone asks, we have pleaded and finally convinced the powers that be to let us deliver Elizabeth to Social Services ourselves. I will set the coordinates so all you have to do is activate the controls. Then, after we transport, all you have to do is scramble the settings at random. I will show you how to do that."

"I will enter a random sequence to be activated two mintues after we transport. It will activate the transporter in a series of null coordinates for a period of fifteen minutes at thirty second intervals," T'Pol suggested. "By the time anyone is able to check the system, the buffer will have long since been overloaded and cleared. No one will be able to trace our destination."

Phlox nodded in grudging approval. "It might work, if you have somewhere to go."

Trip grinned. "Like I said, Doc. Family comes first. Especially now on Earth after the Xindi attack. And I have a big family. You ever been to a Gulf Coast swamp? They won't find us, trust me."

And they didn't.

[Distracted]

Heh. Good one.

[aeverett]

Steal Away! I don't mind. That was the point of the challenge, so it's merely transfering the challeng to another board for me. To which I'm gonna thank you, as I'd gotten completely sidetracked and forgotten about it.

Thanks!

[Elessar]

A SWAMP!?! lol

C'mon, better place for a kid to grow up in! How about Kota Bharu? Malc's got family there

[blacknblue]

Then write it that way. It IS a challenge after all.

[aeverett]

Here's my own take. Let's hope it helps jump start a deluge of replies.

* * *

“Commanders, I understand your frustration, but this is just a formality! Believe me, you two are the defacto guardians under Earth law. You’re Elizabeth’s biological parents. You’re both financially stable, with no criminal background. You’re well respected Star Fleet Officers, each with multiple commendations. Commander Tucker’s brother and husband were previous approved foster parents, having adopted the first child that was placed with them, so Child Protective Services, has already approved their request to care for Elizabeth in the interim. You’ll ofcourse be given visitation during this period. Really, it’s just a formality to protect Elizabeth,” Nathan Samuels calmly explained. He hated this mess, and sympathized with the two Commanders, but procedure was procedure.

“Ya mean to protect your ass in the media limelight,” Trip replied, not willing to be placated.

“Frankly, yes. While I’m sure you two will be excellent parents, accidents happen. What if Elizabeth rolls off your bunk next week during a diaper changing. You’re doctor has to write up the incident in her medical file, and the media will crucify me and my office just handing her over to the two of you, without any oversight. And this protects the two of you as well. Under those circumstances, there might be abuse charges to contend with, and public opinion could turn against you. This way, you’ll have already jumped the hurdles and having had a social worker and ECPS already sign off on your fitness as parents really goes a long way with the courts. The Vulcan consulate has already conceded that Elizabeth's fate is in Earth's hands as she was conceived at the lunar colony, which is under Earth's jurisdiction. Their interest is only advisory. Really Commanders, this is in everyone’s best interests. It will only take a few weeks. Let the system work,” Samuels defended. He was an expert at this game, had been playing for decades. After Enterprise had returned to Earth, after stopping the second Xindi weapons, her crew had been in the media spotlight, but beyond those first few weeks, they’d gone back to being nearly invisible again. Samuels was Earth’s First Minister. He never went out of the media spotlight.

Trip looked at the two social workers, and finally nodded solemnly, allowing them to take Elizabeth from the room, Phlox and Archer parting like a second set of doors before the two public servants. Knowing Bert and Miguel would be caring for Elizabeth in the mean time gave him the assurance he needed to not fall apart. He would see his baby girl soon, and until then, he would do everything in his power to jump the bureaucratic hurdles.

"Off the record, I'd also advise courting the press. Public opinion is mixed right now, but if you were to openly come out and show how great you'd be for Elizabeth..."

"It would make your job of healing the fissure Terra Prime created in on Earth much easier, and maybe even convince the other delegates to come back to the table in regards to Coalition, at the very least the Vulcans," Trip bitterly cut off Samuels. He could see the First Minister’s political interest in his parading about the airwaves with T'Pol and his family, but he also knew Samuels was right that it would have the added effect of making their case stronger. For Elizabeth, he'd get in bed with the devil if necessary.

"That's a cynical way of looking at it, but yes, it would," Samuels replied, attempting to stare down the Commander. He was, after all, indirectly, Tucker's superior. The man may not like him, but his attitude and tone were completely uncalled for.

“All right then. Excuse me. T’Pol and I want to see our daughter to the shuttle pod,” Trip replied, cow towing, but seething inside.

“Ofcourse, Commander,” Samuels responded, watching the Human and Vulcan leave Enterprise’s sickbay. He was rooting for them. He knew, at this point, it was likely mere formality that they’d get custody, but things could change very quickly in politics. Still, that tiny part of him that was still idealistic, was with their emerging little family all the way.