Squeeesplosion!

[Little Red]

Before you demote my lowly ensignness back to scrubbing plasma conduits, I am starting a thread with permission!

As forum newbie, I have been advised to read! read! READ NOW! many fics, and writing detailed feedback!of!epic!joy! in the comment pages on the fics (without paragraph breaks) was making me look... kind of crazy. So Elessar is letting me start a oldie-but-goodie-fanfic-squeee thread instead of hijacking justTrip'n's threads all over the place.

Want to squeee along? (With any fic, not necessarily whichever nostalgia fic I'm reading.)

Stage One of my Triaxian Silk Indoctrination is Elessar's Your Mom 'n Me (by popular and completely unscientific vote).

-- Little Red, who invites admins to strike the thread down if it is in the wrong place or anything.

[Asso]

I read all the stories, here and and on Trip/T’Poler’s site, really.
Many weren't my cup of tea, many - the most part - were totally for me. But, in any case, I love all of them, because they make Trip and T'Pol alive.
I don't know which I could recommend to you: I would not do somebody justice. But read, please, Dinah's wonderful stories. And then... Amok2, AuroraBorealis, KRN, Linda, Transwarp, Vero3110...
But they are only some of the names I manage to remember at this moment
And if you want, cast a glance at my stories, too.

[Little Red]

FIC SPOILERS BELOW: "Your Mom 'n Me" by Elessar

Yer link for referencing purposes be here: http://www.triaxiansilk.com/index.php?page=viewstory&id=315

Dear Mr. Elessar:

*comments on Part I, chapter I & 2*

Okay, first of all, are you crazy? I think you just had more love and more action (and killed more people, oh no!) than the entire first season of the show in like one page.

Again a panging beep interrupted the soft kisses that Charles Tucker had taken to planting in slow procession, melting down the simmering Vulcan flesh beneath him as his tongue trailed from collar to neck to preciously pointed ear tip until finally he looked up into her eyes.

Hellozomgnotexpectingthis! JustTrip'n said in another thread that you rocked the sexy in your G-rated fic, so here I was all "Hmm, guess he only writes G-rated?" and then I read the first scene was all. Er. Well. I guess not. Your dream sequence is definitely an attention-getter!

He reached the comm. panel and with a heavy sigh answered, "Yeah 'm here, Cap'n. 'S there a problem?"

"Only if they let senior officers sleep a half hour into their shifts on Columbia, Trip."

I love, love, love Archer's dry wit, where you're never quite sure if he's being friendly and funny, or command-y and about-to-write-you-up-on-report. As an aside, I must admit that there was a leeeetle bit of willpower involved on my part to ignore the dialect-spelling, because I kind of freak out a little. I know I've dodged really great fanfic because of it. And, well, I forgot about it by halfway through the chapter with all the exploding and the AWESOME.

"Hoshi, I'll be in my ready room inform me when the Orion ship arrives."

It seems like agreeing to meet with the people who are trying to steal your ship might be a bad omen for things to come. Isn't there, like, a Starbucks somewhere or something where they could just drop the Orion women off? Also: poor Archer.

He felt like darkness shrouded around him, his heart was in ruins and his mind in shambles and wondered how it ever got this bad.

Oh nooooo! Trip!!! Also, um, remember how I said in that other thread that I thought men would cry less in fanfic written by guys? I take it back, because this totally works here. Man. Poor guy. You convey it all so well, too.

T’Pol focused on the grief in her mind and as she walked her steps became stuttered and she suddenly feared she was going to collapse under the emotional weight bearing down on her. She stopped suddenly, bowed as if to be sick and threw a hand out to the bulkhead to steady herself. The pain pierced through her control and her stomach lurched into her throat. Tears welled in her eyes and her face shook with despondency until, as she was about to erupt and thought she would explode right there in the corridor…it subsided. The fear and pain that engulfed her melted away and her control took back over.

Ack! Pon farr? Bond feedback? MASSIVE TRIP DEFICIENCY!?!???

The need in her gut returned as her eyes followed the steady contours of Commander Tucker’s sculpted back, shoulders -

1) hot. omg. 2) PON FARR.

There is no logic in the way he looks at me, nor in the way it makes me feel…

*squeeeee* Okay, I'm pretty sure that you could use the word love twenty-five times and not make it any clearer than you do in these paragraphs between them. It's great. I love when things go unsaid but so obvious like that.

She was visibly shaken, “I’ve been having trouble meditating, ever since you got back from Columbia I – “

”Oooh, so it’s MY fault now that you can’t meditate, I see how it is.”

Ack! Shut up, Trip!

“We have hull breaches on B and C decks, emergency bulkheads are holding…but we lost three people.” Reed delivered the news to Archer. The captain turned to the Tactical Officer, “Return fire!”

Seriously! You just killed more people than the whole first season of the show! Also: ROMULANS!?!?!??? Orions = good guys? *suspicious*

Commander Tucker turned around while Kelby haphazardly prepared repair crews just in time to see Jonathan Archer come through the door.

Oh, Kelby. Seriously. Is it actually possible that Trip is the only competent engineer available in the ENTIRE FLEET? Because I'm really starting to think so. As a general sentiment for the rest of time, shut up, Kelby. (Unless, of course, he decides to become competent and awesome, in which case he can talk again.)

“T’Pol was at her station when the power coupling in the bulkhead next to her exploded. She’s in a coma. Dr. Phlox says there’s…less than a ten percent chance she’ll survive.” Trip’s heart sunk in his chest. Only days ago he ached to be away from her, from the pain she made him feel, he avoided her every chance he could get. Now he was forced to realize she may not just be gone from his life as when he left the Enterprise…the thought of her being gone cut through all his fear, all his hesitation.

*is broken* Noooooooooo!!! But! But! I can't believe you did that in the first chapter, dude. That's hardcore. And yes, Trip needs to fling himself on her and HEAL HER WITH LOVE, zomg.

Every step made his feet feel heavier; he weakened and felt a burning sensation begin to overwhelm his chest. He stopped and grasped at his chest with one hand, leaning down and steadying himself on the other. His breath was coming in quick sputtering jolts like a warp engine running on a lean A/M intermix-ratio.

Okay, the A/M ratio business is the first sense of genuine guywriting I can credit you with. But... Trip collapsing too? Perhaps not Pon Farr.

Her face was cut and burned, her shoulders in braces and bandages covered her entire chest.

You write the injury really, really well. Something about the shoulder braces just nails it home.

So many moments when they had fought each other now appeared to him so clearly as the defenses of two people afraid to feel. But she didn’t want him now; she changed her mind – made her feelin's clear. Before the rock hard lump in his throat could choke him to tears, Trip backed away and headed to Engineering.

What? *smacks Trip* Now is not the time, soldier! You can let her break up with you again after she is NOT BRAIN DEAD. *glares at him good*

This fic is fantastic so far! And knowing you wrote it two years ago is making me really eager to see how your writing has changed. There's so much raw goodness here and a really clear way of emoting through what you write, and I can't wait to see what comes next!!

-- Little Red, who is enjoying her education so far!

[Little Red]

I read all the stories, here and and on Trip/T’Poler’s site, really.

Hee! You might be my new reference source.

I will need to come up with a complete educational curriculum, of course! Thanks for the tips. There are a lot of great writers on here. It's so cool!

Your fic has been mentioned as mustread. I can't wait!!

ETA: Do you have a favorite story of yours?

-- Little Red

[Asso]

Thanks.
I don't know. All sons are loved by their father. But, somehow, I think that "Destiny" and "Without End" show a real glimmer of my heart.

[Elessar]

FIC SPOILERS BELOW: "Your Mom 'n Me" by Elessar

Yer link for referencing purposes be here: http://www.triaxiansilk.com/index.php?page=viewstory&id=315

Dear Mr. Elessar:

*comments on Part I, chapter I & 2*

Okay, first of all, are you crazy? I think you just had more love and more action (and killed more people, oh no!) than the entire first season of the show in like one page.

Again a panging beep interrupted the soft kisses that Charles Tucker had taken to planting in slow procession, melting down the simmering Vulcan flesh beneath him as his tongue trailed from collar to neck to preciously pointed ear tip until finally he looked up into her eyes.

Hellozomgnotexpectingthis! JustTrip'n said in another thread that you rocked the sexy in your G-rated fic, so here I was all "Hmm, guess he only writes G-rated?" and then I read the first scene was all. Er. Well. I guess not. Your dream sequence is definitely an attention-getter!

He reached the comm. panel and with a heavy sigh answered, "Yeah 'm here, Cap'n. 'S there a problem?"

"Only if they let senior officers sleep a half hour into their shifts on Columbia, Trip."

I love, love, love Archer's dry wit, where you're never quite sure if he's being friendly and funny, or command-y and about-to-write-you-up-on-report. As an aside, I must admit that there was a leeeetle bit of willpower involved on my part to ignore the dialect-spelling, because I kind of freak out a little. I know I've dodged really great fanfic because of it. And, well, I forgot about it by halfway through the chapter with all the exploding and the AWESOME.

"Hoshi, I'll be in my ready room inform me when the Orion ship arrives."

It seems like agreeing to meet with the people who are trying to steal your ship might be a bad omen for things to come. Isn't there, like, a Starbucks somewhere or something where they could just drop the Orion women off? Also: poor Archer.

He felt like darkness shrouded around him, his heart was in ruins and his mind in shambles and wondered how it ever got this bad.

Oh nooooo! Trip!!! Also, um, remember how I said in that other thread that I thought men would cry less in fanfic written by guys? I take it back, because this totally works here. Man. Poor guy. You convey it all so well, too.

T’Pol focused on the grief in her mind and as she walked her steps became stuttered and she suddenly feared she was going to collapse under the emotional weight bearing down on her. She stopped suddenly, bowed as if to be sick and threw a hand out to the bulkhead to steady herself. The pain pierced through her control and her stomach lurched into her throat. Tears welled in her eyes and her face shook with despondency until, as she was about to erupt and thought she would explode right there in the corridor…it subsided. The fear and pain that engulfed her melted away and her control took back over.

Ack! Pon farr? Bond feedback? MASSIVE TRIP DEFICIENCY!?!???

The need in her gut returned as her eyes followed the steady contours of Commander Tucker’s sculpted back, shoulders -

1) hot. omg. 2) PON FARR.

There is no logic in the way he looks at me, nor in the way it makes me feel…

*squeeeee* Okay, I'm pretty sure that you could use the word love twenty-five times and not make it any clearer than you do in these paragraphs between them. It's great. I love when things go unsaid but so obvious like that.

She was visibly shaken, “I’ve been having trouble meditating, ever since you got back from Columbia I – “

”Oooh, so it’s MY fault now that you can’t meditate, I see how it is.”

Ack! Shut up, Trip!

“We have hull breaches on B and C decks, emergency bulkheads are holding…but we lost three people.” Reed delivered the news to Archer. The captain turned to the Tactical Officer, “Return fire!”

Seriously! You just killed more people than the whole first season of the show! Also: ROMULANS!?!?!??? Orions = good guys? *suspicious*

Commander Tucker turned around while Kelby haphazardly prepared repair crews just in time to see Jonathan Archer come through the door.

Oh, Kelby. Seriously. Is it actually possible that Trip is the only competent engineer available in the ENTIRE FLEET? Because I'm really starting to think so. As a general sentiment for the rest of time, shut up, Kelby. (Unless, of course, he decides to become competent and awesome, in which case he can talk again.)

“T’Pol was at her station when the power coupling in the bulkhead next to her exploded. She’s in a coma. Dr. Phlox says there’s…less than a ten percent chance she’ll survive.” Trip’s heart sunk in his chest. Only days ago he ached to be away from her, from the pain she made him feel, he avoided her every chance he could get. Now he was forced to realize she may not just be gone from his life as when he left the Enterprise…the thought of her being gone cut through all his fear, all his hesitation.

*is broken* Noooooooooo!!! But! But! I can't believe you did that in the first chapter, dude. That's hardcore. And yes, Trip needs to fling himself on her and HEAL HER WITH LOVE, zomg.

Every step made his feet feel heavier; he weakened and felt a burning sensation begin to overwhelm his chest. He stopped and grasped at his chest with one hand, leaning down and steadying himself on the other. His breath was coming in quick sputtering jolts like a warp engine running on a lean A/M intermix-ratio.

Okay, the A/M ratio business is the first sense of genuine guywriting I can credit you with. But... Trip collapsing too? Perhaps not Pon Farr.

Her face was cut and burned, her shoulders in braces and bandages covered her entire chest.

You write the injury really, really well. Something about the shoulder braces just nails it home.

So many moments when they had fought each other now appeared to him so clearly as the defenses of two people afraid to feel. But she didn’t want him now; she changed her mind – made her feelin's clear. Before the rock hard lump in his throat could choke him to tears, Trip backed away and headed to Engineering.

What? *smacks Trip* Now is not the time, soldier! You can let her break up with you again after she is NOT BRAIN DEAD. *glares at him good*

This fic is fantastic so far! And knowing you wrote it two years ago is making me really eager to see how your writing has changed. There's so much raw goodness here and a really clear way of emoting through what you write, and I can't wait to see what comes next!!

-- Little Red, who is enjoying her education so far!

Because I'm at work, surrounded by other cubes, I have to try not to laugh out loud, but it's really hard!

THANKS!

oh btw, the thing about the Orions stealing the ship - I wrote this before "Bound" aired. We had some spoilers, we knew general plot points, but no details. We didn't the Orions were tryin to take over the ship for someone.

You just wait... there is SO MUCH more in store for them! . But there is also teh m4d h0tness.

YMAM1 has a full fledged NC17 chapter. YMAM2 does not. YMAM3 has several borderline R-NC17 incidents and another full blown NC-17 chapter (which hasn't come out yet).

[Little Red]

Ohhhhh. Actually, this whole thing makes more sense knowing it was written based on "Bound" spoilers and not the actual episode, because I was sort of wondering if Archer was really out of the loop for not knowing that Trip planned to stay!!!

Spoilers for "Your Mom 'n Me" by Elessar
(reference link: http://www.triaxiansilk.com/index.php?page=viewstory&id=315&chapter=1)

(TriSilk Chapter 2, Story Chapter 3, which I think you did just to complicate things)

Awww, poor Crewman Ibanez! I wonder if Trip really does have a reputation for being a hardass on Enterprise or if they just tell that to the newbie to scare her. I do like the idea that some of her fellow recent graduates were on Columbia and were all "MY BOSS IS SO MEAN! Also, I hear he sleeps with ALIENS." Hehehehe. But, like I said, no other good engineers in Starfleet.

... oh, and now I just realized you're probably going to write out most of the scene I just mentioned. Never mind! I'll stop rewriting your story now.

Daniels, Roberts’ bunkmate chimed in, “hey John you didn’t even make the Enterprise,” chuckles were heard around the table as John Roberts kicked his foot against the table and again reclined.

*points finger* Daniels!

She was deep in imagining the debonair southerner even Academy cadets hear about all the way back on Earth. She’d seen pictures of him, he was pretty gorgeous, she joked to herself, combining Daniels’ description of a good natured country boy.

... they totally have Fleet Officers of the Month calendars going around the academy, don't they?? (Also, this whole scene? Does not count as guywriting. )

Daniels was taking a deep gulp when Ana replied, “Yeah, that’s T’Pol’s mother.”

... okay, NOW I think these kids are STALKING them.

“Commander, you of all of us must be the most concerned about T’Pol, how can you stay so calm when getting warp power back may be the only thing that can save her life?” suddenly Ibanez worried she may have just made a distracted man feel worse.

Yes. Not the time, grasshopper. Not the time.

“The Vulcans won’t be able to cure her, medically, but I believe there’s a chance they may have some…less orthodox methods of assisting her recovery. I want to show you something, Captain.”

*dramatic sigh* This completely and totally has nothing to do with you or your fabulous fic, but seriously, this show BROKE me. I can now no longer hear about mind-melds without snickering. The back-alley-gay sex parallels are just too much.

I can’t lose her and not even be there in her final moments, I can’t lose another one I love and not even be there…

Ouch.

“Five. Not a minute less or I will relieve you of duty indefinitely!” Phlox wasn’t bluffing and stabbed a finger into the air to prove it. He understood and even at times admired Commander Tucker’s work ethic but enough was enough, the man was practically killing himself with over-exhaustion. Tucker nodded in surrender and departed wearily.

Phlox? Is a saint. Really.

His eyes shone with a faint glimmer covered in sadness when he recalled to her silent form how proud he was when she defied Soval to defend their mission in front of Starfleet brass, how crushed his heart had been to see her look so beautiful at her wedding to Koss. How much it tore him to give her search for Surak his blessing even when it meant his own broken heart.

OH TRIP. I'm trying to pretend this is him trying the words out on her when she can't hear them, rather than because this could be the last chance he gets to say it. You know? *grabs tissues just in case*

Trip stood to rise, when a finger of T'Pol's hand ever so lightly squeezed against the departing engineer's grasp. Like a bolt of lightning shot through Trip’s body, every molecule in him seemed to stop and gasp.

Don't be scared, T'Pol! Trip will SAVE YOUUUUUU. (And Phlox, too.)

-- Little Red, who doesn't really trust this "glimmer of hope" you've just shown her.

[justTripn]

Smoldering and G-rated:

Committed to the Wind

[Asso]

But do you know, Little Red, that you're unbelievable?

[Little Red]

Spoilers for "Your Mom 'm Me" by Elessar

Story says part I, chapters 4-7. TriSilk says Chapter 3.

Whe- where are you? Who's there, where am I?!

The voice sounded desperate and terrified.

I spend way too much time in this fic second-guessing you with every Star Trek thing that has ever happened. Her katra is in his BRAIN now! Have I mentioned yet that I am LOVING this????

With a look of total astonishment Trip opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. Something overcame his inhibitions to the voice in his head, his instincts overwhelmed his conscious judgment and he reached out to her. His eyes narrowed and closed in meditative calm.

*delighted* Man. I love me the Vulcan brain. It does some crazy stuff to survive, and I just love this.

Her disorientation subsiding, a clench of her jaw and facial muscles told Trip and Phlox she was trying to sit up and at a loss as to the malfunction. She opened her mouth and her eyes pierced with panic as the damaged neurons tried desperately to reach each other but nonetheless, continued to fall short. Her lips flailed uncontrollably and Trip’s heart wrenched, she seemed so helpless, so terrfied…

“I must sedate her! If she tries to move it could traumatize her motor neurons further and degrade any progress the regeneration has made.” Phlox reached again for the hypospray but Trip was close to her face with a finger on her lips.

I'm with PHLOX! OMG. Her brain is going to explode! *on edge of seat*

Now she was rolling, tumbling, into a blue world with white light at the tips of her feet, quickly receding and she tried to leap towards the light but found no response from her limbs. The blue light shattered into flakes of fire all around her; suddenly she was running through the jungles of Risa, pursuing her prey with a bloodlust that penetrated the darkness from which she felt the physical world surround her. A splash of taste and sensational touch devoured the imagery, her panic and disembodiment floated away and suddenly two words crept into her mind as if a floating marquee jolted by with the word “Georgia peaches…”

This whole sequence is wonderful. Everything about it is pitch-perfect with all the chaotic way it's woven together. Love love love. Also: bonus points for having T'Pol think in a pidgin Vulcan.

“Hoshi I’d like you to send an update of our status to Vulcan, apprise them of the latest report from Phlox on T’Pol’s condition and our warp status. Inform them we should have warp power back in two days.”

Man. These people are slaaaaaacking. *kicks them a little* They're all worried about whether they can get to 5.1 or not. I blame Kelby. Also: poor Hoshi. She needs her sleep. ALSO, poor night-shift communications guy, if they have one, who clearly can't be trusted to dial Vulcan correctly. Communications officers are like Engineers. Only good ones in Starfleet.

“I hear they’ve been spending a lot of time together,” Malcolm looked deeply at the Communications Officer, trying to bait her. She gave him a devilish smile, glancing innocently around as if she hadn’t the faintest clue what he was talking about. Suddenly Malcolm’s attention was caught by the striking facial expression. He had never seen her resemble much of anything in terms of womanhood other than the girl next door. But that look was different, he thought to himself, not without a bit of excitement.

Unexpected secondary shippage, Batman! Also, that Malcolm is such a gossip. All the fanfics always say that Hoshi's the ship's gossip, but it is totally Malcolm. Also: sweet-talking the lay-deeeez. I had kind of forgotten about this pairing after the first season, to be honest. Now that they're both less neurotic, it could work... I kind of pretend that Hoshi and Travis are having a secret affair off-screen, since they have so much time off-screen in which to do so.

Commander T’Pol had now been conscious for several minutes and Captain Archer was on his way down to see his First Officer.

The chronology jumps are a little jarring, though it's pretty easy to figure them out after the first sentence or two. I honestly feel silly mentioning it, since it's archive fanfic, but otherwise people will think I'm just sucking up to the boss.

For days now he had wanted to badly to tell her he had feelings for her. But now, looking at her, he struggled to piece together the simple declaration that he wished to stay.

*eeps* no, Trip! No! Remember how I told you to wait until AFTER she's off death's door to open that can of angsty worms?

Good, then you understand why I came to see you this morning in your quarters…the dreams you’ve been having, like the one you had this morning…the romantic thoughts you experienced while in the shower.

Oh. I guess if she brings it up it's okay, then. HEEEEEEE.

“Am I missing all the fun?” Archer called over Trip’s shoulder.

Oh, man. Archer needs to go spend some time with Travis or something -- everyone else is going to seem crazy for a while, I think.

“All right! Something’s going on here, you wanna fill me in, Trip? T’Pol, I recall a little about Vulcan telepathic bonds from my experience with Surak’s katra,” Archer looked on her with questioning eyes.

"I can walk you through any telepathic bond troubles it if necessary, you know." Sorry, still a little bitter about that one mind-meld scene where Archer's acting as T'Pol's Vulcan coach. I really love love love the way you're being true to the show in things like this. Even when, you know, I have my differences with the show itself!

Archer nearly came out and blurted the purpose of a mating bond before she could calmly explain it to Trip as she had intended to do the very morning of the attack.

Oh my god, he IS going to offer to walk them through it!!! Your Archer is so perfect. I love it. If you have an All Archer All The Time fic, let me know, because I want more.

“Lieutenant Commander Kelby will be in charge of the Gamma shift in Engineering, if that meets with your approval. Any serious problems and I’ll have no quarrel with throwing him in the Brig. I don’t need two of my Engineering officers squabbling right now when we’re dead in the water with my First Officer is in dire need of getting back to Vulcan.”

The brig? Archer, wouldn't a good talking-to suffice?

Trip’s head shot up like a rubber band, “mating customs?!” he asked in shock. The doctor began, “well yes haven’t you and T’Pol-” the doctor was interrupted by a painful grunting coming from T’Pol.

I'll bet that Phlox can't wait to write a paper on interspecies mating rituals between humans and Vulcans. If it weren't for all the intense angst of season 4, I wouldn't be surprised if Phlox had discreetly asked them if he would be allowed to watch. However, he's totally harshing on my rule of No Speaking About Angsty Issues Until NO LONGER BRAINDEAD. Gah.

Even in three days I have… missed you so much, T’Pol.

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!! Okay, my rule was stupid. They should be cute at each other a lot while she's braindead. A LOT.

Her eyes closed as she craned the muscles in her neck to lean into his touch. But few of the muscles responded to her demands to move and she wept inside that she could not even be touched by him. Her mate, the man she had chosen, and had in kind chosen her.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE.

We became bondmates because… She hesitated, fearful of speaking for him.

Because we both wanted it, he finished for her.

Yes, we both wanted it.

Yeah, we did, he smiled and let the words sink in.

Something about this wonderful exchange feels like Trip and T'Pol buckling themselves into one heck of a roller coaster. This is such a perfect, wonderful, kind way for them to have this conversation and start this ride.

Suddenly he whipped around, looking at the Captain behind him with pure shock when he realized Archer had used the ‘M-word’. Archer bellowed and only replied, “You can’t hide anything from Hoshi on this ship!”

Forget Hoshi! Malcolm's going to loooooove this!

“I love you,” she spoke softly. Trip nearly jumped half a meter when the softness of her breath melted against his lips. Eyes wide, Trip exclaimed “Jesus, T’Pol you scared the –”, suddenly two complete surprises overtook him. “You spoke!” he was elated, her vocal centers had healed. Suddenly the words themselves hit him.

*explodes* I have now been killed dead with squeee.

My t’hy’la, I sense your trepidation that I might stay on Vulcan and be separated from you due to my condition…my home is now with my mate, wherever he may go. Do not worry, I will call for you before I depart to the surface.

Aww! *more gibbering shippiness* I think Trip might need her to be a little healthier before they try the parted from me yet never parted stuff. Good call, T'Pol.

he tried his best to mimic the kiss of mates he researched in the Vulcan database.

He so TOTALLY researched that in the Vulcan database!!!

He paused, and then decided to hell with it, I can trust Mal.

Hahahahahaha. Yep, this'll be all over the ship before they're done clearing away the dishes.

Deciding this was the time to make the first real relationship-decision about trust, Trip withdrew from the link and saw Malcolm sitting with very attentive eyes locked on him.

Err... having your first relationship-decision about trust be to tell Malcolm might be less than ideal.

Slumped back in his chair he stared at the stars as they crawled by. “It’s hard to explain…It’s like I’m never alone anymore, not that I mind her presence, she’s wonderful, even just in my mind it’s just, ah,” the engineer broke off, softly knocking his head with a closed fist.

Oooooh, thank you. I was waiting rather impatiently for Trip to have the "but wait... holy cow." thought.

While a talented engineer when he wasn't under the influence of pheromones, Kelby ran a looser ship than Commander Tucker and Columbia's staff would be all in favor of that.

YAY KELBY!!

"I am here as Senior Adjutant to Chancellor T'Pau. The Commander's condition is quite... important to her.” The elder’s weight shifted slightly in the direction of the distanced Subcommander, imperceptible to human eyes. “I was sent to ensure her expeditious and complete recovery." Trip liked him immediately.

Oh, if T'Pau is going to be in this, you are automatically upgraded to FAVORITE AUTHOR. Eeeeeet'paut'paut'pau. *claps hands*

Suddenly he wished he could be more for her, of all damn things, Trip thought... He wished he could be Vulcan for her.

This is the best thought of this story so far. I love it. So often, fics have T'Pol trying to be human for Trip. I like that it goes both ways.

To better understand the construction of T’Pol’s family tree as it appears here, some details may be necessary to clarify.

I drew a flow chart, but still got a little confused. Soval is T'Pol's uncle... and T'Pol... is Sarek's cousin... which means... um... the desire to mate with humans is genetic? *tilts head* Wasn't Sarek also related to a T'Pel? And she... was married to someone who wasn't Trip...

Am I overthinking this?

-- Little Red, who should probably shut up and read to find out.

[Asso]

My t’hy’la, I sense your trepidation that I might stay on Vulcan and be separated from you due to my condition…my home is now with my mate, wherever he may go.

An unspeakably splendid sentence. One of those which enchained me.
And its memory made me... totally unable to love the "part two".
Elessar knows this.
I can't be not sincere.
The freshness and the magic of "part one" are unreachable.
Sometimes I think this only first part could make Elessar one of the greatest writers.

[Asso]

Well! Almost... totally!

[Elessar]

My t’hy’la, I sense your trepidation that I might stay on Vulcan and be separated from you due to my condition…my home is now with my mate, wherever he may go.

An unspeakably splendid sentence. One of those which enchained me.
And its memory made me... totally unable to love the "part two".
Elessar knows this.
I can't be not sincere.
The freshness and the magic of "part one" are unreachable.
Sometimes I think this only first part could make Elessar one of the greatest writers.

Don't ruin it for her! OR scare her away!



Ok, here's how T'Pol's family works out:

Solkar - three sons:

Soval
Skon
(****) - T'Pol's father. Call it a cop-out, I just thought it was more interesting to leave him unnamed.

Skon is the father of Sarek. Obviously Sarek is the father of Spock. That makes T'Pol Sarek's aunt, or Spock's great aunt. I figured that what happens (which... this series is meant to be almost life-long, so... it's not exactly going to be abstract, I'll show it, eventually), Sarek is exposed to the idea of human-vulcan mixed marriage during childhood, as he is "family" with a human. I picture young Sarek coming over to the Tuckers' Vulcan home for lunch and witnessing all sorts of human behaviors! Maybe even having his first human crush.... ANYWHO!

ALL of that is absolute canon except for Solkar's 3rd son being T'Pol's father and for Soval being Solkar's son. The Solkar-Skon-Sarek-Spock relationship is documented in TOS, ENT (Catwalk mentions Solkar), and it's implied in commentaries for First Contact that the Vulcan we see shake hands w/ Zephram Cochrane is Solkar). Don't worry, I've worked out all the dates.... DOB's and deaths, for all the father/son relationships to work out.

BTW - with how much you like this (and I am infinitely gratified), I am totally biting my nails as to what you think of Solkar . If you're interested in Malcolm.... whoooboy... just wait till you get to part 3

[Little Red]

Spoilers, Etc.

Okay, I totally exhausted myself with squeee and took a nap. It's a little out of control. *deep breath*

I'm glad there's a ray of hope, Asso!

Elessar, okay, I understand the tree now. That's about what I thought, though I still think that makes T'Pol and Sarek cousins, since their fathers are of the same generation. I think it's definitely fine to have left T'Pol's father unnamed, and in my head I'm pretending that with Solkar's age, he and T'Mir were Science Directorate contemporaries at one point. I always got the sense that T'Pol's family was rather middle class, as opposed to Sarek's aristocratic line -- which was one of the reasons why Sarek could be "Um, shove it" about taking a human mate, and T'Pol's likely to have a bit more angst. Though, I suppose some of that could just be the generation gap. The Soval-as-her-uncle thing I'm finding a little harder to go with, but I will hold out until I do! You're a great writer and going along for the ride has worked so far.

TriSilk Chapter 4

She had been afraid he would recoil, but only now in the memory of her expression did he realize it. He had been too detached to notice anything short of a core breach. Suddenly broken from recollection Malcolm realized Hoshi’s eyes were on him in a sidelong glance as he grinned like an idiot. He looked down at the shorter ensign to avert her gaze; sure that she would feel the discomfort and turn away. But as he looked directly at her they reached the fork that separated the remaining distances to their quarters.

You've maybe made me really like Hoshi and Malcolm together. Maybe. But this whole scene was so delightful that I read it twice, and I really adore your Malcolm. I feel like you have Malcolm and Archer nailed in a great way -- haha, maybe THAT's your guywriting cred!

The bond had grown on him and he hadn't even realized it until now, until the silence of his own thoughts now felt like a cold stillness. To any normal human being out of billions, only havin' your own voice in yer head is the way it oughta be, but not for me, Trip thought. Not anymore.

It's very sneaky how you're having the bond change Trip pretty fundamentally with him barely noticing. (I'm squeeeing on the inside: "It's because he LOVES her!!" I'm such a girl.)

At the mention of T'Pau his defenses lowered towards Solkar even more, he had heard the Captain and T’Pol refer to T'Pau as a close friend of T'Les. One of these days I'd like to meet her, express my condolences over losing T'Les, Trip thought.

YES, TRIP! Please go meet T'Pau and have lots of scenes with her so I can fangirl a lot.

"You mean the invasive mind meld, the uh…'Pa-nar' sickness she had, her contact with Trellium in the Expanse.” Solkar looked at him intensely, studying the man who knew such intimate details of his granddaughter's life.

Ouch. Not to mention whatever Rajiin did to her, and that one time the Suliban drugged the heck out of her. Girlfriend has not had a good time of things in the mind-damage department.

I really enjoy Solkar talking about T'Les... probably because I love T'Les so much. And I'm waiting to see why T'Pol was that important to V'Las (especially since she was so disgraced on Vulcan anyway because of P'Jem). I like Solkar so far!

Trip looked utterly confused while Solkar observed him. This human is loyal to her, without deception...but not all together terribly perceptive.

WORD. I was flailing at my computer monitor at Trip. Yes, you LOVE her, but you should probably ask for the Vulcan fine print before you agree to be her very Vulcan spouse for all time. (Please don't kick me out of the shipper fanclub! I just, you know, think that after all he's been through already, he might want to be cautious. But I suppose he might feel like he had more time to ask questions if she wasn't dying.)

Solkar shot an eyebrow at him but Trip merely surreptitiously grinned, "No funny stuff, I promise," throwing his hands up in mock surrender. Regarding him with more curiosity than disgust as your typical Vulcan might at such an implication, Solkar merely nodded.

YAY! There's the Trip I know and love and am not worried for!!

Much of their trouble was finally behind them, T’Pol could rest and soon they would be brought closer together than ever before. In the back of his mind Trip asked himself why he wasn’t scared that he might not be able to do what was needed of him to help her. But when no answer came he was not filled with doubt and worry, only contentment. There was no fear in him, he knew, looking down at her that he would somehow help her… just like you helped me.

Perfect. You've got his genuine worry and care and good heart right there all wrapped up for T'Pol to read. Love.

“We have,” Trip panted, “to stop,” he could literally taste her in their proximity. The bond had grown to a nearly complete mental lovemaking, wild and erotic thoughts exchanging between the two. They were already both drenched in sweat as though rigorous intimacy had already engulfed them.

Kinky mind sex! This is why we have telepaths. This.

He wished her happiness. It is not logical to express happiness, thus not to encourage an exploration of such an emotion.

Oh, I'm going to love Solkar. I can tell. I love Sarek beyond the telling of it, perhaps especially when he was old and dying, and this is lovely.

Upon countless days of meditation, Solkar discovered the same hidden and constantly troubling emotions deep within T’Pol. It was with her and her alone among his many fore children that a truly powerful familial telepathic bond could be formed, for only she understood the turmoil within him.

Oh yes yes yes. All this time I'd imagined T'Pol's wildness coming from T'Les's side, but this is wonderful. T'Pol has a relative who doesn't want to excommunicate her! And... the evidence is mounting that Earth is just bad for Vulcans who want to maintain the status quo.

The commotion hit Trip like a plasma shock, bolting him from a deep slumber to a catlike frenzy as he leapt from the bed. Sevel looked in panic from T’Pol's now wide eyes to Trip's white fists brandished in front of a menacing grimace. Neither, however, were as daunting as the outstretched phaser and icy Vulcan face stepping slowly into the room.

Oh! OMG! This actually happened! I read this bit thinking it was still a metaphorical meditation of some kind. Um... crazy with the assassination attempts and the badass T'Pol's grandfather!

Solkar interrupted as he passed gracefully across the room to speak with Trip, “Commander I will begin instructing you in order to initiate the meld with T’Pol, after the morning meal. I will have one of the assistants bring food for you both.”

Leave it to a Vulcan to get right down to business after a shootout in T'Pol's hospital room.

Trip almost scoffed when he realized he was nearly becoming Vulcan. Vulcan mating bonds, Vulcan mating rituals, Vulcan meditation, Vulcan psycho-attack mode!

YES. Totally awesome. I like the way he's so worried about all the stuff that's going on, even though he's still mostly worried about her.

I could never let anythin happen tah you. I’ll do anythin to stay like this forever.

That would be agreeable. But first, we must eat.

Perfect! That's Trip and T'Pol right there.

Jonathan Archer stood before the private communication screen in his quarters, his eyes bulged nearly out of his head.

YAY! I was just thinking that I really missed Archer. And T'Pau in the same scene, too! You know how to make the fangirls shriek.

I kind of skimmed over the near-sex-in-the-hospital-bed scene this time... something about it kind of hit my she's not well enough to make decisions threshold. *lalalalala* I'm sure it was hot!

“Trellium D.” Archer’s chest heaved, but before he could ask Phlox continued.

Oh no! Once an addict... *feels a metaphor coming on*

“Like a blowfish,” he thought aloud. Phlox nodded, “They are designed to enter the bloodstream, when they detect uterine tissue the ‘spikes’ cling to uterine walls. They reside there until a pregnancy is detected. The Trellium is then released directly into the developing fetal tissue. It would no doubt kill the baby in a matter of days and most likely do severe damage to the mother. Perhaps fatal, depending on the dosage.”

Eeeeeeek. That's much, much worse than a metaphor. Also, cool technology! In a very evil way, of course.

“So ‘Doctor Sevel’ or whoever he was…” Phlox finished for him, “Wasn’t Vulcan.” Archer amended his conclusion, “Or was working for someone other than the Vulcans.”

Oh, I am SO not going to be happy if the temporal cold war shows up. I'm keeping my eye on that Daniels kid from Crewman Ibanez's graduating class.

It means we must wish to ‘Complete our bond, to choose each other and be each other chosen, forged together into one, forever.’ It is, as you would view it, a proposal of marriage.

Trip blinked several times, feeling the heat of the walls around him bake his skin to perspire as he held the tiny form of T’Pol of Vulcan. Without speaking he lifted her closer, tucking his mouth behind her cheek. In a whisper to her ear, he sent shivers down her spine nearly enough to spasm broken nerves.

“T’Pol, would you do me the honor of bein’ mah wife?”

Oh. So perfect. And I really like your Caverns of Surak fanon. It does sort of seem like the kind of thing Vulcans would do, doesn't it?

Also, this fic is long!! I've been napping between chapters (home sick *cough cough*) and I'm not sure I'll make it to the end before having to return to my Real Actual Working Life of Less Manic Squeee. My Real Actual Working Life has way, way less Vulcan stuff in it.

-- Little Red, who is still really excited about the cool alien drug-injection tech...

[Little Red]

Spoilers, etc.

Section 5

It occurs to me that the title still hasn't been explained. Since T'Les is not, in fact, alive in your story (which disappoints me tremendously), I'm now wondering if this is some sort of story that Trip is telling his kids about how he and T'Pol got together, and if that is the case, I would hope he's leaving out some of the steamier bits. *pictures little traumatized half-Vulcan faces*

Anyway, section 5! I'm promised Travis in this chapter by your author's notes, and I'm pretty stoked. I get excited when he gets lines even in fanfic.

This meeting of the Solkar Fan Club (closely tied to the T'Pol's Mom Fanclub and the T'Pau Fanclub) opens thusly:

The Vulcan returned it with due intensity, the gravity of Tucker’s responsibility weighed on him heavily and he illogically worried for T’Pol’s safety.

To which I say, um, that is not at all illogical, and I can't believe he's LEAVING THEM ALONE! On the shipper side, I am all pro them having a sweet, intimate marriage ceremony. On the practical side, semi-braindead Vulcan + human with 3 days of training does not seem like it bodes well for massive brain recovery. Solkar, as a member of your fanclub, I advise you to stick around and make sure nobody dies.

After helping her onto her knees, staring at Trip was a white-clad woman, trembling through her sheared nerves in anticipation.

Oh man. Most people only have to avoid stammering on "I do." He has to cure her Vulcan brain from scary trauma. *feels for him*

Pushing food around with her fork, Ensign Sato looked up at Anna Hess across the table. “It was only a peck on the cheek,” Hoshi smiled guiltily.

Heeeeee. The timing on this is wonderful, leaving Trip and T'Pol in the meld for a bit and giving this nervous reader a break! The other Hoshi/Malcolm scenes felt a little tacked on to the main story, but this flows perfectly here. You've got a knack for bringing us back to the ship right as I start wondering "Hey, what's going on with the ship?"

Also, is it just me, or is Lt. Hess the unofficial mascot of this archive? I could've sworn I've seen her come up in other fics before...

“Just because he didn’t jump on you and start shoving his tongue in your mouth,” Hoshi broke into laughter, interrupting Hess who reacted to her own joke the same. “Doesn’t mean he isn’t interested,” she insisted.

HEEE. Somehow your guywriter crystal ball has allowed you to intuit that yes, that is actually EXACTLY how women talk to each other when guys aren't around. Hehehehehe. Also, to Hoshi: Malcolm's a bit desperate at the moment, and really, you have nooooothing to worry about.

“I know the way he looked when he ran out of Engineering the day Captain Archer came down to tell him what happened,” Hoshi was clearly paying total attention.

Shaking her head lightly with a bit of a jealous smile tugging at her mouth she explained. “He’s in love with her,” she said with certainty.

Totally unnecessary beta-reader-like comment for a fic that's years old -- sometimes the paragraph breaks get a little strange, and I have a hard time figuring out who's speaking. Should you ever do a major overhaul, check for that.

Hess looked across the room silently – a smirk crawling across her features. She looked at Hoshi, “I think I just went back on duty,” she smiled suggestively at a confused Ensign Sato. Exiting the Mess Hall, Hess passed by Malcolm Reed as he approached Hoshi’s table.

DAMMIT! You have gotten me excited for a Malcolm and Hoshi pairing! I suppose my general feeling on Hoshi pairings is that Hoshi is awesome, and should get whatever she wants. (Yes, I'll be in trouble if she decides she wants Trip. Um. I can't help it! I'm a linguist, I feel a kinship.)

She smiled nervously, “Hey Lieutenant, have a seat!” she cordially invited. His smile fell slightly at her use of his title, but he pushed the thought away. He would find out soon enough. If I ever manage to bring it up, he thought to himself as he recalled the rehearsal session in his cabin earlier that morning.

And now you get some beta-reader-style props. Typically, I can't STAND it when POV switches during a scene, because writers seem to do it quite jarringly. You've found a way of doing it often enough, and organically enough, that it doesn't distract me at all. A+! (This is when you, as Fleet Admiral, pet the little Lieutenant Junior Grade on the head and say yes, I'm glad you approve of my TWENTY-EIGHT MEDALS OF VALOR. Isn't there a warp coil assembly that needs cleaning?)

The comm. system broke into the Mess Hall, “This is the Captain. I’d like all senior officers to report to the Situation Room at 0900.”

Hahahaha. I'm going to pretend that Archer has some kind of excellent psionic powers that let him figure out exactly the best moment to make a shipwide alert. *giggles a little punchily* Because he's Archer. And if he was able to, he would so do these things on purpose.

“T’Pol?” his crackling voice strained to be heard. His eyes were still closed, the exhaustion lay heavy on his shoulders but he was desperate to know if T’Pol was all right.

The chamber lie quietly lit, the two mates lying side by side, collapsed into sleep. A gentle touch gripped his shoulder, “Commander, it is done. You must rest.”

Whut? *scrolls up* Oh, you're making me guess what happened in the meld as some sort of evil literary device, aren't you. But who cares! He fixed her! Huzzah!!

“You can’t walk on your own yet, the doctors told you to take it easy for a little while,” Trip chastised his fiancé.

*bops him* Wife, dude! That's what all those Vulcan words meant!

She opened her mouth to speak then paused and slowly closed it. He eyed her anxiously, waiting for whatever she had to say. It was frustrating him that he had to ask, that he couldn’t feel her inhibitions, her thoughts and her fears.

Hmmm. I guess it was just the brain-death, then, that made the bond so intense? Fair enough. And, honestly, yay, because it will make for a relationship that's much funner to read.

Ensign Sato carried on a quiet conversation with Ensign Mayweather

THEIR LOVE IS SO OFF-CAMERA! Sorry. As you were.

In Commander Tucker’s absence she was designated senior engineering officer, much to Lt. Commander Kelby’s furious embarrassment.

Oh. No fair. I was kind of hoping Kelby could've gone to Columbia by now and had fewer people hate him.

“T’Pol was attacked on Vulcan. Starfleet is concerned that the Vulcan High Council isn’t being forthcoming and they believe the situation could have serious political repercussions for Vulcan and Earth.” It was now T’Pol’s turn to look utterly confused.

"Also, I hear that there's a Crewman Daniels in engineering school who might have something to do with it."

Love the bit back on Vulcan with Solkar, but I'm a bit confused timeline-wise, if she has to be in a wheelchair for two days, but then has crutches on the ship a few minutes later... you know? I'm not going to worry about it.

She rose and relit the meditation candle to reach out for her Mate. The desperate desire to find his thoughts and feel his emotions touch her once again disturbed her, and she pushed the realization away. The appetite for his emotional chaos stuck out in her mind, distorting her focus on the goal of finding his mind once again. She retraced the last week in her mind, everything that had happened… everything that has changed. She realized the fear of losing control of his emotional bombardment was gone. She knew the power such emotions could have over a Vulcan and feared she was losing her mind if she didn’t fear such a power.

Oh, T'Pol. This is wonderful. I'm feeling deeply sad for her here that her mother isn't alive anymore -- I imagine the two women could have had some Vulcan-y, unspoken bonding about how sane reason and mating have nothing to do with each other.

No Vulcan has, you were the first to initiate a bonding meld.

Errrrr... the first to initiate one with a human, maybe, but I'm sure other Vulcans have done it before, especially if it's so instinctive.

“She wants to promote me. And make me a senior flight instructor for Starfleet flight school.”

NOOOOOOO!! Don't take my Travis away!!!!!

Now with foreheads nearly touching, Trip whispered across the bronze of her cheek. “I can’t hear your thoughts, darlin,’ but I can still tell when you’re nervous,” a guilty smile clinging to him.

You know, I'm sure I'm in the Trip/T'Pol minority here, but I think I like them better without a strong, ever-present bond. I'm loving your story and all its bondiness, don't get me wrong, but there's something so... precious about the way they have to learn everything about each other, from the most basic cultural differences, purely based on the strength of how much they love each other.

“I have,” her voice cracked in a whisper before she could continue. “Missed you as well, t’hy’la,” she cooed, lifting a hand to run it through his hair.

Squeeeeeeeee!! That's what I'm talking about! *flaily-hands*

-- Little Red, who is in the process of writing fan mail to you c. 2005 to keep Travis around for my amusement, please.