| back to |
| A New Beginning © Xeen – 19 janvier 2008 Prologue Part 1 Part 2 Travis was usually the first one to hit the gym. He liked it there, the quiet of the place at dawn, the dimmed lights, the whispering of echoing engines in the distance. This morning though, Hoshi was already on one of the treadmills so he decided for the weight-lifting bench instead. But his friend stopped in her tracks as soon as he came in. She faced him with the same worried face she had displayed since they first met with representatives of the Argonians only three days ago. "Hi," she said awkwardly, trying to get back her natural balance after one half hour of demanding physical exercise. She wiped her long hair in the damp sponge cloth on her shoulders and stood before him, the perfect image of uneasiness. "I was wondering if you noticed anything unusual about Trip," she finally said. "He seems to be back to his usual carefree self," Travis smiled. "Yep," she quipped, "exactly my point. Should he not be still mourning the loss of his child? It seems to me it's a very quick getting back to normal, what do you think?" "Well, I am not the specialist, but I would say he's trying to get engulfed in his engineering routine… moving forward," he hesitated. "I was never really close to the Commander, Hoshi. It's a trick question. Maybe he's adapting fast to the situation. When my mother told me that my father was gone, I realised that I would never be able to speak to him again, to reconcile, and I was angry at first. Then I chose the easiest way. I moved on. Put the past behind. That's the best Mr Tucker can do under the circumstances… And the baby was not really his… theirs… I mean…" "I know what you mean, Travis," Hoshi crossed her arms, biting her lips, "it doesn't make a difference from my point of view. Trip is only trying to act on his feelings and I can't see that it is doing him any good. T'Pol hardly speaks to me either. She's like… I don't know, cut off from the rest of us. Do you thing she holding a grudge against Mal? He did what he thought was best. And at the time it was not that bad for someone who always acts by the book. He saved us all in the end." Travis stayed seated on the bench, trying to figure out what she was up to. One of her endless crusade in the name of love and friendship and keeping them under her personal care… Her very own big Enterprise family. He waited for some outburst but she waved at him and left the gym. He stared at the doorway, somehow expecting she will be back. With a sigh, he finally stood up. His perfect morning alone was spoilt, so why not go to the bridge already. His free time was almost up anyway. * * * * "Enter!" Jonathan Archer had his back to the doorway. The door hissed open, a swift displacement of air inside his quarters and then nothing. He looked up to the door and saw her. She was pale and silent. "T'Pol!" he was under the impression he startled her but she still did not budge, her arms in her back, her hair hiding any inconvenient frown. "What can I do for you? I have to give you credit again for that meeting with the Argonians," he greeted her awkwardly. What ever happened of their easy banter and personal friendship? "I guess they will be ready to join the alliance far before the time Earth had previously envisioned. Please, sit down." She complied, her face totally expressionless. "Sir, I would like to speak with you of a very urgent matter." "Please," he said, settling down comfortably in the chair facing his desk. "Has it anything to do with Malcolm and Section 31?" he asked bluntly. "I am afraid I cannot divulge any information in regard of Section 31 directly to you, Sir. I have been instructed so by Starfleet" He suppressed a sneer. She was serious. Deadly serious. What ever happened to the T'Pol he used to know and… trust? "What is it then?" he joked. After the Argonian success, the next most important matter at hand was Section 31 and he knew she was not prepared to give him any more information than necessary. God! When is she going to accept to trust me again? He trusted her with his own life for crying out loud and now all that was gone, wiped out by Paxton's crusade! "Doctor Phlox talked me into this," she said fiercely. Her dark eyes flashed with anger. "I am afraid it is a very personal matter." Archer stood perfectly still, waiting for her personal hell to break loose. TBC |
 |