Star Trek Endeavour: Pandora
By Rigil Kent
Rating: PG
Genres: adventure drama
Keywords:
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Chapter 1
Cover by Chrisis1033
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STAR TREK: Endeavour: "Pandora"
by Rigil Kent
Genre: Action/Adventure, Drama
Rated: PG … mild language, violence, and adult situations.
Summary: Part of the continuing adventures of the starship UES Endeavour. Events are set into motion that will change the course of the Romulan war...
Disclaimer: The only thing I own are my hopes and dreams ... although I did pawn both a while back for rent money.
Author's Note:
Major thanks (again) to TJinLOCA for being an awesome beta. I also want to thank Kevin Thomas Riley being a very, very helpful sounding board. An immense thank you to Chrisis1033 for his fantastic “covers” for the previous fics and of course, for this one as well. I'd be remiss if I didn't thank Chris' lovely and gracious wife, Quinn, for pestering him to finish the art...
The revised look of the Endeavour was originally developed by Mark Ward for the NX Class Mod Pack for Bridge Commander, although it was credited as the NCC-05 Atlantis. Mr. Ward has graciously given me permission to use this “skin” for the look of Endeavour – if I had discovered this thing before writing Vigrid, the -06 would have looked like this all along.
This is the sequel to Endeavour: Icarus. It'll be a little difficult to follow without reading that first. Like my previous fics, I'm writing this as prose and using the basic screenplay format (Teaser + 5 acts).
Dramatis Personae – UES Endeavour (NC-06)
Commanding Officer (CO): Charles Tucker, III - Captain (CPT)
Executive Officer (XO): T'Pol, also Senior Science/Sensor Officer (SCI) - Commander (CDR)
Chief Tactical Officer (TAC): Heinrich ("Rick") Eisler - Lieutenant Commander (LCDR), 3IC
Chief of Engineering (ENG or ChEng): Anna Hess – Lieutenant Commander (LCDR), 4IC
Senior Helmsman/Navigator (NAV): Daniel Hsiao – Lieutenant (LT)
Senior Communications/Linguistics Officer (COM): Marie Devereux – Lieutenant (LT)
Weapon Systems Officer (WSO): Nathaniel Hayes, also Roughneck 6 (OIC) – Lieutenant Junior Grade (LT, JG)
Chief Medical Officer (CMO): Phlox, civilian rank equivalent of LTCDR
Chief of the Boat (COB): Colin Mackenzie – Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO), senior enlisted man.
SecForce – "Roughnecks"
SEAL 7 (NCOIC): Lee Luckabaugh – Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO), enlisted
STAB 7 (NCOIC): Miguel Gray - Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO), enlisted
=/\= =/\= =/\= =/\= =/\=
TEASER
She didn't know what to do.
The sharp smell of antiseptic filled the air around her, tainting the oxygen with a stench that she was slowly beginning to hate. A constant ping from the biobed's heart monitor sounded at regular intervals; under normal circumstances, the soft beep would be a welcome relief as an indication of his strong vitals, but after listening to it for twenty-nine hours straight, she had grown to loathe the repetitive chime. The room itself was exactly five meters by five meters; this she had determined by pacing the room and calculating the measurement based on her normal stride. Apart from the occupied biobed, there was only a single chair in the small room.
Her personal computer was atop the unused chair, powered down and untouched since she had arrived. The decision to bring it had been a logical one – she still had a lot of work to do, after all – but each time she attempted to focus on the equations, her mind would wander in the direction of the occupied bed and the frail-looking man atop it. Attempts to focus on anything other than his well-being were wasted efforts, and she had long since given up even trying to think of anything but him.
She frowned abruptly as she realized how terribly emotional that sounded. It was his fault, of course, but she couldn't find it in herself to be too angry at him for it. By nature, she wasn't a very emotional individual, preferring the cold logic of science and mathematics to the emotional pitfalls of interpersonal relationships. For more years than she cared to consider, she had been content to avoid such entanglements. Life had proceeded in a predictable and logical fashion.
And then, she met Charles Tucker.
He had fascinated her from day one and, despite her best efforts, she had been drawn to him. From the moment that he had first smiled at her, his charisma had attracted her, and his unnerving talent for evoking an emotional response in her never failed to annoy even as it excited. He had an uncanny ability to read her moods, and, somehow, some way, he always seemed to know what she was thinking, often before even she did.
Wake up, she commanded him as she stared at his unmoving form. Her stomach twisted in knots as the fear again resurfaced. What would she do if he didn't wake up? If medical science couldn't bring him back from the brink of death? Could she move on? Could she find another man such as this, one who could make her smile or laugh despite her instincts?
Somehow, she doubted it.
Drawing in another breath, she once more fought the crippling terror that lurked in the darkest corners of her mind. She'd always assumed that she would outlive him, but never before had she been truly forced to face the fact of that belief. The idea of being alone for the rest of her life was repugnant, and she couldn't imagine someone ever taking his place. He was her life, and she had no desire even to face a day when he wasn't at her side.
Tears began to well in her eyes as her struggle with the fear and the growing grief overwhelmed her. Strong arms suddenly enfolded her and a familiar voice reached her ears.
“It's okay, Mom,” Trip Tucker whispered as he hugged her tightly, and Elaine Tucker began to cry.
This is a very nice story and a great response to the challenge given to you. I think you have heard me say this before on another site: a lot must have happened with Trip & T’Pol between the episodes “Zero Hour” and “Home”. I believe the time span was about two months or so between those episodes (February 2154 to April 2154) and they seem to have become very close by the time we saw “Home”, but with no explanation as to what transpired. You’ve done an excellent job in filling in the gap with this story.
Okay, I almost gave up here. I have extreme difficulty reading those stupid stupid stupid verification code words. But I really want to leave a comment so I will try again.
I, like Dinah, thought that either Trip or T'Pol's in their love scene would turn into an energy being, because the energy beings seemed sneaky since the were not up front with their real purpose when they stopped the Xindi ship. The medical mystery and its cause were quite clever.
Oh, that's me (as Distracted) in the previous post. I meant to write it to her, but I signed it as her. ;)
Perfect, Distracted! Very sensible. :) It's a good thing I don't have any sense, or Phlox wouldn't have gotten laid and had chance to wig TnT out just a little bit. :p
Now you've got me thinking about how a physician would really solve this problem, and I've come to the conclusion that there wouldn't have been any sex involved. Phlox needs to know why the aliens can't conceive. So his first approach would probably have been an attempt at in-vitro fertilization under controlled circumstances in his laboratory with genetic material from the aliens themselves. Given a succesful fertilization in the lab (and if the lab was on Enterprise and out of the field it would have been successful), he would have then transported the zygotes back to the station for implantation in their mothers. As soon as they entered the field, poof. No zygotes. See? He would have solved the problem. No sex needed. :D
I really love your stories and your writing style. Liked that you got TnT together without any angst or arguments, T'Pol admitting to her feelings and agreeing to pursue a relationship.
The timing of this was perfect. I always felt that T'Pol telling Trip her age was such a breakthrough that was ignored by the series. She was ready to let down some barriers. And boy did she in this. Always good to get some TnT lovin'. Great challenge responce.
Cool story. Interesting SF plot, good place to slip it into the canon, and angst-free noogie. What's not to like? Though Dinah's comment, "Dealing with shapeshifters can be so challenging" made me laugh. It's true!
Dinah, that's a really cool idea! I never even thought of the shape shifters taking the shape of Trip or T'Pol for seduction purposes, which would have of course worked better than their plan. I just had a bee in my bonnet that the aliens seemed sinister but weren't really evil and wouldn't want to hurt anyone or rape anyone or something shady like that. And I wanted them to recognize that TnT were bonded, even though TnT don't realize it at this point.
Wow! Lady Rainbow tossed you a challenge and you hit it out of the park! I really enjoyed this. Interesting aliens. A medical mystery that had a bearing on the future of an entire species. Phlox played a prominent part. Travis got to sit in the big chair. And Trip and T'Pol got to explore the many wonders of being a mated couple.
I must admit that I was suspicious at the beginning of the story, moreso, apparently, than T'Pol. The aliens concern that Enterprise was being held against the will of the inhabitants was credible and creative, but they just seemed to be making a few too many demands. I have to admit that I was briefly concerned that T'Pol was in the sack with Energy-Form Trip, while the real Trip was entertaining a T'Pol lookalike. Fortunately that wasn't the case. Dealing with shapeshifters can be so challenging.
Congratulations on a terrific solution to an interesting puzzle.
I agree, Distracted! I thought a lot about the details of Phlox's experiments - but since I'm not a doctor and my medical knowledge is limited, I left them vague. Lady Rainbow originally lobbed this one at you, and I'd still love to see you do a medical mystery. And you are right on. I don't think Phlox was interested in the sex so much as the science. The fact that he's from a poly amorous species just meant he wasn't hung up about the sex part of it. That was probably just a bonus.
I liked this a lot. I could've used more details about Phlox's testing methods, though. And I don't mean prurient details. I really think he would have gone about it in a scientific way. He would have enjoyed himself thoroughly, but more because he was fascinated by the process, I think.
Honeybee. You are a gifted writer. I really enjoyed ths story. Naturally the TnT was the best part for me. Liked the medical mystery and the part that Phlox played in it. But the love story of TnT really set this story off. Also, no Archer.
Might I say that you write love stories well, humor and other types but I hope you stick to those kind and leave the Angst filled, Dark stories to tohers. Yo do write them well but I enjoy a happy Honeybee's writings much more.
I enjoyed this very much, the only complaint I have: it was too short, I liked to have more interaction, but the interaction between TnT was good. I really liked the scene in Decon when T'Pol is musing about how simple it was to connect on a telepatic level and the teasing and the relaxed way TnT interacted.
I really liked this story take place after Zero hour and the mystery of the aliens is well written. I like the fact these aliens weren't villans and needed Phlox'x help and that Travis also played a role was nice to see. I really enjoyed seeing Trip& T'Pol getting romantic time alone in this story.I enjoyed the Decon scene at the end.:D
You are so welcome, Annie. It was a real, legit challenge to come up with a medical mystery that involved first contact - but it was a fun challenge. So, thank you for making me write a plot-heavy piece that didn't involve TnT suffering. Warpgirl, I didn't want the aliens in the story to be evil because the two times we saw non-corporeal species on the show - they were both kind of evil. So these aliens aren't evil - just sort of desperate.
Thank you!!!! I enjoyed the medical mystery and Phlox's role in in, as well as Travis being in charge and getting to help in some way! :-)
And TnT! (Having it after Zero Hour means Archer isn't present. Wow.
Great response, Honeybee!
Annie
There's a lot of things to like here. Definitely the plot is attractive and you made me happy, showing that you share my idea that, Vulcan or not (or probably just because T'Pol is Vulcan and, consequently, logical - maybe:p) it wasn't possible (LOGICAL) that, after Harbinger and in the light of their little trip to Vulcan, anything else happened between our lovebirds.;)
Anyway, and in short: VERY PLEASANT STORY. AS ALWAYS. :D
I could eat this with a spoon, it's so good. I love the sci-fi medical mystery. And the TnT stuff was just yummy! Love that last Decon scene. Great challenge response. :D
Call me crazy but I was almost hoping the aliens were evil. This was pretty cool, it was like an actual episode. No wait it was better of course but the formula was very much like an episode. I have to say that personally I'm not one for characters getting intimate very quickly. Two no's and a yes just don't do it for me. But I'm always like that. I could have done with a little more communicatiom. But this was fun, almost irreverent. Good job.