Unrequited (Trip x OC)

Twelve

I was walking down the hall alone while everyone else went about their business, performing their duties, staring down at PADDs as the screens illuminated their faces with blue light. I was starting to get bored sitting in my room alone, but lunch wasn't for another couple of hours, so I couldn't hang out with Trip or Malcolm because they were performing their duties. I could go help out Doctor Phlox, but today was a slow day. I had a feeling the most we'd deal with in Sickbay today would be a mild headache.

I still didn't know where I was going to go. I hadn't decided yet; just wandered around in an aimless loop through the halls.

Maybe I'd go to the bridge and see what was going on there; observe some of T'Pol's work. Or go see Trip in Engineering. I had finally gotten to the point where I could look him in the eyes without being reminded of all that I'd lost.

I didn't have to seek much longer for something to do, because as I was walking, my feet lifted gently off the ground and I felt myself suspended in midair. Frowning, I looked around to see the crew, previously bustling about the halls, were hanging in the air as well. We must've been having trouble with the Artificial Gravity.

I tried to whirl myself around so that when it came back on, I wouldn't land on my butt. Sure enough, the gravity switched back on. I landed on my feet.

Most of the crew wasn't so lucky.

Thumpthumpthumpthumpthump followed by groans. I bit back laughter and went for the elevator to make my way to the bridge.

"What's happening?" I asked, the door whirring as it slid open and I stepped into the room.

"That's what we're trying to find out," my father sat down in the captain's chair. "Archer to Engineering. What's going on?"

"Tucker to the bridge," I heard his voice over the com. "We're having difficulties with the gravity plating on E Deck. We've got it back now and are trying to determine the cause."

"Mind if I head down there to check it out?" I called through the com.

"Come on down, we'd appreciate the extra help," Trip answered enthusiastically.

My father clicked off the com and gave me a questioning glance.

I shrugged. "What? I'm bored."

I made it to Engineering in one piece, my feet planted firmly on the ground throughout the entire duration of the trip. Trip was up on the engine, fiddling with something.

"Busy day, Commander Tucker?" I called up to him.

He chuckled and tilted his head, climbing down the ladder. "Is now."

The com beeped. He was still on the ladder so I stepped towards it and pressed the button for him.

"Engineering," he called, not looking too enthusiastic as he hopped off of the ladder.

"Sir, we have a power fluctuation in the starboard nacelle."

He sighed, hanging his head. "I'll have someone get to it as soon as I can spare them."

"Aye, sir."

The com beeped off. He looked back up to me. "Very busy." He began walking and I followed.

"How're you doing?" he glanced over at me.

"Trip, you're busy, we don't have time--"

"No, you're not ducking out of this, too. You wanted to come down here to see me, tell me how you're doing."

When I didn't answer, he stopped walking and put his hands on his hips. "I'm just gonna stand here until you start talking."

I sighed, but nonetheless gave an answer.

"Time heals all wounds, but absence makes the heart grow fonder," I replied softly. Then I put it simply, "I miss him more and more everyday."

He eyed me warily, almost as if he were debating whether or not to hug me, and then we continued walking.

"So have you determined the problem?" I looked up at him as he climbed up onto a platform to the engine control panel. He pulled up a screen.

"Well, it has to do with the plasma exhaust," he exhaled deeply. I pulled out a PADD and began documenting what he said. "The flow's being restricted for whatever reason, and it's screwing with half the systems on the ship."

He laid eyes on one of the engineers walking by and barked out an order. "Tell Billy to purge the aft manifolds."

"Sir," the worker nodded.

"Chief Engineer, job does have its perks, you gotta admit," I laughed.

"Well, let's just say it has its downfalls, too," he shrugged.

"Do you think--" I was cut short when a fire started a couple of feet from where I was standing. I lunged for the fire extinguisher and one of the crewmen and I put it out together.

"Nice work," he looked impressed. He turned back to the control panel. "Tucker to bridge. Might be a good idea to drop out of warp."

We exchanged wary glances. That couldn't be good.

---

I sat on the bridge, playing Tetris on a PADD in the corner while they deliberated about what it could be. I hadn't heard T'Pol speak in a while. She was being rather silent for being the Science Officer. I looked over at her. She was looking through a lens.

Finally, she spoke. "I think I've found the problem."

We all moved around a table with a large screen display in the center. She pulled up some readings. "Something's distorting our wake pattern."

I leaned forward to get a closer look at the diagram. "Should the plasma exhaust be flaring that close to the ship?"

"No, it shouldn't," Trip stepped forward. "Good catch, Emily."

I stood up a little taller. I thrived off of positive reinforcement, and Trip was third in my mind only to my father and T'Pol.

"There could be E.M. residue in the exhaust ports," Malcolm suggested in his posh, proper British accent.

"Nope, we checked that. They're completely clean," Trip crossed his arms over his chest.

My father was staring at the screen in deep concentration.

"Captain, what's on your mind?" I prompted.

He scratched his jaw. "Malcolm, if we ignited the plasma exhaust... what kind of damage might it do to the nacelles?"

"Sir?" Malcolm looked up in confusion.

"How much damage?" my father questioned again.

"Well, if we polarize the hull plating we should be okay. That is, as long as we maintained at least half impulse," he shifted weight uncomfortably.

My father turned immediately and called to the Helmsman, Travis Mayweather, "Go to half impulse, Ensign."

"Yes, sir," he called back.

"Hoshi, give me a visual on A-4," he walked to stand in front of the captain's chair. "Record all aft sensors."

"Hull plating," I reminded and my father nodded at me.

"Stand by to ignite a charge at eighty meters due aft," T'Pol commanded now, walking towards the screen displaying the view of the back area of the ship designated 'A-4'.

Trip and Malcolm looked to my father for confirmation. He nodded. "Fire."

I looked to the screen just in time to see a green and blue burst as the plasma ignited. The whole bridge seemed to perk up in surprise at the little silhouette that seemed to appear. I voiced what we were all thinking.

"Is that another ship?"