Letters- #8

Letters to Kov
by myst123
House of Tucker Summer 2003 Fan Fiction Contest
Category: Humor
Rating: G
Email: mystbbs@earthlink.net
Disclaimer: Star Trek situations, characters, and name are all owned by Paramount. This work is non-commercial, not for sale or profit, and may not be sold or reproduced for commercial purposes.
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Letter # 8, end of October, 2152

We’ve had three very different first contacts in the past few weeks, two potentially dangerous and one … confusing.

Enterprise continues to prove herself a remarkable ship, with unexpected means of allowing us to protect ourselves. We ran into a neutronic wave and by converting the nacelle catwalk into a temporary living space were shielded from the deadly radiation of the phenomenon. However, we found that, although we were vulnerable to the radiation, others were not. At first time passed slowly – we played poker and watched movies. I’ve discovered that Malcolm in not one to suffer boredom easily. Unless he is planning to blow something up or inventing something to blow something up, he is not a happy camper. Next time I’ll build him a shower so at least he smells good when he complains. There was one tense moment when some aliens who had taken shelter with us decided to cook their dinner on top of the plasma manifold. But everything changed when the ship’s systems suddenly sprang to life. It turned out a group of corrupt military aliens from the system, who were little better than pirates, boarded Enterprise and attempted to steal her. We managed to thwart their plans and survive the experience, but realized we have to be vigilant, even when it appears no further outside threat could be possible.

Shortly after that, I met up with an Arkonian while out running tests in the shuttlepod. Another aggressive alien species! What is it with aliens and their suspicious natures? He almost killed me without a qualm, but I managed to crash land on a moon, as did he. We spent a long night, attempting to communicate with each other and our ships and to repair the damage to our vessels. Our final struggle resulted in a first fight, where we almost killed each other. We finally came to a reluctant truce and worked to set up communications links to our ships. As dawn broke, the temperature shot up and we both began to suffer heat stroke. Do you know that old earth cliche that when people die their lives flash before their eyes? Well, I’m telling you, parts of my life did flash before my eyes! We were finally rescued, but I found that, even though we parted cordially, I wasn’t willing to risk establishing a friendship. I’m becoming more cautious, more cynical. Malcolm would be proud and Phlox disappointed.

And, in my final of the three first contacts, I met an alien woman who has to be the most aggressive I’ve met. Very beautiful, but also very married. There seemed to be no polite way to say ‘no.’ In the end, we managed to come to an amicable agreement not to pursue a relationship and to let bygones be bygones. Hopefully that will not become a normal part of space travel. Too uncomfortable.

So, I guess I’m learning that it isn’t always the best policy to be friendly. Sometimes we have to protect ourselves. I was lucky to meet you early in our adventures, but successful encounters such as ours also gave me false ideas about what lay ahead. Somehow there has to be a balance between naiveté and suspicion, but I haven’t found it.

So one reason Vulcans marry is to address sexual needs? This from a species which mates once every seven years? How much of an urge for sex could there possibly be? I know, I know, Vulcans don’t discuss their mating practices. You’ve turned into a regular prude since rediscovering your Vulcan roots, haven’t you Kov!? Just kidding. And Vulcans marry in their 60s? One could almost pinpoint someone’s age by the scheduled wedding, couldn’t one?

Do you like movies? How about Westerns? We saw an entertaining movie while living in the catwalk. I admit I was confused by the alliances formed between two warring groups of cowboys, but T’Pol managed to keep all the players straight. Makes me think that westerns may be the very ticket to get Vulcans interested in 20th century popular culture. I don’t think it hurts to have Vulcans sample our forms of entertainment to learn about and share our cultural experiences...as long as Vulcans don’t use things like these movies to categorize us as barbarians. Hmm, maybe I better ask your opinion before proceeding down this path of Vulcan enlightenment. Try watching an old John Ford western, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon for example, and tell me what you think.

Later.

Trip

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TBC

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AN: I'd like to thank all of you for your movie suggestions. I now have some ideas about this but I have to think about it. And I'd like to thank stub, who has stepped in to beta the letters while Bucky is away. Thanks, stub!

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Two folks have made comments

I really enjoyed this. And the film at the end, "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon", is one of my all-time favourite John Wayne films. Once again you have Trip pegged and I love it! Thanks for another wonderful glimpse inside the head of Commander Tucker and his friendship with Kov. Ali D :~)
You buy the popcorn and I'll hum the cavalry songs

Thank you, Myst, I'm still loving these. Probably much too late to be of use, but would sci-fi series about the moon do? Space 1999 could be sufficiently illogical to entertain a Vulcan engineer. I'm so looking forward to hearing what Trip has to say about sadder events - I'll get the hankies ready.