Immune- Chapter 20

Immune

by Trinneergirl

Disclaimers in Chapter 1

Chapter Twenty

"My God, Jon!" Admiral Forrest exclaimed as he spoke across the light years by subspace. "I just can't believe what I've seen! Commander Tucker wasn't supposed to be able to get Enterprise through the Vort Cloud alone! All the experts; doctors, phychologists, engineers; they all agreed he'd never last out. But to do it, and with all that madman put him through?" The Admiral turned his head and stared for a long moment through the plate glass windows at the San Francisco dusk, a dusky purple across the Westward horizon arcing up to a vaulting blue dome, darkening as the Earth turned this West US seaboard face away from the sun once more. The Eastward view was one of the city's dark hulk and an ink-blue velvet sky, the lights of the sprawling metropolis and the stars above it in competition for the best twinkling, shimmering spangles. It was tranquil, beautiful. Forrest looked down to the reports he and the Committee had been reviewing, words and pictures that spelled out a terrible battle for survival, out there in deep space.

Captain Jonathan Archer sat in his Ready Room while he waited for the Admiral to continue. Back through the Cloud for near a week, Enterprise had docked with a Vulcan ship and the body of Crewman Wilkinson had been transferred to the other vessel for the journey home. Everyone was glad to get that man off the ship even though they felt little but pity for the petty vindictiveness that had led the crack in Kurt's psyche to become a chasm of homicidal insanity into which they had all nearly fallen to their deaths. The Admiral sighed. "Just hearing the reports was bad enough," he told Archer grimly. "But seeing the pictures, both the real and the filth Wilkinson forged..."

"We were here and I find it hard to take in," Archer agreed.

"How is Commander Tucker?" Forrest wanted to know. "He became such a wreck..."

The image of the dead, emaciated, battered body of his best friend, hanging naked in the cylinder of mectara fluid, flashed across Jon's vision. He closed his eyes for a moment, pressing the bridge of his nose between finger and thumb to push back the memory.

"He's not fully recovered," Jon admitted to his superior. "Doctor Phlox is monitoring his condition daily. Trip is still underweight and gets weak easily, but he's getting stronger every day. He's just gone back to full duty." The Admiral shook his head in wonderment.

"The committee have cleared him over Wilkinson's death," he informed the Captain. "If he hadn't fired when he did, Ensign Mayweather and others would certainly have died. No one has anything but words of commendation for your Chief Engineer." Archer breathed a sigh of relief, he really didn't want Trip put through a trial for Wilkinson's death. "There is one thing the Committee have decided that I would like your input on," Forrest continued. Archer frowned in perplexity. They weren't going to punish Trip in some way, were they?

Commander Charles Tucker III was down with his beloved engines, achieving maximum satisfaction from getting them to optimum efficiency. He had spent the past three days giving evidence over subspace and it was wonderful to return to these inanimate mechanical things which didn't repeat endless, painful questions and didn't ask him to remember and relive the awfulness he'd been through. The communications chirruped.

"Captain Archer to Commander Tucker." Trip moved to the wall panel, pressed a button and replied.

"Tucker here."

"Trip, I have Admiral Forrest on subspace. Would you come to the Bridge? Immediately." Trip frowned.

"On my way, Cap'n," he acknowledged and ended the link. He handed the diagnostic PADD he was using to Lieutenant Hess and left to obey the summons.

Going up in the turbolift, Trip felt an anxiety attack him. No doubt about it, Captain Archer had sounded odd, nervous, even worried. Had the Committee at Starfleet decided to try him for Kurt Wilkinson's death? Even court-martial him? They were still attached to the Vulcan vessel. Was he going to be returned to face prison for what he did? It would be a public trial, open to all. Everyone who wished could see the footage of his most intimate moments and the foul fake images Wilkinson had concocted used as evidence. Trip Tucker was just, with Sub-Commander T'Pol's help, finding some peace of mind with what had happened to him, what he had done. Wouldn't it be the ultimate irony if all the disgrace, alienation, and humiliation Kurt Wilkinson had wanted to see Trip endure would come to pass now that the exo-biologist was no longer around to enjoy it?

The turbolift stopped and Trip stood straight and took a deep breath. Whatever happened he'd cope. He stepped out onto the Bridge to find the bridge crew all standing and waiting for him. On the main viewscreen Admiral Forrest and Ambassador Soval were waiting. Beside Captain Archer was Commander Sozul, the skipper of the Vulcan ship to which Enterprise was attached and other Vulcans were dotted around the Bridge. Even Doctor Phlox was there, uprooted from his medical sanctum. Feeling his stomach turn somersaults, Trip walked to stand next to the Captain's chair.

"At ease," Archer ordered. All the Starfleet personnel stood at parade rest while the Vulcans remained at attention.

"Commander Charles Tucker III, Chief Engineer and Co-First Officer of the starship Enterprise," Admiral Forrest intoned formally. "These are the findings of the Committee into your actions from November 18, 2154 to December 20, 2154." Trip swallowed.

He listened intently as he heard the full, long-winded judgment from the Committee. With profound relief, the young Commander learned that he had been exonerated for all the decisions he had made, including the killing of Kurt Wilkinson. In fact they had highly commended him for all his actions. Trip was a bit surprised by all the formality therefore. Captain Archer could have told him this at dinner. And why the Vulcan presence? There was something more here. But what? As the report concluded, Trip, always the perfect officer, thanked the Admiral for the Committee’s time and for their commendations.

"The Committee have made another recommendation, Commander," Forrest told him. "One with which the Vulcan High Command and your own Captain are fully in concord." Captain Archer turned to his mystified friend.

"Bridge crew to attention!" he ordered. Hoshi, Travis, Malcolm, T'Pol, and the others all stood ramrod straight. Trip followed suit. Jonathan Archer tapped a panel set in the arm of his chair. "This is Captain Archer. Please everyone pay attention." All over the ship everyone stopped and waited. "For two weeks, Commander Tucker took this ship through the Vort Cloud alone. Whilst facing a madman, he somehow got us through and safe. Everyone here relies on everyone else for survival, but our Chief Engineer's work in those lonely, frightening weeks was exemplary and we owe him more than just our lives. We owe him our thanks, because he gave his life to get us through and safe." Trip swallowed the lump in his throat as he heard the words his friend and Captain spoke.

Archer took a step across and Malcolm Reed handed him a small dark-blue box. The Captain moved back to face his Chief Engineer. "Starfleet has made this decision and the Vulcan High Command and I, myself, heartily support it. Commander Charles Tucker III, for bravery above and beyond the call of duty, for saving the lives of 82 crewmen under conditions of extreme duress, you have been awarded the diamond bar." Opening the box, Captain Archer handed it to the stunned Trip. "Well done, Commander," Jon said, smiling warmth in his hazel eyes.

"Th-thank you, Cap'n. Admiral, thank you too and please pass my thanks to the Vulcan High Command and the Committee. I'm very greatly honoured." The words came out from Trip by rote as he tried to swim through the shock.

He looked down at the open box in his hand. On a bed of dark-blue velvet lay a medal, a dark bronze medallion with a gold and dark-blue striped ribbon above. Across the ribbon lay the diamond bar itself. A platinum, flat bar, five-millimetres high, three deep and two centimetres long. It was bent backwards slightly in a curve. Across its face was a diagonal line etched into the metal, bisecting the bar. To the left of this line the bar was crosshatched with lines, to the right was a deep engraved star-shape in the centre of which was the small diamond that gave the bar its name. Trip had never seen one before and, frankly, had never expected to. The diamond bar was the very highest medal for bravery that could be awarded in Starfleet. In the history of the organisation, none had ever been given. Trip blinked back tears at the magnitude of the honour, his heart swelling with pride at being the first to receive it.

Jon lifted the bar from its case and detached the two studs from the pins at the back. He noted how his friend's hand shook as he held the medal box and was tenderly amused. It wasn't often anything totally floored Trip. He looked into the shock-paled face and Archer's smile widened at the starkness in his friend’s gaze, the burgeoning realisation clear in the cerulean depths. Captain Archer placed the diamond bar halfway down and two centimetres in, to the left-hand side of the collar of Trip's uniform. He pushed the pins through and attached the studs back inside. He stepped back.

"Lieutenant Reed?" he cued his Armoury officer.

"Three cheers for Commander Tucker. Hip, hip!"
"Hurray!" the humans responded. All through the ship the cry reverberated. Trip thought his heart would burst he was so proud.

He closed the box and stood, lost in a daze as the cheers died away to be replaced by applause from his crewmates. Admiral Forrest and Soval signed off and the Vulcans, clearly disdainful of the emotional display, left for their own ship, accompanied by a security guard for protocol's sake. Once it was just them again Jon grabbed his best friend and enveloped him in a bear hug. The breath-expelling grip brought Trip back and he smiled back at his best friend. Jon let go, but his place was taken my Malcolm, then Hoshi, then Travis in a succession of congratulatory hugs. Trip swallowed the tears that threatened to overwhelm him. Even T'Pol offered her felicitations in her usual reserved way and Phlox damn near rebroke Trip's ribs with his squeeze. Trip stared from face to face, these were the people he'd fought for, died for and would do both for again in a heartbeat.

Proud though he was of the medal and the diamond bar on his collar, what really mattered was that he'd got it here, in front of his friends and colleagues, that they approved of it. Trip was honoured to work with such a group of people, especially Jon. Captain Archer was Trip's dearest friend, but the engineer looked up to the Starfleet skipper in almost hero-worship. To have received this from him, of all people, meant more to Trip than he could ever say. He locked eyes and grinned in what he felt must be giddy inaneness at Jon, who smiled and nodded back. One pair of blue eyes, one pair of hazel, transmitted and understood more in a couple of seconds than a lifetime of words. After a few moments a silence fell and Trip knew that he had to say something. Get things back on track. He was a Starfleet Commander, after all. He cleared his throat and waved the medal box around.

"Does a pay rise come with this?" he asked, his blue-eyes teasing. Amidst the general laughter, theatrical groans and arm punches, everyone went back to their seats.

Jon sat and watched as the tall, slender engineer took his bridge seat along with his crewmates. They would be off duty in half an hour and Crewman Cutler and Chef were going to make sure that the party, though hastily arranged in Trip's honour, was going to be a good one. Phlox left to prepare a number of hangover cures that Archer knew for sure they would all need on the morrow. The Vulcan ship detached and Enterprise, pride of the fleet, Earth's silver-grey, graceful first foray into the depths of uncharted space, sped effortlessly into warp. They had made it through the crisis. Against all the odds, thanks to Trip, they had made it. And if they could survive and endure this, they could do anything. Sitting back in the Captain's chair, Jonathan Archer glanced around his Bridge. Hoshi and Travis sharing a joke, T'Pol coolly sorting data at her science station, Malcolm, reviewing the weapons console and Trip, checking the engines to make sure everything was in shape. These were Starfleet's finest and Jonathan Archer's people, aboard his ship. Right now, he could think of nowhere in the universe he'd rather be than here.

The End.

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A whole mess of folks have made comments

Oh my god that was absolutely amazing. I have been glued to my screen for hours. What a fanfastic story - this has to be one of the BEST fanfictions I have ever read. You are a very talented writer, thanks so much for a brilliant story.

This is great. Love the story. I love the interaction between the main characters especially between Trip and Archer. Please write more soon.

Sheer bloody brilliant. I honestly cried part way through.

Wow!!! This was amazing, it had me crying too. You had us so involved in the story it was impossible to stop until it was finished. Thanks very much, please write more soon.

Wow! I cried my eyes out! Poor Trip! Very well done... please write more!

This was really brillant, I got so involved in the story that I also shed a few tears. If only the writers of Enterprise could be as good as this.Thanks for a wonderful story. Please write more!!

I have to say, that this is one of the best fan-created stories that I have read, across *any* fandom: Complex, multi-layered, suspenseful; a fascinating look into the mind of everybody's favourite Chief Engineer. With this tale, you've given your readers the ability to truly feel the emotions of the events unfolding within. It has been *quite* some time, that a fan-fiction story has moved me to tears, repeatedly. Absolute brilliance! I do hope that you will grace us with more of your writings soon...

Wow! This was simply an amazing story! Thank you so much for sharing this with us!

Great story. Interesting plot, good pacing, believable characterizations. Thanks for the great read and I look forward to more stories.

Great Story. I Just Loved It.

are you to Author of CT House of Pain and Public Violation If so can you email the story to me or post them here

Finally finished reading this. What an amazing story! I was very much drawn into the plot and into Trip's pain. Wow. I've been reading in segments over lunches at work and at times had a heck of a time controlling my tears - you can imagine the odd looks I've been getting as I sob quietly at my desk - But well worth my personal embarrassment. Brava, Trineergirl!!

Um, can i go to sleep now ive been reading for the las 10hours on this story. flipping amazing ,true descriptive words would probly break the posting terms. how can you so freely put something this good on the web without seeking payment, you should publish this. The mixture of emotions was amazing but in true humaine form ive managed not to cry or give any hint to what i felt while reading this, uve made it hard though, tears in my eyes . um WOW

forgot to mention, how on earth did you write something that good with such a low i think it was pg-13 rating? flipping amazing.

GREAT story! I LOVED IT!!! Just found it today. Have been reading it all day. One of the best I've found in ages. CONGRATS for sharing this with everyone. Keep up the GREAT writings!!!!

WOW¡¡ You´ve made me cry, you´ve made me laugh.

wow - what a ride. It's 12:33 am in the morning, and I had planned to go to bed two and a half hours ago.

This is really all your fault. ;) I do think there are some parts that weren't needed - (not that I didn't enjoy reading them!) mostly, explination type stuff about Trip's character - because the way you structured and wrote the fic, everything came through in his actions and inner dialogue.

in the words of the Ancient, bloody marvelous!

This was just simply an amazing story with an amazing plot. I couldn't stop reading it! It was done nicely and though in the beginning I had doubts, I knew they had been all wrong! This is by far the best original plot I've ever read for a fanfic.

I've read this story again and again.... I agree with Gammaent - this is simply an amazing story! I laughed, I cried and I loved heroic Trip! I've always known all along that Trip is so much more than just a simple country boy.

This was maybe the fourth time I've read this, and I KNOW it won't be the last time. Just lovely!

Wow great story. Read it couple years ago and thought it disappeared from the net. Enjoyed reading it again very much and hope to see your other stories (i.e. Public Violation etc...) here also. Once again thank you for the story.