Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [124]
“I have to stay behind for a much better reason: Im still the only one close enough to the Romulan stardrive problem to prevent it from becoming an even bigger threat. Whether its the dissidents or the Romulan military who eventually get control of the stolen data and get the damned thing into production, when it happens itll make the Klingon Empire look about as dangerous as a basket of day-old kittens in comparison.
TPols mouth formed a grim slash, but she said nothing further. She evidently knew when it was illogical to keep trying to change Trips mind, even if she didnt find his mind to be a particularly logical one.
Trip wished he could gather her up in his arms right now, reassure her that everything was going to work out just fine in the end. But there was no time for that, and he wasnt sure he believed it himself. Besides, she just might break his arm if he got physically demonstrative with her now, right in front of Malcolm.
“So youre just going to hop into this thing and fly it right back to Romulus, Malcolm said, gesturing toward the open hatchway of the Scoutship Drolae .
Trip nodded as he set one of his boots on the little vessels open threshold. “Yup. If I want to maintain my cover here, its really the only thing I can do.
“Even though its probably even money that Admiral Valdore will decide that youre actually a spy who gave his centurion watchdog the heave-ho sometime during the last mission. And then hell kill you.
“Ill just have to hope he accepts my word that Im a loyal Romulan. The fact that Im going to Romulus as opposed to running will have to mean something to him. Anyway, its our best hope of neutralizing that warp-seven drive. Or better yet, getting the equivalent of it to Captain Stillwells people.
TPol held up her right hand, which she bifurcated into a familiar “V gesture. Her stoic features looked as hard as the boulders that surrounded the shuttlepod behind her, though her eyes glistened with what appeared to be excess moisture.
“Live long and prosper, she said.
Standing on the threshold of the Drolae s hatchway, he faced her and returned the gesture. He tried to make himself repeat the traditional words of both greeting and farewell, but found he couldnt get them through a throat that had suddenly gone as dry as Vulcans Forge.
“Ah, hell, he said, lowering his hand.
He dropped back to the rocky ground, closing the meter or so that separated him from TPol in less than a second. Gathering the extremely surprised Vulcan woman in his arms, he kissed her, full on the lips. Out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw a huge grin spreading across Malcolms face as the kiss lingered ever so slightly longer than even the laxest interpretation of Vulcan propriety might have excused.
His eyes widened in surprise when she squeezed him tight and returned the kiss with a passion that he doubted most Vulcansand probably quite a few humanscould tolerate. The moment stretched as their very essences seemed to blend together, and he only became truly conscious again of the passage of time when he realized that she was squeezing him nearly tightly enough to crush his rib cage.
It took most of his strength to break off the kiss, and the rest to hold her at arms length with his hands on her shoulders. He suspected that another three to five seconds might remain before she either kissed him again, or got really angry with him for stirring up such intense emotions within her.
“Im going to, um, take a walk, Malcolm said. “Check on the shuttlepod. For, say, twenty minutes?
“Thirty, TPol said.
Trip watched in mild puzzlement as Malcolm abruptly turned on his heel and walked away, quickly disappearing over a nearby rise. TPol joined Trip in the scoutships open hatchway a heartbeat later, shoving him unceremoniously across the threshold and following him inside.
“Thirty minutes, Trip said as she approached him closely and the hatch hissed shut behind her. “What do you suppose we can do
Her eyes aflame, she grabbed his shirt and tore it open. “Do not waste the time talking.