Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [55]
As TPol attempted to describe to both Phlox and the captain what had just happened to her on the bridge, Phlox treated the cuts on her hands with a disinfectant, then quickly and expertly bandaged them. Phlox then activated one of his small medical scanners, which he used to check both her blood pressure and the dilation of her pupils.
“Please lie back on the bed, he said, his voice exhibiting just a hint of concern.
“And youre certain that it was Trip that you saw? Archer asked as TPol walked to the bed and settled back onto it, placing her head underneath the wall-mounted medical display panel.
“I am certain, TPol said.
“Id certainly like to see what Mister Tucker looks like now, Phlox said. He hadnt been present when Trip had come to her during Archers speech at the Coalition Compact signing ceremony; on that historic occasion, the Denobulan physician had spent most of his time with his three wives.
“As I have already explained, Doctor, he now resembles a Vulcan, though he lacks most of the emotional control that my people usually exhibit, TPol said. “If you like, I could search through the database to find you an appropriate image to view.
“Not necessary, Phlox said, smiling down at her benignly.
TPol turned her head slightly to look up at Archer. “I am concerned, Captain. I believe that Commander Tucker is presently in grave danger.
Archer rubbed his right eyebrow, scrunching up his face. “You believe that because of a hallucination ? Thats not a very sound source of information.
“I do not believe it was merely a hallucination, sir. TPol paused for a moment, aware that she was going to have to reveal something of an intensely private and personal nature. “When Vulcans join minds, they sometimes forge amental bond. I believe that I may have formed such a bond with the commander shortly before his death. I have had another experience similar to this, though it was of a far less violent nature.
Phlox touched her shoulder. “You may sit up now, Commander. Ive heard of many such bonds between mates in many species, including, as we know, the Andorians. However, Ive never heard of it crossing species boundaries.
As she moved to a seated position at the edge of the bed, TPol felt a bit embarrassed. “Trip and I arewe were something of an anomaly, Doctor. Our genetic codes were commingled to create a baby that should never have been possible. Our briefromantic entanglement was in itself unique; can you really rule out that in ourpairing, we might have created an entirely new interspecies phenomenon?
Phloxs tufted eyebrows lifted. “Not at all. It is entirely possible. He held up a datapad whose screen displayed ranks of slowly scrolling data. “It is, however, also possible that you are still suffering from the aftereffects of your addiction to trellium-D. Or even a delayed reaction from your repeated exposures to the Romulan telepresence unit last year, during the first Aenar crisis. Either way, the extreme certainty you seem to feel about the reality of these hallucinationsor whatever they ultimately prove to becould be an artifact of residual neurological damage.
TPol wasnt convinced. “Conversely, she said, “as we have learned from the heightened emotional states I have experienced occasionally during the time since my addiction, those same aftereffects may merely have opened up neurological or emotional pathways that had previously been closed .
“Hmmm, Phlox said agreeably, nodding. “Either answer could be, as youre fond of saying, logical.
“TPol, Id be the last one to deny the validity of Vulcan telepathy, Archer said, folding his arms before him. “Hell, I once shared my skull with your peoples most revered philosopher. And even if none of his logic rubbed off on me, Id still have to question how a link like that could work over interstellar distances.
“The Aenar had that capability, TPol said.
Phlox shook his head. “Aenar telepathy is somewhat more powerful than Vulcan psi abilities, the