Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [57]
“Why is it so important for you to learn about Sopek now? Denak asked, squinting as though with enough effort he might read the answer to his question on her forehead. “Or is there another reason behind this request that youre not sharing with me?
“Im sharing as much with you as I can. At least until you comply with my request. TPol looked again at the timer.
“Comply with my request? Thats an oxymoronic statement if I ever heard one, Denak said. “What youre asking would be difficult under normal circumstances, and Im not certain its even possible. But if it is, youll hear from me at my next opportunity.
TPol held up five fingers, and folded them into her wrapped palm as the timer counted down. “If you do this for me, Denak, all debts will be considered paid.
“Understand that if I do this for you, all The screen went black, cutting Denak off in mid-sentence.
TPol sat back in her chair, exhaling. She was aware that she had been tightly clenching her other fist again only when her concentration ebbed and she felt the pain in her hand. As she got up to find a fresh bandage, the chime at her door sounded.
Quickly pushing the scrambling device behind a small stack of datapads, TPol said, “Enter.
She hadnt expected the hatch to open on the face of a very worried-looking Hoshi Sato.
“May I speak with you? Sato asked as she stepped inside.
“Yes, Ensign, TPol said. “What can I do for you?
Sato sighed heavily. “As part of my bridge duties, I am assigned to monitor all subspace messages sent to or from this ship. She shifted from foot to foot, nervously. “As youve probably noticed over the last four years, however, Im a bit of an overachiever. I regularly make spot checks on the systems even when Im off -duty.
“I see, said TPol evenly. She sat at the edge of her table, further blocking her computer from Satos view. “And have you discovered something that should be brought to my attention?
“Technically, it should be brought to Captain Archers attention, Hoshi said, clasping her hands behind her back. “But before I do that, I felt that perhaps asking you why you were sending an unauthorized, unlogged, scrambled subspace transmission a few minutes ago would be the more prudent thing to do. In case you havea reasonable explanation.
TPol studied the young woman for a moment. A fleeting thought crossed her mind that a mind-meld might allow her to influence the young womans mind, just enough to induce her to forget having noticed TPols transgression. But apart from the ethical implications of the act, she also wasnt certain whether or not Sato had already informed others, or had left some tangible evidence in her personal logs or her quarters. Better just to tell her the truth, TPol thought. Or at least, a truth.
“Please review the beta-watch duty logs. You will discover that I suffered a briefemotional attack on the bridge earlier today, TPol said. “I found the incident to be mostdemoralizing. And embarrassing. I have already been examined by Doctor Phlox, and have discussed the matter with Captain Archer as well. If you were to bring this matter to their attention, they would both undoubtedly tell you that my private affairs are none of your concern, Ensign.
TPol slumped her shoulder slightly, in an attempt to lose the bearing that she knew read to humans as “stickup-the-ass-Vulcan in the words of one Charles Anthony Tucker III. She hoped that the mannerism would make her appear more vulnerable in the ensigns eyes.
“I am confiding in you, however, Hoshi, woman to woman. There are certain Vulcan things that I am going through right now. Things that aredifficult to discuss with humans, or even with a Denobulan doctor. I used the scrambled transmission because I was already ashamed at what the beta crew had witnessed on the bridge; it would shame me even further if any revelations about my private health were intercepted accidentally by another crew member. Yourself included.
Sato looked sad, and approached TPol with