Warning: Pon Farr, Swearing, Violence, Sexual Situations

Summary: AU, Trip never joined Starfleet. T'Pol is a highly regarded Vulcan professor. Fate brings Trip and T'Pol together with the crew of Enterprise in a totally different way.

Charles Tucker the Third walked toward the test lab. He wanted to make sure that all the new equipment had been delivered to Enterprise before he started his day. He stopped for a moment to admire the panoramic view of the city from the window. Tucker Industries was a massive state-of-the-art facility and Trip had insisted that it also be an architecturally beautiful building. It housed his corporate headquarters, R&D, and production facilities. Trip took great care that it would not be an eyesore to the San Francisco skyline.

He was very satisfied with the direction his life had taken. Trip had achieved more in his first thirty-five years than he could ever have imagined when he graduated from college. He had creative control over his destiny which gave him the ability to see the things he had dreamed of come to fruition.

Trip turned from the window and resumed walking. Almost immediately, he heard footsteps approaching from behind. Trip's assistant Della Reynolds came bustling up to him. She began walking beside him through the halls, bombarding him with information from the padd in her hands.

Della was a very attractive fifty-two year-old, red-haired bundle of energy and organization. She had been with Trip for eight years and he would be lost without her. Trip was a very competent businessman, but the instant that Della came into his life everything seemed easier. Nothing was ever misplaced or lost, meetings were scheduled and Trip always arrived on time. He was still unsure how this happened but didn't want to jinx it by asking. Trip sometimes swore that she could make schematics and contracts appear out of thin air when he requested them.

"Mr. Tucker, your meeting with the Vulcans is at 9:30, you have lunch with Admiral Forrest downtown at 12:00, Mr. Kov confirmed he would meet you at the health club at 3:30 and the shuttle taking you to Enterprise leaves at 7:00."

Trip stopped dead in his tracks. "Della, when do you breathe?"

She gave her boss a dazzling smile, "When you're off planet."

Trip burst into laughter. "I don't know how I would function without you. Does your husband know what a lucky man he is?"

"Of course he does, I remind him every day. Now hurry up, you don't want to keep the Vulcans waiting." As Della turned, walking back in the direction the two had just come from, she called over her shoulder. "And Trip, this time, don't forget to take your luggage to the shuttle. I'd hate to think of you roaming the corridors of Enterprise in your underwear."

Grinning, Trip threw her a wave. Della smiled back at her handsome employer and thought, not for the first time, that man needs to find a good woman.

Tucker Industries was at the forefront of Earth's Warp engine development and production. Trip had made the decision early on in his life that joining Starfleet would stifle his creativity. One fateful encounter with a pompous guest lecturer at his university had sealed his fate. Commander Thorpe gave the impression that he was slumming by addressing a second year Warp Theory class. He dismissed Trip's questions as beneath him. Trip later came to realize that the man probably knew less about warp mechanics than he did. He did wonder occasionally, if a decent engineer had come that day, would he have been tempted by Starfleet?

His ambition and drive to create led him to decide that being his own boss was the way to go. While still in the midst of finishing his multiple degrees, Trip set up his company and quickly attracted the attention of Starfleet. Although he was courted, to the point of begging, Trip refused to join Starfleet. He had a vision that would not be confined by other's rules. With the initial capital, loaned to him by his parents and grandmother, he set up a modest company that soon attracted the best and brightest. Tucker Industries began to create innovations in Warp theory and design that far exceeded what Starfleet engineers could produce. It wasn't that Starfleet didn't use every enticement at their disposal, but Trip was determined to be the master of his own fate.

With the writing clearly on the wall, the powers that be at Starfleet quickly aligned themselves with Charles Tucker. Space hardware, produced in the private sector, was not a new idea and Starfleet made haste to seal a deal with Tucker Industries. Over the course of many years, Trip saw his innovations worked into the design of a magnificent starship. At the ceremony for the laying of the keel for Enterprise, Trip felt as if he was present at the birth of his first child.

Through close contact and years of working together, Trip became friends with many officers and engineers. However, his best friend was Jonathan Archer, captain of the Enterprise. After its launch, Trip traveled on Enterprise extensively in his capacity of civilian consultant.

Trip had settled into guest quarters aboard Enterprise. As he ambled down the corridor heading for the captain's mess, Trip greeted many a familiar face. Tucker spent so much time in the engine room of this great ship that he knew the names of chief engineer Anna Hess' entire staff. Truth to tell, Trip was fairly certain that he knew the names of all eighty-three crewmembers.

Jonathan Archer looked up at the new arrival. "Trip, I'm surprised you're on time for dinner. We usually have to pry you out of engineering after you add a new upgrade."

With a huge grin on his face, Trip winked at Erika Hernandez, first officer of Enterprise. "Now, I don't mind keeping you waiting, Jon, but my grandmother taught me better than to keep a lovely lady waiting."

Erika smiled and gave a little chuckle as Trip grabbed her hand and gave it a quick kiss.

Jonathan rolled his eyes. "Erika, I hope you realize that Trip Tucker is without a doubt the biggest flirt you will ever encounter. The problem is, his smooth southern charm, good looks, and wealth work for him almost every time."

The two friends had shared many a night on the town in San Francisco. Jon had no problem attracting women, but the flurry of beautiful women that always flocked to Trip, boggled his mind. Besides, Trip was well aware that Jon and Erika had been in love before Jon was promoted to captain. He was also one of the few people that knew they still carried on a very discreet affair.

Trip released the first officer's hand. "Why are all the most beautiful and intelligent women taken?"

Jon heaved a dramatic sigh. "Must you put the moves on every woman on my ship?"

A smiling Erika held out her glass allowing Archer to pour her wine. "Not to worry Captain. There isn't a woman on board that doesn't know Mr. Tucker here, plays, but never gives his heart."

Trip's mouth dropped open in mock offence. "Hey, I have nothing against commitment. I just haven't met the right one yet."

Jon handed Trip a glass of wine. "I hope that when you do, it knocks you on your ass and she plays really hard to get. It's way past time that you had to do the chasing."

Trip saluted Jon with his glass.

Erika laughed, "I'm not sure I should allow either of you to take shore leave when we reach Risa. Jon's told me some wicked stories about you two on the prowl."

The warmth of Jon's smile made Erika's heart tingle. He briefly brushed her hand. "That's all in the past for me."

"Well, if you both promise to behave I guess I'll allow it. After all Trip needs to have as much fun as possible. I can't imagine how you, of all people, could bear living on Vulcan. They aren't exactly party animals."

"Now Erika, you know when I'm working on something new, I am very single minded. It's all I can do to remember to eat. Partying will be the last thing on my mind."

Jon tried, unsuccessfully, to hide his smile behind his glass. "So Trip, how long will you be staying on Vulcan?"

"Hmm, I don't have a set schedule yet, but I expect it to be at least a year. First I need to meet the Vulcan team and get them working smoothly with the Human engineers. I worked very hard to get this project accepted by both sides. I'm not going to leave before I'm sure things are running as slick as glass."

"Do you really think getting Humans and Vulcans working together will be that easy? Due to my personal experiences, this seems unlikely." Jon said with a weary shrug.

"Aw Jon, you're used to dealing with diplomats. Engineers are a special breed, No matter the species, when we get caught up in the creation of new technologies that posturing goes by the wayside. I intend for this project to spawn the most powerful Warp engines Humans or Vulcans have ever built, a hybrid that will make everyone sit up and take notice."

Erika leaned in to pick a strawberry from the fruit tray. "What about your company, Trip? Can you afford to leave it alone that long?"

Trip dropped his head and laughed. "Are you kidding me? You know Della, she could run Tucker Industries with her eyes closed. In fact, I'm lucky she lets me keep my name on the building."

Tucker walked out onto the balcony of his villa on Risa. Leaning on the railing, he stared at the pristine beach, then stretched and smiled in anticipation of doing some diving today. The breeze gently ruffled his hair as he breathed in the sea air.

Enterprise had pulled into orbit around the pleasure planet Risa, two days ago. Trip was pleased that he was getting to spend some time in a relaxed setting with his friends. He had a week before Enterprise was due to deliver him to Vulcan. Before he jumped into what would probably be an invigorating and possibly stressful project, Trip intended to make the most of this vacation.

Walking down to the docks with his diving gear in hand, Tucker growled under his breath. Blocking his path was a man that Trip was sure did not comprehend the meaning of relaxation.

Commander Malcolm Reed was the bane of Trip's existence when he traveled with Enterprise. It wasn't that Trip didn't like Malcolm. He, in fact, thought of the up-tight British security officer as a friend. Today however, he just wanted to take a boat off shore so he could dive the coral reef by himself and relax. Trip was aware that Malcolm didn't like water, but from the appearance of the two security officers standing behind Reed, Trip could see his solitary dive going to hell in a hand basket.

Malcolm Reed was nervous. His assignment should have been simple, protect Charles Tucker the Third. However, the daft bastard kept insisting on going diving. Tucker had his own security on Earth but the Starfleet brass, in their infinite wisdom, insisted that he be assigned to guard the famous industrialist when he traveled with Enterprise.

Two of Malcolm's best men would accompany Tucker as diving companions, plus he had a subcutaneous transponder inserted in his forearm. This did little to calm Malcolm's anxiety. The fact remained that Tucker would be out of his sight, which was totally unacceptable.

Trip came to a stop in front of the commander and dropped his diving gear to the deck. "Malcolm, you have got to be kidding me. I just want to go do some diving in peace."

"My men will not interfere with your little jaunt, Trip. If you insist on going diving, get used to it."

Trip continued to argue that two security goons shadowing him were hardly necessary here on Risa, but Malcolm was having none of it and Tucker was forced to board his rented boat followed by Corporals' Hutchens and Gomez. Trip glanced over his shoulder and had to chuckle. He was a relatively tall, well built man but the guards gave him the feeling of being stalked by a couple of gorillas.

Thirty minutes later, Trip was too enthralled with the beautiful coral reef he was exploring to stay angry at Reed. Water was his second home and Trip was feeling the love. The coral reefs of Risa rivaled the beauty of any on Earth. The water was warm and Trip was invigorated by the swim. The colorful coral and variety of marine life lulled Trip into a deep contentment. Reaching out his hand, dozens of tiny fish in lovely blues and yellows swarmed his fingers, checking for a free meal.

Smiling at the show, Trip was barely aware of someone bumping his leg. After a second bump, Trip turned from the fish, the smile leaching from his face.

Through a swirling mass of bubbles, Trip could see Hutchens fighting for his life against two equally burly opponents. He was aware that both his bodyguards were armed with diving knives but Hutchens was unable to get the upper hand against his two attackers.

Pulling his own knife from the holder strapped to his leg, Trip moved forward to help Hutchens. However, before he could reach the combatants, arms encircled him from behind. His chest was compressed sharply, forcing the air from his lungs and causing him to drop his knife. Approaching from the front, a huge diver, of a species Trip did not recognize was waving a large serrated knife in his face. His assailant was wearing a re-breather but no diving mask. Trip could see red scales covering his face and hands.

Struggling to free his arms from the guy behind him, Trip glanced past Big Red, as he had quickly come to think of him. To his horror, he saw Corporal Gomez floating lifeless against the sandy ocean bottom. Blood swirling away from the deep slash across his throat.

Trip's arms were held in an iron grip. The diver in front of him was moving in, flashing his knife. He assumed that he was about to have his throat cut as well, but instead, Big Red grabbed his right wrist and pulled it forward. With a quick flick he sliced into Trip's forearm and gave the knife a twist. Trip was wearing a full facemask so there was nothing in his mouth to stifle his scream. Red continued to dig the knife tip into Trip's flesh until finally the transponder popped out of Trip's arm and floated away in a trail of blood.

Trip felt a hypospray pressed into his neck, then unconsciousness beginning to overtake him. The last sight Trip saw was a knife being plunged into Hutchens' belly. As Trip's limp body was towed away, Hutchens' lifeless form settled on the sea floor next to Gomez.

Malcolm wasn't sure how he knew, but when the hair on the back of his neck stood up, he was sure something was wrong.

"Reed to Enterprise. Give me a location on Mr. Tucker." Malcolm waited only an instant for the reply.

"Commander, Lt. Sato here. Mr. Tucker's signal is located at the smaller of the two offshore reefs, about two hundred kilometers from your location."

"Hoshi, run a scan and tell me how many human life signs you're picking up near Tucker's location."

The ensuing pause chilled Malcolm for reasons he did not understand.

Hoshi's voice, sounding very puzzled, finally replied. "Commander, there are no life signs other than marine life in the area, including the site of the transponder signal."

Reed clenched his jaw. "Damn it!"

Trip heard voices. Although they sounded like they were coming from a distance, he could just make out what they were saying.

"He told us to bring both of them or don't bother."

"What are we going to do, she's dying? Should we contact him, Captain Krell?"

"No! We aren't going to bother him until we know for sure."

Moaning, Trip opened his eyes and then quickly shut them again. It was too late for that to help, the vertigo and nausea won out. Trip rolled onto his side and vomited until he thought he would surely die.

"Look at him Captain…after what it did to her, I told you we shouldn't have used the same stuff on him."

"Shut up, we didn't have time to get anything else. That was our one shot to grab Tucker. Give him some water, clean him up, and let him sleep for a while. He will be fine…he has to be."

Trip rolled over. For the first time in a while, his stomach contents didn't. Sitting up slowly and rubbing his face with the palms of his hands, Trip decided that he would probably live. Opening his eyes, he looked at his surroundings. From the vibrations, Trip knew he was on a ship of some sort and at Warp from the feel of it. The bed he was sitting on was relatively comfortable and the quarters appeared small and austere.

When he was fairly sure he wouldn't fall on his face, Trip stumbled to the bathroom. He didn't have any idea how long it had been since he was kidnapped, but he was still wearing his brightly colored swim trunks and they were dry. Trip rinsed out his mouth and then drank his fill of cool water from the tap. After using the facilities, Trip returned to the bed and sat down. He glanced at the neat white bandage circling his right forearm. Damn nice of them to bother, after nearly killing me, he thought. He needed to find out who had him, what their purpose was in taking him, and how he was going to escape.

Trip stood and after testing the door and finding it locked, began to search the room for a comm panel. Suddenly the door swished open and he whirled to face an alien holding a gun.

"Ah, Mr. Tucker, I am pleased to see you recovered."

It was the tall, red-scaled thug that had drugged him. "Well considering the stuff you gave me nearly killed me…fuck you buddy!"

"Language, Mr. Tucker. You are temporarily my guest."

Trip's head snapped up. "I hope you realized that Starfleet probably has a ship on your trail even as we speak"

"Ah yes, no doubt you are referring to Enterprise. Captain Archer and I have crossed paths before. One of my endeavors did not work out as planned. I ended up on a shuttle bound for Canamar prison. Your Captain Archer and Commander Reed were aboard and thwarted a plan to kill the prisoners. I managed to escape custody in the confusion after we were transferred off of Enterprise."

"If you know of Jonathan Archer, then you know how tenacious he is. If you want to survive with your scaly hide intact, you better let me go."

"He is indeed resourceful…a force to be reckoned with, but fortunately, we are very far away from his ship."

"What is it you want…money? I'm sure I can better any amount you have been promised."

Red motioned with the gun for Trip to precede him out the door. "Of course I want money, but there is more to it than that, Mr. Tucker. Now, if you can manage to survive the next few minutes, I will be closer to receiving that money."

"Aren't you going to at least give me some clothes and shoes?"

With a smile that reminded Trip of a snake, Red replied, "You won't need them."

Trip felt slightly ridiculous plodding through the ship barefoot, but realized wardrobe was the least of his problems.

They stopped in front of a door. It was guarded by two armed thugs. Trip got close and glanced in the small eye-level window in the door. It appeared to be quarters similar to the ones he had occupied, but more heavily reinforced. Perhaps a brig of some sort as the window in the door implied.

There was one occupant. Sitting on the floor, huddled in the far corner, was a woman. Her head was bowed and long hair obscured her face.

"Who is that?"

"Who she is does not matter at the moment. What she is seems to be the problem."

Trip ground his teeth. He was getting tired of all this cryptic bullshit. "Okay, what is she?" he spat.

"She is a Vulcan female in the throes of blood fever. Unfortunately, the drug we used on the two of you sent her into an artificial fever."

Shaking his head, Trip said under his breath, "pon farr."

Eyes widening, his captor asked, "You have heard of this, Human?"

"Yeah, I know what it is. I also know she'll die if she doesn't mate soon."

"We were informed of this as well. One of my soldiers volunteered to go in there and…assist her."

Trip's brows drew together. "He didn't hurt her did he?" Trip growled.

"Hardly…she killed him, and also the Andorian slave that we threw in there with her. She put her fingers on the side of their faces for a moment, snarled and then quickly snapped their necks."

Trip felt a surprising amount of concern for this woman. "Isn't there anything you can do for her, to ease her pain, drugs maybe?"

"We have one last option, Mr. Tucker…you."

Backing up a little, Trip gave a nervous chuckle. "Wait a minute, you go to all the trouble of kidnapping me and then decide to throw me in a cell with a crazy woman that will probably kill me?"

"I'm sorry Mr. Tucker, but the deal we brokered was for both of you alive or there is no deal. If she dies of the fever we lose everything. So, in you go."

Fighting against the guards forcing him through the door, Trip yelled, "What am I supposed to do?"

Red smiled as the door slammed shut. "Be charming, Mr. Tucker."

Trip stayed as far from the woman as possible. For a few moments she ignored his presence, but then slowly lifted her head and sniffed the air. As her hair fell back from her sweat soaked face, Trip got his first look at the beautiful woman.

"Oh my God! Professor T'Pol?"