Star Trek: Enterprise

This textbook is what you wanted me to see?

Not exactly.

Look familiar?

This was my first astronomy book.

My father got it for me on my 8th birthday.

I used to stare at the cover for hours.

The Arachnid Nebula.

Who'd ever have thought I would get to see it in person.

It's less than a light year away. We'll be there in a few hours.

"From the library of Admiral Jonny Archer"?

I had high hopes when I was a kid.

- Yes? - Sir,

there's a ship approaching at half impulse. They're hailing us.

Do you know who it is?

Hoshi says they're using a Vulcan frequency.

Doesn't look like any Vulcan ship I've ever seen.

This class of vessel hasn't been used for a long time.

They're hailing us again.

- Is this the Earth vessel, Enterprise? - It is.

I'm Captain Jonathan Archer.

My name is Tavin, captain of the Vahklas.

It's very good to meet you.

"It's been a long road Gettin' from there to here"

"It's been a long time"

"But my time is finally near"

"And I will see my dream Come alive at last"

"I will touch the sky"

"And they're not gonna Hold me down no more"

"No, they're not gonna change my mind"

"'Cause I've got faith of the heart"

"I'm going where my heart will take me"

"I've got faith to believe"

"I can do anything"

"I've got strength of the soul"

"And no one's gonna bend or break me"

"I can reach any star"

"I've got faith"

"I've got faith"

"Faith of the heart"

I get the feeling you weren't sent out here by the High Command.

Not quite. We're a civilian ship.

What brings you out this far?

I suppose you could say we're on a mission of exploration.

From what I'm told, Vulcans aren't that interested in exploring.

We're not typical Vulcans.

I'd be happy to explain, but first I'd like to ask a favour.

Certainly.

Our propulsion and life support systems are in need of repair.

We'd be grateful for any assistance you could ofer.

We'll see what we can do.

We've noticed the High Command looking over our shoulders

- on several occasions as well. - That's good to know.

I was starting to think they'd singled us out.

Our chef's had a lot of experience lately preparing Vulcan dishes.

T'Pol says he's gotten pretty good at it.

- What is that? - Oh, it's called chicken.

May I?

Of course.

It's...

...meat, you know.

It looks delicious.

So when did you leave Vulcan?

Eight years ago.

And in those eight years,

we've experienced more than most Vulcans will in their lifetime.

You said you were explorers?

Yes, but it's not space we're exploring. It's ourselves.

You're V'tosh ka'tur.

I'm sorry?

"Vulcans without logic."

It's a name the Elders give to anyone who disagrees

with the ancestral teachings, but it's not entirely accurate.

We haven't abandoned logic.

We've simply learned to exist

without the need to continually repress our emotions.

It's taken years of experimentation,

but we've managed to find a balance between the two.

That's not possible.

Here we are.

Logic is an essential part of Vulcan existence.

But it has to complement emotions, not exclude them.

You must know a great deal about emotion.

You live on a human starship.

That's not something that many Vulcans would be comfortable with.

I am here as an observer.

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to offend you.

I'm not capable of feeling offence.

My chief engineer tells me your repairs are gonna take three or four days.

We were going to use that time to explore the nebula

if you don't mind tagging along.

Not at all.

I've never seen an engine this far gone.

We're gonna have to swap out every plasma relay in your reactor.

There are a lot of women on your ship.

Yeah, nearly a third of the crew.

Is it true you mate year-round, with any of them you choose?

You haven't been around humans too much, have you?

You are the first we've met, but I've heard a lot of stories.

Your people indulge their passions.

Do you really eat six meals a day?

More like three.

And what about sleep?

I understand you spend more than half the day in bed.

Eight hours. We sleep for eight hours.

In my case, about six.

When we're through here, maybe we can get a bite to eat.

I might be able to clear up some of your...

...misconceptions.

I'd like that, commander.

Call me Trip.

They've asked for any medical supplies we can spare

and 1,000 litres of plasma coolant.

Well, that shouldn't be a problem.

Tavin has also requested the recipe for chicken marsala.

Tell him chef's recipes are usually classified,

but we'll make an exception in this case.

I thought you'd be spending a little more time getting to know our guests.

I've been busy.

It seems to me like you've been busy avoiding them.

I can understand that you might not approve of what they're trying to do.

But for all we know, they're onto something.

That's unlikely.

Is it?

Eight years.

That's a pretty good track record.

Just because they smile and eat chicken

doesn't mean they've learned to master their emotions.

Maybe I'm just relieved to finally meet some Vulcans

who aren't giving me a hard time.

Then again...

...if they have found this balance...

They're not the first ones to attempt this, captain.

Others have tried to reintegrate their emotions.

They all failed.

What they're doing is dangerous.

Unless my instincts are way off,

they don't seem very dangerous to me.

But I could be wrong.

I can't order you to spend time with them,

but I would encourage you to keep an open mind.

So this is the mess hall.

It is.

The crew must not have much of an appetite.

Most of them are asleep. It's quite late.

Could you show me how to operate this?

- What would you like? - I'm not sure.

I don't have much experience with human food.

What's that?

- Mint tea. - That will be fine.

Mint tea, hot.

Thank you.

It has a lot of flavour.

- You can try something else. - No, it's fine. I'm just surprised.

Do you like the taste?

Their selection of Vulcan beverages is limited.

But it can make Vulcan tea?

Yes.

Interesting.

Unless you need further assistance...

How long have you lived among humans?

I spent two years at the Vulcan Consulate on Earth

and seven months on Enterprise.

That's a long time away from home.

Living here has obviously affected you in ways that you don't realize.

You may be right.

On occasion, I also drink chamomile tea.

And you have a sense of humour.

A concept that most Vulcans can't seem to grasp.

You're easily amused.

There's the humour again.

I'm curious.

Why do you stay here?

Captain Archer needs a science officer.

Is that the only reason?

Maybe you're more attached to these people than you care to admit.

What makes you say that?

Your emotions are much closer to the surface than other Vulcans.

They're easier to read.

I have yet to meditate this evening. Perhaps that's what you're sensing.

This may surprise you, but we still meditate.

The balance between emotion and logic requires constant discipline.

So you've said.

You and your colleagues have chosen a reckless path.

Have we?

History's shown that Vulcans who attempt to embrace their emotions

often revert to their primal nature.

That's a myth. Propaganda from 5,000 years ago.

Our primal nature, T'Pol, is not as dangerous as you think.

Commander Tucker suggested I try something called "pizza."

Would you care to join me?

I've already eaten.

Another time, perhaps.

Is it what you imagined, sir?

Pictures don't do it justice.

It's big. Over 8 billion kilometres in diameter.

Eight billion? Are you sure?

According to sensors.

My astronomy book said it was only 6 and a half.

We'll have to send our readings to the publisher