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T’Pol looks at herself in the mirror. For the first time, she doesn’t wear a uniform cut in the Vulcan High Command’s fashion. She looks at the gold piping of command under her shoulders on the navy blue jumpsuit of United Earth’s Starfleet. She reaches up and touches the three silver squares of her new rank, official now, rather than a brevet.
She wonders what her motivation is. She can think of only one thing.
A life chosen based on loyalty. Loyalty to one man.
The door opens. Jonathan Archer stands there. He looks her in the eye, then smiles slowly.
“Once this ceremony is over, you can start wearing something that’s more to your people’s style,” he says. The smile softens. “I know what this might cost you, T’Pol. I appreciate your loyalty, to me and this crew. We know your heart.”
He turns to exit her quarters as she follows. One eyebrow raises as she sees the crew of the Enterprise lining the passageway, all at attention. She stops and looks at them.
“Number One,” Archer says.
As she follows him to her new life, she thinks that she is demonstrating loyalty to something else.
Her own heart.