The Logic of T'Pol

T'Pol - Science Officer
 of Enterprise - NX01

Many sci-fi viewers think Vulcans are incapable of emotion but this is incorrect. Vulcans are naturally emotional but the majority of them began to actively suppress emotions after a foolish nuclear-conflict nearly destroyed their planet. They hoped that the pursuit of logic and reason along with the suppression of emotions would enable them to avoid similar mistakes while making a better life for all.

Now we all know this "logic thing" is nothing more than a literary construct devised to tell a complicated story. That said, modern day humans would be wise to adopt a similar philosophy. Why? Where is the logic in preferring one religion over another then engaging in violence over it? Where is the logic in believing people with a specific skin pigmentation (or lack thereof) are inferior to another? Where is the logic in ethnic cleansings? Were is the logic in preferring one political party over another when people of every political ideology have lied more than not. Maybe we should all calm down while tempering our emotions.

The 'Science Officer' Speaks

• T’Pol: "Doubt is the basis of all scientific progress."
  Star Trek: Enterprise "Chosen Realm" (3.12)
  Plot: Enterprise is taken over by religious zealots who want to use Enterprise for a war against heretics
  
  NSR Comment: Healthy doubt fuels scientific methodologies but there is a huge difference between healthy doubt and perpetual denial. Religious people are (correctly) skeptical when looking at scientific proof, but their skepticism level drops to zero when examining their own religious doctrine (skepticism returns when presented with a different religious doctrine). Don't believe me? The dictionary definition of FAITH is "belief that is not based on proof". So today you find people who believe the world is 6,000 years old only because the book of Genesis (Judeo/Christian Bible) says so, then they introduce lots of pseudo-science to throw doubt on anything conflicting with their faith (this later action being an example of Cognitive Dissonance).
   
  

• Trip: "[I] Thought scientists were supposed to keep an open mind."
  T'Pol: "There is a difference between keeping an open mind and believing something because you want it to be true."
  Star Trek: Enterprise "Cold Front" (1.11)
  Plot: Archer finds out a crewman on Enterprise is helping to fight the Temporal Cold War against Silik and some of the Suliban.

Never Argue With a Vulcan

Trip : You aren't saying much tonight. Don't tell me you're still upset about me and Amanda.
T'Pol: I'm not upset.
Trip : Sure sounds like it.
T'Pol: You're mistaken.
Trip : Why would a few neuro-pressure sessions between me and a MACO be such a big deal. Unless...
T'Pol: Unless what?
Trip : Unless you're a little jealous.
T'Pol: I don't experience jealousy.
Trip : You're doing a pretty fair imitation of it.
T'Pol: I am not, in any way, jealous of you and Corporal Cole.
Trip : You know, your voice is tensing up. That's a dead giveaway.
T'Pol: I didn't know you were an expert in vocal inflections.
Trip : I don't need to be an expert to read you. Come on, admit it. You're a little jealous.
T'Pol: Are you implying that I'm attracted to you?
Trip : That kind of goes along with the assumption, doesn't it?

T'Pol: Is there something else?
Trip : You and Trip used to spend a lot of time here together.
T'Pol: I was instructing him in the practice of Vulcan neuro-pressure.
Trip : I remember. We were lying right there
[points to floor]
Trip : working the neural nodes on each other's feet, talking about the warp engines. How I was hoping to modify them.
T'Pol: How Commander Tucker was hoping to modify them.
Trip : [dejected] Right, Commander Tucker.
[pause]
Trip : You know, he was really starting to enjoy those sessions with you.
T'Pol: They were helping him sleep.
Trip : [voice getting quieter] I'm not sure that's the only reason.
T'Pol: What do you mean?
Trip : Was there ever anything between you and Trip?
T'Pol: If you are referring to a romantic relationship... no.
Trip : The reason I ask is... well... you're all I think about, if you know what I mean. And, I'm not talking about an adolescent crush. That was... well, that was two days ago. This is much more serious, the way I feel about you. Anyway, what's driving me crazy is, I don't know if these feelings are mine... or his.
T'Pol: [voice cracking] I can't answer that.
Trip : I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable.
T'Pol: I'm not uncomfortable.
Trip : I just thought I should tell you this, while I still had the chance.

T'Pol: May I come in?
[Sim nods OK]
T'Pol: I just wanted to say how much your absence will affect the crew... how much it will affect me.
Trip : I appreciate that. All in all, I guess I've a pretty good life...
[T'Pol steps forward and gives him a short but sweet kiss]
Trip : I couldn't have asked for a better going away present.

T'Pol: I think you're mistaken about who's attracted to whom.
Trip : Are you saying I'm attracted to you?
T'Pol: I don't need to say it, you already have.
Trip : I don't remember that conversation.
T'Pol: It wasn't you, it was your clone, Sim told me.
Trip : Sim?
T'Pol: He said he had feelings for me.
Trip : He told you that?
T'Pol: [nodding towards the spot where Sim had stood] Standing right there.
Trip : What the hell was he doing in your room?
T'Pol: Your voice is tensing up.
Trip : Now you're the vocal expert?
T'Pol: I don't need to be an expert to read you.
Trip : I can't believe this. I'm... I'm jealous of... myself?
T'Pol: You're jealous?
Trip : No. Absolutely not. Okay, maybe, maybe I am a little.
T'Pol: Which would mean you're attracted to me. [Trip gives her a look]
T'Pol: It goes with the assumption.
Trip : What just happened here? Did we? Are we?  [T'Pol leans in and kisses Trip strongly]
Star Trek: Enterprise "Harbinger" (3.15)
Plot: Enterprise encounters the Sphere Builders for the first time. T'Pol experiences unexpected emotions and initiates a relationship with Trip. Malcolm and Major Hayes come to terms with their differences.