Between Friends

By novelwriter

What could possibly come between friends???

Chapter One

The Enterprise was zooming through space. Captain Archer was in his chair monitoring the view screen. Just then Ensign Sato broke the silence. Looking at the Captain she said, "Sir, we are being hailed. Shall I put it through?"

"Go ahead Ensign." Archer said as he turned back to the view-screen. "My name is Captain Jonathan Archer of the Enterprise we are from Earth. How may my crew be of assistance?"

"Please help me! I am being held captive against my will." The voice said

Just then the transmission was cut off. Now Captain Archer was staring at a blank screen. Looking over at Ensign Sato he asked "Were you able to trace that transmission?'

"Yes, sir. It came from a Suliban ship that was patrolling the area."

"Travis, let's see if we can follow it. I want to know where it goes." Archer said to the helmsmen

Just then, Sub-Commander T'Pol raised an eyebrow at the Captain to show her displeasure for the new assignment that they were going on. Archer shot her a dirty look that said "Don't you ever undermine my authority in front of my crew again or Commander Tucker and I will throw you out of an airlock. If that doesn't work Lt. Reed will throw you in the Brig." T'Pol stood at attention even though it was common knowledge on the Enterprise that she hated being assigned to the ship.

Meanwhile in Engineering…

Commander "Trip" Tucker was in his engineering office doing some paperwork that he knew Captain Archer would want to look at. Just then the COM link in Tucker's office beeped. Tucker walked over to the COM link.

"Tucker here."

"Trip, how are the reports coming?" Archer asked

"Fine Captain." Came the response.

"Good, cause we just got hailed by someone held captive and I want you on the away mission."

"Will do."

Archer wanted Trip on the mission with him just in case the individual was hurt and they had to carry the person back to the shuttlepod. The Captain knew that T'Pol could hold her own and if she had to she probably could lift the person they were guessing had numerous injuries. Archer did not want have to depend too much on T'Pol unless it was a matter of his life and death. Before he got the away team assembled he told Dr. Phlox to await someone with any kind of injuries. Captain Archer did not know why it was important to go on this mission but he figured as a human Captain getting a distress call from another human he should do anything in his power to help the person in question. Captain Archer did not want to put his crew at risk for this person they did not know but if aliens were hurting another human then he was going to intervene on the person's behalf.

Trip didn't even question the Captain. He just figured that his longtime friend must know what he was doing. He learned long ago to trust this man with his life-if there was anyone that he had to trust with it anyway. Trip straightened up some things but for the most part just kept his office in complete chaos since he was in a hurry anyway. He figured that Jon wasn't going to come down here right before the missions so he decided that he was pretty much safe for the meantime.

In Archer's ready room T'Pol spoke up. "Captain, why is this particular mission so important to you? Do you know who this person that we are going after is? If you do I think the rest of us including myself deserve some sort of explanation."

Captain Archer gave T'Pol a glare that told her she better not undermine his authority in front of the others otherwise than they will think it is okay. "Listen, T'Pol I don't know who sent the transmission. However, she is human and needs our help so that makes it part of my priority. Until I hear from the Admiral to do otherwise that will be our current project. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Captain." T'Pol said

Sub-Commander T'Pol turned and left the room. Once she was gone out of earshot Captain Archer sighed "Vulcans!" He knew that it would be hard having one on the first ship from Starfleet. It didn't help matters sometimes that his dad built the ship alongside his longtime colleague. He thought to himself what would dad say if he knew I had a Vulcan on board? He must be rolling over in his grave. He kept telling himself that if Trip weren't on board as the Chief Engineer he probably would go crazy by now. Thank goodness I have Porthos he thought to himself otherwise I might get a little homesick.

Captain Archer walked back from his ready room to his quarters. He was too tired right now and he did not exactly want to start a conversation-especially with his good friend Trip Tucker. Jon knew that Trip could talk your ear off if you let him. He decided what he needed most was a good night sleep and he was determined to have just that. He hoped that things would look better in the morning. If all else failed he knew that he could go to sickbay to see Dr. Phlox for something to help him sleep. Unfortunately, Dr. Phlox was a terminally happy Denobulan doctor who did not always understand humans.

Once inside his cabin the captain sighed for a moment. He thought, whew that was close. I would have hated trying to explain myself now especially at this time of night. I don't know what I would do if this continues. He decided not to over analyze it and just go with it. He knew that the Enterprise should be at their destination as soon as tomorrow and he had to admit that pleased him for some reason. Maybe it was because he was helping another human but he just didn't know or care right now because he was just concentrating on sleep. All he knew was that he definitely did not need a certain Vulcan telling him how to run his ship. I am going to have to write her up for that little outburst and if she continues well…I don't want to think about that right now but if she and Tucker start fighting I may have to separate those two.

When Captain Archer walked onto the bridge the crew stood at attention and was about to salute him when all of a sudden he looks at them and says "Cut that out!" Sure, Captain Jonathan Archer was the first Starfleet Captain but he had never been much on formalities and perhaps that is why when everyone was off duty he allowed them to call him by his first name.

Just the thought of this sickened Sub-Commander T'Pol who was all business all the time. T'Pol was about to give him her world famous raised eyebrow. When Archer shot her a dirty look Commander Tucker almost burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter but it was Malcolm to beat Archer to the punch and looked over at Tucker.

"Captain, should I duck-tape the Commander's mouth shut?" asked Lt. Reed

"No, Lieutenant there will be no need for that." Captain Archer said as he tried to suppress a giggle. The Captain tried to picture that but decided against it.

"Travis, are we any closer today to the ship than we were yesterday?" Archer asked the helmsmen

"Sir, we can catch up to the ship in question by the end of the day." Travis said

"Thank you, Travis." Archer said

Just then T'Pol spoke up. She looked over at the Captain as to request permission. He nodded his approval and she continued by saying "The ship is Suliban in nature and therefore it is my logical opinion that the Suliban have this person as a slave."

Oh great! The Suliban may be involved with this somehow and I don't exactly get along with them the Captain thought. This is not a good day to be Captain. I only hope that tomorrow is better and that the person in question isn't too badly when we get there. I certainly don't my science officer adding anymore of her Vulcan cynicism otherwise, I may have to take drastic measures. If I didn't know any better I would suspect she is jealous. Wait a minute-Vulcans don't get jealous. Do they? I really have to get to sleep before I start to lose my mind.

When Captain Archer walked onto the bridge the next day he saw his faithful crew as well as the people that he now considered his friends. He looked around the bridge and then turned to face the helmsmen.

"Morning Travis. Are we any closer to that ship? I know I asked that yesterday but I thought there might have been some progress since yesterday at this time. I just want to get the person that is in that situation out of there before it gets any worse than it already is." Archer said.

"Morning Sir. We have made much progress and it looks good for today to try and get whoever this person is. Unfortunately, we don't know much more than that at this time. I will keep you posted on our current course." Travis said to the Captain in an almost overenthusiastic tone.

A short time later…

Captain Archer's crew got to their destination. The others were not sure what they would find or what kind of condition the individual would be in. Lt. Reed and Commander Tucker decided that they should go with the Captain. From the outside the ship they found looked old and deserted. Once they were out of their shuttlepod and on the other ship they did not see anything too out of the ordinary. Just then, the Captain heard something but he wasn't sure what direction it was coming from.

"I heard something that sounded like a female voice. I just don't know where it is coming from. Do you two think we can lock on to the bio-sign?" Archer said

All of a sudden Tucker and Reed heard the same voice that their Captain had heard earlier. In a matter of minutes the three men approached the female prisoner. They saw that she was pretty well tied and bound so she couldn't move.

"Let's get you out of here. Once you are on Enterprise you should be safe." Archer said to the women

The Captain carried the woman back to the shuttle-pod. Once inside the shuttle the four humans prepared to get back to the Enterprise. Trip Tucker found himself stealing glances at the women-and the funny thing was that he didn't even know why. It wasn't long before they met up with the Enterprise and brought the human women they found to sickbay.

Dr. Phlox was looking terminally happy and the Captain thought it might have something to do with his new patient. The Denobulan Doctor had to admit that humans fascinated him. However, at this moment the only thing that he was concerned with was her well being. The Doctor was truly professional when he knew it was needed and right now was one of those instances where it was warrented.