The Spirit Is Willing . . .
There wasn't much that was interesting from an armory standpoint on the unnamed 'minor' planet that orbited the 'uninteresting' yellow star that was much like Sol. So when a group from the Armory Department came back from testing a new mixture of explosive, and were 'checked out' by Dr. Phlox – it came as a surprise that he immediately 'held on to' an irritated Malcolm Reed for further examination. Alternate Universe.
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Jonathan Archer had been scheduled to command the Enterprise during the evening shift, and so was sound asleep having exercised to the extent that he was physically tired. Which of course meant that - when the intercom alerted him that he was needed immediately in Sickbay on the ship neither the man (nor his dog,) was happy at the situation.
Yet his second-in-command, T'Pol, wasn't prone to make unreasonable requests of him – unlike a certain Chief Engineer – and Archer struggled in his half-awake state to remember exactly what was supposed to happen during the dayshift as the ship orbited this planet. He managed to remember that Lieutenant Reed had mentioned using the planet below to test explosive materials, and that it also involved visiting the planet's surface itself.
Dressing quickly, the captain made his way toward Sickbay, where he was intercepted by Dr. Phlox and directed to the window in front of the decontamination chamber, where both Commanders T'Pol and Tucker were waiting – and arguing. Archer ignored them and looked in the chamber via the window, noticing that Reed seemed 'passed out' on a bench. Phlox also looked in the window and said, "I sedated and isolated him because of these readings," and showed the captain a readout of a strange shimmering effect that seemed to indicate almost a twinning of the body of the lieutenant . . . .
Phlox stated quite unnecessarily that this was serious – T'Pol that, "It was a danger to the ship." – and Trip that, he was 'freaking out' about his husband's condition. Since Archer couldn't do anything at the moment about the first two comments, he concentrated on Trip Tucker, who was visibly upset, almost crying. "Trip, we'll figure this out!" – a standard phrase meant to calm an emotional Commander Tucker.
However at that very moment something happened that startled everyone, including T'Pol and a normally oblivious Porthos, who howled at the strange sight from the safety of his master's arms. (Though it must be admitted that the captain, probably by way of body movement, made his small canine anxious and he reacted.)
The figure on the bench in the decon chamber seemed to stir, and after a momentary hesitation of decision, sat up. And didn't sit up.
The former swung his legs onto the floor and stood up, spotting the group at the window of the chamber. Lieutenant Malcolm Reed as always was 'proper' whilst on duty, and began his salutation of everyone, with Captain Archer. "Captain, Commanders, Doctor . . . did I 'pass out' in Sickbay?" That query might have normally sufficed but Porthos was still baying frantically, and everyone had backed away from the window – even Trip, who in fact had been leaning on T'Pol as he was feeling wobbly. This was not happening!
Reed frowned as he stood in front of the window. "Wonderful! Have I come down with some particularly foul malady? Doctor?!" At this point he noticed that Archer was looking between where he currently was, and where he had been laid out on the bench. The thought crossed his mind that he had managed to drip some kind of noxious bodily fluid on the mat and most likely on the way over here. Odd, he didn't feel ill in any way.
Malcolm turned around to see what was so interesting – and was surprised. "Oh . . ."
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A.N. As I mentioned in the other story that I have currently published - I'm off to a new residence – need to set up new internet . . . see you there!