Disclaimer: Don't own 'em, don't make money off 'em.

Notes: Phlox finds himself with a strange companion...and is bewildered at why he ended up with it. (Not the bat, yet. LOL)

Rating: T

Two

Phlox was getting off-shift when Hoshi summoned him to the Situation Table at the back of the Bridge. Accompanying them were Travis, Doctor Malcolm Reed, Lieutenant Commander Jonathan Archer and Trip Tucker. Trip gave Phlox a wide smile and mouthed, "Thank you." Phlox only inclined his head in response.

Hoshi called the meeting to order. "We've received a cordial welcome from the Pyrithians. They invited us to the surface, but there are some things they want us to keep in mind while we're down there. Travis?"

The Science Officer nodded and brought up the results of his planetary scan. "The Pyrithians' planet is basically one huge wildlife preserve and they have strict rules. They don't tolerate any outside interference with their native animal life. No adopting pets, no catching fish for lunch, and no picking the wildflowers. Their ecology's pretty delicate and the slightest disruption has widespread consequences."

Hoshi nodded. "They have special areas set aside for breeding and conservation projects. Lately, their generators haven't been functioning up to their expectations. They're asking for a trained engineer's opinion, so Phlox, I'd like you to accompany the Away Team with some of your engineers."

"Of course, Captain," he replied.

"I want Jon, Malcolm and Trip along as well. Travis, Lieutenant Khartoumb's your Exobiology specialist, isn't he?"

"That's right, Sameer's one of the best," Travis answered with a smile.

"I want the two of you to arrange some scientific teams. Pyrithia has unique lifeforms that we've haven't seen before and their wildlife Rangers are willing to share information."

"Gladly, ma'am." Travis said with a grin. He looked ready to jump into the assignment with both feet first. Phlox matched the grin. He reminds me of my second youngest son...always eager to push the boundaries of scientific knowledge....

"Do you want Kov on this too?" Trip asked. "I think he would appreciate some distraction, especially after what happened on Betazed."

Hoshi nodded soberly. Kov had unexpectedly met an old friend from the Vulcan Medical Academy, who turned out to be part of a conspiracy. He had been forced to witness that friend's demise, and since then, kept mostly to himself. "Malcolm? Is he up to another Away Mission?"

"I agree with Mister Tucker. He would appreciate the distraction after what happened with Jossen. He needs to regain some self-confidence in his calling as a Healer, and his empathy would do well with the animal life, I think." Malcolm's expression was grave, but his eyes sparkled.

"All right. Phlox, Trip, Malcolm, Jon and Kov. Shuttle Bay one in ten minutes. Travis, you're in command. Dismissed."

The senior crew scattered to their assignments. Phlox sighed and headed back to Engineering. He'd much preferred the confines of his engine room to the wide open spaces of an unfamiliar planet, but perhaps some fresh air and sun would spur some new ideas from deep within his subconscious...

Besides, this seems like a peaceful contact so far. What can go wrong?

The first thing that Phlox smelled was the scent of wildflowers. Its heady perfume made his head swim and his eyes water. He reached up and wiped tears with his sleeve. When he could see again, he realized the Away Team stood in a clearing that was outlined in silver light.

"Oh, my," he murmured. A full moon hovered just over the treetops, shining gently on the babbling brook at his feet. The wind blew ripples in the water and flicked drops on Phlox's skin. Green and brown hills loomed in the distance, against a backdrop of majestic purple mountains. His nose twitched. Phlox pressed the bridge of it with two fingers to ease the sudden pressure.

"Are you all right?" came a soft voice behind his shoulder.

Phlox turned his head to see Doctor Reed. How is he able to move so quietly? He is full of surprises indeed. Aloud he said, "I can't seem to keep my eyes clear and my nose suddenly feels...odd. The wildflowers seem to be adversely affecting me, Doctor."

Malcolm ran his medical scanner over Phlox, then chuckled. "It seems that you are having an allergic reaction, Phlox."

"Allergic reaction? Denobulans don't have—"

"—allergic reactions," Malcolm chorused with him. He cocked his head to the side and raised his eyebrows. "So your people claim, but apparently the local flora wishes to disprove it. Here, this should help." He pressed a hypospray against Phlox's arm and pressed the trigger. "This should last you eight hours. If you feel the symptoms returning, let me know and I'll give you a booster."

"Thank you, Doctor." Phlox smiled at him, as his eyes cleared and his nose stopped twitching. He looked around for the captain, then---

SSSSQQQQQUUUAWWWWWWWWKKKKKK!!!!!

"Get down!" Malcolm yelled. He completely disregarded Denobulan tradition by grabbing Phlox by the arm and yanking him down to the ground. A second inhuman screech echoed over their heads, the sound of a frustrated demon that had missed its prey.

"What the hell----?" Trip Tucker burst out and immediately tackled Hoshi out of the way. They rolled for cover behind some bushes, just as a large bird-like shape flew inches past their heads. Automatically, Trip's phase pistol went up, but Kov put a hand on his arm.

Phlox cautiously lifted his head and glanced around him. He saw a large avian circling above them, its magnificent wings spread across the sky. That wingspan must be at least a meter from tip to tip, Phlox thought, judging the distance with a trained eye. It beat its wings as if trying to gain altitude, but the movement was...awkward.

"It's been injured," Kov said suddenly. "A broken wing."

"A fall from that height will kill it," Phlox said grimly. "There must be some way for us to help it—" Then above them, was another cry that echoed over the clearing. The bird responded, circled once more, then angled down. It hesitated and pulled back up, like a shuttlepod aborting a landing.

"It can't land," Hoshi cried, "or it won't for some reason."

The sound of running feet caught Phlox's attention, and two women burst into the clearing. One of them wore a tunic of sturdy beige canvas, tucked into denim pants, which were tucked in turn into thick-heeled boots. Her skin was a few shades lighter than Travis Mayweather's, black hair in two thick cables over her shoulders and curled up under a wide-brimmed hat. She towered over both Trip and Jon Archer, which was a strange sight. Next to the Pyrithian was a much shorter being, about Captain Sato's height, with a fall of pure ice-white hair and shimmering blue eyes. She was also dressed in outdoor gear and her translucent skin gave her the appearance of an angel. This woman seemed to glow with an phosphorous light. Phlox thought she had some kind of otherworldly beauty; right now, that beauty was hard as diamond.

Both women glanced at the members of the Away Team, huddled under cover. The taller woman met Phlox's gaze, then he heard in his mind, Yes, you can help us.

"What—?" he sputtered aloud, but he didn't have time to finish the question, for she had already crossed the distance between them with uncanny speed and was kneeling next to him. Her wide dark eyes had a commanding expression, like a charismatic general had over his troops.

"We need your help," she said in accented Standard English. "Can you help?"

"Tell me what you need me to do," he answered firmly.

She thrust a hawker's glove into his hands. "Put this on your right arm; make sure the straps fit snugly over your wrist and hand, then follow me."

The engineer nodded and did as she asked. The glove was surprisingly comfortable; he could make repairs on the warp core wearing this. He was still affixing the last strap when he took off running after her.

"Stand right there, hold your arm out and whatever you do, don't allow the bird to touch the ground. Do you understand?"

"Clearly," Phlox replied. His skin crawled at the prospect of actually holding the bird, but he firmly shoved the feeling aside. Obviously, these women knew what they were doing. They were worried about the animal's safety and welfare, but were channeling that terror into positive action. Phlox was impressed by their relative calm.

The woman nodded at her companion and gave an order in a foreign tongue. The white-haired girl nodded back and cupped her hands around her mouth. She took a deep breath and let out a cry that mimicked the bird's call. Again, the bird responded and spiraled downwards towards Phlox, talons outstretched at him. He was rooted to the spot; he couldn't move even if he wanted to. The hawk's golden-black gaze commanded his, pain and fear and horror poured into his mind, and his voice was stuck in his throat as the bird closed the gap between them, as precise as a torpedo...

You...like-mind...no more afraid...

And the bird landed on his arm, the impact causing him to stumble backwards. He remembered the woman's warning: Don't allow the bird to touch the ground. The hawk flapped its wings, trying to regain its balance, but only succeeded in tipping Phlox off his feet. Then he felt hands steadying him from behind and preventing him from falling flat on his back. The hawk croaked a miserable note and shuddered, hiding its head under its uninjured wing. The other one was bent at a strange angle. Phlox winced in sympathy.

"Thank you," said the white-haired woman as her friend slipped a hood over the hawk's head. It hissed as she tried to transfer it from Phlox's arm to the glove on her own arm. Her confused expression seemed more than just a little troubled. "It won't leave him Thala," she said to the dark-skinned woman.

"Imprint, Mylene?" Thala asked, her voice incredulous.

"It can't be; it's too old to imprint."

"We'll puzzle it out later. Right now, we have to get it to the Shelter." Thala suddenly remembered that they had an audience. She looked at Phlox. "Captain Sato?"

Phlox shook his head. "I am Commander Phlox. Captain Sato is the woman right behind you."

Thala half-turned to see Hoshi. "Forgive me, but your commander must accompany us to the Shelter. It seems the Moon Hawk refuses to leave him." At Hoshi's nod, she turned back to Phlox. "Are you a doctor or a veterinarian of some sort?"

"Ah, no. I am an engineer." Phlox found the question rather odd and glanced over at Malcolm, but the Englishman's mystified expression mirrored his own. Kov also looked confused at the apparent non sequitur.

Now Thala looked really concerned. She opened her mouth to say something, thought better of it, then closed her mouth. "Follow us, Commander Phlox, and you might want your doctors at your side."

Malcolm nodded and moved to Phlox's side as Kov took up the other. As they all followed Thala and Mylene into the trees, Phlox caught Hoshi's look of reassurance, but there was worry deep within her eyes. She knew about as much as Phlox of what was happening, but whatever it was affected her deeply.

I was overly hasty when I wondered what could go wrong on this Away Mission, he thought. The irony nearly made him smile.

Phlox sat on an examination table with the Moon Hawk still attached to the hawking glove on his wrist. Jon Archer stood next to him and made reassuring noises to it. Strangely enough, Jon was the only other person whom the hawk accepted. It shrieked at Hoshi, Kov, Malcolm and Trip and they all kept their distance.

"Have you had any pets, Commander Phlox?"

Phlox half-shrugged at Mylene's question as he replied, "I had a colony of Aegillian bloodworms in a terrarium once as a child and my second father's third wife kept a Thrillian hedgehog as a pet. That's the sum of it. Lieutenant Commander Archer has a pet on board our ship, a dog named Porthos."

"Dog?" Mylene sounded confused.

"A small quadruped," Thala explained. She smiled over at Jon. "One of our interns brought his Doberman from Earth. Is your dog as big?"

"No, Porthos is a beagle. He's a lot smaller than a Doberman," Jon replied with a chuckle, "but sometimes he acts like one."

"If you possess an animal, and interact with it on a daily basis, then that might explain why our animals seem to accept you, Lieutenant Commander," Thala said, "but Commander Phlox...I am at a loss at why the Moon Hawk refuses to leave you."

Phlox smiled. "I'm just gratified that you were able to fix its wing. It was in considerable pain."

Mylene nodded grimly as she put away the bone regenerator. "The nature of the injury is rather suspicious, Commander. I don't believe the Moon Hawk broke its wing in combat with one of its own kind."

Kov frowned at her words and asked, "Do you believe someone deliberately harmed it? Who would do such a thing?"

Mylene speared him with her unblinking blue eyes as she replied, "It seems that it had caught its wing in some sort of trap."

Hoshi scowled at the thought of someone harming one of the Pyrithian animals. "I thought interfering with the native wildlife is expressively forbidden."

"It is, which is why this is so disturbing." Thala stepped to Phlox's side and scratched the Moon Hawk under the chin. The bird seemed to recognize her touch and finally hopped onto Thala's gloved wrist and left Phlox's. "We have had poachers land in the area and attempt to steal our animals. Needless to say, we do not show much mercy when we catch them in the act."

Thala's tone of voice made Phlox shiver. As he looked into her dark eyes, he wholly believed her. "So one of these poachers has harmed the Moon Hawk."

"It appears that way." Thala examined a data cylinder attached to one of the Moon Hawk's leg. "This is a tracking device. We can trace where the Moon Hawk has been and investigate those places for evidence of poachers."

Mylene nodded at Hoshi. "Can you help us, Captain Sato?"

Hoshi glanced at Trip, who nodded. "We can run some planetary scans and detect any other ships from orbit. If they are there, we'll find them. Lieutenant Commander Trip Tucker is my Armory and security officer; he can lend you any assistance you need."

Mylene flashed Trip a smile and said, "Thank you, Lieutenant Commander. We appreciate the help."

"No problem. I owned dogs when I was a kid, so I'm as eager to find these guys as you are," Trip answered. Suddenly, his communicator went off. The Moon Hawk croaked a reply and flapped its wings, but Thala calmed it. "Sorry. I'll take it outside."

As Trip left the room, the lights dimmed and brightened again. Phlox gazed at the lights on the ceiling. "Your power problems?"

Thala nodded. "Yes, our generators have been malfunctioning. We were hoping that you and your engineers could look at them and find out what is happening."

"Certainly. My engineers and I can start right away." Phlox glanced at Hoshi, who nodded assent.

"Excellent. Mylene, can you show Commander Phlox our generator complex? If we can solve the power problems, we could activate our security defenses." Thala winced and added to Hoshi, "I really don't like doing that because it can limit the range of how far our animals can roam, but betters safe than sorry."

"I agree," Hoshi said softly. "We'll help you find out what's happening. Phlox, go ahead. We'll keep in touch."

Phlox hopped off the exam table and replied, "Yes, Captain." He followed Mylene out of the Shelter and into the main complex of the rehabilitation center. The whole compound was built around a garden pool, surrounded by smooth marble tile. Even from here, Phlox could see the schools of fish swimming placidly in the water, their eerie glow illuminated by the light of the moon. Sound of other animals rustling in their sleeping pens carried the soft breeze.

"So peaceful," he commented.

Mylene nodded and said, "Yes, I find the Complex to be quite relaxing. My father is a fisherman on the eastern coast; I grew up among the aquatic life. When this Complex was being built, I wished to help preserve our native life, so I applied here. Thala is a good woman, very dedicated to her cause."

"I can see that." Phlox flashed her a grin. "You've been doing this your whole life, then."

"Yes. This respect for our planet has been ingrained in every Pyrithian native." Her slight smile faded. "Though, there are others who do not have the same respect."

"Captain Sato will assist you in finding the poachers. She has a soft heart for wildlife as well."

Mylene sighed and gestured to another building, made of native stone like the others in the Complex. "Here is our generator building. It provides power to the Complex and two other centers."

Phlox stepped into the room and immediately was taken aback at the sheer size of the generators. The six cylinders took up most of the room, all humming with contained power. He didn't recognize the design, but it definitely wasn't anything he'd seen on any Starfleet installation, or Vulcan or Denobulan. He took out his scanner and carefully walked around each generator.

"There is a definite drop in output in generators two, three and six," he commented, "but it appears the generators themselves are not malfunctioning, but the problem lies within the conduits branching out to the Complex. It will take some time to locate and repair, but we do have a place to start. With your permission?"

Mylene breathed a sigh of relief. "Of course, send for all the help and equipment you need, Commander. If I could be any assistance, please let me know."

He sketched her an elaborate bow. "Thank you, madam." He flipped open his communicator and asked to be connected to Engineering.