There Are No Shadows in the Dark
XI.-
Malcolm fingered his pad to access the plan for crew background checks and give it to the captain, but he never got to do that. The console chirped and showed Starfleet's Intelligence logo surrounded by a bright red thin line, announcing a communication from the investigation team on Mars. Secure channel, thought Malcolm, relieved.
The captain accepted the incoming call and the update meeting started. Rossi's face appeared on the screen and he greeted Archer and Reed, moving back so Hoshi could be seen, too. They both sat at a small elliptical, metallic table. It seemed that they were at the lab where Hoshi was working on the ciphering algorithms. In front of each of them rested a couple of pads. Rossi looked as if he had worked non-stop through the night, his day old stubble and the dark shadows under his eyes clearly visible from Enterprise. Hoshi, on the other hand, was only given away by the strands of hair that carelessly hung at the side of her face and the wrinkles on her uniform. She always looked fresh and shiny in the morning – a typical early bird. Must be Miss Crankiness this morning, considering how much she hates night shifts, Malcolm thought, smiling to himself.
"We're still not done analyzing all the information that's coming out from the de-encrypted files, but we have some new data I think you'll be interested in," Rossi told them.
Late the previous evening, Hoshi had been able to discover how to generate the keys that decrypted business files and medical logs. She discovered that the icons that every Terra Primer was identified by were codes, much like finger prints that translated into numbers. These codes, as well as retinal scans from each individual and sometimes pairs of them, were used to create encryption keys used to cipher logs – personal, medical and business alike. The first logs decrypted were Paxton's. They were a very unsettling and distasteful reading experience, in her opinion, but for Rossi they would provide research material for months. He hoped that the information would help him disarticulate the Terra Prime organization that survived.
"Have you read Ensign Mayweather's and Doctor Phlox's reports?" Rossi continued. Both Archer and Reed nodded.
"Good" he murmured.
Hoshi looked at the commander surprised, When did he have time to do that? she thought. She had been observing Rossi while they browsed through Paxton's files. She noticed that the man could focus on something almost to the point where he wasn't aware of his surroundings. Quite unnerving, if you ask me, she was musing to herself when his voice interrupted her.
"I can confirm that they lost – recently – all of the genetic material they stole from Enterprise. Susan Khouri mishandled it, so it ended up being useless. We don't know if it was intentional or not. Neither did Terra Prime. According to Paxton's log the remains were destroyed after the incident, which is consistent with their Doctor's log. We haven't found how they got the material yet, though."
"I bet they didn't record that kind of information," Archer said.
"Well, sir. I wouldn't bet on that. Paxton believed he'd become a great leader. He recorded almost everything so history would portray him correctly. I'm certain that he saved that kind of information. How he defeated Starfleet – it is here. We just have to be patient," Rossi said almost angrily.
"You OK, Commander?" asked Archer. Rossi's emotionalism took him by surprise. It reminded him of Trip.
"I'm fine, Captain. Just tired and a little on edge," Rossi said. He calmed visibly, but his mind was still reeling. How could Terra Prime and Paxton go this far? Why hadn't Starfleet Intel, himself included, realized the threat they had become before now? He thought about the baby girl that had died because of Paxton's doings and he remembered his babies - his sons – cuddling and laughing with him and his blood boiled.
"There's a freighter that has been a regular visitor to the mining colony for the last 3 years. The ship is the Chimera, and before that was called the Magellan. I already know you've never run into it," he pointed at Hoshi as explanation and then he continued.
"We think it's the third party that Paxton used to access alien technology," Rossi continued, while reaching over to one of the pads and browsing through it.
"What's the cause of the name modification?" Malcolm asked.
"It was transferred from a Boomer family to a European citizen, Klaus Bern, six months before its first visit to Orpheus. The new owner changed its name," said Hoshi while tucking her rebellious hair behind her ear.
"Aquí está," Rossi muttered and looked up. Hoshi was looking at him with a pensive look. She had been picking up his slips into Spanish since they met, but still hadn't been able to identify where he was from.
"Sorry" he said, looking at the console. Both Archer and Reed moved their hands, gesturing that it was all right.
So the commander continued. "The information we have on Mr. Bern states that he acquired the Magellan through a well known broker from the Helvetic Confederation, ordered and paid for a complete refit for the ship at a space port on Mars, appointed himself as captain of the Chimera, and has been on board the ship since then." He finished reading and looked at Archer and Reed.
Rossi didn't give them time to ask anything. "And here comes the curious thing. Whenever he visited the Moon, he never met Paxton, well, not officially. It's not recorded on any log. He always met with one of his men, most of the time with Greaves. We found entries that state that the Chimera transported almost anything, including alien medical supplies, sophisticated medical equipment from a Coridan market about two years ago, and several times, from Alpha Eridani II, Rigellian mechanical pieces. Apparently Paxton is a very thorough manager," Rossi said while leaving his pad on the small table again.
"Any idea where the Chimera is now?" Archer's voice sounded clearly from the speakers embedded in the console at the lab where Hoshi and Rossi had been preparing the update for the last hour and a half. Archer's mind worked feverishly, trying to find a good reason that would justify Enterprise going out to search for the Chimera. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he couldn't let the opportunity pass. The Rigellian origin of the mechanical pieces reminded him of Mayweather's theory. Travis might be right, he thought.
"Not really", he heard Rossi answer. "Its last visit to a human outpost was to Jupiter Station about 3 weeks ago, allegedly to deliver a mineral cargo from Orpheus, its next destination Utopia Colony. But its arrival is not recorded on any space port on Mars. We're already checking if Starfleet has any data regarding course changes or communications with the Chimera since it left Jupiter station."
There was something that had bothered Malcolm about the information about the Chimera's captain since he'd heard it, but he hadn't had an opportunity to ask until now. "Wasn't Bern the capital city of Switzerland?" he said, winning strange looks from the captain and Hoshi but not from Rossi, who turned back to the pad he had been reading from.
Hoshi picked up the connection and fingered her pad as well. "Anything on this guy prior the transfer of the ship?" she heard Rossi ask her.
"No, and I don't remember reading anything at all about Bern before he purchased the Magellan," she said, looking at him. "I'll ask Lieutenant Carras to speed up the search on his background," she said, standing up. Rossi nodded and she walked closer to the com system.
"We have a possible alias for the captain, I guess," Archer said to Reed, who nodded.
"Do we have any information on the crew of the Chimera? Those who left the ship during the last four years? Or those who replaced them? I don't think they would bother hiding their identities," Archer offered as a suggestion. Hoshi heard him clearly and passed the idea to Carras right away.
Rossi scrubbed his eyes and forehead before looking at the console. "We didn't think of that," he said apologetically.
"Never mind, it isn't that obvious. Who remembers capital names not used for the last 100 years?" Archer said looking pointedly at Malcolm who shrugged. "How long did you sleep last night?" Archer asked Rossi.
"I didn't. Actually, no one on the team did. We spent the whole night reading whatever was decrypted," he replied tiredly while looking at the captain and Reed.
"Well, sounds like it was a pretty successful reading session, if you ask me," said Archer, smiling. "Did you find anything on that genetic procedure Phlox mentioned in his report?"
Rossi shook his head. "No, but we accessed part of Paxton's medical logs. Commander T'Pol was right on with her suspicions. He had been using Rigellian gene therapy to treat himself for Taggart Syndrome. We filed an inquiry with the Rigellian Medical Authorities regarding the Khoi procedure last night, no response yet."
"Is there anything we can do to help you?" Archer asked.
"No, Captain. But there's something else. The team decoded some of the engineering logs, and the valve design they used originated on Vulcan. The Vulcans have already confirmed that it's theirs, used in commercial ships for the last 50 years. Not a word on the nacelle design though," Rossi told him with a telling look.
He continued while, Archer processed this piece of information. Was it possible that my father's team used Vulcan technology? He was musing, when Rossi's voice floated from the console.
When he heard Rossi, it was as if the Commander had been reading his mind, or perhaps he had become too predictable. It did surprise him.
"Maybe our engineers discovered the same principles as the Vulcans did and ended with a similar design," he volunteered.
"Maybe" said Archer, unconvinced.
"When do you expect to have enough information for a new update?" Malcolm asked Rossi.
"Not before tomorrow I suppose. Anyway, there's not much to do down here now that the encryption has been broken. Our team will be leaving for San Francisco this evening. The investigation will continue from Starfleet Command. The processing capacity available there will speed up the log decoding." Rossi's voice sounded tired.
"So, I can expect you to be back here this evening, then?" The captain asked Hoshi.
"Yes, sir," she said.
"Is there anyway you'll authorize a transfer for Ensign Sato, Captain?" Rossi asked Archer with an amused smile. "I've been trying to convince this lady about the benefits of Starfleet Intelligence, with no luck," he continued. Archer gave Hoshi a questioning look. She shook her head, letting him know she had no intention of leaving Enterprise. Malcolm looked relieved.
"Not a chance, Commander." Archer's voice was clear and firm. "Will you be heading the investigation from San Francisco?" the captain continued.
"No, I'll focus on the sociological aspects, my area of expertise. Commodore McCallum will be leading the investigation as a whole," Rossi answered, relaxing a bit.
"Enterprise will be leaving orbit as soon as our people get back on board. If you're interested, we can give you a ride," Archer offered to Rossi. Even though Enterprise was far more comfortable and faster than whatever transport Starfleet had scheduled for Rossi, Captain Archer wasn't acting unselfishly. He intended to have a long and direct talk with the Commander. If he knows or suspects anything about Terra Primers infiltrating Starfleet, I intend to find out about it, Jon thought.
"Does the ride include meals, sir? Ration packs are not my thing, after all," Rossi answered. He had a friendly smile on his face, but his thought processes concluded that Archer, and Reed as well, would be interrogating him during his stay on Enterprise if he accepted the offer. He could decline. At least three excuses ran through his head. Instead, he decided to board Enterprise, deciding that maybe he could gather some information as well.
Archer and Reed laughed at the Commander's words. "What about dinner with the senior staff? You haven't met our Chief Engineer or Commander T'Pol," Archer suggested.
Rossi nodded in agreement. "I'll see you later then. Sir, Lieutenant," he said in farewell, and the communication ended.
Both Malcolm and Archer watched the console until the communication ended and Enterprise's data display appeared again. The captain was still trying to decide how could he convince Starfleet to let them go after the Chimera while Malcolm re-filled his coffee cup. Reed's action took Archer out of his musings, and he remembered the Lieutenant's words about Bern. How many things do I not know about Malcolm? Archer thought while looking at the coffee pouring into Reed's cup.
"Coffee, sir?" Reed asked. Archer nodded. The sound of liquid in motion was the only sound in the Ready Room.
The Captain took the pad and started reading Malcolm's plan. They spent the next hour discussing it in detail until Archer was satisfied. Reed would run background checks on every crew member – using any means at his disposal.
"I'll decide on the next step based on your results, Lieutenant," said Archer in a satisfied tone, as if the problem was already solved and the entire crew had already been cleared of suspicion.
Malcolm had always envied the Captain's naivety and good will. He himself was a pessimist, after all, and couldn't help but presume the worse for every situation he was involved in. This one was no different.
"Malcolm, have you contacted Harris yet?" The captain asked.
"Not yet, sir" Malcolm said.
Archer looked at him questioningly, but Reed didn't explain himself. "I'll let you know as soon as I reach him, sir."
"Good" was the captain's answer.
XII.-
T'Pol dropped her Vulcan cushions on her bed, finishing her morning ritual: shower, dress, make bed, order cushions, and turned towards the door to leave her quarters. She looked at it and stopped, her eyes returning to her bed. The feel of Trip's touch on her belly was clear in her mind, the scratchy sensation his stubbled cheeks made on hers still tingling. The effect his kisses had on her breathing caused her nostrils to expand in a deep breath. She closed her eyes in a failed attempt to regain her composure. A tiny, almost undetectable, smile crossed her lips. Her eyes opened and she faced the door again. He is most likely waiting for me in the Mess Hall she thought.
An almost uncontrollable desire to leave and run to his side washed over her, but she refrained. T'Pol was glad he'd come to her yesterday. She would not have called for him, even though she missed his presence deeply. Her logic would have prevented it. It would have told her that he was probably doing something useful somewhere else. It would not be logical to interrupt him because she was nostalgic. The bond allowed her to sense what he was doing, not in detail but clearly enough to identify if he was busy or not. She didn't sense busy right now, but anxiousness and sorrow. We must discuss our situation, crossed her mind. Her legs moved in controlled steps as she left her quarters.
On her way to the Mess Hall, Commander T'Pol ordered her thoughts, and decided her discussion with Commander Tucker would have to wait until a proper venue for such an intimate talk was available. During today's breakfast she would learn about Orpheus' engines while enjoying a cup of tea and some Earth fruits. This last desire was one of the many unVulcan customs she had adopted while on Enterprise. She was not supposed to enjoy meals, but she did, especially peaches and strawberries.
She encountered a number of crewmembers on her walk from her quarters and greeted them with curt Vulcan nods, so typical coming from her. Most of them saw and saluted Commander T'Pol, the Science Officer, a strong, intelligent woman, and nobody saw T'Pol, the complex, compassionate and vulnerable person she had become. She was Vulcan, after all.
While entering the Mess Hall, she saw Trip sitting at a table next to a viewport, his hands around a coffee mug, his eyes looking into space. She ordered tea and walked towards him.
He had been sitting alone, staring into the stars for the last five minutes, his coffee cooling between his hands. His mind wondered what the day would bring, what T'Pol would tell him, if she agreed to talk. He could still feel her warm touch on his face, his back, his hands. A smile reached his eyes, and he lowered his face, hiding behind his cup while drinking some coffee, self-conscious of his expression. Trip heard someone saluting him and he turned to see who it was – Crewman Davies from security. He nodded back and spotted T'Pol walking towards him. He thought about restraining himself, but he didn't. He enjoyed watching her openly while she approached him, his eyes traveling down from hers to her hips and then back up to her lips, focusing there until she sat next to him. The sound her cup made when it touched the table made Trip blink and look back at her eyes. Warm dark brown greeted him.
"Want anything special for breakfast?" he asked her while standing up.
"Fruit salad," she said.
He nodded and walked towards the buffet in search of their breakfast. Her first impulse was to follow him with her eyes to study the way he moved while walking – his back, his arms. Instead, she breathed deeply, concentrating on her tea cup, the steam flowing out from it, the smell of chamomile strong in front of her, her mind blank, until he came back.
A couple of minutes later, Trip sat down next to her and both of them ate in silence.
"We need to talk," he said suddenly. She turned her head to look at him. Her eyes were calm but the tightness around her lips gave her away.
"I agree," T'Pol told him. "But I would rather wait until we are in private," she added.
"Tonight?" he asked. She agreed with a slight nod.
"What did you find regarding Orpheus engines?" she asked, redirecting his attention to safer terrain.
"Before I fill you in about that, the captain ordered us to prepare a detailed inventory related to a sensor upgrade that's going to be installed as soon as we leave Mars – Vulcan design," he finished wriggling his eyebrows. "Do you have any plans for this morning?" he asked her.
"No, but I don't believe you'll need my assistance to finish an inventory" she answered. Trip smiled at her teasingly.
"It's a Vulcan upgrade. I'm sure that we'll finish a lot faster if you're there."
She pursed her lips slightly. Doubtful. "Where are the sensors going to be installed?"
"Jupiter Station," Trip said as he buttered his toast.
"Will you be supervising the upgrades?"
"Not sure. The crew's going on shore leave. I…haven't made my mind yet." Trip looked at her for a while.
"Will you go with me?" he asked her quietly. He had been thinking about going to a quiet beach he liked. He was pretty sure she would like it too.
She raised her eyes from the fruit salad she had been eating and looked at Trip. His expression was guarded, his eyes intent on her. A salty smell washed over her, a moist breeze seemed to pass through her hair. She frowned slightly. The beach, she thought. She was certain both of them would benefit from some time alone together. There was much to talk about and agree upon.
"Will we have time for historical and geographical visits?" she asked him while piercing a slice of fresh peach with her fork.
"Sight seeing?" his voice said, amused.
"Essentially," she answered without looking at him.
Trip chuckled, nodding at her. She raised a brow at him, amusement evident in her eyes.
When had she first allowed herself to engage in these games with him? He couldn't remember exactly. They had argued since day one, but at some point, from time to time, it had become a game, a subtle, difficult to notice, flirting and teasing give and take between them. He had never seen her do it with anybody else. Was it because of all those hours they'd spent talking during neuropressure? Probably, he thought. Somehow, during that dark period of their lives they'd won each others trust. For him, it had become clear when he'd let go and cried for his sister in front of her without feeling shame or self-consciousness. T'Pol's change, on the other hand, hadn't been so abrupt. It had unfolded slowly through the months they had spent together since then. She'd done it in her own way, showing him her real self: witty, compassionate, tender and even sweet. Maybe she's not even aware of it, he thought. Her eyes returned to his with a questioning look. He had been watching her tenderly this whole time. He shook his head slightly to let her know everything was fine.
"Are you finished?" she asked him, returning him to the here and now.
"Yep" he said. "Let's go meet with the Captain, Soval'll be here any minute now. I'll tell you about the Vulcan nacelles on our way there."
"What Vulcan nacelles?" T'Pol asked while picking her cup and dish.
"Paxton's," Trip said, shocking her.