Chapter 6

Archer and Trip finally met up with T'Pol and Hoshi near the shuttlepod.

"What have the locals told you?" Archer asked.

"It appears that some of the locals have seen some newcomers arrive in this city that are not from here," T'Pol stated. "However, they assumed that they were traders from another city."

"That doesn't seem too out of the ordinary," Trip replied.

"There's more," T'Pol continued. "The two or three locals we talked to had family members who had stumbled onto what these individuals were doing."

"And then what happened?" Archer asked.

"The family members saw some individuals that were not from this city," T'Pol began. "They appeared to be dressed in black, their ears were not the same and furthermore, they did not have ridges on their foreheads."

"Could it be that there are Vulcans here doing scientific research?" Hoshi asked.

"If they were," Archer began. "They would have let Starfleet and us know about it."

"That is correct," T'Pol said. "With what has happened after the Kir'shara, the Vulcans would be more forthcoming on their research, even though I am unsure if this is possible."

"Do you think Mirina and her companions might know something about this?" Trip asked Archer.

"Mirina?" T'Pol and Hoshi asked.

"I don't want to involve her in this," Archer began, "She's been through enough."

"Who are we talking about?" Hoshi cut in.

"A woman that the Capt'n tried to help out," Trip stated. "But she helped herself out."

Archer ignored his friend.

"Was there anything else that the family members told you?" Archer asked.

"They did mention that after their family members had told them this information," T'Pol stated, "These same visitors had followed them and apprehended them."

"Under what grounds?" Trip asked.

"For breaking and entering," Hoshi interjected. "Do you believe that?"

"And we don't know if the government is working with them?" Archer asked T'Pol.

"No," she stated flatly.

Archer rolled his eyes and sighed. He had only one option and it was one he did not want to use.

"Do we know where Mirina is staying?" Archer asked Trip.

"I thought she told you where she lived." Trip said.

"She said she was only visiting from another city," Archer began, "She and a few of her companions are here to do business and to take in the night life."

"She may be one of the best hopes of trying to get information about the other traders that are here," T'Pol suggested.

"Alright, Hoshi, you and Trip will go and talk to some of the other traders to see if they've noticed anything off lately," Archer ordered. "Don't come back until you've found anything."

"Yes, sir," they replied in unison.

"T'Pol, you and I will look for Mirina and her companions," Archer said. "Let's see if they know anything."

"Or if they are the visitors that apprehended some of the local civilians." T'Pol reminded him.

End of Chapter 6