SIX

Archer stepped off the shuttle pod with phase pistol in hand. He looked around the countryside. They were standing a few meters from a small wooded area.

"Are you sure these are the coordinates?" he asked.

"Yes sir," said T'Pol. "As I explained, there is an almost imperceptible energy signature located within these woods. We were unable to detect it until I recalibrated the sensors. However, the energy output is negligible."

"It's all we have," said Archer. "Are you detecting anything?"

"Negative, sir," said T'Pol, checking her tricorder. "I am still detecting the energy signature but it is decentralized. I cannot get a fix on its precise location."

"Maybe it's shielded," said Trip. "That might be why it's just barely registering."

"What about those creatures we encountered?" Archer asked. "Any sign of them?"

"There are a few nearby," said Malcolm. "But they seem to be keeping their distance. I think maybe they remember the phase pistol blasts. They're probably afraid of us."

I just hope we don't see any of them," said Crewman Latrelle. "They sound very dangerous."

"Just keep your phase pistol handy, crewman," said Archer. "If you see what you saw at the Republic let us know immediately. It has to be connected to this somehow."

Cautiously the group moved into the woods. It wasn't a very thick woods. The trees were spaced far enough apart that it would be difficult for any one hiding in them to sneak up on the group. As long as they were observant.

They moved through the woods following T'Pol's tricorder readings. Although she couldn't get an exact location on the power signature it seemed to emanate strongest from deeper inside the woods. As they moved deeper into the woods Malcolm informed the captain that more of the creatures seemed to be gathering around them. They all appeared to be several meters away apparently unwilling to encounter the phase pistols again.

"Sir," said Trip, "I think I see something just ahead. It looks like an opening of some kind."

A moment later the group stepped into a small clearing. Just ahead about four meters was an extremely small structure; no larger than a closet in one of the crews quarters on the Enterprise. There was an opening about two meters high and one meter wide more than reminiscent to a doorway. It was dark inside the structure but Archer thought he could see steps leading down. There were some strange symbols over the top of the doorway.

"Your sensors didn't detect this?" he asked T'Pol.

"No sir," said T'Pol. "However, my readings seem to indicate that the source of the energy signature is inside that structure. Interesting. The structure does not appear to be large enough to house technology capable of producing such an energy signature."

"I think it's an entrance," said Archer. "There appear to be steps leading down into the ground. There's probably some kind of underground complex at the foot of those stairs."

"That would explain why we're having trouble locking onto the energy signature," said Trip. "If it's far enough underground our sensors wouldn't be able to penetrate deep enough to get any intelligent readings."

"It could also explain why there are no signs of civilization on the surface," said T'Pol. "Whatever civilization exists on this planet may be completely subterranean."

"What do you think they're like, Captain?" Hoshi asked. "A culture that lives underground?"

"I don't know, Hoshi," said Archer. "I'd like to know why they live underground. There doesn't seem to be anything on the surface that would prevent them from living there."

"Perhaps there are some environmental or atmospheric conditions which are hostile to them," offered Phlox. "It is possible they once lived on the surface and chose to move underground for some reason."

"That is highly unlikely," said T'Pol. "We have found no evidence of even an ancient civilization anywhere on the surface. Considering that a civilization may have existed on the surface thousands of years ago there would have been some remnants of them even if they had moved underground."

"Maybe some natural disaster destroyed the surface," suggested Malcolm. "It could have happened thousands or even tens of thousands of years ago. That could have obliterated any signs they once lived on the surface."

"Well whatever the reason I think we'll find it at the bottom of those stairs," said Archer. "And I think we'll find out what happened to the Republic and the Valiant as well. Come on. Let's find out who – or what – lives beneath the surface of this planet."

The group started to move forward when T'Pol suddenly stopped and looked around.

"What is it, T'Pol?" Archer asked.

"Didn't you hear that?" T'Pol asked.

"Hear what?" Travis asked. "I didn't hear anything."

"I distinctly heard someone tell us not to go down those stairs," said T'Pol.

"I think you're hearing things," said Trip. "I didn't hear anything either."

"There it is again," said T'Pol. "Captain, you can't hear it?"

"I didn't hear anything," said Archer. "T'Pol, are you all right?"

"Yes sir," said T'Pol. "However, I believe I know why no one else is hearing the voice. I believe that someone is communicating with me telepathically."

"You mean directly to your mind?" Travis asked. "Is that really possible?"

"There are several species with telepathic abilities in the galaxy," said Phlox. "In fact, many Vulcans have exhibited telepathic abilities. It is quite possible the species that inhabits this planet are also telepathic."

"Whomever it is they clearly do not wish us to enter that structure," said T'Pol.

"I'll be they don't," said Archer. "They don't want us to discover they murdered the crews of two ships."

"No," said a voice from behind them. "To prevent the death of your crew, Captain Archer. We do not wish that what befell the two previous crews to befall your crew."

They all turned to see who had spoken. Stepping out from behind a tree about three meters away was one of the creatures that inhabited this planet. As they stared at the creature Archer noticed a scar running down the right side of the creature's face. The same scar that he had seen on the face of one of the creatures they had encountered at the caves.