Chapter Ten

The next day it was Malcolm's turn to look after Trip while Captain Archer and T'Pol were on the bridge conducting scans of the new planet. Since they were planning to take Trip down, Captain Archer didn't want to take any chances on something going wrong.

"Mal!" shouted Trip, as he jumped up and gave him a big hug when he came through the door. "Are we gonna play football again?"

"No, I thought we could plan out our adventure today while the captain and T'Pol are busy on the bridge," replied Malcolm as he sat down, patting the floor next to him for Trip to join him.

"Okay!"

"Have you any ideas of what you'd like to do down there?"

"Well if there are Indians, we could go on a hunt – just like what Peter Pan and Captain Hook used to do back on Never Never Land. Do you think there might be Indians down there?"

"I believe T'Pol may have mentioned something about spotting some life signs."

"Do you think they would want to come and play a game with us?"

"I'm sure they could be persuaded," smirked Malcolm, as he toyed with the idea of transforming Trip's engineering team into a tribe of Indians. "Hmmmm......we're going to need some kind of weapons....."

"I know. Why don't we make some bows and arrows?"

"What a bloody good idea," smiled Malcolm, this is my type of game he thought. "Why don't we go down to the armoury and see what we can put together?"

"Can we get some ice cream on the way?"

"For thinking up a great idea like that my friend, you can have ice cream served together with pecan pie," smiled Malcolm as he helped Trip up off the floor. "Now the only question left is whether we treat ourselves before or after our visit to the Armoury?"

"Both," grinned Trip.

"That's why I like you, Trip," laughed Malcolm as they walked out the door, "You always know how to have a great time."

--------------------------------------------------------

Three hours later Malcolm, along with Trip's help, had made a batch of about ten bows and arrows. Having carried out a quality standards test earlier, which involved chasing each other through the corridors of 'B deck' shooting trial arrows back and forth, it was now time to add the final touch - a sticky glob like substance on the end of the arrows, so they could fight without fear of getting hurt.

Unbeknown to Trip, Malcolm secretly had handed a batch to some of Trip's engineering team who had flown down to the planet two hours earlier to set up an Indian camp site. Whilst they'd prepared the shuttle pods, Malcolm had diverted Trip's attention with another enjoyable treat of rocky road ice cream and pecan pie; they had previously tasted this delight before they started to assemble the bows and arrows. Now, one hour later, it was time for them to join the away team in the shuttle bay for the mission to the planet below.

T'Pol settled Trip down in Shuttlepod One by the window next to her, ready for take off. Captain Archer was flying, Malcolm was seated next to him taking care of the landing and take off procedures and Hoshi was sitting opposite Trip and T'Pol. During takeoff preparations, Trip was a little nervous but as they swooped down to the planet below, excitement took over and he became very giddy as he jumped up and down trying his best to look out of the pod window. As T'Pol settled him down again on the seat, his giddy excitement soon ebbed away as a greenish tint began to slowly spread over his face, and he gripped the side of the seat like a vice.

"Trip......?" asked T'Pol, a hint of concern in her voice. "Are you feeling okay?"

Trip shook his head.

Malcolm turned around and smiled, "Maybe we shouldn't have had that second helping of ice............ cream and pecan pie," he cringed as Trip threw up all over T'Pol's lap.

T'Pol delicately raised her left eyebrow, "We will have a talk later about adequate nutrition, Mr Reed," she said, as she massaged Trip's back and wiped the mess off her lap with a moist cloth, handed to her by Hoshi.

Bloody hell, I'm in for it now. Malcolm thought as he glanced slyly at Captain Archer who was trying his hardest not to laugh.

-------------------------------------------------------

After an easy landing, everyone embarked from the pod. T'Pol helped out Trip, who was still looking very green at the gills, but he soon perked up at the thought of standing on a new world. Stepping out of the pod though, a huge look of disappointment spread across his face.

"Is there something wrong?" asked a confused T'Pol.

"It doesn't look any different," replied Trip, "It's just like back home."

"What did you expect, Trip?" asked Captain Archer.

"Blue trees, purple grass, and orange flowers – ya know just like it says in ma comic books."

"If the planet was that much different, it would be highly doubtful that we would be able to survive. Remember even though Dr. Phlox and I are different from yourself, we still are able to breathe the same air that you do. So there has to be some semblance of similarity," explained T'Pol, hoping she was making it easy for Trip to understand. "As we explore, I am sure you will be able to notice slight differences between here and Earth. These differences may be in the look of individual flowers, animal life or people."

"Okay, can we go and look for the Indians now?"

"Scanners indicate there is a settlement half a mile in that direction," pointed Reed. "Shall we go and see if they are friendly?"

With an eager look of enthusiasm on his face, Trip looked at Captain Archer for permission.

"Lead the way, Malcolm."

"Shall we bring our bows and arrows?" asked Trip.

"Let's find out if they want to play first shall we?" smiled Captain Archer. "We don't want them to think we are hostile, do we?"

Thinking back to the book about the Martian machines, Trip shook his head with determination.

After 45 minutes of walking, a length part of the time being taken up by Trip who wanted to stop and touch everything that was new and different to him, they came to an Indian village of about four tepees. An Indian approached them as they walked up to the perimeter of the village.

"How! I am Big Chief Rostov. How can I help you?"

"How! I am Captain Archer of the Starship Enterprise," replied Archer with a smile on his face. "We have come to explore this planet. We do not mean you any harm; we'd just like to be friends."

"Friends would be nice. Let me introduce you to my family, then we can go and smoke the pipe," replied Rostov as he led them to the centre of the village where a fire had been set up.

Trip was in complete awe, watching everything and everyone like a hawk while gripping T'Pol's hand in a vice like grip. WOW, alien Indians!

After introductions had been made, they all sat down in a circle around the fire and Big Chief Rostov began to tell the visitors the history of the tribe, gesticulating with hand gestures in parts while whooping around the fire at others. Trip was absolutely mesmerized by the whole show.

"Don't lose yourself in the part," whispered Malcolm when Rostov stopped nearby him. Reining in his performance, Rostov once again settled down on the floor.

"Captain Archer, whenever we have new visitors we traditionally hold a war game to show how we have come together and settled our cultural differences, before finishing with the smoking of our peace pipe. Would you and your colleagues like to join us in a game?"

Trip's eyes lit up in excitement and he threw Captain Archer an eager glance.

"We would be honoured, Big Chief Rostov," smiled Captain Archer. "Will you spare us some time to prepare?"

"I will allow twenty minutes before the games begin, Captain Archer."

"Thank you, may this game be a good one."

Setting off back to the shuttlepod, Captain Archer prepped everyone on the game plan. The tactic was easy - divide, conquer and triumph.

"Let the games begin!" whooped Captain Archer as both teams, armed with bows and arrows, ran off into the woods.

------------------------------------------------------

Six hours later they were on there way back to the ship. Trip was exhausted, but he was happily retelling the day's events to Malcolm a dozen lines a minute. Even though he knew most of it, Malcolm showed that he had the patience of a saint by sitting and listening to Trip's endless chatter, while T'Pol watched him carefully for any signs of travel sickness again.

Performing a flawless landing, Archer and company were greeted by a very sad looking Travis.

"What's up, Travis?" asked a concerned Captain Archer.

"Its Starfleet sir, they've recalled Commander Tucker. A Vulcan ship is on its way to collect him. It will be here in twelve hours."

Just like air being depressurized, everyone's good mood and spirits were suddenly sucked right out of them, replaced by despair, dismay and despondency.

------------------------------------------------------