Disclaimers, etc. in Part 1

Author's Note: And so we move along with our holofic adventure, though my pace may have to slow down a little after this due to some real life demands ... thanks as always, reviewers.

They stared back at the alien face, speechless.

"Um … Humans require privacy for mating," Archer suggested. "We also require food … blankets … clothing … not to mention relationships … all those things tend to come first for us."

Reptilian eyes stared coldly back at him. "Can your science officer confirm this?"

"All that is generally true, as far as I have observed," T'Pol said.

Its voice turned distinctly more sibilant. "You shall have ample foodstuffs, blankets and articles of clothing after you have assisted us in securing the rest of your crew."

"That we will never do," Archer said.

"Then I suggest you at least mate in order to demonstrate your potential value to us. Otherwise, you shall experience none of the privileges of cooperation," the alien said, and the view screen winked out of sight. At the same time, noticeably cooler air started to stream down from above. Even Deanna felt the chill, although in objective mode environmental conditions in a holo-program were always greatly moderated.

"Great," Sato said, crossing her arms across her chest. "Maybe they think they can get us to start mating just to keep warm."

"I don't get it," Tucker said to Archer. "Obviously, they have transporter technology. These screens – they're pretty advanced. They have warp drive, or we wouldn't have run into their ship and fallen for their invitation. So why do they even need help to capture the rest of the crew?"

"McKenzie must have smelled a trap when we didn't check in," Archer said.

Reed said, "I have no doubt she'd put up a good fight."

Mayweather said, "Maybe they also don't like to have to work hard for their new … resources."

T'Pol said, "The Mendrosan fleet in orbit was rather eclectic. It is possible that this species scavenges technology and personnel from other species more readily than it develops its own. In that case, they may not be particularly well-versed in some of the technology they are employing."

"Well, they sure seem to have gotten air conditioning down," Hoshi said.

"This is punishment for failing to cooperate," Archer said. "Hopefully it's temporary. I doubt they want to kill off their new prizes. We'll just have to share body heat and try to get through it as best we can. "

They eyed each other awkwardly.

"Utilizing the corner of the cell would minimize exposure to cold air," T'Pol said.

"I call T'Pol," Tucker chirped.

"Of course you do," Reed said.

"Vulcans are nice and toasty," Tucker said. "But she's also going to feel the cold faster."

They had all begun to shiver. Archer said, "This is going to satisfy our quota of team building for the year, if it makes you feel any better." He looked at T'Pol. "You're the science officer. Organize us for optimal heat conservation."

Deanna watched, frowning, as T'Pol organized their huddled mass. "This isn't very romantic. Isn't it traditional for the hero and heroine to keep each other warm? Six is a crowd."

"That's true," Beverly said, even as the lights went down and then came up again after what was apparently the passage of some time. Tucker and T'Pol were curled up together, and Reed, Mayweather and Sato had entwined as well. Archer sat at the edge of the huddle, close enough to benefit from the shared warmth. However, unlike the others, he was awake and staring bleakly at their cell.

Deanna said. "Poor Archer. He'll be feeling responsible, won't he?"

"The loneliness of command and all that," Beverly said, with a bit of an edge to her voice. Deanna began to wonder if she really did need to push her friend to talk. Not that Beverly ever would.

Quite suddenly, a square of those red lights appeared on the floor around their huddled mass. Archer didn't have time to open his mouth before Sato and Reed were transported away, the sudden empty space causing Mayweather to fall on Tucker, who groaned and said "Wha...?" T'Pol abruptly sat up.

Archer stared, obviously stricken, at the empty space where his crewmen had been. "They took Hoshi and Malcolm."

There was a long silence.

"I hope it's warmer there," Tucker said.

x x x

The lights dimmed and came up again – this time in a cell that was exactly the same, but contained a pile of blankets, a tray of food, and a very confused Sato and Reed lying on the floor in rather close contact. Waking, they scrambled apart.

The view screen lit up with the usual alien face. "We have provided you with food, blankets, warmth, and as much privacy as can be expected. If you do not mate in a timely manner, you will be returned to the unpleasant conditions you were experiencing before."

It turned clear again.

"Food, Malcolm!" Hoshi said, jumping up and diving for it.

Malcolm grimaced, though he couldn't hide his own interest in the victuals. "You did hear what we're expected to do for it?"

"First things first," she said. "It's food." She stretched her arms luxuriantly. "And it's warm here."

x x x

Lights dropped and rose again on the four cold people in the original cell, now bunched together in the corner. Tucker was essentially sitting with T'Pol in his lap, and the two other men were on each side, draping across the two in the middle as best they could. It looked like a really bad modern dance tableau.

"Reptiles hate cold, don't they?" she said.

"They do," Beverly said. "They can't regulate their own body temperature like mammals can. It literally slows them down until they can't move."

"So are these aliens trying to kill them?"

Beverly said, "I have to assume they'd have much faster ways to accomplish that."

Tucker said, "Lizzie and I had gerbils when we were little. They always slept together in a big furry ball."

"I wouldn't mind having some of that fur right now," Mayweather said. "Maybe even a nice little roasted gerbil to snack on."

Tucker grimaced at him. "The thing is … there's no way I would have been able to lock on and transport out someone from a clump of gerbils … or a clump of people, without taking the whole lot of them. Not unless…"

T'Pol lifted her head from where she had tucked it under Tucker's chin.

"A transponder?" Archer said.

They all started feeling for something under their skin, starting with their own necks and each other's. T'Pol found hers first – just under the skin of her wrist. "There," she said, holding it up to Tucker, who felt it, then found his own. "Yep," he said. Archer and Mayweather found theirs as well.

"We've been tagged," Mayweather said, disgusted.

Tucker said, "Maybe that's how they knew when we were trying to escape."

Mayweather said, "Or maybe they simply hear and see everything we do."

"It took them awhile to react, though," Archer said. "I think you might be right, Trip. Maybe there's some sort of alarm system that would be triggered…"

"…when the transponder crosses it," Trip said. "But if there are four transponders in the cell, they might think we're still here. If we remove mine, I might be able to climb out of here without them noticing."

T'Pol said, "This device may not simply be locational. It might be sending information such as body temperature or heart rate."

"So we transfer it to someone else," Archer said.

"How? We don't have any surgical tools," Mayweather said. "Or any tools."

Tucker started examining his own wrist more closely. "I think there's actually a dermal patch here… if I can get it up…" He started digging at his own wrist with fingernails and then his teeth. Then he held it up to his face to examine it and was able to lift up a clear patch. He showed the others the edge of a small device poking up through a small amount of pooling blood.

"Ugh," Deanna said. "I guess they don't have to worry about infection in a holo-program."

"Not this one," Beverly said. She had been wincing as she watched as well. "Sickbed confessions of undying love are far too common in these things, if you ask me."

Tucker sighed. "Getting it out is easy. Putting it in someone else…"

T'Pol said, "If a relatively occlusive seal is maintained against one's skin, it would continue to transmit bio-information, assuming it is. Of course, anyone monitoring this is likely to notice eventually that the bio readings are mirroring another's. So there is little point in transferring the transponder unless we plan to move quickly."

Tucker turned to the captain. "I'll climb the lights. See if there's any way to communicate with Enterprise, or at least find a way out. Maybe even find Hoshi and Malcolm."

Archer nodded. "I'm going with you."

"Captain, I believe I should go with him," T'Pol said. "My superior hearing provides a significant advantage while navigating hostile territory."

Archer scowled at her, clearly reluctant, but considering her point. He turned to Trip. "Do you want to have an opinion on this?"

Trip frowned skeptically at T'Pol. "Are you sure you have the upper body strength required to do that much climbing?"

"I'm a Vulcan," she said acidly.

Trip grimaced apologetically at Archer. "Then with your permission, Cap'n…"

Archer sighed. "Quickly, then."

With a wince, Trip plucked his transponder out and handed it to Mayweather, who quickly stuck it under his arm. T'Pol dug hers out as well and handed it to Archer, who did the same.

Then they all stood and looked up. Obviously, the two men would not be able to help their comrades reach the lights very effectively with transponders jammed under their arms. Archer shook his head in irritated realization and quickly transferred T'Pol's transponder to his mouth. Mayweather made a face and did the same with Trip's. He said, "I hope I don't accidentally swallow this thing."

"Maybe Phlox could send a tape worm in after it," Tucker said, and Archer helped boost him onto Mayweather's shoulders. He reached the lights and began to haul himself up. T'Pol followed. Her bare feet quickly disappeared and only the frantic swinging of the lights indicated that something was going on above them.

The two men settled back down in the corner, shivering.

Silence fell.

Mayweather rubbed his arms.

Archer draped an arm over the younger man's shoulders and pulled him close. "So, Travis … what's new?"

x x x

The holodeck lights dipped again and rose on Sato and Reed's compartment, which they were systematically examining even as they continued to munch the food bars that had been provided.

"I can't even determine whether this is a new compartment or the same one we were in before," Reed complained.

"I think it's new," Sato said. "The surface is spotless in that corner – and we must have left some oily smudges behind where we were huddling."

"Well, it's likely we'll be back to that soon enough," Reed said grimly. He shielded his eyes and tried to look upwards toward the blinding lights. "We could try to make a climb for it."

"They sure seemed to know what we were doing the last time."

Reed blew out a long breath. "Whatever happens, I guess we should be thankful we got a chance to eat and thaw out a little."

Sato folded her arms and looked thoughtful. "How do reptiles mate?"

"Excuse me?"

"Maybe if we knew how they do it … don't they lay eggs? Do they even have … you know…." She gestured vaguely. "Parts?"

"Even if I knew the answer to that, I don't think we can safety extrapolate from Earth's snakes and lizards to bipedal sentient reptiles from another planet."

She gave him a sour look and walked away to grab another piece of the food.

Reed said, "I do recall once seeing a rather disturbing video of a bunch of snakes gathered up in a great squirming ball – they were competing to see who would get to do the deed with the female snake in the middle. And I seem to recall the teacher telling us the, erm, goods could last for years if necessary –ready whenever the female snake needed them."

"Then maybe they assume we only need to mate once. Because otherwise, you know, it's pretty stupid, throwing two Humans in a cell to mate when you don't even know if she's ovulating."

"Can you be certain you're not?"

"I think Phlox and I would both be pretty surprised."

His eyebrows went up. "Birth control?"

"Of course. And you?"

"I don't think so," he said doubtfully. "Unless he throws it in with the allergy hyposprays..."

Sato looked a bit sour, but quickly returned her attention to the matter at hand. "This alien doesn't strike me as terribly knowledgeable on the subject. Maybe we can use that."

Reed's eyebrows rose. "How?"

Sato held up a blanket. "The two of us, under this … a little squirming, a little moaning ... how would they even know whether anything's really going on?"

Reed's face turned red. "I'm fairly certain that if I started squirming around under a blanket with you, something would go on, and that could get rather embarrassing."

"I'm a big girl, Malcolm. Let's just agree that what happens in alien captivity stays in alien captivity. Maybe once they think we've mated, they'll lighten up and stop freezing the others."

"I wouldn't assume there's the slightest connection," he said, but then he shuffled his feet and tilted his head and looked at her rather shyly. "You really think…?"

Deanna smiled. It seemed to her that Lieutenant Reed was adjusting rather quickly to Ensign Sato's idea. "I thought this was a Trip and T'Pol romance," she said.

Beverly said, "I think this particular author will take romance anywhere she can find it. Besides, Trip and T'Pol are getting to be a bit like an old married couple at this point, but these two..."

"Did they ever get together for real?" Deanna asked.

"There's no record of it, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen."

Ensign Sato wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and walked up to Lieutenant Reed, then opened the blanket wide. "Why don't you come get a little warmer, Lieutenant?"

Reed grinned and went.

TO BE CONTINUED