"Passenger"
Part 8
By Quills
Tucker, T'Pol and the Archer were sitting in the Captain's Quarters
as they discussed the recent events which had led Enterprise on a course
for the Denarius colony.
"Our ETA for reaching the colony is just under 3 hours." said Archer
"Still no word?" asked Trip.
Archer looked over at his Chief Engineer. "Hoshi says solar storms are
still interfering with communications. They may or may not be receiving
our messages."
"Then there's no way to warn them." said Tucker.
Archer simply shook his head.
"Warn them about what?" asked the Vulcan Science Officer as she turned to Archer. "Are you still
working under the hypothesis that there were two killers aboard the Venture?"
"That's why I told Starfleet we're heading for the colony." said Archer.
"That is not logical." replied T'Pol. "Why would two individuals sharing in what is
..if extremely morbid...obviously a great deal of trust."
Trip Tucker looked at her not quite seeing her point. "Trust?"
"For two individuals to slaughter so many people as was done aboard the Venture, it would
require a great deal of trust to acquaint such individuals with one another and to share their
'unique' practices. It is not something one develops through polite conversation." explained T'Pol.
Trip Tucker shook his head in agreement.
"In addition Captain, you have not answered my question directly." said T'Pol as she turned back to Archer.
"I asked you if you were still working under the hypothesis that there was more than one individual responsible.
Your reply was, that was the reason you gave to Starfleet."
Archer gave a quick glance over to Tucker who tilted his head signaling she had him dead to rights on that one.
Just then the comm signal chirped.
"Go ahead." said Archer.
"Captain, the Vulcan ship Tmir has just signaled us." said the comm officer. "They will rendezvous with us
in just under five minutes."
"Understood." responded Archer. "Have Travis stop the ship and hold present position for the Tmir. When they
arrive, signal them that we're ready to receive their passenger via the shuttle bay."
"Aye sir." replied Hoshi.
"T'Pol, see to our guest." ordered Archer. " Once he's aboard bring him back here and we'll conduct a briefing."
"Yes Captain." said T'Pol as she turned to exit the room pausing only momentarily to signal that she had not forgotten
where their conversation had left off.
Once T'Pol had exited Trip Tucker looked over at his Captain. "So how much ya gonna tell her John?"
"As much as I can" he said with a sigh. "and nothing more."
Trip Tucker frowned
"I don't like it either, but it's the way it has to be." said Archer. "You and I know the true nature of this case because
of our prior dealings with Bearclaw. I'll inform T'Pol of my suspicions of what we're up against and why I've sent for Bearclaw, but no more than that."
__________________
The Vulcan shuttle pod docked with the Enterprise's shuttle bay docking clamp. Once the pressure
was equalized the main entryway rolled aside to reveal the passenger the Tmir had traveled so
far to deliver. The passenger was a human male...tall...thin...but in a wirey muscular way that was evident
even through his Starfleet uniform. He had coal black straight hair which reached down to his shoulders.
His skin was a dark reddish clay color. By all rights he looked no older than Commander Tucker...thirty...maybe
thirty five. He carried with him a Starfleet issue duffle bag in one hand; in the other he carried a long object
wrapped in cloth which he carried in the crook of his arm. The man stepped down from the entrance way which
closed behind him and the sound of depressurization signaled the departure of the Vulcan shuttle.
"Permission to come aboard?" said the human.
"Permission granted." responded T'Pol
He stepped down from the gangway and approached T'Pol extending his hand in the traditional V shaped
Vulcan greeting. "We come to serve."
T'Pol allowed her surprise to show only momentarily before she raised her own hand in the greeting.
"Your presence honors us." she said. "I am Sub Commander T'Pol."
"Lt. Commander David Walkingbear." he replied.
"Commander, please follow me." said T'Pol. "The Captain wishes me to escort you to the briefing."
Walkingbear gave the Vulcan a slight smile. "Lead the way Sub Commander."
The Vulcan officer merely raised her brow and turned.
_______________
Walkingbear and T'Pol arrived at Archer's quarters and signaled to enter.
Archer called for them to enter and as they did so T'Pol introduced
the guest to the Captain.
"Lt. Commander David Walkingbear...Captain Jonathan Archer."
Archer stood and extended his hand to the man. "The Commander and I are well aquainted." said Archer
as he shook his hand. "Dave, I wish I could say I was happy to see you."
Walkingbear gave Archer a slight smile. "I understand John."
"Ahem" came a voice from the other side of the room.
"Oh, I believe you know Lieutenant Commander Tucker." said Archer with a smile.
Walkingbear flashed him a wry smile. "Been a while Trip."
Trip Tucker got up and clapped Walkingbears hand. "Dave, how ya been keepin yourself?"
"Out of trouble." he told Tucker. "How about you?"
"Oh, it's a thrill a minute since I got posted to Enterprise." said Tucker.
Archer turned to T'Pol who was following the reaquaintencing "Trip and I have known Commander Walkingbear
for...what...8 years?"
"Nine." said Tucker.
"Right." said Archer shaking his head. "We met when I was a Lieutenant and they were both
Ensigns; Three years out of the academy."
"Ouch, don't remind me." said Tucker.
"Right, well as pleasant as this is turning out to be." said Archer taking on a serious tone. "This isn't a social visit.
We have a briefing to hold."
Archer took his seat at his desk and Trip Tucker sat down on the couch.
"You've read the report I had my communications officer send you?" asked Archer.
"Yes." replied Walkingbear. "I read it."
"So what are your impressions on the matter?" asked Archer.
Walkingbear cast his eyes to T'Pol and then back to Archer. The Captain merely nodded
his approval.
Walkingbear walked over to a small table on the far side of the room. He picked up a small
artifact the Captain had found, no doubt on one of his early missions. He looked at the object
for a few moments. "Vampires."
T'Pol raised a brow.
Trip Tucker looked over at Archer and then back at Walkingbear. "Vampires? It can't be."
Walkingbear put the artifact down and turned around to face him. "Come now Commander." he said "You and Captain Archer
had already come to the same conclusion. or why else would you send for me?"
"Vampires." said Archer in an almost hushed tone.
"Vampires." said T'Pol "Reanimated corpses that consumes the blood of the living....a myth from Earth folklore."
"I'm afraid they are much more than that Sub Commander." interjected Walkingbear. "They are very real and
very dangerous."
"I'm afraid he's right." added the Captain. "You asked me earlier if I was still working under the hypothesis that
there was more than one killer. The answer is, I never thought there was. The truth is I always suspected that the killer was
one person. "
"A vampire." she added.
"Yes." he replied. "Commander Walkingbear, Mr. Tucker and I have dealt with vampires before. It was actually
how we first met eight years ago. Although, the Commander was already familiar with vampires before even then."
T'Pol looked at Walkingbear.
"I am an Ojibwa Shaman Sub Commander." explained Walkingbear. "Among Native American tribes Shaman are not only religious and philosophical guides but guardians. It is the Shaman's responsibility to protect his or her tribe from
the dark forces which prey upon the world. In my years before joining Starfleet I served as Shaman and have
encountered my share of dark forces including what my people refer to as 'soul stealers'. They are known by many names...nosferatu...vorkolak..undead...Vampire."
"It's Walkingbear's unique experience with this sort of thing that I sent for him." said Archer.
"Under false pretences." said T'Pol flatly.
"Yes." said Archer. "I'm not about to tell Starfleet that a vampire slaughtered the crew and passengers of the
Venture and then escaped in a shuttle only to be picked up by a passing ship headed for the Denarius colony.
They'd never believe it."
T'Pol remained silent.
"T'Pol, I understand your reservations." said Archer. "This is all hard to accept unless you've seen it first hand. "
"Even then it's pretty hard to swallow." added Trip.
"Thanks Trip." said Archer sarcastically." Make this harder than it already is."
"Sorry John." said Tucker.
"Captain, I admit that I find what you are telling me to be...difficult to accept." said T'Pol. "However, in
the short period of time I have known you I have formed some basic opinions of you. You are not prone to
making rash judgments. You do not believe in the fanciful. You are obviously entrusting me with what you
consider an important secret. So important that you are keeping it from your superiors at Starfleet and the
rest of the ship's crew. I will support whatever decision you make on the matter and lend whatever assistance
I can. This does not mean that I do not have reservations regarding what it is we are perusing. However, I have
no reservations in standing behind you."
Archer smiled. "Alight then, we better form a plan." he said. "Because we're do at the colony in just over two hours
and as long as communications are down we don't know what we'll find when we get there."
The officers glanced at one another. No matter what each thought they all agreed that they were entering
into it blind and deaf. This didn't bode well. Not well at all.
to be continued........
Part 8
By Quills
Tucker, T'Pol and the Archer were sitting in the Captain's Quarters
as they discussed the recent events which had led Enterprise on a course
for the Denarius colony.
"Our ETA for reaching the colony is just under 3 hours." said Archer
"Still no word?" asked Trip.
Archer looked over at his Chief Engineer. "Hoshi says solar storms are
still interfering with communications. They may or may not be receiving
our messages."
"Then there's no way to warn them." said Tucker.
Archer simply shook his head.
"Warn them about what?" asked the Vulcan Science Officer as she turned to Archer. "Are you still
working under the hypothesis that there were two killers aboard the Venture?"
"That's why I told Starfleet we're heading for the colony." said Archer.
"That is not logical." replied T'Pol. "Why would two individuals sharing in what is
..if extremely morbid...obviously a great deal of trust."
Trip Tucker looked at her not quite seeing her point. "Trust?"
"For two individuals to slaughter so many people as was done aboard the Venture, it would
require a great deal of trust to acquaint such individuals with one another and to share their
'unique' practices. It is not something one develops through polite conversation." explained T'Pol.
Trip Tucker shook his head in agreement.
"In addition Captain, you have not answered my question directly." said T'Pol as she turned back to Archer.
"I asked you if you were still working under the hypothesis that there was more than one individual responsible.
Your reply was, that was the reason you gave to Starfleet."
Archer gave a quick glance over to Tucker who tilted his head signaling she had him dead to rights on that one.
Just then the comm signal chirped.
"Go ahead." said Archer.
"Captain, the Vulcan ship Tmir has just signaled us." said the comm officer. "They will rendezvous with us
in just under five minutes."
"Understood." responded Archer. "Have Travis stop the ship and hold present position for the Tmir. When they
arrive, signal them that we're ready to receive their passenger via the shuttle bay."
"Aye sir." replied Hoshi.
"T'Pol, see to our guest." ordered Archer. " Once he's aboard bring him back here and we'll conduct a briefing."
"Yes Captain." said T'Pol as she turned to exit the room pausing only momentarily to signal that she had not forgotten
where their conversation had left off.
Once T'Pol had exited Trip Tucker looked over at his Captain. "So how much ya gonna tell her John?"
"As much as I can" he said with a sigh. "and nothing more."
Trip Tucker frowned
"I don't like it either, but it's the way it has to be." said Archer. "You and I know the true nature of this case because
of our prior dealings with Bearclaw. I'll inform T'Pol of my suspicions of what we're up against and why I've sent for Bearclaw, but no more than that."
__________________
The Vulcan shuttle pod docked with the Enterprise's shuttle bay docking clamp. Once the pressure
was equalized the main entryway rolled aside to reveal the passenger the Tmir had traveled so
far to deliver. The passenger was a human male...tall...thin...but in a wirey muscular way that was evident
even through his Starfleet uniform. He had coal black straight hair which reached down to his shoulders.
His skin was a dark reddish clay color. By all rights he looked no older than Commander Tucker...thirty...maybe
thirty five. He carried with him a Starfleet issue duffle bag in one hand; in the other he carried a long object
wrapped in cloth which he carried in the crook of his arm. The man stepped down from the entrance way which
closed behind him and the sound of depressurization signaled the departure of the Vulcan shuttle.
"Permission to come aboard?" said the human.
"Permission granted." responded T'Pol
He stepped down from the gangway and approached T'Pol extending his hand in the traditional V shaped
Vulcan greeting. "We come to serve."
T'Pol allowed her surprise to show only momentarily before she raised her own hand in the greeting.
"Your presence honors us." she said. "I am Sub Commander T'Pol."
"Lt. Commander David Walkingbear." he replied.
"Commander, please follow me." said T'Pol. "The Captain wishes me to escort you to the briefing."
Walkingbear gave the Vulcan a slight smile. "Lead the way Sub Commander."
The Vulcan officer merely raised her brow and turned.
_______________
Walkingbear and T'Pol arrived at Archer's quarters and signaled to enter.
Archer called for them to enter and as they did so T'Pol introduced
the guest to the Captain.
"Lt. Commander David Walkingbear...Captain Jonathan Archer."
Archer stood and extended his hand to the man. "The Commander and I are well aquainted." said Archer
as he shook his hand. "Dave, I wish I could say I was happy to see you."
Walkingbear gave Archer a slight smile. "I understand John."
"Ahem" came a voice from the other side of the room.
"Oh, I believe you know Lieutenant Commander Tucker." said Archer with a smile.
Walkingbear flashed him a wry smile. "Been a while Trip."
Trip Tucker got up and clapped Walkingbears hand. "Dave, how ya been keepin yourself?"
"Out of trouble." he told Tucker. "How about you?"
"Oh, it's a thrill a minute since I got posted to Enterprise." said Tucker.
Archer turned to T'Pol who was following the reaquaintencing "Trip and I have known Commander Walkingbear
for...what...8 years?"
"Nine." said Tucker.
"Right." said Archer shaking his head. "We met when I was a Lieutenant and they were both
Ensigns; Three years out of the academy."
"Ouch, don't remind me." said Tucker.
"Right, well as pleasant as this is turning out to be." said Archer taking on a serious tone. "This isn't a social visit.
We have a briefing to hold."
Archer took his seat at his desk and Trip Tucker sat down on the couch.
"You've read the report I had my communications officer send you?" asked Archer.
"Yes." replied Walkingbear. "I read it."
"So what are your impressions on the matter?" asked Archer.
Walkingbear cast his eyes to T'Pol and then back to Archer. The Captain merely nodded
his approval.
Walkingbear walked over to a small table on the far side of the room. He picked up a small
artifact the Captain had found, no doubt on one of his early missions. He looked at the object
for a few moments. "Vampires."
T'Pol raised a brow.
Trip Tucker looked over at Archer and then back at Walkingbear. "Vampires? It can't be."
Walkingbear put the artifact down and turned around to face him. "Come now Commander." he said "You and Captain Archer
had already come to the same conclusion. or why else would you send for me?"
"Vampires." said Archer in an almost hushed tone.
"Vampires." said T'Pol "Reanimated corpses that consumes the blood of the living....a myth from Earth folklore."
"I'm afraid they are much more than that Sub Commander." interjected Walkingbear. "They are very real and
very dangerous."
"I'm afraid he's right." added the Captain. "You asked me earlier if I was still working under the hypothesis that
there was more than one killer. The answer is, I never thought there was. The truth is I always suspected that the killer was
one person. "
"A vampire." she added.
"Yes." he replied. "Commander Walkingbear, Mr. Tucker and I have dealt with vampires before. It was actually
how we first met eight years ago. Although, the Commander was already familiar with vampires before even then."
T'Pol looked at Walkingbear.
"I am an Ojibwa Shaman Sub Commander." explained Walkingbear. "Among Native American tribes Shaman are not only religious and philosophical guides but guardians. It is the Shaman's responsibility to protect his or her tribe from
the dark forces which prey upon the world. In my years before joining Starfleet I served as Shaman and have
encountered my share of dark forces including what my people refer to as 'soul stealers'. They are known by many names...nosferatu...vorkolak..undead...Vampire."
"It's Walkingbear's unique experience with this sort of thing that I sent for him." said Archer.
"Under false pretences." said T'Pol flatly.
"Yes." said Archer. "I'm not about to tell Starfleet that a vampire slaughtered the crew and passengers of the
Venture and then escaped in a shuttle only to be picked up by a passing ship headed for the Denarius colony.
They'd never believe it."
T'Pol remained silent.
"T'Pol, I understand your reservations." said Archer. "This is all hard to accept unless you've seen it first hand. "
"Even then it's pretty hard to swallow." added Trip.
"Thanks Trip." said Archer sarcastically." Make this harder than it already is."
"Sorry John." said Tucker.
"Captain, I admit that I find what you are telling me to be...difficult to accept." said T'Pol. "However, in
the short period of time I have known you I have formed some basic opinions of you. You are not prone to
making rash judgments. You do not believe in the fanciful. You are obviously entrusting me with what you
consider an important secret. So important that you are keeping it from your superiors at Starfleet and the
rest of the ship's crew. I will support whatever decision you make on the matter and lend whatever assistance
I can. This does not mean that I do not have reservations regarding what it is we are perusing. However, I have
no reservations in standing behind you."
Archer smiled. "Alight then, we better form a plan." he said. "Because we're do at the colony in just over two hours
and as long as communications are down we don't know what we'll find when we get there."
The officers glanced at one another. No matter what each thought they all agreed that they were entering
into it blind and deaf. This didn't bode well. Not well at all.
to be continued........