You can have your meeting, but there are two conditions. First of all I want you to drink this, all of it, during the next half hour.' Phlox handed Archer a flask filled with a dark oily mix that made him wonder for a brief, unsettled moment, what exactly had happened to that greasy looking slug the doctor had been handling earlier. And when the meeting's over I want you straight back here.' To Archer's relief he saw the Doctor deposit the slug into a bowl of water where it floated like a dead thing and turned a violent shade of pink.
I'm holding you responsible, Mr Mayweather.'
Yessir.'
Travis Mayweather's offer of a helping hand was ignored. I can walk, Travis.'
Sorry, sir.' Mayweather nevertheless kept close behind Archer as they made their way to the small meeting room. The captain wasn't completely steady on his feet, and he was definitely favouring his left leg.
T'Pol and Tucker were already sitting at the table. Coffee?' Tucker placed a mug on the table in front of him.
Archer caught a look from Mayweather. No thanks. I have...this.' He sat at the head of the table and gagged down a lump of the concoction Phlox had given. It was going to take half an hour to get that stuff down. Where's our guest?'
Guest?' the woman burst into the room two steps in front of Malcolm Reed. I'd hate to see how you treated somebody that wasn't welcome.' She turned on Reed. Don't you friggin touch me!'
Reed was holding a phase pistol pointed at her. Other end of the table,' he ordered, motioning her to the far end, where there was noone sitting.
What's going on?' said Archer.
He fricken shot me!' The woman pointed at Reed. The bastard shot me and he stole my handbag.' She moved back towards the others sitting around the table.
Sit down,' bellowed Reed.
What's going on!' roared Archer.
The woman sat. He shot me.' She dragged at the neck of her shirt, exposing black scorchmarks across her breasts. And when I fell I bashed my head. Look.' She parted her hair, showing a large, bloody lump. And they took my handbag and wouldn't even give it back and I've got a headache that would kill a brown bear.'
Malcolm, this lady,' Archer paused and looked back at the woman. I don't even know your name.'
Malcolm plonked the handbag onto the table in front of him. According to identification cards in this bag, her name is Stazi Zimmer.'
Stazi saved my life. Why did you shoot her?'
She was threatening you.'
What?'
She was threatening you with violence. That's what I saw.'
I was not!'
You had something in your hand...'
A thermal blanket from the first aid kit.'
And you were telling the captain you were going to hurt him again.'
Well hurt, yes. Not do violence. And I quite specifically said I didn't want to hurt him again.'
Reed's expression was part exasperation part smugness.
Look, I was only going to do this,' she stood and leaned towards Archer.
Ms Zimmer,' Reed waved the phase pistol, I don't want to have to use this again.'
She slumped back into her chair. Do this,' she made a fist, holding her knuckles inward. I don't know how well it works through clothes, but press it against your breastbone like this, and then rub. Hard.'
Archer was trying it through his teeshirt. Mayweather and Tucker were going for bare skin. Reed kept his attention and his weapon on Zimmer. T'Pol watched, fascinated as the three humans all caused themselves pain.
Hurts, huh? Look, I'm sorry I gave the impression I was going to do something bad to Jon. My intention had been to hurt, not harm. It's called a sternal rub, it's a trick I learned when I was studying nursing. Neurological observations. It's a simple way to refocus the patient's attention when they're looking comatose.' She turned back to Archer. I was just worried I was gonna lose you, Jon.'
Reed looked somewhat shamefaced. He lay the phase pistol on the table. Ms Zimmer, I apologise.'
You can call me Stazi and I understand. It must have looked bad, I'm sorry I gave the wrong impression. But I still have this frickin' headache.'
We'll get you to the sickbay in a minute, and Mr Reed will return your handbag.'
Zimmer nodded and leaned back in her chair. So this is the future. She ran her fingers along the ship's bulkhead and stared out of the porthole, watching the slow progression of stars past her. Reed pushed the sacklike handbag across the table to Zimmer and she clutched it like a security blanket, trying to anchor herself in time. She knocked away a tear that was just beginning and focussed on Archer.
Trip, what have you got for me on the space station?'
I was just about to figure out their docking procedures when we found you. Ready to get back there now.'
Archer nodded. Get us docked with the station and then I want you and Travis to find out first of all if there really was someone sending a distress signal and why. After that we need to know what that radiation was. Malcolm, I want you riding shotgun. There aren't going to be any more nasty surprises.'
As he stood, the ship was suddenly rocked. A shudder went through it as if it had been struck.