Title: Firestorm
Author: Cindy Ryan
Spoilers: Everything is fair game :)
Timeline: Set a year from 'Shuttlepod One'
Summary: Rising tension between the Vulcans and Earth have the Enterprise caught in the middle
Category: Malcolm/Hoshi romantic, angst
Notes: This is my first attempt at an Enterprise fic. This story hasn't been beta'd so all mistakes are mine. :) Please read and review
Captain Jonathan Archer paced his ready room. The Enterprise was just under two years into her maiden voyage and now Starfleet
was turning his joy into a living nightmare. He had never liked the politics of Starfleet. But the politics were par for the course
if you wanted to have any kind of a career in space travel. Jonathan had made a promise to his father that he would see his father's
dream become a reality. That promise had been why he had entered Starfleet. Now though Jonathan was seriously considering
tossing everything away.
"Cap, I really don't want to have to replace the floor plating."Commander Charles "Trip" Tucker, III commented trying to lighten the tense atmosphere of the room.
Archer stopped pacing and looked over at his old friend. "What?"
Trip gestured to the floor. "Your pacing. You keep that speed up and I'll have to replace the whole room."
Archer nodded absently as he sat down on the corner of the table. "I can't believe they're making me choose, Trip. It hasn't
even been a week."
Tucker's face sobered as he leaned forward. "It's politics and with the current state of Starfleet I wouldn't put anything
past 'em."
"I'm not giving up on Malcolm and Hoshi."Archer stated firmly. "I don't care what T'Pol or Starfleet says.We found the
debris....they could've survived that crash."
"T'Pol's just lookin' out for her career and yours."Tucker replied quietly having been present during more than one of T'Pol
and Archer's fights during the last few days.
Archer was on his feet again. "I don't give a damn about my career. They shouldn't be making me choose between this mission
and saving Hoshi and Malcolm."
"I can have the transporter back up and runnin' in two days."Trip suggested knowing that if they hadn't received a
communication signal by now the odds weren't good.
Archer shook his head as he looked out the window at the planet that resembled Earth. "It won't cut through the interference in that atmosphere. Even if we could somehow get a fix on their position."
Tucker let out a long sigh as he rubbed a weary hand over his face. "How long did Starfleet give us?"
"Ten hours."
"That's enough time to take another pod down."Trip replied as he stood.
"Send a pod where, Trip?"Archer asked frustrated. "We don't even know if they're near the original landing...."
"Sickbay to Archer."
Jonathan sighed as he walked over to the com unit. "Archer."
"Captain, could you come down to sickbay for a moment?"Doctor Phlox asked.
Archer glanced at Trip before replying. "I'm right in the middle of a meeting, Doctor, can this wait?"
"No."
Archer nodded. "I'll be there in a few minutes."
*********
Lieutenant Malcolm Reed sighed wearily as he used the back of his forearm to wipe sweat from his face. It had been
nearly four days since their pod had crashed. Four days since they had to take refuge from the never ending storm in the small drab
cave.
More than anything Malcolm wanted to sleep. He couldn't remember the last time he had been this tired. But there was no way
he could rest. Hoshi needed him and he wouldn't let her down no matter what. She had been injured because of him. Injured
in the crash. If he had done a better job of piloting the damn thing they'd both be in one piece.
Hoshi had regained consciousness only once since the crash and it had been brief. At least she wasn't in pain from her
injuries, Malcolm thought gratefully as he sat down next to the young woman's still form. He had tried to grab supplies
and a medkit from the pod but it had exploded before he was within ten feet of it.
"If you hadn't volunteered us for this mission."Malcolm admonished tenderly. "We'd be nice and warm and sharing a quiet
candle lit dinner."
Hoshi didn't stir and Malcolm very gently pulled the young woman onto his lap cradling her in his arms.
"Come on, Hoshi."Malcolm pleaded struggling to keep his voice from cracking. "Enough of this. Wake up and help me out here.
I need to know how to get us out of this.....I'm all out of ideas and I can always count on you for that.
Please Hoshi....don't make me tell the Captain that I failed you."
Malcolm felt his eyes begin to drift close. He shook his head trying to force himself to stay awake. In the end exhaustion
finally caught up to the armory officer and Malcolm fell asleep his arms protectively encircling the still form of the woman he loved.
**********
"This won't keep you going forever."Doctor Phlox warned as he injected the hyponeedle into Archer's neck. "But I'll refrain
from boring you with the 'need sleep' lecture."
Archer absently rubbed the site of the injection even though there had been no pain from it. "I'll sleep when Hoshi and
Malcolm are back on this ship."
The Denobulan sighed as he put the equipment away. "I'm not telling you to give up on them, Captain. But you won't
be any help to them if you collapse from exhaustion. And that's exactly where you're headed if you keep this pace up. The human
body is not meant to go this long without rest."
"I'll take that under advisement."Archer replied as he stood. "Is there anything else?"
Phlox nodded. "Bring them home."
"I will."Archer replied as he walked toward the door.
Archer left Sickbay knowing that what he promised Phlox wasn't a lie. One way or another he would bring Hoshi and
Malcolm home. No matter what it took.
**********
/ 'What was that?'Hoshi Sato anxiously asked as she gripped the armrests of her seat.
Malcolm didn't dare risk looking away from the consol. The readouts were going crazy and that was on the parts of the panel that
were working.
'No idea, sensors are out.'Reed replied tersely his fingers flying over the consol. 'Whatever it was we're losing energy
rapidly.'
'I'll try to reach Enterprise.'Hoshi offered as she unclamped her hands from the armrest.
'Sato to Enterprise.'Hoshi called trying not to look at the ground rushing up to meet them.
No response.
Hoshi hit another key. 'Sato to Enterprise. We don't know what hit us but we've lost sensors and the pod's leaking
energy. We're trying to regain control.'
'I don't know if they received that or not.'Hoshi reported as she disabled the com link.
'In a minute it won't matter.'Malcolm replied grimly. 'We just lost the engine. Strap yourself in I'm going to try
to put us down gently.'
'Where?'Hoshi asked as she fumbled with the straps. 'I don't see anything but mountains.'
'I'll find something, don't worry.'Reed assured her as he reached for the safety straps.
They were losing altitude faster than Malcolm could compensate for. There wasn't time to look for a
clearing. They'd have to take their chances with the mountains.
Malcolm glanced over at Hoshi and he could see the fear in her eyes. 'Hang on, luv. We're going down.'
The pod slammed into the side of one of the smaller mountains and bounced down until it came to a rest on a small
ledge./
********
Malcolm jerked awake, his breath coming in short gasps.
Nightmares.
Great just what he needed.
Once his breathing returned to normal Malcolm looked down at Hoshi. She was still unconscious. He placed a palm on her forehead.
"Damn, the fever hasn't broken."Reed said out loud as he drew her still form closer. "I'd give anything for a med kit right now, Hoshi. I can't see anything through the bloody rain to tell if there are any plants I could use.
I'm not good at sitting around. The Captain should've found us by now....something's wrong. Four days is long enough for them to configure the sensors to penetrate the atmosphere.....I wish there was something I could do to signal them.
I wish there was something I could do to save you."
*********
After a brief stop on the bridge to get a status report Archer returned to his ready room. As he stepped through the
door Jonathan found Trip sitting at one end of the table buried in a stack of data padds.
"You have an idea?"Archer asked hopefully as he approached his old friend.
Tucker glanced up from the small computer padd with a shrug. "No, but thought the ships' blueprints would be a place
to start."
"Find anything interesting?"Archer asked as he sat down next to Trip and picked up one of the data padds.
Tucker shook his head as he tossed the padd he was reading down so forcefully that it bounced and slid down the
length of the conference table ending up on the floor with a clatter. "No. You'd think with all our technology we'd be
able to perform a simple rescue mission no matter what the atmosphere."
Archer met his friend's gaze. "Level with me, Trip. Am I grasping at straws here? Do you believe that Hoshi and
Malcolm survived that crash?"
"Yes."Tucker replied with unwavering faith. "Hoshi and Malcolm are two of the most stubborn people I know. It'd take
a lot more than a pod crash to take them out."
"I hope you're right."Archer stated grimly starting to feel the first signs of exhaustion. But he couldn't rest, not yet.
He had to keep it together....for the sake of his crew.
The comm unit buzzed to life breaking the silence that had fallen over the room.
"T'Pol to Archer."
Archer rose and walked over to the unit, hitting the correct key. "Archer."
"Incoming message from Starfleet command."
"I bet I know what they want."Trip muttered just loud enough for Archer to hear.
"Send the transmission over here, T'Pol."Archer ordered as he leaned against the wall.
"The message is from Admiral Forrest.....he's rather insistent that he speak to you privately."
Tucker stood. "I can take a hint. I'll go muddle around in engineering."
Archer waved his friend silent. "I really don't care what he wants at this point, T'Pol. Send the message down here.
Whatever he has to say he can say in front of Commander Tucker too."
"Very well."The Vulcan science officer replied as she ended the conversation.
"This should be fun."Tucker commented darkly just as the small video screen on the desk flared to life.
"Admiral."Archer greeted as he leaned against the table. "What can I do for you?"
"You can start by obeying the orders you were given by Starfleet command."Forrest replied tersely not sparing Tucker a
glance. "The Andorians asked for our help."
Archer folded his arms across his chest his eyes narrowing. "With all due respect, Admiral, so did my two missing crew members. Starfleet
gave us ten hours."
"I sympathize with your loss, Captain but...."
"Save your condolences. I don't have any evidence that they're dead."Archer retorted fighting to control his temper.
"From the reports I've seen you're living in a dream world."Forrest replied. "They slammed into the side of a
mountain....the pods weren't built to endure that kind of pressure."
Trip opened his mouth to reply but quickly shut it. Telling the Admiral what he thought of him and Starfleet wouldn't
help Hoshi or Malcolm any.
"I thought Vulcans were the only ones who went back on their promises."Archer snapped. "Starfleet gave us ten hours
to rescue Hoshi and Malcolm and I'm taking every last second of it. I'll get to the Andorians when I have a full crew."
Before the Admiral could reply Archer hit a button terminating the transmission.
"Do you want me to get the Pod ready?"Tucker asked quietly several minutes after the video screen went silent.
Archer took several calming breaths before he met his best friend's gaze. "Yes and take T'Pol with you. She won't like it
but you'll need her expertise. I'll tell Dr. Phlox to get ready."
Trip nodded and headed for the door once there he paused and turned back. "How long do you want us to search?"
Archer walked toward him. "Take whatever time you need. I'll keep Starfleet off our backs."
"Okay."The chief engineer acknowledged as he opened the door and stepped into the hall.
"Trip?"Archer called halting the younger man.
"Yeah?"Tucker replied poking his head back into the room.
"Watch your back."Jonathan ordered trying to keep the worry off of his face. He didn't want to lose Trip and T'Pol to whatever
had taken out Reed's Pod but he had no choice.
"Always do."Tucker replied sincerely as he stepped out of the doorway and continued on his way to the shuttle bay.
*********
"Pod's away."Ensign Travis Mayweather confirmed from his seat at the helm. His dark eyes nervously watched the pod as it entered
the planet's orbit. This crew couldn't handle another loss right now.
"Thank you, Ensign."Archer acknowledged as he stood in front of the Captain's chair. He surveyed the tense faces of his bridge
crew. It was strange not to see his senior staff at their usual positions.
"Ensign Rowden."Jonathan began as he turned to face the young red haired man sitting at communications. "I want an open
com channel with the pod. We're not losing this one."
"Yes, Sir."The youth replied crisply as his fingers flew over the consol. "The channel's open."
"Commander."Archer called into the open com channel. "We're going to keep an open com channel with you."
"Glad to have you along, Captain."Tucker's replied his voice coming across grainy. "We just started to descend into the atmosphere and it's getting a little bumpy."
"Captain."T'Pol interjected. "The planet's atmosphere is severally interfering with the pod's sensors but we should be able to compensate."
"Good."Archer replied as he sat down. "Let me know when you're low enough to pick up life signs."
"Acknowledged."The Vulcan confirmed plunging the bridge into silence.
***********
Trip fought to keep the bucking pod under control as atmospheric winds buffeted the small ship.
"I don't mean to hurry you along or anything but we're going to need to find a landing spot soon."Tucker commented his
intense gaze split between the mountainous terrain below and the consol in front of him.
"In that case I have one in mind."T'Pol replied not looking up from the sensor readouts.
Trip risked a glance behind him. "Is that Vulcan for 'you've found them?'?"
T'Pol nodded. "Captain, the sensors have picked up a possible humanoid life sign."
Hope radiated through Archer's voice as he replied. "Where?"
"The sensor data is incomplete but it appears to be not far from where the debris was located."
"Trip, is there a place you can set down by there?"Archer asked.
Tucker looked at the data on his panel. "Yes there is. It'll be a hike back to their location but it's the only
level ground within a hundred miles."
"Whatever it takes to bring them home, Trip."Archer ordered solemnly.
"We won't come back without 'em."Tucker promised as he started to get the pod ready for landing.
*********
Forty minutes later Tucker and T'Pol were walking away from the shuttle pod. The only time T'Pol's gaze wavered from the tricorder
was to negotiate the tricky mountainous terrain. There were no paths just an endless sea of rocks of all sizes. The air was
damp and smelled of rain.
Trip shifted the medical kit to his other shoulder as he walked behind the Vulcan. The chief engineer hadn't missed the fact that T'Pol
had said she had found *a* humanoid life sign. Since the events on shuttlepod one he and Malcolm had become as close as
brothers. Trip prayed that he wouldn't have to bring one of his friends back in a body bag.
T'Pol stopped so suddenly that Tucker had to do some fancy footwork to avoid a small boulder and colliding into her.
"Can you warn a guy next time?"Trip grumbled as he regained his footing. Then he looked over T'Pol's shoulder and realized
why she had stopped. They had found the wreckage.
"Oh man."Trip commented grimly as he came to stand at T'Pol's right as they both stared down at the wreckage resting on a
tiny ledge. The last time he had seen something that pulverized had been a transporter malfunction. If Malcolm and Hoshi
had still been inside.....
"The life sign is nearby."T'Pol reported as she held the tricorder at arms length studying the data.
Tucker crept closer to the edge scanning the area around the wreckage. He didn't see any movement. "Where?"
T'Pol shook her head. "The data isn't that accurate, Commander. But we are in the correct general area."
Turning around Tucker put the strap of the medical kit around his neck and began to climb towards the wreckage.
"Commander, what are you doing?"T'Pol inquired raising an eyebrow.
Trip fought the urge to roll his eyes. For all their smarts the Vulcans could come up with some real obvious questions. "Climbing."he replied simply.
T'Pol took a rope out of her pack and handed it to him. "Wouldn't it be more logical to repel?"
With only a shake of his head Tucker climbed back up and snatched the rope from the science officer. He offered one end of the rope to T'Pol. "You go first. I can anchor it against one of these rocks."
T'Pol nodded as she took the rope. "It is logical to conclude that if Ensign Sato and Lieutenant Reed survived the crash they wouldn't have been able to get very far in this terrain."
"Let's get going."Tucker urged as he glanced up at the dark sky. "I have a feelin' that this planet doesn't stay dry very long."
*********
They were almost to the ledge when T'Pol spotted the small cave. Trip looked down at the wreckage then back at the small
cave wondering how was the best way to get to it. In the end they decided to finish the repel down to the ledge and climb
their way up to the cave.
Tucker arrived at the cave opening and clicked on his flashlight. "Malcolm? Hoshi?"
"They may be unconscious."T'Pol suggested as she came to stand at his left flashlight in hand.
Tucker opened his mouth to call his friends name again when T'Pol's flashlight landed on two still forms.
"Oh God."Trip breathed as he scrambled across the small space between the wall and the cave's opening. Malcolm was sitting against
the wall cradling Hoshi in his arms. Both had their eyes closed.
"Malcolm? Hoshi?"Tucker called anxiously as he reached them. He could tell right off that Malcolm was still breathing but
as Trip looked down at Hoshi he couldn't tell if she was alive.
"They're alive."T'Pol reported answering Tucker's unasked question as she studied the tricorder. "But Ensign Sato's condition is critical. We need to get her to sickbay."
Tucker nodded grimly as he knelt next to Reed and began to slap the armory officer's face lightly. "Malcolm? It's Trip."
Malcolm didn't stir and Tucker exchanged a concerned glance with T'Pol.
"He may be too weak to regain consciousness on his own."T'Pol commented as she knelt next to Hoshi.
Trip looked down at Hoshi and then back at T'Pol. "Can you take her?"
T'Pol nodded. "Yes. I'll let the Captain know that we've found them."
"Okay."Tucker replied as T'Pol stepped away to contact Enterprise.
"Trip?"Malcolm asked weakly as his eyes fluttered open.
Relief washed over Tucker as he turned back to his friend. "Yeah,buddy it's me. You're going to be fine. It'll just take us a little while to get back to Enterprise."
"Hoshi."Malcolm said anxiously as if just remembering what had occurred. He looked down at the communication officer's still form. "Is she......"
Tucker placed a reassuring hand on Reed's shoulder. "She's alive but barely. We've got to get her back to the ship."
Reed's gaze didn't leave Hoshi's face. "Take her first.....then come back and get me."
Trip shook his head. "No way. We're all getting out of here. You get some rest while I see if there's a back way out
of here."
"There isn't one."Reed replied hoarsely. "Trust me I looked."
"Okay."Tucker acknowledged. "We'll just have to get up the mountain the same way we came down."
"Commander."Reed called as he shifted Hoshi gently so he could sit up more. "Promise me that you'll take care
of Hoshi, no matter what."
"Now don't start this again."Tucker replied with a grim smile. "Remember, happy endings? We're all getting back to
Enterprise. I promise."
*********
Once out of the cave Trip was carrying Hoshi while Malcolm was gingerly testing his legs to see if they would hold his weight.
After much discussion Trip finally won out with his offer to be the first to climb up the mountain face so he could secure
the rope and they could gently pull Hoshi up.
"Be careful, Commander."Reed warned as he got his first real look at the mountain that stood between them and home.
Tucker nodded and began his ascent.
As T'Pol and Reed watched Tucker slowly but surely made his way back to the spot where they had first stood and discovered the wreckage.
Tucker tossed down the ropes and T'Pol offered one to Malcolm who shook his head.
"No, get Hoshi to safety first."Reed protested wearily as he leaned heavily against a boulder.
"You are injured as well, Lieutenant."T'Pol argued.
"Go."Malcolm urged quietly. "I can spot down here in case you lose a foothold."
"We're runnin' out of daylight here."Trip called from above. "Who's comin' next?"
"I will."The Vulcan replied as she tied one rope around Hoshi's waist and the other around her own.
"Try to keep Hoshi as level as you can."Tucker instructed his voice echoing off the mountain side."I'm going to try to pull her up even and gentle but it's going to be a bumpy enough trip as it is. I don't
want to agrivate any internal injuries she may have."
"Understood."T'Pol acknowledged as she secured one arm around Sato's waist. She tugged on Hoshi's rope once to let the engineer know they were ready. Once Trip started to pull Hoshi's still form up T'Pol began her own ascent leaving a worried Malcolm to look on from below.
There were a few tricky moments but finally Trip had Hoshi lying on one of the blankets from the medkit. He had cleared
the ground beneath her from rocks as best he could but the rocky terrain was unforgiving.
"You're going to be okay, Hoshi."Trip assured the unconscious woman as he checked her vitals once again. "We just have to get Malcolm and we'll go home and the Doc will fix you up."
When Tucker returned to the cliff's edge he saw that T'Pol had already tossed the rope back down to Malcolm and that
Reed was making good progress despite his injuries.
Trip glanced worriedly at the rapidly darkening sky as he came to stand next to the Vulcan science officer. "How long do
you think we have before the sky opens up on us?"
T'Pol followed his gaze to the dark clouds. "Perhaps thirty minutes at the most."
"That's what I figured."Tucker replied grimly."It's going to be a wet hike back to the pod."
Ten minutes later Reed wobbly joined them. Trip instantly reached for Malcolm's left arm when he started to fall. The
exertion from the climb combined with everything had almost been too much for the armory officer.
"I'm okay."Malcolm protested as he weakly pushed away from his friend's supportive grasp. "How far away is the Pod?"
"It's about a half hour hike."Trip replied as he looked worriedly at Reed's pale sweaty face. "You don't look so good."
Malcolm fought off the wave of dizziness. "I'll make it. Let's get going."
"Right."Tucker replied not buying Malcolm's statement for a minute but he had no choice. There was no way to carry both
of them through this terrain.
Trip walked over and gingerly picked up Hoshi making sure the blanket was wrapped securely around the communications officer. "T'Pol, you lead."
The Vulcan nodded and the group started the journey back to the shuttle pod.
Author: Cindy Ryan
Spoilers: Everything is fair game :)
Timeline: Set a year from 'Shuttlepod One'
Summary: Rising tension between the Vulcans and Earth have the Enterprise caught in the middle
Category: Malcolm/Hoshi romantic, angst
Notes: This is my first attempt at an Enterprise fic. This story hasn't been beta'd so all mistakes are mine. :) Please read and review
Captain Jonathan Archer paced his ready room. The Enterprise was just under two years into her maiden voyage and now Starfleet
was turning his joy into a living nightmare. He had never liked the politics of Starfleet. But the politics were par for the course
if you wanted to have any kind of a career in space travel. Jonathan had made a promise to his father that he would see his father's
dream become a reality. That promise had been why he had entered Starfleet. Now though Jonathan was seriously considering
tossing everything away.
"Cap, I really don't want to have to replace the floor plating."Commander Charles "Trip" Tucker, III commented trying to lighten the tense atmosphere of the room.
Archer stopped pacing and looked over at his old friend. "What?"
Trip gestured to the floor. "Your pacing. You keep that speed up and I'll have to replace the whole room."
Archer nodded absently as he sat down on the corner of the table. "I can't believe they're making me choose, Trip. It hasn't
even been a week."
Tucker's face sobered as he leaned forward. "It's politics and with the current state of Starfleet I wouldn't put anything
past 'em."
"I'm not giving up on Malcolm and Hoshi."Archer stated firmly. "I don't care what T'Pol or Starfleet says.We found the
debris....they could've survived that crash."
"T'Pol's just lookin' out for her career and yours."Tucker replied quietly having been present during more than one of T'Pol
and Archer's fights during the last few days.
Archer was on his feet again. "I don't give a damn about my career. They shouldn't be making me choose between this mission
and saving Hoshi and Malcolm."
"I can have the transporter back up and runnin' in two days."Trip suggested knowing that if they hadn't received a
communication signal by now the odds weren't good.
Archer shook his head as he looked out the window at the planet that resembled Earth. "It won't cut through the interference in that atmosphere. Even if we could somehow get a fix on their position."
Tucker let out a long sigh as he rubbed a weary hand over his face. "How long did Starfleet give us?"
"Ten hours."
"That's enough time to take another pod down."Trip replied as he stood.
"Send a pod where, Trip?"Archer asked frustrated. "We don't even know if they're near the original landing...."
"Sickbay to Archer."
Jonathan sighed as he walked over to the com unit. "Archer."
"Captain, could you come down to sickbay for a moment?"Doctor Phlox asked.
Archer glanced at Trip before replying. "I'm right in the middle of a meeting, Doctor, can this wait?"
"No."
Archer nodded. "I'll be there in a few minutes."
*********
Lieutenant Malcolm Reed sighed wearily as he used the back of his forearm to wipe sweat from his face. It had been
nearly four days since their pod had crashed. Four days since they had to take refuge from the never ending storm in the small drab
cave.
More than anything Malcolm wanted to sleep. He couldn't remember the last time he had been this tired. But there was no way
he could rest. Hoshi needed him and he wouldn't let her down no matter what. She had been injured because of him. Injured
in the crash. If he had done a better job of piloting the damn thing they'd both be in one piece.
Hoshi had regained consciousness only once since the crash and it had been brief. At least she wasn't in pain from her
injuries, Malcolm thought gratefully as he sat down next to the young woman's still form. He had tried to grab supplies
and a medkit from the pod but it had exploded before he was within ten feet of it.
"If you hadn't volunteered us for this mission."Malcolm admonished tenderly. "We'd be nice and warm and sharing a quiet
candle lit dinner."
Hoshi didn't stir and Malcolm very gently pulled the young woman onto his lap cradling her in his arms.
"Come on, Hoshi."Malcolm pleaded struggling to keep his voice from cracking. "Enough of this. Wake up and help me out here.
I need to know how to get us out of this.....I'm all out of ideas and I can always count on you for that.
Please Hoshi....don't make me tell the Captain that I failed you."
Malcolm felt his eyes begin to drift close. He shook his head trying to force himself to stay awake. In the end exhaustion
finally caught up to the armory officer and Malcolm fell asleep his arms protectively encircling the still form of the woman he loved.
**********
"This won't keep you going forever."Doctor Phlox warned as he injected the hyponeedle into Archer's neck. "But I'll refrain
from boring you with the 'need sleep' lecture."
Archer absently rubbed the site of the injection even though there had been no pain from it. "I'll sleep when Hoshi and
Malcolm are back on this ship."
The Denobulan sighed as he put the equipment away. "I'm not telling you to give up on them, Captain. But you won't
be any help to them if you collapse from exhaustion. And that's exactly where you're headed if you keep this pace up. The human
body is not meant to go this long without rest."
"I'll take that under advisement."Archer replied as he stood. "Is there anything else?"
Phlox nodded. "Bring them home."
"I will."Archer replied as he walked toward the door.
Archer left Sickbay knowing that what he promised Phlox wasn't a lie. One way or another he would bring Hoshi and
Malcolm home. No matter what it took.
**********
/ 'What was that?'Hoshi Sato anxiously asked as she gripped the armrests of her seat.
Malcolm didn't dare risk looking away from the consol. The readouts were going crazy and that was on the parts of the panel that
were working.
'No idea, sensors are out.'Reed replied tersely his fingers flying over the consol. 'Whatever it was we're losing energy
rapidly.'
'I'll try to reach Enterprise.'Hoshi offered as she unclamped her hands from the armrest.
'Sato to Enterprise.'Hoshi called trying not to look at the ground rushing up to meet them.
No response.
Hoshi hit another key. 'Sato to Enterprise. We don't know what hit us but we've lost sensors and the pod's leaking
energy. We're trying to regain control.'
'I don't know if they received that or not.'Hoshi reported as she disabled the com link.
'In a minute it won't matter.'Malcolm replied grimly. 'We just lost the engine. Strap yourself in I'm going to try
to put us down gently.'
'Where?'Hoshi asked as she fumbled with the straps. 'I don't see anything but mountains.'
'I'll find something, don't worry.'Reed assured her as he reached for the safety straps.
They were losing altitude faster than Malcolm could compensate for. There wasn't time to look for a
clearing. They'd have to take their chances with the mountains.
Malcolm glanced over at Hoshi and he could see the fear in her eyes. 'Hang on, luv. We're going down.'
The pod slammed into the side of one of the smaller mountains and bounced down until it came to a rest on a small
ledge./
********
Malcolm jerked awake, his breath coming in short gasps.
Nightmares.
Great just what he needed.
Once his breathing returned to normal Malcolm looked down at Hoshi. She was still unconscious. He placed a palm on her forehead.
"Damn, the fever hasn't broken."Reed said out loud as he drew her still form closer. "I'd give anything for a med kit right now, Hoshi. I can't see anything through the bloody rain to tell if there are any plants I could use.
I'm not good at sitting around. The Captain should've found us by now....something's wrong. Four days is long enough for them to configure the sensors to penetrate the atmosphere.....I wish there was something I could do to signal them.
I wish there was something I could do to save you."
*********
After a brief stop on the bridge to get a status report Archer returned to his ready room. As he stepped through the
door Jonathan found Trip sitting at one end of the table buried in a stack of data padds.
"You have an idea?"Archer asked hopefully as he approached his old friend.
Tucker glanced up from the small computer padd with a shrug. "No, but thought the ships' blueprints would be a place
to start."
"Find anything interesting?"Archer asked as he sat down next to Trip and picked up one of the data padds.
Tucker shook his head as he tossed the padd he was reading down so forcefully that it bounced and slid down the
length of the conference table ending up on the floor with a clatter. "No. You'd think with all our technology we'd be
able to perform a simple rescue mission no matter what the atmosphere."
Archer met his friend's gaze. "Level with me, Trip. Am I grasping at straws here? Do you believe that Hoshi and
Malcolm survived that crash?"
"Yes."Tucker replied with unwavering faith. "Hoshi and Malcolm are two of the most stubborn people I know. It'd take
a lot more than a pod crash to take them out."
"I hope you're right."Archer stated grimly starting to feel the first signs of exhaustion. But he couldn't rest, not yet.
He had to keep it together....for the sake of his crew.
The comm unit buzzed to life breaking the silence that had fallen over the room.
"T'Pol to Archer."
Archer rose and walked over to the unit, hitting the correct key. "Archer."
"Incoming message from Starfleet command."
"I bet I know what they want."Trip muttered just loud enough for Archer to hear.
"Send the transmission over here, T'Pol."Archer ordered as he leaned against the wall.
"The message is from Admiral Forrest.....he's rather insistent that he speak to you privately."
Tucker stood. "I can take a hint. I'll go muddle around in engineering."
Archer waved his friend silent. "I really don't care what he wants at this point, T'Pol. Send the message down here.
Whatever he has to say he can say in front of Commander Tucker too."
"Very well."The Vulcan science officer replied as she ended the conversation.
"This should be fun."Tucker commented darkly just as the small video screen on the desk flared to life.
"Admiral."Archer greeted as he leaned against the table. "What can I do for you?"
"You can start by obeying the orders you were given by Starfleet command."Forrest replied tersely not sparing Tucker a
glance. "The Andorians asked for our help."
Archer folded his arms across his chest his eyes narrowing. "With all due respect, Admiral, so did my two missing crew members. Starfleet
gave us ten hours."
"I sympathize with your loss, Captain but...."
"Save your condolences. I don't have any evidence that they're dead."Archer retorted fighting to control his temper.
"From the reports I've seen you're living in a dream world."Forrest replied. "They slammed into the side of a
mountain....the pods weren't built to endure that kind of pressure."
Trip opened his mouth to reply but quickly shut it. Telling the Admiral what he thought of him and Starfleet wouldn't
help Hoshi or Malcolm any.
"I thought Vulcans were the only ones who went back on their promises."Archer snapped. "Starfleet gave us ten hours
to rescue Hoshi and Malcolm and I'm taking every last second of it. I'll get to the Andorians when I have a full crew."
Before the Admiral could reply Archer hit a button terminating the transmission.
"Do you want me to get the Pod ready?"Tucker asked quietly several minutes after the video screen went silent.
Archer took several calming breaths before he met his best friend's gaze. "Yes and take T'Pol with you. She won't like it
but you'll need her expertise. I'll tell Dr. Phlox to get ready."
Trip nodded and headed for the door once there he paused and turned back. "How long do you want us to search?"
Archer walked toward him. "Take whatever time you need. I'll keep Starfleet off our backs."
"Okay."The chief engineer acknowledged as he opened the door and stepped into the hall.
"Trip?"Archer called halting the younger man.
"Yeah?"Tucker replied poking his head back into the room.
"Watch your back."Jonathan ordered trying to keep the worry off of his face. He didn't want to lose Trip and T'Pol to whatever
had taken out Reed's Pod but he had no choice.
"Always do."Tucker replied sincerely as he stepped out of the doorway and continued on his way to the shuttle bay.
*********
"Pod's away."Ensign Travis Mayweather confirmed from his seat at the helm. His dark eyes nervously watched the pod as it entered
the planet's orbit. This crew couldn't handle another loss right now.
"Thank you, Ensign."Archer acknowledged as he stood in front of the Captain's chair. He surveyed the tense faces of his bridge
crew. It was strange not to see his senior staff at their usual positions.
"Ensign Rowden."Jonathan began as he turned to face the young red haired man sitting at communications. "I want an open
com channel with the pod. We're not losing this one."
"Yes, Sir."The youth replied crisply as his fingers flew over the consol. "The channel's open."
"Commander."Archer called into the open com channel. "We're going to keep an open com channel with you."
"Glad to have you along, Captain."Tucker's replied his voice coming across grainy. "We just started to descend into the atmosphere and it's getting a little bumpy."
"Captain."T'Pol interjected. "The planet's atmosphere is severally interfering with the pod's sensors but we should be able to compensate."
"Good."Archer replied as he sat down. "Let me know when you're low enough to pick up life signs."
"Acknowledged."The Vulcan confirmed plunging the bridge into silence.
***********
Trip fought to keep the bucking pod under control as atmospheric winds buffeted the small ship.
"I don't mean to hurry you along or anything but we're going to need to find a landing spot soon."Tucker commented his
intense gaze split between the mountainous terrain below and the consol in front of him.
"In that case I have one in mind."T'Pol replied not looking up from the sensor readouts.
Trip risked a glance behind him. "Is that Vulcan for 'you've found them?'?"
T'Pol nodded. "Captain, the sensors have picked up a possible humanoid life sign."
Hope radiated through Archer's voice as he replied. "Where?"
"The sensor data is incomplete but it appears to be not far from where the debris was located."
"Trip, is there a place you can set down by there?"Archer asked.
Tucker looked at the data on his panel. "Yes there is. It'll be a hike back to their location but it's the only
level ground within a hundred miles."
"Whatever it takes to bring them home, Trip."Archer ordered solemnly.
"We won't come back without 'em."Tucker promised as he started to get the pod ready for landing.
*********
Forty minutes later Tucker and T'Pol were walking away from the shuttle pod. The only time T'Pol's gaze wavered from the tricorder
was to negotiate the tricky mountainous terrain. There were no paths just an endless sea of rocks of all sizes. The air was
damp and smelled of rain.
Trip shifted the medical kit to his other shoulder as he walked behind the Vulcan. The chief engineer hadn't missed the fact that T'Pol
had said she had found *a* humanoid life sign. Since the events on shuttlepod one he and Malcolm had become as close as
brothers. Trip prayed that he wouldn't have to bring one of his friends back in a body bag.
T'Pol stopped so suddenly that Tucker had to do some fancy footwork to avoid a small boulder and colliding into her.
"Can you warn a guy next time?"Trip grumbled as he regained his footing. Then he looked over T'Pol's shoulder and realized
why she had stopped. They had found the wreckage.
"Oh man."Trip commented grimly as he came to stand at T'Pol's right as they both stared down at the wreckage resting on a
tiny ledge. The last time he had seen something that pulverized had been a transporter malfunction. If Malcolm and Hoshi
had still been inside.....
"The life sign is nearby."T'Pol reported as she held the tricorder at arms length studying the data.
Tucker crept closer to the edge scanning the area around the wreckage. He didn't see any movement. "Where?"
T'Pol shook her head. "The data isn't that accurate, Commander. But we are in the correct general area."
Turning around Tucker put the strap of the medical kit around his neck and began to climb towards the wreckage.
"Commander, what are you doing?"T'Pol inquired raising an eyebrow.
Trip fought the urge to roll his eyes. For all their smarts the Vulcans could come up with some real obvious questions. "Climbing."he replied simply.
T'Pol took a rope out of her pack and handed it to him. "Wouldn't it be more logical to repel?"
With only a shake of his head Tucker climbed back up and snatched the rope from the science officer. He offered one end of the rope to T'Pol. "You go first. I can anchor it against one of these rocks."
T'Pol nodded as she took the rope. "It is logical to conclude that if Ensign Sato and Lieutenant Reed survived the crash they wouldn't have been able to get very far in this terrain."
"Let's get going."Tucker urged as he glanced up at the dark sky. "I have a feelin' that this planet doesn't stay dry very long."
*********
They were almost to the ledge when T'Pol spotted the small cave. Trip looked down at the wreckage then back at the small
cave wondering how was the best way to get to it. In the end they decided to finish the repel down to the ledge and climb
their way up to the cave.
Tucker arrived at the cave opening and clicked on his flashlight. "Malcolm? Hoshi?"
"They may be unconscious."T'Pol suggested as she came to stand at his left flashlight in hand.
Tucker opened his mouth to call his friends name again when T'Pol's flashlight landed on two still forms.
"Oh God."Trip breathed as he scrambled across the small space between the wall and the cave's opening. Malcolm was sitting against
the wall cradling Hoshi in his arms. Both had their eyes closed.
"Malcolm? Hoshi?"Tucker called anxiously as he reached them. He could tell right off that Malcolm was still breathing but
as Trip looked down at Hoshi he couldn't tell if she was alive.
"They're alive."T'Pol reported answering Tucker's unasked question as she studied the tricorder. "But Ensign Sato's condition is critical. We need to get her to sickbay."
Tucker nodded grimly as he knelt next to Reed and began to slap the armory officer's face lightly. "Malcolm? It's Trip."
Malcolm didn't stir and Tucker exchanged a concerned glance with T'Pol.
"He may be too weak to regain consciousness on his own."T'Pol commented as she knelt next to Hoshi.
Trip looked down at Hoshi and then back at T'Pol. "Can you take her?"
T'Pol nodded. "Yes. I'll let the Captain know that we've found them."
"Okay."Tucker replied as T'Pol stepped away to contact Enterprise.
"Trip?"Malcolm asked weakly as his eyes fluttered open.
Relief washed over Tucker as he turned back to his friend. "Yeah,buddy it's me. You're going to be fine. It'll just take us a little while to get back to Enterprise."
"Hoshi."Malcolm said anxiously as if just remembering what had occurred. He looked down at the communication officer's still form. "Is she......"
Tucker placed a reassuring hand on Reed's shoulder. "She's alive but barely. We've got to get her back to the ship."
Reed's gaze didn't leave Hoshi's face. "Take her first.....then come back and get me."
Trip shook his head. "No way. We're all getting out of here. You get some rest while I see if there's a back way out
of here."
"There isn't one."Reed replied hoarsely. "Trust me I looked."
"Okay."Tucker acknowledged. "We'll just have to get up the mountain the same way we came down."
"Commander."Reed called as he shifted Hoshi gently so he could sit up more. "Promise me that you'll take care
of Hoshi, no matter what."
"Now don't start this again."Tucker replied with a grim smile. "Remember, happy endings? We're all getting back to
Enterprise. I promise."
*********
Once out of the cave Trip was carrying Hoshi while Malcolm was gingerly testing his legs to see if they would hold his weight.
After much discussion Trip finally won out with his offer to be the first to climb up the mountain face so he could secure
the rope and they could gently pull Hoshi up.
"Be careful, Commander."Reed warned as he got his first real look at the mountain that stood between them and home.
Tucker nodded and began his ascent.
As T'Pol and Reed watched Tucker slowly but surely made his way back to the spot where they had first stood and discovered the wreckage.
Tucker tossed down the ropes and T'Pol offered one to Malcolm who shook his head.
"No, get Hoshi to safety first."Reed protested wearily as he leaned heavily against a boulder.
"You are injured as well, Lieutenant."T'Pol argued.
"Go."Malcolm urged quietly. "I can spot down here in case you lose a foothold."
"We're runnin' out of daylight here."Trip called from above. "Who's comin' next?"
"I will."The Vulcan replied as she tied one rope around Hoshi's waist and the other around her own.
"Try to keep Hoshi as level as you can."Tucker instructed his voice echoing off the mountain side."I'm going to try to pull her up even and gentle but it's going to be a bumpy enough trip as it is. I don't
want to agrivate any internal injuries she may have."
"Understood."T'Pol acknowledged as she secured one arm around Sato's waist. She tugged on Hoshi's rope once to let the engineer know they were ready. Once Trip started to pull Hoshi's still form up T'Pol began her own ascent leaving a worried Malcolm to look on from below.
There were a few tricky moments but finally Trip had Hoshi lying on one of the blankets from the medkit. He had cleared
the ground beneath her from rocks as best he could but the rocky terrain was unforgiving.
"You're going to be okay, Hoshi."Trip assured the unconscious woman as he checked her vitals once again. "We just have to get Malcolm and we'll go home and the Doc will fix you up."
When Tucker returned to the cliff's edge he saw that T'Pol had already tossed the rope back down to Malcolm and that
Reed was making good progress despite his injuries.
Trip glanced worriedly at the rapidly darkening sky as he came to stand next to the Vulcan science officer. "How long do
you think we have before the sky opens up on us?"
T'Pol followed his gaze to the dark clouds. "Perhaps thirty minutes at the most."
"That's what I figured."Tucker replied grimly."It's going to be a wet hike back to the pod."
Ten minutes later Reed wobbly joined them. Trip instantly reached for Malcolm's left arm when he started to fall. The
exertion from the climb combined with everything had almost been too much for the armory officer.
"I'm okay."Malcolm protested as he weakly pushed away from his friend's supportive grasp. "How far away is the Pod?"
"It's about a half hour hike."Trip replied as he looked worriedly at Reed's pale sweaty face. "You don't look so good."
Malcolm fought off the wave of dizziness. "I'll make it. Let's get going."
"Right."Tucker replied not buying Malcolm's statement for a minute but he had no choice. There was no way to carry both
of them through this terrain.
Trip walked over and gingerly picked up Hoshi making sure the blanket was wrapped securely around the communications officer. "T'Pol, you lead."
The Vulcan nodded and the group started the journey back to the shuttle pod.