Part 6 Help
Trip and Hoshi knocked on the door to Reed's quarters. "Come in," the slightly muffled reply came from inside and Trip pressed the button to open the door. Reed was sitting on his bed looking thoughtful.
"I'll do it," he said quietly without waiting for the question to be asked.
Hoshi and Trip exchanged relieved glances. There was now less than an hour until they were due to go down to the surface and the idea of taking the journey without any backup was beginning to worry them. "What made you change your mind?" Trip asked.
Reed looked up at them and explained his little experiment on the bridge. ".like you say," he completed his description, "it was nothing major but, for a short time, it was like the Captain and T'pol weren't even there, mentally at least."
Trip regarded the lieutenant, from what he knew of his personality he knew that what he was asking was difficult, it meant going behind the Captain's back. If he hadn't been so sure that the man on the bridge was not Jonathan Archer he would have had trouble with it himself. Reed wasn't the only one who had been thinking for the last hour. "If you want I'll make sure that it states in the log that I ordered you to do this." He offered
Reed shook his head, standing up. "No, I'm now a willing participant in this little conspiracy. If it should turn out that we are wrong."
"..then we should all take equal responsibility," Hoshi finished for him
"Then let's get this show on the road." Trip said, moving for the door, gratified that his shipmates were one hundred percent with him at last.
Archer took his hand from the wall and stood up to his full height, trying not to wince at the protest from his ribs. This was not a time to show weakness. He forced himself to draw his attention away from the gun and look into the eyes of the woman standing before him. "I'm Captain Jonathan Archer, from the planet Earth," he offered, his introduction designed to ease the tension and therefore, hopefully, make it less likely that the young woman would pull the trigger. "And you are?"
The young woman watched him carefully. He was obviously quite badly injured, she had been watching him since he left the cover of the forest and had seen the difficulty he was having in moving, but he had the strength of character to try not to show it. "I believe I am going to help you." she said.
Archer was surprised by the answer. He had expected a name, given the weapon leveled at him, he had not expected an offer of help. "Help?" he repeated his brow creasing in puzzlement. He was aware of the fact that his thoughts were not as sharp as he would like, not as sharp as he needed them to be, given the circumstances. The injuries, coupled with the cold and the soaking he had just taken, meant that he had a fever that was rapidly taking hold of his system.
"Yes," she replied, "I have already taken care of the person who was following you."
Archer looked towards the door. "There was someone following me?" he asked, then as realisation dawned, "Female?"
"Yes I believe so, she kept in the shadows but she was catching you up." She paused briefly, before adding. "I took care of her."
Archer took a step forward a deep concern suddenly seizing him. Somehow he knew that this woman was talking about T'pol. "What did you do?" He asked his eyes narrowing.
The young woman stepped back in response to Archer's movement and gestured with the gun to remind him that it was still there. She did not fully trust him yet and she knew he had no reason to trust her. "Whoever it was I knocked them out. It's OK they won't be bothering us for a while by which time we'll be long gone."
Archer began to move towards the door, but this time a sharper gesture with the weapon from the young woman as he approached, caused him to stop in his tracks. Once more she backed away a little. "I said I wanted to help you but if you come any closer I will use this," she said.
Archer realised that his approach must have looked a little threatening, when in reality he was just trying to head for the door. He had to go and find T'pol, check that she was all right. "You don't understand, I think the person that you hit was a crewman of mine. She was with me, not a threat to me."
It was the woman's turn to look confused, "but she was following you, chasing after you."
"I know she.." Archer began.
"..got separated and was trying to catch up." T'pol finished from the doorway. "I believe you would be best advised to drop your weapon."
Both the woman and the Captain turned to look at her. She had the weapon she had retrieved during the escape pointing at the stranger.
"T'pol," Archer said, relieved. "Are you all right."
"I am fine Captain," she did not take her eyes of the young woman. "I asked you to lower your weapon," she said firmly, raising hers and making it clear that she was prepared to use it.
The woman was not intimidated, she kept her own weapon concentrated on the Captain. He was impressed, T'pol could be very intimidating when she wanted. There was, however, nothing he could do at this point apart from watch the scene between the two women play out.
"I guess we have something of a stand off here," the young woman said, fixing her gaze on the Captain, "because I have no intention of lowering my weapon at the moment."
"No," T'pol stated. "In order to have a stand off you would have to be prepared to shoot the Captain and, despite what you say, you are not." Her tone was strong and even. "I, however, have no qualms about pulling the trigger on this gun if you do not comply and lower your weapon."
The woman was surprised by the response and took her eyes of the Captain to look at T'pol. She considered her options for a full minute, weighing the Vulcan up, before deciding to admit defeat. If she continued to bluff she was not sure that T'pol would not just shoot her and she was right, she was not going to shoot the Captain. She lowered the gun down to her side but that was not enough for T'pol.
"Release the weapon fully," she said. The woman did as she was asked. "Now kick it over here," T'pol instructed, again the woman did as she was asked. It was only then that T'pol focused her attention back on the Captain. She walked over to join him ensuring that she kept the young woman in her sights. "She did not harm you further?" the tone identified it as a question.
"No," Archer said, looking at T'pol for any sign that the knock on the head he had been told she had been subjected to, was causing her problems. "She said she wanted to help me."
"An unusual way to offer help," T'pol said as they both turned again to look at her. "Do you normally point weapons as a means of offering assistance."
"No, I." the young woman was clearly flustered now, the loss of her weapon removing with it some of her confidence. "You do not understand what is happening on this planet. It makes us suspicious of everyone. I had to be sure that you were not one of them before I can help you."
"One of whom?" Archer asked.
"It's too complicated to explain here," the young woman replied earnestly, "besides you are both injured."
"I am fine," T'pol stated, the blow had caused her to lose consciousness for only a short time and her physiology was much stronger than that of a human.
"And I'm OK," Archer tried to add but his body betrayed him as at that moment a violent shiver ran through his system. He had been standing unaided for too long and he decided he needed to lean against the wall before he fell over again. "I just need to rest for a little while is all." He hated feeling so weak and vulnerable.
As he moved, however, he misjudged the distance and stumbled. T'pol dropped the weapon she was holding in her effort to catch him. The young woman did not try for it, instead she moved to the other side of Archer to help support him. Together they lowered him to the floor.
The young woman placed her hand on his forehead. "He's burning up," she said concerned.
"He does seem to have a high fever," T'pol confirmed.
"Just need to rest for a while," Archer repeated, worryingly unaware of the conversation around him.
Half an hour with the doctor had left Reed looking only slightly different. His ears had been reshaped to look more like T'pol's and he had a thin spiny ridge down either side of his neck. He had been discussing his plan of action with Trip whilst the doctor had worked.
"There," said Phlox, smiling at his achievements and holding up a mirror. "What do you think of your new look."
Reed examined the additions touching them lightly as he looked at his reflection. "Thank you Doctor," he said pleased with the results, "and I'm glad that whatever you are using isn't as itchy as the last time.
The doctor's smile broadened, pleased that his efforts had been noted. "It's something new I developed just in case we ever needed to use this sort of prosthetic again," he said proudly.
"Well it's an improvement so far." Reed said, handing the mirror back.
"So," Trip said, "You are clear what you say to the Captain if he's looking for the lieutenant here?"
The Denobulan raised his eyes towards the ceiling. He couldn't get used to the need for human's to have constant reassurance, especially if they already knew the answers to the questions they asked. "Yes, commander," he replied in a long suffering tone, "I am well aware of the answer to give."
Trip looked at him questioningly. "Humour me," he said needing a more complete answer.
The doctor sighed, "I will tell him that the lieutenant has a gastrointestinal disorder and that I have confined him to quarters until he is fully recovered."
Trip nodded, smiling. "Thanks Doc, I owe ya."
At that point Hoshi arrived carrying some clothes. "OK I've got your outfit here," she said laying them out on the bed.
"Oh no," Reed shook his head "I'm not wearing that."
Hoshi looked at him. "Why not? I checked the database and this is likely to blend in best with what the inhabitants of the planet are wearing."
"Look I'm sorry but there is no way I'm going down to the planets surface wearing this," he said, holding the offending garment up. "I am not wearing a red shirt!"
"Why not?" Trip echoed Hoshi's question.
"Because." Reed began to reply but hesitated as he tried to come up with a reason. "I don't know I've just got a bad feeling about it," he paused realising that it wasn't a very solid argument. "Besides," he added, "red's just not my colour." Equally unconvincing. Hoshi and Trip just stared at him. "Look it's just too bright, make's you too easy a target. No self respecting weapons officer would ever wear something that colour."
"All right, all right," Hoshi relented as it looked like Reed was going to try to dream up even more 'reasons.' "If you feel that strongly about it I'll go change it," and she took it from him.
Trip checked his watch. "You'd better get on with getting changed or this little plan will never get off the ground.
Trip and Hoshi knocked on the door to Reed's quarters. "Come in," the slightly muffled reply came from inside and Trip pressed the button to open the door. Reed was sitting on his bed looking thoughtful.
"I'll do it," he said quietly without waiting for the question to be asked.
Hoshi and Trip exchanged relieved glances. There was now less than an hour until they were due to go down to the surface and the idea of taking the journey without any backup was beginning to worry them. "What made you change your mind?" Trip asked.
Reed looked up at them and explained his little experiment on the bridge. ".like you say," he completed his description, "it was nothing major but, for a short time, it was like the Captain and T'pol weren't even there, mentally at least."
Trip regarded the lieutenant, from what he knew of his personality he knew that what he was asking was difficult, it meant going behind the Captain's back. If he hadn't been so sure that the man on the bridge was not Jonathan Archer he would have had trouble with it himself. Reed wasn't the only one who had been thinking for the last hour. "If you want I'll make sure that it states in the log that I ordered you to do this." He offered
Reed shook his head, standing up. "No, I'm now a willing participant in this little conspiracy. If it should turn out that we are wrong."
"..then we should all take equal responsibility," Hoshi finished for him
"Then let's get this show on the road." Trip said, moving for the door, gratified that his shipmates were one hundred percent with him at last.
Archer took his hand from the wall and stood up to his full height, trying not to wince at the protest from his ribs. This was not a time to show weakness. He forced himself to draw his attention away from the gun and look into the eyes of the woman standing before him. "I'm Captain Jonathan Archer, from the planet Earth," he offered, his introduction designed to ease the tension and therefore, hopefully, make it less likely that the young woman would pull the trigger. "And you are?"
The young woman watched him carefully. He was obviously quite badly injured, she had been watching him since he left the cover of the forest and had seen the difficulty he was having in moving, but he had the strength of character to try not to show it. "I believe I am going to help you." she said.
Archer was surprised by the answer. He had expected a name, given the weapon leveled at him, he had not expected an offer of help. "Help?" he repeated his brow creasing in puzzlement. He was aware of the fact that his thoughts were not as sharp as he would like, not as sharp as he needed them to be, given the circumstances. The injuries, coupled with the cold and the soaking he had just taken, meant that he had a fever that was rapidly taking hold of his system.
"Yes," she replied, "I have already taken care of the person who was following you."
Archer looked towards the door. "There was someone following me?" he asked, then as realisation dawned, "Female?"
"Yes I believe so, she kept in the shadows but she was catching you up." She paused briefly, before adding. "I took care of her."
Archer took a step forward a deep concern suddenly seizing him. Somehow he knew that this woman was talking about T'pol. "What did you do?" He asked his eyes narrowing.
The young woman stepped back in response to Archer's movement and gestured with the gun to remind him that it was still there. She did not fully trust him yet and she knew he had no reason to trust her. "Whoever it was I knocked them out. It's OK they won't be bothering us for a while by which time we'll be long gone."
Archer began to move towards the door, but this time a sharper gesture with the weapon from the young woman as he approached, caused him to stop in his tracks. Once more she backed away a little. "I said I wanted to help you but if you come any closer I will use this," she said.
Archer realised that his approach must have looked a little threatening, when in reality he was just trying to head for the door. He had to go and find T'pol, check that she was all right. "You don't understand, I think the person that you hit was a crewman of mine. She was with me, not a threat to me."
It was the woman's turn to look confused, "but she was following you, chasing after you."
"I know she.." Archer began.
"..got separated and was trying to catch up." T'pol finished from the doorway. "I believe you would be best advised to drop your weapon."
Both the woman and the Captain turned to look at her. She had the weapon she had retrieved during the escape pointing at the stranger.
"T'pol," Archer said, relieved. "Are you all right."
"I am fine Captain," she did not take her eyes of the young woman. "I asked you to lower your weapon," she said firmly, raising hers and making it clear that she was prepared to use it.
The woman was not intimidated, she kept her own weapon concentrated on the Captain. He was impressed, T'pol could be very intimidating when she wanted. There was, however, nothing he could do at this point apart from watch the scene between the two women play out.
"I guess we have something of a stand off here," the young woman said, fixing her gaze on the Captain, "because I have no intention of lowering my weapon at the moment."
"No," T'pol stated. "In order to have a stand off you would have to be prepared to shoot the Captain and, despite what you say, you are not." Her tone was strong and even. "I, however, have no qualms about pulling the trigger on this gun if you do not comply and lower your weapon."
The woman was surprised by the response and took her eyes of the Captain to look at T'pol. She considered her options for a full minute, weighing the Vulcan up, before deciding to admit defeat. If she continued to bluff she was not sure that T'pol would not just shoot her and she was right, she was not going to shoot the Captain. She lowered the gun down to her side but that was not enough for T'pol.
"Release the weapon fully," she said. The woman did as she was asked. "Now kick it over here," T'pol instructed, again the woman did as she was asked. It was only then that T'pol focused her attention back on the Captain. She walked over to join him ensuring that she kept the young woman in her sights. "She did not harm you further?" the tone identified it as a question.
"No," Archer said, looking at T'pol for any sign that the knock on the head he had been told she had been subjected to, was causing her problems. "She said she wanted to help me."
"An unusual way to offer help," T'pol said as they both turned again to look at her. "Do you normally point weapons as a means of offering assistance."
"No, I." the young woman was clearly flustered now, the loss of her weapon removing with it some of her confidence. "You do not understand what is happening on this planet. It makes us suspicious of everyone. I had to be sure that you were not one of them before I can help you."
"One of whom?" Archer asked.
"It's too complicated to explain here," the young woman replied earnestly, "besides you are both injured."
"I am fine," T'pol stated, the blow had caused her to lose consciousness for only a short time and her physiology was much stronger than that of a human.
"And I'm OK," Archer tried to add but his body betrayed him as at that moment a violent shiver ran through his system. He had been standing unaided for too long and he decided he needed to lean against the wall before he fell over again. "I just need to rest for a little while is all." He hated feeling so weak and vulnerable.
As he moved, however, he misjudged the distance and stumbled. T'pol dropped the weapon she was holding in her effort to catch him. The young woman did not try for it, instead she moved to the other side of Archer to help support him. Together they lowered him to the floor.
The young woman placed her hand on his forehead. "He's burning up," she said concerned.
"He does seem to have a high fever," T'pol confirmed.
"Just need to rest for a while," Archer repeated, worryingly unaware of the conversation around him.
Half an hour with the doctor had left Reed looking only slightly different. His ears had been reshaped to look more like T'pol's and he had a thin spiny ridge down either side of his neck. He had been discussing his plan of action with Trip whilst the doctor had worked.
"There," said Phlox, smiling at his achievements and holding up a mirror. "What do you think of your new look."
Reed examined the additions touching them lightly as he looked at his reflection. "Thank you Doctor," he said pleased with the results, "and I'm glad that whatever you are using isn't as itchy as the last time.
The doctor's smile broadened, pleased that his efforts had been noted. "It's something new I developed just in case we ever needed to use this sort of prosthetic again," he said proudly.
"Well it's an improvement so far." Reed said, handing the mirror back.
"So," Trip said, "You are clear what you say to the Captain if he's looking for the lieutenant here?"
The Denobulan raised his eyes towards the ceiling. He couldn't get used to the need for human's to have constant reassurance, especially if they already knew the answers to the questions they asked. "Yes, commander," he replied in a long suffering tone, "I am well aware of the answer to give."
Trip looked at him questioningly. "Humour me," he said needing a more complete answer.
The doctor sighed, "I will tell him that the lieutenant has a gastrointestinal disorder and that I have confined him to quarters until he is fully recovered."
Trip nodded, smiling. "Thanks Doc, I owe ya."
At that point Hoshi arrived carrying some clothes. "OK I've got your outfit here," she said laying them out on the bed.
"Oh no," Reed shook his head "I'm not wearing that."
Hoshi looked at him. "Why not? I checked the database and this is likely to blend in best with what the inhabitants of the planet are wearing."
"Look I'm sorry but there is no way I'm going down to the planets surface wearing this," he said, holding the offending garment up. "I am not wearing a red shirt!"
"Why not?" Trip echoed Hoshi's question.
"Because." Reed began to reply but hesitated as he tried to come up with a reason. "I don't know I've just got a bad feeling about it," he paused realising that it wasn't a very solid argument. "Besides," he added, "red's just not my colour." Equally unconvincing. Hoshi and Trip just stared at him. "Look it's just too bright, make's you too easy a target. No self respecting weapons officer would ever wear something that colour."
"All right, all right," Hoshi relented as it looked like Reed was going to try to dream up even more 'reasons.' "If you feel that strongly about it I'll go change it," and she took it from him.
Trip checked his watch. "You'd better get on with getting changed or this little plan will never get off the ground.