Just a quick response to some of our reviews: we actually love the Malcolm character! It just seems to have worked out that he hasn't fared well in our stories—we didn't even realize the pattern until someone pointed it out 8^).
Just for a change, we are going to write a Malcolm-central story next. Now, back to the story at hand…
CHAPTER 2Hoshi and Trip exchanged worried glances. Trip pulled out his communicator. "This is gonna be real embarassin' if we're just lost," he remarked before speaking into it. "Tucker to Archer." Silence. "Tucker to T'Pol."
Hoshi was starting to look very worried. "Where could they be?"
Trip tried again. "Tucker to Enterprise." When no one answered the hail, he gestured to Hoshi. "Try yours, maybe mine's malfunctionin'."
Hoshi nodded and took it out. "Sato to Archer. Captain, can you hear me?" Again, no response, just faint static. "I don't understand it, sir. It's like…no one's there."
Trip was looking past her. "Well, maybe I see some answers comin'." A lone figure was moving towards them from the base of the steps, struggling under the weight of a heavy basket. As the individual approached, they recognized her as a Jafari from the distinct ridges along her cheekbones and jaw. They knew too little about the Jafari to guess her age, but she looked to be in her late twenties. Her dark brown hair swung free to her hips, and she was wearing a beautiful, loose-fitting brown dress embroidered elaborately in shades of gold, green and brown.
She glanced up at them for the first time about halfway up the stairs, and her footsteps faltered momentarily. Then her face lit with a smile and she doubled her efforts, rushing up to them. "Greetings!" she called excitedly. She came directly to them, panting with exertion. Trip instinctively reached out and took the basket from her. She beamed at him, dark eyes shining. "My thanks. My heart warms to see you, friends. It has been long since we have seen shekan."
"Shekan?" Hoshi repeated, intrigued by a word that the translator couldn't identify.
"Yes," the woman responded, then frowned. "Are you injured?" She reached out and touched Hoshi's cheek gently.
"Injured?" Trip said, confused.
"Oh! No," Hoshi assured her. "We aren't injured. We're from a different place—we were born like this." The woman looked perplexed, but seemed willing to accept their explanation for the lack of ridges on their faces.
"Listen," Trip interrupted. "Can you tell us where we are? I think we're a little lost."
"No."
"No?" Trip repeated, thinking that they wouldn't get far if he just kept repeating everything she said.
"No," the woman said, smiling gently. "You are not lost." She took the basket from Trip and hurried past them into the temple. Before they could move, she reappeared without the basket, moving between them and taking their hands. "Come."
Hoshi looked at Trip, and he shrugged as if to say, 'Got any better ideas?' They allowed the woman to lead them down the steps.
**
As they walked, still hand in hand, the woman introduced herself as Mila. "And what are your names?"
"My name is Hoshi, Ensign Hoshi Sato. And this is Commander Tucker."
"Call me Trip," Trip said absently, trying in vain to see something he recognized, which might help them find their way back. All he could see were the enormous trees that this planet favored—larger than redwoods, he mused. "Wher're we goin'?"
"To the village. Everyone will be so very happy to meet you. Keyia has shown us favor again." At that, Trip and Hoshi exchanged worried glances again. That moment, they came into sight of Mila's village. As one, they pulled up short, catching Mila off guard. Trip reached out to steady her, still gazing at the village.
It was made, literally, of the trees. Each home was carved directly into the base of a huge tree. Gnarly roots had been shaped outside each home to make seats, tables, even crude looms. More Jafari moved about the forest floor, attending to daily tasks. They hadn't yet noticed Mila and her companions.
Mila got them started again with a gentle tug. As they came to and entered the village, the other Jafari began to notice them and dropped their tasks. Each person smiled broadly as they formed a crowd that trailed behind the threesome. Finally, Mila led them into a large clearing in the center of the village. Light spilled down on them from the opening in the trees. She walked to the center of the clearing, where a large fire pit was dug out. She turned Trip and Hoshi to face the crowd, smiling.
"Shekan!" She cried triumphantly, lifting her hands.
"Shekan…" A whisper started through the crowd, soon becoming a roar. The Jafari laughed and cheered, surging forward around them. The force of the crowd separated Trip and Hoshi—the adult male Jafari were packed around Trip, crowing and slapping him on the back. Some even embraced him, which really made him ill at ease.
"Hoshi!" he yelled, trying to see her. He heard an answering cry of "Trip!" She sounded borderline frantic and he fought through the crowd to reach her. Suddenly, the Jafari stopped pushing him, and stepped back. At the end of a tunnel of Jafari, he could see Hoshi, surrounded by the female Jafari. He and Hoshi moved together quickly, to the apparent approval of the Jafari. 'Ok, enough's enough,' he thought.
He grabbed Hoshi's arm, pulling her closer to him, and sought out Mila. Seeing her, he demanded, "I want to know where we are and what's goin' on, right now. We're from the Starship Enterprise, from Earth. We need to get back to our people."
"We are your people now." A woman in a green dress, looking to be in her forties, stepped forward. When Trip and Hoshi just stared at her, she explained, "You are Shekan. You home is with us."
"No. We need to return to our people and Enterprise," he insisted. Hoshi placed a hand on his arm, stepping forward.
"We are here by mistake," she told the woman. "We stepped into the Sh'ron, and suddenly we were here. We just need you to tell us how to get back."
The woman looked confused, and she shook her head, long blond hair swinging. "Back? You cannot go back; the Sh'ron has chosen." She smiled. "Do not look so worried, friends. You will be happy. You will be together."