Disclaimer: Star Trek is owned by Paramount; no copyright infringement is intended. Just borrowing them for recreational purposes!

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

JRR Tolkein

Part 3

CHAPTER TWELVE

Hoshi kept her face buried in Malcolm's neck. As long as they were in this moment, she didn't have to face the next step. Behind her, she could hear someone cheerfully greeting Trip, who responded in a friendly but guarded tone. She knew he was watching her out of the corner of his eye.

Finally, she pulled back and looked into Malcolm's face. His blue eyes were lit with relief and happiness; he was waiting for her to speak, to greet him.

Before she could, Jon intervened. "Welcome back." Malcolm released Hoshi and stepped back, allowing the Captain to address them. Instantly, Phlox appeared and began scanning Trip and Hoshi, while Jon continued. "What do you say we head back to Enterprise? The doctor can examine you, and then we'll all sit down to dinner together." He grinned at Trip. "Chef's got a big, juicy sirloin with your name on it."

While Trip responded with some kind of joke, Hoshi looked around the room. It was packed with people. There were several crewmembers from Enterprise—T'Pol, Malcolm, several of Malcolm's people—but most of them were Jafari. The way the Jafari were watching her made her uncomfortable; she instinctively moved closer to Trip and Malcolm, who flanked her.

The Captain turned and gestured for them to follow. He only took two steps before an older, male Jafari stopped him. "Captain…"

"Minister." Jon's voice was abrupt; his stance annoyed. His uncharacteristic response made Hoshi wonder what had been happening with the Jafari government while she and Trip were gone.

The Jafari ran nervous fingers through his graying blond hair. "We would like to offer you our hospitality before you depart. We feel badly about this incident. Please, allow us to make it up in some small way."

Jon shook his head. "Thank you, Minister, but our doctor needs to have a look at them before we do anything else. And I suspect they're eager to get back to the ship—they've been gone quite a while."

"Your doctor is welcome to use any of our facilities. Our medical complex is close by."

"No, thank you," Jon bit out, and brushed past. Suddenly all of the Jafari were holding weapons. Malcolm and the rest of the security team moved, but it was too late to reach for their own phasers. The Jafari quickly retrieved the crew's weapons.

"I am sorry, Captain, but I must insist," the Minister said regretfully. "It is for your own safety. It seems that some of our citizens are not pleased with the return of your people. We simply ask that you stay with us while we deal with this problem."

Malcolm spoke up. "We are prepared to defend ourselves. We don't need your protection."

The Minister's face hardened. "You would not get near your craft before you were all killed. Your friends are targets. Surely you do not wish to put such lovely women at risk?" He gestured to Hoshi and T'Pol. All eyes turned to them for a moment. Jon finally said, "It looks as though we don't have much choice, do we?"

"No, Captain. You do not." The Minister made a broad gesture with his arm. "Please follow me."

Surrounded on all sides by armed Jafari, the Enterprise crew trudged out.