CHAPTER FIVE: Demarcation
3rd January 2003 – 8 April 2003
Rating: PG

The bridge was fully staffed when Archer stepped out of his ready room onto the deck. Upon seeing him, T'Pol rose from where she sat in the command chair, and Archer moved towards her. "Dropping out of warp now, sir," Travis clearly announced. Moments later the viewing screen was filled with the glinting curve of a planet.
"I'm only detecting one settlement," Hoshi reported. Archer turned, looking at her quizzically. "There are several thousand life signs there, all concentrated in one general area," she added.
"Can you hail them?" Archer inquired.
Hoshi pressed a few buttons, and then her brows furrowed. "I'm getting a reply, but I think it's automated."
"Put it through," Archer said, as he leaned against his chair.
Hoshi pressed a few more buttons, and an alien voice began speaking. "Let me run it through the syntax database again, sir," she quickly stated, and moments later the alien tongue translated.
"We, the Dem'angar, are a peaceful colony, not interested in trade or contact from outsiders. Please regard this message and do not disturb us." It began to repeat.
Archer's brows furrowed as he met T'Pol's flat expression. They certainly weren't going to let a message keep them from finding a possible cure for Trip.
"T'Pol, Travis, come with me. We're going to get some answers."
"Sir," Malcolm said, rising to his feet from his tactical station. "I should go with you. You don't know how hostile these people may be to you for going against their wishes."
Archer fixed Malcolm with a hard stare, and then shook his head. "No, Malcolm. I need you to remain here on the bridge." He paused to reflect a moment, and then added. "Unless you feel you're not up for the command?"
Malcolm stiffened, coming to attention. "No, sir, of course not." His expression still conveyed some pain, though, as if it were evident he was offended Archer didn't think he was able to lead an away team, or command in his absence.
"Good." Archer held Malcolm's gaze a moment longer, and then looked to Travis. "Let's go."
T'Pol reached the turbo-lift first, followed shortly by Travis. Jonathan looked back over his shoulder at Malcolm for a moment, before stepping into the lift after them and vanishing with the closing doors.
Malcolm met Hoshi's eyes, and he shook his head, looking back to his weapons display.

Sunaz was a myriad of mottled browns and beiges, painted such by the harsh desert environment on the surface of the planet. The Dem'angar colony, however, was a brilliant beacon of life on the otherwise barren world. With a radius of approximately three hundred miles, the colony spread like a lush green carpet beneath the descending shuttle-pod. Where the water came from, and how the land was kept fertile were unclear, but while the very act of the wasteland supporting life was fascinating, Archer found himself concerned with more important things.
Travis expertly navigated the shuttle closer to the surface, searching for a suitable landing place. Archer sat beside him, gazing out over the terrain. T'Pol sent unanswered hails to the surface, hoping for a reply from the colony. They broke through a thick cloud layer, and cities built within the greenery came into view. Unexpectedly, music filled the cockpit. Travis stiffened at the loud noise, but to his credit, the course of the shuttle did not falter.
"What is that?!" Archer demanded, his voice booming over the music.
T'Pol quickly shut the communication system off, and the noise ceased. "Apparently we've broken through their radio transmission field," she stated coolly. "I'm scanning now for a two-way frequency."
Archer looked perturbed at T'Pol's reply, and leaned forward in his navigator's seat, trying to help Travis find a landing area.
"Unauthorized shuttle," a static voice suddenly said. T'Pol adjusted the frequency, and the sound cleared. "You have entered a secured area. This colony is off limits to off-world influence. Please return to your ship."
T'Pol met Archer's eye and taking that as a confirmation to explain themselves, she answered. "I am T'Pol of the star ship Enterprise. We believe your colony has important information that pertains to research we are doing. Request permission to land."
"Denied. This colony is off limits to off-world influence. Please return to your ship," the voice repeated.
Archer moved from his seat, pressing his communications channel. "I'm Captain Jonathan Archer. I'm sorry we're breaking your protocol. This is a very urgent need for us, and your colony is our only lead. I promise, if you can't help us, we'll leave immediately. I just need to speak with someone who could help us with a medical matter."
There was silence for a long time, and Archer ignored Travis' inquiring looking. A burst of static filled the cockpit, and then a different voice said, "Lower your shields."
Travis' brows furrowed, and Archer nodded. "Hull plating offline," Travis announced.
"We will transmit coordinates to you," the new voice said. "Be aware you are in direct violation of sub-code three-one-fegna, and failure to do as ordered will be considered an incentive to attack."
"Understood," Archer loudly replied.
Travis altered course as the transmission came through. Before too long, the shuttle was descending through the centre of the city onto what looked to be a shuttle-landing pad.
By the time the shuttle was secured, the Dem'angar had already formed a 'welcoming party' for them. Archer exited the shuttle first, hands visibly empty. Travis and T'Pol followed suit behind him.
The tallest Dem'angar approached, flanked by two smaller men. "Follow me," he said. Archer nodded, trying to offer a friendly smile, but the man acted uninterested.
They were quickly led into the facility and down through several corridors. Travis followed Archer closely, while T'Pol kept her Vulcan scanner out, to scan as she followed. Before long they entered a high-vaulted room. An older looking man, standing by a middle-aged woman, came to greet them. He wore brightly coloured robes, and appeared to be the head of the colony.
The man looked Archer over, and then narrowed his eyes. "What is it you want?" he inquired. It was fairly clear he didn't recognize Archer's species, and perhaps for that reason was both more and less wary of him.
"My name is Jonathan Archer. I'm captain of—"
"I don't really care about that," the man stated. "I am Ertuth. This is my colony. Get on with it."
Archer locked his jaw a moment, and then nodded. "I discovered in some of my research that this colony had someone who was put into Yuuli stasis and was later recovered by your people." Archer didn't miss the hard looking in Ertuth's eyes. "We are in a similar situation, and I was hoping you could shed some light."
"We do not discuss such a thing. I am sorry." The comment was a dismissal.
"No. I don't think you understand," Archer started again. "A crewmember of mine was put under this stasis. He's going to die if you don't help us."
"That concern is not mine," Ertuth stated, and waved his hand. The Dem'angar who had escorted them to Ertuth stepped forward again to lead them back to their shuttle.
"Why won't you help us?" Archer demanded. "I apologise for breaking your sub-code on off world visitors, but I had no other option. My crewman is going to die, and you're the only people who know anything about this Yuuli stasis at all! If you won't help us, could you at least give us the name of someone who will?"
Ertuth looked back at him, his eyes narrowed coldly. "That stasis was over ten years ago. No one now living remembers. It is unfortunate your friend must die, but that is the way of it. Goodbye."
Archer gritted his teeth as the tall escort turned him around and pushed him until he was back in the corridor.
Back in the shuttle-pod, Archer slammed his fist against his chair arm. "That Ertuth knows something!"
T'Pol made certain the hatch was secure and then settled herself into her chair. "The likelihood of finding a solution at this colony was remote," she stated, simply. Archer fixed her with a glare.
Travis took off from the landing pad, and shrugged. "At least we know that file was telling the truth, though." Archer looked back to him, waiting for him to elaborate. "Well, we know now that someone here did get put under stasis, and revived. Ertuth himself admitted that much."
"It seems the average life span for a Dem'angar is five years," T'Pol explained, as she examined the data she had acquired on her scanner. "It is feasible that the knowledge of the Yuuli stasis has passed out of their memory."
Archer sat back in his chair, glowering. He had run into a dead end, and saw no other direction to turn.

Malcolm relinquished command to Archer as soon as he returned to the bridge. Both the armoury officer and Hoshi were expectant. The away team had only been gone two hours, and the disheartened looks on Jonathan and Travis' faces spoke volumes. "The Dem'angar proved to be unhelpful," Archer stated flatly. Malcolm averted his eyes, focusing on his artillery console display. Hoshi pressed her lips together sadly. "It would seem we're back to square one."
"It is feasible we could locate the Jaar home world," T'Pol stated from where she stood behind Archer. Her hands were clasped at the small of her back, and she seemed willing to help, although not overly invested in the problem.
Archer met her gaze, and then nodded his head. They had no other leads to follow. If they could locate someone of the Jaar, it was possible they would have more information. He nodded in agreement.
Travis got to his feet, crossed to the strategy console where T'Pol stood, and set about helping her scan for the Jaar home world.
Hoshi put her hand to her earpiece, and looked to Archer. "I'm getting a transmission, sir." Archer's eyebrows rose as he looked over to his communications officer. "It's from the planet," she added. Her fingers nimbly flew over the keys at her panel. The viewing screen filled with the visage of a woman.
Archer recognized her as the woman Ertuth had been standing with when they entered his chambers. "Hello, Captain Archer," she said with a smile. Archer was alert instantly, looking at her eagerly. "It is unfortunate my father's people are unable to help you," she continued.
Archer offered a smile, but it was forced. "He will die, if we cannot revive him," he answered at last.
The woman nodded, sadly. She glanced over her shoulder, and then stepped closer to the view screen. "Ten years ago there was a raid on our colony by the Yuuli. Many of our people were taken hostage and put into stasis," she explained. "Among them was my grand-uncle, then monarch of this colony. We ransomed to get him returned to us, but he was in stasis. The technique to revive is a Yuuli technique, and my people are truthful when they say we do not know it. Ten years ago we had a Yuuli captive who reversed the stasis.
"We let him go after he helped us, and we closed the colony off. His name was Suul. He left for the planet Dryl. He said many Yuuli go there to try to sell those in stasis. I hope you can help your friend."
Archer's eyes were brightly lit with renewed hope, and he nodded. "Thank you so much," he began. He would have offered more, but she cut the transmission off.
T'Pol returned to her station. "Dryl is a well known mining colony of the Bena system," she told him.
Travis moved to sit back at the helm. "The course has already been laid in."
Archer let out a breath and sat down in his captain's chair. "Let's go."

The mess hall was empty except for Malcolm and his datapad. He ate a cold dinner and drank from a cup of lukewarm coffee. The mess hall doors opened, revealing Jonathan. His tense face softened when he saw the armoury officer reading in the empty room. If Reed heard his entrance, he did not turn to see who had come in.
"Malcolm," Archer said, his voice sounding overly loud in the silence of the mess hall.
The lieutenant looked up at last, seeing Archer before him. It was slightly strange to see Jonathan in the mess hall; Malcolm was sure he'd never seen the captain here before.
"Yes, sir?" he inquired, looking up at him as he put his pad down.
"I think we should talk," Archer stated.
Malcolm looked at his food, his minimal appetite long since satisfied, and got to his feet out of ingrained courtesy. "Sir?" he inquired.
"I know how you feel about Trip, Malcolm," Archer started, his voice soft. "I just want you to know that I know, and that I understand what you're going through."
Malcolm's jaw locked reflexively. "No disrespect, Captain, but I believe we've had this discussion already."
"I can't have my crew operating at less than maximum efficiency," Jonathan remarked coolly.
Malcolm looked at Archer then, his eyes narrowed. "I think you'll find, sir," the British officer began, haughtily, "if you looked in my work logs, that if anything, I have been exceptionally efficient." He looked away then, realising he was reprimanding his captain.
"You've been overworking for six days now, Malcolm," Archer replied, his voice still cool and collected. "You go on duty in three hours, and you haven't slept yet. I believe in your ability to operate with insufficient sleep, and I trust you know you your limits, but we're about to go to a potentially hostile planet, and I need to know my armoury officer is able to fully function."
Malcolm's eyes flickered, but there was nothing he felt he could say in defence of himself at that moment.
"If you're not willing to talk to me about whatever it is that's keeping you up at night, then perhaps you should talk to Doctor Phlox. He's trained to help with these sorts of things," Archer added.
Malcolm pressed his lips tightly together. "Understood, sir," he answered, at last. "I'll take care of it." When Archer did not leave after that, Malcolm found his patience growing thin. "Was there something else, Captain?" he inquired, barely veiling the exasperation growing in him.
Archer met his eyes, a sad expression visible in their depths, although his face remained impartial. It looked like Jonathan wanted to say something more, but that he was afraid or unable to speak. Instead, he smiled, defeated. "No, Malcolm. That was all. I was just thinking maybe you ought to get some sleep now, seeing as if things go well, we might be able to revive Trip in a few hours." Malcolm remained quiet. Archer's smile did not waver, and he turned to go.
Before he reached the door, Malcolm spoke. "Captain?" he inquired.
Archer looked over his shoulder, but said nothing.
"Please don't bring this up to me again, sir."
Archer departed, head bowed.

"Dropping out of warp now, sir," Travis announced as Archer got out of his captain's chair. The ship rumbled slightly as the engines slowed, dropping back to sub-light speeds. Dryl looked similar to Earth from space, and Archer lamented that they had not come to fraternize.
T'Pol looked up from where she was scanning the planet. "There is abundant life here, Captain. I'm unclear as to how you expect to find a particular member of the Jaar outcast."
Archer's face was strong and confident when he responded. "We'll ask around, of course."
"Captain, we're being hailed," Hoshi stated. Archer nodded to her, and the view screen snapped from alien planet to alien visage.
"Hello," Archer started.
The man on the other end of the screen was not Jaar. "What business do you have in the Bena system?" he inquired.
Archer glanced absently to T'Pol, then back to the viewing screen. "I'm here on business," he stated evenly.
The man's eyes narrowed. "What business?"
"A sort that doesn't involve you," Archer replied curtly.
The man did not reply at first, only lifting his head to study Archer better. "What sort of people does it involve?"
"Yuuli," Archer answered. "I'm looking for one named Suul. I heard he could get me a good deal."
"Ah. Yuuli. You'll want Dryad, clearance code 41328. Transmitting coordinates now." The screen went black, and Archer tilted his head.
"Travis, plot those coordinates into shuttle-pod one and then meet me in the docking bay. We've got some aliens to bribe," Archer stated. He started for the turbo-lift. T'Pol met him at the doors, and he stopped.
She looked at him as if wanting to advise him against going into a potentially hostile situation without herself or a security officer, but the look in Archer's eyes told her this was an argument she couldn't win. She narrowed her eyelids slightly and stepped back, understanding if not agreeing.

Travis landed the shuttle in a hanger so run down the shuttle looked sorely out of place. "I sure hope it's here when we get back," he commented as he locked the hatch behind them.
Archer patted down his jacket, feeling his phase-pistol at his side, and offered Travis a reassuring nod. "We won't be long," he advised.
Following the directions they'd received before leaving Enterprise, they came out of the docking bay and into a ratty thoroughfare. Tall buildings loomed on either side of them, and unsavoury looking beings tromped along beside them. Archer and Travis stuck together, the latter keeping track of their progress on his PADD. "In here, sir," the ensign said, indicating an inhospitable doorway on their right.
They took a dark entrance into a darker establishment, and were met with loud music, and hazy smoke, and the metallic scent of something freshly killed. Travis squinted in the poor lighting, but fearlessly lead the way. Archer took note of the patrons in the establishment, sitting at low tables, dining on red meat. A smile graced his lips, but it lacked mirth.
A majority of the patrons met their arrival with glittering yellow glares -- a sure sign Jaar surrounded them.
Travis approached what appeared to be a bar, and the two of them took seats. Bartenders, Archer had learned, were veritable founts of information. The woman behind the counter came over to them without preamble. "Don't see too many outsiders around these parts. You two looking for someone?" she inquired. Her breath was rancid, and Archer didn't blame Travis when the ensign looked away, to ostensibly to assess the crowd. He, on the other hand, curled his toes inside his boots and bore the stench.
"We're looking for a deal. We heard Yuuli frequented here."
The bartender laughed, and Archer fought not to reel backwards with the putrid stench that followed. "We gets lots of Yuuli here," she answered. "You're wanting girls or men?" she inquired, pulling a datapad out from behind the bar.
"Doesn't matter," Archer said, coolly. "Three of either should suffice."
The datapad blinked in the bartender's face, and she grinned, showing a row of yellow, rotten teeth. She nodded her head, inclining it towards one of the Yuuli who sat alone at a table. "Tem'ar. He should be able to help you."
"Thanks," Archer said, getting to his feet.
"Not a problem. I'd be happy to get you boys a drink, if you'd like," she added.
"No, thanks!" Travis called with feigned cheerfulness, and followed Archer as he approached Tem'ar's table. The Yuuli looked up at them dispassionately; he appeared down on his luck, and a nearly empty bottle of liquor was nestled in his right hand.
Tem'ar's eyebrows went up when Archer and Travis stopped in front of his table. He swallowed and blinked ruddy at them. "Yeah?"
Archer sat down in the seat across from him. Travis stood behind the captain, keeping watch. "We're interested in what you're dealing," Archer said, his tone conversational.
Tem'ar's eye's lit up, and vigour returned to him. "Ah!" he blurted, and sat up. "How many?"
"Three," Archer replied, as his eyes narrowed.
"I think I can handle that," Tem'ar answered. He got to his feet then, his chair falling back in a clatter that was lost to the noise in the establishment. Archer followed suit more carefully, and the three were soon back out on the street.
Tem'ar walked briskly. As he was almost a head taller than Travis, the humans found it a little difficult to keep up. "You're wanting three," Tem'ar said to himself. "For menial or manual?"
Archer didn't know if the dosages would matter, and answered. "Two menial, one manual?" he inquired.
Tem'ar glanced over his shoulder at Travis, and then to Archer, and then grinned broadly.
"I like you guys," he announced gleefully. "I'll show you the girls, first."
Tem'ar lead them into a docking bay that was slightly cleaner than the one where they had landed. Tem'ar's ship didn't look like it had seen space in a few years, and his cargo hold was open. As he led them through the ship, he talked candidly to them. "Been in this business a while now, and I've never seen your type around here before. Where you boys from, now?"
"Earth," Travis answered, but his voice trailed off as they stepped into the cargo hold. Lining both sides of the ship were stasis chambers, most filled with occupants.
"Never heard of that. Is it far?" Tem'ar inquired.
Travis was speechless as he stared, and Archer wasn't exactly keen on the Yuuli learning of Earth's home coordinates, so he abruptly stopped.
"These two look good," he announced. He gestured towards two chambers containing a pair of aliens who were delicate, and glossy purple in the lighting. Tem'ar clucked as if debating, then nodded.
"All right. Wouldn't pick you for a taste of the Zerrin's, but I can see the appeal," he replied, turning to look back at them.
Travis, scrutinizing the women in the chamber, wrinkled his nose. "How long have they been like this?"
Tem'ar leaned towards the chamber, assessed a blinking light, and shrugged. "Just a few years. Perfectly new."
"How do we know they're not damaged?" Archer inquired, his face expressionless. Tem'ar tried to laugh it off, but Archer's face did not soften.
"I wouldn't pull one over on you," Tem'ar protested. When Archer still did not yield, Tem'ar folded his arms across his chest. "You don't trust easily, do you?"
Travis cocked his head. "What keeps them alive?" he inquired. Tem'ar glanced to Travis, then back to Archer.
"You two never bought a stasis before?" he asked. Archer shook his head.
"Heard about them, but I wanted to see it for myself," the Enterprise captain replied. "What exactly is 'stasis,' anyway?"
"It's a cultural technique," Tem'ar answered curtly, obviously unwilling to discuss the trade secret.
Archer shrugged, pretending not to care. "Can you wake them up now? I'm not interested in paying for dead Zerrin's."
Tem'ar narrowed his eyes. "It's not good to wake them up, and restasis them after. You'd have to take them with you on your ship."
"We have a room prepared for them, and the other, already," Travis answered coolly. He nodded towards the woman closest to him. "Wake this one up, I like her. We can keep the other two in stasis until we're on the ship."
"Just to show our good will," Archer added. "I don't mean to mistrust. I'm sure you deal in only the finest goods . . ." Tem'ar beamed at the praise, ". . . but one can never be too sure. Besides, I'm not entirely certain how this destasising process works."
"It's simple, really. But first, what about payment?" Tem'ar asked, tersely.
"We'll pay after you prove to us this one'll wake up, undamaged," Archer replied, keeping his eyes on the chamber that held the Zerrin.
Tem'ar looked slightly perturbed, but then brushed it off. He hadn't sold anything in a long while; he wasn't about to run off his first customers because of a few peculiarities. "All right, but be mindful, they're always a little groggy at first." He reached out and pressed a button on the chamber. A small drawer popped open on the side of the chamber, revealing a thin tube filled with milky white substance. Tem'ar took the vial from the drawer.
Travis' gaze flickered to Archer, but the captain dissuaded him with his eyes. A few more buttons pushed, and the glass coverlet of the chamber rose up, exposing the Zerrin to the elements. Tem'ar pulled her hair away from her neck, placed the end of the vial to her artery, and injected the serum into her with a flip of a switch on the vial. She immediately took a ragged gasp of breath, and her eyes opened. Travis only then noticed she was strapped into the chamber with thick black belts, and was immobile.
"Works like a charm," Tem'ar answered, smiling. The Zerrin looked around, confused.
"I'm sorry we doubted you," Archer replied. "The process is the same for the manual labourer, too?" he inquired.
Tem'ar nodded. "It's worked every time I've used it. It's the same serum, so it's the same process. Some recover quicker than others, but it's all administered the same way. I know you'll have no problems with the others." Archer nodded in agreement, and stepped back to pull out his datapad. "Now about payment," Tem'ar insisted.
Archer flipped the datapad on, and queued up a currency figure. He glanced up. "Right. Give him his payment, Mr. Mayweather."
Travis drew his phase-pistol lightning quick and wasted no time stunning Tem'ar. The Yuuli dropped to his knees and fell face-forward onto the deck, unconscious. Archer stepped over the prone body and opened the second Zerrin's vial chamber, and retrieved the serum.
Travis kept his phase pistol trained on Tem'ar in case he should recover from the stun, but he was acutely aware of what Archer was doing.
"Let's go, Travis," Archer called, pocketing the vial inside his jacket.
Travis pressed his lips together, looked at Tem'ar, and then back to the Zerrin, who was watching them confusedly. "What about her?" he inquired, his eyes belaying how he felt about leaving her alone to deal with Tem'ar's wrath when he awoke.
Archer hesitated. He didn't want to be charged with theft, nor did he have any desire to become her keeper. His choices diminished abruptly when the Zerrin herself suddenly cried out, "Please, don't leave me!"
Archer grimaced and strode back towards her. All he could think was that somewhere, someone thought this girl and her companion were dead or lost, and he had the ability to return them to their homes. He set about releasing her bonds. Travis kept an eye on both the cargo hold entrance and Tem'ar. Archer knew they'd have to revive her companion as well, since it was obvious they had been caught together. Once he pulled her free, he set about reviving the other Zerrin.
He regretted the troubles that might arise from saving these women, and the backlash he might get from T'Pol, but he found now that they had voices and were individuals he couldn't leave them. He took another stasis serum from an adjoining chamber, and administered it to the second Zerrin. She awoke groggily, and he helped pull her out and onto her feet. The first girl hugged the second tightly, and they spoke to each other in brief whispers.
Archer slipped his jacket off and gave it to one of the girls, and Travis did the same for the other. Both women were dressed in thin flimsy gowns, and seemed grateful for the warmer clothing. "We have to move quickly," Jonathan informed them. The Zerrin women nodded, and the group hurried out of the cargo hold, off toward the shuttle-pod.

Many special thanks to Dnash for being an extraordinary beta, as usual. And apologises to my readers for taking so long to get this chapter out. I promise the next will be better, and won't take as long. :) Thanks for sticking with me.