AMICULUS
Chapter Three
"Please inform your chef that he did an outstanding job," sighed Saltar as he sat back in his chair.
Travis grinned. "I'll be sure to tell him," he replied. He looked around at his seven other guests. "Anyone for seconds?"
A series of groans was his only reply. Travis and Hoshi exchanged amused looks.
"How was your meal?"
Travis immediately began to stand at the sound of the captain's voice but he felt a hand on his shoulder pushing him back down.
"At ease, Ensign," said Archer kindly.
"I was just telling Travis and Hoshi here, Captain, that your chef outdid himself. Even though per Dr. Phlox our meals are to be bland and easily digestible, they're still far better than dried bread and Medran broth," replied Saltar with a smile.
Archer chuckled. "I would imagine so." The captain took a seat next to Hoshi. "Sub-commander T'Pol tells me you want to go home."
"Is that possible?" asked Saltar. He looked at each of his comrades. "We'd all love to go home, Captain. We have family and friends we haven't seen for months. They probably all believe we're dead."
"I've given the order to release the docking clamps on the Kapeera, we're setting her adrift as we speak. T'Pol will give the coordinates to the helm and we'll be on our way. You could probably talk to the Medran government about claiming your property later."
"Thank you, Captain," said Saltar. He reached out and took Archer's hand with enthusiasm. "But I have no more interest in the Kapeera. I just want to see my family again."
"You're very welcome," replied the captain then he stood. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to let Star Fleet know that my crew is going to be taking some well deserved shore leave."
"Shore leave, sir?" asked Hoshi with a smile. "Am I to assume then that the commander---."
"---is going to be fine. He just woke up a little while ago."
"So we're taking Commander Tucker on shore leave, sir?" asked Travis.
Archer nodded. "Seems there's a planet in the Zor system that has our name on it, Ensign."
Travis watched his commanding officer leave then he turned back to Saltar. "So tell us about this planet," he asked unable to hide his excitement.
"Well if it's the one I told your sub-commander about this morning, then you're in for a great time, Travis. There's mountains, forests, beaches, deserts, you name it, Zor Peglos has it!"
"Is it heavily populated?" asked Hoshi.
Saltar shook his head. "That's why it's such an ideal place for a vacation. There are small villages but no big metropolises," he explained then he smiled. "Don't worry, Hoshi. There'll be plenty of opportunity for you to learn our language."
Hoshi laughed. "Am I that transparent?" she asked.
Travis merely nodded his head and smiled at her.
"Let me help, Cap'n," insisted Trip.
Jon looked over to where his friend was seated in a camp chair. "No, Trip," he replied. "You're here to rest and relax. I can put the tent up on my own."
"Sure you can."
"What was that, Commander?"
"I said I'm sure you can, sir," replied Trip with a grin.
Jon shook his head then returned his attention to the tent. Thirty minutes later he was still struggling.
"Cap'n," said Trip who'd come up beside him.
Jon conceded his loss and gratefully stepped aside, letting his friend take over. Within minutes, Trip had the tent up and ready. The commander stepped back and assessed his handiwork then he turned and threw Jon a lopsided grin.
"You're a damn fine engineer, Trip," Jon said. "Now I think you need to sit down." He moved forward and took Trip's elbow and led him back to his chair. The commander was breathing hard and his face glowed with perspiration. He sat down without protest so Jon knew he had exhausted himself.
The captain looked at his friend, noting how his clothes hung on his thin frame. The seven days of bed rest had worked miracles for the engineer but he still had a long way to go for a complete recovery. Phlox had grudgingly agreed to allow Trip the shore leave but only with the condition that the commander check in with him three times a day. The Denobulan had accompanied Hoshi and several others to one of the nearby villages choosing to sleep in a bed rather than in a sleeping bag so Jon knew he was close by in case Trip needed him.
"Quit worrying about me, Cap'n."
Jon smiled, realizing he'd been staring at his friend. He reached down and patted Trip's shoulder gently. "Part of my job, Trip," he said quietly.
"Well then it's a part of your job you take far too seriously," Trip replied without rancor.
"And that, my friend, will never change."
Jon turned to see his armory officer approaching.
"How's everything over here?" Malcolm asked.
"Cap'n needed some help with the tent, but I think we're good to go now."
"Everyone getting settled?" asked Jon after giving Trip a dirty look.
Malcolm nodded. "Travis and I have our tent up as do Ensigns Martin and Rowe. I think the shuttle pod should be bringing the sub-commander, Crewman Bart and Lieutenant Marx down in a while. Everyone else opted for the village or the beach."
"They don't know what they're missing," sighed Trip as he leaned back in his chair and stretched his legs out.
The lieutenant smiled. "The fresh air seems to be doing you good, Commander," he said. "Now lets hope some good out door cooking will put some weight back on that skinny frame of yours."
"Trip's still on a special diet, Malcolm, so there won't be any smores or roasted marshmallows for him."
"Yep," moaned the engineer. "I'll be lucky to get a good burger while we're here."
The hum of Shuttle Pod One caught Jon's attention and he looked up to see it pass overhead. "Ah, the others have arrived."
"Captain, has Sub-commander T'Pol ever been camping before?" asked Malcolm as his eyes followed the flight of the pod.
"She mentioned participating in the---," Jon paused, searching his memory. "---the Koz Wan ritual once. She was left in the desert to survive for ten days."
"Doesn't sound like camping to me," said Trip from his chair. "Not that I'm complaining, but I wonder why she chose camping instead of the village with Hoshi and the doc?"
"You'll just have to ask her, Trip," replied Jon. He turned and grabbed his sleeping bag then moved into the tent.
"Here you are, sir," said Malcolm as he handed the engineer's bag through the tent flap.
"Thanks, Malcolm."
"I'll go help the others unload the shuttle pod," said the lieutenant then he was gone.
Jon stepped out of the tent and stretched, pulling fresh air into his lungs. He glanced over at Trip who was still reclined in his chair, staring at the blue sky through the tall trees.
"What're you thinking about?" asked Jon as he reached out and tapped Trip's leg. He settled on the ground next to his friend.
Trip smiled. "Just how grateful I am to be alive," he replied with a sigh. Then his face turned suddenly serious. "Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"I've just been wondering," the engineer began then stopped. He looked down.
"What is it, Trip?" Jon asked as he watched his friend.
The commander turned his head to look at the captain. "When you didn't find my remains in the building, why---," he faltered again.
"Why didn't we think something was up?"
Trip nodded.
"T'Pol and her team ran over every inch of those ashes for six days straight, Trip, looking for any sign of human DNA as well as Medran DNA. They just couldn't find anything," Jon explained. "We weren't given any reason to doubt the Medrans. They seemed just as distraught as we were at the loss of their people. They searched right along side T'Pol."
The commander looked down again, contemplating his hands.
"I'm sorry, Trip."
"I know you did everything you could, Cap'n," Trip replied quietly.
"But knowing that doesn't make what happened any easier, does it?"
Trip shook his head but remained silent.
"We never ventured very far from Pilo Medra during those two months. I guess subconsciously we all held out hope for a miracle. I know every night I was asking for one," said Jon gently.
"So was I," replied Trip with a soft snort then he fell quiet again.
Jon placed his hand on his friend's forearm. "I'm sorry," he said again.
Trip nodded. "Admiral Forrest left me a message. He said you considered resigning." Trip looked up at Jon. "Is that right?"
"Yep. Didn't want to do this without my chief engineer," Jon replied.
Trip looked surprised. "Really?"
Jon patted his arm. "Everything lost meaning out here for me when I thought you died, Trip. I didn't realize how much I relied on our friendship to get me through; how much this was our vision, not just mine."
The engineer smiled. "Thanks. I guess I always figured I was the only one who felt that way."
"Nope. I know I never say so, but this friendship we share means a great deal to me, Trip. Don't ever doubt that or forget that, okay?"
Trip nodded. "Thanks, Cap'n."
Jon smiled warmly then he stood up. "I'm going to check on the others. Will you be okay here alone?"
"Yeah," Trip replied around a yawn. "I think I'll lay down for a while."
"Need some help?"
The commander stood up and stretched. "Nah, I'll be fine."
Jon watched as his friend disappeared into the tent. He waited a few moments then peered through the flap. Trip was already sound asleep, lying on his back on top of his sleeping bag. The captain closed the flap then headed down to where the shuttle had landed.
T'Pol knelt down by the bubbling stream and dipped her hand in the water. As the cool liquid flowed over and between her fingers, she decided there were certain pleasurable aspects of camping. The morning sun shone through the trees creating aesthetically pleasing streams of light. She watched for a moment as the water shimmered and danced under the bright beams then she rose to her feet.
As T'Pol turned to walk along the bank, she noticed Commander Tucker sitting with his back against a large tree several meters upstream. She hesitated in approaching him, as it appeared the engineer was deep in thought. Then he looked up catching her eyes and smiled. T'Pol walked up the bank to where he sat.
"Morning, T'Pol," Tucker greeted.
"Commander," the sub-commander replied. "Did you sleep well?"
Tucker nodded. "How about you?"
"I found the ground to be quite dense."
"I grew up camping with some of my buddies. Don't worry, you'll get used to it."
T'Pol noticed the data padd lying by the commander. She knelt at his side and picked it up, studying the little screen.
"I was just catching up on some reading," offered Tucker rather sheepishly.
"These are engineering status reports for the last two months, Commander. I thought you were under strict orders from both the captain and Dr. Phlox to rest," admonished T'Pol evenly.
"I am resting, T'Pol. See, I'm just sitting here quiet as can be," Tucker replied lifting his hands for dramatic effect.
T'Pol settled herself on the ground. "As you no doubt have already discovered, your staff did an admirable job in your absence," she said then she handed him the padd.
"I know. I'm really proud of them."
The Vulcan looked at her companion. "Lieutenant Hess is quite anxious to have you back as is the rest of your crew."
Tucker sighed. "Doc says it'll probably be at least a couple more weeks before he'll release me to light duty. What am I supposed to do for a couple more weeks?"
"I am certain that Dr. Phlox was referring to only labor intensive activity, Commander. Perhaps when you're feeling stronger he would be receptive to allowing you to work at your desk."
"And do nothing but paperwork?" said Tucker incredulously.
"It is better than the alternative," pointed out T'Pol.
"I suppose so," relented the engineer. He leaned his head back against the tree. "Maybe I can work on some upgrades to the warp engine. See if we can get more than 5.1 out of her."
T'Pol noted the lift in the commander's voice. "If you need any assistance, I will make myself available when I am not on duty," she said.
Tucker turned his head and smiled at her. "Thanks. I might just take you up on that."
The sub-commander moved her gaze back to the stream. "We should probably return to the camp. When I left, Ensign Mayweather was just preparing breakfast. There has been ample time for him to complete his task."
The commander grunted. "Great. I'll get to sit there and eat my oatmeal, toast, and fruit while the others dine on flapjacks, bacon, and eggs. There's nothing better than breakfast cooked over an open fire, T'Pol." He paused. "Still, I'll take a good bowl of mush over that Medran cuisine we were served on the Kapeera."
T'Pol stood then reached down to help Tucker to his feet. "Perhaps you'll discover you feel better eating a healthier diet, Commander."
Tucker chuckled. "Perhaps," he replied.
They headed back up the trail toward their camp.
"I wonder how Saltar and the others are doing," pondered Tucker as they walked.
"If the party that greeted them is any indication, I would assume they are all doing quite well."
"Yeah. That was quite a sight, wasn't it," said the commander. "After what they went through, they deserved a greeting like that."
The two fell into a companionable silence. T'Pol watched her companion out of the corner of her eye and when he stumbled, she quickly grabbed his arm to steady him. He smiled his thanks then continued to walk.
"I believe I owe you an apology, Commander," T'Pol said, breaking the silence between them.
Tucker looked puzzled. "Why?"
"If I had been more diligent in my investigation---."
"No," said Tucker, shaking his head. "Don't even go there. You did everything you could, T'Pol."
"Perhaps if I'd---."
"No," the commander interrupted again with a wave of his hand. "The cap'n told me you spent six days pouring over the remains of that building. You did all you could." He stopped and turned to her. "So don't beat yourself up over it, okay?"
T'Pol nodded her head. "I will not---beat myself any longer," she replied.
Tucker smiled gently. "Good. Now I can smell breakfast from here so lets get moving."
T'Pol watched the commander move away from her, noting how very thin he still appeared. He was alive she reminded herself, and getting stronger every day. She quickly moved to catch up with him.
To be continued