Buffy moved off as the Captain walked back to the tavern. "Malcolm?"

His clipped voice showed amusement, "Buffy?" and she sighed, she'd forgotten radio protocol again.

"T'pol and I are headed back to the ship. Have Travis keep the Enterprise out of sight and keep an eye out for any ships. We're expecting company." She said.

"Understood. Enterprise out."

"Buffy?" Trip's voice was soft and she threw a smile over her shoulder, "Hey."

"A beautiful woman in her natural environment." He quipped.

 Buffy smiled, "I need a bikini and a drink with a silly umbrella."

Trip chuckled, turning to watch the water. He was lightly sweating in his uniform, and he pulled at his collar. "If we do this plan, are you going to be careful?"

Buffy shook her head, "Way to show faith in me Commander Tucker." She snickered then saw his face. "Trip, we are going with this plan, and I'll do my job. Of course I'll try to be careful." Her voice was tart and a little sarcastic. He grimaced, "I don't like it." She turned slightly and saw T'pol waiting politely. "We're ready to go, find some shorts and one of those hideous shirts and I'll see you soon."

"You bet. See you darlin'!" He watched her walk up the beach a little unhappily.

T'pol docked the shuttle and Buffy snapped out of her reverie. She climbed out and immediately went to have a planning session with Malcolm, speaking to him quietly. Buffy and Malcolm pulled together 11 women. Buffy let them know their assignment, making it a strictly volunteer operation. They then took them to the gym for a quick refresher course, including some of the more vicious ways to disable a man. Malcolm was cringing by the time Buffy had finished, making her laugh. "What's the matter Mal?"

"Remind me never to make you mad." He replied and fled for the launch bay.

They were shuttled down in groups where Wes met them and dressed them in beautiful tropical dresses for the roles they were about to play. Buffy still was uneasy, there was something she was missing but couldn't pinpoint it. Buffy chose a light green bikini with a sarong style skirt that left her flat stomach bare. She was never aware of the attention she garnered, still keeping her head in the game.

The Captain was almost hyper aware of Buffy and it made him slightly nuts. He felt like his radar was attuned to her. Especially in that bikini. Shaking his head he finally buried himself in the plan, making the announcement to the women.

 "No one is to be alone at any time, all of you are armed with phase pistols and please, don't get engaged before we leave." There was outright laughter at this and the women went to their posts.

Buffy looked around in satisfaction. Trip, the Captain and Malcolm were all discreetly placed, the women were spread throughout the bar. Buffy took a turn and smiled at the men, stopping to chat with Captain Archer.

"Well, ready as we can be." Her eyes were scanning and he looked around as well, "You've done a first-class job, be careful." His eyes met hers and a shiver of something went through her. She glanced away, and walked on.  

Suddenly Hoshi's voice was heard, "An unidentified ship is entering the planet's orbit."

Buffy clapped her hands, "We're about to party people. Be careful." Buffy stepped back and went outside the Blue Parrot for a quick look when suddenly a small hand connected to a child grabbed her hand, "You'll find 'em won't you? You'll get 'em back?" He had been watching and knew that this lady was the one who would help him.

Buffy knelt to face the child who was no older than 6. "Get who back?" Buffy asked quietly, aware time was tight.

"The bad men took my sister and my cousins and a bunch of my friends." The little boy's eyes were terrified and shiny with tears. Buffy drew in a breath sharply and realized suddenly what she had missed. The enemy had taken children hostage.

Buffy looked the little boy in the eyes, "I'll do my best. I promise." She swore. He nodded and ran back into the trees.

Buffy straightened, her eyes on fire as she walked into the Blue Parrot. Captain Archer straightened, 'something was definitely wrong,' he thought as she strode by. He watched her grab Wes and hiss a question that made him blanch in panic. She jerked his arm sharply and he nodded shakily. Disgust crossed her face and she walked back to the Captain, "We have a problem." She whispered as she kept watch, noticing the frantic glances the native men were giving her.

"Of course we do, what's up?" he asked quietly.

"They want the women in exchange for the children they took as hostages." She said grimly. His eyes met hers and he realized the depth of their problem. Someone would have to go to the ship. He caught Malcolm's eye and Malcolm strode over, "What?" he asked. Suddenly there was an energy wave and a group of about 10 men materialized.

Buffy nodded at the Captain and went to stand by Wes. He stood and took her hand and walked her over to the men.

"We have 11 volunteers Mayhewe." Wes stated and the men all stared at Buffy.

 "It sounds like an exciting adventure to be able to get off of this rock." She gushed. Wes looked at her, a little stunned. She had gone from field marshal to simpering woman in a heartbeat.

The scruffy bearded man stepped to her, "I am Mayhewe. Prepare the rest of the women." He stated. Buffy gestured and the woman all came forward. Buffy carefully arranged a woman for each man, then turned to Mayhewe.

"We are here, now I want to go first to the ship and see our quarters." She asked demandingly, smiling sweetly at him and he nodded, speaking into his unit on his wrist. As soon as they disappeared the women did their job and painfully disabled the men they standing by. Malcolm, Trip and the Captain, as well as the native men trussed the men up, leaving only one ungagged for information.

Trip was frantic, "Why did she go? What in the hell was she thinking." He raged and the Captain finally grabbed him by the shoulders, "She went to rescue the children. They are hostages on board the ship." Trip went pale, "How many?" He spun around to look at Wes. He looked unbearably tired, "30 of them." He answered quietly.

Buffy and Mayhewe materialized and Buffy grabbed him, pressing her weapon to his throat. She faced the crew in front of them, "Your men on the surface are mine and I will kill the Captain where he stands unless you send the children back." She stated flatly to the shocked men.

"Please." wheezed Mayhewe, shocked by how strong this small woman was. Buffy glared, "The children?" She began to cut off Mayhewe's air and he nodded frantically to them. One of them raced toward the back and brought out the children. There was chaos and noise but Buffy was nothing if not single minded.

"Five at a time." She demanded, tightening a little knowing she was cutting off his air supply. She watched, emotionless as the shaken crew sent the children down in groups of five, the older children holding the babies. Buffy was furious as the last of the weeping children were transported down.

"Tell me why the hell that you did this?" She said angrily. Mayhewe gasped, "Let me go."

"Fuck off, I'm sure someone else can tell me."

An older man with sad eyes spoke, "We had a war and then a natural disaster. All of our woman died. We have no way to continue our race. We stumbled across the planet and were surprised to find that they were distantly related to our people. We're desperate to continue our race." He said lamely. Desperate people did stupid things as he was now realizing.

Buffy looked at him in scorn, "Did you ask? Even if they said no you could have appealed the decision, or used surrogate mothers or any number of options. Now you're royally screwed. Send Mayhewe and me to the surface, your ship is under surveillance from the Enterprise, 'my ship'. You move and I will tell them to blow you out of the sky."

Buffy and Mayhewe, still half conscious materialized in the Blue Parrot. Buffy shoved him to his knees and kicked him viciously. Then she stunned him.

Captain Archer raced over to her and grabbed her before she headed for the other men. "Buffy!" he said and she struggled. He cupped her face and made her look at him, "Buffy! Buffy, the children are safe." He bent down, their faces almost touching as his amber eyes looked into her anguished hazel ones. "It's ok." he whispered.

 "Do you know why? Why they scared those poor kids?" she demanded tearfully and he nodded. She closed her eyes and took a deep shuddering sigh. Jon's hand was shaking as he took his thumb and wiped a tear away, making her eyes open, shock in their depths. He released her, reluctantly, slowly. She stepped back, wiped her eyes with an angry swipe of the hand and walked to Wes, "Did they tell you why?" she asked and he shook his head, "Not a word. But don't worry, we will help them."

His face was peaceful and Buffy found comfort in his eyes, "What will you do?"

He shrugged, "We'll hold talks. Demand compensation for our dead, eventually we'll probably become one people." He kissed Buffy on the cheek, "Thank you for your children." Then he folded her in a hug.

A little boy threw himself at her and she stepped back from Wes and hugged him. "What's your name Shorty?" she asked and was rewarded by a boyish giggle. "Shayne."

"Ooh, that's a manly name. Have you seen your sister, and cousins and friends?"

"Uh huh. They told me about the angel that rescued them. I knew it was you." His faith in her was absolute and Buffy gave him another hug. "You were the one who did good. Thank you for telling me." She tickled him and he grinned and raced off.