Chapter Six
Malcolm Reed nervously tugged on his jumpsuit for the sixth time that minute and smoothed his impeccable hair. Once again, his name had come up for the daily breakfast with the Captain.
Hoping against hope that another deadly and seemingly insurmountable emergency would once again interrupt their meal, he hit the call button on the door to the Captain's mess.
"Come in"
He again smoothed the front of his uniform and walked smartly into the room, snapping crisply to attention. He could hear the Captain's exasperated sigh.
"Malcolm, this is completely informal, please." When that didn't seem to have an appreciable effect on the armoury officer, he ordered, "At ease."
"Yes sir" as he sat down, he suddenly popped up out of his chair and flushed deeply, "Sub-Commander, I beg your pardon, I did not see you there"
"That's quite alright," she replied almost absently, holding a steaming mug and reading one of her Vulcan texts, he could tell because the Vulcan padd had a different shape than Starfleet issue. "Good Morning Mr. Reed."
"Good Morning ma'am" he felt almost relieved at her presence. Surely, the Sub-Commander stood on more ceremony at the table than the Captain did.
The steward came in, taking Malcolm's order for breakfast. He also refreshed the plate of fruit on the table; they'd taken on a great deal of it fresh from the surface. He nervously glanced at T'Pol but she seemed absorbed in her reading.
"So…where were we last time?" asked the Captain.
"Uh…hobbies I believe sir"
"Well…?"
"Ah, no sir, not particularly" Malcolm flushed slightly, feeling somehow inadequate. T'Pol looked up from her padd and tilted her head in his direction. He flushed even more.
"Mr. Reed?" she asked.
"Uh, yes Sub-Commander." He calmed at the arrival of his scrambled eggs and bacon. It gave his something to focus on other than his discomfiture.
"You are from the country of England?" he started a little at that, surprised at her question.
"Yes, um, Kempton, a little village in the County of Derbyshire," he answered, sounding confused.
"The same Derbyshire that this estate of Pemberly is located?" she asked, raising the padd.
"Your reading Pride and Prejudice?" he asked, visibly surprised.
"I find British literature very… engaging" she set the padd down on the tabletop. Then she picked up her fork and speared a slice of what resembled a Nectarine.
"Really?" he asked, "What authors?"
"Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Shakespeare…" she frowned a little, "and the series, what was her name… Rowling?"
"You've read Harry Potter?" he said incredulous.
"It's been a children's classic for generations," T'Pol countered, "I've also read Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstien, and Roald Dahl."
"You a fan of children's literature T'Pol?" asked the Captain, sounding surprised.
"If find it intriguing, on Vulcan text is merely edited for comprehension level, children's literature on Earth is…very different." She arched a brow, "Yourself Mr. Reed, what do you read?"
"Tactical treatise mostly," he said, embarrassed, "Nothing spectacular. Speaking of which…" he took the opportunity to pull a padd from his leg pocket, "The First Daughter sent me this about the Orion pirates. It's fairly alarming."
"If you want tactical information about the Orion pirates check the Vulcan database. We keep a comprehensive record." T'Pol arched her eyebrow, "I was not aware we were near Orion territory"
"Informal Malcolm" the Captain reminded him.
"You know my opinions on this matter," he said frankly. "Sir, I don't understand why we have to keep doing this."
"We've been out here a long time, and we're going to stay out here for even longer." The Captain poured himself more sweet tea, "a little…bonding isn't going to hurt anyone."
"Sir…"
"Just relax Malcolm," he grinned, "You don't need to say anything, just be good company"
"Yes sir" Malcolm set the padd down on the table next to his orange juice. He was more than a little concerned about the Orion pirates. Their ships weren't quite as well armed as Enterprise, but they had speed and stealth on her. They also attacked in packs of three and four ships apiece, creating a real danger for the crew.
"T'Pol…" Malcolm asked, making a supreme effort to try to socialize.
"Mmmmm?" she murmured.
"The First Daughter mentioned that there was bad blood between Vulcan and these pirates, frankly given your people I find that difficult to understand. What exactly happened?"
T'Pol's face changed, her eyes shadowed and she set down both her mug of tea and her book. She took a deep breath. "It was a long time ago."
"Tell us the story," the Captain prompted, also setting down his tea, with a smile, "And maybe this one will be as good as the Carbon Creek saga."
Malcolm did not quite understand the reference, but she raised an almost laughing eyebrow. "You did ask me to tell you a story then."
"Yes, that I did" he grinned, "But somehow I think this one will be a little more ingenuous"
"It is solid verifiable historical fact" she leaned back into her chair and crossed her legs, "The Vulcan calendar is somewhat different from the human, but approximately a hundred years B.C., by your calendar, an individual named Surak was born. Within eighty years, His philosophy was becoming more and more dominant among the Ancient noble Houses and warlords."
"Warlords?" Malcolm asked, alarmed.
"Vulcan was not always a peaceful place to live," she explained delicately. "Our first, First Contact, was with a fleet of Orion warships that enslaved the planet and captured the diplomats we sent to them, including S'Task, Surak's closest follower."
"Oh my" Malcolm said shocked.
"Indeed" she folded her hands in her lap, "Our spacecraft consisted of corporate mining barges, and supply craft. We were defenceless. Nevertheless, the planet, for the first time, threw aside their differences, and allied. We could not face them in a head on battle, but used our telepathy to force the Orion captains to drive their ships into the suns or to crash them into each other. It was our only defence."
"You did what?" asked the Captain, equally shocked, "I thought…."
"The limitations exist now against those kinds of actions, but we were fighting for the survival of our species," she took another deep breath "S'Task escaped. He stole some of the Orion technology. It was just enough to give us the edge against the invaders. Between the terror and the slaughter, they retreated. To this day no Vulcan ship has ever been attacked by an Orion pirate again"
"My god," Malcolm exclaimed, "And to think that was two thousand years before our first warp flight. I can't imagine what would have happened if we'd met the Andorians or these pirates instead of the Vulcans."
"I'm sure humanity would have acted commendably" T'Pol reassured him.
"Not that well" Archer said, sliding back in his chair. "That's why the Vulcan database never mentioned that this system was dangerous, isn't it?"
"To a Vulcan ship it would not be," she confirmed, "The database was not created with non-Vulcans in mind. Must admit it quite escaped my notice as well"
"They are a serious threat" Malcolm finally brought his padd into the discussion, "Their ships are not large but they're well armed and they travel in packs. If we got caught off guard by one of these groups it could be seriously devastating."
"Do you have a plan, Mr. Reed?" she asked him, taking up her tea again.
"Well… actually" he set the padd back down on the tabletop, "There are two ships leaving Betazed at about the same time. One is a Betazed cargo ship and the other a Car-dass-i-an ship, if that's how you say it"
"Cardassian," T'Pol pronounced it clearly, "I am acquainted with the Gul. His name is Tancret. They're with the interspecies medical exchange"
"Yes, indeed, if we travel together through this expanse of dangerous area we'd be better off, I believe. It would add a lot of time to our course because we'd need to hold to warp one point three, the maximum cruising capability of the cargo ship." He sat up more enthusiastically, "It would be a lot of time, but I feel it would be well worth it"
"I'll have a talk with Gul Tancret and the Betazed Cargo Authority, but I'm sure they'll accept the idea," the Captain stood, finishing off the last of his tea, "And once again Malcolm you've managed to weasel out of socializing."
"I'm sorry sir" he apologised.
"No you're not" Archer grinned. "But it was a good idea Malcolm."
The Captain did indeed contact the two ships involved. It took very little persuasion to convince them of the additional safety of travelling in a group. It delayed Enterprise's departure long enough that Jon made one last trip into the city market.
The small silver bell tinkled as he opened the door to the shop. A wizened old man sat at the counter, helping a young couple choose a very fine looking necklace of platinum and a prismatic sort of sea crystal.
Jon just waited, absently looking at the display cases. The merchant did do lovely work. He etched in crystal, precious stones, and several jewellery quality metals. Jon had an exact plan for what he wanted.
"Ahhh, lovely" the old man finished with the couple, who locked together in a very loving embrace, the husband placing the necklace around his wife's neck. "You were looking at the firestone pendants the other day weren't you? Is it for a lady friend or are you feeling homesick Captain?"
"Far a friend who happens to be a lady," Jon responded, "And I have a request actually, something different…"
"You are the customer" the old man's eyes crinkled, "And I do love a challenge now and again."
Jon pulled a hunk of pure, raw copper out of his pocket. I'd be willing to trade you this" he gestured with the ore, "For a necklace with a gold chain and a firestone pendant, engraved"
He found out, ironically from T'Pol of all people, that copper was a rare and valued commodity on Betazed. On Earth, gold was most valued, copper much less so. On Betazed it was the exact opposite.
The hunk of copper was actually a gift from his cousin Jackie, the amateur geologist; she'd given it to him a long time ago as a 'paperweight' to put on his desk. He'd packed it along with his other desk things when he came aboard, but had little use for it. Until now.
"Impressive" the man took out a jewellers glass 'eye' and examined the ore. "This would more than cover the price Captain; I couldn't in good conscience take it as a straight trade"
"I've got no use for it really" Jon shrugged, "I just came here for the pendant"
"Well can you tell me more about your 'friend who happens to be a lady'?" the old man grinned, "Or would you rather have a little something for yourself?"
"She's Vulcan…" Jon began.
"That lady?" the man sounded incredulous, "You're a man blessed indeed"
"It's just a friendly gesture. She's a valued colleague." Jon tired to downplay his purchase.
"Might I suggest?" the old man moved down a section of glass counters and slid out a display box. "This would sit well on a Vulcan skin"
It was a set of two rings, polished copper, etched with a stunningly intricate geometric design. Then the metal was oxidized deliberately, turning the etchings a deep, rich green. The old man was right; the green and coppery bronze colour would shine on her skin.
"Well…" Jon was seriously tempted. "They're lovely. I'd only need one though."
"I am afraid they are a set," the old man said apologetically, "I would have no use for one with out the other. Perhaps another friend of yours would have need of a gift at a later date?"
"Maybe" Jon agreed, not thinking of giving it to anyone. Two matching bands, according to human custom at least, would be a gift between lovers.
"Well you think about it while I engrave the lady's pendant" the old man set the display box on the counter. "I trust you have an image?"
"Yeah," Jon fished a holo-image out of his pocket. "It's Mount Seleya, one of Vulcan's most famous landmarks."
The old man went into the back with Jon's ore. He heard the whirring of the engraving machine as it copied the holo-image onto the flat surface of the ruby. Jon looked at the set of rings. The ring would look well on T'Pol. However, the implications of buying a mate for it was… something he didn't want to think too closely about.
"Ahhh, here it is, sir, and a very lovely engraving though I say it myself." The old man returned from the back with the pendant in a gift box. He flipped the top open and Jon's breath caught. It was perfect.
Internally the old man smiled. He'd known immediately when the outlander mentioned this woman that she was not 'just' a friend. He didn't tell the young man that the ring set he was boxing up was a traditional Betazed courting gift.
He deliberately picked out the 'odd' ring in the Captain's size. He'd been a jeweller long enough to size a person by the look of their hands. Soon, he thought, this nervous young captain would have cause to wear the courting gift proudly. Very soon if what he saw in the young man's mind was any indication.
The old man loved the craft of jewellery almost as much as he loved making the right choice for a young couple's first gifts. It was the reason he kept his shop open when he could have long ago closed up to live a quiet peaceful life in the country.
As Captain Archer left the shop with a spring in his step, the old man chuckled softly to himself. Another successful match, he swept absently until another young man came in the shop. A brief mind-brush told the jeweller exactly what he needed to know.
"Ahh, hello there lad, something I can do for you? A sculpture perhaps? Or a gift for your lady friend?" at the young man's sudden flush he smiled, again happy to have hit the nail on the head. "Might I suggest….."