On the bridge everyone was waiting for Engineering to finish the upgrades. Malcolm had left to get some sleep while waiting for the upgrades. Jon looked around as he waited for an eternity. T'Pol looked just as stoic as usual, showing no signs of sleep deprivation. Hoshi was just sitting there listening to anything that might tell them who or what is out there. Travis was the only one with anything to do. He kept the ship from drifting into the other ships.
Jon felt useless as he sat in the Captain's chair. There wasn't a station for him to man, nothing to keep him occupied. He could only sit and wait. "Archer to Engineering." "Lieutenant Hess here, what can I do for you sir?" Jon wanted only on thing. "Is Commander Tucker busy Lieutenant?" "No sir he left here about a hour and a half ago. He left me in charge of the upgrades." Jon was now getting confused. "Thank you Archer out." Jon was very curious to where Trip was. It wasn't the first time he couldn't find him. "Archer to Tucker." Jon just sat there and waited.
'God he has horrible timing!' "One sec Malcolm. Go ahead Cap'n." "Just curious as to why my Chief Engineer isn't in Engineering, that's all." "I'm just a bit tired so I'm getting some R&R." John sat there trying to understand what he was being told. Now this isn't the same person I know. Are you sick maybe you should be Phlox-""Cap'n I'm fine." "Ok... well we'll let you know when we need you. Archer out." Jon looked around before deciding to leave. "T'Pol you have the bridge. Keep me informed of our progress." With that Jon left for a quest.

****

Trip was getting annoyed with all the distractions that would come between Malcolm and him. There was always something that would get in the way. "Mal are ya sure yer ok? Ya say that yer fine or ok, but ya never are." Trip was sitting next to Malcolm, holding back what he really wanted to say. 'What the hell is your problem!? Your not a god damned Vulcan!..." Trip knew better then to provoke Malcolm right now. Malcolm only looked down and didn't say a word. No one ever cared for him this much. Tears were the only things that followed the silence. Trip knew this. This was a man that had lots of pain to get rid of. Pain that sat there and grew, waited, and transformed itself into something trying to break out. Trip just sat there and waited for the damn to burst.
"I- I'm horrible. What I put you through-""No Malcolm yer not horrible! Yer just a man that held too much fer too long. I love ya Mal. I might not understand everthin' about ya, but I still love ya." Trip just sat there and prayed. Prayed that all the pain and anger that Malcolm was battling with would leave. Happiness was something that would do Malcolm so good. It would do him some good too. Being honest with himself the recent past wasn't the nicest on him either. The death of his sister hit him hard. Being the older brother that would always protect her. The one time that she needed him the most he wasn't there. He was in space too far to do anything. Who was there to help him through that? Malcolm. Malcolm was there for Trip when he had plenty of pent up anger to blow something up himself. It was Malcolm that diffused him. Trip could now repay the debt.
"Come on Mal just do what you would do if you wanted to get rid of your anger." "Well that would involve-""No we are not blowing up asteroids ok?" "Sure, I guess I'd just want a shoulder to cry on." "Exactly what I was thinkin'." Trip smiled as Malcolm kept crying. 'We'll make it through this don't you worry Malcolm, I'm not gonna run now.'

****

Jon was on a mission. To locate the elusive Trip Tucker. He never asked Trip where he was when he was talking to him, so starting at his quarters made sense. 'Come on Trip answer the door.' Jon felt stupid standing there ringing the chime, only to get no response. 'If he's not here then... Mess Hall?' Jon quickly made his way to the Mess Hall only to get the same results. "Where the hell is he?" "Who are you looking for sir?" Obviously Jon said that a little to loud. "Commander Tucker. I don't suppose you know where he is do you?" Jon wasn't one to go on wild goose chases. "He was here earlier with Lieutenant Reed, but they sorta left in a hurry." "Thank you." With that Jon left to find Malcolm.
*Beep Beep* "Come in." Malcolm was in utter dismay to find Captain Archer walk in through the door. He wasn't expecting anyone. He should have asked who it was first. "Ah Malcolm, I'm just looking for Trip. You seem to have already found him." Jon was curious why the two were here of all places. "What can I do for ya Cap'n?" Trip wanted nothing more right now , but to be with Malcolm.
"It's nothing important. I was bored and looking for some company..." The look between the two were very awkward. "But you two seem occupied so I'll just go." Jon made a quick escape with too many questions on his mind. T'Pol was intrigued as to why a ship originally thought to be derelict, began to power up. "Ensign I want continuous scans of the ship. If it begins to pose a threat then notify me." 'It is not logical for a ship to suddenly have power. Further more to have power without a living crew.' "T'Pol to Captain Archer please report to the bridge immediately.

"Report!" Sotils was beginning to fear the outcome of this encounter. "Sir the derelict Hizar has for some unknown reason powered up and is moving towards the Enterprise." Sotils just couldn't figure out what was going on. "Scan the ship. What's on that ship?" "Scans show nothing of interest to us of the other ship." "Curious, keep an eye on the situation."

"Report Sub- Commander." Jon was glad for the sudden change of pace. "Sir a derelict ship has suddenly powered up and is coming towards us." "It's hailing us. I think the UT will get it but it's going to be rough." Jon never questioned Hoshi's predictions about the UT's capabilities. "- ship we are the –ar of the --. We have been giv- the task of retur- a precious cargo. Please you must get this to –th." "Sir there is a transport in progress from the ship to Sickbay." "Tactical Alert." "Phlox to Captain Archer." "Go ahead doc, what was transported into Sickbay?" "You should probably come down here and look for yourself." "I'm on my way. Archer out. T'Pol you have the bridge."

A/N: YAY! May I please introduce my next idea...silly really but to find out tune in for the next installment. :) Reviews always welcome.