Malcolm sat at the back of the pod watching his captain as he piloted the pod. He'd offered to do it himself, but the captain had insisted, maybe he thought if he was occupied by doing something that it would just go away. It wont though, Malcolm thought, there was no way of getting around it. The captains best friend had lied to him, from the moment they'd met, although he didn't know that yet. A small naïve part of Malcolm thought perhaps he wouldn't have to find that out, who knows it might just go away.
Hoshi had noticed both the men's dark moods as soon as she'd stepped in the pod. The silence was killing her, she had to say something. "It's a shame I couldn't decrypt that message."
The captain looked as if he'd only just realised there were others in the pod with him. "Wha?- oh right, yeh"
They landed with a jolt and exited the pod. Archer had landed the pod just behind a small group of trees and bushes. They walked round them and saw they were standing in a large field or meadow, in the distance was a small, but lively settlement. Loud music could be heard emanating from it, even at this distance.
Hoshi continued her vain attempt at a conversation. "I mean the code was so complex, they really didn't want anyone to get into that message sir."
"That's the point Ensign" Archer snapped "It's put there to stop the people reading the message." He turned away and looked towards the town. "C'mon lets go." With that they began walking towards the town. Malcolm gave Hoshi a 'Don't worry about it look', and followed the captain. Hoshi followed them slowly, still looking slightly abashed.
The entrance of the club was discreetly hidden down a back alley. The music which they'd heard from so far away is now blaring out, soaking up every other sound. All of a sudden the music changed from the techno eerie 'dance' music, to what could only be described as soul music. When the woman began singing Hoshi and Archer looked stunned.
I keep on fallin in and out of love with you I never loved someone the way that I love you I'm falling in and out of love with you I neva loved someone the way that I love you the way that - the way that - oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh . . .
"That's English." She mouthed to Archer. He nodded. "She's really good." Hoshi mouthed again. Malcolm smiled, he'd recognised the voice as soon as she started singing, Jen had always had a beautiful singing voice.
The captain signalled for them all to enter with his phase pistol, then holstered it. Malcolm followed suit, Hoshi's weapon remained where it was, she'd never touched it. Archer pushed the door open, and the away team stepped into the club they'd seen on the screen hours before. If it had looked big then it was nothing compared with reality. Malcolm quickly got his bearings and went to tap the captain on the shoulder with a suggestion as to how they should proceed, but it seemed the captain was way ahead of him.
He leaned in towards Malcolm and said loudly into his ear, "Start looking around, Hoshi and I are going to start at the bar. Look around at any possible other exits, other rooms, you know . . ." he trailed off.
"Yes sir." Malcolm replied He headed towards the side of the stage where the previous singer was vacating the stage for the woman who was in the surveillance they'd seen earlier.
She had her back to him. He leaned in and whispered in her ear "Great set." Jennifer span round and gave him an engaging smile, which slid off her face when her eyes swept over his phase pistol holstered on his belt, and his somewhat stony expression. She swept her usually chocolate brown hair, which had now been dyed black, behind one of her ears.
"Are the others here?" she asked apprehensively.
"Yeh." At the ashen look on her face he scoffed. "What the hell did you guys expect?" he asked "To be left alone, and no questions asked when you come back?"
"I, I "she stuttered.
He placed a hand on her elbow, and gave her a comforting smile. "C'mon lets go see Commander Tucker." he said. Reluctantly she nodded, and he followed her to a door situated just left of the bar, which they both slipped through seemingly unnoticed.
Hoshi turned towards Archer on the other side of the room, eyes wide in astonishment, his eyes hadn't left the door through which his Chief of Security, and Tactical officer had just walked through with Ensign James. He started to make his way through the crowds of people towards the door, Hoshi on his tail. With a quick glance to make sure no-one is watching them, he and Hoshi slipped through the door and closed it softly behind them.
On the other side of the door was a dimly lit corridor, as dingy looking as the club itself. The door, shabby as it looked, was blocking out most of the sound from the other room. The only sounds that could be heard were muffled voices from a room a little further up the corridor. Hoshi followed the captain towards the door of the room, which it turned out was slightly ajar, which was why they could hear the conversation within. I recognise those voice, Hoshi thought. She was stopped from pondering this further by the look on her superior officers face who was now peering through the gap, with a somewhat to calm expression on his face. Intrigued she walked closer and crouched down to look through the gap too.
The room was small and again of the same dingy looking interior as the club and hallway. There was a computer console on the right of the room adjacent to a table on which was a half empty bottle and a couple of glasses. Strewn across the floor were clothes, and shoes, and the odd piece of equipment; information pads, scanners, phase pistol etc. In the left corner was a bed and a couch was adjacent to it. A closed door is next to the bed too, presumably a bathroom.
Trip sat on a wooden chair, his feet on the table, calmly reading something, Malcolm was pacing in front of him, hands on hips.
"You could get court marshalled for this you know" he said
Trip looked completely unconcerned. "Uh-huh" he said, not even looking up.
Malcolm stopped momentarily and gave him a furious look, then resumed pacing. This time when he spoke he sounded almost hysterical. "You could be thrown in the brig." he paused, then his face grew even more taught "What about me? What if they find out I was here, talking to you?"
"Go away then" Trip said bluntly, setting what he was reading on the table, and removing his legs from it. He raised his voice as he continued. "Don't let tha door hit ya on the way out."
"You're not worried at all?" Malcolm asked, shouting now.
Jennifer flung the bathroom door open, her hair was wet, although Malcom noticed out of the corner of his eye it was back to it's former brunette state. "Malcom, could you please shut up? You'll scare the neighbours." she said, smiling slightly..
"That's OK Jen, I was just leaving." He span round and stalked towards the door, and yanked it open. With a look of absolute horror, he took a shaky step backwards into Trip. "Sir?"
Archer's face was contorted with anger, but his voice was unsettlingly calm when he spoke. "Hello Malcolm" he said, then turned towards Trip. "Would you like to tell me what the hell is going on?"
"Na, not really." Trip turned to Jennifer. "We gotta get goin' we can't be late Jen."
"Yeh I know, all right I'll just grab our stuff." She started rooting around the disarray of the room, pulling out odd bits of equipment, and putting it in a silver case.
"Late for what?" Archer demanded.
Trip just ignored him. Jennifer threw him a phase pistol, he holstered it and walked out the door. Jennifer attached a strap to the case and swung it over her shoulder, and made her way out to follow. She paused in front of Archer and Hoshi. "Follow us if you must, but don't ask to many questions." Archer gave her an angry penetrating stare. "Please sir." She said. Reluctantly he nodded. Letting out a breath of relief she headed out the door, the away team followed her out.