The bridge was empty. All except for one Vulcan who sat at her station, with an intense look of concentration on her usually calm looking face. The com beeps, and she stands up and walks over to Hoshi's station and presses the button. Ambassador Orbis appears on the screen.

"Ambassador?"

"Sub-Commander" he smiled "I thought I'd just call in and find out if your people had checked in yet?"

"Unfortunately no. We are scanning the surface for signs of them, but we've been unable to find any." She replied.

"Unfortunate . . . We, however, have some video footage of them leaving the night club where your other officers were spotted, it is about four hours old."

"Thank you Ambassador, that is most helpful."

"Would you like us to send a security team down there? To try and find them?"

"That would be most appreciated, thank you. But may I request that myself and another of my crewman be part of this security team?"

"Off course."

They were sitting in a dimly lit cave, orange and dusty like the path outside. Himself the captain and Hoshi were sitting in a corner of the room, on the floor. He had been intently staring at his boots for the last ten minutes, he'd now run out of things to look at and imaginary ways to clean them so he lifted his gaze. The captain and Hoshi were watching Commander Tucker. He seemed to be hitting various parts of the rock at random with his fist, every now and again he let out a grunt, or muttered an unrepeatable expletive. After a particularly long stream of curse words, and grunts of pain, Hoshi spoke up.

"Commander, what on earth are you doing?"

He held up a hand as if to say, not now, and then grunted "Shh, I'm concentrating."

Jennifer, who had been watching the proceeding with an amused smirk on her face for the past few minutes spoke "On what?" she said in a mocking type voice.

"Self harm?" he said, Jennifer laughed and Trip shot him a dirty look, he smiled serenely back.

"Come here." Jennifer said with the air of a parent talking to a child. She got up from her rock, a few meters away from the away team's corner, and stood next to him. She studied the wall for a minute, then raised her hand to it, and placed it on a small notch in the wall and pushed. Suddenly the rock face seemed to melt away, revealing a shiny steel cupboard.

"Thanks" Trip said, and went and occupied her rock "Get tha water out wudja?"

She opened a draw and pulled out a stainless steel flask and some cups. She poured water into three and handed them to the away team. "Thanks." he said to her. She picked up the flask and perched on the edge of the rock next to Trip and handed him the flask, he drank straight from it. He unconsciously ran his fingers over his bruised knuckles and cringed.

"Hang on" she said and walked back over to the cabinet, she placed the flask back inside and pulled out a silver box.

She opened the box and pulled out a small bottle and some cotton wool, Malcolm realised it was a med-kit. Placing his hand in hers she gently cleaned it up, then wrapped a bandage around it. "There."

"Thanks."

"No prob-"she stops mid-sentence. Malcolm recognised the sound of a transporter in the adjoining cave, and sure enough in walked two aliens seconds later. He saw the captains eyes flicker with recognition, as he himself realised he too recognised the species. They were the ones who had drugged the crew, and raided the ship. The Captain, Commander Tucker and Sub-Commander T'Pol had saved the ship on their own.

The aliens eyes scanned the room. The first, shorter one was carrying a brown metal case and his eyes fell on Trip and Jennifer. The second was carrying a riffle, pretty similar to Starfleet issue ones from what Malcolm could see, except in colour, he stared menacingly at the away team in the corner. The captain rose to his feet as did Malcolm, Hoshi followed suit. The Captain threw the alien a nasty stare in return. It was then the first alien spoke, but his eyes were now flicking towards the away team as well as Trip and Jennifer.

"Ah, Captain, Commander, we were under the impression it would be just the two of you" he said with a smile, although it was anything but friendly.

"So were we." Trip said sourly.

"We can trade with them here." Jennifer jumped in quickly.

"If you're sure. . ." the first alien replied.

"We are." Trip said sternly.

"Of course." He nods to his companion who drops his weapon reluctantly, but hold his gaze. The first alien place the case on the ground and goes to open it, but then pauses "Have you got our payment?" he asked. Trip and Jennifer sideways glanced at each other.

"Yes of course." Trip said "Commander why don' you go and get it?" he said to Jennifer, she nodded.

Turning she walks towards the silver cabinet. Suddenly she spins round on her left foot and shoots the first alien in one swift movement. The second reached for his rifle, but not quickly enough, Trip shot him cleanly in the chest and he fell to the ground. Malcolm had to be impressed.

"Time to go I think." He said, a small smile tugging at his lips, he was obviously please with how smoothly their encounter had gone.

Captain Archer however looked far from pleased. "Why did you do that?" he demanded.

"It was them or us." Jennifer replied. Malcolm turned to face her and realised she had somehow replaced the cabinet with the rock face again.

"What do you mean?" Hoshi asked curiously.

"If we hadn't hot them, they would have shot us and stolen our payment." Trip said, picking up the case and slinging it over his shoulder.

"Survival of the fittest." Malcolm said.

"Exactly." Jennifer smiled at him. But she hadn't quite met his eyes he realised, not a good sign.

Trip and Jennifer had collected the rest of their gear and were now facing the away team.

THUD,

Malcolm turned round and looked down to see Hoshi's unconscious body lying on the floor. He looked up at his captain, who looked horror struck. But not for long as seconds later he lay on the floor besides Hoshi.

Malcolm turned to face the other two, intending to repeat some of the things Trip had been saying under his breath earlier, but before he could darkness engulfed him, and he knew no more.

By the way the aliens are the Ferengi (sp?) just incase you didnt realise.

Ok people, review please!