Jonathan Archer sat staring at the screen. Ambassador Orbis had sent over all the information he could, but someone had destroyed all copies of the video surveillance. It had also been wiped from Enterprises memory, as had the encrypted message Trip and Ensign James had received. No-one could figure out how it happened, no-one should of been able to hack in, the only people who could were locked in sickbay at the time. Someone was covering their tracks pretty well.
"I'm sorry we couldn't be more helpful Captain."
"Not at all Ambassador, you tried your best, that's all we can ask for."
"Nevertheless . . ."
"Nevertheless it's very frustrating" he sighed.
"Yes it must be" Orbis nodded sympathetically.
"Well Ambassador, it was a pleasure meeting you."
"And you Captain, I hope to meet you again in the future." He smiled.
"I look forward to it." Archer said smiling, although the smile didn't quite reach his eyes. The screen went blank and Archer let the phoney smile slide off his face.
He reached forward and hit the comm. "Hoshi tell them to come in now."
"Yes sir."
Archer lent back in his chair and stretched out his arms. Seconds later the door swished open, Trip and Jennifer walked in. Archer rose at once and stood directly in front of Trip, and locked eyes with him.
"So, it's a mystery then."
Trip didn't even flinch, he knew it was a sign of weakness his captain didn't want to see now, and he needed to stay strong for Jen, if he backed down she would too. Chris had sorted everything, there was no evidence to say either of them had done anything wrong. This, he knew, was what pissed the captain off most. But it also gave Trip the confidence to stand his ground. He has nothing. He kept telling himself.
"Seems that way sir." He said in such a neutral voice it could've belonged to a Vulcan.
Archer diverted his gaze to the young Ensign standing to attention at Trip's side. "Yes sir." She said shortly. He began to pace before them.
"Although it is strange, how you've both lost your memory at the exact point, moment infact that incriminates you" he said, sarcasm laced his voice. "That we remember everything up until we enter that club on the planet," he paused and turned to face them again to shoot them an icy stare before resuming his pacing "where you'd been spotted the night before."
Jennifer shot Trip a slightly worried look. It's OK. He silently reassured her. He has nothing, he repeated in his head.
Archer, who had missed their silent communication, span round to face them once more.
"Very strange, sir." Trip said.
Archer stared at him for a moment his yes were full of anger, suddenly it drained away and was replaced with something else. Disappointment. And something else Trip thought, then when he realised what it was he tried hard not to smile. Defeat they'd won.
"Well dismissed then." He said.
"Sir, we just received a message from Captain Tucker and Commander James." Emma Tucker turned away from her station on the bridge of the Resistance's pride and joy The Endeavour to face the man sitting in the captains chair.
"And?" the acting captain Lieutenant-Commander Chris Tate asked.
"They're in the clear Chris, they're in the clear." She smiled
Chris smiled sourly "So" he said "they got away with it then, for now."
THE END
TBC? Its up to you . . . well its not really, but if people want some more continuing this story I'd be only happy to oblige, really, so let me know . . . by reviewing! Reviews people! Please! The button is right there you can see it, I can see it, we can all see it, and I know you can hear it calling your name, so just press the damn thing and shut it up, its giving me a headache!
"I'm sorry we couldn't be more helpful Captain."
"Not at all Ambassador, you tried your best, that's all we can ask for."
"Nevertheless . . ."
"Nevertheless it's very frustrating" he sighed.
"Yes it must be" Orbis nodded sympathetically.
"Well Ambassador, it was a pleasure meeting you."
"And you Captain, I hope to meet you again in the future." He smiled.
"I look forward to it." Archer said smiling, although the smile didn't quite reach his eyes. The screen went blank and Archer let the phoney smile slide off his face.
He reached forward and hit the comm. "Hoshi tell them to come in now."
"Yes sir."
Archer lent back in his chair and stretched out his arms. Seconds later the door swished open, Trip and Jennifer walked in. Archer rose at once and stood directly in front of Trip, and locked eyes with him.
"So, it's a mystery then."
Trip didn't even flinch, he knew it was a sign of weakness his captain didn't want to see now, and he needed to stay strong for Jen, if he backed down she would too. Chris had sorted everything, there was no evidence to say either of them had done anything wrong. This, he knew, was what pissed the captain off most. But it also gave Trip the confidence to stand his ground. He has nothing. He kept telling himself.
"Seems that way sir." He said in such a neutral voice it could've belonged to a Vulcan.
Archer diverted his gaze to the young Ensign standing to attention at Trip's side. "Yes sir." She said shortly. He began to pace before them.
"Although it is strange, how you've both lost your memory at the exact point, moment infact that incriminates you" he said, sarcasm laced his voice. "That we remember everything up until we enter that club on the planet," he paused and turned to face them again to shoot them an icy stare before resuming his pacing "where you'd been spotted the night before."
Jennifer shot Trip a slightly worried look. It's OK. He silently reassured her. He has nothing, he repeated in his head.
Archer, who had missed their silent communication, span round to face them once more.
"Very strange, sir." Trip said.
Archer stared at him for a moment his yes were full of anger, suddenly it drained away and was replaced with something else. Disappointment. And something else Trip thought, then when he realised what it was he tried hard not to smile. Defeat they'd won.
"Well dismissed then." He said.
"Sir, we just received a message from Captain Tucker and Commander James." Emma Tucker turned away from her station on the bridge of the Resistance's pride and joy The Endeavour to face the man sitting in the captains chair.
"And?" the acting captain Lieutenant-Commander Chris Tate asked.
"They're in the clear Chris, they're in the clear." She smiled
Chris smiled sourly "So" he said "they got away with it then, for now."
THE END
TBC? Its up to you . . . well its not really, but if people want some more continuing this story I'd be only happy to oblige, really, so let me know . . . by reviewing! Reviews people! Please! The button is right there you can see it, I can see it, we can all see it, and I know you can hear it calling your name, so just press the damn thing and shut it up, its giving me a headache!