Author's Note: Sorry this took so long, and even sorrier to say chapter 3 will be about ten days. We are heading out for vacation and I won't have time to work on this until we get back. Luckily, it's only a week that we'll be gone so don't get too worried! Again, thanks for reading and reviewing. Feeding the author is much appreciated!
Chapter 2 A Dinner To Remember
The door had failed to yield an answer, or a way out. The away team had searched the room for alternatives. An hour later, frustration gave way to the realization that they were stuck, for the time being.
"What do we do now Sir?" Hoshi asked. She was sitting in one of the provided chairs near the long bed Archer had lain on previously.
Archer sighed, "We wait."
The hour turned into two, then three and as it approached four, the door hummed, admitting a Taltaxin unfamiliar to the away team.
Archer was on his feet before the man had cleared the frame, "Would you mind explaining why we've been locked in here for four hours?" He seethed.
The Taltaxin appeared flustered, "I apologize Captain Archer. I was under the impression you had been informed of this necessary security measure."
Malcolm stepped from behind Archer, "Then you were wrong."
"Uh, yes...I can see that...Captain, I'm afraid we have...factions in our cities. These factions are extremely xenophobic. The security is merely a precaution. We do not wish harm to befall you while visiting our planet." The Taltaxin explained.
Archer studied him intently. He was nervous, that much was clear, his halting speech and grasping for words the main tip-off. Archer grunted, letting the alien believe they had accepted his story, "I see, and who would you be?"
The aliens' face flushed further, "I apologize, again, my name is Ridney, I am your guide and I will be responsible for seeing to your needs while you are visiting."
Trip chose to enter the conversation, "If that's true, we could really use a snack." His stomach grumbled from the lack of food.
Ridney appeared fascinated by the noise, "I see." He seemed to give himself a mental shake, "Actually, if you would be inclined, we are having a formal state dinner. I was sent to collect you, if you are ready?"
Trip shot Archer a look that said undeniably he would rather do anything else, but Archer felt limited in their options. This whole set-up smelled two sides of bad, but he was an official representation of Starfleet, and Earth. It wouldn't do for them to decline and run home to Enterprise because of circumstantial feelings.
Archer shook his head imperceptibly towards Trip, "That would be fine."
"Very well, if you will follow me?" Ridney gestured the team into the hallway.
"...off we go, into the wild blue yonder..." Reed muttered.
After winding their way through the large building, a complicated route of which Archer and his away team had tried to memorize the path, largely unsuccessful, they had arrived in the reception room cum dining room.
The four couldn't hold back the impact of entering the room. The ceiling seemed to go on forever, reaching up towards the sky, decorated with an intricate pattern of stars, moons and suns. Michelangelo couldn't have done better. The artistry was apparent in every detail. Great columns lined the edges, and windows floated amidst the walls, seeming to be held in with nothing.
Ridney smiled, "You like our T'Zart room?"
Archer nodded, continuing to follow their guide to a row of seats that were meant for them, "I'm curious, why is the rest of the building..." He wasn't sure how to finish off his question without unintentionally offending the Taltaxins.
"You wonder why the rest of the building is so plain, compared to this room?" Ridney finished for him.
"Yes, this room is...impressive." Archer said.
"Captain, we are a spartan race, taking pleasure in the principle of 'less is more', do you see? But we also love beauty, and this room is one of a few where we express our artistic side. It is an especially glorious work of art." Ridney enthused. "You may be seated here." He indicated four seats in a row along a great table that stretched across half the room. "The ministry members will be arriving shortly. If you need anything, ask for me, and I'll come to your service. Enjoy your dinner."
Ridney marched away, leaving the team staring uncertainly at the empty seats. Three faces stared at Archer.
"Sit." He ordered. They'd sit and they'd get through this, and then make their excuses and leave. This couldn't be that bad, could it?
It was only a matter of minutes before the rest of the seats were filled with various Taltaxins. A great too many for them to keep straight, Archer thought glumly. He did recognize Veen sitting three over from their position, which was obviously the position of importance, as his chair was the largest and centered in the table.
The hum of several conversations filled the room. A scrawny alien sat on Archer's right. He tilted his head acknowledging the visiting men, and turned towards his companion, striking up a conversation about the local news and how terrible their coverage had been of late. Archer sighed again. He felt like a fish out of water. He turned back to look at his people. They appeared as uncomfortable as he, Hoshi was engaged in a conversation with Trip, and Reed was studying the exits of the room with calculated progression.
A loud chime sounded throughout the room. Trip stopped mid-sentence and looked away from Hoshi. Reed pulled his eyes away from the window. Prime Minister Veen stood. This is it, Archer thought, relieved to have the dinner underway.
Veen clasped his hands in the front, and smiled at the members in the room, sat amid little tables that lined the room in rows behind the great table where apparently ministry and visiting dignitaries (themselves included) only were seated. The little people versus the big, Archer thought.
"Greetings, fellow Taltaxins!" Veen boomed, surprising Archer, "We've called this state dinner to celebrate our guests." Veen gestured with his left towards Archer and his crew. "Captain Archer and his men are visitors from the Starship Enterprise!" The crowd seemed largely unimpressed. Archer sighed again.
Veen continued, "We are also gathered tonight to celebrate Govenor Shurone's reelection!" The crowd offered thunderous applause, "Congratulations Miche!" He pronounced it with a long a sound for the e. A Taltaxin two seats from Archer, stood, bowed then retook his seat. "First, we'll eat!" Another round of applause, "Then we'll mingle. Enjoy!"
And upon that announcement, servants streamed from the side columns, platters loaded with different sized dishes. Trip leaned towards Archer, "Is this stuff safe to eat?"
Archer turned towards the Taltaxin next to him, "Excuse me, we were wondering, is this food safe for us?"
The Taltaxin looked at him as if he were mentally deficient, "Why wouldn't it be?"
Archer straightened, "No reason." Then turned back to Trip, sotto voice, "I guess we'll find out."
Hoshi looked nervous, "Do you think that's a good idea Sir?"
"Not really." Archer replied.
The server's lowered several dishes in front of the four, smiling, "I apologize for interrupting, but I overheard your question, these dishes are quite safe. We were given your biological information." He lay the last dish in front of Archer, smiled again and headed back towards where he came from.
Trip didn't look reassured, "Cap'n, if I grow horns..."
"I'll be sure to have Phlox remove them." Archer joked. He lifted the lid on the dish in front of him, tentatively, unsure of what he would find.
He was pleasantly surprised; it almost looked like a pasta dish on Earth, he looked at the other's plates, all had the same meal.
"Dig in." He ordered, and taking what looked like their version of a fork, twisted some and took a bite. He was shocked by the strong nutty flavor that exploded on his tongue. Interesting. He saw the other's registering the same shock as they took their first bite.
Trip coughed, "That's...different."
Reed took another bite, chewed, swallowed, "So far so good, I don't feel like I'm going to die."
Hunger took over fear, and they quickly finished the unusual dish. Archer felt pretty good. He took his cup gingerly, looking at the red liquid that swirled around. "Wonder what this is?" He asked.
Trip lifted his and gulped it down. Archer stared at him.
"What? I was thirsty." He said.
Archer shook his head, odd, but then figured he might as well give it a shot, "Heads up." He said, and tossed the contents down in a similar fashion. His throat clenched as the liquid slid down his esophagus, burning a trail to his stomach.
"Wow." He said.
Trip laughed, "Got a bit of a kick to it, eh Cap'n?"
Archer gulped, feeling his face burning, "You can say that."
Hoshi opted for a small sip, as did Reed, after viewing the devastation on Archer's and Trip's face. The two were beginning to sweat profusely.
"Are you all right, Sir?" Reed asked.
"Never been better Malcolm!" Archer slapped his chest, "I wouldn't mind another."
Trip agreed, loudly. Before they could voice the request a second time, a white-garbed server refilled their cups.
Archer and Trip again tossed it back in one gulp. Reed looked at Hoshi, worried. Hoshi leaned towards Reed, speaking quietly, "Do you think we should stop them from having any more?"
Reed did think so, but he wasn't sure how to go about it, "Uh, Sir? I think that drink may be causing...a reaction in you and Commander Tucker."
Archer laughed, noisily, "Nonsense, we feel great, don't we Trip?"
Trip grinned, "Certainly Cap'n, never felt better."
Hoshi glanced again at Reed, "It's going to be a long night." She mumbled, purposefully keeping her voice low.
Reed nodded and decided no matter what, the Captain and Commander would not have another one of those drinks. Luckily, they seemed content to stop at two.
The dishes were cleared, and the Taltaxins began to get up and 'mingle'. Reed was thrilled. Soon they could make their excuses and he could get the Captain and Tucker out of here. They were behaving quite odd, almost as if heavily inebriated. He wondered if the drink was alcoholic, but none of the Taltaxins seemed affected, and he had seen some of them drink three to four glasses of the red liquid.
Before he could think of a polite way of requesting their return to the shuttle, Archer and Tucker had been whisked away by Veen to a group chatting in a corner by the long table. Reed's eyes narrowed. He stepped towards them, only to have an unusually tall Taltaxin step in front of him, "Lieutenant Reed?" He asked.
Reed looked up...and up...to see if he recognized this one. He seemed oddly familiar, "Have we met?" He asked, unsure.
The Taltaxin concurred, "Yes Lieutenant, I was in the security detail that picked you up at your shuttle. I have something important to discuss with you."
"Umm, that would be fine, if you could give me a moment..." and he started towards Archer again.
A firm hand gripped his arm, "Now Lieutenant. The safety of you and your team depends upon it. All is not as it seems with the ministry."
Reed looked back at Hoshi, then at the Captain and Tucker, "Go with them Ensign, do not let them out of your sight."
Hoshi debated internally, splitting up was frowned upon during away missions, but clearly this was more complicated than usual. She agreed, and headed off towards the Captain and Commander Tucker.
"Let's go." He replied.
The Taltaxin pulled him towards a door, recessed in an alcove behind a large column, "This way." He indicated.
They proceeded through the door and down a hall, finally entering another room that was covered in what he thought of as security screens, showing different scenes happening throughout the building.
"What room is this?" He asked. He tried to identify if one of the rooms being watched was their guest quarters.
"It is." The Taltaxin said, "Your room." He clarified.
Reed grimaced, "I see."
"I apologize for dragging you away from your Captain, but he and Commander Tucker are under the influence of the G'Tag, and their presence would also be missed."
"G'Tag?" Reed questioned.
"A drug on our planet, it's known for it's...loosening...properties. It makes the victim forget inhibitions, and..."
Reed interrupted, "A truth serum?"
The Taltaxin struggled with the reference, "In a manner...yes. Your Captain and Commander Tucker will be essentially 'interrogated' for knowledge of your world, without them being aware."
Reed's mouth tightened to a thin line, "Why?"
"It would take too long to explain, I must get you back before they realize you are gone. The group I belong to, the conspirators, we don't agree with our government's policies. We are concerned that your away team is in danger. You must leave Taltax." He urged.
"Believe me, we want to. Will they let us go when the dinner is over?"
"I don't know. Your arrival was a surprise. They are...handling...things differently than what we expected. We'll do what we can to help you." He guided Reed back to the hallway, "We must get back."
The two slipped into the T'zart room. Reed scanned the crowd, finding Archer, Tucker and Hoshi where they had been previously.
"What is your name?" He turned back to the Taltaxin, but where he had stood there was only empty space. "Swell." He grouched. Annoyed, he threaded his way through the crowd, back to his Captain and the others.
Archer felt considerably loopy. He struggled to keep upright and listen. The Prime Minister was speaking, but the words were sliding into one long unintelligible sentence. He looked at Trip, maybe he understood. Nope. From the dazed expression on Trip's face, he was as confused as Archer.
"Prime M'n'ster, p'haps we can f'nish this l'ter." Archer slurred.
Veen studied him, much like one would do an ant under a magnifying glass, "Why don't you have a seat Captain, you'll be more comfortable."
Another Taltaxin in the group pulled chairs for Trip and Archer. They sat without protest.
"Now, I believe you were telling me about...Earth?" He reminded Archer.
Archer felt growing concern rising in his drugged mind, why did he feel so odd. His vision blurred, "Hoshi?"
"Here Captain." She stepped towards him, kneeling in front. "Right here."
"Where's Malcolm?" The tactical officer's absence finally dawned on him.
"Right here, Sir." Malcolm replied, approaching the cluster of Taltaxins and his people. The Captain and Commander Tucker didn't look too good. Their faces were ruddy, and sweat stood out visibly on their foreheads.
Veen was unsuccessful in hiding a flash of irritation at Malcolm's presence, "We were merely discussing your planet, Lieutenant."
I'm sure you were, Malcom thought nastily. "Prime Minister, I think it would be best if we returned to Enterprise. The Captain and Commander Tucker appear to need medical attention."
"Nonsense!" Veen blustered, "The G'Tag is harmless! It's a recreational drink used by many, the side effects are temporary, I assure you."
"Fine." Malcolm said, "Give me a moment with my Captain to ensure he is otherwise healthy, if he says he is all right, we will stay until the dinner is over."
Veen seemed surprised at Malcolm's capitulation, taken off guard, he nodded, "Yes, yes...that would be fine." He waved the others to give the Enterprise people space.
Hoshi moved closer to Trip, "Commander, are you all right?"
"I'm FINE!" Tucker replied, grinning crazily, "N'ver f'lt bett-er." He slurred, his drawl pronounced. He slipped sideways, Hoshi's quick reflexes the only thing keeping him off the floor.
"Whatever you say, Commander." Hoshi sighed, looked at Reed and shook her head. Commander Tucker was a mess.
Malcolm knelt by Archer, "Captain, you and Tucker have been drugged."
Archer tried to focus his eyes on Reed, failed, "Why d'you say...that?"
"Trust me. I've got a plan, but you must do as I say." He grasped Archer's chin, forcing his attention. "Can you do that?"
Archer nodded, sloppily.
Reed sighed; it will be a miracle if this works. He leaned towards Archer and whispered instructions in his ear. Saying a prayer, he pulled back and stood.
Veen and his group descended upon them like a pack of vultures. "Well?"
"I'm worried that this-G'Tag-is affecting our men poorly." Reed emphasized poorly, and nudged Archer surreptitiously with his knee.
As if on cue, Archer keeled over, falling like a rock on the hard marbled floor.
Trip snorted, Hoshi jumped up, "Captain?"
Reed glared at Veen, "We must get them back to our ship!"
Veen seemed at a loss, clearly unsuspecting a collapse. "I...Uh...We have doctors in the building."
"If my Captain dies because of your negligence, you'll have to answer to my government. Our world is powerful, Prime Minister." Reed threatened.
Veen looked ready to concede. He waved for a guard.
"H'ws that? Too m'ch?" Archer slurred from the ground. Reed groaned and Veen turned purple.
"Take them to their rooms." He fixed Malcolm with an angry glare, "Lock them in."
Crap, they were so screwed. Reed glanced back at Archer, still smiling, pleased with his performance. Really screwed.
TBC