Chapter Eleven

Captain Archer was sitting in his ready room talking to Admiral Forrest on the com, while the others were waiting anxiously in the mess hall waiting for news. Trip, oblivious to all the concern, was helping Chef in the Galley to make sandwiches and biscuits. He was having a whale of a time, up to his arms in flour and cookie dough, while grinning like a Cheshire cat since Chef had let him wear his apron and big white cooking hat.

"I didn't think it would be too long before you got in touch," said Admiral Forrest to Archer's concerned face.

"Is it true? You've recalled Trip and sent a Vulcan ship to pick him up?"

"I'm sorry Jon, but a star ship is no place for Commander Tucker in his present condition. He needs to be with people who can look after him properly."

"He needs to be with me," replied Jon cutting in, "Not some cold faceless stranger."

"Jon, it's not some backward 19th Century institution we're sending him to. He's still Starfleet no matter what and we always look after our own. These people are specially trained…"

"They may be specially trained," replied Archer cutting him off again, "But they still are strangers nevertheless. Trip knows us, we're his family. We are perfectly capable of taking care of him."

"That's not what I heard. Didn't he injure himself recently falling off a ladder?"

Captain Archer gave a worried glance, surprised that this titbit had been leaked out. "That was an accident, Admiral, one which we have been careful to prevent from happening again."

"Can you be 100% certain that it won't, Jon?"

There was a quiet pause as Captain Archer sat back and took this in. Despite all the extra precautions he had placed into effect, he could not with all honesty say that it wouldn't.

"I thought not," Forrest replied quietly. He knew this was difficult but it had to be said. "I've known him just as long as you Jon and surprisingly, I care about him, too. He's been an outstanding officer and an excellent friend to you and AG, but we have to be honest with ourselves, it's dangerous up there. Putting aside for the moment the repercussions we would have to face back here for allowing a man with his disability to remain on a star ship; could you seriously live with yourself if anything happened to him as a consequence from staying up there?"

"No," replied a dejected Archer.

"I'm sorry Jon but the recall stands. A Vulcan ship will arrive to pick him up in about eleven hours."

"Well you'll have to inform them that they will be transferring two passengers back, Admiral, because I'm going with him."

"Let's not be hasty now, Jon and make any rash decisions that you might regret later."

"I'm not being rash or hasty, Admiral. Trip needs someone that he can trust; he's not going to get that from strangers."

"What about your father's dream, your dream? You'd be throwing all that away."

"Maybe, but it's not much of a dream when you've not got a friend to share it with."

"I hope you know what you're letting yourself in for Jon."

"He needs me Admiral and I need him. We'll be fine."

Admiral Forrest nodded his head. He didn't agree with Jon's decision but he could understand it. "If you need anything Jon, anything at all, give me a call. You've still got a lot of friends here who you can get support from. Good luck Jon."

"Thanks Admiral," replied Captain Archer quietly as he signed off. "Oh well I'd better go and tell everyone the good news," he said sarcastically as he looked at Porthos. Then with a teasing smile on his face, "I expect you to be packed by the time I get back."

Porthos just looked up from his cushion and wagged his tail.

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As Captain Archer walked into the mess hall, all eager eyes anxiously turned in his direction.

"Captain?" said Malcolm and Hoshi with questioning looks on their faces.

Captain Archer shook his head, indicating that the communication hadn't revealed good news.

"They're still recalling him then?" asked Malcolm.

"Yes, apparently it's too dangerous up here for someone with his disability and it wouldn't look good in regards to public image," replied Captain Archer in a bitter tone.

"That's just bull," replied Travis, in an annoyed tone of voice. "If anything, we Boomers have proved that point wrong."

"You may be right Travis," answered Archer, "But Boomers don't have to answer to military regulations. Starfleet does and in their eyes, Commander Tucker is no longer capable of fulfilling his post or position."

"What's going to happen to him?" asked a concerned Hoshi.

"I'm going to take care of him back on Earth."

Everyone looked at Captain Archer, shocked at this new development.

"Sir?" queried a confused Malcolm.

"He needs me; I won't abandon him to some institution to be looked after by strangers. I wouldn't do that to a family member, let alone a friend. He's always been there for me in the past, now the tables have turned. I'll be there for him as long as he needs me."

Everyone wished Captain Archer good luck, offering promises of help and support. T'Pol looked on in silence, showing no sign of emotion on the outside, but inside she was totally torn up over the prospect of losing both of her close friends.

"T'Pol," said Captain Archer, "I hereby inform you that you are now acting captain of Enterprise. Good luck with your mission."

"Thank you, Captain."

"Well folks, thanks for your good wishes. I'd better go and relieve Chef of Trip and get him ready for departure."

With sad looks on their faces, everyone drifted out back to their positions.

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Later that evening, Archer was in his ready room with Trip and Porthos waiting for the comm. call to let him know that the Vulcan ship had arrived. There was a heavy feeling in his heart with regards to leaving the ship he had worked so hard to captain and 'his family' they had all forged together out here. Despite this sad feeling, he knew deep down that he was doing the right thing - Trip was family and meant everything to him. He wasn't going to let him down now when he needed him the most.

"Sato to Captain Archer…….."

Archer stood up and pressed the comm. on the wall, "Archer here."

"Sir, the Vulcan ship has arrived and they wish to send a shuttle craft to collect you and Commander Tucker," said Hoshi in a sad tone.

"Thanks Hoshi, tell them to proceed. I'll meet them in the docking bay."

"Are you ready Trip?" asked Archer, holding out his hand for Trip to take.

Trip nodded his head, stood up and grasped Archer's hand. He wasn't sure what was happening but he knew he was safe if Captain Archer was there to look after him.

With Porthos leading the way they walked out of Archer's ready room, then stopped suddenly in shock. The whole crew had turned out to say goodbye, lining the walls from his ready room all the way to the launch bay. With tears in his eyes, Captain Archer carried on, nodding his head in appreciation and thanks to what his crew had done for them.

At the launch bay doors, Malcolm and T'Pol were waiting for them both. Captain Archer gave T'Pol a questioning look, since she was holding a large duffle bag and case. "Is there something I should know, T'Pol?" asked Captain Archer as he looked towards the bag.

"I have decided to join you in your venture."

"I gave you an order, T'Pol. You are now in charge."

"You gave that order after you had resigned, so technically speaking, I wasn't under your command and don't have to follow your order," replied T'Pol in full Vulcan manner. "You are the one who asked me to retain my position as first officer after I resigned my position from the Vulcan High Command, even though I was technically a civilian. Since Starfleet Regulations don't allow civilians to captain their star ships, that position falls logically to Lieutenant Reed."

"What about Enterprise, your career?" argued Archer. "I can't ask you to give all that up? Anyway it doesn't sound like anything a logical Vulcan would do."

"You didn't ask," replied T'Pol in a sarcastic tone as she guided Trip through the door. "It was my decision. Trip needs me as well as you. With regards to not being logical, Captain, I must point out your error. Loyalty is a strong aspect that Vulcans hold dearly. While I am merely following my beliefs, serving among humans these past three years has also taught me that one doesn't give up on one's friends. It has taken me a while, but I believe I have found the right balance that suits me. "

"I really appreciate your offer, T'Pol, but what are you going to do?" asked Archer.

"I have a lot of contacts that could help," replied T'Pol, then with a slight teasing tone, "You are only human, Captain, you can't expect to do everything yourself."

Captain Archer thought over everything she had said and relented to her offer; he knew when he was beaten. T'Pol could be just as stubborn as Trip when she made up her mind about something.

"I think you'd better tell the Vulcans that they will have another passenger," replied Captain Archer as he turned to look at Malcolm.

"Yes, sir, I have to go and initiate docking procedures, so I'll let them know."

Malcolm turned and walked up the stairs into the control room, while Captain Archer who was holding Porthos and T'Pol and Trip were waiting downstairs in the launch bay.

Controls indicated that there was a seal, so Malcolm pressed the switch for the bay doors to open. Suddenly a red light started flashing and a loud siren commenced. Both signals indicated that there was something wrong with the seal and that the launch bay was losing oxygen fast.

"Captain, get out of there!" shouted Malcolm as he ran to the door separating the control room and launch bay. It wouldn't open. He tried pressing the comm. to let the crew outside know that there was a problem. Nothing happened; the comm. was dead.

"Captain!" shouted Malcolm as he frantically banged on the control room door.

Captain Archer knew something was wrong, long before he heard Malcolm's frantic shouts and knocking from inside the control room. His breathing was becoming hard and laboured, his vision started to blur and his limbs felt like lead weights. There's something wrong with the seal and we're losing oxygen fast.

"Trip……. get…..him…out of….. here," gasped Captain Archer as he looked over at T'Pol, who didn't seem as badly effected. Trip though was suffering just as bad and looked absolutely petrified. T'Pol pulled him towards the door but it was sealed shut tight; the lock also didn't seem to be working. As T'Pol's vision slowly began to blur, she could see the crew on the outside desperately trying to open the door and rescue their stricken officers. As she collapsed on the floor, gasping for sheer life, she blacked out thinking back over all her memories of the past three years that she had experienced with the two brave unconscious men next to her...

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