Enthrallment
Chapter 4
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Nodding at the two burly MACOs Hayes assigned to guard Captain Archer and the Ambassador, I turn on my heel and walk briskly down the hall. I have to admit—Major Hayes' security measures have proven to be very sensible. The decoy shuttlepod came in quite handy.
The Ambassador's race, the M'c'll'tro'm—which I seem to mispronounce every time I try to say it—are a technologically advanced race with no great love for the Xindi. The majority of M'c'll'tro'm were quite excited at the possibility of finding someone to stand with them against the Xindi. A minority of the Ambassador's people, however, doesn't agree with his inclination to ally with us, and to make their point, they attempted to shoot the decoy shuttlepod down.
Fortunately, the decoy allowed us to safely bring the Ambassador to Enterprise. Now we just have to keep the pair of them safe while they hash things out.
Letting out a breath, I walk to the end of the hall where Hawkins and a MACO named Miller are standing at attention.
"Hawkins," I say. "Can you handle things here?"
He nods curtly. "Of course, sir."
"Excellent," I say. "I'm going to the assist Major Hayes and Commander Tucker with preparations for the Ambassador's return trip."
Hawkins laughs to himself. "Very good, sir."
I raise my eyebrows. "Is something amusing, Hawkins?"
"Oh, no, sir," he says, fighting a smile.
For a few seconds, I gaze suspiciously at Hawkins, then, nodding at Hawkins and Miller, I stride down the hall and disappear into the lift.
-----
When I arrive at the shuttle bay, Hayes and Trip are standing next to the decoy shuttlepod, talking animatedly.
They seem to be chummy.
Crossing my arms across my chest, I walk toward them. "Major, Commander."
"Hello, sir," Hayes says.
Trip nods, and then turns back to Hayes. "Well, I still think it's worth a try."
"I like the idea, sir," Hayes says leaning back against the shuttlepod. "I'm just not sure you'll get the Ambassador to agree."
"Agree to what?" I ask.
Ignoring me, Trip plunges on. "Well, I think he's just gonna have to suck it up, and let us get him back the safest way possible."
Hayes chuckles. Licking his bottom lip, he says, "Well, sir. With all due respect, I think you're going to have to tell him that. And I'd like the honor of being there when you tell an alien dignitary to 'suck it up.'"
Trip lets out a boisterous laugh and claps Hayes on the shoulder. "I think we'll let the Captain tell him."
"Tell him what?" I ask, irritated.
"Oh, hi, Malcolm," Trip says as if he just now noticed me.
"What are the two of you prattling on about?"
Trip crosses his arms, looking a tad offended. "Well, I wouldn't call it prattling."
I glance at the Major, who's smiling slightly.
"Well, Major?" I say.
He takes a deep breath, and then exhales. "We were discussing the possibility of transporting the Ambassador back to the surface."
Frowning, I glance between Trip and the Major. "What's wrong with the shuttlepod?"
"Well, Malcolm," Trip says slowly. "Major Hayes was a bit concerned that the rogue element within the Ambassador's race wouldn't be tricked by the decoy again." He pauses a beat. "Not to mention there's a big hole in it."
I glance at the shuttlepod. Sure enough, there's a large hole near the engine. "Why wasn't I told?" I ask, shooting a glare at Major Hayes.
Trip places a hand on my shoulder. "You told Hayes to handle to preparations for the trip home. He was handling it."
I grimace. Apparently, the Captain isn't the only person aboard Enterprise who's found an ally today.
Hayes takes a step forward. "Sir, here's the problem. The safest way to get the Ambassador home is by using the transporter. However, the Ambassador is a bit transporter-phobic."
Nodding, Trip says. "Apparently, they have something similar to the transporter on their homeworld, and it's caused a few isolated cases of transporter-sickness."
"Transporter-sickness?" I ask.
Trip shrugs. "Don't ask me, Malcolm. Ask the doc. He's looking at the info the M'c'll'tro'm sent. We were hoping he could calm the Ambassador down a little, convince him it's safe."
I let out a breath. I can understand the Ambassador's trepidation. I used to have my doubts about the transporter myself, but it's pulled me out of harm's way several times.
"Right, then," I say. "I'll go check with Doctor Phlox and see what he's learned."
I start to leave the shuttle bay, but then I turn back to Trip and Hayes. "Major," I say. "Carry on. You're doing an excellent job."
He looks more than a little surprised. "Thank you, sir," he says.
"Oh, Major," I add. "If there aren't any snags with the Ambassador, we will be having movie night this evening."
"They're showing 'Dracula,' aren't they?" Trip pipes up.
"Yes, I believe so," I say. "Major, I'd like to see a MACO presence there tonight." So would the Captain. He claims that ship morale would benefit from having the MACOs and the regular crewmembers spending more time together socially.
Hayes looks as if he's about to argue with me, but then he says, "We'll look forward to it, sir."
-----
"Doctor, how's the progress on transporter-sickness I've been hearing about?"
Doctor Phlox glances up at me, a wide grin on his face. "Lieutenant! Come in! Come in!" He gestures for me to sit on the edge of an examination table.
Sighing, I comply. "Well, Doctor, do you have assurances for the Ambassador?"
"Well, no more than I have for you or anyone else who uses the transporter."
Narrowing my eyes at the doctor, I say, "That means what?"
Stretching, Doctor Phlox says, "Well their transporter is extremely similar to our own, so I would guess the chances of the Ambassador catching an illness from our system would be roughly the same as if he were using the M'c'll'tro'm transporter." Then he perks up and grins. "But it should be safe!"
"Doctor, I'm afraid the Ambassador will want assurances."
He points to a computer screen. "Those are the statistics from the M'c'll'tro'm transporter-sickness. There have been very few cases, and I've been over every single one of them. Of course, if I had more time, I could possibly find a common denominator. But at present, I can only say that a miniscule percentage of the people using the transporter have contracted the sickness. I can't assure the Ambassador that he won't be one of them."
Rubbing my shoulder, I say, "Well, thank you anyway, Doctor."
Doctor Phlox gazes at me with concern. "Are we having trouble with our muscles again?"
Reluctantly, I nod and say, "I think I slept wrong."
"Well, let me get you something for it."
As he rummages around the lab for whatever it is he's looking for, Doctor Phlox starts humming. At first, he hums softly, but then he becomes positively earsplitting.
"Doctor, must you?" I snap.
He grins. "It's an old Denobulan love song. It's about romance in a time of war." His expression turns wistful. "The words go something like, 'Even though the buildings are crumbling and the sky is red, my love for you is—'"
"Sounds lovely."
Unperturbed, the doctor walks over to me and gives me a quick shot in the neck. "You should feel better soon." He takes a step back and asks, "So, how was dinner last night?"
I shrug. "Oh, all right."
Chuckling to himself, the doctor says, "It's good to see you and Major Hayes making strides toward one another."
"Yes, we're attempting to find common ground."
"Well," Doctor Phlox says. "You make a handsome couple. I'd heard rumors of course, but I wasn't sure until last night."
Couple?
"Wait a moment, Doctor," I say. "Major Hayes and I are not a…couple."
He grins at me as if I'm a fibbing child. "My mistake."
Honestly. Why would he think such a thing? I have no interest in Major Hayes. None. The very thought is just absurd. Even if I were attracted the man, it would be impossible for us to act on it. I'm the Senior Tactical Officer. What kind of message would a romance send to my men and Major Hayes' men? And there's the mission to think of. Neither of us needs the distraction.
At that moment, Major Hayes saunters into sick bay. "Lt. Reed, Doctor Phlox. Can we assure the Ambassador that transporting is perfectly safe?"
Doctor Phlox beams, glancing from me to Major Hayes.
"Unfortunately," I say quickly, "I think you're going to have to ask Commander Tucker to tell the Ambassador to 'suck it up,' or something a more tactful."
Hayes smiles. "I'll let him know, sir."
"And Major," I say amiably, "Don't forget about the movie."
"I'm looking forward to it, sir," he says.
"Carry on, then."
Smiling, he nods and disappears out the door.
After Hayes leaves, Doctor Phlox turns to me with a face-splitting smile. "So," he says cheerfully. "The two of you have plans for this evening!" He says the word "plans" just a little more energetically than the rest of the sentence.
"What?" I say, caught off guard.
"You and Major Hayes are off to the movie tonight!" Doctor Phlox practically sings, "Excellent! I took my first wife on a picnic the first time we went out."
"It's not a date!" I protest.
Doctor Phlox takes a step toward me. "You're secret's safe with me," he whispers conspiratorially, and then he starts humming about romance in a time of war.
