Hi!! Sorry it took so long to update. I'll admit. I got a little lazy. I finished off Remember me, and am working on a sequel and a prequel to it. Also, work was being annoying and hard and stuff... so please accept my apologies.

Ok, I see a lot of people commented on the Archer/T'Pol relationship in chapter two. They didn't like the surprise. In my defense, I have only been writing fan-fictions for about two months, so I can be forgiven for not knowing all the rules. Also, I just decided to put in that relationship at the last moment. It will not play a major part in the story.

I wasn't very happy with the direction that the writers took the T'Pol/Trip relationship. For two years, we were led to believe that Archer and T'Pol were going to get together, not Trip and T'Pol. This was just my not so subtle attempt at a protest at their relationship. [Other than that, I loved season three]

Anyway...

I promised you scenes of peril, didn't I?

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Enterprise

Travis took the ship out of Warp at the co-ordinates where they were to meet the Tosscaj pilot Jolan. He concentrated on his work, trying to ignore the knot of fear forming in his stomach. The three crewmen on the shuttle were three of his closest friends. He had gone through flight school with Jack Martins. They had been buddies since day one. Hoshi was friends with everybody, and he enjoyed spending time with Lieutenant Reed.

The proximity sensors detected a small, one-man ship on an intercept course. Its weapons were powered down, and even if they weren't, they would not pose a serious threat to Enterprise.

"Sir, I have something on sensors. I think it's Jolan."

"Captain, we're being hailed."

"On screen"

Jolan's face appeared on the screen. Is skin was also light green, but unlike Morak whose blue hair was close-cut, his hair hung in a plait half way down his back.

"Captain Archer. I am pleased to meet you."

"I only wish it was under better circumstances, Mr. Jolan."

"I agree Captain. Permission to come aboard?"

"Granted."

The situation room at the back of the bridge felt suspiciously empty without Malcolm and Hoshi's presence. Trip, Jon, T'Pol, Travis and Jolan stood leaning over the console, looking at the readings of the planets atmosphere. Even hunched over, Jolan towered above the humans and the Vulcan.

When Jon had met him at the airlock, he had been forced to look up at him, not an everyday occurrence for him. Jolan stood at seven and a half feet tall, taller than the Klingons even. He had a military bearing and a drill- sergeant swift walk. Jon thought sadly that he and Malcolm would get along great.

"Sensors cannot penetrate the atmosphere, so we'll have to go down in a shuttle, but the approach is tricky. Is you pilot sufficiently skilled?"

"Travis is the best that earth has to offer. He grew up on starships, and there's nothing he can't make a ship do." Jon replied.

Travis blushed under the Captains praise. "I can do it sir." He replied. "The away team are my friends."

Jolan nodded. "I advise you to study these readings closely. One wrong move and we will be the ones who need rescuing."

"No pressure though" Trip joked, noting Travis's gulp. Jolan turned to Trip.

"Commander, are your shuttles shielded?"

"We have minimal shielding on shuttles. Just enough to deflect a few hits, nothing major."

"I suggest that you make these modifications" Jolan said, handing him a data PADD.

"What are these?" Trip asked, looking over the data.

"These will help stabilize the ship when we reach the atmosphere of the planet. It should help your pilot land safely. I will assist you."

"Alright then." Jon added. "Travis, you are to study these readings. I want you to extrapolate the safest possible path. Trip, get working on these modifications on Shuttle Pod 2. How long until we reach the planet T'Pol?"

T'Pol checked her readings. "We will reach the planet in three hours twenty seven minutes sir."

"Thank you. Trip, you have three hours. Jolan will join you soon to help you. I wish to speak to him first. Dismissed."

Trip headed to the turbo-lift, already lost in the information in the PADD. Travis followed him to, his head also buried in readings.

"Jolan, if you will follow me." Jon indicated for Jolan and T'Pol to follow him to his ready room. Once inside and seated, Jon turned to Jolan.

"Realistically, what chance does my crew have of surviving that crash?"

Jolan grimaced. "It would depend on the speed of the shuttle, the ability of the pilot..."

"Mr. Jolan..." Archer warned.

Jolan sighed. "From the angle that they crashed into the atmosphere at, my calculations indicate a fifty percent chance of survival."

Fifty percent? Jon thought. That was low. They may be going to the planet only to collect their bodies.

"Assuming that they do survive the crash, how will they survive until we can rescue them?" T'Pol asked.

"That is a good question." Jon added. "Malcolm was an eagle scout, but I don't think even he could survive for that long alone."

"My people have had experience with that planet. We know that the time difference makes any rescue operation crucial. But, people still need to survive until the rescue. Every hundred miles or so, we have built sturdy shelters with the equipment and utensils needed to survive. With luck, you crew has landed near one of those."

"Why can't your people pick them up?"

"We do not have ships close enough to the planet to get there faster that Enterprise. We have wide-ranging territories, but about fifty years ago, we realized that our culture and way of life was ending due to our expansion. We were not prepared for that to happen. We decided to concentrate our development on our own solar system. We still patrol our borders, but with less frequency and zeal. I was on one of those patrols when I received word that a shuttle had crashed onto the fourth planet of the Nistel system. Since the entire system is uninhabited and I was the closest Tosscaj vessel, I was sent to escort you there and help you retrieve your crew."

"You said that the planet is uninhabited by sentient beings. What about the local wild-life?"

"Most of the local animals are harmless enough. Your people will be alright."

"Most of?" Jon didn't like the way that sounded. He also didn't like the way Jolan grimaced again.

"There is one possible danger. On one small continent, there is a breed of animal that we call Rotlem. They are wild, and dangerous. They are hunters. But, as I've said, the continent is very small. I'm sure your pilot aimed for one of the bigger ones. Even if he didn't, they hibernate for much of the year. Your people will be fine."

Jolan hoped...

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The Fourth Planet of the Nistel System

Day 135 – [Four and a half months]

"Never again!" Malcolm huffed as he sat down heavily onto the chair in the kitchen. "Never again are you going to lead the way when we try to map the surrounding area."

Hoshi grimaced as she knelt down beside him and gently lifted his swollen ankle and running the medical scanner over it. "That's taking it to extremes, isn't it Malcolm. I mean, it's not my fault that the ground we were walking on was unstable, and a crack opened beneath us."

"I know that" Malcolm retorted through clenched teeth. Christ his ankle hurt!! "But did you have to find us the longest possible way to get home?"

Hoshi's anger was rising. She got up and jabbed at the embers of the fire, making it spring to life again. "Jesus Christ Malcolm, it was the safest and easiest way with you hardly being able to walk." She stalked over to the medical chest and yanked out some bandages that they had made. "I know you said that you're 'fine', but I couldn't carry in the event that you weren't!!"

Kneeling down again, she quickly bound his ankle in a bandage. "It's not broken, just sprained. It'll be fine in a few days, so you can stop whining."

"Whine? You are overstepping you bounds, Ensign!" Malcolm was really angry now, and now wasn't even sure why. On a sub-conscious level, it might have been because Hoshi was even prettier when she was angry. It also might have been because his ankle felt like it was on fire and pain made him cranky.

"I don't care, Lieutenant!" Hoshi shouted back. "Stop blaming me for an accident that wasn't my fault." She banged around the kitchen, preparing something hot for them to drink, while Malcolm sulked by the fire. It was almost dark out and getting colder. Hoshi slammed a cupboard with extreme vigor, and her acute sense of hearing picked up Malcolm muttering something about PMS being a bitch.

(A/N Just a tip guys, BAD move. NEVER mention PMS if your girlfriend/sister/mother/wife is cranky. Just trust me on this one)

Incredulous, she whirled around to face him. The blush on his cheeks indicated that yes, she had heard correctly. She stomped over to the door, and yanked it open.

"I'm going for a walk" she told him, her face bright red from embarrassment and fury. Embarrassment because he was right, and fury because he said it out loud. She slammed the door behind her and set off at a jog towards the woods. One tear slipped down her, cheek, then another.

She hated fighting with Malcolm.

Inside the house, Malcolm cursed himself for upsetting her. He hated fighting with Hoshi.

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Just over twenty miles away from the scene of the fight, the silent twilight was interrupted by a scream of pain coming from a dying animal. Blood poured from the wound in his throat made by razor sharp teeth, and before it was even dead, the hunters started tearing the flesh from its body.

Pale blue blood dripped from the fangs of the pack of Rotlem as they systematically stripped their prey. Their powerful, large bodies rippled under their crimson fur, and their jagged, razor sharp teeth made short work of the carcass. Suddenly, one of the pack of four lifted its head, and sniffed the cooling air.

Strange new smells assailed their sensitive nostrils, and the others stopped their meal and sniffed also.

Two. There were two new smells in the air. Their eyes gleamed in anticipation, as the pack yowled in unison, and set off towards the source of the smell. Despite the rapidly descending darkness, they moved confidently and silently through the forest towards the shelter.

The hunters had found new prey.

(A/N Don't you just hate Malcolm and Hoshi's luck? He he he)

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Hoshi had been wandering aimlessly through the woods for over an hour when she heard the yowl that split the night air. It caused a chill to run down her spine that had nothing to do with her lack of coat, and she turned for home. After about twenty feet, she realized that she had no idea where she was.

She was lost, hadn't even a compass to guide her, never mind a scanner. She was cold and she was afraid. Fighting back tears, she moved determinedly away from the direction of the yowl, and hopefully towards home, cursing herself for her lack of vigilance.

She refused to cry, and half-ran/half-walked towards Malcolm and home.

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Back in their house, Malcolm sat by the window, looking out worriedly. This planet was remarkably like Earth in many ways. They had calculated a 26 hour day, and seasons similar to Earth. Now, it was the beginning of what they called autumn, and daylight was getting shorter. It was getting colder also, and Hoshi was out there without a coat or a torch.

'Calm down Malcolm' he told himself. 'She's a big girl, and she can take care of herself.' He cursed himself for his stupid remark that had caused her to run out into the night, and had to fight the urge to run out into the night to find her.

He was busy cursing himself when he hears an animal yowl in the distance. Several animals. Despite the distance, a chill traveled down his spine, and he began to panic. Sound carried over the trees, and he was positive that Hoshi heard to too.

Heaving himself out of the chair, he hobbled over to the medical chest, and grabbed a hypo-spray. He filled it with painkiller and felt immediate relief when he injected it into his ankle. He tested his weight on it, and then moved with much more speed and efficiency towards the room they had designated for storage. He pulled out a plasma rifle and the phase pistol, and checked their power supply. Satisfied, he grabbed a scanner to help him locate her, and ran to the door. He pulled on a coat, slung the rifle over his shoulder and ran out the door.

-----------------------

Hoshi stumbled over a tree root, and landed heavily on her side. Winded, she pushed herself into a sitting position to take a break. She had changed from a jog into a run almost thirty minutes ago, and she was tired, and still had no idea if she was closer to home or not. She felt like she was running in circles.

Also, something was after her. She could feel it. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and she had to fight the urge to look over her shoulder. She desperately wished that Malcolm was with her.

She was sorry that she had picked a fight with him. It was just that they were growing so close, and that scared her. Now, all she wanted was for him to be there to be the strong one, to hold her. To make everything alright.

Leaves rustled and twigs snapped behind her. Hoshi froze. She could hear the low feral growl of several animals. She debated trying to climb the tree she was leaning against, but a quick look up told her that the trunk was too smooth for her to get a grip on it. She gulped, and slowly got to her feet.

She quietly turned around and found herself face-to-face with a Rotlem. Though she did not know what it was called, she knew enough to be afraid... very afraid. She couldn't help the scream that she let out when she was his gleaming fur and huge fangs. It was the like a tiger that had lived back on Earth before they were hunted to extinction, only larger, and from the way its muscles rippled in the moonlight; Hoshi could tell that it was just as powerful and fast.

(A/N Save the tigers. Their habitats are being decimated. Do what you can to save these magnificent animals. Spread the word. Please. [I'm being serious for once] )

She backed away slowly only to be stopped by growls coming from behind her, and from her left.

She was surrounded.

Her heart thumped and she cried out as the animal to her left crouched and pounced.

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Malcolm ran lightly through the woods in search of Hoshi. His ankle was starting to throb again, but he ignored it. He had to get to her. The scanner in his hand told him that she wasn't too far from the house, only mile or so out. It also told him that she wasn't alone. He detected several shapes moving to surround her. Four. He out on a burst of speed as he heard her scream of terror.

Running quietly, he came upon the scene. Hoshi was surrounded by three huge creatures. A shard of fear stabbed his heart at the sight. The fear was not for himself, but for the woman he loved. He couldn't bear the thought of her dead or dying. He raised his plasma rifle and sighted along it as one of the creatures crouched and pounced at Hoshi.

The blast knocked the animal sideways, and he landed several feet from Hoshi, a smoking wound in his side. He yowled in pain, and shuddered. A second blast form the rifle killed him. The others turned now to the new threat, and the two circled him. Hoshi scrambled out of the way, and Malcolm breathed a sigh of relief. He brought the rifle up again and shot at the lead animal before it had the chance to pounce. It caught him in the head, and he fell to the ground, dead.

While Malcolm's attention was distracted, the remaining animal pounced. Malcolm fell to the ground, the plasma rifle flying from his grasp. The creature circled him as Malcolm unobtrusively reached for his phase pistol. With lightning quick reflexes, he shot the animal, but only got his hind quarters. That only pissed the creature off.

Malcolm scrambled up into a sitting position, and shot again. The pistol did nothing. In frustration, he slammed it against the ground, and shot again. This time, the phase pistol worked. The beam hit the animal in its side, and it fell. Another shot killed it.

Malcolm stood up slowly. He had landed heavily, but he didn't think that he was too badly hurt. Maybe just some bruises. His immediate concern was for Hoshi. She came out from her hiding place, and ran towards him. She had just reached him when Malcolm saw the gleam of teeth behind her.

The fourth creature! He had forgotten about it. It must have been circling the scene waiting for its opportunity. He raised his phase pistol but it didn't work. His plasma rifle lay several feet away. Hoshi was going to die!

So, he did the only thing he could think of.

He pushed Hoshi behind him and out of the way when the animal sprang. He felt the claws like daggers dig into the flesh on his leg and arm. Teeth fastened onto his side and he felt claws rip at his skin. His face was slashed and as was his torso.

The pain was unimaginable. He cried out, but it was a weak protest. He thought vaguely that he heard the sound of a plasma rifle firing successive shots, but he couldn't be sure. He felt the welcoming, pain free darkness of unconsciousness calling him, and he gladly answered its sirens call.

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Day 145

Hoshi carefully carried the container of water from the nearby stream. A little sloshed over the side as she climbed the steep hill towards home, but she didn't care. She passed the garden in desperate need of work, but she ignored it. She concentrated on this small task with single minded efficiency. It hurt too much to do anything else.

Guilt swamped her as she pushed open the door to the house. She poured some of the water into a glass, and went into Malcolm's bedroom. He lay on his bed, still swamped in bandages, and as always, tears threatened to fall whenever she looked at him.

He had saved her life by throwing himself out in front of her. She had found his rifle and killed the creature, but Malcolm had been severely injured in the process. There had been blood everywhere. Hoshi stopped as much of the bleeding as she could on site, but there had been so many cuts. She had grabbed his scanner for guidance, and with a strength borne of desperation, half dragged/ half carried Malcolm back to their home.

Back at home, the full multitude of what had happened hit her, and tears poured down her face, even as she attended to Malcolm's wounds, and there had been many.

His face and body had been slashed, he had four cracked ribs and deep bite marks on his side. His leg... The creature had landed heavily on his leg. He had torn muscles and ligaments, along with a fracture of his thigh bone. He was also unconscious. Still. After ten days.

With every day that passed when he remained unconscious, Hoshi's hope diminished. She rarely left his side, other than to get fresh water, prepare some food, and once to collect his weapons. Hate had surged within her as she saw the bodies of the creatures that had attacked them. She had gone back there once again, and had seen with some satisfaction that their bodies had been stripped of meat by other animals.

Hoshi checked Malcolm's bandages again; pleased with the way some of the scars were healing. She was no medic, but she had done well. His leg worried her though, and she knew there was going to be scarring on his face and side.

On the plus side, his sprained ankle was healed.

Satisfied that he was comfortable, she settled back and began to work on the scanner. She was devising a program to alert them if there was movement outside, sort of an early warning system. But, Hoshi was a linguist, not an engineer, so it was slow going.

A low groan from the bed brought her to Malcolm's side. His eyelids fluttered, and opened to reveal the stormy blue eyes that she loved so much.

"How are you feeling?" she asked as she had poured some water down his throat.

"Like hell" he croaked out. He smiled a little "I bet you were expecting me to say 'fine', weren't you?"

Hoshi laughed in surprise, but her laughs soon turned to sobs. "Oh God. I'm so glad your back!"

Mindful of his wounds, she hugged him close. "I love you so much" she whispered. Malcolm looked up at her in shock, then smiled. He closed his eyes, but before he drifted off to sleep again, he whispered

"I love you too."

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That's all for now. I'll update more soon, I promise. Again, I'm sorry it took so long to update.

Read and review please.