Disclaimer: Still don't own any Starfleet characters. I don't think that's gonna change over the next dozen chapters, so I guess this'll be the last disclaimer I put in.
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The wobbly metal stairs clanked beneath Hoshi's feet as she climbed up onto the second level of the shuttle bay. The return to Enterprise hadn't stopped Archer and T'pol from discussing non-stop what they learned of the Salindais; Hoshi could hear them still talking behind her.
"Their culture seems based on the fact that they learn from their mistakes, and that they need an equal balance of good and evil to live peacefully." T'pol explained.
"That makes sense." Archer commented. "You can't really learn anything if you don't do anything wrong." Archer bounced his head around, as he always did, as he talked.
Hoshi's grip tightened on the railing as she felt T'pol start to climb up behind her.
"That's what the woman in the store told me." Hoshi said.
At that moment Trip and two Salindais came into the shuttle bay. Hoshi reached the top of the deck and waited for T'pol and Archer to make it up.
Trip smiled at her. "How was the trip?"
"I enjoyed my time down there." She said, flashing Trip a small grin. She scooted over as T'pol and Archer joined her. Turning to Colonel Geido and his Counsellor, she said "You have a very interesting culture."
Colonel Geido smiled as if to say 'of course I do!' "Did you bring back any souvenirs?" He said half-jokingly
Hoshi nodded. "I bought a translation device at a souvenir shop." She rummaged through a small bag slung over her shoulder and pulled out a small, cylinder-shaped object with a three-sectioned circle carved onto the top. She noticed Counsellor Bynaul's white pupils dilate to fill most of his yellow irises, but she made nothing of it.
"That doesn't look like it can translate very much." The Captain said quizzically.
"Right now it doesn't." She said, pressing two nearly invisible buttons on the side.
The device split open into three sections. The top and bottom folded back to become a new bottom, and the middle section remained sticking straight up. Two projections of light shot up and merged, displaying Salindais text.
"Intriguing…." T'pol said as she watched.
Hoshi glanced at her, and barely stopped herself from raising an eyebrow. T'pol had been growing out her hair, and it was currently about an inch above her shoulders. She kept it tied back in a short, bristly ponytail. She had also started wearing a Starfleet uniform, too. Hoshi looked back at the green projection of text a meter above her head.
"Looks like you found a new toy." Trip said jokingly.
Hoshi snorted and closed the device. The green light faded like mist.
"We should get to deacon before Phlox starts chasing us around the ship." Archer said jokingly, and moved for the door.
"Deacon?" Colonel Geido asked, following Archer along with the rest of the group.
"Standard procedure. To make sure none of us have picked up any bugs while we were down there." Archer explained with a reassuring glance.
Tossing the translator back into her back, Hoshi said little as they hiked the short distance to Sickbay. She was deep in thought about her experiences on the planet.
As they entered Sickbay, the group discovered Cutler and Phlox with their heads together over a book. They were probably discussing poisonous insects, but Hoshi figured it was just raw flirting. She knew Cutler had a fling for Phlox. The couple looked up as they entered.
"Ah, I'm glad I didn't have to hustle you into deacon today, Captain!" Phlox said in his usual chipper voice. He left Cutler's side for a moment to prepare the deacon chamber. Cutler watched from where she leaned against a bio bed, holding the book open. Hoshi knew that this was the first time she had seen a Salindais.
Archer, T'pol and Hoshi peeled off their jumpsuits and hopped in the deacon chamber. They kept a comm. channel open and looked out the little window as they spoke to the Salindais.
"Chef asked permission to join the next landing party, Cap'n." Tucker told him. Archer responded with a chuckle. "I think he'd appreciate it if he'd get the chance to explore alien foods more often."
"That doesn't sound like a bad idea. Any specialties he could try, Colonel?" Archer asked. He, T'pol and Hoshi were seated on the bench, soaking up the blue rays emitting from the walls. Counsellor Bynaul seemed fascinated to watch this alien experience.
"Actually, if he does ever decide to come aboard my vessel, I could ask the cook to prepare something special." Geido said matter-of-factly.
"I don't mean to get us off topic, Captain, but I was wondering how long you were planning to stay in the system." Counsellor Bynaul interrupted.
"We still haven't made contact with anybody on your moon, yet." Archer pointed out. "I estimate about another three or four days."
"Our moon?" Geido asked suddenly, not making room for Bynaul to reply. "Our moon is mostly a military base."
"Mostly." The Captain repeated.
Geido shot him a friendly glare. "The soldiers are almost always suspicious and unfriendly to alien visitors. They may not take kindly to your presence on the moon."
Bynaul cleared his throat loudly so that no one could interrupt. "The reason I asked is because I would like to spend the next three or four days here with you."
Geido turned to him, confusion written on his face. Tucker folded his arms in front of his chest, curious as to how father and son would deal with each other. "What? Why?" Geido asked, twisting his face.
"I am just as curious about these people as they are about us. I would like to spend more time around them, learn about them. If it's alright with you, father."
Hoshi nearly gasped. Archer barely flinched, Tucker seemed not to notice, and T'pol showed no emotion whatsoever. Hoshi found it strange that a father would make his young son his counsellor. It was just… odd. Alien customs were sometimes difficult to get used to.
After a moment of thought Colonel Geido nodded. "Just don't be getting yourself into trouble."
"Alright, people." Phlox said merrily. "You show no signs of harmful alien substances, so you're free to go!" He deactivated the chamber before Hoshi could raise a hoot of protest. At least she didn't have to use that slimy, sticky gel today.
The three climbed out of deacon and slipped back into their jumpsuits, hiding their reluctance. Hoshi picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder. "If you don't mind, Captain, I'd like to head back to my station."
Archer smiled in a fatherly manner. "Of course."
As Hoshi left, she noted Cutler was still in Sickbay with the book of insects, Phlox again at her side. She was looking up, into his eyes…. Hoshi chuckled to herself at the thought. She remembered, four years ago, asking Phlox if they were… mating.
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Abrupt end, sorry about that.
I also took a few paragraphs out so it might seem a bit odd at one point in there.
And there is going to be a pairing in the next chapter! Prepare yourselves! :-)