Enterprise rolled lazily in orbit around Earth. Business with the Salindais was complete, and Admiral Forrest had requested that Enterprise come back to Earth so he could get Archer's report face-to-face.

Adili had eventually come down into the tunnels after that giant hose in the shuttle bay had stopped running. They brought a couple dozen men to see what was going on, with both the rescue party and the water system. They had escorted the Humans back to the shuttle bay, where they boarded the shuttle pod and went back to Enterprise. Hoshi had to spend a few days in sickbay, but she was OK and was her usual, fun self.

Geido and his son, on the other hand, were a different story. It turned out that the weapon had acted up and bolts of energy, like lightning, shot out in all directions. One of Bynaul's lungs did indeed get punctured, and he died, as Geido told Archer when he arrived back on his spider-shaped ship. Geido had been relieved of his duty for a couple of weeks, so that he could mourn with his wife the death of Bynaul.

Malcolm spent a good deal of his spare time with Travis, talking and discussing every day things. Malcolm was planning something, a surprise, and he wanted Travis's advice.

Koss had decided to join T'pol on board, and was accepted by both Archer and Forrest. He joined Trip in engineering, and became one of his best men. Trip wasn't too fond of the idea of Koss coming on board, at first. For one, he wasn't Starfleet, which was just an excuse to not let him on board, and two, he was Koss, the guy who had stolen the love of his life. Upon arriving on Earth, Trip got permission to spend time with his sister, Elizabeth. He had asked for advice on what to do about Koss, and Liz, in her usual sassy manner, told him to just suck it up and live with it. Which he did.

Enterprise seemed to have become a love nest when the ship departed from the Salinda system. Cutler showed an even stronger attachment to the jolly Denobulan, Money started dating Major Hayes, and Malcolm kept his eye on Hoshi. She and Travis hadn't broken up, exactly; then again they hadn't really gotten together in the first place. Just close friends, Travis insisted.

"Have you been talking with the Commander?" Malcolm asked Travis suspiciously one day while he was talking to Travis in his quarters.

"No, why do you ask?"

"He seems determined to get Hoshi and I together, just like you do."

"Well, Trip has nothing to do with it." Travis assured him. He was lying, though. Trip and Travis were conspiring together to get Malcolm and Hoshi together.

Another day, Malcolm asked Travis what Hoshi might appreciate as a sign of affection. Not exactly something that screams "I love you!" but something that merely hinted at a stronger relationship.

"She told me once, while we were in the Expanse, that her mother wanted her to take piano lessons." Travis told him.

"Hmm." Malcolm said thoughtfully. "Has she shown any interest in actually taking lessons?"

"Not since, but she told me as if she really regretted not having taken lessons before. I think she would be good at it, if she tried."

Malcolm paused a moment, his eyes blank with thought. "Jolly good." He said finally, his voice distant. "My sister can play piano. Thank you, Travis! I'll see you later." And he skipped out of Travis's quarters on his merry way.