0000 Disclaimer=me no own 000000 Eee!!! Thanks for all the reviews!!!! I feel so loved! I'm sorry for not updating sooner but I have a good reason a)Have only just got on top of holiday homework from school and b) I just started my first job! :D Anyway continuing on with the story.....................00000

Trip had never felt such pain in all his life, every nerve ending was on fire, agonised screams were emitting from his mouth.

The alien who'd come to measure him every two hours was now stood at the door watching him intently.

"Spurt," the alien stated simply before exiting.

Trip could hardly contain himself as his body went through another bout of spasms. All the while the baby was screaming it's lungs out, terrified by all the loud noise, and although Trip wanted to him he could hardly move or speak. Hope had risen inside him when the alien had come to the door, he wanted it to comfort the baby, take it out the room make it shut up, anything to stop those screams echoing in his pounding head.

00000000 Enterprise 00000000

"The ship's fully repaired," Hess reported. "Or at least I think it is, turns out they know nothing about their own technology."

"Well let's hope it holds out," Archer acknowledged. "Phlox how far along will Trip be by now?"

Phlox paused a moment before replying:

"He'll be in the stages of puberty, around 13 or 14 years of age."

"Puberty?" Fayla asked, speaking up from the corner in which she was sat.

"It's what humans call the period of growth in which a child becomes and adult, during this time they're known as adolescence," Phlox explained.

Fayla winced.

Archer noticed the wince but decided to plod on.

"Captain, as ordered we are a safe distance away from the enemy vessel," T'Pol put in, eyebrow raised. "However there is a 46% chance there is no vessel there."

"OK, Jac'tir and Fayla will be with me in their ship, T'Pol you have control of the Enterprise, hang back out of range of their sensors be prepared for either a fast getaway or a fire fight. Phlox get Sickbay ready," Archer ordered.

"We're going?!?" Jac'tir asked looking even greener than usual (if that were possible)

"Yes."

Jac'tir nodded but didn't look happy about it.

000000000 Jac'tir and Fayla's ship 00000000000

"They can't detect your ship when it's cloaked can they?" Archer asked finally as Jac'tir inched the ship forward.

Jac'tir shook his head seemingly not trusting himself to speak.

"You can speed up you know," Fayla snapped.

"Will you shut up woman and let me do my thing?!?!" Jac'tir exclaimed finally snapping.

Fayla opened her mouth to say something cutting back but was silence by the look on Archer's face.

"We're in range," Fayla reported.

"Firing disruptors," said Jac'tir.

The space outside the viewscreen suddenly fluctuated and a large vessel came into view.

"Scanning for human lifesigns," Fayla said finally looking happy that she had something to do. "Got them!"

"Beam them out," Archer ordered.

"Fayla, just like we practised in training," said Jac'tir nervously.

She nodded and waited.

"On my mark," said Archer watching both to make sure they were ready. "NOW!"

Archer trained his gaze on the back of the small vessel and watched as two figures began to materialize.

"They've locked weapons!" Fayla yelled above the sudden noise.

"Get us out of here!" Archer ordered.

He watched in amazement as Jac'tir's fingers flew across the console performing some of the most complicated evasive manoeuvres he'd ever seen, however his need to check over his crewmembers took over his fascination. He turned back to Trip and Malcolm, both screaming at full bore, one in pain one in terror.

"Cloaks back up," Fayla reported.

The ship suddenly rocked violently sending Archer flying.

"Jac'tir!" Fayla yelled.

Another blast rocked the ship.

"Shields are failing!"

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