Back in Marlaya's quarters Malcolm had woken up and got changed into his uniform and he was now going round the ship trying to find Marlaya. He had checked engineering, the Armoury, the Mess Hall, the gym but hadn't found any sign of her. He soon came across Hoshi walking along a corridor and she noticed the hurried way he was walking.

"Have you lost something Lieutenant?" Hoshi asked as he passed him.

"Do you know where Marlaya is?"

"Yeah I took her to sickbay about an hour ago."

"Sickbay? Is she all right?" Malcolm was concerned for her, 'has she tried to commit suicide after what happened last night?' He thought.

"She looked really pale and seemed to be holding her stomach, at first I though it might have been a tummy ache but her movements suggested otherwise."

"Thanks Hoshi." Malcolm quickly moved off and jumped into the nearest turbolift to go down to E deck where sickbay was situated.

&&&&&

"This didn't happen last night did it?" Archer asked getting a bit annoyed that Malcolm may have done something to her while she was not in a very happy mood and knowing that she can't fend for herself.

"Oh no sir, I can promise you nothing like that happened between Malcolm and me." she said shaking her head. She would've known if he had done anything like that, besides it didn't happen that quickly.

"How long have you been pregnant for then?"

"About a month." Phlox replied taking a few steps closer to them.

"That means you would have conceived it at the prison camp. Did anything like that happen while you were there?"

"No sir. All they ever did was beat me up they never did anything like that. I guess it's possible that they injected what was needed into me when I was unconscious." Malcolm had entered while Marlaya was giving her explanation to Captain Archer, neither of them noticed. Seeing John, Malcolm decided to stay back and out of the way.

"So it is half Tarnisian and half Gregtarnan?"

"No. It's a full Tarnisian." Phlox replied Malcolm was getting confused by the conversation and decided that if he was going to get some answers he would have to step in, but hearing footsteps behind him John turned round to see his Armoury officer, Marlaya looked at him too.

"Yes Malcolm?"

"I've been looking for Marlaya sir. I was a bit worried when I woke up this morning and didn't see her."

"Is that why you're late for duty?"

"Yes sir, partially that and also partially the fact that I wasn't in my quarters where my alarm clock is."

"Captain. I think it's safe to say that the reason the baby will be full Tarnisian is that… 1. Before they destroyed my homeworld they got what they needed from a male and put it into status ready for when it could be used, or… 2. There is a Tarnisian male alive most likely back on Hundaria IV." As soon as Malcolm heard the word 'baby' he was in shock.

"Did you sense anyone else there?"

"No. I was in so much pain most of the time that I really couldn't concentrate on things like that."

"Baby?" the curious tactical officer asked. John took a deep breath and looked at Marlaya.

"I'm pregnant." She replied. Malcolm stood there his face a blank expression, like he was a doll waiting to have his lips and eyes painted on.

"Are you going to keep it?" John asked her.

"Captain, if this is a chance to revive my species then I have to. I can't destroy it and watch my people die. I have to keep it, it's my obligation."

"How long are Tarnisians pregnant for?"

"6 months. But captain, I don't know how to look after a baby. At the palace I lived at we had maids who would do that kind of thing for us." Marlaya ran her hand through her hair, tucking it out of the ways of her eyes.

"We'll help you."

"What?" 'Is this the same man I was talking to last night?' she though, last night the only options Archer was giving her ones that involved her leaving the ship - now he was saying to stay!

"We'll help you look after the baby."

"But you said last night no matter what I say…" Archer quickly interrupted what she was saying, wanting to forge the past.

"But now the circumstances have changed. You're going to need to be with people you can trust. We can't send you off to some people you've never met before and give birth while you're with them, that just wouldn't be fair. We know a lot more about you than anyone else we know. You're staying on Enterprise, and that's an order." Marlaya looked into John's eyes and smiled.

"Thank you captain."

"Do you want me to tell Commander Tucker what's going on?"

"No, I think it would be best for the moment if it was kept between just the five of us."

"5?" Malcolm asked wondering whether Marlaya had miss calculated.

"Phlox, Captain Archer, Yourself, me and I suppose you'll have to tell Admiral Forrest what's happening." Archer smiled slightly. Marlaya was becoming quite a bright young woman. She would make a fine addition to Starfleet if she ever did finally did decide to join once the baby was born and a bit older.

"Yes I will. I'll let you tell others in your own good time."

"I'd appreciate that Captain, thank you." Archer then turned to his chief of security officer.

"You can stay with her today if you want Malcolm."

"Thank you sir." Malcolm smiled

"But that doesn't excuse you for being late on duty this morning." His smile quickly vanished when Archer's voice was raised a little in slight anger.

"I'm sorry sir. I'll try and make sure it doesn't happen again." John turned and left, giving Malcolm the chance to move over next to Marlaya and hug her, giving her comfort in her time of need. All four of them knew that things were going to get tough with her. Keeping her pregnancy undercover for too long would also be hard as people would begin to notice a bulge appearing, and if it was kept secret for too long people would begin to wonder that either Malcolm or Trip was the father, creating rifts between the crewmen.