Let the Dead Bury the Living
By Thalia Drogna
Archer made his way down to sick bay to let Trip know that they were going to have company. This was yet another thing that he wished he didn't have to put his friend through. He came in to sick bay to see Trip lying on the biobed, curled on his side, or at least as much as it was possible to curl on one's side on a biobed. Trip was shivering despite the fact that he was covered with a thick blanket.
Phlox saw the Captain enter. "I thought I had made it clear that visiting hours were not until this evening at nineteen hundred," said Phlox. "My patient needs to rest."
"I'm sorry, doctor, but I have something that I need to tell Trip and I think you should hear it as well," said Archer.
"Well, if it's urgent," said Phlox, "but he has a fever, a side effect of one of the immuno-suppressants that I am trying out. I'm attempting to deal with it but he isn't feeling very well, so please don't stay long." He steered Archer towards the biobed and the shivering man who lay upon it. Archer put a hand on Trip's arm to let him know that he was there. He could feel how warm Trip's skin was and his hair was damp with sweat. At the touch, blue eyes opened slowly.
"Hey Captain," said Trip weakly.
Archer looked down at Trip, he seemed to be so ill and in no state to take further bad news. "I just came down to see how you were doing," said Archer. He gave Phlox a look which he hoped would alert him to the change in plan.
"Is it visiting hours already?" Trip asked hazily.
"No, I just persuaded the doctor to let me break the rules," said Archer.
"Well, you are the Captain," replied Trip, continuing to shiver.
"Not when it comes to sick bay," said Archer. "The doctor and I have some things to discuss, but we'll just be in his office if you need us."
Trip nodded and closed his eyes, obviously feeling too ill to want to talk more. Archer moved away from the bed and Phlox followed him into the doctor's office.
"I'm sorry, doctor, I just couldn't tell him when he's in such bad shape. This is just the drugs, isn't it?" asked Archer worriedly.
"Yes, the drugs I'm giving him are quite powerful. In order to stabilise his immune system I have also had to start with large doses which I will decrease gradually until he takes a small amount everyday. Unfortunately it makes for accordingly bad side effects, but it was to be expected and, given time, I can come up with the correct combination at the correct dosage," said Phlox. "What was the news that you had?"
"Starfleet have decided to send a security contingent to guard Trip. They're sending us four officers who will guard him around the clock," said Archer.
"Hmmm, yes, I see why you didn't want to tell the Commander yet," said Phlox. "He will be most upset."
"Well he's going to have to know soon, because they're arriving tomorrow and they'll want to begin guard duty immediately," replied Archer.
"I'm afraid I will have to refuse to allow them in sick bay," said Phlox.
"Doctor, I'm not sure that they'll take no for an answer," said Archer.
"Well they will have to. Mental state is just as important in the Commander's treatment as physical remedies and I'm certain that they will have an adverse effect in that department," said Phlox.
"I did suggest that our own security teams could do it, but they seem to think that their knowing Trip could get in the way of them doing their duty," said Archer. He thought for a second. "I suppose they could stand in the corridor outside sick bay, they don't actually need to be in here."
"That would be an acceptable compromise," said Phlox. "I have no problem with guards standing in an empty corridor."
"There's something else. T'Pol has been called before some sort of Vulcan tribunal. A...Don Su," said Archer, mangling the Vulcan words.
"A Dohn Zhu?" asked Phlox and received a nod from Archer. "That is very serious. It is the prelude to a criminal trial."
"She didn't tell me that," said Archer.
"Vulcans are notoriously silent about many aspects of their culture, and that includes their legal system. The little I do know is that the Teachings of Surak are very specific in their condemnation of criminal behaviour and therefore all crimes are punished severely. Criminal behaviour is also not considered to be logical and therefore Vulcans tend to view all criminals as mentally ill," said Phlox. "If T'Pol is found to have criminal charges to answer by the Dohn Zhu, then she will most likely be returned to Vulcan to stand trial."
"So you're telling me that if they find T'Pol does have criminal charges to answer at this Dohn Zhu, then she will be sent back to Vulcan and tried and, if she's found guilty, probably put in some sort of insane asylum?" asked Archer.
"That is the most likely outcome, yes," said Phlox. "Although on rare occasions Vulcan has been known to practice capital punishment."
Archer couldn't believe that T'Pol hadn't told him any of this. "She's just being so calm about the whole thing. I mean this is her life that we're talking about."
"She is still a Vulcan, and even under extreme stress she has been trained to suppress her emotions," said Phlox. Privately he was wondering how well she was suppressing her emotions or if she was just doing a good job of hiding them from the Captain. Although she had mostly recovered from her Trellium addiction, she was certainly not in the same control of her emotions as she had been previously.
"I'm sure I don't need to ask you not to say anything about this to Trip," said Archer.
"Indeed not, it would not be beneficial to his condition to place extra emotional strain upon him at this time," said Phlox.
"I've asked Malcolm to pass the word to the rest of the crew as well. Hopefully we can get this all sorted out and Trip need never know that anything was going on," said Archer. Even as he said it, he knew it was a forlorn hope but perhaps they could at least get Trip better before they sprang any other nasty surprises on him.
Blue antennae twisted themselves around trying to tune in on the vibrations that made their way through the ether to the listening station. Although Andorians had ears their antennae were better at picking up certain types of vibration, a hangover from their primordial ancestors who hunted for their food using echo location. It did come in very useful for picking up things which ears could miss at the listening station.
"Commander," said the Andorian radio operator. "I think that I have picked up something of interest."
"What is it?" asked his commander with typical Andorian bluntness.
"It's from the Delphic Expanse," said the operator.
"You mean the former Delphic Expanse. After Archer's visit to that area of space it has become considerably less dangerous," said the Commander.
"Yes, sir," said the operator. "The signal seems to be of Xindi origin. And sir, it mentions one of the pink skins. Commander Tucker. And something about nano-technology. It's very faint and hard to make out."
"Put it through the computer and let that make the best it can of it," replied the Commander.
"Yes, sir," replied the Andorian.
"How long will that take?"
"Four time periods."
"Too long, abbreviate the program," said the Commander. "I must know what the Xindi are talking about. The nano-technology could be of importance to Andoria and our war effort against the Vulcans."
The Commander was also thinking that if the information was valuable enough then it might just get him back in with the Imperial Guard command and then he might be able to reclaim his ship rather than rotting on this listening post. His failures had not been met with the forgiveness that he might have hoped for from his superiors. At least that disappointment had been tempered by knowing that a favour was owed to him.
"Yes, sir, Commander Shran."
Lieutenant Reed was not happy that strange security officers were going to be coming aboard his ship. Nor was he happy that their commanding officer was one Lieutenant Ian Davis. Reed had known Davis at the Academy, he was Irish with ginger hair and probably the most sarcastic person that Reed had ever met, and hence guaranteed to rub Reed up the wrong way. People said that opposites attracted, well if that was true then like definitely repelled. Davis was far too much like Reed, except that neither of them could see that.
Reed stood waiting outside the docking bay for the shuttle to dock and the airlock to cycle. He was doing his best to be professional about this. Archer had made it clear that this was not a reflection on his ability as Security Officer for Enterprise, it was simply that they felt his impartiality might be compromised by his friendship with Trip. He didn't disagree that he was friends with Trip, that went without saying, but that didn't mean that he would be unable to do his job. Although obviously they had read the report of the "mutiny" on Enterprise and seen how he had gone against his Captain there, but then that had been in exceptional circumstances. Maybe two or three years ago he would have respected the command chain and done what Archer had ordered, instead of mounting the recapture of Enterprise that he had, while Trip dealt with the Captain.
The green light flashed above the door to let him know that the atmosphere was now breathable and the shuttle had docked safely. He entered the shuttle bay and went to the hatch of the shuttle to open it. He pulled back on the handle and held it open for the three men and one woman inside to get out.
"Lieutenant Davis reporting for duty," said the Irishman offering his hand to Reed. "Good to see you again, Malcolm."
"I'd be happier if it was under different circumstances, Ian," replied Reed taking the offered hand.
"These are my team, Ensigns Marshall, Keir and McLaughlin," said Davis, indicating each as he named them, the last being a young, brown haired woman who nodded at Reed when her name was mentioned.
"I have to say that I really don't see the necessity for your presence on Enterprise. As the ship's Tactical Officer I am quite capable of ensuring the security of this ship and I did not request any additional manpower," said Reed.
"With all due respect, Lieutenant, I will not be reporting to you, but directly to Starfleet Command. The procedures for conflict of interest are laid out in the Starfleet regulations if you care to look," said Davis.
"But this isn't conflict of interest. My duties are to keep everyone on this ship safe and that includes Commander Tucker. However if Commander Tucker were to threaten Earth or this ship then I would be forced to take action against him, even having served with him for the past three years," said Reed.
"Now, you see, the problem there is that Starfleet Command is worried that you might say that, but when it comes to the crunch you won't be able to act. And hence we're here," said Davis.
"I take that implication very seriously, Lieutenant," said Reed.
"I'm sure you do," said Davis. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Malcolm. I don't want to be treading on your toes, but I have my orders."
"Very well, follow me. I'll take you to your quarters and then show you to your posts," said Reed.
Davis and his men followed Reed to their designated quarters. "While you're on Enterprise there a few things that you need to be aware of. The bridge, the Armoury and Engineering are off limits to you," said Reed as he walked.
"That's going to be impossible, Lieutenant. We have orders to follow the Commander wherever he goes," said Davis.
"Currently Commander Tucker is in Sick Bay and we don't expect him to be leaving there for a few days at least. When he does, we'll talk about your access to the rest of the ship, until then you will not set foot in any of the areas that I have just mentioned unless you have been given permission by either myself, Sub-Commander T'Pol or Captain Archer. Have I made myself clear?"
"Absolutely," said Davis.
"This is a working starship and you will not get in the way of the crew while they go about their work. If I hear that you have caused any difficulties, then you will be removed. And I don't care if that does contravene your orders," said Reed. "And finally, about the man that you're guarding. Commander Tucker is one of the most forgiving and open people that you're ever likely to meet. I however, am not either of those things. The Commander is very ill at the moment and although he might put up with your disturbing him, I will not. Your post will be outside sick bay, not inside."
"Well, I can see that we're going to be made to feel welcome while we're on board," said Davis, sarcastically.
"This crew has been through a lot in the last few months, and you'll have to forgive us if we're all more concerned about returning the ship to a reasonable state than with your objectives," said Reed in an equally biting tone.
The four security officers dropped their kit off at their quarters and then Reed took them down to sick bay. Davis was about to enter when Reed put a hand on his chest.
"Outside, not inside," said Reed.
"I would at least like to see that the man I'm supposed to be guarding is in there," said Davis.
"Let me check with the Doctor first," said Reed. He wanted to make sure that Trip was asleep before he took the Security contingent inside. "Wait here."
Reed entered sick bay and noticed that Trip was indeed asleep. Phlox sat at one of the benches looking into the eyepieces of a microscope.
"Doctor, I have the Security team from Headquarters outside. They want to see Trip, make sure he really is here," said Reed. "Is he likely to wake up?"
"I doubt it. I gave him something to help him sleep, the fever was giving him nightmares," said Phlox. "I hope you made it clear that they are not normally to enter sick bay?"
"Yes, doctor, I did, and if you have any trouble with them, I want to know immediately," said Reed.
"Of course, Lieutenant," said Phlox. Reed fetched Davis and his team from the corridor outside sick bay.
"As you can see, the Commander is not planning on going anywhere for the moment," said Reed indicating the sick man on the biobed in a quiet but blunt voice.
"As I said, I'm just following my orders," said Davis, in equally hushed tones. "He doesn't look like he needs a guard if you ask me, but ours is not question why."
"Ours is but to do or die?" asked Reed sarcastically, pointedly looking at the ill man on the biobed. "If you really believed that then I doubt you'd be a very good security officer."
Davis couldn't fail to note the hard edge to Reed's words. It was obvious that Commander Tucker was important to him, probably a good friend after serving together for three years. He knew that on a starship, it was like living in a very small town, everyone knew everyone else and everyone knew everyone's business. Davis intended to ask some questions about who was friends with Commander Tucker because he knew those were the people that he had to watch out for most, and if what he had heard was true, one of those people was Captain Archer himself.
Reed ushered the security team back into the corridor, before Trip could wake and detect their presence.
"Ensign Keir, you've got first watch," said Davis and Keir nodded to his superior in acknowledgement. "Ensign Marshall will take the second watch, Ensign McLaughlin will take third and I'll take the fourth."
"I'll show you where the mess hall is," said Reed.
"That won't be necessary," said Davis, "I spent quite a bit of time examining the layout of Enterprise, I think I can find my way."
"Be my guest," said Reed. "I have things to attend to in the Armoury." With that he turned his back on the Security officers and strode away down the corridor. He generally gave the impression that he was pleased that he didn't have to spend anymore time with them.
"Right," said Davis, "now we've got that out the way, let's see if we can find out exactly what is going on aboard this ship. Everyone keep your eyes and ears open." His men nodded their assent and went to their posts.
Shran looked over the information that the computer had retrieved. It was very interesting. It looked as if they had picked up a research station transmitting data back to the home world. The transmission detailed files which had been retrieved from the ruins of a research base which Enterprise had had destroyed. It was a record of a plan to kidnap the Chief Engineer of Enterprise. Shran was shocked by what he read, he hadn't realised what the Xindi had done to Commander Tucker in order to try and get information out of him. According to the report they hadn't succeeded in getting anything significant out of the Commander, something which impressed Shran considerably. However since they had been unable to get the information they wanted out of him they had decided to use him as the subject of an experiment in nano-technology. It hadn't gone according to the Xindi plan and Enterprise's crew had managed to re-program the nanoprobes that had been injected into the Commander but even so it had caused Tucker some problems.
"What is Enterprise's current location?" Shran asked his Lieutenant.
"They are in space dock orbiting Earth," said the Lieutenant. "The latest intelligence that we have indicates that they are undergoing repairs after the extensive damage they sustained in the Expanse."
"Do you have the latest transcripts of Enterprise's communications with Earth?" Shran enquired.
"Yes, sir," said the Lieutenant and handed his Commander the padd he was holding.
Shran scrolled through the padd. "It sounds as if Captain Archer could do with some help with his own people," said Shran. "I wonder if he'd be interested in cutting a deal."