Let the Dead Bury the Living
By Thalia Drogna
"You had a daughter with Gain?" said Archer.
"Yes," said Enam. "I couldn't take her with me when I stole the artefact, it would have alerted everyone to what I was doing, so I left her behind hoping that I could come back and get her."
"Well that complicates matters," said Archer.
"I fail to see how," said Shran. "Our objective hasn't changed. We don't have time to spend helping women find their children that they carelessly abandoned once already."
"I know where she is, all I have to do is get to her," said Enam. "I can do the rest from there. We just need to get out of this cage."
"How are we going to do that?" growled Shran. "I don't even see a lock."
Archer hadn't even bothered to examine the bars but now that he did, he saw that Shran was right. Gain was obviously serious about keeping his prisoners where he'd put them. "Well, there must be a way," said Archer. He was acutely aware of how much time they were wasting. Ven Dath was only a level away and he was damned if he'd give up after getting this close. He needed to think of something quickly.
"Enam, what's the locking mechanism on this door?" asked Archer.
"It's magnetically sealed," said Enam.
"Then the guard has to have some way to cut the current and let us out," said Archer. "So there must be something which supplies the current. If we can cut the current then we can get out of here."
"What about the guard?" asked Shran.
"If we can get the cell open, then I can deal with the guard," said Enam.
Archer nodded. If anyone knew how to handle these people then it would be Enam. "Look around for a panel or anything which has wiring behind it. Shran, stand guard and let us know if anyone's coming."
The Andorian nodded and went to the corner of the cell nearest the bars so that he could get the best view down the corridor outside their cell.
"What's the name of your daughter?" asked Archer looking over at Enam.
"Ghanima," said Enam.
"Has it been long since you've seen her?" he asked.
"A few months," said Enam. "She will have grown."
"How old is she?"
"About six cycles, it's hard to tell on a space station," replied Enam.
Archer found a panel and after a couple of attempts he broke the cover to reveal the wiring underneath. "Enam, do you have any idea which of these would open the door if I cut it?" asked Archer.
Enam inspected the wiring. "I don't think any of this is what we're looking for, none of it's heavy enough to carry the current that the magnetic seal would need."
"Maybe it's time for a change of plan," said Archer. "You know, my Armoury officer once pointed out to me that not everyone knows the old tricks."
"What do you have in mind, Archer?" asked Shran.
"We start a fire," said Archer. "That attracts the guard. I don't think Rorna wants his prey lightly toasted before he gets his fun."
"Rorna will be angry if he doesn't receive us intact," said Enam.
"Bring me the blankets from that bunk," said Archer. "We just need a spark." Enam brought over the blankets and Archer pulled out some likely looking wires. After a couple of seconds of producing sparks, the blanket caught light. Archer and Enam retreated to the other side of the cell. The three captives began shouting for the guard.
"If this doesn't work, Archer..." said Shran.
"I know, we'll be burnt to a cinder," replied Archer, starting to cough from the smoke that the blanket was producing.
They didn't have long to wait, a guard appeared and fumbled with the locking mechanism on the wall beside the door. He opened the cage and let out the coughing prisoners, his phaser trained on them continuously.
"What happened?" asked the guard.
"Electrical fire," said Archer, coughing. "The wall unit just started sparking and then it set fire to the blanket."
Enam said something to the guard in her own language. It sounded like she was trying to persuade the guard to do something. Her voice was pleasant and soft. As she spoke she got closer and closer to the guard until she had him pressed against the wall. Suddenly she lashed out and hit him around the head. The guard dropped his phase pistol in shock. Which gave Shran and Archer their chance. Shran had retrieved the phaser and now held it on the guard. He stunned him without even blinking.
"Time to get out of here before his friends notice that we're missing," said Archer.
"Which way?" asked Shran.
"I need to get my daughter," said Enam. "This is where we part ways."
Archer looked at Enam and saw her determination. "We'll help you," he said.
"Archer..." growled Shran.
"No, I'm better going alone. If we split up we'll stand a better chance of getting out of here," said Enam. She went to a weapons locker on the wall of the corridor, typed in a code and the door opened for her. "Stupid, very stupid. Gain didn't change the code," she said and handed Archer a weapon before taking a second for herself.
"You're going to need a way off this station once you've got your daughter," said Archer. "You know where the Zor Rakh is, we'll meet you there. If we're not back by tomorrow afternoon then go without us."
Enam nodded. "These are the directions that you'll need to get to the exit on this level. Once you've got what you need, take the express elevator back down again. You'll be safe once you leave the Inner Sanctum. I'll see you at the Zor Rakh," she said, her confidence already back.
"Hold it right there," said Gain and Archer turned slightly too late to see the arrival of the Tanu mob boss from around the corner. "I thought that you might try something like this."
"You have my daughter, Gain, what did you expect?" asked Enam.
"She is our daughter and you abandoned her," said Gain. "What gives you the right to come back now and claim her?"
"This is no place for a child," said Enam. "You never even wanted her. Just give her to me Gain and let me go."
"No," said Gain.
"Why not?" asked Enam.
"Because you betrayed me and because you want her," said Gain. "Where is the Andorian?" asked Gain suddenly.
Archer had been distracted by the arrival of Gain and hadn't noticed that Shran was missing.
"I'm here," said Shran, emerging from the smoke behind Gain. Enam took that moment of distraction to leapt upon Gain. The two of them rolled on the floor, Archer unsure who was winning. Suddenly there was a sickening snap and Archer realised it was the sound of a bone being broken. The two fighters lay still on the floor.
"Enam?" said Archer, moving over to the tangled pile of limbs. He extracted Enam and helped her stand up.
Enam shook off Archer's arm and crouched beside Gain. She let out a long howl, which was the eeriest thing Archer had ever heard in his entire life.
"I broke his neck," said Enam and she laid a gentle hand on his face and closed his eyes. She stood and Archer would never have believed that she had just caused the death of her husband.
"Go and get your daughter, we'll see you back at the ship," said Archer.
Enam nodded. "I won't forget your help, Archer, Shran," she said.
They watched as Enam ran through the gathering smoke and towards her daughter, her tail curling menacingly as she went looking for trouble.
"Come on," said Shran. "The exit is only a couple of turns away."
"How's it going then?" asked Trip to the face on the screen in front of him.
"Satisfactorily," said T'Pol. "I have not yet begun my defence, but the advocates, for what you would term "prosecution", are giving a true account of the facts."
"Yeah, well I hope they hurry up, we could do with you back here," said Trip. "I don't know what I've done, but something's up with Malcolm. I haven't seen him for a couple of days now, and when he does bump into me he says he's busy with repairs."
"Perhaps he is simply busy," said T'Pol.
"Maybe, but he missed our Mahjongg game last night. It's the first one he's missed since we left the Expanse. I had to drag Anna along to make up our four," said Trip. "He's just not acting like himself."
"With the Captain away we are all concerned," said T'Pol.
"Yeah, I know. It's just not like him to behave like this. I really think that he's avoiding me," said Trip.
"If you are concerned then I suggest you confront Lieutenant Reed," said T'Pol.
"I shouldn't have to, T'Pol," said Trip. "If something's bothering him about the ship he normally comes to me and talks about it. I even checked with Hoshi to see if he'd had any communications from Earth that might have upset him but there's nothing."
"I am sure that if he wishes your help then he will ask for it," said T'Pol.
"I sure hope so," said Trip, worriedly. "I just wish the rest of the crew would stop giving me stony looks in the corridors. Up until shore leave was cancelled this was a pretty happy ship and now everyone is walking around like zombies. I'm getting the impression that they'd be much happier if I just got the whole damn thing over with and went to the Luna Research Centre."
"I seriously doubt that is the case. They are merely disappointed at the delay in their reunions with their families," said T'Pol.
"I wish I believed that T'Pol, but you're a horrible liar," said Trip. "Anyway how are things down on Earth. We saw the news feed of the riots."
"Luckily the Vulcan compound has adequate security. We are trapped within the walls but otherwise we are safe," said T'Pol.
"I really can't believe what is going on down there," said Trip, shaking his head.
"How is your state of health?" asked T'Pol, she didn't want to burden Trip with anymore worry about her safety.
"About the same as before," said Trip. "Not getting any worse at the moment. Doc, reckons that I've stabilised again, but he's not sure how long it'll last. The problem is that the nanites are having to work pretty hard at the moment and they're taking a lot of my energy, when I'm not sleeping, I always seem to be either hungry or eating."
"I trust that you are not overexerting yourself," said T'Pol.
"I didn't know that you cared, T'Pol," said Trip, with an amused grin. "Don't worry, the Doc and I have an understanding. As soon as you or the Captain gets back I'll drop back to half time shifts. Doc says that if I put less strain on my body the drugs will work for longer."
"I am sorry that my Dohn Zhu has meant that you are having to take on this extra responsibility in detriment to your health," said T'Pol.
"Hey, it isn't your fault. Besides I'd only be bored if I wasn't working. Actually I'm kinda glad that I have an excuse to tell Phlox to go jump. He wanted to take me off duty all together, but I can't expect Malcolm and Anna to shoulder all of the bridge duty," said Trip.
"Nevertheless, if I was on Enterprise I would be able to take bridge duty as well. You also have the repair schedule to deal with. It is a considerable amount of work even for someone who is fully fit," said T'Pol.
"Yeah, tell me about it, but I can cope for bit longer, so don't you worry. You're much better concentrating on your tribunal and making sure that you convince them that you need to stay on Enterprise," said Trip.
"I fully intend to," said T'Pol. "I will give you an update tomorrow evening."
"Okay, 'night T'Pol," said Trip.
"Good night, Commander," replied T'Pol before she cut the connection.
She stared at the blank screen for a moment contemplating their conversation. Trip had looked more ill than when she had left. Despite his bravado, it was obvious that the extra responsibility and resulting stress was placing his health in more danger. It was now even more urgent that she should conclude her Dohn Zhu rapidly and in her favour. She decided that it was time to seek further council in how to accomplish this and therefore she began by accessing the Vulcan compound's extensive library, looking for something that might help her state her case.
Archer and Shran had fought their way to the exit through the Tanu guards. Now that Gain was dead they lacked any sort of organisation which had made their passage considerably easier. They hoped that they had provided enough of a distraction for Enam to retrieve her daughter and make her escape. They stood outside Ven Dath's level now.
"This is it," said Archer. "It all seems rather an anticlimax now that we're here."
"Let's just get this over with," said Shran. "The sooner we have your information the sooner we can get out of this hell hole."
"And there I was thinking that you were enjoying this. How's the hand?" asked Archer.
"Painful," replied Shran. "I can't hold my phaser now. Just as well Andorians are ambidextrous."
"Maybe we should move the tourniquet," said Archer.
Shran nodded and let Archer untie the bandage and retie it slightly higher up his arm.
"You ready?" Archer asked his Andorian companion.
"Always," replied the Andorian.
Archer cautiously opened the door. Six separate cameras suddenly turned in their direction.
"Captain Archer," said a disembodied voice that sounded as if it was coming over a speaker. "I was expecting you and your Andorian friend. If you'd care to follow my remote then it will bring you to me."
"Are you Ven Dath?" asked Archer to the air in front of him hoping that a microphone somewhere would pick up his question.
"Yes," boomed the voice. "In a manner of speaking. Follow the remote and I will explain everything."
Archer and Shran followed the floating robot that Ven Dath had referred to as a remote. They walked through steel corridors that seemed to shine with a blue light, past pipes that were filled with a strangely moving black liquid.
"Nanites," whispered Archer.
"What?" asked Shran.
"In the glass pipes. That black liquid isn't liquid, it's billions of tiny machines. That is what Trip has swimming around in his bloodstream," said Archer.
"Rather him than me," replied Shran.
"It's exactly what T'Pol described in her report of the original research station, but we thought all the research had been destroyed," said Archer.
"If Ven Dath is alive then it makes sense that his research would have survived too," said Shran.
They reached a room which was octagonal and had seven other corridors leading from it. In the centre of the room was a chair on a platform with wires and tubes snaking up to it. The remote hovered over the chair.
Archer moved towards the chair and looked at the man who sat on the chair. Or what was left of the man. He seemed to have been extremely badly burned, his features were distorted and barely visible. He was enmeshed in wires and life support equipment. Archer could make out the fact that he had, perhaps, once been a Xindi sloth.
"Please do step up and look at me, Captain. Look at me and see what you and your ship did to me," said Ven Dath.