Let the Dead Bury the Living
By Thalia Drogna
"If that's Ven Dath," whispered Shran to Archer, "then who is talking to us?"
"I am trapped in this broken body that you see in front of you," said Ven Dath, "but I also have nanoprobes in my body which control the computers around you."
"We came to ask for your help," said Archer.
"Then you've wasted your journey, Captain. You can't possibly expect me to help the man who caused my suffering," said Ven Dath. "I'm not even sure that I should let you out of here alive after what you did to me."
"My Chief Engineer was the one who you tested your nanoprobes on. If it wasn't for him, then you'd be sitting there without even the abilities that you have," said Archer. "He needs your help."
"So Commander Tucker is still alive," said Ven Dath. "I did wonder whether he had survived the explosion. Obviously the nanoprobes still live within his body or you wouldn't be here."
"They're killing him," said Archer.
Laughter reverberated around the room. "So all my attempts with the red nanoprobes were in vain, but eventually the nanoprobes that my father designed did the job without any help from me."
"You infected him with those nanoprobes," said Archer, angrily. "I need to know how to get rid of them from his body without killing him."
"You can't," said Ven Dath. "They were never meant to be exorcised from a body once they had been introduced. Something must have altered his chemistry in order for them to be killing him."
"It isn't important how it happened," said Archer. "There has to be a way to get rid of the nanites."
"I have been experimenting with ways to get rid of them, but it is a difficult process. I have no idea if it would even work on a human. I have never successfully performed it on a Xindi," said Ven Dath, "all my subjects died."
"I'll take whatever you've got. Maybe our doctor can make it work for humans," said Archer.
"I'm not giving you anything, Archer. It was because of you that I'm in this state," said Ven Dath. "I was declared a war criminal because of you. You told the Xindi Council about my experiments and they condemned me for my work. I became an outcast from my own people! No one would hide me or give me medical attention. I had to bribe my way into this place. If you want your Engineer to live, Archer, you're going to have to get me out of this hell hole."
"You're a wanted criminal," said Archer.
"That is the bargain. Unless you get me out of here and then get me proper medical attention, I won't give you the information that you need to cure your Commander Tucker," said Ven Dath.
Archer looked at the shell that sat in front of him. This was a murderer. Someone who had killed experimental subjects to gain scientific knowledge. He had put Trip through hell, tortured him, experimented upon him, made him ill. Trip had almost died and, if Ven Dath was right, the cure that he was proposing might not even work, it could kill Trip quicker than the nanites. Even if it saved Trip, was it right to use the sacrifice of others to help Trip? People had died in the experiments that Ven Dath had performed in order to find a way to remove the nanites. Would Trip even want the help of someone who had blood on their hands?
Shran watched Archer struggling with himself. If Shran wanted to get Ven Dath out of here then Archer needed a prod in the right direction. "You have no choice, Archer. We have to take him with us," he said. "Commander Tucker's life is at stake."
Archer turned around to look at Shran. The Andorian didn't look too well, he'd developed a slight green tinge to his skin that Archer was fairly sure wasn't healthy for his species. Archer knew that Shran had an alternative motive for being here, but until now he hadn't been sure of what it was. Shran had just given it away, but Archer knew that whatever his motive, if they wanted to save Trip then he had to help Ven Dath.
"Okay, Dath, you've got a deal," said Archer, "but if you don't hold up your end of the bargain then I won't hold up mine."
T'Pol stood in the centre of the council chamber once again. So far the whole proceedings had taken just over two days. It was now her turn to speak.
"You have heard the evidence of my actions, but not the reasons behind them," said T'Pol. "I was posted to Enterprise to provide counsel to a young race entering deep space for the first time. We felt it was our duty to provide the humans with as much advice as we could before they entered the harsh place that we know the universe to be. When I was told that I would not be accompanying Enterprise into the Expanse I questioned the reasons behind this decision. Nothing had changed, the humans still required our council, perhaps more so now that they faced a threat to their own world. It was illogical that we should remove the Vulcan representative at the time when they were required most. I therefore resigned my commission and went with Enterprise into the Expanse."
She paused a moment, gathering her thoughts. "I am sure that this action seems to be illogical to many of you, however I had a number of reasons which I wish to present to this tribunal that I believe will show that my actions had justification."
The first part of T'Pol's testimony detailed the threats that they had encountered in the Expanse. She explained how the Expanse would have continued to expand until it encompassed the whole of the sector, including Vulcan. She talked about the Xindi and how they had been tricked into believing that the humans were a threat to them. She presented the science of the Expanse to the council to support her assertions. It took her most of the day to give all the evidence that she had collected and explain exactly what the Sphere Builders had intended.
"This threat to Earth was also a threat to Vulcan. We could logically conclude that as Earth is our ally we should assume that anyone who threatens them could also be a potential enemy of Vulcan. However this is all information that I discovered after I entered the Expanse," said T'Pol. "I wish to read a passage from Surak."
"We have differences. May we, together, become greater than the sum of both of us. Infinite diversity in infinite combinations."
"If I had allowed the humans to enter the Expanse without me then I would have been ignoring the teachings of Surak. The humans are very different to us, but that difference is something which we should wish to preserve rather than discard. I could not allow Earth to be destroyed without doing anything to save it because, if I had, then the "infinite diversity" that it represents would have been destroyed also.
We cannot ignore the teachings of Surak as it suits us. It may have been convenient for us to refuse to get involved in something which seemed to threaten the humans alone, however we have also ignored some of the things that make us Vulcan."
"T'Pol," said Selak. "You have presented your reasons for your actions but you have not answered the charges against you. There is still the question of the laws governing our contact with other species. There is also the question of the Vulcan technology that you gave to the humans."
"I did not give Vulcan technology to the humans. I assisted in the upgrading of their sensors by their Chief Engineer, he had already laid out the designs, I simply optimised them," said T'Pol.
"The distinction that you are making here is a very slim one," said Selak.
"Then it is a matter for the tribunal to decide whether it is valid or not. I have simply stated the facts," replied T'Pol.
"There is also the matter of Regulation 115, "no Vulcan shall initiate contact with another species unless given instructions from the High Command to do so." You did initiate contact with the Xindi without the permission of the High Command," said Selak.
"I did not initiate contact. It was initiated by a ship that I was present upon. If a Vulcan were aboard a Denobulan transport vessel to when it unexpectedly made first contact with another species, would that be considered to be breaking the regulation?" said T'Pol.
"Again you are making a very fine distinction, T'Pol," said Selak. "One which I am unsure that this tribunal will share with you."
"Then that is also a matter of deliberation for the tribunal," said T'Pol. "I am confident that my actions were not in contravention of any laws."
"Have you concluded your statement, T'Pol," asked the chairman of the tribunal.
"I have," replied T'Pol.
"Then according to custom, this tribunal will reconvene in six days time to confer our judgement," said the chairman.
Selak, T'Prell and T'Pol rose from their seats and left the council chamber.
"Would you join myself and T'Prell for the evening meal?" asked Selak.
"I must return to Enterprise," said T'Pol.
"Very well, then we will see you in six days time," said Selak. "Peace and long life, T'Pol."
"Live long and prosper, Selak," replied T'Pol.
Davis came to the Armoury to find Reed.
"Drop what you're doing and come with me," said Davis.
"Lieutenant, I'm in the middle of some delicate upgrades," said Reed.
"Perhaps you'd like me to remind you of our conversation regarding Jessica," said Davis.
"No," said Reed. "Where are we going?"
"I've just got some new orders, we've been given the go ahead for phase three," said Davis.
"What is phase three?" asked Reed. He was also wondering what phase one and two were.
"You'll see," said Davis. "Just remember, you're not to interfere. You're just here to stop anyone from doing anything stupid."
Reed followed Davis out of the Armoury, where the rest of his men waited for him, with the Exception of Ensign Marshall who was guarding Trip. They made their way down to Trip's quarters where Ensign Marshall stood outside the door. Davis pressed the doorbell and after a moment the door slid open to reveal Trip looking like he'd just got out of bed.
"Commander Tucker," said Davis. "I have orders to take you into custody."
"You have what?" said Trip in disbelief.
Reed was about to echo Trip's statement but clamped his mouth shut, remembering what Davis had said about Jessica.
"Senator Nash has provided me with the power to arrest you and take you to a secure facility," said Davis.
"Like hell he has, this wasn't the agreement," said Trip. "Malcolm, get Headquarters on the com."
"The order seems to be genuine, Commander," said Reed, already hating himself for going along with this. "There's nothing I can do." He could see Davis give a satisfied smile at this reply, as if he'd won a great victory.
"Malcolm..." said Trip, in disbelief.
"I'm sorry, Trip," said Reed and turned his head away from Trip but not before Trip had given him an extremely hurt look which cut right to Reed's very core. He hated this.
Davis pulled out a pair of handcuffs and put them on Trip's wrists.
"They're made of toughened glass, so there's no point in trying to get out of them," said Davis. "We know that the nanites are unable to affect glass."
"You sure did your homework," said Trip sarcastically.
"Are they really necessary?" asked Reed. Trip was looking as if his features couldn't decide whether to be surprised or angry; at the moment he'd settled on surprised but angry was only just underneath.
"I'm afraid they are," said Davis. "And so is this." He aimed his phase pistol at Trip and fired. Trip slumped to the floor, stunned. Reed went to check on his friend. He found a strong pulse but Trip was completely unconscious.
"You utter bastard," said Reed. "Why the hell did you do that? He was going with you quietly."
"Maybe he was but with the nanites inside him, I can't risk him interfering with any of the ship's systems," said Davis. "Marshall, Keir, get him to the airlock. Reed, let the bridge know to expect a shuttle docking."
Reed went to the com and called Lieutenant Hess on the bridge while Keir and Marshall manhandled Trip out of his quarters and towards the airlock. Not a single one of the crew stopped the Security men to ask what they were doing. Reed thought that Trip had been so ill lately that it was not unusual for him to be seen being carried to sick bay but he also felt unhappily certain that it was because the crew had turned on Trip. It was obvious that part of Davis' plan had been to isolate Trip from everyone on Enterprise so that when they came to take him, no one would try to stop them. Davis had waited until T'Pol was away and until he had a hold over Reed. Malcolm would have been impressed by the plan if it hadn't been aimed at one of his closest friends.
Reed followed them to the airlock. The least he could do was make sure that Trip was okay before he was put on the shuttle.
"Where are you taking him?" he asked Davis.
"That information is classified," said Davis. "Rest assured that it's unlikely that you'll be seeing him again."
"I won't let you do this," said Reed. "I can't."
"You can and will, or Jessica will be dead. If you try to find him, we will kill Jessica. If anyone else comes looking for him then we will kill Jessica. It's in your interests to make sure that we don't have any trouble," said Davis. "We'll release Jessica to you once a decent interval of time has passed. Don't look so miserable, Reed, your secret's still safe with us."
Reed heard the clang of a ship docking with Enterprise. He felt completely impotent. Nothing he could do would make any difference now. He watched them load Trip onto the waiting shuttle and then Davis closed the door and Trip was gone.
Archer and Shran had, under Ven Dath's direction, placed the Xindi scientist in a stasis pod for his journey back to Enterprise. Archer had asked him if he was worried that Archer would go back on his deal and eject the pod into space, but Ven Dath had just laughed and reminded Archer that he needed him if he was to save his friend. They manhandled the stasis pod into the elevator and sped swiftly towards the lowest level of the Inner Sanctum. It took them longer to reach the Zor Rakh as they had to negotiate the stasis pod through the lower, densely inhabited levels. No one stopped them though so they reached the ship without incident.
Enam stood outside the ship, a small girl clutched in her arms that looked like a miniature version of Enam. Archer guessed that this had to be six year old Ghanima, her tail curled around her mother's arm as if worried that Enam might leave again.
"You found her," said Archer, the beginnings of a smile on his lips.
"It wasn't hard," replied Enam. "She's her mother's daughter, she'd already disabled one of the guards when I arrived."
Archer didn't want to ask how a six year old could disable a guard, but he guessed that with Ghanima being the daughter of Enam and a Tanu mob boss she would have picked up a few tricks.
"We don't have time for this touching reunion," said Shran. Archer noticed that the Andorian was now sweating and he had red rims around bloodshot eyes. "We have just annoyed some very powerful people on this station. I suggest that we take off and chat later."
They pushed Ven Dath's pod inside and then boarded the small Andorian craft. It was quite a squeeze with four of them but they all managed to get in with room to spare.
Archer found that the com had collected a recorded message and he played it back. He was surprised to see T'Pol's face on the screen, he hadn't expected Enterprise to contact them, the risk they were taking was huge.
"Captain, Doctor Phlox asked me to contact you. He believes that Commander Tucker's condition is worsening and you should make all possible haste to return to Enterprise with any information that you have gathered."
The message was short, to the point, and dated three days ago. Archer needed to get back to his ship quickly. He took the controls and lifted them off from the space station.
"Zor Rakh," came the call over the com, "this is Harrar station, you have not been given permission to take off, return to your berth immediately."
Archer ignored them. "What would happen if we went to warp here?" asked Archer.
"We'd cause a lot of damage," said Shran.
"Is it possible?" asked Archer, impatiently.
"This craft was labelled experimental for a reason," said Shran. "Possible, but not necessarily advisable."
"We're going to warp," said Archer. He engaged the warp drive and the Zor Rakh leapt into space, already far away from the station, the resulting shock-wave damaging the berths and ships docked at the station. It would be unlikely that Harrar station would be doing any trade in illegal goods for some time. The Zor Rakh hit warp five and maintained a steady speed, Archer briefly thought how much Trip would like to get a look at the Andorian engine. He allowed himself a moment of happiness as he realised that he was on his way home to Enterprise.
"Archer, change your heading," said Shran.
"Why? We're on the correct heading for Enterprise," said Archer and he turned to look at Shran. Shran held a phase pistol and it was pointed at Archer. "Shran, what are you doing?"
"This has very much been a marriage of convenience," said Shran. "I'm afraid it is no longer convenient for you to be involved. I'm sorry, Archer, we make a good team but I have my own objective. Set course for Andorian base Gamma." Shran reeled off the co-ordinates and watched carefully as Archer put the numbers into the computer.
"I thought you two were friends," said Enam.
"Only when it suits our mutual agendas," said Shran.
"What about Trip?" asked Archer. "Are you just going to let him die?"
"I'm sorry about Commander Tucker, I always liked him, but casualties in war are inevitable," said Shran.
"We're not at war," said Archer.
"You may not be now, but Andoria is," said Shran. "It's a constant war to prevent the Vulcans from encroaching into our territory."
"Why do you want Ven Dath?" asked Archer as he finished the course corrections.
"That should be obvious," said Shran. "He has knowledge of how to build nanoprobes, we want that knowledge so that we can turn it into a weapon against the Vulcans."
Archer noticed a slight tremor in Shran's arm as he held the phase pistol. The Andorian had started to sweat more and his colour had become worse, he was slowly turning from his normal blue to an unhealthy turquoise colour and the tips of his antennae were now jade green.
"What if Ven Dath won't give you the information?" asked Archer.
"He made a bargain with you that I'm sure he'll be happy to transfer to the Andorians. If he doesn't then we have ways of gaining his co-operation," said Shran. He wavered for just a second, the poison taking its toll on his system. Suddenly he was falling forwards and Archer caught him, gently removing the phase pistol from his grasp. Shran had passed out.
"He's really going to be angry about this when he wakes up, assuming he does wake up. Better get him back to Enterprise where Phlox can work his magic," said Archer, propping Shran up in his seat. He switched the course back to its previous heading.
"You really are going to have to tell me how you two ended up working together," said Enam.
"That is a very long story," said Archer, "but I guess we have time."
T'Pol opened the hatch of her shuttle in Enterprise's shuttle bay. She climbed out and closed the door carefully behind her. She heard someone enter the shuttle bay and turned around to see Lieutenant Reed.
"Sub-commander, it's good to see you back," said Reed.
"I must return for the verdict of the Dohn Zhu in six days," said T'Pol.
"T'Pol, Davis and his men have left Enterprise," said Reed, "and they took Commander Tucker with them."
"The Captain had an agreement," said T'Pol.
"They had new orders," said Reed.
"Why did you not attempt to stop them?" asked T'Pol.
"The order was legitimate," said Reed.
"It went against the Captain's agreement," said T'Pol. "Did you contact Admiral Forrest?"
"I didn't see the need," said Reed.
"You may have handed Commander Tucker into the hands of people who mean him harm and you did not see the need?" said T'Pol, her voice tainted with sarcasm. "You have failed to fulfil your duties, Lieutenant. You are confined to your quarters until further notice."
Reed almost felt relieved. "Yes, Sub-commander." He left the shuttle bay and wandered miserably towards his quarters.
No one was in the shuttle bay to see T'Pol close her eyes and bow her head for just a moment before she visibly pulled herself together and headed for the bridge.
Trip awoke in a small white room, about a quarter of the size of his cabin on Enterprise. Everything around him gleamed and shone, reflecting the light. He lay on a bunk that protruded from the wall into the centre of the room, a white blanket thrown over him. It was then that he realised that he was stripped down to his underwear. He had the soreness in his chest that usually accompanied being stunned by a phase pistol and he'd been stunned often enough to know. He asked the nanites to run some scans, see if they could find any computers to access. They came back to him with very little information, they were unable to penetrate the shielding around his cell. A touch of the wall beside him and the nanites were able to tell him that the cell itself was made of glass, so they were unable to even tunnel out. His captors definitely knew a lot about what the nanites were capable of.
He didn't understand why Malcolm hadn't tried to stop them. The bargain that the Captain had made had been very clear, Trip was to stay on Enterprise until the repairs were complete. If they hadn't got rid of the nanites by the time the repairs were complete then he was to be turned over to the research station. Trip hadn't liked it but it had been a fair compromise, and he knew it had been the best Archer had been able to do on his behalf.
Malcolm hadn't even bothered to question the order or called headquarters to check that it was genuine. He hadn't even argued with Davis. Trip just didn't know why Malcolm hadn't protected him. Usually that was what Malcolm did, he was always so definite about being there to safeguard everyone that Trip had just expected him to this time. There had been something in Malcolm's eyes when he'd looked at him as well, something which had seemed suspiciously like guilt.
Suddenly one of the white walls became transparent, and he discovered that he had an audience.
"We're monitoring him for the moment," said a man who was watching him.
"How long before we can start the experiments?" asked the other man.
"Well, we have to do some other tests first," replied the first man. "We want to test his reactions and those of the nanites to some external stimuli. We have to obtain some baseline data before we can go further."
"Hey," said Trip, sitting up. "where am I?" Neither of the two men answered. "What's going on?" Trip rose off the bed and went over to the transparent glass. He hit it with the side of his fist. "Who are you? I want some answers," he shouted.
"He seems to be agitated," said the first man. He made a signal with his hand to someone outside of Trip's field of view. Suddenly the room filled with smoke and Trip began to cough. He continued to cough, barely making it the couple of steps to the bed before he was overcome and slipped into unconsciousness.