Let the Dead Bury the Living
By Thalia Drogna
Shran had practically bounded off the shuttle and onto Enterprise. Earth was far too warm for his liking and far too solid. He preferred the temperature controlled environment of Enterprise and the view of stars outside his window. He was not pleased that Archer had refused to allow him to accompany the force that went to arrest Senator Nash, but did accept that this was something that the humans had to do on their own. However, he had his own grudges against the Senator and would have liked to have been part of the party that brought him to justice.
Archer had persuaded him to stay around before, but now he was thinking about leaving. His evidence would probably not be required for the trial. There was enough on Nash, thanks to the Vulcan traitor, without dragging the Andorian connection into things. Shran was fed up with human food (too salty), and human furniture (too soft) and human air (too warm), he needed to get home to his own people.
He wandered into the shuttle bay where the Zor Rakh now rested and found Lieutenant Reed examining the ship.
"She is quite something, isn't she?" said Shran, crossing his arms across his chest and admiring the ship. He had expected that the Enterprise officers would want to take scans of the experimental Andorian technology. It was well shielded and he wasn't worried about them finding out anything important.
Lieutenant Reed jumped slightly at the interruption. "It certainly is unique," he replied.
"There aren't any weapons for you to examine, Lieutenant," said Shran.
"I'm just making sure," said Reed. "Actually I was more interested in your power source. A favour for Commander Tucker. He's on enforced sick leave and wanted me to take some scans of your engine for him to examine later."
"Yes, I heard his condition had worsened. I hope he makes a swift recovery," said Shran.
Reed continued to take his scans. "Hopefully Phlox's cure will do the trick, it just might take some time."
"I will be leaving in the next couple of days," said Shran. Reed nodded but kept his eyes on his work. "I trust that you'll have finished everything that you need to keep Commander Tucker occupied by then."
"I should think so," said Reed.
"He is lucky to have friends who stand by him through trouble," said Shran. "I wonder if my own would be as accommodating."
"Do Andorians have friends?" asked Reed.
"Yes, although not aboard our ships. Duty is very important to us. I certainly would never allow myself to get as close to a subordinate as you did."
"Really?" said Reed with interest.
"There are very strict rules for that sort of conduct. I gather that Starfleet has similar rules," said Shran.
"Yes, which I chose to disobey and I am being disciplined for that," said Reed. He wished Shran would drop the subject. It was something that he really didn't want to discuss at the moment.
"And will you be marrying Ensign Carruthers?" asked Shran. "It is what would be expected of you on an Andorian ship."
"Marry her? No, I don't think either of us are ready for that. It wouldn't exactly be compatible with me being on Enterprise and her being at the Warp Five Complex anyway," said Reed. "Our career comes first for both of us."
"I hadn't realised that humans could be so detached about their relationships," said Shran. "There is an officer on board the Cammari, you met her, Lieutenant Talas. I sometimes wish that I had kept my command so that I could, how would you humans put it, have got to know her better."
Reed wasn't quite sure what to make of that revelation. Was Shran really saying that he would have gone against regulations to date his Tactical Officer?
"Don't ignore what you have, Lieutenant," said Shran and turned and walked out of the shuttle bay, leaving Reed to wonder if relationship advice from an Andorian was worth taking seriously.
T'Pol waited patiently for Captain Archer to arrive at the conference room, trying not to be annoyed by the fact that her Commanding Officer was late. At the table sat Captain Tate of the Starfleet Judge Advocate General's office, a dark haired military man, Counsellor Webber of the Department of Justice, an efficient looking blonde woman, and T'Prell, Archon of Vulcan Law. All three were here to discuss the case for the prosecution of Senator Nash with Captain Archer, who had yet to put in an appearance. None of her guests were amused at the delay.
Archer finally came dashing into the room and hastily took his seat at the head of the table. "My apologies for the delay, I was caught up in Engineering." He didn't add that he was caught up in Engineering because his recovering Chief Engineer had decided to disobey his Doctor's orders and go looking for some work to do. Archer had practically thrown Trip out of the door, his friend's face falling at leaving behind his beloved engine, and then read him the riot act.
"I've got to do something if you're going to keep me on board Enterprise," said Trip.
"You're on sick leave!" shouted Archer. "You're under doctor's orders to rest. Engineering is currently off limits to you. If I have to post guards on you, then I will do it."
Trip looked so upset and aggrieved that Archer felt like a playground bully. No one could do puppy dog eyes quite like Trip, and that included Porthos, but Archer was well aware that there was a good reason behind Phlox's orders. Trip tired too easily and he needed all his available energy to get well. He hadn't been joking about the guards either, anything to make Trip realise that he needed to take things easy.
"I want your word that you won't set foot in Engineering unless you have Phlox's permission to do so," said Archer.
Trip sighed. "You have my word."
Archer had made sure that someone escorted Trip back to his quarters and then hurried to his meeting. Now he was late and hadn't had a chance to examine all the papers that he'd been sent. He wanted to be angry at Trip, but in truth Trip was just being Trip and you couldn't fault him for that. It was his nature to work every hour that god sent him.
"Where do you want to start?" he asked the assembled legal counsels.
"The trial is taking place in a week which doesn't give us much time to pull our case together," said Webber, who projected an air of authority. "We reviewed all the legal precedents for this type of case and simply put, there aren't any exact precedents. Given the case law that we could find, we have decided to prosecute this in civilian court rather than call a court-martial."
"What does that mean?" asked Archer.
"Mainly differences in procedure. One important difference in penalty. Military courts can still demand the death penalty, civilian courts cannot," said Captain Tate.
"But a court martial hasn't actually sentenced anyone to death for nearly a century now," added Webber. "So it was unlikely that would ever have been a consideration. Of course it does mean that we'll be presenting our evidence to a civilian jury."
"Which presents us with a whole new set of problems regarding their ability to understand the evidence and their knowledge of military procedure," said Tate.
"It makes the burden of proof upon us much greater and juries are notoriously fickle. We'll be dealing with emotional pleas that go to character. It could get dirty. It will make it tough on our witnesses," said Webber.
"What do you need from me?" asked Archer, anxious to move on from legal procedure to the nitty gritty of the case.
"Everything that you have gathered on Nash and whoever he was working with. The Vulcans have provided us with Selak's confession and we already have everything that was found at Nash's residence in Switzerland. I believe you also have com logs and other analyses of data that you can give us. We also want you to give evidence," said Cousellor Webber.
"Just tell me when you want me there," said Archer.
"Not just you, Captain. We will also need evidence from Commander T'Pol, Lieutenant Reed, Ensign Sato and Commander Tucker," said Captain Tate, reading down the list of names on the padd in front of him.
"I'm sure that my officers will all be just as willing as I am to give evidence, but Commander Tucker is currently on sick leave and I don't know if he'll be well enough to make the trial," said Archer.
"His evidence could be crucial to our case," said Webber.
"I will not put him through anymore," said Archer. "You can't expect him to relive the nightmare that he's just been through." He looked at the three officials and realised that was exactly what they expected. Trip's suffering would show Nash was prepared to do anything to further his aims, even kidnapping a Starfleet officer and using him as a test subject.
"It is Commander Tucker's decision as to whether he testifies or not," said T'Prell. "He will receive a summons to court in due course."
"Wouldn't a written testimony suffice?" asked Archer.
"Commander Tucker will want to give evidence in person," said T'Pol to Archer, her voice lowered.
Archer knew that T'Pol was correct. Trip would want to stare Nash in the eye as he told the court how the Senator had planned to use the nanites to destroy the Vulcans. Trip didn't believe in hiding away or avoiding his troubles, he would rather face them head on. Archer knew he was probably worrying over nothing, but his first instinct was to protect Trip. His Chief Engineer was going to have enough to put up with over the next few months and he could do without the added stress.
Reed walked into the armoury and located Ensign Carruthers replacing some damaged power couplings on one of the consoles.
"I've just had the strangest conversation with Shran," said Reed.
"In what sense?" asked Jessica.
"He told me not to ignore what I've got," replied Reed. "I think he was talking about you."
"You're not ignoring me," said Jessica as she reconnected the power couplings that she was working on with a hard shove.
"I don't think he meant it like that," said Reed.
Jessica looked up from her work. "You're talking about us."
"We need to make a decision," said Reed.
"I thought we already had," said Jessica. "You're still a Lieutenant. I know you're not leaving Enterprise or Starfleet, and neither am I, so we're back to how things were before. Except now I can write to you once in while."
"We could get married," said Reed.
"Aren't you the romantic. I had hoped for violins and roses when a man finally proposed to me." Jessica put down her tools and looked up at Reed.
"Sorry," said Reed. "I'm just exploring options."
"Marriage is an option? Nice. You suck at this, Malcolm."
Reed sighed. "It would mean that we could stay together. You could get a posting to Enterprise," said Reed.
"Yeah, and then what would I do. You know the rules. No married person should directly report to their spouse. I'd have to change speciality. I can't really see myself as an Engineer or in Navigation or Science. I blow things up, just like you."
"Okay, so maybe that isn't the solution," said Reed.
"Then what about the alternative? You could transfer off Enterprise. There's plenty of jobs going at R and D, that wouldn't mean you'd be my superior."
Reed's face showed what he thought of that idea and he wasn't quick enough to hide it. He was a man of action and he'd worked hard to get where he was. Enterprise was his home. His silence spoke for him.
"I see," said Jessica, evenly. "I love you Malcolm, I always will, but if you're not prepared to give something up for this relationship, then it doesn't mean enough to you. Maybe it's for the best that we can't find a way to make this work."
Reed knew that this was the moment that he'd been dreading, when he finally realised he did want his career more than he wanted his relationship with Jessica. Was he really so driven and shallow that he was nothing more than what he did for a living? But then Starfleet wasn't just a living, it was his life. He knew that his work on Enterprise saved lives and that was more important than any individual person's happiness, including his own.
"I guess this is it then," said Reed.
"I guess it is," said Jessica. They looked at each other for a moment. They both knew that there was nothing more to be said, but both felt that there should be. Until this moment neither of them had wanted to recognise the relationship for the lost cause that it was. Jessica broke the gaze first. "I'll be safe going back to Earth now that Nash is in custody. They want me to testify at his trial and I've been away long enough."
"You've been a real help here," said Reed. It wasn't what he wanted to say but the words he wanted to say would have sounded hollow. How could he claim to love Jessica if he couldn't bring himself to leave Enterprise for her?
"Maybe you could tell my Lieutenant that," replied Jessica with a forced smile.
"The Captain already has," said Reed quietly. "Let me know when you're leaving," he added and walked out of the Armoury.
"Malcolm," said Jessica, softly, but he'd already gone and no words would bring him back.
Trip was quietly fuming. He was bored and fed up with being told what to do. Yes, he had only just got out of sick bay after a severe case of pneumonia, but there was only so much resting one man could do. He hated the fact that he wasn't allowed in Engineering. It was his department, he should be allowed to go down there if he wanted to. Instead there was now a MACO standing outside Engineering who had orders to make sure Commander Tucker did not enter. He'd already been very politely escorted off the premises once by Corporal Chang, who then walked him back to his quarters. That had just been plain embarrassing and Trip had no wish to repeat it.
He'd tried to find someone to talk to, but everyone seemed to be busy, either with repairs or with preparations for the trial. Archer was holed up in his office going through legal papers and his evidence. He always seemed to be talking to the lawyers if he wasn't actually working on something for the trial. T'Pol and Hoshi were busy with analysis of the com data and when T'Pol wasn't doing that she was liasing with the Vulcan counsel or going through the data that they had downloaded from the weather station. Trip hadn't seen her for a couple of days now and he had been quite surprised when he found that he was missing her.
Malcolm had his own department's repairs to see to and Trip had heard on the grapevine that Ensign Carruthers had made arrangements for Travis to take her back to Earth in couple of days time. He guessed Malcolm needed a little space at the moment and he'd come by for a chat when he wanted to. Knowing Malcolm, Trip might have to drag him out of his cabin to do it, but the principle was there.
So that left Enam and Ghanima, who usually came together, but once or twice Trip found himself returning a small Tanu child to her mother after she had decided to visit her new friend on her own. And occasionally Shran knocked on his door, he pretended that he needed Trip's advice on his ship's maintenance, but really he came to talk about nothing much and drink Andorian ale. It passed the time if nothing else and he was growing to like the Andorian, much to his surprise considering some of their previous encounters. He even admitted to himself sometimes that after his guests left he was tired and he needed the afternoon nap recommended by Phlox.
He wished that he could do more than read schematics and listen to the binary code that wound through his thoughts, when he let it. He occasionally found himself muttering it when he let his mind drift and that scared him slightly. Perhaps the machines were taking him over just as they had done with Davis. By all accounts he was now more machine than man and Trip had always had secret worries about that happening to him. If T'Pol hadn't remembered what sound waves did to the nanites then Davis could well have killed Malcolm, which turned Trip's insides cold at the mere thought.
When Phlox finally told Trip, after a week of enforced rest, that he was sufficiently recovered that they could begin the anti-nanite therapy, Trip was actually relieved that he now had something to do. It was only a secondary thought that he'd finally be getting rid of the nanites and their annoying binary chanting.
The doctor had extensively discussed the treatment to get rid of the nanites with Trip. When Phlox had mentioned chemotherapy Trip had immediately thought of cancer treatment, but as with all scientific terms this one had a general, as well as a specific, use. Chemotherapy was anything which involved drug treatment. In this case Trip would be given fluid intravenously that was designed to dissolve the nanites so that they disintegrated harmlessly into his blood and could be cleared by his body's own systems. The drug also contained a key that effectively switched off the nanites command to reproduce themselves, so they wouldn't be faced with ever increasing numbers of nanites. Once all the nanites were clear Phlox would begin a secondary treatment that would return his blood chemistry back to normal.
Unfortunately the drugs that did this weren't just toxic to the nanites, and that meant Trip could expect a range of side effects, none of which would be pleasant. The levels of the drug had to remain constant in his system once treatment began so that the nanites couldn't get a foothold again and begin reproducing once more. Trip would be seeing Phlox every day for the next three months.
He reported to sickbay at the designated time for his first session and was surprised to find T'Pol there. He knew that she had plenty of work to do in the Command Centre taking apart the weather station's database.
"Hi," said Trip. "How's the number crunching going?"
"Satisfactorily," replied T'Pol.
"I wasn't expecting to see you here," he said, doing his best to make small talk with someone who obviously didn't want to.
"The doctor thought you might appreciate some company while you were undergoing treatment," said T'Pol.
"Oh he did, huh?" said Trip, he was going to have to have words with Phlox. "I'm a grown man, I think I can do this on my own and I definitely don't need an audience."
"I also require your assistance with some schematics that I found in the weather station database," said T'Pol.
Trip looked at T'Pol, his eyes narrowing slightly as he tried to decide what was going on here. He got the distinct impression that T'Pol wanted to stay and it had nothing to do with a request from Phlox or schematics.
"I'm not sure that Phlox will be happy with me working on schematics," said Trip. The doctor had been very specific about what he regarded as work, not that it had stopped Trip from logging onto the Engineering systems and checking up on how things were going without him. Even he wasn't stupid enough to flaunt the doctor's orders in sickbay though.
"On the contrary," said Phlox emerging from behind a bank of cabinets. "It will keep you occupied while treatment is underway, and if you're not thinking about it then you are more likely to be relaxed. In my experience a relaxed patient is usually much happier. You are going to need a positive mental attitude to get you through this and your friends can help."
"Doc, a positive mental attitude isn't going to kill the nanites any faster," said Trip.
"Perhaps not but it may help you overcome the side effects of the treatment. You would be surprised how the mind is able to influence the body," said Phlox.
"So I can think myself better?" asked Trip.
"I wouldn't go that far," replied Phlox, "but it certainly has been shown to help. Anyway if you'd like to come over here, I have everything set up for you."
Trip followed Phlox over to a curtained off area of sickbay and hopped up onto the biobed there. T'Pol brought over a tall stool so that she could sit next to him, while Phlox checked equipment and drugs.
"So how long is this going to take?" asked Trip as he lay down and got comfortable.
"About an hour I should think, maybe a little more," said Phlox. "Right if you're settled then we can get started. You may feel a little prick when I insert the needle." He swabbed the area of Trip's arm where the needle would be inserted with an antiseptic solution.
"That's a pretty big needle," said Trip, his voice a whisper that even he had trouble hearing. Fear showed through his eyes, which were fixed on the sharp sliver of metal that Phlox held. Trip was being dragged back to his torture by the Xindi in a dark lab and he couldn't stop it. Memories of needles being inserted to drain his blood and then replenish it leapt to the surface of his mind. He began to shiver. He wasn't sure if it was purely out of fear or at the memory of the cold cell the Xindi had kept him in for nearly two months. Rationally he knew he was in no danger, but rationality had no place in the dark twisted corridors that his mind was walking. He didn't notice a look pass between Phlox and T'Pol.
Suddenly he felt a warm hand on his and he looked around and straight into the deep brown eyes of T'Pol. A man could drown in those eyes.
"Trip," she said, "there is nothing to fear."
With Trip distracted, Phlox took that moment to insert the needle. Trip felt considerably more than the promised prick and winced involuntarily.
"Trip," said T'Pol again, pulling him back to reality and the anchor of her presence. "Breathe," she instructed, and he followed her lead just as she had taught him when they had done neuropressure together. Eventually he felt calm again and he trusted his voice not to break when he spoke.
"Thanks," he said and truly meant it.
Phlox noticed that his patient's heart rate had slowed to near normal again, his decision to invite T'Pol to be present had indeed been the correct one. He concluded that his patient would probably feel more relaxed without a doctor hovering near by and the monitors would alert him to any problems.
"I'll be back a little later to check on you," he said and departed to feed his animals.
T'Pol handed Trip a padd. "You will notice the interesting power readings," she said. Trip knew this was just a distraction but he was glad that T'Pol was here. Letting his mind dwell on the anti-nanite therapy wasn't a productive way to spend his time and he'd know soon enough what side-effects he'd be experiencing. The fluid being pumped into him was basically a poison and he really preferred not to think about that. Things were definitely going to get worse before they got better, but if he could just make it through this then he'd be free of the nanites. His life could go back to normal, or as normal as it ever got.
He turned to T'Pol and concentrated on the information that she had brought for him to look at. It was interesting. She had given him the power grid schematics for the weather station which he had been held on. Something was wrong with the energy readings but he couldn't quite see what it was. More energy was being generated than was being used, and power was being directed in strange ways. One particular power stream just seemed to disappear without any obvious use. He needed to investigate it further to work out what was happening though and T'Pol promised to get the investigation team to go over the weather station again. Trip wondered what was drawing the power, perhaps there were more weather monitoring instruments. Accurate climate modelling was still something that the scientists back home hadn't cracked yet and there were several projects that were working on it.
After an hour Phlox came and detached the IV and told Trip to lie still for a few minutes after which he could go. Trip was surprised that he didn't feel any different to how he had done when he'd arrived. He knew that it was too early to for the side effects to kick in, Phlox had said it could be a couple of weeks before that happened, but at least if he'd felt something he would have known that it was working.
T'Pol walked with him back to his quarters. The doctor had given him more instructions to rest. He would have complained but tiredness had crept up on him, so he allowed T'Pol to walk with him back to B deck before he told her to get back to whatever she'd been doing. He promised her that he'd check the energy readings and let her know what his assessment was, but it would probably be tomorrow before he had an answer. She didn't demand that he get his findings to her faster and that worried him. When T'Pol didn't expect you to work to her own high standards, that meant you were really ill.