Chapter 12
After twelve long hours seeing to the crises in the Armory, Malcolm was finally able to go to the mess hall. He was tired, but in need of nourishment before he went to bed. What he saw upon entry into the ship's dining area was his brother and Archer. Archer had one arm draped around Michael's shoulder, and they appeared to be heading into the Captain's Dining Room. Everyone in the mess hall could hear their conversation.
"I tell you, I wouldn't miss it for the universe!" Michael exclaimed.
"You'd enjoy it, I promise. I've even converted Trip into a waterpolo fan!" Archer exclaimed. He patted Michael on the back and as they turned to avoid walking into a couple people talking, they spotted Malcolm.
The Armory Officer was standing in line, waiting to get his meal. His arms were folded across his chest, and his head was tilted wearily to the left.
"Malcolm!" the Captain called out. "Michael's joining me for lunch. Do you want to come along?"
Malcolm dropped his arms to his side and turned to his right to face his captain and his brother. "If you don't mind, sir, I was hoping to get a quick bite and then retire."
"Oh, the torpedo control modules," Archer said. "Are they all fixed?"
Malcolm nodded and, squeezing his tired eyes shut for a brief moment, he opened them. "Finally. That mini meteorite shower did some damage though. I'm going to get some sleep, and I'll be back on duty for gamma shift. By then, beta shift should have performed a thorough inspection, and I can oversee any repairs."
"Ah, Michael, there's Trip. I think you wanted to speak with him about the article on Engineering?" Archer said, pointing the reporter in the direction of the Commander. "Don't worry. I won't start without you."
Malcolm watched Michael walk over to where Trip stood. Upon seeing Michael, Trip held his hand out and shook the other man's hand and clasped him on the back with his other. Malcolm sighed and got his meal from Chef and turned to leave.
"What's wrong, Malcolm?" Archer asked, having approached Reed.
The Armory Officer was surprised to find that the Captain was at his side. "It's nothing, Captain. Like I said, I'm just tired."
"I feel it's more than that," Archer said, following the younger man out into the corridor. "You really don't like Michael being here do you?"
"To be perfectly honest, Captain, no." Malcolm waited as a pair of crewmen passed by before he addressed his superior officer again. "And I don't like to see what's happening to the crew, including you."
Archer seemed surprised by the statement. "Me? What do you mean?"
"Can't you see my brother's a user? He's using anyone on board he can to get his story -- even you."
The Captain chuckled. "Oh, c'mon now, Malcolm. Aren't you being a bit paranoid?"
The Brit shook his head.
"Isn't this all probably related to some type of sibling rivalry?" Archer ventured.
Malcolm paused and looked up at the captain, his tired eyes deadly serious. "In some ways, Captain, you're right. If you'll excuse me, I really need to get back to my cabin before I fall down."
"Of course. I'll see you tomorrow."
Malcolm bobbed his head and continued toward his destination.
Archer stood in the corridor watching his officer depart, and he wondered if he'd ever find out what was the cause of the dissension between the twins. With a sad shake of his head, he entered the mess hall again.
"...and then the zebra turned to the barkeep and said, 'I'll have what the Vulcan's having!'"
Archer and Trip laughed loudly at the joke.
"See, Cap'n,... I told you it was...a thigh slapper!" Trip said in between sputtered bursts of laughter.
All the Captain could do was nod, for he was too busy laughing to speak.
"You really know how to tell a joke, Michael!" Trip remarked. Reaching for the bottle of bourbon, he started to splash some of the amber liquid into each of the three glasses. Archer, though, placed his hand over his glass and shook his head.
"That's enough for me, Trip," Jon said as he stood up. "I'm going to check on the bridge and turn in, but don't let me stop you."
"'kay, Captain," the engineer said. "Glad you invited me to dine with you tonight. I've had a real good time. Michael and I will just chat a bit more and then we'll probably head out too."
"No hurry," Archer said. "I don't believe you have alpha shift tomorrow."
"Thanks, Cap'n."
With a wave, Archer left the other two behind.
"You two are good friends," Michael remarked, raising his glass.
"Oh, yeah," Trip said and clinked his glass with Michael's. "But we also have to maintain professional distance. Isn't always easy to treat a friend like a subordinate, and vice versa."
Michael tipped some of the bourbon into his mouth.
"I've been trying to get your brother to open up a bit, but it isn't easy," the engineer said. "He isn't an easy person to get to know."
"You're not the only person who's complained about that over the years," Michael said with a long sigh. "Malcolm's always been a wet blanket. Always by the book, my brother. I've always said if Malcolm would let himself have more fun he'd be happier. He just has to let his hair down more!"
"Well, you should have seen your brother when we stopped off at Risa. He was on the prowl!"
"I thought he was interested in your communications officer?"
"Hoshi?" Trip shrugged. "Can't say I've noticed. But you should have seen him trying to attract the attention of those two women in the bar on Risa!"
"Tell me about it, Trip."
End of Chapter 12