CHAPTER 15

Hoshi was unable to do anything about Trip that night.

For one thing, the amount of information in the data burst from the Blaniats ensured that everyone who read all of it was up until the wee hours of the morning. As they had surmised, it covered modifications to the warp engine to make Enterprise mobile again.

Hoshi didn't understand most of it, and she wasn't sure Trip would be able to understand much of it, either. Some of the terminology, despite being in English, defied description.

Then, when she retired for what was left of the night, Malcolm had come to bed shortly thereafter. He fell into a fitful sleep, his arm draped loosely around her waist. Every time she had tried to slip out of bed, he had either woken or tightened his grip on her. She finally gave up on carrying out her plan that night, deciding it would better to get some rest before morning came.

As it was, they both almost overslept. They skipped breakfast to make it to the staff meeting on time.

One good thing about having these meetings in the captain's mess, Hoshi thought as they walked into the room, was its proximity to the galley. A thermos of steaming hot coffee and several mugs were on the table, and she gratefully poured herself a cup. Seeing that Crewman Cunningham had been the one to bring out the thermos, she wasn't concerned that any foreign substance might be in the coffee.

The meeting started once T'Pol, Trip and Travis arrived. Hoshi was prepared for a long, boring session going over the Blaniat technical information, and she was surprised when T'Pol brought up the latest readings from the measuring device installed in the ready room.

"The Rendarat has picked up speed," T'Pol stated. "Its estimated time of arrival has been revised to just under two days."

"Why the change in their speed?" Malcolm asked.

"Unknown," T'Pol replied. "We have had no further communication with the Blaniats since last evening. If they keep the channel clear long enough during our next contact, I will ask them."

"Maybe they've made improvements to their propulsion system," Trip mused. "The impression I got from the data they sent was that it was experimental. They might still be fine-tunin' it."

"That is a possibility," T'Pol said. "Which brings us to the next topic of discussion..."

As T'Pol droned on about the technical specs for modifying the engine, Hoshi's attention wandered. She glanced at the chronometer by the door. It was almost time for the next contact with the Blaniats.

The discussion began to bog down over details, and Hoshi cleared her throat to get the others' attention.

"We should be getting to the bridge, don't you think?" she said, nodding toward the chronometer.

"Thank you, Ensign," T'Pol said.

As the meeting broke up and everyone headed for the door, Hoshi hung back.

"It's unusual for T'Pol to not be aware of the time," she said quietly as Malcolm came over to her and they fell in at the rear of the group.

"The strain is getting to her, too," Malcolm said as they walked out into the corridor.

Hoshi raised her eyebrows. "Are you sure that's all it is?" she asked.

Malcolm gave her a sharp glance and took hold of her elbow to stop her from following the others. He waited until the others were out of sight up the first ladder.

"That's not something to speculate about in front of anyone else," he told her, his grey eyes boring into hers. "Not when we are close to finally getting out of this God-forsaken place. Unless we are absolutely certain there's something wrong with her, keep your suspicions to yourself."

Exasperated, Hoshi opened her mouth to reply, but he cut her off.

"Think about it, Hoshi," he said quietly. "If T'Pol goes off the deep end, who does that leave in charge?"

Hoshi's face paled and her hand flew to her mouth. "Oh my God, Malcolm!" she whispered. "I hadn't thought of that."

He gestured for her to start up the ladder before him. As she climbed, Hoshi thought about what Malcolm had implied. If T'Pol's sanity was slipping, she needed to do something about Trip as soon as possible.

Hoshi was still thinking about the ramifications of Trip being in charge when they reached the bridge. Sitting down at her console, she resolved to act that evening. Then she had to put all extraneous thoughts aside as she concentrated on the task at hand.

The Blaniats were nothing if not punctual. Twelve hours on the dot from their last contact, her console chimed to announce an incoming message. Hoshi was ready and opened the channel at T'Pol's nod.

The same Blaniat who had talked to them before got right to the point. They would be able to assist Enterprise personnel with any modifications they couldn't do on their own. He also announced their arrival had been moved up, and they expected to rendezvous in eighteen hours.

"We have questions before you break contact," T'Pol said hastily.

"Please ask in a concise manner," the Blaniat told her.

"Why has your time of arrival changed?"

"Modifications to our ship have enabled us to travel faster."

"Why do you break contact so abruptly?"

"The energy needed to break through the interference to communicate is excessive."

T'Pol opened her mouth to ask another question but the static of a closed channel came from the speakers. Hoshi hurriedly cut the connection on her end before the usual feedback took over.

"No data burst this time," Hoshi noted.

"Apparently they have given us all the information they deem necessary at this time," T'Pol said.

"Well," drawled Trip, "seems we were right on a couple of points about them, at least."

T'Pol nodded. "However," she noted, "there was one glaring omission."

As the bridge crew pondered her remark, Malcolm spoke up. "They didn't specify a time for another contact."

"Maybe that means they aren't going to talk to us again until they rendezvous," Travis said.

"That is my conclusion as well," T'Pol said. "I suggest everyone make whatever preparations are necessary for the Blaniats' arrival, then get adequate rest and be ready by 0200 tomorrow. If they maintain their present speed, they should rendezvous with us at 0230."

Murmured acknowledgements came from the officers. Hoshi doubted she'd be getting much rest, however. She had another agenda for the evening.

The day dragged by slowly. Hoshi didn't have much to do, but Malcolm was tied up making security preparations. She followed him around, making sure he was never alone.

At last they went to dinner, making it to the mess hall before Chef began putting up the food. They ate with Travis, who had spent most of the day in engineering. He'd had nothing to do on the bridge that day, but as helmsman he did have an interest in seeing how the modifications would affect the ship's mobility.

Trip was nowhere to be seen at dinner, and Hoshi gathered from the others' conversation that the engineering crew was trying to get as much done as possible before the Blaniats arrived.

"They've been able to make out some of that gobbledegook the Blaniats sent?" Hoshi asked.

"Some," Travis said before shoveling a forkful of pasta into his mouth.

"I expect they'll be busy working on the engine modifications until the Blaniats get here," she said, trying to sound casual. "Trip probably won't get any rest at all tonight."

Travis swallowed and chuckled. "You know Commander Tucker. The more he gets done, the less someone else will be able to mess with his precious engine." Lowering his voice, he added knowingly, "And it's just as well he keeps busy. Gives him less time to think up more mischief."

Hoshi caught Malcolm looking at her and she gave him a quick smile. Pushing back from the table, she affected a yawn. "Well, I'm going to take T'Pol's advice and get some rest. Are you coming, Malcolm?"

He nodded and got up from the table. After exchanging "good nights" with Travis and taking their dishes to the galley, they headed for their quarters.

Hoshi was glad to see Malcolm yawn when they entered the cabin. He was tired, and after she initiated a strenuous round of love-making, he dropped off to sleep easily. She was ashamed to use sex for such a purpose, but it was for his own good, she reasoned.

She waited until Malcolm's breathing evened out and deepened before she slipped out of bed. Gathering up some off-duty clothing, she padded quietly to the bathroom to change.

Trip ought to be in his office in engineering running calculations and simulations. She was hoping he would still be hard at it despite the lateness of the hour. If not, she would have to visit his quarters, and she really didn't want to do that.

She finished dressing and opened the bathroom door. She looked over at Malcolm. He was still worn out from his near-fatal suffocation the day before. Thinking about his close brush with death dissolved the few misgivings she had about what she was about to do.

Moving silently, she approached the bed and knelt down. She felt around underneath for the metal case. Her fingers brushed against the handle, causing it to clink against the case, and she froze until she was sure Malcolm hadn't woken.

Slowly letting out the breath she had been holding, she grasped the handle and pulled the case out from under the bunk. She carefully undid the latches and eased the lid open.

There it was -- the one phase pistol not kept with the others. As head of security, Malcolm had the right to keep it in his quarters. She knew she didn't have to worry about the power cell working -- Malcolm checked it every night before climbing into bed.

She tucked the pistol in a pocket in her loose-fitting pants. Closing the lid of the case, she slid it back under the bed.

Malcolm murmured something in his sleep and rolled over. Hoshi held her breath until she was sure he hadn't woken, then stealthily got to her feet and backed away from the bed.

At the door to the cabin she paused to look back at him. He looked so peaceful lying there.

If what she planned worked, he would be with her for a long time to come. He'd understand why she'd had to do it. It was for his own safety. She loved him so much she couldn't allow anything to threaten him. What could be more important than that?

Confident in her purpose, she left to search out her quarry.