For the next two weeks Raya, Malcolm and Dracona spent a lot of time together, making her feel welcome and getting her used to life on the ship.
It wasn't long before Enterprise ran into a ship. Well it could hardly be called a ship as it wasn't much bigger than the shuttlepods.
"I'm not getting any response sir. It's very possible the shuttle's COMM system is down." Hoshi reported as she worked at her desk.
"Bio signs?" Archer asked as he turned to T'Pol.
"One. Unknown." Replied the Vulcan.
"I'm reading weapons fire on the hull. What ever happened they've been in a fight with someone. And it's fairly recent." Malcolm reported from his tactical station.
"How recent?" Archer replied back, thoughtfully.
"Probably in the last day or so." Malcolm replied looking at his scan results, and taking a guess.
Archer nodded in acknowledgement.
"Bring it into launch bay 2. Have doctor Phlox meet us down there. Malcolm." Together Malcolm and Archer left the bridge and made their way down to the launch bay. When they entered they found the vessel, and there were slight hull fractures, but Trip's engineering team could easily get that fixed up for whoever was inside. Malcolm moved over to the weapon's cabinet and pulled out a phase pistol, making sure the setting was on stun.
After inspecting the vessel closely they found what appeared to be a hatch. After several minutes of pulling and figuring out how the hell it worked they got the hatch open. The interior was dark and gloomy. It had no lighting at all, what light the surrounding room gave did not show much. Malcolm readied his phase pistol ready for anyone inside who might attack them.
"Who are you?" Came a voice from side. It sounded like a woman's voice and she began to cough. Some smoke began to come out of the hatch. Archer peered inside, careful not to startle whoever was inside the vessel.
"I am Captain Jonathan Archer of the Earth ship Enterprise. We saw you on our sensors and realised you had acquired recent weapons fire. We thought you were in trouble. So we've come to help."
"Well i was, Captain. That's very kind of you." She coughed some more. "Life support has nearly failed. It'll take ages to repair the ship." The woman sighed crossing her arms in front of her chest. She had a couple of cuts on her face, a few trickles of blood, messy hair, dirty face, and a couple of bruises, but apart from that she looked to be in perfect health. After seeing her condition Malcolm decided to put his phase pistol back into the weapon's cabinet
"I'm sure our engineering team can help you out with that." Archer replied softly. "May we know your name?" He asked gently.
"My name is Tollaraliatiangan... but most people call me Tia." She replied as Archer helped her out of the vessel. Phlox began to scan her to make sure she was in good health
"What species are you?" Archer asked politely.
"I am a Hanachi. I doubt you've heard of them." Tia replied, smiling.
"Actually we have." Archer replied, smiling. He wondered how Raya would take the news but then thought of Dracona and how Tia would take to her.
Tia turned and looked at her vessel, eyeing the damage. She began to calculate in her head how long the repairs would take – if she was one her own it would probably take 5-6 weeks. With the crew that she was around, it might only take 1 or 2 weeks. "Those Damn Raca'sackiens. Nearly destroying my ship!"
Archer looked at Malcolm before returning his gaze on Tia. 'This is not going to be good when she finds out' he thought.
"She's in pretty good health. I should get her to sickbay just to clean her wounds, prevent any infections." Phlox reported as he put away the scanner.
Archer nodded and Phlox led Tia out of the room. Once they had left the room, Archer let out a sigh.
"I wonder what she might do when she hears of Dracona"
"If Sir." Malcolm replied slowly. "If we keep quiet about her..."
"It's more than likely she will hear or see Dracona and nothing can prevent that."
Malcolm nodded, seeing Archer's point of view. Things tended to get round fast on a starship.
"Better warn her. Where is she?"
"In the Mess Hall with Raya i think." Malcolm smiled.
"Warn them both of who we have here."
"Yes sir." Malcolm turned and left and headed for the Mess Hall. Archer ran a hand through his hair. He stayed in the same room looking at Tai's battered vessel he then left the room.
Down in the Mess Hall Raya was introducing Dracona to the delights of the frozen desert called Ice Cream.
"This one is my favourite flavours... it's Strawberry." She took a mouthful of the ice cream and then looked at Dracona waiting for her to taste the pudding's sweet delights.
Dracona paused, not sure what to make of this desert of what Humans called Ice Cream. Carefully she took a spoonful and put into her mouth. The taste, she could not describe it.
"Well? Do ya like it?" Raya said with a smile. She seemed to be like she was a teenager again, indulging herself in ice cream.
"Don't push her too hard Raya!" Malcolm called from the door. Raya and Dracona looked up and smiled when they saw Malcolm. He moved over and took an empty seat next to Raya.
"Yes, i like it." Dracona faced Malcolm and appeared to be thinking. "You bring news." she stated.
"Yeah." Malcolm leaned closer into the table and went into a low whisper. "We've rescued a woman from a damaged ship. She claims to be Hanachi. Is it true?" Malcolm looked at Raya who seemed to be concentrating.
"Yeah. I am sensing another Hanachi on board. Down in... Sickbay?" Raya asked. Malcolm nodded.
"And her feelings towards the Raca'Sackiens is not too pleasant?" Dracona asked, but it was more of a statement than a question.
"Well she doesn't know you're on board. It would be good to try and stay out of her way."
"Understood. You'd better stay with me cause then I'll sense if she's anywhere near." Raya looked at Dracona.
Dracona nodded and went back to her Ice Cream. She began to think of her Father, Ra'saak. He was a traitor to his kind and joined with the Ozarans. She knew he was on the lookout for her but she let it rest for now.
For the next couple of days Raya managed to keep Dracona away from the new woman. Raya was in her quarters tidying things up when her door chimed. She moved over and opened the door. Standing in front of her was Tia.
"Hi." Raya said.
"Hi. I'm Tia. Lieutenant Reed told me that you were half Hanachi. Is that right?"
"Yeah it is. Come in." Raya turned and went back into her room, she continued to put a couple of things away. Tia followed her.
Tia watched Raya for a little while before saying anything.
"How long have you been here for?"
"A couple of years." Raya turned round to face Tia and suddenly she was hit over the head. Raya fell on the floor unconscious, a lump already forming on her forehead. Tia placed the trophy she had used to attack Raya with, back on the table. She then bent down to Raya and grabbing some rope from her pocket she began to tie her up. She tied Raya's wrist to the post of her table, so that she wouldn't be able to stand up and attack her.