Raya began to regain consciousness a couple of hours later. She looked around her and saw Tia standing looking at all her things, her back turned to her prisoner.
"You leave everything of mine alone." Raya said still slightly dazed from the blow she received to the head. Tia turned round with a smile. As soon as Raya saw what Tia looked like she was in shock. She looked exactly like Raya. "You're a shapeshifter!"
"Very good. You're smart" Tia replied with a slight smile. She put down a photo she had been holding back onto the desk. It was one of Raya and Malcolm together, smiling, looking as if they had just managed to save the ship or something similar to that.
"What are you doing here?"
"You've been ignoring your mother's letters - so she sent me after you."
Immediately Raya began to try and communicate with Malcolm telepathically. 'Malcolm? Malcolm, can you hear me?'
"There'll be none of that!" Tia quickly moved forward. She raised her arm up and quickly brought it down hitting Raya round the face and immediately her concentration was cut off. Tia glared at her then returned to looking round the room.
Up on the bridge Malcolm was at his tactical station. He had heard Raya trying to communicate with him. He quickly pressed a button in front of him.
"Reed to Ensign Tagia" there was no response. Archer turned to look at Malcolm. "Reed to Ensign Tagia. Please respond." but still there was no response.
"Malcolm? Something happen to Ensign Tagia?"
Malcolm looked up when he heard his name "I don't know Sir, but from the way she's not responding I'd say she was in trouble"
"I am detecting two bio signs in Ensign Tagia's quarters - they are both the same as Ensign Tagia's" T'Pol reported as she looked at her scans of the ship.
"What?" Archer turned to her in confusion. "Two Raya's?"
"I'd better go and check what's going on." And before Archer could say anything else Malcolm was out of his seat and in the turbo lift. He quickly made his way to Raya's quarters where he saw her leaving her room. "Raya! Is everything all right?" Malcolm called and moved over to her. Raya grabbed his uniform and pushed him up against the wall. She began to kiss him passionately. "I'll take that as a yes then shall i?" Malcolm said with a smile as he pulled back a little.
"I wouldn't bet on that Lieutenant." At that moment Raya pulled out a phase Pistol and shot Malcolm. She then dragged him into the room. Raya had now been gagged up to prevent her from talking. Tia then tied Malcolm up so he couldn't cause any unwanted mischief. "Such a cute little thing. I can see why you like him" She commented looking at the unconscious form of Malcolm. Tia smiled at her captives.
The real Raya just glared at the impostor. Tia checked one final time that the ropes were tightly bound, and the handcuffs, now placed on Malcolm's left hand and Raya's right hand, was secure and couldn't be undone without the right tool. With that she left them both. Raya now knew it would be pointless to try and contact anyone through telepathy, as Tia would immediately pick it up.
As the doors swooshed closed Raya began to look at the ropes and see if she could wriggle out of them. It wasn't going to be easy. It wasn't long before Malcolm regained consciousness and found himself tied back to back with Raya.
She tried several times but found the bonds too tight but that didn't go to mean she didn't stop trying. She was still trying Malcolm woke. Sensing that Malcolm was awake she began to try and work the gag out of her mouth.
"Raya?" Malcolm called a little groggily. At that moment Raya managed to get the gag off.
"Before you ask any more. She's a shapeshifter."
Malcolm jerked his head round in surprise. "What?"
"Tia is a shapeshifter!"
Malcolm was still confused and a little groggy. "What's a Shapeshifter?"
"Someone who can change into other things, objects or people!"
"How do i know you're not the shapeshifter."
"Would i do anything like this to you Malcolm?" Raya said raising her voice in anger. "Just help me try and untie these ropes!"
Malcolm consented and with the joined effort they managed to untie the bonds until all that was left was the hand cuffs attached to one another's wrists.
"Let's get to the Armoury"
"Malcolm we have bigger things to worry about than these handcuffs! We've got to find Tia!"
Malcolm was about to protest when Raya gave him a stern look. He closed his mouth and nodded
"Right." They left the room and as soon as they were out of the door Malcolm turned left and Raya turned right! As they tried to move away from each other they found they were pulled back as the handcuffs prevented them from being separated "Malcolm. This way!"
"Wait a minute! I'm the one who's a lieutenant! I decide which way to go!" Malcolm pointed to himself as he began to argue with his security officer.
"I'm also the one who knows where she is!" Malcolm looked at her. He had no other argument to pursue that one. He cocked his head to one side with a slight smile and together they moved off to the right along the corridor. At almost every intersection they tried to go different ways, and when other crewmen saw them with their hands cuffed together they gave the two security officer weird looks.
"I'm gonna hate the rumours that'll be going round this ship tomorrow." Malcolm whispered through clenched teeth. Raya just shook her head and huffed. They continued on and soon found her down in a launch bay. She was standing holding Commander Tucker with a phase pistol at his head. She had also transformed back into her normal self.
"Hmm. What an unpleasant surprise. Come any closer and i will not hesitate to shoot him" She said, menacingly.
"What do you want Tia?" Malcolm asked, not too happy that his best friend had a gun to his head.
"Malcolm." Raya whispered. "It's set to kill."
"I want Raya." Tia replied.
"So why did you tie me up in my quarters!"
"Just a bit of fun." she replied and tightened her grip around Trip's neck. He winced slightly in pain as she held on tighter.
"I'm not going back to Zanar. That's the reason I've ignored the letters. So. You can go back and tell that to her." Raya said. Tia chuckled to herself. Raya glanced over her shoulder quickly and took note of exactly where the weapons cabinet was. She then looked back at Trip and Tia. 'Malcolm. We're going for a little trip. Hopefully.' Raya communicated with Malcolm telepathically. He gave her a quizzical look and suddenly they both disappeared in a flash of bright green light. They soon reappeared by the weapons cabinet. Malcolm quickly grabbed a phase pistol out, but Tia shot Raya and she fell down on the floor. Malcolm soon followed and landed heavily on his bottom. The phase pistol falling out of his hand. He then quickly scurried for the weapon and shot Tia, leaving Trip safely unharmed. He then turned his attention to Raya.
"Raya?"
Trip moved over and noticed the handcuffs. "I'll go and get the keys for ya."
Malcolm nodded as Trip left. He looked at Raya, then to the unconscious Tia. He went back to Raya though and stroked her hair hoping Trip would get back soon.
Trip soon returned with the keys and Archer. He bent down and placed the keys in the keyhole. A click was heard and the lock was released. Malcolm removed his hand and then picked Raya up carrying her off to sickbay, with Archer following asking questions. Trip picked up Tia and took her to the brig.
When they got to sickbay, Dracona was sitting on a bio bed, dangling her legs. When Archer gave a puzzled Dracona quickly answered.
"Headache." She said as Doctor Phlox moved over and injected her with something from his array of hyposprays.
Archer nodded. Malcolm gently laid Raya on another biobed. The Denobulan Doctor soon came to them.
"Malcolm, what exactly happened?"
"Tia is really a shapeshifter. She'd tied Raya up in her quarters and when i came along she did the same to me. Adding the handcuffs as an extra bit of protection, but why she did it I'm still not certain of. But it was something to do with Raya."
"I see" Archer slowly nodded. "Will she be okay Doc?"
"In a couple of hours."
"Tia must've changed the setting to stun, cause it had been on kill."
Archer nodded.
"What happened?" Dracona asked suddenly, which made the men jump.
"I'll explain later." Malcolm replied.
After a couple of hours Raya woke up and immediately headed for the Mess Hall. Malcolm had to go back to the brig to get some answers out of Tia. He entered the Mess Hall and found Raya sitting at a table talking to two of the other security members.
"Oh! Here comes the Lieutenant!" Crewman Jackson whispered to her two friends. Raya and Crewman Willer smiled. The lieutenant in question neared the table and sat down in an empty seat.
"Hi Lieutenant." The three officers greeted him as he sat down.
"Hi. You okay Raya?"
"Yeah. I'm fine now."
"Good... cause i have a question to ask you."
"What would that be?" Raya looked at Malcolm. He took a deep breath before answering.
"Will you..." Malcolm paused. He didn't really want to ask her this question in front of so many people, but he had to get it out of him. "Raya, will you marry me?"