Author Notes: Thanks for the reviews, they mean a lot.

Chapter 10: Scars

Sara leapt up onto the table to watch the actions of the four new people. They were waiting for Jamie and Alex before Katrina questioned the Starfleet personnel. Malcolm hadn't said a word since the drop off incident, and only stared intently at the three old faces and the one new one. The last two remaining crewmembers entered the living area, "Sorry I'm late, Cap'n." Jamie apologised, "But you did nothing for the crystals in that last stunt. Who the hell are they?"

Katrina folded her arms, "That's what we're about to find out."

Archer stepped forwards, and addressed her as if she was some ambassador, not an illegal cargo runner who hated authority, "I am Captain Jonathan Archer, of the Starfleet exploration ship Enterprise, from Earth. This is my science officer Commander T'pol, my chief engineer, Commander Tucker, and," he faltered slightly, his eyes flicking to Malcolm, "My Armoury officer, Lieutenant Richmond. If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to proceed to Earth as quickly as possible, and also have a private word with Lieutenant Reed."

Katrina smirked in amusement, "Earth is a teensy bit out of our drive's capability. As for this Lieutenant Reed, never heard of him, sorry."

T'pol stated, "He is sitting right there." She gestured at Malcolm.

Katrina frowned for a second, and then turned to her friend, "Huh. Reed suits you, but drop the Lieutenant; I told you before, needless information." She turned back to Captain Archer, "Sorry mate, I don't let strangers take my crewmembers out of my sight, especially if they act like a Covenant general."

"He's part of Starfleet."

"He's part of my crew."

"Let's stop this before it starts shall we children?" Malcolm interrupted the two captains. "As neither of you knows exactly what is going on, I think you should just shut up for a sec. We need to sort this out before someone gets shot."

Malcolm took a deep breath; this was going to be awkward. "Basically, Katrina, these people are from my old life. I served aboard the flagship of Earth as the Armoury officer-"

Ryan couldn't keep his mouth shut, "Wait, so you mean they're not kidding? They've actually been to Earth?"

T'pol tilted her head, "I was not aware there were that many human colonies. Have you not been to Earth?"

"Not bloody likely. Can't even speak Eegish, or whatever the hell the Cap'n calls it."

Malcolm smiled, "English. Anyway, ever since the incident with the Orions, I never returned to Starfleet, for reasons which you must know by now. For the past year and a half, I've served on cargo ships."

Trip glared, "What do you mean? I personally would really like to know why you didn't try and hitch a ride on a ship back to Earth. We thought you were dead!"

Realization dawned on Alex as she suddenly put together all of the references to Earth, "You don't know, do you?"

"Know what?" Archer exploded.

Malcolm realised what Alex was getting at, and lowered his voice so as not to provoke a too big a reaction, "We are further from Earth than you have ever been. Two years ago, I was taken through a wormhole by the Pensari that bought me, just like hundreds of humans before me. It is impossible to traverse the wormhole, or even get close. We're in another galaxy."

"That's impossible." Richmond spoke for the first time, "We didn't come through any 'wormhole'; we just got thrown through an internal transporter."

Jamie offered, "According to the Sanctum's scans, you just appeared on its surface. We should wait for my sister to contact me. She might have some information as to what happened."

"We need to lie low for a bit; I can't say the Covenant liked us showing our faces again. As for you four…" Katrina turned to Malcolm, "What d'ya think?"

Malcolm tilted his head and asked Richmond, "How long have you served on the Enterprise?"

"Just over a year and a half, sir."

Malcolm wrinkled his nose, "For god's sake, don't call me sir. If you succeeded in staying alive in that time, and gained Archer's trust, then I guess you're alright." He nodded to Katrina, "We might as well keep them as passengers until we can work out how they came to be here."

"Everyone okay with that?" The crew of the Eclipse each gave a consenting nod. "Alright then. Show them some quarters, and then have them report down to the cockpit. If they want to eat then they can pitch in. Jamie?"

The engineer looked up, "Yes Cap'n?"

"We got enough spare crystals?"

Jamie grimaced, "We could run on a bare minimum, but I'll have to rig a few systems together; it'll do nothing for the engines."

"Do what you can." Jamie nodded and left, Katrina turned to the others, "Same goes for the rest of you. Alex, I need you to help me find a suitable drift once we're back online."

"Whoa!" Archer stepped quickly towards Katrina. Immediately, Ryan had levelled a gun to his face, making him freeze.

Malcolm sighed, "Ry, put the gun down; he's not a Nexritu." Grudgingly, Ryan complied. Malcolm made a gesture, "You were saying?"

Jonathan looked thrown for a second, then cleared his throat, "Don't we get a say in this? We'd really like to know what's going on."

Katrina rolled her eyes in impatience, "Look, come to the cockpit and I'll explain, or I'll get someone else to. Right now, I'm busy." Without leaving any more room for protest, she strode out.

The rest of the crew dispersed, leaving Malcolm and Sara to guide their new additions to their quarters. Trip nudged Malcolm, asking a question that had been nagging on his mind, "Um, Malcolm? What did you do to your hair?"

Malcolm smirked, "I blame her." He gestured to Sara who was scuttling up the ladder.

Sara twisted to face them, "More interesting now though, ain't it?"

Malcolm rolled his eyes, "Get up the bloody ladder."

Sara disappeared onto the next level, her voice floating down, "Watch your mouth!"

Malcolm sighed and climbed up after her. Archer turned to Trip, "I can't believe that's Malcolm."

"I dunno Cap'n; I always had the impression that if I wasn't his commanding officer, he might have acted different round me. And he has been away two years."

"I know Trip, but what happened in those two years? We need to talk to him alone."

"I think I'd know if someone was there, Mal; I never let anyone copy my act." Ryan lent against the wall, observing his friend checking the cargo hold for the fourth time. When Malcolm ignored him, he continued, "You're gonna have to face them sometime. I doubt the Cap'n will serve you meals down here, or let you sleep down here."

Malcolm didn't look up, "Who says I'm avoiding them?"

"Even the Vulcan knows you're avoiding them! And they're dense."

Malcolm smirked, "Nice to know you hold aliens in such high regard."

"Hey, all I need to know is how far I can push them and whether they'll kill me or not."

"Don't you have work to do?"

"Don't you?" Ryan shot back.

Malcolm gave up his checks and gave Ryan a long suffering look, "Tell Katrina I'll be up for dinner."

"Sure." Ryan grinned to himself as he watched Malcolm continue his checks, "If you find any more of that lovely blue goo, give me a shout."

Malcolm showed Ryan's retreating back a considerably uncivilised gesture; he'd never live that one down.

Dinner was awkward – for Archer and Trip that was. T'pol stoutly ignored the tension, while Richmond had nothing to be particularly awkward about. Malcolm followed T'pol's example and had his back to the crew of Enterprise, talking to Jamie. The rest of the Eclipse's crew acted normally. As soon as possible, Malcolm rose and turned to Katrina, "I'm gonna get some sleep, wake me if there's anything wrong. Night guys."

Trip watched him go, and muttered to Captain Archer, "I'm gonna go talk to him." He excused himself and left the room.

Malcolm had told them all whose quarters belonged to who earlier, so Trip knew where to look. There was no bell, so he thumped once on the door. A few seconds, and then the door slid open. Malcolm stood in the doorway, topless; he didn't look surprised, "I figured it'd be you first."

Trip didn't answer; he couldn't take his eyes off Malcolm. As Malcolm turned away into his room, Trip's breath caught. All across his friend's chest and back were streaks and channels, a complex interwoven web of white scarring; someone's legacy. Malcolm scowled and grabbed a t-shirt from the floor, yanking it on. Trip stepped into the mess, allowing the door to shut behind him. Malcolm sat on the bed, not caring that his boots were still on, leaned against the wall and gestured for Trip to sit, "It was hardly a picnic, you know."

"Mal, I'm sorry."

"Why? You don't know what life is like here, you weren't to know."

"Yeah, but your back-"

"It healed a long time ago Trip. With any luck, the bastard got stabbed in the back."

"I tried to find you, ya know. But no one thought you were alive, and after three months when Jon signed your death certificate-"

Malcolm let out a bitter laugh, "Nice to know how much faith he had in me. When did you..?"

Trip fidgeted, "Not until Shran told me about the Pensari a while later. I always had a hope you were alive, but I guess I began to realise that your chances of survival were small."

Malcolm nodded, picking at a loose thread on the bedspread. Trip cleared his throat, "But that's all over now, right? As soon as we figure out how we got here, you can return home, back to Enterprise, and Earth."

Malcolm refused to meet his old commander's eyes, "I haven't decided yet. I have a new life here, whereas if I return, I'll have to build a whole new one."

Trip looked at him incredulously, "What do you mean? You gotta come back!"

"Why?" Malcolm remained calm, while Trip looked hurt and his face showed the beginnings of anger.

"What d'ya mean why? We're your friends! We've known you longer than these people!"

"Not necessarily. You've been my colleagues for longer than they have, but I wouldn't say you've known me longer."

Trip was lost for words for a minute, then, "I don't believe I'm hearing this!" His voice rose, "You have to-"

Malcolm stood up sharply, "Shut up."

Trip was about to protest, until he recognised Malcolm's calculating look. He watched as the ex-armoury officer drew his sidearm and strode to the door. The door slid open and Malcolm was pointing his gun in the face of the spy. Trip was shocked when he saw that Malcolm was threatening a small human girl. "Mal! What the hell are you doing? It's just a kid!"

Malcolm didn't lower or discharge his gun, "Move." He hissed at the girl; she didn't blink or say a word. Trip could only watch in confusion as Malcolm shoved the girl down to the level below.

Katrina was talking to T'pol when Malcolm strode in, followed by Trip. He shoved forward a small figure and kept his gun steady to her head. Captain Archer frowned, "Trip, what…"

Ryan stood up and also raised his gun, glaring with contempt at the small girl. Sara jumped off of her chair, "Echo!"

"Don't move Sara." Ryan spat out.

In outrage, Alex rose and yelled, "Ryan! Malcolm! Lower your guns! You are pointing them at a harmless child! Stop being so stupid!"

Ryan glared, "I told you there was something weird about her! We left her at the monastery, so how the hell did she get on here before us? I didn't trust her then, so I sure as hell don't now."

"You stowed away and we accepted you! Why is she any different?"

"Stop this right now!" Katrina shouted, "Ryan, lower your gun. I want everyone except Malcolm and Echo sat down. Now!"

Everyone complied. Katrina switched to English so the girl wouldn't understand, "What do you reckon?"

"Why should we trust her? She was listening outside my quarters, Katrina, and she sneaked back on. What if us finding her wasn't an accident?"

"Mal, no one would bother going to those lengths. Maybe she is just scared and alone. We've taken in enough strays over time, what's one more?"

"Katrina…"

"I know. But we can't do anything about it now. She is just a kid Mal; we know that from the last med tests Alex did. For now, she stays."

Malcolm grudgingly lowered his gun, then spat in Ri'kyan, a language only he and Katrina knew from their time on the Hephaestus. They only knew the basics, but it was enough to get his point across, "If she tries anything, I will shoot her."

Katrina nodded in acceptance.

To Be Continued…

Author Notes: How did you like this chapter? Please let me know your thoughts!