A/N: Sorry this has taken so long. I've been having problems uploading to this site.
Continued thanks to my beta pennyforum and thank you to RigalKent who gave me some wonderful ideas for upcoming chapters.
Chapter Sixteen
"I'm sorry your visit's been cut short, Charlie," said Archer, as he and Trip walked Charles Tucker II back towards the airlock the next morning. "I've enjoyed talking to you, finding out what Trip was like as a boy."
"I haven't!" exclaimed Trip, feigning disgust that caused both Archer and his dad to smile. "It was embarrassing …"
"That's what dads are for Son," chuckled Charlie as he caught a strange expression on Captain Archers face. "He knows …"
"Tell mom, I'm sorry," asked Trip, as he hugged his father goodbye while Captain Archer input the controls to open the airlock.
"Do you want me to tell her about …"
"Yeah, tell her I'll speak to her in a few days and that she's not to worry about me."
"That'll be like asking a dog not to bark," chuckled Charlie. "I'll see what I can do. Anyway, I'm sure she'll be glad to know that Jonathan's still here watching over you," he said, looking at Archer in a way to indicate that he was aware that Archer knew their family secret. "Look after him for us, Jonathan …"
"Just like he's my own brother …" smiled back Captain Archer, knowing Charlie would catch on to his double-edged meaning. Trip seemed a bit surprised by this phrase, but didn't think much of it at that time.
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"So, what's Starfleet got for us now," asked Trip, as they walked back down the corridor.
"We're to escort a high security prisoner to a secure location," replied Captain Archer. "It seems that all the recent unrest on Earth regarding alien visitors have made Starfleet uneasy about the security surrounding him."
"Yeah, dad was talking about that. Never thought I would see the day," sighed Trip, as he shook his head in disbelief. "What's that got to do with the prisoner they want us to relocate, anyway? Who is he?"
"Dr Soong."
"The … Dr Soong who created the augment babies? He's a madman."
"I think the term 'madman' is a little strong," said Archer. "He comes across as more of a genius who was sadly led astray in his quest for power."
"Sounds like you're a little sympathetic towards him," said Trip, looking a bit surprised.
"I'm not condoning the horrors he committed. For that alone, I believe he is in the right place," replied Archer. "I just think Starfleet have overreacted in dealing with him."
"How so?" asked Trip
"I did some research on him," answered Archer. "Did you know there are rumors floating around that he's developed all sorts of cures for some rare diseases, all of which Starfleet destroyed upon his incarceration. I just wonder whether that was the right course of action on their part."
"Well considering how he probably developed those cures through unethical genetic research, I think they made the right decision," argued back Trip.
"There are people like my father or … yourself who are suffering now. Isn't it unethical to hold back a cure that could help them and relieve their families and themselves from the pain their disease inflicts? Soong may have developed a cure through questionable means, but that shouldn't exclude it from being used to benefit people now."
"I don't know, Capt'n. Genetic engineering caused a lot of suffering and pain in the past."
"But that's my whole point," argued Archer. "The only way we're going to get beyond our dark history is by using that previous evil for the good of mankind now. If Soong has developed a cure for the early stages of Clarke's Syndrome, would you turn it down and take the moral high ground, knowing that you could be saving yourself and your family a lot of unnecessary suffering?"
"I … I don't know," mused Trip, as he thought how this disease would affect them and him.
"Sometimes you have to look at the wider picture and I'm not sure Starfleet has done that in this case," said Archer softly.
After a few minutes of silence as they slowly walked down the corridor, "I think it's a moot point anyway," said Trip. "He'll be in a new secure location soon enough and I doubt Starfleet will ever reconsider releasing any of his work, even if by the remotest chance that it does exist."
"Stranger things have happened, Trip," thought Archer, as he began to formulate a plan.
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Three hours later, Jon stood at the airlock with Malcolm and T'Pol. Soong was due to be brought on board any moment and Archer wanted to make sure he was safely secured in the Brig. It wasn't that he didn't trust his Armory Officer to do his job properly, if truth be known, he wanted to satisfy his curiosity about this madman … mad scientist … you name it … who had been foisted upon them. He needed to be sure that what he had planned was the right thing and not just an act of selfish desperation on his part to save the life of his brother.
"Locks engaged, airlock is sealed," announced Reed with an air of professionalism, as he indicated for three armed MACO's beside him to take their positions.
As the door opened, a charismatic and self-assured grey haired man with his arms locked firmly together in vice-like handcuffs walked through the doors.
"Jonathan Archer," said Arik Soong with a smile. "I've been looking forward to meeting the hero who saved the planet. You have an amazing ship, I wonder if a tour would be in order?"
"With your previous history, I'd say that prospect is highly unlikely," replied Reed.
Soong threw him a questioning look. "Lieutenant Reed …?" he queried, a little unsure of whom he was talking to. Then in a teasing tone, "You're not getting yourself enough publicity."
Ignoring this snide jab, Malcolm remained in a profession stance and finished the explanation for his rebuff of the tour remark for the benefit of Archer and T'Pol. "Especially considering how you managed to reprogram a PADD to unlock every security door in the prison."
"Ahhh yes, I was particularly proud of that," replied Soong with a smirk. "I made it all the way to Sacaledo. On the rare occasion when I'm wrestling with a problem, I find that a vigorous escape attempt helps to clear my head. Out here on a star ship, soon to be at high warp, I'm sure I'll have plenty of things to wrap my mind around concerning this wondrous technology," he winked. "Who knows where I'll end up this time?"
"I can guarantee that won't happen while I'm in charge of security," answered Reed, refusing to rise to the bait.
With a smile, Soong next turned to greet T'Pol. "Commander T'Pol, I admire your people very much. We share a similar view of humanity."
"What view is that?" asked T'Pol.
"That it could stand some improvement," replied Soong with a smirk.
"That is certainly true of most species, if not all," answered T'Pol dryly, which caused Soong to chuckle.
Before he could come back with a humorous retort, Captain Archer interrupted. "If we're finished with the introductions, we have some nice quarters waiting for you in the Brig."
"The Brig?" queried Soong.
"Just a precaution … in case you need to clear your head," smiled Archer as he turned to lead them down the corridor.
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