"It appears so Commander" Reed agreed. He just couldn't figure it out. Life-signs under the water, it just didn't make any sense. But then he remembered the Aquatic Xindi. It could be them but then again it might not be.
"Any guesses on who it might be?" came a voice that was undeniably their Captain's.
It was Hoshi who spoke first; she tucked a loose strand of her black hair behind her ear. Archer and T'Pol faced her.
"It may be the Aquatic Xindi. We know they have ships of their own and maybe they landed here in search of another home."
"But isn't one home good enough?" Trip asked sceptically.
Malcolm however, disagreed with Trip.
"Not necessarily Commander,"
"Explain Lieutenant." Trip said, turning to face the Armoury Officer.
"Well, take Wolves for example. The wolf has many dens so if something bad happens in one, say another wolf has killed the dominant mother's pups she'll move on to a safer den. It's the same principle Sir, the Aquatic Xindi perhaps are preparing another home or in the process of moving," Malcolm supplied.
"I agree with Lieutenant Reed but why move?" Hoshi asked thoughtfully.
It was again Reed who supplied the answer…he had been going through the possibilities why a race would move home if that were so.
"Perhaps to escape from another race."
"Reptilians maybe?" Archer said, finally catching onto what his officer was saying to them.
"That would be a viable solution Sir"
"Well, let's head to this point and we'll go with caution" the group nodded. They continued towards the area with the mysterious life forms.
When they got the closest they could to these life forms they found an endless plain of blue. The tide lapped at their feet and they stepped away from it. Jon looked around him, asserting where they were. It was so serene here, the birds singing softly amongst the trees, the sound of the waves lapping at the ghostly white sand and the steady breathes from his companions.
He saw a boat to his left. It was pea green, which oddly reminded of something from his early childhood. He couldn't place what though so it couldn't have mattered.
"There's a boat over here" He informed them before making a start for it.
The rest followed with silent agreement although Reed was hesitant and Trip had commented he looked rather peachy.
"Ya alrigh' Loo-tenant?" Trip's accent seemed to have thickened considerably and Malcolm had difficulty in trying to decipher what the Commander had said. He figured it out eventually and nodded slightly.
"I'm fine Commander," he replied coolly. The southerner shrugged and moved on.
"Looks like we're in for a boat ride" Archer said with his usual grin. Malcolm found it slightly disconcerting how the man was always so happy. Except for a few exceptions like the incident where he heard that Archer's friend had died on Mt. McKinley.
Carefully, they boarded the small wooden craft with Malcolm bringing up the rear, he put his fear of water to the side for now but that didn't go to say his face would return with colour. His face was still pale and ghost like.
Archer took up the oars and pulled in a gentle rhythm. It took them half an hour to reach the spot where these life forms were registering. They sat in silence for a while.
"So, how are we gonna say "hello" to these guys?" Trip queried, more to himself than to anyone else.
"Perhaps knocking would work Sir" Malcolm commented lightly. His voice was slightly croaky. No guesses why Archer thought.
"Oh do tell me Malcolm, just how do you do that?" Trip snapped back.
"Hit the water Sir" Malcolm supplied rather antsy.
"Perhaps you could show the Commander what you mean Lieutenant," Said a rather calm, rational voice that Malcolm knew to be their resident Vulcan's.
Malcolm consented and put a tentative hand in the water and splashed it about. He took it out soon after, wiping the water onto his pristine uniform.
Not long after Malcolm's little stunt that the water started to toss around them. Some splashed into the boat, landing on the crewmember's uniforms. A large form jumped out from the water and went strait back in again that they only caught sight of fins. As the large form re-entered the water it sent a large spray of water onto one poor, unsuspecting person.
That person happened to be Commander Tucker. He was drenched from head to toe in salty water; he was spitting the water that had somehow managed to get in his mouth. Archer was positively laughing.
"Shut Up Cap'n. What choo laughin' at?" Trip muttered darkly. He was not pleased. "Thanks Malcolm for that,"
"Your welcome" Malcolm said croakily. Trip noted that Malcolm was not smiling which made him feel slighter better
The boat suddenly lurched. It was so sudden that Hoshi nearly fell out; Archer had grabbed her arm to stop her from falling into the deep water. The boat jumped around on the water, tossing its occupants around in the boat.
Malcolm absolutely hated it from his childhood to right now. He loathed the water so much he feared it. It was an unmerciless being willing to murder anything in its venomous path.
Suddenly, Malcolm found himself sinking. What the hell? He thought as he tried to swim upwards. He could just about hear the cries of his friend above the surface. He panicked, the water had him in her grasp and he knew there was little chance of him getting free.
He sank further into the menacing blue abyss. He tried harder to gain upwards but he just couldn't manage it. He didn't give up his vain attempts, he just couldn't. He wanted to get back to his friends and colleagues. He didn't want to be left behind.
He felt light headed and knew no more.
"Malcolm!" Trip shouted before shortly jumping into the water to go after his best friend. But the water had other ideas, it spewed him right back up again and he found himself back in the boat bone dry. He felt his chest and looked up at the others in confusion.
"Tha' was weird"
"Impossible" Whispered T'Pol. Her voice fracturing slightly at the end as she tried to explain it to herself.
The water calmed quicker than Jonathan had expected. It was as smooth as a pane of glass. They stared into the dark abyss where their English friend was sinking. They felt they knew what had happened. Malcolm hadn't resurfaced; they didn't see the panicked face of their friend. They didn't hear his frantic cries from the unknown.
"No. He can't be dead now…he just can't be" Hoshi cried. She held feelings for the man, feelings that ran deep into her veins.
"We should head back to shore" Stated T'Pol quietly. She respected the British Armoury Officer a great deal.
"No! We can't just give up on him!" Shouted an angry southerner not wanting to believe that his friend was gone forever. A lost friendship stung him hard.
Eventually they knew there was nothing more that they could do for their friend. He was lost, gone for good in the mortal realm.
They headed back to the NX-01 in silence. They thought on the life of Malcolm Stuart Reed and what he had done for them and the ship herself. They knew he deserved the best memorial they could ever do, as they knew they owed their lives to him on several, countless occasions.
What they didn't know was that Malcolm Stuart Reed was far from dead.
A/N: Ooohhoh...crunchy stuff eh? Please leave a message...the purple button awaits you...go on press it...ya know ya want to.