A/N: Dennis, I'd love to know which five. Ed, thanks! And yes, Harris is indeed the same man from Section 31 in the Klingon arc … and the Terra Prime arc.
Thanks all for your comments. Reviews are a beautiful thing; they spark the imagination and soul … even when unfavorable.
If it's confusing, please don't be afraid to let me know.
Jonathan Archer sat at his desk, nervously twiddling his thumbs. It was exactly 1000 hours and the urge to pace around the room was nearly overpowering, except that the man wanted to get to the call Dr. Phlox would make right away … even before his assistant did.
After looking at the clock one more time, the temptation to leave his chair was too great, and he found himself striding across his room deep in thought. Waiting.
As he made his way from one of the room to another, he thought about the whirlwind of the past few days. Walking the halls wasn't as warm and chummy as it had always been; people marched down each corridor with a sense of purpose … with mission. Turning down hallway after hallway he smelled something in the air: change, dramatic change.
I think it started the day T'Pol came.
Rousing him from his thoughts, his monitor beeped and he ran across his room to get to it.
"Admiral, I have news on our patient," Phlox said. His eyes narrowed and a grimace covered his face. It was 1035 hours.
Archer quickly fumbled to encrypt the message. "Go ahead."
The doctor sighed. "He's Orion."
"What about his appearance?"
"It's been altered."
"How do you know for certain?"
"He has a hollow antennae."
"And that--"
"Along with the scans confirms his identity."
Archer's jaw tensed and he threw his eyes to the other end of the room.
"I didn't think you'd like this news."
"Have you double-checked?" Archer asked.
"Yes." He hesitated and then continued. "I walked by his cell, indicating I was there to talk with a patient, Dr. Soong, in the neighboring one and scanned him surreptitiously. The readings were clear and unmistakable. Luckily Dr. Soong didn't give me away."
Archer shook his head. No one would believe Dr. Soong even if he did mention something; the man had seemingly gone insane rattling off ideas about androids who looked like humans.
"While I was there, I saw someone who you might remember," Phlox said. "He was talking to the prisoner."
"Who?" And before the Denobulan could continue, Archer knew exactly who would be there. If there was a breach near Starfleet HQ, this man would be on top of it … and possibly even involved in the intrigue.
"Harris," Phlox said.
Captain Reed's words came back to the admiral and flittered around his brain – his chance meeting in the hall with Tamor and his observation that the prisoner wasn't who everyone thought he was. Although Reed was brilliant, unquestionably the best tactical officer in Starfleet, he wasn't omniscient.
Captain Reed works for Section 31.
It made too much sense. Reed's promotion to captain happened quickly … too fast for a regular officer who'd been in the ranks as long as he had, despite his military prowess. Only reinforcing the notion was: his assignment to identify which aircraft fired the weapon on Columbia and his warning against involving Harris.
There was no doubt in Archer's mind: Reed worked for Section 31. Either was still paying his dues, or he was tempted by the mystery around the organization again.
With a bent head, he realized the former had to be true. Although Reed never told him, he knew the information they'd learned about Terra Prime – the information that Harris provided to find T'Pol and Trip's child - came with a price; Malcolm was not just invited back to work for the super secret organization … he was expected to be one of the operatives.
The missing piece was having Reed suggest not involve Harris and to scan Tamor; it meant Reed wanted Archer to know he was working for that group. It meant this was possibly even more dire than the admiral had imagined.
"Admiral?" Phlox asked, breaking the silence.
"At your first opportunity--" Archer began.
"I'll be there as soon as possible to give you the evidence firsthand, sir."
The screen faded and Archer leaned back in his chair in disbelief.
I'll talk with Captain Reed in person.
When T'Pol entered the Council room, she looked around to see the ambassadors milling about. The ten to fifteen minutes before each session, she noticed that some of the group made small talk and sometimes attempted to negotiate advantages with members. Staron never engaged in it, instead he always took his place in his seat while folding his hands lamely in his lap and staring into space. The Vulcan woman raised her brow at him and then proceeded toward him cautiously.
"If you do not wish to be here, you could wait until the council session starts."
"Ambassador Soval believed it was important for me to be here."
She wanted to sigh, but stifled it. "I didn't mean to indicate you aren't needed. It … it seems you find the interaction before session a chore."
He didn't disagree.
"From now on, why don't you join me at the start of the session," she said.
"Gral is always late."
"I've noticed. Not everyone is as punctual as Vulcans."
He gave a sharp nod. "Ambassador?"
"Yes?"
"You have maintained your friendships with … humans, including living with one."
He was talking about Jonathan.
"Our cohabitation is merely one of convenience," she said. "I haven't had time to find a place to stay."
His reaction was skeptical. "Do you think it looks appropriate for you to stay with him?"
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"He is a representative from Starfleet. By living with him, it may seem he always has your full support." Because she didn't speak, he continued. "As the humans say, it appears he has you in his pocket."
"I agree with him when I believe it's in the best interest of the Council or Vulcan."
"He has asked to interrogate you."
"Not interrogate, question in relation to the Ambassador from Andoria. I believe it is in the best interest of the Council to do so."
"Is it in the best interest of Vulcan?"
"If there is another traitor in our midst, it may negatively affect Vulcan. Yes."
"Most of the Council believe the two of you to be … involved."
The idea seemed too preposterous, so she had to clarify. "Involved?"
"You cohabitate. There have been some who have seen you touch him – something many know Vulcans rarely do. You have supported him when others, in this Council, have not. Yes, it appears that you two are involved."
Confusion spread over her features. "We're friends."
"Ambassador, if you want my counsel, you will find your own living establishment as soon as possible and distance yourself from the human."
The woman blinked. Just as she was about to respond to her assistant, Gral waddled in with a beaming smile covering his face causing his snout to crinkle with glee.
"I've asked the Andorian General, on behalf of this Council, to have Shran represent them."
What was a light buzz when he entered the room suddenly gave way to absolute silence. T'Pol could feel every ambassador wait for what they would call good news.
"He has agreed."
Bagdol, the Rigelian Ambassador, gave a light cheer and Sera, the Xindi one, smiled. Darag, the S'Ahad, gave an excited shout that sounded somewhere between a honk and a caw. Merah, from Veral, clapped and even Neville Simon, the Earth's mousy ambassador, tapped his hands together weakly. The other members had broken into full throttled joy. Even Staron stood, his eyebrow poked high against his bangs as if giving his approval.
T'Pol remained sitting, feeling her mouth slope ever so slightly down.
Gral pushed his hands in front of his chest and snorted. "Quiet, quiet. I have further news. Please be seated."
Everyone made their way to their chairs. As Gral climbed into his, he looked down the table at T'Pol and grunted.
"Skinny, you shouldn't be so sad. Having Shran here will feel like times of old."
She didn't comment.
Gral said, "The General has agreed to send him right away. He should arrive tomorrow on the Katara."
"I believed Shran to be an enemy of the state," she said.
The last she'd heard, the Andorian had been tossed out of the Imperial Guard and was supposedly on the run with his wife – if that's what she was – and child. It was hard to fathom that he'd been welcomed back into the fold so readily and so quickly.
"Whatever his relationship with Andoria, the General agreed without convincing. He himself indicated the man was the … logical … choice."
T'Pol's lips flattened.
Gral said, "I've spoken to Admiral Gardner. There will be a welcoming reception for him in three days time. I hope you will all be there."
His eyes found her and she didn't respond.
As the little pig rambled on about Shran, Sera, sitting to T'Pol's left, leaned over.
"Ambassador, perhaps he will be a welcome addition. You have a history with him, but he is respected throughout the universe … at least my people find him worthy," Sera said.
"I hope I am proven wrong," T'Pol said.
Interrupting the two, Gral spoke up on the first order of business. "The Vulcan Ambassador has volunteered to be questioned by Admiral Archer first."
T'Pol was silent, but heard a murmur from the other side of the table. Xemax, the Denobulan ambassador, while smiling grotesquely, indicated it was no surprise.
"The admiral asked me to do so," T'Pol said in her own defense. "Vulcan has nothing to hide, and neither do I."
"Why didn't he ask the Earth ambassador? Isn't he going to be questioned?" Darag asked.
Neville shrugged and quietly spoke. "I presume I'll be asked. I haven't heard from President Gral or Admiral Archer yet."
There was a slight hubbub until Gral pounded his fist on the table while snorting. The noise finally caught the attention of the room.
"This Council agreed to being questioned. Ambassador T'Pol is doing her duty," Gral said.
Merah spoke up. "We can vote again to avoid questioning."
"That vote has come and gone," Sera said. "If each member of this Council won't agree to be questioned, then … I will advise my government to ask Starfleet to hold us here."
Another commotion began.
Bagdol said over the noise, "We're assuming there's another traitor. What if none exists. This could be Starfleet's attempt to take over. They could've fabricated the data regarding Columbia."
T'Pol's eyes flew to the Earth ambassador who was quiet, so she decided to speak up. "If Starfleet was interested in dissolving this Council, they could've done so long ago. Admiral Archer was instrumental in the foundation of this organization. It wouldn't be logical for him to destroy it now."
"Nathan Samuel was the founder of this group, not the admiral," Neville said.
The Council room was quiet.
Neville said, "Jonathan Archer has never been a diplomat; he's a military commander, Ambassador. Pure and simple. He doesn't have the interests of Earth in mind, he has the interests of Starfleet."
T'Pol felt her face flush with anger, but she controlled her temper before speaking. She felt Staron's eyes on her regardless, as if he could feel her emotions.
She said, "Ambassador Simon, I understand you were an aid to the prime minister while he was in power, but you were not there at the founding of the coalition or Federation. Gral himself can tell you of the admiral's importance. Do not use this pulpit to besmirch the admiral's good name."
Gral gave a grunt and nodded his head.
T'Pol continued. "If the admiral believes there is a traitor in our midst and wants to question this council, I will support him … not because I served with him, but because he is correct. Everything the admiral has done as a military commander has helped create this Federation. Everything. If you are not aware of that, sir, you are a greater fool than I supposed."
Neville stood up. "I resent that!"
T'Pol quipped an eyebrow at him, but remained silent.
Sera weighed in. "Ambassador T'Pol is correct when she says the Admiral Archer was instrumental. Without his involvement during the Xindi War, we never would've achieved peace with you. And your planet may now well be dust … as well as my own."
Neville sneered and looked around the room, but no one rose to his defense.
"President Gral, I volunteer to be the second one questioned," Sera said.
Gral shook his head. "I will be second. You will have to be third." His snout twitched in the air and his pointy teeth showed – his version of a smile. The Tellarite went on with the meeting and the rest of the ambassadors listened contently; only Neville glared at T'Pol from time-to-time while the Vulcan ignored him.
As business continued, and they'd moved on, T'Pol thought back to Staron's comments: she wondered whether he was right about the Council's question of her allegiance. Her friendship with Jonathan, and how visible it was, could in the long run hurt them both. Inquiries about her loyalty would continue to come up and rumors that the two were intimate, no matter how false, would damage their careers or reputations.
Something else bothered her. Now more than ever, it was important to show the Council that she was neutral … an unbiased voice. She wouldn't be able to serve Vulcan without that reputation. Knowing the admiral, one of the most famous faces of Earth and someone who spoke to the Council regularly, may prevent her from appearing balanced.
If being his friend would harm her reputation and office, continuing to live with him would be catastrophic.
Silently, she made a promise to spend the afternoon, while recessed and before being questioned, looking for an apartment.
Phlox presented the evidence to Archer as they sat in his office. The facts were irrefutable. Sound. Tight. Logical. The only problem was: either it was a sham to General Krag of Andoria or suddenly the Andorians were working with the Orions.
"Why did the Orion decide to appear as an Andorian?" Archer asked. The question was rhetorical, but surprisingly Phlox had an answer.
"Orion and Andorian physiology is similar. There are small differences that one would have to scrutinize to be able to tell."
"You were able to ascertain it quickly."
"I knew, in essence, what I was looking for. You asked me to scan to ensure he was an Andorian. The only four species he could've been were: Andorian, Veral, Aenar or Orion. Each one has a distinct difference: the Aenar have a small genome difference, but look quite similar. The Veral have a slightly larger heart, and could be confused if that Veral has a pulmonary disease. Orions have larger lungs, and could be confused if the patient has a respiratory disease."
"And you knew this Andorian didn't have a respiratory disease?"
"Because one antennae was hollow."
Archer had been wondering about this. "Couldn't an Andorian have an antennae replacement?"
"They could, but the Ambassador had no other sign of ailment. Admiral, I'd stake my reputation on my diagnosis."
That was good enough for Archer. He nodded.
"Something is afoot," Phlox mentioned. "You've asked me to determine the brain patterns as you question the Council. You believe one of them is a traitor?"
"It certainly seems that way."
The Denobulan bowed his head. "When I was in the military, I had to perform acts I didn't like. I helped to question prisoners by giving them a truth serum."
"I didn't ask you to do that."
"They told me everything. They confessed to cheating on their wife, deceiving commanding officers, contracting embarrassing illnesses, starting fights – yet blaming others, causing ugly domestic disputes and even soiling themselves on capture."
Archer frowned. "I'm not asking you to do that, Phlox."
"It's disgraceful. It sickened me. I should never have known what was in their minds."
"We don't need any of that. I just want to confirm that they're telling me the truth."
"On Earth you have the Hippocratic oath. Its basic principle is to do no harm."
"I'm not asking you to harm them."
"On Denobula, our oath is: heal. What I'll be performing isn't healing anyone."
"Doctor, what you'll be doing is to help protect people in the future. Think of what we could've done if we'd learned of the Xindi attack before it happened; we could've stopped it."
The doctor trained his eyes on his feet.
"And I would've done anything … anything … to stop the Xindi … to prevent seven million people from dying," Archer said. "The attack on the freighters, Tamor's real identity, the destruction of Columbia …. I'm afraid the Orions and Arali are up to something, and if anything else happens that war will break out."
Phlox's blue eyes met his and he leaned toward his physician.
Archer said, "I'll do everything in my power to ensure that doesn't happen. I understand your reservations, but I need your help more than ever."
The Denobulan closed his eyes. Archer could only imagine what the man was thinking – ruminating about the current peace of the region, his allegiance to Starfleet or maybe his first grandchild. Slowly, he opened his eyes and the severity of the look made the admiral suck in a breath.
"When is our first appointment?" Phlox asked.
Jon bowed his head in relief. "Tomorrow. 1700 hours. I'll ensure you're not in the room."
"I don't need to hide, Admiral. Although I suspect you'll want to increase my clearance."
The Denobulan packed his scanner and PADD that contained the evidence carefully in a bag and silently made his way to the door.
"Thank you," Archer said.
The physician gave a simple nod, his back to the admiral, and walked out the door. Upon Phlox's departure, Archer stared at the floor hoping he made the right decision. The doctor had always been scrupulous; his ethics meant everything to him.
That's something I've admired, even when I didn't agree.
This wasn't the first time Archer had asked him to cast them aside, and this wasn't the first time the doctor had agreed to do so despite misgivings.
The intercom buzzed, shaking him from his thoughts. It was Diane, his assistant.
"Sir, Captain Reed is here to see you."
Archer frowned. "Send him in."
TBC