—Chapter 05—
"How is she, Doctor," said Archer.
The boarding party had reported Humbold's loss, brought back some data on the hard-drive which Trip had taken from the Seleya's Medical Bay, and which Hoshi had translated for Phlox. In addition, they'd also brought back a Vulcan female, which Phlox had sedated almost immediately, which had displeased the Captain, though medical decisions were out of his hands. But eight hours had passed since then, and Captain Archer was here for answers.
"She's in bad shape, Captain," said Phlox. "So bad, that even heavily medicated she was hallucinating and paranoid. I understand she's been that way the entire time since the boarding party found her. I sedated her in hopes of some improvements when she wakes."
"What's her prognosis?"
"Uncertain, for now. Look," said Phlox, indicating the EKG monitor readouts, "her heartbeat is wildly erratic, where we should be seeing a nice, regular pattern. And here, notice her brain wave activity, compared to these lines, which represent the norm for her species. I am optimistic by nature, Captain, but we may lose her, either to madness, or death."
"I need to speak with her," said Archer.
"Impossible, Captain," said Phlox. "She needs her rest!"
"Doctor," said Archer, "the crew of the Seleya numbers some three hundred souls. I need every bit of information to determine if they can be saved, or not. I need to speak to her."
"Very well," said Phlox, "but a few minutes only, Captain! Do you understand?"
"Yes, Doctor," said Archer, knowing how ruthless a tyrant Phlox could be in service to his patients.
"Make certain that you do," said Phlox, and administered a stimulant.
T'Pol woke slowly, and opened her eyes to find herself in what was clearly a medical bay, attended by a Denobulan holding a hypo-spray, and a Human with the insignia of a StarFleet captain on his uniform. She recalled something of what she'd gone through recently, and struggled to piece it all together, when the Denobulan spoke.
"Greetings, T'Pol," said the Denobulan. "I am Phlox, the ship's doctor, and you're in my Sick Bay aboard the Enterprise."
"Doctor," said T'Pol. "What is my condition?"
"Uncertain at the moment, but I hope to bring about improvements in your condition, with time," said Phlox. "I spent a year training on Vulcan, becoming familiar with the biological processes of your species, and more time since then, keeping up with current medical knowledge from the Vulcan Medical Database, so I am certain that factor will be helpful here."
T'Pol nodded, and said, "Thank you, Doctor."
She looked at the Human captain.
"Good morning," said the Human. "I understand your name is T'Pol, but if you'd rather I used your rank, I'll do so."
"T'Pol will do, Captain," said T'Pol.
The man nodded, and said, "So you're familiar with StarFleet's ranks and insignia. I'm Jonathan Archer."
T'Pol looked at the man, and said, "I am grateful that you responded to our distress call."
"I understand that you're the Deputy Science Officer, so tell me, what the hell happened to the Seleya, T'Pol?"
"Nine months ago, we embarked on a mission to chart the thermobaric clouds surrounding the Delphic Expanse," said T'Pol. "After several days, the Seleya was caught in a subspace eddy and we were pulled into the Expanse. Once in the Expanse, we were subject to unusual gravimetric anomalies, which caused serious damage to the Seleya, but we were told that Trellium-D would protect us from those anomalies, if we but found a source of Trellium ore, and lined our hull with the element Trellium-D, refined from the ore."
"Why not simply turn back towards your sector of space immediately?" said Archer.
"Among the damage we suffered from the first gravimetric anomaly was damage to our warp engines, and while our engineers returned warp function to the Seleya in a matter of days, it was not enough," said T'Pol. "We were limited to Warp 1.8"
"I see," said Archer, understanding now: at Warp 1.8, it would have taken the Seleya some eighteen years to return back to Vulcan.
"Captain Voris realized we could not simply wait around for rescue," said T'Pol, "though it was our best hope. We had to cover our hull with Trellium-D, then travel the region of the Expanse in which we'd found ourselves, on a search for facilities capable of producing the warp engine parts we required to fully repair our warp engines, so we left a buoy explaining our situation to any potential Vulcan rescuers and began looking for Trellium ore."
"Logical," said Archer, encouraging the Vulcan to continue her story.
"We considered ourselves fortunate to stumble across this asteroid field, as these asteroids were loaded with Trellium ore," said T'Pol, "so Captain Voris ordered that our shields be brought to maximum strength, and we waded out into that field in search of the richest deposits of Trellium. The asteroids were no danger to us, given our shields, but we soon noticed various undesirable effects occurring among the crew. Uncontrolled outbursts of emotion, and even violence, began occurring regularly, and my superior, Science Officer Vo'Lek, urged Captain Voris to take us out of the asteroid field, for he had determined that the very Trellium ore we were so desperately after was the cause of our crew's emotional volatility."
"I take it that Captain Voris did not listen to Vo'Lek's advice," said Archer, Phlox a silent witness.
"He did not," said T'Pol. "He feared the effects of the gravimetric anomalies on our ship more than some minor scuffles among the crew, and insisted that we continue moving slowly through the asteroid field, collecting and processing asteroids in order to extract enough Trellium-D from Trellium ore. Given the size of the Seleya, you can infer that we needed to process a great many asteroids, in order to extract enough Trellium-D for our needs. During this entire time, the acts of violence increased, but we were making such progress in collecting ore and refining Trellium-D that we believe we'd have enough to cover the hull of the Seleya in a few more weeks."
"Yes," said Archer. "Go on, T'Pol."
"I am not certain what brought on the act," said T'Pol, "but one of our Marines, or a team of them, scuttled the Seleya's engines, and blew a hole in our hull in the process. Suddenly, we lost the power to leave the asteroid field, and we also lost the power to generate shields, and the ship began to take a beating from the asteroids moving unpredictably around us."
T'Pol began coughing now, and it took a few minutes before she was able to continue her story.
"We had been in the Expanse for two months now," said T'Pol, "and we were surprised and dissapointed that the High Command had not sent a rescue ship for us."
"They did, T'Pol," said Archer. "The Vankaara."
"Well, the Vankaara never found us," said T'Pol.
"She suffered the same fate as the Seleya, minus the asteroids," said Archer. "The crew went mad and killed each other off. It's possible that they purchased some Trellium-D in order to coat the ship's hull as well. We've run across one such mining facility that had ore for sale, and there must be many others, given the importance of this element in the Expanse. Or they could have made contact with the element some other way."
"Perhaps," said T'Pol, saddened at the loss of two fine ships, and two fine crews.
"I begin to suspect," said Phlox, after noting with concern, T'Pol's brain wave patterns, "that the Expanse itself, or rather the unusual gravimetric anomalies, are causing a sensitivity in the Vulcan mind, and that this Trellium-D, which is apparently a Vulcan neuro-toxin, may just intensify the effects caused by the anomalies in the Expanse."
"How is it that you've resisted these effects, longer than the other Vulcans, T'Pol?" said Archer. "Trip tells me that you're the only normal Vulcan they saw on the Seleya."
"We had always expected rescue," said T'Pol, "and hoped for it, but after the Seleya's engines were sabotaged by the Marine, our situation grew truly dire, and Captain Voris ordered myself, and three others, to stock a shuttle with food, and seek out help. We did what we could, by dropping automated distress buoys outside the asteroid field at various points, and then searched the region for any signs of intelligent life which could aid the Seleya, but with the limited range of a shuttle, it was not surprising that we had no luck, though we searched desperately."
Phlox noted once more the Vulcan's erratic brain wave patterns which were getting more and more disorganized, and noted that the EKG showed that the electrical patterns of her heartbeat were becoming more irregular.
"Captain," said Phlox, "I think she's had about enough for now."
"Give me just a moment longer, Doctor," said Archer, "she's almost at the end of it."
"T'Pol?" said Phlox.
"I will be all right, Doctor," she said. "In any case, we searched for three months, checking in with the Seleya periodically, and we noted that our contact became more and more sporadic, as if no one was manning the Comm station, and when we did get a response, the response was erratic. We were already deeply concerned, but helpless."
Archer nodded, urging T'Pol to continue, though noting that she was clawing her thigh unconsciously. Phlox noted her readings once more, and moved around, preparing another sedative hypo-spray dose.
"Topek, our mission leader, took us back to the Seleya," said T'Pol, "in order to restock our food supplies, and get an overview of the situation, and what we found aboard the Seleya shocked us, and frankly, frightened us. The crew had turned into wolves, and only iron clad discipline, enforced with knives, stun batons, and phasers still kept order aboard the Seleya. They'd been inside the asteroid field for some three months, and we had no good news for them, but Captain Voris ordered our shuttle restocked, and sent us out there once more, most likely to keep us safe, for it was clear to me that he had given up hope. So off we went once more, for another three months."
T'Pol kept clawing at her thigh, and green blood now flowed from her flesh. Archer gently grasped her hand and T'Pol, realizing her action for the first time, made a fist, embarrassed by her lack of control.
"Captain," said Phlox. "Enough."
"It will only take a few seconds more to finish my story, Doctor," said T'Pol.
"Make it quick, T'Pol," said Phlox, and he was about to say more, but the door slid open, and Phlox saw Captain Tucker enter the Sick Bay.
"Hey, T'Pol," said Trip, with eyes only for the Vulcan. "It's good to see you again."
"Commander Tucker," said T'Pol. "A pleasure."
Commander Tucker's presence was a pleasure for Doctor Phlox as well, for he noted, interestingly, the Vulcan's physiological response to the commander's presence. The brainwave patterns which indicated her internal distress assumed a more controlled pattern, and if they were not normal, there was still a vast improvement. Her EKG readings, likewise. Oh, this was interesting!
"I hope you're feeling better," said Trip. "I came by here to check up on you several times, but this is the first time I've caught you awake."
"Doctor Phlox has chosen to sedate me," said T'Pol.
"And for good reason, T'Pol," said Phlox. "Now, finish up your story, because I plan to sedate you once more."
"Yes," said T'Pol. "As I was saying, the Seleya was lost in the Expanse for two months, and then trapped inside the asteroid field for six months more, while I, and the rest of the shuttle's crew spent only a matter of weeks inside the asteroid field. We were afraid to go back to the Seleya, for what contact we still had with the ship indicated that chaos and violence were the norm now, so we stretched out our food supply, hoping still for rescue from Vulcan, but finally, three weeks ago, we decided to reboard the ship, in search of food."
T'Pol sighed, and fell silent, clearly losing herself in the memory of it all. Finally, she spoke again.
"We docked our shuttle in the Launch Bay on Deck 8," said T'Pol, "and made our way inside cautiously. It was a madhouse, but we managed to make our way to the kitchen storerooms undetected, mainly due to Topek's intimate knowledge of the ship. We grabbed all the food we could carry, and began to make our way back to the shuttle, but this time we were detected and swarmed, so we dropped the food and ran. Topek was captured, and hacked apart, while we kept running. We hid then, for days, while waiting for a chance to return to the shuttle, as we found the thought of a peaceful death aboard the shuttle more agreeable than being torn apart by Vulcans, turned feral."
"Jesus," said Trip, for given his experiences onboard the Seleya, he could picture T'Pol predicament quite easily given his time onboard the Seleya.
T'Pol made eye contact with the commander, read his compassion for her in his eyes, and gained strength from it.
"So we hid and waited, but when we finally made our way back to the Launch Bay, the door would not open. An asteroid had smashed into the Launch Bay, depressurizing it, and destroying our shuttle. Even if we had managed to find some EV suits, we had no shuttle to return to. So we went back to hiding, venturing out only now and then for food or water. Mi'Len disappeared while on such a foray, and then it was just V'Kar and I, but he began to succumb to the effects of the Trellium, becoming more and more volatile. He never returned from one of his scouting missions, so I do not know if he was captured, or killed, or simply lost himself to Trellium induced delirium, but I thought it wise to find a new hiding place, so made my way to Captain Voris' Ready Room, off the Bridge. That is where your boarding party found me."
"And that's where the story ends for now," said Phlox, ignoring the Captain's look, and injecting T'Pol with a sedative: the Vulcan went limp in seconds.
"What now, Captain?" said Trip.
"I hate to do this to you again, Trip," said Archer, "but I need you to go back to the Seleya, and bring back at least one of these affected Vulcans for Doctor Phlox to study. We need to see if we can do anything for them."
"No problem, Captain," said Trip. "I understand. I'll take Meyers with me, if you don't mind. He's a good man in a bind. Kelly too, but he's out of action."
"Take Meyers, and as many more MACOs as you can stuff inside a shuttle, even if you have to sit in each other's laps," said Archer.
"Right, sir," said Trip, turning to leave Sick Bay.
"Just a moment, Commander Tucker," said Phlox. "I'd like to speak to you and the Captain, while I have you together."
"What did you do, Trip?" said Archer.
"I didn't do anything," said Trip. "We're listening, Doctor."
"Yes, well, when you entered the room, and T'Pol fixed her eyes on you, Commander Tucker," said Phlox, "her bio-readings took a very noticeable turn for the better. I suspect she has fixated on you, as the man who led the mission which rescued her off that ship and out of that dreadful situation. The end result was a marked reduction in her stress response and mental anxiety."
"Ok," said Trip. "That's understandable. So what?"
"We will verify that this was not an isolated event, when T'Pol wakes," said Phlox, "and if it is not, I would like to ask you, Commander Tucker, to spend as much time as possible with T'Pol, at least until the Trellium-D leaches out of her system, and I will ask you, Captain Archer, to allow the Commander to do so, so far as ship's business allows it."
"Doctor," said Archer, "T'Pol has been through enough, so if it helps, Trip can hold her in his arms, and rock her to sleep every night."
Trip started laughing at that hyperbole, and Archer grinned at it, but Phlox said, "Actually, that might be helpful, so I'm glad you're both willing to go above and beyond the call of duty for one of my patients."
"Count on it, Doc," said Trip. "Now I've got to go."
T'Pol woke to find Doctor Phlox puttering about Sick Bay, humming as he fed a number of creatures scattered randomly about the place in small cages.
"Do you ever sleep, Doctor?" said T'Pol.
Phlox smiled at seeing his patient wake, and laid down the feeding bowl, to come inspect T'Pol.
"My sleep cycle differs markedly from Vulcan, or Human norms," said Phlox, looking at T'Pol with a clinical eye.
She still looked exhausted, and her bio-markers were still abnormally elevated, but he could tell that at least she was no longer hallucinating, no longer hovering dangerously close to a psychotic episode, which was a good sign. However, her recovery could easily take months, and she was not out of the woods by any means.
"Would you care for something to eat?" said Phlox.
"No," said T'Pol, "but if Commander Tucker is available, I have some questions for him, about our time aboard the Seleya."
"He is not available, T'Pol," said Phlox. "He went back aboard the Seleya, an hour or so ago."
"WHAT?" said T'Pol, struggling to rise to a sitting position. "That is madness! Why?"
Phlox aided T'Pol to sit up, then plumped up a pillow and positioned it strategically behind her back so that she could rest comfortably, and said, "The captain ordered him to bring one of your fellow crewmen to the Enterprise, so that I may determine the proper treatment to aid your crew. If any such treatment exists, that is…"
T'Pol was breathing deeply, throughly agitated. "He should have waited for me! My knowledge of the ship would be valuable."
"That is illogical, T'Pol, and you know it," said Phlox. "You are in no shape to return to the Seleya."
"I suppose you are right," said T'Pol. "Is he safe? Are they safe, I should have said, because Commander Tucker is too intelligent to go back aboard the Seleya alone."
"I do not know, T'Pol," said Phlox.
"Can you contact the Captain, and find out?" said T'Pol.
"Very well," said Phlox, and flipped a switch on the wall console. "Phlox to Bridge."
"Yes, Doctor," said Archer.
"Any word on Commander Tucker and the away mission?" said Phlox.
"They boarded the ship thirty minutes ago, Doctor," said Archer. "Nothing since then."
"Understood, Captain. Thank you," said Phlox, and returned back to T'Pol's side.
"I should be there with them," said T'Pol. "It is my duty."
"We should talk about something," said Phlox.
"What is that, Doctor?"
"If the away mission succeeds, they will return to the Enterprise with a one or two of your crewmen, T'Pol," said Phlox. "I need to study them here, in order to determine if I can help them, but I do not want you here in Sick Bay with them."
"I undestand," said T'Pol, glad that the doctor had been the one to make that decision.
"Accordingly," said Phlox, "I have spoken to the Captain, and had quarters assigned to you with the crew. You will wear a wrist monitor, at all times, in order to keep me apprised of your bio-readings."
"Yes, Doctor," said T'Pol.
"Good," said Plox. "I have taken the liberty of estimating your size, and I requisitioned a uniform and some underclothes for you, T'Pol. Please get dressed, and I'll show you your new quarters."
"Yes, Doctor," said T'Pol.
Ten minutes later T'Pol was dressed in a StarFleet coverall suit and standard issue work boots.
"Ah, you look very nice, T'Pol," said Phlox, but considering that she'd come aboard in a torn, dirty and blood stained uniform, anything would have been an improvement.
"Thank you, Doctor. The clothes you picked out for me fit like a glove. You have the eye of a tailor."
"Actually, I have three wives," said Phlox, "so I've had plenty of practice sizing up clothing, and more than enough practice dodging the question, 'Does this dress make me look fat?' In any case, once you get settled in, you can go by the Quarter Master's office and pick up more clothes as you need them. Now, let me walk you to your quarters. They're not far from here."
"Yes, Doctor," said T'Pol.
As they walked the hallways, Doctor Phlox gave T'Pol a running commentary.
"Sick Bay and your Quarters are on Deck E," said Phlox. "The Galley, Mess Hall and Captain's Mess are also on this level, right that way, and Captain Archer has extended you an invitation to dine with him, if you feel up to it. The gymnasium and recreation facilities are on Deck C, as is the Science Lab. The Bridge and the Captain's Ready Room are on Deck A. You will learn the rest of the facilities in time."
"Understood, said T'Pol.
"Now these are your quarters," said Phlox, coming to a stop, and the door opened at the press of a button. "You can choose and set your own security code for the door, from your room's wall console."
They stepped inside and T'Pol took in her quarters with a glance. A good sized bunk, with built in bookshelves, a desk, walk in closet, a decently sized bathroom. Nothing fancy, but it was quite serviceable.
"I must leave you now, T'Pol. I must return to Sick Bay, in anticipation of Commander Tucker's return with some of your fellow crewmen."
"Yes, Doctor. Thank you. Please let me know if you can help my crew."
"Of course. You may be certain that I will keep you informed, T'Pol," said Phlox.