They re-materialised back in the tropical rainforest; the wrecked remains of the shuttle still in sight, but this time with Shuttlepod Two waiting reassuringly nearby. Archer wasted no time; glancing up at the sky, he could see two thick white clouds shimmering and glowing, rapidly approaching one another.
"I think we need to get out of here!"
"Agreed!" Trip hurriedly helped Reed to his feet, supporting him as the three of them ran, stumbling into the waiting shuttlepod.
Archer was initiating the launch procedures even as Trip was helping Malcolm into a chair, strapping down the restraints. Pulling on his own belts, Trip signalled the affirmative to Archer, and the Captain began to pilot the shuttle upwards. A crackle of static washed over the communications channel, and he immediately recognised Hoshi's voice, urgently calling for a report.
"Enterprise, this is Archer – we're on our way back. Have Dr. Phlox standing by. Monitor our approach but keep full sensor sweeps active on the planet's surface – something's happening down here! Standby for my orders. Archer out."
Slapping the channel closed, Archer switched his attention back to piloting. Trip risked a glance out of the window; as they cleared the strange, glittery cloud cover, it looked as through a storm were raging; flashed of lightning and tumultuous winds buffeted the shuttlepod, but then they were clear, flying in open space. In no time at all, though it seemed to take an age to Trip, they were safely stowed in the Enterprise's shuttle bay. Archer was keying open the hatch before Trip had even managed to remove his restraints.
"Get Malcolm to sickbay – stay there with him," Archer ordered the engineer, "I'll be on the bridge – I want to know what's happening down there!"
"Aye, sir," Trip could only nod obediently, as Archer disappeared through the hatch.
Moments later, Phlox appeared, accompanied by two orderlies carrying a gurney between them. Trip could only watch as Reed was lifted carefully, and carried back to the sickbay.
"T'Pol! Report!" Archer did not waste time with pleasantries as he stepped onto the bridge.
"We are detecting high levels of electromagnetic activity across the planet's atmosphere, Captain," the Vulcan responded, from her station, "I am detecting strong meteorological effects and geological disturbances, including earthquakes and tidal waves."
"They're tearing the planet apart," Archer realised, "Travis, take us back to a safe distance and T'Pol, keep those scanners running."
"Captain, it would assist if I knew the cause of these phenomena – there were no indications of any disturbances prior to your communication."
"I wish I knew, T'Pol," Archer replied, in a heartfelt way, "but I think we're witnessing the final battle between two very old enemies..."
The bridge crew watched in stunned silence as storms raged across the skies of the planet on the view screen; it lasted for several minutes, and then, as suddenly as it had started, it was gone again – the atmosphere cleared, and Archer was once again looking at a green sphere, hanging peacefully in orbit around the binary stars.
"Life signs?" Archer asked, quietly, after a long moment.
"The planet has suffered significant ecological damage, captain," T'Pol reported, "however; I am detecting a multitude of life signs indicating a rich bio-diversity of life remaining upon the planet."
"Any sign of the T'ch'ra'kai?"
"As they were never detected on our scanners it is impossible to say, captain – however, from your own observations it is logical to say that the entities known as the T'ch'ra'kai have been destroyed."
"Captain," Hoshi's voice cut in, sounding puzzled, "I'm receiving a transmission – it's a data stream. It appears to be language, history, star charts..."
"Coming from the planet?" Archer queried.
"No sir," Hoshi turned a confused frown in his direction, "it's coming from sickbay..."
"T'Pol, you have the con!"
Archer strode into sickbay and was stopped dead in his tracks by what he saw – Reed was standing at one of the consoles, his eyes fixed on the screen, typing at lightning speed, entering data faster than Archer could even read it. Reed's face was ashen, with dark circles under his hollow eyes; Archer could see him swaying on his feet as he stubbornly fought to remain standing.
"Lieutenant? What are you doing?"
"He'd been like this for the last few minutes, cap'n," Trip spoke up, getting up from the chair he had been sitting in, "he's refused to let the doc treat him until he's finished..."
"I have tried sedating the lieutenant, but it appeared to have no effect," Phlox sounded vaguely surprised as he stood beside Reed, scanner in hand, "according to my readings, Lt. Reed should be unconscious. He is running a high fever, coupled with serious blood loss and a concussion. I do not know how he is doing what he is doing but it is apparent he cannot stop."
"Malcolm?" Archer crossed the short distance between them to rest his hand on the armoury officer's arm; he could feel the heat radiating from the younger man, even through his uniform, "What are you doing? You need to let the doctor treat you."
Reed did not respond; Archer turned his attention briefly to the monitor, and then activated the communications channel.
"Archer to Ensign Sato; come in please."
"Sato here, Captain."
"Hoshi, are you still receiving the data transmission?"
"Yes, Captain – it's quite extensive, it's going to take me some time to go through it all."
"What does it contain?"
"Everything," Hoshi sounded excited, "I'm getting the foundations of over a dozen languages, detailed descriptions of several civilisations, history notes, star charts, flora and fauna, scientific data – there's too much here to describe. Where is it all coming from?"
"It appears to be coming from Lt. Reed," Archer could not keep the amazement out of his voice, "start working on it, Hoshi. Farm it out to other departments if you have to. I want to know exactly what we're getting here. Archer out."
He closed the channel and glanced back at Reed; sweat beaded on the younger man's brow and his breath was coming in short, sharp gasps, but his hands still flew across the console, entering data at a speed no human should have been able to process. Then, abruptly, he stopped, and his pain-filled eyes met Archer's gaze at last.
"Compliments of the T'ch'ra'kai," Reed smiled, weakly.
With a soft sigh, his eyes closed involuntarily as his legs gave way; both Archer and Phlox lunged to catch him, only just preventing Reed from collapsing into a heap on the deck.
"Get him onto the bed," Phlox ordered, already reaching for surgical gloves, "I must operate immediately to remove the necrotic tissue around the wound."
Archer did not need telling twice; he carefully lifted Reed, cradling him and then laying him gently on the bed. Phlox nodded to him and to Trip, his eyes serious.
"I must ask you to leave, gentlemen. I will contact you as soon as I have any news."
"I'd rather stay," Trip began to protest, but Archer waved his hand warningly.
"Come on, Trip. We need to let the doctor work. Look after him, doc."
"I will, captain. I will."