AMICULUS



Chapter Five



"Are they sure it was them?" asked Archer.

Malcolm nodded. "Yes, Captain."

Archer paced back and forth next to the fire pit. "Motim?"

"His remains were found in the wreckage as were the others."

The captain shook his head. "How did the Zorian military know?"

"Saltar's family and friends reported his death. The military tracked the Medran vessel here. Lieutenant Hess said the vessel took fire the minute it cleared the atmosphere. The crash site is several thousand kilometers to the south of us."

Archer swung around and faced the armory officer. "They're sure there were no survivors?"

Malcolm nodded. "There were five bodies, sir. All have been identified."

The captain's shoulders sagged slightly in his relief. "I'll tell Trip."

"How is he doing? He looked pretty beat up."

Archer glanced at the tent. "Dr. Phlox says he'll be fine. He's with him now."

Malcolm sighed then looked around. "Where are the others?"

"They're all down at the lake. Phlox shooed them away so that Trip could have some peace and quiet."

Both men's attention was diverted to the tent as the Denobulan appeared.

"How's Trip?" asked Archer.

Phlox smiled. "As I told you before, Captain, he'll be fine. I've given him a light sedative to help him relax. He seems quite distressed over Saltar's death."

"Trip has always been very protective of the people he cares about," Archer replied. "He considered Saltar a friend."

The doctor nodded in understanding. "I'll be down at the lake checking on the others if you need me, Captain."

"Thanks, Doc."



As evening fell, T'Pol found the commander sitting next to the stream. She approached him tentatively, trying to gauge his mood. He turned his head when he heard her and smiled somewhat weakly.

"Commander? Am I disturbing you?"

Tucker shook his head but said nothing. He turned his attention back to the flowing water. T'Pol settled herself next to him. They sat in companionable silence for several long moments.

"Captain Archer told me the Zorians shot down the Medran ship," T'Pol said finally. "I would have expected you to be pleased. However, you look--- unsettled."

The commander picked up a small pebble from the bank and tossed it in the water. "I was just thinking about Saltar," he replied. He sat back, bracing himself with his arms.

In the fading sunlight, T'Pol could still see clearly the ugly bruises and cuts. Due to Dr. Phlox's ministrations, the swelling around the engineer's eyes had gone down significantly. Unfortunately, the Vulcan realized that the doctor could do nothing to assuage Tucker's internal pain.

"You mourn for the loss of your friend."

Tucker expelled a long breath. "Have you ever known anyone who could make you so mad you could see red but then in the next moment could support you with his very life?"

T'Pol nodded. "I mourned his loss for two months," she replied simply.

The engineer looked at her with a quizzical expression.

"You have been known to cause me great---distress, Commander."

Tucker chuckled lightly. "Yeah," he admitted sheepishly. "Sorry about that, T'Pol." He turned back to the stream. "Did you really grieve for me? I mean, I didn't know Vulcans grieved."

T'Pol noted with curiosity the slight flush of the commander's face under the bruising. "While we do not shed tears as some humans do, we do mourn the loss of those for whom we have developed affection." She hesitated, realizing what she'd said. "As well as for others who have affected our lives," she added somewhat hastily when he looked at her again.

Tucker tipped his head and eyed her closely causing her to avert her eyes to the stream. In her peripheral vision, she could see him still puzzling over what she'd said. Finally, he turned back to the stream, picking up another pebble and throwing it in the water.

"How did Saltar anger you?" T'Pol asked, breaking the silence that had fallen over them.

"What?" asked the commander snapping out of his reverie. "Oh. When I came up with the idea of depressurizing the Kapeera, I had to work slowly so I didn't draw attention to what I was doing. Saltar wasn't exactly a patient man. He would push pretty hard. We got into a couple of confrontations but he always realized in the end that I was right." He snorted gently, lost in his memory. "He just wanted to see his wife and children again."

"At least he did that before his death. That is something, Commander."

Tucker nodded. "Yeah. That's something I guess," he conceded sadly. He turned his gaze up to the darkening sky. "You know when I stared up at the stars as a kid, I used to dream of all the wonderful things I'd get to see. It never dawned on me that there would be so much---bad stuff out here."

T'Pol followed his gaze. She could see a few bright stars already twinkling in the twilight. "As a child I too looked upon the stars."

"You're kidding."

"No. While other Vulcan children saw a sky full of possible scientific discoveries, I saw---adventures." T'Pol could see Tucker look at her from the corner of her eye. "I was not a---typical Vulcan child, Commander," she said.

"No, T'Pol," replied the engineer, his voice warm. "I would guess that you weren't."

"There you are!"

Both officers turned at the sound of Archer's voice.

The captain knelt at Tucker's other side and looked at the stream. "You're supposed to be resting, Trip," he admonished gently.

"You worry too much, Cap'n," replied Tucker. Then he waved his hand as Archer began to speak again. "I know, I know. It's part of your job."

Archer smiled. "A part I take very seriously, Trip."

T'Pol stood up and brushed off her clothes. "Has Lieutenant Reed finished preparing dinner, Captain?" she asked detecting the smell of cooking meat in the air.

"Yep. Phlox, Hoshi and the others are joining us. Should be quite a feast," Archer replied. He rose then reached down to help Tucker to his feet. "Doc says he might even let you have half a burger, Trip."

T'Pol noted how the thought of eating seared animal flesh brought a smile to the commander's face. She had long ago realized the importance of mealtime to the engineer although she still couldn't understand how he could enjoy some of the items he ate.

The sub-commander joined her fellow officers as they walked back up the trail to their camp.



Trip shifted in his sleeping bag again, struggling to find a comfortable position. His body seemed to protest every position into which he tried to settle. He grunted and rolled over again.

"Trip? You okay?"

The commander sighed. "Sorry, Cap'n. I didn't mean to wake you." Trip could hear his friend moving around in the dark.

"Phlox thought you may have trouble sleeping," whispered Archer. "He left me with a hypo spray. Now---," his voice faded. "---if I can just find it. Ah, here it is."

Trip felt a hand touch his shoulder then a brief shock of cold as Archer pressed the medical device to his neck. There was a swooshing sound as the contents were injected then the cold disappeared.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

The engineer lay quiet staring into the darkness above him. He could hear the cry of some sort of animal echo through the still night air.

"Trip?"

"Yeah?"

"You need to talk?"

Trip smiled at his friend's perception then rolled onto his side. "I was just wondering what other trouble lies in wait for us out here," he replied keeping his voice low.

"I've been wondering that myself. Seems we just can't avoid trouble, doesn't it."

"I guess it goes with the territory," Trip whispered around a big yawn. He rolled to his back again.

"I guess," Archer said. "We have seen some incredible sights, though, Trip."

The engineer yawned again. "I know, Cap'n."

"You feel up to going into the village tomorrow?"

"Sure. T'Pol going?"

"You want her to go?"

Although his thoughts were getting muddled, Trip thought he heard his friend chuckle at him.

"Trip? You want T'Pol to go?"

"Sure," Trip replied as he let his eyes slide shut. "She's not bad company, Cap'n."

"No. I guess she's not at that."

"'Sides, she never told us about that Waz Kon ritual. Waz Kon? That doesn't sound right." Trip's train of thought was interrupted by yet another wide yawn.

"Koz Wan ritual," corrected Archer.

"Oh yeah. Koz Wan," Trip mumbled. "I wonder what adventures she-----," his voice trailed off.

"You wonder what?"

"Huh?"

This time Trip knew he heard Archer chuckle. "Go to sleep, Trip."

The engineer rolled onto his side feeling no more pain. "Night, Cap'n," he managed before he slid into the peaceful world of his dreams.



THE END