ACT FOUR

EXT. FOREST ON PAZIS - DAY

The Teguela continue advancing.

ARCHER
Hoshi, what's taking so long?

HOSHI
I'm trying, sir. They aren't
using a regular pattern.

ARCHER
I don't need details, Ensign, I
need results. Fast results.

Friend makes a noise. He steps forward, grabbing Mayweather's arm. Mayweather winces. Friend leans down.

FRIEND
(quiet, gentle)
Friend.

MAYWEATHER
(relieved smile)
Friend. Yeah. We're friends.

Friend walks to Hoshi and takes the translator. He hands it back and begins talking. The other Teguela join in while Hoshi works frantically on the translator.

HOSHI
GOT IT!

The Teguela and Friend become silent.

ARCHER
(tight smile)
Then talk to them, Ensign.

HOSHI
We're friends.

The Teguela and Friend stare at her. They begin talking again but it's not translated.

MAYWEATHER
I thought you had it, Hoshi.

HOSHI
I thought I did too.
(looks back at translator)
Oh gosh! I forgot to transfer the
translation algorithm. Sorry.

ARCHER
(trying to sound calm)
That's okay. Just...relax,
transfer it and then say
something nice to them.

HOSHI
(to Friend)
Can you understand us now?

FRIEND
Yes.
(taps the translator)
What is this called?

HOSHI
A translator.

FRIEND
What does it do?

HOSHI
It allows us to understand alien
languages so we can communicate with them.

Friend leans close to Hoshi.

FRIEND
To us, you are the alien, child.
Do not use the word so loosely.

Hoshi looks back at Archer. Archer shrugs. Friend turns to Mayweather.

FRIEND
You and this one here
(motions to T'Pol)
aided me after you shot me and I
was unconscious. Why?

MAYWEATHER
You were injured.

FRIEND
Yes, but why would you help me?
Why not kill me and take my pelt
or my body for eating?

ARCHER
We aren't hunters like the others
that come here.

FRIEND
(firm, parental)
I was asking this child,
(re: Mayweather)
you will wait.

ARCHER
(smiles)
My apologies.

FRIEND
Is what this child said true?

MAYWEATHER
Yes. Why do you call us child?

FRIEND
You are as small as our children
when they are young. What do you
call yourselves?

MAYWEATHER
We're humans.

FRIEND
Interesting word. And is that
your name?

MAYWEATHER
No. My name is Travis.

FRIEND
That is an odd name.

MAYWEATHER
I like it.

FRIEND
(sounds like laughing)
You are a humorous child, or
human rather. I watched you while
you were here. I listened to you
with the other humans. You made
them laugh. Are you always this humorous?

MAYWEATHER
Usually.

FRIEND
In that case, I am glad to have
met you. My brethren are not very
humorous I'm afraid.

MAYWEATHER
They aren't?
(smiles)
Perhaps I should teach them some
good jokes then.

All the Teguela laugh.

FRIEND
Perhaps. Ah, but we are at war
and humor is a luxury we can't
afford. It costs lives.

MAYWEATHER
That's why we came back.

FRIEND
For humor?

MAYWEATHER
No. The war. We came back to tell
you something. Captain Archer
(motions to Archer)
can tell you more. He knows more
about what's going on than I do.

FRIEND
(to Archer)
You are a leader of sorts, are you not?

ARCHER
Yes. I'm this crew's captain.

FRIEND
Captain... we have no word to
translate this to. Explain.

ARCHER
(hesitantly)
I command a ship of sorts that--

FRIEND
Your flyer! You have a ship in
orbit, don't you? We cannot
translate the language her name
is written in across her bow. We
have no word like it in our language.

The four crewmen exchanged surprised looks.

ARCHER
Yes. We have a ship in orbit. Her name is Enterprise. How did you
kn--

FRIEND
Ahhh! Yes, yes. The space vessel
with primitive weapons from
before. Yes! Of course. Now this
all makes sense. We were told it
had returned, but explain what a
captain is before we become sidetracked.

ARCHER
I'm in charge of the crew. I give
the orders on Enterprise.

FRIEND
(nodding)
The word does not translate to
your language for what we call
that position in our military.

ARCHER
Military?

FRIEND
Yes. We are soldiers. We patrol
these outlying lands around the city.

ARCHER
There's a city near here?

FRIEND
Yes.

ARCHER
We didn't detect any cities when
we scanned the planet. We didn't
detect any advance technology.

FRIEND
The deposits of dilithium masks
many energy signatures and what
it does not mask, we use
dampening shields. You had
information on our war?

ARCHER
Wait a minute! You're standing
here telling me you have all this
advance technology yet you're
walking around with stone head
spears and dress like a primitive
race. I don't understand.

FRIEND
It fools those who hunt us. They
think we're dumb, primitive,
senseless creatures with no
further knowledge than fire and
simple weapons and tools. It has
worked thus far.

T'POL
Why would you divulge this
information to us if you are
trying to fool those who hunt you?

FRIEND
Many of you were here and many
saw us, yet they stopped only to
look at us but they never once
tried to harm us. We believe that
we can trust you.

ARCHER
We stopped hunting a long time
ago. Did you develop your
technology on your own?

FRIEND
Some. First we took it from those
that came to hunt us and then we
came to understand a great deal
and began advancing on our own.
We have surpassed many races.

ARCHER
We came to tell you they're
coming to destroy you.

FRIEND
They who?

ARCHER
The Asilox. They're coming to
kill all of you and take over your planet.

FRIEND
That is a serious accusation. Are
you certain it's true?

ARCHER
That's what I was told. I cannot
be certain beyond that.

FRIEND
You realize that if they discover
you came back to tell us they
will not be your allies?

ARCHER
I know.

FRIEND
Thank you.

ARCHER
Could we see a city? Or meet one
of your leaders?

FRIEND
Leader Archer, there are many
races that have effective methods
of extracting information. For
your safety and that of your
soldiers, I cannot permit it. It
is too dangerous.

ARCHER
I understand. Thank you.

FRIEND
It is a shame that others do not
have your appreciation of life. I
thank you for the information and
will give it to command.

Friend turns to Mayweather.

FRIEND
Travis-strange-name, keep well
and try not to injure your
appendages further. That surely
cannot feel well!

MAYWEATHER
(chuckles)
It doesn't. I'll try to avoid it.

The Teguela and Friend walk back into the forest, disappearing.

CUT TO:

INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE - LATER

Archer, T'Pol, Hoshi and Mayweather enter the bridge from the lift. Reed and Trip are at their stations. Hoshi, T'Pol and Mayweather return to their station, and Archer heads to his ready room.

HOSHI
Captain.

Archer turns to her.

ARCHER
Yeah?

HOSHI
(looking at Archer)
Sir, we're being hailed from the
Pazis surface.

Archer walks back onto the bridge.

ARCHER
On screen.

A Teguela Commander appears on the view monitor, dressed much different than Friend and his soldiers.

TEGUELA COMMANDER
Are you Captain Archer?

ARCHER
I am.

TEGUELA COMMANDER
I am part of command. You wanted
to speak to us?

ARCHER
I did. I was just curious about
your race was all. Your soldiers
know more about us than we know
about them at this point.

TEGUELA COMMANDER
For now, that's best. Your
database said you were explorers.
Is that correct?

ARCHER
Our database?

TEGUELA COMMANDER
It is routine that we download
the database of all vessels that
land on Pazis. It's the only way
we can keep up to speed with our
enemies. And, in this case, our allies.

ARCHER
I guess that's one way to do it.

TEGUELA COMMANDER
We've offended you.

ARCHER
Surprised me is all. I wasn't
expecting any of this.

TEGUELA COMMANDER
We checked the information while
you were returning. It's true.
They are coming just as you told
my soldier. We're offering you a
token of our appreciation. Will you accept?

ARCHER
Yes. Of course. What is it?

REED
Captain, three ships just
appeared off port, bow and stern.

Archer looks at Reed and then back at the Teguela Commander.

ARCHER
What are the ships for?

TEGUELA COMMANDER
One should be hailing you as we
speak to transmit data.

HOSHI
One is, sir.

ARCHER
Respond, Hoshi.
(to the TEGUELA COMMANDER)
What is it they're transmitting?

TEGUELA COMMANDER
Data on how to construct energy
shielding. Yours is so primitive
and barely effective. Please
accept this as a symbol of our
deepest gratitude, Captain Archer.

ARCHER
Thank you.

The view monitor returns to a view of space.

HOSHI
Sir... I'm no weapons expert, but
it looks like there is more than
energy shielding information here, Captain.

Hoshi looks at Archer.

HOSHI
A whole lot more.

ARCHER
Check it out, Malcolm.

They wait for Reed.

REED
There is more than the
information on energy shielding
sir, but it's encrypted.

ARCHER
The ships; are they gone?

REED
Yes, sir. At least from sensors.

ARCHER
Travis, put us back on course and
go to warp four until we're out
of this system.

MAYWEATHER
Aye, sir.

ARCHER
Hoshi, get to work on the encryption.

Archer walks to his ready room.

CUT TO:

EXT. MOUNTAIN TOP ON PAZIS - NIGHT

Friend stands alone in a frigid wind on a mountain pass, dressed in military issue winter clothes. There is the sound of a battle in the distance. Overhead are flashes of light of a battle in space over Pazis.

Gone is Friend's spear, replaced by a high-tech phase rifle. Friend leans against a rock almost as tall as him, watching the road that leads over the mountain pass.

It has been cleared to prevent surprise attacks. He hears a noise behind him and turns, watching a MALE TEGUELA running from the base camp toward him.

MALE TEGUELA
Colonel Friend!

FRIEND
Yes, Private?

MALE TEGUELA
The tracker that you put on the
data reported back. The humans
decrypted the information on us
three days ago.

FRIEND
(smiles proudly)
They are intelligent. I knew it
wouldn't take them very long.

Friend looks back up at the battle overhead.

FRIEND
I hope our explorer friends find
it to their liking.

MALE TEGUELA
Yes, Colonel.

The two Teguela stand together, watching the overhead battle.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT FOUR

WGA# 991542
Written by A. Rhea King