Chapter 5: Intoxication

“Transporter to Bridge, we have them all,” Lt. Anna Hess reported as soon as Sergeant Cole and Corporal Randall, the last two to return from the rogue Andorian ship, had materialized.

“Acknowledged,” Archer answered and turned to Hoshi. “Hail Shran.”

“Shran, our people are out,” he reported when the familiar blue face appeared on the screen. Shran just nodded wordlessly and his face disappeared again.

In stunned silence the bridge crew looked at the screen, watching as three torpedoes and several blasts of phaser fire ripped the attacker to shreds. After destroying them Shran’s ship flew over to the T’Planit and its grapplers latched on to it.

“Shran’s hailing us again,” Hoshi broke the silence.

“On screen.”

“I know that looked strange to you,” Shran reported calmly. “If you allow me and my Vulcan passenger to come aboard your ship, I will explain everything.”

“Granted, I’ll meet you at the airlock,” Archer returned and gave a nod to Malcolm. “You have the bridge Lieutenant. Hoshi, come with me.”

“Aye, Sir.”

“Peace and long life,” Hoshi greeted in Vulcan with a perfectly executed Ta’al

“Live long an prosper,” the tall Vulcan returned.

“Welcome aboard Enterprise,” Archer said with a polite nod. “I am Captain Jonathan Archer, this is Ensign Hoshi Sato, our Communications officer.”

“My name is Keslak. I am the healer sent by the High Council to help the surviving crew of the T’Planit.”

“We are sorry to report that there were only three survivors and they are all in bad condition, but we hope you can help them.”

“Would you direct me to your medical facilities?”

“Ensign Sato will accompany you and show you the way.”

Wordlessly Keslak turned and followed Hoshi.

“Welcome back, Shran,” the Captain said, turning to his second visitor.

“Always a pleasure to meet you, pinkskin,” Shran returned and produced a bottle of Andorian ale from his pocket.

“Why did I expect that?” Archer said with a chuckle.

Hoshi and Keslak entered sickbay and saw Dr. Phlox checking the readouts of one of the rescued Vulcan’s biosign. The good Doctor looked worried.

“Doctor,” Hoshi opened. “This is healer Keslak. He came to assist you.”

“Welcome in sickbay, I am Doctor Phlox,” he answered, remarkably emotionless for his normally sunny disposition.

“How is their condition?” Keslak asked, while Hoshi excused herself to go back to the bridge.

“They are all in a healing trance. Ambassador Soval is slowly, but steadily improving, his neurological activity is steady and well-balanced. The other two survivors appear to be in a healing trance for the first time in their life and would most likely profit from your guidance.”

“You are quite knowledgeable about healing trances,” Keslak noticed with an elevated eyebrow.

“I was working with Vulcan healers for almost two decades, as part of the interspecies medical exchange, your people trusted me with many things that are rarely spoken of, much less with off-worlders.”

“I see,” Keslak started, but was interrupted by Phlox.

“If you would excuse me for a moment, I’m being hailed.”

Keslak answered with a nod and Phlox dashed off into his small private cabinet. Seeing the encryption indicator, he closed the door, before answering.

{c]-=/\=-

"One moment," Archer said with a raised hand, when Shran started to fill the glasses with the blue liquid.

Pressing the encryption button, he hailed Sickbay.

"This is Phlox,"

"Phlox, this is the Captain. I’ve got an ... invitation from Shran. Would that mess with the medication, you gave me last night?"

"No, not after so many hours. But I would like to caution you to cut back on the quantity, after your last encounter with Shran’s ale both of you were not in the best of shapes."

"OK, thanks, Phlox" Archer answered, smiling at the memory how Phlox and Trip had to drag both him and Shran to their quarters as a result of a somewhat lengthy ale-drinking evening after their return from the Aenar.

"What’s wrong, you’re ill?"

"Later Shran," Archer said and raised his glass. "First, what is it with your little demonstration out there?"

"Those ... criminals were members of a northern clan. They were rather influential until the time we started the Coalition talks. Since then, more and more peace-minded clans, who support the alliance, have come to influence due to public support. They had them out of all significant positions within two months."

"I can see that they weren’t exactly happy about that," Archer agreed, taking the PADD with the official report from Shran.

"They stole two Kumari-class cruisers and partnered with the Orions. They ran errand missions for them in exchange for weapons and upgrades to their ships.”

“That explains why the power signature didn’t match.”

“They also attacked Vulcan ships and murdered the crews, hoping to reignite the resentments between our people. When the Vulcans contacted us, we gave them all information we had and started to cooperate with them. We even flew joint missions to get them.”

“Well, at least something good came out of it.”

“Indeed. The ship that you disabled was actually the second of their ships. The first one was the ship who attacked the Soval’s ship. Evidently, the Vulcans gave almost as good as they got and had the bastards battered pretty well. They tried to limp home to their green friends and brought the second ship in to finish the job.”

“So there’s still one out there?”

“No. The Ni’Vahr and my vessel destroyed them three days ago. The Vulcans also gave us their doctor to bring here, to treat possible survivors. We will bring the ship back to the Vulcans.”

“Why wouldn’t the Ni’Vahr just come here?”

“The Vulcan High Council wanted Andoria to finish the job. They hope that it is good for the relations between our people, when the Vulcans can see Andorians helping them.”

“Would’ve never pegged T’Pau for a PR manager,” Archer said with a chuckle.

“You know her?”

“I do. I took a hike through the desert with her once. She can be quite reckless, almost fried my brain trying to get Surak’s katra out of me.”

“You were the human who had the katra?” Shran asked in disbelief.

“Yes, not an experience I care to repeat. But he obviously liked it up there,” Archer smiled and pointed at his temple. “Else he would’ve just gone to possess T’Pau.”

“I never thought I’d say that about a Vulcan, but she’s some fine looking woman, although her hairdresser should entertain the idea of a job change,” Shran smirked and emptied his glass.

“Looks like you really want to improve relations with the Vulcans.”

“Are you crazy? Jhamel would forget that she’s a pacifist if I just thought about that.”

“What a minute, you and Jhamel...”

“Are a pair,” Shran completed. “My friends are already taking bets what color our offspring will have.”

“Ten bucks on green,” Archer quipped and both men started laughing.

“One question though,” Archer continued. “I can understand that your government is pissed with those pirates, but don’t you guys believe in the concept of putting someone on trial?”

“They were sentenced to death in absentia months ago.”

“Good to know. So, it looks like they gave you a new ship after all.”

“No, they didn’t,” Shran answered and his antennae were lying flat against his skull in disgust. “The Tha’marat is mine only for this one mission. In fact, it is my last mission.”

“The Imperial Guard must be out of their minds. They give you the boot for losing the Kumari?”

“She was the flagship. That’s just our way. Losing a flagship is a dishonor. For my merits in forging relations with you pink ... with humans I was granted one last mission to determine whether I would leave the Guard in honor or shame.”

“Well at least that’s taken care of. Might be my last mission, too – at least for a while – but Starfleet would never kick out a captain for losing a ship to a superior attacker.”

“Your last mission?” Shran asked.

“That’s the reason for my ‘illness’. I’m having a rough time. No family, not many friends anymore. I need a timeout, badly.”

“Well from all I know about humans, you should have offspring already at your age.”

“The oldest would already be dating – if I had any,” Archer sighed. “You nailed the point. There’s only so many years you can go without a family.”

“You should throw away your stupid rules about forbidding relationships between crew members. Not even the Imperial Guard is that cruel.”

“Well, we did. Trip is now dating T’Pol and my tactical and communications officers are an item as well.”

“Your Chief Engineer and the Vulcan are a pair?”

“Yeah, as of one week ago.”

“That explains why she was so comfortable around him when I was aboard.”

Archer started laughing.

“What?” Shran asked.

“Hell, even Andorians saw it coming before they got the clue themselves.”

“Well, I’m a good observer.”

Archer grinned with him, but immediately became pensive again.

“Seeing a Vulcan and a human walk arm in arm in the corridor really nails it home that something’s missing in your life.”

“Well, if you don’t have those rules anymore, what’s keeping you from taking any of the women on board as your mate?”

“It’s not that easy Shran. There actually is someone who would fit the job description, but she’s married to Starfleet now that our second NX ship is flying, just like me. The damnedest thing that can happen to you is falling for a Starfleet Captain,” Archer said in a dejected mood.

Ending his mind-meld with Ambassador Soval, Keslak assessed the situation.

“His energy has nearly been exhausted, but the Ambassador shall awake from his trance within hours. His wounds have healed satisfactorily, but it will take several weeks to regain full use of his right arm.”

“That matches my assessment,” Phlox agreed. “What is the situation of the other survivors?”

“Their healing is slow, due to their inexperience. I shall guide them, but before I take on such a taxing task, I wish to meditate. Do you know where Captain Archer has set up accommodation for me?”

“Crewman Zettler will show you the way, but before you go, I would like to ask you to take a look at a human patient. He is in a Vulcan-assisted healing trance.”

“As you wish,” Keslak answered, not showing his surprise.

“A word of warning. The situation might look slightly disturbing to a Vulcan.”

“You fell for Captain Hernandez?” Shran asked with a worried face.

“Yeah, you know her?”

“I met her a week ago. I don’t think she’ll be flying any missions anytime soon.”

“What do you mean?” Archer asked and set up straight in his chair.

“About a week ago we saw her ship being attacked by a Klingon warship. She asked for assistance and the Vulcans and we helped her destroy them. When we came aboard after the battle, she was in sickbay in very critical condition.”

Archer buried his face in his palms.

“Don’t worry, pink skin. Their doctor said she will survive, although it will take months to heal. They are taking her back to Earth. Her ship was heavily damaged as well.”

Sighing heavily Archer declined, when Shran tried to refill his glass. “Better not, or I’ll end up as wasted as last time.”

“Maybe it wasn’t so bad an idea after all, wanting to get away from the ship for a time. If she feels the same for you, she could surely use your help now,” Shran offered.

“I don’t know how Gardner will feel about losing two Captains at once, though. They might deny my request.”

“Maybe they are more open to the idea if you bring a new one in?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m entertaining the idea of signing up with your Starfleet now that the Imperial Guard doesn’t value my services anymore.”

“They’ll probably throw themselves at your feet. I doubt they would give you a ship immediately, though.”

“Well, that’s obvious. From what I saw, they’ll probably give the Enterprise to your Vulcan and, if they gave Hernadez’s ship to me, you would have both your ships with alien captains. I have no problem waiting a while. I’ll have to go through some sort of training anyway.”

“That’s for sure. But sure as hell they’ll be happy to nail some pips to your collar.”

“How many ships do they plan to build?”

“Although you’re on your last mission, you’re still a member of a foreign organization. That’s still classified,” Archer replied with a lopsided grin. “But trust me, there’ll be enough ships that they will start begging you to take command at some point. We have way less captain material than ships in the pipeline.”

“Sounds good to me,” Shran answered.

“Was this human’s condition so critical that the female felt it justified to bring herself into such a shameful position?” Keslak asked and failed to hide all of the shock in his voice.

“There is nothing shameful in two bond-mates sharing a healing trance, even if their positioning is somewhat intimate out of neccessity.”

“Your information about Vulcan bonds are faulty. A priest is needed to initiate a bond and no priest would shame himself by facilitating such a union.”

“Please follow me to my office,” Phlox requested calmly, despite the anger growing inside him. After closing the privacy screens again, he led the Vulcan to his room.

“Healer Keslak, I cannot and I will not accept the implications and the condemnation in your words. There is absolutely nothing shameful about the bond between Commander Tucker and Commander T’Pol. To my knowledge, they have never used the service of a priest. If I was informed correctly on the matter, a bond that has formed without the initiating mind-meld is considered a very blessed and desirable occurrence. If your prejudiced views do not allow you to help them we won’t require your help any longer.”