***

2154

Hoshi's comm panel beeped. The message was in English, which surprised her.

Enterprise: Retrieval of the Researcher will take place immediately. Rendezvous at these coordinates within 30 hours.

Transmission halted abruptly. A list of coordinates was attached. Hoshi called the Captain, despite the late hour.

(...)

***

2154

(...)

Trip: How am I?

Trip didn't move; his usually expressive face was still.

Archer: I mean, is everything all right? In Engineering? I didn't take you away from anything important...?

Trip: Just Malcolm and T'Pol grilling me about what happened in the cave.

Archer: What did you tell them?

Trip: The same thing I said in my report to you. That I didn't know.

Archer: Do you think Tegl could have been doing something?
Trip: What on earth for? As part of his research?

Archer: As part of his plan for us.

Trip: I think we should ignore his plan for us. It's just a plan and it's his. Not ours.

The words were too painful and honest. Hearing them, Trip became harder and more businesslike.

Trip: I mean we don't know him that well...

Archer: ...our plans?

Trip's sigh was barely audible, but Archer felt it.

...

Trip: Now, sir?

Archer: You wanted us to get on with our lives.

Trip was silent, looking at the floor. Archer moved closer to him.

Trip: How the hell are we supposed to do that?

Archer suddenly noticed the strain on Trip's face.

Trip:>You still think I'm your only source of strength.

Archer: I think that you're...

He lost all his ideas and his words and had nothing to say. He didn't know what to do. Trip waited as the silence grew.

Hoshi: Captain, could you come to the bridge?

...

Archer: This isn't finished.

Trip: No sir.

(...)

Archer: They didn't ask to speak to me?

Hoshi: No sir, and they didn't respond to my last transmission.

Archer: No other message?

Hoshi: They closed the channel before I could prepare a message. I was only able to signal that we'd received theirs.

Hoshi's panel beeped again. She listened, then said, " You'd better take this one, Captain. They're referring to an agreement made with Starfleet. They don't sound happy."

Archer: This is Jonathan Archer.
Tabran: Captain Archer, it is necessary to perform scans and erasures of your data files after the Researcher is retrieved. The agreement with Starfleet allows this.

Archer: I've read it. What are you looking for?

Tabran: That cannot be shared. Please review the agreement between Starfleet and the Council before we arrive. In particular, the section on searches.

Archer: I will, but...

The channel closed.

***

2147

Archer returned from his quarters and a most unnerving discussion with Admiral Forrest, who seemed to neither reject nor accept his decision to be openly involved with Trip. Trip was in sickbay, lying motionless while the doctor examined him. Archer's eyes went immediately to Trip's face.

Archer: Any change, Doctor?

Doctor: He's sleeping now. A slight increase in breathing and heart rate, but that comes from the roller coaster ride his lungs and his brain have been through. He's lucky to be alive.

(***)

(( It's all because of him. One slip, one EV pack not checked, and I almost lost everything. ))

Archer: I can't just lie here.

He got up and went to sickbay, without bothering to get dressed. The room was deserted except for Trip. Archer bent over him and kissed him as gently as he could.

Archer: I'm not going to lose you. Not you.

He pulled a chair up next to the bed, never taking his eyes off Trip's face. He rested his head on Trip's thigh, unconcerned by appearances, and was asleep almost instantly.

***

2154

Archer returned to the command center. Trip was still there, looking even more drained than Archer had noticed before. He seemed to be fighting to say something. Trip had in fact intended to say something, but pushed it aside to maintain a professional front.

Trip: What's the situation, then?
Archer: The Tabrans have asked us to deliver Tegl within a day. They plan to scan our data banks and have informed me that there will also be searches.

Trip: Searches, sir? Of what?

Archer: Most of the ship. They are apparently fixated on removing any record of Tegl's presence.

***

***

2154

Reed: That's in the agreement? Deletion of computer records?

Hoshi: Only those they feel contain data about Tabra that is not to be allowed out.

Phlox: Mr. Tegl already demanded that I remove any medical records of him. He said it would cause problems for him.

Reed: That's unacceptable.

T'Pol: It was agreed to. The same terms were in the Vulcan contract. Nothing of substance was removed, according to the reports of the High Command.

Archer: We will follow the terms of the agreement that Starfleet signed, not more, not less.

Reed: Sir,...

Archer: Is that clear?
Reed: Yes, sir.

Archer: Delete the files he asked you to delete, Doctor. Mr. Reed, I expect you to assign a team to accompany the Tabrans through the ship. They are to report but not interfere. Make sure that the crew knows to stay out of their way.

Reed: Yes, sir.

Archer: You're dismissed. Hoshi, stay a minute.

(***)

***

2150

Archer: You're not eating.

Trip: I know what you're going to say.

Archer: I'm not leaving you.

Trip: Someone else comes along, and

Archer: Trip! There isn't anyone else.

Trip: You made me wait all day for this - spit it out.

...

Archer: I think we both need to consider our futures. There are a lot of reasons but it comes down to getting the ship out there, and being the first humans to explore. We've been focusing on ourselves and not on the mission.

Trip was at a loss for words.

Archer: I'm not going to let the NX-01 get out of our hands just because we're not focused on it.

Trip: What are you talkin' about?

Archer wasn't ready for the pain he heard in Trip's voice.

Trip: We never stop talkin' about the mission, the ship, the engines. You honestly think we put our relationship before the mission?

Archer: I don't know if we have or not, but I know we can't.

Trip: Weren't we working on both?

Archer: I can't do both.

Trip: WHAT?

...

Archer looked at the window and the thick fog outside.

Archer: We'll be together every minute of every day. But we need to put the mission first.

Trip: After seven years you tell me you love your career more than me?

Archer: No, that's not what I said.

Trip: What did you say?

Archer: I need you to be my Engineer, and my first officer, but because you're the right person, not because you're my...

Trip: Try sayin' it.

The bitterness cut into Archer. He'd gone too far and Trip wasn't about to agree.

...

Archer: I still need you.

Trip's voice was reduced to a whisper.

Trip: As what?

Trip was enveloped in a sense of loss. Archer's long delay only made things worse.

...

Archer: I need you next to me.

Trip: I can't be anywhere else.

Archer seized on this as if it were a concession, while Trip's eyes hardened.

Archer: We can do everything my father dreamed of, everything you've dreamed of. New worlds, new alien life!

He continued in this vein for nearly a minute, as Trip made peace with himself, thinking how foolish it was to give your heart to a man who couldn't even make a promise. The more he compromised himself, the more he saw himself staying in Archer's life.

***

2154

Tegl entered the command center and noticed Archer talking to Hoshi with great concern.

Archer: Tegl, we've been contacted by the ship that's coming to pick you up. You have about 30 hours to get ready. And so do we. Hoshi, do you have the text of the Agreement?

Hoshi: Right here, sir.

She looked at Tegl as she handed Archer the padd. Tegl was watching her.

Tegl: I'm already prepared to leave, Captain. The final report went to Starfleet last night. Hoshi will provide a copy for you. They are only a day or two early.

Archer: They want to see our data banks. What can you tell me about that?

Tegl: It's nothing out of the ordinary. We are quite strict about keeping our secrets.
Archer read from the Agreement some of the things he most objected to.
Tegl: As I said, fairly ordinary. You needn't concern yourself, Captain.

Archer: I do concern myself when my ship is being tampered with. Or when my crew is in danger.

Tegl: I'm sure the Researcher on the retrieval ship is just following protocols. Remember that he won't have been trained in Tabran-human interaction.

His voice had become edgy and distracted.

Archer: They will be on my ship.

Tegl: There is never any damage - our methods are quite practiced.

Archer: And what about teaching Hoshi your language?

Tegl stopped talking over the Captain for the first time.

Archer: Join me for dinner. 8 p.m. I insist.

Archer left to find Trip. Hoshi spoke up after a while, concerned by the expressions she saw moving across Tegl's face.
Hoshi: Are you all right?

Tegl: Obviously, you can't mention the lessons. Things will go faster if you remove any files and records you've been keeping. You'll have to trust your memory.

Hoshi: Are you in some kind of trouble?

Tegl: Hoshi, it's just typical Tabran overcautiousness. Do what I ask.

Hoshi: I'm not sure how much I'll be able to remember on my own.

Tegl: Watch them closely when I'm gone, Hoshi. ... I need to get back to my quarters.

***

2154

The small ship approached quickly, a vessel unlike the one that brought Tegl. The captain finally requested docking privileges when he was already in position.

Reed: He's a bit late on that request.

Alien Captain: My guests are in a hurry. Do we have permission or not?

Archer: You do. ... Malcolm, let's go meet the Tabrans.

(***)

Hoshi joined them at the hatch. The visitors spoke loudly and angrily in Tabran from the moment they entered. Hoshi stared off to the side to help her concentrate. For Archer and Reed the language was mesmerizing, but unintelligible.

The younger Tabran turned to Archer and addressed him.

Tabran: Captain Archer. We'll begin the inspection - I assume Mr. Reed will be following us around?

Reed was astonished.

Archer: Welcome to my ship. Mr. Reed will indeed be observing your actions and reporting regularly to me.

Tabran: Where is the Researcher, Tegl?

Archer: I'm not sure. I assume he's in his quarters.

The Tabran turned to his older partner and motioned him to head off down the corridor.

Tabran: srk-a tegl rahatth

Reed: Would he like directions?

Tabran: Not necessary.

Archer: When will you be scanning the databanks?

Tabran: Now.

T'Pol broke in on the comm to report that the Tabran ship had connected to the Enterprise computer systems and was scanning and deleting at a high speed.