Archer to the Bridge!
Lieutenant Reed here, sir.
What the hell's going on?
We're having a little trouble with the gravity plating on E-deck, sir.
Hope it hasn't caused you any inconvenience.
Oh, no, no, no, not at all.
Any idea when you might get it back online?
Commander Tucker says it should be any minute, sir.
Thank you.
It's been a long road
Getting from there to here
It's been a long time
But my time is finally near
And I will see my dream come alive at last
I will touch the sky
And they're not gonna hold me down no more
No, they're not gonna change my mind
'Cause I've got faith of the heart
I'm going where my heart will take me
I've got faith to believe
I can do anything
I've got strength of the soul
No one's gonna bend or break me
I can reach any star
I've got faith ...I've got, I've got
I've got faith
Faith of the heart.
Not a very adventurous breakfast.
Plomeek broth is a traditional morning meal on Vulcan.
Oh, but you're not on Vulcan.
You should try these blueberry pancakes.
They're quite delicious.
I've sampled human food on several occasions.
It didn't agree with me.
Give it some time.
The Vulcan digestive tract is highly adaptable.
I prefer to eat the foods I'm accustomed to.
There's an old saying: when in Fellebia, do as the Fellebians do.
It's difficult enough having to smell all this.
Eating it is out of the question.
Water, carbonated.
Now that's adventurous.
We're getting reports from C-Deck that it's down to 12 degrees.
- Ensign Almack is working on it. - Well, tell him to hurry up.
If the relays up there get too cold they're going to start cutting out on us.
Engineering.
We've got a power fluctuation in the starboard nacelle, sir.
We'll get to it as soon as we can.
Aye, sir.
Any luck?
We know it's got something to do with the plasma exhaust.
The flow's been restricted for some reason and it's screwing up half the systems on the ship.
Tell Billy to purge the aft manifold.
Yes, sir.
Do you think it might be a good idea to drop out of warp?
Give me a minute, sir. I think we can figure it out.
Tucker to Bridge.
Might be a good idea to drop out of warp.
Going to impulse, sir.
Commander...
I think I've found the problem.
Something's distorting our wake pattern.
You're right.
The plasma exhaust shouldn't be flaring that close to the ship.
EM residue in the exhaust ports?
No, we checked; they're clean.
Malcolm, if we ignited the plasma exhaust what kind of damage would it do
to the nacelles?
Sir?
How much damage?
If we polarize the hull plating it should be all right
as long as we maintained at least half impulse.
- Go to half impulse, Ensign. - Aye, sir.
Put up A-4.
Record all aft sensors.
Hull plating.
Both nacelles are at maximum.
Standby to ignite a charge at 80 meters due aft.
Fire.
Play it back.
Slowly.
Go back and freeze it at the flash point.
Creep it forward a little.
There.
Looks like we've got ourselves a hitchhiker.
They must be using some sort of stealth technology.
I wonder how long they've been there.
Long enough to throw half our systems out of whack.
I'm sure they know we've detected them.
Open hailing frequencies.
Our ship-to-ship sensors are malfunctioning.
I can only give you audio.
Translators active.
This is Captain Jonathan Archer of the Starship Enterprise.
I don't need to tell you where we are.
Your presence is disrupting a number of our systems.
Please back away to a distance of at least ten kilometers and respond.
Kaja lakala royj kaiti.
Kaja lakala royj... harm us.
Kaja lakala... your request.
We ask you not to harm us.
We are complying with your request.
We ask you not to harm us.
They're moving off, sir.
We have no intention of harming you but I wouldn't mind an explanation.
I apologize for any damage we've caused.
Our engines are malfunctioning and we've been using
your plasma exhaust to replenish our teraphasic coils.
It's allowed us to share your warp field.
Their warp reactor is off-line.
We can't help you unless we can see you
so why don't you disconnect whatever stealth device you're using.
I'm giving you 40 milligrams of Mirazine.
It should shorten the decompression process by half.
That still leaves three hours.
Can you recommend a good book?
I'll be briefing you on their propulsion systems.
Sure you don't want me coming back at night?
Three hours of decompression in each direction
makes more sense to stay until the job's done.
I sent them your dietary requirements.
They claim to have the ability to synthesize protein and carbohydrates
but there's no telling what it may taste like.
Try to be... diplomatic.
Three days on an alien ship.
Remember to mind your manners.
We've got a seal.
Just about ready.
It's too bad the ship-to-ship sensors are down.
Would've been nice to get a look at them.
I'll just think of it as a blind date.
Tucker to Enterprise.
Archer.
Here I go, sir.
Keep your com channel open. We'll be right here.
Here you go.
Don't forget to come back for me.
I don't know... we are kind of busy.
Have fun.
Hello?
Try to maintain your normal rate of respiration.
This stuff's burning my lungs!
Maintain your normal rate of respiration.
The discomfort will subside.
Commander Tucker's calling again, sir.
He's rather anxious.
Put him through.
How long's it been, sir?
About five minutes longer than the last time you asked.
How's the breathing?
A lot easier, but I prefer air I can't see.
Well, they told us the air would clear up during the last half hour of decompression.
I feel like I've been in here for a week.
You've only got 45 minutes to go, Trip.
Be patient.
Hey.
Good boy. There you go.
Blue, one...
Green, three...
Yellow, two...
Orange, five... yellow, three.
Red, four... green, two-- whoa!
Whoa.
That's too fast. I'm not a computer.
I hope the acclimation process wasn't too stressful.
Blue, three, yellow, six orange, four.
The perceptual tests are the best way to determine whether you're ready
for our environment.
We've prepared a meal for you.
Not right now, thank you.
We strongly recommend that you get some rest.
I think I'd like to take a look at that engine room of yours.
It's one deck above us.
These are the teraphasic coils.
The wider ones have lost their cohesion.
I'm sorry, you lost me.
I'm having trouble concentrating with all this noise and light.
Are you certain you don't want to rest for awhile?
I don't know what I'm certain about.
Mr. Tucker again, sir.
Put him through.
Yeah, Trip, how's it going?
Not good.
I don't think I'm going to be much help over here.
I'm having a little more trouble adjusting than I thought I would.
What's the problem?
I feel like I've... got a fever.
I'm having trouble focusing, breathing.
I really think I need to get back, Captain.
Stand by for a minute.
T'Pol, put me through to Trena'I.
Stand by.
Captain Archer?
My man's not doing so well over there.
He'll be fine.
With all due respect I've known Commander Tucker for eight years
he's tough as nails.
If he says he's having problems, I've got to believe him.
When he came out of decompression he refused to rest.
I strongly suggest he lie down for a while.
You really think that'll make a difference?
We have a good deal of experience with alien visitors.
I told Trena'I you'd try and get at least an hour of shuteye.
He says that should do the trick.
I just want out, sir, I'm not kidding.
I can't take much more of this.
Trena'I says they've dealt with this before.
Just one hour.
If you're not feeling better, we'll bring you back.
It's not going to work, Captain.
Take a nap, Trip, that's an order.
Archer out.
We've prepared sleeping quarters for you.
It's not far.
Your Captain sent the recording.
He thought it might help you relax.
Are you feeling better?
What's that?
Our food.
It grows all over the ship.
Would you like some? It's very sweet!
I think I'll pass.
This is the closest we could come to water.
Trust me.
Hmm...
Did that hurt?
Not really.
It's kind of nice.
Does that happen when you people touch each other?
Something similar.
Have you had enough?
A man needs a lot of fluids when he's under the weather.
If you're feeling well enough we really should get back to the repairs.
Could we take some of those with us?
Are the injector cells aligned with the primary coil?
Aligned and locked.
You're not going to believe this.
They've got grass growing on the floor-- real grass.
It's even green.
Is Vulcan grass green?
Have you tested the ion matrix, Commander?
The grass releases some kind of vapor... helps them metabolize their food.
Smells just like a freshly mowed lawn.
The ion matrix, Commander.
Oh, right.
I've recharged the assembly. Is it up to .4 yet?
.43.
Keep pumping up the gradient.
If we can get it up to .5 the coils should come back on-line all by themselves.
Sounds like Trip's feeling better.
Before you know it, he'll have that engine room running like a well-oiled machine.
- Tucker to Captain Archer. - Go ahead, Trip.
We're nearly ready to bring the warp reactor on- line.
Shouldn't take more than a couple hours.
Just think-- yesterday you would've done anything to get out of there.
Tucker out.
It will take a while for the coils to regenerate.
Come with me. There's something I want you to see.
Watch this.
That's Thera. It's where I come from.
The depth perception is incredible.
What is it, a 3-D simulator of some kind?
It's holographic.
Not like any hologram I've ever seen.
Seems real, doesn't it?
How do you...?
Resequenced photons.
Come with me.
The perspective's changing.
We could walk all the way to the city and you'd never know we're still in this room.
Sit down.
We're still in the same room, and this isn't a boat.
It's a boat.
It's just resequenced...
Resequenced photons.
Exactly.
If we had one of these on Enterprise I'd never ask for shore leave.
You don't have any dermal plating. How do you detect other people's... moods?
We don't.
Well, actually, we do but
we do it through observing behavior getting to know someone.
The follicles on your face... if I'm not mistaken, they've grown.
Do they have a purpose?
Not that I know of.
Normally we shave them off with something called a razor
but I haven't had the chance since I've been here.
Do you mind?
Go ahead.
Does that hurt?
Not in the least.
More water?
No.
This is a game we play.
Watch.
Go ahead.
Are there any rules to this game?
It takes four hands to work.
Your favorite food is... catfish.
How the hell did you know that?
What's mine?
- Your what? Favorite food? - Yes. Concentrate.
What's my favorite food?
Dutara root.
How'd I know that?
I wasn't certain the granules would work with your species.
Captain Archer saved your life once about four years ago.
This is one hell of a game.
You find me...
attractive.
You like having people find you attractive...
don't you?
Sometimes.
Reactor room to Ah'len.
The coils are coming back on-line.
Understood.
You'd better stand up.
Decompression any easier coming back?
Three hours is three hours.
You can't imagine what it was like over there, Travis.
Food growing on the walls,
teraphasic warp coils
boxes full of pebbles that make you telepathic.
What were the Xyrillians like?
Little shorter than us,
weird scales on their faces
but otherwise pretty much like you and me.
It sure was something.
Reminded me why I signed on.
But it is good to be home. - Mm- hmm.
I hope your mission hasn't been overly delayed.
Getting a chance to meet other species is our mission.
See you've got the visual back on-line.
Hoshi.
Trena'I, I wanted to thank you again.
I realize how difficult it must've been adapting to our environment.
It was worth every minute.
As long as those coils stay charged
you shouldn't have a problem maintaining a stable warp field.
Thanks for taking care of me when I wasn't feeling so hot.
It was worth every minute.
Good luck to you.
Nice work, Commander.
I appreciate the opportunity, Captain.
I, for one, won't miss the malfunctions their proximity was causing.
Return to our previous heading, Travis.
Aye, sir.
Didn't they feed you over there?
You should've come with me, Malcolm.
I heard about the holographic re-creation.
It wasn't like any visual simulator I've ever tried.
More like actually being there.
You could smell the ocean feel the salt air on your skin.
If we had one of those on board
I can only imagine what it would be used for.
I don't know if they can re-create people with it but it sure did a hell of a job on landscapes.
Make any friends?
Ah'len, one of their engineers.
She's the one who showed me the holographic chamber.
Is she the one you thanked for taking care of you?
- Yeah. - Ah...
Interesting scales...
She did have a certain...
sensuality to her.
So, did you get a look at their weapons?
I don't even know if they had any.
Have you tried these scrambled eggs?
Taste just like the real thing today.
Hmm.
Maybe you were allergic to something over there.
No, I cleared bio-scan.
Nevertheless you'd better have Dr. Phlox take a look at it.
As far as I know I've never been allergic to anything.
I don't believe you're having an allergic reaction.
Tell me, did your visit to the Xyrillian ship involve any, uh, romance?
What?
Were you intimate with anyone?
Doc, I was over there to repair a warp reactor.
What are you talking about?
Seems you did a little more than repair work.
Meaning?
This is a nipple.
I beg your pardon?
Ah, ah, the blastocyst is located between the sixth and seventh intercostals.
What the hell you talking about?
I'm not quite sure if congratulations are in order, Commander, but...
you're pregnant.
Here... do you see that cell cluster?
That is the embryo.
I assume you'll be happy to know it's not technically your child.
What do you mean?
When reproducing, the Xyrillians only utilize the genetic material of the mother.
The males simply serve as "hosts."
That's comforting.
How the hell did I get knocked up?
We don't have any data on their mating procedures but
I wouldn't think it would be that difficult for you to recollect a sexual encounter.
Three days.
You were only there for three days and you couldn't restrain yourself.
I'm telling you, Captain I was a complete gentleman the entire time.
I imagine that's a question of how you define "gentleman."
The only female I had any contact with was Ah'len, their engineer.
Other than repairing the reactor
all she and I did together was go into this holographic chamber they've got.
She showed me some home movies simulations of their planet
but I didn't lay a hand on her.
There's got to be some way to get this thing out of me without hurting it.
Can't you create a surrogate chamber or something?
The embryo has integrated with your pericardium.
I wouldn't be comfortable extracting it without more information on the gestation process.
This engineer wanted you to see her planet?
So?
Perhaps the next step would have been to meet her holographic parents.
If I'm not mistaken on some planets, that's a precursor to marriage.
We took a ride in a rowboat.
I swear, Captain, nothing happened.
There had to have been a somewhat
lengthy physical contact to transfer this much genetic material.
Trip?
I've been in Starfleet for 12 years.
Do you think I'd jeopardize my career by messing around
with some alien engineer on a three- day mission?
I considered myself a diplomat from the minute I set foot in that vessel.
Well...
there was that box of pebbles.
Pebbles?
Yeah, she had them on the boat. But it was no big deal.
We just stuck our hands into these granules for a few minutes.
It's a game they play to let you read each other's minds.
They weren't even real.
They were holographic just like everything else in the room.
Doctor?
Without a sample of these telepathic
granules it would be impossible to make a determination but
they could have served as the transferal medium.
One of the first things a diplomat learns
is not to stick his fingers where they don't belong.
Captain...
If we're going to safely
remove this life-form from Commander Tucker
we'll have to find the Xyrillians.
Why don't you and Malcolm see what you can do about locating their ship?
Yes, sir.
Is Trip well enough to return to his duties?
What? Are you kidding? I'm fine.
You'll probably feel a bit nauseated in the mornings
so get sufficient rest and exercise and see me at least once a day.
That nipple may not be the only surprise your body has in store for you.
You think we could keep this between the four of us?
At least for the time being?
You got it.
Dillard!
Sir?
Look at this lift.
Sir?
It's an accident waiting to happen.
This safety bar's a meter off the floor.
What use would it be for a small person?
A small person?
A short alien, a child.
This thing's a deathtrap.
Look at this handrail.
Put your hands here while this is going up or down...
It'll take your fingers right off.
Why would someone put their hands there, sir?
Oh...
Never mind.
Captain's Starlog, supplemental:
We've spent eight days looking for the Xyrillian ship
but so far, we've had no luck.
- Sorry I'm late. - No problem.
How you feeling?
I thought we all promised to keep this under wraps.
I haven't said a thing. Doctor?
Not a word.
I knew it.
She probably let it slip the minute she left Sick Bay.
But Sub-commander T'Pol promised to keep your pregnancy a secret.
Where I'm from, Vulcans aren't known for keeping promises.
What makes you think she's told anyone?
All you have to do is see the way they whisper...
talk behind my back.
You know what happened this morning?
Ensign Hart pulled out my chair for me.
I'm telling you it was T'Pol and you can be sure it was intentional.
What's that?
Chicken tetrazzini.
Did you cut yourself?
I wish.
I don't want to ruin your appetites, but...
take a look at this.
Just how many of these am I going to grow?
And while we're on the subject are they going to go away afterward?
One would think.
Then again, I have no experience with this species.
Great.
You know...
it's been over a week, Trip.
We have to start considering the possibility
that we're not going to find the Xyrillians.
What's that supposed to mean?
Are you saying I'm going to deliver this baby?
I believe he's saying a good deal more than that.
Once the child is born it may well rely on you, in some way, to care for it.
I'm the Chief Engineer.
I spent years earning that position.
I never had any intention of becoming a working mother.
You know, the Doctor was saying that the gestation period
will only last another five weeks-- six at the most.
You should expect to begin experiencing some...
unusual symptoms, hormonal changes mostly,...
mood swings, heightened emotions.
I suggest you stick with the civilian clothes.
Seems to help hide the...
bulge.
How many how much bigger is this thing going to get?
I'm already the laughingstock of the ship.
I would love some more of this.
Yes, sir.
I'd like you to start seeing the Doctor every eight hours.
As your delivery date gets closer
he should be able to start figuring out what your postnatal responsibilities might be.
"Postnatal responsibilities"?
You may very well be putting those nipples to work before you know it.
There's a bright side to all of this.
Yeah? What's that?
As far as we know this is the first inter-species pregnancy involving a...
human.
Got something.
Looks like their signature.
Coordinates: 0-7-8 mark six. Three million kilometers.
Change our heading to intercept.
Bridge to Archer.
Go ahead.
We may have found the Xyrillian ship, sir.
- Thank you. - On our way.
What have you got?
We're approaching the coordinates.
I've analyzed the stealth telemetry. I believe it's them.
Drop down to impulse.
Hoshi, try to get an image.
Doesn't look very stealthy to me.
Go tighter.
If the Starship profiles the Vulcans gave us are correct...
They're correct, Lieutenant.
That's a Klingon battle cruiser.
Where the hell are the Xyrillians?
It appears your repairs didn't last very long.
If I'm correct they're hiding in the Klingons' plasma wake.
Hoshi?
The translation program should be in pretty good shape, sir.
Sir, with all due respect do we really think this is a wise idea?
If we're going to speak to the Xyrillians
we can't do it without the Klingons knowing about it.
Open a channel.
This is Captain Archer of the Starship Enterprise.
We respectfully would like to ask for your assistance with a little problem...
Sir, they're charging weapons.
Polarize the hull plating.
Grab hold of something.
And another one.
Why are they attacking us?
They're not.
If they wanted to destroy Enterprise they would have done it.
So, I guess that's their version of a warning shot across our bow.
I don't recommend being the recipient of another warning like that, sir.
Should I lay in a new course, Captain?
No, stay where you are.
Hail them again.
Sir, look at their starboard nacelle.
The power's fluctuating just like ours did when the Xyrillians were riding in our wake.
They're responding.
What gives you the right to approach a Klingon warship?
Please accept our apology but I need to ask you a question.
And what would that be?
Have you been experiencing any unusual malfunctions
problems with your gravity plating,
propulsion environmental controls?
You've been monitoring our systems. For how long?
We haven't. I promise you.
The same things happened to us a few days ago.
Your problems are being caused by a small stealth vessel that's been riding in your wake.
They're using your plasma exhaust to fuel their warp coils.
Find this vessel.
Wait a minute, wait a minute.
They're harmless.
We need them, alive.
Just give me a chance to explain.
Find them!
There are 36 aboard.
Bring their Captain to me and execute the others.
Didn't you hear what I said? I need them alive.
What you need is to turn your puny ship around and leave.
These aliens violated our security and disrupted our systems.
Both are considered acts of war against the Empire.
I assure you that any damage they've done was unintentional.
They're simply trying to get home.
They won't get home,
but I'm more than willing to hasten their journey to Sto'vo'kor.
Sto'vo...
The afterlife.
You really don't want to hurt these people.
They're actually very kind.
They've just had some bad luck with their engines.
When we confronted them they complied with all our requests.
You're wasting my time!
Less than one month ago
Captain Archer stood in the High Council Chamber in Kronos.
The Chancellor himself called him a man of honor a brother.
Enterprise is the ship that found Klaang and returned him to the Empire.
Without Klaang your houses would be at war with each other.
Jonathan Archer is the man who carried out that rescue.
You are in his debt.
You would be demonstrating both honor and wisdom to grant his request.
I'm the one who repaired their warp reactor or at least I thought I did.
I spent three days on their ship.
They have some amazing technology.
If you don't kill them I'm sure they'd share it with you teach you how to use it.
What kind of technology?
Well, for one they've got some incredible holography.
I don't know how advanced Klingon holograms are but
these are like nothing I ever saw before.
Press a few buttons and you'll be standing on a hillside overlooking Kronos.
It's unbelievable.
Couldn't hurt to take a look...
unless the decompression cycle frightens you.
I am frightened by nothing, P'tok.
If you agree to enter their vessel I'd appreciate it if you'd take my chief engineer with you.
He talks too much.
I'll bring a security team.
He was there for three days. They trust him.
It'll make things a lot easier.
If their technology amuses me, I may spare their lives.
I don't need your engineer to help me make that decision.
There's another reason.
Commander Tucker has some...
unfinished business with the Xyrillians.
I am not interested in your engineer's "business."
There's a pregnancy involved.
I thought you said you were there to fix their warp reactor
not to impregnate one of their females.
This should be a lesson to you. Forget it happened.
I'm afraid that's not going to be so easy.
Show him.
Captain Vorok has agreed to consider releasing your ship
in exchange for one or two of your holographic simulators.
It would be a good idea to cooperate.
This is a topographical survey of our capital.
I'd be pleased to give you a demonstration.
The reactor worked fine for six days then went off-line again.
How did you find us?
It wasn't easy, but we were very, um...
motivated.
I don't understand.
I had no idea this could happen with another species.
If I'd known... - No need to apologize
but I would be real appreciative if you could get this out of me,
assuming it's safe.
It's still early enough to transfer the embryo to another host.
She looks very healthy.
- It's a girl, huh? - Mm-hmm.
I can see my house from here.
Can this technology be adapted to our power matrix?
I'm sure we can make the appropriate modifications.
As soon as the installation is complete the Xyrillians will be free to go.
I appreciate your cooperation.
I hope the next time we meet, we can be of some help to you.
Listen to me very carefully.
Our debt is repaid.
We have no interest in "meeting" you again
and if we do, I promise you'll regret it.
The only thing worse than spending three hours in a decompression chamber
with a bunch of Klingons is doing it twice in one day.
I smelled things in there I hope I never smell again.
Trena'I told me that at full impulse they can probably get home in less than a month.
No more hitchhiking?
That business about the Klingon Chancellor calling me a brother...
was that true?
Klingons are known to exaggerate.
I saw nothing wrong with doing the same.
Your appetite seems to be back to normal.
Just eating for one again.
I've run a check through the Starfleet database.
You might be pleased to know that this is the first recorded incident
of a human male becoming pregnant.
Just how I always wanted to get into the history books.
Subtitles synchronized by Gruyerman
October 2003
Thanks to thor122 for the Close Caption log files