Malcolm and Hoshi: The Missing Scenes

Proving Ground

“I’ve had guest quarters allocated to you for tonight, though I don’t know whether you’d prefer to return to the Kumari.”

Talas lifted her head and stared at the human armory officer with whom she had been working on the repairs to Enterprise all day.  It was true that she would have to return the next day to complete the task; there had been a great deal of damage.  But although they had worked amicably enough together after their original spat of mutual ill-will, and she’d been reluctantly impressed by his skill and commitment, she hadn't expected him to be this hospitable.

“I’d be honoured,” she replied.  “If you in your turn would eat with me aboard the Kumari.”

He raised his eyebrows.  “It seems like a fair exchange.  I accept.” 

They’d had little time or leisure in which to talk; this would give them an opportunity.  They both knew where the lines were drawn when it came to divulging classified technical information, but short of that there was a vast area of shared interests from which they could derive pleasure.  She hadn't had much interaction with humans before, though she knew that her commander thought highly of the pinkskin who occupied the captain’s chair of this particular ship.  She was beginning to share his opinion of the officer whom Archer had appointed to run his armory too.

A pity, that their nascent sense of fellowship was about to be sundered so soon.  Still – while it lasted, it would be pleasurable.

***

“I’m glad you enjoyed your meal.” 

It was late when the two of them returned to Enterprise.  They had eaten – Reed with surprising aplomb, given that he’d probably never encountered Andorian cuisine before – and then sat in the Kumari’s relaxation area, indulging in the satisfying, allusive, technical talk of two specialists sharing a kindred spirit.  For a pinkskin, he was surprisingly good company.  She’d heard that many pinkskins were arrogant and ill-mannered, but Lieutenant Reed was polite and occasionally even quite charming; when it came, his rare smile was winning.  Now and again she even found herself sharing Commander Shran’s discomfort at the trick that was to be played on their unsuspecting ‘allies’ when the time came.  Still, that was war – and the balance between Vulcan and Andoria was currently on far too fine a knife-edge to allow them to be too picky when the opportunity presented itself to snatch a weapon that would give them such an unimaginable advantage.

“I enjoyed the company too.”  The slight blush suggested that the lieutenant was somewhat unused to offering compliments.  She smiled and accepted this one with a nod.  It had been pleasant – and not just because of the stimulating conversation.

The two of them turned down the corridor towards the guest apartments.  It was deserted; there were no other guests on board.

“This is yours.  I hope it’s suitable.  If you need anything, just comm me.”  He activated the door control. 

She stepped inside, and he came with her, casting a glance around to make sure that everything was in good order.  She had anticipated this.  Evidently he had not expected her reaction, because she was able to catch hold of him and pin him against the wall with surprising ease.

As she had suspected, his body was hard and muscular.  And he returned her kiss with unmistakable passion for a split second, responding to the attraction that had smouldered between them almost since they’d met.  He had felt it, just as she had; it had been one of the reasons for his initial attempts to keep her at a safe distance.  She had understood that perfectly well.  Now it was time to explore what else than technical ability with weapons systems lurked beneath that coverall; and as his hands automatically came up to grasp her body, it was plain that he harboured the same intentions with regard to hers.

But the hard grasp did not draw her closer.  It pushed her away.

“No.”  He wasn’t blushing now; he’d gone rather pale, but his eyes were resolute.  “I’m sorry.  No.”

“You’re not in a relationship.”  She’d found that out via the ship’s database. 

“That’s not ... that’s not the point.”  His hands were now clenched into fists at his sides, as though he feared that was the only way to keep them under control.

“You want me,” she said baldly.  “Are you trying to say you don’t?”

He swallowed.  “Any man with eyes would want you.  But I ... there’s somebody else.”

Her eyes narrowed.  “Somebody on this ship?”

“That’s classified.”  From somewhere he salvaged a glimmer of a smile.

She absorbed this information.  Her stare took in the unmistakable faint tinge of regret in his gaze.  He was aware what an opportunity he was passing up for some absurd pinkskin scruple.

“No-one would know,” she whispered, leaning into him and running her hand up his thigh.

“I would know,” he answered. His body did not react. “I’m sorry, Talas.  I appreciate the offer, I really do.  But I can’t accept.”

She stepped back.  “‘Somebody else’ is a lucky woman.  Or man.”

His look gave nothing away.  “Not as lucky as I am.”

“Then you deserve one another.”

She activated the door control.  There was no point in prolonging the meeting; he would not reconsider. 

“Sleep well, Lieutenant.  I’ll see you again in the morning.”

“I hope tomorrow will be as successful as today was.”  He lingered for a moment longer, holding her eyes steadily, without apology. “We’re lucky to have you as allies.  I know the captain’s grateful for your help, and I am too.”

You may think differently when this is over.  When the plan had been explained to her, she’d felt nothing but jubilation at the thought of ‘putting one over’ on the pinkskins, for whom she felt little more than contempt.  Now, for the first time, she felt a distinct prick of shame.  It wouldn’t stop her from carrying out her orders.  But she was beginning to understand all too well why Commander Shran was so obviously and bitterly divided between his duty to obey orders and his sense of honor to an upright man who trusted him.

If all went according to plan, they would have helped the pinkskins by stealing the weapon.  That, at least, was a side effect – though the main idea was that they would now have it themselves.  Captain Archer wanted it in order to first study and then destroy it.  Shran was under orders not to allow that to happen, and that was the reason she was ‘helping out’ in the Armory.  Tomorrow she would commit sabotage, inflict serious damage on the equipment that was the sole charge of this faithful and honorable man in front of her, so that Enterprise would be blind when it needed to set out in pursuit.  He would not be grateful for her help then.  Perhaps it was as well that he’d refused her.  The discovery of her perfidy would only have made the memories bitter.

She watched him move to the door.  “Goodnight, Lieutenant.”

“Goodnight.”  The door hissed shut.  The faint sound of his footsteps faded into the distance of the corridor.

Duty had never before worn so grim a face.