Disclaimer: I don't own Enterprise or any characters developed for the series.

AuThOr's NoTe:  'The Diedra' is the sequel to 'Wallflowers'  Please keep hands inside the ride at all times.  It has been brought to my attention that some dialog has typos and/or grammatical errors however, this is not true for the most part.   Beware of flying bats.  Some characters are learning English as a second language and therefore the dialog is reflecting the normal missing words and misuse of grammer that is common for a person learning English as a second language.  Not responsible for children.  Gratuity gladly accepted.  Ferrets welcome.



The Diedra
by A. Rhea King

     T'Pol looked up, watching the boy sitting across from her. His black hair was cropped neatly around his head and his black eyes were watching his plate, hands and utensils. Imitating T'Pol he had his fork in one end of the celery and was slowly sawing a bite off with his knife. The boy's knife slipped and sent food flying from his plate. He looked up at T'Pol and then back down at the scattered vegetables. T'Pol looked down at her plate and flicked a couple slices of cucumber off. Then she gently stabbed each with her fork and placed it back on her plate by pushing the slices off her fork with her knife. She looked up at the boy, who had been watching her with intense interest. He duplicated her actions.
     Across the mess hall Trip and Doctor Phlox were watching the two.
     "I don't get it." Trip admitted, looking at Doctor Phlox.
     Doctor Phlox ate a bite of his meal before inquiring, "What is that?"
     "Why would any kid be interested in a Vulcan?" Trip motioned toward T'Pol with his knife before returning it to his plate to cut off a bite of chicken. "Or want to imitate one?"
     "Imitation is the best form of flattery."
     "You're saying he likes her? He's ten!"
     "No. I'm saying he respects her and he's imitating her is out of respect. And from the looks of things, Vulcans respond positively toward imitation."
     Trip smiled, taking a bite of his bread. "I bet deep down she enjoys all that attention."
     Doctor Phlox and Trip both chuckled.
     T'Pol glanced in their direction, then back at the boy. He was again sawing on the piece of celery. His face told of his frustration with the task.
     "Patience, Jokra." T'Pol said.
     He looked up at her. "Pa...tience?"
     "Patience. Rafla."
     Jokra nodded and returned to cutting his celery. T'Pol said nothing more.



     Archer walked past an open door and slowed to a stop. He turned and walked back to the open door. Archer stepped into the room, looking around. It was a storage area that crewmembers had converted into a classroom for the children. The desks had been made by crewmembers and while crude in appearance; they served their six-hour purpose. There was a large view monitor at the front of the room and computers set up at each desk. It almost looked like any other classroom on Earth. Drawings hung around depicting worlds, aliens and creatures. He crossed his arms across his chest and smiled a pleased smile. His crew had adapted better than he'd expected them to.
     "Captain Archer."
     Archer looked at the door. An ensign stood in the open door wearing a nervous smile. Her dark brown hair was swept neatly into a bun but a few wisps famed her face and fell into her brown eyes. She had her hands clasped behind her back so that her uniform showed her full figure a little to well.
     "I was just looking at the pictures." Archer said, motioning to them.
     "Oh. The children enjoy drawing the most. They are very creative."
     "Yes. Some of these are really good."
     "Those two are Jokra and Zintar's." she said, pointing to the two best.
     "Zintar is in class?" Archer looked back at her. Archer had never ordered the seventeen-year-old to attend school.
     "For the first two hours. He wants to learn about Earth. He's very interested in home. Actually, all the children are. They keep asking about children on Earth."
     "Really? What do they ask?"
     "What they eat, what kind of games they play. Since the next oldest under Zintar is only ten it makes sense that they are so interested in other children."
     Archer looked up at the wall. "Yes it does."
     "Captain." T'Pol said, walking into the room.
     Archer looked at her, then at Jokra who was standing beside her, looking just as stern as his Vulcan role model.
     "How is T'Pol and Jokra today?" Archer asked, directing the question more at Jokra.
     T'Pol looked back at Jokra, waiting for him to answer.
     "Fine Cap'ain Archer."
     "Captain Archer." T'Pol corrected.
     "Captain Archer." Jokra repeated.
     Archer smiled. "Good. Ensign Paris...you may be out of a job soon if T'Pol keeps teaching the children." Archer joked.
     Ensign Paris smiled, but didn't reply.
     "I don't believe that will happen. I have duties to perform that wouldn't enable me to act in Ensign Paris' place as teacher."
     "That was a joke, T'Pol." Archer explained.
     T'Pol held out a padd. "A message from Starfleet arrived, sir."
     "Thank you." Archer said, taking the padd. He looked down at the padd, hearing T'Pol leaving.
     "T'Pol." Archer said.
     T'Pol stopped and looked back at him. Jokra did the same.
     "Why don't you give Jokra some of the simpler tasks that you're doing now?"
     "Is my work unsatisfactory, sir?"
     "No." Archer looked at her. "I think you should start training him in your position. That way when you're on expedition, he can fill in on the ship."
     T'Pol raised one eyebrow. "Yes sir."
     T'Pol turned and left the classroom with Jokra following behind her.
     "I would have thought she would have objected. The boy's only ten." Ensign Paris said.
     Archer looked back at the padd in his hand. "Vulcan's start training their children in vocations when they can read. I didn't think she would object."
     Ensign Paris smiled. "I never would have thought of that."
     "Looks like your children may get some of their questions about Earth children answered."
     "Really?" Ensign Paris didn't hide her joy.
     "Yes. We have one stop at a planet Starfleet wants to make contact with. Then we'll move into a position that will allow for good communications. They want to hold class with our class and two other classes back on Earth." Archer looked up at Ensign Paris, handing her the padd. "Here's the class plan."
     Ensign Paris smiled, reading the class plan. "This is wonderful! I can't wait to tell the students."
     Archer smiled when she looked up. "I'll let you know when we've reached the coordinates."
     "Yes sir." she said.
     Archer nodded slightly and left the room, continuing his walk to the ammunitions room. Archer walked in and found a Lieutenant there, but not the one he was expecting.
     "Where's Lieutenant Reed?" Archer asked.
     "He's having breakfast, sir." The woman replied.
     "At eight in the morning?" Archer asked. "That's not like him."
     "He has it every morning at eight, sir." The woman replied.
     "When did that start?"
     The woman looked away. "I can call him to report." She said and started to send the command to the computer.
     "No. No. I'll go find him myself. Thank you Lieutenant."
     Archer turned and left the room. Archer walked into the mess hall and spotted Malcolm and Sista sitting in a corner eating breakfast together with padds scattered across the table between them. Archer walked up to the table and cleared his throat.
     Malcolm sprung to his feet. "Good morning sir." he said.
     "Good morning, Lieutenant Reed. Forgetting something?"
     Malcolm's face read that he had.
     "You wanted me to look at some schematics for a proton cannon." Archer said.
     "Oh! Right! Well...coincidently, I have them right here, sir."
     Archer looked down at Sista. She was poking at her half finished breakfast. Archer looked at Malcolm. "Tell me next time we change meeting rooms."
     "Yes sir."
     "I'll be right back." Archer turned and walked to the replicator, to get a cup of coffee.
     Archer returned to the table, watching Sista gathering some of the padds.
     "You're welcome to stay." Archer said.
     Sista look up at him. She smiled, shaking her head.
     "Griftlina." Sista said to both men.
     "Griftlina." Archer and Malcolm replied.
     Archer turned his attention to Malcolm. Lieutenant Reed began going over the specifications and schematics of the proton cannon.



     Archer pressed his lips together, staring at planet on the view screen.
     "I keep getting the same reply to hails, sir." Hoshi said.
     Archer walked down to her station, leaning on the railing.
     "You've tried all frequencies and all languages?"
     "Yes. I keep getting the same reply back and I can't translate it. It's too brief." Hoshi looked at Archer.
     Archer thought for a minute. "Where's Sista?"
     "Sir?" Hoshi asked.
     "Find Sista, T'Pol."
     "She is in her quarters, Captain." T'Pol reported
     "Archer to Sista." Archer said.
     "Sista." Her voice replied.
     "Come to the bridge. Hoshi, translate."
     Hoshi translated his message to Sista.
     "Ta." Sista replied.
     Archer turned, still thinking. He looked up when Sista walked onto the bridge. Her black hair was pulled into a single ponytail that swung to her walk. Sista was wearing a uniform similar to T'Pol's but not quite as skintight. She walked up to Archer, watching him expectantly
     "Sista, do you know this planet?" Archer pointed to the view screen.
     Sista looked at the planet on the view screen. "Oriprek." Sista looked back at Archer.
     "Hoshi, let her listen to the message." Archer said.
     "Sista." Hoshi said.
     Sista walked over to her, taking the earpiece that Hoshi handed her. She put it in her ear and listened. She nodded, handing it back.
     "What does it say?"
     "Speak their, uhm...words, or leave." Sista said.
     "That sounds real friendly." Hoshi commented.
     "We were ordered to make contact. Sista, can you talk to them?"
     "Nishta. Nishta K'pan talk to them." Sista said, shaking her head.
     "I have to." Archer said.
     Sista shook her head. "Oriprek bad. Nishta talk to them. Leave. Never go down." Sista pointed at the planet on the view screen. "They steal, trick and lie. Bad."
     "You've had a bad time with them?" Archer asked.
     Sista nodded.
     "Well, I'm ordered to talk to these people. I have to at least try."
     Sista frowned. "Bad thought, K'pan."
     "Maybe so, but I still have to try. Can you talk to them?"
     "I can speak vitara languages."
     "Twenty languages."
     "Good. Can you speak to them?"
     Sista turned, saying something to Hoshi. Hoshi's jaw slacked.
     "What is it Hoshi?"
     "She said that they have forty languages and she speaks twenty, but not all Oriprek speak all languages. She can try to speak to them, but she still warns against going to the surface."
     "I have to at least talk to them. Open a channel Hoshi."
     Hoshi nodded.
     "Talk to them, Sista.
     Sista sighed, but then began speaking. There was a reply and a few minutes later an alien appeared on the view monitor. He looked like a fish with sagging jowls and green-brown skin. Sista quickly moved to Archer's side and kept her head down while she and the alien spoke. Archer was confused but waited.
     "He asks why you want to talk to, uhm...gita." Sista said to Archer.
     "Gita means king." Hoshi translated.
     "We're from Earth. We're exploring and would like to meet their king."
     Sista replied.
     "You must pay to see the gita." Sista said, looking up at Archer. "His audience costs one hundred latinum."
     "Latinum?" Archer asked.
     Sista nodded.
     "The ore latinum?"
     Sista looked at Hoshi, saying something. The two briefly spoke. Hoshi looked at Archer. "Latinum is a currency for them and other planets."
     "We don't have that." Archer said. "Ask him if we could barter instead."
     Sista spoke. The creature sat back, saying something.
     "What do you have to barter? He's getting impatient."
     "Uh... What does he want? What would he like?"
     Sista translated the reply. The alien said something and disappeared from the view screen. Sista looked at Archer.
     "He said to contact him when you knew what you had to barter with. Until then, leave them alone."
     "T'Pol, give me a list of everything we have that could be use for barter."
     T'Pol did so and handed Archer a padd. Archer walked over and took it, looking at the list.
     "You put cooking oil on the list?" Archer looked at T'Pol.
     "You asked to list everything we had, sir."
     "May I see?" Sista asked, holding out her hand.
     Archer handed her the padd. She looked at the list. "Cooking oil."
     "Barter with cooking oil?"
     Sista nodded, looking at him.
     "They'd take cooking oil?"
     "They use it for something else on their planet."
     "What?"
     Sista looked at Hoshi and spoke. Hoshi laughed. "You don't want to know, Captain."
     "Okay. How much cooking oil should we offer?" Archer asked Sista.
     "How much you want give?" Sista asked back.
     Archer took the padd back. "Half."
     Sista asked Hoshi something and she replied. Then the man appeared on the screen. Sista spoke again. He leaned forward, speaking. Sista nodded, speaking. He said something then disappeared.
     "The king will appear shortly. You must not look at him until I tell you too. Doing so is offensive. None may look at him."
     Archer looked down. They heard a sound and then an alien spoke. Sista said something and there was a brief conversation between the two. Sista looked up and nudged Archer with her elbow. He looked up to. This alien was purple and tan, dressed in silk clothes. Many other aliens surrounded him rubbing his shoulders and feeding him live insect. Archer swallowed, hiding his revulsion. Sista spoke again and he replied.
     "He asks what audience you wish with him. What do you want to talk to him about?"
      "Tell him we're from Earth and we're exploring space. We are interested in learning about his planet."
     Sista told the alien that and he laughed, replying.
     "He say foolish thing to waste kasta on."
     "What's kasta?"
     "Cooking oil."
     The alien spoke again.
     "He ask if you have technology to trade for audience."
     "We just gave him cooking oil." Archer complained.
     "You want talk to king, you answer question."
     "Ask him what kind of technology would interest him."
     Sista asked the alien and he replied.
     "Contact him in a half hour to tell him what you'll be bringing. Bring everything when you come down in one hour. Obey landing procedures."
     The alien disappeared. Archer let out a sigh.
     "Work with Hoshi on the language, Sista."
     "Which one?" Sista asked.
     Archer looked down at her. "The one you were talking to their king with."
     "I was using twelve different ones."
     "Twelve diff...Captain." Hoshi said.
     Archer frowned. "Prepare to leave in an hour." Archer told Sista.
     "Leave where?"
     "To the surface."
     "Nishta." Sista shook her head. "I not go to Oriprek. May have my ship, but I never go to Oriprek again!"
     Archer looked at Sista. "They have your ship?"
     "Ta." Sista nodded. "Stole. Never tell Sista landing fee till land. All other tell when Sista ask. They not tell. Hold ship. Then Sista and children have to hide on ships. Not stay there. Use for bad work and hurt children."
     "Why didn't you tell me this before?" Archer asked her.
     "Nishta ask."
     "Be ready to go to the surface in an hour, Sista. And don't tell me no. I have orders and I have to follow them."
     Sista started to respond. Archer held up a finger in front of her face.
     "One...hour...Sista."
     Sista said something with a frown as she walked off the bridge.
     Archer looked at Hoshi. "What did she say?"
     "You don't want to know, sir." Hoshi answered as her cheek flushed.
     "Probably not." Archer answered, looking back at the planet on the view screen.

The Diedra: Chapter 2



     Archer was uncomfortably aware of Malcolm sitting beside him. He had wanted Trip to go, but Malcolm knew the specifications on the phase pistols and the other odds and ends of armory that the king wanted to look at for barter. Archer glanced back at Sista. She was sitting with her hands in her lap, looking stern and angry.
     A voice broke across their radio.
     "Land on docking pad with flashing green light." Sista said.
     Archer looked down and saw the light she spoke of. He maneuvered the shuttle pod toward the landing pad and sat it down. Archer got up, watching Malcolm gathering the four padds beside him.
     "Got everything?" Archer asked.
     "Yes sir." Malcolm answered.
     Archer stepped around his chair and walked to the door. He opened the door and a phase rifle was shoved in his face. The Oriprek on the other end spoke as two more pushed past Archer into the shuttle.
     "What did he say Sista?"
     "I warned you." Sista told Archer.
     "Warned me about what?"
     "Not trust Oriprek." Sista said.
     The Oriprek closest to Sista said something, slapping her face. Archer reached for the Oriprek and was grabbed in a strangle hold from behind. He felt a hyposyringe pressed against his neck and heard a soft swish then the world faded to black.

************
     Archer heard yelling and screaming that echoed around him. Somewhere nearby was the sound of steady dripping water. Archer moved his arm, feeling cold stone underneath his hand.
     "K'pan?" Sista's voice said and then there was a hand on his shoulder.
     Archer opened his eyes, trying to focus them.
     "He's awake." Malcolm said, appearing in Archer's line of sight.
     "What happened?" Archer asked.
     "Tricked." Sista said.
     Archer sat up, taking in his surroundings. They were underground in an area that was cut out of the living stone. There was a wide opening in front of them. Archer got to his feet and walked toward the opening.
     "Nishta!" Sista said, grabbing his arm when he came within inches of the opening. "Nishta." Sista repeated.
     "What?' Archer looked down at her.
     "Nishta touch opening. Harm K'pan." Sista said, patting his shoulder. "Nishta touch opening."
     Archer looked at the apparently harmless opening.
     "I tried already, sir. There's an energy field across it and it gave me a good jolt." Malcolm added.
     "Do you know what they want?" Archer looked at Sista.
     Sista shrugged. "Nishta. Almost same happen to me when land here. Let us get off ship first. Probably know Sista remember and why came so fast this time."
     "Why didn't you tell me you had met these people before?" Archer growled at Sista.
     Sista put her hands on her hips, glaring at Archer. "I say not trust. You not understand that mean I know them? Oriprek bad. Lie and steal. I tell you that. I tell you bad happening to me back on Enterprise. That should mean I been here once. You still want come to surface. Make Sista go even though Sista not want go. Not listen to me. K'pan listen to me more." Sista jabbed his arm with her finger. Sista turned and walked to the bunk Archer had been laying on. Sista sat down on it in an angry huff.
     Malcolm walked over and sat down next to her, saying something quietly in Sista's language. Sista shrugged and said something in return. Malcolm patted her leg, responding.
     "What did she say?" Archer asked.
     Malcolm looked up at him. "She hates underground places where things crawl around."
     Archer narrowed his eyes. "I may not speak their language, Lieutenant, but I know that wasn't all she said. What was the rest?"
     "Sir, I really--"
     "Lieutenant."
     "Sir, we're all a bit on the edge right now. It really wasn't important. She's just scared."
     Sista looked sidelong at Malcolm.
     Archer crossed his arms across his chest. "Tell me what she said, Malcolm."
     Malcolm exhaled a heavy sigh. "As you command, sir. She said that she's angry with you for blaming her for this situation when she told you not to come here. She thinks you are reckless because you don't check everything before you send people on expeditions. Furthermore, you're fear and stubbornness is not going to mix well if you don't get a handle on it immediately."
     Archer's jaw set. He turned his back on the two, glaring at the opening. "I'm not scared."
     Sista said something else. Archer turned his head to the side a little.
     "What?" Archer asked.
     "She said you forgot that she can sense emotions."
     Archer said nothing. He walked over to the other bunk and sat down. For a long time the three didn't speak.
     "I'm scared." Malcolm admitted.
     "Me too." Sista said.
     Archer looked up at the two. Malcolm was staring at the ceiling. Sista was staring at her hands in her lap.
     "Me three." Archer said.
     The three were silent again. The three heard footsteps coming and Malcolm got to his feet. Four Oriprek appeared at the opening, three of them armed. The unarmed one pressed something outside the cell and stepped in, motioning Malcolm to come to him. Sista looked up at him. Malcolm spoke quietly to her and she let his arm go. Archer stepped between Malcolm and the Oriprek.
     "I want an explanation." Archer said. "We did what we were told and you're holding us prisoner."
     The Oriprek said something.
     "He say move. Nishta come for you." Sista translated.
     "Tell him what I said."
     Sista translated. The Oriprek punched Archer. Two of the armed Oriprek grabbed Malcolm and drug him out. Archer turned to attack the Oriprek and was met with the end of a phaser rifle. The two remaining Oriprek backed out of the cell and the shield was raised. Sista walked close to the opening, looking in the direction they had taken Malcolm. Archer got up, laying his hand on her shoulder. Sista closed her eyes. Archer put his arm around her shoulder and led her back to the bunk. The two sat down and waited together.



     "I'm not getting any response to hails." Hoshi said, looking up at T'Pol.
     T'Pol was sitting on the edge of the Captain's seat, watching Oriprek hanging in space on the view monitor.
     "Continue trying." T'Pol ordered.
     "I don't like this." Trip said. He leaned on the railing behind the Captain's chair.
     "Nor do I." T'Pol replied. "Captain Archer would have informed us of their arrival by now."
     Trip stood, sighing. He knew he could only wait like the rest of the crew now.

************
     Two Oriprek led Archer into a room and fastened his wrists into cuffs hanging from the ceiling. Archer heard someone come into the room and his hateful glare darkened when he saw the king.
     "We did everything you asked." Archer growled at him.
     One of the Oriprek punched Archer in the side, knocking the wind out of him. Archer slumped over but the cuffs held him up. Archer got his feet under him again and stood again. The king sat down in a chair and an Oriprek brought him a stickpin-sized device that he attached to his clothes. He pressed the front of the device.
     "Interesting devices, these pins. Your female friend wore them. As did all her young crew. They called them combadges." The king said.
     Archer's jaw tightened. "What do you want?"
     "Tell us about the cloaking device the Vulcan's are developing."
     "I don't know about any cloaking device."
     "You have a Vulcan on your ship and you do not know of any cloaking device?"
     "She's my science officer." Archer snarled.
     "Indeed. And she's Vulcan. I propose a deal."
     "What?"
     "You have her come to the surface, I will allow you to board your space craft, return to your ship and leave. No more harm will come to you."
     Archer laughed at the king. Something lashed his back and he fell forward against the cuffs. Archer gritted his teeth against the pain when his back was lashed again.
     The king sighed. "Well, I can wait as long as it takes. Or until you die. You decide."
     Archer looked up at the king. "Go to hell."
     The king laughed, sitting back in his chair to watch the torture.

The Diedra: Chapter 3



     Sista jumped to her feet, hearing someone approaching. Two Oriprek lowered the force field and dropped Archer on the floor just inside the opening. Sista waited until they were gone before moving to Archer's side.
     "K'pan." Sista said in a hushed voice, looking at his bleeding back.
     When he didn't respond she gingerly laid her hand on his shoulder.
    "Oh K'pan." Sista sighed. She stood, grabbed his arms and drug him over to a bunk. Sista knelt down near his head and laid her fingers on his temple there a wound was bleeding. She frowned a little, glancing around. She lifted up on her knees and held her hand over the wound. A soft glow appeared under her hand and the bleeding wound on his temple slowly began to heal. She pulled her hand away when the bleeding had stopped and moved her hand to the bleeding cut on his lip. It was starting to heal when Archer came to. Sista pulled her hand away, watching him watch her.
     "What were you doing?" Archer whispered.
     Sista looked away. Archer tried to sit up but his body hurt to much to get past rolling onto his side.
     "Still, K'pan." Sista said, laying a hand on his shoulder
     Her touch caused the wound under it to sting and Archer tried to move away.
     "Shhh." Sista whispered.
     Archer felt a strange warm feeling on his shoulder and looked down. He saw a glow radiating from Sista's hand and the wound was closing.
     "You're healing that?" Archer whispered.
     Sista nodded once. Archer reached up and touched the wound on his lip.
     "You can heal wounds?" Archer asked her.
     "Not all way." Sista answered.
     "Some of the way?"
     Sista nodded. "Not wounds that kill."
     "Just little ones?"
     Sista nodded.
     Archer smiled a little. "That's good enough."
     "Why they hurt you?"
     "I wouldn't tell them what they wanted to know. I don't know what they want to know. I'm not giving them T'Pol either."
     "What they want know? Why want T'Pol?"
     "They want to know about some Vulcan technology. They think because T'Pol is with us I should know. They want the information or T'Pol so she can give it to them."
     "What technology?" Sista asked in a whisper.
     "Cloaking device."
     Sista shook her head. "Vulcan's not have. Romulans have."
     Archer looked at Sista. "What?"
     "Vulcan's not have device. Romulans have."
     Archer reached out and grabbed Sista's arm, pulling her close to him. "Sista, do you know about this cloaking device?"
     Sista nodded.
     "You cannot tell them about it, Sista. You cannot tell them anything you know about it."
     "Klingons have too." Sista whispered.
     "I don't care who has it. You cannot tell the Oriprek, Sista. These people are bad. Very bad. They'll kill people if they have it."
     "They kill you if not tell." Sista said.
     "No. Not if they think I know. They'll keep me alive as long as they think that."
     "And me?"
     "I don't know." Archer let Sista go. "I don't know Sista."
     "Why you worry about them kill others?"
     "They want to control everything. They would hurt a lot of people to get what they want if they had that device."
      "I nishta tell. Promise."
     Archer smiled at Sista. "Good girl. Never tell."
     Sista smiled, putting her hand over the wound on his lip. It began healing slowly.
     "That feels warm." Archer said.
     "Lots say that. I not know. Never healed me."
     "Can the children heal?"
     "Nishta. Only my kind can." Sista patted her chest.
     Archer's brow dipped into a V. "You say that like you and the children aren't the same kind."
     "Nishta."
     "You and the children are not the same kind?"
     "Nishta."
     Archer pushed Sista's hand away. She met his gaze.
     "You're not?"
     "Nishta." Sista said, sounding a little irritated.
     "I don't understand."
     Sista didn't say anything.
     "Sista, I thought you and the children were from the same planet."
     "Ta." Sista nodded.
     "Then how are you not the same?"
     "Made different. Some for service. Some for hunt. Some for game."
     "Made for game and hunt? I don't understand."
     "Put in big ring sometimes and made fight till one die. Sometime let loose in closed area and chased."
     Archer sat up, staring at Sista. "They're your game? You hunt them down and kill them?"
     "Sista nishta." Sista shook her head vigorously. "Nishta."
     "Why didn't you?"
     Sista got up and sat down beside Archer. "Sista tell K'pan about, ta?"
     Archer leaned back against the wall. "Yes."
     Sista smiled. "Sista tell story." Sista turned to sit cross-legged on the bunk facing Archer. "On home we had the Varlikon and the Jit. Sista's jikla was Varlikon"
     "Jikla is...father?" Archer asked.
     "Ta." Sista nodded. "Varlikon make Jit for game. Make closed places where Jit joined and make more like. Some taken and given ability to hide. A Varlikon ability. Few given ability to feel." Sista patted Archer's chest. "Feel."
     "A few could feel emotions?" Archer asked.
     "Ta. Emotions. Jikla low Varlikon. Fix ships that fly away from home. Jikla kind called Varlikon-Jit. Not very high." Sista held her hand above her head.
     "You had a caste system." Archer said. "Your father was very low on it?"
     "Caste?" Sista asked.
     "I understand. Go on." Archer said.
     "Jikla meet fritha in market. Jit sometime made do daily things for Varlikon like carry bags and watch children. Jikla like fritha very much and buy to save. All saved latinum used to buy fritha. Fritha and jikla like each other and fritha have me. Jikla not able to pay price to keep fritha. Ordered to give back."
     "Your father had to pay more money to keep your mother?"
     "Low Varlikon allow have Jit to serve, but must pay every cycle to keep. High price."
     "Oh." Archer winced a little when he moved to a different position.
     Sista reached out and gently helped him move.
     "Thank you." Archer said.
     "Gritlina. Jikla allowed keep me. Is right to keep bred Jit from bought Jit. Not pay price for. Fritha very sad jikla tell. Jikla hear fritha kill self so sad. Jikla very angry. He talk and make people angry about way Jit kept, used. Fritha lead fight against Varlikon that think Jit stay same. Many cintra pass of fight. Varlikon began loose people and fight. They make big mistake. They make deal with monsters to fight war. Monsters come down to home and decide like so much stay and keep. Kill Jit and Varlikon. Now all fight monsters, no difference. High, low...no difference. All fight now to keep home. But monsters have weapons not like ours. Very dangerous. One night jikla wake me and tell me I now fly his ship alone. Say must get children away from home. Home going to be destroyed that night. Jikla take me to ship and show her where go. Tell wait for few cintra before come home. Jikla send children to ship and I must take away. Say jiklas and frithas stay and fight monsters. I must get children away to save Varlikon and Jit. Lots bring children and leave. Most babies. Then planet shake...like the planet I look to stay before K'pan say okay to stay. Shake like that. Never shake like that before. I know must leave. Zintar and Navta last I let on and then I fly away. Get out of sky, in dark and lots of ships shooting and blowing up. I know must be fast. She remember special thing father show. Make ship go fast like Enterprise. I try and try remember to use. Then I see not good thing on home. Lines running across look like fire in them. I very scared for jikla, for home, for self. Suddenly remember thing and make it go. But not before see home blow like Zintar show with ice. Home gone. I alone with children. Fly for many cintra and then return. No monsters left. No ships left. No home left. No jikla. I all alone with children. Had good ship till get here. Land and find can't pay docking fee. Didn't know of docking fee. Then we learn hide...steal. I not happy children learn things like this. K'pan?"
     "Yes Sista?"
     "Thank you."
     "For what?"
     "Letting Sista crew stay on Enterprise. Get learn. Get friends. I never say thank you so say now. Griftlina. Thank you."
     Archer smiled. "Your welcome Sista."
     Sista scowled. "We get out, I'm going to take ship back to Enterprise. Not bad Oriprek ship! My ship! Oriprek never tell Sista of docking fee when Sista call on radio and ask. All other place do. Not Oriprek. Steal ship. Sista want ship back now stuck here."
     Archer nodded. "There's a lot of things these Oriprek fail to mention to people when they talk to them."
     "This healing only works on people who like my kind." Sista said.
     Archer smiled. "I've learned."
     Sista smiled, "Lay down K'pan. On side."
     Archer laid down on his side. He closed his eyes when he felt the warmth of her healing on his skin. Archer drifted to sleep into dreams of disjointed pasts and make believe futures.

************
     Archer heard two people quietly talking and opened his eyes. On the bunk on the other side of the cell Sista was kneeling beside Malcolm. He looked as badly beaten as Archer was. Sista spoke in a hushed voice to him as she worked at healing the wounds on his body. Malcolm would smiled occasionally, but never opened his eyes. Archer could imagine the pain his Lieutenant must be in since he was in the same pain himself. Archer closed his eyes again and drifted to sleep. It felt like only minutes had passed when he heard footsteps. Archer sat up, watching the opening. Sista turned her head to watch too. The same four Oripreks appeared and stepped into the cell. One grabbed Sista's arm. Archer took a step toward the Oriprek.
     "Nishta." Sista said.
     Archer stopped. Two of the Oriprek kept their guns trained on Archer.
     "I will be well." Sista said as the two took her away.
     Archer watched the Oriprek lead Sista out of the cell and out of sight. Archer looked down at Malcolm. He was sitting on the edge of the bench, staring at the floor. Archer laid back down and stared at the ceiling.



     T'Pol and Trip stared at the red dots flashing all over the 3D model of Oriprek.
     "That's a pretty sophisticated defense system." Trip said.
     "Yes. We can't get a shuttle in there undetected." T'Pol said.
     "What about..." Trip frowned. "The transporter?" Trip looked at her.
     T'Pol looked at him. "You are willing to try the transporter?"
     "Would it get us in?"
     "That is a possibility, but first we need to find them."
     "You sent for me T'Pol?"
     The two turned. Zintar was waiting patiently behind the two.
     "Zintar," Trip said. "Do you remember much of Oriprek?"
     "Yes."
     "The Captain, Lieutenant Reed and Sista went to the surface to speak with the leader yesterday. We have not heard from them since they left. " T'Pol explained.
     Zintar frowned. "Sista wouldn't have gone willingly." Zintar said.
     "The Captain ordered her to go to translate." Trip explained
     Zintar's frowned deepened. "We were kidnapped when we were there. They made us work because we could not pay the landing fee and Sista would not tell them how to lower the defense shield on the Diedra."
     "The Diedra?" Trip turned, leaning against the console behind him.
     "The Diedra is Sista's ship. They confiscated her for the docking fee."
     "Do you know where they would be holding them?"
     "In the prison."
     "Where is that?"
     Zintar walked up to the screen and pointed to the largest concentration of red dots. "Here. In the center of the city are the gates to the prison. Below the city is the prison."
     "We could transport outside of the city." Trip said.
     "If you're going, so am I." Zintar said. "When I was there another slave showed me how to get into the prison from outside the city. With luck, it may be guarded, but still there."
     "Zintar has a good plan, Commander." T'Pol looked at Trip.
     "Sista's going to kill me." Trip said to himself. "I'll get two more men and we'll go down."
     "There is a problem." Zintar said.
     T'Pol and Trip looked at him.
     "A problem?"
     Zintar looked up at him. "They will have dismantled the shuttle pod by now, sir. We will have to find another way off the planet once we get them. They will know how to block your transporter once we've gone in."
     "We'll figure it out when we get there."
     "That is not an adequate plan, Commander." T'Pol pointed out.
     "Okay. Then you tell me what to do once we get to the surface, T'Pol." Trip said.
     T'Pol didn't reply.
     "Exactly. We have to play this one by ear and hope we know what we're doing when we get there. Ever use a phaser pistol Zintar?"
     "I will learn."
     Trip led him off the bridge. T'Pol looked at the model of the planet with a long sigh.

The Diedra: Chapter 4



     Archer got to his feet when he heard the Oripreks coming. When they appeared, they didn't have Sista with them. They grabbed Archer and Malcolm and led the two men through the dark halls into a room. Sista was kneeling on the floor and her back was bloody from lashes. The king sat in his chair sipping a glass of a dark, oily looking substance. The Oripreks bound Archer and Malcolm's hands behind their back and pushed them to their knees. Two Oriprek pulled Sista to her feet, ignoring her whimpers of pain.
     "I am going to ask you once again, woman, how do you lower the force field?" the king asked.
     Sista snarled a reply.
     Archer felt a phaser pistol pressed against his head and froze. He looked up when he heard Sista growl like a cat. Beside him Malcolm suddenly sprung to his feet, throwing all his weight on the Oriprek that had his gun aimed at Archer's head. The room erupted into a fight. Somewhere in the middle of it a phaser cut the bonds around Archer and Malcolm's wrists. When the fighting stopped, Sista was kneeling on the king's chest with a phaser pistol aimed at his forehead.
     "NO!" Malcolm yelled, holding up his hands as he walked toward Sista. "Sista, no. Don't kill him."
     Sista growled something in Varlikon.
     "Sista, we need him." Malcolm said.
     Sista didn't respond.
     "Sista," Malcolm knelt beside her. "Sista, he's their leader. We need him to get out of here."
     Sista spit at the Oriprek and handed the pistol to Malcolm. Sista walked over to a box that had fallen off a table and opened it. She stuck one of the combadges on her shirt. She took out two more and pushed it one on Archer's shirt and one on Malcolm's shirt.
     Sista said something and Archer and Malcolm's combadges beeped. Sista smiled and when she spoke the translator in the combadge translated her Varlikon to English for the men.
     "Now we need to go find my ship." Sista slid the box of remaining combadges in her pants pocket.
     "We need to find the shuttle pod." Archer said.
     "They've torn it apart by now. There's nothing left." Sista said.
     Archer looked at the king. "Is that true?"
     The king nodded, not taking his eyes off the pistol Malcolm had trained on him.
     "I know how to fly my ship." Sista said.
     Archer nodded. Malcolm motioned the king to get up and move to the door with the pistol. The four stepped into the hall and started through the halls, stunning anyone they came across. They came around a corner and aimed their weapons at the four figures that came around it. The four immediately aimed phasers at them. Archer lowered his gun.
     "Trip?" Archer asked.
     Trip let out a sigh. "Captain."
     Zintar and the two officers lowered their weapons. Sista handed the four combadges, motioning to hers. They put them on their shirts.
     "We need to get to Sista's ship." Archer said, looking at the king.
     "We need a console with maps of the city." Sista said. "I don't trust him to lead us safely to the ship."
     "Where's a console with maps?" Malcolm asked, jabbing the king with the phaser end.
     "I don't know where one's at." the king said.
     Sista and Zintar both growled.
     "This way." He said, pointing down the hall.
     The halls began to merge together for the seven when they finally arrived at a room with several consoles. Strangely, it was empty despite the importance it appeared to have. The king wagged a finger toward on of the consoles. Sista and Zintar exchanged looks and Zintar walked to a different console.
     "We could negotiate something." The king said to Archer.
     Archer didn't' respond.
     "I can offer latinum. Gold pressed. Lots of it. I can offer...name your price. Anything. I don't want to die." The king begged.
     "We aren't going to kill you." Malcolm thought for a few seconds. "At least not yet."
     The king whimpered. "I'll offer you anything!"
     Archer leaned into the Oriprek's face. "How about I just let Sista loose on you again?" Archer hiked a thumb in Sista's direction. "Would that shut you up?"
     The king swallowed, falling silent.
     "Found the maps." Zintar said. He put his combadge in a slot and light glowed underneath it. Zintar put the badge back on and pushed a button on the front. A holographic projected map appeared in front of him. He reached out and navigated the holographic map until he found the Diedra.
& nbsp;    "Don't need him anymore." Sista looked at Archer.
     Archer aimed his gun at the king.
     "No! Please!" The king begged.
     Archer shot the king. The Oriprek fell unconscious to the floor.
     "Sweet dreams." Archer said, looking at Sista.
     Zintar led them out of the room and through halls to the surface. The seven waited for guards to pass the prison door and then ran across the street to an alley.
     "This place is crawling with these things." Trip said, looking around the corner at a group of Oripreks that were going from door to door.
     "We have to get close to the Diedra." Sista said. "Zintar?"
     Zintar was still navigating the map. "In a minute. I don't know where we're at yet."
     "You may wanna hurry, Zintar. We have company coming." Trip said.
     Archer stepped around Trip, looking down the street. He lifted his phaser up, preparing to shoot. Trip did the same. An Oriprek soldier turned and spotted the two. He pointed, yelling at the others.
     Archer moved behind the cover of the wall, a phaser beam barely missing him. He aimed and shot back. Trip and Malcolm joined them.
     "We found it. Come on." Sista said.
     They ran down the alley and around a corner, hearing the Oriprek pursuing behind them.
     "They're regrouping." Malcolm said five streets later.
     They turned another corner and found themselves at a dead end. Archer and his crew turned and returned fire.
     "This what you had in mind?" Archer asked Sista.
     "Oh yes. I intended on us getting trapped. How close to the Diedra are we?" Sista asked.
     Zintar checked the map. "A little over a kilometer."
     Sista tapped her combadge.
     "Captain Vardee to Diedra." Sista said. "Respond."
     Sista's combadge beeped with two short beeps and one long. "We're close enough for her to see us." Sista said.
     Trip looked back at her. "And how does that help us?"
     Sista grinned, telling the Diedra, "Diedra, download language translator for English."
     "Download complete and translator installed." The Diedra responded.
     "Disengage port side, stern shields. Authorization beta, omega, Captain Vardee. Authentication," Sista looked back at Zintar.
     "Nine four beta alpha Commander Zintar." Zintar responded.
     "Access granted." A feminine voice replied on Sista's combadge. "Shield disengaged."
     "Diedra, lock on to the seven combadge signals and transport on board. Engage shield once all are on board."
     "I am not going to be tra--" Archer started, cut off when he was transported from where he was crouching.
     Archer appeared on the transporter pad with the six others.
     "You were saying Captain Archer?" Sista asked with a knowing smile.
     "I hate transporters." Archer grumbled.
     Sista walked off the pad toward the door. The men followed her into gray and maroon colored halls with soft white lights lighting the way.
     "Diedra, initiate plasma core. Report."
     "Plasma core initiating. Running at ninety-seven percent capacity." The voice replied.
     "That computer voice sounds too realistic." Trip commented.
     Sista smiled. "Diedra, run systems checks and compile a report."
     The seven came out of the hall onto the bridge. In the center of the bridge were two consoles with chairs behind them. Behind it were three chairs in a row. To the right was a console with a chair and to the left was another console with a chair. Situated in nooks at the back of the bridge were two more consoles with chair. Sista slid into one of the front console chairs.
     "Zintar, weapons." Sista ordered.
     "Aye captain." Zintar replied, sitting down at a console.
     "Trip, I want you to sit at navigation so you can initiate it for Diedra. She needs help when she has to load star charts quickly." Sista pointed to the console to her left. "Everyone needs to sit."
     Archer and Malcolm sat down in the chairs in the middle of the bridge. The two crewmen sat down in the chairs behind the consoles in the nooks.
     "Why aren't there any Oripreks on here?" Archer asked.
     "When I realized we'd been tricked, I activated the security shield around the ship. Only Zintar or I can disable the entire shield. Diedra, I need that report. Bring all systems on line and run diagnostics and calibrations."
     "Scan ninety percent complete. Hostiles attacking." Diedra reported.
     "Zintar, wide stun array."
     "Aye Captain." Zintar responded.
     Archer looked at Sista.
     "What does Sista mean?" Archer asked.
     "Captain." Sista answered.
     "Your name is Captain?"
     Sista laughed. "No. My name is Vardee."
     "Then why have you let everyone call you Sista?"
     "First I thought Zintar made a mistake and told all of you Sista was my name. Then I realized that it was actually a misunderstanding. All of you did not understand the translation and you were already used to calling me Sista."
     Archer smiled. "That was a large misunderstanding."
     "Not really. I am Captain Vardee. Just not Captain on your ship." Sista said.
     "Hostiles temporarily disabled, Captain." Zintar reported.
     "Diedra, I need that report."
     "Scan complete in thirty seconds." The computer reported. It began counting down at ten seconds. "Scan complete. Report compiling and ready."
     "Report." Sista said.
     "Life support at one hundred percent. Weapons at sixty percent. Warp engines at sixty-two point five percent. Shields at thirty percent. All other systems running at an average of eighty percent."
     "Those don't sound like good numbers." Archer commented.
     "They are not. Diedra has been sitting for a while. She requires maintenance to keep systems running at optimal percentages. Diedra, transfer thirty percent of life support to shields. Transfer non-essential power to shields and weapons. Bring weapons to one hundred percent. Report on shields."
     "Weapons one hundred percent." The computer reported. "Shields at eighty-nine percent."
     "Find the power to put shields at one hundred percent Diedra."
     "Another ten percent from life support. Taking holodecks off line and transferring power. Powering down infirmary and transferring power. Powering down waste management and transferring power. Shields at one hundred percent and holding."
     "Diagnostics and calibration complete?"
     "Complete in ten seconds. Hostile fire has resumed."
     "Again Zintar." Sista ordered.
     "Uh...Sista...I think we have company flying in." Trip said.
     "Diedra, bring up full screen. Navigation screen lower right square. Weapons lower left square."
     In front of them the empty space that had been there lit up with a holographic view screen that showed the view outside the ship with a panoramic one hundred and twenty degree view. In front of the two consoles at the bottom of the view screen were statistics of the weapons and a navigational view.
     "Load star charts for this solar system." Sista ordered. "Transfer navigation to weapons control. Transfer remaining controls to helm. Beta, pi, two, two, Vardee. Once the transfer is complete, begin launch sequence. Trip," Sista leaned over, pointing to two dark lines with small bars on it. "See this?"
     Trip nodded.
     "When Diedra is ready for the navigation to engage, two lights on the bottom will come on. Put fingers on them and run your fingers up fast. Do not wait. We are going to be surrounded here shortly if we do not get out off this launch pad."
     Trip nodded. Sista turned back to her controls.
     "Launch sequence initialized. Beginning countdown from ten..." the computer began counting down.
     Trip saw the two lights Sista had told him about and slid his fingers up the bars. The console suddenly lit up with star charts and controls labeled in a language he didn't understand.
     "Now what?" Trip asked.
     "Matrix control from navigation not responding." The computer reported. "Unable to transfer all of navigation to weapons."
     Sista said a word that did not translate followed by, "Hold on. We're flying out of here really fast."
     "...One. Launch in progress." The computer said.
     The ship shuddered slightly and shot off the launch pad toward the stars above. The pull from the planet's gravity suddenly vanished and the stars stopped racing.
     "Diedra to Enterprise." Sista said.
     "Enterprise." T'Pol replied. "We have you on screen, Sista."
     "Zintar, hold position. Prepeare for attack. Enterprise, two Oriprek ship are closing on your position. Two more are following me from the surface." Sista said.
     "Preparing to engage in combat." T'Pol said.
     "Zintar, arm proton missiles. Tubes three and four."
     "Armed, sir."
     "Diedra, bring interface templates online. Create template from English language." Sista ordered.
     "Template for English language compiling. Compile complete and ready to install."
     "Translate navigation controls to English language and overlay navigation controls with template. Restore all navigation control to the navigation console."
     In front of Trip a holographic image appeared and the labels for the controls were now written in English.
     "Trip, locate the two approaching Oriprek warships and send coordinates to weapons."
     Trip touched the controls and locked on the two ships. "Aye Captain, uh...Sista." Trip glanced back at Archer.
     "Coordinates received. Targets locked." Zintar reported.
     "Target their weapons. Fire at will, Zintar."
     Zintar fired the torpedoes.
     "Report Zintar."
     "One ship's weapons has been disabled. Second torpedo missed."
     "Five more ship just appeared on sensors, sir." Trip informed Sista.
     "We have no more torpedoes. Missiles are disabled, Captain." Zintar said.
     "Charge gunnery." Sista said. "Locate next target Trip."
     "Enterprise to Diedra." T'Pol said.
     "Diedra here." Sista replied.
     "We are closing on your position. Do you require assistance?"
     The Diedra rocked from a hit.
     "Shields down to eighty-five percent." The computer reported.
     "Do you have the target yet Trip?" Sista asked.
     "Almost." Trip answered.
     "Shields down to seventy-eight percent." The computer reported.
     "Hold position Enterprise. Locate the target Trip." Sista insisted.
     "I'm trying."
     The ship rocked again.
     "Shields down to sixty-five percent." The computer reported.
     "Locate the target Trip!" Archer ordered.
     "I'M TRYING!" Trip yelled. "Target acquired."
     "Lock on weapons and firing." Zintar said. "Target hit and weapons disabled."
     "The other ships are falling back. No more are in pursuit." Trip reported.
     "Diedra to Enterprise."
     "Enterprise here." T'Pol answered.
     "Does Enterprise have a space I can land Diedra?"
     "She should fit into a loading bay, T'Pol." Archer answered.
     "Loading bay six is empty. I'll open the doors."
     "Acknowledged. Diedra out."
     Archer got up and walked up behind Sista, laying his hands on her chair. Sista looked up at him.
     "Did I do something wrong?"
     "No. You did a good job Captain." Archer patted Sista's shoulder.
     Sista smiled. Archer stood up, watching as the Enterprise come closer on the view screen.

The Diedra: Chapter 5



     Archer pushed the button outside the door of the loading bay and stepped in. It was strange how the ship, while not even his, made him proud of her. Archer walked around the Diedra to the loading door on the opposite side, running his hands across her as he walked underneath her. The Diedra's metal was cold but smooth. A lot like the Enterprise metal had felt when he touched it before it was sent out of the loading bay doors to be assembled. Archer stepped on board and turned, walking down the gray and maroon hallways. Inside the Diedra not even the steady drone of Enterprise's warp engine could be heard. Archer came to the bridge and sat down in the captain's chair. He looked around the bridge, wondering what it was like to have a full crew on board this vessel. Archer got up and wandered down another hall. One of the doors opened into a room with consoles and a tube filled with a liquid looking substance in the center of it. Archer heard people talking and turned. He saw two pairs of feet sticking out of a panel.
     "Ah-hum." Archer said, and then cleared his throat.
     Sista and Trip both came out of the opening.
     "I thought Malcolm was here too." Archer said.
     "Back here, sir." Malcolm's voice said.
     Archer turned. Malcolm was sitting at a console across the room. Archer smiled, looking around the room.
      "What is this room?" Archer asked, suspecting he knew the answer.
     "You would call it...uhm...engineering." Sista said.
     "What's this?" Archer pointed to the tube in the center of the room.
     "Plasma core."
     Archer looked down at her. "Plasma core?"
     "Like your engine. Life longer. Make ship fast in warp. Faster in fight."
     "Really."
     Sista nodded.
     Archer nodded, looking at the plasma core. Archer looked down at Trip and Sista again. "I almost put you three on a missing persons list."
     Trip looked down, smiling. Sista looked confused.
     "We not missing."
     "He's joking, Sista." Trip said.
     "Oh." Sista smiled. "Not get joke."
     Archer smiled. He crouched down, looking in the opening. "What are you two doing in there anyway?"
     "Try to figure out what to put in gel pack for energy conversion." Sista answered.
     "Gel packs?"
     Sista nodded. She motioned to the opening. "K'pan look?"
     Archer moved into the opening and saw what she was talking about. There was a container with a pinkish gel like substance in it.
     "And these are used to convert energy?" Archer asked.
     "Ta." Sista answered.
     Archer moved out of the opening and sat down. "You're ship is far more advanced than Enterprise is."
     "You ain't even seen the half of it, Cap'n." Trip said.
     "Nor the weapons they have, sir." Malcolm commented.
     "How many does the Diedra hold, Sista?"
     "She okay to hold twenty-four. Meant for battle. Not carry lots of things on her."
     "Well, I'm glad she's with us now." Archer looked at Sista and Trip. "You three need to get cleaned up. We have class in two hours." Archer stood, looking around the room again.
     "Class?" Trip asked.
     "OH!" Sista put her hand on Trip's arm. "The children. They have class with Earth children today."
     "I completely forgot about that." Trip jumped up and held his hand out for Sista.
     She took it and stood. "Malcolm, we need to hurry. I forget! Children very upset if Sista not go. Meet in class K'pan?"
     Archer nodded.
     "See you in class, sir." Malcolm said as he walked around Archer to the door, following Trip and Sista out of engineering.
     Archer walked to the console Malcolm was at. The holographic overlay was still on it. Archer browsed through the databases. It was written in Varlikon. Archer smiled.
     "Diedra."
     There was a beep.
     "Can you convert the databases to English?"
     "Specify which database."
     "The one on screen in engineering."
     "Converting."
     The information came up in English.
     "You're a good ship Diedra." Archer smiled to himself.
     There was a beep. "Please rephrase command." The computer said.
     Archer smiled. "Play some music. Anything. By anyone."
     A soft instrumental melody began playing. Archer chuckled. He could certainly get used to a ship like this one.