[final segment]

Archer made his move and grabbed for the pistol on his hip. He was fast, but not quite as fast as Texas Red who had also drawn his gun. Archer's gun had cleared leather, but wasn't quite level when Red had his pointed towards Archer. The two, however, didn't exchange fire. After a few seconds Red looked down at his gun. He tried firing it a couple more times, although it was now pointed at the ground, but still it did not function. Archer smiled and holstered his own weapon.

Behind Red, a horse whinnied. Red turned quickly and noticed all his men slumped in their saddles. The horses began to wonder aimlessly, appearing a little bit dazed themselves. Red turned back to Archer and glared. "What the hell have you done?"

Archer laughed and scratched his beard. "Exactly what we were hoping to do," he commented. He shook his head and put his hands on his hips. "You would have shot and killed me."

"I wasn't gonna kill you," Red replied, sounding a bit insulted. "I'm a better shot than that."

"But you would have shot me."

"I didn't want to," Red said, now exasperated, "but you left me no choice."

"There are always choices," Archer said thoughtfully. "And violence is never the best one."

"What did you do to my men?" Red repeated pointing back over his shoulder and ignoring Archer's comment.

Archer glanced at the still wandering horses. "Turns out, Skagarian and Star Fleet phase pistols are based on the same technology."

Red scrunched up his face.

"You see, for our weapons there's a stun setting," Archer continued, "but typically the individual has to be in the direct line of fire. Captain Krell, however, showed us how to make some modifications such that our weapons can stun a group of people simultaneously."

"Captain Krell?" Red stated confused.

"Oh yes. Ah. You may have heard of him referred to as Judge Krell," Archer corrected.

In response to his name, Krell stepped out of the Sheriff's office and onto the street. His jet black hair almost glinted in the sun. Both Archer and Red turned to him. He was holding his weapon up for both of them to see.

"A Skag," Red spat. He shook his head. "I didn't believe it when I was told. He's the judge?"

"Contrary to what you may think," Krell said. "I will be fair."

Red frowned and turned back to Archer. "If I understand these Skag weapons, my boys will be comin' round soon enough. When they do, you'll still be outnumbered. Who made you Sheriff anyways? There's many in this town who will come to my side."

As he said this, Lieutenants Reed and McKenzie came out from behind a building on the side of the street. They also had their guns drawn. They passed by the two from Red's gang who had moved behind Archer for the gunfight, taking both their weapons as they passed. It was clear that Reed and McKenzie's phase pistols had also been modified and one of them had taken care of these two just before the gunfight. Behind them were the bluehorn rancher Bart and his boys escorting one of Red's men, who had be left at the hideout to guard the prisoners, and a stream of others, both human and Skagarian. Red looked on confused. All his hostages were apparently now free. McKenzie and Reed moved past Red and started to methodically disarm the other unconscious members of Red's gang.

"Turns out, we found your hideout in the canyons," Archer said with a grin.

Red looked down at his gun one last time and then tossed it on the street in front of him. He now looked disgusted and defeated. "What about my gun?" he asked. "I had the quicker draw, but couldn't fire."

Archer turned in Krell's direction, and from the Sheriff's office, T'Pol and Otis emerged. T'Pol was holding a tricorder in one hand and another phase pistol in the other and motioned that Otis was free to go and join his father in the street. Otis looked down, seeming reluctant to move forward. "Sorry pa," he said.

"You okay?" Red asked.

Otis nodded. "Yeah."

Red spat again and turned back to Archer for the explanation.

"As I said, Skagarian and Star Fleet phase pistols are based on the same technology. Again, with Captain Krell's help, T'Pol's phase pistol was adjusted to emit a very low level and precise beam. With it, she rendered the bullets in your gun inoperative by expanding the casing on each and releasing the gunpowder."

Red looked back to T'Pol and then to his spot on the street, judging the distance. He shook his head. McKenzie retrieved Red's gun from the street and then went to stand behind him with Reed and the cache of weapons. "That's quite an aim she's got," Red finally said.

Archer nodded. "Believe me, I wouldn't have trusted anyone else."

#

Red was placed in the cell recently vacated by his son as they considered what to do with him. They waited until evening before sending the now freed hostages back south. It would be a trek of several kilometers before they reached the area where transporters would be able to function and beam them the rest of the way, and so they left with the sun nearly set to avoid the heat of the day. The former hostages had also needed time to record what had happened to them since their abduction and arrangements made with the citizens of Agua Fria to be represented in the upcoming discussions about the future of their colony. Lieutenants Reed and McKenzie were put in charge of the caravan while Captains Archer and Krell and Commander T'Pol stayed behind to take care of a few loose ends.

Two of the former hostages who had been slightly injured in the original confrontation with Red and his gang down south were on the horses in the lead while everyone else was on foot with Reed and McKenzie taking up the rear. They kept a leisurely pace for the first kilometer and the group stretched out to a hundred meters or so in length. In time, they would have to use their lights to find the way and perhaps get into a tighter group to protect against an errant bluehorn, but for now, it was easy going.

Malcolm looked back over his shoulder. "What do you suppose they're planning?" he wondered aloud.

Jennifer shrugged. "The Captain and Commander are cooking up something," she replied. "I think I overheard that they're going to go ahead with a trial. Give the people of Agua Fria some closure on the matter and prepare them for what's to come."

Malcolm scoffed. "I wonder how that's going to go," he mused, sounding skeptical.

"The two of them got us through the Xindi war," Jennifer countered. "And this past year with the Augments, the Vulcan/Andorian crisis, the Berserker ship, the Terra Prime incident. And just last week with the Illyrians. I think they can handle it." She shook her head. "You know, I don't know if there's some secret romance between the two of them as Crewman Fuller says or not, but what does it matter? They make one hell of a command team for Enterprise, and that's just fine with me."

As Malcolm considered, it was true. Not just the past two years since Jennifer was on board, but also for the two years before that. The Captain and Commander did make a good team. It was likely simply their close working relationship that initiated the rumors of something more. But either way, it didn't really matter. As long as the two of them continued to serve together so well, what went on between them, or not, was their own business. He and Jennifer had a similar role to play regarding security on Enterprise. He liked to think the two of them worked well together as a team…

Jennifer tapped his shoulder interrupting his thoughts. She pointed off in front and to the left of where they were going towards the setting sun. Malcolm noticed she was still holding Red's revolver. Red had let her keep it after some bargaining. "You know what we're doing, don't you?" she asked.

Malcolm looked about, but the landscape was fairly nondescript in all directions. "What?"

"Riding off into the sunset," she smiled and winked.

Malcolm chuckled. That was a common image presented in Commander Tucker's old movies, particularly pertaining to the Old West. "Well, at least walking off into the sunset," he corrected.

She nodded back, but her smile didn't falter. She seemed content, and Malcolm could look at that smile all day… Something suddenly occurred to him. "You know, if you did end up staying here," Malcolm began.

"I'm not staying," Jennifer interrupted.

"I know."

"It might be fun," she added and looked around herself. If you squinted, it reminded her of the Great Basin of Nevada back on Earth. "I don't think Captain Archer would release me anyway," she speculated. "And I'm not ready to give everything else up just yet."

"I know," Malcolm repeated. There was something else he wanted to convey. Something more about the two of them. The two of them working as a team. The future… "I'm just telling you, if you did end up staying here…" He turned to face her. Their eyes met. "I think I'd stay too," he finished.

This caught her a little by surprise. It was a full ten paces as she considered her response. Fortunately the traces of her smile never left her face. "I like that," she finally said, holstering Red's gun and edging a little closer to walk next to him.

So did Malcolm.

#

"All rise for the honorable Judge Krell," Archer pronounced. Archer was standing at attention by the door. Nearly the entire population of the town of Agua Fria now also stood. They were crowded into the local saloon, which happened to have the largest inside space that could accommodate most everyone, with a few outside looking in through the open window. All the chairs from the establishment and some brought in were lined up in rows, a table was off to the side, and a desk was set up in front next to the bar. Standing behind the table was Red and T'Pol. Krell stepped in through the swinging doors and took the single seat behind the desk. A chair to the side of this desk remained empty. "You may be seated," Archer pronounced and everyone who had one took their seat.

Krell got right down to business. He picked up a gavel sitting on the side and rapped his desk twice. "The Agua Fria court is now in session." He turned to Archer. "Sheriff, the first order of business is the case against Mister Otis Barkley regarding the death of Sheriff Jones."

Archer nodded. "Yes, your honor. On your desk you will see sworn affidavits from three eye witnesses in addition to Mister Barkley, and their recollection of the day in question. It is evident that the incident was in fact an accident and I hereby withdraw all charges against him."

Krell looked over the paperwork and nodded. He emanated a satisfied air. "So noted," he finally said. He rapped his gavel again. "Case dismissed," he said placing those papers to the side and moved another stack to be in front of him. He wasted no time. "The second case involves the kidnapping and involuntary detainment of seventeen individuals and the shooting of Sheriff MacReady by the defendant Theodore Barkley, better known by his alias, Texas Red, and his gang."

"Your honor," T'Pol said.

"The bench recognizes defense counsel," Krell replied.

"My client requests that all charges against any of his associates, including his son, Otis Barkley, be dropped. He accepts full responsibility for his actions and those of his associates who acted under his direction and guidance."

"I didn't shoot MacReady," Red added with a frown. "But I'll take responsibility for it."

"So noted," Krell said. He scribbled something on a sheet of paper using an old style writing device. He then patted the stack of papers in front of him. "I have here the testimony of all seventeen of those affected and can recall them if additional information is required by defense counsel. I have thoroughly examined the testimony and have provided a copy to the defense." At this point he looked over again to Red and T'Pol and T'Pol nodded. She had a similar stack in front of her. "How do you plea?" Krell asked, posing his question now directly to Red.

At T'Pol's prompting, Red stood. T'Pol stood as well. Red appeared uncomfortable and looked to the crowd and then back to Krell. "You all know what I did," he replied. "There were…"

"The defendant enters a plea of no contest," T'Pol interrupted.

"I'd like to explain myself," Red said directing his statement to T'Pol but to the court as well.

Krell nodded. "You will have that opportunity, of course," he said and then wrote something on the paper on his desk. "A plea of no contest is entered. With a plea of no contest, the defense will now have the opportunity to call witnesses before I provide sentencing."

T'Pol stepped out from behind the desk and Red sat back down. "Thank you your honor," she said. "There is some question regarding the standing of Mister Barkley with the rest of the community. I intend to first shed some light on that matter to show that up to this point, Mister Barkley has been an upstanding member of this community." She turned to face the crowd. "I call to the stand, Mister Ian Doogle."

Someone in the front row stood and moved forward. He was a bearded man still dressed in the outfit he wore when he rode into town the previous morning. He was someone from Red's gang. He appeared to have expected to be called, but then wasn't sure where to go. "What do I do?" he asked.

Archer guided him over to the chair beside Krell's desk. He held a book in one hand and motioned for Ian to place his left hand on the book. "Raise your right hand," Archer ordered.

Ian still appeared a bit confused, but did as he was told.

"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God," Archer recited.

Ian hesitated. "Ah… yea," he finally replied.

Archer grinned slightly. "Good enough. Please take a seat." He then moved back to his position at the side of the room.

When Doogle was seated, T'Pol stepped into the space between the crowd and Krell's desk and faced him. She placed her hands behind her back. "Mister Doogle, describe your association with Theodore Barkley."

Doogle cleared his throat. "Well, he took me in when my folks were killed by the fever 'bout fifteen years ago. I've worked his ranch ever since. Same thing for a bunch of us. They call us his 'gang'. He's got the biggest ranch in Agua Fria. We trade with all the towns down south."

"Has Theodore Barkley ever killed a man?" T'Pol asked.

Doogle's eyes shifted quickly to glance at Red, but then returned his gaze to T'Pol. "It was in self-defense Ma'am."

T'Pol nodded. "I know," she said. "I would like for you to describe what happened."

Doogle nodded quickly and gathered his thoughts. "Most everyone knows," he finally said. "But I s'pose I can tell it. About ten years back there was a fella named Adams who worked a bluehorn ranch a few miles east of here." He pointed to Bart who was sitting with his wife and boys in the front row. "Near where Bart and Katie is now. Anyways, he was a disagreeable sort and one day poached one of Red's yearlings. Killed and butchered it the same day. Red confronted him about it, right here in town. Front of Sheriff Jones and everything. Adams got angry, and one thing led to another. Adams got off a shot and grazed Red's shoulder." Doogle paused and glanced again at Red before concluding. "Red's shot killed him instantly."

"What did Sheriff Jones do?" T'Pol asked.

"To Red? Nothing. Like I said, he saw it all. It was self-defense," Doogle replied. "He investigated about the yearling though, and sure enough, Adams had poached it. Red's brand was still there on the hide and everything."

"What did Red do?" T'Pol persisted.

Doogle ran his fingers through his beard. "Well, he was pretty shook up. He hadn't intended to kill Adams. Was aiming for his arm to disable him but got him right through the heart. After that, he practiced. He's the best shot I know of now."

"Why did he practice shooting?"

Doogle shrugged again. "I s'pose so he wouldn't kill another man."

T'Pol nodded satisfied. "Thank you Mister Doogle, I have no further questions."

Doogle nodded. He looked over to Krell who directed him to return to his seat.

T'Pol glanced at Krell and then back to the gathered crowd. "I understand, many in town have grievances against my client, in the way he's conducted himself these past few years. I'd like to call Mister Bart White to the stand."

Bart too was in the front row of spectators. He appeared to know what was expected of him and moved over next to the desk and was sworn in by Archer. He sat down and looked up expectantly.

"Mister White," T'Pol began, "how long have you known Mister Theodore Barkley?"

"My whole life. Forty two years."

"Besides the aforementioned kidnapping and detainment of the seventeen individuals identified in the current complaint, has he ever broken the law to your knowledge?" T'Pol asked.

Bart scoffed. "He and his gang have run rough shod over everybody in town since Sheriff Jones drowned," he replied. "And that's the truth. He's been a thorn in my side particularly."

"That's right," someone from the crowd shouted.

Krell rapped his gavel against the desk and looked out over the crowd. They settled down immediately. He nodded to T'Pol to continue.

"In running 'rough shod' and being a 'thorn' in your side, did this involve breaking the established laws of Agua Fria?" T'Pol asked again.

"He was acting as the law," Bart countered.

"But did he steal from anyone?" T'Pol persisted. "Did he treat anyone unjustly? Did he use his position to obtain material gain?"

Bart shifted. "There were times he put himself in charge of settling a dispute, and I think sometimes he would side with his friends instead of other folks," Bart replied. It was clear that he had been on the 'other folks' side more often than not. Bart appeared thoughtful and added "I s'pose, in his thinking, he was taking on the responsibility of the sheriff."

"Somebody needed to," Red cut in.

"What we needed was for the town to select a new sheriff, not have you take over," Bart shot back.

Krell rapped his gavel again and gave both Red and Bart a stern look. Red slumped in his chair, but bit his tongue.

T'Pol returned her attention to Bart and raised an eyebrow, eliciting him to answer her original question.

Bart cleared his throat. "He tried to be fair, I s'pose," he conceded. "But it's hard to be fair when he has interests in the town too and he's the self-appointed sheriff and mayor and everything else."

"Recognizing that may have been inappropriate, do you concede, however, that Mister Barkley has never actually broken any of Agua Fria's established laws?"

"I guess so," Bart huffed.

T'Pol nodded, satisfied. "Thank you Mister White. I have no further questions." As Bart was returning to his seat, T'Pol turned to face Krell. "As my final witness, your honor, I would like to call to the stand the defendant, Mister Theodore Barkley."

Red stood up and stomped over to the chair beside Krell's table, lifting up his hand even before Archer was in position. "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?" Archer intoned.

"I do," Red responded and sat down to face T'Pol. "Yes I kidnapped those folks down south, and yes I held them without their consent," he stated, before T'Pol could ask a question. "The Skags…" He stopped and shifted in his seat. "The Skagarians," he started again, "stated their intentions quite clearly that they were taking over, and I couldn't just sit around and let that happen."

"How would abducting those individuals prevent the Skagarian colonists from arriving and establishing a settlement on the planet?" T'Pol asked, not skipping a beat.

Red threw up his hands. "Hell, I don't know," he said. "Perhaps they'd think twice about messing with us up here in Agua Fria if they knew they weren't wanted. We have enough trouble scraping out a living with the pale wheat and bluehorn. The land can only handle so many folks."

"It is a big planet, Mister Barkley. The intentions of the Skagarian colonists is not to 'take over' as you suggest," T'Pol continued. "Further, there are an equal number of human settlers arriving."

"I didn't know that," Red replied.

"You might have known if your son hadn't destroyed the transmitter we left with Sheriff MacReady last year so we could contact you."

"They were contacting the Skagarians," Red countered.

"That is not factual," T'Pol said. She frowned ever so slightly and glanced at Archer. If he didn't know better, she almost looked exasperated. He gave her an encouraging nod. She turned back to Red and decided to get to the heart of the matter. "Mister Barkley, you have explained why you abducted and detained those people, and now you have the opportunity to make a statement to everyone assembled and to Judge Krell before he hands down his sentence."

Red snorted. "Right," he finally said. "I can see how folks have been perturbed by the way I've been settling things around here. I've always done what I thought is right, including with you Bart, but I can understand how some of those things may have come across as… bossy. And I imagine there were some times where I might have had a… um… conflict of interest." He sounded as if he was reciting a memorized list and he glanced briefly at T'Pol before continuing. "And as for taking those folks, I knows it wasn't the right thing to do, but I was at my wits end. And I, ah… well anyway. I'm sorry." He hesitated and turned to meet Krell's gaze, as if he might say something more, but then leaned back a bit in his chair.

"I have no further questions, your honor," T'Pol stated.

Red got up and moved back to his seat behind the table. The crowd seemed to exhale a collective sigh of relief and start breathing again.

T'Pol again placed her hands behind her back and faced Krell. "Your honor. Mister Barkley admits his recent transgression and previous indiscretions regarding the administering of the law in Agua Fria. It is my contention that incarcerating him will be detrimental for order in the town and encourage you to offer a more appropriate punishment." She nodded crisply and turned to step back to her place behind the table beside Red.

Krell folded his hands and nodded solemnly. He looked out to the crowd, all of their attention solely on him and then turned to face Red. "I am prepared to present my sentence."

At T'Pol's prompting, Red stood. Everyone else remained silent.

Krell patted the stack of papers on his desk. "There are a few from those abducted who harbor no ill will towards Mister Barkley and his associates. Further, none were enthusiastic about pursuing a punishment. In fact, most of them, both Terran and Skagarian, are unsure what the future holds and share Mister Barkley's… unease, at the current circumstances. If we are to make this work, all of us succeed together, we need to build trust between Terrans and Skagarians, and between those who are here now and those who are coming." Krell gestured towards Bart and his wife Katie in the front row of seats. "Mister and Missus Bart and Katie White have been selected by you, and have agreed, to represent Agua Fria at the upcoming council to discuss this world's future. Representatives from all towns and from the arriving colonists will be present and the issues and concerns of everyone will be addressed." Krell paused and looked at Red squarely. "As your sentence, I appoint you, Mister Theodore Barkley, to be Mister and Missus White's assistant in all matters. You will serve in that capacity until they relieve you. You will do what they tell you to do, whether at the council or here in Agua Fria."

There was some murmuring in the crowd and Red appeared a bit shell-shocked.

Krell took up his gavel and rapped it sharply against the table before Red, or anyone else, could protest. "Court adjourned!"

#

Archer, T'Pol and Krell were riding south out of Agua Fria. It was late afternoon, but a front had moved through earlier in the day with rain and had cooled things off. Krell folded up his communicator and placed it back in his pocket. "We're in range and can beam out at any time."

Archer glanced towards the setting sun. "Let's continue riding for a spell," he drawled. "It's shaping up to be a nice evening."

Krell nodded and patted the neck of his mount. He was finally feeling comfortable on the beast and it was unlikely he'd have another chance. A wild herd of bluehorn paralleled their progress on the horizon. The sky was now cloudless and the brightest stars were already visible despite the sun still being up. "I confirmed our colony ship's arrival has been accelerated," Krell said, breaking the silence. "It will now be in orbit about the same time as your own."

"That is fortuitous," T'Pol commented. "It was what we hoped for. The introduction of the new colonists, both Terran and Skagarian, will be facilitated by them arriving together. We should plan a meeting of the planetary council as soon as possible."

"I agree," Krell said. "Although I was dubious in the beginning, I think our recent collaboration bodes well for the success of this combined colony." He turned to Archer. "It is good that we will both be here to help it get established."

"Black Jack Krell and Deadeye Archer," Archer mused.

T'Pol arched an eyebrow and tilted her head to look at both men.

"It goes without saying that success would have been impossible without Doc T'Pol as well," Krell quickly added.

T'Pol's eyes shifted to look at Archer riding beside her. He smiled back. "I can't argue with that," he said. "It was you who devised the final script with the trial and had most to… perform. There's no doubt Black Jack is correct in his assessment."

"Thank you Deadeye," Krell said with a nod.

T'Pol shook her head. The two of them were incorrigible attempting to fit into their North Star personas. But it was a good sign that the two Captains seemed to get along so well. It did bode well for the future of the colony. "Not that I'm looking for accolades," she finally commented. "Although, it is only fitting and logical to assign appropriate credit where credit is due."

"I've said it before," Archer replied with a laugh. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

T'Pol sat up a little taller on her saddle and nodded. "Neither do I."

#

The End

[closing credits]

Next Episode:

TO FLY – On the way to meetings with the Xindi on the Aquatic world of Azati Prime, Archer and T'Pol are abducted leaving the newly returned Tripp in command with more than a missing command team to worry about. Their ensuing adventure helps unravel a long-standing mystery. (New Season 4 finale with TATV pushed to a later season…)