It was dark all around. The only light filtering down from what seemed to be very far away. His lungs ached from the lack of air. His mind was screaming in chaos. Fear paralyzed his entire body, though he knew he should be desperately trying to reach the surface, the distant light fading by the second.

"How can this be happening?" he thought, in denial "Didn't I join Star Fleet to escape the water, my fear of drowning?" The thought faded away as the cold surrounded him, everything fading into darkness.

. . .

"After everything that's happened recently, it's good to be exploring again," thought Jonathan Archer, captain of the Earth starship Enterprise. He thought back to the past 2 years they had spent averting crisis after crisis. No misguided alien race trying to destroy Earth and no xenophobic humans trying to take over. He was happy to be returning to their original mission, exploring the great expanse that was space. "To go where no man has gone before…" Archer mused. After departing from Earth a little over a week ago they were approaching the first uncharted system of this expedition.

"Captain" his Vulcan science officer and second in command, T'Pol said, "The system we are approaching has thirteen planets, three of which are Minshara class."

"Excellent," Archer responded. Turning to his helmsman, Ensign Travis Mayweather, he said, "Travis set a course for the nearest of the three."

"Yes sir," Travis acknowledged, "We'll reach orbit in three hours."

. . .

After entering orbit, T'Pol began to run scans on the planet. Sensors indicated that 90% of the planet's surface consisted of water. Only 10% of the planet's surface was made of land, making up several island chains scattered about the planet. The atmosphere contained high amounts of nitrogen and oxygen. "Plenty suitable for the humanoid crew to breath," T'Pol noted. Continuing her scans, T'Pol then searched for bio signs. The sensors picking up several animal and plant life populating the islands freckling the planet's vast oceans. The climate seemed to be rather tropical, most of the planet averaged at 80 degrees Fahrenheit; there were slight raises and decreases here and there. T'Pol reported her findings to the captain.

"Any sign of intelligent life? I would prefer not to have any surprises," Archer said, slight humor glinting in his eyes.

"Sensors only indicate plant and animal bio signs on the islands, but sensors can be wrong. They were unable to effectively scan the oceans. Other than picking up a few marine life bio signs near the surface, what lies deeper in the ocean is unknown. There may be a chemical interference causing the sensor malfunction…"

He nodded and said, "Travis prepare a shuttle pod. T'Pol, Trip, Malcolm, and I will be travelling down to the planet to explore. Have it prepared within the hour."

"Yes sir" said Travis, getting up and leaving the bridge, heading toward the shuttle bay.

. . .

"So much water!" said Malcolm Reed, the Enterprise's Chief Armory Officer "I don't think I've seen so much in one place before." He gazed out one of the small window and out onto the new planet.

"The surface is 90% water" said T'Pol, gazing at the tablet in her hand. She was puzzled over the fact that scanners where unable to penetrate the ocean. There seemed to be no logical reason for it, but so far she had been unable to find the cause.

"Trip, bring us to that chain of islands in the eastern hemisphere, near the equator," Archer said, studying the planet's surface.

"Aye Captain" said Commander Charles Tucker III in his southern accent. Nicknamed Trip, he was the Chief Engineer of Enterprise. Trip fiddled with the shuttle pod's controls, steering toward the islands as directed by his captain.

As they neared the islands Archer said, "There, land on that beach" pointing to the largest of the islands.

Trip carefully steered and landed the shuttle pod on the foreign beach. Emerging from the shuttle pod, they were momentarily stunned by the bright, clear light. The ocean was a brilliant, deep blue gently lapping at the beach. The sand was a light silver color. Bordering the beach was a vast jungle, spanning the entire island. The jungle seemed to be full of life, thick with trees and other unfamiliar vegetation. Exotic and strange animals could be heard from deep within. The air was clear and clean, smelling of salt and some alien perfume that seemed to be emanating from alien flowers of sorts on the edge of the jungle.

"Incredible," Trip murmured, the beach vaguely reminding him of the beaches from his home state Florida. Well except for the silver sand… that tended to be golden brown on Earth.

. . .

After thoroughly exploring the beach they, moved to the edge of the jungle. Trip peered into the green foliage. T'Pol ran scans of the looming jungle. She saw many animal bio signs not far from the edge. Informing the captain of this he said, "Alright everybody be alert, put phasers on stun. We don't know what kind of creatures are in there."

"Yes sir" murmured the others, grabbing their phasers and adjusting the setting.

Looking into the dark jungle once more, Archer headed into the unknown, eager to explore. The interior was much like he imagined it to be. The jungle was dark and humid. Little light managed to fight through the thick canopy created by the trees. A pair of eyes yellow peered at them from inside some vegetation before they heard a menacing growl and the eyes disappeared from sight. Glancing up at the looming foliage, he could faintly see small shadows darting from tree to tree. He wondered if they were birds or primates of some kind.

Trip walked over to where the yellow eyes had been seen and curiously examined the vegetation, which looked to be a bush of some kind. It had light green leaves with thin dark blue veins. There were a few bunches of light blue berries with gold spots hanging from the branches. He picked a berry, examining it before tossing it back into the bush.

Going deeper, the air seemed to get thicker and warmer. A few bugs buzzed around their heads before flying away, seemingly disinterested. Wiping sweat off his brow Archer glanced around. The trees had grown larger but more spaced apart allowing the hot sun to beat down in large patches of light. Traveling a little farther they encountered a stream. Bright yellow and pink fish darted around. They decided to take a rest here.

T'Pol scanned the water and confirmed that there were no toxic substances in it. With this knowledge, they all dipped their hands into the cool water, splashing it on their faces and necks. The cool water felt refreshing. Feeling rejuvenated, they were eager to start again.

"We'll continue on for another hour," Archer said, "then we'll return to the shuttle pod and go back to Enterprise. Tomorrow I'll send some crewmen down to collect samples." They all nodded in agreement. After more thought, he added, smiling, "Maybe they'll even be able to catch some animal specimens. I bet Phlox would enjoy that." His companions chuckled.

. . .

After returning to Enterprise everyone was eager to take a shower and change out of their sweat soaked uniforms, except T'Pol of course. After growing up in a desert the planet's climate was nothing compared to Vulcan.

Trip was just leaving his quarters after showering and donning a fresh uniform, and was heading to engineering. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a shadow dart across his vision. He turned but saw nothing. "Must have something in my eye…" he thought, continuing on his way. Reaching engineering, he walked over to the warp engine, grabbing the offered tablet from an ensign. Looking down he examined the readings and he saw the shadow again. Turning he saw the dark shadow dart behind the warp core before disappearing.

"Did you see that?" Trip asked the passing crewman.

"See what sir?" the confused woman responded.

"It was a- oh never mind" Trip grumbled.

Finishing his shift, he left engineering, heading to the mess hall for a quick bite before some much needed rest. Exiting the turbo lift, Trip noticed that shadow again. It darted out of his vision as soon as he focused on it. "What is this?" Trip thought furiously. Whatever it was it was driving him crazy. Diverting from his original course, he headed toward sickbay. Maybe Phlox could explain his latest vision problem and give him something for it.

Arriving in sickbay, he explained what he had been experiencing. Phlox examined him and afterward said, "As far as I can tell nothings wrong with you. Perhaps you're just tired, when was the last time you slept?"

"Oh about twenty-two hours ago," Trip replied sheepishly, "I was on my way to my quarters for some rest, but I kept thinking I was seeing something."

"Well you look fine, besides looking exhausted. Go back to you quarters and get some rest."

"Yes, Doctor" Trip said, smiling wearily.

Leaving sickbay and heading toward his quarters, he saw a flicker of the shadow. Turning sharply towards it direction he finally saw what had been eluding him all day. Terrified he managing to squeak out a "What the-"

. . .

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