A/N - This story is stand-alone and has no connection to my other stories.
I was going to take a break from writing but this darned idea bit me and
wouldn't let go! And I just can't seem to leave poor Trip alone!
Reviews are welcomed and appreciated.
As always, none of the Enterprise characters belong to me but I do enjoy borrowing them every now and then.
TROPHIES
Chapter One
He was tired, his heart pumping blood to exhausted limbs. He stumbled and fell to his knees in the mud, the man he'd been carrying sliding to the ground from his shoulder. He could hear them behind him, moving through the trees and underbrush, approaching, always just behind him..
THREE DAYS EARLIER
"Keep moving, Malcolm," whispered Commander Charles "Trip" Tucker, nudging the tactical officer in the back. Lieutenant Malcolm Reed took a tentative step then began moving slowly through the huge rotunda of the Eska capital building. Lining the walls were over a hundred glass cases, all displaying dead but preserved animals, their lifeless eyes staring back at them.
"I knew they were a hunting species, Commander, but I had no idea," murmured Malcolm over his shoulder. The Enterprise crew had met the Eska several months ago on the rogue planet Dakala while the aliens had been hunting a creature indigenous to the dark world. They had parted on uneasy terms so Trip had been surprised when, upon entering their system, Enterprise had received an invitation to visit the Eska home world. He was even more surprised when Damrus, the leader of the Dakala hunt, had greeted them at the landing zone, hand extended in friendship. They had been brought directly to the capital building in the city of Tritaan to meet the governor of the Kytra region, Martis.
Now as they wandered through the great cavernous room, Trip kept his eyes focused straight ahead of him. Just in front of Malcolm he could see his long time friend and captain, Jonathan Archer, his head turned, his eyes averted. Behind him he could hear the gasps of Ensigns Hoshi Sato, Jacob Sawyer and Crewman Abby Peters. Trip realized it wasn't the fact that the governor displayed his kills that bothered him; it was the fact that there were so many. Now as the engineer looked again at the hundreds of creatures displayed, he recalled Damrus telling him it was all for sport, the mere joy of the hunt.
"Governor Martis has quite a display of trophies, doesn't he Captain?" commented Damrus proudly, as he walked beside the captain. "He has been to several planets in our system as well as others. This one is a Meetrok. It's found only on Vulcan."
Trip glanced at the display case to which the Eska pointed. The creature didn't resemble anything the chief engineer had ever seen. It was no bigger than the Labrador Retriever Trip had as a child but it had six legs all ending in fiercely clawed paws. The head vaguely resembled a mountain lion's but with no fur. The body was covered in thick, dark brown, leathery skin. The Meetrok was propped up on its two back legs, the other four set in an attack position. The mouth was gaping open, revealing sharp canines the length of Trip's forearms. The engineer cringed and turned his attention back to a spot between Malcolm's shoulder blades.
"How long have you been Deputy Governor, Damrus?" asked Captain Archer, turning away from the glass case.
"Almost fifteen years now. The governor's a brilliant man. I've enjoyed working with him," replied the Eska with a smile.
The group of six was lead up a twisting column of stairs to a hallway on the second floor. As they climbed, Trip looked up at the ceiling of the rotunda. A mural had been painted detailing several ancient Eska on a hunt. When they entered the hall, Damrus pointed out other rare animals mounted on the walls as the crew passed them. At the end of the hall, they entered a large office. In the center of the room, seated at a huge desk was an old, weather worn Eska male. He rose to his feet and smiled. Trip shivered slightly at the coldness of that smile.
"You must be Captain Archer," he greeted cheerfully. He extended his hand, which the captain took graciously.
"Captain, this is Governor Martis," introduced Damrus.
Archer smiled and nodded his head. "Nice to meet you, Governor. These are some members of my crew," he said, stepping aside to make introductions. "My Chief Engineer, Commander Tucker, Lieutenant Reed, my Tactical Officer, Ensign Sato, my Communications Officer, and Ensign Sawyer and Crewman Peters, members of our security team."
"Tactical Officer, security team?" puzzled Martis as he shook each person's hand vigorously. "Why did you feel a need to bring security with you, Captain?"
"It's simply Starfleet protocol, Governor. No offense was intended, I assure you," replied the captain with a slight smile. He quickly looked around the room, eyeing the many display cases present. "You've got quite an impressive assortment of, um, creatures, Governor."
Martis seemed to abandon any insult he had taken as he proudly named several of the encased creatures and the worlds from which they came. He pointed out a large bird of prey, presented as if still in flight. Trip cringed at the sight. The bird was absolutely magnificent.
The governor noticed his expression and scowled. "You find this distasteful, Commander Tucker?" he asked as he moved to stand directly in front of the engineer.
"No, sir," Trip answered quickly. "I---well---, no sir."
"Governor," said Damrus, breaking the sudden tension. "I think lunch should be ready. Why don't we all go down to the dining room?" He started ushering everyone toward the door. Martis looked at the engineer for a long moment then quickly turned and left the room.
"Best not offend the Governor, Commander," whispered Damrus before he, too, left the room. Trip exchanged a questioning look with Malcolm then shrugged.
After lunch, the group was turned loose to wander the city. The huge open marketplace of Tritaan was the hub of activity. The square was alive with people bartering for their wares. Trip spotted a display of candles and immediately thought of buying a souvenir for T'Pol. He wandered over to the stand and perused the merchandise. He picked up a deep royal blue, unscented candle and looked at it closely.
"Who's the candle for, Commander?" asked Hoshi at his elbow suddenly. He turned to look at her and noticed a twinkle in her eye.
"Sub-commander T'Pol," he responded with a smile. "Do you think she'd like this one?"
Hoshi nodded her head. "It's beautiful, sir. Any particular reason you're buying a gift for the sub-commander?"
Trip shrugged. "We had a disagreement this morning over breakfast. I thought I'd buy her a little something as a way to apologize. What did you buy?" he asked, noticing the package she held.
"A scarf. Abby bought one, too. Maybe the sub-commander would like a scarf instead of a candle."
"Nah, I think I'll get her this," Trip replied.
"But a scarf is so much more personal, sir."
Trip caught the teasing tone of Hoshi's comment and looked at her with a scowl. "It's just a souvenir, Hoshi."
"Whatever you say, Commander," the ensign replied with a grin and a nudge. "I'll see you later, sir."
After reaching an agreement on a trade with the Eska woman behind the counter, Trip took the wrapped candle and tucked it protectively under his arm. He grinned to himself. The woman had seemed ecstatic to receive the copper penny he'd traded for the candle. Trip looked around then caught sight of Ensign Jacob Sawyer looking over weapons at a nearby stand.
"Shopping for the armory, Jake?" he asked as he joined the older man.
"Commander," greeted the ensign. He picked up a phase rifle and examined it. "I'll say one thing for the Eska. They sure know their weapons."
"Look at this one," said Trip, hoisting a hand held torpedo launcher.
"Wouldn't Lieutenant Reed like to get his hands on this!" gasped Jacob as he looked over the weapon in detail. He took the launcher from Trip and settled it on his shoulder.
Trip chuckled. "Come, on. We need to meet the cap'n."
The two officers wandered through the crowds toward the main entrance to the marketplace.
"Please, please!"
Trip turned to see a young woman running toward them, a frantic look on her face. She grabbed his arm and started pulling him.
"Please, my daughter!" she screamed.
Trip threw a confused glance at Jacob then allowed the woman to pull him after her. The two men followed the Eska woman back behind a line of display stands. Trip pulled up when he saw a group of four men in the alley, each one brandishing a baton. He turned around, stopping his companion. Three more Eska stood behind them.
"Commander," whispered Jacob.
CONTINUED
Reviews are welcomed and appreciated.
As always, none of the Enterprise characters belong to me but I do enjoy borrowing them every now and then.
TROPHIES
Chapter One
He was tired, his heart pumping blood to exhausted limbs. He stumbled and fell to his knees in the mud, the man he'd been carrying sliding to the ground from his shoulder. He could hear them behind him, moving through the trees and underbrush, approaching, always just behind him..
THREE DAYS EARLIER
"Keep moving, Malcolm," whispered Commander Charles "Trip" Tucker, nudging the tactical officer in the back. Lieutenant Malcolm Reed took a tentative step then began moving slowly through the huge rotunda of the Eska capital building. Lining the walls were over a hundred glass cases, all displaying dead but preserved animals, their lifeless eyes staring back at them.
"I knew they were a hunting species, Commander, but I had no idea," murmured Malcolm over his shoulder. The Enterprise crew had met the Eska several months ago on the rogue planet Dakala while the aliens had been hunting a creature indigenous to the dark world. They had parted on uneasy terms so Trip had been surprised when, upon entering their system, Enterprise had received an invitation to visit the Eska home world. He was even more surprised when Damrus, the leader of the Dakala hunt, had greeted them at the landing zone, hand extended in friendship. They had been brought directly to the capital building in the city of Tritaan to meet the governor of the Kytra region, Martis.
Now as they wandered through the great cavernous room, Trip kept his eyes focused straight ahead of him. Just in front of Malcolm he could see his long time friend and captain, Jonathan Archer, his head turned, his eyes averted. Behind him he could hear the gasps of Ensigns Hoshi Sato, Jacob Sawyer and Crewman Abby Peters. Trip realized it wasn't the fact that the governor displayed his kills that bothered him; it was the fact that there were so many. Now as the engineer looked again at the hundreds of creatures displayed, he recalled Damrus telling him it was all for sport, the mere joy of the hunt.
"Governor Martis has quite a display of trophies, doesn't he Captain?" commented Damrus proudly, as he walked beside the captain. "He has been to several planets in our system as well as others. This one is a Meetrok. It's found only on Vulcan."
Trip glanced at the display case to which the Eska pointed. The creature didn't resemble anything the chief engineer had ever seen. It was no bigger than the Labrador Retriever Trip had as a child but it had six legs all ending in fiercely clawed paws. The head vaguely resembled a mountain lion's but with no fur. The body was covered in thick, dark brown, leathery skin. The Meetrok was propped up on its two back legs, the other four set in an attack position. The mouth was gaping open, revealing sharp canines the length of Trip's forearms. The engineer cringed and turned his attention back to a spot between Malcolm's shoulder blades.
"How long have you been Deputy Governor, Damrus?" asked Captain Archer, turning away from the glass case.
"Almost fifteen years now. The governor's a brilliant man. I've enjoyed working with him," replied the Eska with a smile.
The group of six was lead up a twisting column of stairs to a hallway on the second floor. As they climbed, Trip looked up at the ceiling of the rotunda. A mural had been painted detailing several ancient Eska on a hunt. When they entered the hall, Damrus pointed out other rare animals mounted on the walls as the crew passed them. At the end of the hall, they entered a large office. In the center of the room, seated at a huge desk was an old, weather worn Eska male. He rose to his feet and smiled. Trip shivered slightly at the coldness of that smile.
"You must be Captain Archer," he greeted cheerfully. He extended his hand, which the captain took graciously.
"Captain, this is Governor Martis," introduced Damrus.
Archer smiled and nodded his head. "Nice to meet you, Governor. These are some members of my crew," he said, stepping aside to make introductions. "My Chief Engineer, Commander Tucker, Lieutenant Reed, my Tactical Officer, Ensign Sato, my Communications Officer, and Ensign Sawyer and Crewman Peters, members of our security team."
"Tactical Officer, security team?" puzzled Martis as he shook each person's hand vigorously. "Why did you feel a need to bring security with you, Captain?"
"It's simply Starfleet protocol, Governor. No offense was intended, I assure you," replied the captain with a slight smile. He quickly looked around the room, eyeing the many display cases present. "You've got quite an impressive assortment of, um, creatures, Governor."
Martis seemed to abandon any insult he had taken as he proudly named several of the encased creatures and the worlds from which they came. He pointed out a large bird of prey, presented as if still in flight. Trip cringed at the sight. The bird was absolutely magnificent.
The governor noticed his expression and scowled. "You find this distasteful, Commander Tucker?" he asked as he moved to stand directly in front of the engineer.
"No, sir," Trip answered quickly. "I---well---, no sir."
"Governor," said Damrus, breaking the sudden tension. "I think lunch should be ready. Why don't we all go down to the dining room?" He started ushering everyone toward the door. Martis looked at the engineer for a long moment then quickly turned and left the room.
"Best not offend the Governor, Commander," whispered Damrus before he, too, left the room. Trip exchanged a questioning look with Malcolm then shrugged.
After lunch, the group was turned loose to wander the city. The huge open marketplace of Tritaan was the hub of activity. The square was alive with people bartering for their wares. Trip spotted a display of candles and immediately thought of buying a souvenir for T'Pol. He wandered over to the stand and perused the merchandise. He picked up a deep royal blue, unscented candle and looked at it closely.
"Who's the candle for, Commander?" asked Hoshi at his elbow suddenly. He turned to look at her and noticed a twinkle in her eye.
"Sub-commander T'Pol," he responded with a smile. "Do you think she'd like this one?"
Hoshi nodded her head. "It's beautiful, sir. Any particular reason you're buying a gift for the sub-commander?"
Trip shrugged. "We had a disagreement this morning over breakfast. I thought I'd buy her a little something as a way to apologize. What did you buy?" he asked, noticing the package she held.
"A scarf. Abby bought one, too. Maybe the sub-commander would like a scarf instead of a candle."
"Nah, I think I'll get her this," Trip replied.
"But a scarf is so much more personal, sir."
Trip caught the teasing tone of Hoshi's comment and looked at her with a scowl. "It's just a souvenir, Hoshi."
"Whatever you say, Commander," the ensign replied with a grin and a nudge. "I'll see you later, sir."
After reaching an agreement on a trade with the Eska woman behind the counter, Trip took the wrapped candle and tucked it protectively under his arm. He grinned to himself. The woman had seemed ecstatic to receive the copper penny he'd traded for the candle. Trip looked around then caught sight of Ensign Jacob Sawyer looking over weapons at a nearby stand.
"Shopping for the armory, Jake?" he asked as he joined the older man.
"Commander," greeted the ensign. He picked up a phase rifle and examined it. "I'll say one thing for the Eska. They sure know their weapons."
"Look at this one," said Trip, hoisting a hand held torpedo launcher.
"Wouldn't Lieutenant Reed like to get his hands on this!" gasped Jacob as he looked over the weapon in detail. He took the launcher from Trip and settled it on his shoulder.
Trip chuckled. "Come, on. We need to meet the cap'n."
The two officers wandered through the crowds toward the main entrance to the marketplace.
"Please, please!"
Trip turned to see a young woman running toward them, a frantic look on her face. She grabbed his arm and started pulling him.
"Please, my daughter!" she screamed.
Trip threw a confused glance at Jacob then allowed the woman to pull him after her. The two men followed the Eska woman back behind a line of display stands. Trip pulled up when he saw a group of four men in the alley, each one brandishing a baton. He turned around, stopping his companion. Three more Eska stood behind them.
"Commander," whispered Jacob.
CONTINUED