New A/N on 26/02/10: This was one of my first written stories... and you can tell. But at the moment, I'm not really in the mood to give it the much needed overhaul. I hope you enjoy reading it anyway, it's really not that bad LOL

This wasn't good. Archer looked around and saw several weapons pointed at them.

"Chancellor, I believe there is a mistake." Trying the diplomatic way at first, was always the best. If it's only a misunderstanding, maybe they can talk themselves out of it.

"No mistake, Captain." Chancellor Gregorus signalled one of his men. Archer didn't put up a fight as he was relieved of his scanner and his communicator. A quick sideglance at Trip showed him, that the Commander was stripped of his equipment as well. They hadn't brought any weapons as the Chancellor requested. Now thinking about it, Jon knew that it wasn't the smartest move to comply with this request. Their experience should have taught them better. But now it was too late.

"What do you want?"

"Your cooperation." Signalling his men again, Archer and Trip were grabbed.

Enough diplomacy, Jon thought and swirled around using his elbow to punch one of the men in the face. Trip saw the movement of his Captain and followed suit. Throwing himself suddenly backwards, he surprised the man behind him and pushed him to the ground. The second was felled with a well directed punch to the jaw.

Archer managed to throw another one over his shoulder, when he was tackled, but they were outnumbered six to two. Soon they were both on the ground, struggling against the hands, which pressed them down. Their arms were forcefully pulled behind their backs and tightly secured with a rope around the wrists. Blindfolds were put around their eyes.

"Don't resist, Captain. It would be better if you choose to cooperate."

"Go to hell," Trip snarled in the direction of the chancellor and was rewarded with a kick in the ribs, which caused him to moan and curl himself together.

"Leave him alone!" Archer couldn't see, but it was enough to hear his friend groan in pain. "What do you want? For what do you need my cooperation?"

"I want Enterprise," Gregorus said simply. "Bring them to the cells."

Hands grabbed the two men and hauled them up. Archer only almost toppled over when a hand shoved him forward. Trip didn't have the same luck, he heard his friend stumble and the dull sound when a body hit the floor, followed by another moan.

"Get up!" Two men grabbed Trip and hauled him to his feet again.

"Get your hands off of him!" Archer shouted and got a punch in the face as response.

"Be silent and keep walking."

A hand closed around his arm and he was dragged along, stumbling every now and then. Not able to see where they were going, Archer tried to rely on his other senses. They went down a long flight of stairs and the air became cooler the longer they descended. The sound of another pair of feet stumbling along, told him that Trip was still with him. The occasional moan offered the additional knowledge, that the guards weren't very squeamish when it came to handling his friend.

By reaching the bottom of the stairs, Jon almost tumbled over when there wasn't another step anymore as expected. The hand on his arm tightened its grip, so it was almost painful and continued to drag him along. Archer noticed the temperature had sunken a few degrees more and there was a smell in the air that wasn't promising.

After a few meters, his guard suddenly hauled him around and shoved him face forward into a wall. Dizzy from hitting his head he felt how his bindings were loosened, but before he could take his chance he was hauled back and a second later pushed forward again. Expecting another wall, he stumbled over his feet when there was none. He crashed to the ground and a moment later another body landed on top of him and a door was closed with a bang.