Disclaimer: Enterprise belongs to ParaMount, not me.
Chapter 2
Just as Jonathan reached out to poke the creature, the thing stopped biting Malcolm and slid back into the water, barely disturbing the surface. Trip breathed a sigh of relief, letting his face fall into his hands and rubbing his face. T'Pol took out her communicator since the other two had ruined their communicators in the lake. Jonathan suddenly gasped, causing Trip to uncover his eyes. The captain held his breath as he realized that the thing had bitten through Malcolm's uniform and blood was staining the dark fabric.
"T'Pol to Enterprise," she hailed calmly.
"Mayweather," Travis responded.
"Mr. Reed has been critically injured, we need an emergency transport."
"The transporter is offline and Commander Tucker said before he left that it wouldn't be working for a while."
"Understood," T'Pol answered, closing her communicator.
Captain Archer rubbed his hands in his face. It never worked when they needed it, hopefully someone would perfect that someday. Malcolm groaned, bringing Jonathan back to the present. He had to do something to get the younger man medical attention. The med kit was in the shuttle, almost two miles away. They would have to carry him there, but the humidity was too much for them. They could easily over-heat or pass out from exhaustion in this heat. The injured man moaned again and Jon saw T'Pol place a hand on his forehead.
"His body temperature is slightly elevated. Captain, we need to get him back to the ship as soon as possible."
"We'll have to carry him," Jon announced.
"If we could wake him, it might be a bit easier for him to help us," Trip suggested.
Jonathan gave Malcolm's shoulder a light shove. His eyes remained closed and he only continued to breathe heavily. Jonathan tried again, but his friend wouldn't wake up.
"It's probably better that he doesn't wake up and panic," he finally decided. "Let's get him up."
Trip and Jonathan both put an arm under one of Malcolm's arms, hauling him to his feet. Mr. Reed groaned, but stayed unconscious. T'Pol picked up the bag with their samples and they began the journey to the shuttle pod. The ground was full of twisted roots sticking up from the trees and areas when the soil was lower, causing holes and for the two men to lose their footings a few times. T'Pol moved to the lead, looking for places that were easier for them to walk. Malcolm's body threatened to slip from their arms several times and they could barely hold him up. They had been walking for almost twenty minutes when Jonathan fell to his knees. Trip grabbed Malcolm before he smacked his head on a tree branch. They didn't need to add concussion to his list of injuries.
"Cap'n, are you okay?" Trip asked, gasping as he lowered Malcolm to the ground.
"I'm alright. I just need a little rest," Jonathan said between deep breaths. "This heat is worse than I thought."
"The temperature has risen by six degrees in the last twenty minutes. It appears that the temperature during the suns highest point penetrates the tundra and quickly warms the area," T'Pol relayed.
She passed them each a water bottle. Trip took a long drink and then glanced down at Malcolm, seeing the sweat dripping from his forehead. T'Pol knelt down and felt his forehead. His body temperature had risen in again and infection from the wound was setting in. Jonathan and Trip stood up, picking up their friend to carry him. They both refused to give up as the sweat soaked their uniforms and dripped from the ends of their hair. Even T'Pol looked like she was beginning to feel the humidity. The group was almost to the shuttle-pod when Jonathan tripped again, staggering under Malcolm's weight.
"Let me carry him, Cap'n. We're almost there and you're exhausted."
Jonathan nodded, letting T'Pol help him stand up. Trip considered letting Malcolm be carried on his shoulder, but he didn't want to bump the wound. He put one arm under his friend's knees and tossed Malcolm's arm over his shoulder to lift him. With a groan he stood up and began moving towards the shuttle again. It was soon visible through the branches. Trip struggled to keep Malcolm in his grasp as his arms began to shake from exhaustion. T'Pol opened the door to the shuttle, assisting Captain Archer and then climbing in. Trip passed Malcolm to his superior officer and climbed in after, pulling the door closed. He collapsed onto his butt, taking deep breathes. T'Pol powered up the shuttle, turning on the air-conditioning to cool them all down.
"How is he?" Trip asked. He took a swig of water and watched as the captain took out the medical kit, scanning Malcolm.
"His body temperature is 103.5. We need to cool him down."
The shuttle pod lifted off the surface as Jonathan wet a cloth bandage from the medical kit and began to sponge Malcolm's face and neck. Trip removed Malcolm's arms from his uniform.
"T'Pol to Enterprise."
"Mayweather, how's it going?"
"We are headed back to the ship; inform Doctor Phlox to meet us in the shuttle bay."
"Understood."
Trip concentrated on taking care of Malcolm as the shuttle rushed back to Enterprise. His friend was breathing heavily and sweat still dripped from his forehead, no matter their attempts to cool him down. Jonathan was resting on the floor with his back again the shuttle wall. His eyes were closed and his face was pale from exhaustion. Trip passed him a bottle of water, forcing him to drink it.
"Thanks," Jonathan mumbled.
He looked terrible. Trip looked anxiously at T'Pol as Enterprise came into view and they began their docking procedure. Phlox's voice came over the com when T'Pol opened the shuttle door inside. T'Pol helped Jonathan stand up and they started towards the decon chamber. Trip put his arms under Malcolm and lifted him up, trying to control his worry when he felt how warm Malcolm was. His body temperature was dangerously high.
"I suggest that you get clean in the showers. I'm giving you something that will lower Mr. Reed's temperature," Phlox declared. "I'd also like a blood sample from him."
Trip took the hypo-spray and injected the medicine into Malcolm's neck. He made no sound and didn't regain consciousness. He turned his head slightly in response to the blood sample. Trip passed it back through the window to Phlox. He turned to see that between the two showers, they might have some problems. He was exhausted and Captain Archer wasn't much better. T'Pol was the only that hadn't been effected by the planet. She had already begun undressing Jonathan down to his Starfleet blues and helping him into the shower. Jonathan was uncomfortable, but he wasn't resisting. Trip didn't take another thought, but proceeded to help Malcolm into the shower. He had to help his friend, even if this was someplace that no friend wanted to go.
When Trip finished showering, he dressed in the sick bay pajamas and helped Malcolm pulled them on. The lieutenant was a bit more lucid after the cold water hit him, but he still wasn't fully aware of what was going on. His pulse was erratic and his face was tremendously pale.
"I've analyzed the scans that T'Pol took of the creature and I'm working on an antidote to the toxin in Mr. Reed's bloodstream. I'll meet you in sick bay," Phlox announced.
Sorry for the long delay! I hope that you enjoyed this chapter, please review! Thanks!
Emma
