This is a little experiment of mine. Depending upon how well it's received
will determine how long I peruse it. This first story is the beginning of
a series of short "cliff hanger" stories I will be doing. The first series
of stories will introduce a new major character for Enterprise.
I hope you enjoy it and keep checking back for new episodes.
"Shadows"
by Quills
"Trip?!" he shouted "Trip, answer me."
Silence
"Come on." Said Archer "Let's go."
The officer's followed the Captain through the entrance way they had come through earlier.
Archer tapped his communicator panel "Archer, to Enterprise."
"Enterprise, go ahead." Answered T'Pol
"T'Pol, we have a situation." Said archer "We've lost contact with Trip, Reed and Pryce. Trip was talking to me when, what sounded like phase pistol fire started going off. We're heading to the engineering section. Concentrate ship's scans on that section and see if you can get a transporter lock on the away team."
T'Pol was already up and heading for the science station before Archer had given the order. "One moment Captain, scanning now." Said T'Pol as she calibrated the ship's sensors "Captain, our scans are not penetrating the engineering section. The ship's engines are giving off high levels of radiation. This will also prevent a transporter lock."
"Damn, alright." Said Archer "Keep scanning, contact me if you break through. Archer out."
*********
"What the hell are you shooting at, Ensign?" yelled Lt.Reed
"Quick, sir." Said Pryce "take cover."
The two officers quickly ran behind several stacked crates. Foot steps came running up from behind them. Ensign Pryce reacted immediately by leveling her phase rifle at the intruder.
"Whoah...Whoah!!" yelled a voice that was distinctly Commander Tucker's
Reed grabbed the front of the Ensign's phase rifle pushing it's target site off of Commander Tucker.
"Ensign, at ease." Said Lt. Reed "What the bloody hell is going on?"
"Sir, I saw him." Said the young Ensign clearly shaken.
"You saw who?" asked Tucker.
"Him, the killer." Said Pryce.
"What?!" exclaimed Reed "Where?"
"Back there sir." Said Pryce as she pointed around the crates and down the corridor.
"Are you sure?" asked Tucker
"I-I'm not sure sir." She said obviously shaking
"Elena." Said Reed trying to calm her "Ensign!"
Elena Pryce looked up at Lt. Reed "Yes, sir."
"Report, Ensign." He told her. He knew she was a good security officer. She
just needed to be reminded that she was one.
"Yes sir" she said as she took a deep breath "I heard a noise come from the far end of the corridor when you and Commander Tucker were working on restoring power. I went to investigate. When I got to the end of the corridor I saw something moving. I told him to move out of the shadows. He didn't move for several seconds then suddenly he came out of the shadows. Sir, he wasn't wearing an EV suit."
Reed looked up at Tucker who was standing over them. Tucker kept glancing down the corridor to see if anything was coming.
"Are you certain Ensign?" asked Reed
"I know it sounds impossible, but I know what I saw sir." Said Ensign Pryce.
"Well that's not our only problem." Interjected Tucker "I just lost contact with the Cap'n a couple minutes ago."
"What happened?" asked Reed clearly showing annoyance that the armory officer had not been made aware of this crucial information
"Easy Malcolm " said Trip reassuringly "I'm pretty sure the Capn and the rest of the landing party are ok. While I was talkin' to Cap'n Archer I noticed the radiation levels on the reactor were spikin'. I think the're interferin' with communications. Our conversation got cut off just as the phase rifle fire started goin' off."
"Great, the Captain probably things a war is goin' on down here." Said Reed
"Sorry sir." Said Pryce
"It's not your fault Ensign." Said Reed "Next time though, stay in sight of the rest of the landing party."
"Yes, sir." She said as she straightened herself out.
"Uh, folks " said Tucker "I think Ensign Pryce's buddy is back."
Reed stood up and looked over the crates. He could see movement at the end of the corridor, but the shadows obscured any discernable features.
"We don't mean you any harm." Said Reed "Step out into the open."
The figure in the shadows kept moving. Pacing back and forth almost like a predator waiting for the right moment to attack it's prey.
"I'm going out there." Said Reed "Cover me."
He looked at Tucker "With your permission sir."
"Ya know what curiosity got the cat." Replied Tucker "Just watch yourself Malcolm."
"Yes sir" said the armory officer
Tucker nodded to Pryce motioning her to take up a position to give better cover to Lt. Reed. The armory officer proceeded past the crates and made his way slowly to the mouth of the corridor. He tried peering down the corridor, but his helmet light only penetrated half way down. Some of the ship's lighting systems were apparently still out.
"I've got a phase energy rifle pointed directly at you." Said Reed "I'm ordering you to step into the light…slowly. "
The shadowy form remained motionless for several seconds.
Then faster than Reed or the others could see the form move it was
mere feet from Reed's position. The alarmed tactical officer
quickly reacted by firing his weapon. The darkness and sudden surprise
prevented him from taking accurate aim. Before he could get a second shot off the figure was on him tackling him to the ground knocking the phase rifle out of Reed's hand sending it sliding across the deck. The figure kneeled over
Reed's prostrate body. The light from the Lt.'s helmet showed the face of the intruder. It was a human face…emaciated...with sallow eyes in sunken sockets. It's skin color was ashen and when it bared it's teeth the heavily receded gum's showed sharpened dagger like fangs. The monster opened it's mouth, which seemed to stretch wider than physically possible. Large strings of saliva began to drip from the fangs and lips and drop on Reed's faceplate as the creature's mouth moved ever closer.
Before the creature could complete it's fiendish intentions a combination of phase pistol and rifle fire struck it in the chest and face. The creature was knocked off balance but quickly stood up and screamed in an ungodly howl of pain and fury. The creature quickly moved away from Reed and started for Tucker and Pryce's position. The two officer's continued firing at the creature, but it kept coming. Before they could fall back, the creature leapt from the deck and cleared the crates landing right in the middle of Tucker and Pryce. Tucker fired his weapon at the creature who shrugged it off and swatted the engineer with a back hand that sent the him flying several feet landing in an unconscious heap. The creature turned it's attention to Pryce who swung her phase rifle at the creature striking it squarely in the face several time. The creature grabbed the Ensign's rifle tossing into the dark recesses of the engine room. Placing his gnarled and clawed hand about the throat section of the Ensign's EV suit it began to force her to the ground as it opened it's mouth full of sharp daggers.
Lt. Reed flipped himself over and sat up on his knees. He was stilled dazed from the creatures assault. He looked for his phase rifle spotting it on the floor of the main engineering platform. He looked up and saw Ensign Pryce on her knees and the creature gripping her by the throat. Reed rose to his feet. He knew he only had seconds. If that thing didn't kill her when it ripped her EV suit open the ship's atmosphere would. He made a run for his weapon getting into a full sprint not stopping to pick up the weapon but diving for it and going into a full somersault roll as he retrieved the rifle. He came up in a crouched stance and
set his sites on the creature firing off a volley of phase fire. It proved only to annoy the creature who turned towards Reed, but not loosening it's grip on the Ensign. The creature bared it's terrible fangs as it snarled in anger.
"Ensign, get out of the way." Yelled Reed "I need to set my rifle on maximum."
The young girl was terrified. This was not something they covered in Starfleet security training. Tears started flowing down her cheeks as she imagined how horribly she was about to die. Then the sound of Lt. Reed's voice cut through her fears.
"Ensign, you can do it." He told her "You're a Starfleet officer, bloody well act like one!"
With all her strength she forced her fist into the creature's groin. The creature howled in rage, but it released its grip. As soon as Ensign Pryce moved away from the creature Lt. Reed started firing his rifle. He had increased the level to maximum. It still wasn't stopping it. The creature was moving towards Reed. The Lt. knew if he didn't stop it now the creature would probably kill The rest of the landing party. He had to do something and then it occurred to him. He stopped firing as the creature advanced on his position. He opened the front housing valve and pulled off the cyclic rebuffer. Removing the rifles energy safety valve would
allow him to fire the weapons full power load in one shot. It was extremely dangerous and would quite probably kill him, but so would the creature. He took aim with the creature just a few yards away. The creature stopped and bared it's teeth in a sinister grin.
"Grin at this you ugly bugger." He said as he fired the weapon.
The energy beam that left the rifle was ten times the normal power yield lightening up the engine room for one brief moment before it struck the creature. As the beam connected with the creature it sent it reeling across the deck as it began to dissolve from the inside out. Just then, the Captain and his team entered the engine room weapons ready. They saw the creature spin through the air and dissolve into nothing before it hit the deck. There was a hissing sound that came from what little remained of the creature and the smell of dissolved flesh hung heavy in the air.
"Trip?" the Captain called out and was greeted by a groan from the far corner.
The Captain turned to Phlox motioning him to Tucker.
Ensign Pryce stood up and limped over to her Captain.
"Ensign, are you alright?" he asked
"Yes sir" she said "Thanks to Lt. Reed. He saved us sir."
"Where is he?" he asked her.
She turned to point to the far side of the room but stopped when she saw the debris from what had obviously been a phase rifle overload. Looking past the debris she and the Captain both saw the after effects of Reed's gamble. Laying against the far wall
was the lifeless body of Lt. Malcolm Reed.
To be continued…………..
will determine how long I peruse it. This first story is the beginning of
a series of short "cliff hanger" stories I will be doing. The first series
of stories will introduce a new major character for Enterprise.
I hope you enjoy it and keep checking back for new episodes.
"Shadows"
by Quills
"Trip?!" he shouted "Trip, answer me."
Silence
"Come on." Said Archer "Let's go."
The officer's followed the Captain through the entrance way they had come through earlier.
Archer tapped his communicator panel "Archer, to Enterprise."
"Enterprise, go ahead." Answered T'Pol
"T'Pol, we have a situation." Said archer "We've lost contact with Trip, Reed and Pryce. Trip was talking to me when, what sounded like phase pistol fire started going off. We're heading to the engineering section. Concentrate ship's scans on that section and see if you can get a transporter lock on the away team."
T'Pol was already up and heading for the science station before Archer had given the order. "One moment Captain, scanning now." Said T'Pol as she calibrated the ship's sensors "Captain, our scans are not penetrating the engineering section. The ship's engines are giving off high levels of radiation. This will also prevent a transporter lock."
"Damn, alright." Said Archer "Keep scanning, contact me if you break through. Archer out."
*********
"What the hell are you shooting at, Ensign?" yelled Lt.Reed
"Quick, sir." Said Pryce "take cover."
The two officers quickly ran behind several stacked crates. Foot steps came running up from behind them. Ensign Pryce reacted immediately by leveling her phase rifle at the intruder.
"Whoah...Whoah!!" yelled a voice that was distinctly Commander Tucker's
Reed grabbed the front of the Ensign's phase rifle pushing it's target site off of Commander Tucker.
"Ensign, at ease." Said Lt. Reed "What the bloody hell is going on?"
"Sir, I saw him." Said the young Ensign clearly shaken.
"You saw who?" asked Tucker.
"Him, the killer." Said Pryce.
"What?!" exclaimed Reed "Where?"
"Back there sir." Said Pryce as she pointed around the crates and down the corridor.
"Are you sure?" asked Tucker
"I-I'm not sure sir." She said obviously shaking
"Elena." Said Reed trying to calm her "Ensign!"
Elena Pryce looked up at Lt. Reed "Yes, sir."
"Report, Ensign." He told her. He knew she was a good security officer. She
just needed to be reminded that she was one.
"Yes sir" she said as she took a deep breath "I heard a noise come from the far end of the corridor when you and Commander Tucker were working on restoring power. I went to investigate. When I got to the end of the corridor I saw something moving. I told him to move out of the shadows. He didn't move for several seconds then suddenly he came out of the shadows. Sir, he wasn't wearing an EV suit."
Reed looked up at Tucker who was standing over them. Tucker kept glancing down the corridor to see if anything was coming.
"Are you certain Ensign?" asked Reed
"I know it sounds impossible, but I know what I saw sir." Said Ensign Pryce.
"Well that's not our only problem." Interjected Tucker "I just lost contact with the Cap'n a couple minutes ago."
"What happened?" asked Reed clearly showing annoyance that the armory officer had not been made aware of this crucial information
"Easy Malcolm " said Trip reassuringly "I'm pretty sure the Capn and the rest of the landing party are ok. While I was talkin' to Cap'n Archer I noticed the radiation levels on the reactor were spikin'. I think the're interferin' with communications. Our conversation got cut off just as the phase rifle fire started goin' off."
"Great, the Captain probably things a war is goin' on down here." Said Reed
"Sorry sir." Said Pryce
"It's not your fault Ensign." Said Reed "Next time though, stay in sight of the rest of the landing party."
"Yes, sir." She said as she straightened herself out.
"Uh, folks " said Tucker "I think Ensign Pryce's buddy is back."
Reed stood up and looked over the crates. He could see movement at the end of the corridor, but the shadows obscured any discernable features.
"We don't mean you any harm." Said Reed "Step out into the open."
The figure in the shadows kept moving. Pacing back and forth almost like a predator waiting for the right moment to attack it's prey.
"I'm going out there." Said Reed "Cover me."
He looked at Tucker "With your permission sir."
"Ya know what curiosity got the cat." Replied Tucker "Just watch yourself Malcolm."
"Yes sir" said the armory officer
Tucker nodded to Pryce motioning her to take up a position to give better cover to Lt. Reed. The armory officer proceeded past the crates and made his way slowly to the mouth of the corridor. He tried peering down the corridor, but his helmet light only penetrated half way down. Some of the ship's lighting systems were apparently still out.
"I've got a phase energy rifle pointed directly at you." Said Reed "I'm ordering you to step into the light…slowly. "
The shadowy form remained motionless for several seconds.
Then faster than Reed or the others could see the form move it was
mere feet from Reed's position. The alarmed tactical officer
quickly reacted by firing his weapon. The darkness and sudden surprise
prevented him from taking accurate aim. Before he could get a second shot off the figure was on him tackling him to the ground knocking the phase rifle out of Reed's hand sending it sliding across the deck. The figure kneeled over
Reed's prostrate body. The light from the Lt.'s helmet showed the face of the intruder. It was a human face…emaciated...with sallow eyes in sunken sockets. It's skin color was ashen and when it bared it's teeth the heavily receded gum's showed sharpened dagger like fangs. The monster opened it's mouth, which seemed to stretch wider than physically possible. Large strings of saliva began to drip from the fangs and lips and drop on Reed's faceplate as the creature's mouth moved ever closer.
Before the creature could complete it's fiendish intentions a combination of phase pistol and rifle fire struck it in the chest and face. The creature was knocked off balance but quickly stood up and screamed in an ungodly howl of pain and fury. The creature quickly moved away from Reed and started for Tucker and Pryce's position. The two officer's continued firing at the creature, but it kept coming. Before they could fall back, the creature leapt from the deck and cleared the crates landing right in the middle of Tucker and Pryce. Tucker fired his weapon at the creature who shrugged it off and swatted the engineer with a back hand that sent the him flying several feet landing in an unconscious heap. The creature turned it's attention to Pryce who swung her phase rifle at the creature striking it squarely in the face several time. The creature grabbed the Ensign's rifle tossing into the dark recesses of the engine room. Placing his gnarled and clawed hand about the throat section of the Ensign's EV suit it began to force her to the ground as it opened it's mouth full of sharp daggers.
Lt. Reed flipped himself over and sat up on his knees. He was stilled dazed from the creatures assault. He looked for his phase rifle spotting it on the floor of the main engineering platform. He looked up and saw Ensign Pryce on her knees and the creature gripping her by the throat. Reed rose to his feet. He knew he only had seconds. If that thing didn't kill her when it ripped her EV suit open the ship's atmosphere would. He made a run for his weapon getting into a full sprint not stopping to pick up the weapon but diving for it and going into a full somersault roll as he retrieved the rifle. He came up in a crouched stance and
set his sites on the creature firing off a volley of phase fire. It proved only to annoy the creature who turned towards Reed, but not loosening it's grip on the Ensign. The creature bared it's terrible fangs as it snarled in anger.
"Ensign, get out of the way." Yelled Reed "I need to set my rifle on maximum."
The young girl was terrified. This was not something they covered in Starfleet security training. Tears started flowing down her cheeks as she imagined how horribly she was about to die. Then the sound of Lt. Reed's voice cut through her fears.
"Ensign, you can do it." He told her "You're a Starfleet officer, bloody well act like one!"
With all her strength she forced her fist into the creature's groin. The creature howled in rage, but it released its grip. As soon as Ensign Pryce moved away from the creature Lt. Reed started firing his rifle. He had increased the level to maximum. It still wasn't stopping it. The creature was moving towards Reed. The Lt. knew if he didn't stop it now the creature would probably kill The rest of the landing party. He had to do something and then it occurred to him. He stopped firing as the creature advanced on his position. He opened the front housing valve and pulled off the cyclic rebuffer. Removing the rifles energy safety valve would
allow him to fire the weapons full power load in one shot. It was extremely dangerous and would quite probably kill him, but so would the creature. He took aim with the creature just a few yards away. The creature stopped and bared it's teeth in a sinister grin.
"Grin at this you ugly bugger." He said as he fired the weapon.
The energy beam that left the rifle was ten times the normal power yield lightening up the engine room for one brief moment before it struck the creature. As the beam connected with the creature it sent it reeling across the deck as it began to dissolve from the inside out. Just then, the Captain and his team entered the engine room weapons ready. They saw the creature spin through the air and dissolve into nothing before it hit the deck. There was a hissing sound that came from what little remained of the creature and the smell of dissolved flesh hung heavy in the air.
"Trip?" the Captain called out and was greeted by a groan from the far corner.
The Captain turned to Phlox motioning him to Tucker.
Ensign Pryce stood up and limped over to her Captain.
"Ensign, are you alright?" he asked
"Yes sir" she said "Thanks to Lt. Reed. He saved us sir."
"Where is he?" he asked her.
She turned to point to the far side of the room but stopped when she saw the debris from what had obviously been a phase rifle overload. Looking past the debris she and the Captain both saw the after effects of Reed's gamble. Laying against the far wall
was the lifeless body of Lt. Malcolm Reed.
To be continued…………..