Disclaimer: Star Trek is owned by Paramount; no copyright infringement is intended. Just borrowing them!

Chapter 5

Travis moved cautiously into the hall, Malcolm draped over his shoulder. It would have been quicker to leave Malcolm behind, and he knew that would have been Malcolm's orders. But after the confrontation with the Obeexans, Travis was sure that leaving his commanding officer would be sealing Malcolm's fate. The Obeexans saw no value in human life.

He looked quickly up and down the hall. And stifled a moan of frustration. There was no way to know which direction led out, and Malcolm wasn't getting any lighter. In the end, he made his decision the old fashioned way—he guessed. Turning to his left, he began walking, while still debating his best course of action. One phaser wasn't going to help much if he came across many of Viren's crew, and Malcolm was too cumbersome for him to move agilely. He needed help. He needed to reach the Enterprise.

Coming to a decision quickly, Travis stepped into one of the many small, dark niches in the walls of the cavern. He laid Malcolm down as gently as possible. He knew Malcolm was unconscious, but he filled him in anyway. "I have to find a way to contact Enterprise. Hopefully, you'll be safe here until I get back. At least this way, even if they catch me, you'll still have a chance."

Taking the phaser, Travis turned back in the direction he had come from. Viren's people had gone that way with Trip and Hoshi, and following them might be his best bet for finding a communications link.

He walked rapidly down the hall, staying close to the walls and listening. As the minutes passed, he became increasingly nervous. Where were the Obeexans? The faction was supposed to be large; why wasn't he running into anyone? For that matter, why weren't they looking for him by now?

The sounds of voices and equipment stopped him. In contrast to the areas he had come through, the room he now approached was ringing with noise. He recognized the hum and bang of loaders; undoubtedly, a ship was being prepared for transport. Slipping to the edge of the cave, he leaned around the edge, phaser in hand, and took in the scene. The enormous cavern was filled with equipment and people. Around the edges of the room, Travis saw stations much like those on the Enterprise—defense, communications, and more. The Obeexan faction had created an underground fortress. The crew was hurrying to load a large ship parked in the center of the cavern. As Travis watched, the activity began to slow—they stopped loading and started the final stages of preparation for takeoff. He scanned the room, looking for a way to reach the communications station undetected.

On the opposite side of the room from him, he suddenly spotted Trip and Hoshi. They were walking towards the ship, encouraged by several Obeexan guards. More accurately, Trip was trying to walk and Hoshi was half-carrying him. As they reached the ship, bringing them closer to his position, Travis could see their faces. They both appeared to be in shock. Trip seemed angry, and Hoshi was crying. He didn't have time to signal them before they were pushed onto the ship. 

The ship was preparing to take off, Travis realized, taking Hoshi and Trip with them. And there was nothing he could do to stop it. The final members of the crew boarded the ship, and the engines began to whine. With a soft whirring sound, the ceiling above suddenly opened. The ship lifted and, in seconds, was gone, the doors gently closing behind it.

Again, Travis realized that he was alone. The Obeexans were apparently abandoning this hideout for the present time. Still cautious, glancing around the room, he went to the communications station. He fiddled with the equipment and spoke.

"Ensign Mayweather to Enterprise."

There was a pause. The empty communications channel hummed. Then, a sound so lovely it made his knees weaken with relief. T'Pol's voice.

"This is Enterprise. Are you and the team safe, Ensign?"

*******

The ship rocked lightly as it cleared Obeexus' atmosphere. Numb, Trip and Hoshi sat in a cargo hold, side by side, hands clasped together. The Obeexans had dumped them there after loading them onto the ship. Hoshi helped Trip to sit on the floor, taking as much of his weight as she could. Then she collapsed beside him. Tears ran silently down her face. He took her hand and pressed it to his mouth, but didn't take his eyes from the floor.

A short time before takeoff, one of the Obeexan goons sent to collect Travis and Malcolm had stumbled back into the cavern, hurrying to Viren.

"Where are the humans?" Viren asked.

The Obeexan's yellow eyes shifted nervously and he stammered, "The…the humans attacked us, Viren. When we returned to the cave they were waiting for us. We fought and…and Mogran is dead. The human killed him."

"And the humans?" Viren narrowed his eyes.

The Obeexan ducked instinctively. Still shifting, he quickly said, "Dead. I was forced to kill the human that attacked us." He paused. "And the other one had already died from the Cobalt."

"Dead?!" Viren slapped the Obeexan roughly in the head, and sighed in frustration. "Very well. They wouldn't have brought much, regardless." He had no interest in the fate of his henchman. "We are leaving. Assist the others with the loading."

The Obeexan scurried eagerly towards the ship. Viren eyed Trip and Hoshi, sitting out of earshot. For amusement, he wandered over to them. They watched his approach warily.

"Now, friends, there is no need for such sadness. You will soon settle into your new life. And if you," he tugged at Hoshi's hair, ignoring the way she pulled away, and Trip's hand slapping at him, "perform as I wish, you might even get to keep your pet."

Trip's jaw stiffened at that, and he met Viren's eyes angrily. "You're a real piece 'o work, you know that? I'm gonna say this once, slowly." He leaned forward, holding Hoshi close to him. "Keep…your hands…off of her."

Viren ignored him, still speaking to Hoshi. "Careful…better keep it muzzled. You don't want to lose your pet to the same fate as your other companions."

Hoshi and Trip both focused on him then. "What do you mean?" Hoshi asked suspiciously.

"They are dead." Viren thoroughly enjoyed Hoshi's gasp and the way Trip's face sagged with shock.

"You're lyin'," Trip insisted, but his voice cracked.

"No," Viren responded cheerfully. "Your friends are dead. One of them tried to escape and was shot. The other died from the Cobalt drug." He added, "Something to keep in mind if we deal with humans again." Hoshi choked a sob back down her throat and Trip, arm tightening around Hoshi, was speechless. Viren was pleased.

"Now. It is time to leave." He signaled to his people, and they yanked Hoshi and Trip to their feet. Trip immediately fell forward, and Hoshi caught him, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. She supported him as they were taken onto the ship and pushed into the cargo hold.

Inside the ship, they sat leaning on one another for support. Finally, Trip spoke. "Ya know, we can't trust that guy. He's lying. Malcolm is too strong to die from some drug. And Travis is too smart to get caught."

"You're right." Hoshi wiped her cheeks in defiance. "Why would they kill them?"

"Damn right." Trip agreed.

They were quiet for a moment, both thinking of the confrontation in the cave. The Obeexans had tried to kill Trip twice. He would have been dead if not for Viren's whim. Human life was a commodity to them, and if that commodity became a liability…

Hoshi moved even closer to Trip. Trip rested his lips against her hair.

"You and me…we will get home," he promised fiercely. He tried to stand, frustrated, but stopped with a pained expression on his face. Instead of answering, Hoshi pulled him around until he was lying with his head in her lap. She stroked his hair and forehead softly. Lost in their thoughts, they didn't speak again until they felt the ship slowing.

*******