AUTHOR'S NOTE: I am very thankful for the reviews. They feed me. I do want to apologize for the grammatical errors. I have the most basic of txt programs. I am my own spell checker and my eyes are tired when I review what my hasty fingers have typed. Please bear with me.
Chapter 3-
T'Pol, Hoshi, Travis and Malcolm stood around the situation room console. All, except T'Pol, stared at the display or elsewhere. T'Pol studied each of the bridge crew, briefly, one at a time.
Captain Archer entered, moving next to Reed as all eyes followed him. Even T'Pol's.
"There are certain specifics concerning Commander Tucker's disappearance that I can't divulge to you." Archer raised his chin as he always did when he had something unpleasant to do or say. "Suffice it to say he was abducted from the pod and held captive for six days. These researchers, scientists, whatever they call themselves, subjected him to atrocities for which he will be recovering." Archer began to pace around the table. "It's going to take some time and I know you all are concerned. But I also know I can count on each one of you to understand when I say we are going to turn around and go back to the location where the commander's shuttlepod stalled." He briskly turned to T'Pol. "You have the bridge."
Archer exited so fast T'Pol appeared stunned. As the crew dispersed, T'Pol turned to Reed.
"You have the bridge, Lieutenant."
Travis stopped and shared a look of curiosity with Malcolm as T'Pol followed on the captain's heels.
----------
Archer was moving fast down the corridor when T'Pol turned the corner and caught up with him.
"I put you in command of the bridge, Sub-commander."
"Yes, sir." T'Pol replied.
The captain stopped short and wheeled around to face her. "Then why are you here and not there?"
"Returning to the location where Commander Tucker and the pod were captured is not wise, Captain."
"I'm not in the mood to hear any of your Vulcan virtues." The captain had rolled his eyes in annoyance. "There are things I can't tell you right now. Please, just get us back there."
"The researchers have already experimented on a human." T'Pol forged on. "The Enterprise would be of no interest to them."
"Then," Archer stared down at her. "I'll have to get their attention, won't I?"
"Captain..."
"Please, T'Pol?" The captain's eyes softened some. "Trip's been hurt bad and Phlox isn't sure how long recovery will take or even how to help him through it. I can't just let them get away with this."
T'Pol regarded her commanding officer. She had come to know this man as one with compassion that tended to cloud his judgement at times. However, he was also a man of duty and honor, which could not be discounted.
"Then this move is strictly for confrontation?" T'Pol asked.
"Most likely yes."
T'Pol studied the captain for only a second and nodded. "I will be on the bridge."
----------
-----Am I really here or is this just one of those dreams I keep having? They say in dreams you can't feel anything. I felt that... and it hurt. So, maybe I'm really here aboard the Enterprise being poked and prodded by Phlox. I can handle that, I can.-----
Trip Tucker sat on a bio bed putting on his shirt when Archer entered sickbay. Phlox immediately went to the captain's side, preventing him from getting within earshot of the commander.
"How did it go?" Archer asked anxiously.
"That was definitely painful." Phlox confessed. "But he did just fine. Captain, they performed some type of procedure on him. To collect samples, I presume. Crude method to say the least. I gave him an injection in case of infection and another for the pain."
"He said anything?" Archer looked over at Trip.
"Not a word. No eye contact, either. I told him he's relieved of duties until he makes a complete recovery."
"So, can I get him out of here?" The captain asked.
"Yes," Phlox nodded. "Captain, he needs to feel secure right now. Familiarities will reassure his comfort zone. Try not to push him about what happened."
"I understand." The captain walked over toward Trip, with Phlox following.
"Well, if you're steady on your feet, let's get out of here." Jon half smiled at Trip. "We've got dinner in an hour and a half with the doc and T'Pol."
Trip slid off the bed and waited for Archer to lead him out. Archer sighed and nodded to the doctor. This was going to be difficult, but the captain knew he could handle it. He had to, for Trip's sake.
----------
Porthos scampered up to greet his master, receiving a scrubbing behind the ears.
"Hey there, Porthos." Archer bent down and picked his little companion up. He realized he had entered his quarters alone and turned around to motion Trip in.
Trip shuffled in just inside the door, eye down to the floor.
"Sit down." Jon offered.
Trip sat on the bed and Jon put Porthos next to him, heading off to the bathroom.
"I'll be just a minute." Archer called back.
Porthos whimpered and, lowering his head, nuzzled Trip's arm. Trip reached over and gently pet the dog. Porthos began to jump and nip at the man's hand. Playfully Trip moved his hand around in circles and watched as the dog waved a paw at it.
--
Jon splashed water on his face and grabbed a towel. He sighed, wondering what he was going to tell Admiral Forrest in his next report. He had nothing to go on except the medical file from Phlox. That was something he did not want to share just yet.
The bark that came from the other room was followed by a screeching yelp. It sent a chill through Jon's body.
--
Jon raced into the room to see Porthos cowering on the bed. He looked over and saw Trip backed in a corner, trembling and holding out his hand.
"Trip? You okay?"
Jon cautiously moved to Trip and took hold of his outstretched hand.
"Oh," Jon realized upon seeing a reddening scratch along Trip's thumb. "I'm sorry. Porthos needs his nails clipped."
"I--I knew I couldn't stop them." Trip mumbled. "If I tried to resist they got angry. They hurt the others. They just kept hurting all of us."
"Who were they?" Jon asked, against his better judgement.
Trip looked up into Jon's eyes. "I don't know. I never saw 'em. Just heard a voice tellin' me I'd end up doin' what they wanted. And I did."
"What did you have to do?" Jon carefully continued his inquiry.
Trip slid down the wall, sitting with his head in his hands. Jon knelt down in front of him.
"They said they were scientists." Trip began, his voice strained. "They were doin' research on alien species. Interspecies mating."
Jon watched his friend closely. When Trip didn't want to talk, no one could make him. But when he finally opened up he needed no prompting.
"They started hurtin' the females when I wouldn't give in. I had to. I'm sorry, sir." Trip lifted his head slightly and his eyes were red and misty.
"It's okay." Jon tried to calm him. "You don't have to apologize. You didn't have a choice."
"I had a choice!" Trip yelled in anger. "I found the courage to take their laser whips. Why couldn't I stop this?" For emphasis he shoved his scratched hand in Jon's face.
"I'm not following you." Jon frowned at him.
"I finally decided to hell with every one of 'em." Trip's body started trembling. "I stopped givin' 'em what they wanted. That's when they showed up." He looked down at his injured hand. "I never saw 'em. The light was too bright, like always. But they had long, cold, sharp fingers that just kept scratchin' and clawin' and..."
Trip bent forward, drawing his knees up and burying his head. Jon crawled and sat next to him.
"I can't begin to understand what you're going through." Jon sighed. "I know it had to be awful, but I'm certain you weren't at any fault. Whatever you did, I have no doubts it was necessary."
Trip looked up at him and screamed, "I should've fought back!"
"How?" Jon raised his voice a bit. "How, Trip? You said they. How many were there?"
"Three. I think." Trip shook his head, looking down again.
"And how far do you think you would've gotten?" Jon asked. "Taken out one maybe? What about the others?"
Trip suddenly rose on his knees and turned on Jon.
"I couldn't have taken any of 'em out! I couldn't move! Damn it, I froze! I just laid there and let them do that to me!"
Trip jumped up and ran out of the door quicker than Jon could comprehend what he had said.
----------
Trip raced up the corridor as Jon eventually rounded the corner after him. Since Trip was worn out and weak, Jon quickly caught up and cut in front of him. Trip pulled up to a stop before he slammed into his captain.
"Don't run away." Archer cautioned. "Talk to me."
"Let me go." Trip managed through gritted teeth.
"Go where?"
Trip struggled to keep control "I don't know. Away from you!"
"Why me? I just want to help you."
"Well maybe I don't want your help!" Trip yelled, tears running down his cheeks freely now.
Jon reached out with both hands and gently took hold of Trip's shoulders. Having none of that, Trip roughly shook off Jon's grip.
"What do you want to do?" Jon asked. "Take a swing at me? Will that make you feel better? 'Cuz I don't know what to do here."
"No," Trip shook his head. "I want..."
"What?"
"I want it all to go away." Trip finally said.
Jon took hold of Trip's shoulders again and this time the latter leaned forward. Placing his forehead on Jon's shoulder, Trip began to softly sob.
"Bridge to Captain Archer." T'Pol's voice came across the com.
Jon moved to the panel, with Trip still close to him.
"Archer here."
"We're being hailed, sir." T'Pol said. "Correction. Commander Tucker is being hailed."
"We're on our way." Archer said.
The two men moved off down the hall.
----------
TO BE CONTINUED
Chapter 3-
T'Pol, Hoshi, Travis and Malcolm stood around the situation room console. All, except T'Pol, stared at the display or elsewhere. T'Pol studied each of the bridge crew, briefly, one at a time.
Captain Archer entered, moving next to Reed as all eyes followed him. Even T'Pol's.
"There are certain specifics concerning Commander Tucker's disappearance that I can't divulge to you." Archer raised his chin as he always did when he had something unpleasant to do or say. "Suffice it to say he was abducted from the pod and held captive for six days. These researchers, scientists, whatever they call themselves, subjected him to atrocities for which he will be recovering." Archer began to pace around the table. "It's going to take some time and I know you all are concerned. But I also know I can count on each one of you to understand when I say we are going to turn around and go back to the location where the commander's shuttlepod stalled." He briskly turned to T'Pol. "You have the bridge."
Archer exited so fast T'Pol appeared stunned. As the crew dispersed, T'Pol turned to Reed.
"You have the bridge, Lieutenant."
Travis stopped and shared a look of curiosity with Malcolm as T'Pol followed on the captain's heels.
----------
Archer was moving fast down the corridor when T'Pol turned the corner and caught up with him.
"I put you in command of the bridge, Sub-commander."
"Yes, sir." T'Pol replied.
The captain stopped short and wheeled around to face her. "Then why are you here and not there?"
"Returning to the location where Commander Tucker and the pod were captured is not wise, Captain."
"I'm not in the mood to hear any of your Vulcan virtues." The captain had rolled his eyes in annoyance. "There are things I can't tell you right now. Please, just get us back there."
"The researchers have already experimented on a human." T'Pol forged on. "The Enterprise would be of no interest to them."
"Then," Archer stared down at her. "I'll have to get their attention, won't I?"
"Captain..."
"Please, T'Pol?" The captain's eyes softened some. "Trip's been hurt bad and Phlox isn't sure how long recovery will take or even how to help him through it. I can't just let them get away with this."
T'Pol regarded her commanding officer. She had come to know this man as one with compassion that tended to cloud his judgement at times. However, he was also a man of duty and honor, which could not be discounted.
"Then this move is strictly for confrontation?" T'Pol asked.
"Most likely yes."
T'Pol studied the captain for only a second and nodded. "I will be on the bridge."
----------
-----Am I really here or is this just one of those dreams I keep having? They say in dreams you can't feel anything. I felt that... and it hurt. So, maybe I'm really here aboard the Enterprise being poked and prodded by Phlox. I can handle that, I can.-----
Trip Tucker sat on a bio bed putting on his shirt when Archer entered sickbay. Phlox immediately went to the captain's side, preventing him from getting within earshot of the commander.
"How did it go?" Archer asked anxiously.
"That was definitely painful." Phlox confessed. "But he did just fine. Captain, they performed some type of procedure on him. To collect samples, I presume. Crude method to say the least. I gave him an injection in case of infection and another for the pain."
"He said anything?" Archer looked over at Trip.
"Not a word. No eye contact, either. I told him he's relieved of duties until he makes a complete recovery."
"So, can I get him out of here?" The captain asked.
"Yes," Phlox nodded. "Captain, he needs to feel secure right now. Familiarities will reassure his comfort zone. Try not to push him about what happened."
"I understand." The captain walked over toward Trip, with Phlox following.
"Well, if you're steady on your feet, let's get out of here." Jon half smiled at Trip. "We've got dinner in an hour and a half with the doc and T'Pol."
Trip slid off the bed and waited for Archer to lead him out. Archer sighed and nodded to the doctor. This was going to be difficult, but the captain knew he could handle it. He had to, for Trip's sake.
----------
Porthos scampered up to greet his master, receiving a scrubbing behind the ears.
"Hey there, Porthos." Archer bent down and picked his little companion up. He realized he had entered his quarters alone and turned around to motion Trip in.
Trip shuffled in just inside the door, eye down to the floor.
"Sit down." Jon offered.
Trip sat on the bed and Jon put Porthos next to him, heading off to the bathroom.
"I'll be just a minute." Archer called back.
Porthos whimpered and, lowering his head, nuzzled Trip's arm. Trip reached over and gently pet the dog. Porthos began to jump and nip at the man's hand. Playfully Trip moved his hand around in circles and watched as the dog waved a paw at it.
--
Jon splashed water on his face and grabbed a towel. He sighed, wondering what he was going to tell Admiral Forrest in his next report. He had nothing to go on except the medical file from Phlox. That was something he did not want to share just yet.
The bark that came from the other room was followed by a screeching yelp. It sent a chill through Jon's body.
--
Jon raced into the room to see Porthos cowering on the bed. He looked over and saw Trip backed in a corner, trembling and holding out his hand.
"Trip? You okay?"
Jon cautiously moved to Trip and took hold of his outstretched hand.
"Oh," Jon realized upon seeing a reddening scratch along Trip's thumb. "I'm sorry. Porthos needs his nails clipped."
"I--I knew I couldn't stop them." Trip mumbled. "If I tried to resist they got angry. They hurt the others. They just kept hurting all of us."
"Who were they?" Jon asked, against his better judgement.
Trip looked up into Jon's eyes. "I don't know. I never saw 'em. Just heard a voice tellin' me I'd end up doin' what they wanted. And I did."
"What did you have to do?" Jon carefully continued his inquiry.
Trip slid down the wall, sitting with his head in his hands. Jon knelt down in front of him.
"They said they were scientists." Trip began, his voice strained. "They were doin' research on alien species. Interspecies mating."
Jon watched his friend closely. When Trip didn't want to talk, no one could make him. But when he finally opened up he needed no prompting.
"They started hurtin' the females when I wouldn't give in. I had to. I'm sorry, sir." Trip lifted his head slightly and his eyes were red and misty.
"It's okay." Jon tried to calm him. "You don't have to apologize. You didn't have a choice."
"I had a choice!" Trip yelled in anger. "I found the courage to take their laser whips. Why couldn't I stop this?" For emphasis he shoved his scratched hand in Jon's face.
"I'm not following you." Jon frowned at him.
"I finally decided to hell with every one of 'em." Trip's body started trembling. "I stopped givin' 'em what they wanted. That's when they showed up." He looked down at his injured hand. "I never saw 'em. The light was too bright, like always. But they had long, cold, sharp fingers that just kept scratchin' and clawin' and..."
Trip bent forward, drawing his knees up and burying his head. Jon crawled and sat next to him.
"I can't begin to understand what you're going through." Jon sighed. "I know it had to be awful, but I'm certain you weren't at any fault. Whatever you did, I have no doubts it was necessary."
Trip looked up at him and screamed, "I should've fought back!"
"How?" Jon raised his voice a bit. "How, Trip? You said they. How many were there?"
"Three. I think." Trip shook his head, looking down again.
"And how far do you think you would've gotten?" Jon asked. "Taken out one maybe? What about the others?"
Trip suddenly rose on his knees and turned on Jon.
"I couldn't have taken any of 'em out! I couldn't move! Damn it, I froze! I just laid there and let them do that to me!"
Trip jumped up and ran out of the door quicker than Jon could comprehend what he had said.
----------
Trip raced up the corridor as Jon eventually rounded the corner after him. Since Trip was worn out and weak, Jon quickly caught up and cut in front of him. Trip pulled up to a stop before he slammed into his captain.
"Don't run away." Archer cautioned. "Talk to me."
"Let me go." Trip managed through gritted teeth.
"Go where?"
Trip struggled to keep control "I don't know. Away from you!"
"Why me? I just want to help you."
"Well maybe I don't want your help!" Trip yelled, tears running down his cheeks freely now.
Jon reached out with both hands and gently took hold of Trip's shoulders. Having none of that, Trip roughly shook off Jon's grip.
"What do you want to do?" Jon asked. "Take a swing at me? Will that make you feel better? 'Cuz I don't know what to do here."
"No," Trip shook his head. "I want..."
"What?"
"I want it all to go away." Trip finally said.
Jon took hold of Trip's shoulders again and this time the latter leaned forward. Placing his forehead on Jon's shoulder, Trip began to softly sob.
"Bridge to Captain Archer." T'Pol's voice came across the com.
Jon moved to the panel, with Trip still close to him.
"Archer here."
"We're being hailed, sir." T'Pol said. "Correction. Commander Tucker is being hailed."
"We're on our way." Archer said.
The two men moved off down the hall.
----------
TO BE CONTINUED