TITLE: Needs Be - A Sequel to Hidden Truths
SUMMARY: Things can only get worse
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing trek related.
CHAPTER THREE
"Alright, uh, get to your stations, let's try hailing them." Jon said carefully trying to pretend he had no clue as to what was going on. He pulled Trip to the side. "What the hell are the Kett doing here?"
"I have no idea. They always stay near a rift, and we didn't detect one." Trip replied. He was just as stunned as Jon was to see their time-travelling enemies.
"What do I do? They're not acting very hostile."
"Just talk to them, see how it goes, you're not supposed to know who they are, remember?"
Anyone listening in would have thought their superior officers were insane. But then again, anyone listening in would have to have very acute hearing.
"Alright Hoshi."
Hoshi opened the com to the Kett ship. "This is Captain Archer. I understand you have claimed responsibility for the destruction of Talos." Jon opened.
The unmistakable face of a Kett appeared on the screen. "You are correct Jonathon Archer."
*I didn't say Jonathan. So they know who I am.* "Your actions cost the lives of four people, not to mention some considerable damage to my ship. May I ask your reasons?" He said, trying to keep his anger in check.
"This is a message for the Kamidari." The alien began, ignoring Jon's words. "We have worked for years to build this ship, purely for the task of destroying Enterprise. You have already witnessed it's power. There is no way to penetrate our shields and no weapon you possess that will do any damage. Any attempt to attack will fail."
"What do you want?" Jon snapped.
"Revenge. For the deaths of one thousand, one hundred and forty two Kett lives."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"The Kamidari does. He will leave your ship in a shuttle and we will bring him onboard. If he does not, we will destroy Enterprise. You have five minutes."
*Man, these guys sure love their dead-lines.* Trip thought grimly. Jon turned to him with a look that said volumes - but Trip knew what it really meant - 'What happens now?'
"Captain, these aliens clearly know who we are, yet I know of no such thing called a Kamidari. If we cannot deliver what they require, I believe they will hold to their claim and destroy Enterprise. Their weapons and shields are indeed superior."
"Tell me something I don't know." Jon said to himself. "Trip, can I have a word?" He asked, and left the bridge, closely followed by Trip. The crew on the bridge couldn't quite comprehend why the Captain was leaving in the middle of a crisis like this, but each came to the most likely conclusion that he had a plan and had to act quickly. Nevertheless, they each exchanged confused and worried looks as the two superior officers exited.
^~*~^
"I guess I better get to a shuttle pod then." Trip said nonchalantly. He appeared to be taking the situation rather well, considering.
"What? What are you talking about, you can't actually go."
"What choice do I have? My job is to protect Enterprise and that's what I have to do, no matter what." Trip defended. He wondered for a moment how difficult the situation would be if Jon had no knowledge of who he really was. He could have snuck away to the shuttle, and everyone would have thought it was just an act of pure bravery. But now Jon was going to make it difficult. "Look, the fact is Enterprise' mission, your mission, is far more important than my life. You don't understand how pivotal this ship is to the rest of time. Besides, I'll be fine over there. The Kett are nothin' but glorified versions of Porthos."
Jon couldn't laugh at the joke, and couldn't understand how Trip could be so calm as to make it. He couldn't allow Trip to go. Years of friendship implored him to find another way, a perfect solution that would stop this insane event. But perfect solutions were hard to come by, especially when you had less than four minutes to find one. "I can't let you leave." Jon said, sifting the words from the jumble of thoughts raging in his head.
"I thought you might say that." Trip replied, and faster than Jon could move an inch, he swung his arm hard across Jon's face. He winced as his fist made contact with Jon's cheek bone, and felt a wave of guilt as his Captain fell to the floor unconscious.
Then he set off for the shuttle.
^~*~^
Jon forced himself to his feet, wiping the small amount of blood from his face where Trip struck him. That crazy bastard. He staggered back to the bridge, and heard T'Pol begin to speak.
"Captain, whatever we are going to do, it must be soon - " She then noticed the Captain's face but it was Malcolm who asked the question.
"Captain, what...?"
"Trip..." Jon managed to say through a swollen lip. "He's going to take a shuttle and go the ship."
"I will seal off the shuttle bay." T'Pol reacted quickly.
"No." Jon heard himself say. "He's made his choice."
"He's saving us."
^~*~^
It wasn't difficult to take the shuttle and override the docking controls. Trip exited Enterprise in no time. He felt a strange calm inside of him, like he knew in some inexplicable way that everything was going to be fine. How that was possible, Trip had no idea. What he had told Archer about the Kett being glorified versions of Porthos wasn't entirely true. They had developed way of torture over many years, far greater than any torture a human could endure but there was no reason Jon should know that. He might attempt some insane rescue.
As Trip let go of the controls and stopped the shuttle, he wondered how exactly he was supposed to board the Kett ship. Their shields were still up and impenetrable. His unuttered question was answered when a beam emitted from the ship and began to draw the shuttle in. It was a tractor beam. Trip had had little experience with them, seeing as humans hadn't adopted them yet. The Elders never gave more information than was entirely necessary to their Scouts (The Human translation of Trip's job).
As the doors opened and the shuttle was pulled in, he let out a heavy sigh and wondered if the strange calmness he was feeling would justify itself.
^~*~^
End of Chapter Three
^~*~^