TITLE: Needs Be - A Sequel to Hidden Truths

SUMMARY: Things are grim....

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing trek related.

NOTES: Ah, reviews make me happy. Thanks guys you're the best! Okay, here's where it might get a tad confusing. Time travel will do that, but I recommend you don't try and make sense of it, it'll only make your head hurt. Oh and the technobabble - I'm sorry. I really don't do that stuff very well. Find it in your heart to forgive me?

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CHAPTER FOUR

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"So this is your human form. What a terrible downgrade." Idam snarled. Idam was the Captain of the Kett vessel, and also excessively large. Trip had no doubt he could take him, but being fixed to the wall would make that difficult.

"I know what you're thinking Kamidari. And if I were you I'd stop. I know you still have powers, even in this pitiful body, but you won't be able to use them. We have spent years building this ship for the sole purpose of detaining you."

"Detaining me? Why the hell aren't you going to kill me?" Trip wondered aloud.

Idam began to chuckle. "All in good time."

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"What now Captain? We can't just let Commander Tucker get killed over there. I mean, sooner or later they're going to find out that Trip isn't this 'Kamidari' or whatever it is they're after." Malcolm stated.

Jon wasn't sure of anything anymore. He didn't want Trip to die, but the Kett could still easily destroy Enterprise. Their word wasn't good for much. Jon had said little since the tractor beam had pulled Trip's shuttle onboard the Kett ship. He was still thinking things over in his head. It was clear the Kett ship wasn't going anywhere fast, so what was the next step? Had they already killed Trip? Surely that's what they wanted....?

"Captain." T'Pol pressed, awaiting some kind of orders.

Jon came to a conclusion. When it came down to it, it was the only course of action that felt right. "We're going over there."

"Captain, a rescue attempt will put everyone's lives in danger and Enterprise'." T'Pol asserted.

"I know that T'Pol. But we're still going over."

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Trip looked at his surroundings. Idam had left and three guards stood wait outside the room. He could just see them through the mesh on the door. The room, like the exterior of the ship was mainly dark gold. The walls and floor were covered in stains. Trip guessed he was not the first prisoner to be kept here - or killed here.

He let out a sigh and wondered how he was supposed to get out of this mess. He half expected to disappear at any moment and find himself in the Elders chamber. But as the seconds and minuted passed Trip realised that wasn't going to happen. He wondered why the Kett hadn't killed him yet and what Jon was doing back on Enterprise. Then it dawned on him. The Kett weren't after revenge. They didn't want Trip dead - they wanted Archer.

Trip didn't know the determined future of Enterprise - the Elders philosophy seemed to be 'What you don't know, you can't ruin.' - but he knew Jon's actions were pivotal somehow to history.

But if they wanted Jon ,why not destroy the Enterprise? Trip dwelled on this question for some time. Maybe Enterprise' destruction had a different effect on the time-line than Jon's death would. Trip concluded he would never know what time-lines might pass. The only one that had to be preserved was this one.

But Jon wouldn't be stupid enough to waltz right into their hands in some crazy rescue attempt would he?

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Malcolm seemed satisfied with the risks of the rescue mission, the only trouble was how they were going to get aboard the ship. "They said they're shields were impenetrable and from my scans, I can't argue."

"Tell me about them." Jon asked.

"From what I can tell they work on an oscillating frequency, changing in a random pattern every two point five seconds."

"Why would they do that?"

"Well I believe if weapons could be recalibrated to fire at precisely the same frequency as the ships, they could get through the shields. But it's all too exact, and anyway, there doesn't appear to be any pattern I can figure out."

"What about the transporter? Could we get through that way?"

Malcolm thought for while, then nodded his head slightly. "Maybe."

"Get on it."

Malcolm left the bridge. Jon was sure T'Pol didn't agree with the mission, but he didn't care. Trip was still alive, he had to be. And while there was that chance, Jon had to try and help him. He owed him that much.

"I do not understand why the Kett have not returned Commander Tucker, or destroyed Enterprise. It is only logical that they have realised their mistake by now." T'Pol said.

Jon wasn't sure how to respond. He realised how Trip must have felt when people started to ask questions about his identity. "Maybe they're embarrassed." Jon guessed weakly, and changed the subject.

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"You're friends should be here soon.." Idam said with certainty.

"So you do want Jon. Why? Why not just destroy Enterprise?" Trip asked.

"Been giving it some though have you?" Idam chuckled. "If we destroyed Enterprise, the Kamidari Elders would intervene in seconds. But if Jonathon Archer dies today, it will be your fault. The Elders will blame you. Enterprise will remain intact, but on their journey back to Earth, they will be killed through no fault of our own."

Trip couldn't believe what he was hearing. The Kett had come up with a seemingly flawless plan. Trip would be labelled responsible for Jon's death and he will have failed in his duties. Then Enterprise would be destroyed. It was cause and effect.

Another Kett entered the room at that point. "Sir, we believe the enemies will be here any moment."

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T'Pol, Jon, Hoshi and Malcolm were in the transporter room.

"T'Pol managed to decipher the pattern the shields were running on, and I recalibrated the transporter to run on the same frequency. We'll only have a two and a half second interval to beam over there. If the frequency changes while we're still transporting....well let's just say it wouldn't be good."

"Good job Lieutenant. You too T'Pol. Did you get the weapons?"

"Yes Sir."

Malcolm opened a case on the table and each of them took a pistol. "Ready?"

T'Pol and Malcolm nodded and the three of them stood on the transporter pad. "Okay Hoshi, you know what to do."

Hoshi looked at the control panel. Her fingers glided across the buttons as she prepared to transport the rescue team to the Kett ship. She knew timing had to be accurate. *Okay Hoshi, the next interval.* She told herself and when the seconds swiftly passed, she pressed the button.

"Good luck." She whispered as the three officers disappeared.

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End of Chapter Four

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