TITLE: Needs Be - A Sequel to Hidden Truths

SUMMARY: The rescue mission

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing trek related.

NOTES: Okay, one more chapter after this one, then it's done - starstuff -I think you reviewed the wrong story! Not quite sure how you managed that....

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CHAPTER FIVE

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*Man, I hate that damn transporter.* Malcolm thought as he rematerialised within new surroundings. After thanking no-one in particular that he was still in one piece, he resumed his professional stance and mentally scanned the new environment.

First impressions are always important, and suffice to say the away team was not too keen on what theirs were. The ship stank to high heaven. The interior was musty, dark and everything about it seemed putrid and rotting. The Kett might have superior technology but their hygiene was seriously lacking.

After a quick scan of the corridor, Jon looked to T'Pol, who immediately scanned for human life-signs. Jon wondered for a brief moment if Trip's life-signs *were* human - but he quickly concluded that they must be. There were many other occasions when Enterprise had picked up his bio-signature and found nothing out of the ordinary. Trip hadn't spent so long keeping his major secret by making stupid mistakes like that.

T'Pol gestured down the corridor and the three moved off, in a triangular flanking pattern, watching all angles.

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"Ah, they've arrived. It won't be long now." Idam laughed. Trip knew Idam had no doubts at all that his plan would work but that was one of the Kett's flaws. They were perhaps a little to confident.

*Damn it Jon, why'd you have to come here.* Trip thought as he struggled in vain to break free

Four Kett were lying in wait with Idam. As soon as Jon (and whoever he had brought with him) walked through the door, Idam and his lackeys would attack. They would never see it coming.

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Archer, Malcolm and T'Pol found themselves in the corridor where Trip's bio-signs were coming from.

"He's in this room."

"Get ready......"

Trip watched in horror as the door slid open. T'Pol, Malcolm and Jon rushed in and no sooner than Trip could shout; "Get outta here, it's a trap!", the Kett were on them. They had realised their mistake too late. T'Pol dodged a pulse charge that illuminated the room for a moment with a blue glow. She managed to shoot one of the Kett, then another.

Malcolm shot one on the right after being hit in the shoulder. Jon took down another after being thrust into the far wall. Only Idam was left. He emerged from the shadows and without a moment's hesitation, he fired.

"NO!" Trip shouted. T'Pol and Malcolm were too late. Jon went down in a heartbeat. T'Pol and Malcolm fired at Idam simultaneously and he roared as he fell backward. T'Pol went to Jon while Malcolm came over to Trip.

"Get me offa this thing." He muttered, panicking.

"How?" Malcolm asked. He couldn't actually see where Trip was being held to the wall.

"There," Trip said, gesturing to a small control panel. "Press the green button, then the red."

Malcolm obeyed and Trip dropped down on his feet. He immediately rushed over to Jon. T'Pol looked up with an oddly desolate expression. "He is dead."

"No...this can't be happening...." Trip uttered. Even though Idam was dead, his plan had succeeded. The fate of the time-line was doomed and Jon was dead.

Then something staggering happened. Jon disappeared. In a flash of white light, he was gone. Malcolm, Trip and even T'Pol were stunned. "What the hell...." Malcolm exhaled.

"Enterprise would not have beamed only the Captain up." T'Pol stated, trying to explain what had just taken place.

"Maybe the Kett did something...T'Pol, scan for - " But before Malcolm could finish his sentence there was another flash. Trip had vanished.

Malcolm looked at T'Pol with utter disbelief. He half expected the Vulcan to disappear herself. "Are they still on the ship?" He asked.

T'Pol looked at her scanner. "I cannot detect the Commander or the Captain. They're gone."

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End of Chapter Five

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