PART 42:

Ezral paced back and forth. He had left Liana with one of his guards. When he returned to escort her to the ceremonial alter, they were both gone. Trip stormed into the room with Archer and Reed behind him.

Ezral went up to them. "Any word?"

"Nothing yet," Archer replied. "But the whole compound is looking for her."

"What happened?" Trip asked.

"Drak had escaped," Ezral explained. "I left Liana with a guard. When I returned came back, they were gone."

"Drak escaped," Reed said. "How was that possible?"

"I don't know," Ezral replied. "That's why I left, to get the search started for him."

"The guard you left with Liana," Trip said. "It was Drak."

"Are you sure?" Ezral asked.

"No," Trip answered. "But it makes sense since they're both missing."

"But how can they just disappear?" Reed asked.

"I think I know where they are," Trip said.

"Where?" Archer asked.

"Follow me," Trip said and he went out the door.

*****************************

Liana opened her eyes, she automatically sat up and saw that she was in her secret room.

How did I get here? she thought. The last thing she remembered was her father leaving their quarter's to go get the search for Drak started. When she went to go back into her room, someone grabbed her from behind.

Drak, she thought. It had to be him.

Liana looked around the room, Drak was nowhere to be seen. She stood up, and then froze when she heard the door open. Quickly she hid behind one of the dark colored tapestries nearby, holding her breath, and hoping that it wasn't Drak. She squealed and jumped out when she saw it was Trip. Running, she threw her arms around him and held on as if her life depended on it.

"Hey," Trip said hugging her back. "What are you doing here?"

Liana saw the others that came with him, she let go of him. "I don't know."

"Was it Drak who took you here?" Ezral asked.

"I think so. I never actually saw him," Liana answered as she watched Archer and Reed search the place. "When I woke up, he was gone."

"Well where ever he is, we'll find him," Ezral said.

"There's no one here," Archer said. "Why don't we get out of here."

Drak moved out of the shadows. "No one is going anywhere," he said pointing a weapon at them.

"Drak what is the meaning of this," Ezral demanded. "Put that weapon down."

"I don't take any orders from you," Drak spat out. "How could you let this happen? How could you let Liana become this human wife?"

Ezral just stood there starting at the younger man.

"She should stay with her own kind," he yelled.

"Hey!" Trip yelled. "What is your problem? Can't you get over the fact that Liana could love someone else and not you."

"Shut up!" Drak yelled and pointed his weapon at Trip. "Just shut up!"

Trip moved away from Liana. "I'm unarmed," Trip said holding out his hands. "Ya wouldn't shoot an unarmed man would ya?"

"I told Liana if she stayed with you, you wouldn't make it off this planet alive." He raised his weapon and fired.

As soon as she saw him raise his weapon, Liana ran to block Trip.

"Liana, no!" both Ezral and Trip yelled.

But it was too late. Trip watched in stunned silence as the blast from Drak's weapon hit Liana in the back sending her flying into his arms. They fell to the floor, Trip instinctively cushioning her fall.

Drak raised his weapon at Ezral, but he never got the chance to fire. A phase pistol blast came from behind the group and he crumpled to the floor.

Archer turned around to see T'Pol standing by the door with a phase pistol in her hand.

Trip gathered Liana's unconscious form in his arms. "Liana!" Trip said, his voiced cracked with emotion.

Reed had already ran out of the room to inform the hospital that they were bringing in Liana.

Archer walked over to Trip and placed his hand on his shoulder. He wasn't sure what he could say to comfort his friend.

Trip looked up at Archer with tears in his eyes. "She can't die."

"Let's get her to the hospital," was all he said.

Trip picked Liana up and rushed out the door with Ezral behind him.

Archer went to follow and stopped near T'Pol. "Contact the ship and get Doctor Phlox down here now."

"Aye Captain."

Archer walked out and T'Pol followed.

End of Part 42