PIECES IN A GAME
Jon could feel his body trembling. Trip. This was the man who had shown him nothing but his friendship, loyalty, and trust for nine years. And Jon was now repaying him by turning him over to the Zeen. Daniels better be right, Jon thought, cause if he's wrong and I lose Trip---
The turbolift door slid open and Trip stepped on the bridge, his eyes meeting T'Pol's momentarily before he turned to the captain.
Jon gasped as a white beam hit his engineer in the chest. T'Pol instantly reached out to the commander as he collapsed but before she could grab him, he vanished. Jon turned to the sphere just as it disappeared in a glittering of white.
"Do sensors pick up anything?" he asked in a rush. "Plasma exhaust, a warp signature, anything?"
T'Pol shook her head, her eyes locked on her monitor. "Nothing, Captain," she responded but her fingers still tapped at her keyboard. Then she looked up at him, her dark eyes piercing him. "He is gone."
"Keep trying, Sub-commander," Jon directed. His legs felt suddenly weak but he remained standing. "Travis, get Dr. Phlox to look at that wound. Ensign Brown can take the helm."
"I'm fine, sir. I'd rather stay on the bridge if you don't mind," replied the helmsman, turning his head slightly from facing forward. Jon noted the tightness in the young ensign's voice and briefly wondered if it was from pain or anger. He turned and caught Malcolm's cold gaze before the armory officer looked down at his monitor.
"Why did you---?" began Hoshi. She was staring at Jon, her expression that of confusion and fear.
Jon looked at each of his officers. "I received a visit from Crewman Daniels just moments before I was called to the bridge," he explained. "He knew they were coming and he knew they wanted Trip. He told me that Enterprise would be destroyed if I didn't give them what they wanted. He's never lied to me before so I had to believe him."
"Does Daniels know where they're taking Trip---the commander?" asked Malcolm.
"Yes, and he has promised to help us get him back."
"Who are they and what do they want with Commander Tucker?" asked Travis. He swiveled in his chair to face Jon.
"They're called the Zeen and I don't know, Travis," replied Jon. He sat down on the edge of his chair and leaned forward. "I don't know what they want with Trip."
"Captain," said T'Pol. "The Zeen are a cold and hostile species. The Vulcan High Command ended all attempts at an alliance with them several years ago. You may have very well condemned Commander Tucker to his death."
Trip woke up to complete darkness. He felt something behind his ear and reached his hand up to finger a tiny chip. A translator, he guessed.
"You're awake."
The engineer squinted but his eyes couldn't penetrate the inky blackness to see who was talking to him. "Where am I?" he asked as he sat up. His body still felt sluggish from the jolt he'd taken.
"There is no need for you to know, Commander."
"Who are you?"
"There is no need for you to know, Commander."
Trip felt his anger rising. He tried to stand but was pushed back down. "Where is Enterprise and don't you dare tell me there is no need for me to know!" he shouted.
"Your ship is light years away."
"Are they alright?"
"Yes."
Trip tried to stand again and this time he made it to his feet before two strong hands pushed him backwards. He slammed into a wall and slid to the floor gasping for the breath that had been knocked from him. He heard movement and then the opening and closing of a door.
"Hey!" he yelled. There was no response.
Moments later, Trip heard the sound of the door again. A light came on and the engineer squeezed his eyes shut against the sudden brightness. He slowly opened them to see a tall, stocky alien male looming over him. The humanoid had yellow, cat-like eyes, the pupils black slits in the light. His arms were long, his hands hanging to his knees, his posture slightly stooped. Trip was otherwise amazed at how similar the species was to his own. The man had long black hair that was pushed back over his broad, powerful looking shoulders.
"Who are you?" asked Trip.
The man smiled, revealing yellow teeth. "I am Voss, Commander Tucker. And this is my brother, Treel." Voss motioned to the man who stood at the door. Trip looked around. He was sitting in a small, empty, gray room. He turned his attention back to Voss.
"What do you want with me?"
"I'm not entirely sure," replied Voss. He knelt down in front of Trip and looked at him curiously. "I merely was instructed to find you and take you back to my home world. I have no idea why Dr. Kir would be interested in a weak specimen such as yourself." He reached out and poked a long index finger into Trip's chest. "Humans are not a very impressive species."
The engineer swept his legs out, catching Voss unprepared. The big man fell backwards, completely losing his balance. Trip was on him in an instant, his forearm pressed hard against the Zeen's throat. He had Voss pinned, the bigger man unable to move. Trip saw Treel move from the corner of his eye. He turned his head just in time to see the butt of a phase rifle swinging toward him. The blow caught him on the side of the head, sending him reeling. Voss got to his feet then kicked Trip in the ribcage in anger. The engineer gasped in pain.
"You're lucky we're getting paid to deliver you unharmed, Commander," Voss spat out. Both Zeen turned and left the room but not before plunging Trip into utter darkness again.
"So what you're saying is Commander Tucker is not only light years away, but he could possibly be years away as well," said Malcolm, his voice heavy with the frustration he felt.
Daniels shook his head. He had stepped out of the turbolift only minutes ago; exactly one hour after Trip had disappeared. That hour had been one of the longest of Malcolm's life.
"The Zeen have not taken him out of this time, Lieutenant," Daniels explained. "They haven't fully realized what they have. They've only sent one man forward in time and back again."
"Crewman, are you positive it is the Zeen who have the Commander?" asked T'Pol. "They do not have cloaking or high warp capabilities and yet the species that abducted Mr. Tucker appear to have both." Malcolm looked at her, realizing suddenly she had not spoken a word since Trip's disappearance.
"Yes, Sub-commander. Several months ago, through a comedy of errors, the Zeen managed to shoot down a Suliban cell ship. Their engineers were able to harvest the Suliban technology and use it in one of their ships but they have been unable to duplicate it. The temporal displacement device was on board as well."
"I don't care how the Zeen managed to steal one of your time travel devices and I don't care what they're using it for," said Archer, leaning forward on the ready room table. "All I want is my officer back!"
"I understand that, Captain," replied the crewman. He looked at each of the senior officers gathered around the table. "They've taken him back to their home world."
"Why?" asked Hoshi. "What are they going to do to him?"
"I don't know, Ensign."
Malcolm looked across at Daniels in disbelief.
"You don't know?" asked Travis incredulously.
"My superiors only told me that the Zeen wanted the commander and that you had to allow them to take him. The destruction of Enterprise would have had a dramatic negative effect on the current timeline."
"So in the eyes of your superiors, Crewman, Commander Tucker became--- expendable," said T'Pol.
"On the contrary, Sub-commander. Commander Tucker is vital to the future of Starfleet's warp program. That's why they also directed me to help you retrieve him," said Daniels.
The Vulcan science officer linked her hands behind her back. "Why don't you simply go back in time and prevent the Zeen from stealing your---time travel---device?" she asked, just a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
Daniels smiled at her. "Because by doing that, we would change occurrences that were supposed to happen. Too many lives would be altered. That's one of the reasons we couldn't simply go back and reverse the destruction of the Paraagan mining colony."
The sub-commander raised an eyebrow and looked askance at Daniels.
"Why can't we move forward in time, then? At high warp, we're still going to be eight days behind the Zeen ship," said Malcolm. "You could get us their in seconds."
"I'm sorry, Lieutenant. It doesn't work that way. There are rules we must abide by. We can't alter time just to get from one place to the next more quickly."
"Alright, Daniels. Once we get to Zeenas Prime, what do we do?" asked Archer.
"Sir?"
"Where do we go? Where will we find Trip?"
"I'm sorry, Captain. But I wasn't given that information," replied Daniels. "We'll have to scan for his bio-signs."
Archer turned around and leaned back on the table. He dropped his head then shook it slowly. "So we just sit on our hands for eight days while Trip endures whatever the Zeen have planned for him. And we can't even come up with a plan of rescue until we get there."
Captain Archer pushed his plate away then sat back in his chair. He cast a glance at the seat usually occupied by his chief engineer.
"You have not eaten, Captain," stated T'Pol from his other side.
"I'm not very hungry," replied the captain. He turned his head and met her cold gaze. "You think I've made a mistake, don't you?" he asked.
"What I think does not matter," T'Pol replied evenly.
"It matters to me, T'Pol," said Archer as he leaned forward, his elbows on the table. "You're angry, aren't you?"
T'Pol placed her spoon down at the side of her bowl then clasped her hands in her lap. "I do not get---angry, Captain. I am, however, surprised at how quickly you turned Mr. Tucker over to the Zeen." Her eyes remained fixed on her bowl of broth.
"They would have destroyed Enterprise," Archer replied.
T'Pol could hear the anger behind his words. "So Crewman Daniels said," she responded evenly.
"You don't believe any of this, do you?"
She turned to look at him but remained silent.
Archer pushed his chair back and stood. He leaned forward on his hands and glared at his science officer. "I HAVE to believe this, T'Pol. I HAVE to believe Daniels. Don't you think I've kicked myself repeatedly these last three days? Trip is family to me. I can't even imagine losing him! How dare you sit there and imply that I gave him up too easily!"
The captain stormed out of his private dining room, leaving T'Pol sitting quietly. After several moments of contemplation, she rose and headed for sickbay. Dr. Phlox was the second person from whom she often sought advice on personal matters; the first was no longer present on the ship. As she walked down the corridors, her thoughts focused on the missing commander. A strange feeling had settled in her stomach the moment she had watched him vanish before her eyes. And truth be told, she was angry with the captain for letting the Zeen take him.
T'Pol entered sickbay to see Dr. Phlox sitting quietly at his station. He turned around in his chair and smiled warmly at her.
"Doctor. I was wondering if I could have a moment of your time?"
"Of course, Sub-commander. I have been expecting your visit," replied the Denobulan. He stood and pulled a chair over next to his then he motioned to her to be seated.
"You have?" said T'Pol as she took the proffered chair.
"Yes. Now what can I do for you?"
"You seem to already know, Doctor."
Phlox chuckled. "You are here to discuss Commander Tucker, are you not?" he asked.
T'Pol tilted her head slightly but remained silent.
"Sub-commander, it is only natural to be worried and upset when someone you care about is in danger," began the doctor. "I am very concerned for the commander's well-being as is the entire crew."
"I am a Vulcan. I do not---care about the commander in the way you are implying," replied T'Pol. She looked down to her lap at her tightly clasped hands.
"Don't you?"
T'Pol remained silent for several moments. "I am---confused, Doctor," she said, looking up at him. "It is illogical and dangerous for me to have feelings for Mr. Tucker yet I can not deny them."
"He is your friend, T'Pol."
"He is a frustration."
Phlox chuckled lightly. "Yes, he is that," he said then paused. "Over the last two years, I have become quite fond of this crew. I care very much for each one of them and I would do everything in my power to save each life. But I have to admit there are a few who hold a special place in my Denobulan heart. One of them is Commander Tucker. He is simply a unique individual."
"You describe him well, Doctor," replied T'Pol. "Enterprise would be a far less---interesting place if he were no longer a part of the crew."
"Yes, it would. I can only hope the captain and Crewman Daniels know what they're doing. I've been doing some research on the Zeen. Their interrogation methods are---not at all pleasant."
T'Pol looked back down at her hands. "I am greatly concerned for him, Doctor," she said softly.
"So am I, Sub-commander. So am I."
TO BE CONTINUED.
Jon could feel his body trembling. Trip. This was the man who had shown him nothing but his friendship, loyalty, and trust for nine years. And Jon was now repaying him by turning him over to the Zeen. Daniels better be right, Jon thought, cause if he's wrong and I lose Trip---
The turbolift door slid open and Trip stepped on the bridge, his eyes meeting T'Pol's momentarily before he turned to the captain.
Jon gasped as a white beam hit his engineer in the chest. T'Pol instantly reached out to the commander as he collapsed but before she could grab him, he vanished. Jon turned to the sphere just as it disappeared in a glittering of white.
"Do sensors pick up anything?" he asked in a rush. "Plasma exhaust, a warp signature, anything?"
T'Pol shook her head, her eyes locked on her monitor. "Nothing, Captain," she responded but her fingers still tapped at her keyboard. Then she looked up at him, her dark eyes piercing him. "He is gone."
"Keep trying, Sub-commander," Jon directed. His legs felt suddenly weak but he remained standing. "Travis, get Dr. Phlox to look at that wound. Ensign Brown can take the helm."
"I'm fine, sir. I'd rather stay on the bridge if you don't mind," replied the helmsman, turning his head slightly from facing forward. Jon noted the tightness in the young ensign's voice and briefly wondered if it was from pain or anger. He turned and caught Malcolm's cold gaze before the armory officer looked down at his monitor.
"Why did you---?" began Hoshi. She was staring at Jon, her expression that of confusion and fear.
Jon looked at each of his officers. "I received a visit from Crewman Daniels just moments before I was called to the bridge," he explained. "He knew they were coming and he knew they wanted Trip. He told me that Enterprise would be destroyed if I didn't give them what they wanted. He's never lied to me before so I had to believe him."
"Does Daniels know where they're taking Trip---the commander?" asked Malcolm.
"Yes, and he has promised to help us get him back."
"Who are they and what do they want with Commander Tucker?" asked Travis. He swiveled in his chair to face Jon.
"They're called the Zeen and I don't know, Travis," replied Jon. He sat down on the edge of his chair and leaned forward. "I don't know what they want with Trip."
"Captain," said T'Pol. "The Zeen are a cold and hostile species. The Vulcan High Command ended all attempts at an alliance with them several years ago. You may have very well condemned Commander Tucker to his death."
Trip woke up to complete darkness. He felt something behind his ear and reached his hand up to finger a tiny chip. A translator, he guessed.
"You're awake."
The engineer squinted but his eyes couldn't penetrate the inky blackness to see who was talking to him. "Where am I?" he asked as he sat up. His body still felt sluggish from the jolt he'd taken.
"There is no need for you to know, Commander."
"Who are you?"
"There is no need for you to know, Commander."
Trip felt his anger rising. He tried to stand but was pushed back down. "Where is Enterprise and don't you dare tell me there is no need for me to know!" he shouted.
"Your ship is light years away."
"Are they alright?"
"Yes."
Trip tried to stand again and this time he made it to his feet before two strong hands pushed him backwards. He slammed into a wall and slid to the floor gasping for the breath that had been knocked from him. He heard movement and then the opening and closing of a door.
"Hey!" he yelled. There was no response.
Moments later, Trip heard the sound of the door again. A light came on and the engineer squeezed his eyes shut against the sudden brightness. He slowly opened them to see a tall, stocky alien male looming over him. The humanoid had yellow, cat-like eyes, the pupils black slits in the light. His arms were long, his hands hanging to his knees, his posture slightly stooped. Trip was otherwise amazed at how similar the species was to his own. The man had long black hair that was pushed back over his broad, powerful looking shoulders.
"Who are you?" asked Trip.
The man smiled, revealing yellow teeth. "I am Voss, Commander Tucker. And this is my brother, Treel." Voss motioned to the man who stood at the door. Trip looked around. He was sitting in a small, empty, gray room. He turned his attention back to Voss.
"What do you want with me?"
"I'm not entirely sure," replied Voss. He knelt down in front of Trip and looked at him curiously. "I merely was instructed to find you and take you back to my home world. I have no idea why Dr. Kir would be interested in a weak specimen such as yourself." He reached out and poked a long index finger into Trip's chest. "Humans are not a very impressive species."
The engineer swept his legs out, catching Voss unprepared. The big man fell backwards, completely losing his balance. Trip was on him in an instant, his forearm pressed hard against the Zeen's throat. He had Voss pinned, the bigger man unable to move. Trip saw Treel move from the corner of his eye. He turned his head just in time to see the butt of a phase rifle swinging toward him. The blow caught him on the side of the head, sending him reeling. Voss got to his feet then kicked Trip in the ribcage in anger. The engineer gasped in pain.
"You're lucky we're getting paid to deliver you unharmed, Commander," Voss spat out. Both Zeen turned and left the room but not before plunging Trip into utter darkness again.
"So what you're saying is Commander Tucker is not only light years away, but he could possibly be years away as well," said Malcolm, his voice heavy with the frustration he felt.
Daniels shook his head. He had stepped out of the turbolift only minutes ago; exactly one hour after Trip had disappeared. That hour had been one of the longest of Malcolm's life.
"The Zeen have not taken him out of this time, Lieutenant," Daniels explained. "They haven't fully realized what they have. They've only sent one man forward in time and back again."
"Crewman, are you positive it is the Zeen who have the Commander?" asked T'Pol. "They do not have cloaking or high warp capabilities and yet the species that abducted Mr. Tucker appear to have both." Malcolm looked at her, realizing suddenly she had not spoken a word since Trip's disappearance.
"Yes, Sub-commander. Several months ago, through a comedy of errors, the Zeen managed to shoot down a Suliban cell ship. Their engineers were able to harvest the Suliban technology and use it in one of their ships but they have been unable to duplicate it. The temporal displacement device was on board as well."
"I don't care how the Zeen managed to steal one of your time travel devices and I don't care what they're using it for," said Archer, leaning forward on the ready room table. "All I want is my officer back!"
"I understand that, Captain," replied the crewman. He looked at each of the senior officers gathered around the table. "They've taken him back to their home world."
"Why?" asked Hoshi. "What are they going to do to him?"
"I don't know, Ensign."
Malcolm looked across at Daniels in disbelief.
"You don't know?" asked Travis incredulously.
"My superiors only told me that the Zeen wanted the commander and that you had to allow them to take him. The destruction of Enterprise would have had a dramatic negative effect on the current timeline."
"So in the eyes of your superiors, Crewman, Commander Tucker became--- expendable," said T'Pol.
"On the contrary, Sub-commander. Commander Tucker is vital to the future of Starfleet's warp program. That's why they also directed me to help you retrieve him," said Daniels.
The Vulcan science officer linked her hands behind her back. "Why don't you simply go back in time and prevent the Zeen from stealing your---time travel---device?" she asked, just a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
Daniels smiled at her. "Because by doing that, we would change occurrences that were supposed to happen. Too many lives would be altered. That's one of the reasons we couldn't simply go back and reverse the destruction of the Paraagan mining colony."
The sub-commander raised an eyebrow and looked askance at Daniels.
"Why can't we move forward in time, then? At high warp, we're still going to be eight days behind the Zeen ship," said Malcolm. "You could get us their in seconds."
"I'm sorry, Lieutenant. It doesn't work that way. There are rules we must abide by. We can't alter time just to get from one place to the next more quickly."
"Alright, Daniels. Once we get to Zeenas Prime, what do we do?" asked Archer.
"Sir?"
"Where do we go? Where will we find Trip?"
"I'm sorry, Captain. But I wasn't given that information," replied Daniels. "We'll have to scan for his bio-signs."
Archer turned around and leaned back on the table. He dropped his head then shook it slowly. "So we just sit on our hands for eight days while Trip endures whatever the Zeen have planned for him. And we can't even come up with a plan of rescue until we get there."
Captain Archer pushed his plate away then sat back in his chair. He cast a glance at the seat usually occupied by his chief engineer.
"You have not eaten, Captain," stated T'Pol from his other side.
"I'm not very hungry," replied the captain. He turned his head and met her cold gaze. "You think I've made a mistake, don't you?" he asked.
"What I think does not matter," T'Pol replied evenly.
"It matters to me, T'Pol," said Archer as he leaned forward, his elbows on the table. "You're angry, aren't you?"
T'Pol placed her spoon down at the side of her bowl then clasped her hands in her lap. "I do not get---angry, Captain. I am, however, surprised at how quickly you turned Mr. Tucker over to the Zeen." Her eyes remained fixed on her bowl of broth.
"They would have destroyed Enterprise," Archer replied.
T'Pol could hear the anger behind his words. "So Crewman Daniels said," she responded evenly.
"You don't believe any of this, do you?"
She turned to look at him but remained silent.
Archer pushed his chair back and stood. He leaned forward on his hands and glared at his science officer. "I HAVE to believe this, T'Pol. I HAVE to believe Daniels. Don't you think I've kicked myself repeatedly these last three days? Trip is family to me. I can't even imagine losing him! How dare you sit there and imply that I gave him up too easily!"
The captain stormed out of his private dining room, leaving T'Pol sitting quietly. After several moments of contemplation, she rose and headed for sickbay. Dr. Phlox was the second person from whom she often sought advice on personal matters; the first was no longer present on the ship. As she walked down the corridors, her thoughts focused on the missing commander. A strange feeling had settled in her stomach the moment she had watched him vanish before her eyes. And truth be told, she was angry with the captain for letting the Zeen take him.
T'Pol entered sickbay to see Dr. Phlox sitting quietly at his station. He turned around in his chair and smiled warmly at her.
"Doctor. I was wondering if I could have a moment of your time?"
"Of course, Sub-commander. I have been expecting your visit," replied the Denobulan. He stood and pulled a chair over next to his then he motioned to her to be seated.
"You have?" said T'Pol as she took the proffered chair.
"Yes. Now what can I do for you?"
"You seem to already know, Doctor."
Phlox chuckled. "You are here to discuss Commander Tucker, are you not?" he asked.
T'Pol tilted her head slightly but remained silent.
"Sub-commander, it is only natural to be worried and upset when someone you care about is in danger," began the doctor. "I am very concerned for the commander's well-being as is the entire crew."
"I am a Vulcan. I do not---care about the commander in the way you are implying," replied T'Pol. She looked down to her lap at her tightly clasped hands.
"Don't you?"
T'Pol remained silent for several moments. "I am---confused, Doctor," she said, looking up at him. "It is illogical and dangerous for me to have feelings for Mr. Tucker yet I can not deny them."
"He is your friend, T'Pol."
"He is a frustration."
Phlox chuckled lightly. "Yes, he is that," he said then paused. "Over the last two years, I have become quite fond of this crew. I care very much for each one of them and I would do everything in my power to save each life. But I have to admit there are a few who hold a special place in my Denobulan heart. One of them is Commander Tucker. He is simply a unique individual."
"You describe him well, Doctor," replied T'Pol. "Enterprise would be a far less---interesting place if he were no longer a part of the crew."
"Yes, it would. I can only hope the captain and Crewman Daniels know what they're doing. I've been doing some research on the Zeen. Their interrogation methods are---not at all pleasant."
T'Pol looked back down at her hands. "I am greatly concerned for him, Doctor," she said softly.
"So am I, Sub-commander. So am I."
TO BE CONTINUED.