PIECES IN A GAME
"Welcome to Zeenus Prime, Commander Tucker."
Trip opened his eyes and tried to focus on the woman standing over him. She smiled, exposing a yellow row of teeth. Her black hair was pulled back tight and tied at the nape of her neck.
"I'm sorry we had to sedate you but you were putting up quite a fight."
Finally Trip's mind kicked into gear. "Where am I?" he asked weakly.
"In our research facility. I need to run some tests on you."
"Tests? What kind of tests?"
There was no response. The woman merely smiled at him, her yellow eyes sparkling. As she walked away, Trip looked at his surroundings. He still felt groggy but slowly, very slowly the realization of where he was hit him. He began to struggle against the straps that bound him hand and foot to a metal table. He was in a lab.
"Let me go!" he shouted angrily.
The woman stepped back to his side carrying a metal tray in her hands. She set it down on a table beside the bed then looked down at him. "I can't do that, Commander," she said.
"You may as well just kill me 'cause I'm not going to tell you anything!"
The Zeen laughed merrily. "We don't need any information from you. You're Human technology is hardly worth our time."
Trip looked up at her in confusion. "Then why am I here?" he asked.
"Apparently, Commander, you will prove to be quite a thorn in my side in the near future. I'm merely removing that thorn," the woman replied. She reached to the tray for a thick circular band. "Enough questions."
"Then why didn't you have your minions kill me instead of capture me?" Trip persisted.
"You're the first Human we've ever seen. We know virtually nothing about your species. This is the perfect opportunity to study you," the Zeen replied coldly. She attempted to place the metal band on Trip's head and he tried to fight her. Finally, she gripped his jaw with a powerful hand and easily slid the device on him.
"Don't do this!" Trip shouted as the band began to hum with power.
Gleenas entered the research facility and punched in exactly at 0800 hours just as she did every morning. She was proud of the fact that for over 50 years, she had never once been late for work. The old Zeen woman slowly made her way to the closet in which her cleaning supplies were stored. She reached down and pulled at the string that held her key safely around her neck and bent to put it in the lock. As she opened the door, she inhaled the wonderful and familiar smells of her labor. Gleenas began to whistle softly as she filled a bucket with hot water and cleaning fluid. Then she grabbed her mop and slowly hobbled out of the closet and down the corridor. Today she was scrubbing the hallway outside the secured area. For years, the area had remained opened but three days ago, that had changed. Gleenas couldn't help but be curious as to what was happening behind the two big doors.
An hour later she was just finishing up when the alarms went off. Gleenas turned quickly to the doors, as they swung open. Next thing she knew, she was on the ground in a tangle with a strange looking being. The being got to his feet then he looked down at her with odd, almost transparent eyes. He said something to her then reached his hand down to help her to her feet. She continued to look at him, mesmerized by those eyes. Then he turned and headed down the corridor at a dead run. She watched in horror as two medical technicians appeared at the other end of the corridor. They grabbed the alien and while one held him, the other hit him without mercy. Gleenas gasped and brought her hands up to cover her mouth. She started when a hand touched her shoulder.
"Go back to work, Gleenas."
"Who is that, Dr. Kir?" the old woman asked. "I've never seen the likes of him before."
"That isn't your concern, now is it, Gleenas," replied Kir with an ominous tone.
Gleenas looked to the floor. "No ma'am," she responded quietly.
"Now go back to work."
Gleenas picked up her mop and placed it in the bucket. As she pretended to clean, she snuck glances as the two med techs hauled the alien back up the hall and through the doors. He had red blood flowing from his nose and dripping from a wound over his eyebrow. As the doors swung closed, the old woman looked down at the floor and saw the bright red trail of drops.
"Clean up this mess, Gleenas," instructed Kir before she disappeared behind the doors as well.
Trip grimaced as the cold metal was clamped once more around both his wrists, chaining him once again to the wall. The two technicians left his prison and shut the door behind them.
Dr. Kir stood staring down at him, her arms crossed over her chest. "That was pretty stupid," she said angrily. In the dim light from the tiny window, Trip could see her black pupils dilated. She reached in the pocket of her lab jacket and pulled out a syringe.
"No," Trip pleaded. "Please don't."
The doctor knelt down and injected the bright yellow fluid into Trip's arm. "Because of your little stunt, Commander, the real fun begins."
Trip watched as Kir walked out of the room and slammed the door behind her. He leaned his head back against the wall and stared at the ceiling, feeling the bruises from his beating. He could already sense a burning sensation heating him from the inside. This was a different feeling than the "wired" feeling and the uncontrollable shaking he got from the nightly injections they'd given him to keep him from sleeping. This hurt and it was getting worse. He felt like his blood was boiling in his veins. Trip gritted his teeth against a scream, as his insides seemed to contract into knots.
"No," he rasped. "Breath, Trip. Breath through it."
The engineer tried to take his advice but the pain seemed more than he could endure. Trip held on, his teeth clamped together hard. He pulled his knees up to his chest but with his hands chained to the wall on either side of his head, he couldn't put his arms around them. He straightened them back out and pounded one foot into the floor. The agony was overwhelming and he closed his eyes tightly, feeling the tears roll slowly down his cheeks.
Gleenas crept through the alleyway behind the research facility. She knew it was deep in the night so there was more than likely no one around but she took extra care anyway. She was an old woman and a crazy one at that, she knew, but the strange eyes she had seen that morning had stayed with her. In them she had seen fear but also something else, something that had driven her from her bed in the dead of night.
She paused momentarily under the window to adjust the translator she wore behind her right ear, thinking briefly of how she'd stolen it just that morning from one of the med techs. Gleenas looked up at the window. She was only guessing this was the room but it was the only one she had never been allowed to enter. The old Zeen carefully stepped up on the brick ledge that ran the length of the building and peered through the screen. The alien sat against the wall directly across from her perch. His hands were clamped in metal rings and held to the wall. She felt ill at the evidence of her own peoples' cruelty.
"Boy," she whispered. "Can you hear me?"
The alien's head slowly lifted and he opened his eyes. Her keen night vision picked up the sheen of sweat and the awful bruises that mottled his young face. He looked around in confusion.
"I'm up here," Gleenas called softly.
"What?" the alien whispered.
"Here," she said, finally drawing his attention to her. She smiled broadly.
"Hello. I'm called Gleenas."
"Gleenas," he repeated.
"Yes. What are you called?"
"Um," the alien started. He stopped and Gleenas could see his body shake violently.
"Are you alright, boy?"
"They won't let me sleep," he mumbled. "Drugs. I---I hurt."
"What did you do?" asked Gleenas.
"Do? I didn't do anything."
"You must have done something for them to keep you here."
The alien shook his head slowly. "I've done nothing," he said.
Gleenas watched as his body shuddered again. His face twisted up in pain then slowly relaxed.
"What are you called?" she asked again.
"Trip," he replied.
"I want to help you, Trip. Whatever it is you've done, you don't deserve to be treated like this."
"My friends will be coming soon," Trip mumbled. "They'll be here soon."
"Tell me about your friends," urged Gleenas. She cringed as she watched his face contort in pain again. Then his strange eyes widened and seemed to focus on her clearly.
"No," he replied. "This is some kind of trick, isn't it? You're one of them."
Gleenas adjusted her stance on the ledge. "I'm an old woman, Trip. I clean the building but I'm not a scientist. Don't you remember me?" She knew he couldn't see in the darkness as well as she could but she hoped the moonlight was enough to illuminate her face.
Trip squinted up at her. "You're the woman I knocked down this morning," he said.
"Yes."
"Why are you here?"
"I guess to thank you for helping me up. Sounds kind of silly now," Gleenas said softly feeling suddenly self-conscious.
"Your welcome," the alien replied with a slight smile. Gleenas just stared at him in silence. He was unlike anyone or anything she had ever seen before. He was a kind boy and she knew that as a fact. Tears filled her eyes as his body shook again.
"I'll find a way to help you, Trip. I promise."
He shook his head. "You'll get in trouble, Gleenas. Don't worry 'bout me. I'll be fine."
A noise in the alley drew her attention and she turned her head. "I need to go now, Trip. I'll come back tomorrow night if that's okay." She didn't stay to hear his reply.
Captain Jonathan Archer walked slowly down the corridor to his quarters. He knew he had to get some sleep for his own good but also for the good of his crew. Daniels had disappeared again that afternoon but had promised to return when Enterprise entered the Zeenus system. The crewman had recommended the ship remain behind the farthest moon to avoid detection by Zeen sensors. He didn't have any recommendations, however, for how their shuttle pod would make it to Zeenus Prime unscathed.
Jon keyed in his code and entered his quarters. Porthos stood up in his tiny bed, his tail wagging furiously. The captain couldn't help but smile. He bent over and picked up the little Beagle then drew him to his chest.
"Hello, Porthos," he said. "Five more days and we get Trip back, buddy."
Jon sat down on his bed still holding his dog. His mind wandered back to the football game and he smiled at the warm memory. He put Porthos down on the bed next to him then fell back. He flopped a forearm over his eyes and let his breath out. Enterprise would finally arrive at Zeenus Prime, he thought. The last three days had been the toughest of his life. The senior staff had remained professional toward him but he sensed an underlying anger. Especially from Malcolm and surprisingly T'Pol. Would they be able to forgive him if they couldn't find Trip, he wondered.
"Could I forgive myself?" he asked aloud. Porthos nuzzled his cheek then gave it a lick. Jon pulled his arm away and looked at the Beagle. "No. I could never forgive myself," he whispered. He sat back up and drew Porthos into his arms. He put his mouth against the dog's head then shut his eyes tightly. Starfleet captains weren't supposed to fall apart, he told himself as the tears threatened to fall.
His door chime sounded suddenly and Jon quickly ran a hand over his face. "Come in!" he called.
Dr. Phlox entered the room. "Good evening, Captain," he greeted.
Jon set Porthos aside and stood up. "Doctor. Is there something I can do for you?"
"I was just checking in, Captain. Are you doing alright?" Dr. Phlox tilted his head and looked at Jon with concern.
The captain hesitated a moment. "No, I'm not doing alright," he finally said. He began to pace along the foot of his bed, Porthos watching his every move. "The closest friend I've ever known is more than likely dead, my senior staff believes I gave him up too easily, and----" he stopped and turned to look at Phlox. "And---." He sat down heavily then leaned forward, his elbows on his thighs.
Phlox moved to stand next to him, patting the captain's shoulder gently. "And you're doubting your decision," he finished.
Jon looked up at him and nodded.
"Captain, do you believe what Crewman Daniels said? That the Zeen would have destroyed the ship had you not given them Commander Tucker?"
"Yes," Jon replied.
"Then you have no reason to doubt yourself."
"But Malcolm and T'Pol and the others---."
"Are upset because someone they care about is missing," explained the Denobulan. "Just as you are upset. They trust you implicitly, Captain. You should know that by now."
Jon dropped his head in resignation. "Maybe you're right, Doctor," he conceded softly.
"But I don't think your staff is the crux of what's troubling you, is it?"
The captain remained silent.
"You care very much for him, don't you?" asked Phlox softly. His hand returned to Jon's shoulder for a moment.
"I don't know what I'd do without him," Jon replied.
TO BE CONTINUED.
"Welcome to Zeenus Prime, Commander Tucker."
Trip opened his eyes and tried to focus on the woman standing over him. She smiled, exposing a yellow row of teeth. Her black hair was pulled back tight and tied at the nape of her neck.
"I'm sorry we had to sedate you but you were putting up quite a fight."
Finally Trip's mind kicked into gear. "Where am I?" he asked weakly.
"In our research facility. I need to run some tests on you."
"Tests? What kind of tests?"
There was no response. The woman merely smiled at him, her yellow eyes sparkling. As she walked away, Trip looked at his surroundings. He still felt groggy but slowly, very slowly the realization of where he was hit him. He began to struggle against the straps that bound him hand and foot to a metal table. He was in a lab.
"Let me go!" he shouted angrily.
The woman stepped back to his side carrying a metal tray in her hands. She set it down on a table beside the bed then looked down at him. "I can't do that, Commander," she said.
"You may as well just kill me 'cause I'm not going to tell you anything!"
The Zeen laughed merrily. "We don't need any information from you. You're Human technology is hardly worth our time."
Trip looked up at her in confusion. "Then why am I here?" he asked.
"Apparently, Commander, you will prove to be quite a thorn in my side in the near future. I'm merely removing that thorn," the woman replied. She reached to the tray for a thick circular band. "Enough questions."
"Then why didn't you have your minions kill me instead of capture me?" Trip persisted.
"You're the first Human we've ever seen. We know virtually nothing about your species. This is the perfect opportunity to study you," the Zeen replied coldly. She attempted to place the metal band on Trip's head and he tried to fight her. Finally, she gripped his jaw with a powerful hand and easily slid the device on him.
"Don't do this!" Trip shouted as the band began to hum with power.
Gleenas entered the research facility and punched in exactly at 0800 hours just as she did every morning. She was proud of the fact that for over 50 years, she had never once been late for work. The old Zeen woman slowly made her way to the closet in which her cleaning supplies were stored. She reached down and pulled at the string that held her key safely around her neck and bent to put it in the lock. As she opened the door, she inhaled the wonderful and familiar smells of her labor. Gleenas began to whistle softly as she filled a bucket with hot water and cleaning fluid. Then she grabbed her mop and slowly hobbled out of the closet and down the corridor. Today she was scrubbing the hallway outside the secured area. For years, the area had remained opened but three days ago, that had changed. Gleenas couldn't help but be curious as to what was happening behind the two big doors.
An hour later she was just finishing up when the alarms went off. Gleenas turned quickly to the doors, as they swung open. Next thing she knew, she was on the ground in a tangle with a strange looking being. The being got to his feet then he looked down at her with odd, almost transparent eyes. He said something to her then reached his hand down to help her to her feet. She continued to look at him, mesmerized by those eyes. Then he turned and headed down the corridor at a dead run. She watched in horror as two medical technicians appeared at the other end of the corridor. They grabbed the alien and while one held him, the other hit him without mercy. Gleenas gasped and brought her hands up to cover her mouth. She started when a hand touched her shoulder.
"Go back to work, Gleenas."
"Who is that, Dr. Kir?" the old woman asked. "I've never seen the likes of him before."
"That isn't your concern, now is it, Gleenas," replied Kir with an ominous tone.
Gleenas looked to the floor. "No ma'am," she responded quietly.
"Now go back to work."
Gleenas picked up her mop and placed it in the bucket. As she pretended to clean, she snuck glances as the two med techs hauled the alien back up the hall and through the doors. He had red blood flowing from his nose and dripping from a wound over his eyebrow. As the doors swung closed, the old woman looked down at the floor and saw the bright red trail of drops.
"Clean up this mess, Gleenas," instructed Kir before she disappeared behind the doors as well.
Trip grimaced as the cold metal was clamped once more around both his wrists, chaining him once again to the wall. The two technicians left his prison and shut the door behind them.
Dr. Kir stood staring down at him, her arms crossed over her chest. "That was pretty stupid," she said angrily. In the dim light from the tiny window, Trip could see her black pupils dilated. She reached in the pocket of her lab jacket and pulled out a syringe.
"No," Trip pleaded. "Please don't."
The doctor knelt down and injected the bright yellow fluid into Trip's arm. "Because of your little stunt, Commander, the real fun begins."
Trip watched as Kir walked out of the room and slammed the door behind her. He leaned his head back against the wall and stared at the ceiling, feeling the bruises from his beating. He could already sense a burning sensation heating him from the inside. This was a different feeling than the "wired" feeling and the uncontrollable shaking he got from the nightly injections they'd given him to keep him from sleeping. This hurt and it was getting worse. He felt like his blood was boiling in his veins. Trip gritted his teeth against a scream, as his insides seemed to contract into knots.
"No," he rasped. "Breath, Trip. Breath through it."
The engineer tried to take his advice but the pain seemed more than he could endure. Trip held on, his teeth clamped together hard. He pulled his knees up to his chest but with his hands chained to the wall on either side of his head, he couldn't put his arms around them. He straightened them back out and pounded one foot into the floor. The agony was overwhelming and he closed his eyes tightly, feeling the tears roll slowly down his cheeks.
Gleenas crept through the alleyway behind the research facility. She knew it was deep in the night so there was more than likely no one around but she took extra care anyway. She was an old woman and a crazy one at that, she knew, but the strange eyes she had seen that morning had stayed with her. In them she had seen fear but also something else, something that had driven her from her bed in the dead of night.
She paused momentarily under the window to adjust the translator she wore behind her right ear, thinking briefly of how she'd stolen it just that morning from one of the med techs. Gleenas looked up at the window. She was only guessing this was the room but it was the only one she had never been allowed to enter. The old Zeen carefully stepped up on the brick ledge that ran the length of the building and peered through the screen. The alien sat against the wall directly across from her perch. His hands were clamped in metal rings and held to the wall. She felt ill at the evidence of her own peoples' cruelty.
"Boy," she whispered. "Can you hear me?"
The alien's head slowly lifted and he opened his eyes. Her keen night vision picked up the sheen of sweat and the awful bruises that mottled his young face. He looked around in confusion.
"I'm up here," Gleenas called softly.
"What?" the alien whispered.
"Here," she said, finally drawing his attention to her. She smiled broadly.
"Hello. I'm called Gleenas."
"Gleenas," he repeated.
"Yes. What are you called?"
"Um," the alien started. He stopped and Gleenas could see his body shake violently.
"Are you alright, boy?"
"They won't let me sleep," he mumbled. "Drugs. I---I hurt."
"What did you do?" asked Gleenas.
"Do? I didn't do anything."
"You must have done something for them to keep you here."
The alien shook his head slowly. "I've done nothing," he said.
Gleenas watched as his body shuddered again. His face twisted up in pain then slowly relaxed.
"What are you called?" she asked again.
"Trip," he replied.
"I want to help you, Trip. Whatever it is you've done, you don't deserve to be treated like this."
"My friends will be coming soon," Trip mumbled. "They'll be here soon."
"Tell me about your friends," urged Gleenas. She cringed as she watched his face contort in pain again. Then his strange eyes widened and seemed to focus on her clearly.
"No," he replied. "This is some kind of trick, isn't it? You're one of them."
Gleenas adjusted her stance on the ledge. "I'm an old woman, Trip. I clean the building but I'm not a scientist. Don't you remember me?" She knew he couldn't see in the darkness as well as she could but she hoped the moonlight was enough to illuminate her face.
Trip squinted up at her. "You're the woman I knocked down this morning," he said.
"Yes."
"Why are you here?"
"I guess to thank you for helping me up. Sounds kind of silly now," Gleenas said softly feeling suddenly self-conscious.
"Your welcome," the alien replied with a slight smile. Gleenas just stared at him in silence. He was unlike anyone or anything she had ever seen before. He was a kind boy and she knew that as a fact. Tears filled her eyes as his body shook again.
"I'll find a way to help you, Trip. I promise."
He shook his head. "You'll get in trouble, Gleenas. Don't worry 'bout me. I'll be fine."
A noise in the alley drew her attention and she turned her head. "I need to go now, Trip. I'll come back tomorrow night if that's okay." She didn't stay to hear his reply.
Captain Jonathan Archer walked slowly down the corridor to his quarters. He knew he had to get some sleep for his own good but also for the good of his crew. Daniels had disappeared again that afternoon but had promised to return when Enterprise entered the Zeenus system. The crewman had recommended the ship remain behind the farthest moon to avoid detection by Zeen sensors. He didn't have any recommendations, however, for how their shuttle pod would make it to Zeenus Prime unscathed.
Jon keyed in his code and entered his quarters. Porthos stood up in his tiny bed, his tail wagging furiously. The captain couldn't help but smile. He bent over and picked up the little Beagle then drew him to his chest.
"Hello, Porthos," he said. "Five more days and we get Trip back, buddy."
Jon sat down on his bed still holding his dog. His mind wandered back to the football game and he smiled at the warm memory. He put Porthos down on the bed next to him then fell back. He flopped a forearm over his eyes and let his breath out. Enterprise would finally arrive at Zeenus Prime, he thought. The last three days had been the toughest of his life. The senior staff had remained professional toward him but he sensed an underlying anger. Especially from Malcolm and surprisingly T'Pol. Would they be able to forgive him if they couldn't find Trip, he wondered.
"Could I forgive myself?" he asked aloud. Porthos nuzzled his cheek then gave it a lick. Jon pulled his arm away and looked at the Beagle. "No. I could never forgive myself," he whispered. He sat back up and drew Porthos into his arms. He put his mouth against the dog's head then shut his eyes tightly. Starfleet captains weren't supposed to fall apart, he told himself as the tears threatened to fall.
His door chime sounded suddenly and Jon quickly ran a hand over his face. "Come in!" he called.
Dr. Phlox entered the room. "Good evening, Captain," he greeted.
Jon set Porthos aside and stood up. "Doctor. Is there something I can do for you?"
"I was just checking in, Captain. Are you doing alright?" Dr. Phlox tilted his head and looked at Jon with concern.
The captain hesitated a moment. "No, I'm not doing alright," he finally said. He began to pace along the foot of his bed, Porthos watching his every move. "The closest friend I've ever known is more than likely dead, my senior staff believes I gave him up too easily, and----" he stopped and turned to look at Phlox. "And---." He sat down heavily then leaned forward, his elbows on his thighs.
Phlox moved to stand next to him, patting the captain's shoulder gently. "And you're doubting your decision," he finished.
Jon looked up at him and nodded.
"Captain, do you believe what Crewman Daniels said? That the Zeen would have destroyed the ship had you not given them Commander Tucker?"
"Yes," Jon replied.
"Then you have no reason to doubt yourself."
"But Malcolm and T'Pol and the others---."
"Are upset because someone they care about is missing," explained the Denobulan. "Just as you are upset. They trust you implicitly, Captain. You should know that by now."
Jon dropped his head in resignation. "Maybe you're right, Doctor," he conceded softly.
"But I don't think your staff is the crux of what's troubling you, is it?"
The captain remained silent.
"You care very much for him, don't you?" asked Phlox softly. His hand returned to Jon's shoulder for a moment.
"I don't know what I'd do without him," Jon replied.
TO BE CONTINUED.