PIECES IN A GAME
Trip felt the familiar sting of the needle, as Dr. Kir injected the fluid into his arm. He knew in moments his body would start trembling uncontrollably as the drug took effect. With the green fluid coursing through his system, he was unable to sleep which was exactly its purpose. He hadn't been allowed to sleep since his arrival.
Trip turned his head slightly to look out at what he could see of the sky from his prison window. He wondered briefly if Enterprise was out there searching for him or if they even knew where to look. He closed his eyes tightly then opened them again as his body started to shake. The tests they'd run since his attempt at escape had been painful to say the least. He'd been stripped naked, strapped to the metal table, and hooked up to a strange device that sent jolts of energy coursing through his body at the push of a button. As he'd screamed in agony, Dr. Kir had simply watched, her attention moving from his face to a monitor that sat next to the metal bed. They'd also broken each finger on his left hand, one at a time. He hadn't been fed but water had been provided in small quantities.
Now he lay on the floor of his prison, Dr. Kir bending over him. He kept looking out the window as she slowly washed his body. She was surprisingly gentle as she ran the damp rag over him.
"You have a surprisingly high tolerance for pain, Commander," the doctor said as she carefully washed his healing face. "Are all Humans strong like you?"
"You'll find out soon enough," Trip muttered.
"You're still clinging to the hope that your friends will find you," Kir said with a cold smile. "You are a stubborn one."
Trip turned his head to look up at her. "They'll be here," he said.
Dr. Kir reached for his left hand and squeezed it. He cried out in pain at the pressure on his broken fingers. Then his body shook again from the drugs.
"So stubborn," whispered the Zeen as she wiped the tear that leaked out from the corner of Trip's eye. She motioned to the two med techs hovering by the door. They came over and held the engineer while Dr. Kir clothed him in a stark white pair of hospital pants. Then they pulled him over to the wall and clamped the metal rings around his wrists.
"Now to do something about this," said Dr. Kir as she ran her finger along the thick stubble that lined Trip's jaw.
"Why are you doing this?" asked Trip, watching her pull a bottle from her bag.
"Because we're not an evil people, Commander. We don't treat our prisoners like animals," replied Kir as she carefully lathered up the engineer's face. She lifted a razor out of her bag and began to shave along his jaw.
Trip stared at her in utter disbelief. "I would say you're definitely evil, lady," he spat.
Kir slashed across his cheek with the razor, laying the flesh open. She called for one of the med technicians who immediately came to her side. "Please show the Commander that his insolence will not be tolerated."
The Zeen took Trip's right hand and forced it open. He then proceeded to calmly break the little finger.
Trip gasped, shutting his eyes against the pain as Dr. Kir continued to slowly shave his face.
The room was dark except for the moonlight that filtered through the tiny window. Trip waited, hoping that Gleenas would return. She had said she'd visit him again and Trip found he needed her kind words. As he waited, his mind wandered back to his mother. In a way, the old Zeen woman reminded him of her. She had a warm kindness about her that made him feel safe. Trip squeezed his eyes shut, fighting the rush of tears. He didn't even want to think that he would never see his mom again.
"Are you alright, Trip?"
The engineer opened his eyes and looked up at the face that appeared in the window. He let out a shaky laugh. "I am now, Gleenas." The woman's face was shadowed but Trip thought he saw her smile.
"How are you?" Gleenas asked in a hushed voice.
"Today was pretty rough," he replied.
"What happened to your face?"
"Cut myself shaving," Trip replied with a weak smile.
"Oh, Trip. Your hands," gasped the old woman. "What did they do to you?" She sounded sickened.
"I'll be okay, Gleenas." His body trembled uncontrollably and he inhaled sharply, gritting his teeth.
"I've got to get you out of here."
"No, Gleenas. Dr. Kir would have your head if you tried anything," said Trip with as much force as he could muster. "My cap'n will be here very soon. Just keep visiting with me until he gets here. Please."
Gleenas sighed. "I won't leave you, Trip," she answered softly. "Never."
"There is no sign that the Zeen have discovered us, Captain," reported Sub- commander T'Pol from her science station.
"Good," said Archer. He turned to look at Malcolm. "Have weapons standing by just in case, Lieutenant," he directed.
Malcolm nodded. "Standing by, sir," he replied.
"Can you pick up Trip's bio-signs?" Archer turned back to his science officer.
"Yes," she looked up at him from her monitor. "He is alive."
Malcolm dropped his head momentarily in relief. Trip was alive. Now could they get him back? He looked up and exchanged a brief glance with Hoshi. The relief on the bridge was palpable.
Archer slumped into his chair. "Now where is Daniels?" he asked quietly.
"I'm here, sir."
Malcolm watched as Crewman Daniels stepped out of the turbolift. He shook his head, wondering at the man's impeccable timing.
The crewman moved to stand next to Captain Archer. "I've brought something with me, sir," he said as he held up a strange piece of technology.
"What is it?" asked Travis turning in his chair.
"A way to get to Zeenus Prime undetected, sir," Daniels replied with a smile. "It's a cloaking device."
Gleenas stepped up onto the ledge as she had on the previous seven nights. She looked through the screen over the window and saw Trip lying on the floor. She felt a wave of relief as it dawned on her he wasn't chained to the wall. Then her stomach dropped when she saw the fresh burns on his chest and stomach.
"Trip," she whispered. The young man didn't move he just stared vacantly at the ceiling. She called his name again.
"No more," he mumbled finally. "Please."
"Trip. It's me. Gleenas." She suddenly felt terribly afraid. His mental state had shown deterioration over the last couple nights but he had still been able to talk to her. He had told her all about his wonderful friends on his starship, about how much he cared for them and missed them. And she had laughed with him as he related his adventures, or as he called them, his misadventures. But this time was different; he didn't seem to know her at all.
"Mom?"
She hesitated as her heart sank. "Yes, Trip. It's me. It's Mom," she lied.
"I can't see, Mama," he said and his voice broke. "I'm scared."
Gleenas brushed at the tears that rolled down her cheeks. She knew she had to be strong for him. She watched in anguish as his body convulsed from the drugs and she silently cursed Dr. Kir's very existence.
"I know you're scared, Trip. But you have to be brave, okay? For me?"
Trip turned his head towards her voice. "I'll try."
"That's my good boy," Gleenas said gently. "Now I'm going to leave---."
"No, don't leave me!" Trip reached out toward her with his right hand, his little finger sticking out and horribly bent. "Please stay!"
She started crying as his weakened body shook again involuntarily. She tried to breath through her sobs, trying desperately to calm herself. "I'm going to get you out, Trip. I can't let them do this to you anymore. Now you just sit tight. Can you do that for me, Trip?"
He was breathing hard, fighting with all his might not to cry openly. Gleenas put her hands over her mouth to muffle her sobs. Finally he dropped his hand back down and nodded his head slowly.
"I'll be right there. You just hang on," she pleaded. Gleenas jumped down from the ledge and headed down the alleyway.
"Captain, I can retrieve the device alone," whispered Daniels. "Lieutenant Reed should go with you and the sub-commander."
Jon scowled at the crewman. The four stood in the deepest night shadows outside the research facility within which T'Pol had detected Trip's life signs. The engineering staff had successfully installed the cloaking device in Shuttlepod One so the away team had no problem landing near the building. Jon was thankful the structure was on the outskirts of the small town and not in the heart of it.
"Sir, with all due respect, I'd rather be with you when you find the commander," said Malcolm softy. "I think Crewman Daniels can watch out for himself."
Jon paused. Malcolm had wanted to bring down an army to rescue his friend but both T'Pol and Daniels had recommended against it, opting for a less conspicuous approach.
The captain looked from his armory officer to his former crewman then he sighed. "Alright, we'll meet you back at the pod," he directed to Daniels. The young man disappeared around the building.
"I doubt you need to be concerned with Crewman Daniels' safety, Captain," said T'Pol in a hushed voice.
"How many life signs do you detect?" asked Jon.
T'Pol held out her scanner and moved it in a slow arc. "There are twelve Zeen signatures all located in different sections of the building but only five in the vicinity of Commander Tucker," she replied. She looked up at him. "We should meet with little to no resistance."
"It appears they're not expecting a rescue," said Malcolm.
The three officers walked around the structure until they found a delivery entrance. Malcolm made quick work of the access panel with his phase pistol and they proceeded inside. The hallway in which they found themselves was illuminated only with low powered lighting.
"Captain, there is someone just ahead," whispered T'Pol.
Jon led the way, his phase pistol held tightly in his hand. He rounded a corner and saw a figure moving slowly only a few meters ahead of him. He stopped when the Zeen turned around.
"He said you'd come for him."
The figure moved toward him and Malcolm raised his pistol. Jon reached out and put his hand on his officer's arm, staying him. He shook his head when Malcolm looked at him.
T'Pol moved up on Jon's other side. "Who are you?" she asked.
The Zeen stepped under a light and Jon could see she was an old woman. Her posture was severely stooped but even so she stood at his eye level. Her hair was white and twisted into a bun at the base of her neck. She moved closer to him and he could see her eyes were cat-like, the pupils dilated in the dim light.
The old woman put up her hands to show she was unarmed. "I am called Gleenas," she said softly. "You must be the cap'n."
Jon couldn't help but smile. Only one other person said his title like that.
"Follow me, we must hurry," Gleenas said then she turned and proceeded down the hall.
Jon caught up with her. "Is Trip okay?" he asked.
Gleenas shook her head. "They've hurt him badly," she replied then she held up her hand. "Someone is coming. Hide in there." She pointed to a door. Jon, Malcolm, and T'Pol ducked into the closet. The captain could hear a male voice just outside.
"Gleenas, what are you doing here at this time of night?"
"Hello, Dr. Crewfer. I think I left the lid off the Trilpa solution. You know how fast it evaporates," the old woman said. "I just couldn't sleep for thinking about it."
Jon heard laughter.
"Well make it fast." The voice began to fade. "I'll see you in the morning."
The door opened and Gleenas peered around it at the officers. "He's gone."
All four proceeded down the hall. Finally they came to a heavy door and Gleenas stopped. She pointed at it.
"Captain, there are four Zeen in the adjacent room," whispered T'Pol.
Jon looked at Gleenas. "Do you have the access code to this room?" he asked.
The old woman shook her head.
"Shoot it, T'Pol," Jon directed. He and Malcolm faced the door of the next room, holding their phase pistols. T'Pol fired at the access panel and sparks flew. Jon heard shouting and the adjacent door opened to reveal two Zeen medical technicians who immediately fell to the floor as Jon and Malcolm fired. Another Zeen was just behind the first two and Malcolm fired again, sending the man into unconsciousness.
"Don't shoot!"
Jon watched as a female Zeen slowly stepped into the hallway, her hands above her head.
"Dr. Kir," spat Gleenas. The old woman walked up to Kir and slapped her hard across the face. "I should kill you for what you've done to him!" she seethed then slapped the doctor again.
Jon grabbed Gleenas' arm before she hit the other woman again. "That's enough, Gleenas."
Malcolm moved behind Dr. Kir and shoved her forward.
T'Pol was still working on opening the door but after only another moment, she pushed it open. Jon stepped in first then froze. Trip was lying on his side on the cold floor curled up, his knees pulled to his chest, clothed only in a lightweight pair of pajama pants. His body was shaking.
"Trip," Jon breathed. He moved to his friend's side and knelt down. He reached out his hand and laid it on the younger man's arm.
Trip pulled away. "No," he pleaded weakly.
"It's me, Trip." Jon tried to touch his engineer's arm again but again Trip flinched away. The commander started crawling, pulling himself across the floor. He stopped and curled up again, shaking violently.
"Trip?" Gleenas moved quietly up beside Jon. "I'm here, Trip."
The engineer turned his head toward the voice. "Mom?"
The old woman carefully knelt down beside Trip and gently stroked her hand through his hair. She whispered to him so softly, Jon couldn't make out the words. Gradually, Trip seemed to calm and Gleenas motioned to the captain.
"I've brought your friends to take you home, dear," said Gleenas softy. She continued to stroke Trip's hair.
Jon moved over to his engineer again. "Trip?"
The young man's head turned slightly. "Cap'n? Is that you?" he asked, his eyes searching.
The captain realized in horror that his friend couldn't see. "Yeah, it's me," he responded after swallowing the lump in his throat. "Are you ready to go home?"
T'Pol knelt beside Jon. "Captain, we must hurry."
"T'Pol?" Trip's voice cracked with sudden emotion. He reached out blindly with his left hand, all the fingers horribly bent and swollen.
The Vulcan hesitated then took the commander's wrist. "Yes, Mr. Tucker. I am here as well," she said. Jon could hear her voice break ever so slightly.
"You'll never get him out of here," said Dr. Kir. She stood in the doorway, Malcolm right behind her with his phase pistol in the small of her back. The lieutenant's eyes were locked on his injured friend.
A nearby blast suddenly shook the complex and a bright light flashed through the tiny window of Trip's prison.
Jon stood then bent to gently take the commander's arm. Gleenas took his other arm and together, they pulled Trip to his feet. His legs immediately gave out.
"I've got you," Jon whispered. He could now see the burns and bruises fresh on Trip's body and the gaping wound across his cheek. He gasped at how thin and weak his friend had become then he turned angry eyes to Dr. Kir.
"Did you do this to him?" asked T'Pol suddenly. She, too, had turned to the doctor.
Dr. Kir just stood in silence, her back arrow straight in defiance.
"Yes, it was her," seethed Gleenas. The old woman held Trip while Jon quickly slipped off his jacket. Together, they managed to put it on the engineer.
Malcolm grabbed the doctor and jerked her roughly out the door, his phase pistol still stuck in her back. T'Pol pulled her pistol and followed behind them with Jon and Gleenas, holding Trip between them, exiting last.
As the group slowly made their way back through the halls of the research facility, T'Pol struggled to maintain her Vulcan composure. She could hear the pain-filled moans from Commander Tucker from just behind her and the sound caused her great distress.
"Dr. Kir? Is everything alright?"
T'Pol looked around the Zeen woman to see a man standing several meters up the hall. T'Pol stepped up and placed her phase pistol along side Lieutenant Reed's in the doctor's back.
"Tell him everything is fine," the Vulcan said softly, gripping the other woman's arm with her free hand.
Dr. Kir hesitated, casting a glance out of the corner of her yellow eye at T'Pol. "Help me, Crewfer!" she shouted suddenly.
Reed pulled his weapon from behind the doctor and fired down the hall. Unfortunately the man moved at the same moment and Reed's shot hit the wall harmlessly. The lieutenant cursed angrily.
T'Pol turned her head to the captain. "We need to get out of here, sir."
Archer turned and lifted Commander Tucker quickly over his shoulder then he motioned with his head to proceed.
The group had just exited through the service entrance when the alarm went off. Dr. Kir struggled against Reed's grip, yelling for help at the same time. T'Pol was tempted to shoot the woman but she refrained, determining the doctor might work as a shield later. Her eyebrow quirked when Gleenas walked up and harshly stuffed a cloth deep into the doctor's mouth. T'Pol nodded at the old woman then grabbed Kir's free arm in her iron grip. She heard Reed chuckle softly.
As they moved through the deepest shadows along the building, T'Pol's sensitive ears picked up the sound of shouting. She could see the glow of fire against the night sky and briefly wondered what had happened.
"Where is your ship?" asked Gleenas. The old woman had remained at T'Pol's side.
"It is behind that distant stand of trees," T'Pol responded pointing at the line of trees several hundred meters away. Gleenas turned her head to look at the semi-conscious commander still draped over Archer's shoulder. T'Pol saw great sadness in the woman's yellow eyes and wondered at the engineer's ability to effect every soul with whom he came in contact.
"The town security force will be here in seconds. You'll need a diversion," the Zeen said in a hushed voice. "You won't make it across the clearing without one."
"What do you suggest?" asked the captain. They all stopped at the end of the alleyway.
"If you give me one of your weapons, I will take Dr. Kir with me. She is an important person in this town and they will do whatever they have to do to get her back safely."
"What about you?" asked Reed.
"I am an old woman, young man. I have had a good life. If it ends on this night, then so be it," Gleenas responded. She looked at the commander again. He was mumbling incoherently. Quietly she moved closer and placed her hand on his blond head. "Please tell him thank you for me."
"Thank you?" asked Archer.
Gleenas nodded. "For helping an old woman to her feet."
The captain looked confused. "I'll tell him," he said softly. He held the engineer with one arm as he pulled out his phase pistol with his free hand. He handed it to the old woman. "It's set for stun."
T'Pol watched as the Zeen clicked the switch to the "kill" setting. No one said a word.
TO BE CONTINUED.
Trip felt the familiar sting of the needle, as Dr. Kir injected the fluid into his arm. He knew in moments his body would start trembling uncontrollably as the drug took effect. With the green fluid coursing through his system, he was unable to sleep which was exactly its purpose. He hadn't been allowed to sleep since his arrival.
Trip turned his head slightly to look out at what he could see of the sky from his prison window. He wondered briefly if Enterprise was out there searching for him or if they even knew where to look. He closed his eyes tightly then opened them again as his body started to shake. The tests they'd run since his attempt at escape had been painful to say the least. He'd been stripped naked, strapped to the metal table, and hooked up to a strange device that sent jolts of energy coursing through his body at the push of a button. As he'd screamed in agony, Dr. Kir had simply watched, her attention moving from his face to a monitor that sat next to the metal bed. They'd also broken each finger on his left hand, one at a time. He hadn't been fed but water had been provided in small quantities.
Now he lay on the floor of his prison, Dr. Kir bending over him. He kept looking out the window as she slowly washed his body. She was surprisingly gentle as she ran the damp rag over him.
"You have a surprisingly high tolerance for pain, Commander," the doctor said as she carefully washed his healing face. "Are all Humans strong like you?"
"You'll find out soon enough," Trip muttered.
"You're still clinging to the hope that your friends will find you," Kir said with a cold smile. "You are a stubborn one."
Trip turned his head to look up at her. "They'll be here," he said.
Dr. Kir reached for his left hand and squeezed it. He cried out in pain at the pressure on his broken fingers. Then his body shook again from the drugs.
"So stubborn," whispered the Zeen as she wiped the tear that leaked out from the corner of Trip's eye. She motioned to the two med techs hovering by the door. They came over and held the engineer while Dr. Kir clothed him in a stark white pair of hospital pants. Then they pulled him over to the wall and clamped the metal rings around his wrists.
"Now to do something about this," said Dr. Kir as she ran her finger along the thick stubble that lined Trip's jaw.
"Why are you doing this?" asked Trip, watching her pull a bottle from her bag.
"Because we're not an evil people, Commander. We don't treat our prisoners like animals," replied Kir as she carefully lathered up the engineer's face. She lifted a razor out of her bag and began to shave along his jaw.
Trip stared at her in utter disbelief. "I would say you're definitely evil, lady," he spat.
Kir slashed across his cheek with the razor, laying the flesh open. She called for one of the med technicians who immediately came to her side. "Please show the Commander that his insolence will not be tolerated."
The Zeen took Trip's right hand and forced it open. He then proceeded to calmly break the little finger.
Trip gasped, shutting his eyes against the pain as Dr. Kir continued to slowly shave his face.
The room was dark except for the moonlight that filtered through the tiny window. Trip waited, hoping that Gleenas would return. She had said she'd visit him again and Trip found he needed her kind words. As he waited, his mind wandered back to his mother. In a way, the old Zeen woman reminded him of her. She had a warm kindness about her that made him feel safe. Trip squeezed his eyes shut, fighting the rush of tears. He didn't even want to think that he would never see his mom again.
"Are you alright, Trip?"
The engineer opened his eyes and looked up at the face that appeared in the window. He let out a shaky laugh. "I am now, Gleenas." The woman's face was shadowed but Trip thought he saw her smile.
"How are you?" Gleenas asked in a hushed voice.
"Today was pretty rough," he replied.
"What happened to your face?"
"Cut myself shaving," Trip replied with a weak smile.
"Oh, Trip. Your hands," gasped the old woman. "What did they do to you?" She sounded sickened.
"I'll be okay, Gleenas." His body trembled uncontrollably and he inhaled sharply, gritting his teeth.
"I've got to get you out of here."
"No, Gleenas. Dr. Kir would have your head if you tried anything," said Trip with as much force as he could muster. "My cap'n will be here very soon. Just keep visiting with me until he gets here. Please."
Gleenas sighed. "I won't leave you, Trip," she answered softly. "Never."
"There is no sign that the Zeen have discovered us, Captain," reported Sub- commander T'Pol from her science station.
"Good," said Archer. He turned to look at Malcolm. "Have weapons standing by just in case, Lieutenant," he directed.
Malcolm nodded. "Standing by, sir," he replied.
"Can you pick up Trip's bio-signs?" Archer turned back to his science officer.
"Yes," she looked up at him from her monitor. "He is alive."
Malcolm dropped his head momentarily in relief. Trip was alive. Now could they get him back? He looked up and exchanged a brief glance with Hoshi. The relief on the bridge was palpable.
Archer slumped into his chair. "Now where is Daniels?" he asked quietly.
"I'm here, sir."
Malcolm watched as Crewman Daniels stepped out of the turbolift. He shook his head, wondering at the man's impeccable timing.
The crewman moved to stand next to Captain Archer. "I've brought something with me, sir," he said as he held up a strange piece of technology.
"What is it?" asked Travis turning in his chair.
"A way to get to Zeenus Prime undetected, sir," Daniels replied with a smile. "It's a cloaking device."
Gleenas stepped up onto the ledge as she had on the previous seven nights. She looked through the screen over the window and saw Trip lying on the floor. She felt a wave of relief as it dawned on her he wasn't chained to the wall. Then her stomach dropped when she saw the fresh burns on his chest and stomach.
"Trip," she whispered. The young man didn't move he just stared vacantly at the ceiling. She called his name again.
"No more," he mumbled finally. "Please."
"Trip. It's me. Gleenas." She suddenly felt terribly afraid. His mental state had shown deterioration over the last couple nights but he had still been able to talk to her. He had told her all about his wonderful friends on his starship, about how much he cared for them and missed them. And she had laughed with him as he related his adventures, or as he called them, his misadventures. But this time was different; he didn't seem to know her at all.
"Mom?"
She hesitated as her heart sank. "Yes, Trip. It's me. It's Mom," she lied.
"I can't see, Mama," he said and his voice broke. "I'm scared."
Gleenas brushed at the tears that rolled down her cheeks. She knew she had to be strong for him. She watched in anguish as his body convulsed from the drugs and she silently cursed Dr. Kir's very existence.
"I know you're scared, Trip. But you have to be brave, okay? For me?"
Trip turned his head towards her voice. "I'll try."
"That's my good boy," Gleenas said gently. "Now I'm going to leave---."
"No, don't leave me!" Trip reached out toward her with his right hand, his little finger sticking out and horribly bent. "Please stay!"
She started crying as his weakened body shook again involuntarily. She tried to breath through her sobs, trying desperately to calm herself. "I'm going to get you out, Trip. I can't let them do this to you anymore. Now you just sit tight. Can you do that for me, Trip?"
He was breathing hard, fighting with all his might not to cry openly. Gleenas put her hands over her mouth to muffle her sobs. Finally he dropped his hand back down and nodded his head slowly.
"I'll be right there. You just hang on," she pleaded. Gleenas jumped down from the ledge and headed down the alleyway.
"Captain, I can retrieve the device alone," whispered Daniels. "Lieutenant Reed should go with you and the sub-commander."
Jon scowled at the crewman. The four stood in the deepest night shadows outside the research facility within which T'Pol had detected Trip's life signs. The engineering staff had successfully installed the cloaking device in Shuttlepod One so the away team had no problem landing near the building. Jon was thankful the structure was on the outskirts of the small town and not in the heart of it.
"Sir, with all due respect, I'd rather be with you when you find the commander," said Malcolm softy. "I think Crewman Daniels can watch out for himself."
Jon paused. Malcolm had wanted to bring down an army to rescue his friend but both T'Pol and Daniels had recommended against it, opting for a less conspicuous approach.
The captain looked from his armory officer to his former crewman then he sighed. "Alright, we'll meet you back at the pod," he directed to Daniels. The young man disappeared around the building.
"I doubt you need to be concerned with Crewman Daniels' safety, Captain," said T'Pol in a hushed voice.
"How many life signs do you detect?" asked Jon.
T'Pol held out her scanner and moved it in a slow arc. "There are twelve Zeen signatures all located in different sections of the building but only five in the vicinity of Commander Tucker," she replied. She looked up at him. "We should meet with little to no resistance."
"It appears they're not expecting a rescue," said Malcolm.
The three officers walked around the structure until they found a delivery entrance. Malcolm made quick work of the access panel with his phase pistol and they proceeded inside. The hallway in which they found themselves was illuminated only with low powered lighting.
"Captain, there is someone just ahead," whispered T'Pol.
Jon led the way, his phase pistol held tightly in his hand. He rounded a corner and saw a figure moving slowly only a few meters ahead of him. He stopped when the Zeen turned around.
"He said you'd come for him."
The figure moved toward him and Malcolm raised his pistol. Jon reached out and put his hand on his officer's arm, staying him. He shook his head when Malcolm looked at him.
T'Pol moved up on Jon's other side. "Who are you?" she asked.
The Zeen stepped under a light and Jon could see she was an old woman. Her posture was severely stooped but even so she stood at his eye level. Her hair was white and twisted into a bun at the base of her neck. She moved closer to him and he could see her eyes were cat-like, the pupils dilated in the dim light.
The old woman put up her hands to show she was unarmed. "I am called Gleenas," she said softly. "You must be the cap'n."
Jon couldn't help but smile. Only one other person said his title like that.
"Follow me, we must hurry," Gleenas said then she turned and proceeded down the hall.
Jon caught up with her. "Is Trip okay?" he asked.
Gleenas shook her head. "They've hurt him badly," she replied then she held up her hand. "Someone is coming. Hide in there." She pointed to a door. Jon, Malcolm, and T'Pol ducked into the closet. The captain could hear a male voice just outside.
"Gleenas, what are you doing here at this time of night?"
"Hello, Dr. Crewfer. I think I left the lid off the Trilpa solution. You know how fast it evaporates," the old woman said. "I just couldn't sleep for thinking about it."
Jon heard laughter.
"Well make it fast." The voice began to fade. "I'll see you in the morning."
The door opened and Gleenas peered around it at the officers. "He's gone."
All four proceeded down the hall. Finally they came to a heavy door and Gleenas stopped. She pointed at it.
"Captain, there are four Zeen in the adjacent room," whispered T'Pol.
Jon looked at Gleenas. "Do you have the access code to this room?" he asked.
The old woman shook her head.
"Shoot it, T'Pol," Jon directed. He and Malcolm faced the door of the next room, holding their phase pistols. T'Pol fired at the access panel and sparks flew. Jon heard shouting and the adjacent door opened to reveal two Zeen medical technicians who immediately fell to the floor as Jon and Malcolm fired. Another Zeen was just behind the first two and Malcolm fired again, sending the man into unconsciousness.
"Don't shoot!"
Jon watched as a female Zeen slowly stepped into the hallway, her hands above her head.
"Dr. Kir," spat Gleenas. The old woman walked up to Kir and slapped her hard across the face. "I should kill you for what you've done to him!" she seethed then slapped the doctor again.
Jon grabbed Gleenas' arm before she hit the other woman again. "That's enough, Gleenas."
Malcolm moved behind Dr. Kir and shoved her forward.
T'Pol was still working on opening the door but after only another moment, she pushed it open. Jon stepped in first then froze. Trip was lying on his side on the cold floor curled up, his knees pulled to his chest, clothed only in a lightweight pair of pajama pants. His body was shaking.
"Trip," Jon breathed. He moved to his friend's side and knelt down. He reached out his hand and laid it on the younger man's arm.
Trip pulled away. "No," he pleaded weakly.
"It's me, Trip." Jon tried to touch his engineer's arm again but again Trip flinched away. The commander started crawling, pulling himself across the floor. He stopped and curled up again, shaking violently.
"Trip?" Gleenas moved quietly up beside Jon. "I'm here, Trip."
The engineer turned his head toward the voice. "Mom?"
The old woman carefully knelt down beside Trip and gently stroked her hand through his hair. She whispered to him so softly, Jon couldn't make out the words. Gradually, Trip seemed to calm and Gleenas motioned to the captain.
"I've brought your friends to take you home, dear," said Gleenas softy. She continued to stroke Trip's hair.
Jon moved over to his engineer again. "Trip?"
The young man's head turned slightly. "Cap'n? Is that you?" he asked, his eyes searching.
The captain realized in horror that his friend couldn't see. "Yeah, it's me," he responded after swallowing the lump in his throat. "Are you ready to go home?"
T'Pol knelt beside Jon. "Captain, we must hurry."
"T'Pol?" Trip's voice cracked with sudden emotion. He reached out blindly with his left hand, all the fingers horribly bent and swollen.
The Vulcan hesitated then took the commander's wrist. "Yes, Mr. Tucker. I am here as well," she said. Jon could hear her voice break ever so slightly.
"You'll never get him out of here," said Dr. Kir. She stood in the doorway, Malcolm right behind her with his phase pistol in the small of her back. The lieutenant's eyes were locked on his injured friend.
A nearby blast suddenly shook the complex and a bright light flashed through the tiny window of Trip's prison.
Jon stood then bent to gently take the commander's arm. Gleenas took his other arm and together, they pulled Trip to his feet. His legs immediately gave out.
"I've got you," Jon whispered. He could now see the burns and bruises fresh on Trip's body and the gaping wound across his cheek. He gasped at how thin and weak his friend had become then he turned angry eyes to Dr. Kir.
"Did you do this to him?" asked T'Pol suddenly. She, too, had turned to the doctor.
Dr. Kir just stood in silence, her back arrow straight in defiance.
"Yes, it was her," seethed Gleenas. The old woman held Trip while Jon quickly slipped off his jacket. Together, they managed to put it on the engineer.
Malcolm grabbed the doctor and jerked her roughly out the door, his phase pistol still stuck in her back. T'Pol pulled her pistol and followed behind them with Jon and Gleenas, holding Trip between them, exiting last.
As the group slowly made their way back through the halls of the research facility, T'Pol struggled to maintain her Vulcan composure. She could hear the pain-filled moans from Commander Tucker from just behind her and the sound caused her great distress.
"Dr. Kir? Is everything alright?"
T'Pol looked around the Zeen woman to see a man standing several meters up the hall. T'Pol stepped up and placed her phase pistol along side Lieutenant Reed's in the doctor's back.
"Tell him everything is fine," the Vulcan said softly, gripping the other woman's arm with her free hand.
Dr. Kir hesitated, casting a glance out of the corner of her yellow eye at T'Pol. "Help me, Crewfer!" she shouted suddenly.
Reed pulled his weapon from behind the doctor and fired down the hall. Unfortunately the man moved at the same moment and Reed's shot hit the wall harmlessly. The lieutenant cursed angrily.
T'Pol turned her head to the captain. "We need to get out of here, sir."
Archer turned and lifted Commander Tucker quickly over his shoulder then he motioned with his head to proceed.
The group had just exited through the service entrance when the alarm went off. Dr. Kir struggled against Reed's grip, yelling for help at the same time. T'Pol was tempted to shoot the woman but she refrained, determining the doctor might work as a shield later. Her eyebrow quirked when Gleenas walked up and harshly stuffed a cloth deep into the doctor's mouth. T'Pol nodded at the old woman then grabbed Kir's free arm in her iron grip. She heard Reed chuckle softly.
As they moved through the deepest shadows along the building, T'Pol's sensitive ears picked up the sound of shouting. She could see the glow of fire against the night sky and briefly wondered what had happened.
"Where is your ship?" asked Gleenas. The old woman had remained at T'Pol's side.
"It is behind that distant stand of trees," T'Pol responded pointing at the line of trees several hundred meters away. Gleenas turned her head to look at the semi-conscious commander still draped over Archer's shoulder. T'Pol saw great sadness in the woman's yellow eyes and wondered at the engineer's ability to effect every soul with whom he came in contact.
"The town security force will be here in seconds. You'll need a diversion," the Zeen said in a hushed voice. "You won't make it across the clearing without one."
"What do you suggest?" asked the captain. They all stopped at the end of the alleyway.
"If you give me one of your weapons, I will take Dr. Kir with me. She is an important person in this town and they will do whatever they have to do to get her back safely."
"What about you?" asked Reed.
"I am an old woman, young man. I have had a good life. If it ends on this night, then so be it," Gleenas responded. She looked at the commander again. He was mumbling incoherently. Quietly she moved closer and placed her hand on his blond head. "Please tell him thank you for me."
"Thank you?" asked Archer.
Gleenas nodded. "For helping an old woman to her feet."
The captain looked confused. "I'll tell him," he said softly. He held the engineer with one arm as he pulled out his phase pistol with his free hand. He handed it to the old woman. "It's set for stun."
T'Pol watched as the Zeen clicked the switch to the "kill" setting. No one said a word.
TO BE CONTINUED.