Forgot to add before Chapter 1:
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Enterprise characters. I am only writing this for fun, I am not making any money off of it whatsoever!
This is my first whack at a story like this but either way… enjoy (hopefully :p)!
^*^*^*CHAPTER 2*^*^*^
A scream. A girlish scream and a terrifying gasp.
"Hoshi?!" Trip puzzled, as he opened his eyes. She would've fell on the floor right then, but she kept her balance.
"Trip!?! What the hell are you doing!?!" she yelled trying to steady her breath once again. Trip sighed with relief and looked down the hallway where he saw the giant.
"Sorry Hoshi, I thought ya were somebody else!" he said to the ensign. It was just Hoshi, but what happened to Tisk'rar? Was it all his imagination?
"Who? Who did you think I was?" she asked, frustrated with him. "You scared me, Trip" Trip still gazed down the corridor in bewilderment.
"I know, Hoshi. An' I'm sorry" he turned his head to look at her "But I could just swear I thought I saw someone -" he shook his head, not sure if he should tell her who. The only sweat rolling down his face was from the temperatures of the ship, now. He was no longer as anxious as before.
Hoshi was calm now, more patient. She shook her head. "It's okay. Just don't do that again" she managed to chuckle. Trip smiled his charming grin once again and his eyes were now more tired. It was even later now, he spent a little too long in the mess hall gathering his thoughts - staring into a cup of tea then out into the depths of space and back and forth - to calm his senses. It helped him relax and he headed to his quarters to get back to sleep, but then he heard the strange sound.
That was too long ago. He was to be back on duty in just a few hours. His eyelids felt like weights on his face and, unfortunately, they looked like it too. Yawning, he stretched out his back a little then sighed deeply. He still glanced back down where he thought he saw Tisk'rar, but he was glad he wasn't there but he still confused.
"An' just wha' were you doin' up?" he asked her. She smiled with a hint of embarrassment and rolled her eyes at herself.
"I just... needed..." she shrugged her shoulders then let out "...a walk" and dropped her arms back to her sides.
"Hmm. couldn't sleep either, huh?" he replied and yawned again. "Well, some hot tea helps... as long as ya don't get the crap scared outta ya'self" he laughed and Hoshi laughed with him. They both obviously were very embarrassed by all this.
"Well, I'd better get back to sleep" Trip finally said. Hoshi nodded her head in agreement.
"Yeah, I should, too... I've got a lot of work to do tomorrow and I'm sure you do as well" she implied. Trip nodded his head. "Well, I guess... goodnight!" she said.
"G'night, Hoshi" he grinned and she walked the opposite way as he stepped towards his quarters, not without first looking down the corridor where he could have swore he saw the Veekician. He opened his door and went in and the door closed behind him.
Trip grumbled as he realized the environmental controls still bothered him - the heat was unbearable. His head hurt and it started to swim with the list of things for him to do in engineering in the morning - wait, it was already morning. Frustrated, he tried to shake the thoughts from his head. He took off his shirt, soaked with sweat, and threw it across the room, landing on a console. Dropping towards the bed as if he fell from the sky, he landed with a great, exhausted groan. Not bothering to put any sheets on, he looked at the time once more - 02:47 hours - and turned off the lights.
That still didn't stop his head from swimming. What did he see before scaring the living daylights out of Hoshi? He hoped it was just a hallucination but he couldn't totally deny what he saw. The blade, so detailed, it made his skin crawl. Everything felt so real. But maybe he really was that paranoid. Tisk'rar was a threat and the sooner he got the engine fixed, the sooner he'd be back on his home planet. The sooner he got to sleep, the more sleep he would get, making his work a little more easy. He slowly blinked, and eventually his eyelids finally kept closed, and so was his mind.
His mind was at peace, and he fell into a deep sleep.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
06:00 hours.
*Ow* Trip thought as the lights on the ceiling hurt his eyes and he winced hard. The alarm woke him, disturbing his sleep. He didn't mind waking up because it interrupted his nightmare, but he couldn't go back to sleep; duty called. Finally sitting up, his eyes getting more and more used to the light, he rubbed his neck. It was sore, probably from twisting and turning throughout the night.
His head bobbed as he started to fall asleep. He felt the cold blade across his neck, hearing Tisk'rar whisper the same, cold threat in his ear. Trip gasped and widened his eyes. It was just another nightmare. He sighed then stood up slowly, rubbing his eyes. His back was also sore and as he rubbed it with his other hand, he felt the sweat still rolling down his spine. It was still hot and he dreaded putting on his uniform. But now, he needed a shower. He yawned while taking off his leggings and turned on the faucet.
He wasn't sure how hot or cold he wanted the water but it felt good the way he usually had it. It was hot in there, but a good hot, feeling like it always felt - no colder, no hotter. The environmental controls apparently didn't change that for him so he didn't want to leave. He could stay there forever. Anything but go back to tedious, exhausting work in the heat, reminding him of why it was so hot - the Veekicians, Tisk'rar. If only all of this would be over, without working hours on the warp core. Yes, he loved being an engineer, but he was too tired to do it now. Sleep would be excellent.
*Oh, I wish I could just go back to sleep* he thought as he closed his eyes, feeling the hot water stream down his body. He was undoubtedly relaxed beyond words, his neck and back no longer tense, he lost track of the time. Hesitantly, he turned off the faucet. In the other room, he read the time - 06:41 - he was short on time, and he pulled out his uniform out of the closet.
Quickly, he pulled on his trousers and undershirt - too hot for the jacket just yet. Looking in the mirror, he combed his hair. Then, he stared at the mirror at his reflection, heavy eyes, and sweaty forehead.
"Watch your back" he said to himself and rolled his eyes with a wry smirk. He stood up, grabbed his jacket, and headed towards the door. Putting one arm through one sleeve, the door opened, and he walked out then put the other arm through the other sleeve. He headed towards engineering.
"Commander Tucker..." a voice said from behind him "... glad I ran into you" zipping up his jacket, he turned his head and recognized Ensign Cutler.
"What can I do for ya, Ensign?" Trip said. Cutler walked up to him and they started to walk simultaneously.
"Dr. Phlox needs one of his computers fixed in sickbay as soon as possible" she replied. Trip sunk his shoulders letting out a sigh, stopping at the turbolift.
"Alright..." he pressed the button to open the door "...what's wrong with it?"
~TO BE CONTINUED…
