^*^*^*CHAPTER 7*^*^*^
There was a rustling sound, a familiar sound. He had heard it before. After realizing the space wasn't dark around him, he slowly opened his eyes. He strained them for he wasn't used to the light. It was all a blur; all he could see were blue and green swirls. Lifting his head, he attempted to look around. His eyes started to clear up as he blinked hard and rubbed them. Eventually sitting up, he could feel a cool breeze on his shoulders. He looked down in confusion, he was on a hard cement bench and it had hurt his back. Shadows were endlessly swirling on the ground and he looked up. The sun was shining through the leaves and trees, the air smelled of sweet citrus.
"Hello? Is anybody there?" he called and staggered to his feet, but couldn't keep his balance well. Dizzy, he staggered back to the rock-hard bench and rubbed his temples. "Where the hell am I...?"
Taking a deep breath, he slowly stood back up. Everything became clear. He started to circle the area. There were trees and vines everywhere, the sky was blue as ever, not a cloud in sight. Trying to look through the leaves, he called out again.
"Hello? Is anybody...!"
*How is he, doctor?* he heard a murmur.
Trip whirled and looked behind him. The voice was familiar but no one was there.
*I'm afraid, Captain that he is...* another weak, but familiar voice.
"Who's there?" he tried to run towards both the voices, but tripped on his own feet and fell to the ground on his knees. His head hurt and he cringed in pain, trying to avert his eyes from the sun. There was no answer from the voices but he wouldn't give up. Pulling himself to his feet once again, he treaded towards the trees and peered through the branches. "Where the hell are ya?"
"Charles?" he heard a woman's voice. He spun his head around. She was smiling with curiosity and walked towards him. Confused, he looked her up and down; she looked familiar as well.
"Who were you talkin' to, Charles?" she reached out to touch him but he flinched and backed off. He still didn't recognize her and he was confused enough already.
"Charles? What's wrong?" she tipped her head in concern. His brow was sunk low, his eyes full of fear and thought. He tried to dig back into his mind. He knew this woman, those voices, and this place. But he couldn't name them. He didn't know how he got there. Suddenly, as he looked back into her eyes, with the worried look on her face, he remembered.
"Judianna?" he hesitated. She slowly tried to touch his arm to comfort him.
"Yeah, Charles..." she brushed his arm gently and he didn't flinch. He gazed around, at everything and remembered the woman, but still couldn't remember the place.
"Where am I?" he didn't look at her. She stepped in close and took his hand.
"Don't you know?" she was undoubtedly concerned, he could tell by the look in her eyes, the tone of her voice and the way she gently stroked his hand. He tried to remember, but couldn't.
"No. I don't. It's awf'lly familiar but..."
*Yes sir. I'll get to it as soon as possible. We'll find whoever did this to Commander Tucker no matter...* another murmur from behind him. He knew that one; he listened to it long enough to know. The voice sounded so close, even closer than Judianna's.
"Malcolm?!"
He turned and looked at her again. Her face was now pale and her eyes were dark and bloodshot. This terrified him even more and he looked down. There was blood on her abdomen and it dripped from her hands. Horrified, he backed up, tripping on his feet. He couldn't breathe, stammering through the vines and leaves, and fell down.
It was now dark. Looking around, he knew this new place but there was no Judianna. But it wasn't new at all. It was a corridor. He stood up slowly, catching his breath.
"The Enterprise?" he looked to the door next to him. It was his quarters. Looking down, he saw that he was in nightwear and they were soaked in sweat. Then, there was a murmur. He gasped and looked at the corner of the corridor. Now, he knew this very detail. Without hesitating, he quickly strode to the corner and saw... Tisk'rar. He saw the blade. Trip felt the sweat role down his face and neck and his stomach hurt. He looked down, lifted his shirt, and saw two distinct red gashes, splitting, still bleeding. With terror in his eyes, he looked at Tisk'rar, and he looked right back.
"Help!!!" he shouted. Wincing in pain from his stomach, he stumbled on his feet as he backed up, and fell to the floor. Then, a sharp pinch hit his neck.
*Trip...Trip...Can you hear me?*
There was the voice again. Not Malcolm's or the second voice.
Trip slowly opened his eyes that had dark, dismal circles around them. His skin was pale, and his throat scratched as he breathed. The walls were white but he could see through them, at shadows and lights. They were curtains, and there was a man bent over him, petrified.
"Jon?"
~TO BE CONTINUED…
