Sorry I haven't updated in months & months. I ran out of time cuz I was busy with school etc plus I had a terrible case of writer's block J The ending is a little cheesy & perhaps clichéd but I don't care! I'm FINISHED!!!

Warning for violence

^*^*^*CHAPTER 10*^*^*^

Captain Archer, Lieutenant Reed, and Ensign Mayweather were now on the surface. As usual, they took a shuttlepod and hid it where no one would detect it. It was difficult, for the Veekicians had very advanced technology but luckily not advanced enough. The three walked nearly two miles to the city and began their search of Tisk'rar, and they got some tips from an ambassador on where they might find the captain that had disappeared as well. They mingled about the crowded streets full of Veekicians and a few Ziktolans here and there, still keeping each other in sight. This would be a difficult search but it was worth all the time and effort.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Dr. Phlox hummed as he examined his medical supplies and records, occasionally looking back at the bed where Commander Tucker lay, calmly sleeping. The commander's condition really had improved remarkably. It was the right thing for the captain to make him stay aboard the Enterprise because the commander simply wasn't ready to go, physically and, to a point, psychologically. Phlox admired the captain's judgments and sighed in contentment at the lazy day for the doctor. His creatures were making loud squeaking noises behind him and he grumbled.

"Oh all right, I'm coming! Just let me get your…" he stopped. A blow to the head knocked him to the floor with a thud. Trip stood there, breathing heavily, staring at the doctor flat on his back with his large belly heaving up and down. The commander caught himself smiling.

"Sorry, doc. I gotta do this. Hell, I'm not… even sure…" he was interrupted by his own hacking cough. His throat was sore from the dry air. He found his uniform and grabbed it.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

"Commander! I had no idea that the captain let you out of the infirmary," said a crewman. Trip supported himself against the doorway of the entrance to the shuttle bay. His hand clutched his side and his hair was soaked with sweat. "Commander, are you all right?"

"Stay right there!" Trip moaned. The crewman stopped in his steps, confused. Trip winced as he pulled out a phase pistol from his side and slowly limped towards him.

"Sir? What's going on?" he asked out of fear. Trip glared at him and tried to stand up straight. He groaned and fell to his knees as he felt the pain of his stretching muscles. The crewman tried to help him up but Trip pointed the phase pistol directly at his face.

"No, you're gonna stay as far away from me as you can as long as I can still see your face.  Now, move it," he grunted. The crewman stepped back, watching Trip stand up, crouching. "After I get in the shuttlepod, you're gonna go in there and release the bay doors on my command." The crewman sighed in relief.

"Alright, Commander. That's fair to me."

"Don't patronize me, Crewman. You try anything, it won't be worth it."

"Whatever you say, Commander," the crewman said coldly. Frustrated, Trip's blood began to impatiently boil.

"Get a move on!" he yelled, pointing his phase pistol directly at his head. The crewman stood motionless.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Archer and Mayweather stayed close as Reed had cautiously wandered off by himself. He thought about his friend, about his pain and his struggle. Even though he hadn't been really close with anyone, he felt closest to Trip. Trip listened, he gave advice, and he encouraged, and was a great commanding officer, no matter how many times he had questioned his orders.

Something bleeped under his coat and he quickly and inconspicuously hid in an alley. He checked to see if anyone was looking as he pulled out his scanner.

"What the hell?" he whispered to himself, grimacing. He heard loud footsteps and backed up against the wall, pulling out his phase pistol. Slowly, he peered his head around the corner eyeing another empty alley. There was a thump and another thump but he couldn't see anything. Then, to his surprise, something small and delicate was clawing at his leg. He jumped and pointed his pistol at it. It was some sort of ugly cat and he heavily sighed in relief. The cat meowed then hissed viciously as he tried to push it away. "Run along, filthy rodent."

Peering around the corner again to check again for the loud footsteps, the cat went silent. He rolled his eyes and turned his head back around.

"Stupid bloody… holy hell!"

"Hello, Lieutenant, its good to see you again!" the large man standing beside him in place of the cat bellowed, and laughed. Reed's eyes seemed to pop out of his sockets: It was the Veekician captain.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

"Do as I tell you, Crewman," Trip urged as his fingers trembled on the phase pistol trigger. "Now."

"I can't let you go, Commander. Not like this," the crewman talked calmly yet coldly. Trip had had enough. He shot the phase pistol and the crewman fell to the ground from the harsh stun. The commander hobbled over to the monitor where the bay doors would be released. He knew how to have them set without anyone there while he was in the shuttlepod. Soon, the controls were ready and he wiped the sweat from his forehead. He had to do something with the crewman to keep him safe and he turned around. The crewman was gone. His head whirled around to look for him, clutching his side that still hurt terribly.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

"You failed to tell me about your other abilities, Captain," Archer paced around the tent which he, Mayweather, Reed, the Veekician captain, and other fellow Veekician crewmates gathered to discuss what they should do next. "It might have been useful to us."

"Relax, Captain Archer," the large man began. "Only a rare amount of the population is capable of these transformations. Out of the ones who can, can barely control it for a decent amount of time and…"

"I don't care how so little of your population are capable of it, there's a mad man out there that we need to find and bring to justice and it turns out we've been practically on a wild goose chase this entire time!" Archer was infuriated. It scared him how all this time on the planet they could've been seeing Tisk'rar walk right by without them knowing it.

"Stay out of it, Archer," one of the Veekician officers said suddenly. "We will bring him to justice ourselves. There is no need for your help."

"You'll only get yourself into deeper trouble," the captain added. Archer walked up to his face and stared him coldly in the eyes.

"One of my crewmen was attacked by one of your officers. He almost died. Whether Tisk'rar is your responsibility anymore or not, I am not just going to let him roam free. Not on this planet. Not on my watch," Archer's voice was cracking with anger. He saw the image of his friend's helpless body in his mind again and he couldn't stand it.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

"Son of a bitch," Trip mumbled. His heart raced in his chest out of fear. *Where the hell could did he go!?* His head spun, bringing on a headache, and he felt weary.

"Nir eesk sha'vim lah toh!" something familiar growled and he twirled around, only to feel the blow of a huge fist. He lied on the floor, dazed in agony. His head was soon lifted, being pulled by the hair and he opened his eyes. It was Tisk'rar. He could smell the wretched scent and see the chilling smile.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

"Captain," Lieutenant Reed interrupted. Archer took a hold of himself and stood calmly.

"What is it, Malcolm?"

"Aren't you afraid for the commander on board, Sir?" Reed began. "Who knows where Tisk'rar might be hiding. Its probably unlikely but we should be careful." Archer thought over what his lieutenant had said. His heart skipped a beat. The commander might not be safe up there but surely they would've heard if something had gone wrong.

"Contact T'Pol and let her know," Archer ordered and stared back at the Veekicians distrustfully.

"Yes, Sir," Reed complied and pulled out his communicator.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

There was a sharp sting flowing throughout Trip's body as he was slammed against the shuttlepod. His feet were off the ground and Tisk'rar had him by the throat. He grit his teeth and squinted his eyes hard at the pressure as his face turned a purple-ish red. The giant snarled as he plunged his huge fist into the helpless man's stomach. Trip tried to hack but his throat lodged his breathing, and his bloodshot eyes lolled to the back of his head. Tisk'rar dropped him to the floor and he landed with a loud thud. Nearly unconscious, Trip coughed violently and blood spewed from his mouth. The pain was unbearable and he slowly wrapped his arms around his stomach, unwilling to defend himself. *This is it Charles* he thought and felt his head pound *this is really it*

"Get to your feet!" Tisk'rar growled. "Get up. Get up!" Trip still lied, barely aware of his surroundings anymore. He couldn't respond. His body was too weak and he could feel it die. He didn't care anymore. He just wanted to lie in peace. *To hell with this bastard*. His arm was nearly ripped from his socket as Tisk'rar pulled him up.

The giant grabbed a hold of his jaw with one hand and roughly clenched onto his shoulder with the other. The room was quiet now, except for the humming of the ship, and Tisk'rar stepped back. Trip didn't know what was to come next and he didn't care as long as the pain would soon go away. Everything was blurry, but he could see Tisk'rar's head go back, then plunge forward. It butted into his scull, square on the forehead. 

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

"Sir!" Reed exclaimed. "The commander is missing from sickbay!"

"What?!" Archer yelled.

"And the doctor was found unconscious. T'Pol is searching for him now."

"Dammit! We're getting the hell out of here," Archer ordered. He glared into the Veekician captain's eyes and stepped closer. "But we'll be back." 

The three men skirmished out of the tent as the Veekician captain stood silent with his men.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Trip's body was dropped to the cold floor like a rag doll. Impact after impact of the man's head seemed to hurt less and less. He felt numb about the whole thing, physically and psychologically. His eyes fluttered open at his attacker once more. He could see the hate, the bitter rage, the useless pleasure in seeing him dying in pain. *I now know what it feels like Judianna* Something was pulled from Tisk'rar's side and it shimmered. There was dried blood on it and the giant clenched it hard in his fist.

Trip slowly closed his eyes and patiently waited.

TO BE CONTINUED…