INIQUITY
Chapter Three
Malcolm Reed shifted on his feet. He and the captain had arrived in the launch bay several minutes ago with the Priigels and now they waited for Trip and the sub-commander. The lieutenant had never been any good at making small talk so he was beginning to feel very uncomfortable. Raltus certainly didn't seem to suffer from a lack of topics to talk about, Malcolm noted. His eyes drifted to Raltus' beautiful wife. Rhea had remained oddly quiet. She looked almost distracted. Raltus paused from his constant chatter occasionally to look at his wife and Malcolm thought he saw a hint of anger in the old man's eyes. He still felt that there was something not quite right with the Kabaltan couple.
"T'Pol to Captain Archer."
The captain excused himself and moved to the comm. He pressed the button and responded.
"Captain, there's been a medical emergency involving Commander Tucker," came T'Pol's distant voice. "You're needed in sickbay."
"I'm on my way," replied Archer hurriedly. His expression conveyed his fear.
"I think you should also have the Priigels detained, sir."
Malcolm was startled and instantly concerned by T'Pol's announcement but he still caught the look exchanged between Raltus and his wife. Rhea seemed much more alert than she had been just minutes before.
Archer looked at the comm., a puzzled look on his face. "Understood," he said finally. He turned to face Malcolm and the Priigels. "Malcolm, would you please show our guests to my private dining room?"
"There's no need for us to stay, Captain," said Rhea. "I hope Mr. Tucker is alright. Tell him thank you for all of his help. Come Raltus." She took her husband's arm and stepped toward their shuttle.
Malcolm moved in front of the couple, blocking their path. He put his hand on the butt of his phase pistol in warning. "I think you know the way," he said.
Raltus looked angry then his face settled into a smile. "Of course, Lieutenant."
Malcolm followed them to the door. As he passed the captain, he looked up at him.
Archer nodded. "I'll let you know," he responded quietly to his armory officer's silent question.
Jon burst through the sickbay doors. His eyes immediately fell on the prone figure of his long time friend. Dr. Phlox hovered over Trip, his back to Jon. T'Pol stood just to the side at the foot of the bio bed watching.
"How is he?" Jon asked moving beside his first officer. He put his hand on the bed to steady himself as he saw Trip's face clearly. "What happened?" he asked. His friend was deathly pale and there were burns visible around his mouth.
"Someone attacked the commander in his quarters," replied T'Pol evenly.
"Who?" asked Jon.
"I believe it was Rhea Priigel, sir."
The captain tore his eyes away from Trip to stare at T'Pol. "That's impossible. Both Raltus and Rhea were with me."
"I'm unsure how she did it, Captain, but I am certain it was her."
"T'Pol. She couldn't have been with me and Trip at the same time," said Jon.
The Vulcan looked back at him with one arched brow. "You're thinking in human terms. Rhea Priigel is not human."
Jon turned back to his injured friend. "Okay," he relented. "Let's say you're right. Why would she attack Trip?"
"I believe she was trying to seduce him. There was a similar incident earlier while the commander was repairing their shuttle. Fortunately, Ensign Kelly interrupted before Mrs. Priigel could do him any real harm."
Trip stirred and moaned softly.
"Doctor?" asked Jon. He stepped up to the head of the bio bed just opposite Phlox.
The Denobulan ignored the captain and focused on his patient, quietly coaxing the commander awake. Trip struggled to open his eyes then finally succeeded. He looked around in confusion then grimaced.
"Don't try to talk, Commander," said Phlox gently. "I'll give you something for the pain."
Trip nodded his head, his eyes squeezed tightly shut.
Phlox picked up a hypo spray from the table near the bed and pressed it against Trip's neck, releasing its contents. The effects were immediate as the engineer struggled to remain awake. He looked up at Jon, his mouth moving to form words. The captain leaned in close.
"Rhea," Trip managed then his eyes closed and sleep took him.
"Is he going to be alright, Doctor?" asked Jon.
"I believe so, Captain. His system was flooded with a potent toxin, which rendered him powerless. I've identified the chemical make-up of this toxin and I believe it will slowly dissipate over the next several hours," Phlox explained. "He'll be quite weak until that time."
"What about these burns?" Jon asked looking at his unconscious friend closely.
"Ah, those are a bit of a mystery, Captain. I can only venture a guess as to how Commander Tucker received them. The inside of his mouth received the most serious damage but I'm confident I can regenerate the burned tissue."
Jon flinched as his imagination kicked into high gear.
"Are the burns a result of this toxin?" asked T'Pol. She had stepped up quietly beside Dr. Phlox, her dark eyes taking in Trip's condition.
Phlox shook his head. "I don't believe so, Sub-commander. If this Rhea woman assaulted Commander Tucker as you've said then I would guess her saliva burned his mouth. The toxin virtually flooded his system at one time. After I study it further, perhaps I'll be able to determine how it was administered." The doctor patted Trip's shoulder gently. "Or perhaps Commander Tucker will be able to fill us in when he awakens. Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to begin treating my patient's burns."
Jon grasped Trip's forearm and squeezed it gently. "Take care of him, Doc," he said softly.
Phlox smiled warmly. "Of course, Captain."
"I'm going to assign some security to sickbay," Jon continued. "Just in case Rhea wants to see Trip again." He gave his friend's arm one more squeeze then motioned to T'Pol to follow him out. "Lets pay a visit to our guests."
T'Pol and the captain met Lieutenant Reed outside the private dining room. He held a phase rifle in front of his chest, his hand on the trigger at the ready. Archer nodded at him then hit the button to open the door.
Raltus and Rhea sat quietly at opposite ends of the table. They both looked up as Archer entered. T'Pol followed the captain in then stood just inside the door, her hands behind her back. Reed closed the door and remained standing in front of it. T'Pol saw a member of Reed's security team blocking the entrance into the galley to her right. She turned her attention to the two Kabaltans at the table.
"How is Commander Tucker?" asked Raltus.
"He'll recover. No thanks to your wife here," replied Archer with barely controlled anger.
"My wife was with you, Captain."
"Don't try to deny it, Raltus. Trip identified her as his attacker."
Rhea sat quietly, her eyes focused on her hands where they lay folded on the tabletop.
Silence fell over the room.
"Captain, may I have a word with you in private?" asked the elderly man, breaking the quiet. Rhea looked up at her husband but he ignored her gaze.
Archer hesitated then nodded. He opened the door then motioned for Raltus to lead the way out. Reed followed them, leaving T'Pol alone with Rhea. The Vulcan looked again at the crewman who stood nearby, his rifle resting easily in his hands.
"How is Mr. Tucker, really?" asked Rhea suddenly.
T'Pol stepped forward, one eyebrow arched in surprise. "As Captain Archer stated, the commander will recover," she replied evenly.
Rhea simply nodded once then fell silent carefully studying her hands again.
"Why did you assault him?" asked T'Pol.
"I didn't want---," the Kabaltan began then stopped. She straightened her posture then looked at the other woman. "My husband is explaining everything to your captain," she said haughtily.
As if in response, the door slid open and the three men came back into the room. Raltus took his chair and looked across the table at his wife.
"I'll be back after I speak with Trip, Raltus," said Archer. He turned to Reed. "Stay here and watch them both closely, Malcolm," he said. He looked at T'Pol and together they left the dining room.
"What did he say?" asked T'Pol as she followed the captain out of the mess hall and into the corridor.
"He said that Rhea is very ill and that they were headed back to their homeworld to seek out treatment when their engines failed."
T'Pol cast a glance up at Archer. "A convenient explanation, Captain," she stated evenly.
Archer nodded. "I know," he replied.
"Did he say how his wife could be in two places at the same time?"
Archer nodded again. "He said that Kabaltans have the ability to project themselves somehow so that they can leave their physical bodies."
"And did he describe this illness?"
"Not in detail. Apparently his species has some sort of biological need to absorb the emotions of others in order to survive. Normally just being around another emotional being satisfies them. In Rhea's case, though, she requires more and if she doesn't get enough, she becomes violent."
T'Pol looked at the floor ahead of her. "Once on board Enterprise, I would think she would have been able to absorb whatever she required without resorting to harming the commander," she said.
Archer sighed. "Raltus had an explanation for that, too," he said. "Guilt and shame are two very strong emotions. He said he instantly felt them when Trip entered the launch bay. Apparently so did Rhea and she was drawn to him."
T'Pol looked up at Archer again. She noted the deep lines of concern across his brow and the firm set of his jaw. "He's hidden it well," she said quietly.
The captain nodded. "I should have seen it, T'Pol. I know Trip better than I know myself. I should have known the co-genitor's suicide would eat away at him."
"We need to determine if Raltus is speaking the truth, Captain. Perhaps after they have been dealt with, you and Commander Tucker can discuss the events concerning the Vissians further."
Archer's expression changed from concerned friend back to the determined captain. He looked down at T'Pol and nodded. "Let's get to sickbay."
He was moving through a thick fog, the clouds swirling around him like ghosts. He could hear someone calling to him from far away and he moved toward the voice. Then she was there looking at him and he felt himself go cold. She didn't approach him, though. Instead she looked worried, almost scared. She was speaking but he couldn't understand her. She turned her head then looked back at him, her brilliant blue eyes full of fear.
"Run!" she screamed.
He backpedaled and then stumbled. He could feel himself falling away from her but he kept his eyes locked on her face.
Trip awoke with a start.
"Easy Commander."
The voice was familiar. Trip closed his eyes tightly then re-opened them to see Dr. Phlox standing over him smiling kindly. He held a hypo spray in his hand.
"Sorry to have to wake you, Trip," said Archer as he patted Trip's shoulder. He left his hand there in support. "But we need to talk to you about what happened."
Trip nodded. His mouth was still tender but nowhere near as painful as it had been. He wondered briefly what medical magic Phlox had worked on him. He felt incredibly weak and the helpless feeling scared him but he looked up at Archer and forced himself to focus.
"It was Rhea, Cap'n," he said, his voice no more than a whisper. "She was in my quarters when I went back to get a report for T'Pol." He paused trying to remember the details. "She pressed up against me and pinned me so I couldn't move. Her eyes---I couldn't look away from her. Then it was like I had no strength left. I was so cold." He shivered and he felt Archer's hand squeeze his shoulder. "She kissed me---hard and it burned." He shook his head. "I'm sorry, Cap'n. I can't remember anything else."
"You did great, Trip," said Archer gently.
"What did she say happened?"
"She hasn't said anything actually. I spoke with Raltus and he says Rhea is sick," replied Archer. He proceeded to explain the illness to his friend.
Trip furrowed his brows. "So while she was with me in my quarters, she was with you at the same time?" he asked in tired confusion.
Archer nodded.
"Well she sure didn't feel like a projected image. She was physically there, Cap'n," Trip insisted groggily. His eyes drifted closed but he opened them quickly to see Archer smiling down at him.
"We'll deal with the Priigels, Trip. You just concentrate on getting better, okay?"
Trip managed a nod at his friend. As he slowly faded into sleep, he shivered, wondering if Rhea would be in his dreams waiting for him.
Continued
