AMICULUS



Chapter Two



The first thing that Jon noticed when he stepped through to the other ship was the smell of death in the air. He walked beside Malcolm who had his phase pistol holstered at his side.

"Commander Tucker's bio signs are in that direction, Captain," said Dr. Phlox who came up beside him. "As are the other eight."

"Lead the way, Malcolm," directed Jon.

The three walked up the corridor then turned a corner and stopped. There were two Medrans on the floor. Phlox didn't need to confirm what Jon already knew. The two men were quite clearly dead. They continued up the corridor, which finally ended at a large door. Lieutenant Anna Hess and three other engineers were busy at the entry panel.

"We've got it, sir," said Hess. She stood back and Malcolm moved forward, pistol drawn, and pushed the entry button.

"Oh Lord," whispered the armory officer. Jon stepped around him to look into the room. The walls were lined with bunks some of which contained people who now sat up and looked at them with wide eyes.

"Over there, Captain," said Phlox, motioning to their left.

Jon could feel his heart pounding mercilessly as he walked into the room. He could see a figure wrapped in a blanket on one of the bunks, blond hair visible above the covers. He knelt beside the bed and carefully pulled back the blanket exposing the face of his chief engineer.

"Trip," he gasped. Jon tried to swallow the lump that had formed in his throat as he reached out a hand to gently push back his friend's filthy hair. "Trip, I'm here. We're all here."

The commander opened unfocused eyes and stared at the captain without recognition.

"Doc?" asked Jon.

"He's running a high fever, Captain," replied Phlox. "We need to get him back to the ship."

"You're Captain Archer?"

Jon turned his head to see a humanoid male climb out of his bunk. The man was dressed in rags, his bare feet visible below pants that hung on his gaunt frame.

"Trip didn't think you were coming. He'd given up," continued the man. The others all rose from their beds and stood in a half circle around the other. They were all horribly thin, just skin covering bone.

"We thought he was dead," replied Jon.

"Captain, we must get Commander Tucker back to the ship immediately. I need to get his fever down," said Phlox tightly. The Denobulan stood. "Lieutenant Reed, can you and the others help these people to sickbay?"

"Of course, Doctor," replied Malcolm.

"Good," Phlox said as he knelt beside Trip again. He pulled the blanket back to reveal the commander's frail form. "We need a stretcher."

"No," said Jon. "I've got him." The captain gently lifted his friend into his arms, cradling him against his chest. He was shocked at how light Trip was and how much heat was radiating from his body. The commander mumbled something in delirium.

"Easy, Trip," soothed Jon. "Take it easy. You're safe now. I promise."



As the eight survivors were settled onto bio beds by med technicians, Malcolm watched in stunned silence as Dr. Phlox cut away Trip's clothing. He felt physically ill at his friend's appearance, ribs and hipbones jutting out from pale flesh. Malcolm glanced up at Archer who stood gripping one bony hand in his, the shock plain on his ashen face.

"Dear God, Trip," the captain gasped as Phlox carefully covered the engineer with a sheet.

"Please step aside, Captain," directed the doctor. But Archer remained frozen, staring down at the commander. "Captain, please," Phlox said with more force.

Archer released Trip's hand then backed away to stand next to Malcolm.

"How is he?"

Malcolm turned to see Sub-commander T'Pol appear at Archer's elbow. Her usually unreadable features showed very briefly her own shock at the commander's gaunt form before she regained her control.

"We don't know yet," replied Archer. He cleared his throat then looked down at T'Pol. "What did they find on the ship?"

"A total of fifteen bodies. We have yet to ascertain what exactly happened."

"I can tell you that."

They all turned to the man who'd spoken to them on the hauler. He was lying propped up on a bio bed, a tube inserted in his arm.

Archer moved to his bedside. "Please do," he said with a nod. "Mr.---?"

"My name is Saltar Adremis. I'm from the Zor system as are the others. We were no more than slaves on that ship, Captain. My ship. If it hadn't been for Trip, we would be still." Saltar gazed over at the commander. "The Medrans drugged him. Kidnapping isn't usually their way but they needed an engineer and Trip fit the bill."

"You said the ship was yours?" asked T'Pol.

"Yes. The Medrans were pirates. They boarded us when we were picking up cargo in Koltas about six months ago," Saltar paused. "Why didn't you come for Trip?"

"They destroyed the building. We thought he was dead," said Malcolm from where he stood at the foot of Trip's bed.

Saltar nodded. "He wondered why. He did hold out hope for a long time, Captain."

"What happened to him, Saltar?" asked Archer.

"He was brought aboard the hauler, the Kapeer, and dumped in with all of us in our shared quarters. Like the rest of us, he was made to work long hours day in and day out. We were given small amounts of water throughout our shifts but only two meals a day and they were only dried bread and broth." Saltar smiled sadly. "He always split his rations with us. He said we'd been there longer and that he could stand to lose a few pounds anyway."

Archer shook his head and looked over at his friend with affection. "That sounds like Trip," he said quietly.

"They never broke his spirit, Captain. All the punishment he took----," Saltar's voice faltered suddenly and he looked down.

The captain placed a comforting hand on the man's shoulder.

"They were always careful not to break any bones. That way he wouldn't lose time away from his job," explained Saltar. He expelled a breath. "Anyway, Trip started hatching a plan almost immediately."

"Depressurize the ship," stated T'Pol.

Saltar nodded. "He had to work slowly since he was always being watched but he somehow did it. Five days ago, though, we got word that all of us except Trip were going to be replaced. We'd gotten too weak to do our jobs. Three had already died. Of course we all knew we would never be released so Trip decided he had to take a big risk. He overrode the door controls and snuck out during the night to finish the work. He was caught as he was heading back and punished severely by Toss, Kapeer's commanding officer. The next night, the red light went on above our door signaling that the outer corridor had lost pressure. Trip said that the distress beacon would go on-line automatically so then it just became a waiting game." Saltar looked over at the commander again. "He just got sicker and sicker as the hours passed and we were helpless to do anything for him."

Malcolm turned his attention back to Trip. He shook his head in wonderment at what his friend had endured and said a silent prayer that Phlox had some medical magic up his sleeve that would save Trip's life. He wasn't about to mourn a second time.



The sounds and the smells were familiar, oddly comforting to him.

"Commander?"

Trip knew that voice. But Dr. Phlox wasn't onboard the Kapeer.

"Trip? Come on Trip. Time to wake up."

Another familiar voice, but how, Trip wondered. He struggled to open his eyes but they wouldn't cooperate. He felt a warm hand take his and squeeze it gently.

"Come on, Trip."

Trip tried to force his eyes to open again and this time he succeeded only to have them slide shut again. Maybe he'd just sleep a little longer, he decided.

"Open your eyes, Commander. That's an order."

"Cap'n?"

The hand squeezed his again. "Yes, Trip."

The engineer opened his eyes then squinted against the bright light. "Where am I?" he asked breathlessly.

"You're safe on Enterprise, Commander," said Phlox. His face hovered into view and Trip managed to make out his features.

"Hey Doc."

"Welcome back, Trip," said Archer. "You gave us all quite a scare."

Trip turned his head and squinted up at his friend and commanding officer. "Saltar and the others?" he asked, his voice raspy to his own ears.

"They're all fine. I think Travis and Hoshi have them in the mess hall for lunch but I'm sure they'll be anxious to see you."

Another face appeared in his peripheral vision and Trip turned. "Hey Sub- commander."

T'Pol stepped forward. "Commander. I trust that you're feeling better?"

"I think I'll live," Trip replied with a weak smile. He looked at Archer. "How long have I been here?"

"Just over a week," the captain responded. "It was touch and go there for a while but thanks to the good doctor here, you're on the mend."

"Thanks, Doc," rasped Trip. He swallowed. "I'm awful thirsty."

To his surprise, T'Pol picked up a glass from a tray next to the bed and carefully held the straw to his lips. She reached down and lifted his head so that he could drink.

"Not too much, Sub-commander," warned Phlox.

T'Pol pulled the straw away and returned the glass to the tray.

"Thanks," said Trip.

The science officer just tipped her head in acknowledgement and clasped her hands behind her back.

"We thought you were dead," said Archer, his voice catching. He still held Trip's hand firmly.

Trip squeezed his eyes shut then opened them again. "The last think I remember before waking up on the Kapeer was entering that building in Koltas. After that, the lights just went out."

"They blew the building. They lead us all to believe that you were killed in the blast," explained Archer. "For two months we thought you were dead."

"I'm sorry."

Archer smiled down at him. "For what?"

Trip shrugged weakly then fell silent for a moment. "What about my family?" he asked suddenly.

"Don't worry. I've already gotten word to Admiral Forrest. You're family knows you're alive. I think Hoshi's received dozens of messages for you already," Archer smiled. "I was able to speak to your mom personally just last night. She made me swear to keep you on Enterprise for the rest of the mission. No more away missions for my son, Jonathan, she said."

Trip chuckled then coughed softly.

"My patient needs his rest, you two. He's still a very sick young man," chimed in Dr. Phlox.

Archer put Trip's hand down at his side then patted his shoulder. "I'll be back later to check in on you," he said quietly then he paused and smiled gently. "Those were two very rough months, Trip. Don't ever do that to me again. Do you understand?"

Trip grinned weakly. "Aye, Cap'n," he replied.

"I would recommend you follow the doctor's every request, Commander. To state the obvious, Lieutenant Hess is a very capable engineer but she is not you," said T'Pol.

"Oh no need to worry, Sub-commander. Mr. Tucker will follow all my orders to the letter or I will not release him from sickbay," grinned Phlox. He then pressed a hypo spray to Trip's neck and the engineer's world went dark.



T'Pol watched as the commander slipped into sleep. She was still quite distressed by his outward appearance, the darkness around his eyes, the hollowness of his cheeks, and the pallor of his skin. She noted how starkly his collarbones stood out and how thin his shoulders appeared. She knew it would take a very long time for Tucker to return to his normal level of physical fitness. She wondered briefly how long it would take for him to recover his former level of mental and emotional fitness as well.

"I should go check on our guests," said Archer, his gaze still settled on the commander.

"I will accompany you, Captain. There is something I wish to discuss," said T'Pol.

Archer patted Tucker's shoulder again. "Sleep well, Trip," he said softly. "Take good care of him, Doc."

"Of course, Captain," replied Phlox with a wide smile.

"What did you want to talk to me about, T'Pol?" asked Archer as they walked out of sickbay side by side.

"I spoke with Saltar and the others this morning. They would like to return to their home world in the Zor system. I have calculated that it will take us seven days at warp 4.5 to accomplish this."

Archer nodded. "I'd like nothing more than to return these people to their homes, Sub-commander," he replied.

"I will give the coordinates to the helm then, sir."

"Was there anything else?" asked Archer.

"Saltar told me about a planet in his system that sounds very similar to Earth. If I recall correctly, the commander is quite fond of---camping, is he not?"

"Trip loves to camp. What are you getting at?"

"Commander Tucker will need considerable time for recovery and after the last two months, I am quite certain the crew is also in need of some time to recover. They were all quite disconcerted by Mr. Tucker's supposed death."

"Are you suggesting shore leave?" asked Archer.

"Yes, Captain."

"Well I'll have to clear it with Phlox, of course, but I think that's a great idea," smiled the captain. "I assume you'll be joining us?"

"Unlike the commander, I am not overly fond of---camping, Captain," T'Pol replied. She paused for a moment. "But I am not entirely opposed to the idea."

"Good. I'll see what Phlox thinks when I check in on Trip this afternoon then."

"One more thing, Captain," continued T'Pol. "I received word back from Pilo Medra just before I joined you in sickbay. They're sending out a ship to pick up the Kapeera. The government also assured me that they would investigate the piracy and put a halt to it. They offered their sincerest apologies to the commander and to the others as well."

Archer sighed. "That's good news, Sub-commander. Very good news."

T'Pol left the captain and went to her quarters, choosing meditation over her mid-day meal.

As she entered, her eyes fell upon the candle she had lit two months ago. She had chosen to keep the flame burning until she was certain Commander Tucker would survive. Now she stepped over to it, cupped her hand behind the flame and blew it out. An odd sense of calm washed over her as she watched the tiny plume of smoke rise then slowly dissipate in the air. Her life was in balance once again.



To be continued