Chapter Three



Trip leaned his head back against the wall. "What the hell was that all about?" he asked, his voice strained.

He watched Archer pull a bucket over then drop to his knees at his side. The captain dipped the rag in then placed it on Trip's forehead. The engineer's face felt hot so he welcomed the cooling touch. He felt disoriented. As the captain gently bathed his face, Trip closed his eyes. Then the captain told him what Lotya had said.

Trip shook his head and opened his eyes. "You have got to be kidding me," he said incredulously. "With her?"

Archer nodded. "Our reward, Trip." He sat back and looked at the engineer closely. "I've got to get you out of here."

The captain stood up slowly and moved to the door, his steps halting. Trip watched as he peered out the tiny window.

"They dumped our gear a few meters away," Archer said, a hint of hope in his voice.

Trip took a deep breath then tried to get up.

"What do you think you're doing?" asked Archer, turning from the door. He moved to Trip then gently pushed him back down. "You need to rest."

"I need to help you," Trip gasped. He was sweating in earnest and Archer touched the back of his hand to the commander's forehead. He grabbed the rag from the bucket and bathed Trip's face again.

"I'm all right, Cap'n," Trip insisted, trying to convince himself as well as his captain. He pushed the older man's arm away. "Let me help you."

Archer sighed in frustration. "Okay, Trip," he relented. "Do you remember where you put your phase pistol?"

Trip hesitated. The pain from his shoulder and chest made it hard to think. "It's in my pack wrapped up in one of my shirts," he replied finally. "You think they found it?"

"These people aren't technologically savvy so if they did find it, I doubt they knew what it was."

Trip looked at his friend. He could now plainly see the red welts peppering his skin and the deep wounds on his chest still oozing blood. "Hey, you okay Cap'n?" he asked.

The older man's face softened. "I'm fine, Trip," he replied. "But you, my friend, are not. Travis should be arriving at the lake soon." He stood up then cast his eyes skyward. "We'll be back on Enterprise in no time."

Trip shifted against the wall then hissed. The pain was so intense he nearly passed out. He squeezed his eyes shut against the crowding darkness. Strong hands took his arms then Archer settled next to him.

"Hey, take it easy," Archer said gently.

Against his will, Trip leaned against his friend. "I'm sorry, Cap'n," he said.

"Get some rest, Trip."

"But we need to---."

"We're not going anywhere right now. You need to rest," Archer whispered.

Trip felt himself drifting then a thought struck him. "How come we can understand them?"

Archer's body shifted beside him. "What?"

"Lotya and the others. We don't have our UT and they certainly don't have translators."

"I don't know, Trip," replied the captain.

Trip heard Archer's voice in the distance saying something more to him but he couldn't quite hear him. Darkness loomed and he reluctantly let it take him.



"Trip."

The engineer awoke with a start then grimaced. Someone was calling to him. He felt Archer shifting beside him.

"Wake up, Trip."

Trip blinked. A woman's voice, he thought. His world slowly became focused and he turned his head and looked up into the face of Lotya. Her expression was strangely sympathetic.

"What---what's going on?" Trip managed. His head was throbbing almost as much as his body and it felt like his skin was on fire. By the shadows in the little hut, he realized that the sun was beginning to set.

"It's time for the ceremony, Trip," said Lotya gently. She waved her hand and two Triatan males stepped forward and pulled the engineer to his feet.

He couldn't help himself and he cried out in agony.

"Where are you taking him?" demanded Archer as he stood up.

Trip watched Tol grab his friend and pull his arms behind him, holding the captain captive. Archer's face contorted and he hissed in pain.

Lotya raised a hand and ran it down Archer's belly then she grabbed his chin and kissed him hard. "I'll return for you after the ceremony," she said. "Be ready for me." She looked at Tol. "Make sure you clean him up."

"Please, Lotya," pleaded Archer. "Where are you taking him?"

Trip saw the woman's face soften. "He will be sacrificed," she replied. "It is so written." She then left the hut.

"No!" shouted Archer frantically. He struggled against Tol's firm grip. "No, don't do this! Lotya!"

Trip looked at his captain, feeling oddly calm. "It's okay, Cap'n," he said. The two men took him from the hut. The engineer could hear the captain shouting behind him.

The commander's head was buzzing with pain as he was led back to the crowded village square. He was pushed through the crowd then shoved to the ground at the foot of the statue of Lotya. Four other men stepped from the crowd and picked Trip up, flipping him onto his back. He was lashed with leather-like straps between four stakes, lying spread-eagle.

Lotya stood hovering over Trip's head. She looked down at him. "This will be long and painful," she said softly.

Tol walked over and stood next to the engineer. He held a basket in his hands, which he carefully placed on the ground at Trip's side. He motioned and four women moved forward. They knelt beside Trip and started rubbing a sticky substance all over his exposed skin. The smell was sweet, reminding Trip of melons. His wounds burned as they roughly applied the liquid.

When they were finished, the four women blended back into the crowd.

The big Triatan picked up the basket at his feet and turned to Lotya. "Oh Lady of Kuraat, we humbly ask you to take this man in sacrifice so that we may have more years in your presence!" he shouted. He set down the basket then took the lid off. He reached in and pulled out a purple snake about four feet long.

The engineer gasped and frantically pulled at the bindings with all the strength he had left.

Chanting filled the air as Tol lifted the snake over his head. "Serpent of Kuraat, we offer you this off-worlder!" He placed the snake on the ground at his feet.

Trip craned his neck so that he could see the snake slither through the grass to stop near his left calf. He suddenly realized why the syrupy substance had been administered. The serpent was clearly attracted to it. Trip started shaking violently and he tried to will his body to be still.

The snake hissed then lifted it's front half, wavering back and forth. Then it bared its long fangs and launched itself at Trip.



Jon paced back and forth, occasionally stopping to pound on the door and the walls of his prison, his wounds completely forgotten. He could hear chanting coming from the square.

"Trip," he whispered helplessly, his heart hammering in his ears.

Then Jon stopped. A scream pierced the air.

"Trip!" the captain shouted. He threw himself against the door with all his strength. The door wouldn't give. He looked up and screamed for Lotya, his body trembling uncontrollably from anger and fear. He shouted again and again, driving his fists into the walls.

The door opened. "It is time to---," Tol began.

Without thinking, Jon lunged at the bigger man, knocking him backwards out the door. The captain landed on top of the Triatan. He plowed his fists into the man's face over and over, feeling the blood splattering his bare chest and face. He didn't stop. He drove his fists with all the strength he possessed until he couldn't swing anymore, letting all the anger and hatred for these people pour out of his soul. Then he rose and ran across the clearing to the pile of gear the Triatans had dumped.

Jon grabbed his pack and ripped through it. His phase pistol was gone. The cold fingers of fear clutched his heart and he reached for Trip's pack. He dumped its contents, feeling around in the dimming light. His hand struck something hard. The captain picked up the folded shirt and opened it to find Trip's pistol.

Like a berserker, Jon entered the square firing at will. He briefly wondered if the pistol was set on stun but then it didn't matter. His eyes found the still form of his friend lying tied on the ground. He screamed his fury and kept firing. Triatans dropped, victims of his barrage, while others ran screaming. The captain hit Lotya in the middle of the chest and she fell in a lifeless heap to the grass.

Then Jon saw the snake. The serpent struck at Trip, its fangs sinking into the engineer's thigh. Jon fired, hitting the creature and narrowly missing the commander. He raced forward and slid to the ground on his knees. He pulled the snake from Trip's leg then got to work on the straps that held the helpless young man. The engineer moaned softly.

"Hold on, Trip," Jon whispered. "Please, just hold on."

Running on pure adrenaline, Jon hoisted his friend over his shoulder and took off for the river, stumbling with the added weight. He prayed under his breath that their raft was still there somewhere. He heard shouting from behind him as he slid down the embankment. Trip slipped off his shoulder and fell to the ground. Jon grabbed Trip's arm, threw it over his shoulder and pulled him up, tightly wrapping his other arm around the younger man's waist. Trip's head lolled and he moaned again.

"Easy, Trip. I've got you," Jon said as his eyes searched the shore. Then he saw it. The little raft was torn and lay deflated against some rocks, the water lapping gently against the remains. Jon swore loudly.

The shouting was drawing closer. An arrow sprayed rock as it hit the ground only a meter away from Trip's feet.

Jon turned and fired several warning shots in an attempt to buy time.

"We've got to swim, Trip," the captain said finally. He tossed the phase pistol into the river then pulled the commander to the water's edge. They plunged in. Arrows zipped through the air overhead as Jon wrapped an arm around Trip's chest and swam out into the current. Trip shifted in his grip then fell still again.

Once out in the center, Jon reclined himself into a sitting position, putting his bare feet out ahead of his body. He held Trip and pulled the commander with him.

As they neared the narrow section where Jon had been caught before, the captain saw the netting, Triatans on either side of the flowing water. He rolled forward, said a silent prayer that Trip was lucid enough to hold his breath then dove. The river wasn't very deep so Jon had to skim the rocks on the bottom. Suddenly the river erupted around him and strong arms reached for him. The Triatans pulled at Trip and the captain lost his grip. He surfaced, entangling himself in the netting.

Then the darkening world lit up. Jon looked up just in time to see Shuttlepod One firing again, hitting the group of Triatans on the captain's left. He struggled to free himself as the shuttle came around again. Finding that he was only entangling himself more, Jon turned his head to search for Trip. He couldn't see the young man anywhere. His heart pounded mercilessly as he fought to get free. The world lit up again and more Triatans fell.

The shuttle set down on the top of the bank and the hatch opened. Jon watched as Lieutenant Malcolm Reed exited, firing his phase rifle as he moved. He was followed closely by five of his security team then Sub- commander T'Pol. The last one out was Travis, who quickly dropped a Triatan woman who ran at him with an arrow drawn. Travis remained up top while the rest of Jon's crew dropped easily down the embankment. Two crewmen waded out to the captain, gripping the netting to remain upright. Malcolm watched from the shore while the others covered the group in the water.

"Malcolm!" Jon shouted. "Do you see Trip?"

The lieutenant looked around then shook his head. "No, Captain!"

"Take two men to the village," the captain ordered. "Find him, Malcolm!"

The security officer nodded once then motioned to two of his team. They climbed up the bank and disappeared from view.



To Be Continued