Chapter Four



Trip stood on the beach, the sand warm beneath his bare feet. A tropical breeze blew through his hair and he closed his eyes as it kissed his face. The air smelled of salt. He opened his eyes to find his old girlfriend, Lisa standing before him wearing nothing but her beautiful smile. Lisa reached and took his hand. Side by side they waded into the warm water. Trip pulled Lisa close to him and the engineer could smell the perfume on her body. Soft gentle hands caressed his back and soft lips pressed against his. He was so tired. All he wanted was to fall asleep with Lisa's arms around him. He was safe with Lisa, warm with Lisa. Trip let his mind drift and his body relaxed into sleep.

He broke the surface, sputtering and coughing, gasping for air. Trip looked around. Lisa was gone and he was still in the river drifting downstream. His body was so sluggish it was hard to stay afloat. He'd fallen asleep again and he was still very alone and very cold. Trip tipped his head back and his eyes found the two moons. He had no idea how long he'd been in the water.

As he floated, Trip's world became only the numbing cold and the sound of rushing water. He decided that he much preferred being numb than being in pain. He couldn't quite remember why he had been in pain he just knew that he had felt it and very recently. Trip thought about Lisa. Yet another relationship he'd let slip through his fingers. He closed his eyes and relived his moments with the dark-haired woman. She was warm and strong, her touch so gentle and reassuring. Trip felt loved with Lisa. And he felt safe with Lisa. But space was his first love and he'd broken Lisa's heart when it called for him.

In some detached part of his mind, Trip suddenly realized something was different. His world had changed. In the near distance, he could hear a rumbling.

The commander hit the rough water quickly, wave after wave crashing over his head without mercy. He struggled to inhale air that was no longer there, his lungs burned for oxygen that no longer existed. Trip's mind was a whirl of images, his parents, his brother and sisters, his friends, and his engines. His heart ached to see them all again. As his mind slowed and his lungs failed, Trip quit struggling. He saw a brief flash of sunlight over him then it was gone and he succumbed to the cold darkness.



"Captain. Captain Archer."

Jon jerked awake then sat up in his chair and looked at T'Pol. The bandages across his chest pulled under his uniform and he flinched.

"Captain, you should be resting," T'Pol said. "In your quarters."

"I'm fine, T'Pol," Jon replied. He blinked his eyes to clear them then tipped his head to each side trying to stretch out the muscles. "Any news?"

The Vulcan stepped further into the captain's ready room and stood before him, her hands behind her back. "There is no sign of the village."

"How can a whole village just vanish?" Jon stood up and walked to his view port. Triat IV hung suspended in space below him. "What did the governor have to say?"

"He is claiming to have no knowledge of Kuraat," replied T'Pol.

Jon dropped his head. "Of course," he said.

The science officer appeared beside him. "With the governor's permission, I downloaded the Triatan historical archive. There is a very old legend you may find---interesting."

"Go on."

"The legend concerns a group of ancient Triatans who worshipped an evil deity. One night, thousands of years ago, they failed to make a sacrifice to this---god. All the worshippers were then exiled to a village."

"Let me guess. Kuraat," Jon said.

"Yes. Their punishment was to serve the every need of this god in her world. Their sentence was for eternity."

Jon turned to look at T'Pol, his brows furrowed.

"The legend also states that only once, the village would appear to the mortal eye for exactly thirty-six hours. During this time of---awakening, a sacrifice would be made to appease the god. This sacrifice would take place the night before Kuraat---faded away again."

"The Ceremony of the Fading," Jon said. "Lotya called it that."

T'Pol nodded. "There is one more thing," she said then paused. "The sacrifice had to be a male off-worlder---with fair hair."

Jon was stunned. "Trip," he said.

The Vulcan tipped her head slightly and arched a thin eyebrow.

"But that's---that's impossible, T'Pol."

"I would normally agree with you, Captain. The fact is, however, that we all saw the village and Commander Tucker was very nearly sacrificed."

Jon shook his head in disbelief. "So Trip and I got tangled up in some Triatan legend with an evil deity?" He turned back to gaze at the green and blue world out his view port. He reached a hand up to touch his chest, feeling the very real bandages under the fabric of his uniform.

"It would appear so, Captain."

"It all sounds so---well, unbelievable. If Trip wasn't fighting for his life in sickbay, I'd say we all needed to have our heads examined."

The Vulcan turned to go then she paused. "How is the commander?" she asked.

"Phlox still has him on life support until the venom runs its course. He says Trip's lucky the snake only bit him twice."

"But he will recover?"

Jon looked at his science officer, noting the concern in her dark eyes. "He's not out of the woods yet but Dr. Phlox says his chances are good."

T'Pol straightened her posture. "With your permission, I will update the crew. There have been numerous inquiries concerning his condition."

Jon smiled. "Permission granted. Thank you, T'Pol."

"Captain." She nodded her head then turned to go.

"Oh T'Pol? I've never thanked you and Malcolm for saving his life."

"Your gratitude is not necessary, Captain. Neither the lieutenant nor I was prepared to lose our chief engineer."

He watched his science officer leave the room then turned back to his view port. Because of some ancient alien legend, he'd very nearly lost the person he'd come to think of as a little brother. T'Pol had found Trip's fading bio signs, but by the time the shuttle's search light had illuminated the engineer, he was submerged, his body caught between two rocks. Jon thought he'd never be able to get that picture out of his mind.

Malcolm and T'Pol had performed CPR during the flight back to Enterprise. Then Phlox had swept Trip away to sickbay.

Jon turned and sat back down in his chair. He shook his head. Phlox had fought so hard for Trip. Once the commander's core temperature had approached normal, the effects of the venom took over and Trip's muscles had gone into violent contractions. Even though he was unconscious, Trip's face had still twisted in pain. His body temperature had shot past normal and his breathing became so labored Phlox had been forced to put the young man on life support.

The captain leaned forward in his chair, his elbows resting on his thighs. He'd stayed at Trip's side for hours, sitting next to him and talking to him. Finally, Phlox had ordered the captain to his quarters to sleep. Knowing sleep would elude him Jon had found himself in his ready room.

Jon expelled a long breath. Now it was just a waiting game.

Looking for a distraction he turned to his keyboard and tapped several buttons. The records T'Pol had accessed from the Triatan archives appeared on his screen. He scrolled down, scanning the data as it passed. Then he stopped. There on the screen was the word 'Kuraat'. He requested the closest translation then sat back as it appeared.

The word meant 'Hell'. Jon laughed bitterly.

He stood and left his ready room, heading back to sickbay to check in on his friend.



When the captain entered sickbay, Dr. Phlox turned around and gave him a disapproving look.

Jon put up his hand. "I don't want to hear it, Phlox," he said firmly.

The Denobulan just shook his head in mild frustration then turned back to his patient.

"Is there any change?" asked Jon softly as he moved to the side of the bio bed. He looked down at Trip, expecting to see him still hooked up to every piece of equipment Phlox had in the room. Instead, the young man looked peaceful, his chest rising and falling on its own. "Doc?"

Phlox smiled at the captain. "The commander has an amazing will to live," he said.

A wave of relief nearly buckled Jon's knees. "You mean he's gonna be okay?"

The doctor nodded then gazed down at his patient with affection. "All of his vitals have returned to normal. His temperature is still slightly elevated but I'm treating him with antibiotics to fight the infection." He pulled Trip's sheet up and gently tucked it under the engineer's chin. "That venom was vile, vile stuff. I can only imagine the pain he experienced."

"But he will fully recover?"

"Yes, Captain," replied Phlox with a wide grin. "Commander Tucker is going to be just fine."



"You're supposed to be resting."

Trip looked up from his monitor and smiled sheepishly at Archer who stood at his door. "Hey Cap'n. What brings you down here?"

"Just checking in on my chief engineer," replied Archer. He walked in Trip's quarters then reached over and switched off the monitor.

"Ah, come on, Cap'n. I'm bored."

"I don't care, Trip. Doctor's orders."

"But I'm feeling a lot better, sir. Can't you talk to the doc? Let him release me to light duty?"

The captain shook his head. "Sorry, Trip. Three days ago you were at death's door. You're lucky he released you to your quarters."

Trip sighed but nodded.

Archer moved to Trip's bunk then sat down.

"You okay?" asked the engineer. He turned his chair around so he was facing his friend. "You look like you've got something on your mind."

The captain looked up at him through slightly squinted eyes. "We've known each other a long time, haven't we Trip."

Trip nodded. "Almost a decade now," he replied.

Archer leaned forward, his elbows on his thighs. He contemplated his hands and remained silent.

"Cap'n?" urged Trip.

Archer exhaled a long breath. "When Lotya took you away, I lost it Trip." He looked up and met Trip's eyes. "I mean I really lost it."

"Cap'n---," Trip began.

The captain shook his head. "Let me finish," he said then returned his gaze to his clasped hands. "When I heard you scream in pain, I went crazy. I ran into that square firing at will. I didn't even check to see if the phase pistol was on stun. I didn't stop to think that the villagers couldn't die, I just fired and kept firing until I could get to you." He paused and swallowed hard. "And I can't say I'm sorry I did it either."

Trip snorted softly. "Neither can I," he said.

"Trip, I've never been any good at---," Archer started then he stopped still focused intently on his hands. "I've never had a real brother---."

"You don't have to say anything, Cap'n."

Archer looked up and met Trip's eyes again for a long moment. "No, I guess I don't," he said with a warm smile. They fell silent.

"Well I'm getting hungry," Trip proclaimed breaking the quiet. "How about you?"

The captain stood up. "Feel up to joining me in my private mess?"

Trip grinned. "I think I can manage."

Archer moved to Trip's side and slung a companionable arm over his shoulders then they stepped to the door.

"You know, I've been thinking, Cap'n," said Trip as the door slid open.

"Oh, oh," replied Archer teasingly. "That can only mean trouble."

Trip looked at him sharply then the two men walked side by side down the corridor.



THE END