Chapter Three
"Anything, Hoshi?" asked Jon as he paced back and forth in front of the ensign's station.
"No, sir."
"Where are they?" The captain wandered back to his chair and sat down heavily.
"Sir!" said Hoshi suddenly. "It's Lieutenant Reed!"
Jon hit the comm. "Lieutenant, what the hell is going on down there?"
"We have a problem----,"
"I know, Malcolm. Now what's going on? Have you found Trip?"
"I'm going to need some assistance, sir. When I returned to the spot where the commander fell, there were three more Xindi."
"Where's T'Pol?"
"I don't know, Captain."
"Where are you now, Lieutenant?"
"I'm back in the main room, sir, trying to blend in as it were."
"Stay there. I'm on my way with some back-up."
"Understood."
Jon stood from his chair and looked at Travis Mayweather. "Ensign, you have the bridge."
Trip found himself lying face up in shallow cold water. He sat up quickly and looked around. Wherever he was, it was dark. He looked up to see a shred of light coming from above his head. He remembered falling but he'd slid at an angle a ways first before the bottom had dropped away.
The Xindi.
The engineer stood up and squinted his eyes in an effort to penetrate the gloom. Then he was slammed back against a rocky wall and the breath left his body. Gasping, he made out the features of his attacker who had him pinned. The Xindi's face was twisted in rage.
Quickly gathering his wits, Trip brought his knee up hard into the area he hoped was the alien's groin. The man backed away immediately. Trip could see the dark shape moving and he could hear the Xindi's feet slopping through the water. The engineer still gasped for air so he stood unmoving with his back against the wall. He watched his adversary's every move.
"Give it up, Human," hissed the Xindi. "Your species is no match for mine."
"Then why murder seven million of us if we're no threat?"
The alien made no reply. Instead he rushed Trip again and knocked the commander's legs out from underneath him. The engineer fell with a splash into the water, grunting in pain as his knee twisted. Trip's hand hit something hard and he closed his fingers around it. As his enemy kicked the engineer brutally in the side, Trip yanked the Xindi rifle from under the water and swung it awkwardly, making a connection with the other man's kneecap. The alien yelped out and stepped back into the dark shadows.
Trip struggled to his feet, his hand still clutching the alien weapon. His knee throbbed but it held his weight. Movement followed by a splash drew the engineer's attention to his right and he turned his head.
"T'Pol!"
The Xindi struck from the left, sending the commander to the ground again. The two men rolled, both caught up in a struggle for the rifle. Trip lost his grip on the weapon but managed to use his legs to push the alien off him. There was the sound of rocks falling then a blood-curdling cry for help.
Trip stood and turned to T'Pol. The Vulcan was climbing to her feet unharmed.
The engineer then followed the cries for help into the darkest shadows. "Where are you?" he asked.
"I'm down here!"
Trip could hear and feel the water rushing by his feet. He lowered himself to his hands and knees then crawled tentatively forward, following the flow of the water. When his hands hit a small rock wall, he stopped. He could hear the Xindi just below him. Moving carefully along the little wall, he came to the place that had been broken away. Water rushed over his hands and he could hear it falling over the edge. The commander lay flat on his stomach and reached down until his hand found the alien's wrist. He closed his fingers around it.
"Please don't let me fall!" pleaded the Xindi.
T'Pol suddenly appeared beside Trip. "My scans do not detect a bottom," she said quietly as she held her scanner in front of her.
"I dropped the rifle when I fell! I didn't hear it hit anything!" yelled the alien. "Please help me!"
Trip hesitated.
"Commander," said T'Pol. "The pilot of the probe was reptilian, not humanoid. You know that."
"He still has Xindi blood flowing through his veins," Trip replied.
"Please don't let me fall!"
Trip closed his eyes and his fingers loosened their grip.
"It is your decision, Mr. Tucker," said T'Pol calmly.
"Please!" cried the Xindi frantically. "I'm slipping!"
"Damn it!" hissed Trip. He closed his fingers around the alien's wrist and reached down with his other hand as well. "Help me, T'Pol."
As Trip kept a firm hold on the other man and began pulling him up, T'Pol held on to the engineer. Together they managed to bring the Xindi out of the pit.
The man rolled away from the edge and sat up. "Thank you," he said breathlessly.
Trip remained silent.
T'Pol heard a low buzzing then braced herself when the Xindi reached into his pocket and pulled out a device.
"Teegar."
"Have you got the Human?"
Even though it was dark, T'Pol could still see the Xindi looking at Tucker. She reached down and hooked her hand under the commander's arm then pulled him to his feet.
"No. He and the Vulcan got away into the tunnels," said Teegar.
"We're coming down to help you find them. We can not let the Human get away."
"Understood," replied Teegar. He shoved his communicator back into his pocket. "Go!"
T'Pol gripped Tucker's arm with one hand while she pulled out her scanner with the other. "This way, Commander."
Tucker hesitated, his eyes locked on the face of his enemy. "Why do they want me?" he asked.
"I honestly don't know! Now go before I change my mind!" replied Teegar.
T'Pol pulled Tucker down a dark tunnel, her scanner still held in front of her. Only after they'd walked several meters did she release her grip on the commander. He walked beside her in silence, clearly favoring one leg.
"You're injured," said T'Pol.
Tucker shook his head. "Just twisted my knee a little. It's alright."
"Let me know if you require assistance."
Tucker nodded. "Sure thing," he replied absently.
Keeping an eye on the engineer, T'Pol pulled out her communicator. "T'Pol to Lieutenant Reed."
"Reed here. The captain's here as well, Sub-commander. Where are you?'
"I've found Commander Tucker. We're in a tunnel which leads to the surface approximately four kilometers west of the landing platform."
"How is Trip, T'Pol?"
"I'm fine, Cap'n. A little bruised is all," Tucker replied. "We've got a problem, though."
"Problem?"
"Yes, Captain. The Xindi are in pursuit," responded T'Pol.
"Stand by."
There was a long silence.
T'Pol looked at her companion, his face lit somewhat by the scanner she held. "Perhaps we should extend your treatment tonight, Commander."
Tucker smiled. "That bad, huh?"
"Archer to T'Pol."
"Go ahead."
"Looks like the auction is over but Malcolm says there's another one in an hour. There are too many people around for us to get back to where Trip fell without drawing unwanted attention. But Enterprise has found you on its sensors. We'll take one of the 'pods out to pick you up at the other end of the tunnel."
"Understood."
"I don't need to tell you two to be careful."
"We'll be alright, sir. Just make sure you're waiting for us at the other end."
"You got it, Trip. Archer out."
T'Pol flipped shut her communicator and put it in her utility pouch. She examined her scanner.
"How far behind us are they?" asked Tucker.
"Curious," replied T'Pol. "They are heading down another tunnel."
"Okay, so either Teegar gave them the wrong directions or they know something we don't."
T'Pol arched one brow and looked at her companion. "Their tunnel will intersect with ours just short of the surface."
"Great! Just great! Maybe we should go back and try to climb out," offered Tucker. He stopped and reached a hand down to rub his knee.
"Without assistance, climbing out is not an option, Commander. We will stand a better chance if we get to the surface where the captain and the others will be waiting." She saw him wince. "Do you require my help?"
"Nah," replied the engineer. "We better pick up the pace."
Their progress was painfully slow in the dark and for T'Pol, painfully quiet. She stole glances at the commander, concerned at his uncharacteristic silence. "Are you alright?" she asked finally.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm fine, T'Pol. Just thinking."
"About Teegar?"
Tucker nodded but did not reply.
"Are you questioning your decision to save his life?"
"No," said the commander. "Not that."
Silence hung between them for several long moments.
"I just----." Tucker began then he stopped and bit his lower lip.
T'Pol moved closer to Tucker's side as they walked. "Commander?" she urged.
The engineer sighed. "It's just that," he began again. "Sometimes I feel like Teegar did when he was dangling over that bottomless pit."
"I don't understand."
"I'm hanging on with all my strength, T'Pol. Clinging to the sides, trying to crawl out. But I can feel myself slipping---."
"Into the pit," T'Pol guessed.
Tucker nodded.
T'Pol thought briefly about the commander's analogy. "Perhaps you should let yourself fall," she said finally.
Tucker stopped walking. "What?" he asked incredulously.
"We must keep moving, Commander," said T'Pol. She took Tucker's elbow and urged him forward as she carefully contemplated her next words. "You are clinging to your anger and your hatred like you are clinging to the sides of the pit. Is that correct?" She didn't wait for his response. "In my observations, your crewmates have---reached down to help you on numerous occasions only to have their efforts refused."
"That's not true," replied Tucker tightly.
T'Pol looked up at the commander.
Tucker remained silent.
"Since you are tired of holding on but you refuse the assistance of your friends, then the only option left is to let go."
"I'd fall."
T'Pol kept her eyes on her companion. "I will be there to---catch you," she said.
Tucker stopped and stared at her. The Vulcan took his elbow again and urged him to keep moving. They fell into a long silence.
"You would really do that?" asked Tucker finally.
"Yes," replied T'Pol simply.
"Why? I mean after all we've been through, I would think you'd just step aside and watch me fall."
"Perhaps if this were two years ago, I would."
Tucker snorted. "Yeah, we did kind of get off on the wrong foot, didn't we?"
"Indeed."
"Thanks, T'Pol. I'm not sure I'm ready to---to let go yet. But it's nice to know you'll be there when I am."
The two walked on in silence.
"Can I ask you something?" asked Tucker suddenly.
The Vulcan nodded.
"Since we've been doing this neuro-pressure, I've felt---a closeness to you. Is that normal?"
"It is common for humans to experience an attachment to their caregivers."
"Yeah," replied Tucker tentatively. "But this is different. When I'm around you, I feel physically more calm and well---sort of comforted by your presence."
T'Pol stopped and looked up at the engineer. "That is not possible," she said quietly.
To Be Continued.