Don't Judge A Book

By Antares *Star

Chapter Six: The Dream

Disclaimer and other info located in first chapter

Note: Wow, I am so sorry to everyone for not updating for sooooo long. What was it, five months?? Well, who's counting. I really am sorry though. I hope I haven't lost too many fans nor made anyone too angry. Its just when the show went on hiatus I lost all ambition to write this story, and now I have it back.

Oh, by the way! Have you all seen "Firefly"? Now that's gonna be an awesome show!! Go Whedon!! On to the story!!

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T'Pol was genuinely worried about the away team, although she kept it hidden. If what the Tauners said about the Ansians was true, the captain was in a deadly situation. According to Litan, the Tauner T'Pol had talked to, the Ansians had once been a peaceful race. They had never fought a war, never had problems with violence. The Tauners lived on a nearby planet in the same solar system as Aldovia. Then, one day, the Ansians had simply attacked The Tauners. Neither side had advanced weaponry or experience in warfare.

Although this story could be tainted by the Tauners, T'Pol believed there was some truth to it. It would only be logical to be truthful if you were seeking allies.

Mayweather was anxious to go help the away team, but T'Pol knew charging in recklessly could lead to their own capture, an illogical course of action. No, they would have to develop a plan, perhaps even get help from the Tauners. Until then, the captain was on his own.

***

Captain Archer woke from a restless sleep. He heard quiet tinkering from the other side of the cell and looked up. Working away at the weapons, Malcolm looked haggard and exhausted. "Malcolm, get some sleep." Archer coaxed.

"I'm almost done sir, just a bit longer." Malcolm didn't look up. He hadn't talked since telling the story. He couldn't face them now. They'd just look at him with that pity-filled face and say how sorry they were. He hated that look.

Archer had to admit, he couldn't look at his armory officer the same way. He could just see Malcolm as a child being beaten and put down, and he couldn't stand it. "No Malcolm, you need sleep. You need to heal."

"Heal." Malcolm considered the word, then shook his head. "No, I need to get out of here. We all do."

"Sleep, now. Consider it an order."

Malcolm stared, then nodded reluctantly. He placed the pieces under a heap of old bandages and removed the working phase pistol from his holster, also hiding it in the bandages. Easing to the ground, his eyelids closed immediately, and he wondered how he stayed awake as long as he had. His mind was so full of images and memories. His dreams were plentiful that night. Images of his brother flashed through his head, countless beatings, a school dance, his first girlfriend, the Naval Academy, and his greatest fear…

Malcolm was swimming in a cool peaceful lake. A bright sun shown down casting thousands of reflections on the glassy water. His arms made ripples as he swam lazily to the edge of the lake. Then, as he was about to pull himself out, a hand grabbed him by the arm and threw him back in. He glimpsed his dad's visage from under the water. His dad waded out into the water and grabbed Malcolm's head, pushing him underneath the once calm water, now frothing with his thrashing legs and arms.

He couldn't breath; he was drowning! He opened his eyes in panic, and at the bottom of the lake his brother sat, staring up at him, motioning him. He smiled sadly from the ocean floor and turned, blood was spewing from his back. Malcolm gasped and water filled his lungs. He was going to die, no drown! His worst nightmare. Mark waved to Malcolm, and everything went black.

***

Hoshi woke up to a strangled choking sound. She looked blearily around and saw Malcolm thrashing on the floor. He was sweating and grabbing his throat, lost in a nightmare. She crawled over to him and tried to shake him awake. He stopped thrashing, but didn't wake up.

"Malcolm? Hey, wake up!" Nothing. He was so still, too still…oh God! "Captain!" she shook him awake. "Its Malcolm, he's not breathing!"

Archer lurched up and raced to Malcolm's side. "Get Trip." He checked Reed's pulse. Nothing. "Shit! Not now Lieutenant. Hold on."

Trip limped over. "Aww, damn it Malcolm!" he cried. Archer lifted Reed's eyelids, no response. Still eyes stared back at him lifelessly. "No!"

Archer bent over Malcolm and tried to breath some life into his lungs. Trip placed his hands on Malcolm's chest and leaned over him too. Three breaths by Archer, twelve pushes by Trip. Again and again. Three times through, five times. Malcolm lay still as a statue. He was dead.

"Capena!" Archer roared. "Get your dirty Ansian ass here right now." Guards were already rushing to the cell, they had seen what was happening by camera. They entered, the same three burly ones as last time. "Help him." Archer growled.

"How long has he been dead." One asked stoically.

"No more than five minutes." Hoshi trembled.

One lifted Malcolm's limp body over his shoulder, grunting under Reed's dead weight. Archer blocked the doorway. "Where are you taking him?"

"Does it matter, he's dead?"

"Yes, it does."

"We may be able to save him. We have very advanced medicine. Do want him to live?" Archer simply glared. "Then move aside."

The guards were gone, and so was Malcolm. Hoshi looked shell-shocked. Trip was staring down, rubbing his sore arm muscles. Archer grabbed the cell bars. "I want to come with you. Please, come back here!" They were already gone though.

Breaking the silence, low, light footsteps echoed down the hallway, coming closer with each footfall. Archer waited to see who it was, squinting through the darkness. Capena's voice sounded through the gloom. "What an interesting twist of fate. He died by himself, we didn't even get to help." Archer pounded the bars.

"Will you help him?"

"Yes, I suppose we can. Five minutes is easy. A little something to jumpstart the heart, a little something to repair the brain, easy. But ahh, you see, why should I help you?"

"You son of a bitch! A man's life is at stake. If he dies, so help me, I will kill you."

"He's already dead good Captain, and I am not. So your threat is anything but threatening." Capena smiled and stroked the bars teasingly. Archer's fingers itched to grab him and strangle him.

"I will help you build the best damn phase canon you could have, just help him." Capena considered this, and nodded slowly.

"Yes, that's a start. But you see, that isn't enough. I want you ship captain. Help us win this war, and Mal will live. Get it?"

Archer sighed. He could devise a better plan later. Malcolm didn't have a later, it was now or never. "Yes."

Trip looked up, confused while Hoshi dried her tears.

"One thing though, I want to go with him, make sure you don't do anything else to him. Deal."

"Hmmm, I guess so. You aren't very trusting." Capena gave Archer an innocent smile. He opened the cell door for Archer. "This way Captain." He unholstered a gun, and motioned Archer forward.

As they disappeared from sight, Trip and Hoshi exchanged a glance. What more could go wrong?

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Well, once again, I'm terribly sorry.  Please review, and I'll try to get another chapter out.  But let me know that you are reading this, and aren't so mad at me that you won't read it.  REVIEW! Please.  Well, here are my thank-yous for chapter five and new reviewers…

* * *Fiona~  I finally got it out sorry! lol That made me sad and guilty, sorry!

* * * *Rae~ Oh Shit! I feel all guilty now. How about giving me a third chance.  sorry!

* * * * *CJSpooks~ Sorry girl, didn't mean to keep you waiting. Hey, you ever gonna update that dream story of your??  We did god in tournament, third, all right!

* * * *Kim~ Thanx.  Yes, I do remember that one scene he had in Dear Doctor! Blah, what an awful episode, no Malcolm, no Trip.

* * * * * * *Iverson~ Hmm, yes you are obsessed, dangerously! I'll consider it a compliment!

* * *Suzanne~ uh oh, hope that swing lasts five months lol

* * Aramis~ So did I, Thanks!

* Silver Cross Of The Huntress~ uhh, sorry hun, I don't do slash, but thanks anyway! lol, probably Hoshi.

*Faith Ingels~ I will, promise!

*Jaws~ Thanks, I will, sometime!

*Lynne~ Well, I finally updated, with a little prodding, thanx

Bye Guys, review!