Arrate, Pooka_Hare, Vulcan Commando, Zealous Girl, Catspaw, Bandybones, Gotta Love Trip, SiFiFan - you are all the best. And I am soooo undeserving of your praise for such a short chapter. I'm glad you are still sticking with me after not posting very regularly. I'm having fun posting stories in two universes, but I promise I won't forget the first. - Chianna





Chapter 11 - Cinema Prophecy

"Captain, Sub-commander T'Pol has disappeared."

Shocked silence was the only answer to the announcement - for the span of about three heartbeats. Before Archer had a chance to utter a single question or command, Trip addressed the ensign that sat at Hoshi's duty station.

"Ensign Calder, hail the Sub-commander - NOW!" Radiating urgency, only someone who knew the commander was well as Jon did, would hear the background note of panic that resonated in that final word.

Calder's fingers fumbled over the control panel where Hoshi's would normally fly with beloved familiarity. He was on loan from security. Calder had strategic communications training - but it was painfully obvious that this was his first time negotiating the intricacies of a starship communications system during a time of non-simulated crisis.

"Aye, sir, I've already tried our normal channels. I've begun scanning emergency frequencies as well."

"Trip." Archer started. Before he could continue his request, the engineer had already fulfilled it. With amazing speed, he had crossed to T'Pol's science station, and without sitting, had already begun to run scans of the planet.

To no one in particular, but at least for the benefit of the rest of the bridge crew, John continued with the command that was already being executed. "Scan the planet and see if you can isolate the locations of all of our people."

"Captain, I have three life signs clustered on the 15th level of the building. I'm spread'n the search to surrounding buildings. into the city - I can't find anything."

Archer could feel his teeth grinding. This was supposed to be a milk run, he thought. For once he didn't complain that they seemed to get the "safe" mission. His crew had needed a break. What they got was a bad one. Part of him wanted to cling to the possibility of a simple explanation. "Trip, are you running across any shielded areas in the building? Maybe T'Pol just can't get through."

"Negative, Captain."

Archer leaned forward in his seat. "Calder, get me the Lieutenant."

Reeds clipped tones filled the bridge. "Reed here, Captain."

"Any news Malcolm?"

"No sir. We are doing a floor-by-floor search. We're at level ten, working our way down. It is slow going, Captain. With only three of us, I decided to take the precaution of staying together." Unsaid was that he had two junior officers with him, neither of which had more than rudimentary security training. Every word spoke volumes to Jon. Get me a bloody battalion down here and I'll take this building apart - came through loud and clear.

"Agreed. We're sending an away team down to complete the search. Hold your position."

The words were barely out of his mouth before he heard exactly what he expected the moment the phrase "away team" left his mouth.

"Captain, I'd like to lead that team." Every word Trip spoke was as perfectly enunciated - Lt. Reed couldn't have said it more clearly.

Archer closed his eyes for a moment as if the temporary peace would give him some insight into his options. This was not a conversation that he wanted to have on the bridge. His alternatives were already limited and John knew that Trip intended to use that argument in his favor.

"Senior officers to the ready room." With T'Pol and the lieutenant on the planet, that left only Trip and Phlox. Turning back to Calder he motioned him to hail the away team. "Malcolm, I want you to keep this frequency open and hail us ever five minutes until the team gets down there."

"Acknowledged, Captain."

***---***---***---***

The first impression to filter into T'Pol's consciousness was that she was lying on her side on top of cot. The second was that her hands were secured behind her and anchored to something that prevented her from turning over or trying to sit up. Looking around the room through veiled lashes, she concluded that she was in a small subterranean cavern. Before she was able to assess the entire room, she heard a chair scrape the ground. The noise came from her right. In order to see who was approaching, she would need to lift her head, which she decided was not prudent. There was no sense alerting her kidnapper that she was awake until she it was absolutely necessary. It would have been a good strategy - if it had worked.

"Ahhh, my little Vulcan friend, playing 'possum as your human shipmates would say?"

T'Pol did not understand the reference to a nocturnal, arboreal marsupial from earth but she assumed that he was aware that she was awake. She saw no sense in replying to his question so she remained silent and watched him as he approached the cot.

T'Pol's first impression was that the man approaching her was large - physically built like Captain Archer but possibly taller by a few centimeters. His musculature was hard to make out as he wore a loose black hooded cloak that effectively hid most of his face and upper torso. All that she could see in the dim light was the line of his jaw that looked as hard and implacable as the stone surrounding her. He moved quite silently for a large humanoid.

"I see that you've given up the strategy of feigning unconsciousness." For the first time, T'Pol realized that his voice had an unusual tone. His sibilant consonants seemed to extend longer than needed, giving his voice a rasping sound that she contemplated might sound rather sinister if one was susceptible to such notions.

He seemed to be unconcerned with the fact that she refused to respond to his communications. Instead he approached her. Reflexively, she tried to shift back as he closed the distance between them, his black cloak consuming her entire visual of field. Soon she felt a tug on her bound wrists. Though he did not release her hands, it seemed that he did undo the tether. Sliding a hand under the shoulder resting on the cot, he seemed to effortlessly lift her to a sitting position. She placed her feet on the floor. Standing as close as he was, T'Pol had to tilt her head quite far back to look at him.

"Now I imagine that you have a few questions." He pulled a chair from the table and placed it opposite her, so close that their knees almost touched. The candle light from the table to their right did nothing to illuminate her kidnapper's features. "Where would you like to start?"

"Why did you bring me here?"

"Oh, T'Pol, or would you rather I call you Subcommander?" His question was greeted with an unflinching stare and complete silence. "No matter. I prefer T'Pol, so T'Pol it is. Well, T'Pol it truly is a long story, but most of it you already know. Suffice it to say that you and your ship have cost my operation quite a good deal of time and capital with your interference on Aviaria. As any good businessman would, I plan on recouping at least some of my expenses."

"Enterprise will not pay a ransom for me."

"Indeed. I have no intention of requesting monetary compensation. In fact, I have no plans to return you to your ship. Actually, it is my fondest wish that your entire crew join us here on the planet. We are always having staffing problems with this operation. I've decided that Enterprise's crew is just the ticket for my latest recruiting drive."

"Captain Archer would never allow the entire crew to come to this planet for any reason."

"Yes, that would be very poor strategy on his part. But you'll have to have faith that I have tried and true strategies on my side as well. Why the whole concept came to me while watching early 21st century earth cinema. Have you ever seen a movie called Gunga Din? The Wiseman was a genius strategist. However did he put it? Yes, now I remember."

"Two come to follow one. Then the others follow."

TBC.

And just a plug for a great movie - Watch Gunga Din! The original budd, adventure movie and one of the best of all time. I'm sure Enterprise will be playing it on movie night soon. And you might just recognize where a certain director got some of his inspiration for a movie called "Indiana Jones & The Temple of Doom." See you at the movies!!!