"Captain we are now within the Xindi system. Our scans show that it's
most populated on the fifth planet." T'Pol was still scanning the area for
the ship that abducted Hugh. "Sir don't you find it odd that being so close
to what appears to Xindi home world, that there are no ships trying to stop
us?" Malcolm was very uneasy with the entire situation. "We could be
walking into a trap." "I thought about that Malcolm. Prep the two shuttles
to launch in one hour.. I want to do this with as little trouble as
possible. T'Pol you will lead on shuttle I will lead the other. Hoshi...
you have the bridge until we get back. Everyone else let's get ready.
Malcolm tell Major Hayes to meet us with his contingent." As everyone was
beginning to move around, the signal for a message went unnoticed. Hoshi
was a little hurt not to get to go down to the planet, but to finally get
command was an opportunity she might not see again.
****
With a security detail to each shuttle, they left Enterprise for then fifth planet. "Remember we don't know what to expect. Hugh could be dead right now, or we might find the weapon. Be ready for anything that happens down there." Jon gave the same speech to both shuttles. The two were going to land at different locations of the capital where they traced the ship to. "Captain my scans show that the building is heavy populated. I have traced his down to the third floor of the building he is alive." "Ok this is now a rescue mission."
As the shuttles landed they were greeted by the people. "Sir something isn't right. Why are they so happy to see us? Do they not know?" "Don't know Malcolm, but at least their not trying to kill us." The group entered to regroup with T'Pol's group. "Curious Captain, why they are so enjoyed to see us?" The group simply went up the stairs to the third floor. Jon had no answers for why the people were happy to see them. "T'Pol where do we go from here?" "Down the hall to the right. At the very end there will be a larger chamber." As they made their way down the hall. "Shhhh... can you hear that?" They all stopped to hear what was going on the other side of the doors.
"I am worried about Captain Archer. He's going to try to rescue me! He might not understand—""Damn right I don't understand! You move to the far wall now!" "Captain stop this! He didn't hurt me!" "Are you sure? How can you trust them!?" Jon suddenly felt that something was out of place. "Captain Archer! They just finished signing a peace treaty with Earth!"
"A what!?" Jon was taken back by the thought of peace with the Xindi. "Jon, they took me to prove that we're not violent killers. Is anyone trying to kill you? No, we have come to have peace in the talks with the Xindi council." "But... what about the seven million back on Earth? What about them?" "Captain the Xindi are willing to destroy the weapon right now. I was able to prove to them that Earth isn't a threat to them. They did the same thing for me. They can't bring back the seven million, but they are willing to make sure that no one else dies over this."
The entire party was taken back by what Hugh said. They all came here expecting a fight only to see that they now have peace. Hugh believed in the Xindi why could they? As Hugh watched the "rescue party" he saw that Trip was trying to hold back the tears that were building up. "Trip why did you come into the Expanse?" Trip looked up. "To find the Xindi and get revenge for them killin' my sister." The council was stunned to see that the humans were the exact same as them "How were you going to get your revenge exactly?" "I was gonna find the weapon and destroy it. Then hurt the people who killed my sister. Hurt them so much that they regretted ever hurtin' me."
Hugh walked over to Trip who was taller, who was beginning to cry. Hugh then reached out and did the only thing natural to do, to comfort Trip. With a hug Trip let all the pain out that he had bottled up for the entire voyage since the death of his sister. He was a wreck now and he knew it. He might not look the best but he couldn't have cared less. The mission was over he could go home. Try to move on.
****
They all left to finalize the peace treaty. That was followed by a huge feast. The Xindi were leaving nothing out for their new friends. The feast went on until the late hours of the night. The wine flowed freely and there was no shortage of food. The council was glad that it didn't go against the people. They didn't want a civil war next. "Captain Archer please bring your ship down to the planet. Let your entire crew come and enjoy all that our planet has to offer." "I'll contact my ship and have shore leave worked out for the entire crew." Soon the two partied their separate ways before they went to bed.
"Commander Tucker may we have a word with you?" "Uhh... sure I guess..." Trip was quiet throughout the entire meal. Still coming to grips with everything that was happening around him. The Xindi are friends... Lizzie and the other seven million can now rest... "Commander we want to apologize to you. We understand that that your sister was killed in the initial attack. So we present you and the entire planet with this box. Please do not open it until you return to Earth, or the secret will be lost in space." "What's it do?" "We cannot tell you just open it back on Earth." "Well thanks this... this means a lot to me I guess." The Xindi simply smiled. "Good night Commander, we will see you in the morning." The council left Trip to go to his room.
"Trip you going to be ok?" "Yeah I will be, not now but will be." Malcolm smiled then went off to his room and turned in for the night. The rest of them stayed up a little later to prepare for Enterprise to come into orbit and to organize shore leave. Eventually they all turned in for the night leaving Trip alone in the common room. He slowly began to move and entered Malcolm's room. Malcolm already asleep didn't stir so Trip just sat there and watched Malcolm sleep.
****
Hugh was being held up at the market trying to strike a trade with the local merchant. With lots of presents and marvelous articles. Hugh returned to the room where everyone else was already asleep. Deciding that now was a good time to give out the presents out on the couch with names of each of the bridge crew on each. He was almost done when Trip came out and saw Hugh. "What are ya doin'? It's pretty late." Hugh stopped and looked up. "There is something that I have to do. Something that I probably won't live to see tomorrow. I have to leave you now for good. Trip, go back to bed. Please don't make this harder then it already is!" "Why do ya have to go?" Hugh sat on the couch for a second. "Someone is going to try to launch the weapon. I think it's a rebel group. They don't see peace with Earth a good thing." "What if I came with ya? We might be able to stop them."
"I have to do this alone. I don't want to drag anyone else into this. Good bye Trip." Hugh then got up and ran from the room. Trip was then left with a confusing situation. With only one thought running though his head. 'He ain't gonna die tonight!' Hugh kept running away from all the people that he knew. He ran in the silent night with only his feet braking the silence as they came down on the concrete. Hugh eventually came to the weapon site, entered and waited.
****
Trip, being left alone knowing that if he did nothing he would be condemning Hugh to death. If he went then he probably might not make it either. 'What if I brought a crowd?' Trip then woke everyone up to go help Hugh. "S'matter?" was all Malcolm got out before Trip began to explain what was going on. "We gotta help Hugh come on!" They all raced to the weapon site before Hugh got killed. "God he has to start letting us help him!" Jon was in the lead with everyone else close behind.
"Trip tell us again why you have us running after Hugh in the middle of the night. That part of the explanation escaped me." "Mal! Hugh is gonna die and he knew it! He's riskin' his life to save Earth, so the least we can do is help!" The whole group of senior staff was in pursuit of the one known as Hugh. "It is most illogical to place yourself willing into danger. Knowing the outcome is death." "Well for us humans, no offense T'Pol; we can do stupid things when we believe in it enough." "Shhhhh... were here. Remember set phasers on stun only. These people aren't ours to punish so remember that." Jon was in the lead as they entered the complex.
From the outside the complex didn't look anything like a weapon site, but the moment they walked in it was obvious that this is where they were building the weapon. They split into teams to cover more ground faster. Malcolm and Trip began to search the lower level. While Jon and T'Pol took the higher level. Leaving Travis and Major Hayes for the middle level. The building was only lighted from the windows. So it was almost impossible to see far ahead. As they continued they began to wonder if they were perhaps too late.
Hugh was sitting in the shadows when he heard silent whispers and what sounded like a couple groups of people. Following the ones on the bottom he picked up a metal pipe to defend himself with. "You come to launch the weapon eh? Well you gotta get through me first!" "Hugh that you?" "Malcolm?! Trip you didn't!" "I couldn't let ya die now cold I?" They all stopped to hear the sound of shots being fire on the top level. "Let me guess more people?" Trip just smiled a sheepish grin. "Yeah I brought Jon, T'Pol, Malcolm, Travis and Major Hayes."
The three raced up to see that Jon and T'Pol had captured the rebels and tied them up with electrical wires. "Well I didn't die after all. "What was this about you knowing you were dying? You wouldn't have died from them!" Hugh blushed. "Yeah but it was supposed to keep Trip away!" "Why did you go?" "Well since I was sent up into space to save humanity from becoming extinct sooo I figured why not save it by stopping them." They all just stood there trying to decide if he was serious or not. "Don't worry n more heroi—"Hugh saw that one of the Xindi was pointing a phaser at the group. "Duck!" Hugh cried as he jumped to block the blast.
Everyone turned and fired on the Xindi, but not before he got one shot off. They turned to see Hug laying on the floor. "Get a doctor quick!" Both Malcolm and Travis ran out to find a doctor. T'Pol kneeled over Hugh and took his pulse. "He will not survive without proper medical treatment." Hours later Hugh woke up to see everyone looking at him. "What happened?" "You did the heroic thing again." "Damn it hurts to be a hero, it just isn't cool."
****
"So Trip are you going to open the box?" "I thought about it and decided to wait until we get back to Earth." Trip smiled at Malcolm as they both looked at the box. "Mal I love ya." "I... love you too." They both turned and smiled. "Know what's funny? That after all this we're still together." "Oh I wouldn't call it funny. It's more like lucky." "I s'pose it's all 'cause of the author." "The author?" "Yeah he wanted a Trip and Malcolm story, so we have to be together in the end! It's how it works." "I see." After an awkward silence "Hey Mal let eat." "This should be interesting, the two of us on an alien world, trouble is sure to follow!" "SHHHH! Don't' give him ideas!" "Who?!" "The author!" "Sorry." "Besides it's not my fault! Trouble just finds me!"
A/N: WOW! I can finally say DONE. It feels great! Overall comments?
****
With a security detail to each shuttle, they left Enterprise for then fifth planet. "Remember we don't know what to expect. Hugh could be dead right now, or we might find the weapon. Be ready for anything that happens down there." Jon gave the same speech to both shuttles. The two were going to land at different locations of the capital where they traced the ship to. "Captain my scans show that the building is heavy populated. I have traced his down to the third floor of the building he is alive." "Ok this is now a rescue mission."
As the shuttles landed they were greeted by the people. "Sir something isn't right. Why are they so happy to see us? Do they not know?" "Don't know Malcolm, but at least their not trying to kill us." The group entered to regroup with T'Pol's group. "Curious Captain, why they are so enjoyed to see us?" The group simply went up the stairs to the third floor. Jon had no answers for why the people were happy to see them. "T'Pol where do we go from here?" "Down the hall to the right. At the very end there will be a larger chamber." As they made their way down the hall. "Shhhh... can you hear that?" They all stopped to hear what was going on the other side of the doors.
"I am worried about Captain Archer. He's going to try to rescue me! He might not understand—""Damn right I don't understand! You move to the far wall now!" "Captain stop this! He didn't hurt me!" "Are you sure? How can you trust them!?" Jon suddenly felt that something was out of place. "Captain Archer! They just finished signing a peace treaty with Earth!"
"A what!?" Jon was taken back by the thought of peace with the Xindi. "Jon, they took me to prove that we're not violent killers. Is anyone trying to kill you? No, we have come to have peace in the talks with the Xindi council." "But... what about the seven million back on Earth? What about them?" "Captain the Xindi are willing to destroy the weapon right now. I was able to prove to them that Earth isn't a threat to them. They did the same thing for me. They can't bring back the seven million, but they are willing to make sure that no one else dies over this."
The entire party was taken back by what Hugh said. They all came here expecting a fight only to see that they now have peace. Hugh believed in the Xindi why could they? As Hugh watched the "rescue party" he saw that Trip was trying to hold back the tears that were building up. "Trip why did you come into the Expanse?" Trip looked up. "To find the Xindi and get revenge for them killin' my sister." The council was stunned to see that the humans were the exact same as them "How were you going to get your revenge exactly?" "I was gonna find the weapon and destroy it. Then hurt the people who killed my sister. Hurt them so much that they regretted ever hurtin' me."
Hugh walked over to Trip who was taller, who was beginning to cry. Hugh then reached out and did the only thing natural to do, to comfort Trip. With a hug Trip let all the pain out that he had bottled up for the entire voyage since the death of his sister. He was a wreck now and he knew it. He might not look the best but he couldn't have cared less. The mission was over he could go home. Try to move on.
****
They all left to finalize the peace treaty. That was followed by a huge feast. The Xindi were leaving nothing out for their new friends. The feast went on until the late hours of the night. The wine flowed freely and there was no shortage of food. The council was glad that it didn't go against the people. They didn't want a civil war next. "Captain Archer please bring your ship down to the planet. Let your entire crew come and enjoy all that our planet has to offer." "I'll contact my ship and have shore leave worked out for the entire crew." Soon the two partied their separate ways before they went to bed.
"Commander Tucker may we have a word with you?" "Uhh... sure I guess..." Trip was quiet throughout the entire meal. Still coming to grips with everything that was happening around him. The Xindi are friends... Lizzie and the other seven million can now rest... "Commander we want to apologize to you. We understand that that your sister was killed in the initial attack. So we present you and the entire planet with this box. Please do not open it until you return to Earth, or the secret will be lost in space." "What's it do?" "We cannot tell you just open it back on Earth." "Well thanks this... this means a lot to me I guess." The Xindi simply smiled. "Good night Commander, we will see you in the morning." The council left Trip to go to his room.
"Trip you going to be ok?" "Yeah I will be, not now but will be." Malcolm smiled then went off to his room and turned in for the night. The rest of them stayed up a little later to prepare for Enterprise to come into orbit and to organize shore leave. Eventually they all turned in for the night leaving Trip alone in the common room. He slowly began to move and entered Malcolm's room. Malcolm already asleep didn't stir so Trip just sat there and watched Malcolm sleep.
****
Hugh was being held up at the market trying to strike a trade with the local merchant. With lots of presents and marvelous articles. Hugh returned to the room where everyone else was already asleep. Deciding that now was a good time to give out the presents out on the couch with names of each of the bridge crew on each. He was almost done when Trip came out and saw Hugh. "What are ya doin'? It's pretty late." Hugh stopped and looked up. "There is something that I have to do. Something that I probably won't live to see tomorrow. I have to leave you now for good. Trip, go back to bed. Please don't make this harder then it already is!" "Why do ya have to go?" Hugh sat on the couch for a second. "Someone is going to try to launch the weapon. I think it's a rebel group. They don't see peace with Earth a good thing." "What if I came with ya? We might be able to stop them."
"I have to do this alone. I don't want to drag anyone else into this. Good bye Trip." Hugh then got up and ran from the room. Trip was then left with a confusing situation. With only one thought running though his head. 'He ain't gonna die tonight!' Hugh kept running away from all the people that he knew. He ran in the silent night with only his feet braking the silence as they came down on the concrete. Hugh eventually came to the weapon site, entered and waited.
****
Trip, being left alone knowing that if he did nothing he would be condemning Hugh to death. If he went then he probably might not make it either. 'What if I brought a crowd?' Trip then woke everyone up to go help Hugh. "S'matter?" was all Malcolm got out before Trip began to explain what was going on. "We gotta help Hugh come on!" They all raced to the weapon site before Hugh got killed. "God he has to start letting us help him!" Jon was in the lead with everyone else close behind.
"Trip tell us again why you have us running after Hugh in the middle of the night. That part of the explanation escaped me." "Mal! Hugh is gonna die and he knew it! He's riskin' his life to save Earth, so the least we can do is help!" The whole group of senior staff was in pursuit of the one known as Hugh. "It is most illogical to place yourself willing into danger. Knowing the outcome is death." "Well for us humans, no offense T'Pol; we can do stupid things when we believe in it enough." "Shhhhh... were here. Remember set phasers on stun only. These people aren't ours to punish so remember that." Jon was in the lead as they entered the complex.
From the outside the complex didn't look anything like a weapon site, but the moment they walked in it was obvious that this is where they were building the weapon. They split into teams to cover more ground faster. Malcolm and Trip began to search the lower level. While Jon and T'Pol took the higher level. Leaving Travis and Major Hayes for the middle level. The building was only lighted from the windows. So it was almost impossible to see far ahead. As they continued they began to wonder if they were perhaps too late.
Hugh was sitting in the shadows when he heard silent whispers and what sounded like a couple groups of people. Following the ones on the bottom he picked up a metal pipe to defend himself with. "You come to launch the weapon eh? Well you gotta get through me first!" "Hugh that you?" "Malcolm?! Trip you didn't!" "I couldn't let ya die now cold I?" They all stopped to hear the sound of shots being fire on the top level. "Let me guess more people?" Trip just smiled a sheepish grin. "Yeah I brought Jon, T'Pol, Malcolm, Travis and Major Hayes."
The three raced up to see that Jon and T'Pol had captured the rebels and tied them up with electrical wires. "Well I didn't die after all. "What was this about you knowing you were dying? You wouldn't have died from them!" Hugh blushed. "Yeah but it was supposed to keep Trip away!" "Why did you go?" "Well since I was sent up into space to save humanity from becoming extinct sooo I figured why not save it by stopping them." They all just stood there trying to decide if he was serious or not. "Don't worry n more heroi—"Hugh saw that one of the Xindi was pointing a phaser at the group. "Duck!" Hugh cried as he jumped to block the blast.
Everyone turned and fired on the Xindi, but not before he got one shot off. They turned to see Hug laying on the floor. "Get a doctor quick!" Both Malcolm and Travis ran out to find a doctor. T'Pol kneeled over Hugh and took his pulse. "He will not survive without proper medical treatment." Hours later Hugh woke up to see everyone looking at him. "What happened?" "You did the heroic thing again." "Damn it hurts to be a hero, it just isn't cool."
****
"So Trip are you going to open the box?" "I thought about it and decided to wait until we get back to Earth." Trip smiled at Malcolm as they both looked at the box. "Mal I love ya." "I... love you too." They both turned and smiled. "Know what's funny? That after all this we're still together." "Oh I wouldn't call it funny. It's more like lucky." "I s'pose it's all 'cause of the author." "The author?" "Yeah he wanted a Trip and Malcolm story, so we have to be together in the end! It's how it works." "I see." After an awkward silence "Hey Mal let eat." "This should be interesting, the two of us on an alien world, trouble is sure to follow!" "SHHHH! Don't' give him ideas!" "Who?!" "The author!" "Sorry." "Besides it's not my fault! Trouble just finds me!"
A/N: WOW! I can finally say DONE. It feels great! Overall comments?
