Behind Blue Eyes

By Thalia Drogna

AN: I'm re-posting this chapter to correct a small formatting error. Thanks to Cha Oseye Tempest Thrain for spotting it.

I have hours, only lonely,
My love is vengeance,
That's never free.

– Pete Townshend, The Who

It didn't take as long for Trip to make his way back to the shuttlepod as it had taken for them to get there, but the weather was much worse than when they'd entered the ship. He entered the shuttlepod and shook off the water from his jacket, although he didn't know why he was bothering as he was already soaked through to the skin. He pulled off the panel and disconnected the relay which he had identified as surplus to requirements. It was part of the air recycling system which they wouldn't need for the short journey back to Enterprise.

He tucked the relay into his jacket pocket, put his collar up against the rain and wind and climbed out of the shuttlepod. He jogged back through the jungle to the Builder ship. He pulled open the door and went towards the generator room. He could hear voices as he approached and some of them were definitely talking in Klingon. The door was slightly ajar so he was able to see in.

"Hand over your weapons or the girl dies," said the Klingon. Archer, Darwin and T'Pol handed over their phase pistols.

"Commander Kartok," said Darwin. He looked at the four Klingons that now stood in the generator room, one of whom held a Klingon D'k tahg knife to Hoshi's throat. Archer had the distinct impression that Darwin had met this Klingon before.

This can't be happening again, thought Trip as he watched. It can't be. His brain worked furiously on how he could resolve the hostage situation. If he fired his phaser then he risked hitting Hoshi, or worse, the Klingon killing her if he missed. He would only have seconds to react before the Klingon made his move, whatever he did.

"Colonel Darwin," said the Klingon. "You're still alive."

"I'm hard to kill," said Darwin.

"And Captain Archer," said Kartok. "It will make the High Council very happy when I bring you home as a prize."

"You don't know what you're playing with here," said Archer.

"I was on Faranor, I know exactly what we're dealing with," said Kartok. "That is why I'm here, to recover this weapon for the Klingon Empire. Now tell us how we can move it, or the girl dies."

"It is not a simple procedure," said T'Pol.

Kartok moved the knife so that it nicked Hoshi's neck and drew blood. Hoshi gasped.

"No!" shouted Trip, bursting through the door. He jumped Kartok, who cast Hoshi to one side to deal with Trip's attack. Hoshi landed hard on the floor and was dazed by impact, smacking her head against the wall as she fell. Trip had bet on Kartok's warrior instincts that he would prefer to fight than hold onto Hoshi when someone attacked him.

Trip had Kartok down on the floor as his MACO instincts took over and the two wrestled for the knife. Darwin took the opportunity caused by the confusion to attack one of the other Klingons, Archer and T'Pol took care of the final two.

T'Pol's strength was equal to that of the Klingon and she had the advantage of her Vulcan martial arts training as Klingons were used to applying their strength rather than their intelligence. She used the momentum of the Klingon's original attack to knock him out against a bulkhead and then turned to find Archer still struggling with his opponent who was attempting to strangle him. She pulled the Klingon off her Captain and used a Vulcan neck pinch on him, watching as the Klingon crumpled to the floor.

Trip meanwhile still fought with Kartok for possession of the D'k tahg, the Klingon was strong and it took all of Trip's strength to keep the knife away from his throat. They had reached a stalemate but Trip knew his strength wouldn't last as long as that of his Klingon adversary. He changed tactics, he allowed his arms to weaken and Kartok fell forward just as Trip rolled out of the way, grabbing the knife as he rolled. He turned and had the knife at Kartok's neck before the Klingon realised what had happened. All his instincts screamed at him to slit the Klingon's throat. This was an enemy and one who had held his friend hostage and was responsible for Antonia's "death".

"Trip, no!" said Archer. "Don't do it."

Darwin was still fighting with the remaining Klingon but now had his opponent in a head lock. He snapped the neck of the Klingon with practised accuracy.

"What are you waiting for, Trip?" asked Darwin.

"No," said Trip. "I'm not a killer anymore." He pushed Kartok to the ground and dropped the knife on the floor, his breathing was laboured from the fight still. He looked down at Kartok, the Klingon's disrupter was still in its holster at his belt. He bent down to remove it and as he reached down, Kartok grabbed the knife and plunged it into Trip's stomach. Hoshi screamed. Kartok pulled the knife out again, eliciting a low moan from Trip, and threw it to one side as he took his disrupter from its holster.

"Trip!" shouted Archer as he watched Trip fall to his knees a look of surprise on his face. Archer quickly moved to Trip's side lowering him to the floor gently. Trip clutched at his wound as blood welled around his fingers, his face still contorted in shock and pain. Archer looked down at Trip and felt anger build in him, he started to launch himself at Kartok.

"Stop!" shouted the Klingon, pointing the disrupter at Archer. "Or you will join Tucker."

Archer felt all his fight drain out of him. There was nothing that he could do. Kartok held the only disrupter and he had no doubt that the Klingon wouldn't hesitate to kill anyone who moved against him. All Archer could think about now was the fact that he had a wounded man who he had to protect. Archer moved back to Trip. The other two Klingons staggered back to their feet, retrieved their disrupter pistols and went to stand beside their commander.

"T'Pol, I need something to stop the bleeding," said Archer. He pushed Trip's shaking hands out of the way and put pressure on the wound, but he knew it wouldn't be enough. The wound was serious, they needed to get Trip back to Enterprise as soon as possible. T'Pol removed her jacket, tore off the sleeve with typical Vulcan proficiency and passed it to Archer who used it to help him stop the flow of blood.

"C-captain," said Trip, his voice quiet and halting, he had to take a deep breath before he could continue, "I, I'm sorry...was stupid."

"No, Trip, don't try to talk," said Archer. "Don't worry we're going to get you out of here and back to Phlox in no time. Just hang in there."

Darwin came over to join Archer at Trip's side. "This is your fault, Archer, I told you I wasn't the one you needed to watch. You made him doubt his instincts. That Klingon should be dead." He looked down at Trip and shook his head sadly. "Why didn't you kill him when you had the chance, Trip?"

"Not...not a...killer anymore," stammered out Trip, he was shivering a little.

"Shhh, Trip, just lay quiet," said Archer, he shrugged off his jacket quickly and placed it over Trip who was fading fast. "Trip, stay with me." Trip's skin was becoming pale and damp with sweat but he looked up at the face of his Captain. Archer was worried, Trip was losing a lot of blood and he was going into shock.

"Let him die with honour, he fought well," said Kartok. "I want that generator, or more of you will die and you will die without the honour of this one." He picked up Hoshi from where she lay on the floor with tears in her eyes looking desperately at Trip. "Tell me how to disconnect the generator and take it to my ship or this one dies too."

"It is impossible," said T'Pol. "The generator is powered by a black hole which is one of the densest objects in the universe."

"And yet these Builders managed to place one aboard a ship," said Kartok. "I know it isn't impossible, Vulcan. So I suggest that you start working before I am forced to show you that my intentions are sincere and kill this human." Hoshi closed her eyes as he pressed the disrupter to her head.

"Very well," said T'Pol. "This will take some time."

"You have as long as it takes me to get bored. I warn you that I get bored easily," said Kartok.

"T'Pol..." began Archer.

"We have no choice, Captain," said T'Pol, she turned back to her work.

"T'Pol...don't do it," said Trip, weakly. "It's Faranor all over again."

"Shut up," said Kartok and kicked Trip's leg. Trip winced with the pain.

"Leave him alone," said Darwin, standing to face the Klingon. "You call yourself honourable and yet you kick a wounded man."

"What would you understand about honour?" spat Kartok. "Because of you and your men I was dishonoured by the incident on Faranor. I went to Faranor to bring glory to Empire and instead my ship was damaged when yours exploded, and I had nothing to show for the encounter. A warrior should either die in battle or succeed there is no middle ground. It has taken me this long to regain my standing."

"That isn't my concern," said Darwin. "Take what you need and leave."

"I intend to," said the Klingon.

Trip lay wondering if Kartok meant what he said or if he intended to kill them all before he left. He was drifting in a sea of pain on the edge of unconsciousness but he was awake enough to understand what was going on. Then he heard the distinct change in pitch which he knew must mean that someone was coming through the Aumshaya.

"Antonia," he whispered, almost too quietly for Archer to hear but it was enough to give him a warning before the slender figure stepped through the white light. Behind her another figure stepped out of the white light and Darwin recognised him as the lead Faranoan that he had spoken to all those years ago on Faranor. Antonia took a few seconds to take in the scene around her, her expression briefly changing when she saw Trip lying bleeding on the floor.

"Commander Kartok," said Antonia, in a disappointed tone, as if she were talking to a disobedient child.

"You," said Kartok. "But you died on Faranor. I killed you."

"No you simply facilitated my transfiguration," said Antonia. She waved her hand and Kartok's disrupter was suddenly in her hand. She threw the pistol into the Aumshaya and it disappeared. Kartok was livid with anger, but before Kartok could react Antonia had moved and was standing in Hoshi's place. Hoshi stood dazed exactly where Antonia had been only a second before. "You can try to hurt me," said Antonia, "but you won't succeed."

The Faranoan used the same trick as Antonia and suddenly he held two disrupter pistols which followed Kartok's disrupter into the Aumshaya, disappearing in a shower of sparks.

Kartok closed his hand over Antonia's throat and squeezed but nothing happened. Archer watched with interest as Kartok tried desperately to strangle Antonia, but she remained unaffected. Antonia reached up and took Kartok's arm, she lifted him into the air, ignoring his expression of pure surprise and threw him against the far wall of the generator room. His head hit the wall hard and he slid to the ground unconscious.

"Take your Commander, the body of your fallen warrior and leave," said Antonia to the other two Klingons, her eyes flashing with gold sparks. "The Guardian of Deneb IV commands it."

The Klingons didn't wait to be asked again. They scooped up the dead Klingon and Commander Kartok and retreated out of the room, shouting loudly in Klingon as they went. Antonia, crouched down beside Trip.

"You need to go as well," she said looking at Archer. "Trip, why did you do this? You knew I was coming back."

"I couldn't wait," said Trip. His breathing was rapid and shallow but he didn't seem to be getting enough air into his lungs. "He was...hurting...Hoshi. It was just like before. Just like...when you died."

"You stubborn fool," she said softly to him, it was obvious that she didn't mean it.

Trip's eyes closed. "Come on Trip, stay with us just a little longer," said Archer.

Trip opened his eyes again, they felt as it they were weighted down. "Sorry...Captain, don't think I can." He closed his eyes again and this time they stayed closed.

"Trip?" asked Archer. The Engineer didn't stir. Trip's life was slipping through his fingers.

"I can use my power to transport you back to your shuttle but you must let the Guardians deal with the Doonshaya," said Antonia. "Lije will remain to do what needs to be done," she added indicating the Faranoan.

"What about the Venture crew?" asked Archer.

"They will be returned," said Lije.

"Let's get out of here," said Archer.

"Captain, how do we know that we can trust them?" asked Darwin.

"We don't, but right now my top priority is getting Trip back to Enterprise," said Archer.

Darwin looked as if he might argue but simply nodded his agreement. "Let's go," he said echoing Archer.

Antonia waved her hand and they were back on the shuttlepod.

"Get me the medical kit," Archer said to Hoshi, and she went to the back of the shuttle and found the medical kit that both shuttles were equipped with. "T'Pol, get us back to Enterprise and step on it." Hoshi handed her Captain the medical kit and he replaced the makeshift bandage on Trip's wound with a sterile pad, he hoped it would be enough until they could get Trip back to Phlox. He took out the medical scanner and checked Trip's vital signs, they were weak and somewhat erratic but still present.

"Captain, we cannot take off while the storm is still present," said T'Pol looking at the readings on her scanner.

"That shouldn't be a problem," said Antonia, she waved her hand once again and the weather began to brighten rapidly. "You can takeoff now, Sub-commander."

T'Pol immediately went to the pilot's seat and readied them for takeoff. Archer strapped Trip down on one of the benches in the back of the small craft and then took up position so that he could maintain pressure on the wound. Antonia sat on the opposite bench watching him. Once everyone was strapped in he gave T'Pol the okay to lift off.

"T'Pol, call Enterprise, tell them that we're on our way home," said Archer.

"Yes, Captain," replied T'Pol. "T'Pol to Enterprise."

"Go ahead, T'Pol," said Enterprise, it was unmistakably Lieutenant Reed's voice.

"We are on our way back, please have the Doctor standing by for our arrival. We encountered some Klingons and Commander Tucker has sustained a serious stab wound," said T'Pol.

There was the briefest of hesitations before Reed replied. "Understood, Enterprise out."

T'Pol piloted them expertly back to Enterprise while Archer desperately tried to keep Trip alive. His skin had taken on a greyish colour and was beaded with sweat. Archer's hands were covered in Trip's blood and the flow showed no signs of abating.

"Captain, we're about to dock," said T'Pol finally.

The medical scanner beeped urgently at Archer, he checked the scanner. Trip had gone into cardiac arrest.

"Trip, don't do this to me," said Archer as he moved to start heart massage. Darwin was suddenly beside him applying pressure to the wound as Archer had been doing. He barely registered as the shuttle landed. T'Pol opened the hatch and Phlox entered with two medical technicians.

"Captain, you must let me work," said Phlox, and Archer moved to one side to let Phlox take over but continued the compressions.

Phlox pressed a hypospray to Trip's neck and placed an Oxygen mask over his nose and mouth. He scanned Trip and injected him with another hypospray. The doctor checked the scanner again.

"You can stop now," said Phlox.

"Doctor?" asked Archer urgently, he was worried Phlox meant that Trip was dead, but, no, there was the shallow rise and fall of Trip's chest. It wasn't strong but it was there.

"I've managed to stabilise him for the moment but I need to get him into surgery immediately. His condition is critical. He's lost a considerable amount of blood and Klingon knives are not the most sanitary of instruments," said Phlox. He was already ushering in the medical technicians with a stretcher. They carefully loaded Trip onto the stretcher and carried him out of the shuttlepod.

Archer made to follow, but Phlox put at hand on him. "There's nothing you can do in sick bay. I need to operate and I won't be able to tell you anything until I'm done."

"I want to know as soon as he's out of surgery," said Archer.

"Of course," said Phlox and then he was gone, rushing Trip to sick bay.

Archer sighed and hung his head. Lieutenant Reed, entered the shuttle.

"Sir, what happened?" said Reed. He'd seen Trip on his way to sick bay and the Engineer hadn't looked at all good.

"Klingons," said Archer. "One of them stabbed Trip."

"He was trying to save my life," said Hoshi, looking very upset.

"We detected a shuttle launch from the Klingon vessel but we didn't have any way to warn you," said Reed. "I'm sorry, sir. Is Trip going to be alright?"

"We won't know until the doctor has operated." Everyone looked drained and worried, and it struck him just how much Trip meant to them all. He paused collecting himself. "That storm, anything to do with you?" said Archer, turning to Antonia.

"A side effect produced when we use the Aumshaya, it causes weather disturbances," said Antonia.

"But on Faranor we were in the room the entire time and we never once saw the Aumshaya used," said Darwin. "Well, until you were pushed through it."

"You're assuming that there was only one Aumshaya on Faranor," said Antonia.

"I think it's time that you told us what you did with the Venture crew," Archer said.

"They were always here," said Antonia, "just moved sideways, out of the way, so that they would not investigate the Doonshaya. That's the only way that I can explain it to you. Lije will return them once he has done what he needs to do with the ship."

"Why couldn't you just do that with the Klingons?" asked Archer.

"It would have changed nothing," said Antonia. "I can't permanently remove people from this universe and when they returned they would have come back for the Doonshaya. The crew of the Venture had played their part and could be moved temporarily without the Builders compromising their non-interference policy."

"I still don't understand why if you could remove the Venture crew out of harm's way, why you couldn't protect Trip," said Archer.

"It doesn't work that way," said Antonia. "I couldn't have prevented the death of the Klingon and I couldn't prevent Trip being stabbed. The Builders will not let me interfere to that degree. I may have overstepped my bounds even doing what I did. I will have to answer for my actions to the Builders."

"What about the Faranoans? You said the Builders didn't want their technology to cause harm," said Archer. "It ended up destroying an entire planet."

"It destroyed the planet but the Faranoans are still alive," said Antonia.

"What?" asked Archer, "how is that possible? Their planet was destroyed by a black hole. They were a primitive race with no technology that would have allowed them to escape."

"They were a race without technology," said Antonia, "that doesn't equate to primitive."

"How does that change anything?" asked Archer.

"The Faranoans ascended, they became like the Builders," said Antonia. "The Faranoans are a far older race than we originally believed them to be. My human self made the same mistake of assuming that because of their lack of technology they were uneducated. Mentally they were very advanced."

"So you're telling me that the only person who died on Faranor was you? And you didn't really die anyway."

"That's right," said Antonia. "The Builders would never have allowed all those people to die. In the end the Klingon destruction of the Doonshaya served their purposes. It was the prompt the Faranoans needed to ascend and no one can ever use the Faranor Doonshaya now the mechanism has gone."

"Mayweather to Captain Archer," said the com.

Archer went to the com. "Go ahead Travis," said Archer.

"Sir, we're being hailed by the Klingon vessel. They want to talk to you and they don't sound happy," said Travis.

"I'm on my way," said Archer.