Let the Dead Bury the Living
By Thalia Drogna
AN: Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter.
The summons to attend court arrived in everyone's inboxes the same morning. Each of Enterprise's officers who had been involved in the investigation had one. Trip's evidence was to be first on only the second day of the trial. The others would follow, with Archer's evidence last in the schedule.
Starfleet were suffering from the left hand not knowing what the right hand was doing, and on one side Archer had Admiral Forrest telling him that Trip was not allowed to set foot on Earth, on the other side the lawyers were adamant that Trip should give evidence in person. Starfleet JAG was powerful and had friends in high places so seemed to be winning the argument, which for once wasn't what Archer wanted. If he had a legitimate excuse to keep Trip on Enterprise that would have suited him, Trip was not well enough in his opinion to be in court for hours at a time. The lawyers had given him all sorts of reassurances about frequent breaks so that Trip could rest but Archer knew Trip and he would see taking a break as weakness in front of the enemy.
Archer had accompanied Trip to his treatment session the morning that the summons had arrived to discuss the issue and the ensuing argument ran something like this.
Archer: You're not well enough to go to Earth to give evidence in person.
Trip: The hell I am.
Archer: I'm not letting you go.
Trip: You can't stop me.
Archer: Yes, I can.
Trip: No, you can't. I've got orders.
Archer: Yes, I can. I've got orders too.
Trip: My orders are better than your orders.
Phlox: Unless you two stop, I'm throwing both of you out of my sick bay now.
So that had been that. Talking Trip out of it was clearly not an option. Archer had hoped that the Doctor would order Trip not to go but Phlox had refused to back Archer's argument deciding that getting Trip off Enterprise would be good for him. Archer seemed to be spending a lot of time arguing with Trip at the moment and he wished he could avoid yet another round, but Trip could be very stubborn when he put his mind to it. Archer just didn't seem able to persuade Trip that his health was the top priority. Phlox had told Archer that Trip had begun to feel the first of the side effects, a little dizziness and nausea. Trip had carefully hidden this from his Captain, and brushed off Archer's enquiries about his health.
So despite all of Archer's protests, when the trial started Trip was there and ready to give his evidence. Phlox had accompanied him, which had annoyed Trip, but then he was gently reminded that the trial didn't mean he could take a break in his therapy. One of the conditions of Trip giving evidence was Phlox's presence in the court at all times and a morning recess to allow the doctor time to tend to his patient's treatment. Trip's evidence was expected to take a day or so to deliver followed by perhaps a day of cross examination from the Defence Counsel.
The court was an open airy chamber, with high oval windows that light streamed through. The jury of twelve Earth citizens sat to the right of the court in two rows of seats. Each seat was equipped with digital tablets for writing notes and viewing video evidence. At the front of the room was the imposing judge's seat, where Judge Smith presided over the case. The judge sat on a raised platform looking down across the court, able to take note of everything that went on whilst court was in session. On the judge's left was the witness stand, similarly equipped to the jury seats.
Nash and his defence counsel, a small army of well dressed lawyers, sat to one side of the court. Nash the epitome of a government figure in his composure and quiet confidence. He was obviously trying to give the air of a man wrongly accused. On the other side of the court sat the prosecution counsel, an unusual mix of civilian, Starfleet and Vulcan authority. They were doing their best to present a united front. Counsellor Webber was taking the lead on the questioning, but Captain Tate had given their opening arguments and T'Prell would be cross examining the defence witnesses.
There had already been a full day of opening arguments, procedural motions and jury selection. All of which Archer had sat through, hoping to gain some insight into Nash's defence, but so far nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. Archer didn't trust this man but at the moment he was doing things by the book. The first day seemed to be going smoothly enough. Archer sat in the court just behind the prosecution, offering moral support to the star witness. Trip was sworn in and then the prosecution questioning began.
"Commander, how long have you served in Starfleet?" asked Counsellor Webber.
"It's coming up for fifteen years, Ma'am," replied Trip.
"And you have served on Enterprise for just over three years now?"
"Yes, Ma'am," said Trip. So far nothing difficult, but this was just setting the scene. Making it obvious to everyone that he was fine, upstanding, officer.
"You were in fact the youngest member of Starfleet ever to be promoted to Commander, is that correct?" asked Webber.
"Yes, Ma'am," said Trip. It was a fact that he didn't tell a lot of people, although he knew that people did look at him and wonder about his age. He'd just had his thirty-second birthday when he made Commander. He knew it was mostly that he'd been in the right place at the right time, although he had worked very hard to get to that place.
"What was the reason given for your early promotion?"
"My contribution to the success and development of the Warp Five programme," said Trip.
"I would like the Commander's commendations and medals to be read into the record," said Webber.
Trip was thoroughly embarrassed by the string of awards for Engineering, commendations and medals that was then read out. He wasn't good at singing his own praises and most of the time he just ignored stuff like medals and commendations. It wasn't how many commendations you earned that made you a good officer, it was how good you were at your job. He certainly wasn't anymore of a hero than the other men and women who served on Enterprise. He hadn't even given his life. The fact that they'd decided that he needed a medal for being captured and tortured by the Xindi certainly wasn't his idea. He blamed himself for being stupid enough to get captured in the first place. The final award on the list was the Ishtari Star for Valour and that he didn't even remember earning, but they'd given it to him nonetheless. And one to Malcolm too, although Trip had no doubt that the Armoury officer had earned his.
Finally the character part of the evidence was over and they could move on to the practical aspect of things. Trip gave an accurate account of how he'd ended up with the nanites, exactly what they were designed to do, how they could be reprogrammed and his time on the weather station. There were a lot of technical details and Archer was amazed that Trip could keep it all straight in his head. He was also amazed at how Trip was able to remain calm and collected while he told the jury how Nash's men had tortured him and used him as a test subject.
When the judge finally called it a day, Trip had been on the stand for the complete session. He stepped down from the witness box and Archer saw him stagger slightly, putting out a hand to maintain his balance. Trip looked tired and Archer was beginning to notice that he was also paler than he had been earlier. Archer made his way through the crush of people leaving the court and towards Trip.
"I think we should get you back to the accommodation," said Archer. All three of the Enterprise personnel had been assigned quarters in Starfleet accommodation while they were staying on Earth, despite Phlox's comment that he wouldn't be requiring sleep for another month.
"I'm fine," said Trip, but his body wavered again. "Just another of those damned dizzy spells."
"It's been a long day," said Archer, taking pity on Trip's pride. "You did a good job. Clear, concise and in terms that even I could understand."
"Glad to hear it," said Trip, giving Archer a small smile.
The three Enterprise officers made their way back to their accommodation at a leisurely pace, mainly for Trip's benefit. They found the rooms that they had been allocated, a self-contained flat with six bedrooms that was usually Cadet accommodation. The bedrooms all opened onto an open plan living room and kitchen.
"This reminds me of being back at the Academy," said Trip, flopping down on the sofa.
"How about we complete the picture and order takeout?" asked Archer.
"Pizza? Mario's pizza?" asked Trip, hopefully. Every Cadet in Starfleet knew about Mario's. It was a tiny traditional, Italian restaurant that made the best pizza and pasta in town and also did a roaring trade in takeout to the nearby Starfleet base. It was run by Mario and his seemingly inexhaustible supply of family. Mario had a warm welcome for anyone who came to his restaurant and an interesting taste in hats. He was a legend to generations of Starfleet cadets who had passed through his doors.
"I'm not sure that pizza is a very nutritious meal," said Phlox.
"Come on, Doc, it's only one pizza," said Trip.
"Oh very well," said Phlox with a wave of his hand. "I suppose one pizza can't hurt and I have to admit that it is a variety of Earth cuisine that I've become quite fond of too. As long as I can have anchovies on mine."
"Anchovies?" asked Trip with an edge of disgust in his tone.
"Yes, I've found that I quite like them, even on their own as a snack," replied Phlox, disappearing into his room to unpack.
"Yuck. I'll have pepperoni with extra chillies. Even chef can't do pizza like Mario," said Trip, stretching out on the sofa.
"Yeah, Chef doesn't have many flaws but that may just be one of them," replied Archer, going to the com unit and dialling the number that he knew off by heart. He placed the order and turned around to find Trip had gone to take a shower.
"I think you've earned a pizza today," said Archer as Trip returned wearing clean clothes and towelling down his hair.
"Sure feels that way, but tomorrow is going to be the tough one. This was just the practice match." Trip stretched out his aching joints. Sitting on the stand all those hours had made him stiff and sore.
"Yeah, but we've gone over everything that they might throw at you. You know how to answer their questions, just don't let yourself get rattled by anything."
"I've come this far, I'm not letting Nash get the better of me," said Trip, with a yawn.
There was a knock at the door which signalled that the pizza had arrived. By this point everyone was hungry so they all tucked in rapidly, putting conversation on hold until the edge was taken off their hunger. Trip and Archer would have liked to have had beer with the pizza but Phlox had strictly forbidden Trip from drinking alcohol whilst his treatment was underway. Alcohol and anti-nanite medication were not a good combination according to Phlox and Trip was willing to believe the doctor on that one. Trip had told Archer that he could drink without him but as far as Archer was concerned that just wouldn't be fair, so he had also foregone the beer.
Just as they were finishing up there was a second knock on the door. Archer opened it and found Lieutenant Reed and T'Pol waiting outside.
"I see we missed tea," said Reed as he entered and dumped his duffle bag on the floor by the door.
"Sorry Malcolm, we weren't expecting you tonight. I thought you two weren't coming down until tomorrow," said Archer.
"There was a change in plans," said T'Pol.
"I guess we've almost got a full house," said Trip as he finished up another piece of his pizza and licked his fingers. "So what brings you down early?"
"Let's just say that I wasn't entirely happy about the security arrangements," said Malcolm, giving Archer a pointed look, which said "not in front of Trip" very clearly.
"I see. We can discuss that later," said Archer. Trip still seemed to be too involved in eating pizza to pay too much attention to what was going on. "The rooms on the left are free if you want to get unpacked. We can always order you more pizza if you're hungry."
"I ate before I left Enterprise," said T'Pol.
"Come on T'Pol, you're just saying that because you don't want to try the pizza," said Trip.
"I do not see the appeal of unleavened bread with soured mammalian gland excretion and vegetable sauce. It is something that I have experienced before and I did not find it particularly nutritious," said T'Pol.
"You sure know how to take the fun out of food, T'Pol," said Trip as he dropped his half eaten final piece of pizza back into the box and closed the lid.
"My apologies, Commander. I was not aware that an accurate description of what you are eating would put you off your food," said T'Pol.
"Yeah, right," said Trip as if he didn't really believe T'Pol. He stretched out on the sofa and did his best to ignore the Vulcan's presence.
"T'Pol and I did manage to grab something in the mess hall before we left," said Reed.
"I am going to unpack," stated T'Pol and moved off to one of the unoccupied rooms.
"She seems kind of tense," said Trip. Three pairs of eyes looked at him with slightly interested expressions. "What? She does seem, kind of, erm, tense. I was just wondering if she's okay is all."
Reed knew that it was because T'Pol was worried, but he wasn't going to blurt that out loud. He always forgot the strange dynamic between Trip and T'Pol. They were able to read each other with uncanny accuracy and in this case Trip had picked up on something in T'Pol, even if he had misidentified it. Considering that T'Pol gave very little away, Reed was surprised Trip could read her at all.
"She's probably just thinking about the trial," supplied Archer, for which Reed was very grateful.
"Probably," admitted Trip with a sigh and a yawn.
"Maybe you should go to bed, Commander," suggested Phlox.
"At 9pm? You have to be kidding," replied Trip indignantly.
"Trip, you're yawning your head off and not fooling anyone," said Archer. "And it's a long day tomorrow. Go to bed, Commander, that's an order."
Trip smiled and pushed himself off the invitingly comfortable sofa. "Yes, sir. Hitting the sack as ordered." He wandered off to bed mumbling to himself as he went. Archer thought he heard something about "over protective mother hen".
The rest of the assembled officers waited until Trip had shut his door before they adjourned to T'Pol's room. Reed really didn't want Trip to hear what he had to say and a couple of closed doors between them would make that a lot less likely.
"Report," said Archer.
"Lieutenant Reed has come into possession of some disturbing data," said T'Pol.
"Nash is planning something," said Reed. "Someone changed the guards who are on duty tomorrow at the trial. I think I recognise the names that have been substituted. They're Davis's men. I'm worried about Trip's safety."
"You think they'll try to kidnap him again?" asked Archer.
"I doubt it. It's rather too public a forum for that. I did wonder if they were going to try and kill him, but it seems strange to try now. He's already given half of his evidence and his death wouldn't be enough to stop the trial or even swing it in Nash's favour," said Malcolm. He said the words without emotion, the picture of a model security officer, but he couldn't help but be shaken by the idea of Trip being attacked or even killed.
"So we have no idea what Nash is planning."
"The only thing I can think of is that he's distracting us from something else," replied the Lieutenant. "But I have even less idea about what that might be."
"What about Davis?" asked Archer.
"I have been working on a tracking device," said T'Pol. "And counter measures to deal with him, should he appear again. I have pre-programmed all of our tricorders to be able to produce the frequency which we know can disable him."
"He remains a huge security risk," said Reed. "It's possible that he could corrupt our security devices and gain access without even triggering any alarms. We've seen Trip fool security systems with the nanites' abilities and I have no reason to believe that the nanites bonded to Davis are less able. It's a security officer's nightmare."
"We need to find a way to capture Davis before he can cause any more trouble," said Archer.
"If there is a frequency which liquidises the nanites then there should be a frequency that solidifies them," said Phlox. "If we could isolate that frequency, then we would be able to capture him while he is disabled."
"It is possible," said T'Pol.
"T'Pol, I want you to make use of any resources here at Starfleet that you need and work out a way to stop Davis. In the meantime let's keep our eyes open. Malcolm, I want you to stay with Trip tomorrow. Don't let him out of your sight."
"Yes, sir," said Reed, he had been about to suggest the same course of action. Davis wasn't getting the jump on him this time.
Reed, T'Pol and Phlox sat around the breakfast bar munching on toast and drinking coffee. All three were engrossed in reading padds and conversation was minimal. Archer emerged from his room, his hair dishevelled and eyes bleary.
"Morning," said Archer as he reached for the coffee pot and a clean mug.
"Good morning, sir," replied Reed. Archer wondered how Reed could be this together this early in the morning. Archer was still dressed in his pyjamas and hadn't even showered yet.
Phlox grinned at his Captain and T'Pol merely nodded in acknowledgement.
"Has Trip moved yet?" asked Archer.
"I think he's still sleeping," said Reed. "He was so tired last night I thought I should let him rest."
"I'd better give him a shout or we'll be late for court," said Archer. He took a long drink from his mug of coffee and went over to Trip's door. He knocked loudly. "Come on Trip, time to get up." There was no sound of movement from inside the room. Archer opened the door and went over to Trip, who still seemed to be fast asleep, and shook his shoulder. "Time to get up, Commander."
Trip didn't even stir. And suddenly Archer realised that this wasn't right. Not even Trip slept this deeply. He quickly felt Trip's neck for a pulse and was reassured when he felt a steady beat and the warmth of living skin beneath his fingers.
"Phlox!" shouted Archer, going to the bedroom door. "I can't wake him."
Phlox grabbed his medical kit and followed Archer back into Trip's room. Reed and T'Pol weren't far behind the doctor. Everyone looked stunned and worried as the doctor scanned Trip.
"He's been drugged. Heavily. A long acting sedative, probably administered last night some time," said Phlox.
"Is he going to be okay?" asked Archer. "Can you wake him?"
"He will be fine, but I don't want to risk a stimulant in his current state. I need to take a blood sample and find out which exact drug he was given before I can counteract it," replied Phlox. "We'd be better just letting him sleep it off."
"How long will that take?" asked Reed, from the doorway.
"I'd say he'll be out for another eight hours at least," said Phlox.
"Which means he's not going to court today," said Archer.
"It is obvious that this was a malicious act," said T'Pol. "Nash obviously wished to prevent the Commander from appearing in court today."
"I have some calls to make," said Archer, and angrily left the room to com the prosecution team.
"The question is why?" said Reed. "Or more correctly why isn't he dead? If they can drug him then they could have poisoned him just as easily."
"That also raises the question of how the drug was introduced into his system," said T'Pol.
"I should have thought last night's pizza," said Reed, without a pause. "All it would have taken was for someone to intercept the delivery boy on the way in. Would the timing be right, Doctor?"
"Yes, I would think so," replied Phlox.
"What happened to the pizza boxes?" asked Reed.
"They were placed in the waste receptacle in the kitchen," said T'Pol.
"I'll get the boxes tested to confirm my theory and hopefully that will tell us what drug they used as well," said Reed.
"That would be most helpful, Lieutenant," said Phlox.
Reed gave Phlox a nod in acknowledgement and went to root through the rubbish bin in the kitchen. T'Pol looked down at the sleeping form of Commander Tucker, he looked peaceful and a lot younger than he really was. Blond hair stuck out at strange angles from his head and T'Pol moved to brush it out of his eyes. She stopped herself when she remembered that the doctor was watching her.
"I will go and help the Lieutenant with his analysis," she said and quietly left the room.
"Interesting," muttered Phlox as he turned back to his patient.
Trip awoke into a dimly lit room, with a throbbing head that suggested he'd overdone things the night before. His eyes didn't want to stay open and he still felt unbelievably tired, like he couldn't shake off the sleepiness.
"Oh no you don't," said the voice of Captain Archer. "You've been asleep long enough, it's time for you to wake up. Come on, Commander, rise and shine."
"Only if the shining part isn't compulsory," Trip replied and was surprised to hear how shaky his voice sounded. "I feel awful." He rubbed his eyes and managed to persuade them to focus on the figure sitting in a chair by the bed. "I'm guessing that last night was a bit more eventful than I remember it being."
"You were drugged. A long acting sedative in your pizza. You've been out for about sixteen hours," said Archer.
"In my pizza?" asked Trip, with incredulity. "That just isn't playing fair." He tried to sit up and the headache hit again, making him feel a little dizzy. He fell to one side and felt the supporting hands of his Captain prevent him from toppling over.
"Just stay right there and I'll let Phlox know that you're awake. He said you probably wouldn't feel too good when you woke up," said Archer.
Then Trip remembered why he was here in the first place. "Damn. What about my evidence at the trial?"
"We were able to convince the judge that you'd been drugged on purpose and you needed the day off to recover," said Archer. "The trial will resume tomorrow where we left off. Unfortunately, so far we have nothing to show that this was Nash's work."
"Nothing new there," replied Trip, resignedly. Archer just nodded and went to find Phlox.
As usual the doctor was far too cheerful for Trip's liking as he bustled into the room. "Ah Commander, I'm pleased to see that you're awake. I was beginning to think that I had miscalculated. How do you feel?"
"Like I could go back to sleep again and I've got the mother of all headaches pounding in my skull," said Trip, pressing the palm of his hand against his temple as if he could soothe the headache away.
Phlox pulled out his scanner and took readings on his patient, before filling a hypospray and injecting Trip with the contents. "That should make you feel better in a few moments. Now we need to get you up and moving about. Exercise will be beneficial in dispelling the drug's effects more quickly."
Trip groaned at that pronouncement, all he really felt like was going straight back to sleep again, but it didn't sound like Phlox was going to let him. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and allowed Archer to help him to stand. His legs felt shaky and he was glad for the help. Archer let Trip lean against him as they walked circuits of the living room.
"You know I've been tortured, infected with nanites, wired into living computers and used as a test subject, but this is the worst yet. Drugging a man's pizza is just plain despicable," said Trip. "They are so going to pay for this one."
"I think being drugged is the least of your worries, Trip," replied Archer. At the back of his mind was the fact that it could just as easily have been poison that was the extra ingredient of the pizza. When Trip hadn't awoken his first thought was that his friend was dead and that had been one of the worst moments of his life. "But don't worry. We will get them for this."
"They had this whole place bugged," said Reed, after he had gone around and removed all of said bugs and taken great pleasure in squashing the small electronic devices.
"Which was how they knew we'd ordered pizza and which pizza to drug," said Trip, who was lying out on the sofa under a blanket. Phlox had eventually let him rest, once the doctor was convinced that the drug had stopped acting on his system.
"We were lucky that they didn't decide to poison us all," said Archer.
"If they'd wanted to kill us then we would be dead," said Reed. "Davis doesn't do anything in half-measures. They wanted Trip out of action today. That's the only explanation."
"I don't like this at all," said Archer, pacing up and down the room. "What is he planning? Why is he always two steps ahead of us?"
"It's my fault for not telling you to sweep for bugs," said Reed.
"Malcolm, how were you to know that they'd bug the place. This is meant to be secure, Starfleet accommodation," said Trip. "That's why we were staying here instead of a hotel."
"I shouldn't have assumed that it would be safe just because it is supposedly secure. We know that Nash has men inside Starfleet," said Reed.
"There's no point in going over past mistakes," said Archer. "Let's just work out how we can make sure that this doesn't happen again. For starters, no more takeout. Admiral Forrest has also assigned an additional security detail. Lieutenant, you'll be acting as Trip's bodyguard whilst he's on Earth."
"I don't need a bodyguard," said Trip.
"Trip, they drugged you and they could have killed you. I'm not taking any more chances. If I say you've got a bodyguard then you've got a bodyguard," said Archer.
Trip scowled at his commanding officer, but didn't argue further.
By the time Trip arrived at Court the next morning he already felt worn out. Everyone was treating him like he was about to be attacked at any moment and he wasn't sure how much more he could take. He understood their need to keep him safe, if it had been one of his friends he would have felt the same but he was an independent soul and the constant attention grated on him. The enforced sedation of the previous day had certainly not left him feeling rested, in fact if anything it had made it impossible for him to get a good night's sleep and instead he'd lain awake going over his testimony in his head. Obsessing in an unhealthy manner.
Nash's legal counsel was a short, dark haired, slender woman dressed in a designer suit, who had predator written all over her. Her name was Counsellor Stella Constantine and she had the reputation of hating to lose, and because she hated to lose she rarely did. Although she also had a reputation for foul play, nothing had ever been proven.
"Commander Tucker, that's an impressive service record that you have, wouldn't you agree?" she asked.
"It depends who you're comparing it to," said Trip.
"Come now, Commander, you're being modest. You were in fact the first ever person to be awarded the Starfleet Bronze Star for Bravery, isn't that true?"
"Yes, ma'am," replied Trip.
"Why were you awarded the Bronze Star?" asked Counsellor Constantine.
"I survived capture and torture by the enemy without divulging sensitive information," replied Trip.
"During which torture you were infected with the nanites?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Didn't you then steal a shuttlecraft and attempt to deliver yourself to the Xindi with a considerable amount of sensitive information?" asked Constantine.
"Yes, because…" said Trip.
"Yes or no will suffice," said Constantine, interrupting Trip before he could continue. "And you also shot your Captain with a phase pistol whilst you were assisting in a mutiny led by the Vulcan first officer of Enterprise. Yes or no, Commander."
"Yes," said Trip through gritted teeth. Counsellor Webber had told him that the defence would try this and he had thought that he was prepared but now that it came to character assassination it was all he could do to stop himself shouting at this woman that she was twisting everything.
"You seem to be very friendly with aliens, not just Commander T'Pol," said Constantine. "Apparently you became pregnant by a Xyrillian."
"That was all a misunderstanding," said Trip.
"I find it hard to see how a pregnancy could result from a misunderstanding," said the Counsellor.
"I didn't realise that I could get pregnant from sticking my hands in a box of pebbles," said Trip, crossly.
"You expect us to believe that was what really happened?"
"It was what happened."
"If that was how you became pregnant, wouldn't you say that indicates a lack of research and caution on your part?" Constantine's emphasis on the "if" made Trip's blood boil.
"No," said Trip, his voice raised. "If you'd ever made first contact with an alien species then you'd know that was a complete impossibility. Most of the time we're lucky if we can just make ourselves understood."
"How reassuring," said Constantine.
"Objection," said Webber.
"Sustained," said the Judge. "The jury will disregard that last comment. Please keep your comments to yourself, Counsellor."
"My apologies, Judge," replied Constantine. "Commander Tucker, these nanites are capable of controlling your body, are they not?"
"Not anymore, we reprogrammed them."
"How do you know that your reprogramming was successful?"
"All the tests we performed indicated that we were successful."
"But you haven't got any hard proof?"
"I guess not. It's kind of hard to prove a negative."
"So you could still be under the Xindi's control."
"I think I'd know by now if I was," replied Trip, tersely.
"But it is possible?"
"The nanites aren't being controlled by the Xindi and neither am I."
"You alleged in your testimony that you were kidnapped by agents working for Senator Nash. Did you ever actually see the Senator?"
"No, but they said the orders came from him."
"But you never saw the Senator. Not while you were on the weather station or on Enterprise?" Constantine walked across the court and gave the jury a pointed look as she posed the question.
"No, ma'am. I did not."
"There is no proof that Senator Nash gave those orders except that your kidnappers told you so."
Trip blinked. She was right. He hadn't ever seen Nash on the weather station.
"Maybe your kidnapping was just a front to get you off Enterprise so that when the Vulcan compound was attacked by nanites you could say that it wasn't you."
"Look here, Lady, I was taken against my will. They had to stun me to get me off Enterprise. Ask my Doctor what I looked like when I was rescued," said Trip angrily.
"Rest assured that when Doctor Phlox gives evidence I will ask him. All of the injuries that you sustained could have been faked though. You were originally going to hold the post of First Officer of Enterprise, weren't you?"
"That was the original plan," said Trip.
"But the Vulcans insisted that Enterprise take a Vulcan First Officer on its first mission. Commander T'Pol was given the job of First Officer. How did that make you feel, Commander? Being passed over like that?"
"I wasn't happy at first, but I've got enough work worrying about the engines without being First Officer as well," said Trip.
"So you don't harbour any grudges against the Vulcans for setting your career back?"
"No, I don't," said Trip.
"What about when your Captain decided to keep his Vulcan First Officer, in favour of re-instating you? Didn't that make you angry?" asked Constantine.
"No it didn't make me angry. I told you, I didn't want the job anyway. The Captain knew I'd rather spend the time working on the engines, than doing all the paperwork that goes with being First Officer. We needed a Science Officer and T'Pol's good at her job. We all respect her and it doesn't matter one bit that she's a Vulcan."
"Well you're a better person than I am, Commander," replied Constantine.
The cross examination continued well into the afternoon. Counsellor Constantine picked all of Trip's evidence apart. She was merciless about her character assassination and by the time she'd finished Trip felt as if he had no personal life left. He knew that there were incidents in his past that he wasn't proud of but they were in the past now and should have been let lie. Constantine had dredged everything back up to the surface along with all the bad feelings that accompanied those incidents. After the prosecution had portrayed him as a model Starfleet officer, he now looked like a lecherous, incompetent, xenophobic traitor. Through it all Nash had smiled his crocodile grin and looked as if he was enjoying it.
He got down from the stand feeling drained and angry at himself for letting Constantine get to him. The Counsellor approached him.
"My client would like a word with you," she said.
"I have nothing to say to him or you," replied Trip.
"Not even if it will help your case?" asked Constantine persuasively.
Trip could see Lieutenant Reed approaching him, he looked worried, but Trip didn't see what harm talking to the Senator would do. The guards were already putting the handcuffs on their prisoner to take him back to the cells so he wouldn't be much of a threat. He allowed Constantine to take him over to Nash.
"Commander," said Nash in greeting.
"Senator," replied Trip, with undisguised animosity.
"Nietzsche once said that if a man who wants to create greatness uses the past, then he will empower himself through history."
"That's real interesting. What does it have to do with me?" asked Trip.
"You're going to help me let the dead bury the living," said Nash.
Trip blinked, "what?"
Nash just smiled at Trip and was led away by his guards.
"What was that all about?" asked Reed as he arrived at Trip's position.
"I don't know. All he did was quote Nietzsche at me," said Trip. "Come on let's get out of here, I've had enough of this place."
"You'll get no argument from me there," replied Reed. "The Captain, T'Pol and Phlox are meeting us outside."
Trip followed Reed from the court room and stopped in his tracks. He suddenly didn't feel at all good. His head felt strange, as if there was an itch in his brain that he couldn't scratch. He shook his head to try and clear it and lent against the doorway of the court room for support. His head began to ache and then there was a shaft of pain that split across his skull and drove him to his knees.
"Welcome back," said a small voice in his head.
"No," whispered Trip, as he struggled to retain control.
When Malcolm turned around to talk to Trip, he found him gone.