C-28

Chapter 4

Disclaimer, etc. at beginning of Chapter 1

Thanks to all who have reviewed. I appreciate the feedback. :)

At 1500 hours, Archer, Trip, Reed, Phlox, and the two engineers Trip had chosen to accompany them were gathered in the shuttlebay. Reed and Archer were briefing the engineers on the procedure for the transaction, while Phlox got Trip settled into the shuttlepod and calibrated the internal sensors to keep watch on his condition.
"If you have any more spasms, use the muscle relaxant again. I've also included some painkillers in case your shoulder begins bothering you. I would tell you to try to rest, but I doubt it would do any good." Phlox handed Trip the medkit.
"Thanks, Doc."
"Don't be thanking me yet, Commander, just please try not to make more work for me." With that, he turned and stepped out of the shuttle, heading back to sickbay to monitor Trip from afar.

++++++++++

The shuttle ride to the surface was without incident, but as they came into the clearing, it was very obvious that the weather had changed in their absence. The change wasn't for the better either. At least a foot of snow had fallen, and drifted to piles nearly six feet high in some areas. Both snow and wind had apparently ended, however, as sunlight, albeit cold, shone through the trees.
Trip was glad he'd brought more than a lightweight jacket this time around, though he still wasn't looking forward to trudging through the snow. When everyone else started for the shuttlepod's exit, Trip began to stand as well, but was stilled by a stern look from Archer.
"Nice try, Trip. If I didn't think that Solead's strange preoccupation with insulting you might be of detriment to our obtaining the C-28 in its absence, you would still be in sickbay. Don't push your luck. If we need you, we'll contact you right away. Otherwise, stay put."
Trip nodded his acknowledgement, then leaned back in his seat, suddenly feeling quite exhausted. Placing his communicator within easy reach, as well as a phase pistol, just in case, Trip watched the shuttle hatch close before watching his own eyelids slide shut.

++++++++++

Archer, Malcolm, and the two engineers arrived at the main door of the same building where they had met with Solead that morning. The door slid aside, allowing them to enter, but the Draden was nowhere to be seen. The four spread out a bit and had a look around in the general vicinity of the entrance. Malcolm returned a few moments later, a frown present on his face.
"I don't like this, Captain. It's not like Solead to be late."
Archer raised an eyebrow, a gesture very T'Pol-like. "Give the guy a break, Malcolm. It's only been three minutes, and you've only had one meeting on which to base your opinion."
"Very true, sir. But may I point out that I'm not the only one who is aware of the amount of time that has passed."
"All right, I'll admit that much, but let's not say he stood us up just yet. If you were a Draden trying to prepare for the sale of C-28, where would you be?"

++++++++++

"I don't like this, Solead. You told us they would have their engineer with them. Instead, there are two strangers." The reptilian Xindi glowered at Solead and the monitors in turn.
"They very badly want the C-28. If I set it as a condition of the sale that he be present, they will get him here."
"And if they do not?"
"They won't get one molecule of C-28."
"And you won't get another day to live, Draden. Go on, wouldn't want to keep them waiting," the Xindi snarled, shoving Solead toward the door.

++++++++++

Trip awoke with a start, jerking away as he felt something cold touch his neck. When his eyes finally focused on the person attached to the hand holding a sword at his throat, he wasn't that surprised to see another Draden. The engineer opened his mouth to comment on their greeting habits, but was silenced as the sword flicked from his neck to mere millimeters from his lips, seemingly without having moved at all.
"What the hell happened to you?" The Draden asked, a surprised expression coming to his face as he looked Trip over more closely.
"Excuse me?" Trip's expression was just as baffled as the Draden's.
"Were you in a fight?"
"What do you care? And who the hell are you?"
"Never mind that," the Draden shook his head. "Listen, he will be coming for you soon. You must leave now, while you still have a chance!"
"Who's 'he'?" Trip asked.
"A Xindi. He's a bounty hunter. Solead's working for him. The transaction your captain is preparing to make is real, the C-28 is real, and the price is real: you."
"That's ridiculous!"
"Solead accidentally ran across classified evidence of the Xindi weapon. When this bounty hunter caught up with him, Solead made him a deal. He would deliver Enterprise's chief engineer to the Xindi, and in exchange, could live. The bounty hunter is in the building with Solead and your captain even as we speak. You are most valuable to the Xindi, but all you Humans carry a ridiculously high price on your heads. I can't guarantee he won't take one of your friends instead if he can't find you," the Draden rolled his eyes.
"And I'm supposed to believe you why?" Trip asked, still a bit grumpy after his nap. He just then noticed that the Draden couldn't have been much over the age of 18, which could explain much of the sarcasm.
"Because if you don't, that Xindi is going to get wind of your presence, and this shuttlepod is the first place he's going to come looking. I don't need to tell you that you don't want to be here when that happens."
"Okay, so where am I supposed to go?"
"I don't suppose you'd have the good sense to get in the pilot's chair and fly this thing out of here?"
Trip shook his head.
"Then I'm afraid you're on your own. You never saw me here." With that, the Draden turned and was gone before Trip had a chance to say another word.
He began to consider his options. Although he was inclined to believe that this anonymous Draden's assertions were false, there was that creepy vibe he'd been getting off of Solead earlier, and now there was his unexplained medical condition. But would Archer really fall for a set-up like this? It was definitely possible that he had no idea it was a set-up. Solead could have paid off any number of merchants such as Byx to direct them here.
So what were his options? Stay and wait for his head to be collected for cash, or go out into the cold and snow, save the Cap, Malcolm, and his engineers, then spend another week in sickbay as a result of exacerbated injuries. Neither was very appealing, but at least he had a better chance of surviving the latter.
Trip decided against contacting the captain, for if there was, in fact, a bounty hunter listening in, it wouldn't do to give away his location. Taking with him the medkit Phlox had prepared, as well as a flashlight, phase pistol, and communicator, Trip secured the shuttlepod and headed off through the trees toward the building, fighting off the headache and slight dizziness that any movement continued to bring.

++++++++++

At least half an hour had passed, and they were still wandering around in the corridor. Whatever patience Archer had had was completely gone. He had the sense that Reed's patience had run out long ago as well. The captain was taking out his communicator to contact T'Pol when Solead appeared around the corner.
"It's about bloody time," Reed muttered, low enough so only Archer could hear him.
"I apologize for my tardiness. I had to attend to an urgent matter. Shall we proceed?" "Please," said Archer with a frown, gesturing for Solead to lead the way. When they reached the same room they'd met in earlier that morning, Solead picked up a device similar to a padd and handed it to Archer. "The sales contract, dependent upon your chosen payment."
"Lieutenant Reed has a list of possible items we are willing to trade. Look them over and see what suits your purposes."
Reed handed him the padd, which Solead began to peruse. He nodded to himself as he scrolled through the list. "Several of these items would be an acceptable trade for the C-28."
"That's good to hear. Your sales contract is acceptable to us as well. If you make a decision on what you'd like to trade, we'll make arrangements to have it delivered."
"Of course. There is one other...small...matter. I was under the impression that your engineer would be present at this meeting. C-28 is most volatile. Someone with Commander Tucker's level of expertise is necessary to transport it safely."
"Mr. Tucker has recently been taken ill," Reed explained. "Ensign Avery and Ensign Jace are prepared to handle the technical implications of the transfer."
"Lieutenant Reed, I'm surprised. You being charged with the safety of Enterprise and her crew, I thought you would hold the same reservations as I."
"I have confidence in Enterprise's crew, Mr. Solead, and it may as well be the Commander himself standing here as he personally appointed these officers to come in his place. As far as I'm concerned, that's fair enough for me."
"You'll forgive me if I don't agree. I am a responsible businessman, gentlemen. I don't wish to see any of my clients harmed, and therefore I must decline the sale unless Mr. Tucker is present. I will allow you ten minutes to discuss it, but I must have your answer at that time." Solead turned and stepped out the door without another word.

++++++++++

"Is he here?" the Xindi asked immediately upon Solead's return to the room where he had been monitoring the meeting.
"It is doubtful. I did not anticipate this." The last bit he said to himself, but the Xindi overheard.
"You did not anticipate what?" he demanded.
"That the Commander would become ill as a result of my plan..."
"What kind of plan? The plan was for you to bring me the Human engineer! That was the only plan, and you have failed!"
"Allow me to explain," Solead said, desperately trying to keep his voice calm. "The Draden possess a biological compound that is very useful in persuasion. It is a natural secretion of our skin, especially that of our hands, and when it comes into contact with another Draden's skin, they become more susceptible to the power of suggestion. In certain cases, if extensive contact is maintained, the effect is so great that the individual cannot help but act in the desired manner or perform the desired task."
"And you used this...secretion...on the Commander?"
"Yes. I wasn't even sure it would work, as it had to pass through his clothing, but the substance has an incredibly fine molecular structure, and apparently my worries were in vain. In any case, I assumed I would be able to lure him away from the others during our current exchange and give him over to you."
"Well, that has not happened has it? I suppose I will just have to use the others as a bargaining chip to get to him then. Buy me five minutes by chatting with them, you're incredibly good at that. We shall then see whether the Humans get to see another day."

TBC...