C-28
Chapter 11
See Chapter 1 for disclaimer, etc.
A/N: I wish to apologize to everyone who has been reading this story for my excessive lapse in updating. Shortly after I posted the previous chapter, my dad underwent major surgery. I have not had much time since then to devote to writing, but as life has returned to some measure of normalcy I will make every effort to conclude this story. Another, longer chapter will be out by early next week, I just need to finish editing it. Thanks for your patience and thanks for reading.
A rustling sound drifted through the water that surrounded him, and he thought it strange…there was no sound in this place, just deep calm water. A small thud followed, corresponding with something soft hitting him in the head, then a short string of soft cursing.
Archer's eyes snapped open and he blinked rapidly, looking around in confusion. He soon recognized his surroundings and rolled over onto his back. Suddenly, he knew what had woken him. "Trip?" Archer quickly sat up.
"Cap'n? Is that you?" Trip whispered, craning his neck in an attempt to see where the voice had come from. He attempted to prop himself up on his good arm as Archer appeared in his line of vision, but his entire body protested the action. His arm was trembling from the strain, and he'd only raised himself a few inches off the bed.
"Yes, it's me." Archer leaned down and picked up Trip's pillow from where it had fallen. "Just lie still, Trip." He returned the pillow to its place and put his hand on Trip's shoulder, guiding him back against it.
"Sorry I woke you, Jon. Guess I wasn't…expectin' anyone to be down there." Trip paused, fighting the urge to cough that was brought by the dryness in his throat.
Archer noticed his discomfort and crossed to a table to fetch Trip a glass of water. "Neither was I," he said, returning to Trip. "It must have been Phlox's doing because I distinctly remember falling asleep in that chair, and when I awoke, I was down there." The captain looked at the portable cot suspiciously, then placed the glass in Trip's hand.
"Thanks, Cap'n." Trip slowly raised his head enough to take a few sips, then handed the glass back to Archer, taking a better look at his surroundings in the meantime. "Speaking of the doc, do ya have any idea what he's workin' on out there?" Trip indicated an area outside the curtain with a nod of his head, and Archer stepped over to see what he was looking at.
Jon noticed that the curtain surrounding Trip's bed was now only partially obscuring his view of the place where the Xindi lay, Phlox working over him. Luckily, Trip wasn't able to see what or who was on the bed. "I would assume that he's just working more on the problem of that Draden enzyme. Knowing Phlox, he wanted to be nearby in case there was any change in your condition," Archer fibbed. Jon imagined that if Trip spotted the Xindi, he'd be wanting out of sickbay and/or wanting to kill the reptilian in the process.
"There's a problem with the enzyme? I mean, other than the obvious one of course?"
Due to sheer tiredness, the captain was about to ask Trip to clarify the 'obvious problem' when Phlox's all-too-perky voice reached his ears. "Commander, you're awake!" The Denobulan stepped around the curtain and nearer to the bed, tricorder in hand. "How are you feeling?" Phlox asked Trip, in a lower volume than before. Archer mused that the doctor must have noticed he and Trip wince in tandem at his first proclamation.
"Like I fought the business end of a phase pistol an' lost." Trip said, his tone so serious that Archer had to hide his grin.
Phlox also smiled. "Are you having any pain from your leg?"
"Not really. I'm just stiff all over…is that from the Draden enzyme? The cap'n mentioned somethin' about it before you came in," the engineer said at Phlox's slightly astonished look.
"Unfortunately yes, Commander. It turned out to have some…unforeseen effects."
"What kind of effects?"
"Mainly extended muscular tension, accompanied by greater fatigue from the extra energy that's being expended."
"How long do ya think it'll last?"
"I have a couple of leads in my research, but I can't give you a clear estimate at this point, Commander. Most likely, this change from extreme, sudden contractions to more steady tension spells indicates that your body is in the process of purging the substance. I'm currently attempting to develop a catalyst that will help that process along," Phlox replied.
"So what am I supposed to do until then?" Trip's voice sounded much more impatient than he actually felt.
"Try to relax and get some rest. Your body needs time to heal. This will help ease some of the tension," Phlox said, reaching for a hypospray.
Trip nodded and closed his eyes. He felt the cold hiss against his neck just before he drifted off.
The reptilian awoke to a room of strange sounds and odd, indirect lighting. He found he could not will any part of his body to move other than his eyes, which he used to take stock of his situation. He was not being held in place by any sort of visible restraints. Why then could he not move a single muscle in his aching body? Straining his ocular movement range to its capacity, the bounty hunter glimpsed an instrument on a nearby cart. His eyes narrowed slightly, and for an instant he was merely curious. His brief time studying human technology did not provide him with enough information to be certain of the object's purpose. Abruptly his curiosity ended, however, when his rationale told him that he must be a prisoner on the human vessel to be surrounded by their technology.
Bolting upright with a sudden surge of anger and fear, the Xindi did not stop to wonder how or why he was suddenly able to move. He instead searched for a weapon, and not finding one in his immediate vicinity, crept quietly toward the first doorway that he saw. It slid open with a soft hiss at his presence, and he started slightly. The adrenaline coursing through him had left his nerves on edge.
The room spread before him appeared to be some sort of emergency facility, for it contained a wide array of medical instruments and scanners. Some of them bore a remarkably similarity to Xindi technology. Others were strange and their uses were not forthcoming. No matter, any sharp object or blunt object was as good as another, and he grabbed a scalpel, sliding it quickly into his sleeve. He also picked up an oblong piece of monitoring equipment and hooked it through his belt before continuing on.
TBC…soon…I really mean it… :)
