Captain Archer was slowly pacing back and forth on the bridge in the situation area. Waiting to hear any news from any of his crew… and news of where the Suliban cell ship was. It had been 8 hours since she was taken. Trip was standing with him. He didn't know what to say. Tension was high among the 40 odd crew on board, consisting mainly of Security and engineer personelle.
It wasn't long before a bleep and a voice over the COMM system alerted them.
"Phlox to Captain Archer."
Archer quickly moved to the nearest panel and pressed the button to speak. "Go ahead"
"I need to see you in sickbay immediately." Phlox's voice was slightly deeper than usual.
"I'm on my way." Archer replied. He looked at Trip with a puzzled expression. There was something about Phlox's voice that told them what he needed to see them about was not very good news. His voice sounded slightly grim and morbid, although not being voice experts, it was hard to tell. They left via turbolift and soon were standing in sickbay next to Phlox. "What's the problem?"
"I've been analysing Trix's biosigns, and cellular structure. This…" He moved over to a screen and pressed a button. A picture of lots of cells all looking healthy and undamaged appeared. "Was taken when she first came in here. After that I placed a bio transmitter on her so I could monitor her biosigns wherever she was. The range is fairly limited though… to about one and a half light-years and about and hour ago I lost the signal."
It definitely wasn't sounding good to either of the two senior officers.
"Meaning they're more than one and a half light years away." Trip replied.
Phlox pressed the button again. The first picture minimised and a second picture took its place. "This was the last transmission I received."
Trip and Archer looked at the screen. Most of the cells in the picture were damaged and there were obvious signs of viral infections.
"What's happenin' to her?" Trip looked at the ship's physician, his face full of worry about what was happening to his new friend, his creation… his daughter.
"Her cells are slowly breaking down." Phlox replied, his head twitching back every now and then as he spoke.
"Why? Cause she's not really human… cause the Suliban are doin' something to her?" Trip really wanted to know. He cared about her a lot, like a dedicated father cares about a vulnerable daughter.
"No. I believe that she is connected to you Commander. Because her body was created using a strand of your hair your cells are linked together, bonded. The further away she is the bond becomes weaker and her cells break down more and more." Phlox replied.
"You mean she can't be too far away from me otherwise this'll happen to her and eventually she'll die?"
Phlox nodded his head. "Yes."
It was Archer's turn to ask a question. "How long would you say she has?"
"If we don't find her soon I would estimate around 24 hours. 30 at the most. If the cells continue to break down at the same rate, but the further they get away from us the quicker the cells may breakdown."
Trip and Archer hang their heads in worry.
"Trip, is there any chance you can give us more power to the warp engines?"
"Only by the experiment, but we need to drop outta warp to do that! And we don't really have the time to do that." Trip's argument was pretty firm, but Archer had other plans.
"If we drop out of warp and the experiment works there'll be more chance of finding her." Archer moved over to a panel." Archer to the bridge. Take us out of warp."
"Aye sir." Came the reply from the space boomer.
"You'd better get to Engineering."
Trip nodded his head once. "Aye sir." Trip answered and left sickbay, slightly reluctant to try the experiment now.
Archer watched as his best friend left the room. He then looked back at Phlox. "Tell me if you find out anything more."
"Of course Captain."
Archer nodded and left, heading for the bridge.
Once he was left alone Phlox continued to analyse the scans, to try and determine if the cells would start to break down faster than they currently were.
In engineering, everyone was at their posts ready to try the experiment, Trip standing on the plat form right next to the warp reactor.
"All right. Rostov, keep a check on the warp field regulator… and if any space dust gets into the intake manifolds get ready to purge 'em."
"Aye sir." Rostov called back. He was standing by a screen near one of the hatches. Both hands ready in case of an emergency and he needed to do his part. He brushed one hand through his hair to keep it out of his way and went back into his position.
"Ok. Increase power to the anti-matter injectors." Trip ordered. Crewman Kelly began to increase the power. She was standing next to Trip.
"Power is increasing." She reported. At least this time the systems weren't failing.
"Purging the intake manifolds!" Rostov called from his station and immediately began to press buttons. The information on his screen soon told him all dust was removed. "Intake manifolds are clear."
"Good!" Trip monitored the engine as progress was made to increase their speed. "Increase the power a bit more." Sweat was beginning to show on his forehead. He reached up one arm and wiped his sleeve across his brow to dry it.
Kelly obeyed, and then watched Trip. His facial expressions showing that he was concentrating hard on the target ahead. The warp reactor began to glow even more as the anti-matter mix was increased. The sound of the warp engine began to increase slightly, but it didn't bother them too much.
"Tucker to the bridge."
"Go ahead Trip." Archer voice responded after he pressed the button on the arm of his chair.
"I think we're ready to go. Bring her up to warp 4.9 to begin with."
Reed looked at Archer upon hearing this. After a brief look at him and then at Hoshi he returned to looking at his own viewer at his station, shifting nervously in his chair as he did. Travis and Hoshi also glanced at each other. They were both thinking and hoping that this would turn out all right.
"You heard the man Travis. 4.9" Archer looked at the helmsman with a slight nod as he shifted in his chair to make himself more comfortable.
"Aye sir." Travis began to work, slowly brining the ship into warp and then up to 4.9.
At 4.9 the ship began to shake violently. Some people had to hold on to bars and their stations to keep themselves from falling over.
"Compress the plasma stream!" Trip ordered, and Crewman Andrews began to work. Soon the ship began to stop shaking and things went slightly quiet for moment as everyone waited to make sure things were smooth.
"Keep bringing her up slowly, Travis, till warp 6."
"Aye sir." And Travis began to work even more. As the ship increased speed Travis continued to call out what warp they were at. The ship didn't shake again and soon they were running smoothly at warp 6.
Everyone was quiet for a couple of minutes, daring to breathe or utter a single word
Nothing exploded, nothing started to shake, no warning sounds, nothing. Trip looked at Kelly with a smile on his face.
"We did it!" He suddenly shouted as they clapped hands together in celebration. Up on the bridge Hoshi, Travis and the crewmen in the situation area, all began to cheer, although Malcolm just smiled at everyone, maintaining the British air of dignity. Around the rest of the ship cheers were heard. A wide smile crosses Archer's face.
"I knew you could do it Trip." Archer turned to look at T'Pol. "Keep scans running for Trix and the Suliban."
"Yes sir." T'Pol replied. Instantly Archer could sense the happiness in T'Pol's voice. Archer got out of his chair and headed down to engineering.
They were travelling faster than the ship had ever gone before. This was certainly going to go down in history for Trip. And now they were on their way to find the Suliban and their friend, Trix.
It was a race against time to find them, a race to save her, and stop whatever the Suliban were planing.
