000 Disclaimerme no own 000 Yay! I finally got the next chapter up!! This is now has about two or three chapters to go and then it's done so I'll just do my happy dance now! Thanks for all the reviews!! But unfortunately Soultoast this story ain't gonna feature ninja's I blame it on a flaw on my part lol! 000

The water surrounding Malcolm disappeared and he collapsed onto a cold hard black floor, trying to catch his breath.

Matthew looked up in annoyance.

'Your friends are fools,' he spat, slamming his hand down round Malcolm's mouth closing off his airway. 'If I die I take you with me.'

Malcolm struggled wildly, his arms flailing as he fought to breath, but eventually he went limp.

'Now we wait,' said Matthew through clenched teeth. 'If they care about you we can get back to business in no time.'

Archer and Trip stepped back watching in horror as Phlox fought to make Malcolm breath.

"Cap'n we've gotta go back! It's killin' him!" Trip exclaimed.

Archer turned back to the comm.

"Take us back Travis!"

"Sir?"

"You heard me take us back quickly!"

"Aye sir."

Matthew looked up again and nodded smugly releasing Malcolm and thumping his chest, noting with no small satisfaction that a rib broke beneath his fist.

Malcolm took a deep breath his eyes snapping open.

Matthew dragged him to his feet.

'Right, now your friends have decided to do the intelligent thing we can get back down to business,' he said grinning.

Malcolm couldn't reply-not yet, there wasn't enough breath in his lungs or enough voice left within him to make a sound.

'A long time ago a man wrote a book,' said Matthew beaming. 'He had this idea that everyman had a Room 101. You know the book I'm talking about-after all you have read it.'

He paused a moment for Malcolm to digest this information before continuing.

'This room contained their deepest fear, so what I've decided to do is to open up your Room 101. Although yours has a twist. This room contains everything you've ever feared.'

Malcolm looked on fearfully, unable to move.

'I expect you're wondering why I'm doing this,' said Matthew thoughtfully. 'Well it's basically because I'd be doing you a favour, I'd like to think of this as my final act as your big brother. I'm doing this for you Malcolm-I'm doing this so you won't have to live your pathetic little existence, lonely and friendless.'

Matthew stopped for a moment.

'Yes, I'm doing this for you,' he said and for a moment he looked unsure. Then he straightened. 'Actually more for me than you, I'm doing you a favour by showing you what a pathetic person you are but mainly it's for me. You see, you got to live your life and still do whatever the hell you wanted but I.........'

Matthew stopped again and shook his head as if to clear it. Then he turned and decked Malcolm sending him skidding backwards across the cold black floor.

They sighed with relief as the heart monitor began showing signs of life.

"Captain," said Phlox evenly. "I would suggest we don't attempt that again."

Archer nodded in agreement and focused on the rise and fall of his officer's chest.

"We have to help 'em," said Trip his face still registering shock. "We can't leave him like this."

Matthew stormed over and grabbed Malcolm hauling him to his feet.

'Enough talk for now,' he snapped. 'We must be getting on, I'd hate for you to be late for your own death.'

Malcolm suddenly came to his senses and started to struggled against Matthew, trying to break free from his vice like grip. Matthew hit him once before dragging him across the floor, ignoring him as he tried to break free from his grip.

Finally he yanked him to his feet once more in front of a door.

'Welcome to your Room 101.'

0000 Please review!! 0000