Chapter Twenty-Two: A Vial of Hopsvirn
"You didn't have to kill them," Trip said, running behind Nevilka. He alternately fired behind them.
The three were running through the hallways, dodging laser beams.
"They were only security," Nevilka stated. "Here," she threw a phase pistol at Trip. He fired behind them again with pistols on each hand.
"Trip's right," Malcolm said, also firing behind them. "We only had to stun them."
"I will do as I please. Those bastards killed my friends. It's called payback."
They rounded a corner and ran into the open hatchway. Nevilka slammed her hand on the green button inside and the door swished closed. "Besides…they would have woken up sooner or later and immediately reported us," she said, breathlessly.
Trip studied her; she had a dark personality he couldn't begin to comprehend. What was it about being alone that could make a person angry? Trip had never been alone, the way Nevilka had, in his life; but he figured he would never want to find out.
"This is it," Nevilka said, aiming her pistol at another closed hatch. She fired multiple shots and the door blasted open.
"What is this!" a voice from within shouted, coughing from the debris. An alarm went off and red lights flashed.
Nevilka walked inside and stepped over a dead body. "We've come to take what we need." She smirked.
She aimed her weapon at a particular Oknashtian, while Trip and Malcolm trained theirs on the remaining two.
"Where is the Hopsvirn antidote?" she asked, coldly.
"Oh, Nevilka," the Oknashtian cooed. "How is your father? Haven't seen him in a…while."
"Sick bastard!" Nevilka spat. "I didn't come here to play games. Give me the antidote or else I'll bore two holes into your black heart," she barked.
"Nevilka…after everything I've done for you. Why don't you give your Uncle a hug?" He smiled menacingly.
"Shut up!" She tightened her grip on her pistol.
His expression changed. "I always thought you were a spoiled brat."
Suddenly, a circle of laser beams entrapped Nevilka, Trip, and Malcolm.
"What the bloody hell is this!" Malcolm snarled.
Trip almost rushed through the beams.
"No!" Nevilka shouted.
"That's right, human." The Oknashtian laughed. "You would have…well…let's just say it wouldn't have been a lovely sight to see. He turned to the other two Oknashtians. "Get me the syringe. Our lab just received three more rats."
"There's just one thing I have to say to you…Uncle," she said the last word with suppressed contempt.
"What's that?" He came closer, wanting to gloat over his victory.
Nevilka smiled and whispered, "How do you like being fried?" Instantly, she put her hand through the open space between two beams and grabbed him.
He screamed and his body went into convulsions. Nevilka held on to him. The laser beams finally disintegrated. She let go of him and watched as he fell to the ground, groaning. His body was burnt and boils surfaced.
The last two Oknashtians trembled, backing away.
"Do you know what happens to disgusting scientists like you?" she asked.
They shook their heads. "Please," one pleaded, "I have a family."
"You should have thought about that before you destroyed mine!" She shot them both and they collapsed to the floor.
Nevilka turned to Trip and Malcolm. "Let's get the antidote and go," she ordered.
They silently searched.
"I've found it!" Malcolm exclaimed, holding a vile.
"Are you sure?" Trip asked.
"Well it says, 'Hopsvirn' on the label, so I figured it was the antidote."
"Oh."
A loud bang sounded outside. They all turned. "It's more security," Nevilka said.
They took cover behind the blown up door.
The outside door opened.
"Fire!" Nevilka shouted.
A few Oknashtian securities fell. The three ran passed the bodies, continuing to fire. They alternately covered for each other.
"There's the exit," Nevilka gasped.
They were close to the doors and Malcolm suddenly yelped. He fell behind. Nevilka and Trip quickly picked him up, his arms on their shoulders, as they half-dragged him outside.
"What are you doing?" Trip asked.
Nevilka threw three grenades back into exit of the building. "I've been leaving these behind the whole way. This is my last target. Now, run!"
They grabbed hold of Malcolm and ran as far as they could.
Behind them, the laboratory exploded on all sides. The blast threw them off their feet. They landed a few feet away.
-----
"Trip to Enterprise."
"Enterprise here," Archer answered through the comm.
"Captain, we've made it back to the shuttle, and we have the antidote. I'm sending Malcolm with it."
"What?" Malcolm looked at Trip and grimaced at the pain in his leg.
Trip ignored him. "The Lieutenant's been injured and it's best to get him to sickbay sooner. Could you beam him up through the transporter?"
"Alright," Archer said.
"Trip," Malcolm said.
"Look, Malcolm, you need medical attention right away, and we need to get the antidote to Hoshi, right away."
"We've got your location, Trip," Archer said.
"Okay." Malcolm sighed. He clasped Trip's hand. "I'll see you in a bit." He dematerialized.
Trip took a deep breath. He stepped outside of the shuttle and walked to Nevilka. She was looking into the horizon.
"I've forgotten how beautiful the sunrise is on my planet," she said, her back to him.
"We can't thank you enough for your help," Trip said.
She turned around, smiling. "Goodbyes are always hard."
They were silent for a moment.
"What's it like?" Trip asked.
"What is?"
"Being alone. I mean, do you sometimes miss the company?"
She shrugged. "Yeah, but it's not really about being alone physically, Trip. People can be around other people and, yet, still feel alone. That's because each of us is alone in our own unique ways. What I've gone through in my life may not exactly be what you've gone through. That being the case, I stand alone. So do you."
Trip never thought of 'alone' that way before. Maybe she was right. He really looked at her and thought, for the first time, if he looked hard enough, he'd see Hoshi in her. "You know, it'll be kinda weird going back alone. I was thinking…you could join us."
"What?" Nevilka asked, surprised.
"Yeah, we could use someone with your skills. Although, the captain would have a fit with me recruiting and not speaking with him first, but…"
"Thank you," she said, quickly.
-----
Malcolm materialized in the transporter bay. A crewman helped him to stand up.
"Don't worry about me," Malcolm said. "Just get this to sickbay." Malcolm handed the vial to him.
-----
"Come on, Trip," Archer said to himself.
"Sir," Travis said, from the helm.
"What is it?"
Travis shook his head. "I…this can't be…" He froze.
"Ensign," Archer said, annoyed.
Travis turned to him, his eyes full of…fear.
Archer suddenly felt a dreadful feeling.
"The shuttle…" Travis stuttered. "Sensors no longer detect it."
"What do you mean?" Archer rushed to the helm. He stared at the screen. Travis was right. "T'Pol, I want you to hail Trip."
"T'Pol to shuttlepod three, do you hear me? Shuttlepod three? This is Sub-Commander T'Pol."
The bridge was dead-silent.
"…the vehicle exploded…"
Archer's mind repeated the words that Nevilka spoke.
"There's no life sign," Travis said, softly.
"…the vehicle exploded…"
-----
Malcolm sat on a biobed near Hoshi. He watched in horror as she went into seizure. He wanted to be right at her side, doing something, rather than sitting on a biobed; if it weren't for his stupid leg.
Doctor Phlox quickly put several drops of the antidote into a hypospray. He steadied her with one arm and injected the antidote into her neck.
Malcolm gulped. He hoped this would work. It had to work.