Chapter 1 seems to be working now, and so I'm posting chapter 2, hoping this will also work.
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THEN
Malcolm crouched behind the thicket, his weapon drawn and held loosely in his grasp as sweat trickled down his back. He could clearly see Trip and Hoshi ahead of him in the misty clearing, the humidity softening the edges of the scene despite his being almost on top of them. In fact, he was so close to their position that he was unable to move or signal Enterprise without giving himself away.
Hoshi and Trip stood surrounded by four armed men of a species that Malcolm didn't know. Each one was humanoid, scales a variety of shades of iridescent green shimmering across their sinewy bodies. Otherwise they had no distinguishing marks that he recognised, and were wearing no uniforms.
They'd grabbed his crewmates while he'd been returning from a bio break. Because damn it, this was supposed to be a peaceful mission, and he'd only left them for a moment - a moment that made all the difference.
Malcolm's thoughts were interrupted when one of the aliens spoke, his voice a low guttural sound that came in fits and starts across Hoshi's translation device. "You are from Enterprise, yes?" the man said, more of a statement than a question. He ran a knife along the edge of Trip's jaw.
Trip stood defiantly and did not answer, although Malcolm could see a flicker in his eyes as the alien twitched his wrist, allowing the knife to cut into Trip's skin. The blood stood starkly on Trip's suddenly pale face, then began its slow progress downward.
He heard Hoshi give a soft gasp, then saw her still when the man holding her arms gave a sharp tug.
"There is information we need." The alien flicked again, drawing another drop of Trip's blood. "About your technologies. About your planet of origin."
"Who are you?" Trip finally asked, his eyes gone cold.
"Who we are does not matter. It's who we represent that is important." The alien twisted its expression into what Malcolm assumed was its version of a smile, then stepped in closer to Trip, face inches away. "Some friends of yours. I believe you call them 'Xindi'."
Malcolm almost moved in his shock and surprise. The Xindi? How in the world had they found them down here? And why had they waited until now? They'd been here for days, and the Captain and T'Pol had only just returned to the ship an hour ago. They must have been trailing them for some time, waiting for an opportunity. An opportunity that they got when Malcolm stepped away.
Malcolm's focus returned to the scene before him when the alien again spoke. "You will tell us what we need to know. Where is your planet?" He flicked the knife, nicking Trip's cheek. "What are your weapons systems?" He flicked again, and a second mark joined the first.
"I will not -
That was as far as Trip got before the alien moved, faster than Malcolm would have thought possible, shoving the blade through the meat of Trip's arm, across and then down. Trip fell to the ground, trying to bite back his scream as blood flowed down his arm, staining his sleeve.
The man pulled the knife away with a flourish. Malcolm saw Hoshi's eyes widen in shock as she paled.
He felt his body tremble when the knife wielder moved toward Hoshi. He'd never get a shot off in time. The aliens were too fast - by the time he'd shoot their leader, another would have got to Trip, or Hoshi. He had only one choice.
"We do not want to kill you," the alien said, now directing his comments to Hoshi. "But we do have ways of making this quite...unpleasant." He twirled the knife, fingers moving faster than Malcolm could follow.
"That's enough," Malcolm said loudly, standing from his cover. He held his weapon in his hand, pointed at the man. "Let them go," he said, his voice firm.
The alien twisted his face into the not-smile again, and cocked his head. "Why?"
"Because they don't have the information you need," Malcolm said, taking a cautious step forward.
"Stop," one of the other aliens ordered, raising an angry looking rifle. "Give over your weapon."
Malcolm flipped his gun so that it was butt-out, and a third alien took it from his hand. Malcolm locked his eyes with those of their leader. "They don't know anything." He pointed first to Trip, then to Hoshi. "He's just a figurehead, and she's our bloody linguist."
The alien with the knife shifted again, his movements a blur. It was as if Malcolm blinked and the man was behind Hoshi, knife to her arm, just at the point where he'd cut Trip. The alien whispered to Hoshi, his voice an oily rasp, "Is this so?" He slowly inserted the knife into her arm and she closed her eyes, the pain obvious from her expression.
"No," Trip tried to say, but Malcolm cut him off with a movement. He took another step forward, right into the sightline of the leader, purposefully drawing his attention from Hoshi and Trip.
"I'm the tactical officer," Malcolm said, his heart racing. "If you want someone, you want me."
Eyes on Malcolm, the leader twisted the knife where it stood in Hoshi's flesh, and she bit back a gasp. "And you have the information that they do not?"
Malcolm nodded. "I do."
"And you will give it to us."
"Let them go," Malcolm said with a quick glance at Trip.
Trip was staring at him, eyes blazing. He gave a short, sharp shake of his head.
"And you will give the information to us?" the alien repeated.
"I will," Malcolm said without hesitation.
This time Trip did speak, a barked, "No," but Malcolm didn't even look at him, keeping his eyes on the leader.
The alien slid the knife from Hoshi's arm and pushed her away. She landed in the dirt by Trip.
"Don't do this, Malcolm," Trip said. When Malcolm still didn't look his way, he added, "That's an order, Lieutenant."
Malcolm felt strong arms grab him from behind, and he finally looked at Trip. Trip was staring at him with an expression that he couldn't interpret - anger, betrayal, and something else.
"I have to..." Malcolm began before he felt a shock and his world went dark around him.
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Please review and let me know what you think of this so far. Thanks!