Three Days Too Die
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. See previous chapters for the rest.
A/N: Oh my goodness, I have been writing this story for a while now. We're close to the end. Thanks for the reviews! They really mean a lot :) Hopefully this chapter will satisfy. It's not super long, but it moves the story along, so enjoy :)
Phlox was swiftly issuing orders as he fought to stabilize the Commander. He briefly looked up when the doors to Sickbay slid open. T'Pol's breathless entry gave him pause, but the Commander's situation was dire and required all of his attention.
"Lieutenant, how much longer?" Phlox called out, administering anti-seizure drugs and re-checking vitals. The Commander continued to thrash uncontrollably against the restraints until the drugs began to take effect and his body settled.
T'Pol watched in shock, her connection still puzzled her, but her dread overpowered everything else. Commander Tucker was running out of time. The exchange between Phlox and the lieutenant across the room was a blur, but her eye caught the glint of a syringe when the lieutenant began moving towards Phlox with haste.
She wanted to draw nearer but was frozen just inside the door. Phlox accepted the syringe from the lieutenant and T'Pol barely heard him order the lieutenant to contact Captain Archer. With a shake of his head, Phlox injected Commander Tucker with the contents of the syringe.
It was if she was suddenly freed from whatever was holding her to the spot and she glided over to Phlox. He was occupied with reading the medical machines and monitoring Trip's condition.
"How is he?" She asked, trying to maintain a neutral tone, but fearing that the concern that was flooding every aspect of her being was too close to the surface to be missed.
"I've done everything we can. We just administered the antidote and barely on time if my calculations are accurate, the rest is up to the Commander." Phlox said, hope in his voice, but also caution.
T'Pol nodded, unease taking a stronger hold in her gut. Looking at the Commander, she took a careful breath. The contrast between his current state and the state he was in when she had first entered Sickbay shook her to her core. His stillness was unnerving on a completely different level.
The swoosh of the Sickbay doors alerted them to Captain Archer entering.
"Phlox?" He asked simply as he approached Trip's bed.
"We've administered the antidote, now we must wait and see." Phlox responded, again glancing at the readouts.
"Have there been any improvements?" Archer asked, his worry clearly evident in his voice.
"I'm afraid there has been nothing yet," Phlox responded, "however, just before he began seizing, his brain waves had normalized more than they have been the past three days."
At this, T'Pol quickly glanced from Phlox to Trip.
"Captain, I believe that I have information that is relevant to Commander Tucker's condition."
"You do?" Archer asked, "What is it?""I was meditating in my room when suddenly, I felt a presence. It was the Commander's. He seemed to be in a very dark place, he was confused, agitated." T'Pol paused but didn't break eye contact with Archer.
"This was not the first occurrence of such an interaction between he and I. However, this time was more unusual than the last. I… felt more than I did before. I could feel his fear, his confusion. It was more than just a sensing of his emotions and thoughts, it was as if they were my own." T'Pol turned towards Trip, her confusion at these events evident in the way she moved.
"Our conversation was suddenly disrupted when the Commander began to seize. Captain, I saw him seize, then, the connection was gone. Upon my arrival to Sickbay, Commander Tucker was having a seizure." T'Pol looked to Phlox to confirm what she had just said.
"The Commander was seizing when Sub-Commander T'Pol entered. We administered a sedative and then the antidote before you were called, Captain."
"Okay, so what does this mean?" Archer asked, confusion creasing his brow.
Phlox looked from T'Pol to Captain Archer, trying to put the pieces together.
"Captain, I believe that the toxin released into the Commander's system has been affecting his brain activity. At first, the possibility of brain damage seemed likely, but given what Sub-Commander T'Pol has experienced, there may be more to the toxin than we first assumed."
Upon Archer's continued puzzled expression, Phlox continued.
"Perhaps the toxin's main function is to attack the brain. Trapping one in an unreachable mental state while the body deteriorates. When we encountered this on my planet, our scientists and doctors were unable to understand why the brain activity of those patients fluctuated; although, the fluctuations of those patients was nothing compared to the readouts from Commander Tucker's brain activity."
Moving to stand on the opposite side of Trip's bed and picking up a chart, Phlox continued explaining a theory he'd had trouble making sense of.
"Denobulans have difficulty forming any type of psychic bonds, unlike Humans. After the antidote was administered in those cases, brain activity returned to normal. It would seem that an aptitude for this brain function opens the victim up to severe mental manipulation.
"At Archer's slightly confused nod, Phlox continued, "We should know within a few hours if the antidote is making any progress, but as far as the reaction in his brain, we are in uncharted territory. I can only offer speculation. Perhaps there is something that Sub-Commander T'Pol can do to aid in his mental recovery?" Phlox turned toward T'Pol.
"I will do everything I can, Doctor." T'Pol responded, turning to seek Archer's permission.
"Thank you, Phlox." Archer said, staring at the still form of his best friend.
"T'Pol, can you try to reach him again?" Uncertain hope was evident in Archer's voice. Tearing his eyes away from Trip, Archer looked at T'Pol, "But be careful." His tone indicating a fear of losing her as well should this task prove dangerous.
Nodding, T'Pol wondered at the emotion in the Captain's voice. Something in a deep part of her mind was beginning to recognize that human emotion could be more than just illogical nonsense. Emotion had power. It was a driving force that fueled wills of insurmountable determination.
With one last glance at Trip, T'Pol made her way back to her quarters to attempt contact.
A connection between minds was already fraught with danger, not to mention one between minds where one was perhaps contaminated by an unstable influence. Part of her warned herself that this could be dangerous, but she quickly shoved the alarm out of her thoughts. Somewhere along the way she had decided that Trip was worth the danger.
If getting Trip back meant venturing into unknown and potentially dangerous aspects of her mind, then T'Pol was willing to take the risk.