AN:I don't own anything related to Star Trek Enterprise
I hope you like the next chapter : )
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Chapter XI
The Summoning
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the Complex, unknown location
Malcolm steadied himself against the wall, no one seemed to be following. He gently examined the weapon he had taken from the guard in the medical bay. It was some kind of phaser weapon but it did not stun, it burned through the flesh of the opponent. Three different degree settings could be chosen, right now it was on the mildest one and Malcolm let it be that way. On the level he was on, the lamps shone bright and he was sweating but if it was due to medications or exhaustion he couldn't say. The alarms had stopped blaring and it was totally silent. He carefully moved from door to door trying to make out his whereabouts but it was with limited success. He jumped behind a corner as a door suddenly opened to his left. A figure Malcolm knew too well exited.
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the Complex, near the command centre
Trip dragged himself up in a sitting position, breathing heavily with closed eyes. He had escaped Heza, for now. His thoughts once again went to Malcolm and what had happened to him, maybe Heza was right after all? No, Malcolm was, is, he corrected himself the Chief of Security, tactical officer and armoury officer onboard Enterprise and if it was anyone they could gain information about tactics and weapons from it was him. Malcolm wouldn't give it away of course but still.
And Travis and Hoshi had they got back safely? Something had attacked the base before, he had almost taken it for granted that it was the Enterprise but then it had stopped and knowing Archer he wouldn't give up until his last minute in life. Maybe it was a Tennaite border cruiser but on the other hand did they know there were a military complex here?
It was highly unlikely. A noise grew louder nearby and Trip focused to max. He slowly got up forcing himself further down the corridor, it had to be down there somewhere.
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the Complex, unknown location
Malcolm stopped in his tracks, Ajin where suddenly greeted by five security officers. He said something and they all moved aside looking in the direction of the lieutenant. He tensed, preparing himself but the attack never came. Instead he watched chancellor Ajin punch in a code on the door lock. It easily slid open displaying Malcolm in broad daylight, he was on the ground floor ten metres away from the open.
"Haza noc, haza noc!" One of the guards screamed.
Reed ran as fast as he could jumping into an elevator praying the guards would not be fast enough. Although he knew deep inside that it would only be a matter of time, they would be waiting for him. The doors closed and he fell to his hands and knees as his legs gave out, breathing hard. The display blinked meaning it was approaching another level. He grabbed the railing forcing himself up and together. The lift came to a halt and the doors slid open. He took a deep breath but no one came and the doors started to close again, Malcolm jumped through the small opening and landed hard on the floor, his energy rapidly fading. He was underground, there were someone lingering in the shadows, he hastily got up.
"You have fought bravely lieutenant, my men have had a hard time to track you and your commander down."
Malcolm looked up at the military leader, Trip was still alive.
"I let T'ela have you but he was unable to bring the information that I wanted from you and now it is too late. Your life ends here lieutenant." He pointed the projectile weapon at his heart. Malcolm threw himself away, the wall behind him ricocheted the projectile and caught him in the ribcage.
He lay dangerously still beside the opposite wall of the corridor. The admiral closed in on him, the lights blinked then went dead as an explosion rocked the floor. Malcolm grabbed Tann's waist with both his hands in an attempt to take the gun, hissing in pain as the admiral twisted in his grip, then they both disappeared in a shimmer of light.
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the Complex, near the command centre
Moments earlier
"You can run but you cannot hide commander!"
Heza, when was he to give up, Trip thought in despair. It was a dead end, the corridor ended at a double door. Trip desperately pushed the buttons on the door console as the lieutenant slowly moved towards him, a grim smile on his face.
"Imagine you would get this far, I am impressed commander."
"I really don't understand." Trip rasped, breathing heavily.
Heza had a sheepish smile on his face. "Of course not human."
"Tell me...something, consider it my last wish."
"Commander I am disappointed in you, I thought you would fight till the end."
Trip smiled back. "How do you deactivate the forcefield?"
"Why, waiting for the cavalry to come to your rescue?"
"You will never now." He returned.
"It has been nice talking to you Trip, may I call you that?"
"I cannot say the same."
"I am sorry you feel that way."
Before Heza pulled the trigger Trip fell to the ground and the lieutenant blinked in surprise, he went forward.
If there is one thing you shouldn't do it is to underestimate your opponent but Heza did just that. Trip put his legs around Heza's and the guard fell to the ground, the commander quickly grabbed his gun. The lieutenant struggled to get the upper hand and the projectiles ricocheted in the hard walls creating a sound of thunder in the small space. However Trip had an advantage, he fought desperately for his survival.
The heavy double door opened displaying a cautious lieutenant Coda in the command central, one of Admiral Tann's closest men. Trip fired quickly, Coda had no chance, and then rolled into the room. He smiled to himself seeing Malcolm's facial expression when he said he had shoot an unarmed. Luckily for Trip there where not too many officers at the stations this hour. He managed quite easily, seeing the Enterprise engaged in battle with a battle cruiser he made his way over to the main console.
"If I only had a translating device!" He pushed several buttons but nothing happened. Noise grew louder from the other side of the door and Trip glanced over his shoulder nervously. Heza had probably gathered a small security force by now. Sirens blared around him as he continued pushing the buttons. A picture displaying a green layer around the building and five kilometres in every direction came up. He had found it, the door behind him started to open.
"Come on Trip you can do it!" He repeated to himself.
He worked on the console, it was now or never. A sentence where displayed, Trip assumed it was a confirmation. He screamed as a projectile drilled itself into the back of his shoulder, sliding down he pushed the confirming button.
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Enterprise, the bridge
"Captain!" T'Pol shouted over the noise from a the collision alarm.
"The forcefield is shutting down!" Archer turned to ensign Maywether.
"Bring us closer Travis. Hogan, a final blow."
"With pleasure sir." He called down to ensign Russo who manually loaded the torpedo launcher and fired. The impact caused an explosion ripping off one of the nacelles leaving the Ta'Lann dead in space.
"Direct hit to main propulsion system sir, the power is down."
Archer nodded. "T'Pol, localize and energize."
T'Pol rapidly moved to the lift. Archer pushed the com button.
"Doctor Phlox report to transporter room on a double!"
"Stand down red alert, I will be in the transporter room."
He nodded to Travis. "You have the bridge."
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the Complex, the command centre
Heza watched the commander disappear in a shimmer of light, he rapidly moved to the main console where Trip had been lying. His hands flew over the console but he was not a member of the command staff and the extra time it took him to restore the field were a minute too long. He watched a massive bird manoeuvre away from the complex and one of their finest battle cruisers lying dead in space. The ship steered away graciously, she was damaged but still very manoeuvrable.
"Enterprise NX-01." He read. "A science vessel." He spat.
"She is well equipped for being an explorer."
"What did you say chief?"
"Return to patrol ensign and find the admiral quickly!"
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Enterprise, transporter room
Archer rushed forward as Trip materialized on the platform, his eyes shut in agony.
"Trip!" He screamed, the frustration evident in his voice.
"Captain please move aside." Phlox said calmly as he brought out his scanner.
Archer's heart skipped a beat as Malcolm, engaged in a fight of life and death, materialized just seconds after. The captain threw himself at the admiral who was taken by surprise and relatively easy to disarm. In the middle of the chaos Phlox motioned for the two medical assistants to come forward. Archer grabbed the gun and called over two security guards.
"Put him in the brig till I have decided what I want to do with him."
He turned to his armoury officers lying on the deck breathing heavily, his uniform soaked with blood from various wounds. He had a nasty gauge in his forehead, from the fall no one could have survived Archer's features hardened thinking about the conversation between the chancellor and the admiral.
"Malcolm, nice of you to drop by, are you okay?"
"Ask...me later." He replayed with a faint smile.
Phlox kneeled at his side. Malcolm looked at him clearly in pain. "How is...Trip?"
"Not to good I am afraid he needs medical attention fast and so do you lieutenant."
He closed his eyes for a moment. "Malcolm?" Archer said worriedly.
Phlox eyes met the captain's. "They are in a very bad shape and I cannot give any guarantees." Archer nodded, then patted the good doctor on his shoulder.
"I trust you Phlox do what you have to, I am going to have a talk to our friend in the brig."
To say Archer was angry would be an understatement, he was furious, no one tried to kill his officers and friends and got away with it!
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To be continued