Thriller

Chapter IV

Malcolm and Trip had been following Jon and T'Pol quite happily back on the planet.

Malcolm was a little concerned though. "I'm sure this isn't the way we came," he said to Trip next to him, gesturing to the forest they were near.

Trip looked at him, then looked around at the trees that Malcolm was looking at.

"Hm- I think you might be right there," he said.

T'Pol and Jon were just about to go out of sight as they rounded some of the trees on the edge of the forest.

Trip jogged over to catch up with them with Malcolm following on his heels.

Trip rounded the trees and then stopped dead meaning that Malcolm very nearly knocked into him.

"Watch it!" Malcolm said automatically, forgetting that he was his superior for a moment.

"What the-?" Trip said.

"What?" Malcolm answered, coming from around the back of Trip to his side. "Where are they?" he asked.

"Damned if I know," Trip said. "JON!" he yelled out suddenly. "T'POL?"

They listened, barely breathing.

"Not a thing," Malcolm answered for them. He took out his scanner from his pocket and scanned the area. "There's no one here- it's just the two of us,"

"That's impossible," Trip said. "They were just here!" He reached out for Malcolm's scanner and took it from him.

He did another scan and his mouth dropped open. "You're right."

"Yes, I know, Commander," Malcolm said, slightly annoyed.

"I'm sorry, it's just- they were right here."

Malcolm thought about it for a moment. "You were reminiscing about your holiday and I have to admit that I took my eyes off them for a few moments. Did you watch them at all times?" He asked.

"Er, no I didn't," Trip looked and felt a bit sheepish. "I was enjoying the fresh air too much. I guess the planet tricked us and we followed the wrong pair."

"Damnit!" Malcolm thumped his fist into his palm. There were many self-critical thoughts going through his head.

"It's okay Mal," Trip said, "T'Pol said so- we're not in any danger here except from our minds. Just think happy thoughts! And while we're doin' that, let's retrace our steps and get back to that shuttlepod. They won't leave without us."

It was then that they heard the shuttle engines overhead. Both of them looked up to see a shadow in the sky getting smaller.

Trip's face fell marginally.

"Well, they must have seen duplicates of us too, but they'll soon realise. Space is outside the atmosphere of the planet and any effects on them will soon disappear, I'm sure."

"Wonderful," was Malcolm's muttered reply.

"Seriously Malcolm," Trip said, "this is one place where you really do have to think positive. We don't want to come across any thunderstorms and get wet through because you're blamin' yourself for stuff."

Malcolm breathed a rather large sigh. "I suppose you're right," he conceded.

"There y'are!" Trip brightened up, slapping an arm across Malcolm's shoulders. "They'll get back to Enterprise, realise what's happened and come straight back."

"Famous last words?" was Malcolm's reply, earning a semi-reproachful look from Trip.