Malcom landed the shuttle down on a pad on a planet that was warm, there was a sun setting in his face. He didn't know what Tripp was thinking or would it work for them. The Orions didn't like them much so he didn't think that they would help them. He glanced at Tripp, who opened the door to the shuttle.
"Are you sure this going to work?" Malcom asked. He had asked this question every few hours.
"Yes, these Orions owe me," Tripp stepped off the shuttle. Malcom followed him.
In from of the beige home that would let in the morning light. Tripp headed for the door and there were two guards standing at the yellow door. They stopped him from entering. Tripp looked between the guards. "Is this where Sade Rimme lives?" The guards looked between them before nodding. "Tell her Commander Charles Tucker the Third is here to see her," The guards traded another look before one of them went into the house.
The guard came back. "She will see you," The guard led them into the house. Malcom looked around the house to see that it was filled with color. The Orion guard led them down a hall to a room.
A door opened and they were ushered into a room. There was a female Orion sitting on the couch with a couple of children in front of her. There was another Orion standing behind her. She looked up when Tripp and Malcom entered. "Hello Commander Tucker," Sade looked over at Malcom. "And who is this? He doesn't look like the Vulcan woman; you are married too."
"This is my best friend, Malcom Reed. My wife is on my home planet with our children," Tripp said.
Sade nodded and turned to the Orion standing next to her. "Call Thayssa to get the children," The Orion nodded, and Tripp realized that it was Thikkor. The children looked up at Tripp and they reminded him of his children. It broke his heart because he should be home with his family getting ready to go to Earth to their new home. He should be helping T'Pol setting up the house. Tripp took a breath as the nanny came and took the children away. He watched as Sade and Thikkor watched their children leave the room. "What can I do for you?" Sade asked after the door closed.
"Have you ever heard of Balab the Romulan?" Tripp asked.
"I have," Sade left it at that. She didn't tell Tripp how she knew about Balab. Sade was still trying to figure out if she wanted to help Tripp or not.
Tripp took a breath before saying. "When T'Pol was pregnant with our second child, Starfleet decided to send T'Pol back to Earth because we were in the middle of a war."
"I did hear of this war you had with the Romulans. You barely been in space and start a war with one of the biggest bullies in space," Sade mumbled.
Tripp gave a half-smile. "We don't like bullies."
Sade rolled her eyes. "Continue your story," She traded a look with her husband.
"On her way to another ship to take her to Earth, she was captured by Balab. He held her at his base until we recused her. There was a person there that helped us, and he was captured by Balab. Starfleet would like us to recuse him. I need your help to do so. We can't go in there with a ship or shuttle screaming Starfleet."
"Have someone see to your comfort while I talk with my husband about helping you," Sade said. Tripp and Malcom nodded before leaving the room.
They were taken to a room next to the kitchen and were given food. Both Tripp and Malcom eat their full of the food, they had lived on rations for the last two weeks. It was nice eating something hot and filling. They hoped that Sade would help them, and they could be on their way back to Earth with the rest of the crew.
Someone came, grabbed them, and brought them back to Sade. Tripp didn't say anything only looking at them. Sade traded a look with her husband before saying. "We will help you because you let us escape my father long enough for us to marry."
"Thank you," Tripp smiled.
"After we help you, we have repaid the debt that you have with us," Sade said.
Tripp nodded. "No problem. Hopefully after this mission we won't see each other again," Sade smiled.
"Let's plan this," Sade said.
They had everything planned. Tripp took a breath before stepping on the Orion ship with Malcom. Sade and Thikkor were with them with some other men. Sade gave him a look as he found a seat. He could read her eyes. She was wondering if he wanted to do this and not go home to his family. The door to the ship shut. Sade nodded to the man that was flying the ship before coming over to Tripp and Malcom.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" She asked them.
Tripp took a breath. "Yes," Sade nodded and was ready to go to her seat next Thikkor when Tripp spoke up again. "Can you do me one more favor?" He asked. Sade turned back to him. "If something happens to me, can you make sure that this gets to my Vulcan wife," Tripp held out a PADD for Sade. Sade looked from the PADD to Tripp with a curious look. "It is a letter to my wife." Sade looked at her husband before taking the PADD and nodding. "Thank you," Tripp let out a sigh.
Before Tripp knew it, they were orbiting Balab's base. This was the last known place that Coffin was. Tripp hoped that he was still living. Tripp and Malcom both grabbed phasers. Tripp turned to Sade. "If we are not back in two days like we agree on, leave," Tripp nodded. They would have to find their own way off this planet if that happened. He didn't know how long that was going to take. He hoped that they would find Coffin right away and be back on the Orion ship soon. So, in the next few days they could be going back to Earth and back to his family. "Again, thank you for doing this," Tripp said. Sade nodded.
"Be careful," She gripped his shoulder. Tripp nodded.
Tripp and Malcom were transported down to the base in a part that wasn't very populated. Tripp looked up at red sky. Now he was truly on this mission. He could die and never see his family again. He had doubts to why did he take this mission. He could be at home with his family right now. Watching Charlie and T'Mir growing up and now he might not have that.
"Ready," Malcom held up his phaser rifle. Tripp nodded.
"Let's get this done," Tripp mumbled.
Tripp and Malcom hoped that the place didn't change much since the last time they have been here. They stepped forward and looked around for an entrance to use to get in. This time they didn't have Phlox's plan to get Coffin. They had a feeling that he would be in the dungeons of the base and that was probably in the lowest part of the base.
Tripp found a door with two guards standing in front of the door. Tripp held up his hand to stop Malcom. Malcom looked over Tripp's shoulder to see the guards there. Malcom nodded, getting his rifle ready. Tripp got his rifle ready, and they shot the guards. The guards fell against the door. Tripp and Malcom looked around before making their way to the door. They moved the guards out of the way. Tripp saw that there was a code panel.
"Damn," Tripp mumbled. Malcom gave him a confused look. Tripp smiled. "We should have asked them the code."
Malcom shook his head. "Can you get us in?"
Tripp nodded and looked at the panel. He shouldered his rifle while Malcom had his back. Tripp pulled out his pocketknife and put it in the seams of the panel. He pulled the panel apart and saw wires. He put his pocketknife away and got started on the wires. Tripp knew when he got a good connection when the doors opened.
Tripp gripped his rifle again before entering and finding no one there. He had a feeling that they knew that they were there. "They are going to know that we are here," He mumbled to Malcom. Malcom nodded.
They entered a carpeted floor. They looked down the hall to find the lifts. Down one way was a corner that led to different part of the base. Down the other way looked to lift. Malcom touched him on the shoulder to have him follow him. They were almost to the lifts when they heard voices coming from around the corner.
"Shit," Tripp whispered under his breath.
"No time to swear," Malcom mumbled. "There is another panel."
Tripp and Malcom traded spots. Tripp started to work on the panel as the voices got closer. Tripp tried to work faster to get the doors opened.
"Anytime will be good," Malcom said as he fired his first shot.
Tripp looked behind him to see five men coming their way. They didn't ask questions just started shooting. Tripp ducked his head when a shot was coming his way. He worked as fast as he could to get the door open.
"Got it," Tripp mumbled. The doors opened and Tripp stepped in. He turned around just in time to see Malcom getting shot in the shoulder. Tripp fired a few shots in the direction of the men before pulling Malcom in. Tripp closed the door behind them. "Are you okay?" Tripp asked Malcom. Malcom nodded. Tripp looked at the buttons and pressed the one that had a B on it. He hoped that it was the right one. Tripp looked at Malcom's shoulder to see blood coming. He leaned down and put pressure on the wound. "We'll get this looked at as soon as we get out here." Tripp tried to sound positive.
Malcom laughed. "Leave me if you have too," Malcom closed his eyes.
Tripp slapped him. "Don't close your eyes," He yelled at his best friend. Malcom opened his eyes and let out a weak smile. "I'm not leaving you here," Tripp said through his teeth.
"You might have too. Get home to Earth to that beautiful family," Malcom choked out.
Tripp wanted to slap Malcom again but decided against it. He put pressure on the wound. He didn't know what he would do if he lost his best friend. It was his fault that got them in this position. Malcom didn't want to come on this mission. He thought it better to leave it to higher ups in Starfleet.
Tripp was pressing on the wound that he didn't notice the lift stopped. "Help me up," Malcom held out his hand for Tripp to take. Tripp stood and held out his hand for Malcom. He helped Malcom up, Malcom had his rifle ready to fire when the doors open.
They knew they were in the right place when they heard the voices of the prisoners in their cells. They were surprised that no one was waiting for them when they got off the lift. Balab had to know that they were here. The men on the top floor weren't dead so they had to know by now that Tripp and Malcom were on the base.
Tripp looked around the cells. "Which one do you think Coffin is in?" Tripp whispered as he looked into the first one.
The person that was there, looked like he hadn't a good meal in years. He was skin and bones. The person looked back at Tripp with hollow eyes. It was like he was trying to tell Tripp to run and never come back. Tripp had to shake the feeling that it might be him if they were caught. He was going to get out of this place and see his family again. Tripp moved from the first cell and went to the next.
Tripp stopped at the end of the hall because it was dead end. There were no turn-offs and on the other end was the lift. Malcom hissed as he met Tripp. Tripp looked at Malcom's shoulder to see blood coming through his clothes. They needed to find Coffin and get the hell out of here.
"If he's not here. Where is he?" Malcom hissed out.
"I don't know," Tripp looked around. They might have to search floor by floor, but he didn't think that they had much time to find Coffin and get back to the Orions. Tripp didn't want this mission to be a failure and Coffin died here. Coffin could be dead, and they were wasting their time. The intel that told them he was alive could be late and they had killed him by now.
Tripp was ready to head back to the lift when the doors opened, and Coffin walked out with guards. Coffin smiled at him. "Are you here looking for me?" Tripp took a breath and didn't say anything. His feelings before about Coffin were correct. Coffin had turned to the wrong side.
"Coffin," Tripp started.
"Do you think that I want to go back home with you?" Coffin smiled. Before Tripp or Malcom could say anything, Coffin continued. "I have nothing waiting for me back on Earth. Here I can rule," Coffin threw up his arms in triumph. Tripp and Malcom traded a look. "Take that one to the hospital and put that one in cell four."
The guards came forward and pulled Malcom away from Tripp. Tripp didn't know why he didn't put up a fight, maybe it was because Coffin wasn't a prisoner, and he held some position here. Tripp watched as they took Malcom to the lifts. The other guards grabbed Tripp's rifle before leading him to the cell. They threw him in and shut the door in his face.