Faith- Part 3

"FAITH OF THE HEART"
An "Enterprise" story

By Alison M. DOBELL

RATING: R for this chapter, NC-17 later
ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.
FEEDBACK: Welcomed
EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com
WEBSITE: http://www.carlajane.50megs.com/Ali00.html

SUMMARY": "When members of the crew go suddenly missing, Captain Archer finds the only witness is unable to tell them anything. Lt Reed takes it upon himself to turn detective."
The characters and 'Enterprise' belong to Paramount. No infringement of copyright is intended.

Part 3

* * * * *

Captain Kaarg half carried and half dragged Sub-Commander T'Pol on to his ship. If anything, the inside was even uglier than the outside. Horrified by the bleached remains hanging in the hold, she found herself staring in horror at what could only be implements of torture. She felt her stomach twist. Sickened. The Captain almost preened himself as he walked, chest stuck out in a proud burst of pride. "Do you like the trophies you see?"

"No, I do not."

He made a sound of disapproval and annoyance. "These are valuable artifacts."

"They are the remains of the dead."

"That is what I said." The Captain intoned darkly.

He made her look at everything, watching her reaction and enjoying the opportunity to show off his personal collection without any of his crew seeing him do so. They would call him overly prideful and that would start another heated argument. He could not afford to lose more men by summary execution. These incubators were of temporary value. Once their task was over they would be discarded. He drew a heavy finger down the side of T'Pol's face. Touched a delicate ear shell and was amused when she tried to turn her head. Not that she was able to escape his foul touch. If only Enterprise knew where they were. She would gladly give her life for one massive shot of pulse canon fire or a torpedo to land at point blank range down this offensive creature's throat.

The Captain picked up a cruel looking strip of metal with a curved bladed end. "Do you know what this is?"

"I have no interest in your instruments of torture."

"You would do well to humour me or die."

"Why if I am to die anyway? I would rather die barren than carry your seed."

He did not show offence. He liked her fiery temperament however calmly she tried to hide it. It showed spirit and courage. Qualities worthy of a warrior's respect. Again he thought what a pity it would be to kill her but then his desire for her skeletal remains stirred a possession in him that muted his thoughts of restraint. She would be an admirable addition to his collection.

* * * * *

Trip was dreaming. Or rather having nightmares. He was in a dark place. The creature that had attacked him was one of many. They were big, heavy and fierce and made cruelty into an art form. He had no idea who they were or where they came from but they were violating the women. His southern values were distressed and appalled, his muscles bunching, his nerves twitching. He began to toss and turn, trying to find a way of escape. To get them out. In his dream he shouted, yelled at them to follow him but no one seemed able to hear him. His heart was hammering like crazy in his chest, his breath catching with emotion as he saw all the blood. Women everywhere. Huge alien males forcing themselves on the women, some of them fastened into locking devices so they could not struggle or wriggle free. Blood running down their legs as they raped them with such brutality that the vaginal wall was split. Cries and screams rent the air making his ears bleed with the pain of it and his heart break in sorrow.

*Oh God don't let this happen. Don't let them rape Hoshi or T’Pol or any of the others...*

He was in such distress his cries woke the doctor. Dr Phlox gently woke the weeping man, alarmed to see him so upset. The Commander looked around him wildly, not at first aware that he was in sickbay.

"Commander, relax, it is okay. You are in sickbay."

His eyes were wild, his heart still thumping out of rhythm. "Sickbay?"

"Yes, Commander. You had a nightmare."

He was awake now, trying to calm down enough to sort through his thoughts. His dreams. He felt a familiar touch in his mind. *T'Pol.* Fresh tears ran down his cheeks. He began to sit up. Dr Phlox turned to him with a hypospray. The Commander swung his legs off the biobed and stood on the far side of it. He put a hand out to ward the doctor off. "You're not stickin' that thing in me!"

"Commander, be reasonable. You are traumatized. You've just wakened from a disturbing nightmare. I am just going to give you something to help you sleep."

More of a panic now, Trip began to yell. "Cap'n! Cap'n! Don't let him stick needles in me! I don't need sleep."

"Everybody needs sleep." Soothed the doctor calmly.

"No! You don't understand. I have'ta help T'Pol."

"And you shall Commander, just as soon as you've had a good night's rest."

Fully awake now Trip yelled at the top of his lungs. "NO! I wanna see the Captain NOW before it's too late!"

Just then running feet arrived at sickbay. To Trip's relief Captain Archer and Lt Reed dashed into sickbay with Crewman Franklin from Engineering and Crewman Riggs from the armoury. It would have been funny if the Captain had not been so worried. Commander Tucker backed away from the doctor and pleaded with the Captain. "Cap'n, tell the doc to back off. I don't wanna be put to sleep. I have'ta talk to you. Lives depend on it."

The Captain nodded and waved Dr Phlox to one side. "I don't think we'll be needing that hypospray doctor."

Dr Phlox wanted to disagree but one look at the Captain's face was enough. He nodded reluctantly and put it away, still keeping a wary eye on his suddenly very alert and mobile patient. Captain Archer walked up to Trip carefully, not wanting to alarm or startle him. "Okay Trip, I could hear you calling for me three decks down. What's the problem?"

He had difficulty controlling his emotions. The visions were so realistic. He could almost reach out and touch all the blood. It made him want to gag. The Captain escorted him back to the biobed but instead of getting back on it he moved over to where Dr Phlox had put the chair. A smile tugged at Captain Archer's lips thinking it was a small act of defiance on Trip's part. Only when the man sat down and began to tell his story did the Captain realise he was not trying to making a point. Trip looked up slowly and met his Captain's eye with a pain and candour that convinced him more than anything that whatever the Commander wanted to say he would listen to. Even while Hell itself froze over. If that was what Trip wanted, that was what Trip would get. His voice trembling as he spoke he began to describe exactly what had happened. Quietly Lt Reed moved closer and took a seat on a nearby table to listen.

"Don't ask me t'explain Cap'n but I was sleepin'. Dreamin' of home. It was a bright sunny day, the family was all gonna be together..."

Captain Archer put a steadying hand on Trip's shoulder as he began to choke up and left it there until he had calmed down enough to continue.

"This is gonna sound nuts but suddenly I was hearing T'Pol, and not out loud neither. I could hear her inside my head, Cap'n, clear as I can hear you now and she was distressed and callin' for me in a way I'd never heard before. Frightened me half near t'death I can tell you. Woke me quicker'n a cold shower. I grabbed a pair of pants and my phase pistol then ran as fast as I could to her quarters. Must'a been half asleep 'cause I never thought twice about soundin' an alarm or raisin' the com. All I could think was I didn't have much time." He paused and took a ragged breath. Dr Phlox handed him a glass of water but his hand shook too much so Captain Archer took it and put it on the floor next to him. "I couldn't get an answer so I hit the over ride and that's when I saw her." He stopped, gulped in a breath of air and tried to steady himself. "She was all tied up Cap'n. Trussed up with this white tape over her hands, feet and mouth. Her eyes were staring at me. I realise now that she'd been tryin' t'warn me only I couldn't think of anythin' but gettin' to her and untyin' her. The room seemed empty. I took no more'n a couple steps and this thing grabbed me round the neck like I was made of plywood. Threw me clear across the room. I don't remember anythin' after that."

Captain Archer picked the glass of water up and held it to Trip's mouth so he could take a drink. The fluid helped to revive him a little. The Captain realised he was in shock. He motioned for Lt Reed to take the blanket off the biobed and drape it over Trip's shoulders. The Chief Engineer did not notice. He gazed blankly at the Captain. "It's all my fault, Cap'n."

The Captain frowned. "What're you talkin' about, Trip? You were asleep."

His tear stained face focused on his friend in guilty sorrow. His voice mournful. "She was callin' for me, Cap'n, and it took me ages t'hear her. If I had been listenin' I could have got to her in time."

"Trip, it wasn't your fault, do you hear me? The aliens have some kind of stealth technology. They sneaked aboard Enterprise and abducted the women. There is no way you could have known about that."

The Commander looked down at his hands, clasping them to keep them steady. "She needed me, Cap'n, and I let her down." He looked up and gazed in misery at his Captain. "I let them all down."

"No, Trip, you didn't. You were the only one who realised anything was wrong." He paused. "Now I need you to do something for me."

"Anythin' Cap'n."

"I need you to think real hard and tell me what these aliens looked like. Describe them for me."

Having something to focus on calmed the Commander down. "They were huge, Cap'n. Bipedal. A good seven or eight feet tall. Covered in some kind of thick ribbed skin and as ugly as the creature from the Black Lagoon. Well, that's not to say they're lizards or anythin' like that Cap'n. I don't know what they are..." His voice trailed off as something strange popped in his head. He frowned. Wondering where the hell that had come from.

Seeing his distraction the Captain leaned forward. Concerned. "Trip? Are you okay?"

The Commander shook his head slightly as if to dislodge something and rouse himself at the same time. "Well, if that isn't the damnedest thing..." His voice trailed off.

"What is?"

Commander Tucker looked slowly at his friends then took a deep steadying breath. Not sure how he was going to explain how he knew what he was about to tell them. "Don't ask me to explain how I know but the aliens are called... the Hirogen."

* * * * *

Ensign Hoshi Sato was screaming. She could not help it. Having those grotesque creatures pawing her was bad enough but now they were fitting her into a hanging frame, her clothes ripped so that they hid very little and offered neither modesty nor warmth. She was more than frightened. She was terrified. Turning her head she noticed all the women who put up a struggle were fitted into the grill like harnesses that hung from chains in the ceiling. There was no privacy. The women were kept together in a large cave. One of the women fainted and woke as she was being raped. Her screams bled away in an agonised wail. Hoshi could not bear it. Tears rolled down her face. She was in the frame now. Huge thick fingers pawed her through the openings; the large one in front of her vagina was big enough for the alien to insert his hand. She swore in at least a dozen languages and when that had no affect started swearing in Klingon. The Hirogen male paused and looked at her in what could have been amusement. She felt his sharp fingers press between her legs to guide himself in and spat at him. If anything his eyes became brighter.

Not for a second did he look away. Hoshi found herself morbidly transfixed by the look in his eyes then she discovered why the frames swung on chains. Her screams punctuating the rocking swing of the chain and the sharp nails gripping her through the grill while he impaled her, burrowing deep inside her with no preparation to ease the intrusion. Nothing for the pain. If anything her cries just seemed to excite the male more. Again and again he shoved himself deep inside her, the frame now swinging slightly back and forth with his hands causing her to slid back and forth along his erection. Tears flooded her cheeks. Pain numbed her senses.

On the Hirogen ship, Sub-Commander T'Pol was being told her options none of which were acceptable. The Hirogen Captain seemed amused at her attempts to prevent the inevitable. "I will take you, impregnate you then you will incubate my seed."

"You are mistaken."

"You misunderstand, Vulcan." Now he stepped so close to her that his body odours were overpowering. She could smell the rotting flesh between his teeth from his last meal. It revolted and offended her. He chose his favourite frame, moving with unexpected swiftness and grace once his decision had been made. Pinned to his chest, T'Pol tried to struggle. Knowing it could be minutes only before he had her stripped and locked naked inside the cage, ready to swing to his rhythm. Without realising it she opened her mind and called for help.

* * * * *

Captain Archer was amazed. "Hirogen?"

Trip nodded. He was beginning to feel cold. The doctor wanted him to climb back into bed but he was afraid he would be given something to knock him out and all his instincts were screaming for him to stay awake. He had no idea why just that it was important.

When Trip did not explain the Captain pursed his lips. "Never heard of them."

Dr Phlox looked at the Captain, his expression serious and very solemn. "I have never seen one but my people have had dealings with them in the past."

The Captain's expression took on a hopeful look but his heart missed a beat at the look in the Denobulan's eyes. "What can you tell me about them?"

"They are a warrior race whose whole society and social structure revolves around The Hunt."

"The Hunt?"

Dr Phlox nodded and tried to ease his way closer to Trip. The Commander eased further round the biobed, maintaining the distance between them. Dr Phlox stopped moving and stared at the Commander in frustration. He glanced at the Captain. "The Hirogen are the ultimate sportsmen or the ultimate predators, depending on your viewpoint. To them the universe is made up of only two types of beings. Hunters and Prey."

"Let me guess, we're not the Hunters?"

"No, Captain."

"Why take our women?"

"To breed."

The Captain frowned. "Don't they have Hirogen women?"

Dr Phlox nodded slowly. "Yes, on their homeworld."

"Then why don't they go home to mate?"

The doctor shrugged. "I do not know. As I said, our people had contact with them a long time ago. They have not come near us for many years. Hirogen are nomadic hunters Captain."

The Captain looked at Trip thoughtfully. "How do you know their name? Did they tell you who they were?"

Trip was not sure how to answer him. How had he known? The name had just popped into his head. Now he was picking up something else. Something which was making him panic. "Cap'n, we have to move fast. We're runnin' out of time."

"In what way?"

He swallowed slowly, his eyes widening and beginning to glisten suspiciously. "They're bein' raped, Cap'n."

Alarmed, Captain Archer sprang forward startling the Commander. "How do you know that?"

There were tears in his eyes now. He gripped the biobed as if that was the only thing holding him up. Dr Phlox began to very slowly move around the bed to inch closer to him. "I can't explain it, Cap'n. It's like I'm kind of connected to T'Pol. Not all the time just when she's really distressed or in pain." He broke off and swallowed. "We have to get them out of there, Cap'n."

"Do you know where they are?"

"No, but I think T'Pol might be able to guide me."

Captain Archer looked at the doctor. The doctor looked nonplussed. Lt Reed broke his silence, his face reflecting worry for their missing crew but also concern for Commander Tucker. "Trip, can you hear the Sub-Commander now?"

Trip looked at him blankly then turned his thoughts inwards. Dr Phlox was only a foot away from him now. The Captain indicated for the doctor not to move any closer. "I don't hear her, Malcolm. Leastways not in words."

"Then how do you know she's trying to communicate with you?"

He looked at his friend for a moment. "It's like an emotional connection."

The lieutenant would have laughed in his face if Trip had not looked so serious, so anxious. "The Sub-Commander is Vulcan, Trip. She doesn't have emotions like us."

"That's where you're wrong, Malcolm. She just keeps them bottled up. Maybe that's why they're so intense."

The Captain put a hand on his shoulder. "Trip, I'm not going to pretend I understand any of this but how can we use this 'connection' to find them? We can't even detect their ship."

The Commander shuddered and Lt Reed pulled the blanket a little closer round him. Commander Tucker looked at the Captain. "We're not tryin' t'find the Hirogens, Cap'n, just our people. If I can pick up on the Sub-Commander's emotions I may be able to guide Enterprise in the right direction."

Lt Reed pressed his lips together in a firm tight line of doubt but said nothing. Realising that the Captain was seriously considering Trip's proposal he gave a little sigh. "I wish we knew what sort of weapons they had."

Captain Archer looked at the Commander. "How are we gonna do this, Trip?"

"Let me come to the bridge, Cap'n."

Dr Phlox did not look happy. "I must protest, Captain. The Commander is not strong enough to leave sickbay and I need to conduct more extensive tests."

"The tests will have to wait, doctor. If there is any chance that Trip can find a way to lead us to the women we have to take it."

Trip was shivering hard now. "Cap'n?"

"Yes, Trip?"

"D'you mind if I put some clothes on? I'm freezin'."

A smile tugged at his lips. "Okay but as soon as we're done you're coming right back to sickbay to let the doc continue his tests."

Trip nodded. Too weary to argue. Captain Archer looked at Lt Reed. "Lieutenant. Take Commander Tucker to his quarters and help him dress then bring him immediately up to the bridge."

The Captain waited until the Chief Engineer and Armoury Officer had left then turned to face Dr Phlox. "Now I want to hear everything you can remember about the Hirogen."

* * * * *

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