Faith- Part 4

"FAITH OF THE HEART"
An "Enterprise" story

By Alison M. DOBELL

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

Part Four

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Some of the women had passed out. The Hirogen men treated the women in a very rough functional manner as if impregnating them was just another chore. Hoshi was trying frantically to think of a way to get through to them that this was wrong. That they should be released. But no one was listening and no one cared. She looked down at her imprisoned body. The metal harness swinging to and fro, her feet not touching the ground. Bruises round her waist and her hips showed where the male had dug into her flesh with his nails to keep her still while he penetrated her. A thin trail of blood ran down the inside of one leg but it did not seem to register. Tears ran soundlessly down her face. As she raised her eyes she saw Lieutenant Anna Hess staring back at her. The Engineer had an implaccable expression on her face and had not yet been touched. For a moment Hoshi hated her. Jealous of the fact that her clothing was still intact. Seconds later she felt the bitter tang of shame as a huge Hirogen male grabbed Anna by the hair then tore her clothes off her. Hoshi wanted to close her eyes. Shut out the sight of her colleague's degradation but Anna Hess was staring straight at her, begging her to keep eye contact. As if it would help her hang on to the tiniest shred of dignity.

Hoshi wanted to look away but could not do it. She gave mute witness and only looked away when Anna cried out and disolved into silent weeping. The male withdrew without speaking and moved on to look for any other unclaimed female. It was only after the males finally left them in the blood stained cell that Hoshi's heart faltered. She looked around more carefully, only able to rock herself round in a slow swaying circle from her metal prison. Where was Sub-Commander T'Pol? She looked at Lieutenant Hess but the woman was not looking at her now. Eyes screwed tight while tears leaked out of her eyes. Body trembling. Hoshi took another slow look round then spotted Liz Cutler. She was half sitting and half lying on the floor. Only a few strips of clothing still on her back. Everyone had been raped. Not a soul had escaped the foul touch of their enemy. Even in her distress, Liz Cutler was trying to comfort the other women. Dragging herself painfully from one to the other, exchanging low murmured words but with nothing to help ease the pain or mop up the trails of blood. She raised her eyes and paused when she saw Hoshi staring back at her. The slow rocking swing of the frame casting shadows on the damned.

* * * * *

Lieutenant Reed was beyond anxious. All he could think about was Hoshi. He was worried about the others of course but Hoshi was special. She was his friend and inside he was all tied up with secret longings and desires that he had never dared to bring out into the open in case she laughed at him. The time had not been right and now it would never be right again. *Faint heart never won a fair lady* How bloody perfect. Now he was going to lose her altogether. He bit his bottom lip and looked across at Commander Tucker. The man looked terrible. He should not have been allowed out of sickbay but he had learnt to his own cost just how stubborn Trip could be. He watched him sway slightly then brace himself at the science officer's station. He frowned. What did he hope to find there? None of it made much sense to him but part of him was hoping and praying that the Commander could pull something out of his sleeve.

Travis looked concerned. Kept trying not to stare at Trip but it was as if a magnet drew him. Commander Tucker sucked in a deep breath and braced himself upright. Where was the Captain? He needed to say this only once. His head was abuzz with images that were driving him crazy. Images smudged with red. Emotions shot through with ten kinds of pain and sorrow. The sorrow alone was enough to unravel a man. *Hurry up, Cap'n. I can't hold on to the link for too much longer* Just then the door swished open and Captain Archer entered the bridge followed by Dr Phlox. Commander Tucker felt a surge of relief, his focus on the Captain. Only peripherally aware of the good doctor. The Captain looked at him, taking in the sickly pallor of his face. His heart missing a beat as he realised how much they had riding on the Commander's *hunch*. He still was not sure how much he believed but right now they were out of more sensible options. Who cared how crazy it was provided it worked? He had made sure the doctor brought his hypospray with him just in case.

"Okay, Trip. When you're ready."

Travis looked at the Captain in confusion. What did he mean? The Captain took his chair and nodded to the helmsman to standby. Travis nodded back, confused but obedient.

Dr Phlox stood next to Commander Tucker and watched him. Noted how the hands that gripped the console had turned white. Trip closed his eyes and opened his mind. Reached out with his feelings, searching for a touch of the familiar. Something rarely glimpsed but so precious to him. Unbeknownst to himself a calm settled over his anxious mind. Kinder thoughts eased his mental anguish and strengthened him. For long drawn out minutes silence gripped the bridge. Then Trip trembled slightly. Pain. Red and raw and blinding in intensity almost brought him to his knees. He gasped. Dr Phlox took a step towards him then froze as the Commander seemed to steady again. He could feel her now, crying in his mind. *Where are ya, T'Pol? Give me a sign. Anythin'* He saw an image solidify in his mind. A ship. Then it vanished and he was looking at a planet. Little more than a huge asteroid. Where the hell was it? Automatically co-ordinates flashed through his mind so fast he did not have time to query them. The Commander rattled them off and the Captain nodded to Travis to adopt the new heading.

"Warp five, Travis." Murmured the Captain, anxious not to break the Commander's concentration.

Dr Phlox was concerned but waited. The Commander was mumbling quietly under his breath. The doctor leaned closer, trying to make out the words but they were too indistinct. Captain Archer got up and stood the other side of Trip, resisting the urge to reach out and touch him. He spoke softly, hoping to prompt him. "Trip? How far away are they?"

"Four, five hours Cap'n." He sounded in pain.

"On this heading?"

A pause. "Yeah."

The Captain wet his lips. "Are they... is everyone all right?"

They heard a soft strangled sob and the Commander opened his eyes. He looked straight at Captain Archer with eyes that were filled with agony. "No, Cap'n, they're not."

He was about to question him further when the Commander shook his head wearily. "Don't ask."

"Trip, you need to sit down before you fall down."

He could not argue with that. When the Captain was right, the Captain was right. Dr Phlox took his arm and helped him sit on the floor.

"You should go back to sickbay with the doctor, Trip. Four or five hours will give you time to rest before we get there." He said gently.

"No, Cap'n. Just let me rest here. Doc's here, I'm here."

"Did you pick up anything else, Trip? Was T'Pol able to tell us how they are being held?"

"Cap'n all I can feel, taste, touch and sense is the pain."

The Captain nodded to himself as if he had suspected as much. "Then at least let the doctor give you something for the pain."

"Ya don't understand, Cap'n. It's not physical pain. You can't heal it with a hypospray. No offence, doc."

"None taken." Replied the doctor, a thoughtful look on his face.

The Captain sat next to Trip on the floor. "You said the women weren't alright, Trip."

The Commander shut his eyes a moment then opened them again. He looked at his friend for a moment before speaking. His words whispered and filled with pain. "Those monsters have already raped 'em, Cap'n. We'll find 'em but we'll be too late to prevent that."

He wanted to argue, to rant and rail that there was no way the Commander could know that but looking at the expression in his friend's clear blue eyes he knew the truth when he saw it. How the hell did they end up in this mess? "Can you talk to T'Pol?"

Trip shook his head. "Nope."

"What about emotionally? Is there a way you can let her know we're on our way? That help is coming?"

He wanted to say something derisory but resisted the urge. It was not the Captain's fault. "No, Cap'n, and even if I could I wouldn't do it."

"Why not?"

"They're in enemy hands, Cap'n. I don't want those bastards to have a clue that we're on to them."

Captain Archer nodded and placed a hand on Trip's shoulder. His friend closed his eyes and in that split second the Captain gave Dr Phlox a nod. Before Trip knew what was happening he felt the hypospray in his neck. His eyes shot open and widened in distress. Fixed on the Captain as if he had been betrayed with a kiss. "Don't knock me out, Cap'n." He pleaded.

The Captain's voice was soothing, his free hand brushed the hair back from his eyes. "Just a couple of hours, Trip. You have to rest whether you want to or not and that's an order."

* * * * *

Her mind was a whirl. Odd disjointed images kept impinging on her nightmare. Soothing and gentle. Like a hand reaching out from the darkness to tell her everything was going to be alright. Only that was a lie. Nothing would ever be alright again. She had failed to protect the others. Now they were all part of some grotesque breeding program for their enemies. Once the fetuses had been brought to full term and the babies born they would be executed and have their bones bleached and hung in decoration as obscene trophies. A warped show of gratitude from the sickest aliens in the galaxy. T'Pol was roused and handed some harsh unbleached cloth. It took forever for her mind to grasp that she was being given clean clothing. Where were her own clothes? What had happened to her uniform? Then she remembered. The Hirogen Captain had ripped her clothes off before forcing himself on her. She suppressed a shudder and fumbled with the smock like material. She tried not to wonder how many other captives had worn it before her. How many times did they have to wash the material before it was free of the blood?

She looked down at herself. Surprised to find that she was clean if bruised. T'Pol frowned. Realised she had been washed down and cleansed. She was still sore inside. Little rips along the vaginal wall which caught her breath when she moved but the bleeding had stopped so that was something. She would have checked herself more thoroughly but there was no privacy. As she pulled the smock over her head she was acutely aware of her captor watching her every move. She turned her head and fixed him with a cold glare of hate. Her voice as even and emotionless as a block of ice.

"Why did you rape us?"

"You know why."

"Where are your females?"

"Too far away."

The Sub-Commander frowned. "What do you mean?"

"We are not going home."

"I do not understand."

"Each year the hunt becomes harder. We are forced to travel farther and farther in seach of prey. We cannot take our females with us so they stay behind. Our numbers therefore are falling."

T'Pol nodded. "You are dying out."

Captain Kaarg hissed angrily, one massive hand lifting her off her feet to bring her face to face with him. T'Pol did not struggle. She had learnt to pick her battles. "We will outlive *you*." He promised darkly.

"You should return to your homeworld. Be with your women and raise families."

"The words of the weak!" Spat Kaarg.

"And your words, Kaarg, are the words of the frightened."

He shook her, almost overcome with anger. Then he tried to calm down. T'Pol was carrying his seed. He could not afford to kill her before the incubation period had run its' course. "We are warriors. We live for the hunt. We follow the prey."

"And when there is no more prey?"

"There will *always* be prey!"

He glared hard at the Vulcan. T'Pol stared back at him, her look unwavering and calm. When she spoke her quiet words hit him hard though he did not show it. "What happens when there are no more hunters, Kaarg? No more warriors? You cannot rely on raping other species to save you from yourselves."

For a moment he just stared at her then his control snapped and he threw her against the wall of the hold. Stunned she lay half conscious on the floor. Captain Kaarg leant over her and spat in her face, noting that she stirred slightly. Relieved that the fragile creature had not been killed before her time but careful not to show it. "You go too far, Vulcan. But your sharp tongue will not save you."

She did not move or try to respond but listened as his heavy footfalls echoed through the decking of the ship's hold. She heard him speak to someone then felt the thrum of the ship's engines as the vessel began to rise. T'Pol had no idea where they were going or where the others were. Was she being taken to join them? She raised her head but the movement sent a wave of nausea through her. Feeling faint and decidedly unwell she remained motionless for a few moments, waiting for the unpleasant sensation to pass. Something touched her thoughts and calmed her just before welcome oblivion clothed her anxious eyes in sleep.

* * * * *

He was dreaming. A weird landscape of the mind that carried him into foreign shores that somehow felt achingly familiar. A gentle touch eased his distress and drew him on. Curiosity rising through his concern and making him take more notice. Where was he? Why did it feel familiar? He reached out with his thoughts and tentatively tried exploring. A push from his mind produced something like a reaction. Very subtle and hard to grasp, it seemed to gently ebb back and wash his own thoughts. He waited and tried to analyse the strange but soothing sensation. Other thoughts lapping his. Why did he think that? Humour caught him unawares. He knew that sharp dry wit. T'Pol! His heart ached. His whole body celebrated the notion of her presence in his mind. *T'Pol, is that you?*

*Trip?*

He laughed lightly, the pleasure tinged with so much pain. *Yeah, it's me*

*Where are you?*

*On Enterprise*

*I don't understand...*

*Remember when you called out to me in your quarters? The night of the attack? Somehow you managed to reconnect with me but in images not thoughts. The only thought I could pick up was you calling my name. Everything else was emotional*

*Vulcans do not have emotional states, Commander*

He chuckled in her mind. It was delicious to her. Such a wonderful antidote to all the pain. A comfort to the loneliness. *Ya could have fooled me, T'Pol*

*How can I hear your thoughts, Trip, if this is just an emotional connection?*

*I haven't figured that out yet except this. I'm not conscious. The Cap'n had the doc knock me out. Are you awake?*

*No*

He paused. *Then maybe we can converse when we are both in this state but not when we are awake*

*It is possible but it makes no sense*

*Honey, nothing about this makes sense*

*Honey?*

*An expression*

*Honey is the nectar of flowers on your homeworld is it not?*

He sounded amused. *There's just no foolin' ya is there, T'Pol?* He paused, suddenly more serious. *How are ya?*

*I have been better*

*Did they...?*

*Yes*

His heart was shuddering, his anger beginning to rise and rob him of reason. T'Pol's thoughts gently flooded his mind taking his anger from him and trying to soothe his growing distress.

*There was nothing you could do, Trip*

He wanted to cry. *I should have moved faster, been smarter*

*You would have been killed.* She paused. *I could not bear the thought of anything happening to you*

He let his love for her lap her thoughts. Felt ten feet tall when she rested in him. It was so much more intimate than physical touch. He had no words for how complete it made him feel. His thoughts growled and rumbled through her mind.

*I want to rip the sons of bitches that have done this to pieces*

*That may be easier said than done, Trip. They are much stronger than humans or Vulcans*

*I know, which means we gotta outsmart them*

He could tell she was listening. Felt her thoughts continue to caress his own. For a moment they were silent, resting in each other and giving and taking what comfort they could. Dispite everything that had happened it was a sweet and beautiful thing. Infinitely precious to them. *You have a plan?*

*Not yet but we're working on it. Right now the Cap'n's heading for some giant asteroid or planet*

*You must be careful. All of you. If they feel they may lose the incubators they are likely to kill everyone*

*Incubators?*

*That is what they call us. We will be kept alive until the babies are born*

*But that'll be months!*

*Yes*

She felt his shock and tried to soothe him. It felt weird to him that after all she had been through, T'Pol should be the one comforting him. He felt something akin to humour stroke his mind so seductively that he mentally shivered with pleasure. *Who else would you want to touch you like this?* T'Pol teased.

Trip laughed lightly and deepened the mind meld, carrying her along on a wave of silent passion that for once filled the Vulcan with more than enough to keep her occupied. *Ya know I love ya, right?*

He felt her sigh so gently it took his heart with it. *I know you 'talk' too much...*

The light flutter of his laughter was swallowed up in a plethora of sensations that left pain, sorrow and loss a world away.

* * * * *

Continue to Part 5

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Half a dozen of you have made comments

Ooh. Hirogen. Keep it coming please

This is disturbing, but bloody good. Keep going!, BTW, it's RUSSELL Watson who sings the theme, not Robert.

Well, if emails can be red-faced, Alison sent me a red-faced one today asking me to correct the error. Thanks for the heads up, Sarah. We've corrected the name, and Alison apologizes to her readers.

Wow! This is excellent. Very visual and intense. I'm anxious to read more!

One more little tiny nit... you say in part one that "He could not even countenance the thought of losing him." As good as it is to see somebody using a thesaurus, "countenance" means "face" as in eyes, nose, mouth, chin, cheeks, and forehead. :)

Bucky the former linguist stepping in here. Actually "countenance" has multiple meanings. As noun it does, indeed mean "face," etc.; however, as a verb it means "give moral approval."
So, in this case, it's a stretch, but okay.