Faith- Part 9

"FAITH OF THE HEART"
An "Enterprise" story
By Alison M. DOBELL

RATING: NC-17, this part, PG-13.
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. Lietenant Reed takes it upon himself to turn detective."
DISCLAIMER: The characters and 'Enterprise' belong to Paramount. No infringement of copyright is intended.

Part 9

* * * * *

Lieutenant Malcolm Reed was so happy and relieved to see Hoshi open her eyes that everything else paled into insignificance. All that mattered was that Ensign Hoshi Sato was going to be alright. He watched her eyelids flicker then open wide, the sparkle of her eyes sending his heart into freefall when they settled with warm regard on his face.

"How long have you been sitting there?" She asked in a light amused voice.

He could feel his palms go sweaty, his throat dry. Suddenly feeling very self conscious. "I, um. I, uh, haven't been here the *whole* time..."

His response amused her. Those wonderful eyes were definitely laughing at him now though she did manage to keep her face straight. "You didn't answer the question."

"You've been unconscious a long time. I just came to check on you."

She frowned slightly, memories beginning to surface. He forgot his bout of shyness and reached for her hand. Tears glistened in her eyes. He squeezed her hand to comfort and reassure her. "Are the others...?"

The lieutenant nodded, his face solemn and full of care. "Everyone is safe."

She closed her eyes and breathed out a great sigh of relief. He felt her tremble.

"Hoshi?"

Her eyes opened and focused on him. "I don't want to talk about it, Malcolm."

"I know and that's not what I'm asking."

"It isn't?"

"No. How do you feel?"

She opened her mouth to snap at him then froze. Lieutenant Reed watched her closely, unaware that Dr. Phlox had come up behind him and overheard their conversation. He waited silently, as anxious as the Armoury Officer to hear the Ensign's reply. Ensign Sato frowned in confusion. "I'm not in any pain." She paused and flexed her stomach muscles, gaining an absurd amount of comfort from Malcolm's hand in hers. "Why can I feel no pain?"

Dr Phlox stepped into her line of sight. "You are healed."

"I am? Thank you, doctor."

He gave a gentle shake of his head. "I cannot take the credit, Ensign. I may have helped but your recovery is nothing short of astounding."

"It is?" Her frown deepened. Instead of a feeling of elation she was beginning to get scared. "I don't understand. I was..." She choked back the words. Painful mental images punctuating her recall. Lt Reed's hold on her hand tightened slightly. It gave her the courage to continue. "I was injured inside."

"The good news is the tears and rips are no longer there, Ensign, although I do not pretend to understand how that can be the case."

"But I was... I was..."

Dr Phlox nodded, his voice gentle and calm. "You were all found to have been impregnated, Ensign. Once your condition was stabilised I encouraged an abortion of the alien genetic material. At such an early stage it is a simple procedure to induce. That same inducement was successful with all the abducted crew."

Ensign Sato sat up and stared at the doctor then at Lt Reed. "If I am healed why am I in sickbay?"

"I was hoping further observation would answer that question."

"What did you find out?"

Dr Phlox took a breath and breathed out slowly, judging how best to word his answer. "You are perfectly healthy and none the worse - medically speaking - for your traumatic ordeal."

She raised her eyebrows. Before she could snap at him Lieutenant Reed spoke. "Hoshi, we have no idea how it happened but I for one am grateful it did. When we found you, you were in a terrible state. You all were."

Her eyes began to fill with tears. "You found me?" She asked in a small voice.

Lieutenant Reed nodded. "Yes, along with Commander Tucker, the Captain and armed security personnel." He shook his head slowly in remembered horror. "I can't begin to imagine what you have been through, Hoshi. When I found you all I wanted to do was rip them to pieces."

"You should have."

He gave her a grim little smile, his eyes hardening like flints. "Don't worry. They won't be bothering anyone again."

Her eyes widened. "You killed them?"

"Yes. We had no choice."

For a moment no one spoke then Ensign Sato held her head high. A look in her eyes that was firm and unforgiving. "I'm glad."

* * * * *

As impatient as Commander Tucker was to see T'Pol again he did not like the idea of landing the Enterprise on Rastak. He could not even find the planet in the ship's database. Mind you, he had not really expected to but it would have allayed his galloping fears to at least put pay to one more dark thought. As if reading his thoughts, Captain Archer spoke aloud. His words pitched to be reassuring, but for who? "Captain Vornak is going to have us guided to the landing site. It's elevated a couple of hundred feet above the surface, Commander. Enterprise will be secured by a docking arm. So technically we won't be landing on the planet."

Trip nodded only mildly reassured. "I still don't like it. We'd be like sittin' ducks if anyone attacked."

A hint of amusement crept over the Captain's face. "We're on a Vulcan world, Trip. Who would be stupid enough to take on the Vulcans?"

The Commander did not look at him. He was staring off into space, dark thoughts haunting him that had no substance. Like those monsters under the bed, they always seemed bigger and meaner when you could not see them. How could he explain to his friend the Captain that he was terrified? A cold emptiness chilling him inside and making his feet drag when he walked. He swallowed slowly, carefully and said nothing. Thinking he had made his point Captain Archer clapped his friend on the shoulder and moved passed him. He gave Lieutenant Rolrak a nod. "Please tell Captain Vornak we are ready."

* * * * *

It was a place of shadows and distorted images. A place where sounds were tortured haunted things. Ghosts of other worlds long passed into dust, their substance torn away by the passage of ever restless solar winds. Generations had lived and died, unremarked and forgotten. She was not sure where she was or what was happening. Her memories kept twisting into new and more bewildering shapes where the mundane held no sway and only the fantastic kept her company. People she did not know came and spoke into her ear, adjusted the machines that were cleaning her blood and filtering out harmful toxins. Or were the machines putting the toxins there? It was hard to be detached and logical when your chemical cues were all at sea. Her eyes were closed. Opening them was something beyond her strength or ability. She wanted to look around her. To *see*. But the sluggish motion of blood in her veins bespoke the pressure placed on her to sleep. To give herself up to the greater darkness. Put her trust in those who had saved her. Her thoughts stumbled. Saved her? Who had saved her?

She thought of Trip. His face a fading precious hope that she could not cling to. Sorrow touched her heart because she had let him go. The solar winds would take him and death would court her for the rest of her life with the cold empty breath of an unquiet grave. She gasped in her half-sleep, his name slurring off numb lips. Her eyelids damp from tears leaking slowly down her cheeks as she wept for her beloved. Unaware that she was being closely observed. Her mumbled responses recorded. Machines adjusted. Chemicals introduced to keep her from waking. The Vulcan doctor was too wise to object. He kept his mouth shut and his ears open. His curiosity buried so deeply inside him that nothing would find it. He had his orders. They all did.

The Chief Medical Technician of the facility looked at him. "What did she say?"

Dr. Lerik took a slow breath. Contemplating the woman drifting on the edge of consciousness but not yet allowed to succumb. "The word makes no sense."

"What word?"

Dr. Lerik looked up at the Chief Medical Technician. The man's name was Sha'kith. "It sounds like 'trip'." He paused. Clearly puzzled. "It must he a *human* word." He added with clear distaste.

Sha'kith looked at the female Vulcan thoughtfully. "You have noticed the chemical changes in her brain?"

"Of course."

Sha'kith reached out a hand and drew a finger gently along the shell-like edge of her ear. Dr Lerik frowned in disapproval but did not dare say anything. Sha'kith's voice was thoughtful as he played with the word on his lips, watching for any indication that it meant anything to the Sub-Commander. "Trip? Trip?" He said softly.

Impossibly she stirred. Struggled to become conscious. Her head lolled from side to side. "Trip. Do not go..."

The two Vulcans exchanged shocked looks. "Could it be a name?"

Dr Lerik gave a tiny shrug. He did not know. Sha'kith moved closer to the biobed and continued to very gently stroke T'Pol's ear. His words puffing against the side of her face. Hoping the Vulcan scent would calm her enough to answer his questions. "T'Pol? Where is Trip? I will get him for you."

Something cautioned her to be careful but she could not make sense of it. All she knew was that she was losing him. "Don't go... Don't leave me..."

"I will not go. Would never leave you." Said Sha'kith softly. "Tell me what to do?"

She was mumbling again. New tears leaking from eyes that could not open. She sounded so weary. Her words seeped in agony. Not a physical pain but the pain of the heart. She wanted Trip but she could not sense him. Her mind blindly reaching out for him and touching only darkness. Each effort to reach him leaving her emptier than before. Sha'kith's touch should have calmed her but if anything she was getting more distressed. Dr. Lerik moved a little closer. "Perhaps we should let her sleep?"

The Chief Medical Technician removed his hand and stared at T'Pol. Only just able to hide his deep frustration. "We were close, Lerik, I could feel it."

Dr. Lerik nodded. "Tomorrow we will be closer."

"She should have reacted to me. I am Vulcan."

"The Sub-Commander has been through a great deal." The doctor reminded him carefully.

"Increase the medication. I do not want Sub-Commander T'Pol regaining consciousness while the humans are here."

"Yes, sir."

* * * * *

The ship was silent. Moved like a ghost. Cloaked and deadly. Only this ship was not bent on death and destruction though even the stars quailed when it passed. The hum of the straining metal sang like a tormented siren shrieking in cold veins. Black lidless eyes shone like wet tar. Pale sickly faces all but glowed as they followed the faint but distinctive ion trail. Patient they could outlive the birth and death of planets. How could you kill something that was already beyond death?

* * * * *

Lieutenant Anna Hess was irritated and in no mood for the Denobulan's bland assurances. "If there is nothing wrong with me then I wish to return to my quarters."

Dr. Phlox tried to hide his exasperation. As he finished checking the other women he noticed the same thing in all of them. The signs of physical injury and trauma had disappeared. It was driving him crazy. It was not possible for people to simply cure themselves in this way. There had to be an explanation and he was determined to find it. The trouble was, his patients were not helping. Three had already discharged themselves and more were following suit. Ensign Hoshi Sato had been reluctantly allowed to leave, the Tactical Armoury Officer promising faithfully to ensure she rested at least another twenty four hours before attempting to go back on duty. And then only after returning to sickbay to get clearance from him to do so. Lt Hess though was a different matter entirely. Tough and uncompromising she pinned him with a sharp look that would not allow him to dole out the plattitudes he had tried on the others.

"I would rather you stayed here in sickbay, Lieutenant Hess."

She gave him a level look. "Doctor, I appreciate your desire to help but you have already said that physically I am healed."

"That is true, but..."

"You wish me to rest?"

He brightened visibly. "Yes."

She nodded and swung her legs off the bed. "Good, then I will rest. In my *own* quarters."

"I want to keep you under observation for another twenty four hours here in sickbay."

Lieutenant Hess smiled suddenly at him. A thing she did so rarely that he just stared at her. Amazed and curious. Her smile actually grew into a gentle curve that made everything that she said sound the height of reason. "It would be best to keep sickbay free for the sick, doctor. I will be in my quarters and will alert you if there should be any change in my restored condition." She paused a moment. "I wish to be healed, doctor, and the recent events have been traumatic enough for us all without the constant reminder every time I open my eyes to the sights and sounds of a hospital facility."

He nodded. It was more than reasonable. It would be cruel to keep her there. "Of course, lieutenant. Please come by first thing in the morning so I can check your condition."

"Of course, doctor. Thank you for your help."

She had left sickbay before he realised what had happened. He gave a heartfelt sigh and decided to let them all go back to their quarters. He had everything recorded on each and every one of them. Hopefully a careful study would throw some light on to what his human companions so glibly referred to as miracles. In his experience such things did not exist. Miracles were simply phenomena beyond the normal ability of a species to make cogent sense of them. He was sure this would prove to be the case here. His sigh deepened. Perhaps it would not hurt to invoke a few deities to ensure that this was so.

* * * * *

Lieutenant Rolrak gave Captain Archer the co-ordinates. The Captain nodded his thanks and instructed Travis Mayweather to bring them in and line the ship up for docking. He glanced around and gave a slight frown. "Where's Lieutenant Reed?"

Commander Tucker spoke up quickly. "I'll go get him, Cap'n."

He was about to tell him not to bother, that he would raise him on the com but Commander Tucker was already disappearing off the bridge. Captain Archer pursed his lips and wondered what that was all about.

* * * * *

The Commander glanced around sickbay, a puzzled look on his face. He heard an odd humming sound and as he turned around came face to face with Dr Phlox. He had a small silver box in his hands. Trip took a step back, partly out of politeness and partly because he did not want to meet whatever creature the doctor had inside that cage. He had been bitten enough times by things he could not pronounce. If this was anything like his damn bat it could stay in the cage.

"Ah Commander, what can I do for you?"

"I was looking for Lieutenant Reed."

"And you thought he would be here because Ensign Sato was here?"

Trip missed the bright twinkle in the doctor's eyes. He was glancing around, his voice distracted. He looked at the doctor with a slight frown on his face. "Where is everybody?"

"Don't worry, Commander, nobody died."

Seeing the look of consternation on Commander Tucker's face he dimmed his smile. "I apologise, I did not mean to be flippant. The patients have all returned to their quarters."

A look of stunned joy stole over the Commander's face. "They have? Ya mean ya cured them?"

"I am not sure cured is the right word, Commander Tucker, but if you mean they are now restored to physical health then yes they are. Not that I can begin to explain to you how that is possible."

The smile froze on the Commander's face. "Come again?"

"I am baffled by their recovery if you must know." He paused and tilted his head in silent regard as he looked at the Chief Engineer. "Much as I am about yours."

Commander Tucker began to step back. Not liking the way this conversation was suddenly going. "I have to go. Cap'n sent me to get Malcolm."

Dr Phlox put his silver cage down and put his hands on the Commander's shoulders, a reassuring smile on his face. "Now this won't take long, Commander..."

With a blurted apology, Trip turned and darted out of sickbay before Dr Phlox could reach for his hypospray. The doctor gave a huff of exasperation then looked down at the silver metal box which was starting to shriek and keen. Making soothing sounds he picked the box up and peered through the grill. "Patience, I haven't forgotten you." He paused and glanced off in the direction the Commander had gone. "As soon as we leave this planet I am going to make sure the Captain forces Commander Tucker and the others to undergo a full medical examination. I don't care how healthy they all seem, I won't be happy until I can find out exactly what is going on."

The creature shrieked back as if in agreement. Dr Phlox nodded and turned his thoughts to feeding his pet. For now his human charges could wait.

* * * * *

Captain Archer was surprised at the sheer size of the facility. Captain Vornak met the command staff as they stepped off Enterprise into the docking arm. He took them through to a special decontamination suite. The Captain tried not to frown. Both Commander Tucker and Lieutenant Reed looked uncomfortable. It was like no decontamination unit they had ever been in. So what was new? These were Vulcans, right?

"Captain Vornak, I have never seen a decontamination unit this big."

The unspoken question of why lay painfully silent between them. It went unanswered. "As I said Captain, we have extensive facilities here. Your people will be well cared for."

The Captain actually smiled. "I am happy to tell you that it does not look like we will need your assistance after all."

A look that was suspiciously close to alarm flashed over Captain Vornak's face before he could hide it. "That is impossible, Captain Archer."

"I know and I agree with you but all Dr Phlox's findings point to a complete physical return to health."

"What did he do? Perhaps he could explain the procedure to our medical staff?"

Captain Archer chuckled. He wished he knew. They reached one of the decontamination chambers and entered together with Commander Tucker and Lieutenant Reed. If the Captain was surprised that his Vulcan hosts entered with them he gave no sign. The chamber was several times bigger than Captain Archer's situation room. The Captain allowed himself to take in the sheer scale of the place. He was impressed but also more than a little disconcerted. One look at his Chief Engineer's face and he knew he felt the same. "This facility is certainly impressive." He observed politely.

"We can easily check your entire crew Captain before you go on your way. As I have already said, we have a great deal of expertise. It would be foolish to assume that everything was in order and not take the opportunity to be absolutely certain while you have the chance."

"When can we see T'Pol?"

Captain Vornak frowned at the Commander's sudden question. Not at all impressed by his over familiarity. "The Sub-Commander is sleeping."

Captain Archer spoke to deflect the intensity of his friend's concern. "I would appreciate being able to see Sub-Commander T'Pol as soon as possible. I am sure you will appreciate how concerned we are for our first officer."

The Vulcan Captain appreciated no such thing but these humans were an emotional race. Given to form fast attachments. To ascribe feelings to other races that were wholly inappropriate. He gave Commander Tucker a hard stare then looked at the Captain. "The Sub-Commander may not regain consciousness for a couple of days, Captain."

Captain Archer nodded and smiled, his benign look taking in his own two men as well as their Vulcan hosts. His meaning clearly telegraphed to them, *play nice*. "How long would it take your people to check over my crew?"

"Twenty four hours, Captain."

Still smiling, Captain Archer gave another nod. "Very well. We will take you up on your offer and have your medical staff check us over." He gave a little shake of his head when he saw Commander Tucker opening his mouth to protest. "If the offer is still open Captain Vornak, that is?"

Trip's mouth snapped shut. A look of irritation in his eyes that he had difficulty hiding. Captain Vornak appeared not to notice. He was secretly pleased with the outcome. He nodded back and kept his features blank. "Of course, Captain. If you will instruct your people to begin to come down. I will have my officers man your vessel until the crew is ready to return by which time the Sub-Commander should have regained consciousness."

Commander Tucker was dying to ask if she would be able to return to Enterprise with them but the look on Captain Archer's face clearly warned him off from saying anything further. Lieutenant Reed glanced at Lieutenant Rolrak. The man was as silent as a stone but his sharp eyes missed nothing. Looking at the way Trip was trying hard not to fidget, Lieutenant Reed felt a subtle building of tension and wished the Captain had let them bring their phasers with them. What good that would do against a planet full of Vulcans he had no idea but it would at least make him feel better. He bit back a sigh and copied his Captain. Trying to project an air of calm acceptance while inside all his instincts were screaming. What was he so afraid of? Or was he merely picking up on Trip's growing anxiety? It was obvious that his friend was far from happy, his mood growing more and more unsettled. Yet these were Sub-Commander T'Pol's people so why was Trip on edge? And why did his gut feelings tell him his friend was right to worry?

* * * * *

Continue to Part 10

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Have a comment to make about this story? Do so in the Trip Fan Fiction forum at the HoTBBS!

A whole mess of folks 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!
On 15 February 2003 at 12:56 PM Hopeful Nebula said:
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.

This is GOOD, sad but GOOD! Hope you post another chapter soon!
On 18 February 2003 at 06:28 PM nehal said:

wow. excellent. I love the R/S parts especially- you have Malcolm's character down brilliantly!

What an emotional roller coaster. It will be interesting to see how the crew draws together due to this.

I jsut dont see how the ship will survive with the present crew..
rape can leave even the strongest woman shattered for a period of time. And with it happening to the majority of women on the ship..a ship that is but a former shell of itself.
Oh with counseling ect they will be ok but not after a period of time.
and then you have how the men will react to them..
i just cant see how you can even hope for a happy ending..

Arghh! Alison!
What's with making Trip sound like a hick all of a sudden? I changed all uses of "ain't" (as I do in all fanfic listed here--the character doesn't use it in the show), but I couldn't do anything about that hokey, "What in tarnation..." you had there. C'mon! I've got some pretty back country relatives in Texas, and they wouldn't say that now. Hard to believe a man with at least one college degree (and possibly more) would sound like he dropped out of the eighth grade in the Ozarks. Nope. Nope. Nope.
I love your story, but when any author does something so jarring to the character, it spoils it for me.
****That doesn't mean I don't want you to continue. ;) Just keep in mind, I'm watchin'.

For the love of god PLEASE post more of the story! I'm ripping my hair out here! Heartbreaking but so good I can't wait to read every last word. I hope it not a short ending, I hate that.....it's to good to leave out the healing of the women.....T'pol...Trip. I love it keep going and I'll keep reading. (rips more hair out)

oooo nice and suspensy.. please I want to know what is going on.. I prolly woulda know if I had read the Nc-17 chappys.. but I didn't wanna... so.. my loss..

GREAT story, Alison! Very unsettling. Can't wait to read more. ;-)

Interesting story and idea behind it.
It's turning out to be much different than I expected.
Good, but different.
Keep going though.