Unbound- Part 6

Unbound
An "Enterprise" story

By Alison M. DOBELL

RATING: G.
ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.
FEEDBACK: Welcomed.
EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com
WEBSITE: http://carlajane.50megs.com/Ali00.html

SUMMARY: "Sub-Commander T'Pol discovers that her worst fears have been realised and is left not knowing who to trust. Back on Zeon what was thought to be illusion shows another face."
DISCLAIMER: The usual disclaimers apply. The characters and 'Enterprise' are the property of Paramount. No infringement of copyright is intended.

Part Six

"NO GAME"

* * * * *

She was wary but affected indifference. Her cool exterior masking the growing sense that something was wrong. Commander Tucker was polite if reserved and allowed her to dictate the pace, carefully obeying her quietly spoken instructions. When the cushions and candles had been placed to her satisfaction on the floor she watched him watching her with veiled eyes and a half smile on his handsome face. It was a smile that chilled her to the bone. She waited for him to kneel, her body poised and appearing to be perfectly relaxed as he waited for her to join him.

"I apologise Commander, it is later than I thought."

A small frown chased the false smile from his face. Better. In his eyes something glittered that was not pleased. "We are both awake, Sub-Commander, and as you so rightly said I do need my tensions easing."

She noticed his accent had all but flattened out. Interesting. She took a slow step back towards the door, her eyes fastened on his. Her look placid and deceptively calm. "We will resume our normal meditations tomorrow, Commander. I should not have disturbed you."

"Nonsense." He was also rising to his feet now. Somehow his fluid movements not quite human. A small unreasoning fear began to grow in her. "We should do this now, Sub-Commander. I *insist*."

As he said the last word he closed the distance. His movements a blur of the eye that only instinct could combat. Pressed up against the wall she had time only to react in the time honoured ritual of the ancient Vulcan martial arts that had become more a curiosity than a skill of late. The first blow caught him unawares. Bought valuable time and a little space as the body sagged away from her. Her foot arched and kicked out catching him under the chin as she jabbed with the edge of her palm in a swift chopping motion that threw him backwards breaking the small table next to the bed in his fall. He regained his feet quickly. All semblance of affability, all notion that this was simply a meeting of friends, torn from his visage like the mannered confection it was.

A voice she did not recognise echoed cold and dispiteously turning the room into a chamber of ice. "Your kind have meddled once too often, Vulcan."

"What have you done with Commander Tucker?"

The eyes flashed then darkened, turning so black that they seemed to swallow the ambient light in the room. The candles went out. The warmth gone, the icebox turned to zero. T'Pol could feel her teeth chattering. While her tolerance to heat was remarkable she had little resistance to the plunging temperature. The figure before her still looked so achingly familiar that she had to harden her heart as well as her resolve. Block out all thoughts of Commander Tucker. This was not him. The alien that wore his face was a danger to them all. She shuddered. Slivers of ice freezing her veins even as she resisted. The teachings of Surak fragmenting in her mind as she struggled to keep control. Then she thought of Trip. The impulsive, compassionate, talkative human. His warmth. His irrepressible and often baffling sense of humour. His endless small attempts at friendship, his gentleness and kindness. How he got himself into endless awkward and sometimes dangerous situations through his impulsive need to help others even when it put both himself and his colleagues in danger. He was irritating. Irrational. Lacking in discipline, emotional and illogical. But most importantly, he was her friend. Loyal, truthful, not lacking in courage and with the ability of self sacrifice that she had not expected to find among Human attributes. He challenged her preconceptions as she challenged his. Opening up a channel to understanding that was unique and treasured.

Now this creature was using his form to move among them. No doubt to betray Enterprise and her crew to some dark purpose as yet unknown to her but bound she was sure to the mysterious Zenari. She was in no doubt now which enemy she truly faced. As the creature reached out to grip her throat the Vulcan Sub-Commander affected more weakness than she felt, slowed her movements and blinked as if in confusion. The creature paused to smile Trip's smile but it did not animate the copied flesh, did not reach the black shine of its' alien eyes. It gloated and that was its' mistake.

Using every trick, every thing she had ever learned in her long hard years of schooling, Sub-Commander T'Pol became a whirlwind of precise and deadly movements. Her limbs deadly weapons. Her will as implacable and unremitting as a machine. Within seconds it was over. Breath labouring T'Pol leaned a hand on the wall and struggled to inflate overtaxed lungs. The creature was not simply dead. It was in pieces. The flesh broken away and scattered among the matchwood that had been the Commander's desk and chair, his small side table almost reduced to sawdust under the sprawled and bloody main torso. She was flecked with blood but did not immediately leave the loathsome spectacle. As she regained control and recovered her mind reviewed what had happened. When she came to the Commander's quarters this creature had not been alone. Lt. Reed had been with him. A Lt. Reed that had completely ignored her. A Lt Reed that seemed to have a private agenda with this version of the Commander. That could mean only one thing.

T'Pol stumbled into the bathroom and leaned against the sink. Slowly she set about cleaning herself up. Removing all traces of the conflict. Tidying up her uniform and hair so that no one would look twice when they saw her. She knew now that Lt. Reed was almost certainly another of these alien copies. How many of the true Away Team had returned to Enterprise? Reluctantly she realised she could not afford to trust any of them.

* * * * *

The dark shade descended through the high ceiling of the Audience Chamber in a thick column of black smoke. As it reached the dais the black lightened into charcoal then grey. A disembodied voice broke the news. "We are detected."

Ambassador Chot did not seem surprised. His aide stood silently next to him. "The Vulcan?"

"She suspects."

"How?"

"Apparently the Commander has an arrangement with her. When he did not keep to the schedule she came to his quarters."

"What did you do?"

"I left his shade to fulfill the obligation."

"Did it work?"

"We have yet to hear back from him."

The Ambassador seemed to mull this over. "Did you check?"

"No. With the Vulcan already suspicious we did not need to do anything else to destroy our cover."

"Very well. Return and play out your parts as if nothing had happened. Watch her closely. If she appears to know more than her suspicion - kill her."

"The Captain will surely..."

"The Captain is a fool. He hears what he wants to hear, believes what he wants to believe, and he will reap the reward as is his due."

"Why not simply remove him?"

"You know why. His foolhardy nature will serve us better. How far are they from their rendezvous?"

"Less than four hours."

"Good. Soon we will be in a position to educate these fools in the one way they will truly understand."

"What way is that, Excellency?" Asked Kentak.

The Ambassador half turned towards his aide. "We will give them what they want."

The shade began to darken again preparatory to returning to the incubus. "I will leave you now, Excellency."

The Ambassador inclined his head slightly in mute benediction then the column rose and vanished up through the high vault of the ceiling. Up through the emptiness of space. Through the sleeping skin of the ship and back to the figure sitting immobile on Lt Reed's bed. The eyes swirled a dark glossy ink then gradually cleared letting a facsimile of Human pupils occupy the borrowed orbs. Once one got beyond the confines of technology, creation was child's play.

* * * * *

The crystal chamber was huge but seemed to echo with a kind of emptiness it had not had before. Commander Tucker had followed the eerie sound that had so reminded him of muted screams that his skin had crawled with goose bumps. He had not been this discomfited since childhood. How stupid was that? Yet he was not reassured when he could find no sign of the Captain or the others. What the hell was that noise anyway? Perhaps it was the air moving through the intricate friezes pierced into the many layered ceiling or walls? Damned if he knew but it was creeping him out. He did not like it. Elaborate, exotic, expensive it might be but relaxing and reassuring it was not.

He found the Lieutenant shivering and staring with wide eyed terror at the most beautiful frieze he had ever seen. The man's eyes were as round as saucers, his eyes glued to the frieze, his steps retreating slowly backwards as if in fear.

"Mal?" Said Trip quietly, instinct softening his voice in an attempt not to alarm his friend. Deciding the informal term of address would help put his friend at ease.

He did not look hurt but he did look traumatised. Was it his scream he had heard? Hot damn if that didn't frighten him more than anything. The Armoury Officer was one of the bravest men he knew. He could not begin to imagine what could have terrified him enough to cause that scream. Part of him did not want to know.

"Are ya all right?"

Lt. Reed took a few more steps back, still not daring to look away from the frieze. "Commander?"

"Who were ya expectin'?" Trip tried to joke then spoke again when he got no response. "C'mon Mal, you're beginnin' to creep me out. Let's go find the Cap'n and get back to Enterprise."

The Lieutenant took another few paces then risked a glance at Trip. At least it looked like Trip. He gave a huff of relief. Trip noticed his face was white, completely devoid of colour.

"What the hell happened? Ya look like death warmed up."

"Thanks, remind me never to recommend you for the position of counselor."

"Don't worry I wouldn't take it. Give me a Warp 5 any day."

A smile almost made it to Lt. Reed's lips then he shuddered. "Can we just get out of here?"

He did not say *please* but it was inferred. Commander Tucker nodded and fell into step alongside his shaken friend. Only when they left the frieze far behind them did the man begin to relax. Trip looked at him anxiously. "What happened? I thought I heard somebody scream."

Lt. Reed looked embarrassed. "Um yes, that was me I'm afraid Commander."

"What happened?"

The Lieutenant stopped walking, took a steadying breath and looked at the Commander. "Promise you won't laugh?"

"Why would I laugh?"

"Just... promise. It's important Co.. Trip."

That did it, things were really serious if the Lieutenant was calling him Trip while on duty. Something had really rattled him and no mistake. "Ya got my word, Malcolm."

"I was looking at that frieze with the Arms Master. One minute we were discussing the pros and cons of its' intricate construction. I was marveling at the detail and literally got lost in it." He paused and when Trip said nothing he repeated himself. "I got lost in it, Trip."

"I heard ya I'm just not sure what you mean."

Lt Reed sighed and ran a nervous hand through his hair. He felt so damn foolish now. Like some kid in a haunted house when he finds out the shadows on the wall aren't monsters. Only in this instance he was not so sure. "I'm saying that one minute I was looking at them, admiring them, then I seemed to get drawn *inside* them. The Arms Master disappeared. I was alone and the frieze had somehow become three dimensional trapping me inside it."

He could not blame Trip for the look of incredulity that stole across his face. "Must'a been an illusion, Mal."

He nodded. "That's what I thought at first." He began to roll up his right sleeve. "Until a claw reached out and cut me. That's when I screamed."

Trip looked down and swore. Halfway up the Lieutenant's right bicep were the unmistakable cut marks of three claws. The cuts were not particularly deep but enough to break the skin and draw blood. He looked at the Lieutenant, his face going pale. "I think it's time we got outta here."

Lt. Reed nodded, calmly rolling his bloody sleeve back down. Trip pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to him. "Here, take this, you're bleedin' all over the place." He paused and grinned suddenly. "Don't want ya messin' up all the expensive floorin' now do we?"

"I don't give a ruddy damn about their stupid floor if you must know. This is one illusion that is far too life-like for comfort."

Trip nodded, his expression serious. "Ya won't get any argument from me."

In silence they began to systematically walk the entire length and breadth of the crystal chamber. As huge as it was. As many great ornate doorways as they found. They did not find one that led them back out.

* * * * *

Sub-Commander T'Pol was in her own quarters. The incense was only mildly calming. In the flickering candlelight she could not find peace. Meditation was going to elude her yet she needed to calm down. Think clearly. Her instinct wanted her to take immediate action but she would do nothing that would bring further harm to Enterprise or her crew. Instead, as she gazed into the candle flame she kept recalling the features of the copy she had fought. It stirred something in her memory. Something she should have remembered. Something that was now illusive to her. The hours began to pass, her breathing evened out, a modicum of control had returned to her. Her chaotic thoughts were finding their reasoned pathways. Her eyes began to close with the warmth of the candle flame soothing her lids.

As they closed a name sprang into her mind and her eyes startled open. Travis. Her heart rate began to increase. Of course. How could she have forgotten? Swiftly she blew out the candle and rose to her feet. It took moments only to dress. Time was of the essence and she was sure the boomer would forgive her waking him at this hour. She could not afford to delay and risk giving the enemy any further advantage.

* * * * *

Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zero. Commander Tucker was frustrated and getting more than a little worried. "What d'ya think's goin' on, Malcolm?"

The Lieutenant was decidedly jumpy but in much better condition than when the Commander had first found him. He had his phase pistol in his hand and looked ready to shoot the first thing that did not have a southern accent. "I think this was a trap from start to finish."

Trip nodded. "My thoughts exactly." He was turning slowly, looking at the huge beautiful complexity of the crystal chamber. He could not imagine any species living and breathing that would not look upon this place with awe. His eyes scanned the friezes, the ornamental doorways that led nowhere, the high vaulted pierced ceiling with crystal backdrops carved in fabulous detail. He was still turning on the spot, looking and craning his neck as he spoke. "What do you give the man who has everything?"

Startled out of his reverie Lt. Reed was not in the mood for the southerner's light hearted banter. "Be serious, Commander. This isn't a bloody game."

The Commander stopped looking round and turned to face his friend. "I am bein' serious. And you're wrong. A game is *exactly* what this is."

"What?"

"It's what they said. We *all* play games, just some are more serious than others."

The Lieutenant thought about that for a moment, his voice quieter now. "Your point being?"

Trip spoke patiently, willing his reluctant friend to go along with him on this. "What do you give the man who has everything?"

Lt. Reed gave a long suffering sigh. "All right, what *do* you give the man who has everything?"

The Commander spread his arms out to indicate the whole huge crystal chamber. "Ya give him a box to put it in."

He watched the Armoury Officer's face as enlightenment dawned. "Bloody hell! I think you've hit the nail on the head, Commander. This *is* a box. A very expensive, very elaborate box. But why all the subterfuge?"

"T'Pol tired to warn us, remember? She said 'they lie'. Even though T'Pol's been with us since the beginnin', has proved her loyalty to Enterprise time and time again, when push came to shove who did we believe?"

Lt. Reed looked stricken. "Bugger!"

"We believed the first exotic alien race to offer us the ultimate eye candy."

"Eye candy?"

Trip looked around at their exotic surroundings which encouraged Lt Reed to do the same. He nodded. "Eye candy." Understanding now. He could feel his heart sinking and gave his friend a solemn look. "You have my complete and undivided attention, Commander. This *is* a box. We are trapped inside it. Now how the ruddy hell are we going to get out of it?"

"Somehow I don't think 'Open Sesame' or 'Speak Friend and enter' will work."

"Commander..."

"Okay, okay, keep your shirt on. If there's a way in there's gotta be a way out but what if it's configured like a non-return valve or a lobster pot?"

The Lieutenant gave a long suffering sigh. "Less colourful metaphors would make for a clearer understanding of your intent, Commander."

"I'm just sayin' what if this box was only designed to let us *in* not out?"

"Remind me not to recommend your bedside manner." Lt. Reed paused. "If your suspicion is correct then what happened to the others? The Captain, Ensign Sato, Dr. Phlox and my two armoury officers Jenkins and Ross?"

Trip gave him a serious look. "I think they're still here."

Shock registered first on the Lieutenant's face then disbelief. "What? Commander, look around you. There's no one else here."

Trip just stared at him. "They lie." He said quietly.

"What?"

The Commander allowed his eyes to roam around the unbridled splendour. "They lie. This could all be another lie, Malcolm."

Lt. Reed gave him a sour look, not at all amused. His voice dripping with sarcasm. "First this is a box then it isn't?"

"A box doesn't have to have four walls, a bottom and a lid."

The Lieutenant huffed. "Glad we got that cleared up then."

Trip looked at him, a patient expression on his face. He knew how it sounded. "Just go along with me for a moment, Mal."

"As if I have any choice." He mumbled dryly.

"I think we have to explore this place - this 'space' - a little more imaginatively that we've been doin'. With our minds as well as our physical senses."

The Lieutenant could not believe what he was hearing. "Commander, that is all very well in theory but..."

"Just humour me, Lieutenant. Right now the only thing I trust is *you*. So unless you're one very advanced sarcastic British hologram I'm bettin' you're as real as I am." He cast a slow measured look around him, feeling a decided chill begin to seep through his bones. "Right now that's the only thing I *am* sure of."

"You're saying this whole thing might be some elaborate illusion? An illusion that can grow claws, reach out and cut us?"

"They're playin' with us, Mal, and I don't have a clue *what* this is."

For several minutes neither of the men spoke. They walked slowly, sticking close together, looking closely at everything. Only reaching out to tentatively touch with caution. They did not want a repeat of what had happened to Lt. Reed. The Lieutenant could not help but feel out of his depth. Trip was right. "Nice box. Pretty box."

Trip shot a look at him. "Yeah, but it's still a box and we have to find the others. Have to find a way out and get back to Enterprise."

They were both startled by a strange disembodied voice. "That will not be possible."

They turned, twisted round but could not see anyone. Trip could not control his anger. "Show yourself!" He yelled.

There was no answer.

Lt. Reed looked puzzled. "Why won't it be possible?"

To their surprise the voice responded. "Your ship has already left."

Commander Tucker had had just about enough. His lips peeled back in an angry snarl. "Lies!" He spat out.

The voice was fading now. Sounding almost amused at their predicament. "Enjoy your *box*..."

* * * * *

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Four of you have made comments

I don't know what to write. T'Pol's fight, the dialogue between Tucker and Reed. The omniscient evil. One of your best...may be your absolute best.

As usual, this is excellent. Aquila has already highlighted my favourite bits, the fight, the dialogue etc. I'm always amazed that you give nothing away except just enough to keep us wanting more:) I never know how they are going to get out of trouble, but they always do and in such wonderful ways. Thanks.

As I suspected...pretenders in the bodies of our friends! At least Jon is the original, but as he's usually too naive to be of much use, it will all be up to T'Pol to save the ship.

Let's hope that Trip and Malcolm can work miracles planet-side.

I was very glad to know that the Trip that T'Pol killed was only a copy. You had me worried there. Lovely description of how T'Pol thinks of Trip just before she killed the copy. I agree with Aquila, I think this is one of your best.