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Unbound-Part 13Unbound By Alison M. DOBELL
SUMMARY: "Malcolm enacts Dr Phlox's plan. Captain Archer has an epiphany with the Xindi and the Zenari consider the exercise of forces that will change the nature of the Expanse and everything trapped within it." Part Thirteen "ALL IN THE MIND"
Commander Tucker was sleeping. He was sure he was yet there was a sudden piercing lucidity that left him questioning his own sanity. All was darkness but was that because his eyes were closed or because it was night? Then he remembered where he was. That damned crystal chamber. A place of eternal light surrounded by shadows. How crazy was that? He tried to move but had no sensation to suggest locomotion. This was nuts. How could he not feel anything? Then he remembered his fall and felt his heart sag. Oh hell, he was paralysed. A rising tide of panic threatened to overwhelm him then something warm and oddly alien touched his thoughts. *Commander? Trip?* *Who's that and what the hell are ya doin' in my head?* *It's Dr. Phlox.* *And? What are ya doin' in my head?* *I never left.* He paused and tried to run that reply through his mind again to see if it made sense second time around. *Am I dreamin'?* *No, Trip. Do you remember when I took you and Lt Reed into trance with me?* Everything came flooding back. *Yeah.* *After I took you both within the inner sanctum or safe place, we talked for a while then you fell asleep.* Trip felt a flush of embarrassment. *Oh, um sorry about that.* *Nothin' to be sorry about, I was relieved. You needed the rest* *What happens now?* *Now we get out of here.* *Incorrect. There is a way but it involves an element of risk.* *If there's a way why didn't ya say anythin' before? Why let us get all depressed?* *That was not my intention. While you have been asleep myself and Lt. Reed have been formulating a plan.* *Ya have?* He paused. *Malcolm? Ya there?* *He is not currently with us.* Panic reasserted itself with hobb nail boots on. *What happened? Where is he?* *Calm yourself, Trip, he is not hurt.* *Then where is he?* *I asked him to check the south doorway.* *What the hell for? They're all impossible to open from the inside.* *Precisely.* *Doc, you're givin' me a headache here. What do ya expect Malcolm to do?* *He's already done it. I gave him a little help so he could over ride the system.* Trip was stunned. No way could he form a coherent thought through his shock. * When the Lieutenant returns you must go with him. There won't be much time and movement will be painful. That is why I am telling you this. However much it hurts you have to remain silent.* *Hold on Doc, you're comin' too aren't ya?* *No. It will take all of the Lieutenant's time and energy to get you clear. Once outside and able to contact Enterprise you can come back for me.* *Uh uh, not goin' anywhere without ya, Doc.* *Do not be foolish, Trip. While your loyalty is endearing if somewhat misplaced in this instance your refusal to take this opportunity would condemn the three of us to die here. Is that what you want?* *Ya know it's not but how can I leave ya?* *You can and you must. You are the Chief Engineer of the first warp capable Earth starship. Captain Archer is going to need you as he has seldom needed you before. The success or failure of this mission may well rely on you, Commander. Sentiment will not only bury you, me and Lt. Reed. It will bury Enterprise and her crew as well.* *Ya don't know that.* *Ah, but I do.* *How...?* *There is no time to argue. Bad enough if I should die or Lt Reed. Worse if you should be lost.* *That's not true, no one's any more important than anyone else.* *Except in this case.* Trip paused. *What is it you're not tellin' me doc?* *You are part of the key. I didn't want to tell you but you need to know in case I don't make it out of here. You and the Sub-Commander must finish this." *Ya mean all of us must finish this.* *I know what I said.* Longer pause. *Why can't ya just tell me?* *You might act inappropriately.* The Commander laughed but it was more bitterness than humour. *Doc, we're stuck on an alien planet with the most twisted and gifted people ya could imagine and ya worried I might act inappropriately? What is it ya think me and T'Pol can do that no one else can?* *You are the future.* *Still not understandin' what ya mean.* *Commander - Trip - I cannot risk tellin' you more. If this works it becomes redundant. If it fails it won't matter anyway.* *Then why the hints? Or are ya just tryin' to drive me nuts?* *I need to convince you to do what has to be done.* *Then level with me. I'm a big boy. Heck, I can even feed and dress myself.* He felt Dr. Phlox sigh. That alone told him they had to be touching. Yet he had no sensation of anything tactile. *Let me make you a promise instead, Commander. If you do as I ask then I will explain everything in as much detail as you wish once we are back on Enterprise.* *I'm not leavin' ya behind, doc, an' that's final.* Just then another voice joined them. *I'm afraid you no longer have that option, Commander.* Trip felt a surge of pleasure. *Malcolm? That you?* *Expecting someone else are we?* *No, just relieved you're all right.* *I'm fine,* He said briskly. *Now this is going to hurt, Trip. Grit your teeth or do whatever you have to do, but don't make a sound.* *Huh?* Before he could question him further the pain hit. Had Dr. Phlox and Malcolm not warned him he would have yelled out at the top of his lungs. As it was he clamped his teeth down so hard he drew blood from his bottom lip. The agony bringing him to the verge of passing out. He did in fact black out for a few moments then the pain returned with a bright burning vengeance that filled his eyes with tears and made his heart flag. By the time he could breathe without hurting his lungs the bile was rising in his throat. He started to choke then was heaved unceremoniously on to his side. He was violently sick before mercifully passing out. * * * * * The ship lurched first to one side then the other, shuddering with each impact. Captain Archer felt a strange calm settle over the anxiety that was flooding through him. "Rostov, damage report?" Rostov hesitated. The Captain dragged his eyes from the viewscreen to see why he had not answered. Rostov wet his lips and looked up, his expression baffled. He kept checking and rechecking his sensors. "Sir, I don't understand how this is possible..." "How what is possible?" Snapped the Captain edgily. "According to sensors we have sustained no damage." "Check again." "Yes, sir." Rostov checked again. "We are recording no damage, Captain." The Captain frowned then looked at Sub-Commander T'Pol. "Have we inflicted any damage on the Xindi ship?" She shook her head. "No, Captain." Just then Ensign Sato spoke, her voice sounding a little tremulous as well as surprised. "Sir! We are being hailed." "I thought you said you couldn't translate the Xindi transmission?" "It isn't the Xindi, sir." "What?" "Ambassador Chot wishes to speak urgently with you." For a second no one moved. T'Pol was staring oddly at the Captain but he did not notice. "Put him through, Ensign." There was a strange crackling sound over the com but to everyone's surprise no transmission came through on the audible link. Instead, while they watched with mouths agape, a dark column of shadow rose up through the deckplates of the bridge and coalesced in front of the Captain. Stunned he could not speak as the Zenari Ambassador took solid form. "Captain, you and your crew stand upon the brink of extinction!" * * * * * Lt. Malcolm Reed was beside himself with worry. Dr. Phlox had warned him about the Commander's condition but the deterioration was even more rapid that he had expected. Using the information from the Denobulan he had managed to get the south door open but the doctor had warned that it would only be for a short time. He quickly returned to his friends, had a short conversation with Dr Phlox, then dragged Trip as rapidly as he could across the crystal floor to the outside. Muted light caressed his sore eyes but the movement had been agony for his friend. He saw the trickle of blood run down Trip's chin where he had clamped down on his bottom lip to prevent himself from crying out with the pain. Malcolm felt terrible for hurting him but it was necessary. Any prolonged delay and it would be too late for the Commander. He had no idea how Dr. Phlox knew how to get out of that place but he was not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. In fact he was rapidly reappraising his opinion of the normally jocular Denobulan. To say the man impressed him was a massive understatement. Trip was choking. Pushing all other thoughts and concerns aside, Malcolm rolled him onto his side and kept his airway clear while Trip was violently sick. He was alarmed to see him coughing up blood just before he lost consciousness. He cleaned Trip up as best he could then took his pulse. It was erratic but still strong. Looking around quickly he determined they needed to put some distance between themselves and the dome. Apologising softly to his friend, he dragged Trip over to a rocky outcropping and drew him only far enough to hide them both from view. "Christ, Trip, you'd better bloody hang on." To his relief the Commander started to come round. Malcolm patted his shoulder and laid him in the recovery position just to be on the safe side. Plenty of time to do more back on Enterprise but first he had to make sure it was safe to go back. Trip was trying to speak but Malcolm put a couple of fingers over his friend's mouth. "Sssh, no need to speak, my friend. Just get your breath back Trip." The Commander wanted to ask him what the hell was going on. Why the doc had so many secrets and how the hell he had known how to get out of the crystal chamber. Instead he closed his eyes gratefully and took the opportunity to rest a moment. Malcolm was worried and trying hard not to show it. The Commander was in a bad way and in danger of going into shock. The doctor had given him some pointers and told him what to look for. He pressed his lips tightly together and closed his eyes. No idea how in hell this was supposed to work but Dr. Phlox had been adamant that he must *not* under any circumstances use his communicator. It was plain daft as far as he was concerned but having gone through what they had already he was reluctant to discount the Denobulan's warning. The truth was he trusted the doctor and he trusted the Sub-Commander so when he had been instructed on what to do he had not uttered a single word of dissent. Now it only remained for him to see if it would work. * * * * * The Captain was stunned at the Ambassador's words. "You want me to what?" "Your quarrel is with the Xindi. Their anger is with your species. Therefore you should meet face to face. Is this not logical?" The last comment was aimed at the Vulcan Sub-Commander but she gave no response. She was watching the Captain. He looked stunned but not as shocked as she would have expected. In fact he was a lot calmer than she was right now. She found the thought disturbing. "How can I meet them when all they want to do is blast us out of the sky?" "You misunderstand, Captain. We are in Sacred Space." The Captain was about to shake his head when something stopped him. Knowledge leaked into his brain from he knew not where. Something stirred in his consciousness like a snake uncoiling. It was creepy but he could not seem to rouse himself to worry about it. That was odd. "What do you suggest, Ambassador?" "Let me serve as your conduit." Before anyone could react, the Ambassador faded then vanished. As he did so the Captain disappeared in a column of inky black smoke. Everyone on the bridge gasped except Sub-Commander T'Pol. She stared at the space where the Captain had been sitting but her mind was elsewhere. Distracted by other events which held her in thrall. Rostov looked at her with panic in his eyes, not even caring that he was on the edge of terrified. "Sub-Commander, they've taken the Captain!" She did not tell him how redundant that comment was. Rather she just gave a distracted nod. Ensign Hoshi Sato looked alarmed then gave the Vulcan a harder look, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Sub-Commander, are you alright?" T'Pol nodded, turned away from them to hide her face. Letting her words reassure them as best she could because she was in danger of giving too much away. "Ensign, closely monitor the Xindi ship. Rostov do not fire unless I say so." Ensign Mayweather felt shivers go down his spine. "What are we going to do, Sub-Commander?" Still not turning around to face them, she pretended to be absorbed in her console. "We will wait for contact from the Captain." "But he may be in danger." Blurted Hoshi before she could stop herself. Almost too quietly for them to hear, the Sub-Commander responded. "We are *all* in danger, Ensign." Silence fell on the bridge. Each member of the crew anxiously scanning their sensors and holding their breath. The Sub-Commander quickly embraced the inner sanctum and had to steel herself not to outwardly react. Her breath changed subtly. Anxiety touched her soul. Gently she overcame the rush of fear and allowed her inner calm to ease the connection. Deepening it she reached out for him. Touched the ragged edge of his pain filled universe and flooded him with the echo of her presence in his mind. Anchoring him to her. His agony was muted now. She encouraged the increase of endomorphins in his system, carefully monitored his life signs and determined he was strong enough for contact. Lt Reed had done an admirable job. No less than she had come to expect of him. Her mind tentatively reached out to touch his. An emotion that had no equal in Human terms bathed his consciousness and relieved him of his fear. Wonder seeped back to lap her mind in uneven waves that coloured her mind with his presence. *T'Pol? Is that you?* *Yes, Commander* *How the hell is this possible?* *You are injured.* *There's just no foolin' ya, is there?* *Your motor functions have been damaged.* *Yeah, can't feel anythin' below my neck.* *Then you cannot move your limbs?* *Not even to give ya a wave.* *This is not funny, Commander.* *Not laughin', darlin', just tryin' to lighten things a little.* *Where are you?* *Outside the dome with Malcolm. Hidin' in some rocks.* *And the doctor?* She felt his pain and sorrow so keenly it felt like a knife in her mind. T'Pol resisted the urge to flinch knowing the biofeedback would reach the Commander and add to his pain. *He's still in the crystal chamber. Didn't wanna leave him but seems him an' Malcolm took the decision for me* *Do not blame them. This is necessary* *He's in a real bad way, T'Pol. Don't know if he's gonna make it* *We will deal with that once you are safe.* She felt the bitterness of his laughter. *What is it with keepin' me safe? We're all in this together, T'Pol.* *Relax if you can, Trip. It will make the journey less traumatic.* *Journey?* He sounded baffled. The Sub-Commander said nothing further. Instead she sent a tight beamed signal to the transporter room where Lt. Hess was waiting on standby. The Lieutenant did not know the details but had responded without question to the Sub-Commander's order less than two hours earlier. Without attempting any verbal exchange, Lt. Hess noted the co-ordinates being sent to her station then carefully locked on and energised. To her immense satisfaction she watched as Lt. Reed and Commander Tucker materialised on the transporter pads. Immediately she realised something was wrong and was about to com the Sub-Commander when further orders scrolled across her console ordering her to com silence. The reason given was the Xindi attack on the ship and the unexpected contact from the Zenari. Lt. Hess darted from the control console and knelt beside Lt Reed and looked at the Chief Engineer. Commander Tucker's eyes were closed, his breathing ragged. Lt. Reed knelt beside his friend, his face the colour of parchment. The Armoury Officer looked at her, his voice steady and somehow grounding her so she was able to contain her panic. "Lieutenant, find Ensign Cutler and bring her here with a trauma team. We need to get the Commander to sickbay right away. Do not under any circumstances use the com channel, do you understand?" She nodded, her eyes darting to Trip's unconscious form. "Is the Commander going to be all right?" "Let's get him to sickbay and find out shall we?" * * * * *
Have a comment to make about this story? Do so in the Trip Fan Fiction forum at the HoTBBS! Three people have made commentsReally enjoying this story, you are a wonderful writer, cant wait for next installment, thanks so much. Great chapter, Ali! Keep 'em coming! This is terrific stuff! Well, once again not paying a visit for weeks pays dividends - loads of parts to read! I still have no idea how you're intending to save the day but the preparation is facinating. I loved chef, the freezer and the body bag and that Archer's a damned idiot even if he is being influenced - I always like an idiotic Archer. |