Vivarium- Ch. 6

Vivarium

By A. Rhea King

Rating: PG-13, Drama/General
Disclaimer: Characters and “Enterprise” belong to Paramount. No money made.

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Chapter 6

Archer and Malcolm walked into the ready room. Archer leaned on the window edge, looking out across the ships.

“Malcolm, tell me your thoughts about that meeting. Do you think they can be trusted? Especially the Par’Tek.”

“I don’t know, sir.”

Archer looked over his shoulder at Malcolm.

“Malcolm.”

Malcolm looked uncomfortable.

“I…I’m your Armory officer, sir. I don’t know what you’re expecting me to tell you.”

“Okay.” Archer turned and sat down on the edge of his desk. “Then what’s the tactical officer in you think about all this?”

Malcolm looked down. “If their figures are correct and the Par’Tek are as strong as they claim they are, then we certainly need all the help we can get. It would certainly help our chances of survival.”

“And do you trust the Par’Tek involved?”

“Frankly, I don’t trust the Vulcan’s involved, but I don’t know that we have much of a choice. We seem to be the only humans involved in this.”

“We do, don’t we? I’m feeling nervous about fighting with a Klingon behind me, but I agree about helping our chances of survival.”

“Permission to speak freely, sir?”

“Granted.”

“The Par’Tek involved here I wouldn’t trust any more than a Klingon, but I want our people back and frankly, sir, I’m more than willing to fight alongside an untrustworthy Klingon if it means we can rescue our people.”

Archer smiled. “Glad to hear it. Guess we’ve made up our minds, haven’t we?”

Malcolm offered a weak smile. “May I add one more thing?”

“Go ahead.”

“I want Trip or T’Pol back because I do believe I am a rather inadequate first officer, sir.”

Archer smiled. “You haven’t been inadequate through this whole thing, Malcolm. Let’s go give ‘em our answer and get this attack underway.”

Malcolm nodded once and the two walked out of the ready room.

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Trip looked up from the PADD he was reading when he heard the door open and voices in the other room. Trip stood, watching two Par’Tek walk into the bedroom with dart guns. In the other room he heard T’Pol demanding an answer followed by a struggle. Trip’s rage erupted and he attacked the Par’Tek, quickly knocking one unconscious and shooting the other with a dart. Trip ran into the room, finding two were dragging T’Pol toward the door.

“LEAVE HER ALONE!” Trip yelled, aiming the dart gun at one. Trip shot the second dart in the gun and it struck the Par’Tek in the neck. Trip ran at the second Par’Tek, tackling him to the floor and punching him. Trip leapt to his feet and grabbed T’Pol’s wrist, dragging her into a run.

“CHARLES!” T’Pol yelled, trying to pull away.

Trip drug her into the bathroom, slammed the door shut and locked it.

“And how is locking ourselves in the bathroom going to help?” T’Pol asked with a hint of sarcasm.

“I don’t know. They aren’t separating us.”

“We don’t know that’s what they were going to do.”

“Don’t we?”

“You’re being irrational.”

“They aren’t taking you from me!” Trip looked back at her.

T’Pol grew still. “Charles, we can’t stay in this bathroom. You know that.”

“I know, but I’m not about to let them separate us. Not if there’s a chance in hell that he’s coming to rescue us, and I won’t lose you like this. I can’t make it through this without you, sweetheart. I need you. Don’t you get that?” Trip looked back at her.

T’Pol watched his face for a few seconds. She walked up to him, laying her hand on his cheek. “Yes. I understand. I don’t want to be separated from you either, but we cannot remain in this bathroom the entire time, Charles.”

Trip turned, leaning against the door. He looked down. “Let’s do this. I’m going out to get them to get Gatir and I’ll talk to him. You keep this door locked until I come back. That work for you?”

“And what if they take you instead?”

“Can we compromise on that?”

“I will not wait here for a long time.”

“Until the lights go out and come back on. That means it’s day. Deal?”

“We can compromise on that.”

Trip nodded, looking up at her. “Thanks.”

“You are welcome.”

Trip unlocked the door and turned the handle. The door was thrown open and four Par’Tek attacked Trip, pinning him to the floor. Two more ran in, holding phase pistols on T’Pol. She backed away, looking down at Trip.

“GET OFF ME!” Trip screamed, struggling. “I WANT TO TALK TO GATIR! GET HIM!”

T’Pol saw a hypospray passed down to the Par’Tek near Trip’s neck. He shoved the hypospray into Trip’s neck and a second later Trip was lying unconscious on the floor. Gatir pushed through the Par’Tek, talking fast as he came in. He motioned many times to Trip and T’Pol, talking non-stop. He turned to someone outside the bathroom, continuing what he was saying. There was a brief conversation. The three Par’Tek picked up Trip and left the bathroom with him. Gatir turned to T’Pol.

“Don’t fight. I beg you, don’t fight, T’Pol.

“What is happening?”

“They’re leaving you two together. I convinced them. They aren’t separating you two.”

“Until when?”

“I’m working on it, T’Pol. Please don’t fight.”

Gatir left with the other Par’Tek. T’Pol slowly walked out of the bathroom. Trip was lying on the bed. T’Pol walked over to him and knelt beside the bed. She bowed her head to begin praying. She heard someone come into their quarters and looked up. Gatir walked in and crouched beside T’Pol, checking Trip’s vital signs.

“Was he overdosed?” T’Pol asked.

Gatir barely nodded. “The other keepers don’t care about the…any of you, only about their safety. This is going to last for two days.” Gatir dropped his head down.

“But he will be all right?”

“Yes. But it’s going to be two days,” Gatir whispered.

“Why is that a problem?”

“Come close. Pretend you need comfort.”

T’Pol slowly she moved in and Gatir put his arm around her. She felt him slide his hand under her shirt and started to move away.

“No. Hold still. Trust me,” Gatir whispered in her ear.

T’Pol looked at the wall. She felt Gatir slide something solid into the waistband of her pants along with a piece of paper. Gatir pulled his hand out and pulled her closer with it.

“Your Captain and others are coming to rescue you. This will reverse the drug they gave to Trip. Hide it until they come.”

Gatir stood, laying his hand on her shoulder. T’Pol looked up into his eyes.

“He’ll live.”

Gatir left the room.

T’Pol got up and walked around the bed. She knelt to pray, leaning close to the bed. T’Pol slid the hypospray between the mattress and climbed into bed. For several minutes she laid on her back, staring the dark ceiling. T’Pol rolled onto her side, laying her head on Trip’s shoulder and her arm across his chest.

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Continue to Chapter 7 (Conclusion)

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