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Eternal Linkage

Author - Bether | E | Genre - Action/Adventure | Genre - Angst | Genre - Drama | Genre - Finale Fix Challenge | Genre - Fluff | Genre - Romance | R
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FIX the FINALE Challenge

Eternal Linkage

By Bether6074

Rated: R, I guess only because I would be a little uncomfortable if my 13 year old read this, but nothing major here. Mild language, some suggestive scenes and graphic imagery.

Genre: This is a tough one. Overall, I would have to say Fluff, but there is definitely some Drama, a bit of Action/Adventure, some Angst and, of course, Romance is sprinkled throughout.

Archive: Take it if you want, but please let me know.

Email: Bether6074@aol.com

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Paramount. No infringement intended here.

Summary: Taking the timeline from TATV, six years following “Terra Prime,” Enterprise is being decommissioned and returning to Earth for Archer’s big speech and the signing of the charter. Trip and T’Pol have many issues to confront and deal with due to these events. A disaster aboard the ship has huge ramifications for the two.

Author’s Notes: My finale fix and it got way more involved than I intended it to. I’m going to have to ask for a little leeway from readers here because action/adventure is not my strongpoint. I hope the scenario I created isn’t too implausible, but I figured it had to be better than what aired. It was extremely difficult imagining where T/T would be six years in the future, but I played with it a bit and this is what I came up with. I hope you enjoy it.

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Part 1 (Chapters 1-3)


------------------------------------------------------------Chapter One------------------------------------------------------------------

Starlight danced through a small window and blanketed the sleeping forms upon a nearby bed in a delicate blue hue. The phosphorescence illuminated along the peaceful features of Commander Trip Tucker’s face. His golden eyelashes glistened slightly from the lucent rays, tracing the curve of his resting eyes. Errant strands of blonde hair pressed against his forehead in a tousled disarray. His lips pushed together ethereally, a tiny gap emerging between the upper and lower one as the air softly escaped them with each delicate breath.

T’Pol felt the warmth of Trip’s body against hers. The soft thumping of his heartbeat pulsed against her chest, its slight vibration resonating along the slope of her breasts. The two lay intertwined, his arms wrapped firmly around her, skin gently upon skin. The Vulcan lifted her head slightly, gazing quietly at her dozing mate. He was aesthetically pleasing in this manner, tranquil, uninhibited and very human. T’Pol searched his face and focused unflinchingly upon his eyes. She pushed a finger gingerly onto his shoulder in a benign poke. The chief engineer stirred, grunting faintly and then slowly opened his eyes. He smiled sweetly at the recognition of the face before him.

“Mmmm…hey,” Trip whispered, still beaming at her.

“Good morning,” T’Pol returned politely. She pushed away from him temperately, breaking their embrace. “There is something we should discuss.”

Trip rubbed a hand along his forehead and squinted up at her. “Sounds serious…”

“Have you given ample consideration to our current situation?”

“Situation?” Trip looked puzzled.

“Well…with the ship’s upcoming decommission,” T’Pol hesitated momentarily, her voice trailing off.

“You’re wondering what’s gonna happen to us?” Trip finished her thought instinctively.

“Yes. It’s quite possible we could be given different assignments. I…I do not wish to experience the absence of your companionship. The bond we share…”

“I’ve been thinkin’ about that too, T’Pol, and…and I’m thinkin’ maybe,” he stammered, “Maybe, we should make this thing permanent.” He winced faintly, carefully gauging her reaction.

T’Pol raised an eyebrow inquisitively. “Permanent? What exactly do you mean by permanent, Trip?”

The handsome engineer dropped his head bashfully, flashing a sheepish grin. He looked back up and locked eyes with T’Pol. There was a quick flutter from within his chest, followed by an abrupt, pulsating throb. A lump formed tightly in the back of his throat and his mouth felt suddenly parched and devoid of all moisture. Trip gulped, sliding his tongue roughly along the inside of his cheek in nervous tension. He stared earnestly into the dark, hazel tinged eyes before him, trying to gather some courage. “I mean…how would ya feel ‘bout tyin’ the knot?” The young engineer’s accent grew noticeably thicker with his heightened apprehension.

T’Pol glared back, her head cocked slightly in interest. “You mean…”

“Bein’ the missus, ya know?”

“Are you proposing that we…”

“That’s exactly what I’m doin’, T’Pol… proposing,” Trip interrupted yet again. He sensed the blood rushing to his face, as the skin of his cheeks took on a noticeably pink tint in a shy blush. His pale blue eyes sparkled energetically with wonderment. “We could wait ‘til the Cap’n gives his speech and then…”

“I had actually been considering returning to Vulcan,” T’Pol stated flatly.

Trip’s face sank, dejectedly. “You mean, leave Starfleet? And move to Vulcan?”

“Perhaps. I have been living with humans for over ten years.”

Trip’s eyes fell to the crumpled sheets beneath them. He fidgeted anxiously with the creases of the covers, his fingers skimming along the edges, smoothing out the ruffles. He glanced back up somberly, the pain evident in all his features. “Is that what you want?”

“This disturbs you,” the Vulcan observed keenly, sensing the distress emanating from her bond mate. She turned and lifted herself from the bed, reaching for a nearby robe. “Naturally, I would request that you accompany me to my homeland, Trip,” she stated, matter-of-factly. The Commander’s face relaxed as he sighed deeply in relief. He stammered a moment, frowning slightly in realization.

“I appreciate the thought and all, but... give up my career? I don’t know, T’Pol.”

T’Pol finished tying the knot of her garment and sat down gently onto the corner of the bed. She twisted her body slightly and met eyes with her partner. “It would be difficult to raise children on a starship. With your experience, I have no doubt you would be placed on another vessel.”

The Commander’s lips pressed together in a tender, warm-hearted smile. “Children…” Trip rolled onto his back and cradled his head with folded hands. He stared wondrously at the ceiling in silent contentment. “I guess a change in scenery might not be a bad thing after all. And Vulcan sure is a beautiful planet.” He released his hands and turned back toward T’Pol curiously. “Wonder how Vulcan would feel about me? About us?”

“The relationship between our two species has improved considerably over the last ten years. And I do believe that Ambassador Soval has a particular… fondness for you.”

“Ya think he likes me? Really? Never thought I’d see the day…”

“We could be married in a traditional Vulcan ceremony.”

Trip’s smile broadened into an ear to ear grin. “So, you’ll marry me then?”

“Yes. We are bonded. It is logical for our union to become formal.”

“Look, T’Pol. I know you don’t like to be hugged and all, well except when we’re…when we…anyways, since this is a special occasion, do you think maybe just this once, I could…”

“You may embrace me if you wish.”

The words hadn’t fully escaped her mouth when Trip sprung up and tightened his hands around her, compressing their bodies together with a soft squeeze. T’Pol attempted to relax in his clutch, her hands still loosely hung to the side. His face gently touched hers as the warm skin of his cheek swayed lightly back and forth in a soothing motion. She closed her eyes in acceptance and permitted his tender nuzzling. A familiar scent permeated the air. It was masculine, vigorous and recognizable. It surrounded her, pervaded her thoughts, and bombarded her senses with a reckless abandon. The Vulcan raised a hand to the human’s hair and ran her fingers through the flowing softness and waves. She gazed intensely into the sky blue eyes of Commander Tucker. His pupils dilated in arousal, as she stroked the back of his head genuinely. Lips crashed together abruptly, their fleshy softness colliding in dynamic fashion. Trip slid his tongue along T’Pol’s mouth fervently and slipped inside, passionately caressing her in long, steady strokes. He moved his hands to her face, sensitively fingering the smooth skin along her jaw and neck. A hand pushed lightly into his chest, forcing Trip to take a wobbly step backward, breaking the kiss. His lips ached from the sudden absence. “Somethin’ wrong, T’Pol?” Trip managed to utter, his breathing still rapid.

She shook her head faintly. “No…but perhaps it would be wise if I returned to my quarters, before we precede any further with…this act.”

“Act, T’Pol? You’re such a romantic! Do you always have to be so clinical?”

“I apologize if I offended you. I simply believe it would be best if we continue this at a more convenient time. The Captain will be expecting us on the bridge within the hour.”

“Aw, c’mon Darlin’, I could’ve finished by then.”

T’Pol glared back at him and raised an eyebrow. “Perhaps you should shower before reporting for duty this morning. In very cold water…”

“Now there’s an idea. Care to join me?”

“As I told you, I must return to my quarters. Meet me at 2100 hours tonight. I believe it would serve to be beneficial if you meditated with me tonight.”

“Sure thing, Darlin’. Your place or mine?”

“We always meditate in my quarters.”

“Right…if you’ll excuse me Commander T’Pol, I believe I hear some cold water running.”

She nodded in accordance, ignoring his sarcasm, and made her way toward the exit.

------------------------------------------------------------Chapter Two------------------------------------------------------------------

A faint vanilla aroma permeated through the stale air, its sweet odor relaxing to Commander T’Pol as she sat upon the soft brown rug with legs crossed and hands folded. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the familiar, vast, empty, white room that suddenly surrounded her. There was no stimulation; no visions, no people, and no emotions…only blank space and vacuous dreams. “Hey, T’Pol.” The Vulcan startled momentarily at the invasion. She glanced up from the white floor to see Commander Tucker standing before her.

“Must you constantly interrupt me?” she questioned sternly, the irritation simmering beneath her voice.

Trip shrugged his shoulders innocently. “You told me to meet you here.”

“I meant in my quarters, not in my mind.”

“I can’t help it, T’Pol. It’s this damn bond. I keep findin’ my way into your head.”

“If you do not allow me the peace to proceed with my meditation, I may begin to lose control.”

“Sorry, Darlin’. Seems like whenever I think of you…if you happen to be meditatin’, well, this is where I end up.”

“I understand. It just makes this more challenging than is necessary.” She paused briefly, regaining her subdued demeanor. “I assume that you will be arriving to my quarters soon then. Perhaps you are already on the way?”

“Yep. Be there in just a couple minutes. Just havin’ a little daydream on my way.”

The chime rang out, jolting the Vulcan from her place of serenity and back to the cushy, almond rug covering the floor of her room. “Come in.” She remained seated, in meditating posture.

The door slid open and Trip strolled in leisurely. “Hello,” he whispered, almost inaudibly.

“Your sense of time is not very accurate.” T’Pol noted with a knowing look.

“Huh?” The chief engineer appeared baffled. He stepped closer to T’Pol and sat down beside her, his eyes fixated onto hers.

“You said you would arrive in several minutes, but in reality it was only mere seconds.”

“Oh, sorry. Guess I’m still getting used to this physic bond thing.” He gestured upward apologetically with both palms open and smiled warmly, his characteristically timid pose enveloping his features.

“It’s been six years. One would think that perhaps you would have some understanding of it by now.”

“I know. And I do. I suppose eventually I’ll figure it out, but for now, I’m still workin’ at it.”

“Fair enough. Shall we begin?”

“Ready when you are, T’Pol.”

“Very well.” She placed both hands down upon the young man’s thighs, nudging him forward. “Remember what I told you, legs crossed like this. Fold your hands.” The Vulcan watched as Trip complied with her advisements. She scooted her body next to him and the two settled comfortably together, their stances in sync. “Now close your eyes and relax your body. Concentrate on your quiet place. Free yourself from anything you are feeling. Concentrate. Breathe deeply. Direct your mind to the quiet place.”

The cool sand brushed along Trip Tucker’s feet with every soft step, its smooth texture gliding slowly along his toes as they pressed down into the granules. The ocean stretched infinitely across the horizon, its immensity stunning and pure. In the distance, the sun shone brightly, a flaming, and titian mass just beyond the water. The sky was a resplendent ultramarine, tinted with brilliant streaks of pink scattered universally throughout the heavens. Trip stopped walking and flopped down gently onto the beach. He allowed his senses to be overcome by the magnificent beauty of his chosen venue. The sound of the waves rippling against the rocks, the feel of gentle sand upon his skin, the visual resplendency of this cherished place on earth enveloped his body and soothed his soul. An annoying and sudden compression pushed moderately down on his arm and in an instant, the beach vanished. Trip forced his lids apart surprisingly.

“Damn. I was just startin’ to like that place,” he stated regretfully.

“Indeed, your skills are improving. I had to use more than minimal pressure to arouse you.”

“Arouse me?” Trip laughed. “Well, so much for learnin’ to relax.” The engineer slowly scanned her body suggestively. He tilted his head slightly and shot T’Pol a flirtatious grin, his eyes gleaming. “You can arouse me some more, if ya like...”

T’Pol glared at him, disdainfully. “That was not the purpose or intention of this visit.”

“I know. I know. I was only teasin’.”

“This type of behavior is not amusing.” She gazed at him sternly. Suddenly his face began to blur, a haze surrounding his features. The room swayed in a repetitive, deliberate rocking motion before her. T’Pol closed her eyes and placed a shaky hand to her forehead, trying to regain her sense of reality. There was a distant and familiar voice chiming repeatedly in her ears, its sound reverberating in a continuous and hollow echo. She felt herself slipping away as the blackness crept in, enclosing her rapidly into an unknown destination. Her body went limp and slumped to the floor with an abrupt thud.

“T’Pol!” Trip yelled in shock as his Vulcan partner lay crumpled before him. He placed one hand gingerly beneath her legs and the other in a tender grasp under her neck, lifting her carefully. The engineer scooped the long, slender form up off the floor, his breaths heavy and unsteady. He gave a quick elbow to the exit button and fled hurriedly down the hallway, T’Pol tucked delicately in his arms. Trip raced along the pathway, with adrenaline pumping, his mind swelling with confusion and fear. His legs began to ache from the stress, each step a cumbersome and weary effort. Finally, the doors to Sickbay neared, rejuvenating him briefly as the pace of his steps increased rapidly. Trip burst through the entrance, startling the Denobulan Doctor.

“Doc! Doc! What’s happenin’ to her?” Trip shouted as he placed T’Pol down on a nearby biobed. Dr. Phlox rushed over, concern blanketing his face, and touched a hand deftly upon T’Pol’s shoulder. He ran a florescent blue light methodically over her body. Trip gasped, his voice panicked. “What is it, Doc? What’s wrong?”

Dr. Phlox glanced up from his patient and spoke with a soft and steady voice. “Commander, I want you to try and calm down please. You’re not helping her this way.” Trip nodded and glanced back down at T’Pol. His stomach wrenched tightly as an urgent and sickening nausea swept quickly over him. “Tell me exactly what happened,” Phlox continued. “What were you doing?”

“We were just sittin’ and meditatin’.”

“So this happened during meditation?”

“No… no, Doc. We were done. We were just talkin’… She kinda got a little fuzzy or somethin’… She grabbed her head and just went down.”

“Mmmm…” the doctor murmured while scanning over T’Pol with his medical device. A mild smile emerged from his lips, his face brightening. “Well, Commander, you’ll be happy to know this is certainly nothing serious.”

Trip exhaled in relief. “Thank God.” His tongue skimmed along the soft edges of his bottom lip nervously. “Well, what is it then, Doc?”

Dr. Phlox fidgeted restlessly a moment, his hands clasped in front of his body. “I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to discuss it with you, Commander. You’ll have to speak with T’Pol regarding that matter.”

“C’mon, Doc, you gotta tell me!”

“I’m sorry. It’s Doctor-Patient confidentiality. Not much I can say I’m afraid.” Phlox grabbed the top of the long, white curtain firmly and stretched it completely open, concealing the unconscious science officer.

Trip stared at him pleadingly. “Please, Doc, I’m beggin’ ya…”

“I’m very sorry; Commander, but we should really allow her to rest now. If you’ll excuse me…”

Trip stood frozen, watching as the doctor went about his business. T’Pol’s body silhouetted through the thin alabaster drapes, her shadowy form lay still upon the medical biobed. Trip felt a sense of energy surround him, a powerful force engulfing his senses. The chief engineer swallowed hard in realization. “She’s pregnant! That’s it! She’s pregnant, isn’t she?”

“A very astute assessment I must say, Commander Tucker. There is no sense hiding it since you have already guessed correctly. She does indeed appear to be in the very early stages of pregnancy. I can find nothing else wrong with her. Dizziness is a common symptom throughout the gestation period.” He paused momentarily. “I believe congratulations are in order.”

Trip grinned widely, his face aglow with pride. “Thanks, Doc.”

“How on earth did you know?” the doctor questioned.

“T’Pol and I have some sort of a bond…a Vulcan psychic bond. I just sensed it. Somehow I just…knew.” Worry crept slowly over Trip’s face. “Should I be concerned, Doc? You said that Human and Vulcan DNA could combine and everything would probably be all right. I’m really hoping ya still feel that way. But, knowin’ what happened to Elizabeth…”

“I can find no reason to believe that this child won’t be born completely healthy. There is, of course, no way of knowing this with one hundred percent certainty, but the same could be said of any unborn child still in the womb. It’s just part of the job requisite. Worrying about one’s child is quite common and completely natural. Trust me when I tell you, Commander Tucker, it has only just begun.”

“Thanks, Doc. I’m feelin’ so much better now,” Trip replied sarcastically. There was a slight movement from the drapes, followed by a soft groan. Trip peered over Phlox’s shoulder, his face brightening “She’s wakin’ up, Doc! Can I see her?”

“Certainly. I trust that you’ll be sharing the good news with her?”

“You betcha, Doc.” The chief engineer walked carefully around the curtain and moved cautiously to the head of the bed. He clasped his hand tenderly upon T’Pol’s and squeezed lightly. “You gave me quite a scare, T’Pol,” Trip whispered sincerely. “Guess I’m not a very good meditatin’ partner, huh?” He knelt down on the floor and gazed at her with gleaming eyes and a warm smile.

T’Pol turned her head marginally and swallowed hard, eyes riveting to her human friend. “It is very unlikely our shared meditation had any bearing on what occurred.” Her eyebrows furrowed inquisitively. “You appear …oddly content. Was Dr. Phlox able to find a cause for this unusual episode? It has never happened before…”

“Well, you’ve never been pregnant before either, T’Pol.”

“Pregnant?” The Vulcan questioned, in muted shock. “You mean I am…”

“Yes. Doctor Phlox says you are in the early stages.” Trip couldn’t conceal his obvious excitement. His face beamed proudly.

“Will the baby be all right?” The words escaped softly from the Vulcan’s mouth, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

“I know what you’re thinkin’, Darlin’. I was thinkin’ the same thing. But Phlox says there’s no reason to believe our baby won’t be born healthy,” Trip offered reassuringly.

“I hope that assessment is correct.” T’Pol paused a moment, in quiet contemplation. “This news is most agreeable, Trip.”

“Glad ya feel that way.” Trip pulled his hand back carefully from T’Pol’s, gently releasing his fingers from hers. “You should get some rest. I’ll see ya later, okay?” he whispered tenderly, with a sweet smile.

T’Pol nodded slightly and watched as he passed through the exit, disappearing down the corridor. She lifted her hand slowly and placed it gracefully down upon her lower abdomen, closed her eyes and drifted peacefully off to sleep.

----------------------------------------------------------Chapter Three------------------------------------------------------------------

Captain Jonathan Archer picked up his bottle of celebratory whiskey and slowly poured the contents into the two glasses upon the table. He grasped one mug in his hand, sliding it over with a gentle push to his nearby companion. Commander Trip Tucker lifted the tumbler graciously and raised it to his lips, his eyes still fixed on the Captain. He put the drink down and smiled, circling a thumb around the edge of the rim absentmindedly. “So Friday’s the big day.” Trip remarked. It was more of a statement than a question.

Archer nodded affirmatively, swallowing his whiskey with a slight grin. “Yes, it most certainly is.”

“Got your speech all set?”

“Well…not quite,” Archer stammered. “I’ve got three days yet to write it.”

Trip rested his elbow onto the table and placed a hand along the side of his face, a palm supporting his chin. He sighed softly and smiled to himself. “Biggest day of your life and you’re gonna wait ‘til the night before…”

“Don’t worry, Trip, it’ll be ready. The charter will be signed and, well…let’s hope this is the start of a new beginning.”

Trip nodded and raised his glass to Archer’s, gently bouncing the two together with a clank. “To new beginnings…”

“Yes,” Archer returned, still extending his goblet into the air. “To new beginnings…” He took a small sip and glanced up at Trip with a slight gleam in his eye. “Speaking of new beginnings Trip, did I hear something about you and a certain Vulcan Science Officer?”

Trip looked back at the Captain bashfully. “It doesn’t take long for news to spread around here, does it?” The Commander looked down, his hand gently rubbing the table, and shook his head with a laugh. “Who would’ve ever guessed it? Charles Tucker III marryin’ a Vulcan. And now…” he stammered, “Now T’Pol’s gonna have a baby. I still can’t believe it, Cap’n.”

Archer smiled and put a hand to Trip’s arm supportively. “You’re a lucky man, Trip,” he quipped.

“Yeah,” Trip nodded. “Yeah, I know, Cap’n. I know.”

“Engineering to Captain Archer.” A voice sounded out sternly from the intercom, interrupting the pleasant conversation between the two friends. The Captain shot Trip a confused stare.

“Archer here. Who am I speaking with?”

“Commander Kelby, Sir. We have a serious situation brewing here.”

“My chief engineer is sitting right next to me, Commander,” Archer offered. “What exactly is the problem?”

“I don’t have time to explain, Sir. I think Commander Tucker had better get down here. We have an emergency!”

Trip looked to Archer, who gave the engineer an approving nod. “Go ahead, Trip. Keep me posted. I’m headed to the bridge.”

“Aye, Sir.” The words had barely left his mouth when the Commander darted for the door on his way to engineering. Trip had no idea what to expect, but the tone and urgency of this distress call left a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. He ran down the hallway, darting from side to side in an effort to avoid collisions with several members of the crew. As Trip came around the last corner near engineering, he found himself face to face with Commander Kelby. The young dark-haired Commander glared at Trip, an evil guise enveloping his features. Trip slanted his head curiously, took a step forward and blinked in realization.

“You wanna tell me exactly what the hell is going on here, Kelby?”

“I’d be more than happy to explain, Commander Tucker.” He paused for a moment and glared disdainfully at Trip. “Everyone aboard this ship is going to die today. And they will have you to thank for it,” he sneered coldly.

Trip felt his anger rising as the blood rushed swiftly to his face. He advanced forward aggressively and pushed into Kelby, forcing the younger engineer to step backwards awkwardly. “What the hell are ya talkin’ about? What have you done?” Trip grasped Kelby’s uniform and twisted the clothing tightly into his clenched fist. “You better start talkin’!”

Kelby grabbed Trip’s hand and gave him a quick shove. The two began to tussle and struggle, fists flailing through the air. Kelby dropped his hands briefly and Trip seized the opportunity of an open shot at him with a quick jab to the face. The stunned rebel fell to his knees and was instantly knocked on his back with a forceful punch to the jaw. Trip kneeled over him, the sweat pouring off his face and glared irately at the downed troublemaker. Kelby rubbed a finger along his bloodied lip and stared brazenly at the hovering figure above him.

“There’s nothing you can do. The bombs are preprogrammed. They will detonate in less than fifteen minutes. And not even an experienced, smart guy like you can disable them that quickly. Face it, Tucker… you, the Captain and your precious Vulcan lover will die before this ship can even reach space dock.”

“Bombs! Sonuvabitch! Where are they? Tell me where they are or I’ll blow your head off right now!” Trip ripped out his phase pistol and pointed it at Kelby’s forehead. “Get up.” Kelby lay on the floor, unmoving. “I said get up!” Commander Kelby rolled onto his side and pressed a hand to the carpet, scrambling awkwardly to his feet. Trip grabbed the end of his belt and quickly unlatched the buckle. With a firm yank, he pulled his belt free, the clutched weapon still aimed toward Kelby. Scanning the room with urgency, the blond-haired commander spotted a long pillar standing over in the corner. Trip gave Kelby an energetic shove, directing him toward the pole. “Put your hands up. Wrap ‘em around it,” he ordered. The chief engineer wrapped the leather firmly around Kelby’s outstretched hands and tied them onto the beam with a taught knot. “Why are you doin’ this, Kelby? You had your whole career ahead of you.”

“That’s an easy question. I’m doing it because I hate you Commander Tucker.” The words slipped from his mouth with an unsettling ease. “You and Captain Archer had it in for me from the beginning. Bringing me here and stealing my position…I am the superior engineer. You’ll be blamed for this, Tucker and your name will be stained forever.”

“You’re crazy!” Trip took a step closer and pushed the phase pistol lightly into Kelby’s temple. “It’s set to kill,” he stated, in a firm and controlled voice. “Now tell me where the bombs are.”

“I’m going to die anyway. Why would I care if you shoot me now?” Kelby squirmed, his hands growing increasingly uncomfortable and then thought for a moment. “All right…suppose I tell you exactly where they are, Mr. Chief Engineer? I’d love to see the look on your face when you realize that you are about to die and there’s nothing you can do about it!” He tilted his head with a nod toward the wall at the opposite end of the room. “Over there, inside the compartments.”

“Inside ‘em?” Trip dashed over and opened the doors. A bright red chronometer clicked before him, the seconds ticking down methodically in rhythmic succession, as the destiny of an impending disaster. Beneath the timer, only several feet away, was another, somewhat smaller clock. “Two?” Trip exclaimed in subdued shock.

Kelby tugged roughly at the leather strapped on his hands and winced as the edges dug into his skin repeatedly, causing a significant amount of swelling. “My plan needed to be foolproof with no chance for errors,” he hissed callously. “There’s no way you can disable both in time to save the ship.”

“Captain Archer to Commander Tucker.”

Trip startled for an instant at the familiar tone emanating from the speaker. He sighed; his eyes still fixed on the silent, recurrently ticking time bomb before him.

“Yeah, Cap’n, I’m here,” Trip spoke softly with a calm voice.

“What’s your status down there?” Archer questioned with concern.

“Well, there’s a bit of a problem, Sir.” The engineer brushed off a slow trickle of sweat from his brow with a quick swipe and then gulped mildly. “We got a couple of bombs and only about ten minutes to stop ‘em from goin’ off.”

“What??”

“This big one will take down the whole ship if it blows, Cap’n. The little one, well…maybe just engineering,” Trip added with a slight resignation.

There was a long pause as Archer paced the floor of the bridge angrily. “Trip, do we have any idea who’s responsible for this?”

“Oh yeah, sir, I got a real good idea just exactly who’s responsible. But now isn’t the best time, Sir. Nine minutes and counting down…”

“Let me get down there and help you.”

“No!”

“I’ll assemble a team…Travis and Malcolm. Is Kelby there with you?”

“Yeah, he’s here, but I have a distinct feelin’ he isn’t gonna be much help.” Trip glared over at his counterpart malignly. “Cap’n,” the engineer called, his voice growing louder and with more conviction. “You can’t send anyone else down here. All you’d be doin’ is placin’ more lives in danger. Our best bet is to let me disable the devices myself.”

“Too late, Trip. I’m already on my way…”

“Cap’n, if you come down here, I’ll shoot ya, I swear! And you know I would… You gotta trust me, Cap’n. Go back to the bridge. Let me handle this!”

“All right, Trip. I trust you. I’m on my way back. We’ll be standing by.”

“Thank you, Sir. I won’t let you down.”

Trip exhaled deeply and stared ahead at the intricate explosive device, his brain soaking in its structure and configuration. His heart began to pulsate briskly as adrenaline shot through his body with a precipitous rush. The chief engineer’s breathing quickened as this ultimate task struck in his mind with a sudden clarity. Its urgency and importance weighed down upon him, a unique pressure that felt unknown and frightening. The ramifications of failure would certainly mean the death of all crew members of the Starship Enterprise. Trip blinked and shook off any lingering self-doubts, his confidence burgeoning. I can do this. I have to do this. The young man’s hands began to work feverishly upon the wires, his fingers meticulously maneuvering the connections. Sweat poured down his face and dripped unabatedly into his eyes. The salty wetness of the perspiration burned into his cornea, temporarily blurring his vision. Trip raised a forearm to his face and rubbed away the sting with a rapid swipe. He placed one finger guardedly down upon a colored wire, closed his eyes gently and pulled. Dead silence permeated the air. The sweet sound of engines vibrated softly in the background, their faint purr a welcome tone to Trip’s ears. He opened his eyes and gazed at the countdown clock before him. The numbers were gone, replaced by a blackened and empty screen. Trip sighed in relief. One down…one to go.

“Well, Commander, you managed to save your crew…but will you be able to save yourself? I’m tied here, Tucker. You can just walk away…” Kelby offered with a sneer.

Trip glanced back at him with irritation, but remained steadfast. “If I leave, that bomb will explode and damage the engines. This ship needs those engines. I’m not goin’ anywhere.”

“A true hero...he’s willing to die for his engines. How touching…” The words from Kelby’s mouth sounded out as a reflection of his cynical, malicious and obviously disturbed state of mind.

“Shut the hell up, Kelby! If I die, I’m sure as hell gonna make certain I take you with me.” Trip crouched down to his knees, concentrating intensely on the wires of the menacing and hazardous apparatus. He lifted his head slightly and found his eyes riveted to the ticking clock. Fluorescent crimson seared the cool sapphire hue beneath his lids, sealing a tragic fate with each successive recurring click. Trip felt his body go numb with an abrupt swiftness. The blood rushed from his face, its warmth flowing hastily down his chest, and caused his heart to flutter with fear. His hands fidgeted helplessly and frantically, fingers searching desperately for an immediate answer. Give me ten more seconds! Ten more seconds, dammit! The timer displayed its digital numbers clearly before the eyes of Trip Tucker, but the engineer’s valiant courage refused to obey the inevitable. 00:07, 00:06, 00:05, 00:04, 00:03, 00:02, 00:01…



Part 2 (Chapter 4

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A whole mess of folks have made comments

o mi god more is needed

Evil,evil, evil... I'm coming after you with my pointy stick...no my lirpa...

Och please! PLEASE !!
How can you leave us like that?!? I just wnted to go to bed after reading your story. Now I'm quite sure I wont be able to get ANY sleep ...
... thanks to that really nicely written clifhanger ...

What a cliffhanger! I think you're better at action/adventure than you think you are! Just a suggestion, though... no need to try so hard with the descriptive passages. When I write (and I'm a relative newcomer so please take this as it's intended) often I find that simpler is better. Great story! I can't wait to find out what happens next.

(I tried to post once and I don't think I got through, so if this is a duplicate, please forgive me.) What a cliffhanger! You're better at action/adventure than you think you are! I do have a suggestion, though. There's no need to try quite so hard with the descriptive passages. In my (totally amateur and unpublished) experience, often simpler is better. This is still a great story,though. I can't wait to see how it ends!

Sorry! I'm not harping... I promise!

[depressed_mood]...well, at least it seems you left T'Pol with a Triplet...[/depressed_mood]

That darn Kelby - Mucking things up again! Cute interactions 'tween Trip and T'Pol at the beginning - Trip's restraint is admirable.

[shameless_bribe]I'll make you cyber brownies if you don't kill Trip...[/shameless_bribe]

i loved it more please more

(*Adds cyber ice-cream cake to the shameless bribe*) Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease don't do it! It's bad enough that Trip died the first time, to do it again in a fic! Unforgiveable! (*Grabs Ahn-Woon and Ushaan-Tor borrowed from Shran*) This is not a threat... it's an ultimatum. (*Keeeeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllby!*) ;)

More please!

If Trip dies I'm taking the brownies back!! I suspect we're going to see Trip going into McGuiver mode in the next chapter right?? Just like he did in Terra Prime, right?? Tell me I'm right!?? No mo' dying for Trip, right??

Wow that was exsiting!!! Id a left Kelby to become Kibble. The heck with the Engines,, so what all that would happen is Trip would of saved thousands of people from dying from another gazzel speach. Cant wait for your next update,, Ya better have him stop that bomb. His kid an mate need him.

I hope you don't intend to kill him. I can't cope with another Trip death. Think happy endings.!!

HEY! Your stopping there? Evil! I'll be waiting.

All I can say is that the ending was incredibly evil!!!! as StarTrek_Chick said, Trip really needs to go into McGuiver mode! Can't wait till the next chapter!

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

That's it! You're ending it there? You have to write more to this soon.

Whoah, that is a cliffhanger, you're a meanie! (Just kidding) Great story so far, can't wait for the next installment. I'll add homemade chocolate bon bons to the brownies and ice cream cake if Trip lives. ;-)

Ok Ok I think you are better at this than you give yourself credit for.... But please, no more of Trip dying! I had enough of that from B&B. Oh yes....NEXT INSTALLMENT PLEASE