Soul Search Complete - Ch 5

Soul Search Complete

By Favors

Rating: PG-13
Genre: Angst, Action-Adventure
DISCLAIMER: Star Trek: Enterprise is owned by Paramount, not me. No infringement intended, no profit made.
Spoilers: All season 4 spoilers, and any aired episodes, any spoilers we’ve all heard about
Summary: T’Pol courts Trip after some soul-searching, Trip gets captured by aliens during an away mission

A/N: italics represent inner-thoughts & musings.

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Chapter 5

“Well, we have most of the power relays repaired or replaced, but some of the systems are still off-line or have damage to them. Sensors and Communications are at the top of the list, Cap’n.” Trip reported to the Captain. Trip was tired, dirty and disheveled, but he looked happy. A tired contented smile played at his lips.

They had finally exited the nebula to better assess their damage and contact Starfleet.

“Make sensors number one, Trip. We need to find dilithium.”

“Yes sir.” Trip started to leave, stopped and turned around. “Cap’n? When everythin’ settles down, can we sit down and talk, as friends? I’ve got a lot I need to tell ya.”

Trip’s face was filled with hope and concern as he waited for his friend’s answer. Phlox was right, as usual; Trip was still his good friend.

“Anytime, Trip.” Archer smiled and clapped Trip on the arm. A slow happy smile spread across Trip’s face as he left the Ready Room.

“Captain, I have detected a small planet or moon with a source of dilithium. It is .4 light years from here.” T’Pol informed him over the comm.

“Have Travis lay in a course.”

***

“There is a large deposit of dilithium on the western side of the northern continent. The surface conditions are windy and cold. The temperature on the planet 5.5 degrees Celsius.” T’Pol informed him with distaste.

“Well, then I guess you’re not going to join the away team?” Archer teased T’Pol. All knew she was not fond of cold weather.

“I am not a miner, Captain. However, I will program several tricorders for you. I am not detecting any life signs, but then the planet seems to have some sort of natural dampening field which sensors are having difficulty penetrating. My data may not be 100% accurate.”

“Well, we’re just going to have to take our chances.”

“Bridge to Engineering.”

“Yeah, Cap’n?”

“We’ve located a source of dilithium, I want you and 2 of your staff to join the away team. You’ll be the best to determine the quality of the dilithium. Meet us in the Shuttle Bay in 1 hour.”

***
Trip was whistling happily to himself, with a dreamy smile on his face, on their way down to the planet. The other members of the away team tried not to smile and laugh.

A nice pasta dinner, wine, garlic bread, and of course, pecan pie for dinner. I’ll have to talk to Chef when I get back, see if he can do that for me. Some classical music, she likes that, dim lights, maybe some neuro-pressure. She liked Vivaldi or maybe jazz. I guess I should ask her if she wants to have dinner, funny, I never even thought to ask. Do I have any candles?

“You seem unusually cheerful for a fellow who’s got a lot of work ahead of him.” Malcolm observed dryly. “Wouldn’t have anything to do with a pointy-eared First Officer with a nice bum would it?”

“Huh?” Trip’s musings were interrupted by Malcolm’s question. The faint blush that crept into Trip’s cheeks was answer enough.

Malcolm and Archer couldn’t stop themselves from chuckling. Their laughter grew more raucous as Trip’s face reddened even more. Lt. Hess had been biting the insides of her mouth to keep from smiling. She wasn’t sure if the Captain and Lt. Reed knew about “the kiss” that occurred right in front of her. It had quickly spread through Engineering; she hadn’t been the only one to witness it.

“Glad I’m a source of amusement for you two.” He said glibly.

Travis landed the shuttle pod down on the cold, windy planet. T’Pol’s initial scans had shown there were no life signs, although she did detect some man-made materials. The sensors had difficulty in penetrating their atmosphere, so she was unable to provide details. There was some naturally occurring phenomenon that made scanning difficult. Communications with Enterprise continued to be sporadic.

Trip led the away team westerly towards one of the sources of the dilithium. “Signal’s strongest over this way. I shoulda brought a sweater, its cold!” Lt. Reed followed behind Trip along with Ensign Rostov. The Captain, Mayweather, and Hess went slightly to the north of Trip’s team.

Trip’s team had found a deposit of dilithium after 20 minutes of searching and spent 2 hours extracting 20 grams of the critical element. The Captain’s team did not fair as well. Only turning up only 8 grams after a 45 minute search and 90 minutes of extraction.

“Cap’n, we got about 20 grams so far, not sure what it’ll reduce to once it’s refined enough to use. Doesn’t seem to be much more around this vicinity.”

“We got about 8 grams. Let’s head back with what we have and get started on it. We can come back for more.”

Both teams began to head back to the shuttle. The two teams were within visual range of each other when the Captain’s communicator activated.

“Archer here.”

“Captain, there are bio-signs headed your way, approximately 20.” T’Pol’s voice was difficult to hear over the wind and static.

“I thought you said there were no life signs T’Pol.”

“When we scanned the plant prior to your take-off I detected none. As you know the sensors are not operating at optimal efficiency.”

“I wonder if they are friendly.” Archer mused out loud.

“That is not possible to determine from bio-signs Captain.”

Sometimes she can be so irritating. Or is she making a joke?

“Well, I see the other team. Together; we have 28 grams of dilithium.”

“That quantity is insufficient.”

“I am well aware of that T’Pol. But that’s all we have right now. Maybe we can negotiate with these people for the remainder. Archer out.”

The captain could see Lt. Reed and Rostov, with Trip trailing 25 meters behind them. A commotion caught Trip’s attention and he stopped to look. A look of shock crossed his features.

“Run!” he shouted just before an energy beam struck him in the chest.

The bolt was strong enough to lift him off his feet and fling him 5 meters away from the remainder of the team. He landed with a heavy thump on a rock. The captain could only see a blackened scorch mark on Trip’s chest. He couldn’t tell if he was still alive. Trip wasn’t moving and was lying backwards across the rock. The captain could tell that his left leg was broken in at least 2 places. Rostov had continued to run forward and didn’t see Tucker being shot. Malcolm had witnessed the event as had Archer.

Malcolm has started to head towards Trip when aliens emerged from around a large rock outcropping. They were tall, well over 6 and half feet in height. Captain Archer could see one of the aliens head for Trip and grab his unresisting body. 12 of the aliens advanced upon the remaining party, firing at them with their weapons. They reminded the captain of birds.

“Get back to the shuttle pod!” the Captain ordered the remaining crew. The captain, along with the remainder of the party ran to the shuttle pod. Travis made it there first, and started to power up the shuttlecraft. The aliens weren’t far behind as an energy beam lashed out and caught Lt. Reed’s left leg. Fortunately, Malcolm was flung in the direction they were traveling. Archer and Rostov bent to assist the injured Reed. Another energy beam stuck the shuttlecraft.

“Get in!”

“What about Commander Tucker?” Travis asked from the cockpit.

“We’ll have to come back for him.”

If he isn’t already dead.

“They might kill him captain!” Malcolm exclaimed through clenched teeth.

“Travis, get this thing moving!” Archer ordered.

Energy beams lashed at the shuttle pod, rocking it.

“Communications are down, Captain.” Lt. Hess reported.

“Hess, try and get them back online.”

“Yes sir.”

As Archer took his place beside Travis, he could see down onto the planet. He could see one of the aliens, carrying Trip’s body, moving swiftly in the direction it came. The aliens continued to fire at the shuttle.

He must be alive, why would they carry his body otherwise?

“Gods, this hurts!” Malcolm exclaimed.

Archer looked over at where Malcolm lay on the shuttlecraft’s floor. The wound on his leg looked painful. Flesh was burned and oozy.

What kind of weapon does this?

“Captain, I have the comm back, but I don’t think it will hold long. Maybe for one or two transmissions.”

“Archer to Enterprise.”

“Enterprise.” Came T’Pol’s cool voice.

“Have Phlox meet us in the shuttle bay. We have injured.”

“Commander Tucker no doubt? I will inform the doctor.”

“Archer out.” The Captain’s expression was grim.

How the hell am I going to tell her?

“T’Pol’s not going to be happy.” Malcolm stated from his prone position.

No one spoke for the remainder of the flight back to Enterprise. All were thinking of their friend back on the planet. Archer felt deep regret for having to leave his friend down on the surface of the planet.

Is he alive, if so, for how long? What do those aliens want with him? No, T’Pol most certainly wasn’t going to be happy. I am not looking forward to telling to T’Pol. No, she most definitely won’t be happy.

***

T’Pol waited nervously alongside Phlox for the shuttle pod to land and the bay to pressurize. She was anxious to see Trip and review the extent of his injuries. It had become an ongoing joke about his horrendous away mission track record.

“Calm down, T’Pol. I’m sure he’ll be fine.” Phlox admonished her.

“You know how he is on away missions. The Captain said he was injured.” She responded anxiously.

Phlox noted the slight perspiration on her brow, and how she was fidgeting.

Unfortunately I never got a chance to speak with Mr. Tucker about her condition. Oh, well plenty of time to talk when he is in sickbay.

As the doors of the shuttle opened, Travis and Rostov assisted the injured Lt. Reed from the shuttle. Hess and Archer followed. When no one would look T’Pol in the eye, she became suddenly wary.

“Where is Commander Tucker?! Is he still in the craft?”

“T’Pol.” Archer spoke to her softly, he tried to sound calm. She was clearly agitated. “T’Pol, I’m sorry. Trip…”

“Captain, what happened? Where is he?” T’Pol demanded.

“Those bio-signs you detected, they weren’t friendly at all. They shot at us. Trip was injured. We couldn’t get to him.”

Archer watched her as wealth of emotions played across her face. Anguish, frustration, hurt, fear, and anger. He was amazed to see tears pool in her eyes.

“What do you mean you couldn’t get to him? You just left him there! How could you?! How could you leave him like that?! You know how he is on away missions! You were irresponsible! You should have looked after him! He would have done anything to bring you back, but you just leave him there like a piece of trash! How dare you!” she yelled at him.

All in the shuttle bay had stopped their movements and had observed the conversation between the captain and the enraged First Officer.

“T’POL! That is ENOUGH!” Archer shouted back. He watched as her nostrils flared and the muscle in her jaw clenched. When she seemed to have regained some measure of control, he continued. “I think he’s still alive. And we’re going to get him back. We just need to get more information on these people and what they want. I saw one of them carrying him away. Why would they do that if he’s…if he’s…” Archer didn’t want to speak the words, lest they come true.

“Dead?” she asked her voice thick with emotions.

“We’ll get him back T’Pol, we’ll get him back.”

“You had better. Enterprise needs her Chief Engineer.” The threat in her voice shook Archer to the core.

“Enterprise or its First Officer?” he asked her softly. Her startled eyes gave him the answer he needed. She was starting to respond, when he interrupted. “Report to the bridge Commander T’Pol.” Archer used his most commanding voice, and glared back just as angrily.

There’s more to this than what Phlox let on, he must know something; I need to talk to him.

***
“How’s Malcolm?” Archer had been pacing around sickbay, watching Phlox work.

“The burn to his leg has been treated; it will be quite painful for a few days. But I am most disturbed by this infection. It seems to be part of the weapon, but I don’t know if it is intentional or not, or just an unfortunate side-affect due to the human genome. Lt. Reed will make a full recovery, but the tissue is weakened, he will have to have physical therapy to build the muscle tissue back up. He will also be quite tired over the next few days. Almost like having a bad case of the flu.”

“Assuming Trip is alive; he’ll have this infection too?” Archer asked.

“Yes, perhaps worse based on the size of the wound you described. Now, you said these aliens were over 6 and a half feet tall, large round eyes, and they have various colored hair.”

“Yes, but it didn’t really look like hair, more like feathers. They almost looked like bi-pedal birds. I’ve never seen that species before. Are you familiar with them?”

“I can think of several that may be it, but this certainly isn’t their home planet. Perhaps we can review the Vulcan and Xindi database for the species.” Phlox suggested.

“Report to the situation room when you’re done with Malcolm. I’ll have T’Pol and Rostov work with you to identify them. Rostov got a good look at them as well. When you’re done, I want to talk to you about Trip and T’Pol.”

“Yes, Captain.”

***

“They were tall, had eyes almost like a bird’s. Looked like they had feathers instead of hair. They were different colors. Blue, orange, green. They were also, thin, but muscular. The one that took the Chief, she or he, had long fingers with real long nails, almost like talons.” Rostov described the aliens as best he could. He had been beginning to help Hess refine the dilithium when the captain ordered him to work with the First Officer and Doctor to identify the species.

Frankly, Rostov was full afraid of the Vulcan, especially since the scene in the shuttle bay. It had quickly spread though engineering about the Chief kissing the First Officer.

“Try accessing the Permins.” Phlox asked T’Pol.

Rostov shook his head.

“Crestallics.”

“No.”

“Shimarac.”

“No.”

“Aveendids.”

“That’s it. Those are the creatures. Only the one I saw carrying away the Commander was more orange.”

Rostov saw the Vulcan science officer bristle at the mention of the Commander. Apparently she was still pretty angry.

“Do you know anything about them Doctor? I am unfamiliar with this species.”

“They are matriarchal, highly intelligent, and somewhat xenophobic. They tend to be like any other species, some are good, and some are bad. They will work with other species if it suits their needs. Their medical knowledge is highly advanced in some areas, while their technical skills remain somewhat, regressed. They are also quite adherent to the hierarchical structure. Even if their leader is incompetent, they will follow until that leader is properly replaced. They like their structure and protocol.” Phlox offered.

“And what is their protocol regarding kidnapping injured crewmen?” T’Pol snapped.

A thought occurred to Phlox. “Crewman Rostov, did Commander Tucker do anything on the planet to demonstrate his engineering skills?”

“Well, the tricorder broke, but he fixed it quickly though. Why?”

“As I said before their technical skills haven’t kept up with their medical skills. Perhaps they were observing you and determined that they needed his skills.”

“We must inform the Captain.” T’Pol spoke as she moved towards the door.

***
After Phlox and T’Pol informed the Captain of their discovery, the captain ordered T’Pol to work with the engineers to get the sensors operating at full power.

“We’re going to need those sensors functioning at full power to locate Trip. Get on it T’Pol.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Both quietly waited until T’Pol has departed.

“Captain, you wanted to speak to me?” Phlox turned to look at the captain, a benign expression on his face.

“Yes. It’s, T’Pol. She’s acting very strangely, even for her. I want to know what’s going on. I ordered her to resolve this…problem between her and Trip. I also recommended she talk to someone. Since she didn’t talk to me, I assume she talked to you. Trip was pretty happy on the way down, so I assume something happened. What’s going on with them?” Archer asked.

“Captain…you are aware of the patient/doctor confidentiality oath I have taken?”

“Look, I’m concerned. About them both. To hell with that right now. I also need to know if I can rely on my people. What’s going on between them?”

“You weren’t at the movie last night.” Phlox stated.

“Did they fight?” the captain asked, concerned.

“No, they held hands.” Phlox answered quietly.

Phlox waited for the enormity of what he said to sink in. Surely the Captain knew what a significant demonstration it was for T’Pol to publicly hold hands with Commander Tucker. It was akin to a declaration of intent for a permanent relationship.

“She held his hand in public. I guess that’s pretty significant to a Vulcan.” The Captain spoke slowly.

“Precisely. She has been seeking my advice on how to repair her relationship with Commander Tucker.”

“What exactly is their relationship?”

“They are in love with one another.”

“Everyone on this ship knows that. What I want to know is have they ever…pursued anything?”

Phlox detested having to reveal such personal information regarding his patients. “Perhaps that is best left for Commander T’Pol to answer. Captain, I am uncomfortable revealing the nature of their personal relationship. I can tell you, I believe a Vulcan bond has been established between the two. If you want details on the how, ask T’Pol. I don’t believe Commander Tucker is yet aware of this bond.”

Phlox watched as the Captain absorbed the information.

“Bond?” he questioned.

“Yes. When Vulcans…select mates…they bond, mentally and physically with that person.”

“What about her former husband, Koss? Did she bond with him?”

“Apparently not. Whether by choice or because she was already bonded to Commander Tucker, I do not know. There is one more thing Captain.” At the Captain’s disheartened look he continued, “Have you read your confidential document on the Vulcan mating cycle known as Pon Farr?”

Dear god no, not now! No wonder she’s so angry about this.

At Archer’s strained look, Phlox continued. “She is in the very early stages. However, in several weeks time, she will become more agitated. I can control her…urges…initially in those first weeks with medications and she will need to perform additional meditation, but at some point….”

“Do we need to return to Vulcan?” the captain asked.

“Assuming we can retrieve Commander Tucker, I believe that Commander T’Pol will choose Commander Tucker to be her mate. But it is best if you ask her. I have not yet told her about her Pon Farr condition.”

“Doesn’t she know?” Archer asked, perplexed.

“Perhaps. But she is in the very early stages. She might be attributing her state to the current situation. The medical signs are irrefutable. Eventually she will need to mate, or she will die.”

Archer merely closed his eyes and hung his head. His best fried and a woman he had come to respect a great deal needed him. “We really need to get Trip back, and soon.”

***

“Who are you people?” Trip managed to croak.

Trip lay on a metal table, with gutters down each side. Looking around, it appeared he was in a sickbay or medical facility of some sort. He didn’t recognize the species, nor could he understand them. He was fully naked, and in considerable pain. The gutters and medical tools reminded him of torture devices he seen in movies. Trip could admit to himself that he was afraid, terribly afraid.

He could see that his limbs were strapped down and his chest was black. He could smell a sickening sweet smell, like an infection. Three of the unusual beings strode about the room. The tall orange female came towards him when he spoke.

How did I know it’s female? Just looks like it I guess, face more delicate than the brown one, bumps on the chest.

The quick movements of the head and large, round black eyes reminded Trip of a bird. Her, hair looked more like feathers than hair. He could see the orange feathers were dotted with a deep brown. The feathers ran down her cheeks and disappeared into her neckline. Her face was much like a human, but very angular. She had a small pointed nose and orange tinted lips. Her fingers were long and slender and ended in thick, long talons. Otherwise, they looked very much like any other bi-pedal species. The orange one wore tight-fitting black leather looking jacket and matching slacks. There were pewter colored insignia on the left-breast of the jacket. The small brown bird-like person left the room before Trip could get a good look. Another of the beings, which Trip also suspected was female, reminded him of a peacock. She had bright green and blue feathered hair, with overlapping peacock eyes similar to the male peacock of Earth. She was smaller than the orange one, and more delicately built. She wore an outfit of similar design, but dark green in color and with different insignia.

He could see his tricorder, tools, communicator, boots, underwear (which he desperately wished he had on), and the bag of dilithium he had been carrying. His uniform apparently had been destroyed.

“What do you want with me? I just want to go back to my ship.”

Although he couldn’t see ears they appeared to hear him. The orange one looked at him and then spoke to the peacock one in a chirping high-pitched tone. She then flicked on a switch. Hoshi would have a field day with this he thought.

“You are maker?” the orange one asked.

“Maker? No, I’m human. My name is Charles Tucker.”
“You are maker, we see.” The orange one picked up his tools.

Trip began to understand, they meant his profession, not his name.

“I’m an engineer.” Trip’s chest began to spasm and he coughed violently.

God, I hurt like a sonofabitch! I can barely breathe. I hope the captain and T’Pol get here soon. Damn, I’m gonna hear about this. Malcolm never lets me live down my injury record for away missions.

Trip realized he must have some sort of infection. He was feverish and weak. The peacock one was examining him. Trip decided she must be some sort of doctor.

“Maker.” The orange female insisted.

“Engineer.” Trip enunciated.

“Egneer?”

“Sure, close enough.”

“You fix, you make, you maker.” The orange one declared.

“Oh, OK. Look I just want to go home. Let me contact my ship will ya?”

“No, we need maker.” She insisted.

“What? No, you can’t keep me here!” Trip was indigent.

The peacock one spoke, “He deformed, have only 2 testicles.” The peacock one poked none too gently at Trip’s genitals.

“Hey, ya mind! Uh, no, that’s normal for my species. Stop doin’ that!” Trip tried to squirm as best he could from the peacock’s probing.

“He damaged, we must fix.” The peacock indicated his chest and leg.

The orange one picked up what looked like their version of a hypo spray and pressed it against Trip’s chest. Trip felt a burning sensation and then the room went black.

***

“Hoshi, have any luck contacting the Aveendids?” Archer asked.

“No sir. Either they can’t respond or don’t want to.” Hoshi replied quietly.

Archer sighed heavily and shook his head. It had been 8 hours since Commander Tucker had been taken. T’Pol had spent every minute with Engineering repairing the damaged systems. She had only recently returned to the bridge to begin the sensor sweep.

“T’Pol?”

“Nothing yet.” Her voice was soft and thick with emotions.

“Malcolm, start assembling a search party together. Get one of the MACOs to lead.”

“But sir…”

“No, you’re still injured. I know you want to be down there, but they’re going to need to be fast. No offense, you’ll slow them down.” Archer told him none too gently.

“Yes sir.” Malcolm bristled at the fact the captain was right. His leg still hurt terribly, he knew if it came down to a firefight, he’d be a liability.

“I wish to accompany the away team.” T’Pol stated from her position.

“No, T’Pol. I’ll need you here directing the away team.” Archer stated flatly.

Also, I don’t want you killing everyone in your path.

Archer could tell from T’Pol’s expression it wouldn’t be the last of the conversation.

***

T’Pol’s skin was warm beneath his hands; her hair was fluttering in the breeze. The lava plains were below them while they made love on the cliff side. He was caressing her body slowing, kissing her all over. He started to make his way down towards his goal when a sudden sharp pain struck him in the genitals.

Trip woke from his dream to incredible pain. He was still strapped down, and the peacock had interested a long needle into one of his testicles. She was extracting his semen.

God, and I have a big hard on from my dream!

“Who Tupple?” she asked.

“Tupple?” Trip repeated through pain-clenched teeth.

“You say Tupple many times while nestle down. You have mind image of Tupple?”

Nestle down? Mind image? Did she mean sleeping? Dreams? Tupple? T’Pol!

“Do you mean T’Pol?”

“Yes, Tupple. She mate?”

“Yes, she’s my mate.”

“You have mind image erection of Tupple?” the peacock said while she flicked her talons on his penis.

Trip could swear she was laughing at him. “I guess that’s pretty obvious.”

Even these bird-people knew how I feel about T’Pol. It’s hard to hide anything when you’re naked. It looks like they’ve taken little bits of me!

Trip could see a vial of bright red blood, (presumably his), a chunk of his hair, perhaps a piece of bone, and even a sliver of skin. Trip looked down to see his chest was bandaged, but it still burned. It seemed they hadn’t treated the infection. He was dizzy and sweaty. He watched as the peacock drained his semen into another vial.

“Can you let me contact my ship? I don’t want to cause any trouble. I’m sorry if we took your dilithium without askin’. I’m sure we can trade or somethin’. I have an infection, a fever. I need to see the doctor on my ship.”

“No, Mistril need maker. She keep you.”

“Mistril, is she the orange one?” Trip ventured.

“Mistril leader, she keep you. I fix you.”

“I have an infection, you need to fix that or I’ll just get sicker.”

“Infection?” She seemed confused by his statement. She didn’t understand what an infection was.

How the hell do I explain this?

Trip was trying to decide how to explain what an infection was to the peacock when Mistril came in.

She spoke to the peacock in their native tongue. “You maker, we need. You mine now.” She slipped what looked like a dog color around his neck. Only this one was made of metal and had buttons on it. Mistril activated the collar using a device on her belt.

Trip could feel a small electric charge running around his throat. Once the collar was active, the restraints to his arms and legs were removed. His broken leg had been repaired, was wrapped tightly, but still painful.

“You come.” Mistril ordered.

“Clothes? Can I have some clothes?” Trip gestured down his nude body.

“You come now.” She insisted.

Instead Trip lunged for his underwear nearby. Mistril activated the device and Trip fell to the floor, clutching his skivvies and in terrible pain.

“You come. NOW!”

“All right, all right. Just let me get these on.” Trip sat on the floor and struggled into his underwear.

Better than nothing!

If these things could smile and laugh, Trip could swear Mistril was doing just that. Her mouth was open and her head bobbed up and down. Once he had his underwear on Mistril took Trip down a long corridor to a turbo lift. Once inside, she pressed some buttons, and Trip decided they were going down, although he had no indication.

They exited the turbo lift and turned left. Trip saw more of the bird-like people. Different colors, many reminding him of the birds on Earth. That one looks like a sparrow, that one a robin, that one a blue jay. Trip kept associating the species while taking into account his surroundings. Mistril continue to lead him down corridors. His leg hurt, and his bare feet were cold on the metal floor.

“We here.” Mistril palmed open a door and led Trip inside. He was in what he felt could only be their engineering hub. She led him over to a console. “You fix.”

“Fix what.”

“You fix. You maker, you fix. Broken, broken, broken.” She led him around the room pointing to objects that were broken. One was what he thought to be the communications array. Maybe he could get a signal to Enterprise! Another appeared to be the main power source for the complex. The complex was running on what looked like the backup unit.

“I need tools.”

“Here.” Mistril opened a closet to reveal and wide range of tools. They were out-dated by Trip’s standard, but then so was their technology.

“What do you want fixed first? How about this?” Trip pointed to the communications array.

“No, power.”

“Ok. I’ll fix your things, and then you let me go back to my ship, OK?” Trip pressed.

“No, you stay.” To emphasize her point, she switched on the collar. The pain wasn’t as intense, but it still dropped him to the floor.

Trip merely nodded wearily as he began to work. She watched over him for several minutes before having a robin looking bird person watch over him. He also had an activation device.

Trip began working on the power unit. He estimated it would take 8-10 hours to repair. After that he’d make sure the communications array was next. He needed to get a signal to Enterprise. Let them know he was alive and come and get him quick!

After a few hours of work, Trip asked the robin-looking alien “Can I get some water?”

And some clothes, shoes, a phaser.

The robin looked at him quizzically. He didn’t appear to understand Trip.

“Water?” Trip made the motion as if to drink. He understood that.

Didn’t Mistril leave this one a translator?

The robin went over to a comm panel and squawked in its native tongue. After about 10 minutes another one showed up with a plastic squeeze bottle of water.

“Thanks.” Trip felt weak and nauseous. He knew he had an infection. While they seemed to treat his injuries adequately, the infection seemed to boggle them. Trip had been working steadily for 6 hours when Mistril came for him. While the technology was unfamiliar to him, and he couldn’t read the writing, he was able to figure most of it out. Fortunately the robin was able to translate the writing for him when needed.

“I’m not done; I need more time, a few hours.”

“I come back.” Mistrial returned several hours later and escorted him back to the sickbay to the peacock. She seemed please that the complex was now fully powered.

***

“Scans show a large complex about 2 kilometers from where you landed Captain. It appears most is underground though. Sensors can’t penetrate the structure. Perhaps that is where they have taken Commander Tucker.”

“Malcolm, is the rescue party assembled yet?”

“Yes sir. I just need to go over their mission with them. I have Sergeant Kemper leading them.”

“Captain, I wish to join the away team.” T’Pol interjected.

“No, T’Pol.”

“But Captain…” she protested.

“I said NO.” Archer and T’Pol glared at one another across the bridge. Archer watched as she struggled to control her rage. The bridge fell silent as the quiet battle of wills ensued between First Officer and Captain.

Trip has always said you are stubborn as a mule, he’s right. Glare all you want to T’Pol, you’re not going! You’d only be liability; your emotions are getting in the way. I hope I don’t have relieve her of duty.

T’Pol seemed to sense the captain wasn’t going to back down right now. She knew she was edgy and her emotions were raw. “Permission to leave the Bridge? I need to mediate.”

“Granted.”

***

“What’s your name?” Trip asked the peacock.

“Name?” the peacock repeated.

“Yes, your name. My name’s Tucker.”

“Tooker?”

“Sure, close enough. Tucker. Your name?”

“Cestra.”

“Cestra. That’s pretty.” Trip was trying to make his way over to the table with his belongings. He wanted to activate the communicator and get a signal out. Cestra was watching him closely.

“No, you back here.” She said pointing to the metal table.

“I just want to get my tools, to use when I fix your other equipment.” Trip reached for his tools and “accidentally” knocked the communicator off the table. It hit the floor, and he bent to pick it up. If he was quick enough he could open it and activate a signal.

He flipped open the communicator and pressed the emergency signal button just as Cestra activated the collar. He dropped to the floor in incredible pain. She bent and closed the communicator, ending the signal.

Did Hoshi’s excellent ears hear it? God, I hope so!

Cestra dragged Trip over to the metal table, which was almost vertical now. She forced him against it and clamped down the wrist and ankle restraints. At the press of a button the table leveled off to horizontal.

“Mistril will punish you.” She seemed to look upset about the issue. Trip thought maybe he could appeal to her. She was obviously the healer; maybe she had the same distaste for violence as Phlox.

“Look can’t ya just let me go? All I want to do is get home.”

“To Tupple?” she asked soflty.

“Yes to T’Pol.”

Moments later Mistril came into the room. Apparently Cestra was correct, he would be punished.

Cestra left the room quietly and Trip felt real fear crawl through his veins. Another bird person entered the room. One he hadn’t seen before. This one reminded him of an eagle. He had an enormous chest and cruel talons.

Mistril spoke to him away from the range of the translator, so Trip couldn’t hear what was said. The eagle one bobbed his head, clearly acknowledging his orders. Mistril left the room, leaving Trip alone with the eagle.

Trip wasn’t sure how much time had passed, it could have been hours or it could have been minutes. He had never felt such terrible pain. This horrid creature took great delight in causing him immense pain using Cestra’s medical tools.

Cestra would need to patch him up again before he could continue to work. The eagle had made sure nothing was too damaged. Obviously his orders were to keep him alive, and functional, but to let him know they intended to keep him in line.

Trip passed out somewhere along the line. When he woke he was alone in the darkened room. Cestra had tended to his injuries. He was exhausted and pain laced through his body. He was crying and didn’t care if anyone saw. He was alone, scared, and in pain. He sure as hell didn’t want to live with these bird beings for the rest of his life, however short that maybe.

T’Pol! Ya gotta come get me! I can’t last like this! Oh, T’Pol, baby please come get me! I need ya! More than anything! Oh, T’Pol, ya keep me goin’. I know I need ya more than ya need me, and I need ya now more than ever! I wish I had told ya I loved ya. I hope I get to tell ya.

***

“Captain, I jut got the briefest of signals. The emergency frequency.” Hoshi reported. Hope lighting her features.

“Can you pinpoint it?” Archer asked anxiously.

“No, sir. All I can tell you it’s within a 10,000 kilometer area on the northern continent.”

“Start scanning that area. They must have taken Trip there. Malcolm, hold on that team. Let’s see if we can pinpoint his location.”

***

T’Pol sat in her quarters, futility trying to meditate. She was unduly angry with Archer. He had no idea how he had interrupted them over the past year. Neither had confided their relationship with him. He could only surmise and guess, much like the rest of the crew. When she thought back about their conversation a few days ago, she realized he was providing her an opportunity to confide in him. She had dismissed it.

T’Pol once again tried to relax and focus her thoughts. She needed to be at peak efficiency to assist in locating Trip, assuming he was still a live. She knew he was alive, she could feel it. T’Pol once again focused on the flame and let her mind relax.

Oh, T’Pol, baby please come get me!

“Trip?” T’Pol was stirred from her meditation. She must have been thinking of him so much, she believed she heard him.

‘I need ya. ‘

No, I heard him, in my mind. He’s crying, he’s in pain. Focus your thoughts!

‘Trip! I’ll find you. Don’t’ give up!’

T’Pol projected her thoughts as much as possible.

Hear me, please my love, hear me. I must inform the captain.

***

Trip thought he was going insane. He wanted to hear T’Pol’s voice so badly he thought he could actually hear her in his mind. She had told him she’d find him, don’t give up. Regardless, Trip hung onto that thin hope.

***

“Captain, I must speak with you immediately. In private.” T’Pol comm’d the captain from her quarters.

“Meet me in my ready room.”

T’Pol made her way to the captain’s ready room hastily. Whenever crewmen weren’t around, she practically ran to his Ready Room.

“A few days ago, Doctor Phlox informed me he believed a bond existed between Commander Tucker and me. I now know that is true. Trip communicated with me while I was meditating. He is in pain and distress. We need to find him Captain! He’s alive!”

“I know T’Pol. I know. About 2 hours ago, we received a brief signal on the ER channel. Good thing Hoshi has such keen ears.”

“Why the hell didn’t you inform me immediately?” The anguish on her face was evident.

They must be bonded; I’ve never known T’Pol to curse before.

“There is a 10,000 kilometer area to search; I knew it’d take time. Time I felt was better spent for you to meditate than to perform the sensor sweeps. Hoshi is doing just fine. We’ll find him, get him back to you.” Archer patted her arm, trying to reassure her.

She looked so forlorn and lost. Her eyes were wide and she was struggling to control her emotions. If something happened to Trip, he didn’t know what would happen to her. Just days ago she looked she wanted to rip his head off; now all he could think to do was put his arms around her and comfort her. If she were human.

I must ‘come clean’ with the captain. He needs to know.

“Captain, I must apologize for my behavior of late. I have not been professional in my duties and have been unfairly angry with you.” T’Pol spoke hastily.

“Angry with me, why?” Archer could sense she was on the precipice of telling him.

Just do it, get it over with.

“Trip and I have been, involved, for quite some time, before my marriage. When we were in the Expanse, you often summoned one of us in the late hours, interrupting us, to perform some task. While we understood that we have our duties to perform, it also seemed as if you didn’t trust our seconds to perform those tasks. There were a number of occasions when we were…engaged in intimate activities…when you would hail one of us. More often you would ask me to perform some analysis. Neither one of us disclosed our relationship to you. I suppose because, neither of us really knew the nature of our relationship. I am at fault for that. I would push Trip away and then want him back. When I asked Trip to go with me to Vulcan, I had very intention of letting my mother know I had chosen Trip to be my mate. However, certain circumstances forced me to marry Koss. After my marriage was dissolved, I again pushed Trip away. I have realized the folly of that choice.”

“So you were angry with me when I interrupted your…extra curricular activities? We had a mission T’Pol.” While Archer could understand her anger, he really couldn’t sympathize.

“I know. However, even recently….when we….”

Archer had a sudden insight, “Movie night?”

“I was going to tell him how I feel about him. Then you hailed me.”

“That’s why you were so angry. Trip was pretty miffed as well. You could have told me. It’s not like I didn’t suspect something was going between you two. Neither one of is good at hiding your feelings for one another. This whole ship knows you two are in love.” Archer smiled knowingly before continuing. “You must have talked before we went down to the planet. He was quite cheerful, more like his old self.” Archer ventured, hoping she would open up.

T’Pol regarded her captain thoughtfully.

Once again he is offering me a chance to tell him, to confide.

“We did, briefly. Actually, I wrote him a letter.” T’Pol seemed embarrassed to admit this.

Archer tried to hide his amusement, a Vulcan love letter. How he’d love to get his hands on that. Knowing how sentimental Trip was, he knew Trip would keep it forever despite whatever occurred between them.

“I’m sorry Captain. I believe we have both been unfairly angry with you. More likely we are angry with ourselves for own…foolish behavior. You didn’t know.”

“Well, Trip doesn’t confide in me as he once did.” Archer’s voice was filled with regret and sorrow. He quickly turned to look of the view port.

The captain’s anguish did not go unnoticed by T’Pol. “Captain, he values your opinion and friendship very highly. He may not confide aspects of our relationship to you because…well…it’s never really been defined.”

“How about, next time if I interrupt you, and it’s not critical, you tell me, OK?” Archer offered.

T’Pol just looked at him and nodded her head.

“We’ll get him back T’Pol. I think you need to join the rescue team, and so do I.”

A feral look of satisfaction gleamed in T’Pol’s eyes when Archer spoke.

“Captain, may I remind you, that you should not put yourself at risk when there are known hostiles.” T’Pol was back to being the first officer.

“And may I remind you that my First Officer will have my ass in a sling if I don’t get her Chief Engineer back?” Archer smiled back. T’Pol merely raised her eyebrow as an answer.

“Yes, he is my Engineer.”

One thing they should add to the Captain’s manual. Never, ever, lose a Vulcan female’s mate. I pity the people between her and Trip.

End Chapter 5

Chapter 6 (CONCLUSION

Return to Chapter 4

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A whole mess of folks have made comments

that was a great chapter. My only grip about is the Extracting the semen from the Testicles. Which is incorrect, the actual Sperm is produced in the testis, then stored in the epidymis. From there the sperm will travel through the Vas Deferens to the Seminal Vesicles. The Sperm THEN MIXES with Semen produced from the seminal vesicles. Not trying to be Anal, but u could change "Semen" to "sperm"

Anyways Great Chapter, i've thoroughly enjoyed ur Stories for a while now. :D

Wow. Can't wait for the next update. Can't wait to see the interaction between T'Pol and Mistril, when Polly wants her man back. DeeBoy, good science lesson.

God I think he would have broken the restraintes when they stuck a needle in his nuts!!! God talk about tourcher!!!! Your a real evil person Favors!
I was half hoping T'pol would b*tch slap Archer when they came back with out Trip. Great Chapter! I cant wait for the next one!

Fantastic chapter. Can't wait for the next update.

Poor Trip, it is always him! I was amazed and impressed by the Captain's super keen eyesight, being able to notice after Trip was thrown back another five yards away from them by the weapon's fire from the aliens that his leg was broken in two places. I guess we can kiss Dr Phlox goodbye now. Very good story, I winced in several places for Trip and laughed at T'Pol verbally lamblasting the Captain for daring to leave Trip behind! Oh Boy, can't wait to see T'Pol cream those aliens. I don't think they have ever seen a Vulcan let alone a really REALLY angry one! Ali D :~)

Great, I've just imagined Bibo as a Bird-Alien ;-)

OUCHIE WA WA! Poor Trip!

Thank you DeeBoy for the correction, it's been a long time since I had a biology class. You'd be a great BETA reader!

What a great chapter. Poor Trip. But don't worry because now there is going to be some serious a** kicking as Jon and T'pol go down to rescue our boy.

You are doing great!!!
Keep it up. I can't wait either for the confrontation between the bird people,and T'Pol

Hmmm, wonder what the needle in the nuts is for.... Dang did I wince at that part! :shivers: I may be a girl, but I KNOW that had to be painful!

Cool chapter! Can't wait for the next!

This story is AWESOME! Can't wait for more, please update!

LOL. I love this story. There are moments in every chapter where you just have to laugh at them.

Terrifc! Can't wait for the next chapter