Paradise Lost - Part 2

Star Trek—The Continuing Voyages of the Enterprise:
Paradise Lost

Author: ginamr

Episode Number: 23 (Of course, bumping the episode number on These Are the Voyages a little higher.)

Genre: Science Fiction/Angst/Action/Adventure

Rating: PG-13

Possible spoilers: Broken Bow through Terra Prime

Disclaimer: Only new characters and the new plots are mine. The original characters belong to Paramount. I receive no monetary reward for my work; my only reward is the joy of creating.

Last time on Star Trek: Enterprise… Paradise Lost Part One

Story Number: 1 Paradise Lost

Part II

Play Intro. Music.

Malcolm, Travis, and Archer were enjoying drinks at a local club. Phlox and Hoshi had opted out, insisting that they would be just fine exploring the town area. “I’ve had enough!” Travis shouted over the music.

“But you’ve only had one glass!”

“With all due respect, sir, you don’t want to see me drunk!”

Archer sighed. “I’ve hit my limit, too!”

“Apparently, neither of you have a very strong tolerance!”

Travis smirked. “Unlike you, Lieutenant, we don’t drink on a regular basis!”

The noise in the club went down as the music died and people returned to their seats having whispered conversations with colleagues.

“You assume that just because I have a higher tolerance, I drink every night when I’m off duty?” Reed feigned offense at the statement.

Archer chuckled. “You know, Lieutenant, for someone whose as devoted to his duty as you are, you have one hell of a sense of humor.”

“Thank you, sir,” Malcolm replied as he threw back another shot.

Travis stared at one of the waitresses as she slid by behind him. Once she was out of earshot, Travis turned back to the other two smirking. “These women make the Orion women look like schoolgirls.”

Archer covered his disagreement with a harsh cough. Reed looked curiously at him. “You disagree.” Archer smiled and brought his hands up defensively. Reed smirked. “Did you have an interesting experience with one of them, sir?”

Both Travis and Reed leaned closer, waiting for Archer to share. Archer chuckled. “Let’s just say I was very preoccupied while they were aboard and leave it at that.”

The other two laughed. “It sounds as though you definitely had some interesting experiences, sir.”

Again, Archer chuckled. “I’m sure you both had some interesting experiences as well.”

“I managed to come out of that situation unscathed and guilt-free, sir,” Reed replied taking a long drink from his Sex-In-Zero-G, a bluish-colored alcoholic beverage.

“I spent most of the time while they were onboard on hard workouts. It’s something my dad and I did when we were dealing with the Orions.”

Archer smiled. “I’ll have to remember that. Did it work?”

Reed nodded. “Yes, sir. I’ve tried it. You’re so exhausted that you don’t have the strength to think about anything but kipping.”

Travis grinned and shrugged. “It worked for me, too.”

Archer chuckled and raised his glass. “To Enterprise. Long may she stream the heavens.”

“To Enterprise,” the other two said in unison, raising their glasses.

As Archer took a drink of his beverage, the communicator beeped. Archer stood and made his way toward the door, the other two following. Once they were outside, Archer flipped open the communicator.

=/\=“T’Pol to Archer.”=/\=

=/\=“Archer here. Everything okay, T’Pol?”=/\=

=/\=“Commander Tucker has sustained an injury that needs medical attention. I am returning him to Enterprise and Doctor Phlox.”=/\=

Archer frowned, looking concerned. =/\=“What happened?”=/\=

=/\=“I snagged my foot on a tree root, Cap’n, and broke my ankle.”=/\=

Reed and Travis covered their mouths trying to hide their laughter.

Archer chuckled. =/\=“Only you, Trip, could break your ankle on a tree root.”=/\=

=/\=“Ha, ha, Jon. Hilarious.”=/\=

=/\=“Permission to return to Enterprise, sir?”=/\=

Archer chuckled. =/\=“Permission granted, T’Pol. Good luck.”=/\=

Once Archer had closed the communicator, the other two burst out laughing. “How in the bloody hell did he snag his foot on a tree root?”

“Maybe Commander T’Pol is partly to blame, sir,” Travis hinted.

“Ensign…” Archer began sternly.

**************

“They haven’t reported in for several hours, sir. Maybe something’s happened to them.”

Archer nodded. “T’Pol would have let us know that she’d made it back.”

“Sir, perhaps we should return to Enterprise and begin searching for them…or for some explanation as to what’s going on.”

“Good idea, Lieutenant.”

“Maybe we should see if the Shuttlepod is where we left it. If it is, there’s a good chance they’ve been taken prisoner.”

Archer frowned. “But who would take them prisoner?”

“I’m sure we’ve made plenty of enemies, sir. One of them could be after payback or something.”

“I agree that the Shuttlepod would be an ideal place to begin our search, sir…if it’s still there.”

Archer nodded. “We’ll start there. If we don’t find them there, we’ll return to Enterprise and continue searching with away teams…and in the event that the Shuttlepod is gone, scans of nearby M-Class planets.”

The others nodded and followed Archer as he made his way towards where they had last left the Shuttlepod.

************

Trip’s eyes opened slowly and he rubbed the back of his head, wincing when his fingers touched on the bump making him wish that he hadn’t struggled so hard during his interrogation.

He was suddenly aware of an extremely bright light spilling into the dark, dank room causing him to shield his eyes. He started when a weak, heavy object was thrown into his lap. He shuddered when his fingers encountered a sticky, wet substance knowing it to be blood.

A deep laugh echoed throughout the cell making Trip shiver at the menace in the laugh. “Perhaps next time you will not struggle so much, Vulcan.”

‘T’Pol!’ his mind screamed. The door was slammed shut and it was once again dark.

“Are you all right, T’Pol?” He shuddered again as he felt the blood still sticky and wet on his fingers.

“I’m not gravely injured,” she replied.

“They should have at least patched you up.”

She was silent for a moment. “They have begun formulation of a new cloning attempt.”

Trip frowned. “Now what do they think they’ll gain from that?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps this child will be used as a threat. Perhaps Paxton intends to…I don’t know.”

Trip hugged her tightly. “We’ll get out of here. We’ve been gone long enough for the Cap’n ta be gettin’ worried ‘bout us. Everythin’ will be all right. I promise T’Pol.”

T’Pol nodded leaning against him as he held her.

*************

“Any luck, Lieutenant?”

Reed shook his head. “No, sir. Nothing unusual.”

“Ensigns?”

“Nothing, sir.”

Suddenly, a beeping noise echoed in the small cabin followed by a series of clicking noises. “Sir, it’s Xindi!” Hoshi leaned forward listening carefully. “It’s saying…‘Stay away…or they die.’

“It seems we’ve found the Commanders’s captors, then,” Reed mumbled.

Archer nodded. “They could have taken them anywhere.”

“Perhaps we should do as you suggested, sir, and search all of the M-Class planets in the sector.”

Archer nodded. “Sounds like a good start. You and Hoshi can work together to gather a line-up of possible planets.”

Reed and Hoshi nodded. “Aye, sir.”

“And while you’re at it, take a look through the files containing everything we know about the Xindi. Maybe that will help us figure out what they would want with the Commanders. Why not any of us?”

Again, Reed and Hoshi nodded. “Aye, sir.”

************

Later in the Command Centre…

“Anything?”

Hoshi shook her head. “I don’t think so. This planet is mostly desert. It would be the ideal setting for the Insectoids to set up camp.”

Reed paused. “Isn’t it possible that the Insectoids and the Reptilians are working together on this? I mean, they allied with one another to destroy Earth…”

“I suppose it’s possible. Well, either way we can rule out the M-Class planets that have cold weather at this particular time of the year. They’ll probably be on a planet with a tepid climate and mild temperature changes.”

“You don’t suppose they could have set up another moon base?”

“Hmm. We should suggest that to the Captain.” Hoshi sighed and massaged her temples. “This is hopeless. They have technology and with it they could adapt to any climate. We need more to go on than knowing who we’re dealing with. We need to know where Insectoids have been spotted recently. That would narrow our search drastically.”

Reed stayed silent, simply staring at her. His thoughts had been wandering a great deal towards her as of late, and it had started him wondering what intrigued him so much about her. They seemed to get along quite famously when duty didn’t get in the way.

Hoshi looked in his direction and saw him staring at her. She smiled timidly and the corners of his lips turned up as well. She thought back to when she’d first met him, realizing how much he’d changed. He hadn’t really smiled very much when he’d first come on board. She supposed that Trip had been a positive influence on him. Reed’s long-running friendship with the Commander seemed to have loosened him up a bit.

Looking into his eyes, she felt suddenly very aware herself as a woman. If she didn’t know any better she would swear that he had an affectionate glint in his eyes. He really was very charming when he smiled. His gorgeous deep brown eyes were perhaps the most endearing part of his features after his smile. They made her think of the comforts of chocolate and romance.

He took a step toward her and leaned forward, his face centimeters from hers. They stared into each other’s eyes for a moment, exchanging nervous smiles. Reed closed the remaining distance between them his lips barely brushing hers before the com went off.

“Bloody hell,” Reed muttered under his breath before pressing his thumb to the button on the com panel. “Reed.” If his tone was angry and bitter, Archer made no comment on it.

“Have you and Hoshi made any progress, Lieutenant?”

Reed sighed. “A little, sir,” he replied not breaking Hoshi’s gaze.

“What do you have so far?”

Reed cleared his throat, turning towards the com panel. “We’ve eliminated two planets, sir.”

“Out of how many?”

“A fair four dozen.”

“Good work, Lieutenant. I’d like another progress report in an hour.”

Reed nodded. “Aye, sir. Reed out.”

The com went dead and there were several awkward moments of silence during which Reed ran both of his hands through his hair and Hoshi clasped her hands together in front of her staring at her feet.

“Will you have dinner with me?” Reed blurted suddenly.

Hoshi’s head snapped up and she looked at him slightly startled before smiling nervously. “Um…okay.”

“Really?” Reed responded, his voice an octave higher than usual. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Really?”

Hoshi laughed. “Yes, really. I…I had no idea that you…”

“That I was pining after you?” Reed supplied.

Hoshi nodded. “I always thought that you were interested in Commander T’Pol.”

Reed managed not to wince at the admition. ‘Surprised me, too,’ he thought.

The two remained silent for a moment. “My quarters, 1930 hours?” Reed suggested.

Hoshi nodded. “Okay.”

Reed turned back to the console smiling broadly. He had to fight the urge to kiss her again because, after all, they were still on duty. They would have to be discrete so as not to attract attention. With the pleasant thought of what awaited him tonight with Hoshi, he returned to his work.

************

“Leave her alone, ya bastards!” Trip shouted at the guards as they attempted to drag her from the closed room.

T’Pol fought them the whole way, biting the hand at her mouth and driving her elbow roughly into one man’s groin. The man released her immediately, kneeling over clutching his groin, groaning in pain. The other guard bared his teeth at her. “Vulcan bitch,” he spat before slamming an open palm across her face. T’Pol winced, but kept her face turned away from the man not allowing him to see her pain.

Trip leapt at the man, driving him against the wall, his fist making repeated contact with the man’s scrunched-up face. He was about to deliver the final blow when a hand on his arm stopped him. He turned suddenly to see T’Pol looking at him with disapproval. “He is unconscious, Trip,” she said simply.

Trip glared at her. “I can see that. I didn’t intend to simply knock him unconscious.” His tone was filled with anger and menace.

“Our best chance is to escape before more guards are sent to our location.”

Trip bit back a bitter retort and simply nodded, following her out of the cell. As they ran through the corridors, the klaxons were sounding and Trip was praying that they didn’t run right into any guards. He skidded to a halt as he saw two guards approaching, holding out an arm to halt T’Pol behind him.

<< When I say three, we jump ‘em and take their weapons. >>

T’Pol nodded her understanding and Trip began counting. << One…two…three! >>

T’Pol leapt toward the guard on the right while Trip took the one on the left. By the time the guards had recovered from the shock of being attacked, Trip and T’Pol were delivering their final blows. Both took the weapons the guards had been carrying and made a dash for it.

<< I hope you remember how to get out of here. >>

T’Pol’s eyebrows furrowed. << Do you not remember? >>

Trip groaned internally. << Damn it! How in the hell are we supposed to get out of here if we don’t know where the exit is? >>

<< Make one? >> T’Pol suggested.

Trip’s eyebrows shot up. << You’ve definitely been ‘round humans to long, darlin’, if yer startin’ ta think like one. >>

<< Perhaps we should be certain that we are not on Mars Colony first. >>

Trip shook his head. << I got a look out one of the windows after my interrogation. I recognize the planet as one of the ones we surveyed early on in Enterprise’s mission. One of those squirrel-like animals scurried by while I was looking. I don’t think those things are native to any of the other planets we’ve been to. Either way, there’s plant and animal life so the air is most likely breathable. >>

Trip instinctively grabbed T’Pol’s arm and pulled her toward him just in time for her to escape a weapons blast which hit the wall they were hiding behind. T’Pol’s hands were on his chest, her body in close contact with his as he held her wrists.

<< How did you know that they had discovered our location? >>

“Perhaps our bond allowed you to hear and recognize the sounds more immediately. I was…otherwise occupied.” She pulled free of his grip, raising her weapon as she peered around the wall. She quickly withdrew her head just in time to avoid another weapons blast. “There are at least six of them.”

T’Pol nodded and pulled free of his grip, raising her weapon as she peered around the wall. She quickly withdrew her head just in time to avoid another weapons blast. “There are at least six of them.”

“There could be more coming.”

T’Pol nodded. “Did you see a forest?”

“Yeah. It should be a good place to take cover until the Cap’n can find us.”

“Where?”

“I saw it out that window,” Trip said pointing to the window across the corridor. “Go. I’ll cover you.”

T’Pol nodded. << On three. >>

<< One…two… >>

<< Three! >>

With this, T’Pol darted across the corridor with Trip laying down cover fire for her. She made it across and nodded to Trip. He fired as he ran, hitting three guards. <>

<< I will need a few moments to modify the weapon. >>

<< Then you’ll need these, darlin’. >> Trip held out a hyperspanner, a pair of wirecutters, and a screwdriver. T’Pol took them looking confused. Trip chuckled. << I never go anywhere without ‘em. Ya never know when you’ll need ta fix somethin’. >>

T’Pol’s eyebrows shot up. << I believe the Earth expression is “always be prepared for the worst.” >>

Trip chuckled. << Now yer gettin’ it. >>

T’Pol used the flat-head screwdriver to pry away the cover of the targeting sensor. She threw the screwdriver and the cover aside, and making sure that the weapon was powered down, stripped the two wires that regulated the weapon’s energy flow with the wirecutters. She twisted the two stripped wires together and set the wirecutters aside, picking up the hyperspanner.

<< If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you picked up a few of my engineering skills. >>

<< Perhaps. >> T’Pol used the hyperspanner to increase the energy output. << We should stand clear. >> The two backed away a little so that they were still hidden behind the wall and she squeezed the trigger. Trip’s hand came up to cover his eyes and when he removed it, he saw the large opening that the weapon had created.

<< << We should continue moving. >> With this, the two climbed through the opening and fled toward the forest, ducking weapons blasts until they reached the dense growth of trees. They didn’t look behind them, simply continued deeper into the forest.

Part III

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A handful of people have made comments

My only suggestion (reminder?) is that Reed's eyes are sort of a bluey-gray, not brown. I think you got Hoshi's and Reed's eyes mixed up while you were writing! Ooops. Sure was cute seeing T'Pol playing Mrs. McGyver. Go figure that Trip never goes anywhere without tools. Other than that one little slip about the eyes, great job -- thanks for sharing!

I agree about Malcolm's eyes, but I still loved the Malcolm/Hoshi scene... just made my little M/H shipper's heart go all pitter patter. Also, you might want to check your telepathic dialog. I use the same convention of > for mine, and if you don't do the italics code right, you lose the words inside the brackets. Looks to me like that's happening a few times. Love this, though. Can't wait for the next part.

Trip/T'Pol AND Malcolm/Hoshi? Does it get any better? More, please! :)

Quite interesting. Looking forward to the next one!

Wonderfull! Part three? Please?