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Negotiations - Ch 8Negotiations By Hoshi’s Sis Rating: PG/13 A/N: Takes place after they have left the Expanse at the end of Season 3, but before the Season 4 episode, “Home.” @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
“How are the transmissions coming along?” asked the Romulan captain, “are they having any effect yet? The Vulcan ship The Selaya has just arrived, which means they’ll be at Babel by the tomorrow morning. I want to make sure he is well under our control by then so we can start putting into place our arrangements for disabling the conference.” “We’ve been sending them continuously since last night,” replied the Romulan doctor. They should be getting stronger by now in the way that they can access his memories and engage them to help make the illusion more believable. We’ve used this form of mind control very effectively in the past, although I believe this is the first time we’ve tried it on another species. “Do you foresee any problems?” “No,” replied the doctor, “but our contact is in place on the Vulcan ship just in case. Before to long he will be well under our control and we can start sending orders and directions for him to do our bidding. If all goes according to plan, there will effectively be the beginning of an all out war between the Vulcan’s, Humans and Andorian races. After a few months when their forces have been depleted, we can put our invasion plans into effect for the take over of the Alpha Quadrant.” -------------------------------------------------- Trip spent most of the day resting quietly in his quarters catching up on some work and replying to messages. He didn’t expect T’Pol or Archer to visit since they would be dealing with the Vulcan’s who had arrived a few hours ago. Malcolm was also tied up dealing with the security arrangements for the forthcoming conference on Babel. Trip would have liked to be involved and back to work, but if he was really being true full with himself, he still didn’t feel 100% back to normal, which in itself was very odd for him. He’d always bounced back from previous injuries and mishaps with no problem at all. Phlox had already visited like he’d promised and carried out some scans, which he seemed to be quite happy with. He wanted to do one more check up the next morning, but he promised that Trip could return to work if his metabolism stayed at these stable limits. Trip was happy at first with the news and eagerly tucked into reading up-to-date reports and articles, but as the day progressed he began feeling tired again, very paranoid and anxious, as if someone was in his quarters watching him. He even swore that on more than one occasion he heard faint voices talking. He tried to rest and catch up on some sleep, hoping that it would relax and calm him down. Unfortunately though every time he closed his eyes, either horrifying visions of murderous atrocities danced before his lids or images of him killing his close friends in gruesome fashion plagued him continuously. By the end of the night Trip was exhausted and an absolute wreck, he was pacing up and down his quarters with his emotions and hormones raging all over the place. One minute he felt extremely scared, then uncontrollably angry the next. He wanted to talk this over with Archer, T’Pol, Phlox or Malcolm, but just as he was about to walk out of his door, deep paranoia took over and he began imagining conspiracies all over the place and around every corner. You can’t trust any of them // Damn there’s that voice again. Why can’t I trust them, their ma friend’s? // Are they, what have they done for you recently? Was Archer there for you when you needed him during the loss of your sister? // No he wasn’t, not once did he say he was sorry or give me any support………. He couldn’t, he had the world and the mission to worry about. // A true friend would have been there for you. Why do you think you can trust T’Pol? She used you and tossed you aside like a discarded banana skin. // She does care for me, she just confused, that’s all. // Is that all? She’s Vulcan; it’s in their nature to be cold and heartless. What about Phlox, he cloned you then put down his experiment like a dog without any remorse. Malcolm’s just as bad; he’s using your friendship to further his career. // That’s not true, he’s my friend. He’s never let me down. // So where’s he now, he’s like all the rest, you can’t trust any of them. Vulcan’s are devious and the Andorians will backstab you the first chance they can get. Take them all out, kill them. “Nooooo….. I won’t do that,” screamed Trip as he sank to the floor in the corner of his room, “I’m not a killer………” zzzzzzzzzzzz……. zzzzzzzzzz……… Just then the comm.. rang indicating that there was someone outside the door. Trip jumped up quickly, running his fingers through his hair and trying to put on an air of normality, despite the voice and the tormenting images running through his head. “Come in……. T’Pol, I thought you’d be busy with the Vulcan’s?” “They have returned to the Selaya,” said T’Pol walking into the room. “Oh……,” replied Trip in a cold tone of voice, as he fidgeted with his fingers, “so what do ya want?” “I came to see how you are,” said T’Pol with a curious look on her face as she wondered about Trip’s sudden change of attitude toward her. “Are you all right, Commander?” she asked softly. “I’m fine, T’Pol, so quit ya worrying.” “It’s my job to worry about you………., Trip……,” replied T’Pol as she walked up to him and placed her hand on his shoulder and slowly smoothed it down his arm, “You’re my friend and I care about you.” “I’m fine……… there’s really no need to worry,” said Trip. T’Pol was unconvinced as she watched his eyes dart anxiously around the room, as if he was desperately trying to avoid looking at her. “I can sense your heightened emotions and anxiety…… You are not fine, please……. let me help,” she asked, as she watched the hidden struggle rage inside of him. “How are ya gonna help?” “Let me take you to sickbay to see Phlox…..” “No…… I don’t wanna go and see Phlox, I don’t want any more tests,” said Trip backing away. “You are clearly exhausted and anxious….. why don’t we have a neuropressure session so you can relax and get some rest?” Trip agreed although he clearly wasn’t in the mood for socialising, he was desperately tired and despite his increasing anxiety at the moment, he knew he could trust T’Pol. T’Pol worked for 20 minutes before Trip fell in to a deep sleep. She tucked him up in bed before deciding to go and see Doctor Phlox. There was clearly something wrong with Commander Tucker, there was no way he should be like this. It was clear in her mind that those Andorians had done something, a thought that surprisingly caused a stirring of anger inside her. T’Pol was determined to find out what was wrong and she wasn’t going to rest until she did. ----------------------------------------------- A short time later It is time ………. Trip’s eyes flew wide open and he sat up as if he was in a deep sleep like trance. He got out of bed, slowly got dressed and then proceeded to walk out of the room………………… Have a comment to make about this story? Do so in the Trip Fan Fiction forum at the HoTBBS! Four of you have made commentsOH No! Those dang dirty Romulans! Im sitting on the edge of my seat, bitting my finger nails waiting for the next chapter now! Great Chapter! But please dont let Polly get hurt. Oh no!!!... can't wait for more. Please continue soon - great writing! Oh no!!!... can't wait for more. Please continue soon - great writing! Help! Hurry, T'Pol! Got to get help for Trip before it is too late... Gulp. Great story, can't wait to see what happens next. Ali D :~) |