Negotiations - Ch 9

Negotiations

By Hoshi’s Sis

Rating: PG/13
Genre: Angst/Action/Adventure
Disclaimer: It all belongs to Paramount. No infringement intended.
Summary:

A/N: Takes place after they have left the Expanse at the end of Season 3, but before the Season 4 episode, “Home.”

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Chapter Nine

Slipping unnoticed into the nearest Jeffrey’s tube, he carefully redirected the ships external sensors and the shuttle bay controls. Then, still in a robotic like trance, Trip slipped into the armoury to acquire the necessary weapons that he would need to carry out his mission. He’d already collected some tools and equipment that he would need down on the planet, so this was his last stop.

Ensign Parsons was on duty, checking the weapons status and running diagnostics etc. He looked as Trip entered and walked towards the weapons locker.

“Sir, can I help you?”

Trip didn’t reply, he just carried on walking up to the locker, opened it and helped himself to a plasma rifle, knife and several explosives, which he secured in his uniform. Without a sound he turned around to walk back outside.

“Sir,” asked Ensign Parsons, as he walked up to Trip and blocked his way, “I can’t let you take those weapons without some explanation of what they are needed for.”

Trip stayed silent, stared and tried to get past him, only to have Parsons block his way again.

Kill him………

“Sir, I’m sorry but I can’t let you have those weapons. Its regulation, you should know that.”

“Sorry Ensign,” said Trip, as he casually walked behind Parsons, placed one arm around his neck and the other on the side of his face. With a quick twist he broke his neck, and then dragged him over to some containers where he deposited the body. On the outside Trip looked to be in a calm, casual manner, yet inside Trip was screaming in pain and remorse at what he had just done. He was trying with all his will to fight back and snap out of this trance like state, but it was if he was locked inside a glass cage, watching a mirror image of himself performing atrocities that were unacceptable to him as a person.

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During this time.

T’Pol was in sickbay discussing her concerns about Trip to Doctor Phlox.

“It’s not any specific physical symptoms that I can pin point exactly, it’s more his whole demeanour,” explained T’Pol.

“In what way are you concerned,” asked Phlox.

“He is extremely agitated, restless and highly emotional, even more than normal. He also seems on edge and unwilling to talk.”

“That doesn’t sound unusual for Commander Tucker; he’s always been the type of person to keep his own personal troubles to himself.”

“Not with me, Doctor. He’s been very open with me, trusting his feelings whenever he has been in my presence, to the point where he is comfortable and totally at ease. We can discuss just about discuss anything,” said T’Pol softly, “It’s an aspect of his nature; I have come to cherish these past few months.”

“Ahhh yes,” smiled Phlox, “I’ve noticed how you’ve become closer. Considering how wary you both were about your two species at the beginning of this mission, it’s ironic really that your now act almost as if you are a……. couple……..”

“Not quite,” replied T’Pol softly, as she turned and contemplated his words and their meanings, “but maybe……. soon……..”

“T’Pol…… you were saying about Commander Tucker,” asked Phlox, breaking off her train of thought, “maybe we should go and take a look at him.”

“I would appreciate that Doctor,” replied T’Pol as they turned and walked out of sickbay, “he was sleeping in his quarters when I left him.”

Five minutes later they arrived at Commander Tucker’s quarters; deciding not to buzz in case Trip was asleep, T’Pol keyed in the door unlock code and they both walked into a dark and empty room.

“You said Commander Tucker was asleep,” queried Phlox.

“Yes…… he was extremely exhausted, falling asleep during one of our neuro pressure sessions,” explained T’Pol as she walked to the comm…. “T’Pol to Bridge……”

“Bridge, Ensign Phillips here……… what can I do for you Commander?”

“Ensign, can you scan for Commander Tucker.”

“Certainly mann ……… we seem to be having a problem with internal sensors, Commander, they seem to be off line at the moment.”

Phlox and T’Pol looked at each other, each obviously having the same thought………. Commander Tucker. His unnatural behaviour earlier, ships systems down and his obvious disappearance now, told T’Pol one thing – something was very wrong.

“Call the Captain and inform him that we will meet him on the bridge,” informed T’Pol, “in the mean time get those sensors back online. We have to find Commander Tucker.”

Five minutes later, T’Pol and Doctor Phlox both walked onto the bridge as Captain Archer entered from his ready room.

“Report………..” said Archer as he looked at T’Pol to explain what the problem was.

“Captain, there is a problem with Commander Tucker,” explained T’Pol, “he has gone missing and the ships internal sensors have gone down, so we can’t locate him.”

“Problem, what problem?” asked Archer, directing his question towards Phlox, “you said that he would be all right.”

“I am uncertain, since I am going by T’Pol’s recent assessment of his behaviour. It would be prudent to find him so I can run some more tests.”

“Ensign,” asked T,Pol walking up to the engineering section of the bridge, “have you got sensors back online?”

“Partly, although we are still having some problems with shadows; it also seems that the external ones are down as well.”

“Can you locate Commander Tucker’s position?” said T’Pol.

“He’s in shuttle bay one,” replied Ensign Taylor, “it seems that he preparing to launch a shuttle pod.”

“Malcolm, T’Pol!” shouted Captain Archer, as they raced to the turbo lift and down to the cargo bay.

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“We’re locked out,” shouted Malcolm as they arrived at the shuttle bay and found to their dismay that the door controls had been tampered with. “It’s going to take a few minutes to get the doors open,” said Malcolm as he tore off the control panel and started tinkering with the controls.

“Malcolm!” urged Captain Archer, vaguely aware of the time that was passing.

“Captain,” urged T’Pol from a nearby computer station, “there is a shuttle pod being launched. “Got it,” said Malcolm, as the door finally opened and they all ran in to a deserted Shuttle bay.

“Archer to Bridge……. Deploy the grappler and bring that shuttle pod back,”

“Yes sir,”

Five minutes later the shuttle pod was back inside the shuttle bay.

Where’s Trip,” asked Archer as they opened the doors to an empty shuttle.

“Decoy……..” replied Malcolm as T’Pol went to the comm.. system.

“Bridge…… Commander Tucker is not in the Shuttle pod, it is deserted.”

“Sensors show his bio sign, Commander.”

“Check again, Ensign you are reading a programmed shadow or a glitch.”

After what seemed like an eternity to Ensign Taylor, but what were only a few minutes, he managed to make the necessary adjustments to get the sensors working properly. “I’m sorry Commander; sensors show that Commander Tucker is no longer on the ship. He transported down to the planet about five minutes ago.”

“Can we trace where he transported down to,” asked Lieutenant Reed.

“Sorry sir, he’s wiped the buffer clean. There’s no trace left of his transport record,” replied a dejected Ensign Taylor. “There’s also a dampening field in place blocking any additional transport to and from the planet.”

“Damn……..” informed a very worried yet angry Archer to the bridge, “I want to know just what the hell is going on here, what’s wrong with Trip and where on earth has he transported to?”

“I think we should start with the Andorians,” replied T’Pol, “hunches may be a human expression, and as Commander Tucker often states, my gut is directing me straight towards them being the cause.”

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Chapter 10

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Two folks have made comments

WOW Great chapter Hoshi's sis!!
This is kinda heart breaking to read what T'pol said "Not quite,,,But maybe soon." Having watched "Home". I Hope you update this again soon!

Excellent! Though I did cringe and cry out inside when the trance-like Trip broke Parson's neck. Not like all the pieces that have been broken can be repaired afterwards. Can't wait for the next part. Ali D :~)