Enemy of the State-Ch 27

Enemy of the State

By Quills

Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Paramount owns Star trek and I derive no financial gain from this story.

Contact: quills@thequillpen.net
Codes: A, T/Tu, Ma, S, R, P angst, drama, romance, humor, action/adventure
Summary: The starship Enterprise is on a desperate mission to save Earth from the mysterious Xindi. While searching for the weapon the Xindi intend to use against Earth, Captain Archer and his crew are reunited with their friend from the future, Captain Soma, who brings news of an even more sinister plot by a Xindi faction involving the Vulcans, which threatens not only Earth, but the entire galaxy. Now it is up to Archer and his crew, with the help of Soma, to unravel the Xindi plot and prevent Earth and the galaxy from falling at the feet of their greatest threat…Vulcan.

***Special note: This story takes place after the season three episode, “Carpenter Street,” but before the episode “Harbinger.”

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Chapter 27

Two Nausican guards escorted Archer and Soma down the dark corridor. Tolaris, walking in front, led them through the winding maze of corridors. He had wanted to talk, but obviously preferred a venue other than their cell. Soma glanced around, looking at the walls and ceiling; he could see open sections of ceiling paneling, where corroded wiring and power cables hung free. The walls were equally dilapidated, missing large sections where extensive water damage had caused rot. There was no indication that any repairs or cleanup was ever attempted, which accounted for the heavy musty smell throughout the building. The interior was in as much disrepair as the exterior of the building, leading him to conclude that the building itself held no real importance. It was simply a convenience; a place where prying eyes were less likely to venture. So if the building held no value, then something inside did, or someone.

Leaving the maze of corridors, they were led into a large open room. The ceiling stretched up several meters, with overhead lighting fixtures. Most were burnt out, but the ones still functioning provided an adequate degree of light. For the most part, the room was empty. There were two long wooden tables in the center, with several chairs, along with three small stacks of crates, neither of which matched the condition of the rest of the building. The tables and chairs were clean and looked relatively new, and the crates looked like they had just come off a processing line. Soma tried to read the manifest, but couldn’t make out the label. Not that it mattered. He suspected that whatever the label said would be the last thing inside those crates. Looking past them, he saw the familiar form of Setel standing on the far side of the room. He wondered if the man was one of Tolaris’ lackeys or was merely continuing his role as opportunist.

The Nausicans pulled out two chairs, setting them several meters away from one of the tables. Pointing to the chairs, they directed Archer and Soma to sit. The two captains glanced at one another for a moment. The look they shared told them they were both thinking the same thing: if an opportunity presented itself, they would take it. But for now, they would have to bide their time and wait.

Tolaris walked over to the table directly opposite Soma and Archer. He was slow and methodical about it, as if going through some kind of official judicial motions. Taking a seat, he pushed back his long dark coat, exposing a dark purple tunic underneath. Reaching into one of the tunic’s waste pockets, he removed a small triangular object. Both Soma and Archer guessed that it was a timepiece of some kind. Looking at it for a moment, Tolaris arched his brow and then placed it back in his pocket. He was obviously waiting for something or someone. For a long moment, he said nothing. Folding his fingers together, he stared at the table top in thoughtful contemplation.

“You’re with the Resistance,” he said finally, looking up at them.

Archer and Soma glanced at one another. The looks on their faces were evident that they had no idea what he was talking about.

“Don’t bother denying it,” said Tolaris, shaking his head. “I know your type. You’re all the same. You think that pathetic band of yours can defeat the Alliance.”

Archer stared at Tolaris. He wasn’t certain what Tolaris was referring to, but they needed to find out more about this ‘Resistance’ without tipping their hand. If he and Soma were able to escape, they might find allies willing to help them.

“It’s pretty clear what you think, Tolaris,” said Archer, trying to maneuver the Vulcan into a conversation.

Tolaris glared at him. “I’m a businessman; that makes me a pragmatist. I know a lost cause when I see one, Mister…”

“Archer,” replied the captain. “And this is my…associate, Mister Soma.”

Tolaris looked at them for moment. Archer wasn’t certain, but Tolaris didn’t strike him as a member of the Alliance. He had nothing to base that assessment on, other than a gut feeling. Tolaris claimed he was a businessman, the questionable kind, no doubt. His tone suggested that he had no great love for the Alliance, but he was obviously not a member of this Resistance he spoke of; that much was certain.

“I’m not interested in you, or your friend, Mr. Archer,” said Tolaris in a matter of fact tone. “Since you know my name, I can assume that T’Pol has mentioned me.”

Archer nodded to keep Tolaris talking. He had to be careful not to overplay his hand. He and Soma were running a bluff that could easily turn on them.

“Then you know that all I want is T’Pol,” said Tolaris. “You took her from me once. I won’t let you do it again.”

Archer locked eyes with Tolaris. He had heard all this before, a long time ago, when the Tolaris from his time-line was aboard Enterprise. But something was different this time. He could see a fire behind the man’s eyes. Tolaris was being truthful in what he said. But at the same time, Archer could see a hint of concern in the Vulcan’s stoic features. He wasn’t certain, but if someone had asked him, he would have sworn that it was for T’Pol.

Archer was about to say something, but Soma interrupted. “The choice is hers to make, not yours.”

“Choice!” shouted Tolaris, angrily as he turned to face Soma. “To die a meaningless death? What kind of choice is that?”

Tolaris pushed himself away from the table, standing abruptly. Soma could see the tension in the man’s hands as he clenched them tightly. Turning away, Tolaris walked over to one of the short stacks of crates. Setel stood watching, not making a move, while the two Nausicans guards shifted uncomfortably. Archer and Soma could see that Tolaris was visibly shaking and was attempting to regain his self control. Whatever was preying on his mind, was also taxing him physically. Gripping one of the crates, he steadied himself, taking a deep breath. Letting it out slowly, they could hear a low, but audible sigh.

“People like you took away the woman I loved,” he said in a choked sob. “You preyed on her noble nature; recruited her to do your work, and where did it get her? Dead.”

Tolaris turned, looking at Archer and Soma. Tears streaked down his cheeks, and his eyes burned like fire. “I had given her up for dead, but when Setel brought you here, when I saw her…I swore I would not let her die again.”

Soma looked at Archer. They had both dealt with Tolaris before. He was manipulative, a user and quite probably a rapist, if not in the commonly accepted sense. But that man and the one standing before them were nothing alike. This one showed genuine tenderness and caring; two emotions that were alien to the Tolaris they knew.

“Tolaris…,” said Archer hesitantly. “I know this must be hard. I’ve lost people I care about as well. But if T’Pol believes in opposing the Alliance…do you really have the right to stop her?”

“You Humans have short such memories,” replied Tolaris, bitterly. “The last real opposition to the Alliance was over thirty years ago. All you and your kind are doing is token battles; minor skirmishes to keep a flame lit that should have gone out long ago.”

Archer considered his next words carefully. Tolaris still held to his false belief that he and Soma were Resistance fighters. He wasn’t an Alliance sympathizer, but he also had no love for the Resistance. They needed to find out more about this time line if they were to have any chance of completing their mission.

“That was a setback,” said Archer, not having any idea what event Tolaris was referring to. “But the Resistance is still fighting.”

Tolaris laughed. It was a mocking and scornful laugh, and Archer knew it.

“If the Borg couldn’t defeat the Alliance,” said Tolaris. “What hope do you have?”

The Borg, the name was unfamiliar to Archer. Apparently, a species his time-line hadn’t encountered. But there were many species that they hadn’t as yet encountered.

“You give the Borg too much credit,” said Archer, probing.

Tolaris stared at him and for a moment, Archer thought that he had tipped his hand. But when Tolaris continued their conversation, he allowed himself a gentle sigh of relief.

“They were an amalgamation of different species, all part of a cybernetic collective,” said Tolaris. “They worked as a combined group, making them an organized threat to the Alliance. What are you? A rag tag crew of revolutionaries, spread out through a dozen systems.”

Archer ignored Tolaris’ last comment. A cold chill had gone down his back as he realized that they had met the species Tolaris mentioned. A year ago, the Enterprise pursued a stolen transport with beings exactly matching Tolaris’ description. The same species Doctor Cochrane had made wild claims about, only to later recant them; a species whose purported objective was to overthrow humanity. They finally had a name to go with the face, the Borg.

“The Borg had proved more than a match for the Alliance, overtaking worlds and assimilating the inhabitants into mindless drones.”

Archer considered what Tolaris had told them. If the Borg had been so formidable then it beggared a question. “What happened?”

Tolaris looked at them. The same puzzled expression creased his features. They were Resistance. They should know their own history.

Soma caught the look. “Humor us.”

“They were defeated,” said Tolaris, hesitantly. “There were rumors. Alliance scientists had been working on a way to overcome the Borg’s defenses. They were certain that brute force wouldn’t work. The Borg was too technologically advanced; that, coupled with their unique interconnection with one another made them virtually unstoppable. But it was supposedly their interconnectedness that proved their undoing. A clandestine team of Alliance soldiers infiltrated a Borg cube, introducing a self-replicating virus into the collective system. The virus corrupted their cybernetic systems, spreading across their subspace links to every ship and every drone. Within a matter of weeks any threat the Borg had posed was obliterated.”

Tolaris walked back to his chair. Sitting down, he leaned back, closing his eyes.

“You know the rest,” he said. “The Alliance had been severely crippled. The only thing that prevented open revolt was the devastation the Borg had brought to worlds that could have seized on the opportunity. As it was, only the Andorians openly tried and for their actions, the entire race was reduced to a slave population, scattered throughout the Alliance and the surface of their home world was reduced to an uninhabitable wasteland.” Tolaris opened his eyes, looking straight at Archer. “After that, no planet dared to stand against the Alliance. They had made an example of the Andorians. Even in a moment of weakness, they proved that no one could stand up to them. Then you Humans crawled out from under that backwater planet you call a home world. You and what was left of the Andorians formed the Resistance, and set about recruiting men and women, like my T’Pol; men and women who had nothing to do with your war.”

Archer remained silent; what could he say to the man. He had witnessed first hand what kind of suffering Humanity could bring upon itself. Their current mission…was it a direct response to an unprovoked attack or merely one more battle in a war that was started long after they were dead and buried. He understood exactly how Tolaris felt.

“Tolaris!”

All heads turned in the direction of the corridor and Tolaris leapt from his chair. A young Vulcan male, no older than twenty, came running out of the shadows, not stopping until he practically ran into Tolaris. The older Vulcan grabbed the boy by the arms, steadying him.

“What is it Sekel?” he asked; his tone was soft, but held a sense of urgency.

Sekel struggled to catch his breath. “I-I followed T’Pol,” he said in between breaths. “Soldiers took her.”

Tolaris’ eyes widened, “Where?”

“P-Prelect Soval,” answered the boy, finally catching his breath.

Soma and Archer exchanged glances. This was the second time Soval’s name had come up. Even in this time-line, he held some degree of authority. The question was where did that leave T’Pol?

“I should have known,” spat Tolaris. “That man is more cunning than a lematya.”
Tolaris turned to Setel. “I want you to contact Kosk. I’ll need men and weapons.”

Setel eyed him cautiously. “Kosk will not be inclined to move against Sovol.”

“Tell him I’ll clear his debts,” said Tolaris.

“All of them?” replied Setel, in surprise.

“Yes, all of them!” he said angrily.

Setel stepped back, fearing Tolaris might turn his anger on him. “I-I will go immediately. It will take some time-“

“Then go now,” said Tolaris. “I have little time to save her. Sekel go with him.”

Tolaris knew Setel had his uses, but it didn’t mean he trusted the man. Sekel was young, but he would make sure Setel did as he was told. Setel bowed slightly before making a hasty exit, followed by Sekel. Turning away, Tolaris walked over to his two Nausican guards, no longer paying any attention to his two captives. Watching Tolaris, Soma leaned over to Archer.

“We need to get out of here,” said Soma, earnestly.

Archer shook his head. “How? We’re unarmed. We can’t risk it.”

“Dammit Jon, my mother!”

Archer put his hand on Soma’s shoulder. “Jonathan, I know. But we don’t even know where she’s being held.”

“Then what…”

“Trust me,” said Archer.

Soma stared at him. The urge to push him aside and try to rescue his mother threatened to overwhelm him. His human feelings magnified by his Vulcan passion. But he knew the captain was right. He couldn’t help her under their present situation. They needed a plan. Nodding his head, he gave Archer his consent. He only hoped that whatever Archer had in mind, proved successful.

Standing up, Archer stepped forward, “Tolaris.”

The Vulcan turned suddenly, hearing his name. He had forgotten about Archer and Soma.
Motioning to his guards, he signaled them to take the two captives.

“Wait!” said Archer, holding his hands up.

Tolaris made a sharp clap with his hands, and the Nausicans stopped. Looking at Archer, he let a moment of silence hang in the air. The captain took that as his cue to speak before the guards dealt with them.

“Let us help,” said Archer.

Tolaris’ eyes narrowed on him. “I don’t need your help.”

“You may not want it,” replied Archer, “But you do need it.”

“I’ll have all the manpower I need very shortly, Archer,” said Tolaris, signaling the guards to take them.

Archer took a defensive stance, joined moments later by Soma. The two men stood ready to fight as the Nausicans advanced. Pulling out a hand weapon, one of the Nausicans leveled it at Archer. Before he could pull the trigger, Soma had already hefted the chair above his head, bringing crashing down on the Nausican. The man crumpled instantly to the floor from the force of the blow, dropping his weapon. Seeing it skitter across the floor, Archer dove, grabbing the weapon and coming up to a crouching stance. Instinctively, he aimed the weapon at Tolaris, while the other Nausican aimed his weapon at Archer.

“I’d say we have a bit of a standoff,” said Soma.

“Don’t be fools,” said Tolaris. “Setel will return with more guards.”

“Maybe,” conceded Archer, “but until he does, we’re wasting precious time. Time we could use devising a plan to rescue T’Pol.”

“You expect me to trust you?” he answered, staring at the weapon in Archer’s hand.

This time Soma answered. “You tried to kill us and locked us up, but we’re willing to trust you.”

Tolaris looked at Soma and then to Archer. Logic suggested that he wait for Setel to return with more men. But Soma was right about one thing, they were at a stalemate. The longer he hesitated, the more time they wasted.

“If you care about her, as you claim,” said Soma. “Then you’ll do whatever it takes to save her.”

Tolaris looked at the two men. Everything he knew told him not to trust them. But everything he felt told him he had no choice.

TBC…

Quills has his own site now, please go to his Captain Soma Adventures page for any continuation of Enemy of the State