Living Among the Thorns- Ch 10

Living Among the Thorns

By Triplover

Summary: See Chapter One.

Disclaimer: See Chapter One.

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Chapter Ten

Archer and Malcolm once again scrabbled down, this time to the turbolift towards the armory. There was no time, they had to act quickly! The ship shook like crazy, finally the turbolift stopped and Archer and Malcolm ran out together until they reached the armory.
"Captain, just what is your idea?"

Archer looked back at him. "Could you create life signs in shuttlepod two?"

Malcolm cocked his head. "Sir?"

"Just answer the question Malcolm!"

"I suppose... I could make it seem like a person was in there." Archer nodded then looked at the photon torpedos.

"Get your men to bring as many torpedoes to the launch bay as they can fit into the shuttle. If we can't shoot them out this way, we'll just have to find another way."

Malcolm cocked his head. "Another way? What are you getting at?"

Archer rolled his eyes. "Just do it Malcolm! There's no time to explain. I want those torpedoes in the launch bay on the double!" He shouted as he left the armory for the launch bay.

This idea just might work!

***********

Malcolm Reed shifted uncomfortably as his men watched him in confusion. "You heard the captain! On the double, let's get those torpedoes ready!" The men scrambled to do as they were told, two carrying each torpedo. Malcolm grabbed a few items needed into order to create the false reading the captain wanted and some charges... anything that might be useful. Then they all walked out of the armory careful not to disrupt the torpedos even while the ship was shaking violently.

Whatever it was that the captain was planning... Malcolm hoped it would work. They couldn't take too many blows. The ship was being rattled to death by the Xindi. They had to be stopped. One way or another... they had to be stopped! The stakes were far too high to let the Xindi destroy them. Earth was counting on Enterprise... and he knew captain Archer wasn't about to let them all down.

***********

Trip Tucker groaned in pain. His head was killing him. There were burns all over his arms and legs and face... not to mention he'd been shot. He felt pretty much like crap. Everything on his body hurt. Trip opened his eyes, and then sat up. T'Pol lay next to him, unconscious. "T'Pol! T'Pol!" He tried shaking her, but there was no use... she was out. She'd broken a few ribs it seemed. Her arm was out of its socket and he guessed she had a concussion; he hoped nothing too bad. But the burns on her face and neck looked pretty bad... He'd have to get her to a doctor soon. The ship shook; Trip's eyes went wide.

Could that be Enterprise? With a sgroan he got to his feet, holding T'Pol in his arms. But just before he could take another step he saw Torlic standing before him with a knife. Trip stood straight.

"I don't want to fight with you Torlic... It's over. T'Pol needs help."

"That must be her real name. So are you two really married or was that just another lie too?"

"We work together, we’re… friends." Trip said, although he had no idea why he was even talking to the man. T'Pol could have internal bleeding; he had to get her to a doctor.

"Put your ‘wife’ down Charles." Torlic ordered, making sure to use the word ‘wife.’

"You’re not my captain."

Torlic straightened. "That much is obvious."

Trip knew it was stupid, but he put her down, if only to protect her in case Torlic decided to attack. "Why? Why kill us off? You seemed like such a nice person, Torlic... how could you do something like this?!"

"To save my people... and my son. The Humans wish to destroy us... I have to protect what's mine... I have to protect my people." Trip felt like rolling his eyes, he’d said this before! But he was wrong… how could Trip make him see that Humans were not a threat to them? How could he show this man that whatever distrust he had for Humans was wrong…? Humans only wanted to live in peace with the universe… why couldn’t everyone see that? Why was it that Humans were constantly under attack by something bent on destroying a race that only wanted to live in peace and learn from others? It just didn’t make any sense.

"Humans don't want ta hurt the Xindi! We only came here when YOU attacked us. Like I said, before then we didn't even know ya existed! I considered you a friend! I didn't even want ta believe that you could know what you held in your cargo bay."

"I considered you a friend as well Charles. But you lied to me, and what's more... you’re from a starship on a mission to destroy us." Torlic pointed out.

"That's not true! We came here to find the weapon and stop it; we don't want to destroy a race. We don't want to destroy you... We just want to save our planet... our world… from destruction."

"You will not allow us to destroy you... and we will not allow you to destroy us." Torlic clarified.

"I don't want to destroy you, Torlic. When I first came here... I felt sick just bein' in the same room with you... but now... look, Torlic... I understand where you’re comin' from. Ya don't want us to destroy your kind. I know. I understand... we don't want you guys destroyin' us either. We have to find a way to coexist... we have to stop this. Before more innocent lives are lost."

But Torlic shook his head. "I must complete my mission!"

Trip felt a shiver run down his spine. He sounded just like Captain Archer. Two missions... both of them to save their people. The Xindi and the Humans were more alike than they thought.

"And I hafta complete mine."

"I understand Charles. So be it." And with that Torlic ran towards him with the knife.

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

"Let me get this straight... You want to put these torpedoes into Shuttlepod Two... then have it moved between the cargo vessel and the other ship where it will detonate and disarm both vessels?" Malcolm looked at his captain in shock. It was pure genius! Malcolm felt rather jealous in fact... the idea was certainly interesting. But Malcolm felt a sudden pain over the fact that the shuttle would be destroyed.

"That's right. I think with the combined help of the impulse engines... it might make a nice big explosion... Think you could handle that?" Both men grabbed hold of something as the ship shook.

"I believe I could. It should make some interesting hieroglyphics." Malcolm added, getting back to work.

"I'll be on the bridge if you need me." Archer smiled thinly, but appreciatively as he left the launch bay.

Malcolm smiled to himself then turned to his crew. After removing anything of value from the shuttle they began getting it ready to make it a bomb. This idea might actually work! I couldn't have come up with a better idea if I tried! And with that they began moving the torpedoes into the shuttle. As Malcolm silently wished that the he, the armory officer had come up with the idea; it would probably get a little part in the history books for future references.

***********

Trip rolled over fast as the knife flew down, barely missing him. He got up quickly, and before Torlic could strike again, twisted him away and onto his back. It was just a little something that T'Pol had once shown him, and it seemed to work pretty well. But Torlic wasn't giving up. Trip jumped as the knife moved back and forth near the floor, almost cutting his legs. With a roll Trip moved in front of him and punched him in the face. The punch seemed to hurt Trip more than Torlic though as a yelp escaped his lips.

"You’re hurt." Torlic pointed out as the two stood up.

"What? Worried for my safety just before ya kill me?"

"No, just an observation." Torlic answered back and ran towards him. Trip jumped out of the way and grabbed Torlic from behind, sending him straight into the wall. He went to hit him but instead ended up blocking an assault as he held Torlic's hand back, stopping the knife from cutting into his face. That was close Trip! Too close! This man's serious! They both battled hard. Strength against strength. And Trip feared he was about to lose. A second later and his was back against the wall. Torlic in front of him. Eyes sharp, face red from their struggle. Trip gasped as he felt the knife on his chest. Torlic was too strong.

*********

Koelin sat in the escape pod, watching the battle from the viewer. His ship and another Xindi ship were attacking a vessel... an Earth vessel. Koelin gulped in air as he watched the three ships fighting. Enterprise--he could see was the name--was no longer shooting; its weapons must have been down. It was surely going to be destroyed!

Part of Koelin knew why this was so. His father had told him about the Humans, and how they were going to destroy the Xindi, but secretly, Koelin wondered if that was so. The fact that a person would actually want to destroy an entire race seemed sickening... it couldn't be true. But when he watched them fight... somehow he knew something was going on. The only question was... who was trying to destroy whom?

*********

Trip closed his eyes; he thought only of his sister and T'Pol in that moment. Two important people. One was dead... and the other was in danger of dying. He couldn't let Torlic kill him. T'Pol needed him. And he couldn't let her die. He had to stop Torlic, and save T'Pol. Trip felt the knife pressing against his chest through his clothes. With the rest of his strength he threw Torlic off of him.

A second later Torlic was running right back to attack. Trip had to think fast, but found it difficult in the time he had left. A second later and the two were right back in front of each other. The knife now in his stomach... Torlic's stomach. Trip's eyes went wide as he looked down. He'd turned the knife around and into his hand just before it could get Trip... instead getting Torlic. Torlic fell to the floor. His eyes fluttered as he looked at the blood gushing out of his stomach, a stomach Trip had punctured with Torlic’s own knife. Torlic closed his eyes a second then looked at Trip. "My son ,Charles... Take care of my son. He cares about you. You must watch over him."

Trip felt his eyes go wide. "Why? Why me?"

Torlic smiled kindly at him. "I'm sorry Charles... I'm sorry I had to do this. I had to fight you. But my son has done nothing wrong. Please, protect my son. He's all I have... promise me you'll protect him!"

Trip couldn't believe what he was hearing. One minute the man was attacking him and trying to kill him, the next he was asking him to watch over his son. “You just tried ta kill me! And now ya want me to look after your only son?!” Torlic seemed annoyed that he’d not given him an answer. “I’m sorry Torlic, but I don’t understand… why me?”

“If I die… if this ship dies you must make sure he is safe. I sent him along with the other children to an escape pod, please, watch him. You say you do not want to destroy us, if that is true then you will watch over my son.” Trip wanted to say more but the man seemed insistent. “Please, Charles, promise me you’ll protect him!”

"I promise Torlic... I'll protect him." Torlic nodded, turning pale all of the sudden. Trip could only watch, the knife still in his hand, as the man's head lolled over, and his eyes closed.

**********

Koelin looked out his window at the Xindi ships attack the Earth vessel, he was getting a little too close he knew, but he couldn't stop watching them. The Earth vessel would be destroyed! Koelin watched in horror. He couldn't believe his people were about the kill all those Humans aboard. What crime could they have committed?

A second later his pod shook violently. Koelin looked at his console. "Computer! What was that?!" The console then showed the Xindi ship, it was firing at him now?! Koelin's eyes went wide as soon the console exploded and Koelin was thrown into darkness.

***********

"Now!" Archer yelled over the comm to Malcolm. A second later the launch bay doors opened and the shuttlepod left, Malcolm controlled it through a joint stick with a screen so he could see the ships, and began taking it towards the two Xindi ships. As Archer had planed, they took the bait and drew closer to it. But before they could fire Malcolm turned on impulse and flew the shuttlepod towards them, and at the last second, detonated what he’d rigged to explode.

***********

On the bridge Archer watched in shock as the other Xindi ship began to blow. He hadn't expected the yield to be so high. He was still used to their old torpedoes. The cargo ship was damaged, the bridge was totally gone and weapons were gone as well. They were defenseless. Completely defenseless. Archer stood looking at the ship before him holding Trip Tucker and T'Pol. It was finally over.

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

It was over... everything was over. Trip stood in shock over the man he'd killed. Torlic lay slumped on the floor, blood now all over the place. The bloody knife still clutched in his unsteady hand, shaking by the sight of what he'd done. He'd killed him. Torlic was dead. Trip closed his eyes in that moment, fighting back tears. Torlic had only wanted to save his race from destruction, just as Trip wanted to save Earth. They were more similar than he'd wanted to believe—fighting to save lives. And now Torlic was dead. And Trip had killed him. Was it so horrible that the Xindi were trying to destroy Earth? Trip would do anything to save his planet, his world... so what was so awful about the Xindi saving theirs?

Finally Trip dropped the knife and fell to his knees. His eyes looking over what he'd done. He was no better than the Xindi. They had a right to want to save themselves. Just as Humans had that same right. The only question left was if the Humans won the battle for life... would that mean death for the Xindi?

The question loomed in his brain. The thought was unsettling. But yet, here he was alive... and Torlic was dead. One had lived, while the other one died. Perhaps Enterprise would not be able to destroy just the weapon; the Xindi might risk everything to save themselves, and force Enterprise—the Humans—to destroy them as he had done with Torlic. Trip blinked in horror as he realized that he'd just killed a man who had been his friend. But perhaps they never were really friends. That thought, though, seemed scarier. Torlic may have killed innocent people, but he'd done it to save his people. And if Trip had been in his shoes... he would probably have done the same.

The man before him wasn't a bad person, or if he was... then so was Trip. Trip let his head fall and his eyes closed in silence. What have you done Trip? What have you done? Finally Trip felt the soft touch of T’Pol as her hand fell to his shoulders. His eyes opened, and he looked up at her. She looked surprised, almost horrified, then the look was gone. She'd regained her control.

"I... killed him." He whispered, looking back at Torlic. "He killed my sister... and then I killed him. I'm no better than he is." T'Pol said nothing. Finally Trip looked at his hands, sprayed with Torlic's blood. The blood of a man who Trip had considered a friend. He was a murderer....

"He was trying to kill you." T'Pol finally pointed out. Trip looked up at her.

"But instead I killed him." Trip whispered then got to his feet. "He had a wife... he was a father." Trip murmured. "And now he's dead."

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

Guard Enrow Alicko crawled on the floor, pain shooting through his body. Finally he grabbed what he was looking for. Then took it to his mouth. "Redeemer, echo three, self destruct." He whispered just before the breath left him and his eyes closed. The ship would be destroyed, though, and the Humans would never get their hands on the information they wanted.

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

"Self Destruct in one minute." Trip's eyes went wide.

"Self destruct?!" He exclaimed in confusion.

"It seems that someone has activated the self destruct to destroy the ship and stop us from getting any information. We must go." T’Pol confirmed, her hands once again grabbing his as they ran out the door as fast as they could to get to the shuttlecraft in the launch bay.

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

"What do you mean the ship's going to blow up?!" Archer asked, shouted.

"I can't explain it sir, the ship apparently has some type of self destruct device to prevent information from getting into the wrong hands. In other words... our hands." Malcolm told him harshly. Archer didn’t like his tone, but he understood the man’s anger and let it go.

"You have got to be kidding me! Can you shut it off?" Malcolm looked up at him and shook his head. Suddenly Archer's eyes went wide.

"What about Trip and T'Pol? Where are they?"

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

Trip Tucker and T'Pol ran down the corridors as debris fell everywhere around them, fires erupting. Trip shielded his eyes and face from the heat. T'Pol did the same, as they ran as fast as they could manage through the blaze until finally they found a wall of fire before them. How would they get through that?!

"Is there another way?" Trip asked T'Pol.

"There's no other way." she told him. Trip exhaled in exasperation just before the ceiling caved in before them. The two jumped back in shock, he held her tightly. She held him back, as they watched their way out being destroyed. There was no other way. They were dead. Trip knew it. They couldn’t do anything else, they were trapped. They would both die. He looked into her eyes; their eyes locked.

"T'Pol... I... I’m so sorry. I didn’t want it to end like this. I’m so sorry." He said, shouting over exploding walls and ceilings. He had to say it, just one last time. He wanted the words to be the last thing he said before he died. He wanted the last thing he said to be something worth saying. Something for her. Telling her just what he’d tried to hide before. “I love you T’Pol.” T'Pol looked back at him with soft eyes until their lips slammed into each other, their kiss deepened, their tongues together. He held her closer and closer to him as their surroundings began to explode with fire. They broke away and watched as it all burned around them. This was it... but at least he was with her. At least they would be together.

***********

Malcolm stood in front of the platform. His eyes made contact with the transport-materializing chamber. He stood at the control station, ready to bring the two people back before they were lost forever. The chamber whined as the column of light appeared inside the chamber. Two humanoid shapes appeared, forming between the lights. Malcolm allowed himself a smile as he looked at the two figures, holding each other tightly... a little too friendly to be just friends....

"You two need a little privacy?" He teased. Trip immediately let his hands fall to his sides, T'Pol did the same and Trip took a step away from her. Malcolm immediately noticed T’Pol’s very provocative outfit and wondered just what they’d been doing on that Xindi vessel.

"Uh... that won't be necessary Malcolm." Trip said in a professional voice that made Malcolm hide a smirk. Trip stepped off the transporter pad, T'Pol right behind him. Malcolm allowed himself to chuckle.

"Oh really, looked necessary to me by that pose you two held there. Getting a little close are we?"

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

Archer watched the ship in front of him explode, and held his chair as the ship shook slightly. It was gone, the ship was gone. There was nothing left. Well, at least the cargo was destroyed. That's all that mattered. Archer smiled grimly, then sat in his chair just in time for the turbolift door to open as Trip, T'Pol, and Malcolm walked on the bridge. Archer stood looking at the two officers he hadn't seen in days.

"Welcome back."

"Hey, Cap'n." Trip didn't smile. He looked awful, in fact. Archer's fears for his friend were realized as he looked to a mentally torn down man. He'd have to talk to him later. T'Pol, too, looked mentally tired. He then noticed her outfit and raised an eyebrow at what little she’d left to the imagination. Interesting. Does that answer your question Archer? Something must be going on if she’s wearing something like that! Why in the world did you send those two together? Archer cleared his throat along with his thoughts when he also noticed blood on Trip, but he could see it wasn't his blood. Both had burns all over them, and Trip seemed to be limping.

"You guys look like hell. Maybe you should go to sickbay." He offered. Trip nodded and looked down at his now bleeding leg.

"Why thanks, Cap’n… that just makes me feel all warm inside. But I think that might be a good idea anways." Archer smiled yet again when he heard a beeping coming from Malcolm's console.

"Sir, there's another ship out there... a pod. It's from the cargo ship. He must have ejected while we were fighting the other Xindi ship."

Archer stood straight. Trip walked closer to Archer, his eyes excited. "Of course! Torlic told his son to get all the children from the Redeemer and put them all in escape pods!" Trip explained. Archer looked at Malcolm.

"Do you see any other pods?" Archer asked him.

Malcolm shook his head. "Just the one. I'm afraid."

Trip walked over to Malcolm. "No! There are at least sixteen kids that were on that ship! There's got to be more!"

"I'm sorry Trip, but I'm scanning, there's only the one... the rest is debris...." Malcolm's voice trailed off when he saw the horror on Trip's face.

"No... I was... I was supposed to watch Koelin. I promised. I told him I'd watch his son."

"Who?" Archer found himself asking. Trip looked at him.

"Torlic... I promised I'd take care of his son. Oh please let it be him!" Trip cried as he looked at the screen. Archer snapped his head around to look at Malcolm.

"Bring it in."

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

Trip raced down the corridors towards sickbay, no longer thinking of how painful it was with his hurt leg. T'Pol ran next to him, her left arm dangling at her side. It took them only a few seconds to get to sickbay where he saw Phlox over Koelin who lay on the bio bed. Trip smiled, relieved. But the smile soon faded with the grim expression on Phlox's face. "How is he?" He finally got the nerve to ask. Phlox sighed. Then walked over to him.

"Not good I'm afraid. He's dying. If I had gotten to him earlier... he has internal bleeding, important organs were punctured... there was nothing I could do." He whispered. Trip took a step back, unable to accept what he was hearing.

"Trip?" Trip's head snapped over to see Koelin who was now looking at him. Trip walked over to his side.

"I'm here buddy. I'm right here." He whispered to the boy.

"I'm gonna die, aren't I?" He whispered. Trip wanted to say no... but he knew Koelin... He wouldn't want to be lied to about something like that.

"I'm so sorry Koelin... I... The doc tried everything he could... There was nothing he could do." He whispered back. Koelin closed his eyes for a second, and then looked back up at him.

"Where's my dad?"

Trip felt his stomach twist at the question. "He uh... he's gone Koelin. They're all gone." He told him. He still looked like a Xindi; Koelin had no idea who he really was. Or what he'd done. Koelin grabbed his hand, holding it tightly.

"Do me a favor Trip." Trip nodded. "Make the fastest warp engine ever invented for me... since I can't do it."

Trip felt his heart sink into his stomach. Koelin... he was going to die... just as Torlic did. He'd promised Torlic... but now his promise was breaking right in front of him. "I'll try."

Koelin shook his head. "You’re the best engineer I've ever known. If anyone could do what I was going to do it'd be you. Uncle Tobin." He whispered with a sheepish smile then his eyes fluttered.

Trip moved his hand to Koelin's shoulder. "Your father... he loved you more than anything." He whispered. Koelin smiled, then winced in pain.

"What happened to him?" He asked. Trip closed his eyes for a second, how could he tell this boy what he'd done? He looked back at the boy.

"He died saving you. He died a hero." He lied, but then again, everyone was a hero in his or her own book. Trip knew Torlic was wrong to kill so many people... but he did it for honorable reasons, and that made him a hero... not to Trip... but his son should think of him like that. It was the only thing left to do... he was going to die... and Trip would make sure the boy died proud of who he was and where he came from. He had nothing to feel bad about... he had a good father. A father who did everything he could for him... some people never had that... Koelin was lucky.

Koelin looked at Trip. "You know… no one’s ever been as nice to me.” . Trip resisted the urge to wince at the comment… if only he knew what Trip had done. “I wish I could be just like you." And just like that his eyes fluttered again. Trip felt panic over take him as he realized this time that the boy wasn’t opening his eyes. His head was slowly going down.

"No! Koelin, stay with me! Koelin!" He shouted, but it was too late. The boy’s eyes closed and once again he watched someone die in front of him. Trip felt his legs break from under him. The only thing that kept him standing was the limp hand he held tightly. Koelin.... His last words played over and over again in his mind. I wish I could be just like you… I wish I could be just like you…I wish I could be just like… you. Trip shook his head. “No you don’t Koelin… believe me… no you don’t.” Slowly Trip stood straight, walking away from the boy, his eyes looking down, trying hard not to let tears run down from his eyes. Another death... it was all his fault. Finally Trip couldn't walk, or stand, anymore... He fell to the floor.

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Eight hardy souls have made comments

Very nice! I really like the way you keep the action going on all fronts by jumping back and forth. I couldn't stop reading! Thanks very much for this!

Oh, that was heartbreaking, now I´ve got tears in my eyes. Wonderful chapter!

Oh My God! i absolutely love this!!!

more, more, more!!!

keep up the good work!!!

Wow. It keeps getting better.

Oh lordy... that was heavy duty. Please continue! Trip needs a shoulder to cry on... may I suggest T'Pol's? ;-)

Keep up the great work!

Wow, that was very good. Please continue.

Wow! You write really fast, yet the quality just keeps going up! Excellent. Please do continue!

I have enjoyed this story immensly. I would love to read more. However, I do question a line of the story: "It should make some interesting hieroglyphics." Malcolm added, getting back to work. I believe you ment Pyrotechnics.

I know that sounds horrible but I could't find a way to send it privately. I have truly enjoyed this story and wish to read even more. I especially enjoyed the one on one time between Trip and T'Pol. I'm a definately "shipper" and do so enjoy their interaction. Please keep up the good work.