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Shadows - Ch 8

Author - Triplover
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Shadows

By Triplover

Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don’t own this or the characters… Captain Soma is Quill’s character and I suppose I get to have the people I make up in this story but Star Trek… this is all yours!
Summary: When a time traveler from the future takes a trip into the past the future is forever changed and one man is determined to get back what was lost… no matter what the cost.

A/N: (and I have to give some credit where it’s due… none of this would have been written if it wasn’t for Quills since it was Quill’s idea in the first place and not to mention all the help there after!)
A/N: Okay first of all… this takes place AFTER the Xindi threat has already been taken care of. Got it? Okay… also this was an idea both Quills and I came up with. I didn’t steal anyone else’s work! This is the both of ours. Got that? Good! Just clearing that part up! Now on with ‘our’ story!!!!

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Chapter Eight

Garrett tried focusing on the mission at hand. The Enterprise-C had successfully completed the slingshot back in time, and was now desperately searching for the NX-01, they could only pray they found her before Velik. But Garrett had her doubts as to whether Archer and his crew were the ones who were truly in danger. If Captain Soma were really Velik, then god-help them for he had a devastating arsenal at his disposal. She had tried to push her doubts away, but found little piece. The Captain’s behavior had raised a red flag with her. And what about his sudden ‘attack’? He had insisted that it was nothing, but Garrett wasn’t convinced. Still, if Velik wanted to take Soma’s place, would he deliberately try to draw such obvious attention to himself? Logically, he would want to emulate the captain’s normal behavior? It didn’t make sense. But to expect sense from a madman wasn’t exactly sane, Garrett chided. Velik or not, something was wrong with the man commanding this ship.

Garrett made her way down “H” deck towards astrometrics. If they had any hope of finding the NX-01, it would have to be there. The crew was still under Starfleet’s temporal incursion directive. They couldn’t just contact this era’s Starfleet and ask for directions. They would have to move surreptitiously, monitoring Starfleet communications and triangulating Enterprise’s possible location from the historical records in their database. Both were time consuming, and could only increase Velik’s advantage.

“Number One.”

A sharp chill ran down Garrett’s spine as the all to familiar voice call out to her. Turning, she looked behind her to see Soma standing outside a turbo lift alcove.

“Sir?”

“How are you and Lieutenant Vendi coming along?” asked Soma, approaching her.

“It’s slow work, sir; it would be a lot easier if we could just contact Starfleet.”

Soma frowned. “We both know that isn’t an option. We can’t compound one temporal incursion with another.”

“I know, sir,” nodded Garrett. “But it’s like sifting through sand to find a particular grain.”

“Well, we do have one advantage,” replied Soma. “An X-Class ship can’t manage more than warp five, and not even that for prolonged periods. It limits the areas we have to search.”

Garrett smiled. Now that was her captain, always facing adversity with a positive outlook, always finding an advantage when the odds were stacked against you. But it made reconciling his recent behavior even more difficult. Garrett’s smile faded and she looked at Soma. Maybe she could try to question him again. He might be more receptive.

“Captain…are you…are you feeling any better?”

Soma gave her smile. “I’m fine number one… just focus on finding Captain Archer’s ship. Don’t worry about me.”

Garrett nodded, although she couldn’t shake the unease he left her with. Something was wrong, that much she was certain of. But she had nothing but a gut feeling and that wasn’t enough. She certainly couldn’t order Trell to perform a physical on him. Besides, he had just had one, and she gave him a clean bill of health.

“I’m going to have another talk with Sorren. If there’s anything else he’s hiding I’d like to know about it.”

Garrett looked at Soma for a moment. She didn’t see Sorren being anymore cooperative than he had already been. Still, it was worth a try. But given Soma’s prior response to his antagonism, it would be a good idea if someone else accompanied the captain.

“Maybe I should come along… last time I spoke with him, he was more forthcoming.”

For a moment, he looked at her with a blank expression. No, it wasn’t blank. Garrett was certain of it. He looked more like he was desperately trying to maintain his control. As if something was pressuring to break his resolve.

“Of course number one,” he said, finally, “please do.”

Soma turned away, heading down the corridor. Noticing that she wasn’t following him, he turned and called out.

“Are you expecting to question him from there, commander?”

Straightening, Garrett gave the captain a curt nod, “Sorry, sir,” she answered, walking towards Soma. “I was…just thinking.”

Garrett followed Soma into the turbo lift. Once the doors closed, the lift accelerated through the turbo shaft, carrying them to the security deck, three floors down. When the doors opened, they stepped out and were greeted by the officer on watch. The security deck always had a standing officer on duty, even when there wasn’t a prisoner in the brig. The woman came to attention, as Soma and Garrett approached. Soma gave the short blonde a congenial smile.

“Ensign, has our guest been behaving himself?” asked Soma wryly.

“Not a word out of him, sir,” replied the ensign.

Soma shook his head. “Well…let’s see if we can do something to change that. Shut down the force field to the security corridor.”

The ensign looked down at her console. Pressing several numeric keys, she entered the access code to shut down the outer force field. After a moment, a flash of energy rippled across the archway and the low hum of the energy curtain faded to silence.

“All clear, sir,” said the ensign. “Do you want me to accompany you, captain?”

“No,” said Soma, “just put the force field back up once we’re through.”

“Aye, sir.”

Soma turned to Garrett. “Ready Number One?”

“After you, sir.”

Garrett watched as the captain stepped through the archway. She would have to watch him carefully. He had already given her the impression that he had not wanted her to accompany him. Whatever the reason, it was clear that he had his own agenda with Sorren.

Soma walked down the corridor, stopping in front of the second security cell. Although he couldn’t see it, he knew the same type of energy field was in place as the one the ensign had shut down. Looking into the cell, he could see Sorren sitting comfortably on his bunk. He was casually leaning against the wall, his leg propped up on the smooth unused covers.

“Archer’s Enterprise?” Soma asked, addressing him sternly.

The Sulibon smiled. “Finally figured it out, have we.” Sorren looked past Soma, to Garrett. “Or perhaps, you had help,” he said staring at Garrett. “I have to commend you on your intelligence.”

“I asked you a question,” said Soma.

Sorren gave him an ineffectual look. “I’m not talking to you.”

“No, I’m talking to you,” said Soma angrily. “Where are they?” Soma took a step closer to the force field. “You know and I’ll have it out of you.”

“Temper, temper Captain… you know, you really should do something about that. Anger is a very unpleasant disposition.”

Soma scowled. “So is pain,” he said in a low voice.

“Are you threatening me, captain?”

Soma arched a brow. Looking at the cell’s control panel, he reached out and keyed in his personal override command. Instantly the energy field responded, shimmering, then fading. Looking back at Sorren, he gave him a hard stare. “Do you think I’m threatening you? ”

Rachel took a step forward, moving her hand to Soma’s shoulder. “Sir?”

“Stand down number one, that’s an order.” he said, keeping his attention focused on Sorren.

Soma walked into the cell, approaching Sorren. The Suliban eyed him warily, uncertain what to expect from the Vulcan. Soma stopped when he was only inches away from Sorren, looking down, Soma locking eyes with him. Suddenly and violently, he grabbed Sorron by his tunic, pulling him up. Gripping him by the throat, he began to close his fingers around the Suliban’s neck, constricting the flow of blood and oxygen to his head.

“Captain!” shouted Garrett, moving into the cell. She could she Sorren’s eyes bulging out as he desperately gasped for air.

“As you were commander!” shouted Soma, not letting his grip slacken. The Suliban, began flailing, attempting to hit Soma, but the Vulcan’s grip was like iron.

Garrett stopped for a moment. Instinctively, she responded to her captain’s order. But almost as quickly, her duty as XO took over.

“Captain, let him go…now,” said Garrett, grabbing Soma.

Swinging one arm out, he sent Garrett sailing out of the cell and into the corridor. Not losing her footing, she righted herself quickly.

Soma turned, looking at Garrett. “You’re out of line.”

“So are you, sir,” said Garrett, drawing a palm phaser from her tunic.

Soma looked at her in surprise. Bringing phasers into the security area was prohibited. She had been carrying it, concealed on her person. Stepping forward, Garrett gave him a hard stare. It took all her reserve to stand up to him.

“Don’t force me to use this,” she said, pointing the phaser at her captain.

Looking down at the phaser, Soma took a deep breath. Slowly, he released his grip on Sorren, letting the man fall back down to the bunk. Sorren rubbed his neck as he tried to regain his breath. Lowering the phaser, Garrett looked at her captain. He had just crossed the line, now she had a legitimate reason to order him to sickbay.

“Captain, let’s go see Doc Trell.”

“Commander-“

Garrett put her hand on his should. “Sir, don’t make me call security...please.”

Soma stared at Garrett. He could see how hard this was for her, but he could also see the hard look of determination. She would do it. “Very well.”

Giving Sorren one more look, he flashed the Suliban a menacing look. Still rubbing his throat, Sorren didn’t make any attempt at a witty parting comment. He realized just how easily Soma could have killed him. Watching Soma turn away, he could hear the captain’s footfalls recede as he made his way down the corridor.

When the outer force field shut down and then reinitialize, Garrett breathed a sigh of relief. She and Soma had disagreed on decisions before, but never like this. She had never had to override his judgment, let alone insinuate that he was medically unfit. Garrett had to remind herself, that although he looked like a Vulcan, he could be very human. She hoped it was just fatigue or stress. He was under a lot of pressure. His parent’s lives were in danger as well the rest of crew of the NX-01. People he came to see as family. Garrett wondered if she wouldn’t have behaved with the same measure of desperation.

“I take it our conversation is finished,” said Sorren, sitting back against the wall. The fear that Soma had instilled in him still gripped him, but tried to hide it behind his smug mask of indifference.

“For now, Sorren,” she said icily. “But this isn’t over. I’ll be back with questions, and you better have the right answers.”
“This from the woman who saved me?” he smiled.

“I saved him,” she said, “Not you. Just remember Sorren…you’re only useful for a limited time. After that, you’re expendable. And with untold lives at stake, don’t think I won’t employ an old friend’s tactics and stick your ass in the nearest airlock!”

Sorren’s smug look faded. Playing his part, up until a few moments ago, had been simple. It had all been rehearsed. Velik had instructed him on exactly what to say and do. It had worked perfectly, until he received a sudden and violent reaction from Soma. This was not expected and left Sorren shaken and uncertain. Now he had to deal with Garrett, whom he knew far less about than he had intimated. If she discovered his true purpose aboard this ship, he would have to act, and pray he would not feel Velik’s hand around his throat.


TBC…


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Four of you have made comments

Good but... *wails* Looooonger! You're making me wait again? How can you sleep at night knowing what you're putting us all through!?

*hopes she made her point*

;-) Nice chapter, but I wish we'd have gotten some Archer and co.

oooh more more!

That was an Awesome story I just love T and T storys
But you coud have developed a stronger relalstionship between Soma and Trip.

Hey now... You can't leave this one hangin'!!!