Telekinetic Terror - Conclusion

Telekinetic Terror

By Hoshi’s Sis

Disclaimer in Chapter one.
Thank you for all my reviewers. This is my first ever piece of writing, so all comments are very much appreciated.

A/N Slight spoilers for Unexpected

CONCLUSION

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Chapter Five

Trip was feeling tired and exhausted with a big headache coming on. This was probably expected he thought, since he had been looking at the floor far below him for the past twenty minutes expecting to fall again. That alone would stress anyone out, raising there blood pressure. He had hoped to keep himself occupied by talking with the Vortal, but it had been silent for the last ten minutes. To keep the panic inside him from rising, he asked himself

//what would Jon do if he were in this situation?

Right then, that’s the plan, let's see if I can get its attention again.//

“Hey where are you. I want to talk to you again!” said Trip.

There was no reply.

“Well if you won’t talk, the least you could do is show yourself,” said Trip trying not to sound desperate.

“Why!”

“Hey I’m just trying to make small talk here!” replied Trip sarcastically. Then in a more cooperative tone he asked, “You said you couldn’t live on your planet anymore, maybe our doctor could help you.”

“You are the same as the others!” screeched the Vortal, before letting off a huge ear piercing scream, “aaaaaaaarrrrggggghhhhhhh”.

//Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned the word doctor// thought Trip as the sound pierced through his head, making his headache ten times worse. //Great going Trip, some negotiator you are.//

“Please stop!” said Trip, wanting to cover his ears to block out that horrible sound. This was impossible though, since he was unable to move. “Look I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to anger you. I just want to help you understand that we aren’t like the others.” The sound was so loud Trip thought he would pass out. “Please stop!” he cried in pain.

The sound stopped, much to Trip’s relief.

“Show me!”

“Excuse me!” said Trip sounding confused. He shook his head trying to clear the fog, which the screech had descended into his mind.

“Show me!” replied the alien, “let me see your thoughts.”

Trip wasn’t keen on this idea, the memory was all to clear and painful from what happened the last time he let someone read his mind. //If I get pregnant again, Jon is going to kill me!// thought Trip.

Despite his reluctance, he agreed. He wanted to show the Vortal that he could cooperate, hoping he could gain his trust and henceforth his own freedom.

“Okay!” said Trip sounding slightly nervous. “What do you want me to do?”

“Clear your mind!”

Trip closed his eyes and breathed deeply, hoping it would relax him and enable to clear his thoughts. At first he felt nothing, then he slowly felt a small ache in his temples like a small drill was working it way through his skull. Trip tried to relax, but the ache was getting more and more painful. He felt his heartbeat get quicker and quicker as the panic started to well up. “Stop!” he cried out, “It hurts.” It got stronger and stronger, he could stand it no longer, he screamed throwing his head back in pain. The build up increased until Trip blacked out into unconsciousness.

***He opened his eyes and sat up. He was in the movie theatre on board Enterprise all alone, holding a bowl of popcorn – it was very tranquil and silent. Suddenly the film started up on the screen in front of him, he couldn’t tear his eyes away. It was him on screen, his life, all his memories – from the time that he was a small boy playing with his brother and sister, his graduation from high school, his first love, his entry into Starfleet, his appointment to Enterprise and all their missions of their exploration so far.***

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“Hoshi open hailing frequencies,” yelled Captain Archer, “Travis steer us away from the station and take up a defensive position. Malcolm, polarise the hull plating and arm the cannons. I’m not taking any chances this time.”

The last encounter had been close, inflicting quite extensive damage to Enterprise, although saying this, Enterprise had inflicted its fair share back. The two ships were evenly matched in firepower and tactics, with the alien ship just slightly taking the edge. This was probably the reason why a battle hadn’t ensued this time around, as both ships were facing each other squaring off and sizing each other up.

“Captain!” said Hoshi, “they’re hailing us.”

“Put them up on screen Ensign,” replied Captain Archer.

“%$%££***!,” said the alien captain, “*&>£%$@£&*^.”

“Hoshi!!”

“I’m doing my best sir, but the UT is having a hard time locking on,” replied Hoshi. “Try to keep them talking.”

“Hello! I’m Captain Archer from the earth ship Enterprise. How can we help?”

“$%^&*£$%^&*!” said the alien captain, “$%^&*%$.”

Captain Archer threw Hoshi a determined glance, which silently ordered her to hurry things up.

“Nearly there, Sir. Try speaking to them again,” said Hoshi.

“I’m Captain Archer from the earth ship Enterprise. How can we help?” he repeated.

“I am Captain Varn from the Ringtock Empire,” replied the alien captain. “You have trespassed into our territory. Retreat immediately before we open fire.”

“I apologise!” explained Captain Archer. “If you had mentioned this previously we….”

“We have no wish to engage in conversations or relationships. We are here to defend what is ours. Retreat immediately or we will open fire,” interrupted Captain Varn in a brusque and aggressive manner.

“With all due respects, that didn’t happen last time and I very much doubt you will manage it this time,” replied Captain Archer in a defensive manner.

The two captains stared at each other, sizing up each other up before debating their next move.

“We have a man trapped on the space station,” said Captain Archer trying to calm the situation down. “All we want is time to rescue him.”

“You had no right to trespass on what is ours in the first place,” said Captain Varn.

“We did not no this planet or station belonged to you, I again offer my apologies,” replied Captain Archer. “As I previously stated, all we want is to retrieve my officer. After this we will leave.”

“I doubt you will have much luck. There is a dangerous alien on board that station, which has killed many of my species. We have decided to put an end to this menace.”

“This is what has my officer trapped. We have a plan to recover him, all I ask is time to put it in action,” replied Captain Archer.

There was silence again as the two captains again stared at each other contemplating their next move.

“You have fifteen minutes, Captain Archer. We will then put an end to this menace, whether you have retrieved your crewman or not.” With this Captain Varn disappeared from the screen.

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Chapter Six

Trip felt himself coming round, he didn’t know how long he had been unconscious but his head hurt like hell, his vision was foggy and blurred, he felt as weak as a kitten with pain coursing around his insides. He wasn’t sure if this was from the Vortal or from being pinned against the ceiling for so long. Whichever the cause he was more scared than he had ever been in his life, and that was saying something considering the scrapes he had gotten himself into. Trip wanted to talk to the Vortal again but his throat was as dry as a bone and he felt like he didn’t have any energy left. His innermost thoughts kept telling him not to give up, to keep on trying, but his strong resolve was crumbling away just like his strength. A tear welled up in his eye expressing sorrow for himself, for his family that he would never see again and for his friends back on Enterprise. Five minutes after this he fell unconscious.

The Vortal watched him from his hiding place, he was torn by this strange being – a feeling none of his captives had ever brought out in him before. From viewing this one's thoughts, his feelings were that they were a compassionate and caring species capable of moments of kindness to other strangers. He needed this one so he could go on surviving, if you could call this surviving – all alone, angry and bitter. If he went ahead and drained this one, wouldn’t that make him no better than the Ringtock – this troubled him greatly, more than it had ever done before. For the first time he began to doubt and question his motives of what and why he was doing this.

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Travis was nearly finished prepping the shuttlepod when the comm. buzzed.

“Archer to Travis!” beeped the comm.

“Yes sir!” replied Travis.

“How much longer do you need to prep the shuttle?” asked Captain Archer?

“About another ten minutes,” replied Travis. “I’m almost ready.”

“Skip all but the necessary diagnostics, we need to launch now,” said Captain Archer. “Phlox has been monitoring Commander Tucker’s biosigns and they are getting weak and erratic. If we are going to have any chance in bringing him back alive, we need to do it now.”

“Right sir!” replied Travis with more urgency in his voice. “I will be ready to go in about three minutes.”

“T’Pol and Hoshi are on there way down. Archer out!”

Travis ran back to the shuttle and finished his prep launch at top-notch speed. The thought of being too late to save Commander Tucker was not one he wanted to contemplate, since he was a good friend and a superior he looked up to and admired very much. He was more than a superior officer to the juniors like him; he was a moral booster, a friend to talk to and a mentor that everyone wanted to be like.

T’Pol and Hoshi entered into he shuttlepod, just as he was running his last check

“Ensign, are you ready,” asked T’Pol.

“Yes Ma’am!” replied Travis.

T’Pol buzzed the comm. “T’Pol to Captain Archer, we are launching now.”

“Good luck T’Pol and be careful,” replied Captain Archer, hoping that she would be successful and that he would see his friend again soon. The thought that he might lose his friend had been creeping into his mind, especially after the encounter with the Ringtock ship. This caused him great discomfort, since he knew he could not nor wanted to go on with the mission without his surrogate baby brother by his side. They just had to be successful, they had to be.

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Malcolm was already in the transporter room, adjusting the controls and trying to lock on to Trip’s bio sign with a determined look on his face. He hated this bloody machine, just like he knew the Commander did too, although Trip hadn’t directly admitted it. He set this aside though, he had to be focused for Trip’s sake and his timing had to be just right. Unfortunately this was not going to be a worry, since he was having problems locking onto anything at the moment. “Damn!” he shouted, slamming his fists onto the consoles in disgust. It was all up to T’Pol now, if she couldn’t disrupt the alien’s hold, he wouldn’t be able to put his part of the plan in action and Trip would be doomed.

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Travis halted the shuttlepod just outside the stations orbital perimeter. Turning round to the other occupants, he noticed that T’Pol had already positioned herself on floor in a lotus position. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was becoming slower as she slipped into a deep meditating state. Hoshi was beside her on the floor with a scanner positioned next to T’Pol taking readings and a hyper spray in the other. (In case T’Pol got into any difficulties and she needed to knock her out quick)

T’Pol felt peaceful, calm and relaxed, there was nothing like meditation to be totally at ease and in control of yourself and your emotions. T’Pol began to let herself open up so she could connect with the presence on the station, she was not disappointed. Soon she began to feel a strong force pervade her mind. Gentle at first, it probed her thoughts and memories, after a while it built up becoming more forceful in its exploration. T’Pol threw back her head crying out in pain. Hoshi immediately checked her scanner to see if T’Pol was in any danger. Although her readings were slightly elevated, they hadn’t reached the level which Phlox said indicated concern, so she drew back allowing T’Pol to continue.

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Captain Archer was sat perched in his chair waiting for news of any new developments.

“Captain!” yelled the watch at Helm, “the other ship is heading towards the space station.”

“Open hailing frequencies and get hull plating to full power!” said Captain Archer looking at his replacement bridge officers. He then buzzed the comm., “Malcolm, get up here now.”

“Captain! What about the transporter?” replied Malcolm?

“It’ll have to wait Lieutenant. Get up here fast.”

The image of Captain Varn suddenly came up on screen. “Your time is up!” he said.

“Keep away from the space station. I can’t allow you to open fire, not while my officer is still trapped over there,” said Captain Archer.

“Do not try to stop us or I will destroy your ship.” Captain Varn replied icily.

Without taking his eyes off the screen Captain Archer said “Helm, place Enterprise in between the space station and Captain Varn’s ship, match him move for move.”

The two Captains again stared each other down in an aggressive manner. “Well Captain Varn, I think the next move is your.”

Captain Varn ceased communications and brought up shields and weapons. He then proceeded to place his ship in an attack position.

“Battle stations!” shouted Captain Archer, on seeing Varn’s decision. “It looks like he’s decided.”

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Chapter Seven

T’Pol tried desperately to fight back, anything to gain the upper hand of the situation or her. It was not meant to be, as she felt herself slipping deeper and deeper under the alien’s control. It was just too powerful; she would never be able to disrupt its hold. Again Hoshi become concerned, she could see that T’Pol was struggling to retain her sanity. Her scanner also confirmed this as the bio readings were dangerously close to an unsafe or possible fatal level. Now was the time to end this part of the plan, it caused her great pain when she pondered what the failure of her mission would mean to Trip’s fate. Reluctantly she pressed the hypo spray to T’Pol’s neck, after a few seconds the readings on her scanner indicated that contact had been lost and T’Pol was now asleep. Hoshi felt despair welling up inside her, since it was her call to halt T’Pol’s attempt. Despite hearing from Captain Archer a few minutes ago to return to the ship, she placed the failure to retrieve Trip firmly on her shoulders.

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The Vortal was feeling very conflicted. Despite his actions against their colleague, the humans were preparing to defend the space station against his enemy. There reasoning may not solely have been to defend him, but the outcome was still the same never-the-less. These actions as well the previous images from this humans mind proved to him they were a species that could be trusted. If he went ahead and drained this human, he would then be no different than the Ringtock who had slaughtered his people. This he would not allow, it had to end, the endless slaughter on both sides. Gathering his strength together he levitated Commander Tucker’s still and motionless body towards himself, which he then enveloped with his body. Envisioning Enterprise with his mind he focused all of his remaining strength into teleporting both of them onto the bridge.

Captain Archer and Travis both jumped up in shock; Malcolm leaped up aiming his phase pistol at the creature; Hoshi recoiled in revulsion; T’Pol calmly focused her attention on the creature raising her eyebrow in surprise.

“I am sorry about your friend. I was wrong in my assumptions, please thank him for enlightening me,” said the creature. At least everyone thought he spoke, it was hard to tell – its face held a blank stare and its mouth didn’t move. The words just seemed to appear from nowhere and hang in the air.

At this moment, the enemy ship sailed past on its way to the space station, firing off two warning blasts on Enterprise. No one reacted, they were too engrossed focusing on the alien creature which had now placed the body of their Commander on the floor.

“He is alive, the draining was incomplete. I can’t condone what I have done in the past to survive. I can only change what I do in the future. As payment for not taking the life of your friend, please make sure no more lives are taken from the planet. Can I place my trust in you for this?”

“Yes!” replied Captain Archer in reply to his question. “Thank you”

At this the Vortal transported back again on to the station waiting for his forthcoming demise. He focused all his remaining strength onto the generator. At the split second the torpedo from the Ringtocks’s ship hit the station, he focused the energy from the generator into the blast. “Soon we will be together my love, but not before I take your killers with me. Revenge is mine at last.”

The shockwave was immense, enveloping the alien ship completely destroying it. Enterprise was caught on the edge of the blast, warning signals went off all over as it was thrown violently from side to side. Damage was significant, but at least they were still alive to tell the tale and near enough in one piece.

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Epilogue

Trip was lying on a bio bed in sickbay, it had been three days since the Vortal had returned him to the ship, three days for him to contemplate what had happened.

“Hey! How are you doing” said Captain Archer as he entered sickbay.

“Not bad!” said Trip, “Phlox said he will release me tomorrow. Can’t wait, I need to get stuck into the repairs or we will never get going again.”

“Don’t think you are going to get stuck back in as soon as you get out,” replied Captain Archer trying to look stern. “You are going to take things easy and rest.”

Trip just looked at him and gave him the yeah-an-pigs-might-fly look, causing John to laugh.

“Hey, I’m proud of you. You really kept it together over there,” said Captain Archer trying to perk Trip up a bit.

“That’s a joke, I fell apart, as per usual,” replied Trip feeling sorrow for himself.

“I don’t know what you mean by falling apart, you kept a level head and you kept on negotiating, despite being in pain and hurt. That’s something to be proud of. You, not us Commander, you convinced the Vortal of our intentions turning its prospective back to our favour. Don’t be too hard on yourself Trip.”

“I got myself into a sticky situation again,” argued back Trip who wasn’t convinced.

“Yes, but you got yourself out of it in the end as well,” replied Captain Archer. “That was no mean feat convincing the Vortal of our good intentions, but it was you who convinced him in the end.”

“I think you threatening to engage the Ringtock’s ship might also have had something to do with it as well,” said Trip, who could see his friend was just trying to make him feel better.

“Well okay I’ll give you that, we both did it,” replied Captain Archer clasping his friends hand into his own. “We make a great team.”

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Two folks have made comments

OHMYGOSH! Yay! Thanks for finishing it! That is the perfect Christmas present! Every day I checked to see if the next chapter was there...

Keep writing! I can't wait to see what else you can think up!

nice, like this one