Tomorrow is Yesterday - Chapter 5

Tomorrow is Yesterday

By Mctrip7

Rating: PG-13, a little cussin’
Genre: Suspense, Angst
Archive: Trip/Archer
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Paramount and will not be sold.
Summary: A beginning

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 5

When Trip came around, he was lying in the mud by a horse trough. His face was bloody and it was almost impossible to breathe. Malcolm was a few feet away holding his stomach. He started coughing and spitting up blood. When he opened his eyes, he caught sight of Trip and moved toward him.

“We need to get out of here, now, Trip. Can you stand up? Our communicators are gone, but didn’t you do something to our comm badges that we can use?”

Trip was still trying to get his breath, but he nodded to Malcolm in answer to his first question and then reached up and rubbed what appeared to be a button on his jacket.

“Archer here.”

“Emergency beam out,” Trip said as he fell forward.

T’Pol was the first one to the transporter room. “Dr. Phlox, emergency at the transporter.”

Trip and Malcolm lay in one big heap on the pad. Malcolm motioned to Archer to come over closer. “Capt’n, they’re lying in wait for Enterprise soon as she gets closer. Didn’t see Hugo, but heard them talking about him. Getting his ship ready to go somewhere. They didn’t connect us with Enterprise or they’d never have let us go.” Malcolm started to cough again.

“Don’t try to talk anymore now, Malcolm,” Archer insisted. “I’ll take it from here.”

Dr. Phlox and the medics arrived. After quick exams, Phlox had them whisked them off to sickbay.

“Captain, the crewman named Doug didn’t make it. His injuries were too serious. I’m sorry.”

“I’m sure you did all you could. Call me, Doctor, when you have a report on Trip and Malcolm,” Archer said as he headed for the Bridge.

T’Pol made her way to Sickbay after Jonathan left. “I need to ask them some questions, Doctor. How soon will I be able to talk to them?”

“It may be some time before Commander Tucker can talk. I would guess that he has a few broken ribs, maybe a broken jaw. I will let the Captain know as soon as I have some x-rays taken.” Looking at the anxiety showing in her eyes, he smiled and said, “He’s going to be alright, T’Pol; very uncomfortable, but no permanent damage.”

She almost smiled as she said “Thank you, Doctor. We will await your report, and that on Malcolm as well.” One last look and she turned and left the room

~~~

On the Bridge, Jonathan was giving orders to veer off and go to warp 5 immediately. He needed time to determine the strength of these Rigillians and see what they had up their sleeve. Let them make the first move.

“Hoshi, do you detect anyone following us?” Any grouping on long range sensors?”

“Appears to be normal traffic, Sir. No one moving in our direction.”

“Keep your eyes peeled for any change, and let me know immediately.”

“I will, Captain.”

~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, on the planet’s surface, Hugo came into Nillin’s office. “I’m ready to leave.
What have you decided?”

“We had to take care of a little matter here; so I haven’t contacted the other ships. They can probably be ready within the hour. Why the hurry? The starship may come and take up orbit around this planet. They’d be like a sittin’ duck!”

Hugo didn’t care to go into details with Nillin, but he knew he’d feel much better when they finished ransacking Enterprise, maybe even taking over the giant starship. Boarding her was not going to be easy, but disguised as customs officers, they should be able to make it work. He knew the layout and the security routine.

“If Jim has taken care of his end of the bargain, we should be on board before the crew even realizes it,” Hugo said as he gave Nillin a twisted smirk.

~~~~

.In Shuttlebay 2, Kirk was still sifting through bits and pieces of metal. He was actually making progress, though, as the assembly began to take shape. He was interrupted by a call from Adams in engineering.

“Mr. Kirk, could you come to engineering? We’re a little short-handed for the night shift,” Adams wanted to know.

“Of course Mr. Adams, I’m on my way.” Maybe these kids did think he knew what he was talking about.

~~~

“Captain, Dr. Phlox here. Mr. Tucker is coming around now. You wanted me to let you know. I’m going to keep Mr. Reed sedated for a while longer, though.”

“I’m on my way, Phlox.”

As Jonathan came through the sickbay doors, he grimaced on seeing his two officers. Trip’s face was a mess. It looked like part of his jaw was wired below a gash near his mouth. He was struggling to sit up and was still having trouble breathing.

“Mr. Tucker has two cracked ribs and a dislocated jaw, Captain. No permanent damage, but he’ll be quite testy for the next few days.”

“Mr. Reed’s injuries were a little more serious. He has a ruptured valve in his stomach and a broken nose. I want to keep him under observation for a day or two.”

“Cap’n., did Malcolm tell you what happened?” which all came out like he had a mouth full of marbles!

“Don’t try to talk, Trip. Malcolm told me they didn’t recognize you and some comments were made about Hugo. He also said they were planning to ambush us. I’ve moved us out of harm’s way but we’ll have to be ready for them.”

“I’ve got to get to engineering,” (more marbles) Trip mumbled as he tried to ease down off the biobed.

“Sorry, Commander, but you are not going anywhere right now. Your condition will have to stabilize before I can begin the healing process.”

Trip looked so miserable that Phlox added, “It will only take a few hours, Commander.”

Knowing the Commander’s habits, the doctor decided to keep him in the imaging chamber until he could begin his treatment. Trip didn’t protest. Archer turned and headed for the Bridge.

Jim had been watching the doctor as he tended his patients, biding his time. When Phlox moved away to take care of his caged creatures, Jim slipped the gas pellets from under his bandage and forced them into the air recycler. Phlox never noticed as the gas was invisible and odorless.

~~~~

In Engineering, Kirk was working with Adams in the warp core housing. As he reached for the scanner, he saw some furtive movement on the catwalk above – Rigielians! He ducked back inside and motioned to Adams not to speak. Listening, Kirk heard Archer’s name mentioned. The man speaking evidently turned in his direction because he could hear him clearly now. . . something about gas making the crew helpless, starting on the bridge. “The ship will be ours! Jim sure came through.” Then the voices receded as the men moved away.

Unaware that Denobulans are immune to the gas, Jim got up to leave sickbay. Having been raised working in the mines, Jim had a limited tolerance of the gas, but knows he had to find a mask.

“Just where do you think you’re going young man?” Phlox confronted Jim. “You’re not ready to leave just yet.”

“Get out of my way, old man. How come you’re still conscious?” Jim replied as he shoved the Doctor into the nearest cage, upsetting it and releasing a myriad of strange looking creatures.

As Phlox recovers and makes his way to the intercom, Jim grabbed him and punched him out.

Hearing all the noise, Trip began to come around, but he couldn’t move because of the restraints. With the exertion the medicine kicked in and he floated off again.

~~~~~~~

In Engineering, Kirk risked a look outside the housing. Clear. Turning to Adams, he asked about masks.

“They’re in that cabinet next to the screen. We only have a few down here. There are plenty more in the Armory.”

Kirk nodded and leaned a little farther out. No one in sight; so he hurried over to the cabinet, holding his breath. Grabbing a mask and securing it, he took another one and headed for Adams on the double. Kirk had heard about mine gas for years and he knew what it can do. He needed to get to the bridge with some masks as soon as possible, but first, the Core needed to be shut down.

“C’mon, Adams, I need your help. We’re goin’ to shut her down. At least they won’t be able to go anywhere!

“We can’t do that – not without Mr. Tucker’s approval,” a stark white Adams protested.

“Tucker’s not here and chances are we’re the only crew that’s still movin’. Now give me a hand.”

Still protesting, Adams reluctantly moved to the console. “We’ll have to do this in exact sequence or we’ll be toast.”

“That’s what you’re there for,” Kirk confided. “Give me the sequence as you go, but hurry. We need to get to the Armory.”

“Can’t remember what counteracts that gas,” Kirk chided himself. “I’m sure the Doctor would know, but I don’t want to risk trying to contact Sickbay.”

Suddenly one of the pressure gauges popped and steam started venting.

“What’d you do?”

Adams looked horrified. “Just what we always do when we shut down!” he answered.

“The manifold didn’t close completely. They are trying to go to warp on the bridge. Get a wrench and hand it to me,” Kirk ordered.

Adams skittered down the steps and jumped to the floor. He grabbed a wrench and tossed it to Kirk who jabbed it against the open manifold key and wedged it against the read-out screen. With all his weight on it, the key began to move very slowly. Adams, who was now standing beside him, began putting his weight on the key, too. The core shut down!

When Kirk got their masks, he also threw the bolt on the door. As the core noise ceased, they could hear the banging and cursing on the other side.

“Are there any other ways to get out of here?” Kirk wanted to know

“That bolt opens and shuts them all,” Adams responded.

Kirk was at the intercom. “Sickbay, Dr. Phlox, can you hear me?”

“Phlox here,” mumbled the Doctor. “What’s going on?”

“Listen carefully, Doctor. Do you know what can counteract mine gas? We haven’t much time.”

“Where’s the gas?”

“All over the ship! We have masks here but there are none on the bridge. This stuff is deadly.”

“I can reverse the air recycling pumps if you can open the conduit to the filters in the transporter room. They’ll take out any toxins,” Phlox advised.

“I’m on it . Adams, where’s the conduit?”

“It’s behind that wall, sir. We’ll have to take all that plating off. There may be another way, but after our last overhaul, I’m not sure where it is.”

“Let’s do it. I’ll tap you a message, Doc, when we’re ready.”

At the door it sounded like metal against metal. “Don’t know how long we can hold them off,” Kirk commented.

With the blow torch, Kirk and Adams got busy. Adams was right on target. In a matter of minutes they had the plating off and the conduit connected to the main air recycling valve.

Kirk hit the intercom. “Sickbay, Sickbay.” No response.

When Tucker was working on the system earlier, Kirk was watching him. Now he tried taking the intercom panel off and tapping on the metal . . .two short, two long.

A snarly voice came on the intercom saying “You aren’t going to communicate with anyone, Engineer. And we better have power soon or your Captain will be history.”

Kirk heard the “whoosh” from the wall, telling him Phlox had gotten the message. The gas was being sucked out and refiltered air returning.

Kirk responded to the Bridge, “We need medical help here.” Hoping to distract the alien leader. “Can you send a corpman?”

“Drop dead!” was the only reply

~~~~~~~

Hugo was back on board now. “Jim, there should be some dynamite in the Armory. Since the phasers won’t cut through that door, we’ll just blow it off! Let’s go.”

Meanwhile, Phlox was continuing to retrieve his pets. “It’s alright now. There. There. An extra ration for you tonight!”

“Doc, where are you?” It was Trip.

“Oh my! Coming.” He’d forgotten Trip was still in the imaging chamber. Phlox started to push the button. “Just a minute, Commander. I have to check something first.” He then proceeded to take a reading of the air quality. “Within acceptable parameters,” he said to himself as he reached for the button on the chamber again. As the biobed came forward, he faced a very frustrated Commander.

Struggling to talk through his teeth, Trip mumbled, “What’s going on, Doc? I thought I could hear shouting.”

“There’s been some regrettable developments. The Rigielians have taken over the ship.”

Trip was off the bed . . . .”What happened?” He glanced over at Malcolm, then saw that Phlox had been roughed up.

“My patient, Jim, tried to poison everyone by putting mine gas pellets in the air recycling system.”

“Where’d he get the pellets?”

“Must have brought them with him,” Phlox continued.

“I’ve got to get to engineering,” gasped Trip, suddenly realizing he was having trouble breathing. He seemed to be able to talk, but his jaw hurt like the devil!

“I don’t know that I’m releasing you just yet. Mr. Kirk is doing just fine in engineering. He’s clearing the gas out, but I don’t know what condition the rest of the crew is in.”

Trip couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “What’s he doing to my engines? Who told him he could? Where are the MAACOs? I’ve got to talk to the Captain.”

“Mr. Tucker, I don’t even know if he’s still alive. The Rigielians have taken over the ship,” he repeated.

TBC

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Three people have made comments

Nicely done. Enjoyed reading this story.

Very good so far. Really enjoying this. Look forward to your next chapter.

good story; sitting on the edge of my seat for the next chapter.