Catch Me When I Fall -- Tannith's Story - Chapter 6

Catch Me When I Fall -- Tannith's Story

by Rhylo

Disclaimer in Chapter 1

~~~~

CHAPTER SIX

Trip threw on his uniform and made it onto the Bridge with a minute to spare. His mind racing, he had no idea what the Captain meant by a 'situation'. Appropriately enough, he joined Archer, T'Pol and Malcolm in the aptly named Situation Room aft of the main Bridge.

"What's the problem, Cap'n?" he asked, with a cursory smile and nod towards the rest of the team. They seemed relieved to have him back on board.

Archer directed his attention to a display screen on the table-height central console.

"For the past twenty-four hours we've been monitoring the position of an alien vessel that seems to be shadowing us. It's been keeping its distance, maintaining the same course setting and speed......but now it's picking up the pace and is heading our way."

"What kind of vessel?" Trip asked.

"We're not sure." That was from Malcolm. "But our long-range scanners indicate it's heavily armed."

"A warship?"

Malcolm nodded. "Quite possibly, Commander."

Archer glanced over to his Comm Officer. "How long before they're within hailing distance, Hoshi?"

She made some calculations. "At their present speed, approximately two hours, Captain."

"Can't we outrun them?" Trip asked.

This time it was T'Pol who answered. "It's doubtful. Our scanners also detected their engines have warp capability. From the size of their ship, probably far greater than our own."

"It's almost like they've been stalking us," Malcolm commented.

Over at the helm, Travis voiced everyone's thoughts. "What would a warship possibly want with us?"

Trip's heart went cold. Just maybe he might have the answer to that. Back there in sickbay when Tannith had mentioned Valsar and mumbled something about him coming, he'd thought she'd been rambling from all Phlox's medication, but in actual fact she'd been perfectly lucid and was trying to warn him. It was just too much of a coincidence.

"Cap'n?" Trip quickly related what Tannith had told him about Valsar and his prediliction for violence and war. They already knew of his capacity for torture and mass murder.

"So when we attacked the settlement to get Tannith out, you think she heard this Valsar signal his ship to come pick him up." Archer thought Trip's theory was perfectly plausible.

Trip stared into nothingness, anger boiling up deep within him.

"Sonofabitch!......He knows we took Tannith, Cap'n......and he's comin' after her."

Archer's brow knitted together as he considered their options. To his young helmsman he said, "Try to stay ahead of them as long as you can, Travis.......Buy us some time."

He turned to Trip. "Commander, you're with me."

He headed for the turbolift, Trip in tow.

"Where're we goin'?"

"To sickbay......I need some answers."

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

"You can't do this to her, Cap'n! Not after all she's been through......She's too weak!" Trip pleaded with Archer when he
told Phlox to give Tannith something to counteract the sedative and wake her up fast.

Phlox looked decidedly unhappy. "I'm afraid I must agree with Commander Tucker, Captain. This young woman's condition is extremely fragile, both physically and emotionally. It wouldn't take much to induce another attack."

"I'm aware of the risk."

"We don't even know for sure it is Valsar's ship that's followin' us." Trip clenched his fists into tight balls, hurriedly trying to backtrack, barely able to contain his rage. He wished he'd never put the idea into the Captain's head in the first place. Now it was too late ~ he was duty bound to follow it through.

"Don't make this any harder than it already is, Trip."

"For God's sake it could kill her!"

Archer looked at him in exasperation. "You think I don't know that? The only reason I'm doing this is to find out if she knows anything....anything at all about Valsar....his weaknesses....maybe something about the ship that'll give us an edge. We don't have their warp or their weapons capability, Trip.......and we don't have the luxury of time."

He shot Phlox a look that said no arguments. "Wake her up, doctor."

Reluctantly, against his better judgement, Phlox used the hypospray ~ this time containing a powerful stimulant.

Tannith blinked awake in seconds.

Phlox had tried not to counteract the pain medication, but Archer hadn't given him much time to fine tune the exact quantities and the stimulant was bound to override some of the analgesia.

Trip's mental state had taken two steps backwards. He was furious the Captain was actually prepared to take chances with her life like this, but he kept his anger well hidden from Tannith. She looked lost and scared until her eyes found his. She gave him her 'angel' smile.

"Sweetheart." Trip kept his voice calm and steady. "The Cap'n just needs to ask you somethin', okay?"

She nodded. Her eyes were full of pain. Trip moved up to let Archer stand closer, but stayed well within Tannith's field of vision....waiting to what....leap to her protection?

Truth was, Archer felt just as bad about doing this as anyone else. Unfortunately, being the Captain, he had to shoulder all the responsibility of the safety of the crew and the ship ~ together with all the hatred and resentment he could currently feel emanating from his best friend standing not two feet away.

He cleared his throat, speaking to her softly. "You remember....back down on the planet....when Valsar's men first took control of your settlement?"

Trip saw Tannith visibly flinch at the mention of Valsar's name. He wanted to scream at the Captain to stop. "Trip said you mentioned a ship.....Valsar used it to transport your people away...."

She gave a single nod. "Never saw them again...." Her voice was husky.

Trip's comforting hand went straight to her shoulder. "I know, darlin'."

He flashed Archer a look that was unmistakable ~ hurry the f#*k up!

Archer was doing his best. "Did you ever find out anything about this ship?....Its weapons capability?"

"Very.....powerful.......Destroyed.......everything......"

Despite the stimulant she seemed to be drifting off.....so tired.....

"Tannith!" Trip squeezed her shoulder gently. "Stay with us, huh? Just a bit longer....It's real important."

She was back with them. Trip's voice was the only thing she seemed to respond to.

Archer flashed him a grateful thank you. "Is there a way through its defences....a weak spot....something you once overheard?" The Captain's voice was becoming increasingly insistent.

Trip thought it was beginning to sound like an interrogation. This time he looked towards Phlox to put an end to this.
"Doc!?"

Phlox had been monitoring her the whole time. Her vital signs had been holding, but now they were starting to fluctuate.

"Captain, I really must prot...."

"Just give me another minute!"

It looked to Trip like Tannith had nearly passed out again ~ she had a kind of disconcerting glazed expression, but she was bravely trying to fight it. Those huge eyes, so full of exhaustion and pain, suddenly reminded Trip of an injured deer his dog Bedford had found in the woods when he was a young boy, many years ago. He had carried it home in his arms and he and his sister Lizzie had cared for it until it was well enough to be released.......Strange how long forgotten memories could just come flooding back out of the blue........

Trip felt a small pull on the sleeve of his uniform and glanced down to see tiny fingers clutching at his arm. He realised Tannith was desperately trying to tell him something.

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

A goliath of a vessel was clearly visible off Enterprise's starboard bow holding at a distance of about three hundred kilometers. The compact and streamlined NX-01 was dwarfed beside it.

As Archer and Trip came out onto the Bridge, Hoshi Sato's voice rang out, "Captain, we're being hailed."

"Put 'em through."

Hoshi activated the audio/visual communication channels and seconds later Valsar's leering, flabby features filled the huge viewscreen in front of them.

"I'm Jonathan Archer.....Captain of the starship Ent...."

Valsar waved him silent. "I don't particularly care who you are. You and your puny ship mean nothing to me." Archer's jaw snapped shut. "I, on the other hand, am Valsar.....victor of a thousand battles.....conqueror of planets...."

"Torturer of innocents." Trip couldn't help himself. So....this was the animal he'd been dying to meet. Trip's eyes burned with pure fire.

Valsar looked delighted. "Ah, I see you've heard of me.....How....interesting..."

"What can we do for you?" Archer wasn't about to give anything away.

Valsar gave a sickly little chuckle. "Please...don't play games with me."

"Sorry, I don't follow."

Valsar was growing impatient. "You have something of mine and I want it returning."

Archer's brow narrowed. "I don't believe we have any 'thing' of yours...."

"The girl.....I want the girl.....You call her Tannith."

He saw Archer and Trip's reaction, particularly noticing Trip's venemous stare of hatred. "Can I take it you must be the one she gave herself up for?" On Trip's death glare, "Mmmm.....I guessed as much even though she refused to give me the exact details....too busy screaming, I suppose." Trip swallowed hard as he went on, "She is rather exquisite, isn't she?...Perhaps you and I should meet....to discuss the finer points of our...'shared' interest."

Trip stepped closer to the screen, his eyes narrowed to slits. "Any time...."

Archer caught his arm. "Trip."

"Tell me," Valsar was in full swing. "Have you 'had' her yet? Believe me, she's worth the wait......You won't be disappointed."

Trip was incandescent with rage. "You sick bastard!"

"That's enough!" Archer was only too aware of the effect this mental torture was having on his friend ~ as well as the rest of the Bridge crew.

Again Valsar gave a filthy chuckle. He was enjoying this way too much to stop. "It's a pity I can't introduce you to my chief interrogator, Torg, but he met with a rather unfortunate end when your ship attacked my camp....without provocation, I might add. He and Tannith were also well acquainted....they'd spent so much time in eachother's company..."

"You mean while he was beatin' her half to death!" Trip so wanted to bury his fist into this twisted moron's ugly face.

Valsar was getting bored now. "I think I've made my position clear. Return Tannith to me and you can be on your way, unharmed." He paused ominously, then added, "If not, then you will all suffer the consequences.....I will contact you soon for your answer."

The screen went blank as Valsar ended the transmission. Stunned silence from everyone then Archer glanced quickly over at Trip. "You ready for a little payback?"

Trip was still breathing fire. "Wouldn't miss it for the world!"

"Lieutenant?"

Malcolm nimbly jumped to his feet. "Ready, sir. Security team's standing by."

"Then let's get going." To T'Pol he said, "You have the Bridge. Tell the transport room we're on our way."

"Yes, Captain."

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

Although the alien ship's outer hull would have been nigh on impenetrable in an all out attack, Tannith had come through for them with a vital piece of information. Having been used as a troop carrier ~ or more precisely 'conscripted prisoner' carrier using captured civilians to fight Valsar's wars ~ the interior of the ship had been structurally adapted to ferry as many poor souls as possible to a certain death. Inevitably in doing so some of the interior bulkhead's stability had been compromised.

Trip didn't have any schematics to work from, but being the brilliant structural engineer that he was, he thought he could hazard a pretty accurate guess at sections that could have been removed or altered leaving them vulnerable. The plan was to transport over there, locate these specific areas and plant magnetic charges to self detonate giving them just enough time to get back to Enterprise and go to warp before the alien ship blew.

It would never have occurred to Valsar that his ship would ultimately face attack from the inside. He would never have imagined such impudence ~ especially from, as he so succinctly put it, 'puny humans'. That was why he did not immediately pick up on the fact that his impenetrable fortress had indeed been boarded. He was too busy planning Tannith's ultimate demise and how he was going to make the entire crew of this so called starship suffer for their audacity in attacking him. With or without Tannith, he had no intention of letting them go on their way. If Tannith were still alive, so much the better. He planned to make the young blond-haired officer ~ the one who'd leapt so quickly to her defence ~ watch as he forced himself on her....hear her screams one last time before he choked the life out of her for good. That would be a fitting memory for him to carry to his own death.......

On the same ship, but three decks below, Archer flipped open his communicator.

"Archer to Reed.....come in," he said in a gravelly whisper.

From the belly of the ship Malcolm's voice came back, "Reed here, sir."

"How's it going?"

"Nearly done, sir. The charges are in place. Just setting the detonators."

"Good job, Malcolm.....Finish up and get back to Enterprise."

"Affirmative, Captain....Reed out."

It was a spooky, unnerving feeling how the cavernous alien cargo bay ~ empty though it currently was ~ could still resonate with the silent screams of countless hapless victims knowing they were soon to be condemned to a dreadful death. Trip picked up on the 'aura' immediately and it made his spine creep. He couldn't wait to get out of this hell hole.

He heard the low bleep of the communicator in his sleeve pocket. He was just reaching into a very awkward conduit to set the final charge and his arm was stretched to its full reach in the narrow space.

"Just gimme a minute," he mumbled to himself. "Gotcha!"

He withdrew his arm, scrambled to his feet and came face to grotesque face with Valsar, completely blocking any path of escape. Trip went for the phase pistol at his side, but Valsar's meaty hand wrenched it out of his grasp and threw it across the other side of the cargo bay.

Holy crap! Trip thought. Valsar must have been nearly seven feet tall! He broadsided Trip, knocking him backwards into the bulkhead. Trip was aware that his comm. was beeping at him again, but equally aware he'd never get the chance to answer it.

"I take it you didn't bring your little friend," Valsar leered. "Pity....I had such plans for her....with you as guest of honour."

Trip was already fired up. He didn't need an excuse to tip him over the edge. He flew at Valsar with every ounce of strength he had, catching him a forceful uppercut to the jaw that surprisingly did some damage.

Valsar spat blood and bits of broken, blackened teeth. "I've killed for less!"

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Trip retorted.

Valsar grabbed hold of him, twisting him up into the air and slammed him back down, face first. This time it was Trip who tasted blood. Physically Valsar may have had an edge, but Trip was far more agile and quick witted. Valsar lifted his gammy foot with the intention of swinging a hefty kick to Trip's ribs, but he was too slow. Trip dived for the foot as it came at him, wrenching it sharply and heard the satisfying crunch of snapping bones as his ankle dislocated. Valsar let out a yell and almost crumpled to the floor. Trip seized him by the throat and hauled him upright.

"'Bout time you were on the receivin' end......You've no idea how long I've been dyin' to kick the hell outta you!"

He felt Valsar's hand reach inside a pocket and bring out a small rectangular metal object with what looked like two small probes sticking out of one side. Trip let go his hold just in time as Valsar activated it and brought his arm upwards. Trip caught hold of his arm with both hands. He could actually hear the object making a strange fizzing/humming sound inches away from his face and realised instantly what it was ~ the electrical device they'd used on Tannith. If it touched him he'd no doubt be fried on the spot.

Trip was using all the strength he had to keep Valsar's arm at bay, his body pinned to the bulkhead by Valsar's mammoth weight, which left only his feet free. With an almighty kick he booted Valsar's damaged leg and followed it up with another to his kneecap. Valsar yelled again and dropped the device like a hot brick. Panting heavily he lunged forwards and grabbed Trip's neck in a vice-like grip, the pair of them stumbling to the floor. Trip could feel himself being slowly throttled as he ran out of air. With one hand trying to prise Valsar off his throat, his free hand scurried around the immediate deck area, his fingers finding and closing round the device Valsar had dropped. Trip's vision was already swimming and he knew he didn't have long until he passed out. With one last supreme effort he summoned the strength to wriggle partially loose and brought his foot up into Valsar's gut pushing himself free. For one precious second Valsar lost his hold. Trip twisted free of his grasp and jabbed him with the device.

Valsar uttered a dreadful spine-chilling scream that must have lasted nearly half a minute. Then he fell silent. Trip was too exhausted to even check if he were dead. He just squatted down, hunched over, dragging in air.

He heard a movement behind him ~ half-turned to see Archer heading his way. He handed Trip the phase pistol he'd found lying on the far side of the cargo bay. Quickly he sized up the situation and sighed in total exasperation. It seemed wherever Trip went he found trouble!

"Haven't I warned you about fraternising with the locals?!"

Trip just gave him a look.

They heard voices getting nearer. No doubt Valsar's crew had heard the commotion and were on the warpath. Archer gave his friend a helping hand up and squeezed his arm, relieved he wasn't badly hurt.

He spoke into his communicator. "Two to transport up from these co-ordinates.....Now would be good!".............

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

On the Enterprise Bridge, Archer looked over at Malcolm who was already back at his station.

"Everyone back on board?"

Malcolm nodded. "Affirmative, sir. Everyone's accounted for." Then, "Twenty seconds to detonation...."

Archer sat down in his chair and braced himself. "Take her to warp four, Mr. Mayweather."

As Enterprise became a mere blip on the horizon, Valsar's ship exploded from the inside out and vapourised in the cold expanse of space.

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

Continue to the Epilogue

Return to Chapter 5

Back to Fan Fiction Main Menu

Have a comment to make about this story? Do so in the Trip Fan Fiction forum at the HoTBBS!