Darkness Unfolding

Darkness Unfolding

by The Watch Stander

Rating: PG-13
Genres: Action/Adventure and Mystery

AN: A friendship story as well as adventure. This could be a long one so I’ll let you all decide, and if you like it I’ll make it longer.

I really miss the closeness of the crew from the first and second seasons so I’ve decided to incorporate that into this story. A little adventure as well as mystery thrown in.

Enjoy and as always I appreciate your taking the time to write a review.

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Chapter 1

Archer sat on the very edge of his Captain’s chair while chaos reigned all around him on the bridge of the Enterprise.

He wasn’t sure just how much more the ship could stand as his nemesis, the Klingons, were trying very hard to annihilate them. Parts of the ceiling fell on everyone when the ship took yet another hit from their attackers and rocked from the impact.

Hoshi cried out in pain as a falling piece of metal debris struck her on the side of her head. There was no time for Archer to worry about her, for he needed to find a way of getting away from the enemy that was pursuing them.

At the helm Travis was doing his best in avoiding the shots from their pursuer, but even he had sustained an injury from the falling debris as once more he used his sleeve to wipe the blood from eyes. Malcolm and T’Pol seemed to be the only two that hadn’t been injured so far.

Trip entered the bridge from the turbo lift at that moment and dodging around the fallen debris, hurried over to stand next to Archer.

"We’re down to warp 3, Capt’n , and in about another ten minutes it’ll be impulse only. One of the nacelles took a direct hit and is leaking plasma."

Trip didn’t hold much hope of them coming through this battle in one piece and it was reflected in the tone of his voice.

T’Pol’s voice broke the mood, "Captain, my sensors detect a nebula up ahead. We could use it as a possible hiding place."

Archer took note of what was said then made his decision.

"Travis, head for that nebula, we need to lose the Klingons fast!"

The ensign didn’t need to be told twice, "Aye, Sir!"

Everyone held their breath as they watched the fast approaching nebula, hoping to make it there in one piece and beat the odds against them one more time.

The sudden sound of a transport beam caught Trip’s attention and he turned in time to see a Klingon materialize on the bridge near the war room. Just as he cried out a warning, "We’re being boarded!," another invader materialized near Reed.

While Reed fought with this antagonist, Trip hurried back to the war room to confront the Klingon there. On his way Trip stooped to pick up a piece of loose metal railing from the floor. The invader was armed with a short sword like weapon and Trip didn’t have a phase pistol with him.

Another Klingon materialized near the science station just as T’Pol called out, "We’re inside the nebula, Captain."

Archer tried to tackle the invader before he could swing his weapon at the Vulcan, but just as Jon reached him a last lucky shot from the pursuing warbird caused everyone to fall from the impact. The lights went out plunging the bridge into darkness and were then slowly replaced by low emergency lighting.

During the momentary blackout Reed had taken out his attacker with the phase pistol that he always carried. Assessing the danger to everyone he immediately chose to help Archer, who was now entangled with his opponent on the floor. The Captain was trying very hard to avoid being decapitated by a very nasty looking curved-bladed weapon being held to his throat by the Klingon. Reed rushed over, took a stance and fired down at Archer’s attacker. The Klingon went limp and Archer pushed him away.

"Everyone all right?", he asked as he shakily got to his feet helped by Reed.

T’Pol answered as did Travis and Hoshi.

When there was no answer from Trip, Archer suddenly turned and hurried to the war room where he had last seen the engineer fighting with an invader.

He found Trip lying face down next to the consol.

Archer slowly turned Trip over and was immediately dismayed by the amount of blood that suddenly covered both his hand and the front of the Commander’s uniform below his rib cage. The weapon that had done this damage lay on the floor nearby. Its owner lay crumpled against the back wall, his head crushed in from a blow from the Commander’s metal weapon.

Jon gently lifted Trip’s head and shoulders onto his lap. Blood slowly trickled down from the corner of Trip’s mouth confirming what Jon already knew. The blade must had gone clean through Trip and from the amount of blood, hit a vital organ.

Trip’s eyes were half open as he looked up at Jon and slowly recognizing him asked, "Did we make it, Capt’n?"

It came out as a gasp and Jon was surprised that the younger man could talk at all considering how badly hurt he was.

Archer could barely find his own voice to answer the question. All he could manage was a soft whispered, "Yes."

As despair and regret rushed through Jon, he was unable to say anything more. Inside he was at war with himself, for he had a choice to make earlier that previous week and he had chosen poorly.

Daniels had warned him that he would lose something that he held dear if Jon didn’t follow the instructions and take the shorter route through the black nebula. Archer had refused on the basis that it was unknown territory and could be a trap or hazard to his crew or his ship. Daniels became angry and had left and not returned.

Now Jon knew what Daniels had meant by something dear.

It had indeed cost him dearly, both his friend and his ship’s chief engineer and somehow he knew that he couldn’t make it through this mission without Trip. Jon’s eyes started to tear from the regret and sorrow he felt inside. His best friend lay dying here because of him.

Time seemed to stop as a pair of Starfleet issue boots appeared suddenly in his line of vision. Archer looked up expecting Lt. Reed and to his surprise saw that it was Daniels.

"Come to gloat and say I told you so?" Archer couldn’t hold back the anger from his voice even though he knew he had been warned by Daniels.

However, deep inside Jon knew that Trip was lying here dying because of his decision and no one else was to blame.

Standing above Jon, Daniels looked stricken by the remark, but his features softened when he saw the look of sorrow on Archer’s face. Slowly he crouched down on the other side of Trip and put his hand on Archer’s shoulder.

"Of course not, I wouldn’t willingly let this happen to Commander Tucker if I could have avoided it!.... He doesn’t deserve this." The latter was said softly and Archer realized the man across from him was sincere in what he said. Daniels had never deliberately put them in harms way without telling them first.

Archer swallowed and biting back his pride, apologized in a soft raspy voice as he looked down at Trip.

"I’m sorry, I know you tried to warn me. I wish now I’d listened."

"We can make this right if you’re willing to help me," Daniels stated softly.

Archer looked up, a sudden a ray of hope shown in his eyes.

"How?" Archer’s voice was clear this time.

Daniels smiled, glad to be able to change the scenario. He had worked with this crew and each of them was important to him.

"I need to take you someplace where we can talk. I can’t hold time frozen like this much longer."

Archer nodded, "All right."

He slowly eased the dying man from his lap, reluctant to leave Trip alone, but knowing if he didn’t the scene would play out and there wouldn’t be another chance.

He took one last look at Trip, who had been his friend for 10 years and then slowly followed Daniels, hoping this time he would get it right and listen to Daniels instructions.

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Two weeks earlier

Trip sat in the Captain’s chair, carefully going over in his mind how he would handle any unforeseen emergencies that might arise during his watch on the bridge. Enterprise seemed to be operating at peak efficiency at this time so engineering could spare him while Captain Archer and T’Pol left the bridge. Both senior officers had been on duty for eighteen hours straight and needed some rest.

Reed, Travis and Hoshi were all on watch with him, so the atmosphere was both relaxed and familiar.

"Hoshi, anything to report?"

She turned to him, "Nothing , Commander."

Two weeks into the Expanse and there was nothing but stars and the occasional anomaly to bother them. He then quizzed the helmsman, hoping for something, anything, but boredom.

"Travis?"

Travis shook his head, "Nothing, Sir."

Trip shook his head, now disappointed that he had nothing but stars to hold his attention.

It was some time later when a sudden blip on the forward scanners drew Travis’s attention.

"I have something, Sir. Scanners show a ship ahead of us, not under power and there are traces of recent weapon’s discharge in the area around it."

Hoshi also piped in, "Commander, I’m getting a distress signal now."

Trip sat up straighter in his chair, "Ok, Let’s go in slowly, could be a trap. We want to make damn sure the area is clear."

"Aye, Sir." Travis slowed their rate of speed and proceeded toward the ship on impulse, ready to take it back to warp at a moments notice.

Trip, impatient now looked toward Hoshi, "Hoshi, what’s that distress signal saying?"

She concentrated for a moment, listening, then turned toward Trip. "It’s coming in as ‘under attack, send help, pirates attacking us.’ They’re using a common language we have in the data base that the Vulcan’s gave us."

"How convenient", Trip quipped back.

"Stay alert everyone, this could be a trap!" he was taking no chances.

TBC

Continue to Part 2

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Four of you have made comments

Oh man, please write more, I'm dying to know more!

What a great beginning. Got me hooked from the first word.

Ohhhh please continue soon

ooooh u must continue soon!

u killed Trip! and any1 who reads my comments knows my opinion on him dying!

save him :( soon plz

gr8 story