Darkness Unfolding- Part 10

Darkness Unfolding

by The Watch Stander

Disclaimers in Part 1

An: This chapter is a little longer. Many Thanks to all who read this and leave comments behind. Enjoy!

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Part 10

After Malcolm left with Hoshi, Archer quickly turned his attention back to Trip who was leaning against the wall for support. The engineer looked like he was barely able to stand, but Archer knew he would have to use Trip to help him set the charges.

"Can you do this?" he asked, not unkindly knowing Trip was injured.

Trip looked at Jon and knowing what was at stake, tried to straighten his aching body. He felt like there wasn’t one inch of him that wasn’t bruised or sore. His head still throbbed from the beating he’d taken during the interrogation.

"Yes, Capt’n. I’ll be Ok," he replied softly

Jon smiled at him. Trip was stubborn as could be and would give 200 percent when asked even if he were dying. It was one of his most endearing characteristics; always ready to help, no matter what the cost to him.

"My scanner shows the fuel supply for their ships is in a room just down the hall. I’ll set up my explosives in there. We’ll use an initial 15minute delay, then subsequent 2 minute series on the remainder that should give us time to get out of here." Archer was all business again.

Trip added, "The room just across from it has their power supply generator. I’ll set charges and also program the power supply to overload the system. They won’t be able to salvage it if I do that."

Archer nodded, "Good. Malcolm should be back by the time we finish and we can set explosives randomly down the hallways as we leave just to be sure we take this place out."

He handed Trip the explosive charges from his pack.

Trip carefully took them and they each headed down the hallway. Archer’s room was the first one and he disappeared through the doorway waving to Trip as he entered. Trip then made his way into the following room where the generator was. He was thankful now that Malcolm and Major Hayes had taught him how too use the explosive charges and set their timers.

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Malcolm hurried with Hoshi back to Daniels ship, willing himself to go as fast as possible knowing Archer and Trip needed him back to help. Hoshi beside him was trying her best to stay on her feet, so as not to hinder their speed or progress. Her vision was blurry caused by the throbbing wound that she had received on her head.

They finally arrived at the docking port. Daniels appeared in the doorway of the ship and reached out to help Hoshi.

"I’ve just talked to Archer. You’ll all need to hurry, for three other pirate ships are heading here and will be docking soon. " Daniels took Hoshi from him and helped her inside to a seat.

"Damn!" Reed didn’t need to be told twice, he turned and headed back at a brisk run to help Archer and Trip.

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Trip tried three times to set the charges’ timers and finally managed to get them all set, or so he hoped. Jon had called in to him from the doorway to hurry as company would be arriving at any time and they needed to leave. Jon had told Trip he’d take care of the hallway and wanted the engineer to finish and join him as quickly as possible.

That was three minutes ago and the explosives’ timers were not cooperating. It took him twice as long to set them. He was having trouble using his injured hand. Every time he moved his fingers, pain shot through his entire arm adding to his misery and causing him to almost drop the charges.

Finally he finished and then hurried over to the power generator. It looked like many others he’d seen and wouldn’t be hard to set to overload. Quickly he pushed the buttons on the pad adding more fuel than the processor could handle and ensuring that it would overload and explode. The only problem would be how soon, as there was no way to gauge it. He didn’t have the luxury of time and therefore a slow buildup was no longer possible.

"What the hell, might as well go for broke," he pushed all three buttons allowing the flow to enter the system. Then he ran for the door, never looking back.

Once outside he spotted Jon down at the end of the hallway setting extra charges. Trip headed toward him at as fast a pace as he could manage.

Behind him the sudden sound of an explosion caught him unprepared and seemed to lift him high in the air in what seemed like slow motion. Down the hallway he could see Archer being thrown off his feet as well.

It felt weird, like a dream, as everything seemed to happen in slow motion. As he fell to the floor, parts of the ceiling started to pelt him. Pieces of the ceiling continued to rain down on him as he lay there and he wondered if this was the end.

Is this how I die, like this.

He wanted to get up. A voice inside him was urging him to, for he wanted to live and continue exploring with Enterprise, but somehow he couldn’t seem to will his body to move. His limbs weren’t cooperating and he felt like he was paralyzed. Something told him he was going to die if he lay there, but he still couldn’t move.

Jon heard the explosion, but like Trip was unprepared and was in turn knocked off his feet as well. He watched in horror as Trip was caught up in the aftershock of the blast and pummeled by falling debris. The whole ceiling seemed to be covering the helpless engineer.

Everything in him screamed in frustration, he would not lose his friend, not like this.

Picking himself up he tried to run back to Trip. The clouds of dust surrounding the area was so thick it made him cough and his eyes water, but somehow he found Trip and grabbed both his hands.

Jon didn’t check to see if Trip was alive, refusing to believe that fate would be so unkind as to kill Trip just as they were almost out of here.

Jon pulled with all his strength, knowing that he might further injure his friend but somehow managing to drag the engineer out from under the rubble. There wasn’t time to check for further injuries as he pulled Trip to his feet and half carried and half dragged the stunned engineer down the hall before all hell broke loose.

Just when he thought they might make it to the corner and the safety of the next corridor, another explosion erupted sending both men flying once more. Archer pulled Trip to him as they landed, covering Trip’s head with his body and trying to keep his own head down so as not to be hit with the falling debris that pelted them.

Archer knew that the first explosion had been a fluke, but the last one was the beginning of a series that he himself had set. Their time was almost up. In another few minutes they would hear another blast and they were no where near the ship.

A sudden pair of hands appeared from out of the dust and debris pulling Archer to his feet and grabbing hold of Trip’s arm.

"Are you all right, Sir?" Malcolm asked as he dragged the semi conscious Engineer to his feet and put Trip’s arm over his shoulder to support him.

Archer was relieved that it was Malcolm and not the aliens. "I’m OK, we need to get out of here and fast!"

"Right, it’s this way." He started toward what must have been the corner.

The lights had gone out with the second explosion and the emergency lighting was flickering, as it too had been damaged by the explosions.

Archer grabbed Trip’s other arm and together with Malcolm half dragged him between them. When they rounded the corner they were greeted by the sound of voices and running feet. Malcolm immediately drew his weapon and pushed Archer and Trip behind him against the wall. Fortunately the lighting was no better in here as dust and debris had floated through this area as well making it hard to see.

Malcolm could just make out the shape of two figures coming down the corridor toward him speaking some language he couldn’t understand. Holding his breath he waited and hoped they passed by.

One of the figures suddenly stopped and fired. The shot went just past Reed’s right arm singeing it. Malcolm dropped to the floor ,firing as he fell at the alien. Archer and Trip were already down there having dropped quickly as the firing began. One of the Lt’s shots hit the attacker, who had continued to fire at the space above them where they had just been standing. Archer fired his weapon as well hoping that one of them would hit the alien.

Malcolm heard the alien fall and after being sure the two attackers weren’t getting up, helped Archer with Trip.

"Let’s go!" he said quickly, knowing they had little time left.

"Good shooting, Lt!" Archer managed to say as they once more headed toward the ship.

Reed’s heart was pounding from adrenaline, but it wouldn’t stop until they were all safely aboard the ship and on their way back to Enterprise. His arm hurt like the very devil where it had been winged by the alien’s first shot.

However, he had done it. Archer and Trip were still in one piece under his care. He hadn’t failed them... yet.

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They reached the ship moments later and Reed handed Trip through the door to Archer who put him in a seat and immediately strapped him in. Trip was barely conscious and his head was hanging down. There was no time to check him over for injuries, that would have to wait as they needed to leave before the complex blew up.

Archer squeezed his shoulder, "Hang in there, Trip. We’re almost home free."

Reed closed the door and pulled the connection to the docking port. Archer went forward and immediately sat in the co pilot seat strapping himself in.

Daniels already had the ship’s engines running and didn’t spare a glance at Archer as he sat down.

"We’re clear and you’d better hurry, it’s going to blow up any minute!" Archer quickly informed Daniels.

He felt the powerful ship surge forward and glancing down at the screen before him could see the rear view showing the complex blowing up and sending billows of flame and pieces of ships and debris out into the surrounding area. One of the small pirate ships was trying to leave its dock and was caught up in the explosion. Archer didn’t see if it was able to get away as Daniels increased his ship’s speed sending them back through the asteroid field. He hoped the pirate ship didn’t make it.

In the back Hoshi was in the seat next to Commander Tucker. Her head still ached, but Daniels had given her something for the pain and had removed the bandage replacing it with a smaller one after treating her wound.

She had been shocked when she had first seen the Captain, Malcolm and Trip enter the ship. At first glance they looked like ghosts covered with white dust and dirt. Fortunately, with the exception of Trip they didn’t seem to be badly injured. The Commander however, looked more battered and bruised than the last time she’d seen him. Every inch of him was covered in dust and dirt. She wondered what had happened to him after she’d left and hoped he wasn’t seriously hurt.

Wait till Phlox sees him. He’ll be in sickbay for a week

She allowed herself a small smile at that thought for it was her way of dealing with the ordeal they had just been through. Knowing that everyone was safely aboard this ship and on their way back to Enterprise, she closed her eyes as the asteroids flew by them, too exhausted to stay awake.

Lt Reed took a seat in the rear of the ship. Once he was strapped in, he had taken the time to pull out his scanner. After scanning the Commander from where he sat, he looked at the results. Trip’s vital signs were present, but they were showing unusual fluctuations.

Archer suddenly called back to him, "Malcolm, how’s Trip and Hoshi?"

"Hoshi is asleep and Trip’s unconscious. His vital signs aren’t normal, but he seems to be holding his own. Phlox is the only one who can tell us more."

Jon sighed, hoping that his friend would be all right. Trip was so important to this mission that he couldn’t lose him now.

Daniels having heard the conversation increased the ship’s speed.

Archer sat back relieved that he wasn’t flying this ship or they’d all be space flotsam. There was no way he could figure out the controls as quickly as Daniels seemed to and avoid the asteroids so easily.

I wonder if I’ll live to see a ship built that goes this fast. Trip would love to see its engines or power source.

He could imagine the look of amazement on his best friend’s face and it made him smile.

I hope we all live to see it.

Malcolm was also worried about the Commander, but there was nothing he could do for now. They would know more when they got Trip to Enterprise and Phlox was able to examine him.

Sometimes I think Trip has nine lives, he always manages to escape the worst situations.

That thought and knowing Phlox would lecture Trip made Malcolm smile inwardly. The likeable engineer was always cranky and unhappy when he had to spend time in sickbay.

Malcolm then examined his own arm that still burned and hurt like hell. The uniform sleeve was charred and bloody where the weapon’s discharge had just barely grazed it.

Sighing, he leaned back against the seat as he realized that he too was going to have to let Phlox treat him.

God, I hope he doesn’t use something alive to heal it.

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TBC

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One person has made comments

:D wonderful! i loved that so much. A great and happy chapter with all the drama needed to keep us going :) thankyou, looking forwards to the next part