Darkness Unfolding- Part 13

Darkness Unfolding

by The Watch Stander

Disclaimers in Part 1

~~~

Part 13

Malcolm opened his eyes and found himself still standing, but supported by Daniels.

"Are you all right, Lieutenant?" Daniels asked, concern in his voice. The lieutenant looked dazed and unsteady on his feet.

Malcolm shook his head, then wiped his eyes. The light had momentarily blinded him.

"I think so. What happened?" he finally asked.

Daniels released his arm then stooped down to check Commander Tucker who was lying at their feet still unconscious.

"I moved us forward in time, to avoid being fried by that anomaly. I wasn’t able to prevent it and there wasn’t time to help you move the Commander to safety."

Malcolm looked clearly puzzled, "It came out of nowhere. What caused it?"

Daniels looked up at him. "This part of space is wrought with anomalies and I use a spacial calibrator to prevent them from occurring around my ship. However, our friend in the ship inadvertently damaged that part of my equipment. Looks like Commander Tucker will be helping me a lot longer then planned. "

Malcolm crouched down as well to check on Trip, who was showing signs of awakening.

Trip’s loud groan startled both men and they acted as one to assist him to sit up.

Trip was very dizzy from the stun blast and his head throbbed from its resonance.

"What happened?" he asked Malcolm when he was finally able to focus on his friend’s face.

Reed smirked then looked over at Daniels, "You tell him, cause I haven’t a clue."
While Daniels explained, Malcolm took the time to look around their surroundings.

It was a large building that surrounded a conference area in the middle of it including a stage or platform. There was no one present, but it could probably hold several hundred people.

He reached out to help Trip stand after Daniels finished explaining all that had happened after Commander Tucker had been shot.

Once on his feet Trip swayed slightly and both men held an arm to steady him.

"Easy, Trip. You’ve had a rough two days," Malcolm said concerned. The Commander’s face was pale and still showed bruises from his previous experience with the invaders. Malcolm wondered how much more of this Trip could stand before he just collapsed.

"I’ll say. Why don’t these guys just give up and leave me alone!" Trip replied heatedly.

"You are an important part of what happens here." Daniels pointed to the building around them. "They want to prevent this place from ever being built and a certain organization from being formed."

Confused, Trip stared at their surroundings. "What is this place?" he asked, as he looked around not recognizing it or the emblems on the walls.

Daniels smiled. "I can’t go into that, but let’s just say that it’s here because of Captain Archer and all of you."

Malcolm was impressed, but was also more pragmatic. "That’s all well and good, but how do we get back to Enterprise?"

"Well, if I calculated right, in just a few minutes we should be transferred back aboard," Daniels quickly answered as he held up his pad and typed in something.

Trip sighed, "That’s good, cause right now I reallllly need a cup of coffee!"
Both men grinned at him.

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

Archer watched in disbelief as the anomaly was about to enfold three of his crew in its lethal wave, when suddenly they just disappeared. He stood there hoping that what he saw was real. He also hoped that Trip wasn’t seriously hurt. Malcolm had been trying to move him when they all disappeared.

The Macos around him were surprised as well by the sudden disappearance of the three men.

"Where’d they go?" asked Major Hayes standing on Archer’s right. He couldn’t believe they had just disappeared. However, there were no bodies so something happened. The alien bodies were still present.

Archer turned towards Hayes. "I think Daniels has them and if so, they’ll be back. Have your men take the alien bodies to sickbay for Phlox to examine. Drop off their equipment and weapons at engineering. Trip will want to examine them when he gets back.”

"Yes, Sir," Hayes replied quickly and left.

Jon stood there for a moment longer. I just hope they’re all safe. Somehow he knew they must be, since Daniels would protect them and Reed was there as well to protect Trip. That Jon was sure of, for Reed and Trip had become friends since the death of Trip’s sister.

He was there for Trip when I wasn’t ...

Regret filled him, but he pushed it aside.

I have to finish this mission, there will be time later for friendship, for… if we fail, it won’t matter...

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

Reed watched as Daniels continued to type a code into the small handheld gadget. This was beginning to get on his nerves. They had been swept out of harm’s way into the future and now were suppose to be on their way back to Enterprise and their time line. His head ached from just thinking about it.
Beside him, Trip was barely able to stand and Reed kept glancing his way ready to grab him if he started to collapse.

The engineer had nine lives there was no denying that. How many times had they rescued him from harm, too numerous to count was a good answer. Someday, Malcolm feared, they would be too late.

Daniels was smiling now and turned to face the two men. "That should do it! Are you ready, Lt. Commander?"

Reed looked at Trip who nodded, then turned back toward Daniels. "We’re ready, let’s get on with it shall we."

Daniels pushed the button and everything went white again.

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

Jon was just starting to leave the shuttle bay when the three men suddenly reappeared.

"Malcolm are you both ok?" he shouted as he ran over to where they now stood in the middle of the shuttle bay.

"Yes, Sir. You’d better ask Daniels about what happened. I’ll just take the Commander to sickbay, if that’s ok.?" Malcolm smiled at the dirty look Trip gave him.

"I’m ok, Capt’n. Just got a headache, that’s all," Trip tried to offer in order to escape the visit to Phlox.

Jon was relived to see that Trip didn’t seem to be badly hurt. "Malcolm is right, you’d better go see Phlox and that’s an order!" he added when Trip started to protest.

Trip nodded his head and together with Malcolm left for sickbay. Jon turned his attention back to Daniels.

"Thanks for what you did," Jon said, and smiled gratefully.

Daniels looked at John for a moment before answering. "It was nothing; remember we’re in this together." He then smiled as well.

John nodded and turned to leave but stopped. "Are there any more surprises that you know of coming our way?"

Daniels wanted to answer him, but in truth he had no idea what might happen since others were in control of this time line.

"I’ll let you know if I find anything out, Captain."

Jon seemed satisfied. "Fair enough."

Daniels changed the subject, "I’ll need Commander Tucker’s help again to repair the damage to my ship."

Archer sighed, "All right, just as soon as Phlox examines him and says he’s fit."

Daniels smiled, "Thanks, Jon."

The two men parted company and headed off to their separate destinations both knowing full well, that they may never see tomorrow unless they kept this timeline in place.

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

TBC

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One person has made comments

Wow! I love this story, I must have read the other chapters at leat 3 times!
Poor Trip! He's gonna need serious therapy after you've finished with him. Hope they're paying Phlox well!
Pls write more soon!