Darkness Unfolding - Part 2

Darkness Unfolding

by The Watch Stander

Disclaimer in Part 1

AN: This is a short chapter, but I’ll be adding more later. A thank you to all who reviewed and left kind thoughts behind. Its nice to hear from you all again.

***

Part 2

They continued to follow the distress signal from the ship, hoping to locate the ship and not fall into an ambush from raiders or pirates.

Lt Reed had left the bridge to get a cup of coffee and stretch his legs shortly before the ship’s distress signal had come through. Trip would call him back if necessary.

Hoshi was listening intently to the signal, "It’s getting stronger, Commander."

Trip immediately looked her way, "Any name or registry?"

"Yes, It’s the Kobayashi Maru", she responded.

"What!" Trip couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.

"That old tub blew up years ago. No one in their right mind would use that name. It’s jinxed!" he added.

Hoshi just shrugged in apology, "It’s what’s being transmitted, Commander."

Trip took a deep breath, "OK, everyone. Let’s take this real slow. Travis, get ready to leave quickly on my order."

He opened his comm on the chair, "Lt Reed to the bridge."

There was a short delay, then a response came back, "On my way, Commander."

Reed was not one to question orders, especially abrupt ones from the bridge. He arrived two minutes later and immediately went to his weapons station.

Trip heard him arrive but didn’t take his attention off the forward screen. He briefly filled him in.

"There’s a ship ahead sending a distress call, we’re on our way there now. It’s identifying itself as the Kobayashi Maru."

Reed looked up from his screen with a puzzled expression, "That ship was destroyed."

Trip smiled to himself imagining the startled look on the Lt’s face. "That’s what I said. None the less, Hoshi says that’s what’s being transmitted."

Reed shook his head and continued preparing to go to red alert and target select at the same time.

"I have them now on forward scanners,” he quickly advised.

Trip tried to locate the ship on the screen before him, but it still showed nothing

"What’s it’s size?" he asked.

Reed looked puzzled, "It’s showing as a one man ship, one life sign." He looked up at Trip, "Human."

Trip looked over at Reed briefly, then back at the forward screen. "I guess we go in then."

He leaned back in the chair. "Hold on everyone! This could turn out to be one hell’uv a ride!"

Enterprise stayed at impulse power and soon the small ship appeared before them, hanging in space and obviously out of power. Weapons damage showed along its side, but its bulkheads and atmosphere were still intact.

Trip waited a few moments then let out a breath. No one had attacked them, ...yet.

"Hail them, Hoshi."

"Yes, Commander. Its coming through now."

A face started to appear on the forward screen, a familiar face. One Trip had never expected to see again.

"Daniels!" he managed to blurt out. It was certainly the last person he would ever expect to meet in the expanse.

Daniels smiled, "Glad to see you, Commander. I hope all is well with you and the crew. "

Trip shook his head. "We’re just peachy, what are you doing out here?"

Daniels looked embarrassed. "Had a little run in with some pirates when my invisibility cloak failed. Seems they wanted my ship."

"I see. Well, we’d better bring you and your ship on board before they come back to finish the job!" Trip added sarcastically.

Daniels’ face brightened. "Good idea!"

Trip then signed off.

"Travis, you heard the man. Get the grappler out and reel him in."

"Yes, Sir." Travis immediately began to release the grappler.

"Malcolm, any other ships in scanner range?" Trip asked.

Reed shook his head. "Nothing in range."

"Good, just keep an eye peeled. Trouble always follows Daniels like a bad penny and I don’t want it sneaking up on us. Anything makes a threatening move blow it out of the water."

Reed smiled to himself. Trip’s command style was sometimes full of odd expressions, but he liked the man and they worked well together. They had even managed to become friends.

Travis finally spoke up. "I have it now, Sir. Bringing it on board."

"Ok. Travis you have the Conn. Lt Reed you’re with me and have a relief agent get here on the double to man your post. Travis take us out of here at warp 3 soon as the door of the bay closes."

"Yes, Sir!"

Trip paused a moment in front of the turbo lift, "Hoshi, You’d better wake Captain Archer, he’ll wanna know about Daniels being here."

She nodded, then put through the requested call to the Captain’s quarters.

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

Archer made it to the shuttle bay in record time. His appearance and uniform looked slightly disheveled, but that was hardly important now. Seeing Daniels immediately took precedence.

Trip and Reed were standing near the small ship and talking with Daniels when Archer arrived.

"Captain. Glad to see you again," Daniels called out to him.

Archer, after looking him over closely, replied, "Thanks. Why are you out here?"

Daniels walked over to his ship and pointed to the blackened marks on its side. "I’m afraid I was attacked and couldn’t timeslip back into the future. I was however, able to out run the pirates before my ship’s engines quit."

Archer smiled slightly, Daniels was being evasive.

"That doesn’t answer my question. Why are you here in the Expanse?"

Daniels looked apologetic. "Why, ... I’m here to help you." He made it sound like it should have been the most obvious thing to all of them.

Archer sighed. "And just how are you planning to do that?"

Daniels looked at all of their faces as they awaited his answer. "If you don’t mind, Captain. I’m a little tired and hungry. Maybe we could talk over lunch?"

Archer nodded. He could definitely use a cup of coffee after having only three hours of sleep.

"All right. Let’s go to my mess and we can talk."

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

Trip and Archer were both with Daniels in the mess. Reed had been sent to the bridge and Archer decided to let T’Pol know later about Daniels.

Trip was dying to ask a question, and finally his curiosity got the better of him. As they were sitting down at the table he decided to ask.

"Yah gotta tell me something, Daniels. Why use the name the Kobayashi Maru?"

Daniels smiled, "It’s actually rather funny, but I can’t explain. Let’s just say in the future those entering Starfleet will know its name well and wish they had never heard of it."

Archer looked at Trip quizzically, "What’s so unusual about that name?"

Trip leaned back in his chair and looked at them as he started to explain.

"It all started when I was a 1st Lt in school. There was a ship, a freighter actually, that would leave earth every two months for different areas in space. Every time it went out, something would happen to it. Engine failure, pirate attacks, hijack attempts, even kidnaping. Hell, they even dumped their cargo once because of a problem. It became known as a jinxed ship and the news media had a field day. I don’t know how the owners ever managed to make a profit on running her. Finally, after two years or so she was reported missing, then her crew was found in life capsules shortly after. Seems the ship’s engines had finally overheated and blew up taking the ship with it. No one ever used that name again for a ship as it was considered a jinx."

"I do seem to remember reading about that ship," Archer said.

The food was quickly served and Daniels seemed starved as he started to eat immediately. It made Archer wonder how long he’d been waiting for rescue.

The coffee tasted good and Jon was glad to have it as it made him feel more awake. He would need all his wits very shortly to try and get answers from Daniels.

TBC

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Two folks have made comments

Very, Very good. Keep writing, must know more!!!!

oooohhh, need more :) u authors and this new quick posting, i love u all!!!!