Darkness Unfolding - Part 7

Darkness Unfolding

by The Watch Stander

Disclaimers in Part 1

~~~~~

Part 7

Malcolm ran into Trip in the mess as the engineer was walking away from the coffee replicator. The Lt smiled to himself when he saw Trip and what he was holding in his hand. Coffee seemed to be a daily part of the man’s life blood. Without it Malcolm doubted Trip could even function.

"Having a break are we?"

Caught in the act, Trip smiled. "I need this, had a tough time sleeping last night."

Malcolm was intrigued, "You did? That’s funny, so did I. Wonder if it’s this part of space?"

Trip shook his head," Nah, it was a nightmare. That’s all."

Malcolm looked at him closely, then ordered a cup of coffee for himself. "Let’s have a seat shall we."

Trip nodded, more than willing to sit for a few minutes before tackling all the problems that would face him as soon as he walked through the door in engineering. He followed Malcolm to a nearby table.

Malcolm sat down then waited for Trip to tell him more. When the engineer wasn’t forthcoming with anything further, he prompted him.

"Your nightmare, what was it about?" he asked solicitously. Trip was a friend and Malcolm was always willing to listen if he thought the engineer needed to talk. He scrutinized the man sitting across from him noticing how tired Trip looked and the dark circles under his eyes.

Finally Trip started to talk. He stared at his hands that surrounded the cup of coffee, embarrassed at having to actually tell someone about the dream.

"It was very strange, it almost felt like I was really there. We were being attacked and then boarded by Klingons. I was on the bridge having a one on one fight with an invader when he stuck a sword into me." He took a breath, "I swear I could still feel it going through me when I woke up, it was so real."

He looked up at Malcolm expecting his friend to show sympathy, but was surprised when he noticed how pale the Lt’s face had become and the shocked look on his face.

"Malcolm, are you all right." Now he was concerned by Reed’s sudden reaction and wondered what had caused it.

Malcolm realizing that Trip was going to want to know why he reacted this way, decided on honesty. He nervously wiped his chin with his hand before deciding how to tell the engineer that his dream was the same.

"Malcolm?" Trip asked again, getting more upset when the Lt didn’t answer him.

"Sorry, didn’t mean to react so badly, but it seems we had the same dream," Reed finally offered as way of an explanation.

Trip looked at him quizzically, "We did? You mean the same thing happened to you."

Reed shook his head and leaned forward, "Not exactly, but it happened to you and I was there. So was Hoshi, Travis, T’Pol and Captain Archer. A Klingon invader did the same thing to you in my dream as well. This can’t be a coincidence!"

Trip sat back, completely surprised that Reed had the same nightmare about him. "How is this possible?"

Reed didn’t have an answer. "I don’t know. Somehow it has to do with this part of space or time. I just don’t know."

Trip was thoroughly perplexed, "It’s just weird, first Daniels arrives then we change course. I bet this has something to do with his being here."

"Probably." Reed didn’t know where the pieces fit together, but there must be an answer.

They both sat there silently trying to find a logical answer to this and failing.

Trip picked up his coffee and started to get up. "I’d better get to engineering. I’ll talk to Captain Archer later and see if I can get some answers."

Reed watched Trip leave, his stomach now twisted in knots. The vision of Trip lying there covered in blood and the look on Archer’s face still vivid in his mind. It was something that was hard to forget and he hoped to never see it happen.

Was this a premonition of things to come? What exactly was Daniels dragging them into?

He sat there for several long minutes contemplating these questions before finally leaving and heading for the Armory where Hayes was to meet him.

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

Jon was on his way down to engineering preferring to talk to his chief engineer in private.

Whatever was bothering Trip it must be important for him to call and want to see him. Besides, Jon could read Trip well and he had sounded upset. The two men had always been as close as brothers. Lately though, that friendship had been put aside by Jon as the mission had taken all of his time and energy. There was never any time left for socializing.

He also felt the guilt of not having been there for Trip when he needed him just after the younger man’s sister had been killed. But there were more important things to take care of at that time, or so he told himself.

The weight of the world was on his shoulders, Jon had once told Trip over a glass of bourbon, and it truly was.

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

Trip was standing on the platform in front of the warp engine control panel, taking note of how the warp engine was responding to the stresses of the surrounding space. They were already two days into the nebula and everything had been quiet. Nothing had manifested itself in the engines and no anomalies had appeared. Every once in a while he would glance toward a view pane at the outside blackness. If there were stars nearby, he couldn’t see them. The blackness of the nebula surrounded them completely and didn’t permit any light to shine through.

*****

It was depressing to say the least. His mood seemed to be in that same state as well, for not knowing why he had the same nightmare as Malcolm was really bothering him. He’d finally called the Captain and asked to speak with him. Jon had agreed and was now on his way down from the bridge. Trip hoped they might be able to clear the air about what was happening as well as possibly reestablish their friendship as well. It was a lot to expect, but he knew he’d give it a try. However, it truly was up to Jon.

Archer came through the door into engineering and spotting ,Trip started toward him. All around him engineers were busily keeping Enterprise running smoothly. Trip ran an efficient department and was well liked by his people. No one had ever filed a complaint about him. He was truly a good officer and Jon was lucky to have him on Enterprise.

Jon wondered how many of the crew felt the same about him, for lately he hadn’t taken the time to worry about anything but this mission. A good Captain would have also made time for his crew.

"Hi, Cap’n." Trip greeted him as he came down from the platform.

Jon smiled and tried to keep it light. "So, what’s this all about?"

Trip’s look turned serious, "Let’s go to my office."

Jon followed him and they both took a seat in Trip’s office.

Trip looked at Jon trying to decide how best to explain that a nightmare was the cause of all this. It almost sounded ridiculous and had it not been for Malcolm having the same dream he would have gotten cold feet and called this talk off.

"Cap’n, I know this is going to sound ridiculous, but I’m real worried that Daniels is taking us into trouble. I’ve had weird dreams and so has Malcolm. Dreams that seem real and Malcolm even had the same exact dream as I. It’s too much of a coincidence."

Jon stared at Trip, remembering the dream he’d had as well. There was little doubt that if he told him about it that it would end up being the same one that Trip and Malcolm both had.

"I know you feel like you’re losing it, but Daniels explained that by changing our heading and going through the nebula we’ll be avoiding the events that you dreamt about. They were going to happen in the very near future, but now they won’t. Am I making sense?"

Trip looked clearly puzzled. "Wait, you’re saying that we’re going to avoid having these events happen by going a different way?"

"More or less. There are people in the future interfering with our time line and trying to change history."

He didn’t want to bring up the part that Trip was actually killed in that reconstructed time line. It was still painful to remember.

Trip sat back in his chair trying to understand what exactly was happening. "Wow! I guess that’s why you changed course."

Jon was about to answer when a sudden noise behind him caused him to turn. Two figures suddenly materialized just outside Trip’s office. Both were armed and headed toward Jon and Trip.

Trip reacted first and opened the comm, "Send security to engineering, we have armed invaders down here."

There wasn’t time for more as the invaders were now in the office. Archer struggled with one of the aliens trying to avoid being shot by the weapon in it’s hand. Trip came around the desk and went for the other one. It was a short fight as the invaders were far stronger than either of their human opponents. The first invader soon had Archer on his knees with the weapon held securely to his head.

Trip was quickly subdued from behind with the invaders arm held tightly around his throat. The tactical alert sounded around them as engineers seeing the struggle quickly tried to come to Trip and Archer’s aid. They stopped in their tracks when one of the aliens put a weapon to Trip’s head.

Archer spoke up quickly, "Stay back!"

Jon didn’t have time to say anything further as the invader fired the weapon into Trip’s back. As Trip sagged both he and the invader dematerialized. Archer’s assailant disappeared as well.
Thoroughly shaken by what had just happened, Archer sat there staring at the spot the alien and Trip had just been standing in. He wasn’t sure if Trip had been killed or not.

Hayes and three Macos came to his side having arrived just in time to see the invaders disappear. They helped him to stand up.

"They have Commander Tucker. I’ll need to get back to the bridge." Jon told them still unsure what had really happened and why.

"Bridge to Captain Archer" came suddenly from the comm on Trip’s desk.

Jon reached over the desk and answered the comm, "Archer here,"

It was T’Pol.

"Captain, two invaders were just here, they took Ensign Sato."

It was a further shock, but he answered just the same.

"They have Trip as well. I’m on my way back. Tell Daniels to meet me there. Look for any trail from a ship, there must be one in the area."

T’Pol signed off after a brief pause. Archer knew she was worried about Trip as well.

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

TBC

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Two folks have made comments

:O ure killing him again!!!!

:'( save him. and keep up this amazing writing

Oooohhh intense! I can't wait to read more! Wonderful writing! ;)