Lost, Part 4

Lost

by

The Watch Stander

Disclaimers in Part One

******

PT 4 - Pieces of the puzzle

Trip was lying on the coach in the rear of shuttle pod 2 thinking about what Archer had said concerning the area of the Nebula they were trapped in and how the other ships were entrapped there as well.

Trip tried to clear his mind and focus, something was nagging at him, but he couldn’t remember what it was. It had something to do with where they were, but with all the medication, it was very hard to think.

His head still ached, but now it was from the pain pills as well as the concussion he had suffered. Finally exhausted, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

*****************
Archer and Reed were on their way back from the bridge heading to the launch area. They were discussing the abandonment of the cargo ship by five members of its crew.

Reed was clearly puzzled, “I don’t understand it, Captain. You’d think they would have had a better chance taking this ship with the more powerful engines out of here.”

Archer agreed, “It’s something we need to find out, why they left everyone else here stranded when they could have taken everyone with them.”

Reed stopped. “Maybe they couldn’t! What if the ship was too big?” He exclaimed.

Archer suddenly stopped in his tracks as a thought crossed his mind brought on by Reed’s comment.
“Too big! It’s also probably too slow and too cumbersome to overcome whatever force is holding them here!” Archer looked puzzled, “That might be it!”

Reed nodded, “Now if we could only figure out what they did to get away.”

“Let’s check on Trip and get something to eat, maybe it’ll help us to think.” Archer headed down the hall in a hurry and Reed followed.

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

When they arrived at the shuttle, Archer took out his communicator before opening the hatch. “Trip, we’re back I’m opening the door.”

They found the engineer sound asleep inside and Archer decided not to awaken him.

He helped himself to a couple of the food packs and a few other provisions. After heating them, he brought them outside where he and Reed could talk as well as eat and not disturb Trip.

“It has to be something with the ship’s size and speed, I have this feeling.” He looked at Reed, “Did you know that I was a test pilot for Starfleet before I was given the captaincy of Enterprise?“

Reed looked surprised, “I didn’t know that, Sir.”

Malcolm took a serious look at Archer, it seemed there was more to his captain than he thought. He wasn’t just the son of the warp five-engine designer, but someone who put his life on the line testing it as well. Reed’s opinion of Archer went up a notch and this earned a degree of respect from the British Starfleet officer.

Archer gave him a smile, ”There’s a lot you don’t know about me, and sometime I’ll tell you about my other jobs with Starfleet.”

“I’ll look forward to that, Captain.”

Archer handed Reed a pot roast dinner with mashed potatoes and all Reed could think about was the time he and Trip had been stranded on the shuttle together. They had used the mashed potatoes to plug a leak made by a micro singularity.

Now that was a good use for it!

It made the Lt. smile thinking about Trip and the meatloaf dinner that went with the potatoes.

“I’ll just check the Commander, make sure he’s ok.” Reed said as he put the tray down and headed for the shuttle.

Archer smiled and shook his head, Trip had told him Reed was like a mother hen, and he was right. Just the same, Archer was glad to have Malcolm on this mission for he wasn’t sure he could have carried it off alone with Trip injured and unable to assist. The armory officer had been good company as well as instrumental in finding Trip.

Archer opened his food pack and started to eat the veal marsala, fortunately it really wasn’t bad.

Reed came back a few minutes later. He had a disturbed look on his face, so Archer questioned him, “Everything ok?” When Reed didn’t answer right away, Archer become worried, “Malcolm?”

Reed heard Archer’s upset tone and finally realized he hadn’t answered the man, so intent was he on his own thoughts.

“It could be nothing, but it seems our Mr. Tucker has developed a fever. He’s still asleep so I put an extra blanket over him after I checked him. We’ll have to watch it for, he may have an infection from some internal injury that we’re not aware of.”

Archer took the news surprisingly well. After all, up to a few hours ago he wasn’t sure that he’d ever see Trip again, never mind find him alive.
“Anything we can do?” Archer asked, already knowing the answer.

“Just need to keep him warm and try to keep his temperature from getting too high. I’ll give him some medication to help, but Phlox really needs to get his hands on him as soon as possible.”

Reed didn’t like giving out bad news, but it was the truth and he was sure Archer knew it as well. There was no sense hiding it, they had a seriously injured man on their hands and there was no getting around the fact that he needed better medical attention and soon.

I just hope we get him some in time,

Reed found the thought of losing the commander to an infection after all they’d gone through to save him, very depressing.

Archer watched the Lt’s face and read the mood changes there. He tried to distract him, “How’s the food?”

Reed looked up startled, “Ah, it’s just lovely, Sir, thanks.”

Archer nodded and they finished eating in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Time was now even more important, Trip’s life depended on them getting out of here and soon.

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

Trip came awake and found himself still in the shuttle. Archer and Reed were outside for he could here them talking. They were discussing plans to try and leave the void they were trapped in. Trip wanted to help, but he wasn’t sure what he could do since getting up wasn’t an option.

Archer entered the shuttle to get some of the charts and noticing the engineer was awake walked back to him.

“How are you feeling?” he was concerned and it showed, Trip always could read Jon’s moods. They had been friends for a long time.

“Ok. Feel like I’m in la la land though. Whatever Malcolm gave me really packed a wallop.”

Archer looked at him carefully, Trip still had dark circles under his eyes, but what had Jon concerned was the slight flush of Trip’s face.

Trip noticed the papers Archer was holding, “Can I help you with anything?”

Archer smiled, even injured Trip could always be counted on to help.

“We’re just going over the charts from the other ship and this one trying to see what their plan was to leave here. The crew from this ship took their shuttle and left so they must have come up with an idea. Malcolm and I are just trying to piece it together.“

He didn’t bother telling Trip about the fact that they were Xindi and had left the rest of the crew behind to die. Trip was still dealing with his grief from the death of his sister at the hands of the Xindi. The younger man didn’t need any more reasons to hate them.

“I’ll get Reed and maybe the three of us can brainstorm this and come up with something.” Archer squeezed his shoulder and went to fetch the Lt.

Trip took a deep breath to try and clear away the cobwebs caused by the drugs and their after affects.

I wonder how Enterprise is doing. T’Pol may have already left and returned to Vulcan thinking we’re all goners!

Nah, she wouldn’t do that, she’ll wait.

It made him feel better knowing she had changed and was now on their side not the Vulcan’s. He felt that they could trust her.

Reed was the first one in the hatchway, “Commander, glad to see you could join us. Maybe now we can figure a way out of here.” He sounded hopeful, but Trip had pulled some tricks out of a hat before and it would be nice if he could repeat that performance.

Archer came inside and the two officers gathered around Trip and began to explain what they understood so far from the charts they had found on the two cargo ships. Trip listened, all the while knowing something was nagging him that was important about their predicament, but he just couldn’t put his finger on it.

******************
TBC

Continue to Part 5

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Two folks have made comments

Great story please write more soon, hate when I get to that dreaded "TBC" bit.

Still loving it! I hope you update again soon so we know what's nagging at Trip! Thank you!