Lost, Part 6

LOST

by The Watch Stander

Disclaimers in Part 1

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Part 6: Into the Maelstrom

Archer decided the best way out would be to follow the flow of the force, which was spiraling around in a circle on the edge of the void; this was the force holding them back. It would also give them momentum if used correctly to slingshot out of the void. The three officers were still sitting in the back of the shuttle putting the pieces together.

Trip was having trouble concentrating due to his fever, but he again came up with an analogy, “It reminds me of a riptide, Capt’n, the anomaly comes in and carries you with it so you use it till you can pull away and come back so to speak. We could ride it into the nebula in the opposite direction from where we came in and then turn in a circle to get back to Enterprise.”

Archer listened to his Chief Engineer, his ideas had merit and they would incorporate them into their escape plan. The Captain was also concerned that Trip’s fever had escalated; his face was flushed and covered with perspiration. Something was causing an infection internally and it was not a good sign, even he knew that. Reed had given Trip some medication, but now even that wasn’t helping.

We’ve come this far together and I’ll be damned if I’ll let the Expanse claim Trip as its next victim.

Archer was adamant, he wouldn’t give up his friend without doing everything humanly possible to get all of them back to Enterprise safely.

Reed noticed the concentrated look on his captain’s face it seemed to be focused on the commander, Archer seemed anxious again and stressed. Trip’s fever was worrying him and Reed knew there was nothing he could do with the limited resources they had. Even the cargo ship had nothing they could use. Trip needed Enterprises’ sickbay and Phlox, a real doctor to help him. Their only hope lie in riding the force and the anomaly wave out of here and that was a long shot for the timing would have to be perfect. Reed had been keeping track of the anomaly waves that passed through the void. They continued across the void and into the nebula on the other side. This was what Archer planned on using to give him them the extra punch they needed to push through the force surrounding the void.

Archer shook off his mood and tried to be optimistic for his two officers. “We’ll try for the next anomaly, that Reed says will be in two hours time. I have shuttle pod one attached and that should act as a stabilizer giving us enough drag so we don’t get going so fast that we destabilize and end up out of control. “

He waited a moment before explaining,” My best guess at what happened to the alien ship was that it was going against the wave and hit a debris field of asteroids inside the nebula that breached their hull. Since we will be going with the wave that shouldn’t be a problem.

Reed filled them in on the supplies they had available, “We have plenty of fuel, I transferred some plasma from the cargo ship’s stores to our shuttle. There is also more food available if we want to take it from the alien ship and we have enough water since Trip’s pod was fully stocked with it as well as food for a few days. That’s about it.”

Archer thought it through for a moment, “I say we go with our own food supply, I don’t want to risk any of us getting sick from alien supplies. Just have to hope we find Enterprise in 6days or we’ll be very thin.”

Trip shook his head, “You both can have my share, I’m just not hungry.”

Both Reed and Archer looked at Trip, he had never missed a meal when he was well and both men were worried about him. The fever was taking its toll on the engineer.

Archer placed his hand on Trip’s arm, “I promise you the best meal of your life when we get back to Enterprise!”

Trip smiled, he knew Archer was worried about him and was trying to cheer him up. His whole body ached and his head now as well, despite all the painkillers Reed had given him. The thought of food just made him nauseous.

Archer and Reed went ahead and started to prepare the shuttle for launching. The captain made sure he took the two logs that he had downloaded from the cargo ships with them. If they ever found a way, they would notify the authorities that the men from these ships would not be coming home. He would also fly by the other ships and try to get their names to do the same thing.

Trip had dozed off and was dreaming that he was still on the shuttle trapped in the Nebula. In the dream, his air was running out, but instead of freezing, he was hot, burning up! A fire had broken out in the plasma relays and the cabin was becoming a furnace. He started to shout in his nightmare and his voice carried to the outside of the shuttle. Archer raced to the hatchway and hurried inside. He found Trip in the throws of a nightmare shouting for help. Quickly he grabbed the man's arms and shook him.

“Trip, its all right, you're ok!” Archer tried to get through to him.

The younger man awoke with a start. His glassy blue eyes sprung open showing terror still in them from the dream. It took him a moment to focus on Archer.

"Capt'n?" he was disoriented.

"It' all right Trip, you were having a nightmare. You're here with us."

Trip looked around him and realized he was in the shuttle, but then remembered being rescued by Jon and Malcolm.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, Capt'n, it all seemed so real!"

Archer smiled, he knew Trip's fever was the culprit behind the nightmare, but for now there was nothing they could do about it.

“ We're going to leave in a few minutes and get you back to Dr Phlox so he can try some of his wonder cures on you,” Archer added to lighten the mood.

Trip made a face, “If it’s slugs I rather stay here!"

Archer laughed, ”I won't let him do that to you, I promise."

Trip nodded then leaned back into the pillow. "I’ll hold you to that promise."

Reed came inside the shuttle and walked to the back.
"How's our star patient?" He tried to hide his concern, for even he had heard the shouts from all the way down the hall.

"I'm ok, just a little weird dream, that's all."

Reed nodded and after glancing at Archer headed back to the front of the
Shuttle to start the preparations for launch.

Archer patted Trip on the arm and went back to the front of the shuttle.

They were on their way out of the cargo launch bay fifteen minutes later. As they passed the Xindi crew ship in the launch bay, Archer considered it appropriate that they join the rest of their crewmates for all eternity.

Reed sat behind him silently calculating the exact time the anomaly wave would enter the void. Both men were apprehensive of what was to come, but there was no other option. Archer turned and looked in the back of the shuttle where Trip lay, The engineer seemed to be asleep, but Archer could tell he wasn’t due to the movements he saw. Trip was probably just as anxious as they were.

He turned back and looked at Reed, “Well, here goes nothing!’

The shuttle entered the force surrounding the void and started to gain momentum instantly. Fortunately, the second shuttle acted as a brake allowing archer to keep control over their ship and not allow it to get up too much speed to control its turns. It was a dizzying ride going in ever-smaller circles heading up what seemed to be a wall. Archer was prepared for the Anomaly wave when it hit them, but what he wasn’t prepared for was the violent reentry into the nebula that the wave pushing them through the force caused. He had to fight the controls all the way. Perspiration covered his face as his hands strained on the controls. It was touch and go and there was nothing Reed could do but watch and pray.

A sudden jolt came from behind and caused Archer to lose control of the ship. The engines flared out and the ships went tumbling. Archer was thrown from his seat and hit his head on something hard, blackness followed. Behind him, Reed suffered a similar fate.

Trip had been tossed to the floor as well, all he saw before he passed out was the red and gold of the nebula, and it’s flashes of light. He thought they had failed and the nebula had won at last.

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Reed opened his eyes to semi darkness and silence. He didn’t know where they were or what had happened. A groan from nearby told him someone else was awakening. He reached out a hand and found a body. Turning on his side, he could see Archer with a nasty wound on his head that was bleeding profusely.

Reed really wasn’t sure he wanted to get up, but he needed to find out their status and check on Trip as well. Thinking about it he figured all he would find was bad news. They were probably on their way back into the void or the ship had been breached and they would soon die. Trip was probably so severely hurt that nobody could save him or worse, dead.
He knew though he had to go check, Trip would do it for him. After all the man had almost sacrificed himself so Reed could survive on that shuttle they had been trapped on. Malcolm also knew that he should be the first one to find out how Trip was, since the engineer was Captain Archer’s best friend and finding him dead would be a crushing blow to the captain.

He grabbed hold of the copilot seat and pulled. His head swam for a moment but then cleared and he staggered back to the rear of the shuttle. There he found Commander Tucker face down on the floor, unmoving. He slowly bent down and checked the man for a pulse, holding his breath all the while and praying. He only breathed again, when he found a pulse. Trip was alive at least. Reed sighed in relief, then picked up a blanket and tucked it around the Commander. He would check him for injuries after he retrieved the medical kit. First though he had to find it.

Archer heard noises, but he saw flashes as well, and then he realized he was alive. The reality came back in a hurry causing him to gasp as he remembered what happened.

Trying to sit up he could see Reed in the back putting a blanket over trip. His heart stopped for a moment thinking that it meant Trip was dead and Reed was covering him. Archer had to swallow quickly to avoid sobbing in grief and frustration. He then noticed Reed was tucking the blanket around the Commander and not covering his face.

Archer fell back against the floor, relieved and trying to get his emotions under control. His head was throbbing and he realized there was blood on the hand that he had touched his face with. It didn’t matter, they were all alive, but where?

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TBC

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Three people have made comments

Great to see another chapter,really enjoying this story - hope to see more soon.

This was a great chapter, very exciting! I like how you're giving us insights into the Archer/Tucker friendship as well as the Tucker/Reed friendship. Thank you! :-)

Good job-- what happens next? Don't leave us in suspense!