Things That Come in the Night-pt. 10

Things That Come In the Night

by The Watch Stander

Disclaimers in Part 1

****

Part 10

Reed and the Macos used the transporter to deposit them near to where the Captain’s bio signs were. They easily over powered one of Broetag’s crewmen they found there with very little resistance. The Lt. then sent three of the Macos in search of the rest of the cargo crew while he and one other man went to find the Captain and Trip.

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Broetag entered the infirmary and knew something was wrong for Archer was standing very still. Broetag went over to the Captain then looked down at the Commander lying on the bed. The young man’s face was pale, but the pain that had been reflected there before was gone now and he looked peaceful. Broetag realizing that he must be dead, suddenly felt ashamed that he had allowed this man to die and all of it was done because of greed.

“I’m sorry captain. I didn’t mean for this to happen, “ his voice full of regret for he had liked the young man. It was the Commander’s strange reaction to Broetag’s story about the siren that had caused Broetag to become suspicious in the first place. Broetag wished now that he had never instigated the scan for the creature.

Archer didn’t even look at him; he was lost in his own world of regret and sorrow. There was no amount of recriminations that would ever take away way the pain and despair he felt inside about losing Trip.

All the time we’ve been in the Expanse I counted on having my crew behind me and they have been there for me at every turn.

Where was I when just one of them needed me, and that one person my best friend no less.

Jon hadn’t been there to help Trip and that fact alone would haunt him to his grave.

Getting no response from Archer, Broetag sighed. There was no reason now for the entity to come, it was all for naught and the young man had apparently died for nothing. He made a decision.

“I’ll give you the charts anyway. I’ll explain to my crew so they’ll let you go.” When Archer didn’t answer him, he turned away and quietly left the room to go and tell his crew what had happened.

Reed and the other Maco had slipped unseen into another room when they heard Broetag’s footsteps coming down the hall. They watched as he passed by, then quickly went on unseen to the infirmary.

Reed looked inside the room and seeing the Captain entered after checking to be sure he was alone. The Maco stayed at the door and watched the corridor.

Something was wrong for Archer was just standing there looking down.

“Captain? Are you all right?” Reed asked in a clipped accent.

Getting no response, he approached Archer. Then Malcolm saw Commander Tucker’s still body on the bed before him. Trip’s face was ashen.

Archer looked up slowly, his face showed traces of tears on his cheeks. Although surprised by Malcolm’s presence, he still said nothing.

Reed immediately checked the Commander and found no pulse. “Oh, God, Sir. Why couldn’t I have come sooner?” he barely whispered as his emotions started to well up, but somehow he managed to control them.

Archer seemed to be in shock and a more rational mind was needed now to get them out of here. There would be time later for grief and blame.

The Maco came into the room and Reed directed him to help Archer. Reed started to pick up Trip, but Archer suddenly found his voice.

“I’ll carry him, it’s my fault this happened. “ Jon’s eyes were threatening to tear up again as he looked at Reed, “I should have listened to you.” His voice reflected his heartache and regret.

Reed just nodded and said nothing as he watched Archer pick Trip up and carry him. One would have thought the Commander was asleep the way his peaceful face rested against Archer’s shoulder, but Reed knew better. He slowly followed behind Archer as the Maco led them down the corridor to the shuttle bay. The others should be there by now for it was where they agreed to meet.

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Broetag and his crew were being guarded by the Macos in the cargo bay where Archer’s shuttle had been left. One of the men, Nika had a bad bruise on the side of his head. A Maco was just behind him covering him.

At any other time, Reed would have been boastful about their accomplishment in securing the ship so quickly. Under the present circumstance, he doubted the captain would be interested.

Reed stood by Archer to offer what support he could. Despite Archer and Trip’s differences of late, one could see how shattered the Captain was over losing the Commander. It was also an ache inside Malcolm that he would have to handle as well, but not now. He needed to get them all back to Enterprise. One of the Macos, Chang had communicated with T’Pol and told her they would be on their way back very soon. Everyone was in a somber mood for they had all seen the Captain carry Commander Tucker into the bay and realized the implication by the look of sorrow on Archer’s face.

Broetag tried to approach the Captain and hand him the chart disks. “My men and I want you to have these, Captain. We’re all sorry this happened.”

The room took on air of silence as Archer turned to him and looked thoughtful for a moment then finally said, ”Some things that you think you need,… come at too high a price.”

He said the next part regretfully and with sorrow in his voice. “Other things that you do need and already have,… are beyond any price.”

He then looked directly at Broetag and his men, “ I’ve lost something today that can’t be replaced and there’s nothing you can give me to take away the pain of that loss.”

The room was still silent, no one could speak. Even the Macos stood still for they had all liked Commander Tucker.

Archer’s voice suddenly grew harsh, all his anger welling to the surface at once and it was directed at Broetag. “All I want from you is your promise of silence. You never saw us here in the Expanse, for I swear if I find out you have told anyone I’ll track you all down and blow you and your ship to pieces!”

His green eyes were intense and Broetag and his men knew he meant every word.

Archer knew he had just become that hardened man that the Ossirian pirate said he couldn’t be. He was now capable of killing people if necessary and these men in particular for they had caused Trip’s death.

Broetag looked at him, then dropped his hand that held the disks to his side, “I understand, Captain. You have our word, nothing will be said.”

Archer turned and with Reed’s help entered the shuttle. It would be close quarters with them all inside so Jon sat on a bench in the back and continued to hold Trip across his lap. Reed sat across from him and noted that Archer’s complexion now looked pasty for he was most likely in shock. The Lt intended to take him right to sickbay when they arrived on Enterprise. Phlox had been advised and would be waiting for them in the shuttle bay.

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They were halfway back to Enterprise and silence still filled the shuttle. No one was talking out of respect for the Captain and the dead Commander.

Reed looked at Archer and wondered if the man before him would be able to cope with this loss. Reed blamed him for it, but he also blamed himself for not getting to them in time to help the Commander. The details would be given in the debriefing, but Malcolm knew Archer would take all the responsibility of Trip’s death upon himself. It would probably eat away at Archer’s insides and wouldn’t be a pretty sight. Trip wouldn’t have wanted that to happen to his best friend, but Reed was at a loss as to how he could help prevent it. He just wasn’t that close to Archer.

Jon sat on the bench holding Trip and staring at nothing, his hands were cold and he felt numb inside. He was thinking about their first two years in space and how naïve they had all been, thinking nothing would hurt them. Trip taking photos on the ship came to mind and Jon had to smile inside to himself. The Commander had endeared himself to everyone, including one very unflappable Vulcan whom Trip always took pleasure in teasing at every opportunity. Jon’s heart suddenly ached at that thought.

God, I’ll miss him.

Reed’s sudden exclamation caught Jon’s attention.

Reed was staring at him as he yelled ,“What the hell,….”

Archer felt movement in his arms and quickly looked down. Trip’s ashen color was disappearing from his face and a flush of pink appeared on his cheeks, then his eyes suddenly opened.

Jon jerked upright and held onto Trip tighter to keep from dropping him, shocked at this sudden development.

“Trip!” he practically screamed it, then realizing what this meant suddenly felt dizzy with joy and had to lean back against the wall behind him. Tears started to well up in his eyes and for a moment he thought he was going crazy and imagining all this.

Reed was standing over them now, smiling as well, tears of joy forming in his eyes as well.

“Commander!” Reed managed to stammer, “You’re not dead!”

Trip didn’t know what was happening and tried to focus on the two men above him. He felt like he was crawling back from a distant place and was exhausted. The last thing he remembered was passing out when the siren had refused to leave him.

Jon was holding him and Trip could see tears on his cheeks. He wondered what had happened. Reed was here as well and Trip decided that Malcolm must have rescued them for they were in the shuttle pod.

Finally, Trip was able to speak, “Capt’n,…did I miss something?”

“Miss something!” Reed practically sputtered. Then he leaned over Trip and said to him seriously, putting emphasis on each word, “If you ever… play dead again,… Mr. Tucker,… I swear I’ll personally shoot you myself!” There was intense emotion behind it, but his smile gave away his feelings of joy.

Archer wiped his own tears away, and smiled as well, he didn’t know what to say, he couldn’t talk. He had his friend back and that’s all that mattered right now.

With the exception of the pilot, all the Macos were watching the three men in the back of the shuttle. Discovering what had just happened they suddenly started to cheer.

Trip felt Jon pull him closer as tears seemed to be forming again in the Captain’s eyes. Realizing they all had thought him dead, Trip felt overwhelmed by their responses. It was too much for him to think about now, for he was so tired.

Exhausted, but glad to be back with his friends, Trip’s eyelids suddenly grew heavy and slowly closed as he once more drifted off to sleep.

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T’pol and Phlox stood side by side, both lost in their own somber thoughts as the shuttle landed in the bay. Both of them dreading the arrival of this shuttle bringing the Commander’s body back.

They weren’t prepared for the happy expressions on the faces of the Macos as they quickly exited the shuttle. This allowed Phlox access to the rear of the pod and he quickly went inside not sure of what was happening.

Reed was sitting there smiling and Archer, who was holding the Commander’s body looked exhausted and spent, but he too seemed happy as he allowed Phlox and another crewman to take Trip from his arms and place him on a stretcher. Jon didn’t trust his legs to be able to support himself, never mind carry Trip.

He looked up at a puzzled Phlox, “He’s alive, Doc. Not dead, we were mistaken.”

Phlox suddenly found himself smiling as well at the good news for he also like the Commander and had been distraught upon hearing that he had died. He quickly checked the Commander and discovered he was asleep.

“We’ll get him to sickbay right away. This wound needs to treated.” He left with Trip.

Archer remained seated where he was, still trying to gather his wits and try to adjust from grief to joy.

Reed stood up to leave, but noticing that Archer hadn’t moved, turned to him concerned.

“Captain, Are you all right?”

Jon smiled up at him, “I don’t think I can walk off this shuttle, Malcolm. My whole body feels numb.”

Reed smiled at him reassuringly, “Of course you can, Sir. I’ll help you.” He took Archer’s hands and pulled him to his feet. Then put his arm around the Captain’s waist and helped him walk toward the front of the shuttle. Once there Archer found the strength to walk out the hatch by himself and up the stairs.

Reed watched, knowing that everything was going to be all right now that they had Commander Tucker back.

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TBC

Continue to Part 11 (Conclusion)

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One person has made comments

Great Story, I glad Trip is going to be alright. Can't wait to see how the story finishes.