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Stranded - Chapter 3

Author - Vanishingp2000
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STRANDED

By Vanishingp2000

Email: vanishingp@supawoman.com

Rating PG 13 – English –Adventure/Drama/Friendship

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

*****

Chapter 3.
“We have reached the rendezvous point Sub Commander but there’s no sign of the shuttle,” Mayweather reported from the Conn.

“Neither can I find any sign of them on sensors Ensign, however, we have arrived before the appointed time so we shall wait. I’m sure you can find plenty to occupy your time productively.”

From his station across the bridge from T’Pol Lieutenant Reed looked on anxiously. He checked his own instruments for any sign of the shuttle. Something wasn’t right, he could feel it but he could find no evidence to back up his hunch. Not yet at least.
*****************************

As suddenly as it had appeared the red light vanished releasing Trip to fall to the ground unconscious. His cries had alerted the captain who was frantically dragging himself to the fork to be met by the sight of his friend lying where he had fallen on the uneven ground, fresh blood appearing on his pant’s leg and a nasty bruise developing on his right temple where he had hit the ground.

“Trip,” Jon called repeatedly as he eased himself to the floor to drag himself towards the engineer. There was no sign of the lights – either the brighter ones in the tunnel or the red pulse so Jon had no clue as to what had happened. Reaching his friend he reached a slightly shaky hand to feel for a pulse and sighed with relief to find one in Trip’s neck, weak but steady.

As Archer eased him gently onto his back Trip’s eyes began to flutter followed by a deep groan as he struggled towards consciousness. “Take it easy, just lie still,” Jon urged worried by his friend’s pallor in the strange light. “What happened?”

“I’m not sure Capt’n,” Trip whispered, then more strongly as he became more aware, “the walls started glowin’ then I couldn’t move. It felt like I was on fire, red needles all over me.” He shuddered weakly moving his head from side to side as if searching for the cause of his discomfort.

“Ease up a little when you’re ready,” Jon said, “so I can get the pack off. Your leg is bleeding again and you’ve a nasty bruise on your temple.”

Slowly Trip did as he was bid, or tried to, his head was swimming and his leg was busy reminding him just what he had done to it yesterday. He eased back down as Jon pulled the pack towards him and closed his eyes against the pulsing lights. As soon as Archer had retrieved the medkit and a canteen of water he slipped the pack back under Tucker’s head as a pillow before offering him a little water.

“Thanks Capt’n,” Tucker’s voice was stronger this time but he kept his eyes closed to alleviate the dizziness. Archer meanwhile was cutting away more of Trip’s pants leg to check on his leg wound. The dressing he had put in place the day before was soaked with blood, some of it fresh, due, in part at least to the exertion but no doubt also to whatever had just attacked his friend. Tucker lay still beneath his ministrations but looked more relaxed when the job was finished and Archer tied off the bandage once again.

“I’ve been thinking Capt’n,” he said struggling to sit up a little. “I think I was just scanned.”

“It wasn’t like any scan we’ve seen before.”

“No,” Trip conceded, “but our scans aren’t registering anything, must be a totally different system.” He spoke slowly, slurring his words slightly but his voice was getting stronger all the time and Archer was relieved to see him open his eyes and focus on him without too much difficulty.

“I sure wouldn’t want to be scanned like that too often,” the captain offered.

“No.” Tucker chuckled slightly easing himself fully into a sitting position and dragging himself backwards to lean against the wall. “Thing is we don’t know where we go from here. I mean did we pass and can we carry on or what?”

“Enterprise should be at the rendezvous by now,” Archer offered, “we could just sit tight.”

“As temptin’ as that sounds I don’t think it’s an option Capt’n.” Remember how this planet didn’t show on our sensors, I reckon the whole thing is shielded by whatever is blocking our instruments. In fact I wouldn’t even bet on that ion storm being genuine either.”

“If that’s the case let’s just hope Enterprise doesn’t get caught in the trap as well. Looks like we’d better find our own way out of here.”

Tucker nodded somberly. “Just give me a minute Capt’n and I’ll try taking a few more steps down here, you can keep yer eyes open for flashing lights.”
*************************

“Sub Commander,” Reed’s voice cut across the almost silent bridge. “There are traces of a recent ion storm only two parsecs away from the Captain’s proposed flight path.”

“How recent Lieutenant?”

“Within the past forty-eight hours, but, it’s strange, it must have been very localised as there’s no sign of it having passed here.”

“Is there any sign of debris?”

Reed thought he could detect a note of concern from the impassive Vulcan. “None at all that I can see.” Reed reassured them all, earning himself a slightly relieved smile from Hoshi. Lack of debris was one thing but there was still no sign of the shuttle.

“Keep looking Lieutenant,” T’Pol ordered as she once again perched on the edge of the captain’s chair.
*************************

Trip pulled himself slowly to his feet using the wall as a prop. He felt dreadful, cold and shaky inside while every nerve was still raw, especially those in his leg. He didn’t want the captain to see how bad he was feeling though: he had enough to contend with with his own leg.

“Reckon I’ll just try another step or two Capt’n,” he said forcing a liveliness into his voice.

“Right I’ll watch the lights but only a few steps at a time.” Archer wasn’t fooled by Trip’s act, they had been friends for too long and he knew well how stubborn the younger man could be. But truth be told their options were severely limited so he set himself to watch the lights.

Tucker gingerly took one step and then another and when nothing untoward happened he advanced another half dozen steps along the dimly lit corridor before turning back to face Archer. “You see that Capt’n?” he queried.

“Nothing’s happened.”

Trip looked surprised. “Sure has from here, it’s getting lighter all the time.” He glanced down the corridor and then hurriedly back at Archer, his friend was barely visible any more whilst up ahead it was almost as bright as day.

Quickly hobbling back to the captain Trip was relieved, although vaguely surprised, to still be able to reach him. “You really saw nothin’ any different?” he asked.

Archer shook his head. “You took eight or nine steps down the passage and then stopped, lights didn’t change at all.”

“Wow,” Trip exclaimed, “well I don’t know what to make of it Capt’n but I reckon from here on in we stick together.” So saying he reached down and gathered up their meagre supplies before offering his hand to his friend to help him back to his feet.

Once Archer was ready they advanced slowly down the passage and this time both could see the lights growing brighter around them. They stopped again as the lights intensified, becoming too bright to see and gradually they became aware of a strange quiet as all sounds seemed to diminish as the lights grew brighter. Sensations too disappeared and they found themselves unable to move.

Gradually the lights diminished and all of their senses came back full force. Archer almost stumbled, crying out as his weight came onto his broken leg. Trip tightened his grip round his friend’s waist giving him support before looking around him as the lights dimmed enough to allow them to see.

The passageway had gone and they no longer stood on a sloping rocky floor instead, stretching around them as far as the eye could see was a bleak desolate landscape. “Well I’ll be……” Trip exclaimed, not too sure what to make of it. “Desert,” he said disgustedly, easing them over to a rocky outcrop with some degree of shade and helping Jon to sit down. “What the hell happened there?”

“Some kind of transporter?” Jon wondered.

“Maybe, but if so where are we now? The same planet? Light years away?”

“Try your scanner,” Jon suggested. Trip quickly took the instrument out and activated it, nothing. He shrugged. “Chances are it’s the same place then,” he reasoned. “Worth trying the communicator?”

Wordlessly Archer took it out of his pocket but there was no activating beep when he opened it, not that he had really expected one. “Nope,” he shook his head. “Hot here isn’t it?”

Trip grimaced but gave no reply, Jon knew full well how he felt about deserts. He looked around, at a loss for the moment what to do. Sand was hard enough to walk on at the best of times, with a broken leg? Well that didn’t bear thinking about. The rocky outcrop where they were sitting extended above them for some distance and did at least have a firmer footing. He shrugged, it looked vaguely familiar.

First things first, he thought taking his jacket off and holding out his hand for the captains. He rolled them up and squeezed them into the backpack, in this crazy place there was no telling when they would need then again. He looked over at Archer noting the lines of strain and exhaustion on his friend’s face, he had to find a place for him to rest. Trip looked more closely at the outcrop. It formed one side of a wide valley that looked as though it was the route of a substantial river should it ever rain. The empty riverbed was now a sea of sand stretching miles into the distance, shimmering in the heat. A few boulders were evidence of the water’s power and across the valley a few straggly trees struggled for life, clinging to the cliff top.

Tucker stared at the far valley, uneasy thoughts clamouring for his attention. Something about those trees. Dammit, it can’t be, he berated himself for his stupidity. But this place isn’t normal, it doesn’t follow the rules.

“Capt’n,” he ventured, “I think I’ve been here before.”

“All deserts look alike you said, heat and dry air.”

“Not this one. I know it’s crazy but if you add the river and a storm and make it real dark and misty I swear this is where I fell. The shuttle should be over the next rise, if it survived the flood.”

“Trip,” Archer admonished, “you’re exhausted, that’s crazy.”

“Like I said Capt’n, I may be beat but I’m willin’ to bet the missing bit of my sleeve is still attached to that tree up there.”

“But how?” Archer asked, no longer disbelieving. He was willing to trust his friend’s instincts. But what the hell did it all mean?

“Beats me,” the engineer replied, “I’m a little too tired to think straight at the moment. One thing is for sure we can’t stay here all day.” He flung an arm upwards pointing at the blazing sun which had risen noticeably higher since they had arrived.

“I’m for heading back to the shuttle,” Archer suggested.

Trip looked doubtfully at the sandy riverbed they would have to cross. Archer read his mind. “The sand is hard packed, it will be the easiest walking we’re going to get around here,” he pointed out.

Tucker grimaced. “How about if we move two steps over there and see whether we end up back in the passageway?”

“What good would that do?”

“Might tell us if there’s anyone around. You know, controlling things.”

Archer looked at him strangely. “You think the desert was for your benefit?”

Trip shrugged. “Don’t know, the more I think about it the surer I am that I was scanned. Beats me why they couldn’t have chosen somewhere pleasant like Tarpen Springs or Frisco?”

“Rather this than Mars without a suit,” Archer pointed out.

“True.” Tucker was scouting around the outcrop, poking at the rocks but all the while being careful to keep away from the point where they had ‘arrived’ in the desert. Just in case. After five minutes or so he gave up his search. “Nothing,” he said in exasperation, “they just look like ordinary rocks to me.”

“OK,” Archer said decisively, “help me up. Let’s try it your way. At least it will be cooler.”

Tucker gave him a smile before wiping his brow with his sleeve and once again gathering their things together. “Here goes,” he said moving them back to the ‘arrival’ spot. They waited but nothing happened. “Hello,” Trip called, feeling slightly foolish but feeling his temper start to rise along with the heat. He bit his tongue, the captain needed him and pointless displays of temper wouldn’t solve anything. “Well,” he said finally, “plan B?”

“’Fraid so,” Jon grimaced, preparing himself for the walk ahead.

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

Half an hour later they were hot, tired and aching all over but both were filled with a sense of achievement. The trek across the riverbed had been achieved without incident and they were resting under an outcrop that, for the moment at least, was in the shade. Trip took a gulp of water from his canteen debating the wisdom of climbing up to look for the shuttle on his own. There was always the chance of one of them ‘disappearing’ if they separated but just crossing the riverbed had been further agony for the captain. He settled for exploring the immediate area while Archer rested as best he could.

“I don’t think splitting up is an option,” Jon interrupted, reading his thoughts.

“We’ll rest up here while we have the shade then,” Trip said, looking over at the captain, noting the determined look on his face. Jon was looking up at the sky, tracing the sun’s progress and his gaze grew reflective as Tucker watched him.

“What?” he asked.

“Look at the horizon over there.” Archer said, pointing to Trip’s left.

“What am I looking at?”

“There’s a heat haze where the mountains meet the sky but look what happens when the sand meets the horizon. Unless my eyes are deceiving me….”

“The effect is different,” Tucker interrupted excitedly, “no haze.”

“Exactly.”

“But that’s not natural,” Trip stated, “is it?” he asked less decisively.

“Not so’s I’ve seen in any desert before.”

“If it’s not natural then manufactured,” Tucker mused slowly. “A biosphere?” he wondered.

“If so it’s a damn big one.”

Trip chewed his lip thinking. “How’s that help us?” he asked.

“Not too sure,” Archer shrugged, “but at least it means you’re not imagining things.”

“That’s good to know,” Trip replied dryly, thinking. “If this is a biosphere there must be a control centre somewhere, and someone controlling it.”

Archer nodded. “We need to find that centre, or someone to talk to. You know, it would also explain why our sensors have been blocked.”

“I reckon any controls are probably ‘inside’, maybe we were gettin’ too close before and that’s why they moved us.”

“Could be,” Archer agreed, “I guess we need to find another way in.”

“You realise we’re back where we started, shuttle or mountain?” Trip asked.

Jon pulled a face, “What state were the shuttle’s engines?” he asked slowly.

“Better’n some parts of the pod, I mean, they are damaged but I could repair them. Can’t do anything ‘bout the screen though, there’s no way we could enter orbit, even supposin’ we could leave the biosphere.”

“Who said anything about leaving the sphere,” Jon asked. “I’m getting tired of walking, just thought maybe we could travel in style.”

Trip laughed. “Let’s just hope the pod wasn’t washed away in the flood then,” he said getting slowly to his feet. “If we’re gonna do this Capt’n now’s as good a time as any. The sun’s off this side of the valley and I wouldn’t want to try climbing it in the dark.”

“Good point,” said Archer wearily putting his hand up towards his friend. “With a bit of luck this will be the last mountain we have to climb for a while.” As he got to his feet he failed to see a red light pulsing at the top of the mountain, it dipped quickly out of sight as they started searching for the best route.

TBC


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