Don't Judge A Book…
By Antares *Star
Chapter Nine: …By its Cover
*Disclaimer and other info located on first chapter
*Note: It's been over a year since I updated. No excuse will make up for that. But before you start cursing me, I will tell you why I haven't updated for so long, even if it doesn't make up for anything… I was forced to move halfway around the world (From Germany to Georgia), had to get anew computer, lost my Grandfather to cancer, my sister left for college, I got a new job, had to go to a new school, joined an ensemble band, retrained a racehorse (and was thrown through a wooden fence in the process, ow), helped an abandoned golden retriever, took care of my Grandma, and got my license. All in all, a very hectic year. The story just faded from my mind somehow, then I forced myself to come back to it. So I'm sorry, you can read it if you want, if not…THEN WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE! lol, J/K! Thanks and bye!
*Dedication: To Grandpa. I love you.
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The silence was deafening, broken only by the sound of Ansian soldiers shouting orders far in the distance. Archer felt all hope drain from him. They were going to die. Here, far from Earth on some Godforsaken planet amidst aliens. The shuttle was gone.
"Captain." Trip panted. "It was right here, I'm sure of it."
"Then they've taken it." Archer sighed. "Those bastards." He whipped around angrily, looking at each of his crew carefully. "We're not giving up. We're not waiting here like criminals being executed. Let's go!"
They stumbled across the clearing and over flattened grass and dead wildflowers where the shuttle had once rested. Their weariness had increased and Reed felt the adrenaline drain from his system leaving him feeling weak and shaky. He found himself squinting against the harsh sun as sweat trickled down his back. The cover of the trees as they reentered the forest helped a little.
Hoshi noticed an eerie silence. All sounds had faded and the only thing that could be heard was the rustling of branches in a sweet afternoon breeze. No birds singing or chirping. She was reminded of how very alien the planet was. But no soldiers were calling either. The shouted orders had quieted and sound of distant aircraft was gone.
The others had noticed it too. "It's too quiet." Hoshi breathed, hardly daring to break the profound silence. But she shouldn't have worried. The second she spoke an earsplitting explosion rocked the land around them. She clapped here hand over her ears and fell to the ground as Reed shouted a curse. Not a mile from them, fire gushed from the prison they had been held in as pieces of it flew into the air landed with decisive crashes.
"What the hell!" Archer yelled, although no one heard them. Their ears were still ringing. We need to get out of here. I don't know what's happening, but it can't be good. Grabbing Reed under one arm he hoisted the smaller man up and started running away from the fire. Another explosion hit preceded by a high whining sound. They were in trouble.
"What the hell is going on!" Trip shouted.
Archer hardly heard him, yelling back, "They must be under attack. We're on one of their military bases. We need to get out or--"
"--a road!" Hoshi interrupted, pointing to get her idea across. "Follow the road; it has to lead out of the base."
"Or further into it." stated Reed loudly.
"We'll have to risk it." Archer decided. "Let's keep it in view, but I don't want to get on it."
They staggered through the thick forest by the old road. No one was on it, it looked aged and outdated. Another bomb exploded behind them and they pushed on even faster. The fire was spreading as dusk crept nearer. Archer felt panic rise in him as he began to feel the heat of fire on his back driving away the sunset's chill. He looked back and wished he hadn't. Fire swelled from every tree and building in site and the battle raged overhead as well. Occasionally ships would fly over them, firing all the while at each other.
Archer carefully maneuvered around a large clearing by the road where several Ansians were fighting hand to hand with an ugly dark species. There were far more dark creatures then Ansians.
The soldiers stopped fighting as the realized the danger of the fire nearing every second. Archer ducked behind a large tree pulling Reed harder then he meant to against the bark. Hoshi and Trip got down too as Ansians rushed fearfully out of the clearing towards the road and away from the coming flames, pursued by the dark aliens.
"We can't outrun the fire." Archer let his head fall back against the bark.
"We can't give up Captain," Trip cried. "We need to find water, or shelter. A paved area or something the fire can't burn. Road's too narrow, but it could lead to something."
"Alright." They got on the road and ran. They sprinted for several minutes until Archer was afraid they couldn't go on much further when the road opened up to a large housing area. Several unmarred homes were spread across a wide grassy area and a pretty little lake lay in the middle serving as a backyard to many houses. The barracks was abandoned though, all of the soldiers gone to fight.
The fire was almost upon them now and they felt dread rise in them. This was it.
"The lake!" Trip yelled pushing on anxiously. Archer pulled Malcolm forward with him but noticed the officer was leaning rather heavily on his Captain.
"Can you make it?" Archer asked quickly.
"No." Malcolm answered simply.
Archer slowed staring at Reed incredulously. He looked bad, but no worse then he had been for several days. His eyes were different though, full of hopelessness and fear. "No." he repeated. "I won't." His eyes left the ground and set on the lake. On the water. Archer understood now.
"I'm not leaving you here to burn Malcolm." he began pulling Reed towards the water. "You've been through hell, that's for sure, and a little water isn't gonna kill you." He glared at Reed. He felt sorry for him but had to do something. "I'm ordering you to go in the lake with us."
Reed closed his eyes but forced his feet on. They were nearly at the bank and the fire was surging into the barracks now. He had no choice. "Yes sir," he replied shakily. They had reached the bank. Trip and Hoshi were already well into the lake and up to their necks.
Malcolm felt the wetness on his boots as he stepped into the water. He was up to his knees now. He felt the chill and began to shiver. Archer still clung to his shoulder, steadying him. They were all the way in now and water splashed onto his face. Fire surged around them, burning everything as Malcolm tried to control himself.
The familiar feeling of complete and irrational fear surged inside of him, threatening to take over. He was hyperventilating and felt his heart thundering. Everything was starting to go black as he gasped for air. He felt Trip taking his other shoulder as everything faded and blurred. He couldn't think-he was engulfed in water.
The fire began to die as everything burned and its fuel ran out. "Hold on Malcolm," Archer ordered as they began to swim out.
"What's wrong with him?" Trip was worried. When he had reached them the Captain had been practically dragging Malcolm, whose eyes were glazed over and had been gasping for breath.
Archer just shook his head. "It's not for me to tell." They lay on shore, exhausted. Hoshi's communicator beeped.
"Better late then never," grumbled Trip.
Hoshi flipped it opened and drained water from it. "Sub-commander?"
"Yes, Ensign. Captain, we have completed repairs although there is too much interference to transport you. Are you unharmed?" T'Pol's steady voice calmed them all.
"More or less," Archer stated.
"Captain, the Tauners have agreed to bring you back to Enterprise. They are the race at war with the Ansians. We reached an agreement."
"What?" Archer asked
"We supplied them with the recording of your conversation with Capena and the landing coordinates given to us. The Tauners derived where to attack from this information. They are pleased with their victory today."
"Where are they then, if they're so damn pleased?" asked Trip.
"They should be arriving shortly. The leader's name will be Litan."
"Ok T'Pol. We can't wait to get back." Archer sighed in relief.
"I too, am eager to have you safely on board. Sub-commander out."
Trip grinned wryly. "That was sweet, for a Vulcan…She missed us."
Archer smiled leaning over to check on Malcolm. He was still shivering but his eyes were clear and flicked towards the Captain. "Are you alright Malcolm?"
"Yes," came the soft response.
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*Three days later*
Back on Enterprise everything was just about back to normal. They had finally left the war-zone wishing the Tauners luck but supplying them with no weapons.
Phlox had given them all a thorough checkup and released Hoshi and Archer immediately. He kept Trip for a day and Reed for two, but everyone was recovering nicely, although Reed was still off duty.
Captain Archer was sitting relaxed in the command chair sipping a mug of coffee. It had been a quiet couple of days, but he hadn't minded much. He sighed and leaned back, enjoying relaxing just a little.
They had entered another solar system and one of the smaller planets had life on it.
"The civilization is primitive, they will not detect us." T'Pol stated.
Archer sat and considered. "Let's leave it that way." Archer stated.
T'Pol looked at him. "Do you not wish to dress as one of them and infiltrate their planet?"
"No." Archer smiled. "We'll let sleeping dogs lie."
"As you wish. A most wise course of action." She stated
"I've had enough action to last a while." Archer commented. "But don't get used to it sub-commander. Mayweather, plot a course to the next system."
*~*~*END*~*~*
Thank you! Hope it was ok. Bye for now!
;-)