Star Trek Enterprise - 02 - By the Book by Star Trek

Author:Star Trek
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780743448710
Publisher: Star Trek
Published: 2002-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

NINETEEN

Archer had been on his way back to sickbay when Reed sounded the alarm. Even before Reed finished his announcement, Archer took off. He ran as fast as he could, ducking through the hatchways, and sliding around corners.

It took him less than a minute to reach sickbay, but he didn’t go in. As he rounded the last corner, he saw both Reed and Dr. Phlox standing to one side of the corridor, clearly taking cover.

The smell of rotted fish seemed even more powerful than before. Archer almost felt as if he could see it as a clear blue haze filling the darkened corridor.

Inside sickbay, someone screamed. The cry sent chills down Archer’s spine.

“What’s going on?” he asked as he slid to a stop beside his chief of security.

Reed didn’t look at Archer. Instead, he kept his gaze on the corridor, and the sickbay door.

“The alien woke up a bit sooner than expected,” Reed said.

“I was out of the room,” Dr. Phlox said, “and so was the lieutenant. We were talking about the need for more guards—”

“When my men started screaming.” Reed’s face was pale. “I glanced inside. The alien was moving its legs, trying to stand, like an upended turtle, and my men were clutching their heads, screaming, just like Edwards did on the surface.”

Archer frowned at the sickbay door. What was going on in there?

“I came out here to prevent Dr. Phlox from going inside. He convinced me to stay beside him, and that’s when I sounded the alarm.” Reed ran a hand through his hair. “I must admit it didn’t take convincing.”

“He wanted to go in there, rifle blazing,” Phlox said. “Since I’m not sure what’s causing this reaction, I warned him not to.”

“Sensible, Doctor,” Archer said. He didn’t want to lose Reed to this creature’s strange powers. He was glad Phlox had stepped in.

Another scream echoed. This one was ragged, higher-pitched, and so full of terror that the hair on the back of Archer’s neck stood up. That had never happened to him before. He’d always thought it was an expression instead of an involuntary response.

“All right,” he said, wondering what it was about the tone of that scream that made his body react so strongly while his mind remained calm. “What are our options?”

“I’ve established a perimeter,” Reed said. “I didn’t want to hazard more men inside sickbay. I believe we have a better chance at this creature if we wait for it to emerge. There are men on the other side of the corridor. If the alien comes out of sickbay, it can only go two ways, and we have both of those ways blocked.”

The scream started again, only this time it became a wail that seemed to go on forever.

“I’m not so worried about it escaping,” Archer said. “I just don’t want anyone hurt, including the alien. Understood? Knock it out only.”

“I’ve already given that order,” Reed said. “All of our weapons are set on stun.”

At that moment the scream cut off suddenly, leaving the corridor in total silence.

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