|
Post by Harbinger on Jan 15, 2013 21:54:36 GMT
He wasn't aware at first before he caught sight of her and paused in his pummelling of the punch bag which had done nothing to deserve it. He frowned before placing his forehead against the bag. Half of him was glad she didn't remember him whilst the other chided him for such selfish thoughts. He couldn't stay. He wasn't wanted, his paranoia told him that much but who would want a bounty hunter to became a permanent part of the deck plating? Bounty Hunters rarely fought for reasons and even if they did, they were never to be trusted. He had learned that the hard way.
He didn't expect any individual on this rust bucket to. Why should they? Besides, he didn't want to burden them with the issues he had to worry about. Running a hand through his hair, he moved and caught up with her.
"I'm not staying, you know," he said quietly, hands in his pockets and shoulders slouched as if he accepted that he could never and would never be trusted or wanted.
|
|
|
Post by Anteyra on Jan 15, 2013 22:02:04 GMT
Hearing his voice she turned to look at him. She took a few steps closer to him. "Wouldn't being on a starship, around other humans be better though? Free medical care, good food, company." She queried and listed the benefits of being on Enterprise before shrugging her shoulders. "But it's your choice. No one will force you to stay."
|
|
|
Post by Harbinger on Jan 15, 2013 22:09:44 GMT
A rueful and sad smile crossed his features as he listened, "I often dreamed about finding my own kind but when I bought my freedom, I had nothing. Nothing to get me there, no idea how I would find it. The space isn't quite the ocean I was used to," he replied for a moment before he shook his head.
"I have no choice but to leave," it seemed a strange statement.
|
|
|
Post by Anteyra on Jan 15, 2013 22:18:05 GMT
She had an idea she knew what that meant.... He wanted to leave because she couldn't remember him. Well, he was only a guest on board and if he wanted to leave that was his decision.
With a slight nod, Dani turned and began heading for her quarters again.
|
|
|
Post by Harbinger on Jan 15, 2013 22:23:57 GMT
He watched her for a moment before realising what she may have taken it for, "I have a son," he stated causing a passing crewman to pause in her stride. Reuben gave her a look of such reproach before she took the hint and carried on with a hurry in her stride. Reuben sighed slightly.
|
|
|
Post by Anteyra on Jan 15, 2013 22:42:21 GMT
She stopped and turned to look at him. "And a wife as well, I suppose? or at least his mother?"
|
|
|
Post by Harbinger on Jan 15, 2013 22:58:43 GMT
He nodded, swallowing deeply. He was still coming to terms with that too. "Yes, Neila. Loving wife and a passionate mother. The Expanse was not the best place to be, especially when you're a member of a race enemy to the Xindi," he replied sadly. "She was the only one who taught me what kindness meant. To remember who and what I was. She helped buy my freedom."
"If not for Neila, I doubt I'd be alive now," it seemed almost whimsical how he knew how to survive and did what he had to, the simple things he had missed were the things she had shielded him from. And now, he was pretty much naked and clueless.
"Needless to say, when we were found out.... it didn't go down too well,"
|
|
|
Post by Anteyra on Jan 16, 2013 6:05:55 GMT
"Sir! One Xindi Reptillian ship just emerge from one of those vortecies. They're on an intercept course with us!" Travis announced as John came out of his ready room and onto the bridge.
Archer stood behind the helmsman and looked at Malcolm. "Tactical alert!" With that command main lights were turned off and replaced with the red glow.
Again Dani shrugged her shoulders. "Perhaps explain this to the Captain. I'm sure that when you're away they miss you, and are worried for you. Perhaps he'd bring them on board as well." She began to explain when suddenly the lighting changed. She looked around and began walking more towards him. "I have to go. You should get somewhere safe.... the bridge." She said, walking passed him and towards a different turbolift.
|
|
|
Post by Harbinger on Jan 16, 2013 6:14:59 GMT
He shook his head as she passed, "She is with the stars, and he gods know where," he replied, taking note of the lighting and he assumed it meant something to alarm. Pretty sure a simple man like him shouldn't be anywhere near such an important place, he meandered back to his given quarters.
For Archer, this was not entirely unexpected but he hoped this was not some fallout from their previous dealings with the Xindi. It was not long before the screen changed and the familiar hull shape of the Reptilian vessel came into being. He liked reptilian Xindi even less
"Let's see what they want Hoshi," the woman nodded and sent out a hailing frequency. After all, Earth was no longer at war with them and they had been granted permission to explore Xindi space.
|
|
|
Post by Anteyra on Jan 16, 2013 20:04:49 GMT
After a second or two, the young woman shook her head. "No response, Captain." She reported.
Dani continued on her way to the Armoury, but before she could get there, two Xindi suddenly appeared along the corridor in front of her. Seeing them materialise she turned and ran for a COMM panel. "Mitchell to the bridge!" She began but before she could say any more one of the Reptillians rushed forward and grabbed her, hitting her head into the wall. She was left dazed, but not unconscious. She shook her head to bring herself round and jumped up to her feet, taking to hand to hand combat. But the Xindi were far too strong for her and with one more hit round the face with the butt on their weapons she was knocked unconscious.
|
|
|
Post by Harbinger on Jan 17, 2013 18:14:33 GMT
Reuben had not gotten very far when something on his frame bleeped. he stopped in his stride ignoring those that went past him as he pulled one of the few things on him that Reed hadn't confiscated. Apparently, Starfleet didn't believe in being armed at all times.For him, it was an occupational necessity. As was his device. He read the readings and his expression grew dark, foreboding and things rather nasty.
It was small in size, able to be hidden anywhere on his person when he didn't need it. It was something he had not easily procured since they were rare, hard to make and very expensive. Reuben did not appreciate surroundings which he wasn't aware so whilst he had been holed up in his quarters thinking about other matters that troubled his mind, he had set his device to scan what it could. He had nothing of personnel files or anything too specific like how the engines were controlled or such like but it did give him a pretty decent floor plan with the life signs he had it set to detect showing as red lines.
He turned smartly on his heel before he ran down the corridor, a bad feeling encroaching his stomach. He knew for definite the Xindi had no intention to start a war, they were at peace with Earth and knew Enterprise probably only had permission to explore the entirety of Xindi space with a few exceptions out of the feeling that an apology was owed more deeply than words sufficed.
The Reptilians were not so happy to let this happen and the Insectoids even less so but he knew they were not going to incite chaos with the other specie of Xindi just to incite a war they could not fund or facilitate. That made no sense. He wanted to see the ship outside but there was one president that concerned him more. Reuben suspected that if Reptilians or Insectoids were on board, then it was all the more likely that they were renegades who didn't agree with how things were settled between the Factions.
The life signs looked like they moving through the ship in a search but he wasn't sure. The device, whilst it did a lovely floor plan, couldn't always be accurate with life signs it may have read or misread. He wished he had his weapon with him.
---
Archer shared an uneasy look with Malcolm who had the same reservations. They weren't here for a chat. Jon was about to give orders when the comm crackled into life.
//""Mitchell to the bridge!//
Archer frowned as he recognised her voice but when nothing followed as to what she had contacted them for. It was strange and it was understood she wouldn't have hollered for nothing.
"Lieutenant, get security teams, have Enterprise searched for any intruders and have the hull plating polarised,"
Archer had a bad feeling about this. Perhaps he should have asked Reuben about any political or military situations Starfleet was unaware of.
|
|
|
Post by Anteyra on Jan 17, 2013 19:14:32 GMT
Malcolm waited for a few seconds before pressing a button on his panel. "Mitchell come in. Dani, respond." Recieving no reply brought a worry to the tactical officer... had she had another feint? He had no way of knowing.
Lieutenant, get security teams,
The man nodded his head and very soon the teams were scouring the ship.
Dani's unconscious body was soon picked up by one of the Reptillians and very quickly both were beamed off Enterprise. The Reptillians carried on moving along the ship, grabbing two other crewmen before one of the security teams found them and a firefight broke out.
Shots went back and forth along the corridors, but eventually the Xindi left... three Humans now on their own ship as their prisoners.
One of the security officers moved to a COMM panel and hailed the bridge. "Woods to the Bridge... sir... Three Xindi were on board, but they're gone now... However, they've taken two crewmen with them!" He reported, having not seen Dani being taken as well.
|
|
|
Post by Harbinger on Jan 17, 2013 19:22:05 GMT
The device became more confused with the increase of movement but when the red disappeared he knew only too well what happened. He ran into one of the security teams who gave him a strange look. He stowed his device away, he didn't need it any more. He knew where Dani was. Logistics was a funny concept.
"I got a funny feeling your Captain may want a word with me soon," he stated a little loudy and only too darkly. What a rotten week he was having.
Archer's heart sank before he looked at Malcolm before he replied, "Continue your search," and he clicked off.
"They're moving off, Sir," Malcolm stated, knowing only a cool head would help them here.
|
|
|
Post by Anteyra on Jan 17, 2013 22:50:40 GMT
Archer gritted his teeth in anger at this turn of events. He knew the Reptillians were the most opposed to them being in the Delphic Expanse, but they had agreed not to attack them. Words would be needed with Mallora at some point. "Follow them." He ordered and Travis nodded his head, but before they got very far, a vortex opened and the ship disappeared.
Travis sighed slightly. "I'm sorry, Sir. They're gone."
"Captain." T'Pol began. "Just before the vessel disappeared, I'm certain my scanners could detect three human bio-signs on their ship."
Malcolm looked up. "Mitchell... She must've been trying to warn us they had boarded!" He exclaimed, putting all the puzzle pieces together. It was the only reason he could think of why she was contacting the bridge. But the biggest puzzle that remained a mystery for the moment was how their own ship sensors didn't detect the intruders. that was something that would have to figure out, and fast, before anything else happened.
|
|
|
Post by Harbinger on Jan 17, 2013 23:26:53 GMT
"You're certain?" he double check and she nodded. He sighed wondering why on Earth they had taken three of his crewmen and very random ones at that for no apparent reason. He sighed, "Why didn't sensors alert us?"
T'Pol glanced at Reed who only shook his head before she replied, "I'm not certain as to the cause. I will run a full diagnostic,"
Moments later the comm fired up again from that same security officer, "Captain, Mr. Boch is requesting to come to the Bridge. Says he might be useful,"
Reuben rolled his eyes and shook his head as he waited, arms crossed still wishing for his blaster as he waited for the Captain's response
|
|
|
Post by Anteyra on Jan 17, 2013 23:39:19 GMT
"Bring him up to the bridge." Archer replied and looked at Hoshi. "Contact Mallora... we need help finding that ship." He ordered and then moved to his ready room. He would do whatever it took to get his people back.
|
|
|
Post by Harbinger on Jan 17, 2013 23:45:10 GMT
"Aye sir," the man clicked off before gesturing at Reuben who only raised a brow before he obediently followed despite knowing the way himself already. He wasn't going to tell them that. Not yet.
Hoshi nodded before turning back to her machine, sharing a worried glance with Travis. Everyone on the Bridge was head deep in work and no one talked for a while until the turbo lift doors opened showing Boch with his still-armed escort.
Boch couldn't see where Archer was and he hadn't met all teh Bridge staff yet so he simply looked at the only one he did know.
" I might know where they may be heading or get through to contacts who for definite..." he wasn't sure if Archer was willing however to go into the dark and nasty reaches not was he quite sure he wanted to lead them there.
|
|
|
Post by Anteyra on Jan 17, 2013 23:59:20 GMT
"The Captain is waiting for you in his ready room." T'Pol pointed Reuben in the right direction to find John.
|
|
|
Post by Harbinger on Jan 18, 2013 0:09:34 GMT
Reuben looked at her for a long moment. He hadn't seen a Vulcan till now. He only nodded before he moved towards the door and entered when he got a response after the chime.
He paused as he recognised the ship in the old style of the word as a realistic painting on the wall before glancing at the other man.
"I may have an indication of where this ship may have gone back to but I don't not think they were sent by whom you might expect,"
|
|
|
Post by Anteyra on Jan 18, 2013 8:20:38 GMT
Archer was sitting in his chair and didn't look up at him, even when he began speaking. There was a short pause before it was John's turn to speak. "They took three of my crew. Malcolm has confirmed that Ensign Mitchell is one of them." He now looked at Reuben to see what his reaction would be.
|
|
|
Post by Harbinger on Jan 18, 2013 10:30:34 GMT
Reuben only nodded as he moved to the window but the twitch of worry was still evident on his face, gazing out before he replied, "I don't think the Reptilian Xindi government have anything to do with this. They can't facilitate a war right now, none of the five can. That's why the weapon was sent. Anyway, Reptilians, much less the Insectoids, aren't happy with you being out here but they would not go against the majority vote of the others just to spite you or them."
He took out the device and fiddled with its settings before he moved and placed it on the man's desk. He pushed a button and it replayed what it had picked up for him earlier.
|
|
|
Post by Anteyra on Jan 18, 2013 11:44:22 GMT
"Any ideas why they only boarded and took my crew? They never fired a shot on the ship." He queried, standing up and began pacing around his tiny room, ducking his head each time he came across the low beam that threatened to knock him out if he wasn't paying attention.
|
|
|
Post by Harbinger on Jan 18, 2013 11:50:41 GMT
"Beats me sideways," he replied, studying the floor plan and replay of events. "Something tells me yours sensor weren't up to the task... that or they have sensor maskers," he added in thought.
"Clearly they want to send a message but don't want to incur the wrath of their government, which by destroying or crippling you would do. The Arboreals, Primates and Aquarian Xindi would insist on. Besides, taking hostages in this manner isn't truly a Reptilian way of doing things. If the government wished it... they'd let you know about it a touch more explosively."
"Do you have a visual recording of the ship, Captain? I have some experience with reptilian craaft.It might shed light on who they are,"
|
|
|
Post by Anteyra on Jan 18, 2013 12:19:14 GMT
Archer moved to the computer and accessed the ship's log. "It entered a vortex just after leaving, so we have no way of following them." He said as he brought up the visual recordings of the vessel approaching and then, after a few minutes, leaving.
|
|
|
Post by Harbinger on Jan 18, 2013 12:28:41 GMT
He peered at and nodded, "Used to own one of those before Osarians got hold of it whilst I was on a planet scouting. Old model, no longer inactive service in the main fleet as far as I know. But I can tell," he said, pointing to certain points, "it's seen a few upgrades. I'd say you got renegades on your hands."
"Did your officers scan it? With whatever they found out about it, I can use to get some f my contacts in Xindi space talking,"
|
|
|
Post by Anteyra on Jan 18, 2013 12:56:42 GMT
"I've already sent out a message to one of the Xindi Primates that we know out here... hopefully he'll get back to us soon enough." He replied. He had been a little surprised that Reuben hadn't shown much emotion when he said that Dani had been taken. Obviously her amnesia had shocked him a lot, and hurt him.
|
|
|
Post by Harbinger on Jan 18, 2013 16:15:49 GMT
"Sure, but I don't think you'd want the one source. They may not even be aware of the situation," he replied thickly. "I got no interest in letting three humans find themselves gods know where and quite possibly being hostages or facing a life I've gone through. I don't wish that on anyone, even if she can hack it. The more sources you get information from, the more accurately you can act on it,"
He knew by contacting his contacts it would open old wounds he was still healing from but he had lost her once, he wasn't about to lose her again to a bunch of addled brained idiots.
|
|
|
Post by Anteyra on Jan 18, 2013 16:44:10 GMT
Archer nodded his head slowly. "You think that's what they've been taken for? Slaves?" He queried.
|
|
|
Post by Harbinger on Jan 18, 2013 16:47:46 GMT
"What other use would Reptilians have for them. It is a way to bring funds into what they're attempting to do," he replied softly. Either way, you're going to have to look into both the lighter and drker reaches of Xindi space. Your Xindi friends will know the lighter, I know the darker. Might even be able to get into contact with the current General but I'll need hoodwink,"
|
|
|
Post by Anteyra on Jan 18, 2013 16:53:34 GMT
Archer turned. "Hoodwink? What's that?"
-----
On the Xindi vessel, Dani had been locked into a cell. Within the four walls of the small room was herself and a chair. She remained unconscious for a while but soon began to wake, groaning from her head injury. A nice lump had formed on her left temple where it had been smashed against the wall, and it hurt like hell. She carefully got to her feet and once she was sure she wasn't going to fall back down, she began to pace the cell, looking for any signs of weakness in the structure of her prison, but ultimately found none.
|
|