MIND MELD

Enterprise Fic

Hoshi had spent several days listening to the language of the primitive humanoids that inhabited the planet they now orbited. She'd managed to get the universal translator to learn the language so Captain Archer and his team would be able to speak and understand the language. In some ways she wished she was going along, but the Captain had decided to only take Commander Tucker, Lieutenant Reed, and Ensign Cutler.

"Hoshi, you have those translators ready?"

"Yes, sir. You should have no trouble communicating with these." She handed the translators to Archer as he stepped up next to her.

"Very good, thank you Hoshi." Turning towards the turbolift he stopped at the comm. panel and pushed the button. "Archer to Tucker."

"Tucker here."

"Is everyone ready to leave?" He knew the necessary clothing he would need would be waiting for him on the shuttlepod. Everyone else was already in the appropriate clothes and preparing the shuttlepod.

"We are just missing one thing." Trip had a grin on his face.

"What's that Commander?"

"That would be the Captain." He looked at Reed and Cutler as they both laughed.

Archer also laughed. "I'm on my way Trip." Moving to the turbolift, Archer looked back at the bridge and nodded to T'Pol. "You have the bridge, T'Pol."

"Yes, Captain." T'Pol moved from her station and took a seat in the Captain's chair as the turbolift doors closed.

Archer made his way to the shuttlepod and a few moments later they were headed down to the planet. They'd selected a very remote area to land the shuttlepod and then they would walk to the nearby village. Their story was that they were from another village and had come to visit and look around. Archer doubted that the residents would question them since they would be dressed just like them. They had also observed travelers going from village to village as they studied the planet.

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K'Tar observed the craft coming in for a landing in the distance and smiled. This could be her chance to get off the hell hole of a planet and gain her freedom. She'd been stuck on the planet in exile for four years now and she was desperate to get away. Hopefully these new visitors could provide her with her means of escape. They were obviously highly advanced and she knew they would question what a Vulcan was doing living on this planet. That was okay, she could always force one of them to help her and sneak her aboard their vessel. It would just require her to observe them for a little while and decide when would be her best chance to act.

Ducking inside her hut, K'Tar decided that she best stay hidden from the newcomers until she knew who or what they were. The craft that she'd seen landing looked a lot like photos she'd seen of Earth vessels before she was exiled from Vulcan. If that was the case then she'd have to be very careful with them. However, if they were humans then she knew it would be easy to mind meld with one and manipulate them into helping her. It might even be fun if she got a hold of the right one. Some of the human males she'd seen where very handsome and she'd been missing decent male companionship.

A short time later K'Tar watched out her window as the strangers walking into the village. They were indeed humans and that made her smile. It would make her work much easier. She observed the strangers and noted that there were three males and one female. After she observed them for a while, she'd make her decision about which one she would take. She'd already eliminated the female as she hoped to get more out of the male she chose than just assistance in escaping.

Archer, Tucker, Reed, and Cutler made their way through the village. Using the translators that Hoshi had rigged up for them, they were able to easily talk to the locals. They made them feel very welcome and told them to feel free to roam around the village. "Reed, Cutler, check out their farmers market. See what they eat and bring some samples." He watched as they moved away.

"It's hard to believe that things used to be like this on Earth." Trip commented.

"Yeah it is, isn't it?" Archer looked around at the locals going about their business. "Why don't you go that way and look around. I'll go this way." Archer pointed to his left and then indicated he would go right. Things there were pretty primitive, so he didn't think they'd be there all that long.

"Right, Captain. Meet back here in an hour?"

"Sounds good." Archer nodded and moved off.

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Trip made his way along the main street passing various huts and shops. The shops sold hand made crafts and other wares. He was starting to get bored as there was nothing of real interest in the village. It was only when he paused in front of a hut to look around for the others in his group that the unexpected happened. The only thing he was aware of before everything went dark, was a hand on his shoulder.

K'Tar's chance came sooner than she expected as the blonde human with blue eyes stopped in front of her hut. She'd moved up behind him silently and used a Vulcan neck pinch to knock him unconscious. Catching him before he could fall to the ground, she pulled him into her hut and laid him down on her bed. Taking in his appearance, she decided that he was very handsome and it would be fun to use him as she wanted. First things first and she first needed to get off that planet and on to his ship. There would be time to enjoy him later, at least she hoped so.

Straddling his waist, K'Tar placed her fingers on Trip's face in the positions needed to begin the mind meld. Closing her eyes, she concentrated and the connection was made. "My mind to your mind. My thought's to your thought's."

Trip moaned softly as she began to probe his mind. It wasn't painful, just uncomfortable. She tried to use her thoughts to keep him from knowing what she was doing, but he fought her. His only thought was that he was being violated and it made him fight as hard as he could. The only problem was that her mind was too powerful. The resistance only lasted for a few moments before he gave up and let her do as she wished.

K'Tar smiled. This man under her had resisted more strongly than she'd expected, but it hadn't lasted long. Probing his mind she found out his name was Commander Charles Tucker the third, but most people called him Trip. She was very pleased to discover that he was the Chief Engineer of their vessel. He would be very useful in achieving her goal of freedom. As she continued to probe him she also discovered the location of their craft and that there was a space between the main compartment and the airlock that she could use to hide in.

Once K'Tar had gathered all the information she needed for now, she erased Trip's memories of what had occurred and left a signature in his brain that would allow her to control him even if she wasn't connected to him with a mind meld. After she was safely aboard his ship she would meld with him again to obtain more information. She would need time to formulate an escape plan from his vessel and she knew she could stay in his quarters and he would tell no one about her presence. "Thank you for your assistance, Commander." Leaning down she kissed him briefly. "Yes, it will be a great pleasure to have you later."

Taking him out the back of her hut she placed him on the ground in an alley several huts down from hers. Quickly placing her fingers to his face she gave him a command to wake in ten minutes. Once that was done she gathered what things she needed and headed for the empty shuttlepod.

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Archer was getting worried. He and Trip had agreed to meet back at his current location in an hour and that had been almost an hour and a half ago. Reed and Cutler had returned from the farmers market with several items of food. They'd both looked excited about what they'd found at the market, but now they were as worried as the Captain. "Where could he be?"

"Maybe he found something interesting and lost track of time." Reed put in.

"Perhaps, but it's not like Trip to be late."

"Here he comes now." Cutler pointed up the street to where Commander Tucker was slowly walking in their direction.

"Trip, were the hell have you been?" Archer asked.

"Exploring, why?" He looked confused. Had he done something wrong?

"You are a half hour past due, Commander." Cutler said. She'd wanted to say something before the Captain had a chance to get mad at him.

"Sorry, sir. I guess I just lost track of time."

Archer could see that Trip was genuinely sorry, so he let it go. "Let's get back to the shuttlepod then and get back to Enterprise." He watched Trip as they made their way back to the shuttlepod. Something seemed strange about him, but he couldn't figure out what.

Trip got on board the shuttlepod and acted as if he didn't know K'Tar was there. In fact he didn't know she was there as she had erased all of that from his memory. Moving to the front of the shuttlepod, he got the engines started up and once everyone was safely aboard, took off towards Enterprise.

Both Archer and Reed were worried about Trip. He was far too quiet and he also seemed distant. The problem was, Archer knew if Trip didn't want to talk about it, he would not be able to make him. As soon as the shuttlepod was securely aboard Enterprise he ordered Trip to get some rest. The man had been working some long shifts the last few days as one of Enterprise's injector coils had been giving him problems. "Trip, go get some sleep. That's an order."

"Aye, Captain." With that he walked out of the decontamination chamber and headed for his quarters.

Archer, Reed, and Cutler all looked at each other with concern. Trip was not acting like himself at all and Archer wondered if something had happened to him down on the planet. He couldn't imagine what could have happened to him. Trip was a strong man and could fight off an attack. It did seem that something happened to him though. "You two might as well get some rest too."

"Yes, sir." Reed and Cutler both replied.

Trip made his way to his quarters completely unaware that his behavior was out of the ordinary. The signature that K'Tar left in his mind had him acting lethargic and almost mindless. Shedding his uniform, Trip crawled into bed and went to sleep. His sleep was deep and he did not dream at all.

Meanwhile, K'Tar had waited what she thought was the right amount of time before she came out of her hiding place and left the shuttlepod. Carefully she made her way through Enterprise's corridors. Reaching her mind out to Tucker's allowed her to easily find his quarters and she slipped inside unnoticed. It was time to put the Commander to work for her again. She would send him to retrieve the items she needed while she got a little rest. Moving to the bed where he lay sleeping, K'Tar placed her fingers to his face and once again melded with him. "It's time to wake Commander."

Trip moaned and opened his eyes. Even though he was looking right at her it was as if he didn't see her. He was once again her puppet and if he had any idea of what was happening he'd be very angry. However, he was not aware and therefore could not be angry.

"Good Commander. Now I want you to get dressed and go retrieve some items that I need." Using the meld she instructed him to bring her a uniform and phase pistol. She also probed his mind and gained the access codes to the shuttlepods. Everything was going perfectly so far and as soon as he came back with the items, she would take him and achieve the pleasure she so desperately needed.

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Trip quickly slipped his jumpsuit on over his underwear and departed his quarters. He was completely oblivious to the mind meld that K'Tar had performed. All he knew was that he wanted to retrieve his phase pistol that he kept in engineering and get an extra uniform. The reasons he wanted to do that were a mystery, but none of it mattered to him.

Ensign Moore looked up as Trip came into engineering. She couldn't help noticing how tired and disheveled he looked. That was not like him and she wondered if he was okay. "Are you okay, Commander? I was advised by the Captain that you were getting some rest."

"I'm fine Ensign. I just wanted to get the phase pistol from my desk. It's in need of repair and I was going to work on it in my quarters." Trip moved to his desk and retrieved the phase pistol.

"Understood, sir. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"No, thank you Ensign. Please go about your work." With that Trip left Engineering and a puzzled Ensign Moore. From there he headed towards the locker rooms where he could obtain a uniform. He still didn't know what he needed the uniform for, just that he needed it. With the necessary items in hand, Trip returned to his quarters where K'Tar waited for him.

K'Tar took the items from Trip as he came back into his quarters. Her freedom was in sight, but there was two things left that she needed to do. The moment she'd been waiting for ever since she got a good look at the Commander was here and she couldn't wait. "Very good, Commander. Now take all your clothes off and lay on the bed on your back." Watching him undress only made her more excited. The man had a perfect body and she wanted him more than she'd ever wanted a man.

Trip did as he was told, but part of his mind wanted to resist. Unfortunately, K'Tar's thoughts were too powerful and it was a futile effort. Once his clothes were off he moved to the bed and laid down as she asked. Now all he could do was let it happen and hope it ended soon. As much as he enjoyed the opposite sex, he preferred to be a willing participant and now he wasn't.

K'Tar quickly removed her own clothes and moved onto the bed. Positioning herself over the Commander, she placed her fingers on his face once again. She'd only mind melded while mating once before and it had made the experience much more intense. That was what she wanted now with the Commander. Linking their minds she slowly began to take him. It was important to her to make it last as long as possible and with her mind linked to his, she could make it last as long as she wanted. Many long, pleasurable moments passed and she found herself very glad she'd decided to take him.

K'Tar used her thoughts to make Trip hold back, but finally after about thirty minutes she let him have his release. She had to bite her lower lip to keep from crying out at the intensity. Making him hold back for so long had made his release very powerful and she savored every moment of it. Trip's eyes rolled back in his head and his hands grasped the sheet under him so tight that his knuckles were white. His body and mind had been overloaded by the intensity and he'd felt everything she felt too, through the mind meld. After a moment he lost consciousness.

K'Tar maintained the mind meld for several more moments. Only because she couldn't move while she tried to recover. Finally she moved her hands from his face and rest them on his muscular chest. She'd known that it had been the most intense experience of his life through the mind meld, but what surprised her was that it was also the most intense experience of her life. Now she wished she could stay longer and have him a few more times. That was not possible though. The longer she remained aboard the ship the bigger the risk of being caught.

Now there was one thing left to do and that was to create a distraction. She hated the thought that the Commander might die, but she had no choice. Leaning down, K'Tar licked the beads of sweat from his upper lip before kissing him hard. Moving her hands back to his face she began the process of melding with him again. "I'm sorry to do this to you Commander. You've given me everything I needed and so much more." Using her thoughts she sent Trip into a deep coma and brought a fever to his body. The fever would grow worse with each passing day until they either found someone with a strong enough mind to bring him out of it, or it killed him. "I really am sorry Commander, but I need everyone to be distracted with your condition so I can make my escape."

Meanwhile on the bridge, T'Pol was running a test scan of the internal sensors. "Captain? I am getting a strange reading from Commander Tucker's quarters."

"What do you mean T'Pol?" Archer rose from his chair and moved towards her station.

"I was running a test scan of the internal sensors and when I ran a sweep it detected two life signs in the Commander's quarters." T'Pol's eyebrow was raised in puzzlement. What she saw could not be possible.

"So? He has company."

"Sir, the second life sign is Vulcan." T'Pol glared at Archer to make her point.

"What? That's not possible. You are the only Vulcan on board."

"That would appear to no longer be true." She ran the scan again to see if anything had changed. "Sir, the Vulcan has now left his quarters and the Commander's life signs are dangerously low." That had her concerned. The Vulcan must have done something to the Commander, but she didn't know what. She didn't even know how they got on board Enterprise.

"Malcolm, assemble a security team and meet me outside Trip's quarters." He wasn't waiting for him to assemble the team. Something was seriously wrong and he wanted to get to Trip as quickly as possible. As he rode the turbo lift, he contacted sickbay. "Archer to Phlox."

"Phlox here, go ahead Captain."

"Something is wrong with Commander Tucker, please meet me in his quarters as quickly as possible." Archer would soon find that it was a good thing he would get to Trip's quarters first.

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Archer was shocked when he reached Trip's quarters. It wasn't just because Trip was laying on the bed completely naked, but there was obvious evidence of a sexual encounter. So it was obvious that the Vulcan on board was a female. The last thing Archer wanted was for the others to see Trip like that, so he grabbed Trip's robe off the chair and covered him with it. What he really wanted to know was what she did to him to cause him to be in a deep coma and feverish. "What happened to you Trip?"

"Captain?" Reed stood in the doorway to Trip's quarters looking at his friend laying there unconscious.

"We have an unauthorized Vulcan female aboard. I want her found."

"Aye Captain." With that Reed took his security team and began searching Enterprise.

Archer sat there thinking about Trip's behavior ever since they were down on that planet. He'd returned late to the rendezvous point and had been acting strangely. "Damn." He realized that whatever the Vulcan had done to him had probably started down on the planet. "Help is on the way my friend."

"Captain, how is Commander Tucker?" T'Pol asked as she moved into his quarters.

"According to my tricorder he's in a deep coma and has a fever. Do you have any idea what she could have done to him?" Archer looked over his shoulder at T'Pol.

"Yes. Unfortunately I do. I've been studying mind melds for the last several months and I would have to say that she used them on him. Whoever she is, she must have a very powerful mind." T'Pol could think of only one person with that powerful a mind that would do something so vile to the Commander. She would hold her tongue until she knew for sure and that would be soon. The security team would catch her quickly with the help of the internal sensors.

"A mind meld? She could do this to him with a mind meld?" Archer was shocked and angry.

"Yes sir. With a strong enough mind she could do anything she wanted with him, including kill him." T'Pol was actually feeling an emotion and that was revulsion. She couldn't believe one of her own kind could do something like this. For the first time in her life she felt sympathy for Commander Tucker.

"I want this woman found and taken to the brig. I want to talk to her personally." He was very angry now and he wanted some answers. He'd been sitting on the edge of the bed next to Trip, but got up and moved as Phlox came in and took his place.

"We need to get him to sickbay as quickly as possible." Truthfully, Phlox didn't know if he could do anything for Tucker. If he was in the condition he was, because of a mind meld, he didn't see how he could help him. Only another mind meld could help him right now. Carefully Phlox and Archer lifted Trip onto the stretcher as several medics brought it in. He was covered with a blanket and they quickly moved him out of his quarters and down to sickbay.

In the meantime, Reed and his security team had caught K'Tar entering the landing bay. They were currently on their way to the brig and Archer would be meeting them there as soon as they had Trip settled in sickbay. As Reed secured her in a cell, he asked. "What did you do to Trip?" He just sighed when she said nothing. Perhaps the Captain could get more out of her.

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As Archer and T'Pol walked to the brig, they talked. Archer wanted to know what she might be able to do to help in the situation. "I got the impression earlier that you might know who this woman is."

"Yes, Captain. I think I do." She walked along beside Archer with her hands clasped behind her back.

"Care to share that information with me?" Archer glanced at her waiting for an answer.

"If I am correct, I believe her name is K'Tar. She was exiled from Vulcan about four years ago for abusing her mental and mind melding abilities. K'Tar has one of the most powerful Vulcan minds that's ever existed." T'Pol was sorry that Commander Tucker had to be a victim of her evil.

"Is there anything you can do to make her help Trip?"

"It is unlikely Captain. She is an evil woman and only thinks of herself." T'Pol was planning on spending the entire night studying mind melds if she had to. Deep down she knew she might be Commander Tucker's only hope. Not that she thought she could do much as her mind was far less powerful than K'Tar's.

"Can you reverse what she's done to Trip?" He hated to lay that burden on her, but she might be the only thing standing between Trip and death.

"I fear not Captain. Even if I could successfully mind meld with him, I doubt I could reverse what she's done. I am willing to try." Pausing outside of the brig, she glanced at Archer and could see the anger on his face.

"I'll keep that option open T'Pol, but I am hoping to make her help him." Stepping through the doors, they moved up to the cell that held K'Tar. "You would be K'Tar?" He glanced at T'Pol for confirmation and she nodded.

"Yes, I am K'Tar. What do you plan to do with me?" She knew if they took her back to Vulcan that she would be executed.

"We are taking you back to Vulcan. There you will pay for the things you've done. In the meantime I want you to reverse what you've done to Commander Tucker." Archer felt his anger rising, but fought to keep it in control.

"Why should I? What's in it for me?" K'Tar glared at him. Surely he didn't expect her to help him out of the goodness of her heart.

"Redemption."

"Like I care about that. Set me free and I will help him." If he was foolish enough to fall for that one, then he was crazy. Given the chance, she'd just kill the Commander.

"Captain, you can't trust her. If she were to mind meld with the Commander again, she'd very likely kill him." T'Pol knew all too well what she was capable of. Every Vulcan was aware of what she was capable of.

K'Tar glared at T'Pol. She'd just eliminated her one chance for freedom. "I would not harm the Commander, I give you my word. Set me free and I will help him." Now she had to do everything she could to be convincing.

"I'm sorry, but I have to trust what T'Pol tells me. If she doesn't believe you can be trusted then I will have to try something else." Archer turned to leave, but turned back to K'Tar when she started to speak again.

"You know, your Commander is quite a man. He fought a good fight at first, but he was no match for my powers. I must say he was very good in bed." K'Tar smiled as she taunted the Captain with the things she'd done to the Commander.

"I'll tell him you said so." Archer smiled back as he saw her smile fade. He hadn't let her get to him and that made him proud.

"T'Pol was right, I would have killed him and if you don't find someone with as powerful a mind as mine soon, he will die from the fever." K'Tar spat. Then she turned away from the Captain and sat on the bunk.

Archer just looked at T'Pol and together they left the brig. "Sir, I would like to return to my quarters and prepare to try and help Commander Tucker. I still don't know that I can be of much help."

"As long as you are willing to try. We have to do something before that fever kills him." Archer was planning to return to sickbay and check on Trip. "When can you be ready to begin?"

"I'll need an hour or so to go back over my notes and prepare myself." T'Pol nodded and turned to head for her quarters.

"I'll be in sickbay." Archer replied.

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Archer walked into sickbay to find Phlox studying the bio readings above Trip's head. The look of concern on the Doctor's face made him worried. "How's he doing Doc?"

"Not good Captain. Whatever that Vulcan did to him is killing him." Phlox turned to look at Archer. He could see the concern and anger on the Captain's face.

"Is there nothing you can do for him?" Archer stepped closer and looked at his comatose friend laying on the bio-bed. Once again his friend was on the verge of death and it made him wonder if coming out in space was worth the risk. He also wondered how much longer it would be before Trip's luck ran out and he did die.

"No, there isn't. Only another mind meld can bring him out of it." Returning his attention to the readings, Phlox knew that if Commander Tucker wasn't brought out of the coma and his fever reduced in the next three days, he would die.

"T'Pol has been studying mind melds for the last few months and she is going to try and help Trip if she can."

"That's better than nothing Captain, but to be honest I doubt she has a powerful enough mind to reverse what K'Tar has done to the Commander." He hoped he was wrong and perhaps she could bring him back a little at a time. "Would you like to be alone with him for a few minutes?"

"Yes, thank you Doctor." He watched Phlox nod and move to another part of sickbay. It was odd, but he'd just read a poem by Emerson that morning that fit this situation. It was called Freedom and right now all he wanted to do was free Trip from his mind meld of a prison. "Hello my friend. This is getting old, so you better stop almost dying." Sighing, Archer began to recite the poem;

Once I wished I might rehearse

Freedom's paean in my verse.

That the slave who caught the strain

Should throb until he snapped his chain.

But the spirit said "Not so;

Speak it not, or speak it low;

Name not lightly to be said,

Gift too precious to be prayed,

Passion not to be expressed

But by heaving of the breast;

Yet, ----wouldst thou the mountain find

Where this deity is shrined,

Who gives to seas and sunset skies

Their unspent beauty of surprise,

And, when it lists him, waken can

Brute or savage into man;

Or, if in thy heart he shine,

Blends the starry fates with thine,

Draws angels nigh to dwell with thee,

And make thy thoughts archangels be;

Freedom's secret wilt thou know?----

Councel not with flesh and blood;

Loiter not for cloak or food;

Right thou feelest, rush to do."

"We'll bring you back Trip, I promise." With that he gave Trip a pat on the shoulder and left. Archer needed to get his composure before returning to the bridge. He'd remain there until T'Pol was ready to mind melding with Trip. There was no way he was going to be absent when she tried. Granted she was trying to help Trip, but she didn't have much experience with mind melds and she could wind up doing more harm than good.

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T'Pol had spent the last hour going over her notes and meditating. She was certain that she could perform the mind meld, but she was not certain that she could reverse what K'Tar had done to Tucker. She hoped she could, because even though she disagreed with much of his opinions and behavior, she genuinely liked him. Not to mention that many of his ideas and opinions were correct and he was a very valuable member of the crew. Now she was on her way to sickbay and she actually felt nervous.

"Phlox to the Captain."

"Go ahead Doctor." Archer sat up in his chair, his full attention on Phlox and what he had to report.

"T'Pol is here and is ready to being a mind meld with the Commander."

"I'm on my way, Archer out." Turning to Reed, "You have the bridge Malcolm."

"Aye, Captain. Will you keep us informed sir?"

"Of course. I'll let you all know how it goes." With that Archer entered the turbolift and headed for sickbay As he came through the doors to sickbay he saw T'Pol sitting on the edge of Trip's bed. He moved quickly to her side and looked her in the eye. "You sure you want to do this?"

"Yes, sir. I know that I will probably experience some of what the Commander experienced, but it will hopefully allow me to assist him." Glancing at Tucker, she almost didn't want to know what K'Tar had done to him. The fact that K'Tar had used a mind meld to have him do as she wished was appalling.

"Very well, do what you can for him T'Pol." Archer watched as T'Pol began placing her fingers on Trip's face in a precise order. As fascinating as mind melds were, all he wanted right then was for Trip to be freed from the prison that was his own mind.

"My mind to your mind. My thought's to your thought's." T'Pol began the mind meld and felt almost instant anger and pain from the Commander. The more she learned the more angry she became. She gasped in shock and revulsion as she got to the part where K'Tar essentially raped him and had to break the meld.

"What is it, T'Pol? What's wrong?" Archer was very worried now. What could she have discovered that had been so shocking to her.

"Captain, I feel I must apologize for K'Tar's behavior. It is unacceptable behavior for any Vulcan." She was trying to avoid telling Archer about the rape.

"Sub-Commander, tell me what you found." Archer needed to know what she'd found out.

Taking a deep breath T'Pol told Archer what had happened. "K'Tar began her mental possession of Commander Tucker down on the planet. She used him to get off the planet and on to Enterprise. Once aboard she got him to retrieve the uniform and phase pistol that was found on her. After she got what she needed to try and make an escape....." T'Pol paused as she tried to decide just how to tell Archer. "She used another mind meld to force Commander Tucker to have sex with her."

Archer was even more angry now. He hadn't been sure if Trip was a willing participant in the sex or not. "She raped him?"

"I'm afraid so sir. The good thing is that Commander Tucker should have no memory of the experience. I did feel much anger and emotional pain from him, but once we are able to bring him out of the coma all the memories should disappear." At least she hoped so. That was if she could bring him out of the coma.

"Can you bring him out of it?"

"I can only try, sir. He's in a deep coma and it will take some time to reach him. Once I do, I think I can slowly bring him out of it."

"Can you do that in less than three days?" Phlox asked.

"I don't know, why?"

"Because the fever in his body will kill him if it isn't brought down within the next three days." Phlox looked worried and hoped T'Pol could do it. He knew Archer had set a course for Vulcan, but he also knew it would take more than three days to get there.

"Then he won't make it until we can get to Vulcan." Archer commented. It wasn't a question, it was a fact.

"That is correct, Captain. T'Pol is his only hope now." Phlox didn't like putting that burden on T'Pol. It was a very difficult situation to have another persons life in your hands and he knew all about that.

"I know this is asking a lot of you T'Pol, but I need you to do your best to bring Trip out of this as quickly as possible." He put his hand on T'Pol's shoulder. There was no doubt that this whole thing was taking a toll on her.

"I will begin again in a few moments. In order for me to help him I am going to need to block out his emotions and thoughts." T'Pol looked down at Commander Tucker and wished she could undo what K'Tar had done to him.

"Do what you can T'Pol. We'll be here to help in any way we can." Archer wasn't going anywhere until he knew if T'Pol could make any progress.

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An hour later T'Pol broke the mind meld with Commander Tucker. It had taken a lot of probing with her mind, but she felt that she'd gotten close to reaching him. Right now she needed some rest and so did the Commander. Even though he was in a deep coma, all her probing was tiring him out as well. "I need to rest for a few hours, Captain. Then I can try again."

"That's just fine T'Pol. Do you think you made any progress?"

"I think I came very close to reaching him. I believe the next time I meld with him I will be able to reach him. However, that is only half of the battle, as you say. Once I reach him it will still be a slow process of bringing him out of the coma and convincing him that he does not have a fever." T'Pol felt more physically and emotionally tired than she had in a long time.

"Very well T'Pol. Go get some rest and contact me when you are ready to begin again." Archer was going to return to the bridge. He wanted Hoshi to contact Vulcan and let them know of their situation and he was going to let the bridge crew know how things were going. The matter of the rape was not something he was going to tell anyone. It was bad enough that K'Tar had done that to Trip, there was no need for everyone to know about it.

Everyone on the bridge looked up as Archer came out of the turbolift. There was anticipation and worry on all their faces and they wanted to know how Trip was. "Did T'Pol have any luck sir?" Hoshi asked.

"She's had some success, but his condition is still unchanged." Archer sat down in his chair and sighed. "Hoshi, I need you to send a message to Vulcan. Tell them that Commander Tucker will not make it to Vulcan and that T'Pol is trying to help him herself. Let them know that we are bringing K'Tar to them and expect justice to be served."

"Aye, sir." Hoshi didn't like what Archer said about Trip not making it until they could get to Vulcan. That meant he didn't have much time. After a few moments, she turned to the Captain. "Message sent and acknowledged sir. They will have a security team waiting to take K'Tar into custody and they wish us luck in helping Commander Tucker."

"Thanks, Hoshi." Archer was tired, but he didn't think he could sleep until he knew Trip would be okay. The problem was, that could still be a couple more days, so he'd have to get some rest at some point. He figured that he'd give it a try after T'Pol's next attempt at a mind meld. Hopefully she would at least reach him then and he would feel a little better. "Travis, how long until we reach Vulcan?"

"At present speed, four days sir." Mayweather was worried about Commander Tucker too. He knew they'd pushed the warp engines to warp five before, but it had almost torn the ship apart. As long as T'Pol thought she could help the Commander, he knew the Captain wouldn't resort to that.

"Very well, Travis. Why don't you and Hoshi go get some rest."

"If it's all the same to you sir, I'd just as soon remain here." Hoshi said. Travis nodded his head in agreement.

"It's not all the same to me. I need my bridge crew well rested, so that's an order." Archer understood why they didn't want to leave, but he couldn't have his bridge crew falling asleep at their stations. "I understand that you are worried about Commander Tucker, but I can't have you falling asleep on me."

"Aye, Captain." Travis and Hoshi both left their stations and let the next shift take over.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Six hours later T'Pol contacted Archer on the bridge and let him know she was ready to try again. The two met outside the doors to sickbay. "Sir, don't you think you should get some rest?" T'Pol could see that Archer looked exhausted.

"After you try again." With that they entered sickbay to find Phlox putting cool, wet cloths on Commander Tucker. "Doc, what's happening?"

"The Commander's fever is rising. I am trying to bring it down some with these cool, wet cloths." If the cloths didn't work, then Tucker would be dead in less than three days now.

"I better begin immediately." T'Pol moved in and quickly began to meld with Tucker. She could feel the heat radiating from him and it worried her. The mind meld lasted three hours this time, but she did manage to finally reach Commander Tucker. It was going to take time to bring him out of the coma since K'Tar had convinced him that's where he should be. She'd always thought that she had a good hold on her emotions, but when she made contact with Tucker and felt and heard his plea for her to help him, it almost broke her heart and she fought not to cry.

Archer and Phlox both watched T'Pol fight with her emotions and it shocked them. Archer almost wanted to make her break the meld, but held back. Hopefully T'Pol wasn't suffering any damage from the meld. "What do you think is happening?"

"I'd have to say that she's experiencing Commander Tucker's emotions. Perhaps she has made contact with him and she is feeling his pain." Phlox didn't really know for sure. He didn't know all that much about mind melds.

"Do you think it is safe to let her continue?"

"I'd say she will end the meld when she is ready." He thought it best to just let her handle the situation.

A few moments later T'Pol ended the mind meld and looked up at Archer and Phlox. "I have reached the Commander. It is still going to take time for me to bring him back and he is in a great deal of emotional distress. When I first made contact the overwhelming emotions and plea for me to help him was almost too much for me."

"Why don't you take another break and you can try again later." Archer didn't want her to become exhausted. The fact that she'd made contact with Trip was a good thing. He hated the fact that Trip was suffering so.

"Very well, Captain. I will return in a few hours." With that T'Pol left sickbay. She needed to meditate and get her emotions back under control.

"I'll be in my quarters, Doc. Contact me if anything changes."

"Aye, Captain." Phlox watched Archer go and felt sympathy for him. Both of them were helpless and they didn't like it. Looking at Tucker, Phlox began to apply the cool, wet cloths again and spoke softly to him. "We are doing everything we can to help you Commander. Just hold on." Checking the readings above Tucker, Phlox saw that his fever had gone up another degree. The cloths were not helping and that was a bad sign.

Archer got Porthos fed and laid down on his bed. He was exhausted, but his mind would not let him sleep. All he could think about was Trip and what that evil woman in the brig had done to him. The Vulcan's would see that justice was done, or at least he hoped they would. Considering they'd already exiled the woman before, he was certain they would provide swift justice. After a few minutes Archer finally drifted to sleep and dreamed of some of the great times he and Trip had together in the past.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It took another two days for T'Pol to bring Trip out of the coma. His fever was not gone, but had been reduced to a safer level. T'Pol was currently off duty for the next two days to rest and recover. It had been an exhausting and emotional two days for her and she needed the time to gain control of her emotions. Trip was still unconscious, but no longer in a coma. Unfortunately T'Pol had been unable to erase the memories of what K'Tar had done to him. Her mind just wasn't powerful enough to do so.

Archer was concerned about the emotional effects on Trip. He knew the sex itself wouldn't be that big of a deal to him, but the fact that it was forced and that Trip hadn't been strong enough to fend her off would be a problem. According to Phlox, Trip's emotional state when he woke could range anywhere from denial to a deep depression. Phlox wasn't sure what state of mind Trip would be in, but he feared that Trip would feel weak and less of a man. That was something that Archer would not allow to happen. Somehow he would have to make Trip see that no man could have fought K'Tar off successfully.

In the meantime, Trip's mind was reliving everything that had happened to him and he didn't like it. The feelings of inadequacy threatened to consume him and he found that he didn't want to wake up. He questioned how he could allow it all to happen to him. How could he have been so weak? He'd always considered himself a strong man, but this time he hadn't even been able to fight off a smaller woman. Now he wondered if he even deserved to be the Chief Engineer and Commander on a starship. Captain Archer needed someone he could count on and be strong. No longer did Trip feel like he was that person.

Archer entered sickbay and made his way to Trip's side. According to Phlox he should have been awake by now, but he wasn't. "Why is he still unconscious?"

Phlox stepped up on the other side of the bed and looked down at Tucker. "Because he chooses to be, Captain." He looked up at Archer and wished he didn't have to tell him what he was about to tell him. "Commander Tucker should be conscious, but his mind is preventing it. As I feared, the emotional trauma of what happened to him has taken his will to wake."

"Can he hear me?" Archer wanted to talk to Trip and make him see that none of it was his fault.

"He should be able to and talking to him right now might be the most important thing you can do." Phlox knew if Archer could get through to Tucker, it might be just the thing to bring him around.

"Thanks, Doc. Lets hope I can get through to him." Archer grabbed a stool and pulled it up next to the bio-bed that Trip was laying on. He prayed he could get through to Trip and make him understand. It was hard to see his friend laying there like that and going through such an emotional trauma. "Come on Trip. Wake up and talk to me."

Trip heard Archer's words, but he couldn't bring himself to open his eyes and look his Captain in the face. He felt like a complete failure and disappointment. If Archer chose to relieve him of duty and send him back to Earth, he wouldn't blame him. In fact that was exactly what he wanted to do. Deciding that he wanted to just get it over with so he could go back to earth, Trip slowly opened his eyes.

The pain and shame Archer saw in Trip's eyes when they opened, nearly broke his heart. "Trip." Suddenly Archer wasn't sure what to say to Trip. He wanted him to know that none of it was his fault and that no one could have fought off K'Tar, but it all sounded so hollow right now. "None of this was your fault. According to T'Pol, K'Tar has the most powerful Vulcan mind that's ever existed. No one could have fought her off, not me, not Superman, no one."

"That's easy for you to say, sir. I let you down, I let the crew down, and I let myself down." Trip fought not to cry. The shame he felt went soul deep and he couldn't deal with it.

"You didn't let anyone down, Trip. K'Tar was not given the chance to do any harm except to you and it was out of your control. She was too strong for you to fight." Archer put his hand on Trip's shoulder. He'd give anything to take Trip's pain away.

"The Captain is correct. There is no one who could have fought off K'Tar. She is too powerful." T'Pol stepped up next to Archer. A need to check on Trip and try talking to him, had washed over her and she'd headed to sickbay.

"T'Pol....I want to thank you for........"

T'Pol cut him off. "There is no need for that Commander. I could not let you die." Reaching out, she touched the tear that fell down Trip's cheek. "You have been through a great ordeal and need to rest. Once you have had time to think and understand that you are a very strong man, you will feel better."

"She's right, Trip." Archer squeezed Trip's shoulder for reassurance. It was obvious that Trip was having trouble staying awake. "Get some more rest Trip."

"Aye, sir." Trip's eyes drifted shut and he began to think about everything Archer and T'Pol had told him. He'd give it a little time before making any decisions.

Archer looked up at Phlox as he approached. "He will be okay, right Doc?"

"I think so. Despite what he thinks right now, he is a strong man. His fever is down to a hundred and one. Things are improving Captain." Phlox studied the readings above the bed. Tucker was no long unconscious, just sleeping and that was a good sign.

"Keep me posted, Doc." Archer moved towards the doors to sickbay with T'Pol at his side. Seeing the Doctor nod, he left sickbay and stopped outside the doors. "Thanks for what you said back there. I think it made a difference."

"I hope so, Captain. The Commander does not deserve to feel the way he does." T'Pol nodded and moved away. She was headed back to her quarters for more meditating and rest. They would arrive on Vulcan in another two days and she needed to be ready.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By the time Enterprise reached Vulcan two days later, Trip's fever was gone. However, the depression and feelings of inadequacy had sunk deeper. Trip slept most of the time and ate very little. He didn't want to speak to anyone and sometimes at night he would have crying fits. Those occurred only at night when he knew no one would be around to see them. His uncertainty about everything that happened kept him in despair. More than anything he wanted to believe what Archer and T'Pol told him, but something deep down wouldn't accept that. A few times he'd thought K'Tar was still in his mind and he didn't know if it could be true or if it was his imagination.

Doctor Phlox made Commander Tucker walk around sickbay several times a day and gave him a hypo spray with additional nutritional supplements. Without those things, Tucker would have started to wither away. Phlox's concern for Tucker was only exceeded by Archer's concern. He began to wonder if there was still some effect of the mind melds that T'Pol hadn't found or hadn't been strong enough to fix.

Currently the landing party was about ready to leave for Vulcan with K'Tar. She would go in front of the High Command for sentencing as there was no trial. T'Pol and other parties had sent their testimony covering the events that took place involving Commander Tucker. Archer was going to try and get Trip to go with them, but was afraid of how Trip would react to seeing K'Tar again. Walking into sickbay, Archer spotted Trip sitting at a table trying to eat something. "Trip."

Trip glanced up at Archer. He knew what was coming, but there was no way he was going anywhere near K'Tar. "Sir."

The dullness and lack of life in Trip's eyes shocked Archer every time he looked into them. "We are about to leave. Are you sure you don't want to see justice served?"

"Yes, sir. I don't want to be anywhere near her." The truth was that he was afraid she still had some control over him and if he got near her, she would make him do something that could get them all killed.

"Okay, Trip. I won't force you, but I wish there was something I could do to help you feel better." Placing his hand on Trip's shoulder, he gave a slight squeeze. Trip's muscles were taught and he could sense the strain he was under. "Just get some rest then. I'll see you when we get back."

"Thanks, Captain." He knew Archer was just worried about him, that everyone was worried about him, but there was nothing he could do.

The landing party consisted of Archer, T'Pol, and Reed with a security detail for K'Tar. They arrived on Vulcan and were quickly taken before the High Command. The Vulcan's wanted swift justice, as the whole affair had been of great embarrassment to them. Zovrak stood from behind the High Command's pulpit and spoke to the room. "The Vulcan High Command has found K'Tar guilty of the crimes for which she is accused. Her punishment is to be put to death. The punishment will be carried out in three hours and performed by myself." Zovrak had been appalled at what K'Tar had done and wanted to see justice served by his own hand. He also understood that Commander Tucker was still having emotional problems. "Chamber dismissed."

A group of Vulcan security personnel came and took K'Tar from Reed and his men. Zovrak approached T'Pol as she stood slightly away from the rest of her party. "Honorable Zovrak. I appreciate the High Command's swift actions in seeing justice is done."

"T'Pol. We could not allow the things K'Tar did, go without swift punishment. It would not look good for the Vulcan people." Zovrak glanced around and had hoped to see Commander Tucker present. "Your Commander Tucker did not come with you?"

"No. He is still suffering a great deal of emotional distress and did not want to go near K'Tar."

"If you can convince him, I would like you to bring him to Vulcan. I think I can help him with a mind meld. I believe there is still something in his mind that he needs to clear up, or at least understand." Zovrak was fairly certain he could help Commander Tucker.

"I will get him to come. If I have to I will have Captain Archer order him." T'Pol knew Archer would do whatever he could to help Tucker.

"I bid you farewell then. Bring Commander Tucker to me and I will help him."

T'Pol bowed and moved away. She would discuss the matter with Archer on their way back to Enterprise. As she figured, when she told Archer of Zovrak's proposal he immediately agreed. "I do believe that Zovrak can help the Commander, Captain."

"Very well. As soon as we are back aboard I will go and see him. I'll order him to go if I have to." Archer began to feel some hope. Watching Trip these last few days and how he'd sunk deeper into depression had been one of the most painful things he'd ever witnessed. Entering sickbay, Archer found Trip on the bio-bed. He was not asleep, but his eyes were closed. "Commander."

"Aye, Captain?" Trip opened his eyes and glanced at Archer.

"There is a Vulcan named Zovrak on the High Command that believes he can help you. It would require another mind meld, but I think you need to let him try. I don't want to force you to go, but I will if I have to." Archer could see the fear in Trip's eyes and knew he didn't want to face another mind meld, but if it would bring him out of the state he was in, it was worth it.

"Another mind meld, sir? I don't think I can do it." The thought terrified him and he didn't want to do it. Even if it meant he could feel better.

"Trip, please don't make me order you. T'Pol is waiting in the shuttlepod to take you down to Vulcan." He grabbed Trip's uniform off a nearby bed and tossed it to him. Archer hated making Trip do something that obviously terrified him, but he had no choice. "I'm doing this for your own good, my friend."

Trip just looked at Archer and sighed. Taking the uniform, he got dressed and together they walked to the landing bay. The crew members they passed along the way smiled and nodded. He knew they knew what had happened to him, but they did seem to genuinely be happy to see him up and around.

"I'll see you when you return. I know this is the best thing for you."

"Aye, Captain." Trip didn't agree, at least not then. He went through the mind meld, but was very afraid. Zovrak had given him a special tea that would help him relax and make the meld easier.

Zovrak was a very powerful Vulcan and had easily suppressed his emotions for hundreds of years, but he came close to feeling anger at what K'Tar had done to the young, vital Commander. The meld had not been easy at first as the Commander resisted, but eventually it became easier. The first thing he did was probe Tucker's mind for anything that K'Tar might have left behind and sure enough she'd left a trigger in his subconscious to make his emotions more extreme then they would normally be. Once he removed that, Zovrak used his thoughts to help Tucker realize that what K'Tar had put him through was not his fault and that no human could have resisted it. Zovrak felt certain that his work had been successful. The Commander's thoughts were calmer and he seemed much more at ease. "You can take him back to Enterprise now T'Pol."

"Thank you Zovrak. I know that Commander Tucker and Captain Archer are grateful for your assistance." T'Pol bowed to Zovrak and moved in to help some of Zovrak's aides with Tucker. The combination of the meld and tea had left Tucker in a deep sleep and he would need assistance getting back to the shuttlepod.

Sure enough, the next time Trip woke he was feeling much better and the life and sparkle was back in his eyes. Trip himself almost couldn't believe how much better he felt and even though he still had some guilt about everything, he now knew that there was nothing he could have done about it. K'Tar was now dead and no one would have to be put through that again. Doctor Phlox had ordered him to take a week off to fully recover and his appetite had returned with full force. He and Archer were enjoying dinner in the Captain's dining room and chef had prepared all of Trip's favorites.

"It's good to have you back to your old self, Trip."

"Thanks, Captain. It's good to be back." Trip took a bite of his prime rib and washed it down with a sip of his wine.

"For a while there I didn't think we'd ever get you back to your old self."

"I'm sure T'Pol would have been happy about that." Trip smiled.

Archer was so happy to see Trip smiling again. "Don't you believe it. She was as worried about you as the rest of us, maybe more."

"You don't say?" The glint in Trip's eye was obvious.

"Damn, it's good to have you back." Archer laughed and with that the two finished their dinner in lighthearted conversation.

THE END