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"Black Widow" by A. Rhea King
Rating: PG CHAPTER 3 Phlox, T’Pol, Trip, and Reed leaned on the situation monitor together. “The last log indicates that they were headed to that planet,” Trip said. “It also mentions they transported Bionq and the Captain off Enterprise three days prior to that. At warp. That means she’s got a week and two days on us.” “This log entry was interesting,” Phlox said, tapping the screen. “One of the aliens reported that from the time they were transported on board to their last entry, Bionq kept giving the Captain shots of something. They were disgusted by how open the two were with their physical contact. Assuming that she was injecting him with the same mixture as what was in the hypospray, I don’t understand why she would continue giving it to him. She had already kidnapped him, quietly I might add. Why not simply restrain him?” “There is something in this information that we’re missing,” T’Pol stated. “T’Pol, there are four ships approaching at warp,” Travis reported. “Hail them, Lieutenant,” T’Pol told Hoshi. She walked around to stand behind Travis. “No response.” “They’re arming weapons!” Travis said. Trip and Reed ran to their stations, preparing to defend Enterprise. The ships dropped out of warp and began firing on Enterprise. “Disable their engines, Mister Reed.” Malcolm shook his head. “They have shields like I’ve never seen. I’m not even making a dent. They’re targeting our engines.” Enterprise rocked, sparks flying around them. The ship shook as it abruptly dropped from warp to a stand still. “They’re hailing us, T’Pol,” Hoshi told her. On screen a humanoid appeared. He was dressed in a smart, wrinkle free uniform. Everything about him was immaculate. There was a bone ridge that ran along his chin and across the bridge of his nose. “This ship is impounded. I demand that the captain of this vessel step forward so he or she may be taken into custody and stand trial. “Why are we under arrest?” T’Pol asked. “For conspiring with a known felon and enemy of the Vistae government. Are you the captain?” “I am commanding in his place.” “Prepare to be boarded and go with the guards peacefully. Failure to comply or attempt of escape will result in the death of you and your crew.” “I will not go with you until I know why I am being arrested.” The screen changed back to space as the four ships opened fire on Enterprise. “Get them back, Lieutenant Sato.” The attack stopped when the alien appeared on the screen. “I will go, but one my crewmen will accompany me to serve as my council,” T’Pol told him. “I don’t care if your entire crew goes with you, but if you refuse to comply again, I have orders to destroy your ship. Have I made myself clear?” “Yes. Send your guards.” Two guards from the ship were transported next to her. T’Pol looked at Trip. He turned to Reed. “You have Enterprise, Malcolm.” Malcolm nodded. Trip joined T’Pol. The guards grabbed a hold of their arms and the four were transported off Enterprise. # Investigator Eofek read the PADD in his hand. He heard footsteps coming down the hall and stop outside his door. Someone knocked. “Enter,” he said. Two Vistae guards led Trip and T’Pol into the room. “I’m Investigator Eofek. Have a seat.” The guards roughly shoved them into chairs and stood at attention behind them. Eofek continued reading the PADD without hurry. He sat the PADD aside and turned to the window behind him. The Vistae city beyond was beautiful; it’s architects renowned in this sector. The combination of nature with instillation art made the city feel like a garden rather than the planet’s bustling capital. Under normal circumstances, Trip and T’Pol would have been appreciative of what they’d seen so far. “It is Sub-Commander T’Pol and Lieutenant-Commander Tucker, if I’m not mistaken.” “Yes,” T’Pol answered. Eofek nodded, sighing. He stood and walked around to the front of his desk. He sat down on the edge, looking from one to the other. “A Vulcan, I recognize. My people have been trading with your people for many years.” He looked at Trip. “But your kind I have never seen before. Human is what you call yourselves, correct?” “Why do you care?” Trip snarled. Eofek wrapped his fingers around the edge of his desk. He leaned forward only as far as his arms allowed, holding Trip’s gaze. “Dear human, this is not the time to prove you can be obstinate and annoy me. Our laws are swift and harsh, and I doubt anyone would like to see you dead.” Trip stared at him. Eofek leaned back, watching Trip for a moment. Eofek reached back without looking and picked up the PADD. He looked at it again, frowning. “It appears that T’Pol is renowned for upsetting Vulcans.” Eofek smiled. “But then, without a little imbalance in life, nothing is worth working for, is it, T’Pol?” T’Pol shifted in her seat. “Why have you had us brought here? Why did your ships fire on us?” “Originally, I had ordered your captain to be arrested for aiding Bionq and your ship destroyed if the captain of your ship resisted. But since I issued that order, several Vulcan dignitaries have contacted me and I have discovered Bionqetes Doriche Estiel abducted your Captain Archer right off of your ship. Bold, even for her. That explains why you’ve been asking so many questions and collecting information on her. Most of the Vulcan ambassadors I spoke with went so far as hypothesizing which of your many enemies paid Bionq to abduct Captain Archer. I’m curious, what have you learned about Bionq so far?” “You had our ship shot at!” Trip bellowed. “You had us drug here, against our will, and you expect us to just talk to you!” “Yes.” Trip and T’Pol looked at each other. Trip sighed. “All that we’ve managed to gather so far,” Trip started, “is that she’s works in the game room on Sata Linus, she has worked there for several years, and no one really knew her. The guy that owns the place considers her his best employee and wasn’t too lose lipped about her, but then, he kept another alien named Cyrn as an indentured servant, so it’s likely he probably forced her into kidnapping Cap’n Archer or is working with her.” Eofek shook his head. “Jadek reported your theft of his slave, but I’ve chosen to look the other way on the matter. He’s greedy and one day I’ll catch him running one of his illegal deals. I wouldn’t recommend returning to Sata Linus again, however. He’ll have you shot on sight and make it look accidental, as usual.” “We don’t intend on it,” T’Pol replied. “Where is Cyrn?” “She was shot during the escape. Our doctor also found she was in the final stages of a degenerative disease. She died aboard Enterprise.” “Did you get a chance to speak with her about Bionq?” “Yes.” “And?” “She couldn’t tell us much.” “Surely, if she worked with her, she must have said something. Didn’t Bionq talk to her about anything?” “She said she avoided being alone with Bionq because Bionq made her nervous.” “Anything else?” Trip shook his head. “Naw. Everything else was pretty much gibberish.” Eofek smiled. “This gibberish, as you call it, can often times reveal evidence.” “She told T’Pol that Bionq kept watching Cap’n Archer, which is normal for someone who is going to kidnap someone.” “While I did not know Bionq was working right under my jurisdiction, everything else you’ve said so far is common of others that have given statements regarding the investigations of her other victims.” “You... You know she kidnaps other aliens? Are you working with her?” “No, I am not working with her.” He clasped his hands together. “I have been trying to locate and kill or arrest Bionq for ten years. She has become an obsession of mine. Always just beyond my grasp, just out of reach. She targets and abducts male captains. The captains go missing anywhere from four to eight weeks, although two were missing for twelve weeks. Afterwards we find their bodies in hotels, resorts, some place with public accommodations. And Bionq disappears until her next victim is kidnapped and their body is found. You’re captain has been missing for--” “Two weeks,” Trip finished. “We only have two weeks left before she murders him?” “Maybe three or four. I don’t know what the difference is between the ones she keeps longer and the ones she doesn’t. We did find her second to last victim alive, which is rare. He was able to talk a little before he died. He believed she was his wife, which is normal for any male exposed to Acrynov pheromones.” “Why is that normal?” “Acrynoves do not mate like other species. The female attracts a male, seduce him into her bed and when pregnancy is confirmed, the female kills the male. But they do it by secreting a toxic venom, not in the manner Bionq murders her victims.” “They’re damned black widows,” Trip muttered. “We found a hypospray that had pheromones and another substance mixed with it,” T’Pol told Eofek. “Those are her specialty. The drug in the hypospray is a narcotic, highly addictive. Before she kills her victims she injects them with a lethal dose of the narcotic.” “She kills them with a drug overdose?” “Not that the overdose wouldn’t kill them, but no. She stabs them to death while having intercourse with them. Forty to fifty stab wounds total. You won’t find your Captain until she lets you, and he’ll be dead.” Trip shook his head. “We’ll find him before then.” “Commander, I’ve been searching for this woman for ten years and I haven’t found her or the victims before she murdered them.” “It’s not your cap’n that she kidnapped and whose life is in jeopardy. We’ll find her before she kills him.” Eofek pursed his lips, staring at the two. He suddenly stood and walked around his desk, tapping the controls. “In that case, I wish you both luck finding her. Before you leave stop at the front desk and my secretary will give you copies of my files on this case. Should you find her in my jurisdiction, I will help you apprehend her. I’ll alert the surrounding authorities that you’re looking for her, but don’t expect them to help. Most could care less about this. I would strongly advise you to shoot to kill, because if a male finds her, she will kill him.” Eofek looked at them. “I’ve also included where to find her sister. A female should talk to her, not a male.” “It sounds as though you have a personal interest in her capture.” Eofek smiled. “If you’re suggesting that she’s murdered someone I knew, you’re wrong. I’m a law enforcer doing my job.” Eofek looked at her again. “It’s my job to keep the peace in my jurisdiction and bring criminals to justice. Thank you both for your patience.” Eofek motioned to the door. “You’re free to leave.” Trip and T’Pol got up and followed the guards out of the room. Eofek sat back down and returned to his work. # T’Pol glanced at the small PADD in her hand as she walked. She looked up, watching the house numbers. She stopped at the gate of one and walked up to the door. T’Pol tapped the doorbell. The door slid open, revealing a woman that looked like Bionq. Behind her the sound of children laughing filled the air. “May I help you?” “Are you Antina Doriche?” T’Pol asked. “Yes. Who are you?” “I would like to speak with you about your sister, Bionqetes Doriche Estiel.” The woman looked away. “I don’t know anything about my sister or want to.” “I can tell there are hard feelings between the two of you, but she has abducted my captain and my crew and I are in a hurry to find her before she harms him.” “Don’t you mean kills him?” Antina asked. “You are aware that your sister is a murderer?” Antina motioned T’Pol to come in. She walked into a room where a male Arcynov was watching a program on a large monitor hanging on the wall. “Kej, I need to speak with this alien. Watch the children.” He got up and went outside. Antina led T’Pol across the hall into another room and shut the door. “Are you a law enforcer?” she asked, walking around to a terminal and sitting down. “No.” “That’s a first. Everyone else that comes here are law enforcers.” Antina motioned to the chair in front of the monitor. T’Pol walked over and sat down. “I don’t know why I keep these files. I guess because every time someone comes asking for Bionq I can give them this and they’ll go away.” “What is it?” “These are files she sends me of her ‘husbands.’ She sends me pictures of every single one. This one arrived yesterday.” Antina tapped a control. Archer’s picture came up. Archer was lying in a bed, apparently asleep. He looked safe and content. “Is he your husband?” Antina asked T’Pol. “No. I’m his first in command.” “Usually the men she kidnaps don’t have anyone.” Antina sat down on a chair, staring at the floor. “One was. I remember going to the funeral. He had a wife and four children. Bionq stole him away from them and killed him.” “Was she always like this?” “No. It happened about sixteen years ago. When we mate, we release this hormone to aid pregnancies. Sometimes the gland that secretes the hormone stops functioning and if left untreated, it causes us to develop any number of symptoms depending on how soon it’s detected. That happened to Bionq. She was an astrogeologist, specializing in comets and asteroids. She was on a deep space mission and no one noticed her erratic behavior until she had an emotional breakdown and tried to kill mend of her crew. Then they found the imbalance and sent her back here. We committed her because there is no cure after the hormone has affected the brain. But she escaped and got off the planet. That was fourteen years ago and she’s been murdering captains ever since.” “Do you know where she might have taken him?” Antina shook her head. T’Pol got up and walked over to her, crouching by her. Antina looked into T’Pol’s eyes. “Think hard. His life is at stake and we need him back.” “He won’t be the same person when you get him back. He’ll be addicted to Tepriozyl.” “Our Captain is strong. Please, Antina, think.” Antina looked out the window. She looked down at T’Pol. “Our aunt willed Bionq a farm before she was committed. I’ve told law enforcers this, but I don’t think any of them ever looked for it.” “Where is it?” “I don’t know, exactly. It’s in the Dawroq system, but I don’t know which planet. I’ve only been there twice when I was very young.” “What do you remember of the place?” “There were lots of trees.” “Like a jungle?” “No. Mountains.” “Do you recall any geological features?” “No. It was near a town, probably less than an hour away. I remember too that there were two markets, but our aunt got really mad at us when we went to one of them. She said that respectable aliens never go to that market.” “Is there anything else unique about this town that you can recall?” “No.” “How many inhabited planets are in the Dawroq system?” “Four planets and six moons.” T’Pol stood. “Thank you for your help.” “Do you want that information?” Antina asked, pointing at the monitor. “Yes. May I transmit it to my ship?” Antina nodded. T’Pol walked around and sent the information to Enterprise. T’Pol rose and Antina led her back out into the hall. T’Pol looked back when she heard laughing. She saw Kej outside playing with children. T’Pol stopped outside the door. “Is Kej your mate?” Antina smiled. “We’re the talk of the neighborhood. We’ve lived together for ten years and I haven’t killed him. I love him.” “There is no shame in love or sparing your mate, regardless of what a custom may dictate.” “You have a mate?” “I do.” “He’s privileged to have you. Especially if you’re willing to search like this for your captain.” “Thank you for the compliment and your help.” Antina nodded once, stepping back. T’Pol turned as the door closed and walked back down the street. # Trip walked into Sickbay, watching Phlox. He was staring intently at the monitor before him. “You wanted to see me?” Trip asked. Phlox nodded. “Let’s wait for T’Pol to get here.” Trip pulled up a stool and sat down. He looked at the information on the screen, but it meant nothing to him. The Sickbay doors opened and T’Pol entered, stopping next to Trip. “You asked to see us?” she asked Phlox. “I’ve been going over the information Investigator Eofek gave us about the drug that was in the hypospray and it is very disturbing.” “How so?” Trip asked. “The drug is called Tepriozyl and is a recreational drug with no remedial value. It heightens the user’s senses; they feel everything three times greater. It’s also easy to overdose on because once a person has enough in their system they don't feel the symptoms of the drug shutting down their vital body functions: such as their heart, liver, kidneys. Addicts are hard to neutralize because they don’t respond to any pain. For example, the shock from a knife wound in the chest wouldn’t kill an addict; the addict would die from bleeding to death. And it is highly addictive. Most users are addicted after the first dose, no matter how miniscule of an amount.” “You think Cap’n Archer will be addicted to this?” “I don’t think he will, I know he will.” “You have means to help him overcome this addiction, do you not?” T’Pol asked Phlox. Phlox looked to the side. “Yes.” “But?” Trip asked. Phlox looked at the two. “But the medical reports I’ve been going through indicate that there is a ninety percent relapse rate, increasing by one percent every time the addict relapses. The mortality rate of addicts is eighty percent within three years of their initial recovery due to overdosing on Tepriozyl or another drug.” “We’re going to bring him back alive, but it isn’t going to matter, is it?” Trip asked, looking back at Phlox. “We’ve already lost him.” “Captain Archer is stronger than the odds,” T’Pol said. “We will find him and he will recover. He has enough friends aboard this ship that he will not relapse.” Trip looked up at her. She turned and left Sickbay. Trip looked at Phlox. He was staring at the floor. “You don’t believe that, do you?” “I don’t know, Commander. I agree that Captain Archer has a strong will, but this drug may be stronger. Only time will tell.” Phlox looked at Trip. “I’d be prepared to be T’Pol’s second in command for six months to two years. This could be a very long, difficult recovery, and not just for Captain Archer.” Trip nodded. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there, Doc. Thanks for updating us.” Phlox nodded, watching him leave. |
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