There Is No Such Thing

By AnimeFan101

Disclaimer: Don't own either franchise. Just a poor soul occasionally bit by the fic-bug. Enjoy.

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"The Vulcan Science Directorate has concluded that time travel is impossible."

Captain Archer stands before me, telling me of his experience with time travel.

And I must tell the lie.

He needs me to believe him. And it takes a life's training in objective observation techniques to keep my face immobile.

Because I am one of the few who know the truth: time travel is real. It happens, every day. Not the simple progression of time as it marches forward, but actual traveling past the point in time which I stand, either heading from times past before life ever developed in this galaxy or moving far beyond to when even its stars are nothing but dust.

It's a delicate balancing act, and one I am not sure I am doing well: for I do trust Archer, a human, beyond all reason.

But I have looked into the eyes of a being beyond definition, and His voice – all ten of them so far – has commanded me: the humans must not be told that time travel is possible.

So I must hold my silence on time travel.

Later, there is pain. Silik stands over me, demanding answers.

It is easier, and harder, to repeat the half-lie. The Science Directorate has determined time travel to be impossible. But I know it is.

I have seen the Box.

I am returned to my quarters. Pain makes it difficult to move. Difficult to think.

Time travel is…not fair.

The static-laden voice pleads. It needs me to trust him.

It is not a choice I need to make; Jonathan Archer has had my trust for a long time. I cannot tell him what I know, but I will trust his guidance.

Time moves forward. We retake the ship. Archer returns from the far-off time he'd been pulled to. Course is set to rendezvous with the D'Kyr.

Much later, the door chime to my quarters sounds. "Come," I say, standing from my desk.

The door opens and I see two people who are not part of the Enterprise crew at all. The woman appeared to be a normal human, perhaps mid-twenties. The man with her, however…

I will never mistake His face, no matter the changes.

"Eleven?" I say quietly, motioning them in. As they enter, she looks around avidly, trying to take in everything she can see. I know the signs. "A new companion, Doctor?"

The Doctor grins, and introduces me to Amy Pond. Then, to business.

"I've told you before," is all He says.

I nod. "I have followed your instructions." A pause. Then, "How much longer must I continue to deny time travel?"

The Doctor smiles. "You don't believe in time travel, T'Pol. You know it."

I suppress the urge to sigh. Trip would go completely insane if he knew how often I find myself agreeing with him regarding the Vulcan attitude that humans must be carefully shepherded in their beginning steps into the galaxy. At the same time, I am oddly grateful for the distinction offered.

After escorting the Doctor and Amy to the cargo bay where the Box awaits, I lay in my quarters. The chime sounds, and Captain Archer enters.

We talk briefly, and then he moves to leave. An impulse, recalled from my youth, and I do not resist. "I still don't believe in time travel," I say as he nears the door.

"The hell you don't," he fires back, an odd note of amusement in his voice.

It takes a surprising amount of determination not to turn after him, demand what he knows, see if he has perhaps met an odd man with a far too long scarf, or a wise elder who sees deeper with a glance than others can with hard study. Perhaps a hard man with a sharp face and close-cropped hair in a black jacket. An irrepressible man with brown clothing, long coat, and white-edged "sneakers" perhaps?

But I do not.

End