*4
"You think she bought it?" she asked.
"Helfino," he said, "And, sorry about, well, I'm just kinda distracted. It's not you. You are as hot as ever," he said, kissing her.
"Well, thanks. But next time, Chip, let me handle the science stuff with her. She hates it and gets bored after about a minute or so. I can just throw a load of nonsense at her and she'll usually just tune out."
"Okey doke, Lucy. You're the expert," Chip said, leaning back. He sighed.
"You got other things on your mind."
"Yeah. I need to get some collections done. Ramirez still owes from the last Game Night. Shouldn't've bet against the Pistoleros."
"Is he good for it?"
"Probably. I figure Hodgkins can shake it outta him. I'd like, once the kids get older, for them to start taking on the family business," he said, "Collect on the bad debts, creatively encourage payments, that kinda thing."
"Your kids aren't even a year old," Lucy pointed out, "Besides, their mother has other plans for them."
"Yeah, you're right. We'll never get them away from her. And we won't get away, either."
"You still wanna do that?"
"Well, sure. Don't you? We'll leave," he kissed her, "Go to someplace, I dunno where. Maybe Risa? Get married."
"Married?"
"Yeah, why not? You got something against that?" he asked.
"No, it's just, I'm so used to her being the only one with any kind of even semi-official attachments that I almost forget that other attachments are possible."
"Well, if you can call her thing with Travis even semi-official."
"She's having his kid, isn't she?"
"She's had mine, too. And Aidan's. And a coupla other guys', too. This'll be the last one, 'cause it's Travis's. I guess that's your semi-official right there."
"A pity. She's actually a little less peeved when she's pregnant. Usually," Lucy qualified, "And nobody else is allowed to have a kid. Given that, I'd've figured she'd have a few more before Travis."
"I think she's having more trouble getting her figure back," Chip said, "Anyway, why talk about her? Let's talk about you," he kissed her, "And me."
"And the twins."
"Yeah," he sighed, "If we can ever get them away from her."
=/\=
It was later.
Much, much later.
The Agent stood in front of the Temporal Museum on Lafa II.
It was one of those buildings that's larger on the inside than on the exterior – a trick of atoms and light and matter and energy that made Fep City seemed smaller and far less cramped than it should have been. The outside had a huge sign on it, a continually advancing clock, a conceit of the museum's director. And it said that the current date and time were11:35 AM, March 27, 3109.
Early. Well, that wasn't so bad. He could spend a little time looking at the artifacts.
He was forty years old and a not unpleasant-looking man, but he had the kind of swaggery confidence that makes people seem far better-looking than they truly, objectively, are. He had brown hair, closely cropped, and blue eyes that were enhanced and could see farther and with more precision than most people. His hearing was similarly acute, able to discern not only soft, hushed tones but also to hear a bit above and below the normal range of human hearing – plus he could distinguish tones as well as a concert pianist, even though he had no musical talent whatsoever. He had other enhancements, other gifts, to make his job easier and, well, possible at all.
He was human, more or less, as he liked to say to people.
And he was early for lunch with his sister, Eleanor.
He walked in and asked a guard, "Which way to the Terran Empire exhibit?"
"Down there, to the left. You can't miss it."
He said thanks and walked along. He knew Eleanor liked her new job as docent. She was about as knowledgeable about such things as anyone could be. The museum was lucky to have her. He turned and saw the sign.
Eleanor was talking to a group of schoolchildren, who were sitting around in a circle on the floor. The kids were, perhaps, about seven or eight or so, "Hiya, El," he said.
She waved back, and the kids turned as one, "Now children," she said, "your teacher, Miss April, has very kindly given me the opportunity to talk to you about the unit you're currently studying."
April, April, Miss April. There. Aha.
Definitely Miss April. And maybe also Miss May, Miss June, Miss July and, oh baby, turn around one more time, Miss August, he figured. Niiice. He approached her, "I'm Eleanor's brother," he said, offering a hand.
"Oh. Hiya. I'm Tina April," she said, "Shh, listen. I gotta see how they do," she directed his attention back to Eleanor and the class, although he would have rather checked out her form some more.
Eleanor was holding a huge, lavishly decorated sword, "Tempered steel," she said, "This sword belonged to a legendary beauty. Can anybody tell me who that was? Oh, and make sure to hold up your PADDs with your names on them. I don't know you quite so well yet," she smiled. A half a dozen hands shot up, "Uh, Darareaksmey? I do hope I'm saying that right."
"Yeah, that's good," said Darareaksmey, who was a partly-Asian girl, "It was owned by Empress Hoshi."
"That's right!" Eleanor enthused, "And what can you tell me about her life?"
"She made a lotta conquests," Called out a boy.
"That's right, Steven. Now, can anybody tell me who succeeded her?"
Silence, then one lone hand, "Uh, her kids?" asked a girl tentatively.
"That's right," Eleanor said, "Let's talk about her children. How many did she have?"
"Is it six?" asked a boy.
"That's right, David. Can anybody tell me their names? Tell you what, you just call them out, okay?"
"Takara!" somebody called.
"And Takeo!" said another.
"Very good. Why are they so special? Susan?"
"Takara was the only girl," Susan said, "And Takeo was her twin."
"Excellent! Now, do you know where they are in the birth order?"
"Uh, last two?" Susan guessed.
"Not quite," Eleanor said, "Anyone?"
The Agent smiled to himself. He knew all of this, but it was kind of fun to watch the learning unfold before him, "So, Tina," he said, "El and I were going to lunch afterwards. But there's always dinner."
"I'm sure there is," she said, "I might not have too much prep work to do for tomorrow," she smiled, "But I do need to pay attention to this. Hold that thought," she appraised him. Hmm. Not bad. She wasn't expecting this. But it could be delightful.
"They were fourth and fifth. Takara was the older of the two, but only by a minute or so. But I bet she never let Takeo forget that. Now, how about the others? Anyone? Steven?"
"Kira. Or, uh, Kirin. I think."
"It's confusing. He was really named Kira. But he didn't like it, so he called himself Kirin. Where was he in the order?"
"Second," said Steven.
"Right you are. Okay, let's not always see the same hands. Gary?"
"There was Izo."
"Correct. And where does he fall? Keep in mind, you've only got first, third and sixth – last – left," Eleanor said.
"Third?"
"Nuh-uh. Anyone? Darareaksmey?"
"Last."
"Right. Two to go. Carol?"
"Uh, Arashi? Did I say that right?"
"Yes. And where does he fit in?"
"Third," Carol said.
"Okay, we're only missing the first-born."
The Agent knew that answer, of course.
"Jun," said one of the kids.
"Right, Marshall. Now for some harder questions. Those children had lots of different fathers. And their names all had a meaning of some sort. Can anybody tell me, let's see, what does Takara's name mean? And who was her father?"
"She was, uh, she was Chandler Masterson's daughter," said a boy holding up a PADD that said Alejandro on it, "And, I think her name means gift?"
"Close. It means treasure.Now, Takeo is her twin brother so we know he's also Chandler Masterson's child. What does Takeo mean? Robert?"
"Soldier!"
"Well, warrior. Very, very close. These are tough questions. How about Kira – also known as Kirin? Anybody?"
"His, um, his daddy was, uh, Dan MacKenzie. And Kira means night," said a girl holding up a PADD that said Beth.
"Not exactly," Eleanor prompted, "Anyone?"
"I remember going over this unit," The Agent said.
"Were you good at Mirror History?" asked Tina.
"One of my favorite subjects," he said, "Along with Biology," His eyes flashed up and down.
She drew his attention back to the kids, "I gotta work."
"Okay, I'll give this one to you," Eleanor said, "Kira means dark. But Kirin means giraffe.And he was called Giraffe because he was the tallest of the six children. His father was the children's babysitter, Aidan MacKenzie. Now, how about Arashi?"
Silence, "Nobody?"
"Arashi means storm. But I don't know who his daddy was," said Beth.
Eleanor whispered conspiratorially, "Confidentially, nobody does. Our research shows it was either Security Specialist José Torres or Frank Ramirez, who was the Chief Engineer. But nobody really knows for sure. How about Izo?"
"It's like pulling teeth sometimes," Tina said, "But they seem to be getting it."
"I bet you're a very good teacher," said the Agent.
"I do all right."
"That's right, Madeline. Izo means iron. And why was he called Iron?"
"His daddy was the pilot," said Steven, "Who was dark-skinned, but I forget his name."
"Travis Mayweather," said Eleanor, "Okay, last one is the first-born again. What can you tell me about Jun?"
"His name meanstruthful," saidDarareaksmey, "And nobody knows who his daddy was."
The Agent knew, but that was classified.
"That's right," Eleanor said, "Our research indicates it was either Tactical Officer Lieutenant Commander Douglas Jay Hayes or Security Crewman Brian Delacroix. But we'll probably never know for sure."
The Agent smiled to himself. Both of those guesses were wrong, wrong, wrong. He checked the wall clock projection. It was getting close to noon, and he and El would leave. He'd have to make his move quickly.
"So, if I'm going to take you to dinner, I should probably have a way of reaching you," he said to Miss April.
"Oh, yes. That would be helpful," she smiled. She took out a Communicator and held it up, "I can click with your Communicator."
"No need," he said. He'd already memorized the information – another helpful modification that made his job possible was a near-perfect photographic memory, "I got it. You like Cambodian?"
Eleanor picked up the sword again, "Now let's talk about this piece. It's tempered steel, forged ..."
As she spoke, the sword began to disintegrate in her hands. Hard, seemingly permanent and impenetrable tempered steel was dissolving into nothing.
Damn. Lunch would have to wait, and possibly for quite a long time.
He excused himself and walked over to a quieter area, where there were no people, near an exhibit showing the evolution of the Communicator. He tapped his own Communicator, which was implanted just behind his left ear, and only, just barely, visible as the smallest of spots, just behind where the lobe hung down a little. Anyone could have easily mistaken it for a birthmark, "Yeah, Carmen, I see it," he said
"It's bad, Rick," she said, "And it's not just affecting now. It hits three other nodes."
"Oh. Great," he said, "Tell me some more bad news, I love it, Car."
"Cute. You need to get back here. We'll debrief you, and get you into the Wells."
"The Wells?" he asked, "What about theAudrey?"
"Audrey's gonna be decommissioned, you know this."
"But I'm used to Audrey.I love her," he said sarcastically.
"She's old and clunky, too. Don't worry. Kevin's got your modifications in the Wells.Just get a transporter here, mmkay? Calavicci out."
Eleanor no longer had the sword in her hands. It was completely gone, "That's my cue," Rick said, "Sorry about lunch. And, tell Tina, sorry about dinner."
"You fast worker, you. Yanno, I don't introduce you to my friends just so you can hit on them. Just be careful."
"I always am," he kissed her cheek and departed, looking for the museum's transporter room.
=/\=
He was met at the Temporal Integrity Commission by Admiral Carmen Calavicci and Chief Project Engineer Kevin O'Connor. Kevin was a mountain of a man, seventy or so, with an unkempt beard and wild eyes. He had few social graces and really didn't give a damn about that. If he wasn't a brilliant engineer and inventor, he probably would have been digging ditches. In contrast, Carmen was a model of refinement, short and slight, older than Rick, but not by much. She spoke first, "It's a temporal eddy. Actually, it started off as a phaser pulse, vibrating at our frequency, which is twenty-one centimeters. The Empress had it shot into those old dishes on Point Abic. 'Course they weren't so old when she did that."
"Consequences?" Rick asked.
"Plenty," Kevin answered, nasal Wisconsin accent and all, "Four spots have gone kerflooey, to use the technical term."
"Yes," Carmen said, "Here, of course, but also 2161, 2166 and 2178. The vibrating pulse isn't exactly a coherent one. It's all over the place. So it's like a game of Whack-a-Mole. You tamp it down here, and it pops up over there. Plus it's tied into other behaviors. In 2161, it's just a test. But in 2166 there's a first invasion wave into our universe, and then in 2178 there's another invasion and a grabbing of more troops, although it's actually to cover up a screw-up."
"Screw-up?" Rick said.
"Yeah," Kevin said, "She was aiming for 2378 and got 2178 instead. She wanted more ships like the Defiantbut instead she just got a decade and change farther along, and picked up some ground troops. That's actually the only piece we really, truly know about."
"Huh?"
"It's sloshing around," Carmen said, "There's little temporal or spatial integrity, so time and space just career around. Chronometric particles and bits of the two universes keep crashing and colliding. We think the earlier years are 2161 and 2166 but, honestly, they might not be. Only 2178 is clear. We could hit that one the most accurately. It's also causing the most damage. Hence it may seem counterintuitive, but the last one must be fixed first."
"I got the Wells just about ready," Kevin said, "I'll take care of that, see you at the launch bay," he left, his gait rolling like a hippopotamus.
"Rick, he left us alone because I gotta caution you," Carmen said, "You can't go on this one. You gotta send a proxy. She's gotta still believe that you're dead. And I know you. You won't be able to keep your mitts off her. It'll be too distracting and I can't allow it. Remember the kind of damage we had to fix last time."
"Damage? Jun is not damage."
"Well, he is your son. But really! What the hell were you thinking? You gotta take a birth control shot with the rest of the Agents. We had to change the regulations because of you. And we had to sterilize that poor kid."
"Better than killing him," Rick said. He shook his head. What had he been thinking? But she was just so captivating. Sloe eyes, glossy black hair, trim little ...
"Richard!" Carmen was getting a bit impatient, "We may have time ships at your disposal, but we're still running low on time. You need to get to 2161. Get a proxy, preferably someone who can fake the twenty-centimeter radiation band on the other side of the pond. Get two, if you can swing it, to do the deeds. The specifics will be – so far as we can figure them – in the Wells. Read while you fly. Get the last problem fixed first. Then the second to last one. And while that's happening, we know the Enterpriseis in the area. They sense something is up but don't know what. You've worked with Archer before. Work with him, Tucker and, and Reed and get that ship protected from the first onslaught," she left.
"What about the Temporal Accords?" he asked as he arrived at the launch bay, but he was already just about 100% sure of the answer.
"You honestly think them things apply to another universe?" Kevin asked.
"Yeah, I guess not," Rick said. He stopped for a second to pat an older time ship that stood off to the side. The name USS Audrey Niffenegger was painted on the hull, and the paint was chipped a bit, "Later, old girl," he said softly.
"Okay. This is the HG Wells," Kevin said proudly, showing off the new ship, "It's run on the newest technology. Dark matter – you intake dark matter, it reconfigures it and spits it out as time travel. And the waste product is the best part."
"I'm not so sure I can get enthused about waste."
"You'll get enthused about this," Kevin said, "The waste product is regular old matter. See, the universe is gonna eventually end. And it'll end when all the regular matter converts to dark. You know that. I don't need to tell you. So, bottom line, the Wellsconverts a little of that back. Every time you take a little trip, either forward or back, you extend the life of the universe by a few nanoseconds!"
"Huh. Interesting. You got it tricked out like I like?"
"I sure do. Old-fashioned radio, too – I know you like that, and it doesn't take any appreciable power. Replicator's in the back, sleeping area to the side and yeah, I got you your bed. I swear if I had known time travel would be a way to pick up chicks I'd've been born a better-looking man. Uh, sorry Josie," he said, looking up for a second.
"I don't think Josie minds you joking around," said Rick.
"Thanks for what you sent after she passed," Kevin said, and then he straightened up, "Okay, now, controls are a little different than on the Audrey. You just ..."
*5
Once Yimar had left, Lili told the kids that they'd be making empanadas for dinner later. The kids ended up calling them "Empy's Nachos" and ran around a bit. Normally, she could handle the rambunctiousness, but this was just not a good day for it.
February fifth, 2161. She should've been in bed. With Malcolm. The kids should've been on Lafa IX with Yimar. At least Doug and Melissa were still hunting, and Norri was on her way with little Tommy. A little was right, but not everything. She sighed again, fighting to keep her patience.
"Tell you what," she said to the kids, "let's go look at the video wall a bit. Okay?"
They put their toys down and followed her to the hall. The video wall was not really a wall, more like a cutout in the wall. They couldn't afford a really, really large one but that was all right. Life-sized photographs and videos had always unnerved Lili a bit. But this size was fine. The wall scrolled through various pictures. There was Norri holding up the old-fashioned acceptance letter she'd gotten to graduate school. Melissa, Norri and Doug holding a newborn Tommy was the next picture in the group. Then there was the picture of Lili with Doug on a beach vacation for her fiftieth birthday – that had been a good time. She'd come back from that vacation pregnant with Marie Patrice. Then there was the picture of the Executive Level staff of the Enterprise accepting medals for leading a decisive battle that helped to bring about the end of the Earth-Romulan War. She touched the spot where you could stop the slide show for a moment. Hmm. A bit sticky – some little grape jelly-smeared hand had touched it fairly recently.
She took a look at the picture. There was something about still pictures – Lili always liked to look at the group dynamics, frozen in time. From left to right, Hoshi, looking straight ahead; Malcolm, looking self-satisfied; Phlox, looking a little like he was unsure as to why he was being recognized; Jonathan, proud; T'Pol, calm; Tripp, looking over to the viewer's left; and Travis, wide-eyed and perhaps a tad flirtatious. She followed Tripp's eyes in the picture. He was looking at Hoshi. Ha, you're still thinking of her, Lili thought. And it's been over a year and a half. Still ...
"Mommy! A ship!" Joss yelled, looking out the front window.
Lili wasn't expecting a ship and did not recognize the configuration. She picked up Marie Patrice and opened the front door, "Stay on the porch behind me, Joss. And let me talk," she cautioned.
The ship was shaped a bit like an arrowhead. It was new and shiny and had USS HG Wells painted on the side. It was fairly quiet, and it landed right on top of her garden.
Angrily, she rushed over as the hatch opened, "Who the hell are you, and why are you landing on my garden?!" She was normally more patient than that, but it had been a bad enough day as it was. Now her asparagus wouldn't come up in a few months, and her day lilies were probably toast.
"Oh, oh, sorry," said the man in the ship, familiar and unfamiliar, "Wait, I'll move it. Over there okay?" He pointed to her backyard.
"None of it's okay. But better," she conceded.
"What kind of a ship is this, Mister?" Joss asked, right behind her.
"Go back to the porch," Lili said.
The ship was moved. The man got out, knelt over the garden a few seconds and then strode over.
"My husband will be back any minute now," Lili lied. Doug and Melissa weren't due back until the following day, "So I suggest you leave."
"Don't you know who I am?" the man asked.
Lili looked at him skeptically, "Danson?"
"Daniels," he said.
=/\=
"We got perrazin, we got linfep, we are all set," Doug said, "Could go home early."
"You disliking my company?" Melissa asked.
"Naah," he said, "Just sayin'. We are done early. So we can play a bit more."
=/\=
"Oh yeah," Lili said, shifting Marie Patrice in her arms. Now she was beginning to remember him.
"Can I go see inside your ship?" Joss asked.
"Maybe later," Daniels said.
"I didn't straight replace you on the Enterprise," Lili said, "There was someone in between. And then the Xindi War happened, and I replaced a pastry chef, a saucier and a Sous-chef. And I did most of the stewarding work. But you, you were seen sometimes. You'd disappear with Captain Archer but never seemed to stay long enough for a meal. And now you're here. With a ship I can't recognize. Tell me, what species made that ship?"
"I, uh, you said your husband would be back soon?"
"Yes," she said, still cautious.
"Well, I'd like to wait for him before I explain things. There's a lot to explain," he said.
"We're makin' my nachos," Marie Patrice said.
"Nachos? I love nachos!" Daniels enthused.
"Yeah, huh," Lili said, "You got a first name?"
"Richard."
"So, do I call you Richard, or just Dick?" Lili asked, still a bit peeved.
"Rick, please," he said, "Look, I'm sorry for dropping in like this but this is, it's a bit urgent."
"Urgent? So you barge in and want my husband's military unit to do something and trample my flowers and bother my kids and me and, and ..."
"I'm sorry. And it's not the unit that I want," Rick said.
Lili put Marie Patrice down, "Kids, go wash up."
"But Maaa–aah!" Joss complained, "I wanna see the ship."
"Later," Lili said, "If we're gonna make empanadas, you need clean hands. Help Marie Patrice. Now, Joss."
"Oh, all right," he was a little disappointed but did what he was told.
Once they were gone, Lili asked, "So, look, I'm sorry I was rude. And I shouldn't be rude in front of them. But I don't understand this. Why are you here? Really. And don't give me that bull that you need to wait for Doug. Tell me at least a piece of it."
"Mrs. Hayes," Rick said, "you and I didn't know each other. And I didn't know Doug or his counterpart, either."
"Hayes? Counterpart? I am Mrs. Beckett."
"Beckett. Huh. Now that makes sense," he'd have to correct the briefing materials, "And I know all about the other side of the pond," Rick's sleeve moved up slightly, revealing a wrist with a solid band of silver skin and a second solid band of copper skin, closer to the shoulder.
Lili stared. "Unless you've got tats like I do, you're part Calafan. And that's not supposed to be possible. And you're Calafan from both sides of the pond, too. Which is also supposed to be an impossibility."
"Yes," he said, adjusting his sleeve, "The silver is this side, the copper is the other, but you already knew that."
"But humans and Calafans can't interbreed."
"They won't be able to for another two hundred or so years, Mrs. Beckett."
"Wha –?"
"This morning – my morning, right before I came here, it was March twenty-seventh."
"No, it's February fifth. And, March twenty-seventh? That's my, my birthday," Lili said.
"Funny that," Rick said, "But it wasn't 2161. It was 3109."
"I need to sit down. You, uh, that's a thousand years after I was born. It's to the day and everything."
"I don't wanna say anymore," Rick said, "Not right now. Please, just, let's pretend like it's nothing. Because Doug should hear the rest of this and I'd rather not explain it twice. He'll be here soon, right?"
"Uh, no," she said distractedly, "He'll be back tomorrow. A fib – don't want my children to think it's all right to just let an unfamiliar man come in and all," she briefly considered calling Doug but they had agreed to only call if there was some sort of a dire emergency. This was an irregularity, to be sure, but it scarcely qualified as an actual emergency. Better that at least Melissa and Doug could have their full vacation, even if she and Malcolm could not.
"I suppose it's not," he said.
Joss came out of the house and ran over, "All clean!" He showed his hands.
"Is Empy all clean, too?" Lili asked.
"Yes, Mommy. Mister, you staying for dinner?"
"It's okay," Lili said, "But you can't sleep in the house. Can you sleep in your ship?"
"Yeah. No problem. And, thank you. I wasn't coming here to wangle a dinner invitation or anything," he smiled a little at her.
"'Sokay," she said, "I hope you don't mind participating."
"Participating?"
"Yes," They began to walk up the little pathway,
"You get to make your own empanada or two or twelve."
"Huh. I'm not much of a cook," Rick admitted.
"Bachelor?"
"Yes. And I go out a lot," he said, "I can scramble eggs."
"That will not help you here. Now, wash up. You'll be touching food."
=/\=
"See, I told ya it would get me going," Doug said.
"You seem to be able to get going with or without lingerie," Melissa said.
"Well, sure. But it adds some spice."
"You should wear something nicer than boxer shorts," she said.
"You forget I'm an old man. I'll be sixty at the end of the year. I'm still over twice your age."
"Coulda fooled me. It's only the crinkling around the eyes that gives it away."
"I'm going grey, too, yanno."
"I hadn't noticed."
=/\=
"Okay, now, we've got the dough all ready," Lili said, rolling it out on a floured counter, "Now, does everybody have a can?"
The kids and Rick held up tin cans with the ends cut off. Lili noticed Rick's was an old can from pineapple rings. Malcolm's gift, for her and Doug's wedding. Focus, O'Day, focus! She said to herself.
"Joss's is bigger than mine," Marie Patrice complained.
"No, it's not! Maaa-aaahmm!"
"They look the same to me," Rick said, appraising them.
"Thanks. Now, everybody, use the ring and cut out a circle of dough. Okay, good. Now let's put the filling in. Joss, you should add some vegetables to yours. Yes, I mean it. Empy, okay, not so much. You can make a second empanada. If you put too much in, it just oozes out and gets messy. Rick, that's very artistic."
"Ha, it's the yin and the yang of cooked broccoli with ground beef."
"Ground elekai meat," Lili corrected him, "It's the bottom half and it tastes like duck. Right, Ducks?" she asked Joss.
"Aw, Maaa-aaahmm, that's embarrassing."
"Two and a half and already a teenager," Lili said, "Young man, I am probably going to embarrass you a lot in the next several years. So you'd better get used to it."
Joss was about to complain again but instead elbowed Marie Patrice.
"No fighting at the table," Lili said, "Okay, now, we fold over the circle once. And then we use the back of the fork to crimp the edges, see like this? Now, last thing. Put your initials on the top – just poke them out with the tines of the fork – so that we knows who's is who's. Joss, help your sister."
If she put all her initials on, it would have been too long – CLO'DB. Lili ended up just poking out CL, for Charlotte Lilienne. She looked over – JL for Joss, MP for Marie Patrice. And RM for Rick.
Lili said, "Okay, make as many as you want and I'll preheat the oven. We're not gonna fry these even though that's traditional. I don't have enough oil."
=/\=
"Sir, we have the repolarization protocols down to once every four milliseconds," Malcolm reported, standing in the Ready Room with Tripp and addressing the Captain.
"Good," Jonathan said, "That wave – if we can even call it a wave – is moving and growing. A ship like ours needs to be prepared in case we meet it."
"Cap'n," Tripp said, "All this fancy footwork will drain a lotta power. I hope you don't expect to go anywhere too quickly."
"I don't know what to expect," Jonathan admitted, "And the Vulcan Science Directorate, so far they have no idea where that wave even came from. If strange waves are flying in out of nowhere, then I imagine another one could materialize right on top of our hull next time. Let's get this data over to the Columbia. They'll need it as well. Dismissed."
*6
The next day, Melissa and Doug walked up the little walkway, carrying a huge bag together, "And I'm telling you, he's not gonna remember you, Doug."
"I saw him when he was born!"
"Which was, what, nine months ago? His entire lifespan! Hey, did you know there's a ship in your backyard?" she asked.
Joss came running out, "Daddy! Daddy! Didja see Rick's ship?!" he asked excitedly.
"Hey, slugger!" Doug dropped the bag and lifted his elder son up high, "Now, who's Rick?"
Lili came out, with Marie Patrice behind her, followed by a younger woman with auburn hair, holding Doug's younger son.
"You!" said the woman with the auburn hair to Melissa.
"And you!" said Melissa back, hugging her, "I'll see you later," she said quietly, then took her son.
"How you been, Norri?" Doug asked, kissing the redhead on the cheek.
"Quite well. But busy with school. I see you were successful," she said, looking at the bag on the ground.
"Yep. It's heavy. I'll get that," Doug replied, "And who's Rick?"
"That would be me," said Rick, now standing in the doorway, "Mr. Beckett," he came over and was about to extend his hand but Doug hoisted up the bag instead.
"Help me with this," Doug said.
The two men got it into the kitchen. Finally, Doug could look up, "Just a second," he said. Rick busied himself checking out the video display in the hallway.
He found Lili outside, watching Marie Patrice kick the soccer ball around some more, "Ah, there you are," Lili said.
He didn't answer, he just kissed her.
"Ewwww!" Joss complained upon seeing them, then ran back into the house. He ran into the kitchen and saw the bag. Tentatively – for he was unsure as to what, exactly, was inside, he reached in and found fur. He touched it a bit and then realized it was somehow wrong. Backing away, he started to cry and ran back out.
"Furry!" he said between a few sobs.
Doug and Lili came up for air, "What's the matter, love?" she asked, bending down.
"Fur."
"Doug, didn't you secure the bag?"
"I did," he said. He knelt down, "Okay, sport. I wasn't gonna explain this until you were older. Come on and we'll go into the kitchen and we're gonna talk about something. Melissa, you should be a part of this, too."
She followed them in, as did everyone else.
In the kitchen, Lili sat on a stool and put Joss on her knee, "You remember when Daddy said he was going out hunting with Melissa?"
"Y-yes."
"And that's what happens. They took phase bows – you know, the big thing that Daddy has which is heavier than you are? And they went to Lafa XII and they found a herd of perrazin and they shot their bows."
"There's linfep in there, too," Melissa said, "Well, there is."
"Okay, and they also shot at the linfep. And that is what we are having for dinner. And not just tonight. There's enough to save for lots more nights," Lili explained.
"We – it was very quick," Doug said, "We don't shoot at any animal that's a little baby, or a mother. We don't shoot at healthy animals unless they attack us. The animals we go after are the ones that wouldn't survive another season."
"And we make sure that they feel as little pain as possible," Melissa added, "We don't want the animals to hurt any more than the minimum. We don't get any pleasure in seeing them suffer. Do you understand that?"
"I think so," Joss said, "Daddy, you said hunting was fun."
"Well, it is," Doug said, "But the animals are only one part of it. It's being outside, and it's camping, and it's getting away from it all," he shot a glance at Melissa. Joss wouldn't be able to understand that part of things quite yet, "It's a lot of, um, physical activity. Which is fun. And you get dinner out of it. But the actual act of bringing down the animals – that isn't even one-tenth of what happens."
"Your Daddy and Melissa don't get any jolt out of hurting living things," Norri said.
"I wanna make animals all better when I get older," Joss said.
"And you will," Lili said, "But I want you to understand something. When you eat elekai, or perrazin, or linfep, or, or, the market's starting to have chicken – when you eat those things – somebody had to kill an animal. And whether it was Daddy, or Melissa, or the big Calafan man at the market – you know, the guy who gives you olowa candy when you come with me? Whoever it is, somebody has to do it. We don't eat animals that have died of old age, my love."
Joss looked up, "Do you eat animals, Rick?"
"Yeah, I do," he said, "I also eat vegetables. And if you stopped eating animals, the only thing you'd have to eat would be vegetables. And I recall you're not a big fan of them."
"Yeah. Okay," Joss conceded.
"Come on. Why don't you show Rick your room?" Lili suggested.
Rick said, "I do need to ..."
"I know," she said, "But let us have our visit, at least for a little while."
The two of them went into Joss's room.
"What's going on?" Doug asked as they sat down in the living room. Norri and Melissa had Tommy on the couch and were starting to change his diaper.
"Rick is Richard Daniels. You should all hear this. Uh, where's Marie Patrice?" Lili asked.
"She's outside kicking that ball," Melissa said, craning her neck to look.
"Just make sure she doesn't go up by the rise in the back. We don't own that land," Lili said, "Okay. Rick is, he's, there is no good way to say this."
"Spill it," Norri said, "What? I've been editing detective fiction again."
"Rick used to be on the Enterprise, before I was there. I was eventually given his old job," Lili said.
"So he's a chef?" Melissa asked.
"Nope. He was a steward. But that's not really what he does. That ship – it's unfamiliar, yes? It's not only not from around here; it's not from around now."
"Huh," Doug said, "Is he giving you some sort of time travel bull?"
"I don't think it's bull," Lili said, "He used to come back on occasion and meet with Archer. Much of this was during the Xindi War but some of it was for a year or so afterwards. I can't say as I know everything that used to happen – God knows I barely knew the direction the ship was moving in half the time – but the ship plus the urgency of the missions that went along with it – to me that adds up to, well, not necessarily time travel but definitely to somehow him being more important than a regular old steward."
"I'll concede the point that he's not just a steward," Norri said, then smiled wide-eyed at Tommy and said, "Look at that big boy!"
"He's not quite walking yet," Melissa said, "And not a word out of him."
"He'll put it together in; I am guessing a month or so. For Joss, everything just suddenly happened when he was about ten months old. For Marie Patrice it was earlier. I guess there's some variation," Doug said.
"The super male makes super babies," Lili smiled, "We have something for him, by the way," she got the gift out from the pantry.
"Look, it's blocks!" Norri said, "I bet you could make a big tower and then smash it all up!"
"We brought stuff, too," Melissa said, "You did bring it, right Norri?"
"Yep. Football for Joss and a kid's first PADD for Marie Patrice," she answered, "They're still in my bag."
"That was really generous of you," Lili said.
"He's more of a baseball guy," Doug said, "But I think he'll be throwing a spiral in no time."
"Oh yeah, Malcolm also left something for Tommy. It's over there," Lili pointed.
Melissa got up, "He totally did not have to do that. For your kids, I can see it. But for mine?" she smiled, opening up the wrapping, "Old fashioned crayons and actual paper."
"There is nothing like paper," Norri said, "Is there, Tommy?" The baby just smiled and cooed at her.
"Where is Malcolm, anyway?" Melissa asked.
"Enterprise business," Lili said, voice a little quieter, "We can call him. And I think we should call him about all of this as well. I don't have the specifics yet. Rick didn't want to say until Doug came home. But he needs Doug for something."
"He doesn't have any authority over me," Doug said.
Marie Patrice came in with the ball, "I got it to go so far!"
"That's great!" Lili enthused, "But not over the rise. Go in Joss's room. I bet he'd like to play a bit."
Rick came out, "Can we talk now?"
"No kids," Doug said.
"Here, let's play with those blocks," Norri said, picking up Tommy and the box, "We'll be in Joss's room."
"Wait, I want to involve Malcolm. Please," Lili said. She clicked a Communicator open and got him.
"A good surprise to hear your voice, love," he said.
"Are you busy?" she asked.
"Not too bad. I can talk for a while," he was in quarters as his shift had just ended.
"It's not just us," Lili said, "It's everyone. Listen."
"Okay," Rick said, once that door was closed, "I was born on February third, 3069."
"Riiight," Melissa said.
He smiled, "I know that sounds insane. So let me tell you a story. There are things called chronometric particles. And they are kinda similar to light quanta. You know, photons. Light is both particles, packets, like that. I believe this is a bit before the time in history when you can make torpedoes out of them."
"We had them on the Defiant," Doug said, "Other side of the pond."
"We don't have them here on the Enterprise," Malcolm interjected, "Sounds like they would prove useful."
"Exactly. But when was the Defiantfrom, Doug?" Rick prompted.
"Some time in the twenty-fourth century. I forget when," he replied.
"Yes. So time is little bits. And those bits are actually composed, in many ways, of decisions. These are not only conscious decisions, but unconscious ones. And even decisions that are outside of consciousness, such as whether it'll rain on a particular day," Rick explained.
"But that's the distinction between universes, too," Lili said, "Right? In this one, we're sitting together the way we are. In another one, Malcolm is physically here. In another, you're sitting on the couch instead of in that chair. In yet another, the dinosaurs never died out."
"Yes. So you can see there is an interrelation in that way as well. Alternative timelines shoot along each universe. In Doug's original universe – the one we've all been referring to as the other side of the pond – the timeline is spiked with extra testosterone, and three times as many males as females, in what we like to call the Y Chromosome Skew. But each universe, inevitably, is only supposed to have its one and only timeline. Here, the allies land on Normandy beaches on D-Day. The Renaissance happens. Zefram Cochrane makes first contact on April fifth, 2063. You get the idea. It all vibrates at a twenty-one centimeter radiation band."
"The music of the spheres," Malcolm said.
"That's one way of putting it," Rick said.
"If this is quanta, well, light is like that. But light is also like waves, right?" Melissa said.
"Yes. It's also wavelike when there's a lot of it. My ship rides those waves, and makes its own as needed. But – Malcolm, you'll know this by now – there's a wave flying around out there," Rick said.
"Yes, Daniels," Malcolm said, "It's why I was recalled. The wave's incoherent and dangerous to the hull."
"This is a temporal eddy," Rick said, "It's swirling and changing and it's growing."
"A natural phenomenon?" Doug asked.
"No," Rick said, "Artificial. Made by – well, ordered by – Empress Hoshi."
"Empress?" Malcolm laughed a little, "She's a bit regal at times but I'd hardly call her an –"
"Empress," Doug said, "Other side of the pond, remember? Counterparts are different – sometimes very, very different."
"Exactly," Rick said, "She wants more ships like the Defiant. So she had the wave created – actually, to her, it was a phaser shot of pulsed dark matter vibrating at our frequency – theirs is a bit off, at twenty centimeters. It was shot straight into the thickest concentration of amplifying dishes on Point Abic."
"Point Abic?" Lili asked, "Those are dream amplifiers. What would she want with them?"
"She may not even know about the whole dream thing. They do know that Calafans can now shuttle back and forth so they understand that that would be a place where everything intersects," Rick said, "And the dishes are on both sides of the pond. They shot through and, to them, the shot was lost. This was a test, most likely. But they'll be back, in about five years. And they won't just be testing and they won't just be sending through a few quanta of dark matter."
"I shot an arrow into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For, so swiftly it flew, the sight
Could not follow it in its flight," Malcolm quoted, "Uh, that's Longfellow."
"What does this have to do with us?" Doug said, "Or, me, to be precise about it?"
"The second time – and we are a bit unclear on the exact date – it's more than just a quickie shot. It's an invasion force."
"Wait, what?" Melissa asked, "You're a time guy. How can you not know precise dates?"
"That wave," Rick said, "It's messing up our readings. Hell, this time is, it's lucky I got here anywhere near when it came in. When did it come in, Lieutenant?"
"The third."
"Happy birthday to me," Rick said, shaking his head.
"The invasion, Rick?" Lili prompted.
"Yes. They come in. But four people go out, to the other side of the pond."
"Anybody we know?" Melissa asked.
"Three of them are playing with blocks in the next room," Rick said.
"We'll take them away from here," Lili said, "Leave everything behind."
"No. That won't prevent it," Rick said.
"Why not?" she was panicking just a tiny bit.
"Incoherent time, I'll wager," Malcolm said.
"Right," Rick said, "And it's spilling particles around and not just chronometric ones. The bits and pieces of the two universes are going to start colliding. It's so bad that by the time 2166 rolls around, well, we can't be certain of exact times and dates, although it's highly likely that Lafa II is the place. And then there's ..."
"There's more?" Doug asked.
"Yep. There's another spot with problems. 2178. That one we can hit with far more accuracy. June first."
"Another incursion?" Malcolm asked.
"Partly. The Empress wanted to get to 2378. But the calculations were off, and by a lot. So instead they tossed in more ground troops, but they also picked up troops on their own side. See, that's what I'm thinking for Doug to do."
"Me?"
"Yes. You actually belong on that side, and have the right radiation band to prove it," Rick said, "They're bringing troops in. You go in under that cover, pretend to be joining up. They'll never notice. Bring back The Four."
"The Four?" Melissa asked.
"The three kids," Rick said, "And a fourth child, too."
"Why not just do this during the first invasion? What is that, 2165?" Lili asked.
"2166. And it's the lack of precision that's got us stumped, Mrs. Beckett," Rick said, "It's the most incoherent piece of this whole mess. I send him to, let's say, January first of 2166, and he could easily be sitting around for three months. His being there isn't exactly safe. He should, I would like for him to have a partner with him."
"You should go," Melissa said, "This is your baby, even if it is his kids."
"No. I can't," Rick said, "I have a personal stake in this – I won't deny that – but I've been ordered off this one."
"I haven't even said yes," Doug said. Lili touched his arm, "But these are my children. I love them and don't want them being lost there. It's a horrible, inhospitable place. I don't wish that on anyone."
"Then I'll go," Malcolm volunteered.
"No, that's not what I have in mind," Rick said, "Plus you're needed here. The Enterprise is going to need you – big time – before this is done. Those hull polarization protocols are only the beginning. I will stay in this time period and guide you, Tripp Tucker and Jonathan Archer. It has to be someone who is far less of a threat."
Lili and Melissa looked at each other, "Melissa," Lili finally said, "Sorry, hon, but I'm terrible. I can't pilot – hell, I almost cracked up the car yesterday. And I can't shoot. She's the best choice."
"No," Rick said, "You. You are the least threatening of anyone. You can also make reliable nocturnal contact with Calafans and can even be mistaken for one."
Lili rolled up her sleeves, "This is false calloo," she said, referring to the complicated silver scrollwork tattoo on each arm, "Any Calafan paying even the slightest bit of attention would know that I'm a human."
"True. But the Empress won't have a clue. They don't love non-humans there. Calafans are mainly slaves but you could go to work in the galley and you'd mainly be among slaves anyway. If they ask you your name, we can make up a Calafan one for you, or you could even use your human name. They would buy it that you were – sorry, but it's true there – lower class."
"And we just get our kids and this other one, and come back how?" Doug asked.
"I've got temporal tags."
"We tag them like research animals?" Lili asked.
"Not quite. This is the other side of the pond we're talking about. So you need to tag and then send up a signal. This would be a flare of dark matter."
"You said that shooting dark matter into the dishes was causing this," Lili pointed out, "So we shouldn't do that."
"No, it's okay, so long as the flare doesn't go into the dishes. Therefore, you'll need a Calafan's help. Convince one to take the flare over to this side and shoot it off, away from the dishes. He won't even notice – to him, it'll just look like a dud. But I'll know. I'll grab anything with a tag and you'll all be brought – all six of you – to this side of the pond. But in 2166 – I should be able to get more precision by the very act of bringing you over – and then you'll fix that problem as well, by preventing them from crossing over."
"And then from there?" Melissa asked.
"You'll have a second flare. Shoot it off and you're good to go. I'll get you and bring you back here. So, no flares until all of The Four are accounted for, and the two of you are, too, of course," Rick said.
Norri came in, "I missed a lot, eh? They're getting antsy for dinner and presents."
"Let us think about this a bit," Doug said, "Can you barbecue?"
"Okay, I guess," Rick said.
"I'll help you. And you can fill me in while the kids run around in the back," Norri said.
They left with the children.
Lili transferred the call over to their bedroom. In there, she said to Malcolm, "Well, whaddaya think?"
"I think it's insane," he said, "But it's time travel and, by definition, it's a bit of madness. I don't suppose we'd be able to have our usual nighttime contacts."
"Probably only during the two, well, I dunno what to call them. Touchdowns?"
"Oh, it'll be lonely," he said.
"Don't feel obligated to wait," Lili said, "Malcolm, really. The second one is seventeen years from now. Don't be, well, insane."
"I'll cross that bridge when I get to it," he said.
She took the key out from where the chain had been inside her blouse, "I love you," she said, "And I love my key and I will wear it when we go. It'll dazzle those people on the other side so much that they'll be forced to give me the children back."
He smiled a bit at that, "You shall dazzle them, key or no key. Still, I am pleased to see you wearing it. And the ribbon in your hair! It brings out your lovely eyes."
"You have great eyes, too, yanno," she said, "They're like the deep blue sea."
=/\=
Doug and Melissa both paced.
"Is this safe?" she asked.
"Nope. Not one bit."
"Sheesh. I really should be going instead of her. Calafan contact aside – she's right – I've got better skills. She's not exactly good for combat."
"Do you, uh, do you think it took?"
"What took where?"
"You. Me. Neil. Or have you forgotten?"
"Oh, heh, I have no idea," she said.
"Melissa, if you're already pregnant, then you really can't go," Doug said, "They have medical care but it's monstrous. You stay here," he kissed her, "Be with Norri and the kids. Take them to Ceres. Despite what Daniels says, if we keep them away from here, maybe you can change things."
"So I guess our surprise is shot."
"Surprise?"
"Yeah. We were gonna tell you over dinner. Norri and I put money down on an apartment in Fep City. It's being built as we speak."
"Huh. A pity. Any other time, I'd be thrilled to have all of you closer."
"I love you, Doug. I'm gonna, I'm gonna miss you."
"And I'll miss you, too. You know I love you. But, they're, all three of them? Gawd. What kind of a father would I be if I didn't try to get them back?"
"And someone else's kid, too," Melissa reminded him, "Someone else will be just as scared as you and me and Lili are gonna be, wondering if their little one will ever come home."
"I gotta do this, then. Make sure they all get back."
=/\=
"I wish I were there right now," Malcolm said, "But we're out of transporter range. I would just want to hold you and kiss you and wish you farewell."
"Keep a good thought," Lili said, "I'll be back soon."
She was just about to close the connection when Doug walked in, "Sorry," he said, "But me and Malcolm need to talk a sec. Alone."
She left.
"Reed," Doug said, "I'm only gonna say this once."
"Oh?"
"If she comes back, and I don't, well, it's pretty obvious what you'd do. I just want you to know that I know, and I understand. And I want you to. Be with her. Take care of her. And if the kids are back with her, take care of them as well. Guide them. Just, just do that."
"You know I will."
"Oh, and another thing, Reed? If I do come back – we never had this conversation."
Malcolm smiled a tiny bit, "Understood. You'd best prepare yourselves somehow. I'm just a Communicator call away. Reed out."