I Naviganti 2: "K'lalatar Prnak'lirli K'lalatar Prkori
(Infinite Combinations in Infinite Diversity)"
by Monica MicioGatta
with Seti's collaboration
§3
«How are you feeling?... Captain?»
Archer slowly opened his eyes and found himself staring at a smiling, courteous, kind Phlox, dressed in cream coloured gown. «Phlox?» he asked.
«Yes, sir. It's me.»
He pulled up on one elbow, looking at the Denobulan. «Captain?» he asked. He wasn't captain. Forrest had stolen his rank... «Where's that son of a bitch Soval?» he asked.
Phlox looked at him in amazement, more for the epithet. «I have no idea. To my knowledge no one has contacted us, I guess he's still on his Vulcan ship, probably far away from here.»
Archer shook his head slightly. «What are you saying?» He pushed the blankets away and swung his legs off the bed.
«Easy, Captain!» Phlox said.
«What happened to me?» he demanded.
«We don't know. Lieutenant Reed believes that engineering has been struck by a micro-singularity which collided with you, Hoshi and Commander Tucker.» Phlox sighed. «You and Hoshi are fine, but commander Tucker...»
Archer pulled up. «What?»
Phlox slightly opened the curtain and spoke softly: «I have finished treating his wound. He's still sedated... but I fear it will be hard to erase the scar.» He had to admit he wasn't very good with scars.
«That doesn't matter.» Archer said. «Will he still be able to work the engines?"
The doctor looked slightly surprised. «Yes... yes, of course captain.» He closed the curtain. «Fortunately, the damage doesn't seem particularly serious.»
Archer nodded slightly and looked at Hoshi. «Send her to my quarters, when she wakes up.»
«Your quarters?» asked Phlox.
«Yes, Phlox. My quarters.» he said.
«Are you okay, Captain?"
Archer stopped on the door of the sickbay. No, he didn't feel right. Something was wrong. He cast a last look at Phlox before leaving. It was all wrong. Phlox was too friendly. It made him nervous. And why did he call him "captain"?
Only then he noticed that his uniform was different. Not very different, but the emblem of the Terran Empire was missing from his sleeve.
«Where am I?» he whispered to himself. They called him Captain... Archer paused, leaning with one hand on the wall. He had heard about interuniversal trips. The Vulcans had studied them for a long time and it was rumoured that many of them had changed universe. Maybe this was the explanation.
«Captain?»
He recognized Malcolm Reed's voice, and turned around. What was he wearing? He had a blue Starfleet uniform, not his usual MACO uniform. And the uniform was slightly different.
«Captain, are you all right?»
«Yes,» he said. «The doctor said I can go to my quarters.»
Reed nodded and handed him a PADD. «You wanted me to update you on the damage.»
Archer thought it was a chance to get some directions, without asking where he wanted to go. «I'm pretty tired, I'm heading back to my quarters. Can you make your report as we go?»
The other man nodded and fell in beside him. «Of course. Whatever it was, it has caused slight damage to the engines. It will not take much time to repair...»
«How long?»
Reed hesitated. «Four or five days. I hope that Commander Tucker gets better soon... it will be much quicker with his help.»
They stopped at the door to Archer's quarters. Reed passed him the PADD. «Have a good rest, Captain.»
Archer nodded and took the PADD. He opened the door and looked in. Excellent accommodation, he thought. From here he could keep track of everything. «Porthos» he called.
No dog came.
After a few seconds a cat strolled into sight, stopping at the corner of the bed.
«A cat?» he said disgusted. «Are you Porthos' meal?»
The cat flattened his ears back and started to hiss at him.
Archer jumped back. His Porthos had never growled. He approached again, but the cat continued to hiss. «Filthy beast.» he said. He pressed the intercom. «Archer to security. There is a wild animal in my quarters. Come and take it away.»
Phlox arrived with a cage. «What animal escaped from me this time?» He had to admit he was a bit clumsy in keeping his animals confined in the sickbay.
Archer pointed. The cat still had his ears flattened and snarled at the captain.
Phlox' eyes widened, smiling. «And that is the 'wild animal'?»
«It growled at me.»
«Athos!» Phlox said, picking up the tortoise shell cat. «Captain, have you forgotten your cat?»
Archer didn't answer. «Can you take it away?»
The doctor nodded. The cat rubbed against Phlox, and glowered suspiciously at Archer until he was out of sight.
«A cat.» said a voice behind Archer. He turned and saw Hoshi.
«Is it a bad joke, *Captain*?» The woman laughed. «Pointed ears, masked emotions, composed and logical attitude. Just like a Vulcan.»
«Do you know where we are?»
«In another universe.» Hoshi said.
«That much I already know.»
Archer dropped into a chair. «It seems that Vulcans aren't slaves in this universe, since Soval has a ship of his own.» He tapped his fist on the armrest.
«So you have some learning to do.» She raised her hand and showed the Vulcan greeting. «Did you find T'Pol?»
«Not yet.»
Hoshi threw herself on the bed and looked up at him. «If you don't get me some cosmetics, I'll go crazy.»
«Why?» He said. «You're so beautiful, all water and soap.»
She gave him a sidelong glance. «I look like a sixteen year old.»
«Exactly.» Archer smiled at her. «We can take advantage of this situation.»
(To be continued...)
Thanks to Zery Credibility that is betareading this work! :)