A/N: Here's a synopsis of the last chapter if you skipped it. Sagittarius and Astra almost, but not quite, did "it". They were interrupted by the emperor's guards come to take them to the palace in the middle of the night.

Continuing on...

Junior stood there, frustration tensing his small frame. "NO! You called them too soon!"

The bald man looked at him, raised one eyebrow, and then spoke. "I called them in, just as you requested. How could I know the timing wasn't exactly as you had wished? You didn't specify when, just soon. Besides, what did I interrupt that you wanted to see?"

The boy stood there, his face starting to flush, and mumbled something the man didn't quite catch.

The bald man stood up and tried to straighten his toga. Catching the eye of his "number one" they exchanged a wry look. "I see." Turning to his dark guard he said, "Have them shown in."

Before the dark man could turn Junior interrupted. "Wait, when they come in I want you to take the woman from him. Tell the captain that the female slave belongs to you now. I want to see what he does."

The bald man looked annoyed. "Is that really necessary?"

"Yes, it's all part of my experiment. I want to see how these two react to various…situations." Junior replied.

The man sighed, he was getting tired of being toyed with and wished he could know exactly what was going on and with whom. "Fine, but are these the only other players you have here?"

"No, there are several others, but they are secondary to my experiment. These two are the primary players. Remember, when they come in you will take the woman from him and claim her for your own. I want to see what he does next."

The bald man and the red head exchanged a glance. She laid a consoling hand on his shoulder. He was uncomfortable with where this was going. He again glanced at his second-in-command who returned his look with a shrug. The guard left to bring them in; the doors closed behind him.

After several long moments, the doors opened again. At last they were going to meet the other players.


Sagittarius was marched into the darkened throne room; while the only light was around the throne, he could see the ranks of helmeted Imperial Guards lining both walls. He was nervous. The emperor didn't usually call meetings with his military this late at night. As he stepped into the light near the throne, he saw the emperor seated on his throne. Immediately he stiffened to attention, his right arm shooting out in front of him, parallel to the floor. He made eye contact with the emperor and said, "Hail Caesar!"

He stood like that, waiting for the emperor's response.


The bald man felt a jolt. He recognized this man in front of him. If he didn't know Junior and his kind, he would think this impossible. But the man coming towards him was none other than the legendary Captain Jonathan Archer, the very first in a long illustrious line of captains of the Enterprise. The Asian woman being led in behind him looked familiar but he couldn't place her. Turning to look at his companions, he saw a mixture of shock, recognition, and confusion. Coming back to himself, he replied to the man before him, letting him stand at ease.


"You may speak, Captain," Emperor Caesar Augustus Octavius said, after a long moment's pause.

"Captain Sagittarius, as ordered Your Excellence."

Spending the time to take in the captain's slightly disheveled appearance and that of his companion, the emperor took a scroll from his red headed wife and perused it.

"This is very intriguing. All of the maps you have brought me thus far have great promise. We think this would be worth pursuing. Tell me, who is the map maker?"

Wondering why the emperor wanted to discuss this now, in the dead of night, after months of Sagittarius giving the emperor maps, he turned to look for Astra; she had been brought in behind him, a guard standing beside her. "My slave, Astra. She had traveled far and wide before I purchased her in Egypt. I thought to use her knowledge of the lands to the east for the glory of Rome."

The emperor got to his feet. He stepped down off the dais and came to look over the woman closely. Astra stiffened, her eyes cast on the floor in deference. Sagittarius yearned to move closer, or put a protective arm around her, but held still.


The bald man slowly walked around the petite Asian woman, looking her up and down. He was stalling for time, wracking his memory for who the woman was. He knew she was important both historically, and to Captain Archer personally, but couldn't remember the how or why. Realizing he couldn't waste any more time for fear Junior would take matters into his own hands he turned to go back to his throne, tossing over his shoulder "She'll do, add her to my collection."

As the bald man sat down he saw the alarm and horror on Captain Archer's face. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Junior's face light up with avid interest.

The bald man continued. "This slave is too valuable of an asset to waste in your home. She will be of better service in the empire's care. Of course, the empire will compensate you appropriately. Do you wish several female slaves or gold in exchange?" He added disinterestedly.


The emperor flicked a finger in the shadows and the largest man Sagittarius had ever seen came over and grabbed Hoshi by the arm, almost yanking her feet off the ground. She yelped in pain as the man's fingers bit into her arm as the guard started to drag her towards the dais.

Sagittarius saw red. What he had feared most was coming to pass. He couldn't, he wouldn't let Hoshi go. He pulled his sword out and had it at the man's throat in an instant. The large man growled, pushed Hoshi towards another guard, and knocked aside the blade, the metal cuff on his arm clanking against the edge of the sword. Sagittarius backed up and attacked, swinging his sword around for a leg blow, trying for the unprotected side of the thigh.

The large guard growled slightly as he jumped over the incoming blow. Landing, he drew his own sword, and lunged. Sagittarius dodged and dove to the side turning a somersault across the floor. Coming up next to Hoshi, he kicked the legs out from under her guard. Although the guard went down another ran to take his place.

"Give her back to me. She's not yours," Sagittarius said calmly to the emperor, though sweat beaded his brow and he stood in a defensive stance ready for the next blow.


The bald man looked at Junior where he stood beside the throne. "This is getting to be a bit much, let me stop this now!" the man hissed at the child.

The boy was almost hopping in place with excitement, his eyes darting to take everything in all at once. His eyes lit for a moment on the bald man's face. "No. No. Just a minute more. He wants her. She wants him. This is perfect!"

The counselor stepped forward and put her arm around the boy's shoulder. She leaned in and whispered. "Junior, these are people, just like us. This isn't right. Please rethink this."

Junior shook off her arm. He straightened and stomped his foot. "No. I want one more minute! They'll be fine. I can fix anything that may happen." He looked at them imperiously. "If you all want to leave now I can send you home. But I am keeping these other ones. Just one more minute!" His eyes went back to the scene unfolding before him. His face took on an unholy glee that they had all seen before. But only on the boy's father.

Worried looks were exchanged all around. The bald man knew if they left now there was no telling when or if Junior would ever let go of his new toys. History needed Captain Archer. There was no Enterprise without him.

The man playing Octavius swallowed. A lot could happen in one minute's time. But how was he going to get them all out of here safely? If he could end it faster, perhaps tragedy could be averted. Perhaps then Junior would be satisfied and send them all home. It was the only option he could think of.


"Your slave is now mine. Give up and I'll let you live, although I will reduce your rank. If you don't give up, I'll have you killed, and this creature will still be mine." Octavius's voice was icy.

"No, I won't let her go." Sagittarius ground out and brought his sword up.

The large guard attacked again, landing a blow against Sagittarius's arm with the flat of his blade. Sagittarius's arm went numb and he transferred his weapon to his other hand. Sagittarius and the large guard fought. Trading blow for blow the room rang with clangs and clashes. Sagittarius was a large man but he was not nearly as large as his opponent. The man was enormous.

Hoshi wrenched free from her guard and kicked out, her heel meeting with his knee and breaking it. The guard went down with a moan. She took his short sword and ran towards the fight. Other guards broke formation and crowded in, trying to capture her. Launching herself at the large guard's back she tried the same maneuver on him. There was no way he could see her coming up from behind. His helmet blocked all peripheral vision. But he somehow sensed her and turned at the last moment. Her blow glanced off the side of his leg. He grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him. Her arm came up and tore the helmet from his head. It bounced across the floor and stopped against the steps of the dais. His disfigured face scowled down at her. Tossing her aside, he looked to the emperor for direction.

Sagittarius stopped his attack, his sword slack in his hand. Something about the disfigured guard was familiar. Long repressed memories worked their way to the surface. He knew that if he could remember, everything would finally make sense.

Hoshi spun away, looking at the guard in horror. Images started to flash through her mind, of other creatures that looked like this one. They had captured Sagittarius and were going to execute him. She had been frantic then. But in those thoughts Sagittarius hadn't looked like himself here. She shook her head to clear it. Other images swam through her mind, of larger then life insects, strange creatures that had tortured her and made her their puppet. She didn't understand what she was seeing, but she did know these images were from her own memories. She couldn't remember whom these creatures were or why they had captured her, but she did remember the hopelessness and despair she had felt then. She would not be captured again. She would not be separated from him. She would rather die first.

The other guards were closing in. She knew they couldn't escape. Sagittarius would surely be put to death. She swallowed hard and turned her sword, point to her chest. She inhaled deeply, and gazed at Sagittarius across the room, being wrestled to the ground by three more guards, the large freakish one taking the weapon from Sagittarius's hands. Hoshi knew this wouldn't end well.


Several things happened all at once.

The dark haired woman looked over, alarmed. "NO! Stop her!" She pointed to the Asian woman.

The bald man, seeing the sword at the woman's chest, stood up and yelled "ENOUGH!"

The guards pinning Sagittarius to the ground looked up to see what the commotion was, their grips easing slightly.

Junior yelled. "NO, I want to see what happens next!"

Hoshi thrust once, hard and fast, and then started to bleed. She sank to her knees. Her porcelain skin now pale and chalky.

Sagittarius wrestled away from his captors, gaining his feet and sped to Hoshi.

The red headed woman ran off the dais, pushing her way through the remaining guards. She fell to her knees beside Sagittarius, where he was on the cold marble floor cradling Hoshi's bleeding body in his arms. There were tears in his eyes.

His world stopped. Blood gushed everywhere. He was powerless to stop it.

"No, no, don't die. You can't die…" He tried to brush the hair out of her face as he pulled her closer, her blood turning him red.

"Hoshi… stay with me… Hosh…I…I love you." Tears trickled from her eyes. He bent down to kiss her, his eyes locked with hers. But before his lips touched hers, her eyes rolled back in her head, a small sigh escaping her, blood bubbling onto her lips. Then she was still.

The red head pushed Sagittarius's hands away from Astra, trying to examine the wound. When he resisted she snapped at him. "Let go of her, I'm a doctor!"

Sagittarius was confused. This woman was the emperor's consort. But he reluctantly laid Astra onto the cold marble floor. The red head ripped her stola off, exposing her short tunic beneath. Wadding the stola up she pressed it against the wound, which was bleeding freely. Checking Astra's eyes and feeling for her pulse, she turned and called out. "Jean-Luc, no more of this nonsense. If I don't get her to sickbay now she won't live much longer."

The bald man turned to the boy. He was furious over this turn of events, but his voice calm and cold. "It's time to go, now. They are flesh and blood. You will not play with them any longer."

The boy hesitated, the bald man had never been upset with him before. "But I want to see…and you can't…."

The bald man straightened his toga, the fury he felt made his voice sharp now. "Junior, you want to be treated like an adult, than act like one. You can't treat them like this. To you, we may be lesser creatures but we still think, we reason, we feel. This has-to-stop!"

The boy looked contrite. But then cocked his head as if listening. No one heard anything. The boy looked back at them all and frowned. "We'll be discovered soon. It's Mr. Paris, not my parents. He thinks there is a malfunction with the holodeck sensors." Looking over at the bleeding woman the boy's brow wrinkled and he looked as young as he was. "I've never tried fixing a human before. Maybe we should go for help?" He said in a small voice. With a snap of his fingers they were all gone.


A moment later they were in his aunt's ready room.

Captain Kathyrn Janeway stood up at the sudden intrusion, her ever-present coffee spilling across her desk. Her spacious ready room now filled with what looked like extras in one of Mr. Paris's holo-programs. There was much confusion, raised voices, and a bloodied man kneeling quietly over a woman's still body, his shoulders shaking.

The bald man looked around, noting they weren't on his ship. Seeing a familiar face he strode over to Captain Janeway, "Captain, your doctor now!" he snapped.

She looked at the scene around her, "Jean-Luc? But what is…"

Spying Junior hiding in the crowd that cluttered her Ready Room she said, "Never mind." She raised her voice "Mr. Kim, two to sickbay from my ready room, NOW!"

With a flash, Sagittarius and Astra were gone, leaving the rest of the players and Junior standing about.

Captain Janeway looked sternly at the child, her voice deadly calm. "Junior, come here. Please explain what is going on, now."

The boy hung his head.

"Yes, Aunt Kate." He replied meekly. And so he began.


Sometime later, Captains Janeway and Picard came into the sickbay leading a reluctant Junior behind them. Captain Archer was slumped over asleep, his head on Hoshi's arm. Hoshi was sedated, monitors beeping quietly in the background. The Doctor appeared next to them.

"I've stabilized her and repaired the damage. I thought it best to keep her sedated until all of this other…nonsense could be sorted out." Nodding his head towards Captain Archer, he continued. "I also gave him a mild sedative when they arrived, as he was quite belligerent and uncooperative. He reminds me of Lt. Torres on a bad day. Anyhow, once he was calm I was able to help the young lady. Once she was out of danger, he fell asleep by her side. I thought it best to leave him where he was. Now, if you no longer have need of me, I've got other things to do." When Captain Janeway nodded her thanks, the doctor disappeared.

Turning to look at Junior, Captain Janeway waved her hand in the sleeping man's direction. "Well…?"

"Do I have to?" Junior asked again, a small whine creeping into his voice.

"Yes, you do. Not stop procrastinating. Get to it." She replied.

Junior walked up to Captain Archer and laid his hand on the man's shoulder. He came awake with a start. First confusion, then comprehension dawned on his face. He looked down at himself, at Hoshi, where he was, and confusion came again. He stumbled to his feet, knocking the chair he had been sitting on over. Turning he saw the two captains and Junior. His eyes grew wide as he tried to make sense of the scene around him and his own memories of the past months.

Captain Picard bent down and righted the chair. "Captain Archer, have a seat, Junior has an apology to make and we have much to discuss."


T'Pol sat up in bed, gasping for air, sweat pouring off of her. She had not been able to find him, or sense his presence anywhere. But she had not worried, not truly. Before, she had still had her connection with him, telling her that he was somewhere, alive and healthy. Besides, Vulcans never worry. But now…now her connection had been severed. Trip Tucker was no more.