Disclaimer: All rights to Star Trek Enterprise, the characters and situations except as noted below are reserved by Paramount Studios.
Seamus O'Cathain (O-Ca-tain') and Tia Anlor (Ahn'-lor) are my own creations. Seamus appeared in 'Casting Call' and 'Small Time.' You should read 'Casting Call' to better appreciate the events referred to here. Jennifer Farber was introduced briefly in 'Roses & Thorny'.
This is the 11th story in this series, the others being 'Golden Girl'; 'A Few Words'; 'Glistni'; 'Small Time'; 'Acquisition'; 'What Do I Do Now?'; 'For Want of Kilyiis'; 'Daasii'; 'Noblesse Oblige' and 'Roses and Thorny'. This story takes place about 3 weeks after 'Roses and Thorny', and Tia has been on the Enterprise for about five months.
Future stories include 'House of Cards', 'Starlight Maiden', Armageddon', 'Luuru' and others.
Rating: R for scenes of graphic violence.
Time and Again
By JMK758
Prologue
Phlox entered Sick Bay and the lights came on as he passed the doorway. It was very late evening, and he was technically off duty – as if a Doctor could ever be 'off duty'. He was only there to feed some of his 'pets' before accepting an invitation. Elizabeth Cutler. The young human woman had made her interest and affections well known months ago, and to tell the truth he was very flattered and not just a little pleased. He hoped that he could keep this affection alive, but one knew so little about humans. Perhaps some advice from his old friend Dr. Lucas would be in order.
Opening a cold storage unit, he removed a prepared plate containing several selections of meat, and started to make his rounds.
But just as he lifted the lid on one of the cases, he became aware of a presence and turned to see a crewman standing behind him, holding a gleaming blade nearly 30 centimeters long. That alone registered before the man thrust the huge knife blade deep into his chest!
Phlox gasped, staggered back onto the table, upsetting everything as it crashed to the floor a moment before he did.
The doctor in him knew exactly how and how badly He was wounded and how long He could survive without help. His mind told him fifteen seconds and He knew better than to doubt himself.
He reached for the blade jutting from his chest as the crewman knelt beside him and grabbed his hands.
They both heard the Sick Bay door slide open.
x
Medical Assistant Dina Samuels stepped in, stopped dead at the sight of her boss on his back, the blade buried in his chest and his attacker kneeling over him. The crewman yanked the huge knife out and turned to her.
She turned, deciding she had to sound the alarm rather than waste even a moment tangling with the man. She heard a 'woosh' and pain exploded in her back as the blade impaled her with a sickening 'thunk'.
Driven into the bulkhead beside the door with the force of the impact, she fell against it as searing pain stole her breath.
Phlox could not help, his hands pressed to the gaping wound, trying to keep from losing more blood.
Dina heard the other crewman behind her and he ripped a scream from her as he wrenched the blade out of her back. She was swung about and slammed into the bulkhead. She barely saw the man's face as the gory blade came in hard, buried itself deep in her chest!
She cried out and he yanked the blade out in a gush of red blood.
She clutched the deep wound, tried to staunch the flow, her breath wheezed sickeningly as she felt blood invade her lung. The dripping blade slammed into her left breast, plunged deep and pierced her heart.
Dina Samuels slid silently to the deck, the blood from her back leaving a gory trail down the wall.