Are We There Yet?
"How much longer?" asked Trip, who had left
tactical for a more comfortable position at the engineering station. The
engine was carrying them quietly forward at warp two. Phlox had left the
bridge, after pulling quite a lengthy shift, and gone to the mess hall
to have a quiet meal.
"If the rift is a stationary phenomenon, then
we should reach it in twenty hours. Our encounter this morning has caused
some delay."
"I wouldn't have missed it for the world."
"It was an interesting encounter; however,
I am uncertain whether or not to believe what was said therein."
"You think the aliens were lying?"
"Perhaps."
"What would they have gained?"
"Perhaps they were scanning the ship during
the conversation to see if we had useful cargo and new technology."
"Cynical! You're unbelievably cynical, T'Pol!"
"They did admit to creating a temporal rift,
perhaps to lure unsuspecting ships into this time in order to rob them
if they carry anything of value. They may not even be from this time themselves.
Perhaps the rift leads to this time so that they can have plenty of time
to observe their prey."
"But they didn't do anything to us!"
"Perhaps we had nothing they wanted."
"Then why the weird story?" asked Trip, feeling
just a tiny bit insulted.
"It was in their best interest to tell us
something."
"They could have just left us here, you know."
"Point taken, commander."
"How much longer?"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------