A Charming Match

One last time my name isn't Roddenberry, but you know what, I had fun playing puppeteer; calling cues and directing some of his characters. I didn't make any money but maybe I distracted people from their problems for a few hours. As long as they got a few laughs out of it, that's all that counts.

Chapter 10- The Resolution

Cargo Bay 18 on the freighter

Hoshi had finally found what she was looking for. There was a loose panel on the far side of the room she was in that if she could pull loose the rest of the way, it looked like it leads to an access tube.

She was just about to look for something to use as a pry when she heard the doors open. This time, rather than just hearing them slide in her food, she heard someone walk in.

For a moment she thought about running to them for help, but if it was her captors this was likely to be a bad thing. So she quickly decided to hide and, when the person came in range, jump down and try to knock who ever it was out.

Malcolm had taught her some hand to hand in their training sessions prior to their relationship. She wasn't sure how, but she knew if nothing else she had to hide. She looked around and found some stacked containers that, if she was quiet, she could climb on to with out much difficulty.

Once she was in position she waited for the stranger the show themself. She was shocked when she saw who it was, and also relieved beyond words. There below her was Malcolm. 'Thank god! I'm saved. I have to get down there.'

"Malcolm." She jumped down and ran towards him. Halfway there, a thought struck her.

'What if that's not Malcolm? They made someone look like me. Did they do the same for Malcolm? Is he here to get me to talk about enterprise?'

'What if I'm wrong?' She thought further. 'And I never see him again because I don't make it to communications? What if I'm right and I get hurt?' She paused.

"How do I know its you?" She asked him. "They made a copy of me, how do I know they didn't copy you?"

He looked stunned. 'I didn't think of that. What can I say to prove it's me? She looks so frightened,' he thought. 'And what's worse is that that fear is directed at me.' Then it came to him.

"You found out my favorite food when not even my family knew. You wore a green dress on our first dinner together, and you have gotten closer to me that anyone else in my entire life."

As he was saying this he was walking closer, noticing she wasn't backing away anymore. When he was close enough to touch her, he reached out a hand and held the side of her face.

"And I've spent the last week falling in love with you."

She was ready to cry with relief. It was Malcolm, he was there. Instead of bursting into tears, she stood on her toes and kissed him. He held her as tight as his arms could hold her, and was reluctant to let go even to just enough to look at her face.

She heard a noise behind Malcolm and gave a little jump. When she looked she saw the mirror image of herself pointing a gun straight at him.

"Malcolm, look out!" she screamed

He pushed Hoshi out of the way and whirled just in time, the shot hitting the wall behind him.

He turned and saw her. It was the same smirk, like she had another trick up her sleeve. He when for his phase pistol but didn't reach it before she shot him in the shoulder.

Hoshi saw this and, before this woman could get off another shot, she jumped forward and took her down to the ground. The weapon fell from her hand to slide across the floor.

The copy took a punch at Hoshi but Hoshi easily blocked and quickly countered. She hit her copy square in the jaw. She didn't expect the next move and both of them ended up back on the ground. They rolled for a few meters, then separated.

By now Malcolm had reached his phase pistol. He felt like he had been hit with a torpedo, but still had enough energy to lift the phase pistol and point the weapon at the two woman. He felt horrible knowing that one was Hoshi, but he couldn't take the chance.

"Stop!" he called. "Hoshi, where are you?"

One woman looked at him funny like 'Ya, right' and one said "Here."

He turned to the one who answered him and said, "Prove it."

"How? Why don't we just go back to enterprise, and have the Doctor check?" The one who claimed to be the real Hoshi replied.

"I have a better idea, Hoshi," he began to both. "What is my favorite food?"

The one who hadn't replied earlier now replied "Pineapple."

The one who had claimed she was Hoshi and suggested the trip to enterprise pulled a knife from her boot, and attacked Malcolm before he could fire.

Malcolm wasn't lucky enough to dodge the first swipe, and was now bleeding from a cut on his ribs.

Before her copy got another chance Hoshi ran over and picked up her copy's discarded weapon and shot, without hesitation.

She went down hard, and as she did she gave them one last smile and then said, "Good bye."

Medical Bay enterprise

There were three people on the bio beds in the medical bay when Archer got there. Malcolm, Hoshi, and her copy. Hoshi's copy was dead, how was still being determined. The weapon Hoshi had used was set on stun.

Malcolm was being treated for a rather bad cut.

Hoshi was being treated for malnutrition and hypothermia. He walked to his communications officer. It had been confirmed already that this was the real Hoshi, and boy was he glad to have her back.

"Captain, I heard what happened. Are you all right?"

Typical Hoshi, more worried about others than herself. "You know, that's almost funny- considering I came to ask you the same question."

"I'm fine. A little worse for wear, but Malcolm got it worse." As her Captain he couldn't have been more proud of the two of them, but as her friend he thought he heard a faint trace of anger in her voice.

"You know what happened to Malcolm wasn't your fault." Archer began.

"How did you know.?" She trailed off.

"Because Malcolm spent the last two days blaming himself for your disappearance."

"Ohhh... but he wasn't even there." She started.

"Try telling him that."

"How is he?" She asked.

"He's doing a lot better, but I still think you should think about how your doing," Archer suggested. "You look like you haven't slept this whole time. Plus," he added with a grin, "You could really use a shower."

"Gee, thanks Captain. That's a great way to make a girl feel better- tell how awful she looks."

"No, but I figured it might make you realize you're just as hurt as everyone else."

He walked over to the Doctor. "Any idea how she died yet?"

"Yes. She swallowed poison; not unlike your human cyanide, but it appears she had a implant in her back teeth that when crushed would release the toxin."

"So she committed suicide?"

"Yes, that is correct."

When the Captain told Hoshi, she visibly relaxed. A few minutes later when the Captain had left and the Doctor was out of the room, she got up and walked over to where Malcolm lay.

"Hey big guy." She smiled.

"Hoshi, how are you feeling?" He tried to sit up, but was unsuccessful because Hoshi pushed him back gently.

"I'm feeling better than you." She stood there looking at him, then started shivering because she had left her blanket over on the other bed. When Malcolm saw this he told her, "Sit down."

She looked at him funny, then sat down next to him on the bed. He then pulled her down until she was lying next to him. He spooned up to her back and waited for her to stop shivering.

He didn't have to wait long. Soon she was not only warmer, but also fast asleep.

The Doctor came back a few moments later and began, "Okay, you two are free to go."

"Shhhh," Reed said. "She's asleep."

"Well, she needs it, but she also needs to eat."

"I'll take her back to her quarters, and wake her in an hour for supper."

"Thank you, Lieutenant."

Hoshi's Quarters an Hour Later....

She awoke to the smell of hot chocolate and chicken soup. She had always loved those when she was little, and now they were making her stomach scream.

She sat up in bed and saw that the Steward was just delivering and Malcolm was there. She smiled and got up, walking over to them and wrapping a blanket around her shoulders.

When the Stewart saw her approach, he said, "Ohhh! You're awake. Everyone was worried. They'll be glad to know you're all right." He smiled.

"Thank you." Hoshi told him.

After they left, Hoshi turned to Malcolm and asked, "Okay, how did you find out my favorite food?"

He looked at her with a sheepish grin. "Well, I called your family, but they weren't home. So I went to the best source I know."

"And that was?"

"The Captain." His smile broadened.

They both started laughing as they sat down to eat. There was a question that Hoshi couldn't get out of her mind, so after a while she just kind of blurted out, "Did you mean what you said on the freighter.about falling in love with me?"

He looked at her and smiled, getting up to walk around the table and sit down in front of her, and said, "Yes, I did. And if you want I'll say it again, but first.this is for you."

She took the box from his and carefully opened it. Inside was a braided silver chain with a sliver circle charm and a wolf paw on it. "It's beautiful."

"So are you." He stated, "It symbolizes wisdom. It made me think of you. I love you."

"I love you too."

He took the chain and carefully put it around her neck.

The Bridge the Next Day

Everybody knew what was going on, just as everybody knew that they had both spent the entire night in Hoshi's quarters. The Captain had heard at least five crewmembers talking about how great it was that she was okay, and how cute it was that they were now together.

The Captain couldn't help but agree every time he saw them exchange one of their looks back and forth. It really was A Charming Match.