I think I'm working out what I'm doing in this story…Nifty, eh?

And Trip isn't evil. You'll find out later why poor little Chase is so angry with him. In my mind, he really was a good guy…

*********

            "So, Chase, what do you think of the ship so far?" Archer asked, momentarily ignoring the food on his plate.

Chase had been herded into a dinner with the Captain, T'Pol and Trip. It was the last thing he wanted to do, but how could he turn the offer down? Say 'no thanks, I'd rather not eat dinner with my mother and father'? That would get a few funny looks… "It's just like I remember it. Enterprise was still in service when I was born, even a few years after. It was turned into a museum when I was seven, though. Went as often as possible." He smiled sincerely, pausing to take a bite of some of the broccoli on his plate. "There are some things I've read about the warp core that bother me, though."

Right on cue, Trip glanced up from his meal, almost choking on his food. "What's wrong with my warp core? That baby's the best in all of Starfleet!"

"Not in thirty years. We actually have an engine that can reach warp seven." I just won't mention that you helped to create it. "I can probably spruce up this core a little. Make it a little less likely to breach. Hell, I might even be able to get the ship to hit a smooth warp four-point-eight without it overheating."

Trip's fork clattered to the plate. His gray-blue eyes lit up as he thought about the possibility. "How long would that take?"

"Under a day. I'd need to take the warp drive offline, and the weapon's systems. I'll need to do some rewiring of the two systems to make 'em more efficient."

Chase had the Captain's blessing, and his father's. Anything to make the ship even better, they said. The younger man was quiet the rest of the dinner, only making polite conversation and asking questions about himself and his plans for the warp core. But, he was too busy making his own plots unfold. So far, so good.

*********

Reed was outraged when he learned that his weapons system had to be taken offline. "With all due respect, Captain, we don't even know for sure Mister Tucker is telling the truth! He could be a Suliban or some other alien trying to destroy Enterprise!"

"Malcolm, the Doctor would have detected that Chase was Suliban. He also assured us that the weapons won't be off for more than three hours, then you can start shooting things out of space again." Archer's voice had a hint of annoyance in it. The armory officer had been complaining the moment he found out the news -- which hadn't been long after Trip had run from the dinner, telling his entire engineering staff what was happening. After that moment, conspiracy theories and excuses were shooting from Reed's mouth.

"I analyzed the weapon's fire on the hull of his ship. They seem to be made by phasers, and in a pattern, which I find to be rather odd for alien marauders." Malcolm was growing more desperate as his chances to keep his weapons online diminished, "And I found a console in the shuttle itself that I know is not part of any standard Starfleet vessel."

T'Pol's eyebrow rose as she glanced at the man, turning away from her station. The entire argument she had been listening quietly, paying no notice to the two until now. "That shuttle is from thirty years in the future. I doubt that it would have the same equipment that we have now."

"I agree. It'll only be three hours, Malcolm. The chances of meeting a hostile alien vessel in that period of time are slim." Archer responded. His tone held a strong finality and the armory officer knew better than to delve any further. With a grunt, Reed went back to his work. He didn't know just how likely it was to be attacked within those three hours.

*********

Chase was back in the peace and quiet of his own quarters. He needed to be alone before he had to go work with his father in engineering. His disappointment had been mounting as he learned that Trip wasn't like he remembered. That instead, he seemed kind, eager, and as Hoshi had said, appeared to be a good friend. He stared down at a padd, trying so desperately to keep his anger intact.

Dear Chase,

Sorry that I can't be there. T'Pol was my wife, after all. But Isabelle's ship was attacked, and well, I'm stranded near Tau Ceti. The shuttlebay doors have been fused shut, and the nearest ship is two days away. I really wish that I didn't have to leave you alone right now, but I have no choice. Malcolm, Hoshi and Jon said that they'd all be there and I know how you've always adored them.

Listen, Chase, I really wanted to be there. I haven't seen you in person in nearly four whole years, and you never want to talk to me. I was hoping that this could be my chance to make up for what I did to you, your mother and Maggie. Once I can get off this ship, I'll come and see you and your sister. It might be too late for your mother's funeral, but at least I'll get to see you. I'm sorry, son, for not being there. And not just for the funeral, but for the past six years.

And this time, when I come, I won't bring Isabelle.

Love,

Your father

The old letter didn't have its desired effect. Instead of rage, all that Chase could muster up was sadness. He refused to acknowledge the awful feeling that he'd been fight for the last ten years of his life. Instead, he tapped a button on his computer.

"I've been waiting for your communiqué for an hour! Are you running into problems, human?" A Vulcan-looking face appeared on the screen.

Chase shook his head, not once betraying the feelings of confusion that he felt. "No. You'll need to arrive tomorrow. Keep your sensors on the ship. The moment that the warp core and weapon's system go offline, you'll need to come. I can only wait three hours, otherwise they may catch on to me."

"Very well, human. And I will send the bulk of my boarding party to engineering?"

"Exactly. The moment I teach my father a lesson, you'll be free to leave. You already have the majority of my payment, and I expect you to keep our contract."

The alien nodded his head with a brief a smile. "Of course. My ship will be there." The image cut off, leaving Chase to wonder about his action alone. He hated that feeling of loneliness that had suddenly come up upon him. Usually, he'd have Maggie to talk to in moments like these, but she hadn't even been born yet. So now he decided to go speak with the next best thing -- Hoshi Sato.