Title: End of a détente

Author: Caroiunia

Pairings: R/S, T/S

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: Paramount owns Star Trek. But if Star Trek becomes a cultural icon, couldn't it become property of the state or something and therefore become ours?

Author's note: OK, this is act 2. A lot shorter, I know. Anyway, please review. This is an explainer chapter, don't worry, more action coming up.

            "I have read the Lieutenant's and Ensign Sato's report, as well as a report complied by our guests. It seems that we are dealing with technology far more advanced than we expected. This "shift" technology as seems to be the culprit of the planets degenerative state. T'Pol thinks that we have maybe two days at the most until the planet collapses. We will try to do everything we can to prevent this, and find the missing population. I take it you have all received a copy of our guests' reports? Then you may proceed," Jonathan Archer nodded to the Gumyarians.

            Two of the Gumyarians stood up and made it to the front of the briefing room. From a distance, they looked almost identical to humans. But their noses were wider with two more nostrils, and their hands and feet were delicately webbed. One of the Gumyarians pressed a button on the display screen as the lights dimmed and their presentation began.

            "This is all in our official report. However, we think it might be helpful to explain it ourselves.

            "Our society started out as agrarian, before progressing rapidly into a highly industrialised state. Soon, plants were disappearing from our lands and seas as more and more of our planet was covered with industry. However, the First Great Deprivation soon struck, and we had not enough food or air. Scores of people died. It is a tragedy that we mourn every year." All of the Gumyarians bowed their heads in respect. The speaker continued, "We tried to learn our lesson from this, and further industrialization was heavily regulated and an emphasis on ecology was placed. This seemed to work. Our planet was prosperous, our people healthy.

            "After some time, these regulations no longer seemed necessary. They were looked upon as bureaucratic antiquities, leftovers from our less civilised days. In sweeping reforms, they were removed. It was heralded as a great day as we left behind the constraints which our more barbaric forms needed.

            "But time revealed that we had not learnt our mistakes. Soon industrialisation spun out of control. We seemed to have come to the end of our existence. This was the Second Great Deprivation.

            "But our rescue came in this hour of need. One of our most distinguished scientists, Janhan Mer Lekajab, discovered shift technology.

            "Using shift technology, we were able to trade for food in alternative realities, were it was plentiful. Any raw materials we needed could be procured. We evolved into a highly skilled species, everyone being able to do whatever they wanted to. With shift technology, however, we never procured technological knowledge or finished products. We did not trust ourselves a second time. It would be too easy to simply recoil into a people of ignorami.

            "Recently, we have been able to expand this technology into not only dealing with alternative universe running parallel to us, but also those in different times." The Gumyarian cleared his throat. He started coughing until he stopped and stood silent. The room was silent, waiting for more. "Curgi, will you take over?" He sat down, leaving the elegant Curgi to speak. She was the same alien whom Trip had had his arm around when they were discovered. Hoshi immediately felt slightly hostile. 

            Curgi started speaking, "We now believe that it is the introduction of time which is causing these problems. The manipulation of time is very important in shift technology. Since the universe, in a sense, splits with every possibility, it impossible to be sure that you are returning to the correct universe. Any number of small changes could occur. With the manipulation of time, this is eliminated by simply returning after you departure.

            "We believe that the machine affects people in some way. Everyone that had used the machine is gone. That means that almost our entire population has vanished, because of various demonstrations where people have been taking to alternative realties.

            "We are not sure why the planet itself will collapse. However, we do not foresee it causing any damage when it collapses. That is all." She ended with a sigh, and Jonathan Archer stood up.

            "Alright, we have been given orders from Earth that we are to leave. Our guests may stay with us until we return to Earth. Sato and Reed, report of Phlox after this. Dismissed."

            The crowd scattered back to their posts.

            Hoshi sat at her post, trying to intently concentrate on her work.

But she couldn't, for to her right was Trip, working on some panels, and behind her was Malcolm, busy with his tactical station. She simply couldn't focus. It felt like the bridge was waiting for her to confess.

            But she didn't have the nerve to confess.

"...Vi måste utviga våran allians av planter så att vi är starka mot det osäkra framtiden..."

What does that mean? She looked at the Starfleet transcript in front of her. What language is that? She remind simply couldn't hear the words in her head.  She reluctantly turned on the Universal Translator and ran the transcript through it. The translation would be incomplete, but Archer needed it immediately. The computer displayed "Source language: Swedish" Of course she thought to herself. And she mentally kicked herself. Now she could just fill in the blanks. Finished, she had an excuse to leave.

            She stood up with a PADD in hand, and walked towards Archer's ready room. She tried her best not to look at Malcolm. They had both said nothing as Phlox cleared them from any medical issues. They had said nothing as they sat at they same table during lunch. A tension had cleared when they were the in the shuttle. But now, they were both unsure of each other. They were waiting for the other's next move.

            Jonathan Archer was sitting with his head in a deep frown. Starfleet had been contacting him relentlessly after he had submitted his report on the Gumyarians. Starfleet wanted this technology. And they wanted it "before the Vulcans take over." Admiral Forrester had stressed how important it was for Earth to have an "equal footing" with the Vulcans. Jon had tried to say that Vulcans believe that time travel was impossible, so they would disregard this technology. But Starfleet wouldn't listen. Instead, they decided to make his life hell.

            His door softly chimed.

            "Come in." He said, without looking up. He knew it was Hoshi.

            "Captain, another transmission," she said. She handed him the PADD and waited for him to give her a signal to leave.

            Jon's eyes narrowed as he looked through the report.

            "Hoshi, Swedish is a dead language, isn't it?"

            "Well, after the merger of Sweden, Denmark and Norway into one barely half a century ago, all of the languages survive in some part. But traditional Swedish is extinct sir."

            Archer leaned back into his chair. "Then why would Starfleet send us a transmission in a dead language. And about something as unimportant as forming an expanded Starfleet. Hoshi, why is this transmission dated over 60 years ago?"

            "Sir?" Hoshi could see why he was concered.

            Jon walked straight out onto the bridge and demanded a status report from T'Pol.

            T'Pol quietly answered after looking at her monitors carefully, "The planet is rapidly becoming unstable. This is nothing that was not predicted." Jonathan felt a well of anger fill, infuriated that T'Pol didn't alert him earlier. His old prejudices against Vulcans, which T'Pol had calmed, were resurfacing. But he tried to remain calm. After all, this did prove that time travel was in some part possible. Ho else could that message have come?

            "T'Pol, how much time do we have left before the planet implodes? I want us out of here as soon as possible," Jon started to pace as he spoke, "and Hoshi, sent a message to Starfleet. Tell them… tell them that we are leaving."

            "Sir, it appears that we have only 20 hours left," T'Pol said with grave importance.

            "Alright," Jon absently replied. "Mayweather, plot a course towards Earth. As fast as possible." Jon had a bad feeling about this place, and he was prepared to leave at any chance. He liked the people, just not their technology or their planet. He hadn't liked the idea of alternative realties, and his experiences had made him wary of manipulations of time. I wonder if Daniels knows about these people he thought. That thought almost brought a small smile to this face.

            The Swedish transcript was still fresh in his mind. These people had unwittingly started to tear space and time apart in this part of space. He didn't want to be near when the actual rip came. He went into his ready room, where he could pace without worrying the crew.

            Trip was about to walk into the mess hall and knew he would see Hoshi sitting there, as usual.

He had been panicking as his shuttle was lifting, leaving Hoshi and Reed on the planet. He had wanted to kill Malcolm. Didn't he understand what retreat meant? He had been swearing, cussing loudly as they lifted off. The other crew members had barely been able to keep him in the shuttle.

            And it was then he realised that he had fallen in love with her. He had fallen in love with his most trusted confidante, his mentor and his best friend.

            Now he had to face her. He took a deep breath and strode into the mess hall. He hoped he did it normally. Trip, don't screw up what you have going with her. You've got friendship. Don't do anything stupid.

            Hoshi turned around, but only gave him a nod before turning back to play with her cheesecake. Uh-Oh he thought, cheesecake alert. This must be bad. Any apprehension he had about his feelings melted away. He became only concerned with Hoshi's well-being. None of their usual routine applied.

            He went to the cupboard and opened the slide door. He pulled out another slice of cheesecake and sat down across from her. She shifted.

            "Trip," she said, looking him deep in the eyes, "have…" she trailed off and looked down at her cheesecake again.

            "Hoshi, its ok," Trip reassured her, tilting her chin up so that their eyes could meet again. Hoshi smiled and took a bite of her cheesecake. "Whatever it is, its ok."

            "No Trip, its not ok," she looked at him seriously, "Trip…" She had a pleading look in her eyes.

            "Hoshi, you can tell me anything, you know? Is it Travis? Cause I could beat him up if you want," he mocked her, bringing a brief smile to Hoshi's face again. God, she's beautiful when she smiles. "Well, is it Jon? I mean, if you need me to beat up the captain..." he searched her for a clue. "Oh my god, did something happen when you and Malcolm disappeared?"

            "Trip, promise not to judge me," Hoshi begged. Trip felt nervous. Here he had come, only just realising that the love of his life was right in front of him, and Hoshi was going to say that she loved Malcolm. He nodded. There was nothing else he felt he could do. At least I have your friendship he prayed.

            Next Hoshi told him everything that had happened. Once she started talking, she just kept on going, for fear of stopping. Trip merely nodded. She didn't see his relief when she finished by saying, "I could never love Malcolm like that. But now I just felt like a slut. I mean, how could I do that?" But all Trip was thinking was Oh my god, said my name! That might mean…

            "Hoshi, that does not make you a slut. You could never be a slut. It was just the circumstances… and, ahh, don't cry Hoshi." He switched seats to the one next to her and took her in his arms. He kissed her hair and murmured comforts.

            "Trip, I just want to undo it, I just want to…" she was choking on her tears. She turned around and looked at him.  "Thank you," she whispered.

            They just looked at each other, feeling safe until their lips interlocked. They had both waited so long for this. And it felt like paradise.

            The next day on the bridge Hoshi had no qualms with Malcolm. She felt at ease. She felt happy. Wipe that smug look off your face, or the captain might start to wonder. Trip stopped by the bridge every chance he got. Every one of his explanations was meet by an arched eyebrow by T'Pol. But Trip didn't care. Neither did Hoshi. They just exchanged silent glances. Silent laughs. Silent kisses.

            Now they were on their way home. Jon was happy because he would be as far away from the doomed planet as he would get for now. Trip was happy because of Hoshi and getting his ship fixed up. They had gone six months without a proper overhaul. Hoshi was happy because of Trip and getting a chance to maybe see her old class again. T'Pol was never happy, but she did seem less tense. Travis was happier because he could meet his family when the Horizon was at Jupiter Station. Finally, Malcolm was happy because Hoshi seemed to have brushed the entire incident away. If she was going to ignore, then he could ignore it. The ship was altogether happy.

            It couldn't last.

TBC