Epilogue

            Hoshi Sato never married. She became assigned from one deep space mission to another, becoming an invaluable source on alien languages.

            However, when the Massachusetts was attacked and one third of the crew died, she left Starfleet and returned back to Brazil. She found teaching a welcome respite from the dangers of space. She began to make close friends again without the fear of them dying. She began to worry about luxurious trivialities. And she began to love each sunrise again.

            On the 25 celebration of the launch of the Enterprise, she found that the rest of the crew had gotten on with their lives.

            Captain Archer had married a Vulcan.  Not T'Pol, but a woman who looked very much like her. And he had become an Admiral. His chief purpose seemed to be to try to get Starfleet to draft directives on what can and cannot be done in space exploration.

            T'Pol had become Vulcan Ambassador to Earth, since she was most capable of understanding humans. She had been instrumental in relaxing the borders between Earth and Vulcan. She had also been able to get the two planets to develop joint policies on issues. Some people even thought that the two planets could join, in some sort of union.

            Travis had become Captain of his own star ship, and married a boomer woman. They had met while Travis was saving the boomers from a black hole.

            Phlox had come and stayed on Earth, becoming more and more intrigued by human behaviour. He had already written three best selling books on human behaviour, and his fourth was eagerly anticipated. Hoshi had his books, and found them to be just like Phlox; unwittingly humorous.

            Hoshi had meet Trip twice since she left the Enterprise. Once, when her ship had needed dire repairs. She had talked briefly with him. But after their relationship had ended and Malcolm had disappeared, they drifted apart.

            The second time was at Trip's wedding. Not even sure if she should come, Hoshi had come to see the man who could have been hers become another woman's. It was a perfect wedding, with Archer officiating. Hoshi found herself leaving early with an excuse of a head ache.

            Seeing Trip now was a shock. He looked surprisingly good and charming as ever. Hoshi remembered why she had fallen in love with him as he laughed with someone else. When she caught his eye, his manner became more serious and he moved away to get another glass of wine. Hoshi followed him.

            "Hi Trip."

            "Hi Hoshi."

            Hoshi wasn't sure if he was actually happy to see her or not.

Still, she asked, "How are you?"

"Fine. Age is catching up with me. But Phlox takes care of that." He smiled. "How are you?"

"Oh, fine."

They both stood in silence, waiting for the other to make a move. Hoshi felt guilty for stealing Trip from the crowd, and tried to think of a decent excuse.

"Hoshi, was that there before?" Trip asked, looking at a small cream coloured envelope which leaned against a vase of flowers.

"I didn't notice…" Hoshi said, looking out at the crowd.

Trip took the small envelope and opened it. He read the piece of paper for a while, and looked at Hoshi in between lines.

"Look Trip, I have to talk to Phlox about…"

"It's for you," Trip said, shoving the letter in her hand. "He was a good guy. Go," he said, motioning her to the door. She hugged him tightly before briskly walking out of the room.

"Trip? Was that Hoshi? I can just catch her…" she heard Travis say. But Trip persuaded him to stay. Trip is a true friend, she thought. She held the letter in disbelief.

 "Dear Hoshi,

            I don't know what happened. But it did. I can only pray that you got back safe and get this note. I wanted to say that I love you. I'm learning how to master this new power of mine. I feel like I'm in purgatory without you. I fear we may never be together again. But I know that we will be. Maybe not now, but soon.

            You are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I love you.

Malcolm"

Hoshi stared at the paper in front of her. Why had he bothered to write? If he could get a note here, why couldn't himself back? And he could travel through time; why couldn't come back with her?

She looked up at the ceiling of stars, cursing that she was looking at it alone. She would wait for Malcolm. And she knew that he would come.

            Malcolm thought he had died. He was old enough for it. Instead he woke up in a desert like landscape with a young body. His first thoughts were wondering if he had shifted again. But the other man approaching him convinced him otherwise.

            "Malcolm! So nice to see you!" said the man.

            Malcolm stared at the man, who was also wearing a Starfleet uniform. Only his had the pipes of an Admiral. The man saw him looking at them.

            "I was just visiting your time and thought I'd actually have a rank for once. Usually, when I dress up like this, I don't have any. But your people certainly get touchy if you don't have ranks."

            Malcolm looked confused at the brown haired man.

            "How do you know my name?" he asked.

            "I looked at your personnel file. Don't worry, it'll be public in a hundred years anyway.  Don't believe me? Well, you're allergic to Bromelin…"

            Malcolm tried to shift away from the man, who was becoming annoying. But it wouldn't work.

            "Sorry, you can't do that yet."

            "Are you a Gumyarian?" Malcolm asked.

            "Bingo. Geeze, you're almost smarter than Jean Luc. And he's pretty smart. I'm Q by the way," Q extended his hand and Malcolm took it.

"Where is Hoshi?" Malcolm quickly asked.

"Don't worry. You'll be there before she knows it. Do you want to go to another Enterprise and I'll show you the tricks of the trade?"

Malcolm nodded. He would do anything to get back to Hoshi.

"You know what Malcolm? I have a feeling this could be the start of a beautiful friendship."

fin