*****
Chapter Two

The sickbay doors opened briskly and the first thing Hoshi heard was an ear-piercing scream. She immediately placed her hands over her ears and waited. When the screams had died down, Hoshi dropped her hands. Nonchalantly, she walked over to a biobed and jumped up to sit on it, twiddling her thumbs and swinging her feet to and fro.

"Ah, Commander." A Denobulan head peered out from the back room.

"Good morning, Doctor Phlox," Hoshi replied.

Phlox stepped out of the back room clothed in a long white robe and latex gloves, which were soaked in green fluid. Walking past Hoshi, he removed his robe and gloves, and threw them into the waste disposal located next to the sink. He turned the faucet on and began to lather his hands in soap.

Waiting for Phlox on the biobed, Hoshi asked, "Giving Fior his trimmings today?"

After patting his hands dry on a towel and straightening his black pyjama-like uniform free of wrinkles, Phlox looked at Hoshi. "Good heavens, no. That bat has learned by now not to squeal every time I give him nail trimmings."

His face grew wide, exposing a sickly long grin. "I've discovered a new species--Vulcans. They are quite remarkable, indeed."

He headed towards his cabinet and pulled out a small rectangular metal box, placing it on the counter. "I have one in the back room right now."

"A Vulcan?" asked Hoshi.

"Yes." Opening the box, Phlox pulled out a hypospray. Turning around, he faced Hoshi, who had readily pulled down her uniform so it was around her naked waist. He walked towards her and injected the contents of the hypospray into the right side of her stomach.

After the injection was complete, Phlox removed the empty vial and discarded it.

"Have you been experiencing any further nausea?" he asked.

"No." Hoshi shook her head. "Although, I've been feeling weird gurglings in my stomach. What do you suppose that could be?"

"Hmm," Phlox replied cheerily. "I suppose it could be just a side-effect. Nothing more."

"So what were you experimenting on?" Hoshi asked curiously as she pulled her uniform back up.

"The joys of the female Vulcan reproductive system." Phlox grinned and, extending his hand, helped Hoshi off the biobed. "Now run along, Commander. I'm sure Captain Mayweather is eagerly waiting for you on the bridge."

Hoshi walked to the sickbay doors and pressed the button to open them.

"Oh, and Commander?"

She turned around. "Yes, Doctor?"

"You still have two more sessions of injections before the end of your second trimester."

"Of course, Doctor."

-----

Hoshi stood silent and alone as she rode in the lift. When the doors swished open, she stepped outside, stopping when she realized it wasn't the bridge.

An uneasy feeling stirred in her gut as she looked straight down the corridor. Something's wrong... The corridors aboard her ship were normally tan, but this one was gray. Then realization hit her.

Her first instinct was to turn around and enter the lift, to leave this place.

Yet, she couldn't...no...she wouldn't. This is the corridor...from my dream.

Cautiously, she started to walk through the corridor. I'll find my answer.

"Is anyone here?" Hoshi called out loudly, taking a few steps forward. "The man in the cloak. Where are you?" She took more steps.

Reaching the middle of the corridor, Hoshi thought she felt a tap on her shoulder, but ignored it, believing it to be her skin crawling. You're not worried, Hoshi. Then, in a quick moment, she was wrenched around. The shock hit her like a phase canon.

"Commander?"

Hoshi blinked and found herself staring at a man.

"Ensign Archer," the man said, smiling, as he introduced himself.

She could tell that he was older than her, from the rough planes on his face. What's he doing on board this starship? Officers who came of age--over 40 years, that is--were sent back to Earth.

Hoshi pushed that thought away as her eyes roamed down his body, from his brown hair to his green eyes to his chin, and to his... Her voice caught in her throat--he wore the uniform. The uniform from my dream. Except, his stripes were gold. She slowly brought her hands up and began to gently stroke his stripes with her fingertips.

"Are you all right?" the man asked, concern on his face.

Hoshi was brought out of her daze, and she shook her head, looking to her side. The corridor from her dream was gone, replaced by the usual tan wide walls.

"Where am I?" she asked, her voice throaty.

"You're in the armory," Archer answered. "How did you get down here?" he asked.

"I...I don't know. I was riding in the lift, thinking I'd ended up on the bridge, but instead, I found myself here." Hoshi looked at the man, and seeing the bewilderment on his face, asked, "What's the matter?"

"Uh, nothing. It's just...the armory has been shut down for many years, and the main lift shouldn't be able to bring anybody down here."

That's when Hoshi really took a look at the corridor she stood in. It was dark and cobwebs covered nearly every corner.

"If the main lift isn't designed to bring anybody down here, then how did you get here?"

"A secret lift," Archer answered, winking. Then offering her his hand, he said, "Come on. I'll escort you to the bridge."

Hoshi took his hand as he lead her around a corner, to a lift she had never seen before. As they entered the lift, she stole a glance at his profile.

Sensing that she was staring, Archer turned to face her.

Hoshi was caught off guard, but the tension quickly vanished when he gave her a warm smile, and for some odd reason, Hoshi felt like smiling, too.

*****