I figured I had to stop using Universe 1, though I love it so…
I like Amy Rose's idea of writing a fic for each universe. I'll have to think about that. Yup. Especially Universe 1...
Okay, and I need to see what you think: Is having a universe where humans are at war too used and common? There always seems to be one parallel universe that's in trouble, but what do you people think? Yes, no?
*********
His hands reached out, fingers pushing apart the fabric of the universe he selected. He could feel Hoshi there, alive and well. He could see the seams splitting, the universe roaring in pain as he tore through it, the device shielding him from what could be brutal attacks it dealt as he pushed through.
He could feel the universe forcing him back out into the abyss, it's energies crushing him. The breath was squeezed from his body, leaving with him the dogged determination to continue on; to find her. That was all he needed, and then he could so easily go back to his own universe. He paid no attention to the electricity and forces that danced before him. He was going to find her and the boundaries of the universes he entered were not going to stop him.
It was his hand that first broke from the barrier, touching the cool, recycled air that was aboard Enterprise. He continued on, his lungs crying for breath as he penetrated the universe. Within moments, he stood aboard Enterprise, staring at the bulkhead he had just appeared from, a smile upon his face. Any passerby would have thought the man was completely insane...
But then again, he quite likely was. So he laughed, dismissing the thought entirely.
*********
Universe 2
"Captain, I'm getting some unusual readings."
"Go ahead, Lieutenant," Captain Archer's replied.
Reed looked up from tactical, his 'brows furrowed in slight confusion. "I'm...I'm not sure what they are, sir. There's some kind of particle or radiation emanating from inside the ship, but sensors can't recognize them."
"T'Pol?"
"The emissions appear to be coming from C Deck, section two. Lieutenant Reed is correct; they seem to be of an unknown origin. The science officer glanced from her scans to the Captain, "Commander Tucker appears to be quite close to the source of the emissions."
Archer pushed the comm, curiosity etched across his features. "Archer to Tucker."
"Tucker here."
"There seems to be --"
"Tucker here." The answer seemed to be identical to the first, replying within seconds of the other.
Milliseconds from that response came, "There seems to be what, Cap'm?"
Archer glanced to T'Pol, who was looking down at her readings, and he could have sworn that just before she straightened her back to report to him, there was a look of confusion on that Vulcan face. "Captain, there appears to be two Commander Tuckers aboard. One in engineering, and one on C deck."
The entire bridge crew seemed bewildered at this report. Archer sat there for a moment, considering his options.
"Cap'm? Are ya there?"
"Trip...or Trips...meet me in sickbay immediately."
"Yes, sir." The one voice replied, pausing for a second, "Trips?"
...And moments after that, there was a second, "Yes, sir."
*********
Trip Tucker must have just had what could be described as one of his odder conversations with the Captain. He walked towards sickbay from engineering, wondering what in world he had to go there for. When he walked through the sickbay doors, he saw exactly why -- and had to make sure he was actually looking at what he thought he was.
He, Charles Tucker, was already standing in sickbay, Doctor Phlox scanning him over. Sure, he looked a little raggedy, with an unshaven face, and dirty, worn features, but it was him all right. He didn't understand it, though...he was standing just inside the sickbay doors, but also with Phlox and the captain...
"Uh, Cap'm?" He said, coughing a little, "Who exactly is that?"
Archer turned from...the other Trip, to him. "According to scans, that, Trip, is you."
"How is that possible?" He couldn't believe his ears or eyes. The engineer was pretty positive he didn't have any clone running around...so where the hell did this guy come from?
The new Trip Tucker seemed to grow more agitated by the moment, stepping away from Doctor Phlox as his eyes darted around sickbay nervously. He crewed on his lip before answering his 'twin's' question. "Easy. I'm from another universe. Where's Hoshi?"
Captain Archer raised an eyebrow as he spoke. "Hoshi's on duty right now. Can you tell me exactly what you mean by another universe?"
"No." The reply short, a rather impatient tone having taken over the man's voice. "Can I have my device back, now?"
The ship's original Tucker stepped forward, confusion drawn over every feature on his face. "How about you tell us how you got here, first? I'd like to know why I'm talkin' to someone who looks exactly like me."
"You aren't gonna let me see Hoshi, are you?" The anxiety fled the man's voice and sheer panic took its place. "Then I need my device back. Now."
The captain was opening mouth to say 'no' when there was a burst of activity. The other Trip leapt onto the tray where a strange looking piece of machinery lay, shoved Phlox and Archer out of his way and ran from sickbay.
"Security to sickbay. Our visitor seems to have ran off on us." Archer moved from the comm panel and motioned for Trip to follow him as he went in search of the fleeing man.
*********
Lieutenant Reed arrived just in time to see Captain Archer and Commander Tucker cornering the Tucker they had found on C deck. The worn-looking man was frantically tapping keypad on the object he was holding, and suddenly a burst of light came from it.
The armory officer had moved forward in a matter of milliseconds, thinking that Trip and Archer had been fired on. He didn't notice until it was too late that when he tackled the other, possibly imposter, Trip Tucker, the two of them fell into the gaping hole that had suddenly appeared in the wall of the corridor.
Suddenly both Commander Tuckers were gone, as was Captain Archer and his security team. Instead, he was lying on the floor of the Enterprise, without another soul in sight. Picking himself up, he started walking down the corridor, wondering in the word had just happened to him...
((Yes, I am well aware that it got confusing with two Trips. I thought it would be neat to have the two of them see each other -- just had a hard time writing it.
I don't like this chapter quite as much...but we should be getting into some chaos between universes sometime within the next chapter or two.
Oh. Also, Nemesis rocks! Go see it, folks. Several times, even. Good movie.))