Epilogue

Goodbyes

"I'm bored." Archer complained. He had been staring at the ceiling for at least ten minutes.

"You whine more than Porthos." Trip said from his bed next to Archer's. He was staring at the same ceiling.

"You don't have to put up with that Captain, throw him in the brig." Reed piped up from his bed, next to Tucker's.

Phlox walked in the room, exasperated, "If you three do not stop bickering I'll get out my Peruvian snails and give you something worth complaining about!"

Archer huffed, "Fine." Under his breath, he added, "Porthos doesn't whine."

The glass doors of sickbay opened to admit T'Pol.

"How are they doing Doctor?" She addressed Phlox.

"We are doing just fine." Tucker said loudly.

T'Pol ignored him.

"They're fine Sub-Commander, another day and they'll be released to their quarters." Phlox hoped he would survive another 24 hours. His sanity was waltzing a thin line as it was.

Archer waved for T'Pol, not bothering to sit. He knew he'd fall on his face if he tried. She approached his side.

"Yes Captain?"

"The conspirators, have they left?" He asked.

"Not yet Captain, Future wishes to speak with you. I told her I would see if you were...up for it?" T'Pol asked, protective of Archer and wishing she could have told the conspirators to...go take a hike.

Reed pushed himself up on an elbow, "Captain, you can't seriously consider...?"

Trip agreed, "Cap'n, tell them to find the farthest planet in the farthest system from us, and plot a course."

"Last I checked, Captain means I get to make the decisions around here?" Archer said irritably. "Tell Future I will see her."

T'Pol nodded. She would do as he requested, but she would not leave Archer, Reed and Tucker alone with this alien. She had lost them once she wouldn't do it again.

"Thank you for agreeing to see me Captain." Future stood at the foot of Archer's biobed where he was now propped on a pillow, so that he could see without having to sit upright.

"We owe you our deepest gratitude." She said solemnly. "Unfortunately, we have done nothing to repay you, except cause trouble."

Archer noticed the way she favored her right side, "Will you be all right?"

"Yes, it was a...scratch." She smiled.

She approached his bed. Trip and Malcolm tensed, T'Pol stepped forward. Archer waved them off. "What will you do?" Despite all these aliens had put them through, he felt compassion wind through his gut.

"We will go to Relas V, and then we will disappear." She spoke quietly, her voice wistful.

Archer felt his throat tighten, "Why do they call you Future?"

"Because I am the future of our race. I am what our genetics is evolving into. Despite the ministry's attempt to eradicate this mutation in our race, it continues to happen. Every year more and more children like me are born. I am the only mutant to live into adulthood Captain...I am the future." She stated. Her eyes held his. "Thanks to your people, I have a future."

Archer looked away. Trip and Reed had resumed staring at the ceiling, pretending to not hear. T'Pol continued to watch impassively.

"I'm sorry we couldn't do more." He finally said.

"You did enough." Future stepped forward again, standing now very near Archer's chest. T'Pol tensed.

Future leaned in, "Remember when you asked if Future was my real name?"

Archer nodded.

"I lied. Only my parents and myself knew my real name. Latt'an. It means 'flower' in my language." She bent down, and placed a light kiss on his forehead, a feathery caress that was removed before he had time to process her actions.

"Goodbye Captain Archer, I will never forget what your people did for me."

And then she was gone, walking out those doors before Archer could respond. Tucker began to grin.

"I think she liked you Cap'n."

Archer shot Tucker a dirty look, then looked at T'Pol. She was staring at him curiously.

"I didn't do anything." He said exasperated, and refused to say or look at anyone else. The ceiling tile was pretty interesting after all.

THE END!