TITLE: Starting at Zero

AUTHOR: plumtuckered

RATING: PG-13

GENRE: Drama/Adventure

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of these characters.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story takes place just after "Zero Hour". I'm not sure I ironed out all the wrinkles in the time travel explanation, but hopefully it'll fly.

And just to forewarn everyone, there are definite T/T'P moments in this one as well spoilers for "Damage" and other season three episodes.

Thanks in advance to those of you who read this. Any comments, positive or otherwise, are most welcomed and appreciated!



STARTING AT ZERO

By plumtuckered



Chapter One



Ensign Travis Mayweather maneuvered the little shuttle pod out of the line of fire. His eyes followed the path of the passing aircraft as they sped by them.

"What the hell is happening here?" demanded Commander Trip Tucker from his seat just behind Travis.

"I don't know, sir, but I'm pretty sure those fighters were from World War II," replied Enterprise's helmsman.

"World War II?" repeated Trip. "How is that possible?"

Travis shrugged. "They're coming around for another run, Commander. What should I do?"

Silence was his only response.

"Commander?" prompted Travis again. He turned his head enough to see that the chair behind him was empty. The ensign looked toward the back of the 'pod then turned quickly back to the controls, swallowing the fear he felt rising in his stomach.

He was alone.



"Sub-commander, it's the shuttle pod," announced Ensign Hoshi Sato.

"Put them through," replied T'Pol. She stepped down from the captain's chair and moved to stand beside the communications officer. "Go ahead, Commander."

"I'm just clearing atmosphere, Sub-commander. We were attacked and the commander, he's-----well, he's----."

Hoshi met T'Pol's concerned gaze. Travis was definitely out of sorts.

"Commander Tucker's gone, ma'am."

"Explain," replied T'Pol as she gripped the back of Hoshi's chair with one hand. "How can the commander just be gone?"

"We were fired on by what looked like aircraft from World War II and Commander Tucker just---he just disappeared."

Hoshi could hear the confusion in her friend's voice. She looked back at T'Pol who stood in silence beside her. The Vulcan's expression changed for a moment into what Hoshi could only describe as fear then it settled into a look of determination.

"What's happening down there?" asked Lieutenant Malcolm Reed from across the bridge.

"I don't know, Lieutenant, but I suggest we find out," replied T'Pol. She looked down at Hoshi. "Inform Ensign Mayweather to return to the ship. The lieutenant and I will meet him in the launch bay."

Hoshi nodded. "Yes, ma'am."



T'Pol moved aside in the turbolift as Reed joined her. The door slid shut, cutting off her view of the bridge. She took a deep, cleansing breath, but it did nothing to relieve the tight fear she felt in her stomach. She'd lost Captain Archer and that loss had been difficult, but to lose the commander was something unthinkable. The thought stirred emotions within her that she knew were best left unexamined at the moment.

"Sub-commander?"

The Vulcan blinked then looked at Reed.

"Are you all right?" asked Reed.

"I'm fine, Lieutenant," T'Pol replied, noting the slight tremor in her voice.

"We'll find Trip. Don't worry."

T'Pol held the armory officer's eyes, willing herself to believe in his words. The door slid open before she could respond to him.

"What the---?" gasped Reed.

Before them was a small clearing nestled in a large forest. Sunlight streamed through the trees as morning seemed to be dawning.

"I'm sorry I had to do this, Sub-commander, Lieutenant, but I had no other choice."

T'Pol turned her head to see Crewman Daniels standing behind her. "What exactly is going on here, Crewman, and where is Commander Tucker?" she demanded evenly.

"He's here, ma'am. He's just not here," replied Daniels. He smiled slightly. "The commander was never one known for patience. He's gone ahead."

"Ahead?" asked Reed in confusion. "I think you'd better start explaining yourself, Crewman, and now."

Daniels exhaled a long breath. "First of all, Captain Archer is not dead."

T'Pol exchanged a glance with Reed then returned a steely gaze to Daniels. "The captain was killed when the Xindi weapon exploded. Are you stating that you retrieved him before it was destroyed?"

Daniels nodded. "Yes."

"Then where is he?" asked the lieutenant.

"He's currently in a German military hospital, or rather a field hospital," replied Daniels. He stepped closer. "The Germans moved quicker than I was anticipating and they captured him before I had the chance to join him and explain what was going on." He hesitated briefly. "He's going to need help if Earth is to be saved."

"Earth has already been saved, Crewman," said T'Pol tightly.

"Not really, Sub-commander. There was a contingency plan. A life pod was placed in a---a sort of temporal air pocket when the spheres were being built. In this 'pod was a single life form whose sole purpose was to disrupt Earth's future if the Guardians failed in creating the Expanse. When the spheres were destroyed and the Expanse collapsed, this being awoke. He's now here in this time, 1945 Germany."

"So Enterprise is in 1945?" asked Reed incredulously. "Come on, Daniels. This is all a bit far-fetched, don't you think?"

"Enterprise is in 2154, Lieutenant. We're in 1945."

"Our shuttle pod was just attacked by World War II fighters, Crewman" stated T'Pol.

Daniels sighed somewhat impatiently. "This being has the ability to shift time at his will. He's moved forward, changing the timeline, slowing the development of certain technological advancements. The San Francisco Ensign Mayweather and Commander Tucker saw looked the same as they remember it because this being allowed it to develop as such. But he halted any and all advancements in the field of aeronautics----."

"---which explains the presence of the fighters over 200 years in the future," finished Reed. "But Yosemite station was there in orbit around Earth. We watched the Xindi Reptilians destroy it."

"Before Enterprise destroyed the Expanse."

"So this---being was still in stasis at that point?"

"Yes, Sub-commander."

"And you pulled the captain from the weapon in order to stop him?"

Daniels hesitated. "Yes," he replied finally.

"Tell me, Crewman. If this being disrupted the development of the future, how do you explain Enterprise even being present in 2154?" asked T'Pol.

"The two timelines are currently overlapping," explained Daniels. "I don't have time to explain all the temporal mechanics, Sub-commander. I need you to join Commander Tucker. And Lieutenant, I need you to return to Enterprise to construct a weapon that will kill this being. I'll brief you on how to alter and enhance one of your phase pistols to disrupt his temporal field."

Reed shook his head. "I'm not leaving Trip and the sub-commander here alone."

"I don't think you understand the situation," said Daniels sharply. "You only have thirteen hours to stop this alien. The timelines will cease to overlap at that time. If you don't succeed in destroying this alien in those thirteen hours, there will be no Enterprise, no Starfleet, and the sphere-builders will ultimately succeed in completing the Expanse."

"Bloody hell," cursed Reed. "You expect us to believe---."

"Lieutenant," said T'Pol grabbing his arm gently to still him. She looked at Daniels. "Commander Tucker believed you?" she asked.

"Not entirely," replied the crewman with a slight smile. "But he knows what he saw in 2154 wasn't right and he wants to find the captain."

"As do I," replied T'Pol. She turned to look pointedly at Reed. "You will return to Enterprise, Lieutenant. Do as Crewman Daniels asks, but only to the point you feel it's logical." She glanced at Daniels. "How will you get this weapon to us?"

"Once it's done, I'll get it to you. Don't concern yourself with that right now. You and Commander Tucker must get to the captain, tell him what's happening, then find the alien."

T'Pol nodded, then looked at Reed again. "Do as he asks," she continued. "If we do not return to the ship in thirteen hours---." She stopped, suddenly realizing if Daniels was right and they failed, there would be no ship in thirteen hours. By the look on Reed's face, he understood that as well.

"Good luck, Sub-commander. And tell Trip to keep his head down," said the lieutenant with a nod.

T'Pol turned to Daniels. "Now take me to Commander Tucker," she ordered.



Enterprise's chief engineer ducked his head as a troop of German soldiers marched passed him. He peeked up again and glanced across the dusty road to the little medical tent. He knew somewhere within that tent, he would find the captain. He craned his neck, looking down the road. There were no other tents in sight so he felt confident the one he was staring at was the one on which Daniels had briefed him.

"Commander."

Trip started slightly then turned to see T'Pol crawling toward him. "Nice of you to join me. Where's Daniels?" he asked.

"He's taken Lieutenant Reed back to Enterprise to alter one of our weapons," replied T'Pol. "You are unharmed?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Is the captain in there?"

Trip nodded. "At least I think he is. Now all we have to do is get us both medics' uniforms."

"You have a plan?"

"Well, I haven't quite ironed out all the specifics," replied Trip sheepishly. "But I figured whatever we do, we need to blend in with the crowd."

"Do you speak German?" asked T'Pol as she settled on her knees.

"I can count to ten. Does that help?"

T'Pol arched a slender brow at him. "You are lucky I have my UT, Commander."

Trip sighed in relief. "I could kiss you, T'Pol."

"That would be a highly illogical action given our current circumstances," admonished T'Pol evenly. She looked across the road at the tent. "However, if you still feel it necessary, we can discuss it further after we've retrieved the captain." She glanced at Trip briefly then moved back into the forest.

Trip followed her in surprised silence.



Jonathan Archer sat up with a jolt.

"Stay still."

The captain squeezed his eyes shut then opened them again. He looked up to see a nurse standing over him. She was looking back at him with mild concern. Slowly, Jon lowered himself back down onto his cot.

"I am sorry for the pain, but our supplies are very low right now," continued the young woman. "Are you hurting?"

Jon shook his head. He reached a shaking hand up to touch the side of his face.

"You were burned," said the nurse not unkindly. "Not quite as severely as we first thought, but you will still have some ugly scarring. You also sustained a slight concussion."

Jon dropped his hand and wiped it on his pants leg. "Where am I?" he asked. He looked around at his surroundings, noting the oil-burning lanterns and the old wood cots lining the walls of the tent.

"You are in a hospital just outside Berlin."

"Berlin?" asked Jon in shock, then it dawned on him that the woman had a thick accent.

The nurse tilted her head. "In Germany," she replied. "A patrol found you in a nearby field this morning."

Jon closed his eyes. "Last thing I remember was being caught in the explosion."

"There did not appear to be any sign of shelling where you were found. Did you wander away from your regiment?"

"My regiment?"

"Never mind. You need to rest. The commander will be back to question you later. You have got a lot of people wondering why an American is here alone and in a very strange uniform."

Jon looked up.

The nurse smiled. "Your accent," she said. "You mumbled something about--- Enterprise and a weapon while you were unconscious."

"Oh," replied Jon. He felt his arm pocket for his UT, but it was not there. "You speak English?"

"Yes, now you need to rest," the nurse repeated.

Jon looked up at the ceiling of the tent. "You said shelling before. What did you mean?"

"Excuse me?"

"Shelling," repeated the captain. "What shelling? Earth isn't at war and we destroyed the weapon."

"I should get the doctor. Your head injury may be more serious than we thought."

Jon reached out and grabbed the nurse's wrist. "No, please. What is this place? Why am I here?"

"As I said before, you are near Berlin. As to why, I don't know."

"What about the shelling?"

"Stalin's Red Army is on the move. They have been----."

"Red Army?" repeated the captain incredulously. He sat up, his eyes darting over his surroundings. "What year is this?"

The nurse looked at him in obvious confusion. "1945, of course."

Jon froze. "Daniels," he whispered.



Continued