Chapter Five



Trip blinked until the branches over his head came into focus. He could hear the rain falling and he found the sound oddly soothing.

"You're awake."

The engineer turned his head slightly to look at his companion. "How long was I out?" he asked.

"Only a few minutes," replied T'Pol. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine."

"You're fine?"

Trip nodded then immediately regretted the tiny movement as a wave of pain hit him so hard, bile rose in his throat. He shut his eyes until his stomach settled.

"Why do you feel it necessary to do that?" asked T'Pol. She put a gentle hand on Trip's forehead.

"Do what?"

"State that you're fine when it is obvious you are not."

Trip gritted his teeth. "Well, why do you bother asking questions if you already know the answers?"

There was no response, although the warm hand remained on his forehead.

The engineer opened his eyes. "I'm sorry, T'Pol. I didn't mean to snap at you."

"There is no need to apologize, Commander. I am worried as well."

"How's the ankle?"

T'Pol tipped her head to one side and looked at him with a hint of amusement in her dark eyes.

Trip couldn't help but smile. "Why ask the question when I already know the answer, right?" He closed his eyes against another jolt of pain.

"Breathe deeply, Commander," urged T'Pol. "It will help."

The engineer nodded and concentrated on his breathing. He felt T'Pol's hand slide back from his forehead into his hair. She repeated the soft caresses and soon the pain became more tolerable.

"Your temperature is elevated," said the sub-commander with concern. "Your body is fighting infection."

"I'll be okay," reassured Trip. He paused for a moment. "You know that you do the same thing, don't you?" he asked finally.

"I don't understand."

"Say that you're fine when you're obviously not."

When silence was his only reply, Trip opened his eyes and looked up at his companion. She'd moved closer to him, one hand still gently stroking his forehead while the other rested lightly over his hand. As much as he wanted to help her, wanted her to trust him, he knew he couldn't push her. He simply remained quiet, watching as a swirl of emotions crossed her face.

"Commander-----Trip," T'Pol began then she stopped, clearly at odds with herself.

Trip turned the hand lying under hers and squeezed her fingers gently. "I meant what I said, T'Pol. I'll listen when you're ready."

T'Pol nodded. "I appreciate that," she replied quietly.

Trip met her eyes for a long moment then he looked away. "Mind if I ask you something?"

"Not at all."

"Why me? If all you wanted to do was explore human sexuality, why'd you choose me? You see, you were right about me, T'Pol. I can't have a physical relationship without getting emotionally involved." He paused as a thought suddenly occurred to him and he looked at her. "Is that what you thought? That it would just be sex for me, just something I could do to release some stress?" He turned his head away. "Well, I've got some news that might surprise you, T'Pol. It wasn't just sex for me."

"Nor was it for me."

"After all we've been through together, I can't---." Trip stopped abruptly. "What did you say?"

"I said it wasn't just sex for me either, Commander."

Trip looked back at her in surprise. He opened his mouth to speak, but quickly closed it when his muddled brain failed to form any coherent words.

T'Pol folded her hands in her lap and looked down. "And I didn't choose you. In order to do that, there would have had to be others. There were not and there have never been."

Trip swallowed, the ache in his shoulder all but forgotten. "I was your first?" he asked.

The sub-commander nodded.

"Oh hell, T'Pol. I didn't realize---I mean----did I hurt you?"

"No, there was no discomfort. I found the entire experience highly pleasurable."

Trip expelled a sigh of relief then he smiled slightly. "I found the entire experience highly pleasurable, too." He reached out and rested his right hand over both of hers. She looked up at him just as he'd hoped she would. "Listen, T'Pol, by now you know how I feel about you, but you're dealing with a lot right now, with your emotions and all." He squeezed her hands. "After you sort through everything, if you decide you don't want to pursue anything with me, I'll accept that. It'll hurt like hell, but I'll accept it. I just want you to know you can trust me. I'll be there for you no matter what, okay?"

T'Pol nodded once and Trip thought he saw the glimmer of tears pooling in her dark eyes. He squeezed her hands again, wondering what could have happened to shake her control so deeply.

"Well now. Isn't this a touching moment."

Trip looked beyond T'Pol to the figure that stood in the shadows, his dark grey uniform dripping from the rain.



Jon stood perfectly still, taking in the sight spread before him. Bodies lay strewn everywhere, their blood mixing with the falling rain to form crimson puddles in the deep tracks left by the Russian tanks. An eerie silence hung over the place and Jon shivered. Beside him, Reed cursed under his breath.

Slowly, they moved across the road to what remained of the fallen field hospital. Jon choked on the smoke still rising from the ashes. His eyes fell on a hint of white and he knew instantly to whom that white fabric belonged. He stepped over two fallen soldiers then knelt. Koen's body was draped over Leyna's and Jon knew the young man had probably tried in vain to protect his lover from harm.

"What do we do now, Captain?" asked Reed, his voice hushed.

Jon stood. "I don't know, Malcolm," he replied.

"Did this Wilhelm say anything about his plans, anything at all, sir?"

"No. He just said he was here to set things straight. He knew I was here to stop him and he knew Trip, too," Jon replied then he shook his head. "Where the hell is Daniels?"

"Why would he go through all the trouble of bringing us here just to abandon us?"

Jon looked at his armory officer. "He wouldn't."

"Sir?"

"I get the feeling we're missing a big piece to this puzzle, Malcolm. Things must be happening as they're supposed to otherwise Daniels would be here. I know him. He wouldn't give up like this. There's something we're not being told."

"Captain, are you certain Wilhelm said nothing peculiar to either you or the commander?"

Jon shook his head. "No. Like I said, he told me he was here to set things straight. He didn't say much at all to Trip. He just looked at him." The captain swallowed. His mind flashed back to the meeting between Wilhelm and the engineer.

Reed hefted the altered pulse rifle over his shoulder. "It'll be growing dark soon, Captain. What do you want to do? Go into Berlin, see if Wilhelm went there?"

Jon felt a strange fear rise up within him. "No," he said shaking his head. "I think we should get back to Trip and T'Pol."



Enterprise's first officer got to her feet and turned to face Wilhelm, keeping herself between the alien and Trip.

"Ah, T'Pol of Vulcan," greeted Wilhelm. "It is so nice to see your lovely face again."

"We have never met."

"Oh, but we have," replied the alien. He stepped forward slowly. "And you were even protecting your husband as you are now."

T'Pol glanced down at Trip then back to Wilhelm.

"Oh, that's right, you're not husband and wife in this time line." Wilhelm moved closer. "But I sense you will still fight to keep him safe. Am I right?"

"Yes," replied T'Pol. Behind her, she could hear Trip moving. She turned her head enough to see he was struggling to get to his feet. Carefully, she grabbed his elbow and helped him up, her eyes never leaving Wilhelm.

"What do you want?" asked the engineer breathlessly.

"What do I want," repeated the alien. He put his hands behind his back. "I want many things, Commander. Do you want me to list them?"

"Listen, you sonofabitch," began Trip.

"Commander," cautioned T'Pol, grabbing Trip's wrist. "I believe what Mr. Tucker is asking is what do you want with us?"

"I know exactly what the boy was asking," replied Wilhelm sharply, then he smiled. "I'm just not ready to tell you yet."

"Maybe you'd like to tell us what you're doing here then----if you're ready, that is," retorted Trip.

T'Pol could hear the commander's labored breathing. She risked a sidelong glance, noting quickly his pallor and the perspiration dotting his forehead.

"Well, it seems, my good Commander, that the Guardians failed to complete the very simple task they were assigned," explained Wilhelm. "All they needed to do was complete the Expanse then this realm would've been safe for my species. But they failed and so I had no choice but to handle things in my own way."

"Your species?" repeated Trip.

"Yes," replied the alien. "I believe in this realm we're called the Makers, the Sphere-builders."

T'Pol started slightly. "We were under the impression the Guardians built the spheres."

"No, no, no," replied Wilhelm. "They were simply that---Guardians. They could enter this realm for short periods of time, we couldn't. It only made sense that they be assigned the task of guarding the spheres for us."

"But you're here," said Trip.

"I was genetically engineered to survive in this realm, but I can only do so for a limited amount of time. That's why I was put into stasis. If the Guardians had done what we asked of them, I would still be sleeping peacefully, awaiting the arrival of my people." Wilhelm sighed dramatically. "But instead I find myself here, in the middle of a war."

"Is there some importance to your appearance here in 1945 Germany?" asked T'Pol.

Wilhelm shook his head. "Actually a pretty random selection on my part, T'Pol," he replied. "I did find this Hitler character intriguing, though; an intelligent human if not slightly unstable."

"Slightly unstable?" repeated Trip incredulously. "The man was insane."

"Maybe," smiled Wilhelm. "And maybe not. I have actually met the man, Commander. You haven't. I've shared many an interesting conversation with Mr. Hitler. We got along quite well in fact."

"I am not surprised," replied T'Pol.

Wilhelm's smiled faded. "I'm growing tired of this inane banter," he said as he moved quickly forward. "I believe it's time you find out what I want with you."

T'Pol stepped in front of Trip and widened her stance, bracing herself for the assault. Wilhelm reached out a big hand and grabbed T'Pol around the throat. He lifted her from the ground with ease and tossed her aside. She landed in a heap, her breath knocked soundly from her body. Rolling to her side, T'Pol could see Wilhelm towering over Trip. The engineer wore a look of defiance on his bruised face.

"You are fragile, boy," Wilhelm hissed. "Yet you are consistently my bane."

Trip threw a punch and the alien's head snapped back. The engineer landed another blow then he turned and moved toward T'Pol. She saw him reaching for her then a powerful hand gripped his injured shoulder and yanked him back.

Trip's agonized cry rang in T'Pol's ears and she felt something awaken inside her. As she pushed herself to her feet, an unbridled anger burned through her and she did nothing to suppress it. Trip needed her and that was all she knew.

With a guttural growl of rage, T'Pol lunged at Wilhelm.



"Did you hear something, Captain?" asked Malcolm. He put out his arm, stopping Archer. The sound of rain falling was all that broke the silence and the armory officer shook his head. "I could've sworn I heard----."

A scream echoed through the darkening forest.

"Come on!" shouted Archer.

As he ran, Malcolm tightened his grip on the weapon he held, knowing it was their only hope. He followed the captain through the woods at break-neck speed, dodging trees and low-hanging branches as he ran. The scream had been T'Pol's but it wasn't one of pain, it was one of raw anger. Malcolm gripped the rifle tighter.

The two men slowed their pace as they approached the area where they'd left Trip and T'Pol. Malcolm signaled to Archer to move to his left while Malcolm moved right. He crept as quietly as he could.

As he approached, the lieutenant could see T'Pol. She was crouched low, her hands out in front of her, her fingers bent into claws. She appeared to be stalking someone. Malcolm took another step and then saw the sub- commander's prey. He swallowed hard. Wilhelm had Trip by the neck, holding the commander between himself and T'Pol. The alien was smiling.

Malcolm moved closer then knelt, bringing the rifle butt to his shoulder. He didn't have a clear shot with both T'Pol and Trip in his line of fire, but he hoped Archer would provide a distraction.

"Well, I see the captain and the lieutenant have finally arrived," said Wilhelm. He pulled Trip closer to him. "I know about the weapon already, Mr. Reed, so the element of surprise is gone. Why don't you join us?"

Malcolm's mind raced. The weapon had no stun setting so he knew if he fired, one or both of his senior officers would die. He also knew in the short time it took him to pull the trigger after the first shot, Wilhelm would be gone. Slowly, Malcolm stood and moved into view. From the corner of his eye, he saw the captain doing the same.

"There's one thing you can say about time," said Wilhelm lightly. "There are always constants. In every time line, the scenarios have always been different, but it's always been the four of you who confront me. I find that fascinating, don't you?"

Malcolm kept the rifle butted against his shoulder. Although T'Pol had stepped aside, Wilhelm still held Trip squarely in front of him. He risked a glance at the Vulcan. She was bruised and bloodied but what shocked Malcolm most was the look of rage twisting her face. He quickly moved his eyes back to Wilhelm. Briefly, he focused his eyes on his friend. Trip looked to be in pretty bad shape. Fresh blood soaked the shoulder of his uniform, but he still struggled against Wilhelm's firm grip on his neck.

A sudden and strange sense of déjà vu hit Malcolm as he found himself looking at T'Pol. He moved his eyes quickly back to Wilhelm only to find the alien gone and Trip on the ground in a crumpled heap.

In the same instant he looked up from the rifle's sight, he felt two powerful hands grip him under the arms. Before he could fight, Malcolm found himself tossed like a rag doll toward the trunk of a tree. Just before impact, he watched the rifle fly from his grip and he knew he'd failed his mission.



Continued