Chapter Six



Jon blinked. He could've sworn Wilhelm was standing just a few meters away. He heard Reed grunt and turned to see the big alien lifting the lieutenant off the ground. As if in slow motion, Jon watched in horror as Wilhelm threw the armory officer into a tree. The sound of Reed's body impacting the massive trunk was audible.

T'Pol moved quickly to Trip's side while Jon turned to face Wilhelm.

The alien staggered slightly. "I don't like to shift that quickly," he explained. "Takes too much control and it gives me a headache."

"The commander is dead, Captain."

Jon looked at T'Pol then down at the still form of his best friend. His body trembled uncontrollably. Trip couldn't be dead, he thought. T'Pol had to have made a mistake. Trip couldn't die. He was one of those constants Wilhelm mentioned. But the look in his science officer's eyes told Jon otherwise. She moved to Reed, felt for a pulse then nodded at the captain. Reed still lived. His eyes went back to Trip.

"That's strange," said Wilhelm. "He was always the last one standing in the other time lines. Yet in this one, he's the first to go. I guess time can still surprise me, eh Captain?"

Jon's body still trembled uncontrollably but no longer from shock. Anger boiled up inside him and he clinched his fists at his sides. He'd always thought Trip would out live him, that he'd never have to face the death of the man he considered family. He wasn't sure he was strong enough to do that.

As the rain fell harder around him, Jon turned his gaze back on the alien time traveler. He focused his thoughts, knowing the time for grieving his friend would come later and it would only come if he could stop this being. He'd seen the weapon leave Reed's hands and land in the bushes. If he could keep Wilhelm distracted, maybe T'Pol could find it.

"You bastard," Jon spat.

"I know the boy was your friend, Captain, but you'll be seeing him again very soon. Doesn't your species believe in a place called heaven?"

Jon lunged at Wilhelm and swung his fist, connecting with the alien's jaw. Wilhelm's head snapped, but the blow did nothing more. He looked back at the captain then backhanded him so hard that Jon fell to the ground. He spit blood out on the ground then pushed himself to his feet. A cry of fury reached his ears and he spun around just as T'Pol leaped on Wilhelm's back. Her fingers dug into the alien's gray skin leaving rents in his cheeks that oozed dark blood.

While T'Pol continued her assault, Jon hit Wilhelm again. He kicked out with all his strength into the alien's groin, but there was no reaction. Then Wilhelm reached back over his shoulders and grabbed T'Pol's arms. He threw his body forward and the Vulcan sub-commander lost her grip. She sailed over Wilhelm's back, landing hard against the base of a tree.

Blazing red eyes met Jon's. In one swift movement, Wilhelm reached out and grabbed the captain by the throat, lifting him from the ground. "I'm growing weary of this entertainment, Captain," he hissed.

Jon could feel his airway constricting from the pressure and he felt light- headed. He stared fixedly at Wilhelm, knowing that the alien had won. Everything the crew of Enterprise had done to insure Earth's safety was all for naught. There would be an Expanse after all.

Wilhelm's eyes suddenly widened and his grip eased. Jon managed to struggle just enough to free himself from the alien's clutches. He dropped to the ground and rolled to his knees. He looked up to see a look of shock on Wilhelm's face. The alien slowly turned to look behind him then he fell to his knees.

Beyond the alien, Jon could see Trip. The commander was standing, the pulse rifle aimed directly at Wilhelm.

"It was you after all," whispered Wilhelm.

Trip fired again and the alien pitched forward.



Travis stared at the Vulcan science vessel still looming large on the bridge view screen. He wondered when Captain Soval would be contacting them again and just how he was going to explain Lieutenant Reed's absence.

"Archer to the bridge."

The ensign looked at Hoshi as he depressed the comm. button. "Captain?" he asked. "Is it really you, sir?"

"It's really me, Travis," Archer responded with clear amusement. "Everyone made it, Travis, though we're a bit worse for wear. I'll be in sickbay with the others if you need me."

"Aye, sir," replied Travis. "And sir? Welcome home."

"Good to be back, Ensign. It's good to be back."

"They did it!" cried Hoshi. "They really did it!"

Travis shook his head and laughed, slapping both hands on the console before him.

"Wait a minute," said Hoshi suddenly. "We're being hailed by the Vulcan ship."

Travis furrowed his brow in confusion. "I guess you'd better put them through."

The stoic face of Soval loomed large before him and Travis faltered. This man wore the robes of a Vulcan ambassador, not the uniform of a captain.

"Where are T'Pol and Archer?"

"Um, well, they're not here at the moment, Ambassador."

One white Vulcan eyebrow lifted. "I can see that, Ensign," Soval replied briskly. "Is she---are they all right?"

"Yes, sir."

Soval expelled a short breath and his shoulders relaxed slightly. "Congratulations, Ensign. I believe you're returning to a heroes' welcome as you should be."

"Thank you, Ambassador. It's good to be home, sir."

"Tell T'Pol to contact me immediately."

"Yes, sir. I will."

Soval's face disappeared and Travis sat back in his chair.

"Don't get too comfortable, Travis," said Hoshi. "We're being hailed again." Then she grinned. "It's Admiral Forrest."

Travis smiled brightly. "Put him through!"



Phlox couldn't help but grin from ear to ear. Before him, either reclining on a bio bed or sitting on one, were Enterprise's four most senior officers. The Denobulan couldn't remember experiencing such a moment of joy as when his sickbay doors slid open to reveal the four all battered and bruised, but very much alive. He stood for a moment just observing them, allowing himself to revel in their presence. Then his eyes moved to Crewman Daniels who stood quietly to the side and his mood sobered.

The doctor stepped to Trip's bedside and reviewed the monitors above his head.

"How is he, Doctor?" asked T'Pol from the next bed.

"He's lucky to be alive," replied Phlox. He looked down at his patient. "I'm sorry, Commander, but you need to rest."

"Don't knock me out, Doc," pleaded Trip. "Please."

Phlox sighed. "You've lost a lot of blood, you're temperature is still dangerously high----."

"Okay, okay," relented the engineer. He turned his head and Phlox pressed a hypo-spray to his neck.

"We won't start the party without you, Trip," said Archer. He slid from his bed and moved next to Phlox at the engineer's side. "You've got my word on that."

Trip mumbled something Phlox couldn't understand then his eyes drooped and they slowly slid shut.

"I really thought I lost him down there," said Archer quietly.

"I apologize for our ruse, Captain."

Archer looked across the sleeping commander to T'Pol. "There's no need to apologize."

"I know how you feel about Commander Tucker. It was quite unpleasant leading you to believe he was dead."

"His idea worked, though, T'Pol. Wilhelm bought it hook, line, and sinker."

Phlox chortled at T'Pol's obvious confusion. "Another colorful human expression, T'Pol," he explained.

"The entire universe, past, present, and future, is indebted to you and your crew, Captain," said Daniels. He stepped forward to stand next to the lieutenant's bed.

"You knew it was Trip all along, didn't you?"

"Yes, Lieutenant."

"What I don't understand is if Trip succeeded in killing Wilhelm in the other time lines, why did Wilhelm keep turning up?" asked Archer.

"Commander Tucker didn't succeed in the other time lines, sir."

"So Wilhelm just kept shifting, eliminating the positive outcomes as he went?" said T'Pol.

"Yes."

"His species still exists in the other realm, Crewman. What is to keep them from building the Expanse again?"

"Nothing, Sub-commander," replied Daniels. "But with the destruction of the spheres and the death of Wilhelm, they've lost their ties to this realm. They'll have to start over. The universe will see great changes during the years that will pass so it won't fall on humanity's shoulders to stop them alone next time."

"And that's supposed to make us feel better?" snorted Reed derisively.

"Yes, sir. It is."

Phlox cleared his throat, breaking the uneasy tension in the room. "I'd like to start you on the dermal-regeneration process as soon as possible, Captain. With a little luck, you won't be able to tell you were ever burned."

"I should really talk to Admiral Forrest first, Doc."

"All right, but please make it quick. The longer we postpone the process, the more likely it becomes that there will be residual scarring."

"Understood," replied Archer. He patted Trip's arm gently. "Take care of him, Doc." He looked up at T'Pol and Reed. "And you two get some rest."

Both officers nodded in response.

"And Crewman, no offense, but I could go a long time without seeing your face again."

Daniels smiled good-naturedly. "Understood, Captain," he replied.

"I'll be right back, Doc," said Archer then he turned and left sickbay.

Phlox looked back up at the monitors over Trip's head, clucking absently.

"You're certain the commander will be okay?" asked Reed.

"Yes, Lieutenant. I'm quite certain."

"Good. If you don't mind, Doctor, I'd like to go to my quarters and get cleaned up. Am I free to go?"

"Yes, but if you have any bouts of dizziness or nausea, I want you to return immediately, is that understood?"

"Understood, Doctor. I'll be back later to check on Trip."

Phlox nodded at the lieutenant as he walked by the bio bed then he turned to T'Pol. "You're free to return to your quarters as well, T'Pol, if you promise to stay off that ankle for at least a few hours. I've fused the break, but the ligaments were stretched and will be quite tender for a while yet." He tipped his head and looked at her closely. "On second thought, maybe you should just stay here where I can monitor you, hmmmm?"

"Thank you, Doctor."

The Denobulan looked at Daniels. "Is there something I can do for you, Crewman?"

"No. I guess I should be going as well."

"Very well. You know the way out," replied Phlox. He glanced down at his sleeping patient then back up.

Daniels was gone.

"Does he leave that way all the time?"

"Apparently so."

Phlox tucked his chin and snorted softly then he eyed T'Pol. "Now, why don't you tell me how you're really doing, hmmmm? The situation you found yourself in was quite emotionally charged, was it not?"

T'Pol nodded. "It was," she replied then she hesitated.

"T'Pol?" coaxed the doctor.

The sub-commander's eyes fell on Trip. "Wilhelm was hurting him," she said softly.

"So you became angry?"

"It was more than just anger, Doctor. I felt hatred and I did nothing to suppress it."

"Is that so bad?" asked Phlox. "Even humans and Denobulans, for that matter, get angry when someone they care about is being threatened or harmed."

"But I couldn't control it. It consumed me."

"And you're afraid it might happen again?"

T'Pol nodded.

"This was an extreme case, T'Pol," said Phlox. "Tell me this, since you stopped using the Trellium, have you been angry with Commander Tucker at all?"

"Yes. He can be----quite frustrating at times."

"Yet you haven't harmed him."

"No," replied the science officer in a contemplative tone.

Phlox moved over to stand beside the Vulcan. "Give it time, T'Pol, be patient."

"I am trying, Doctor, but it is difficult."



The sickbay doors slid open and T'Pol looked over Phlox's shoulder to see Archer striding toward them. She quickly straightened her posture and found her composure.

"Everything okay?"

"Yes, Captain," replied Phlox. "Commander Tucker's temperature is finally dropping and T'Pol's ankle has fused quite nicely."

"Good. Admiral Forrest informs me that there's a celebration planned for tomorrow evening. You think Trip'll be up and about by then?"

"I don't see why not. I wouldn't recommend he over indulge, but I don't see why he can't join in the festivities."

Archer smiled and T'Pol couldn't remember the last time she'd seen the captain so relaxed and jovial.

"Soval would like you to contact him as soon as you're able, T'Pol."

"I will do so immediately."

"If you'll take a seat, Captain, I'll prepare the dermal-regenerator."

T'Pol watched Phlox step across the room. Archer hiked himself up on the bed he'd only vacated minutes earlier. He looked down at Trip and T'Pol could see the affection very evident on his damaged face.

She slid off her bed. "I should contact the ambassador," she said. She took a few steps then stopped, turning to face Archer. "I haven't had the chance to tell you how---pleased I am that you've returned, Captain. Your presence was greatly missed."

Archer smiled warmly. "It's good to be home."

"I would like to make a request, sir."

Archer's brow furrowed.

"Please refrain from anymore suicide missions. Grieving for you twice has been quite---taxing."

The captain chuckled. "I'll do my best, T'Pol," he replied. "Good luck with Soval."

T'Pol nodded. "I believe I will need it, sir." She glanced down at the sleeping commander one last time then left sickbay.



Continued