Author's Note: I almost always have one, anyway, Yes! I'm going to continue with this POV. I thought it would be different to try and write from the 'aliens' perspective. I actually came up with this from the TNG episode where Picard was transported mentally into a different world/lifetime. That episode was one of my favorites. It was such a unique twist and a very poignant episode. This chapter is mostly background and setting up for the next chapter, it also got to be rather long. The story as a whole will probably be short compared to my last, or so I'm imagining at this level of my story concept. Thank you for the reviews and feedback!

Chapter 2

Aegis One

"As you can see, the collision will be complete. Our world will be devastated. The upper continent, where Aegis One is located, will be torn apart. The lower continent will suffer from the devastating after-effects. All life on Aegis will cease to exist." I spoke the words aloud for the first time since reading the report.

I saw Archer's jaw clench shut, Commander Tucker's eyes widen and Sub- Commander T'Pol seemed...melancholy.

"Could I see that?" Archer indicated the papers I held in my hand, the certificates of our fate.

I held them out. He took them from my hand and skimmed the writing. He frowned, "Could we arrange for you and my communications officer to translate this document? I'm afraid I can't read Aegian."

I can't believe I hadn't thought about that. When they had first contacted our world they had mentioned something about a translator. Our languages were different.

"Certainly."

We were interrupted by a knock on my door. Sam peered in, "President, I found Jak."

I stood, "If you will excuse me, please?" I didn't give them time to answer. I left them in my office and headed straight for the two men huddled by Sara's desk.

"What took you so long?" I asked Sam, glaring at Jak.

Sam shrugged, "He left for a break. I couldn't find him."

I glared harder at Jak, "A break?" When Sam had come to my office we had only been at work for two hours. Breaks weren't until three or four hours had been logged.

"I'm sorry President, but when I saw..." Jak appeared shaken to the core. I found it impossible to be angry with the man. I wanted to run away too when I saw the printouts.

"You didn't tell anyone?" I asked, hoping fervently he had kept his mouth shut this one time.

"How could I?" Jak shook his head, "I couldn't...I can't do this to anyone else."

I couldn't help the sigh of relief from escaping. "See that you don't." I warned.

He leaned on Sara's desk. "What are you going to do?"

I shot a look at Sam. What could we do? If the stranger's from Enterprise couldn't help, we'd die. I didn't say that though, Jak was on edge, his hair sweaty and sticking to his forehead. "We'll figure something out." I said instead. "Sam, why don't you take Jak home...and when you get back, Commander Tucker wants to get a look at one of your engines."

Sam seemed interested in the last bit, "That's one of the guys from the spaceship?"

I nodded. Sam grinned, "Great! I'll be back in no time."

"No rush, I'm taking them on a tour of the city first."

Sam deflated a small amount. "Bring him by when you finish." He said.

I promised I would and headed back to my office and saw Archer, Tucker and T'Pol conferring subdued in a huddle beside my desk. I wished I were one of them in that instant- a visitor here, a mere bystander to the disaster instead of a participant. As soon as the thought reared its ugly head I squashed it. This was my home. I was proud of my people and what we had built. Aegis was a remarkable world and our people didn't run from adversity. If we were all to die...we would do it with our eyes open and heads up.

"I apologize, I had to speak with my men. Commander, the taller of the two was my Chief of Space Control, Sam Trent, one of the main designers of our new engine. I told him you wished to see it later." I saw Tucker's eye's light up. I supposed engineers were the same everywhere. Sam got the same gleam in his eye anytime a new contraption was released.

Archer stretched his arms; "You said something about seeing the city President. I think now would be a good time." He held the papers; "We can work on this after dinner?"

I was eager to show these spacemen our city. Aegis One was the capital of Aegis. There were wonders here that some on our planet would never see, especially those in the lower continent. It was the hub of Aegis, more so by the advancement of our space program, and the construction of Aegis One space pad.

"This way please, there is a transport waiting."

We left the government building and gathered in the large transport I had called for earlier. It was one of the new open cars, meant for sightseeing and touring with dignitaries. Normally it was used for other government heads of office from the other cities, but I thought the crew from Enterprise would appreciate the open air. Being cooped on a ship could probably get tiring.

"Sal, take us on the main route, please." I requested my driver to take us through the main sections we usually traveled. The Fountain of Forever, Gates of Aegis, and Sky Gardens were all on the main route.

I watched the three Enterprise people settle in the plush seats. I could tell they appreciated the comfort and was relieved to see they were enjoying themselves. It was the first visit we had from aliens. I hoped we were leaving a good impression of our world.

"Does your planet have buildings similar to ours Captain?" I asked, curious about his world.

"Yes, a lot a like actually. I'm amazed at how similar your culture appears to ours."

"Really? How curious. Do you often find worlds are mostly the same or different?"

Tucker snorted, "Different!" He seemed embarrassed by his outburst, "Uh...very different, Mr. President."

"Tam if you don't mind. President is...a little pretentious. It's just a title, not my name."

Tucker smiled wide, "Tam."

I liked these people. A lot. I knew that even if they couldn't help us, I would be happy having met them and experienced something unusual.

"Do you visit with other species often?"

T'Pol answered this time, "Not frequently...we find more uninhabited worlds than habited."

I thought about that. Sal announced we would be passing Sky Gardens. I had a hunch, so I tapped Sal, and whispered for him to pull over at the entrance. As the transport came to a smooth stop, the three from Enterprise looked at me patiently.

"I thought you might like a walk through Sky Gardens? We have some very rare species, from all over Aegis."

I was surprised that of the three, T'Pol seemed the most excited. Archer appeared eager as well, "That would be wonderful."

I led them through the pillared entrance and onto the smooth stone walk, pushing my robes of office back from my hip. I probably should've changed before we left but I had been preoccupied. The robes were white but heavy, and while the climate in Aegis One was temperate, we were in the midst of summer season.

I saw Meryl, the Chief Gardener talking with a group of young students. I pointed to her, "That's Meryl Garenrue, our Chief Gardener. She's quite remarkable at what she does. I'm afraid I tend to be a failure at growing anything." I admitted, surprised at how easy it was to be open with these strangers.

"I have the same problem." Archer confided.

I paused, waiting for Meryl to finish her lecture. I was out of my depth in the Gardens, and knew it would be better if she did the tour, having the knowledge of the names and histories of the plants.

I let the visitor's appreciate the entrance. There were tall flowering vines twining up a wooden frame, heavy with a purple and yellow fruit. Delicate dark sage undergrowth provided the base of support for the large plant. A pond with a winding stream followed the path, gurgling happily in the quiet serenity of the gardens. There were Gat's floating in the water, paddling aimlessly about, and plunging their sleek brown heads deep into the cool liquid to catch a small flipper to eat.

I felt a thick lump form in my throat. This would all be gone...all of it. Burned and broken. Would any part of Aegis One survive? Ruins of what used to be?

"Tam?" A voice tinkled to my left. I looked away from the pond and found Meryl watching me.

I had never been able to hide much when it came to how I felt. I would have to practice that in the days ahead. I forced a smile, "Meryl! I have visitors who wish to tour the Garden's. Would you...?"

I didn't need to finish, she was already a step ahead, "I would! You must be the visitor's from Enterprise?" She addressed Commander Tucker, who was staring at her with...he liked her!

I hadn't thought about the aliens in this frame of thought before, but they were very similar to our people. We could have been from the same planet, so alike our two species. Meryl was beautiful on our world so it wasn't hard to guess she was probably beautiful on their world as well.

Archer was watching his Chief Engineer slightly bemused, and T'Pol appeared...disgruntled.

"Yes, this is Captain Archer, Sub-Commander T'Pol, and Commander Tucker." I introduced them.

Commander Tucker offered a hand, which Meryl took gingerly, shaking clumsily following the Commander's movements.

"Nice to meet you Ma'am." His voice warm honey on buttered bread.

"If we may...?" I decided it would be best if we proceeded with the tour. I wasn't sure what to think of the apparent development between one of the spacemen and our own people. I wasn't against it on principle...but they wouldn't be here long and we wouldn't either if the Enterprise couldn't help.

An hour later we emerged from the loop where we had begun. I noticed that even the visitor's appeared damp from the tour, except the Vulcan, she appeared pleasantly comfortable.

"Thank you Meryl, an excellent job, as usual. You are amazing." I patted her affectionately on the back. She was a good friend and a brilliant herbologist.

Captain Archer offered his hand, much in the same way as Commander Tucker had done earlier, "Thank you as well, it was, as Tam said, amazing."

Meryl took his hand and shook it without the earlier clumsiness, "You are quite welcome Captain. I hope to see you and your...crew again." She slipped a quick look at the Commander.

"You'll be coming to the feast tonight?" Tucker asked a hopeful lilt curved his lips.

Meryl released Archer's hand and started to shake her head negative, when I realized Sara was still calling people for the short notice plans. "She'll be there Commander." I said then turned to Meryl, "We are having a celebratory dinner this evening. Sara should be contacting you soon about the time and attire. If not, give her a call later this afternoon."

Meryl flushed, and promised she would. I herded us back to the transport. "Captain, the rest of the tour should take less time, and we won't be walking for any of the sights to come."

I felt a little guilty for making them exert themselves, but they hadn't complained.

Again, I'm an open book, and Archer must have sensed my thoughts, "The Gardens were well worth the effort Tam. It's been a while since we've seen anything as lovely."

"I agree. The Brevarus Toka was similar to a plant we have on Vulcan. It reminded me of home." The silent sentinel appeared relaxed for the first time since arriving on our world. I was pleased.

Tucker didn't speak but he must be as easy to read as I am, because I had the funny thought that he wasn't thinking about the flowers or the Gats on the pond, but rather the Gardener responsible for the Brevarus Toka.

"Sal, continue our route but head back before the Fountain of Forever." Sal nodded, and pulled into the growing traffic. The closer we got to the center of the city, the heavier the streets became, filled with mostly one to two people transports.

"I was hoping we would see the Fountain?" Archer asked.

"You will. It's really amazing at night Captain. I thought we'd return after the dinner?" I should've asked if that was agreeable before instructing Sal. I was on the verge of apologizing...again...when Archer spoke.

"I'm looking forward to it."