The buzz of the communit disrupted Archer's ruminations. "Yes?" he asked, activating the link.

"We are ready to release the hunter-seeker program, Captain," T'Pol said.

"On my way." Archer terminated the contact and headed for the bridge.

Two hours had passed since his conversation with Mallory, and he still felt uneasy. What if… never mind, he thought. He gave his head a slight shake to clear his thoughts as he sat in the command chair. He noted the alert status of the bridge crew, and the silent criticism of Mallory at T'Pol's station. He drew a deep breath. "Status report."

"The ship has dropped out of warp, Captain. We felt that the fewer distractions to the computers systems the better," T'Pol replied. "We are now ready to deploy the program."

"Captain, won't you please reconsider," Jordan said.

"Man your station, Doctor," Archer replied coldly.

"Aye, sir," she all but snapped, turning her back on him to stare at the panel.

"Activate the program."

"Program is activated, Captain," T'Pol said.

"Status, Trip."

"All systems functioning, sir."

"I'm detecting increased computer activity, Captain," Jordan said.

Suddenly the lights went out.

"Emergency power," Archer ordered. Red lights immediately activated. "Report!"

"We seem to be experiencing a disruption in the ship's systems," T'Pol said. "This was an expected reaction."

"Mother of God!" Jordan exclaimed.

"What is it?" Archer demanded.

"Something is gobbling up data, sir, at an extremely accelerated rate."

"Isolate it!"

"I'm trying! Give me a minute!" she snapped, frantically keying programming into her terminal. "If I can just…. T'Pol, can you give me access to the hunter-seeker program while it's running?"

T'Pol made a few quick keystrokes. "Online."

For the next two minutes, the crew waited breathlessly as Jordan keyed new information into the system. "Alright, everybody, prepare for complete computer shut down."

"Are you nuts?" Trip exclaimed.

"Do you want this thing dead or not?"

"Do it," Archer commanded, activating the ship's intercom system. "This is the captain. Prepare for full computer system shut down. Tactical alert. Archer out." He turned to Jordan. "Go ahead."

Jordan pressed a button on her console, activating the microphone. "Computer, this is Dr. Jordan Mallory, password 1789. Prepare for full system shut down and reboot." There was a pause, then the computer display flashed "Confirm Order" in green letters. "Confirm order, authorization HAL 9000. Begin operation."

Suddenly, all computer functions on the ship ceased. Everyone waited, nervously eyeing suddenly blank displays. After what felt like hours, but was really only a couple of minutes, the screens came back on, displaying the typical start up routine.

"So far, so good," Jordan said. "Now we wait and see what's left. Hope everyone remembered to back up their personal files. Let that be a lesson to 'ya." She turned back to her terminal.

"Report, Doctor," Archer said.

"The computer system is back up, Captain. I'm running a quick diagnostic now."

"I have been running a scan as well, Captain," T'Pol said. "I find no trace of the computer worm."

"Confirmed, Captain," Jordan said. "We've destroyed it."

"Very good," Archer sighed. "Lt. Reed, secure from tactical alert. Mayweather, continue on previous course, warp factor 4."

"Aye, aye, sir," Mayweather replied.

"Good work Sub-commander, Doctor," he nodded to them. "Please give me a full report of what exactly happened after you've finished your diagnostics. I'll be in my ready room. T'Pol, you have the bridge."

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Several hours had passed, and Archer had retired to his quarters. He was lying on his bed, tossing his water polo ball against the wall when the door chime roused him. "Come in."

Jordan entered the room. "I came with the final report you requested, Captain. Hey 'ya, Porthos." She bent down to scratch the dog's ears, then straightened and handed Archer a handunit. "Quite an interesting phenomenon. When we activated the hunter-seeker program, the worm began eating our data at an incredible rate, starting with our most recent records first. That's why I shut down the system so quickly."

"Interesting choice of computer passwords." Archer rose from the bed and took the unit. "Was our data on the Xindi damaged?" he asked, concerned.

"Most of it was saved. Fortunately, T'Pol thought to back up the data to an alternate location. At least someone listens to computer experts."

"Maybe we should listen more often," he replied heavily.

Jordan regarded him for a long time. Finally she said, "I also came to apologize."

"Apologize? I didn't realize you were ever wrong."

Jordan dropped her eyes. "I deserved that," she said. She looked back at him. "You were right. I was so excited about our new scientific discovery, I lost sight of the big picture. But that worm was the most destructive thing I've ever met. A real predator."

"No, it wasn't all your fault," Jonathan sighed. "We started out looking for new life. I just never thought I'd be in the position where I had to keep sacrificing one form of life to save another. Maybe you were right, we are no better than what the Xindi think we are."

"Nonsense! I was wrong! You didn't kill a sentient being, you killed a cancer."

"I'm not so sure."

"I am. So stop beating yourself up about it. Doctor's orders. I'll leave you alone so you can get some sleep," she said, heading for the door. She paused when she reached it and spoke over her shoulder, "It gets easier, you know. After the first time, it gets easier." And then she was gone, the door whooshing shut behind her.

"That's what I'm afraid of," Archer said to the void.

The End

Coming soon: "Deconstruction", part two of the triology.