Title: The Catalyst

Author: Looneyluna

Rating: R

Category: Suspense/Romance

Code:

Summary: The universe is filled with what ifs. Daniels is wrong -- Jonathan Archer isn't the only catalyst of the future. The second Xindi attack isn't averted and Hoshi is lost. Can history be repaired and Hoshi be stopped from decrypting the Aquatics' code? One will try to stop her – stop her in the beginning.

Author's Notes – Thanks to Kathy Rose and PJ for beta reading, and Chris for plot holes. No copyright infringement is intended. I own nothing. I'm just playing around. This story starts in an alternate season three ending, and explores all seasons.

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PROLOGUE --

He stared at the battered hull plating and sighed, knowing he would never return to his security duties at the colony. It had been nearly five years since the end of the Xindi war – the end of the final battle. Both sides had lost.

The Xindi had obliterated Earth with one massive blast from the weapon, effectively destroying the Lunar colonies as well. The Reptilians had had little time to regroup, and the allied forces of the Earth and Xindi alliance had successfully destroyed the weapon.

A name had brought Malcolm Reed back to Enterprise – Hoshi Sato.

Commodore Archer's message had been brief.

"I need you for a mission. It involves Hoshi…"

There was more to the message, but he had paid little attention.

Malcolm was home.

Watching the warning lights on the airlock, he shifted uneasily. Enterprise was battered and worn, and hardly any of the original crew was left.

Trip was still keeping his "true love" together, and Archer would never leave her. Travis was captain of his own freighter, and T'Pol had returned to Vulcan.

Hoshi – she had been presumed dead when the weapon had been destroyed.

She had been taken when he was away on that godforsaken mission to the sphere. His guilt still continued to wake him up at night. He had lost Corporal Hawkins on that mission, and he had been unable to prevent Hoshi's abduction.

The light switched to green and the airlock hatch slid open.

An older, haggard looking Jonathan Archer greeted him. "Hello, Malcolm."

"Sir." Malcolm nodded.

"How was your trip?"

Making a noncommittal reply, Malcolm followed the Commodore down the hall and into his ready room.

Saying nothing, Jon walked behind his desk and reached into a drawer, pulling out and placing two devices on the desk. With a resigned sigh, he finally spoke. "I swore I would never do this, but I've got to try to prevent what they are planning."

Always a man of few words, Malcolm listened.

"Daniels has found some favorable threads – ones where the Federation contains Earth as a founding member. Naturally, the event that must be altered is the second attack."

"How many catalysts?" Malcolm asked, wondering how many lives would be affected.

"Just one."

He could tell by the inflection in Archer's voice who it was. "Sir, I can't –"

"They're going to send somebody back to kill her, Malcolm – before Klang."