Disclaimer: No, I do not own Enterprise. Stop asking me! I can't get you a part on theshow!
Author' Note: Hi. This fic is tad different than my others. It's a bit more serious. Well, I hope you enjoy it anyway.
Warning!!: Spoilers for "Exile", "Countdown", and "Zero Hour".
"Change"
Horrific images flashed through her head. She was alone, all alone, staring
at the cracked ominous graves in the searing cold. She was alone, again,
standing against Tarquin with his powerful orb raised dangerously in her hand.
Suddenly cold rough hands pushed her down into a hard metallic seat. She
screamed out in terror, anger, and desperation as they stabbed the parasite-
filled device into her brain. Oh God, she wished someone would come! She was
on her own again as she made the ultimate and dreaded decision, her life for
the world's. Alone she plunged into darkness and fear. Alone she was seized
from the hope she would save her home.
"Aaarrrrrh!" Hoshi Sato woke screaming and thrashing in her quarters. Sweating
profusely she flung herself from the confines of her twisted covers and fled to the
refuge of her bathroom. Hugging the chilled sides of the toilet Hoshi vomited until all
of her terror and disgust had left her. Shaking, she sunk to the ground.
Hoshi had always been scared, always. She had been afraid of meeting new
people, love, her first kiss, her first time with a man, and just plain scared of change.
But that was all in the past. There was so much more now. Fear of failure, fear of
death, and her worst fear, loneliness, were added to her fear of change. Hoshi slowly
climbed to her feet, gripping the sides of her sink for support.
Oddly enough, despite her very frightening and very real concerns, Hoshi didn't
feel like it was the end of the world. She felt like she could go on and live another
day. Hoshi gazed at herself in the mirror. She was changed. She saw it in her almond
eyes. She saw it in the way she held her graceful head. It was almost as if she had
matured from the jittering youth that set off with Enterprise into an enduring woman
without even noticing. It all started with listening to Captain Archer's pleads and
joining the crew of the Enterprise. Another epiphany! Enterprise was the start of
her blossoming. Enterprise was the cause of this change.
Hoshi dived into bed and snuggled deeply into the covers. But she couldn't sleep.
Her seed of a revelation had been planted and now was slowly growing and filling
her entire being. She jumped back up and slipped into her workout clothes. She must
work off this newfound energy and excitement.
As she walked through the quiet corridors, Hoshi ran the thought over and over
again in her mind. Enterprise was the reason for this beautiful change in herself and
maybe for the other change as well. The change she couldn't wrap her mind around,
the one she didn't even dare to consider.
Hoshi entered the gym to find it not empty and barren as she expected, but
containing another sleepless person, Travis Mayweather. Despite their differences,
the two had instantly hit it off at the very beginning of Enterprise's journey. Travis
was a boomer, used to space and its unsuspected curiosities. He was eager and
courageous. Hoshi was a pure land-lubber, overly cautious, and a total scaredy cat.
But together and through their time on Enterprise, they each become a more
balanced version of themselves. Travis now looked behind the thrill of adventure to
the sometimes hard truths behind space exploration and Hoshi was now more open
and courageous. But, there was another change going on between them, a very
different kind of change. There friendship was once almost sibling-like. Now it
seemed to be subtly morphing into something more. She felt light headed and
ridiculously happy with him. She couldn't wait to meet him at the mess hall or walk
with him to the bridge. She knew he felt it too. The way he looked at her with those
big caring eyes and smiled at her with every single one of his pure white teeth. But
she had been pushing her feelings, her desires, away. Another change? How could
she handle another change? However, tonight when she realized that Enterprise had
indeed changed her and changed her for the better, Hoshi realized that maybe she
didn't need to fear change anymore.
Suddenly, as if he knew that she was there, Travis shifted his gaze from the rows
and rows of dumbbells he was searching to the doorway where Hoshi stood, staring.
"Hoshi?" he asked with concern.
Hoshi ran. She ran into his dark muscular arms. She ran to change. Pressing her
head against his solid chest, she simply whispered, "I love you".
If Travis was surprised he didn't show it. He merely hugged her tightly and rested
his chin on her soft raven head and said, "I know. I love you too." Hoshi looked up
into his gentle chocolate eyes and kissed him with all her might. When they broke
apart she took his hands in hers and assured him, "I know. I know."
From that moment on Hoshi Sato was no longer afraid of change. Change was
good. From that moment on she didn't even fear being alone. She had someone. She
had a soul mate. He would be with her always and with him she could face anything,
even her fears.
Author's Note: Whoooo! (That's a sigh.) I'm done. Please, please review! I really need some feedback guys! Let it all out!