Author Notes: After an appalling amount of time, I'm back! I apologise for the huge time gap, but I've been very busy. I have actually now written all of the remaining chapters to this story, so I will be updating frequently, depending on how quick my betaing is. Thank you for your support.

Chapter 11: The Butterfly Effect

The air on the Eclipse was constantly charged, with frequent confrontations between Ryan and Alex, Katrina and Archer, and Malcolm and Archer; even Sara joined in the shouting every now and again. Jamie was too busy with the engines to get involved, and everyone else had the sense to avoid these warring people if they could help it. Unusually, this time it was Alex and Katrina who were arguing, "I am not wasting resources on them!"

"But they need to have injections! It's law!"

"No Alex, it's Covenant law, which last time I checked, doesn't apply on my ship."

"We don't want to catch something off them."

"We've all had injections, so how can we?"

"They could infect each other!"

"I don't give a damn!"

This argument went along these lines for a good ten more minutes, before Malcolm had finally had enough, "Shut up, both of you! You're giving me a headache! Katrina, give them the bloody medicine, it's hardly expensive; most of it's black market stuff anyway."

Jonathan, who was also in the room at the time, snapped his attention back to the crewmembers in the living quarters, "What? My crew aren't taking anything."

Before Katrina could start on Archer, Malcolm waved his hand dismissively, "They're just inoculations and vaccinations. I s'pose it's our version of the decon chamber. They've been in use for centuries and perfectly harmless."

Thankfully, that was the end to the matter. Unfortunately, Ryan had started up a screaming match with Sara again down the corridor, so Malcolm's head didn't improve.

"So, what's this one for again?" Trip eyes the hypospray warily.

"Jurana Influenza." Alex examined the bottle, "Damn, there's not enough, I used up the last on T'pol. Mal, do we have another batch?"

Malcolm was currently on speaking terms with Trip, who, now the initial shock was over, was settling down into life on the Eclipse quite well. He had also accepted his old friend's reasons for not promising to return to Enterprise. Malcolm produced another small bottle, which Alex measured out into the hypospary. A small hiss indicated the discharge of the implement, and Trip was done.

"Alright, that's everyone."

Trip frowned, "What about that kid, Echo?"

Malcolm's face hardened, and Alex's face turned sour, "Luckily, I gave her the injections last time she was here."

Sensing that he had just brought the mood of the room right down, Trip smiled his thanks and dragged Malcolm out of the med bay.

"Where's Trip?" Captain Archer frowned as the extended crew sat down to lunch.

Richmond shrugged, "I haven't seen Commander Tucker since this morning, sir."

Malcolm sighed, "He's probably in his quarters - I'll go get him."

Malcolm got up and, giving a wide berth to the silent Echo, went out and clambered up to the sleeping level. "Trip?" He banged on the door, "Trip? D'you want food or not?"

Alex's voice floated up from below, "He's probably just sleeping off the effects of this morning."

Malcolm, however, didn't agree. He'd been injected with the drug before, and it hardly had any after effects. Quickly punching in the Captain's access code, Malcolm stepped into Trip's quarters. "Shit!" Malcolm knelt down and shook his friend. Trip was unconscious, shaking and bathed in sweat, "Trip? Trip! Can you hear me? Alex! Get up here now!"

The ship's navigation and medical officer soon appeared and stood momentarily frozen in the doorway before jumping to work, "We need to make him as comfortable as possible, there's no point trying to move him. The symptoms are Jurana, but…"

"Jurana? He's unconscious! Jamie never reacted like this when he had it!"

"It's possible that he already had a virus, but I scanned him." Alex frowned, "I need you to get my stuff, and if anyone asks what's going on, tell them but for everyone's sake, don't let them come up here."

Malcolm nodded and shot off, his worry building.

Everyone except Alex sat in silence in the living area, waiting for news on Trip. Alex had already confirmed her suspicions of Jurana, but it appeared to be some sort of mutated strain; not contagious, but ten times worse. Those who didn't know Trip well had no idea what to say to those who did. Archer sighed and muttered, "I can't sit here anymore." He strode out of the room…

…and onto an observation deck of a Federation starship. "Oh, come on!" Archer vented his frustration on a bulkhead.

"I would rather you didn't do that Captain Archer."

"Daniels!" Archer whirled around to be faced with the annoying little man. "What is it this time?"

"I'm here to make sure that the timeline remains as it should."

"Why wouldn't it? Isn't your war over?"

"Yes, but as you know, the race that manipulated the Xindi changed the timeline. Do you remember when I tried to persuade you to send someone else to destroy the Xindi weapon?"

"Yes, you wanted me to send someone like Malcolm, someone who wouldn't be important in the future."

"Correct. Apparently, Lieutenant Reed's significance in the future depends entirely on one event in that is near at hand."

Archer frowned, "Speak English, Daniels."

"In the original timeline, there was no Xindi attack. Consequently, Commander Tucker's sister did not die because there was no probe. As such, there was no tension between Tucker and Reed's friendship, and it grew stronger. When Reed fell through, it was a simple decision for him two years later to return with you, and the timeline continued as it should. Now that the timeline has been altered, this will not be the case. It is essential that Lieutenant Reed returns with you, and Commander Tucker is the only one who will influence his decision for good."

"What will happen if he doesn't?"

"It is not clear. However, one of the possible paths that time could take will result in the enslavement or destruction of our galaxy; all out war."

"Well, all I need to do is tell Malcolm-"

"That will make the situation worse. Your relationship with him could escalate the problem."

Archer sighed in frustration, "How will one decision affect all this?"

"The smallest thing can make the biggest differences."

"I don't have time for your crap, my best friend could die."

It was Daniels' turn to be annoyed, "Why do you think I brought you here? To tell you your doom could be near at hand but hey, you can't do anything about it?" Jonathan gave Daniels an odd look, having not heard that kind of sarcasm from the man before, "Tell Alexandria to analyse the vaccine she gave him, there's something wrong with it."

"Thank you!" Archer turned, and stumbled out into the corridors of the Eclipse. He then ran to find Alex.

Malcolm hovered over Alex as she shoved a sample under the microscope, "It would explain why it only affected Trip; the others all got another batch-"

"Alex! Shut up and get on with it! Please!" Malcolm prompted.

"I'm working as fast as I can!" Alex snapped in reply. "I need to work out what's in this. Just go and keep an eye on Trip."

Malcolm obeyed, and returned to Trip's quarters to find Archer and T'pol already there. Uncomfortable with being in such a compact space with two people who he had never been close to, Malcolm knelt down near Trip and tried to get his friend to drink some water. He was still unconscious and his fever hadn't broken.

He didn't know how long the four old crewmates remained in silence, but when Alex finally rushed in with the hypospray, the tension seemed to dissipate. "Will that work?" Concern laced T'pol's normally neutral tone.

"We'll find out, won't we?"

"Alex…"

"Look, I've done the best I can. We'll know how it takes in a couple of hours. Call me when there's change."

Alex smiled weakly and left, leaving Archer, T'pol and Malcolm to fall back into their silence.

Malcolm relaxed against the wall of Trip's quarters, talking with his friend. It was a week since Trip had begun recovering and it was the second day that the Eclipse had been docked in a drift for repairs. "So, not that I'm bored of the company, but where's everyone else?"

Malcolm grinned evilly, "Katrina's showing them around the drift."

"Why are you grinning like that?"

"They're in for a culture shock. The reason we're here is so we're not noticed – I think others may have the same idea."

Trip looked alarmed, "What? But nothing'll happen, right?"

"Don't worry, Katrina alone is scary enough, but add Ryan and they'll be fine."

"So," Trip used his elbows to sit up in bed. Malcolm made to help, but he was waved away, "I'm getting better."

"You were saying?"

"Yeah, have you thought any more about what'll happen when we go home? Will you come with us?"

"If you find a way home."

"Stop being so pessimistic. And you're avoiding the question."

Malcolm smiled softly, "I miss Earth." He said simply. Although he wouldn't admit it to his friend, ever since the four members of Starfleet had taken up residence on the Eclipse, Malcolm had found his old habits creeping back into his life; his room was far more tidy that it had ever been, and more than once he had almost let slip a 'Captain' or 'sir' when taking to Archer.

"Is that a yes?"

"We'll see." Trip grinned triumphantly; the answer was good enough for him.

Malcolm frowned as he passed the med bay. A shadow caught his eye and he wanted to investigate. "Ryan? What are you doing? It's three in the morning!"

"What are you doing?" Malcolm sighed. After all this time, Ryan was still defensive.

"I'm going to get a drink." He paused, waiting, "Well?"

"I'm checking this." Ryan held up a small bottle and shook it slightly. "Is it just me, or is it weird that a completely sealed batch of vaccine got contaminated."

"Most of our stuff isn't exactly legitimate, Ryan."

"Yeah, but this was, I bought it on Durai. They're legal system is so strict, no one would dare to get at the medical program."

Malcolm sighed, "What are you getting at?"

"Someone is sabotaging this crew. You say you trust those four upstairs and the actual crew of this ship wouldn't dream of doing anything. Who does that leave?"

"Come on Ryan. I know the kid's weird, but why the hell would she try to poison us?"

"You know full well Trip would've died if your ex-captain hadn't had a vision or whatever. I honestly think we need to watch our backs." Before Malcolm could continue the conversation, Ryan strode out.

Malcolm groaned and leaned against the wall. This rift between the crew was getting out of hand. He also couldn't help feeling that perhaps Ryan was being a little too paranoid – no one else seemed to think Echo was dangerous.

"Urgh. This is twisted." Malcolm sighed, burying his face in his hands. Events had escalated to the point that he didn't even know what he thought anymore.

To Be Continued…

Author Notes: What do you think?