J. B. Tilton/Page 5
FOUR
"Okay, the joke is over," Piper said. "You expect us to believe that we're one hundred fifty years or so in the future? Very funny. And I suppose that these two," she indicated the woman with the pointed ears and the man with ridges on his face, "are aliens, not demons."
"Demons?" questioned the woman, one eyebrow suddenly rising.
"I'm Denobulan," said the man, the strange smile broadening. "I can assure you I'm not a demon."
"Everyone just calm down," said Captain Archer. "This," he indicated the woman, "is Sub-Commander T'Pol of the Vulcan Science Council. She's my science officer. That's Dr. Phlox, the ships' doctor. And, yes, they are aliens. They certainly aren't demons. That," he indicated the Englishman, "is Lieutenant Malcolm Reed, my tactical and security officer."
He looked at Phlox obviously believing that these three women must be delusional.
"Vulcan?" Phoebe asked. "Denobulan? You're telling us that they are from other planets?"
"Yes," Archer said. "You said you were one hundred fifty years in the future. So that means you come from approximately the year 2000. Is that what you're telling us?"
"2003, to be more precise," Paige said. "We were fighting this demon who just appeared out of nowhere when…."
"Time travel is not possible," T'Pol interrupted. "The Vulcan Science Directorate has studied the concept in some detail. They have determined that it is not scientifically possible to move from…."
"Science had nothing to do with it, honey," Piper said. "Like Phoebe said, we were fighting this demon when some kind of vortex opened and we were sucked into it. When we woke up, we were here. Wherever here is."
"I told you," said Archer, "you're on the starship Enterprise. We're currently about sixty-three light years from Earth. And our last sensor reading indicated there were no other ships in the area. Now, just how did you get on board my ship?"
"We told you," Phoebe said. "This demon attacked us and we got sucked into a vortex."
"Belief in demons was abandoned on Earth some time ago," T'Pol said. "As with most cultures, the cultures on Earth discarded these beliefs for the more logical belief in science."
"Just cause you don't believe in it don't mean it ain't so," Phoebe said.
"Everyone just calm down," Archer said. "Okay, we have to sort this out. I want the three of you to go with Dr. Phlox to sickbay."
"What for?" Piper demanded.
"For a physical examination," Archer said. "If what you've told us is the truth, you shouldn't object to that. It will help us determine if you really are human."
"Then what?" Paige asked.
"We'll see," Archer replied. "Unlike my science officer, I do believe that time travel is possible. But I'm not sure I buy this whole demon thing. For right now, I need to ascertain what's going on here. The first step in that is the physical exam."
"It won't hurt, I assure you," Phlox said. "You'll be surprised how much human medical science has advanced since your time."
Piper looked at Phoebe and Paige. Like the Vulcan woman, she wasn't sure how much of this she believed. But they didn't seem to be making any progress this way.
"Okay," Piper said finally, "but I'm warning you. Don't try anything funny. Believe me when I tell you we are quite capable of defending ourselves."
"Just you don't try anything," Reed said, patting the pistol at his side. "We can defend ourselves as well."
"No one is going to try anything," Archer said. "Dr. Phlox will perform the examination, and then we'll go from there."
"Fine," Piper said. "Let's get this over."
With the two security guards in tow, Lieutenant Reed escorted the three sisters to the ships' sickbay.