J. B. Tilton/Page 7
SEVEN
"Wait a minute," Paige said finally. "Are you telling me that you're one of my descendents?"
"It looks that way," Archer said, picking up another PADD. "And the results of a specific test I asked Dr. Phlox to perform seems to confirm it. Doctor, would you care to let us know the results of that test?"
"Basically," Phlox said, "Captain Archer asked me to perform a DNA comparison to himself and Miss Matthews. I must say I was quite surprised at his request. However, I performed the test as requested. What I found was rather startling."
"Just what did you find out?" Piper asked.
"According to the DNA samples I took from Miss Matthews," Phlox continued, "which I compared to samples of the captain's DNA which I have on file, the two of you are related. I would say within five or six generations. I also compared your DNA to that of your two sisters. You'll be happy to know that you three are also related within one or two generations at most."
"We already knew that," Phoebe said.
"Captain," T'Pol interjected, "I do not believe that is sufficient evidence to base your decision upon. It is possible they could still pose a significant threat to the ship. We still do not know how they gained admittance to Enterprise. Or what their intentions on board the ship are."
"Hey, Vulcan lady," Piper said, "we told you that already. We're after a demon. It's around here somewhere and when we find it, we plan to vanquish it back to whatever hell it came out of."
"Demon, Captain?" Hoshi questioned.
"So they claim," Archer said. "I'm not sure if I believe their entire story, but I'm satisfied they aren't a threat to the ship. When I saw them earlier, Paige looked familiar. It took me a while to remember where I had seen her. Then I remembered my father's family albums. It didn't take me long to find her in there. It's also where I got the pictures of Piper and Phoebe."
"What kind of demon?" Trip asked.
"We don't know," Piper said. "We've never seen anything like it before. Real big and real ugly. Long hair, this ugly wrinkled forehead, and teeth that looked like they had been put in a pencil sharpener. And it's anyone's guess what it wants. We didn't understand a word it said."
"It spoke to you?" Travis asked.
"Yeah, if you can call it that," Paige said. "Although I never heard any language like the one it spoke."
"What did it say?" Hoshi asked.
"I don't know," Paige said. "Something like gug daq heg or something like that."
"Could it be ghuH Daq Hegh?" Hoshi asked.
"Yeah, I guess so," Phoebe said. "Like I said, we didn't understand a word it said."
"Captain," Hoshi said, "that sounds like Klingon. Translated, it means 'prepare to die'."
"Okay," Piper said, "what's a Klingon?"
"They ain't very friendly," Trip said. "They're a race of warriors. We've had a couple of run ins with them. Not really the sociable types to be honest."
"And you speak this Klingon?" Piper asked Hoshi.
"Hoshi speaks more than forty languages," Archer said. "She has sort of a knack for picking up languages. It's why I wanted her as my communications officer."
"Captain," T'Pol said, "if these women have encountered a Klingon, it could be further indication that they are a threat to Enterprise. The Klingons are particularly displeased with you. It is possible these three are spies working for them."
"Okay, I'm a little bit tired of your insinuations," Piper said, her anger turning on T'Pol. "Being suspicious is one thing. But there's no reason for you to be insulting. Other than being on this ship, which we've already explained, we haven't done anything that could be interpreted as hostile."
"I was simply presenting the captain with a possible scenario," T'Pol said dispassionately. "As science officer, it is my duty to point out alternative points of view to the commanding officer."
"Well, unless you have something besides your suspicions," Piper began.
She was unable to finish her statement. A klaxon suddenly began to sound. Several seconds later a voice came over the intercom.
"Intruder alert, intruder alert," said the voice.
At almost the same instant, a security guard entered the room.
"Captain, we have an intruder on board," said the guard, nearly out of breath.
"Where?" Archer demanded.
"Right out side this room, sir," responded the guard. "We have no idea how he got on board, sir. One minute he was just coming down the corridor. There are three security guards outside ready to intercept him. He's headed this way, sir."
The small group headed out into the corridor. They turned left and saw three armed security guards standing several feet away, their pistols pointing down the corridor. Malcolm moved up to join them, a pistol in his hand.
Suddenly the double doors at the end of the corridor burst open. The demon that had attacked the sisters stepped out of the room beyond the doors and faced the group. It howled in anger at them and began to advance.
"Fire," Malcolm ordered.
In unison, the four armed men fired their weapons. Thin blue beams shot out of their pistols, striking the creature in the chest. It howled in pain, but continued to advance on the group. Slowly, the group backed away from the creature as it continued its advance.
"Captain," Malcolm said, "we've got the phase pistols on full. They aren't having any affect. You'd better get out of here, sir."
"That isn't going to do any good," Piper said. "It's a demon. Your weapons will be useless against it. Phoebe, quick the vanquishing spell."
Phoebe reached into her pocket, and then quickly began to search the rest of her pockets.
"Oh no," she said. "It's on the table in our quarters."
The three girls turned toward the demon that was still advancing on them. It had already proven it could withstand their powers. Without the Power of Three spell, there was no way to stop it.