J. B. Tilton/Page 7

NINE

"What was that you did to the Klingon?" Archer asked when the group had gathered back in the situation room. "You obviously don't have any weapons."

"They're our powers," Piper said. "As witches, we all have powers. I can freeze things and blow things up. Paige can orb items. And Phoebe has premonitions and levitation."

"Should we be telling them all this?" Paige asked.

"I can't see how it can hurt," Piper said. "Apparently we died over a century ago. It was only because of that vortex that we're even here. If Captain Archer is going to help us, I think he's entitled to some answers."

"I agree," Phoebe said.

"Okay," Archer said, "I appreciate it. Hoshi, what did it say?"

"Well," Hoshi said, feeling a bit self-conscious, "the first thing it said was 'DaHjaj 'oH QaQ jaj Daq Hegh'. Roughly translated it means 'it is a good day to die'. Kind of a strange thing to say."

"Actually not," T'Pol said. "I believe it is a traditional Klingon saying. They utter it when they are about to enter combat."

"Well, it certainly did that," Malcolm said.

"What else, Hoshi?" Archer asked.

"The next thing it said," Hoshi said, "was 'Klang DichDaq ghaj Daj'. When Paige struck it with that knife. That translates as 'Klang shall have his revenge'. At least that's the gist of what it said."

"Klang?" Trip questioned. "What does Klang have to do with this?"

"Who's this Klang?" Paige asked.

"He's a Klingon we returned to his home world," Archer said. "It was our first encounter with Klingons. But I don't know why he would want revenge. We returned him home in one piece. You'd think he'd be grateful."

"Perhaps not," T'Pol said. "Klang was taken prisoner. Other Klingons would have seen that as a disgrace. If you will remember, Captain, when we returned him to Kronos, he told the Klingon High Command he was prepared to die for his dishonor."

"He'd rather die than go home?" Phoebe questioned. "Do these Klingons have a death wish?"

"As Commander Tucker informed you," T'Pol said, "they are a warrior race. They believe the greatest honor for a Klingon is to die in battle. It ensures their entrance into the afterlife. For a warrior to be taken captive is considered dishonorable."

"And he would see Captain Archer as the source of that dishonor," Hoshi said. "It might explain the last thing he said. 'Archer DichDaq vaD Daj.' That means 'Archer will pay for his dishonor.' I think it's clear, Captain, that this demon or whatever it is is out to get you."

"Except you're forgetting he came after us in the past first," Piper said. "Why come after us if he's after your captain?"

"Maybe he wasn't after all of you?" Malcolm suggested.

"What do you mean, Malcolm?" Archer asked.

"Well," Malcolm said, "the trajectory of that knife when it threw it. It was aimed directly at Paige. If she hadn't suddenly done whatever it was she did, it would have hit her."

"You know," said Phoebe, "when it first appeared at the manor it went directly after Paige. And the next time it attacked it went after her again. I hadn't considered it might be after her specifically. I just assumed she happened to be the closest one each time."

"So did I," Piper said. "Most demons are after all of us, not just one of us."

"An interesting hypothesis," T'Pol said.

"What's that, Sub-Commander?" Archer asked.

"I still maintain that time travel is not possible," T'Pol said. "And I do not believe in the existence of demons. However, from a theoretical point of view it is a most ingenious plan."

"What is?" Paige asked. "Sheesh, really, lady, you can be more than just a bit annoying."

"What plan, T'Pol?" Archer asked.

"By returning Klang alive to Kronos," T'Pol continued, "he may well have been dishonored. In Klingon society, his immediate family as well as himself would share this dishonor. And the dishonor is passed down for three generations. Which means that his children and their children would also carry that dishonor."

"That doesn't seem right," Phoebe said. "I mean, his family isn't responsible for what he does."

"It is the way of their culture," T'Pol said. "Humans seem to have trouble understanding that not all cultures ascribe to human beliefs and values."

"What does that have to do with this demon or whatever it is attacking them?" asked Archer. "Why go after them instead of me? I'm the one who supposedly caused this dishonor."

"It's quite simple, Captain," T'Pol said. "Klang could not risk a direct attack on you. That could risk a war with Earth and it is possible the Vulcan High Command may decide to aid Earth in this war. While the Klingon Empire may be capable of successfully waging a war against Earth, it would be a much different matter if the Vulcans should become involved."

"She's right, sir," Malcolm said. "The Vulcans are somewhat more advanced than the Klingons from what we've seen. Their ships are faster and their weapons are better."

"Precisely," T'Pol said. "And it is very possible that the Klingon High Command would not sanction an attack against Captain Archer at any rate. So, theoretically, Klang may have taken matters into his own hands."

"Oh, now that's devious even for a demon," Piper said.

"What?" Paige asked. "What does what Captain Archer did have to do with a demon attacking me?"

"Don't you get it?" Phoebe asked. "He couldn't attack Archer directly. So he went after him indirectly. He sent a demon back to kill you. If you die before you have any children, he'll never be born."

"Removing any dishonor he may have suffered," T'Pol said, cocking one eyebrow.