I don't own Relic Hunter or Star Trek the Next Generation; or any of the characters from these shows.
IMPORTANT: Please go with the flow with regard to the timing of things on Earth as opposed to the timing of things on the Enterprise! All will be revealed in later chapters.
CHAPTER THREE
Back in Boston Sydney, Preston and Cate checked all of the hospitals in case Nigel had been taken to one of them unconscious but, of course, he hadn't. They then carried out the horrible task of checking the morgues, in case Nigel's body was there and, obviously, they were extremely relieved to learn that it wasn't.
Having discovered nothing so far, they began to discuss the very real possibility that Nigel might have been kidnapped. That was sort of Sydney's initial thought when she discovered Nigel was missing; however, she'd put that to the back of her mind until now, realising there could be dozens of reasons why Nigel, or anyone else, might have gone missing.
Sydney now recalled that Nigel had once been held hostage by Derek Lloyd, who'd captured her assistant to force her to search for the lost Kai Nomata tribe, in New Guinea. Of course, she didn't suspect Derek of this crime, as he'd become a friend in recent years. However, upon further consideration of the matter the three of them realised that no demands of any kind had been made for Nigel's return, there wasn't even a ransom note; so actually there was no evidence to suggest he'd been kidnapped.
Then a horrible thought came into Cate's mind; she remembered that Sydney had once been kidnapped and there'd been no demands of any kind made for her return! The man who'd taken Sydney was, Edward Patel, the leader of the Cult of Kali, and all he wanted to do sacrifice her! Luckily Cate and Nigel, along with the Police, rescued her before that could happen.
They all then began thinking that something like that could possibly have happened to Nigel, the thought of which caused them such heartache.
Sydney tried hard to keep focused and came up with the names of as many of her adversaries as she could think of, realising that her enemies were almost certainly Nigel's too. Cate ran those names through Interpol's computers, just like she had when Sydney was missing; however most of the criminals that were considered possibilities were either dead or in prison and the ones that weren't, when questioned, could prove they'd not seen him.
They then began going over everything again and again to make sure they'd not missed a vital clue. They noted that Nigel's landlady had seen nothing, nobody at Trinity had either and Sydney couldn't remember anything unusual except for the fake telephone message she'd received. Cate had already examined Sydney's phone and contacted her service provider to see if there was any record of where the call had come from, but it appeared as though either no such call was made, or all traces of it had been erased.
Having checked Nigel's apartment several times, the one thing they hadn't realised was missing initially, was his passport! When that was discovered they looked at it as a positive thing, believing then it was quite possible that Nigel might have left the country of his own free will. They, therefore, immediately checked the airlines, the docks and even some local travel agents but, of course, no trace of him was found. They felt really annoyed with themselves at having missed such a vital clue earlier!
A couple more weeks passed and Preston was becoming particularly distraught. He'd started carrying a photograph of his younger brother in his wallet and looked at it quite often. One day, as he sat in Sydney's kitchen, which they were using as a base while they searched for Nigel, Preston took out the photograph and held it to his chest. His heart was aching; feeling, deep down, that everything was his fault as Nigel had only left home because he'd treated him so badly.
Sydney tried hard to convince Preston that it wasn't his fault, advising that no matter what had happened between him and his brother in the past, Nigel had forgiven him and loves him; yet he still chose to stay in America. Preston sobbed in her arms, just like Nigel had on several occasions and she suddenly realised just how similar the two brothers could be. She held Preston really tightly, shedding a few tears herself as, if the truth was told; she was secretly blaming herself for her assistant's disappearance!
Preston was absolutely beside himself with worry, as what he didn't tell Sydney was that, although he was blaming himself for his brother going missing, he was also having terrible thoughts about what could be happening to him. He'd heard about good looking boys and pretty girls being kidnapped and used as sex slaves; there were no ransom demands for them! He'd looked after Nigel since he was a child and had always protected him from anything even slightly sordid or distasteful. He himself though, being rather unpopular with women in his younger days, had been involved in the sleazier side of things, having had prostitutes in their home; which was where he'd heard about such things as sex slaves! However, to his credit, he'd never allowed any of those women to see or touch his brother, even when Nigel was a teenager.
Sydney tried her best to cheer up Preston but it was very difficult without any news of Nigel's whereabouts and in any event, she felt just as miserable as him!
One day, a few weeks after they'd discovered Nigel's passport was missing, Sydney, Cate and Preston were sitting in the ancient studies department, discussing how brilliant and talented Nigel was. Preston was being particularly complimentary about Nigel's skills, when suddenly, out of the blue; Sydney came up with one more possibility about Nigel's disappearance that they'd not considered before and that was that he didn't actually want to be found!
Nigel had said several times to Sydney that he'd like to live a life of solitude; although this was usually just after he'd just broken up with his latest girlfriend and she'd never really taken him seriously. However, it now occurred to her that he could have been serious and was now alone on a desert island, or somewhere quiet where he could read in peace; where he'd not keep having his heart broken by every woman who came into his life. Sydney was extremely concerned when that thought struck her, because no matter how much Nigel had learned about life from her; she believed he wasn't capable of looking after himself to the degree it would take to pull off a stunt like that! He simply wasn't streetwise enough and constantly got himself into trouble because of it. Nigel, of course, may not have actually realised that!
Although the thought of Nigel being all alone was horrendous to Sydney, Preston; although he didn't actually say it, definitely preferred that possibility to any of the things he'd considered!
Cate, however, reminded them that Nigel would still need money, no matter where he went, and as soon as he used his credit card or even his passport again, they'd locate him. Therefore, the only thing they could think to do now was allow Cate to return to the offices of Interpol; thus enabling her to keep looking for credit card transactions, any usage of Nigel's passport, or any sightings of the missing young man.
On board the Enterprise Beverly took Nigel by the hand, as he was still looking very anxious. They walked along the corridor and into the same lift as he'd been in before. To take his mind off his pending meeting with the captain, Beverly explained about the amazing transportation system they had throughout the ship; advising they were in what was called a turbolift, which could travel from side to side as well as up and down!
Just before they reached their destination, Beverly confirmed again to Nigel that the captain was going to explain the reasons why he was needed on the ship and that it was very important he keeps calm when he's on the Bridge. She squeezed Nigel's hand, smiled and said "try to pass through the Bridge without worrying about who or what you see. The captain doesn't want to wait any longer to explain things to you and, sweetie, it really is nothing to worry about, I promise. Jean Luc is actually a very kind man; he's fair and just to everyone; in as much as life situations make that possible. He sometimes forgets though what it's like to be young; which is one of the reasons he's finding it so difficult to communicate with you. What's even worse is that, in your case, you're a civilian and you don't even come from the same century!"
Nigel didn't reply; he felt so confused by her last remarks, although he realised she was just trying to help.
When they arrived on the Bridge Nigel looked nervously over at Worf; who seemed so enormous to him. He then looked at the pale faced man, who was also quite tall, but didn't look so scary this time.
"Come on Nigel, they won't hurt you" Beverly said, taking a very tense looking Nigel over to see the captain in his ready room. Once there she left him to talk privately with Jean Luc.
"Sit down Nigel" the captain said "can I get you something to eat or drink?"
"Um do you have any tea, please Sir?" Nigel asked very timidly, thinking it might calm his nerves.
The captain smiled and walked over to the replicator; similar to the one in sickbay and asked "how do you like your tea Nigel?"
"Just a little milk and one spoonful of sugar please" he said, thinking it would be wonderful to have a machine like that at Trinity, it would save so much time.
"Tea, milk one sugar" the captain said, the cup of tea appearing in front of him instantly. He carried it over to Nigel and put it on the side of his desk "now Nigel, you drink that and I'll explain why you're here, alright?"
"O…K Sir" Nigel said, sipping his tea, thinking it tasted just like his mother made when he was a little boy.
"Nigel, what do you know about how time works?" the captain asked.
"Sorry?" Nigel said, looking very confused.
"Time, do you know anything about how it works?" the captain asked again.
"Well no, no Sir, I don't" Nigel said, thinking what an odd thing to ask.
"Well Nigel, let me try and explain it to you in very simplified terms" the captain said, having previously worked out how he would describe such a complex topic. "You see Nigel; time is like one continual line, whereby everything that occurs along it is supposed to happen. Can you then imagine what would happen if the timeline was altered or disrupted in some way?
"I guess things would go a bit awry" Nigel said, thinking this is a bit weird!
"Yes, that's right, in fact, if the timeline was deliberately altered, it would shoot off in a completely different direction, causing things to occur that actually shouldn't; ultimately changing the future!"
Jean Luc looked at Nigel who was sitting opposite him looking quite bewildered.
"Do you understand basically what I mean Nigel?" the captain asked.
"Yes I get what you mean Sir, it's just that I don't understand why you're telling me all this" Nigel said, hoping Jean Luc would get to the point.
"Nigel I think it would be best if I just go through with you what the problem is. You see the timeline has actually been distorted; we haven't found the cause yet, but the fact of the matter is; the timeline is no longer how it should be. We were very lucky in that a time traveller visited us on the Enterprise to warn us about the variation; hoping that we would find a way to prevent a disastrous future for everyone. He came to see us before the effects of the disruption had affected us and took me into the future of the distorted timeline to show me what would happen if nothing was done about it. Nigel that was not a place that anyone would want to be; people were miserable and there'd been a war between the people of Earth and ten other planets for the past 50 years! I saw other versions of the Enterprise crew, including myself; we were aggressive and unfeeling towards each other and to everyone else. Nigel, we must repair the timeline to prevent a future like that becoming a reality."
Nigel was just sitting there staring at Jean Luc, who went on to say "Unfortunately, I've had to make some very difficult decisions about how to correct the problem. You see Nigel, if certain things don't happen on Earth within the next few years, and the timeline continues as it is, then everyone on board this ship, along with everyone else from the 24th century, will only exist as I just described to you" the captain said, quite seriously.
"I, understand what you've just said Sir, but I don't understand what it has to do with me, I'm just a teaching assistant, I'm only 24 years old; I've no power to change time!" Nigel said, suddenly getting really worried about what might happen to him if he was of no use to them.
"Nigel, you actually are part of the problem with the timeline!" the captain said, noticing the young man go very pale. "Don't worry, it'll be alright, all we actually need you to do is stay on board the Enterprise for a few weeks to allow some things on Earth to happen, then you can go home" Jean Luc said, realising this vague piece of information would unsettle Nigel.
"Stay here for a few weeks! But why, why have I got to stay here!" Nigel said, getting really agitated "I don't belong in the 24th century!"
"Nigel you're not actually in the 24th century, you're on a ship from that time but the fact of the matter is; you're still in the 21st century! We have to repair the timeline from the point it was altered, so we've travelled back in time to do that" Jean Luc said, hoping that would make Nigel feel a little better.
"Sir, what exactly do you need me to do while I'm here?" Nigel asked, feeling better now the captain had said he was still in the 21st century but uneasy about what he'd say next.
"Actually Nigel, you don't need to do anything but enjoy yourself!" Jean Luc said. "Let me explain…. you see son, I'm very aware of how deeply, shall we say, attracted you are to your boss, Sydney Fox. You try to keep your feelings hidden, but deep down you really want a romantic relationship with her, don't you?" the captain asked.
"How, how do you know, I mean why do you say that?" Nigel asked, wondering if these space people had been probing his head earlier when he was thinking about Sydney.
"I can't tell you exactly how I know that, but if we'd have left you on Earth you'd have ended up marrying Sydney!" Jean Luc said, noticing Nigel's eyes almost pop out of his head.
"Really!" he said "so, um, what's wrong with that Sir, it sounds like the best thing that could possibly happen to me, it's my dream come true! How could that possibly cause a problem to the timeline?"
"Well Nigel, the thing is, a little while ago Sydney started to become very attracted to you and if you'd have fallen in love and married her you'd have had twin sons; who'd have been geniuses, just like you but, unfortunately, they'd have become famous actors, instead of the professors or scientists which, I'm sure, is what you'd have liked them to be" the captain said, noticing the astonished look on Nigel's young face, although deciding to ignore it and complete his explanation. However, before he could do that Nigel interrupted.
"That still sounds wonderful! Apart from my children being actors" Nigel said, suddenly realising that he was talking about something that hasn't actually happened yet, but which might if he goes back to Earth right now! Of course, being the extremely clever young man that he was, he knew the captain was trying to tell him something more, even if he couldn't work out the details, although he knew it couldn't be good!
"Nigel son" the captain said, looking very serious "that marriage to Sydney must not be allowed to happen, if it does we're all doomed! What has to happen, to put the timeline back on course, is completely different and, I'm sorry son, you won't like it."
"What, what has to hap… happen then Sir? I can still work for and be friends with Sydney can't I?" Nigel said, desperately hoping that the captain was going to say yes.
"Nigel, of course you can, that is if you want to, but I'm afraid that your brother Preston is the one who must marry her!" Jean Luc said, noticing a look of horror on Nigel's face.
"What! That's ridiculous!" he yelled "Sydney likes Preston a bit, but she doesn't like him enough to want to marry him; he's nothing like the men she likes! She goes for strong men, who can take care of themselves in a fight. Preston may have a mean right hand, he beat my behind enough with it when I was younger; but he's not got any rippling muscles or the personality to match that type of physique" Nigel said, looking at the captain with a pleading look on his face.
"Nigel you've just said yourself what type of man Sydney likes and although it may not match Preston, it doesn't match you either now, does it?" the captain said, looking at Nigel as much as to say, I wish I could tell you something different. He went on "that variance in the timeline changed a lot of things Nigel, including the way Sydney looked at you, but as I've explained – it's your brother who must marry the professor, not you; I'm so sorry."
Nigel looked like someone had given him the most wonderful gift in the world and then, just to taunt him, took it away and gave it to someone else.
"Sir, I just don't understand why Sydney has to marry my brother; he made my life a misery when I was growing up. He competed with me for everything and mostly won; making me feel like a complete failure. Now you're telling me I have to give up Sydney so that he can have her! How can you be so cruel to make me stay here so that that can happen! He's taken so many things from me over the years, now he's going to take the woman I love too!" Nigel said, starting to cry quite bitterly; realising that even though he'd become quite close to Preston again in the last year or so, the thought of him with Sydney was just too much to bear.
"Nigel I'm so very sorry but if Sydney and Preston don't marry, they won't have a daughter, who'll become a scientist and invent many things that in the future will be used in warp engine technology. She'll be the designer of many prototype engines and not only that, a lot of her original designs; once modifications are made through the years; will be used on Starships! She'll make so many technological advances in her relatively short life, but if she's not born, Starships and many other things that exist now, will not come into being for at least another 150 years! Son, I know this is terribly hard on you but, at the moment, keeping you away from Sydney, is absolutely vital. The only way that the timeline can be corrected, is by you staying here so that romance can blossom between them! Son I will personally make sure you enjoy your stay on board the Enterprise and, don't forget, you'll have a supremely intelligent niece, whom you'll love and who'll absolutely adore you" Jean Luc said, getting up from his desk and walking towards Nigel.
Unaccustomed as Jean Luc was in dealing with emotional people, he gently pulled Nigel up out of his chair, put his arms around him and hugged him very tightly; not only because he knew Nigel needed it, to relieve the terrible heartache he was experiencing, but because he realised that Nigel was, in fact, their saviour! He, therefore, intended to make sure that things were as pleasant as possible for the young man while he stayed on the ship; in fact, he'd arranged something pretty special for him!
PLEASE REVIEW: in the next chapter you'll find out what happens between Sydney and Preston and how Nigel came to meet his parents again!