CHAPTER 4

Archer was not in a good mood when he returned to his cabin. The matter for which he'd been called to the bridge could have waited until morning. The cause of his summons had been another of the spatial anomalies that had been appearing intermittently in the asteroid field for the last week. Nothing had happened during any of its prior appearances, and this time had been no different. He understood, however, that the bridge crew, given his earlier foul temper, was being cautious.

When he stepped into his cabin to see Dart draped across the feet of a sleeping Sato, his anger rose. He'd left the dog on guard not only to keep her in the cabin but to protect her, but he'd also expected Sato to be intimidated by the fearsome creature. It was rare that the dog took a liking to anyone but Archer.

Then he saw the empty cracker wrappers on the bed tray on the floor. He glared at Dart. At least the dog looked contrite; he knew he'd not pleased his master. Raising his hand in a signal, Archer motioned Dart off the bed. The dog leaped off, and although Sato stirred, she didn't wake.

Archer spent the next few hours at his desk, reading all the reports he could find about the starship from the other universe that had turned up a few months ago. He still didn't understand all the technical data, but that's what he had Tucker and T'Pol for. Then he reviewed Tucker and T'Pol's reports on Sato's shuttlecraft. Tucker had included information about the unknown alloy, which had a higher resistance to heat and electrical discharges than what was currently used in Imperial ships. If they could figure out how to manufacture the substance, it would give the fleet an advantage over most of their opponents. A hard smile crossed his face as he imagined going into a battle, knowing his ship could withstand more force than any enemy could expect.

He finished the report and looked over at Sato where she was sprawled in the bed. It was imperative that her memory return. She could hold the key to finding out not only about the new alloy, but other technology from her universe as well. She was in a military organization there; she ought to know something useful.

He called up the last report. It had been compiled by T'Pol with her usual thoroughness. She'd checked the Imperial databases and found that there had been a Hoshi Sato in this universe. She'd been a child when her family had been executed as traitors to the empire. That had been twenty years ago.

When he snapped his fingers, Dart, who had been snoozing on the deck next to his chair, rose to his feet. Together, they went into the adjoining cabin.

Hoshi woke the next morning feeling much better. She glanced around the cabin to find that she was alone. The dog, Dart, was gone. The captain must have been in the cabin at some point while she slept, else how had the dog gotten out? A shiver went down her spine at the thought of Archer watching her while she slept. She didn't think she was a heavy sleeper. If someone had entered the cabin, she was fairly sure she would have woken.

Her gaze came to rest on the bed tray where she put it on the floor after coaxing Dart into letting her pet him last night. She wouldn't put it past the captain to have drugged her food. He struck her as the type of person who could do something like that without a single qualm. But why? He'd left her alone with a well-trained, dangerous animal. She harbored no illusions that feeding Dart a few crackers would suddenly make the dog switch its loyalty to her; she'd merely managed to make that walking set of fangs a little more relaxed around her, thereby making her a little more comfortable with it.

She was effectively a prisoner in the captain's cabin. She knew she was on a space ship, for she could see the stars out the window, so there was no place to go. But the captain had locked her in this cabin and left his guard dog with her. It didn't make sense.

Then she remembered the dispassionate Doctor Phlox, and the intimidating Lieutenant Reed, and knew she was better off staying in the cabin instead of wandering around. She didn't know much about this universe, if indeed she really was in an alternate universe, but the few contacts she'd had with its inhabitants had left the impression that they were not nice people. Not at all like--

She frowned. Not at all like what? she asked herself. For a moment, she'd been on the verge of remembering something, but whatever it was danced at the edge of her memories, taunting her, only to retreat into hiding when she turned her mind in that direction.

Her frustrated musings were interrupted by a loud rumbling from her stomach. The thin soup and the few crackers she'd eaten the night before hadn't done much to alleviate her hunger. Unfortunately, she had an even more immediate need than food. Swinging her legs out from under the covers, she looked around the cabin as she sat up. She knew from the day before that the door on the other side of the room led to the corridor. The one through which the captain had allowed the dog to enter was off to her right. Other than the door to the closet where she'd seen the captain hang his jacket, there was only one other door in the cabin. That had to be what she was looking for.

Dizziness made her head spin as she cautiously got to her feet. She hoped that she wasn't going to have an embarrassing accident, but luckily, she reached the door without incident. It slid open at her touch, releasing a warm, moist fog that enveloped her like a blanket. She heard the sound of running water, which made her feel her need even more urgently. Her befuddled mind didn't realize the bathroom was occupied until a harsh voice rang out from its steam-shrouded depths.

"What do you think you're doing?" the captain asked angrily.

Startled out of her stupor, Hoshi called out, "I'm sorry!" She hastily turned away before she could make out any details other than an enclosed shower area, its glass panels covered in condensation. She almost bolted back to the bed, but she really, really needed to use this room. "I...uh...need to...uh..."

A curse from the captain interrupted her stuttering speech. Her back to the bathroom, Hoshi heard the squeak of spigots being turned, followed by silence when the water stopped.

"Give me a minute," the captain yelled at her.

She squeezed her eyes shut, wishing that he'd hurry. A few sounds carried to her: the flapping of a towel, the slap of wet feet on tile, a heavy exhalation that she interpreted as exasperation.

A breeze brushed her skin as he passed her on his way out of the bathroom. "It's all yours."

"Thanks," she gasped, opening her eyes to see him, wearing nothing but a towel around his midsection, walking toward the closet. She hurriedly stepped into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

Once her immediate need was taken care of, Hoshi took a moment to look around the bathroom. The air was still dense with moisture. She felt sticky all over and, as she gazed at the shower area, she wondered when she had last bathed. The mirror over the sink caught her attention. She stepped over to it and used her hand to swipe away some of the condensation that covered its surface.

She supposed the person she saw in the mirror was her. The petite young woman with Asian features didn't seem familiar, but at the same time, didn't seem unusual. She'd been told her name was Hoshi Sato, so most likely she was Japanese. She frowned, wondering how she knew that the name was Japanese.

Taking a closer look at her appearance to avoid the puzzling question of why she didn't recognize herself, the word "rumpled" came to mind. She definitely was rumpled. Her long hair, straight and black, was dissheveled, and her almond-shaped brown eyes looked tired. The cotton pajamas she was wearing were wrinkly, too. She had no idea how long she'd been wearing them. She really could use a shower.

A loud knock on the door made her jump.

"You okay in there?" came the captain's gruff voice.

"Uh, yes," she said, spinning toward the door, which set off a fresh wave of dizziness. She caught hold of the edge of the sink and swallowed hard. The dizziness receded. "Um, would it be all right if I got cleaned up?"

After a moment, the captain's voice came back. "Fine. But don't dawdle. Breakfast will be here in a few minutes."

A hungry growl came from her stomach. She almost decided against showering, but quickly stripped off the pajamas and stepped into the shower. After turning on the faucet, she stood under the spray. A sigh escaped her as she felt her muscles begin to relax. She closed her eyes and let her mind go blank as the warm water soothed her.

She didn't know how long she'd been standing there when there was pounding on the bathroom door. Her eyes flew open in alarm and she looked in the direction of the door, afraid the captain might come in. Indeed, the door did open, but only a few centimeters.

"Hurry up!" the captain called in. "Breakfast is here."

"I'll be right out!" she assured him.

As she turned off the shower, she suddenly realized she hadn't thought about a change of clothes. She was going to have to put the pajamas back on, but when she looked for them, they were gone. She remembered she'd left them on the floor. The captain must have grabbed them when he'd opened the door to tell her breakfast was ready. The least he could have done, she thought grumpily as she dried off, was to leave something for her to wear. She wrapped one of the towels around her -- thank goodness they were large -- and raked her fingers through her damp hair. If the captain expected her to eat breakfast dressed in only a towel, she would try to maintain her dignity the best she could.

Her eyes determined, she lifted her chin, and opened the bathroom door.

Archer looked up from his bacon and eggs as the bathroom door opened. He stopped in mid-chew as he took in her appearance. Snugly wrapped in a towel, she walked over to the table and took the seat at the place set across from him. She calmly reached out and placed the napkin on her lap.

While he admired her nerve, certainly she didn't think she was supposed to eat with him dressed only in a towel. "There are some clothes in the other room," he told her.

He caught a momentary flicker behind her steady gaze. When she made no move, he ordered her, "Get dressed!"

Now her composure did slip. She blinked several times, and her brow furrowed.

Surely the military in her universe couldn't be that different from here, he thought. As an officer, she should know that the cabin connected to the captain's was for "guests," and included various amenities, including a wardrobe of the captain's own choosing for said guests. In exasperation, he pointed to the door of the adjoining cabin. "Go!"

Flustered, she tossed the napkin on the table, got to her feet, and scurried to the door. He caught a tantalizing glimpse of thigh when the towel slipped open as the door shut behind her.

Archer shook his head. She was such a contradiction. Her composure as she'd taken a seat at the table, naked but for a towel, had been impressive. Then uncertainty, and a touch of fear, had crossed her features when he'd ordered her to get dressed. As he resumed eating, he wondered if she'd thought he expected her to run around his cabin naked. He laughed softly to himself. He'd like that, but he could imagine some of the excuses certain members of his crew would make to visit his cabin once word got out that the woman currently residing in the captain's cabin preferred to go au naturel. It might be enough to make Tucker forget about T'Pol for a while. And then there was Reed, who would have to be kept at a distance from her. Archer wanted her tamed, not broken.

He sobered as he realized that he himself didn't need the distraction of a naked woman in his quarters, either. Long ago, he'd realized that he had to stay focused and alert. It was the only way to advance in the empire, and it was the only way to stay alive. He was too disciplined to let a moment or two of pleasure interfere with his long-term objectives.

Still, he'd seen how he'd rattled her. Maybe she was afraid that he was going to take advantage of her. It wouldn't hurt to let her think that. It might make her easier to handle.

A/N: Don't be afraid to leave a review. I don't bite!