A/N: You get to find out who Hoshi's bodyguard is going to be in this chapter. Thank you for all the wonderful reviews! I greatly appreciate it.

CHAPTER 16

Life in a parallel universe was turning out to be one surprise after another. Hoshi didn't know if she'd ever get used to it. She was grateful that one of the latest surprises had been pleasant: The new jumpsuits fit perfectly. She had changed into the teal version before she and Archer went to meet the next surprise.

The idea that she needed a bodyguard was upsetting because it made her feel vulnerable. She hadn't considered that she might need protection. There had been a few times she'd been afraid, first not knowing who she was, and then after her memory came back, dealing with being in a place that looked like what she was used to, but wasn't. Finding out she was in another universe was such a huge concept that, other than being preoccupied with wondering if and how she'd get home, it didn't seem quite real.

She had assumed that a bodyguard would be drawn from Reed's department, since he was chief of security as well as the tactical officer, just as he was in her universe. But instead of going to the armory, Archer took her to a section of C deck that on her Enterprise was a large cargo bay. Here, one side of the cavernous compartment was fitted out like a barracks, with rows of neatly made bunk beds. On the other side, which was open and brightly lit, there were about forty people in camouflage uniforms performing calisthentics, practicing hand-to-hand combat moves, or cleaning weapons. In a bizaare juxtaposition to the disciplined training she was observing, several people were lounging around a makeshift table in one corner, playing cards. It was the only space available for recreation that she could see.

Ground troops, she thought as she looked around. Unlike the ship's crew, which included a sprinkling of aliens, every person here was human. And, she noted, male. She'd become used to the presence of similar soldiers, the MACOs, aboard her Enterprise, but they had eventually mixed with the Starfleet crew. She hadn't seen any of these people on her trips to the bridge or in the mess hall. The Terran Imperial military structure apparently was quite rigid in its segregation of branches.

A few of the soldiers looked in her direction upon their entrance, but after a cursory glance went back to what they were doing. A tall man with broad shoulders and dark hair separated himself from those practicing combat moves to approach them. Hoshi gasped before she saw he wasn't the man she'd automatically assumed would be in charge of this group of soldiers on this ship.

"Something wrong?" Archer asked her.

Hoshi shook her head. "I thought I recognized someone, but I was mistaken."

The man stopped in front of Archer. "Sir," he said, standing at attention and saluting.

The frenetic beating of Hoshi's heart slowed. Other than a superficial resemblance, this man didn't look at all like Major Hayes, the MACO commander who had died during a mission to rescue her from the Xindi Reptilians.

"At ease, Colonel Hawthorne," Archer told him. "I need one of your men for bodyguard duties for Ms. Sato here. Someone who won't get out of line with her."

"None of my men 'get out of line,' sir," Hawthorne responded without rancor. Hoshi discerned from his tone and expression, and emphasized by his New England accent, that he was merely stating what to him was fact. His eyes flicked toward her, then back to Archer. "Corporal Mayweather should fit the bill."

Her heart started thudding again at the announcement that her bodyguard was to be the counterpart of one of her closest friends aboard her own Enterprise. She hadn't been able to help but wonder if she'd see a Travis Mayweather. Now she knew why she hadn't seen him on the bridge. As this universe's T'Pol had told her during one of their lunchtime discussions, points of divergence between their universes varied in scope and impact, and it would be foolish to assume that only major events had differed. It was entirely possible that the Mayweather in this universe would have a different career than that of the outstanding pilot she knew.

Hawthorne turned away and called out Mayweather's name. An answering "Here, sir!" came from the direction of the group doing calisthentics. A handsome young man, sweat gleaming on his dark skin, came toward them.

From a distance, he was the spitting image of the man who was her friend. But upon closer inspection, Hoshi decided he wasn't. There was no warmth or good humor in his eyes. Rather, they were as devoid of emotion as T'Pol's, except for an almost arrogant confidence which exuded from him.

"You're under orders directly from the captain now, Mayweather," Hawthorne said.

"Yes, sir," came the prompt response.

"Corporal, you are relieved of your duties with the troops," Archer began, "and are assigned as personal bodyguard to Ms. Sato indefinitely."

Mayweather shot a quick glance at Hoshi, then looked back to Archer. Just as when Hawthorne had looked at her, Hoshi got the impression that she wasn't being dismissed as unimportant, but rather that she'd been quickly assessed. She wasn't sure she liked it. She also couldn't tell what Mayweather's reaction was to this change in his duties. He maintained a perfect poker face.

"Each day, you are to report to my quarters to escort Ms. Sato to the bridge," Archer continued. "You will remain on the bridge with her, escort her to the mess hall at lunchtime, and not leave her unattended until she finishes lunch and returns to her quarters. At all other times, you are to consider yourself on call for when you are needed. Is this clear?"

"Yes, sir," Mayweather said.

"Good," Archer said. "Get cleaned up, then report to the bridge to begin your assignment. Dismissed."

Back to the grindstone, Hoshi thought wearily late that morning as she slogged her way through the most recently intercepted subspace transmissions. Mayweather's hulking presence loomed nearby where she sat at her out-of-the-way station at the back of the bridge. Not that she'd ever thought of her Travis as hulking, but this man, dressed smartly in a form-fitting camouflage outfit that showed off his heavily muscled arms and with a phase pistol at his hip, radiated a "don't mess with me" attitude. He hadn't even spoken to her, just nodded when he'd arrived on the bridge and had taken up his position. Strong and silent could definitely describe him.

Mayweather could probably snap her in half. The fact that he was here to do just that to anyone who was a threat to her made Hoshi a little more comfortable in his presence. At the same time, it made her consider that she could be in physical danger on this ship. To be sure, Phlox's dispassionate demeanor made her uneasy, and Reed's alternating blatant sexual interest and hair-trigger temper had rattled her, but she never actually had thought she'd be harmed. She'd had similar fears about Archer too, at first, but he'd shown himself to be honorable toward her, even if she didn't care for his selfish, sometimes petty tendencies.

With a sigh, she closed a transmission file between Tellarite ships -- that species was just as argumentative as they were back home, with a few new insults she'd never heard before -- and began work on the next transmission. This one was an acknowledgement of a cargo transfer from an Andorian freighter. She'd just begun translating it when she caught movement in her peripheral vision. It wasn't Mayweather; he was on the other side of her. No, this came from the direction of the tactical station. She closed her eyes briefly, hoping the movement had gone away when she opened them.

No such luck. Reed had gotten to his feet and was approaching her. She kept her eyes fixed on the screen on her console as his measured tread came closer, then stopped next to her.

"At ease, Mayweather," he told her bodyguard over her head.

Without turning her head, Hoshi glanced at Mayweather. He was standing tensely, one hand on the handle of his phase pistol.

"Oh, I see. New orders," Reed said in a derogatory tone when Mayweather didn't relax his stance. He shifted his gaze down to her. "But I agree. Something this delightful looking needs to be guarded."

Hoshi turned her head to look directly at him. "What do you want?" she hissed.

"Get up on the wrong side of the captain's bed today, did we?" Reed asked with prurient curiosity. He settled his hip against her console and crossed his arms over his chest as he let his gaze rake her from head to toe and back. When he spoke again, his voice was low and gravelly. "I just wanted to let you know I appreciate your change in apparel. I've hardly been able to keep my mind on my work since you showed up on the bridge today. Most of you is covered, but so delectably encased." He sneered faintly. "It's much better than that drab uniform from your universe."

Mayweather wasn't doing anything, so this type of harassment must be permissible in this universe, Hoshi thought in disgust. "If you don't mind, I have work to do."

"As do we all," Reed countered. "But all work and no play makes the tactical officer a dull boy. I have some free time this afternoon." He leaned in closer, so close that she could feel his warm breath on her cheek. "I know you do as well."

Although she was expecting something like this, Hoshi's eyes went wide and she almost gaped at him. He was propositioning her? On the bridge? And how did he know her schedule?

Two things happened simultaneously. Next to her, Mayweather took a step closer, while across the bridge, the door to the ready room slid open and Archer strode out. Reed nonchalantly pushed off from her console and sauntered back to his station, but not before giving her a look that said he didn't care how many people were around.

She was suddenly very glad that she had a bodyguard.