To Boldly Go Once Again - Ch 2

To Boldly Go Once Again

By Eratta

Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Everything that you recognize belongs to Paramount. Everything else is mine.

Chapter 2

The following morning dawned bright and sunny, a direct affront to Jonathon’s mood. He rose and went about his normal morning routine, attempting to convince himself that he had not gotten involved in another crazy plan to save the future. But he had never been one to successfully delude himself, and he said as much to Admiral Forrest an hour later. So as he stood while his old friend mulled over what he had said, Jonathon knew that he’d be going back into deep space whether he liked it or not.

The admiral smoothed the downy grey hairs at his temple more out of habit than necessity and sighed. “Do you have any proof of this?”

“Nothing more than a missing starship.” Jonathon replied.

“You’ve been right about these time travel matters before. It shouldn’t be hard to convince the Command Council. But Jon,” he paused, “how are you supposed to get out there?”

When the commodore didn’t answer, Forrest’s eyes widened. “You can’t be serious.” He said. “She hasn’t had more than basic maintenance in over five years, and those systems are almost a decade old. She doesn’t even have a warp six engine.”

A surge of old pride welled up within Archer, and for a moment he felt a twinge of indignation that anyone should imply that his father’s engine was outdated.

“She may be past her prime but she’s a tough ship. I know her like the back of my hand.” He returned.

“And that’s another thing,” Forrest began, “We stopped training people on those systems years ago. None of today’s officers know her like your crew did, let alone petty officers or crewmen.”

“Crewmen can be trained on her quickly and learn as we go. And as for officers,” He waited to see if Forrest would guess his request. Once again the admiral’s eyes widened, only this time it was accompanied by emphatic shaking of his head.

“That’s impossible.”

“I need them. They have experience with Enterprise and the Temporal Cold War.” Jon insisted.

“Some of them aren’t even in Starfleet anymore, and those that are have other posts.”
“I need them.”

Silence descended on them as the contest of wills began. Eyes locked, jaws tightened until finally the admiral gave in.

“All right. I’ll get you a crew, but I’m not about to force your old officers into this. That’s your territory; if you can get them to agree to go with you, I’ll get them transferred for your mission.

“Give me three days. If I know my officers like I think I know them, they won’t have to think twice about this.”

Forrest’s brow furrowed as he folded his arms over his chest. “Three days. Get your officers by then, I’ll do what I can to give you your chance.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The first vid-phone call was the easiest. The dark ocher haired man smiled in that warm manner that would never leave him.

“Hey Jon, how are ya?”

Jonathon decided not to reply honestly to that one. Instead, he launched straight into his reason for calling. It was explained in less than five sentences, and when he was done Trip was sporting the same tight-lipped look of resignation that always accompanied anything to do with their time traveling friend.

“Well I guess there’s nothin’ else we can do.” He finally said.

“I know how busy you are with the warp seven project, Trip--” Archer began as an apology, but Trip’s headshaking cut him off.

“It’s early yet; nothing that really needs me. And besides, I’ve been feelin’ more than a little nostalgic for the old warp 5 baby.” He smiled. “So are you gonna round up all the senior officers?”

Jonathon nodded, “As many as I can convince.”

Trip grinned, resembling for a moment the inexperienced, zealous young man he’d been when Jon had met him. “That shouldn’t be too tough. See you in three days.”

The calls to Commander Reed and Lieutenant Sato went much the same way, and Jonathon was beginning to remember the pride he’d enjoyed as their commanding officer.

“Back on Entperprise, sir? In a heartbeat.” Had said Malcolm.

“It’s been a while since I had a chance to speak alien languages with natives.” Hoshi had said, a slow, knowing smile gracing her features.

The next people he tried to track down were newly promoted Lieutenant-Commander Mayweather and legendary Dr. Phlox. It had taken some searching, but in the end he found them. Their names were listed on the Columbia’’s active duty roster.

Archer stared at the letters, slowly realizing that this mission was personal now, personal in a way the Xindi Mission blessedly hadn’t been. Travis and Phlox were among the missing. The young, unsinkable boomer who’d always reminded Jon of himself, and the doctor, quirky and unorthodox, but the very definition of brilliance.

It was the grain of rice that tipped the scale. His face hardened as he typed another name into the computer. There was only one person left to contact now.

But there was no mention of her. T’Pol’s name did not appear on any duty rosters, nor was it listed in the Vulcan Ministry of Science. She had simply disappeared. He made the call to Soval.

Over the years, the Vulcan ambassador certainly had not learned more tact in dealing with humans. More stubborn and haughty than ever, it was no surprise that the two avoided each other as much as possible. Jonathon was not looking forward to this conversation, or the exchange of thinly disguised insults that their conversations usually turned into.

“I don’t know where she is.” The elder Vulcan stated. Jonathon, knowing full well the Vulcan habit of retaining information as long as possible, was not convinced.

“You mean you haven’t heard from her, or of her at all in the last five years?” he asked skeptically.

Soval inhaled and expelled the breath sharply. “T’Pol left to pursue a life that had nothing to do with me or the Vulcan High Command. The last time she contacted me, it was to tell me that she was leaving Vulcan again. I have heard nothing of her since.”

The manner in which the ambassador spoke of his former protégé grated on Jonathon’s nerves. Although he too had lost contact with T’Pol, he still considered her a close friend.

“I find it curious,” Soval continued, “that you are asking me about her. Were not you and she quite . . . close at one time?”

Jonathon ground his teeth and counted to ten. “Thanks for your time.” He said, closing the link.

He sat back from the consol, massaging his eyes to relieve the dull ache. He needed a doctor, a helmsman and science officer. A memory of a conversation with T’Pol ran before his mind’s eyes. “You need me, Captain.” She’d said.

Yes, he did need her. He needed all of them.

At that moment the monitor chirped. Jon sat back up and greeted the Admiral.

“I have the crew, helmsman and doctor included.” He paused warily. “I’m assuming you know about them?”

Jon nodded.

“You’ll have to add a science officer to the list.” He said.

“I just got a call from Soval,” the admiral began. “he told me to tell you that he has someone who should fit the bill.”

Archer’s eyes narrowed. “Another ‘observer’ from the High Command?”

“No, this one’s a civilian scientist. And apparently he volunteered.” Forrest answered.

Jonathon considered it for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders. “Alright.”

Forrest scrutinized him more closely, and Jonathon elaborated, “I stopped pre-judging Vulcans a long time ago. They know their science, and if he wants to come, I’ll take him.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Three days later, Jonathon experience déjà vu for the second time that week. And this time he was back on the bride, back in his chair. To his left sat Lieutenant Sato with her head cocked to one side, listening to space just as she had done every day for three years. Behind her sat Volen, the new science officer. Silent and unassuming, he was very different from the T’Pol who’d had no qualms pointing out that the coordinated were off by point two degrees. To his right was Commander Malcolm Reed, going over his consol with the same care that Trip was undoubtedly bestowing on his engine. And directly ahead of him sat Ensign Pallavi Kumar, his new pilot. She was fresh out of flight school, but if there was anything Archer could tell just by intuition, it was a good pilot.

Jon smiled. He was still apprehensive about this mission, about his ability to get back into command mode after such a long hiatus. But it felt good to be back on Enterprise, and it felt good to know there were familiar people on board.

“Are we ready?” He asked Volen.

“Yes sir.”

He caught Malcolm’s eye, and saw Hoshi’s smile. They know what I’m thinking, he realized. The Commodore smiled and said for the second time in his life, “Take us out ensign, nice and steady.”

When he saw the endless stretch of black with it’s pinholes of bright white, a mixture of peace and adrenaline washed over him. This was where he belonged, and he had a job to do.

Part 3

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Nine of you have made comments

What?! No science officer named T'Pol? What ARE you planning there eratta? You've got me interested... but I miss T'Pol already! Can't wait to read more!

She does turn up, right!?!

She's going to turn up! And since she'll need quarters, she can share with Trip...I mean it she's better!

Ooooh, I'm all worried. Please, be nice Eratta!

Bwahahahahah, yes I know that was unexpected. But that's the point isn't it?

well this story is posted on the TnT site so T'Pol will show up and Trip will be right there for her.... right?!?!?!

*sniff* Pholx and Travis

Hmmm....interesting. No T'Pol, and having her dropping out of sight like that. Without Trip even! Waiting for your next posting.

So Mayweather and Phlox are among the missing -- does this mean they might be alive? And could be found in your story? And as for T'Pol's new life -- has anyone asked Trip what he knows? No, that's too easy. Oh dear . . . I fear there is much angst ahead! Can't wait for the next chapter!

Unless you're horribly cruel, the disappearance of Travis and Phlox suggest things will turn out right in the end. Right? And is T'Pol going to turn up a la Spock in ST:TMP? Wonder how Hoshi and Malcolm have changed....

Ok...I can take the tease, but please don't us hanging. Hurry with the next chapter. I hope we get to find out why Trip didn't keep up with T'pol.

I can't believe Soval doesn't know more than he is telling. Good to have most of the old crew together but I hope T'Pol, Travis and Dr Phlox turn up again soon. Going to be a long journey without them methinks, Ali D :~)