Sibling Rivalry - Ch 4

Sibling Rivalry: Soma vs. Lorian

by Quills

Contact: quills@thequillpen.net
Series: ENT
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Paramount owns Star Trek and I derive no financial gain from this story.
Codes: A Captain Soma Adventure
Summary: Two brothers from two different time lines meet for the first time in a bid to save the future.

Chapter 4

Soma opened the hatchway, leading into the aft loading bay. Transfer of additional photon torpedoes was still underway, and moving at a slow pace. The torpedoes were perfectly stable Starfleet issue, but any armory officer worthy of the title didn’t take chances handling live ordinance. One mistake could give an entirely new meaning to the phrase, “haste makes waste.” Ducking under the low opening, Soma stepped through the hatchway. Immediately, he caught site of Lorian and the Enterprise-C’s tactical officer, Lieutenant Vendi. The two men were standing next to a pyramid stack of torpedoes, and looking over a data PADD. Apparently, they were engrossed in whatever was on the PADD and had not noticed his arrival. Soma made a quick glance around the compartment, checking to see if Lorian and Vendi were the only ones in the bay. When he confirmed that they were, he cleared the low hatchway. Straightening, he walked over to the two men.

“Lorian.”

Looking up from the PADD, Lorian greeted Soma with a raised brow. He had been expecting Soma for some time. “Captain,” Lorian replied, nodding. “Was your meeting…satisfactory?”

Soma’s brow arched, parroting Lorian’s. He was about to reply, but looked at Vendi and decided against it. This was bound to get edgy, and he’d rather that he and Lorian discussed the matter in private. Turning to his security chief, he gave the lieutenant a quick head jerk towards the hatchway. Vendi caught the meaning and gave Soma a curt nod.

“Well, uh…I should check with Mr. Greer about the tactical upgrades, sir,” said Vendi, trying to make a quick exit. “If you need me, I’ll be on the bridge…captains.” He gave both men a quick nod, and headed for the hatchway.

Lorian watched Vendi leave the compartment, closing the hatch behind him. Once the hatch was shut, he turned and looked at Soma, still waiting for a reply to his earlier question. They were alone and Soma could speak freely about the matter, which Lorian gathered was why he had gotten rid of Vendi.

“Surprising would be a better word,” said Soma wryly, correcting Lorian’s description of his meeting with T’Pol.

Lorian gave him another raised brow, and Soma decided that Lorian had gotten the response he was looking for. It was obvious that Lorian knew what would have occurred if he and T’Pol met…or at least he had a pretty-good idea. It still left Soma with several unanswered questions. Chief among them was…

“Why?”

Lorian considered the question for a moment. He knew exactly what Soma was referring to, and he already knew the answer, but contemplated what his response might lead to. It would certainly encourage Soma to pry. Did he really want to reveal anything to him? One thing was certain; Soma wouldn’t accept the silent treatment a second time. He would have to say something.

“I care for her very much, and I knew she would’ve wanted to see you again.” It was a truthful reply, even if it was deflective.

Soma wasn’t sure if that was the answer he had expected, but he believed it was sincere. “She cares about you as well.”

“I know,” replied Lorian, shaking his head. “She and I…haven’t always agreed on matters, but we’ve always been there for one another. We’re all that the other has left.”

Soma considered that. He and Lorian had, had very divergent lives. They came from the same loving parents. Yet, they were both so different, like opposite sides of the same coin, each having different triumphs and tragedies. But there was at least one thing they had in common; they both knew what it was like to watch old friends and family slowly fade away, while they went on living. Soma was certain that Lorian had friends. He wasn’t as outgoing as Soma, but he definitely had the Tucker charm. However, having friends wasn’t the same as family. The original Enterprise crew was long gone and like Soma, the only one left in Lorian’s life was T’Pol. And soon, even she would pass away.

“Lorian…” Soma said hesitating, uncertain if he should confront him directly. He knew why Lorian resented him. T’Pol had made that clear. She had also warned him that Lorian was strong willed. He wouldn’t speak about the matter unless he wanted to, and T’Pol had advised Soma to let Lorian decide. But he had never been good at the waiting game. Perhaps a compromise was in order.

“T’Pol told me what happened to your father.” He had considered saying ‘our’ father, but decided against it. No matter how much Trip and T’Pol were both of their parents on a practical level, this Trip and T’Pol were Lorian’s in all the ways that counted.

Lorian regarded Soma thoughtfully, “Yes, I thought she might.”

He looked at Lorian, unable to hide his shocked reaction. The expression on Lorian’s face betrayed him; he wasn’t surprised. In fact, it suddenly occurred to Soma that Lorian might have counted on T’Pol telling him about his father; something Lorian couldn’t or wouldn’t do. If that were the case, then his “little brother” had managed to masterfully manipulate him. In fact, he would have completely outmaneuvered him.

“You set me up,” said Soma, a tinge of resentment at the thought of having been manipulated.

Lorian looked at him blankly, but made no effort to protest the accusation. Soma shook his head at the silent answer. It was all the confirmation he needed.

“I’ll be damned,” he muttered, slowly circling Lorian. Regardless of how Lorian viewed him, Soma respected the man as a fellow ship captain and a man who had won Captain Archer’s admiration. But Lorian’s latest tactic fostered a whole new level of respect from Soma. He proved to be more wily and cunning than he had given him credit. “And I thought I was good at leading people where I wanted them to go.”

Lorian could feel Soma’s penetrating stare on his back. He had opened the bottle and released the proverbial genie. Subtlety was no longer necessary, and neither were pretenses. “Mother always spoke very highly of your abilities,” he replied, turning to face him. “I have to say they aren’t nearly as impressive as she makes them out to be. You weren’t even much of a challenge.”

Soma’s eyes narrowing on him, “Maybe because I never looked at you as the enemy.”

Lorian considered that for a moment, and then nodded. “No, you didn’t, did you? You’re more trusting and open.”

“I am…when it comes to family,” Soma replied, coolly.

Lorian didn’t bother to hide his surprise. Family was never something he considered, when he thought of his counterpart. The fact that Soma regarded him in that way, made Lorian feel suddenly awkward and uncomfortable. Soma caught Lorian’s unease and allowed his anger to soften. He resented what Lorian had done, but he understood why.

“Lorian, I know you dislike me…maybe even hate me,” he said sympathetically. “And I am truly sorry for what happened between you and your father, but that was not my fault.”

Soma watched, waiting for Lorian to respond. He had gone for the heart of the matter that divided them, and wondered if he had overstepped the mark. Maybe T’Pol was right and he should have given Lorian more room to maneuver. As it was, he had cornered him. He could see Lorian eyes focus on him with a hard and icy stare. Anger hid behind those penetrating steel blue eyes, and Soma half expected Lorian to physically lash out, but to his surprise, Lorian did something wholly unexpected.

Shaking his head, Lorian let out a long sigh. “I don’t hate you, captain…not anymore.”

Soma stared at him, waiting for an explanation. Lorian’s sudden confession caught him off guard, once again. If he didn’t hate him, then what had all this been about?

“I haven’t hated you for a long time,” Lorian continued. “Eventually, I came to realize that what happened was a terrible accident. But until I was willing to admit that, I needed an object for my anger.”

“So you chose me,” said Soma, quietly.

“Yes,” replied Lorian, hesitantly. He had already revealed so much, what was the point in holding back now? “It wasn’t difficult. All I had to do was focus on what you had, that might have been mine: your life, your career in Starfleet, even my father.”

Soma’s brow furrowed in confusion. He could understand Lorian envying his life and career, but Soma was mystified how he could think he had any claim to Lorian’s father.

Lorian shook his head. “I read his personal journals,” he explained, a twinge of pain creeping into his voice. “H-He spoke very highly of you. Next to Captain Archer, and perhaps Mr. Reed, he considered you his closest friend.”

Soma’s eyes widened in surprise; he had never realized that his father regarded him in that way. He had never mentioned it. In truth, when he had discovered that Soma was his son, he tried to be fatherly towards the much older Soma, who had always found his father’s attempts amusing. Perhaps that’s why his father never mentioned it. Learning who Soma was had changed how he looked at him.

“I used them to keep my hate alive,” explained Lorian. “I didn’t share it with anyone. Not even our mother knew.”

Soma’s brow arched at that last comment, ‘our mother’. Smiling, he shook his head. “Don’t be so certain. She’s a very perceptive lady…in any time line.”

Looking up at Soma, he permitted himself to smile. “Yes, she is.” He let out another sigh, looking back down at the deck. “I thought I had resolved my feelings a long time ago, but then…”

Soma finished the sentence, “Then I showed up.”

“Yes,” replied Lorian, “I never thought I would see you…face you. I found myself haunted by old ghosts.”

“They have a way of lingering,” admitted Soma. It was something he had faced more times than he cared to remember. “Our past has a way of catching up with us.”

Lorian regarded Soma for a moment. He considered the possibility that he had been unjustly hard on the man, whose only crime was that he had been born.

Hesitating, Lorian took a deep breath, “Captain-“

Lorian was suddenly cut short by a thunderous roar. The deck plating shook violently and the bulkheads creaked, as they threatened to wrench from their housings. Lorian and Soma grabbed the nearest secure object in reach. Both men tried to maintain their balance as the deck plating vibrated in violent spasms. Within seconds, the rattling deck ceased, only to be followed by a high-pitched wail that echoed through the compartment. Both men’s head snapped up in response to the all too familiar sound.

“What the hell?” yelled Soma.

”Internal Alarm, “ shouted Lorian over the blaring noise. Rushing to the comm. panel, he jammed his hand against the open switch, yelling into the speaker. “Lorian to the bridge, report!”

A static hiss sounded through the hundred year old circuits before the familiar voice of Karyn Archer came over the speaker.

“Captain, there’s been an explosion in the aft torpedo room,” reported Archer. “We’re registering multiple independent fires. Automated suppression control isn’t responding! It may have been damaged in the explosion.”

“Emergency crews?” asked Lorian.

Lorian waited desperately for a response. The silent comm. unit was like a knife being slowly pushed into his stomach. His ship and crew were in danger.

“Karyn!”

Archer replied, fear filling her next words, “Emergency crew reports access to the deck is blocked by debris. They say it’ll take about ten minutes to cut through with phaser torches. If the fire reaches the torpedoes…”

Lorian’s jaw tightened. He knew what would happen. If the torpedoes ignited, they would set off a chain reaction that would incinerate the ship.

“Karyn, call them back and evacuate the ship, everyone to the life pods. I’m down the corridor from the torpedo bay. I’ll try to do what I can to stop the fire.”

“Captain-“ Archer began to protest.

“You have your orders,” he barked. He understood her concern, but there was more at stake than his life. “Please Karyn…just do it. I have a plan. Just see to the crew.”

“Yes, sir,” she replied weakly.

“Hold on captain,” said Soma, activated his communicator. “Soma to Enterprise-C”

Almost immediately, Rachel Garrett’s voice came over the speaker. “Sir, we registered an explosion aboard the other Enterprise.”

“There’s a fire raging out of control in the aft torpedo bay,” said Soma. “Can you beam in fire team?”

The comm. went silent for a moment, and Soma waited for a response. If his ship could beam in a team, they could save the Enterprise.

“Negative, the entire aft section is flooded with ionized gas,” she replied. “We can’t get a lock.”

Damnitt! Soma cursed inwardly. Well if they couldn’t save the ship, they would at least save the crew.

“Commander…start beaming off as many of the NX-01’s crew as you can. XO Archer will be launching escape-pods. Pick them when you can. Tie the shields into the sensor array. If this ship goes and your shields are down…”

“Understood, sir.” replied Garrett. “Captain, you’ll have to move to a forward section for us to get a lock on you.”

“Don’t worry about me,” said Soma. “Just get these people of this ship, Soma out!”

Soma looked at Lorian, giving him a nod. Lorian shook his head, turning back to the comm.

“Change of plan, Karyn. The Enterprise-C will beam as many of the crew off as they can. Keep them moving to the escape pods. Coordinate with Commander Garrett.”

Lorian slapped the comm. button closed and looked at Soma. “You better get yourself out of here, captain.”

“Begging your pardon…captain…but not on your life!”

Lorian gave Soma a quick grin. “Your funeral.”

Lorian headed for the exit. Grabbing the manual release, the hatch swung opened and the two men clambered through. Once they cleared the hatch, both men bolted down the corridor. The loud alarm was still screaming it’s warning, and they could see jets of black smoke escaping from the unsealed door seams along the torpedo room hatchway. Conduit panels were clinging from the walls and ceilings; damaged from the force of the explosion. Stopping suddenly, Lorian grabbed Soma, pulling him to one side. Looking down, Soma could see the section of missing deck. There was a ten-foot drop to the next deck and pile of jagged debrief from what was that deck’s ceiling.

“Thanks!” said Soma, starring at the gaping hole.

“Come on,” shouted Lorian. Crossing the narrow support beams, they made their way to other side of the chasm. Once across, they rushed to the hatch. Lorian grabbed the locking wheel, trying to jerk it open. Meanwhile, Soma scanned along the outer wall until he laid eyes on what he was looking for. Moving quickly, he ran to a short, red wall locker. Forcing it open, he pulled out two emergency oxygen masks.

“Lorian,” he yelled, throwing one of the masks.

Catching the mask, Lorian fitted the goggles and transparent mouth and nosepiece in place, activating the airflow. Looking up at Soma, he saw the captain finish affixing his own mask into place.

“This crap’s older than we are,” Soma cursed, tasting the stale air flowing into the mask. “Let’s hope it holds up.”

Lorian nodded, “If we don’t stop that fire, it won’t matter.”

“What’s your plan?”

“We need to get to the torpedo coolant system,” explained Lorian as he turned the manual release to the hatchway. Careful not to stand in front of it, Lorian eased the hatch open to avoid any sudden rush of air into the compartment that might cause a back draft. The hatch opened and a cloud of black smoke rushed out of the compartment and into the corridor. Lorian could feel the heat inside. A shudder traveled down his spine. Even with their Vulcan physique, they wouldn’t last long. “If the tanks are intact…we open them up and release the coolant. Then we get the hell out of there and seal the hatch. The coolant should smother the fire.”

Lorian knew that it was a risky maneuver. There was no telling how widespread the fire was or if the tanks were still intact. But they had few options. The Enterprise-C would beam off as many of the crew before her sensors registered the advent of the ship’s explosion. When that happened she’d have to raise shields or risk being destroyed as well.

Soma handed Lorian a fire extinguisher and flashlight. The extinguishers wouldn’t put out the fire, but they would need them to get to the tanks. Moving into the compartment, they could see yellow and orange flames jetting in and out of the dense clouds of swirling black smoke. Separate fire trails snaked along the floor and walls of the bay. The flames were the only source of illumination in the bay. The lighting system had failed and only the faint blue glow from the emergency lights could be seen. The alarm had finally ceased and they could now hear the fire roaring in its full fury. Lorian wiped his brow. They had only been in the room a few seconds and he was dripping wet. Turning to Soma, he motioned him to the right side of the compartment, as he moved off to the left.

Soma moved across the bay, desperately trying to recall the layout of the ship as he groped in front of him; hands feeling for any solid objects he might encounter. As a child, the decks of the Enterprise had been his playground. But that was a long time ago, and this was no child’s game. Feeling the edge of the back wall, he moved along it until he reached the bulkhead. He could hear creaking metal and knew that it meant some of the supports had given way. Like the outer corridor, parts of the bay ceiling and floor were unstable and could give at any moment.

Quickly, he pointed his flashlight past the bulkhead, moving the light along the wall, searching for the coolant tanks. The long shadows and thick black smoke made visibility nearly impossible. Suddenly he stopped, backed his light up. He caught the outline of what looked like a large metal cylinder. Moving the light slowly, he stopped when he came back to the object. It was the starboard tank…both of them…and they were ruptured. Soma could see the jagged torn metal and debris. They were useless. It was up to Lorian then. If his tanks were also damaged then there would be no way to stop the fire. It would rage out of control until it ignited the fuel cells in the torpedoes. The ship would be destroyed.

Turning back, Soma headed for the opposite side of the bay. He had to let Lorian know what he had found. Moving along the wall, he tried to feel his way back to the hatchway. Suddenly, his fingers detected a temperature increase along the metal plating. It was getting hot…very hot! In an instant, Soma realized what was about to happen. With only seconds to act, he threw himself to the floor as a loud explosion wracked the torpedo bay.
An orange fireball exploded from the wall, sending shards of metal and poly-carbon fanning out from an overloaded conduit behind the wall.

Soma could feel fragments of debris land on his tunic, burning into the material. Franticly, he rolled over, to put the burning embers out, but it was no use. The hot poly-carbon was stuck to the tunic like the ancient incendiary, napalm. No matter what he did, he couldn’t put it out. Rising to his knees, he pulled at the front clasps of his tunic. Ripping it off, he threw it to the ground, shuddering in pain at the burns made by the melting poly-carbon.

The temperature continued rising as the heat and smoke become more unbearable. Soma feared that he would collapse from the heat and burns. Leaning against a nearby conduit, he used it for support as he forced himself to his feet. After what seemed an eternity, but was less than a minute, he reached the hatchway. Looking into the smoke, he called out.

“Lorian!” he shouted through his mask, waiting for a reply. After a few moments, he called out again. This time, he heard a faint reply. Peering into the smoke filled room, he could make out a form coming out of the swirling gray and black clouds.

“Lorian!”

Emerging from the smoke, Lorian was covered in the heavy gray soot. Looking in Soma’s direction, he immediately noticed the newly acquired burns on his arm and neck. “What happened? I heard an explosion”

Soma shook his head, “Never mind.”

Lorian nodded. He was grateful Soma was alive, but they had more immediate problems to deal with. “I found the tanks and opened them. What about yours?”

“No good,” said Soma shaking his head. “They were destroyed.”

“Damn,” cursed Lorian. He had hoped both sets of tanks were working. “Then let’s hope it’s enough.”

“Let’s get the hell out of here,” said Soma, heading for the hatchway.

Moving down the short corridor, they stopped suddenly, seeing a wall of flame blocking the path. Soma pointed his extinguisher at the flames, dousing them with chemical. Within seconds, the fire retreated until it was only smoldering embers. Tearing a piece of his shirtsleeve, to protect his hand from the hot metal, Soma grabbed the manual release lever. Pulling it back, he discovered, much to his surprise, that it would not move. Jerking at it again, he pulled as hard as he could, but the hatch remained closed. Inspecting the hatchway, he saw what had happened.

“What’s wrong,” shouted Lorian.

“It’s the hatch! The fire’s fused the seal. It won’t budge.”

Pushing Soma aside, Lorian grabbed the manual release latch. The hot metal stung his hands as he gripped the handle. Pulling with all his Vulcan might, he strained his muscles, but had no more success than Soma. The hatch would not move. Stepping away from the it, he let out a labored curse.

“Dammitt…that’s the only way out.”

Grabbing Lorian’s shoulder, Soma pointed back into the room. “Look…the fire…it’s dying.”

Lorian looked in the direction that Soma was pointing. He was right. The fire wasn’t burning as intensely. Even the heat level felt lower. Watching the flames, he could see they were growing weaker. The coolant was cutting off the oxygen supply fueling the fire.

“It’s weaker,” agreed Lorian “but it’s still burning.“

Soma could see he was right. The two tanks were retarding the fire, but not stopping it. He looked down at his extinguisher.

“Quick,” said Soma, “your extinguisher. Try to put out the fires. Between the coolant and the extinguishers, we might have a chance.”

Moving back into the bay, the two captains frantically chased down any flame they could. Spraying their foam chemical in controlled bursts, they fought against the remaining fires still threatening to ignite the torpedoes. Although the coolant was defeating most of the fires, several hot spots still burned close to the torpedoes. They could still go up even this close to putting the fire out. Spraying the last of his container onto the torpedoes, Soma covered them with a protective coating. Looking up from the torpedoes, he could see the remnants of the fire, now a hot smoldering bay that was half burned out.

“We did it,” called out Soma haggardly through his mask. Collapsing onto the floor, he dropped the spent extinguisher from sheer exhaustion. Looking down at the air valve, he could see the indicator was in the red.

Lorian staggered out of the steaming smoke, trying to maintain his footing. Soma was right. They had stopped the fire. There was no longer a threat of the ship exploding or them burning to death. Reaching Soma, Lorian dropped down next to him. Pulling off his face-mask, he looked over at Soma.

“I have some good news and some bad news,” said Lorian.

Soma tilted his head in Lorian’s direction, “I think I’ll take the good news first.”

“W-We’re not going to burn to death,” he said sluggishly.

“And the bad news?” asked Soma, trying to keep his eyes focused.

“We’re going to suffocate.”

Soma stared at him blankly for a moment before bursting out in a loud laugh. The sound was distorted through his mask, until he pulled it, tossing it to the charred ground. Lorian looked at him, and chuckled wryly.

“Glad you’re taking it so well,” said Lorian, propping himself up against one of the photon torpedo cases.

“Not too many ways I can take it,” he said, still laughing.

Soon, Soma’s laughter died down, and all Lorian could hear was his labored breathing, along with his own. It was only be a matter of minutes before they both lost consciousness. The only other sound he could hear was the crackling of burnt poly-carbon as the liquid plastic settled, and the hiss of steam from the still hot metal. He found the silence strangely eerie and he called out to Soma. Waiting, he listened for a reply, but none came. Swallowing hard, he realized that the inevitable was closer than he thought. His brother had lost consciousness and he could feel the eternal sleep now claiming him.

“Jonathan…I’m glad I met you.”

Slumping down, he felt himself losing consciousness. The room became a dark blur as his eyes strained to stay open a few moments longer. In his last seconds of consciousness, he listened for any sound or noise, and was rewarded with one last whisper.

“See you on the other side…little brother.”

***

Soma opened his eyes. The sudden flood of bright light burned intensely and he reflexively shut them as they began to tear. Taking a deep breath, he felt a gravely texture to his throat. It was dry and he thought his voice was probably hoarse. Letting out a weak groan, his assessment was confirmed when he began to cough with a rasping wheeze.

“I see my other patient is awake,” said a familiar female voice.

Straining to open his eyes, Soma peered through squinting lids. Looking up, he saw the blue skinned face of Doctor Trell, his Andorian Chief Medical Officer. She was smiling down at him, waving a medical scanner over his chest.

“What happened?” groaned Soma. “Where am I?”

Trell opened her mouth, preparing to give the captain an answer, but a voice from behind answered for her.

“You’re lying in the your ship’s sickbay,” said a male voice sarcastically. “How did you ever make captain?”

Soma recognized it immediately. Shooting up to a sitting position, he found that he was lying on a bio-bed in his ship’s sickbay. Turning, he looked past Trell.

“Lorian?”

His Vulcan counterpart was sitting, propped up in the bio bed next to his. Lorian gave Soma a curious expression before looking at Trell. “Is he always this confused?”

“Only when I think I should be dead,” said Soma, before Trell could decide on a comment.

“Well, neither of us are dead captain,” replied Lorian.

Soma shook his head. He could feel a dull throbbing ache pulsing through his temple. “The last thing I remember was…”

Soma looked over at Lorian, who realized immediately what Soma was thinking.

“It worked,” said Lorian, ”The fire was extinguished.”

Nodding in relief, Soma looked around the room. “So how did we get here?”

“Transporter,” came a voice from across the room.

Turning to the sickbay entrance, Soma caught sight of Commander Garrett accompanied by Karyn Archer…and T’Pol. He watched as the three women approached the bio-beds. T’Pol…at nearly one hundred and eighty five, was using a walking cane to maintain her balance. Soma thought it was foolish of her to come, but he was glad that she had.

“We beamed off those of Captain Lorian’s crew that didn’t get off in the escape pods,” explained Garrett. “After that, we we’re monitoring the fire, trying to get a lock on you, but between the heavy ionization and that coolant you released, a transporter lock damn near impossible. We had to bring the ship close enough that we were practically rubbing hulls, but we managed to get a lock and beam you out before the two of you suffocated.”

“I see,” replied Soma, digesting Garrett’s brief report. He was still somewhat unsettled from the smoke, and steadied himself against the bio bed. He could still feel the raw skin where the melted poly-carbon burned through his tunic. But Trell had obviously been treating him while he was unconscious, because he didn’t feel more than a twinge of pain.

“You both took a hell of a risk,” said Garrett, clearly expressing her disapproval. “You could have both killed.”

T’Pol looked at Garrett, her words resonating clearly in her ears. “Would the three of you excuse us? I wish to speak to my sons alone.”

Archer glanced at Garrett and Trell, who hesitated before nodding in agreement. The Andorian would have preferred to run a few more tests on her two patients, but she suspected the elder Vulcan’s request was a thinly veiled order. Picking up her tricorder, Trell turned and headed for her office with Garrett and Archer right behind her.

Once the three women were out of the room, T’Pol spoke. “Commander Garrett is correct. You could have…both been killed.”

“It was calculated risk,” argued Lorian. “It had to be done.”

“Why,” questioned T’Pol, “So you could save your precious ship.

“Mother…” Lorian said, pausing, “you don’t understand. I couldn’t let her go…not like that. She saved us more times than I can count.”

Soma had remained silent, but understood how Lorian felt. He would have gone down with his own ship if the situation were reversed. “Don’t be to hard him, Mother.”

T’Pol turned quickly, looking at Soma. “Jonathan, be quiet!”

Soma’s brow shot up. Not attempting to comprehend what her reasoning was, he just held out his hands in mock surrender. He knew better than to try his mother’s patience, once she had put her foot down. Learning from hard experience, he was aware of just how irascible she could be.

“I don’t need you to defend my actions, captain,” said Lorian.

Soma sat up, making a move to get off the bio-bed. “Well maybe if you’d get your head screwed on right…”

“Enough! Both of you!” said T’Pol, with more emotion than she had intended. Shaking her head, she took a seat in one of the visitor’s chairs. “I am too old for this! I have dreaded the day you two might meet. I knew that if you were ever in the same room, there would no shortage of quarrelling.”

The two men looked at T’Pol. The strain of the moment showed on her face. Her outburst had been taxing on her frail body. Taking several deep breaths, she tried to regain her composure.

“Mother…” said Lorian, jumping off the bio-bed.

T’Pol waved him off gently, “I’m fine. I’m just grateful I do not have to raise you together. I would not have survived it.”

Soma moved off his bio-bed. “Did you just make a joke?”

T’Pol looked up at him. “It was involuntary, I assure you.”

Soma and Lorian stood next to one another. T’Pol couldn’t help staring. It was first time she had ever seen them together. She allowed herself a small smile. It would have gone undetected by most, Soma and Lorian caught it.

“I thought I had lost both of you,” she said, trying to maintain her stoic masque. “You are Lorian…were the son I was fortunate enough to have. The one whom I watched grow into a man…with honor and courage.”

Turning, she looked at Soma. “And you Jonathan…you were the son I was allowed to see as a man; the son who befriended me when I was isolated…alone. I will never forget what you did for me.”

“You are my sons, and I am…proud of you both,” said T’Pol. “He would be proud of you as well.”

Lorian and Soma looked at one another. A divide still lay between them, and it was uncertain if it would ever be bridged. But for one brief moment, the distance didn’t seem quite so far. Maybe…just maybe there was hope after all.

***.

Lorian finished dressing. Doctor Trell had discharged him, under protest. He was still suffering from smoke inhalation, anoxia and heavy first degree burns. But a ship needed a captain and the NX-01 needed Lorian. Captain Soma didn’t fair as well with his CMO. She ordered him on light duty only, and threatened to have him relieved of duty if he didn’t follow her order. Soma wondered how many other starship captains had, had to cow tow to their ship’s Chief Medical Officer.

The doors to sickbay parted and Captain Soma walked in. He had just finished seeing T’Pol back to the NX-01. The farewells for Soma and T’Pol had been difficult. He knew that he would not see her again. And although seeing him one last time pleased T’Pol; Soma could not help the pain he felt in her departure. He wondered if he was merely reacting to the inevitable absence of his own T’Pol when time would claim her as well.

“Are you ready captain?” said Soma.

“I think so,” he replied, rubbing his shoulder. “Still a little sore, but I’ll live.”

“That’s good to hear,” said a voice from across the room.

Turning abruptly, Lorian and Soma saw whom the voice belonged to.

“Daniels,” said Lorian, in annoyance.

“Mr. Daniels, don’t you believe in using doors like the rest of us, or have manners become an outmoded concept in the 32nd century.”

“My apologies captain,” replied Daniels in his usual conciliatory tone. “I just wanted to wish you luck, Captain Lorian.”

Lorian eyed Daniels for a moment. He still didn’t trust the man, but saw no reason to reopen the debate. “Thank you.”

“I have reopened the temporal fissure,” explained Daniels. “It will remain open until you pass through. Then you’ll be transported back in time to the exact moment you left.”

“You’re going to have a hell of a fight on your hands,” said Soma.

“So are Kovalans,” smiled Lorian.

Soma shook his head in agreement. “And what about you Mr. Daniels? As I recall, Captain Archer has reported your death on two occasions. The last, he was quite certain was permanent.”

Daniels smiled. “That’s the nature of time, captain. Sometimes the end is actually the beginning.”

“Well, no offense, but I certainly hope this is the end of our association, Mr. Daniels.”

Daniels gave the captain an odd look.

Soma looked at him. “Something wrong, Mr. Daniels.”

Daniels continued to stare at him for a few moments more, before replying. He clearly had something on his mind, but seemed hesitant about bringing it into the open. “As long as I’ve known you…as a child …as an adult…you’ve always called me Mr. Daniels.”

Soma’s brow arched in curiosity. “It’s your name.”

“I know,” he said, shaking his head, “but I can never tell if you’re just being polite or if it’s some kind of cryptic Vulcan insult.”

A sly smile formed on Soma’s lips. “I’ll let you decide.”

Daniels stared at him for a moment. Maybe some things were better left unknown. Nodding to the two Vulcans, he turned and exited sickbay. Walking down the corridor, he began tapping the interface on his temporal conduit control. Glancing down the corridor, he made certain, he was alone before pressing the activation key. Within seconds, a white temporal fissure opened, almost identical to the one that had brought the NX-01 to its present location. Stepping forward, he entered the corridor. But just before he passed through the fissure, he was certain he heard a noise. He wasn’t sure, but it sounded like laughter and he was prepared to swear that it was coming from ship’s sickbay.

***

Soma and Lorian entered the transporter room. Archer and T’Pol had transported back to the NX-01, and the ship was ready to get under way. But right now, he had one more person to see off and he wasn’t entirely certain if they would part as amicably.

Soma glanced at the crewman manning the transporter. “I won’t need you, ensign. You’re dismissed.”

“Yes, sir,” replied the dark haired crewman, with a curt nod. Leaving his station, the crewman excused himself, exiting the transporter room.

Soma walked over to the controls, scanning the transport coordinates. They were set and verified. All that remained was for Lorian to step onto the transporter pad. Looking up, he stared at Lorian for a moment, waiting for him to say something. Lorian returned the stare, as an empty silence hung between them. They both waited for the other to say something. After a moment, Lorian looked as if he was going to speak, but suddenly he turned and walked up the short steps, taking his place on the transporter pad. Soma looked down at the control pad in disappointment. He had hoped Lorian had something to say, before leaving. Tapping the keypad, he initiated the transport sequence to send Lorian back.

“Captain…”

Soma jabbed his figure against the emergency interrupt. The thrumming sound of the transporter faded as the unit cycled down. Soma looked up at Lorian. ”Yes?”

“Will you do something for me?”

“If I can,” said Soma.

Lorian looked down at the deck for a moment, “If you see him again…tell him…tell them both that I’m thinking of them.”

Soma smiled, nodding. “I will.”

Lorian gave him a curt nod, returning the smile. “Jonathan.”

“Lorian,” he replied, and activated the transporter controls. The low hum re-initialized. I cascade of blue light shafts flowed over Lorian as his physical form dematerialized from the transporter. Soma looked down at the transporter sensor and read the indicator panel:

TRANSPORT SUCCESSFUL

***

Soma stepped out of the turbo lift and onto the bridge. He stopped, looking at the view screen and the X-class vessel moving away at impulse. Lorian had safely transported back to his ship and they were ready to return through the temporal fissure. Daniels had assured both Lorian and Soma that the artificially formed corridor would transport Lorian and his crew through the gulf of time; returning them to the exact moment they had left, and into the waiting arms of the Kovalans. The rest was up to Lorian and his crew. Soma was confident in the upgrades they had given the old ship, but it was still an uneven fight. Lorian would need his wits and cunning to turn the battle to his advantage.

Garrett turned in the command chair. Seeing Soma, she vacated the chair, taking her position at the science station. “Captain, the Enterprise NX has moved off. She’s heading for the temporal fissure.”

Soma walked down the steps to the command module. “Magnify, Mr. Ortiz.”

The Helmsman adjusted the view screen, bringing the Enterprise NX and the anomaly into close view. Soma watched as the X-class starship moved further away, closing the distance to the anomaly.

“Incredible,” said Garrett, looking up from her instruments. “I’m not getting any readings from the anomaly. It’s almost like a ‘white hole’.“

Soma continued watching as the Enterprise approached the outer boundary of temporal anomaly; the swirling white mass billowed out tendrils of wispy clouds that seemed to beckon the starship in. He watched as the ship made contact with the temporal gateway, which failed to register on Garrett’s sensors. The white mass began to envelope the ship; swallowing it as she moved further into it’s opaque mass. In less time than it takes to draw a breath, the starship disappeared completely into the swirling fissure.

“Safe journey, little brother,” Soma whispered, softly.

Watching the anomaly, he could see that it was already dissipating. Its opaque form become translucent as the main body seemed to dissipate into the inky blackness of surrounding space. Within moments, the view screen image of the mercurial anomaly was replaced by empty space.

“The anomaly has closed captain,” reported Garrett, turning towards the viewer “No sign that it was even there.”

Soma shook his head. “Time has a way of swallowing things up number one.”

Garrett looked at Soma curiously. “Captain?”

Turning around, he gave her a smile, “I believe we have our own mission to complete?”

Hesitating for a moment, she stared at Soma before replying. “Yes, sir.”

“Then if you would be good enough to get us under way,” he said, taking his place in the command chair.

Garrett turned to Ortiz. “Helm, set course for our next destination, cruising speed at warp factor three.”

Ortiz adjusted the helm, feeding the new coordinates into the navigation computer, “Course plotted and on the board, sir.”

Soma smiled. “Warp speed, Mr. Ortiz.”

The End

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Two folks have made comments

Mmmm...smells like a sequel. :) I loved it, especially the way they finally worked through some of their issues in the end. Soma is a great character and I can't wait to read more of his adventures. Thanks for a great story!

^^ Normally I'd be begging for a sequel but not until after Enemy of the State is done! LOL

Loved it... as always!