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Sibling Rivalry: Soma vs. Lorian: A Captain Soma solo adventure

Author - Quills | Genre - Action/Adventure | Genre - Alternate Universe | Offshoots | Rating - PG-13 | S
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Sibling Rivalry: Soma vs. Lorian:
A Captain Soma solo adventure

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 1

The yellow lights blinked in unison, signaling all hands to prepare for possible danger. The captain had ordered the ship to yellow alert status as Lieutenant Ortiz brought the Enterprise-C to the perimeter of the spatial anomaly directly ahead. The mass of white swirling clouds looked hauntingly ethereal on the view screen as the bridge crew watched it spinning and churning like a maelstrom.

Captain Soma gripped the armrest of his command chair. His innate curiosity compelled him to investigate the sudden appearance of the sub-space anomaly. However, his Starfleet training taught him to err on the side of caution, particularly when it came to the dangers inherent when dealing with the unknown.

“Number One?”

Rachel Garrett, ship’s science officer and executive officer, was intently studying the sensor readouts on her stations display panels.

“Heavy gravimetric readings, captain,” she replied. “Suggest we keep our distance.”

“Ensign, keep us on the outer boundary.”

“Aye sir,” replied the dark haired Surelian navigator. Her muted yellow skin tone blended with the overhead alert status lights.

“Captain, I’m detecting chronometric and spatial variance readings. They’re increasing exponentially…tearing at the spatial plane occupied by the anomaly. It’s forcing a rift to open.”

Soma turned to look at Garrett in surprise. “A time distortion window?”

“That would be my guess,” said Garrett, equally surprised. “There have been only three recorded occurrences in Starfleet records. This could be quite a find.”

The captain nodded in agreement. “Continue sensor readings,” he said, smiling at Garrett. “If you can come up with something interesting for Starfleet’s stellar cartography, they might name this one after you. Something appropriate…like Garrett’s Gap.”

Garrett turned back to her station, smiling. She knew Soma was teasing her, but she wouldn’t mind having her name attached to the discovery of an extremely rare anomalous event. Continuing her scans, Garrett suddenly looked at her display in surprise.

“Captain…new sensor contact.”

“What is it?”

“Unknown, sir.”

Soma’s brow went up. “I need more than that, commander?”

Garrett shook her head. The captain always expected answers when he asked for them, no matter what the question was. “Readings are intermittent, captain. The sensors show the object is composed of poly metallic alloys…and it’s approaching the rift.”

Soma’s straightened. That sounded like a ship, which raised the question: friend or foe?

“Red alert, all hands battle stations!”

The alarm claxon sounded as the bridge lights turned red. Crewmembers raced across the deck to their combat stations as the ship was prepared for a combat situation.

“Shield raised, captain,” reported Lieutenant Vendi. “Forward torpedo bay loaded, phasers armed.”

“Very good, Mr. Vendi. Let’s just hope we don’t have to use them.”

Soma turned to Garrett. “Can we get a visual?”

“We should,” replied Garrett. “It’ll exit the rift any second, Captain.”

Standing, Soma approached the forward viewer. “Let’s see it.”

Watching the view screen, he could see the swirling mass of white overwhelmed the center of the viewer as it billowed, spilling out like a thunderous cloud. Concentrating on the central point, he strained to see the object that Garrett’s sensors had detected. For a moment, all he saw was the bright whiteness of the anomaly. Then suddenly …a point … an object appeared in the center. The dull, gray color a stark contrast to the clean, pure white of the anomaly. Focusing his attention on the object, he strained to make out what it could be.

“Sensors, number one.”

Garrett adjusted the forward sensor array, so that it focused on the object. The anomaly’s gravimetric distortions interfered with the scans, making exact readings difficult. Focusing a narrow beam, Garrett filtered out the extraneous signatures created by the anomaly. Seeing the data that came across her board, Garrett did a double take.

“That can’t be right,” she said.

Soma turned back to look at her. “What is it?”

Garrett was checking her readings. What they were telling her didn’t make sense, but a second scan resulted in the same data. Looking up, she stared at Soma in disbelief.

“It’s an X class vessel, sir.”

“X class?”

“That’s what the readings say,” she replied shaking her head in confusion.

Soma turned back to the viewer.

“Ensign, increase magnification too factor four.”

The view screen shimmered momentarily as the tiny image at its center magnified. Almost instantly, the screen compensated and the small gray object was brought into clear focus. It was a ship, an X class Starfleet vessel. Soma shook his head. There hadn’t been any in service for over one hundred and twenty years.

“Looks like it’s seen heavy some heavy battle,” said Ortiz, studying the scarring and pitting along the hull.

“I’m picking up structural integrity damage as well multiple hits on the hull by disruptor fire,” said Garrett. “She’s definitely seen action…and recently.”

“Life signs?” asked Soma.

“Sensors show active bio-readings,” said Garrett. “The anomaly is making identification and exact numbers difficult to determine.”

“Increase magnification.”

The image shimmered again, magnifying the Starfleet ship so that the saucer filled the entire screen. The ship’s name and registry were partially obscured by burns from what appeared to be weapon’s fire, but they were still visible. Soma stepped closer to the screen, to make sure that he wasn’t mistaken.

“It’s the Enterprise!”

Soma turned to Lieutenant Vendi. “Open a hailing frequency.”

Touching the communication panel on his display board, the blonde haired security chief nodded to Soma. “Open, sir.”

Enterprise…this is the Enterprise-C, please respond.”

A low beep chirped from Vendi’s console. “Captain, we’re getting a response.”

“On screen,” said Soma; smiling as the image changed. “Captain Archer –“

“Not quite,” said the man on the view screen.

Soma stared at him blankly. Although he had never met the man, he was quite certain who he was. The hard, penetrating eyes, the upswept pointed ears and the grizzled gray and brown hair.

“Lorian?”

“That’s right Captain…Soma, isn’t it?”

Soma nodded his head. “Yes.”

“My ship is heavily damaged, Captain. I have wounded. I could use any help you spare.”

Soma shook his head. “We have a full medical staff. I can beam them over immediately. Anyone they can’t treat aboard your ship can be transported to our infirmary.”

Turning to Garrett, Soma gave her a nod to notify Doctor Trell and her medical team.

“Captain Lorian, is your ship stabilized?”

“We have heavy structural damage as well as warp core damage, but Enterprise was built to last, Captain.”

Soma detected a defensive tone in the man’s response. “I have no doubt, captain.”

“We should talk.”

“Agreed,” said Soma, shaking his head; still in dismay by the man on his view screen. “We can arrange to transport you over, if you wish.”

“I’d like my first officer to accompany me,” replied Lorian. From his tone, Soma got the distinct impression that it wasn’t a request.

“Of course,” smiled Soma.

“Ten minutes, Captain,” said Lorian. “Lock onto our transporter.” Looking off screen, he gave a nod and the image winked out, replaced by that of the Enterprise..

“They closed the channel, sir,” said Vendi, looking up from his display.

Soma shook his head. He had questions that beggared answers. For one, how could he and Lorian exist in the same timeline and for another…where the hell did he come from?

“Cancel red alert.”

Climbing the steps to the upper deck, Soma headed for the turbo lift. “Rachel, you have the bridge. Make sure a security detail accompanies Doctor Trell and her team. Notify transporter room one-“

Garrett stood up from her science station. “Captain.”

Soma stopped, turning to look at Garrett. “Number one?”

“If he’s bringing his, it seems only right that you bring yours,” she smiled.

Raising his brow, he turned to the tactical station. “Mr. Vendi, you have the bridge. Have security meet us in transporter room one.”


***


Soma and Garrett entered the transporter room. They both caught site of the three security guards Lieutenant Vendi had sent. They were waiting in the equipment alcove, out of site of the transporter platform.

Walking across the room, Soma approached the security detail. “I want the three of you to stand ready, but remember…these people are guests. I don’t anticipate any problems, but we’re going to play it safe.”

Turning, Soma addressed the transporter operator. “Mr. Alvarez?”

“Sir, we’ve received the coordinates for transport,” he replied. “Transporter scan shows two life forms, no weapons detected.”

“Then by all means Chief…energize.”

The low hum of the transporter unit sounded, signaling that the materialization sequence had initiated. Twin shafts of light began to form on the elevated platform as two humanoid shapes coalesced.

Soma watched the two figures take on distinct patterns. As the last shafts of twinkling lights dissipated, a tiny shudder ran down his spine. He was now face to face with a man he had only heard stories about. A man by all rights was his own temporal counterpart and in some strange way…his brother.

Stepping forward, Soma extending his hand, “Captain Lorian, welcome aboard.”

Lorian looked past Soma, noticing the three security guards standing at the back of the room.

At least he has the good sense to be cautious, thought Lorian.

Lorian looked down at Soma’s hand for a brief moment; then turned towards the woman standing next to his left.

“This is my first officer, Karyn Archer,” he said, introducing her.

“Pleased to me you,” she smiled; taking the hand Soma had offered Lorian.

“A pleasure,” smiled Soma, glancing at Lorian hesitantly. “Allow me to introduce my first officer, Commander Rachel Garrett.”

“Commander,” nodded Lorian.

“Captain Lorian,” Garrett said, with a slight nod. Soma had given her a quick update on Lorian. She found it more than a little incredible, but reminded herself that anything involving Captain Soma was bound to involve the incredible. She noticed Lorian’s chiseled jaw and stark blue eyes. She could see the resemblance between the two men. It was almost eerie.

Looking at the woman next to Lorian, Garrett gave her a polite smile. “Ms. Archer…or is it Mrs.?”

“It’s Ms., but call me Karyn,” she said with a smile.

“Now that we’ve gotten past the pleasantries,” said Lorian, “we need to discuss our arrival in your time line.”

Soma looked at Lorian for a brief moment. He got the distinct impression Lorian didn’t want to be here. This was going to be strictly business.

“All right, “ said Soma. “We can retire to the conference room.”

Garrett and Archer glanced at one another. The two first officers had both detected the sudden rise in temperature between their captains.

Lorian gave Soma a hard penetrating stare. He didn’t want to be aboard this ship, but he had little choice.

“After you, Captain,” replied Lorian.


***


Lorian was seated at the conference table. It was a spacious dark grained wood table, with chairs ringing its elliptical perimeter. Sitting across from Soma, Lorian’s hands were folded on the smooth tabletop, as he stared at his counterpart. Soma had a relaxed expression on his face, hands steepled in front of him. Garrett and Archer sat on either side of their respective captains as the two men attempted to sort out the details of Lorian’s arrival and just what that entailed.

“Let me see if I understand you correctly, Captain,” said Soma. “After you helped Archer and his Enterprise escape the Kovalans, you followed him through the corridor. But the damage sustained during the fight caused the same problem that you had tried to prevent. Only this time, it happened to you and as a result, you weren’t sent into the past, but into the future.

“It would seem so,” replied Lorian, with a hint of annoyance.” The damage the Kovalans caused to our impulse drive created a disruption in the sub-space corridor. Even without an impulse engine wake, the corridor destabilized.”

“Our sensors registered the disruption almost instantly,” added Archer. “But it was too late. We had already entered the corridor.”

“We had no choice, but to follow it through and see where…and when it exited,” said Lorian shaking his head.

“How far have we traveled,” asked Archer; an uneasy tone betrayed her.

Garrett hesitated; she could only imagine what Lorian and Archer were going through. “One hundred and seventy-eight years.”

“My god,” said Archer in resignation.

“What about the corridor?” asked Garrett. “Can’t you return the way you came?”

Soma shook his head. “As I recall, that particular corridor was a one way trip.”

Lorian stared at Soma. His counterpart’s knowledge of the corridor was accurate. They couldn’t return through it. They were effectively marooned in the future.

“And returning to the nebulae isn’t an option either,” said Lorian. “We could recreate the distortion, but we would have no way of determining when it would send us. We could end up hundreds of years in the past or even further into the future.”

“Captain, I know what you must be going through isn’t easy,” said Soma.

“I doubt that very much,” replied Lorian, fixing Soma with a cold stare.

Soma met Lorian’s gaze. The man clearly had something against him, but Soma wasn’t sure what it could be. They had never met, but they had both been told about each other’s existence.

“Lorian… Captain Archer was able to meet with Degra. Earth was saved. I would hope that brings you some comfort in knowing your mission was successful.”

“I’m relieved Earth was saved, Captain, but my crew and I don’t belong in your century.”

“He’s right,” said a voice from across the room.

Soma and Lorian both jumped from their chairs. Each taking a defensive stance, as they both looked at the figure obscured by the shadows of the room. Stepping out of the darkness, the figure revealed himself to the four officers.

“Mr. Daniels,” said Soma. His tone was less than pleasant when the name left his lips.

“Hello, Captain Soma.”

“What are you doing here?” Soma asked, point blank.

“The question you should be asking yourself is…what are they doing here?” countered Daniels, turning towards Lorian and Karyn

“We’ve already covered that, Daniels,” said Garrett gruffly. She had no love for the temporal agent and didn’t make any efforts to hide it.

“Why don’t you fill in the gaps for us, Mr. Daniels,” said Soma, taking his seat again.

Soma looked up at Lorian. His counterpart didn’t seem terribly alarmed, but he also didn’t seem ready to sit down again.

“Captain Lorian, this is-“

“Daniels,” said Lorian, finishing Soma’s introduction. “Captain Archer mentioned you on several occasions.”

“Then you know that my interest in you and your ship involves the time line.”

“I know that you have an unerring habit of asking for a great deal of cooperation,” said Lorian, narrowing his eyes on Daniels, “But giving very little in return. Particularly in the way of explanations.”

“Your presence here is a mistake, Captain.”

“On that we can agree,” said Lorian.

“Then you have to go back.”

“For the moment, let’s say we agree with you,” said Soma, turning to face Daniels. “How do you propose to send them back to their own time?”

Daniels glanced at Soma hesitantly. He had dealt with the Starfleet captain before. He often proved to be as intractable as Archer. It was one reason he had assigned an operative of the feminine persuasion to Soma. The captain had proven more accessible to T’Cel. Her death affected Daniels more than he allowed his fellow agents to realize. He had not forgotten that it was his decision to assign T’Cel to Soma, and his own subsequent dismissal of her beliefs of a Xindi threat to Vulcan, that led to her death.

“We have the technology to send them back.”

“Why?” asked Lorian. “Why is it important that we go back.”

“Captain, a moment ago you said yourself that you and your crew don’t belong in this time period.”

“I’m aware of what I said. What I’m not aware of is why you believe it’s so important for us to return to a point in time that…in all likelihood…will result in our deaths.”

“I-I can’t disclose that,” replied Daniels.

“And I won’t risk my crew on the unknown,” said Lorian turning away.

Daniels moved forward, grabbing Lorian by the arm. “You have to go back!”

Lorian turned, looking down at Daniel’s hand gripping is arm tightly. “I suggest you let go of my arm.”

Daniels looked at Lorian. The Vulcan was staring hard at him. Slowly, he released his grip on Lorian’s arm, letting his hand fall to his side.

“Thank you,” said Lorian coolly.

“Captain, please-“

“Mr. Daniels,” interrupted Soma. “I strongly suspect that unless you convince my ‘little brother’, he will not be lending you his cooperation.”

Lorian looked at Soma; narrowing his eyes on him. Soma grinned at him. He was quite certain that Lorian didn’t appreciate his reference to them being siblings or placing him in the submissive role.

“Captain Soma’s assessment is…colorful…but correct,” said Lorian. “If you wish our cooperation, then you will have to be forthright with your information.”

Daniels turned away, looking out the view port. He could see the open expanse of star lit space as it reached out to infinity. His options were not so fast. Normally, he relied on a situation to do the convincing for him. In this case, there was no immediate danger, and Lorian was correct. He was being asked to go back to a moment in time that would most likely result in their destruction. If he were in Lorian’s place, Daniels was certain he would react the same way.

“Very well,” said Daniels. “I will tell you what I can. But you have to understand that I cannot pollute the time line. It’s already been subjected to far too many attempts at altering it. Some have proven successful, with some minor adjustments made to prevent radical changes.”

“I’ll listen to what you have to say,” said Lorian, “then I’ll decide.”


Chapter 2


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A whole mess of folks have made comments

Great story so far. It will be interesting to have Lorian and Soma compare notes on their parents, if you'll have them do that. Regardless.... it is an interesting story so far. Can't wait for the next chapter.

Hey, Quills! I can guess how Soma knew about Lorian, but at this point in your augmented universe only Archer, T'Pol and Phlox know "about" Soma (I think) -- so who actually told Lorian? T'Pold herself? Our Archer when he was talking to Lorian in the brig? Just curious...

Love the tension! They are teritorial, aren't they? I'd love to see a demonstration of applied brain power, tho... two of the great scientific minds together, on some adventure... could be fun!

PS: He's bringing his, you can bring yours... classic! Hee hee hee hee hee :) Now go write more.

All shall be revealed. : )
Q

Reader abuse! Reader abuse! :)

Ha! This will be interesting! Okay so when do Lorian and Soma get to beat the heck outta each other? LOL Interesting story Quills... very interesting.....

I get the feeling Lorian doesn't like Soma very much.... Can't wait to find out!

Wonder why Lorian would be so hostile to Soma. After all, he's proof that Lorian is not just a fluke of a particularly constraining timeline, but was "meant to be",in a sense, in any timeline. Which would be gratifying, I think.
At any rate, here's hoping Daniels removes his nose and Lorian et al. have to stick around indefinitely. Way too many good stories here.

I'm confused - Lorian's ship was thrown 178 years into the future? Doesn't that make Soma ancient? I didn't think he was that old!

Erm, so, where does the jello wrestling fit in? :-)

Great story so far. Can't wait for the next addition! I think I know why Lorian doesn't like Soma too much. But I'll keep it to myself.

A few answers....

Dak, yes Soma is 178 years old....give or take a couple years. There is a reason he doesn't look quite as old as say Sarek did in TNG. Someday I'll reveal why. I had to come up with a credible way to put him in the Enterprise-C era while still having him not ready for retirement. He's roughly like Picard (50-60s in human terms). Although Ivymae might paint him a tad younger.

Evalyn, Lorian's dislike for Soma is directly linked with the circumstances relating to how he found out about him.

Q

Now we've all been given a clue... put your thinking caps on people!!!!!!!!

Hey I've seen some 50-60 yr olds who looked pretty damn good for their age... perhaps Soma just ages gracefully :) I could draw him as a shriveled up old prune if you'd like? :)

On another note... Great story so far Q! I can't wait to see how this turns out!

Hey, Quills! Just stopped by to check out your stories, from what I've read so far, good stuff!

Great story so far, Quills. I think I know why Lorian resents Soma, but how can the two exist in the same timeline? And will Soma's T'Pol be the same as the one Lorian knows? Would she recognize him if they met? Presumably she still has a memory of E2. And -- my passion for detail! -- Lorian's father died young. Did Soma's? I'm looking forward to reading the next installment -- SOON please!

Sash...

First...Lorian can exist because he and his crew are no longer part of their own timeline. They left it. They are now outsiders in a corrected timeline.

Second...yes, Soma's T'Pol would no doubt remember Lorian and Lorian's T'Pol would remember Soma.

Third...Lorian's father didn't necessarily die young. He merely died when lorian was young. He could have been in his sixties...which isn't exceptionally old but he wouldn't be a spring chicken. Soma's father lived a fairly long life. Long enough to see his son make captain (mentioned in the story Uneasy Alliances).

I only have one problem with Soma- you depict him in his well older years (mentioned in EotS and somewheres else) and I always picture him in his later 20's mid 30's. I just can't shake it. I've gotten used to it so don't say anything about wrinkles or gray hair, you'll completely throw me for a loop.

and just a side note, i tryed to get to some of the other soma storys on your site quill but this is the only one that patched through. might just be me but I thought you should know.

Ack! Another Soma story with no ending! You're killing me! LOL Don't get me wrong, I LOVE them, but I need some resolution, Quills!

This idea is fantastic, btw. I love the fact that Soma and Lorian get to meet. I hope they have lots of really interesting conversations. They're both such great characters.