Shadows- Ch 2

Shadows

By Triplover (and I have to give some credit where it’s due… none of this would have been written if it wasn’t for Quills since it was Quill’s idea in the first place and not to mention all the help there after!)

Summary: When a time traveler from the future takes a trip into the past the future is forever changed and one man is determined to get back what was lost… no matter what the cost.

Disclaimer: I don’t own this or the characters… Captain Soma is Quill’s character and I suppose I get to have the people I make up in this story but Star Trek… this is all yours!

A/N: Okay first of all… this takes place AFTER the Xindi threat has already been taken care of. Got it? Okay… also this was an idea both Quills and I came up with. I didn’t steal anyone else’s work! This is the both of ours. Got that? Good! Just clearing that part up! Now on with ‘our’ story!!!!

******

Chapter Two

Phlox was certain that whatever danger Captain Soma was alluding to, there was something else far more immediate that required his attention. One look at Soma and crewman Cutler’s condition told him that. The captain was hunched over and seemed to be favoring his left side. He was clearly in pain and attempting to conceal it. The Denobulan also noticed Soma and Cutler were showing definite signs of exhaustion; something Phlox had no difficulty understanding, considering the damaged condition their shuttlecraft arrived in.

Like everyone else, the doctor had been shocked to hear that it was the Enterprise-C, which had attacked their shuttle, but he was more worried about treating their injuries than how they received them.

“Your Enterprise did this?” asked Tucker. Phlox saw the look of shock on his face.

Turning back to Soma, he could saw the Vulcan’s grim expression. “I’m afraid so,” said Soma, his voice just above a whisper. The captain was obviously in distress, but Phlox detected something else in his voice. Annoyance? Anger? It was something more, but the doctor couldn’t put his finger on it.

“Why the hell would your own ship attack you?” Tucker asked in confusion.

Everyone, including Phlox, was at a loss for words. All eyes were on Soma as they waited for an answer. Soma stiffened slightly, and then relaxed as he brushed his hand through his silver streaked hair. Phlox smiled in spite of the tense moment. The Vulcan’s gesture was something Commander Tucker often did when he was agitated or upset. Phlox, being one of the few Enterprise crewmembers to know the Vulcan’s true heritage, couldn’t help making the subtle connection.

“It’s…complicated,” replied Soma haggardly.

“Perhaps we should have this discussion later,” said Phlox, “after the captain and crewman Cutler have gone to sickbay.”

Archer looked at the doctor, then at Soma. He could see the look on Jonathan’s face; the man was in dire need of medical attention and rest. They had both been through a great deal. “I agree, doctor,” he said looking at Soma and Cutler. “I want you both to go with Phlox.”

Soma was about to protest, when Archer cut him off. “No arguments captain,” said Archer stressing the man’s rank. “Let Phlox check you out; then we’ll talk.”

He stared at Archer for a moment, but nodded his head in agreement. Archer didn’t want to wait for an explanation but there was a time and a place for discussion. Soma and Cutler were in bad shape and Archer didn’t need to be a doctor to see that they were ready to collapse.

==

By the time Soma and Cutler had reached sickbay, Phlox had ascertained that they had more than just cuts and bruises. They both had broken ribs. Soma had a torn ligament in his knee as well as a bruised right kidney, while Cutler had a mild concussion. They were both obviously in a great deal of pain, but kept it to themselves. Phlox admired their resolve, even if he thought it was foolish.

The Denobulan tended to his patients and once he was satisfied that their injuries were no longer a danger, he ordered them both to get some much-needed rest; ushering everyone out of sickbay with the exception of Commander Tucker, who had flatly refused to leave. Phlox began to wonder if the young engineer knew more about Soma than he led on. Such devotion to a friend was hard to come by. Phlox had seen Tucker show loyalty to the captain and T’Pol on numerous occasions, although he was surprised to see that same degree of loyalty shown for Captain Soma, a man Tucker really hadn’t known for very long. He had decided to let Tucker remain while he finished reviewing the tests he ran on his two patients.

Trip Tucker sat in a chair next to Soma’s bio bed. Glancing at the pair from the next room, Phlox could tell Soma wouldn’t be getting the sleep he had ordered for his patient.
At least Elizabeth would get some sleep. Phlox had given her a mild sedative to make sure she rested while the medication he had administered for her concussion did its job.
He would have preferred the same for Soma, but the Vulcan refused.

Phlox sighed. He hadn’t been able to refuse the commander’s request to stay with Soma. Father and son together and by each other’s side… how could he say ‘no’ to such a request? Even if the commander didn’t know Soma was his, son, Soma certainly did. Obviously his father’s presence meant a great deal to the Vulcan.

Trip watched Soma exhale with difficulty. The Vulcan’s ribs were mending, but they still caused him considerable discomfort. He looked tired. “If ya want I can come by and see ya later cap’n… ya look exhausted.” Trip wasn’t about to tire the man out after all Soma and Cutler had been through. He could come back later.

Soma shook his head. “Nonsense chief, I could use the company.”

Soma tried to sit up further, but winced at the pain. Trip moved, quickly steadying him as he pulled a pillow further up.

“Thank you,” smiled Soma, settling back against the pillow. “So…how have you been?”

Trip grinned, should he really tell him? So much had changed since they’d last seen each other. Everything had changed. Trip decided to take the direct approach. “A lot has happened. After we restored the Vulcan timeline to normal, we still had to deal with the Xindi,” Tucker took in a deep breath, holding it for a minute. He had lost a lot of good friends in the fight to save Earth from the Xindi. A lot had changed for the Enterprise and her crew…as well as for him. “It wasn’t easy, capn’, but we did it in the end.”

Tucker looked at Soma for a moment, contemplating if he should mention what happened to T’Pol. Soma probably knew, but Tucker decided that it wasn’t for him to say. If T’Pol wanted Soma to know, she could be the one to tell him.

“Anyway,” said Tucker,” we went back to Earth. Spent a few months getting’ an overhaul and replacement crew. After we left dry dock Capn’ Archer wanted us to resume our original mission. Since then, things have slowly been getting back to normal.. Well…most things.” Trip had tried awfully hard but had been unable to stifle the grin that appeared on his face at the statement.

Soma raised an eyebrow. “Oh really? Exactly what things would you be referring to?”

It suddenly occurred to Trip that Soma most likely knew exactly what he’d been trying to avoid. After all, Soma was from the future. Wouldn’t he know or couldn’t he just as easily have found out? If he did know, then that meant that all this time… he had always known what would happen between he and T’Pol.

“I have a feelin’ ya already know just what I’m talkin’ bout,” muttered Trip.

Soma laughed, shaking his head. “I’m afraid so, chief.”

Then something else occurred to Tucker and he narrowed his eyes at Soma. “You were settin’ me up? Weren’t you?”

“I beg your pardon?” said Soma clearly confused.

“That time in engineering, when we had that little discussion over drinks,” explained the engineer. “Ring a bell?”

“Oh…of course,” replied Soma. For a moment, he seemed genuinely confused, but just as quickly his expression disappeared. “Would I do such a thing, Chief?”

“Yes,” replied Tucker flatly.

“True,” replied Soma, shaking his head.

They both looked at each other for a moment before breaking out into laughter. Tucker shook his head. It was good to see his friend again. The two men had grown close over the two previous temporal visits Soma had made. Tucker considered him a close friend, even if he was one hundred and seventy five years away.

He nodded with a sigh just before the sickbay doors opened and T’Pol walked in. Tucker watched as she searched the room, her eyes finally stopping on he and Soma. She stood motionless for a moment before walking towards them.

“The captain said you had been injured,” said T’Pol, a cool and impassive look on her face. “I came to see how you were doing.”

Soma smiled warmly at her. “I’m fine, thank you. Commander Tucker has been keeping me company.”

The Vulcan looked at Tucker and frowned. “Perhaps it would be better if you rested captain. You have had a very traumatic experience.”

Trip rolled his eyes. “Don’t mother him T’Pol.”

Soma and T’Pol looked at one another. Eyeing each another briefly as Trip wondered what had come over. “Hey, Earth to Vulcans…are you two okay?”

T’Pol sighed and looked over at Trip. “I am simply concerned for the captain’s safety.”

“What? And I’m not? Why do ya think I’m here? I asked him if he wanted me to leave and he said he could use the company. So here I am,” Trip said defensively.

T’Pol inwardly sighed. Why must he always be so difficult?

Sensing her distress as well as the discomfort from his injuries, Soma spoke. “Well, maybe it is time for me to get some rest, chief. I certainly could use it. Come by later?”

Trip smiled. “Sure thing cap’n. See ya later.” Trip looked at T’Pol and gave her a wink. He started to walk towards the exit as he heard Soma, “I suppose I’ll be seeing you later as well… Mom.” Trip laughed shaking his head.

==

It was getting late. Jonathan Archer was beyond tired but there was too much on his mind for rest. Soma’s arrival meant that he and his crew were faced with another mission involving the future…or the past. Equally as disturbing was Soma’s arrival with former crewmen Elizabeth Cutler. Up until then, believed to have died at the Xindi battle of Azati Prime, but in reality, she was secretly a thirty-second century temporal operative.
Archer had mixed feelings. He was happy to see Cutler alive, but he couldn’t help feeling anger at the fact that she was spying on him. Then there was the damaged shuttle from the future; the one that was attacked by the Enterprise-C.

It was too much information to take in at once. He wanted answers but that wouldn’t happen till the morning. Phlox had insisted Cutler and Soma stay in sickbay for the night. Normally Archer would have insisted on answers, but he saw no point. It was obvious that the two were in no condition to talk. They’d been through enough and needed rest.

So do you Jonathan, a small voice reminded him.

Archer rolled over on his back and looked up at the ceiling. This was going to be a long night.

==

When Archer woke the next morning, he knew he looked as bad as he felt. He’d only gotten a couple of hours sleep the night before as Soma’s words played over and over in his mind. Enterprise-C? Mistake? He just couldn’t stop thinking about it, about what the captain had said.

Archer took a quick shower, to clear his head. He’d gotten dressed and skipping breakfast, headed straight for sickbay. When he arrived, he found Captain Soma facing Phlox, arms folded and looking at the doctor with a frown firmly planted on his face.

“Doctor, I realize your concern, but I feel fine,” said Soma testily. “I have more to worry about than a few broken ribs.”

“Captain, I just want to perform one more test,” explained Phlox. “Just to make sure your injuries are healing properly.”

“Hello doctor, Jonathan,” said Archer, approaching the two men. He smiled when he saw the doctor jump. Phlox had been so engrossed with Soma that he hadn’t noticed him enter. Soma simply looked at him, his expression unchanged. “Something wrong captain?”

“Yes, the good doctor wants to test me…to death,” he said turning towards Phlox.. Sighing, he down on the bio bed.

Archer chuckled. “I sympathize,” said Archer. “I’ve been at the good doctor’s ‘tender’ mercies more times than I can remember.”

Phlox ignored Archer’s comment as he ran a scanner over soma.

Soma shook his head. “He wasn’t always this frustrating captain… believe me.”

Phlox rolled his eyes before taking his one last scan. Soma gave an annoyed look before rubbing his face. Archer watched Soma as the Vulcan took a deep breath. The pain his ribs caused performing that motion was obvious and Archer could have sworn he had done it deliberately. The man was seriously on edge and it concerned the human captain.

Phlox completed his scan and smiled at Soma. “There, see,” he said holding up the hand scanner. “That wasn’t so hard.”

Soma smiled at the doctor. “Thank you doctor,” he said, jumping off the bio bed.

“Morning Jon.”

Archer smiled. “Good morning captain,” he replied looking over at Phlox. “Why don’t we head to the mess, we can get some breakfast and you can fill me in on what the hell’s going on.”

==

The two exited sickbay, making their way down the corridor. Archer had already contacted Trip and T’Pol. They would be meeting them shortly for breakfast and a briefing, in the captain’s mess.

When Soma and Archer arrived, they found the mess hall busy with the morning crew catching breakfast before the start of their shift. The two captains gave some curt nods and a few hellos to passing crewmembers as they headed for the captain’s mess. Entering the side door, they found Trip and T’Pol had already arrived.

Trip, sitting next to the T’Pol, had his hand resting on the back of her chair while his other hand was touching her cheek. When he heard the door open, the engineer jumped, moving both hands to his lap as he straightened.

“Uh, hey cap’n… uh captains,” he smiled, his cheeks turning red.

T’Pol looked at Trip for a moment before arching her brow.

Archer glanced at Soma, giving the man a wry smile.

“Trip, T’Pol,” said Archer, heading for the table,”I hope you two didn’t start without us.”

“I think our arrival guaranteed that,” said Soma.

Archer grinned, decided not to add anything to the comment. He knew Soma well enough to expect the Vulcan not to miss an opportunity to make his parents uncomfortable.

Trip shook his head. “Wouldn’t dream of it cap’n.”

Soma and Archer took their seats. Soma sat across from T’Pol while Archer sat across from… where Trip’s chair had been. He smiled slightly as Soma was still looking at them with an amused expression. T’Pol glared at him.

Soma looked down shaking his head. “So, how are you two doing this morning?”

“Had a pretty good night,” Trip answered. “Slept like a baby.”

Soma’s smile grew. “That’s good to here… I imagine your added duties must be wearing you out.”

Trip’s eyes went wide. He glanced at T’Pol who was doing her best to hide behind her tea mug.

Archer decided that if Soma wasn’t physically in form, his sense of humor hadn’t been subdued. Deciding to save his two senior officers from their son, Archer quickly changed the conversation to a more serious topic. “Captain, I think we’d all like you to explain about what you told us last night. Your Enterprise attacked you. Why?”

Soma sighed, shaking his head. “Believe me, captain, I had the same reaction. Unfortunately, Enterprise has a new captain.”

“A new captain? What are ya talkin’ bout?”

“I’ve been replaced by a doppelganger,” explained Soma. “He looks like me, talks like me…even acts like me…at least enough that he’s fooled my crew.”

T’Pol’s eyebrow rose, “Who is he?”

Soma picked up a beige pitcher, pouring a glass of tea “He called himself Velik,” explained the captain. “He ‘visited’ me at a science symposium I was attending on Altuda III.”

“Visited?” repeated Archer, catching the captain’s stress on the word.

“Yes,” said Soma shaking his head. “He was waiting for me in my hotel room…with the business end of disruptor pistol.” He paused for a moment, taking a sip of his tea. Looking back at Archer, he shook his head. “He had me cold and the fact that he could pass for my twin didn’t help the situation. I asked him who he was and what he wanted.”

“What did he tell you?” asked Archer.

“That his name was Velik and that he was here to ‘reclaim what is rightfully’ his,” explained Soma. “He started raving about the timeline and a stolen birthright. Before I could get anything more out of him, he took a shot at me.”

Archer looked at Soma in surprise. “How’d you get away?”

“Fortunately, he was distracted by a noise outside my apartment,” explained Soma. “It didn’t give me enough time to get his disruptor from him, but was enough to get out of his line of fire. I ran for the balcony and went over the railing, dropping to the room just below mine. I called hotel security, but by the time they arrived he was gone.”

“Whoa… hold on,” said Tucker. “First he tries to kill ya and then he takes over your Enterprise? “

Soma gave him a sympathetic smile before replying. “Believe me chief, I know. He picked the perfect moment to strike. If he had been successful in killing me, he could have simply taken my place without arousing suspicion.”

“But since he failed in that objective,” observed T’Pol, “How did he manage to gain control of your ship?”

“I’m not sure,” answered Soma. “I can only assume he…or whomever he is working for had a contingency plan. I contacted Starfleet immediately. Either my communication never reached Starfleet or their message never reached the Enterprise.”

Archer shook his head. “What about Cutler?”

Soma locked eyes with the captain. His expression was blank. “What about her?”

“Does she know anything about this?”

“I imagine she does.”

Archer’s eyes narrowed. “You imagine she does,” he repeated.

Soma stiffened at Archer’s words. “Sorry, Captain…she is the one who brought me here.
She contacted me shortly after Velik disappeared.” Soma considered his next words carefully. “She…claims that Velik is from an alternate timeline. One that has been overwritten…by mine.”

Archer looked at Soma in astonishment. “What?”

“It seems incredible captain. However, I’m at a loss to explain his presence.”

“So this Velik character is out to…what…erase you so you can’t erase him?” said Trip trying to put the pieces together.

“That is the explanation I was given,” said Soma. “Cutler and I made our way back to the Enterprise-C, but apparently we were too late. Velik…or whatever he calls himself had gained control of my ship…either by masquerading as me or by force; we intercepted him and before could even hail them, they opened fire. We barely escaped.”

“I don’t understand,” said Trip. “Everything we know about these temporal agents suggests they are always one step ahead of everyone else. If Elizabeth is one of them how did Velik get one step ahead of her?”

Soma turned and looked at Archer. “That’s why I was hesitant to answer any questions in the shuttle bay,” explained Soma. “I don’t trust your crewman Cutler.”

“Why?” asked Trip.

“If Daniels sent her here to assist,” explained Soma, “Why didn’t she transport the two of us directly to the Enterprise-C?” Soma looked over at Tucker. “You’re right in questioning her chief. It doesn’t make any sense.”

“Then you don’t trust her?” this time it was T’Pol who voiced the question they were each thinking.

Soma shook his head. “I don’t…at least not completely. She’s brought me here, because she claims this is where Velik will come to make this…change in the timeline. It would appear she is aware of what he intends, but at the same time her own intentions are to keep us in the dark “

“I realize she is a friend of all of you but I think we should use caution.”

“With Elizabeth Cutler? Are ya kiddin’ me? We’ve known her for years.”

“And during those years you had no idea what she was hiding from you commander. She may or may not have been working with Daniels, but whoever she was or is…no one knows for certain, but her.”

“Jonathan, do you really think we can’t trust her?” asked the Tucker.

Soma exhaled before taking another drink from his tea. “Not until we know what her intentions are,” he explained. Looking over at Archer, he studied the captain’s hard-set expression. He could tell Archer was considering all the options…all the possibilities. Soma needed to make sure he considered one other possibility. “

I went along with her because I had to, captain. She may be on our side and then again…she may not. I would advise caution, sir. Let her make the mistake.”

Archer frowned. Elizabeth Cutler… could she really be dangerous? They’d known her for so long…. still…he trusted Soma, and what the Vulcan said was sage advice under any circumstances. He would watch this Elizabeth Cutler closely, waiting for a mistake.

Chapter 3

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Eight hardy souls have made comments

Ahhhh... the plot continues to build. I love that your using the Cutler character. It is a nice tribute to Kelly. Also the character was not used enough in the series. This is a lovely time travel tale.

I'm really curious where you're taking this story. Premise is very solid so far, despite having to re-read through carefully and not mix up the timelines. But hey, anything with Soma, Trip and T'Pol means happiness for me!

Trip rolled his eyes. “Don’t mother him T’Pol.” LOL,FOMA! What a great line!

Oh, more and more of a mystery! Wasn't Trip's teacher named 'Velik'? A different godfather for the progeny, or a twin, or...? Well, don't make us wait too long to find out!

GREAT stuff, Triplover(&Quills)!

PS: I hope Cutler turns out to be a "good guy"...

CUTLER, a bad guy?! Whoa! Never thought of it. I'm with Nikitee on all ponts.

Love this, I really do enjoy your delination of Soma and his little playful digs at his mother and father are wonderful. Nicely light and playful. As for the whole doppleganger part of the story, you have to wonder if this is the *real* Soma or the deviant one. After all, if the alternate Soma is that clever wouldn't he want to get to Archer asap to affect the change? Perhaps this Cutler *is* the good one and that is why Soma is casting doubt upon her to throw the suspicion off himself? There are so many ways this could go and I am enjoying the ride immensely. I look forward to the next part with relish. Thank you, Ali D :~)

^^ That's exactly what I was thinking, Ali!

Oooh. So many twists and turns. I'm curious as to how this will play out.

So many possible plot twists already, and its only Chapter 2! Can't wait for more! Love how Trip is still in the dark, and how he has no idea that his comments are dead on. Why is Poor Trip always the butt of every joke? Not that he doesn't play that part extremely well mind you....