Shadows - Ch 6

Shadows

By Triplover

Rating:
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.: (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!)
A/N: Sorry this took so long… just blame Quills! It was all his fault! Blame Quills!!!!! He’s the one that took so long!!!!!

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Chapter Six

Rihal entered the dimly lit room; slowly approaching the familiar platform that dominated the center of the room. It was her master’s chosen mode of communication, an enigmatic and faceless figure from the future. He had promised her power and purpose. In return, she would serve him without fail. To do otherwise would result in high price exacted. Her predecessor, Silik, new all to well what that price was. Stopping before the platform, she waited for her master to appear. This only occurred at his discretion. Something Rihal disliked, but she dared not voice her displeasure. Looking at the platform, she could see the familiar energy spiral forming. Beams of energy coalesced in a mass of darkness, which soon resembled a humanoid form.

“It has begun,” Rihil said to the shimmering image. “Our link to the Enterprise has reported all proceeds according to plan.”

The shimmering figure nodded. “Contact Duras… tell him to begin. The time to act is near.”

Rihil bowed respectfully. “It will be done.”

***

Duras sat hunched in his command chair. He grew weary of the waiting game. If his ‘confederates’ did not act soon, then he would pursue Archer on his own. Vengeance and honor would be his, with or without his so-called allies. A sudden low beep jostled him from his dreams of vengeance. Looking down at his gloved hand, he reached into it, pulling out a small silver dial. The center of the dial glowed red, and grin formed on Duras’ lips.

Finally, he thought.

Standing, Duras turned to the muscular female Klingon standing at the communications console.

“You have command, Lieutenant Krek. I will be in my quarters. I am not to be disturbed, understood?”

The Klingon female came to attention. “Understood captain!” she barked.

Duras gave her a lingering sneer, and then exited the bridge. Once he was gone, Krek looked around the bridge at her fellow officers. She felt the same thing they all did regarding their captain.

“PetaQ”

***

Duras entered his quarters. Once the door closed, he keyed in his private security code. This was not for prying eyes. Moving across the shadow filled room, he quickly pulled out a palm-sized communications unit, no bigger than a Starfleet communicator. Pressing the illuminated panel, a small screen flashed brightly as face formed on the display.

“When do I have Archer?” growled Duras.

Rihil’s image flickered for a moment before settling. She gave the Klingon a wry smile.

“Begin to follow the Enterprise at a distance,” Rihil instructed him.

Duras nodded, with annoyed. “This had better work…or I will have your head!”

Rihil scowled at him. “If this does not work Duras you will not live long enough to see my head! Just do as you have been told, Klingon. You’ll have what you want. Understood?”

Duras’ bared his teeth angrily. “I will do whatever I must to have Archer and gain back my honor! Is THAT understood Sulibon?”

Rihil gave a devilish smile. “Why do you think Velik chose you Duras? He needed a man determined to stop Archer, at any cost. Now…make sure that Enterprise does not detect you. Await the signal.”
.
Rihil’s image faded and Duras grinned. Soon, his plans of vengeance would be realized and Archer…Archer would be dead.

***

Rachel Garrett looked at the point on the screen that Soma traced with his finger.

“Here…and here! These are temporal readings… but they’re too faint to make an accurate determination. If we can enhance them, we may be able to determine the frequency displacement. Then maybe we can determine what time he traveled to.”

Rachel frowned, folding her arms, looking at the screen. “If we can find the exact period that he traveled too all we’d have to do is sling shot the ship back in time.”

“The longer we wait, the more time he has,” said Soma gravely.

“But all we have to do is jump to the same point,” said Garrett in confusion. “We’ll catch him before he has a chance to act.”

“Only if we’re given the opportunity,” countered Soma. “We don’t know what he has planned. History could very well be altered, and we may have days, hours or even seconds before those changes impact on our time. Time is not on our side.”

Garrett shook her head in agreement. Soma had more practical experience with time travel. In truth, she never cared for it. She joined Starfleet to explore space, not get pulled into some H.G. Wells novel.

“Maybe we should talk to Mr. Sorron again.”

Soma shook his head. “I doubt he’ll say anymore. It’s a game to him.”

“Let me try,” said Garrett. “He might let something slip.”

Soma smiled at her. “Permission granted…but be careful. He’s a sly one.”

Rachel smiled back. “I’ve noticed.”

***

“Back already?”

Garrett glared at the Sulibon, behind the force field. Folding her arms, she gave him a confident smile. “You enjoy this don’t you? All the attention, I mean.”

Sorron laughed icily, sending a shiver down her back.

“You know me so well… Rachel May I call you Rachel?”

Garrett cocked her head. “I suppose you’re expecting me to be surprised that you know my name?”

Sorron moved closer to force field. “I know all about you, Rachel. I know about the day of your birth. The day you became captain… the day you died. Would you like me to tell you about it? It’s particularly…unpleasant.”

Garrett straightened. “No thank you,” she said, smiling. “I prefer a little mystery in my life. But you can answer some questions I have.”

Sorren turned around dismissively.

“Tell me Sorron… that shuttle…the one with your ‘master’ on it… where did it go?

Sorron dropped onto his bunk, letting out a laugh. “Maybe you’re asking the wrong question.”

“What’s the right question Sorren?”

“Who was aboard that shuttle,” he smiled.

“We already know that.”

“Are you certain?” he asked. “Now think carefully Rachel. They’re indistinguishable, aren’t they? How can you be sure?”

“It’s not going to work, Sorren,” she said defiantly. “You’re not going to make me doubt Captain Soma.”

“I don’t have to,” he smiled. “You already do. I can see it in your expression. You’re not entirely certain.”

Rachel didn’t like where this was going. She had come here to get the truth out of him, and he had managed to twist the conversation to another mind game. The captain was right. A shudder went down her back at that thought. Sorren was right. She did have her doubts.

“You said something earlier about removing ‘the pretender from the throne’… what did you mean by that?”

“Time is an interesting thing Rachel. It can change in less time than it takes to blink an eye. You could be smiling one minute… and suffering the next.”

Rachel exhaled. “That tells me nothing.”

“But you’re wrong; it’s the key Rachel.”

Rachel turned around. “You’re being deliberately vague.”

“You’re wrong. I’m telling you everything. Things are not what they seem… neither are people. If you want to find the answer… then you must be honest with yourself. You don’t know if the man on the bridge is your captain or not.”

“Fish someplace else. I’m not biting.”

Turning away, she headed for the exit. She had, had enough of his games.

“Archer’s Enterprise,” he called out.

Stopping, she turned around slowly. What he had just said may have been another attempt at a game, but she couldn’t dismiss it out of hand. Walking back to the cell, she looked Sorren in the face.

“I’m listening.”

“That is where you will find your answers,” he replied.

“Why should I believe you?”

“Because you know it’s true,” he smiled.

“You gave up nothing before… why now?”

The Sulibon cocked his head at her with a smile that sent shivers down her spine.

“Perhaps because I have been instructed to lead you astray or perhaps I have been instructed to lead you right where my master wants you. Either way, you could be doing exactly what he wants. Of course, you could just sit by and do nothing…like you are doing right now.”

“When?” she asked.

“I’ve given you what you need,” he replied. “The rest you can decipher on your own.”

***

Soma shook his head. Standing from his office chair, he came around the desk. “This doesn’t sit well with me, Number one. We’re relying on information from one of Velik’s confederates. By his own admission, he could be sending us after a red herring.”

“I agree, sir, but as it stands, our options are limited,” replied Garrett. “He’s given us the place. Now we just have to find the time.”

“It’s already been done.”

Garrett looked at him questioningly. “Sir?”

“While you were reacquainting yourself with Sorren, I had Mr. Tol work on those temporal readings. He was able to isolate a fragment, and determine a probable date…2254.”

“Captain Archer’s time period.”

He nodded in agreement. “Yes.”

“So it’s either our red herring…or a trap,” she said. “What do we do?”

“I would think it’s obvious,” he smiled. “We venture into the lion’s den”

“Aye, sir. I’ll have Mr. Tol prepare computations for a sling shot time warp.”

“Very good,” said Soma. “I’ll-“

Soma’s hand suddenly shot to his forehead, and Garrett caught the grimace on his face.

“Captain!”

Steadying himself against the desk, he rubbed his temple. Garrett grabbed Soma’s arm as he started to fall forward. Tapping the comm. button on the desk, she called out.

“Medical emergency, captain’s ready room.”

Soma immediately straightened, shaking Garrett off.

“Cancel that order!”

“But sir-“

“I’m fine, Number one,” he said. “Just a little light headed.”

“Sir, I really think-“

“I said I’m fine commander,” he said stressing her rank.

“Yes, sir.”

“Now, please have Mr. Tol perform the necessary calculations,” ordered the captain.

“Aye, sir,” she replied.

Turning away, she headed for the exit. Soma watched the door slide as she past through the arch. When he was certain she has left, he leaned against the table, letting it support his weight. Putting his hand to his head, he felt the throbbing pain that continued to afflict him.

Chapter 7

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Four of you have made comments

Good chapter...you meant 2154...right!?!

Er.... right... 2154. Uh... can I blame that on Quills as well? Oh yeah... I can. It's all his fault!!!!! LOL

I didn't even realize this was here! Nice! Can't wait for the next chapter!

Good story but oh how I miss Trip and T'Pol! Hope you soon bring them into the tale. Ali D :~)