Written by
Jonjo Wilson, Jo Hack and Adam Murray Briggs
Original release: December 27th 2006
You can now leave your comments on this episode directly on this page. See you at the end of the story!
TEASER
INT. GUARDIAN - CORRIDOR
SHEMESH, a very tall and somewhat emaciated looking middle-aged human man, walks a little unsteadily through the corridor of an alien vessel. Alongside him walks an armed REMAN GUARD, but there is no sign of duress. The Reman Guard has his weapon holstered and seems at ease. Shemesh does not look so much like a prisoner as a civilian passenger on a military vessel.
The two of them round a corner, and as they do, we see a human woman dressed in a twenty-ninth century Starfleet uniform, as seen in Voyager's 'Future's End' and 'Relativity'. This is Lieutenant Commander ZIZHEN ('Assignment: Enterprise'). She's a small Asian woman in her mid-thirties. Zizhen simply stands at the far end of the corridor, perfectly motionless, smiling. The Reman Guard instantly goes for his weapon but Shemesh quickly incapacitates him with a Vulcan neck pinch.
Shemesh and Zizhen stare at each other.
Beat.
ZIZHEN
You can still do that. Star tried to teach me once, but I
wasn't very good. It just tickled.
Upon hearing her voice, Shemesh snaps out of his reverie, and leaving the now unconscious Reman Guard, he approaches Zizhen.
SHEMESH
You're not Py.
Zizhen shakes her head, grinning broadly.
SHEMESH (CONT.)
And you're not an hallucination.
ZIZHEN
I should certainly hope not.
By now Shemesh is standing just before Zizhen. He is almost twice her size.
SHEMESH
You're from the past.
She nods.
ZIZHEN
Sent from the future.
Very slowly, Shemesh reaches out and touches Zizhen on the forehead, as if afraid she might simply vanish. Zizhen closes her eyes and wrinkles her nose girlishly. She giggles.
SHEMESH
I can touch you!
At that Zizhen leaps forward, and taking Shemesh by surprise, she wraps her arms around him in a tight hug. Shemesh looks awkward and confused, and after a moment, he gently eases her off him.
ZIZHEN
(emotional)
I missed you! Afterwards, we searched. We never gave up,
but I knew you were lost. You were so far away. So very
far away.
SHEMESH
Lieutenant...
At the mention of rank Zizhen adopts an altogether more formal demeanor. She smiles again, though her eyes are wet with tears.
ZIZHEN
That's Lieutenant Commander, if you please.
SHEMESH
In three hundred years you only got promoted twice?
ZIZHEN
Well you didn't get promoted at all!
They laugh, and the tension is defused.
Beat.
SHEMESH
Have you come to take me back?
Zizhen shakes her head, and for a moment looks almost sad.
ZIZHEN
I can't. You're here now, where you should be. But I have
a favor to ask. A mission for you, Captain. All my
calculations lead me to you. Tess agrees. I think it's
recompence. I mean, for what happened. What she made me
tell him about that colony.
SHEMESH
I don't understand.
ZIZHEN
We're going to the past.
On Shemesh's disbelief we leave the scene.
ACT ONE
EXT. SPACE
The starship Intrepid, registry NV-05, glides gracefully into frame, moving at full impulse.
INT. INTREPID - MESS HALL
The crew lounge is a lot like the mess-hall on Enterprise, only smaller.
ANGLE ON: RYAN LACHLAN
Sat at a table by himself, LACHLAN is a man in his late thirties and has long brown hair which is tied back in a pony-tail. He is wearing a Starfleet uniform, and the rank pins indicate his grade is Captain.
FEMALE VOICE (COMM.)
Bridge to Lachlan.
Lachlan thumbs a nearby intercom button.
LACHLAN
Go ahead, Commander.
FEMALE VOICE (COMM.)
Enterprise had dropped out of warp, Captain. She's coming
alongside, standard pattern.
LACHLAN
Acknowledged.
NEW ANGLE: Through the windows of the crew lounge we can see the NX-01 gliding silently towards Intrepid.
INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE
Seated in the command chair is Commander T'POL. Junior Lieutenant ILLETSCHKO is at the science station, Ensign KITTEN SMITH is at the helm, and Ensign BAIRD is at communications.
The view screen flickers to life and shows Lachlan on the bridge of the Intrepid. He is stood a little slouched, resting against the captain's chair.
LACHLAN
Enterprise, this is Intrepid. Let's get this show on the
road.
T'POL
Captain Lachlan, you are early. I was under the impression
that Intrepid would not be ready for another eight hours.
LACHLAN
We're ready.
The view screen flickers then returns to the image of the star field. T'Pol looks a little put out by the curtness of Captain Lachlan.
ILLETSCHKO
I miss Captain Ramirez.
Kitten raises her eyebrows, agreeing.
INT. ENTERPRISE - SICKBAY
PHLOX, his usual cheery self, is working at the imaging chamber when T'Pol enters sickbay.
PHLOX
Ah, Commander! Is there something I can do for you?
With a quick glance around the room T'Pol answers:
T'POL
The Intrepid has arrived early. We need to begin
preparations for the transfer.
(beat)
Where is the captain?
PHLOX
He is indisposed at the moment. Perhaps you would assist
me, hmm?
For a second T'Pol doesn't seem to know what he means, but Phlox points at the large monitor screen above the imaging chamber. It displays the body of a human male.
T'POL
The captain?
PHLOX
Mmm-hmm. Could you monitor the cardiovascular rate for me?
She goes to assist Phlox.
INT. ENTERPRISE - SICKBAY - IMAGING CHAMBER
Captain ARCHER lies in the narrow, confined space inside the chamber illuminated by pale blue lights. He looks extremely uncomfortable and impatient.
After a moment there are a series of clicks and a whirring sound. Red and blue lights flash as the process begins.
A few seconds in, though, Archer flinches and winces in pain. He fights to compose himself but flinches again, and then screams. He begins beating the side and roof of the chamber with his arms and twisting as if attempting to wriggle free.
Clearly, he is in a massive amount of distress!
INT. ENTERPRISE - SICKBAY
As before.
We can hear Archer's cries. Phlox works frantically.
T'POL
Doctor!
Phlox nods at her and T'Pol pulls a frantic, delirious Archer out of the chamber as Phlox fetches a sedative. T'Pol tries to restrain Archer but even with her superior strength she struggles. Phlox returns with the sedative but before he can administer it one of Archer's flailing arms knocks the hypospray from his hands. The doctor scrambles after it but before he can retrieve the device, T'Pol takes the initiative and puts Archer out with a nerve pinch.
As the captain slumps unconscious, Phlox gets back to his feet.
T'POL
What happened?
PHLOX
I don't know. The captain has been through the imaging
chamber several times since we started our attempts to
recover the erased memories. He has never had an adverse
reaction during any of the previous trials.
T'POL
Was there anything different about the tests your were
running today?
PHLOX
No. I merely wanted an updated set of neural scans to work
with. I've performed the exact same scans on a number of
occasions.
Standing over the unconscious form of Captain Archer, both T'Pol and Phlox look extremely worried.
T'POL
We need to get everything ready for the transfer. I will
assist you with that. Meanwhile, have Petty Officer Cutler
conduct a full examination of the captain.
Phlox nods.
INT. INTREPID - BRIDGE
The Intrepid bridge has the same layout as the one we saw aboard the Shenzhou, only the consoles seem to have been refitted slightly, including a new blue paint scheme over Shenzhou's metal grey look, and chairs have been added to some of the side positions. Also, there is now a large wall monitor in the situation area directly aft, currently displaying a three-view schematic of the ship.
Lachlan hovers over the newer command chair, strumming his fingers on the back and staring at the view screen.
LACHLAN
Why are they taking so long!?
His tactical officer, Lieutenant FILLION, looks up from his console.
FILLION
(smiling)
We're early. They're not ready. Give them a chance.
Lachlan shoots him a glance that silences him, but does not take the smile off his face.
LACHLAN
I'm going to check out engineering and see if I can't
speed things up down there. If they call while I'm away,
put it through to me immediately.
FILLION
Aye sir.
LACHLAN
You have the bridge, Lieutenant.
Lachlan exits through a side entrance.
INT. INTREPID - ENGINEERING
The room has a similar layout to the one on Enterprise, only it is about half the size and most of the warp core is hidden behind the aft wall. The core is also of a different design to the NX-class warp five engine.
Captain Lachlan is stood at an engineering console, studying the matter/antimatter intermix ratio. He is intently focused, so much so that he seems completely unaware of the two people stood behind him. As we pull back we see that they are Zizhen and Shemesh.
Shemesh looks at Zizhen quizzically. She smiles back.
NEW ANGLE: Close on Lachlan. He taps a couple of keys on the console but seems distracted; his focus elsewhere. All of a sudden he spins round as if expecting to find someone stood behind him. But there is no one. Apart from a crewmen on the upper deck and one officer across the room, he is alone in engineering.
INT. ENTERPRISE - SICKBAY
Sickbay is busy. REED and TRAVIS are present, carrying medical equipment and directing various crewmembers. HOSHI is also there, watching this, looking somewhat dispirited. After a moment, she leaves the commotion and heads over to a curtained off section of sickbay.
Behind the curtain she finds Archer laid still, unconscious. Phlox is taking scans of him while T'Pol watches over.
HOSHI
(loudly)
How is he?
Phlox looks up at T'Pol, who takes a PADD and quickly types out an answer to her question.
PHLOX
(to T'Pol)
I think it is safe to revive him. But as I cannot find the
slightest cause for his seizure, I cannot be certain.
T'Pol nods her ascent, and Phlox quickly assembles a hypo-spray before pressing it to the captain's neck.
Slowly, Archer comes round. He groans and squints up at the three people stood over him.
ARCHER
What happened?
PHLOX
You had some sort of seizure inside the imaging chamber.
ARCHER
Seizure?
As Hoshi watches his exchanged we:
INT. ENTERPRISE - SICKBAY - HOSHI'S POV - CONTINUOUS
As before. Archer quizzes Phlox and T'Pol but they don't seem to be able to offer him any real answers. But of course Hoshi cannot hear a word of what's being said, only a faint hissing noise.
No one is paying attention to her, though. They are all focused on Archer and his condition, and so after a few moments she slips out.
INT. ENTERPRISE - SICKBAY
Hoshi has left unnoticed. Meanwhile, the conversation seems to have reached an impasse. Archer struggles to his feet. He seems a little dizzy and and rubs his shoulder.
ARCHER
Have we heard from Intrepid?
T'POL
They arrived three hours ago. We are preparing for the
transfer.
ARCHER
They're early.
T'POL
It would appear that Captain Lachlan is eager to get
underway.
(beat)
I did not inform him of your condition.
Archer nods, and looks like he's about to leave.
PHLOX
Captain, I would suggest that you remain in sickbay for
the time-being, at least until I can determine exactly
what caused your seizure.
Clearly, Archer doesn't want to remain cooped up in sickbay, but his instincts to return to duty are tempered by the fact that he does seem genuinely unwell - so much so that he seems to be struggling to remain upright.
With a nod, he climbs back onto the bed and allows Phlox to continue with his examinations.
ARCHER
(to T'Pol)
Ask if Captain Lachlan would mind coming aboard. I would
like to speak to him before he departs. And spread the
word that our little get together will have to be brought
forward.
T'POL
Aye, sir.
With that, T'Pol exits. Archer closes his eyes, wincing against some unseen pain.
INT. INTREPID - BRIDGE
Captain Lachlan paces his bridge impatiently. Seated at the science station is Lieutenant Commander MCALLISTER. MCALLISTER Sir, Enterprise is hailing us.
LACHLAN
Finally! On screen.
MCALLISTER
Sir, it's Commander T'Pol. She says what she wishes to
discuss is rather sensitive.
LACHLAN
(sighing)
Put her through to my quarters, then.
MCALLISTER
Aye, sir.
Lachlan hurriedly exits via the turbolift.
INT. INTREPID - CORRIDOR
As Lachlan walks down the corridor, he bumps into a CREWMAN First Class.
CREWMAN
I'm sorry sir, I didn't look where I was going.
LACHLAN
It's ok.
In a quick motion, the crewman slips something into Lachlan's pocket, though Lachlan doesn't seem to notice this. The Crewman then moves off down the corridor.
CREWMAN
I have to be going sir, I am sorry for running into you.
The crewman turns the corner and hurries away, leaving Lachlan behind. We follow him around another corner, and then as he runs into Zizhen and Shemesh. Zizhen has a futuristic tricorder in her hand, and with the tap of one key, the Crewman vanishes.
ZIZHEN
See? Simple.
SHEMESH
Did you bring me along just to show off? Besides,
Starfleet could have pulled off that kind of stunt in our
day.
ZIZHEN
True. If you had the mobile holo emitter brought back by
the USS Voyager and could disguise it somehow. But that
little 'stunt' was a far more sophisticated operation.
SHEMESH
I'll take your word for it.
(beat)
Now what?
At that, we see one of Zizhen's trademark grins.
ZIZHEN
Now we get ourselves a couple of Intrepid uniforms and
watch one of those small but pivotal moments in history.
(beat, leaning in)
Then the fun really begins!
Still smiling, Zizhen taps another key, and the two of then vanish, taken by a silent, almost instantaneous transporter beam to an unknown location.
INT. ENTERPRISE - SICKBAY
Various crew are moving out the final pieces of equipment that was being assembled earlier as Captain Lachlan enters. The curtain around Archer's bed has been pulled back now and he can see him sat up in bed, still looking a little out of sorts, but better than he was.
Lachlan approaches Archer.
LACHLAN
Well Captain Archer, it's time you and I had a little
talk.
ARCHER
Captain Lachlan, thank you for coming. I'm sorry I haven't
had the chance to speak to your earlier.
They shake hands politely, if somewhat practiced.
LACHLAN
I hadn't realised you were ill. No one saw fit to inform
me.
ARCHER
I can understand your frustration, Captain. This isn't
exactly the most glamorous of assignments.
Lachlan shrugs.
LACHLAN
I've only been in command for a few months, and for most
of that time my ship has been in bits. I have to pay my
dues, I know that. A newly refitted ship and a newly
promoted Captain aren't about to be sent out into the
unknown for their first mission.
(beat)
Not unless there is some sort of interstellar espionage
going on, of course.
ARCHER
(smiling)
It was a different time back then. Starfleet had no choice
but to send us straight out into the thick of it. But this
mission is important. It's important to me. I requested
that the transfer be by a Starfleet vessel; by a ship that
could look after itself.
LACHLAN
Well, you can rest assured that she'll receive first class
service aboard the Intrepid. The best damn taxi service in
the galaxy.
There is a trace of sour humor in Lachlan's words, and Archer chooses to ignore it.
T'Pol interrupts the duo as she pulls back the curtain. She approaches. Behind her, we realise that all the other Enterprise crew have left sickbay, apart from Phlox, who also joins them.
T'POL
(to Archer)
Lachlan's men are all in place and everything has gone
according to plan.
Archer gets a little unsteadily on his feet. T'Pol moves closer to offer her support but Archer waves her away.
ARCHER
(to Lachlan)
You know where you're going?
Lachlan nods.
ARCHER (CONT.)
Then let's get this show on the road.
With that, the four of them exit.
INT. ENTERPRISE - HOSHI'S QUARTERS
Hoshi sits perched on the edge of her bed, looking at a loss. Her quarters look bare - there are no personal items visible on the shelving, and two duffel bags are laid on the deck. There is a sudden flash from across the room and, looking up, Hoshi sees that it's coming from the door of her quarters. She gets up and walks slowly over.
She presses the key and the doors pull back, revealing Captain Lachlan. He hands her a PADD, which she quickly scans, before looking up and nodding. They take a duffel bag each. Hoshi takes one last look back at her quarters, and then exits with Lachlan.
INT. ENTERPRISE - CORRIDOR
Hoshi and Lachlan walk side-by-side down a deserted corridor. They are completely silent. Hoshi looks like she is being taken away to her execution.
Eventually, they come to the docking bay doors. Lachlan hits the keypad and the doors slide back to reveal the docking bay.
INT. ENTERPRISE - DOCKING BAY - CONTINUOUS
As Hoshi enters the bay, encased in her silent world and followed by Captain Lachlan, we see that Archer, T'Pol, TRIP, Reed, Travis and Phlox are all waiting for her. Gathered around the senior staff are other officers: Illetschko, Kitten, HANSSON, MURAKAMI, and Baird. In fact, all of Enterprise's officers are present. And up on the gantries we can see the rest of the crew, amongst them CUTLER, ELKINS, BILLY, NOVAKOVICH, TANNER and ROSTOV - familiar faces from the past five years of Enterprise. There are also two figures that Hoshi doesn't recognize; Zizhen and Shemesh. Almost the entire ship's complement has turned out - at least as many as could fit in the docking bay and who could be spared from vital ship operations.
Still looking a little out of sorts, Archer steps forwards to greet Hoshi, and pretty soon she is surrounded. People even descend from the upper level. Without words they can only express their feelings through actions. Archer and Hoshi hug tightly. Hoshi then goes on to hug the rest of the senior staff, including a very awkward looking T'Pol.
After a few moments the group breaks up a little. Hoshi, T'Pol, Reed and Cutler split off, and along with Lachlan, head towards a waiting shuttle marked 'NV-05 Intrepid - Shuttlepod'. The others climb aboard but Hoshi hesitates a moment, and turning back she sees that the crew of Enterprise are all applauding her. She waves shyly, choked up with emotion, and then with one last look at her former crew, she turns away and boards the shuttlepod.
ACT TWO
EXT. SPACE
Enterprise and Intrepid pull away from each other, and jump to warp, going their separate ways.
INT. INTREPID - SICKBAY
About half the size of the one on Enterprise, the place is still surprisingly roomy. In the main area there is the imaging chamber, the diagnostics bed, some storage equipment and a bed for physicals - a predecessor to the swing-down design seen a hundred years later on the Enterprise NCC-1701. An adjacent ward with three other beds is attached.
T'Pol, Reed and Cutler are setting up the medical equipment under the supervision of the Intrepid's Chief Surgeon, Doctor MATTHEW EVERETT (Lieutenant Commander rank). Reed is using a plasma welder to fix a monitor to the wall. Everett is in his late thirties.
EVERETT
Make sure the fittings are securely welded.
T'POL
We know what to do, Doctor.
EVERETT
I don't want you making a mess of my sickbay.
REED
(irritated)
We won't let the medical care of our injured friend mess
up your sickbay, Dr. Everett.
EVERETT
(humorless)
See that she doesn't.
Everett heads back to his 'office', which is actually just a desk in the corner.
REED
(to Travis)
Charming fellow, isn't he?
T'Pol doesn't comment, and the Enterprise crew get back to work.
INT. INTREPID - GUEST QUARTERS
Hoshi sits on the bed and looks around her temporary quarters aboard the Intrepid. They are not as big as her former quarters on Enterprise. Most of her things are still packed away in duffel bags and boxes with the Starfleet logo on them.
Slowly, she unzips one bag and pulls out one of her uniforms. She tears the NX-01 patch off the arm, looks at it a moment, then tosses it onto the floor.
EXT. SPACE - ENTERPRISE
The NX-01 flying away from us at warp speed.
INT. ENTERPRISE - SICKBAY
Archer is still being kept in sickbay under observation, but that doesn't mean he's not working. Yeoman Murakami is at his bedside, taking notes.
ARCHER
It's likely that Ensign Sato will be on sick leave for at
least six months, maybe longer. So we need to start
looking at recruiting a new linguistics expert when we get
back to Earth.
(beat)
Baird is a fine officer and can fill in as communications
chief, but we need someone on the team who has a natural
gift with languages.
MURAKAMI
Aye sir. I have taken the liberty of drawing up a list of
potential candidates, but most of them are already away on
assignment.
Nodding approvingly, Archer moves onto another matter.
ARCHER
Are the preparations in place for Andoria?
MURAKAMI
Aye, sir. All personnel have been briefed on proper
protocol and we have received an itinerary from the
Andorian government.
(beat)
Shall I inform them that you will be attending the
diplomatic reception?
ARCHER
I'll be there. I'd like to speak to the ambassador though,
before we reach the Andor system. Could you request a
meeting?
Murakami ascents with a nod.
MURAKAMI
Is there anything else, sir?
For a moment, Archer seems to be thinking, as if there's something he can't quite remember. Then:
ARCHER
No. That'll be all.
With a polite little bow, Murakami leaves his troubled captain who seems suddenly oblivious to him.
INT. ENTERPRISE - CORRIDOR
Yeoman Murakami walks briskly down the corridor and disappears round a corner, out of sight. After a moment Zizhen and Shemesh step out of the shadows. Zizhen glances down the corridor after Murakami, looking concerned, then turns her attentions to sickbay. They approach.
SHEMESH
Are you sure this is safe?
ZIZHEN
Don't worry. The Aeon is keeping track of every single bio-
sign on Enterprise. No one will be coming near sickbay for
several minutes.
SHEMESH
What about Archer?
They've reached the doors of sickbay. Zizhen hits the key and they slide open for her. They enter.
ZIZHEN
It's okay. Don't be frightened.
Archer is awake, but seems less than lucid. He looks at Zizhen and Shemesh as they walk across sickbay towards him, but doesn't seem to understand what's going on.
Seeing this, Shemesh waves his hand in front of Archer's face. There is no reaction.
SHEMESH
What did you do to him?
ZIZHEN
Something terrible. The worst thing I've ever done in my
life.
SHEMESH
(unsure)
Right.
(beat)
So what do we do now? I still don't understand what we're
doing here apart from taking in the show.
ZIZHEN
I told you that there was some trouble with the timeline
surrounding Enterprise. We mended it a bit. We brought
Daniels back to life and everything. But there was some
fallout. A few more kinks than we expected. And with
Braxton in the Delta Quadrant and Daniels still dead at
this point it's up to us to smooth things over.
SHEMESH
But there's something else, isn't there? This isn't just a
tidying up exercise. You wouldn't need me for that, and
you have the rest of the time fleet to help if you
couldn't handle it alone.
ZIZHEN
No. There's more to it than that.
All this time Zizhen has kept her eyes fixed firmly on Archer. She has lost much of her normal verve in his presence, looking troubled and lost. For a second it looks like Shemesh might add something, but Zizhen beats him to it. Turning sharply back to him she says:
ZIZHEN
It's time.
With that, she marches back towards the door. And after a moment Shemesh follows, leaving the befuddled Archer behind.
EXT. INTREPID
The Starfleet light explorer zips past at warp.
INT. INTREPID - LACHLAN'S QUARTERS
Lachlan is sat hunched over his desk reading through various PADD's when the door chimes. Lachlan gets up to his feet and heads across his quarters to answer. It's T'Pol.
T'POL
Captain Lachlan.
LACHLAN
Commander T'Pol.
(beat)
What can I do for you?
The two of them stand uneasily before each other. Lachlan doesn't seem inclined to invite T'Pol in.
T'POL
I was wondering if I could talk to you about Ensign Sato.
LACHLAN
What about her? Is there some problem with the equipment?
We might not be an NX but the refit got rid of the leeches
at least.
T'POL
The facilities are fine. Everything is set up and
operational. It is not her physical well-being that is
cause for concern.
LACHLAN
What? You think she's going nuts?
T'POL
That is an extremely indelicate way to put it. I was
merely expressing my concern that she is struggling to
deal with the emotional consequences of her condition.
LACHLAN
Well if she is going nuts what do you expect me to do
about it? I can't order her to cope. She's a woman who has
lived her entire life listening to people, and now it's
all gone. Can't blame her for struggling to adjust.
T'Pol looks a little exasperated with Captain Lachlan, but isn't ready to give up yet.
T'POL
Doctor Phlox and I felt that it might help her if she was
to talk about it with someone who isn't connected with
Enterprise.
LACHLAN
Well I'm sure they've got the best head-doctors on Earth
all lined up waiting for her return.
T'POL
Perhaps. But Doctor Phlox and I felt that a fellow
Starfleet officer might make more headway.
At that, Lachlan suddenly realizes where this is heading.
LACHLAN
Hey, I'm a captain, not a doctor! Besides, she doesn't
even know me. What? You just want me to pitch up at her
quarters and see if she wants to cry on my shoulder?
She'll just feel like we've all began coddling her.
(beat)
If you ask me the woman needs some space. She needs some
time on her own to come to terms with what happened. She
doesn't need a damned nursemaid fussing over her.
(beat)
Now if you excuse me, I have work to do.
Defeated, T'Pol inclines her head in acknowledgement.
T'POL
I'm sorry to have bothered you, Captain. Good evening.
LACHLAN
That's fine.
The doors close and Lachlan ambles back to his desk. He pauses for just a moment though, lost in thought. He looks up out of the window at the stars streaking by and seems to be belatedly considering T'Pol's request.
Before he can do anything, the Intrepid lurches and then drops out of warp. There is some sort of energy field growing outside.
Lachlan runs for the door.
EXT. SPACE
The aperture of the vortex resembles a large jagged hole in space within which can be seen a maelstrom of changing colors and patterns. Seemingly out of control, the Intrepid is drawn towards the swirling mass of energy.
INT. INTREPID - SICKBAY
Here we find Doctor Everett, Cutler and Hoshi. Hoshi is up on a bed surrounded by the specialist equipment brought over from Enterprise. They are monitoring the implant but for the moment everyone is more concerned at the way the ship is starting to shake.
HOSHI
(loudly)
What's going on?
Cutler looks up at Doctor Everett who heads over to a comm station. Cutler's attention is brought sharply back to Hoshi, though, as she suddenly yells out in pain.
EVERETT
(turning back)
What is it?
CUTLER
(working)
The implant...it's acting strangely. It's having some kind
of reaction, maybe to whatever's going on out there!
As Cutler tries to smooth an increasingly panicked Hoshi we:
INT. INTREPID - BRIDGE
We see Lachlan rush in and head towards the science station where McAllister is situated, looking down the science viewing scanner.
MCALLISTER
I'm detecting strange energy readings from two-four-six
degrees, mark six port...
LACHLAN
Visual!
On the screen, the image changes to the swirling vortex. T'Pol and Reed enter the bridge, but without stations to man they seem a little out of place.
LACHLAN (CONT.)
What the hell is it?
MCALLISTER
Unknown sir. It's putting out a lot of energy and is
emitting a slight chronometric radiation signature.
T'POL
Chronometric radiation could indicate distortions in space-
time.
LACHLAN
Does it pose any danger?
FILLION
I can't tell, sir. It's disrupting our sensor readings. I
thought I saw another ship out there, though...just for a
second...
MCALLISTER
(alarmed)
Sir, the vortex is surging!
LACHLAN
Get us out of the way! Send a distress call.
FILLION
(interrupting)
I can't get a signal through the interference.
The ship starts to tremble really badly.
REED
My god, the viewer...
Lachlan looks at the viewscreen and sees an enormous gaseous wave - a subspace shock front rippling out. Lachlan thumbs a control on the the science console.
LACHLAN
(to comm.)
All hands, brace for impact!
The ship jolts violently. Bulkheads explode, sending metal fragments screaming across the bridge. While the Intrepid crew work, T'Pol and Reed do their best to put out the fire using extinguishers taken from a cupboard in the situation room.
MCALLISTER
We're caught in a gravametric field emanating from the
trailing edge of the...whatever the hell it is!
LACHLAN
All engines, full reverse!
Lachlan looks up fearfully as the vortex consumes his ship.
INT. INTREPID - SICKBAY
As before. Hoshi is screaming, holding her ear.
EVERETT
It's killing her! We have to extract the parasite!
CUTLER
No!
There is nothing they can do for the moment, though, as in a flash we:
EXT. SPACE
Meteors and asteroids are smashing past as the Intrepid is tossed about like a cork on the high seas during a storm.
In it's wake moves the sleek form of the Federation timeshuttle Aeon.
The Intrepid tries to turn sideways but cannot break away. It is clearly being
pulled into the vortex. And then, in a blinding burst of white light, the Starfleet
vessel is gone.