T’Pol stepped off the transport, grasping a hand in hers and guiding her eleven-year-old son toward Malcolm and Hoshi. Hoshi gasped in surprise, finally making the connections over T’Pol’s circumstances and the Vulcan boy who stood before them. He looked exactly like a smaller version of Jon, but with pointed ears. She had asked Malcolm repeatedly about the Vulcan’s business, and had finally given up as he repeatedly replied, “It’s not my place to tell.”
“Hello T’Pol. Hello H’enri,” greeted Malcolm, as he took a bag from each.
H’enri nodded in greeting and T’Pol nodded. “I’ve been reading over the conference notes and am aware of the delicacy of the situation, but find it difficult to believe that the argument is over a moon one kilometer in diameter.”
“It isn’t really about the moon, T’Pol, it’s about religious ideologies. The Brewnings and the Cathage consider their home planets as holy ground and believe that the moon they share is part of their planets. The moon is similar in composition to both planets, so the capture theory isn’t plausible. Each side presents the same scientific proof -- none of it based in science though.”
“After your … ‘death’… perhaps I will look into the evidence more closely and…” T’Pol started, as H’enri cleared his throat.
“Please forgive me H’enri. This is Ambassador Hoshi Sato and you know Captain Reed,” she paused, and took a shuddering breath. “Is Admiral Archer…”
Malcolm interjected, seeing the Vulcan’s eyes mist. “I’ll take you to his apartment, so you two can talk in private. Hoshi and I will take care of H’enri until you call for him, okay?”
-----------------------
Malcolm and Hoshi had H’enri for less than an hour before his parents came to collect him. Jon’s eyes were wide and moist, unbelieving that the dreams he had of his and T’Pol’s child had become a reality.
Hoshi walked into the bedroom, followed closely by Malcolm, and turned to him slowly. “Why didn’t you ever tell me? How could you not tell Jon?”
Before he could reply, she continued. “It makes me wonder if there is more of you hidden somewhere that I don’t know about. Perhaps you have a wife and ten kids back on Jupiter Station, or…”
He grasped her by her shoulders giving her a little shake. “I found out about her pregnancy quite by accident, I assure you. Do you remember the shuttle accident she and I were in on our way back from the Sainon’s conference? She had suffered a concussion and was delirious.” Malcolm trailed off on the last part of his speech.
Hoshi remained silent, not really mad at Malcolm, but concerned for Jon.
"T'Pol begged me not to tell Jon, and Phlox backed her up. At that point, she was only a few months along. Phlox told me that it was unlikely that the fetus would survive much longer and prattled on about DNA incompatibilities,” continued Malcolm. He walked into their bedroom, not expecting Hoshi to follow him, much less hug him from behind.
Hoshi was unable to stay angry with him for long. She had seen the anguished look on his face – the anguish that had been a part of him for so long.
He sighed, "You have no idea how difficult it was, not to tell him.”
Hoshi stepped in front of him and shushed him, her hand stroking his face. “I love you.”
Malcolm’s eyes glistened and a sigh of relief escaped his lips. “I love you too.”
---------------
Seven days later and an exhausting schedule of offers and counter offers had Hoshi rubbing her forehead in frustration. The delegates were very accepting of T’Pol’s presence and Hoshi’s ‘failing health’ excuse. They needed a neutral conduit and place to meet. T’Pol was briefed and ready to take over, and the Brewnings and Cathage negotiations were at a non-delicate stage.
Tomorrow, Hoshi would ‘die’.
-------------------------
Malcolm paced the corridor nervously like an anxious father. The thought crossed his head and he chuckled at the thought of having children with Hoshi. Neither of them was getting younger and he did want children. He shook his head as the vision of a little cherub-faced, dark-haired girl came into his thoughts. He could feel his heart stretch at the possibilities, but first he had to ensure Hoshi’s safety.
The conference had recessed and he slipped into a side room, fingering the hypo spray that would wake her that Phlox had given him. Hoshi followed him in, her breathing raspy and her eyes wild.
Phlox entered from a side door. “Are you ready, Hoshi?”
“Yes,” she whispered shakily, hugging Malcolm to her and looking directly into his eyes.
Phlox looked at his watch and noted the time. “The conference will reconvene in five minutes. Let’s wait until you’re ready to join them, okay?”
Malcolm nodded his head in agreement. He rubbed his cheek against hers and whispered into her ear.
Hoshi smiled, excited tears in her eyes.
Phlox’s alarm on his watch went off and he moved toward the two lovers.
“I’ll be right there when you wake up, and we can start our new life together,” Malcolm murmured against her lips.
Hoshi jerked as the cool metal pressed against her neck and the slight sting of the injection coursed into her. She exhaled and kissed him then turned and walked out of the room. At the door she turned and whispered, “I love you.”
----------------
The Brewnings were arguing the same point again and Hoshi just listened to the Cathage’s response in her mind. Her thoughts were her own, neither side daring to pass through the privacy barrier. She could feel the heat spread through her and knew it wouldn’t be long. T’Pol stood by her side.
Hoshi felt hot and out of breath, panicked at the sensations that went through her body. She stood and collapsed, her world going dark.
--------------
Malcolm scurried to her side along with Phlox. They tried in vain to resuscitate her for several minutes. Malcolm itched to inject her with the antidote right there, but knew it was for the best. He shuddered a sigh of relief as the blood trickled from her nose as both delegates watched in horror and released Hoshi from the link.
T’Pol stepped in and Malcolm could hear her suggest that they link with her.
The plan was working! Soon, he and Hoshi would be together.
He wrapped her into his arms, and lifted her, carrying her outside and putting her into Phlox’s transport. A crowd had gathered and was gawking in awe. Malcolm tensed, and Phlox whispered into his ear, “Relax, Captain. It’s only been twenty minutes. We’re perfectly within the parameters to revive her.”
Phlox walked over to the other side of the vehicle and got into the driver’s side. He waved his had over the ignition and started to drive away, staring at the crow behind him.
“Not yet, Malcolm. We still have prying eyes. We want people thinking she’s dead, not merely incapacitated.”
Malcolm held the hypo spray in his trembling hand. “What’s the time?” he shouted.
Phlox maneuvered the vehicle down the driveway and into the nearest intersection, looking at his watch the entire time, and then glancing in the rear-view mirror. “Twenty-one minutes.”
That was the last thing Malcolm heard or felt before everything went black.
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Present day --
The tears streamed down his face as he ran his hands along the temporary marker where his beloved lay. “I’m so sorry, Hoshi. I woke up in the hospital days later. Phlox was killed at impact and nobody except T’Pol knew about the antidote. She didn’t see the accident happen.”
“We were so close,” sobbed Malcolm uncontrollably.
“All that time, and it came down to minutes!” he scoffed, arranging the flowers so that the sliver of moonlight shone down on them.
“I had a cottage set up for us on the moon. With all the talk of lore and superstition, I thought you would appreciate the irony. The moon is waning now…” he paused, finally letting more tears to flow.
“You should see it. It’s so beautiful…” sniffled Malcolm.
“O! swear not by the moon,” he whispered into the night air, “ the inconstant moon, That monthly changes in her circled orb, Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.”
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