When she awoke the next day Danaë's head was pounding so hard that she was certain someone must have split her skull wide open. Thinking back over the previous night she decided it would be best if in the future she stuck to the earl grey tea she was raised on. She sat up in bed and instantly the room seemed to spin around her and her body felt as though she was in a shell about three feet thick. Her first inclination was to lay back down and keep sleeping, but she remembered her research on the Suliban. For the most part it was complete, but it needed to be tested, until then it was only a theory. She looked at herself in the bathroom mirror and another memory from the night before came back to her, but not entirely with regret. If and when she saw Captain Archer she would definitely need to apologize and somehow explain her forward behavior. She did have to admit, to herself at least, he was a fine kisser.
Having never experienced a hangover before, Danaë was amazed how loud a toothbrush could be, or blindingly bright a lamp was. Somehow she managed to get dressed, careful to put her modified tricorder in one of the pockets of her cargo pants. Hopefully she could silence the headache long enough to tell Archer her findings on Suliban technology. Normally she would have headed for the mess hall, but there's nothing more unappealing than breakfast when you're experiencing a hangover. Strong black coffee sounded good though. After dressing she rode the lift to E-deck. If the coffee didn't work than perhaps she would just pay a visit to Dr. Phlox, surely he had something to fix it. She was just in sight of the mess hall when movement caught her eye. For a moment she thought she was seeing things, then she noticed that the ceiling above her seemed to morph into a face. She recognized it as Suliban and immediately ran for the nearest ships comm so she could call security.
"Security to E-Deck. The Suliban . . ." she managed to say before he grabbed her. She was not going to go quietly though. She pushed her captor against the wall as hard as she could then grabbed his weapon and shot him. Suddenly the ship was rocked by a violent blast that sent her to the floor knocking the particle gun from her hand. "Merde." She gasped. She slowly stood as she tried to catch her breath. Another Suliban appeared out of nowhere, grabbed her and slammed her against the wall. He was joined by another who placed their particle weapon to her temple just as security arrived.
"Stand down or she dies." They ordered. More Suliban began to appear from their hiding places along the passages and surrounded the security detail.
On the Bridge they had been made aware of the Suliban presence. Reports on damage and injuries were coming in. The ship was completely surrounded by an intricate network of cell ships all with their weapons aimed on the Enterprise. As expected, Hoshi announced that they were being hailed. Archer ordered it on the screen and was not at all surprised to see the glowering face of Silik.
"You stole something from us and now we're taking it back." Silik growled.
"You don't own her, you kidnapped her. You want to change the timeline and stop her from doing whatever it is you think she will do, then send her back to her own time. Let her get to her father." Archer suggested.
"Impossible."
"Why, because killing her is the only way?"
"On the contrary," Said Silik. "It's impossible because when you fired on that cruiser you destroyed our ability to open a temporal vortex. Your orders sealed her fate. Now, my men will be taking her to one of our vessels. Any interference on your part and I will destroy your ship." It was obvious that he was enjoying the look frustration and helplessness on Archer's face. "Finding yourself in position where you are powerless, weak and helpless doesn't set well with you, does it Captain Archer. Perhaps you have something you can offer me in exchange for her life."
"You obviously have something in mind." Archer already suspected he knew the answer. The Cabal and in particular the Temporal Agent had attempted to take him before. There was no reason to think that their target had changed.
"If you are truly interested in saving this woman, then I propose a trade." He sneered. "You must take her place as my prisoner and willingly go with my men . . . alone. If you arrive with any additional security or if you are armed, then she dies." Malice edged each word and Captain Archer recalled Agent Daniels warning that Danaë would die quickly once she was taken on their ship. There would be no time to mount a rescue. "Frustrating isn't it Jonathan? No matter what you choose you still end up losing." Silik's sneer was nauseating, but what he said was true. Though he felt defeated, he still managed a brave façade as he turned to the sub-commander.
"T'Pol, I'm leaving you in command. Make sure that Porthos gets to Dr. Phlox." He looked around the bridge then stepped into the lift. Never had the decent seemed so quick as it did now. There was no way to guess what they had in store for him. They would certainly interrogate him and unless his crew could figure out a way to rescue him, he would probably die. His crew was resourceful and he had faith that if there was way, they would find it. The doors opened before he knew it. He walked without faltering, though his heart was heavy. There was no hesitation in his look as he walked down the corridor and into view of the waiting throng of Suliban.
"Let my crewmen go." He ordered. Silik's soldiers motioned them to go, but kept their weapon pressed hard against Danaë's temple. In a gesture of submission he raised his hands into the air.
"What are you doing?' Danaë cried as the foot soldiers quickly surrounded and took hold of him. One quickly put a particle weapon to his head as they started leading him to the airlock. "No!" She screamed as she was released. She ran toward the door but it closed, leaving her pounding on it.
On the bridge she knew they would be formulating a plan and she desperately wanted to know what it was. She ran down the corridor towards the lift but as she turn the corner she found herself standing on bridge of the NX-01. No one else was there, and the engines were still and silent. She looked about and wondered if all of this was a dream
"It's all real." Said a voice suddenly. Danaë jumped and turned to find a man wearing a strange black shiny body suit behind her. His dark hair was cropped short and he looked to be about her own age. "You are still on the Enterprise NX-01 only the date is May 15, 2364, the date of your birth and it has been sitting in a museum for 203 years, carefully preserved."
"Who are you?" She asked.
"I'm Daniels." He answered.
"Agent Daniels." Recognition went through her. For a moment she wanted to hit him for all of this, but forced herself to remain calm. "You son of a bitch!"
"You and I need to talk."
"You go to hell." She growled
"I know you have been through a lot and deserve answers but you're just going to have to trust me." He explained, but she wasn't having any of it.
"Trust you? I don't even know you. I have been kidnapped and dragged though time because of your temporal cold war. I can't think of a single reason to trust you."
