NBC New Fall Shows 2010

Lots of drama with a little comedy and some public service too.

Chase;
It’s a full on Action Drama. They seem to have done their research in how the US Marshall Service works. They are going to find the top 15 most violent criminals so as the audience you must be prepared for some violence. Premiers Monday September 20th 10/9c.

The Event;
It’s a conspiracy show that will show you more about “the Event” every time without showing the whole picture therefore getting people to continue watching in order to find out the whole story. It’s like Heroes, Lost, Alias, and The Nine but hopefully they will be more systematic about the episodes always keeping the details of the event the same and the episodes consistent with those details. And hopefully giving us all the answers to the questions we have by the end of the series. Premiers Monday September 20th 9/8c.

Law and Order Los Angeles;
All I can say is not another Law and Order. I couldn’t even watch the preview. Law and order is Law and order it speaks for itself. Premiers Wednesday September 29th 10/9c.

Outlaw;
a justice that wants to change the law to do the right thing but the question is “is the right thing for him the right thing?” it’s come at the perfect time when people feel like the system has failed them and this guy comes and wants to change it. I also saw part of a preview that was really funny. So don’t for one second think this is just a serious drama. It’s about people and people aren’t always serious. Premiers Friday September 17th.

Outsourced;
Think the office meets Big Bang Theory. About a guy who is told he’s going to run a call center in India. It’s about culture clashing and the underdogs finding their way, slowly most likely because they want to stay on the air for awhile. Warning though it wasn’t that inappropriate for the ads but I could see it getting pretty inappropriate. Just in case you don’t like that I wanted to warn you. Premiers Thursday September 23rd 9:30/8:30c.

School Pride;
Think extreme home makeover meets a school. Premiers Oct. 15th Friday 8:00/7:00c.

Undercovers;
From J.J Abrams the man who brought us Alias a new spy drama about two married people who come out of retirement to work the spy trade once again. It’s funny and the fact that their married doesn’t hurt the romance one bit as far as the ad makes it clear. I just hope that Abrams stays away from the supernatural this time. It’s about personal relationships as far as the ad says and I think it’s great premise everyone can get in on. A dramatic, comedic, romantic, action packed journey. Everything anyone could want; the best kind of show. Premiers September 22nd Wednesday 8/7c

CBS New Fall Shows 2010

CBS is sticking mostly with comedy this year although there’s a few drama shows.

Mike and Molly;
A love story in a comedy about two people who meet and get in a relationship but their family and friends are well “they don’t always say the right things”. The ad reminded me a bit of the tone of “Everybody Loves Raymond” so if you liked that show you’ll love this. And I have a good feeling it will not only touch the audience but be funny without being wildly inappropriate. Starts Monday September 20th 9:30/8:30c.

Hawaii Five-O;
From watching the preview at first I didn’t know what to think. It’s going to have a bit of everything, comedy, drama, and action. Isn’t that the best kind of show? It’s a cop drama but they aren’t cops per say they are a separate unit made up of many different character types. It will be interesting to see where these characters take themselves when put together like this. Premiers Monday Sept 20th 10/9c.

The Defenders;
My first thought is oh no not another courtroom drama BUT and this is a big but it’s going to be funny. Finally mixing of the genres that’s the best type of show. Catch it on Wednesday September 22nd and 10/9 central.

S#^! My Dad Says;
The title says it all. It will be wildly inappropriate but a lot of people like that. Watching the preview I was entertained and I don’t care for inappropriate. But if you do you’ll love it. Premiers Thursday Sept 23rd 8:30/7:30c.

Blue Blood;
Not only a cop show but also a family drama about a family of cops and oh the sister is a district attorney. It’s an interesting twist to not only the family drama but the cop drama. Premiers Friday Sept 24th 10/9 central.

The CW New Fall shows 2010

CW started their new line up this last week. After watching the premiers of the two new shows Nakita and Hellcats I find them to be promising. I'm glad that one of the networks is picking just a few of the most promising shows.

Hellcats;
Hellcats is for people who either like cheer leading, teenage girls, or competition. I'm not really in any of those categories yet the characters are well developed and the plot threads, there are many, seem like they will entice people for years. I call it an up.

Nakita;
Nakita is great, the writers and producers are good in not only how they put the writing and production together but knowing their audience expects a certain style. The audience wants to be thrilled and surprised, that's what a spy type drama is supposed to do and they provide that without too much techno-babble or complicated 'what in the world just happened' scenarios. There's a surprise in the premier, I don't want to spoil anything but it brings the audience in on a secret plot thread that should go on for years. The secret we're let in on brings us in the center circle, we feel part of a secret society and I, as an audience member love it. I see great potential and I'm going to watch and see if the writers can keep it up. Let's cross our fingers.

ABC Fall lineup 2010

After seeing sneak peeks of the new Abc fall lineup these are snapshots of what they’re like painted with what I think. Also I’ve peeked at some footage of shows that have already started and expressed my thoughts. They are at the end of this list.

Better with You
Family Comedy where each family member is in a different place (married a long time, married a little while, engaged). The people are doing outrageous things or in outrageous situations. People probably won’t watch every episode but you’ll watch it when you have time and need to relax and it will be enjoyable. The premier on Wednesday September 22nd at 8:30/7:30c will probably be the most entertaining episode.

Body of Proof
It has depth that very few writers are able to achieve. It will be entertaining and as well emotional. I just hope it won’t turn out like gray’s anatomy where they put the characters through so much agony that the only logical course of action for the characters is to go insane and without that it’s not realistic. Or like law and order where the cases are so depressing that after watching a couple episodes you become paranoid. But it could be like Bones where there’s funny, emotional, and unique cases that entertain without bringing too much realism that brings the ugliness of the real world to the time we use to avoid it. It’s on Fridays this fall check Abc.com for timing it has yet to be determined.

Detroit 1-8-7
It looks like it could be a unique cop drama which is hard to find these days. There seems to be a great mix of emotional, realistic, and funny. The realistic isn’t just in the negative portions of the show either, there are some heartwarming sections which explore how people could work in an occupation where you see the worst of people and still can be positive. This could in fact prevent the audience from getting too depressed as well. Premiers Tuesday Sept 21st 10/9c.

My Generation
A TV drama that uses a documentary style. It doesn’t sound like a promising set up to me but the characters are all really different and their stories are the same (also different). It brings reality into a drama which could work if they keep a balance between the good and the bad, which they seem to be doing well. It asks a lot of the characters and will force the viewers to try and live up to their full potential. Reality and drama nuts alike should check out the pilot on Wednesday Sept 23nd 8/7c.

No ordinary Family
An ordinary family gains super powers after an accident. They are dedicated to each other and have real lives. I was going to ask where all the superheroes went. Heroes was a huge disappointment in that, they failed to work together in a common cause. Which since the family already has a strong bond, Mother to children, father to children and spouse to spouse they are already in a good position to work together. I will certainly be a fan of this show. And it’s funny to boot. Premiers Tues Sept 28th 8/7c.

Secret Millionaire
It is a reality based show but with secret identities. A millionaire goes undercover as a lower class American working with other lower class Americans. At the end of each episode is heart touching moments when the millionaire reveals his true identity to the lower class community he or she was working in and gives away money to those he or she feels are in the most need of it. It’s on Fridays this fall check Abc.com for timing it has yet to be determined.

The Whole Truth
This show is a great way to make the legal drama not only more exciting but realistic. Of course the title suggests that the audience will know the truth by the time the episode ends but in reality the whole truth is rarely known by anyone, it’s all perspective. Sticking to this notion could frustrate the audience yet not could also. Hopefully the writers can fall somewhere in between. Premiers Wednesday Sept 22nd 10/9c.

Happy Endings
It looks possibly promising. I’d like it to turn out well but it’s using a lot of cliches so we’ll see. It could however turn into a friends type show if the writers can keep it up without making it ridiculous which it’s borderline right now. There’s more to life than romantic relationships, really there is. I know we’ve all been brainwashed to think that life’s all about romance. And the characters are fairly flat; they need to be more different personality wise like in friends. Also Happy Endings as the title where does that play in? Premiers later in the season check abc.com later in the season.

Mr. Sunshine
Has a good cast. Quoting Mathew Perry, the star of Mr. Sunshine “Mr Sunshine is about a group of dysfunctional co-workers, who run the sunshine center, which is a sports arena; an entertainment complex.” It is funny because the writers are creative. But it can be depressing and unrealistic to the point of obnoxious. Hopefully they turn depressing into lovable, it can be done. Premiers later in the season check abc.com later in the season.

Off the Map
A drama about doctors who are working in the Amazon; it seems touching not only about the patience but about exploring three characters of three different doctors. Hopefully it won’t turn into a gray’s Anatomy where the bad outweighs the good and the romantic relationships are 90% of the medical drama. It should be about people and all that can happen in life. Why they are there and what they are looking for and then the things they find what they expect and especially what they don’t expect. I see funny but I also see some unrealistic which I can ignore as long as the funny stays. Premiers later in the season check abc.com later in the season.

Shows that have already started;

BostonMed
A reality show that looks unique yet can’t avoid bringing the ugliness of the real world to the time we use to avoid it because it is a reality show. It could be classified as news because it seems that it will educate about how hospitals and people who work in them function.

Dating in the Dark
At first glance it sounded dirty. But the idea provides a way for people to become verbally acquainted with each other without the need to be physically attractive. Yet the show fails at this premise by making their cases attractive. It is a reality show and therefore goes very slowly and the outcome will be unknown and or ambiguous.

The Deep End
The Deep End seems to be Gray’s Anatomy with Law Students. The writers will continuously try to up themselves and as a result put their characters through so much agony that we won’t be able to watch it anymore if we actually care about the characters. Therefore I am choosing not to watch but the first season of these shows are usually very good.

Downfall
A game show. As most game shows are it will be slow but could be a good source of entertainment if you have time to kill. It helps to know the answers of course.

The Gates
A somewhat unique idea, at least for ABC (supernatural and Vampire Diaries on CW do the same type of thing) bringing myth into the reality of the real world and seeing how they can survive together. There’s a lot of drama and attempt at realism. Of course with myth realism is relative. However in the past this idea hasn’t done so well especially with so many characters under so much personal crisis. It gets exhausting. Look to Wolf Lake and Moonlight for an example of this. And unanswered mystery can be frustrating for the audience. Look to Dark Angel for an example of this. It’s also hard to tell the characters apart there’s so many of them and they all look very attractive and relatively the same. Good intentions (Like trying to do something other than a cop drama or medical drama) are often not received so well. But you never know maybe after all the medical and cop dramas people will look to this and say wow that’s good. (Look to The Prince and Me and Underworld Rise of the Lycans for common actors.)

Happy Town
There’s murder, mystery, mayhem perhaps too much mystery. It’s dark and the better characters go through hell. It seems very mixed in terms of plot type. There is a world without a clear sense of right and wrong it needs to be fixed but no one seems to be fixing it at least getting very far. The obstacles are too high and mysterious. There’s a lot of havoc and dirty characters. You can always wait and see what happens to the characters who are neck deep in mud see if they clean themselves up or get themselves dirtier but the good guys are going to get dirty, get killed, or go insane. If it had more good qualities, wasn’t as dark, had more comedy, I would be a fan. But if that doesn’t bother you then it will be a thrill for you.

Food Revolution
It’s a reality show about food. Goes through what’s good to eat. It’s informative like the news.

Twilight Alternate Ending

Because I had an epiphany after watching the New Moon movie (a few months ago) I wrote my own version of Twilight’s ending. My rewrite starts at the end of New Moon, directly after which I wrote that Edward and Bella get married, the Cullens somehow took care of Victoria, the wolf pack is joined by others, and the Vultori didn’t visit. The story below picks up temporally four years after New Moon. (If you want to know the reasons I made the assumptions and changes I did, post a comment. I’ll be happy to answer any questions);

Rewrite of Twilight Ending
Bella is going to the store and buying groceries. It is apparent the groceries are for one since she buys in small quantities.

Bella narrates; “A lot has happened in these last four years, almost four years about three and a half… Edward and I got married. My dad finally agreed, after he forgave Edward for leaving me Senior year, once he was sure Edward could financially support me. As far as my dad is concerned Edward’s an investor. But the truth is Edward invests only his own money and has run an online business for the past decade give or take a few years. Our wedding was so rushed that we didn’t really plan to buy or rent a place to live, so at first we lived with Dr. and Mrs. Cullen. We still live there because it worked out that way, since Edward and me promptly, unintentionally, had a baby girl. But we love Mary, our two, almost three year old daughter. Edward insisted on naming her something unoriginal, said that her life would be hard enough without a strange name like Renesmee, which is what I wanted to name her. I gave in. His reason was logical. Edward calls Mary our little monster but more out of affection than with sincerity. She’s a Dhampir, half human, half Vampire.”

Bella grabs some healthy kid’s food off the counter at the grocery store.

Bella narration continues; “She eats food like humans do but also drinks blood, craves it like Edward does. Which is why when she was born, unable to keep my pregnancy a secret from the town, we told everyone that she has a mysterious developmental problem and is in the hospital, unable to have visitors other than her parents. We thought we’d introduce her to the world once we can be sure she’ll control her urges, once she understands. In truth, Mary stays at home with me and Edward’s always close by since he works from home. Or on occasion she stays with her Aunt Rosalie and Uncle Emmett when they’re not busy with their butcher shop in town. They’re good to her. Carlisle says that through Mary, Rosalie finally gets to be a mother, which she wanted before she was turned. It’s softened her, made her less selfish, something Carlisle hoped for, but was beginning to think imposable. And it’s worked out well for me because I’m not a touchy feely kind of mother but if that’s what Mary needs Rosalie provides plenty of that kind of attention.”

Bella is at the diner with to her Dad, Charlie;

Bella narration continues: “Since Edward and I got married, since I moved out of my dad’s house, every week me and my dad have a dinner at the diner.”

“How’s Mary?” Charlie asks as the waitress puts a steak down in front of him.
“Good…the same.” Bella says getting her soup and salad combo.
“They’re taking good care of her at the hospital?”
“Yeah Dad… we go over this every week.”
“Well…I like to be kept up to date.”
“We’ll let you know if anything changes.”
Charlie nods. “Please do.”

Bella narrates: “I hate lying about Mary, especially to my dad. Our relationship is the best it’s ever been. And my mom, we talk on the phone frequently. It’s easier lying over the phone. She’s traveling with Phil, again. He’s been traded.”

Home, in the Cullen house. She walks up the many stairs.

Bella narration continues: “I’m happy with my life. But I haven’t forgotten Edward’s promise to change me. The three years have come and gone but I figure eventually I’ll break him down.”

On the fourth floor Bella turns and walks into a sitting room. Edward is sitting at a desk, at his computer. She puts her hand on his shoulder. He turns to her. She kisses him softly on the lips. He smiles at Bella. “Mary’s sleeping.” He whispers. “Oh. Okay.” She says whispering even softer than Edward. She tiptoes out of the room and downstairs.

Bella narrates; “Sometimes what you want isn’t as good as what the people who love you want for you. But I can’t regret the decisions I’ve made….Edward tried to talk me out of becoming a Vampire. But I just wouldn’t have it any other way. I wanted to be with him forever.”

In the forest;
In the afternoon, when the sun is highest, Bella and Edward stand in the forest with fifteen Volturi family members around them. In the sunlight the skin of the Vampires glistens. Edward stands in the shadows distress on his face. Aro's lieutenants are around Edward between him and Bella. Aro holds Bella's arm and leans in to bite Bella. Bella stands there compliant. But before Aro bites her Bella wakes up and it’s all a dream.
Bella narrates “I often had a dream about Aro finding out I’m not a Vampire, and coming to forks to turn me.”

The Prophecy;
Bella narrates “One day as we often did Edward and I took Mary to our spot up on the mountain top, where the wild flowers grow in the sunlight.”
Edward and Bella are sitting on a blanket in the field of wild flowers. Mary at the opposite end of the field is running around, pretending to be an airplane.
Bella turns to Edward, “Edward, when are you going to change me?”
Edward turns to Bella and takes a deep sigh.
Bella scoots up to him, “I know about all the reasons you don’t want to. I wrote them down in that letter I sent you that week we weren’t speaking and refuted all of them…remember.”
Edward nods and shutters, remembering the week where they didn’t speak.
She scoots up closer to him, “I don’t care about any of those reasons. I want you to change me…”
He looks to her upset.
“You promised.” Bella pleads.
“Bella.” Edward addresses her. “If I turn you…” he lets out a deep sigh, “You need to know something first.”
“What?”
He lets out a deep sigh, “There’s this prophecy…”
“Prophecy?” Bella says skeptical.
“Carlisle learned of it when he was with the Volturi. What Aro was planning to do with it was why Carlisle left.”
“What did the prophecy say?”
“It talks of “The One” mentions a list of biological description, that’s how Carlisle knew about the prophecy Aro had him look at the biological aspects of the prophecy, apparently “The One” was supposes to be a warrior and have many scares all over his body”
“What does the prophecy say?”
Edward quotes “The One will allow those who hide from the sun to touch the sun.”
“Vampires hide from the sun…but what does the rest of it mean? This is why I hate prophecies.”
“Aro believes that one day he’ll be as powerful as a God. Carlisle has sworn not to let that happen. It can’t happen. If you make the change I need to know you’ll be on my side if it comes to a battle with the Vultori.”
“You know I will.”
“I’ll have to fight Bella, probably die.”
“I’ll fight with you.”
Edward looks forlorn thinking of the idea of her fighting, of her dying.
“You promised Edward…three years and it’s been three years. I think I’ve been very patient.”
Edward, looking forlorn, nods.

The turning;
Bella narrates “We had Rosalie and Emmett take Mary for the night when Edward turned me.”
Bella and Edward are in their room when Edward bites her. He promptly loosens his teeth from her neck and the venom is released into her blood. She clamps down on her teeth grunting in great pain. Her head is burning. He holds her down as she seizes.
Bella narrates “The process was more painful for him than me. After a night of being comatose, what in ancient ledged people could/would consider dead, I awoke.”
Bella’s skin is cold and pail.
Bella narrates “Prepared for the fact that I would be hungry, Edward had blood waiting for me.”
Edward offers Bella blood and Bella drinks hungrily.
“When I first drank blood it was satisfying, even desirable but it was unusual different than when I was pregnant with Mary, when I also needed to drink blood. It felt odd, unnatural then. But when I awoke from after Edward bit me it felt natureal.
Then like in Alice’s vision Edward and I ran in the forest together.”

In the mist Bella and Edward run through the forest Bella’s eyes glow iridescent with red around her pupils and her neck, where he bit her, has healed.
Suddenly, Bella collapse and doesn’t get up. Panicked Edward quickly carries her back to the house. He stumbles as he does an expression of extreme worry on his face.
At the house Edward puts Bella on her bed. Carlisle notices she is burning up. He leads Edward down the stairs to the main room before telling Edward his diagnosis; “I’ve seen this before, sometimes humans are unable to survive the change.”
Edward is pants angrily. “You didn’t think to tell me that this could happen?”
Carlisle’s forlorn about it. “I’ve only seen it happen once,” he says “and I didn’t think it would happen to Bella because of Alice’s vision.”
“What can I do?” Edward begs.
“There’s nothing that can be done. I’m sorry Edward.” Carlisle says. “I am so sorry.”
Edward breaks a window he’s so upset. His family jumps startled but understands.
Then Alice asks about Mary. “She should say goodbye to Bella?”
“No.” Edwards says. Edward, knowing his daughter can hear people’s thoughts and that she loves her mother, begs his family to think about something else and take Mary out of the house. Esme, Alice, Carlisle, and Jasper agree.
“Call us on my cell…” Esme says “If Bella asks to see her.”
Edward nods.

Telling Bella she’s dying;
Once his family leaves with Mary Edward slowly walks the stairs to Bella and his room. He sees her on the bed her eyes dropping and he can't get himself to enter their room. She’s just lying there in bed. From the doorway, Edward tells her what Carlisle said.
“I can tell something’s wrong.” Bella responds calmly.
Edward informs Bella he sent Mary away with his family.
Bella nods, “I don’t want her to be here with me like this. She knows I love her. That’s all that matters.”
Edward wears a painful expression on his face.
Bella worried that Edward will want to end his life when she’s gone gathers all the strength she can to stand and walk to him. He meets her inside the room and holds her, allowing her to lean against him. She’s so weak. “Edward, you need to take care of Mary. When I’m gone you’re the only parent she’ll have left.”
He closes his eyes and cringes in pain when she mentions the idea of her being gone.
“Promise me Edward.” Bella begs. “You have to raise her at least.” Bella says being realistic, knowing that asking him to stay with Mary forever would mean exactly that, forever.
“I promise.” He whispers breathing deeply.
“You have to promise me one more thing.” Bella begs. “You can’t feel guilty about this?”
He looks at her sadly, with deep regret. “I should never have agreed to change you. I should have refused.”
“I asked you to do it. It’s not your fault. It’s mine. I’m just a stubborn fool remember.”
Recalling a fight they had had before about her hounding him to change her, a fight where he called her a stubborn fool, he flashes a brief smile. But looking to her, her weak body and tired eyes he feels as if all his strength is being sucked from him.
Getting too weak to stand Bella almost collapses but Edward catches her. As he lifts her she feels heavy. He puts her down on the bed.
“Stay with me?” Bella asks weakly.
“I’m not going anywhere.” He says lying down next to her, holding her “I’m right here.”
Holding her in his arms, lying beside her, he closes his eyes as she falls asleep.

In a dream;
Edward is walking through the forest with Mary as she grows up but he doesn’t age.

Back in reality at the Cullen house;
Hours later, just as Twilight begins, Bella stirs. Edward open his eyes. Weakly she sits up in bed. He looks to her surprised. “How do you feel?” he asks.
“Hungry.” Bella says surprised. “You should call the others back here. I think I’m fine.” She says extreme surprise all over her face and in her voice.
Edward makes Bella promise to stay in bed and goes to calls his family. But when he goes back to Bella she’s not in their room.
Panicked he calls her name.
She responds with a muffled. “Edward I’m down here!”
Downstairs he finds her in the Kitchen. Food containers such as cottage cheese, peanut butter, milk, orange juice, and a variety of take out containers are open and lay out all over the counter. Swallowing some milk, “I’m starving” she tells Edward as he enters the room. Promptly with a spoon she shovels some cottage cheese into her mouth.
Then as if sleep walking he says “it smells good” and starts eating with her.
When Carlisle comes in he’s shocked to see that they’re both eating people food. “Edward?” Carlisle says.
Edward snaps out of it. He puts down the fork he’s eating with and wonders why he just did what he did.
Jasper enters the kitchen next. Smelling with surprised he announces “she’s human?”
“How is that possible?” Alice asks.
Carlisle looks to Bella still stunned “She’s immune to the venom. She can’t be turned. This has never happened before.”
Bella goes up to Edward and hugs him confused. “It’s like I’ve seen all this in a dream, a long time ago.” She says.
“You’ve said you’ve seen stuff before. A human seer?” Alice says surprised. “The Church talks about them.”
“What happened to me?” Edward asks. “I’m hungry and so thirsty.” To his siblings shock he reaches behind Bella moving his head towards her neck and they think he’s going to drink her blood but he takes the milk carton and gulps the last bit of it down. Esme and Edward’s siblings are really surprised.
“I’ll have to run some tests.” Carlisle says “But you drank her blood which is immune. It seems.” Carlisle smells Edward. “You’re human again.”
Edward smiles a huge smile.
“How is that possible he drank her blood before and didn’t become human?” Rosalie says annoyed. She’s jealous.
“She could have developed the immunity after she was infected five years ago.” Carlisle says. “like a virus, she was exposed to a small portion, enough for her body to develop a defense.”
Alice then has a horrible look on her face; she has a vision of Aro and his men tearing her family to pieces. She gasps.
“What is it?” Esme asks.
“The Vultori are coming?” Alice says
Edward is worried.
Mary being held by Rosalie looks to Alice “I said bad people were coming.” Mary wines.
The Cullens and her parents look to Mary.
“She’s a seer.” Alice is surprised.
“Yeah, from the sound of it more powerful than you.” Emmett says being an ass.
Alice rolls her eyes at him.
Suddenly Mary screams as she looks to her daddy. “No, don’t think that daddy. They can’t pull mommy apart. No!”
Edward looks to Mary apologetic. “I’m sorry baby.” then he looks to Bella “I can’t protect you like this.”
“We’ll protect her.” Carlisle says.
“Fifteen to six?” Alice questions. “It doesn’t end well.”
All the Cullens look worried. All but Bella “Then we’ll have to even the odds.” she says.

Meeting with the Volturi;
The next day in the afternoon, when the sun is highest, Bella and Edward meet the Volturi alone. As Alice predicted there are 15 Volturi family members. In the sunlight the skin of the Vampires glistens. Edward stands in the shadows. Aro speaks first;
“Where are the rest of the Cullen Vampire Clan?”
“My family doesn’t need to be here for this matter.”
Aro nods. “Yes, the matter at hand. Let us recap to make sure no one has forgotten.”
Aro’s blond haired lieutenant speaks; “About four years ago when you came to the Volturi asking your life be ended.”
“You thought Bella had taken hers after you’d left her to try and give her a normal life.” The Volturi boy says. “A noble act, selfless since for some peculiar reason you loved her, a human.” The boy says human with disgust.
The lieutenant with the deep voice speaks; “Then, when we refused to honor your request you set out to reveal yourself to the humans.”
“If Bella hadn’t come to Italy and stopped you we would have had no choice but to dismember you.” Aro says.
“I remember.” Edward says.
“I want to make sure you remember what happened next.” Aro says.
“Bella is immune to our abilities.” Jane says.
“Something we cannot tolerate.”
“Alice promised to make her an immortal if we let her live.” The deep voiced lieutenant says.
“She lives because her immunity against our powers will make for an interesting immortal, that was the agreement.”
“So why isn’t she?” The other lieutenant says.
“I suppose you want to protect her precious soul.” Aro says disgusted.
“What is it really good for?” Jane asks.
“We told you we weren’t going to give you a second chance.” One of the lieutenants of Aro says.
“I wanted him to change me but he wouldn’t. Do you think I want to grow old while he stays young?” Bella yells.
“Bella we’re not having this argument for the hundredth time here.”
“Why not now, here?”
“We can change you?” Jane says. “You smell so sweet.” She steps up eager to do it but Argo holds up his hand.
“What of Alice’s promise?” Aro says
“She’s my sister and I told her I’d kill her if she tried it.”
“Yeah he did.” Bella says “And I think soon in Vampire terms is a little different than in human ones I mean five years could be soon because aren’t you like 1000 years old or something.”
“She’s got a point Aro.” One of the Lieutenants says
“We need to be more specific next time.” Says the boy, the brother of Jane.
“When I said go prepare I thought you’d be done with it by now.” Aro says annoyed. He motions to his men to hold Edward.
Edward shakes his head at them “I see the odds I know there’s no point in fighting.”
Aro nods “that is very wise.”
Edward turns to Bella an extremely apologetic look on his face, “I’m sorry Bella I promised I would protect you and I failed.”
“I want this Edward.”
“You don’t know what it is you’re asking for.”
Bella steps up to Aro and holds out her arm.
“I’m ready.” She says.
Aro moves to bite into Bella but then smells and hesitates, “We’re not alone.” He says
“What do you mean?” Bella says nervously.
“There’s another human here besides you.” Aro points to Edward. Bella and Edward are startled.
“Edward?” Bella says skeptically.
“No.” Aro says thinking the idea of him being human is preposterous.
“Behind him.” Aro announces. One of Aro’s goons pulls Charlie out of the bush behind Edward. Charlie was going hunting that day. But when he saw Edward and Bella in the forest he approached them only to see Aro and his men arrive. Charlie knew right away they were different, by the speed of which they arrived, and how the sun glistened off their skin. And he notices the situation was tense so he hid. But learning that his daughter was going to be turned into a Vampire he creeps closer and aims his gun at Aro’s head. He fire’s his gun but the Vampire is too fast in disarming him and the bullet hits a tree. The goon firmly holds Charlie, while he struggles, and brings him to Aro.
“Dad!” Bella says really surprised.
Edward is fearful and surprised as well.
Charlie looks to Bella with shock, concern, and fear in his face.
“Oh dear dad. Good.” Aro says smiling “You’ll be wanting to snack on something when you’re turned and since you’re family has to think you’re dead anyway we might as well…what’s that witty phase.”
Jane answers. “Kill two birds with one stone.” She says.
Bella shakes her head violently. “I won’t kill my own father.”
“You didn’t tell her.” Aro says turning to Edward.
A look of what seems to be real fear appears on Edward’s face.
“The urge will be irresistible.” Aro continues.
Pretending to be really scared for her dad Bella yells; “I won’t do it! There are plenty of animals in the forest!”
“Weak!” Jane yells. “Like the rest of the Cullens. Feeding on livestock when they can have sweet human blood. There’s no sense in turning her she’ll never be one of us!”
“Silence!” Aro says.
Jane is silent.
“The Cullens are unique yes, but weak is not a word I would use to describe them. It takes a great amount of self control to resist the sweet scent of human blood.”
“They’re still morons for it.” Jane says feeling defeated.
“Yes, you are quite right Jane, about that.” Aro says. “Now shall we?” he says taking Bella’s hand.
She nods shaking.
“Bella run!” Charlie says
“Even if I wanted to I wouldn’t get very far dad. This isn’t how I wanted you to find out. I never wanted you to find out.”
Aro laughs before he leans down to bite her.
Edward closes his eyes as if he can feel her pain as Aro bites into her.
And Bella cringes as he bites into her but manages to speak. “At least now we won’t break the Treaty with the Quileute!” She says Quileute very loudly.
Jane looks to Bella “what are you talking about…” she says but is cut off as she’s shredded into bits by a wolf that sneaked up behind her. The other wolves attack as well and the Vampires fall from the trees freeing Charlie and releasing Bella from Aro.
“What is this?” Aro asks. He looks around and sees his people are dead or captured “You will all pay for this!” He yells.
Edward walks up to Aro slowly “I don’t think you’re really in a position to make threats.”
The color starts to come back into Aro’s face. He looks at his hands as he feels weak. The color begins to return to his hands as well. “What have you done to me?”
Walking up to Aro Bella has a scarf wrapped around her arm “Apparently…” she says weakly, she’s obviously in pain. “I’m not only immune to your powers but also to the venom and my blood is an antidote for what you are. You’re mortal now?” Bella says with an evil smile.
Aro looks very distraught.
Edward looks to Bella “Are you alright?”
“I’m okay.”
He looks upset.
“I’m okay Edward. This was the plan.”
“Can you get the humans out of here?” Carlisle asks the wolves.
Sam nods and two of his wolves step forward to Charlie and Bella. They lean down indicating to Bella and Charlie that they are to be mounted. The one in front of Bella is Jacob.
“I’m not going without you.” Bella says to Edward.
Jacob the wolf looks to Edward and with a shake of his head motions for him to get on his back as well.
“Go Edward.” Carlisle says. “We can take care of this.”
“What about me?” Aro says and two of the dogs go around him and growl.
“Okay, okay.” Aro says panicky.
“Bella?” Charlie says hesitant as Bella gets on Jacob’s back.
“It’s okay dad.” Bella says.
“We’ll explain everything to you once you’re safe.” Esme says.
Charlie gets on the back of the white wolf in front of him. “This is weird.” He says.
“Hold on.” Edwards says.
Bella puts her chest against Jacob’s coat putting her arms around him she holds onto his fur. Edward holds onto Bella. Charlie hesitates, feeling awkward as he holds onto his wolf in the same way Bella does. The two wolves saunter off.
“Let them go.” Carlisle orders to his family as he looks to the Vampire prisoners.
“But Carlisle?” Rosalie argues.
The wolves growl.
Carlisle turns to the wolves. “Someone needs to tell the rest of their family not to return and warn them of what will happen if they do.”
“My family will just turn me back.” Aro says standing up happy.
“No they won’t.” Carlisle says. “You have the cure in your blood if they tried it they would lose their immortality as well.”
“They’ll come back for Bella.” Aro threatens.
“No, because if they do they’ll meet their end as well.” Alice says as if she’s seen a vision.
Carlisle walks up to the Lieutenant. “Go back to Valora and tell the rest of your family that they stay away from Bella Swan and we’ll let you be. Otherwise we’ll put the antidote in the flu vaccine.”
The lieutenant nods. “That is an acceptable agreement. But the details will have to be settled.”
“We’ll set up a meet on neutral ground to put the details in writing another time. All I asks is that Bella is safe and that any Vampire who wants the cure can have it.”
The lieutenant nods, “We’ll contact you once we reach Valora.”
Carlisle bows.
“What about me?” Aro begs.
“What about you?” The lieutenant says. “You’re just a lose end we have to tie up.”
Aro starts to run.
“Felix” the lieutenant says.
Felix runs after Aro.
“Until we meet again.” The lieutenant says as he bows to Carlisle. He runs off.

At the Cullen house Charlie, Bella, and Edward are dropped off by the wolves;
“Thank you.” Edward says.
The wolves begin to turn around and walk back into the forest.
“Jacob.” Bella says and both the dogs look to her. Nodding her head, she motions to her dad. “This is your chance.”
Jacob, as a wolf nods. He turns into a person, his shorts still on. The other wolf turns into a person at the same time. She is wearing a sports bra and shorts. Charlie is shocked.
“Jacob?” Charlie says surprised.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you boss.”
“Until now.” The girl looks to Bella. “Sam says it’s okay. He also wanted us to tell you that Esme has invited us to have Venison at your place tonight. Says you have one that’s been drained.” The girl smiles.
Edward smiles bashfully. “Yeah.”
“How do you know that?” Charlie asks confused.
“The wolves can read each other’s thoughts.” Bella says.
The wolf girl asks Bella. “How do you know that?”
“One of the boys told her three years ago when she found out about Jake.” Emily says as she comes out of the back door of the Cullen house.
“Emily…” Bella says turning to her surprised.
Emily is eager to hear, “Everything went okay?”
“Yeah…Yeah…everyone’s fine.”
“Good.” Emily says letting out a sigh of relief.
Bella looks to Emily, “Thank you for…”
“Yeah…” Emily stops and looks to Charlie who is standing there speechless. “I thought you didn’t want your dad to be involved.”
“It wasn’t really a choice.” Edward says.
Bella looks to her father, “Dad, what were you doing out there?”
“I told you I was going hunting today.” Charlie says.
“No, you didn’t.”
“Well… there’s a lot you didn’t tell me.”
Emily puts her hand on Bella shoulder, “We’ll leave you to talk…” Emily turns to Jacob and the other girl. “Jacob, Nessa. Let’s go.”
“We’ll see you later then.” Nessa says.
“Yeah…” Bella waves to Nessa and looks to Emily eager. “How was she?” Bella asks.
“She was asleep the whole time she didn’t make a peep.” Emily says.
Bella nods.
Emily and the others walk into the forest.
“That’s going to be an interesting conversation.” Nessa says as she walks away. “Hey dad, I married a Vampire.” Looking back, noticing that Bella, Charlie, and Edward are looking at her, she covers her mouth sheepishly, realizing she’s being too loud.
“Sounds like the title of a bad movie.” Jacob says and giggles. He turns around “I tried to talk her out of it!” he yells to Charlie.
Uncomfortable Bella, Charlie, and Edward look to Jacob.
Emily pulls on Jacob’s arm, “It’s none of your business.”
Jacob turns back around. The three of them walk back into the forest.
Holding Edward’s hand Bella looks to the ground nervously. He squeezes her hand in his. She flashes a quick smile at him, and then looks to her dad, “Dad” she sighs.
“Bells.” Charlie sighs.
The wind blows through the trees making the wind chimes on the second floor sing.
There’s a rattling, “Mommy! Mommy!” Mary yells from inside.
Letting go of Edward’s hand, turning to the house, “Coming baby!” Bella yells.
Charlie looks to Bella, a look of betrayal on his face.
“I’ll go…” Edward says holding Bella back. He points to her arm, where the scarf is wrapped around her wound.
Bella looks down at where he points. “Right.” she says.
Edward opens the back door to the house, automated chimes ring as he does. Edward looks to Charlie before he goes inside. “You’re welcome to come in… Bella will explain everything.”
Charlie nods.
“Thanks.” Bella sighs looking to Edward, feeling burdened.
“I’ll be back after Carlisle…”
“Yeah.” Bella nods and gives Edward a peck of a kiss on the lips.
“Okay.” Edward goes in the house. Bella and Charlie follow.

Inside the Cullen house;
“Daddy! Daddy!” Mary yells rattling the lid of her crib.
Edward walks through the house, on his way to the stairs.
“Edward,” Bella calls.
Edward looks back to her.
“The key is on the high shelf of her bookcase.”
Edward nods and taking large strides he quickly makes his way up to the stairs out of site.
“Dad I ah…” she looks down, facing Charlie, as she lets out a guilty sigh. “I don’t know where to start.”
“Edward’s a Vampire?” Charlie says letting out a deep sigh.
Bella sighs almost at the same moment.
Gathering confidence, Bella looks to her father “I love him dad. It didn’t matter to me. They don’t kill people. To survive they drink the blood of animals.”
“I was there Bells. I heard that... I just… Vampire’s… ware-wolves …I think Jacob was right this is like some bad movie.”
For a moment there’s an awkward silence.
“Mary’s obviously not in the hospital?” Charlie says to Bella a look of betrayal on his face.
“No.” Bella says a look of guilt on her face. “Dad… I know we lied to you and I’m sorry but there were good reasons for it. And please… you can’t… please don’t tell mom.”
“You’re mother…tell your mother Edward’s a Vampire” Charlie laughs “she’d have me committed.”
Bella laughs. “Yeah probably…”
“If I didn’t see it myself… I know if I say anything, I might as well put myself in a straight jacket.”
“Thanks dad…and that goes for the wolves too.”
Charlie nods. “It explains a lot about Jacob, why he’s such a good cop.” Charlie laughs to himself. “I actually told him the other day he’s got a great nose.”
Bella giggles.
Alice comes down the stairs.
“You’re back.” Bella says.
Alice looks to Bella “Yeah, it was quick.”
Charlie looks to them confused. “How did you… get in?”
Alice smiles at Charlie, “There are entrances on the upper floors.”
“We like to climb trees.” Jasper says. “It’s a Vampire thing.”
Charlie nods looking overwhelmed.
“Good plan by the way” Alice says to Bella.
“Thanks.” Bella says blushing.
Alice turns to Charlie, “She’s a genius.”
Charlie looks to Bella with pride, “That was your plan?”
“Yeah… well I found out about Jacob and the wolves about four years ago and I figured they wouldn’t mind taking out some Vamps. It’s kind of their thing.”
“But we have a treaty with them.” Alice says. “They let us be as long as we only feed off animals.”
Carlisle saunters down the stairs. He looks to Charlie and flashes a friendly smile then he looks to Bella. “I should probably stitch that up.” He says pointing to the scarf.
Charlie wears an expression of feeling out of place. “You can come to.” Carlisle says and leads Charlie to his office. Bella is ahead of them. “This is old hat for me and Bella.”
“You get bitten often?” Charlie says monotone.
Carlisle chuckles. “No.”
Bella turns around, “I’m clumsy. And blood around Vampire’s isn’t such a good idea.”
Charlie looks to Carlisle “But you’re a doctor?”
“I have developed a great deal of will power. I always wanted to be a doctor, to help people. When I became a Vampire I made the decision not to let what I was stop me from doing what I knew I had to.” Carlisle unlocks his office door and opens it for Charlie and Bella to enter.

Inside the office;
Bella sits on Carlisle’s desk and unwraps the scarf around her wound. The wound has a glaze over it that oozes down to the side. It prevents the blood from leaving her body.
Looking at the glaze, “What is that?” Bella asks.
“The Venom.” Carlisle says
“Venom?” Charlie says alarmed.
As he begins to clear the wound Carlisle speaks: “Vampire’s secrete venom when they bite. It paralyzes their food but it also initiates the transformation process. But Bella is immune to the transformation process. Her body obviously, since the venom is on the outside instead of inside, knew to expel it from the wound. It’s also acting as a kind of second skin, preventing you from bleeding much.”
“Immune ha?” Charlie says relieved, yet surprised.
Carlisle holds up a shot, “This will sting a little.”
“I know.” Bella closes her eyes and winces as Carlisle gives Bella an anesthetic shot.
Carlisle turns to Charlie, “Bella has given Vampires a great gift.” Carlisle says. “A side effect of her immunity is that she can turn Vampires back into humans. From her blood I can synthesize a reverse transformation serum. Any Vampire, who wants to be human again, can be. Many have been turned against their will, like myself.” Carlisle finishes sewing Bella up and cuts the suture at the end.
“Wow.” Charlie says.
Carlisle gathers the used bandages and the scarf and places it in a large dish lighting the scarf and all the bandages on fire.
Bella looks down to the burning bandages and the scarf. “Alice will miss her scarf.”
“I’m sure she saw this coming,” Carlisle says with a smile.
Bella smiles and nods.
“I’ll, let you two talk.”
Bella nods. “Thank you Carlisle…for this” she holds up her arm.
“You’re welcome, as always.” Carlisle says and exits the room. “Feel free to use my office to talk.”

Bella talks to her Dad alone;
Once Carlisle leaves, Charlie starts pacing.
“Dad, are you mad?”
Charlie sighs. “No…confused…overwhelmed…shocked…numb. How did you even find out Edward was a Vampire? When did you? Before you got married I hope.”
“Yeah, junior year. That almost accident, Edward didn’t push me out of the way. He stopped the van from crushing me…by stopping the van. Vampires are very strong.”
“Oh.” Charlie says. “So that’s when you’re romance started.”
“No. Edward did everything in his power to dissuade me from being his friend he thought of himself as a villain not a hero. I didn’t think of him as a hero so much as what he had done was heroic. But I wanted to know how he had done it and I hounded him but he’d never gave me any straight answers. When I found out he was a Vampire, after doing some research finding reference to the Cullens in Quileute legends, I confronted him. He made every effort to scare me, make me afraid of him so that I’d stay away from him but none of it worked. I loved him, love him. He left senior year to try and give me a normal life. He lied to me, saying he didn’t love me. It was the hardest think he’d ever done. And even though I should have been furious at him I flew half way across the world to save his life even though I believed the lie. After that we decided to get married. I wanted to be changed into a Vampire long before Italy, which is part of the reason Edward left. He didn’t want me to become a Vampire. After Italy me and Edward argued about it again and again and again. Before we got married, he said that if I waited five years he would change me. I actually bargained it down to three. It turned out to be more like three and a half that’s how we found out I was the cure. Edward’s human now.”
“And Mary?”
“She’s a Dhampir, half human, half Vampire. Male Vampire’s can produce with a human female. We told the lie about the hospital because we had to keep her away from people until she understood right from wrong. She craves human blood like Edward does…did.”
“With your blood can’t she be turned human?”
“No… we went over this with Carlisle. She never was human to begin with. But she’s my child and I love her. She’s so sweet, and good, so good, and smart, really smart.” Bella smiles.
“Can I meet her?”
“Yeah.” Bella begins to lead him out of Carlisle’s office.

Going to see Mary;
Charlie and Bella leave the office and start up the stairs. As they reach the third floor Alice, in a new outfit comes out of her room. She turns to Charlie. “You’re staying for the party, right.” Alice begs
Bella looks to her dad, “She’s not going to take no for an answer.”
“We’re having lots of human food and it will give you a chance to talk to Sam, about the wolves.”
Charlie nods. “Yeah…okay.”
“You’re going to see Mary ha.”
“Yeah…” Charlie looks to Alice suspiciously.
“You’re gonna love her and I don’t need to see the future to know that.” Alice says cheerfully as she skips down the stairs.
“Oh...um. Alice can see the future.”
“Oh.” Charlie says stunned. “Of course”

Meeting Mary;
With a desk on one wall, a TV on another and a pile of toys in a corner the fourth floor sitting room has become very multipurpose. Edward sits on the floor playing with Mary who’s in a cute dress. As Bella approaches the doorway she speaks to her father, “We have the fourth floor to ourselves.”
Edward looks to Charlie and Bella when they approach the doorway.
“I thought it would be okay if my dad came to see Mary.”
“Yeah.” Edward nods and looks to Mary, “Mary, sit in my lap for a minute?”
Without hesitation Mary comes over and sits in her father’s lap. He leans in and whispers into her ear. Listening intently to her father Mary smiles and nods. A few seconds later Edward kisses her on the cheek and picks her up off his lap telling her “Go and say hello”. Then he gets up off the floor.
Mary gracefully walks over to Charlie and holds out her hand for him to shake. “Hello, my name is Mary.”
In the background, Edward shakes his head, laughing to himself.
Charlie, smiling leans down to Mary and gently shakes her hand. “It’s nice to meet you Mary.”
Mary looks to Charlie with a smile. “Daddy told me that you were my grandfather like Carlisle, he’s daddy’s daddy but you’re mommy’s daddy.”
“Wow…yeah…that’s right.”
“Charlie sit…” Edward points to the couch. Charlie sits on the couch.
“Did that answer your question?” Mary asks.
“Question?”
“You asked what Daddy whispered to me?”
“No I…thought it…” Charlie hesitates.
“Oh, I’m having trouble telling the difference between thinking and speaking.”
Charlie is stunned.
Edward leans down to her, “remember we talked about this. If their mouth is moving then they’re speaking.”
Bella leans into her father; “Mary inherited Edward’s ability to read minds but he couldn’t ever read me…or Mary because she inherited that from me.”
“Oh.” Charlie says holding his breath.
“Why don’t you get a book for grandpa to read to you?” Edward suggests looking to Charlie who smiles and nods.
Mary goes into the corner, where there are a pile of toys and some books. “I can read some of the words but not all of them.” She grabs a book on her way to the couch she looks to Charlie; “And no, none of the other Vampire’s can read minds just daddy could.”
“Mary,” Bella leans down to Mary, “It’s rude to respond to what people are thinking.” Bella says
Without being told Mary looks to Charlie, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Charlie says.
“No it’s not.” Edward says. “From now on Mary don’t.”
Mary nods. She smiles a large smile and hands Charlie the book and sits down on the couch.
Charlie smiles and looks to the book Mary handed him. “Ah, Noah’s Ark.”
“It has some pretty pictures in it.” She opens the book and puts her finger under the first sentence. “At first there was God.” She reads. Charlie is impressed. “He created the…what’s that word?”
“Universe.” Charlie says.
Bella sits down beside Mary and Edwards sits down at his desk chair facing them.
On the last page Mary starts to get tired from reading. “And God made a…what’s that word?”
“Covenant.”
“And God made a covenant with man. He pro…”
“promised.” Charlie says.
“…that he would never wash man from the earth again.” Mary finishes.
“That’s very good.” Charlie says. Mary gets up excited. “We can read another one” she says running to the book shelf playfully.
Bella goes up to her and leans down to her daughter. “Something short and maybe grandpa would like to read this one to you.”
Charlie smiles and closes the Noah’s ark book. Just as he does, he catches his finger on one of the pages ripping the skin, blood pours. Mary turns to Charlie an instinctual look in her eyes. She jolts towards Charlie. Bella tries to grab a hold of her daughter, but standing on the ball of her feet Bella is unbalanced and falls over, unable to keep Mary back. But Edward seeing Mary’s eyes lunges out of his chair landing on his knees he embraces his daughter, keeping her back from Charlie. Snarling Mary pushes against her father. But as a two year old she is unable to get free from him. Charlie looks in horror.
Bella quickly goes to her father and takes his hand. “Dad let’s go.”
Hesitantly he gets up from the couch, looking to Mary who is still snarling.
Bella takes her father’s hand and pulls him out of the room leading him quickly into the bathroom.

The Bathroom;
Inside the bathroom Bella locks the door, opens a cabinet and pulls down fancy bandages. Bella tries to put the bandage on her father but he is not paying attention. “You okay dad?” Bella asks.
He looks to Bella then down at his wound, “Yeah…it’s just a paper cut.”
“Please try not to get blood all over.” Bella asks. She takes some toilet paper and swabs some of the blood off the counter and his finger before putting on the bandage.
“Is Mary okay?” Charlie asks nervously rubbing the bandage over his cut.
Charlie’s face is more saddened than frightened, for she is such a sweat innocent girl, or rather, was.
“Yeah…it’s just the smell of blood it sets her off…Edward’s talking to her now.” Bella nervously explains as she cleans the counter with hydrogen peroxide. “We’re teaching her to control it like Edward…but it will take some time…. it’s why we chose to keep her away from people, for now.”
Charlie lets out a tense sigh and nods.
“She’ll be upset if you go…please dad. She’ll already be upset. She can’t control it. It’s instinctual. It’s not her fault.”
“Okay…” he gives Bella a false smile. “Is it okay if I go back in with the...” he holds up his bandaged hand.
Bella nods.
Charlie opens the door and heads out of the bathroom. “High tech bandages, it tingles.”
“The bandage reacts to the heat of your skin, puts a layer of synthetic skin over the wound.”
“huh” Charlie says nodding as they leave the bathroom.

Back to Mary;
A moment later, Bella and Charlie, re-enter the living area. “Hey?” he says uncertain of how to behave.
Bella enters and walks towards Mary.
Edward and Mary are standing in the same spot where Edward grabbed Mary. Edward is holding Mary in a comforting hug speaking to her in a soothing voice, Mary is in tears. “I know it’s hard Mary.” He says. “but you have to keep trying to control it” He kisses her on the forehead “I love you.”
Mary looks to Charlie, “I’m sorry grandpa. I have trouble. I’ll be better when I’m older.” Mary hugs her father, who hugs her and rubs her back.
“No harm done.” Charlie says and smiles at Mary. “You want to read another book?” he says entering the room and going to sit on the couch again.
Bella and Edward smile.
Mary nods and smiles. She goes to the book shelf. Bella follows her and hands her a book. “Let grandpa read it.”
Mary nods and goes to her grandfather’s side and hands him the book. “Come on, get up here.” Charlie says picking up Mary and putting her on his lap.
Mary sits comfortably on his lap as he looks to the book, it has cardboard pages. “Mary’s prayer.” Charlie says reading the title.
Just as they are finishing reading Carlisle comes into the sitting room dressed up in nice clothes. “I just wanted to let you know the party is going to start soon.” Carlisle says and then turns to Charlie, “Jasper and Emmett are actually down stairs trying to get the grill to work. We’ve never used it before. Maybe, you could help them?”
Charlie nods, “Sure”

The Wolves arrive;
Downstairs Edward is twirling Mary around while Rosalie and Bella help set out the food. On the balcony outside Charlie instructs Emmett and Jasper on how to connect the grill to the gas.
The doorbell rings indicating the Wolves have arrived. Esme smiles and gracefully heads to the front door. Carlisle follows her.
At the door the Wolves are all together, all eight of them and Emily. The three girls that have joined the wolves over the years have become like one of the guys.
“Come in, come in.” Esme says opening the door.
“We’ve got food and drinks all upstairs.” Carlisle says his hands in his pockets.
Esme motions for the wolves to head towards the stairs.
The boys and girls wrestle their way up the stairs, as if it’s a competition for who can get up there first. Jacob affectionately holding Nessa’s hand hangs back with her. Sam and Emily, also holding hands do the same.
“This is a good end to a tense relationship.” Carlisle says holding out his hand toward Sam. “And now we can start a good friendship, I hope.”
Sam shakes hands with Carlisle. “Yes, that would be good.”
“Excellent.” Carlisle says and smiles wrapping his arms around Esme.
“Smells good.” Emily says.
“I was hoping I could talk to Chief Swan about the pack.” Sam asks Carlisle. “Is he still here?”
“He’s upstairs helping the boys with the grill. Bella has talked to him a little about her experience. Yet I doubt she got to the part about the wolves.” Carlisle says.
“The thing with the wolves is pretty self explanatory.” Jacob says, “We’re wolves.”
“Yes, Bella’s story is a bit more complicated.” Esme says.
Nessa nods, “It took her hours to tell it to Sam yesterday and he knew about you being Vampires.”
Esme and Carlisle smile and nod. Emily and Sam smile and Sam leads Emily up the stairs. Jacob and Nessa follow. Carlisle and Esme are close behind.

Sam talks to Charlie about the Wolves;
At the top of the stairs Emily whispers to Sam. “I’m going to get some food.” Sam nods and they release their hands. She turns to the table with snacks set out and grabs a plate. Sam looks to the deck where Charlie is. “Hey boys.” He says turning to the wolves. “Paul, Embry help with the grill so Chief Swan can get a plate of food.” He orders.
The two boys, Embry laughing at some joke the others said, Paul chewing the chips he just stuffed in his mouth leave the wolf group and head out to the balcony. They say hi to Emmet and Jasper, shaking hands and hi fiving. Embry quickly talks with Charlie;
“Sam wants to talk to you. So he ordered us to come and take your place out here.”
“Oh…really.” Chief Swan says, “And you did what he said just like that.”
“We don’t really have a choice.” Paul says stuffing more chips in his mouth from the snack sized bag he took off the snack table.
“He’s our pack leader, it’s a wolf thing.” Embry says. “Sam will fill you in.”
Charlie nods leaves the balcony and comes up to Sam, “One of your boys told me that you wanted to talk to me.”
“I did. I just wanted to make sure you were alright. I know all this can be a lot to take especially with your daughter involved in this.”
“Yeah well…it’s not like I have much of a choice…and I’m okay thanks. I got to see my granddaughter for the first time.” Charlie’s eyes light up.
Emily comes up next to Sam, “She’s a good girl.” Emily says with a smile.
“You were here before…”
“To watch Mary during the fight...she was napping so it was easy but I was here when they put her to sleep in her cage.” Emily smiles.
“Cage?”
Emily’s smile fades as she realizes that Charlie doesn’t know, “It’s a crib with a lid and they lock it shut to make sure nothing happens.”
Charlie nods.
“She was really good about going to sleep and really sweet.” Emily says and rubs her tummy. “I hope our child is that good?”
“You’re expecting?” Charlie says surprised.
“Yeah.” Sam says excited.
“I’m about ten weeks.” Emily says.
“So will he or she be…”
“No.” Emily says, “Most likely not. It wouldn’t present itself until puberty even if he or she was… a wolf.” Emily says affectionately as she looks to Sam. Then she looks back to Charlie, “But usually the gene skips a generation. It’s a Quileute thing.”
“It’s genetic?” Charlie says surprised.
“Yes,” Sam says smiling “Biting won’t turn someone into a wolf, that’s strictly a myth. I did want to talk to you about not shooting any of us. We only attack Vamps it’s kind of our thing. The only time the gene is activated is when we’re around Vampires.”
“They’d never hurt anyone.” Emily says. “Sam’s got the pack on a tight leash.”
“I heard they have to follow your orders.”
Sam nods.
Charlie looks to the scar on Emily’s face but doesn’t say anything. Yet Emily notices as he darts his view in a different direction, trying not to stare.
“Some of the new wolves have a hard time controlling their abilities.” Emily explains. “If they are scared or angry the transformation occurs. Sam was the first to experience the change when the Cullens first arrived. And because there was no one else to help him through it he was pretty scared. That’s when this happened.” She points to her face. “But it was an accident and it’s superficial.”
“The boys are pretty good I make sure of it.” Sam says with a look of guilt and shame.
“Yeah they are,” Charlie says looking at the wolves, they’ve scattered and are conversing with the Vampires, “none of them got in trouble with the law as teenagers I can tell you that. Unlike a lot of the Quileute boys seem to.” Charlie shrugs. “A lot of teenage boys around here seem to.” Charlie looks to the group of wolves Sam brought. “You keep calling them boys but… the wolves aren’t all boys.”
Emily giggles. “Sam still hasn’t gotten used to the fact that girls have joined the pack. It’s only been two years.” she laughs.
“They don’t mind me calling them boys.”
“Nessa, was the first to join two years ago.” Jacob says coming up to Charlie.
“Hey Jacob. Nessa’s your girlfriend?” Charlie says.
“Yes you know that ‘cause she comes by the station a lot for lunch.” Jacob says to Charlie.
Nessa comes up behind Jacob. “Talking about me.” She says and slides her way between Charlie and Jacob. Nessa, Charlie, and Jacob talk for awhile while Emily and Sam sneak off for some more snacks, Emily cleaned her plate quickly. (If you’re interested in Nessa and Jacob’s relationship post a comment and I’ll post the conversation that Charlie had with them. It tells the story of how Nessa became a wolf.)

Edward and Bella at the Party, talk of her gift, the future;
Once a plate full of dear meat is done Emmett brings it over to the snack table. Seeing the dear meat out the wolf boys and girls come to the snack table, each one fighting to be first. Over in a corner Sam talking to Alice looks to the boys and girls. “Boys, on your best behavior.” He yells. The boys stop wrestling. The girls, by way of a loop hole continue. “And girls too.” Sam yells. The girls stop. Emily, talking to Bella and Edward laughs at the whole ordeal.
Charlie is still talking to Jacob and Nessa, when Emmett, after dropping off the dear meat at the snack table joins the conversation. “So if you two got married and had children…” Emmett asks looking to Jacob and Nessa, “would you have one at a time or a littler?”
Jacob laughs. “I’m pretty sure one at a time.”
“Although you never know.” Nessa says giggling, “Twins are common in my family anyway.”
Charlie laughs, “Well, I’m going to get some food.” Charlie says.
“Yeah, there’s dear meat.” Emmett says.
The group nods.
“Enjoy it.” Emmett says leaving the group to help Rosalie with glasses for the Vampires. He walks with Charlie part way as Charlie walks to the snack table. “I hope this doesn’t gross you out too much.” Emmett says. “The wolves said they wouldn’t mind.”
Charlie looks to Emmett, and where he’s headed. Seeing Rosalie begin to pour blood out of a black pitcher into black goblets he looks a little disgusted.
Completely ignoring Charlie’s expression, “We got to eat too.” Emmett says, slapping Charlie on the back, as if they’re old friends. “And owning a butcher shop we got lots of blood around.”
Charlie shrugs and nods as he looks to Rosalie. Then Charlie sees Rosalie take out a Sippy cup from a cupboard and fill it with the black pitcher. “Mary.” he says to himself and thinking of her, even in this context, his lips curve up to form a smile.
Emmett goes to Rosalie and takes the tray of filled cups. He’s going to pass it around when he looks and sees most of his family are already in the kitchen waiting.
With the Vampires off to get their drinks, Sam, finally makes his way to Bella and Edward. Edward is enjoying a plate of food while holding Mary with one arm. And Bella is sitting on the ground at the coffee table with a plate cutting the food into tiny pieces.
“Aunt Rosalie will come over with your Sippy cup.” Edward says.
Mary patiently nods.
“This is Mary I presume.” Sam says.
“Yeah,” Edward looks to her lovingly, “she’s our little monster.” Just as Edward says this Charlie comes up behind him.
“They’re all little monster at the beginning.” Charlie says. “I remember Bella was very fond of biting, which considering is kind of ironic.”
Sam and Edward laugh.
“I didn’t know that.” Bella says as she gets up from the floor. She looks to her dad.
“You got your teeth in pretty early and you used to clamp down on anything you could.”
Rosalie comes over and hands Mary a Sippy cup. Edward instructs Mary to say thank you which she does. Rosalie with her own cup joins the group. As each member of the party gets their food they join the circle.
“Mary come and eat.” Bella says taking Mary from Edward.
“She eats?” Charlie says surprised.
Edward looks to Charlie, “Little amounts of food.” He explains.
“She’s part human.” Bella says “She needs food.”
“Ha.” Charlie says and nods for a moment looking off blankly into the distance.
Mary takes the fork in a proper way and slowly scoops the food onto it and places the fork gently in her mouth. She chews completely before she swallows. As she does this Jacob, Esme, and Carlisle join the group.
Jacob looks to Carlisle. “So now that there’s a cure are you all going to take it?”
Rosalie answers, “We talked about it before you came and we decided that in order to protect Bella we need to stay as we are.”
Carlise and Esme nod.
“You guys really don’t have to do that.” Bella says nervous.
“Carlisle wants to stay as is anyway.” Esme says looking to her husband with great admiration.
“I can help more people if I stay as I am. Help them as a doctor.” Carlisle says.
“Alright I understand that but Rosalie you don’t have to stay.” Bella says while Mary sits in her lap eating.
“Yes, I do. You’re part of this family.” Rosalie says and glances to Mary.
Bella nods.
“And we love you. We want to protect you.” Esme says.
Sam nods. “I understand that.” He says and puts his arm around Emily giving her a quick squeeze. Emily smiles, blushing.
Esme smiles at Sam and Emily.
“What about when you have to leave Forks?” Bella asks.
“We’ll protect you, Bella.” Sam says
Bella blushes, “I really appreciate all this but…I don’t need…I shouldn’t need your protection.”
“Of course.” Sam smiles, teasing. “The great and powerful seer doesn’t need our protection.”
“I didn’t mean that…how did you…”
Alice pokes her head into the group smiling.
“Alice.” Bella gripes.
“It came up in conversation.” Alice defends.
“Seer?” Charlie says shocked.
“I just found out about it yesterday, apparently I can see the future in my dreams.” Charlie is speechless but as Bella says this the last of the wolves have joined the circle and they look to her with reverence. “Please don’t…it’s not that big of a deal.” Bella begs “My dreams never made any sense to me until after the event had already happened…so it didn’t really make any difference.”
“But it can…” Alice says. “I’ll teach you how to read your dreams.”
“Okay… can we just stop talking about this it’s not like I had anything to do with it…it’s just me. And I wouldn’t have asked for it; nightmares that might come true. Yeah… that’s just what I wanted.” Bella says sarcastically.
Edward flashes a quick smile and puts his arm around Bella.
“It’s better than having bad things actually happen” Esme says “It gives you a chance to prepare.”
Bella nods. “But I’m not going to boast about it…that’s ridiculous. I didn’t have a choice in this.”
Suddenly Carlisle’s expression turns to deep thought.
Mary stands up, having cleared her plate, she goes to her daddy and hugs his legs.

Party continues as does the conversations;
The party continues for a few hours where the wolves, Vampires, Bella, Edward, Charlie, and Emily converse about the past and think about the past with the knowledge they have in the present. The conversation creates laughter and brings up fond memories. Charlie learns from Bella, Jacob and the rest of the pack how she found out about the wolves. And Bella realizes the dreams she had, when Edward left Senior year, weren’t just about the trauma of her experience with James, but also visions of the future of that day in Italy when she had to run as fast as she could to save Edward. And she remember the fear she felt in Italy, in the visions she felt the same fear, that is why she screamed almost every night in her sleep.
As it gets late and Mary starts to rub her eyes Bella and Edward say goodbye to all the guests for a quick retreat to get Mary into bed. Charlie says a special goodbye to Mary promising to visit again and says goodbye to his daughter saying he’ll be leaving soon because he has to get up real early tomorrow.
After Bella and Edward bathe Mary and get her into her pajamas each of them reads her a bedtime story. Mary tucked in lies down in her crib as they read. Once the stories are done both her parents kiss her goodnight and wish her sweet dreams. Edward locks the lid on the crib, Bella turn the lights out, and Edward close the door. By this time, Mary’s eyelids are drooping.
Outside Mary’s door as they head to the stairs Edward takes Bella’s hand and stops. She turns back to him. “Bella…I never thanked you for giving me my soul back. Thank you.”
Bella turns to Edward lovingly embracing him, “You didn’t need me to give you your soul, Edward.”
He looks to her lovingly, “You’ve always seen me how I wished I was.”
She puts her hand on his face, “…and maybe now there’s nothing preventing you from seeing what I see…what’s always been there.”
“Oh Bella…” Edward sighs. He leans in to kiss her just as she does to kiss him.
As they kiss passionately Bella kicks open the door to their room and holding her Edward pulls her inside kicking the door closed.

Our future;
Wrapped up in the sheets, Edward on top of Bella, Edward kisses her vigorously down her neck.
Bella smiles, “I’m glad you’re finally, actually, enjoying yourself.”
Edward looks to her “What?”
“I know you could never completely let go…. before…when we were together like this. But I like this.” A large grin stretches across her face.
Edward smiles and whispers “me too”
Bella’s smile fades. “I’m gonna get old now.” she says disapprovingly.
Edward chuckles, “You just realized that.”
Bella nods giggling to herself.
“So am I.” Edward says and kisses her on the cheek, “We’ll do it together.”
With loving eyes she looks to him and smiles, “Yeah.” She kisses him passionately.
He kisses her passionately and then pulls away. “This might not be the best time to talk to you about this, but I was thinking, now that things are going to stay as they are…”
Bella listens intently.
“I thought maybe, not today, or tomorrow, but maybe we could…talk… about having more kids.”
Blushing, Bella smiles, “Yes, I’d like that.”
He smiles to her, “Yeah?”
“Yeah, not this year." Bella says, "and probably not the next but…”
“We have plenty of time.”
“Yeah.”
Edward, looking at Bella as if she’s the most beautiful woman in the world, slowly, gently puts his mouth to hers and kisses her passionately.
Deeply breathing in his kisses, Bella moans with happiness.

Closing;
The next morning at breakfast, Bella, Edward, and Mary are all sitting at the bar. Eating their eggs and hash browns which Esme cooked for them. Bella and Edward glance at each other blushing.
“I’m done mommy, daddy…” Mary says, her small plate empty. “Can I go play outside?”
“Wait sweetheart for one of us to be done.” Edward says.
“I can take her.” Alice offers. She gets up from the couch in the living room and puts down the book she was reading tucking a bookmark in neatly.
“You’re sure you don’t mind?” Bella asks.
“Of course not.” Alice smiles.
At this point Carlisle comes into the kitchen, “Actually I think it would be a good idea if Alice took Mary to play. I wanted to talk to the two of you and I think she’d get quite bored.”
Everyone in the room tenses including Mary.
“It’s nothing bad.” Carlisle says and smiles to them.
Edward looks to Alice, “Go ahead and take Mary, Alice.” Edward says.
“Come on Mary” Alice says taking Mary’s hand. Mary stands relaxed take’s Alice’s hand and they head down the stairs, “Do, you want to play on the play set daddy built you or climb trees.” Alice asks.
“The play set”
“Yeah, it’s pretty neat isn’t it?”
“It’s gigantic.” Mary says with great enthusiasm.
“What’s this about Carlisle?” Edward demands to know.
“Is everything all right…the rest of the blood tests?” Bella asks.
“Everything is fine…”
“Edward’s going to age normally right…not become 114 right away?”
“Yes, he’ll age normally. Calm down. Everything is fine.”
Edward turns to Bella alarmed. “I didn’t know you were worried about that.”
“I wasn’t until Carlisle said he wanted to talk to us and then I just thought about what could go wrong…”
“Everything is fine.” Carlisle says, Edward and Bella turn to him. “I only wanted you two to know something. Last night I realized something and so I did some research to be sure. I believe everything that’s happened; you two meeting, Edward being attracted to you based on your sent, when you wanted to be human again, and Edward making himself your protector all of it was destiny. Even James, what he did, and Mary, and perhaps even Bella being clumsy was predestined. Last night when you were talking about being a seer and not wanting to be boastful about it I remembered a line from a prophecy.”
“This isn’t the prophecy that Edward told me about…“The One will allow those who hide from the sun to touch the sun.”?”
“Yes.”
“What does that have to do with us?” Edward asks.
“I’ve looked over it to be sure and I am…Bella you are the One.”
“But how am I going to make Aro a God I just stripped him off his immortality.”
“Yes, becoming a God over all the world was Aro’s hope but the translation that Aro chose was incorrect, I’ve look at the original text and found that the word Aro thought meant touch really means feel.”
“The One will allow those who hide from the sun to feel the sun.” Edward says and smiles. “Become human again, like Bella has made me.”
“Yes, and The One was supposed to be a seer…a reluctant seer, not boastful.”
“But The One was supposed to be a great warrior.” Bella objects.
“Yes, that was inferred from the mention of multiple scares, you have all those scares, from Mary, the C-section, the accident on your 18th birthday, James, and childhood incidences. I thought you should know.”
“Thank you Carlisle.” Edward says.
“The prophecy also mentioned a protector, the firstborn offspring of The One. Mary; she is a Dhampir she can protect you. Most likely when she is older she’ll be able to shimmer, like her father…and can warn us if there’s trouble near…so if the two of you ever decided to venture on your own…” Carlisle doesn’t need to complete the sentence.
“Somewhere Sunny?” Edward says looking to Bella lovingly.
Bella smiles and turns her stool toward him, “Not right away…not any time soon. Rosalie would kill us and my dad he wants to spend time with Mary.”
“Maybe we could just go somewhere for a week or so…” Edward says leaning into to Bella smiling a lusty smile.
“Like a second honeymoon.” Bella says smiling.
Edward nods as he leans into kiss Bella, they are both smiling as his lips touch her mouth. They kiss deeply.

Bella narrates; “Sometimes what you want isn’t as good as what the people who love you want for you. But I can’t regret the decisions I’ve made, all my decisions over these past 5 years. They lead to Edward’s rebirth. Some say it was destiny and I agree with them. Meeting and being with Edward was my destiny.”

Epilogue;
Bella Narrates; “After Edward became human we both believed in miracles. Edward had prayed everyday for forgiveness for his sins, believing all the while God wasn’t listening because of what he was. But God had answered Edward's prayers to become human again. From then on we always went to Church, participated actively in the Church as Edward had before he became a vampire. And we raised Mary, our son Charles, and youngest daughter Christina to believe that Jesus Christ paid for our sins and through him no matter what one has done or who you are you can be forgiven.”


The End

Author’s note; I think you, the reader, has already figured out by now that I’ve only seen the movies. I thought about reading the books before I wrote this but then decided it was best if I was unaffected, wasn’t confined by the restrictions of Stephenie’s world. I didn’t get to develop this ending; the change in the characters, the settings, or edit the redundant dialogue tags as thoroughly as I wanted to. But unlike Stephenie I can’t make this my life. It took me a month to write this as is. I have to get back to reality now. Hope you enjoyed. Let me know if you did! For I have more in my head about Mary as she grows up and about Bella and Edward while Bella was pregnant with Mary.

Foolproof Way to Settle the Toilet Seat Dispute

Okay, so if your boyfriend, husband, or brother is not a fool than he'll probably agree with my argument about the matter. For me it's not about the toilet seat it's about the toilet lid. It should be down covering the toilet, because you don't want things falling in the toilet, even if it hasn't been used in awhile. Your toothbrush, electric razor, and deodorant lose their value when they fall in the toilet! And don't even get me started on what happens to a cell phone. And since the seat happens to be under the lid, when you put the lid down the toilet seat goes down too. And the effort is about the same for both women and men. Yes the man has to exert himself a little tinny teeny bit more but since he supposedly has more upper body strength anyway it shouldn't be too hard. And women, this solution means you’re going to have look at the toilet before you go, which is why you've been falling in! It's always a good idea because who knows if it’s clean. This is another bonus to the lid being down, the seat will be cleaner. No hair from shaving or brushing will end up on the toilet seat or microbes from sneezing, dogs won’t drink from it, and those bugs, which we apparently swallow a few of every year won’t lay their eggs on it, or track other nasty things over it.
So when talking about this, communicate that it will be an effort for both parties involved. Both, all parties will have to remember to put the lid down. At the beginning you should be patient if one forgets, remind the person he or she forgot in a gentle non combative manner. Practice, to avoid any conflict. Reminding each other makes people accountable, which will promote the desired behavior. Don’t make them do it, that’s too aggressive and dominates the situation, which could promote defensive behavior and a fight would result. However, if the reminded party offers to do it they dominate the situation but if the reminder argues she or he invalidates her or his position so no argument should occur. There could however be an awkward silence which means you have received good will points. These are points that make it so a woman or man won’t be as mad if you do something stupid before she or he goes to sleep. They do expire when sleep occurs. Of course it depends on what stupid thing you do. And there is a chance if the man or woman has a very good memory that you can cash a lifetime of them in all at once. But don’t count on it and be prepared to risk everything if you try it. Anyway, back to the toilet there is one more piece of advice; the toilet lid when it’s put down use the hand you don’t wipe with because the other person is going to have to use their hand to raise it. Yes they’re going to wash their hands after going to the bathroom anyway, at least I hope so, but still it’s polite. And if you always wipe with the same hand perhaps using the other hand to raise the lid would be a good idea. Who knows what the other person did. Also remember when cleaning the toilet clean the lid as well. And after awhile you’ll find yourself putting the toilet lid down even at a friend’s houses.
And people, man or woman if the person you’re trying to convince is really selfish and doesn’t want to put the lid down. Hang a shelf over the toilet and put their stuff there. And you could put it up so it wasn’t level but I wouldn’t recommend it. That might not be good for your relationship when they found out. Yet after awhile, when they've had to replace everything on that self they should automatically put the lid down.

Enterprise Rewrite "Meet Elizabeth"

Star Trek Enterprise
Rewrite of “the Expanse” at the end of season 3 Title;
“Meet Elizabeth”
BY: J. Wells, Rick Berman, and Brannon Braga
Disclaimer: Star Trek is not the property of J. Wells but that of Paramount Pictures. All Characters and some scenes are the creation of Paramount Pictures and associates.

In Space a large circular device shoots a golden ray of energy towards earth. Destroying everything in its path the golden ray makes a canyon traveling through schools, houses, across whole towns.
Looking up closer at the device, as it comes apart distinctive shapes on its surface can be seen. But the close up look is only through the view of a television screen, mounted on the wall in the kitchen of a small cabin. A label at the bottom of the screen says; “Attack on Earth”.
Birds are chirping outside. A woman with long straight brown hair, wearing jeans and a T-shirt, looking like she’s in her mid to late 30s is washing dishes. But seeing the footage on the news she quickly puts down the dish she’s cleaning, pulls up the drain to the sudsy sink, dries her hands on a nearby towel, picks up the remote, and turns off the TV. She grabs keys sitting on the counter and quickly runs out the door.
Once outside, the door of the cabin swings closed behind her, she climbs into a jeep, and pushes a button on the dash; “Call Starfleet Command” she says. She puts the keys in the ignition, starts the car, and drives off.
”Starfleet Command” a secretary says appearing on a monitor on the dash of her car.
“I know who attacked Earth.” The woman speaks with determination and a sense of urgency.


The credits play; the song is a classical song with upbeat tones that signify adventure and exploration. (The original theme song was nice in and of itself but it didn’t belong as a Star Trek theme song.) The pictures that accompany the music are pictures of Enterprise the NX-01 traveling from earth past the nine planets in our solar system in a flash. The characters appear as they would work on the ship while their names and actors’ name appears below. (The song lasts no longer than 30 seconds plenty of time to fit in all the credits. This will give me more time to have actual story lines.)


In space Enterprise travels at impulse. The stars retain their dot shape instead of becoming streaks of light as they do when the ship travels at warp.

In the briefing room; a room with a large table surrounded by chairs, most of the Senior officers, Malcolm Reed, Hoshi Sato, Travis Mayweather, and the Doctor wait for the Captain. In his British accent Reed speaks; “It must be something pretty serious.”
Through the door walks Commander Tucker, the ship’s chief engineer affectionately known as Trip “What’s going on?”
“The Captain wants to talk to us.” Reed says. Lieutenant Reed is Enterprise’s head of security.
“About what?” Trip says in his Florida drawl as he saunters to his place around the table.
“He’s speaking to Admiral Forest.” Hoshi says. As the ship’s communications officer she is the one to know the details. “It’s the third time in the last hour.”
Looking around the room at the familiar faces Trip says “Well something’s obviously up”
“I can’t remember the last time he asked me to join the senior staff for a briefing.” The Doctor, the only non human in the room says. From the planet called Denobula Dr. Phlox has cranial ridges outlining his forehead curving around his eyes and ending in the middle of his cheeks.
Hypothesizing Reed begins to say something; “Maybe it has something to do with the fact…” but he’s interrupted when the Captain walks through the door.
They all stand at attention.
“There’s been an attack on earth.” Captain Jonathan Archer announces. The mood of the room quickly changes. Only Trip, the Captain’s best friend has the courage to speak;
“What do you mean attack?”
Ever word is heavier than the one before as Captain Archer explains; “A probe. They don’t know where it came from. It fired a weapon that cut a swath 4,000 kilometers long. From Florida to Venezuela. There may have been a million casualties.”
“A million.” Reed utters in shock.
“We’ve been recalled.”
“Did they say why?” Trip’s understandably angry.
“I didn’t ask.”The Captain looks mournful.
“It will take awhile to get back sir.” Mayweather says for it’s his duty to know these things, as the con officer, the pilot of the ship.
A beep and a voice of an officer through the ship’s communication system interrupt the meeting; “Bridge to Captain Archer.”
Pushing the talk button on the wall behind him Archer responds “Go ahead.”
“It’s admiral forest sir.”
“Understood.” The Captain releases the talk button but before he leaves he turns to the young Ensign Mayweather, “Set a course Travis Warp 5.”
Travis Mayweather nods.


Outside Enterprise the stars become lines of light as the ship goes to Warp.


On a densely populated planet a castle sits atop a cliff.


Inside the castle there’s a lot of hustle. In tightly fitting black pants and jacket the women from the cabin enters and walks up to a reception counter. Leaning against the desk she speaks as if she’s in a hurry; “I’ve come for my shipment.”
A Rigelion behind the counter greats her in a way only a slimy sales man would; “Ah Elizabeth.”
Hoping to discourage any chit chat she barks at him; “I want it packaged in the containers we discussed.”
“Of course, just like before.” The Rigelian’s upbeat demeanor irritates Elizabeth. “But why so much more of it this time? And you never did tell me what you were using it for? It’s not worth anything.”
“That’s why I’m paying you very little.” She responds with a tone that should communicate her irritation she hopes is enough to get him to shut up.
The Rigelian doesn’t get the message “But why are you paying for it at all?” he asks
She yells; “It gets in the way of your mining operations here. You normally toss it aside and I’m paying you for it. What does it matter what I’m using it for?”
He turns fearful “I’m just curious.”
In a threatening manner she leans up close to him; “Well if you want me to buy from you again I suggest you keep your questions to yourself.”
“Alright. I’ll see that your shipment is loaded onto your ship.” Quickly he leaves the desk. Elizabeth waits putting on an irritated demeanor that should prevent anyone from talking to her.


Standing in the Reedy Room, the Captain’s office with Captain Archer, Commander Tucker looks saddened.
“The number of casualties has been revised.” Archer speaks solemnly “It’s up to three million.”
Trip asks in desperation “Why would someone do this?”
The Captain gives him a sympathetic shake of the head. As he does the doorbell rings. “Come in”
T’Pol, Enterprise’s Vulcan science officer enters the Ready room.
Trip walks up to the wall to compose himself before turning back to Archer and T’Pol.
T’Pol speaks “I spoke with Ambassador Soval.”
“And” Archer barks eager to hear news.
“A Vulcan Transport located the pod in Central Asia. They retrieved it and brought it to Starfleet Headquarters.”
Archer steps up to T’Pol while Trip watches with anticipation. “What do they know?” Archer asks.
“Very little, there was a pilot killed on impact.”
“Who the hell was he?” Trip asks with bitterness. “What species?”
T’Pol turns to him and calmly says, “They don’t know.”
With eagerness and sadness in his tone Trip speaks; “Did they say anything about what part of Florida was hit?”
When T’Pol says “No.” Trip looks at the floor mournfully.
“Trip’s sister lives in Florida.” The Captain informs T’Pol.
She offers Trip a sympathetic glance just as there’s a beep at the com.
Captain Archer walks over to his com station. “Archer” he announces pushing the com button.
Reed addresses the captain “We’ve got Suliban ships, eight of them. Approaching at high warp.”
Frustrated and emotionally exhausted the Captain responds with intense sarcasm. “Just what we need.” He orders a Tactical Alert.


Outside the ship Enterprise is being surrounded by small spherical ships.


On the bridge the Captain barks; “Hail them!”
At her station Ensign Hoshi Sato does as he asks. “They’re not responding.”
“Try again.” He orders in a frustrated manner.
Suddenly the lights on Enterprise begin to flicker Suliban, green scaly aliens can be seen crawling all over the bridge and the lights fail. A moment later the lights come back on but the Captain is gone.
“The Captain.” Reed exclaims with surprise and disappointment.
T’Pol even looks troubled by the turn of events.

On a Suliban vessel Captain Archer paces in a room with illuminated consuls and a flickering gadget.
The door to the room opens and three Suliban enter. The middle Suliban speaks with a grading voice. “There’s someone who need to speak with you.”
In anger Archer responds. “Silik!” he yells. “I know you’d have something to do with this.”
Silik, the middle Suliban speaks calmly. “Do with what?”
“Millions of people.” Archer yells “You killed millions of people!”
“I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Archer moves to attack Silik but the other two Suliban pull out weapons.
“I’m afraid that wouldn’t be wise Captain.”
“What the hell am I doing here?”
“There’s someone who needs to speak with you. He has information you should find helpful. Don’t worry you won’t be harmed.”
“Information about what?” Archer is getting impatience.
“Something to do with your species. It’s in great danger.”


Silk escorts Archer to another room. When they enter Archer can see a shadowy figure inside a cone of energy, which emerges from the ceiling.
Softly Silik speaks to Archer “He can see you more clearly if you move closer.”
“Who is he?”
“He wants to talk to you. It would be foolish to ignore him.”
Archer looks to Silik and then walks up to the Shadowy Figure. “What do you want?” The Captain speaks annoyed.
The Shadow Figure talks with a muffled voice which sounds more like a computer than a person; “Your planet was attacked.”
“I’m aware of that.” Archer yells bitterly annoyed.
The Figure responds without expressing emotion; “What you’re not aware of is why. The probe was sent by the Xindi. They learned that their world would be destroyed by humans in 400 years.”
With a baffled look on his face Archer responds; “How would they know what’s going to happen in 400 years?”
“They were told by people from the future. People who can communicate through time.”
“Are they the ones the Suliban are working for?”
“The Suliban work for me.” The Figure speaks with pride.
Archer is angered “So you’re the one who tried to start a civil war in the Klingon Empire. The one who’s manipulated my mission from day one.”
“The people who’ve contacted the Xindi belong to another faction. The probe was only a test. The Xindi are building a far more powerful weapon. When it is completed, they will use it to destroy Earth.”
“Annihilate us before we can annihilate them.” Archer says quietly to himself. He ponders for a minute before he speaks to the Figure. “Why are you telling me this?”
“The Xindi were not supposed to learn about their future. If they deploy this weapon, it will contaminate the timeline. You must not let that happen.” The Figure responds adamant in the last fact.
Frustrated and angered Archer turns to Silik before he looks up to the Figure, “Why should I believe you?” he yells.
The Figure answers in a deep confident tone; “You have no choice but to believe me.”


Outside Enterprises the spherical ships move off leaving Enterprise alone in warp.


While Enterprise travels through warp the Captain makes a log entry; “It’s been months since the attack. T’Pol is still hopeful there’s a logical explanation of who attacked earth, an explanation that doesn’t involve time travel.”


Silently Archer, Hoshi, Travis, and T’Pol man their stations on the bridge. They can feel the buzz of the warp drive as they travel at warp five.
Hoshi breaks the silence. “Captain we’re being hailed.”
“On screen” Archer orders calmly.
Elizabeth, the woman from the cabin in the mountains, the same one from the mining station appears on the view-screen.
“Captain Archer.” She says with relief.
“Do I know you?” Archer looks confused.
“No. But everyone on earth knows you.”
Surprise appears on his face. “You’re human?”
The smile slowly fades from her lips. “From Earth?” she says and her look turns glum “I came to find you.” she speaks with urgency. “I need to speak with you about the attack.”
Captain Archer is hesitant.
“I know you’re on your way home. Can I park my ship in your bay?”
Hesitantly he nods. “We’re sending you the location now.” He says turning to Hoshi.
Hoshi pushes buttons on the consul in front of her.
“As soon as I’m in feel free to head back into warp.” Elizabeth again speaks with the same urgency.
Captain Archer nods.


In Space a large door on the side of Enterprise opens. Elizabeth flies her ship inside but scratches the wall making a sound like a dying cat.


Captain Archer is waiting for Elizabeth in the hallway outside the bay.
“Sorry” she says as she exits the bay. “I’ll repair the damage.”
He looks at her confused, pokes his head inside the bay, and his eyes widen with surprise when he sees the gouge in the launch bay wall.
“It was a tight squeeze and I was never very good at threading the needle.” She says sheepishly.
Looking back to her he forces himself to smile “It’s alright”
As he pushes the button closing the door he speaks to her with eagerness. “You said you had information about the attack on earth?”
“Yes,” she speaks confidence, yet with innocence, “A species called the Xindi are responsible. I recognized the topography on the probe from the satellite footage they aired on Earth. I’ve visited the region of space they’re native to.”
Archer sighs disappointed. “We know about the Xindi.”
“How?” she utters dismayed.
The Captain sighs at looks off into the distance ahead of him, “It’s a long story.”
“I have the time.” She looks to him with a pleading expression.
Distracted by his thoughts, he doesn’t notice her expression, as he continues to look into the distance ahead of him.
“I have information you’re going to need to travel through their space. I hope you mean to find them and ask…” her voice fills with sadness as she continues “why?”
He looks to her sympathetic. “We will.”
She looks to him hopeful and quickly collects herself.
“Join me and my first officer for dinner?”
She responds in an unemotional manner, “Your chief engineer should join us. I have information he’ll need to be privy too.”
Archer nods.
“My name’s Elizabeth by the way.” She holds out her hand for him to shake.
Shaking her hand he smiles weekly. “It’s nice to meet you Elizabeth.”


T’Pol, Trip, Archer, and Elizabeth sit in the Captain’s dining room eating. The mostly empty plates indicate they are at the end of dinner.
Elizabeth speaks angelically; “I don’t know anything about this Shadow Figure or why the Xindi would be under the impression Earth would destroy their home planet in 400 years. All I know is what I told you.”
T’Pol interrupts with skepticism in her vocal inflections “How is it that you know about the Xindi?”
“I’ve traveled in the Delphic Expanse, the region of space where the Xindi come from.
“You have?” Commander Tucker exclaims with exuberant intrigue.
She speaks to the entire room; “My shuttle may not look like much but she can reach warp three, four if I push the engines beyond their limit.”
“Wow.” Trip exclaims and looks to her with admiration as he starts to blush.
“I was a little impressed with myself when I built it.” Picking up her glass she takes a sip of water.
Trip’s blush turns bright red and his eyes light up. “You built it?”
Swallowing Elizabeth nods.
Looking curiously at the Commander T’Pol interrupts, speaking without emotion, “Do you have any more information on these Xindi?”
“Yes,” Elizabeth says as she puts her water glass down. “I have a data packet prepared for you communications officer.”
Without emotion she asks “Why didn’t you give this information to Starfleet command?”
“I did. They didn’t believe me.” Elizabeth carries no resentment in her inflections. “Being a grade school teacher” she says “didn’t make my information seem like it could be relevant.”
“A grade school teacher,” Archer puts down his glass of Iced Tea and speaks with curiosity, “I thought you said that you explored this Delphic Expanse.”
“I did for a few years, but it was just me in my shuttle and it was lonely so I decided to go back to Earth.”
“And Teach Grade school.” Trip says as if it’s the punch line to some joke.
Irritated Elizabeth turns to Trip; “Just because it’s not as high and lofty as joining Starfleet doesn’t mean it’s not meaningful.”
Tucker’s smile turns into a frown as he stutters “I didn’t mean to offend you.” A flirtatious smile begins to appear, “Being a grade school teacher’s kind of sweat”
“You have to admit,” Archer says.”Joining Starfleet would have made more sense.” He leans against the table, “Why didn’t you join Starfleet?”
“I have my reasons. But they’re irrelevant now. I care about Earth and I want to know why the Xindi did this.” She pants fighting back tears.
“We all do.” Trip looks to her with compassion, “what do I need to know?”
Elizabeth looks to Trip confused.
The Captain looks to her “You did ask that the Chief engineer join us because you had information for him?”
Elizabeth nods. “Yes,” she quickly relays a speech that has undoubtedly been rehearsed. “I have 200 kiloliters of a mineral in my cargo hold. You’re going to need to insulate your hull with it because the region of space that the Xindi are in is filled with special anomalies. This mineral, Trellium-D is the only thing that protects ships from them. In the data packet it explains how the mineral can be safely melted into the hull.”
“Safely?” Archer says with concern. “Is it dangerous?”
Elizabeth looks to Archer. “Not to humans.” Her eyes veer towards T’Pol “But to Vulcans the element is toxic. But I’ve found a method of melting it into the hull that neutralizes the toxic effects and retains the element’s protective properties. It’s all in the data packet. And I had the mining facility store the mineral in bio-hazard containers. But if you’re going to open them I suggest you tell T’Pol where, so she can maintain a 20 meter distance.”
Trip turns to Archer “We’ll set up a containment field in the aft section of E deck.”
Archer nods and looks to Trip. “Have a team unload the mineral from Elizabeth’s cargo hold.” He turns to Elizabeth. “Of course if that’s alright with you?”
Elizabeth nods.
Trip gets up from his chair and takes a few steps to the door as he speaks. “I’ll get right on it sir. It was nice meeting you.” he looks back to Elizabeth and holds out his hand for her to shake. She leans into the table and doesn’t respond to his gesture behind her.
Trip hesitates, but puts his hand down, and looking wounded he walks out of the dining room.
“There is one thing Captain.” Elizabeth pauses sure to get Archers attention before she continues.
He looks to her ready to listen.
“I want to go with you.” she blurts out.
He looks to her surprised.
“I have contacts and know the region which could improve your chances of finding the Xindi that did this.” She speaks quickly and as if she’s pleading. “I know I’m not a member of Starfleet so strictly speaking I would be a consultant, a guide but it could improve the chances your mission would be a success. It’s not a demand just a request, think about it.”
“I don’t have to.” He smiles. “I think I’d be a great idea.”
“Captain?” T’Pol says indicating an objection.
Elizabeth bows her head glancing over to the Captain. “Perhaps. You should check with your science officer before agreeing to anything.”
T’Pol speaks in a matter of fact way. “Starfleet hasn’t yet agreed to this mission.”
“Starfleet has to approve this mission.” Archer says with desperation. “And if we’re going I think having someone who knows the area would be a good idea.”
T’Pol looks over to the Captain conveying her misgivings about the idea in a subtle look. Elizabeth, seeing the gesture smiles, acting as if she doesn’t see it. She stands “I should transmit the data packet to Enterprise.”
Archer rises when she does out of respect. “I’ll have someone show you to guest quarters.”
“Thank you Captain.” She blushes as she continues “And I will help Commander Tucker with the repairs to the bay.” She doesn’t wait for Archer to object to the idea but quickly walks to the door.
But when Elizabeth gets to the door she just stands in front of it giving Archer a chance to speak. He smiles as he talks to her back “You’ll have to talk to Commander Tucker about assisting with the repairs.”
Elizabeth remains standing at the door.
With a curious look he walks up behind her “Can I escort you to the launch bay?”
“No, I think I can find my way.”
Archer reaches around her “You need to…” he says and pushing the button that opens the door.
She looks back to him embarrassed. “My shuttle has automatic doors.”
Archer smiles cheerfully. “It’s not a bad idea.”
Elizabeth quickly grins at him and leaves.


Elizabeth enters the launch bay where her ship is. She walks around the officers carrying the bio-hazard containers out of the rear hatch on her ship. She walks up to Trip who is supervising the transfer. “Be careful with that.” Trip barks.
“Commander” Elizabeth says trying to get his attention.
Trip still distracted, looking out of the corner of his eye at his teams turns to her.
“I want to help with the repairs on the launch bay. What time should I be here?”
Turning his attentions to her he responds. “Oh, ah I didn’t really have any specific time planed for repairs. The truth is nothing essential was damaged and we can’t really work on it until your ship is out of the way so I thought I’d just leave it for Jupiter Station to deal with.”
She looks disappointed.
“But I appreciate it.” He says with a smile and blushes.
Paying no attention to his flirtatious posture “Okay” she says and turns away from Trip. She walks up to her ship and opens a side hatch; “I’m going to get that data packet to Ensign Sato.”
Trip nods with a disappointed look.


On the bridge Hoshi is sitting at her post. She looks confused. “Captain,” Hoshi says pushing down a button at her station.
Captain Archer still in the dining room with T’Pol pushes the receiving button of the com; “Yes.”
Relaying her confusion in her voice pattern Hoshi explains; “I’m receiving a transmission sir… from inside the ship?”
“It’s alright Hoshi. Our guest Elizabeth is sending you a data packet.”
On the bridge Hoshi relaxes.
Archer continues speaking through the com. “Have a copy of the information transferred to my ready room.”
“Yes Captain.”
In the dining room T’Pol steps up to the communication speakers. “And Ensign, Have a copy of the data sent to my quarters as well.”
The speaker relays Hoshi’s “Alright.”
Archer releases the talk button from the com and turns to T’Pol “You still don’t believe her.”
“I merely wish to look at the information.”
With great upset Archer raises his voice, “You don’t trust the time traveler and the fact that she’s telling us what he told us is what’s bothering you.”
She looks to him emotionally unaffected by his assumption.
He speaks sternly, “I need to know that you’ll back me up when we reach Command!”
T’Pol speaks calmly. “If the evidence is convincing?”
“I have a feeling you’re going to argue with the evidence even if it is convincing!” Archer yells as he paces his upset growing. “I’ve always valued your opinion T’Pol but millions of people were killed. I know it wasn’t Vulcan that was attacked but I need your expertise on this mission! I need to know I can count on you!”
She responds unemotionally, relaying the facts of their relationship, “I have always supported you in whatever you’ve decided, whether I’ve agreed with it or not.”
He thinks for a moment. Realizing she’s right he sighs. “I apologize. The attack on earth has put me a bit on edge.”
She nods “It’s understandable.”


Captain Archer in civilian clothes sits in his quarters at his computer. There’s a beep at the door. “Come in.” he says, swiveling his chair towards the doorway. The door opens and Elizabeth stands at the entrance.
“Captain” she says. Unable to see the Captain she looks left then right. But a bulkhead blocks her view to his desk.
Archer gets up from his chair and walks to the door. “Elizabeth.” He says surprised to see her.
Elizabeth looks to him and manages to smile a little. “I tried to catch you in your Ready Room,” she says apologetically “but T’Pol said you’d probably be here after dinner. Can I come in? There’s something important I want to talk to you about.”
“Sure” he steps away from the door, allowing her entrance.
As soon as Elizabeth enters Porthos, the Captain’s beagle rises from his doggy bed in the corner. He walks up to her, sniffing all around her.
“Porthos.” The Captain scolds.
“It’s alright Captain.” Elizabeth leans down to Porthos holding her hand out for him to sniff. He sniffs and finds her acceptable. Elizabeth’s eyes light up as she speaks, “I love dogs. I always had one.” As she begins to scratch behind his ears Porthos licks her face bounding into Elizabeth’s arms. She’s forced to sit down on the floor.
“So you have a dog at home?” Archer asks smiling.
She frowns looking down to Porthos as she continues scratching him, “No actually, my dog Sandy died last year.”
“I’m sorry.” His expression of sadness reveals that he knows how great a loss a dog can be.
Elizabeth looks to the Captain hopeful, “Maybe after all this is over I’ll be ready to get a new puppy.” She rises from the floor and Porthos wines. He paws at her leg hoping she’ll scratch him some more.
Picking Porthos up and giving him a pat the Captain looks to Elizabeth, “You raised her since she was a puppy?”
“Yeah, she even went with me through the Delphic Expanse.”
“Where no dog has gone before.” Archer says smiling. He looks down at Porthos, who licks his face.
Elizabeth looks to Archer in a serious manner, “I need to tell you something Captain that you’re not going to want to hear.”
The Captain looks to Elizabeth worried. He puts down Porthos who goes back to his bed in the corner by the window.
“It’s about the Xindi. I didn’t tell you at dinner because I didn’t want to make the Shadow Figure’s story seem wrong. I didn’t want to make you look bad in front of your crew. He got most of it right perhaps all of it.”
“What is it?”
“When I was in the Expanse people knew about the Xindi had dealings with them. I never did but there was one story that traders told because the Xindi had told it to them. On the Xindi home world there were six different species that evolved together from different specie types.”
“I was just reading about that; Aquatics, Insectoids, Reptilians, Primates it’s amazing they didn’t try to kill each other.”
“They did and the war caused the destruction of their planet over 100 years ago.”
He looks to her upset.
“This doesn’t mean that the Shadowy Figure was wrong. After the destruction of their planet it stands to reason one of the first things the survivors would do is find a new home world. They may have settled on one since I visited the Expanse this information is a few years old.”
The Captain ponders silently.
“And perhaps,” Elizabeth continues “their new home world is the one they believe humanity will destroy.” She looks to him with confidence “I know it was the Xindi, Captain. The topography on the weapon was unmistakable!” She raises her voice slightly.
He looks to her with confusion yet speaks with sincerity, “I believe you.”
Elizabeth is surprised, “You do?” There is sweat dripping from her forehead.
The Captain jaunts across the room as he continues. “The Shadowy Figure and you said it was the same species it’s too much of a coincidence to dismiss.” Once he reaches the window he turns back to Elizabeth, “And you’re right the Xindi may have found a new home world. I know humanity would want to if anything happened to Earth.” He looks down solemnly.
“It won’t happen Captain, it can’t.” She’s insistent. She wipes away the sweat on her forehead and looks down at her soaked fingers. “Oh no.” she says.”No.” She looks to the Captain madness grows in her eyes. “Do you think I would have risked my life if I wasn’t sure!” she yells. She turns to exit the room.
Alarmed by her dramatic shift in demeanor he grabs her by the arm. “What’s wrong with you?” he demands to know.
“The Trellium is killing me!” She yells. “Let me go!”
It takes all his strength to keep holding onto her she’s pulling away so violently.
“Let me go!”
A look of realization appears on his face. “You’re Vulcan.” She goes limp, a stream of tears trickle down her cheeks as she nods repetitively. He loosens his grip on her arm and she falls to the floor. Porthos winning bounds up to her and licks her tears.
Archer leans down and pushes him away. “No boy, No.”
Elizabeth puts her arm around Porthos hugging him close. Comforted she stops crying. “I’m having trouble controlling my emotions. It’s what the Trellium does.”
Softly the Captain speaks; “I’ll help you get to sickbay.” He puts his hands respectfully around her back to try and help her up. Quickly she pulls away backing as far away from him as she can get.
“No get away from me!” She yells.
Porthos still in her arms yelps and she looks to him; a look of apology appears on her face. She puts him down on the floor and he quickly goes over to his bed.
“I’m sorry Captain. It’s my Vulcan Paranoia.”
He looks to her concerned and yet uncertain what to do.
“Please help me.” She begs.
He nods. “I’ll lead you to sickbay.”
She nods with relief but fear is all over her face.


In sickbay Elizabeth is lying down on a bed. Across the room Doctor Phlox speaks privately with the Captain.
“Will she be alright doctor?”
Phlox speaks with his usual caring charm. “The damage done was minimal. She came to me in time”
“So she’s Vulcan.” Archer says skeptical.
“Half Vulcan.” Phlox says cheerfully. “On her maternal side, her father was human.”
Archer is shocked. “And she’s physically alright being half Vulcan and half Human.”
“Quite.”
Archer nods with a sigh. “Keep me…
“… apprised. I always do.” The doctor says grinning.
Archer then walks towards the door.
“Captain,” Elizabeth says.
He turns towards her.
“I’m sorry for my behavior.”
He steps up to her bed a sympathetic look on his face.
“Tell Porthos I’m sorry.”
Archer smiles, “I’m sure he’ll have forgotten about it by tomorrow.”
“T’Pol.” Elizabeth exclaims in panic as she sits up on her elbows.
The doctor steps up to Elizabeth’s bed, “She’s fine. She wasn’t exposed.” He urges Elizabeth to lie back down.
The Captain explains, “Commander Tucker informed me just before you stopped by my quarters that he found a damaged container in your cargo hold. If we had known about your physiology we would have notified you right away.”
Elizabeth lets herself fall back down against the pillow. “I’m sorry.” She says almost breaking down in tears. “I’m sorry I’m causing all this trouble.”
“Non-sense.” The doctor speaks cheerfully. “You’re helping us. And the trouble you played a small part in has been sorted out.”
“While you were in treatment I asked Tucker to scrub your ship. It’ll be done by the end of the day tomorrow.” Archer says.
“Thank you Captain for everything; helping me here and cleaning my ship. I couldn’t really do it myself.”
He nods.
She smiles but it quickly fades. “I assume the doctor told you about my unusual heritage.”
“Yes,”
“Have you told anyone else, Commander Tucker?”
“No”
“Good I don’t anyone else to know.” She pleads.
Archer looks to her confused, “Why?”
Elizabeth sits up and thinks before she answers. “Humanity isn’t ready for it and neither are the Vulcans.”
“At least one Human and one Vulcan were.” Phlox points out.
Elizabeth looks down and shakes her head.
“Your mother and father…” Archer says waiting for a response from Elizabeth.
Uncomfortable Elizabeth thinks hard as they look to her waiting for more information about herself and her parents. “They are unaware of my existence.” is all she can say.
Archer looks confused and Phlox is intrigued.
She sighs “I didn’t want to get into this but I suppose there’s no way out now.” She sighs again.
Captain Archer and Phlox step up closer to her bed.
As Elizabeth speaks she looks beyond them ignoring their facial expressions. “I was an experiment; a group of humans unrelated to Starfleet or United Earth acquired my parents’ genetic material illegally. They wanted to know if it was possible to make a hybrid and they wanted the experiment to fail. They didn’t want the human genome to be corrupted. And I imagine the Vulcans would see me the same way, a corruption.” Elizabeth looks glum.
The Captain looks disturbed the doctor saddened.
“But it’s not all bad.” Elizabeth’s eyes brighten “An Earth woman took pity on me. She raised me as if I was her own.”
“That’s why you don’t suppress your emotions” Archer says, “because you were raised by a Human woman?”
“No” she thinks deeply before she responds. “The emotional center of my brain is mostly human but I do meditate to suppress the more intense Vulcan emotions. The Paranoia being one of them.”
Archer smiles.
Cheerfully Phlox speaks, “I noticed the emotional center of your brain was human. But I would think your ears would be Vulcan. It is a very dominant trait.”
Elizabeth thinks for a moment before she explains. “My ears were surgically altered when I was young so I could blend in on Earth.” There’s no anger or resentment in her voice.
“It was done quite well, there’s no scar tissue.” Phlox’s impressed.
Realization covers Archer’s face. “That’s why you never joined Starfleet because of the Starfleet physical.”
“Humanity is allied with the High Command if Starfleet knew so would the High Command. Please don’t tell them. It shouldn’t matter what I am just what I have to offer.” Elizabeth pleads with Archer.
Archer nods. “Alright, you’re right. I’ll keep it out of my logs, as long as it doesn’t become relevant.”
“Thank you Captain.” She turns to Doctor Phlox. “And thank you Doctor.”
“You’re quite welcome. It was a pleasure to see how Vulcan and Human physiology can be blended in such harmony.” The Doctor gives Elizabeth a gentle smile.
Elizabeth swings her feet around the side of the bed.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Phlox reprimands Elizabeth.
She looks to the doctor surprised by his tone, “To bed?” she begs.
“I don’t think so. I’d like you to stay overnight for observation. I know I can’t order you but, if you don’t mind? I think it would be best.”
“The Doctor is usually right about these things.” Archer says apologetically.
Elizabeth looks to the Archer with pleading eyes, “What will you tell the crew?”
Phlox looks to the Captain hopeful “Perhaps that she was exposed to a toxic compound at the mining planet, it won’t be untrue.”
Archer nods. Elizabeth lies back down letting out a sigh of relief.
“Feel better.” The Captain makes his way to the door. And when the doors open, he exits sickbay.


In space Enterprise travels through warp as Captain Archer records a log entry; “Captain’s Star log April 24th, 2153. The journey home has been very difficult. We’ve now learned 7 million people were lost.”
Elizabeth is seen speaking with the senior officers around the monitors to the aft of the bridge and helping the crew in Engineering as Archer continues his log; “Elizabeth has agreed to come with me when I speak to Admiral Forest about the mission through the Delphic Expanse. After she convinced T’Pol that the Xindi were responsible I don’t think she’ll have a problem convincing the Admiral. And after watching her interactions with the crew I strongly believe she’ll be a fine addition on this most important mission.”


Travis, Ensign Mayweather is at his station, piloting Enterprise. He looks up at the view-screen. “Captain.” Travis says looking back at Captain Archer.
Captain Archer, Commander Tucker, and T’Pol standing at the back of the bridge around a monitor look to Travis.
“That’s our sun.” Travis says looking back at the monitor. On the monitor among the many dot sized stars stands out a bright dot.
Reed looks up from his station and smiles.
Archer walks to the front of the bridge and gazes at the view-screen.
An alarm sounds.
“A vessel’s dropping out of war.” Reed announces.
Commander Tucker scurries in the background to get to his station.
“Where?” The Captain says walking up to Travis.
“200 kilometer off port.” Travis answers.
“Who are they?” Archer says looking to T’Pol.
She looks to her station and pushes some buttons.
Another alarm beeps at Reed’s station. “They’ve fired some kind of…” Reed says and the ship is hit.


In space weapons impact Enterprise; one hits the port side, one misses the port nacelle, and one hit the starboard side of the ship. A Klingon Bird of Prey comes up behind Enterprise.


Elizabeth in her room, looking at data on her computer feels the impacts. She gets up quickly and runs into the door as if it’s instinctual. She puts her hand to her head in embarrassment and pushes the button to the left of the door, opening it. She walks out then turns around as if she’s going to walk back in again. She stands there for a moment thinking then pivots to the right and quickly walks down the hall.


On the Enterprise Bridge, as they are bombarded Captain Archer hangs onto the con station.
Alarmed Reed announces; “That one took out both forward phase-cannons.”
“You still have torpedoes.” The Captain reminds Reed.
“It’s a Klingon bird-of-pray.” T’Pol announces looking to the Captain.
In space Enterprise fires torpedoes at the Bird-of-Prey. Hitting it but the torpedoes are deflected by shields. The Bird-of-Prey fires another shot at Enterprise damaging one of its nacelles. Enterprise starts venting warp plasma.
Inside the ship there are alarms beeping. Hoshi with her earpiece on announces “They want you sir. They’re saying they won’t destroy Enterprise if you surrender to them.”
T’Pol looks to the Captain curiously.
The ship is hit again and the crew is shaken by the turbulence.
“Archer’s an enemy of the Empire.” Hoshi begins to relay the message. “He must be brought to justice if honor is to be regained.”
“Duras” Archer says knowing who’s behind the attack.
Enterprise is hit again, conduits start exploding all around them.
On the Klingon vessel one of Duras’s men at his station announces “Both their nacelles are crippled.”
“Weapons?” Duras asks.
“Their cannons are down.” Another crew man reports.
“Cease firing.” Duras orders. “Prepare a boarding party.”
But then the first man reports “Three ships approaching.”
In space the three ships fire on the Klingon bird-of-prey. The Klingon’s fire back.
Inside Duras’s ship the first man shakes as the vessel is being bombarded with weapons fire.
“Earth vessels.” Duras announces “Return fire.” He orders standing in frustration.
“Shields are failing,” the second man announces.
“Are they offline?” Duras demands to know.
“No sir.” The second man responds.
“Then keep firing.” Duras demands.
The Klingon vessel is being hit constantly and the crew are jostled as they are bombarded. But one major hit causes the first man to speak, ‘We’ve lost disrupter banks 3 and 4.” He announces.
Duras pounds on the chair and groans angrily. “Withdraw! Go to warp speed.” he orders frustrated.
In space the Bird-of-Pray enters warp speed and disappears. Two of the earth vessels follow it firing on it till it’s gone.
On Enterprise Hoshi speaks; “it’s Captain Ramirez, sir” she looks to the Captain. “On the Intrepid.”
Captain Archer looks to her and nods then looks to the view screen.
On the view screen Captain Ramirez appears. “What the hell was that all about?”
“A Klingon named Duras.” Archer steps closer to the view screen looking to Ramirez “He’s not very fond of me.” Archer smiles.
“Welcome home, Captain. I wish it was under better circumstances.”
Archer nods with a sigh.
In space Enterprise flies over Earth. Compared to the planet the ship is a tinny bug.
On the bridge of Enterprise Hoshi and the rest of the crew step closer to the view screen as they look at the damage the Xindi weapon caused. Archer and Tucker already at the far front of the bridge look sorrowful as they look at the view screen. Reed stands mournfully next to Tucker.
The screen shows a trench visible from space spans all the way down Florida.


On Enterprise Archer walks to his quarters. In the hallway Elizabeth is sitting against his door. Porthos is in her arms. He licks her face enjoying the affection Elizabeth is giving him as she rubs his fir. Archer looks confused. Seeing the Captain Elizabeth stands leaving Porthos wining on the floor. She looks to the Captain nervously, “I’m sorry. When I felt the impact I wanted to be helpful. I thought of going to the Bridge then Engineering but realized I’d probably just be in the way. And when I thought of Porthos, I knew I wouldn’t be in the way here. I didn’t actually think your door would be unlocked. And I didn’t go inside, he came out.”
The Captain nods giving her a surprised smile.
“I didn’t mean to betray your privacy. I just wanted to be helpful.”
“Well, we’re going to have to get you something to do during a combat situation.” He says with a smile.
She smiles and relaxes with a sigh of relief.
“Are you ready to go?”
She nods.


It’s night on Earth in San Francisco. A large building has many of its lights on.


Inside the large building, Starfleet Command, Archer and Elizabeth stand in Admiral Forest’s office. Both Admiral Forest and the Vulcan Ambassador, Soval are also there.
“I told Command about your experience on the Suliban vessel.” Admiral Forest speaks with regret. “They’re having a hard time buying it.”
Angered by the rejection Archer speaks with passion. “Do they have a better idea of who did this? And how about the Vulcans?” Archer Turns to Soval “I suppose you think I’m hallucinating.”
Soval responds with a company line “Our Science Directorate has determined that time travel is imposable.”
“He’s not a time traveler” Elizabeth interrupts. Archer closes his mouth; he was prepared to speak,
Elizabeth continues “the Shadow Figure can’t actually travel through time only communicate into the past.”
Soval looks to Elizabeth with curiosity.
“He claims to communicate into the past. Ultimately we don’t know if he’s telling the truth but I know the Xindi are responsible for the attack on Earth and the rest of it makes logical sense knowing what I know.”
“We received your data packet and were informed of your claims.”
Archer looks to the Admiral. “All we want it to take Enterprise and find these Xindi. What do we have to lose, a single starship? Seems like a small price to pay if there’s one chance in a million that…” he pauses, turning to Elizabeth “the Shadow Figure is right.”
The Admiral looks to the Captain “With Elizabeth’s evidence Command has agreed to the mission.”
“Against the Advisement of the High Command.” Soval says with great objection.
Archer looks to the Admiral. “Why didn’t you just tell me this at the beginning?”
“All of this sounds crazy Jon. The fact that the Xindi think we’re going to destroy their home world in 400 years so they’re going to destroy us.”
“It sounds like sociology 101 to me.” Elizabeth says.
“The region of space you are heading into is dangerous.” Soval explains “There are fierce and dangerous species, unexplained anomalies. In some regions, even the laws of physics don’t apply.”
Elizabeth speaks softly; “We’re aware of that.” She takes a breath to continue but Archer interrupts.
“You didn’t read the information Elizabeth provided.” He shrugs, steps up to the Ambassador, and yells with distain in his voice “Of course not, because no one’s capable of gathering any information without the High Command!”
“Jon that’s enough!” Admiral Forest yells.
Archer backs away from Soval looking very much like he was going to punch him.
“Soval has to show you something.” Admiral Forest pleads with Archer to calm down. “The Vulcans have had experience with the Expanse as well as Elizabeth. You would be wise to listen to him.”
“It can’t hurt.” Elizabeth looks over to Jon with pleading eyes.
Seeing her pleading eyes Archer relaxes. But as he looks to the video screen he’s still irritated.
“The Vaankara was in the Delphic Expanse for less than two days when we received a distress call. This transmission arrived six hours later.”
On the monitor Soval plays footage of Vulcans being violent. They kill their fellow crewmates and rub their shipmate’s blood on their faces. They bang their own heads against walls continuing even as their head bleeds. Elizabeth watches with pity. Captain Archer is shocked. Admiral Forest has a hard time watching it as well.
“Less than an hour later the Vaankara was destroyed.”
Interrupting Elizabeth speaks softly “I can provide a logical explanation for their behavior.”
Soval looks to her intrigued.
“As my data says there’s a mineral that’s used to insulate the hull of ships, protecting them from the anomalies that are common in the region. Most likely the Vaankara was attempting to insulate their ship. But the crew realized too late that the mineral disrupts the synaptic pathways that allow Vulcans to control emotions, causing extreme inhibition.”
Soval looks to Elizabeth speechless. Tension builds between them. She smiles trying to relieve the tension but it just makes things worse, so she quickly turns her smile into a frown.
Forest sighs and looks to Soval; “We have some of the mineral if you wish to have a sample. Elizabeth was kind enough to procure a large amount for Enterprise. She even came up with a way to insulate that will eliminate the toxic effect. It’s all in her data packet.”
Although Archer’s trying to hide it, thinking it’s inappropriate after the shocking video he just saw, there’s pride in his stance. Humans finally have something to offer the Vulcans, something they need.
Soval takes a deep breath agitated. He looks to Elizabeth, “I may have been quick in my assumption that a grade school teacher could not procure any relevant information. I will look over the data and if I am satisfied we will provide our full support in this mission.”
“T’Pol can stay?” Elizabeth blurts out.
Both Archer and the Admiral turn to Soval with surprise. The Admiral speaks with offence; “You were going to take T’Pol from Enterprise if you didn’t give us your support?”
Soval is unmoved emotionally, “She is Vulcan. It is our prerogative.”
Archer is irritated.
Soval walks to the door with an eager pace “I must speak to the High Command about these developments.” As he reaches the door he turns back to the others. “A sample of the mineral would be appreciated.”
“We’ll get it to you before the end of the day.” The Admiral says.
Soval gives them a nod of respect looking curiously to Elizabeth before he leaves.
Once Soval has gone the Admiral turns to Archer, “I have never seen Soval so agitated.”
“I hope we didn’t offend him.” Elizabeth says in earnest.
Archer looks to her surprised at her compassion; “You’re not upset that he didn’t read your data.”
In monotone Elizabeth responds. “I was a little but it wasn’t going to help the situation to yell at him.”
The Admiral smiles, “You could learn something from her Jon.”
Jon smiles at the Admiral nodding in agreement. Sheepishly Elizabeth also grins.
Captain Archer stands up straight looking all business. “Did you get a chance to ask Command about Elizabeth joining us?”
“Yes. They were very agreeable to the idea.” He turns to Elizabeth. “They agreed to all of the suggestions you made in the data packet. You were very thorough. The idea of going to the wreckage of the Xindi’s former home planet and leaving a beacon they particularly agreed with. We need to make contact with these people make them understand we have no intention of destroying their planet. It made sense to me that they would monitor the debris.”
Elizabeth nods. “That was my thinking.”
“I trust you’ll be able to keep the new Astrometrics Lab up to date while you’re on Enterprise.” The Admiral asks Elizabeth.
“It was my design and request to be in charge of it.”
The Admiral looks over to Jon. “I hope you won’t have problems with military on board, General Casey is sending his best people.”
“I advocated her suggestions. I don’t have a problem with non-Starfleet personal and we’re gonna need all the muscle we can get when we cross into the Expanse. “
“This weapon they’re building,” The Admiral looks to Jon “Did the Shadow Figure say how long it was going to take them?”
Captain Archer looks to the Admiral with confidence “I don’t think he would have warned us if we didn’t have a chance of stopping them.”
“I’ll have Jupiter Station start on the retrofit right away…which” he turns to Elizabeth, “will include insulating the hull with the Trellium in the manner you laid out for us.” Admiral Forest walks behind his desk.
“If you don’t mind Captain, after I get my ship out of the launch bay I would like to take a few hours to settle my affairs at home before I’m officially yours.”
“Take a few days. We won’t need you until we leave.”
“I’d actually like to see to the installation of the Astrometrics lab.”
The Admiral turns to Elizabeth; “I’ll have an all access pass made out for you when you get back from Ohio.”
“Thank you Admiral.”
“There’s just one thing. You gave us all that information but you failed to mention your last name.”
“Oh yes, it’s Tucker.”
“Any relation to Commander Tucker?”
Elizabeth hesitates. “Tucker is a pretty common name.” she says and lets out an unnatural giggle.
The Admiral nods.


Trip looks around mournfully. Reed stands behind him.
“I’m so sorry.’ Reed says.
There is a large canyon before them. Rubble and the wreckage of buildings are around them.
“The house was over there.” Trip says, “Less than a kilometer.” He thinks for a moment before he speaks. “See over there? That was the old Movie theatre. When we were kids if I didn’t take my sister with me she’d scream like a banshee.” He lets out a deep sigh.
“Are you certain she was here when this happened?”
“Someone would have heard from her if she wasn’t.”


The Captain steps onto the bridge of Enterprise. Elizabeth follows him from the turbo lift. The senior officers all look to him wondering what happened on the surface. He turns to Hoshi who is at her station. “Make this ship wide.” Hoshi nods understanding that he means to make an announcement. She pushes buttons on her consol and turns to him giving him the green light. “Thanks to Elizabeth command has approved the mission into the Delphic Expanse. We’re going to find these Xindi. But I know it’s not the mission that any of you signed up for. It will be more dangerous than anything Enterprise has done before. And I won’t think less of anyone who decides not to go. I’ll need your decision by the time we leave.” As the Captain speaks the crew scattered across the decks are listen intently. He turns to Hoshi and nods. She pushes buttons at her station. He turns to Elizabeth “I don’t think more than eight or nine will be leaving.” She nods to him with a hopeful grin.


In the armory on Enterprise Lieutenant Reed and Commander Tucker stand on riser in front of a monitor facing tubes filled with weapons. An elevator carrying the racked tubes moves downward. A tube by a mechanism is pushed underneath the platform Reed and Tucker are standing on. Reed speaks as this happens.
“Photonic torpedoes. Their range is over 50 times greater than our conventional torpedoes and they have a variable yield. They can knock the comm. Array off a Shuttlepod without scratching the hull. Or they can put a three-kilometer crater into an asteroid.”
“How long’s it gonna take to reconfigure the tubes?”
“Well we’ve got three teams working on it. They promised it’ll be done before we leave Spacedock. But I’ve got to start integrating them into the power grid.”
“Let’s go.”


Walking off the turbo lift into a hallway Reed and Tip continue talking;
“Is there going to be some kind of service?” Reed asks.
“For Lizzie?” Trip shakes his head irritated. “If you’re talking about a funeral, it’s kind of pointless when there’s nothing left.”
They turn a corner; sparks are flying in the hall behind them as crewman uses a plasma torch.
“I guess I was talking about a memorial.” Reed says.
“My sister wasn’t bit on memorials.”
“I read there was a day of remembrance for the victims a couple of months ago. I’m sorry you missed it.”
Trip getting very irritated raises his voice, “Why are you so obsessed with memorials?”
“I’m not obsessed.”
Trip steps ahead of Reed and turns back to him giving an angry shrug. “She’s dead.”
Reed stops walking
“So are seven million others.” Trip continues pain turned into anger is all over his face, “She was no more important than any of them.”
Reed takes a step up closer to Trip “She was more important to you. There’s nothing wrong with admitting that.”
“I’m getting real tired of you telling me what I can and can’t do.”
Reed looks confused and irritated but also sympathetic. He knows that Trip is in pain.
“And while we’re at it.” Trip continues. “I don’t need you to remind me that Elizabeth was killed. So just let it alone.” He yells and continues walking forward.
Reed follows one step behind.
Suddenly Trip turns back to Reed. Reed stops. “Maybe you should pay more attention to upgrading your weapons.” Trip says anger builds in his face. “So you can blow the hell out of these bastards when we find them.” Trip walks away angrily.
Reed stands where he is.


In a decent sized room on Enterprise, Elizabeth is on the floor on her back underneath a monitor connecting wires. She wipes sweat from her brow with her sleeve and continues working.


T’Pol walks inside the Plaza next to Starfleet headquarters. She respectfully approaches Soval “You asked to speak with me Ambassador.”
“Yes, Before Elizabeth provided her data Captain Archer informed you of his experience aboard the Suliban vessel correct?”
“I was informed immediately.”
“What was your reaction?”
“I was skeptical.”
“Would you have followed the Captain if Elizabeth had not presented her data?” Soval says stopping to look at T’Pol.
“He is my Captain I would have given him my support, as I always have.”
“The High Command is concerned T’Pol that you have spent too much time with the humans. They want you back on Vulcan.”
“I cannot abandon Captain Archer. He will need me for this mission.”
“I agree. And since the High Command has decided to support the mission I managed to convince them it was not appropriate to take you from Enterprise as this time. Minster V’las was extremely adamant that you take a position in the ministry of information. Even after the High Command saw Elizabeth’s data and decided to support the Captain’s mission V’las was against it for reasons that elude me. I intend to investigate minster V’las without the High Command’s knowledge.”
“That is treason.”
“This is not the first illogical action V’las has taken. I can no longer overlook his illogical behavior. If I find any incriminating evidence against V’las I will send the information to you for safe keeping on Enterprise. Will you assist me T’Pol?”
She nods.
“And if I am not the Ambassador to Earth when you return, you will know why.”
She nods.
“If anyone asks I spoke to you about whether you wanted to go on this mission and offered to assign a replacement for Enterprise if you refused.”
Abruptly he leaves walking inside. Slowly she makes her way to the exit of the compound.


In gray body suits, carrying arms full of equipment, men and women walk on Enterprise through the shuttle bay.
Hoshi, standing across the hall turns to Travis, “Military Assault Command” she whispers.
“I’ve been looking forward to meeting them.” Travis says. Leaving Hoshi he walks up to one. “Hi can I help you with your gear?”
Elizabeth carrying two bags walks into the hall from an adjacent door.
Hoshi sees her and smiles walking up to her. “Can I help you with your bags?”
“Oh sure.” Elizabeth hands off one of her bags to Hoshi. Side by side they continue walking down the hall.
“It will be nice to have another Female on the bridge. One that has emotions.” Hoshi says smiling.
Elizabeth smiles wide.
“It’s nice to be here. And I managed to fly my shuttle in without damaging the bay this time.” She giggles.
Hoshi giggles too. ”Well that’s always good.”
“They just finished the retrofit?” Elizabeth asks.
Hoshi nods. “We’ll be taking off once everyone’s on board.”


Out in Space Enterprise is in the docking port. Tubes connecting the ship to the docking port are released. The engines heat up a bright blue and Enterprise slowly makes its way out of the docking port. Inside the docking port on a bridge above the ship two men in Environmental suites watch as the ship departs. Compared to the ship they look like bugs on a windshield. The ship pulls free of the port.


On the Klingon vessel, Duras and his crew wait. “Have they gone to warp?” Duras asks the first man at a consul near the back of his bridge.
“Not yet.” The crew man responds.
“Stepping towards the front of the bridge Duras orders, “Charge weapons and prepare to bring them online.” His face shows an expression of eagerness. He is eager to go to battle.

THE END!
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