Here it is (finally): the sequel to "Trip and the Terrific Tardis!" Sorry it's taken this long...had some plot issues, a lot of Real Life issues, and some laptop issues. I'll try to update regularly.

This takes place in the same universe as "Trip and the Terrific TARDIS". Trip and T'Pol are bondmates, Malcolm and Hoshi are married. Trip and Malcolm retain the memories of their travels through time, as well as of the Doctor, Rose, Jack, Donna and Company.

The cracks in Series 6 of Doctor Who affects many universes, including Trip Tucker's. Suddenly, time doesn't make sense. The Doctor needs a lot of help, so who's he going to call? Again, this features multiple Doctors and Companions, including Clara Oswin Oswald ("Souffle Girl"). This time, Trip also meets the three Doctors he didn't actually meet in "TatTT". Which three didn't he meet last time?

Star Trek Enterprise is owned by CBS/Paramount. Doctor Who and Torchwood are owned by the BBC. No infringement meant...I'm just the favorite aunt that takes the characters on an adventure once in a while.

Relative Time

September 2, 2156

Enterprise NX-01

"Bridge to Engineering."

Trip jumped as if he'd been shot, to the great amusement of his engine room staff. He caught Rostov's wide grin, and even Kelby cracked a smile. He shook his head and hit the comm button with his thumb. "Tucker."

"Trip, you'd better get up here," replied Captain Jonathan Archer. "There's an important call you don't want to miss."

"On my way, Cap'n." Trip turned and nodded at a highly amused Anna Hess. "You got the store, Anna. I might be a while."

Hess grinned at his enthusiasm and waved him off. "Not a problem, Boss. Tell 'em we want pictures. Lots of pictures."

It took two minutes for him to reach the Bridge, beating his best time by forty-five seconds. He nearly collided with the lift doors on his way out. Captain Archer glanced over his shoulder at him with a bright grin. Trip glanced at Commander T'Pol, who sat at her usual position at the science station. The Vulcan's expression was calm and serene, but her eyes twinkled. He could feel her amusement through their mental bond, though there was a hint of unease underneath it.

"You all right?" he asked her in a low tone.

"I am...fine," she answered in the same manner, "although I admit to some concern as to the nature of this call."

"I'm sure everythin's all right. They would've let us know if it wasn't." Trip reached out and soothed the long-familiar ache in their souls. T'Pol sent a wordless expression of thanks.

No one else noticed the brief lapse of emotion. Lieutenant Travis Mayweather's megawatt smile lit up the entire Bridge, while Doctor Phlox's stretched the limits of his face.

"I think we're all here now," Archer said. He nodded at the communications officer. "Put them through."

Trip had known this was coming, but the image still stunned him. He blinked at the genuine joy radiating from Malcolm Reed. The Armory Officer's mouth was turned up in a small grin as he laid a hand on his wife's shoulder. Hoshi Sato-Reed held a squirming bundle in her arms. Sunlight streamed in from the open window at their right, along with the view of the Pacific Ocean.

He heard the faintest of sighs from T'Pol and all the tension left him.

"Captain," Malcolm greeted.

Captain Archer's eyes lit up with genuine pleasure at the sight. "Congratulations, you two. I'm sure this was quite an unexpected birthday present for you, Malcolm."

"It definitely was, Captain. She arrived this morning, four weeks early. Obviously, she inherited my father's sense of timing," Malcolm said with a rueful expression. He reached down and stroked his daughter's cheek. "She's already making her presence known. Taking command of the situation, whatever it is, and acting adorable while doing it."

Trip hid a smirk. Eight months almost to the day. I bet it was a memorable New Year's celebration for Hoshi and Malcolm. Then again, it had been a memorable New Year's Eve for a few people. Again, he felt T'Pol's unspoken agreement.

"I'm sure she is," Archer replied. "Are you doing okay, Hoshi?"

She nodded, although Trip noticed she hid a wince. "Like Malcolm said, she just couldn't wait to come out and meet everyone." A little fist burst out of the tightly swaddled blanket and waved around in the air. The gesture brought laughter all over the Bridge.

"Okay, we know which side she got that from," Trip teased.

Malcolm pulled a face, but he only shook his head and tucked the little arm back into its place. "That's Uncle Trip, love. Be careful around him; he'll just get you into trouble."

"Hey, I just met her a minute ago! How can I get her into trouble from halfway across the sector?"

"I'm sure you could find a way, if you put your mind to it, Mister Tucker."

Phlox took a step forward and raised his voice. "I take it there are no complications from your daughter arriving a month early?"

Hoshi shook her head. "No, Phlox, everything went well. She's perfect."

T'Pol, silent until now, asked, "Have you selected a name?"

Hoshi returned the smile and drew her attention to the squirming bundle in her arms. "We decided to name her after both Malcolm's and my grandmothers. Elizabeth Yoshiko Reed, LisBeth for short."

Trip saw the knowing pride in his friend's eyes and nodded slightly. Elizabeth Yoshiko Reed. I wonder whose idea that was, Trip thought. The past ten months had been a whirlwind, just as the Doctor had hinted. This was only one result.

Again, Trip glanced at T'Pol, and felt her amusement through their mental link, but it was tinged with regret. Baby Elizabeth. He automatically reached out again and soothed the ache. At least the daughter of their best friends would carry on the memory of their own lost daughter.

"She's beautiful, Hoshi, just like her mama."

"Thanks, Trip."

"Anna and the others are clamoring for pictures of LisBeth, you know."

"No problem, we'll send some on the next upload to Echo Two."

Archer chuckled and shook his head. "You've got plenty of leave time, Malcolm, so don't worry about us. We'll still be here when you get back. And Hoshi...I'll be interested to hear about your new teaching position at Stanford, all right?"

"I'll definitely keep you updated, sir. I go back on part-time status next month, but the class rosters are already looking interesting." Hoshi smiled again and shifted little Elizabeth in her arms. She pointed her chin at the various decorations and presents that adorned the walls of the hospital room. "My students sent us little gifts for LisBeth...it's appreciated, but a bit overwhelming."

Trip stifled a smile. Teddy bears, balloons, baby supplies,...and he noticed a little cot just within the screen's pickup. It looked old, with circular designs etched upon it and a star-and-planet mobile firmly attached to its cover. Malcolm gave him a subtle nod to confirm Trip's thoughts.

The Doctor gave them a present too. That's really nice of him. I wonder if it's a family heirloom...it looks old enough to be one. I wonder if any version of him was a parent at one time. Probably. Trip's smile widened at the thought of Ears-and-Leather or Suit-and-Sneakers-or Tweed, Hobo, Smoking Jacket, Bug-Eyed, Edwardian Man, or even the Cricketer-as a father.

LisBeth squirmed, then began to whine softly. Hoshi grimaced and said, "I think she's getting hungry again."

"We won't keep you, then. Take care of yourself and the little one, and we'll talk to both of you soon. And Malcolm...happy birthday, to both of you."

"Thank you, Captain. We'll keep in touch, Reed, out."

The viewscreen reverted back into a starfield. Archer took a deep breath, let it out, then sat back down in his command chair. "Time really does fly by, doesn't it?" he asked, to no one in particular.

"Sure does, Cap'n," Trip replied. "Part of me still can't believe Malcolm and Hoshi are parents."

"I think their daughter looks more like Hoshi," Travis remarked from the helm, "from what little you could see under the swaddling blanket."

"I believe that it is difficult to ascertain the child's permanent features only hours after birth," T'Pol said mildly, "although in some cases...it is possible to make an educated guess."

"Can you imagine her toting a phase pistol like her daddy?" Trip put in with a laugh. "I can."

T'Pol turned to him with a raised eyebrow as chuckles broke out around the bridge. Trip couldn't be certain, but he thought he heard Archer mutter under his breath, "God help us."

Phlox shook his head. "As a parent myself, I can safely say that Lieutenant Commander Reed and Lieutenant Sato have embarked on a wonderful adventure."

Trip glanced at him and said, "Yeah, you'd know, wouldn't you, Doc?"

"After raising five children, I do indeed, and the experience is different each time," Phlox answered. He inclined his head in reply. "Commander Tucker, that reminds me...I'd like to talk with you at your earliest convenience."

Trip felt T'Pol's spike of curiosity from across the Bridge, but aloud he said, "Sure, Doc. I go on duty in a couple of minutes, but I can stop by Sickbay at the end of my shift."

"Excellent. Now if you all would excuse me, I have matters to attend to in Sickbay."

Archer waved a hand. "Go ahead, Phlox. We'll see you later."

Trip watched the Denobulan disappear into the lift. "Wonder what that's all about."

"You've already taken your physical, haven't you?"

"Done and over with, Cap'n, without a whole lot of fuss. Decided to just get it taken care of until next year. I guess I'll find out what's goin' on when I get off-shift."

"All right, Trip. We'll see you later."

He reached over and squeezed T'Pol's arm on his way off the Bridge. Vulcans disliked physical contact as a rule, but T'Pol didn't seem to mind the gesture. She nodded to him and returned to her sensor analysis. He felt her brief sense of relief and smiled as the lift doors closed.

An hour later, Trip heard the comm whistle go off again. He sighed and told Rostov, "Hang on, I'll be right back. Seems like it's gonna be one of those days."

"Yeah. Not to worry, Boss. We've got a few minutes to figure out what's going on with the warp drive assembly." Rostov tapped the status screen. "You want me to go ahead and start the maintenance cycle?"

"As long as we don't end up needin' maximum warp anytime soon. Lemme check with the Bridge first." He tapped the comm for the second time that day. "Tucker."

"Commander, we have received a distress call from the Columbia. Prepare to go to maximum warp as soon as possible." T'Pol's voice was cool and collected, but there was an odd timbre to it.

"Columbia's in trouble? Gimme a minute and you'll have warp. Tucker out." He tapped the button and looked over at Rostov. "It's good we didn't start that maintenance cycle, Mike."

Rostov gave an exaggerated sigh and rolled his eyes. "Happens every time. That's okay, Commander, we can do it later. We'll just have to keep an eye on the matter/antimatter matrix."

Trip nodded. "I'll monitor the matrix from here; take Kristofferson and Wright and use the secondary screens."

"Got it, Commander."

Trip narrowed his eyes as he watched the status lights all light up green, then he tapped the comm again. "Tucker to the Bridge. You've got warp whenever you need it."

"Thank you, Commander Tucker," T'Pol answered. "Warp Five, Lieutenant Mayweather."

They all felt the thrum of contained power as Enterprise jumped to warp. Trip concentrated on the warp drive matrix and pushed back a surge of concern for Captain Hernandez and the Columbia. Although he only spent a couple of weeks on Columbia, he still kept in touch with some of his former crewmates there. If he felt this way, then what was Jon Archer feeling, with Erika Hernandez in some sort of trouble?

He shook his head to clear it. No use borrowing trouble until it gets here. For all we know, Erika might have whatever it is under control by the time we get there.

The readouts on his screen remained constant. Trip pressed a hand to the console and took comfort in the steady vibrations of the engine. Those vibrations went through him and calmed his fears. A slight sense of nausea suddenly came over him, and he dropped his hand.

The com whistle went off a third time.

"What the hell-?" He looked up from the status screen and suddenly realized where he was. It was an engine room, a twin to Enterprise's with a similar layout and warp engine, but instinctively, he knew it wasn't his engine room. The only other place he knew that was anywhere close to Enterprise's was-

"Bridge to Commander Tucker!" He started at the strident feminine tone out of the speakers. It belonged to Erika Hernandez. His body reacted before his brain caught up; he went over and hit the comm button.

"Tucker."

"Trip, we've received a distress call from Enterprise. We need maximum warp as soon as possible."

Wait a minute. Didn't this just happen? Again, his response was automatic. "Enterprise's in trouble? Gimme a minute and you'll have warp. Tucker out."

He felt another sense of disorientation, then found himself in front of the status screen again. He blinked and looked around to see his regular crew all around him, attending to their duties. Trip saw movement out of the corner of his eye, but when he turned, no one was behind him.

"Rostov!"

"Here, Commander!" called Rostov, from the upper level of Engineering. "Is there a problem, sir?"

Trip thought fast. "Just checkin' to make sure everything looks okay from where you are."

"We're holding steady at Warp five. Everything looks good so far."

"Lemme know if the variance goes to point five either way and I'll tell Travis to let up on the gas."

"Will do, sir!"

Trip shook his head again and thought, That was weird. For a minute, I really thought I was back on Columbia. That's not possible. Then again, I've been to different universes and different time zones before. Anything is possible.

He just hoped the universe wasn't in trouble. Again.