STAR TREK

A Second Home

by Cory Pelc

For my wife—and her acceptance of my quirks. 

CHAPTER 1

Leonard McCoy was tired. Tired of dealing with the constant threats to the well-being of the crew, and tired of filling out the endless death certificates. The last such “adventure” had claimed a total of twelve crewmen. Twelve young lives lost in the name of exploration, McCoy thought.

Of those lost, two crewmen were taken quickly by an allergic reaction to the native flora of the planet. A ship that can take men across the galaxy protected by shields and photon torpedoes, and we still can’t save someone from acute anaphylactic shock, McCoy thought to himself.

Shortly after beaming down to the surface of Rynair II the men accidently inhaled a bit of pollen that proved fatal. The only saving grace of the situation was that the pollen only affected an individual who was also allergic to Elonian zongs, which McCoy noted in his log were roughly the equivalent to an Earth coconut. Thinking of this, McCoy shuddered slightly realizing how easily the ship could have been without three members of the senior crew, as Jim, Spock and himself had beamed down along with the landing party. Probably not Spock, McCoy thought, those damned Vulcan bodily functions probably have a back-up measure even for anaphylaxis.

McCoy knew and accepted death as something which every doctor deals with from time to time, but he was unnerved that these sort-of situations seemed to be the norm at this point in his life. It wasn’t supposed to be this way, he told himself. As much as he enjoyed his friendship with Jim and his whatever-you-might-call-it with Spock, McCoy never had felt at home in space.

One thing that had always reminded McCoy of home was a good drink. As a proud “Son of the South”, it was almost bred into him. At the moment, he felt like a drink might be the best friend he had. Grabbing a bottle from his shelf and taking a seat behind his desk in sickbay, McCoy poured himself some Saurian brandy. He sipped the strong liquor, attempting to relax and allowing his mind to drift back to a time in his life before Starfleet. Back then, his drink of choice was a Mint Julep, but he felt like the replicators onboard the Enterprisecould never get them quite right. Maybe it’s because the temperature is always 72 degrees in here, with simulated sunlight, McCoy thought in a matter-of-fact sense. A Mint Julep is meant to be enjoyed on a hot summer evening. Evening—even that has no meaning in space. McCoy sighed and poured another glass.

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Growing up inGeorgia, young Leonard Horatio McCoy always pictured himself as going to medical school, settling down with a beautiful belle, and living the life of an “old country doctor.” But, for whatever reason, he only got two of those three goals checked off his list. His wife Jocelyn was everything he had hoped for since the first time they met back at that high school dance. But after their daughter Joanna was born, it seemed to him that Jocelyn changed overnight. He never had evidence of her cheating on him, but every time he looked at Joanna the thought would arise.

 Is she really my daughter? He would ponder as he looked down into his daughter’s crib. Does it matter?

“Leonard! Leonard! Where are you?”

“Out here on the back porch Jocelyn!” McCoy replied, while sipping a Mint Julip and watching the sun set on another August day.

“We have to talk.” Jocelyn said as she finally found her husband. “I think we both know that this isn’t working anymore. I was fine staying at home being the ‘Doctor’s Wife’ but now I feel like I’m the ‘Parent of the Doctor’s Daughter’.”

“What do you mean Jocelyn?” McCoy said, while feeling more than a little blindsided.

“What I mean is that you go and sit in your clinic everyday and help people, and I’m stuck here raising our daughter by myself. Sometimes I think that you care more about your patients than your own wife and daughter!” she exclaimed with the force of months of suppressed thoughts.

“Dammit Jocelyn! I’m a doctor, not a daycare provider! I spent years going through medical school to help these people and this is the thanks I get?” He angrily replied.

“Well I went through eight and a half months of pregnancy, concluding with delivery of our child and this is the life I get? A husband that is out of the door before sunrise, and with drink in his hand at every sunset? I could have gone to school too, in California, but I chose you.”

“Well I guess you have another choice to make.” He said, turning his attention back to the sunset.

“I’ve already made it. You should be hearing from my lawyer in the next few days. Until then, Joanna and I will be staying with my sister.” Jocelyn sternly replied at her husband who was still refusing to look at her.

“Why don’t you go ahead and stay at Clay’s house. I’m sure he’d be glad to have you.” McCoy said as he closed his eyes. He knew he had gone too far and regretted it instantly.

“Unbelievable!” She screamed. “I’ve told you before that things between him and I ended a long time ago. Due in large part to you, I might add. Leonard, I was always faithful to you, even though you’ll never be half the father that Clay might have been for Joanna.”

With that, Jocelyn McCoy walked back into the house; the house that Leonard realized would soon be hers along with most all of Leonard’s money and possessions. He wondered if he’d be lucky enough that she didn’t take the bones from his body. McCoy sighed and made himself another drink. 

CHAPTER 2

…Sweet home Alabama! Lord I’m coming home to you!….That was one from way-way back in the 20th Century folks, but still a great way to start your morning! We’ve got 10 in a row headed your way next!…

“Hmmmmrph!” Leonard slowly sat up in bed and told himself that he was getting too old for this routine. Without even opening his eyes he could sense a hungry grandchild standing next to his bed wearing the devilish grin of someone who had just turned on her grandfather’s radio to get his attention.

“Yes darlin’?” Leonard asked her. His drawl was always more pronounced before having his morning coffee.

“Grandpa, can we go to the zoo today?” The little girl asked as she pulled on his comforter.

“Perhaps dear, but first we’ll need to ask Grandma. We both know that she’s the one that calls the shots.”  McCoy stretched, slipped on his house shoes and pulled on a robe. He reached to his nightstand and grabbed his PADD to open up the day’s newspaper–Outbreak on Vulcan Outpost: Federation Seeks Help of Medical Community–the main headline read. Makes sense, thought McCoy, pointy-eared logic lovers can’t even display enough emotion to ask for help themselves.

McCoy punched in the code for coffee on his replicator as he continued reading. Damn fake coffee. Joanna had bought him and Jocelyn the replicator for their anniversary last year and he had finally started using it—but not before he passionately explained to Jocelyn that part of the charm of coffee is its simplicity. If it was good enough for the settlers of this land so many generations ago, then it didn’t need to be upgraded.

McCoy continued reading–…in light of the Organian medical and peace conference being held in conjunction with the Klingons, all essential Starfleet Medical personnel are unable to assist with this emergency. The Federation hopes that some of the more experienced physicians and nurses from Earth and Andoria will volunteer to assist in this urgent matter. Because the outbreak seems to only affect Vulcan individuals, it has been determined to be too great a risk to seek assistance from the Vulcan Medical Academy. For those interested in volunteering locally, shuttles will be leaving from the Atlanta Shipyards at 1200 hours today.

“Grandma said we can go! Grandma said we can go!” Lucy yelled as she ran back into the kitchen. “Can we leave soon?”

“Sure little lady, but first Grandpa has to get ready. And so do you…unless you plan on showing off your pajamas to the elephants.” Leonard walked back towards his bedroom and found his wife getting ready for the day. He set his PADD down on her dresser and stood behind her as she looked in the mirror.

“Good morning Mrs. McCoy…” He said, trying to goad a response.

“Good morning to you, too, Dr. McCoy.” She responded.

“That’s only Monday through Friday. It’s the weekend and I’m as much a Mr. as I choose to be.”

“Well today it sounds like you’re a Grandpa, and I’m sure you’ll treat Lucy with just as much care as you would a patient.”

“Still bringing that up…” McCoy said with a grin. It had been twenty five years since his marriage had almost fallen apart. He was close to joining Starfleet back then, just to get away from the mess of his divorce. Medicine On The Cutting Edge – Practicing in Space the advertisement had read. He had been to space once before as an observer shortly after graduating from Ole Miss. He knew then that he wanted to be a doctor, but he was pretty sure he wanted to keep his practice local. As in on Earth, he had joked to himself.

Instead of enlisting, he decided to cut back his office hours and make the effort to work things out with Jocelyn. It turned out that she had run back to Clay during their separation and divorce, but shortly after Jocelyn saw that Clay had not changed as much as he claimed. McCoy knew that it wouldn’t be easy–the divorce was finalized and they had to get married again–but he made a choice to use it as a fresh start and he was glad that he had. Most importantly, he was glad that Jocelyn had given him the opportunity.

“So is this goodbye?” Jocelyn asked.

“What are you talking about? I thought we’d both go with Lucy today.” A confused McCoy replied.

“I’m talking about this,” Jocelyn said as she picked up his PADD and pointed to the story he had been reading. “They need help. You may not be a young buck, but you are experienced.”

“I wouldn’t call one observation mission experience. And you know as well as I do about my aviophobia. I still try to avoid riding in a hovercar if I can. On top of that, I can’t even begin to imagine stepping onto one of those transporter pads. Last time I was lucky to not have to leave the ship. Tearing apart someone into a million little bits and then rearranging them again. It’s just not natural, Jocelyn.”  McCoy said, knowing that Jocelyn always found his excuses overblown. Sometimes he made an effort to stretch them out even more just to get under her skin.

“Listen Leonard,” Jocelyn said with a more serious tone than McCoy had expected. “You once told me that the reason you went to school for years were to help people and make a difference. Now I know you have helped people here, but this is a chance to do something special, something important. I think you should take it.”

McCoy paused a moment, and then said, “You know, I was going to enlist after our divorce. I had even filled out some of the preliminary forms. But I chose you and Joanna instead. I couldn’t live with running away to space instead of staying here and being a man.”

“Well you have been a man, and a husband, and a father–”

“Don’t forget grandfather.”

“And grandfather. But now you need to be a doctor…and just maybe a hero.” Jocelyn had that look. The one that Leonard knew meant the conversation was over and a decision had been made.

A hero huh? He thought. I just hope they have real coffee, because at my age I’m going to need it to keep up.

CHAPTER 3

McCoy arrived at the Atlanta Shipyards at 1130 hours that morning. He had packed as much as he could before Jocelyn shuffled him out the door. In a very rushed exchange, he tried to explain to Lucy that he wasn’t going to be able to go to the zoo with her and that he had to go away for a while. Hopefully not too long Lucy, for both our sakes, he had thought. McCoy walked into the main building with his head down.

“Excuse me sir, but there’s no tours today.”

McCoy looked up to see a man in a security uniform sitting behind the main desk. This guy looks like he’s seen more buffet lines than doctors in his life, he thought.

“Well excuse me sir, but I imagine you are constantly short of breath, have a hard time feeling motivated and constantly need some type of sugar.”

“Uh yeah, but how’d you know that?” the guard said between grunts while attempting to sit up straight. “And what are you here for?”

“Son, I’m Leonard H. McCoy, M.D. and I’m here for the volunteer effort. Where’s the line start?” McCoy said proudly.

“Well, I’d say about where you’re standing.” The guard said as he smiled and looked evidently satisfied to have the last word.

Great, McCoy thought. It looks like it’s going to be a lonely shuttle ride.

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This particular transport shuttle turned out to be larger than McCoy had envisioned. Must have been expecting more volunteers, he thought. Once aboard, he was able to find a nice interior restroom with no windows. He remained there throughout takeoff and through most of the flight. Fighting back any rumblings of a panic attack, he reverted to talking in his head in order to tolerate the situation. I’m not moving, I’m just in a small room and then I’ll be in a bigger one, he tried to tell himself.

“–This is the pilot speaking. We’ll need everyone to return to their seats as we receive clearance to dock with Enterprise.–”

McCoy heard a knock on the restroom door and after trying and failing to explain his aviophobia to the Lieutenant, he finally stepped out of the restroom and into the cabin. He was actually surprised that it had taken so long for anyone to notice that the restroom had been continually occupied. I guess that’s what happens when you’re the only passenger, he jokingly thought. However, when he went to take a seat, he was surprised to find he was not the lone volunteer. Apparently, between McCoy locating a hiding spot in the restroom and takeoff, another passenger had come on board.

“You wouldn’t happen to have a piece of chewing gum would you?” McCoy asked the woman as he sat down next to her and fastened his safety belt. He couldn’t help but feel that for some reason, she seemed rather familiar.

“I’m sorry, I don’t.” She replied in a soothing voice. “Christine Chapel-Korby and you are?”

“Dr. Leonard H. McCoy. At your service, Madame.”

The woman laughed, “Actually, it’s the reverse, Dr McCoy.”

At first McCoy was angered, but then he understood what she meant.

“It looks like I will be your nurse on this rescue mission” she continued.

“In that case, there are a few things you ought to know. First off, I’m not used to working in a sickbay with so many different species of patients.” McCoy said as he started to slip back into a more pronounced drawl. It also tended to happen when he was complaining about something.

“So, I’ll need all the help from you that I can get. I’ve been told once or twice that my bedside manner can be a little rough. I for one, however, like to think of myself as a realist.”

Chapel blushed. “Don’t worry Doctor,” she said with an air of care that McCoy appreciated. “I spent years in space while searching for my husband, who at that time was just my lost fiancé. I was limited to traveling aboard private ships as a nurse practitioner, but in that time, I was introduced to treating many different patients.”

“That’s good. Probably, honest work I imagine.” He replied.

“Believe me it was. Though it must’ve taken its toll on me, as I’ve noticed Roger hasn’t aged nearly as much as I have.” She said, more to herself than to McCoy.

“—Attention passengers and crew: Prepare for final docking procedures—”

The shuttle reduced its thrusters and lurched backwards slightly as it began to slow its approach to Enterprise. For the first time, McCoy allowed himself to look out of one of the window ports. Quite the vessel, he thought. Again he had the strange feeling of familiarity. I must’ve seen a starship like this in one of Lucy’s digi-books, he thought trying to explain away the sensation. He was already missing his family.

Enterprise grew larger and larger in comparison to the window port opening as the shuttle swung around to the aft end of the starship and the shuttle bay. McCoy could feel what he assumed was the tractor beams of the ship take control as the shuttle came to a soft landing inside the bay.  The side hatch to the shuttle released its pressurization as it slowly slid open.

“I guess this is our stop” McCoy joked to Chapel.

The doctor and nurse stood and began to exit the shuttle. Waiting at attention just outside the shuttle door was a rather proud looking man with brown hair. McCoy, struck by his appearance,  couldn’t tell if the man reminded him of someone, or that he just looked different than most of his clinic patients.

“Velcome aboard ze Enterprise, I am Lieutenant Commander Pavel Chekov. You must be Dr. McCoy and Nurse Chapel.”

Don’t think he’s from Georgia. Although surprised by the gentleman’s thick accent, McCoy was relieved by the lack of a grand reception. He did, however, now find himself in the need for something to take his nerves down a notch.

“Mr. Chekov is it–” McCoy began to ask.

“Yes Doctor McCoy?” Chekov answered at a blistering speed.

Definitely not from Georgia, McCoy thought. “Mr. Chekov, do you know where a man could get a nice stiff drink?” McCoy asked the officer.

“Certainly, Doctor!” He answered eagerly. “Might I suggest Wodka?”

McCoy turned and looked at Chapel. She was blushing again.

Vodka? McCoy thought. Good Lord Jocelyn, what have you gotten me into?   

CHAPTER 4

Whooooosh.

McCoy still wasn’t used to automatic doors. He had managed so far to resist changing the doors in his home. It’s just a shame to ruin a home that’s stood for hundreds of years – through three world wars, he would tell Jocelyn.  On a starship like the Enterprise, there were no handles or knobs anywhere. Nor were there many things similar to McCoy’s home at all.

Struggling to locate his quarters, McCoy eventually came to find himself in what appeared an officers’ rec lounge. Studying the room, he noticed two men in the corner playing a game of three-dimensional chess. Though he considered chess a gentleman’s game, McCoy had always preferred spades to bishops.

As he approached the men he was hit with another wave of familiarity. I’ve done this before, McCoy thought as he tried to shake the feeling. But that just doesn’t make sense. I’ve hardly been west of the Mississippi, much less a starship. Nonetheless, McCoy still felt troubled, as if things were out of place. He pushed away the thoughts, but began to wonder if he was developing a case of space sickness. Coming closer to the table, one of the men took notice of McCoy.

“Ahh…Dr. McCoy is it? I’m Captain James T. Kirk, pleasure to have you aboard,” said the man as he shook McCoy’s hand. “I trust that you will find every resource on board the Enterprise at your disposal in aiding the ailing members of the Vulcan outpost.”

“Thank you Captain. This is my first time actually serving aboard a starship, so you’ll have to excuse me if I break any formal rules.” McCoy replied, still not sure if he needed to salute at some point.

“Don’t bother worrying about it.” Kirk said with a slight wave of his hand.  “At any rate, I wouldn’t be the one to point out an error. Allow me to introduce my first officer, Commander Spock.” Kirk then gestured towards his chess opponent.

“Doctor.” Spock said with a slight tilt of his eyebrow.

McCoy was immediately dumbfounded at the sight of Spock. “I was under the assumption that Vulcans were not aiding in the effort because of the exposure risk,” McCoy asked Spock reiterating what he had read in the article.

“That is true, Dr. McCoy. However, I am only half-Vulcan and preliminary results from data sent back to Starfleet indicate that my human mother passed on the necessary natural immunity to this disease,” Spock replied.

“Well, I suppose this is has been quite the embarrassment to the Vulcans, seeing as there is finally something where we humans are more advanced,” McCoy said, but immediately regretted. He had always regarded the pure logic approach of Vulcans as smugness, but felt bad that he had commented in such a way in front of the ship’s Captain.

“Vulcans are incapable of embarrassment Doctor. It is a simple conclusion that there would be disadvantages to our notable differences in blood structure in certain situations.  Any idea of a ‘competition’ between our races is purely illogical.” Spock replied, this time with an extra sharpness to his tone.

“Gentleman,” Kirk interrupted, obviously attempting to prevent an escalating confrontation. “In any case, we have serious threat to deal with and I, for one, am not ready to tackle it on an empty stomach.”

“Captain,” Spock said. “I will have to decline. I am in the process of computing outbreak projections on the bridge.” With that, Spock stood and exited the room, leaving McCoy and Kirk.

“Guess he didn’t like me.” McCoy said, half joking.

“Of course he does Doctor. If not, Spock wouldn’t have wasted the effort of telling you how wrong you were.” Kirk said, with a smile on his face. “And anyone who can come that close to getting an emotional response from Spock, is fine by me.”

Maybe this won’t be so bad after all, McCoy thought.

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After getting something to eat, Kirk offered to show McCoy the rest of the ship. They had first stopped by engineering, where McCoy had been introduced to Enterprise’s chief engineer–Mr. Scott. They immediately hit it off and had arranged to meet later for a drink. I can bet he won’t recommend vodka, McCoy thought after meeting the upbeat Scotsman.

Currently, he found himself on the bridge, standing behind Kirk and taking in the full starship experience. From what McCoy had been able to observe, Kirk appeared to be a very competent captain who had an equally capable crew.

“Arrival at the Vulcan outpost in approximately 1.4 hours, Captain,” reported the helmsman.

“Not good enough, Mr. Sulu. Increase to Warp 6.We’ve got to get to the outpost rendezvous while there’s still a chance for survivors,” replied Kirk who was sitting in his Captain’s chair. “Steady as she goes.”

He’s pushing, thought McCoy. Once again letting his feelings get the best of him, McCoy said to Kirk, “Are you always this hard on your crew? I’m sure they realize the severity of the situation.”

“Doctor, I know that you said you weren’t familiar with the common practices of Starfleet—but I assume you know that questioning a captain in front of his crew is not usual practice” replied Kirk, obviously somewhat insulted by McCoy.

He’s right Leonard, what were you thinking? McCoy questioned in his head. Yet, once more McCoy found himself with a sense of fuzzy memories of situations such as this.

“I’m sorry Captain. All I meant was that in my experience, telling a patient to get better faster isn’t necessarily telling them something that they don’t already wish was the case” McCoy said back to Kirk.

“Captain, Doctor, if I may interrupt, I have finished my calculations for the outbreak patterns,” Spock said from his science station.

McCoy was glad to have something to stop what had up to then been a pleasant series of exchanges—and from the look of it, Kirk felt the same way.

Spock continued. “As you know, three days ago the first cases of infection among the Vulcans at the outpost were reported. At present, the number of infections has grown to 85 percent of the outpost’s inhabitants. This particular outpost is part of the Federation’s new long-term colonization project and as a result, many Vulcan researchers have also brought their families to live on Milos IV. Unfortunately, the disease seems particularly deadly to younger Vulcans with an almost 97 percent current infection rate and nearly a 99.9 percent fatality rate in those infections.”

“Is there any preliminary clue as to the cause of this outbreak? The colony was established almost a year ago— Why the sudden appearance of the disease?” Kirk asked “Has there been any recent unusual activity on Milos IV?”

“Unknown, Captain.” Spock replied. “However, there was an unconfirmed report of an unidentified object entering the atmosphere and crashing a few miles outside of the outpost shortly before the first reports of infection.”“Sounds like the Andromeda Strain.” McCoy said.

Spock raised an eyebrow. “Doctor, I do not think that it is logical to draw such a conclusion at this time. There is little to validate the existence of the object, much less correlate it to the disease. I was simply answering the Captain’s inquiry with the greatest amount of information available.”

Spock’s reply embarrassed McCoy. That pointy-eared son-of-a-buck thinks he’s so smart. Emotionless my behind! He took pleasure in that—I know it. McCoy was fuming inside, and yet, he also found the situation somewhat amusing. Spock may have been annoying, but he provided McCoy with a certain foil that he enjoyed.

Kirk turned around to face his communication’s officer. “Lt. Uhura. Send a message to captains of the Constellation and Discovery that we will arrive in orbit of Milos IV within the hour. We plan to send down a landing party to investigate the reports of a crashed object—”

“Captain, I am not yet willing to connect the incident to the outbreak. As I was explaining to Dr. McCoy—” Spock interrupted.

“—To verify if the object indeed exists and if there is any connection to the outbreak.” Kirk continued and then turned back to his science officer. “Spock, I heard what you said, but the doctor makes an interesting observation. You, yourself could not account for any other unusual recent activity around the outpost. We need to follow any lead that might exist, because if we can find the source of the outbreak we just might be able to find an effective means to stop it”

“Very well, Captain. I will begin to examine topographic maps of the region and determine where the crash may have occurred undetected.” Spock replied, obviously not fully on board with the plan.

I guess I win this round, McCoy thought. I just hope that my luck continues on the surface.

CHAPTER 5

“Now entering orbit around Milos IV, Keptin.”

“Thank you Mr. Chekov. Inform the transporter room to prepare for a landing party to beam down immediately.” Kirk said. In the time since his “altercation” earlier with Kirk about pushing his crew the Captain had seemed to make more of an effort to treat the other members of the bridge with an air of increased respect. I guess he filled the prescription I wrote for him, McCoy thought.

“Captain?” asked Uhura.

“Yes, Lieutenant?” Kirk said, spinning around in his command chair to face the rear of the bridge.

“There’s an incoming message from Earth for Doctor McCoy. It’s originating from a civilian transponder with limited subspace capability. Two-way communication is not available, it seems to just be a recording; however, it is coded as high priority.” Uhura explained.

Kirk seemed to hesitate, not knowing what to do in this type of situation. He looked at McCoy. “Would you like to take this in your quarters Doctor McCoy?” he asked.

“Oh no, here’s fine. I’m sure it’s just my granddaughter calling to say how much she misses me. That’s high priority stuff back where I’m from.” replied McCoy.

“I understand Doctor. Go ahead and patch it through, Lt. Uhura” Kirk ordered.

“Connecting now; Audio only, Captain.” She responded as she pushed the button to connect.

….Oh Leonard! Oh Leonard! You need to come back immediately; something terrible has happened to Lucy! One of the lions at the zoo got past the fence and attacked her. She’s in the emergency center right now. Oh Leonard….there was nothing I could do! Please….I need you, Joanna needs you, and Lucy needs you!….

McCoy’s heart sunk. He broke out into a cold sweat and wanted to scream, but for the moment his body would not let him do anything.

“Uhura, what happened to the rest of the message?” Kirk demanded.

“I’m sorry Captain, we appear to have passed beyond the transmission range as we are moving around the solar side of Milos IV. Due to the signal strength we need to be on the dark side of the planet to avoid the solar interference” She replied, obviously attempting to hold back tears after delivering such devastating news.

“The message will be available for reception once more in approximately 23.47 minutes.” Spock said.

Upon hearing this news and the manner in which Spock delivered it, McCoy snapped out of his paralysis. “Twenty-three minutes! Do you think that I need to know that? My grand-daughter could very well be dead right now, and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it!” McCoy shouted.

“I understand the human tendency for emotional outburst, but I was simply attempting to assist you in the situation in the only way I am capable” Spock replied.

McCoy turned to Kirk. “Let’s get down there, now.”

“Doctor, are you sure you are able to help in light of this?” Kirk asked, trying to show his sympathy.

“You didn’t drag my behind halfway across the galaxy for nothing. Don’t make me not being there for my granddaughter right now my fault.” McCoy said back to Kirk with a hint of vengeance.

“As you wish Doctor; Spock you’re coming with us. Sulu you have theConn.” Kirk ordered as he, McCoy and Spock entered the turbolift for the transporter room.

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The transport process went more smoothly than McCoy had imagined back on Earth. At this point I already feel like I’ve been torn apart into a million little pieces. What does is matter if I’m put back together, he thought.

Once on the surface of Milos IV, the landing party decided to split up to search for evidence of the supposed crash. McCoy had been wandering for some time when he heard something close-by, yet very faint.

“Hellllp….”

That sounded like someone calling for help, he thought.

As he walked towards where he thought it originated, he heard it once more.

“Helllp me……”

As McCoy came around a large rock face, he saw her. It was a young Vulcan girl who he approximated to be around the same age as Lucy. If you can go off of looks, considering their life-spans, he thought. McCoy instantly sprang into action with his medical kit and tri-corder. The one issued to him on the Enterprise was much more advanced than the one he used back on Earth in his practice. This is what an actual budget will get for you, he had thought.

McCoy studied the data relayed to him on the tricorder’s screen. The girl had all of the symptoms of the infection spreading throughout the outpost. Perhaps the most puzzling thing to McCoy, was why she was so far away from the outpost by her self. Due to the young Vulcan’s current feverish state, he was not going to be able to get the answer from her. It was surprising that she was even able to hear him nearby and make any attempt to call out.  Even when they are dying, they still find ways to show that they are superior to humans, he thought.

With all of his focus directed towards the girl, McCoy had failed to notice the rising winds. They had picked up to a level where he was now fighting to keep the dust and dirt from blowing into his eyes. Spotting a nearby cave, McCoy gathered up the young Vulcan in his arms and carried her inside. Once there, he remembered that he was carrying a communicator to reach the rest of the landing party.

“McCoy to Captain Kirk. I’ve found a young Vulcan female who is suffering from the infection. She’s unable to move on her own. We’re currently in a cave riding out this dust storm.”

“Affirmative Doctor. We had to find shelter as well. Mr. Scott tells me that the storm is likely to last for another hour and is interfering with the transporter system. Stay put until then, Kirk out.”

Great, McCoy thought. He looked down at the girl and went to work attempting to stabilize her until they could get back to the ship.

“I bet you have a grandpa too. Maybe even a great-great grandpa knowing how long you people live. I bet even your unemotional grandpa wouldn’t have left you if he had known this would happen to you.” McCoy spoke, while beginning to cry and knowing that he would not receive a response back.

“Her grandfather is unaware of her existence” said a voice from the darkness of cave.

CHAPTER 6

McCoy sprang up and stood rigid.

“Who’s there? Show yourself!” He said back to the darkness.

“I am here. You have seen me all around.” The voice was speaking in riddles to McCoy. It seemed from his perspective to becoming from every where, and yet nowhere all at once. There was no echo following the voice as would be expected in a cave such as this. It led McCoy to wonder if the voice was even real at all.

“Dammit! What are you talking about? This girl is dying here, can you help me or not?”

“Is she?” the voice replied.

“Of course she is! Look!” McCoy turned to point out the girl but she was gone.

“What did you do? Where is she? She’s dying!” He yelled.

“I have removed her from the equation. She served her purpose.”

“Her purpose?”

“The same as the rumors of a crash and the dust storm; that you should seek shelter and find me.”

“Why did I need to find you?” McCoy asked, growing ever more impatient of never receiving a straight answer.

“You have reached the point of decision. As I know you will ask what decision this might be, allow me to explain further. You have no doubt begun experiencing echoes of your other life–”

“My other what? Yes, I have had a bit of déjà vu lately, but nothing a little nervousness and space sickness couldn’t account for.” McCoy interjected.

“You and I both know it is more than that. You had been longing for another chance at past mistakes. I have granted this wish. However, in order to give you the opportunity to choose your path I have allowed you to remember pieces of both timelines and make an ultimate decision. As you made contact with those you knew previously, you were able to feel and see glimpses of the other timeline.”

As the darkness spoke, McCoy started to remember more and more.

“So you are saying none of this is real? All the memories I have of Jocelyn and Joanna? And Lucy? They are the same as the girl I found?” McCoy asked.

“No. If you choose this path they will be as real as everything else. Bound by the same rules of life and death.”

“And if I choose my original ‘path’ as you put it? What then? Will Lucy simply go back into nonexistence?”

“Yes.”

“But why bring me here to the Enterprise? Why did I have to be gone when Lucy needed me the most?”

“There are certain things beyond even my control. No matter the variables there will always be specific constants in every equation. For you, it is this ship and crew. As I said, the decision is now yours.”

McCoy desperately wanted to find the neck of this voice and put his hands around it. Sure I wished that things had been different between me and Jocelyn. But I never asked for this. He did not like having the responsibility of choosing the element of existence and the lives of others. A doctor is capable of decisions similar to this, but not on such a scale.

“If I choose to remain on this path, will I be able to make it back to Earth in time to help Lucy?” McCoy said to the darkness with tears now returning to his eyes.

“That is a question which I cannot answer. I can only give new choices. The future must remain a mystery. If you choose to continue with this path, your memory of our meeting will be erased—“

Beep! Beep! McCoy’s communicator suddenly went off.

“Spock to Doctor McCoy. The storm is beginning to break. Are you and the girl ready to transport back to the Enterprise?”

McCoy knew he should respond. However, he also knew that he had a decision to make first.

“I would think that nonexistence is a better fate for Lucy and her mother, than to have her life cut short at so young an age” McCoy swallowed hard. “I choose my original path. This life was great, but I would rather suffer the rest of my days dealing with death outside of my own family than within it.”

“Then follow my voice, Leonard McCoy, and you will be returned.”

Beep! Beep! “Spock to Doctor McCoy. I repeat, are you in position for transport?”

McCoy stepped forward towards the darkness.

“Doctor McCoy?” Spock’s voice asked once more.

McCoy closed his eyes and walked into the darkness.

CHAPTER 7

“Doctor McCoy?”

Leonard McCoy opened his eyes. He was sitting at his desk in sickbay. In front of him was a glass with an empty bottle of Saurian brandy. As he looked up, the lights on the ceiling sent a shockwave of pain through his head.

“I apologize for waking you Doctor, but when you failed to respond to my calls over the comm system I thought it necessary to visit you in person. However it appears that you were merely intoxicated” Spock said. Only someone who knew him as well as McCoy did could detect the slight nod of sarcasm in Spock’s words.

“Well Spock,” McCoy replied while still squinting in the light “It appears you are correct.”

“In my studies of human tendencies I have come across references to the act of ‘drinking alone.’ It is most often displayed by those who are troubled and feel that alcohol is the only friend which they can turn to.” Spock lectured.

“I wouldn’t say that alcohol is my friend right now Spock; although the effects of a hangover are somewhat reminiscent of your diatribes on logic.” McCoy now stood and walked to his sink where he splashed some cold water on his face.

“A crude comparison Doctor, yet you are correct in pointing out that the headache caused by the dehydration effects of alcohol are a logical consequence of overconsumption.” Spock said.

McCoy looked in the mirror. Was it all a dream? He asked himself. It had seemed very real to him at the time. I imagine if I can remember what happened then it must have been a dream. Inwardly McCoy held onto the small chance that the mysterious voice had allowed him to remember so that Lucy could at least live on in his mind.

“Is there anything else that you wish to inform me of Spock?” McCoy asked, now feeling a little better in terms of the lighting.

“Only one. I know that many traditional practitioners of Earth medicine recommended the replenishment of nutrients and fluids following an overconsumption of alcohol. I would suggest that you take part in this act to bring yourself back to optimal working capacity. If you would like, I can join you as I know that humans tend to enjoy ‘company’ while eating” Spock said with a slight tilt to his eyebrow.

“Now you want to eat with me.” McCoy joked.

“Doctor?” Spock’s eyebrow was now at full tilt.

“Never mind Spock, it just feels good to know that you care.”  McCoy said purposefully.

“Doctor, I was simply attempting to meet your emotional needs, not as you have implied exercising any of my own.” Spock said with a tone that McCoy knew was annoyance mixed with embarrassment as his comment had been closer to the truth than Spock would ever dare to admit.

“Like I said, you’re just being a friend. You and Jim are just about the closest thing to family that I have, and I realize now just how valuable that can be.” McCoy replied while smiling at the small epiphany he had experienced.

Spock simply nodded his head silently towards McCoy, put his hands behind his back and turned towards the sickbay door. McCoy followed right beside him. Down the corridor they saw Kirk.

Boy, it feels good to be home, McCoy thought.

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek, which belongs to Gene Roddenberry and Paramount. Also this will also be a crossover, with Characters from Sakura Wars, Star Wars, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Sailor Moon, Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds and Nadia: The secret of Blue Water. I also do not own those shows or movies.

Prologue: Those that left

The Eugenics Wars was among Earth’s most destructive wars. A war of shadows, unknown to most humans at the time. It was a battle between The Human Governments of the world against the Augments; genetically engineered ‘super-humans’ who controlled many of the nations in the world. Most of the engagements were hidden, covered up as terrorist attacks or small scale bushfire wars or even natural disasters. No one knows who started it first, but the Eugenics Wars killed over 32 Million humans and many more Augments.

But even after the wars, one question remained; what happened to those not killed? It is known that a group of Augments, lead by the dreaded Augment warlord Khan Noonien Singh, escaped on the sleeper ship SS Botany Bay. Others hid in remote places like Alaska and The Amazon. But one group ended up in the hands of what was then a great superpower: The People’s Republic of China.

By 2019, China had a secret army of Augments under their control, taught in the culture of East Asia. In 2020, China allied with The United Korean Republic, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia to form the Eastern Coalition as a counter to the re-growth of American power. The Augment Army was soon known as The Grand Dragon Army of the Eastern Coalition, It was called Dōngbù liánméng de dà lóng jūn in Chinese while it’s more global name was the Japanese version: Azuma rengō wa no sōdai ryū-gun.

It was then that the Augment Army fought in the Third World War against the enemies of the Eastern Coalition. The war was more devastating then any war before, a Stalemate that lasted for three decades, it ended when nuclear weapons were used by both sides and over 600 million died on earth from limited nuclear strikes on Paris, Tokyo, New York, London, Beijing and Washington D.C. It was in the aftermath that one person soon came into light; Zefram Cochrane. He was one of the first humans to build a warp ship and on April 5th at 11:00 AM in the year 2063, he was the first recorded Human to travel faster than light. This was detected by a ship that was from the planet Vulcan. This started first Contact between Earth and the Vulcans.

But a question was to remain, what happened to the Grand Dragon Army?

It was said that the GDA or better known as The Azuma were all killed in the war, but rumors were that a Augment only known as ‘Nemo’ had built a Generation ship with a Warp Drive captured from Area 51. The ship was said to have left the Solar System with over two million Azuma troops of both genders. But this was declared a rumor and a myth and the official fate of the Azuma, killed in the Third World War.

In the years after the end of The Dominion War and the Destruction of Romulus by a supernova, strange tales from the Beta Quadrant about ships disappearing, never to be heard from again. These tales were attributed to starships being destroyed by some disaster or pirate attacks. But soon in 2410, a new crisis soon reached into Known space. Fleets of alien ships, full of civilians, going into Federation, Klingon and Romulan space. They were soon discovered to be refugees from worlds that were attacked. Many thought it was Rouge Borg who attacked their worlds. But the refugees said that it was not the Borg, even when shown pictures of Borg drones. The only thing Starfleet Intelligence could get from the refugees was one word; Azuma……

A Shadow loomed over Known Space, and it was aimed to strike at one power in the area: The Federation it self.

The Azuma were coming……

Some were kidnapped and some were lost, but each had a story. It started with the eldest of the colony.
He was not kidnapped, nor was he lost or taken. He was offered immortality, in exchange for kidnapping, stealing and taking others from their families, homes and universes. These people would share one thing: a single, same genetic coding which held the knowledge a single group wanted to possess. This group was the one who offered him immortality, and out of selfishness he agreed. His name was Karl.
As the years passed the population grew, as did the fear, the hate, the guards Karl employed, the slavery. Others came and went, stories were told, lives were lost. Hate was formed and yet the slaves on Tullan stayed strong in the vain hope that one day they would escape and return to their homes and awaiting families.
The ‘group’ provided food for their slaves as well as tools and shelter in the form of Haven. Haven was named directly for what it was – it sheltered the slaves from the heat of the twin suns that graced the forever purple sky, and from the bleak coldness of night as one sun set allowing the chills and rain to beat upon the golden ground and pure red sea.
Haven was unique.
There were five towers woven into each other, resembling termite hills with large gothic windows gracing the dark golden exterior. The Haven would hold up to ten thousand people, though as luck would have it, only two hundred as of yet lived there.
After six hundred years of depression, death, hate and fear Karl was approached the ‘group’ – the beings who granted him forever life.

Karl, in his selfishness, listened to the seven allowing their knowledge to taint his soul further. He happily agreed to take one more soul to subject an innocent being to the slavery of Tullan; he did not frown when he was told it was a mere child, he did not shiver upon knowing said child would be ripped from their family and home, he did not look on with horror as he heard this child would be trained to do the bidding of the ‘group’.
With a shiver of anticipation Karl set to work. It had been a long time since he had taken another from their home, their family, their life, their very existence.

A cold chill ran through the young body, not the kind that made you cringe but the kind that made your bones freeze, your internal organs shudder and teeth clench. Being thrown to the hard stone floor stung the palms as the body retched sicking up what food was left in the small stomach, tears streamed from hazel eyes as dizziness swum around like a fish in a pond.
Amused silver eyes watched as the young child was thrown from the wormhole-type portal glass before it snapped shut, locking the mere child from its home, history, family and time.
“Are you finished?” Karl found himself asking coldly, as he wondered if the others had taken as
long to recover as this child had.

A small hand wiped its lips as the small frame sat on its haunches. Karl found he was forcing himself to recover as the realisation hit that this child was not a boy but a girl, younger then the ‘group’ had explained to him.
Karl found himself studying the small child. She resembled a mere nine years old, with hazel eyes that appeared to enter your very soul, though the red around the irises seemed to disconcert Karl to his very core.

She was so slim that a strong wind could knock her over, and dark brown hair with flecks of red ended at her shoulders. Her clothing was typical for her age group and species: a black hoodie with a long-sleeved red t-shirt underneath and navy jeans with black trainers.  A backpack, full to the brim, laid at her feet.

Karl couldn’t help but wonder why it was there.
The child, in turn, studied the man: his slim, lamp post frame with limp greying hair shadowing his face, silver eyes seemed glazed with something unknown, yet puzzling.  He stood, towering over her, his voice grave as though unused. His clothing was a robe of silver yet the underneath seemed to be all black, as though wanting to blend into the shadows of the room they currently occupied.
“My name is Karl. I am your master as you are now a slave of Tullan. You will do as you are told to do. Not following instructions will result in punishment.

You will be provided with a room and food, and for both these  you will work.”  With that, Karl turned to his two guards who the child hadn’t even noticed, instructing them to take her to her chambers.
The child just blinked as Karl rattled on about her now being a slave.   A frown graced her young features as she huffed under breath; it seemed the prospect of freedom was well and truly screwed.

The irony was not lost upon the child, for here she was, running away from home only to find she was now on some planet (yes, she had glanced at the window and spotted the twin suns) and had well and truly lost  the very freedom she seeked.

The family she wished to escape from was also well and truly gone. Irony was not her friend!

Haven was known as what was called a gossip mill. Rumours spread  like weeds in the garden in the summer, and like Chinese whispers it soon grew out of control. All it took was for one set of eyes to spot something – anything – that could start the gossip mill!
At this moment, seeing a young child being practically frog marched down passage ways and stairs towards the east wing of Haven was, in fact, the start of the rumour mill.
Beady eyes of black slunk back into the shadows of Haven as the two guards passed, a small, smug smile graced this beady eyed man as he darted for the nearest staircase leading to the hub of all gossip – the kitchens.

Stumbling head first into the backside of a six-foot guard seemed to be the signal to stop to the child.  With an undignified huff she glanced around the body to see a wooden oak framed door that was pushed to reveal a large, adequate, bright room. “Yours,” muttered one guard as he stumped off, followed by the other, leaving the child puzzling if these guards were in fact zombies or just plain stupid and gormless. She voted for the latter.
The room was large, with three, gothic styled bay windows.  Wooden shutters seemed to be the protection against the winds as she could see the hinges, The floor was clay based with a  light brown pattern,  which seemed to blend with the walls that arched towards the ceiling.  A simple oak table and chair stood by one window, and two, well padded chairs well padded.  Stood to the east wall was a large fireplace, allowing company to warm themselves against the chills of night.  A door was to the north which lead to the bedroom.  A large – almost huge –wooden, four-poster bed stood in the centre. At least she’d be comfortable. O so she thought.
An adjoining room to the side was revealed to be the bathroom with running water and a shower. It was good that she didn’t have to share. Slumping against the wall as she slid down to sit upon the unsurprisingly cold floor, the child studied the apartment once again. It seemed that only now was everything hitting all at once. She was a slave, alone with no family, only a backpack of things she had taken in an attempt to run away.Well now it seemed it was official. She was screwed and was going to die a slave to some crack pot who was four fries short of a happy meal “Diabolique you’re doomed” she thought.

From that moment on, the child called herself Diabolique, for Diabolique seemed fitting. She felt like her birth name had never fitted, and why not rename yourself if no one knew your name to begin with?

I’ve been here for a little over a month now on the Enterprise, and needless to say, it has been quite a journey.  Things I had anticipated, or hoped for, have not gone according to plan.  Apparently, things on a major starship are just as they are on the planets.  You’d think being on a dignified vessel would change people’s attitudes or behaviors, but alas, nothing is different.

As the record shows, I am one of the youngest graduates from Starfleet in their entire history.  I graduated with top honors and record scores.  I was practically given my own ship if I had chosen to take it.  Being a captain is not something I would want to pursue.  I recognize that Starfleet’s goals are to train people and promote them to the highest rankings of succession.  I, on the other hand, have no interest in power or authority over people.  I am only interested in power or knowledge over machines.  I yearn to manipulate them and improve them beyond previous capabilities.  Maybe this is why Captain Picard and I get along so well.  He has commanded this vessel longer than most captains serve period.  Captain Picard’s thirst for discovery, whether personal or professional, outweighs any ambition Starfleet has for him.

Because of my thirst and above average knowledge of the engineering department and holodecks, I seem to have alienated myself from most of my peers.  My guess is they are intimidated by me, threatened by me, or jealous of me.  This is in no way a boast by any means, but only an astute observation.  I find that most of the crew avoids me, makes very little conversation with me, or fails to invite me to any recreational event.  Albeit, I was used to this at the academy.  I just hoped it would be different here.  On the other hand, the only crewman who has not treated me differently is Lt. Cmdr Data.  Naturally, since he is an android, he shows no favoritism or preference to certain humans, although his regard of me, instead disregard, is quite a comfort.  Even though you spend 24/7 with over 1000 people, you can still be lonely.

[end log]

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Lieutenant’s Personal Log, Star Date 2455.5

I am thankful things have changed a little around here, alas only if it is a little.  I was sitting in Ten Forward yesterday when the eccentric bartender, Guinan, approached me.  She’s a very inquisitive lady…or as some might say, nosy.  Maybe it’s her lengthy age, but she has a way about her that makes her a good listener.  Honestly, other than Lt. Cmdr Data, she has been the only one here to simply ask me how I was doing.  Most of the time, people approach me about personal programming for the holodecks.  It’s amazing to see how many people visit the holodecks more than once a day…as an objective sidenote.   She has a way of getting you to spill your guts, and it was quite liberating.  I have the utmost respect and admiration for Counselor Troi, but Guinan has a way about her that would make her the ultimate counselor.  She should apply if Counselor Troi ever leaves.  She asked me a puzzling question yesterday.  Since I’m always helping people with the holodecks or Lt. Cmdr La Forge in engineering, do I ever get time to myself?  I felt a little ashamed, because I couldn’t answer her question.  My job is my passion.  Anything else out of that is a distraction.  She told me that instead of helping others for once, I should create a list of programs for myself…to enjoy.  Not to test.

I’ve always gone with my two favorites, Tolkien and Shakespeare programs, but Guinan challenged me to get out of my comfort zone.  In fact, Lt Cmdr Data approached me the same day and asked me the same question.  I am making it a note to ask Guinan if she put him up to that.  Lt Cmdr Data offered, that even though Sherlock Holmes was his favorite, he did reach out and attempted new programs.  It’s odd to me, that an artificial life-form would desire, wish, or take risks in their decisions.  Data fascinates me the more I get to know him.

Today, I picked a program out of my comfort zone.  I couldn’t pick the meekness of Bilbo Baggins, or Viola, pretending to be someone she wants to be.  I decided to go with Robin of Locksley…yes, Robin Hood.  Honestly, it was the most fun I’ve had in a long time.  Having a physically demanding role, much less one of utmost courage and gall was quite different.  Standing there in the middle of Sherwood Forest listening to the trees move in the wind and the leaves rustle at my feet gave me such a feeling of freedom.

Needless to say, I am excited to divulge my findings to Guinan and Lt Cmdr Data.  In fact, I may ask Lt Cmdr Data to participate on my next act of pillage upon the rich or maybe even let him play the Sheriff of Nottingham.

[end log]

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Lieutenant’s Personal Log, Star Date 2479.75

Today my family has suffered a great loss.  My older brother, Daniel, was killed in the line of duty against a Romulan warship.  He was trying to protect the life of another crewman.  I am deeply saddened by my brother’s death, but I am at a loss on how to express it.  Most of my youth was spent in school, so I didn’t get to know my brother very well.  My brother was not the student I was, but he was a leader and a great tactical officer.  Qualities I think I will never be capable of.  Counselor Troi tried her best to console me, but because I expect that kind of behavior from her, it’s hard to see it as sincere.  On the other hand, Lt Cmdr Data never ceases to surprise me.  I’m beginning to think he is more human than any one on this ship.

I was sitting in Ten Forward in a corner crying, but not sobbing.  I assume my attempt at grief was coming across as alarming, if not awkward, so Lt Cmdr Data sat down in front of me and inquired about my discomfort.  I have come to terms that Data is my only friend on this vessel, even though is my superior officer and an android, he has filled all the duties that a friend would fill.  He expressed his condolences and proceeded to tell me that he, too, had lost a brother.  I’ll admit, this floored me.  I didn’t think androids could have a sense of family, but after Data explained to me the story of his brother Lore, it hit me that Data and I aren’t so different after all.  Lore was a stranger to Data as was Daniel to me.  Although Daniel was a man of honor and valor, Lore was quite the opposite.  I asked Data if he was sad or something close to that effect, and all he could say was not used to Lore and he could not experience loss like myself.  That didn’t make me feel better, but I know Data was only trying to help.  Mere attempt by Data was still comforting though.  But this was not what baffled me.  Data took it upon himself to get up, walk over to me, and hug me.  Even though it wasn’t human contact or a warm hug like you would receive from a parent, it felt just as good.  I wish I could commend Dr. Soong for his brilliance for his creation of Data.

Does it make me strange that I find comfort from a machine?  Is it odd that a machine is the only friend I have?

[end log]

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Lieutenant’s Personal Log, Star Date 2507.75

When you sign up for Starfleet, you take the risk of either a peaceful mission and/or a violent one.  I figured my odds on the Enterprise would be hit or miss for either situation.  I have been on this starship for a year now, and I’ve been in very few skirmishes or combat.  Four days ago, I was faced with my own mortality against the enemy face to face.

The Romulans managed to hijack the Enterprise and take the senior officers hostage.  At one point, Lt Cmdr Data and I were devising a plan to rescue them but were confronted and out-manned by a group of Romulans patrolling the ship.  They decided to use Data as a bargaining chip to get Captain Picard to release operating codes to the master computer.  Their idea was to use Lt Cmdr Data as an android in a human situation.  They threatened to fire upon him and disassemble his body for study.  I know Captain Picard, and if I had been in his shoes, I would’ve let the Romulans destroy him.  Sacrifice one for the good of the many.  I, on the other hand, am not Captain Picard.  Letting the Romulans get a hold of Starfleet technology and information could be more dangerous than we could imagine.

The Romulan went to fire upon Data with his weapon after Captain Picard refused to relinquish control.  Seeing the possible loss of my friend and fellow crewman, without any hesitation or second thought, I stepped in front of Lt Cmdr Data.  I’m not really sure what my thoughts were other than to protect my friend.  I remember screaming “Don’t kill him!  Don’t shoot!”  I shielded Data as best as I could and hoped my body was big enough to deflect it from him.  The Romulan froze in his tracks.  It must have been his Vulcan side that took over.  A perplexed look came across his face, and he lowered his weapon.  Seeing my opportunity to get the upper hand, I lunged at him, acquired his weapon, and reversed the situation.  We shortly regained control over the ship, and transported the Romulans to a starbase for detainment.

I was later questioned, even reprimanded for throwing caution to the wind and jeopardizing my life, by Captain Picard.  He could not understand why I would sacrifice my life for Lt Cmdr Data’s.  Since he is only a machine, he could be repaired or replaced.  I felt it unfair that Lt Cmdr Data was in the room with us, but I felt it necessary to speak my peace.  I told Captain Picard that when I see Lt Cmdr Data, I don’t see an android.  I see a friend.  I asked him why it was so different for me to fight for him in the physical sense as he had done for Data’s status of ownership.  Captain Picard had seen Data, not as Starfleet property, but as a serving officer of a federation.  I saw Data as a fellow crewmate and wanted no harm to come to him.  Why is it so hard to explain why you would lay down your life for a friend?  I don’t care if he is an android.  He has been better to me than any one person on this vessel.  The look on Captain Picard’s face was one for the record books.  The man is rarely wrong, and in this instance, he knew he was.  He sighed, smiled, and put his hand on my shoulder.  He thanked me for my service and valor towards the ship and the crew.  This must have been what my brother would’ve felt…a sense of pride and servitude.

Lt Cmdr Data, on the other hand, has seemed to have blown his circuits.  He finds it intriguing that a human would sacrifice themselves for him.  He does not see the logic behind it.  In fact, he told me I was foolish and not to throw my life and career away.  I just simply laughed at him, God knows he makes me laugh a lot and makes me aware of stuff I take for granted as being a human.  He has not been the same to me since that day.  He takes it upon himself to help me with more things, or ask if there is something he can do for me, or just act non-Datalike.  It’s almost like he’s grateful.  Maybe my act of sacrifice was the most human thing anyone’s ever done for him.

Can android’s be thankful?

[end log]

It was my first official day upon the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D.  Needless to say, there is no doubt why this starship is the most coveted ship to be on.  Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a natural born leader, and he has a staff that is loyal to the end.  You learn this quickly.

My new position upon this fine vessel is Holodeck Engineer.  I am also a support engineer to Lieutenant Commander Geordi LaForge.  I am responsible for maintenance, upgrading, and total control of the 3 holodecks the Enterprise has.  I first became enamored with these machines shortly into my Starfleet training.   Reading was always a hobby of mine, but after discovering the holodeck, the “theatre of the mind” became a reality.  The holodeck created endless possibilities for my imagination’s musings.  They made them possible to live out my books and experience what the characters did.

Since Starfleet contracts are so lengthy, “shore leave” doesn’t come often (unless you visit Risa) so the holodeck provides a getaway for crew members.  It was quite an honor to be given this position.  Holodecks help people not only relax, but train, and learn.  The computer simulations are brilliant, but I love adding little quirks here and there to further enhance the experience of a crew member.  Stretching the limits of the computer has always been a fun challenge for me.

I have dreamed of being a crew member on this ship since I was 10 years old, so needless to say, this is a dream come true.  I’m excited about meeting the rest of the senior crew and seeing Captain Picard again.  I have a welcome dinner tonight with Ship Counselor Troi.  I hear she’s an empath so my guess is tonight’s conversations will be pretty one-sided.

[end log]

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Lieutenant’s log, Stardate 2399.75

My second day above this starship proved to be just as interesting as the first.  My dinner with Counselor Troi went as well as expected.  She’s very kind and sympathetic, but it’s unnerving being around a Betazoid.  If you’re having a bad day, you can’t deny it.  I do feel comfortable talking to her, but I’m not much of a talker anyway.

Today was my first official day on duty.  I have served on 2 other starships on short term contracts, but the Enterprise will be my longest stint in my Starfleet career to date.  With over 1000 people on board, the holodecks are used quite often so repair and upgrades are a pretty constant basis.

I have yet to meet the other half of senior staff.  So far, Lt Cmdr LaForge, Dr. Beverly Crusher, Lt. Worf, and Counselor Troi seem to be about their wits and very intelligent people.  No wonder why they’re serving on this starship.  I am anxiously awaiting my meeting with Captain Picard.  He has been in arbitrary meetings with the Klingons.  Something about a new council leader is needed.  I suspect I will be able to meet with him some time this week.

Lt. Worf is the third Klingon I’ve met to date, and he has a very tough exterior.  During the tour he gave me, he very matter of fact and gruff about security policy and procedure.  Chief of Security fits him well, but he is quite intimidating.  I would hate to see him on a bad day if these are his good days.   He asked me if I was up to date on my Klingon training programs, as to which I lied.  I know very few, but trust me, it’s on the top of my list to learn.  Having Lt. Worf over my shoulder is not a place I’d like to be.

I will assisting LaForge tomorrow with last minute checks and preparations for our departure from Starbase 243 at the end of the week.

[end log]

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Lieutenant’s log, Stardate 2401.5

I just met the most interesting person, per se, in my entire existence.  I knew the starship had an android, but it’s hard to grasp the word android until you meet one.  Lt. Cmdr. Data is quite a specimen.  I read about him during school, but nothing can really prepare you for meeting him.  His pale skin and yellow eyes are almost haunting, but at the same time he has such a kind and open demeanor.

I was updating new programs from the 19th century era, and he approached me to see and asked if I was installing better configurations for the AI characters.  I thought, “what an odd question.  Why would an android care about 19th century characters in a holodeck?”  He informed me the Sherlock Holmes programs were his favorite.  I’ll have to admit this caught me off guard.  I had no idea he “liked” the holodeck.  Data is an android, and the likes and wishes and desires of an android escape me.  Aren’t those human characteristics?  I took note of his suggestions and said I’d look into it.  I, myself, have been anxiously awaiting to actually use the holodecks for my own personal use.  The holodecks on the Enterprise are much more sophisticated, so experiencing my Tolkien programs or Shakespeare programs will be a step up.  Having to schedule my personal time for this has been quite a challenge, though.  LaForge is quite a stickler for docking preparations.  I only hope to be as thorough as him.

[end log]

——————————————————————————-

Lieutenant’s log, Stardate 2404.75

Today was a fantastic day.  I was finally able to meet with Captain Picard, and it was outstanding getting to see him after all these years.  I had been a painfully shy science project winner the last time I saw him.  I remember that trip like it was yesterday.  At 12 years old, you don’t think about your mortality until you’re put in a falling Turbo-lift with 2 other younger kids and an injured man.  I’ll never forget Captain Picard’s integrity and patience that day.  Being called his Number 1 was one of the most flattering things that’s ever happened to me.  I know I’m only in my late teens and have more to learn, but not every kid can say they had a Commander’s rank at 10 years old.  I kept his ranking pins in hopes of returning them to him one day, either has his replacing Commander or as a crew member in general.  I feared he would get promoted to Admiral before I could finish my Starfleet training and resign his captain role.  Thank goodness for men like him who still yearn to learn and explore.

It’s men like him why I want to serve in the Federation.

[end log]

Chapter 1 

Science class was so boring. There was no point in it, I didn’t give a flying shit about cells and how they worked. Mural tapped me on my shoulder from her seat next to me. I leaned in closer so she could whisper in my ear.

“Hey Lexi, isn’t he cute?” she asked about our science teacher. I rolled my eyes at her. He was cute. And young to. But he was a totaly geek. Mural giggled and I smiled. Mural had been my best friend for as long as I could remember. Our parents had served together on Voyager. Of course my mother was an admiral now and had no time for me or anything else. The bell rang for class to get out. It was the beginning of Christmas vacation so it was even more hectic.  The students all swarmed the door and ran out into the sunny California day. Even though it was december it was still pretty warm out.

“Are you coming to my house?” Mural asked as we walked side by side.

“Can’t, I have to see my dad off remember?” Dad was going away for a while. It wasn’t something I was a stranger to. Normally one or both of my parents would be gone on some sort of starfleet mission.

“Oh yeah,” Mural remembered. “Where is he going?”

“I don’t know. He said it’s ‘classified information.’”

“Oh classified,” Mural laughed as we came to the bus stop and got ready to board the bus that would take her home. “I’ll see you later then Lexi!”

“Yeah, bye!” I said waving. I watched hers fly away. Most students who went to the academy lived in dorms on the campus but Mural’s house was just a bus ride away since both of her parents had to work at the base. Like me, Mural hardly ever got to see her parents. Though her parents always seemed to find time for her. I had to walk a little farther since I lived on the base. The starfleet was base was a the main starfleet building. Since my mother was an admiral, we had rooms in the building. At times that was pretty cool since I could walk to school in under ten minutes. I walked into the lobby of the building, a huge doom shaped room with a transport celling that was eight floors above my head. If you looked up you could see the balcony’s of each floor looking out over the main lobby. Everything was decorated for Christmas so there were green wreaths hanged off of the balconies and sparkling lights on the walls. At the far corner there was a giant Christmas tree that was decorated with the ordainments the kids had made. It was an amazing building but i’d lived here all my life.

As usual the building was full of starfleet officers running around with clipboards trying to get to where they need to go. I spotted my father talking to Roddy behind the front desk.

“Hey honey,” he said when he approached. He already had all his bags him.  “I hoped you’d make it, they pushed the takeoff ahead.” Roddy smiled at me and then went back to what he was doing.

“I’ll come with you the transportation bay,” I offered. I really didn’t like it when he went away. It was harder when I was little. My mother I was more use to. If she wasn’t on a mission then she was working and not at home. My dad nodded and I followed him out of the main building as we started walking towards the transportation bay.

“This is a dangerous one isn’t it?” I asked noticing the look on his face and how he seemed to walk closer to me.

“It’s just diplomatic Lex,” he  told me. “I’m just negotiating a peace treaty.”

“I thought you said you couldn’t tell me what you were doing?” I asked taking one of his bags from him.

“I can’t tell you where i’m going,” he said grinning. “And I probably shouldn’t have told you that either. Don’t tell your mother on me.” I grinned.

“I won’t. So are these people your negotiating the treaty with at war?” He didn’t reply which meant yes. I could tell he didn’t want to leave.  This was defiantly going to be a dangerous one. Though it made me nervous, i’d learned from a very young age that what my parents did was for the greater good and I should be proud of them. Also I trusted my dad to come back to me. We walked into the transportation bay. I handed him back his bag and he put them down to give me a quick kiss on my head.

“Be good to your mother,” he told me. “Don’t bite each other’s throats off.”

“She’s not coming to say goodbye?” I asked.

“We said goodbye earlier.”

“When are you coming back?” I asked.

“I don’t know Lex,” he sighed. Only my Dad ever called me Lex. It was our thing. “I’ll be in communication though. I’ll talk to you when we land to let you and your mother know i’m alright. Okay?”

“Okay,” I said feeling a little better that I knew he was allowed to talk to us.

“Be good,” he told me picking up his bags and stepping into the blue light.

“Bye,” I waved as is figure disappeared with a glowing blue light.

“He’ll be fine kid,” Ben said from behind the beaming station. “You’re Dad, he can take care of himself.” I had many friends that were older then me around the station. It was part of being an admiral’s daughter I guess. Ben was one of my closer ones.

“I know,” I sighed. “I better go, it’s getting dark.”

“Have a good night,” Ben smiled at me. “Do your homework!” I laughed as I walked out. I had a ton of homework, none or which I felt like doing. It was vacation after all.

I walked back into the station building to find my mother deep in conversation with a man I didn’t recognize. She looked up when I walked over.

“The enterprise is flying in,” she told me. “Riker and Diana’s son is coming with them. I was hoping you wouldn’t mind showing him around?” There was never a ‘hello, how was your day’ with her. But I was exited at the news of the enterprise flying in. I liked captain Picard. When I was little he use to bring me presents whenever he flew in from all different planets and galaxies.

“Riker and Diana have son?” I asked.

“Yes, his name’s Tommy. He’s about your age and he’s going to be attending the academy.”

“Yeah, i’ll show him around,” I told her. Mural would be exited. Especially if he was hot. “When are they flying in?”

“Tomorrow morning, you can come to the landing bay with me.”

“Okay,” I agreed. “Are you coming home?”

“Not just quite yet, I have some more work to attend to. You can make something if you get hungry. I might be late.” She walked way with the strange man she’d been talking to. I was kind of happy she wouldn’t be back till later. It meant I got the rooms to myself for a while. I’d video chat with Mural and tell her about the boy I was going to be showing around. Commander Riker was extremely hot, so his son probably would be too. My rooms were up on the eighth floor so I took the elevator up. When I got in I plopped down on the red couch and pulled out my laptop. I saw that Mural was online, as usual not doing her homework, and sent her video chat request. She excepted her face came onto the screen. Since Mural’s mother B’elanna was half klingon Mural didn’t look completely human. She had the face of a Klingon but had blonde hair like her father Tom.

Tom and B’elanna had always been like a second family to me. B’elanna would always joke when I was over that I was their adopted child.

“Hey,” Mural said. “What’s up?”

“So my Mom said the enterprise is flying in tomorrow,” I told her.

“Yeah, Dad told me when I go home,” Mural nodded.

“Did you also tell you that Riker and Diana Troy’s son is flying in with them? And he’s our age? And I get to show him around?” Her green eyes light up like a lightbulb.

“Oh my god! Commander Riker has a son?” she gasped much to my amusement. “He’s got to be hot!”

“That’s what I thought!” I agreed. “Tomorrow should be interesting.”

“So you’re showing him around? Can I help?”

“I don’t see why not,” I said laughing. “But I get dibs if he’s hot since I heard about him first.” Mural made a pouty face.

“Fine,” she sighed. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t flirt with him.”

“Don’t traumatize him though!” I said giggling.

“I don traumatize cute boys!”

“Um, yeah you do. Remember Rider?” I asked.

“That was once, one time!” she said defensively.

“Yeah suuuure,” I laughed. She stuck her tongue out at me.

“Oh, hi Lexi!” Tom’s face appeared on the screen. “I thought my daughter was in her talking to herself again.”

“Dad!” I heard Mural sigh.

“Hi Mr. Paris!” I giggled.

“What was this about hot boys that I heard?”

“Go away Dad!” Mural groaned. “We’re having a girl conversation.”

“Hey, calm down there Mural, i’m just checking on my girls,” he winked at me and walked out.

“God, he’s so annoying,” Mural sighed gaining control of her computer again. “I better go, though. I’ll see you and the hot boy tomorrow,” she winked looking like her Dad.

“Okay.” I put my laptop screen down considering doing my homework. I had a essay I was suppose to right on the Q contumm by the time break was over. The Q had always interested me, that’s why I chose to write my essay on it. Though that didn’t change my distaste of doing homework, exspeacily during Christmas break. I ended up falling asleep on the couch with all the lights on and my laptop on my lap.

I was walking though a mediaeval looking castle at night. The only light was from the torches lit along the wall. I could hear talking from a door at the end of the hall with a light under it.

“Have to go and warn them,” one voice was saying so quietly I could barely hear him. 

“No! To dangerous,” said another male voice. But this one was stronger and easier to understand.  “Let them rot. They’re nothing to us.”

“Have the warn them,” the first voice said. “Maybe have a child-”

“If you have a child she will be destroyed.” 

“No! I’ll find her. I’ll make sure she knows who she is, i’ll bring her back with me, train her if I can. Whatever you want, just don’t kill her.”

“You can try Q. Bring the girl to me and then I will decide her fate. Try to hide her, and she will be found and i’ll kill both of you, and that boy of yours.” 

“I’ll bring her to you, but you have to promise not to hurt her.”

“Fine. But fail-”

“I know, I know.” Suddenly the man with the louder voice turned and I could see his face. His eyes were bright red. 

“Lexi!” I sat straight up still thinking I was dreaming as I looked into the crystal blue eyes of my mother. She was seated beside me on the couch looking concerned. “Another nightmare?” she asked. I nodded trying to relax. IT was just a dream, just another nightmare like the so many i’d had since I was little. But this one was different, more, more real.

“It’s alright,” she said smoothing my hair. “It was just a dream honey. Go back to bed.” But it wasn’t.

“Kathryn for heaven sake!”  Chakotay said pacing in front of Kathryn’s chair. “I don’t want to live a lie, I can’t.”

“We’re not,” she answered looking down at the pink bundle she held in her arms. “She is your daughter Chakotay, I just know it.”

“Then do a blood test,” Chakotay pleaded with his new wife. “Please, just to ease my mind.” Kathryn looked up at him sadly and shook her head.

“I don’t need prove, if she was Q’s she would be something other then human and she seems human to me.”

“She’s two weeks old,” Chakotay pointed out.

“I can’t,” Kathryn muttered. “Because what if it comes back negative? Then what do I do?”

“We handle it togher,” he took her and and looked down at the baby she was holding. Kathryn had decided to call her Kendra, Lexi for short. “Wether she’s my biological daughter or not, I still love her the same.”

“No,” Kathryn said. “I just can’t. She’s yours Chakotay, I know it and I trust my instincts.”

“And I trust mine,” Chakotay told her going back to his pacing. “Do you want her to grow up believing i’m her father and having it be a lie? Do you know how that will effect her when she finds out?”

“She won’t,” Kathryn told him strictly. “And if she knew that there was even a slight doubt that she might not be human, how do you think that would effect her? I want have a normal life. Not like ours when we risk our lives everyday. She deserves to be a child and have good life.” Chakotay sighed knowing he wasn’t going to get anywhere with her. He’d be a father to that baby no matter what. It didn’t matter to him. All he felt for that child was love. And that’s all he would need. All you need is love.

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Star Trek: Myriad Universes

Paradigm Shift

by Lewis Wells

Epilogue

“Ladies and gentlemen, the Secretary General of the Interphasic Coalition.”

“Good evening. The last three months have seen some extraordinary developments; among them, the confirmation of a long held scientific theory and the establishment of my job. But these are hardly the most significant of the developments that we have seen.

“We have seen the entire sky set alight by weapons fire. We have seen people, by the millions, committed to war and waging it for all they’re worth. We have seen the shattering of a peace we had thought indestructible. We have seen our homes overrun.

“With the breaching of the inter-dimensional barrier came an implacable foe bent on our conquest; a foe steeped in brutality and cruelty. But this breaching also put us in contact with new allies, without whom, the defeat of this enemy would have been impossible.

“In the weeks ahead, we will need one another more than ever, for now that the Empire has fallen, the real work begins. Our own timelines as well as those previously held by the Empire will have to be rebuilt. The damage we inflicted on one another will have to be repaired, as well as the damage the Empire inflicted on those timelines, itself. Clearly, we have our work cut out for us.”

* * *

There had been a great deal of confusion to sort out, but the Chief was finally making progress on making contact with Oriens and they were coming to the new campsite for the tribe. It was a timeline far removed from the one in which they had originated, but no matter. If they were together, they were home.

Tom spent his morning doing what he could to help get the camp back up. Winter approached and the nights were starting to get chilly.

Then he found himself summoned to the Chief’s tent, yet again. “Tom,” she said when he walked in, “how are you?”

Something about the way she asked chilled him. “I’m… fine.”

“Good. Have a seat.” She was normally stoic, but this time, she was downright grim.

He sat, for some reason full of dread.

“Tom, I’m afraid I have terrible news.”

* * *

Kai did not know how much time had passed. She had given such no regard, but shortly, she had delivered the painful news and found herself wondering how many more times she would have such occasion.

Then, she received a caller. It was Captain Gideon. He had someone with him she did not recognize. The stranger wore a military uniform.

Turning her attention to him, she said, “Colonel.”

“Chief,” Gideon said, matter-of-factly, “this is Colonel Chang, the military leader of the Upepo tribe.”

Kai recognized the name and suddenly could not find her voice.

* * *

Light from the setting sun glinted off the landscape in a way that, Thomas knew, would make it seem more alive under different circumstances. As it was, he had just finished making the unpleasant discovery that sobbing was not actually beneath him.

Over and over again, it happened that he would think himself cried out and raise his face from his hands just long enough to see her image, and over and over again, the tears would return.

He tried distracting himself from his grief by silently ridiculing her, but of course his efforts here were deflected by his admiration for the courage of her sacrifice. She had given up her life to save the lives of an entire world of strangers, and for this, she was posthumously given the Coalitional Medal of Valor, for which she would go down in history as the first recipient. Try though he had, he could not bring himself to react to such courage with anything other than admiration.

The rest of the tribe had been very supportive and that had brought him some comfort, but it would be a while before anything else dominated his attention.

Yet, in the midst of it all, an interesting question occurred to him. Do I regret any of what she and I had?

He reflected and, curiously, found he did not. Their memories were a source of comfort, even now. The only reason her death had such an impact on him was that her life had, even in just the few months they had known each other. Being spared the one would have meant giving up the other, and he found that a price he was not willing to pay.

I guess the only way for death to be less tragic is by detracting from the value of life, he concluded.

Of course he was not the only member of the tribe who had lost someone. Indeed, given the camaraderie of this particular tribe, the loss of any single one would be felt by all.

But the loss of a few dozen, it was no surprise, meant that everyone had someone closer than a friend to grieve for. He realized then that he had yet to give consideration to the other holo-recreations arranged before him. He elected to do that without further delay.

Rising from his seat and walking down the line, he beheld not a single unfamiliar face. These were all people he had known, whose company he had enjoyed. He had swapped dirty jokes and barbs with most of them, and discussed dreams with all. He knew their names, tastes, hopes, dreams, pet-peeves, fears and insecurities.

He recognized a number from the band, the drama club, the choir, the tribe’s various athletic teams, a few from the council, and a number of the tribe’s scientists, engineers, and scholars.

He came to Xevera again and paused, closing his eyes as they again moistened. As the emotions welled up yet again, he felt his features draw tight and his breathing become unsteady entirely of their own volition. In that state, he lost track of time.

He did not know exactly how much time had passed when he opened his eyes again. It could have been hours, but the lack of ache and fatigue in his knees and ankles, and the fact that the sun still had not quite set lead him to rule out that possibility.

Then he continued down the row of faces, regarding each with sad nostalgia until he came to one in particular which evoked in him a touch of guilt. Here he paused and reflected, feeling another need arise within him.

He did not recognize it at first. It was a need to do something, but what? Another moment later, he understood.

His attention moved back to the formations of seats arranged facing the holo-projections. Most of them were empty by now, but one person lingered; the very woman he, somehow, expected to find.

As he approached, her gaze turned in warning to this unwelcome intruder.

“Chief.”

“Yes,” she answered, her manner guarded.

“I just…wanted to express my condolences…whatever they may be worth. Your loss is a loss for all of us.”

“Thank you,” she replied, seeming grateful but still guarded.

“I also wanted to say…” He paused. “…I owe you an apology; you and her both. The problem is… I don’t know how to even begin to make it.”

She eyed him, but said nothing, sensing that more was coming.

“My behavior toward the two of you has been less than deplorable. I am terribly sorry for it and I can’t fathom how I can even begin to apologize. I mean it has taken a while… but…” His attention moved back to the holo-image for a moment, then returned to the Chief, his eyes beginning to sting again. “…I get it.”

Her defenses evaporated and her face fell into her hands as the most heart-rending of sobs began to erupt from her.

Don’t cry, Thomas silently begged. Please don’t cry.

She seemed inconsolable, but he sat down and, with some hesitation, placed a hand on her shoulder. He was surprised when she turned and reached for him but had no objection and so the sun set on the two new friends each lending the other a shoulder.