Horizon's Time
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Horizon's Time: Syana - The Uniter, an ENT timeline tale
The beautiful sky above was becoming clouded over by the dust of war. The Kelsan were destroying themselves, even as the space institute tried to find a way to save them. Land boundaries and pollution from the industries was literally tearing apart the very fabric of their peaceful society.
Fenrar, the head of Kelsan Space Society, was pushing his team to their very limits. Shouting seemingly impossible tasks at his people. “Get that propulsion system online, now!” he demanded, the alien’s head large cranium pulsed with every word from his mind. The building shook with another explosion.
“Father, we have nominal readings, but they are at the lowest level of nominal. We need more time,” Karanku disputed. His long black hair was tied in a bun behind his back. The Kelsan honored the ones with hair, or Sheylahts meaning of nobility, because hair amongst them is rare.
“We have no time!” Fenrar shouted.
Syana laid a hand on her father’s arm, instantly calming him, “Father, for a safe flight we need the time Brother has indicated.”
The two looked alike, both were tall, maroon eyed, and their large craniums had course black strands of hair rippled across it.
“I know,” he touched his daughter’s face. “I need you to make it.”
Karanku nodded, “We all need it.”
They all agreed in their own ways. The crew worked diligently as Syana continued to soothe them all and Fenrar tried to keep his orders more reasonable.
“Brother, how is it going?” Syana asked.
Karanku wiped sweat from his brow as he turned toward her, his eyes showing his appreciation for her sacrifice. “As well as they can be, Sister. We’ll be ready on time.”
“Thank you,” she said as she soothed him with a caress.
He touched her face, “No, my Sister, thank you. Your volunteering will save us all.”
Syana nodded and wondered over to another worker, “How is that calibration going Sen?”
He nodded affirmatively, “Ahead of schedule Uniter.”
Syana joined her father in the observation room. “You would rather be one of the engineers, instead of a supervisor,” she noted as she watched him.
“Of course, I would rather be doing calculations. I am going to send my only Daughter into the unknown,” he replied.
“I know and understand, but your team is fully competent. They are on schedule, Father,” she replied.
“I just hope it works,” Fenrar put his gaze back down on the workers.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Captain’s Log: supplemental. We are returning home after the death of our chief engineer, Lieutenant Charles Tucker the third. Trip was an excellent officer, as well as my friend,” Captain Jonathan Archer reported sadly.
“T’Pol, our former physicist has decided to return to the Vulcan High Command. As for the rest of the crew: Travis Mayweather, Malcolm Reed, and Hoshi Sato have all agreed to sign on for another tour as a part of my crew. I believe Hoshi has finally gotten her ‘space-legs’, so to speak,” Archer paused to wipe his hands along his tired face. He took a deep breath, then he continued, “Most of the others have joined the Columbia or left Fleet altogether. I commend them for their hard work aboard this vessel. End log.”
“Captain Archer to Mayweather, what’s our status?” he demanded lightly.
“Same as before sir, clear sailing,” Mayweather replied.
“Keep me posted,” Archer reminded.
“Aye sir,” Mayweather responded.
Archer stood and began to pace. Waiting to reach Jupiter Station was always boring. He did whatever he could to keep himself occupied, for example, today he had plans with Reed for some security exercises.
His door chimed, he glanced at his chronometer. “Come on in Malcolm.”
“Are you ready to have your ass handed to you?” the newly promoted Lieutenant Commander Malcolm Reed teased.
Archer elbowed him, “Now remember that I’m still your Captain.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The sky above Kelsan was clouded over with debris as the engineers met with Syana to say goodbye.
“It is time,” Fenrar announced.
“I accept,” replied the young woman through her pulsing head.
Karanku knelt in front of his Sister, “May your trip be free of incident, my Sister.”
“Farewell Uniter,” the group announced as a whole.
She shook all of their hands. She stopped in front of her Father.
“Farewell, Syana,” he wished.
Behind them an explosion rocked the main city several meters away. Syana looked over at a hrigee plant, the blue leaves had ceased their humming, it was time to go.
“And you as well Father,” she replied.
He gestured to the poorly constructed space-faring impulse drive powered vessel. Syana nodded knowingly and boarded the ship. She set off for space.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The target-disc zoomed across the cargo bay. Captain Jonathan Archer raised his weapon to fire, but Lieutenant Commander Malcolm Reed shot it first.
“What’s the score?” Archer panted as he asked.
“Eight to two, in my favor of course,” a completely calm Reed responded.
Archer bent with his hands on his knees, “Good job Malcolm. I call you grand master.”
Reed smiled, “Why thank you sir!” He slapped Archer on the back, eliciting a groan from him.
“Captain?”came the newly promoted Lieutenant Hoshi Sato’s voice over the communications system.
Archer touched the communications link near the entrance to the cargo bay, “Archer here, what’s up Hoshi?”
The new Sub-Commander replied, “We are detecting two ships ahead.”
“What are they?” Archer asked.
“One is a match for a Xindi ship, the other is unknown, sir,” he replied.
“On my way,” Archer replied.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The tiny ship that held Syana was failing. The impulse was fading, the life support was draining out, and she was still unconscious. The ship was drifting through space, fortunately the distress signal was still on.
The Xindi ship neared the ship cautiously. The captain looked into the view screen. The ship’s interior was a little bigger than a human with three large protrusions that served as engines on the back. It intrigued Klintok, so he ordered one of his subordinates to retrieve the small ship.
Once the ship was aboard, he opened it up. The woman inside seemed weak and small, she looked rather frail. She was even smaller than a human, which led Klintok to believe it was an alien he had never seen before. He tentatively touched the large cranium, he guessed it was at least three times larger than the humans he was accustomed too.
“The Federation ship is approaching,” one of the communications officer announced.
“Enterprise?”Klintok asked.
“Yes,” he hissed.
Klintok sighed, “Destroy them, I have no patience today.”
He turned back to his ‘prize.’ Syana lay dormant inside the ship as Klintok explored the odd shaped vessel.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Captain Jonathan Archer and Lieutenant Commander Malcolm Reed entered the bridge in their workout gear.
“Hail them Hoshi,” Archer commanded.
“Frequency open sir,” she informed him.
“Xindi ship, this is Captain Jonathan Archer of the Enterprise, please respond,” he said authoritatively.
“I have no patience for you today Archer,” the captain responded.
“I was thinking the same thing. We know you took the lifeboat aboard your vessel. You know the boundaries of the Federation protect such crafts,” Archer said, he was exasperated with the Xindi’s boundary ignorance.
The Captain laughed, “We found it first.”
Rather childish, he complained to himself. “Just give us the ship.”
“After we do some. . . testing,” the Xindi captain replied.
Mayweather shot Archer a look. Archer waved a hand at him. “Fine, as long as the occupant is alive and well when it reaches my ship.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Xindi doctor had revived the woman. She spread to her normal seven foot tall and her arms regained their muscular shape. She grabbed the alien doctor by his throat and delved into his mind. The insectoid tried to resist, but she was far too strong.
Once she grasped their language, she said with her mind, “Why am I here?”
“You are not speaking yet I hear you,” the creature was frightened.
She released him and used her mouth for speech, “Is this more to your liking?”
The creature shook its head.
“Very well. Now, why am I here? Your mind shows a power struggle with something called the Federation, am I a pawn?” she demanded to know.
“Yes,” the alien said slowly, “but if you wish to go to their vessel, we will release you.”
The captain nodded at his doctor in agreement. “You are far too aggressive for us.”
Syana was allowed to board her ship and pilot it to the Federation ship. Once aboard she was greeted by Lieutenant Commander Malcolm Reed and a security team. They led her to a conference room.
“You think I am beautiful,” Syana said after poking around in Reed’s brain.
“Of course not,” he blustered.
She shook her head negatively, “That’s not what your mind says,” she smiled and placed a hand on him. Two of the guards trained their weapons on her.
Reed motioned for them to stand down, he stopped and turned to her, “Maybe your people think it’s all right to read minds, but my culture prefers its privacy.”
She dipped her head, “I apologize Malcolm.”
“Reed,” he corrected, “Until you know me, you will call me Lieutenant Commander Reed.”
“Your people put far too much stock in formality. I mean the familial line you come from,” she gestured toward another guard, “Simon wouldn’t mind if I called him Simon.”
Simon smiled, “Surely not ma’am.”
Reed shot him a sour glance, “The captain is undoubtedly wondering where we are, so let’s move.”
“Despite your aversion to letting me call you by your name, you may call me Syana,” she said.
“What’s your full name?”Reed asked, not sparing a glance behind himself at her.
“I am Crynza Mataa Syana,” she replied. “The first to are my familial names.”
“Nice to meet you Miss Crynza Mataa,” Reed answered.
Syana sighed, “Have it your way Lieutenant Commander Reed.”
The door hissed open and Captain Archer and Lieutenants Travis Mayweather and Hoshi Sato waited for them.
Syana looked at Sato and gleaned her purpose, “Hoshi, there is no need to set up a Universal translator. I am capable of adapting to various languages.”
Sato’s eyes shot up to meet Archer’s.
“It’s all right Hoshi,” he smiled faintly.
“My people need your help. We are in the middle of a war. Some of us are prepared to deflect,” Syana got right to the point.
“After we discuss with our superiors, I’m fairly sure we will be able to help. The Xindi said you were difficult,” Archer said, “but I find you quite pleasant.”
“I knew they were a threat to me. I know you are not,” she answered simply.
“To the point too,” Archer laughed and looked over at Reed. “I want you to give her the full tour Malcolm.”
“Aye sir,” Reed replied crisply.
“Do not fear me,” she said to Reed. “I will not harm your ship.”
Archer gave her a pointed look, “Do you think you could, perhaps, hold back on reading minds?”
“Our people’s minds are constantly open. It will be difficult at first, but I will do my best,” she replied.
Archer nodded, “Thank you. That’s all I ask of anyone.”
Reed led Syana out.
“I know you do not want to take me on a tour. It is not only in your mind, it is in your body language,” she informed him.
Reed wiped his hands together, “Not much makes me nervous.”
“And I do?” she asked.
They got into a turbolift and Reed commanded it to go to the deck where the guest quarters are located.
“These will be your quarters,” he introduced as soon as they had arrived.
“You will ignore my question?”she asked.
Reed suddenly grabbed her and kissed her roughly. Syana responded with her own desire for him.
The Human’s mind automatically opened up to her. Reed had a strong desire to succeed and to protect everything he stood for. Syana snapped the link with her Kelsan family shut and focus on the Human. Syana shared her equally strong desire to succeed. She truly wanted peace through out the galaxy.
Malcolm urged her to walk backwards into the room. The bed was near the door. Syana allowed him to walk her backwards until the bed hit the back of her knees, then she fell back onto the bed.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The remainder, as the Kelsan left behind called themselves, awaited a response from Syana. For the moment she had turned off her mind to them, so they gathered in one of the underground homes.
“We are the Rhaandarites. The forsaken, the remainder,” intoned Fenrar.
The group shouted their agreement.
“Fenrar! The Kelsan are coming,” a Rhaandarite announced.
“We must hide!” Fenrar announced. They charged to the trap door and rushed inside.
“The Kelsan believe it is a day of war,” one complained.
Fenrar nodded, “They are creating nuclear weapons now.”
“Father,” came Syana’s call, “I have found help. They are willing to help us relocate.”
“Wonderful,” he replied. The others looked to him, “She’s got us some help.”
The group shared collective joy.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lieutenant Commander Malcolm Reed recriminated himself as he made his way back to the bridge, How could I have slept with an alien no one even knows about yet?
The turbo lift doors opened to the bridge. Captain Jonathan Archer sat in his command chair, “I see you found time to change after the tour.”
“Of course sir,” Reed replied.
“I need to change myself. You have the conn Malcolm,” Archer said.
Reed took his usual place at tactical. He looked at the rest of the crew and found them all at work. The new science officer, Sub-commander Sovok, was working on a scientific report on Syana.
Reed looked down at his board and tried to put Syana out of his mind. She was so bewitching he had difficulty focusing.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Syana stretched, the human was quite pleasing. Feelings never before felt overwhelmed her and she delighted in them. She instinctively hid them from the Rhaandarites. She knew she had done something that was unnecessary, but it was a fascinating experience. She delved into the emotions they had shared. All of Malcolm’s hopes and dreams and his great desire to succeed.
Syana got up, dressed, and found her way to the mess hall and found herself something to eat. The human food she consumed was more pleasing than nutrition cubes the Rhaandarites had.
Then Syana found the Captain. Actually it was an accident, the two bumped into each other as she was leaving and he was entering the mess.
“Would you care to dine with me?” he asked.
“I have all ready sustained protein, but if you would like we can talk,”she tried on smile. She found it pleasant, so she left it there.
After entering the private captain’s galley and the chef had brought Archer his lunch, he silently watched Syana’s graceful movements. Finally he asked, “Do you have some sort of title?”
“I am equated to what you’d call an Ambassador. Syana, in Kelsan, means uniter, I am one who unites two peoples together. Could we be beginning some uniting here?” she asked, still smiling.
Archer smiled back, “Hopefully.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Above the Rhaandarites, the building rocked. The nuclear bomb had been ignited.
“Hopefully our only exit is safe,” Fenrar said to no one in particular.
The group made their way to the exit. It was clear, but barely.
“Our only hope now is the Enterprise,” Fenrar said as he watched the sky darken.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Enterprise warped its way to Talos IV, the Vulcan designation for the planet that called itself Kelsan. It was only half an hour away.
Syana stood near Lieutenant Commander Malcolm Reed, watching over his shoulder.
“We’re almost there. Hoshi, open a hailing frequency,” Archer ordered.
“There is no need Jonathan, I have all ready contacted them. Besides we have no need for any device to receive what you call a hail. If you remember, we are strong telepathic race,” Syana replied. “They are waiting. If you would so allow, I can instruct you to their hiding place.”
“Come with me to the shuttle bay,”Archer ordered.
Once in the shuttle bay, the pair got into a shuttle with a cargo container attached. The plan was to evacuate as many as possible, then get them to the Enterprise.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The space available to land the shuttle was small, but Captain Jonathan Archer was skilled enough to pilot inside the strip. The Rhaandarites clamored aboard with no instructions, as Syana had all ready thought the plan to them.
Archer turned on the jets and readied the shuttle to pilot back to the ship.
“Goodbye my child. I must remain with our people. Perhaps one day we can be one,” Fenrar thought to Syana.
“No,” she thought desperately. To Archer she said, “My father wishes to stay, can you convince him otherwise?”
Another blast shook the ship.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have the time,” he replied.
“Goodbye father,” she projected back to Fenrar as the shuttle took off.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Captain’s Log: With the species that call themselves Rhaandarites safely colonized on a planet, we are now returning the our course to Jupiter Station. The ship’s crew has done well,” he paused.”After refit, I’m requesting that we go to Rhaandi, to follow up on them. They proved to be an interesting race.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Syana sat in front of the governing body of the Federation. “I urge you do not send another ship to the place you have designated Talos IV. We have been at war for hundreds of centuries, it will not end until everything is destroyed,” she explained
“Do you realize you are condemning your planet to death?” a Vulcan asked her.
She nodded affirmatively, “I am aware of this fact. Please allow the Rhaandarites to form a colony within your borders and we can live in peace amongst you,” she implored.
The same Vulcan, a male with blond hair and green eyes gazed at her intently, “With what you have just told us, how are we to know your people are not the same way?” He countered.
“I can only give you my word,” she replied. “Please allow us safe haven.”
After several hours of deliberation, the group returned.
The light hair and eyed Vulcan said, “We have considered your request and have decided to grant it.”
Syana was elated as she gratefully replied, “Thank you so much!"
The beautiful sky above was becoming clouded over by the dust of war. The Kelsan were destroying themselves, even as the space institute tried to find a way to save them. Land boundaries and pollution from the industries was literally tearing apart the very fabric of their peaceful society.
Fenrar, the head of Kelsan Space Society, was pushing his team to their very limits. Shouting seemingly impossible tasks at his people. “Get that propulsion system online, now!” he demanded, the alien’s head large cranium pulsed with every word from his mind. The building shook with another explosion.
“Father, we have nominal readings, but they are at the lowest level of nominal. We need more time,” Karanku disputed. His long black hair was tied in a bun behind his back. The Kelsan honored the ones with hair, or Sheylahts meaning of nobility, because hair amongst them is rare.
“We have no time!” Fenrar shouted.
Syana laid a hand on her father’s arm, instantly calming him, “Father, for a safe flight we need the time Brother has indicated.”
The two looked alike, both were tall, maroon eyed, and their large craniums had course black strands of hair rippled across it.
“I know,” he touched his daughter’s face. “I need you to make it.”
Karanku nodded, “We all need it.”
They all agreed in their own ways. The crew worked diligently as Syana continued to soothe them all and Fenrar tried to keep his orders more reasonable.
“Brother, how is it going?” Syana asked.
Karanku wiped sweat from his brow as he turned toward her, his eyes showing his appreciation for her sacrifice. “As well as they can be, Sister. We’ll be ready on time.”
“Thank you,” she said as she soothed him with a caress.
He touched her face, “No, my Sister, thank you. Your volunteering will save us all.”
Syana nodded and wondered over to another worker, “How is that calibration going Sen?”
He nodded affirmatively, “Ahead of schedule Uniter.”
Syana joined her father in the observation room. “You would rather be one of the engineers, instead of a supervisor,” she noted as she watched him.
“Of course, I would rather be doing calculations. I am going to send my only Daughter into the unknown,” he replied.
“I know and understand, but your team is fully competent. They are on schedule, Father,” she replied.
“I just hope it works,” Fenrar put his gaze back down on the workers.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Captain’s Log: supplemental. We are returning home after the death of our chief engineer, Lieutenant Charles Tucker the third. Trip was an excellent officer, as well as my friend,” Captain Jonathan Archer reported sadly.
“T’Pol, our former physicist has decided to return to the Vulcan High Command. As for the rest of the crew: Travis Mayweather, Malcolm Reed, and Hoshi Sato have all agreed to sign on for another tour as a part of my crew. I believe Hoshi has finally gotten her ‘space-legs’, so to speak,” Archer paused to wipe his hands along his tired face. He took a deep breath, then he continued, “Most of the others have joined the Columbia or left Fleet altogether. I commend them for their hard work aboard this vessel. End log.”
“Captain Archer to Mayweather, what’s our status?” he demanded lightly.
“Same as before sir, clear sailing,” Mayweather replied.
“Keep me posted,” Archer reminded.
“Aye sir,” Mayweather responded.
Archer stood and began to pace. Waiting to reach Jupiter Station was always boring. He did whatever he could to keep himself occupied, for example, today he had plans with Reed for some security exercises.
His door chimed, he glanced at his chronometer. “Come on in Malcolm.”
“Are you ready to have your ass handed to you?” the newly promoted Lieutenant Commander Malcolm Reed teased.
Archer elbowed him, “Now remember that I’m still your Captain.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The sky above Kelsan was clouded over with debris as the engineers met with Syana to say goodbye.
“It is time,” Fenrar announced.
“I accept,” replied the young woman through her pulsing head.
Karanku knelt in front of his Sister, “May your trip be free of incident, my Sister.”
“Farewell Uniter,” the group announced as a whole.
She shook all of their hands. She stopped in front of her Father.
“Farewell, Syana,” he wished.
Behind them an explosion rocked the main city several meters away. Syana looked over at a hrigee plant, the blue leaves had ceased their humming, it was time to go.
“And you as well Father,” she replied.
He gestured to the poorly constructed space-faring impulse drive powered vessel. Syana nodded knowingly and boarded the ship. She set off for space.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The target-disc zoomed across the cargo bay. Captain Jonathan Archer raised his weapon to fire, but Lieutenant Commander Malcolm Reed shot it first.
“What’s the score?” Archer panted as he asked.
“Eight to two, in my favor of course,” a completely calm Reed responded.
Archer bent with his hands on his knees, “Good job Malcolm. I call you grand master.”
Reed smiled, “Why thank you sir!” He slapped Archer on the back, eliciting a groan from him.
“Captain?”came the newly promoted Lieutenant Hoshi Sato’s voice over the communications system.
Archer touched the communications link near the entrance to the cargo bay, “Archer here, what’s up Hoshi?”
The new Sub-Commander replied, “We are detecting two ships ahead.”
“What are they?” Archer asked.
“One is a match for a Xindi ship, the other is unknown, sir,” he replied.
“On my way,” Archer replied.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The tiny ship that held Syana was failing. The impulse was fading, the life support was draining out, and she was still unconscious. The ship was drifting through space, fortunately the distress signal was still on.
The Xindi ship neared the ship cautiously. The captain looked into the view screen. The ship’s interior was a little bigger than a human with three large protrusions that served as engines on the back. It intrigued Klintok, so he ordered one of his subordinates to retrieve the small ship.
Once the ship was aboard, he opened it up. The woman inside seemed weak and small, she looked rather frail. She was even smaller than a human, which led Klintok to believe it was an alien he had never seen before. He tentatively touched the large cranium, he guessed it was at least three times larger than the humans he was accustomed too.
“The Federation ship is approaching,” one of the communications officer announced.
“Enterprise?”Klintok asked.
“Yes,” he hissed.
Klintok sighed, “Destroy them, I have no patience today.”
He turned back to his ‘prize.’ Syana lay dormant inside the ship as Klintok explored the odd shaped vessel.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Captain Jonathan Archer and Lieutenant Commander Malcolm Reed entered the bridge in their workout gear.
“Hail them Hoshi,” Archer commanded.
“Frequency open sir,” she informed him.
“Xindi ship, this is Captain Jonathan Archer of the Enterprise, please respond,” he said authoritatively.
“I have no patience for you today Archer,” the captain responded.
“I was thinking the same thing. We know you took the lifeboat aboard your vessel. You know the boundaries of the Federation protect such crafts,” Archer said, he was exasperated with the Xindi’s boundary ignorance.
The Captain laughed, “We found it first.”
Rather childish, he complained to himself. “Just give us the ship.”
“After we do some. . . testing,” the Xindi captain replied.
Mayweather shot Archer a look. Archer waved a hand at him. “Fine, as long as the occupant is alive and well when it reaches my ship.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Xindi doctor had revived the woman. She spread to her normal seven foot tall and her arms regained their muscular shape. She grabbed the alien doctor by his throat and delved into his mind. The insectoid tried to resist, but she was far too strong.
Once she grasped their language, she said with her mind, “Why am I here?”
“You are not speaking yet I hear you,” the creature was frightened.
She released him and used her mouth for speech, “Is this more to your liking?”
The creature shook its head.
“Very well. Now, why am I here? Your mind shows a power struggle with something called the Federation, am I a pawn?” she demanded to know.
“Yes,” the alien said slowly, “but if you wish to go to their vessel, we will release you.”
The captain nodded at his doctor in agreement. “You are far too aggressive for us.”
Syana was allowed to board her ship and pilot it to the Federation ship. Once aboard she was greeted by Lieutenant Commander Malcolm Reed and a security team. They led her to a conference room.
“You think I am beautiful,” Syana said after poking around in Reed’s brain.
“Of course not,” he blustered.
She shook her head negatively, “That’s not what your mind says,” she smiled and placed a hand on him. Two of the guards trained their weapons on her.
Reed motioned for them to stand down, he stopped and turned to her, “Maybe your people think it’s all right to read minds, but my culture prefers its privacy.”
She dipped her head, “I apologize Malcolm.”
“Reed,” he corrected, “Until you know me, you will call me Lieutenant Commander Reed.”
“Your people put far too much stock in formality. I mean the familial line you come from,” she gestured toward another guard, “Simon wouldn’t mind if I called him Simon.”
Simon smiled, “Surely not ma’am.”
Reed shot him a sour glance, “The captain is undoubtedly wondering where we are, so let’s move.”
“Despite your aversion to letting me call you by your name, you may call me Syana,” she said.
“What’s your full name?”Reed asked, not sparing a glance behind himself at her.
“I am Crynza Mataa Syana,” she replied. “The first to are my familial names.”
“Nice to meet you Miss Crynza Mataa,” Reed answered.
Syana sighed, “Have it your way Lieutenant Commander Reed.”
The door hissed open and Captain Archer and Lieutenants Travis Mayweather and Hoshi Sato waited for them.
Syana looked at Sato and gleaned her purpose, “Hoshi, there is no need to set up a Universal translator. I am capable of adapting to various languages.”
Sato’s eyes shot up to meet Archer’s.
“It’s all right Hoshi,” he smiled faintly.
“My people need your help. We are in the middle of a war. Some of us are prepared to deflect,” Syana got right to the point.
“After we discuss with our superiors, I’m fairly sure we will be able to help. The Xindi said you were difficult,” Archer said, “but I find you quite pleasant.”
“I knew they were a threat to me. I know you are not,” she answered simply.
“To the point too,” Archer laughed and looked over at Reed. “I want you to give her the full tour Malcolm.”
“Aye sir,” Reed replied crisply.
“Do not fear me,” she said to Reed. “I will not harm your ship.”
Archer gave her a pointed look, “Do you think you could, perhaps, hold back on reading minds?”
“Our people’s minds are constantly open. It will be difficult at first, but I will do my best,” she replied.
Archer nodded, “Thank you. That’s all I ask of anyone.”
Reed led Syana out.
“I know you do not want to take me on a tour. It is not only in your mind, it is in your body language,” she informed him.
Reed wiped his hands together, “Not much makes me nervous.”
“And I do?” she asked.
They got into a turbolift and Reed commanded it to go to the deck where the guest quarters are located.
“These will be your quarters,” he introduced as soon as they had arrived.
“You will ignore my question?”she asked.
Reed suddenly grabbed her and kissed her roughly. Syana responded with her own desire for him.
The Human’s mind automatically opened up to her. Reed had a strong desire to succeed and to protect everything he stood for. Syana snapped the link with her Kelsan family shut and focus on the Human. Syana shared her equally strong desire to succeed. She truly wanted peace through out the galaxy.
Malcolm urged her to walk backwards into the room. The bed was near the door. Syana allowed him to walk her backwards until the bed hit the back of her knees, then she fell back onto the bed.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The remainder, as the Kelsan left behind called themselves, awaited a response from Syana. For the moment she had turned off her mind to them, so they gathered in one of the underground homes.
“We are the Rhaandarites. The forsaken, the remainder,” intoned Fenrar.
The group shouted their agreement.
“Fenrar! The Kelsan are coming,” a Rhaandarite announced.
“We must hide!” Fenrar announced. They charged to the trap door and rushed inside.
“The Kelsan believe it is a day of war,” one complained.
Fenrar nodded, “They are creating nuclear weapons now.”
“Father,” came Syana’s call, “I have found help. They are willing to help us relocate.”
“Wonderful,” he replied. The others looked to him, “She’s got us some help.”
The group shared collective joy.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lieutenant Commander Malcolm Reed recriminated himself as he made his way back to the bridge, How could I have slept with an alien no one even knows about yet?
The turbo lift doors opened to the bridge. Captain Jonathan Archer sat in his command chair, “I see you found time to change after the tour.”
“Of course sir,” Reed replied.
“I need to change myself. You have the conn Malcolm,” Archer said.
Reed took his usual place at tactical. He looked at the rest of the crew and found them all at work. The new science officer, Sub-commander Sovok, was working on a scientific report on Syana.
Reed looked down at his board and tried to put Syana out of his mind. She was so bewitching he had difficulty focusing.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Syana stretched, the human was quite pleasing. Feelings never before felt overwhelmed her and she delighted in them. She instinctively hid them from the Rhaandarites. She knew she had done something that was unnecessary, but it was a fascinating experience. She delved into the emotions they had shared. All of Malcolm’s hopes and dreams and his great desire to succeed.
Syana got up, dressed, and found her way to the mess hall and found herself something to eat. The human food she consumed was more pleasing than nutrition cubes the Rhaandarites had.
Then Syana found the Captain. Actually it was an accident, the two bumped into each other as she was leaving and he was entering the mess.
“Would you care to dine with me?” he asked.
“I have all ready sustained protein, but if you would like we can talk,”she tried on smile. She found it pleasant, so she left it there.
After entering the private captain’s galley and the chef had brought Archer his lunch, he silently watched Syana’s graceful movements. Finally he asked, “Do you have some sort of title?”
“I am equated to what you’d call an Ambassador. Syana, in Kelsan, means uniter, I am one who unites two peoples together. Could we be beginning some uniting here?” she asked, still smiling.
Archer smiled back, “Hopefully.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Above the Rhaandarites, the building rocked. The nuclear bomb had been ignited.
“Hopefully our only exit is safe,” Fenrar said to no one in particular.
The group made their way to the exit. It was clear, but barely.
“Our only hope now is the Enterprise,” Fenrar said as he watched the sky darken.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Enterprise warped its way to Talos IV, the Vulcan designation for the planet that called itself Kelsan. It was only half an hour away.
Syana stood near Lieutenant Commander Malcolm Reed, watching over his shoulder.
“We’re almost there. Hoshi, open a hailing frequency,” Archer ordered.
“There is no need Jonathan, I have all ready contacted them. Besides we have no need for any device to receive what you call a hail. If you remember, we are strong telepathic race,” Syana replied. “They are waiting. If you would so allow, I can instruct you to their hiding place.”
“Come with me to the shuttle bay,”Archer ordered.
Once in the shuttle bay, the pair got into a shuttle with a cargo container attached. The plan was to evacuate as many as possible, then get them to the Enterprise.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The space available to land the shuttle was small, but Captain Jonathan Archer was skilled enough to pilot inside the strip. The Rhaandarites clamored aboard with no instructions, as Syana had all ready thought the plan to them.
Archer turned on the jets and readied the shuttle to pilot back to the ship.
“Goodbye my child. I must remain with our people. Perhaps one day we can be one,” Fenrar thought to Syana.
“No,” she thought desperately. To Archer she said, “My father wishes to stay, can you convince him otherwise?”
Another blast shook the ship.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have the time,” he replied.
“Goodbye father,” she projected back to Fenrar as the shuttle took off.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Captain’s Log: With the species that call themselves Rhaandarites safely colonized on a planet, we are now returning the our course to Jupiter Station. The ship’s crew has done well,” he paused.”After refit, I’m requesting that we go to Rhaandi, to follow up on them. They proved to be an interesting race.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Syana sat in front of the governing body of the Federation. “I urge you do not send another ship to the place you have designated Talos IV. We have been at war for hundreds of centuries, it will not end until everything is destroyed,” she explained
“Do you realize you are condemning your planet to death?” a Vulcan asked her.
She nodded affirmatively, “I am aware of this fact. Please allow the Rhaandarites to form a colony within your borders and we can live in peace amongst you,” she implored.
The same Vulcan, a male with blond hair and green eyes gazed at her intently, “With what you have just told us, how are we to know your people are not the same way?” He countered.
“I can only give you my word,” she replied. “Please allow us safe haven.”
After several hours of deliberation, the group returned.
The light hair and eyed Vulcan said, “We have considered your request and have decided to grant it.”
Syana was elated as she gratefully replied, “Thank you so much!"
Horizon's Time: 2253 - Both Sides of the Coin (P1). 2 timelines
Time line A
“Welcome aboard Ambassador Higarashi,” Captain Christopher Pike greeted as Ambassador Annette Higarashi stepped off the transporter pad.
“Thank you, Captain. Please feel free to call me Annie, my father is Ambassador Higarashi,” she replied with a polite smile.
“As you wish. Would you like a tour?” he asked.
She shook her head negatively and replied, “I have been aboard before. You have an excellent ship.”
Pike bowed his head in respect and said, “Thank you, Annie.”
“Do you think it would be possible for me to take a look down in engineering?” she asked.
“I don’t see why not, we have plenty of time before we reach Starbase three eight nine. Just check with Commander Barry,” Pike replied.
Their steps into the corridor where met by Lieutenant Montgomery Scott. He was smiling broadly and he was as excited as Pike had ever seen anyone before.
“Sir, permission to give the Ambassador a tour of the ship,” Scott requested.
Pike nodded, knowing love when he saw it, and said, “Sure, just have her ready when we reach Starbase three eight nine.”
“Thank ye sir,” Scott replied excitedly.
Higarashi shook Pike’s hand once again, her eyes shining with gratitude and excitement. After the quick handshake, Pike turned crisply and headed for the turbolift as the couple made their way to engineering.
Engineering was in chaos as Commander Caithlyn Barry barked instructions across the deck. “Now make sure that hatch is closed all the way!” she was shouting as Scott and Higarashi came in.
“Hey Cait! You look right at home here,” Higarashi teased.
“Hi Annie,” she happily hugged her friend as she said, “It’s great to see you! Did you finally defy your mother and come to work for me?”
“No not yet. I’ve got to finish the Academy first. I’m just here to observe,” Higarashi replied.
“You’re here to steal my best assistant, I’ll bet,” Barry joked.
Scott blushed as Higarashi looked at him lovingly and said, “I suppose after his shift has ended.”
Barry smiled at them and replied, “All he has left to do now is to flush the anti-grav conductor. Why don’t you give him a hand? Don’t tell the captain he’d be angry.”
“Aye,” Scott replied as he headed off toward the anti-gravity conductor, Higarashi following him closely.
Once they reached the chamber, Higarashi pulled off her long gold diplomat’s robe and was clad in a black tunic with tight black jeans. She hung the robe on the door handle as she joined Scott inside.
They floated together in a slow waltz-like circle within the enclosed chamber. It was windowless, so they were free to express their feelings. The first thing Scott did was catch hold of her and kissed her cheek.
“I missed ye, Li,” he nuzzled her neck as he spoke.
“I missed ye more,” she said as she slipped into her Scottish accent.
“I love ye so much,” he whispered as he buried his face in her long, soft black hair.
“I love ye more, Montie,” she continued to tease before kissing his neck.
His lips finally met hers in a sweet gentle kiss. After a few moments, they parted and finished the task.
Time line A
“Welcome aboard Ambassador Higarashi,” Captain Christopher Pike greeted as Ambassador Annette Higarashi stepped off the transporter pad.
“Thank you, Captain. Please feel free to call me Annie, my father is Ambassador Higarashi,” she replied with a polite smile.
“As you wish. Would you like a tour?” he asked.
She shook her head negatively and replied, “I have been aboard before. You have an excellent ship.”
Pike bowed his head in respect and said, “Thank you, Annie.”
“Do you think it would be possible for me to take a look down in engineering?” she asked.
“I don’t see why not, we have plenty of time before we reach Starbase three eight nine. Just check with Commander Barry,” Pike replied.
Their steps into the corridor where met by Lieutenant Montgomery Scott. He was smiling broadly and he was as excited as Pike had ever seen anyone before.
“Sir, permission to give the Ambassador a tour of the ship,” Scott requested.
Pike nodded, knowing love when he saw it, and said, “Sure, just have her ready when we reach Starbase three eight nine.”
“Thank ye sir,” Scott replied excitedly.
Higarashi shook Pike’s hand once again, her eyes shining with gratitude and excitement. After the quick handshake, Pike turned crisply and headed for the turbolift as the couple made their way to engineering.
Engineering was in chaos as Commander Caithlyn Barry barked instructions across the deck. “Now make sure that hatch is closed all the way!” she was shouting as Scott and Higarashi came in.
“Hey Cait! You look right at home here,” Higarashi teased.
“Hi Annie,” she happily hugged her friend as she said, “It’s great to see you! Did you finally defy your mother and come to work for me?”
“No not yet. I’ve got to finish the Academy first. I’m just here to observe,” Higarashi replied.
“You’re here to steal my best assistant, I’ll bet,” Barry joked.
Scott blushed as Higarashi looked at him lovingly and said, “I suppose after his shift has ended.”
Barry smiled at them and replied, “All he has left to do now is to flush the anti-grav conductor. Why don’t you give him a hand? Don’t tell the captain he’d be angry.”
“Aye,” Scott replied as he headed off toward the anti-gravity conductor, Higarashi following him closely.
Once they reached the chamber, Higarashi pulled off her long gold diplomat’s robe and was clad in a black tunic with tight black jeans. She hung the robe on the door handle as she joined Scott inside.
They floated together in a slow waltz-like circle within the enclosed chamber. It was windowless, so they were free to express their feelings. The first thing Scott did was catch hold of her and kissed her cheek.
“I missed ye, Li,” he nuzzled her neck as he spoke.
“I missed ye more,” she said as she slipped into her Scottish accent.
“I love ye so much,” he whispered as he buried his face in her long, soft black hair.
“I love ye more, Montie,” she continued to tease before kissing his neck.
His lips finally met hers in a sweet gentle kiss. After a few moments, they parted and finished the task.
Horizon's Time: 2253 - Both Sides of the Coin (P2). 2 timelines
*~*~*
Time line B
“Chris!” Commander Annette Higarashi hissed from across the long room.
Admiral Christopher Pike looked up from his paperwork on his desk, “What’s wrong Annette?”
The door slid shut behind her as she stormed up to him. “You told me after Olson left I would be chief engineer,” she shouted angrily.
“Aren’t you?” he asked, confused.
“No!” She slammed down the paper she held and complained, “Some Scottish guy they picked up is chief!”
Pike chuckled and commented, “He’s the one who lost Admiral Archer’s dog.”
She mocked his laughter angrily, “I don’t care about that! I want my position.”
“Annette just because we are sleeping together doesn’t mean I can supercede another captain’s positions and decisions,” he told her as he read the paperwork.
“You promised me that position before you took this position, sir,” she growled.
Pike set the papers down, then reached across the desk and took one of her angry fists into his hands, he rubbed it until she began to relax, “Look, I’m sorry. I tried to tell Kirk that I had you set in that position. Admiral Bennett told me it was Kirk’s choice. I thought maybe he’d concede,” he explained to her.
“Son of a bitch!” she screamed, slamming her other fist down on his desk.
He sighed and took her other hand and looked up into the depths of her brown eyes. “I don’t like it when you’re mad at me,” he pretended to pout.
Her face relaxed and she started to smile, “I’m not mad at you. I’m just mad,” she replied with a slight shrug.
He reached up to touch her face as he consoled her, “I’m sorry.”
“You know just what to say to make me feel better,” as she responded, she smiled and reciprocated the face touching.
“Why don’t we stop this argument and take some personal time before you leave?” Pike suggested. “You can always talk to Kirk on the voyage, right?”
“How do you know if I’m staying on the Enterprise?” she asked.
He smiled as he answered, “She is as much your dream as she is mine. I knew you wouldn’t trust her to be without you.”
“She’s like my child. I built her from the nacelles up,” she complained.
He sighed and said wistfully, “Probably the closest thing we’ll ever have to having children.”
She looked at him oddly and challenged, “Children? You’re the one that decided marriage was out of the question.”
He nodded and replied slowly, “Yes I guess I did.”
Shaking her head in acquiescence, she went behind the desk and pushed him out into the corridor.
They walked along the outskirts of the shipyards, Higarashi pushed Pike in front of her.
“So how long are you chair-bound?” she asked.
He shrugged, “They said probably by the time the ship comes back I should be back on my feet.”
“Good, then we’ll be able to dance at the Admirals Ball,” she and laughed with delight.
“Then you’ll be the one in a wheelchair,” he teased with a smirk.
“No,” she muttered, “You’re getting much better at it.”
“You’re a great teacher,” he replied, smiling warmly.
“That’s not what my cadets say,”she replied with a laugh.
“You’re stricter with them for a good reason. A mistake in engineering could spell death for any ship,” he replied.
“A mistake in dancing with you could result in a broken foot,” she teased him.
“You’re right,” he said as he reached back and patted her hand.
She stopped and checked her chronometer, “I have to take you back, I’ll be late for take off.”
“Come here first,” he said. He gestured for her to come around in front of him. He stretched up to grab her face and kiss her.
She broke away after a moment, “Now I’ll really be late,” she said breathlessly. She got behind him and ran back to headquarters.
“Wee!” he teased her as they went inside, “That was fun!”
She rolled him behind his desk. “You better behave while I’m gone. I saw the way that secretary looked at you,” she teased.
He crossed his fingers, “I promise,” he said. The two laughed a moment.
“Bye Chris,” she said, then kissed his cheek.
“I love you Annette,” he called as she rushed toward the door.
She stopped just short of the door sensor, “Love you back,” she replied, then rushed away.
*~*~*
Time line B
“Chris!” Commander Annette Higarashi hissed from across the long room.
Admiral Christopher Pike looked up from his paperwork on his desk, “What’s wrong Annette?”
The door slid shut behind her as she stormed up to him. “You told me after Olson left I would be chief engineer,” she shouted angrily.
“Aren’t you?” he asked, confused.
“No!” She slammed down the paper she held and complained, “Some Scottish guy they picked up is chief!”
Pike chuckled and commented, “He’s the one who lost Admiral Archer’s dog.”
She mocked his laughter angrily, “I don’t care about that! I want my position.”
“Annette just because we are sleeping together doesn’t mean I can supercede another captain’s positions and decisions,” he told her as he read the paperwork.
“You promised me that position before you took this position, sir,” she growled.
Pike set the papers down, then reached across the desk and took one of her angry fists into his hands, he rubbed it until she began to relax, “Look, I’m sorry. I tried to tell Kirk that I had you set in that position. Admiral Bennett told me it was Kirk’s choice. I thought maybe he’d concede,” he explained to her.
“Son of a bitch!” she screamed, slamming her other fist down on his desk.
He sighed and took her other hand and looked up into the depths of her brown eyes. “I don’t like it when you’re mad at me,” he pretended to pout.
Her face relaxed and she started to smile, “I’m not mad at you. I’m just mad,” she replied with a slight shrug.
He reached up to touch her face as he consoled her, “I’m sorry.”
“You know just what to say to make me feel better,” as she responded, she smiled and reciprocated the face touching.
“Why don’t we stop this argument and take some personal time before you leave?” Pike suggested. “You can always talk to Kirk on the voyage, right?”
“How do you know if I’m staying on the Enterprise?” she asked.
He smiled as he answered, “She is as much your dream as she is mine. I knew you wouldn’t trust her to be without you.”
“She’s like my child. I built her from the nacelles up,” she complained.
He sighed and said wistfully, “Probably the closest thing we’ll ever have to having children.”
She looked at him oddly and challenged, “Children? You’re the one that decided marriage was out of the question.”
He nodded and replied slowly, “Yes I guess I did.”
Shaking her head in acquiescence, she went behind the desk and pushed him out into the corridor.
They walked along the outskirts of the shipyards, Higarashi pushed Pike in front of her.
“So how long are you chair-bound?” she asked.
He shrugged, “They said probably by the time the ship comes back I should be back on my feet.”
“Good, then we’ll be able to dance at the Admirals Ball,” she and laughed with delight.
“Then you’ll be the one in a wheelchair,” he teased with a smirk.
“No,” she muttered, “You’re getting much better at it.”
“You’re a great teacher,” he replied, smiling warmly.
“That’s not what my cadets say,”she replied with a laugh.
“You’re stricter with them for a good reason. A mistake in engineering could spell death for any ship,” he replied.
“A mistake in dancing with you could result in a broken foot,” she teased him.
“You’re right,” he said as he reached back and patted her hand.
She stopped and checked her chronometer, “I have to take you back, I’ll be late for take off.”
“Come here first,” he said. He gestured for her to come around in front of him. He stretched up to grab her face and kiss her.
She broke away after a moment, “Now I’ll really be late,” she said breathlessly. She got behind him and ran back to headquarters.
“Wee!” he teased her as they went inside, “That was fun!”
She rolled him behind his desk. “You better behave while I’m gone. I saw the way that secretary looked at you,” she teased.
He crossed his fingers, “I promise,” he said. The two laughed a moment.
“Bye Chris,” she said, then kissed his cheek.
“I love you Annette,” he called as she rushed toward the door.
She stopped just short of the door sensor, “Love you back,” she replied, then rushed away.
Horizon's Time: 2253 - Both Sides of the Coin (P3). 2 timelines
Soon, Commander Higarashi rushed through the shuttle yard on her way to the Enterprise transport.
“Annie?” a voice called out as she passed by.
She stopped abruptly, “What? No one has called me that in years,” she informed the Vulcan.
“I figured as much. Do you know who I am?” the aged Vulcan asked.
“You look a lot like Ambassador Sarek, but I see something else in your eyes,”she said confused, but she took the time to walk up to the unfamiliar Vulcan.
“I am Spock,” he confessed, raising an eyebrow.
She shook her head, “No, Commander Spock is aboard the shuttle waiting for me,” she explained.
“I am from one hundred twenty-nine years in the future. I was delighted to see you again, my first imsad,” he said.
“What do you mean imsad? Is that some other language?” she asked confused.
He nodded and replied, “Yes, it is Rhaandarite.” That was when he noticed it, there was no bulge on her forehead. “Is your mother not Ambassador Syana?”
“No. I’m well versed in the species know to us, but I’ve never heard of the Rhaandarites before,” Higarashi replied.
Spock looked troubled as he inquired, “What happened to the Talos star group?”
“The fourth planet was destroyed more than a hundred years ago,” she informed him.
“So you’re human?” Spock asked.
She nodded and replied, “What else would I be?”
“What else indeed,” Spock replied cryptically.
“Look I have to go, it was . . . interesting to meet you, whoever you are,” she said. Higarashi gave him the Vulcan salute and said, “Live long and prosper.”
“Peace and long life,” he replied, reciprocating the salute.
Aboard the shuttle Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott protested, “I willna go without my assistant.”
Commander Spock stared him down, “Mister Scott, the commander will undoubtedly find another shuttle.”
There was a pounding on the hatch.
“All stop,” Spock commanded. He opened the hatch.
Commander Annette Higarashi hurried into the craft, “Sorry Commander,” she said as she belted herself in beside Scott, “I met this fascinating Vulcan just a moment ago.”
Spock said nothing, he just lifted his eyebrow and belted himself in as well.
“I told ‘em I wasna about ta leave without ye,” Scott told her.
She shot him an angry look. “Of course,” she replied sarcastically.
“Look I’m sorry Kirk gave me the position over ye. If I had a choice, I’d tell ‘im ta let ye take over, of course, ye outrank me and ye were intended for the post,” he explained.
“You’re like all other Scotties, you talk too much,” she grumbled.
“Ye noticed?” he said, then laughed, trying to make her feel better.
She shot him a withering glance.
“Ye have such beautiful hair!” he shouted over the shuttle’s take off blasts.
She smoothed her dark-brown hair back and replied, “Thanks.”
After arriving, Captain James T. Kirk stepped onto the bridge, this time in the correct uniform. His hazel eyes surveyed his bridge crew. Satisfied with what he saw, he said to Ensign Hikaru Sulu, “Mister Sulu, do you think it’s time for a proper christening?”
“Aye sir,” the young Asian replied and smiled at him.
“Uhura, open a channel to Admiral Pike,” Kirk ordered. Doctor Leonard McCoy joined him on his left side, casually leaning on the command chair.
“Channel open sir,” she replied.
“Ready Admiral?” Kirk asked.
Without hesitation Pike replied, “Absolutely.”
“Let ‘er rip,” Kirk said.
“I hereby christen thee, U.S.S. Enterprise NCC 1701. Godspeed and good luck crew,” he wished, “Punch it.”
A bottled floated in space straight and true from the shuttlecraft someone had released it from.
Down in the observation deck Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott watched alongside Commander Annette Higarashi. Higarashi had tears in her eyes as she touched the transparent aluminum window. She whispered something as Scott joined her.
“Lass, tis a celebration, not a funeral!” He rebuked as he laughed and swept her into a hug. She grudgingly reciprocated. “Come on!” he urged. He lead her to the refreshments table.
“Dry martini,” she told the server.
“Get the Lass a Scotch, I’ll take one too,” Scott interjected.
She shrugged and the server handed her the Scotch, “I hope you have good taste buds Scotty,” she said and toasted him, she took the shot in one drink.
“Well?” he asked.
“Not bad,” she smiled as she replied. She decided she could like this man, despite him taking over her post.
Scott smiled back and replied, “I’m glad yer startin’ ta like me, it’d be hard as blazes ta work together without our being at least a wee bit friendly.”
“You’re absolutely right,” she replied. She ordered another one, “We can’t drink much, your shift starts,” she looked at the chronometer Pike had given her for her birthday, “Right now actually,” she gulped down the second Scotch as did Scott and they rushed off to engineering.
The engineers listened carefully as Ensign Pavel Chekov explained their current situation. They were to do a boring run to where the Romulan ship first emerged, this was boring because there was nothing there anymore.
“Aw, come on!” Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott complained, “We’re the flagship! We should be out battlin’ with Klingons, not scoopin’ up Romulan dung!”
“You have quite a spicy vocabulary, Scotty,” Commander Annette Higarashi teased, “We need at least a little down time, don’t you think?”
“Nae, now that I have meh hands on her ample nacelles, I want to manipulate them!” he said, the fire of excitement of being an engineer shone through in his eyes.
“Don’t talk about her that way,” she caressed one of the struts above her head as she rebuked him.
“Pardon meh phrase Lassie. Beside what are ye still doing here, it’s yer down time?” he countered.
“I was telling the ship goodnight,” she replied sheepishly.
“Ah I see. Ye see this ship as a child, whereas I see her as a woman. It’s okay Lass, I’ll try ta watch mehself,” he answered.
A lovely rose-colored blush flamed her cheeks as she replied, “I designed her and spend over a year of my life as one of the many who constructed her.”
“How delightful tha’ must’ve been. I never built a ship, but I have transported people on ships in flight,” he said excitedly.
“And you lost Admiral Archer’s dog,” she pointed out with a laugh.
He joined Higarashi’s laughter, then explained, “He’s not lost, he’s between Earth and Jupiter Station.”
Her face brightened as she teased, “At least someone knows where he is. Take care of my baby Scotty, she’ll take care of you.” She wandered out of engineering leaving Scott to watch her in amazement.
When Scott was sure she was gone, he entered the turbolift and went to the bridge. He went directly to Kirk, “Captain, I’d like a word with ye, if ye dinna mind,” Scott said once he was beside the command chair.
“What’s on your mind?” Captain James T. Kirk looked up at him as he replied.
Scott tipped his head conspiratorially and ventured, “Ye know tha’ Lass ye set up as meh assistant?”
“Commander Hig . . . something. Why?” Kirk replied.
Scott nodded and politely corrected him, “Higarashi, sir. Anyway, she was set-up as the next chief engineer. Although I am incredibly honored, I think the Lass deserves the post more that I do.”
“I’ve heard a lot of complaints already, from Admiral Pike and Higarashi herself. I’ve seen what you can do Mister Scott, I want you,” Kirk explained.
“Aye sir, I’ll nae trouble ye about this again,” Scott replied.
“Good, I’m tired of explaining things,” Kirk concluded, then he nodded.
Scott nodded and headed to the bridge’s engineer post to read the day’s log ins.
“What was that?” Ensign Hikaru Sulu said aloud.
Kirk’s head snapped back around to Sulu and asked, “What’s up?”
Sulu stood and pointed to the top left corner of the screen. “A distortion, sir,” he explained.
“Screen malfunction?” Kirk demanded.
“No sir, I already checked,” Sulu replied.
“Mister Chekov?” Kirk said.
Turning slightly to look at Kirk, he replied, “Confirmed sir.”
“I believe I have seen that before,” Commander Spock spoke up.
“What is it?” Kirk demanded.
“Possibly a Klingon ship,” Spock replied.
Confusion was written all over his face as he looked back at Spock and asked incredulously, “What?”
“We saw it on a cadet run sir,” Lieutenant Uhura added, “They attacked the ship.”
“Chekov, raise shields!” Kirk commanded.
“Aye sir,” he said, there was a pause as Chekov complied. “Shields up.”
“Call another instructor up here, Lieutenant Uhura,” Kirk ordered.
She glanced over at Spock and asked, “Who should I call?”
“There’s only one other instructor aboard Lieutenant, you must call Annette Higarashi,” he informed her.
Soon, Commander Higarashi rushed through the shuttle yard on her way to the Enterprise transport.
“Annie?” a voice called out as she passed by.
She stopped abruptly, “What? No one has called me that in years,” she informed the Vulcan.
“I figured as much. Do you know who I am?” the aged Vulcan asked.
“You look a lot like Ambassador Sarek, but I see something else in your eyes,”she said confused, but she took the time to walk up to the unfamiliar Vulcan.
“I am Spock,” he confessed, raising an eyebrow.
She shook her head, “No, Commander Spock is aboard the shuttle waiting for me,” she explained.
“I am from one hundred twenty-nine years in the future. I was delighted to see you again, my first imsad,” he said.
“What do you mean imsad? Is that some other language?” she asked confused.
He nodded and replied, “Yes, it is Rhaandarite.” That was when he noticed it, there was no bulge on her forehead. “Is your mother not Ambassador Syana?”
“No. I’m well versed in the species know to us, but I’ve never heard of the Rhaandarites before,” Higarashi replied.
Spock looked troubled as he inquired, “What happened to the Talos star group?”
“The fourth planet was destroyed more than a hundred years ago,” she informed him.
“So you’re human?” Spock asked.
She nodded and replied, “What else would I be?”
“What else indeed,” Spock replied cryptically.
“Look I have to go, it was . . . interesting to meet you, whoever you are,” she said. Higarashi gave him the Vulcan salute and said, “Live long and prosper.”
“Peace and long life,” he replied, reciprocating the salute.
Aboard the shuttle Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott protested, “I willna go without my assistant.”
Commander Spock stared him down, “Mister Scott, the commander will undoubtedly find another shuttle.”
There was a pounding on the hatch.
“All stop,” Spock commanded. He opened the hatch.
Commander Annette Higarashi hurried into the craft, “Sorry Commander,” she said as she belted herself in beside Scott, “I met this fascinating Vulcan just a moment ago.”
Spock said nothing, he just lifted his eyebrow and belted himself in as well.
“I told ‘em I wasna about ta leave without ye,” Scott told her.
She shot him an angry look. “Of course,” she replied sarcastically.
“Look I’m sorry Kirk gave me the position over ye. If I had a choice, I’d tell ‘im ta let ye take over, of course, ye outrank me and ye were intended for the post,” he explained.
“You’re like all other Scotties, you talk too much,” she grumbled.
“Ye noticed?” he said, then laughed, trying to make her feel better.
She shot him a withering glance.
“Ye have such beautiful hair!” he shouted over the shuttle’s take off blasts.
She smoothed her dark-brown hair back and replied, “Thanks.”
After arriving, Captain James T. Kirk stepped onto the bridge, this time in the correct uniform. His hazel eyes surveyed his bridge crew. Satisfied with what he saw, he said to Ensign Hikaru Sulu, “Mister Sulu, do you think it’s time for a proper christening?”
“Aye sir,” the young Asian replied and smiled at him.
“Uhura, open a channel to Admiral Pike,” Kirk ordered. Doctor Leonard McCoy joined him on his left side, casually leaning on the command chair.
“Channel open sir,” she replied.
“Ready Admiral?” Kirk asked.
Without hesitation Pike replied, “Absolutely.”
“Let ‘er rip,” Kirk said.
“I hereby christen thee, U.S.S. Enterprise NCC 1701. Godspeed and good luck crew,” he wished, “Punch it.”
A bottled floated in space straight and true from the shuttlecraft someone had released it from.
Down in the observation deck Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott watched alongside Commander Annette Higarashi. Higarashi had tears in her eyes as she touched the transparent aluminum window. She whispered something as Scott joined her.
“Lass, tis a celebration, not a funeral!” He rebuked as he laughed and swept her into a hug. She grudgingly reciprocated. “Come on!” he urged. He lead her to the refreshments table.
“Dry martini,” she told the server.
“Get the Lass a Scotch, I’ll take one too,” Scott interjected.
She shrugged and the server handed her the Scotch, “I hope you have good taste buds Scotty,” she said and toasted him, she took the shot in one drink.
“Well?” he asked.
“Not bad,” she smiled as she replied. She decided she could like this man, despite him taking over her post.
Scott smiled back and replied, “I’m glad yer startin’ ta like me, it’d be hard as blazes ta work together without our being at least a wee bit friendly.”
“You’re absolutely right,” she replied. She ordered another one, “We can’t drink much, your shift starts,” she looked at the chronometer Pike had given her for her birthday, “Right now actually,” she gulped down the second Scotch as did Scott and they rushed off to engineering.
The engineers listened carefully as Ensign Pavel Chekov explained their current situation. They were to do a boring run to where the Romulan ship first emerged, this was boring because there was nothing there anymore.
“Aw, come on!” Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott complained, “We’re the flagship! We should be out battlin’ with Klingons, not scoopin’ up Romulan dung!”
“You have quite a spicy vocabulary, Scotty,” Commander Annette Higarashi teased, “We need at least a little down time, don’t you think?”
“Nae, now that I have meh hands on her ample nacelles, I want to manipulate them!” he said, the fire of excitement of being an engineer shone through in his eyes.
“Don’t talk about her that way,” she caressed one of the struts above her head as she rebuked him.
“Pardon meh phrase Lassie. Beside what are ye still doing here, it’s yer down time?” he countered.
“I was telling the ship goodnight,” she replied sheepishly.
“Ah I see. Ye see this ship as a child, whereas I see her as a woman. It’s okay Lass, I’ll try ta watch mehself,” he answered.
A lovely rose-colored blush flamed her cheeks as she replied, “I designed her and spend over a year of my life as one of the many who constructed her.”
“How delightful tha’ must’ve been. I never built a ship, but I have transported people on ships in flight,” he said excitedly.
“And you lost Admiral Archer’s dog,” she pointed out with a laugh.
He joined Higarashi’s laughter, then explained, “He’s not lost, he’s between Earth and Jupiter Station.”
Her face brightened as she teased, “At least someone knows where he is. Take care of my baby Scotty, she’ll take care of you.” She wandered out of engineering leaving Scott to watch her in amazement.
When Scott was sure she was gone, he entered the turbolift and went to the bridge. He went directly to Kirk, “Captain, I’d like a word with ye, if ye dinna mind,” Scott said once he was beside the command chair.
“What’s on your mind?” Captain James T. Kirk looked up at him as he replied.
Scott tipped his head conspiratorially and ventured, “Ye know tha’ Lass ye set up as meh assistant?”
“Commander Hig . . . something. Why?” Kirk replied.
Scott nodded and politely corrected him, “Higarashi, sir. Anyway, she was set-up as the next chief engineer. Although I am incredibly honored, I think the Lass deserves the post more that I do.”
“I’ve heard a lot of complaints already, from Admiral Pike and Higarashi herself. I’ve seen what you can do Mister Scott, I want you,” Kirk explained.
“Aye sir, I’ll nae trouble ye about this again,” Scott replied.
“Good, I’m tired of explaining things,” Kirk concluded, then he nodded.
Scott nodded and headed to the bridge’s engineer post to read the day’s log ins.
“What was that?” Ensign Hikaru Sulu said aloud.
Kirk’s head snapped back around to Sulu and asked, “What’s up?”
Sulu stood and pointed to the top left corner of the screen. “A distortion, sir,” he explained.
“Screen malfunction?” Kirk demanded.
“No sir, I already checked,” Sulu replied.
“Mister Chekov?” Kirk said.
Turning slightly to look at Kirk, he replied, “Confirmed sir.”
“I believe I have seen that before,” Commander Spock spoke up.
“What is it?” Kirk demanded.
“Possibly a Klingon ship,” Spock replied.
Confusion was written all over his face as he looked back at Spock and asked incredulously, “What?”
“We saw it on a cadet run sir,” Lieutenant Uhura added, “They attacked the ship.”
“Chekov, raise shields!” Kirk commanded.
“Aye sir,” he said, there was a pause as Chekov complied. “Shields up.”
“Call another instructor up here, Lieutenant Uhura,” Kirk ordered.
She glanced over at Spock and asked, “Who should I call?”
“There’s only one other instructor aboard Lieutenant, you must call Annette Higarashi,” he informed her.
Horizon's Time: 2253 - Both Sides of the Coin (P4). 2 timelines
In the weight room, Commander Annette Higarashi hit the punching bag with so much force it flew half way up to the ceiling. She dove to the ground as it swung back, then popped up in a one hundred and eighty degree turn to hit the bag again on the back swing. She was about to dive out of the way when she heard Lieutenant Uhura make an announcement.
“Commander Annette Higarashi to the bridge please,” Uhura announced.
She caught the bag and stopped it, then went over to the communications unit to reply, “Higarashi here, should I put on a uniform?”
“No time,” came Commander Spock’s voice over the communications system.
“On my way,” she said as she grabbed the towel near the door where she had put it when she came in.
When she arrived on the bridge, Commander Higarashi was clad in a white tank top and black jogging pants with three white stripes running down both sides. Her hair was held by only a ponytail and it reached to the center of her back. She was wrapping it into a bun as she walked down to the command chair.
“Commander Annette Higarashi reporting sir,” she said. She stood crisply at Kirk’s side and looked at the view screen.
“Do you recognize that distortion?” He asked as he pointed to the top left corner of the view screen.
“Yes sir. Unless it’s a malfunction, it’s a cloaked Klingon vessel,” she replied.
“All right. What do we do?” he asked her.
“Are you asking an opinion sir?” she asked.
“Yes, Commander,” he said, a bit frustrated with her, “What did you do back then?”
“Captain Pike was wise enough to put up shields, order all hands, red alert, and prepare defensive posture, once the ship decloaked of course. Since we have a heads-up this time, I’d do the same except earlier,” Higarashi replied.
“You heard the Commander,” Kirk said, “Implement.”
“Aye sir,” Chekov replied as he prepared the weapons, then announced the situation and ordered all hands.
The red alert lights flickered to life and the whooping of the alarm came on strong.
“Is there a way to shut that damn noise off?” Kirk bellowed.
Chekov looked all over his board. “Not here, sir,” he replied.
At the engineering post, Higarashi leaned over Scott’s shoulder and cut the sound. “That’s because I designated only the engineer to allow discontinuation of the alarm’s sound. Deactiving the red alert status is on your chair sir,” Higarashi confessed.
“Thanks for the heads up,” Kirk grumbled.
Scott looked up into her eyes and saw that Higarashi was a bit jealous over this situation. He breathed in the odor of her and realized she still smelled good despite the fact that she looked as if she had been working out.
Sweat beaded on the top of her forehead and rolled down as she rejoined Kirk. Spock drifted down beside Kirk on his other side.
“As I understand it, Commander, you were Engineer’s mate and first officer. Why didn’t you request to be first officer?” Kirk murmured to her.
“May I speak candidly sir?” she requested.
He nodded and replied, “Yes, feel free.”
“Why didn’t you promote me to chief engineer?” she asked.
“Consider it inside information on Scott’s abilities,” he countered.
She shrugged at his angry tone. “Sir, you asked why I didn’t sign-up for first officer, it was because I had been promised chief engineer’s position,” she replied.
Kirk nodded. “I see. I’m sorry I couldn’t make you chief engineer, but the longer you serve with Scott, the more you will realize his engineering brilliance,” he replied. He held up his hand as she began to protest, “Let’s focus.”
“Sir!” Sulu shouted, “The distortion is gone.”
Kirk’s eyes flicked between Spock and Higarashi. Spock nodded and simultaneously they announced, “They’re about to decloak.”
“Weapons ready, Mister Chekov?” Kirk asked.
Chekov nodded as he replied, “Aye sir.”
“Keep sharp,” Higarashi added.
“Aye,” Chekov replied.
The ship appeared large and looming directly in front of them.
“Full back!” Kirk shouted.
Sulu hesitated and Higarashi ran to stand behind him, his fear melted before she even got behind him. As he changed the course, he whispered, “Sorry, sir,” to Higarashi.
She put a hand on his shoulder, “You’ll get it Ensign,” she replied as she backed away to rejoin Kirk.
“Open a channel,” Kirk instructed Uhura.
A pause as she opened the channel, then she replied, “Channel open sir.”
In the weight room, Commander Annette Higarashi hit the punching bag with so much force it flew half way up to the ceiling. She dove to the ground as it swung back, then popped up in a one hundred and eighty degree turn to hit the bag again on the back swing. She was about to dive out of the way when she heard Lieutenant Uhura make an announcement.
“Commander Annette Higarashi to the bridge please,” Uhura announced.
She caught the bag and stopped it, then went over to the communications unit to reply, “Higarashi here, should I put on a uniform?”
“No time,” came Commander Spock’s voice over the communications system.
“On my way,” she said as she grabbed the towel near the door where she had put it when she came in.
When she arrived on the bridge, Commander Higarashi was clad in a white tank top and black jogging pants with three white stripes running down both sides. Her hair was held by only a ponytail and it reached to the center of her back. She was wrapping it into a bun as she walked down to the command chair.
“Commander Annette Higarashi reporting sir,” she said. She stood crisply at Kirk’s side and looked at the view screen.
“Do you recognize that distortion?” He asked as he pointed to the top left corner of the view screen.
“Yes sir. Unless it’s a malfunction, it’s a cloaked Klingon vessel,” she replied.
“All right. What do we do?” he asked her.
“Are you asking an opinion sir?” she asked.
“Yes, Commander,” he said, a bit frustrated with her, “What did you do back then?”
“Captain Pike was wise enough to put up shields, order all hands, red alert, and prepare defensive posture, once the ship decloaked of course. Since we have a heads-up this time, I’d do the same except earlier,” Higarashi replied.
“You heard the Commander,” Kirk said, “Implement.”
“Aye sir,” Chekov replied as he prepared the weapons, then announced the situation and ordered all hands.
The red alert lights flickered to life and the whooping of the alarm came on strong.
“Is there a way to shut that damn noise off?” Kirk bellowed.
Chekov looked all over his board. “Not here, sir,” he replied.
At the engineering post, Higarashi leaned over Scott’s shoulder and cut the sound. “That’s because I designated only the engineer to allow discontinuation of the alarm’s sound. Deactiving the red alert status is on your chair sir,” Higarashi confessed.
“Thanks for the heads up,” Kirk grumbled.
Scott looked up into her eyes and saw that Higarashi was a bit jealous over this situation. He breathed in the odor of her and realized she still smelled good despite the fact that she looked as if she had been working out.
Sweat beaded on the top of her forehead and rolled down as she rejoined Kirk. Spock drifted down beside Kirk on his other side.
“As I understand it, Commander, you were Engineer’s mate and first officer. Why didn’t you request to be first officer?” Kirk murmured to her.
“May I speak candidly sir?” she requested.
He nodded and replied, “Yes, feel free.”
“Why didn’t you promote me to chief engineer?” she asked.
“Consider it inside information on Scott’s abilities,” he countered.
She shrugged at his angry tone. “Sir, you asked why I didn’t sign-up for first officer, it was because I had been promised chief engineer’s position,” she replied.
Kirk nodded. “I see. I’m sorry I couldn’t make you chief engineer, but the longer you serve with Scott, the more you will realize his engineering brilliance,” he replied. He held up his hand as she began to protest, “Let’s focus.”
“Sir!” Sulu shouted, “The distortion is gone.”
Kirk’s eyes flicked between Spock and Higarashi. Spock nodded and simultaneously they announced, “They’re about to decloak.”
“Weapons ready, Mister Chekov?” Kirk asked.
Chekov nodded as he replied, “Aye sir.”
“Keep sharp,” Higarashi added.
“Aye,” Chekov replied.
The ship appeared large and looming directly in front of them.
“Full back!” Kirk shouted.
Sulu hesitated and Higarashi ran to stand behind him, his fear melted before she even got behind him. As he changed the course, he whispered, “Sorry, sir,” to Higarashi.
She put a hand on his shoulder, “You’ll get it Ensign,” she replied as she backed away to rejoin Kirk.
“Open a channel,” Kirk instructed Uhura.
A pause as she opened the channel, then she replied, “Channel open sir.”
Horizon's Time: 2253 - Both Sides of the Coin (P5). 2 timelines
“Klingon vessel, this is Captain James Tiberious Kirk of the U.S.S. Enterprise? Why have you entered this sector of space?” he demanded.
“This is Commander Koloth. We heard about the destruction of Vulcan and had to come see for ourselves. It appears your mightiest ally is gone,” the Klingon taunted.
Higarashi touched Spock’s arm briefly when the Klingon mentioned his home world.
“What concern is that to you?” Kirk countered. “Being this far into Federation space is an act of war.”
“We know,” the Klingon answered as if he thought Kirk were stupid, “but it was worth inciting an incident to see this!” he boasted.
Higarashi glanced up to see Spock’s jaw clench.
“What is your intent?” Kirk demanded.
“Just sightseeing. We’ll be heading back now. No reason to cause an incident,” Koloth replied.
“Sir, they’ve closed the channel,” Uhura announced.
Over his shoulder Chekov announced, “De Klingon wessel has reversed course and is now heading back to de Neutral Zone.”
“Acknowledged,” Kirk replied, “If you two have any ideas, now would be the time.”
“Keep a look out for them. I doubt it will be this easy with them,” Higarashi commented.
“Quite logical, considering the history of the Klingons,” Spock agreed.
Kirk nodded and said, “All right. Higarashi, I want you on days as co-chief.”
“Aye sir,” Higarashi replied and nodded, then made her way to the lift.
“Klingon vessel, this is Captain James Tiberious Kirk of the U.S.S. Enterprise? Why have you entered this sector of space?” he demanded.
“This is Commander Koloth. We heard about the destruction of Vulcan and had to come see for ourselves. It appears your mightiest ally is gone,” the Klingon taunted.
Higarashi touched Spock’s arm briefly when the Klingon mentioned his home world.
“What concern is that to you?” Kirk countered. “Being this far into Federation space is an act of war.”
“We know,” the Klingon answered as if he thought Kirk were stupid, “but it was worth inciting an incident to see this!” he boasted.
Higarashi glanced up to see Spock’s jaw clench.
“What is your intent?” Kirk demanded.
“Just sightseeing. We’ll be heading back now. No reason to cause an incident,” Koloth replied.
“Sir, they’ve closed the channel,” Uhura announced.
Over his shoulder Chekov announced, “De Klingon wessel has reversed course and is now heading back to de Neutral Zone.”
“Acknowledged,” Kirk replied, “If you two have any ideas, now would be the time.”
“Keep a look out for them. I doubt it will be this easy with them,” Higarashi commented.
“Quite logical, considering the history of the Klingons,” Spock agreed.
Kirk nodded and said, “All right. Higarashi, I want you on days as co-chief.”
“Aye sir,” Higarashi replied and nodded, then made her way to the lift.
Horizon's Time: 2253 - Both Sides of the Coin (P6). 2 timelines
The console in front of Scott exploded. “I over loaded the circuits somehow,” he complained.
“If you don’t mind sir, I’d like to assist Mister Scott in fixing this,” Higarashi requested.
Kirk shrugged and said, “I don’t see why not, we’ll make it on time, no worries.”
She set to work right away. Scott set to work beside her inside the guts of the machine. He was in a rush and grabbed two melted wires and began reconnecting them. Higarashi spared him a glance.
“No, they’re both hot!” she said just as he touched them together and he was thrown to the deck jerking from the shock. “Uhura medic!” she shouted.
“Aye, sir!” Uhura acknowledged.
“Dammit Scotty.” She used her towel to remove the wires from his hands. “Come on! Stop shaking the current’s gone!” His body continued to twitch as she talked to him. “Captain,” she called.
“Yes Commander?” he said calmly.
Indicating Scott, she said, “I think our chief engineer is a bit out of commission.”
“Not just a bit,” Doctor Leonard McCoy complained as soon as he arrived. “What’d he do?”
“Put two hots together without a ground,” she replied, “Severe shock.”
McCoy gestured to a nurse and demanded, “Chapel, help me get him still so I can get the anti-gravs under him.”
“Aye, sir,” she replied as she did as instructed.
“Looks like you’ve got your wish Higarashi,” Kirk complained.
She shook her head adamantly. “It wasn’t my fault, it was his own mistake,” she defended.
“Well, all right. Fix the panel Higarashi, if you need help there’s probably an engineer available,” Kirk conceded.
Higarashi shook her head negatively and replied, “None available sir. Can I borrow Mister Spock?”
Kirk looked up and Spock nodded. His replacement took over as he helped Higarashi.
When they arrived, all that was left of Starbase three eight nine was a black vastness where there were no stars. Commander Annette Higarashi was closing the panel to the bridge engineering station as they approached. Commander Spock returned to his post.
“Sir, request to head down to engineering. I’ll send up a relief,” Higarashi recommended.
“All right,” Kirk complied, “Begin scan Mister Spock.”
“Beginning scan sir,” Spock reported.
“Good, report when it’s completed,” Kirk replied.
“The rift was caused by Nero’s entrance into this time and space,” Spock reported just before the turbolift doors closed in front of Higarashi.
As she confidently strode out into engineering she shouted to Lieutenant Commander John Henderson, “Make sure these kids keep their eyes sharp John. There’s a spacial rift right outside and I don’t want any trouble.”
“Where’s your uniform?” he asked, confused.
“They caught me in the weight room. When I get a chance I’ll change, so until then, stop staring at my ass and get to work!” she retorted.
He blushed and rushed off to check on a cadet.
As Higarashi passed the view screen, she realized the rift was spreading. She touched the companel, “Captain,” she called, “Would you like a more experienced helmsmen?”
“Actually, it would be nice,” Kirk replied.
“On my way,” she said as she closed the link. As she ran to the turbolift, she shouted over her shoulder, “Keep my baby together John, you’re in charge.”
As the car brought her to the bridge, she felt the ship lurch.
“Better hurry Commander,” Kirk called.
“I’m going as fast as I can,” she mumbled to herself.
A moment later the lift doors opened and she replaced Ensign Hikaru Sulu at the helm. “I’m moving us further away sir,” she informed, “The gravimetric pull is trying to take us in.”
“Good make sure -,” a bolt of energy struck the ship, interrupting the captain. Everyone was thrown to the deck as the lights flickered and went dead.
The console in front of Scott exploded. “I over loaded the circuits somehow,” he complained.
“If you don’t mind sir, I’d like to assist Mister Scott in fixing this,” Higarashi requested.
Kirk shrugged and said, “I don’t see why not, we’ll make it on time, no worries.”
She set to work right away. Scott set to work beside her inside the guts of the machine. He was in a rush and grabbed two melted wires and began reconnecting them. Higarashi spared him a glance.
“No, they’re both hot!” she said just as he touched them together and he was thrown to the deck jerking from the shock. “Uhura medic!” she shouted.
“Aye, sir!” Uhura acknowledged.
“Dammit Scotty.” She used her towel to remove the wires from his hands. “Come on! Stop shaking the current’s gone!” His body continued to twitch as she talked to him. “Captain,” she called.
“Yes Commander?” he said calmly.
Indicating Scott, she said, “I think our chief engineer is a bit out of commission.”
“Not just a bit,” Doctor Leonard McCoy complained as soon as he arrived. “What’d he do?”
“Put two hots together without a ground,” she replied, “Severe shock.”
McCoy gestured to a nurse and demanded, “Chapel, help me get him still so I can get the anti-gravs under him.”
“Aye, sir,” she replied as she did as instructed.
“Looks like you’ve got your wish Higarashi,” Kirk complained.
She shook her head adamantly. “It wasn’t my fault, it was his own mistake,” she defended.
“Well, all right. Fix the panel Higarashi, if you need help there’s probably an engineer available,” Kirk conceded.
Higarashi shook her head negatively and replied, “None available sir. Can I borrow Mister Spock?”
Kirk looked up and Spock nodded. His replacement took over as he helped Higarashi.
When they arrived, all that was left of Starbase three eight nine was a black vastness where there were no stars. Commander Annette Higarashi was closing the panel to the bridge engineering station as they approached. Commander Spock returned to his post.
“Sir, request to head down to engineering. I’ll send up a relief,” Higarashi recommended.
“All right,” Kirk complied, “Begin scan Mister Spock.”
“Beginning scan sir,” Spock reported.
“Good, report when it’s completed,” Kirk replied.
“The rift was caused by Nero’s entrance into this time and space,” Spock reported just before the turbolift doors closed in front of Higarashi.
As she confidently strode out into engineering she shouted to Lieutenant Commander John Henderson, “Make sure these kids keep their eyes sharp John. There’s a spacial rift right outside and I don’t want any trouble.”
“Where’s your uniform?” he asked, confused.
“They caught me in the weight room. When I get a chance I’ll change, so until then, stop staring at my ass and get to work!” she retorted.
He blushed and rushed off to check on a cadet.
As Higarashi passed the view screen, she realized the rift was spreading. She touched the companel, “Captain,” she called, “Would you like a more experienced helmsmen?”
“Actually, it would be nice,” Kirk replied.
“On my way,” she said as she closed the link. As she ran to the turbolift, she shouted over her shoulder, “Keep my baby together John, you’re in charge.”
As the car brought her to the bridge, she felt the ship lurch.
“Better hurry Commander,” Kirk called.
“I’m going as fast as I can,” she mumbled to herself.
A moment later the lift doors opened and she replaced Ensign Hikaru Sulu at the helm. “I’m moving us further away sir,” she informed, “The gravimetric pull is trying to take us in.”
“Good make sure -,” a bolt of energy struck the ship, interrupting the captain. Everyone was thrown to the deck as the lights flickered and went dead.
Horizon's Time: 2253 - Both Sides of the Coin (P7). 2 timelines
Time line A
Lieutenant Montgomery Scott and Ambassador Annette Higarashi were standing in the balcony area of the recreation deck.
Higarashi leaned against him as they both gazed out at the stars. Her head was slightly bent to the left, because she was taller than him by three inches. She looked over at his face as she said, “I’m so glad I was allowed to be transported on the Enterprise this time.”
“I know, it’s been way too long since we were able ta see each other face-ta-face,” he replied. His brown eyes slightly glittered from the starlight in the distance.
A throat cleared behind them. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” they turned to see Captain Christopher Pike standing a few feet away.
They parted and turned toward him, “Sort of, but it’s okay.”
Pike nodded. “I hear you’re an engineer too. Why aren’t you in service?”
Higarashi sensed genuine curiosity from him, so she replied, “My mother wanted me to continue my sister’s life. Faseni was an ambassador and married to a Rhaandarite when she died giving birth to my nephew. I told her I’d only do half of that. But since then, I have reconsidered and joined the engineering program at the Academy anyway,” she looked over at Scott with shining eyes.
“That didnae even make her happy,” Scott complained.
Pike continued, trying to diffuse the possible spat between Higarashi and Scott over her mother, “If you’re in the academy, why are you doing this run as an ambassador?”
“I didn’t want to focus on only one thing and besides being an ambassador gives me a chance to see Montie,” she explained.
Pike considered the comment and replied, “I bet the two of you would make an excellent engineering team.”
Higarashi nodded as she momentarily looked down, “I hope so, but right now we all have our duties,” she whispered.
“Bah!” Scott snorted angrily, Higarashi’s head snapped up to give him a withering glance.
“Anyway,” Pike said as he tried to skirt the situation again, “I just wanted to see how things are going.”
“Just fine sir,” Higarashi replied, she smiled at Scott. Life was too short and visits to few for arguing.
Looking over her head, Pike saw a gold gash start to expand in the space outside. “What the hell is that?”
As they turned to see what it was, Scott wrapped his arm around her as Higarashi jerked in shock. “It looks like a spacial rift,” she commented.
As it unfolded more, Pike muttered in shock, “It is a rift!”
She could sense the men’s fear as she whispered, “My God.”
The ship shuddered as an energy bolt struck her bow. The lights went dead.
Time line A
Lieutenant Montgomery Scott and Ambassador Annette Higarashi were standing in the balcony area of the recreation deck.
Higarashi leaned against him as they both gazed out at the stars. Her head was slightly bent to the left, because she was taller than him by three inches. She looked over at his face as she said, “I’m so glad I was allowed to be transported on the Enterprise this time.”
“I know, it’s been way too long since we were able ta see each other face-ta-face,” he replied. His brown eyes slightly glittered from the starlight in the distance.
A throat cleared behind them. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” they turned to see Captain Christopher Pike standing a few feet away.
They parted and turned toward him, “Sort of, but it’s okay.”
Pike nodded. “I hear you’re an engineer too. Why aren’t you in service?”
Higarashi sensed genuine curiosity from him, so she replied, “My mother wanted me to continue my sister’s life. Faseni was an ambassador and married to a Rhaandarite when she died giving birth to my nephew. I told her I’d only do half of that. But since then, I have reconsidered and joined the engineering program at the Academy anyway,” she looked over at Scott with shining eyes.
“That didnae even make her happy,” Scott complained.
Pike continued, trying to diffuse the possible spat between Higarashi and Scott over her mother, “If you’re in the academy, why are you doing this run as an ambassador?”
“I didn’t want to focus on only one thing and besides being an ambassador gives me a chance to see Montie,” she explained.
Pike considered the comment and replied, “I bet the two of you would make an excellent engineering team.”
Higarashi nodded as she momentarily looked down, “I hope so, but right now we all have our duties,” she whispered.
“Bah!” Scott snorted angrily, Higarashi’s head snapped up to give him a withering glance.
“Anyway,” Pike said as he tried to skirt the situation again, “I just wanted to see how things are going.”
“Just fine sir,” Higarashi replied, she smiled at Scott. Life was too short and visits to few for arguing.
Looking over her head, Pike saw a gold gash start to expand in the space outside. “What the hell is that?”
As they turned to see what it was, Scott wrapped his arm around her as Higarashi jerked in shock. “It looks like a spacial rift,” she commented.
As it unfolded more, Pike muttered in shock, “It is a rift!”
She could sense the men’s fear as she whispered, “My God.”
The ship shuddered as an energy bolt struck her bow. The lights went dead.
Horizon's Time: 2253 - Both Sides of the Coin (P8). 2 timelines
Time line B
When the lights came back on, Ambassador Annette Higarashi found herself sitting at the helm of the Enterprise.
“Captain Pike,” she called unsure.
“No, Commander, I’m Kirk. Are you hurt?” he replied.
She shook her head negatively. “No, I don’t think so. Where’s Montie? I have to know he’s okay,” she said urgently.
Doctor Leonard McCoy led her away from the helm and to the turbolift, “It’ll be all right Commander,” he attempted to soothe her.
“Who are you?” She asked. “I’d like to know what’s going on.”
“Calm down,” McCoy tried to soothe as they neared the lift, “I’m Doctor Leonard McCoy.”
She gazed in amazement at all of the technology and finally began to feel fear, “Where am I?” she shrank against McCoy.
“It’s okay, you’re still aboard Enterprise,” he informed her.
“No way,” she argued, “We aren’t this high tech. Where did you get all of this stuff?”
As they traveled down to sickbay he explained to her as if he would a child, “We had to increase scientific endeavors due to Nero’s first appearance. In fact, you created all of this with the Corps of Engineers.”
She shook her head disbelievingly, but held back as he guided her through the corridors and into sickbay.
“Montie!” she cried as she flew to his bedside.
He looked up confused and asked, “What’s the matter Lass?”
“I’m so confused. One minute we were on the Rec deck, then I found mehself on the bridge, at helm, nae less,” she explained. She started to cry and hugged him tight.
Trying to soothe her, Scott looked over at McCoy and asked, “What is she talkin’ about?”
McCoy shrugged, “What’s up with the accent?” he countered.
Time line B
When the lights came back on, Ambassador Annette Higarashi found herself sitting at the helm of the Enterprise.
“Captain Pike,” she called unsure.
“No, Commander, I’m Kirk. Are you hurt?” he replied.
She shook her head negatively. “No, I don’t think so. Where’s Montie? I have to know he’s okay,” she said urgently.
Doctor Leonard McCoy led her away from the helm and to the turbolift, “It’ll be all right Commander,” he attempted to soothe her.
“Who are you?” She asked. “I’d like to know what’s going on.”
“Calm down,” McCoy tried to soothe as they neared the lift, “I’m Doctor Leonard McCoy.”
She gazed in amazement at all of the technology and finally began to feel fear, “Where am I?” she shrank against McCoy.
“It’s okay, you’re still aboard Enterprise,” he informed her.
“No way,” she argued, “We aren’t this high tech. Where did you get all of this stuff?”
As they traveled down to sickbay he explained to her as if he would a child, “We had to increase scientific endeavors due to Nero’s first appearance. In fact, you created all of this with the Corps of Engineers.”
She shook her head disbelievingly, but held back as he guided her through the corridors and into sickbay.
“Montie!” she cried as she flew to his bedside.
He looked up confused and asked, “What’s the matter Lass?”
“I’m so confused. One minute we were on the Rec deck, then I found mehself on the bridge, at helm, nae less,” she explained. She started to cry and hugged him tight.
Trying to soothe her, Scott looked over at McCoy and asked, “What is she talkin’ about?”
McCoy shrugged, “What’s up with the accent?” he countered.
Horizon's Time: 2253 - Both Sides of the Coin (P8). 2 timelines
Time line A
When the lights came back on, Lieutenant Montgomery Scott was holding his unconscious wife, Annette Higarashi. “Li,” he begged, tapping her cheek gently, “Come on, wake up!”
“I’ll get the Doctor,” Captain Christopher Pike said as he rushed to the nearest companel.
A moment later, Commander Annette Higarashi came to in his arms. He was caressing her face and she pushed him away from her. “Let me go,” she demanded. “Besides what are you doing out of sickbay?”
“I was never in sickbay,” Scott protested.
“She must have a concussion or something,” Pike assessed.
Higarashi looked at him with a strange light in her eyes, if Scott had seen he would have known it was pure love. “What are you doing here?” She flung herself into his arms, “Why didn’t you tell me you’d be aboard?”
Pike stood bewildered, looking over her shoulder at Scott.
“What’s going on down here?” a fifty something man with snow white hair demanded as he came in.
“What’s wrong Chris?” Higarashi asked, ignoring Doctor Boyce. “ I know you don’t like to show our feelings in front of the crew, but I thought a proper greeting was appropriate.”
“What feelings?” Pike and Scott said simultaneously, the former in confusion and the latter in shock and pain.
She moved away from Pike and looked at the brokenhearted Scotsman and asked him gently, “What’s your problem Scotty? We just met yesterday.”
His pain was evident in his voice as he replied, “Yesterday. Lassie, I’ve know ye for ten years! We’ve been married on and off for eight of them!”
“Take the Ambassador to sickbay. I’ll escort Mister Scott to his quarters,” he said, then looked to see a hurt Higarashi.
“Chris, you know I’m no Ambassador. I’m an engineer! We’ve been together ten years. I’ve been assigned to the crews with you my entire career. Don’t you know me? Is this some after affect from Nero kidnaping and forcing that creature on you?” she questioned as Boyce led her away.
“Nero?” Pike looked at Scott confused.
“How could ye?” Scott asked in a hoarse voice, then fled from the room.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Time line B
Sitting in a private room in sickbay Ambassador Annette Higarashi tried to explain, “I’m Ambassador Annette Higarashi. I must’ve come here from a different universe or something.”
“It is possible,” Commander Spock commented.
“I’m half-Rhaandarite. I can’t seem to use my telepathic link I have with you, or your counterpart in my universe I should say,” she said looking intently at Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott.
“What is a Rhaandarite?” Doctor Leonard McCoy asked her.
“A Talosian who denounced illusory use to sustain life and enjoyment,” she explained.
“The Talos star group destroyed itself more than a hundred years ago,” McCoy replied.
“So I’m one of a kind,” she tried to tease.
McCoy nodded and replied, “It appears so.”
“Is that cool sensation against meh mind yer telepathy?” Scott asked.
Higarashi nodded excitedly and replied, “Yes it is. I can’t stop it right now, but give me time.”
“It’s not intrusive. It’s actually quite soothin’,” he replied smiling at her.
She shook her head sadly and continued, “I can’t imagine life without that telepathic connection we have between us.”
“I think she transferred over because of her Psi abilities,” McCoy hypothesized.
“Then our Higarashi is in her universe,” Scott concluded.
“Let’s release her, there’s no reason to keep her in sickbay any longer,” McCoy stated.
The ship shook again.
Higarashi grabbed her head and cried out, “No!”
“What’s wrong?” McCoy asked as he ran a tricorder over her.
“My link to Montie’s gone,” she explained, “It will hurt for a while. It’s like a live wire burning in my mind. I can calm it, hold on.”
“You seem to be completely fine. You’re free to go,” McCoy said.
“I’m a trained diplomat, sir. Is there any way I can help?” she requested after she was able to close off the part of her psyche.
“Maybe we’ll need a diplomatic officer. You’re hired,” Captain James Kirk spoke up as he smiled at her warmly.
“Thank you sir,” Higarashi replied and smiled back.
On the bridge, Higarashi stood between Spock and McCoy as she stood behind Kirk. “It doesn’t look all that different on your side,” she commented.
McCoy smiled warmly as he replied, “You really do like space don’t you?”
“I was born on a ship called the Horizon,” she informed him.
Kirk nodded affirmatively and replied, “That was Robert April’s first ship.”
“Yes it was,” Higarashi agreed, “Some things didn’t change here.”
Scott gave her a guarded glance as he added, “Some o’ ye’re most important things changed.”
“They can be changed back,” she replied, then laughed silkily.
“Why dinna we call that thing ‘Annette’s Tear’?” Scott suggested.
Kirk nodded affirmatively as he replied, “Makes sense. Spock make it so.”
Time line A
When the lights came back on, Lieutenant Montgomery Scott was holding his unconscious wife, Annette Higarashi. “Li,” he begged, tapping her cheek gently, “Come on, wake up!”
“I’ll get the Doctor,” Captain Christopher Pike said as he rushed to the nearest companel.
A moment later, Commander Annette Higarashi came to in his arms. He was caressing her face and she pushed him away from her. “Let me go,” she demanded. “Besides what are you doing out of sickbay?”
“I was never in sickbay,” Scott protested.
“She must have a concussion or something,” Pike assessed.
Higarashi looked at him with a strange light in her eyes, if Scott had seen he would have known it was pure love. “What are you doing here?” She flung herself into his arms, “Why didn’t you tell me you’d be aboard?”
Pike stood bewildered, looking over her shoulder at Scott.
“What’s going on down here?” a fifty something man with snow white hair demanded as he came in.
“What’s wrong Chris?” Higarashi asked, ignoring Doctor Boyce. “ I know you don’t like to show our feelings in front of the crew, but I thought a proper greeting was appropriate.”
“What feelings?” Pike and Scott said simultaneously, the former in confusion and the latter in shock and pain.
She moved away from Pike and looked at the brokenhearted Scotsman and asked him gently, “What’s your problem Scotty? We just met yesterday.”
His pain was evident in his voice as he replied, “Yesterday. Lassie, I’ve know ye for ten years! We’ve been married on and off for eight of them!”
“Take the Ambassador to sickbay. I’ll escort Mister Scott to his quarters,” he said, then looked to see a hurt Higarashi.
“Chris, you know I’m no Ambassador. I’m an engineer! We’ve been together ten years. I’ve been assigned to the crews with you my entire career. Don’t you know me? Is this some after affect from Nero kidnaping and forcing that creature on you?” she questioned as Boyce led her away.
“Nero?” Pike looked at Scott confused.
“How could ye?” Scott asked in a hoarse voice, then fled from the room.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Time line B
Sitting in a private room in sickbay Ambassador Annette Higarashi tried to explain, “I’m Ambassador Annette Higarashi. I must’ve come here from a different universe or something.”
“It is possible,” Commander Spock commented.
“I’m half-Rhaandarite. I can’t seem to use my telepathic link I have with you, or your counterpart in my universe I should say,” she said looking intently at Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott.
“What is a Rhaandarite?” Doctor Leonard McCoy asked her.
“A Talosian who denounced illusory use to sustain life and enjoyment,” she explained.
“The Talos star group destroyed itself more than a hundred years ago,” McCoy replied.
“So I’m one of a kind,” she tried to tease.
McCoy nodded and replied, “It appears so.”
“Is that cool sensation against meh mind yer telepathy?” Scott asked.
Higarashi nodded excitedly and replied, “Yes it is. I can’t stop it right now, but give me time.”
“It’s not intrusive. It’s actually quite soothin’,” he replied smiling at her.
She shook her head sadly and continued, “I can’t imagine life without that telepathic connection we have between us.”
“I think she transferred over because of her Psi abilities,” McCoy hypothesized.
“Then our Higarashi is in her universe,” Scott concluded.
“Let’s release her, there’s no reason to keep her in sickbay any longer,” McCoy stated.
The ship shook again.
Higarashi grabbed her head and cried out, “No!”
“What’s wrong?” McCoy asked as he ran a tricorder over her.
“My link to Montie’s gone,” she explained, “It will hurt for a while. It’s like a live wire burning in my mind. I can calm it, hold on.”
“You seem to be completely fine. You’re free to go,” McCoy said.
“I’m a trained diplomat, sir. Is there any way I can help?” she requested after she was able to close off the part of her psyche.
“Maybe we’ll need a diplomatic officer. You’re hired,” Captain James Kirk spoke up as he smiled at her warmly.
“Thank you sir,” Higarashi replied and smiled back.
On the bridge, Higarashi stood between Spock and McCoy as she stood behind Kirk. “It doesn’t look all that different on your side,” she commented.
McCoy smiled warmly as he replied, “You really do like space don’t you?”
“I was born on a ship called the Horizon,” she informed him.
Kirk nodded affirmatively and replied, “That was Robert April’s first ship.”
“Yes it was,” Higarashi agreed, “Some things didn’t change here.”
Scott gave her a guarded glance as he added, “Some o’ ye’re most important things changed.”
“They can be changed back,” she replied, then laughed silkily.
“Why dinna we call that thing ‘Annette’s Tear’?” Scott suggested.
Kirk nodded affirmatively as he replied, “Makes sense. Spock make it so.”
Horizon's Time: 2253 - Both Sides of the Coin (P9). 2 timelines
Time line A
In the conference room, Commander Annette Higarashi sat next to Lieutenant Montgomery Scott. Next to Scott was Lieutenant Spock at the science console. Captain Christopher Pike sat at the head of the table. Across from Spock was Doctor Phillip Boyce and at the end of the table was Doctor Zevec, the resident psychologist. Higarashi noted the empty chairs and approved of Pike’s discreteness.
Boyce spoke first, “There’s nothing physically wrong with her. It seems she telling the truth as well.”
“So you’re telling me I’ve somehow crossed over from another universe?” Higarashi asked incredulously.
“It’s the only thing I can think of,” Zevec explained. “You and I are best friends, as Rhaandarites we should have ninety percent access to each other’s mind. I can read absolutely nothing in the way of our memories together. Nor memories with you,” she concluded looking over at Scott.
“She doesnae have an accent either,” Scott supplied. “When she’s afraid, it usually gets thicker.”
“Simple explanation,” Higarashi informed them. “I’m pure human. I have a sad Psi-rating, and I have never even been to Scotland. Though I hear it’s lovely,” she smiled at Scott trying to soften the blow.
“I canna imagine a universe where ye don’t love me. I’ve known ye so long,” he replied and turned away. She grabbed his hand and stroked it comfortingly.
“I’m sorry Scotty. While I think you’re a nice enough guy, I just don’t know you well enough to love you,” she replied, shooting a loving glance at Captain Pike.
“And she even has some of Annie’s traits,” Zevec noted as she gestured to her hand rubbing Scott’s, “That produces calmness to the one receiving the rub from a Rhaandarite.”
“Where I’m from, you’ve earned the rank of Admiral,” she nodded to Pike, “James Kirk is captain of the Enterprise. And Zevec doesn’t even exist, the Talos star group was destroyed by nuclear warfare amongst the natives.”
Pike tipped his head, hands folded and finger against his lip he asked, “Then how do you exist? Ambassador Higarashi is half Rhaandarite.”
“My parents met in San Francisco and remained Earth-bound after that. I was born there as well,” she replied.
“Then Miko’s first wife didnae die in a transporter accident. His first wife is her mother,” Scott concluded.
“And she wasn’t born on the Horizon. Therefore, this Annie is human,” Zevec added.
“Annette,” Higarashi corrected.
“Yes, Annette” Pike nodded affirmatively as he spoke.
“Since Annie has Psi abilities some link must be disconnected in the rift,” Spock said, “That must be why they switched universes.”
“Captain,” Number One’s cool voice came over the communication system, “We are far enough away from the phenomenon to prevent any more . . . odd incidences.”
Flipping a switch on the table, Pike replied, “Acknowledged, keep me informed.”
“How do I get home?” Higarashi asked.
“We don’t understand the circumstances fully, so we cannot begin to hypothesize until then,” Spock informed.
Zevec touched her arm and soothed, “I’ll try to help you as much as I can.”
“I think ye’re stuck with us Lassie,” Scott concluded.
Higarashi digested the information, then made a decision. “Put me to work. I’m a skilled pilot and engineer. I have accreditation for both back home,” she implored.
“I don’t see any reason why not sir,” Boyce said looking at Pike.
“All right, we can always use an extra hand. Helm it is,” he replied. Then commanded, “To the bridge.”
The ship shook again. The power failed and it began to drift further away from the spacial rift.
Watching on the bridge’s view screen, Commander Annette Higarashi commented, “At least we’re moving away.”
“Right,” Captain Christopher Pike nodded.
From the engineering post, Lieutenant Montgomery Scott commented, “It looks like a tear.”
“Name this rift,” Pike smiled lopsidedly as he said, “‘Annette’s Tear’, Mister Spock.”
“Aye sir,” Spock replied.
Turning for a moment, Higarashi smiled at him. She whispered just loud enough for him to here her say, “Thank you.”
“Sir, may I make a suggestion?” Spock requested.
Pike glanced back at Spock and gave him the go ahead. “Sure,” he said.
“Let us completely leave this location, so we can make a decision about our situation,” he relayed.
Pike nodded affirmatively and said, “Good idea Spock. Higarashi, move us away.”
“Aye, sir,” she complied.
“I’d like a word with you alone, Commander,” Pike said, sharing a look with her, “Number One, you have the conn.”
The pair met in his quarters. “I hope you don’t feel odd about the situation. I just wanted a private location,” Pike explained.
“Not a problem sir,” she plopped herself down at the table.
“You seem to be a more confident version of our counterpart,” he said, cutting directly to the chase.
Higarashi nodded affirmatively and said, “That must be why I’m getting some strange looks from the crew. My both of my parents encouraged my abilities in engineering. They never expected me to do anything they wanted.”
“So they encouraged you?” Pike asked.
“Always have,” she smiled and replied, “They even like you or should I say my Chris.”
“That’s another thing I wondered about, how did you ever get with my counterpart?” He asked.
She smiled ruefully and replied, “It was all me. I sort of forced myself on him. I did all the pursuing. You know, captains can’t pursue their crew.”
Pike nodded affirmatively as he replied, “It can be difficult at times though, can’t it?”
“Yeah, we pretty much limit the amount of contact when on duty and in front of the crew,” she informed him.
“I never dreamed of having a relationship with someone like you. I mean you, and certain not our Annie. Annie’s married to Montgomery Scott,” he informed her.
She smiled and informed him, “Neither did my Chris. I can be a bit . . . forceful at times. Oh and that explains why he looks at me forlornly all the time.”
“Interesting,” he commented.
On her off time, Commander Annette Higarashi sat in the mess hall eating alone. Lieutenant Montgomery Scott came to join her.
“May I sit with ye?” he asked.
She smiled up at him as she replied, “Sure Scotty. What’s on your mind?”
“I was wondering if you had some idea of how to get my wife back and you home,” he said, “No offense.”
She shook her head negatively and replied, “No offense taken. I was just trying to come up with something.”
“I was thinking too,” he said, brightening up a bit.
“Since the trade happened because of our Psi link, I was wondering if we recreated the same effect, perhaps with Doctor Zevec, we maybe able to switch back,” she hypothesized.
Scott nodded, “I was thinkin’ along the same lines.”
“Hopefully my people have came up with a similar idea,” she said.
Scott stood, “Let’s get a meeting with Captain Pike, Zevec, and Spock to sort out details,” he said excitedly.
Time line A
In the conference room, Commander Annette Higarashi sat next to Lieutenant Montgomery Scott. Next to Scott was Lieutenant Spock at the science console. Captain Christopher Pike sat at the head of the table. Across from Spock was Doctor Phillip Boyce and at the end of the table was Doctor Zevec, the resident psychologist. Higarashi noted the empty chairs and approved of Pike’s discreteness.
Boyce spoke first, “There’s nothing physically wrong with her. It seems she telling the truth as well.”
“So you’re telling me I’ve somehow crossed over from another universe?” Higarashi asked incredulously.
“It’s the only thing I can think of,” Zevec explained. “You and I are best friends, as Rhaandarites we should have ninety percent access to each other’s mind. I can read absolutely nothing in the way of our memories together. Nor memories with you,” she concluded looking over at Scott.
“She doesnae have an accent either,” Scott supplied. “When she’s afraid, it usually gets thicker.”
“Simple explanation,” Higarashi informed them. “I’m pure human. I have a sad Psi-rating, and I have never even been to Scotland. Though I hear it’s lovely,” she smiled at Scott trying to soften the blow.
“I canna imagine a universe where ye don’t love me. I’ve known ye so long,” he replied and turned away. She grabbed his hand and stroked it comfortingly.
“I’m sorry Scotty. While I think you’re a nice enough guy, I just don’t know you well enough to love you,” she replied, shooting a loving glance at Captain Pike.
“And she even has some of Annie’s traits,” Zevec noted as she gestured to her hand rubbing Scott’s, “That produces calmness to the one receiving the rub from a Rhaandarite.”
“Where I’m from, you’ve earned the rank of Admiral,” she nodded to Pike, “James Kirk is captain of the Enterprise. And Zevec doesn’t even exist, the Talos star group was destroyed by nuclear warfare amongst the natives.”
Pike tipped his head, hands folded and finger against his lip he asked, “Then how do you exist? Ambassador Higarashi is half Rhaandarite.”
“My parents met in San Francisco and remained Earth-bound after that. I was born there as well,” she replied.
“Then Miko’s first wife didnae die in a transporter accident. His first wife is her mother,” Scott concluded.
“And she wasn’t born on the Horizon. Therefore, this Annie is human,” Zevec added.
“Annette,” Higarashi corrected.
“Yes, Annette” Pike nodded affirmatively as he spoke.
“Since Annie has Psi abilities some link must be disconnected in the rift,” Spock said, “That must be why they switched universes.”
“Captain,” Number One’s cool voice came over the communication system, “We are far enough away from the phenomenon to prevent any more . . . odd incidences.”
Flipping a switch on the table, Pike replied, “Acknowledged, keep me informed.”
“How do I get home?” Higarashi asked.
“We don’t understand the circumstances fully, so we cannot begin to hypothesize until then,” Spock informed.
Zevec touched her arm and soothed, “I’ll try to help you as much as I can.”
“I think ye’re stuck with us Lassie,” Scott concluded.
Higarashi digested the information, then made a decision. “Put me to work. I’m a skilled pilot and engineer. I have accreditation for both back home,” she implored.
“I don’t see any reason why not sir,” Boyce said looking at Pike.
“All right, we can always use an extra hand. Helm it is,” he replied. Then commanded, “To the bridge.”
The ship shook again. The power failed and it began to drift further away from the spacial rift.
Watching on the bridge’s view screen, Commander Annette Higarashi commented, “At least we’re moving away.”
“Right,” Captain Christopher Pike nodded.
From the engineering post, Lieutenant Montgomery Scott commented, “It looks like a tear.”
“Name this rift,” Pike smiled lopsidedly as he said, “‘Annette’s Tear’, Mister Spock.”
“Aye sir,” Spock replied.
Turning for a moment, Higarashi smiled at him. She whispered just loud enough for him to here her say, “Thank you.”
“Sir, may I make a suggestion?” Spock requested.
Pike glanced back at Spock and gave him the go ahead. “Sure,” he said.
“Let us completely leave this location, so we can make a decision about our situation,” he relayed.
Pike nodded affirmatively and said, “Good idea Spock. Higarashi, move us away.”
“Aye, sir,” she complied.
“I’d like a word with you alone, Commander,” Pike said, sharing a look with her, “Number One, you have the conn.”
The pair met in his quarters. “I hope you don’t feel odd about the situation. I just wanted a private location,” Pike explained.
“Not a problem sir,” she plopped herself down at the table.
“You seem to be a more confident version of our counterpart,” he said, cutting directly to the chase.
Higarashi nodded affirmatively and said, “That must be why I’m getting some strange looks from the crew. My both of my parents encouraged my abilities in engineering. They never expected me to do anything they wanted.”
“So they encouraged you?” Pike asked.
“Always have,” she smiled and replied, “They even like you or should I say my Chris.”
“That’s another thing I wondered about, how did you ever get with my counterpart?” He asked.
She smiled ruefully and replied, “It was all me. I sort of forced myself on him. I did all the pursuing. You know, captains can’t pursue their crew.”
Pike nodded affirmatively as he replied, “It can be difficult at times though, can’t it?”
“Yeah, we pretty much limit the amount of contact when on duty and in front of the crew,” she informed him.
“I never dreamed of having a relationship with someone like you. I mean you, and certain not our Annie. Annie’s married to Montgomery Scott,” he informed her.
She smiled and informed him, “Neither did my Chris. I can be a bit . . . forceful at times. Oh and that explains why he looks at me forlornly all the time.”
“Interesting,” he commented.
On her off time, Commander Annette Higarashi sat in the mess hall eating alone. Lieutenant Montgomery Scott came to join her.
“May I sit with ye?” he asked.
She smiled up at him as she replied, “Sure Scotty. What’s on your mind?”
“I was wondering if you had some idea of how to get my wife back and you home,” he said, “No offense.”
She shook her head negatively and replied, “No offense taken. I was just trying to come up with something.”
“I was thinking too,” he said, brightening up a bit.
“Since the trade happened because of our Psi link, I was wondering if we recreated the same effect, perhaps with Doctor Zevec, we maybe able to switch back,” she hypothesized.
Scott nodded, “I was thinkin’ along the same lines.”
“Hopefully my people have came up with a similar idea,” she said.
Scott stood, “Let’s get a meeting with Captain Pike, Zevec, and Spock to sort out details,” he said excitedly.
Horizon's Time: 2253 - Both Sides of the Coin (P10). 2 timelines
Time line B
Commander Spock stood in front of the view screen in the observation lounge. “Since Annie came over through a Psi link, I believe we can use that same link to bring Annette back,” he hypothesized.
“That’s not very scientific,” Captain James Kirk teased.
Spock shrugged slightly as he replied, “But it is logical.”
Ambassador Annette Higarashi shrugged and said, “It’s worth a try.”
“Captain,” Ensign Pavel Chekov called from the bridge.
Touching the communications link in front of him, Kirk replied, “Kirk here.”
“The Klingons are back,” Chekov informed. “They are declaring war.”
“Come on Ambassador, we may need you,” Kirk said and gestured to her as they rushed out to the bridge.
Once on the bridge, Ambassador Higarashi stood behind Kirk and beside Doctor McCoy.
“What’s going on?” she whispered to McCoy.
He looked at her gently and explained, “Vulcan was destroyed, so now these fools think they can just barge in and take over.”
“Diplomacy at this time is useless Captain Kirk,” she said leaning over his shoulder.
“I believe in you Ambassador,” he said solemnly.
She shook her head and shot a desperate look to Scott who smiled and shrugged. “If you insist sir,” she mumbled.
“Hail them Uhura,” Kirk ordered.
She complied, “Channel open sir.”
“You’re on,” he said looking up and back at Higarashi.
Higarashi took a deep breath and another quick glance at Scott, “This is Ambassador Annette Higarashi representing the United Federation of Planets. Your intrusion upon this sector may be considered an act of war. Please explain yourselves.”
“I’d be more than happy to explain Ambassador,” the Klingon teased, “With the destruction of Vulcan, our government knows it is the best time to ‘discuss’ our borders.”
“There will be no ‘discussion’ as you call it,” Higarashi shot back. “The Federation will not discuss changing boarders if you just barge in like this. Now, if you’d like, I could contact the Federation and you can talk to them through proper channels, or you can forget ‘discussing’ anything with us.”
“Your talk is shrewd Ambassador, shall we inform them of our intent,” Koloth replied.
Shields! The telepathic message surge through Scott’s mind and without thought he implemented the shields.
The bottom section of the Klingon’s bird-of-prey lit up and a torpedo came their way.
“Shields!” Kirk commanded.
“Already done sir,” Scott reported.
Kirk shot a relieved glance at Higarashi. “This is your game, Ambassador, which pawn is moved next,” he said flatly.
“Not a pawn, the queen moves on up ,” she smiled as she replied, “Mister Scott, have you done any work with disguised beaming?”
“No Lass,” he replied.
“May I?” she asked Kirk, he nodded his acquiescence. She helped Scott implement the proper engineering codes to set up transport, “I think you might want to meet our guests Kirk.”
“On my way,” Kirk said as he shot out of the chair and to the lift.
Moments later Uhura announced, “Captain’s in the transporter room.”
“Mister Scott,” Higarashi said as she nodded for him to implement, then he pushed the command in.
“Hope this works Lassie,” he mumbled.
She laughed briefly and replied, “It should, it’s your idea.”
She was about to rush out and join Kirk when Spock stopped her and said, “Don’t you think you’ll want a more . . . appropriate outfit.”
“Of course,” she said as she smiled ruefully at the jogging pants and tank top she wore.
“Uhura,” Spock called, “Take the Ambassador to the Commander’s quarters.”
“Aye sir,” Uhura replied.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Time line A
In the situation room Doctor Zevec looked across at Commander Annette Higarashi. “Do you think it will work?” Zevec asked.
“It could,” Higarashi informed, “There is such instances of a three-way mind meld between Vulcans, perhaps Rhaandarites could do the same.”
Spock nodded in agreement as he said, “It may not be scientific, but it is sound logic.”
“Captain,” came Lieutenant Lee Kelso’s voice from the bridge.
Pike activated the link on the table and commanded, “Go ahead Lieutenant.”
“A Klingon ship is approaching at impulse power,” Lieutenant Lee Kelso reported.
“On my way,” he said and looked to Higarashi, “Come with us Commander.”
“Aye sir,” she obliged.
Once aboard the bridge, Higarashi stood behind Pike with Zevec beside her.
“Helm,” Pike commanded Higarashi.
Quick as a flash, Higarashi took the helm. “Aye sir,” her reply floated to his ears on her dash.
“Keep us at stationary,” he said.
Higarashi nodded affirmatively as she said, “Stationary, aye.”
All traces of her playfulness are now gone, Pike thought, having a relationship on a starship may not be as hard as I once thought.
“Captain, they’re hailing us,” Lieutenant Mitchell Garrison informed the bridge crew.
“Open frequency,” Pike said calmly.
“Open sir,” Garrison complied.
“This is Captain Christopher Pike of the United Space vehicle Enterprise,” he informed.
“This is Koloth, commander of the Glorious Wing. Our scientist have discovered this rift in space and are . . . interested in exploring,” the Klingon replied.
“Exploiting it you mean,” Higarashi mumbled.
Despite himself, Pike cocked a half-grin. “You do realize being this far into the Federation’s boundaries may constitute a war,” he informed the Klingon.
“We do not care. This rift is too . . . interesting to pass up,” Koloth replied.
“Then perhaps a trust could be built here,” Pike suggested.
The Klingon thought a moment, “A tenuous one at that. Perhaps Captain Pike.”
Higarashi shook her head incredulously and said, “Just like my Chris, peace-loving.”
Pike smiled again as he replied, “Would you like to exchange information about the rift?”
Koloth seemed to think a moment, then said, “That is agreeable, Captain.”
“Have your crew ready to beam over,” Pike offered. He gave Garrison a signal to cut the link.
“Captain, may I accompany you?” Higarashi requested.
“Yes, you and Number One come with me,” Pike answered.
In the transporter room, Captain Christopher Pike stood between Commander Number One and Commander Annette Higarashi. Higarashi stood a bit closer than Number One, but otherwise she was behaving herself.
“What are you expecting sir?” Higarashi whispered to him.
“I’m not sure yet,” he whispered back.
She nodded toward the transporter pad and replied, “We’ll know soon.”
The Klingons beamed in. Not as dramatically as Higarashi expected. They were, of course, dressed in their traditional military garb. Metal mesh starkly contrasting against their dark skin.
“I presume you are Captain Pike,” Koloth assumed, indicating Pike.
“Yes, and you are Commander Koloth,” he said as he offered a hand to shake.
The Klingon snubbed the hand and looked to the ladies that flanked him. “Who are your companions?”
Higarashi looked to Pike for a moment as if to say is it really his business?
“This is my first officer, Number One,” he indicated her, then indicated Higarashi, “This is Ambassador Annette Higarashi.”
Higarashi gave him a dirty look, but knew it was best not to correct him so they could keep up a semblance of normalcy.
Koloth nodded to them, “These are my associates, Lieutenants Kang and Heshmi.”
“Well, come this way to our science labs,” Pike led them out.
Time line B
Commander Spock stood in front of the view screen in the observation lounge. “Since Annie came over through a Psi link, I believe we can use that same link to bring Annette back,” he hypothesized.
“That’s not very scientific,” Captain James Kirk teased.
Spock shrugged slightly as he replied, “But it is logical.”
Ambassador Annette Higarashi shrugged and said, “It’s worth a try.”
“Captain,” Ensign Pavel Chekov called from the bridge.
Touching the communications link in front of him, Kirk replied, “Kirk here.”
“The Klingons are back,” Chekov informed. “They are declaring war.”
“Come on Ambassador, we may need you,” Kirk said and gestured to her as they rushed out to the bridge.
Once on the bridge, Ambassador Higarashi stood behind Kirk and beside Doctor McCoy.
“What’s going on?” she whispered to McCoy.
He looked at her gently and explained, “Vulcan was destroyed, so now these fools think they can just barge in and take over.”
“Diplomacy at this time is useless Captain Kirk,” she said leaning over his shoulder.
“I believe in you Ambassador,” he said solemnly.
She shook her head and shot a desperate look to Scott who smiled and shrugged. “If you insist sir,” she mumbled.
“Hail them Uhura,” Kirk ordered.
She complied, “Channel open sir.”
“You’re on,” he said looking up and back at Higarashi.
Higarashi took a deep breath and another quick glance at Scott, “This is Ambassador Annette Higarashi representing the United Federation of Planets. Your intrusion upon this sector may be considered an act of war. Please explain yourselves.”
“I’d be more than happy to explain Ambassador,” the Klingon teased, “With the destruction of Vulcan, our government knows it is the best time to ‘discuss’ our borders.”
“There will be no ‘discussion’ as you call it,” Higarashi shot back. “The Federation will not discuss changing boarders if you just barge in like this. Now, if you’d like, I could contact the Federation and you can talk to them through proper channels, or you can forget ‘discussing’ anything with us.”
“Your talk is shrewd Ambassador, shall we inform them of our intent,” Koloth replied.
Shields! The telepathic message surge through Scott’s mind and without thought he implemented the shields.
The bottom section of the Klingon’s bird-of-prey lit up and a torpedo came their way.
“Shields!” Kirk commanded.
“Already done sir,” Scott reported.
Kirk shot a relieved glance at Higarashi. “This is your game, Ambassador, which pawn is moved next,” he said flatly.
“Not a pawn, the queen moves on up ,” she smiled as she replied, “Mister Scott, have you done any work with disguised beaming?”
“No Lass,” he replied.
“May I?” she asked Kirk, he nodded his acquiescence. She helped Scott implement the proper engineering codes to set up transport, “I think you might want to meet our guests Kirk.”
“On my way,” Kirk said as he shot out of the chair and to the lift.
Moments later Uhura announced, “Captain’s in the transporter room.”
“Mister Scott,” Higarashi said as she nodded for him to implement, then he pushed the command in.
“Hope this works Lassie,” he mumbled.
She laughed briefly and replied, “It should, it’s your idea.”
She was about to rush out and join Kirk when Spock stopped her and said, “Don’t you think you’ll want a more . . . appropriate outfit.”
“Of course,” she said as she smiled ruefully at the jogging pants and tank top she wore.
“Uhura,” Spock called, “Take the Ambassador to the Commander’s quarters.”
“Aye sir,” Uhura replied.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Time line A
In the situation room Doctor Zevec looked across at Commander Annette Higarashi. “Do you think it will work?” Zevec asked.
“It could,” Higarashi informed, “There is such instances of a three-way mind meld between Vulcans, perhaps Rhaandarites could do the same.”
Spock nodded in agreement as he said, “It may not be scientific, but it is sound logic.”
“Captain,” came Lieutenant Lee Kelso’s voice from the bridge.
Pike activated the link on the table and commanded, “Go ahead Lieutenant.”
“A Klingon ship is approaching at impulse power,” Lieutenant Lee Kelso reported.
“On my way,” he said and looked to Higarashi, “Come with us Commander.”
“Aye sir,” she obliged.
Once aboard the bridge, Higarashi stood behind Pike with Zevec beside her.
“Helm,” Pike commanded Higarashi.
Quick as a flash, Higarashi took the helm. “Aye sir,” her reply floated to his ears on her dash.
“Keep us at stationary,” he said.
Higarashi nodded affirmatively as she said, “Stationary, aye.”
All traces of her playfulness are now gone, Pike thought, having a relationship on a starship may not be as hard as I once thought.
“Captain, they’re hailing us,” Lieutenant Mitchell Garrison informed the bridge crew.
“Open frequency,” Pike said calmly.
“Open sir,” Garrison complied.
“This is Captain Christopher Pike of the United Space vehicle Enterprise,” he informed.
“This is Koloth, commander of the Glorious Wing. Our scientist have discovered this rift in space and are . . . interested in exploring,” the Klingon replied.
“Exploiting it you mean,” Higarashi mumbled.
Despite himself, Pike cocked a half-grin. “You do realize being this far into the Federation’s boundaries may constitute a war,” he informed the Klingon.
“We do not care. This rift is too . . . interesting to pass up,” Koloth replied.
“Then perhaps a trust could be built here,” Pike suggested.
The Klingon thought a moment, “A tenuous one at that. Perhaps Captain Pike.”
Higarashi shook her head incredulously and said, “Just like my Chris, peace-loving.”
Pike smiled again as he replied, “Would you like to exchange information about the rift?”
Koloth seemed to think a moment, then said, “That is agreeable, Captain.”
“Have your crew ready to beam over,” Pike offered. He gave Garrison a signal to cut the link.
“Captain, may I accompany you?” Higarashi requested.
“Yes, you and Number One come with me,” Pike answered.
In the transporter room, Captain Christopher Pike stood between Commander Number One and Commander Annette Higarashi. Higarashi stood a bit closer than Number One, but otherwise she was behaving herself.
“What are you expecting sir?” Higarashi whispered to him.
“I’m not sure yet,” he whispered back.
She nodded toward the transporter pad and replied, “We’ll know soon.”
The Klingons beamed in. Not as dramatically as Higarashi expected. They were, of course, dressed in their traditional military garb. Metal mesh starkly contrasting against their dark skin.
“I presume you are Captain Pike,” Koloth assumed, indicating Pike.
“Yes, and you are Commander Koloth,” he said as he offered a hand to shake.
The Klingon snubbed the hand and looked to the ladies that flanked him. “Who are your companions?”
Higarashi looked to Pike for a moment as if to say is it really his business?
“This is my first officer, Number One,” he indicated her, then indicated Higarashi, “This is Ambassador Annette Higarashi.”
Higarashi gave him a dirty look, but knew it was best not to correct him so they could keep up a semblance of normalcy.
Koloth nodded to them, “These are my associates, Lieutenants Kang and Heshmi.”
“Well, come this way to our science labs,” Pike led them out.
Horizon's Time: 2253 - Both Sides of the Coin (P11). 2 timelines
Time line B
In a crisp uniform, Ambassador Annette Higarashi arrived at the transporter room. Captain James Kirk and Commander Spock were waiting. Two security officers restrained the understandably angry Klingon.
“You won’t get away with this!” the Klingon complained.
“We only want to talk to you, Commander,” Higarashi said, trying to calm him, “Order your people to stop firing at this ship.”
He nodded reluctantly, one of the guards retrieved his communicator and he mumbled something in Klingonese to the communications officer.
“Okay, I did it. Now what?” He said balefully.
“Why did you attack without provocation?” Higarashi demanded.
“As I said, with the destruction of Vulcan, we see it as a perfect time to ‘change our boundaries’,” Koloth replied.
“You may do so through proper channels, but attack is never the way to do things,” Higarashi countered.
“You high and mighty Starfleeter. While your words are elegant, you forget one thing, I am Klingon!” he declared.
Higarashi looked over at Kirk and said, “Then we will destroy your ship in an act of self preservation.”
She’s good! Kirk said to himself.
Hearing his thought she smiled at him, then set her steely gaze on the Klingon. “Well, Commander, what will it be?” she demanded.
Begrudgingly, he spoke into his communicator again. “I have called off the attack. We will retreat, for now,” he said dejectedly.
“Good, we’ll be waiting,” Kirk smiled a beguiling smile.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Time line A
“I still think this is a piss-poor idea,” Commander Annette Higarashi grumbled as she and Captain Christopher Pike watch behind the one way glass as the Klingons bustled amongst the nervous humans.
Pike shot her a look, “Could you watch your language?” He shook his head, she certainly was the untamed version of his universe’s Annie and he found himself truly attracted to her.
“Sorry, but I still stand by my convictions, sir,” she apologized.
Looking back inside the lab he nodded his agreement. “How else do I keep the peace?” He demanded to know.
“Blow them out of the sky and leave, no one but the crew will ever know. Judging from the anxious looks from the scientists, I’d say the crew would agree,” she responded.
He disagreed, “No, we need to think of a . . . less deadly alternative.”
She shrugged and replied, “You’re too much like my Chris for your own good. That’s how Nero captured him, he was too pliant.”
“I don’t see it as pliant. His actions, from what you’ve said yourself, saved Earth. I would’ve done the same,” he rebuked her.
She shrugged and countered, “Maybe not pliant, but he thinks he’s invincible.”
“He did it because he loves you,” he blurted.
She turned to look at him full on as she demanded, “How would you know?”
“I’d do it to save your life too,” Pike said as he made a conscious effort to make it look as if he were concentrating on the scientists.
“You’re the same, only I am different,” she noted, turning back to the scientists.
Doctor Phillip Boyce stood beside one of the Klingons, the alien’s name escaped the aging doctor. “Can you hand me that vial?” he asked him politely.
The Klingon grunted and handed it to him. Boyce shook his head incredulously. The Klingon took that as a slur and took a swing at the doctor. The doctor hit the floor.
Almost as fast as the encounter, Pike, Higarashi, and two security guards ran in. Higarashi reach the Klingon first and, with strength that surprised the three men, knocked the Klingon to the ground in a tackle, then punch him square in the jaw.
“That’s enough Annette!” Pike commanded as she raised her fist again.
Reluctantly, Higarashi let the guards take the Klingon away. Higarashi knelt beside Doctor Boyce and lifted his head onto her lap, his eyes were fuzzy to him as he whispered, “Annie.”
Not wanting to correct him, she swallowed, and replied, “You took a nasty bump, Captain Pike is going to get Doctor Piper down here for you.”
After Piper had arrived and taken Boyce to sickbay, Higarashi, Number One and Pike were saying goodbye to their Klingon guests.
“It is with . . . regret that we return to our ship,” Koloth said.
“I agree,” Pike nodded and continued, “Hopefully next time we meet it will go more smoothly.”
The Klingons disappeared without another word.
Higarashi sighed and put her arm against Pike’s shoulder. “The only sight that would make me happier is watching their tail lights cruise back to Klingon space!” She said as she gestured outward as if plotting a course for them.
He wrapped his arm around her waist and led her out of the transporter room.
Time line B
In a crisp uniform, Ambassador Annette Higarashi arrived at the transporter room. Captain James Kirk and Commander Spock were waiting. Two security officers restrained the understandably angry Klingon.
“You won’t get away with this!” the Klingon complained.
“We only want to talk to you, Commander,” Higarashi said, trying to calm him, “Order your people to stop firing at this ship.”
He nodded reluctantly, one of the guards retrieved his communicator and he mumbled something in Klingonese to the communications officer.
“Okay, I did it. Now what?” He said balefully.
“Why did you attack without provocation?” Higarashi demanded.
“As I said, with the destruction of Vulcan, we see it as a perfect time to ‘change our boundaries’,” Koloth replied.
“You may do so through proper channels, but attack is never the way to do things,” Higarashi countered.
“You high and mighty Starfleeter. While your words are elegant, you forget one thing, I am Klingon!” he declared.
Higarashi looked over at Kirk and said, “Then we will destroy your ship in an act of self preservation.”
She’s good! Kirk said to himself.
Hearing his thought she smiled at him, then set her steely gaze on the Klingon. “Well, Commander, what will it be?” she demanded.
Begrudgingly, he spoke into his communicator again. “I have called off the attack. We will retreat, for now,” he said dejectedly.
“Good, we’ll be waiting,” Kirk smiled a beguiling smile.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Time line A
“I still think this is a piss-poor idea,” Commander Annette Higarashi grumbled as she and Captain Christopher Pike watch behind the one way glass as the Klingons bustled amongst the nervous humans.
Pike shot her a look, “Could you watch your language?” He shook his head, she certainly was the untamed version of his universe’s Annie and he found himself truly attracted to her.
“Sorry, but I still stand by my convictions, sir,” she apologized.
Looking back inside the lab he nodded his agreement. “How else do I keep the peace?” He demanded to know.
“Blow them out of the sky and leave, no one but the crew will ever know. Judging from the anxious looks from the scientists, I’d say the crew would agree,” she responded.
He disagreed, “No, we need to think of a . . . less deadly alternative.”
She shrugged and replied, “You’re too much like my Chris for your own good. That’s how Nero captured him, he was too pliant.”
“I don’t see it as pliant. His actions, from what you’ve said yourself, saved Earth. I would’ve done the same,” he rebuked her.
She shrugged and countered, “Maybe not pliant, but he thinks he’s invincible.”
“He did it because he loves you,” he blurted.
She turned to look at him full on as she demanded, “How would you know?”
“I’d do it to save your life too,” Pike said as he made a conscious effort to make it look as if he were concentrating on the scientists.
“You’re the same, only I am different,” she noted, turning back to the scientists.
Doctor Phillip Boyce stood beside one of the Klingons, the alien’s name escaped the aging doctor. “Can you hand me that vial?” he asked him politely.
The Klingon grunted and handed it to him. Boyce shook his head incredulously. The Klingon took that as a slur and took a swing at the doctor. The doctor hit the floor.
Almost as fast as the encounter, Pike, Higarashi, and two security guards ran in. Higarashi reach the Klingon first and, with strength that surprised the three men, knocked the Klingon to the ground in a tackle, then punch him square in the jaw.
“That’s enough Annette!” Pike commanded as she raised her fist again.
Reluctantly, Higarashi let the guards take the Klingon away. Higarashi knelt beside Doctor Boyce and lifted his head onto her lap, his eyes were fuzzy to him as he whispered, “Annie.”
Not wanting to correct him, she swallowed, and replied, “You took a nasty bump, Captain Pike is going to get Doctor Piper down here for you.”
After Piper had arrived and taken Boyce to sickbay, Higarashi, Number One and Pike were saying goodbye to their Klingon guests.
“It is with . . . regret that we return to our ship,” Koloth said.
“I agree,” Pike nodded and continued, “Hopefully next time we meet it will go more smoothly.”
The Klingons disappeared without another word.
Higarashi sighed and put her arm against Pike’s shoulder. “The only sight that would make me happier is watching their tail lights cruise back to Klingon space!” She said as she gestured outward as if plotting a course for them.
He wrapped his arm around her waist and led her out of the transporter room.
Horizon's Time: 2253 - Both Sides of the Coin (P12). 2 timelines
Time line B
In the conference room, the lights were dim as Commander Spock and Ambassador Annette Higarashi meditated. Doctor McCoy fretted on the other side of the room, “Hocus pocus . . .” he muttered about his disdain for what he called ‘Vulcan mysticism.’
“Would you stop Doctor? You are quite distracting,” Spock commented.
After a few more minutes, Spock looked over at Higarashi, “Are you prepared?”
“Yes,” she responded.
He placed his fingers on her katra points and spoke hypnotically, “Your mind to my mind. It appears I have been here before, rather my counterpart.”
“When we were children,” the memory came from both of their lips, “We met on Mount Selaya. Boys were taunting Spock, Annie made them go away with her sound logic. Testing is an emotion, namely distrust, Annie had argued. A clumsy bonding was supposed to connect us forever, but it wasn’t done properly. Now we simply remain friends, no difficulties.”
“You are searching for yourself,” Spock said alone, “You will find Captain Pike there, and Montie, you’re real life is there, can you feel it?”
She found herself in bed, she rolled over and saw a flash of blue-gray eyes, “No, that’s not right!” she negated.
“What?” she heard Spock say from a distance.
“I’m with Captain Pike, in bed,” she replied awkwardly.
“The time line was tampered with,” McCoy complained.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Time line A
Commander Annette Higarashi felt the intrusion into her mind, “It’s time, I have to go,” she told Captain Christopher Pike.
He held her a moment longer then got out of bed begrudgingly. He dressed and threw her clothes to her. He sat at his desk as she dressed, “Spock, are you and Zevec ready?”
“I am sir. Doctor Zevec is still meditating,” Spock informed him.
Pike sighed and replied, “Annie is making her way home, get Zevec ready to send Annette.”
The couple held hands on their way to the conference room, encouraging some confused looks from those who knew them well.
They entered the dim conference room together, Lieutenant Montgomery Scott stood on the opposite side of the room with Doctor Mark Piper. Near them was Lieutenant Spock and Doctor Zevec. Zevec gestured for Higarashi to join.
“Bye Annette,” Pike said swallowing hard.
She kissed his cheek, “See you soon Chris.”
“I love you,” he whispered.
“Love you back,” she replied, then joined Spock and Zevec.
“Sit between us, Commander,” Spock instructed.
Once they were ready, Spock placed one hand on each woman at the proper katra points.
To calm them, Spock sent them a memory of Vulcan, both women had lived there for a short while.
Higarashi sent a memory of meeting Spock at the Academy. Zevec shared a memory of boarding the Enterprise for the first time. Content with the connection, Spock began speaking, “You are lost, but not for long. You find yourself with Doctor McCoy and Captain Kirk, your real life is there.”
The consciousness of the two met, they shared their experiences and made their way back to the proper universes.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Time line B
“Captain Kirk?” Commander Higarashi called.
“No, but I’m here Annette,” Doctor McCoy said leaning toward her with a tricorder in hand.
“Back off Doc, it’s me! I’m back. Now I’m going to work,” she said assuredly.
“Fine,” McCoy groused back, “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me.”
“Believe me, Doctor, I won’t,” she said rushing out the door.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Time line A
“Montie,” Ambassador Annette Higarashi called.
“Li!” came his delighted cry for the other side of the room. The two met in the middle of the room and hugged each other furiously.
“I’m so glad to be home!” she cried.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Time line B
Commander Annette Higarashi sat in front of her personal communications device looking at Admiral Christopher Pike across the gap.
“I’m so glad you’re back. When Kirk told me you somehow left the universe, I thought I’d lose it!” he said happily.
She laughed and replied, “You know I always come home to you.”
“About that, what would you think of taking over the Starfleet Corps of Engineers?” he asked.
She shrugged as if it were unimportant and said, “What’s in it for me?”
Pike pushed a box in front of the screen, then opened it, “Marry me,” he said simply.
“First I have to tell you something,” she said biting her lip.
“What’s on your mind?” he asked, truly concerned.
She looked away for a moment, then directly into his eyes and explained, “I slept with the other universe’s version of you.”
He sucked in a shocked breath, “Do you know the damage you may have caused to the time line?”
“You’re not mad at me, are you?” she ignored his question with one of her own.
He gathered himself as he thought, then replied, “Not really, if this Pike is essentially me.”
“He is, honestly Chris,” she replied quickly.
He gauged her face and asked again, “Do you know the damage you’ve caused to the time line?”
“Not as bad as this time line,” she murmured.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Pike demanded.
“I’m going to have a baby,” she told him.
He smiled and said, “We are?”
Higarashi smiled too as she replied, “Yes, I’m so relieved you aren’t mad at me.”
“Of course not! I’m happy. Come home, we’ll discuss this as soon as you get here,” he replied.
“And I will marry you, Admiral,” she laughed, “See you when I get back.”
“Of course you will, Commander. I love you,” he smiled warmly at her.
“Love you back,” she smiled and closed the link.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Time line A
Ambassador Annette Higarashi sat in her VIP quarters on the recently reappeared Starbase three eight nine looking into the personal communications link.
“Sorry I have ta leave again,” Lieutenant Montgomery Scott said softly.
She smiled radiantly at him, “As I keep saying, we all have our duties. Our paths will cross again soon,” she promised him.
“What was it like over there?” he asked.
She shrugged and replied, “I saw both sides of the coin and, other than new technology and different crew members, it’s essentially the same. Ye know, my counterpart nicknamed you Scotty.”
“I know, that’s fitting isn’t it!” Scott boasted.
Someone knocked on the door, “Come!” Higarashi called.
“They’re ready Ambassador,” an aid told her.
“I’ll be out shortly,” she replied.
“On yer way out,” Scott said sadly.
“Aye. I promise to call or write as soon as possible,” she promised.
“I love ye,” Scott said.
“I love ye more,” she smiled and closed the link.
Time line B
In the conference room, the lights were dim as Commander Spock and Ambassador Annette Higarashi meditated. Doctor McCoy fretted on the other side of the room, “Hocus pocus . . .” he muttered about his disdain for what he called ‘Vulcan mysticism.’
“Would you stop Doctor? You are quite distracting,” Spock commented.
After a few more minutes, Spock looked over at Higarashi, “Are you prepared?”
“Yes,” she responded.
He placed his fingers on her katra points and spoke hypnotically, “Your mind to my mind. It appears I have been here before, rather my counterpart.”
“When we were children,” the memory came from both of their lips, “We met on Mount Selaya. Boys were taunting Spock, Annie made them go away with her sound logic. Testing is an emotion, namely distrust, Annie had argued. A clumsy bonding was supposed to connect us forever, but it wasn’t done properly. Now we simply remain friends, no difficulties.”
“You are searching for yourself,” Spock said alone, “You will find Captain Pike there, and Montie, you’re real life is there, can you feel it?”
She found herself in bed, she rolled over and saw a flash of blue-gray eyes, “No, that’s not right!” she negated.
“What?” she heard Spock say from a distance.
“I’m with Captain Pike, in bed,” she replied awkwardly.
“The time line was tampered with,” McCoy complained.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Time line A
Commander Annette Higarashi felt the intrusion into her mind, “It’s time, I have to go,” she told Captain Christopher Pike.
He held her a moment longer then got out of bed begrudgingly. He dressed and threw her clothes to her. He sat at his desk as she dressed, “Spock, are you and Zevec ready?”
“I am sir. Doctor Zevec is still meditating,” Spock informed him.
Pike sighed and replied, “Annie is making her way home, get Zevec ready to send Annette.”
The couple held hands on their way to the conference room, encouraging some confused looks from those who knew them well.
They entered the dim conference room together, Lieutenant Montgomery Scott stood on the opposite side of the room with Doctor Mark Piper. Near them was Lieutenant Spock and Doctor Zevec. Zevec gestured for Higarashi to join.
“Bye Annette,” Pike said swallowing hard.
She kissed his cheek, “See you soon Chris.”
“I love you,” he whispered.
“Love you back,” she replied, then joined Spock and Zevec.
“Sit between us, Commander,” Spock instructed.
Once they were ready, Spock placed one hand on each woman at the proper katra points.
To calm them, Spock sent them a memory of Vulcan, both women had lived there for a short while.
Higarashi sent a memory of meeting Spock at the Academy. Zevec shared a memory of boarding the Enterprise for the first time. Content with the connection, Spock began speaking, “You are lost, but not for long. You find yourself with Doctor McCoy and Captain Kirk, your real life is there.”
The consciousness of the two met, they shared their experiences and made their way back to the proper universes.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Time line B
“Captain Kirk?” Commander Higarashi called.
“No, but I’m here Annette,” Doctor McCoy said leaning toward her with a tricorder in hand.
“Back off Doc, it’s me! I’m back. Now I’m going to work,” she said assuredly.
“Fine,” McCoy groused back, “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me.”
“Believe me, Doctor, I won’t,” she said rushing out the door.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Time line A
“Montie,” Ambassador Annette Higarashi called.
“Li!” came his delighted cry for the other side of the room. The two met in the middle of the room and hugged each other furiously.
“I’m so glad to be home!” she cried.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Time line B
Commander Annette Higarashi sat in front of her personal communications device looking at Admiral Christopher Pike across the gap.
“I’m so glad you’re back. When Kirk told me you somehow left the universe, I thought I’d lose it!” he said happily.
She laughed and replied, “You know I always come home to you.”
“About that, what would you think of taking over the Starfleet Corps of Engineers?” he asked.
She shrugged as if it were unimportant and said, “What’s in it for me?”
Pike pushed a box in front of the screen, then opened it, “Marry me,” he said simply.
“First I have to tell you something,” she said biting her lip.
“What’s on your mind?” he asked, truly concerned.
She looked away for a moment, then directly into his eyes and explained, “I slept with the other universe’s version of you.”
He sucked in a shocked breath, “Do you know the damage you may have caused to the time line?”
“You’re not mad at me, are you?” she ignored his question with one of her own.
He gathered himself as he thought, then replied, “Not really, if this Pike is essentially me.”
“He is, honestly Chris,” she replied quickly.
He gauged her face and asked again, “Do you know the damage you’ve caused to the time line?”
“Not as bad as this time line,” she murmured.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Pike demanded.
“I’m going to have a baby,” she told him.
He smiled and said, “We are?”
Higarashi smiled too as she replied, “Yes, I’m so relieved you aren’t mad at me.”
“Of course not! I’m happy. Come home, we’ll discuss this as soon as you get here,” he replied.
“And I will marry you, Admiral,” she laughed, “See you when I get back.”
“Of course you will, Commander. I love you,” he smiled warmly at her.
“Love you back,” she smiled and closed the link.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Time line A
Ambassador Annette Higarashi sat in her VIP quarters on the recently reappeared Starbase three eight nine looking into the personal communications link.
“Sorry I have ta leave again,” Lieutenant Montgomery Scott said softly.
She smiled radiantly at him, “As I keep saying, we all have our duties. Our paths will cross again soon,” she promised him.
“What was it like over there?” he asked.
She shrugged and replied, “I saw both sides of the coin and, other than new technology and different crew members, it’s essentially the same. Ye know, my counterpart nicknamed you Scotty.”
“I know, that’s fitting isn’t it!” Scott boasted.
Someone knocked on the door, “Come!” Higarashi called.
“They’re ready Ambassador,” an aid told her.
“I’ll be out shortly,” she replied.
“On yer way out,” Scott said sadly.
“Aye. I promise to call or write as soon as possible,” she promised.
“I love ye,” Scott said.
“I love ye more,” she smiled and closed the link.
Horizon's Time: 2254 Deltan Incident
Dreams are important to Rhaandarites. It is believed one's path can be predicted through dreams. Annette Li Higarashi didn't know if she believed in that, but she’d had 'predicting' dreams before. Her first predicting dream had occurred while at a Federation settlement, five years ago, when she dreamed of fire and war, then soon afterward a civil war broke out.
Now she dreamed of Klingons . . .
Annie raced frantically over the golden grass of Delta Indus II, Klingons followed her closely, she could hear their footfalls and occasional curses in their native Klingon language. She stumbled as their footsteps drew near and their pungent smell assaulted her delicate sense of smell.
In the distance, she could see a man waiting to save her. His black hair rustled in the wind, his arms raised as he recognized her.
"Annette," he called.
Pain exploded in her back, then she fell to her knees.
"No!" she screamed.
Higarashi awoke with a sheen of sweat covering her entire body, she reached for her husband Montgomery Scott for consolation, but he wasn't there, her mother had separated them shortly after they had married. Syana, her mother, had insisted that Annie had to follow in her elder sister, Faseni's, path, which was supposedly a Rhaandarite tradition.
It was at that moment she vowed to herself and to her husband that once she was back from Rigel 10, she would take her mother to the Rhaandarite Council of Affairs and get her life back.
Annie stood swiftly, then went to her desk and began to write . . .
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*The sunset swirled ominously in the distance. The wind beat snow against the group as they trudged their way back to the ancient city following Professor Eckelson through the rugged land.
The only female student in this group of ten came boldly to the professor's left side, "Professor?" she questioned him politely.
Eckelson swung his bulky environmental suit around to look at her, "Yes, Miss Higarashi," he acknowledged.
"I've heard there is a Klingon planet similar to this. How do they compensate to use the planet?" she asked curiously.
Eckelson shifted his shoulders to put his face plate directly in her line of sight as he informed her, "Two things my enlightened friend. One: It is actually an asteroid. Two: What makes you think the Klingons would want to compensate?"
"I never thought of that sir, I only wanted to compare technology,” she replied to his rebuking tone sheepishly.
"The people here on Rigel 10 are nothing like the Klingons, Cadet. Look at what the Klingons are doing to the Deltans on Delta Indus II," Eckelson retorted with an angry air.
"What are they doing that far inside Federation space?" another student asked confused.
"Would anyone care to answer that question?" Eckelson challenged the students.
A fair blonde with deep hazel eyes spoke up, "I can sir."
"All right Mr. Kirk, please explain," Eckelson conceded to the bright young man.
"The Klingons have been holding Deltans as hostages in order to gain their alternative fuel for warp technology,” Kirk informed.
"How are they attempting to gain this knowledge?" probed Eckelson, somehow knowing the bright young man would know the answer.
"The Klingons are using food deprivation and other forms of torture," he replied rapidly.
"Torture," Higarashi repeated in shock, Eckelson could see her long black hair shake, and then reveal horrified brown eyes.
Eckelson's own brown eyes sympathized as he commented, "I'm surprised your parents haven't been sent in yet Cadets Kirk and Higarashi."
"My father's part of Ambassador Alexander's security team," Kirk informed the group with a bit of irritation, he hated to be thought of as George Kirk’s son, he had aspirations for his life.
Higarashi noticed the sarcasm in his tone. At times she sympathized with him. Kirk's father had served on the Enterprise’s first epic mission. Higarashi's parents were both accomplished diplomats.
"How much further to the Embassy, sir?" a cadet asked.
"Not much, see that orange beacon?" Eckelson pointed about one mile ahead of the group as he spoke, "That's the Embassy."
"I know what it's like, Jim," Higarashi said as she clapped Kirk gently on the back in soundless comfort and understanding.
He cast a determined glance back at her, a look that said one day he would be a legend as well.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ambassador Alexander knelt stoically as Diplomat Sheema-Kala began traditional rituals before the proceedings. Opening the concrete cactus doors and placing the gold status handles into their holders to let everyone know this was an open forum, so to speak, on the Deltan planets there are no secrets.
A fair haired human male named George Kirk leaned toward Kala before she reached the pink sand stone table where all of the diplomats knelt around in anticipation. "Diplomat Kala, maybe we should close the doors, considering a possible risk,” he cautioned.
"To comfort my people, I shall take the risk," she said with a dismissive tone and wave.
"Whatever you say Madame diplomat," he conceded as he nodded and rejoined the Deltan guards and his team at the door.
Fully composed, Kala continued to the table. Kneeling at the head of the table, she began, "Ambassador Alexander, how do you propose to end the capture and torture of our people?"
"By any means necessary, of course, the Federation proposes to find the responsible Klingons and bring them to justice, by preparing a scientist with tracking devices to find their location," Alexander replied.
"That is acceptable. How do you suggest we proceed?" she inquired.
"By allowing Federation security to dwell among your people, set one up to be captured and act as a spy to lead us to them," he informed.
"I cannot allow that. I don’t want to chance someone’s life, Ambassador. Perhaps if there were a volunteer I would consider it," Kala said calmly.
"Do what you must. I have to go to Vulcan for an appointment, will you allow Commander Kirk and his security team remain until the new delegates arrive?" Alexander requested.
"No Ambassador, you cannot leave them on our planet,” she replied flatly.
"Understood," Alexander said resolutely.
"Before you leave, allow me to consult," Kala requested.
"We'll wait, Diplomat,” Alexander said, he was losing his patience.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Rigelian bar was dimly lit as all bars are, but Captain Christopher Richard Pike could see the fine detailing along the walls and the transparent floor that made it seem as if he were walking on air, none of these things mattered to him.
Pike had rarely been in non-Federation bars, and never a Rigelian one, but Commander Norman Allen West had asked him to meet there. Then Pike could have West leave with him on Enterprise as his chief of security and science.
Pike was a dedicated, serious, career-minded man with a confident stride. Some had made comments, earlier in his career, that, with his beautiful, crystal blue eyes and thick black hair, he was 'too cute' to be a Starfleet man, but that was precisely what he had become. He had to work hard to be taken seriously back then.
The bar where drinking patrons of all species sat was different from the ones on Earth. Close contact on Rigel 10 was welcomed, but Pike held a reserve only a Vulcan could appreciate. The bar was six feet long and only six inches wide, just wide enough to fit colorful beer steins in front of the patrons; Pike hoped his friend wouldn't want to sit there.
"Come here often?" a familiar voice called out.
Pike turned to glare at his old friend as he said, "You know I am only here to meet you, Norman."
"You've never felt comfortable in a non-Federation bar have you?" Norman teased.
"No, I haven't," he sighed.
"Take it easy, Captain," Norman emphasized Pike's rank to tease him. West gestured to a table in the corner, "Let's sit down and have a quick drink."
West was at ease, during his teens his parents had lived on all of the Rigel planets, even the Vulcan settlements. West stood at six feet even with Pike, but West was a vibrant red head with bold blue eyes.
He had just applied to Starfleet Security, but there was a fifteen year waiting list before he would be accepted. He was just as career-minded as Pike. Both enjoyed hanging out together, but lately, it seemed, Pike was closing himself off to his closest friends since the Talos mission.
Begrudgingly, Pike followed West, complaining, "Why are we here Norman? You already know I don't like non-Federation bars."
Norman grinned ignoring the sideways glare Pike gave him as he slowly continued, "You just have to see this singer! She's amazing! She used to be an ambassador. She can speak several languages. You should see her list of commendations and she's about to graduate from the Academy. Best of all, she's absolutely stunning!"
"Oh really," Pike replied doubtfully as he sat in an odd plastic-like chair that seemed to come out of the floor like an awkward, upside down icicle. His face showed his uncomfortable state clearly.
West sat in the other chair against the wall, it seemed to float like a bobbing bar chair, that once his tall, lean frame folded into it, the chair adjusted itself to fit him perfectly up to the table, "Chris," complained West as he sat, "Would you at least humor me?"
Pike shifted uncomfortably as their waitress, a distinctly Rigelian woman, came to their table, "What will you order?" she barked in a rough voice.
"The usual for me honey," Norman winked at the waitress as he ordered.
"What about you?" she asked Pike.
"Just ginger soda for me," Pike replied.
"Boring like singer," she snorted as she walked away.
Truth be known, Pike was not a stranger to various strong drinks, but tonight he wanted to stay sober in case there was some emergency.
The bar became almost black and an unseen stage lit up brighter.
"This had better be worth it," Pike grumbled to West as the waitress came back with their order. West's was in an odd shaped glass that smoked and Pike's was amber colored soda in a plain glass.
The band began to play. It featured two acoustic guitar players, a bassist and a drummer playing old Earth blues; Pike loved the blues. A beautiful woman with long black hair and brown eyes began to sing about T'Khut, Vulcan's moon, shining down on Vulcan's copper-colored shifting sands.
The rounded part of West's cup was at the edge of his lips as he spoke, he held the hexagonal edge in his large hand, "Well, did you get what you wanted?" asked West, then he sipped the smoky liquid.
"Aye," Pike replied as his foot began to tap along with the music.
"And she writes all of her own lyrics and music," informed West.
Pike nodded and took a testing sip of his soda to make sure it wasn't mixed, it was clear, so he took long drink, "What's her name?"
"I don't know," he shrugged.
"How can you know as much as you do, and not know her name?" Pike grumbled.
"All I know is Ambassador Higarashi is her father," West mentioned offhandedly.
"Miko Higarashi?" Pike asked incredulously, almost choking on his soda.
"The same," West teased as he watched Pike recover.
"How about that," Pike replied tonelessly. "Come on Norman we have to go."
They finished their drinks, paid, and walked out into the Rigelian moonlight.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Delta Indus II, a beautiful planet, romantic one could say. Twelve feet tall trees swayed in the gentle breeze, they resembled palm trees, except they have pink leaves. The clear purple and pink sky shone above Diplomat Sheema-Kala, her bald head glowing against the sun's glaring exposure.
She gazed her pale green eyes to focus upon an approaching older man, her grandfather. His dull grey eyes shone from his sunken face as he returned her gaze.
"Kala, my child," he spoke softly as if every word took a moment away from his life.
"Yes, Papa," she addressed the old man with respect as she took his hand.
"I want you to save our people with the off worlders. Peace is the only way," he instructed.
"But they do not understand us!" she protested.
"You must teach them, my child," he spoke calmly to the younger woman.
The old one bowed and began to take his leave of her.
Kala sighed, then called, "Knowledge must be the way as well, but I cannot allow them to stay here as they learn. They are a sexually immature species. They could never handle our 'Great Passion.'"
"Diplomat Kala," a stern voice called as she leaned back against a tree.
"Speak," she commanded.
"Discussions will continue in one minute," the tall Deltan who had come to her replied.
"Thank you, you may go," the tall Deltan that had come to her turned smoothly on her command and left.
The grass beneath Kala's black slipper-covered feet was red and golden as it whispered softly against her green diplomat’s robe. As she glided through the coliseum doors, she held her head as high as she could without being considered snobby.
The procession stood upon her arrival and the room was full of anxiety as the humans tried to show the Deltans they had no effect on them. The Deltans seemed oblivious to their effect. Both male and female Federation delegates were bothered by their 'Passion', except for one person, Ambassador Alexander who held his hand out to her.
She accepted his hand, "Diplomat Kala," his grip was firm and strong, yet gentle and unassuming in her delicate hand. He had thick brown hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed uncharacteristically cold.
"Ambassador, you may be seated," Kala commanded.
Alexander stood until she sat as well. Kala referred to the data screen in the center of the table to review their previous conversation.
"I do not agree to the occupation of our planet, right away," she pointed to the screen, "I agree only to the Federation aid, but humans could never handle occupying our planet at this time. At some point, we could hold training sessions off-planet to adjust your race to ours."
"Diplomat Kala, if I may," Alexander interjected, then paused to permit her to give him permission to continue, she nodded her shorn head, "We don't want to change you. We simply wish to understand your culture and add it to our Federation while we help you find those responsible for the crimes against your people."
"I agree, but we do not know how to teach you our ways at this time,” she explained.
"Of course. We shall take our leave now," he announced abruptly.
With a bow the Federation delegates clumsily followed Ambassador Alexander.
Once out in the warm Deltan air, he opened his communicator, "Exeter, this is Ambassador Alexander."
"Exeter here," the communications officer replied promptly.
"Twelve to beam up, three at a time," Alexander commanded.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Rigelian bar was packed as usual and Annette Higarashi could see her audience perfectly. Anxiety flooded her mind as she vainly struggled to reconnect the broken mental connection to her imsad, her true love. The link hung like a live wire in her mind sizzling painfully. Being half Rhaandarite put a huge strain on her human half.
Higarashi's mother Syana, a full Rhaandarite, decided that the choice Higarashi had made, to marry her imsad and be a diplomat, was wrong.
Upon Higarashi’s sister Faseni's death, Syana evoked the ancient rite of Le cand Sa, dissolved her marriage and forced her to marry Faseni's widower Vaylin Zaand to finish out what Faseni could have accomplished. This is why Zaand stood beside her strumming a guitar clumsily. Neither one actually wanted to be together, so they had been fighting Syana for four years. During that time Higarashi defiantly joined Starfleet against her mother's wishes.
Higarashi's father was from Scotland, on Earth, originally their descendants were Japanese. In appearance, she was the female version of her father, he had the same hair and eye color, except Annette had a slight bulge on her forehead holding a brain one and a half times the size of a human brain, the only Rhaandarite trait Annette had. She wore bangs over the bulge on her forehead, because she was slightly self-conscience about it.
Miko had agreed to let Annette marry her imsad, in fact he had been there to give her away. He had wanted the best for Annette, not what was the best for the Rhaandarites.
Annette's first song was about T'Khut shining down on Vulcan's shifting copper colored sands.
The sparkling brown dress she wore was designed by Faseni some years ago, and it still fit her features fantastically. Music was something she loved, but to her there was more: there were the stars.
As the song ended, her communicator chirped.
Take over, she sent the telepathic message to Vaylin Zaand as she set her guitar down and left.
Will do, he replied.
She opened her communicator once she was outside. Three of Rigel 10's moons shined down on her. "Higarashi here."
"Annie this is Admiral Nogura," he replied.
"Admiral," she greeted him politely.
"There is a situation on Delta Indus II, your mother has taken ill and we need you to fill in," he explained.
"Admiral, I'm sure you know I'm supposed to be on a field trip with my cadet class. I have to report back to the administrator in the morning," she protested.
"Yes, I know. I shall grant you a special leave for this, your term will not be affected, in fact you'll be joining their crew," he informed.
"Which ship?" she asked excitedly.
"Enterprise, report immediately," he confided.
"Aye sir. Higarashi out," she closed her communicator for a second, then dialed in the frequency for the Enterprise.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
To Annette Higarashi any chance to be aboard the Enterprise was an honor. She loved all of the red orange detailing, and best of all, the feel of the engines beneath her feet. She had arrived about half an hour ago and had met most of the bridge crew. She was proud to be joining this crew.
Now Higarashi sat at her desk in her quarters reviewing the crew's manifest, learning her crew mates in engineering, as she feared her imsad was on the same shift as she was. I have two days to deal with that, she reminded herself. She hoped she could soothe her nerves by listening to Billy Joel.
She stared at an empty clip board beside the manifest on her desk she hadn't written much since she and her imsad had been separated. She briefly fingered the cross on her necklace, then the wedding band that hung from the chain as well.
Her silky black hair was now twisted up in a wrap to keep it regulation style. Higarashi sighed then watched out her viewport as the stars streaked past as the Enterprise warped through.
Dreams are important to Rhaandarites. It is believed one's path can be predicted through dreams. Annette Li Higarashi didn't know if she believed in that, but she’d had 'predicting' dreams before. Her first predicting dream had occurred while at a Federation settlement, five years ago, when she dreamed of fire and war, then soon afterward a civil war broke out.
Now she dreamed of Klingons . . .
Annie raced frantically over the golden grass of Delta Indus II, Klingons followed her closely, she could hear their footfalls and occasional curses in their native Klingon language. She stumbled as their footsteps drew near and their pungent smell assaulted her delicate sense of smell.
In the distance, she could see a man waiting to save her. His black hair rustled in the wind, his arms raised as he recognized her.
"Annette," he called.
Pain exploded in her back, then she fell to her knees.
"No!" she screamed.
Higarashi awoke with a sheen of sweat covering her entire body, she reached for her husband Montgomery Scott for consolation, but he wasn't there, her mother had separated them shortly after they had married. Syana, her mother, had insisted that Annie had to follow in her elder sister, Faseni's, path, which was supposedly a Rhaandarite tradition.
It was at that moment she vowed to herself and to her husband that once she was back from Rigel 10, she would take her mother to the Rhaandarite Council of Affairs and get her life back.
Annie stood swiftly, then went to her desk and began to write . . .
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*The sunset swirled ominously in the distance. The wind beat snow against the group as they trudged their way back to the ancient city following Professor Eckelson through the rugged land.
The only female student in this group of ten came boldly to the professor's left side, "Professor?" she questioned him politely.
Eckelson swung his bulky environmental suit around to look at her, "Yes, Miss Higarashi," he acknowledged.
"I've heard there is a Klingon planet similar to this. How do they compensate to use the planet?" she asked curiously.
Eckelson shifted his shoulders to put his face plate directly in her line of sight as he informed her, "Two things my enlightened friend. One: It is actually an asteroid. Two: What makes you think the Klingons would want to compensate?"
"I never thought of that sir, I only wanted to compare technology,” she replied to his rebuking tone sheepishly.
"The people here on Rigel 10 are nothing like the Klingons, Cadet. Look at what the Klingons are doing to the Deltans on Delta Indus II," Eckelson retorted with an angry air.
"What are they doing that far inside Federation space?" another student asked confused.
"Would anyone care to answer that question?" Eckelson challenged the students.
A fair blonde with deep hazel eyes spoke up, "I can sir."
"All right Mr. Kirk, please explain," Eckelson conceded to the bright young man.
"The Klingons have been holding Deltans as hostages in order to gain their alternative fuel for warp technology,” Kirk informed.
"How are they attempting to gain this knowledge?" probed Eckelson, somehow knowing the bright young man would know the answer.
"The Klingons are using food deprivation and other forms of torture," he replied rapidly.
"Torture," Higarashi repeated in shock, Eckelson could see her long black hair shake, and then reveal horrified brown eyes.
Eckelson's own brown eyes sympathized as he commented, "I'm surprised your parents haven't been sent in yet Cadets Kirk and Higarashi."
"My father's part of Ambassador Alexander's security team," Kirk informed the group with a bit of irritation, he hated to be thought of as George Kirk’s son, he had aspirations for his life.
Higarashi noticed the sarcasm in his tone. At times she sympathized with him. Kirk's father had served on the Enterprise’s first epic mission. Higarashi's parents were both accomplished diplomats.
"How much further to the Embassy, sir?" a cadet asked.
"Not much, see that orange beacon?" Eckelson pointed about one mile ahead of the group as he spoke, "That's the Embassy."
"I know what it's like, Jim," Higarashi said as she clapped Kirk gently on the back in soundless comfort and understanding.
He cast a determined glance back at her, a look that said one day he would be a legend as well.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ambassador Alexander knelt stoically as Diplomat Sheema-Kala began traditional rituals before the proceedings. Opening the concrete cactus doors and placing the gold status handles into their holders to let everyone know this was an open forum, so to speak, on the Deltan planets there are no secrets.
A fair haired human male named George Kirk leaned toward Kala before she reached the pink sand stone table where all of the diplomats knelt around in anticipation. "Diplomat Kala, maybe we should close the doors, considering a possible risk,” he cautioned.
"To comfort my people, I shall take the risk," she said with a dismissive tone and wave.
"Whatever you say Madame diplomat," he conceded as he nodded and rejoined the Deltan guards and his team at the door.
Fully composed, Kala continued to the table. Kneeling at the head of the table, she began, "Ambassador Alexander, how do you propose to end the capture and torture of our people?"
"By any means necessary, of course, the Federation proposes to find the responsible Klingons and bring them to justice, by preparing a scientist with tracking devices to find their location," Alexander replied.
"That is acceptable. How do you suggest we proceed?" she inquired.
"By allowing Federation security to dwell among your people, set one up to be captured and act as a spy to lead us to them," he informed.
"I cannot allow that. I don’t want to chance someone’s life, Ambassador. Perhaps if there were a volunteer I would consider it," Kala said calmly.
"Do what you must. I have to go to Vulcan for an appointment, will you allow Commander Kirk and his security team remain until the new delegates arrive?" Alexander requested.
"No Ambassador, you cannot leave them on our planet,” she replied flatly.
"Understood," Alexander said resolutely.
"Before you leave, allow me to consult," Kala requested.
"We'll wait, Diplomat,” Alexander said, he was losing his patience.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Rigelian bar was dimly lit as all bars are, but Captain Christopher Richard Pike could see the fine detailing along the walls and the transparent floor that made it seem as if he were walking on air, none of these things mattered to him.
Pike had rarely been in non-Federation bars, and never a Rigelian one, but Commander Norman Allen West had asked him to meet there. Then Pike could have West leave with him on Enterprise as his chief of security and science.
Pike was a dedicated, serious, career-minded man with a confident stride. Some had made comments, earlier in his career, that, with his beautiful, crystal blue eyes and thick black hair, he was 'too cute' to be a Starfleet man, but that was precisely what he had become. He had to work hard to be taken seriously back then.
The bar where drinking patrons of all species sat was different from the ones on Earth. Close contact on Rigel 10 was welcomed, but Pike held a reserve only a Vulcan could appreciate. The bar was six feet long and only six inches wide, just wide enough to fit colorful beer steins in front of the patrons; Pike hoped his friend wouldn't want to sit there.
"Come here often?" a familiar voice called out.
Pike turned to glare at his old friend as he said, "You know I am only here to meet you, Norman."
"You've never felt comfortable in a non-Federation bar have you?" Norman teased.
"No, I haven't," he sighed.
"Take it easy, Captain," Norman emphasized Pike's rank to tease him. West gestured to a table in the corner, "Let's sit down and have a quick drink."
West was at ease, during his teens his parents had lived on all of the Rigel planets, even the Vulcan settlements. West stood at six feet even with Pike, but West was a vibrant red head with bold blue eyes.
He had just applied to Starfleet Security, but there was a fifteen year waiting list before he would be accepted. He was just as career-minded as Pike. Both enjoyed hanging out together, but lately, it seemed, Pike was closing himself off to his closest friends since the Talos mission.
Begrudgingly, Pike followed West, complaining, "Why are we here Norman? You already know I don't like non-Federation bars."
Norman grinned ignoring the sideways glare Pike gave him as he slowly continued, "You just have to see this singer! She's amazing! She used to be an ambassador. She can speak several languages. You should see her list of commendations and she's about to graduate from the Academy. Best of all, she's absolutely stunning!"
"Oh really," Pike replied doubtfully as he sat in an odd plastic-like chair that seemed to come out of the floor like an awkward, upside down icicle. His face showed his uncomfortable state clearly.
West sat in the other chair against the wall, it seemed to float like a bobbing bar chair, that once his tall, lean frame folded into it, the chair adjusted itself to fit him perfectly up to the table, "Chris," complained West as he sat, "Would you at least humor me?"
Pike shifted uncomfortably as their waitress, a distinctly Rigelian woman, came to their table, "What will you order?" she barked in a rough voice.
"The usual for me honey," Norman winked at the waitress as he ordered.
"What about you?" she asked Pike.
"Just ginger soda for me," Pike replied.
"Boring like singer," she snorted as she walked away.
Truth be known, Pike was not a stranger to various strong drinks, but tonight he wanted to stay sober in case there was some emergency.
The bar became almost black and an unseen stage lit up brighter.
"This had better be worth it," Pike grumbled to West as the waitress came back with their order. West's was in an odd shaped glass that smoked and Pike's was amber colored soda in a plain glass.
The band began to play. It featured two acoustic guitar players, a bassist and a drummer playing old Earth blues; Pike loved the blues. A beautiful woman with long black hair and brown eyes began to sing about T'Khut, Vulcan's moon, shining down on Vulcan's copper-colored shifting sands.
The rounded part of West's cup was at the edge of his lips as he spoke, he held the hexagonal edge in his large hand, "Well, did you get what you wanted?" asked West, then he sipped the smoky liquid.
"Aye," Pike replied as his foot began to tap along with the music.
"And she writes all of her own lyrics and music," informed West.
Pike nodded and took a testing sip of his soda to make sure it wasn't mixed, it was clear, so he took long drink, "What's her name?"
"I don't know," he shrugged.
"How can you know as much as you do, and not know her name?" Pike grumbled.
"All I know is Ambassador Higarashi is her father," West mentioned offhandedly.
"Miko Higarashi?" Pike asked incredulously, almost choking on his soda.
"The same," West teased as he watched Pike recover.
"How about that," Pike replied tonelessly. "Come on Norman we have to go."
They finished their drinks, paid, and walked out into the Rigelian moonlight.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Delta Indus II, a beautiful planet, romantic one could say. Twelve feet tall trees swayed in the gentle breeze, they resembled palm trees, except they have pink leaves. The clear purple and pink sky shone above Diplomat Sheema-Kala, her bald head glowing against the sun's glaring exposure.
She gazed her pale green eyes to focus upon an approaching older man, her grandfather. His dull grey eyes shone from his sunken face as he returned her gaze.
"Kala, my child," he spoke softly as if every word took a moment away from his life.
"Yes, Papa," she addressed the old man with respect as she took his hand.
"I want you to save our people with the off worlders. Peace is the only way," he instructed.
"But they do not understand us!" she protested.
"You must teach them, my child," he spoke calmly to the younger woman.
The old one bowed and began to take his leave of her.
Kala sighed, then called, "Knowledge must be the way as well, but I cannot allow them to stay here as they learn. They are a sexually immature species. They could never handle our 'Great Passion.'"
"Diplomat Kala," a stern voice called as she leaned back against a tree.
"Speak," she commanded.
"Discussions will continue in one minute," the tall Deltan who had come to her replied.
"Thank you, you may go," the tall Deltan that had come to her turned smoothly on her command and left.
The grass beneath Kala's black slipper-covered feet was red and golden as it whispered softly against her green diplomat’s robe. As she glided through the coliseum doors, she held her head as high as she could without being considered snobby.
The procession stood upon her arrival and the room was full of anxiety as the humans tried to show the Deltans they had no effect on them. The Deltans seemed oblivious to their effect. Both male and female Federation delegates were bothered by their 'Passion', except for one person, Ambassador Alexander who held his hand out to her.
She accepted his hand, "Diplomat Kala," his grip was firm and strong, yet gentle and unassuming in her delicate hand. He had thick brown hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed uncharacteristically cold.
"Ambassador, you may be seated," Kala commanded.
Alexander stood until she sat as well. Kala referred to the data screen in the center of the table to review their previous conversation.
"I do not agree to the occupation of our planet, right away," she pointed to the screen, "I agree only to the Federation aid, but humans could never handle occupying our planet at this time. At some point, we could hold training sessions off-planet to adjust your race to ours."
"Diplomat Kala, if I may," Alexander interjected, then paused to permit her to give him permission to continue, she nodded her shorn head, "We don't want to change you. We simply wish to understand your culture and add it to our Federation while we help you find those responsible for the crimes against your people."
"I agree, but we do not know how to teach you our ways at this time,” she explained.
"Of course. We shall take our leave now," he announced abruptly.
With a bow the Federation delegates clumsily followed Ambassador Alexander.
Once out in the warm Deltan air, he opened his communicator, "Exeter, this is Ambassador Alexander."
"Exeter here," the communications officer replied promptly.
"Twelve to beam up, three at a time," Alexander commanded.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Rigelian bar was packed as usual and Annette Higarashi could see her audience perfectly. Anxiety flooded her mind as she vainly struggled to reconnect the broken mental connection to her imsad, her true love. The link hung like a live wire in her mind sizzling painfully. Being half Rhaandarite put a huge strain on her human half.
Higarashi's mother Syana, a full Rhaandarite, decided that the choice Higarashi had made, to marry her imsad and be a diplomat, was wrong.
Upon Higarashi’s sister Faseni's death, Syana evoked the ancient rite of Le cand Sa, dissolved her marriage and forced her to marry Faseni's widower Vaylin Zaand to finish out what Faseni could have accomplished. This is why Zaand stood beside her strumming a guitar clumsily. Neither one actually wanted to be together, so they had been fighting Syana for four years. During that time Higarashi defiantly joined Starfleet against her mother's wishes.
Higarashi's father was from Scotland, on Earth, originally their descendants were Japanese. In appearance, she was the female version of her father, he had the same hair and eye color, except Annette had a slight bulge on her forehead holding a brain one and a half times the size of a human brain, the only Rhaandarite trait Annette had. She wore bangs over the bulge on her forehead, because she was slightly self-conscience about it.
Miko had agreed to let Annette marry her imsad, in fact he had been there to give her away. He had wanted the best for Annette, not what was the best for the Rhaandarites.
Annette's first song was about T'Khut shining down on Vulcan's shifting copper colored sands.
The sparkling brown dress she wore was designed by Faseni some years ago, and it still fit her features fantastically. Music was something she loved, but to her there was more: there were the stars.
As the song ended, her communicator chirped.
Take over, she sent the telepathic message to Vaylin Zaand as she set her guitar down and left.
Will do, he replied.
She opened her communicator once she was outside. Three of Rigel 10's moons shined down on her. "Higarashi here."
"Annie this is Admiral Nogura," he replied.
"Admiral," she greeted him politely.
"There is a situation on Delta Indus II, your mother has taken ill and we need you to fill in," he explained.
"Admiral, I'm sure you know I'm supposed to be on a field trip with my cadet class. I have to report back to the administrator in the morning," she protested.
"Yes, I know. I shall grant you a special leave for this, your term will not be affected, in fact you'll be joining their crew," he informed.
"Which ship?" she asked excitedly.
"Enterprise, report immediately," he confided.
"Aye sir. Higarashi out," she closed her communicator for a second, then dialed in the frequency for the Enterprise.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
To Annette Higarashi any chance to be aboard the Enterprise was an honor. She loved all of the red orange detailing, and best of all, the feel of the engines beneath her feet. She had arrived about half an hour ago and had met most of the bridge crew. She was proud to be joining this crew.
Now Higarashi sat at her desk in her quarters reviewing the crew's manifest, learning her crew mates in engineering, as she feared her imsad was on the same shift as she was. I have two days to deal with that, she reminded herself. She hoped she could soothe her nerves by listening to Billy Joel.
She stared at an empty clip board beside the manifest on her desk she hadn't written much since she and her imsad had been separated. She briefly fingered the cross on her necklace, then the wedding band that hung from the chain as well.
Her silky black hair was now twisted up in a wrap to keep it regulation style. Higarashi sighed then watched out her viewport as the stars streaked past as the Enterprise warped through.
Horizon's Time: 2254 Deltan Incident (P2)
If there ever was a time, Lieutenant Commander William Young felt useless it was now. Lieutenant Leon Marks leaned back in the desk chair across from him.
The walls of Starbase Seven were closing in on them. The lifeless metal had a red stripe down the center of it parallel to the floors.
Marks threw the cards in his hand, "Gin," he called pointing out Young's mistake in their game of Gin Rummy, "Billy that's the third Gin tonight."
Young laid his hand down beside his point cards revealing he could have gone out in a few ways. He sighed, "Lee, I just can't figure out George Kirk's message saying the Deltans are so opposed to security forces remaining on their planet. They are, after all, one of the first groups to join the Federation."
"Ah," Marks tipped forward in his chair, it made a muted thud as it righted itself, then said. "You don't understand the differences between humans and Deltans, do you?"
"Not really. All I ever hear of is this 'Great Passion' thing," Young answered honestly.
"Deltans have empathic and telepathic abilities. The empathy helps them heal somehow. I don't quite understand that part. The main thing you mentioned, their 'Great Passion,' is the pheromones and hormones their entire race emits. I heard that they mate chemically, as well as telepathically and physically. The men give women love bands with something on them, it signifies they like them, maybe that's how they court," Marks explained, then shrugged.
"Is that why Kala refused to shake hands?" Young asked, curiosity getting the best of him now.
"Yeah Billy, and that's why they never touch Vulcans,” Marks informed.
Young leaned back in his chair thoughtfully.
"Lieutenant Commander Young this is Captain Naracka," her curt voice broke in.
Young hurried to the communications unit on the wall and opened the channel, "Young here."
"Long range sensors detect a ship on the outer limit," she told him.
"Can you tell what kind?" Young asked.
There was a pause for a few seconds, then Naracka continued, "Lieutenant T'Sar says it appears to be Klingon."
"Do we have any defenses?" Marks cut in.
Another pause, this one was longer, then she finally informed them, "Not yet, T'Sar says they will be installed in two days. We only have shields."
"On my way," Young said, then strode out gesturing for Marks to follow.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
In Kin-Tal City, the capital of Delta Indus II, Diplomat Sheema-Kala slept restlessly, tossing and turning in her large diplomat's bed.
"Ba-trine has been taken!" a guard yelled as he rushed into the room.
Kala awoke instantly. "When?" She demanded to know.
"Moments ago. They have also taken his family," the guard informed her.
"Alert Starbase seven," she commanded.
Moments later, the guard brought Lieutenant Commander William Young's freckled face and red hair up on her view screen. He appeared flushed and angry.
"Diplomat, we've detected a Klingon ship," he informed her.
"They have taken Ba-trine, our chief engineer, and his family," she said angrily.
"Should we form a search party?" the African native Leon Marks spoke up as he came up on Young's left.
"No," she replied flatly.
"How do you expect us to help you?" Young barked angrily.
Kala held up her hand and explained, "Ba-trine has a tracking system imbedded in his skin."
Young admired the woman's grace even at this hour and replied, "How do we track him?"
"I'll send the frequency on a secured channel," she replied graciously.
"I apologize Madame Diplomat," Young said, thenbowed his head politely.
"I, too, must apologize Lieutenant Commander Young. I have not trusted your people's judgment. I give you freedom to investigate this as your team wishes," she acquiesced.
"Thank you Diplomat Sheema-Kala," Young replied.
Kala bowed then broke the link.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Once the connection was broken Marks asked, "What are we going to do Billy?"
Looking to their commanding officer, Captain Carmine Naracka. She nodded confirming she had the frequency. "We wait," she said simply.
Leaving the two men in charge, she left to trace the frequency.
Marks began to pace as Young sat in the command chair.
"All of that pacing will ruin the carpet," Young commented idly.
"I know and running my hand along this wall will ruin the bulkhead," Marks replied humorlessly as he tapped the wall.
"What's on your mind?" Young inquired.
"What are we waiting for?" Marks said, the frustration he felt was evident in his voice.
"For the Enterprise to reach the planet," Young replied simply.
"In less than a day the Klingon ship could be gone with Ba-trine," Marks complained.
"What can we do? Exeter left three days ago, Enterprise is the only solution," Young informed him.
"We do have an admiral's yacht docked down there," Marks said referring to the docking portion at the bottom of the upside down top-shaped base.
"Are you suggesting we 'borrow' it?" Young looked at Marks.
"Well, you do have the conn . . . Besides we can find the Klingons, follow them and relay their location back to Enterprise,” Marks replied confidently.
"No way Leon," Young replied, he was smiling like a Cheshire cat as he stood.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"We're in range of Starbase Seven, Captain," Commander Number One informed.
"Ensign O'Reilly, open a hailing frequency with Delta Indus II and Starbase Seven," Captain Christopher Pike commanded.
"Aye sir," O'Reilly replied, her Irish heritage was thick in her voice.
"Number One arrival time?" Pike requested.
"Twelve hours, twenty-six minutes, and ten seconds," she replied smoothly.
"Captain, an admiral's yacht is hailing us," O'Reilly's short deep red hair bobbed against her fair skinned head as she spoke making her green eyes shine, as she informed Pike.
"Patch it through." Pike commanded.
Leon Marks and William Young appeared.
"Hello Captain Pike, I'm Lieutenant Commander Young and this is Lieutenant Marks from Starbase Seven," Young informed.
"Do you need assistance?" Pike questioned.
"No. We are following the Klingon ship,” Young informed Pike.
"All right keep me informed," Pike ordered.
"The same thing here," Young replied closing the link.
"Diplomat Sheema-Kala conveys her eagerness to meet you and Vice Ambassador Higarashi," O'Reilly told Pike.
"You just made that title up didn't you?" Pike teased lightly.
"Yes I did sir," she said slowly.
"Good thinking," Pike encouraged her.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Captain Christopher Pike, Commander Number One, and 'Vice' Admiral Annette Higarashi's arrival was welcomed by Diplomat Sheema-Kala's people. Pike stood to Higarashi's right and Number One was to her left. Kala's people led the diplomatic party into the conference room of the coliseum.
Kala stood, her pale green eyes looked doubtful, but she extended her hand anyway, "I am Diplomat Sheema-Kala," she introduced herself.
Higarashi thought it was odd that the others in the room weren't introduced.
Pike sensed her hesitation and took control, "Diplomat Kala, may I introduce Vice Ambassador Higarashi, Number One, and I am Captain Pike."
Pike's confidence helped Higarashi find her own, "It is a pleasure to meet you."
Kala smiled in reply. "Let us begin," she said as she gestured to the conference table and instructed them to kneel, "I must admit it is refreshing to see the three of you are not overly aroused by our 'Passion.'"
Pike looked to Higarashi. "Then we must show that some Starfleet people could somehow adjust to your 'Passion,’” she replied. To Pike she projected, Deltans have an over abundance of hormones and the like.
Pike's casual look became shock, he had heard her in his mind not his ears. He shook his head and said, "Yes Diplomat Kala, we hope you consider our reactions when you consider being joined on your planet by humans and other members of the United Federation of Planets."
"I will Captain, but let us discuss the old solution’s call for occupying our planet. I do not think all Starfleet personnel will be like the three of you," Kala said doubtfully.
"The officers could be trained, on site by your people and ours, how to endure the 'Passion,'" Higarashi suggested hopefully.
"I shall consider that. Come back in one Deltan day," Kala replied.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ambassador Annette Higarashi sat across from Commander Number One in the captain's galley that evening.
"The captain doesn't sound happy with this situation," Number One commented as they waited for Pike to join them.
"Neither am I," confessed Higarashi.
Number One looked uncertain a moment then said, "Why not, this is a perfect chance to prove yourself as an ambassador on your own."
"I'm an engineer, not a diplomat. And if I want to live my life the way I want I have to withstand this arrogant jerk," Higarashi complained.
Having entered a moment before Captain Christopher Pike replied, "Arrogant jerk, huh? Do you always refer to your commanding officer that way?"
She stood to face him, ready to apologize, "Captain I," she began unsteadily.
"For now, I don't care what you think of me, this mission will be done!" he said forcefully.
"I'm sure I'll have to do all the negotiating," she countered, but backed away in fear.
"You're just a spoiled ambassadors' daughter," he followed as she backed into the table.
"You're a bitter fool!" she shot back.
"At least I believe in myself," Pike fired back. With eyes cold as ice, he forced her to look him in the eye. "This mission will be successful and I know that because I believe I can do it."
"I am the diplomat here!" she screamed in rage.
"The scared one," he laughed.
"I may be scared, but at least I'm not overbearing and overconfident," she continued. Her tongue refused to let him win, even as she shrank away.
Pike stepped back, turned, and pointed to the door.
"Stay in your quarters like the rest of the diplomats do!" he railed.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Once morning had come, Captain Christopher Pike, Commander Number One, and Ambassador Annette Higarashi returned right away. Diplomat Sheema-Kala and her guards met them.
"I will teach our ways to you only Miss Higarashi," Kala said flatly.
Higarashi looked around to see Kala's guards, "Will they be joining us?"
"Of course," Kala replied easily.
"Then I request my own security to accompany me as well,” Higarashi requested politely.
"Very well then," Kala replied looking at the pair Higarashi had come with, "Captain Pike, you can come with us."
"Why can't Number One come?" Higarashi practically whined.
"I do not even know her name," Kala complained.
"Diplomat Kala, her name is Number One," Higarashi explained, "She's an Ilyrian colonist named Number One because of her intelligence."
"I do not care," Kala said blithely.
"Has it ever occurred to you that the intolerance you accuse Starfleet of you yourself harbor?" Higarashi stated calmly.
"Miss Higarashi," Pike reprimanded her.
"No, no," Kala waved her hand as she spoke, "She has an excellent point," she turned to address Number One, "My apologies, I have not conducted myself professionally concerning you. I still prefer to share this knowledge with only one other. Number One, you may join us."
"I don't think you should go Number One, a captain should be the one to go," Pike said as he glanced at Number One.
"But Captain it may be dangerous," Number One protested.
"That is precisely why I should go," Pike concluded.
"Okay, Captain Pike, you shall join us," Kala said ending the discussion.
Kala stood, Pike and Higarashi stood as well. Higarashi flashed Pike a dirty look.
Kala came around the table and led the two of them out into the warm Deltan morning. The doors of the coliseum were open as usual, held back by golden holders, the doors were made of native concrete cactus.
Pike and Higarashi followed Kala. Pike with his confident stride, Higarashi held her head high.
Kala touched her long fingers to her green jeweled head band, "There is no reason for fear," she announced.
"Yes Diplomat," Higarashi replied automatically.
"We are a simple race, simply living in paradise, without any interference, until now," she didn't know their name so she ran her finger along her forehead, "Until they came."
"What happened?" Higarashi asked sympathetically, even though she already knew what was going on.
Kala touched her forehead, "They took some of our key engineers."
"That's terrible!" Higarashi sympathized.
"They want our alternative warp fuel," said Kala angrily.
"I understand your anger. They went about things all wrong, Diplomat Kala,” Higarashi replied openly.
Kala turned to walk on. "Please call me Kala,” she added.
"I would be honored. Call me Annie," she smiled kindly as she replied.
"Annie," Kala tested the name, "could you promise me that we wouldn't be a menagerie to Starfleet."
"I could Kala, our idea is to mingle with you openly, not caged, and integrate your culture into ours to understand it better," Higarashi promised, Higarashi felt Pike flinch at those terms, apparently she had more work to do than just engineering and yeoman’s duties.
Kala stopped short and turned to look Higarashi in the eye, "Swear it upon your honor."
"I swear it," Higarashi brushed back her bangs to wipe away the excess sweat that was collecting there, exposing the Rhaandarite bulge.
Kala fearfully touched the bulge tentatively and asked, "Are you one of them?"
"No Kala, I am half-Rhaandarite," she informed.
Kala sighed, "Go." She waved away her guards.
The brilliant neon sun shone into their eyes, momentarily blinding them.
"Does that mean you trust us?" Higarashi ventured hopefully.
"I was conveying my trust in you alone Annie. Ambassador Alexander wasn't gentle with us, he wanted things we could not give at that time. The only reason we joined the United Federation of Planets was to prevent invasions from hostile beings," Kala explained.
"I have always believed the Federation was at the discretion of a member or potential member," Higarashi informed Kala.
"That's right, we believe every planet has a claim to unchangeable rights," Pike spoke up.
The sun sparkled into their eyes again. They all shielded their eyes to prevent temporary blindness.
"That is strange," Kala commented, "the sun usually does not do that."
A low rustle in the tall grass caused Kala and Pike to turn.
"Captain!" Higarashi screamed as a Klingon dragged her away.
"Annie!" Kala cried.
Pike’s hand moved to his phase pistol, one of the men growled and held an odd looking knife across her throat.
"Captain! Do something," Kala screeched.
Uncharacteristically, Pike froze. "He'll kill her," he finally said watching helplessly as the two Klingons dragged her away.
"You set her up!" Pike raged, then turned swiftly and stormed back into the coliseum.
"Captain," Number One rushed to join him, "What has happened?"
"Annette Higarashi has been taken," he sighed silently.
"This is your fault Diplomat Kala! You set her up," Number One accused as Kala came in obviously wiping tears from her face.
"I did not know!" Kala insisted, she ran one of her long fingers along her forehead, "They took her. If they took her to be with the rest of the others, she'll be safe."
"How do you know for sure?" Number One charged as Pike relayed their situation to the Enterprise.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Let me go!" Ambassador Annette Higarashi screamed in outrage as the two Klingons threw her into a cage. The force slammed her against the side and she pin-wheeled her arms to no avail as she fell to the floor. The pair laughed, one said something in their language; the image that filled Higarashi's mind was that they thought she was an idiot, to put it nicely.
Once the door was locked and the Klingons were gone, Higarashi called, "Hello, is there anyone else here?"
Out of nowhere it seemed, Deltans, about thirty of them, rushed toward her.
"Are you here to rescue us?" one asked excitedly.
"No, but we must find a way to escape," Higarashi replied.
A woman touched her Rhaandarite bulge and asked, "Are you one of them?"
"No,” she replied gently.
"You are not Deltan, certainly. Nor are you human, what are you?" The woman asked.
"I am half human," she said defensively, then softened her tone, "The other half is Rhaandarite."
"Thought people," the woman said, then blushed, "I am sorry, that is what we call you on this planet."
"It's ok," she smiled. To the group she said, "I am Annie Higarashi."
"Ba-trine," a male introduced himself, "I guess I am the leader."
"If you help me get out, I can help you," she told him honestly.
"We shall wait till dark. Rest for now," Ba-trine told her.
*~*
If there ever was a time, Lieutenant Commander William Young felt useless it was now. Lieutenant Leon Marks leaned back in the desk chair across from him.
The walls of Starbase Seven were closing in on them. The lifeless metal had a red stripe down the center of it parallel to the floors.
Marks threw the cards in his hand, "Gin," he called pointing out Young's mistake in their game of Gin Rummy, "Billy that's the third Gin tonight."
Young laid his hand down beside his point cards revealing he could have gone out in a few ways. He sighed, "Lee, I just can't figure out George Kirk's message saying the Deltans are so opposed to security forces remaining on their planet. They are, after all, one of the first groups to join the Federation."
"Ah," Marks tipped forward in his chair, it made a muted thud as it righted itself, then said. "You don't understand the differences between humans and Deltans, do you?"
"Not really. All I ever hear of is this 'Great Passion' thing," Young answered honestly.
"Deltans have empathic and telepathic abilities. The empathy helps them heal somehow. I don't quite understand that part. The main thing you mentioned, their 'Great Passion,' is the pheromones and hormones their entire race emits. I heard that they mate chemically, as well as telepathically and physically. The men give women love bands with something on them, it signifies they like them, maybe that's how they court," Marks explained, then shrugged.
"Is that why Kala refused to shake hands?" Young asked, curiosity getting the best of him now.
"Yeah Billy, and that's why they never touch Vulcans,” Marks informed.
Young leaned back in his chair thoughtfully.
"Lieutenant Commander Young this is Captain Naracka," her curt voice broke in.
Young hurried to the communications unit on the wall and opened the channel, "Young here."
"Long range sensors detect a ship on the outer limit," she told him.
"Can you tell what kind?" Young asked.
There was a pause for a few seconds, then Naracka continued, "Lieutenant T'Sar says it appears to be Klingon."
"Do we have any defenses?" Marks cut in.
Another pause, this one was longer, then she finally informed them, "Not yet, T'Sar says they will be installed in two days. We only have shields."
"On my way," Young said, then strode out gesturing for Marks to follow.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
In Kin-Tal City, the capital of Delta Indus II, Diplomat Sheema-Kala slept restlessly, tossing and turning in her large diplomat's bed.
"Ba-trine has been taken!" a guard yelled as he rushed into the room.
Kala awoke instantly. "When?" She demanded to know.
"Moments ago. They have also taken his family," the guard informed her.
"Alert Starbase seven," she commanded.
Moments later, the guard brought Lieutenant Commander William Young's freckled face and red hair up on her view screen. He appeared flushed and angry.
"Diplomat, we've detected a Klingon ship," he informed her.
"They have taken Ba-trine, our chief engineer, and his family," she said angrily.
"Should we form a search party?" the African native Leon Marks spoke up as he came up on Young's left.
"No," she replied flatly.
"How do you expect us to help you?" Young barked angrily.
Kala held up her hand and explained, "Ba-trine has a tracking system imbedded in his skin."
Young admired the woman's grace even at this hour and replied, "How do we track him?"
"I'll send the frequency on a secured channel," she replied graciously.
"I apologize Madame Diplomat," Young said, thenbowed his head politely.
"I, too, must apologize Lieutenant Commander Young. I have not trusted your people's judgment. I give you freedom to investigate this as your team wishes," she acquiesced.
"Thank you Diplomat Sheema-Kala," Young replied.
Kala bowed then broke the link.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Once the connection was broken Marks asked, "What are we going to do Billy?"
Looking to their commanding officer, Captain Carmine Naracka. She nodded confirming she had the frequency. "We wait," she said simply.
Leaving the two men in charge, she left to trace the frequency.
Marks began to pace as Young sat in the command chair.
"All of that pacing will ruin the carpet," Young commented idly.
"I know and running my hand along this wall will ruin the bulkhead," Marks replied humorlessly as he tapped the wall.
"What's on your mind?" Young inquired.
"What are we waiting for?" Marks said, the frustration he felt was evident in his voice.
"For the Enterprise to reach the planet," Young replied simply.
"In less than a day the Klingon ship could be gone with Ba-trine," Marks complained.
"What can we do? Exeter left three days ago, Enterprise is the only solution," Young informed him.
"We do have an admiral's yacht docked down there," Marks said referring to the docking portion at the bottom of the upside down top-shaped base.
"Are you suggesting we 'borrow' it?" Young looked at Marks.
"Well, you do have the conn . . . Besides we can find the Klingons, follow them and relay their location back to Enterprise,” Marks replied confidently.
"No way Leon," Young replied, he was smiling like a Cheshire cat as he stood.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"We're in range of Starbase Seven, Captain," Commander Number One informed.
"Ensign O'Reilly, open a hailing frequency with Delta Indus II and Starbase Seven," Captain Christopher Pike commanded.
"Aye sir," O'Reilly replied, her Irish heritage was thick in her voice.
"Number One arrival time?" Pike requested.
"Twelve hours, twenty-six minutes, and ten seconds," she replied smoothly.
"Captain, an admiral's yacht is hailing us," O'Reilly's short deep red hair bobbed against her fair skinned head as she spoke making her green eyes shine, as she informed Pike.
"Patch it through." Pike commanded.
Leon Marks and William Young appeared.
"Hello Captain Pike, I'm Lieutenant Commander Young and this is Lieutenant Marks from Starbase Seven," Young informed.
"Do you need assistance?" Pike questioned.
"No. We are following the Klingon ship,” Young informed Pike.
"All right keep me informed," Pike ordered.
"The same thing here," Young replied closing the link.
"Diplomat Sheema-Kala conveys her eagerness to meet you and Vice Ambassador Higarashi," O'Reilly told Pike.
"You just made that title up didn't you?" Pike teased lightly.
"Yes I did sir," she said slowly.
"Good thinking," Pike encouraged her.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Captain Christopher Pike, Commander Number One, and 'Vice' Admiral Annette Higarashi's arrival was welcomed by Diplomat Sheema-Kala's people. Pike stood to Higarashi's right and Number One was to her left. Kala's people led the diplomatic party into the conference room of the coliseum.
Kala stood, her pale green eyes looked doubtful, but she extended her hand anyway, "I am Diplomat Sheema-Kala," she introduced herself.
Higarashi thought it was odd that the others in the room weren't introduced.
Pike sensed her hesitation and took control, "Diplomat Kala, may I introduce Vice Ambassador Higarashi, Number One, and I am Captain Pike."
Pike's confidence helped Higarashi find her own, "It is a pleasure to meet you."
Kala smiled in reply. "Let us begin," she said as she gestured to the conference table and instructed them to kneel, "I must admit it is refreshing to see the three of you are not overly aroused by our 'Passion.'"
Pike looked to Higarashi. "Then we must show that some Starfleet people could somehow adjust to your 'Passion,’” she replied. To Pike she projected, Deltans have an over abundance of hormones and the like.
Pike's casual look became shock, he had heard her in his mind not his ears. He shook his head and said, "Yes Diplomat Kala, we hope you consider our reactions when you consider being joined on your planet by humans and other members of the United Federation of Planets."
"I will Captain, but let us discuss the old solution’s call for occupying our planet. I do not think all Starfleet personnel will be like the three of you," Kala said doubtfully.
"The officers could be trained, on site by your people and ours, how to endure the 'Passion,'" Higarashi suggested hopefully.
"I shall consider that. Come back in one Deltan day," Kala replied.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ambassador Annette Higarashi sat across from Commander Number One in the captain's galley that evening.
"The captain doesn't sound happy with this situation," Number One commented as they waited for Pike to join them.
"Neither am I," confessed Higarashi.
Number One looked uncertain a moment then said, "Why not, this is a perfect chance to prove yourself as an ambassador on your own."
"I'm an engineer, not a diplomat. And if I want to live my life the way I want I have to withstand this arrogant jerk," Higarashi complained.
Having entered a moment before Captain Christopher Pike replied, "Arrogant jerk, huh? Do you always refer to your commanding officer that way?"
She stood to face him, ready to apologize, "Captain I," she began unsteadily.
"For now, I don't care what you think of me, this mission will be done!" he said forcefully.
"I'm sure I'll have to do all the negotiating," she countered, but backed away in fear.
"You're just a spoiled ambassadors' daughter," he followed as she backed into the table.
"You're a bitter fool!" she shot back.
"At least I believe in myself," Pike fired back. With eyes cold as ice, he forced her to look him in the eye. "This mission will be successful and I know that because I believe I can do it."
"I am the diplomat here!" she screamed in rage.
"The scared one," he laughed.
"I may be scared, but at least I'm not overbearing and overconfident," she continued. Her tongue refused to let him win, even as she shrank away.
Pike stepped back, turned, and pointed to the door.
"Stay in your quarters like the rest of the diplomats do!" he railed.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Once morning had come, Captain Christopher Pike, Commander Number One, and Ambassador Annette Higarashi returned right away. Diplomat Sheema-Kala and her guards met them.
"I will teach our ways to you only Miss Higarashi," Kala said flatly.
Higarashi looked around to see Kala's guards, "Will they be joining us?"
"Of course," Kala replied easily.
"Then I request my own security to accompany me as well,” Higarashi requested politely.
"Very well then," Kala replied looking at the pair Higarashi had come with, "Captain Pike, you can come with us."
"Why can't Number One come?" Higarashi practically whined.
"I do not even know her name," Kala complained.
"Diplomat Kala, her name is Number One," Higarashi explained, "She's an Ilyrian colonist named Number One because of her intelligence."
"I do not care," Kala said blithely.
"Has it ever occurred to you that the intolerance you accuse Starfleet of you yourself harbor?" Higarashi stated calmly.
"Miss Higarashi," Pike reprimanded her.
"No, no," Kala waved her hand as she spoke, "She has an excellent point," she turned to address Number One, "My apologies, I have not conducted myself professionally concerning you. I still prefer to share this knowledge with only one other. Number One, you may join us."
"I don't think you should go Number One, a captain should be the one to go," Pike said as he glanced at Number One.
"But Captain it may be dangerous," Number One protested.
"That is precisely why I should go," Pike concluded.
"Okay, Captain Pike, you shall join us," Kala said ending the discussion.
Kala stood, Pike and Higarashi stood as well. Higarashi flashed Pike a dirty look.
Kala came around the table and led the two of them out into the warm Deltan morning. The doors of the coliseum were open as usual, held back by golden holders, the doors were made of native concrete cactus.
Pike and Higarashi followed Kala. Pike with his confident stride, Higarashi held her head high.
Kala touched her long fingers to her green jeweled head band, "There is no reason for fear," she announced.
"Yes Diplomat," Higarashi replied automatically.
"We are a simple race, simply living in paradise, without any interference, until now," she didn't know their name so she ran her finger along her forehead, "Until they came."
"What happened?" Higarashi asked sympathetically, even though she already knew what was going on.
Kala touched her forehead, "They took some of our key engineers."
"That's terrible!" Higarashi sympathized.
"They want our alternative warp fuel," said Kala angrily.
"I understand your anger. They went about things all wrong, Diplomat Kala,” Higarashi replied openly.
Kala turned to walk on. "Please call me Kala,” she added.
"I would be honored. Call me Annie," she smiled kindly as she replied.
"Annie," Kala tested the name, "could you promise me that we wouldn't be a menagerie to Starfleet."
"I could Kala, our idea is to mingle with you openly, not caged, and integrate your culture into ours to understand it better," Higarashi promised, Higarashi felt Pike flinch at those terms, apparently she had more work to do than just engineering and yeoman’s duties.
Kala stopped short and turned to look Higarashi in the eye, "Swear it upon your honor."
"I swear it," Higarashi brushed back her bangs to wipe away the excess sweat that was collecting there, exposing the Rhaandarite bulge.
Kala fearfully touched the bulge tentatively and asked, "Are you one of them?"
"No Kala, I am half-Rhaandarite," she informed.
Kala sighed, "Go." She waved away her guards.
The brilliant neon sun shone into their eyes, momentarily blinding them.
"Does that mean you trust us?" Higarashi ventured hopefully.
"I was conveying my trust in you alone Annie. Ambassador Alexander wasn't gentle with us, he wanted things we could not give at that time. The only reason we joined the United Federation of Planets was to prevent invasions from hostile beings," Kala explained.
"I have always believed the Federation was at the discretion of a member or potential member," Higarashi informed Kala.
"That's right, we believe every planet has a claim to unchangeable rights," Pike spoke up.
The sun sparkled into their eyes again. They all shielded their eyes to prevent temporary blindness.
"That is strange," Kala commented, "the sun usually does not do that."
A low rustle in the tall grass caused Kala and Pike to turn.
"Captain!" Higarashi screamed as a Klingon dragged her away.
"Annie!" Kala cried.
Pike’s hand moved to his phase pistol, one of the men growled and held an odd looking knife across her throat.
"Captain! Do something," Kala screeched.
Uncharacteristically, Pike froze. "He'll kill her," he finally said watching helplessly as the two Klingons dragged her away.
"You set her up!" Pike raged, then turned swiftly and stormed back into the coliseum.
"Captain," Number One rushed to join him, "What has happened?"
"Annette Higarashi has been taken," he sighed silently.
"This is your fault Diplomat Kala! You set her up," Number One accused as Kala came in obviously wiping tears from her face.
"I did not know!" Kala insisted, she ran one of her long fingers along her forehead, "They took her. If they took her to be with the rest of the others, she'll be safe."
"How do you know for sure?" Number One charged as Pike relayed their situation to the Enterprise.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Let me go!" Ambassador Annette Higarashi screamed in outrage as the two Klingons threw her into a cage. The force slammed her against the side and she pin-wheeled her arms to no avail as she fell to the floor. The pair laughed, one said something in their language; the image that filled Higarashi's mind was that they thought she was an idiot, to put it nicely.
Once the door was locked and the Klingons were gone, Higarashi called, "Hello, is there anyone else here?"
Out of nowhere it seemed, Deltans, about thirty of them, rushed toward her.
"Are you here to rescue us?" one asked excitedly.
"No, but we must find a way to escape," Higarashi replied.
A woman touched her Rhaandarite bulge and asked, "Are you one of them?"
"No,” she replied gently.
"You are not Deltan, certainly. Nor are you human, what are you?" The woman asked.
"I am half human," she said defensively, then softened her tone, "The other half is Rhaandarite."
"Thought people," the woman said, then blushed, "I am sorry, that is what we call you on this planet."
"It's ok," she smiled. To the group she said, "I am Annie Higarashi."
"Ba-trine," a male introduced himself, "I guess I am the leader."
"If you help me get out, I can help you," she told him honestly.
"We shall wait till dark. Rest for now," Ba-trine told her.
*~*
Horizon's Time: 2254 Deltan Incident (P3)
Captain Christopher Pike, Commander Number One, and Diplomat Sheema-Kala were now aboard the Enterprise. They sat in the conference room around the circular table.
Doctor Phillip Boyce joined them as Pike announced, "Annette will be found. All we know is that Annette was taken in broad daylight twenty-five feet from the Diplomatic Chambers, by Klingons."
"Klingons?" Kala asked in confusion.
Pike touched his forehead. He continued, "Kala's guards were facing away from us on their way back to the coliseum, not in a position to help, unfortunately. It is suspected that she has been caged in an unpopulated region beyond the Great Deltan Sea. Apparently other Deltans, twenty-six of them, are with her."
"My sister Elena was taken and somehow she escaped," Kala explained.
"Do we agree that going there is the best option here?" Pike polled.
Doctor Boyce nodded and said, "As long as it keeps peace."
"Yes Captain, we must consider this logical solution," Number One added.
"Colonization will not be put on hold. I agree now and accept all you have to offer," Kala put in.
"Great," Pike replied as he shook hands with Kala to seal the deal, "Any objections?" he addressed the others.
"No, I just hope that Annie is all right. I'd hate to lose a new crew member before she starts," Doctor Boyce commented.
"Me too," Pike muttered as Number One and Kala shook hands as well. “You are all dismissed to your duties. Number One, Kala, would the two of you join me back on Delta Indus II?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Holding a Federation Universal Translator, the Klingons questioned Higarashi, "All right Halfling trash, are you from Starfleet?"
Being as calm as she could be, squelching her shuddering fear. "Yes," she stated simply.
"What do you know of warp technology?" the leader demanded of Higarashi.
"Nothing," Higarashi replied, she was as stone faced as a Vulcan.
Shutting off the Translator, the leader told the other to hit Higarashi.
A black gash appeared where the other had split Higarashi's lip.
Both Klingons moved back in fear as the leader turned on the Translator again and demanded, "What is that stuff?"
Simple answers, she reminded herself, then replied, "Blood."
"Any other strange things we should know?" the lead Klingon asked as they closed in on her again, like predators attacking their prey.
"No," she said flatly.
"What do you know about warp technology?" the leader demanded again angrily.
"Nothing," she lied again.
Again the other punched her, breaking her nose. Hot pain seared through her face. She spit her charcoal black blood into their faces.
The leader licked the blood from his lips, "I do not have time for play," he growled, gesturing for the other to hit her again.
The other punched her in the ribs, cracking two of them.
"Tell us what you know and this will end!" the leader demanded.
"I know nothing," she said defiantly.
A jab to the other side of her ribs sent her into unconsciousness. They tossed her out of the interrogation chamber.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"My lord, a shuttle of Starfleet origin is closing," the tactical officer informed.
"On screen," the captain commanded.
"Yes my lord,” he replied.
The medium sized shuttle appears as it approached. It was modified to look like a square bullet.
"It is requesting communications," the tactical officer reported.
"Oblige it," the captain replied with a sneer.
"Klingon vessel," Young's voice came through, "Consider yourselves under arrest under the terms of Interstellar Law."
Speaking low the captain instructed, "Target engines." Then to Young he said, "Federation vessel consider yourselves prisoners of the Empire."
"My lord, they've closed the link," the tactical officer informed.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Leon, contact Enterprise," Young commanded.
"Aye, Billy,” Marks replied immediately.
"Lieutenant Kelso here," a voice responded from the Enterprise.
"They aren't cooperating," Young informed.
The Klingon's disrupters racked the little vessel leaving it dark.
"Tell me you gave them our location?" Young asked.
"Just before the Klingons opened fire," Marks replied.
"Thanks Leon," Young said.
Over subspace the captain of the Klingon vessel demanded, "Tell us the secret of your warp technology."
"We have no knowledge," Marks replied. They were security, not engineers.
"Destroy them," the Klingon announced, those were the last words William Young and Leon Marks ever heard.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"They've destroyed the admiral's yacht," Ensign O'Reilly cried.
"Damn," Lieutenant Kelso mumbled, "Get Captain Pike."
"Pike here," Captain Christopher Pike responded immediately.
"Captain, the Klingons have destroyed Young and Marks' vessel,” Kelso told Pike.
"Acknowledged. Do we have their coordinates?" Pike inquired.
"Not all of them sir,” Kelso replied.
"Remain in orbit," Pike ordered.
"Aye sir," Kelso complied.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Night had fallen on Delta Indus II. Ambassador Annette Higarashi remained unconscious for two hours. Gently Ba-trine woke her.
"Annie, I am sorry,” he said gently.
Her eyes fluttered open and she whispered, "Ba-trine."
"It is all right now," Ba-trine informed her.
"I'm in no shape to run. My nose has healed itself, but my ribs won't," she told him.
Ba-trine never replied, he just took her hand and lead her up a small hill of rocks through tiny orange streams that served as the captive Deltans' water source and to a large rock. Once the smaller stones had been removed, a hole, just big enough for Higarashi to fit through appeared safe. Higarashi stretched a testing hand through the hole.
I promise to come back, she took her necklace from underneath her tunic, a single small cross dangled off the silver chain. The wedding band was again upon her ring finger on her left hand.
What is that? he asked gently taking the necklace off her finger.
It is a cross, my father's family believes that a man named Jesus was crucified on it, after three days God, our Heavenly Father, raised him from the dead to save us and clear us of our sins, Higarashi explained.
Why a cross, it is where this Jesus died? Ba-trine asked confused.
My grandma believes that the Bible, the book that tells the full story of what I have explained to you, says to take up your cross daily and walk with Him. It is a reminder of His love, she continued explaining her belief.
Will it bring luck? Ba-trine wanted to know.
Hope to those who believe, was all Higarashi could tell him.
I see, Ba-trine studied the cross, When Elana left she traveled East, he pointed to their right, from there I am not certain were she went.
Thank you, she took his hand once more, Our people are definitely looking for us.
Hope to see you through, he wished.
She slid through the hole and onto the ground. Outside the shield, she tumbled painfully into the grass. She stood slowly and smoothed her gray tunic, for once she was glad the diplomat’s uniform weren't bold colored, gray would be easier to hide.
Higarashi raced over the golden grass holding her aching ribs as the Klingons chased her closely. She stumbled a few times, but she never cried as she held her aching ribs. The Klingons footsteps ever closer. Their pungent smell assaulting her delicate sense of smell.
In the distance she saw Captain Christopher Pike waiting to save her. His black hair rustled in the wind. Diplomat Sheema-Kala stood to his left and Commander Number One was running toward her.
"Annette!" Pike called.
Hot disrupter fire burned into her back. "No!" she screamed as she fell face first to the ground, dust temporarily hiding her as she lost consciousness.
"Halt!" Pike bellowed angrily through the darkness.
Federation lasers lashed with alien ones.
Number One reached Higarashi, whipped open her communicator, and asked, "Can you lock onto us?"
"Aye commander," Ensign O'Reilly replied, then beamed the two directly to sickbay using the emergency transporters in the center of sickbay where Doctor Phillip Boyce waited.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
On the surface, Captain Christopher Pike and Diplomat Sheema-Kala stood behind a large boulder firing lasers blindly at the Klingons and dodging the Klingons disrupters.
"We can not keep firing this way Captain, my laser is down fifty-four percent," Kala calmly told Pike.
"I know how long before morning?" Pike asked.
"Two hours, forty-nine minutes," Kala informed him.
"I'll send Commander West and a security team then. Enterprise," he said once he opened his communicator. "Two to beam up."
The two disappeared in a flash of light, then rematerialized on the Enterprise's transporter pads. Pike went to the companel, "Doctor Boyce, what is Annette's condition?"
"Critical, but stabilizing Captain," Boyce's voice replied.
"Understood. Pike out," he switched the channel, "Bridge, activate force shields around Delta Indus II's main populations."
"Aye sir," Kelso replied.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Doctor Phillip Boyce worked feverishly over Ensign Annette Higarashi's back as Captain Christopher Pike strode in.
"Her back has been nearly melted. I am attempting to restore it now," as Doctor Boyce spoke, he never looked away from his work, nor did his hand move away from their duty.
Pike absentmindedly ran his hand along the smooth metal wall of sickbay, then his eyes could no longer stay away, he had to look. Higarashi's black blood mixed with the black disruptor burns making one indistinguishable from the other. They splashed onto her back like a giant drop of black water. Other than the burn, her skin was smooth and flawless.
The instrument Doctor Boyce hovered over her back began to beep faster, "Her wound is closing. Thank God the disrupting was stopped before it got too deep to heal. The rest of her back will heal itself. Next I have to fuse her ribs," he explained.
"On its own?" Pike asked confused.
"Rhaandarites have some regenerative capabilities, Chris," Boyce informed.
Pike went to Higarashi's bedside and called to her, "Annette," he touched her right shoulder gently.
"Captain," she said weakly as she turned her head to face him, "The others?"
"We'll get them in two hours," to the Doctor he asked, "Any after effects from this Phil?"
"Well, by mid-life her left side will be paralyzed," Boyce replied.
"And for a Rhaandarite that will be?" Pike inquired.
"About three hundred, being only half Rhaandarite it may be half the time," Boyce said almost sarcastically.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Finally arriving on the bridge, Captain Christopher Pike commanded, "Follow the yacht's trail."
"Sir that was over two hours ago, the Klingons will be gone," Commander Number One protested.
Pike looked at her, she put in the approximate location.
Once they arrived, Number One was right.
"Anyway to track them?" Pike asked.
"Not this long afterward sir," Number One replied.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"May I introduce our new crew mate, Ensign Annette Higarashi," Commander Caithlyn Barry announced.
Higarashi held her information chips to Captain Christopher Pike.
"Thank you ensign, I expect reports-" Pike began.
"-at 0500 no later, sir," Higarashi finished.
"Good, to your duty," he fished the necklace out of his pocket, "Ensign," he called. When she turned back he handed it to her.
"Thank you sir. And about earlier, I wasn't even talking about you, I'm sorry you misconstrued that," she said sheepishly.
"It's fine. I was on edge earlier. I, too, apologize," he replied.
"Aye sir," she replied.
Higarashi joined Montgomery Scott, her imsad, at a console. He smiled at her sadly, but didn't say anything to her.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I hope this dinner goes more smoothly," Captain Christopher Pike said to Commander Number One sheepishly.
"So do I," she replied.
"I hope you like boeuf bouignon,” he said.
"I do," Number One smiled.
Captain Christopher Pike, Commander Number One, and Diplomat Sheema-Kala were now aboard the Enterprise. They sat in the conference room around the circular table.
Doctor Phillip Boyce joined them as Pike announced, "Annette will be found. All we know is that Annette was taken in broad daylight twenty-five feet from the Diplomatic Chambers, by Klingons."
"Klingons?" Kala asked in confusion.
Pike touched his forehead. He continued, "Kala's guards were facing away from us on their way back to the coliseum, not in a position to help, unfortunately. It is suspected that she has been caged in an unpopulated region beyond the Great Deltan Sea. Apparently other Deltans, twenty-six of them, are with her."
"My sister Elena was taken and somehow she escaped," Kala explained.
"Do we agree that going there is the best option here?" Pike polled.
Doctor Boyce nodded and said, "As long as it keeps peace."
"Yes Captain, we must consider this logical solution," Number One added.
"Colonization will not be put on hold. I agree now and accept all you have to offer," Kala put in.
"Great," Pike replied as he shook hands with Kala to seal the deal, "Any objections?" he addressed the others.
"No, I just hope that Annie is all right. I'd hate to lose a new crew member before she starts," Doctor Boyce commented.
"Me too," Pike muttered as Number One and Kala shook hands as well. “You are all dismissed to your duties. Number One, Kala, would the two of you join me back on Delta Indus II?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Holding a Federation Universal Translator, the Klingons questioned Higarashi, "All right Halfling trash, are you from Starfleet?"
Being as calm as she could be, squelching her shuddering fear. "Yes," she stated simply.
"What do you know of warp technology?" the leader demanded of Higarashi.
"Nothing," Higarashi replied, she was as stone faced as a Vulcan.
Shutting off the Translator, the leader told the other to hit Higarashi.
A black gash appeared where the other had split Higarashi's lip.
Both Klingons moved back in fear as the leader turned on the Translator again and demanded, "What is that stuff?"
Simple answers, she reminded herself, then replied, "Blood."
"Any other strange things we should know?" the lead Klingon asked as they closed in on her again, like predators attacking their prey.
"No," she said flatly.
"What do you know about warp technology?" the leader demanded again angrily.
"Nothing," she lied again.
Again the other punched her, breaking her nose. Hot pain seared through her face. She spit her charcoal black blood into their faces.
The leader licked the blood from his lips, "I do not have time for play," he growled, gesturing for the other to hit her again.
The other punched her in the ribs, cracking two of them.
"Tell us what you know and this will end!" the leader demanded.
"I know nothing," she said defiantly.
A jab to the other side of her ribs sent her into unconsciousness. They tossed her out of the interrogation chamber.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"My lord, a shuttle of Starfleet origin is closing," the tactical officer informed.
"On screen," the captain commanded.
"Yes my lord,” he replied.
The medium sized shuttle appears as it approached. It was modified to look like a square bullet.
"It is requesting communications," the tactical officer reported.
"Oblige it," the captain replied with a sneer.
"Klingon vessel," Young's voice came through, "Consider yourselves under arrest under the terms of Interstellar Law."
Speaking low the captain instructed, "Target engines." Then to Young he said, "Federation vessel consider yourselves prisoners of the Empire."
"My lord, they've closed the link," the tactical officer informed.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Leon, contact Enterprise," Young commanded.
"Aye, Billy,” Marks replied immediately.
"Lieutenant Kelso here," a voice responded from the Enterprise.
"They aren't cooperating," Young informed.
The Klingon's disrupters racked the little vessel leaving it dark.
"Tell me you gave them our location?" Young asked.
"Just before the Klingons opened fire," Marks replied.
"Thanks Leon," Young said.
Over subspace the captain of the Klingon vessel demanded, "Tell us the secret of your warp technology."
"We have no knowledge," Marks replied. They were security, not engineers.
"Destroy them," the Klingon announced, those were the last words William Young and Leon Marks ever heard.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"They've destroyed the admiral's yacht," Ensign O'Reilly cried.
"Damn," Lieutenant Kelso mumbled, "Get Captain Pike."
"Pike here," Captain Christopher Pike responded immediately.
"Captain, the Klingons have destroyed Young and Marks' vessel,” Kelso told Pike.
"Acknowledged. Do we have their coordinates?" Pike inquired.
"Not all of them sir,” Kelso replied.
"Remain in orbit," Pike ordered.
"Aye sir," Kelso complied.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Night had fallen on Delta Indus II. Ambassador Annette Higarashi remained unconscious for two hours. Gently Ba-trine woke her.
"Annie, I am sorry,” he said gently.
Her eyes fluttered open and she whispered, "Ba-trine."
"It is all right now," Ba-trine informed her.
"I'm in no shape to run. My nose has healed itself, but my ribs won't," she told him.
Ba-trine never replied, he just took her hand and lead her up a small hill of rocks through tiny orange streams that served as the captive Deltans' water source and to a large rock. Once the smaller stones had been removed, a hole, just big enough for Higarashi to fit through appeared safe. Higarashi stretched a testing hand through the hole.
I promise to come back, she took her necklace from underneath her tunic, a single small cross dangled off the silver chain. The wedding band was again upon her ring finger on her left hand.
What is that? he asked gently taking the necklace off her finger.
It is a cross, my father's family believes that a man named Jesus was crucified on it, after three days God, our Heavenly Father, raised him from the dead to save us and clear us of our sins, Higarashi explained.
Why a cross, it is where this Jesus died? Ba-trine asked confused.
My grandma believes that the Bible, the book that tells the full story of what I have explained to you, says to take up your cross daily and walk with Him. It is a reminder of His love, she continued explaining her belief.
Will it bring luck? Ba-trine wanted to know.
Hope to those who believe, was all Higarashi could tell him.
I see, Ba-trine studied the cross, When Elana left she traveled East, he pointed to their right, from there I am not certain were she went.
Thank you, she took his hand once more, Our people are definitely looking for us.
Hope to see you through, he wished.
She slid through the hole and onto the ground. Outside the shield, she tumbled painfully into the grass. She stood slowly and smoothed her gray tunic, for once she was glad the diplomat’s uniform weren't bold colored, gray would be easier to hide.
Higarashi raced over the golden grass holding her aching ribs as the Klingons chased her closely. She stumbled a few times, but she never cried as she held her aching ribs. The Klingons footsteps ever closer. Their pungent smell assaulting her delicate sense of smell.
In the distance she saw Captain Christopher Pike waiting to save her. His black hair rustled in the wind. Diplomat Sheema-Kala stood to his left and Commander Number One was running toward her.
"Annette!" Pike called.
Hot disrupter fire burned into her back. "No!" she screamed as she fell face first to the ground, dust temporarily hiding her as she lost consciousness.
"Halt!" Pike bellowed angrily through the darkness.
Federation lasers lashed with alien ones.
Number One reached Higarashi, whipped open her communicator, and asked, "Can you lock onto us?"
"Aye commander," Ensign O'Reilly replied, then beamed the two directly to sickbay using the emergency transporters in the center of sickbay where Doctor Phillip Boyce waited.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
On the surface, Captain Christopher Pike and Diplomat Sheema-Kala stood behind a large boulder firing lasers blindly at the Klingons and dodging the Klingons disrupters.
"We can not keep firing this way Captain, my laser is down fifty-four percent," Kala calmly told Pike.
"I know how long before morning?" Pike asked.
"Two hours, forty-nine minutes," Kala informed him.
"I'll send Commander West and a security team then. Enterprise," he said once he opened his communicator. "Two to beam up."
The two disappeared in a flash of light, then rematerialized on the Enterprise's transporter pads. Pike went to the companel, "Doctor Boyce, what is Annette's condition?"
"Critical, but stabilizing Captain," Boyce's voice replied.
"Understood. Pike out," he switched the channel, "Bridge, activate force shields around Delta Indus II's main populations."
"Aye sir," Kelso replied.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Doctor Phillip Boyce worked feverishly over Ensign Annette Higarashi's back as Captain Christopher Pike strode in.
"Her back has been nearly melted. I am attempting to restore it now," as Doctor Boyce spoke, he never looked away from his work, nor did his hand move away from their duty.
Pike absentmindedly ran his hand along the smooth metal wall of sickbay, then his eyes could no longer stay away, he had to look. Higarashi's black blood mixed with the black disruptor burns making one indistinguishable from the other. They splashed onto her back like a giant drop of black water. Other than the burn, her skin was smooth and flawless.
The instrument Doctor Boyce hovered over her back began to beep faster, "Her wound is closing. Thank God the disrupting was stopped before it got too deep to heal. The rest of her back will heal itself. Next I have to fuse her ribs," he explained.
"On its own?" Pike asked confused.
"Rhaandarites have some regenerative capabilities, Chris," Boyce informed.
Pike went to Higarashi's bedside and called to her, "Annette," he touched her right shoulder gently.
"Captain," she said weakly as she turned her head to face him, "The others?"
"We'll get them in two hours," to the Doctor he asked, "Any after effects from this Phil?"
"Well, by mid-life her left side will be paralyzed," Boyce replied.
"And for a Rhaandarite that will be?" Pike inquired.
"About three hundred, being only half Rhaandarite it may be half the time," Boyce said almost sarcastically.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Finally arriving on the bridge, Captain Christopher Pike commanded, "Follow the yacht's trail."
"Sir that was over two hours ago, the Klingons will be gone," Commander Number One protested.
Pike looked at her, she put in the approximate location.
Once they arrived, Number One was right.
"Anyway to track them?" Pike asked.
"Not this long afterward sir," Number One replied.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"May I introduce our new crew mate, Ensign Annette Higarashi," Commander Caithlyn Barry announced.
Higarashi held her information chips to Captain Christopher Pike.
"Thank you ensign, I expect reports-" Pike began.
"-at 0500 no later, sir," Higarashi finished.
"Good, to your duty," he fished the necklace out of his pocket, "Ensign," he called. When she turned back he handed it to her.
"Thank you sir. And about earlier, I wasn't even talking about you, I'm sorry you misconstrued that," she said sheepishly.
"It's fine. I was on edge earlier. I, too, apologize," he replied.
"Aye sir," she replied.
Higarashi joined Montgomery Scott, her imsad, at a console. He smiled at her sadly, but didn't say anything to her.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I hope this dinner goes more smoothly," Captain Christopher Pike said to Commander Number One sheepishly.
"So do I," she replied.
"I hope you like boeuf bouignon,” he said.
"I do," Number One smiled.
I'm after Part 3, so not read through all yet, but my first thoughts...
I wouldn't guess that Syana was a Talosian, wow.
But I find jumping between timelines confusing. You could add some descriptions, so it would be easier to know at once "when" I am. Sometimes I catch that in a middle of a dialogue
Oh, just noticed that later in the text it's clearly written which timeline it is. All right-y, then
PS. If you wanted this to be your entry for the challenge, I'm afraid it's way too long. There's 7000 words limit.
I wouldn't guess that Syana was a Talosian, wow.
But I find jumping between timelines confusing. You could add some descriptions, so it would be easier to know at once "when" I am. Sometimes I catch that in a middle of a dialogue
Oh, just noticed that later in the text it's clearly written which timeline it is. All right-y, then
PS. If you wanted this to be your entry for the challenge, I'm afraid it's way too long. There's 7000 words limit.
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