AN: Hi, ya'll! This is my first story, and although the main character is my OC, Ensign Thi'coo'ma, I will also have lots of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock and Co. I only want flames that help me. Anything else is a waste of my time. Positive comments I like unless you won't tell me why or what to do better. :) I'm just strange like that. Live Long and Prosper.

(BTW, Spock is MINE! None of you other ladies can have him!)

I do not own Star Trek, but I do own Hith'gar and the Hith'garians. And any other OC's that dare cross my path. And/or their races. Also, some of them are based off of a different book series, (Wings of Fire) And I don't own that, either.

Chapter 1: The First Days

I was walking in nervously. I was in Science Lab Seven, anxiously awaiting my welcome from Mr. Spock, the Vulcan with a reputation for being a perfectionist. By the way, my name is Thi'coo'ma (tI kooo ma)

And I am no perfectionist.

I had done well in the Academy, not the best, but well. My curiosity and willingness to learn was what got me on the Enterprise, not skill or intelligence.

It also helped that, just like Mr. Spock, I'm not human. Not Vulcan either, but Hith'garian. My people came from and icy planet made of mostly water. When my people aren't in their underwater homes, they're frolicking on the ice. I do to have hair (I'm not that reptilian!), but I also have bluish green gills and grips on my hands and feet so I can walk on ice. In between my toes and fingers are webs, and I have blue blood, which resulted in a bluish tinge. I looked around and saw a tall, skinny vulcanoid making his way towards me.
"Uh, hello, sir. I'm Ensign Thi'coo'ma, reporting for duty."

He nodded slowly. "And I am First Officer Spock. I assume that you have no need for special accommodations?" Well, other than it being too hot and dry and not at all in water, I think I'll make it. I thought, suddenly gloomily. "No, sir."

"Good. This is where you will be working," He said, pointing to a section of the lab with diagrams of alien species and such. "Since you are a xenobiologist. You will be working with Lt. Com. Dickens." The human smiled and waved at me. I smiled shyly back in greeting and held up my hand, putting my middle finger and my ring finger together and spreading out the rest of my fingers, displaying and aquamarine webbing in a sign of peace. "Greetings. I look forward to serving you and working with you." I announced formerly. I turned to Mr. Spock "And with you."

He nodded and walked away. I turned to Dickens and smiled. "It's nice to meet you," He said warmly. I nodded eagerly. "So where do we start?"

"Well, lets learn our way around!" He said jokingly. I was , however, still serious, and nodded and followed him. The charts of aliens and diagrams and microscopes and samples left me feeling like I was in heaven. (A Terran saying, if any of you don't come from Earth.) Dickens showed me my desk and assignment and left me to my own devices.

Hm.

Interesting. No one breathing over my back, no irritatingly warm bodies surrounding, no horribly crowded feeling. So much different than the Academy.

And I liked it. But before I could get to comfy, I had to see what I needed to do for the day.

I looked at my To Do List.

at this new society that lacks vowels,

and report on what you know of an Andorian, (Test)

a substance that may help Betazoid illnesses (Like a test

with fellow scientists to study Rigelian Fever, (At 22:00),

to bed

It looked easy enough, but by the time I was ready for the meeting, I was exhausted. Apparently, when they gave me the list, those were what you did when a superior officer wasn't bugging you for something. I sighed and walked in, composing myself. I flared my gills in greeting and recognition until I realized that none of them would realize the gesture and simply waved. I sat down, waiting for the not-really-a-class- but-really-a-class to start. So, when Mr. Spock walked into the same room as us lowly ensigns, we were thoroughly surprised. My Amazon and Kaplaken friends, (Kaplakens are a forest dwelling species and have super sensitive deer like ears, are very agile, and Amazons are peaceful rain forests dwelling species with claws between their fingers for climbing and the ability to blend in with the background. Yep. Those are my friends!) Kiki (Medical) And Coo'shu (Navigation) would have been surprised! We all stood stiff at attention, until he said "At ease" In a monotone voice that sent shivers up my spine.

"Now, Ensigns, Lieutenants," he said, and I realized that some officers ranking that high were also here. This must be serious! I thought, scared. If they're putting ranks together like this. Normally, an ensign would have a less serious assignment, but I guess the situation was so desperate that they had to pull togetther some Ensigns, too. "There has been a break-out of Rigelian Fever, as you know." Several nods, I must have missed the memo. I mean, I knew it was important, but not like this! So thats why they're so worried!

"You are collaborating with Medical to help." A bunch of medical students came in, including KIKI THE AMAZON!

YES!

"You may now choose a partner to work with." Me and Kiki rushed to each other. Her ruff flared up with excitement, changing from green to yellow. Why her ruff could change colors, but the rest of her just blend in is beyond me. Oh well. We walked together to our working place. I'm pretty sure my gills were sticking straight out, I was so excited. "Wheredowestart?!"

"Thi, calm down!" She laughed. "Here's what we do first- We see where people were when it broke out." I nodded. It seemed like a good idea. "Okay."

About 6 hours later, I was almost asleep, but happy. Now, I had finally had a real job! Except, of course, I was still about to fall asleep. So, when Mr. Spock walked in, part of my energy was going towards having energy. My gills were starting to itch, but I had to finish this test. "You are dismissed." Mr. Spock announced. I looked up at him, alarmed. "Ensign?" I opened my mouth but then shut it again. I knew better than to question an officer. I turned of the test and stumbled out, my eyes drooping slightly. When I made it to my quarters, (Someone had told me earlier where they were), I felt a pang of homesickness. Dry. Everywhere. I would have to sleep in this hot place, away from water. And ice. I missed home. I turned to the environmental controls to the coldest they could get, but I saw no humidity control. When I was about to give up and go to bed with itchy gills, my door opened. It was the CAPTAIN. I stood at stiff attention. "S-sir?"

He smiled. "At ease, Ensign." I almost slumped with relief. I was so so sososososososososososososososooooooooooooooooooooooooo tired. "A big day?" the Captain asked. I nodded. "Well, I just wanted to welcome you. And, by the way, the humidity controls are over here." He said, pointing to a knob. I rushed over and turned it up as high as it would go, relieved. "See you tomorrow, Ensign." And her walked away. See me tomorrow? What? Finally, to tired to keep my eyes, open, I tried to fall asleep, but in the end, I only had about 3 hours. The next morning, I pulled myself out of bed, sore from sitting the same way for hours. I made my way down to the labs when Mr. Spock came up to me. "Ensign? Why are you here?"

"O-oh! Am I in the wrong lab? I'm so sorry! Which lab am I supposed to be in?" Curse my gills! They were sticking straight out! He did the closest thing to a frown a Vulcan could.

"Ensign, did you get the message I sent out last night?"

"No, sir."

"It said that if you were in the meeting, you could take half the day off," He said gently "Since you had to be in the extra 6 hour meeting." I nodded.

"Yes sir...but there was this test I was working on, and I'm scared I'll forget...may I work on it now?"

"If you wish."

"Thank you, sir! Guden'bach!" I was so excited, I accidentally used my native tongue, too.

He nodded and let me go. When I was finally done with the test (2 hours later), I was ready for a day off. I walked out of the lab wearily. But when I tried to rest, I realized that with the outbreak, I just couldn't bring myself to sleep while others were hurting. I pushed myself out of bed and snuck around the labs, helping out however and whenever I could. Finally, the day ended, and Mr. Spock saw me. Thats okay, I thought nervously, I'm supposed to be here at this time. He won't get mad. I turned back to my work, but realized that I was making stupid mistakes because I was tired. So, I stood up,

And was face to face with Spock.

I opened my mouth as his eyebrows went up. "I-uh- was just about to leave, Sir. Do you need something?"

"No, Ensign. However, I believe that you need sleep."

I hung my head in shame. Was that that obvious? "I-I'm sorry, Sir."

His eyes softened. "Ensign, I meant no offense. However, I would appreciate that, instead of wandering around the labs, as others have told me, you would get some rest."

"Yes, Sir." I breathed, trying desperately to hide a yawn. I went to my quarters and, even though he wanted me to sleep, tried to research.

All throughout the week, the officers who were researching barely got any sleep. So on the day that we finally found what was the problem, I fell asleep.

IN FRONT OF MR. SPOCK.

When he gently shook my shoulder in an attempt to wake me, I was mortified. Times ten. I quickly got up and stuttered: "I-I'm s-sorry, sir. I-uh...was just about to leave..." (deja vu, anyone?) but then his hand rested on my shoulder again. His eyes held disappointment. Oh no. I must have done a bad job, and now I just fell asleep! I opened my mouth to apologize, until he gently took my shoulder (Again,) and led me down the hall, and I swore that amusement had crept into his gaze. When I got to the room, I realized it was Sickbay. I was furiously trying to hold in a yawn, but when I looked in, I had to try and stop a muzzy laugh.

Half of my comrades were asleep in Sickbay beds. I soon realized that from the exhaustion I felt in my limbs I was about to join them. Suddenly, I could barely keep my eyes open. Mr. Spock quickly grabbed me harder and led me to the bed. I sank down in it, but then Doctor McCoy said "Wrong bed, Spock. I have one just for her." I closed my eyes and tried to grab the bed I was in. It was right here. I was tired. It was right here and did I mention I was tired? When someone picked me up and stuck me on a different bed, I couldn't really feel the difference. Until something wet went over me. I opened my eyes slightly in surprise. Wet! Water! Joy went through me as I snuggled in deeper. I listened to the muffled voices above me.

"I told she would like it! Hith'garians absolutely love water."

"That they do, Doctor. Although I do not understand it."

"Well, it seems to have a regenerative property."

"Somewhat slightly, however, it is interesting."

That was the last thing she remembered before finally falling asleep.

When she woke up, she realized that everyone was still there. Well, this was an interesting week.

Than again, this was an interesting ship.