Chapter 1
2278 Deep in the Alpha Quadrant
"Captain's Personal Log star date 7412.7: After a brief shore leave, the Enterprise has been dispatched to the far reaches of the Alpha Quadrant tracking a slow moving distress call. Our search continues as the source of the distress call has remained elusive for nearly one day. Although rescuing beings in distress is hardly welcome, I will admit that part of me welcomes the distraction of a more…routine mission.
Several weeks ago, the Enterprise intercepted an extremely powerful and deadly energy cloud, which was headed for a collision course with our home planet of Earth. My crew and I eventually succeeded in communicating with the so-called V-Ger entity—which we now understand to be an evolved Voyager 6 module from 20th century Earth. What resulted from this new understanding was one of the most miraculous spectacles I have ever witnessed, which happened to coincide with the strange disappearance of Captain Willard Decker. It's safe to say that it will be a long time until my crew and I are able to put these events behind us."
"Captain, we're approaching the coordinates ahead at 6000 meters." The slim athletic officer moved his hands fluidly over the helm controls, but he didn't move his alert gaze from the screen at the front of the bridge. A small grey spinning object lay ahead of them.
"Bring us in easy, Lieutenant," the Captain's voice said calmly from the command area behind him.
"Aye sir, braking thrusters." Just when I was beginning to think things were going to calm down, thought Hikaru Sulu, as he activated the thrusters, abruptly slowing the ship's velocity.
"Captain," said Uhura tensely, turning halfway from her post. "I've confirmed the distress signal we picked up earlier…it's coming from the vessel dead ahead."
Captain James T. Kirk strode forward with his arms crossed. It was less about confidence or defensiveness, and more about his inability to stay warm. He felt a distinct chill on the bridge of the re-fitted Enterprise, and the new flimsy duty uniforms didn't help one damn bit. Even worse was the short sleeve version of the tunic. Short sleeves…the best engineering minds in Starfleet couldn't come up with anything better than short sleeves.
Like his helmsman, Kirk stared straight ahead at the view screen where the small dull grey ship spun uselessly. At least ten scenarios jetted from one area of his mind to the other, but until they took the chance to investigate further, they would not know. Meanwhile the crew awaited his next order. "Life signs," Kirk said quickly hearing and feeling the tension in his own voice.
"Two life signs, Captain," confirmed Chekov. "One is weaker than the other. They appear to be humanoid, Captain."
"Contact them," said Kirk. "Send our standard response to distress call," he said still watching the screen warily. His eyes narrowed. Was it some kind of booby trap? The vessel was small even for just two people, and as they drew closer it became more and more apparent that this was no Federation ship. "This isn't one of our own," he said, glancing to his right. "Spock?"
Commander Spock straightened from his position at a nearby science station and turned his head slightly to regard the captain. "Agreed, Captain. I have in the last few minutes run a series of scans, finding no suitable matches. However, I would say it is even more notable that the vessel we are currently observing is not a vessel at all."
Kirk frowned and put his palm on the back of his command chair, leaning his weight against it. "What do you mean it's not a vessel, Spock?" He lifted his hand to gesture at the view screen at the obviousness of the Vulcan's error.
"I mean, Captain, that although for reasons unknown to us this capsule has been pressed into service as a life pod, it was not built for such purposes," said Spock, turning to face Kirk squarely. "I recommend immediate transport of the pod and its passengers to the Enterprise, Captain. The life support systems such as they are, will fail. It is merely a question of when."
Kirk studied his friend's impassive expression for a few more moments before nodding to Chekov. "You heard Mr. Spock. Emergency beam over into the main cargo bay."
"Aye sir!"
Kirk and Spock entered the cargo bay to find Dr. McCoy and Chief Engineer Scott gesturing angrily at each other while the alien pod, tube shaped and hardly two meters in length, lay inert on the deck. Small wisps of some kind of gas floated over the hatch, making it impossible to see inside the vessel.
"I've run a bio-filter scan and the whole thing is clean. Now there are two people dying inside that can, and you want to talk about the engineering schematics of this piece of junk? Good God, man, get a grip on reality and crack the thing open!"
"I'll have ye know, Doctor… that the whole piece of junk is worth savin' whether you see the value in it or not! Now I'll open the pod as soon as the Captain gives the word—"
"Scotty, open the pod," said Kirk briskly as he and Spock approached.
"But sir, I—"
"Mr. Scott, there's no time…you heard the doctor, those people may not have long to live."
McCoy turned on Kirk as though readying for another fight. "Jim, I don't know why the hell you didn't just beam them to sickbay and save us all of this bickering."
Kirk sighed and pointed at the pod's hatch, nodding to Mr. Scott. The engineer moved forward with a cutting tool as he and his technicians began to work at the hatch.
Spock glanced at McCoy. "The transporter beam could not establish an adequate lock on the passengers of the life pod, due to interference with the vessel's composition. As you are quite aware, transporting organic life forms is a complex and…imperfect science, Doctor."
"Which is why I prefer the comfort of a shuttle craft any damn day of the week," snapped McCoy, brushing past the science officer.
Kirk, who had drawn his phaser, grasped McCoy's arm. "Bones…you're sure there is nothing resembling a disease or virus in that tube?"
"As sure as we can be," McCoy said slowly, and loosened himself from the Captain's grip. He re-focused his attention on watching Mr. Scott cut away at the hatch, which finally depressurized with a loud popping sound. The engineering techs lifted the hatch carefully away and placed it on the deck.
The officers resisted the urge to jump backward in alarm as a hand, brown skinned and human in appearance, reached out from inside the capsule. McCoy leaned over to grasp the hand, which was weak and shaking, and yet as he looked down into the face of the owner of the hand he saw clear determination. She was alive. Her companion, pale and seemingly unconscious was nestled in her arms. They both appeared human, and covered in superficial injuries. While the female was smooth skinned in appearance, something about her expression made clear to McCoy that she may have been 30 years old…or even 300.
The young man had short brown hair, was perhaps in his early twenties, and lay very still, which continued to cause McCoy concern. As he ran his tricorder over the man's body he noted that the man's heart was not working as it should be, which no doubt was the greatest source of his injury…and then further noted that the man's heart was completely artificial and far more advanced than was currently available in Starfleet.
"Who are you?" Kirk asked, now leaning over McCoy's shoulder.
"I'm Guinan," said the woman hoarsely. The young man's eyes fluttered open at that moment staring up at the officers, and like his companion his expression conveyed a singular determination and will despite his injured state. "And I don't think he remembers very much, but his name is Jean-Luc Picard." She sat up slightly and the man groaned and shut his eyes tightly. Guinan's mouth curled slightly into a smile. "As nice as it is to be alive...we're not supposed to be here."
