Chapter 1
Bella
"Okaaaay!" drawled the Captain, spinning in his chair. We were 2 years into our 5 year mission in space, the longest one yet. Quite frankly, we were running out of places to go. "Our next stop… Ireland! Which is on Earth, for those of you who don't know." he announced. I raised my eyebrows. We had only been to Earth last week. "Captain, I must object." I heard Spock say from behind me. "We have already covered that part of the galaxy. It is not logical to return there just yet." Kirk waved him away. "We have a new crew member," he said, looking at me. "He's just graduated from Starfleet. And please do not ask why we have to go and collect him. Lieutenant Isabella, you'll have to show him around. After all, he's taking your job," he smirked. I stopped dead. "Sorry, Captain, I do not understand," I stammered. But he had stopped listening, instead he was asking Sulu to set the course for Earth. I lunged for Spock. "Wh- what did he mean? Am I getting f-" But the look on Spock's face stopped me short. It was a mixture between regret, sadness, and a slipping mask of emotionlessness. "It's been… great... working with you, Bella," he said softly, unsure of his words. Then he turned away quickly and began aimlessly pressing buttons on one of the blinking monitors.
I waited nervously in the transporting room, while Scotty angrily tried to lock onto this Irish newbie. "He keeps jigglin' up and down and it's mighty annoyin'" he grumbled. "An' he won't answer his communicator! I don't even think he knows how to use it," I bit my tongue to stop myself from laughing. It was going to take a while to train this one. Suddenly Scotty yelled, "Finally!" and a blonde guy slowly faded into view. He stood awkwardly, his pale blue eyes darting amazedly around the room. His Starfleet uniform was slightly askew, and his hair was ruffled. "Sorry, sorry," he gabbled. "I-uh, well, it's uh, lovely to be on the Enterprise, I must say. I'm Avery Greyson."
