The Enterprise D had docked at the main space station orbiting Earth over six hours ago. Most of the crew had already beamed down to the surface to enjoy an extended shore leave after a particularly strenuous away mission. The Enterprise had been docked at this same station not six months previous with double the crew they had returned with this time, but that was to be expected. This time though the captain and most of the command crew had sustained several complex injuries that would require more advanced medical equipment than the Enterprise carried, the Admirals had just brought them home in hopes they could recover completely both Captain and crew. The ship had also suffered massive hull damage. It would be in dry dock for atleast six weeks with Engineer crews working around the clock to repair the damage. Star Fleet had made it well known they expected both crew and ship to be ready for active duty at the end of those six weeks. There would be no extra time allotted. The scheduled was firmly set in place. If the crew was not able to meet the time constraints, they would not be serving aboard the Enterprise.
The Chief Information Systems Officer was attempting to complete the repairs to the wireless computer system alone. The intricate parts of the hardware were delicate and needed a special touch. Basic computer function had barely been maintained on the crippled vessel during the trek home, even the life support systems had taken severe damage. The system would have to be completely replaced and nearly all the relays would have to be reconfigured. It was going to be a grueling task. A continuing grueling task, a three week cripple voyage of making it to Earth with no sleep trying to keep the ship running was difficult enough. This task would take even more time and concentration. There were over 5,000 different relays and PADDs that would have to be repaired. Most of the parts for repair were kept on the grounds of the academy so not only did it take a while to actually put the system in place, but to go and get parts on the surface. Once everything had been installed there would be several systems checks and continual trouble-shooting. It was a job for a patient person.
Unfortunately, Lieutenant D'Anya Norik was not a patient person, but she was determined to have the ship's computer fully operational before the engine repairs were complete. That left her with a minimum of fifteen days to complete every last repair, replacement and double check. Most of the Admirals would blame her full-throttle approach on her age, others would blame it on her father's genetics and even others would blame the fact that she had been working with her mother's computer parts since before she could talk. She had to prove herself worthy of taking the Chief Information Systems title and that it was not just handed it to her based on her family heritage. This seemed to be the appropriate way. The remaining six in her station were too tired to be of use so she had sent them on shore leave. She gave them a fake smile and told them to enjoy the time they had with their family as they snarled in reply. She could do this, and she could do it alone, she didn't need any of their help.
D'Anya strode once more into the transporter room to be beamed down yet again to the planet. "One more trip for today." She nodded at the operator. He barely gazed in her direction in return only his grunt let her know that he had heard her. She felt the usual scramble of her atoms wishing when she re-organized the knot in her shoulders would dissipate. She opened her eyes to the warm California sunshine noting the knot had not eased at all. She went thru the same greeting and grunts in reply she had done only an hour earlier and rushed into the storage compartment. There was every kind of computer pieces anyone could ever need scattered around the room. If she had more time she would have loved to sit down and gone thru them all. But, alas she didn't have that kind of time, so she gathered what she needed and closed the door behind her.
She made her way back outside of the grand hall and clicked her communicator. "One to beam up." She held her parts closely and admired the beautiful San Francisco sunset as the transporter locked on. She would miss Earth disparately once she was back in space. Her grandmother had long since died, but Anya felt close to her and to her warmth when she was on Earth. Space was so dark and cold, Anya always wore several layers of clothing with a small necklace of her grandmother's tucked away underneath. One day she would be able to come back and stay in the only home she would ever know. When she appeared on the transporter pad something seemed a little off. It didn't look like the Enterprise, but it was a Federation ship. Had another ship in dock picked up her transmission and beamed her aboard?
Lieutenant Commander Montgomery "Scotty" Scott looked at the woman in surprise. He had been about ready to end his shift in the transporter room to head to engineering to get the ship under way, when suddenly the transporter pad whirled with life. He had not beamed anyone up and none of the crew were still left on the surface. What in the devil was going on? He noticed that a woman appeared infront of him. She looked as shocked as he felt. She had on a strange uniform with the same Federation insignia that they all had. "Great Scot." He managed to murmur. He clicked the communicator on the wall. "Capt'n you and Mr. Spock might want to come to the transporter room." He eyed the woman carefully. "Stay where you are lass. I donnae know where you came from, but we're going to have to figure you out now that ye are here." He slowly made his way to the woman.
Anya's eyes were opened wide in shock. She stood in place just as she had been instructed, even though her head was reeling. That man looked awful familiar and some where in the back of her mind she was remembering some Scottish Engineer, but that man had been dead for years! "You have got to be kidding! You are Montgomery Scott!" She shrieked as she pointed at him nearly dropping her computer parts. The door slid open and Captain James T. Kirk and Commander Spock rushed thru. This time she did drop her computer parts and she screamed. "You are Jim Kirk and Spock and Scotty! This is the original Enterprise! How did this happen?!" She slowly sank to the ground as she lost consciousness. Kirk and Scott immediately ran to the girl's side as the ensign called for a Medical team. Commander Spock raised an eyebrow and shared a quick glance with Kirk. This was a very interesting turn of events.
The medical team had rushed the woman back to Med Bay leaving the three officers behind. "Captain, if I may interject a conclusion." Spock raised his eyebrow as the Captain gave him a nod. Once again someone from the future had come knocking at the Enterprise's preverbal door, Spock was just glad it was not another version of himself. "The young woman knew our names and was shocked to see us. She also had a Federation insignia on her uniform. It is logical to conclude this woman is not from this time but from the future as she called this ship the 'original' Enterprise. We must consult Star Fleet before we take any further actions. It may even be logical to contact Ambassador Selek." Spock did not look at Jim as he called his older self by his knew name; it was strange for them both. However, he was quite fascinated by the woman's appearance and her knowledge of the three men in the room's identity.
Kirk merely smirked at Spock already jumping to conclusions; he should be used to his First Officer trying to assess the situation as quickly as possible. Spock was miles ahead of his human crewmates. Spock always hung on to every small detail, plotting ahead with a hypothesis. Before anyone else had put two and two together, Spock was already putting four and four together. Kirk brought himself out of his Spock-admiring. "You are right, as always. I feel that Bones should be briefed on the possible situation as well, he is about to have to treat her for any injuries. We will contact Star Fleet from Bones' office all together. This might turn into an interesting day after all." Kirk and Scotty chuckled as the three headed towards Med Bay.
Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy had already treated the patient and was preparing to awaken her when Kirk, Scotty and Spock walked in. "You have got a hell of a way to greet our guests, beam them aboard and knock them out cold." He didn't bother to face them as he spoke. "She is suffering from exhaustion, dehydration and a mild concussion. There appears to be several fractures throughout her body in different states of healing. There is something strange in her physiology but I'll have to run more tests to be conclusive, it's nothing too strange." He turned and faced them. "Now that I've told you what's wrong with her, you can tell me who she is and where she is from. This uniform is hardly the style these days and, if that truly is a Federations insignia, why she has been beaten so often with such brutality. " He looked straight into Kirk's eyes. Was the universe ever going to stop with its continual attempt to drive him insane? He could handle cleaning up Kirk's wounds, after all Jim Kirk brought these kinds of things on himself, but a young woman? He needed a drink, a strong drink. He didn't want to be thinking about such heavy things while sober.
Kirk had frowned at Bones' report. If indeed this woman was from the future, what kind of Starfleet had she left? "We are not sure, but we need to contact Starfleet to inform them of Spock's conclusion." Kirk nodded towards Bones' office. "We need to do it from in here so we can keep an eye on her at the same time. I have a feeling our guest will have a rather rude awakening from her nap." Kirk eyed the young woman, well the young Star Fleet officer. She looked so peaceful laying there asleep, but of course if anyone knew how looks could be deceiving it was Captain James T. Kirk. Kirk was upset to learn that the woman had taken such a beating. Even he had been beaten constantly but Bones always healed him so that there was hardly a trace left of the once broken bones. He led the way into the tiny office. Bones shook his head and followed, while Spock merely raised an eyebrow.
The four commanding officers of the ship contacted Star Fleet and informed them of what had happened. Admiral Pike, who was fairly level-headed, had decided that if indeed she had been a Star Fleet officer that she would keep her post onboard the Enterprise. She might be useful to the ship. If she hadn't, they would think of an alternative later. They had learned a great deal from the alternate Spock (or Spock Prime or Ambassador Selek) and some how people from the future had lost their taboo. Pike wanted to be briefed after she had been awoken. He informed them that he would immediately pen a policy on how Star Fleet crewmembers should handle the situation if they are time-displaced. Pike cautioned them to gently question her for information on her past – their future – because if there was one alternate universe, chances were their were others and they might not be as friendly as the two they knew about.
After the view-screen went dark, Bones looked at Kirk. "I think we need to wake the poor child up and let us hear her side of the story." Kirk nodded in agreement and they went out to the biobed their guest occupied. Bones couldn't help but notice how young she was. "If she is from the future it looks as if things are run by kids like Chekov!" Bones mumbled as placed the age old smelling salts under her nose. But Bones had already noticed the hard lines around her eyes and mouth as if she had a constant grimace coupled with the greens and blues of the bruises around her eye and cheekbones. This child, Star Fleet Officer or not, had endured more than the normal teenager.