Time is the Longest Distance
Chapter 1
Prologue
"There will be time, there will be time
To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet."
T.S. Eliot
Captain James T. Kirk sat in his Captain's chair surveying his Alpha shift crew at work, and contemplating the vast expanse of this section of the Alpha quadrant on the view screen. It was still pretty early, and the bridge was quiet, the only sounds were a Uhura's soft voice speaking into her comm and the occasional clicks and staccato beeps of the various equipment as his crew worked at all the duty stations around him.
His massive ship was gliding serenely through space at a leisurely warp 1. There was a faint, a very faint thrum, under his feet, barely perceptible, except perhaps to the Captain and the Chief Engineer, Jim and Scotty, both having a finely honed sixth sense about anything and everything on their beloved ship. Warp 1 was only a baby's crawl for the ship's massive warp engines, but there was no need for speed to get to anywhere right now.
Jim smiled as he thought of yesterday and Scotty's response when Jim had ordered the decrease in speed from their usual warp 5. "There's no need to rush for the next couple of days, Scotty. No orders have come in for a new mission, so we can travel at our leisure and conserve the dilithium crystals."
His CE had smiled widely. "'Tis good to hear that, Captain. We do need to give the warp and impulse engines a rest occasionally. Seems my wee bairns are always taxed tae the maximum. Not that they can't handle it, of course," he'd added hastily, least Jim think his engines were running at less than their usual stellar capacity.
Jim had kept his face serious. "I know you and your engineers are always working to keep the engines in top condition, Scotty, but it's good to save the dilithium crystals when we can. We never know when we'll have to push the engines," he added, thinking of Romulans and Klingons suddenly popping out of nowhere and always itching for a fight with the mighty Enterprise.
"Aye, Captain. 'Tis best to take advantage of peace and quiet, so I'll be checking the crystals while we're only coasting, so to speak. Seems that resting me engines doesn't happen often, does it, now." Scotty had shaken his head dolefully and gone about his business.
So here they were, his beautiful ship encased in her warp bubble moving leisurely and sedately through other space. Jim watched the beauty of the star field as it wavered and flashed in the view screen. Hr turned his face as he heard the lift door open. It was Yeoman Rand with her dispatch pouch full to overflowing with padds for him to review and sign. Jim sighed. "Is it that time again, Janice?"
Janice looked sympathetic. "I'm afraid so, Captain. Mr. Spock has signed off on his monthly reports, so it's your turn, Sir. They must be sent to Command by end of Alpha shift tomorrow."
"It seems as if we do this way more often than once a month though," Jim murmured a bit mournfully looking at the number of padds overflowing from the dispatch bag.
Janice nodded. She knew the Captain hated paper work, and there was always a lot of it. She and Mr. Spock tried to lighten his load as much as possible when they could, taking care of almost all the routine reports. But there were still a large number of reports and Admiralty queries that only the Captain could take care of. She sent Spock a mute glance of appeal.
Spock came forward from the Science station. "Indeed, Captain. These are the operational reports and queries that are required by Command and that you must look at, but for the most part, I and Yeoman Rand take care of most of them." Spock looked at him steadily, with his usual patience and that impassivity that made Jim squirm a little. The embarrassed part of Jim also heard a tiny faint hint of impatience and reproach in the smooth baritone voice.
Looking at his unhappy Captain, Spock realized it was not logical to feel sympathy for Yeoman Rand. After all it was her job to assist the Captain in managing the increasingly burdensome number of reports he must attend to. But...enough was enough. There was no reason why she must go through the effort of cajoling the Captain to finish his reports on time every single month.
Jim looked up, a faint hint of guilt in his hazel eyes. In order for Spock to say anything about this at all, his two biggest helpers must really be fed up with his complaining. It was after all a part of his job, a job, that for the most part, he loved to do.
"Yes, yes, of course Mr. Spock. I know you and Ensign Rand try your best to ease my paper work burden as much as possible, and I appreciate it." He gave Janice his best smile. "I'll try to do better, Ensign, and I'll get right to these."
"Thank you, Captain. I'll pick them up at shift end." She returned his smile and turned to give Spock a look of gratitude. Spock gave her a small nod and returned to his viewer.
Janice handed Jim the pouch with the rest of his reports. In spite of their monthly paperwork difficulties, she knew that the Captain was the best of bosses. He was always kind, easy going, considerate and not demanding or exacting at all. She had heard from other yeoman that her positive situation was not always the case on other ship's and she knew she was lucky to serve on the Enterprise under Captain Kirk. His quarterly evaluations of her work were always exemplary, and that was because Janice worked very hard and took great pride in doing her work perfectly. But...truth be told, she dreaded the end of the month when all the Captains' reports were due to the Admiralty. It was a struggle every month to get Captain Kirk to finish them in order for her to turn them in on time, and not turning them in on time reflected on her and not on him.
She saw the Captain was already deep in his reports and that the bridge had settled back down to their tasks with their usual quiet efficiency. Janice waved a quick goodbye to Uhura and entered the lift.
Jim worked steadily on his mountain of padds, putting them back in the dispatch pouch as he finished each one. One by one the number diminished until, with a deep breath and a long back stretch, Jim finished. Spock appeared at his side as if by magic. "I'll take those from you, Captain. I have a few of my own to add to the dispatch bag. I'll see to getting it back to Yeoman Rand."
"Thanks Spock," Jim told him, holding back a smile. He knew he was being managed, but he let it slide. After all, he'd brought it on himself with his complaining.
Jim looked at his chronometer. It was almost lunch time and he was hungry. Just as he was about to give Spock the con, the lift door opened again. Bones.
"Hey, Jim. Spock."
"Bones, I was wondering where you were?"
"Doctor McCoy, greetings." Spock inclined his head slightly.
Leonard rolled his eyes at Spock's formality. "It's mighty slow in Sick Bay, so I took advantage to catch up on our inventory. We're short a few things, so I sent you my requisitions, Spock."
"Indeed, Doctor," Spock looked down at his padd. "I have received them and will see to ordering the drugs you have requested."
"'Preciate it, Mr. Spock."
Leonard came to stand beside Jim's chair and rocked on his heels. "Thought I'd check if you were ready for that lunch, I promised you, Jimbo. Today's the day. Chicken and dumplings day...chef promised she'd let me know when she was gonna' fix them and she did." He grinned in anticipation.
"Chef spoils you, Bones. She doesn't let me know when chicken fried steak is on the menu."
Leonard's blue eyes twinkled. "That's cause you're an Iowa boy, not Georgia born like me and Chef."
Jim laughed. "There is that. I best tell Ma you think Georgia cooking is superior to her Iowa cooking."
Leonard cast him a fierce look. "Don't you dare, Jim Kirk, don't even think of it, else there'll be some extra hypos in your future," he threatened. "There's no better cook than Winona Kirk. The woman does magic with food."
Jim sighed thinking of the wonderful meals he'd eaten at his mother's table. "You can say that again, Bones. But let's not tell Chef, okay?"
"My mama didn't raise no fool, Captain. I know which side my current bread is buttered on."
Jim led the way to the Officer's Mess and Leonard raised an eyebrow at him. They usually ate in the general mess with the crew who were off the same shift for lunch, Jim liked to interact with his crew and he kept a close eye on the pulse of his ship. The crew also enjoyed interacting with their Captain. "Today I'd like some peace and quiet, Bones, and my eyes are tired from looking at my padds all morning."
"After lunch well go to Sick Bay and I'll put some drops in your eyes, Jim. That'll help."
The door opened and a young waiter came in. "Captain, Doctor? What can I bring you for lunch.?"
"Just let Chef know we're here, Johnson. She's got somethin' set aside for the Captain and me," Bones told him.
Thomas nodded. "Will do, Sir. What would you like to drink with your meal?"
"Sweet tea for both of us. Alright with you, Jim?"
Jim nodded and stretched his back. He needed some gym time, his muscles felt tight and achy. He ran his fingers through his sandy hair and tried to relax and enjoy his lunch with Bones.
Their meal was brought in and both men dug in. Chef had outdone herself; the chicken was tender, the dumplings fluffy, not a bit soggy, and the gravy smooth and creamy. "Delicious," murmured Leonard, blue eyes content and mouth full.
"We'll have to tell Chef how much we enjoyed it, Bones. Hadn't had a good meal like this since we were at Ma's."
"Damn straight." Leonard leaned back in his chair and sipped his tea. "Wonder what we're getting for dessert?"
The mess door opened and Johnson came in with a tray on which were two dessert plates of pecan pie topped with whipped cream and two cups of coffee. He grinned when he saw Leonard's eyes open wide. "A little surprise from Chef," he told them, setting the plates and coffee cups down and removing the luncheon plates.
"Thomas, you tell Chef that as soon as she's done with her husband, I'm next in line for her hand in marriage," Leonard eyed his pie, utter bliss on his face.
"Sorry, Sir. You're spot in the line is way down. Half the crew is ahead of you."
Jim laughed. "You should have known, Bones. I've got the smartest crew in the quadrant. Thank you, Johnson. Give Chef our compliments and tell her she's outdone herself."
"Will do, Captain. Enjoy, Sirs."
The pecan pie melted in their mouths and the coffee was fresh brewed, not the replicated abomination which they both loathed, but which often had to do.
"Wonderful meal, Bones. Thanks for inviting me." His hazel eyes were alight with pleasure as he smiled his sunshine smile at Bones.
"That's what best friends are for, to provide nice surprises for you once in a while."
Jim raised his coffee cup. "Well then," he said, "here's to the best friend a man could have."
"Thanks, Jimmy," Leonard looked pleased. It was not often that Jim acknowledged the closeness of their long friendship, and it always touched and pleased Leonard when he did. Recently, there had been a few times when Leonard had felt eclipsed by Spock and the friendship that had grown between Jim and Spock. The Vulcan was so good at everything; stronger, smarter, faster, more efficient, quicker to heal, and, as the Captain's XO, Jim depended on him a lot. Really he had become indispensable to Jim, and that was as it should be, Leonard told himself frequently. So times like these, a simple lunchwith just the two of them, was all the more special and enjoyable.
"Intruder alert! Intruder Alert." Suddenly blared the automated voice of the ship's computer.
Jim jumped up from his chair just as Spock's voice came on the All Call. "Security, report to Transporter room 1 deck 6. Confirm, Mr. Giotto."
"Confirmed, Mr. Spock. On our way." Came Giotto's voice on the All Call.
Jim reached for the wall toggle. "Spock, what's going on?"
"Unknown, Sir. Computer reports two life signs have materialized in transporter room 1. Scans indicate both are human. Security should be there now."
"I'll meet you there, Spock. Bones, with me."
Leonard hurried after Jim. What the hell? He might have known. It had been too quiet, too peaceful for too many days for things to stay that way.
The lift was waiting for them, thanks to the efficient Spock who had sent it immediately to the mess. "Deck 6," Jim said.
"What do you think's goin' on, Jim?"
"We'll soon find out." Jim's face was hard, his eyes intent. How had anyone bypassed all the ship's safety protocols against intruders, not to mention the shields which were at maximum as they traveled. How was it possible for them to get inside the ship? There had to be some new and powerful tech at work here for them to be able to do that.
The lift stopped at Deck 6 and both men strode to the transporter room. The door opened and Jim stopped at the door, Leonard almost bumping into him. Inside were two men flanked by and surrounded by Security Chief Giotto and his team. The two were in some sort of uniform, charcoal grey long sleeved shirts, dark pants, boots, and a chevron striped vest over the shirts. There was an unobtrusive insignia on the best, but the letters meant nothing to Jim. The two men looked to be in their late thirties or early forties and were unarmed. One of them had dark hair and eyes, the other man had thin red hair and blue eyes. They stood, seemingly relaxed and at ease, obviously waiting for the Captain, or someone in authority to appear. The transporter room door opened once more to admit Spock and Mr. Scott. Spock stood there for a few seconds, "fascinating," he murmured.
Scotty went directly to the console and began a detailed diagnostic. It was imperative that they determined how the two men had bypassed the transporter safeguards as well as the shields.
Jim stepped closer to the security detail. "I'm Captain James T. Kirk and you are trespassing on my ship, gentlemen. Who are you, how did you get here and what do you want?"
One of the men, the red haired one, stepped forward, only to be stopped abruptly by the phaser which one of Giotto's men pointed at him. He stopped, but faced Jim seemingly unfazed by the phaser pointing at his heart.
"Captain kirk, a pleasure to finally meet you in person. I'm Special Agent Marion Dulmur and this is my partner Special Agent Gariff Lucsly, Sir. We're with the Department of Temporal Investigations and we've come here for your help in saving the Federation. We're from a time far in your future, Captain, on a time travel mission to this present because we need your help to stop a galactic catastrophe."
Every person in the transporter room was shocked into dead silence until Jim heard Bones say, "Well, I'll be horn swoggled!"
Spock walked forward to face the agent. "How is it possible for the Enterprise to assist you gentlemen in any way? If you are indeed from the future you know that time travel has been expressly forbidden to every member of the Federation.
"We don't need help from the Enterprise, Mr. Spock." The stunned group staring at the two men didn't even blink an eye at the fact that this man, this man who said he was from the future, knew Mr. Spock's name.
Agent Dulmar turned to Leonard. "The person we've come to seek help from, Mr. Spock, is your Chief Medical Officer." He turned to Leonard. "We need help from you, Dr. Leonard McCoy."