Author's Note: I only recently began watching The Next Generation and I really wanted to create a story, just something that was floating around in my head... I hope to keep the story good, but who knows what friendships and romance might occur? Please read and review :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek, not even The Next Generation, or any of the characters, names, props, or anything else in this story that might be copyrighted. I don't claim any rights to it whatsoever; this is just for fun. Thank you. :)
"Please, Mr. Data," Captain Picard stated, standing up from his chair on the bridge. "Tell us what is going on."
"I am not certain, sir," Data replied, working quickly at his console. "I do believe we have come across a primitive life form. Someone from what appears to be the twenty-first century, from earth. It is humanoid in origin."
"We have one to beam up then. O'Brien, one to beam up." Picard listened for O'Brien's "affirmative, Captain."
"I will be in my ready room if anyone needs me," Picard continued. "We can continue our course to Vulcan to deliver the packages; there is no use leaving this individual there on-planet when there is no one else and no means for survival. Number One, you have the bridge."
"Aye, sir," Wesley replied, resetting the course. The captain left the bridge, and Commander Riker approached Data.
"Data," Riker said, "Don't you think you should head to the transporter room to greet our newest guest?"
"Sir," Data said, turning from his console to look at the Commander. "With all due respect, I do not believe sending me to greet a twenty-first century guest to the ship would be wise. He or she will be shocked to learn about the ship, much less about androids roaming the ship. I will meet the guest later, after he or she has had more time to acclimate."
"You're right," Riker said, "Naturally. I will go there myself. You have the bridge." Riker set off toward the turbolift to greet their newest guest.
When Riker arrived at the transporter room, O'Brien was just locking the final coordinates down. Riker waited until O'Brien stated, "Beaming up now," and the individual started to appear on the platform. She came into full view and began spinning around confusedly on the pad.
It was a she, certainly. She had long brown hair, Riker observed, and an average height. She was wearing typical 21st century clothing - some kind of jeans and a grey T-shirt. Riker approached the pad, stating, "We just beamed you aboard, miss. Welcome to the star ship Enterprise. You are most welcome, and we mean you no harm."
"What? A ship? What kind of ship?" She blinked excessively, staring at him with wild eyes. Surely it wasn't easy to be learning all of this at once, being from the 21st century. Riker could understand that.
"It's a star ship - a spacecraft," he said. "We don't know how you ended up on that planet - hopefully you can tell us - but we thought you would be far more comfortable on here until we can get you safely to a starbase."
"A starbase? Planet? What? What's going on? Wait.." She froze. "Are you guys the ones who took me in the first place? I have a feeling I'm really far away from Kansas, Toto!"
"Excuse me?" Riker asked.
"I'm not in Kansas any more. You know, the quote? The Wizard of Oz?" When Riker gave only a confused look in return, she whispered, "Wow. I really am far away from home. I'm sorry. I'm just so confused... I don't know where I am. I got taken. From home. In the middle of the night. I feel like I've been unconscious for days... I don't even know what time it is. What time is it?"
"Please, try to calm down," Riker said with a little smile. "I know you must be confused, and we are confused about what happened to you, too. But we did not take you in the first place. You are from the 21st century, correct?"
"...Well, yeah." She shrugged. "Where else would I be from?" she asked. Riker smiled.
"Do you think the government hid star ships from you in the 21st century? We are from the future, miss. I am not lying to you. Our medical lab will probably prove that to you - I would like to escort you to sickbay, to be sure that you are all right. Would you please come with me?" Seeing she was completely dazed and confused and needed help, the commander stepped forward and reached an open-palmed hand out to her. She gently took it, stepped down from the platform, and walked with the commander toward sickbay. Even though there was nowhere else for her to go, Riker could somehow sense her level of trust in him already, and he already knew she would be a most interesting guest on the Enterprise.
More to come soon, if there are some reviews indicating interest
