Chapter 1

Elia

"You're not allowed in there!" A young girl skidded through the dirt and around a corner. Her driftwood brown hair bounced in its messy bun as little frizzy wisps escaped her head band as she slid behind a crate. Pale sea foam green eyes followed the Starfleet security guards as they ran past. "She went this way!"

The girl slipped out into the open and stealthily made her way towards one of the transport ships. She looked over her shoulder for signs of her pursuers and slipped on board. She went directly to the cargo hold and sat in one of the chairs that were successfully hidden by luggage and supplies. She looked around frantically and pulled her knees to her chest in a comforting gesture as more shouts came from beyond the shuttle's hull. She rubbed her dull eyes, careful of the bruise blossoming on her cheek and up into the hair above her ear.

The voices of people boarding the ship came through the door causing a shiver to run down her spine every time their laughter echoed from the front of the shuttle. When the voices calmed down to a gentle hum overthrown by the whirring of engines, the shuttle took off with practiced ease. The girl stood up slowly as small gasps of surprise and awe came from the passenger area. She stood on tip toe to see out the window and watched the small ship head towards the Starfleet Flagship the USS Enterprise.

"All systems are registering green, Keptin," Pavel Chekov ran a last minute check.

"Coordinates are laid in," Sulu Hikaru tapped the last numbers into the machine.

"All decks reporting ready, Captain," Spock said coolly from his station.

"Alright," James T. Kirk smiled from his chair. "War-"

"Captain," Nyota Uhura cut him off with a bemused look on her face. "Starfleet security is haling us, sir."

"On screen," Jim raised an eyebrow at Spock as they turned their chairs to the screen. "Kirk here."

"Captain Kirk, there was reports of an intruder at the shipyard where you received your supplies," The aging man had his face half buried behind a report which he snapped shut to glare imploringly at the crew. "She may have snuck on board one of your transport ships."

"She?" Kirk raised an eyebrow, an almost lecherous glint in his eye.

"A young girl with long brown hair, green eyes. She was very good at evading the security guards and very familiar with our protocols and regulations. She stole a phaser so she is considered armed," The man began to rummage through his papers and held up a PADD baring a picture.

It was of a heart shape faced girl with her hair in a messy bun. Her green eyes were dull against her tanned skin and looking over her shoulder. Jim shrunk in his chair and massaged his temple.

"She's a child," Uhura gasped.

"She's able to evade trained Starfleet officers. I do not think she is here for sightseeing," The man glared at them. Heads of docking and Star Fleet bases were always walking on water at the importance of their jobs. "We're still trying to attain her identity. When we have more we'll let you know. Headquarters out."

"Captain… do you know the girl?" Spock asked. Jim glanced at him gauging the raised eyebrow Spock was sending him.

"Observant goblin," Jim sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Chekov, inform all decks of the stowaway as well as a picture of her. Sulu, warp 1."

"Warp 1, sir," The stars blurred past the main screen as Chekov's Russian accent filled the entire ship.

Spock appeared at Jim's side. "Captain. It is illogical to leave Earth's orbit when we may have a potentially dangerous stowaway."

"She shouldn't be too dangerous, Spock," Jim replied, attempting at disinterest. "She is just a child."

Spock raised an eyebrow. "It is logical based on your reaction to the picture that you are acquainted with this girl in some way. May I acquire as to how you know her?"

"It's probably just someone who looks like her," Jim muttered, watching the stars whiz by with a new found interest. "Don't worry about it."

How Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott came to be in this situation, like all situations involving a phaser pointed shakily at his chest, was going to be blamed on the words he spoken about the ship after he'd first stepped foot on her. This ship was certainly exciting. Scotty looked at the phaser tiredly then at the assailant threatening him with it. "Don't shoot me, girlie. I'm unarmed."

The arm not holding the gun was wrapped tightly around her knees. "Si-sit down."

"Alright," He watched her closely as he slid down the wall. They sat in awkward silence as Scotty twiddled his thumbs. He gave her a beaming smile. "I'm Montgomery Scott. Friends call me Scotty. Was yer name?"

"I need… I need to see him," Scotty looked at her confused.

"Him who?"

"My brother," The girl answered. Her eyes looked to the door where several engineering staff were looking in having been ushered out by their commanding officer. He sent them a shrug and dismissing hand wave.

"Brother?" Scotty's eyebrows rose. "Well, girlie… You're brother must be important ta you. I'm amazed you were able ta git on board. She is not normally so kind ta strangers."

The girl looked at the full blown grin on the engineer's face at the mention of his baby. "Who's she?"

"Oh… She… is the ship. The Enterprise," Scotty explained, pointing around them. "She's a beauty. The most amazing thing I've ever gotten the pleasure of workin' on."

"He works on the Enterprise," The girl whispered, the shake in her arms traveling to her entire body in timed waves. She looked up abruptly, eyes twinkling. "Scotty... Can you help me? Please I need to find him."

"Well… ya see…. Girlie," Scotty frowned, looking at the floor and flicking a piece of dirt.

"Please?" Scotty rubbed his neck and glanced up at her. He had always had a soft spot for kids. Especially girls with big pleading eyes. His sister's daughter had always gotten the better of him when he visited, his wallet always lighter when he left.

"Well…." A thud came from outside and the girl jumped. The phaser skidded from her grip and underneath a crate. She wrapped her arms more tightly around her knees and slid back into the wall. Her eyes danced from him to the bright lights of the main shuttle bay back to Scotty before she buried her head into her knees.

"I need to find him," She whispered, voice breaking.

"Ah… Hell!" Scotty rolled his neck and cracked it. He stood up and winced as the girl flinched away. "I need ti know yer name though."

"Elia…" She whispered and looked up at him, her eyes suddenly shone brilliantly. A small smile danced across her grim expression. "I'm Elia."

"Well its nice ti meet ya, Miss Elia," Scotty reached out, palm up. "Take mi hand and I'll take ya ti where ever ya need ti go."

Her hand shook as she reached out for his hand and he closed the gap and pulled her gently to her feet. Scotty was finally able to get a good look at her. Her hair was matted with mud. He could see the deep bruises covering her neck and arms. He brushed the stray hair from her eyes and frowned at the bruise spreading up her cheekbone and into her hair. "I just need to get out of here… Then… Then I can find him."

"Alright…" Scotty frowned at the slightly bemused look on her face. She was unsteady on her bare feet but her eyes were fixed ahead, a determination not suited for someone so young. She grabbed the phaser and Scotty raised an eyebrow as she checked that it was on stun. She leaned against the wall, eyes watching him. Scotty smirked. "Familiar with weaponry?"

"Can I have your… communicator?" Elia asked quietly.

"Uh… sure," Scotty slowly unclipped it from his belt. She pushed off the wall and took the small box from his outstretched hand.

"I'm sorry," Elia whispered, eyes focused on her feet.

"What?" She tripped him out into the shuttle bay, giving him a harsh shove to the back. Scotty rolled right into the hoard of Security guards and Engineers that had congregated to aid him. They fell to the ground like cussing bowling pins. "Bloody hell people! Ya need a lesson in proper swearin'!"

A few of the officers able to stand rushed into the shuttle and came out seconds later looking puzzled. "It's clear. Are you alright, Commander?"

"Aye…Call the captain," Scotty stood up dusting himself off. "Inform him we have a confirmed sighting of the stowaway. Her name is Elia."

Elia rubbed the sweat from her eyes. Her other hand was tapping away on the PADD she'd stolen off an Engineering station and was now connected to one of the consoles. "Come on."

"Guest voice signature required," The computer purred at her.

"Elia Alaqua," She spoke into the microphone.

"Welcome Miss Elia Alaqua," The computer displayed a list of options for her. "How may I assist you?"

"Location… Captain's quarters," Elia whispered. Her eyes drifted closed. She was tired. So tired. She floated in the darkness her closed eyes offered, leaned up against the cool siding of the off shoot of hallway. The computer beeped and Elia jumped looking at the console.

"Captain's quarters, located on deck 7, room 7-4D," The faintest whisper of footsteps and voices came from around the corner.

"Computer, delete entry," She tapped away on the screen. "After deletion of entry, hide account under Lila Aquea and reboot system on computers in same locations on decks 32-28."

"Understood," Elia jumped back into the ventilation just as the officers came around the corner. She grimaced as the edge of the vent cut through her shirt and dug into her shoulder. She crawled through vents and looked out when she heard the familiar swish of the elevator doors opening and closing. She waited till the people were gone before kicking out the face plate and slipped into the lift.

"Deck 7," The lift zoomed off and despite the inertial dampeners, she stumbled into the wall. The lift stopped and the doors opened. Her eyes widened as the lights of the bridge hummed over the silent hum of boredom coming from the people there. Elia looked up and her mouth fell open at the man standing in the doorway.

The security guard reached for his phaser. "Commander! The Stowaway!"

"No…" Her eyes widened before slamming shut. Her body acted on instinct and slid to the ground, arms wrapping around her head. "Computer shut door! Lock down sequence!"

The doors slid shut a blast of blue sneaking through and hitting the back wall. "Lock down sequence ID code required."

Elia brought up a tired hand and tapped a quick sequence of numbers and letters on her stolen PADD. The computer beeped in response. "Sequence accepted. Interference in system."

"Back hack it," Elia rubbed her temple as pain shot through it. Her other hand danced across the PADD encrypting data as fast as the crewmember could look at it. "Computer. Retrace steps to Deck 7. Hide our descent with distress beacon from the computers that were recently rebooted."

"Understood," Elia stood up and slid down the floor, her head spinning.

"Get up. Get up," The doors opened and she stood up wearily. She disconnected the PADD and stepped out into the hallway. "Computer return to bridge and continue lock down sequence."

"Understood," Several people turned the corner and disappeared out of her vision as she stepped heavily from the elevator. Her body had gone numb somewhere between the adrenaline from nearly being shot and the resulting crash.

"7-4D…. Just need to break into there and then I've got him," Elia held the phaser in her hand that guided her along the wall. The PADD hung at her side as she stumbled along. "7-2D…7-3D…."

She rounded the corner and fell into the wall next to the door. "7-4D…"

Elia shakily pressed the button to the quarters and the door slid open. "Lights-"

"Off," She startled at the deep voice that whispered from the dark. The PADD skittered out of her grasp and fell to the floor, the small amount of light illuminating the figure sitting directly across from her. "Doors close and lock."

"Who's… who's there?" Vertigo was starting to take affect again but she shook it off as she leveled the phaser. It shook, wavering between the shadow figure and the space around him. "I s-said… who's there!"

"You're in the Captain's Quarters. Who do you think is here?"

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