Prologue
Lieutenant Uhura stepped out of her quarters, the doors, hissing closed behind her. She turned to walked along the corridor until she reached the turbolift.
Once inside the lift, she addressed the computer, "Deck ten, aft section."
The lift gave a slight lurch as it began it's accent from deck fourteen, and there was a slight hum in the background.
Uhura had just begun to hum Beyond Antares when the com-panel sounded.
"Scotty to Lieutenant Uhura," the voice said.
Uhura smiled and responded, "What's with the formalities Scotty, I'm off duty until tomorrow morning."
"Well in that case, how would you like to join me for a drink?"
"I was just hoping you'd ask." Although she couldn't see him, she was sure Scotty had broken into grin.
"I'll meet ya in the recreation area in ten minutes."
Before Uhura could respond, the entire ship shook violently.
The main lighting dimmed slightly and a red light began flashing above the turbolift door. Captain Kirk's voice came over the ship-wide speakers, "Red alert, senior staff report to the bridge."
The ship shook again followed by the sound of a tremendous explosion. The turbolift came to a quick stop as the panel next to the door exploded in a shower of sparks.
Again, the ship shook. Uhura stumbled backwards and hit her head against the turbolift wall. Suddenly, the doors of the turbolift exploded, coming towards Uhura. She put her hands in front of her face and screamed. There was a blinding flash and Uhura opened her eyes.
She was looking at the coms station on the bridge. She looked around, and then placed her hand on her temple and closed her eyes.
"Lieutenant, are you ill?" Mr. Spock stared at her, eyebrows raised.
"Mr. Spock, I..." She looked around at the other bridge staff going about their normal business. "No, no I'm fine. I just..."
Spock tilted his head ever so slightly and said, "Yes?"
"Never mind, it was nothing." She turned back to her station and tried to shake the odd feeling. Hadn't she just been somewhere else?