Chapter 2
Kirk stared at the screen. It was a lot to digest, seeing your younger selves run about on the not- Enterprise, knowing that you were helpless to do anything to help them. Kirk hated being helpless.
"Fascinating." Came the voice of Vanadium, their captor. "Your younger selves are remarkably adaptable, they got over their panic remarkably quickly."
"Obviously." Kirk glowered. "We did grow up to be in starfleet, you know. We were children once too."
"Yes, it appears you were exceptional children, as well. The Vulcan was expected, but the rest of you! Captain, you took charge, showing leadership from a young age, Lieutenant Uhura was unwilling to seem inferior to males, Ensign Chekov was so confident in his country and his friends, eager to impress, that he was able to repress his fear. It probably helped, that they believed themselves to be out of danger, when that was certainly not the case. However, to help them, I think we shall release a gas into the room that shall calm them, and keep their heads at a more level state. It is not so much that it would calm anyone, in any circumstance, however, based on their current performance, it shall suffice. It is also long lasting, it shall not wear off for a long time, the more as they are exposed to it.
Also, I am now releasing their ship from orbit, it shall travel in it's predestined flight plan, or rather, captain, you younger selves shall be headed to Myterath, the very place where you were to go to try the Myterrians to join the Federation. We shall see what clues they uncover which we have left for them. It shall be fascinating. Shall we continue to watch?" They did, and continued to see.
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"So, boys, looks like I'm first."
"Ah, zu onze got lucky. Zumber two time I win."
"We'll see about that. You have your chance now, actually, I can't get this to work."
May I?" Spock held out his hand, and Nyota dropped it into his palm. She was all for her gender, but she wasn't stupid. She couldn't fix the thing, and she knew a thing or two about things that were used for communication. Might as well let the Vulcan have a try. Spock fiddled with the thing a bit, then gave his conclusion.
"I believe there to be something preventing this from broadcasting, perhaps a field of some kind. Truly fascinating."
"Well, then, let's see if there are any messages in these computers." Jim said, gesturing to the computers all about the room.
"A logical thought." Spock conceded, and proceeded to move to the computers and try and discern what to do to make it work. He managed to get what he believed to be the proper machine to start up, then was at a loss for what to do next. For some reason this technology was highly sophisticated. Nyota came up behind him.
"I think that if you push that red button there, then that green one there, then turn that dial to 14, then push the red button again, you can play back an holotape, and I think there's a holotape in there, 'cause that light is green over there." Spock raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"You know more than I would expect of a human adolescent."
"I'm really into, well, talking stuff. I know a lot about communicators and things like that, and I know a bunch of different languages too, even some Vulcan.
"That is rare. Congratulations."
"Thanks." Nyota seemed a little shy at the praise, Vulcan's did not give compliments lightly. Spock took her advice, and a picture of a straight backed man appeared on a screen. The children gave it their strict attention.
"Captain" the image said. "It is imperative that you convince the Myterrians to join the federation. They're planet has extensive dilithium mines, along with several exports of valuable materials. Their strategic location also would be a great asset to the federation. You must convince them to align themselves with the Federation. If you do not, it shall be a heavy blow. Good luck." The image faded out, only to be replaced with the same man, speaking in a more urgent tone.
"I do not know who you are, or how you came to be here, but it is urgent that you complete the Enterprise's mission. If you cannot, we understand, but we believe the Ferengis to be advancing, with hopes of taking that planet. They are not close, we believe, but we still do not have time to dispatch a separate ship, the clearance process would be too long. You are our only hope."
The children stared at the now blank screen. Spock spoke first.
"Fascinating. Somehow the captain of this vessel must have become incapacitated."
"Well, we have to help!" Nyota piped up. "You heard him. We have to go!"
"Your statement is illogical. We have no way to do such a thing. We cannot hope to do such a thing. We must leave this ship, we cannot hope to pilot it by ourselves." Nyota sighed.
"Look, there's another tape. Let's play it." They did so.
"You are probably wondering how you shall pilot the Enterprise. If you choose to partake on this mission, then you may activate the androids." Spock raised an interested eyebrow. These droids are programmed to act as the positions you do not fill. You must be the bridge crew. There is already a helmsman, you need not do that. But there must be a captain, first officer, communications officer, science officer, and navigator. You may choose who among you best fills these positions. The droids cannot help you command, they do only what they are programmed to. The mechanics can repair the ship, the security team does hand to hand combat, and so on. You may activate them by use of the controller console. Good luck."
"Well then, there's your answer!" Nyota crowed triumphantly. "See?"
"I fail to see why the possibility of droids as crew should restore the vision I never lost, nor do I see why you think I have lost my vision in the first place. I assure you, I am perfectly fine."
"It's just an expression."
"Illogical."
"Look, guys." Jim cut in. "We have two options. Let these Ferengi guys take an important planet, or try and do things ourselves. We need to figure out what we're doing."
"Logical. I believe that there is no way to reach home, as of now. There is an ion storm behind us, and it appears to be quite large, according to this readout." Spock noted, observing the readout from some shiny silver machine.
"Zo ve can't geet back, an there's a vealy big missin somun needs to do?" Everyone took a second to process what the young Russian had said, then Jim replied.
"Yeah. We can't get back, and we're the only hope for this planet. We get there first, and we get the planet, the bad guys get there first, and they get the planet. Doesn't seem like much of a choice to me."
"But vat would we vealy do? Vey would come anyway!"
"Inaccurate, Pavel. The Ferengis would need clearance, in order to bypass the shield that encircles Myterriath. We could warn this race against them, and so save their planet. Our presence could prove vital to their way of life."
"Well, do we really have a choice?" Nyota questioned. "I mean, we can't leave, and they need us!"
"It would seem logical to go. All we would need to do is talk to these people, and they would have no reason to disbelieve us. It is relatively low risk, and we cannot abandon these people."
"He's right." Kirk noted. "We don't have a choice. People are counting on us."
"Vat we are just kids!"
"Yes, but we don't have a choice. People could die if we don't do this! We have to act now! I won't force anyone to come, but I hope you will. Who's with me?"
"I am." Spock affirmed. "I cannot allow possibly millions of innocent people to die. It would be illogical."
"I'm coming too." Nyota agreed. "I always wanted to help people, and Spock is right. We have to do something."
Well, Pavel wasn't about to back down now, shaming Russia to three other people, one of whom was only a girl. No, he was coming. "I vil come to. Vu may need me!"
"I know we will." Jim said, beaming. "So, Spock, activate those droids?" Spock firmly pressed a big red button on the control console. There was no going back.
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The four children were on the bridge, staring at the view screen. Apparently, they had been hurtling through space a while now, there was no way of knowing from where they had come. And now the immediate question was establishing a chain of command.
"I believe it to be obvious that I should be science officer." Spock stated. "I am, undeniably, the only one of us suited to that position."
"Yeah." Jim agreed.
"I'll do communications!" Nyota cheered. "I'm great with talking stuff, remember? And I know all those languages."
"Good plan, Jim approved. "What about navigator?"
"It must be someone with exceptional math skills." Spock informed them. "I am unused to this technology, but it seems to require much plotting of courses, and for that, at least until we disconcern how to operate this machine, many calculations must be done in a relatively short period of time, and whoever takes this post may as well keep it afterwards."
"I can do zat! I am a math genis, everyone zay zo! They not know what do with me."
"Then, Pavel, you may be our navigator. And Jim, there is only one choice for captain, and has been since the beginning."
"Spock, I can't do that! What about you?"
"I shall be too occupied with my scientific duties to lead in such a way. However, I would be honored to be your first officer."
"Spock, I…"
"You have already shown a remarkable capacity to lead. You must continue to do so."
"Well, alright. I'll do it." Spock nodded his approval.
"Then I pledge my allegiance to you, complete with the regular starfleet regulations for loyalty to a captain. Do you both do the same?"
"I do." Pavel said immediately.
"Well, okay." Nyota conceded. "But I reserve the right the deck you if you turn out to be a jerk."
"My lady, I would have it no other way. So, man your stations! We have Ferengis to thwart! Uhh, wait. Where are we going?" No one had thought of this.
"Well, captain, the recording said that we were to deal with the Myterrians. Myterrians live on Mytra, Myra, Myera, and Myterath. These are all in the Myerian system, so I suggest we head there. I shall further research which planet to head to." Jim nodded.
"Good." His head, really, was spinning, both from all the My words, and the fact that Spock had called him captain. Huh. Had a nice ring to it, really. He could get used to this. He wondered what he was supposed to do now. Nyota had a few ideas.
"Hey captain, you gonna get Spock a chair so he can actually use all these dodads?" Jim looked around. Indeed, Spock was not tall enough to actually use the instruments in the room. Hmm.
"Well, aren't there chairs in the dining room?"
"I believe, captain, that on a starship, it is called a 'mess hall'.
"Ah. Well, aren't there chairs there?"
"I do not know if they are capable of rolling. A maneuverable chair would be easiest to use. Shall we ask the helmsman?"
"Good plan. Uh, helmsman, are there moveable chairs in the mess hall."
"Affirmative."
"Okay then. Sooo, I guess I'll order some one to bring a swively chair up here.
"Do you mean a swivel chair, captain?"
"Yeah. Um, which one of these buttons calls people?" Nyota walked over.
"This one. And you're not exactly inspiring great confidence."
"Hey, I'm learning as I go along." He pressed the button, and ordered a swivel chair to be brought up to the bridge. Somehow he had a feeling this was an order that had not been given before. Wait a minute. "Uh, Spock?"
"Yes captain?"
"Will you be able to balance on that thing?"
"I believe so, captain; Vulcans are taught balance points, it should not be too difficult."
"Good."
"However, as of now, I shall retreat to the computer lab, it should prove easier to conduct my research."
"Of course… Mr Spock." Official sounding. Cool. Nyota and Pavel got special chairs, so that they could reach stuff without hurting themselves, but all in all things were great! Eventually the day finished, and they retreated to separate unused quarters, each contemplating this new life.
