Seeing numbers on people's hands was a blunt reminder of what Scotty didn't have. What about Scotty? The poor lad had adjusted to life seeing numbers on people's hands. But never as often and repeatedly as he had on the five year mission that was cut short. Scotty was considering to get a artificial number on the top of his hand during their shoreleave on the Yorktown. Right before returning into space with Romaine. He wanted to make his number match her number. Being born without a number was a fluke of nature. Something out of a horror story. The Yorktown was named after the Starship Yorktown. There was a plague in the middle of the walk way in front of starbase command indicating why it was named after them.
What about Scotty?
Scotty could have, instead, made his number 1701. Had the original Enterprise survived. Because she was like the second lover in his life. Keenser was third. All his belongings, relics of what he once had, had been recovered and sent off to the Yorktown. His family heirlooms were intact, thankfully, though Hikaru's plants were not as fortunate. Some of them did not make it. He was twirling the little salt shaker that was of the original Enterprise. The one he had served on for nine hundred sixty-six days on a deep space mission. Before that, Scotty had served on her for two years. Under a not so much experienced James T. Kirk. Ambassador Spock had visited often in the years previous for diplomatic missions. And Ambassador Spock, too, had nine hundred sixty-six. The young lads and lassies were thrown right out of the academy into space. He remembered the gentle, soft humming of the Enterprise engines. Scotty was happy before Krall's large scale attack. Walking the hall ignoring the sights of numbers. He was thrilled. When he wasn't working on a project in engineering, he was still otherwise thrilled. Dating specialist officer lieutenant Mira Romaine.
Scotty arrived to the medical hospital shortly after the successful prevention of the starbases demise. He hadn't gotten the chance to meet up with Romaine. He was focused mostly on getting the survivors on board the Franklin. He held hope that she made it. She had to have made it out. He saw Doctor M'Benga treating a survivor. It had been over a year since he had seen the man. The light blue, kind eyes swept over toward him then had relief in them. The doctors attention returned to the patient. Some of the medical team had made it. They hadn't been killed by the life sucking force of Krall's followers. He could feel his heart race. He saw Uhura sitting alongside a blonde woman. He looked around with a bright smile when his eyes returned to the sight of Christine Chapel.
"Miss Chapel?" Scotty asked.
Chapel looked up, her eyes red, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Scotty!" Chapel braced him.
"Ay, lassie," Scotty said, reciprocating in the hug. "I am still alive."
"Mira," Chapel said. "They took Mira."
Scotty felt the skin on his face turn white. His entire composure changed from a relaxed, calm demeanor into a sorrowful one. They lost a specialist. It was her first year in deep space, or better yet, serving in deep space. He felt tears running down his cheek. He felt a void in himself. As though someone had yanked out his heart then left him there to die in a puddle of blood. He looked back at the last time he was with Romaine. He kissed Romaine on the cheek, gentlemen like, while they held hands then returned to the Enterprise. She was dead. If Mira was taken, she was dead. Pure and simple. There were rescue vessels that had gone to Altamid to check for survivors that hadn't been taken aboard the Franklin.
"Come on, Scotty," M'Benga said, as they were sitting at a park on a park bench side by side. They were in their civvies. "When life throws you lemons, you throw rock at it."
"I have thrown rocks at it my entire life." Scotty said.
"I know that is a big blow to you," M'Benga said. "But you were not the only one to lose someone."
"I am well aware of it," Scotty said, gloomy. "She was the one. She did nae really like the man she was supposed to be soulmates with." He watched a couple walk by holding hands. their numbers clearly on the top of their hands,sadly. "She and I were goin' to have the same number."
M'Benga pitied the man.
"What if I told you that we can create holoprograms without numbers?" M'Benga asked.
Scotty looked at him in disbelief at first then his face appeared to turn into a 'what kind of question is that?'
"Holoprograms are simply holoprograms," Scotty said. "They are nae solid."
"Yet." M'Benga said. "Before you know it they will have a solid, living holoprogram engineer without a number. Who can think on their own."
Scotty saw that a pair of children were chasing after each other. One of them was green with oddly designed ears and spikes dotting their face. Scotty leaned forward cupping his hands together. It didn't comfort him that he was the only one in this world without a soulmate. He remembered other kids declining that he take part in their games because "Ye dae nae have a number! We chase ones with numbers!". He cried for a day afterwards. So he decided to repair bumper cars and use a program on a track. It was the most fun he had bumping into cars that didn't have numbers. He refused to let the other kids play with them for that hurtful comment. It took his parents to make the children apologize for them to earn the right to be in his bumper cars playing with him.
"That would be a cruel thin' to do, lad." Scotty sad.
"Not giving them a number like you?" M'Benga asked.
Scotty paused.
"I dae nae know why I was born without a number. It's a mystery I can nae solve." Scotty said.
M'Benga looked over toward Scotty.
"I don't know about you, Scotty," M'Benga said. "Perhaps there is a good reason why you don't have one."
Scotty turned his head toward M'Benga leaning his back against his chair.
"What do you reckon it is?" Scotty asked.
M'Benga paused, thinking about it, for a good awhile.
"There are such thing as soul companions," M'Benga said. "They are not mates. They are companions you have in your various lives. Someone you have associated to and traveled with in numerous lifetimes."
Scotty raised a eyebrow.
"As it is, no one talks about that, and that is a first I heard of it." Scotty said.
"Look, Scotty," M'Benga said. "You are not the first."
"The last one without a number was born three hundred years ago." Scotty said.
"How about we go to the holographic studying building if that will comfort you?" M'Benga asked. "It won't hurt."
"Ye just doin' that tae show me how lucky I am." Scotty said.
M'Benga had a soft laugh.
"That is what I am trying to do for a friend." M'Benga said, getting up from the bench. "Romaine wouldn't want you to be leaving because of her."
"Ye got a good point." Scotty said, as he got off the bench. "Let's go."
M'Benga smiled.
"Now, aren't you glad I got reassigned before Krall?" M'Benga said, as they headed down the path heading toward the sidewalk.
"Yes, that I am, partially," Scotty said. "And jealous ye were assigned to a starbase."
"Separating you from the Enterprise would have been a mistake for everyone involved," M'Benga said. "I seem to recall you dotted over her."
"That I did." Scotty said. "Took care of her lon' enough tae nearly get us home."
The building itself was three stories tall, maybe four. There were holoprograms playing outside of a cat sitting on a holo-projector not quite capable of leaping off into the arms of whoever was nearby. It couldn't be pet, nor could it be fed. it was programmed not to feel hunger or experience hunger, it didn't have a stomach. Scotty saw the little creature as a poor one. It sizzled in and out of existence briefly while licking its paw. M'Benga took the scotsman by the shoulder bringing him into the building. When he came in, he saw there was a large fence around what appeared to be a extinct squeaking rhino. He blinked standing at the doorway. It was like he was in a 21st century zoo. The only difference was that there were science blue officers around the rhino taking notes on transparent padds with a solid surface frame for it to be held. The rhino was semi transparent kicking at the ground making a grunt sound with a small horn on the top of its nose. The rhino sizzled out of existence in a blue flare on the white holoprojector. The researchers shook their head then jotted down notes.
"Next animal." Came the Andorian female.
"Human with a clubbed foot." Came the unusual human looking female with gills on the side.
"God man,are you cruel?" The Andorian female said. "How about a missing hand."
"It is better than producing a holoprogram that has specific organs that keep growing!" The gilled human said.
"It was a virus." The Andorian argued.
Scotty whispered into M'Benga's ear.
"This is a bad time," Scotty said. "Shouldn't we leave and come back at a later time?"
"No," M'Benga said. "They just moved the testing level. It was supposed to be level two. Level three is the holographic matrix level. The forth level is where all the brainstorming goes." He pointed up toward the ceiling. "It has been a while since I visited this place."
"How lon' of a while?" Scotty asked.
"Two months." M'Benga said.
"Ah, that is a shame buildin's get renovated all the time." Scotty said.
M'Benga looked over in the direction of a woman standing alongside a water cooler.
"Hey, Charlotte!" M'Benga said, dragging Scotty by the shoulder toward a woman with light but not nearly dark skin. She had dark hair that was up in a unusual hair style decorated what appeared to be braids. She had brown eyes that were focused on the pad that changed toward the direction of the oncoming man. "Long time no see, how are you?"
"I am fine," Charlotte replied. "This must be Monty, the man you talked about?"
"It is Scotty," Scotty said. "Montgomery Scott, at yer service."
Charlotte smiled.
"Pleased to meet you, lt commander." Charlotte said, holding her hand out.
"Ye tae." Scotty said, shaking her hand.
"My friend Scotty would like to see the advancements in the holodeck." M'Benga said. Scotty let go of the woman's hand. "The one where you can't walk through the holoprogram and experience the surroundings like you are actually there? The kind that defines the holodeck as it is?"
Charlotte gasped.
"Ah, the newer one?" Charlotte said.
"Yes," M'Benga said. "That one."
"It is a shame the other Enterprise didn't have it," Charlotte said. "But it appears the newer one is getting the latest holodecks."
"Say, why is experimental level down here?" Scotty asked.
"Visitors rarely come in as it is." Charlotte said, with a shrug. "Though. . ." She tapped on her chin. "I believe there is someone you should meet." Scotty and M'Benga shared matching puzzling expressions. "It is the latest in holographic advancement."
"Do they have a number?" M'Benga asked.
"No." Charlotte said.
"Then Scotty must see this someone." M'Benga said.
"I am nae alone." Scotty said, his eyes
"You are not alone." Charlotte said. "Come with me."
They followed her into a turbo lift. She pressed a button. The turbo lift flew up with rushing speed. It had no walls. He could see the cities from afar. The beautiful lakes that were kept in place by gravity precautions, safety measures, and so on. The turbo lift turned around then swept into the direction of the doorway for the three occupants. The doors slid open to reveal a long hall connected to two doorways. The main split off into a large room that was distant and had blue glowing holographic walls. At least they appeared to be holographic with the brief sizzling. The two men followed the woman down the hall. Scotty saw the holophotos on the wall showing the achievements. Ones from out of the federation and inside the federation. He saw numbers in the photograhs. They were all smiles.
"What achievement did you make?" M'Benga asked.
"We didn't make it yet." Charlotte said.
"Yet." Scotty said. "Is this somethin' from our future?"
"Joe has declined to be specific." Charlotte said.
"Joe sounds like a nice name." Scotty said.
They came into the room to see a man speaking with what appeared to be Commodore Paris. She looked over in the direction of the small group that had entered then turned her head back at what appeared to be a middle aged man. He seemed to be in the middle of losing hair. He was in a uniform that was quite odd to the every day officer. It was black and blue with a star fleet pin on the chest. He had his arms folded and did not seem to be pleased. He had a object attached to his shoulder that was in the shape of a square.
"And this must be Joe." Scotty said.
Joe turned his head in the direction of Scotty.
"Mister Scott," Joe said. "Head Engineer of the USS Enterprise. Lieutenant Commander, miracle worker, and the rare person under James T Kirk's crew who did not have a number."
Joe held his hand out for Scotty.
"That I am." Scotty said, with a slight smile then took the man's hand
"Why did you bring Mister Scott and Doctor M'Benga here, Miss Charlotte?" Paris asked.
"Because Mister Scott should meet someone, living holographic being who doesn't have a number." Charlotte said. "He is solid." Scotty looked down toward the man's hand noticing how firm,solid it was while shaking it. He looked back up toward Joe. "And it was actually Doctor M'Benga's idea."
"Doctor and Mister Scott," Paris said. "Do not tell anyone of this sapient holoprogram outside of this facility."
"I won't tell anyone." M'Benga said.
"I cross my heart and hope tae die." Scotty said, letting go of Joe's hand.
Joe's face grew dark, but miserable.
"Don't say that," Joe said. "Don't you ever say that."
Scotty appeared to be bewildered.
"Why?" Scotty asked.
"Just don't when you are in the era when shuttle crashes are more likely to happen than a transporter accident." Joe said.
"There is nae that many shuttle crashes in star fleet history." Scotty said.
Scotty looked over toward the older woman.
"He arrived in a site to site transporter," Paris said. "Our technicians are attempting to replicate the factors that lead to his arrival." She looked over toward a science officer to her right side. "Do not attempt to study his holo-projector. If we have not made it then we should not begin a bootstrap paradox."
"Actually, it is a holo-emitter." Joe said.
"Yes, sir." The science officer said.
Paris went around the group leaving the room.
"Will I die in a shuttle crash?" Scotty asked.
"I rather not talk about it," Joe said. "There is a prime directive I have to obey."
"So Star Fleet is still around." M'Benga said, as a smile grew on his face. "Do I get gray hair?"
"The files I have indicate you do get gray hair," Joe said. "Your holoprogram depiction is. . . how do I say this? Very flamboyant."
Scotty and M'Benga laughed.
"Flamboyant!" Scotty said, slapping his knees.
"Oh my stars, that is just hilarious to think of that." M'Benga said, placing his hands on his stomach.
"You are nothing compared to Hikaru," Scotty said. "Remember the dance party where he dressed rather risky?"
"I do." M'Benga said. "I wore a blue shirt and yoga pants. High collar." He gestured up the collar of his shirt. "You didn't go down because you were fixing the replicator in the mess hall. " Scotty rubbed the back of his neck. "Which you broke by the way. You are not a bad dancer, Scotty."
"Hikaru wore a golden necklace that spelled his last name." Scotty said.
"And the time the captain went out shirtless to the dance?" M'Benga said.
"Great bird of the galaxy, he was drunk then!" Scotty said. "Including how the captain somehow lost his shoes."
"We had to save his feet because he nearly burned his toes off on the dance off." M'Benga said. "I hadn't seen McCoy with a face that red before." He paused. "No wait, I have. When Spock was undergoing his biological need and McCoy came in with scars on his backside."
"This is more interesting than the holodeck adventures." Joe said. "Tell me, what was it like being on the Enterprise? While the "well known worst-kept-secret-of-the-alpha-quadrant" were on missions. My files have them referred to them as such in star fleet records."
M'Benga, Charlotte, and Scotty were grinning. Charlotte, well, looked like she was about to laugh. M'Benga and Scotty shared a glance with each other appearing to be pleased of what they had been told. It seemed as though the apparent of their relationship had become increasingly obvious in the future. M'Benga had to pay off a lot of his still remaining friends who had been assigned to other ship's pre-Krall's attack. If anything Spock, McCoy, and Jim becoming prominent figures in the future was unexpected. But maybe not as their feat on the Yorktown proved it had to be expected. Saving Earth, made it somewhat expected. Never before had Scotty considered himself someone to be revered or well known.
"It was fun." Scotty said.
"It was really fun." M'Benga agreed.
"And they were not the worst kept secret of the galaxy," Scotty said. "That goes to Nyota and Christine."
"Speaking of which, how long have they been together?" M'Benga said, looking over toward Scotty.
"They just hooked up." Scotty said.
"So things didn't work out for Uhura and Spock. . . Heh, I am surprised," M'Benga said. "I am glad they finally got together."
"Me too." Scotty said. Then he turned his head in the direction of the holoprogram. "Is the future brighter?"
"Brighter, but still the same otherwise." Joe said. "Mister Scott, I. . ."
"Please, call me Scotty lad." Scotty said.
"I was not designed with a number." Joe said. "Scotty, your story in Star Fleet was rather impressive. And it was uplifting. Inspiring,even. I was not the only one who dealt with being alone." Scotty smiled at the thought. "And then I realized I wasn't going to spend the rest of my days being alone. My creator, he too, was without a number. Unlike him, I had a crew as a family. Though I was coming to the Yorktown to check on my creator when I had my unexpected beam out."
Scotty rubbed his chin.
"Was there an ion storm?" Scotty asked.
"A very mild one." Joe said. "As I told them, the storm was passing."
"And here I thought the transporter safety settin's could have prevented that." Scotty said.
"Between you and me," Joe said. "Transporter malfunctions are still common. One time we had a cook and a Vulcan merged together."
"What was it like?" M'Benga asked.
"I can't judge on how well they cooked," Joe said. "But I can say that they were a great person when merged." Joe had a laugh finding the amusing aspect in it. "It was funny. I wasn't the only one the ship without a number. When they were merged, they didn't have a number. I was relieved."
"Weell. . ." Scotty said. "We almost had that too on the Franklin."
"The Franklin?" Joe asked. "What about the Franklin?"
"We found it." Scotty said.
Joe appeared to be flabbergasted.
"No, it was found by a Vulcan Vessel by the name Sarek in 2273." Joe said. "On the planet Altamid along with a lone survivor of a crash landing. Her name was Jaylah."
"Ah," Scotty said, folding his arms while nodding his head. "You must be from Ambassador Spock's timeline."
Joe froze.
"Ambassador Spock?" Joe said, in shock.
"Passed away a few days ago." M'Benga said. "He was a remarkable Vulcan. I admired him."
"That is impossible. . . he could never have survived that." Joe said.
"Trust us when he say he did." M'Benga said.
"He was a nice lad. Funny one, though." Scotty said. "He gave me a red tribble."
"Do the Vulcans have his Katra?" Joe asked.
Scotty and M'Benga shared odd looks with one another then to Charlotte. Who tilted her head in the direction of the Holoprogram.
"I dae nae know," Scotty said. "You should contact the Vulcan Council or Sarek for that."
"Highly unlikely he would allow his Katra to be taken to the secondary hall of ancient thought," M'Benga said. "He is from the future and does not wish to spoil what has happened. He was obeying the prime directive at the time." Joe faked a cough as they turned their heads in the direction of the holoprogram. "Are you telling me Vulcan wants his Katra?"
"It was in his will." Joe said. "I will not leave without if they have it."
"This is fascinating," Charlotte said. "It appears Vulcan is intact for his time."
"What do you mean intact?" Joe asked. "It has been intact since I was born."
"It was destroyed by Captain Nero usin' red matter." Scotty said.
Joe's face faltered.
"No." It was a small no from the holoprogram. "Miss Charlotte, can you look up the names T'Meni and Sunak, please?"
Charlotte nodded.
"Of course." Charlotte said.
