Here is chapter two, a little later than I intended. I want to try to post weekly, that's my goal.
I also must apologize for the way POV (Point Of View) will kind of jump around from person to person. I kinda like to be in all the character's heads at once, and it's really hard for me to remember how to stick with one. As time goes on, I'll probably talk more and more through my OC's POV. If it's not my OC's, then it's more than likely McCoy's. But I know how jarring that can be when a writer jumps from POV to POV without giving the reader a heads up. I go back and re-read and try to add the (~~~~~~~~~) wherever I can see a POV jump. That way it isn't as jarring. If you see one that I don't see, please let me know. Again, any criticism is welcome.
~~~~~~~~~- denotes a POV Change
Chapter 2: What's in a Name?
Down in sickbay, the woman was sitting on the bio-bed, eyes darting around curiously. She was dressed in some spare white clothes. McCoy was the only other person in the room. The captain had sent a security team to stand outside of sickbay, and Spock was in the next room, giving McCoy a moment alone with the woman. He approached her, holding a scanner in his hand. From what he was seeing, it wasn't just her ears that were Vulcan-esque. Her heart was in the same place as Spock's. Her blood was red, as a human's. Her eyes sparkled brightly, seeming to emit a subtle glowing light.
"Let's start out basic, okay?" McCoy said, "Do you have a name?"
"Name?" she asked. Her vocal responses were getting better. McCoy noted that she could repeat things easily, and he was almost certain that she had a basic understanding of what he said.
"Your name," McCoy put a hand on his chest, "Leonard."
Her eyes sparkled and she smiled, "Leonard," then her eyes clouded, and, to McCoy's amazement, they changed to the deep brown of Spock's, "No name," she murmured.
"That's okay, darlin'," McCoy said, "We can come up with one for you."
She smiled again, her eyes jumped back to blue, and she put her hand on McCoy's. He, for an instant, felt her emotions, her gratitude.
"Now," McCoy smiled back, grasping her hand in his gently, "You seem very healthy. I think the most important to get your communication skills up so that you can convey what you are thinking. You can stay in here," he pulled the monitor next to the bed in front of her, and turned it on. The computer began running a program to help educate her. She watched it eagerly, her eyes dancing. He noted that, as she focused, her eyes turned to the dark brown of Spock's once again. McCoy raised an eyebrow. Then, he left her to join Spock in the next room. The Vulcan was standing over the computer, running over the woman's blood tests.
"Fascinating," Spock said, "Her blood has Vulcan properties. But is, for the most part, human."
"That's not all, Spock. Her eyes change color. From blue to brown. They glow. And I think," McCoy ran his hand through his hair, staring over his shoulder, "I think she may even have telepathic abilities."
Spock raised an eyebrow, "Fascinating. I would be greatly interested to observe these abilities for myself."
McCoy shook his head, holding up a hand, "Not tonight, Spock. The poor girl's been through a lot."
"Doctor, if she is indeed telepathic, she may not understand that she has the ability to influence others. Or perhaps she does, and will use that ability against us."
"I understand that. I also know that it's been an overwhelming day for her. As Chief Medical Officer, it is my duty to see to the physical and mental health of everyone aboard this ship. This includes her now. You'll have to wait."
McCoy's classic glare was aimed at the Vulcan, who nodded, stating, "Very well, Doctor. Tomorrow evening at 2200 hours."
McCoy nodded.
"If you'll excuse me, Doctor. I must return to the bridge."
McCoy nodded again. Spock turned and left sickbay, the doors gliding shut behind him. Sighing McCoy took some time and filled out a medical chart about this Jane Doe. He noted everything he had seen, including how she came to exist in a humanoid body. He stared at the computer, going over the report again and again, trying to make sense of it. How could an entity go from a singular ball of energy into a humanoid? McCoy pinched the bridge of his nose. He was in awe of this woman's existence. And those eyes… Those eyes may have the same properties as himself and Spock's, but the glow. The life that these eyes had. The light was heart-stopping. He looked at the time, and jumped. He had been in his office for over an hour. Getting to his feet, he made his way back to the woman. McCoy strode back into the next room, where he found the woman staring critically at the screen, her eyes the deep brown of Spock's.
"You have only an 8-liter jug and a 3-liter jug. Both containers are unmarked, but are precisely the quantities specified. You need exactly 4 liters of water. Explain how you can get 4 liters of water." the computer stated.
McCoy raised an eyebrow. He could have sworn he set up the computer for elementary level questions, mainly language based. He moved forward to change the setting again, but stopped as the woman spoke, "Fill the three liter jug three times, each time pouring the three liter jug into the eight liter jug. Once the eight liter jug is full, you will be left with one liter in the three liter jug. Empty out the full eight liter jug. Pour the remaining water in the three liter jug into the eight liter jug. Then fill up the three liter jug, dumping the water into the eight liter jug. This will give you four liters, precisely."
McCoy's jaw dropped. This was farther along than he expected her to be. When they had had to reeducate Uhura after contact with Nomad, it had taken her an hour to say a word. This woman was clearly intelligent, and picked up concepts rapidly.
"Correct," the computer responded.
Her eyes flashed blue in delight, faded to brown, then back to blue when she looked up and saw McCoy.
"Leonard!" she cried, smiling, "Hello."
The grin might have split his face in half. Her emotions were infectious, "Hello! I see you've got a grasp of language alright."
"It is interesting," she said, "On my planet, we have no need for words. We communicate through light. I know that may seem impossible, but it made sense. We are formless entities, unable to hold physical shape for very long. I have not yet mastered this way of communication, but I can now communicate with you."
Her voice took the same cadence as Spcok's, but the slight southern drawl that emerged was McCoy's.
"Well, that's good to hear!" McCoy beamed at her, "I'm glad that everything is working to your liking. But, you know, it is getting mighty late. We should probably turn in."
"Turn in? Turn into what?" she asked, tilting her head to one side.
McCoy grinned, "It's an expression. It means to rest. To go to sleep."
"Sleep?"
"Yes," McCoy sat down beside her on the biobed, "Sleep is what we need to function. It recharges us."
"We have no need for sleep," she said simply, "We simply exist. We have no need for rest."
McCoy raised an eyebrow, "I don't believe I've ever heard of a species that didn't need to rest now and again. You have no time where you just…stop functioning, and rest? Where you dream?"
"Dream?" she continued to look confused, "I do not know what dreams are, Leonard. We do not stop functioning. We exist. When we finally feel tired, we…" she struggled, trying to find the right word for it, "We dim. We fade. Forever."
"You mean you stop living?" McCoy asked, horrified.
"We cease to exist. We fade into nothing," she clarified. She stated it so matter-of-factly that McCoy had to wonder if she had ever seen any of those entities fade away.
"Well, when you exist like this, your body will need rest. Our bodies can't function without rest. We need it to survive. It's how we keeping going, day to day," McCoy smiled, "So, I'll speak with the Captain about getting you some quarters."
She nodded, then placed her hand on McCoy's. He felt a surge of emotion that was not his own. An overwhelming sense of gratitude engulfed him, and he drew in a quick breath. Her eyes twinkled like starlight, and she smiled at him.
"Thank you, Leonard. I truly appreciate all that you have done for me. I cannot wait to learn about you."
McCoy nodded, "It was no trouble at all."
Getting to his feet, he walked to the comm and pressed a button. The bosun whistle sounded, "McCoy to Kirk."
"Kirk here."
"Jim, I need to know where you want our guest settled for the evening," McCoy said, smiling at the woman, who smiled back.
"Of course, Bones. I'll be down in sickbay as soon as possible."
McCoy raised an eyebrow, "You know, Jim, I know the ship as well as anyone. I could show her to her room."
"I will meet you in sickbay, Bones."
McCoy stared, then, "Acknowledged." and shut off the comm.
"You look troubled."
"It isn't like Jim to be so…vague."
"Jim?" she asked, "Which one was Jim?"
McCoy looked at her, "He's the Captain. The one in the gold shirt."
"Ah. I see. He is the leader, is he not? I am certain he wishes to ascertain my threat level to that of his ship and crew."
"Be that as it may, he doesn't usually escort people to their quarters," McCoy shook his head.
So, they waited for Kirk to arrive. McCoy was dying to ask about her life as an entity of light. But he didn't want to overwhelm her. So, instead, he talked about something else.
"Have you decided on a name yet?" he asked.
She looked back at the computer, "No."
"Not even a tiny idea?" he asked.
"No," she repeated, "We had no use for names. Everyone felt different, so there was no need to have names at all. I do not know where to begin."
"Well, that's alright. I'm sure it'll come to you, darlin'."
Her eyes snapped back to him, "What does that mean? Darlin'?"
McCoy laughed, "Sorry about that. It's a term of endearment."
"Is that a name? Am I Darlin'?" she asked.
"No, no," McCoy shook his head, "It's just a word that means that I am fond of you. It's not your name."
"I see…" she thought for a moment, eyes churning from blue to brown and back again, "The Captain called you 'Bones'. Is that a term of endearment?"
"Sort of," McCoy said, " 'Bones' is my nickname. It's what the Captain calls me. He and I have been friends for a long time."
"A nickname?"
"Yeah, a nickname is sorta like a term of endearment, but it's not really. It's hard to explain the difference."
"Perhaps there is no difference, in a way."
"Perhaps you're right," he said.
The sickbay doors opened, and Kirk stepped in. He strode over to McCoy and the woman.
"Hello. I'm Captain James T. Kirk. I hope Bones has been taking good care of you."
She smiled, "Yes, Captain. Leonard has taken very good care of me, and has been exceedingly kind. I am the orb of light that you encountered on the planet's surface."
"Do you…have a name?" asked the captain.
"No. Not yet. We have no need of names on the planet."
"I'd like to ask you a few questions, if that's alright."
"Not tonight, Jim," McCoy said suddenly.
"Bones, I can't have her running around the ship without knowing why she is here."
"I understand that, Jim, but the girl has been through a lot today. Can't you question her tomorrow? After a good night's sleep?"
"I have only a few questions that I need answered now. The rest can wait," Kirk looked at McCoy, "I won't overwhelm her, Bones."
McCoy nodded, reluctantly. The woman looked at McCoy, then Kirk, then back at McCoy, "I appreciate your concern, Leonard, but the Captain does have valid misgivings about my presence. I do not mind."
McCoy nodded again, crossed his arms, and leaned against the wall, watching the two beings interact. Kirk stood in front of the woman.
"I need to know how you came to be here. How did you go from an energy mass to a being with a body?"
She thought, eyes darkening as she contemplated, "I…do not know, Captain. It is difficult to explain. Essentially, as I was, as long as I desired to exist, I could continue to exist. I have lived for thousands of years. I am considered to be very young. There are entities that have lived for eons. They have watched space and time progress since the beginning. But to explain that, to explain what that is, it is nearly impossible. I, myself, am not sure what happened. I made contact with Leonard and…" she glanced at McCoy, who said, "Spock."
"And Spock," she continued, "And everything was pulled apart and put together. I felt as if I was collapsing, and simultaneously exploding. There are no words to describe what transpired."
Kirk licked his lips and nodded, "You said that you could exist as long as you desired it. Are your people immortal?"
"I suppose that would be true. However, I have seen the essence of beings fade away. They grow dim. They decide they do not wish to exist any longer. They fade away and then, they are gone. Few choose to exist eternally. There are only two entities I know of that have been in existence since the beginning. Moreover, they are the quietist and dimmest on the planet. They do not convey much unless absolutely necessary. Most choose to end their own existence once they feel they have experienced enough. It is our way."
Kirk nodded, brow furrowed, "What about sickness? Disease? Are they present?"
"Yes. The desire to stop existing. That is a sickness."
"I don't understand. You just stated that your people choose to end their lives. If it is a choice, it cannot be a disease."
She sighed, her dark eyes churning, "I do not know how to explain it, Captain. It is both a choice, and a disease. Do you understand?"
Kirk sighed, "I don't."
She frowned, "I am sorry, Captain. I wish I could be clearer."
"It's alright. We'll figure it out later. I only have two more questions for you. Is that alright?"
"Of course, Captain."
"Why is it that you look like Spock and Bones?" asked Kirk.
"Hmm. I cannot say for certain, but I believe that it is because I must have used some of their essence to create a physical form. But I did not doing knowingly. It was reflexive. Instinct. I latched onto what I perceived to be solid. And so, here I am." She shook her head, "I know this is confusing, Captain, believe me, it is confusing for myself as well. But I am telling the truth."
"Jim, I think that's enough for tonight," McCoy said, pushing himself from the wall.
"Just one last question, Bones, I swear."
Kirk turned to look at McCoy. McCoy sighed, and waved a hand in the air with a 'go-ahead' gesture. Kirk faced the woman, who looked at him, her eyes fading to that bright blue once again.
"Down on the planet, a larger entity confronted you. What happened there?" he asked.
The girl bit her lip, and looked at McCoy before glancing toward a point slightly over Kirk's shoulder, refusing to meet the captain's gaze, "It was meant as a warning. He was warning me against becoming this, against making contact. He wished to frighten you and the others. He wanted me to reconsider my fascination with you. I refused. And he left."
McCoy noted the change in her behavior. He knew she wasn't telling them everything. And he knew that Kirk knew it, too. Kirk stared at her, then nodded, "Alright. We can continue in the morning. I'm sure we'll have more questions for you, then. Bones, you can escort her to quarters. There are a few available places on deck 4."
"I'd be delighted," said McCoy.
"Security will continue to be posted until I've conferred with Spock," Kirk said firmly.
McCoy started to protest, but the woman stopped him, "It is alright, Leonard. It is only natural. I would be surprised if the captain behaved any other way."
Kirk gave her a small smile, "Thank you. I will see you tomorrow, and we will continue this then."
"Of course, Captain. I look forward to it," she stood up and extended a hand to the captain.
Kirk raised an eyebrow. Apparently, Spock's desire for minimal contact was not embedded within her. He grasped her hand, and his eyes widened. McCoy noted the hitch. He wondered if Kirk was experience the same flood of emotion that he had earlier on. Nodding to the woman, then to McCoy, Kirk left.
"Well, let's get a move on. I'm sure you're sick of the sickbay," McCoy joked.
"Everything is new to me, Leonard. I find it all very fascinating," she said honestly.
McCoy fought the urge to roll his eyes. Another person who used "fascinating". She said it just as Spock does, too. McCoy smiled, offered his arm and said, "May I escort you to your quarters?"
"Yes, Leonard," she rested a hand lightly on his arm. McCoy felt delighted at her very presence. He walked with her out of sickbay and headed toward deck 4.
Upon arriving, McCoy showed her how to lock her door, how to use the comm system, how to access the Enterprise's library, and where everything was.
"Now, do you need anything else before I leave you?" McCoy asked.
"No, I believe you have done more than enough for me. Thank you, Leonard," she said.
"Alright. If you need anything, just let me know."
She smiled warmly, her eyes glowing. She stepped toward Leonard, looking up at him.
"You have done so much for me. More than you know. Thank you."
He returned the smile, "You are more than welcome."
He turned to leave.
"Good-bye, Leonard."
He looked back at her, "It's not 'good-bye', darlin'. It's not forever. It's just 'goodnight'."
Her eyes sparkled brightly, and McCoy marveled at how expressive and explosive those eyes were. Then, it hit him.
"You taking suggestions for a name?" he drawled.
"Yes, if you have one," she said.
"What about Nova?"
"Nova…" she murmured, "Why Nova?"
"Well, a super nova is a huge explosion, brighter than anything in the universe. And you were an orb of light. And you carry that light behind your eyes. So…Nova."
She smiled, "I like it. I shall be Nova."
His heart leapt, "Then, goodnight, Nova."
"Goodnight, Leonard."
