Kitties Have Opinions

by Starsinger

Yes, they do! Don't own them. Shazbatt. Nanoo, Nanoo.

The crew of the Enterprise sat at the ceremony in a row. Dr. Carol Marcus sat proudly beside them. Between Spock and Pike sat three pet carriers with very impatient animals in them. "One year ago," Mrowww! "A very small life was rescued from the wreckage that was San Francisco," Yowl! "She was very young and no one knew if she would live." Mrow? "I was very close to death myself, and both of our lives hung in the balance. Her person, every day, brought her to the hospital, even when I couldn't respond to anyone or anything. I responded to her when I wouldn't respond to anyone else." Jim nodded to Spock who came up on stage with Nyisha in tow.

"I awoke one day and soon this little person was purring very happily into my ear. She gave me hope, and has come to represent hope and promise ever since." Spock opened the carrier and a much bigger Nyisha leaped to Jim's shoulder and butted her head against his, causing his hat to go flying off. Everyone laughed as Spock stooped to pick it up. Trouble yowled, letting her own opinion be known about being left out of this. Jim reached up and scratched the young cat on his shoulder. "When Admiral Pike administered the Captain's Oath that gave me his ship he gave me the hope and promise of the future," he nodded to his friend and mentor in the audience. "I am happy to acknowledge that he will be joining us on the USS Enterprise," applause and cheers greeted this news as Chris smiled. "So, I repeat what he had me recite, not that long ago…"

"Space, the final frontier

These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise

Her five year mission, to explore strange, new worlds

To seek out new life and new civilizations

To boldly go where no one has gone before."

The audience rose to its feet with applause. Jim's and Nyisha's road to this moment had been long and very rocky. Everyone came up to greet and meet the young captain and the even younger cat that had captured the imagination of people around the world and throughout the Federation. Too soon Nyisha went back into the carrier and the crew made their way to the shuttles that would take them back home. Again, Nyisha let her feelings be known about being put back in the carrier. In fact, the only ones who were quiet were Trib 1 and 2. Pike poked at them to make sure they were still alive. They wiggled around and made contented noises. Pike and Spock made sure the carriers were carefully strapped in before seating himself.

"Are you ready, Captain," he asked Jim.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Jim responded, his blue eyes glinted back at him. The shuttle quickly brought them back to the Enterprise, back home. They made a brief fly-by, the pilot showed them again the ship that was theirs. Well, the ship that Starfleet was loaning them anyway. They were expected to bring it back, eventually.

Spock entered his quarters and looked around. It looked like it had when he had left it except boxes were stacked neatly against the wall, waiting to be unpacked. He put the carrier down, there were several things that needed to be set out immediately. He found the boxes marked "Nyisha" and pulled their contents out. Her food and water bowls, her litter box came out next and he immediately filled it, he opened the toy box next and just left it full, Nyisha would take care of its contents. He filled the food and water bowls before walking over and opening the pet carrier door.

Nyisha immediately scampered out the door. She ran around the room at full tilt, occasionally crashing into a wall or other solid object. Cat's, after all that evolution provided them, still didn't come with brakes. Spock spent several minutes watching Nyisha enjoying her new surroundings, eventually finding the toy box and disappearing into it before he left.

Spock and Chris met on the turbolift on their way up, "How are your friends adjusting to their new surroundings?" Spock asked.

"Oh, Trouble immediately jumped out of her carrier and ran around. Tribs were a little more reserved until she got in their carrier and tossed them out. Tribbles are surprisingly durable little creatures," Chris responded. Spock nodded.

The next morning the alarm went off at 0500. Spock awoke and absently reached over to rub Nyisha's ears. She purred at him as he rose to start his day. They hadn't yet left the solar system, but he had an idea to keep Nyisha busy and out of mischief while he was out. After he dressed he picked her up and headed out the door. She didn't protest as he hadn't put her back in that box. They got in the lift and went down. He entered Sickbay where McCoy was standing, talking to some of his nurses. "Ah, here they are! Everyone, I want you to meet the newest member of our staff, Nurse Nyisha," Spock nodded as he reached over and scratched Nyisha's head. "She has proven quite helpful in the past, and will take shifts here while Spock is on the bridge," several of his staff laughed and smiled as Spock deposited Nyisha on the floor. "Just keep an eye on the floor while you're walking, she sometimes get underfoot," McCoy told them.

The first day went smoothly, mostly. Nyisha spent the day "helping" everyone stock and organize their shelves and managed to keep McCoy's usually cantankerous mood in check. Unfortunately, a plasma explosion occurred in one of the Jeffrey's Tubes in Engineering, and an Ensign was severely injured. When McCoy received word he immediately set up for burns and other treatments. The ensign's injuries were such that no one was sure if he would make it. McCoy and his staff did what they could. They wrapped his burns in gel, set broken bones, and repaired internal injuries.

When they were done, Nyisha did her job. She hopped up on his bed and lay beside him. She didn't touch him, it was obvious even to her that touching him would cause more pain. She simply let him know she was there by talking to him and purring at him. During the time she was there, his vitals stabilized. He still wasn't out of the woods, but he was at least fighting for it. Everyone agreed that Nyisha was a good nurse kitty.