Main Grounds. Enterprise Station.
After a quick dash to the main level of the Enterprise station, Hikaru brought Lavinia outside and deep into the woods. She could hear the sounds of city life in the distance, and flickers of light through the trees as they walked.
"What could we possibly find here in the woods?" she asked, as he helped her over a bundle of fallen logs.
"The only way I can get you out of here, without Chris breaking down doors, is out here," he said, as she stood next to him. "We are still within the confinements of the station, though."
Lavinia frowned, "Confinements? You mean you're trapped here?" she asked.
Hikaru shook his head, "No, we can leave if we wanted too," he said. "But since we're all wanted criminals, the entire perimeter is surrounded by high-tech security that Chris and Scotty worked on."
She nodded, "Oh, " she said softly, pulling the sweater tightly around her. "I do wish you would stop calling yourselves criminals. It makes me feel like I'm surrounded my murderers or con-men."
He smiled at her, "Then we're lawfully challenged," he offered, reaching into his pocket for something.
Lavinia glanced around at the trees and the twinkling night sky, which peaked through the branches. There was something about the stars that filled Lavinia with awe and dread. She wondered, there in the deep and dark forest with Hikaru, if the stars would play a part in her impending death.
"Okay," HIkaru said, breaking her out of a daze. "This is yours."
Lavinia looked at the small figurine in his hands and frowned, "What is that?" she asked, as he took her hand into his.
"This is your figurine," he said. "Each one of us has a symbol that defines who we are and we use them to jump through time."
Lavinia looked down at the small figure in her palm and smiled. It was made of marble, in the color of ivory. A young girl wearing a dress, much too modern from what she found in her closet back at the station.
"We pick a symbol and Scotty makes them," he said. "I helped him with yours," he shrugged, sheepishly. "I don't know who you are exactly, but for some reason I think you wear a lot of pretty things."
She smiled, "I love it, Hikaru," she said, taking his hand into hers. "Thank you."
He nodded, "You're welcome," he replied. "Right, so when we decide to travel we program them. Then you hold it in your hand, close your eyes and it takes you there."
"And where are we going?" she asked, as Hikaru took her hand into his.
"You'll see," he grinned, before facing forward and closing his eyes.
Lavinia did the same, gripping his hand tightly. Suddenly the air around her shifted and the wind picked up, blowing her hair about her face. Gripping the figurine in her hand tightly, Lavinia felt the ground shift under her feet. The smell of wet grass and pinecones suddenly changed into smoke, sweat and liquor. Then the roaring sound filled her ears before everything fell silent.
New York City. 1920.
Lavinia opened her eyes and gasped, taking in the sights before her. The roar of automobiles going down the busy streets, and the sounds of heavy music filling her ears.
"How strange.." she said to herself, as she stepped forward.
A group of women with short hair and frilly dresses, made their way down the sidewalk, before dashing across the street. A horn blared at them, as they shrieked and laughed, yelling at the driver as they moved.
"Ah, there you are," a voice behind her said.
Lavinia turned around and gasped, as Hikaru made his way over to her. Dressed in a three piece suit and his hair slicked back, she couldn't help but take notice of how handsome he looked. She then looked down at her own outfit and yelped, for it showed too much skin. It was short, red and frilly. The cleavage was too exposed for her liking, and it was sleeveless.
"Are you ready?" he asked, as she examined her change of clothing.
Lavinia looked up at him and shrugged, "I think so," she said.
He chuckled, "Relax," he said, taking her hand. "You'll fit in just fine," he promised, as they stepped out of the alley and across the street.
"What year is this?" she whispered, as they followed a group of girls, dressed almost exactly like her.
"1920," he said, nodding to a man standing at the top of the stairs. "The beginning of the end as I like to call it," he smirked.
They took the stairs down, where the music got louder and the air quality became rank, with cigarettes and sweat. Hikaru held her hand tightly, as he pulled her into the building and into chaos. Bodies crowded in all areas of the room, as a band played somewhere in the distance. Couples moved in a face pace across the dance floor, while others held glasses and cigarettes in their hands.
In another life, Lavinia would've been insulted had a man brought her to a place like this. But this was her new life. A fresh page and she had control over what she would do, say and think. Watching as the women shimmied and twirled, their dresses flying up and away from their knees, Lavinia couldn't help but smile.
"So, "Hikaru shouted over the music and chatter. "Care to dance?"
Lavinia smiled and took his hand, "I would be honored!" she shouted back, laughing as he pulled her onto the dance floor.
Enterprise Station. Nyota's room.
"When are they sending her back?"
Nyota paced around her room, as Christine sat on the edge of her neatly made bed. For the last two hours, Nyota complained about Lavinia's presence at Enterprise Station, and Christine Chapel was annoyed.
"For the love of god, if you ask me that again I will throw this fucking thing out!" she snapped, gripping the short cocktail dress in her hand.
Nyota huffed and threw herself down on a chair, "I don't understand why Chris won't send her back! What does he need her for? Sex?"
Christine rolled her eyes, "I already told you," she said, pulling the needle through the silk. "We can't send her back because we don't know where she's from!"
"You like her, don't you? She's a new pet for you to dress up and parade around," she hissed.
Standing up, Christine set the dress down on the bed and scooped up her sewing supplies. "I know you've gone through a lot in the last six months, " she said, shoving the spool of thread and scissors into the bag. "But you don't need to be a little vindictive bitch because you didn't get your way."
Nyota watched as Christine stormed out of her room, slamming the door behind her. With a grunt, Nyota threw her head back against the chair and sighed in defeat.
New York City. 1920.
Hikaru and Lavinia pushed their way through the crowds and over to the bar, sweaty and gasping. Hikaru nodded to the man behind the counter and shouted out their orders, as Lavinia watched her surroundings. A few seconds later, Hikaru turned around and handed her a tall glass.
"Let's go over here!" he shouted, nodding his head to the corner of the room.
Once they were settled into the corner, Lavinia took a long gulp from her glass. Hikaru watched in shock as she drank, chuckling at the sound of beer going down her throat. Pulling the glass away from her lips, she smirked at him.
"What?" she asked, breathless.
He shook his head, "Nothing," he said, taking a sip from his own glass. "Never pictured you drinking beer like a fish."
She laughed, "Never thought I'd do a lot of things," she shot back, taking another sip.
They remained silent for a few minutes, each catching their breath after several hours of dancing. Lavinia wiggled her toes in the heels that adorned her feet, wincing at the pain that shot through her.
"Why did Chris panic about me doing this?" she asked, leaning closer to Hikaru. "Besides the Earth tilting under my feet, it's not so bad."
Hikaru sighed, "We had an accident six months ago," he said, setting the glass down on the table. "Maybe we should take this somewhere else? I don't want to discuss this in a crowded room," he said.
Lavinia nodded and they both stood from their seats, holding hands as they made their way out of the speakeasy. They pushed past the incoming crowds, watching as they dashed down the sidewalk. After a few minutes of walking and the safe distance away from the party, HIkaru began to talk.
"We were coming back from travel- mid 2000's. It was a war in Iraq, and some of us went in undercover to find some information on developing weaponry that Starfleet wanted to use. Our friend who was a specialist in weapons came with us, though his girlfriend begged him to skip it."
"What was his name?" Lavinia asked.
"Spock. He was a nice guy, though he was very odd," he said, frowning at the thought. "Remember when we told you that Starfleet also works off planet?" he asked.
Lavinia nodded, "Well, Spock was from a planet called Vulcan. Originally, Starfleet recruited him because of his area in science. He was good with plants and other things, but he was very good in weaponry. Read every book he could get his hands on about weapons from all ages," he said, shaking his head.
"So what happened?" she asked, already dreading where this tale would take her.
Hikaru sighed, "Jim, myself, Leonard and Spock were hiding outside a warehouse. We had just heard the plans for these high-tech nuclear weapons for space, when a bomb went off inside. Then the gunfire started from all over, killing American soldiers and civilians," he said, shaking his head. "We ran into an alleyway and started shifting back into our time, when Spock was hit in the chest."
Lavinia stopped walking, "Oh no," she whispered, as Hikaru stood before her.
"He died before Leonard could get him on the table. Chris took it hard, because he was the one that pushed him into going. And his girlfriend took it out on him, before leaving."
"Oh Hikaru," she said, reaching out to take his hand. "I'm so sorry."
He shook his head, "It's tough, but it's a risk we all take," he said, looking at her. "Chris doesn't want you doing this because you have no training. You don't have an understanding of how the world has changed and how to protect yourself."
"But what if we did things like this?" she asked. "You and me. Or everyone for that matter! We could come back and dance and drink cheap beer and live. I don't have to go on these dangerous missions and you wouldn't have to worry!" she insisted.
Hikaru sighed, "I would love nothing more than to take you to ever speakeasy in the city. Every dance hall or music show and dance with you," he said. "But eventually we'll have to send you home."
Lavinia looked down at her feet and nodded, "I know," she said softly. "But I don't want to go back. I think I was born in the wrong time, whatever it is."
He chuckled, "Maybe you were," he said, as they continued to walk again. "But I guess we'll have to wait and see, huh?"
She nodded, "I guess so," she replied. "Do we have to go back right away?"
Hikaru shook his head, "No. We can stay out as long as you like," he smiled.
"Could you tell me more about this year? I certainly don't think I'm from it," she asked, with a smile.
"I would be honored," he said, as she wrapped her arm around his.
