Chapter 36: Metamorphosis

It was not often that the Enterprise needed the services of her shuttlecraft Galileo, for usually the Transporter served her purposes better; but this was one of those times. The Enterprise had been on other duty when the distress call had come from Epsilon Canaris III, well out of Transporter range, and not even the Enterprise could be in two places at once.

Now, however, the Galileo was heading back for rendezvous, Jim at the controls, Dawn navigating. The shuttlecraft's passengers were Dr. McCoy and his patient and Assistant Federation Commissioner Nancy Hedford.

"New course," Dawn said. "201 mark 15."

"Thank you, Dawn . . . Doctor, how is she?" Jim asked.

"No change."

"Small thanks to the Starfleet," Nancy Hedford said.

"Really, Commissioner," McCoy said, "you can't blame the Starfleet—"

"I should have received the proper inoculation ahead of time."

"Sukaro's disease is extremely rare, Commissioner. The chances of anyone contracting it are literally billions to one. How could we predict—"

"I was sent to that planet to prevent a war, Doctor. Thanks to the inefficiency of the medical branch of the Starfleet I have been forced to leave before my job was done. How many millions of innocent people will die because of this so-called rare disease of mine?"

"Commissioner, I assure you, once we reach the Enterprise, with its medical facilities, we'll have you back on your feet in no time. You'll get back to your job," Jim said.

"And just how soon will we rendezvous with this ship of yours, Captain?"

Jim looked at Dawn. Dawn checked and called over her shoulder. "Four hours and twenty-one minutes." She looked back at her instrumentation. "Jim, the scanners are picking up some kind of small nebulosity ahead. It's on a collision course."

"It can hardly matter," Jim said, "but we'll swerve for it anyhow."

This, however, proved impossible to do. Every time Jim changed the Galileo's course, the cloud did also. Soon it was within visual distance, a phosphorescent, twisting blob against the immensities of space.

Dawn frowned as she looked at what the scanners were telling her. "It appears to be mostly ionized hydrogen, Jim, with some kind of electrical activity." She looked at Jim as if to say, hopefully not another storm to take us back. He nodded in agreement. She looked back at the console. "Whatever it is, its not natural."

"Whatever it is, we're about to be right in the middle of it," Jim said. He had scarcely spoken when the view ahead was completely masked by the glowing, shifting cloud. A moment later, the controls went dead. A quick check showed that communications were out, too.

"Readings, Dawn?"

"Extremely complex patterns of electrical impulses, and an intense magnetic field—or rather, a number of them. It seems to have locked onto us."

The craft lurched, slightly but definitely. Jim looked down at his console. "Yes, and it's taking us with it."

"Captain!" the woman's voice called. "What's happening? I demand to know!"

"You already know about as much as we do, Commissioner. Whatever that thing is outside, it's pulling us off our course for the Enterprise."

"Now on course 98 mark 12," Dawn said. "Heading straight into the Gamma Canaris region."

"Jim!" McCoy said. "We've got to get Miss Hedford to the Enterprise—her condition—"

"I'm sorry, Bones. There's nothing we can do."

"I am not at all surprised," Miss Hedford said coldly. "This is exactly the sort of thing I expect from the Starfleet. If I am as sick as this dubious authority claims I am—"

"Believe me, you are," McCoy said. "You may feel fine now, but nevertheless you're very ill."

"Then why are you all just sitting there? I insist—"

"I'm sorry, Commissioner," Jim said. "We'll do what we can when we can—but right now we're helpless. You might as well sit back and enjoy the ride."

The Galileo was put down—there seemed to be no other word for it—on a small planet, of which very few details could be seen through the enveloping nebulosity. But the moment they had grounded, the cloud vanished, leaving them staring out at a broad, deserted sweep of heathlike countryside.

"Bones, Dawn, get some readings on this place." Jim snapped a switch. "Enterprise, this is the Galileo. Kirk here. Come in, please. Come in . . . no good, we're not sending. That cloud must still be around someplace. Any data, anybody?"

"The atmosphere is almost identical with that of the Earth," Dawn reported, "and so is the gravity. We should be alright. I'm almost positive there is someone here besides us." She looked at Jim and McCoy and tapped the side of her head to indicate her empathy.

"Alright," Jim said. "Well, I guess we get out and get under. Bones, phaser out and maintain full alert. Commissioner, best you stay inside for the time being."

"And just how long a time is that?"

"That's a very good question. I wish I could answer it. Dawn, let's go."

Outside, they went to the rear of the shuttlecraft and unbolted the access panels to the machinery, while McCoy stayed up forward.

Dawn touched the machinery searching for any electrical energy. There was nothing there for her to draw on. The machinery was dead. "Nothing works," she said. "I don't understand. Even with the engines completely drained I should be able to pull some energy, but I can pull nothing. It makes no sense."

"Let's check it over and see if we can find a reason for the lack of energy," Jim said.

While they were at it, Nancy Hedford came out and headed for them, looking, as usual, both annoyed and officious. Patience was evidently not her strong point, either. Jim sighed and straightened.

"Well, Captain?"

"Well, Commissioner?"

"Where is this strange powerful force of yours, which brought us here? Or could it be that you simply made a navigational error?"

"There was no error, Miss Hedford," Kirk said patiently. "For your information, our power units are dead—so I judge that the force you refer to is still in the vicinity."

"I am not interested in alibis, Captain. I insist that you get us off this dismal rock immediately."

"Commissioner, I realize that you're ill, and you're anxious to receive treatment."

"I am anxious, as you put it, to get this medical nonsense out of the way so I can get back to my assignment!"

McCoy, looking rather anxious himself, had joined them. He said, "How do you feel, Commissioner?"

"I wish you would stop asking that stupid question." She strode angrily away.

Jim managed a rueful grin. "As long as she answers you like that, Bones, I guess she feels all right."

"But she won't for long. The fever's due to hit any time."

As Jim started to reply, there was a long, hailing call from no very great distance. "Halllooooo!"

They turned, startled. A human figure had emerged from over the horizon. Whoever it was, was the person that Dawn had empathically felt. It waved its arms, and came toward them at a run.

"Bones, I want a physiological reading on—whoever that is."

The figure disappeared behind a rise, and then appeared at the top of it, looking down on the party. It was a young, sturdy, tall, handsome man in his mid-thirties, dressed in a one-piece suit of coveralls. His expression was joyful.

"Hello!" he said again, plunging down the rise to them. "Are you real? I mean—I'm not imagining you, am I?"

"We're real enough," Kirk said.

"And you speak English. Earth people?"

Kirk nodded. "From the Federation."

"The Federation? Well, it doesn't matter." He grabbed Kirk's hand enthusiastically. "I'm Cochrane."

The name caught Dawn's attention and she looked away from the shuttlecraft and at the man. Her eyes went wide. "Zefram."

"Dawn?" Cochrane said as he walked over to Dawn. "The last time I saw you was just after the dedication for the warp five complex."

"You know this man, Commander?" Jim asked.

"Captain," Dawn said and smiled, "I do. He's Zefram Cochrane. Buffy and I worked with him on the Pheonix."

"The Zefram Cochrane?" Jim said astonished.

"How long have you been here, Zefram?" Dawn asked.

"I don't know," Cochrane answered. "It's good to see you."

Dawn made the introductions.

Cochrane stared at the Commissioner when Dawn got to her, "Your food to a starving man," he said. "All of you." He looked at the shuttle. "I can see your handywork, Dawn. Forget it. It won't work." He began to circle the shuttlecraft, admiringly.

Jim looked at Dawn. "Your friend seems to have a grasshopper mind."

"Too many things to take in all at once. Normal reaction," Dawn said.

"In fact, everything checks out perfectly normal," McCoy added. "He's human."

"That makes no sense, Doc," Dawn said. "Last time I saw Zefram he was older. He now looks actually a little younger than he did when Buffy and I knew him."

"I don't know, Dawn," McCoy said.

"Mr. Cochrane!" Jim called out. Cochrane rejoined them, still beaming. "We were forced off our course and brought here by some power we couldn't identify—which seems to be here on the surface of the planet at the moment."

"Could be. Strange things happen in space."

"So, what's keeping us grounded?" Dawn asked.

"Damping field of some sort down here. Power systems don't work," Cochrane answered. "Take my word for it."

"Zefram," Dawn said. "What are you doing here? Last I knew you had retired to Alpha Centauri."

"I left Alpha Centauri and was marooned, here," Zefram said. "Look, we've got lots of time to reminisce, Dawn. I've got a little place not far away. All the comforts of home." He turned to the Commissioner. "I can even offer you a hot bath."

"How acute of you to notice that I needed it," she said icily.

"If you don't mind, Mr. Cochrane," Kirk said, "I'd like a little more than just the statement that you were marooned here. This is a long way off the beaten path."

"That's right. That's why I'm so glad to see you. Look, I'll tell you everything you want to know. But not here." He eyed the shuttlecraft again. "A beauty."

"You've been out of circulation a while. Maybe the principles are new to you. Dawn, would you like to explain our propulsion methods to Mr. Cochrane?"

"Of course, Captain. Zefram?" Dawn said.

As the two moved off, McCoy said, "He talks a lot but he doesn't say much."

"I noticed," Kirk said. "What about Miss Hedford?"

"No temperature yet. But we've got to get under way soon. I guarantee you it'll develop."

"You're sure there's no mistake? It is Sakuro's disease?"

"Positive. And something else I'm not mistaken about. Untreated, it's fatal. Always . . . well, what do we do now?"

"I think we'll take Mr. Cochrane up on his offer. At least we can make her comfortable."

Cochrane's house was a simple functional cube, with a door, but no windows. The surrounding area was cultivated.

"You built this, Zefram?" Dawn said.

"Yes. I had some tools and supplies left over from my crash. It's not Earth, of course, but it's livable. I grow vegetables, as you see. Come on in."

He led the way. The house contained a heating unit which apparently served as a stove, a climate control device, and some reasonably comfortable furniture, all decidedly old.

Miss Hedford looked around with distaste. "What a dreadful, dingy place," she said.

Cochrane only smiled. "But I call it home, Miss Hedford."

"Where did you get the antiques?" Kirk said.

"Ignore him, Zefram," Dawn said.

"Must you keep it so terribly hot?" the woman asked.

"The temperature is a constant seventy-two degrees."

"Do you feel hot?" McCoy asked Miss Hedford.

She flopped angrily down in a chair. "I feel infuriated, deeply put upon, absolutely outraged."

"It was quite a hike here," McCoy said. "You're tired. Just take it easy for a while."

"I'll rest later, Doctor. Right now, I am planning the report I will make to the Board of Commissioners on the efficiency of the Starfleet. I assure all of you it will be very, very complete."

Dawn had been looking around and now stood at the door. "Jim," she said as Kirk crossed to the door in one bound.

Outside, perhaps half a mile away, was a columnar area of blurry, misty interference, like a tame whirlwind, except that there was no wind. Faint pastel lights and shades appeared and disappeared inside it. With it there was a half sound, half feeling of soft chiming music. For a moment it moved from side to side, gently; then it disappeared.

Kirk turned quickly to Cochrane. "What was that?"

"Sometimes the light plays tricks on you," Cochrane said. "You'd be surprised what I've imagined I've seen around here."

"We imagined nothing, Mr. Cochrane. There was an entity out there, and I suspect it was the same entity that brought us here. Please explain."

"There's nothing to explain."

"Mr. Cochrane, you'll find I have a low tolerance level where the safety of my people is concerned. We find you out here where no human has any business being. We were virtually hijacked in space and brought here—apparently by that thing we just saw out there. I am not just requesting an explanation, Mister. I am demanding it!"

Cochrane shrugged. "All right. Out there—that was the Companion."

"The what?" Dawn asked.

"That's what I call it. The fact is, Dawn, I did not crash here. I was brought here in my disabled ship. I was almost dead. The Companion saved my life."

"It's the reason you look younger than when we worked on the Phoenix," Dawn said.

"Exactly, Dawn," Cochrane said. "I don't know how it did it, but the Companion rejuvenated me. Made me—well—young again, like I am now."

"What is it?" Dawn asked. "Do you know?"

"I don't know what it is, Dawn," Cochrane said. "It exists. It lives. I can communicate with it to a limited extent."

"Empathic?" Dawn asked. "Like me?"

"For the most part," Cochrane said.

McCoy turned to Miss Hedford, whose eyes were now closed. He felt her forehead, then took readings. He was obviously concerned by the results.

"If you can communicate with it," Kirk said, "maybe you can find out what we are doing here."

"I already know."

Dawn left the little home and walked outside. She stood there her eyes closed.

Back inside Kirk was questioning Cochrane, "You wouldn't mind telling us?"

"You won't like it."

"We already don't like it."

"You're here to keep me company," Cochrane said. "I was always pretty much of a loner. Spent years in space by myself. At first being alone here didn't bother me. But a hundred and fifty years is a long time, Kirk. Too long. I finally told the Companion I'd die without the company of other humans. I thought it would release me—send me back somehow. Instead, it went out and obviously brought back the first human beings it could find."

"No!" Miss Hedford cried weakly. "No! It's disgusting! We're not animals!" She began to sob.

McCoy, with Kirk's help, lifted her and put her on a cot, where McCoy gave her a shot. Gradually, her sobbing subsided. "Bad," said McCoy. "Very bad."

"You can't do anything?" Cochrane asked.

"Keep her quiet. Keep secondary infections from developing. But the attrition rate of her red corpuscles is increasing. I can't stop it."

Kirk turned to ask Dawn a question and noticed she wasn't there. He walked to the door and saw her standing outside. "Commander."

Dawn turned and walked back inside. "Just trying to see if it is indeed empathic if I could maybe talk to it, one empath to another. I didn't get anything."

"Keep trying," Kirk said. "And while you're at it, make sure you take as much energy from us as you need. You are probably our best weapon against that thing."

"I have figured a couple things out, Jim," Dawn said. "We're on a moon. That's mainly the reason for the small apparent size. I believe the Companion is responsible for the damping field that Zefram mentioned. "

"Dawn's right," Cochrane said. "I've found some artifacts which suggest that this moon once orbited another planet, a highly technological one. And at some point, the planet was destroyed."

"And?" Jim said.

"I think what we have here is a being of pure energy, possibly the Companion was the last survivor of the planet," Dawn said.

"Cochrane, if you left here, what would happen to you?" Kirk wondered.

"I'd start to age again, normally."

"You want to get away from here?"

"Believe me, Captain, immortality consists largely of boredom. I don't know how Dawn does it living century to century," Cochrane said.

"It's hard, I won't say it's not," Dawn said. "It's why Buffy is along for the ride. It was my condition when I was told I would live for a thousand years experiencing Earth's emotions."

"I take it out here, that is not the case?" Cochrane asked.

"No," Dawn said. "Out here, away from Earth, I am simply a very powerful empath. I take time away every so often."

"What's it like out there? In the galaxy?"

"Amazing," Dawn said. "Things have changed since you left Earth. The Federation, which Earth is a founding member and was established about a hundred years after your flight, currently encompasses a thousand planets, and spreading out. Warp drive has gotten so much faster since you left Earth. We've surpassed warp five a long time ago. Warp eight is now the max speed, though sometimes we can push warp nine with some risk."

Cochrane's eyes were shining. "Interesting!"

"Like going to sleep for a hundred and fifty years and waking up in a new world?" Dawn said as Cochrane nodded. "Your name is honored."

"And yours I assume," Cochrane said.

"No," Dawn said. "Buffy's and my contributions are classified since well since we don't age. The only people that usually have access to our files is the commanding officer and chief medical officer on the ships we sometimes serve. You remember Henry Archer?" Cochrane nodded. "The first ship Buffy and I served on was his son's."

"It's all out there, waiting for you," Jim said. "But we'll probably need your help to get away."

"You've got it," Cochrane said.

"All right. You seem to think this Companion can do almost anything."

"I don't know its limitations."

"Could it cure Commissioner Hedford?"

"I don't know."

"It's worth a try. We're helpless. You say you can communicate with it?"

"To a degree. It's on a non-verbal level, but I usually get my messages across."

"Try it now. See if it can do anything."

Cochrane nodded and stepped outside, followed by Dawn, Kirk and McCoy.

"How do you do it?" Kirk said.

"I just sort of . . . clear my mind. Then it comes. Better stay back."

Cochrane closed his eyes. A long moment passed, and then they heard the melodic humming of the Companion. It appeared near Cochrane, shimmering, resplendent with a dozen beautiful colors, to the sound of faint bells. It moved to Cochrane, enveloped him, gathered around him, hovering.

The lights played on Cochrane's face.

"What do you make of that?" Kirk said softly.

"Almost a symbiosis of some kind. A sort of joining."

Dawn closed her eyes. "They aren't speaking empathically as far as I can tell. But being this closed to it while their talking I can tell the Companion is definitely empathic. But in a way that is far beyond me. I can feel that the Companion loves, Zefram.

Now the Companion was moving away from Cochrane, who was slowly returning to normal. The Companion faded away, and Cochrane shook his head and looked about as if to get his bearings. His eyes settled on Dawn.

"You all right?" Dawn said.

"Oh. Yes. I . . . it always kind of . . . drains me. But I'm all right."

"Well?" Kirk asked.

Cochrane shook his head again. "The Companion can't do anything to help Miss Hedford. There seems to be some question of identity involved . . . I didn't understand it. But the answer is no, I'm sure of that."

"Then she'll die," McCoy said.

"Look, I'm sorry. If I could help you, I would. But the Companion won't."

Several hours later Dawn had an idea. "If the Companion is indeed alive, I am hesitant to even bring this up. But if I regulated the energy I can discharge. It's possible I could in theory scramble every electrical impulse the Companion can produce."

Cochrane was staring unhappily at Dawn. Kirk said, "It troubles you, Dr. Cochrane?"

"The Companion saved my life. Took care of me for a hundred and fifty years. We've been . . . very close . . . in a way that's hard to explain. I suppose I even have a sort of affection for it."

"Zefram," Dawn said. "It's keeping you a prisoner here."

"I don't want it killed, Dawn."

Dawn sighed as she looked at Kirk. "I'll do it if ordered. But I want my objection on the record."

"Objection noted," Jim said. "Hopefully we will simply render it powerless—"

"But you don't know!" Cochrane said intensely. "You could kill it! I won't stand for that, Kirk."

"We're getting away from here, Cochrane. Make up your mind to that."

"What kind of people are you nowadays?" Cochrane demanded. "Doesn't gratitude mean anything to you?"

"I've got a woman dying in here, Dr. Cochrane. I'll do anything I have to, to save her life. Include ordering Dawn to do something she doesn't want to."

Cochrane stared at Kirk, and slowly the fight went out of him. "I suppose, from your point of view, you're right. I only . . ."

"We understand how you feel, Mr. Cochrane," McCoy said. "But it has to be done."

"All right. You want me to call it, I suppose?"

"Please," Kirk said. "Outside."

McCoy remained with his patient. Dawn and Kirk stepped outside. Dawn placed one hand on Jim's chest and stretched out her other arm.

Already, Cochrane and the Companion were approaching each other. Soft lights and soft music came from the creature. It almost seemed to be purring.

"Is this close enough?" Kirk whispered.

"I think so," Dawn whispered back. "But there is a certain risk. We do not know the extent of the Companion's powers."

"Nor it yours. Now, Dawn!"

Dawn sighed and she discharged the energy. The blurring of the Companion abruptly increased, and a sharp high-pitched humming sound came from it, alarmed, strong. The pastel colors changed to somber blues and greens, and the hint of bells changed to a discordant clanging. Cochrane, only a few feet away from it, grasped his head and staggered, then fell. The evanescent, ever-changing, column of plasma swept down upon the house.

Kirk and Dawn ducked inside. The Companion went straight after Dawn. Kirk was left remarkably alone.

Dawn felt as if another mind was intruding on her own. The sensation was making it hard for her to breathe as she gasped for air.

"Stop it! Stop it!" McCoy shouted. "It's hurting Dawn!"

Cochrane came in, and, immediately divining what was happening, went into the position of communion. The Companion's colors returned to the pastel, and the creature faded away. Dawn fell to her knees, gulping in great gasps of air. McCoy knelt beside her; Cochrane went out again.

"Are you all right?" McCoy said. "Can you breathe?"

"Yeah," Dawn said. She looked up at Kirk. "The Companion was trying to communicate. It was asking me why I was trying to hurt it. I couldn't respond, because I didn't know how. I've never transmitted what I felt, I've only ever felt other people's emotions. I think I understand how Zefram is able to communicate."

An hour later after Dawn had rested and was ready to talk to the Companion or try to. "Zefram, call it for me. Tell it I would like to try and talk to it."

"Are you sure, Dawn?" Cochrane asked as Dawn nodded.

"I have to at least try," Dawn said. "If nothing more than to say I'm sorry."

Cochrane nodded and he and Dawn left the house. Kirk followed and stopped some distance from them.

Again, the sound of the Companion preceded its appearance; then it was there, misty, enigmatic.

Dawn waited as the Companion surrounded Cochrane. Then it drew away from him and she closed her eyes as it shrouded her. "I'm sorry," she said.

"You understand?" the Companion asked.

"Now that you are no longer trying to hurt me, I can yes. It took time. You and I are the same, aren't we?"

"Millennial, yes. My planet gone before my thousand years were up. Now I am stuck forever as a result."

"I'm sorry," Dawn said. "You were lonely, weren't you?"

"Yes."

"I understand," Dawn said. "I asked for my sister to accompany me so I would never be alone. I don't envy that situation."

"Then you understand that the man needs the company of his own kind, or he will cease to exist. He felt it to me."

"One of us is about to cease to exist. She must be taken to a place where we can care for her."

"The man needs others of his species. That is why you are here. The man must continue."

"What of me?" Dawn asked. "We are the same are we not. My sister will live for the remainder of the thousand years without companionship. She will be lonely. Do you wish on her what happened to you?"

The Companion did not answer but moved away. Slowly it started to grow fainter, and finally was not there at all.

Kirk's shoulders sagged, and he walked over to Dawn. "Dawn?"

"She's Millennial, like me," Dawn explained. "But her planet is gone and she was lonely. No emotions to feel. So, when she evolved to her present form she learned more of her gift. Then she discovered Zefram. She did for him what Fate did for Buffy, though she took it one step farther and not only halted his aging but reverse it to his present age. So that she would never be alone again."

"So, she sees Dr. Cochrane the way you see Buffy," Kirk said.

"As a lover." Dawn said. "Yes. While she can no longer physically make love to Zefram she does it in other ways."

"By feeding him, sheltering him, clothing him," Kirk said. "Bring him companions when he's lonely."

Cochrane stared at them. "That's—that's ridiculous!"

"Not at all," Kirk said. "We've seen similar situations."

"But after a hundred and fifty years—"

"What happens when you communicate with it?" Dawn said.

"You know that," Cochrane said. "You just did it."

Dawn nodded. "On an empathic level it merged with me."

Cochrane was furious as well as astonished. "It tricked me! It's some kind of an . . . emotional vampire! Crawling around inside me!"

"It didn't hurt you, did it?" Kirk said.

"Hurt me? What has that to do with it? You can be married to a woman you love for fifty years and still keep your private places in your mind. But this—this thing—fed on me!"

"Is that the way you think of me?" Dawn asked. "After all I have the same gift as her. I can feel your emotion, how furious you are at what happened. Yes, it can be considered emotional rape, since you don't consent to me feeling your emotions. But you know I have no control over it, and neither does she."

"Doctor," Nancy Hedford's voice called weakly. "Doctor."

They hurried inside to find McCoy at Hedford's side. "Right here, Miss Hedford."

She managed a very faint, almost bitter laugh. "I . . . heard him. He was loved . . . and he resents it."

"You rest," McCoy said.

"No. I don't want. . . want to die . . . I've been . . . good at my job, Doctor. But I've . . . never been loved. What kind . . . of a life is that? Not to be loved . . . never . . . and now I'm dying. And he . . . runs away from love . . ." She fell silent, gasping for breath. McCoy's eyes were grim.

Dawn felt the Companion come back and she walked outside to meet it. "You can feel it just as I do."

"He is furious with me. He thinks I tricked him. He wants me to stay away to leave him alone."

"Yes," Dawn said. "Sadly. Feel my emotions. I share them freely."

"You are lonely, without the one you love."

"Yes," Dawn said. "Now think about the one I love. My sister, my lover. Think about how she will continue to exist without me. While she can't die till the end of the thousand years, she will emotionally, maybe even physically, weaken till the end of the thousand years. You desire for companionship has caused you to forget that we cannot be lonely."

The Companion faded from view and Dawn returned to the shelter, almost bumping into McCoy, who had been standing behind her. "What did you hope to gain by that?" the surgeon said.

"Remind her of who she is," Dawn said. "She and I are so alike."

"It won't do any good," Cochrane said. "I know."

From the direction of the cot, a voice said, "Zefram Cochrane." It was Nancy's voice, clear and strong, but somehow as if the use of human lips, tongue and vocal cords had become unfamiliar. They all spun around.

There stood Nancy Hedford—but transformed, radiant, soft, gentle, staring at Cochrane. The rosy glow of health was evident in her cheek. McCoy raised his medical tricorder and stared at it, thunderstruck. The Nancy Hedford who had been about to die was not sick at all now.

"Zefram Cochrane," she said. "We are understanding."

"You merged with her," Dawn said as Hedford nodded.

"Yes," said Nancy. "We are here—those you knew as the Commissioner and the Companion. We are both here."

"You did for her, what you did for Zefram," Dawn said.

"That part of us was too weak to hold on. In a moment there would have been no continuing. Now we are together. Now we remember what it is like to feel love—both of us. It fills a great need. That we did not have in a long time."

"You mean—you're both there in one body?" Kirk said.

"We are one. There is so much hunger, so much wanting." She moved toward Cochrane, who retreated a step. "Poor Zefram Cochrane. We frighten you. We never frightened you before." Tears formed in her eyes. "Loneliness. This is loneliness. We know loneliness. What a bitter thing. Zefram Cochrane, how do you bear it?"

"How do you know what loneliness is?" Cochrane said.

"To wear this form is to discover pain." She extended a hand. "Let us touch you, Zefram Cochrane."

His hand slowly went out, and they touched.

Kirk turned his head and said in a low voice: "Dawn. Check out the shuttlecraft. The engines, communication, everything."

"We hear you, Captain," Nancy said. "It is not necessary. Your vehicle will operate as before. So will your communications device."

"You're letting us go?" Cochrane said.

"We would do nothing to stop you. Our fellow Millennial reminded us of what it is to be human. So once again we are human, all human, and nothing more. We are no longer Millennial. We will know the change of the days. We will know death. But to touch the hand of the man—nothing is as important. Is this happiness, Zefram Cochrane? When the sun is warmer? The air sweeter? The sounds of this place like gentle currents in the air?"

"You are very beautiful," Cochrane said in a low voice.

"It pleases me that you think so."

"Many things we will see. It'll be an eye-opener to you." He was alive with excitement. "A thousand worlds, a thousand races. I'll show you everything—just as soon as I learn my way around again. Maybe I can make up for everything you did for me."

Sadness appeared in Nancy's eyes. "I cannot go with you, Zefram Cochrane."

Cochrane was stunned. "Of course, you can. You have to."

"My life emanates from this place. If I leave it, for more than a tiny march of days, I will cease to exist. I must return, even as you must consume matter to maintain your life."

"But—you have powers—you can—"

"My powers are gone. A gift from Fate. The march of days will affect me. But to leave here would mean a cessation of my existence immediately."

"You mean you gave up everything to become human?"

"It is nothing . . . compared to the touch of you."

"But you'll age, like any other human. Eventually you'll die."

"The joy of this hour is enough. I am pleased."

"I can't fly off and leave you here," Cochrane said. "You saved my life. You took care of me and you loved me. I never understood, but I do now."

"You must be free, Zefram Cochrane."

Kirk said gently: "The Galileo is waiting, Mr. Cochrane."

"But . . . If I take her away from here, she'll die. If I leave her . . . she's human. She'll die of loneliness. And that's not all. I love her. Is that surprising?"

"No, Zefram, it's not," Dawn said. "You can't leave her, anymore than I could leave Buffy."

Cochrane put his arms around her. "I can't leave her. And this isn't such a bad place. I'm used to it."

"Think it over, Mr. Cochrane," Kirk said. "There's a galaxy out there, waiting to honor you."

"As far as the galaxy is concerned, Zefram knows the honors they bestowed him," Dawn said. "John's Enterprise is not the first Enterprise Buffy and I've been on. We were on another, USS Enterprise, NCC-1701-E. Under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard. That ship was from sometime still in the future. They revealed to Zefram the honors he was awarded by their time."

"Dawn is correct," Cochrane said. "Besides she loves me."

Dawn smiled as she kissed Cochrane's cheek. "I wish you all the love in the world," she said. She looked at Hedford. "Both of you." She looked at Kirk. "It is time for us to be heading back to the Enterprise."

Kirk looked at Cochrane and then nodded. As he Dawn and McCoy turned, Cochrane said, "Dawn."

"Yes?" Dawn said as she turned back to face her old friend.

"Let Buffy know that I hope the two of you enjoy the rest of your time together," Cochrane said.

"I will," Dawn said as she turned toward Jim. "Jim, I think we can do one thing for Zefram."

Kirk nodded in understanding. "Consider it done, Dawn. No one except for those of us on this planet right now and Buffy will know that Zefram Cochrane is alive and living on this planet."

"Thank you," Cochrane said.

As they settled into the Galileo, Dawn said, "Doc, I think since Nancy Hedford will effectively never make it to the Enterprise, you should list in her medical file that she died."

"Probably for the best," McCoy agreed.

Kirk grinned and hit the communication switch. "Kirk to Enterprise."

The communicator fairly shouted back. "Captain! Are you all right?"

"Yes, Buffy, we're perfectly all right. Can you get a fix on us?"

"We have you."

"Very good. I'll continue transmission. Assume standard orbit on arrival. We'll transfer up on the shuttle-craft."

"What happened?"

"I will tell you tonight in our quarters, Buffy," Dawn said.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

After Dawn had told Buffy about seeing Cochrane on the planet and what he had said. Dawn had decided it was time to quit beating around the bush. They had admitted a long time before that they had feelings for each other. So, Dawn had gotten down on one knee to propose and Buffy had accepted. Now two days later in the chapel on the Enterprise they stood in front of Jim who in his capacity as commanding officer of the Enterprise was officiating.

"Since the days of the first wooden vessels, all ship's masters have had one happy privilege," Jim said. "That of uniting two people in the bonds of matrimony. And so, we are gathered here today with you, Dawn, and you, Buffy, in the sight of your friends, in the bond of matrimony…"

Jim smiled as he looked at Buffy and Dawn. He couldn't have been happier for his friends as he continued on.

"… And so, by the powers vested in me as Captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise, I now pronounce you wife and wife."

He nodded to Dawn who smiled at Buffy as she kissed her wife.

Author's Note: I know there are people who will be like, heck no. I just want to remind you that this has been the pairing from the beginning. I have even alluded to it multiple times in the story since chapter one when Fate told Buffy that her destiny included loving Dawn. So, if you are that bent up about it, you shouldn't have been reading as you saw plenty of times that was where I was heading.