Author's Note: As I was going through the source material for this chapter, I noticed there was a conversation between Sulu and Kirk. Where Sulu mentions the Galaxy Class being smaller than the Enterprise. I found it funny for several reasons. One of which was as we all know the Galaxy Class is bigger than the Constitution Class (Kirk's Enterprise) and secondly, they were talking about the Galaxy Class five years before TNG premiered (Wrath of Khan novelization came out '82 and TNG premiered in '87).

Chapter 40: Millennial

"Enterprise Shuttle Seven, you're cleared for liftoff."

"Roger, Seattle, we copy." Sulu powered up the gravity fields, and the square little shuttlecraft rose smoothly from the vast expanse of the landing field. He glanced around to make sure his passengers were all safely strapped in: Jim, McCoy and Uhura. Next to him sat Buffy humming. "Is that?"

"The Flyer's language?" Buffy replied. "No just a song. I haven't thought about their language in years." She watched as the shuttle gave a three-hundred-sixty-degree view of the land below them. They flew upwards and then the earth curved away beneath them, disappearing into the sun far to one side and into the great shadow of the terminator on the other.

"As beautiful as the first time I saw Earth from orbit," Buffy said as she remembered when she saw Earth spinning below her from the Enterprise-E.

Buffy stood and moved into the passenger seats and stretched out.

Jim closed the book he was reading and pushed his glasses to the top of his head. "You look a bit the worse for wear, Buffy. Missing Dawn?"

Buffy nodded. "A little. This is the first time we've had two separate assignments since the start of our thousand years long lifespan."

"I've been meaning to ask, why you recommended Spock over yourself for the Enterprise," Jim said.

"First let me say I was thrilled when I learned that I was your first choice. That said I'm happy with what I've been doing," Buffy said. "Maybe someday I might be ready for command. But it's not right now."

"Well I have to admit for your first time at helm during the Kobayashi Maru exam, you did pretty good." Jim said.

"Well you and John were pretty good teachers," Buffy said as Jim smiled at her.

"Shuttle Seven to Enterprise. Admiral Kirk's party on final approach," Sulu said.

"Shuttle Seven, welcome to Enterprise. Prepare for docking."

"Thank you, Enterprise, we copy."

When Sulu had completed the preparations, Jim caught Sulu's gaze. "By the way, Captain, I must thank you for coming along."

"I was delighted to get your request, Admiral. A chance to go back on board the Enterprise, to indulge in a bit of nostalgia- how could I pass it up?"

"Yes..." Jim said thoughtfully. "Nevertheless, I remember how much there was to do, and how little time there seemed to be to do it in, just before I got the Enterprise. It's not very long till the end of the month- when you take command of Excelsior."

"I'm ready, sir. I've looked forward to it for a long time."

"I know. I took a lot of pleasure in personally cutting the orders for your first command."

"Thank you, Admiral."

"But I'm still grateful to have you at the helm for three weeks." Jim grinned, "Mr. Sulu, I don't believe those kids can steer."

Buffy rolled her eyes. Instead she was acting as Spock's first officer.

0 - 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Lieutenant Saavik watched Enterprise Shuttle Seven as it settled into its transport moorings. The great doors of the starship's landing bay slid closed, and air sighed in to pressurize the compartment.

The other trainees waited nervously for Admiral Kirk. Saavik remained outwardly impassive.

"Docking procedures completed," the computer said.

"Prepare for inspection," Spock said. "Open airlock."

All the trainees came to rigid attention as the doors slid open. The computer, surrogate bo'sun, piped the Admiral onto the ship.

"Permission to come aboard, Captain?"

"Permission granted, Admiral, and welcome."

Kirk stepped on board the Enterprise.

"I believe you know my trainees," Spock said. "Certainly, they have come to know you."

Kirk looked straight at Saavik. "Yes," he said, "we've been through death and life together." He held her gaze a moment, then, when she did not respond, turned away. "Hello, Mr. Scott. You old spacedog, Scotty, are you well?"

"Aye, Admiral. I had a wee bout, but Dr. McCoy pulled me through."

" 'A wee bout'? A wee bout of what?"

Mr. Scott glanced at Dr. McCoy-quickly, as if he hoped no one would notice. So: reluctance it was. McCoy returned his look, adding a slight shrug and a small smile.

"Er, shore leave, Admiral," Mr. Scott said.

"Ah," Kirk said. He strode along before the line, giving each trainee a stern yet not unfriendly glance. Buffy, Spock and Scott accompanied him.

"And who is this?" Kirk said, stopping in front of a child.

Peter drew himself up straight and serious. He replied to Kirk breathlessly. "Cadet First Class Peter Preston, engineer's mate, sir!"

"Is this your first training voyage, Mr. Preston?"

"Yes, sir!"

"I see. In that case, I think we should start the inspection with the engine room."

"Aye, sir!"

"I dinna doubt ye'll find all in order," Mr. Scott said.

"We shall see you on the bridge, Admiral," Spock said.

"Very good, Mr. Spock."

Engineer Scott started toward the turbolift with Kirk and Buffy; the engine room company followed.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Peter Preston stood at attention next to the control console that was his responsibility last in line for inspection.

Kirk stopped in front of him, Buffy just behind and off to the side. He looked Preston up and down, then drew one finger along the edge of the console.

"I believe you'll find everything shipshape, Admiral," Peter said, and immediately wished he had kept his mouth shut.

"Oh, do you?" Kirk said sternly. "Mr. Preston, do you have any idea, any idea at all, how often I've had to listen to Mr. Scott tell me that one more warp factor will blow the ship to bits?"

"Uh, no sir," Peter said, quite startled.

"Too many times to count," said Buffy. "He always liked to say we were flying her apart at the seams."

"Right you are, Buffy," agreed Kirk. "Scotty, your cadet's a tiger."

"My sister's youngest, Admiral. Crazy to get to space," Mr. Scott said. "Always has been."

"Every youngster's fancy," Kirk said with a sideways glance at Buffy. "I seem to remember it myself."

They stopped at the far end of the engine room; Kirk and Buffy listened as Scott pointed out improvements that had been added.

Kirk, Scott and Buffy strolled back along the length of the engine room. "Mr. Scott," Kirk said, "I think we'd better get these kids on their training cruise before they take over completely. Are your engines up to a little trip?"

"Just give the word, Admiral."

"Mr. Scott, the word is given."

"Aye, sir."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Bridge," Kirk said to the turbolift voice sensor.

"What about the rest of your inspection, Jim?" Buffy said.

"I'll finish it later, Buffy," Jim said mildly. "After we're under way. Besides I think you would like us to get underway so you can contact Dawn."

"I would," agreed Buffy.

"That said though I am glad to have you along," said Kirk.

"Thanks," said Buffy.

The turbolift doors opened. They stepped out onto the bridge of the Enterprise.

Buffy had to admit it was pleasant to be back. She moved over beside Uhura, "Nyota."

"Hey, Buffy," said Uhura.

"Anything from Dawn?"

"Haven't got anything," Uhura admitted. "Why? Is she not coming with us?"

"She's on the Reliant," said Buffy. "Quick tour. Or it was supposed to be. From her last message she said they were close to running over the time they had been given to finish the mission."

"Admiral on the bridge!" Sulu said.

"As you were," Kirk said.

"Starfleet Operations to Enterprise. You are cleared for departure."

"Lieutenant Saavik, " Spock said, "clear all moorings."

"Aye, sir." Savvik set to work.

Kirk and Buffy descended to the lower bridge.

"Greetings, Admiral." Spock nodded to Buffy as well. "Commander. I trust the inspection went well."

"Yes, Captain, I'm very impressed," Kirk said.

"Moorings clear, Captain," Saavik said.

"Thank you, Lieutenant." Spock paused a moment. "Lieutenant Saavik, how many times have you piloted a starship out of spacedock?"

"One hundred ninety-three, sir," Saavik said promptly. And then added: "In simulation. In real-world circumstances, never."

Kirk and Buffy looked at each other. "She has to start somewhere," Buffy whispered as Kirk nodded with a sigh.

"Take us out, Lieutenant Saavik," Spock said.

"Aye, sir. Reverse thrust, Mr. Sulu, if you please."

"Reverse thrust, Lieutenant."

"It is always rewarding to watch one's students examine the limits of their training," Spock said. "Wouldn't you agree, Admiral?"

"Oh, definitely, Captain. To be sure. First time for everything, after all."

The viewscreen showed the spacedock receding majestically; then it spun slowly from their sight as the Enterprise rotated away.

"Ahead one-quarter impulse power, if you please, Captain Sulu," Saavik aid.

The ship accelerated.

"One-quarter impulse power," Mr. Sulu said; then, a moment later, "Free and clear."

"Course, Captain?" Saavik asked.

Spock turned to Buffy and Kirk and raised one eyebrow.

"At your discretion, Captain," Kirk said.

"Out there, Lieutenant Saavik," said Spock.

"Sir?" Saavik glanced back.

Buffy glanced at Spock and then Kirk. "Hunh?" This was her first time on the Enterprise since the Enterprise had been refitted. So, she had not been onboard with Kirk had taken command for the mission dealing with V'Ger. So, she didn't know that, 'Out there,' was something Kirk had said after the mission.

"I believe the technical term is 'thataway,' " Spock said.

"Aye, sir," Saavik said, obviously not understanding.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Dawn screamed.

Nothing happened...

Her mind and her memory were sharp and clear. She was hyperaware of everything on the bridge of Reliant: Joachim beside her at the helm, Terrell sitting blank and trapped at her normal position, and Khan.

Khan lounged in the captain's seat. The screen framed a full-aft view: Ceti Alpha V dwindled, from a globe to a disk to a speck, then vanished from their sight. Reliant shifted into warp and even Ceti Alpha, the star itself, shrank to a point and lost itself in the starfield.

"Steady on course," Joachim said. "All systems normal."

"It was kind of you to bring me a ship so like the Enterprise, Dawn," Khan said.

Fifteen years before, Khan had flipped through the technical data on the Enterprise; apparently, he had memorized each page with one quick look. As far as Dawn could tell, Khan like herself and Buffy had good recall. With the knowledge, and with Terrell under his control, Khan had little trouble taking over Reliant. Most of the crew had worked on unaware that anything was wrong, until Khan's people came upon them, one by one, took them prisoner, and beamed them to the surface of Ceti Alpha V.

The engine room company remained, working in concert with each other, and with eels.

Out of three hundred people, Khan had found only ten troublesome enough to bother killing.

"Dawn, I have a few questions to ask of you."

Don't answer him, don't answer him, Dawn thought, but out loud she said, "Yes."

The questions began.

Dawn answered. She screamed inside her mind; she felt the creature writhing inside her skull; she answered.

Khan questioned Terrell only briefly, but it seemed to give him great pleasure to extract information from Dawn. By the time he finished, he knew each tiny detail of what precious little anyone on Reliant had been told about the classified Project Genesis. He knew where they had been, he knew where they were going, and he knew they reported to Dr. Carol Marcus.

"Very good, Dawn. I'm very pleased with you. But tell me one more thing. Might my old friend Admiral Kirk be involved in your project?"

"No."

"Is he aware of it?"

"I do not know."

With an edge in his voice, Khan asked, "Could he find out about it?"

Kirk was a member of the Fleet General Staff; he had access to any classified information he cared to look up. Dawn tried desperately to keep that knowledge from Khan. Her mind was working so fast and well that she knew, without any doubt, what Khan planned. She knew it and she feared it.

"Answer me, Dawn."

"Yes."

Khan chuckled softly, the sound like a caress. "Joachim, my friend, alter our course. We shall pay a visit to Regulus I."

"My lord-!" Joachim faced his leader, protest in his voice.

"This does not suit your fancy?"

"I am with you. We all are. But we're free! This is what we've waited for, for two hundred years! We have a ship; we can go where we will-"

"I made a promise fifteen years ago, Joachim. You were witness to my oath, then, and when I repeated it. Until I keep my word to myself, and to my wife, I am not free."

"Khan, my lord, she never desired revenge."

"You overstep your bounds, Joachim," Khan said dangerously.

The younger man caught his breath, but plunged on. "You escaped the prison James Kirk made for you! You've proved he couldn't hold you, Khan, you've won!"

"He tasks me, Joachim. He tasks me, and I'll have him."

The two men stared at each other; Joachim wavered, and turned his head away.

"In fifteen years, this is all I have asked for myself, Joachim," Khan said. "I can have no new life, no new beginning, until I achieve it. I know that you love me, my friend. But if you feel I have no right to any quest, say so. I will free you from the oath you swore to me."

"I'll never break that oath, my lord."

Khan nodded. "Regulus I, Joachim," he said gently.

"Yes, Khan."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Carol," Jedda said at the communicator, "it's Reliant."

She got up quickly. Everyone followed her to the communicator. Jedda put the call up on the screen.

"Reliant to Spacelab, come in Spacelab."

"Spacelab here, Captain Summers. Go ahead."

"Dr. Marcus, good. We're en route to Regulus. Our ETA is three days from now."

"Three days? Why so soon? What did you find on Ceti Alpha VI?"

Dawn stared into the screen.

What's wrong? Carol wondered. There shouldn't be any time lag on the hyper channel. "Has something happened? Captain Summers, do you read me? Has something happened?"

"No, nothing, Doctor. All went well. Ceti Alpha VI checked out."

"Break out the beer!" Del said.

"But what about-"

Dawn cut her off. "We have new orders, Doctor. Upon our arrival at Spacelab, we will take all Project Genesis materials into military custody."

"Bullshit!" David said.

"Shh, David," Carol said automatically. "Captain Summers, this is extremely irregular. Who gave this order?"

"Starfleet Command, Dr. Marcus. Direct from the General Staff."

"This is a civilian project! This is my project-"

"I have my orders."

"What gold-stripe lamebrain gave the order?" David shouted.

Dawn glanced away from the screen, then turned back. "Admiral James T. Kirk."

Carol felt the blood drain from her face.

David pushed past her toward the screen.

"I knew you'd try to pull this!" he shouted. "Anything anybody does, you just can't wait to get your hands on it and kill people with it!" He reached to cut off the communication.

Carol grabbed his hand. Keep hold of yourself, she thought, and took a deep breath. "Captain Summers, the order is improper. I'll permit no military personnel access to my work."

Dawn paused again, glanced away again.

What's going on out there? Carol thought.

"I'm sorry you feel that way, Dr. Marcus," Dawn said. "The orders are confirmed. Please be prepared to hand over Genesis upon our arrival in three days. Reliant out."

Dawn reached forward; the transmission faded.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

The doors of the turbolift began to close.

"Hold, please!"

"Hold!" Kirk said to the sensors. The doors opened obediently, sighing.

Saavik dashed inside. "Thank you, sirs," she said as she saw Kirk and Buffy in the lift.

"Our pleasure, Lieutenant," said Buffy.

Savvik gazed at Kirk intently; he began to feel uneasy. "Admiral," she said suddenly, "may I speak?"

"Lieutenant," Kirk said, "self-expression does not seem to be one of your problems."

"I beg your pardon, sir?"

"Never mind. What was it you wanted to say?"

"I wish to ask you about the high efficiency rating."

"You earned it."

"I did not think so."

"Because of the results of Kobayashi Maru?"

"I failed to resolve the situation," Saavik said.

"You couldn't. There isn't any resolution. It's a test of character."

Savvik considered that for a moment. "Was the test a part of your training, Admiral?"

"It certainly was," Kirk said with a smile. "Only two people I personally know of have never taken it till today. One of them still hasn't and the other is standing beside us."

"Commander Summers, informed me," said Savvik. "Sir, may I ask how you dealt with it?"

"You may ask, Lieutenant." Kirk laughed as Savvik froze. "That was a little joke, Lieutenant."

"Admiral," Savvik said carefully, "the jokes human beings make differ considerably from those with which I am familiar."

"What jokes exactly do you mean?" Buffy wondered.

"The jokes of Romulans," Savvik said. "The human concept, appears more complex and more difficult."

"Well, Lieutenant, we learn by doing," said Kirk.

Savvik did not react to that, either. He decided to change the subject.

"Lieutenant, do you want my advice?" Kirk asked.

"Yes," she said in an odd tone of voice.

"You're allowed to take the test more than once. If you're dissatisfied with your performance, you should take it again."

The lift slowed and stopped. The doors slid open and McCoy, who had been waiting impatiently, stepped inside.

"Who's been holding up the damned turbolift? - Oh!" he said when he saw Buffy, Kirk and Saavik. "Hi."

"Thank you, Admiral," Saavik said as she stepped off the lift. "I appreciate your advice. Good day, Doctor."

The doors closed.

McCoy waggled his eyebrows. "Did she change her hair?"

"What?" Buffy and Kirk said.

"I said-"

"We heard you," said Buffy as the turbolift doors opened again. "My stop."

As the doors closed behind her she heard McCoy say, "Wonderful stuff, that Romulan ale."

"Why does that not surprise me?" she said as she walked down the corridor and into her quarters. She walked over to the desk and hit the intercom. "Bridge, Uhura, anything from Reliant?"

"Sorry, Buffy," said Uhura.

Buffy sighed as she turned the intercom off. "Dawn, what's going on?"

"Hello, Buffy."

Buffy spun at the voice and saw Fate in the guise of an old man. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"There has been a change that even we did not foresee," said Fate. "Unless things change, we have seen Dawn go mad. Therefor we are making you a full Millennial. You will have all the same powers and abilities that Dawn has. This is a safeguard in case what we have seen comes to pass."

Before Buffy could ask where Dawn was or what was going on Fate faded from view.