Chapter Two

The strange girl Ensign Chekov had brought back from his shore leave lay one of the beds in sick bay. The Ensign and the Doctor had had a terrific row when he had appeared with the emaciated, foot-broken, beaten girl. She looked like trouble to Doctor Leonard "Bones" McCoy, but the moment the Ensign told him he had found her frozen on the street and he began to examine her, he knew that if he had not become a doctor to help those in need, why had he?

The girl was beaten from head to toe, and Bones was surprised she had survived this long, by the different shades of bruising he guessed the beating was not a single incident. The Doc had been so preoccupied with examining her he had failed to alert the Captain as to her presence right away.

"Sickbay to bridge."

"Bones?"

"Jim, could you come down here for a moment?"

Chekov had not left the girl's side. He had insisted that the girl would be alarmed if she awoke and he wasn't there and, besides, the Captain had granted him two days of shore leave and he had only taken one.

"Bones, what it is?" The Captain entered sickbay. With a start Captain James T. Kirk's eyes darted from the Doc, to the girl lying in his sickbay, to the Ensign and back again.

"Ensign Chekov encountered this little Russian soul in need and felt compelled to make her my problem." The Captain stepped closer. The girl looked exactly like another Russian he had once known. Could this girl be some relation?

"Explain, Mr. Chekov."

"I was in Leningrad when I heard a cry and found the girl frozen, and starving and I couldn't leave her, Captain. If I've committed any offence then I will suffer the consequences, but please sir let the girl stay aboard. I'm certain that once she's on her feet she can be of help."

"What makes you so sure, Mr. Chekov?"

"She tells me the first seven years of her life were spent aboard the U.S.S Conquest."

"If what you say is true, Mr. Chekov, the Doctor will suffer her company as he would that of you or I, isn't that so Bones?"

"I suppose so, Jim." The Doctor avoided looking into the Captain's eyes, but instead more closely examined the girl's vitals.

"So Bones, can we talk to her?"

"Now that I've finished my exam, I suppose so. Nurse Chapel, may I have a shot of adrenaline, please?"

As the Doctor injected her, the girl began to awaken. After a few low moans the girl's eyes shot open. Kirk, after looking into her eyes, realized with a chill that this Russian girl's eyes were like looking into a mirror of his own. Her eyes quickly assessed all of the people in the room, relaxing considerably as she saw Chekov had not left her side.

"Where am I?"

"You are in the sick bay of the U.S.S Enterprise. This is our captain, James T. Kirk. He would like to ask you some questions. Can you speak English?" The girl nodded to what Ensign Chekov spoke in Russian.

Vanya couldn't believe that the handsome man before her was James T. Kirk, the man she had dreampt of all her life, Captain of the Enterprise. Just as she thought that she could be no more pleased than this moment he spoke to her with such kindness, "Hello, Little One. What's your name?" It took every little ounce of energy Vanya had to respond to that simple question.

"V-Vanya...Davidovna."

"A good Russian name, is it not, Mr. Chekov?" Now Captain Kirk was certain that this girl must be some relative to the Anusha Davidovna he had once known, who she so closely resembled

"Yes, sir."

"So, Vanya Davidovna, tell me how old are you?"

"I'll be sixteen in a month's time."

"Very good. Ensign Chekov tells me you spent the first seven years of your life aboard the Conquest, is that so?"

"Yes sir, I can certainly be of help aboard. I'm skilled in Engineering and other areas, also."

"I was an officer aboard the Conquest about an Earth year before you were born. Though, our Chief Engineer, Mr. Scott left the Conquest about five years ago. Do you remember him?"

"I most certainly do! I spent many an hour in Engineering with Mr. Scott while on the Conquest. He often spoke of the Enterprise and her superior design."

"Is that so? Well, then we'll have to get him to sickbay soon. Doctor, may I see you outside for a moment? Mr. Chekov please keep our guest entertained while the Doctor have a word."

* * *

"Mr. Chekov, I don't believe we were fully introduced, Vanya Sarah Davidovna."

"Ensign Pavel Andrieivich Chekov, Navigator of the U.S.S Enterprise, pleased to make your acquaintance." Pavel Andrieivich, she had always loved the name Pavel. She had had a great great uncle by the name of Pavel, but he, too, had died in the service of the Federation. She told this to the Pavel before her.

"Would that be the first of the great Russian captains, Pavel Vanya Ivanovich?"

"Yes, my mother named me after him."

"I, too, was named after Pavel Vanya Ivanovich. Vanya is a very beautiful name."

"Thank you. Pavel is also a very beautiful name."

Kirk and Doctor McCoy entered the room. "So, Ms. Davidovna, I hope you will excuse me. Also, would it be quite alright if Mr. Chekov accompanied me?" Vanya would rather the handsome young man stayed by her side.

"Yes, sir." It was not her place to deny a captain his navigator on a whim.

"Though, sir, may I be allowed to see Mr. Scott soon?"

"You'll have to address that question to Dr. McCoy, Ms. Davidovna. Mr. Chekov." Vanya was afraid to be alone with the Doctor. He was in no way a threatening figure, but from the moment she had awakened she had sensed his abruptness with her.

"Excuse me, Dr. McCoy, may I be allowed to visit, Mr. Scott?"

"I won't allow you to leave sickbay, just yet, but Mr. Scott can certainly visit."

"Thank you, Doctor."

"For now, I want you to sleep. If any one comes for you, I'll wake you."

* * *

Vanya let herself slip into a deep sleep. On most occasions Vanya craved sleep and the release she received from pain, loneliness, and hunger. Now, more comfortable than she could ever remember being, she wanted nothing more than to wake from the horrible dreams which plagued her: the cold streets beneath her feet again. Her belly rumbled louder and louder and louder until a beast ripped through. The great and terrible beast tore at her skin, broke her body.

The dream ended and another horrible one began. She was locked in a cage, people jeered, spit, and threw stones. Her mother's lifeless body lay outside the cage with an equal crowd of abusers.

With a jolt her mother sat up, with blood shot, glazed, dead eyes and screeched, "Kirk!" Vanya turned to see where her mother was staring. There behind her lay the Captain's body. Vanya let out a blood curdling cry as never heard before, and awoke.