4/12/2258
Earth
The Enterprise had finally arrived at Spacedock. A cold expressioned Admiral had, in an even colder voice,
given Acting Captain Spock orders over the comm.
The Enterprise would remain at Spacedock until the selection of a new CO. Each crewmember was allowed
two days shore leave, after which they were to remain onboard at all times.
The remaining Senior staff took their two days right away and all of them immediately headed towards the block
where Kirk's flat was. Each of them with only one thought or desire in their minds.
To try to make things right. To try to make amends for what they'd done.
To somehow end the nightmare.
When they arrived at Kirk's flat they saw that it was heavily guarded with Security officers.
They ignored them and pressed forward. Ending the nightmare was all that mattered.
Security refused to let them come closer.
They refused to leave. They couldn't.
Things were getting out of hand when Uhura noticed a familiar blonde head in an open window.
"Kirk!" she shouted desperately.
He closed the window and turned away.
The nighmare deepened.
She tried to dash toward the building but one of the Security guys grabbed her. "Let go of me!" she snarled
The head Security officer's voice was firm and non-compromising. "Sorry, Ma'am, but unless the Captain's orders:
'Do not disturb, especially if it's any Enterprise crewmen,' changed during the last few minutes, you are not
allowed any further."
"Then call him and ask him!" Chekov begged. His face was a mask of sorrow and he was on the verge of tears.
"Please!"
The Security officer, a tall muscular African American male, looked at the distraught ensign for a moment.
"Please!" Chekov repeated and now tears were coming.
The officer flipped open his comm. "Captain? Johnson speaking. Orders still the same?"
There was a pause.
Five people prayed internally to any higher power that might be listening.
Please, let this nightmare end! Please!
"Yes, Johnson." The answering voice was calm but cold. So cold. "And they're not going to change. Ever."
The connection closed right when Sulu frantically tried to grab the comm.
The nightmare swallowed them all whole.