Chapter 18 – Warping Out, Together
Thankfully it wasn't snowing just yet despite being early winter. Now twenty-two, Zia stood with a dozen other cadets, all of whom were graduating at the end of their third year. A sea of people filled the lawn, their eyes on the stage. First-years, second-years, third-years, professors and family members. The smiling faces of Giana, Patty, Tara and Blair stood out.
On the stage stood two-hundred fourth-years and the Admirals and Captains. Each cadet was addressed individually, their accomplishments listed, and their Starfleet Academy Majors revealed. Every cadet had at least one major, some having three or four. Zia swelled with pride as each cadet was named.
And at last it was time for the third-years.
"Every year there is a group of talented third-year cadets who make the decision to graduate a year early," Admiral Barnett said. "It is a risky business, but only the best make it. May I present, Zia Abbott." She stepped forward and tipped her cap. "This young cadet has graduated at the top of all her classes and broken several records throughout her years at the Academy. She has earned majors in Advanced Theoretical Physics, Astrophysics and Exoarchaeology, and we will miss her." He handed over her plaque and they shook hands.
He then moved onto the next cadet and she felt a familiar hand squeeze her shoulder. She smiled. Yeto would be on the Enterprise with her as well as Spock.
There he was, seated at the front of the crowd with Kirk and McCoy. His pride flowed through her and she grinned at him. Once upon a time it had been him up here.
Then the crowd cheered and clapped, and the graduates ran down from the stage. Her small group followed them and joined the throng descending the steps. She grabbed Yeto's hand and, once they were on solid ground, they rushed to Kirk, Spock and McCoy.
"You guys." Kirk held out his arms. Yeto didn't usually hug, but he did now with everything in him. Zia joined in and crushed them both.
"Thank you, sir." Yeto pulled away.
"I present," Kirk said dramatically, "the newest additions to the Enterprise family, Lieutenant Yeto Kestrel, Junior Medical Officer and Lieutenant Zia Abbott, Junior Science Officer!"
She laughed. "You know, Captain, I thought you were kidding about that. Are you really serious?" If he was serious, then that meant that she would work with Spock. That would be awesome.
"Hell no, I wasn't kidding! You've earned it." And she certainly had, given that she'd published several physics papers in the past eighteen months, done extremely well in the Kobayashi Maru and helped Kirk from a tight spot with a group of fan girls that were stalking him in a pub while the Enterprise crew was having a drink. She would never let him forget that.
McCoy clapped Yeto's shoulders. "Just in time for the five-year mission, eh? It should be fun."
"Yes, sir."
"Damn it man, call me Doctor! Sir is just too… formal."
"Yes, Doctor."
Zia grinned at Spock. "I can't believe we get to work together."
He inclined his head. "The Captain felt it best that I had someone to assist me in matters of science."
"Yeah, you're welcome!" Kirk shouted over the growing noise. All around them people mingled, talked and laughed loudly. "Come on, let's celebrate."
At that moment Giana, Patty, Tara and Blair appeared. They enveloped Zia in a group hug and laughed and talked indecipherably. When they finally let go Tara and Blair laced their hands together and grinned like maniacs.
"Congratulations!" they yelled.
"Thank you!" Zia's eyes shone.
Kirk threw his arms up. "What the hell! Why don't we all celebrate! Come on!"
He led the way and they all followed him like sheep towards the celebration. Spock reached out and grasped Zia's hand so as not to lose her in the crowd. Her other hand gripped her plaque without any intention of letting go.
'I trust you will attend the rechristening of the Enterprise tomorrow?'
'Of course, I wouldn't miss it for the world.'
o.O.o
"There will always be those who mean to do us harm. To stop them, we risk awakening the same evil within ourselves. Our first instinct is to seek revenge, when those we love are taken from us. That's not who we are. We are here today to rechristen the U.S.S. Enterprise, and to honour those who lost their lives eighteen months ago. When Christopher Pike first gave me his ship, he had me recite the Captain's Oath, words I didn't appreciate at the time. Now I see them as a call for us to remember who we once were, and who we must be, again. And those words:
"Space… the final frontier. These are the continuing voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Her five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life, and new civilisations, to boldly go, where no one has gone… before…"
Planes swooped overhead. In front of the stage, people folded the Federation flag into a perfect square. Zia, sandwiched between Spock and Uhura, stared up at Captain Kirk. All around them sat countless Starfleet personnel to give their respects to Captain Pike and rechristen the Enterprise. As Kirk finished, Spock glanced over at her, his face tight. She sent him calming emotions and he relaxed in his seat.
Now she was a Lieutenant. She was no longer Cadet Abbott, but Lieutenant Abbott, and Junior Science Officer to boot. While scary, she looked forward to the challenge.
"I now declare the U.S.S. Enterprise as an official Starship. Her maiden voyage will begin tomorrow, and it'll be five years before we'll see each other again." Kirk saluted, "To Captain Pike, for his sacrifice."
Everyone in the crowd stood and saluted, "To Captain Pike and his sacrifice."
o.O.o
Zia stood in the dorm that had been her home for the past three years and sighed.
"It's going to take some getting used to," she said. Tara nodded.
"I'll miss not having a roommate." She hugged Zia yet again. "You're a good friend."
The door opened, and Blair and Jamie came in, followed by Zia's parents.
"Don't forget about us," Jamie pouted.
Blair cleared his throat. "I've written a speech for you." He unfolded a piece of paper. "Zia, when we first met I thought I was hallucinating, because there was no possible way that a Vulcan was in my physics class. When I got to know you, I saw you for the wonderful person you truly are. You're a true friend, and true friends are friends for life. Make sure that when you get back from the mission, you look me up. My door is always open to you." He lowered the paper and smiled shyly.
"Thank you!" She hugged him.
"Come on, group hug!" Jamie shouted. Everyone laughed and joined in and Zia felt like she was trapped in a sandwich.
"Thanks guys," she said. "I'll really miss you all, and I'll look up every single one of you when I get back."
"You will definitely have to contact me," Jamie pouted. "Who else will tell me that I look gorgeous?"
Zia laughed. "Don't worry, I will." She reached out and squeezed Jamie's hand.
Then it was her parents' turn.
"Honey make sure you write," Giana said tearfully. "I don't know where you're going, but whenever you have the chance, please write or call."
"I will, mum. And dad, I'll do my best to stay out of harm's way."
Patty held her shoulders. "Our little girl is a Lieutenant about to embark on a five-year mission. You may be grown-up now, but you'll always be our little girl."
"I know dad." She hugged her parents and battled the tears.
Five years was a long time, she knew that. A lot could change in five years. When she got back things wouldn't be the same. Tara and Blair could split up, Jamie could relocate to another planet and her parents could retire. They would have new friends, new relationships, yet she hoped that they would always be friends. Tara, Blair and Jamie had been through so much with her, and Giana and Patty, well, they were her parents. It didn't matter that they weren't her biological parents. They were beside her for everything, through the highs and lows and supported her no matter what.
Tara had been Zia's friend from the moment they'd met. The human had never laughed at the Vulcan, never been nasty to her, and had been a faithful friend for three years. That kind of friendship was something she would miss, but true friendship lasted forever.
Hopefully they would remain friends for life. Yes, Zia would miss them all dearly and long for their company, but she was ready to strike out on the Enterprise with the one she loved and make her own life.
And it was going to be awesome.
Zia faced her friends and family. "I'll be seeing you in five years." She reached onto her old bed, picked up both travel bags and marched from the dorm before she could burst into tears.
Patty tilted his head as the door closed behind her. "Do you think we should have told her that Spock asked for my blessing because he plans to marry her sometime during the mission?"
All five of them exchanged glances. "No."
o.O.o
Her new room on the Enterprise was spacious and had its own bathroom too. As Junior Science Officer, it was just across the hall from Spock's room, which she liked very much.
She made sure her blue dress was decent, and her rank pinned to her front before she left her room and took the Turbolift to the Bridge, where everyone but Kirk waited. Chekov was in the navigation seat, Sulu lounged in the Captain's chair (what was with that?), Uhura stood by her console, Spock examined the contents of a PADD and McCoy looked a bit sick. At least Yeto manned the Infirmary so McCoy could be here. She took her seat at the subspace anomaly console and spun in her chair. It was exactly as she remembered it.
The Bridge doors opened, and Kirk walked through in his yellow Captain's shirt. It seemed made for him.
"Keptin on ze Bridge," Chekov announced.
Kirk looked at Sulu and sighed as he strolled over. "It's hard to get out of it once you've had a taste, isn't that right Mister Sulu?"
Sulu stood and stepped away from the chair. "'Captain' does have a nice ring to it." He grinned. "The chair's all yours, sir."
Kirk shook his head and tapped the comm. "Mister Scott, how's our core?"
"Purring like a kitten Capt'n; she's ready for a long journey."
"Excellent." Kirk jumped down from the platform and landed in front of McCoy. "Come on Bones, it's gonna be fun."
He moved away, and McCoy pulled an extremely grumpy, but hilarious, face. "Five years in space, God help me."
A second later Kirk stopped beside Zia. "How's my new Junior Science Officer?"
She bit back her nerves, "Ready and raring to go Captain." And she was. The next five years were going to be full of surprises.
Kirk made the rounds before he stopped in front of his chair. "Spock."
"Captain." Spock joined him. They looked out into space.
"Where should we go?"
Spock thought for a second. "As a mission of this duration has never been attempted, I defer to your good judgement, Captain."
Lips tilted in a smile, Spock turned and moved to his station beside Zia. She faced him. "Should I be nervous?"
He raised his eyebrow. "No."
Meanwhile, Kirk sat in his Captain's Chair. "Mister Sulu, take us out."
"Aye, Captain."
Zia and Spock's eyes met, and they couldn't help but smile. They'd survived everything that was thrown at them. Separation, Pike's death, Khan, Kirk's death, the mind-meld dilemma and the Vulcan Hunters. They were strong, their love born of not only the good things, but the bad too, and they would survive what the future brought. Excitement surged through them as the Enterprise went into Warp.
This time they were warping out, together.