Hey, guys! Finally done with my summer homework, thank God... Now I have all my vacation time to write for you!

Oh, and for any of you who go on Fiction Press, I have an account there, too. So far, I think there are about 12 original stories on there. :) Nothing long, mostly oneshots or monologues.

Disclaimer - I don't own Star Trek, only Niburan related thingys, O'turan, and this story.

R&R


They arrived late that evening. I remember seeing them approach the vessel on our SONAR with a strange feeling of dread. I should have been happy they were coming - they would take action, find out who was really responsible for our kidnapping, possibly have them arrested... I glanced at Spock, his expression stone cold. I expected no less.

"Enterprise, this is USS Shenandoah. We are approaching your vessel. The USS Republic follows approximately eight minutes behind us."

"Commander, switching USS Shenandoah to main screen," I told him.

The face of a petite, blond woman came on the screen. "Permission to beam aboard Chief of Operations, First Officer Petty, and Ensign McGee."

I looked up. Of course Spock showed no outward sign of surprise, but the Chief's arrival was completely unexpected. This was serious. I remember the feeling of cold fear gripping at my stomach, causing it to flip in a feeble attempt to flee from its hold.

"Affirmative, Enterprise out. Scotty, prepare to beam aboard the Chief of Operations, USS Shenandoah First Officer Petty, and USS Shenandoah Ensign McGee."

I remember looking up at him, our eyes connecting before I, along with others whose shifts had ended, was dismissed.

I looked at the mirror before me. Hours have passed, hours in which I attempted to sleep with no real success. My bed seeming as massive as it had when I was a little girl, like a large expanse of barren land waiting to be conquered. I was dressed in my dress uniform - I snapped the jacket's collar into place before pulling my hair up.

"All crewmembers meant to be present for Commander Spock's trial, please be in Conference Room number four in twenty minutes."

My eyes scanned the room, my mind already becoming numb in response to today's events. On the shelves were things I deemed necessary and important enough to bring with me - A shiny rock I had found as a child in the woods, a picture of my mother, an old wooden jewelry box that had been given to me as a birthday present when I was thirteen... My eyes stayed on that, moving to open it. In it were letters I have received over the years, small nicknacks I've picked up - My hands moved to one in particular.

The memory came back to me strongly, hitting my senses like a cold bucket of water would.

Gaila was laughing with me as we took out clothes, teasing each other as we decided what to wear. 
"You look like an old maid - come on! You only turn twenty-one once, Ny!" I remember her shrieking, pulling away the appropriate outfit I had picked out for a night out with everyone, "This is the first time you're actually leaving your studies for fun. You need to be a completely different woman!"

She came out of the closet, holding a dress that I deemed horribly slutty. "No way, Gaila. I am not going to be the skank from Star Fleet Academy!"

She rolled her eyes. "Oh, it looks better on. Come on, wear it - The only red I've ever seen you wear is your freaking uniform."
"At least it's not a strip-club uniform!"

She good-heartedly rolled her eyes again. "Just try it," she said with a grin, and I relented. I was in too happy spirits to disagree.

And she was right, of course. She always had an eye for that sort of stuff. Gaila refused to let me wear my hair up, and everything had to be perfect. She saw to it.

And everything was perfect. I still remember all the dancing, all the drinking - although I am quite happy to say I did not do the most of that! - all of the fun we had, just Gaila, myself, Janice, and some girls from our other classes.

And of course, after paying for my drinks, which I vehemently protested, she went home with some guy named - I can't even remember is name - promising me we'll have a girly slumber party the next night. Of course I wasn't sure whether to be excited or dread it.

I walked home by myself, my cheeks still sore from all the smiling and y head still a little buzzed from the alcohol, but not excessively so. I could still think straight, walk as intact as ever, and speak and see clearly.

I remember seeing a lone figure on my doorstoop. Tall and lean as he elegantly stood against the wall. I wasn't alarmed - I knew who it was.

When he noticed me approaching, he straightened once more. "Spock, I hope you weren't waiting here long," I said, hoping I didn't smell like a bar.

"Nyota," he looked me over discreetly, and I blushed at my state of dress - the red dress still hugged my figure, I was still in Gaila's satan high heels. "I wasn't here long at all," he finished. He held something in his hands, a small, white box.
"My roommate decided to take me out," I explained. He did not demand an explanation, but I didn't want him thinking I was on a date. He nodded. 
"You turned twenty-one this morning," he stated, "And on earth it is customary to give gifts on such occasions."

That was the night it all started.

I pulled it out of the box, fingering it gently, and ran to the door. I couldn't be late.

Once I exited my quarters and turned the corner, I saw Chekov before the turbolift. "Pavel, hold it for me!" I called, running down the hall to catch up, "Thanks."

"Yer velcome," he told me with a kind smile, allowing me to enter first. We stood in the turbolift as it moved up the floors.

"I feel like I am betraying the Commander. Ve all vanted to zave you. Iz that normal?" the boy asked me, turning his head to me. 
"Yeah. It is," I told him, my eyes on the door, my fingers holding onto the stone.

- -

When I hear her voice I look up. She enters the room seconds later, her hair bouncing around her shoulders as she speaks with Chekov. She seemed to be comforting him about something, but I did not listen in as I longed to do. She looked up at me and our eyes connected, making my heart dully ache. Her almond shaped eyes searched mine as she sat down in her seat. Nyota quickly looks away when the Chief started speaking. I observed her for a second longer than necessary - if there were such a thing as perfection, she would be it.

I watched as the witnesses to my supposed crime stood up. First it was Pavel Chekov, his eyes shifting uncomfortably. He looked at me apologetically before he started his account of when I decided to save the crew - starting with the hours I sat silently in my chair, telling the three judges of when we discovered the signal given off by Uhura's earpiece, and other moments he was present for. Sulu and Scotty then did the same. Nyota was last.

My eyes shifted back to her as she moved to pull out the tiny silver earpiece from her pocket. As she did so, her necklace swung free, the one I had given her over a year ago. I remembered the night I gave it to her - I stood outside her door for hours, still only starting to understand why I felt such a need to. The stone was like no other kind on Earth, but if it was to be compared, it would be similar to a mix between goldstone and red jasper. It had come from the large piece of O'turan still in my possession.

"How do you plead, Mr. Spock?"

Her eyes looked up at me, the depth behind them threatening to drown me.

"Guilty," I said, my eyes unable to leave hers.

"We will reconvene tomorrow, 10:00 hours."

R&R

Next chapter may be lemony, not sure yet... Still afraid to, to be honest.