-1CHAPTER 3
Riding up in a turbolift, after riding horizontally for a short time, The Doctor and Rose stood semi-surrounded by Security men, led by Lt. Jeremy Hatcher, all holding hip-aimed phaser pistols at their two temporary prisoners. Needless to say, the stony silence was all the invitation to talk The Doctor required.
"So", he began with a grin on his handsome 900-plus years old, tenth-incarnated face. "I take it you are taking me to whomever is the commander of this starship. Sort of 'taking me to your leader', I suppose. Hm?"
No one responded. Only a hard glare from Lt. Hatcher greeted the grinning Doctor, which was meant to impart to him the need not to speak until spoken to by Captain Kirk, once the turbolift deposited them all upon the bright-white, still brand-new bridge.
"What do you think they're gonna do with us, Doctor?" asked Rose Tyler in a hushed aside that, though meant only for The Doctor's ears, was still easily understood by those standing about them in such a confined, circular space.
"I don't think they plan on harming us, Rose", quietly replied The Doctor, his grin only faltering for a brief moment. "They would've used these weapons of theirs to blast us into atoms, if they did, indeed, mean us harm. I'm guessing that, at the moment, they have them set to some sort of stun level. And they haven't even fired upon us in that rather benign setting. So..."
Just then, the turbolift slowed to a stop, prompting The Doctor to say, "We should be getting any and all answers in another few moments, as we've clearly arrived at the command-and-control center for this entire starship."
Even as Rose sharply inhaled, holding her breath a few seconds longer than necessary, her beautiful eyes wide with a short, but sharp, rise in fear over the unknown about to greet them both...
The doors hissed open upon the busy bridge of the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE.
"Move."
No sooner harshly said by Lt. Hatcher, whilst gesturing with the set-on-heavy stun phaser pistol in his right hand, a silent indication as to having their two captives stepping out of the turbolift along with Security.
"It would seem this chap wants us to exit this lift", half-quipped The Doctor in an attempt, as always, to lighten an otherwise potentially dangerous moment.
"No kiddin'", was Rose's whispered retort, even as the two of them indeed stepped out onto the bridge at the very top of the saucer section of the starship ENTERPRISE.
Slowly standing, Captain Kirk left his centralized command chair in order to step within an arm's length from two unanticipated travelers who'd ridden a Time-Space anomaly all the way to cargo bay four of his ship.
"Identify yourselves", the Captain said in a somewhat threatening tone and facial manifestation. His blue eyes glaring unerringly into the brown eyes of The Doctor.
"I'm called The Doctor. And this young lady is Rose Tyler", he smilingly said, then, "And you are?"
"James T. Kirk, Captain of the ENTERPRISE, upon which you two have somehow managed to materialize, even through our shields. Care to explain how and why you came to be on my ship?"
"Well, Captain James T. Kirk", The Doctor heaved, even though a smile still played upon his young-for-his-ancient age face. "It was actually by accident. You see, the TARDIS was moving through Time and Space, as usual, when a magnetar's magnetic field yanked us off course, sending us tumbling through Time-Space at an uncontrollable pace, until..."
"Arriving at our destination this side of the Romulan Neutral Zone, Keptin", Ensign Pavel Chekov called back from his position at navigation, next to Lt. Hikaru Sulu at Helm, whom was already easing the ENTERPRISE out of Warp One and into Impulse for sub-light speeds.
On the holographic screen, one of several asteroids could be readily observed with its domed base dominating its rocky middle.
"Take us into orbit about the nearest base, Mr. Chekov", ordered Captain Kirk, while half-turning from The Doctor and Rose to address navigation and helm. "Mr. Sulu, take us in at point two-five Impulse, then use maneuvering thrusters to position us above the base's dome."
"Aye, Keptin."
"Aye, aye, Captain."
Turning back toward The Doctor and Rose, a tense-with-suspicion Captain Kirk stated succinctly, "And now, Doctor, Ms. Tyler, what to do with you. Maybe the brig, until our supply mission is over, then..."
"Captain", called Commander Spock from the far side of the bridge, after taking detailed sensor sweeps of the space directly ahead of them, "there appears to be incoming anomalies from the Neutral Zone. Possibly cloaked ships."
"Dammit", Captain Kirk said suddenly, as he quickly returned to his command chair in order to sit in preparation for barking out the orders needed to confront cloaked Romulan ships. "Red alert. Shields up. Phasers and photon torpedoes on line."
As "Aye, Captain" responses spread amongst the many officers on the bridge, and as Mr. Spock worked to fine-tune his sensor readings, The Doctor turned to Rose and softly said, "It would appear we've arrived just in time to share in the excitement, Rose."
To which Rose sighed rhetorically, "Why am I not surprised?"