Disclaimer: CBS/Paramount owns Star Trek and all the characters established on the shows. Only the original characters and story are mine.
Author's note: I'm doing NaNoWriMo now, I was hoping to finish this story before I started. Obviously this didn't happen. I am going to try and continue to post these short vignettes throughout the month. I'll be needing a bit of a break from the NaNo-ing.
As Naomi was relating the events on the bridge, she was hoping nobody would ask how the aliens were first detected. She had deliberately omitted that particular detail. She ended the tale with the Captain, Icheb, and Dr. Franklin leaving the bridge. When she finished it was her neighbor in Stellar Cartography, Maria, who asked the question she didn't want to answer, "But, how did they first detect the aliens?"
One of her other coworkers chimed in, "Good question, how did they?"
Naomi took a deep breath and admitted, "When I first walked onto the bridge, the viewscreen showed Dr. Bashir and CS12's EMH, but I noticed they weren't alone. I'm the one who first noticed the alien. When I asked who the alien was, I was really surprised that nobody could see the alien but me."
Slor, the head of Stellar Cartography, decided this impromptu meeting had gone on long enough, "That's very interesting Ensign Wildman, but it's time to get back to work everyone." With such an unambiguous order, the group had no choice but to break up and return to their stations.
Once everyone was back to work and Slor was once again in his office, Maria whispered, "Why could you see the alien when nobody else could?"
Before answering Naomi looked around, she didn't want to be overheard, "Because I'm from another reality."
Maria completed her task, then after a quick glance at Slor's office, "I'm sorry, did you just say you're from another reality?"
"I am, in this reality, I died on the day I was born, as did Harry Kim."
"Commander Kim, the one we just met on Voyager?"
"That's the one." Naomi gave her full attention to her console. She was hoping this subject would be over, but seriously doubted it would if she didn't do something. "It's a long story, it really is, and frankly I don't remember it, obviously. I'm sure Dr. Franklin would fill you in."
Maria laughed softly, "Sure, a lowly Ensign is going to tromp up to the CMO and demand an explanation of your past."
"Trust me, he wouldn't mind at all." To avoid further conversation, Naomi turned to Maria and said as kindly as possible, "I've really got to get caught up on my work, I lost some time being on the bridge for such a long time."
She could tell Maria was disappointed, but at least she didn't sound it when she assured Naomi, "Sure I understand."
Naomi kept to herself and didn't speak to anyone else for the rest of her shift. Out of the corner of her eyes, however, she noticed her coworkers sneaking looks at her.