Eleven hours later

''So how are you feeling?''

Counsellor Troi's soothing voice washed over me as I sipped a hot chocolate. I was sitting in her office, having made my way there after my interrogation/meeting with most of the senior staff. We had quickly bonded over our love of chocolatey confections, and I had sampled little bits of the best cocoa products the replicators have to offer. Whoever said replicated food isn't delicious obviously never lived in the 21st century.

''Good, I guess. It's strange; I feel like I should be missing my family and friends like mad. And I do miss them, course I do, but… not that much. Is that bad? I'm just a bit overwhelmed at the moment.''

The counsellor laughed. ''You've hit the nail on the head. I'm sure you'll miss them more when you've settled in; you have been issued guest quarters, haven't you?''

''Yes, until they can figure out what to do with me. Data's investigating how I got here… so I should be gone by tomorrow!''

She smiled, but then gave me a sombre look. ''It's very strange, knowing that you already know so much about us all. You say that, in your universe, we're played by actors in a television show?''

''That's right. I have no idea how that's possible… but I guess it just is. Maybe someone here ended up – or will end up – in my universe by accident and tells Gene Roddenberry – the man who 'created' the Star Trek universe as a whole, and the original Enterprise and this one specifically – all about you. I'm trying not to ponder over it too much.''

''As long as it's physically possible, we'll get you home'' Deanna assured me, resting a hand on my arm. ''In the meantime, why don't you enjoy what the ship has to offer? Go to Ten-Forward to meet Guinan; I wouldn't be surprised if she already knows you're here.''

I considered her suggestion, then stood up. ''Thank you, Counsellor. I'll do that.''

''Call me Deanna, please.''

The Meeting

I had expected to be woken up ridiculously early, perhaps 06:00 hours. In reality it was 08:00 in deference to my late arrival; Doctor Crusher had insisted they let me sleep longer. I made a mental note to thank her later as I rubbed my eyes and an Ensign explained that I had half an hour to eat, change from my own pyjamas to the futuristic everyday ones (my words, not his) and get to the observation lounge.

''You really don't punish your prisoners, do you?'' I commented as I tucked into a mini Full English with a cup of Earl Grey. (I wanted Typhoo, but the replicator didn't stock it. Perhaps I could ask someone?)

The Ensign – tall, male and dressed in ops yellow – gave me a blank look. ''Of course not. You have not yet been proven guilty of any crime.''

Deciding he wasn't in a chatty mood I finished my meal in silence. I changed into the clothes he replicated for me (why couldn't they have been purple? Grey just isn't my colour) then he escorted me to The Meeting. I'd love to say I bounced in there and cheerfully told everyone exactly what had happened, making them laugh and admire me at the same time.

In truth? I crept in on my jelly legs and stood facing the room, clasping my hands in front of me. Everyone had already arrived: the Captain sitting seriously at the head of the table, flanked by a smiling Riker and a slightly confused Data, as if the First Officer had just made a joke he didn't understand. Geordi was sat next to his best friend, facing Data with his back to me. Opposite him Worf had his arms folded and an unamused expression, exactly like the butt of a joke.

I was sorry to see that the women weren't present; they were probably more likely to speak freely in my defence. After all, my story was pretty unbelievable, and I knew that if the captain was not satisfied then admirals would get involved… and if the series is representative of all the admirals then I really don't want to meet one.

The Captain glanced up as I entered the room, and addressed the security guard. ''That will be all, Ensign.'' The order was delivered in his usual low, deadly serious tone, with none of the joviality it sometimes contains. He then turned to me.

''Miss Cooper; is that correct?''

I swallowed heavily. ''Yes, sir.''

''Please sit down'' he replied, with a nod towards the chair at the opposite end of the table. That put me quite a distance away from the crew, and I felt very self-conscious as I gradually lowered myself down. I was significantly shorter than anyone else, and my head didn't touch the lilac head rest.

Geordi raised his eyebrows slightly at the Captain's seating arrangements, but didn't comment.

''You claim to be from the 21st century?''

''Yes sir.''

''You ended up on the Holodeck?''

''Yes sir.''

''You have no idea how you got there?''

''No sir.''

Picard leant back in his seat and tugged down his uniform, and I had to clench my teeth together to stop myself from grinning. ''I suggest you start at the beginning, Miss Cooper.''

''Um… well, I was in bed. Trying to sleep – I have insomnia, you see. And… I heard a crashing noise from outside, well more like a thud…''

I continued in that terrified, bumbling tone as I described how I sneaked out of the house and found the priceless sculpture. ''I… it was exactly like the one you were given, Captain. By your old friend that wanted you to go adventuring with him.''

Picard froze. ''The artefact… it went missing just yesterday! Vanished!''

Riker obviously wasn't thinking along similar lines. ''Now hold on a second; how do you know about that!?''

Data filled in the blanks. ''Commander, Wi… Miss Cooper… has extensive knowledge of the Enterprise and each member of the senior staff. We did not have time to determine how she has gained that information.''

Every head swivelled towards me expectantly.

''I… this is going to sound very weird. I don't know how it's possible either. But in my universe, there's a TV programme called Star Trek. And you're all the main characters.''

Stunned silence. More silence. Riker and Picard shared a look, while the others looked at each other before turning to the senior officers.

''Let me get this straight'' said Riker. You want me to take off your head? My brain added automatically. I told myself to shut up. They're bound to use their own phrases, you prat!

''We're characters played by actors that look exactly like us on a set that's exactly like the Enterprise?''

I gave a tiny nod. This was the critical moment. Temporal disturbances? Piece of cake. Alternative universe? Not too uncommon. But that universe containing their whole universe in a television show? Bonkers.

Looking around, I observed that the Captain and his Number One wore expressions of stunned disbelief, and the Security Chief one of suspicion and incredulity. I expected Data and Geordi to look like they were wracking their brains for a conceivable explanation, but only the latter appeared to be doing so. Data had a very odd look; a mix between wonder, confusion and… mild joy?

''We are all played by human actors?'' His golden eyes fixed on mine, asking many more questions than his words.

''Yes, Data.'' I gave him a small smile and a miniature nod, my own eyes radiating happiness as I suddenly realised what that must mean to him. I desperately hoped he would seek me out to ask more.

Worf was less than delighted with the prospect. ''A human playing a Klingon? What about his forehead?''

''Lots and lots of stage make up'' I revealed ''it took hours every time.''

Geordi also looked interested. ''What about my VISOR?''

''A prop he wore over his eyes. It blocked most of his vision, so for a while he kept bumping into things because he was half-blind.'' A hearty laugh showed that La Forge appreciated the irony.

Picard held up a hand. ''I'm sure we all have lots of questions, but we need to save them for later. Our priority is to find out how this is possible and aim to get Miss Cooper back home.'' He shot me a sympathetic glance. ''Could you continue?''

I felt more confident and at home now that the atmosphere was less intense. ''I remembered that the sculpture opened, and when I looked inside I saw that the things – were they figurines? – had been taken out, and a small black box was there instead.'' The Captain flinched when I mentioned that the artefact had been tampered with. ''In the box was an emerald ring that Data's got, and my curiosity got the better of me. I slipped it on, and it was like everything around me just dissolved… and I was on the Holodeck.''

''But you didn't know that at the time?''

''No sir. I was scared, but decided the best plan was to look around for some kind of clue. I couldn't find anything, so was considering finding a policeman when I noticed one entering an old warehouse. I ran up the metal stairs to catch him and…'' I was embarrassed, but Data swiftly continued the tale.

''She slipped and fell, Captain, sustaining a head injury. Geordi and myself had been in the Holodeck for three hours, forty-nine minutes and'' – Data cut himself off – ''a considerable length of time without finding any clues in our search for a stolen emerald ring. I believed Miss Cooper's presence to be important in the mystery, so we stayed with her. We quickly realised that she was not an ordinary Holodeck character.''

His brief summary and conscious shortening of time intervals ought to have sparked something in my brain. That's the moment when I should have made the realisation. But I did not, and the Captain sustained the discussion.

''Was that the only occasion you noticed anything unusual in your universe?''

''Actually, no. I heard a strange noise the night before and looked out my window. I saw something strange… I thought it was a transporter effect. But it was dark and gloomy, so I could well be wrong.''

''A Federation transport?'' the Chief Engineer asked.

''Yes, I think so. But as I say, it was hard to see. And that wouldn't make any sense, would it? Temporal anomalies look very different, don't they?''

''Yeah, you're right… but there are lots of different kinds. It's possible.''

The burly Klingon spoke up. ''We have not yet discussed the biggest questions. Temporal anomalies and alternate universes can explain Miss Cooper's presence and Federation knowledge. What cannot be explained is why she appeared as a Holodeck character to Commanders Data and La Forge but to nobody else, how the very ring they were searching for in that mystery ended up in her universe and why that ring brought her here.''

The silence that followed was contemplative rather than stunned. Predictably, after a few seconds everyone turned to look at Data, including me. He looked at the table top, tilting his head slightly and raising his eyebrows.

''I do not know. There is no record of any such occurrence being encountered by a Starfleet vessel. The need for more research is clearly indicated.''

The Captain nodded, pursing his lips slightly. ''Make it so. Mr La Forge, I would like you to assist him.'' He turned to me. ''I see no reason for you to remain in the Brig any longer, Miss Cooper. You will be assigned quarters until a decision is reached.''

I tried to hide my delighted smile… but may well have failed. ''Yes Captain. Thank you.''

My words were followed by a curt ''dismissed'' spoken to the whole room. Everyone rose at once, and headed off in various directions. Riker and Worf to the Bridge, Geordi to Engineering, the Captain to his Ready Room. Data waited for me outside in the corridor.

''Don't you have a shift?'' I enquired. I knew Data worked more hours than anyone else, albeit by his own choice.

''I do not. I had the night shift, so am not due back on duty until eleven hundred hours. May I call you Willow?'' He had that adorable polite/friendly look on his face.

''You already have, haven't you? You don't need to be more formal just because I seem to be staying a little longer.'' I really wanted to add ''May I call you Data?'', but hesitated. He was a Lieutenant Commander, after all, and I didn't actually know him.

''You may call me Data, if you wish. I find your story intriguing, and would like to speak with you further… if you are agreeable?'' He changed his inflection on the last four words to make it into a question.

I beamed. ''That would be great! Where should I go now?''

''I recommend you speak with Counsellor Troi while your quarters are being arranged. She may be some comfort to you, and I am sure she will be more than happy to help you 'settle in.''' Data paused. ''May I make a personal inquiry?''

''Sure, go ahead.''

''For somebody who may have lost their home, family and whole life, you do not seem particularly distressed. Is that an accurate observation?''

''Yes, I suppose it is. I guess I'm not… but it's complicated.'' I didn't want to get into it right then in the corridor before I had a chance to properly process. ''Perhaps I can explain another time?''

A courteous nod. ''Of course. I will contact you when I am available, or if my research requires your input.''

I watched Data walk away, before asking the computer for directions to Counsellor Troi's office. It may sound absurd, but the dominant thought circling my mind was well, at least I don't have to do that Literature essay!

Author's Notes: Once again apologies for the delay. I had it half finished, but was trying to cram it in my limited time slots and it just didn't feel right. I have found that forcing myself to write when I'm not in 'the zone' doesn't produce good results. As always, thank you for reading and all reviews (however brief, it's just great to know whether I'm on the right track or not) are extremely appreciated. If you think you've worked out what Willow really should have then feel free to PM me to ask if you're correct or not, but it may not have occurred to everybody so I would rather you didn't pop any (potential) spoilers in your reviews! Woody xxx