Ad Astra :: Star Trek Fanfiction Archive ^{Beam me up, Scotty.}

M’Ress knew she was not in the ‘nothingness’ as she called the space beyond the ‘gates’. M’Ress felt the ground, asphalt, she was laying on. She heard the chatter somewhere far away. Felt the light wind touching her fur. She opened her eyes. She was laying on her stomach. She could see the asphalt, a brick wall not far away and some metal construction with a dent in it. It wasn’t hard for M’Ress to imagine herself falling head down on that thing and only with some miracle not breaking her spine in the end. Almost immediately after the picture flashed before her eyes, her neck filled with pain and with it the whole body followed. 

M’Ress slowly set down screeching her head. Her skin was numb and her eyes were easily blinded by the star up in the sky. The chatter she herd was slowly getting louder and louder, so Shiboline had to look around to see where she actually was. 

It was a side street. One side of it led to a street full of people. Thankfully not a single one of them looked in the side street. They just walked by. The other side was a much quieter one. It looked like a pedestrian street, full of plants and shops. On that pedestrian street M’Ress could see the picture she saw through the ‘gate’. Now though Captain Kirk wasn’t in the shadow, so now M’Ress could see that it was not the real person. It was a monument which clearly depicted the captain. 

That was odd. M’Ress thought he deserved a monument, but with all the trouble he gave to starfleet command and the Federation it was impossible. She slowly moved to exit the side street, but stopped right before making the final step. Her body was in pain and the sun was killing her, but she still checked her cloths before going public.

Her jeans were covered in dirty as well as her jacket, so she took off the jacket and tied it at the wast so that the dirt parts of it would look inside and the Jeanette would cover Shiboline’s dirty jeans. She took the badge off and placed it in the jean’s pocket. She felt it would be better to play a role of a simple citizen for now. Finely after one more look over herself M’Ress walked out of the shadows of the side street and in to the public. 

Though there was no public actually. The pedestrian street was surprisingly empty. There was a group of three really far away and a black young man, about 21 year old. He was wearing a sort of business suit and sitting on a bench looked at the statue and written something down. M’Ress didn’t really pay any attention to the man. She slowly walked up to the monument and looked at it. The statue precisely depicted Kirk, just like she saw him mere hours ago. Near the monument were several plates with text. M’Ress already confused by the monument was even more confused by seeing a Klingon writings on one of the plates. Confused M’Ress tried to find the plate with English, but instead was surprised by seeing Caitian words on one of the plates. The words formed two sentences.

“Admiral James T. Kirk the captain of the Enterprise. 2233-2293.” M’Ress whispered the sentences to herself. 

In disbelief she made a step back, than a second step, and another, and another until she found herself on a bench. She looked bluntly in to the face of a man she saw just a couple of hours ago. A person who’s listed dead by that monument.

Future… No… this can’t be. Am- Am I in the future? No… it can’t be it have to be some joke, a really bad joke. But who could hate me or Kirk so strongly that even bought a monument! Can’t be…

“Quite a person wasn’t he?” A voice snapped M’Ress out of her thoughts.

“wh- what?” She asked blinking, returning back to reality.

“I’m saying quite a person he was.” The man said. “His adventures really inspire imagination.”

“Ye- yeah…” M’Ress said still somewhere else.

“Can you imagine what his crew had to go through?” The person continued.

“I can…” M’Ress said, then her eyes finely focused on the federation symbol on the statue’s chest. She have finely filtered her thoughts and came to a conclusion that something really strange and wrong happened and the only way to find out what it was is to get to the starfleet. “Um… Sorry, what was your name?” She asked the man before he could continue.

“Jake. Jake Sisko. I’m a journalist.” He said holding out his hand. 

“Shiboline M’Ress. A science officer.” The feline shook his hand. “I’m new here and I got a little lost. Do you know where could I find the closest starfleet facility?” She asked with the most innocent eyes she could make.

“Oh, I think the closest one would be the shuttle-station on the Embarcadero street.” the man said.

“Um…” M’Ress had no idea where it was but decided to play as if she knew the place. “Oh! Yes… thank you very much!”

She stood up and started quickly walking in the direction she just looked.

“Ms. Shiboline, you’re going the wrong way!” The man said loud enough for her to hear.

Ashamed of her inability to take the right path M’Ress turned and started walking in the opposite direction. She tried not to look at Jake, but her eyes couldn’t resist making a quick glance at him. The young man smiled and even laughed a bit. His eyes didn’t show any surprise, just a genuine little laughter as if it was a simple mistake a child just made. That little laughter made M’Ress even more ashamed of herself. Never in her carrier has she done something childish. 

She walked through the street. The atmosphere here was calming. The further she got from the monument and the young man in his suit, the calmer and freer she felt. Instead of just feeling emotions she started thinking and analyzing. 

From the look of it she found herself in the at least one year in to the future, if not more. The buildings looks drastically different from what she saw on Earth. Of course it could be just the fact she didn’t really traveled on Earth a lot, but they still looked too… unfit. There were no light poles, which was very strange, and all those buildings were covered with some sort of plant live. what was even stranger is rare people that walked by. Their cloths to be exact. For some reason they were wearing ether some strange overalls or the old style suits.

She came to conclusion she really was in the future, more than one year in the future. She had to return home and the only way to do this was to contact starfleet, or maybe not… The fact she was in the future made her a potential subject of experiments or the events that had happened could change Federation and… There were just too many possibilities, so she decided the best thing to do would be to find out what time it is and what had changed. And only then decide on what to do next.

Shiboline didn’t notice how she approached the intersection of the pedestrian street and the normal one. There were much more people here. They walked concentrated on their own lives and didn’t pay much attention at a strange Caitian woman who just entered the masses. All of them were wearing these strange and fashion-less cloths. By M’Ress’s standards they were disgusting. She couldn’t think of a single reason to wear them. Trying to hide her emotions about the clothes in particular and the situation as whole, Shiboline tried to find some way of finding a direction. Soon she found a sort of map stand. She recognized it, sort of. On those stands people could search for any information they required, such as a map or date.

Near the stand was a person wearing uniform, just as ugly as the cloths of the people around. The shoulders were red and the rest of the overall was black. A very recognizable symbol - the arrowhead. It was a little different and for some reason was a part of a badge for some reason, but it was still recognizable part of starfleet emblem. Also she found an interesting part on the collar — two silver circles. The human wearing this uniform noticed Shiboline’s gaze.

“Can I help you?” He asked.

“No, sorry.” M’Ress said after a momentary pause.

She walked past the human and to the terminal. She tried to activate it, but was surprised to see that there weren’t any buttons on it. Nervously M’Ress tried to find the buttons on touch, but couldn’t. She turned around to see if anyone noticed her attempts to activate the machine. To her fear one person actually noticed it — the person in that uniform. To add to her panic the person started approaching her.

“Do you need any help with the terminal?” He skied standing right next to her.

“N-no! I’m just-” Feline looked at the terminal, then at the human and back, trying to think of some explanation and a phrase that would get this man away from her. But when nothing came to mind she surrendered. “Yes… I can’t remember how to turn those on.” She said.

“Ah, that’s fine! Those things are twice as old as I am.” The man said touching a section of the screen. “My father thought me on how to activate those. If you need any help you can ask me.”

“Thanks, I think it’s gonna be all for today.” M’Ress said trying to find a way to the so called shuttle-station. 

That’s too much encounters for today. She thought while looking for a date or a map. Soon the date was found.

“2370?” She said out-loud in shock and frustration. A little too loud, she realized as she felt many eyes locking on her.

“Oh! Yeah, these things are rarely updated.” The man in uniform said, still being near terminal. “though 6 years… that’s a little too long.” He added quietly, looking at the screen.

6 Years?! So that means I’m in… 2376?! Oh God… M’Ress was about to fall in to the abyss of hopelessness, but in the last moment she took herself in her own hands. the situation was already bad and making it worse by surrendering right now, in crowd of those people… No she wouldn’t let her feeling win, not on the eyes of those fashion-less and tasteless people, not on the eyes of the future people.

“Excuse me mister.” She turned to the man in uniform. “Could you please find a map on this machine?” She asked. 

“Yes, of course.” He looked at the menu for a second and, like a magician, with a swipe of his fingers made the map appeared on the screen. 

“Thank you.” M’Ress said in a little shock of the technological marvel.

With some additional research she found out what the symbol for shuttle-station was and after a second of searching through the map she found an ideal way there. She quickly orientated and without a word began her way to the shuttle-station. she didn’t notice how the man in the uniform almost called for her to stop and turn off the terminal, but stopped. He just did it himself and continued with his plans.

The further through the city M’Ress walked the stronger became was gettin her headache. The legs were already in pain and the long walk didn’t help. But M’Ress didn’t really pay much attention to it. She had a goal — return home. And to get back home she had to… Well, find the way. Firstly she could use the starfleet database to see if there are any time machines were created or any time travel phenomenon discovered and than find a way to use them. The first part was relatively easy. In comparison to the second part at least. 

She walked for quite some time. She felt some eyes on her back, but not as many as she expected to. Her look was drastically different to that of the general population, but it seemed nobody cared about it. Changing the uniform to expedition cloths back on Enterprise and hiding the badge were very good ideas. She couldn’t help it but feel that she wasn’t welcome here. The skyscrapers covered in green, tens of shuttles flying around, the hyper-trains almost out of use, holograms used on every corner at every shop or caffe, these officers in discussing uniform walking and laughing, everything in this world was different team what she remembered. She could imagine or even start to imagine that the same picture is everywhere she had been. Even the Enterprise, which she wasn’t sure served at the moment, should be 100% different. 

Even if I find my way out, how can I get to it? What if it’s somewhere on the other side of the galaxy? What if it’s some super secret Time Machine? How am I gonna get to it and activate it? These questions were flying through her head and the only answer she could give was — I don’t know. Somehow.

At the time M’Ress got to the shuttle-station she already used two of her 9 lives. One, when she was almost hit by a hyper-train because it turned out that the poles placed in between the road were actually a station and they didn’t even had shields. So when M’Ress tried to cross the road she almost got under the train. She had to run after that and shahs her cloths in the first found fountain humiliating herself even more that she already did. The second time she was walking on the street when suddenly a woman started screaming at her to “get away from the landing pad!”. It turned out a small rectangle near one of the buildings, marked by four purple light bulbs on tripods, was a beaming pod. The cargo was literally beamed there without a centimeter inaccuracy, precisely in the middle.

Now, after all that humiliation and risks she finely stood right next to the shuttle station entrance. The building looked like a spaceport. It looked a little to shiny because of the amount of glass in it, but otherwise it looked fine, starfleet like. There were many people in civilian clothes entering one of 4 entries. There were also many people in that new starfleet uniform of theirs. M’Ress could hardly keep her frustration at bay, as the last events and the lingering pain were driving her crazy. But she couldn’t give up or mess up right now. She needed to find out what happened and how to come back.

With a lot of confidence and a little bit of fear Shiboline entered the building. Inside it looked mostly like she expected. The room was big with high, transparent ceiling and long bending columns, somewhat familiar to old human airports. Several meters away was a check point where people went through gates and with a green signal continued their way. Before the check point, near in the left wall was the station where people gave their baggage, which was immediately transported. To the right there were some shops and coffees. 

M’Ress moved to a wall, so not to stay in the way of people. She observed the masses for some time to see if there were any requirements to pass the checkpoint and if people would come somewhere to find anything. She noticed how some people would come to some sort of stations near the walls and open their mouth as if they spoke, but no sound could be heard from them. She thought for some time what could those people do there, but after several minutes of looking at them and when more and more eyes of the officers would look on her, M’Ress decided to move. 

She walked up to one of the stations and… The sounds suddenly disappeared. The hum of masses evaporated with no clear indication of the reason. Shiboline even looked around to see if anything happened. But no, the crowd moved just like it did a moment ago. 

“Hello. Please state your name.” A voice suddenly irrupted from nowhere.

“Um… Shiboline M’Ress.” Feline said to no one in particular. 

The screen in front of her flickered to life and the emblem of the Federation appeared.

“Are you a starfleet officer or a civilian?” The monotone voice asked.

“A starfleet officer…?” M’Ress said with a little bit of question intonation as she wasn’t sure if that would be the right thing to say.

“State your rank and authorization code.” The voice continued just as motionless.

“Lieutenant. Authorization code: C-S-0-0-1-7-0-9-9” M’Ress said remembering the code automatically.

“Code is unidentified. Please repeat.” The voice said in response.

Well, that was expected.

“Agh… Forget it. Restart. Rebut.” How do I restart this program?

“Do you wish to complete the list again?” the voice asked.

“Yes, please.” 

“State your name please.” Computer asked again with no sign of 

“Shiboline M’Ress.”

“Are you a civilian or a starfleet officer?” 

“A civilian.”

“State your destination.” computer said.

“Anywhere where I can get access starfleet database.” M’Ress said sarcastically knowing too well the computer wouldn’t answer-

“To access full starfleet database you need to ether go to one of the Starfleet Staff Only locations or to any of major starfleet facilities.” Computer responded with rock hard facts.

“Okey…” M’Ress said surprised. “Which one is closer?”

“Starfleet Academy is the closest starfleet facility.”

“But you can’t go on the Academies territory unless you are a starfleet officer, right?” Asked M’Ress remembering her time there, which felt like not that long ago.

“Not necessarily. You can also enter Academy’s grounds if you or your group have a permission from the Academy’s administration.”

“Which I don’t have.” Shiboline crossed her arms. “Is there any place that doesn’t require a permission or starfleet rank to get in and get an access to starfleet database.” She asked.

“Only starfleet officer of admiral’s rank can have full access to starfleet database.” Computer responded.

“Okey, well not full access but at least the biggest possible!”

“Star-base 1 have an Inter-Federation Grand Museum which contains many information including the biggest possible access to starfleet database for civilians.”

“Good. How do I get there now?” M’Ress asked herself.

“You can sign up to an upcoming shuttle.” Computer responded.

 “Okey… how do I do it?” M’Ress asked and the long dialog between her and computer continued. 

To her surprise the machine was the essayist one to talk to. The knowledge that it was just a lifeless program that can’t feel anything helped, but the fact that it had an answer to any of her questions and had time and patience to answer them was even more helpful. it took her quite a while to book a ticket on a shuttle that would leave that evening. If dialog with a machine was relatively similar to that of her time, with only difference being the fact that she didn’t have to give an absolutely precise command, the way to book anything was drastically different. She almost gave map midway from all the useless and information she had to give, and have for that matter. What started with a calm and even pleasant dialogue, finished with M’Ress almost hitting the screen.

Being in a soundproof atmosphere almost made her forget that there were many people around. So she left the station ashamed by noticing hundreds of eyes following her. To the exit.

What she didn’t notice was the amount of starfleet officers appearing on the station and the fact that every one of them was looking at her throughout the interaction up till the point when she left the station. M’Ress also didn’t notice how two of them started following her and Jake Sisko sitting on a bench near by.

If the officers had a mission connected to her, Jake just happened to be there. He has done his work and just walked around the city, trying to get inspiration from people and surroundings. He found himself in the very little park near the shuttle-station. It of course reminded him of the captain he saw near the monument, but he was quickly captured by his own work. 

This work, though, quickly freed him as soon as he noticed the caitian woman walking through the park. It seemed she didn’t really knew where to go. She looked around trying to decide where to go. And the two man in uniform with phasers on their belts only strengthened his interest in the whole situation. After all what could be more inspiring then some real experience?

M’Ress slowly walked… somewhere… She looked around but the place was absolutely unfamiliar to her. She now knew she was in San Francisco. The starfleet academy was just a couple of hours of walking. She sometimes came there to see if anything changed and if the bar-caffe was still open. But nothing changed and for the last 5 or so years she didn’t came there. She didn’t visit the city as it was too loud to her licking. Hundreds of voices that came all around her was disorientating her. Her headache, which was strong enough, was made even stronger by all this sounds, all this searching, and thinking. She needed to go somewhere quiet. Somewhere like that terminal in the building. 

She walked shuffling her feet, when a signboard appeared before her eyes. The word “Bar” and the fact that it was almost empty, were too attractive to come by. She walked inside, trying her best to look ‘fine’. 

The bar looked like a normal bar. It was made in a style of 20th century earth.

What did those people find in that century. By me it was the worst time in humanity’s history. She thought to herself.

She walked to the bar stand and set at the corner. She still tried to make a posture like she was fine and totally fine.

“You know it’s a bar right?” The barman asked. “You don’t need to pretend here.”

In that moment M’Ress gave up and just leaned on a wall, like she hod no sleep for the last couple of days.

“Do all barman can read minds?” She asked.

“Only the good ones. Anything to drink?” Barman answered and immediately returned to work

“Do I have to pay?” Asked Shiboline to his question.

“We are on Earth. First 2 are free.” The barman said and looked at the door. “If you’re from starfleet, everything is free.”

“Cool…” M’Ress said. “You have anything from headaches?” She asked still leaned to the wall.

“Of course. Synthehol or real?” The barman asked as if it was something normal.

“What…?” M’Ress not recognizing the first word.

“Synthehole or real?” repeated bartender.

“Agh…” said M’Ress, annoyed by the fact she didn’t know what seemed to be common knowledge. “Just give me the real one.” She said. “but make it very light. We-”

“I know, I know.” She was cut off by the bartender. “You caitians are not so good with alcohol. I’ll make it as light as possible.” The man said and walked away.

M’Ress, leaning on the wall, started falling asleep. Though soon a glass of something orange appeared on the table in front of of her. 

“The best one for caitians.” The man said walking a little away, but keeping an eye on the feline to see if she would like it, or if he would have to call for ambulance. 

Shiboline looked at a drink for a little and with one fell swoop dried the glass, just like McCoy thought her. the bartender was shocked. In all his experience he didn’t see a single caitian drinking like that. He kept the distance and an eye on her.

“Heh… kinda weak.” The feline whispered.

“Weak?” Shiboline herd a familiar voice behind. “That’s something unusual for a caitian to say.” Jake set on the next seat.

“I am an unusual caitian.” M’Ress said with a mix of bragging and sadness. “Are you following me?”

“Me? no. But those two men surely do.” Jake said discreetly pointing at the two people in uniform who entered unnoticeably to her and set on the other side of the bar. “They followed you from the shuttle-station. What happened?“

“A lot, but nothing to explain that.” The feline said looking at the uniforms. “Disgusting.” She accidentally said out loud her thoughts on that uniform. 

“What?” Jake asked, confused by this response.

“The uniform. It looks disgusting.” M’Ress said.

“It looks fine and its quite comfortable. But really? That’s what worries you? Not the fact that they are following you?” Jake asked, trying to get back to the point. It seemed to him that the glass of alcohol actually had its effect on the caitian.

“There were many men following me.” Shiboline said. “And believe me that’s not the biggest problem of mine.” Her voice was slowly 

“Well what is your biggest problem than?”

“I need a Time Machine.” She said bluntly. “Do you know how I can get one?”

“No.” Jake said realizing the woman going drank. “Did you find what you looked for in shuttle-station.”

“No, but I got a ticket to a shuttle headed to the Starbase 1.” She said taking out the ticket. 

Jake took the ticket. He didn’t see those in quite a while, but after some time searching through the it he found out that the shuttle was going in a half an hour.

“Your shuttle is going in half an hour!” He exclaimed.

“Oh… I thought it was time before shuttle departs…” M’Ress said going somewhere else in her mind.

“Come on, let’s go. You’ll be late.” Jake said taking M’Ress by her hand and getting her out of the bar.

“Late? I can’t be late… I have to get to the library!” M’Ress said teaching her head with her other hand. “Uf… My head.”

Quickly they crossed the street back to the shuttle station. Jake tried to maneuver through the crowd to get quicker to the station. Whatever was going on it had to be something interesting. Starfleet would send to people just to watch a criminal, they would arrest her already, which means there is something interesting going on. 

Inside the building he quickly led M’Ress to the check point. He saw as some of the officers were gathering slowly fathering around, but didn’t try to oppose him. they kept the distance and always kept their eyes on him. Going through the detector Jake gave the ticket to the machine and quickly pushed M’Ress through the scanner. He soon flowed her and was surprised that the woman actually waited for him. He tried to grab her hand, but she quickly moved so to not to be touched. 

“Don’t humiliate me. You already did more than enough.” She said with absolutely clear voice.

“Oh! So we are not drank anymore?” Jake asked sarcastically.

“No. Caitian biology can adapt to alcohol with enough time, but the first drink would hit as out in anyway.” She explained.

“Hah… I didn’t know.”

“Nobody knows. If not for Mc-” M’Ress stopped herself. “…my friend, I wouldn’t know ether.”

“What did he do?” Jake asked leading the way to the hangar.

“Nothing, he just liked to drink now and then.” M’Ress said noticing the side eyes from People around them.

“It mast have been hard to have a drinking friend.” Suggested Jake.

“He wasn’t an alcoholic.” Shiboline firmly confronted him. “he knew his limits, though liked to have a drink after a mission.”

“He was serving?”

“Yes, as a starfleet officer.” M’Ress could continue to say that he was a medic on her ship, but decided that it was too much information she needed to give.

“I thought starfleet didn’t really liked drinking-” Shiboline locked her eyes on the young man. “Okey, people who drink more than sometimes. Such people are usually the ones who break the regulations.”

“Hah! All starfleet officers break regulations. Some just break them more often than others.” M’Ress laughed. 

Everyone knew that. Right…?

Her smile quickly faded away as she saw the look on Jake’s face.

“That’s a very strange view on starfleet…” he said going through the door that led to the hangar.

Together they entered the massive room with one wall simply didn’t exist. Several platforms were pleased a little higher then the floor, so that people wouldn’t get burns from the engines. Some shuttles were lifting up and others were already flying through the non-existing wall. 

When Shiboline was already lost in all the turns that led to the hangar, Sisko quickly found the shuttle they needed to board. He also noticed several officers coming towards them so instead of going right to the shuttle he changed direction to mix with the crowd that tried to get to one of many shuttles that would go to one of the ships in orbit. Thanks to the caitian’s hight they quickly disappeared mixed with the crowd. The officers that followed them entered the crowd, trying to get to them. They forced their way through the crowd, but soon they were lost in this mess of people.

Meanwhile Jake led the caitian out and like nothing happened started walking to the shuttle.

“Why did we go there if our shuttle is this one?” Asked M’Ress when realized where their actual destination was.

“Didn’t you see these officers? They are now trying to get us.” Jake asked. “Oh sh-oot…” He whispered, noticing the officer near the entrance to the shuttle as he walked up the stairs.

Shiboline and Jake continued like nothing was happening to the shuttle. Naturally the officer stretched his hand out to block the way.

“Shiboline M’Ress?” The officer asked.

She looked at Jake.

“Ye-es.” She slowly answered.

“You will have to go with me.” He said placing a hand on the phaser and coming closer the the two.

M’Ress turned around to see that the other officers coming closer. 

“Why?” M’Ress asked.

“You are being detained.” The officer said reaching to grab M’Ress.

SHWH THUMB

Shiboline’s fist stroke like a lightning right into the solar plexus of the human. In a moment the officer was bending over M’Ress’s hand, coughing. With power nobody expected the M’Ress pushed the body inside the shuttle. It didn’t take long for Jake to get inside and with a push of a button close the shuttle’s door.

“What are you doing?!” He shouted in a little panic, getting to the controls.

“I don’t know!” M’Ress shouted back. “I just- Oh shit…” 

M’Ress thought of starting the shuttle and getting out of here, but looking at the most strange and horrific controls… Her plans were shuttered. Though she saw Jake climbing to the pilot seat. 

“Come on, take a seat! I’m gonna need a second pilot!” He shouted pushing the buttons on screen, while M’Ress looked in shock at how the screen reacted to his fingers and how he knew where to push in all that mess of letters, colors and numbers.

It took Shiboline a moment to wake up from the stun. She blinked a couple of times before running to the second seat in front. The controls in front of her mixed into molten mess. There was no order, no sorting style. And to add to all that no pushing buttons! 

“Turn on the dampeners!” Almost ordered Jake.

“How?!” Shouted M’Ress in confusion. Her eyes ran through the council, but saw nothing  familiar.

“The red line!”

“Which one?! There are at least 13 of them!”

Jake had to bend and look at her controls to push the tight button.

“This one!” He said. “I thought you would know how to fly a simple shuttle. You knocked a starfleet officer after all!” 

“Well, not that kind of shuttle!”

“What kind of shuttle?! There is no other type of controls!” Jake said getting the shuttle up in to the air and out of the hangar

“Well, I flew a Klingon D7 Battle Cruiser.”

“A D7 Battle Cruiser?! Where the hell did you find that?!” Jake asked.

“It’s a long story!”

“And what? They have better controls?”

“Of course they do! They literally have one part with left, right, forward, and backward, and another part with tilts. This pease-” She almost said a number of curses. “-of technology is absolutely chaotic.”

“Well, I’m sorry Federation made it’s controls for starfleet officers and not some barbarians!”

“Klingons are thought their duty from infancy, so don’t think they are some peasants.”

There was a moment of silence. The shuttle had already penetrated the clouds and was climbing up to the space.

“That is actually a myth. They are kept with their parents until they are 6 years old and only then the training begins.” Jake mentioned. “I thought everyone knew that already. Though knowing you flew a D7 battle cruiser…” He said with that intonation that said You talk like an old hag. 

“Shut up…” Shiboline said, leaning back in a chair.

SHWAMB

Everyone in the cabin was thrown forward, with M’Ress pushing something on the controls. 

“Shuttle 119743 you are ordered to shut down all your engines and power down the shields or we will start being serious.” A voice of some woman in a new starfleet uniform said said. Her shoulder were colored red, which meant nothing to M’Ress.

“It seems I forgot about these hails…” whispered Sisko.

“What kind of seriousness?” Shiboline addressed the question to Jake.

“We will open full fire on your engines and your safety will not be guaranteed.” 

“A shuttle firing of shuttle?” Feline began her question when Jake suddenly Cut her off.

“Alright, alright we will cut our engines.” He said. “But we have some problems with our tactical controls shutting down shields will take some time.” 

“You have five minutes.” The woman ordered and stopped the transmission.

Jake immediately turned off the engines and jumped from his sit. He ran to the security officer who was still laying on the floor.

“Why am I not surprised.” He growled a little taking the phaser from the unconscious officer. 

“What?” M’Ress asked. She didn’t understand the sudden pretension.

“You didn’t take the phaser. What if he woke up?”

“That’s a ph—” M’Ress decided not to continue the question and instead ask a different one. “What’s your plan.”

“Well, I learned a little trick from my father, back when we were on DS-9.” Jake said doing something on one of stations. “If you send a certain signal to the station, the automated computer will have to transport to designated, in the same signal, coordinates.”

He finished doing, whatever he was, on one the station and stood up in the middle of the shuttle. M’Ress just followed him to the center.

“With any luck we will get to the station the moment shields go offline.” He added.

The two waited for a moment before computer said.

“Shields are offline.” This monotone voice played on M’Ress’s nerves.

For a moment they waited when the very strange sound of a transporter announced the arrival of the officers.

“It seems luck is something we lack.” M’Ress said with a very small half a smile.

But before the officer could even materialize, the room filled with light and in a single blink of an eye M’Ress found herself standing in something like a hangar.

“It seems luck is still with us.” Jake Sisko said beginning his way out, hiding among the cargo, but keeping a posture like nothing happened. 

The gate in to the hangar slowly opened and M’Ress saw the hundreds of star and the large green and blue world. She followed Jake, but kept an eye on the room. Several shuttles flew in to the hangar and soon hundreds of people in civil cloths exited them, forming a crowd. This crowed streets slowly going to the main entrance, which had two guards standing by looking through the crowd, probably to find her and Jake.

“Welcome to the Star-base 1.” The same monotone electronic voice howled through the hangar. “Starfleet hopes you enjoy your time, being here.”

The hangar was filled with voices. This noise drove M’Ress crazy. Thankfully Jake was near. He was surprisingly calm and cold headed. He led the way through the little labyrinth of containers to get closer to the exit. There they both finely appeared to the public’s eyes. The public though didn’t really care. M’Ress and Jake entered the crowd and quickly exited the hangar without being noticed by two ensigns near the entrance. 

As soon as they entered the station’s promenade they found an information post where they stopped trying to find the way to Inter-Federation Grand Museum.

“Why are you helping me?” M’Ress asked while Jake was searching through the map. 

“Because I wish to learn your story.” Jake said. “I’m a writer and just like many others I base my stories on real life. This life for everyone is different and depends on peoples experiences. Many people have a quite sad life, but others-” Jake turned to her turning off the map. “-like you, have so interesting life that it can be seen from the first look.” 

As Jake finished his sentence he began their way to the Grand Museum.

“An what in my look indicates, that I have such an interesting life?”

“Well first of all it is clear you appreciate history.” He began. “These cloths you’re wearing are stylized like…” He looked up and down M’Ress. “I would say mid 23 century. 

A clause one. M’Ress thought.

“Second of all you’re quite strange. The stuff you know and don’t know is quite… random. Third — starfleet looks for you.”

“What’s with the third point? Shouldn’t it be a red flag?” Asked M’Ress.

“It should. But it’s only starfleet that looks for you and not the law enforcement. Therefore you have something to do with starfleet but not the Federation so… Kinda fine.”

“‘Kinda fine’? If I were you I would already hand myself over.” She said then immediately added. “Not that I’m against what you are doing. Just… Just a thought…” 

They walked for some time quiet. The promenade here was something M’Ress looked at in disbelieve. Only t months prior she visited the station on her shore-leave and now nothing she saw was preserved. Neon signs were replaced with holograms. Worm pink, brown and yellow colors were changed to gray, blue and wight. The concrete like base was swapped with metal and glass. Reflections and glares of bright wight and blueish light were blinding. No emblems or posters of shops were seen. And the shops that you could hardly find on the station before now filled the whole promenade. Nothing was left untouched. 

“Now that I answered your questions, could you answer mine?” Jake suddenly asked, tired of the quietness between him and Shiboline.

“Of course…” M’Ress responded with some dread in her voice.

“What have you done to make starfleet ran for you?” He asked, quickly taking out his device to write down the notes.

“I don’t know.” M’Ress partially honest as she was sure she didn’t do anything unlawful. “I found out that they were following me only when you told me.”

“You previously told me you were a science officer which implies you are from starfleet.” Jake said writing something down. “Could that have something to do with all that?”

“No, not really.” M’Ress said.

“I’m starting to think you are not telling me the full truth. What happened to you before we met?”

“I’m telling the truth. I am a science officer and I truly don’t know why they are searching for me.”

It actually was true except for the last part. She knew why starfleet looked for her. She didn’t know how they found it out so fast. 

“Are we close to the museum?” M’Ress asked trying to get away from answering Jake’s new question.

“Yes, very close.” Said Jake and waited a second for M’Ress to answer. “You didn’t answer my question.” He calmly reminded her.

“Ah… That’s a long story.” M’Ress said, trying to find the museum as fast as possible.

“Well, we have some time.” Jake said.

“It’s too long.” M’Ress said still trying to get out from that question.

“Alright, if you don’t won’t to tell it now. You could tell it later.” Jake said. He had his own plan in mind.

He knew there was something interesting in this woman’s past, and he wanted to find out what it was. When he returned to Earth, after his father’s disappearance, his life became too dull. No encounters with the dominion anymore, no new anomalies. A simple and quiet life with interesting stories only on the other side of a screen. He was growing tired of this life, so when a strange Caitian In some old cloths appeared again near the shuttle-station and had starfleet officers following her. He couldn’t just give up this opportunity to be a part of something interesting. Was he on the right side of this story though? That was another question.

“Here.” Jake said and stopped before the big arch that led to the Grand Museum.

Behind the arch was a really long and big room with a second floor. There were many more smaller arches mounted in the walls. Each of them had a name of a civilization. Every arch was also decorated in the civilization’s manner. M’Ress quickly found her own ‘arch’ with a some classic Caitian ornament on it. She also found the arch that she needed. In the center of the furthest wall was a the biggest arch with the classic arrowhead above it and word StarFleet written under the arrowhead. 

Both M’Ress and Jake entered this central arch together along with many other people. Before them opened a really big gallery. Big models of ships were flying though space above the crowd. All of them were from different times. Some M’Ress could easley identify. Like the California class and the Miranda class or the Constellation class, which was only about to leave dry dock. M’Ress hoped to see the ship’s first fly as she believed it had its own beauty, even if Scotty believed it to be one of the ugliest. 

In the middle was a holographic map of the museum and it was grandiose to say the least. The scented was taken by starfleet with several floors forming a long cylinder. Every floor was given for one of starfleet’s periods. There were floors for 21st, 22nd, and 23ed centuries. There were several floors for the many big event that happened, like the war with the Dominion. There was also a floor dedicated to Enterprise, which was odd. Very odd for M’Ress. Around all see floors were many tunnels that were like snakes or springs circling around the central cylinder. Those many tunnels would somehow go around each other and returned to the same place they started. Sometimes branches appeared from those long corridors

M’Ress looked through the map and quickly found a floor named “Time-incidents.”

“Okey.” Jake said from behind. “Now we will have to separate. you go wherever you need. I’m gonna go to the Enterprise’s floor.”

“Okey, I’ll see you there.” Said M’Ress and quickly walked to one of the turbo-lift with a sign “Time-incidents” above it. 

She entered the turbo-lift along with several other people. Some of them glanced at her with a strange look, but said nothing. Some people talked to each other but lift was quick to upend again and everyone inside quickly entered the floor.

The room was just as big as any other. Apparently the amount of time-incidents didn’t increase that much. There were several M’Ress already knew about but also many she didn’t. With a deal breath she started from the beginning.

The first was the NX-01 and all her stories with time traveling. It all went to junk as Jonathan Archer was simply lucky to be the one who changes history. All the time travel was caused by the temporal agents and their technology. Just like she knew all the technology had disappeared after all this temporal stuff ended. And even if there was anything left it surely was send to the Daystrom Institute. So it was absolutely useless to M’Ress

There were many events that included her Enterprise. In non of those events she participated herself, but she herd the stories from her crew mates. All those events were a simple luck and coincidence. Non of them M’Ress could repeat without a ship. And even with a ship the odds of her repeating the same events were very low. Therefore it was useless to her. There was also the time-travel of Captain Kirk on a Klingon warbird, but just like the others is was impossible to recreate.

Then the new stuff began. Someone by the name of Jean-Luc Picard has used something called Nexus to get Captain Kirk in to his time and stop a mad scientist from destroying a young civilization. That’s why Captain Kirk, who could leave a couple more decades has ‘disappeared’ in 2293. That immediately made a bad impression of Picard in M’Ress’s eyes. She had to restrain her emotions a little before going on. Nexus was too rare to be any help for her.

Then there was a civilization that could use time-travel. It could be a great way for her, but the same Picard destroyed it without a second thought. Now M’Ress felt actual enter to him as he had not only lead to Captain Kirk death now, but also took a possible way for her to return.

Next was the accident that happened near Earth. Someone called Benjamin Sisko…

M’Ress stopped. Her eyes read one word over and over. The strange second name “Sisko” which she herd not so long ago. The young man Jake Sisko who have been traveling with her. The coincidence was massive, but it could still be a coincidence. After all who knows how popular that name is. It could also be some far relative of Jake. But he surly wasn’t a father… though the visual similarities were… very noticeable.

Shiboline shook her head to return back to her goal - finding a way back. That event was nothing but luck, an absolute one. Therefore a useless one. So she went on to the next event. In which some guy named O’Brien was able to go back and forth in time. It was useless to M’ress as the teleportation was only temporary and also required a Romulan ship. The ship that was using a fricking black hole as a source of energy.

If they are using black holes as a source of energy… The Romulan Empire is more dangerous then ever. Well, I’m sure Starfleet had already built the military fleet. I remember voting for it’s creation… it went quite well.

She continued reading past the next event which was a simple luck once again. The next story actually included herself. Kind of. She was on the Enterprise at the time. The fact that some people from the future just roamed around the ship and no one even noticed was… humiliating. And again behind all that was Captain Sisko. Shiboline even made a note to see those six time-travelers. Also the Orb of time… this thing actually caught her. This thing was capable of transporting in time. It was located on Bajor and was in hands of some religious organization… It was maybe the easiest way to get back, possibly the only one. And the creators of Orbs… they were creature out of time. They could actually send her in to the past and if all that was said was true it wasn’t that hard to convince them. It surly wasn’t impossible.

“Found what you looked for?” A sudden, familiar voice asked right beside her.

M’Ress almost jumped and screamed from surprise.

“God! Don’t scare me like that!” She said in frustration.

“Sorry, I just though you herd me.” He honestly said.

“I would!” M’Ress almost began screaming at him, but stopped in time. “I’m just a little ill. Why are you here?” She asked calmed down.

“Oh, I just found everything I wanted.” Jake said like usual. “Lieutenant Shiboline M’Ress the communication officer on Enterprise and science officer on Enterprise-A.” Jake singled out the letter. “The caitian that was announced to be lost in the way of duty, along with lieutenants Jonson and Vetrov on the 2nd moon of Tiquoy” Jake finished with a little not siriosness in his voice.

Suddenly caitian’s throat became dry. The little secret she had was revealed by the only person that helped her. The only person she talked to in this time.

“So, you know…” She quietly said.

“Yes.”

“…” It took M’Ress a small pause before she could ask the next question. “What are you gonna do?”

“I don’t know…” Jake honestly said. “Do you know how to return back to your time?” He asked. As the two of them sadly stood aside from the people in the room.

“Maybe? These things in the wormhole near the Deep Space 9 could help or the Orb of time.” She said.

“It’s hard to get to them.” Jake noticed.

“I know. But what else can I do?” She asked Jake. She looked him in the eyes and she saw that there was something he was fighting with inside.

“Stay?” He asked instead of suggesting.

“Stay? Here? No. I have to find a way back. This time is… too different. All my friends are there. I have to come back.” 

“I know but… I would be fully on your side if you were from the future, but you are from past. The things you know will effect this time no matter how hard you will try not to.” Jake said. “But, if it makes you feel better. I can be here for you. Help with whatever you decide to do.” He said trying to lighten up the dark situation. “And you will tell me about your adventures on the Enterprise in exchange.”

There was a second of quietness. M’Ress thought about what he said. The question of staying in this time period was already answered. She will try to return no matter what. But having a friend from this timeline would be good too.

“Who’s Benjamin Sisko to you?” She finely asked.

“He’s my father.” Jake said with Little bit more hope.

“That explains it. You said just like a starfleet officer would.” She said with a little smile an her face.

“Maybe. but the second part is more likely from Quark, my ferengi friend’s uncle.” Jake said.

“Ferengi? Some new species right?” Shiboline asked.

“Yep.” Jake said.

Again the pause appeared. M’Ress again was in her own thoughts. There were new ships, new events, new heroes, and even new species. She did need someone from this time to help her.

“We were studying some strange reading coming from that moon. A landing party was dispatched to investigate. I, Mr. Vetrov and Mr. Jonson transported on the surface. We soon enough found the source of the reading in some cave. It was room with some sort of gate in the center. I was the only one able to get in that room. I tacked something and activated that thing. Maybe underground was some facility that was activated or something, but the cave began collapsing. Somehow I activated the gate and it turned out to be a transporter and also a Time Machine. And so I found myself in that side street.” M’Ress finished her short backstory. “That’s what happened before I meat you.” M’Ress said.

“Thanks.” Jake said taking out his devise.

They were standing near the wall for the next couple of minutes, while Jake was writing down the little story she gave him. Standing there they didn’t notice how the doors of one of the turbo-lift’s opened and 5 people in starfleet uniforms entered the room. It took officers only a moment to find their target as there was only one caitian in the room. Their orders were clear - capture the female caitian by the name Shiboline M’Ress and a male human by the name Jake Sisko.

Shiboline noticed approaching officers and moved to try to run, but was quickly stopped by the only officer in red aiming her phaser. M’Ress thought about jumping behind some exhibition, but she quickly realized it was a dumb idea.

“Stay where you are Shiboline. We don’t want to harm you.” The woman in red uniform said. Her three pimps on the collar shining in the light.

You didn’t even call me right. I don’t trust you in the slightest. She thought, but kept those thoughts inside.

“I know what you’re feeling. You got in to this new time, a new world. You are scared. But we can help you. We are from the Department of Temporal Investigations. We want to help you.”

All she said was wrong for M’Ress. She wasn’t scared, more then that she was annoyed by the failed attempts of making a trust connection between them. M’Ress didn’t need the help of some department. She had a helper by her side and she didn’t believe the woman actually wanted to help her. She remembered the phrase Jake said “I would be fully on your side if you were from the future but…” She knew what it meant. She already knew a lot of stuff someone from her time shouldn’t. The officers found her in the museum of all places. They clearly didn’t have that much wish to help her.

“Why should I trust you?” M’Ress asked. Just to delay the moment she would have to fallow the officers.

“Because just like you we are serving to the Federation. And even after all that time Federation’s ideals didn’t change.” The officer said. “Plus, if we really wanted to course any harm we would already do that, don’t you think?”

“Well, I see the logic is still a thing.” M’Ress said. “Alright, we surrender.” She raised her hands along with Jake doing the same.

The woman in red singed her team to get the pair. When one of the men in yellow took the phaser from Jake’s pocket, she lowered her phaser. The men around kept their hands on their weapons, ready to take them at any point. 

“Please, follow us.” The woman said and the whole group began moving to the turbo-lift.

M’Ress already forgot how it felt to be escorted out. She have been in a couple of bar fights from which she was led to the brig. She also risked her career that one time when she scrambled communications of Excelsior when it tried to catch the Enterprise. She was almost thorn out os star fleet that one time. 

But what a career or a job to a friend. She thought, walking through the promenade with officers to her right and left.

People looked at her. Some with fear, some with interest, some with disgust. She didn’t really carte at this point. Her fight was over, for now… She was captured. 

Jake walked in front of her. He turned one time And surprised M’Ress by an honest smile. He seemed sure that everything was going to be alright. Shiboline didn’t show it, but that one smile did fill her with some hope. She might loose some time right now, but the Orb of Time won’t go anywhere.

M’Ress was taken to something she theorized was a police station. She was led to a room with 8 brigs placed in the circular walls. In the middle there was a control station, that she assumed controlled all the brigs around. M’Ress and Jake were stoped next to one of the brigs. And turned around to face the room.

“Any devices or implants we should know about?” A black man in yellow uniform asked.

“Well, there is one.” M’Ress reached under the jacket and with a little struggle took her tricorder. “If could call it a device in your time.” She said giving it to the man.

The woman in red looked at the officer that previously searched M’Ress with a small fire in her eyes, which didn’t mean anything good. 

“That’s a device alright.” The woman said taking the black box and looking at it like at some strange figure from some collection. 

The black officer took a sort of road and slowly moved from Shiboline’s ears down. He stopped when the thing suddenly made a BEP sound. M’Ress quickly realized what it was. Her starfleet badge, the one every starfleet officer must have while on duty. M’Ress took the badge out showing it to the officer. Surprisingly to her the officer suddenly took the it saying:

“All devices must be confiscated.” He said trying to take the badge, but M’Ress didn’t plan on taking that type of insult.

These badges were not just a peace of metal. They were a symbol. A symbol of a man being a part of starfleet. Something everyone took seriously.

“Hey!” Shiboline grabbed the arm of the man. “It is no devise! It’s my badge and you better give it back.” She said with some hisses herd in her voice. 

The young guy to her right grubbed the handle of his phaser as if he feared M’Ress could actually do anything. Meanwhile Jake tried to stop M’Ress from doing something stupid

“I-” The man was about to say something when the woman in red suddenly said.

“Give it back. There is no communicator in it.” She calmly said. “Sorry lieutenant.” She said when the man gave insignia back. “He doesn’t know much about your era.”

Shiboline didn’t answer. She pinned the yellow, bronze and wight insignia and looked back at the officer wordlessly asking “What now?”

“Due to the troubles you gave us I’ll have to keep you in the brig. All I can do is provide with anything you require and, if you wish, separate you in to two brigs. The last is your choice.” The woman said, while the black man powered the shields down and motioned for the two to enter the brig. “Officer Vixon here…” The woman motioned to the young Bolion, the one who had his hand on the phaser. “…will provide you with anything you require. Do you have any questions?”

“What are we waiting for?” M’Ress asked sitting on the bench in the brig. 

“You are waiting for the officer from Department of Temporal Investigations to arrive and he will tell you what’s going to happen to you. Mr. Jake on the other hand is waiting for his trial for an assault on a starfleet officer and hijacking a shuttle.” She said looking accusingly on the man.

“Then let the record know It was me who knocked out that man.” M’Ress said trying to take at least some guild on herself.

“We know.” the woman said.

“And also it was me who initiated this hijack.” M’Ress added.

“what are you taking the guild?” The officer in red asked.

“Because I’m some time traveler that came from the past and was in a panic and he is just a man. I have chance to get out of this. He doesn’t.” M’Ress said.

“Hm… that’s something out historians will like.” The woman said. “Well, I have my duties to complete.”

With that the woman and three other officers left the room. With that came the Quietness. And with quietness came the headache. It always was there, but when there was always Something to think about or someone to run from the headache was hidden somewhere deep down. Now when there wasn’t anything to think about or plan about it returned with twice the force. Shiboline laid down on one of the bunks with her hands clutching around her head.

“Hay, what did she mean when she said about communicator inside the badge.”

“The badges now are also communicators.” Jake said. “They’ve been like this sins 30 or 40 years ago.”

“Really?” M’Ress was actually surprised. the emotion made her headache a little less painful. “Can it reach the ship from the surface?”

“It can. Basicity your own communicator but much smaller.” Jake said. There was some warring in his voice.

“Cool…” Feline said. And the room became quiet again.

“…” Jake waited for a second before finely asking. “Are you alright?”

“No…” M’Ress honestly said. “I was thrown in to the future, captured by starfleet, and now sitting in a brig. My only way out is somewhere far-far away. And to add to all that my head is killing me.” She said clutching harder to her head. 

“When did it start?” Jake asked, clearly worried.

“When first got here.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?!” Jake asked now standing up, worried for a new found friend… or a source of stories.

“Because I didn’t think it was important, and we had other things to do.” She said and then added. “Plus it wasn’t that painful before.” She added quietly.

“Um, should I call for a medic?” Asked nervous Bolion asked.

“No-” M’Ress tried to say.

“Yes! And you should.” Jake immediately cut her off. “Declining medical help when you need it is a part of your time’s culture?” He asked placing his hand on M’Ress’s shoulder.

“It’s just a headache. I just need some sleep and everything will be fine.” She said trying to get his hand off her.

CHIRLIK Sounded the combadge of the officer.

“Medical personal is required security station 1-4-8.”

“Understood.” M’Ress herd the quite response. 

The officer was clearly nervous. The single pimp on his collar clearly explained it, but M’Ress still had question of why would they place some new officer to guard a time traveler. She tried to concentrate on something else but her headache. The mystery of the officer was good enough for that purpose. 

“Hey, Bolion.” M’Ress said. “Why were you of all the officers left here to guard us.” M’Ress asked.

“Really? That’s what you want to talk about?” Jake commented.

“Yes.” Answered M’Ress. “So what’s the answer.” She turned back to the nervous guy.

The guy looked around for a bit as if the reason was too personal to be shared. 

“Well, you see… I’m just a little fan of the original Enterprise.” He started speaking faster and faster. “And especially of the Betta shift. I’ve read every single one of your adventures. It’s so sad that you were left out of history. Because you had so many things that were so much more interesting then the alpha shift… and every single one of them had some mystery or…” He suddenly stopped proving his obsession. “Well… Yea… That’s why.”

M’Ress looked for a bit at him and then asked the question she wanted to ask long ago.

“Okey… What do we have to do with that?” She asked in honest confusion.

“Well…” Vixon was caught off guard with this question. “Because you surged on the original Enterprise, in Betta shift.”

“No I didn’t. I’m not from that time. Plus how could I? The NX-01 was out of service before Federation even made first contact with Cait.” She said.

“Oh…” Jake said. “I actually forgot about that one…”

“What do you mean ‘forgot about that one’ Jake? The first Enterprise under command of Jonathan Archer is the legend!” M’Ress said in a little frustration. “Don’t tell me you forgot about it in your time.”

“We… actually kinda did…” Vixon said, slowly. 

“Oh Prrey…” M’Ress now covered her eyes. “So you don’t remember the first warp 5 capable ship, but you remember some Constitution class ship that wasn’t even the first but was one three first? Just- Just tell me why.”

The room became quite for a second. But only for a second as Vixon tried to defend his time period.

“Well, your Enterprise went through a lot of events and adventures so…”

“Jonathan Archer literally got himself in to a time-war. And he took part in a Romulan-Federation war. What better adventures and events could you think of?” M’Ress said

Vixon was about to say something when he was cut off by a new male voice that seemingly appeared from nowhere. 

“Doctor Will Shatson is here, what’s your emergency?” He asked in a blunt voice.

“It’s no emergency actually…” Vixon began. “It’s just… One of our prisoners has a headache and… well, that’s it actually.” He said nervously.

“Alright. The prisoners are not dangerous I hope.” Doctor asked.

“No, not really.” Bolion said.

“Of course they’re not.” doctor said. “Okey, open it.”

The shield generator flicked and powered down. The doctor, a human male of about 43 years old, entered the brig. The generator flickered back to work as soon as the medic was inside. Jake stood aside to let doctor do his thing. The bad mood in which was M’Ress didn’t make her very helping. But the doctor did need help from his patient. He took out the tricorder and started scanning her head with a part of it. The repeating sound it made slowly drove M’Ress mad.

“Mm…” She finely said turning to the side. “Can you turn the sound off?” She asked annoyed by it.

“Sorry, but I can’t.” The doctor said clearly not carrying about her request.

“That’s stupid.” She said.

“What?”

“The fact you can’t turn the sound off.”

“Why?”

“What if you will need to treat a person in absolute quietness? Like inside the enemy territory.” She said.

“I don’t know.” The medic simply said without paying much attention to her. “That’s odd.” He finely said interested in the data he got. “Your brain-waives are not in sink. That’s what causes your headache.”

“Is it bad?” M’Ress asked, not much worrying about it.

“No, not really. It’s just-”

“Strange isn’t it?” A sudden voice sounded from the entrance to the room.

A one more human appeared in the doorway. He was wearing the regular uniform, the only difference was the amount of pimps. There were four gold pimps on his collar. The man looked old, about 60 years old if M’Ress would guess. His silver hair was shining in the light of lamps. He warmly smiled at the small audience that he faced. 

“The brainwaves seem to be from some other dimension as they are the ones that have problems synchronizing with time.” The man said. 

He walked up to the brig.

“Ensign pleas turn off the barrier. The prisoner is now under my jurisdiction.”

“Yes, sir.” ensign said and immediately turned the barrier off.

The man stayed outside the brig.

“Well, doctor? I suggest you use some painkillers on your patient so she could easier acclimatize to her new quarters, that the department of temporal Investigations appointed to her.” He said, sometimes looking from doctor to M’Ress and back.

“I would like to make some more precise scans in the med-bay, before you take her anywhere.” The doctor said.

“don’t worry doctor, we will check her. After all our department had quite some experience with this sort of things.” The man said.

“Alright.” The medic said took out the hypospray from his little box and made an ejection in M’Ress’ neck. to her surprise the injection was almost painless. He then stood up and exited the room without a single word.

He stood up and walked out without saying a word.

“What rude medics we have these times…” He remarked and immediately turned to M’Ress. “Captain Mark Jonson.” He said reaching his hand to for a shake.

Shiboline’s ears flickered hearing the last name of the person. Well that’s some luck on my side. She thought remembering the crewman she went to the surface with. It was just a couple of hours ago and his face was still as fresh as ever.

“Lieutenant Shiboline M’Ress.” She said shaking his hand.

Her headache was quickly dissipating, but with that some weakness slowly filled her body and eyes.

“I am very pleased to meet you.” He said with his worm smile. “I may be a man from some The future for you, but I paid attention on the history classes.”

“Hm…” She voiced her intrust so quietly and stood up.

“Oh believe me.” The man said, surprising M’Ress with his hearing. “Especially your truly heroic act on the USS Hood which gave you the promotion.” He said.

That last sentence absolutely threw her off track. The man actually did his research and seemed genuinely worried for her. He also knew what was going on, or at least made it look so. She didn’t notice how he took a role of second trustworthy person in the room, even if the there was the abyss between the first and second places.

“well, lieutenant? Should we go? I’m sure you feel quite tired of all the things you had to go through. As I said, we have some quarters prepared for you for the time this whole situation resolves.” The man said.

“Yea… I’m just-” M’Ress turned around to face Jake. “I’d like Jake would go with us.”

“Hm…” Jonson took a moment to think. “Alright, I believe it can be done.”

“Sir.” The Bolion immediately said. “This man is in our custody. I can’t let you take him.”

“Ensign, I understand you are following your orders, but I was given the control over this case. So we can other do it a long way - we’re gonna leave, I will send the request to the station’s authorities, they will give me permission which will take a day or two. Or we could do this a fast way - you let me take him, I will send a request which they will approve and we both will be happy.”

“Sorry sir, but I have my orders so we will have to do this the long way.” ensign said.

It’s not like him. He should be giving up, not stand his ground. Is that because he’s starfleet or because he’s just strange. I herd of those in my time. They were whimpering up until it didn’t touch their starfleet duty… Strange people.

“Sadly, M’Ress, it will take a day or two, but I promise I will get Jake out of here.” The captain said.

“Alright.” M’Ress turned to look at Jake.

He just calmly nodded saying with his eyes “I will be fine.”

“I’ll take you on that promise…” M’Ress said and later added. “sir.”

“I’d expect nothing less.” He said and the lightly hit the badge on his chest. “Mark Jonson to Daystrom Institute. Two to beam down.”

He said and in a moment the room filled with light. The world around her slowly blended and changed to some blue space with wight lines. In this blue world of some sort of mist and lines of light Shiboline notices some figure getting clearer and clearer. It was feline. A feline in uniform with… the world began appearing again now in absolutely different place.

“Woah!” M’Ress shouted When gravitation suddenly returned and her legs gave up. She almost fell on the ground if not for the captain who caught her right in time. 

The room she found herself in wasn’t exactly the room. It was a very big hallway. It led to even bigger room that was more familiar to some central plaza. It had a tree right in the middle and presumably a glass ceiling. On the other side of this hallway was what seemed to be the entrance to the building. The walls had a granite-like texture and look. With some wood finishings it looked much wormer. The yellow lights made the whole place calm. The building seemed to be a public one, but there wasn’t a single person in the area. 

“Where are we?” M’Ress asked, looking around.

“We are in Dystrom Institute, the dormitory 4 to be exact.” Captain said and quickly added. “Students are usually absent here during class time.”

“Well, that’s expected.” M’Ress said, still looking around. “Why are we here?”

“We have assigned you a room here. We’ve decided that contact with age group would be helpful. Don’t worry, you don’t have any roommates.” He said and quietly added for himself. “For now…”

“You sound like you’re no planning on returning me to my time.” M’Ress said.

“We- We will talk about it tomorrow, okey?” Captain said, carefully placing his hand on M’Ress’ shoulder. “I think you should rest right now. Tomorrow, with clear heads, we will discuss anything you wish to.”

M’Ress didn’t answer. She actually agreed with the man. She felt tired and it was becoming harder to think. Jonson lightly pushed her in the right direction and together they walked to the ‘central plaza’.

After taking a lift to 8th floor and walking through corridors the two of them stopped at a door. It was just like any other with only difference being a number on it ‘845’. M’Ress expected the captain would take out a key-card or something like that, but he simply took a step away and showed M’Ress to open the door. Surprised but without a question she tried to open the door. It took her some time to find the right button on the little panel near the door. Her attempts to push a button only to see no effect on the door were humiliating. After the 5th try the door finely slid to the side and the two entered the room.

The room was quite large. It was bigger than Enterprise’s quarters, or those on the StarBase-1, or even those on the academy grounds. A lot of furniture filled the room. There were no pictures or decorations, but there were several plants. The small corridor led from the entrance to the dining room, which had all furniture needed for studying. An open door in the corridor led to the bathroom and presumably something else led from the dining room to the bedroom and kitchen, though M’Ress didn’t see it yet. 

“Well, these are your quarters for now. As I said, there will be no roommates unless you ask for them. On the computer there…” Jonson pointed at the computer on the table near the window. “…or panel here…” He pointed at a large display panel in the wall. “…you can order for anything you wish for. It will be beamed to you as soon as it will be replicated. The replicator you will fined in the kitchen. The bedroom is to the right, there.” He said. “If you have any questions or need any help you can push this button and contact dispatcher. They will help with anything you need or connect you to my office if you need. Your belongings will transported to you in less than an hour.”

“How-” M’Ress looked around and felt the embarrassment of asking the question. “How are you gonna transport my things? Like- What if they beam in to something else?”

“Oh! Don’t worry. See this hatch?” He pointed at the big hatch with no handles in the wall. It had a words ‘Do not open!’ written on it. “Everything will be transported there. If you will ask for any furniture, a special worker will came her and point out the location where you wish to place it.”

He was quiet for a moment, but quickly noticed the sighted of embarrassment on feline’s face.

“Don’t be embarrassed. You are not the first one here, you know?”

It didn’t help, but M’Ress made a look like she was fine.

“I’ll leave you here.” The captain said. “Remember, if you need anything, absolutely anything, just contact me. I will Make sure you have it, alright?”

M’Ress nodded and the man exited the room.

“Fu-u-uh” She exhaled and only now realized how tens she was.

She took off her boots, that looked more like socks made of rubber, and threw her jacket on a shelf. 

BA-DAM

A small object fell on the floor. M’Ress quietly realized it was the starfleet badge. She picked it up and looked at it in her hand. Her fingers touched the metal and plastic of the badge. This badge was the only thing that actually gave her memories. This badge served her for about 30 years now. It saw the same dangers she saw. It went through the war. And it never, ever was changed. Even when disrupter’s blast flew so close to M’Ress that even melted half of the badge, instead of changing for a new one M’Ress repaired it. The crack that was left after this repair was a reminder of all those events. 

She squeezed the badge in her hand. This thing was a symbol and the one she wasn’t gonna loose. 

With those thoughts M’Ress looked around to find the open door which led to the bedroom. She walked inside. The room had a single bed that was placed in the far right corner. In the left wall was a long window, that stretched from wall to wall. The light of the downing sun filled the room with a warm orange color. There were doors to 2 wardrobes in a wall. The absence of any other furniture showed that it was originally a room for at least two if not four people. The place actually reminded of the academy where rooms were more cramped, but still housed at least 2 people, not to mention the parties. 

But right now M’Ress could care less about the apartment she got. Her head felt heavy and her eyes lids were constantly closing. She fell right on the bed and as soon as her head touched the pillow she fell in to the lend of dreams.