1. The Enterprise Adventure

Eight-year-old Jamie Kirk awakens from an accident and finds her grandmother dead and herself alone. What choice does Starfleet have but to send Jamie to her relatives on the planet Deneva, via the USS Enterprise. Jamie can’t wait to see her dad! There’s just one problem. Does the captain of the Enterprise want to see her?

Chapter 1

“Jamie.”

Eight-year-old Jamie Kirk lay perfectly still. Maybe if I keep my eyes shut, the Voice will go away. I can pretend I’m in my own bed in my own room back on Grandma’s farm.

“I know you’re awake, sweetie. Open your eyes. Please.” The Voice was patient but insistent.

Jamie had heard the soft, pleasant Voice many times during the last few days. Once, she even peeked when she thought the Voice wasn’t looking. She’d seen a pretty lady in a white coverall and peach-colored smock. But Jamie always closed her eyes before the Voice could see she was awake.

Where am I? Her heart was racing, and that was probably how the Voice knew she was awake. Jamie heard the steady beep, beep, beep, which could only be the sound of some machine keeping track of her heartbeats.

Traitor machine!

“Let me introduce myself,” the Voice said. “I’m Nurse Cindy. I’ve been caring for you the past week. You had a little accident, and we had to fix you up. You’re in Des Moines General Hospital, but you’ll be out of here in a few days. Why don’t you open your eyes and look around? I’ve brought you some ice cream.”

An accident? What sort of accident? Questions flooded Jamie’s mind. Then her stomach rumbled. Ice cream? She opened her eyes.

The cheerful face of a young, dark-haired nurse smiled at her.

“What kind of accident?” Jamie asked in a cracked whisper.

Nurse Cindy guided a purple straw toward Jamie’s lips. “Here, drink this. It will help your throat.”

Jamie swallowed the sharp but pleasant-tasting liquid. It tingled all the way down her dry, sore throat. “What kind of accident?” she asked again. This time her voice sounded normal.

Cindy set the glass of juice aside. Making herself comfortable, she sat down on the bed, clasped one of Jamie’s hands, and said, “A flitter accident. Your grandmother was taking you to school, and the flitter most likely malfunctioned. It crashed not far from the farm. You had a couple of broken bones, a few bruises inside, but nothing the bone fuser and regen tanks couldn’t take care of. Do you hurt anywhere?”

Jamie wrinkled her forehead and thought about where it hurt. “My left arm aches, and it hurts when I take a deep breath.”

Cindy nodded. “One of your legs might be a sore too. It takes a couple of weeks for new bone tissue to fuse completely.” She tapped Jamie on the nose. “Running and jumping are not on the agenda for you for a while. But other than that, you’re doing very well—considering you had to be cut out of the vehicle.”

“I don’t remember,” Jamie admitted.

“What do you remember, honey?”

Jamie thought about it for a moment then replied, “Eating breakfast. I had waffles.”

“That was a long time ago.” Cindy picked up a small dish of vanilla ice cream smothered in chocolate sauce. “I have it on the best authority that an ice cream sundae is your favorite treat. Am I right?”

Jamie ran her tongue along her dry, chapped lips. “Yum. It’s true. Did Grandma tell you?”

“No. Your Aunt Auralen and Uncle Sam told me via subspace.”

Jamie sampled the ice cream. Delicious!

“It’s a lot of work to call Aunt Auralen on Deneva,” she said, licking the spoon. “Why didn’t you just ask Grandma?” She glanced up. “And where is she, anyway? If I’m better, Grandma can come and see me, can’t she?”

Cindy leaned back in her chair. “Finish your sundae, Jamie. Then we’ll talk about your grandmother.”

It took Jamie only a few minutes to gobble up the sundae. With a clank of the metal spoon, she handed the empty dish to Cindy. “Thank you. I was really scared when I woke up, and I was afraid to open my eyes. Now, I wish I would have done it earlier. You’re nice.”

 “Why, thank you.” Cindy set the empty dish on a tray and regarded her young patient seriously. “How old are you, Jamie?”

“I’m eight. My birthday was last month. September fifth.”

“Eight years old,” Cindy repeated slowly. “Quite nearly a young lady.”

Jamie giggled. “Not yet.”

Cindy did not join in the laughter. Instead, she reached out and took Jamie’s small hands in her own. “Eight years old is very young on some planets. Yet on other planets, eight years old is considered a grownup.” She squeezed Jamie’s hands. “I need to talk to you about a serious matter—one that is hard to talk about even to a grownup. Can you be brave?”

Jamie swallowed. Brave? Well, I was brave a couple of months ago when that ol’ bully, Joseph, was making fun of Missy.

Jamie had snatched two big handfuls of Joseph’s hair and told him to leave Missy alone. Then she’d found herself on the ground, with Joseph’s fist in her face.

She and Joseph had ended up in the principal’s office for discipline. It was against school rules to fight at school. Even if Joseph had started it. No fair! She thought she’d die of shame when Mr. Cotton had called her grandmother in.

Yes, I was brave then. 

Jamie nodded. “I can be brave. I’ve had practice.” She told Cindy about Joseph.

“Yes,” Cindy agreed. “That’s brave. I think you’re brave enough for what I have to tell you.” She took a deep breath. “Your grandmother was in the accident too. She got banged up badly, like you. But unlike you, there were some things the doctors couldn’t fix. We did everything we could, but your grandmother was just too tired. Her body didn’t have the energy to fight. She died, Jamie. I’m very sorry, but I know you are old enough and brave enough to hear the truth.”

Jamie stared at Cindy. Grandma had died? It couldn’t be! Grandma was strong. She wasn’t old! She couldn’t die from a little flitter accident. “No!”

“I told you that you had to be brave,” Cindy reminded her. “Some of the doctors wanted to wait until you were completely healed and ready to leave the hospital before telling you. I told them it was unkind to pretend your grandmother was alive and just couldn’t come and see you. I told them you were strong enough and brave enough to hear my words.”

Cindy paused. “Are you?”

Jamie blinked back tears. Then she threw herself into Cindy’s arms and sobbed. “No,” she cried. “I’m not that brave. I’m not brave at all. I want my grandma.”

Chapter 2

Starfleet Headquarters was busy this morning, as usual. Jamie hiked herself up onto her knees and pressed her face against the transparent aluminum viewport of the small runabout shuttlecraft. 

“Wow.” Her eyes grew wide at the tall buildings shining in the early morning sunlight. The Golden Gate Bridge hung suspended over the bay, only a few miles away.

She turned to her traveling companion and grasped her sleeve. “Look at that. It’s a bridge. A big one. I’ve never seen one so big. The bridge across Sheppard’s Creek isn’t nearly that big. I can run across it in a minute.”

 “Hmm,” the young yeoman agreed absently. She didn’t bother to look up. She was clearly uninterested in anything Jamie had to say.

Jamie let out a disappointed breath and turned back to the view. She lost sight of the bridge as the shuttle banked and slid into a perfect landing near a number of oddly shaped buildings. With a faint hiss and a sigh, the runabout powered down.

 “Here we are,” the pilot announced. “Starfleet Headquarters, main tower.” He turned to the yeoman. “Starfleet Operations is on the 112^th floor, Yeoman Fellows.”

The yeoman gave the pilot a long, withering look. “I know, ensign.”

“Just making conversation for your young guest’s benefit.” He gave Jamie a jaunty salute. “Welcome to San Francisco, young lady. I hope you enjoy your visit with the top brass.”

“What’s a top brass?” Jamie wrinkled her eyebrows.  

“Admiral Komack,” Yeoman Fellows said. “Now, grab your gear and come with me. Ensign Jarrett has things to do and places to go.”

“Thank you, Ensign,” Jamie said in farewell. “It was an interesting trip.” She picked up her small traveling bag, reached for Yeoman Fellows’s hand, and stepped into the wide cavern of Starfleet’s main docking bay.

Jamie turned around and around, trying to take in the sights and sounds of the huge facility. Runabout shuttles were arriving and departing; uniformed Starfleet personnel scurried about in an obvious hurry. Jamie clutched the yeoman’s hand. A knot of fear settled in her stomach.

I’m sure not in Iowa anymore! “How long is this going to take, Yeoman?” she whispered.

“How long is what going to take?”

Jamie looked up into the yeoman’s face. “When can I go home? I mean, after I talk to the admiral and everything. Can I take the runabout back to Des Moines tonight? Or maybe tomorrow morning?”

Yeoman Fellows gave Jamie a puzzled look. “I’m not sure, Jamie. My orders are to see you safely to the admiral’s office. I don’t know anything past that. After I drop you off on the 112^th floor, I’ve got two more courier assignments before lunch.”

Jamie sighed, dissatisfied with the yeoman’s reply. Why would no one explain anything? She already missed Nurse Cindy. Although she told Jamie things that made her cry, at least she told her things.

But not enough. Never enough. 

Nurse Cindy had not looked happy when a Starfleet lieutenant checked Jamie out of the hospital this morning. “What’s the rush, lieutenant?” Cindy had argued. “This little girl is not ready to be whooshed away on some runabout to a strange city. Who’s issuing these orders?”

“Some admiral at HQ,” the lieutenant replied with a shrug. “If you want to make a big deal out of it, go ahead. But I’ve got my orders.”

And that was that. Jamie learned nothing from the lieutenant who handed her off to Yeoman Fellows. She learned less from the yeoman. The woman never told her why she had to talk to some admiral.

Why can’t I just stay in Iowa? Jamie pouted silently.

All right then. She would talk to Admiral Komack. Then she would go back to Iowa as fast as she could. Missy’s mom told Jamie she could stay with them for as long as she liked.

I think I would like to stay with Missy’s family for a long, long time. 

Jamie sighed She was tired. Her body ached, and she was weary from her long stay in the hospital. She wasn’t used to moving around so much.

And Yeoman Fellows was walking faster and faster down the long corridors.

“Please,” Jamie called out, limping, “Can’t we walk slower? My leg hurts. Nurse Cindy said I’m supposed to take it easy. Those were her exact words.”

The yeoman slowed down, but Jamie had to clench her jaw to keep from crying by the time they reached the turbolift. With relief, she slid down the inside wall and crumpled to the floor.

“Stand up,” Yeoman Fellows ordered. “This is Starfleet Headquarters. You don’t sit down in the ’lift.”

Exhausted and aching, Jamie pulled herself up and leaned against the wall. She closed her eyes. Sudden tears pricked her eyelids.

I want to go home! I want my pony and my kitten, my friends and my teacher. I want to see Nurse Cindy. She brushed a hand across her face to hide her tears. A muffled sob escaped her lips.

“Hey, Jamie.” The yeoman knelt beside her. Her voice softened. “I’m sorry. We’re almost there. You can wait in a soft chair until Admiral Komack sends for you.” With a smile, she reached into her pocket and brought out a chocolate bar. “Nurse Cindy asked me to give you this when we arrived at our destination.”

Jamie blinked back tears and took the Hershey bar. “Thank you.”

Yeoman Fellows sighed. “I know it’s been a long morning. Hang on for a little while longer.”

Jamie nodded and shoved the candy bar into her jacket pocket.

The ’lift rose at amazing speed and soon let them off on the 112^th floor.

Yeoman Fellows took Jamie’s hand and led her toward a desk. A young lieutenant sat behind a computer terminal, busily entering data. He didn’t look up.

Yeoman Fellows cleared her throat.

“What can I do for you?” the lieutenant droned.

Yeoman Fellows passed the data disk across the desk. “This little girl is to be delivered to Admiral Komack’s office as soon as possible.”

The lieutenant glanced up. He tossed the data pad on a stack of similar-looking disks. “The admiral is in a meeting right now. As soon as he returns, I’ll relay your message.”

Yeoman Fellows didn’t move.

“Is there something else, Yeoman?”

“The child is young, sir.”

“So?”

“It’s been a long trip. She—” Yeoman Fellows straightened to attention at the lieutenant’s steely gaze. “Nothing, sir.”

“You’re dismissed.”

“Yes, sir.” She smiled at Jamie. “Well, here you are. I’m sure everything will work out. Admiral Komack won’t be long.” She loosened Jamie’s hand from her own. “Hey, now. Don’t be scared. Admiral Komack’s okay. He’ll get you all straightened out.”

“Will he send me home?”

“I don’t know.” Yeoman Fellows’s smile faded. “Just do what he says, and you’ll be fine.”

Jamie nodded. She watched the yeoman head back toward the elevator. When the doors whooshed shut, she turned to the lieutenant. He had returned to his work. “Excuse me.”

The lieutenant looked up. “What are you still doing here?”

“I don’t know where I’m supposed to wait.”

“See those chairs over there?” He pointed with his stylus down a long corridor to where it opened into a waiting area. Floor to ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the city and the bay. “Find a seat, sit down, and wait. Admiral Komack will see you when he has the time.”

Jamie glanced at the faraway seats, back to the door with the admiral’s name, then at the lieutenant. “It’s far away. What if you forget about me?”

“Trust me.” He stood up with his arms full of data pads. Jamie’s was mixed with the rest. The lieutenant carried the armload into the admiral’s office. The doors whooshed closed behind him, and he was gone.

Jamie sighed and headed slowly toward the waiting area. It was half full, but she found a comfortable-looking chair near the window. Dropping her bag onto the seat, she wandered over to take in the view of San Francisco. The Golden Gate Bridge rose majestically into the brilliant autumn sky. Below it, the bay was full of sailing boats and other pleasure craft.

Jamie returned to her seat. Taking hold of the heavy piece of furniture, she managed to pull it closer to the window. Then she sat down, leaned an elbow on the armrest, and stared through the transparent aluminum window at the skyline below. It was a beautiful sight.

But even interesting sights can get old.

Jamie sighed as she watched the people come and go.

She looked up at the chronometer hanging from the ceiling. It read 1147. As if it were a signal, Jamie’s stomach made a protesting noise. It had been a long time since her last meal in Des Moines, and considering the two time zones she had crossed, it was well past lunchtime.

Jamie reached into her pocket and pulled out the Hershey bar. It wasn’t much of a lunch, but it would have to do. She unwrapped it and enjoyed the rich chocolate flavor.

Although it tasted good, it made Jamie terribly thirsty. Rummaging around in her backpack, she pulled out a small container of water and drank it all. Then she leaned back and let out a long, sorrowful breath.

This is the most boring place on the entire planet, she decided. I hope that admiral comes back from his meeting soon.

Jamie drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 3

“Hey, kid, wake up.”

Jamie’s eyes flew open at the rough shake. “Huh?”

“The admiral wants to see you on the double.” There was an edge to Lt. Ames’s voice, and rightly so. A few minutes before, Admiral Komack had pounced on the young man in a near-rage.

“You left a small child sitting alone for over four hours?”

Ames cringed at the memory. Admiral Komack was blaming him for not entertaining the child until the admiral returned from his meeting. How was he supposed to know?

He gave Jamie’s hand a yank. “Let’s move!”

“I have to go to the bathroom.” Jamie jerked away and stumbled to her feet. She was tired, scared, and hungry. And she didn’t like this man.

“Later. You’ve been summoned to the admiral’s office, and you mustn’t keep him waiting. He’s a busy man.” Lt. Ames grabbed Jamie’s hand again and pulled her along beside him. Jamie barely had time to snatch her backpack as she went by.  

“Here she is, sir.” Lt. Ames shoved Jamie into the admiral’s office and shut the door, as if he were anxious to relieve himself of any responsibility.

Admiral Komack motioned Jamie to enter. Then he put a finger to his lips, motioning her to be quiet.

Like I’m going to start talking? Jamie was so confused that she couldn’t say a word, even if she wanted to.

The admiral turned to his communication’s monitor. “It’s important, Lieutenant. I must speak to him as soon as possible.”

“I’m sorry, Admiral, but the Enterprise has been on communications blackout for two weeks, due to the delicate patrol along the Neutral Zone. The blackout is in effect for another week. Surely you are aware of this.”

Komack sighed. “Yes, but I was hoping I could get through.”

“Sorry, sir. Nothing sooner than another week. She’ll be off patrol and should be at Starbase 6 no later than Stardate 2265.4.”

“All right. I guess that will have to do. Starfleet out.” The admiral swiveled his chair around, and Jamie got a good look at the man she’d been whisked away from Iowa to see.

He was an older man, but he had kind, blue eyes. Jamie could tell he was trying hard to look understanding. She knew why. Her hair was messy, her clothes wrinkled, and her face smeared with chocolate. She didn’t need a mirror to remember how pale and unhappy she had looked this morning when she left the hospital. She imagined she looked worse now.

I’m probably not making a very good first impression.

“Sit down,” Komack suggested gently.

Jamie’s need loosened her tongue. “I have to go to the bathroom.”

“By all means.” He indicated a door to his left. “Right through there. And, Jamie?” The admiral smiled. “Wash your face while you’re there.”

When Jamie returned, she felt a little better. She took a seat across from the admiral and waited.

“I’m sorry you had to wait so long. I don’t know what my aide was thinking, forgetting about you like that.”

Jamie said nothing. Hands clasped tightly in her lap, she stared at the admiral. She wondered for the hundredth time what she was doing here. Maybe he would explain. “Why am I here?”

Komack raised his eyebrows. “Did no one tell you?”

Jamie shook her head. Her blond tangles tumbled around her face. “Nobody tells me anything. I ask and ask, but—”

“Good grief!” The admiral looked shocked. “I am so sorry. I know it’s been a long day.” Then he smiled. “You’re here because I know your father. He works for me.”

Jamie shrugged. What’s that got to do with me?  “So?”

“You were hurt in a flitter accident, correct?” He peered at a data pad on his desk. When Jamie nodded, he continued, “How are feeling right now? Do you hurt anywhere?”

“My leg hurts when I walk too much and . . . ” She paused.

“Go on.”

“My stomach hurts.”

“It doesn’t mention stomach injuries in this report.”

“No, but it hurts anyway. I’m hungry. I’ve had nothing to eat since breakfast in Iowa, except a Hershey bar.”

“What?” Admiral Komack punched his intercom. “Lieutenant Ames.” His voice sounded icy.

Jamie shivered. I’m sure glad he’s not getting after me. He sounded just like Principal Cotton when he’d scolded her and Joseph that awful day last month.

“Sir?”

“Get down to the cafeteria and bring up a tray of something nutritious for this child. Do you realize she’s had nothing to eat all day?”

“No, sir. Right away, sir.”

Jamie smiled and ducked her head.

“That should move him right along, don’t you think?” He chuckled.

Jamie looked up. The admiral’s eyes crinkled when he laughed, and Jamie giggled too.

“There. That’s better.” The admiral leaned back in his chair. “And we won’t talk about anything until you’ve eaten, deal?”

“A deal, sir,” Jamie agreed. She glanced toward the door, hoping the lieutenant would hurry up.

When Lt. Ames arrived, Jamie was pleased to see a tray full of delicious food—soup, a sandwich, some fruit. The lieutenant had even added a piece of cake.

“You eat, Jamie,” the admiral ordered gently. “I’ll finish up some paperwork, if you don’t mind.”

“Okay,” Jamie agreed, and plunged into her late lunch.

Admiral Komack looked up twenty minutes later. “Are you feeling better now?”

“Yes, sir.” Jamie carefully put the tray on the floor. Then she leaned back in the over-sized chair and looked at the admiral.

I like him, Jamie decided. She’d had plenty of time to watch the man as he toiled over his paperwork while she ate. He seemed very comfortable to be around, and Jamie started to relax.

“You’re probably wondering what you’re doing here at Starfleet Headquarters.”

“Yes,” Jamie answered. “It’s a long way from home.”

“It certainly is.” Admiral Komack tapped his stylus on his desk and said, “You are here because your father is one of my officers. When something happens with my officers or their families, it’s Starfleet’s job to try and sort it all out.”

He leaned forward. “Do you know what your father does?”

Jamie nodded. “He’s the captain of a starship. The USS Enterprise.”

The admiral smiled. “That’s right. And the Enterprise is not just any starship. She’s the flagship and very important.”

Jamie grinned. “I know that. I know lots about the Enterprise.”

“Do you now?”

Jamie nodded. “There are 430 crew members aboard. The ship has . . .” She went on to describe everything she remembered about the Enterprise, ending with, “It even has a swimming pool. And replicators. You just stick a card in a slot, and out pops whatever you want to eat. Even ice cream sundaes. And there’s all kinds of science labs and—”

The admiral held up his hand to stop the flow of words. He laughed. “Where did you learn all this?”

“Daddy used to send e-letters and video messages.” Jamie’s face fell. “But not so much anymore. Grandma says—I mean she used to say—that the Enterprise’s patrol takes them way, way out there, where it’s too expensive to send messages. Grandma knows a lot about Starfleet,” Jamie finished. “My grandpa used to work for you guys too.”

The admiral nodded. “I knew your grandfather well, Jamie. Lt. Cmdr. George Kirk.” He pointed to the dark monitor screen. “I’ve tried to contact your father more than once to tell him the new situation and what we plan to do about it, but the Enterprise can’t answer right now. I’m sorry about that. You could have seen your father and spoken with him right now if everything had worked out like planned.”

“Spoken to him? Right now?” Jamie’s eyes widened. She hadn’t talked to her father for nearly two years. Recorded messages were the best she and Grandma had received for the longest time.

“Yes. But I’m afraid that won’t be happening.” He cleared his throat. “The arrangements your father made state that if anything happened to your grandmother, you would live with your aunt and uncle on Deneva.”

“I don’t want to go to Deneva,” Jamie whispered, a tear threatening to escape. “I want to go home.”

“I’m sure you do. But there is no one there. Don’t you understand?”

“Yes,” Jamie answered tearfully, “But I don’t want to leave. I mean, I want to stay where grandma was . . . where she is . . . I mean . . .” She shook her head in confusion and embarrassment.

“Do you see your uncle and aunt often?” Admiral Komack asked.

“Not very much. I saw them last Christmas.” She shrugged. “Deneva is a long way away.”

“You have a cousin too, right?”

“Yeah. Peter. He’s nice. I like him.”

“I think we both realize you must go to Deneva. It’s what your father wants. That’s where he can find you for leaves and special occasions. Your aunt and uncle have been notified, and they’re expecting you.” He waved the data pad in the air. “We’ll also notify your father. He’ll be given leave time to work through all of this with you.”

“I’m gonna see my dad?” Jamie’s heart leaped, in a scary sort of way. But it was exciting too.

“Certainly,” Admiral Komack assured her. “Maybe not for a couple of months, but for sure he’ll go to Deneva when—” Suddenly, the admiral snapped his fingers. “Wait a minute. I have an idea.”

He switched on his computer and began to scroll through the tiny print. Jamie couldn’t read one thing. It was too far away. “There it is,” he said. “I thought she said Starbase 6. A week, hmm? Maybe, just maybe . . .”

He switched off the computer and smiled at Jamie. “I can arrange for you to see your father much sooner than I thought. How would you like the Enterprise to take you to Deneva?”

Jamie’s eyes opened even wider.

“The Enterprise will be at Starbase 6 in a week,” the admiral continued. “That’s where I was going to send you to catch a ride to Deneva. The Enterprise will be mapping out in that direction on her next patrol. It would work out nicely to have the ship take you along on its way. That way you could see your father and get settled on Deneva. What do you think?”

Jamie didn’t know what to think. She only knew that Admiral Komack was the nicest grownup she’d met in a long time. “I think I like you, sir,” she whispered shyly. “Do you have any little girls at your house?”

The admiral laughed. “I have three big girls at my house, and I am sure they would love to meet you. However, Starbase 6 is not just around the corner. In order to get you there in time to meet your father, you have to go quickly, this evening, on the next ship out.”

He consulted his computer and frowned at the results. “It’s probably better to book you on a commercial flight. Our ships are all tied up, and the only ones headed for Starbase 6 are a couple of survey ships and science vessels—and they’re taking their time.” He sighed. “It looks like you’ll be heading out around 2100. I’m sorry you don’t get a chance to rest and recover from today’s ordeal.”

He stood. “However, I will escort you to the space port outside San Francisco and make sure you get on your flight. I’ll also send along your data disks, whatever you need. We’ll pick you up a change of clothes and I’ll give you some credits to spend. I’ll also send a message to Commander Tindale on Starbase 6, so he knows you’re coming. That way, if the Enterprise arrives before you do, he can explain things to your father and keep the ship from leaving. Okay?”

Jamie nodded. “Yes, sir.”

The thought of boarding yet another ship did nothing to make her feel happy, but there was not a whole lot she could do about it. And she did want to see her dad, didn’t she? Of course!

She just hoped her father wanted to see her.

Chapter 4

“All passengers prepare to disembark,” the intercom blared.

The trip aboard the Andromeda hadn’t been half-bad, Jamie decided when the ship docked in orbit around Starbase 6. She dutifully packed her one change of clothes, her toothbrush, extra credits, and brush and comb into a travel bag and waited instructions.

Again.

I feel like one of Grandma’s sheep, Jamie thought with a tired yawn. Someone leads me around and I follow; no questions asked.

The week had gone by quickly. It appeared that the officers and crew of the Andromeda, knew their young passenger’s history and had taken a special interest in her. She had visited the bridge, and every evening there was a program for children. On the outside, everything went smoothly. Her days were full of activities.

But the nights were awful. Lonely. Scary. And—

Stop it! Jamie scolded herself. But every night, no matter how hard she tried to stop them, her tears sneaked past her eyelids and trickled down her cheeks. It was lonely in the dark. Grandma, where are you? Why did you leave me?

It was no fun to cry herself to sleep every night. And she had nobody to talk to . . . to really talk to. Nobody to hug her and hold her tight and tell her everything would be all right. She desperately hoped her father would understand, but she scarcely knew him.

Jamie swallowed and pushed her scary, nighttime fears away. Then she closed her bag and headed for the hanger deck. What will I say to him? she wondered. What am I gonna do if he—

She clutched her bag and slipped onto the shuttle filling with people disembarking for Starbase 6. It was a short ride to the docking bay. The star base had been carved from the inside of an asteroid. Was the Enterprise here? Was Daddy here to meet her?

Jamie hoped so. She closed her eyes and imagined Daddy standing right there to meet her—tall and strong, in his gold captain’s uniform, with a big smile on his face. He’d hold out his arms and shout her name for everybody to hear.

That’s my dad! He’s the captain of the best ship in the fleet! Then she’d run as fast as she could into his arms. He would scoop her up and throw her up in the air like he used to do when she was little—before he left to command the Enterprise. A tiny smile pulled at her lips.

“Jamie Kirk!” A loud, clear voice called from across the docking bay. A woman’s voice.

Jamie’s daydream bubble popped, and she opened her eyes. Daddy wasn’t there. Does she have to yell so loud? Jamie’s cheeks burned when dozens of onlookers turned and looked at her. 

“I’m Jamie,” she said, smiling wanly.

“My goodness, you’re very young,” the woman remarked in surprise. “I’m Ensign Stuart. I’ve been sent by the CO to welcome you to Starbase 6. I’ll make sure you’re looked after until the Enterprise gets here.”

“The ship’s not here yet?”

“No, I’m afraid not. There was a delay, but we’re expecting her any day.”

Jamie ducked her head and sighed.

“Don’t worry, Jamie,” the ensign said. “The CO has been thoroughly briefed about your situation. He’ll beam you over to the Enterprise the moment the ship arrives. Your father will have the surprise of his life.”

“He’s not going to tell him I’m here?” This is a very bad idea.

“Commander Tindale loves surprises. He’s looking forward to it.” She grasped Jamie’s hand in a friendly way. “Come along now. The CO wants to meet you. Then I’ll show you where you’ll be staying until the ship arrives.”

Commander Tindale was nice, and he seemed genuinely concerned for Jamie’s welfare. “I’m sorry your dad’s not here yet. The Enterprise gets her share of the unexpected, but I’ll let you know right away when she’s in orbit. For now, Ensign Stuart will take care of you. Just tell her what you need.”

Ensign Stuart took care of Jamie, all right. She had never had so much attention in all of her life and she was becoming weary of it. Three more days of living in strange places, eating in strange cafés, and sleeping in rented beds began to take their toll. Wearing the same clothes day after day was also beginning to get old.

I wish I could just get to Deneva. Just to see Aunt Auralen. I’m tired of strangers. I’m tired of everything.

******

“Welcome to Starbase 6, Jim.” Kevin Tindale hailed the ship. “It’s about time. What took you so long?”

“We ran into a little trouble out at Psi 2000. We were supposed to be observing and recording the breakup of a planet, but we almost ended up as part of the show.” Kirk shook his head wearily.

“How bad was it?”

“We managed to live through it. All in a day’s work.”

“When do you want the supplies for Deneva beamed aboard?” Tindale asked.

“Deneva? Since when did the Enterprise become a freighter?” Kirk shot back, half in jest. Deneva? He could drop in on Sam and his family.

“Since Admiral Komack decided it was,” Tindale replied. “He saw you were heading out that direction for a mapping assignment and decided to send some special cargo along. There’s scientific equipment the folks on Deneva didn’t want to trust to a freighter. There’s also one very special package headed there that the admiral wanted delivered to you personally.”

“Really? Something for Deneva?”

Tindale grinned. “I’ve got time to beam over this evening, if you’re free.”

Kirk raised his eyebrows. “Sure.”

“What about 1900 hours?”

“That will be fine. I’ll see you then.”

“Starbase 6, out.”

Kirk turned to his first officer. “I wonder what that’s all about.”

Spock gave his captain an expressionless gaze. “Commander Tyndale is noted for his rather unorthodox surprises. It no doubt comes from being immured on a star base for long periods at a time.”

“A case of Romulan ale, maybe?” Kirk laughed. “He wouldn’t want to talk about contraband on an open channel.

“I am confident you will find out tonight.”

Kirk stood up, shoving Kevin’s little foibles from his mind. The commander wanted to have some fun? Fine. But the captain had work to do. “I’m going down to engineering to talk to Mr. Scott. You have the con, Spock.”

“Aye, sir.”

******

Jamie reluctantly submitted to Ensign Stuart’s attempts to comb her hair. She winced as a tangle caught in the brush. The ensign apologized but continued to pull and comb.

“Hey!” Jamie yelped. “That hurts.”

“I’m sorry,” the ensign apologized. “Those waves sure like to tangle. Maybe I should pull it back in a nice ponytail. What do you say?”

Jamie shook her head, yanking the hair out of her grasp. “I don’t want a ponytail. I can brush it myself.” She pried the brush from the woman’s hands. Her fingers trembled as she ran the brush through her tangles.

“Why don’t you let me style your hair? After all, you’re seeing your father for the first time in two years. Don’t you want to impress him?”

“No. I want him to recognize me.” Jamie jammed the brush into her bag and zipped it up. She didn’t dare tell the ensign that her heart was pounding so hard it hurt.

Ensign Stuart frowned. “All right, then. Have it your way.” She glanced at the chronometer. “It’s almost 1900. You’d better get up to the CO’s office on the double.”

Jamie reached for her bag, but the ensign waved her away.

“I’ll have it beamed up to the ship while you’re upstairs. Now, scoot.”

Jamie’s stomach tightened as she found a turbolift and set it for the fourth floor. I’m scared.

There was no other word for it. She didn’t know what to say to her father or how to act. Tears stung her eyes, but she set her jaw during the trip to the CO’s office. “No matter how scared I am, I will not cry,” she decided. “Not one drop.”

She took a deep breath as the lift came to a stop and opened onto the fourth-floor corridor.

It wouldn’t be long now.

 ******

 James Kirk strolled into the transporter room a little before 1900. He gave Lt. Kyle a brief nod, crossed his arms over his chest, and waited—rather impatiently—for the communication that Kevin and his surprise were ready to transport.

“Expecting something out of the ordinary, Captain?” Lt. Kyle asked. Unless important diplomats or Federation bigwigs were beaming over, it was unusual for the captain to meet the visitors. The supplies for Deneva had already been beamed into the cargo hold.

Kirk turned to his transporter chief. “I am, Lieutenant. Commander Tindale is beaming over with a special delivery.” His mouth turned up in a smile. “Maybe a case of Romulan Ale,” he added in a conspiratorial voice.

Kyle grinned at being included in the joke. It took a quick, daring pirate to smuggle the liquor across the Federation/Romulan border. “I hope so, sir,” the chief agreed. He glanced down at the console. “Message coming in, sir. Two to beam up from Starbase 6.”

“Energize,” Kirk ordered.

Two sparkling golden beams of light began to form on the transporter platform. The tall, heavy beam was no doubt the commander. But the slight form? The “special delivery”?

“Doesn’t appear to be ale, sir,” Kyle noted.

Kirk managed a grin as the beams solidified.

Suddenly, his grin faded, to be replaced with a shock that delivered a cold, hard punch to his stomach. “What in the world?” he demanded.

He clamped his jaw shut and wished he could take back his outburst. Too late. The tentative smile on the little girl’s face dissolved into fear and uncertainty. 

Chapter 5

Jamie felt the tingling of the transporter and stiffened. She didn’t like this feeling. Not one little bit. The transporter room on Starbase 6 faded, to be replaced by the harsh, bright glare of another transporter room.

The Enterprise.

Jamie steadied herself as the room around her whirled and settled into the picture of a console manned by a crewman in a red shirt. Just in front of the console, the captain of the Enterprise stood, arms crossed over his chest.

Jamie smiled.

“What in the world?” Kirk’s arms fell to his sides.

Silence fell.

Jamie dropped her gaze to her shoes. That’s it? That’s all he’s got to say? Her father did not sound happy. Not at all.

Commander Tindale took charge. He grasped Jamie’s hand, led her from the transporter platform, and stood her in front of the captain. “She’s the special delivery I promised you, Jim. I bet you’re surprised.”

“That’s an understatement.” Kirk glared at Tindale. “You could have warned me. What’s she doing here?”

Jamie’s heart dropped to her toes at the shock in her father’s voice. He didn’t sound angry, but it was clear this surprise had been totally unexpected—like an unpleasant set of orders had been handed to him, whether he liked them or not.

Jamie blinked. I will not cry! Instead, she continued to stare at her shoes and listen as Commander Tindale brought her father up to date. It was boring, grownup talk, all about Admiral Komack and his plans to ship her out to her relatives on Deneva. Like I’m cargo.

“The admiral wants me to take her to Deneva?” Kirk interrupted. “Why? A starship’s no place for a child.”

“You haven’t heard?” Tindale looked uncomfortable. “Listen, Jim. Is there someplace we can talk?” He looked at Jamie. “Privately?”

“Sure.” Then, as if in afterthought, he focused his attention on Jamie. “Welcome aboard the Enterprise, Jamie.”

Some welcome, Jamie thought.

“I’m not sure why you’re here,” Kirk said. “I can’t imagine the admiral allowing you to hitch a ride on the Enterprise to fly out to Deneva for a holiday. But we’ll work that out later. Right now, I’ve got to figure out what to do with you.” He held out his hand.

A starship’s no place for a child. The words tumbled over and over in Jamie’s head. That means it’s no place for me. He doesn’t want me here.

Jamie stared warily at the outstretched hand. Couldn’t he at least give me a hug and tell me he’s glad to see me? Well, maybe he’s not.

The intercom whistled. Kirk dropped his hand and reached over the console. “Kirk here.”

“Scott here. I need to see you in Engineering right away, sir. I’ve got concerns about the casings over the warp coil. That antimatter implosion we did back at Psi 2000 is giving me recurring nightmares.”

“I’ll be right down, Scotty.” He turned to Tindale. “I’m going to have to take a rain check on our talk, Kevin. I’ve got to get down to Engineering.”

Tindale nodded. “I understand. Get back to me when you can. It’s important.” He returned to the platform. “Let’s chat over a closed line.”

Kirk nodded and headed for the transporter room door.

“Uh, Jim,” Tindale called from the platform, “aren’t you forgetting something?” He pointed at Jamie. She stood next to the console, totally lost.

“Could you take her back to the base until I straighten things out?”

Tindale shook his head. “She’s been there three days already, Jim. A star base is no place for a kid.”

Jamie cringed. I guess nobody wants me. 

Commander Tindale soon dissolved in a million sparkling dots.

Kirk and Jamie looked at each other. Jamie set her jaw and resolutely refused to let even one tear pool up in her eyes.

A starship is no place for a child. Captain Kirk seemed to be shouting the words at her, without saying anything out loud. 

“Come on.” He took her hand and headed for the door. “Mr. Kyle, please notify the bridge that I’ll be in sickbay for a few minutes, then I’ll be in Engineering, conferring with Mr. Scott. Tell the beta shift bridge relief I’ll be up to check on any communications sometime before I turn in. If anything urgent comes through, ask Mr. Spock tend to it, or get hold of me in Engineering.”

“Aye, aye, Captain.”

Jamie hurried to keep up, but her leg wasn’t up to the captain’s quick pace. By the time they reached the turbolift, she was clenching her teeth to keep from crying. Each step felt like bees were stinging her healing leg.

“Where are we going?”

“Sickbay,” Kirk answered.

“Why? I’m not sick.” Not much, anyway. She rubbed her leg, pretending she was scratching an itchy spot.

“I’d like my medical officer to check you over, just to be sure.” He smiled.

Jamie wasn’t fooled. “It’s because you have to go and see that Mr. Scott, isn’t it?”

“No, it’s because everyone who comes aboard the Enterprise gets a medical check. Dr. McCoy is very adamant about it.”

“Couldn’t I do it another time? I’m awfully hungry. And I’m tired.”

The turbolift slowed to a stop. The doors whooshed open.

“I’m afraid this can’t wait,” Kirk said. “You’ll like Dr. McCoy. Afterwards, I’ll pick you up and we’ll get something to eat.” He paused outside the sickbay doors. “And yes, I do have to consult with Mr. Scott. He’s my engineer. He makes sure the ship is in top shape. I’m sorry, Jamie, but I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

The doors to sickbay opened, and they stepped in.

“Bones?” Kirk glanced around the foyer.

“He’s back with Ensign Joubert, Captain,” Nurse Chapel volunteered, indicating the other room.

“What’s wrong with him?”

“Fell from the engineering deck and broke his arm about an hour ago.”

Just then, McCoy appeared with a data pad. He handed it to the nurse. “Ensign Joubert can be released in the morning to return to his quarters for rest. I want him to check in every two days until the bone reconstruction is complete. Should take about two weeks.”

“Yes, Doctor.” Chapel hurried to file the record, leaving the doctor alone with Kirk. He gave him a quick greeting then focused on his captain’s small companion.

“Well, well, who do we have here?” he asked in his most fatherly tone. He knelt down eye-level with Jamie. Then he grinned up at Kirk. “You beam the darndest things aboard this ship, Jim. Who is she? Passenger, curiosity, or new crew member?”

“None of the above.” Kirk headed for McCoy’s stock of medicinal alcohol, hoping to find a Saurian brandy to sooth his fractured nerves.

McCoy stood. “Well?” He held out a glass for a share of the brandy.

Kirk nodded at Jamie. “Bones, meet Jamie. Jamie, Dr. Leonard McCoy, chief medical officer of the Enterprise.”

McCoy’s eyes grew wide when Kirk handed him a disk full of Jamie’s medical history. “So, this is your Jamie. It’s a pleasure to meet you at last, young lady.”

“Thank you,” Jamie whispered.

McCoy opened his mouth to ask the inevitable questions, but Kirk waved him off. He downed the Saurian brandy in one gulp.

“Don’t ask. I have no idea what she’s doing here. Listen, Bones, I’ve got to get down to Engineering. Something’s come up. Could you check Jamie over? Make sure she’s okay? I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Sure, Jim. No problem.” He gave Jamie a friendly wink.

“Thanks.” Kirk headed for the door. “You’ll be fine, Jamie. I’ll see you later, okay?”

No, not okay. I’m stuck with another stranger. Please don’t leave me here!

But Kirk did leave her here.

Jamie watched her father leave sickbay with what appeared to be relief. She recognized a brush-off when she saw one. She turned around to find the doctor watching her with a keen, sympathetic eye.

 

Chapter 6

It didn’t take Leonard McCoy long to discover that his captain’s young daughter was suffering from more than the physical results of a flitter accident. While Jamie played a game of chess with the recovering Ensign Joubert, Dr. McCoy briefly reviewed her medical history. He stared at the screen with concern. The child had suffered a broken arm, three cracked ribs, and a broken leg, but his examination had confirmed that the injuries were well on their way to being completely healed.

As they should be, he mused. Fractures take no time at all to heal these days. On the other hand—

“Jamie,” McCoy called, switching off his screen. “Would you come out here, please?”

Jamie quickly appeared and sat down across from the doctor.

“So,” he said with a bright smile, “Who’s winning the chess game?”

“The ensign is right now,” Jamie said without enthusiasm. “But I captured his queen. If you let me go back, I could squeak out a stalemate.”

McCoy’s eyebrows rose in surprise. It was incredible that an eight-year-old could hold her own in 3D chess against Ensign Joubert. Maybe the young crewman was giving her an edge. But he rejected that notion and watched to see if Jamie would show any interest in her surroundings.

What he saw worried him. Jamie sat in the chair, swinging her feet and intertwining her fingers in her lap. She was obviously waiting for the doctor to initiate the conversation. He’d just read that Jamie was exceptionally bright, cheerful, and friendly, with a stubborn streak a mile wide.

No surprise there, McCoy thought, not with Jim as her father.

Her records also stated that she was curious about nearly everything. Combined with her IQ, McCoy bet her teachers had trouble keeping up with her. He expected to soon be inundated with a million questions. 

All he got was silence. Something is wrong. This child does not remotely resemble the child in these records.

What had happened? More importantly, why was she aboard the ship? Jim hadn’t told him squat, so it was likely he hadn’t known about her sudden arrival. Uh-oh, he mused. This could get sticky.

McCoy reached out and patted Jamie on the knee. “You checked out A-okay. I’m sure your dad will be glad to hear it.”

Jamie said nothing.

“It says here”—he held up the data disk—“that you are quite the student at school. What grade are you in?”

“Third.”

McCoy nodded. “It says you’re in a special class for math and science.”

Jamie shrugged. “I guess.”

“Betcha you do all sorts of interesting things.”

“Did.” Her voice was flat.

“Come again?” McCoy asked.

Jamie looked up. “Did, Dr. McCoy. “I did special and interesting things in that class. Not anymore . . .” Her voice trailed away into despair.

What is wrong with this child? McCoy pondered. “Why can’t you do those special things any longer?”

Jamie squinted at the doctor as if he was a total idiot. “Uh . . . maybe because I’m not in Iowa anymore?” It was the first spark of emotion he’d heard so far. Sassy, but smarting off was better than no emotion at all.

“It sounds like you’d like to be in Iowa instead of here,” McCoy said. He folded his arms across his chest and leaned back. “Why aren’t you?”

Suddenly, his small patient sat up straight. A light came on in her eyes. Her mouth dropped open. “You don’t know? I thought grownups knew everything and just didn’t tell us kids.”

McCoy chuckled. “This grownup has no idea why you are aboard the Enterprise. If you’re willing to tell me, I’m a good listener.” He reached out and snagged the data disks. “These are your medical and school records, Jamie. Nothing else.”

In an instant, McCoy was bombarded with a detailed account of the flitter accident back in Iowa, her hospital stay, Nurse Cindy, the shuttle flight to San Francisco, and her meeting with Admiral Komack.

This child has an amazing memory, McCoy mused, then turned his attention back to Jamie’s narrative. He didn’t want to miss one detail.

“. . .  and I’m on my way to Deneva,” Jamie slowed down and finished with a quiet sigh. “I’m going to live with Uncle Sam and Aunt Auralen and Peter.” 

“Deneva’s nice,” McCoy said. “But is that what you want to do?”

Jamie frowned. “I can’t do what I want to. I want to go home to Iowa, but I can’t. I can’t live with Grandma again. They won’t let me live with Missy’s family. I won’t ever see my pony again or my friends at school. I guess I’ll have to make new friends on Deneva.”

McCoy tapped his stylus on the desk and wrinkled his brow. “What about your dad? Wouldn’t you like to be with him?”

Jamie froze.

Sore spot, McCoy noticed at once. What in the world did Jim say to her?

Jamie took a deep breath and stood up. “I’m going to Deneva. Admiral Komack said so.” Her hazel eyes grew stormy. “And good thing too. My dad doesn’t want me here. He said a starship’s no place for a child. Those were his exact words. And it’s true. The minute we beamed aboard, he tried to get Commander Tindale to take me back to the base. When that didn’t work, he dumped me on you.”

“He didn’t mean it, Jamie.” McCoy reached for her, but she backed away. “He’s the captain, honey. He has over four hundred crewmen he’s responsible for. He wouldn’t have gone to Engineering unless it was important.”

“Aren’t I important? I haven’t seen him for two years.” She burst into tears. “I hate it here. I want to go home.”

She turned and rushed from the sickbay.

“Jamie! Come back!” McCoy launched himself from his chair. He ran out into the corridor, but Jamie had already disappeared.

Now I’ve done it! Should I call security? Oh, that would be swell, he decided ruefully. Intruder alert for an eight-year-old?

  McCoy scratched his chin and wondered what Jim would say when he returned to sickbay and discovered his CMO had allowed his daughter to escape.

****** 

 Jamie wandered aimlessly through the vast corridors of the Enterprise. She was totally lost, but even if she had known where she was, what would she do? She peeked into deserted briefing rooms, storage compartments, and even crew quarters, for which she was rewarded with odd stares and questioning looks.

I wish I could find the cafeteria, or whatever it’s called here. I’m hungry!

It was late second shift for most of the Enterprise crew. A good number of crewmen and women were off duty by now and enjoying a late dinner or evening recreation. Hardly anyone was hanging out in the corridors.

Jamie stopped to rub her sore leg. It ached deep inside. But it didn’t ache as much as the rest of her. Especially her heart. Blinking back tears of pain and fatigue, she slid down the bulkhead, pulled her knees up under her dress, and rested her chin on her knees.

Every one of these corridors looks alike, she told herself. Even if I wanted to go back to sickbay—and I don’t—I could never find the way. Then a worse thought struck her. What will Daddy do to me for running away from—

“Are you lost?”

Jamie’s head snapped up, and her heart pounded. She expected to see her father glaring down at her, but it was only a crewman with a friendly face. He wore a red shirt with a stripe around each sleeve cuff. A lieutenant.

She nodded shyly. 

The lieutenant grinned. “What’s your name?”

“Jamie.”

“Welcome aboard the Enterprise, Jamie. The passengers are getting better looking all the time.” He bowed comically, which brought a smile to Jamie’s face. “I’m Lieutenant Kevin Riley, at your service. Where would you be wanting to go?” He winked

“Someplace where I can get something to eat.”

“Perfect. I was just heading there myself. The main Recreation Area has a variety of food dispensers. Come along with me.” Riley held out his hand.

Jamie clasped the Lt. Riley’s hand gratefully. It had been a long day and she was very hungry.

Riley led Jamie to the main rec deck and entered with a flourish. He picked up the nearest object—a tray—and banged it on a table. “Attention all! I want you to meet my newest friend.”

“Is her name Kathleen?” The room exploded in laughter. Everyone knew of Riley’s fondness for the song “I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen.”

Riley gave the crewman a sour look. “You promised not to bring that up, José. Nobody wants to be reminded of that disaster over Psi 2000, least of all me. So, can it.” H set Jamie the table. “This is Jamie. Jamie . . . I’d like you to meet a small complement of the starship Enterprise.”

There was a flurry of waves and a few “hello’s,” “welcome aboard’s,” and “hi, there’s.” Jamie waved back and looked around the hall with interest. About two dozen off-duty personnel were enjoying a variety of activities—chess, cards, computer games, reading, visiting. They all seemed relaxed and at home.

Riley lifted Jamie down to the floor. “Come on. Let’s get something to eat.”

Lieutenant Kevin Riley was popular among the crew, in spite of his recent disaster, where he nearly sent the starship plummeting to her death around Psi 2000. If the crew wondered where’d had found the little girl, they didn’t ask. They’d find out soon enough, thanks to the effective ship-wide grapevine. Starship gossip traveled faster than warp speed.

After making their meal selections, Riley led Jamie to an empty table and helped her find a seat.

“So, what do you think of the food?” he asked a few minutes later.

“It’s really good,” Jamie replied between mouthfuls. But at this point, even sawdust would have tasted good.

“How long have you been aboard the Enterprise?” Riley asked, leaning back and making pleasant conversation.

“About an hour.”

Riley sat up. “Come again?”

“An hour,” Jamie repeated, shoving the rest of her supper in her mouth and chewing contentedly. “I ran away from Dr. McCoy in Sick—” She broke off at Riley’s wide eyes. “Are you okay?”

“You ran away from McCoy?” Riley scratched his ear thoughtfully. “Maybe I’d better take you back.”

“Oh, Lieutenant, please don’t,” Jamie pleaded. “At least, not yet. This is the first time in days I’ve had any fun. You’re so cheerful. I like you.”

“It’s nice to know my affection is returned,” Riley teased.

“And this place”—Jamie waved a hand to take in the Rec Area—“it’s so friendly. Everyone seems so nice. Like they enjoy what they’re doing.”

“The Enterprise is one big, happy family,” Riley remarked.

Jamie cringed.

“Hey, Jamie-darlin’, what’s the matter?” Riley reached out and picked up one of her small hands. “You can tell ol’ Uncle Kevin about it. I listen to everybody’s problems.”

“It’s nothing. I’m just tired.”

Riley brightened. “Tell me where you need to be, and I’ll take you there. It’s late, and you should be in bed. The guest quarters? VIP?”

“I don’t know where I’m supposed to be, except maybe in Sickbay. And I don’t want to go back there.”

“Then at least tell me who your parents are. Ambassadors? Federation bigwigs? I can help you get together with them. The Enterprise is large, but not that large.”

Jamie saw the kindness in Lt. Riley’s eyes and caved. He really wanted to help her. “My mother is dead,” she told him. “And . . . well . . . my daddy’s in some place called Engineering, talking to somebody named Mr. Scott. I don’t know when he’ll be back. He left me with Dr. McCoy.”

Riley’s eyes widened. “Uh . . . who’s your father, Jamie?”

“Captain Kirk.”

“Oh, boy.” Riley whistled softly through his teeth. “Kevin, when you rescue the ladies, you really pick ’em.”

“What?”

“Nothing. Just mumbling t’ myself. I could get into a lot of trouble for this—helping you hide from McCoy and the skipper.”

“I’m not hiding. I ran out of Sickbay without thinking.”

“That’s for sure. McCoy doesn’t like his patients to run out on him.”

As if to confirm his fears, the intercom suddenly came to life.

“Attention, all hands. This is the captain. If anyone has seen a little girl—blond hair, about eight years old, please report it right away. Kirk out.”

The Rec area went deathly quiet. All eyes turned to Riley and Jamie.

Jamie gulped.

“I think it’s safe to say you found her, eh, Riley?” Thompson remarked. “What do you suppose the skipper wants with one little kid?”

“I don’t know,” Riley said with a grin, “but I’ll let the captain know she’s here.” He turned to Jamie. “Don’t be embarrassed. It’s just an intercom. You haven’t embarrassed yourself until you’ve done what I did a couple weeks ago over the intercom.”

“What did you do?” Jamie asked.

“Ask me later,” he whispered. He stood up, made his way over to the intercom, and punched the button. “This is Riley in Main Rec area, deck 6. I found the little girl who fits your description, sir. She’s with me.”

“Thank you, Riley. I’ll be right down. Kirk out.”

A few minutes later the rec doors slid open. Kirk and McCoy entered—Kirk with an exasperated expression on his face, McCoy with a concerned one. They hurried over.

“I found her wandering around on Deck 11, sir,” Riley explained brightly. “She said she was lost and hungry, so I got her something to eat. I knew it was just a matter of time before someone came looking for her.” He grinned. “Nobody’d let a beautiful little lady like this stay lost for long.”

Kirk nodded. “Thank you, Riley. I can take over from here.”

“Your daughter’s a charmer, sir,” Riley added as he backed up. He winked at Jamie, and she winked back at him.

“You can go about your business,” Kirk said, ignoring the comment.

“Yes, sir.” He made a half-hearted attempt at a salute. Then he reached out and shook Jamie’s hand. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Cadet Kirk. I hope to see a lot more of you.” Then he turned and headed for the computer games, hailing José Farmer as he went.

“Come on,” Kirk ordered with a weary sigh. He led Jamie out of the Rec area, with McCoy right behind them. As soon as the doors closed, Kirk turned to her. “What in blazes were you thinking, running out of sickbay like that? The Enterprise is huge. There are a lot of places you shouldn’t go.”

“I’m sorry,” Jamie whispered.

“Then see to it that you stay put when I tell you.”

“Yes, sir,” Jamie said meekly, embarrassed at being scolded in front of the doctor.

“Jim,” McCoy broke in, “may I see you a moment?”

Kirk consulted his chronometer. “It’s getting late, Bones. I’ve got to find someplace to put Jamie before she falls asleep standing up. Then I need to touch base with Commander Tindale. Why don’t you come down to my office in about an hour? You can talk to me then.”

“Yes, sir,” McCoy said stonily and turned around to return to sickbay.

Alone, Kirk looked at his daughter. “What am I going to do with you? Have you any . . . well, baggage? Change of clothes? Toothbrush?”

“The yeoman from Starbase 6 was supposed to have my travel bag beamed up, but maybe it got lost on this huge ship.”

“Maybe. That’s it? One bag?”

Jamie nodded. “All my stuff’s back in Iowa. They said I wouldn’t need it anymore.”

“Why not? Where’s your grandmother?”

Jamie felt herself turn pale. He doesn’t know about Grandma!

She opened her mouth to blurt out the news that Grandma was dead but shut it just in time. I’ll cry if I tell him. And I can’t cry. I just can’t.

Jamie looked at the deck. 

Kirk let out a long, slow breath. “Well, come on then. We’d best find a bed for you somewhere. Then I need to get to the bottom of this and find out what you’re doing here.”

The closest available quarters were two corridors over from the captain’s cabin. They were VIP quarters, reserved for important Federation officials or ambassadors. The quarters were lavish and spacious, decorated with regards to the distinguished visitors who stayed there on occasion.

“The VIP quarters,” Kirk said, forcing a smile. “For very important visitors. Like yourself.”

Jamie looked around silently. I don’t want to be an important visitor, Daddy. I just want to be your little girl. Why can’t I sleep in your room? I don’t want to sleep all by myself. Again.

She dared not say those words out loud. Tears were already filling up her eyes faster than she could blink. She saw the bed. It looked big, cold, and uncomfortable.

Kirk raised the lights and indicated a door. “You have your own head right over there. That’s the starship word for bathroom. I’ll see what I can do about something for you to wear to bed, and toothbrushes, things like that, okay? I’ll be right back.”

Jamie nodded and sat down on the bed to wait her father’s return. She gazed around the fancy quarters and shivered. Tears leaked out, but she brushed them aside. She didn’t want her father to think she was a crybaby.

Well, one good thing, she decided, I won’t have to stay in these quarters for long. Deneva’s looking better and better.  

Chapter 7

It was later than Kirk liked by the time McCoy showed up to talk. It had taken him a long time to find something suitable for Jamie to wear. He had settled on one of his old t-shirts, which hung past her knees. The captain had made sure she brushed her teeth, washed her face—all those things he hadn’t done for a number of years—then seen her safely to bed. It was with relief he had turned out the light and left her quarters.

The evening had gone from bad to worse when Kevin Tindale called him over a secure line and caught him up on the facts surrounding Jamie’s unexpected appearance on the ship. The news hit Kirk hard, especially coming on the heels of almost losing his ship two weeks ago. His tired mind could hardly grasp that his mother had passed away. His head throbbed.

The buzzer signaled.

“Come,” Kirk called.

McCoy entered and offered him a Saurian brandy.

“Two in one evening, Bones? Dare I?” Kirk tried to joke, but McCoy kept pouring.

“You need it, Jim.” He leaned back. “Everything okay on the bridge? You haven’t seen much of it this evening.”

“I checked in before you got here. Spock had just left, and the relief said no problems, no more messages, nothing at all. A quiet night.” He swirled the amber liquid around in his glass. “So, is Jamie okay? Did you find anything wrong with her?”

“Physically she’s fine. They did a good job fixing her up on Earth. But I knew that before I examined her. Reputable hospitals do not discharge half-healed patients.”

“That’s a relief.” Kirk took a sip of his drink.

“Jim, I’m sorry about your mother.”

Kirk winced. “Thanks. Kevin told me about it over the comm. It’ll take a while to absorb the news. I . . . I . . .” He shrugged. “It’s difficult.”

McCoy agreed. “And you’re an adult. Think how hard this must be on Jamie. She told me the whole story in sickbay this evening, just before she ran out the door. I felt as though I were seeing the whole tragedy through her eyes.” He paused.

“And?” Kirk prompted.

McCoy sat up and gave his captain an icy-blue glare. “Emotionally, your daughter is a wreck. They never should have shipped her out here until she was over the shock of losing her grandmother. Surely there were close friends in Iowa who could have cared for her for the time being. A month of routine involving school, loving friends, the same town—these things are important to children.”

McCoy shook his head. “But no. Starfleet likes to take care of things quickly, orderly. Snatch the child away, stick her on a spaceship, and send her light-years away from her home. That’s Starfleet’s idea of getting things done. And when she gets here? Well, Captain, I’m not impressed with the way you’re handling this.”

“I’m not trying to impress you, Doctor,” Kirk said, too tired to argue. He knew he’d blown it—a couple of times—and it didn’t help matters to have McCoy throwing it back in his face.

McCoy clearly recognized the warning in his friend’s voice, and quickly changed the subject. “So, you’re taking her to Deneva? To your brother and his family, right?”

“Yes. Sam and Auralen made it clear they’d love to have Jamie stay with them.” Kirk swallowed the remainder of his drink. “And Jamie already asked if that’s where we’re going. She doesn’t seem to have a problem with it.”

“What about you? Do you have any problems with it?”

“No. I made the arrangements in the first place.”

“And now?” McCoy pressed. “Now that she’s here? Doesn’t it bother you that you might see your only child for a couple short weeks? Then she’ll be gone for another three years.”

Kirk paused. McCoy had a point. The doctor’s own daughter, grown now and in school on Centaurus, had seen her own father too few times. It looked like the doctor regretted it very much.

“Jamie seems pretty adaptable. I can adapt too.”

“Children are incredibly adaptable, to a point.” McCoy leaned forward a bit more. “Don’t throw it away, Jim. You’ve gotten off to a bad start, I’ll grant that. Somehow, Jamie thinks you don’t want her here.”

A starship’s no place for a child. The words came back to haunt him.

“She expressed it to me very plainly,” McCoy continued mercilessly. “You’ve done something to give her the impression that you’ve got another life, and she’s not part of it. You’d better do something about that, and quickly. Especially since you’ve only got a couple of weeks to fix this before you—in Jamie’s eyes—dump her off on Deneva.”

McCoy’s sharp, no-nonsense words pierced Kirk. He thought of Jamie, alone in those huge VIP quarters, and closed his eyes in shame. “I’ve made a mess of things, Bones. When I saw her, I had no idea what I should do.”

“For starters, you should have said, ‘Hi, honey, good to see you’ and give her a hug,” McCoy replied.

“Yeah, well, I didn’t.”

“Obviously. But remember, Jim”—McCoy stood up to take his leave—“in addition to being adaptable, children are also incredibly forgiving. It’s been a long evening. I’m turning in. G’night.” With that, McCoy was gone.

Kirk slumped in his chair and pondered his friend’s words. Then he made a decision. He couldn’t leave his little girl in those quarters so far away from him. What if she needed something? He glanced at his own bed. It wasn’t especially large, but a small child shouldn’t take up too much room, at least not for one night. Tomorrow he would make some shifts in quarters.

It didn’t take long to make his way back to the VIP quarters. He entered quietly, hoping not to disturb Jamie. She had seemed exhausted. He turned the lights up a fraction and looked toward the bed. There she lay, her golden hair spread out around her head, breathing quietly. He hated to move her; she seemed so peaceful.

But as he neared the bed, he noticed her face was wet, the pillow was wet, and he suddenly realized she had most likely cried herself to sleep. The realization hit him like a bucket of cold water. While he was in his quarters talking to McCoy, Jamie had been sobbing her heart out. What a rotten father he was turning out to be. No Father-of-the-Year award for me.

Without another thought, he scooped Jamie up in his arms and turned out the lights. She made a few small noises as he carried her down the corridors, but she remained asleep. Once inside his quarters, Kirk pulled back the covers and placed Jamie gently next to the wall. She turned over and sighed in her sleep, then was quiet.

Kirk returned to his computer to finish some paperwork. He hadn’t had the screen on for more than twenty minutes when he heard a startled cry from the other side of his quarters. The cry was followed by a series of muffled sobs.

Kirk leapt from his chair. He reached the bed in a few strides, sat down, and pulled Jamie onto his lap. “What’s the matter, honey?” he asked gently. He didn’t know whether she had awakened in fear, or whether she was crying in her sleep. Her sobs continued, growing in intensity.

Kirk pushed himself up against the headboard and leaned against the wall. He pulled Jamie’s head of tangled curls against his chest and sat quietly, waiting for the crying to let up. “It’s all right, Jamie. Daddy’s here. Cry all you want. You don’t have to tell me what the matter is.”

“I-I w-want Grandma,” Jamie stumbled. “I want t-to go home. I m-miss her.”

“I know, Jamie. I miss her too. After all, she was my mother.”

That brought a sudden quietness from his lap. Jamie lifted her head and stared at her father with new insight, blinking back tears.  

“Did you cry when you heard about her?” she asked, sniffing back tears. She rubbed her eyes against the light but didn’t seem the least surprised that she was no longer in the VIP quarters.

“Of course. I cried on the inside—a lot.”

“You did?” Jamie laid her head back onto her father’s chest to consider this strange confession. Then she started crying again. “I’m scared. I keep dreaming that I’m all by myself, and I don’t know where I am or what I’m supposed to do, or who’s going to take care of me. Then I wake up. I’ve had the same dream every night since the accident.”

“Well.” Kirk chuckled. “I’ll tell you exactly where you are and what you are going to do. You’re on my starship. You’re my special guest, and you’re going to have as much fun as you can while you’re here. Then, when we get to Deneva we’ll talk about what will happen next. But for now. I’m going to take care of you.”

“You’re not mad at me for being here?”

“Of course not! Surprised, maybe, but certainly not mad.” Kirk took a deep breath. “I’m sorry that my surprise looked like I didn’t want you here. And . . . you have permission to cry as much as you like.”

Jamie curled up on her father’s lap and sighed. It was clear that his words had found a spot in his daughter’s troubled heart.

“I don’t feel like crying anymore,” she said sleepily. Then, “Daddy?”

“Hmm?”

“What’s a cadet? Lieutenant Riley called me one.”

Kirk hugged Jamie tighter. “A cadet is someone in training to be a member of a starship crew. Welcome aboard, Cadet Kirk.” 

 

Chapter 8

James Kirk woke up with a start. With chagrin, he noticed he had fallen asleep sitting up against the wall on his bed. He reached up to massage his neck. It felt stiff and sore. He knew his back wasn’t in much better shape, either. He looked across the bed to find his daughter curled up tightly against the wall, sleeping the sleep of the exhausted. Sometime during the night, she must have rolled off his lap and onto her side.

Gently, he pulled the blankets up around Jamie and rolled himself to a standing position without disturbing her. He checked his chronometer:  0642. Not bad. He had time for a quick shower. Perhaps the hot water would loosen up his abused muscles. As he staggered toward the head, he decided he never wanted to spend another night like that.

He re-entered his cabin, rubbing his head with a towel. The water had relieved his tired muscles, and he felt 100% better. Pulling on a tunic and pants, Kirk made his way over to the bed. Jamie was still sound asleep. He wondered how long she would sleep. He hated to leave her to get to the bridge, but what was he supposed to do?

Kirk glanced at his monitor. He could probably get away with working on the stack of paperwork, which accumulated at a horrendous rate. He threw the towel around his shoulders and sat down at his desk. He punched the intercom.

“Bridge.”

“Kirk here. I’m in my office with a stack of paperwork. I’ll be on the bridge later this morning to prepare for departure.”

“Aye, sir.”

“Kirk out.”

When Kirk checked on Jamie the third time in an hour, he found her awake and lying quietly, looking around his quarters with wide eyes.

“Good morning.” Kirk smiled. “How do you feel?”

Jamie didn’t answer. Instead, she asked, “How did I get here?”

“I decided I wanted you with me, at least the first night. Don’t you remember?”

“I . . .” Jamie gulped. “I thought it was just a dream.”

“Nope.” Kirk plopped down beside her and planted a kiss on her forehead. “No more bad dreams for you, Cadet Kirk.”

Jamie smiled and sat up. “Am I really a cadet?”

“You are if I say you are,” Kirk replied. “I’m the captain, remember?”

Jamie nodded shyly. It was like she’d gone to sleep in a dark, horrible place and awakened in heaven. Everything was different this morning. Everything was better. “How long can I be your cadet, Daddy?”

“For as long as you’re aboard my ship.”

Jamie wrinkled her eyebrows. “What does a cadet do?”

Kirk laughed and ruffled her hair. “Mostly they follow orders. And your first order is to hop into the shower. You look all roughed up.” Then he lifted her up and hugged her again. “A bad night for both of us. I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

Jamie returned her father’s hug. “You already have, Daddy . . . uh . . . I mean Captain Kirk.” She giggled. 

Kirk sat still, amazed at the transformation. McCoy was right. All it had taken to heal Jamie’s heart were a few kind words, a hug, and the assurance that her father loved her enough to want her with him.

I may be able to run a starship, but I need a lot of practice running a family. I’m a complete idiot. But he wasn’t worried. He knew McCoy would be right there, nipping at his heels any time the captain failed at being a father.

“Your bed is good and bouncy,” Jamie said, which brought Kirk out of his thoughts. He glanced to his right, just in time to see his daughter jump so high that her head nearly crashed into the ceiling. He reached out to snatch her arm, but she hopped out of the way, jumped two more times, then bounced onto the floor. She skipped into the head, and the door whooshed shut.

Ten minutes later, Jamie came out of the shower wrapped in a huge towel, her hair dripping all over the floor. “I don’t have anything to wear,” she announced as she sat on the bed.

Kirk looked up from his monitor. “You’re dripping all over the bed,” he admonished her.

“Sorry, but what am I going to wear? That dumb ol’ dress I’ve been wearing the past week?”

Kirk shrugged. “There are many things I can do but finding you suitable clothing is not one of them.” He went to the intercom. “Ship’s services.”

“Ship’s services. Lieutenant Chills here.”

“This is the captain. Could you please ask my yeoman to come down to my office?”

“Right away, sir.”

Within a few minutes, a pretty, blond, red-shirted yeoman appeared.

“Good morning, Captain,” she said, smiling brightly, “What can I get you? Coffee, breakfast?”

“Maybe later, Rand. Right now, I need a little help with this.”

Yeoman Rand followed Kirk’s pointing finger, and her eyes opened wide. Jamie was sitting on the bed wrapped in a green towel. Her golden tangles dripped continuously. “Sir?” She turned to him in confusion.

“This is my daughter, Jamie. Jamie, Janice Rand,” Kirk said. “She spent the night in one of my old t-shirts. Somehow her travel bag missed getting beamed up to the ship. Or if it’s here, it’s been misplaced.”

“There was nothing good in it, anyway,” Jamie offered, pushing the hair away from her face. She shivered and wrapped the towel more tightly around her.

Yeoman Rand smiled. “No problem, Captain. I can handle this.”

“Great,” Kirk replied quickly. He gave Jamie a thumb’s-up. “I’ll let you ladies get to it.” He turned to Rand. “When she’s dressed, could you bring her to the bridge?”

“I can get her breakfast if you like, sir,” Janice offered.

Kirk shook his head, though the offer was tempting. “No, I’ll take care of that today. But thank you. See you in a bit, Jamie.” Kirk grinned and exited his quarters.

“Well.” Janice sat down next to Jamie and began to rub her hair with a corner of the towel. “Riley said there was a beautiful young lady in distress hanging around the Rec hall last night. Looks like he was telling the truth.”

“Lieutenant Riley is nice,” Jamie said.

“Yes, he is, isn’t he?” Yeoman Rand agreed. She stood up and looked Jamie over with a critical eye, taking a measurement. “I’m sure we have nothing in ship’s stores that will fit you, but the computer can come up with almost anything you’d like. What would you like to wear? Jeans? Tennis shoes? A dress? Sweats?”

Jamie grinned. She knew exactly what she wanted to wear. She pointed at her uniform. “I want to wear the same thing everybody else wears aboard the Enterprise.”

“Well, that’s easy. Red, gold, or blue?”

Jamie shrugged. “I don’t know. What do the colors mean?”

“Red is engineering, ship’s services, and security. Blue is for medical and all the sciences. And gold is the command crew.”

“Hmm.” Jamie thought hard. “I like science best, so can I wear blue?”

“Coming right up. In the meantime”—she handed Jamie a comb—“take care of that mop.”

“Yes, Yeoman Rand.”

“You may call me Janice. Or Yeoman Janice.”

“Okay, Yeoman Janice.”

Ten minutes later, Janice returned, her arms full of gold, red, and blue.

“I decided to have some made up of each color. After all, you’ll need more than one thing to wear if you’re going to be here a while.” She grinned. “And we’re all hoping you’ll be here for a long time.” She handed Jamie a blue tunic and black pants, some underclothing and boots.

Jamie held up the blue shirt then paused and stared at Janice. “Really? You want me to stay aboard the ship? For a long time?”

Janice nodded.

“Wow. Then Jamie she slipped into her new clothes. They fit just right. “Thank you!”

“My pleasure, Cadet. Now, let’s do something about your hair.”

Clean, combed, and dressed in fresh clothes, Jamie presented a much different picture from the night before. She ran to the mirror in the head and hiked herself up high enough on the counter to see. Then she turned to Yeoman Rand and whispered, “I really, really look like one of the crew now, don’t I?”

“You certainly do.” Janice helped her down. “Come on, let’s go find your dad.” The yeoman led her charge slowly through the corridors, allowing Jamie to look at things to her heart’s content and ask as many questions as she wanted.

The rumors about Jamie being aboard had spread quickly throughout the entire ship. There was hardly a crewman who didn’t know she was aboard. Jamie and Yeoman Janice were greeted a dozen times before they reached the ’lift.

Jamie rode the turbolift with mounting excitement. She was actually going to the bridge of the Enterprise. Never in her wildest imagination had she considered such a possibility. She had always assumed she would spend her travel time in the recreation halls and galleys of the ship—never in the control center. Why, this was better than Wrigley’s Pleasure Planet!

The doors slid open, and Rand led Jamie onto the quarterdeck. Jamie froze and gasped. She let go of the yeoman’s hand and took two steps closer to the huge view screen that filled the front of the bridge. Her mouth fell open. Myriads of stars whooshed past as the ship traveled in warp space. Jamie didn’t hear her father thank Janice and dismiss her, nor did she hear him speak to her.

“Jamie,” Kirk said again, laying a hand on her shoulder. Jamie turned around, the spell broken. She looked up at her father and saw him smiling at her. “Do you like the view?”

Jamie nodded, speechless. Kirk reached out for her hand and pulled her away from the view.

“There are some people I’d like you to meet,” he said, leading her to the various stations around the bridge. “This is the alpha watch. Lt. Uhura communications, Lt. Sulu at the helm, Ensign Chekov navigation . . .”

Kirk continued to introduce his bridge crew to Jamie, who smiled and shook hands with each of them. Sulu offered to let her watch him make a course change. Uhura held out her ear bud.

“Maybe later,” Kirk said, pulling Jamie along until he got to the science station. “This is my first officer, Mr. Spock. He is second in command, and you’ll obey him as you would me.”

Jamie nodded solemnly, staring at the Vulcan with what she hoped was not disrespect. Apparently, it wasn’t, for he stared back at Jamie with the same expression. They looked at each other for a full minute, then Jamie spoke.

“You’re a Vulcan.” It was so obvious that coming from anyone else, it would have been embarrassing.

Spock nodded solemnly and raised his hand. “Live long and prosper, Jamie Kirk,” he intoned in perfect seriousness.

Jamie raised her hand in the Vulcan salute and responded to his greeting. “Peace and long life to you, Mr. Spock.”

Spock’s only indication of surprise was one raised eyebrow. He nodded and lowered his hand, as did Jamie. Then she turned back to her father who was watching the exchange thoughtfully.

“Where did you learn that?” Kirk asked as she followed him into the command pit.

Jamie shrugged. “Last year in school. We all had to choose a Federation planet to study and I chose Vulcan.”

“Any particular reason why?” Kirk asked.

“I thought it might be useful, just in case.”

“In case of what?”

“In case of . . . this.” Jamie motioned her hands to take in the bridge, the ship, and the crew. “I hoped someday I’d get to visit the Enterprise, even if just for an hour or two.”

“I see.” Kirk grinned and offered her his chair. “And did you ever think you’d get offered the captain’s chair aboard a starship?”

Jamie’s eyes grew wide. “No, sir.” She settled down in her father’s chair and gazed at the screen. “You get to sit here and look at the stars.”

“And anything else that comes across our path.” He turned to Chekov. “Put up the navigational charts for this voyage, Mr. Chekov, and our position relative to Deneva.”      

The screen shifted, and Jamie saw a map laid out over a star chart, with a moving, blinking light indicating the Enterprise. The ship had moved out of orbit and was well on its way toward its next destination.

“How often may I come here?” Jamie whispered. She hoped she could come often and stay long.

“You may come to the bridge whenever I’m on duty and if there are no restrictions or alerts, or any battle drills. You may stay so long as you’re quiet and don’t get in anyone’s way. The crew is probably be willing to answer questions if they’re not involved with work at the moment.”

Jamie nodded her understanding. This is not good, she thought. She swallowed the lump that suddenly formed in her throat. I love this place.  I want to . . . She swallowed again and told her tears to find some other place to go. I won’t cry. But everything is so mixed up.

Last night, she’d told Dr. McCoy she hated this ship. She wanted to go home to Iowa. This morning, she didn’t want to go home to Iowa anymore. She didn’t want to go to Deneva, either. She wanted to stay here. Home is where my daddy is, she thought.

“How many days until we get to Deneva?” she whispered into her lap.

Kirk knelt down in front of his chair. “What did you ask?”

Jamie looked up. Tears stung her eyes. Oh, slime devils! She blinked, but they didn’t go away.

“What’s the matter, honey?” Kirk asked.

“Nothing,” she said, swiping a hand across her face. “I just want to know how long until we get to Deneva.”

Kirk wrinkled his forehead. “Are you in a hurry to leave the Enterprise?”

I must be brave. Daddy mustn’t know I don’t want to go to Uncle Sam’s. She smiled through her tears. “It will be nice to see Peter,” she said bravely.

“We have three whole weeks before we get to Deneva,” Kirk told her. “We’re taking the long way around, mapping unstable binaries in the beta quadrant. Afterwards, we’ll swing by Deneva and . . .” His voice trailed off, as if he didn’t want to say out loud what Jamie knew was coming:  and drop you off.

Only three weeks! “Okay,” she said aloud. “Daddy? Do cadets ever cry?”

Kirk picked her up, sat down, and held her close. “Sometimes. It’s all right. Tell me what’s bothering you. Don’t you like it here?”

“I like it here very much,” Jamie confessed. “But—”

“Captain, there’s a message coming through from Starbase 6,” Uhura interrupted from her communications station.

“Put it on the screen, Uhura.”

Jamie watched, wide-eyed, as the screen came to life with the face of Commander Kevin Tindale.

“Kevin,” Kirk began pleasantly, but Tindale’s expression held no smile.

“Jim, the Enterprise is to delay her mapping assignment and proceed directly to Deneva. There’s something going on out there. We received a garbled message this morning, early, nothing we can pinpoint. The message was cut off and we can’t raise anyone on the planet. Investigate and report as soon as you can. Find out why we’ve lost contact with Deneva.”

“Of course,” Kirk answered.

“Sorry about this, Jim. I know your family’s on Deneva.” He took a deep breath. “I hope it’s not true, but that strange insanity Starfleet’s come across now and again—there’s a possibility that this may be related.”

“We’ll change course immediately, Kevin. Enterprise out.” Kirk turned to his navigator.  “Mr. Chekov, lay in a course to Deneva. Mr. Sulu, warp 8. Let’s find out what’s going on.” He squeezed Jamie and said, “I guess we’re going to Deneva a little sooner than expected. I’m sorry.”

Not as sorry as I am. Jamie sniffed back her tears and tipped her head back. She tried to smile. “It’s okay, Daddy. Uncle Sam, Aunt Auralen, and Peter are there. You have to help them.”

“You are a true Starfleet cadet.” He smiled at her in approval.

Only on the outside, Jamie thought. On the inside I’m scared and sad and . . . everything bad.

“Lt. Uhura,” Kirk ordered, “try continuously to get through to Deneva. Let me know if anything comes up. Anything at all.”

“Aye, sir.”

“Cadet Kirk and I will be having breakfast.”

  

Chapter 9

 Deneva!  The name would be forever burned into Jamie’s mind. Never again would she think of it as a pleasant planet where she was going to stay, a place of green trees and an aunt and uncle and cousin.

The word “Deneva” would always make Jamie cringe in terror and bring back memories of the Enterprise’s ill-fated visit. It was two weeks of horror and fear and disaster as the crew tried to determine how best to destroy the creatures which had taken over the bodies of every person on Deneva.

Only a desperate desire to know the fate of her relatives compelled Jamie to disobey her father’s “Stay out of sickbay” orders. Uncle Sam had died before the Enterprise even reached Deneva. That was bad. It was worse knowing that Aunt Auralen and Peter were aboard ship, and they were very sick. Her father had told her nothing more. 

He didn’t have to. Jamie knew what he was thinking, and why he looked at her with a mixture of fear and relief in his eyes. She could be lying in sickbay too, right alongside her cousin. If Admiral Komack had sent her straight to Deneva, whatever creature was inside of Peter and Aunt Auralen would be inside of her too. She shivered every time she thought about it.  

Worst of all, the creature had somehow gotten hold of Mr. Spock. Would everybody Jamie knew or loved be taken over? Would the creature get Daddy? When she tried to ask him, he brushed her off with orders to stay out of the way. He had no time to soothe the fears of an eight-year-old. He was trying to save the lives of millions of people.

Jamie obeyed her father and stayed out of the way as long as she dared. Her planned visit aboard the Enterprise had fizzled away because of the Denevans’ desperate plight, and she was afraid, lonely, and unsure of the future. Unless her aunt and uncle got well, there would be no chance of staying on Deneva when this was over.

Then what? Jamie had no other relatives, and she had heard bits of talk here and there with the dreaded word “boarding school” interlaced.

Not boarding school, she thought in horror. Desperate to know how bad-off Aunt Auralen and Peter were led Jamie disregarded the captain’s order and slipped into sickbay to see for herself. They had to get well!

The main office was brightly lit, as usual. No one there, so Jamie slipped closer to one of the examining alcoves. Peeking around the corner, she gazed into a dimly lit room. The diagnostic beds were empty. She was about to turn away when she heard the sound of someone coming out from a back room. Quickly, Jamie ducked all the way into the examination room and flattened herself against a wall in case that someone should enter.

 Jamie’s heart slammed against her chest. What will Daddy do to me if he catches me here? But it was too late to sneak out now. She could hear Dr. McCoy dictating into his medical log. He sat at his desk right in the middle of his office, between Jamie and the doorway to freedom. I’ll have to stay here until he leaves.

A small, pitiful noise caused Jamie to jerk her head around toward one of the beds. Apparently, one of the beds was not empty. Cautiously, Jamie approached the far bed. She stopped at the foot and stood on tiptoe, trying to see the face of the occupant. But it was too dark.

Step by cautious step, Jamie made her way around the bed and closer to the person lying there. Another noise from the patient made Jamie jump away and look up as the medical scanner went a little crazy. The arrows all hung near the top of the readout. She wondered what that meant. Looking at the patient, it probably didn’t mean anything good.

The patient tossed his head, and Jamie got a good look at his face. It was Peter, and he looked in agony. His red hair was soaked with sweat, and his face glistened with it. Occasionally, even in his unconscious state, he burst forth with moans, which tore at Jamie’s heart.

“Peter,” Jamie whispered. “Are you okay?” No response. “Peter, where’s your mom?”

The boy moaned. His eyes opened a crack. “Mom? Dad?”

“No, it’s me, Jamie. I don’t know where your mom and dad are. What’s the matter with you?”

“They came. They took over. They—” He broke off as another spasm of pain overtook him. “They won’t let us go.” His voice began to rise, causing the scanner to flip-flop. A shrill beeping noise emanated from the machine.

Jamie ducked under the diagnostic bed in confusion and terror. It wouldn’t do to have the doctor catch her disturbing his patient.

Dr. McCoy wasted no time getting to Peter’s bed. “Nurse,” he called into the intercom, “the boy is regaining consciousness. I need another sedative.”

“Yes, Doctor,” came the reply. Another set of footsteps entered the room. Jamie cringed when she heard her father’s voice.

“Bones,” Kirk asked. His voice sounded desperate. “How is he? You have to help him hang on long enough for us to find the solution.”

“I’m trying, Jim,” McCoy replied. “But even unconscious, your nephew is experiencing a tremendous amount of pain. I’ve called for a sedative.”

The nurse arrived and administered the drug, and Peter fell back into a restless sleep. The indicator arrows stabilized, and Kirk let out a sigh.

“Bones, I’ve already lost my brother and my sister-in-law. I don’t want to lose my nephew too.” He started to pace. “What am I going to tell Jamie? This is going to be devastating coming on the heels of her grandmother’s death.”

“I’ve got the creature under observation,” McCoy said. “Nothing seems to kill it that doesn’t kill the host. I don’t have any answers for you right now, Jim. The entire science and medical staff are working on the problem. As for Jamie? I don’t know what you should tell her, and I’m sorry. It’s probably best to keep her away from this for now. You can explain when it’s all over. And as for your concern about her uncertain future . . .”

Jamie’s ears pricked up.

“I have absolutely no idea what you’re going to do. One problem at a time please, Captain.”

They left the room together, leaving Jamie with some very disturbing things to consider. She crawled out from under the diagnostic bed and stood beside her cousin. Her tears flowed freely. Everybody she loved was dying! Even Mr. Spock. She looked around, expecting the Vulcan first officer to be lying in bed somewhere, but the room was as empty as before.

“Please don’t die, Peter!” She buried her head on Peter’s bed and tried to muffle her sobs, but she couldn’t stop crying. Then, strong arms pulled her away and lifted her up.

“There, there,” Dr. McCoy said. “Everything’s going to be all right.”

This was the biggest lie Jamie had ever heard. Why did grownups always say things were going to be all right when they were so wrong?

She threw her arms around the doctor’s neck. He led her into the main office and sat down. At least he didn’t scold Jamie for sneaking into his sickbay. Instead, he didn’t say anything more. He just let her cry.

******

 Jamie thought the crisis on Deneva would never end, but it finally did. She was never sure how they killed those awful creatures. It had something to do with the sun . . . or light . . . or something called UV radiation. Whatever it was, the Denevans were finally free of their parasitical invaders.

Even Peter.

Jamie didn’t get to see much of Peter. A quick “Hi, how are you?” and then he was whisked away to a hospital on Deneva. His mother’s relatives lived there and insisted their nephew return home for his recovery. He’d lost his mother and father and awakened to a world turned upside down, just like Jamie.  

She watched with uncertainty as the transporter shimmered and Peter dissolved into a gazillion twinkling dots. What now? Where would that awful transporter beam take her? Not to Deneva. That much she knew. As soon as Peter had beamed down, the captain punched the intercom and ordered the ship to break orbit.

Break orbit to where? Jamie wondered. Finally, she mustered up the courage to ask. “Daddy?” She left the transporter room holding his hand.

“Hmm?” He seemed distracted.

“Where are we going?”

Kirk stopped and looked at her. “I was going to drop you off at the rec hall before I head to the bridge.”

Jamie shook her head. “No, Daddy. I meant, where is the Enterprise going?” Her heart fluttered, waiting for the answer. Was boarding school on his tongue? If not? What would happen to her?

“We still have that mapping assignment in the beta quadrant. It was put on hold during the Deneva crisis, but that’s where we’re heading.”

Jamie took a deep breath. “What about . . . me?”

“Mapping binary stars is probably not very interesting for a little cadet. Perhaps you can amuse yourself by learning your way around the ship so I don’t have to keep”—he lifted her hand—“holding your hand so you don’t get lost. It’s a big ship, you know.”

Jamie gasped. “You mean I can stay here on the ship?”

Kirk looked at Jamie long and hard. Then he nodded. “Looks like it,” he said. “At least for now. Admiral Komack is giving me extra time to make arrangements, considering what happened on Deneva.”

“How much extra time?”

Kirk leaned over and whispered in her ear. “I’m not sure. He didn’t say.” Then he stood and winked. “And I’m not going to ask.” He reached out and gave Jamie a gentle swat on her backside. “Now, scoot. I have a ship to run.”

He smiled. “And you have a ship to explore.”   

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