"Really? You and McCoy are family?" Nyota and I were in the kitchen; I was showing her how to make chocolate cream pie from scratch.

"Yeah. It's strange, isn't it."

"I guess it depends on how you choose to look at it. He's your friend and you like him. You think it's weird?"

"I don't really know what to think." I admitted while popping the pie in the freezer. "I thought I'd be happy but the truth is I'm kinda numb." Nyota thought about it for a moment.

"Maybe you need closure," she suggested slowly.

"What do you mean?" Nyota picked at her fingernails.

"I don't want to hurt you but it seems to me, that maybe you haven't really excepted your family's no longer alive." I stared at the floor letting the truth of her words sink in even though I didn't want to. I'd had ample opportunity to look up information on my sisters and father like I had Miles. But every time I tried I just ended up sitting there with cursor blinking in the search bar. "You don't have to do it alone. You have me, McCoy, Spock, Jim; we can be there for you."

"Thanks Nyota." I gave her a hug.

🖖

A few hours later I carried the chocolate cream pie to sick bay. Leonard and I were going to talk about the revelation we'd gotten a couple days ago. Nyota's words that I wouldn't have to face this alone kept resounding in my head, giving me a little courage. When I got to sickbay he wasn't alone. He and Spock were talking in hushed tones. 

"Jasmine, hi. We're just going over some things." Leonard sputtered out.

"Spock are you joining us?"

"No, I needed to check in with the Doctor on a case we are working on."

"You're helping Leonard with medical stuff," I asked confused. Spock's jaw ticked a fraction and he made his goodbyes.

"It's probably for the best. Chocolate has a curious effect on Vulcans." Leonard said while pulling out a chair for me. "This looks good."

"Yeah it was my dad's recipe. He always made it for my birthday."

"I wonder if it's the same one my mom used." He took a bite. "Seems like it; ah that's delicious. Reminds me of home." We launched into a conversation about his family. He'd looked into the records and saw that he was descended on his mom's side from my sister Alice. Ruby's bloodline had almost died out; an old woman named Claire Avery was now the only living descendant of her line. Leonard wondered when we got back to earth if we could pay her a visit.

"That might be nice. But from what it says here she's a bit of a recluse."

"All she can do is say no," he shrugged.

"You're right." We probably would have kept talking but an overhead page summoned me and Leonard to Jim's ready room. A little confused we headed that way. Inside we were met with Jim, Spock, Nyota, Scotty, Chekov, Sulu, and Captain Stark with some crew from his ship.

"Right, everyone sit down." Jim and Spock stood in front of a monitor. "Mr. Spock believes he has discovered the answer as to why our people are missing."

Jim sat down and Spock took center stage. "My team and I have concluded that beings from another dimension are to blame for the missing and destruction of the base." He went on to tell us how they'd figured it out, and that at this time, there was nothing we could do to retrieve the lost crewmembers.

"Will they return our people?" Captain Stark asked.

"I do not know. However I believe they are not done with us." Spock brought up profiles of three ensigns from our ship, one ensign and a commander of the Montana. "In the days since we have returned from camp these five have been reported missing. Two of them returned from our camp after the earthquake, and the other three were never on the ground. All failed to report to duty shifts yesterday. Our investigation failed to locate their bodies, and by testimony given from their co-workers, none exhibited any unusual behavior before they disappeared. It stands to reason they have also been taken."

"Can we protect ourselves?" Nyota rocked her chair side to side slowly.

"No. We believe that these beings came to this dimension intentionally rather than by accident. Any beings capable of interdimensional travel are far more advanced than we." Heavy silence filled the room as we took that in. Spock continued, "From information given by the Rothlumites, it would appear this is not the first time they have been to Rothlum. And if that is truly the case they could be conducting a study of some kind."

"How do you know that?" All eyes turned toward me. My friends immediately looked back to Spock for an answer; most of the other crew looked at me with expressions that clearly asked what I was doing here.

"The Rothlumites have told us a bit of their mythology; occurrences like this have repeatedly plagued these people. The ancient cultures believed it to be a judgement from their religious deities."

"Why didn't they say something?" an angry man from the Montana demanded.

"Because they have become a modern culture. It is very common for religious practice to fall away as a society advances toward a more math and science driven reality. They did not believe it was relevant because it has become a tale for their children. The cultures represented in this room have also gone through that process of letting go fantastical ancient beliefs."

"What do you recommend?" Jim butted in before Stark or anyone else could speak.

"Chief Engineer R'ulan of the Montana is the only one of us to have seen these beings. He described them as humanoid, tall in stature, and a beige color with wrinkled skin. Be on the look out for such a person and if you do encounter one, you may either attempt to speak with it or run away. In either case if you escape, report it immediately."

"Phasers?" someone asked.

"As I have stated, due to their advanced technology any weapons we possess would likely be ineffective."

"In the mean time do we have plan?" Captain Stark looked more troubled than anyone else. "Have any of the Rothlumite people gone missing?"

"Yes, some have but the number is significantly smaller than ours. Perhaps because we are the first outsiders to visit during a collection and they are now more curious about us. It may be that they had no clue life existed elsewhere in this dimension before we came. However I have no way of confirming that at this time. The representative of the Rothlumites tell us that a site 3500 kilometers to the west, thought to be a temple to the old faith, is the best preserved ruin where an incident like this was said to occur. It is privately owned but we secured permission to excavate there. We would be the first to do so." As he spoke Spock touched his data pad and an image of the temple in question filled the monitor.

"Great let's get down there!" The Montana crewmen jumped up and looked ready to grab a shovel right then and there. A collective of assent followed. When the voices had quieted down Spock spoke again.

"Miss Jasmine Sharpe should lead the expedition."

"She's not Starfleet."

"We have people for that."

"Out of the question." The protests came quickly from the Montana crew and once started they didn't seem to want to be silenced. My friends defended me but couldn't answer the question of why I should be the one leading this endeavor on a alien planet.

"Mr. Spock," Jim's voice rose above the noise and everyone shut their mouths to hear what he would say, "why do you believe Miss Sharpe should do this?"

"As you all know Miss Sharpe was transported here from the twenty-first century. While she was there she was a student of history and participated in several archeological digs. She is the most qualified to do it."

"Mr. Spock," Captain Stark replied, "with all due respect to Miss Sharpe's experience, she is not qualified for a dig on an alien planet. She is not a member of Starfleet and therefore cannot represent us; plus she doesn't speak the language, has no training in dealing with new species, and isn't versed in this culture."

"I disagree," Spock countered. "There is hardly anyone in Starfleet who has had the opportunity to conduct such practical studies. Most planets by the time they join Starfleet, have developed quantum drive, and left such studies behind centuries ago because everything to be dug has been dug. When she disappeared Earth was at the height of such studies; and she is well versed in their operations. If she agrees we would send translators, and the Rothlumites have also offered us their aid."

"Any historian from our time can read a book on it and accomplish the same."

"Once again I disagree with you, Captain Stark. While book learning is essential I find field experience the best teacher." The two men stared each other down.

"Captain Kirk," Stark addressed Jim, "what do you say to this?"

"I've reviewed Miss Sharpe's record and I agree with Mr. Spock." Stark turned an unhealthy shade of red.

"Very well. But I suggest we send for a highly experienced historian team from our own time."

"Seeing as our crew is disappearing I don't think that's wise." Jim told him. Stark said he was going to do it anyway.

"Miss Sharpe," Spock asked, "do you feel you are capable of this venture?"

"Absolutely."

"Speaking of crew disappearing," Stark's frosty tone could have chilled steaming hot chocolate, "when will you be returning my officer?"

"R'ulan is not well enough for us to know that with certainty." Spock said with a guarded manner though I didn't think anyone but me and Jim noticed how stiff he became at the mention of R'ulan.

"Can your doctor tell me what exactly is wrong with him?"

"It's a condition unique to Vulcans and until it passes he will not be able to return to his post." Leonard said smoothly. Stark didn't look pleased.

"It's decided then. Captain Stark, can I invite you to my quarters for a drink," Stark declined Jim's offer. The meeting adjourned and we all went our separate ways. Later that night Spock came to my room with a list of all the crew I'd be taking with me to the temple site. I cringed seeing Janice was on it. Since the Hamilton discussion our meetings had only gotten more and more unfriendly. Spock stayed with me while I reviewed the list.

"Seems like a good team," I told him. It was a mixture of both crews along with several Rothlumites. Spock, Nyota, and Sulu were joining me and I was relieved to have friends going. I was a little nervous. While it was true that I'd led several small expeditions under the guidance of Cesar, I'd never been in charge of a full scale dig on my own. I knew I could do it, but the added pressure of our circumstances, and what failure would mean here twisted in my gut.

"It will test you but I believe you will do well."

"Thanks. I could use that confidence right now."

"You are worried about Janice being assigned to the team."

"Only that our past experience together may make her think she doesn't have to obey my direction, but I'd prefer not to speak badly about her since we're going to be working together. It'll be easier that way."

"A very mature and true statement. However voicing your concerns to a trusted colleague is not the same as, how do you humans say it, 'smack talk'." His attempt to lighten my mood worked and I gave him a smile. Another thought about our earlier meeting danced through my head.

"Spock, what Stark said, is R'ulan really sick? He seemed fine when I last saw him. Scary but not sick." Spock got up from his seat to stare out the window.

"R'ulan is indeed ill. It is a sickness that does not manifest as the ones you are familiar with."

"Okay, but what is it?"

"You are my friend, Jasmine. But due to our natures Vulcans have a hard time speaking of it to those not already aware of its effects. It is not something we choose to disclose easily and often only speak of it to others if forced."

It stung a little that he wouldn't tell me but I had to respect that he had boundaries. After all I hadn't told him everything about me either.

"I won't press you anymore." Spock said something in Vulcan I didn't understand. While I'd made a study of the culture, their language was a whole different beast. It was a severe and harsh sounding speech most of the time; in fact it was hard for humans to form the sounds required to speak it in any case.

"What did you say?" I asked him.

"I simply said 'thank you, my friend,'; coming days will be hard. You must have endurance of the mind, and keeping you up late will not accomplish that. I will say good night Jasmine."

"Goodnight Spock."

After my shower I spent some time looking down at the planet out my window. It seemed so peaceful from here, the greens, blues, and purples all blended nicely to make a beautiful picture. A tiny stab of fear about my suddenly ability increase tried to smother the confidence I had in myself. But all it took was the reminder of Spock's words, and the fact that I had faced bad odds before and come out on top. A smile rose to my face as I thought about the adventure that awaited in spite of the dangers. I was ready and I would find a way to succeed so my friends would be safe.

END OF BOOK ONE