ENTERPRISE finds StarTrek
by
MARKETA J.A.J.M.ZVELEBIL

(Copyright M.J.A.J.M. Zvelebil)

1.Contact Established.

Sheltering snugly among the overgrown rocks, I listened to 
the wind blowing through the Garrigue bushes - playing a 
symphony of its own, unaware of what was going on.
I forced myself to abandon the luxury of listening to the 
calming effect of the wind and instead to listen for sounds 
of danger. "Keep guard" I commanded myself - at least till 
David gets here. But my mind wandered off again. What had 
the world come to and in such a short time? For a while all 
seemed to be going in the right direction of mutual co-
operation, at least between some European nations - a 
creation of an European federation. My dream of extending 
this to a world federation then to interplanetary travel 
and travelling to stars. Oh how foolish could  I have been 
to think that humans could co-operate, could put aside 
petty intolerances of each other to achieve greater goals.

It all started with such a small thing - a disagreement 
between the fishing men of Spain and France which led to 
outright war between the two countries within the European 
federation. That broke down the federation - allowing 
dictators to raise their ugly heads again and causing war 
and the world to fall into disarray. Causing persecutions, 
murder, torture and so on. Everything was considered 
suspicious and to be eliminated.  A couple of my friends 
and I fell into this category many times over. The one 
overwhelming reason for our persecution by the authorities 
in power was the belief that we had managed to contact 
alien life from a different planet or solar system or 
someone capable of space flight. 

One night in my lab we were fooling around on the computer 
- seeking solace in a world of make-believe - when the 
computer blinked and a message appeared, in English, asking 
us what was going on on Earth? That the situation demanded 
change as Earth's history was not going according to its 
past. That was all, but repeated day after day. In our 
confusion and unaware of the extent of the corruption in 
our own government - that of England - we approached a 
member of the so called parliament with the messages, 
fearing at worst that we would be disbelieved, laughed at. 
But instead we were interrogated and tortured for days on 
end then thrown in jail. 

Due to a friend we managed to escape prison and run away 
from England to France to the south, to the mountains. And 
here we were - moving from one hiding place to another, 
watching as our world destroyed itself and, if the alien 
message was true, the future as well.  Helpless to act. Or 
was there something we could do? Recently, I discovered 
that falling asleep - if I concentrated hard enough - I 
seemed to be in near communication contact with that 
'alien' presence - except that it seemed like I was talking 
to someone familiar. What was going on? 

Sudden footsteps brought me back from my musings - I 
crouched, prepared to kill if necessary. But it was only 
David returning from trying to find some food. He looked 
ill. His wounds from the torture were infected and refusing 
to heal. I knew that he was in a lot of pain, but he denied 
it each time I asked - then what could I do anyway, we had 
no medicines, no bandages, nothing. I myself was only semi-
mobile with a broken leg, crudely held together by two 
wooden splints.

Without a word David gave me some bread and held out a 
half-full bottle of wine. We ate the bread and drank the 
wine in silence, occasionally glancing at each other not 
knowing what to say. I haven't told David about my semi-
conscious 'communications' with the 'alien' presence. I 
didn't dare - he did not want to talk about anything that 
had to do with our predicament. 
"You go to sleep first" he said "I'll take the first 
watch."
I nodded, impatient to try and make contact again with the 
alien mind. I tried to concentrate, first emptying my mind 
of all other thoughts, then trying to call to that other 
consciousness. However, I felt my self drifting off to 
deeper sleep. Trying unsuccessfully to fight it, I 
succumbed to the much needed relaxing sleep and dreams.

I dreamt of Captain Kirk, Commander Spock, Dr. McCoy and 
the Starship Enterprise. It was like I was there, trying to 
ask them for help and advice. The dream was so real when 
suddenly I woke up with a start. It was dark and cold. The 
wind had increased in force, playing a crescendo to its 
symphony. I shook myself fully awake, reprimanding myself 
for having such silly dreams, about StarTrek of all things! 
I needed to get into contact with the real 'alien' life - 
if it existed at all, and not dream about some old 
fashioned t.v. series created by a long dead earth-man.

I looked around, worried by the lack of any sound from 
David. In the dimness of the half-hidden moon I saw his 
body, lying a couple of meters away from me. Abruptly, an 
unexplainable fear gripped me, its tentacles penetrating 
every nerve, muscle and cell of my body. I moved slowly 
over to David, dragging my broken leg painfully behind me. 
"David?" I whispered urgently. There was no response. I 
searched for the pulse on his neck - his body felt cold and 
clamy to my touch. To my utter horror I could find no pulse 
at all. I tried to find a pulse over and over again - I 
shook him, yelled at him. Yet, all the time knowing that he 
was dead. At last, exhausted and in desperation, I closed 
my eyes, and softly said the Kadish prayer for my friend. 
Tears threatened to flow down my face, when I heard a 
strange whining noise. My eyes flew open to see four 
glittering forms materialising in our hide-out. 

"Oh my God!" I thought "I have gone mad, at last!" as the 
forms solidified into, at least, three recognisable 
figures. A captain Kirk, although thinner, and with a more 
chiselled face than that one portrayed by the actor William 
Shatner. Spock (if these were really their names) who 
looked remarkably like the being from the series, although 
somewhat greener, and Dr. McCoy, an exact replica of his 
StarTrek counterpart. The fourth member I didn't recognise, 
(but he wore a red shirt!). 
"Dr. Aviva Avichaim?" asked the man in the golden shirt. I 
managed to nod. "I am captain -" he continued when I butted 
in with "Kirk!".
He looked somewhat surprised. "Yes, how did you know?"
"Well how do you know who I am?" I counteracted.
A smile played on his lips. "That's a fair question, but 
then you have been trying to communicate with us, in a sort 
of telepathic way, since we send the message to your 
primitive electronic system."
"You!" I managed, confused. "But you don't exist!" I 
stammered. 
"Since we are here and you are talking to us, logically, we 
must exist." a new calm and quiet voice said.
I turned towards the voice, "Commander Spock I presume."
He inclined his head in acknowledgement.
"In that case: Live long and prosper", I added.
 One eyebrow shot up while he responded, "Long life and 
prosperity to you, but neither will be possible if we do 
not discover what has happened to Earth's evolution."
"Jim - "  a man who I presumed was Dr. McCoy said. "This is 
all very intriguing, her knowledge of us and so on, but she 
is wounded, in need of warmth and medical attention, 
without which she will not survive to tell us anything!  I 
would advise we get back and you allow me to put her back 
together again, before we continue."
"What about the young man?" asked Kirk.
"He is dead, Jim." said McCoy flatly.
"Very well." Captain Kirk looked at me and continued; "You 
seem to know who we are, yet are reluctant to accept our 
existence - it is all very intriguing, but the good doctor 
is right. You need medical help, will you trust us for now 
and come with us?"
I shrugged my shoulders and answered; "If you are who you 
appear to be, however unbelievable it is, then I trust you 
implicitly. In any event, I seem to have little choice in 
the matter."
"Correct", said Spock as he made his way towards me along 
with McCoy. "Can you stand with support?" he asked. I 
nodded. Both helped me up and standing on one leg, looking 
for the last time, at the face of my beloved friend and 
husband, David, I heard the words that I have so often 
wished for but never thought to hear; "Mr. Scott, five to 
beam up, please."

2 The Enterprise.

The transporting, thankfully, took only a short time, but 
in that time, I felt disorientated, dizzy and sick all at 
once. The bright light of the 'transporter' room hit me. 
The walls were white, with panels of flashing lights and 
screens all around a central computer module, behind which 
stood a man I vaguely recognised as Mr. Scott. He looked 
quite different from the Scotty of StarTrek series, 
although still recognisable. Two other crew members were 
present, dressed in blue and holding what looked like a 
medical trolley without wheels. I noticed, that indeed the 
uniform-colouring was as portrayed in the old StarTrek, but 
with some major differences. The trousers were full length, 
and the woman, who was one of the two crew members wore 
trousers as well. The tops were close fitting and longer, 
fastened by a black elasticised belt. 

I was helped towards the  trolley, which was lowered, to 
enable me to get on it with minimal discomfort. 
"Sickbay", ordered McCoy and I felt myself floating through 
the air out of the door and through the corridors, all 
apple-white, shimmering with a strange glow. The doctor 
accompanied me at one side, while I noticed that both Kirk 
and Spock had gone the other way. 
"Doctor?" I asked.
"Yes?" he said, smiling at me,  "what can I do for you?"
"Is this ship, sorry, Starship called the Enterprise?"
He looked with some wonder at me and nodded. 
"And you are doctor Leonard McCoy, alias 'Bones'?" I 
continued.
"Yes - but how do you know all this?" he asked.
"I must be dreaming!" I answered.
"I assure you, you are not. We have noticed distortions in 
our own time-frame and have subsequently found out that 
these fluctuations are caused by the disruption of Earth 
history, as it should have gone, so we came back in time to 
investigate." he tryed to explain. " But, Spock can tell 
you more."

We had arrived to Sickbay. It was a technological dream  
world. I was transferred onto what I assumed was a 
diagnostic/treatment table, by the two crew people.
"Now don't worry, medicine has advanced a lot since your 
century, most of what I do you won't feel at all" McCoy 
said, with his hand on my shoulder. 
"Fine." was my answer trying to cope with all the emotions 
of wonderment and disbelief. 
Doctor McCoy worked fast. I felt the pain in my leg being 
replaced by slight itching and relaxing of the surrounding 
muscles. Working silently the doctor then had me stripped 
of my dirty and torn clothing. 
"Oh my god!" he exclaimed softly as he looked at and 
analysed the wounds caused by the torture.
"How did that happen?" he asked grimly.
"It's a long story." I said tiredly, "Basically  I, David 
and others were tortured because we told our so called 
government about those messages you sent."
McCoy muttered something under his breath as I felt a cool 
liquid entering my upper-arm.
"What's that ..?" I managed before I felt my eyes close and 
soft unconsciousness envelop me.

"She is coming to." 
Slowly I opened my eyes - afraid that I would wake up 
anywhere but on the Enterprise. I needn't  have worried.
I was lying on a very comfortable bed, covered by a single 
sheet made of a material that I did not recognise. Captain 
Kirk, Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy were standing near the foot 
of the bed. Kirk smiled at me when he noticed that I was 
awake. "Feel up to chatting?" he asked.
"Yes" I whispered through a parched throat and tried to sit 
up.
"Calmly does it!" McCoy ordered as he helped me to sit 
supported by pillows and gave me a glass of greenish 
liquid. When I just held the glass and stared at the 
contents he pushed my hand gently towards my mouth and said 
"Drink, it may look vile, but it is good for you, and it 
doesn't taste too bad, considering it's Vulcan in origin." 
Had he but known that at the magic word 'Vulcan' I would 
nearly have done anything, being always an admirer of the 
'Vulcan way', I drank. The  liquid soothed my throat and 
tasted bitter-sweet quenching my thirst and hunger at the 
same time.
"I think I am quite up to talking now." I said.
"Good" said Kirk as he pulled up a seat next to my bed, and 
sat down. Looking at me he continued, "There are many 
things that we want to ask you, and it's difficult to know 
where to begin." He paused, glanced towards Spock, and went 
on.
"I suppose, the most important question is, how did this 
madness that seems to have gripped Earth started? Can you 
answer that?"
I grinned mentally, at the thought of the reaction my 
answer would bring but nevertheless said; 
"Tuna."
"Pardon?" Kirk asked astounded.
"Tuna, as in fish." I elaborated.
"Dr. Avichaim, this is a very serious matter - if Earth 
continues as it is it will destroy The Future." he said 
sternly.
"Captain Kirk, I am aware of that, although I fail to see 
why you think I should care that the Future should be 
changed." When, at that, he started to say something I held 
up my hand and continued, " I do care, and I am not being 
funny. The war that is tearing apart whatever civilisation 
we had was started, in effect, by a disagreement between 
French and Spanish fishermen, which led to a full scale war 
between France and Spain. This in turn lead to all the 
other petty economic differences escalating to war and 
total disruption."
"Now I have seen it all!" muttered McCoy.
"And that's it?" asked Kirk in amazement.
"Captain, it does correspond to further research that I 
have carried out since we met Dr. Avichaim." Spock said.
"And do you also know how we can reverse it?" asked Kirk 
somewhat hopefully.
"Negative. It cannot be reversed, but to any one particular 
Future, there is more than one path. We must make certain 
that from this time onwards, Earth follows a path, that 
although different from previous history will lead to the 
same end-result that we know." Spock stated calmly.
"But ", McCoy demanded, "if that path is not the same, will 
all beings be unaffected, or will some cease to exist, and 
some not have ever existed before?"
Spock considered this for a moment before replying.
"If we manage to find the path that will also lead to the 
exact Future/Present that we have now, then all that exists 
now will exist. The important events, like the creation of 
the warp drive, will have happened. However, small 
individual changes in our past will also be possible, 
although the further we go from Dr. Avichaim's Present and 
nearer to our Present, the changes will level out and 
become insignificant." Spock paused and continued
"Time has a way of dealing with the fluctuations in the 
temporal continuum. Since we do exist,  even though the 
Past, as we knew or know it, is changing, the effects are 
levelling out."
"Does all that mean that we can just leave things as they 
are?" Kirk asked.
"No, Captain, unfortunately it does not. We have to make 
sure that the history will follow a definite way, a way 
that will not change our Future, that it has not done so 
yet, is promising." he stated.
"So how do we do that?" asked McCoy.
"I am at present running  simulations through the computer, 
that will determine the most possible way history/future 
can evolve from the present occurrence. There are 
approximately 145*1069 major possibilities. Hopefully one 
of these will lead to our exact or near exact present." 
Spock finished.
"Hopefully?" Kirk queried and looked at Spock.
"Affirmative, Captain." Spock replied calmly. Then  looking 
at Kirk with some amusement in his eyes quoted quietly; "If 
it be now,'tis not to come/if it be not to come, it will be 
now/if it be not now, yet it will come/."
"Hamlet?" Guessed Kirk "Your favourite."
"Favourite? Captain." said Spock dead-pan, eyebrow 
elevated.
After listening to this exchange, I gathered my nerve and 
asked;
"If you can travel in time, that is back in time, why can't 
you go back to before the madness started and stop the war 
somehow and put history to what is was supposed to be?", 
thinking then that David would still be alive.
Spock regarded me for a while and then said;
"It is not as simple as that. The whole question of 
disrupting the past is very sensitive. As this, call it 
Second Past, has already happened but has not obliterated 
the future, it is safer to go along with it and guide it 
rather than change it. If we went back, and assuming that 
all this 'madness' is truly due to the disagreement between 
fishermen, we might not be able to change the past at 
exactly the moment it changed to what you know as the 
Present. We may do more damage than has already been done." 
He stopped,  raised an eyebrow and with a hardly 
perceptible sigh continued;
"However, we still may be forced to attempt that solution."
Somewhat confused about the whole concept of relativity of 
time, I sank back into the soft pillows, feeling suddenly 
very tired.
"Are you okay?" asked Captain Kirk, looking at me and 
motioning to Dr. McCoy.
"Just confused." I said, McCoy chuckled and came towards me 
with what I recognised as a hypodermic device. I quickly 
added "I don't want any sedative or anything, thankyou!"
"What you want or don't want, is not at the moment, up to 
you, but up to me as your doctor." he said gruffly, but 
desisted from injecting me.
I turned to Kirk and asked a question that was now 
uppermost in my mind; "What will you do with me, if you 
manage to set history on the correct path?"
There was, what seemed to me an uncomfortable silence for a 
while, then Kirk spoke.
"That depends. Before I answer you, I want to know how you 
knew who we were, and how you seem to accept our technology 
without much difficulty. Technology that should be so 
utterly foreign to you."
"Well...first of all, I am having some difficulties 
accepting, not your technology, but rather the existence of 
your selves." I said and stopped wondering how to continue.
"How is it that you know about Vulcan" Spock asked at last.
"Ah, Vulcan," I said and closed my eyes, "Tell me " I 
continued "Is it really a very hot planet with higher 
gravity and lower air-oxygen content. Does the Vulcan mind 
meld really exist, are there..." My questions would have 
kept rolling out at warpspeed in my desperation for real 
knowledge about that planet, if Kirk had not interrupted 
me.
"Please Dr. Avichaim, one of us has to have answers first! 
I will allow Spock to answer those questions, later, if you 
tell us how you seem to know about our existence." he 
compromised, when he saw my face fall.
"Very well, " I sighed (after all he was the Captain!) " 
But first I have to know, for that may explain all, if you 
know someone by the name of Gene Roddenberry?"
"I can't recall anyone by that name...wait a minute" Kirk 
mused.
"Captain, if I may" Spock asked and continued when Kirk 
inclined his head,
"There was an ensign by that name serving on the 
Enterprise, when we were first accidentally thrown back in 
time. If you remember, Captain, he beamed himself down to 
Earth, soon after we managed to beam back Captain 
Christopher. We could not abort our sling-shot effect to 
retrieve him."
"Yes, now I remember. How does he fit  in?" asked a grimmer 
Kirk.
"He created a popular television series called StarTrek. It 
is,in effect, all about you." I grinned  "Maybe now you can 
understand how difficult it was/is for me to believe in 
your existence. It is like your favourite book-characters 
suddenly coming alive." 
"A what series?!?" McCoy asked incredulously
"Television....you know.....moving pictures....popular 
programmes...once a week sort of thing." I tried to 
explain.
"Popular fictional characters, well I never.."Kirk added
"Someone actually portrayed us?" McCoy asked
"Yes, and incredibly well, actually" I said enjoying their 
amazement, and  noticing with satisfaction that, as in the 
series, Spock only had one eyebrow raised .
"Fascinating." he murmured to himself.
"And it was popular?" Kirk asked
"Very, and still is. There is a new generation StarTrek 
now, with a Captain Picard commanding the Enterprise. Many 
books have been written too, and that brings me to a 
interesting question. How come you do not have any of those 
books on archive?"
"Indeed, Captain, this change of history may have been put 
into action by ensign Roddenberry. I must go and check our 
Present book archive." Spock said thoughtfully and started 
to leave, when he turned round and added;
"Captain, I also think that Dr. Avichaim, would make a 
valuable addition." and with that somewhat cryptic 
pronouncement he left.
I turned to Captain Kirk for some clarification and found 
that he was regarding me thoughtfully. Suddenly I felt 
totally drained. I didn't really want to know what would 
happen to me yet.  I need not have worried for it seemed 
that the answer to that question was not forthcoming 
anyway, as Kirk glanced at McCoy communicating something to 
him.  I followed Kirk's look and saw that again McCoy had 
the hypo out and a determined glint in his eye. I knew then 
that no amount of protest would keep me from my fate,  and 
anyhow I was very tired. The hypo hissed. As I tried to 
look accusingly at Dr. McCoy, my eyes started to feel heavy 
and a sense of well being enveloped me. Sleep beckoned 
invitingly and I let myself fall unresistingly in to its 
arms.

3 Time on our hands.

After a long and informative chat with Mr. Spock, I got a 
personal tour of much of the ship from Captain Kirk. It was 
with great curiosity that I started the tour in the science 
labs, to the bridge, to the dining halls, recreation decks, 
botany decks and finally ended with awe in the observation 
hall. Here, in a dimly lit space with comfortable chairs 
set out one had an amazing view of Earth, the moon and the 
stars. I felt tears sting my eyes at such beauty, and 
wanted to reach out into the coldness of space, to be one 
with it. Some of that feeling must have conveyed itself to 
the Captain for, as he leaned next to me to look out over 
the carpet of stars, he asked; "Would you want to stay and 
travel in space?"
I caught my breath - not daring to hope and at the same 
time fearing that my ultimate dream would come true and I 
would have to leave all that I knew behind.
"Yes." I finally managed to whisper.
Kirk just nodded and we continued to admire the view for 
some time in silence. I would have loved to stay in that 
room forever, but finally he touched me lightly on the 
shoulder and said that it was time to go for the earlier 
arranged meeting where the present situation would be 
discussed. My hopes that I would be allowed to stay aboard 
the Starship diminished, I nodded and followed the Captain 
to the briefing room. 

The briefing room was much bigger and more comfortable than 
portrayed by the series. Actually the whole ship was more 
like that of the New Generation StarTrek than the original 
one. Dr. McCoy, and Mr. Spock were already there when we 
entered. However, other people soon arrived. I recognised 
Mr. Scott and Mr. Sulu. Three others were introduced to me 
as Mr. Boyd (female) head of security, Mr. Lance an 
historian specialising in the 20th century and Dr. Krijger 
a political-economist. I wondered at the fact that apart 
from Mr. Spock, all were (or at least seemed to be) Earth-
type humans.
Captain Kirk started the meeting by inviting me to tell my 
story again and in more detail - including how I knew about 
the existence of the Enterprise.
Spock then took over;
"First of all" he began " we do indeed now have archives of 
popular 20th century literature dealing with the Enterprise 
and her " Spock paused as if searching for the right words 
" crew. Some of it is quite interesting." 
"Does it actually mention and describe us?" asked McCoy  
including with his hand those seated around the table. 
"You will have ample opportunity to read them, Doctor. They 
do indeed deal mainly  with your good self, Captain Kirk 
and myself. Some of the characters seem to be fictitious, 
and all the stories are of course fictitious."
"Gentlemen, although I too would like nothing more than to 
get to know our fictitious alter-egos better, I think we 
have to get back to the more pressing problem of the 
Present state of Earth." Kirk remonstrated gently.
"Captain, we are not deviating too much from the problem. 
In actual fact, the problem started with ensign Roddenberry 
and his creation of this so called Science Fiction." 
There were a few surprised gasps but Spock continued 
calmly. "Unwittingly, he has, by increasing interest in 
space helped the space program of NASA. Helped it to reach 
a peak of popular support earlier than it would have done 
had he not created StarTrek. This small change of timeframe 
has lead to the flourish of Space research, which then 
diminished apparently due to reasons of economy, but 
primaraly, because it was too early. Therefore, no 
interplanetary knowledge and subsequent contacts were 
forthcoming." Spock paused and looked around the table. 
When no questions were asked, Kirk indicated that he should 
continue. 
" The most prominent change that was brought about, is the 
non-occurrence of the so called 'Eugenics-wars'. "
Again I registered surprise in those sitting around me. I 
remembered that in one of the original episodes it was 
stated that these wars were supposed to have started in 
1992 and now it was 1994 and until the 'Tuna-war' we had 
been living in relative peace. "But it seems, that history 
demanded a War and therefore earth finds itself now in war-
like disarray." Spock finished.
"And how about your simulations Mr. Spock? Have they come 
up with an answer to our problem?" asked Captain Kirk, when 
no one else spoke up.
"Indeed captain, quite simple really." Spock said as he 
steepled his fingers in front of his chin.
"Well....?" demanded McCoy when Spock did not clarify.
Spock, raised and eyebrow, then to my astonishment 
addressed me;
"I am sorry Aviva, " he said. I was startled, firstly that 
he had honoured me by calling me by one name only, as is 
custom on Vulcan, and that he was apologising. For what? I 
looked questioningly at him while he continued. " Sorry, 
that the current war-like state of your Earth must be left 
to continue for another 1.34 years. Many people will die, 
that should have also died in the  Eugenics wars."
"So do we just leave the situation as it is? But what about 
the changes and disruptions we have experienced?" asked 
Kirk.
"I stated previously that the solution was quite simple, 
and it is, Captain. We do have some acts to perform to 
ensure that this war only lasts another 1.34 years and that 
the people who will take over then, will bring Earth to its 
original state as we know it." Spock said.
"Didn't the Eugenics wars go on for much longer than to 
1995?"  Mr. Lance pointed out.
"Correct." Spock nodded and continued "This history is a 
much better way. It is indeed a less violent way than what 
we thought had happened."
"But people still die."McCoy stated glumly.
"So....what do we have to do Spock?" asked Kirk
"We have to ensure that certain individuals" and Spock 
tapped the screen in front of him " are, as you humans 
would say; 'in the right place at the right time', 
including this person - " and Spock pointed to one of the 
names in front of us.  I recognised that name from 
StarTrek; Khan Noonien.Singh, and couldn't help myself and 
started to ask ,"Did Mr. Spo..." and stopped embarrassed 
nearly having asked whether Spock died in the last 
encounter with Singh, but then realised that Roddenberry 
must have written that long after he left the Enterprise. 
"What?" asked Captain Kirk.
"Nothing." I said and shook my head, glancing up I saw 
Spock regarding me with interest. 
"I suppose you have it all worked out how we are going to 
accomplish this?" asked Kirk of Spock.
"Nearly, captain, but I would like to go over the details 
with you before announcing it publicly.
"Very well. All dismissed" Kirk said and stood up then 
looked at me and ordered me to accompany Dr. McCoy. To 
McCoy he said; "If she is released from Sickbay, take her 
to the visitors cabin, and show her how to access our 
library computer. It may answer some of the questions that 
we do not seem to have the time to answer just yet." Then 
he left with Spock.
I looked at McCoy. 
"I still want to keep you down in sickbay. You have lost a 
lot of blood and fluid, and Jim has ordered me to also give 
you a complete physical."
"Yes, doctor" I said glumly, fearing this so often 
mentioned 'complete physical'!
"It's really not that bad. There are library terminals in 
Sickbay, and you can also tell me more about 'us' in the 
fictional series." he said smiling then continued " May I 
call you Aviva? You can call me Leonard, Len or Bones if 
you wish."
"You can call me Avi, as my friends do. If you don't mind I 
like Bones best."
We arrived to the wonderful lift system of the Enterprise. 
It really was computerised;  when McCoy said "Sickbay", it 
flew down from deck 1 to deck 5, then sideways to deposit  
us opposite the main entrance to Sickbay. The door opened 
and closed quietly after us as we entered Sickbay. 
Everything ran smoothly and quietly on this ship.
While McCoy was making sure that his earlier ministrations 
were having the desired results we continued to chat. 
"Have you got many friends and family back on Earth waiting 
for you?" he asked suddenly and I felt it was a question he 
was told to ask.
"No." I answered shortly.
"No one?"
"My family were killed because they were of the wrong 
religion and ethnicity in the wrong country. Most of my 
friends either abandoned us, when we became politically 
undesirable, or were killed. David and I were the last."
Suddenly I couldn't continue. I felt my throat constrict, 
and tears threatening to come when I realised that David 
was truly gone.
As if sensing it McCoy continued
"And this David, who is he?"
"Was" I said, then anger took over "Bones, I don't want to 
talk about it!" I exclaimed.
"Avi" he said gently but firmly "I must know."
"David, was the man you pronounced dead, so casually. He 
was my husband." I blurted out.
"I am sorry. Avi, I don't pronounce anyone dead casually." 
" I know Bones, but..."
"It's okay. Have a rest now, some food for the body and the 
mind and then we'll continue with the physical" he said 
helping me down from the examination table, and leading me 
to a desk with a comfortable chair and a computer screen. 
"Here" he said " I'll show you how to play with this. 
Satisfy your curiosity while I go and get you some food."
After a while I was left alone, with what seemed to me a 
means to answer most of my questions. It was dead easy to 
use, the computer, as most of the time all queries could be 
performed by simply asking a question. The information 
would appear on the touch-sensitive screen. By further 
touching or asking one could get more information including  
detailed diagrams and interactive holograms of subjects 
ranging from foods to planets and their weird (to me) and 
wonderful inhabitants. Technical details of the Enterprise, 
and its non-classified explorations. I lost myself in this 
sea of incredible information.
 
4 Solutions.

I stayed in Sickbay for the next two days, most of that 
time glued to the computer terminal, situated on as I 
learned later, McCoy's desk. Dr. McCoy gave me my full 
physical. Although of long duration, it was relatively easy 
and painless, apart from the taking of blood and bone 
marrow samples that he insisted on obtaining. To my relief 
the good doctor pronounced me healthy and sound of mind, 
although still suffering after effects of recent 
occurrences. 

>From Dr. McCoy I also learned what was happening; Captain 
Kirk had beamed down to earth with a specially equipped 
landing party to try and ensure the smooth running of 
future history, leaving Mr. Spock behind in control of the 
ship. McCoy told me that Spock was not very happy to stay 
behind, but that Kirk explained the 'logic' of the 
situation to him. Spock had to stay and supply more 
information as and when it was needed, and if anything 
happened to Kirk, he would be the most likely  one to 
succeed the second time. I saw Mr. Spock only once, when he 
came down to enquire of McCoy about my health, and stayed 
(for exactly 34.44 minutes) questioning me about all kinds 
of unrelated subjects. When I asked why all the answer I 
got was; "It is necessary."

On the third day McCoy said he had enough of me using his 
computer terminal and that he was throwing me out of 
Sickbay. He showed me to a cabin on deck 5, the same deck 
as Sickbay and the senior officers' cabins, including the 
captains and Spock's. After saying that he expected to see 
me in the main dining room at 19.00 earth-time for dinner 
he left me to explore my new living quarters. It was not a 
very large space, but still divided onto a sleeping room 
and a work-living room. It had a bathroom with a fully 
automatic shower, sink and toilet. There were many great 
technological amenities, like a drinks dispenser (hot and 
cold, but no alcohol!), clothes cleaning-drying and 
reprocessing facilities (useful, as I didn't have that 
much), temperature and lighting controls, softness of bed 
control and most of all a computer terminal like the one in 
Sickbay. 

After programming an Earl Gray tea for myself I again set 
down to learn as much as I could. At 19.10 a chime from the 
terminal made me jump up in surprise, suddenly the screen 
changed from charts explaining some biochemical information 
to the displeased face of Dr. McCoy.
"I leave you one day on your own and you don't eat and 
forget to keep you appointments" He growled at me and 
before I could come up with suitable excuses he continued
"That way I'll have to keep you in Sickbay for ever!"
"I am on my way - " I said starting to rise.
"Better hurry" McCoy said "Jim and Spock are here as well 
and want to speak to you over dinner." 
The screen went blank, and returned to my biochemical 
charts. 
I hurried to the dining room, wondering fearfully what the 
Captain and Spock wanted to talk to me about. Had 
everything gone according to plan, has something unforeseen 
happened, would I be sent back to Earth now? All these 
questions kept me occupied as I made my way (once having to 
ask for directions).

The dining area was quite busy and for the first time I saw 
a number of other species, which made me stop and stare 
until I felt a hand under my elbow guiding me to a table at 
which were seated Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy. The doctor was 
debating energetically and gesticulating at a stack of 
printouts lying in front of them. I turned round and saw 
that it was Captain Kirk guiding me towards them, an amused 
expression on his face. He looked at me and winked while 
putting a finger to his lips indicating I was to remain 
silent.

When we approached the table I realised that they were 
talking about some of the StarTrek fiction. 
"I think, that this description of me is totally 
exaggerated!" exclaimed McCoy "I don't argue all the time."
Spock raised an eyebrow and sighed "Indeed doctor."  Then 
when McCoy was about to say something more he continued. 
"Although, I must agree with you, some descriptions are 
inaccurate, I never would show blatant emotions like those  
described in this story."
"Oh you wouldn't would you..." McCoy began when I heard 
Kirk cut in with; "Gentlemen, it is only fiction after all, 
and we have other things to discuss with Aviva." 
They both looked up as we sat down.
"What will you eat?" asked McCoy
"Salad and trout, please" 
"Don't you ever eat meat?" asked McCoy as he got up to get 
my order.
I didn't answer.
"Well, Aviva." Kirk said looking at me, while I noted his 
use of my first name again, "As far as we can say we have 
succeeded with keeping the future or our-present as it is 
and letting this history take it place."
"99.8794% probability of success" Spock stated calmly.
I just nodded and looked down at the plate in front of me, 
not feeling very hungry, dreading what was to come. The 
Enterprise would now return to its present and I would have 
to go back to a warring world. One thing I knew for sure, I 
would rather die then allow anyone to erase, if they could,  
all the information and memories of my stay on the 
Enterprise.
"So " Kirk continued "What shall we do with you?" he asked. 
Somewhat theoretically, it seemed to me. The butterflies in 
my stomach increased and I stopped my pretence of eating 
anything.
I looked at the three officers regarding me. 
"You are spoiling her appetite, Jim." McCoy said 
accusingly.
"Doctor, we only have approximately 43.6 minutes left, 
before we must start our return journey. Therefore, we must 
discuss with Aviva her own future now." stated Spock 
admonishingly.
"Spock, Bones" warned Kirk, then looked back at me and 
squared his shoulders for the unpleasant news he had to 
deliver;
"I am sorry Aviva, but in reality you have no choice." He  
put his hand on my shoulder (to comfort or restrain me I 
wondered) and continued "We cannot let you go back to Earth 
in this Present, not with your accumulated knowledge of the 
future. On top of that, when Mr. Spock was running his 
simulations through the computer, he found out that you 
have ceased to exist in your present, but, "he quickly 
continued as the colour drained from my face when I thought 
I faced my imminent demise "somewhat surprisingly, and I do 
not know exactly in what context yet, you appear as 
Lieutenant Aviva Avichaim on the Enterprise with some 
essential input later on." Kirk stopped and regarded me 
with a worried look. I could not believe my ears and faced 
the captain with open amazement.
"I am to stay, here, on the Enterprise?" I managed to gasp 
out.
"Yes. Definitely. As long as I am the Captain, anyway." 
Kirk answered, seemingly less worried.
I wanted to shout with happines. In the last few days I 
realised that I really wanted to stay, that I had nothing 
to go back to. 
"I am most happy."  I managed at last, in my best Vulcan 
imitation.
"Well that is great! I told you she would like to stay, 
Jim." said McCoy with a triumphant grin.
"Yes, you did, Bones." conceded Kirk  "but I couldn't be 
sure, even after Spock had questioned her." 
"So that's what all those questions were all about." I 
thought, slightly indignant "and the physical I bet".
"Welcome, officially, aboard the Enterprise, Aviva." Kirk 
said to me with a smile taking his hand off my shoulder, 
and offering it to me, then continuing "We shall inform 
Star Fleet of our new crew member when we get back to our 
own time." Although the smile faded it remained in his eyes 
as he became all Captain again. "You will have to pass some 
exams before officially becoming a lieutenant. Until then 
you have an honorary rank. Spock and his staff will teach 
you all you will need to know. You will be assigned to the 
Science section due to your own speciality. You will 
ultimately work with Mr. Spock. Mr Scott will explain more 
of the Enterprise technology to you, and you will learn 
basic communications from Lieutenant Uhura, some navigation 
and helm control from  Mr. Sulu." Kirk ticked the fields 
off on his fingers. 
I felt happier and happier by the moment. 
"Is that all Spock?" he finished by asking.
"To begin with, Captain." Spock answered 
"In that case, I will leave you and McCoy to finish your 
dinner, while Spock and I return to the bridge."
Both Kirk and Spock got up.
"I expect you to report to my quarters for your first 
lessons at .88 ships time, Aviva." Spock said.
"Yes, Mr. Spock" I answered. I knew my first lesson would 
be to find out what does .88 ships time mean. Thank God for 
computers!
As they were leaving I heard Kirk say;
" You know, Spock, in that book 'Killing Time', where I am 
an ensign and you the captain... do you think I would  
really be such a undisciplined ensign?"
I just managed to hear Spock's answer
"Captain, you are made to lead, not to be led. However, the 
book is most inaccurate in proposing that I would ...with 
the Romulan Praetor...that would -" The door cut off the 
rest of his reply.
I become aware of the sounds around me. Many conversations 
were to do with the recent discovery that the Enterprise 
and its Captain, Spock, McCoy, Uhura, Sulu and others had 
been made into popular fictional characters. I looked 
slowly around the hall, from one life form to another, back 
to McCoy, realizing that this indeed was my new home, a new 
life.
McCoy was smiling at me and I smiled back. He then got up, 
abandoning our now cold dinner, and led me back to my 
cabin.
Silently he pointed to my cabin door.
'L198/45
Lieutenant Aviva Avichaim'
I read. 
" I had that put on, while we were eating. I thought you 
might like it." he drawled then continued "Yes, these are 
really your quarters. Tomorrow uniforms, ID and all the 
rest will be arranged for you. Right now, and before see  
Spock, later this evening..." he entered a code key and the 
door opened. McCoy pulled me through to my cabin (while I 
was frantically trying to work out how much time I had left 
before 0.88 struck) where I saw a bottle of champagne (Don 
Perignon, of course) and two glasses. On cue the cork 
popped with a comforting familiar "Bang!" He poured the 
champagne out, offered me a glass, and raised his own with 
a smile   "Welcome aboard Avi."