Two years later....the story continues

The crew of the Carolina have been plucked from their various places in time and space and sent to a manufactured time line where another Carolina and a female Captain Seelowe awaits them.

 

Real Earth Scotch whisky and Andoran Ale were a regretful combination thought Mimps as she quietly massaged her temples and stared thoughtfully into her extra large mug of coffee, she savoured the smell but was uncertain of the effect the liquid would have on her disenchanted digestive system.

She looked around her crew quarters and at the stars streaking past her window. She thought about the evening before in the crew lounge and the captain and crew of this Carolina. It all seemed strangely familiar and yet it was, at the same time, also strangely unfamiliar.

“How in the name of all the gods and dragons did I end up here,” she thought to herself.

“You know perfectly well how it happened,” answered her own conscience with a prim voice inside her head.

“Oh shush,” thought Mimps with a scowl as she reached for the coffee. But her conscience was right, she knew exactly how it happened......

It was at that bar, that dusty bar on that dusty planet. It was hot outside but inside the bar it was cool, she pushed open the door with her shoulder and blinked a few times as her eyes adjusted to the dimly lit interior. The barman greeted her with a nod and a freshly poured drink. Mimps raised a questioning eyebrow at him but he shook his head, she gave a curt nod of understanding then took her drink and sat down in a quiet corner. She frowned a little as she took her first sip. The barman was a friend and kept an ear open for possible customers for the charter service Mimps flew around the neighbouring systems but things were quiet at the moment. In return Mimps kept the barman supplied with the occasional case of exotic liquor that may or may not have had all the taxes paid on it.

She had just finished her second sip when she sensed someone behind her.

“Commander Masala,” said a low voice and her whole body went tense, every nerve on alert.

“You must have me confused with someone else,” she said slowly though gritted teeth.

“I’m sure I haven’t,” said the dark figure swinging into the seat beside her.

Mimps glared at the unfamiliar man and quickly noticed that he wore no recognisable insignia. “He’s not Starfleet,” she thought to herself, “Who else…”

“Colonel Aurer sent me,” the man said answering her unspoken question. “You have to return to the Carolina.”

Mimps couldn’t help herself, her mouth popped open and she sat there for several seconds looking like a stranded fish before she regained her composure and snapped her mouth closed again.

“No…” she shook her head and folded her arms defiantly. “No…no…no…The Carolina is gone, no one can find her. Besides I can’t go back. Starfleet want me behind bars not on one of their star ships.”

“Don’t worry about Starfleet,” said the stranger with confidence. “It was only a small ship you stole and the damage when you fired on the USS Gibraltar was easily repaired. The time violations are a little trickier to fix but Colonel Aurer is working on those.”

Mimps’ mouth almost popped open a second time but she caught her self and reached for her drink while she thought about how to answer. The stranger also reached out and placed his hand gently on her arm. She was a little startled at this show of compassion so was unprepared as he leaned forward and spoke quietly and earnestly.

“Commander,” he said, “I know that ship means a lot to you and now we need that ship, we need you, we need to save the universe.”

The stranger’s grip tightened around Mimps' arm, she felt something click around her wrist. She looked down and saw the blinking lights of a personal transporter band at the same time as she heard the stranger say, “One to beam up.”

....."hmmm," she thought as she drained the last of the coffee, "that was HOW it happened, now I just need to know WHY."