Area 51, Stardate 1986.29 (2260.29)

Amara kept warm, loving thoughts of James in her mind as she was compelled to follow the Etarian and the two officers to the plane. She clung desperately to the hope that she would see him again.

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Elyse could see the desperation in Jim’s eyes. Amara was his one true love. The woman who made his smile bright and his eyes twinkle. She understood his pain. If it were Leonard who were missing, she would do everything to find him.

Scarlett was quiet a moment as she studied the mirror. “Life itself is one big risk Dr. McCoy,” she said, sounding a lot like Spock.

"Well, I won't order anyone to step inside but I'm going," Kirk said as he looked at each person in turn. McCoy shook his head at Elyse. It was clear he did not want her to step inside the mirror or window or whatever that thing was. Kirk stepped to the mirror.

Elyse frowned a little at Leonard when he shook his head at her. She knew he was just trying to protect her, but she had every intention of following Jim and she could tell that Scarlett did as well. Scarlett had stepped temporarily to the side to contact Spock. She explained to him what they had found when they traced the energy source. 

"We don't know what's on the other side of this mirror or window, but we're going to go through. We probably won't be able to contact you from the other side." 

Scarlett knew that Spock was on the bridge so she didn't say "I love you," but through the bond he would be able to feel how much she did love him.

McCoy saw that look. Those light blue eyes that Elyse has judge and sentenced him. He knew she tried not to be that way but most things with Elyse were black or white. If he continued to be against this, or worse deemed Kirk unfit to command, he knew that Elyse would likely order this anyway. “Fuck,” he muttered under his breath and stepped up next to Kirk and in Front of Elyse. He did not see the small grins the two women shared between them. Once everyone was together they moved Into the mirror.

The room they were in, was it a room? Was hot and dusty. The disorienting feeling made Elyse want to sick up but she managed to hold it all in. Only just though. McCoy was right there in her vision just as Kirk was as he helped Scarlett up. McCoy has that look of deep concern that he always had when she wasn’t functioning like her normal self.

Kirk backed away when Scarlett said she was fine. Apparently she too felt embarrassed, silly as thAt emotion was, being down and feeling as if her insides wanted to spill out while the men were up on their feet!

Both Elyse and Scarlett felt extremely disoriented as they stepped through the mirror. Elyse managed to stay on her feet, but Scarlett felt so dizzy that she sank down to the ground. It was hot and dusty and that didn't help the sick feeling that Elyse had. Scarlett tried to feel Spock through their bond, but there was nothing. She felt as if part of her was numb. It was an odd feeling and was like part of herself was just...gone. 

Scarlett allowed Jim to help her up onto her feet. She needed a moment for her head to clear, but she assured Jim that she was fine. She pulled out her tricorder and tried to get a sense of where they were.

Scarlett could not detect any kind of GPS or satellite that would feed her tricorder the data to orientate her. Kissing by the telemetry they were definitely on an earth like planet but something was off aboit her readings. What she’d expect anyway. Especially after a Third World War. And the centuries after that. Kirk moved to a door and opened it. Bright sunlight shined in and he had to shield his eyes to see. There was a road in front of him. He looked both ways and it appeared they were In a city of some sort. McCoy looked at him when he looked back into the room.

“I’ve seen that look before,” he said as he let go of Elyse.

Scarlett’s Tricorder was unable to feed her any GPS information that would help to orient her. All she could tell was that they were on an earth like planet. She sighed and stopped taking readings for the moment.

Elyse watched Jim as he walked over and opened the door. Bright sunlight came streaming in and they could hear the sounds of a city. However, it was what Leonard said that caught Elyse’s attention.

“What? What is it?”

“It means we’re not in Kansas anymore,” McCoy replied to an even more baffled Scarlett. And she mouthed the word ‘Kansas?’ As if she had never heard it before. McCoy and Elyse looked outside and what they saw were primitive combustion engine vehicles on the road and a whole city beyond.

“What do you make of it Bones?” Kirk asked. “Well, those cars are mid 20th century and they all look new,” he said.

Elyse and Scarlett were astounded by what they saw when they looked outside. It was just like pictures they had seen of earth before WW3 and the Federation. Starfleet was a long ways away from existing.

Elyse spotted a discarded newspaper and she quickly grabbed it. She noted the date. “January 29th, 1986.”

"An odd place to bring us," McCoy said but Kirk was already thinking. "I doubt it was random. I think we're here for a reason," Kirk said. "We can only hope it...whatever 'it' is, will bring us home again," Kirk said. "Scarlett, try to devise a way to detecting Amara. If she's here I want to know about it. I wish we knew more about that probe," he said.

Scarlett sighed as she began to consider different ways of locating Amara. It wasn't going to be easy. She began to wonder if she was even still alive...no...no, she couldn't think that. She was alive...she had to be. She had already seen Jim break down once when he thought she was dead. She didn't want to ever see that again. 

Suddenly, a thought occurred to her and she turned to Dr. McCoy. "Doctor, is there any way of tracing Amara using the nanobots in her blood?"

"Actually...yes, they use a composite alloy that likely does not exist right now," he said. "But without a network, our range on those tricorders is limited," McCoy said. "No different than being on an alien planet," Kirk said. "That said, we likely look...obvious, in our uniforms," Kirk said. "We'll need to find clothes of this century," he said. "Well, we'll need currency...I'm not certain I recall what kind they used in this time and in this country," McCoy added. "Unless you intend on stealing clothes," He said.

"I think the women might be alright however, though if memory serves, they'll get alot of attention with those skirts," McCoy added as he looked at Elyse's legs.

Scarlett was relieved that there was a way of tracking Amara using the nanobots. Otherwise, she honestly wasn't certain there would be a way of doing it. Elyse saw her husband looking at her legs and she smiled and blushed a little. She always loved the way he would look at her. 

"In the United States during the 20th century they used the dollar," Scarlett replied. "Although, trying to get our hands on money isn't going to be easy. I don't abdicate stealing, but I think it will be our only option. I hope Amara isn't far because otherwise we might have to also steal transportation and that won't be easy."

"There might be mass transit as well," McCoy said. "A bus or a train," he added. Kirk looked at them. "Alright, lets focus on getting new clothing. Beg, borrow...steal if we have to," Kirk said. "We track of your equipment. Don't lose anything," He said. "And we stick together," He added as they started out of the small building.

People passed them and gave them looks but no one paused to speak to them. The street wasn't all that busy and only a few cars passed them. Building after building they walked as a group. Eventually though they made it down a side street. There were several houses and this time of day, there were alot of clothes on drying lines behind the houses. Kirk chose a pair of blue jeans that seemed to fit and a red and black checkered flannel shirt. McCoy found a pair of gray slacks and a green sweater to put over his uniform shirt. It was slightly loose but it fit him.

Scarlett tried to be discreet, but she was completely fascinated by everything. The scientist in her wanted to stop and study it all, but they needed to find Amara. They eventually located some clothes on drying lines behind some houses. After seeing what everyone else on the streets were wearing, the girls decided that they would probably fit in in their dresses. Besides, they didn't have anything to put them in if they were to change out of them. 

"Ok, problem number one solved," Elyse said as the guys finished putting on their clothes. "So, now we need to figure out where Amara is." 

Scarlett pulled out her Tricorder and began to work with Dr. McCoy on using it to locate Amara through the nanobots.

Amara sat on the metal seat bench. The large military vehicle was barely able to house the large Etarian Queen. She looked at Amara as the large truck moved along the roadway. It had been waiting for them as soon as they got off the plane.

“‘I can sense that you wish to know what I’m doing here. I am puzzled as to why you were brought here. My ‘children’ will change the face of this world. Humans will no longer be the dominant species on this world,’ She said into Amara’s thoughts.

Amara had continued to try and break free of the Etarian queen's mental control over her, but it was useless. It seemed like the harder she tried to shake off her control, the harder the queen gripped her. It was strange that she had left her mind free though, unlike the two military men who looked like robots.

"Why?" Amara asked. "Why are you targeting humans and Earth?"

The Etarian looked at Amara and she sensed her amusement. ‘Humans are cattle, like the Vulcans and Andorians and the other races of the Federation. We are Etarians, and we stand above you in the food chain of the quadrant. Our birthright has been revealed to us and we shall take what is ours’ She told her in her mind. But Amara sensed alot more to it then that. The Etarian held something back. She knew that because their minds were linked when it spoke to her like this.

Amara could tell that the Etarian was holding something back from her...that there was more going on here than just what she had said. "If you studied history at all, you would know that things never end well for races that believe they are superior to everyone else. So, you think that every single world in the universe is rightfully yours?"

‘The Etarian domination is an inevitable event. You should be honored, to bare witness to it. Serve me well and continue to show me the respect I am due and I may keep you as a pet. These two..fools refused to speak to me as you do though their bodies do what I want. Their minds are simple. I suppose it is that the human male is a simple creature? These two desire your...femine form. I could have them pleasure you if you wanted it?’ She said into her head. Our own race is above such things. Sexual desire is a thing of lesser beings. I can already sense how my suggestions disgusts you. Now I think maybe if you displease me, I’ll have you, pleasure them.’ She said warningly. ‘I think it would be interesting to see you debase yourself. To lose the bits of humanity that you cling to so desperately...for one man. James...Kirk? Who is…ah...your mate?’ She said in her head as if she had found a vital secret. It was clear to Amara that the Etarian was only trying to shake her into being more obedient. She was learning, slowly that she could exact some will over her body now. Had she noticed? It didn’t appear she did. When the Etarian turned to face the window she found she could put her hand on her blade hilt. However when she tried to pull it out, it would not budge because of what she intended to do with it. The Etarian didn’t react to this though. She must have to focus on her to read her thoughts?

Amara wanted to shake her head at the Etarian, but she couldn't...or perhaps she just didn't. She wasn't entirely sure at this point of what she could or couldn't do. She glanced at the two men and was disgusted by the Etarian's suggestion that she allow them to have her. Amara only had sexual desire for one man...James. She had been with a few other men before him, but no one made her feel the way he did. She knew that the Etarian was only using this threat to keep her obedient. As the Etarian queen looked away, Amara tried moving her body again. This time, she found that she was able to place her hand on her blade hilt. She attempted to then pull it out, but it almost seemed to be stuck. Amara remove her hand and looked over at the Etarian again.

"Why did you place that egg inside of me? What is going to happen?"

'A side effect of the eggs is to render its host susceptible to us,' She said in her head as the truck stopped. Men, soldiers opened the back of the truck. The two Colonels stepped out and began to order the soldiers. The Etarian was helped down and then Amara was. They were in some kind of courtyard. There were military buildings, vehicles and men in uniform. Several soldiers were in shock at seeing the Etarian. And murmurs of an 'Alien' swept through the soldiers like wildfire. The two Colonels dispersed the soldiers and the Etarian was escorted, with Amara in tow, into the large building.

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Scarlett received a signal from the tricorder. It detected the nanobots but the signal was pretty far away.

Amara knew that there was more to the egg than what she was telling her. However, she was too afraid to think about what it might be. As the truck stopped, the back doors opened and the two Colonels got out and began to bark orders to the other soldiers. The Etarian was helped out first and then Amara. Amara looked around and could see that they were in some kind of military installation. She wasn't certain exactly what year it was, but she knew that at this point Starfleet wasn't around, which meant that alien existence was still hotly debated. She said looked around her as she tried to figure out what was going on.

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Scarlett's tricorder was able to pick up the nanobots and she looked at Jim. "I'm detecting the nanobots, but the signal is pretty far away from where we are right now."

Kirk looked at Scarlett. "She's here then?" He asked with more than a little enthusiasm and concern. And then he saw Scarlett's face darken. "What, what is it?" He asked. The tricorder also detected an Etarian.

"Well, we can try and steal a vehicle?" McCoy suggested as they walked. There were several of them peppered about the streets.

Scarlett didn't want to curb Jim's enthusiasm, but neither Amara, nor themselves were out of the woods just yet. "The tricorder is also detecting an Etarian," she told him. 

Elyse didn't like the idea of stealing anything, but it didn't look like they had much of a choice at this point. They needed transportation and they had no money. They began to walk the street. Thankfully, no one was around. They managed to locate an unlocked vehicle. Scarlett wished that Scotty or Sofia was there, but she eventually figured out the wiring and the engine came to life. Jim decided to drive with Scarlett navigating using her tricorder. Elyse and Leonard got into the back seats.