Chapter 3

Today was the big day, today me and Lexa went into the great unknown, we really had no clue where we would be sent and I was beginning to become more and more worried though it quickly went away after a few moments.

Lexas visage popped up on screen to reassure me. "Have faith Alex. We will be fine you just have to believe in yourself and keep a calm mind." Lexa said in a calming voice. I just breathed in and sighed, looked at her and told her to lift off.

"Alrighty, cloak and lift off my dear Lexa, into the unknown we go, yo ho yo ho!" I told her getting some of my excitement back. " once we are behind the moon, transfer cloak into shielding then give me a 3 second warning for the dimensional drive!" I told her cheerily, I wasn't really leaving much behind. I had no family, a few friends I would miss but I should be able to return around the same time I left even if I'm gone for decades.

"ETA 20 minutes captain." She smiled, almost as excited about being in space and doing what she was made to do, explore.

While we spoke of inconsequential things, about what we might find on the other side, I was making sure I was ready. I kept the cockpit clear of things other than the most important gear, personal shield, pulse pistol and such. I made sure I was wearing everything with the handheld scanner attached to my vest.

"Transferring power from cloak to shield Alex, keep you fingers crossed! I have high hopes for our first jump as it will set the pace for the future!" She looked at me and if she were human her eyes would definitely be displaying excitement. Which they were.

I just grabbed tightly to the armrests of my chair as the countdown began.

"3, 2, 1, activating drive!" She said with something akin to glee, as she hit 1, a tunnel in space began to form in front of our ship and we began to move forward into the breach into space/time.

It was a weird experience, nothing painful or anything but… it was a bit of a mind trip. And then we were on the other side within seconds.

"Switch to cloak if there is no eminent danger, then scan our surroundings further Lexa." "Aye Captain!"

"Captain detecting technologically advanced world in system, also detecting a starship dropping out of some kind of FTL. On screen now." Well fuck, it's pretty obvious where I am the only question is when I am. The ship entering system is none other than the federation flagship, Enterprise. Hopefully this is not some kind of dark version or whatever. Doubtful but possible.

"De Cloak love" I tell her calmly. I didn't think they could see through it but who knows with their weird techno wizardry pulling things out of their asses so often.

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A few minutes earlier, Enterprise bridge.

"Captain" the sensor officer says hesitantly.

"What do you have?"

"Captain, sensors picking up some kind of space-time distortion in the vicinity of our destination…"

Troi looked worried for a moment, they were heading to her home, Betazed after all.

"Keep scanning the area, until we know more we will hold course."

A few minutes later they were exciting warp. "Captain.. I'm sensing a strong mind somewhere in the vicinity of the ship, I don't know where but I also do not feel any malice or hostility." Troi added quickly as she was having strong flashes of feelings from someone or something, but it was mostly curiosity.

Seconds later a small ship around 12 meters long and 4 wide de cloaked 2,000 kilometers away.

"Commander data, open hailing frequency." Picard told data stoically.

"Hailing frequencies open Captain."

Picard stands up from his chair. "This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise to unknown vessel, please respond."

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Onboard the puddle jumper

"Ahhh there it is, the iconic first contact from captain Picard!" I told Lexa excitedly. She just smirked at me as always looking amused.l by my silliness.

"Open frequencies, Lexa. Hello Captain Picard, my name is Alexander, Captain of the puddle jumper. How can we be of assistance to you today?" I had allowed both vocal and visual communications.

"Originally, already on our way to this star system, we detected a space-time disturbance, you wouldn't happen to know anything about such an phenomenon would you Captain? And then there is the… ability you ship seems to possess…?" Picard lead off giving me the chance for honest dialogue between us which I wanted, as Picard was at least trustable.

"Well yes, there is that, of course we can and probably should only speak of such things in person?" I lead him to the logical conclusion and he nodded. "Agreed, do you wish to dock your vessel or transport?" After a few seconds of thought I went with docking.