Story:Star Trek - Infinity/Prologue



2397 - Orion Marketplace

My eyes glowed brightly as I walked through the bustling crowd. I gripped mother’s hand tightly. There were so many people at the market, all different species and cultures all represented in one place.

My eyes scanned the sky, marveling in the equal variety of ships that lined Orion’s orbit. As I looked through them, one in particular caught my attention. It was a long silvery dish-shaped starship, with two long spikes that jutted out from the back.

I turned to my mother. “Mommy, what kind of ship is that?”

I pointed a finger at the ship, and she looked to where I was indicating. “That’s a Federation starship.”

I responded, “What does a federation look like?”

She let out a chuckle. “The Federation isn’t a species; it’s a group of made up of all different kinds of people. They’re explorers; they travel the galaxy in a hunt for knowledge.”

My eyes grew bit. A group made up of more than one species, all working together?

I replied, “I want to join the Federation and be an explorer too!”

She smiled. “You can do whatever you want if you put your mind to it sweetie.”

She turned. “There’s a Federation Officer over there.”

My eyes turned and came to rest on a tall man wearing a black and blue uniform.

Without giving it much thought, I let go of my mother’s hand and rushed over to the man. “Hey there mister!”

He looked down at me and gave me a big smile. “Well hello there little miss.”

I smiled back. “What’s your name?”

He replied, “I’m Lieutenant Thomas Alcove, assistant science officer of the USS Eclipse. And what’s your name?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">I grinned. “I’m Destiny.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">He replied, “Destiny, that’s a pretty name.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">I giggled. “My mommy says I can be in the Federation and fly in a big ship like yours mister loo-tentant.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">He raised an eyebrow. “Is that so? Well, I’m sure you’ll make a fine officer.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">Just then, my mother came rushing up. “Destiny, you can’t run off like that.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">She turned to the man. “I’m sorry if she was bothering you.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">He smiled and replied, “Not at all, in fact, she’s been very polite. She’s got the makings of a fine Starfleet officer.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">My mother smiled. “Well, thank you. We’d best be on our way now.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">As we left, I eagerly waved at the man, and he waved back.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">As we once again blended into the crowd, I found myself loosening my grip on mother’s hand. I gazed up at the silvery ship in the sky, my thoughts filling with dreams of traveling the galaxy…