Longer Summary: All Charlie Noland wanted was to start her life as a graduate student at a prestigious university in England. Instead she found herself in the future battling strange alien creatures, flying across the galaxy all while trying to get herself and her two closest friends back to 21st century Earth. That is until she is kidnapped to aid in a plot to control the universe. How can a 21st century woman play into the politics of the future? Luckily, a newly minted star ship captain is there to help.

Rate T: Some swearing and violence. Not really recommended for anyone under sixteen

Well I have just seen the new Star Trek movie (it pays to have moved to the U.K.) so in celebration, I am publishing this story! It is already finished so you lucky people will be receiving a new chapter each week (usually on Saturdays unless otherwise noted). I'm now against leaving an author's note on every chapter, since I really want this to flow like a book, and books do not have A/Ns so you really won't be hearing too much from me. Again, if something comes up I will let you know, but otherwise, I'm just going to sit back and leave you in relative peace. Besides, I'm working on my master's dissertation, so I'll have occupying much of my time!

For those who know my other story, I will get back to that in time. I just have zero motivation to finish it until I get this beast out of me.

I have done as much research as humanely possible into the Star Trek verse to make this as accurate as I can. Since ST2009 was a bit of an upped original, I'm basically making a mini hybrid between it and TNG, leaning heavily toward the original. If you are a true Trekker, and I have something way off, please let me know and I will try to fix it. Otherwise, it stands as is.

I do not own anything related to the Star Trek Universe or anything else Gene Roddenberry or J.J. Abrams has touched.

Ok, I think that covers all the boring stuff, so crack on!

Chapter One: Toto, I've Got a Feeling We're Not in Kansas Anymore

They were coming. The red alerts blaring throughout the station as blasts rocked the frame a good indication he had been found. Stumbling as the station shook from another attack, the dark haired man righted himself and continued down the hallway, quickly making his way through the numerous security checks. They would buy him a bit of time, but they would be no match for the power of the Romulans or god-forgive, the Klingons that were attacking. Passing through the last barrier, he quickly locked down the door, his dark eyes flashing across the console.

Once that was secure, he hurried over to his workstation in the large lab he had occupied for the last few years. The station had been a place of peace for him, working on his theories and experiments in quiet anonymity, but it was only a matter of time until someone learned of his discoveries. Now it appears they had, and it was up to him to prevent his newly discovered apparatus from entering into the wrong hands.

He already secured all the data, calculations and blueprints in a secure hard drive the minute the alarms rang out. There was one access point for the research, and it needed a very specific key to open the information. His head snapped up as loud banging and shouts could be heard outside the lab, the last secure door the only thing holding the pirates back. Sweat pouring down his face, he entered the final calculations and passwords, securing the lock on the machine that dominated most of the space in the lab, as well as beginning the self-destruction sequence he had installed for this kind of emergency.

The red klaxons began to blare louder as the door gave way and several Klingons rushed into the room. Grabbing the phaser in his shaking hands, the dark haired man held the barrel to his head as a stocky, grey haired individual in dark robes sauntered into the lab. Glaring into the cold, hard gaze of his former teacher, the dark man whispered, "Cor unum, via una," before he pulled the trigger and collapsed.

The blue-eyed man frowned in disgust and sighed. That was a casualty he was hoping to avoid. Walking over he nudged the body with his foot, glaring down at his most gifted pupil who had thrown everything away for the sake of humanity. What a simpering fool. Quickly reaching over and deactivating the self-destruct sequence, the man regarded the machine with a calculating eye. Here was the largest piece of the puzzle, one that would make him the most powerful being in the universe. But before he could take control, he needed the rest of the pieces.

Motioning to the Klingons who had accompanied him, he spun on his heel and headed out of the lab, his dark robes whispering softly behind him. He needed to finish a few calculations and then he would be able to attain the greatest prize.

Spinning. All she could see were colors spinning and swirling around her. Blues, greens, reds and all others converged, changing their intensity and hue as they integrated before separating again and forming new deviations. Quickly she became nauseous between the lights and the moment of physically spiraling. She tried to scream several times, but the moment her mouth opened, centrifugal force shoved the sound back inside her. Just as her panic reached the breaking point, a bright point lit up in front of her eyes, followed by the stomach lurching effect of falling through a newly torn hole in her surroundings. The next thing she knew she was hurtling toward the ground before her world went black.

6 months Previous:

Charlotte Noland could not believe her luck. Not only had she been accepted into a Russell Group university in England, but little did she know how exclusive her program was when she applied. Sitting around the large, tan table in a very Georgian style stone building sat only three other students, all looking apprehensively between each other as they waited for their new Program Directors to arrive.

Charlie tried not to fidget in her seat as she tucked a loose strand of brunette hair behind her ear. She could already feel the blisters forming on the back of her heels after walking from her newly acquired flat in the Stokes Croft area of Bristol all the way to the graduate building on the University of Bristol's campus block. She bit her lip as she noticed how overdressed she really was. In her American mind, the meeting of a master's student and her professors meant that sweat pants and T-shirt would not cut it in the same way an undergrad might. However, as she observed the other two women seated at the table wearing skinny jeans and blouses, she really did not need to wear a black pencil skirt and high heels.

Continuing to bite her lip, her thoughts persisted to swirl in her mind, and Charlie almost breathed a sigh of relief when the door opened and her two new advisors walked in. She smiled cautiously as they took their seats and began the introduction to the program. The more she listened to their description of her new classes, and the types of dissertations she could look forward to, Charlie could not help the feeling of excitement slowly creep back into her system.

She was finally doing it: living her dream. Moving to a new country, and starting a fresh life as a master's student was just what the doctor ordered. While her undergrad in Colorado had been an amazing experience, this American could feel the intuition to branch out further. She was never one to sit still in one place for long, so when the opportunity to study archaeology and television together in England presented itself, she did not just leap at the chance. She full on charged her way through, and never looked back.

Coming back down out of her revive, Charlie focused her attention on her peers as they began a round table introduction. The first person to speak was a mature student, Paul, who, having already formed and sold several profitable companies, was looking into the next big thing and expand his horizons. Charlie smiled slightly as she could relate to such ideas and beliefs. After all, how many blank looks did she receive when she said she was taking her archaeology degree, and turning it toward a career in television?

The next to speak was a petite blond with wide, blue eyes and a ready smile. Philippa was from northern England, as her accent clearly indicated. She spoke of her aunt, the major producer, and how she went against her family by gaining an archaeology undergraduate degree. Every sentence ended in a laugh, and Charlie could already feel a desire to make friends with the Northerner.

After Philippa, the redheaded Kate went next. An Egyptian/British hybrid from London, Kate's bright, almond-shaped brown eyes was the only indication to her Arabic heritage. As she spoke, she smiled widely, her porcelain skin stretching and highlighting her freckles to accompany her flame colored hair. She spoke with an easy flair that Charlie envied, her accent flowing with rise and fall of her voice.

Finally, it was Charlie's turn. As she took a breath, she straightened her spine and spoke fluidly as she addressed her undergraduate degree in conflict archaeology, and her desire to push her skills in the television sector. As she spoke, Charlie saw the other two women were entranced by her descriptions from back in the US. Once she concluded, she smiled again, a new confidence within her as her amber eyes sparkled. The meeting was concluded with the filing of forms and the directions for the beginning of classes the next week. As everyone shuffled out of the room to head off in their respective directions home, Charlie called to both Kate and Philippa who were walking a little ahead of her.

"Hey, do you guys want to head to a coffee shop and get to know each other better?" Charlie asked. "I mean we're going to be shoved together for the next year, so why not begin the torture now?" She chuckled to let them know she was kidding. From what she had observed in her first week in England, their version of humor and hers were two very different things. Philippa and Kate glanced at each other and grinned before agreeing, and the women happily wandered off toward the nearest café.

3 Months Previously:

"Seriously?! I really don't understand how he expects our edits to be any cleaner," Philippa growled as she, Kate and Charlie exited their Making a Short Documentary class. "How long did you spend editing those four minutes, Charlie? Three days? It's utter rubbish in my opinion."

Charlie sighed, rubbing a hand down her face a yawn tried to escape. "Yea, I know, but Peter has a point. I mean the cuts to the outlaying sites were fine, but the interviews are too jumpy. Don't worry, I'll fix it. You guys can count on me."

"Well don't stress yourself out too much, sweetheart," Kate included. "I've seen how you Americans get when you get bothered." She smirked to Philippa good-naturedly. All Charlie could do was roll her eyes heavenward. They'll never let her forget that one night in the pub with the greaser and his roaming hands.

Since their meeting three months prior, the three women were never far from each other's sides, quickly becoming fast friends. While Kate was the natural equalizer, and Philippa the life of the party, Charlie was clearly the leader in their threesome. Some of it came from her being two years older than the other two, but much of it stemmed from her personality. While the other two worried about dissertations and getting the classes, Charlie's attitude was one of confidence and adventure. She had been to all the clubs in Bristol, travelled to the areas in the southwest of England that 'normal' tourists never went. She spent a week in Ireland, not telling anyone she was leaving or when she was coming back. She went up to Scotland on her own after returning home from America after New Year's, and after becoming involved in the student council at the university.

While she was beginning to feel rundown with all the work and the experiences she was having, Charlie knew that if she stopped moving, stopped filling her days with work, the anxious feelings would return. Since she came to England, she felt as if she were waiting for something to happen. Her nerves tingled if she sat still for too long, but no matter how hard she threw herself into the fencing team, or her homework, or meeting other students, the feelings would return. What on earth had her such on edge?

Deciding that she would just chill that weekend, arguing to herself that maybe being stressed as Kate pointed out was the flaw, Charlie waved good-bye to her two friends, stuck in her ear buds and headed off to fencing practice. She was just beginning to get into the song when a man jammed into her shoulder painfully.

"Ow, hey man, watch it!" She snapped, rubbing her shoulder.

"My apologies, Madam," the man said, bowing his fedora-covered head to her, his eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses. His accent was strange, and definitely not British. She glanced up and down his grey trench coat and black shoes poking out from tweed pants, trying to see if his clothing could place him.

"Yea, whatever," She grumbled continuing to rub her shoulder as she turned and headed back on her way, placing her ear bud that was knocked out back in her ear.

She missed the man continuing to watch her as she trekked up the hill toward the sports center. As soon as she was out of sight, the man hurried away, weaving impatiently through the throngs of students rushing home after a day of classes. Dodging down a side alley, he came to rest under an overhanging window in the shadows, his grey, brushing his grey, curling hair off his shoulder. Pulling the needle out of his pocket with which he used to draw the tiny sample of blood from the woman, he quickly spread the red liquid on a small piece of paper. He inserted the piece into a miniature machine he withdrew from the other pocket and waited impatiently as it analyzed the results.

"Well? Will she work?" a deep coarse voice spat from the shadows, casing the man to jump in surprise.

"Patience, Kretorg. These things take time," The man replied, glancing back to the machine in his hands.

"I've had enough of your call for patience, human," The voice spat. "I want to know if she is the one or if we need to move on! We've been looking for over a week in this hu'tegh world! I'm beginning to stink of human. My crew may kill me the minute I return for the stench."

Just when the man was about to make a rather sarcastic reply, the machine in his palm beeped loudly, a green light flashing up into his face. For the first time in over ten years, the man truly smiled.

"Prepare your crew, Captain Kretorg," the man said, his accent pronounced with each passing word. "We've got her."

2 Hours Previously:

Charlie could feel the exhilaration coursing through her veins. She had done it! She had landed a position to complete her practical dissertation at the BBC in Bristol. All the weeks of emailing, calling and finally knocking on doors had landed her the interview with a leading producer in their educational center. The rest she took in stride, never once thinking that they would not take her on. Charlie smiled widely after the producer said he would oversee her dissertation with them. She was practically skipping down the street toward the nearest park, hardly able to contain her excitement as she rushed to tell Kate and Philippa.

Almost running up the hill, Charlie saw her two friends sitting under a large tree as they waited for her. Waving widely, and with the huge smile hardly leaving her face, she attracted their attention. Springing up off the bench they were occupying, the two natives ran over to where Charlie stood, her chest heaving with the exertions of climbing the hill.

"Well?!" shouted Kate as soon as she near. "How'd it go? Did you get it?"

Charlie just continued to grin, her eyes a bright sparkle on the dank, overcast day. Slowly she nodded as the other two erupted in squeals of joy, hugging their American friend as she, too, surged with joy.

Just as the women were coming down off their high, Charlie noticed an odd shadow hiding under a few boughs in a neighboring garden. Her head tilted to the side while her smile slid from her face as she recognized the silhouette, although she could not place where.

"What is it?" Philippa asked, sensing her friends quick tensing. She glanced over her shoulder in the same direction, her eyes trying to lock on the object of Charlie's rapt fascination. Just then, a gust of wind hit the women, billowing their hair and clothes as swiftly as a tornado. Charlie could feel her feet leave the ground as she was drawn upwards toward an unknown object. Fear constricted her chest as she noticed both of her friends were lost in the same sensation. When she was more than twenty feet in the air, whatever was holding her released its captives, plunging the women toward the park. They screamed as a swirling massed opened below them, swallowing the women with barely a whisper. Just as quickly, the mass was gone, leaving no indication of its existence, or of the three women who were standing there moments before.

In the shadows, a man smirked, the skin around his blue eyes crinkling in amusement. After years of research, calculations, and searching both time and space for the last piece of the puzzle, his plan was finally about to be fully operational. While the other two women were a miscalculation, they would in no way impede him in his quest. Soon, no one in the galaxy would be safe.

The sound of birdsong was the first item to enter into her consciousness. Groaning from the slight pain and dizziness in her head, Charlie slowly opened her amber eyes, blinking at the bright light. Hissing in pain, she snapped her eyes shut and slowly sat up as she rubbed her eyes. Blinking one open and then the other, she took stock of her soundings, noticing both Philippa and Kate sprawled next to her still unconscious. Shoving her windblown hair from her face, she observed the crater she now found herself in, noting the leveled trees radiating from her position. She glanced up toward the teal colored sky and what she saw stopped her heart in its tracks. Instead of an overcast, grey sky, a large orange devil glowed down at her. What was worse, however, was not the one, but two crescent moons framing the large star. Charlie blinked, her mind not comprehending what she was seeing.

"I don't think we're in Kansas anymore, Toto," she mumbled, before she screamed.

This will be my only attempt at shaming you into reviews. Please leave them as motivation for my dissertation. But seriously, if you don't like this, don't read it. Critiques, fine, but no flames. I worked really hard on this, and I'm not looking for any profit except maybe a few confidence boosters.

On that note, I hope you all enjoy Cor Unum!