It wasn't long before I was beamed aboard the ship. I was very excited. It wasn't every day that I got to go on adventures. I wandered around the ship, gazing in awe at all that I saw. It was simply amazing. There was no other way to describe it.

"Can I help you Miss?" I turned around to see a man, older and his hair was beginning to grey. It was then that I noticed his rank and I smiled,

"Admiral Pike." He gave me a warm smile,

"Amaya. It's great to see you again. You look just like your mother. And you have your her eyes and I'm sure you have his stubbornness. Your mother was a dear friend of mine." I gave him a small smile,

"I know. She talked about you often. Usually about all the trouble you two got in." He laughed,

"Oh yeah, we caused a lot of mayhem back then."

"She said that you reminded her of my father." He gave me a sad smile,

"Your father was a good friend of mine as well."

"She said you never stopped searching." He shook his head,

"No, I just couldn't give up on him. He was like a brother. I still check, every now and then."

"I wish I had your kind of hope Admiral. It's been so long since I've seen him. I remember you, you know. At his funeral. You were the kind man who gave me his medal, I still have it. Brought it with me even. And I remember you from mother's funeral as well. You also stopped by the house often." He gave me a smile before pulling me to him and wrapping me in his arms. I held onto him tightly feeling the emotions bubble up in me. He did remind me of my father and my mother.

"Oh kid, I'm so sorry for all of this. This was something you never should have had to go through." I could here the emotion in his voice and knew he was hurting as well,

"I know. But you know what. I found my parents again, in you. You remind me of them so much. And that's a comforting thought." He pulled back and gave me a smile and could see he was fighting off the tears better than I was,

"I'll always be here if you need me kid. I'm just a call away. Anything you need you call, you hear me?" I nodded, "I'll check up on you from time to time."

"Sounds good." Just then someone came down the corridor,

"Ah, Dr. McCoy, I'd like you to meet your newest engineer. Amaya O'Callaghan. She'll be Scotty's assistant. Amaya, this is Leonard McCoy, Chief Medical Officer on this ship. I think you two will get along well." We nodded at each other, "McCoy can you show her to her quarters and then show her to engineering?"

"Yes sir." Pike nodded at him before turning to me again,

"See you later kid."

"See ya." McCoy led me down the corridor to the turbo lift. He didn't really say any thing except the occasional mutter under his breath about being a doctor not a bell boy. I chuckled and shook my head. He glanced at me,

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing, just… do you always grumble when you have to do something you don't want to?" For a moment he turned red and looked embarrassed before he covered it up with his brash attitude,

"Listen here, missy, I'm probably just old enough to be your father and I work with inept children on this ship so I think I'm entitled to grumble every now and then." He must have noticed the sad look in my eyes because his face softened a bit,

"You don't have a father do you." It was more of a statement that a question,

"I did, a long time ago."

"I'm sorry."

"It's alright, you didn't know. Besides, like I said, that was a long time ago." The turbo lift opened and I followed him out down yet another corridor.

"Still, my apologies. Is that why Admiral Pike was so…"

"Father like?" He chuckled and nodded, "Yeah, he was best friends with both my father and mother. She passed away just before I went into the academy." He put a hand on my shoulder and I looked up into his eyes to see the sorrow in them,

"I'm sorry, it's a terrible thing to lose both parents." I gave him a smile,

"Thank you doctor."

"Please, call me McCoy, Leonard, Bones. Anything but my rank or doctor." I laughed,

"Okay, why Bones though?"

"It's a nickname that Jim gave me. The captain I mean."

"Alright, I think I'll stick with McCoy for now, only if you promise not to call me by rank either." He laughed,

"Sound good to me." He stopped right outside a door, "These are your quarters. It's code activated so just type in a code and that will be how you open the door from now on." I thought about it for a few second before punching in a five digit number and the door opened, "How old are you kid?"

"I just turned eighteen. It's 62269 if you're interested." He gave me a questioning look as he followed me in,

"Wow, that's young and I'm not following you." I chuckled as I chucked my bag onto my bed and turned to him,

"The code. It's a name."

"Okay, but why tell me? I mean, you just met me, why would you tell me the code to your room?" I chuckled,

"Because you're my friend. So I don't care if you know the code. I trust you." We walked back out and headed for the turbo lift again,

"You're quick to trust."

"Or I'm a good judge of character." He smiled at me,

"You know, I think Pike was right. We will get along well." I laughed and so did he. We stepped into the turbo lift and that was when he noticed something, "Your uniform is different." I smiled at him,

"I know. I'm in engineering so I shouldn't have my legs exposed. Besides, I hate the women's uniforms. They're too short." He laughed,

"It doesn't surprise me that you're in engineering or that you're in a man's uniform."

"I'm not just an engineer I'll have you know." We walked out of the turbo lift and down another corridor,

"Really," The sarcastic tone made me laugh, "And what else do you do besides engineering?" we stopped just outside of the engineering room,

"I'm also trained to be a doctor." His eyebrows shot up in surprise,

"Really? Well then why are you in engineering?" I laughed,

"Because I like engineering just as much as I like being a doctor."

"But I could've used a good doctor, not these-"

"Inept children?" I finished for him with a laugh,

"Yes! They don't know how to do anything properly!" I continued to laugh as we walked through engineering and stopped just in front of a young man, older than me but younger than McCoy by a few years at least,

"Well if you ever need a hand, just give me a call and I'll help you out." He actually smiled at me and put his arm around my shoulder,

"Sounds good kid. Hey Scotty, this is your new assistant. Amaya meet Montgomery Scott. Scotty, this is Amaya O'Callaghan." The man grinned at me,

"It's a pleasure ta' meet ya lass, call me Scotty." I grinned at him,

"Scotsman, not far from my home 'eh?" I let my Irish accent take control and I watched as his eyes brightened as his face lit up and McCoy groaned,

"You're Irish! Oh it's so good ta' hear another person from the Kingdom." I laughed and looked at McCoy,

"You didn't have an accent a few minutes ago? Where did that come from?"

"I'm very good at hiding it when I need to." He scoffed,

"Hey, you didn't get made fun of for this accent did ya?" Again letting the Irish accent flow freely. He smirked at me,

"Nah, a southern boy like me? Just cos' an Irish accent is far worse than a southern one. Doesn't mean it didn't happen." The sarcasm dripped as he let the southern twang coat his words. I grinned at him,

"You learned to cover as well." The three of us laughed,

"I'll catch you at lunch kid." He ruffled my hair before heading to the turbo lift,

"Sounds good, see you McCoy!" Just as he got into the lift he popped his head out,

"Oh yeah, by the way, what was the name you picked for your code?" I laughed,

"You'll have to figure that out." He grumbled and pushed the button for the lift to go back up. I turned to Scotty,'

"So you're my new engineer, we'll I can honestly say that we'll get along jus' fine. How 'bout I give you a quick rundown of the place then we'll get ta' work. See what ya' can do?" I smiled deciding to slip into my Irish accent with him,

"Sounds wonderful." He grinned and spent the next hour and a half showing me everything and testing my skills.

"Well, I couldn't have asked for a better assistant." Something, just past me, up to my left caught his eye, "Get down from there! That is not for you to climb on!" I looked at where he was looking to see a creature sitting up on some piping. He made a face at him before slowly climbing down, "Stupid little… anyway come meet the new recruit. Amaya, this is Keenser he's… well I don't really know what he is but he's a good mate. Except when he climbs on things he shouldn't." I laughed,

"Nice to meet you Keenser." The little guy walked up to me and took hold of my hand and I smiled at him, "Very clever." Scotty gave me a confused look,

"What do mean by that?" I laughed as I held onto Keenser's hand,

"Keenser figured out I was telepathic." Scotty stared at me with wide eyes and an open mouth,

"Two of ya!"

"I'm sorry?"

"Mr. Spock, the commander, he's telepathic. He's a Vulcan. Well, half Vulcan actually." I let go of Keenser's hand and smiled at Scotty, "You're not like him though. You're not… emotionless." I laughed,

"Neither are Vulcans. They simply mask them because they are too powerful. And I'm not a Vulcan."

"You're not? Then what are ya lass?"

"I'm a Betazoid. Well, half Betazoid. My father was human and my mother a Betazoid. So you can guess my father was Irish. I'm also empathetic. So again, not Vulcan. Look at me Scotty, what do you notice that's different about me?" he stared at me in concentration before his eyes went wide,

"Your eyes! They're black!" I smiled,

"Very good Scotty. I'm surprised it took you that long though." He shrugged,

"Doesn't bother me none. Your still the best assistant yet. Now come on, let's get some lunch." We headed up to the Mess Hall where we got a tray of food before sitting down at a table. Me across from Scotty. We talked a bit about where we were both from in our countries and what we liked to do, still using my natural Irish accent. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up to see McCoy,

"Hey kid."

"Ello McCoy, care to join us?" He smirked and sat down next to me,

"Only if you stop using that accent." Two more people sat down beside Scotty,

"Oh, does it bother ya when I talk like this?" He gave me a mock glare and the two new comers laughed,

"Yes, now cut it out before I smack you." The others laughed again and I went back to the American accent,

"There, that better?" He smirked at me,

"Yes, thank you. Amaya, this is helmsman Hikaru Sulu and navigator Pavel Chekov. Guys this is Amaya O'Callaghan assistant engineer." Chekov smiled at me but seemed nervous. He was very young.

"Nice to meet you." Sulu stuck out his hand which I glanced at before looking up at him with a sorry expression,

"I would shake your hand but I don't think you would like the result." He gave me a confused look as did the Doctor and navigator. So I explained, "I'm half Betazoid. Meaning that I'm telepathic and empathetic. It's skin contact, so if you still want that hand shake…" I grinned as a fleeting look of fear crossed his face,

"Uh," I laughed,

"It's alright. I won't be offended." McCoy looked at me clearly in shock,

"You didn't tell me that!" I chuckled,

"You didn't ask." He opened his mouth to make a retort but found my answer to be a good one and shut it again and shrugged,

"I see your point."

"Look at her eyes, those are different as well." They did and whistled when they saw my black irises.

"How did I miss that?"

"Well doctor I think you were simply more interested in getting to know me then my looks. For that I thank you." He grinned at me and ruffled my hair.

"Kid, I feel I should warn you about our captain."

"Oh?"

"He's, well, the best way I can put it is I got to know your personality but he'll want to get to know your body." I laughed.

"Well I can guarantee you that I'm not into that sort of thing." He let out a sigh of relief,

"Oh good, cos I was afraid I was going to have to castrate our captain." The three men at the table looked horrified while I was simply confused,

"Why would you have to do that?" He put his arm around my shoulder,

"Because I wouldn't let him touch you." I smiled and hugged him. The others looking at us with amazed and still slightly horrified looks,

"Aw, thanks McCoy. You know I think Pike would order it if he did?" He laughed,

"You know I think he would as well."

"What is wrong with you two! You're talking about the captain! Ya can't just-"

"Can't what Scotty? And that goes for the rest of ya, if you touch her I will do it." McCoy leaned forward a bit with his elbows on the table giving them a look that clearly stated he would do it. I laughed at the look of complete fear on their faces. They were so frightened that I could actually feel it, it rolled off of them in waves. Three more trays where sat down, two by me and one by Chekov.

"What's the look for guys?" I looked beside me to see a young man. He had blond hair with blue eyes. Beside him was Spock, I knew this because Scotty said he was the only Vulcan. He held a controlled emotionless expression. He had the pointed ears of a Vulcan and yet his eyes, they were so human. I thought they looked quite nice actually. Then I looked at the woman who sat down next to Chekov. She had long, straight black hair. She had dark skin and brown eyes. Scotty gulped at the look McCoy gave him,

"We've just been threatened." The man beside me furrowed his brow,

"By who?" He nodded to the doctor making the other man laugh,

"McCoy? Why?" He was still clearly amused as the smirk resided on his lips even as McCoy began to tell him his threat,

"I told them if they touch Amaya I'll castrate them. And that also extends to you captain. Actually it applies more to you Jim than it does to anybody else here."

"Oh come on Bones you can't be serious?" The look he gave him clearly stated he was,

"Bones! I'm the captain, you can't castrate me."

"I can if the Admiral orders me to." He scoffed,

"The Admiral wouldn't do that to me. He knows how I am. He would've said something by now if it was a problem." McCoy leaned in front of me making his hand brush mine,

"Believe me, the Admiral would gladly let me if you did." I felt the anger and protectiveness seep into me. If wasn't a possessive sort of protection but more of a brotherly kind. 'He touches her and he's a dead man. I'll sneak into his room in the middle of the night if I have to.' I chuckled as he pulled back,

"I don't think sneaking into his room will help you as you've already stated that you would be the one castrating him Leo." He gave me a shocked look as did the others. I held up my hand and that was when recognition dawned him,

"You heard that huh?" I laughed,

"And I felt the anger and the brotherly protectiveness. It's nice to know you care so much." He turned a bit red before shoving me a bit,

"Well somebody has to look after you." I felt a tap on my shoulder and looked over at the captain,

"Captain Kirk, but call me Jim. And who might you be beautiful?" I laughed as McCoy growled,

"Lieutenant Amaya O'Callaghan." His eye went wide as his face went red,

"Oh, so you're Amaya! Well, ah, I-"

"There's no way you're going to be able to save face captain. To put it plainly, you are a player." The table broke out in laughter, that is except for our Vulcan companion of course. I looked at him and he I. We were studding each other as it were.

"You are a Betazoid." I nodded,

"And you are a Vulcan." Kirk looked from me to him confusion etched across his face,

"What does he mean by that?"

"He means exactly what he said, I am a Betazoid. Half to be correct. I'm also part human." Kirk turned to Spock,

"How did you know Spock?"

"Her eyes. They are black. And that is the color of all Betazoid eyes." It was then that everyone again stared at my eyes and the woman gasped. I smiled a bit,

"Very good Spock, and if I may point out the fact that your eyes tell me that you are half human as well." He nodded his head,

"You would be correct in making such statement." I turned to the woman, who stuck her hand out to me,

"I'm Nyota Uhura. Communicatons." I smiled at her but did not shake her hand. Sulu looked at her,

"I wouldn't do that?" She looked at him,

"And why not?" I opened my mouth to explain but Spock cut me off,

"Betazoids are telepathic as well as empathetic. Therefore if you touch her skin she can read you. Your thoughts and emotions." I nodded my head in approval and Uhura lowered her hand,

"You are correct Spock." Scotty looked at his PADD and sighed,

"Well Amaya I think we best get back to engineering. It appears one of the cadets is stumped with how to properly hook up the Dylthium chamber." I chuckled and stood with Scotty,

"Alright Scotty, let's show 'em how it's done." My accent slipping out again. Everyone except McCoy stared at me. Then I felt a slap on the back of my head. "Hey!"

"I thought I told you to cut that out!" I pushed McCoy and he shoved back,

"Eh she's my assistant and therefore can talk with the accent. It makes things much homier." I smiled at Scotty before giving McCoy a mock glare,

"You're Scottish?" I looked at Jim and rolled my eyes,

"No Jim I'm not."

"But-"

"I believe it was Irish correct?" I smiled at Spock,

"You are again correct Spock. Very good indeed. See you all later." As we began to walk away McCoy called out,

"I'll need to see you for your physical!"

"So would I. Ow!" I smirked McCoy had slapped Jim in the head.

"Very well Leo, I'll see you later. Oh, and Jim, Leo here is right. The Admiral will order him to castrate you, Pike is a family friend." He paled at that making the rest of the table laugh. I think I'm going to like it here.