Eventually, the dancing stopped and we sat down in our seats to talk and stare at the stars. I don't remember most of the conversation now, as good discussions should remain shrouded in memory, forever preserved in the moment it was held. I do remember that we laughed a lot and smiled and by the time Kirk announced our arrival to Earth, I didn't want to leave that room. More so, I didn't want to leave Pavel, and I feared what he would feel when I had to leave. I held onto the hope that he would forget me when I crossed into my dimension of origin.

"This is the Captain speaking. We will be docking in two minutes. All but essential crew members prepare for transport to headquarters."

Pavel stood and extended a hand to me, helping me to my feet.

"I suppose we should go see if everything on the bridge is in order," I suggested.

"Zat sounds like a good idea."

I had to follow his lead to the bridge as I still had not learned my way around the ship in the half day I had spent on it. The only route I knew was from the bridge to the transporter room and back. Also, I'd had hands clasped around my eyes for most of the trip to this room, so I needed him to guide me. When we arrived at the particular door, Pavel stepped aside to allow me entrance. I tried not to look at him as I passed by, but found it to be more difficult than I expected.

I saw the Doctor standing near the front of the bridge, a group of crew members surrounding him to listen as he explained how they could more efficiently run the ship. I noticed Spock sitting at his own station, pretending to be hard at work but keeping an attentive ear pointed toward the group. Kirk seemed utterly disinterested. The Captain I had seen during the rescue was...older, wiser, calm. I still believed that that Captain was in him, but for the time being, he had returned to Captain Smirk.

"Sputnik!" he exclaimed when he saw me and Pavel move in his peripheral. "Do you have all your things packed up?"

I stepped down from the upper platform with a thump. "I didn't bring anything with me. All I have is this uniform."

Kirk nodded. "Good. Are you going to keep it?"

My eyes widened. I had stolen it out of a supply closet. And I hadn't thought about whether or not I would replace it once we got back.

"I don't know..." I finally said.

Kirk smiled. "The Doctor told us all about how you came to be on my ship. It's okay. You can keep it if you want." He stood and came to slam a hand on my shoulder. "I just wanted to see that look on your face."

I tried to be good-natured about his prank, but found that I couldn't change my expression from one of disgruntled humor. He walked by me and left the bridge, Spock following close behind him. As I watched them leave, I felt someone come up behind me. I turned to see the Doctor, smiling and happy.

"Ready to go?" he asked.

My eyes drifted toward the door where Pavel stood waiting. "I don't think I'll ever be ready."

The Doctor started toward the exit, taking me along with a gentle hand on my arm. "I know. I hate this part too."

When we entered the hangar, I saw each member of the crew standing outside the shuttle. There was Scotty, having acquired a new shirt. He waved to me and I smiled back. Spock and Uhura stood close to each other. I had come to respect both of them in their individual personalities and positions. Uhura remained one of my top five heroines and Spock one of the best characters in science fiction. There stood Sulu, quiet and serious as ever, but I saw a hint of a smile on his lips. Pavel went to greet him and I watched as the young Russian spoke excitingly to Sulu. Pavel seemed happy in this moment and I wished to all the stars that he could be happy like this forever. Bones came sauntering in from the right. I watched him join the others, regretting that I hadn't spoken with him more. That's when I saw Kirk walk down the ramp of the shuttle.

"Coming, guys? She's ready to go," he told us.

We followed him inside. I sat down with the Doctor. Pavel took a seat opposite, keeping his distance for some reason. Everyone else piled in and soon we were off, flying toward earth. I craned my neck to see out the window behind Pavel's head. It wasn't that I had never seen it before, but Earth from a distance has always looked wonderfully small to me and I wanted to see it while I was here, in this universe, in this time.

Entering the atmosphere was a bit shaky, as it usually is, but Kirk maneuvered skillfully through the turbulence and before I knew it, we were landed and exiting the shuttle.

I lead the way to the door, but before I could step out, Bones stopped me in my tracks.

"Hold up. The Captain wants a word with you two." He nodded to the Doctor who stood behind me.

The others filed out and Kirk joined us by the door. Bones also remained behind. I stood at attention the best I could while the Doctor stood with his hands in his pockets. Kirk noticed the difference.

"Relax, Sputnik. You're not in trouble," he said with a grin.

"You wanted to speak with us, sir?" I asked, letting my shoulders drop a little bit.

"Yes. Sputnik. Doctor. Bones and I-and the rest of the crew for that matter-feel that you have done our ship a great service by being here and helping us when we needed it. Had you not been in our universe, our crew would have surely perished at the hands of the Zetanoids."

I didn't have the heart to tell him that the only reason the Zetanoids attacked us was because of me and the time energy I carry on my skin.

"Because we feel so strongly about this," Kirk continued, "we would like to have a special ceremony for you before you leave."

I glanced over at the Doctor. I had no doubt that he had received many ceremonies honoring him in his nine hundred years of traveling, but this was my first. I knew he could see that I was excited when his eyes brightened.

"We will humbly accept this gift of honor," the Doctor replied, turning to face Kirk and Bones.

"Great! Everything should be ready within ten minutes."

"Ten minutes?!" I exclaimed. "Have you been preparing for this ever since we started back to Earth?"

Kirk had already left the shuttle, so it was Bones who replied to my question.

"Would you expect anything less from these idiots?"

Ten minutes later, I stood on the bottom step of the entrance to Star Fleet headquarters. The Enterprise crew stood in formation behind me. Kirk stood at the top of the stairs, Spock just behind him. They were all wearing their dress uniforms. I felt so out of place in my everyday uniform.

"Since you didn't actually go to the academy, there is no uniform for you and sharing is kind of forbidden," Uhura had said as she escorted me and the Doctor to our current location. "But these uniforms will do."

Without any warning, Kirk began to speak, bringing my attention abruptly to the present.

"Ensign Kris Sputnik, Doctor. You are here today to receive a medal of commendation for your acts of valor and heroism performed aboard the Starship Enterprise."

Spock revealed two small boxes that looked like ring boxes for proposing. Kirk took one and stepped down to face the Doctor. I tried my best to stand at attention while the Captain pinned the medal to the Doctor's uniform. Then, Kirk took the other box from Spock and moved to me.

He opened the box and pulled out a small pin about as big as a nickel. It was silver and bore the Star Fleet insignia in the center. Kirk pulled the pin back off and reached for the edge of my collar. He pulled it down just enough to stick the pin through the fabric and replace the back. I felt like I was floating. Me. A recognized ally of Star Fleet.

Kirk placed the box in my hand. I knew I was supposed to keep the pin in there, but I also knew that I would be wearing it everywhere I went.

Spock and Kirk returned to the top step.

"Thank you for your service," Kirk said. And as the words left his mouth, his hand raised to his brow. In the same instant every other right hand in the crowd moved in the same fashion. They were saluting us.

I was able to hold back my emotions while we shook hands and exchanged goodbyes with everyone. I honestly can't remember much of what was said because my head was buzzing with excitement at the time. But I remember the warm smiles and the firm handshakes. I think I may remember seeing Scotty's eyes getting a bit more watery than usual. The sentiment was mutual. After all, we had endured imprisonment together.

Finally, the farewells were finished and I and the Doctor tore away from the crew. Before we went inside headquarters, I beckoned Pavel to follow. I wanted to say goodbye to him one more time before I left.

We stopped just outside the conference room where the TARDIS was parked. Fingers crossed it was still there. The Doctor looked at me with an upturned eyebrow, then glanced at Pavel, and then back to me. I got the message and pulled Pavel aside while the Doctor went inside the room.

"Well..." I started awkwardly. "I guess this is our final goodbye."

Pavel, with his cap underneath his arm, took my hands in his. "I vill miss you, Kristen."

"я буду скучать по тебе тожe Павел. I'll miss you, Pavel. I learned that just for you."

He smiled, a genuine smile. He loved hearing me speak Russian, and I regretted not being able to experience that smile again.

I knew I had to do it just once, so I let myself lean forward and plant a kiss on his cheek. When I drew back, I almost laughed at the color and expression of his face. As the sound was about to escape, the Doctor poked his head out the door.

"Ready to go when you are," he said.

I nodded, turning back to Pavel as the Doctor slipped back into the room. I pulled away, but I didn't know what to say or do, so I did the first thing that came to mind. I raised my hand, my fingers parted in the middle and said, "Live long and prosper."

This time, Pavel was the one who laughed. He mimicked the Vulcan gesture with some difficulty and responded between chuckles. "жить долго и процветать."

I smiled one last time and ducked into the conference room. The hatch closed before anyone could get a good look at what was standing in the corner and I made my way over to it. Stepping inside the TARDIS again, I took a deep breath to steady myself. So much had just happened and I hadn't yet had time to process it all. But the familiar smell of the TARDIS and the heartwarming sight of the Doctor, in his blue suit again, made me feel at ease.

"So we may need to make one stop before I take you back home," he was saying. "Is that alright?"

He stopped what he was doing to squint at me, waiting for an answer.

I swung my arms as I stepped toward him. "That's fine."

He didn't cease squinting at me. "You gonna keep that?"

He nodded to my uniform and I looked down at it, just now realizing I still had it on.

"I don't see why not," I said. "Captain Kirk said I could."

He shrugged, turning back to the console. "Can't argue with the Captain, now can you?"

I grinned as the TARDIS began to wheeze to life.

"No, you can't."