Spock and Jim strode onto the bridge side by side. Jim had missed this room so much. It had haunted his dreams for years, but now that he was back, it made him feel alive again.

"Keptin on the bridge." Chekov chirped.

"Play the transmission Lieutenant Uhura." Spock ordered.

"Aye sir." She responded. "It is not a live feed Commander. It is a pre-recorded message."

The viewscreen was overtaken by the image of a man and a woman sitting next to each other. They appeared to be in some sort of spacecraft. What was most alarming about them was their eyes. They were completely hazed over with a light blue colour. Besides that, they looked fairly humanoid with only a few discrepancies here and there.

The message started to play.

"We are the Nohvari." The woman said.

Jim suddenly gripped the side of the captain's chair. He felt like he was about to throw up. He could recognise that melodic voice anywhere.

It was Emily. The sweet girl Emily he had known.

Which meant the man sitting next to her must be Peter. They looked nothing like Jim had expected them to. Emily had soft blonde hair and extremely pale skin. Peter had more tanned skin and light brown hair. The bitter sweetness in seeing them was almost overwhelming. For fifteen years he had wondered what they looked like, he could only imagine. And now, the time when he finally got his wish, he could not be present with them.

Emily continued to speak.

"If you are receiving this transmission, you have come into contact with our probe and no doubt had an interesting experience."

The bridge crew looked at each other somewhat confused. The crew had been kept in the dark about the nature of the Captain's condition. He was simply thought to be very unwell. There wasn't any reason to alarm them unnecessarily.

"We won't bother informing you of the date of this transmission. It would be meaningless. This is our token. Our token to the universe before we are removed from it. This probe is launched in the hopes that someone may experience what life as a Nohvari was like. What we valued."

Emily stopped as her voice cracked slightly. She started to wipe away a tear from her blank eye. Peter clasped her shoulder. He spoke for her.

"Our home planet, Nohvar, was overrun several years ago by the Polec people. We were ... are a peaceful people. The Polec thought we were useless because our species are all without sight. They started to kill us, we didn't make good slaves for them. We personally have escaped on a shuttlecraft to launch this probe.

"What you have just experienced was a mild version of our lives. The computer would have put you into a familiar environment. You would have faced opposition, people treating you as delusional, but we hope that you have learnt to love like we do.

"We have no sight, but we have vision. We did not want to be slaughtered out of existence for a so-called flaw, when really we have the best thing of all. The connectedness of hearts, a vision beyond the physical. "

Emily summoned her courage back and began to speak again.

"We will not be forgotten. The Polec may take our lives, but they will never have our love."

The bridge crew was absolutely enraptured with the duo even though they did not know the full circumstances or what they truly meant. Jim's hand was resting over his mouth gently. He removed it and tried to take slow and steady breaths.

Emily and Peter intertwined hands.

"We are not an inferior species. Let it be known that the Polec may have won in taking over our planet and murdering innocent people, but the spirit of the Nohvari will never die. Hopefully, you will now live on with our spirit." Peter said solemnly.

Jim's heart hammered strongly in his chest. He felt Spock's presence by his side and was only slightly comforted by that. What he had experienced, it had been real for other people. He had kindred spirits. He would take up the challenge. The Nohvari would indeed not be forgotten; he would show that through the way he lived.

"Do not mourn us, friend. Remember us, live for us. Do our spirit proud." Emily said smiling slightly.

Peter placed his hand on her cheek. She nodded at him and her smile widened; her face was still slightly tear-stained.

The transmission ended.

Jim stood by his Captain's chair absolutely floored. He was part of a legacy, a noble legacy. The experience he had wasn't just about being informed who the Nohvari were. It was about knowing who they were. Knowing their way of life. Jim felt honour mixed with sadness. There were no records of the Nohvari race in history books, they must have been eliminated centuries ago. He felt like he had just lost his planet and people as Spock had with Vulcan.

Jim didn't realise that the bridge had turned to him waiting for his orders.

"Captain." Spock said breaking Jim out of his thoughts.

"Mr. Sulu, use a tractor beam to pull the probe into the cargo hold." Jim said trying to sound firm. He'd somewhat forgotten how to use his commanding voice.

"I will have a science team examine it as soon as possible." Spock noted to Jim. Jim acknowledged him.

"You have the bridge Commander."

It was 0400 hours. Jim stood on the deserted observation deck and watched as the stars flew past. They had gone back to warp a few hours ago.

The sparkling stars illuminated Jim's eyes as he looked out the window. How he had missed this. The galaxy to explore, a ship at his command, a loyal crew.

The crew may ask questions about the probe. Jim would tell them he underwent a simulation. But he wouldn't be specific. Only Spock could know. He was the one who rescued him after all. His other life would remain his. His memories, the loves and losses, the new ways of thinking. They would be his and his alone. But those around him would benefit from his new-found self.

A more mature and knowing captain, one who carried on the Nohvari legacy.

A familiar swoosh was heard and the doors to the observation deck were opened. Spock entered as Jim turned to see him.

"I hope I am not intruding Jim." He said quietly.

"Of course not Spock. You're always welcome." Jim replied indicating to Spock that he should stand with him.

They stood in companionable silence as they watched the vastness of the galaxy go by. Spock was calculating the risk of mentioning counselling to Jim when Jim decided to do some talking of his own.

"I had the most gorgeous guide dog. Her name was Jade. A loyal and faithful dog she was." Jim remembered, smiling fondly.

"I see."

"Aw, come on Spock. Surely you had a great pet at some point?" Jim jibed.

"I did." Spock confirmed. "It was a Vulcan animal known as a sehlat who was named I-Chaya."

"I bet Jade was cuter than I-Chaya." Jim teased. Spock simply sighed.

They slipped into a playful conversation in the early hours of the morning.

Two lives resided in Jim, but they were gradually becoming one. They did not make him weaker, but stronger. The noble legacy of an alien race was engraved in Jim's heart. He could live this life without forgetting the other.

I'll dream you wide awake.

A/N: This is probably the end my friends. Thank you for your lovely reviews and encouragement. It has been a blast to write this and I hope you have enjoyed reading. Feedback on absolutely anything is always appreciated. Until we meet again.