You open the old time novel, where the heart is gone, and the hero would be me

Part 3

"Energizing,"

McCoy was moved from one destination to the next. The familiar transporter room became solid through the screen of various blue shaded background. McCoy held onto his walking stick. His stomach churned feeling ready to puke. He stepped off in mid-transport onto the steps becoming solidified. The chief engineer looked up in bewilderment toward the solidified admiral. His boots were the first to become solid as the camera moved up. Behind him was Lewis, Elizabeth, and two other members of his family. The two senior officers were standing by the transporter console.

"Captain, First officer," McCoy said, feeling around the collar of his uniform. "Nothing like the old fashioned transporter system to wake up elder. " the doctor had a pleasant smile bouncing on the tips of his toes leaning forward.

"A honor to meet you," Jolene said, shaking the doctors hand.

"Mine as well," McCoy said, then turned his attention on the Tellarite. She shook her head then he lowered his hand linking it behind his back.

"Hello," Annabelle said. "You look more alive than usual."

"I am not bothered by Tellarite insults," McCoy said. "I served alon' side Telleraite nurses in my career."

"Hm, really?" Annabelle asked.

"Uh huh," McCoy said. "So don't be worried about little old me."

"That settles another problem," Jolene said.

"Argumentative CMO?" McCoy asked.

"Yes," Jolene said.

"Love to meet them after I get settled into my assigned quarters," McCoy said, lightly bouncing.

"You and your family have the VIP section," Jolene said. McCoy unlinked his hands from behind his back. "Which is most of it."

"Oh good," McCoy rubbed his hands. "This is the refit model."

McCoy looked around noticing the light gray shading in the room. It was more visible than the last time that he had been aboard her. The USS Enterprise A had that texture. They replaced the brightening for the dark intensity. It looked more appealing that way which was universally agreed by most of the crew. He visualized Scotty talking to Uhura alongside the doors. Uhura listening, carefully, to the Scotsman's passionate complaints about the Enterprise's engines. Maybe with a bag of lunch since Scott was fine tuning engineering when it went below his standards of being below efficiency. Which lead to missing meals. Uhura would be found in engineering keeping Scott company when off duty herself and more often than not, she could be found visiting Sick Bay for her wife Christine Chapel. It was everything that he remembered. The captain and the first officer shared an aside glance.

"Been that way for a long time," Jolene said. "We decided to brighten up the ship after I took command."

"It's better this way," Annabelle said.

"Several hundred people would disagree with ya on that," McCoy said. His relatives stepped off the transporter padd feeling unwell. "And ya might want to inform the doctor of this ship that they are going to have some patients headed their way," he briefly looked over in the direction of the small group then back in the direction of the star fleet officers. "Most of my relatives never been beamed off before."

"Understood," Jolene said. "Just how many family members do you have?"

"Approximately two hundred thirty," McCoy said.

"Admiral," Jolene said.

"Kiddin'," McCoy said. "One hundred ninety."

"One hundred ninety family members?" Annabelle repeated.

"Uh huh," McCoy said.

"Well, lucky we're running a skeleton crew," Jolene said.

"Ya can run a constitution class with seven people," McCoy said. "Remember that time we stole the Enterprise?"

"Very well," Jolene said. "It's a reason why there's a rule added to court martial offense that a group of officers can't steal a starship." McCoy light heartedly laughed.

"I am goin' to give myself a tour of the youn' girl," McCoy said.

"When you need to know where your quarters are, Miss Annabelle will guide you," Jolene said.

"The only people who need guidance aboard ya ship is my family," McCoy said. "I will talk to ya later. When I need to know where my quarters are."

McCoy walked past the two rather speedily.

"Is it hard to believe that Star Fleet is letting him go alone into the anomaly?" Annabella asked.

"It's hard to believe anything he does as an admiral," Jolene said, as the sound of puking was heard from the transporter padd. "Oh."