5 Years Earlier, Starship Endeavor

“Report.”

Jim Kirk looked up from his PADD into the questioning face of his commanding officer, Robert April. 

“It’s currently too dangerous to use the transporter, Captain.”

“Damn. Rigel 9 really needs those medical supplies.”

Doctor Helen Moore bit her lip and shook her head. “Agreed. They’re really dealing with something down there. What about the shuttlecraft?”

“With that Ion storm that’s going to be risky too,” Jim stated.

“Less risky than trying to do the transporter though,” Dr. Moore said. She turned to April. “I’m a pretty good pilot, Bob. I only need a few medical personnel with me. Just two. I’m willing to risk it.”

“Helen—” Jim began to protest.

“Jim, I know what you’re going to say. But the citizens of Rigel 9 are dying and without this needed medicine, they don’t stand a chance.”

“We wail for the storm to pass,” Jim maintained.

“And that could be days. They might be dead by then! Bob, I can do this.”

Captain April pursed his lips. “Okay, Helen.”

“Captain—”

April held up his hand to cut Jim off. “Your protests are duly noted, Jim. But Helen’s right. Rigel 9 needs these supplies. But I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to go along with the party, Jim.”

“What?” Helen exclaimed. “No!. Captain, I don’t need to endanger unnecessary personnel. Commander Kirk—”

“Will accompany you. I’m not going to have a team of only trained medical crew members go into a potentially hostile situation. Commander Kirk’s an exemplary negotiator and well-trained in combat.”

“But—”

“You both have your orders. Doctor, Commander. Get your team together and the supplies and head out.”

Jim watched Captain April depart, then he turned to Helen. “It’s okay.”

“It is not. I never intended to make you part of this, Jim.”

He drew her into his arms and held her against him, kissing her forehead. “I would have wanted to go.”

She sighed. “They really do need that medicine.”

“I know. So let’s get organized and do this. We’ll be back home before you know it.”

Jim woke feeling pain everywhere. All around him the shuttlecraft filled with smoke from the fire that had apparently started the minute the shuttle had crashed. He unconnected his seat belt and scrambled from his chair.

He checked Helen, who had been in the pilot’s seat next to him. Half of her face had been battered in from the crash. There was no pulse.

“Sorry, Helen,” he whispered.

A quick check of the others revealed he was the only survivor. He knew he had to contact the ship but his first task was to remove himself from the shuttlecraft before he succumbed to smoke inhalation.

His left leg was bleeding pretty badly and his head was killing him, but he made it to the door, which was twisted and bent. There was a hole at the top not big enough to fit through. Jim, coughing and wheezing, tried the controls and then manually to open the door.

Nothing.

“Damn, damn, damn.”

He glanced up at the hole, feeling weaker by the minute. He had no choice. He’d have to use his last strength to do it.

A moment later, he shifted into cat form, leapt on to the bar of the twisted door, and then out the hole, onto the planet.