On Earth was a woman, an Admiral of some great note. She was 125, one of seven people that everyone in StarFleet and nearly all the Federation knew without knowing. To coin a phrase, she was the cute one. Once upon a time, she was deathly afraid of becoming a hag, brutal, manipulative and ruthless. But those who really knew her also knew the truth. She had held her looks rather well. As to the rest, those qualities served her well as head of StarFleet's Personnel ReAcquisition Authority. She found the talent that had called it a day, and got them to take a night on the town. For a woman whose name meant 'Freedom', very few entered her office without re-enlisting, sometimes after long absences. Like a century.

When James T. Kirk had made his most recent return from the dead, it had been Admiral Nyota Uhura who had taken her now junior officer aside and convinced him to take up the position he was seemingly born to. He would always love her for getting him to once again be Captain Of The Enterprise, and would never quite forgive the trick she pulled to get him to do it. But that was a private concern between the two of them, and them alone. So of course it was being whispered all over StarFleet. That, tale, however, is the concern of another day.

Now, her old friend needed a new Chief Medical Officer. The former one, the grief-stricken Beverly Crusher, was resigning from StarFleet after the tragic death of Jean-Luc Picard on Veridian III. She was as strong as they came, but she had never truly girded herself for the possibility of her friend, Captain, and sometime lover simply not being there anymore. In StarFleet, that was a career-threatening mistake.

Kirk's 'death' on the Enterprise-B had joined with other personal tragedies to drive Leonard McCoy into a drunken binge. Not that the other five had done that much better, at first. Pavel and Hikaru, Captains of The B and The Excelsior, respectively, had gotten into a sibling-type feud over Command procedure. Spock became a bit strident in his Ambassadorial duties. Uhura, now Chekov's Number One, took a while to realize that being XO meant kicking some Center-Seat Butt once in a while. But they got past that bad time, and so would Beverly.

( Writer's note : Thanx To Randy Landers for the preceding paragraph, precised from 'Chekov's Enterprise' - Read It!)

Before meeting with Beverly, who was helping her to find that replacement CMO, she stood again in front of what, for 60 years, may as well have been a coffin. In it lay her other Captain, her other friend, and, at least on ten occasions, lover. In a life like hers, one remembered the repeaters. But now, it was coffin no more. His disease was cured, and Admiral Uhura was permitted to break the seal on the stasis chamber. The sleeper awoke, and stared up at her. He smiled, and tried to speak, but found he couldn't. So she did.

"Welcome Back....Captain Chekov."

She helped Pavel up, and showed him the refresher unit, and left a privacy lock on the door so he could rest-or not rest-as the case may be. After both a sonic and hydro cleansing, he dressed, breathed in the air, and looked around. Assured that he was not being watched, he pulled a decidedly non-StarFleet device from behind his left ear, and spoke into it. Oddly, not a trace of the accent that was as much a Pavel Chekov trademark as anything else was even remotely evident. But then, perhaps this was not so odd.

"First things First. Beautiful job, people. Not that I'd allow you to survive a bad job. The multiversal transporter worked like a Shadow Fleet against a ship of Pilgrims. Keep Pavel happy and bound over there, release him only if our beloved President decides he needs to lecture me on ethics. They'll think I've lost it. But I haven't. I've gained it all. This little corner of reality is chock-full of our kind, and I can gain an edge just by observing them. They all think I'm this second-tier hero, Chekov. That will be my key to unquestioned access. Orders : Don't call me - I'll call you. The next wave of human evolution rides on this study and acquisition. So you do your jobs, I'll do mine. Bester out."

Putting his device away, Alfred Bester turned and saw a model of Space Station Deep Space Nine. He shook his head.

"That is, without a doubt, the single ugliest space station I have ever seen. At least Sheridan's people have taste! Yuck!"

In her office, oblivious to the crossover kidnapping, was Admiral Uhura. She was looking over a short list of twenty-four possible replacements for Enterprise-E CMO presented to her by Doctor Beverly Crusher. Two names caught her attention. Husband and wife surgeons living on the Korean peninsula. Beverly smiled.

"I thought you'd catch them."

Uhura laughed, and pointed at the names. She couldn't believe her eyes.

"Henry and Lorraine Blake? Who do those two think they're fooling?"

"Nyota?"

"Yes, Bev?"

"I took the liberty of having a transporter circuit set up. It'll take us straight to Number 4077 Klinger Way in Wiejanbou, Korea. Those two are the best. Plus, they're old friends of--well--everyone! I say, give Captain Kirk two CMO's."

Uhura considered Beverly's words, then grinned an evil grin.

"Did he--get you?"

"Ohhh, yes. You, too?"

"Mmm. Of course, he wasn't married then. She'd kill us if we tried anything now. Hey, Bev?"

"Yes, Admiral?"

"Let's do it."

In Korea a tall man, impossibly and deceptively strong and fast, laid flowers at a grave. It simply read : "Endora-Beloved StepMother, 1273-2373."

"You okay in there? Y'know, Walter and Erin were by. She thinks you would've liked this spot. Me, I dunno. Shade was never your style, Mom. I know, you liked 'Mother', but Sam called you 'Mother'. You married my dad so close to his death. After that Cigarette jerk decided to get at me through him, you were all I had left. Mom. Mom No. 2. Dad. And now Mom number 3. Damn you, Endora, witches aren't supposed to......"

He was crying, and so his wife pulled him away, and wiped his face. She held his head between her hands.

"Hey! You crazy galoot. 400 years, and you're still a sore loser. She died happy, after a long life. She loved this place, and she loved you. And you wonder why Samantha never visits. You kill her with you grief, darling."

Through his tears he laughed.

"The first-the first time we met, she tried to turn me into a chair. My God. I'll be older than Methos before I accept a single death. I don't lose to death. I cheat it.  Honey, I can't stay here anymore. Can we--move on?"

She half-frowned.

"Well, we've certainly done it enough times. It just feels so--repetitive."

"But what else can we do besides move on? I mean, what other options do we really have?"

Then, from behind the couple, came Uhura's voice.

"Well, you could always try Starting Over. You seemed to do it okay after beating Khan, back in 2003. Now, the only other man to beat Khan needs a couple of good CMO's-he deserves the best."

The woman ran over and embraced the pair.

"Nyota! Beverly! Oh, I haven't seen you two since the days of the 1701st!"

The man was quizzical.

"Then its all true? Jim is back?"

Uhura smiled in victory. She had them, whether they knew it or not. She allowed Beverly to counter their reluctance, and work out the fine details. She watched as they both signed the PADD's, then pulled Beverly aside.

"Good job."

"Glad to help, Admiral."

"Like to do more than help?"

"How so?"

"By taking over my job, kiddo."

"Nyota, I told you, I'm leaving StarFleet. Besides, they have you for Reacquistion."

Uhura put down her head, then half-smiled.

"Not for long. I'm dying, Beverly."

Expertly, Uhura let Crusher take that in while she proclaimed the new Co-CMO's of the Enterprise-E.

"I, Nyota Uhura of Personnel Reacquisition, do hereby accept the Doctors once known as Henry and Lorraine Blake to handle the duties of Chief Medical Officer of The Starship Enterprise. Welcome Aboard, Hawkeye and Margaret Pierce!"

On Space Station Deep Space Nine, two men were clashing with battleth's, and taunting one another as they went. They were good at the taunts--they just weren't very good with the weapons.

"Hey, Ben? If you don't know how to handle that thing, I could call my friend, The Ambassador, to give you a few pointers. He's quite good."

"Oh, really, Jim? Well, I've seen little Molly O'Brien swing that weapon in a harder arc than you are! Get off my station, Relic. I'll fetch your cane, after you lose."

"Lose? Lose to a glorified Frontier Deputy? Ben, you overrate yourself. Tell you what, I'll get the E's tractor beams to tow this station up to the wormhole. It hasn't been terribly effective as a deterrent to The Dominion. Maybe it'll serve as a cork, instead."

For all their bold talk, the fight was less deadly than hilarious. The battle of Kirk vs. Sisko, inspired by the tensions between them, seemed to consist of slapped heads, pulled noses, and strikes with the battleths' blunt ends. In back with the observing Gowron was a sneering General Martok, sniper of the peace talks.

"Pfah! They fight less like two warriors than two stooges. Chancellor, how much longer must we observe this stupidity?"

Gowron shrugged.

"The men find it amusing, but I have had enough. To think, they sought to impress me back to the table with their warrior skills. Martok, go out there and tell them the show is over, and so are The Khitomer Accords. We depart thereafter."

Gleefully, Martok made his way through the crowd of chuckling
Klingons. Kirk and Sisko took note of this."

"Captain, lets end this!"

"Captain. Lets."

They banged their weapons together in an odd pattern, and began to chant in unison.

"Peas Porridge Hot; Peas Porridge Cold; Peas Porridge In The Pot-NINE DAYS OLD!"

With that last word, they slashed at the approaching Martok, whose flesh and blood was revealed to be--anything but. Bashir and O'Brien had been on transporter/sickbay standby in case their Captains were wrong. They weren't. General Martok-or rather the shapeshifter who had replaced him-stood stunned.

"That's two, Kirk! The Dominion shall not forget its enemies. But how did you see through my guise?"

Kirk shook his head.

"Actually, that's three. Maartia was one of your people, wasn't she? Had the same 'I'm in charge of everything' look about her. Oh, well. B'bye, 'General'."

As every weapon in the room was emptied on the Changeling, Constable Odo felt two kinds of pain. The death he felt through the Great Link. The shame he felt in himself, for Kirk was right. His people's arrogance might well be their undoing.

Gowron smiled at the smoking remains, and looked with those crazy eyes of his at two men he had new respect for.

"The Changeling was stupid, Kirk! You always beat us. What chance does The Dominion have? The invasion of Cardassia is done, and The Khitomer Accords restored."

All races cheered at that. But Gowron continued.

"On one condition."

Kirk looked to Sisko, who asked the obvious.

"What condition would that be, Chancellor?"

"A real fight, of course! Take the strength and skill you used to create that parody and show these dead gagh how warriors throw down!"

Joyfully, the battle began in earnest.

O'Brien looked at Bashir.

"Julian?"

"Yes, Miles?"

"Let's remain on standby."

"Good idea."

Later, down in Sickbay, the men who had undone the Dominion's most intricate plot to date talked of victory-and disaster.

"You did it, Jim. The entire quadrant is lined up against The Dominion. This won't stop them, but it has to throw a spanner in their well-oiled works!"

"Thanks, Ben. But I almost destroyed the Alliance, maybe beyond eventual repair. Things went well in the end, but Martok or no, the way I approached Gowron was bound to rub him the wrong way. I have to remember that this isn't my time, and prepare accordingly. Slapstick may not be enough, next time. Hey, Ben?"

"Yes, Jim?"

"Want to trade keys for a day?"

"Jim, I thought you'd never ask."

For a day, Sisko felt the fabric of a Sovereign-class vessel beneath his feet. But he also did some head-hunting. Kirk, after feeling the power of The Defiant, took the loss rather well.

"I'm sorry to lose you, Mr. Worf. Somehow, I felt safer with a Klingon at Security."

"Of course you did, sir. But a Klingon liaison is badly needed here, as we have seen. Add to that, Captain Sisko has offered me the Command Track. Good fortune, Captain Kirk. It was an honor serving with you. My son will miss your stories."

Geordi La Forge made a similar announcement, leading Kirk to half-wonder if he had a hull breach.

"Captain, with all due respect, and you are due a lot, my loyalty was to Captain Picard. Besides, Dr. Brahms has recently divorced, and working with her at Utopia Planitia, making the breakthroughs at the starting-gate--well, sir, that's something of a dream come true. I really hope you'll understand."

"Geordi, sometimes it seems I spent my life fumbling opportunities like that. Good luck. But--I do need a Chief Engineer."

Geordi smiled a cat-canary special.

"No, sir. You do not need a Chief Engineer. You need--A Miracle Worker."

Then, from behind a pylon, stepped just such a man as Geordi described.

"So you want me to take over those sorry-looking engines? Eh, it'll be a twelve-hour job!"

Kirk beamed with utter joy. In all the universe, only one other face could make him smile any wider.

"Twelve Hours? But you'll have it for me in Six, won't you—Captain Scott?"

"Its as I told Geordi, Jim. Call me Scotty. All my best friends do."

As two old friends shared tales of miracles, the Enterprise-E finally got under way. Watching it depart were Benjamin Sisko and Jadzia Dax. He whispered to his mentor/student.

"Toldja so, Old Man."

But all Jadzia saw was Worf passing by.

"Talk later, Ben. Hunk alert!"

-------------------------------------------
1 Week Later....

"Captain Kirk, Sir?"

"Come in, Counselor. Oh, is this your mother? Welcome, Ambassador Troi."

Lxwana looked around.

"I liked the old ship a lot better. And this picture? What sort of man keeps a portrait of himself? Its quite vain, you know."

Deanna remembered something.

"Oh, my! Mother, I'm late for a counseling appointment. I'll just cancel and then be right back. Captain, I...."

Kirk's face was not that of a happy camper.

"Come back soon, Counselor!"

As Deanna left, her mother continued.

"So, I told Sarek--he was the Vulcan Ambassador, you know--that IDIC symbols would be viewed by the Daxamites as a representation of Lead, which is a deadly toxin to them...."

Kirk just rolled his eyes, and waited for Deanna's return.

But Deanna had forgotten that her two patients were new Engineer Scotty and newly emotional Data. She only finished with them after six hours. She was now exhausted, and went to her quarters.

Deanna quietly looked in the mirror, splashed her face, and then heard a door chime. She invited the person in, and was glad to see it was Will Riker.

"Yes, Will?"

"Hey, Deanna, the locator's off-line. Do you know where Captain Kirk is? No one can seem to find him, anywhere."

"Oh, I'm sure he's fine. Last I saw him, I left him with........."

Her face drained of color, and she turned towards Will. Either through intuition or their past relationship, he realized Deanna's unspoken words. They spoke as one.

"Oh----Shit."
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To be concluded in Getting To Know You