They didn't know what was going on

Three weeks ago the crew of the USS Enterprise was given the mission of transporting several ambassadors to an interplanetary conference, once the mission was successfully completed they were allowed a few weeks of leave time on Earth.

After spending almost three years away from the planet, much of the crew was ready to step foot on the familiar ground once more, but after reaching Earth it was discovered that some of the crew could not get off the ship.

No one could figure out what was wrong with the transporter, but it wasn't letting them beam down to Earth. It had been working perfectly for the rest of the crew and it worked fine when they tested it on an unimportant object, but for an unknown reason it would not beam them off the ship

Everyone left on the ship was truly starting to regret not getting off with the rest of the crew, but there really had been no helping it.

Doctor Leonard McCoy had told his staff that they could go and that he would finish the organization of the MED bay tools and supplies.

Nyota Uhora had been requested by Starfleet to try and interpret what she could from a strange static filled signal that had come in, but she had unfortunately not been able to make out anything that she could even begin to analyse into words or a language.

Scotty had roped Chekov into helping him do a last check on the ship's engines before leaving, it wouldn't do to get back from shore leave only to find a problem with the engines that could have easily been fixed if they had caught the problem sooner.

Sulu was waiting for both Chekov and Scotty to be done their checks, the three of them had plans to go out for a night of drinking for their first night back on Earth.

First Officer Spock had remained on board to try and fix one of his computer programs that had started to malfunction. His father, the ambassador Sarek, and his mother, Lady Amanda, who had stayed with the Enterprise because they had also planned to spend Spocks shore leave together on Earth, were also stuck on the Enterprise with the crew.

And Jim, being the captain of the ship, was meant to be the last man off the ship.

When it had become apparent that there was something wrong with the transporters they had tried to contact Starfleet only to discover that all communication off the ship was being blocked

Despite trying to remain calm tempers were starting to flare amongst the group and it wasn't long before members of the group were starting to yell at each other from where they stood in the transporter room.

"And I'm telling ya there is nothing, and I mean nothing wrong with the transporter!" Scotty explained for what must have been the tenth time to those gathered in front of the transporter, he was starting to get fed up with the others constantly telling him to check the damned thing.

"I agree with Mr. Scott," Spock spoke as he came out from behind the controls having completed his own check on the transporter controls and finding them in working order

Silence descended upon the group, if both Scotty and Spock said there was nothing wrong then there really was nothing wrong

"Then how do we get off?" Amanda broke the silence

"Well, there is always the shuttles?" Sulu proposed

"No. If we use the shuttles then one of us would have to stay behind. And if we all went then the bay doors would have to remain open, besides; we need to figure out what the problem is and not just leave it," Kirk stated to his crewmen

Suddenly a disembodied voice spoke from all around them, it seemed to echo around the empty hallways, it came from everywhere, but no where's all at once, "Greetings Enterprise crew, Ambassador and Lady. By now you have realised that it is not the transporter that is the problem. Now if you will go to the room with the largest screen, all shall be explained."

Kirk stepped away from the group and towards where the voice seemed to sound the loudest, "and am I correct in assuming that it is you that is stopping us from leaving the ship and from contacting Starfleet?"

"All will be explained Captain"

After making their way into a rec room with a large view screen in it, they all sat around a table with Kirk at the head, to his right was Spock who had Amanda and Sarek beside him followed by Uhora. On Kirks other side was McCoy, Scotty, Chekov, and Sulu.

As soon as everyone was seated comfortably the view screen came to life, on it was the top half of a man or alien with a very large head; he wore a shiny robe and an amulet around his neck.

Both Kirk and Spock sat up a little straighter, "You're a Talosian."

The rest of the crew perked up, they had heard of this race only in rumors, but only the Captain and Mr. Spock had ever seen them before.

"Indeed, Captain, and before you ask; Captain Pike is doing well on our planet."

"Well, that is good to hear. But now let's get down to business, why have you stopped us from getting off this ship?"

Everyone but the Vulcan's leaned forward to hear what the Talosian would say

"It had come to my races attention that an event in one of your futures will cause changes to the past. These changes will have disastrous effects and events will happen as a result of this, events that were never meant to happen and will alter the course of history. If you wish to then all of you may view this alternate timeline and can work towards bettering it."

McCoy pulled Kirk towards him and furiously whispered into his ear, "Jim! You're not seriously considering this are you? What if he's lying and nothing that we see will ever happen, what if this is all just a ploy to distract us from something big?"

"But what if it does happen Bones? What then? We have to take that chance." Turning towards the others Kirk addressed them as well, "if any of you chose to leave then you may. No one will hold it against you."

Nobody moved. They all wanted to see what was changed and see if there was anything they could do to prevent it.

"Very well Enterprise. We will begin now."