(Based on characters in The Lightning in the Collied Night)

September 18, 2037      

Lai dragged herself up the stairs to the second floor of Crothers Hall, exhausted from her first full week of classes at Stanford University. I should have my head examined for taking 15 credits my first semester, Lai chastised herself. And I thought my honors classes in high school were tough! She reached her dorm room and opened the door. Her roommate was sitting on her bed, watching something on a pad. She peered up as Lai stepped through the door.

“Pause. Salām, Lai! How were your classes today?”

“Salām, Rahmah.” Lai shrugged her backpack off onto the top of her desk and regarded her roommate with a small, tired smile. “Do you know the saying, ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’?” She sank onto her bed and stretched out her tired body. “I must be really strong after this week.”

Rahmah laughed, “I hear you! Beginnings are difficult, aren’t they? But, we’ll get through this together. Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear.”

“Yes, we will… or die trying!” Lai felt glad to have a roommate who could empathize with her. Their majors were different—Quantum Physics for Lai, Mathematics for Rahmah—but both frosh were on accelerated tracks, taking extra credits their first semester. Rahmah had the added challenge of being far away from her native Jordan; Lai’s parents lived nearby in San Jose.

Lai turned toward Rahmah. “What were you watching?”

“Just a TV show. Have you ever seen Star Trek?”

“The original Star Trek? Well, no… I mean, it’s so old!”

Rahmah grinned. “It is! But, I enjoy it. I’m not sure why. Perhaps because it’s so hopeful about our future. And I love Uhura… she’s one of the officers on the spaceship in the show.” She sat up on the edge of her bed. “I’m watching my favorite episode. Would you like to watch it with me?”

Lai propped herself up on her elbows. “Oh, thanks, but I’ve got a ton of classwork. Maybe some other time.”

“Lai, it’s Friday afternoon,” Rahmah chided gently. “You’ve worked hard all week. Your brain needs a rest.”

Lai looked at Rahmah and reconsidered. “Yeah, you’re right. But first I need some coffee!” she said as she got up from her bed.

“I just made some Arabica for you.” Rahmah tilted her head toward the coffee pot on her dresser.

“You’re the best roomie ever!” Lai exclaimed gratefully. She’d been introduced to Arabica coffee by Rahmah and quickly developed a liking for the acidic brew. It was a rare treat for the two students, due to its high cost. “Would you like some?” Rahmah shook her head, so Lai poured herself a cup and sat down next to her.

Rahmah resumed the video. There were two men in what looked like uniforms—one wore a gold shirt, the other blue… and the man in the blue shirt had pointed ears.

“It looks like they’re in a city on Earth—Earth of a long time ago,” Lai said, puzzled. “Where’s their spaceship… I mean, starship—right?”

“Their starship is gone,” Rahmah explained. “One of their shipmates accidentally went back in time to Earth of 1930 and changed history. They followed him to the past, and they’re trying to undo that mistake.”

Lai rolled her eyes. Sheesh, another time-travel story! One reason Lai wasn’t fond of science fiction stories was their over-reliance on time travel as a plot device. Oh well… I might as well watch. She said it’s her favorite episode—maybe it’ll get better.

As Lai watched the video with Rahmah, she filled in the backstory and answered Lai’s many questions, such as, How did the “Mr. Spock” character buy all of that tech gear on, what, 50 cents an hour? On that question, Rahmah chuckled and replied, “There are some things in science fiction stories that we just need to accept.”

Lai watched with increasing interest as the story reached its tragic climax, the timeline was restored, and the main characters “beamed up” to their ship. As the ending credits appeared, Lai sat quietly next to Rahmah.

“Well, what do you think?” Rahmah asked.

Lai blinked, and cleared her throat. “That was pretty good.” For a time-travel story. “Thanks for sharing it with me.”

Rahmah smiled, “I’m glad you liked it. Not all of the episodes are that good, unfortunately. There’s one about Spock’s brain that—” She stopped when she heard a chime from her phone. “Oh, it’s almost time for prayer!” She set her pad on the bed and stood up. “I’m going to the musallah in Old Union. Feel free to watch another episode, if you’d like.” She put on her hijab and opened the door. “I’ll be back by five, if you want to go to dinner then.”

“That’ll be great. Salām, Rahmah.”

“Salām, Lai!” Rahmah smiled as she closed the door behind her.

Lai looked at the pad on the bed. I should get going on my classwork… but… She picked up the pad and saw a list of Star Trek episodes. She selected one at random, and it started playing. A woman in a skimpy outfit—a belly dancer?—was gyrating to some exotic-sounding music.

Well, THAT’S different! Maybe this one won’t have any time travel.