Disclaimer: Aside from some original characters, the characters contained within this story belong to Paramount not me. I assure you I don't put them through too much danger and trauma.

A/N I posted the first three chapters of this before and now I have the rest of it ready, finally. However, I am open to suggestions regarding a title. Favorite choclate covered character to whoever provides the best name

Chapter One

As morning rose above the sea, gold seemed to glitter from the rich blueness, which echoed the sky. " The gold, do you see it?" A voice was heard suddenly out of the peacefulness of morning. " Do you see it?" The voice said again.

" There is no gold, my father says so" the second voice had the high pitched timbre of youth. Over a green mound, two figures appeared, one an old man, the other a young boy. This was the only disturbance to the mood of tranquility that prevailed that morning. The sea made a lapping sound, which was strangely harmonious; neither could have foreseen the danger that hid in such tranquility.

Meanwhile. In the dark reaches of space, where the beauty of starlight reigned supreme, the word fascinating was heard.

"Fascinating?" echoed a second voice, the tone tinged with curiosity in contrast to the impassiveness of the original speaker.

"Yes, Captain, Fascinating" the first voice was heard again on the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise as it cruised through space.

"May I ask what it is you find so fascinating? Some new space anomaly perhaps? Queried Captain Kirk when it became apparent that Spock had nothing further to add.

"Nothing quite so interesting, captain" Spock moved gracefully from his place at the science station to stand at his captain's shoulder though slightly behind. A fact which had been noted before. "It appears that for once we may complete a tour of duty without incident. It is this relative lack of activity which I find so fascinating." " You may find it fascinating but I find it positively boring although undoubtedly, Dr McCoy may appreciate having only the common cold to treat!" Captain Kirk as if to prove a point stifled an exaggerated yawn. " How long to the end of the shift?" he said to no one in particular. Precise as usual and totally missing the fact that it had been rhetorical, Spock answered,"1.251 hours, Captain"

"Spock, you should be careful about being so precise, someone might actually think that you are counting down the seconds in anticipation "was Captain Kirk's amused response.

"I fail to see how they would arrive at that conclusion", Spock replied stiffly, "such an assumption without proper data would be illogical".

An amused grin lit the captain's face while several personnel turned back to their stations and began to studiously observe the various readings. All were smiling though as they sensed that a trap had been laid for Mr. Spock and he had once more walked into it.

"Yes, Spock, it would be illogical ", said Captain Kirk with all seriousness, "but" he added suddenly acquiring a wicked grin, "totally human". Spock's only reply was an impassive look and a raised eyebrow. Certain members of the bridge crew acquired a strange cough.

While all this was happening on the bridge, other activities were being pursued through out the ship, though not all were as humorously based. In the gym, Sulu was closing in for the kill. "Bad move, you're mine" was the only warning that Sulu's student and victim received that his life was about to be tragically ended. Throwing his foil down, Chekov sat himself carefully on the floor, in absolute contrast to the roughness with which he had flung his foil down.

" I am fed up with this" was the first thing he said after regaining his breath though his words had raggedness to them. "With what?" was Sulu's innocent reply though the amused gleam belied any innocence regarding Chekov's complaint? "With being.a .a, I cannot recall an accurate English word for it" "No English word for it! The term student is generally applicable" was the over astonished reply. " Oh, is that your policy 'death to all students'!" was the highly accented, highly emotional reply. "Whose policy?" broke in a soft feminine voice. Both men jumped while Chekov blushed and began to look down at his feet. Standing in the doorway was Lt. Karina Buckley. "Whose policy?"She asked again. Her deep blue eyes glanced enquiringly around as she stood in the doorway. "Come on in, Karina" said Sulu. Once the invitation was issued she moved confidently into the room. At 5foot 11inches, she stood taller then both men. "You still haven't answered my question," she said. "About what?" was Chekov's startled reply. " Regarding what policy you were discussing? She uttered in a soft tone tinged with amusement. "Chekov believes that it is my policy to kill all my students" Sulu said cheerfully with a mock scowl on his face, his eyes full of humour. "Oh" was Karina's simple response. This only served to deepen Chekov's embarrassment.

In the sickbay, Doctor McCoy was frowning at his readings. Grumbling to his staff, he proceeded to a turbolift. "The bridge" he ordered once inside. Once there, he immediately went to the captain to give him a 'hard time' and to tease Spock. Life continued as usual aboard the Enterprise despite the 'relative lack of activity'.