You know what Star Trek should've had more of?

Academy-Era.

Just sayin'.

I mean, come on; it's the forming of beautiful friendships, and there had to have been more crazy adventures than just meeting deadlines and passing with more than a "C".

So...yeah. Ranting aside, though...

This is my first attempt at an ST multi-chapter ficlet, so any constructive criticism is welcome.

Also, a few pointers:

1) This takes place during the crew's years in the Academy (well, not this first chapter, obviously. This is more just 'setting the scene' for the following story).

2) This is my own incorporation of a TOS episode into the Reboot Universe. Obviously, with the new cast and the fact that it's during the Academy instead of their five-year-mission, there's going to be a lot of differences. But let's see if all y'all can figure out which episode the following events are going to be based on. :D

Enjoy! And I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know I did.

God bless and have a great day (or night)!

ThePro-LifeCatholic


It had been a slow morning on the USS Enterprise, preceded by a slow week and the outlook seemed to suggest that the morning was going to be followed up by another long, uneventful day.

James T. Kirk, the ship's brash young captain, squirmed uneasily in his chair. He and quiet were about as compatible as oil and water, and while he enjoyed these moments of temporary peace as much as any other crewmember, he now found himself itching for some form of activity. A planetary scan, a mishap in Engineering, anything. He spun the chair in a slow circle, taking inventory of the Bridge's current status for about the fiftieth time since his shift had begun.

Spock was sitting at his station, just as stoic and still as ever. He didn't turn or acknowledge his captain in any way; Kirk frowned disapprovingly at his first officer's back and redirected his attention to the helm. Sulu and Chekov were deeply involved in what appeared to be a rather intense conversation. A conversation that was quickly escalating beyond half-whispered exchanges.

"Shut. Up. Sulu!" Chekov hissed. The ship's pilot – currently being told off by the young navigator - was hunched over his controls, his shoulders shaking slightly as he laughed as silently as possible. A few snorts and a chuckle escaped his lips.

"You were the one who asked," Sulu retorted after taking several seconds to regain his composure.

Jim's eyes darted back and forth between the two, following the unfolding conversation intently.

"Might I enquire as to what's going on, gentlemen?" he asked.

Chekov spun his chair 'round, an expression akin to horror plastered to his face.

"Nozing, Sir!" he squawked, too quickly. Sulu's answer was to begin laughing again. Chekov aimed a fierce glare in the direction of the pilot, but his gaze slid to the captain's attentive, expecting expression.

James T. Kirk's curiosity had been piqued, and it was a well-known fact that, once roused, the captain's stubborn desire to sate said curiosity was not easily overcome. Sooner or later, the captain would find the answers to his questions, or drive the rest of the ship insane with his constant and aggravating inquiries.

Like now, for instance.

Jim glanced from one man to the other, a million yet-unspoken questions passing from his expression and posture to his pilot and navigator. By now, though, the situation involved more than just the three individuals. Various Bridge members, having nothing else to do at the moment, were roped into the escalating scenario with various levels of enthusiasm, curiosity, and mild annoyance (with the exception of Mr. Spock, of course, who never let himself get involved in such trivial matters).

"Chekov started it," Sulu began again. Pavel continued to glare daggers into his shipmate's head, but Sulu pushed forward, bound and determined to drag the whole matter out into the light.

"We were talking about the different forms of exercise that we've both seen in the gym, and he asked me what I thought the most common Vulcan activities would be." He had to pause for a moment and compose himself once more. Chekov buried his head in his arms.

"I just told him what I thought!" Sulu spread his hands out in an innocent gesture. "I told him that Vulcans probably were great at the monkey bars…"

A quick grin lighted Jim's face at the mental image. No wonder Sulu had been laughing. He glanced in the direction of Spock's station, but the Vulcan had made no pretense of hearing the statements being thrown back-and-forth. Not yet, anyway.

"…And I said that Spock especially was an expert in tree-climbing," Sulu finished suddenly. His words dissolved into laughter; Chekov grumbled several muffled and exasperated-sounding statements into the yellow fabric of his sleeves.

Sure, the thought of Spock swinging from branch to branch like an overgrown, pointed-eared ape was hilarious in of itself, but Jim had the sneaking suspicion that it wasn't just a passing remark in a conversation. There was something behind Sulu's statement.

And Jim was gonna find out what that was.

"Hey Spock." The captain swiveled his chair to face his First Officer. "Care to shed some light on whatever Sulu and Chekov are going on about?"

Spock wasn't facing the captain, but Jim knew the Vulcan well enough now to see clearly the little signs of tension. He was sitting completely erect, hands lying motionless on the surface of the PADD he had been holding and he was staring, unseeing, at the screen in front of his face.

Oh, that Vulcan knew something, alright.

Jim squirmed in his chair, the impatience and curiosity causing him to almost physically feel an itch crawl up his spine.

"C'mon, Spock," he whined. "I need to know. It can't be that bad, right?"

Sulu was quivering again; he shook his head and nearly choked in an attempt to begin talking. "It was horrible, Captain."

"Good luck getting Spock to tell you vhat happened," Chekov snipped.

Well, then. Jim leaned back in his chair and slowly turned to face the front window. So Spock was going to hold out? No problem. Kirk let his gaze rest on the back of Sulu's head. So far, he had been the most forthcoming out of the three, and if Jim was reading his actions correctly, the pilot wanted to tell the story.

"Mr. Chekov? Mr. Sulu?"

Pavel shot a desperate look at Hikaru, whose response was a submissive shrug. A defeated realization crept over the navigator's face as his hands relaxed on the controls and he slid further into his chair. He cast a final glance in the direction of the Science Officer's station, but Spock had yet to move or say anything against the looming confession.

"Alright, Keptin. But you were warned."

Sulu leaned back in his chair, his gaze flitting over the starry night sky outside the glass pane.

"Believe it or not, Captain, it happened a while ago."

"How long ago?" Jim prompted. He felt another wriggle shoot up his back, but this was one of excitement, anticipation, and victory. Finally something to distract him from the monotonous stagnation of the past few days.

"It started in…" Sulu closed his eyes, as if this would help him better recall the details of his story. "I'd say the second year of Academy. That or the very beginning of the third year. Sound about right, Chekov?"

"I'd say so." Chekov nodded in confirmation.

Jim shifted in his chair, glanced at Spock. The Vulcan's head was tilted slightly; he was subtly paying attention to the unfolding tale with just as much interest as everyone else on the Bridge.

This was gonna be good.


Oh my goodness, everybuddies.

Writing these people...it's great. They're all great. This whole story's gonna be great. I can feel it. *Now, if only I knew what was actually going on in the rest of the story...*

Don't worry, ladies and gents. More to follow soon! The next chapter will launch into the characters telling the story from their respective perspectives, starting with the Mr. Plant-Infatuated Hikaru Sulu.

And yes; there will be plenty of Bones. Don't worry. I'm not leaving him out. Being my favorite character, he's gonna get a lot of attention in later chapters.