This originally started out as something for the Star Trek: 2009 movie, but I soon realized that the Original Captain Kirk was easier. I don't own any of the characters

The twelve-year-old boy was wide-eyed, his head swinging back and forth as he tried to take in every bit of his surroundings. Sure, he had been to Space Stations before, but this place was different; way different. This was a Star Base; Star Base 13 to be exact. The boy watched as he station personnel moved through the hallways quickly and efficiently, each one knowing exactly where to go and what to do.

"Jim? Jim, keep up with me now;" his father, George, said. Jim looked up at him, and the hand he held out.

"Yes dad;" the boy said, taking the hand.

As the two continued to their destination, Jim looked at the gold braids on his father's blue shirt sleeve: Lieutenant Commander. George had only been promoted a few weeks before, and was putting his new privileges to use. Jim sighed, wishing his brother Sam had come along. Sam was fourteen, almost fifteen, but he didn't share the same fascination as Jim about space. He preferred discoveries of a scientific kind. George looked down at his son and smiled at him. Jim smiled back. A strange feeling filled George, but he knew the feeling well, he had felt it before. He knew that Jim saw him as his hero, and the boy wanted to follow in his footsteps into space. George was proud of this fact, and proud of his son. That's why they were here now, walking to the officer's lounge where civilians weren't allowed: George was going to show Jim a real Starship, the one he served on.

Jim was still getting used to the sliding doors and the noise they made, but when the doors opened to the lounge, he didn't jump.

"Here we are;" George said as the two walked in. Jim, who had been practically jumping up and down in excitement only a minute before, suddenly became quiet and shy. George squeezed his hand in reassurance. Starfleet officers filled the room, sitting at tables, chatting with friends, a few were having drinks, others were reading, checking reports, making reports, or just relaxing and looking out the viewing windows at the space beyond.

"Over this way, Jim;" George said, steering his son towards an empty table. Even though he had cleared this little father-son field trip with both his Captain and the Station Commander, George was a bit nervous about the other officers, and what they would think about his son being here. Jim sat down and looked out the window, transfixed by the empty space outside with tiny sparkling diamonds.

"The Kelvin should come around any minute;" George said. Jim nodded, watching his transport vessel, the Illusion, drift past. Jim, Sam, and their mother were returning to Tarsus IV after visiting Earth for a wedding of one of his mother's close friends. George and the Kelvin just happened to stop at the same Star Base as his family, which made a very nice reunion.

"Now what do we have here?"

George turned, and stood up to greet the man walking towards him. "Captain April!" George said, shaking his hand. "I didn't know you were here."

"Just arrived a few hours ago;" April responded. "Needed to make a supply stop before heading out. Now George, is this your son here?"

Jim looked and stood up as his father introduced him.

"This is my son Jim;" George said. "Jim, this is Captain Robert April."

"Nice to meet you, sir;" Jim said, shaking the Captain's hand.

The Captain nodded. "You interested in space travel Jim?" April asked.

Jim nodded. "Yes sir. I hope to join Starfleet when I'm old enough."

"Good boy;" April said with a smile.

April turned back to George, and Jim sat back down to look out the window again. For a few minutes, he was lost in his daydream, where he was the Captain of a Starship, while his father and Captain April talked about recent events. Suddenly, a Starship came into view: it was the Kelvin. Jim opened his mouth to tell his father, when the bow of a second ship came into view. Jim froze, and stared at the new ship with his mouth hanging open. He knew this was one of the new Constitution-class ships, he had seen pictures of them. So far, only four had been launched, and this one was obviously brand new. He watched as the ship came into full view, and as she did everything else melted away for Jim. There was something about this ship, something different; he could tell. The ship was sleek, elegant, and majestic, yet powerful, strong, and slightly intimidating. In other words, she was beautiful.

"Dad…?" Jim gasped.

George turned and said, "Oh, there's the Kelvin!"

He then noticed that Jim was not looking at his ship, but the new one. For a second, he too was captivated by the ship, but then realized that she was the new Constitution-classer that had just been launched six months ago.

"Who is she?" Jim asked with an awed voice.

"That, my boy, is my ship;" April said. "That's the U.S.S Enterprise."

"Enterprise..." Jim whispered, trying the name out. 'Yes;' he thought, 'it fits her perfectly.' "She's beautiful, Captain."

"She sure is;" April said. "She was launched only six months ago. Best ship in the fleet if you ask me."

"Wow;" Jim said quietly; he felt as if he could watch the ship all day. Something about her moved some part of him deep inside, as if the ship was calling him. Jim spent the next ten minutes watching the Kelvin and Enterprise, glide through space until they disappeared to the other side of the Star Base.

'Someday, you'll be mine;' Jim silently told the Enterprise before she disappeared.

"Come on, Jim;" George said. "Your mother will have a fit if you're late. It's been a pleasure to see you again, Captain."

"Same with you, George;" April replied. "Nice to meet you Jim."

"Nice to meet you too, Captain April;" Jim replied, shaking April's hand. George led Jim out of the lounge, and back to where the rest of the family were waiting.

That night, it took a while for Jim to fall asleep. He laid in bed for hours, listening to the hum of the warp engines on the Illusion as it raced towards its destination of Tarsus IV. When he finally did fall asleep, he had a dream he was very familiar with, but with one slight change:

"This is Captain James T. Kirk of the U.S.S Enterprise…"