Woo! the first chapter of my Star Trek fic! Are you excited? I think you are! In all honesty I have a few chapters of this story ready, I just couldn't think of a title and just sort of settled with the one I have. Still not sure how much I like it, but it'll do for now. I'll probably post the next chapter pretty soon, so keep an eye out!

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek. First off, waaaaaay to young for all that. Not to mention, I'm not that awesome.

Hayley stretched in her seat, her arms reaching high above her head as a yawn escaped before she could stifle it. So tired was she that she didn't see the hand flying at her until it smacked her arm.

"Nah-uh," a disgruntled voice whined beside her. "None of that. We still haven't really celebrated yet."

Hayley smiled apologetically at her roommate before investigating her surroundings. She hadn't really paid attention to where her friends had dragged her but she still wasn't surprised to see the interior of the local bar. Zooey's idea of celebrating always involved consuming a lot of alcohol. As if summoned by the thought Zooey appeared from the crowd clutching a colorful drink in each hand, her roommate, Viola, close on her heels with two more drinks.

"What exactly are we celebrating anyway?" Viola asked, taking the seat next to Mikaela who immediately relieved Vi of a bright pink margarita. Zooey sat down as well, handing Hayley a tall thin glass full of some sort of neon green sludge. Vi shook her head, dislodging strands of her short brown hair from her headband. "I still don't see how you drink that. It's called Toxic Waste for a reason."

"There's not actually toxic waste in it you know." Hayley smiled. "Just an absurd amount of alcohol."

"And yet it never seems to affect you," Mikaela grinned.

"Can we get back on topic please?" Zooey shook her sandy blonde hair out of her hazel eyes. She raised her glass. "To Hayley! The youngest in her class graduating from Med School!"

"Oh," Vi frowned but raised her glass none the less. Clearly she had been hoping to celebrate something else.

Hayley raised her glass as well, "And to Vi and the Starship Enterprise. They made the right choice when they assigned you as one of their new engineers."

Vi beamed, her blue eyes shining. Hayley gulped down a third of her drink, glancing around once more over the rim of her glass. A couple guys at the bar stood staring at their table. It wasn't the first time guys stared. Though no matter how many times it happened, she could never get used to it. All her life she felt like an outsider. First, being the only human child on Vulcan; then being a Vulcan raised teen back on Earth. She never quite fit in. She had friends now, sure, but that didn't make up for her childhood; or the fact that she felt separated from normal humans. So the fact that two guys were staring at them merely made her uneasy rather than flattered.

"Have you gotten your assignment yet?" Vi's voice snapped Hayley out of her reverie.

"Not yet," Hayley shook her head slowly. "I have an appointment with the Fleet Admiral tomorrow."

"For an assignment?" Vi raised her eyebrow. "I've never heard of anyone making an appointment just to be assigned."

"I didn't make the appointment, Vi. Fleet Admiral Carlson did."

"Why?" Mikaela asked, genuine concern coloring her tone. "You didn't do anything wrong...Did you?"

"Not that I'm aware of." Hayley stared at her hands folded around her glass. This wasn't the first time she'd considered the possibility of being denied a position on a starship. Was she to be punished for something she hadn't realized she'd done? Or did they simply consider her too young to be one of their doctors? She was only twenty-three years old. The average age was twenty-six for Med School grads.

The general conversation drifted as Hayley sat mulling over the possibilities of why the Fleet Admiral would want to speak with her personally. As a half-Betazoid, Mikaela could occasionally read the minds and sense the emotions of people she was close to, including Hayley. So it wasn't incredible that she knew exactly what Hayley was going through. While the others were talking, Mikaela leaned closer to her roommate so no one would overhear, "I'm sure nothing's wrong."

"Yeah?" Hayley sighed, "Then why was I asked to the Admiral's office?"

"Maybe," she paused. "Maybe...he wants to congratulate you. After all you are the youngest graduate they've had...well, ever. As far as I know, anyways."

Hayley smiled, "I hadn't thought of that." Probably because it seemed a little far-fetched. But still, it gave her the small ray of hope she'd been searching for. She leaned back in her chair, relaxing once more, and downed the rest of her drink as the two guys stumbled over to their table, apparently drunk. Mikaela groaned quietly as they pulled chairs over from a neighboring table and sat with them. Internally, Hayley echoed the sentiment. Drunken guys hitting on her friends wasn't her definition of celebrating an accomplishment.

"How 'bout we ge' you la'ies a drink?" one of them slurred.

Hayley rolled her eyes.

"Mmmm," Zooey grinned leaning towards him. "That sounds good to me."

"Yo, bartender!" the other called out. "'Nother round!"

A few minutes later a waitress and brought them fresh beverages and the men were still flirting horribly with Zooey and Vi, the only ones affected by their flattery. Hayley and Mikaela were becoming more agitated by the minute.

"So," the second guy threw his arm around Vi's shoulders. "The Enterprise huh? That's impressive."

Vi giggled, "Thanks."

Hayley snorted, "The Enterprise is not as impressive as it seems. The Titan, the Voyager, and the Merlin are all massively greater in size and have superior equipment in engineering and all the sciences, especially on medical."

"Okay," the first man said slowly.

"The only asset that makes the Enterprise consequential is the people powering the ship. They have the foremost in every field. The best and the brightest have been assigned to the Enterprise. So yes, of course that makes it an honor that Vi was asked to join them."

Vi smiled in gratitude.

"However," Hayley continued without pause. "One must take into account a multitude of factors before they make a decision on which ship to accept. Vi is a computer expert and engineer. There are many excellent operatives in her field already on the Enterprise. This means it will be more difficult for her to advance into any leadership positions or be noticed by any one of importance."

Vi scowled at her friend, "Hayley-"

"No, no," Mikaela smiled, "let her finish."

"Also, one must consider the mission of the vessel. The Enterprise has a mission to seek out other life forms and, if they are antagonistic, protect the Federation by any means necessary. I for one, would not want to be in that line of work."

"What would you prefer?" Mikaela asked sincerely.

"I always wanted to help save a dying nation by discovering a cure to a terminal disease of some sort." Hayley chuckled. "But that's probably far out of reach."

"No it's not. I'm sure you'll get to do that someday."

"Thanks Mikaela, but it's impossible to ascertain that. You're simply saying that as a friend."

Mikaela shrugged, "Well at least one good thing came of that speech."

"What?"

She waved her hand in the direction of the four, now empty chairs. "You made the morons go away."

Hayley frowned, "Yeah, but Zooey and Vi left too."

"Like I said," Mikaela smirked. "You made the morons go away."

Hayley sighed, "It would be nice not to chase guys away with my weirdness. Why do I do stuff like that?"

"You can't help it, Hayley. It's in your nature to speak your mind, no matter what."

"Yeah, I know. But sometimes I wonder if I just don't have the control I should have over it."

"No control? You?" Mikaela raised an eyebrow.

"Shut up."

"I'm serious. You are the most controlled person I know. Especially over your emotions. You hardly ever crack."

"I'm sure my old teachers will be glad to hear that," Hayley sarcastically mumbled. Her Vulcan teachers had always told her she was too emotional, then later on Earth she was called cold, distant. It made it very difficult when she was trying to date. Of course up until recently she'd been too busy with her studies to give it much thought. Now she realized she may never find someone who could truly understand what she was going through. A grin involuntarily spread across her face. There was someone who understood.

"Come on," Mikaela stood. "Let's get out of here."

Hayley nodded, polishing off the last of her third Toxic Waste.

Hayley sat straight up in the uncomfortable plush chair in the waiting room outside Fleet Admiral Carlson's office. Everything about the room was generic. From the neutral carpet and wallpaper to the secretary with too much make-up and too high hair talking quietly on the phone. Despite her mundane surroundings Hayley still felt nervous. She hadn't been able to appease herself with a logical reason why she'd been summoned here. And that did not sit well with her. Nonetheless, she sat calmly silent as if there was nothing wrong. Only her rigid position gave her away.

A beep sounded on the secretary's desk and the overly-friendly redhead smiled over at her, "The Admiral is ready for you now."

Hayley stood. Her palms didn't sweat. Her legs didn't shake. She didn't fidget. She showed no outward sign of anxiety. Although, if she were being completely honest, she felt like she was going to puke.

Fleet Admiral Viktor Carlson was a man past his prime, but clinging to it desperately. Hayley could see that though he may once have been mostly muscle, that had long been ruined by a fatty diet and lack of exercise. He had stern yet appealing features, dangerous and comforting all at the same time. None of this helped her nerves however. She knew this tall man who stood to greet her was highly influential in Starfleet. He could make or break her career with one word.

"Miss Spencer, I presume," his voice was so deep, Hayley was sure she felt it rattle the floor. He chuckled as he extended a hand, "Excuse me. I mean, Doctor Spencer, of course."

Hayley couldn't help but smile as she grasped his hand. She could get used to hearing that. "Admiral."

"You must be wondering why I asked you here," he indicated that she should sit in a chair across the desk from him.

"I have to admit, I have been quite curious."

"Well I won't leave you in suspense." He cleared his throat. "Are you familiar with the Starship Titan?"

"Only a little, sir."

"The Starship Titan was sent on a classified mission two years ago to discover what had killed a scientific research party on an asteroid just outside of the Romulan neutral zone. What they found there was a toxic gas that, when inhaled, can result in repertory failure, seizures, and, eventually, death."

"My God," Hayley whispered. It was horrible that such a thing existed and that people had died from it, yet she couldn't help but feel a bit excited. This was the type of work she had wanted to do since she started college. Was it possible that the Admiral had asked her here to...but she shouldn't get her hopes up.

"Since then, the crew on the Titan has been working hard, trying to create a vaccine to prevent any more deaths. They have not yet succeeded. In fact they haven't even succeeded in creating an antidote in case one of them accidentally gets infected."

"Seriously?"

"We just lost another man last week."

"That's...awful. But, sir, I...I don't understand what that has to do with me."

"They need assistance, and you are the best. Who else would I ask?"

Hayley could do nothing but stare in disbelief.

"I understand that this is a big decision. However, the shuttle to Titan will be leaving next week, so I'll need your answer by Friday."

"O-Of course."

Hayley walked out of the office, thoughts of what to do whirring around in her brain, drowning out everything else. She was so caught up in her thoughts she almost ran into a few people. And a few walls. It wasn't until she entered her dorm room that Hayley finally snapped out of it. Mikaela was casually stretched out on her bed with nothing but her panties and bra on. It seemed a bit suspicious, but Hayley had enough experience with her roommate to not bother wondering what was going on.

"Hey," Mikaela greeted. "So what happened with the Admiral? I thought you'd be longer."

"So did I," Hayley grinned as she flopped onto her own bed. "All he wanted to talk to me about was my assignment."

"Seriously?" Mikaela sat up.

"Mm-hmm. He wants me to join the Titan to do research in creating a vaccine for some sort of toxic gas."

"Oh my God!"

"I know," Hayley smiled, thrilled at her friend's excitement, but showing only calm. "It's exactly what I wanted."

"No. I mean, yes, that's wonderful. But what I meant was I just got news of my assignment, and I'm going to be working on the Titan as their counselor."

Before she could come up with an appropriate reply, Hayley was interrupted by quiet deep breathing. Breathing that could not possibly be coming from Mikaela.

She crossed her arms, "Who is he?"

Mikaela's eyes widened innocently, "Who's who?"

"The mouth-breather hiding under the bed."

Suddenly Captain James T. Kirk hopped up from under the bed wearing only his boxers. He looked skeptically at Hayley, "You could hear me breathing?"

Hayley groaned inwardly but kept her voice neutral, "You again? Really Mikaela, I thought you were over him."

"We're just friends," Mikaela shrugged.

Hayley rolled her eyes, turning back to Kirk, "You may leave now."

He paused in the act of pulling on his slacks, "You sound exactly like someone I know."

She stared at him blankly, "Uh-huh."

They stared each other down, both refusing to give in. Eventually Kirk shook his head, chuckling under his breath, "Just like him. Weird." He left shortly after that and Mikaela immediately started talking about the Titan. Evasive action, Hayley realized. She smiled and went along with it. It really wasn't her business who Mikaela slept with.

That night they went out to celebrate again, soon discovering that Zooey too would be joining the Titan as the original communications officer had recently died from repertory failure. Only Hayley knew the particulars, but she wasn't at leave to discuss it. Instead she continued to take large gulps of her drink, enjoying the company of her friends. Especially Vi. She had never been particularly fond of Vi, but the chance of them seeing each other for the next few years was slim, and it was nice to spend a little time together without annoying one another.

Back in her room, as Mikaela passed out from too many drinks, Hayley found a bright pink lollipop lying on her pillow.