A/N- A little about this fic then, after getting over my initial bedazzlement of that wonderful film I immediately started imagining what happens at the beginning of the five year mission. I also began thinking about life in outer space (obligatory duh). I hear that nowadays 99.9% or something close to it you're floating around doing bugger all. And I just figured that despite warp speed et al it must get like that sometimes aboard the Enterprise...then a plot formed (though I doubt it's not really visible at this stage)...then an OC formed and then, well you'll see.

This is primarily a Kirk/OC with assumed Spock/Uhura and one-sided Kirk/Uhura (kind of like the film).

Enjoy.

Disclaimer- I do not own Star Trek, (as of yet anyhow).

Foundations

Chapter 1

When he took a spin clockwise in his chair, he saw them in this order: First two yellow blurs who he knew to be his trusty navigators, bent diligently over their display screens, there to ensure that the latest and best starship of the federation's fleet didn't acquire any nasty dents or scratches from passing asteroids and whatnot on route to their very first mission. After all, the cost of a paint job on a ship this size had to be immense, far more than any ensign could hope to pay in his lifetime that was for sure.

Next a familiar (and favorite) form came sliding into view. Even facing away from him and at this speed she was an enthralling sight. The red-clad silhouette was guaranteed to be attentively performing her duties; head inclined to one side so as to better receive the sounds of those, so distant they may as well not even exist at all. He mentioned this to her once (of course he did, he rarely thought something he would not say aloud- both a credit and a hindrance to his character). And for his troubles he was informed, with no lack of animosity that thinking such things meant that he obviously had no grasp of the purpose of communications and should kindly keep to his own work in the future. He would, like most of the advice he received, take no notice of this comment and carry on regardless, stubborn as he was.

A perfectly straight streak of blue shot through his vision, resembling the indigo end of a line spectrum, it could be no one else of course than the other half of his most recently budding friendship. The stiff profile was so severe in his viewing of the many displays lining the opposite wall that he could almost feel his own back ache at the thought of standing so utterly incredibly upright.

He only just managed to catch the opening of the turbolift as he was brought back again to his original position, but nevertheless he could hear the soft sound of doors swishing open to reveal a person, who he could only see from his brief vantage point was wearing blue.

...Something was different this time around. The previously occupied figures were all now fixed squarely in his direction, almost as if forming a circle of faces around him.

Setting his feet down he effectively stopped the rotation of his captain's chair (of which he was sure had never been used for such a purpose before) and landed in front of the newcomer.

"...Jim" Bones asked slowly, no doubt confused but probably not shocked at the bizarre actions of his long time friend,

"Just what exactly are you doing?"

He was probing carefully, perhaps giving him a chance to respond in a way that may make him seem even slightly less insane to the rest of the crew and indeed judging by the looks he was receiving that was definitely the way things were heading.

Spock was in danger of losing his eyebrows permanently if he raised them any higher, but this was the extent of his disapproval and even that was hard to spot due to the conspicuously high arches.

Kirk was mildly pleased with this reaction, even the smallest of changes in that impassive visage held the same triumph as coaxing a drop of blood from a stone. Unlike that of the woman sat next to his second in command which brought him a feeling nothing akin to achievement. Uhura had on her a look so disparaging that he thought it almost marred the beauty of her smooth face, almost.

He decided to give it a go, couldn't make it much worse now anyway.

"Uh, crew...inventory" Well it was near enough the truth and the lofty smile he sent in their direction may even help.

Bones gave a gruff sigh (was there any other way for him?) and reached over to put a hand on the back of the captain's chair to forcefully right Kirk in the correct direction. He couldn't see, but judging from the swift movements of the crew it was evident to Kirk that Bones had just given them a glaring of a lifetime from behind his back.

"Jim we have been on this ship for barely a day and you're already getting cabin fever?"

Bones said tersely. It was true, it had not yet been 24 hours since the take-off of their five year mission, and they were currently on course to their first assignment. Diplomatic duties to a small, fledging Earth colony on a planet whose name he had yet to learn how to pronounce, but had five days until arrival to perfect.

There was no danger, no sense of urgency. They were practically drifting along to this presumably peaceful destination at a low warp speed and Kirk was not enjoying the anti-climax.

It may not have been a day but it had been a good few many hours on the bridge, being not all together productive for the young captain. True he relished in the first few hours doling out orders to his subordinates, all in good-humor for it was exiting to be back in this place. But soon everybody seemed to get so busy- that is apart from him.

Kirk inclined his head towards his chief medical officer, "So what exactly is it we're supposed to do when not playing hero?"

Bones turned around, apparently deciding that his check up on him was over. At first Kirk thought that he was about to leave without answering when Bones stated over his shoulder-

"Just shut up, sit down and don't stop the rest of us from working". And with that he was gone.

Unfortunately for the crew of the USS Enterprise these happen to be exactly the things that their good captain Kirk happens to be utterly incapable of.

.x

Sickbay is for the sick...

Was it wrong for a Doctor to wish that someone, anyone would walk through the doors of sickbay requiring medical attention? Dr Laurence, one of the many new additions to the starship's medical crew couldn't help but yearn for exactly this for the hundredth time in so many minutes.

She, by no means thought of herself as a negligent doctor (although, she mused with a mind that has far more free time than it ought that that would be the mind processes of such a person) but after rearranging every store cupboard in sight-twice it was difficult not to go all dreamy eyed at the thought of phaser wound to be treated.

Or even a niggling cough would do really, she wouldn't mind.

It had been a number of hours since she had received any specific orders, her direct superior Dr McCoy had only been visible for a brief time in which he had terrified half of the new staff with his brusque, straightforward introduction to sickbay onboard starship.

He gave the usual responsibility/vigilance/dedication talk before skirting off to his own, more pressing duties, leaving her and the others to find what work they could in the quiet beginning of there time here.

She supposed it might have not been so different if she were in any other hospital back on Earth, there were dead shifts in any location. At least here she had the prospect of gaining access to unique conditions, the likes of which were rare back home. Just not yet apparently.

That was her main line of reasoning when deciding to accept the offer to come aboard the USS Enterprise as a junior Doctor, fresh out of the Star Fleet Academy. Little else had crossed her mind as she was not given much time to consider, the ship would leave of course with o without her. She wondered now if she had been too impulsive, but it hardly mattered now in any case.

Boredom was a dangerous thing, she had decided and she walked up to one of the large computer databases to read up on the medical entries for the treatments performed when the ship was last in mid duty. A particular file stood out from the plethora of mainly flesh wounds that occur when a ship is under attack. A severe reaction to a vaccine for an uncommon disease, one which she was sure was almost unheard of in the quadrant they were last in.

While skimming through the entry she did not hear the turbolift arrive, nor the footsteps making their way towards her.

"I wouldn't look too closely into that particular incident Doctor; it's unlikely to occur again. He's captain now so I doubt he needs my help to get on board"

Startled, she gave the smallest of flinches and turned to find the chief himself behind her. He didn't seem to notice though as he leaned over her shoulder, eyes fixed on the screen.

She didn't quite know what he meant by his comment and was about to ask but he was already busy bringing up a number files on exotic and unfamiliar maladies.

"If you want some reading material I suggest you get to work on these, they're the most common and most dangerous illnesses circulating out next stop. Pay special attention to that last one, anyone catches that and we're all in deep trouble"

She nodded slightly, thinking this was all rather nice of him, if not a tad paranoid. But seeing as he was her superior she decided to only voice her first thought.

"Thanks Doctor McCoy, I'll be glad to get on it right away" It occurred to her that this would probably last her until her next break, which was a while off now and considerably brightened in her mood.

She opened her mouth, just about to relate her gratitude at his relieving her previous state of idleness before remembering that it was probably best not to admit this to this man, who was essentially her boss.

Seeing her hesitation seemed to irritate him though, "If you've got something else to say come on out with it, I'm a Doctor not a mind reader."

"Oh, it's nothing really, I was just thinking that it had become a little too quiet down here and was glad for the distraction" She answered honestly, not really wanting to be caught out by a man who had the reputation of an extensively poked sleeping dragon when aggravated.

He gave her a hard look and she wondered what he was thinking. "Don't get too complacent now, when the trouble starts it will all come crashing down in one large wave, you'll get you're fill don't worry, just make sure you're ready when it happens"

He left, turning in the direction of his small office and she back to her files. Thinking over his words she wondered how she might cope in the type of large scale emergencies that occurred on these types of ships. Sure she had been in dozens of simulations throughout her time at the academy but she wasn't foolish enough to believe that it would be enough to prepare her for the potential carnage of space travel.

All she could do for now was read up on the fascinating, but unlikely forms of danger heading her way. That and keep waiting for the patient or two that was bound to walk through those doors at some point today.

.x

Kirk or Captain Jim Kirk as he was practically calling himself nowadays in his head was ambling his way to lunch in fairly high spirits. The corridors were packed with people at this time, some of whom would wave to their leader; others would push past not looking to up to see who he was. It didn't really bother him, he was out of the bridge, using his legs and everything. It was great.

An enthusiastic, heavily accented voice rose above the chattering crowds and filtered down the hallway towards him. The source, his pleasantly youthful and lively Russian navigator could be seen over the heads of the masses. His curly crop bounced with each excited step as he bounded forwards, while talking eagerly to the petite brunette beside him.

The young woman seemed to be having quite a bit of trouble keeping up with him, not that her companion noticed. Arms flailing in wide gestures, those walking adjacent to him felt the need to duck to avoid his gangling limbs.

"-and 'eere is zee meese 'all next, eet is before the next lift" The boy strode forward importantly, pointing the room out and very nearly taking out someone's eye in the process.

The girl's face showed clear signs of confusion and Kirk could see her muttering to herself. "meese 'all?...missile?..."

She quickly peered into the room as they passed, "Oh mess hall!"

It was Chekov's turn to be bewildered as he turned around (almost colliding with several people in the crowded hallway in the attempt), to check on the girl, no doubt startled by her unexpected interruption.

"Oh...I just really love food that's all..." She answered his wordless enquiry with a rather airy manner in an obvious attempt to spare the kid's feelings. It was kind of her really and made Kirk grin. She evidently wasn't aware that this was a daily struggle between Chekov and pretty much every other member of staff. Even inanimate computers had to ask him to repeat himself multiple times before even getting the gist of what was said.

They stopped outside a turbolift a few feet away from him and he decided to make his way towards the pair.

He was certain he had never come across this girl before, he definitely would have stopped to look twice. She was a very pretty, slight little thing. Mahogany colored hair pulled into a messy bun with a multitude of wispy strands undone, framing her pale face. And lovely eyes. Large, gray, pretty things...yes he most certainly would have remembered if he had seen her before.

He strode forward, intent on unleashing the full extent of his infallible charm on this newcomer when a firm clap to the shoulder made him whirl around by instinct to find himself in the presence of his chief engineer.

The enthusiastic Scot gave him a wide smile as he relayed that the previous, small problem he had been having with the left engine (of which Kirk could not remember in the first place) had been successfully fixed and he fully intended on a hearty meal to celebrate. Kirk was only half listening once he ascertained that the information was not vital and quickly glanced around back to the turbolift.

They were gone and Kirk's mood dropped just a little. He sighed following an unaware Scotty into the mess hall and got a half hour of the theoretical physics behind the warp drive for his troubles.

.x