A/N: His presence in both films is quite short, but I wondered what kind of person was Hendorff? Where did his crush on Nyota come from (notice he was linking his lips in the bar before the confrontation with Kirk) I do not feel he is a shallow character, just one who has never been explored.

Can this 'red shirt' escape the 'curse'? Does he have a life outside of his duties? What quality does he possesses that could make him loveable. Let us take a look…

Cupcake

Chapter One

He felt elated as his teammates lifted him upon their shoulders and carried him off the field. They credited him with winning the statewide championship for their school. What a way to leave high school, as a hero. Gunther Poldie Hendorff liked being the hero. The name that he had been christened with had the possibly of drawing laughter so years ago he had insisted that he just be addressed by his last name. After all, that in itself was a tongue twister.

Although to many his place as a star football player would have been 'a chick magnet' he was not very good in that department, he was sort of tongue tied when it came to the weaker sex. He liked girls, but had a hard time untying his tongue in their presence. He had the other guys fooled into thinking he had a phantom girlfriend he had met when he went to visit his uncle in his parent's homeland, Germany. He had found a picture of a very Germanic looking girl in a wallet he purchased when he was there. His friends were told her name was Gretchen. Based on that fact he was excused when he went to his prom with his sister as his date and sat out each and every dance quietly seated next to her, sipping punch.

Well to be sure, Hendorff was not just brawn. He had graduated in the top third of his class and determined he would take the test and interview for entrance into Star Fleet. He had his eye on applying and going into training for the Security Corp. The training involved in that branch of service intrigued him. How many martial arts were taught there anyway? Who knew that Vulcans, the race thought of as pacifistic, were originators of over fifteen different types of martial arts? He hoped that if there were any Vulcans enrolled they would be able to demonstrate some of those disciplines.

`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0

When he arrived at Star Fleet's campus he signed in at the registration desk, listened to a welcoming lecture, received his rooming assignment, and then picked up his supplies at the desk of the Kennedy Building.

He was the first one in his dorm room and settled his supplies into the dresser and closet provided. As he sat his personal com unit up he heard the door knob rattle and then his roommate made his appearance, a solidly built male of oriental heritage. He put down his duffle and placed his other possessions on the bed and approached Hendorff with his hand extended.

The male stated, "Hi. I am Sam Lee, security recruit. I don't have many dislikes, but I do not like loud music."

Hendorff clasped his roommates hand, I'm Hendendorff and I do not think we will have a problem in that area, I am not a music sort of person at all, loud or soft."

Lee, put his head back and laughed.

"Looks like there will be no problem."

Hendorff figured with just this initial meeting he and his roommate would be compatible.

Hendorff asked,

"You want to visit mess? I am starving."

Lee nodded, looked at the mess he still had to put away, waved his hand dismissively and said,

"Yeh, me too. Let's make tracks."

The two roommates left the room together and for a few minutes it was silent. Lee broke the ice,

"Do you have any hobbies?"

"I like all sports. like to read, especially science fiction and am looking forward to the martial arts program.

Lee nodded in agreement and started to express his surprise,

"Do you know who has the most martial arts disciplines?"

His roommates said,

"Vulcans."

Lee said,

"Can you beat that. They look like real wusses, they even dress in dresses or something. "

Hendorff nodded,

"Perhaps that is part of their defense, to throw people off guard and with all that fabric flying around how would you know where their hands were?"

With that statement Hendorff proved that he was a deep thinker and able to make logical decisions and communicate detailed thoughts, he definitely was not lacking intelligence. Hendorff was not just brawn, contrary to his appearance, he was endowed with significant mental capacity which he hoped would catapult him into a supervisory post within Star Fleet Security. He wanted his life to mean something.

`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`

Hendorff and Lee seated themselves after helping generous portions onto their plate. Lee, definitely not a 'stick in the mind' commented on cadets as they entered. Two came in and their presence caused him to suck in his breath as he elbowed Hendorff,

"Look that those two."

Hendorff raised his eyes from his tray and also sucked in his breath. The two females before them were indeed beautiful. The one most unbelievable was a brown skinned, petit female with her head held high and as she walked her pony tail followed the movement of her hips. She was engaged in animated conversation with her companion, a green skinned red head. Both of them were most shapely. Hendorff's eyes ran up and down the tan skinned beauty and he thought to himself,

'If she was not the most beautiful person I have ever seen, she has made me forgot who was number one.'

As the two of them left the serving line they search for seats and he thought to himself that he must have died and gone to heaven because they were headed straight to their table. He hoped he would not say something really stupid, or sexist, or irritating, or prejudicial, or…just plain dumb.

"Hi Cadets, are these two seats taken?" The question was voiced by the 'green goddess'. No words came out of Hendorff mouth. Lee took up the slack and almost dismissively said,

"You two can have them."

Both girls extended their hands and the brown skinned beauty said,

"My name is Nyota Uhura, this is my friend and roommate, Galia Farlijah-Endef of the House of Mebsaph."

Hendorff gave his name and then Lee chimed in and told them his. Then silence reigned as they ate their meals in earnest.