Sighing, Spock ran his eyes over the crowded courtyard. All the young Starfleet graduates were practically vibrating in their seats as they listened to his good friend Captain James T. Kirk give a graduation speech. If they ever followed the itinerary, the Enterprise should have been light years away from the Starfleet headquarters- "exploring the final frontier" as Jim had just said to the students. But due to Jim's inability to keep the ship together they were back here doing repair work. And also thanks to Jim, they had to pick up new crewmates in place of the ones that either died or quit because of the last battle.

Settling into his rigid position, he scanned the science graduates. All so young looking they seemed to be every shape and color. Although mostly focused on Kirk who, to Spock's continuing surprise, was a great speechwriter, Spock saw a few gazes straying to him. Many of the young science officers were dying to be part of the Enterprise fleet, with advanced funding, labs, and exploration opportunities. He made eye contact with a group of girls who blushed and turned back to the podium quickly.

Spock felt growing tension beside him as he assumed Bones was accepting the reality that he might have to train the squirming medical graduate he was staring down. The new ensign looked like he was going to faint, unable to escape McCoy's hate filled glare.

The applause sounded like a roar as the speech ended. Spock stood up and clapped for Jim politely, sure his friend had done an adequate job. The new ensigns started to make a clamor of rising voices and shuffling as they exited to their command rooms where they were to get their assignments. Although Spock knew that only the best would be reporting to the enterprise, he, like the doctor, was greatly displeased at the prospect of training the new officers.

Cadet Marie Stark made her way through the crowd grinning widely. She had been dreaming of this day for years. She took determined strides to her command room, dying to see if she would be on the Enterprise, which had been her goal since she watched it take off for its maiden voyage 2 years ago.

A body slammed into her back and sent her reeling forward. Her best friend, Cadet Donna Carter, was holding onto her squealing.

"Marie!" she screeched, "We did it!"

"Of course we did." Marie laughed. She then listened to Donna go on about the pros and cons of different ships while they made their way down the hallway. Donna's main focus was which senior officers were the cutest and most eligible for a relationship. Although Donna was not completely serious, Marie could tell that Donna wasn't aiming to be on the Enterprise soley because of its amazing medical facilities.

Their command room was filled with their peers. Everyone looked excited and anxious. Captain Depak told everyone to sit down. He was the Engineering teacher and everyone was required to take his class once. The talk bulky man was very close to the student's and seemed almost sad today as he began his speech.

"I've been working with you students for 4 years and I've come to know each and every one of you. I have your assignments here," he said thumping a stack of papers. "I know you must all have your own ideas about where you want to go and what you want to do. Some of you may get what you want-" his eyes trailed through the crowd who seemed to be balancing on the edge of their seats. Marie felt her heart in her throat."-and some of you might not. But keep in mind that I did these and I made sure to put you somewhere I knew you would be happy." He smiled broadly and the class started howling. Marie smiled up at him and Donna shook her arm excitedly. "Alright, shut up or you won't get your assignments."

Depak called people up by name and gave them a folder. The class knew better than to open them right away. The folders held their ship name, their commanding officer and instructions to follow after they left the room. Marie looked down at her folder. The green card stock had her name in gold print across the front. She ran her fingers over the name, letting out a small breath as she tried to steady herself. Mentally preparing for whatever feelings would come next.

"Okay," he said after the last person sat back down, "stay safe out there. Open them up."

Shrieking, yelling and all other manners of expression followed the sound of shuffling paper. Donna was screaming in excitement, but Marie just stared at her paper. The words were so plain. So simple. And they said exactly what she wanted to hear. The Enterprise was leaving in 4 hours and she was going to be on it.

Her folder had ordered her back to her quarters to collect her things and prepare to leave on a shuttle for the Enterprise by 1100 hours. Then the Enterprise was leaving at 1200 for the final frontier.

Marie looked in the mirror. She observed how the new dress suited her. The blue fabric clung to her curves and made her feel so professional. The color matched her eyes perfectly. She felt vain, but she loved how the dress looked. That wasn't a crime was it?

She had packed all her things and cleaned the room to the best of her abilities. She glanced over to her suitcase. It was small. She had to turn her uniforms from the academy in. There were only a few pairs of pants and shirts in the suitcase along with 3 dresses and paraphernalia she had brought from home a few years prior. The larger metallic case next to her suitcase was completely different.

In her studies at the Academy Marie worked on a project by herself that was making groundbreaking movements in the sciences. It primarily focused on the deconstruction of cellular bond and rejoining them in a stronger way that would in turn strengthen skin. If achieved, something like this could save many lives in battle. Another branch of her project focused on a way to have a metal skin that was also like this and would be able to self-repair during battle.

That metal suitcase contained everything she needed to continue the experiments on the Enterprise. Marie suspected that it was this project that made her eligible for the Enterprise. She had specifically requested not to be assigned to a science research station. She wanted to see new things and go places never explored before. To be stuck on a desolate moon somewhere working in private would have been torture for her.

Checking her watch, she determined that 1000 would be a fine time to make her way to the shuttle hanger. As she said goodbye to her small room, she couldn't help but wonder what her Commanding officer would be like. She had heard rumors but had no idea what to expect from First Officer Spock.