OF RUST AND STARDUST.

CHAPTER 01. RUST.

'The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.' That was my father's motto, ever since i was little i've always idolised him, he was my hero. I grew up in a very disciplined household with my father and older sister, mostly because my father is a very strict man, he has a set of rules for everything, but one of his number one rules was; if you live under his roof you must obey his orders. It came in handy though, his strictness that is, it really helps with his job as the commander-in-chief of star fleet. Though my father Alexander Marcus may seem a bit cold, he is a very loving father. He provides for me and my sister, carol, he gives us everything we could ever want and he doesn't ever ask for anything in return. He loves us. And it is because of that love that he tend to cage in his own children, and in fear of loosing us he decided that it would be best if we didn't follow his footsteps into star fleet, but that never stopped my sister from doing what she wants, she was so much like him, stubborn as hell. They always say i was more like my mother, though i never met her. Dad said she died while giving birth to me and carol barely remembers her at all. And it is because of that same reason why my father favours carol over me-though he assures me that he loves us both equally- even if carol always rebelled against him and does whatever she please.

I love my sister, i really do, but sometimes life just doesn't seem to be fair. Its always carol, favoured by many and loved by all. She was beautiful, smart, kind and strong, she doesn't take no for an answer. Hers was the shadow that is so big that i can never over come it. But me, i was always the one that makes the mistakes, the one that everyone ignores. And no matter how hard i try to surpass my sister, everyone ends up noticing carol even more and it burns me to the core. That is why at the age of fifteen i went to live in London in our mothers old estate. I wanted to live my life as me and not my sisters sidekick, and it all worked out pretty well for me, i studied to become an astrophysicist, though i have a minor degree in fine arts. And now at the age of twenty i am finally coming back to see my father.

I realised that even with all the advancements in technology now a days he wouldn't be around forever, and i realised it when i caught news of the cold blooded murder of innocent men in the same room as my father, such as his good friend Christopher pike. His death shocked me, i thought the man would've easily gotten to a hundred but it seems that the fates were cruel. And now as the hover craft descended onto american soil i felt a wave of nostalgia rush through me.

The air was cool and the sky was clear outside my window but somehow i feel as though i went back in time to my younger days as i stood in my old room. Though there were no signs of dust and cobwebs, everything was just how i left it except for the brand new clothes hanging in my closet with a note that says; 'just a little something to help you blend in. xo Carol.' The same old books was neatly piled in my mahogany bookshelves, the page worn and well read. My desk and easel is just as it was the day i left, tucked into a shady corner near an aqua blue cushioned couch and antique lamps. I liked old things, they remind me of a time when the world was much more simpler. When the only species we know of were the ones from earth and the only wars we ever fought was with ourselves and neighbouring countries instead of neighbouring planets.

A knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts. I turned around and saw carol standing by the slightly opened door. "Hey" she said with a bright smile.

"Hey" i replied with a smile of my own. She slid through the crack and hugged me for a short moment, i hugged her back.

"Welcome back, we missed you Ellie." She said, her tone was reprimanding but light as if scolding a child. Thats how everyone treats me around here, a child.

"Thanks" a moment of silence, then i opened my mouth again to speak. "I can see you took the liberty of stocking up my closet." I nodded towards the closet fully stocked with expensive articles of clothing.

"Yeah, sorry about that. I just thought you could use something to help you... You know, fit in a little better." She said and i couldn't help but feel a bit offended by it, i frowned and looked down at my clothes. What's so disturbing about the way i dress? "Look Ellie, i didn't mean it like that... Its just, a pair of tight jeans and a shirt isn't something that people usually wear around here. I am just trying to look out for you little sis."

"I know..." I said, another long awkward pause before she decided to break the silence.

"Well then, i guess i should leave you to unpack and... I'll see you at dinner kay?" She said and i nodded. Carol exited my room almost reluctantly before shutting the door behind her. After hearing the audible click of the doors automatically locking from the inside i sighed and fell onto my bed. Its going to be a long vacation.

Dinner was torturous. The three of us sat in silence at the dinner table, the clinking of our utensils were the only sounds that broke the awkward silence. God i even wore the clothes Carol bought for me just to please my father. It was a baby blue dress with a high collar and a full skirt that reached just below my knees and a pair of heeled ankle boots.

"How are your studies Elizabeth?" My father said in his monotone voice, something that he often did to me. When ever its me he always seem so disappointed, and it breaks my heart every time.

"It is doing fine father." I said, my eyes still lingering on my plate, afraid to look up and see the disappointment in his eyes again.

"Fine would not do Elizabeth! You must be the best." He said as his fork clinked with his plate as he paused from slicing the lamb meat with his knife. "Tomorrow i want you to stop by at my office at exactly 10:00 AM sharp, there is something i wish to speak with you about. Do not be late." He said before continuing with his meal. Suddenly i lost my appetite, my stomach was churning and i wanted to throw up.

"Yes father, i understand." I said as i fiddled with the napkin on my lap. Back when i was in London i couldn't help but think why i ever left home, why i didn't stay with my father and sister and there had been so many times when i wanted to come racing back home, but i never did, because of the very reason why i felt like i wanted to break down in tears at this moment; i didn't want to be a disappointment. Not to my father nor my sister. But how do you climb a mountain that just keeps growing and growing until it reaches the very peak of heaven?

Ever since i was just fifteen i never felt like i belonged, not to my family nor to star fleet. Which is why i didn't pursue a dream that may lead into my admittance into star fleet. But as Alexander Marcus' child i was taught the ways of a star fleet officer, obedience, justice and duty came first above all things. I learned how to fight and how to hold weapons, i excelled in hand to hand combat and astrophysics which soon lead to my interest into becoming an astrophysicist. There was just something about the stars and all moving matter in the sky that fascinates and intrigues me, it all seemed so beautiful to me, like a dream.

After dinner i went straight back to my room, and sat down by the easel. I used to love painting. When i was younger i used to map out the stars and the constellations by making a painting of the night sky, i painted dreams and visualised my future with every brush stroke i made. Perhaps this time i could try to relive those dreams again. I plucked a brush from a jar filled with all sorts of brushes and pens and took out the tubes of paint in a small vintage trunk. I painted the first thing that came to mind. Eyes. Eyes that were bluer than the sky in a clear cloudless day, but cold as ice, rimmed with thick dark lashes and lush winged brows that conveyed every emotion i held deep down inside. I put down the paint stained brush and marvelled at my work. These eyes that belonged to a stranger that i met in dream within a dream, they looked so foreign yet familiar at the same time, i didn't even know such emotions could dwell in me all at once. I laid down on my bed still fully dressed in my blue dress and high heeled boots, soon i fell into a deep slumber and my dreams consisted of cold blue eyes and large pale hands that held me close. Such foreign things that felt so familiarly right.


The alarm beeped loudly in my ears as the shade automatically lifted from the long clear windows surrounding my room, bathing everything in golden sunshine, i could hear the water filling the bath tub in my connecting bathroom as the Holo screen automatically turned on to the morning news. Great! Everything was awake except for me. I sat up groggily from bed and stared at the glaring red numbers on the alarm clock on my bed side table, 7:04. Perhaps i could sleep for a few more minutes. Just when i was about to lay dow on my pillows a female voice from my holo pad buzzed through.

'Miss Elizabeth, it is exactly 7:05 AM, i have a full list of todays schedule. You must be at your fathers office at exactly 10:00 AM, after that you have a lunch date with your sister, and at 8:00 PM it is off to a museum gala with your sister.' Fuck! Why did i even install that damned program. I just want to go back to sleep, but since life isn't fair i guess i'll just settle for a hot bath.

"Have my coffee delivered to me, i'll be in the bath..." I said shoving off my clothes and shoes "oh and keep the water on warm." I ordered.

'Request granted, your coffee shall be delivered in just a few short moments.' The computer program replied as i sank down into the soothing water. Although being my fathers daughter may have many down sides, it also has many perks, such as being able to live a life of luxury, i can have any material thing i could ever wish for, but sometimes things like that can never be enough. I remember back then during my sixteenth birthday my father promised me that he and carol would visit me in London, and i was so excited that i couldn't stop myself from fidgeting during my morning classes. When i got home i saw that the door to my room was slightly open so i immediately expected carol to be there, but instead i found my dad's assistant. She handed me a large box and said goodbye. When i opened the box there was a note saying:'Dad and i are off to a foreign planet to test out the new bio weapons we developed, i'm sorry we couldn't see you. We love you and happy birthday. xo Carol.' I cried that day, i did not even bother to look inside the box once more to see whats in it, soon after that i found that my present was a highly advanced form of mapping device that can cast a hologram just like a projector so you'd feel like you're floating up in space.

'Miss Elizabeth, you have exactly ten minutes to groom and apply any form of cosmetics. Todays outfit has already been laid out and selected. And please be informed that Admiral Marcus sent you a message, would you like me to relay it to you.' I snapped back up into reality as i heard the program speak, i rose to the surface of the water and breathed in deeply, i didn't even know i had sunk to the bottom of the tub. I grabbed my robe and drank my coffee, drying my auburn hair as fast as i could. Without paying much attention i snatched my pre selected outfit from the hanger and quickly put them on. I grabbed my purse and stormed out of the house without bothering to put on any make up.

The ride to star fleet was quick. I decided that the moment i set foot into that building i would walk as fast as i can and and make the trip as quick as possible so i can get the hell out of here. But then again i was never any good at pulling through with plans. So here i am in an elevator with a very flirtatious James T. Kirk. Okay so i've never met the guy but i've heard rumours, and he surely does live up to his reputation as a womaniser, true he is quite handsome but definitely not my type. I guess the ego might have something to do with my irritable reaction towards his advances.

"So what might be your business here? Visiting some one?" He said in a sweet voice, okay scratch that, its definitely not just the ego that i hate about him, probably its his entire humanity. I rolled my eyes and sighed inwardly.

"Yes, as a matter of fact i am visiting someone. Now if you'll excuse me i'm running a bit late." I said with a note of finality and quickly ducked past him once the elevator reached my floor, i quickly walked to the direction of the commander in chief's office, realising that i was being followed i hastened even more. I turned my head and saw a smirking kirk at my heels, god this boy is persistent. I abruptly stopped just as i was in front of my fathers door.

"Why the hell are you following me?!" I whispered harshly so that my father on the other side of the door would not hear.

"I don't know what you're talking about, i have my own business here." He smirked even more which caused a vein in my head to throb with irritation.

"Oh just admit it! You are stalking me and i would very much like you to stop!" I i ground out which only made his amusement grow even more.

"Well i would if i really was stalking you, but too bad for you because i'm not." He whispered back. I felt myself grimace as the throbbing in my head worsened. Ugh! This guy is giving me a fucking head ache!

"Kirk, is there any reason why you are whispering with this young woman?" A vulcan suddenly appeared behind us wearing a blue star fleet issue uniform, he was fairly handsome in and alien sort of way i suppose. Before kirk could answer, the door opened with a loud swoosh, revealing my father standing before us in his star fleet regalia.

"Dad!" "Sir!" Kirk and i said in unison. My father stared at us with a cold and steely gaze.

"Wait what... Dad?" Kirk said, surprised and completely mortified. I gave him the evil eye before turning back to my father.

"You said you wanted to speak to me about something, remember?" I said and he nodded moving aside to let me in his office before letting the door close with a swift swoosh.

"Have a seat," he gestured to the chair in front of his large desk. "I asked you to come here because i heard about your internship at an unknown lab in London, and trust me when i say that i am not pleased." He said as he sat in his leather chair. His stare was vicious and hard, exactly how he looks at me when i am about to be disciplined.

"Yes, i understand. I'll quit right away once i get back to London." I said quietly, not wanting to disappoint or anger him even more. I held back the tears that threatened to escape.

"That won't be necessary," he said, looking through a file. I looked at my father, confused. "Because i already quit for you, starting tomorrow you will continue your internship here at star fleet. I know i told you before that i do not wish for my daughters to ingress into star fleet but seeming it is the only way i can keep an eye on my own children, i am forced to compromise." He said none to gently. He is treating me like a child again, as if i couldn't handle myself and decide on my own. Im twenty years old for gods sake! I bit my tongue to repress the words from coming out.

A knock came from the door. I sighed defeatedly. Dad pressed a button on his desk that caused the doors to swoosh open. Kirk was standing at the doorway with the stoic vulcan.

"Is there something you need son?" My dad asked the now serious man. The vulcan standing rock still beside him. There was a long pause of pregnant silence. My father and kirk stared at each other with dead serious eyes, my father was the one to break eye contact first as he nodded his head.

"Elizabeth darling, you may leave." He said to me and i nodded giving him a kiss to the cheek before exiting the office, but before the doors closed completely behind me i could feel the vulcans eyes lingering over me.

I walked out of the elevator and into the lobby, only now am i feeling the weight of my emotions crashing down on me, the grief, disappointment and hurt as i thought about how my life is never really my own. I walked faster to the clear glass doors that leads out into the real world but since i wasn't looking where i was going i bumped into someone.

"Oh god, i'm such a klutz, sorry..." I said before walking past the person without even looking up. I feel so miserable with my life.

"Hey... Ell? Is that you..?" I heard a familiar voice call out to me. Only one person ever calls me that... I smiled and turned around to face my one and only friend.

"Nyota!" I ran towards her and hugged her tight, god i missed her. I haven't seen her since i left for London. We laughed as we separated and stared at each other. "You haven't change one bit!" I smiled at her.

"I missed you! Look at you all grown up!" She said with a dazzling grin. "We have so much to catch up on, how long will you be here?" She said.

"I missed you too. True we do have quite a lot to catch up on but i have to run, i have a lunch date. But i promise i'll talk to you soon." I said, she nodded and hugged me one last time before saying our goodbyes. As i headed back to the awaiting car i thought that maybe life at star fleet won't be so bad, well at least i have a friend on my side.


Lunch with my sister was a lot less stressful than i thought it would be, for once she didn't nag about me being so quiet, mostly because she did all the talking herself, i just sat there eating quietly, pretending to listen to Carol as she blabbered on about some new boy she's met or a new weapon she's been doing her research on. I just nodded and answered when she required my feelings or opinion about something that i have no idea about.

"Sorry but i have to run, i have this presentation i have to finish today, i'll see you at the gala at 8:00 okay?" Carol said, interrupting my line of thought.

"Oh, okay then. Good luck." I said and hugged her by the shoulder as we both got into our own cars.

Seems like i still have some time to kill and i didn't want to go home just yet. I guess i should visit my mum, its been so long since i last brought her flowers.

"Home Miss Elizabeth?" Drew, my new driver asked, looking at me from the screen. I shook my head.

"No, take me to the nearest flower shop, i want to visit my mum." I said quietly, suddenly i felt a sharp pain shoot through my skull, i gasped loudly.

"Everything alright miss?" He asked concerned, again looking at me from the screen.

"Yes, i-i'm fine..." I said, my voice strained with pain. Suddenly images of foreign things flashed across my mind. Deep cold blue eyes and tremendously pale expanses of smooth alabaster skin, full supple lips... Fragments of unfamiliar thoughts and memories kept rushing through me, causing me to feel nauseated. The car stopped in front of a glass window store front decorated with lush flowers. I stepped out of the car with some help from drew, the nauseating feeling didn't help with trying to keep my balance in my high heeled knee high boots. I stepped into the mostly empty flower shop. There were only four people present including myself. There was an elderly lady sitting on a bench surrounded by flowers, a dark skinned lady at the cash register and a tall hooded man by the baskets of tulips.

"Welcome, hi there... What can i do for you?" The lady at the cash register greeted me with a bright smile.

"Hello, um..." I looked at the name tag on her shirt that says 'Clora' "Clora, i need a bouquet of freshly cut tulips." I said with a small smile. I could feel someone glaring holes at the back of my head. I didn't turn around to see who it was pretending not to notice the odd feeling of being watched.

"Oh, wonderful, is there any colour you'd prefer?" Clora asked with yet another blinding smile. It was the hooded man, i can sense him staring at me.

"Oh of course, yellow seems to be an appropriate colour." I smiled back.

"Lovely choice, hold on for just a moment please." She said and i pretended to look at some flowers to scan the area. He was gone, the hooded man was gone. How odd, i didn't even hear the shop bell ring. "There you go, and that would be $50.00" i handed her my card and she scanned it through the machine. "Thank you, and have lovely day." She said as i thanked her and left with my flowers.

The old cemetery was the only place in the city that was left untouched, while everything else was modernised through the passage of time. This was the only place i know of where i can find pieces of the past, a past that i wasn't a part of. I placed the tulips on top of my mothers grave, the head stone was clean and well polished and so was the grass. As i sat there thinking, i couldn't shake off the feeling that i was again being watched. I looked around but there was no one there. The wind has started to pick up, a breeze causing me to hug my coat closer to my body. It was already five minutes past six and i have to get home and get ready for the gala, it is being hosted by a friend of my sister and every high ranking star fleet official will be there, including my father and his comrades. God i hope i don't mess this up.

When i got home it was ten minutes past seven, the trip back from the cemetery took longer since it is located at the other side of the city. I got out of my clothes and took a quick shower. A group of automated mini droids gathered around me in the vanity to prep me up for the gala. My hair was brushed and pulled and curled until the little droid was content with the results, my reddish auburn hair cascaded into long waves on one side over my shoulder. All sorts of powders and moisturisers were applied to my skin and a lush palette of velvet red lipstick. Now the make up and the hair was the easy part, the dress was another story. It was tight and i could hardly breath with the damn corseted bodice, it was strapless and structured at the front, while the skirt streamed down my legs in a cascade of midnight blue. The white gloves went on a bit easier, and so did the shoes. As i looked at my reflection in the mirror, i didn't see myself staring back, instead i saw the woman my family always wanted me to be, beautiful, powerful and perfect. If only i could remain like this forever so i wouldn't cause them any more disappointment. But this beautiful facade would only last for a few seconds as i stand rock still and quiet, but once i start to move and open my mouth, everything i try to hide reveals itself through my rough and ungraceful actions. This sort of life would suit carol so much more.


The museum where the gala was being held was transformed into a luxurious ballroom surrounded by rich art works and ancient tapestries of golden fabrics. A glorious chandelier hung in the middle of the grand hall as if defying gravity itself as shards of beautifully cut shapes of glass hung on invisible strings. Ladies dressed in lavish dresses-some looking very modernised to say the least- sashayed down the imposingly long staircase, while men of high ranks sipped from flute glasses in their full star fleet regalia, some old, some young.

"Care for some champaign miss?" A waiter with pointed ears and snake like eyes offered as he held out the silver platter lined with champaign flutes.

"Thanks..." I said with a small smile as i plucked one of the glasses from the tray, he nodded courteously before scurrying off to offer champaign to the other guests. I scanned the room for anyone i might know or at least recognise.

"There you are! I was looking everywhere for you, i thought you'd bail out on me again this time." Came Carols lilting voice thickly laced with our similar english accents. I turned around, careful not to trip on the train of my dress. Carol looked absolutely stunning in a white chiffon dress with a plunging neckline. Her hair was swept off her face in an almost bridal styled up do.

"Sorry, i was running a bit late." I said with a smile. "You look beautiful by the way" i complimented her.

"Me? Have looked at yourself in the mirror yet sister? You look stunning! I hardly recognised you!" She giggled.

We made our way to the inner part of the hall, marvelling at its grandiose. People were greeting us, mostly carol because i didn't know many of the people here. We saw our father talking with some men in uniforms and i recognised a few of the people i once met during my life here in San Francisco.

"Hey, i have to talk to someone for a moment, will you be alright if i leave you here for a little while?" Carol said.

"Yes of course i'll be fine, you go on and have fun." I shooed her away making sure to smile so that she'd leave. Like i said before, i'm not meant for this kind of life. I sighed and looked up at art pieces hanging on the walls, some were stacked up on marble pillars as well. It was all so colourful and intriguing. I immersed myself in the art works, straying farther and farther from the music and the crowd until i reached a dimly lit corridor with walls lined with rustic old paintings, some were from ancient times such as the renaissance era. Each painting had a name and a description below it, the tiny spot lights above each painting casting an eery glow about the area.

I walked further into the corridor until reaching a painting with no description at the bottom, only a name was written there, 'RUST' the word described the painting so well that it felt almost over whelming, it was by an unknown artist as there was no name or signature at the bottom, just a date... Which dated almost 300 years ago. I stared at the painting more closely. The colours resembled the colour of rust as it featured a man and a woman standing close with their faces only a hairs breath apart, their feet were melded together in a sea of metal, their skin alabaster pale but was slowly decaying with rust. Though their faces were vogue and unrecognisable, i can tell that the man was very handsome, and the woman... Her hair was the same auburn colour as mine, only hers were polluted with spreading rust. I loved the painting, it sent waves of foreign emotions crashing over me. It took my breath away.

"Beautiful isn't it" a cool, deep baritone voice echoed behind me. Surprised, i quickly turned around to see who might be there with me, my dress making it hard to move without much effort. A tall stranger stood behind a marble statue, his face shrouded in shadows making it hard for me to register his features, only his eyes could be seen from the dim lighting. Blue, so very blue, bluer than the sky in a clear cloudless day. Suddenly a memory flashed across my mind, my painting, the one in my room... His eyes.

"W-who's there? Show your face!" I said, my voice sounded firmer that i thought it would.

"Hmm, you make it sound like i'm a threat." He said, i could hear the smirk in his voice. Am i amusing him. His form shifted as he leaned his shoulder on the marble statue, his arms folded on his chest.

"Are you?" I bit back, now frustrated with the bastard. I could hear him smirking, if that was possible.

"That depends on you, but as of the moment wouldn't you rather Marvell at that splendid piece of art." He said, nodding his head towards the direction of the painting. I half turned, glancing up at the magnificence of the painting. "Such emotions conveyed with the care free brush strokes of the delicate hands of a lover. The heart breaking truth of how their love was rusted away by the cruel circumstances of their time. Don't you just wish you could change their fate?" He said, his voice giving me a warm buzzing feeling.

"If only the world worked that way." I said as i inhaled a sharp breath when i saw the burning stare he was giving me, his eyes knocked the air out of my lungs and it scared me at how affected i am by this mysterious man.

"Yes, but the world is a place of heart break and cruel circumstances. And in a place like this, all things beautiful are often destroyed by the vile of humanity." His tone was cold yet... Mournful. I turned back to the painting, studying its every angle.

"But surely not everything in this world is that vile, couldn't they have protected their love from the corruption of rust." I said un aware of my own words and how miserable i sounded. I felt bad for the person who painted this as a remembrance of a lost love.

"You think the world is safe? It is an illusion. A comforting lie told to protect you. She believed it too, the one who painted that portrait." He said his tone suddenly harsh and cold. I felt a shiver run down my spine. I turned towards him to speak but he was gone, his form no longer rested on the statue. I sighed, was it all my imagination? Something tells me its not...

"Well, so much for that conversation." I said to myself.

"There you are! I thought you've been kidnapped or something! Come on, i want you to meet some of my friends." Carol said, i took one last glance at the painting before following my older sister back to the main hall where all is well, no one ever noticed i was gone, only my sister... And it took her like what..? An hour or so?

Maybe we'll meet again, that man i mean. I really want to know more about the artist. And i have a feeling only he could provide me with the answers, and that it won't be the last time i see him... If what just happened counts as 'seeing' him.

AN: okay, so as any of you might notice, i am new in the whole Star trek fandom, but ever since i watched the second movie i instantly fell in love with it, mainly because Benedict Cumberbatch is in it-god i am in love with that man!- and also because the story offers many opportunities for a fan fiction. Now, i know that i am probably not the most well oriented person when it comes to sci-fi stuff and there might be a lot of inaccurate information in my writing, but again that is mainly because i am new in this fandom and i am basing everything i am writing from the movie; Starr trek into darkness, on its own, which i've only seen once. So please forgive me for any mistakes including grammar and spelling issues. And a review would be well appreciated xD.

Sincerely yours, Ladymischief09.