A quiet buzzing from my PADD woke me up bright and early the next morning. I rolled out of bed and had a quick sonic shower before getting dressed in my shorts and vest combo and taking the time to put a little makeup on; I may have only been taking a transport to the Academy but I wanted the first impression I made on some of my fellow cadets to be a good one, and that included making an effort. Pulling my hair into a bun and shouldering my bag again, I checked out of the hotel and grabbed a transport to the shipyard.
The sight of the Enterprise being built was awe-inspiring. She was the main reason I'd decided to enlist in Starfleet – the idea that I could possibly serve on something so majestic, so beautiful... it took my breath away. She still had a fair way to go yet, but I knew that eventually I would be a member of her crew.
Approaching the shuttle for new recruits, I gave Chris a small nod, to which he returned a smile.
"Good luck kid... you're gonna need it," he muttered quietly as I stepped on board the shuttle, looking around for a spare seat. From the quick glances I gave my fellow cadets, it seemed that Chris' feeling that there was trouble the night before was correct – a few of them looked slightly battered and another had his wrist in some sort of fabric cast. I chuckled quietly and rolled my eyes as I continued to hunt for a seat. The only one I could see was between a uniformed cadet and 2 un-uniformed cadets, one of which seemed to have blood down his front. Wincing slightly at the thought of having to sit next to him, I began to lower myself into the seat when I heard a voice behind me.
"Hey, miss that's my seat!" I bit my lip and looked up at the cadet whose space I'd inadvertently stolen.
"Oh, I do apologise, I didn't realise anyone was sitting here... would you like me to move?" I said quietly, looking up at him. "I'll find somewh-"
"No, miss, it's fine... you keep sitting there, I'll find somewhere else. It's rude to make a lady move!" With a grin and a wink, he moved off to find a seat elsewhere in the crowded shuttle. Sighing in relief, I relaxed back into the seat.
The shuttle soon took off for San Francisco, and I felt like I was about to doze off in my seat when I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. I turned to see the bloodied guy next to me sporting a grin and leaning towards me conspiratorially.
"Hey, are you okay? If you're scared you can always hold my hand..." He winked at me cockily.
"Thanks, but no thanks... Besides, I usually prefer guys who don't look like half their blood is stained on their shirts. It's not really a good look," I commented shifting away from him slightly.
"You prefer pretty boys like old Bones here? Wouldn't have expected that. You probably couldn't handle me anyway, miss...?" he asked, cocking his head to the side as he turned to face me more fully.
Smirking, I reached across him to jokingly caress the face of the guy next to him (Bones, did he say? Strange name, that) before running my hand down his arm to snag the hipflask he had with him away from him. I quickly opened it and took a hearty gulp of the liquid inside and grinned as I recognised the taste of bourbon. Swallowing it before taking another generous mouthful, I handed the container back to be greeted by shocked looks from not only those two, but most of the other cadets nearby; all except for one woman sat across from us, who gave me a thumbs up and a smile.
"Finest Kentucky bourbon? Bones, you have excellent taste... I rather think we could be friends." Gracing him with my most attractive smile, I then turned back to his companion. "I believe it would be the other way around dear... You wouldn't be able to handle me. I'm Claire, Claire Shaw. You are?"
"Jim Kirk at your service, ma'am." He raised my hand to his lips to press a kiss onto my knuckles, before casting an appraising look over me with those gorgeous blue eyes of his. "Hmm, impressive. Where've you been all of my life, eh?"
Luckily, Bones chose that moment to retch loudly and caused Jim to jump, letting go of my hand and turning to his new acquaintance.
"Bones, seriously, warn a guy when you're about to nearly throw up on them!"
I took the opportunity to give the cocky cadet the once over, and I was impressed. Blond hair, brilliant blue eyes and a strong jaw, he could quite easily be classed as 'perfection' – and that was just his face. Beneath the bloody t-shirt he seemed to be hiding quite the body; muscular, but not to the point of being too overdone. It was a shame about his attitude, really, otherwise he'd have definitely been a contender for my affections.
The woman across the aisle had caught me looking, and when I caught her eye next she motioned to Kirk, then back to me, then gave me a questioning look; I replied by shrugging and then shaking my head slightly, which caused her to laugh and nod. I gave her another grin in reply, and then settled back to enjoy the rest of the ride.