Shining Star

Chapter Three: - Star-Fleet.

Summary: "It is in not the Stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves." – William Shakespeare.

Author's note: - So here we have the third chapter. I hope everyone is enjoying so far. Please submit a review and share your thoughts.

Chapter Notes: - James T Kirk is the first student in the history of the Star-Fleet Academy to successfully complete the infamous Kobayashi Maru Test. But for that to happen did he perform dishonourably? But there is something dangerous looming in the universe. Maggie's adventure is just beginning.

X*X*X

If there was ever a situation that Cadet Marguerite wished she could simply disappear from, this was it. Cadet James Tiberius Kirk, one of her best friends, was on trial for dishonourable conduct.

"You think he actually cheated?" Maggie asked Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy, her only other best friend. "You think he was actually able to rig the system?"

"Well he doesn't really seem to be denying it, sweetheart." He answered back, never once taking his deep brown eyes off his friend currently standing in front of the rest of the cadets.

"For the love of God, Jim." Maggie sighed, her head falling into her hands. "How wrong is it that I'm proud of him?" She laughed quietly. "Expect for the fact he got caught? I've taught him better than that."

"Well he apparently missed that lesson." Bones answered failing to hide his grin.

"I believe I have a right to face my accuser directly." Jim said to the board, when they asked him, if he had anything to say.

Maggie would have liked to have been able to say she was surprised when she saw Commander Spock stand from his seat, however, she really wasn't. Of course it was going to be Spock who found that Jim cheated.

"This is Commander Spock." Admiral Richard Barnett briefly introduced. "He is one of the most distinguished graduates to come from this Academy. He has programmed the Kobayashi Maru Test for the past four years. Commander,"

He indicated for Spock to present his evidence against Kirk. It was at this moment Maggie knew that her best friend didn't stand a chance. Spock to was far to respected, and Jim, unfortunately, had a reputation.

"Jim needs to listen to me the next time I tell him I how to hack into something and not get caught." She muttered to bones, dejectedly. He just snorted.

"Cadet Kirk, you somehow managed to install and activate a subroutine in the programming code, thereby changing the conditions of the test." Spock accused. Maggie coughed nervously and sank in her seat.

"You told him how to do that?" Bones accused her.

"Maybe." She trailed off, looking sheepish.

"In Academic terms, Cadet, you cheated." Barnett summarised, looking at Kirk with disappointment.

"The test itself is a cheat, isn't it? I mean, you programmed it to be unwinnable." Kirk said looking at the Commander, aggravation in his eyes.

"Your argument precludes the possibility of a no-win scenario." Spock argued.

"I don't believe in no-win scenarios." Kirk fought.

"Oh no." Maggie sighed. "I have a bad feeling about where this is gonna go."

"Then not only did you violate the rules, you also failed to understand the principal lesson." Spock incriminated the cadet.

"Please enlighten me." Kirk was being to lose patience, with the entire situation.

"Where is this going?" McCoy asked Maggie, who sighed drastically.

"Jim's father." She said in a hushed tone, as one of the admirals looked their way.

"You of all people should know, Cadet Kirk, a captain cannot cheat death."

Maggie silently pleaded for Spock not to continue with what he was obviously going to say.

"I of all people..." Jim began, having caught on.

"Your father, Lieutenant George Kirk, assumed command of his vessel before being killed in action, did he not?"

"Nice call." Bones whispered to her.

"Thanks." She answered back.

"I don't think you like the fact that I beat your test." Jim was quick to change the subject, only now his tone held a hint of bitterness.

"Furthermore, you have failed to divine the purpose of the test."

"Enlighten me again."

"Jim wants to punch his face in." McCoy said to the younger girl who released a very unlady-like snort. That caused a few people to look in their direction.

"Dr. McCoy," She chuckled. "Whatever gave you that impression?"

"The purpose is to experience fear, fear in the face of certain death, to accept that fear, and maintain control of oneself and one's crew. This is the quality expected in every Starfleet captain."

"The guy knows what he's talking about." Maggie said to herself, as she and McCoy sat back in their seats.

"Excuse me Admiral." A new voice interrupted.

A young officer walked into the room, and handed Admiral Barnett a PADD.

"So, how bad do you think Jim is gonna get it?" McCoy asked her off-handily.

"Definite suspension." She replied. "And maybe a black-mark on his record, if they feel like ass-holes."

"Yeah sounds about right." He nodded.

"We've received a distress call from Vulcan." Admiral Barnett announced.

Maggie felt her heart stop. Her yellow eyes quickly fell to the Vulcan commander standing a few meters from her.

"With our primary fleet engaged in the Laurentian System," Barnett started. "I hereby order all cadets to report to Hanger One immediately, Dismissed."

In moments, Maggie and McCoy were at the side of their friend. "You okay?" She asked, wrapping an arm around his shoulder.

"Yeah, don't worry, I'm fine." He answered wrapping his own arm around her waist. "Who was that pointy eared bastard?"

Maggie roughly smacked the side of his head, while clearing her throat and tipping her head, a clear reminder her own pointed ears.

"I don't know." McCoy answered. "But I like him" He grinned.

"And you know we love your ears Mags." Jim laughed pinching her waist, resulting in her giving a loud shriek.

The smiling, care-free trio followed their fellow cadets to Hanger One.

X*X*X

"Marguerite!" A loud voice yelled, "The Enterprise."

Internally Maggie was jumping for joy, but externally, she simply nodded.

"McCoy." The same voice boomed. "Enterprise."

A sensation of incredible joy filled Maggie; she would be performing her dream job, on the newest ship in the fleet, with her best friends.

"They didn't call my name."

Jim's confession, shattered her joyous though, with the sharp realisation. They hadn't actually called his name.

"Commander, you didn't call my name." Jim yelled. "Sir, Kirk, James T." He said as the commander checked the name given to him.

"Kirk," He read. "You are on Academic Suspension. You're grounded until Academy Board rules."

The wounded puppy looks in Jim's eyes was enough to make Maggie's heart strings contract painfully.

"Jim, the council is going to rule in your favour." Bones tried to comfort his friend, "Most likely." Bones failed.

Maggie and McCoy shared a pained looked. "Look, Jim, we have to go." McCoy sighed.

"No yeah, go." Jim agreed, trying to hide the pain in his eyes. "You better watch out for our girl Bones." He laughed, pulling Maggie into a hug.

"Oh please." The girl responded. "Without me, Bones would be a sobbing wreck." She joked sadly.

"Be safe guys." Jim said to them, as they started to walk away.

McCoy wrapped an arm around Maggie as the pair began walking towards a shuttle. "We can't leave him." Maggie whispered. "He looks like a puppy that just got kicked after watching his favourite toy burn."

"Damn it." Bones growled, stopping and swiftly turned on his heels, releasing the girl from his hold. Maggie, sensing what he was planning, followed him; a smirk on her face.

"Come with us." The Doctor said, grabbing Jim's arm.

"Wait what?"

"Jim, I know this will be hard for you, but keep your mouth shut." Maggie said, following closely behind the boys. "Just trust us."

"Bones where are we going?" Jim asked ignoring Maggie.

"Well, we couldn't just leave you there looking pathetic."

Maggie caught sight of Cadet Uhara walking towards them with determination, and an extremely pissed off look on her face.

"Did the Princess not get her way?" Maggie snapped as, Uhara walked passed.

"At least my daddy didn't interfere." Uhara responded, but otherwise kept walking.

"What do you have against her?" Kirk asked when Maggie finally caught up.

"We hate each other." Maggie answered as McCoy led them into a small medical room. "Always have, always will. She's an immature brat, who can't handle it when things don't go her way. She doesn't like that I rivalled her in linguistics."

"What are you doing, Bones?" Jim snapped, when McCoy pushed him on to an examination chair.

"I'm doing you a favour." McCoy answered, "I'm gonna give you a vaccine against viral infection from Melvaren mud fleas."

He stabbed a Hypo into Jim's neck, and even Maggie winched. Jim, not expecting the action, yelled out in pain.

"What for?" He asked finally.

"To give you the symptoms." Maggie answered for the doctor, jumping up to sit on the counter. A cruel smile on her face. "Bones, this is the best idea you've ever had."

"What are you talking about?" Jim snapped.

"You're gonna start losing vision in your right eye." McCoy warned, pulling a med bag out from a drawer.

"Yeah, I already have."

Maggie relished a delighted sequel.

"Mags, you're enjoying this too much." The Doctor scolded her

"I'm not going to apologies. Do you have any idea how funny it is to watch this?" She laughed. "Oh by the way Jim, you're going to get a really bad head ache and a flop sweat."

"I keep forgetting you're a trained nurse." Jim muttered, as McCoy pulled him into a standing position, and supported his weight.

"I'm a jack of all trades." Maggie answered jumping down from perch on the counter and followed the boys.

"You guys call this a favour?" Jim asked in a pathetic moan.

"Yeah, you owe me." McCoy said, taking Jim out the door, and towards a shuttle.

X*X*X

Leaving the hanger, left Maggie with a sense of excitement and relief. When the familiar blue sky of Earth began to fade into the extensive darkness of space, she was suddenly a little girl again, getting ready to join her father on the Star-Ships for her holidays.

"I might throw up." Jim warned his friends.

"Well just make sure it's on Bones." Maggie responded gently, rubbing Jim's back trying to sooth him.

"Guys you need to see this." McCoy said to them, ignoring the previous conversation. Maggie looked up, and was stunned to see the Spacedock waiting for them.

"Jim." She said. "Look."

Kirk finally felt confident enough to look out the window, without throwing up. Before them, was the USS Enterprise. In all her glory.

"She's beautiful." Maggie voiced softly, in almost a whisper. But those that were close enough to hear her, made no argument.

Jim's condition worsened by the time the trio had vacated their shuttle. And while Maggie wished to savour the moment, she was taken in, by sheer awe of the ship around her.

"We need to get you changed." McCoy told Jim, still pulling him by the arm.

"I don't feel right." Jim responded. "I feel like I'm leaky."

"One day Jim, I am going to use this very moment as black mail." Maggie said grinning.

"Hell, it's that pointy eared bastard." McCoy cursed. Maggie froze for a moment. McCoy and Jim, having average features were able to blend in, but for Maggie, with her own pointed ears and her bright yellow eyes, she stood out.

"Cadet Marguerite." Commander Spock called out. Maggie signalled for Bones to keep going and turned to face the Commander.

"Can I help you sir?"

"Yes, come with me."

He left no room for argument and began to walk away. Maggie sighed, and looked for McCoy and Jim. She had been extremely looking forward to watching Jim come out of his little episode. But by the look of it, it wasn't going to happen. With a frustrated sigh, she began to follow the commander.

"I believe this is appropriate." Spock said to her, handing her a yellow Starfleet dress.

"Thank you sir." She nodded, accepting the dress, loving the feel of the soft material in her hands. She turned and headed to a changing room.

"Marguerite," Spock called after her. "When you have changed, find me, and I shall inform you of your position."

"Of course, Commander." She nodded. "And you can call me Maggie."

"I believe I prefer Delilah."

Maggie had to pause, and turn back to face the Commander. She was sure she had misheard him. When she looked at him, she caught the smallest trace of a smirk. She turned, and began walking to get changed.

A few minutes later, she immerged from the small, crowded changing room, dressed in the yellow uniform, with her hair in a half pony tail.

"Oh my God, Maggie!" A fellow female cadet, Calla, had said. "That really makes your eyes look brilliant."

"Thanks." Maggie had answered timidly, and began to look for Commander Spock.

"You know, you're only here because you have Pike wrapped around your finger." A familiar voice growled. Maggie sighed dramatically.

"Uhara. I thought you were on the Farragut." Maggie responded.

"Well Commander Spock thought otherwise." Uhara answered smugly.

"Really? You're trying to have this argument with me? Again?" Maggie laughed.

"You just don't like that there is one man in Star fleet that doesn't want to sleep with you." Uhara growled.

"Umm no." Maggie sighed. "Just no. You're just pissed, because we tied for top of the class."

"Just because Pike is your daddy." Uhara snapped.

"Again no." Maggie sighed. "Because I actually worked hard. I have earned the right to be here. Unlike you, the living proof, that stopping your foot and having a tantrum, actually gets you want you want."

"Is everything alright here?" A male voice interrupted.

"Commander Spock." Both women acknowledged.

"Cadet Marguerite, you shall accompany me to the bridge." Spock said. "We are Operation Officer down. And as I understand it, you are specialised in the technology systems."

"Yes, sir." Maggie nodded, and began to follow the Vulcan out of the crowded area.

"Daddy's girl." Uhara growled under her breath.

"Is there something you would like to share Cadet?" Spock asked her, having heard her mutter.

"No, Commander. I was just leaving." And with one final glare in Maggie's direction, Uhara stormed away.

"Thank you Commander." Maggie sighed gratefully.

Finally the pair had made their way out of the heavily populated part of the ship and made their way to the lift, which would take them to the Bridge.

"Commander Spock, may I ask you something?" Maggie asked after a moment of silence.

"Of course." He answered, with a single nod.

"Why am I, a cadet, working on the bridge of the newest ship in the fleet?"

"Because I requested it, and you are a lieutenant now."

That had not been the answer she was expecting. It was nowhere near the answer she was expecting.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"In the Academy, you have excelled at operations. You are dedicated and determined Marguerite, and therefore, it was logical to place you, in operations a position which comes with the title lieutenant."

"I meant it earlier, when I said you could call me 'Maggie'." She smiled almost shyly. Spock raised an eye brow at her, and the almost-a-smirk appeared again.

"As I was sincere when I said I prefer Delilah."

"Well Delilah then." She smirked, her own shyness slowly disappearing.

The door of the elevator opened and revealed the Bridge of the Enterprise. Spock led her to a vacant station, not far from the Captain's chair. "It will be a pleasure working with you, Commander Spock." She smiled.

"Your sentiments are returned fully, Delilah." He answered.

"Commander Spock." A family voice, rang out as Spock moved to his own station.

"Captain." He greeted.

Maggie turned sharply to face the voice, and felt a smile spread on her face. "Captain." She announced checking her station. "Engineering reports ready for Launch."

Pike turned suddenly at the familiar voice. He spotted his adopted daughter sitting comfortably at an Operation Station, like she had been there for years. At the sight in front of him, he smiled brightly.

"Lieutenant Marguerite." His voice was filled with pride and joy, and at the sound of it, Maggie's own smiled doubled in size, a smile that went all the way to her eyes. "Thank you." Pike continued.

Spock who was watching the interaction, could not deny that the look of pure joy in the young woman's face. And was surprised to find, a strange sensation swelling in his chest, because of it.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the maiden voyage of our new flagship, deserves more pomp and circumstances than we can afford today. A Christening will just have to be our reward for a safe return. Carry on."

Maggie turned to look at Spock, a bright smile clear on her face, and gratitude shining in her eyes. She tipped her head, as a sign of thanks. One he happily returned.

"The fleet has cleared spacedock, Captain. All ships ready for warp." An Asian man, announced.

"Set course for Vulcan." Pike ordered, relaxing in his chair.

"Aye-Aye, Captain. Course laid in." The man answered, brightly.

"Maximum warp. Punch it." Pike commanded, with a small smile.

The smile, turned into one of amusement when the officer began pressing buttons, but nothing happened. It took everything Maggie had not to laugh out loud, his mistake clear to her.

"Lieutenant, where is Helmsman McKenna?" Pike asked.

"He has lungworms, sir. He couldn't report to his post. I'm Hikaru Sulu." The man explained.

"And you are a pilot, right?" The elder man joked.

"Very much so, Sir." Sulu grinned, his embarrassment painfully clear. "I'm, uh, not sure what's wrong."

Maggie felt sorry for him, but was also thankful that she wasn't in his place.

"Is the parking brake on?" Pike asked, looking at Maggie, who could clearly see the amused gleam.

"Uh, no. I'll figure it out. I'm just..." He tried pressing more buttons, but nothing happened. Finally, Maggie took pity on him.

"Did you try disengaging the external inertial dampener?" She said to him.

Sulu looked at her, and then sighed.

Silently he turned back to his station, and without looking at anyone, he punched in the correct code. "Ready for warp, Sir." He said.

Maggie smiled smugly to herself and turned back to her own station.

Pike internally laughed at the silent glee that was radiating from the new lieutenant. "Let's punch it." He ordered again.

Spock also picked up on Maggie's glee, and found himself, feeling proud of her. She had unknowingly, just proved to the rest of the bridge that she deserved to be here. She was going to do fine.

His positive energy, however, fled him when he realised that they were on way to his home-planet. That could be in danger. His parents could be in danger. His mother could be in trouble, could be hurt.

At her station, Maggie felt, in the pit of her stomach that something horrible was going to happen, or already had. She just hoped that she was ready to face it.

End of Chapter.