Author's Note:

Hello and I hope you all had a good Christmas. Here is the story behind Rule 2 and I thank everyone who is still supporting this story. I'm working on another story that's Pavel-centric; it is using the events of Gamma 2 which I briefly mentioned in the chapter for Rule 39. The plan is that it will focus a lot on the father/son relationship between Jim and Pavel but we'll see how it goes. Hopefully that will be up soon so watch this space and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

I do not own any thing to do with Star Trek.

Rule 2-Do not badmouth or gossip about any of the Command Crew no matter what they do.

Hikaru Sulu was eating in the mess hall when two engineers came in and sat at a nearby table. One of them seemed to be wearing a slightly blackened uniform and was speaking angrily to his friend.

"I can't believe that guy." Sulu was about to tune out the conversation when the next words caught his attention. "I mean, how did he get put in charge anyway? He's a crazy idiot."

Hikaru was pretty certain who they were talking about but remained quiet as the man continued his rant.

"He keeps testing stupid theories and trying dangerous experiments while we run around trying to stop all of engineering from going to pot and keep the damn ship going. He then blows something up and we have to sort his mess."

Though they hadn't said a name Hikaru knew exactly who he meant and felt his anger grow at the oblivious crewman as he kept going.

"Only this morning he blew some sort of modified power cell up and if I was any closer I could have been seriously injured or even killed."

His friend nodded in agreement "Mr Scott is dire; I don't even know how he's not been booted out of Starfleet yet and they way he coddles that Russian kid is ridiculous."

"I know," the first man answered "he lets that runt do what he likes and the kid shouldn't even be on this ship, he's way to young and should still be hanging onto his mothers apron strings. Both Mr Scott and Kirk let him loose in engineering and he isn't even an engineer, he should be playing with equations at Kirks feet where he belongs and not down where we're doing the real work."

Hikaru was now hard pressed to not thump the guy speaking and the reply from his mate didn't help.

"You're right, that kid is a pain and you can barely understand him as well as being disrespectful. He's only an Ensign and yet he still calls Mr Scott 'Scotty' and answers back to the Captain and Kirk lets him. I also heard he corrected Lieutenant Neil in front of the entire bridge and wasn't even verbally reprimanded."

The other man started up again. "If you ask me, that brat needs a good hiding to be taught to show proper respect to his betters."

At this Hikaru decided he had heard enough. Getting up from the table, without letting the two engineers (who were still ranting) know he had heard, he went to find Jim. He was certain that the Captain would be very interested in a spot of revenge.

Two days later one of the engineers found that his quarters was flooded with bubbles that dyed all his uniforms and his hair neon pink when they popped. The other one was ruthlessly attacked by a small robot that threw water balloons with deadly accuracy at the general area of his crotch making him look like he had wet himself all day.

The next week Pavel overheard two female Ensigns gossiping about Jim and Spock and spreading some very dodgy rumours about the nature of their friendship. The day after, both of them were ambushed by huge fake spiders at inopportune moments all day until they were nervous wrecks.

It is unknown who did it but Rule 2 was added shortly afterward. It was also one of the rules everyone had to know by the end of their first day.

PS-Thank you for reading this and I'll either post another story or update soon