A/N: Thank you pallysd'Artagnan and tessseagull for your reviews! ^_^

"Rising Stars"

2371

A round of drinks was raised in the air, followed by a chorus of congratulations and cheers. Rios knocked back a swig of brandy, but no amount of alcohol was going to compete with the buzz he had from being accepted to Nova Squadron, the elite flight team at the Academy.

Raffi ordered another round for everyone, spearheading this little celebratory gathering. The friendly competition between her and Rios had petered out some now that they'd both started to make a name for themselves in their own respective career tracks.

"Now you gotta win the Rigel Cup," she said with the same enthusiasm as if she were the one who'd joined the squad.

Rios scoffed. Of course that was every pilot's lofty dream, but he couldn't let himself jump that far ahead, not yet. There would be months of training and maneuvers, and performing at commencement ceremonies. And then if they happened to shine bright enough to earn that esteemed recognition, well, that would be one hell of a high too.

Raffi broke into a grin and twirled a finger at him. "Uh-huh, there it is. You know you want it."

Rios realized he'd been smiling to himself at the idea, and he quickly shook his head to snap himself out of it. "Let me have tonight first."

She continued to grin uncontrollably as she took another swig of her drink.

"Hey, Rios," someone snapped.

Everyone paused in their merry making in response to the harsh intrusion. Rios turned around but otherwise didn't respond to the fellow cadet standing in the middle of the bar staring him down.

"Yeah, you think you're a big shot," Wade spat. "Part of Nova Squadron. That was supposed to be my spot."

Rios still didn't say anything. Wade was a self-entitled ass who thought Starfleet was his stepping stone to greatness and glory. He completely missed the spirit of what Starfleet was, that service was at the heart of it, not exaltation. Rios imagined the higher-ups could see that in Wade too, which was why he hadn't been accepted to the squadron.

Raffi snorted loudly. "Piss off."

"What, you got nothin' to say?" Wade pressed. "Gonna let a woman speak for you?"

Rios arched a brow as Raffi's expression went icy smooth and she slowly turned back toward Wade.

"You got a problem with women?" she asked in a deceptively calm tone.

"I got a problem with people butting in where they don't belong," Wade sneered. He shot a scathing glower over her shoulder at Rios. "This is the star pupil Rios, needing someone else to defend him?"

Rios held up his palms. "I'm not the one in need of defending at the moment." He leaned back against the edge of the high table behind him, content to stay out of the way. He knew Wade was getting too close to fire.

"Butting in?" Raffi repeated. "You're the one who walked into the middle of a celebration without being invited. That's very rude. Why don't you run along before you embarrass yourself further."

"Why don't you shut that mouth of yours—" Wade attempted to grab Raffi's arm and shove her out of the way, but she spun out of his grasp, captured his wrist instead, and torqued his arm behind his back while spinning him around to slam face first across a table.

"Touch me again and I'll break your fingers."

Wade sputtered and writhed but couldn't get enough leverage to throw her off. After letting him squirm for another moment, Raffi finally pushed away from him. He scrambled to his feet, cheeks flaring puce and fists clenching. Rios straightened in anticipation of him actually attacking Raffi in retaliation.

But then a commanding voice sounded over the hushed whispers of the crowd, silencing them all.

"Is there a problem here?"

Every cadet in the bar snapped to attention at the Lieutenant Commander's arrival. No one moved or spoke.

"Well?"

"No problem, sir," Raffi answered.

The Commander looked to Wade, who was visibly seething where he stood. "Cadet?"

"No problem, sir," Wade ground out.

"Good. You look a little piqued, son. Maybe you should get some fresh air."

Wade's cheeks flushed again and, casting a look around at everyone staring at him, beat a hasty retreat out of the bar. Everyone returned to their business then, though subdued with the Lieutenant Commander still lingering about.

"What an ass," Raffi muttered as she rejoined Rios.

"As much as Wade deserves an ass-kicking, it wouldn't be worth you ending up on disciplinary action," Rios pointed out.

Raffi took a sip of her drink. "I don't know, it might be."

He smirked.

They both stiffened as the Lieutenant Commander came to stand at their table.

"Congratulations, Cadet," he said with a knowing gleam in his eye. "You'll do us proud."

"Thank you, sir," Rios fumbled to answer, suddenly feeling self-conscious. It was a huge honor, and he was both proud and humbled by it.

And inside he hoped he was worthy of the faith placed in him.