Just to be the best I can be, sets the goal for every man.

A new day dawns

He was in his watery bed sleeping. The computer opened the blinds and drained the bed's water to wake him up. He was very excited. Today was THE day.

He got dressed really quickly in his usual blue shirt and pants. After deciding he is not hungry, he grabbed a knapsack and made his way downstairs.

He pressed the door chime to the apartment. "Come in."

Stryker did so and looked around. "Alice ?"

"Just a second. I am changing, " come Alice's voice from her bedroom.

A minute later Alice come out, dressed in vibrant black pants, a crimson short sleeved blouse and two white cloth armbands completed her outfit. "So this is the day, " he commented.

"Yeah the day, " Alice agreed as she grabbed her knapsack.

"Ready ?"

"As ready as I will ever be. Let's go."

Today was the last day of rush, the week-long period during which new cadets arrived. Alice and Stryker was experiencing a mixture of both nerves and excitement that had caused them to be on edge.

The campus was ablaze with colour. All of the palette was represented. Green predominated, but the changing of the leaves was already edging the trees in brilliant reds and golds. The buildings were dark brick with pristine white trim, the ocean at the edge of the grounds glimmered with the reflected blue of the sky.

About six hunderd cadets stood on the grand assembly grounds in front of the main academy building. Some were accompanied by their parents. Groups of bodies were relaxing, sitting on the grass. Most cadets were lying in the sun, trying to get some colour and warmth. There were several couples scattered across the lawn, sitting or standing close together. Stryker watched with amusement as some cranky old man ran around, trying to keep young people from entering his rose beds and gardens.

A group in Starfleet uniforms stood near the podium. An older man, a human stepped up to address the crowd. "Greetings cadets."

Everyone stepped a little closer and become quiet. "I am Commander Wilton Key. You are all here for different reasons, and you think you are ready, don't you ?"

Murmurs rose from the crowd but quickly died down. "The thing about Starfleet Academy is, no one is really prepared for it. Sure there are many brats that have spent their entire life in the shadow of and preparing for Starfleet, but no one is ready for it. Within these walls, we forge the quadrant's best and brightest." he paused to take a drink from a glass of water.

"This is where we will push you to your limits and quite possibly beyond them. Starfleet Academy will be the toughest, most grueling four years of your life, and most of that is just studying. Some of you will drop out, and quit. Its not for everyone. With that said, I bid you all good luck in your chosen subjects, and hope to see the very best from all of you. Good luck and Godspeed." he said as he stepped down.

A younger woman stepped up to the podium. Stryker examined her carefully, I had a strange feeling about her. The woman had short light hair, a storm of freckles across her nose and cheeks. Something about her made her appear intimidating. Her back was straight, obviously an atlethic built hidden beneath her uniform. Stryker figured she must be a soldier. "I am Lieutenant Lili Marquette." she said. Stryker picked up her accent, French-Canadian. She continued, "I am one of the instructors here. Everyone is required to report to the infirmary for a medical scan before 1500 hours, from there proceed to the main lobby where quarters will be assigned. A general assembly and Orientation will be held at 1930 hours."

"Dismissed." Lili told her students.

Stryker waited in the infirmary's waiting room for almost forty minutes when someone walked in. He looked up and saw a familiar face, Wiuen. "Hey, pal. Where were you these last couple of months ?"

"Here and there."

A woman called from the front desk, "Cadet Stryker. You can go in now. Room nine please."

"What's with the new name ?" Wiuen asked.

"The translator is not quite picking up certain words." Stryker exhaled loudly, trying to look nonchalant.

Wiuen nodded. "I noticed. I got slapped yesterday by a Bolian waitress when I asked for coconut coffee."

Stryker was amused, a sly smile on his face certainly was not helping matters as he imagined what must have happened. Note to self, stay away from Bolians until this translator is working properly.

Wiuen and Stryker passed glances. "See you later, pal."

Stryker got up and walked down the hall looking for room nine. When he found it, he walked in. A male and female stepped out of a small office, looking at the overhead displays. "Please sit down, " the Bajoran female smiled and pointed to the only biobed in the room. Stryker nodded and sat down on it.

The two doctors stood at a long console, pressing buttons and receiving a number of beeps in response. "A species not found in our database, " she whispered. "Neck glands of some kind, reinforced bone structure. Unusual blood chemistry and brain synopses."

The other doctor looked like he was trying to focus on something near Stryker, or maybe examining something. He turned to Stryker and asked "Cadet, are you trying to shield your thoughts ?"

"I do not understand."

"I am a Betazoid, son. I should be able to sense your thoughts and in most cases even communicate with you telepathically."

"Please, tell me what is going on," Stryker said, clearly agitated.

"Please relax," the female said. Stryker calmed down as the other doctor tried his mind probes again. Betazoid. Betazoid. Ah, now I remember, a race of telementals. Homeworld is called Cyndriel or Betazed.

The woman ran a number of other scans, Stryker could only imagine what her sensors picked up. Medical matters never concerned me in the past. And these orange lights on the walls is a real eyesore.

After a minute, the Betazoid just shrugged. "I cannot sense this thoughts, nor a mental barrier of some kind. It appears to be a natural psionic immunity. We need to study his scans a bit more carefully. Please make note of it Ensign."

The female nodded and typed something into her PADD. "We are done here. You may go now." she smiled. Stryker got up and made his way to the entrance hall.

Arriving in the front lobby, Stryker started looking around. This room was unoffically referred to as the hall of heroes. Admirals and fleet captains from times past. Greatest heroes who spent their lives and given their lives exploring the galaxy. Their holograms lined the walls, hundred twenty one Starfleet legends.

Stryker reconized only seven of them: Diseomu Kre Dise of the Haida, Hiromi and Hikaru Sulu (Alice's great-grandfather whom Stryker met twice) of the Excelsior, Rachel Garrett and Jean-Luc Picard of the Enterprise. Oe'Jalge of the Cutty Sark and later the Intrepid. Meredith-Anne Sobinski of the Halifax.

The Halifax's commanding officer looked oddly familiar, but Stryker could not figure out why. He also found it odd how often Starfleet changed its uniforms, looks like one style does not stay around for more than 40 years. The Guardian Collective's uniforms has changed very little in the last 230 years.

Cadets crowded the center of the room around a huge crescent-shaped computer monitor displaying layout of the academy and more importantly, quarter assignments. Stryker waited in line.

Celebrity

The doorchime sounded. Deanne looked at it. "Come in."

The doors slid open and two young women walked in. "Hi," one of them said. "My name is Tracey Gordon, and this is my roommate, T'aelo. We live across the hall."

T'aelo was obviously Vulcan, with the customary closely-cropped haircut and unnatural calmness. Tracey was tall, taller than Deanne, with long, pale golden hair, almost white, that was pulled back into a neat ponytail. "Hi," Deanne said. "These are my roommates, Aya Brea and Melissa Pearce. We are still missing our other roommate." Aya and Melissa greeted their the new neighbours. "I'm ... "

"Deanne Elizabeth Sobinski," Tracey said. "I know. We've heard so much about you."

"Meredith-Anne's daughter ?" Aya said, shocked. "This is so cool!" Melissa exclaimed.

"I can't believe you're living across the hall from us," Tracey said.

The girls seemed to be somewhat in awe. "You are quite famous on campus, you know." Aya told her.

Deanne sighed, unhappy at the newfound fame she was hoping to avoid.

Room mates

Ray escorted Alice to her new room, and then left for her to settle in, while he headed four doors down to his own room. Alice turned to face the room where she would be staying the next few years, noticing that the other two girls had watched her all the time.

"Hi," she said, waving shyly. "I am Alice."

One of them, a human girl, with walnut brown eyes and jetblack hair with five small copper streaks along her hairline, found her voice first. "I am Rachel. Rachel Skarsten."

The Bolian woman seemed to have found her voice back as well, "I am Qentis Nima Taty, but since everyone has troubing pronouncing it correctly, I am simply known as Q. Nice to meet you."

Alice smiled, "Seems that we're stuck with each other for the next year."

"How about a cup of tea, Blue?" Rachel asked her with a smile. She got up and headed for the stove. "Mum says that's the best cure for everything from flystrike to bushfire." Alice looked confused. "My parents own a sheep farm up in the Western district of New Zealand." she explained. "I'm a country girl, and proud of it."

"Please." Alice added, dropping her bag on her bed.

Rachel looked at Alice, "And while you unpack you have to tell us all about that hot guy. Where do you know him from? Are you two involved ?"

"No, we are not involved." Alice said. "Just friends."

"Can I have him ?" Melissa asked with a sly smile as she undressed Ray in her mind. Alice thought it best to warn them. So she started telling her roommates about Mouse.

Settling in

Stryker sighed as he walked into the depths of the Academy grounds. Dorm C was a relatively small dorm, fifteen storeys in height. The outer building itself seemed to be ancient. It was made of stone coloured in different red shades, giving it a weird look compared to the other mostly grey buildings.

Huge windows filled the façade, outlined in blue. The white front door was invitingly open. He laughed when his eyes fell on a banner that was hung from the first floor balconies, Sprigs inside. Water regularly.

Below that, another banner. Welcome to the insanity everyone.

Stryker exited the elevator on the sixth floor when a tall female ran into him, knocking both of them over. He noticed her rank pips, third year cadet with a command uniform, his upperclassman, "Are you injuried ?"

"No. Sorry. Terribly sorry, got to go." she said and took off running again. His eyes followed her for a second. "Strange human." he shrugged, standing up. He located his room a minute later.

Standing in the open door, he scanned the room. He saw an Andorian woman sitting at a computer terminal, a human sleeping on his bed, face down. The other bed was messed up, while the last bed was presumably his. He walked and dumped his knapsack on the empty bed, "Hey," the Andorian said, winking at Stryker. "The name's Cariahn, what's yours ?"

"Stryker."

"What course are you taking ?"

"Navigation."

"Uh, a fly boy. And a pretty one at that."

She tapped on her freshly replicated uniform's blue tunic. "Science." You are starting to annoy me, he thought as she examined him closely.

The bathroom door opened and a familiar woman walked in. "Hi Mouse." he greeted.

" ... Lizard breath. Damn, don't tell me they put us in the same room." Mouse whined.

I am really getting tired to this nickname, dammit someone else might start calling me by it. His control was slipping fast. Anger rose within him, too long suppressed before he finally confronted her, "Listen Mouse. I really wish you wouldn't call me that. I have a name. Start using it if you address me in the future."

Mouse was getting angry. Cariahn intervened, "Hey, hey. No fighting."

"SHUT UP!" they both yelled in unison at her. Cariahn was furious and appalled by the insult.

An angry strawberry blond haired woman in Starfleet uniform stormed into their quarters. "Now that is a word I never want to hear again."

The trio was surprised at her sudden appearance. "Learn to work together in peace and tolerating each other, or else you are out of here. Are we all in understanding ?"

The three gulped, "Yes sir."

She left. The mystery sleeping man got up, softly chuckling as he did so. "In trouble already ? Wow, you guys don't waste time do you ?"

"Who are you ?" Mouse and Stryker asked simultaneously. They glared at each other. A physical fight seemed inevitable.

"Enzo." he said. "That woman you get met is Lieutenant-Commander Rain Williams, she one of the instructors here. She's aso the Dean of students. Her quarters is at the end of the hall."

"But there is another woman here that looks just like her." Cariahn said.

"Her sister is an honourary instructor at the academy as well, Jessica Williams. She is actually a starship captain, but her ship is being overhauled and refitted at Utopia Plantia." Enzo answered.

Assembly and Orientation

Upperclassman swaggered around the banquet hall. Stryker stood alone in a corner of the upper balcony, overlooking the banquet hall. Alice walked up to him, "Still the lone proud wolf, eyeing the world, eh ?"

"I think I got a stomach bug. I don't quite feel like myself. " Stryker said. "In case it gets messy, I'd rather not be in a crowd."

After general assembly and Orientation, Stryker, Mouse, Wiuen, Ray, MRess, Deanne, Lucida and Alice met near the water front. They were dressed in uniform since general assembly.

Mouse wore a neck tunic of Medical Blue. Ray and Wiuen were wearing yellow neck tunic, of Engineering. Alice in yellow as well, Security. MRess and Lucida both wore Science blue. Deanne studying to become a Councilor, had a blue uniform as well. Stryker and Enzo had a red tunic, future Helm/CONN officers.

"You guys heard the rumours ?" Lucida asked.

"There is plenty floating around." Ray said in a bored, uninterested voice.

"I heard the Enterprise is in orbit. In for a major refit. Might take as long as 6 to 9 months." Alice replied.

Deanne's eyes kept avoiding Mouse and Stryker's when she said, "Lt-Commander Data has accepted a teaching position at the Academy."

"Unreal." Alice wondered outloud.

"So what quarters did everyone end up in ?" Lucida asked.

"A Hermat, a Bajoran female and a Diasoman." Ray said.

"I am in Dorm A." MRess said. "Communal quarters."

"I got stuck with two annoying Trill males, twins no less and Wiuen." Lucida groaned.

Anyone up for making bets on how long she can remain sane? Stryker thought.

"I am in an all female room." Deanne said. "A Vulcan, Betazoid, Human."

"Two Bolians, one human." Alice said.

"I got stuck with these two." Enzo replied, "Mouse and Stryker."

Holodeck Fight

Three weeks later.

Lt. Sharon Edwards addressed her class.

She was Stryker's favourite instructor. Deanne, Alice and Stryker often turned to her for help. "As Starfleet officers, we have to prepare ourselves for many things. This week, we will be looking at certain situations involving hand to hand combat. Remember! In a fight, the aggressor is not the one that throws the first punch, but the one who insists on fighting. If you ever get into a fight, it should be because you are forced into it. Take every opportunity you can to get out of it. Leave if you can, fight only if you must. If you do get into a fight, it is usually because you missed opportunities to get out of the situation or to properly assess the situation.

"Most of the time, a person or persons use anger as their fighting spirit but this is dangerous since anger stifles control and thought. A person fighting with pure anger is easier to beat than a person that is fighting using wits. Your fighting spirit should be your will to survive. Control your anger and you will have the edge. Controlled fighting mean you minimize your own hurt while maximizing the attacker's hurt. After a fight a person may not remember how much they hurt you, but they will remember how much you hurt them. Any questions?"

When no one answered she nodded to the engineer at the holodeck control station. A big man materialized. He was physically huge, and obviously very strong. "While hand to hand combat is undesirable more often than not, it is something you need to be prepared for. Brains over brawn. Allow me to demostrate."

The brute approached her and swung with a fist. She ducked, stepped closer and grabbed his wrist with both hands. Going with his momentum, she twisted his arm up and over her head, turning past the man beneath it.

Sharon twisted his arm folded over his shoulder. His knees were buckled in trying to ease the stress in his arm. She kicked them and man collapsed to the floor. The engineer at the controls presses a number of buttons, as the holocharacter disappeared and another one appeared, waiting.

Her eyes scanned the room. "Cadet Alice Brangwin, step forward."

Alice stepped forward. "Defend yourself, " Sharon Edwards ordered. Alice turned to the hologram and took a defensive stance.

He rushed towards Alice. A fist the size of a sledgehammer head shot out at Alice' skull. Since blocking it would probably break her arm, Alice moved her head to one side, letting the hologram's fist sweep past, and when he was off-balance from the miss, she hooked her foot behind his ankle and send him crashing down onto the floor. Alice was tempted to be a little victory pose, but refrained.

Stryker smiled, intrigued at seeing this new side of Alice. Sharon clapped her hands. "Well done Cadet."

"Any volunteers to demonstrate fighting two opponents at the same time ?"

Wiuen stepped forward. Sharon nodded and indicated where she wants him to stand. He walked to the center of the room while the engineer at the holodeck control station entered several commands into his console. The room changed, tables and chairs materialized.

Several seconds later two holographic men appeared. They attacked immediately. Wiuen grabbed the first man by his clothes, arched his back and fell backwards. The holographic man's momentum carried him over Wiuen, and flying into tables and chairs, snapping some in half.

The other brute was descending on him. He rolled to the side and up, and the brunt turned, when Wiuen saw his opening, he drove one foot into the hologram's face with an upwards arcing kick, snapping its head to one side. He then spun around hitting it with an elbow. The holocharacter left a little dazed, undeterred, and much angrier than before.

He tried to grab Wiuen. The Edenian ducked, and connected with a fist into the brute's midsection. The holocharacter buckled, slumping to the floor slowly and unable to stand up with the air knocked out of him.

The second brute got up amidst the broken furniture and charged at Wiuen again. He returned the charge in kind, running full speed at the hologram. At the last second before colliding, Wiuen stepstepped his opponent and held out an arm. The brute made a reasounding "ooof!" sound in mid-air, before falling on the floor, dazed and unable to fight any futher.

Sharon stepped forward. "Interesting technique Cadet. But you just derailed the lesson, remember brains over brawn ?" She addressed the room. "Wiuen and Stryker, has some unique ... advantages that no one else in this room has. Their homeworld is a lower gravity one, 76 of Earth normal. In our normal gravity has gains a higher body weight. Without the aid of a mini anti-grav unit, they developed enhanced strength needed to easily move around here.

"Futhermore, it is difficult to injure him. His agility is not that great, but if he can build up a little momentum I would advice to get out of his way. Remember, try to avoid any fights when possible. But, if you have to, fight smart, never stop thinking. It will likely save your life in the end."

"Any questions ?"

Next chapter
Flashback

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