Chapter 6 – First Day Jitters
Timetable: Varrin, Sirella
Monday
0800 – Principles of Biology (BIOL 111) Block-B, Rm 2
1000 – Federation Law (POLT 105) Block-A, Rm 1
Tuesday
0800 – Introduction to Philosophy (PHIL 101) Block-A, Rm 17
1000 – Basic Self-Defence (PE 105) Block-D, Athletic Compound
1400 – Principles of Geology (PSCI 102) Block-B, Rm 2
Wednesday
1400 – Introduction to Chemistry (CHEM 101) Block-B, Rm 7
1600 – Federation Law (POLT 105) Block-A, Rm 1
Thursday
1000 – Basic Self-Defence (PE 105) Block-D, Athletic Compound
1400 – Principles of Biology (BIOL 111) Block-B, Rm 8
Friday
0800 – Principles of Geology (PSCI 102) Block-B, Rm 8
1000 – Introduction to Philosophy (PHIL 101) Block-A, Rm 17
1400 – Introduction to Chemistry (CHEM 101) Block-B, Rm 2
Sirella examined her timetable for the thousandth time, then pulled on her boots and checked her Flight Academy-assigned satchel. Hm, she might need to get another one, one without the symbol of the Empire emblazoned on it.
She'd come to Earth with few belongings. Some clothes, an award for academic excellence, a stack of letters from her Grampa and a family photo. The photo sat proudly on her nightstand and she bit back the unexpected wave of emotion as she glanced over.
It was taken the day her older brother, Ba'el, graduated the Flight Academy. He was a Commander now, of the exploratory vessel the Ravager. He stood proudly in the photo, Sirella on one side, her mother on the other. Larna was stunning, as always, her expression shrewd, and Darok stood behind her, hands resting protectively on his wife's shoulders. Behind Sirella and Ba'el stood their grandparents, Goroth and Huraga. The ghost of a smile graced Goroth's normally serious face. He always enjoyed toeing the line of appropriateness. Wrapped in Larna's arms was little Karana, and the toddler was the only one in the picture who smiled.
Tears misted Sirella's vision and she wiped them away. Those had been simpler times, but they were over. Part of her couldn't believe that the picture had only been taken a year ago. It felt so much longer.
She pulled her gaze away and checked her satchel. Notebook, check. Textbooks, check. Pens, check. Tricorder, check. Translator clipped to her jacket collar, check.
Time for breakfast.
She left the safety of her dorm room and marched down the halls, exuding a confidence she certainly didn't feel. A number of other cadets littered the halls, all on their way to breakfast too, and no one spared her a glance. Well, that was a good thing. She reached the Cafeteria without incident, and because it was so early, the line was very small. She took a tray and piled it with a bit of everything. Flat pink stuff, long brown objects that looked like excrement, white balls and a bowl of crunchy squares. She took a corner table and ate slowly, testing the food. The pink stuff tasted familiar. She must've eaten it on the Enterprise.
Once her tray was empty, she slung her satchel over her shoulder and followed her map to Block-B, where she arrived thirty minutes early. Others had had the same idea as her and the entire front three rows of desks were taken. All eyes turned to her and the room fell silent. She swallowed, gripping the strap of her bag tightly, and move to a desk in the corner.
Confidence. It was only her first day. She'd gone through three years of Flight Academy without making any friends, so she couldn't expect to be successful on her first day here. She opened her textbook for class and immersed herself in the first chapter.
The professor for her Principles of Biology class turned out to be Doctor Kestrel from the Enterprise. As he entered the room, his eyes found hers and he smiled gently, then turned his attention to the rest of the class.
"Good morning," he said. "I am Doc-I mean, Professor Kestrel. Yes?" He pointed to a cadet who had raised their hand.
"If you'll pardon the intrusion," they said, "are you a member of the Enterprise crew?"
"That is correct."
The room broke into whispers, too low for Sirella's translator to pick up. She stayed silent.
Professor Kestrel handed out their course outlines, then began lecturing them on the first week's topic. Sirella glanced at the outline: a mixture of Terran cell theory, Andorian evolutionary theory, Vulcan and Romulan genetics and physiology, impartial studies of homeostasis and energy compartmentalisation within various lifeforms. Her heart hammered against her ribs.
She was so out of her depth.
o.O.o
When Sirella walked into her Federation Law class, for some reason she was surprised to see Captain Kir-Professor. Professor Kirk. That was going to take a while to adjust.
The first thing Professor Kirk did was tell a joke about the Aenar, as they used echolocation to see rather than eyes. She didn't quite understand the joke, but the rest of the class laughed so she guessed it must've been funny.
"In all seriousness," Professor Kirk said, "humour isn't the best way to go into situations with other species. I mean, there's an Aenar Admiral who wouldn't like her species being joked about for something they can't change. You." He pointed to a Tellarite cadet. "You wouldn't like someone joking about how you look?"
"No, Professor," he said.
"Or you." Professor Kirk pointed to a human cadet. "What about if someone joked about your lack of a tail?"
"Um, I guess that wouldn't be cool."
"Exactly. So, first lesson: humour is most likely gonna be inappropriate."
Sirella noticed that, unlike with Professor Kestrel, her classmates didn't ask questions about the Enterprise. Of all the crewmembers, the Captain seemed the best-equipped to answer any questions. She reasoned that, by the public's reaction to the crew, that the Enterprise was quite a famous ship.
Professor Kirk handed out the course outline and gave them two minutes to read and 'soak in'.
Federation Law (POLT 105)
Week 1 – Magna Carter
Week 2 – Statutes of Alpha III
Week 3 – Vulcan Bill of Rights
Week 4 – United Sates Constitution
Week 5 – Charter of the United Federation of Planets
Week 6 – Fundamental Declarations of the Martian Colonies
Week 7 – Acts of Cumberland
Week 8 – Starfleet Charter
Week 9 – Starfleet General Orders and Regulations
Week 10 – Federation Uniform Code of Justice
"So, how're we feeling about that?" Professor Kirk asked the class. It was silent. "No response. Cool, that's cool. Yeah, so we'll get started on this week's topic: Magna Carta. Now, this document is widely considered to be the first step in a long historical process leading to the rule of Federation constitutional law. Its laws pertain specifically to humans, but since the formation of the Federation, it's expanded to include rights from various other Federation members. Can anyone list the three species who were first added?"
A girl punched her hand in the air. "Vulcans, Andorians and Tellarites."
"Correct!"
A whisper found its way through Sirella's translator, so quiet that she almost missed it. "Not Klingons, that's for sure."
Her face burned and she fought the urge to shrivel into her seat. She didn't look around to see who'd spoken. It wouldn't do to let anyone get to her. She was a representative of an entire species, here by the grace of the Federation, and she couldn't afford to let her feelings be hurt by those who didn't understand. Sure, she was sixteen, and sure, she was a Klingon, but in every other aspect she was just like them.
Why couldn't they see that?
Professor Kirk assigned them an essay on one of ten set topics regarding the Magna Carta and the bell blared, signalling the end of class. It was almost 1200, time for what the humans called lunch, or for those with classes beginning at 1200 to attend class. Sirella had no more classes that day, but she had two homework assignments that needed doing and it was probably best to get them done before meeting with Uhura for her Standard tutoring.
She packed her bag slowly, not wanting to exit class with any of the other cadets, then saw Professor Kirk waving to her. When her bag was packed, she hesitantly made her way over to the front podium.
"How's your first day going?" he asked, his blue eyes alight, though his face frowned. She forced a smile.
"I'm okay, thank you."
"Do you need to talk to someone? I know it's probably a bit confronting, in a new place where you don't know anyone. I just wanna make sure you're okay."
"I'm okay, thank you, Professor." She gripped her satchel strap tightly.
"Okay. I don't believe you, by the way." He slung his own satchel over his shoulder, and they left the room together. "You know, I didn't graduate from here that long ago."
"You didn't?" She glanced sideways at him, curiosity burning deep inside her.
"Nah. Only, like, seven years ago now. Wow, has it really been seven years? Anyway, I spent the first two years doing exploration close to home and humanitarian efforts."
"Humanitarian?"
"Um, it's basically helping people after they've been affected by bad stuff, like drought or war or fires."
"Oh."
"Yeah. And the last five years my crew and I have been exploring deep space where no Federation ship has gone before."
She thrummed with excitement. "You'd have some good stories."
"Oh, you wouldn't believe. Once, I was sold in the husband trade." He laughed at her expression. "I know, it sounds bizarre, but it's true!"
"My brother never had any stories like that."
"He's on a ship, right?"
"Yeah. He's Captain."
"Sounds like he needs to explore a bit deeper." They stopped at the end of a hallway and Professor Kirk smiled. "This is where I leave you. Enjoy your lunch."
"Oh. Yeah, thank you. You too."
Professor Kirk left and Sirella took a deep breath and delved into the Cafeteria. It was packed, as expected, but it was less daunting than this morning. Somehow, she felt better after talking to Professor Kirk.
She collected a tray of food that smelt alright and made her way to a free seat at the end of a table. She didn't expect the people already sitting there to move their chairs further along the table, so they sat further away from her. It was nothing new. That had happened a lot at the Flight Academy. Being smart didn't matter there as much as being tough, and she was far from it.
Wasn't Starfleet supposed to be different?
o.O.o
"How did your first day go?"
Sirella's heart had beat fast in anticipation of seeing Uhura, and it beat even faster in her presence. The dark-skinned woman smiled and gestured to the seat next to her. On the ship, they'd conducted their lessons in a private office. Here, they were in Uhura's private quarters. Well, mostly private.
"Cadet Varrin is a good student," Professor Kestrel said from his desk on the other side of the living space. He tapped away at a PADD. Sirella had forgotten that because Uhura and Professor Kestrel were intended, it meant they lived together.
"I wasn't talking to you." Uhura rolled her eyes. "Sirella?"
"Oh. It was alright." She forced a smile. "I received work to do and I did it."
"On day one? That's great! Okay, so we've only got an hour and I'd like to spend a bit of time revising what we've been working on already."
"Okay." Sirella turned off her translator and strained her ears to make out the sounds Uhura made. H-e-l-o. "Hello."
"Good."
o.O.o
Kirk pressed dial and combed his hair back. One day of teaching and he already felt frazzled. Somehow, standing at a podium and talking was more tiring than captaining a ship for five years. He didn't understand how that worked. He hadn't been the best cadet, and he could finally understand just how stressed out he must've made his professors. He'd easily spotted the teachers' pets, the ones who left their work to the last minute (like him) and the good cadets. It was surprising just how easily he could pick it up. He supposed his Captain training made it easier to teach cadets.
His PADD screen flashed and he smiled at the familiar face. "Jaylah! How's it going!"
"It goes well James T.," the girl said. "I was not expecting your call." She looked tired, befitting a third-year cadet who'd spent the summer working long shifts at the shipyards.
"Yeah, it's been a while. I'm sorry for being so slack in keeping in touch."
"There is no problem. I am glad to talk now. You are a professor?"
"Yeah! It's certainly different, but it's only temporary." He hesitated. "I'll admit, I have an ulterior motive for calling you."
Jaylah raised her eyebrow. "Yes?"
"Have you been keeping up with the news? About the exchange program?"
"I have. You brought a student not of the Federation to the Academy."
"That's right, yeah. Um, well, do you know much about the Klingons?"
"They are enemies of the Federation."
"Well… basically. So, uh, the student we brought over, her name's Sirella and she's actually a really nice girl."
"I thought Klingons were enemies." Jaylah stared uncomprehendingly.
"They are, but we're trying to make peace with them, and I think this program is the best way to do that. Look, I do have a favour to ask." At her questioning gaze, he elaborated. "She knows barely anything about the planet, and she doesn't know anyone here. I was kinda hoping you could take her under her wing, because you know a bit about what she's going through."
"You wish me to befriend the Klingon?"
"I guess. Just… show her the good things about living here, and… protect her if necessary."
That got Jaylah's attention. "Protect?"
"Not everyone supports the exchange, and some of the other cadets might try and harm her, or get her to leave, or just be nasty to her. I'm a professor, and I'm not allowed to show favouritism, and I need someone like you who can spend time with her and let her know that she has a friend."
"I understand, James T. I will be friends with her." Jaylah smiled for the first time in the call and Kirk recalled the first time he'd seen her; how fierce she'd been until Scotty had stepped forward. This was the kind of person he wanted on his ship, one of the few people he trusted to watch his back.
"Good." He checked the time. "Okay, I've got a dinner date with my wife, so I gotta run."
"Okay. Enjoy your date."
"And Jaylah? Thank you."