Fun fact: There are two 'Nero's. (Nero the Romulan and Emperor Nero from Trials of Apollo). Maybe I'll combine them in this story...

Kirk

Ok. Starfleet academy far exceeded his expectations.

Wow.

The shuttle docked off in a large hangar, where a good couple ten thousand new recruits were filing out of their shuttles. He knew Starfleet was the largest organization ever to be created in the galaxy, but the hangar was crowded with people. There was much chattering among new cadets.

Nico and Thalia, he noticed, made sure to stick together. Bones kept scratching his chin.

Kirk decided to stay with the three. If he came to Starfleet alone, he would not have cared much where he was carried away, but he had friends now. Companions, whatever. But he will not abandon them, or his name isn't James T. Kirk.

Jim could now see a figure in a black uniform leading all the recruits that came out of Shuttle 0137 – their shuttle.

"Everybody, line up!" the figure shouted above the commotion. Eventually, the cadets formed a long, slithering line. There were about forty or so recruits on their shuttle. Somehow, Uhura ended up closer to the front. Kirk, Leonard, Thalia and Di Angelo were last in line.

"What up here?" he whispered to Thalia.

"Organizing the recruits. Dorm room numbers, class schedules. Obviously, they don't want students just standing in this hangar all day," the raven-haired teen whispered back.

Putting his hand on his shoulder, he feigned being hurt. "Thals, I'm not that daft. Where did you get your information?"

She didn't even look at him. "There's an orientation manual beside every seat in the shuttlecraft."

Someone was walking up to them. A female cadet – probably graduated, by the looks of her uniform – came forward with an intrigued face. "Mr. di Angelo?" She asked up the line.

Nico raised his hand. "Here," he deadpanned.

The cadet came toward him. "Commander Spock wishes to see you."

Nico frowned. "Who?"

"Commander Spock. Captain Pike informed him of your arrival, and the Commander has requested your presence."

Nico licked his lips, worried. "Thals, you see any monsters?"

Thalia also looked worried, which surprised Kirk. What did those two go through, to fear separation?

Thalia stepped forward. "May I accompany him, please?" she asked politely, though Kirk could detect an edge of steel in her voice.

The cadet raised her eyebrows. "No, Commander Spock requested to see him alone." The cadet put emphasis on the last word. Thalia looked ready to pounce, and Kirk didn't want to make a scene on his first day, no matter how many bar fights he got into the last few months.

Putting his hand on her shoulder, he gently gave her a reassuring squeeze. "Come on, Thalia, Nico can be alone for a few hours." Carefully, he steered her back into the line. "We'll get your schedule for you, Nico," he reassured the young kid.

He watched as the female cadet led Nico away, weaving through the sea of new recruits. The last he saw of them was Nico, staying as far from the female as possible, fidgeting with his skull ring. Kirk wondered where the young boy picked up that ring.

"He'll be fine. It's not like they're going to throw him out of the Academy," Bones spoke knowledgeably.

"How do you figure?" Kirk shot back.

"He's a Vulcan kid, dammit. Of course they'll want to see him." McCoy appeared confident, but there was a small glint of worry in his eyes.

"If they're asking about his parentage, they won't find anything." Thalia spoke sharply. "Besides, we're almost at the end of the line."

Kirk saw she was right. Only five more cadets, then the three of them could get their dorm numbers.

"So Thalia," Jim started, desperate to get a conversation going, "I never did know your last name. Most beautiful girls always give me their last name, but never their first. With you, it's the other way around." He ended his tiny speech with a smirk.

Behind him, McCoy rolled his eyes.

Unexpectedly, Thalia smirked back, though Jim could still detect some worry in her eyes. "What a flirt," she laughed, mock-punching him in the stomach. Jim played along with her, pretending to coil back from the blow. He noticed the way he held her fist back, and deduced she had more strength than she put out.

"Come on!" Kirk whined.

Thalia nodded. "I never really liked my last name, but I'm Thalia Grace."

Kirk widened his eyes. "I should have guessed," he voiced. "You practically ooze grace."

Leonard laughed at this. Thalia glared at the two of them, but then gave a half-hearted smile. "No, I'm serious," Jim stopped laughing and pulled on a thoughtful look. "Grace is actually a nice name, and it suits your personality. If you grew your hair longer, you would be like a princess."

Thalia bit her lip. Kirk wasn't sure why she seemed so strong, and resilient, but he guessed it was a result of her childhood. But for some reason, she managed to fend off all of his attempts at romance. Most teens her age would have flirted back, or shoved him away, but Thalia seemed to accept him, for what he was, for who he was. For once, someone didn't just judge him as the son of George Kirk.

And Bones? Leonard seemed like a strong man, to look at his wife's divorce and basically say, 'to hell with you' and join Starfleet. And he also decided to judge Jim as a fresh entity, separate from his parents.

Kirk was jolted out of his reverie when he noticed Thalia at the end of the line. "Thalia Grace?" the officer in black asked.

Thalia merely nodded and showed him her papers. Satisfied, the officer handed her a sheet of paper and a dorm key. "Academy training starts in two days, after the weekend. You'll find your uniform and everything you'll need in the dorm. Room 3207." The officer glanced down at a sheet of papers he was holding.

"You're roommate is Nico di Angelo. Normally, females and males are not paired together, but one of the Starfleet Captains requested you remain with your cousin."

Pike, Kirk thought.

Thalia thanked the officer, and took her stuff, along with Nico's. Next in line was McCoy, and the officer repeated his monotonous speech. Kirk gave a small, triumphant grin when he learned he and Bones were roommates, in room 3208. There shouldn't be a problem sticking together with Thalia and Nico.

As Kirk and Bones swept up their stuff, Jim noticed Thalia waiting by the hangar gates for them.

"Nice of you to wait," Kirk commented.

Thalia grinned. "Wouldn't do to get separated on the first day now, would it?"

Bones raised his hand for a fist-bump with Thalia, which she took. "No need to worry about that, kid. Kirk and I have the room next to yours." Kirk commented on how well they seemed to be getting along together.

"It's because the kind doctor here has enough common sense to tell when a girl's ears are sick of jokes," Thalia commented cheekily.

"Hey!" Jim laughed.

Together, they made their way outside the hangar and into a large park, filled with trees and cadets. Some were gathered around a bench, mulling over text books. Others were cycling.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Bones asked.

Kirk shook his head in wonder. "Campus is larger than I expected. I love Starfleet."

Thalia teasingly poked him in the ribs. "What was it you told Captain Pike at the bar?" she asked, laughing. "You guys are way down in your recruiting quota for the month," she quoted.

"I take back my words," Kirk honestly replied.

Bones placed his arms around both of their shoulders. "Guys, why don't you stop this conversation business and stare at the nature? You don't get much of this once you board one of those Starships."

Thalia giggled. "Shut up," she smirked.

"And don't tell your doctor to shut up, unless you want a hypospray to jab you in the side," Bones threatened.

Thalia seemed to be relaxing under the trees, Kirk noted. "Wherever Nico is, I hope he's having a good time." Jim still felt a bit scared of Di Angelo, what with his slightly shadowy demeanour and dark eyes contrasting with much too pale skin. But Nico was a friend of Thalia, so he knew di Angelo was one to be trusted.

Nico

Nico was not having a good time. In the beginning.

The female officer kept fussing over him. Telling him he should get a haircut, comb his hair more, that he should enjoy more sunlight.

Nico hated being with her.

The officer called herself Angela. Nico decided she must be deaf. When she asked for his name, he glumly threw out, 'Nico', and then she insisted on calling him 'Nicolas'.

"We're almost here, Nicolas!" Angela spoke as if he were a tiny child.

She suddenly grabbed his hand. And that was when Nico fell apart.

He never liked touching people in the first place, especially not hand-to-hand contact. And now, with his half-Vulcan genetics, he suddenly sensed her thoughts and emotions.

Angela was an exuberant person, extremely lively and always going out for exercise. But Nico also sensed her snobbishness, similar to an ex-counsellor of the Aphrodite cabin back at Camp. What was the girl's name, Drew Tanaka?

Nico sensed Angela's feelings, and her slight aversion toward his appearance and attitude. This new sense, together with Nico's regular hatred toward physical contact scared Nico.

He threw Angela's hand away from him, as if it were a cobra. "Stay away from me!" he growled out loud. Probably not the best thing to say. Angela recoiled in shock and surprise. The entire corridor paused and glared at Nico. Now feeling self-conscious and a bit ashamed, Nico turned his eyes down and glared at the floor. Normally, he would have shadow-traveled away, but the Mist was practically non-existent here.

A few doors away, one slid open, and a tall man wearing a blue uniform leaned out. "What is the cause of this disturbance?" he asked.

Angela pursed her lips, but didn't answer the question. "This is Di Angelo," she spoke with a slightly higher pitch than she used before.

The tall man raised his eyebrows, which Nico now noticed were slanted upwards, like his own. "Come, Mr. Di Angelo," the man spoke.

"Ok," Nico said bitterly.

Spock

Nico was, ultimately, the most fascinating event Spock witnessed all day.

Previously, Spock was the first reported hybrid of the Human and Vulcan species. Nico is the second.

The child was approximately 14.53 earth years old, and has the same anatomy and blood as myself. Physically, the eyebrows are pointed upwards, and his ears are tapered. However, he does not speak precisely, instead using normal, colloquial earth terms in his language.

This would suggest this child was abandoned by his Vulcan parent to be raised by his human mother, who he reports died during a massive earthquake.

He does not speak as much as many human children his age do, and his clear aversion toward physical contact is logical. Vulcans are touch telepaths, and use hands to perform mind melds.

Additionally, Spock knew that holding hands was a form of intimacy in Vulcan culture. He himself avoided hand contact, and abruptly withdrew from any accidental incidents. Touching hands, on Vulcan, is the equivalent of 'kissing' on Earth.

Mr. Di Angelo's emotional outburst likely resulted from Lieutenant Angela Roberts touching his hand.

When Captain Christopher Pike informed Spock about the new recruit, Nico di Angelo, Spock was quite intrigued. After the recruits arrived from shuttlecraft, Commander Spock sent Roberts to find the new half-Vulcan.

In Spock's office, the two of them stood straight-backed toward each other, observing quietly. After a few minutes, Spock broke the silence.

"Mr. Di Angelo, I am Commander Spock."

For a while, the boy did not respond. "I guessed," Nico eventually said.

"Are you aware of Vulcan physiology?" This was important. If the boy knew nothing of the Vulcans, their organ arrangements, or even their… pon farr… Spock took it upon himself to educate him.

"Not really, I lived with humans. My one constant companion, Thalia, is human." That settled it.

Spock gestured for Nico to sit down, which the son of Hades did.

"I have much to explain, Mr. Di Angelo." Spock sighed. Where to start? "Mr. Di Angelo, are you fully aware of the Vulcan telepathic abilities?"

Nico shrugged. "I didn't feel it would be safe playing around with minds, so I just… ignored my abilities."

"A logical decision." Spock decided the best way to explain to the boy about Vulcans was through a mind meld. Afterwards, the child can ask questions. And after that? Then there was the matter of Pon Farr to worry about. But through a mind meld, Spock will be able to make an estimate as to when di Angelo will start to experience the flames.

"I believe we have to engage in an activity called the Vulcan mind meld," Spock decided.

Nico looked genuinely curious. "What do you mean?"

Spock gazed at the boy. "A Vulcan mind meld is a technique used by Vulcans to share information. Logically, this is the best way for met to begin instructing you about your biology, capabilities, and telepathy."

Nico raised his eyebrow. "When will it begin?"

"I can engage a mind meld now, if you are prepared."

The boy nodded. "I don't really understand much about Vulcan telepathy, so I'll just trust you."

"Very well." Spock stood up and moved toward the boy. "Do not panic, I shall place my fingers along your melding points, to ensure the meld takes place safely." Carefully resting his fingers along Nico's face, and pressing slightly to induce electrical currents to transfer information. "My mind to your mind…"

"My thoughts to your thoughts…" the two of them spoke in unison.

Bright images flashed before Spock's eyes. They were scenes from Spock's own childhood. Spock skipped over those parts, taking care not to traumatize Nico with images from his fights with the other young Vulcans who jeered about his parentage.

It was not Nico's responsibility to know about the prejudice some held against hybrids.

Spock showed Nico how Vulcans control emotions with logic, so as not to cause devastating damage with emotional outbursts. Nico learned how to sense thought patterns, how to think rationally, and acquired information concerning pon farr.

After some time, Spock was satisfied by the amount of knowledge he managed to convey to Nico. He moved to break the meld, when some unknown force stopped him, and held Spock's mind tight and in place.

Spock briefly felt a human response, panic, well up in him, but he was able to calm himself. After analysing the situation, he immediately saw that the boy was unknowingly continuing the meld, now sharing his own past.

Spock struggled to break free. No doubt Nico would wish to keep his past private, but Spock couldn't do anything to stop it.

Images flashed forth. Nico, and his mother, a beautiful Italian lady, and his sister, Bianca, playing together in a park.

Nico and Bianca, standing over their mother's corpse, not knowing, not understanding that she left them.

Nico and Bianca, standing near a cliff at night, while lightning flashed. An athletic boy, wielding a bronze sword, attacked a large creature. The creature shot spikes out of its tail, toward the boy. Nico screamed.

Nico, standing in front of a raven-haired, green eyed boy, who promised to save his sister.

Nico, standing in front of the same boy, who told him he had failed.

Nico, wandering a dark, malevolent maze, curses and evil whispering in corners. A pale ghost accompanied him.

Nico, raising a black sword – Stygian iron – to take down a frost giant that was threatening the city.

Nico, visiting his father, Hades, in the Underworld.

Nico, carefully guiding his half-sister Hazel out of the fields of Asphodel.

Nico, wandering throughout Tartarus, slowly going out of his mind as he helplessly was led around, constantly attacked by monsters.

Nico, collapsing out of a bronze jar, as Percy Jackson and Jason Grace saved him from suffocation.

Nico and a satyr, assisted by the Hunters of Artemis, attacking the giant Orion. Thalia Grace stood in the lead, and yelled defiantly.

Nico, after the battle with Gaea, assisting with rebuilding Camp, saying farewell to the Roman demigods.

Nico and Thalia, at the throne room of the gods, receiving the prophecy.

Future come to present, past lost and unknown.

Nico, waking up in Iowa, seeing his strange, pointed ears for the first time in the mirror.

Nico, meeting with Captain Pike, deciding to join Starfleet.

Nico, feeling terrified and angered as Lieutenant Angela Roberts grabbed his hand.

Nico…

Nico…

Nico…

The meld eventually broke, Spock falling to the ground, unable to catch himself. The Vulcan was sweating profusely. Somehow, the boy – the demigod – accidentally showed his past. Spock knew Nico Di Angelo and Thalia Grace were sent to this world to fulfill a prophecy.

Greek gods being real – impossible! But the images were vivid in Nico's mind. A wise man once said, "Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth." Yes, Spock found Sherlock Holmes fascinating.

Spock also knew the consequences of interfering with time. The prophecy, undoubtedly, foretold the future. Interfering with the timeline might result in multiple world destruction. Best to keep silent. To let di Angelo and Thalia Grace complete their task. And no matter what, Di Angelo still had Human and Vulcan genetics. Therefore, it is still imperative that Spock guide the young Vulcan.

Nico sat, shivering in his seat, his face pale, his eyes wide. "You saw, didn't you?"

Spock felt inclined to tell the truth. "Yes, I saw." Spock paused. "I will not inform others of your past, nor shall I hinder you from performing the quest you were given."

Nico nodded weakly. "Thank you," he whispered.

Spock noted that Nico was a resilient child, having braved the dangers he faced at a young age. "No matter what I have seen, I shall place it at the back of my mind. Your past is gone now, as well as your supernatural parentage. You would do well to continue at Starfleet, and to come here every week, Friday afternoon, to be tutored about Vulcans."

Nico eyed him warily. "You don't think I'm a freak?"

"Negative. Doing so would be illogical. You were merely protecting yourself from harm, as were your companions."

Spock noticed how Nico lifted his head up at that statement. It would seem that the child is afraid of being 'shunned', as some humans might say.

"Sir, I shall practice hard to control my emotions and strength," Nico spoke strongly. Perhaps sharing his pain, his hidden thoughts and emotions allowed the boy to recuperate from his past. Spock noticed how Nico sat with more confidence, less… guardedly.

"Logical, Mr. Di Angelo. I shall be excited to see the results of your training."

Well, that's Chapter 3!

Spock meets Nico and now knows about the Olympians. But don't worry, Spock is a Vulcan. If he deems it logical not to tell anybody, he won't.

Kirk, Thalia, and McCoy will become best friends.

Spoiler for final year: Kirk cheats on Kobayashi Maru, Thalia doesn't approve. She knows firsthand that one can't cheat death, unless your godly dad turns you into a pine tree, or if you take a vial of Physician's Cure (remember: Leo Valdez).