This picks up towards the end of Into the Darkness, when Khan's ship crashes into Starfleet. From here on is the main plot of the story, which won't be too long, but still. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek

Cordelia didn't know what true panic was until she looked into the sky and saw a large black ship crashing down. It gave her spine an uncomfortable, tingly feeling as she watched it crash into StarFleet. Knowing her best friends were in there, she panicked and immediately threw on a real shirt. Scrambling to find shoes, she shoved her StarFleet boots on and ran like she never had, thinking on how her day was most certainly not supposed to go like this.

She'd woken up like any other day. The sun had bathed her in warmth that slowly drew her from her slumber. Cordelia loved waking up that way, almost as she loved waking up to the sound of rain. True, she sounded like someone from a cheesy romance novel, but it she loved the warm glow she felt as she came out of drowsiness.

She also loved cheesy romance novels, so it was fitting.

Cordelia didn't have much she didn't like. This normally made her a cheery person. Of course, it wasn't something her roommates always appreciated in the morning. Even when she was worried about something or slightly sad, she made sure to not be too grumpy. It had posed as a problem when she got an apartment with Mina and Ginger after graduation, but she never faltered in staying happy and upbeat—despite her roommates' near-homicidal feelings.

"Oh my god, Delia!" Mina exclaimed that morning. "Would you wipe that look off your face?"

"I'm sorry," Cordelia said automatically, sincere as can be. "Am I smiling? I was trying not to."

"No, you weren't smiling" Ginger groaned, coming into the kitchen. "You're just not grumpy, and it's inhuman."

Cordelia didn't answer. She simply shrugged again and sent an apologetic look to both of her anti-morning friends. She made them coffee, just the way they liked it, and even got milk to steam so she could make cappuccinos. Mina came up to her and gave a lazy, but loving hug. "You're an angel, babe."

"Just trying to help," Cordelia rubbed her back in return. "It's my day off, and I want to keep busy, so I'll start my day like that."

"Can't take care of people at the hospital, take care of people at home," Ginger snorted. "You are too sweet, honey."

Cordelia smiled in thanks. Ginger got to work preparing bagels and cream cheese for everyone, while Mina snagged first shower. It was their usual routine, and all three liked the comfort of it. As Ginger, the writer of the three, said, "In a world uncertainty, there's a certain comfort in the certainty of morning rituals." It was cheesy and wordy, but they'd taken to quoting it at each other.

"Have you spoken to Kirk since he left?" Ginger asked. "I know Pike was like father to him, it must have hit hard when he was killed."

"No," Cordelia spoke a little more softly. Not wanting to betray James' confidence, she didn't confide in her friend about the dangerous, possibly illegal mission. All she knew was that he was seeking vengeance. The look in his eyes when he'd stopped by...

"Pike's dead," he whispered.

"Oh Jamie," she said softly, taking him in her arms. He barely held her there before pulling away, a fierce look his in his eyes. "I heard about the attack. Who was it?"

"John Harrison," James spat the name. "I came here to tell you that Marcus is sending me on a slightly illegal mission. I'll technically be going rouge, however, since it's not a StarFleet mission."

"Why does it have to be illegal?" Cordelia frowned.

His eyes flashed again. "Because I'm going to kill the bastard."

She shivered. James was in pain, so naturally, James was very angry.

"We haven't talked much recently," Cordelia told her. "So I'm not really sure what's happening. Ever since he became captain, he doesn't really need me. Girls are all over him."

"Oh sweetie," Ginger frowned. "You know it's not like that. He doesn't actually have feelings for girls, he's too married to his ship."

Cordelia just nodded, but she knew better. James was a good man, with a strong moral compass (which is why she didn't believe he could actually kill a man). He didn't sleep with women who didn't know what they were getting into—unless they were some type of challenge, but that had lessened greatly in his few years as Captain.

He really was a man who had a lot of feelings. His romantic ones just weren't always shown. Cordelia suspected it was from his bad experience with his mother. James wasn't unfeeling when it came to women, he was simply guarded.

"You know your relationship is a little weird, right?" Ginger went on. As Mina walked in, she passed out plates.

Cordelia passed out coffee. "Well, it's not uncommon. And it's not a relationship. We're friends. I just put up with his antics, give him advice, and provide him with company when he feels lonely. We like being friends, it works."

"Yes," Mina shook her head. "He makes you more adventurous, you make him more chilled out. You two are so...right, it's weird."

"As friends," Cordelia reiterated. "James can't confuse his friends that are girls with his girlfriends. Uhura, Christine, you two, and I are his friends, and he doesn't want to jeopardize that. With any of us."

"But you two are different," Ginger pushed.

"Guys," Cordelia said softly, looking down at her plate. "I don't feel like having this conversation. I never do. Can we move on?"

"Right," Mina smiled. Ginger looked like she wanted to argue, but Mina silenced her with a look. "Why are you up so early on your day off?"

"I wanted to get a start on the day," Cordelia said. "I think I'll do yoga, read a book, and take a nap. From there, I'm not sure."

"That's the best way to go," Ginger grinned. "Naps are life."

Mina shook her head. "Since you won't be sleeping, are you going to lecture?"

"Yep," she said. "Since Spock's been gone, I've been doing his classes at the Academy for the past few days on Vulcan history. Today though, the class is taking a trip to StarFleet headquarters. Spock left notes about it, saying something like he wanted them to experience it personally, see how different species need to understand each other to work in StarFleet, things like that."

"How are he and Uhura doing?" Mina asked.

"Well..." Cordelia shrugged. "She's still upset that he was trying to get himself killed to protect that planet, but I pointed out to her that it actually made sense to him. She seemed a little better, but you know how she is."

"She'll come around," Ginger assured her. "Spock means a lot to her, and I think he's in love with her. She'll probably see that."

"True," Cordelia agreed. She picked at her bagel. "Mina?"

"Working in the labs," the girl replied. "Scottie and I are trying to develop some type of shielding device. The goal is to have it project in front of a person, or maybe multiple people. Kind of like what we have in the ships, but something to carry on your person. Kirk left me here to work on it. He thinks we're going to be sent on this five year mission."

"He wants to take me on as historian," Ginger pointed out. "Kirk's thinking big."

"He wants to take me on as well," Cordelia smiled. "James is very intent on all of us staying together. Especially you and Sulu."

Ginger blushed. "I saw him the other night. He didn't know what was happening about this mission either, so he wanted to say goodbye in case."

"Can I be your maid of honor?" Mina asked. "You can get married before we go off into space."

"If he proposes, I don't think I'd turn him down," Ginger shrugged. "We love each other, and I can't see myself with anyone else."

"Good," Mina grinned. "Now, on that romantic note, you need to get your nasty-self showered."

"Thanks," Ginger said dryly. "You know, I thought moving in with you guys after the Academy would be a good idea, but you're awfully mean."

"Much love."

The girls separated after their morning routine was finished. Ginger and Mina headed off to work, while Cordelia began her yoga for the day. She loved to do it in the living room, by the large glass window that served as one of the walls. It let in tons of light and gave a very nice of San Francisco. Cordelia normally said it was the whole reason why she was so calm—doing yoga as the sun was rising had a spectacular effect on you.

After yoga, she hopped in the shower quickly. After she got out, she did her nails and put on her favorite leggings and a tank top to relax in while reading a book. Her day was going quite well.

That was when all hell broke loose.

She sat in bed, reading her book, when a massive black ship could be seen from her large window. Quickly, Cordelia left her room to see a little better from her living room, a cold feeling sinking into her stomach as it headed to StarFleet. Honestly, she felt the impact more clearly than she saw it. Her apartment building was rocked as she fell to the ground, terror swelling in her throat. Quickly, she scrambled for a shirt and shoes. The thought of the gigantic ship crashing into StarFleet unnerved her. Were Ginger and Mina alright? What about all the other people at StarFleet?

It couldn't be good.

She left the building easily. While most people ran away from the crash site, she ran towards it. The heart in Cordelia's chest pounded to the beat of her footsteps as they pounded against the pavement. She had to remind herself to calm down and not have a stress related heart attack, trying to control her breathing.

As she approached the crash, Cordelia didn't know what to do. There was a confusing mess of people, including many injured, so she figured she would get to work. Two burly men nearby looked like they wanted to help.

"You two!" Cordelia shouted at them. They snapped their heads to look at her. "See that group of people at the south end of the ship? Follow me, I'm gonna need you to move some stuff!" For God knows how long, she instructed civilians on how to help her get people out of the way and protect people couldn't be moved. As the Emergency Care appeared, they surprisingly followed her orders and asked what she needed. Once she had supplies, she began taking care of people best she could with her training.

It was all a blur, up until a dreaded moment she wished she never had to experience again.

"Miss!" an emergency care nurse called, carrying a woman in his arms. This man next to him did as well. "We've found these girls and a group of academy kids on the other side of the ship. Where do they go?"

"Injuries?"

"Haven't checked."

Cordelia hurried to the first one and flipped a mass of strawberry blonde curls from the person's face, her stomach dropping at the sight of familiar half-open blue eyes.

Ginger.

"She still has a heartbeat," Cordelia's stomach turned as she checked. "You save her, now!"

She looked to the other girl in the man's arms. Fear struck her and almost held her back from moving straight brown hair out of the way. She didn't want to know the answer, especially as blood had stopped coming from a head wound, most likely meaning she was gone. Her smooth skin was cold and her limbs semi-stiff. Slowly, Cordelia brushed back the hair to reveal the face.

Mina.

Carefully, she checked for a heartbeat.

Nothing.

Cordelia checked for any sign of life possible.

Nothing.

"Set her down," Cordelia said shakily. "I-I can't...well, come with me to the other girls."

"Ma'am?" the man said. "Are you alright?"

"No," she choked out. "Now come on! Put her with the dead. She can't be helped."

"Did you know her?"

She didn't reply at first. There was a moment when her heart simply broke, so she walked away, calling out orders in the strongest voice she could manage. Soon, she found piece of rubble that shielded the rest of the world away, even if for a few moments.

And there, Cordelia cried.

Cordelia was swiftly knocked off her feet, books flying everywhere and a small scream coming from her lips.

"I am so sorry!" someone cried, offering a hand. Cordelia looked up into gleaming green eyes. The girl sniffled. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Cordelia promised. "Are...are you?"

The girl wiped tears from eyes and ran her fingers through tousled brown hair. "I don't really know. My boyfriend of six years just dumped me, so I guess not."

"I'm sorry," Cordelia crouched. Together, the two girls gathered their books. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Um," the green eyed girl frowned. "Are you human? Because we're totally strangers, and you are uncommonly nice."

"I've been dumped before," she shrugged. "I understand the feeling of it. I can't imagine six years..."

"I'm Mina," the girl said abruptly, offering a hand. "And you can do something for me. You can be my best friend."

"I've never really had a best friend," Cordelia chuckled. "But I'll try my best. I'm Cordelia."

"Lovely to meet you, Cordelia," Mina beamed through her drying tears. "I hope you're not a serial killer."

Cordelia felt the grief striking her heart, as if she'd somehow failed her best friend. Rising from her little protected area, she found her way to Ginger. The girl coughed a little blood, reaching for Cordelia.

"Delia," she croaked. "Where's Mina? Where's...Mina..."

Cordelia didn't have the heart to say that their best friend was dead.