I woke to the sun shining through the sheer white curtain covering a small window. Sitting up, I groaned then reached my arms above my head. I looked around, momentarily confused, then it all came flooding back; the test, the time machine, being sucked into… time? I shook my head, trying to expel those toxic thoughts from my mind. Before I could talk myself out of it, I exited the room and wandered into the living room. Jim was sitting on a black leather couch and stood when he saw me. "Good morning." He said. "Did you sleep alright?"

"Yes." I said meekly, my eyes trained on my feet. "Thank you again."

"It's no problem." He surveyed the living room. "Would you like to sit?"

I crossed my arms and swayed slightly. "I'm fine with standing."

He frowned, but nodded. "So, we need to talk about how you got to the side of the road last night."

I placed my hands on my hips and pursed my lips. "It's kind of a long story."

"Well, I have all day." He smirked, sitting on the couch.

"Okay." I inhaled deeply. "I had just finished taking my test for Advanced Physics when my best friend, Graham texted me. He asked me to meet him in one of the labs across campus. I met him in the lab and he showed me that he had built a time machine."

Jim raised his eyebrows. "A time machine?"

I nodded. "A time machine. He claimed that it worked, but it had broken after using it once. He wanted me to have a look at it." I shook my head, smiling to myself. "He claimed it ran on dark matter." I snorted.

"Dark Matter?" Jim demanded, standing abruptly. "How the hell did he manage that in 2017?"

My eyebrows knitted together. "He said he had his sources. He wouldn't tell me who his sources were. I'm sure it was fake."

"No, Artemis," Jim stepped closer to me. "What did it look like?"

"It was a tiny black ball that was about a centimeter in diameter… uhh it glowed a bit." I frowned. "Once the machine was turned on, it stretched into a line…. He kept it in a glass cylinder."

Jim pinched the bridge of his nose. "That was real. We first discovered how to harvest it in 2187, and it was outlawed it 2192 because it opened small back holes. They would tear themselves apart after a couple people were sucked in. They were always presumed dead… but maybe…" He looked me over. "We need to be quiet about this."

"Why?" I demanded. "If the police or government could help me, why wouldn't I let them?"

"They wouldn't be able to help you. " He groaned. "We don't have time machines or anything else like that here. The use of dark matter is punishable only by death. "

"It was that bad?" I asked, frowning. "But I wasn't the one who-"

"It doesn't matter." He sighed, looking me in the eye. 'I'm sorry, but you're stuck here."

I gaped at him. "Who are you to tell me that I have no chance of going home?"

"Artemis, please. You don't understand. I could be arrested as well now that I know this. It's in both of our best interests to have you blend in."

"So what am I supposed to do?" I demanded, throwing my arms up in exasperation. "I have no money, no skillset for this year, no family, no home." I felt a tear fall down my face. "I have nothing. I'm not even wearing my own clothes."

Jim frowned. "You could stay here. Learn about this year, blend in."

"We hardly know each other." I pointed out, wiping my face.

"You know me better than anyone else alive." He smirked.

I shook my head, not knowing what to say. "What would you get out of this?" I asked, looking up at him.

He shrugged. "I'm sure you'll come in handy at some point."

"Thanks." I rolled my eyes. "You make it sound like I am a tool."

"I didn't mean-"He frowned. "Never mind, what do you think?"

I threw my arms up once again. "It's the best deal I've had in centuries apparently."

*1 Year Later*

"James!" I called out. "Jim?" I closed the back door behind me and placed the groceries on the table. I sighed as I realized that he probably wasn't here. I placed my keys on the table and began putting groceries away. I hadn't grabbed too much, so this wouldn't take too long, Just as I finished up, I heard the door open and a very drunk, very bloody Jim walked through the door.

"Jim!" I yelled, shocked. I rushed over to him and helped him over to the dining room able. "What happened to you?"

"Got into a fight." He murmured, turning to me. "Your eyes are gorgeous." He ran his finger down my cheek. "God, how did I ever convince you to move in with me?"

I stood and walked into the kitchen, opened the freezer and grabbed a handful of ice. I reached into the drawer and grabbed a ziplock bag (surprisingly those has endured) then placed the ice inside and brought the makeshift ice pack over to the beaten man on the table. "You know what?" He asked, placing the ice pack on his temple. "I was asked to join Starfleet tonight."

"Oh." I said, frowning . "That's the… exploration thing, right?"

"Yes." He nodded, then winced as his head throbbed. "I think I may do it."

"Really?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Yeah." He took a deep breath. "It may be how my father died, but it sounds… interesting. I think I may enjoy it." He looked me over. "You should think about joining too."

I was taken aback. "Excuse me?"

"You should think about doing it too," He took my hand and sat me down next to him. "Over the past year, you have studied the starships that they use, you seem to enjoy it. You're smart. Why don't you do something with your intelligence?"

"How much did you have to drink?"

"They leave tomorrow." Jim said, standing up. "I really hope you decide to come with me." He gave me one last look, then went to bed.

*3 Years Later*

"You are really going to take the Kobayashi Maru again?" I asked, looking at Jim with wide eyes. "The test is impossible to pass."

"Not impossible. " Jim said, flashing his signature smile. "I will pass it."

"Jim," Dr. Leonard McCoy sighed, turning to one of his best friends. "It is impossible. No one has ever passed the test."

"Until today." He smirked. "You ready to make history, Bones?" Jim reached across and pat his friend on the back.

Bones rolled his eyes. "How did you deal with him alone for a year?" We had told Dr. McCoy about my past, and while he was shocked and pitied me, he agreed to stay quiet and be my primary physician.

"I was either drunk or reading." I rolled my eyes. "Usually drunk."

"Hey," Jim pointed at me. "You love me now."

"Love and hate are two sides of the same coin." I pointed out chuckling. "I have a test tonight so I'll see you boys tomorrow."

"You're re-taking your final?" Bones asked, looking slightly concerned. "You already scored a 97%."

"I can get better." I declared. "Good luck."

"You too." Jim said, waving as we walked off in different directions. I walked for about five minutes before entering an immaculate building and making my way into classroom 47E. I nodded to my professor and took my seat. He walked over to me and placed the five page test on my desk. As soon as the papers were out of his hand, I began writing. I was going to score higher than last time. I needed to get at least 98% to be top of the class.

"You cheated?!" I shouted, throwing my pillow at Jim. He had shown up in my room just past midnight to let me know about his hearing. "What the hell is wrong with you?" I demanded. "The test is meant to be unbeatable! We don't all live forever, and if you want to be a captain, you need to accept that." I threw myself back onto the other pillow.

"But I found out how to beat it!" He exclaimed, sitting on the bed next to me. "What is so bad about causing my crew to survive?"

"That's not the point of the test!" I shouted. "Look, Jim, I've known you for four years now, we became best friends, I know you. You need to know how to cope when things go wrong."

He rolled his eyes. "Artemis-"

"I'll be at the hearing tomorrow." I told him, rolling over. "Goodnight."

I walked into the packed room and found a seat close to the back just as the hearing began.

Barnett coughed as he began the hearing. "This session has been called to resolve a troubling matter. James T. Kirk, step forward. Cadet Kirk, evidence has been submitted to this council, suggesting that you violated the ethical code of conduct pursuant to Regulation One-Seven point three of the Starfleet Code. Is there anything you care to say before we begin, sir?"

Jim looked at the gound for a beat, then met the man's gaze. "Yes, I believe I have the right to face my accuser directly. "

Barnett gestured to a Vulcan dressed in black who stood. "Step forward, please. This is Commander Spock. He's one of our most distinguished graduates. He's programmed the Kobayashi Maru exam for the last four years. Commander? "

Commander Spock came forward and stood behind the podium nest to Jim's. "Cadet Kirk," He began. "You somehow managed to install and activate a subroutine to the programming code, thereby changing the conditions of the test."

Jim turned to Spock, obviously annoyed. "Your point being?"

"In academic vernacular, you cheated." Barnett interjected.

Jim looked back at me for a moment and I saw a rebelous park in his eyes. "Let me ask you something, I think we all know the answer to. The test itself is a cheat, isn't it? You programmed it to be unwinnable."

Spock gawked at Jim. "Your argument precludes the possibility of a no-win scenario. "

Jim turned to Admiarl Barnett. "I don't believe in no-win scenarios."

Spock continued eyeing Jim. "Then, not only did you violate the rules, you also failed to understand the principle lesson."

Jim lost his self control as he turned to Spock once again. "Please, enlighten me."

Spock smirked. "You of all people should know, Cadet Kirk. A Captain cannot cheat death."

Jim's jaw dropped for a moment. "I of all people?"

Spock turned back to his superior. "Your father, Lieutenant George Kirk, assumed command of his vessel before being killed in action, did he not?"

Jim's features darkened slightly. "I don't think you like the fact that I beat your test? "

"Furthermore, you have failed to divine the purpose of the test."

"Enlighten me again. "

Spock's tone turned somber. "The purpose is to experience fear. Fear in the face of certain death. To accept that fear, and maintain control of oneself and one's crew. This is a quality expected in every Starfleet captain. "

Suddenly an aide came into the room, rushed up and handed a note to Barnett. He read it, then turned to everyone in the room. "We've received a distress call from Vulcan. With our primary fleet engaged in the Laurentian system, I hereby order all cadets to report to Hangar One immediately. Dismissed. "