Gah. I apologize for the wait. One, I had so much trouble writing Kirk's section. I knew what I wanted to convey, I just wasn't sure how to write it. Two, I had the Blue Screen of Death over the weekend and lost everything. I had to redo all the downloads and everything and make recovery disks. It took a few days. Anyway, I finally have the chapter for you. And if I do say so myself, I really love how this one came out.

Sulu is a difficult character to write about. From what I can tell, he doesn't have the most definitive personality from either the movie or the original series. There were a lot of blanks that I had to fill in. In the end, I created a character that is a mix of George Takei!Sulu, John Cho!Sulu, myself, and a fourth unknown person. My sister believes he is ADHD, but really, he's not just not content to stay in his hometown forever. He dreamed that he was destined for something better. lol Pike wouldn't need to convince him in a bar.

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek. I own sixteen recovery disks for my computer though. Good news for the next time it decides to crash.

Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu

Our names are labels, plainly printed on the bottled essence of our past behavior.
-Logan Pearsall Smith

Everyone calls him Helmsman.

He's never really belonged anywhere before. He was never an outcast, but he just never really found that one spot in his life where he didn't feel like he was contorting to fit into the space he was given.

But the seat in the Enterprise molds to his body. And it's selfish to say, but he feels like the others in the room were destined to know him because how else could that sort of instantaneous friendship be possible?

Without a single doubt in his mind, there's no better feeling in the world than flying the Enterprise. She moves gracefully under his touch, maneuvers past asteroid belts with ease. He's convinced that she responds to his thoughts than to his controls. Every time he pushes her into warp, he literally feels a tremor go through his body and he knows, he knows that he's supposed to be a pilot.

The Enterprise finally docks back on Earth. Nero is defeated, Vulcan is gone. His heart goes out to the Vulcans, especially Spock, because no one should ever face a tragedy like that. But when he talks to his sister to reassure her that he's alright, he can't keep the proud smile off his face when he tells her about how he managed, with Scotty's help, to pull the Enterprise out of the pull of the Narada's black hole.

Then he advises her to try sky diving because it's just so much fun and ends the transmission.

His parents call him Hikaru.

He's never been too happy in one place for long. Things grew very boring very quickly. There's only so much to see in a town before everything looks gray and nothing seems interesting any more.

He was surrounded by the same people who had known him since he was five and it's really just not fun repeating the same stories over and over again. Everyone in town has been living there for generations and everyone just assumes that he will take up his father's trade like every other son does.

Imagine everyone's surprise when he announces at the dinner table that he's going to Starfleet and he's already been accepted so there's nothing anyone can do about it. His sister hugs him and wishes him luck because at least she understands, even if no one else does. But his mother and father just stare at him in disgusted wonder.

The argument goes on for hours, but he's firm in his stance. He's going to Starfleet Academy. He wants to be a pilot or an engineer or maybe even captain someday. He could do it, he knows he can. In space, there's something to do and see, and he'd never be in the same place twice because they always travel in warp. At least, that's what the Starfleet pamphlet says.

But his mother still cries out his name, HikaruHikaruHikaru, as though her mantra will change his mind. And it nearly does, because he can hear her love in every syllable. His father annunciates each syllable as well, but with fury in his tone instead.

He knows he messed up the plan. He was supposed to be the local botanist. He was supposed to grow flowers in a greenhouse and teach their qualities to high school students like his father before him. And the prettier plants with colorful petals, he was supposed to plant them for his sister who would take over her mother's flower store.

But the plan has changed and he's on his way to Starfleet with only a good bye from his sister. The ride is long, but he can't fall asleep because HikaruHikaruHikaru repeats in his head in alternating tones of sadness and anger.

His sister calls him Ru-ru.

Anzu contacts him once a month, sometimes every other month because she's rather forgetful. But he always receives her transmissions no matter how busy he might be. They chat for about an hour because he gets antsy if he sits for too long.

She tells him about her latest boyfriend and he swears that he'll warp back to Earth if this new suitor even thinks about breaking her heart. He tells her about the new planets they find and how he dodged an asteroid. Neither of them mention their parents, but he always assures her that he's healthy and happy if she decides to pass it to their mother.

The Enterprise is flying past a giant star so it's an especially bright day when Scotty knocks on the door. Hikaru tells him to enter and introduces the Scotsman to his sister. They exchange pleasantries and she tells him his accent is adorable. The siblings share an amused laugh over Scotty's blush, but then Hikaru has to say good bye because Scotty needs his help in the engineering room.

"Aw, so soon?" Anzu asks with a pout, just like she asks every month. He nods and she gives an exaggerated sigh. "Well, all right. If you insist. Talk to you later, Ru-ru! Love ya!"

Her image fades away and now the blush is on Hikaru's face. Scotty doesn't say a word until they're halfway to engineering.

"Younger sister?"

"Older."

"Single?"

"Taken."

"Ru-ru?

"Shut up."

Chekov calls him Karu.

It started out with a comment about Russia, but quickly turned into one of their playful arguments.

"Vell, at least I newer forgot to disengage the external inertial dampner," Chekov says. His words sound haughty, but his pink mouth quirks in a smile.

"Wiktor, wiktor," Hikaru deadpans with a sly look in his eye.

"Ya two sound like an ol' married couple," Scotty jokes before Chekov can retort.

Chekov blushes, but Hikaru just laughs and hopes no one can hear how wistful he sounds.

x

It's two in the morning and the graveyard shift is his favorite time of the day because there's only space, him, and Pasha. He's Chekov when they're around others, but he's Pasha when they're alone.

Their usual silence is comforting, but when Pasha's hesitant voice breaks the silence, it is not at all unwelcome.

"I am sorry for vhat I said earlier. You are a fine helmsman."

Hikaru turns to see bashful gray eyes and pursed lips.

"And I'm sorry for making fun of your accent," he returns with a grin.

"Eh, you're not the first to do so," Pasha says with a roll of his eyes. He smiles at Hikaru before they both return to their work.

Contented silence washes over them once more before Hikaru speaks softly.

"Thank you, Pasha."

Pasha answers just as discretely.

"You're welcome, Karu."

Kirk calls him Pirate.

Hikaru knew he'd never be friends with Kirk like McCoy was friends with him. Or like Spock was friends with him. There was a depth to those friendships that went beyond anything he had ever witnessed before.

But on their own more basic level, there was a definite note of solid friendship between himself and the captain. There are some things in life that people go through and they can't help but be friends afterwards. Jumping off the edge of the world to save someone only to find that the parachutes are gone and wow, the ground is coming up to greet them pretty quickly… That constitutes friendship.

So two weeks into their five year journey to space, Hikaru sat in the captain's quarters across from the grinning blue-eyed man.

"Why, Jim?" Sulu asked, unable to keep the proud and excited smile from his face. Kirk had just informed him that in the event that he and Spock were unable to take command, Sulu was to assume captaincy.

"Well, if anyone official asks," Kirk started with a mock-reproachful tone, "it's because you have, on multiple occasions, shown yourself capable of command. You demonstrate a great understanding for the ship and her many capabilities. You have a level head and a clear mind."

Then he stood up, Sulu following his lead. Kirk gave him a steady stare with a shining gleam in his eye. All over his face was a look that plainly read, Because I'm Captain James T. Kirk and I don't just save anyone's life. If I saved your life, it's because I knew that you were worth it.

Sulu was already halfway through the door when Kirk's play-serious tone floated out to him.

"But really, it's because you're a pirate."

Wow. Shortest chapter yet... Once again, I was on babynamesdotcom and I looked up various Japanese names before settling on Anzu for his sister's name. It means apricot. Cute, isn't it?

Did you enjoy it? Please review and let me know what parts were your favorites! I want to know what you think. Scotty's chapter is next and I could definitely use some suggestions for nicknames for him. Thanks for reading!