Chapter 1: Drink's on Me

Star-date 2255.202 – San Fransisco (16:30)

It was quiet in the large apartment as a pale young fifteen year old girl strode through the front door of the Pike household in a huff.

She was petite for her age dressed in long black leggings over which she wore a dark blue long sleeved hooded top that ended just mid-thigh. On her feet boots were fitted, snugly covering up her slender feet in slightly scuffed and soft black leather that matched her bag and jacket almost perfectly.

"Mum! Dad! I'm home!" she called loudly as she stepped through the door, into a large open living space.

In it a man and woman were standing and talking in frantic hushed whispers. The man, Christopher, was tall and had brown hair flecked with small grey hairs, with light blue eyes that were currently set in a small concerned frown as he listened to his wife, Helene's, voice.

She was shorter than him by about a head but was strikingly beautiful, what with her soft face, long strawberry blonde curls, her snow white skin and her bright green eyes that quickly swivelled about as the young girl entered the room cautiously.

"Oh Layla you're back"

"Uh yeah…I am…uhh…Should I come back later or-" the girl, Layla, pointed to a set of stairs that led up onto an upper level but her mother shook her head.

"No it's alright we were both going to talk to you anyways"

Layla bit her lip nervously as she ran her fingers over her knuckles behind her back.

"Is this about what happened with Byron, because if it is then you should know that he started it!"

"What happened with Byron?" Christopher asked sharply and she quickly gulped.

"Nothing! Nothing! What was it that you wanted to talk about?"

Both her parents exchanged glances that were torn between amusement and exasperation, though whether it was directed at her Layla didn't know.

"Take a seat" her father motioned to the couch and she quickly sat, her back rigid with her nerves as she saw her parents once more exchange glances.

"Mum, Dad… What's going on?"

"Layla" Helene's voice was calm and collected as she sat down beside her daughter "some very big news has just come from Starfleet Command"

"Is Dad getting reassigned again" Layla asked worriedly but Christopher shook his head

"No, I'm not. Thank heavens no" he added in an undertone before coughing "no actually they called about you"

"Me?" Layla spluttered "what would Starfleet Command want with me?"

"It's nothing bad Layla" Helene said gently putting a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "They want to offer you a place in the Academy."

"They what?!" Layla's eyes were bulging as she looked between her parents in shock "But…but I thought only those above the age of eighteen could apply"

"And they do" Christopher nodded his face turning grave "but sometimes Command can bend the rules if they think you're ready. And they do. They've seen your recent school test results. They're off the charts for your age group. Not to mention your strength and athleticism far exceeds that of even your oldest peers"

"Yeah, yeah! I'm a super-strong super-genius freak" Layla snorted though she sounded far from being happy or smug at the prospect. "I know, I get told that every day at school. I don't need my parents reminding me"

"Layla" Helene frowned but Layla was already waving her off.

"Mum I get it ok! You're my family, you don't care what I am and you still love me. But it still won't change the fact that no matter what school I go to or what I do, I don't belong anywhere. Why should Starfleet Academy be any different?"

"Because" Christopher frowned concernedly "Starfleet Academy isn't just a school. It's a primary training facility for Starfleet Officers"

"Which is just another fancy way of saying boot camp" Layla muttered under her breath as she rolled her eyes "And we all know how boot camp went"

"Layla, what did I say about interrupting your father when he's talking?" Helene said sternly and Christopher sighed heavily.

"It's alright Helene. I've got this. Layla" his voice now turned deadly serious as he fixed his young teenage daughter with stern eyes "Please listen to me. I know school's never been easy for you, but you can't keep going on aimlessly between institutions like this. You've already picked more fights this year with both your teachers and peers than ever before and you're this close" he held his index finger and thumb barely a centimetre apart "from getting another suspension. You need stability and order in your life"

"And you think the Academy will do that for me?" Layla narrowed her eyes but Christopher wasn't swayed.

"Yes it might. It's different at the Academy; their expectations are tougher and you'll have to behave under stricter rules and regulations, but if you give it a chance, the rewards will far out way any difficulties. Their curriculum is advanced, far more than anything your teachers are currently giving you. Not to mention the culture is different. Here on Terran schools you're mostly surrounded by young biased idiots that can barely understand the basics of the world around them, let alone understand other people. There at the academy the age group is more mature and the people are diverse. There aren't just humans attending but other species from other systems too, species with higher intelligences. Why we even have a Half-Vulcan instructor on the staff and he's teaching physics, computing and xenolinguistics"

"He sounds inspiring" Layla commented dryly and Christopher shook his head.

"Layla please just think about it. This could be a great opportunity, one that Starfleet's practically offering it up to you on a silver platter! If you worked hard you could even end up serving on board a Starship in four years by the time you're nineteen. That's just in time for the new five year missions they're planning with the new Constitution ships. I mean think about it. That's deep space travel of uncharted territory. How many nineteen year olds do you think get to experience such a chance?"

There was a silence as Layla looked up into her father's face. He was frowning but in his eyes there was also a pleadingly keen look.

She quickly turned her head and saw the same look in her mother's eyes as well.

She sighed heavily and turned her pale eyes down to her lap. She'd be lying to herself if she said that she didn't find the prospect of going into deep space exciting. Which young teenager wouldn't? But still…

"Dad…" she pinched the bridge of her nose "it's just…Starfleet Academy…won't anybody be pissed that a Captain's daughter kinda…jumped the queue?"

"She has a point Chris" Helene gave a pointed glance at her husband but he just shrugged.

"You don't have to parade to anyone that you're my daughter if you don't want to. There have been plenty of kids and grandkids of other Starfleet officers quietly attending the academy for years anyway. Also if you're really that worried about what people will think of your eligibility you can take the admissions test along with everyone else. That way you've applied fair and square and no one can argue your position even if they do find out. But I don't think you'll really have a problem with that. Once you're in, you're in and no one can do anything about it really"

But Layla still looked unsure as she ran a hand through her long black hair as she turned to look at her mother.

"And what do you think about this?"

"I think" Helene squeezed her daughter's hand tight "I think your father has a point Layla. You've been struggling to fit into Terran society for so long. This could be a good opportunity for you to start over. You might be a little young in comparison to the rest of your peers but Chris is right when he says that the Academy is more open minded about the cadets admitted. Why I think just last semester they admitted a young Russian boy about your age, what was his name again?"

"Chekov" Christopher piped in "Pavel Chekov. His accent's a bit thick and he's a bit shy at first but he's a real whiz kid."

"Wow so a half-vulcan teacher and a Russian Whiz Kid are the poster boy's you're dangling in front of the crowds this year? Huh? No wonder enlistments are getting low-I'm kidding mum" Layla smirked at her frowning mother before adding quickly "but seriously are they at least cute to look at"

"Is that even important" Christopher gave his daughter a stern glance and she shrugged, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

"Maybe"

"Layla-"

"Just kidding! Jeeze can nobody take a joke anymore!" she sighed heavily as did Christopher as he reached out to ruffle her long dark hair.

"Yes just not about boys. Not until you're in college!"

"Well if I apply to Starfleet I'll be technically in college" Layla grunted trying to swat her father's hands off as he chuckled.

"Alright then no boys till you're eighteen"

"Chris" Helene giggled prying her husband's hands off their daughter before pulling her into a hug.

"It doesn't matter if there are cute boys or not sweetie. Whatever decision you make on this, whether you choose to join or not, we'll be proud"

"Say how about this." Christopher smiled as he made to sit down on Layla's other side on the couch. "Next week I've got to babysit some Cadet's on shore leave in Iowa. If you come with me you'll get to talk to some of the cadets and you can ask them anything you want about the Academy. And if you do decide to enlist you can join us on the way back to the Academy just in time for the mid-year Application test. Deal"

Layla looked thoughtful for a minute before nodding slowly.

"Deal"

"Good and on that note, I know I said the Starfleet cadets are a little more mature but still there are some idiot knuckleheads that think they're smarter and tougher than everyone just because they wear a uniform, but whatever happens do not, I repeat, do not pick a fight with any of them."

"but what if they're really irritating me? Or what if they start the fight? Can I at least end it then?"

"No." Christopher smirked knowingly.

"So" Layla clucked her tongue rolling her eyes as she made to stand to her feet "I'll just sit quiet and be a good little daddy's girl on the school excursion"

"Hey just because your old man's going to be there doesn't mean you can't have fun" Christopher quirked a brow "I'll check the roster and see if I can spot a few old faces. There's bound to be plenty of people that you can hang with quietly. But no fighting are we clear?"

"Yeah-yeah! I know!" Layla waved her father off as she picked up her leather messenger bag and hoisted it on her shoulder "Well, I'm going to go take a bath and maybe take a sketch or two in my room"

"Alright but make sure you don't turn the music up too loud" Helene waggled her finger as she watched her daughter trudge out of the room and up towards the staircase "Your uncle Alex is coming over for dinner tonight so you be sure to be ready to greet him by the time he arrives"

"Sure! Whatever" Layla droned in a bored manner as she turned a corner and disappeared upwards with soft thuds of her boots on wood.

Once they heard the door to her room shut, Christopher sighed.

"Teenagers! I sure am glad I only have one of them in the house"

"Oh tush you're enjoying this more than you let on" Helene chuckled softly as she reached out to pat her husband's cheek affectionately, only for her face to fall quickly as a grim thought seemed to cross her mind.

"Honey" Christopher looked worriedly at his wife's suddenly terse face but she quickly shook her head.

"It's nothing sweetheart" she quickly smiled though it looked rather more like a grimace "It's just…so sudden I guess. Our little girl growing up faster than we could've hoped."

"It's not goodbye forever. You'll still get to see her on the weekends and in the holidays, or even around campus if you're doing one of your seminars" Christopher smiled softly before leaning forwards to kiss her forehead softly. "She'll be fine you'll see…as long as she's not traipsing after some stupid boy"

"*sigh* oh Chris…I hope you're right"

Star-date 2255.216 – Iowa (23:49)

The bar was full of people as a terran female strode through it, head held high, in spite of the fact that she was perhaps the shortest patron that stood at 5'3".

It didn't help her predicament that she was wearing a short sapphire blue dress with three quarter sleeves, amongst the sea of Starfleet cadets, all of whom were decked out in red-maroon uniforms and black boots.

Many heads turned quickly to watch as she made her way up to the bar, towards an empty seat beside a man in a black leather jacket.

He was a tall young man, with a handsome face, bright blue eyes and a crooked smile that was all framed by short but well groomed golden locks.

He couldn't help but raise his brow when he heard her order only one thing.

"A soda please"

"A soda?" he wondered aloud and was surprised when she turned around to face him.

She was young, younger than even he, probably in her teens. And yet in spite of that she was already remarkably attractive. What with her pale alabaster skin, and her long jet black hair held back in a loose mussed up ponytail that she draped over her left shoulder and those full little red lips, she could've easily passed off for a living incarnation of Snow White. But what caught the young man most was her eyes, which were a pale and crystal clear glacial blue, pretty and enticing but also surprisingly sharp and piercing as she made to ask.

"Pardon?"

"uh…um…" the man quickly coughed. "Noting it's just; you do know that you can order alcohol here right?"

"Yeah. I know" The girl gave him a quirked brow. "I just don't feel like it"

"Oh…ok…but then why are you here?" the young man looked about quietly at all the cadets about them.

Was she one of them? It didn't look like it. But she also didn't look old enough to actually be drinking either?

Runaway or secretly squandering daddy's hard earned cash?

He reasoned in his head before quickly zoning in to listen to her answer which was more of a small snort than anything else.

"I'm here because I'm trying to catch a break from my babysitters, and I'm guessing you're here to pick up chicks because the cadets are here fresh on shore leave"

"Guilty as charged" the young man gave a lopsided grin to which she responded with a small smirk. "So who are these stupid babysitters that are letting you slip away from them?"

"Oh just some butthead cadet guys who think they can keep me safe by flexing their oversized guns. The apes" she added in a mutter "you don't need muscles to win a fight. Just correctly time a hit to the head or the groin and they all come crashing down harder than bricks"

"So you're a cadet?" the young man smiled though internally he was slightly disturbed by the smaller girl's surprising forthrightness and brusqueness.

"Nope!" the girl popped the P as she quietly took her soda that the bartender had just quietly given her, before turning back to the man beside her. "Not yet. How about you mister…?"

"Jim" the young man, Jim nodded before extending his hand forwards. "Jim Kirk. And you are?"

"Layla Pike" the girl, Layla, took his hand and shook it firmly, so firmly that Jim almost winced.

"Sorry" Layla mumbled apologetically as she let go of his hand but Kirk only gave her a small grin.

"Nah it's ok! I've probably been dealt much harder greetings than that."

"Don't let the ladies hear you say that or else you'll be out of the running tonight" Layla smirked in Jim's face and he chuckled loudly.

"Ouch! With a wit like that kid I think those babysitters of yours need to hide behind you and not the other way around"

"Yeah tell my dad that" Layla snorted as she took a swig of her soda before quickly looking up just as a voice called out to her.

"Hey Layla there you are"

"Oh hey…" Layla smiled though it was rather guilty as a female cadet strode confidently up to the bar.

She was tall and in her early twenties, with luscious chocolaty brown skin and long black hair and pretty brown eyes that were currently fixed on the young girl before her in a small scowl.

"Didn't your dad tell you to wait at his table?"

"Yeah but I got bored. And there is so many times I can listen to him reminding me not to touch a drop of liquor, or be careful what I do, or that I'm not to go talking to guys" Layla shrugged up at the older woman, though her eyes glinted slightly nervously as if expecting a reprimand.

However the cadet only smirked with understanding as she made to lean over the bar top counter.

"Yeah I know. I'd be pretty bored too if I was cooped up in a corner of a bar nearly every night. Say why don't you join my table once I get the drinks? I daresay you could use some girl time"

"oh hell yes that would be great" Layla sighed with relief before she just realised that she still had Jim sitting right behind.

She quickly turned back to apologise to him, only to see that his eyes were fixed solely on the cadet beside her.

Oh god you wanna try your luck with her?…see you at the pearly gates!

She smirked as she turned back to the cadet who made to ask the bartender for her table's drinks.

"Hi, I'd like a Klabinan Fire Tea, Two Cardassian Sunrises, and uh"

"Try the slusho mix, it looks good" Layla suggested quickly pointing to the flashing menu above the back of the bar.

"Oh yeah you're right it does" the cadet smiled at her widely just as Jim's voice wafted over Layla's head.

"That's a lot of drinks for two women."

Layla and the cadet both exchanged amused glances with one another. It hadn't been the first time both of them had gotten that sort of line when seen together.

"And a shot of jack straight up"

"Make it two, her shot's on me"

"Her shot's on her. thanks but no thanks" the Cadet rolled her eyes.

Ouch that's gotta hurt, better luck next time blondie

Layla's smirk widened as Jim made to childishly pout.

"don't you at least want to know my name before you completely reject me?"

"I'm fine without it" the Cadet quirked a brow.

"you are very fine without it. both of you" he added, and Layla noticed for the first time a small slur in his speech. "It's Jim, Jim Kirk"

And he's drunk, no wonder he's so forward

She and the cadet now both exchanged exasperated looks as they both came to the same realisation at once.

"If you don't tell me your names, I'm gonna have to make them up"

"I already gave you mine." Layla rolled her eyes.

"Well then refresh my memory"

"Nope sorry, you get only one shot, Jimmy boy"

But even as she caught his eye she saw him give a pointed glance towards the cadet beside her, before giving her a small conspiratorial wink.

Layla gave a small sigh but smirked with amusement before murmuring very softly so that only he could hear.

"She's a tough one, don't say I didn't warn you"

"Thanks" Jim's grin changed subtly to a more grateful smile as Layla made to speak to the cadet loudly. "Say Uhura do you know where the bathrooms are? Never mind I see them"

The female cadet that sat beside her looked up just in time as Jim called out loudly.

"Uhura? No way that was the name I was going to make up for you? Uhura what?"

"Just…Uhura" Uhura quickly glanced about worriedly to look for Layla but the girl had already disappeared in the direction of the bathrooms that were located close to where the bar ended on the other side of the room.

"They don't have last names on your world?"

She turned back to Jim with a well-practiced collected expression on her face as she coolly replied "Uhura is my last name"

"They don't have first names on your world?"

Jim couldn't help but crack a small grin. Jeeze that Layla girl was right, she was a challenge.

But Jim Kirk always did like a challenge.

He straightened up as he took his new drink from the bartender and casually made to ask.

"So you're a cadet you're studying what's your focus?"

"Xenolinguistics" Uhura smirked smugly "You have no idea what that means"

"Study of Alien Languages. Morphology, phonology, syntax" Jim's lips quirked back up into its customary smirk as he added quietly "It means you've got a talented tongue"

"I'm impressed" Uhura admitted, though she dared not show too much of her surprise on her face instead choosing to quickly add "For a moment there I thought you were just a dumb hick that only had sex with farm animals"

"Well…not only" Jim's flirtatious grin widened just as a dark shadow came looming up behind him.

He turned quickly to see a tall butch male cadet standing flanked by three equally brusque buddies all of whom were flexing out their hands and arms threateningly.

So these must be the babysitters

Jim Kirk couldn't help but grin at the fact that such seemingly thuggish men managed to let one little girl slip from between their pudgy fingers.

Either they were really dumb or the girl was really smart.

Jim couldn't help but feel it was a mixture of both as their leader made to speak to Uhura, though he kept his beady eyes on him instead.

"This townie isn't bothering you, right?"

"Oh beyond belief" Uhura grinned, though it was only with residual amusement from Jim's earlier joke. "But it's nothing I can't handle"

"You could handle me, if that's an invitation" Jim waggled his brow playfully only for the butch cadet beside them to clip.

"Hey you better mind your manners-"

"Oh relax cupcake it was just a joke" Jim patted the man jovially on his big arms, though internally he could feel the atmosphere instantly tense up even as the man made to grab hard at his shoulder and pull him right up till they were nose to nose.

"Hey, farm boy. Maybe you can't count, but there are four of us and one of you"

"Then get some more guys and then it'll be an even fight" Jim patted the aggressor's cheek only to feel the heavy thud as a big fist collided with his own face.

"Guys' stop it" Uhura barked loudly but to no avail, for Kirk himself flung out his own fist into the guy's face only to be hit in return by three other fists.

"Stop it!" she tried again.

Thud-thud! Thud-Thud!

Many people were crying out as punches and kicks flew about the bar, many of them squeaking pulling away their drinks as bodies of four men crashed about into their tables before getting up and ramming into one another again like angry mountain goats.

From behind one of these tables Layla quickly darted out into the open. She'd just come back from the bathroom (after discovering she actually really did need to use it after all), only to find there was a huge fight breaking out right in the middle of the floor.

She quickly darted over to Uhura who was leaning by the bar trying her best to keep out of the way of Jim and the four red suited cadets as two the latter made to grab their singular target and hit him repeatedly, over and over again.

"HEY!" Layla shouted when she saw blood fly from a punch to Jim's jaw.

"Layla no!" Uhura yelled reaching out but already the younger girl had thrown herself into the fray her leg flying upwards in a high kick that hit the punching cadet right under the chin, sending his head flying back, before she turned and aimed a punch to the head of the cadet holding Jim

Jim barely had time to appreciate the rescue before he saw the first cadet that he had punch (whom he had nicknamed Cupcake in his head) make to grab at Layla in his almost berserk state.

"Look out" he cried before flinging himself in front of her.

Layla winced as Cupcake caught Jim quickly by the scruff of his neck and swung him over his shoulder to come crashing on his back right on top of a table.

"STOP!" she cried quickly rushing forwards as a set of large fists made to punch the daylights out of an already dazed victim. "STOP IT NOW YOU IDIOTS! HE'S HAD ENOUGH!"

But Cupcake did not listen to her; he only continued to punch Jim over and over again, pounding him harder than a hammer to a nail.

She tried to rush forwards to grab the offending hand only for one of Cupcake's mates to grab her from behind tightly, pulling her arms back behind her body in a lock.

And it was then Layla felt her temper snap.

She didn't care what she'd promised her father. These guys were going to kill Jim if they kept going on like this, and if abandoning her restraint could save someone from dying she'd gladly give it up any day.

Without even pausing to think she stomped her heel hard on her captor's foot and when he let go of her she wheeled about and kneed him straight in the privates. And then without further ado she jumped upon Cupcake from behind and scrambled up till her head was level with his shoulder.

Uhura squeaked as she heard a shriek and a small crunching sound suddenly pierce through all the shouts of the bystanders.

Cupcake stumbled backwards yelping horribly and scrambling to reach behind him, but Layla just kept holding on as tight as a baby Koala, her teeth never relenting on his ear.

That was until he rammed himself backwards into the bar.

With a grunt Layla was forced to let go as her lower back was hit hard.

It hurt a lot and she cried out as her legs buckled beneath her from the pain. However before she could slide to the ground she felt a hand grab hard at her hair and looked up to see a bloodied fist raised above Cupcake's shoulder rearing to strike.

However before he could even make a move there was a loud shrill whistle.

Everyone stopped in their tracks and turned around slowly, even Jim was managing to lift his head gingerly as he stirred from his spot to look upside down at the figure of a man standing at the door to the room.

Oh crap…I'm royally screwed

Layla gulped as Christopher Pike's eyes examined the scene in front of him. There was absolute silence as his face turned the colour of parchment as he caught sight of his daughter's predicament.

"Cadet" he growled, suddenly sounding scarily like an angry dog gearing up to bite "let go of my daughter if you know what's good for you"

Cupcake, gulped as his fury quickly gave way to immense fear. Layla sighed with relief as the hand that was on her scalp suddenly let go, and stumbled backwards into the bar.

Uhura caught her quickly her eyes wide with worry as she saw that there was a bruise on the younger girl's wrist from where she'd been manhandled.

"I'm ok" Layla mumbled as her father made to stride across the room towards her.

His face was the stoniest she had ever seen it and she quickly turned her own to the ground as he made to bark loudly at the rest of the cadets.

"Outside all of you. NOW!"

There were small mumbles and squeaks of "yes sir" and "let's outta here" as quickly both cadets and other patrons made to quickly file out of the room.

The last four to leave were the four male cadets that had instigated the fight in the first place, for they themselves were sporting several injuries, courtesy of Jim and Layla, the latter of whom was being helped into a nearby barstool by a fussing and very much shaken up Uhura.

Christopher turned back to Jim's limp body as the younger man made to peer up at him upside down from where he was still lying on the table.

"You alright son?"

But Jim only grinned in a daze of blood and bruises

"You can whistle really loud you know that?"

Christopher frowned and tilted his head curiously.

For some reason the boy's face and voice looked and sounded very familiar to him.

"Come on get up" he strode to the younger man and gave him a hand, which was taken shakily. With a big tug he managed to pull Jim up to sit, only for blood to pour in streams down his nose.

"Thanks" Jim grunted as he was handed nearly ten thick paper napkins at once.

"Stay here" Christopher ordered gruffly, though a good deal more gently than he had first done with the cadets earlier. He turned his gaze quickly back on Layla and Uhura who were sitting back at the now empty bar, the latter making to help the former wrap a cooling pack onto her wrists.

Jim caught sight of the worried almost fuming look in his saviour's eyes and quickly reached out to grab his sleeve.

"It wasn't her fault" he mumbled his voice sounding thicker through the two napkins he had shoved up his nose

"I know" Christopher nodded though the anxiousness still hadn't left his face "but I've still got to check"

Jim let go with a small nod, though he kept his eyes fixed on Christopher's back as he made to walk over to his daughter who avoided his eye as he put a gentle hand on her shoulder.

After a few moments of soft murmurs and a couple of heavy sighs from the Layla, Jim was relieved to see her father only give her a small pat on the head before instructing Uhura to take her to a nearby clinic to check for injuries.

As both girls made to pass, Layla gave a weak smirk at Jim's bloodied and bruised face.

"Nice to meet you Jim. I'll see you around?"

"Yeah, maybe." Jim grinned back before yelling out to Uhura "And maybe you could tell me your first name"

"Pff! As if" the female cadet snorted with a roll of her eyes as she led the girl outside.

However when they were both at the door to the Layla made to look back swiftly over her shoulder to where her father and Jim were now both sitting at an empty untouched table.

"What's up Layla?"

"Nothing…" Layla lied though the gears were turning in her head.

Jim Kirk…Kirk…why does that name sound so familiar?

"James Tiberius "Jim" Kirk. You know I couldn't believe it when my daughter told me who you were" Christopher almost cringed as the younger man in front of him shrugged off his leather jacket to reveal a long sleeved light grey shirt splattered with small droplets of red over the front from where his nose had sprayed blood.

"And who am I, Captain Pike?" Jim grunted as he made to take a sip of a glass of water.

"Your father's son"

Jim stopped dead in his tracks, the now empty glass hovering in mid-air.

"Can I get another one" he called to the bartender who was closing up shop in a hurry.

He glowered and rolled his eyes but nonetheless took the glass and refilled it for Jim and handed it back to him just as Christopher made to speak once more.

"For my dissertation I was assigned the U.S.S Kelvin. Something I admired about your dad, he didn't believe in no-win scenarios"

"Sure learned his lesson" Jim snorted as he gingerly made to take the napkins from his nose, which had only just stopped bleeding.

"Well, it depends on how you define winning" Christopher smirked patiently "You're here aren't you?"

Jim shrugged, but the older Captain could see in his eyes that he had made a valid point and he quickly pressed his advantage.

"You know that instinct to leap without looking, that was his nature too and in my opinion it's something Starfleet's lost"

Jim just shook his head with a hollow chuckle.

"Why are you talking to me man?"

"Because I looked up your file, while you were chatting with my daughter." Christopher narrowed his eyes and Jim had the decency to look down with some semblance of embarrassment.

"Sir I swear I wasn't trying anything I-"

"I know" Christopher nodded though he still looked rather stern "but that's not what I'm concerned about at the moment. I checked both your aptitude results and they are off the charts. The only other person I've ever seen at such a level is Layla and she's barely fifteen. So what is it? Do you smart kids get a kick out of picking fights or being the only genius level repeat offenders in the mid-west?"

"Maybe I love it?" Jim smirked, though the rest of his body stiffened defensively and Christopher rolled his eyes.

"So your dad dies, you can settle for a less-than-ordinary life. Or do you feel like you were meant for something better?...something special…Enlist in Starfleet"

"Enlist?" Jim snorted derisively "you guys must be way down on your recruiting quota for the month"

Christopher's eyes narrowed as similar words spoken to him barely two weeks ago wafted over his mind.

"No wonder enlistments are getting low"

Uncanny…

Christopher's eyes hardened with steely determination as he made to press urgently.

"If you're half the man your father was Jim, Starfleet could use you. You could be an officer in four years, you can have your own ship in eight. You understand what the Federation is don't you? It's important, it's a peacekeeping and humanitarian armada-"

"Are we done?" Jim cut across him his smirk falling from his face to be replaced by an irritated scowl.

Christopher paused for a moment.

He couldn't help but wonder as Jim looked him in the eyes. It was almost as if he were looking at the embodiment of George Kirk right in front of them and yet that expression, that look of defensive derision…it was so similar to his own daughters.

They're both misfits…brilliant in nearly every way but still on their own… just not fitting in anywhere…

But it wasn't like he could just tell the younger man what to do, besides he was an adult and they were virtually strangers.

so it was with a heavy heart that Christopher nodded slowly as he made to stand to his feet.

"I'm done"

But before he could leave Jim quickly mumbled.

"That kid of yours…Layla… That guy might've totaled me if she hadn't jumped at him when she did so she kinda…saved my ass…could you tell her I said thanks"

"I could…" Christopher smirked as one last stroke of brilliance occurred to him "or you could tell her yourself. Riverside Shipyard. Shuttle for new recruits leaves tomorrow o' eight hundred. You know your father was the captain of a starship for only twelve minutes…but in that time he saved eight hundred lives, including your mother's and yours…I dare you to do better"

And with that he turned on his heel and left, leaving Jim alone with his thoughts.

Captain?

The young man mused.

Me? A Captain?

But then he shook his head and snorted. Yeah. Him a Starfleet Captain, it was so ridiculous… a stupid notion.

But even as the thought came to his mind he tilted a small salt shaker shaped like a starship in his hands and smirked.

Captain James Tiberius Kirk…has a nice ring to it…

When Christopher Pike returned back to the hotel room he was stationed in he found Layla already there, laying on her stomach on one of the two beds watching the news as she did her best to balance an ice pack on her bruised back.

She looked around wincing as she saw her father stride towards her his face set in a grim stern glower.

"What did I tell you about getting into fights?"

"They were going to kill him if they continued to hit him like that" Layla grunted with a scowl. "Somebody had to stop them before they went too far"

"And it had to be you?"

"Did you see anyone else bother to help him?" Layla growled. "Besides it wasn't really his fault"

"He provoked them" Christopher frowned.

"He was only yanking their chain and they fell for it" Layla frowned back her icy eyes turning if possible even colder "they should have ignored him and been better men but they lost control. What's it going to look like for Starfleet if their officers aren't able to keep their heads in normal environment let alone a hostile one?"

"I guess you have a point there" Christopher nodded as he made to sit beside her on the bed, his hand reaching out to resettle the ice pack on her back. After a moment or two of silence he asked quietly

"Have you thought about our deal?"

"Yeah I did" Layla nodded quietly.

"And?" Christopher frowned.

Layla just grinned widely.

"I'm in"

Star-date 2255.217 – Iowa (08:00)

Layla sighed as she basked in the hot morning sun, leaning back against the wall of the small run down shuttle.

She was glad she'd traded her dress for her skinny jeans and tank top for it was sweltering.

"God I hope the weather's decent back home" she grunted only to jump slightly as someone coughed from her side.

She quickly wheeled about and saw to her surprise a man standing there beside her. He could've been handsome, she supposed, but it was all masked by the crotchety scowl over his face and his totally unkempt appearance. He had a scraggly beginnings of a beard that would be brown like his hair and he faintly smelt of alcohol, but she could see from the look in his grey-blue eyes that he was definitely sober…for now…

She sniffed the air subtly as a whiff of something else wafted into her nostrils.

Soap?

She wondered, only managing to bring herself out of her thoughts as the man made to speak

"Excuse me kid is this the shuttle for Starfleet recruits?"

His voice was gruff, but strangely enough it wasn't unpleasant though it did heavily drip with the iconic drawl so beloved by the American southern states.

"The one and only" Layla snorted tapping the side of the shuttle with a small smirk. "If you're in a hurry mister, you should get in quick. The seats are filling up fast"

"Don't mind if I do" the man tipped his head to her before making to pass her on and stride into the shuttle just as someone called out to her.

"Layla"

Layla turned just in time to see her father Christopher striding over to her, resettling his grey uniform collar uncomfortably in the heat.

"You ready to go?" she asked as soon as he was level with her.

"Are you?" he quirked a brow down at her and she shrugged.

"You know me dad, always ready for a new adventure"

She smiled up at him pleased as his dark blue eyes made to twinkle down at her as he beamed with fondness.

"I've just sent a message to your mother. She says she'll call you when you've completed the test. She's really proud that you've decided to go through with this, as am I"

"Thanks dad" Layla mumbled suddenly feeling her ears go pink with embarrassment just as something came rumbling up before them.

It was a motor bike, on which Jim Kirk was riding, his face now clean and his hair better groomed from the state it had been in last night.

He grinned as a shipyard construction worker made to pass him by, whistling with admiration at the vehicle the younger man was riding.

"Nice ride man"

"It's yours" Jim smirked as he tossed the man the keys before striding up to both Christopher and Layla, the former of whom he made to smirk at smugly.

"Four years? I'll do it in three. Hey Layla" he gave her a small grin and a wave.

"Hey yourself. You look better." Layla grinned back as he made to stand before the shuttle door alongside her.

"Yeah thanks to you" he nodded "by the way that was some kick you gave that guy"

"Oh I try" Layla smirked in mock modesty just as a group of male cadets passed them by to get into the shuttle.

Four of them were easily recognisable as the group that had accosted both her and Jim the night before. When they saw the tall blond male standing there, their leader (whom Jim still preferred to call Cupcake in his head), made to crack his knuckles threateningly.

Jim opened his mouth to say something scathing and sarcastic only for Layla to beat him to the punch, her tone cold as an arctic blizzard.

"Touch him again and I'll bite both your ears off"

Jim snorted as Cupcake flinched at the tones, his hand flying up to his left ear which was patched up by a bandage wrapped around his head.

As soon as he and his friends had skulked off Jim turned back to the younger girl with an admiring smirk and a quirked brow.

"That's it from now on I'm using you as my human shield"

"Idiot" Layla chuckled, shaking her head as she made to walk up the steps and onto the shuttle. "Come on let's get going before they take off without us"

"Yeah that would be disastrous"

They were quick in getting inside, walking carefully past each of the red suited cadets that sat all around them, watching them curiously as Jim clocked his head on a beam on the ceiling.

"Not funny" he grunted as Layla made to giggle at his expense, sitting down at three empty seats just opposite Uhura who pointed quietly at Jim with a frown.

Layla just shrugged in response as Jim made to sit down beside her and grin at her friend.

"I never did get that last name" he called and Uhura snorted and rolled her eyes just as a female voice called out from the front of the craft.

"You need a doctor"

"I told you people, I don't need a doctor, damn it, I AM a doctor!"

Doctor…Well that explains the soap smell

Layla quickly looked up to watch with amusement as the rugged southern man she'd met earlier was tugged away from the bathrooms at the back of the shuttle by a very irate female officer who was currently trying her best not to yell at him as they argued.

"You need to get back to your seat"

"I had one in the bathroom with no windows!"

"You need to get back to your seat now"

"I suffer from aviaphobia, it means a fear of dying in something that flies" the man growled angrily glaring down at the woman, but Layla saw that in his eyes that there was more fear than aggression.

but the female officer was not swayed one bit as she made to bark harshly over him.

"Sir for your own safety sit down or else I'll make you sit down!"

Layla had to hand it to the lady, she really had quite a terrifying glower. Even Jim bristled beside her as the southern man made to mumble darkly under his breath only for the woman to raise a stern brow at him.

"Alright fine!" the man growled in aggravation before stomping off to sit on Layla's other side and shrug on his seat buckles, just as her father's voice wafted over their heads from the speakers.

"This is Captain Pike. We've been cleared for take off"

the man glowered up at the ceiling with venom before turning to both Layla and Jim and muttering:

"I may throw up on you"

"…Ok…" Layla's brow furrowed as she exchanged a glance with Jim who just shrugged before addressing the man calmly.

"I think these things are pretty safe"

but the man only rolled his eyes.

"Oh don't pander to me kid. One tiny crack in the hull and our blood boils in thirteen seconds. A solar flare might crop up and cook us in our seats. And wait till you're sitting pretty with a case of Andorian shingles. See if you're still relaxed when your eyeballs are bleeding. Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence."

"Uh man I hate to break this to you but Starfleet is an organisation that operates in space. That's why it's called Star-Fleet" Layla snorted with raised eyebrows.

"Yeah, well kid, as you can see I got nowhere else to go. The ex-wife took the whole goddamn planet in the divorce. All I've got left is my bones"

And with that the man took a small silver hip flask from his jacket pocket and took a heavy swig before handing it over and across to Jim who took it before taking a small swig.

"What is it with guys and alcohol?" Layla groaned aloud to herself as she shook her head and rolled her eyes.

"Is she always so cheerful?" the gruff man snorted with a small smirk and Jim chuckled.

"This is nothing. You should see her when she's really pissed. The name's Jim Kirk and the grumpy teenage midget between the two of us is my new personal human shield"

"Hey watch it blondie! I'm not a midget I'm just petite!" Layla snapped before turning to face a rather curious neighbour and holding out her hand "the name's Layla Pike"

"McCoy, Leonard McCoy" the gruff man, Leonard, nodded and shook her hand just before the entire shuttle jerked a little as it began to be released from the clamping dock that held it steady to the ground.

"Oh god here we go" Leonard groaned clamping his mouth shut as he made to shut his eyes, his cheeks turning pale almost instantly.

Layla looked glanced sidelong at Jim who grinned back at her.

"You ready?"

"Are you?" Layla smirked quirking a brow.

"Born ready" Jim grinned and she nodded in return.

"Yeah…let's ride"

YAY! Chapter 1 done.

Read and Review if you liked and i hope to see you all next time