The rest of the day should be everything I dream of and more. I do find Kelly and Andrew to check up on the Warp Core. If all the requirements for lift-off is in order, before long we should be heading into the depths of space. How exciting! The best part about being an engineer is that there isn't too much to do after the ship has taken flight. I mean yes before hand, it's all hectic, making sure everything is in it's proper place for a successful take off. But after that is over with, the ship is in great condition anyhow so there isn't too many things you can screw up. LIke I said, before take off it is a little hectic.

"Status!" I panic, hoping the Warp Core is not planning to blow up. The Enterprise does not have the greatest record on a functioning Warp Core.

"Status? I'll give you the Status! So far nothing has exploded at least!" Andrew yells, as all the gears start up, making the become full of steam. Kelly slaps him.

"Keep it together Andrew!"

Andrew nods and starts mumbling all the things we have already checked to allow the Warp Core to function. Pipes, buttons, gadgets, the works. None of us can tell if we are even off the deck. We probably are. Now that the Warp Core is definitely not going to blow up, we can hope for a successful trip.

"Warp Core ready for action?" Says a voice in Kelly's communicator.

"Ready Captain!" She responds confidently.

So that was what the Captain sounds like. Huh.

Suddenly the Warp Core begins to glow and the pipes steam some more. That's normal behavior. Thankfully. The nearest computer screens glow to life for a briefing message. I've heard a million of these in school.

"Hello dis is Ensign Chekov zour navigator." I turn my head. I can't help but to smirk. Navigator. "We now begin our vive eer jurney on de USS Enterprise! Pleeze stay at working stashons until we are officially out ov warp speed,"

The screen goes black.

I've made it.

"Alright, nice job you guys lets pack it up!" Kelly starts grabbing all the tool boxes, "see you all tomorrow!"

"Wait!" I stop her, this couldn't just be it! Could it? "What do you mean "see you all tomorrow" we can't possbilbly be done already!"

Kelly chuckles, Andrew joins in.

"Listen, newbie," her chuckles lightning up, "There are thousands of engineers on this ship. It's the first day. There really isn't that much to do after take off. We come in when we are needed. Scotty or I will contact you on your communicator. Until then we walk around, cover our bases and relax. Or wait until something goes wrong. It's that simple," When she is done explaining she turns on her heels and continues to walk away. Andrew followers her, leaving me again with the most and largest tool boxes. I don't think I like them very much. I fumble with the tools, all by myself this time, dropping them off at supplies. They said that the smallest tool box was ours to keep, our personal. I pick up the green paint splattered tool box. It was obviously used. Oh god I am holding a dead guys old tool box?! That is beyond creepy.

I would visit Marayna at the hospital wing but she is probably busy. I guess I will get my cabin number. Again I follow everyone else, it hasn't failed me yet! I wander around, observing landmarks to help me later. I walk pass the hospital wing, lazily searching for Mar. I recognize her green skin stepping out and joining the crowd. I rush to catch up to her .

"What are you doing out?"

"Turns out there isn't a whole lot of injuries the first day,"

That makes sense. I shrug in agreement.

"So where are you going?"

"Getting my cabin number like everyone else isn't that what you're doing?"

"Yes..well I want exactly sure where this crowd lead," I peep, trying my hardest to hide within my body. Marayna always hated it when I was anti-social and today is no different. Probably because she was such a butterfly. And I'm me.

"So if this lead to a cliff bad people started jumping you would follow?"

I purse my lips.

"Depends if I can see the bottom, and where I am in my surroundings, like is there any other alternative route?"

"Nevermind,"

Sometimes I do that just to change the subject.

We he to the cabin assignments and we give them our names. The guy hands us a pair of keys.

"You will be in D hall, room 224, do you thnk you two can be roommates?"

We smile widely at each other. I mean we have been the whole time at the academy.

"I think we can handle it," I smirk slyly.

We wait until we get to our room to squeal in delight. Everything about this day is going right. A few short minutes later, they bring in some clothes, some supplies, and other household needs. I start to unpack, while Marayna just plops the things on her bed. We talk about what we've done so far and I tell her about the tool box. She laughs for a while.

"Okay well I better check back into work, I said I wasn't going to be gone long," She grabs her labcoat and starts putting it back onto her body, "Have any plans?"

I shrug, "Nah, I was just going to unpack and maybe tinker with some stuff," I say folding another dress (we got like ten of them). Mar smiles.

"Okay well have fun unpacking and using some dead guys toolbox!" She calls, walking out the door.

"Shut up!" I call back, listening to her laugh her way out.

The door closes behind her, automatically locking it.

The rest of the I do tinker with some stuff. I have an idea for a machine that is like a flying helper. You ask for a tool and it knows how to fly and give it to you. There have been similar ideas but none have worked. At least none that I know of. I fall asleep some hours later.

The next couple of weeks are pretty routined. I get up in the morning, go to work, love my job and fix some stuff, come back, eat, shower, read, sleep. Marayna sometimes goes out, I have no idea who but she is always back when I wake up the next morning.

"So I was wondering," Mar starts as we brush our teeth, she usually says that when she wants something, "well there is this get together happening tonight, and I want you to come with me,"

I groan, "Mar you know I don't do parties," I complain, spitting out toothpaste.

"Think about it," she says sincerely before leaving the bathroom,"please," she begs, I hate it when she begs.

"Fine I'll just say I'll go, saves me from thinking later," I smile, rinsing out the rest of the toothpaste.

"Yay! Maybe you'll even meet someone," her eyes brighten with hope.

"Slow down, it's just a get together! I mean how many people could there possibly be?"

I can't believe I agreed to go to this," I groan, landing face down onto my bed, my face getting buried into the plushness of my pillow, "I don't wanna anymore,"

"You already agreed so now you have to!" Marayna continues to pick out several dresses as options. When did she get so many dresses? "And you are not going in...that," She body checks me in my comfy pinstriped pajama pants and tank top.

"I thought if I got into PJs, I wouldn't have to go," I frown, staring uncomfortably at my feet.

Mar glares at me, before shifting her eyes over at the many dresses she chose to me to wear. My eyebrows arch as I glare at her back. Mar eyes roll dramatically as she throws the pale green dress towards me to change into. Victory is mine. Sort of.

As I start getting my makeup on, Mar constantly slides jewelry near me, hinting that I have to wear that too: a golden necklace, large dangle earrings, and a ring with a small stone all head my way. She on the other hand wears an elegant black dress with bright red patterns, bold chunky jewelry with the highest of heels.

"I thought you said this is just a get together?" I groan slightly at my fancy getup.

Marayna rolls her eyes,"Are you ready?" She smiles broadly, clutching the rest of her things tight with excitement.

"No,"

"Awesome lets go!"

The party is in full swing when we get there. The music pounds through the room, the people dancing and drinking, laugher, almost as prominent as the music.

"Can I go home?"

"No. Come on let's get a drink, get out flirt on!" She cheers. I roll my eyes but follow her to the table. Marayna grabs the both of us a mysterious fruity drink that I don't question. I don't want to be here. Mar would say to just enjoy myself. Have fun. Let loose. Let loose. I could let loose.

"Hey," I wink to the guy across the table. Nice.

"Hi," He grins back. Now we are getting somewhere.

"What's up?" Keeping it smooth.

"Just having some fun," He answers.

"I hate parties,"

"Why?"

"They are loud, and always so many people that I don't know and it just gets really awkward really fast,"

"Tell me about it," He laughs. I made him laugh!

"Well it all started on a dark and stormy night…" I joke and he laughs some more. Score!

"Do you want to find a quiet place to talk?" He smiles, he has a nice smile. I ask Mar if it's okay but before I even finish the sentence she is pushing me towards him, begging him to take me. Glad to see I'm loved.

"So then he says: That's not an elephant that's my mother in law!" We break into fits of laughter, having to clutch my stomach to breath. This party isn't so bad. The crowd of people around us seem less noticeable while we lean against the wall for support.

"You are quite the unique girl," He grins, his eyes lighting.

"You're not too bad yourself," I chuckle, just in time for a person to step in front.

"Wanna move to a more private area? I think the room next door is open!" He calls out for me.

"Sure!" I call back, following my way through the new swarm of people I have to weave in and out of.

My footsteps echo against the walls as I enter the new meeting place.

"Much better," He smirks, making himself comfortable on the nearby bench. "Now I can actually hear what you're saying,"

"I never noticed this room before," I stare at the walls in amazement, wide and large windows take up most of it, revealing the clear space and atmosphere. "It's lovely," obviously I have always loved space. I love the stars and how they glisten and swirl through an empty black void and still be beautiful. I love everything about space, especially the things that everyone usually takes for granted.

"Yeah," He agrees, shifting his body in a different direction, supporting himself by placing a hand on my knee. We continue to chat and make jokes until we are almost peeing ourselves. He makes great company.

"What do say we get out of here," He whispers in a deep voice, his lips just brushing past my ear. Weird.

"Why? No one else is here," Seems kind of stupid to leave. He chuckles with the same low tone.

"I like the way you think," his hand brushes up my thigh What. Wait no. Not happening.

"Oh, hey buddy, yeah, hi, not what I meant," I push his hand down off me and attempt to stand. He grabs my wrist and pulls me back down.

"Shh, just let it happen…" He gets so close I can smell him. I can feel his fingertips tread lightly across the base of my skin. It sickens me. It angers me. It isn't until his lips tread across my jawline I move. Sicko sex fiend.

"I. Said. No!" I shove him off me, off the bench completely, before I kick him straight in the face, and in between the legs. "Jackass!" My footsteps echo as I strut out of the room, until the dissapear within the growing crowd of the other room. I need to be alone to have a emotional breakdown.

I wander in, desperate to find a familiar face, but finding none. Tears started to stream down my face, and I have to wipe them away fast to avoid any running makeup. After another dead end, I'm starting to lose it. I turn but instead run into someone.

"Oh, I'm sorry," I mutter, wiping another tear, "Sorry...Chekov?"

There stands the Russian, in a button down shirt and slacks. It's interesting seeing people without their uniform.

"Ezri?" He has the same reaction, "Are zou okay?" is his first question.

"Fine," I attempt to lie, "just trying to find Marayna,"

"I'll 'elp zou," He grins widely. I nod.

We search for a while but I can't hold it in for that long. I start to break down even more. I just want to cry. Tears wildly flow, the sniffles become constant, and it doesn't take long for Chekov to notice.

"Zou are not okay," He pulls me over a side that is clearer, wiping the tears gently with his balled fist. "What happened?"

I tell him the whole messy story from beginning to end. I'm not sure how much he understood it due to the noise and the fact that I sniffle and sob the entire time. When I finish he just stands there for a second, before grasping me into a tight hug. I need this hug. This is a nice hug. This is the type of hug where I just stand and sob into his shoulder. Yes I should do that. Okay keep yourself together Ezri. I wipe away some more tears that escape.

"I just really hate parties,"

There is a moment we just stare at eachother, unsure whether I should be laughing or crying. Chekov lets out a laugh covered up by a cough. I smirk. Then we start chuckling together.

"I'm sorry," I apologize with a sniffle, "I am just sharing a traumatic experience with someone I barely know,"

He gives me a lopsided smirk, "Well mabe now we can bee friends?"

I look into his puppy dog eyes and innocent smile.

"Yeah, we can definitely be friends,"

"EZRI!" Calls a different, familiar, shrill voice.

"Mar!"

She brings me into a bone crushing hug, no intention of letting go.

"Mar?"

She squeezes me even tighter.

"I am so sorry Ez, they just found the guy you were talking to! I thought bringing you here...I hoped you would find a boyfriend or even just make some new just regular friends… I just thought… I'm so sorry..."

"Marayna it's okay, it's fine!" I calm her down a little, "Besides, this party wasn't a complete waste. Meet-" I turn to introduce her to Chekov but he was gone.

"Come on," Mar says after a minute, her face wide with confusion, "Let's just go home,"

"Don't have to tell me twice,"