Hey, I apologise for the long wait. I've been swamped with work (it's my last year of sixth form) and I am really behind because I've been so distracted by other things. I cannot promise when there will be another update, so I do apologise! Any odd words you come across will be translated at the bottom. Any mistakes are mine.

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek (unfortunately) all rights go to Gene
Roddenberry, CBS and Paramount Pictures.

Warnings: Mild swearing, some fighting and Jim just being Jim.

For the World is Hollow

- Chapter One -

- Part 1: For All My Yesterdays -

"It is not in the Stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves"

William Shakespeare

Stardate: -55605.337

Location: Riverside Shipyard Bar, Iowa

The bar was buzzing, each being giving off a unique set of vibrant colours that were dulled by Skye's mental shields. Even though her shields were firmly in place, supressing floating thoughts and emotions, some of their essensiya managed to nudge its way into her mind due to the Romulan Ale that she had consumed earlier that day. The sky was darkening outside, giving cue to the nightlife of Iowa and with them the loud bursts of laughter, which did Skye's already pounding head no favours. She tapped her foot with impatiently, Jim was late – again. The minutes crawled by and the bar filled with more and more customers, eager to have their fill of Iowa's 'finest'. Most of the bar was filled with new cadets and junior officers, wearing their reds and greys. Other were some locals that she recognised or that she had served herself earlier in the day. Many of them were beyond wasted and it was about time that they went home. Sitting quietly Skye observed them all whilst taking the occasional sip of her drink, rubbing her temples every so often. They looked like they were enjoying themselves, especially the new cadets, their lives going in their desired direction, their futures holding some certainty. Smiling she turned away and as if on cue James strolled into the bar, his face adorning his trade mark smile and carrying that essence she came to know all too well.

About bloody time!

Sorry, I got…distracted –

I really don't want to know!

Skye moved the bag from the stool next to her, allowing Jim to come up next to her. He made himself comfortable and turned to face her.

"So, what's the verdict?" Jim asked.

"The board's decision still stands," Skye, informed him sighing heavily, her face falling.

"Fuck, don't those paper pushers know that you saved like-"

"Jim, honestly, their the last thing I want to talk about," Skye said with a small smile as she felt Jims irritation through their familial bond.

"How was your shift?" asked Jim changing the subject.

"Not too bad, not that I can complain, I am lucky Sal is letting me work here again, after last time," Skye replied looking at Jim pointedly.

Jim smiled back sheepishly, scathing the back of his head, to which Skye simply smiled and shook her head fondly. Jim proceeded to order his drink and gulped it down in one go before ordering another one. She could tell he wanted to make more colourful words to describe those who had decided on her suspension but she was tired of hearing about it. Jims face lit up when a certain female that Skye had seen earlier walked by causing Jim to spin around and check her out from behind.

"Gimmie one sec!" Jim called before darting after her.

Skye rolled her eyes and turned back to face the bar before she heard a voice on her right side.

"Hi. I'd like a Klavnian fire tea. Uhh... three Budweiser classics, two Cardassian sunrises, and a..."

Sal stood at the ready with glass and cloth in hand and stated what he always said to new customers "Try the Slusho, it's good."

Skye grinned inwardly it was the most disgusting beverage she had ever tasted but maybe that was just her over sensitive pallet.
"The Slusho mix, thank you," said the girl smiling, putting down her menu.

Skye couldn't resist and leaned forwards, minding the individual next to her, to poking the girl "trust me the Slusho mix is disgusting, try the Stardust mix."

The girl turned to face her and she smiled, studying Skye for a moment before letting her eyes fall on her ears.

"Vulcan?" she asked before adding, "I am specialising in Communications."

"Quarter," smiled Skye in acknowledgement "Ahmau Igen," she added.

"Ahmau Nyota Uhura," Nyota replied in Vulcan.

"Your pronunciation is excellent," Skye complemented.

"Thanks, I am a bit rough but I signed up for a Vulcan studies class."

Skye suddenly felt James return behind her just when Sal returned with Nyota's drinks.

"That's a lot of drinks for one woman," he commented.

"And add a shot of Jack straight up and no Slusho mix, make that a Stardust." She added eyeing Jim.

Sal turned to meet Skye's gaze and his eyes narrowed in mock annoyance before he strolled away to fetch the new orders. Skye sipped her own Stardust mix relishing the freshness of the Jabiyah fruit that reminded her so much of summers long gone.

"Make that two, shots on me," Jim grinned at Sal.

"Her shot's on her," she informed Sal, turning to face Jim "Thanks but no thanks."

"Do you at least want to know my name before you completely reject me?" Jim smirked.

"I'm fine without it," Nyota replied.

James Tiberius Kirk.

What?

Don't even try it, she's not falling for it. Trust me.

Watch me.

Skye signed inwardly and watched as James failed miserably to try to win Nyota over with his classic Kirk charm. The bar was becoming even busier as more Cadets gathered round, sending Sal and his staff running to get orders dealt with. Jim was met with silence but he still persisted and continued.

"You are fine without it. It's Jim, Jim Kirk. If you don't tell me your name, I'm gonna have to make one up," Jim smiled impishly.

"It's Uhura," she stated flatly.

"Uhura, no way. That's the name I was gonna make up for ya. Uhura what?" Jim asked.

"Just Uhura," Nyota stated.

"They don't have last names on your world?" tried Jim again.

"Uhura is my last name," she responded.
"Well then, they don't have first names on your world?" Jim asked.

When James got no response, he stood up to move closer to Nyota blocking her escape path.

"So, you're a Cadet, you're studying... what's your focus?"

"Xenolinguistics. You have no idea what that means." Nyota said with a small smile.

"The study of alien languages, morphology, phonology, syntax. It means you've got a talented tongue."

Skye snorted almost choking on her drink as she nearly began laughing at the lameness of his sexual innuendo. Uhura looked at her and smiled in amusement, eyes sparkling. James scowled slightly at Skye and it only made her laugh even more.

"I am sorry but you've come up with some crap in your life time Jim but that was terrible," Skye explained, downing the rest of her Stardust and getting up.

Jim looked at her, she indicated to the toilets, and he went back to trying to score one with Nyota. Her headache was getting worse with the more people had filed in. Their laughter was like little pin pricks to her head. That and a combination of three nights of no sleep and heavy liquor had cost her. Once in the toilets she splashed water on her face and she shut her eyes to try to reclaim some control of her mental shields. Satisfied that she wasn't going to be able to do anything else to get rid of this head ache, she exited back to join Jim and hopefully leave to get some fresh air.

"Hey there beautiful," came a voice from behind.

Turning she was met with a tall muscular man who was at least twice her size. His face was adorned with a smug smirk as he strolled over, leaving the web of his friends behind.

"Not interested," Skye said waving a hand in dismissal.

"You haven't heard what I have to say yet?" he said voice laced with confidence.

"Trust me, I think I'll pass," Skye replied attempting to maintain an air of light-heartedness.

"Don't be like that," he drawled.

"Seriously I am not interested," Skye warned.

"Come on," he slurred.

His hand grabbed her wrist and he squeezed down hard, stopping her in her tracks. Skye felt the dark essence sweeping over her; they were more prominent due to the failure of her defences, which caused her mind to blank out for a second. She twisted her hand back causing him to let go and stumble backwards, knocking the next person's drink all over his denim jacket.

"Hey you asshole, you owe me a drink," bellowed the other man.

Skye took the opportunity to walk away feeling uncomfortable at the remainder of his vibe that lingered around her. Keeping her eyes firmly planted on Jim, she increased her pace.

"Come back here, I am not done talking to you," the man ordered.

The second time he made a grab for her waste, causing Skye to duck out of his reach.

"Fuck off, you bath'pa," Skye snapped.

"What did you call me!" he bellowed, judgement clouded by drink, launching forwards, eyes squinting as he came into contact with the light.

He hurled forwards to hit her when he tripped coming into direct contact with the man standing right over Jim and Nyota. The cadet turned around and swung, missing his intended target, punching Skye's harasser square in the nose. She moved swiftly next to Jim and took one look around her.

"What did you do?" she asked.

"And now there are two of us," Jim smirked.

"Wha- wait no there is no way I am getting in-"

Before she could finish her sentence, her harasser launched forwards, fist collided with face and Skye found herself with green blood dripping down her forehead.

"You do not touch my sister!" yelled Jim throwing off the cadet he had angered and taking a swing at the man who had punched Skye.

The cadet recovered and launched himself at Jim again whilst his back was turned so Skye sprang forwards and took one massive hit at him. He moaned in pain as he was sent down to the ground. All around them, other cadets were joining the scram. Jim was sent flying towards Nyota and then he was flung back into the arms of the burly cadet who took yet another swing at him whilst Skye took another hit at the man who had harassed her before. She heard a bottle smash and a body hit the ground before Nyota shouted 'Enough!' Skye threw a cadet over the table sending him into a crowd of people who were watching the fight intensely. The larger cadet lifted Jim on the table and begin punching him repeatedly until he was seeing stars. Skye took one last punch at the person next to her and shoved the cadet from Jim all the way across the bar, causing Sal to jump away. Silence ensued as she took one look at Nyota who was staring at her in shock. Suddenly, a loud high pitch whistle broke the tension as heads quickly turned towards the door, stopping Skye in her tracks. Standing at there was none other than Christopher Pike.

"Outside. All of you. Now!" he shouted firmly.

"Yes, sir," uttered the male cadet.

All of a sudden, everyone was filing out as quickly as they could, grumbling excuses as they passed their superior officer. Among those uttered, she heard 'freak' and 'he wouldn't listen' as they went passed. Making her way to the table, she lifted James up, as he stared around clearly disorientated.

I'll be back in a minute

"You all right, son?" Pike asked Jim who was now sitting on a chair holding his bloody nose "Skye?"

"M'good," she replied curtly.
"You can whistle really loud, you know that?" mumbled Jim before passing out, head hitting the table.

Sky returned a few minutes later with bandages and tissues. She pulled over a chair and proceeded to clean the wounds on Jim's face as he slept. He slowly began to regain consciousness when she had reached to clean his nose. Pike, meanwhile, was in the corner looking over at his PADD in concentration.

"Ow!" he complained in a slight daze.

"Quit moving," Skye scolded, swatting his hand away.

"That hurts!" he moaned.

"And whose fault is that?" Skye shied.

Once she was contented, she went to clean up the mess that was her face, completely ignoring Pike who had gone up to the bar to get more tissues. He came back and continued observing the pair attentively. Skye looked at Jim who was now lamely swishing the remaining drink in his glass. There was still evidence of dried bloodstains on his face and she could tell that his ribs were badly bruised. Her headache was now hammering in her skull and she closed her eyes to try to dispel some of the ache.

"You know, I couldn't believe it when the bartender told me who you are," Pike finally said breaking the silence between them.

"Who am I, Captain Pike?" asked Jim.

"Your father's son."

"Can I get another one?" Jim called to Sal who was sweeping up the mess.

Sal responded by pulling a face in their direction whilst he continued to sweep, much to Jims disappointment.

"You're hammered, no more alcohol for you," Skye said moving his hand away when he attempted to reach his drink.

"Stop mothering me."

"That's my job," Skye said with a small smile of amusement.
Pike continued and Skye's smile faded as quickly as it came and replaced by it was irritation.

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

"Sure learned his lesson," Jim replied dismissing Pike.

"Well, it depends on how you define winning. You're here, aren't ya?" Pike said watching Skye who was sitting back arms crossed, staring back at him.

"Thanks," Jim smiled.

"Here it comes," Skye muttered, rolling her eyes.

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

"Why are you talking to me, man?" Jim said beginning to get as equally annoyed by Pike's presence.

"'Cause I looked up your file while you two were bickering like children. Your aptitude tests are off the charts, so what is it? You like being the only genius-level repeat offender in the Midwest?" Pike said with that all too familiar tone like he was telling off a child.

"Maybe I love it."

"Look, so your dad dies. You can settle for less than an ordinary life or do you feel like you were meant for something better? Something special? Enlist in Starfleet," Pike finished.

"And here it is!" exclaimed Skye with a bitter laugh.

The irritation had bubbled within her as she had listened to Pikes attempts at recruiting James.

"Enli-" Jim laughed before he finished the word as if Pike had suggested he join the circus. "You guys must be way down in your recruiting quota for the month."

"If you're half the man your father was Jim, Starfleet could use you. You could be an officer in four years. You could 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-"

"We done?" Jim cut in before Skye.

Remembering she left her bag back with Sal at the bar, she made a move to go and retrieve it but stopped when Pike addressed her.

"I'm done – with you," Pike declared.

Turning back around she was met with that steely determined gaze.

"I am sure you have nothing left to say to me," she said turning back around.

"Actually I do. I know that you've been suspended," he added quickly.

"I don't think that's any of you damn business," Skye warned as she turned to meet him again.

"I know why you did Skye, and I have to say that your father would have looked admirably at what you did that day. You're a fine doctor and would make a damn good medical officer in the Fleet."

"Fat lot of good that does me," she said sitting back down again, letting her irritation lessen, already too tired to fight.

"You acted without thinking of the consequences to yourself to save the lives of others. That is something he would have done. He did it every day," Pike continued, letting emotion seep into his words.

"This is nothing I haven't heard before," Skye said softly.

"Let me finish. I knew your father and Jim's. They were some for the finest men that I had ever met and when they died the world lost two incredible human beings. I lost two of my closest friends. Your father was charming, brave, everything you would have wanted in an officer. He was the fleets youngest Captain and he would have made a damn fine Admiral. He saved countless of lives and made many key alliances in his short time. You know, James, your father was Captain of a Starship for twelve minutes. He saved eight hundred lives, including your mother's. And yours."

"This is still no-"

"And I dare you to do better." Pike paused and studied Skye and Jim intently as she looked directly into his eyes.

Silence pooled around them as the words dried in her mouth. Pike then stood up and collected his belongings before adding "Both of you. Riverside Shipyard. The shuttle for new recruits leaves tomorrow oh-eight hundred." And with that he turned and left.

Skye watched a Pike left the bar with this feeling buzzing inside of her. The clogs in her mind were turning and processing everything that Pike had said. She felt that familiar urge – need – to move, to seek out something. It was an itch that had been reignited by those simple words. I dare you to do better. She cursed internally about how easy it had been for him to get inside her head. The words were ringing in her mind and she could still see Pike's steely determined gaze matching her own, like he had done before but this time it was different. She knew it and James knew it as well. They sulked away in silence after they had paid Sal what they owed for the damages caused by yet again another bar fight. The night air was welcomed as she helped Jim hobble over to his motor cycle ignoring the pain coming from her nasty head wound.

"M'sorry," Jim mumbled.

"Don't apologise, I needed to let out some steam anyway and what better way to do that than to engage in some good old fashioned bar fighting," Skye smiled slightly reminding herself that they were lucky Sal didn't press charges - again.

Jim was getting into the front when Skye stopped him and shook her head, pushing him slightly back as she started the engine. They cruised through the empty dirt road, sometimes passing a house or establishment. She slowed down when they came to that familiar spot that they used to come to when they were teens.

Together they sat down, not caring in the slightest of the dirt that would mess their clothing. Skye stretched out, feeling the ground beneath on her bare legs. She was still sore from the punches that she had received but it was nothing compared to her head. Some sleep and meditation was what she needed but she was far too awake now. Looking up she saw an endless sky of radiant stars looking back down at her. The view never changed from there but it always astounded her. They were up there and she was down here. Allowing her mind to wonder back to Pike's words, she thought carefully. If she stayed, what would there be here? She had no family, the only one she did have was sitting beside her, looking as equally in awe, at the dessert above. She had no career prospects and no way of knowing what the board would decide. She looked at Jim and he looked back at her. They held each other's gaze for a few moments; no words were needed, verbal or mental. Something inside her in that moment clicked, the urge was stronger now and those words pulled her forwards. There was something stirring inside James beside her, she felt it as her shields came down allowing a full-uninterrupted link. There was nothing left here, nothing left to do. The choice was hers and she knew that deep down she had already made it. Perhaps the decision had been made years ago. All she had to do now was act upon it. Pudvel-tor. Jim turned back to her aware of what she was thinking and feeling, he gave her a small smile and they both knew in that moment that they were going to do this. There was no way they could let it go. That itching burning desire to do something had reawakened with those six simple words. Challenge accepted Pike she thought with a small smile. They continued to sit there in silence looking at the sky as the dark deep blue melted into a soft orange when the sun rose. Skye took once more look around before heaving herself and Jim up from the ground.

When she finally made it to her small flat, it didn't take her long to pick out a few items that she wanted to take with her. Artefacts that she and Jim had collected in their childhood, a few books, items from Vulcan, her PADD and communicator. She debated whether she needed anything else but she decided that there was not point; she could simply just buy most of what she had. The most important thing to her was the man standing downstairs and that had always been enough for her. Skye walked towards the door and looked back glancing at the sparsely decorated room, the few photos and possessions that she was leaving behind were meaningless to her. Without as much as a backward glance, she shut the light off and locked the door. Downstairs Jim was waiting for her.

"We really doing this," he commented.

Skye stopped and smiled at Jim "Looks like we are, thank God our teenage selves were not here to witness this."

They boarded Jim's motorcycle again and only came to a stop when they passed what had become a familiar landmark in Iowa shipyard, the USS Enterprise. It looked majestic, illuminated by the occasional light and she couldn't help but run over Pikes words again. I dare you to do better. She got off the motorbike with Jim following behind as they both looked up, thinking along similar lines.

"Now that's what you call a Starship," he whistled softly.

She looked around and took in the many personnel and cadets running about, getting to their shuttles. Her wondering eyes met with Pike's who were staring right at her. He smiled triumphantly and she allowed a small smile to ghost her lips. He hadn't won, not just yet. However, strangely for the first time, in a long time, she felt sure. She smiled linking her arm with Jims as they strolled forwards. I will do better she thought and that was a promise she intended to keep.

A/N - I did some research on Memory Alpha but I've taken some creative liberty and have invented or merged some telepathic abilities together. So anything that is made up will always be explained at the bottom. Translations in Vulcan found at the VLD.

Essensiya: A term used on Betazed in the Elastaii region to describe the emotions given off by another Empathic being. (To Skye these emotions are detected by sensing 'colours' or an aura surrounding the empathic or non-empathic individual.)

Pudvel-tor: Vulcan for 'Chosen'.

Nashaut ahmau Igen: Hello/ Greetings my name is Skye.

Bath'pa: An appeal to some supernatural power to inflict evil on someone or some group; damns; Profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger.