2245
Five years had passed since Arianne had arrived at the Achievement Academy of Hope in Des Moines.
In those five years, she had learned and developed academic and athletic skills that would someday allow her to become a great success based on the Academy's strong morals, which learning was based on.
After spending nearly a year on Earth with Sarek, presiding over the Academy and being a great mentor to all the students, especially Arianne, whom she had developed a mother-daughter-like bond with, Amanda had returned to Vulcan with her husband and had turned the Academy over to someone else.
When Ambassador Sarek and Amanda had departed, they had both told Arianne that, because of their bond, she would always be welcome to come and spend time on Vulcan, as they would never forget her and how she helped them to not only feel welcome on Earth, but she did small tasks to make their lives easier.
In turn, Arianne had promised to visit Vulcan once she had finished her basic educational studies.
The new Dean was an intellectually strong, yet very mysterious woman who called herself Madame Guinan.
Pleased with the way Amanda had run things, Madame Guinan had continued to run the school with both patience and compassion, as she worked to help all children and youth who were in need of it.
Arianne, meanwhile, had just celebrated her 14th birthday by receiving a surprise call from her father, who was promoting Starfleet overseas, and she was now sitting in a classroom, struggling with math.
There had been rumor that she might graduate early from the Academy, yet, because of her issues with anything more than basic math, they remained rumors. In other areas, Arianne knew that her scores were close to being off the charts, but the difficulties were enough to hold her back.
The constant struggle was the reason why, when other pupils were off enjoying their free weekend time, Arianne now sat in a classroom, trying to figure out how just to pass.
"Miss Pike?" Madame Guinan suddenly said, as the door slid open and she walked sedately into the nearly-empty classroom. "I believe I have located a tutor to help you with your mathematical difficulties."
Sighing, Arianne turned in her desk and was shocked to see a young boy, with blonde hair, blue eyes, and dressed in roughed-up street clothes, standing next to Madame Guinan. The boy looked slightly annoyed.
"Mr. Kirk, this is Miss Pike," Madame Guinan calmly explained, as she gazed down at the young boy. "Mr. Kirk, this will be the student you will be helping with complex math for the remainder of the year."
The boy glared at Arianne, "My name is James Tiberius Kirk," he stated. "What's yours?"
"A.C. Pike," Arianne replied in a cool tone. "How old are you? You look like you're maybe 10."
Letting out a guffaw, Jim squinted at her, "A.C.?" he asked, annoyed. "Is that short for Air Conditioner?"
"James, remember that we discussed the importance of kindness," Madame Guinan calmly reprimanded the boy. "You need this girl just as much as she needs you right now. You are to help each other out."
Turning a deep shade of red, as he was obviously embarrassed by Madame Guinan's words, Jim lowered his head and mumbled a quiet apology. Arianne glared at the boy, she was not impressed.
"Now that you two are acquainted, I suggest you get to work on helping each other achieve what is needed to move forward in your lives," Madame Guinan gently ordered. "Time is precious and of the essence."
Without another word, Madame Guinan left the classroom. James and Arianne stared at one another.
"Wait, wasn't your dad George Kirk, the guy who was killed when the Kelvin was attacked?" Arianne asked, as she began removing her workbooks from her desk.
Suddenly, James gave Arianne an icy glare, "Let's not talk about that," he hissed angrily.
"What exactly am I supposed to help you with if you won't tell me everything about yourself?" Arianne yelled, annoyed that this kid was getting the better of her.
James sighed, "After my father died and I grew up a little, I wasn't treated so nice and after I kinda drove a car over a cliff, I was given a choice," he explained. "Either come here or go to a youth detention camp."
Arianne replied by setting PADD's, which contained her most recent failed math assignments and tests, on the desk near where James stood. Frowning, James picked up the PADD's and quickly read through them.
"Wow, you are seriously bad at math," James commented, as he returned the PADD's to the desktop and gave Arianne a look of disbelief. "How have you not flunked out of the Academy with these scores?"
Sitting at her desk, Arianne looked down, embarrassed, "My other marks have been good enough so that I can stay in school," she explained. "If I fail this year's math, though, I'll have to leave school."
"Now I see why Madame Guinan sent me to be your tutor," James said, a small grin appearing on his face. "It's no secret that even though I'm new here, I have the best mathematics skills of everyone on campus."
Biting her lip, Arianne sneered, "If you have the best math skills in the entire school, why don't you help me figure out my math and help me pass the year?" she challenged, disgusted by his cocky attitude.
"Get your books out of your desk and we'll get started," Jim said, as he took a seat in the desk beside Arianne. "I'll help you pass the year and perhaps we can become friends in the process."
Nodding, even though she didn't feel like she needed friends to survive in life, Arianne nodded and pulled the PADD's containing her homework from her desk. She looked at James expectantly.
"Let's delve into this mess quickly, shall we?" James asked, as he looked at the first PADD on the pile.
The remainder of the year passed quickly and soon enough, the summer approached.
Since nobody but Madame Guinan cared enough to look out for them, as a lot of the other students pretended Arianne didn't exist because she was perceived as a weirdo, James and Arianne had developed a tight friendship that saw them through times of joy, sadness, mischief, and near arrests by civilian police.
Fortunately, her father had been on Vulcan at the time of her first near arrest, so the secret behind it would always remain between her and James. Madame Guinan did find out about the second near arrest, however.
However, instead of becoming angry at their mischief, Madame Guinan had allowed them time to shower the mud off of them, change clothes, and get medical treatment for the wounds they received while being beat up by gang teens they had sassed, which, unsurprisingly, had led to the fight.
After all that had been taken care of, Madame Guinan had taken the two to her office, sat them down, and calmly explained that had it not been for her finding them when she did, they could have most likely ended up with serious injuries or killed.
She had also told them that although they were both misguided youths, she could see a great deal of potential in both of them, which they could only grow to if focus and discipline was developed.
Although James had been forced into believing that he was useless and good for nothing, courtesy of adult family members, he nodded and silently promised to do better, if only for Arianne's sake.
Since that day, Arianne and James had quickly become known for their strong friendship and high academic performances, rather than plotting mischief, playing pranks, and getting into trouble with police.
Thanks to the help that James had provided, Arianne had managed to pass all the required math courses and, because she had completed all of the other required coursework, she was now at graduation day.
Thankfully, despite her being the daughter of Captain Pike, there was no pomp and circumstance connected to her graduation from this secondary Academy. Arianne HATED being fussed over by ANYONE.
While she would graduate from the school and be returned to her father, Arianne had no idea where James would go, as it was obvious that returning to his former abusive home, was not an option for him.
Now, after saying a heartfelt goodbye to James, who had locked himself in his dorm to brood, Arianne was now in Madame Guinan's office, awaiting the arrival of both Madame Guinan and her father.
There was a moment of silence and suddenly, the door slid open. Arianne rose and saluted as her father and Madam Guinan entered the room. While Madam Guinan sat at her desk, her father stood in front of her.
"Well, Miss Pike, it's been a wonderful experience getting to know you and watching you grow into someone with great potential," Guinan said, as she leaned forward in her chair and smiled at the girl. "Now, I believe that your father has some important news for you and a very special gift for this occasion."
Christopher smiled and, reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small box, "Arianne Christine Pike, by order of Starfleet, who has been kept updated on your progress by both Madame Guinan and your letters to me, I hereby am authorized to grant you a field promotion to full Ensign," he said, as he opened the small box to reveal a collar pip. "I offer this rank to you, with all rights and responsibilities attached."
Feeling overwhelmed, Arianne nodded, "I accept this rank, sir, with all rights and responsibilities attached," she replied, moving into the attention stance. "I will do my best to hold this rank with the upmost honor."
Continuing to smile, Chris nodded, "Well, Ensign Pike, it just so happens that along with this promotion, Starfleet sent me to give you an assignment," he said, quickly pinning the rank pip to her shirt collar."
Arianne's eyes widened, but she said nothing, so Christopher continued, "You are to travel to the Federation Embassy in France and after completing Starfleet approved Diplomatic courses, you will assist me in promoting Starfleet around the world and to our allies in space," he explained.
Realizing that she would probably never see James or Madame Guinan again and, secretly hoping that she would run across Ambassador Sarek and Amanda Grayson again. Arianne nodded.
"I accept this mission, sir," Arianne spoke, gazing straight into her father's eyes.
From behind her desk, Madame Guinan smiled, "Good luck on this new chapter in your life, Ensign," she said gently. "You'll come to make something great of yourself someday."
Arianne nodded, "When do I embark on this mission, sir?" she asked, feeling eager to begin.
"Go to your dormitory and after packing your personal belongings, I believe you will find a proper uniform in your closet," Christopher explained, grateful for Madame Guinan's help with the matter. "Once you are in the proper uniform, bring your personal belongings back here. From here, you will leave for Paris."
Arianne nodded and, getting a nod from her father, she hurried from the room to prepare for her journey.