-AN-

Sorry for the delay! This time I've got two chapters for you all so hopefully that will make up for it! Thanks for all the encouraging reviews too they make my day

-Spock-

"So Spock, how'd you sleep? You look like an old worn out dog!"

I was in the academy dining hall consuming lunch between classes. Captain Pike had found me at the staff table and was now sitting directly across from me. He bit into the red apple he had brought with him and gave me a look of what I assumed to be expectancy.

"My sleep was satisfactory Captain." I did manage to slumber long enough to perform at peak efficiency. My altercation with Uhura's bond did not need to be mentioned.

Captain Pike began to masticate his apple slowly in an act of sarcasm. "I see… Well how're your classes going? Today is the last day of the semester so I assume that you had a lot of final paper grading to do yesterday."

"The cadets this year performed admirably. You are correct, I did spend the vast majority of my day yesterday grading final papers. They were all satisfactory."

"Only satisfactory? No exceptional students?" Captain Pike raised his eyebrows and put his apple down.

"No."

"Dammit Spock you are harsh. Well maybe this week off in between semesters will soften you up a bit." He leaned over the table and slapped my shoulder.

My eyes held the point of contact, "As I am not a vegetable or any other quickly decomposing matter I highly doubt that Captain."

The captain sighed deeply and held eye contact with me. "Ah, I knew you would Spock. Well take it easy, okay? Maybe go get a massage or something."

"I would find foreign touch to be most unpleasant Captain. Thankfully I will not be idle this week. Star Fleet command has assigned me the duty of reading through incoming cadet profiles and sorting them into the proper fields."

"Can't a computer just do that Spock?"

"Generally yes, but in this case no. Aside from sorting I will also be looking for cadets of exceptional skill to test out my Kobayashi Maru program."

The captain's head tilted to the side; an act of silent human inquiry.

"The Kobayashi Maru program is a simulator I am programming that will test a cadets merit under a no win situation."

"Oh that's right. You told me about that a while ago." He thrummed his fingers on the dining table apparently in thought. "Now why on earth would you want to make a program like that? Teaching people hopelessness before they even graduate?"

"Since the incident involving acting Captain George Kirk, Star Fleet has been searching for a way to determine if upcoming command cadets have his leadership qualities. Exposing them to a hopeless situation is a byproduct of this test, but a necessary one."

Captain Pike nodded "Well now that you say it like that I will have to agree. George Kirk was a fine man; I've even done a dissertation on him. That program sounds like it will be interesting. I know it's important to you and all, but please try to relax and god forbid maybe have some fun. I sure as hell don't get to. I have to go out to the shipyards in Idaho and debrief a group of new recruits before they get to the academy. Joy."

"I hope your journey is safe captain."

The captain smiled and mumbled something under his breath before replying to me. "Have a good break Mr. Spock"

"Likewise Captain."

The captain gave me a half smile and then exited the dining hall. He was a respectable man and possibly the only person that I could call a friend. During my time as a cadet I served under him as a junior science officer. For some reason the captain had grown rather fond of me and we now partook in a weekly lunch together. Many found our friendship odd due to the differences in our personalities. However the only thing I found peculiar was his insistence that I address him as Chris. As I was only a commander I found his request to be illogical.

"Hey are you going to eat that or can I clear your table?"

I withdrew from my train of thought and saw that a male cafeteria staff member had addressed me. The captain's incessant talk of fun and relaxation had sidetracked me. My plomeek soup had gone cold.

-Uhura-

When I woke up I was a mess. A surprisingly well rested mess, but a mess all the same. My communicator had awoken me and noisily informed me that I had 2 hours to prepare myself before boarding the Star Fleet provided shuttle craft to San Francisco. Thank god there was a recruitment center right by the college. Since I was short on credits, having a complimentary ride to the academy was a welcome idea. Sluggishly I got up and took a shower. My hair and face were disgusting after last night's melt down. After finishing up my morning routine I donned my red cadet uniform that I was given after being accepted into Star Fleet. I looked in the bathroom mirror and was extremely pleased with what I saw.

"Girl, you are looking fine!" I grinned broadly to myself.

My communicator beeped again signaling that it was nearly time for the shuttle craft to depart. Crap. I was going to have to run to the recruitment office to be able to make it on time. Having two large suitcases didn't help either. Oh well, the things I have to do to get a free ride I guess… I grabbed my bags and lugged them down the stairs. Before I ran out of the shop I thanked the Rigelian owner. He grunted and kindly opened the door for me as I left.

After a few agonizing minutes of running down a busy street with two enormous suitcases, I made it to the recruitment station. When I arrived the shuttle craft was still there thankfully. A few other recruits helped me store my bags and then returned onto the craft. Since I was late I had no option for seating. In the end I was seated between two very large men. I was slightly nervous being around so many strangers for the first time, but everyone seemed friendly.

"Why'd a pretty little thing like you enlist in Star Fleet?" The man on my left leaned in to ask me. He had a beard and was rather large.

"I could say the same to you." I snapped back at him. The shuttle craft went silent. I froze. Maybe that was bit too harsh to say to someone I just met.

Everyone on board the craft simultaneously burst into laughter.

"She got you Cupcake! " Someone in the front of the craft yelled.

The man on my left turned a bright red. "It was honestly meant as a compliment. I… I didn't mean to sound so…"

The guy next to him slapped him on the arm and leaned forward so that I could see him clearly.

"Believe what he's saying. This guy wouldn't hurt a fly. Can't talk worth a damn though." He had a slight southern accent and was quite handsome. However his face looked a sickly green and he was shaking a bit. "The name's Leonard. Leonard McCoy. I'm a doctor. Pleasure to meet you."

Leonard held out his hand to me and I shook it.

"I'm Uhura"

"Well Uhura do you mind telling us why you are here? It's not every day you see someone so eager to join that they're practically flying off the concrete just to make it to the craft on time."

I laughed and told them all a condensed version of my dreams of interstellar communication. It was shocking to see how easily I could tell a craft full of complete strangers my life story. Considering yesterday's events I shouldn't even be comfortable thinking about it, but here I was babbling away. The heavy emotions I felt yesterday were gone and it didn't feel like they were coming back. After I had finished explaining myself, everyone else began to talk about their experiences and why they decided to join Star Fleet. I really enjoyed hearing everyone's stories. The conversations I had on this 6 hour flight were more meaningful than any I had ever had with my father. This short flight brought me closer to my fellow cadets and to Star Fleet itself.

-Spock-

Following my lunch with Captain Pike, I immediately began sorting through my stacks of 257 new recruit forms. Since the Kobayashi Maru program was of my own design, I needed to make sure that my beta testers were perfect. This meant reading through every single recruits application form. I estimated that the task would take me a full 36 hours to accomplish, assuming that I skip my meals and eliminate the need to sleep. The process will be arduous. At the very least I was able to work in the comfort of my living quarters on campus.

7.1 hours into my sorting I came across a rather fascinating application form.

"Uhura, Nyota. Communications pathway. Graduate of the Institute for Advanced Mathematics. Fluent in 13 federation languages."

So she had accomplished her goals despite her adversity. I set her form down on top of a small stack of potential beta testers. My eyes lingered on the photo attached to her form. Her facial structure had changed considerably. It was more angular and defined than it had been since I had last seen her. The one feature that I was relieved had not changed were her eyes. They still pierced into me with an alien ferocity. For some reason, even though it was just a photo, I had to avert my gaze. This was ridiculous. I turned the form over so that the photo was no longer visible. My hand lingered on her application. Was it favoritism to put her into my potential beta tester pile? Quickly the idea was dismissed from my head.

I was justifying my own actions to myself. How illogical. Cadet Uhura was overqualified. She possessed the knowledge and skills of a 2nd year cadet in her field. She was an ideal candidate for the Kobayashi Maru program. Additionally she had programming knowledge. She could assist me with program modifications and debugging. I sat up and ran a hand over my face. Why was I becoming somewhat eager thinking about programming with a woman that I hardly knew outside of my emotional observations? I glanced at the clock at my desk. It read 4:16 am. Perhaps I did need to get some sleep.

-Uhura-

Making a pit stop in Idaho to pick up other new recruits was understandable. Having to spend the night in Idaho due to a shuttle craft malfunction was unfortunate, but understandable as well. The bar fight that ensued upon my arrival at the dive the other recruits were at even made sense. However Captain Pike's insistence that we delay our arrival to the academy by 2 hours just to give that chauvinist pig that started last night's brawl some time was beyond me.

"Alright Captain Pike has already debriefed us, why on god's green earth are we still in this tin can?" McCoy was nearly hyperventilating as he sputtered this to anyone who was listening. Clearly he did not want to be on this shuttlecraft anymore.

"He's waiting on that Kirk kid from the dive last night!" Someone from the front of the craft informed him.

"Good god I didn't even go to the bar with you guys." He unfastened himself from his seat and headed straight to the bathroom. "I can't take another minute on this flying death trap. Six hours is all I can handle. If you need me I will be locked in the bathroom."

We all laughed and assumed he was joking, but after 45 minutes he still hadn't come out. Finally after another grueling hour on the craft the guy finally showed up.

Kirk shouted "At ease gentleman!" as he boarded.

If I could roll my eyes any harder I would. He sat down a ways from me next to Leonard's empty seat.

"Never did get that name." Kirk directed this question at me.

I shook my head and smiled sarcastically. One of the air crew had managed to pry McCoy out from the bathroom. He argued with her in a mildly psychotic manner before reluctantly returning to his seat next to Kirk.

The comm came on and Captain Pike's voice echoed throughout the craft, "This is Captain Pike. We've been cleared for takeoff."

Finally, after a minor detour we were back on our way to the academy.