Okay guys, here's the next chapter, and the beginning of the first real adventure. Now, I have a few questions concerning what you actually want to read. What scenes from the movie do you absolutely have to see here? This chapter is more introduction, and I have Kirk's third attempt at the Kobayashi Maru written, but it's rather short. If you want to see it, it could easily fit in as a flashback, but I won't add it unless it's actually wanted. After that, all I have is the immediate aftermath of Vulcan's destruction. So are there any scenes in between or afterwards that you MUST see, let me know, because I'm slighlty unsure of what to include. And, you know, I just love hearing from you guys.

The eighth time she saw Pavel Chekov, she wanted to stay with him.

She had known this day would come eventually. After all, the purpose of Starfleet Academy was to prepare for actual service in Starfleet. Such service did happen in space. She knew all this. Still, she was not prepared for this day to come so soon and unexpected.

"We have received a distress call from Vulcan." Admiral Barnett broke through what had started as an inquiry on Kirk's latest attempt at the Kobayashi Maru (an event Natalia was once again present for), and had turned into a verbal brawl between Kirk and Commander Spock. "With our primary fleet currently engaged in the Laurentian system, I hereby order all cadets to hanger one. Dismissed."

Natalia stood with the rest of her row, suddenly fearful. She caught Chekov's eyes as they turned, and followed him out, keeping her pace steady until they had gotten outside. She followed him closely, not wanting to get lost in the crowd, and also hoping with some flawed logic that if she kept him in sight, they would get the same assignment. He turned back, seeing her just a little behind him, and waited. He had grown since their first year, and was now quite a bit taller than her. Then again, she was had only just cleared five feet three inches.

"You don't look well." He said, cutting through what she had thought was her brave face and finding the growing seed of fear underneath.

"I'll be fine." She said, her voice shaking ever so slightly. Chekov caught it, though, and placed a gentle hand at her back, steering her through the crowd of people.

He leaned down, pushing her hair aside and whispered "We both will be fine." She nodded, trying to believe him.

They entered the hanger and found their group, standing at attention as the rest gathered. Natalia was focusing on her breathing, keeping it smooth and even. The names were read, and the third made her miss a breath.

"Chekov- USS Enterprise."

Three more names were read, then the sweetest sound she had ever heard.

"Flores- USS Enterprise."

She continued to focus on her breathing, though it became easier. They were dismissed, and almost instantly, Chekov had his hand at her back again.

"Aren't you a little bit excited?" He asked as the entered the shuttle. "We're going to be on the Enterprise!"

Natalia couldn't help but smile. The new flagship was sure to be the best, and she had heard rumors about the kind of weapons on board, weapons she could only hope to be able to control.

"I am excited." She admitted, her tiny smile greeted by his wide, happy one.

"This is what we left home for." He reminded her. "This is why we have been studying for years." She nodded, her smile not wavering. Still sensing her nerves, he slipped his hand into hers, and their fingers intertwined. She turned her gaze to the window, watching space fly by.

They arrived at the Enterprise quickly, and even Natalia joined in the general humming about the ship.

"It's beautiful." She breathed, her eyes wide. Chekov just nodded, leaning closer to the window.

They were ushered off the shuttle, given brief instructions regarding where to report, and were sent to change. Natalia's fear evaporated in a strange turn of events when she was told to report directly to the bridge.

"Shouldn't you be more nervous?" Chekov asked as they gathered their uniforms.

"I should be." She frowned, unable to explain the fear and the disappearance of it. "Maybe the fear wasn't about coming aboard, but that I wouldn't get the assignment I wanted."

"Or were you afraid of failing again?" He asked. She had told him about her fear of not being good enough, an irrational fear, as being the best was hardly within her reach.

"Maybe." She shook her head, clearing it. "Don't wait for me. I'll be up soon."

"Don't be stupid," he grumbled, watching her take of to change. "With the state she's in, she'll get lost."

True to character, her ignored her instructions and was leaning against the wall next to the turbolift when she was dressed. She was slightly startled by how much older he seemed in his Starfleet uniform, but she ignored it.

"I told you not to wait." She said, tugging at the skirt of her own uniform. She was in operations red, while he was in command gold.

"I never listen to you." He said with a shrug. She tried rolling her eyes, but couldn't. She was silently glad he hadn't listened. He watched her carefully, looking for any sign that she was going to go back to being a basket case. "Are you all right now?" He asked.

"Yes." She smiled. "Minor freak out, but I'm good now." She smiled easily, and he relaxed. She did seem fine now.

The turbolift opened, and the two exchanged a quick smile before stepping out. The bridge was already bustling, other officers taking their posts, and calling out greetings. Chekov immediately found the navigation station and sat down. Natalia hesitated. Her previous experience told her that the tactical station was located behind and right of the captain, but as she looked she recognized the station as that of the science officer. She looked around bewildered for a moment before she heard her name.

"Ensign Flores?" She turned and saw the helmsman looking up at her expectantly. She nodded, unable to find her voice. "Tactical is front and center now." He said, motioning to the large open station between himself and Chekov. "Starfleet decided that with this being the flagship they wanted to be sure nothing happened to it. The tactical station is located between the pilot and navigator so that should there be no tactical officer able to work, the two can override the system and take control without difficutly." He smiled, his dark eyes kind. "So really, you're giving me and the navigator a break."

"Thank you." The bands around his wrist marked him as a lieutenant, and so a rank above her. She took her seat, flashing Chekov a quick smile. She turned back to the helmsman to introduce herself, but then remembered that he already knew her name. She bit her lip for second before he laughed, holding out a hand.

"Hikaru Sulu." He dropped the title, a sure indication that he was still uncomfortable with his rank.

"Natalia." She said simply. She turned back to her station and pulled up the weapons logs, making sure everything was in perfect working order, then set everything on standby until they were about to drop out of warp. There was no need for guns blazing while traveling too fast to hit anything. She then pulled up the latest updates from engineering, reading through exactly what she had at her disposal and how strong the ship really was. The chatter continued until a commanding voice overtook it all.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the maiden voyage of our newest flagship deserves more pomp and circumstance than we can afford today." Captain Christopher Pike entered the room, addressing his bridge crew with command but not cruelty. "A proper christening will have to be our reward for a safe return. Carry on." Captain Pike was an impressive looking man. Natalia had seen him a few times around campus, but had never worked with him. At his command, she returned to her prep work, pleased to see that despite her worst fears, she had been learning the right stuff at the Academy. In fact, she felt at home.

She felt rather than saw the movement to her left, and looked up to meet familiar blue eyes. He spared her a bright smile, reaching over and brushing his hand against hers. She smiled at the gesture, running her index finger down his palm before he returned to his station. With Chekov at her side, anyplace could feel like home.