Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek or any of its characters.
Jonesie Kartrine was a great medic, and an even greater roommate. She always kept her side of the room clean, she was an amazing cook, and she focused too much on her studies to have any boys over. However, that did not mean that she didn't have any faults. Ellara figured this out the day she met the Bolian girl. Jonesie was very academically focused, that was true. So much so that she detested any interruption whatsoever when she was studying. Which was always. When Ellara first walked into her dorm, she received a sharp "shhh!" from Jonesie, and a glare that would have stopped any Klingon in their tracks.
Ellara had spent many hours studying in silence beside her blue friend. She'd even learned how to study better, and the two thrived in their academics. Jonesie would soon be graduating, not as the best medic, but close. Ellara, however, was without a doubt the best counsellor in her class. She just seemed to have a way of helping out others, and understanding their situations.
One situation she empathized well enough was that of her friend Rick Legers. Rick… he was a little bit paranoid. Ellara wasn't sure if that was because he shared a dorm with a man with muscles the size of a bull, and Rick was about the size of a string bean, or if it was because his second cousin, twice removed, was a mass murderer and hadn't been caught yet. On second thought, that was probably why. Either way, every time Ellara saw Rick looking over his shoulder, or chewing on his nails(which was always), she would reassure him that he was alright, nothing was going to happen, and there were security guards everywhere that could intervene should the need arise. Which it wouldn't.
Other then that, though, Rick was a genuinely great guy. He sincerely cared for his friends, and was a phenomenal pilot.
Ellara had some of the best friends she could think of, without a doubt. Jonesie helped her focus on her academia, and Rick allowed her to practice what she was learning in a more everyday setting, while also staying social. She felt as though she was thriving at Starfleet, and Ellara was beginning to move on from her tragedy.
However, she was having some trouble with her other peers. Everyday, she received stares as she walked down the hall, and she received some sort of comment about the marks on her skin on a daily basis. Ellara had tried to communicate with the other members of her species at the school, but they isolated themselves in fear. It was difficult, but she made it through.
Ellara was four years into her education, and would soon be getting her starship assignment. Pressure was being placed on all the students in her grade to get the best marks possible, and the weak were being weeded out. Students could be seen crying, ingesting ridiculous amounts of energy drinks, and sporting bloodshot eyes as they pored over their textbooks. Ellara was not one of those students, though she did feel the increasing pressure being placed upon her. The Rendorian was staying up later and later, and waking up much earlier then before. However, her grades were not dropping, and it seemed as though three years of experience at this, and a hardworking personality were paying off.
At the moment, Ellara was swiping through the pages of a textbook on her PADD, looking for a specific spot. Upon finding it, she let out a small cheer, as she felt some of her stress lighten, and answered the question.
Becoming alert at the sound of the door opening, Ellara looked up and saw Jonesie enter the room, holding a stack of books. "So," the light blue girl began, "I managed to find all of the books I needed, and I even got some for you."
Ellara jumped up, and relieved her of the two volumes she was waving around. She quickly threw an arm around her roommate, and uttered a quick "Thank you."
Jonesie waved her off as she began to set up the things she needed at her own desk. "No problem. You have a lot more riding on this job than I do, so I thought I'd help you out. I've got ya." Jonesie looked at Ellara, and let out a soft smile. "Now, shh, I need to study."
And so, without further ado, the two girls began studying as hard as possible.
By nightfall, Ellara had gone through the books Jonesie had brought her, and was working through some practice exams she found on her PADD. The older girl had gone down to the library to quiz with another med student, seeing as Ellara would not be much help in that area.
Checking the time, Ellara let out sound of surprise, before beginning to pack up her supplies. She had passed the time she usually set aside to eat, so she would be eating later then usual.
As she finished putting away her supplies, Jonesie returned to their room, and began talking about what had happened at the library. Ellara listened with vague interest, 'hmm'ing and 'mhmm'ing at the appropriate times. Her curiosity was peaked, however, when Jonesie mentioned the Kobayashi Maru. Ellara was aware of what it was; the Kobayashi Maru was a test that all aspiring Captains had to take, which tested them on their ability to function under incredible stress and the knowledge of impending death.
"Apparently that guy that Rick mentioned had nice eyes, James Kirk or whatever, passed the Kobayashi Maru. No one knows how he did it, but apparently the teachers are all furious." Jonesie supplied.
Ellara nodded distractedly, thinking about the event. She had seen the man in question on campus a few times before, and had even been hit on by him. However, a harsh glare had sent him moving on to the next girl. She had known he wasn't as academically focused, but this just seemed extreme. To cheat on the most infamous test of all, and risk expulsion? Ellara was not sure why anyone would do it.
Shaking her head, Ellara walked over to the replicator and made herself and Jonesie something to eat, before the two dived into a passionate discussion of their courses, and the upcoming exams.
The next morning, Ellara was woken by an alarm on her PADD, and checked it to see that there was a school-wide notification: everyone was to go to the main auditorium at 1200 hours sharp. Seeing that it was only nine-thirty, Ellara got up and began getting herself ready for the day.
After a quick shower, she threw on her uniform and shook Jonesie awake. She wasn't sure how the Bolian was still asleep with all of the noise she had been making, but she shrugged it off. Jonesie sat up, and gratefully accepted the caffeine that Ellara offered her. "You're a saint, you know that?" Jonesie said, closing her eyes at the warmth that spread through her body.
Ellara shook her head, instead taking a sip of her tea instead. She had never really seen the appeal of coffee, and appreciate tea much more. Remembering why she had woken Jonesie up, Ellara turned back to her roommate. "Check your PADD." she prompted.
"Hmm." Jonesie stated simply.
"Hmm? What do you mean?" Ellara inquired.
Jonesie rolled her eyes, before answering. "I meant hmm as in I think I know what this is about."
Ellara interrupted Jonesie. "What is it?"
Her roommate glared, before saying, "I was getting to that."
Ellara had the decency to look sheepish. "I think it might be about the Kobayashi Maru, and how that Kirk guy beat it." Jonesie said, taking another sip of her coffee.
Nodding her head, the brunette mirrored Jonesie, and took a sip of her tea. "Makes sense. You cheat on something as big as that, you're bound to be interrogated."
Glancing at the time. Ellara widened her eyes, and nudged her friend. "It's eleven-thirty. Get dressed, we have to go soon."
Jonesie quickly jumped up, although not after some protest, and began to get dressed. "I still hate these uniforms. Even after five years." she muttered, pulling on the ridiculously short blue dress.
Ellara chuckled, and the two began to make their way to the auditorium. They got seated just as the assembly began, and it turned out that it was, in fact, a hearing for one James Tiberius Kirk.
As it was, he faced possible expulsion for activating a subroutine in the Kobayashi Maru, and, in the words of the prestigious Professor Spock, "he cheated."
"Let me ask you something, I think we all know the answer to," Kirk began, and Ellara had to restrain herself from slapping her palm to her face. "The test itself is a cheat, isn't it? You programmed it to be unwinnable."
Professor Spock wasn't even phased as he answered, "Your argument precludes the possibility of a no-win scenario."
The hearing was fascinating, Ellara thought, as the logic of the Professor was combatted by the sarcastic wit of the Cadet. She had no doubts in her mind that Kirk would be put in his place, and that the Academy would receive the justice it so rightfully sought. But during the procedure, she wondered if Kirk would manage to crack the cool and critical facade of Professor Spock.
Ellara would never find out. As soon as things began to get riled up, they were interrupted by the abrupt arrival of a redshirt running towards the President of the Academy. The two spoke quietly, before the President turned to the entire student body. "We've received a distress call from Vulcan."
The entire hall erupted into panicked murmurs, but the President continued on. "With our primary fleet engaged in the Laurentian system, I hereby order all cadets to report to Hangar One immediately. Dismissed."
At this, Ellara and her peers stood and began making their way to the shuttle hangar. She glanced at Jonesie as the Bolian slipped her hand into Ellara's, eyes wide. Ellara attempted to reassure her by squeezing her hand, and the two quickly arrived at their destination.
She wasn't sure if Rick was lucky or not to have been away on a field trip, but looking back on it, he was definitely the luckiest of the three friends.
Hey guys! fangirl0012345 here(it hurt not capitalizing the first letter), and this was chapter one of Tears of an Angel! I hope you enjoyed it, and thank you to kiera666 for the review. This chapter was a bit shorter, but I feel semi-confident leaving it off here, haha. On my profile page, I have a sort of detailed description of Ellara and her species(which I made up, unless for some reason I overlooked a specific humanoid race on the Star Trek wiki). If anyone wants, I could write up a more detailed description and maybe slip it onto the end of the prologue as an AN, but I don't see the point of that... at the moment, haha. If anyone is interested in being a beta reader for the story, please PM me, as I am looking for one but have not been successful in my attempts so far.
Updated July 27th, 2016.