Enjoy!

"Hey!" Jim burst into his academy room, expecting to find Spock and McCoy already there.

They weren't.

"Oh." he walked further and set his bags down. he sat down at the only desk left in the room, it was Spock's.

he smiled. two years ago he'd come into this room and it'd had three desks, different curtains and a different carpet. and the window had been replaced. Twice.

He sent a message to Bones asking where he was, which was quickly replied to with 'still at home, not coming until tomorrow. Spock won't be back until late tonight.'.

So that was that.

Kirk wandered around the room. it had been awhile since he'd been back here for very long. he flopped down on his bed and looked up at the ceiling and noticed something he hadn't seen before. something poking through where two pieces of the ceiling met.

he sat up. He stood on his bed and looked closer, it looked like a sheet of paper. Kirk tried to pull it out, and managed to without ripping it.

it was a letter.

he sat down and read it.

Hey.

so, my name is Lucas K. Alairen. I stayed in this room when I attended the academy.

I shared the room with two other boys, Christopher Jones and Martin Nathaniel Mitchells. (we called him M&M. It annoys him so much!). We're as different as can be, really. But I've been shoved together with these two other guys in what is honestly, not that big of a space for three people. So any differences we have, we've pretty much forgotten they exist most of the time.

these people, they've become some of my closest friends. I know a lot people don't remain close to their roommates (if they ever were) but I intend to. I can't imagine not having them around now. Christopher bringing reality to everything M&M and I do, except when he's the one ignoring it. Martin with his happy-go-lucky attitude and amazing ability to write a report in one night, finish it on the way to class and still get good grade.

as for me, I came here all set to study and work and graduate top of my class and then work my way up through the ranks to captain and eventually admiral. Instead, I ending up being a regular student here, I studied, but I had friends. and fun. I became a bit of a joker, light on my feet and always moving, trying to get a laugh out of everyone. it made happy.

I spent sophomore training in New Berlin, and while it was fun, and a good experience, one I hope you'll have had by the point you find this, you learn more of what you want do with your life. Christopher entered the academy as a command track student. he came back from training and announced he wanted to be an engineer. So he's graduating with an engineering degree.

I could tell you about the academics here, how much you can learn if you just reach out. and you could, but I'd suggest finding some good friends, reading captain's logs. hanging around those places on campus and at headquarters where you aren't really supposed to be, but it doesn't say anywhere you're not allowed. that's where and how I learned the most.

I'm running out of space. so I wish you best of luck, perhaps if fate deems it, we'll meet someday.

Lucas Kurt Alairen.

Kirk folded the letter and put it aside. he had never thought about it. How someone before them had had this room, and gone about their lives here in a similar way to how he and Bones and Spock did.

He grabbed his PADD and typed in 'Lucas Kurt Alairen'

Lieutenant Commander, first served on the starship Washington. currently stationed at-Starfleet central headquarters in San Francisco!

Kirk typed scrolled through all the information, trying to figure out exactly where he was on Earth. He managed to find out what building he was in.

He grabbed the letter, jumped up and walked out the door.

"Commander?"

"Yes, Ensign?" said Lieutenant Commander Alairen, looking up from his work.

"There's someone here to speak with you." he said. "Cadet James T. Kirk."

"I don't know him. Weird, a cadet?"

"Yes, sir." Alairen smiled.

"You know what? let him in, what the heck." the Ensign nodded and a moment later a young man walked in.

"Sir! James Tiberius Kirk, sir."

"At ease. What can I do for you?" he asked. James gave him a piece of paper.

"Sir, did you write this?" Kirk asked. he took it and glanced it over.

"My g-this is twenty-three years old! I remember writing this. Amazing!" Lucas gestured to the seat across from him "Sit. I want to talk to you. I always wondered if this might happen."

"I guess it did, sir."

"I'd say call me Lucas, but you won't." Jim grinned.

"Yes I could, Lucas."

"Good. Now, tell me, what year are you in?"

"Entering junior."

"Command track?"

"Yes!" he said with a smile "I'm going to be the Captain of a starship someday."

"Good luck with that, I'm still working on it." Lucas replied. "But if you want it badly enough, you'll get it. You do need to put a lot of work into it, bother before and after."

"I know sir. Lucas." he shrugged. "force of habit. But, my father was a captain, he recently retired. Si I do have a vague idea what it'll take." Alairen nodded.

"That's good. And what about you're roommates? I assume you have two, like I did.

"Yep. Bones-well, Leonard-McCoy and Spock. Spock-"

"- is Vulcan. I recognize the style of his name."

"Half-Vulcan. His mother is human."

"Interesting. Tell me more."

"I actually, Um. I was hoping you'd tell me what happened to your roommates, and yourself?" Lucas nodded.

"Sure. I will."

"Lucas K Alairen opened up the file.

'Cadet James T. Kirk. Son of Captain George Kirk (retired) and Winona Kirk.' it began. Lucas kept reading.

His short conversation had shown the boy intelligent, ambitious, and charismatic. His file mirrored that, but also showed that he'd been in trouble too. Trouble he'd always managed to find a way out of, along with always the same two other cadets. McCoy and Spock. there were no notes, nothing to show it or officially say it. But it was clear there was a fierce loyalty between the three. more than he had ever had with his academy friends.

He still talked to M&M, all that time. Christopher though, he had died two years ago in a firefight with Klingons. He hoped nothing ever separated these three like that. they had the potential to be together for along time.

And he honestly hoped they would be.

Merry Christmas Everyone! I hope the holiday season is bringing you all a bit of cheer!