Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek.
March 31st, 2252 (Jim's POV)
It was past midnight, and I was sitting alone at the bar in The Rusty Nail. Julia couldn't make it because I'd sat on her ankle and made something flair up. Taking a gulp of beer, I was too drunk to know what kind at this point, I tried to drown out my guilt.
But it wasn't working very well. That's what I get for being her brother, I worry too much about her, and then I feel guilty as hell whenever she gets hurt. But, in this case, my guilt was warranted. I may have broken her ankle for all I know.
"Haven't you had enough yet?" The bartender asked, and I glanced up at him. I'd been here for several hours, and drained several bottles of something alcoholic. And I still felt guilty. No, I hadn't had enough yet.
"I haven't passed out yet," I said, grabbing several crumpled dollar bills out of my pocket and slapping them on the counter. "This should cover the cost of what I've had so far. And what I'll have in the future."
"You could just start a tab," He grumbled. I gave him a glare, and he sighed, took my money, and placed another bottle by me. I looked at it, and it stared back at me. Somehow, I knew it was mocking me.
"Maybe I have had too much to drink," I said to myself, looking away from the bottle. When inanimate objects started having feelings and staring a me - I knew I had to stop drinking. Maybe I'd concentrate on picking up girls instead…
"Bartender," a feminine voice said, and my head turned lazily to the side. There, dressed in a red cadet uniform dress, was a gorgeous young woman. She had dark skin, and black hair - and a pair of lovely brown eyes. "I'd like two brandy's, a glass of Cardassian Ale -"
"That's a lot for just one girl," I said, going over to sit by her. I left my previous drinking materials by my lonely seat. The girl glanced at me, and then turned back to the bartender.
"And one shot, please."
"Make it two shots," I said, raising my hand. "Her drinks are on me." I reached for my pocket to dig out some more cash, but she shook her head, and beat me to it.
"Only one shot," She said, sending me a little glare. "And her drinks on her, thanks."
"Do you ever let men pay for your drinks?" I asked, resting one arm on the counter, and then my head on my hand.
"Only when I know them," She said. I smiled, and leaned in a little closer.
"Name's Jim Kirk," I said, hoping that she'd let me buy her a drink now. She completely ignored me. "Come on - aren't you going to tell me your name?"
"Uhura," She said quietly. I blinked, and waited for her to say more. When she didn't I knew I was going to have to work at this girl. She wasn't just going to let anybody get her attention - she was going to make them work for it.
Well, two could play at that game. She'd try to get me to buzz off, and I'd try and get her in my bed.
"What, you don't have last names where you come from, Uhura?" I asked, bringing both hands up now. She looked back at me with an amused expression.
"Uhura is my last name," she said. The bartender returned, and placed her drinks by her. She gave him a smile and thanked him.
"Well, do you not have first names where you come from?" I asked, letting my arms drop to my sides. "Because I can come up with a first name for you."
"I'd rather you not," She said, downing a shot. "And by the way - I'm from Earth."
"Does your family not believe in first names?" I asked. If I pushed her enough, I knew I'd get her first name, if nothing else. She sighed and shook her head.
"Look, I'm a Star Fleet cadet," She said, and I nodded. That much was obvious. "And I came here to have some drinks and relax. Not to be flirted with by some country hick who has cheesy pick up lines."
"Hey, my pick up lines have reeled in more girls than you know," I said, and she shook her head again. "And, by the way, I'm a lot smarter than I look."
"Oh really," She said, folding her arms. "I bet you don't know what xenolinguistics is."
"You speak different languages," I said, shrugging. "Alien languages, probably vulcan, romulan, klingon, cardassian - the list could go on and on," Her eyes widened at my comment, and I gave her a dashing smile. "Basically, it means you have a great tongue."
She finally smiled, and she opened her mouth to give me her name - when a large cadet came up and put a hand on her shoulder. His eyes were on me, though. And from the look in his eyes, I knew he didn't like me. Or the fact that I was talking to Uhura.
"This guy bothering you?" He asked, glaring at me. Uhura shrugged his hand off.
"It's nothing I can't handle," she said. I smiled, and scooched one chair closer to her.
"Was that an invitation?" I asked seductively. She frowned and opened her mouth when the other cadet pushed me off my stool.
"Buzz off, farm boy," He said, stepping in front of Uhura. "She doesn't want you looking down her dress."
"If she doesn't want me over there, she can tell me herself," I said, taking a step forward. Uhura came between us before either of us could throw a punch.
"Hey - calm down." She said, putting a hand on both of us. Like that was going to stop us - having a lady touch drunk, adrenaline filled guys did nothing but make us more uptight. I wanted to kiss her, and I had the feeling this guy wanted to as well.
"You think you can take me?" He asked, pushing Uhura out of the way. I puffed up my chest and stepped forward.
"If you think you can handle me. Cupcake." I said back, smirking as I said the last part. He stiffened at that nickname, and before I knew it - we were in a brawl.
Cupcake punched me square in the nose, sending me flying back into a table. But I retaliated by kicking him in the gut, and then backhanding his neck.
I would've had the upper hand and beat him to a pulp if it hadn't been for his friends. They surrounded me, and took turns using me as a punching bag. My mind blurred as punch after punch hit me - but it all stopped when someone whistled loudly.
"Everybody outside! NOW!" A loud authoritative voice shouted. I winced at the noise, my head now pounding a million miles an hour. Blinking back the stars in my vision, I slowly sat up. I was laying flat on a table, with blood dribbling down my nose.
"You can whistle really loud," I said, feeling myself swaying from side to side. The man who came forward, tall and commanding, gave me a pitying look. I hated pity.
"You all right, son?" He asked, offering me a hand up. I pushed it away and helped myself up, grabbing onto his shoulder to support myself. I refused to take pity from anybody.
"First off, I'm not your son," I said, letting him lead me towards a little table set for two. "Secondly - who the hell are you?"
The man laughed softly as he helped me into my seat. I frowned at him, wondering what he found so funny.
"You're your father's son," He said, and I perked up, despite myself. He knew my father? I gave him a skeptical look.
"How did you know my father?" I asked, leaning back in my seat. He smiled a little and handed me some napkins. I accepted them, mopping the bulk of the blood off my face before using the last napkin to plug up my nose. I wasn't in the mood for pinching it.
"He and I were friends," The man said. I stared at him. I didn't know who this guy was - I hadn't even known my father.
"In case you forgot - my dad died when I was born," I said, folding my arms. "And I don't think he mentioned you before he was blown up."
"The name's Christopher Pike," Pike said, holding a hand out. "And I already know who you are, James T. Kirk."
"It's Jim," I said, shaking his hand. "And what do you know about me?"
"Well, I know that you stand up for what you believe in," He said, and I shrugged. A lot of people did that. "And I know you don't believe in no-win scenarios, that you have a history of past offenses - and that your aptitude test scores are off the charts."
"So?" I asked. This guy had done his research, I'd give him that.
"So what are you doing in a town like this," Pike asked, leaning forward. "You lost your dad - I get it. But you don't have to play the troubled boy. You can get out of this rut."
"I guess you'll ask me to join Star Fleet," I said, rolling my eyes. It figured that was why he stopped the fight. The Federation was probably running out of officers, and he'd been sent to recruit.
"Star Fleet needs more people like you," Pike said. I smirked and shook my head.
"No, it doesn't. It got my dad, and it's got my sister - it doesn't need me too." I said, looking at the nearest clock. It was getting late - past 1 o'clock now.
"You said it yourself," Pike said, leaning forward and placing a salt shaker in my hand. "Your father's dead. And, no offense, but your sister doesn't have the qualities of a captain."
"What, and I do?" I asked, meeting his eyes. "Why would I want to join the Federation - when it's what killed my dad?"
"To protect your sister?" Pike said, shrugging. "And to prove that you're not afraid -"
"Who said I was afraid?" I asked defensively. He shrugged again, and got up.
"Your father graduated in 4 years. I dare you to do better," Pike said, heading for the door. I watched him go, his words sinking in. "The next shuttle leaves at 0800 tomorrow morning."
"Whatever," I said, waving him off. Like I was going to need that information. I looked back at the salt shaker he gave me, thinking about what he'd said.
"I dare you to do better."
"I bet I could do it in three…" I said to myself, glancing back up at the clock. Pocketing the salt shaker, I got up out of my seat and wandered out of the bar. If I was going to make that shuttle on time tomorrow - I had better get home and sleep now.
After all, I had to prove Pike wrong. I wasn't afraid - and I definitely could graduate Star Fleet in three years.
I finally got to the movie plot line - woo hoo! Things will go a little more quickly from this point on. (I'll only be going day by day or week by week until Julia and Spock's wedding. Then I'll flash through their years to get to the movie plot line. But don't worry, I'll have lots of flashbacks so you know what went on while Jim was there).