A.N. in case it is not obvious this is a flashback chapter

I dare you to do better

Jamie, a bright-eyed and curious, five-year-old sits cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by a jumble of circuits, wires, and a battered old PADD. She's totally engrossed, tiny hands deftly maneuvering tools as she dissects the ancient device.

"Should you have that?"

If their mother did not want her to find her dad's old PADD then she really should have hid it better.

Sam snatches the PADD away, "What on - Jamie how did you make it do this?"

Jamie shrugged her shoulders, "pressed a lot of buttons, figured out how it worked."

"This is remarkable, Jamie. We've been learning about coding in school. But I've not seen anything this complex. I don't even know how to do this and I'm twelve."

"And I'll be taking that," their mother firmly said, holding out an expectant hand, "this isn't a toy, sweetheart. How about we read one of your storybooks together instead?"

"Only if you use the voices - please - they get boring otherwise."

"I'll use the voices if you promise to stop going through my things."

"Yes, mummy I promise."

The warehouse is dark, the only light coming from a flickering neon sign outside a cracked window. The air is heavy with the scent of rust and decay. Shadows danced eerily on the walls, cast by the neon light. The silence is broken only by the soft hum of a makeshift computer setup in the far corner.

Lines of code scroll rapidly. The words "ACCESS GRANTED" flash on the screen.

A small figure, Jamie is hunched over the keyboard. Despite being only ten years old, Jamie's eyes are sharp and focused. A mop of unruly blonde hair falls into her eyes, but she doesn't bother to push it away. Her fingers fly across the keys with practiced precision.

"Come on, come on… just a few more tokens."

A progress bar on the screen slowly fills up. Jamie glances nervously at the door.

A group of armed men in uniform, led by KODOS, approach the warehouse. Kodos is tall, and imposing, with a cruel smile that doesn't reach his eyes. He motions for his men to fan out and surround the building.

The computer beeps. The screen displays "TRANSFER COMPLETE." Jamie grins and quickly starts dismantling the setup, shoving components into a worn backpack.

"Yes! Got it!"

Jamie slings the backpack over one shoulder and heads toward a hidden exit at the back of the warehouse. They stop abruptly, hearing footsteps approaching the main entrance. Through the cracked window, Jamie sees Kodos and his men fanning out, their flashlights cutting through the darkness.

"No, no, no... not now!"

Jamie bolts towards the back door, but it bursts open, revealing two of Kodos' men. Jamie skids to a stop, eyes wide with fear. "Don't let the kid escape!"

Jamie's mind races. She darts to the side, grabbing an old metal pipe from the floor. One of the men lunges, and Jamie swings the pipe, connecting with his knee. The man collapses with a grunt.

"Sorry!"

Jamie makes a break for a nearby staircase, leading to the roof. The second man gives chase.

The office is spacious, adorned with models of starships and commendations. The large window overlooks the Academy grounds. Pike in his crisp Starfleet uniform, sits behind his desk, his expression a mix of stern disapproval and underlying concern.

Seventeen-year-old Jamie T. Kirk stands in front of the desk. Her rebellious demeanor is tempered by a flicker of apprehension. She shifts his weight from one foot to the other, trying to appear nonchalant but failing under Pike's intense gaze.

"Jamie, this is the third time in six months!" Pike's irritation is not missed by Jamie.

"I was just testing the system's security. It's not like I was doing anything malicious."

"That's not the point Jamie, you're not even meant to be testing the systems. You're not a member of Starfleet! You breached Starfleet's security protocols. Again. What if this had been a real threat? How are we supposed to trust our own systems if a seventeen-year-old can waltz right through them?"

"Five."

"Excuse me?"

"The coding is ... outdated. I could have done it at the age of five."

Pike rubs his hands against his forehead, "I'm going to pretend I did not hear that!"

Jamie's bravado falters. She looks down, hands fidgeting.

Pike's look softens, "Look, Jamie. You're talented, I know that firsthand, however, you've been in my office since you were rescued from Tarsus IV more times than I care to count. And you're record proves you've been in trouble with the law long before that. I can overlook Tarsus IV but the rest Jamie. I can't keep doing this, I promised I look out for you, but this is the last straw. You become an adult soon. You need to learn discipline. And I think I know how to put your skills to good use. I want you to join Starfleet."

"You want me to what?"

"You heard me. Starfleet isn't just about being the best. It's about trust, responsibility, and working as a team. Code for us but by god Jamie never hack another system again or I'll court-martial you myself."

"But—"

"No buts. You need to understand the gravity of your actions. This isn't a game. One day, the safety of an entire crew might depend on those systems you're so casually breaking into."

"I just wanted to help others like me. Sam said aid was needed -"

Pike's expression softens further, but he maintains his firm tone. "Of course he did, and you just had to step in. Jamie, you will help in time. But not like this. You have to follow the rules. If you see a problem, report it through the proper channels. You could have reported it to me. That's how we make real progress. Understood?"

"Understood, sir."

"Good. You're confined to quarters for the next week."

"Yes, sir."

"You're dismissed."

Jamie turns to leave, but Pike calls out to her one last time.

"Jamie!"

Jamie stops and looks back.

"Don't lose that spark. Just learn to control it. Did you know that your father was captain of a starship for twelve minutes? He saved eight hundred lives, including your mother's and their newborn daughter - you. I dare you to do better."

Jamie smiles faintly, "Where do I sign up?"