Star Trek One Shots

Toughen up

Alex Ranger has always been switched on. At 16 she joined the Star Fleet academy as no where else would take on a child prodigy. Alex specialised in engineering, mechanics in general, anthropology, mathematics, history, languages and sports. But with all stars she had her faults, her biggest? She couldn't read, she could read but she struggled greatly. At 12 she invented her best friend a chip and a ear piece, the chip was in her left first finger (she was a lefty) and she always wore the ear piece. All she had to do was tap any device and she could hear what she tapped took a long time but it worked.

Star Fleet were hurrying so much to get Alex on the Enterprise that if they had done a simple test (reading and writing) they would of been able to help her but they assumed because she was intelligent that she could in fact read and write. Others made fun of this, Alex did her best to ignore them but she was a softy at heart and took it personally. After another day of tormenting she flopped on her bed stifling the tears. Her PADD went off with a new training program, Alex was signed up to a part of Star Fleet that alerted her to new training program to further her experience. This one was for a training program at the Interceptor Star Base, she read on extremely curious. Character building and advanced combat training. It was run by some of the toughest trainers in star fleet history, one reached out to her pacifically in the hope of helping her. It was perfect it was going to be tough at first she knew that but it was what she needed. 2 months to wait then a two year program.

She was absentmindedly walking down the corridor when she bashed into a well muscled man, "Sorry I'm a clumsy oaf," she muttered helping to pick up his files, "No it's alright I walked into you. I'm Jim by the way," "Alex," someone else came through the corridor and shoulder clips Alex sending her face into the wall, "Hey watch where your going! Alex have you finished my report?" "No it's on my desk I'm still working on it," "Hey you do your own work! You alright Alex?" "Yeah I'm used to it," "You shouldn't be, hey you ensign apologise then your mopping the floors tonight!" Alex was surprised that he was standing up for her, "Why did you do that?" "I'm the ships Captain, I've been watching you for a while not sounding creepy or anything you just seem really nice. Wanna go for a drink?" "No ones ever asked me before. Thank you yes!"

Over the next few weeks the two of them formed a close bond but Jim never noticed Alex's odd behaviour around reading. One day on the bridge a fancy light bulb blew and the instructions to fix it were on paper, paper her worst nightmare. "Hey Alex can you read me the manual?" Jim asked it just being them two, "Uh sure," Alex tried to study the paper but she couldn't understand a word of it. After she appeared to have read it she put her head inside the space it was meant to go, "Woah what you doing?!" Jim cursed pulling her out, "Come on I literally skimmed it and it said no direct contact with the inside of the bulb," she looked like a deer caught in headlights. Jim picked up on this, "I know it's a stupid question you being off the charts genius and all but can you read?" "No I can't," "How have you managed so far?" She pulled out the ear piece to show him. She explained how it worked and he seemed very disgusted, "So your telling me that star fleet cut corners for there own benefit?" "Yep," "Right then after shift meet me in the rec room and I'll help you. An our a day and in no time you will be reading like a charm."

Alex was smiling shyly after all she couldn't not agree. After shift she pulled off her uniform in favour for comfortable black leggings and an over sized hoodie before leaving to meet Jim. She spotted him at one of the desks with a chunky book in hand. "Hey Alex, this is The Secret Garden it was my favourite when I was a child. An hour a day and you will be reading beautifully," Alex nodded happily and the two got to work. Jim had to help her almost every other word but with time she was steadily improving.

This continued for weeks and Alex steadily gaining improvement. By lesson 29 she was reading multiple sentences but still stumbling on words. Day by day the training program drew closer but still Alex kept it a secret. Till one fateful day, Alex was walking to Jim's quarters. He had given her his door code so she could walk freely in. They had grown close after the last few weeks. She heard odd sounds from his room, moans and groans. "Oh crap, I walked in on him and a one night stand!" She quietly cursed but heard giggling, "Jim why are you hanging out with that Alex?" "Because she's nice thats why. She's nice and has a wonderful personality," "I know but shes so dorky, she might be smart but she's a little stupid. She's very dumbfounded," "I have to admit you are right about that," "I know right but have you heard the rumours she can't read! I'm mean a nerd unable to read," "Thats true. But she is getting better day by day. Do you think I've been hanging around her because I like her? I've been doing so because I took pity on her stupid self." Alex refused to listen to anymore.