kalokagathia - a Star Trek Story [on hiatus]

Chapter 1 : A Fight And A Friendship

"she wasn't looking for a knight. she was looking for a sword."

Who'd have thought that a simple night out at a seedy bar in the middle of Iowa would change the course of someone's life so much? Well, it did for two people, Cassidy Melora Ryann and James Tiberius Kirk.

On her final night of her trip back to the academy, Cadet Ryann had skived off studying for her exams next semester to join her classmates at a downtown bar. Well, when they say downtown, they mean in the middle of nowhere. She twirled her curly blonde locks around her fingers, half listening to the conversation going on around her, half looking around in awe of the place.

Alien species she recognised and even some she didn't mingled around, colourful concoctions of who knows what held in their hands. Or tentacles. This combined with the musical throbbing that filled the air and the flashing colourful lights that seemed to sprout from nowhere; the scene was definitely awe inspiring.

"hey!" said a bright voice behind Cass, causing her to jump slightly as a slender fingered hand sat itself on her shoulder. Her frightened expression soon softened when she saw who it was. Her only friend, Cadet Nyota Uhura. The light that radiated from the place itself settled on Nyota's chocolate skin, making it shine. Her waist-length dark hair hung down her back, her usual harsh pony-tail replaced with a more relaxed half-up half-down style. She smiled brightly; sparkling white teeth standing out against her skin-tone, along with her crimson cadet uniform, the same that Cass wore now.

"oh hey," Cass replied, looking over her shoulder at her friend.

"Can I grab you something?" Cass thought about it for a second.

"why not." She replied after a moment, "Surprise me," Uhura grinned cheekily.

"You sure?" she said. Cass nodded and Uhura took the drinks order for the rest of their table, mainly filled with xeno linguistics students from the academy before sauntering off, her hair flipping and swinging beautifully behind her, the light bouncing off it as she squeezed between patrons to the bar that sat along one wall of the establishment.

The bar was made of some sort of metallic substance, not at all unusual, even in some back water place like this. Brighter lights illuminated this area of the night club, pale yellow mainstream strip lighting hung above Uhura's head as she picked up a menu with another flick of her sleek raven head.

"that's a lot of drinks for one woman," Cass could hear the voice from where she was sitting. Well let's just say she wasn't exactly enraptured by the current conversation. The masculine tone of the voice seemed to perfectly fit its owner. Cass could tell he'd already had a few drinks, probably the reason why he thought he had any chance with a cadet like Uhura. Uhura was ignoring him, well, until he bought her a drink.

"make that two," he said to the bartender, "and her shot's on me."

"her shot's on her," Uhura corrected pointedly before directing her attention to the blonde townie, "thanks but no thanks."

"don't you at least wanna know my name before you completely reject me?" he said, causing Cass's friend to laugh slightly.

"I'm fine without it." She said, again rather pointedly.

"you are fine without it." He said, and Cass watched as Uhura tried to hide a smile. The guy noticed.

"it's Jim, Jim Kirk." He said, looking over to Uhura for her reaction. She fought to hide a smile, her dark eyes twinkling mischievously. The blonde guy also smiled.

"if you don't tell me your name I'm gonna have to make one up for you," he said, carefully watching her.

"it's Uhura," she replied, not looking at him.