Beginnings (an Uhura short)
This was written for the "Before they were famous" challenge at startrekland
April
Nyota ran from her last class of the day at Middlebury University. “Sorry!” she yelled over her shoulder at some poor underclassman she’d just bumped into. Climbing the steps to her dorm, she pushed down the rising anxiety. She reached her room, and tossed her things to the floor.
“Computer: Messages?”
“There are 4 messages in the queue.”
“Display.”
She quickly scanned the list and gasped. There it was: Starfleet Academy, Office of Admissions.
She closed her eyes, muttered “Please!” then said aloud, “Open message from Starfleet.”
“Dear N. Uhura: We are pleased to inform you...”
She screamed.
***
August
The package arrived by special messenger. She held it and smiled.
“Well?” her sister prodded. “Open it!”
It was a padd with the Starfleet insignia. She jumped up and down. “Look!” she squealed.
“Yes, yes,” her mother shook her head. “What does it say?”
She activated the padd. “Academy rules and regs…” she read from the table of contents, “course descriptions, housing info....Oooh roommate assignment,” she touched the screen and read. She looked up at her family, eyes wide.
“What?” her father asked.
“An...Orion.”
September
She punched in the 5-digit code to her dorm room, took a deep breath and entered. No one was there. Relieved, she chose the bed furthest from the door and began unpacking. She was hanging up her clothes in the tiny closet when the door opened and a green red-head walked in. Nyota went to greet her with an outstretched hand.
“You must be Gaila!”
“Hi!” said Gaila, and stepped forward to shake hands...then abruptly stopped short. The young women regarded Nyota’s hand with a questioning look. “Oh!” Nyota understood. “I’ve had my anti-pheromone shot!”
“Phew!” said Gaila, then tossed her things to the floor and hugged Nyota as if they’d known each other for years.
***
“Cadet Nyota Uhura, reporting as ordered, sir.” She couldn’t hide her smile as she said those words to her advisor for the first time.
“At ease, Cadet. Have a seat,” Captain Pike smiled back. “Good to see you again.”
“And you, sir.”
He regarded her for a moment, then held up a padd and shook his head. “What are you trying to do to yourself, Cadet?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“The average cadet at the graduate level takes two intro classes in addition to basic training first semester. Some even take just one, to get used to the demands of the place. You’ve signed up for four. Four of the most advanced linguistics courses the academy offers.”
“I have the time, sir. And I placed out of most intermediate classes.”
“Cadet, pace yourself! Remember, BT is draining enough. I don’t want you burned out by Christmas. And what about your music, eh? Balance, Cadet. Balance.”
“But, sir, I had a similar course load at...”
“...The best and most challenging xenoligustics program in this sector. Yes, I know.”
“I graduated with honors with a double major and still had time for my music and...”
He stopped her with a warning hand. “Cadet, You just got here. There’s plenty of time. What are you trying to do, graduate from the Academy by the end of the first year?”
“But…”
“Cut two of these classes. It’s an order, Cadet.”
She sat straighter in her chair. “Yes, sir.”
“Dismissed. See you next week.”
***
She flopped onto her bed and examined the padd, trying to choose which classes to drop. “As if I didn’t know my own limitations...”
“What are you muttering about?” Gaila said from the bathroom door.
“I have to drop two classes.”
“What? How many were you taking?”
When Nyota didn’t answer, Gaila grabbed the padd and read. “Are you out of your mind? I see I need to work on you!”
“What do you mean, ‘work’ on me?”
“What is it you humans say? ‘All work and no play...’”
“I didn’t come to the Academy to play, Gaila. I came here to be...”
“I know, I know... ‘a communications pioneer,’ or some such thing. Whatever.” Nyota looked offended. “Look, sweetie, we’re here. The hard part’s over. Enjoy the ride.”
Nyota sighed. “Don’t think that just because I’m a good student that I don’t know how to have fun. But I have my priorities...”
“Well, how about tonight we screw priorities and have a little fun?”
Nyota looked at the padd a moment before tossing it aside.
“You’re on.”
***
“Cadet Uhura, reporting as ordered, sir.” There was no smile this time.
“At ease, Cadet. Have a seat.”
She complied, hoping her irritation was well hidden.
“So. You got kicked out of your Bajoran class. ‘There’s nothing I can teach this girl,’ according to Commander Robinson.”
I will not look smug. I will not say I told you so.
“Yes, sir.”
“You present an interesting and unusual challenge.”
“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir”
“And I have an interesting and unusual solution.” He tossed a padd at her.
A name, an office number, a date, a time. She looked up.
“He will assess your language skills and develop an independent study program with you.”
“I’m not familiar with this professor, sir...”
“He’s not in your department. A few years ago, he was...also an interesting challenge.” he sighed. “Dismissed Cadet.”
As the door closed behind her he muttered, “Payback time, Spock.”