Chapter 3

Right this is the last one for now guys :) (I actually haven't really written much else :) Hope you're enjoying though and comments and votes plz) thanks my lovelies xxx

Smiling, Kirk reached out and clapped a friendly hand on the cadet's shoulder. It was a simple, friendly gesture and Kirk meant it in no way to be a threat. But as always with Kirk, he had to involve words.

"At ease, Cupcake. I didn't touch her and I didn't say anything too bad, just chatting nicely." He batted his eyelashes and stuck out his bottom lip, "Or are you jealous because I didn't speak to you?"

Uhura was trying her best to get her friend to move away but she knew full well that Kez had a talent for sensing when something bad was about to unfold and if she had the power to prevent it- she would try. Uhura knew that was a trait not necessarily unique to her friend, but the blood that ran through her friend's veins: she wanted peace and if it wasn't going her way, she'd never miss a chance to get involved. 

Kez watched with hard eyes as several other cadets assembled themselves behind the bigger cadet. Kez knew this wasn't right, cadets picking on a civilian, even if he was too cocky for his own good.

As the tension in the air got thicker, she took a more verbal approach, "Hey-Jim. Enough, yeah?"

Her attempt at diffusion fell on deaf ears as Kirk watched the cadet pursue him.

"What was that? I didn't hear?" The cadet said in a harsh brittle voice.

Kirk didn't fall under the intimidation. No way was he stepping down to some hyped up cadet.

"You heard me fine, Moonbeam."

The cadet glared then jerked a thumb over his shoulder, "You know how to count, farm boy? There's five of us and one of you."

Kirk smirked. He wondered why the cadet thought numbers scared him, even if he was smaller, didn't mean the cadet had a right to push him about.

He stood up straighter, gaining only a few more centimetres onto his height.

"Well, then. Get another five guys and it'll be almost even."

Kez had to admirer Kirk's bravery even if his ass was about to be handed to him.

Uhura thought it would be over at that point, maybe Kez had been wrong, but as expected Kirk took it one step further still.

"You know your uniforms? Do they, like, have to beam them onto you? They are so tight and formfitting -,"

The bigger cadet swung a punch.

Kirk had to admit that the cadet was faster then he'd anticipated, but not quite fast enough. Kirk had been in many bar fights over the years and the experiences had made him quick on his feet. He ducked the punch and charged forward. He slammed into his opponent and locked himself to the body so that the cadet's friends couldn't get to him. Kirk had taken away their clean swings, and no one could get a clear shot.

Kirk couldn't help himself but keep up the commentary: "Please tell me you haven't taken combat training yet," He dodged a shot intended for his ribs, "'Cause that would be embarrassing to Starfleet." He moved to avoid another punch, "Aw that was almost adorable!"

Just then two of the other cadets got hold of him and wrenched him away from their friend.

The big cadet got to his feet and drew back his fists ready for a clean shot.

Uhura grabbed Kez's shoulder when she anticipated what her friend was about to do.

"Get off me! They're going to kill him!" Kez hissed, shrugging off Uhura's grip.

Uhura had to agree with her friend, Kirk was now held firmly so the cadet could deliver a string of assaults.

She stepped back and let Kez do what she did best. She disappeared.

Kirk watched the cadet get ready, then jumped violently when Kez appeared in front of him, seemingly out of thin air.

"Stop!" She commanded, a new found strong presence entering her voice, one more suited to a captain than a cadet.

Cupcake paused his assault and growled under his breath, "Move out of my way, Sytrox!"

Kez held firmly though, "You can't just beat up a civilian."

Kirk realised she had a point and watched closely as the cadet lowered his fists, thinking Kez's efforts had worked. That was until the cadet flew at her, smashing her aside before connecting his fist with Kirk's chin.

Kirk's head snapped back, then forward again. He spat blood and was about to make another sarcastic comment when the cadet swung at him again.

Uhura got to Kez and held her tightly as her friend tried to struggle free. 

"They can't do this!" Her friend screeched disapprovingly.

"Let them sort it out, please!" Uhura said noticing that Kez had a nice cut on her lip that was bleeding.

Kirk ducked the swing, recoiling like a spring so that the punch sailed over his head and sunk into the shoulder of one of the cadets holding him. The cadet hollered in pain and loosened his grip so that Kirk could break free, spin and slam his elbow into the other man holding him.

On impact the cadet fell to the ground, eyes rolling back in his head.

Kirk didn't have time to appreciate his achievement because suddenly two other cadets were upon him instantly. Then smashed him down against a tabletop so that Cupcake had a good view of his opponent.

He swung a chain of punches. Pain and blurred lights filled Kirk's head as he was aware that blood and flesh were splattering everywhere.

What started as a small bar fight was escalating into something far far worse.

Suddenly a sharp whistle rang out around the bar followed by a loud, authoritative shout, "ATTENTION ON DECK!"

Despite not being on a ship, every cadet in the room stood to attention, apart from Kez who was still being held back by Uhura.

The cadet ceased his punching and let Kirk fall back against the table limply. Unlike everyone else Kirk was not obliged to follow the order, and groaned loudly, blood covering his face: running from his nose and lips, badly battered and breathing hard.

The man by the door regarded the room of cadets and civilians who were all silent and gawping.

Captain Pike's expression didn't change when he fixed his eyes on the cadet throwing the punches or even when he regarded Kez.

The silence was deafening.

"Outside, all of you. NOW!" Pike snapped a single directive.

Everyone scrambled around tables and to the door quicker than anything.

Kez lingered at the back, nodding to Uhura before grabbing a wad of napkins and standing at Kirk's side, pressing them to just under his nose as she assisted him into a sitting position. He nodded at her gratefully, noticing just how soft and friendly her eyes were, in that instant. She flashed a small smile then strode past Pike not making eye contact but still, the Captain caught her arm.

"I want a full report of what happened here, Stibbons, by tonight."

Kez broke free of the grasp and looked back to Kirk who was watching herself and Pike groggily.

"Yes, Captain." She said with a sharp flick of her head.

Pike knew he could trust the cadet more than most in the room. Both her fathers were honourable men and he had had the pleasure of knowing Kestrel since she was a small child and then being one of her mentors through Starfleet.

Kez wondered if it was just special treatment but she knew that from the beginning of her days at Starfleet and even before, Pike had been there with her to support her every step of the way.

He nodded her from the bar and just as she left she heard him say, "You all right son?"

And Kirk's reply of, "You can whistle really loud, you know that?"

The response made Kez smile, as the door closed behind her, cutting her off.

"And that's what happened," Kez said throwing down the pen when she'd finished scribbling her report.

Pike regarded her with calm eyes, "Sure?"

"Positive." The young cadet in front of him said firmly with the same kind of stubbornness that Pike knew to be from Ambassador Wallace, maybe even from her own father. But Pike hadn't really known the High Councillor of Sytron as well as he liked to admit. He had been such a guarded man that no one has really known him.

"Out of interest, sir," The cadet suddenly said, "What did you say to Kirk?"

Pike smiled; she always inquisitive, always wanting to know everything.

"I advised him to enrol in Starfleet."

Kez chuckled, "Really?"

"Yes," Pike said, sitting back in his high office chair and clasping his hands.

Kez was silent for a moment then shrugged, "I guess I'm correct in assuming that Jim Kirk is the son of George Kirk of the U.S.S Kelvin."

"You would be correct," Pike said just as Kez stood up. She'd known the name was familiar. 

"Then he'll join up," Kez replied shortly.

Pike raised an eyebrow at the cadet, "What makes you so sure?"

Kez smiled, "George Kirk seemed like he was a dedicated and worthy officer. I wager Jim will want to live up to being that kind of man. It's just a feeling."

Pike knew all about Sytrox and their feelings which usually turned out to be fairly accurate.

He smiled, "I bet the same thing, Stibbons."

Kez nodded at the captain and turned to leave but not before he tapped the report.

"Any 'porting' incidents that I should be aware of?"

Kez whipped around on her heels, "No."

Pike raised an eyebrow, "Sorry if I don't believe you."

The cadet sighed, "Starfleet recruits Humanoids and Non-humanoids alike, but as soon as I port I get it in the neck. So what?! It's not a crime!"

Pike sighed, he had tried and as much as Ambassador Wallace had to get the girl to understand that by revealing herself in such a way could draw the wrong kind of attention.

Instead, he took a more direct approach this time.

"What if an escaped rouge had been in that bar and seen you? They could be rallying numbers to spread out through the dimensions to eliminate you."

Kez balled her fists, "Let's not exaggerate, yeah? There are only around a hundred Sytrox left in the whole universe. I'm pretty sure I'm safe."

Pike pinched the bridge of his nose. This as was her reply all the time, she never saw the danger.

"Maybe so, but in future can you be less reckless. Just because you will live in another -,"

Kez cut him off angrily, "Why does everyone think I want to die just because I will live again somewhere else in another dimension? I like it here! In this lifetime! I value my life and this is the only life I wish to live." She spat angrily.

Pike sat forward and clasped his hands on the desktop, nodding as if giving in.

"I know, okay. I apologise. You are dismissed, Cadet." He waved slightly.

Kez turned on her heels, "Gladly!"