CHAPTER FIVE - Hearings and Hearsay 
Starfleet Academy : UNKNOWN

"I'll catch you after the meeting." Cassidy bid Leonard goodbye as they both left her office, her eyes looked around to see if anyone had seen anything that was going on within the doors. Even if she knew it was physically impossible. She felt as though she was sneaking around, like she had done as a child all those, thousands of, years ago. She started her motion though turned back when she did not hear a second footfall. Leonard seemed to have stopped moving and she was sure he had stopped in order to watch her walking away. Typical men. 

"Get moving Cadet." She snapped watching as it shocked him out of whatever mindset he was currently in. Moving quickly he fell into step beside her. The pair would soon join into the large crowd of students and staff as they moved towards the academic hearing. She would somehow lose his tall figure in the crowds of red, noting that there were many more students than she had accounted for within the academy halls. She felt a familiar figure fall into step beside her, Cassidy turned her head to look up at her Vulcan colleague. Spock spoke no words as he walked beside her, but Cassidy could not say the same for herself. For she had a strong inclination as to why the hearing had been called in the first place. 

"I suppose it's your fault my meeting this morning was interrupted?" Cassidy turned to the Vulcan raising her voice slightly so it could be heard over the chatter of the students around them. 

"You appear to be rather inconvenienced by this hearing. I thought your lessons did not start until 10." Spock seemed to ignore any part of what Cassidy had said to him prior and only pretended to be confused at her words. Or well, as much she supposed he was able to do so. 

"I was in the middle of a rather important meeting. Now I've had to reschedule it." Cassidy grumbled and as expected she got little to no real response from the Vulcan who looked as though he cared little for her personal issues. Something she hoped was the opposite of how he was actually feeling. She could probably do with some more friends, at least if she had a more expressive friend then this wouldn't have feel so one sided and awkward. 

"How terrible."

"I'll ask again, I suppose you have something to do with this meeting?" She tried once more, even though she knew the answer to her own question. The Vulcan could not admit that there was a fault in his programme. If it had been Cassidy she would have taken the events of the day prior to mean that she needed to review her own work and improve it to prevent it happening again. 

"Admiral Barnett called for this hearing not me." Spock brushed her question off for a second time and Cassidy only rolled her eyes, she then let herself fall a step behind him so they no longer appeared like a solid unit. Hoping that at least he would feel some sort of way to her reaction, if he did not show it outwardly. 

Her seat was located on the far outside of the five row worth of instructors right next to the steps. Cassidy wondered if the seats went in order of importance, perhaps how long they had been part of the academy for, or respect. But if she was being honest she didn't really care. Most of the instructors around her were people she cared little about, actually two seats to her right was Instructor Gavis and Cassidy couldn't stand that man. And each time they sat in this format within the hall she would purposely try to trip the aging man, just for the small chance she could watch him fall onto his ugly old face. She had hated him from the minute he had accused her of cheating in her first year in the academy, she hadn't cheated she was just a lot smarter than the man gave her credit for. She cast her eyes out to the student body looking for two people in particular. She was not surprised to find them together, just like the best of friends she expected to sit next to one another. Her Southern Doctor and the Midwestern Muppet the meeting was definitely about. 

"This session has been called to resolve a troubling matter. James T. Kirk, step forward" Admiral Barnett began and Cassidy knew she was going to leave this academic hearing more annoyed than usual. She also turned back to look at Spock who sat a few rows behind her. As if he had thought it was necessary to bring forth such an intense meeting for something which only highlighted that Kirk was a lot smarter than most of his instructors gave him credit for. She waited as the cadet in the horrible shade of red they were all forced to wear made his way down from the seated viewing area to where the podiums for the hearing had been made up. 

"Cadet Kirk, evidence has been submitted to this council, suggesting that you violated the ethical code of conduct pursuant to Regulation One-Seven point three of the Starfleet Code. Is there anything you care to say before we begin, sir?" Admiral Barnett addressed the cadet and Cassidy found herself holding her breath and praying that the cadet did not say anything stupid before the trial had even begun. Not that she would put it past Jim Kirk to do or say something stupid just to annoy the senior members of the council. 

"Yes, I believe I have the right to face my accuser directly." Kirk was choosing to go about things in the most appropriate way. And Cassidy wondered if he was starting to grow up, though she doubted it. She watched Spock pass her on his way down to the front of the room, and despite knowing that it was almost one hundred percent likely the meeting had been called because the Vulcan had reported the cheating, it still hurt to have it confirmed. Spock had been one of the first people outside of Atlantis she had confided in, whilst they were both still students, about her punishment for cheating. She had thought he had shown some sort of empathy for her, and therefore came to understand that whilst she still agreed with punishment for cheating there was not a time where she thought extreme measures needed to be taken. And this hearing was completely something she would consider an extreme measure. 

"Step forward, please. This is Commander Spock. He's one of our most distinguished graduates. He's programmed the Kobayashi Maru exam for the last four years. Commander?" Admiral Barnett introduced Spock and Cassidy felt her chest tighten at what she now fully understood to be occurring. 

"Cadet Kirk, you somehow managed to install and activate a subroutine to the programming code, thereby changing the conditions of the test." Spock spoke and Cassidy could understand him but she was sure his use of rather overly complex words would turn off half of the people watching. She wanted to look around the room to see if she could see which cadets no longer found interest in the proceeding but she could not turn her eyes away. 

"Your point being?" Kirk clarified. 

"In academic vernacular, you cheated." Admiral Barnett clarified and Cassidy hoped the admiral could feel her scowl from the rows away she sat from him. 

"Let me ask you something, I think we know the answer to. The test itself is a cheat, isn't it? You programmed it to be unwinnable." Kirk directed his question to Spock it held an emphasis of a holier than thou attitude and Cassidy felt as though this meeting was going to go round in circles at this rate. 

"Your argument precludes the possibility of a no-win scenario." 

"I don't believe in no-win scenarios." 

"Then not only have you violated the rules, you also failed to understand the principle lesson." Spock finalised and Cassidy could feel in the air that things were going to turn ugly. It was a well known fact that James T. Kirk was a Starfleet legacy, and what his father had done nearly 30 years ago. 

"Please, enlighten me."

"You of all people should know, Cadet Kirk. Captains cannot cheat death." Spock was starting to step into dangerous territory and Cassidy wanted to interrupt something inside of her was demanding she stepped in to support Kirk but she found herself physically unable to. It was like she was soldered to her chair no matter how much her head was screaming at her to stand up. 

"I of all people?"

"Your father, Lieutenant George Kirk, assumed command of his vessel before being killed in action, did he not?" Spock continued to rub salt into the wound he was probably very much aware of having opened. 

"I don't think you like the fact that I bet your test." Cassidy had to give it to Kirk for his calm collective he was presenting, it was almost as if the Vulcan's words had had no effect upon him. He had brushed it aside like water off a ducks back. And she could see how he was one day going to make an incredible Captain. 

"Furthermore, you have failed to divine the purpose of the test." Spock continued on pushing his rhetoric upon the cadet.

"Enlighten me again." Kirk pushed and Cassidy was sure he was enjoying annoying the Vulcan Instructor stood before him. 

"The purpose is to experience fear. Fear in the face of certain death. To accept that fear, and maintain control of oneself and one's crew. This is a quality expected in every Starfleet captain." Spock concluded and Cassidy was wondering just where this hearing was going to go next. But she caught the unexpected body of one of the school aides rushing into the room. He was quick to approach Admiral Barnett, the current head of the academy board, handing over something she was too far away to be able to identify. 

"We've received a distress call from Vulcan. With our primary fleet engaged in the Laurentian system.  hereby order all cadets to Hanger One immediately. Dismissed." Barnett announced and Cassidy watched as the cadets were quick to clear from the room. The rest of the staff remained as they knew their commands would come from the Admiral himself. As they were either issued to head out on the ships or they would remain at the academy to prepare for whatever came back from the trip to Vulcan. Admiral Barnett started by calling out staff in alphabetical order. 

"Dr McKay, U.S.S. Enterprise. Chief Scientific Officer." Barnett called and Cassidy immediately turned her eyes to Admiral Pike, the man had indeed kept the promise he had made to her three years prior.

"Commander Spock, U.S.S. Enterprise, First Officer." Cassidy turned to her somewhat friend the pair made eye contact and Cassidy was unsure if he was able to tell that she was annoyed with him for his actions, therefore she did the most obvious thing she could think of she gave him the bird, mouthing the words 'suck my dick you pointy eared asshole'. That should have got her feelings across. 

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Cassidy found herself jogging to keep up with Admiral Pike, or should she call him Captain Pike that was a little confusing, the man despite being older than she was took much larger strides. She was alongside some of his other senior officers as he was delegating their duties upon arriving onboard the enterprise. Hanger One was incredibly busy as the cadets stood awaiting for their assignments. Cassidy looked beside her noting she was the only female member of the senior crew. 

To her right was Engineering Officer Olsen, she could tell he was going to be a problem. He was full of himself and was totally going to get himself killed with that kind of attitude. She was sure this would be his first time as chief officer and she prayed that he wouldn't destroy the new starship, that would be embarrassing. He had the easy task of ensuring that the ship's checks were performed and they were ready to set off. To her left stood Doctor Puri, chief medical officer. He was definitely getting towards the end of his time out in space, and she felt a little bit of guilt of him even being assigned the new starship. She was sure they could have allowed him to remain at the medical facility and sent someone else out. 

"McKay, you'll check that all accounted for crew are onboard, complete onboarding and hand out their uniforms." Pike ordered and Cassidy paled at his request.

"Sir surely I'm not the best or most friendly face for that task."

"It's you or Spock." At Pike's words that stopped Cassidy from arguing any further, she supposed she was the lesser of the two evils. 

"Please ensure all of your relevant cadets are aware of their assignments and then meet me here we will take the first shuttle to the enterprise." Pike dismissed the group. Cassidy had no cadets to announce assignments to, but that didn't stop her from reading through the published lists. Her mind first searched for her confirmed soulmate, feeling both relief and a little bit of anxiety to see that he had been assigned the Enterprise. He would be close so she could tell he would be as safe as possible, but she felt anxiety upon noting that despite still being a cadet he would be the second most senior medical officer on board. If anything happened to Doctor Puri he would be in charge. That was a lot of responsibility. She then looked next to James Kirk, though the bright red academic suspension sign appeared next to the cadets name. She tried three times to overrule the setting but had no luck. No matter how many times she played with the system she was completely locked out of the movement. 

"Doctor McKay." A voice called and Cassidy turned her attention away from the PADD she was holding, trying to not curse out the system she had helped to create. 

"Leonard." She greeted caring not in that moment if people overheard. 

"I'm on the Enterprise. Where..." He stopped his questioning part of the way through turning back to Jim who had joined the doctor in his questioning of the instructor. 

"Did you really think I'd let you out of my sight anytime soon?" Cassidy joked backwards allowing him a few moments to take the meaning of her words. Before continuing on "sorry Kirk, I've tried everything I can at the moment in the system to remove your academic suspension and assign you. But they've locked me out." Cassidy tried to be sympathetic to the cadet, she could see that all he wanted was to join in.

"Thanks Commander." Kirk tried to not show his disappointment but the look of dejection upon his face completely tugged at Cassidy's chest. 

"I know imagine locking out the person who created the system. Tau'ri never grateful for anything I give them." Cassidy grumbled as she tried to think of anything she could do to help the cadet. That was until she recalled a specific point from the Starfleet regulation. 

"Leonard Starfleet regulation Fifty-Four point 8. Make do with it as you please. But do not miss your shuttle. I won't be here this time to sit your scaredy cat self down." Cassidy pointed at him with her final statement before leaving the two men where they were. She knew that she would be seeing them both aboard the Enterprise shortly. 

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Sitting next to Captain Pike on the shuttle hadn't exactly been what Cassidy was expecting, but she didn't exactly mind. Rather her eyes were glued upon the space of which surrounded them. Waiting for the moment she got to see the enterprise for the very first time. And soon enough she got to see the brand new starship in the fleet. And Cassidy was unsure if it was possible to truly deem an object beautiful, but she felt like the U.S.S. Enterprise was exactly that. 

"Sir, it's beautiful." Cassidy turned her attention to the captain just quickly before her attention returned to the ship. 

"Indeed she is McKay. Let's all try not to destroy her on her maiden voyage." Pike's words addressed his senior team around him and Cassidy held back laughter at his words. She was sure that James Kirk made his way onto the Enterprise like she was so sure he would, that the words of the Captain would be in vain. There was no way the Enterprise was coming back unharmed if James T. Kirk made his way onboard.