This is the continuation of and set one year and three months after the events of 'Starfleet Academy', taking place in the middle of Zia's second year at the academy. Warning: later chapters of this story contain violence and sexual references.

Edited and reposted 2018.

o.O.o

Chapter 1 – Workaholic Pixie

It wasn't snowing.

A year and a half had passed since Zia Abbott's arrival at Starfleet Academy. For the graduation ceremony of 2258, all first- and second-years were congratulated for completing the year, but it was also a sombre event. The Academy professors and Admirals held a service for the hundreds of cadets who had died earlier in the year above the now-destroyed Vulcan. There were no fourth-years anymore, but at least there were six-hundred cadets instead of four-hundred. During the ceremony she sat with Tara and a group of her roommate's friends. Now twenty-years-old, Zia had changed since her arrival. The nightmares no longer plagued her, though that may have something to do with Spock.

Spock had been her professor for a term, before the destruction of Vulcan. He then quit his teaching post and spent months at a time aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise as the First Officer to Captain James T. Kirk. When the Enterprise returned to Earth, Spock never failed to see her. He'd gone on nine missions in total and always came back to her. Kirk was renowned for keeping his crew safe and not losing a single person.

Zia walked out of her last exam for the term and stretched. She still couldn't believe that she was a second-year.

"How did you go?" Blair asked, falling into step with her.

"Pretty well, I hope. What about you?" They made their way from Block-B to the Cafeteria and had to shade their faces from the sun. The weather was warm and cadets were able to wear shorts, skirts and short-sleeves, which many women were pleased with. Zia wore a maroon top and skirt with knee-high boots, a look that suited her Vulcan features.

"All that study should get me a good mark," Blair said confidently. "I don't want to drop out like JJ."

"That was last year," she pointed out.

"Yeah, but still…"

"Blair, you know you have the potential to do really well. Just do what you've been doing, and you'll graduate with honours."

"It's hard to graduate with honours," he reminded her. "Spock did, but that's because he's a super-genius. Bolians aren't as good with technology."

"Stop kidding yourself." She grabbed an apple from the buffet table and sat to the edge of the Cafeteria with Blair. He nodded at a few of his friends and took a seat with her. She bit into her apple and he pulled his PADD from his satchel and checked his messages. At the beginning of the year, all second-years received a PADD to use instead of textbooks. It was very useful for study and communication with professors. First-years didn't get PADD's because 5% of the two-hundred cadets dropped out before the end of the year and it would be a waste to give them one. Once the weak were weeded out, the PADD's were distributed and the second-years rejoiced. The novelty had worn off after six months, but it was still a wonderful thing to have.

"I still can't bring myself to ask her," Blair sighed.

"It's all up to you." Zia bit into her apple and chewed. "Just be confident."

"How can I be confident when I've never done anything like this before?" he objected. "What if she says no?"

Zia swallowed her bite and was about to answer when, speaking of the devil, 'she' came over.

"Hey guys!" Tara exclaimed. She dropped her tray on the table and collapsed onto a chair. "Did you just finish your last exam?"

"Yeah," Blair muttered, "General Physics."

"Just did Multidimensional Calculus," she said, "and I am so glad that it's holidays! I won't be here though, I'm going home tomorrow morning. Are you two staying?"

Blair and Zia exchanged a glance. "Yeah," she replied. "I don't know about Blair, but I'm staying here and working."

"Oh yeah, you have a job unlike us plebeians. Blair?"

"I can't go home, so I'm sticking with the Academy as per usual." He glanced away from Tara and cleared his throat. "Hey Zia, when is Spock coming back from his latest mission?"

"He left a few weeks ago, so he should be back in a few days." Zia smiled and sighed.

"You're so lovesick," Tara sniggered. "Will he take you out on another date?"

"Most likely," Zia grinned and her face decided to adopt a green tinge. She checked the time and stood. "I best get ready for work. Lenika's having another party at the Tervan Dome. You two should go there tonight and have fun."

"Yes, please." Tara's expression was positively orgasmic.

"Come on," Blair grinned. "We have a party at the Tervan Dome to get to." He stood with Tara and they smiled at Zia before walking off. How grateful she was for her friends. They really were two of the best people she knew. What she would have done without them, she didn't know. It was because of Tara that Zia was able to conquer her demons and discover possibly the love of her life. She owed her happiness to the human from New Jersey, and she would do the best to return the favour.

o.O.o

"Hey Pixie," Jamie called, "how were exams?"

"They were alright," Zia replied, hanging her handbag in her locker. "It's hard to believe we're already halfway through the year."

"When do you think you'll leave the Academy?" Jamie asked as she tied her hair in an elegant bun. Her tight white waitress dress clung to her curves and made her alien features more prominent. As three-quarters human and one-quarter Orion, she'd found a perfect balance between her ancestors.

"I'm thinking at the end of my fourth-year," the Vulcan shrugged and adjusted her boots. "After that I hope to join the crew on the Enterprise under Captain Kirk."

"That's provided he doesn't get into trouble," Jamie laughed. "From what you've told me he's a real trouble-magnet." Zia smiled wanly, and they left the locker room. The restaurant was crowded with people eating lunch, humans, aliens, and more. Zia had ten tables to look over and she nodded at Crista, the waitress currently serving those tables. Crista smiled and made herself scarce, having been working since six in the morning. It was now two in the afternoon and Zia's shift had officially begun.

First, she collected the plates from a table that had just emptied and took them to the kitchen. The chefs handed her groatcake and larish pie for table 32 and she took the plates to the pair of Bajorans sitting there. They smiled, and one asked for a refill of deka tea. She went to the bar and stood beside Jamie, who worked on another drink. The tea didn't take too long to mix, and Zia delivered it to the Bajoran quickly. Table 28 had now been filled, and she took the drink orders for two firenut coffees, two traggle nectars and one cardassian sunrise. The sunrises were very popular and their best seller. Upon her arrival back at the table she took their food orders and conveyed the news to the chefs, who immediately got to work cooking the five dishes.

Hours passed. She didn't stop to eat or drink or rest. This was her job and she liked her job. People sometimes glanced at her twice because she was Vulcan, but other than that things went smoothly. She never had the problem with male patrons that Jamie did and for that she was grateful.

Midnight rolled by and the restaurant closed. Drained, Zia made herself a Vulcan mocha and sat at the bar. Jamie slid onto the chair beside her and poured herself some wine.

"We'll help the others after this," she yawned. Zia nodded and drank deeply from her glass.

"I needed that. Now, time to clean up." She stood and got to work cleaning the bar, while Jamie and the other waitresses wiped all the tables and chairs and swept the floor. It took twenty minutes to clean the restaurant, and then Zia shrugged on her cardigan and got ready to leave. Jamie changed into a loose woollen dress and folded her white waitress dress.

"How was work?" the Orion joked.

"It was great," Zia grinned. "I really love this job, even if it's tiring and I have to work with people."

"Tell me about it." Jamie rolled her eyes. "I got two propositions and a marriage proposal from a drunken Xindi. Just because I'm single doesn't mean I want a boyfriend. I'm just fine living on my own! I don't get why guys don't flirt with you. You're pretty in a delicate, girlish way. And you look like a pixie!"

"I'm a Vulcan," Zia reminded her, "and besides, I have a boyfriend."

"Ah yes, the elusive Mister Spock. You should go home to him."

"Uh, he's on a mission right now, but he should be back in a few days."

Jamie shouldered her bag and slung her arm over Zia's shoulders. "Let's go. I am looking forward to my nice comfy bed and my kitty Kili, and I bet you want some sleep too. Just because you're Vulcan doesn't mean you're invincible, and I bet you haven't slept for the past couple weeks."

"No, I had study and mid-year assessments. Tonight, will be the first I've slept for eight days."

"What did you do last night then?"

"I needed to wind down, so I swam for hours."

"Last night I went to my mum's house and had dinner there. She is still trying to set me up with rich guys." Jamie winced and opened the door. "It's never going to happen. I've got Kili to keep me warm and I don't need some man."

Zia waved at a pair of waitresses who were still inside and closed the door behind her. "I best get back to the Academy," she said, buttoning her cardigan.

"Let me give you a ride," the other woman suggested. Zia hesitated. "Aw, come on Pixie! It's late and I would feel better if I drove you back."

"But you've never done it before…"

"That's because you're a workaholic so we rarely finish at the same time," Jamie pointed out.

"Okay. Lead the way."

The two women ducked their heads to the wind and Jamie led the way to where her car was parked behind the restaurant. Zia didn't have a car. Just sending her to the Academy was a stretch of money, so her family couldn't afford a car. They both slid in and Jamie drove across the Golden Gate Bridge and to the darkened Academy. The temperature was pleasant tonight, just the right humidity. Vulcans adapted to warm weather, whereas cold weather was difficult to them to handle. Zia loved warm weather.

"See you later, Pixie!"

"Sleep well, Jamie." Zia adjusted her bag and snuck to her room. Quite a few drunken cadets were probably trying to sleep, so it was logical to stay quiet.

Tara wasn't back yet, so Zia took a brief shower, brushed her teeth and awaited her arrival. When her roommate did return, she was perfectly sober and fell asleep quickly. As Zia curled up to sleep, she thought of Spock.

I wish you were here.