Chapter Text
Prologue
Since his first star gazing expedition with his father when he was 8 years old, to the Peak of Fools in the Kuznetsk Alatau Mountains, Pavel Andreievich Chekov had anticipated this special occasion. His first day as ensign aboard a Starfleet starship had finally dawned!
Pavel was woken up by a dim light that was slowly illuminating his yet to be decorated quarters and he realised that on the Enterprise dawn was actually a rather fake and sterile event. This artificial 'sunrise' was so very different to the real thing. Pavel remembered the expedition he had embarked on with his father as a boy and how they had witnessed a spectacular sunrise after a night of observing the crystal clear stary sky. Cradled in his father's arms and wearing protective goggles, little Pavel had gazed in wonder at the star that slowly turned night on Earth into day.
Pavel remained under the thin but warm blanket for just a moment longer, a soft smile on his face. But never one to dwell on the past for too long, his childhood memories soon had to make way for more pressing concerns of the here and now. It was time to get ready for his first shift!
As he mentally readied himself to get up, the young Russian mused that nothing was left to coincidence on the Enterprise which he found strangely reassuring. Indeed, the artificial 24-hour cycle was highly logical given the predominantly human crew aboard the ship. The lighting of most interiors on the Enterprise, including the quarters (unless they were otherwise adjusted by the individual crew member) followed Earth's 24-hour solar rhythm of night and day, sunrise and sunset. Consequently the 3 main 8 hour shifts most personnel were assigned to were accordingly structured into the popular day shift Alpha from 0800 hours to 1600 hours, the quite popular day and evening shift Beta from 1600 hours to 2400; and the night and morning shift Gamma from 2400-0800 (only attractive to those crew members with a nocturnal streak).
Pavel slowly rose from his bed and placed his feet on the comfortably warm floor. He had to smile as he remembered how he had heard from Lieutenant Sulu, the man he would share his new workstation with, the ship's navigational console, for the first time. The helmsman had related the shift rota and other helpful information to him in unique fashion – in an old style letter! Pavel was still on his final practical assignment on Toluna 7 when he received the letter via a provisions drop-off.
The navigator was completing his Starfleet training on the class M planet with a geological assignment. The young cadet had enjoyed his 12 weeks on the beautiful world immensely as he liked to be out and about in wide, open spaces. The countryside, however alien it might be, always reminded him of his school holidays which he used to spend in a particularly beautiful part of South Siberia. But despite the joy of working outdoors, he had counted the days until he would leave for Starbase 2 where a medical awaited him before he would finally board the Enterprise, who was scheduled to rendezvous with the base in due course. And that day couldn't come soon enough.
Four days ago, Pavel finally bid farewell to Toluna 7 as he was picked up by a Starfleet shuttle craft. He found himself amongst a large group of cadets that had been picked up from all over the planet where they had undergone practical training. He knew most of them from the Academy. The young recruits were also scheduled to undergo their medicals on Starbase 2. Then all the cadets would be deployed on various science or medical vessels on their first tours of duty.
All but one.
Envied by his peers, the best cadet in his year, Chekov would start his career as an ensign on Starfleet's flagship: the USS Enterprise. Never too bothered about what others thought of him, he endured the envious looks and mocking remarks of his comrades during the one-day journey with a brave face. Those people just reminded him why he preferred to be a loner.
As the young Russian yawned and stretched his tired limps, his thoughts travelled back to the events of the previous day. Lieutenant Sulu had greeted him in the transporter room. When Pavel materialised on the transporter platform he saw Sulu for the first time, yet the man didn’t appear to be unfamiliar at all, thanks to his detailed letter.
Pavel had known for two months that he would be assigned to the Enterprise to fill the vacant role of navigator. When it came to applying for various available Starfleet positions, the Enterprise had been his first choice due to Captain Kirk's impressive track record and the vessel's positive reputation regarding its facilities and crew. Pavel openly admired the ship’s captain and had read every paper or mission report Kirk had ever published or shared with the Academy. Furthermore, the vessel was the most modern and best equipped in the fleet. Only one year into its 5-year mission under Captain Kirk, the crew was already known all throughout Federation space for its courage, professionalism and loyalty. Pavel had earned many frowns and envious looks from his fellow cadets during practical assignment on Taluna 7, when they asked him where he had applied. They wouldn't have dared to apply to the Enterprise themselves but as Pavel was top of the class, they refrained from further commentary and kept quiet.
But the reality had been somewhat more complicated.
Even though Chekov had played it cool in front of his peers and pretended to have already sent off his application to Captain Kirk, he actually didn't dare to do so until the very last opportunity before the deadline. The truth was, he had been tormented with self-doubts. Would he really be good enough for the Enterprise? Just out of the Academy, had his two comparably brief practical excursions, one on Toluna 7 and another on a Starfleet science vessel, really provided him with enough experience for duty on the Federation’s flagship? Would its brilliant captain accept such a young and inexperienced navigator?
The great reputation of Captain Kirk and his ship aside, there had been one decisive factor that finally gave Pavel the strength to overcome his doubts and submit his application. During his final year at the Academy, to say he had only heard good things about the Enterprise's Science and First Officer was an understatement. The tutors had made it a fashion to rave about him and regularly used his research findings in their lectures. Consequently, Mr Spock had attained a somewhat legendary status among the cadets. The ambitious strove to learn as much about his working patterns, his research and his findings as possible. The cynical dismissed the Vulcan as some kind of Starfleet myth, setting unrealistic benchmarks they could never reach, consciously set up by their tutors to make them work harder and aim higher. Pavel privately shared both notions and what's more, he didn't believe them to be actually in conflict with one another. He was well aware that he would never be able to come even close to the Vulcan's scientific achievements. But the cadet’s stubborn and dedicated nature dictated him to seek out this unique opportunity to learn as much as he could from Mr Spock. Reading and analysing the Vulcan’s papers just wouldn't suffice. Pavel dreamed about assisting this 'myth' with groundbreaking and challenging scientific tasks - on the bridge of the Enterprise. An application had to be sent off.