Sulu was quite good about girls. He was popular – not that crazy way like Kirk – but he was. He was handsome and outgoing and even though he didn't have any long–term relationship, he was dating someone quite often. And given a choice, he preferred enjoying life with friends now.

Among his friends, Chekov was the best one. Just a thought about him lift Sulu's spirit. With him he could be himself. He could be talking about flight simulations, technical issues, Enterprise, fencing, … actually just pretty much everything and the young Russian would understand and discuss it with him. Of course, not everything was exactly Chekov's field of interest, but God, the seventeen years old boy was a prodigy. He was almost like Spock, his capacities nearly equal to their first officer's in some areas.

Sulu really enjoyed working with Chekov and in no time they were like twins, always came in pair.

What made Sulu worry was Chekov's obvious deep admiration of captain Kirk. It's not like whole crew didn't admire Kirk, because, hell, he definitely deserved it. But no one brought it to such a God-worship.

OK, maybe it didn't make him worry as much as actually it was just bothering him. Chekov was awesome, just the way he was, but still, it couldn't protect Sulu from spikes of envy – or maybe jealousy? – whenever his friend's eyes went wide at some kind of Kirk's unexpected skill revelations.

Today, there was another poker game with his friends. They were on a shore leave and every member of the crew did his best to enjoy few days freed of any duty. Although the yesterday's drinking party - where he met Uhura - was great, the poker nights were always the best. Well, Chekov was always winning, unless the rare occasion he played with captain, but he enjoyed playing the game with his friends every while anyway. Whatever, Sulu will beat him in virtual reality games, where Sulu's renowned dexterity got a chance.

Sulu was just crossing the Starfleet base grounds to their usual gaming spot. The grounds were sunk in the fuzzy darkness of the big city's night. Sidewalks were illuminated by street lamps that casted vague shadows under Sulu's feet. The sound of steps echoed slightly as he went between blocks of few-floors height office buildings towards the spot, leaving the futuristic high-rise buildings of the base center behind his back. He was nearly there, when the young curly haired Russian boy joined him with a wide bright grin. "Hey. How ar yu?"

Sulu greeted him with a smile. "Prepared?" he replied. As if there was any small chance Chekov could be beaten in poker in an unguarded moment.

They walked along feeling comfortable even when not talking too much as they paced over the rest of a distance to their club room.

"Hey."

"Hi." echoed in greeting as they entered the room. It wasn't much of a club as it was actually a simple conference room used for their game sessions. There was a wide screen at one wall, few cabinets and a big oval table at the center. The table was surrounded by fifteen comfortably looking regular chairs. Not all were occupied by uniform-claded Starfleet officers, the colour of uniform varying from yellow of two in a command line to a majority of four of engineers' red and some blue of two science officers.

"You know and there's this competition then." One yellow-claded fair-haired ensign turned back to his engineer friend to finish what he was talking about previously.

"Really? So the poker competition…" the other man wondered.

"Oh," the ensign casted his eyes upon Chekov as he suddenly remembered something. "Captain Kirk said he'll stop by later in the evening."

Chekov's face lit up in pure happiness, enthusiastically awaiting the game with someone who matched the level of his card games skills. Sulu gave him an exasperated look, that he seemed to notice and moderated his reaction, but didn't stop smiling happily. So they sat at the table with their friends and began to play.

Later in the evening, captain really made an appearance and since Chekov and their captain usually played just two of them alone, most of the friends went looking for another fun or to get some rest, while only two stayed to observe the game. It was always fascinating to watch those two play. Captain's poker games with Chekov weren't that well-known as his chess matches with commander Spock, but that didn't meant they were less challenging.

Sulu knew that this game was beyond him once again, when Kirk and Chekov measured each other across the table, cards in their hands, with an estimating look. He wondered, if he should stay and wait for his friend or just call it a day and withdraw to his base quarters. On one hand, he didn't want to leave his friend, on the other, though, he was too tired to actually follow the game.

In the end, he decided that he's just not in the mood to watch a clash of the titans tonight and left.

When he got into his room, all dark and silent now, he activated the computer to check on some flight schemes he had been working on lately, but he didn't really put his heart into it and somewhat stayed annoyed even when doing things he particularly liked.

An hour and half or so into playing a boring computer game, shooting enemy fighter planes mercilessly, he heard knocking on his door. Chekov didn't wait and entered his room. "Yeah?" Sulu turned his head to the young Russian.

The bright grin that awaited him made Sulu stop sulking. He really couldn't be upset at his friend anymore. Chekov's smile was so warming.

"Yu're still up?" the younger pumped out, looking pleased by the more-likely statement than a question. He sat behind Sulu on his bed. Sulu smiled. "What yu're doin'?" he heard his friend ask an expected question in heavy Russian accent. 'This is gonna be another great night.'

Sulu was sitting on the edge of one biobed in sickbay of a starship Enterprise . He struggled to suppress a yawn, holding a cup of coffee in one hand and rubbing his red eyes with the other.

"Oh, man." McCoy grumbled. "Look at yourself, you're such a mess. You are almost like Jim," making a pause to eye him with an accusing stare, "never learn to be responsible for your health even one bit."

Sulu waited for the doctor to scan him with his tri-corder for an admission check-up before next mission. After few minutes of concentrated scowling, McCoy rised his head to regard Sulu with an inscrutable look. "Went hunting girls like Jim did last night?"

"No…" Sulu started , noticing Chekov to enter the sickbay, he nodded his head in his direction. "We've worked on a new program for piloting large vessels."

Meeting McCoy's gaze, Chekov smiled sheepishly. "I helped wiz ze nawigation part. It took uz a lot of time." He blinked innocently at McCoy.

"Alright. But you better keep it only during a day next time." McCoy withdrew from his obvious intention to scold them in his usual furious manner.

At the bridge, the crew was studying data about their new mission. When captain Kirk entered, Spock was looking kind of amused as if he knew something others did not. Which was odd, because Vulcans do not tend to be amused. Simply, they do not show any emotions. But Sulu couldn't help it, it was just a damn feeling, an impression first officer gave him, despite he couldn't name a single hint why to think so. 'Maybe Kirk could' he thought, seeing a cocky grin spreading on captain's face the moment he saw Spock. But well, Kirk was grinning ALL THE TIME.

"Keptin on ze bridge." Chekov announced swiftly.

"Mr. Spock."

"Captain." Captain and first officer regarded themselves as the first one reached to a command chair, flopping down sloppily.

"Mr. Chekov, status?"
"Aye, sirr. Crew'z aboarrd, suppliez will be lo'ded wizin two hourz. Wee're redy to deparrt in two point fiwe hourz, sirr."

"Good." Captain nodded. "Start with a mission briefing then."

"Aye, sirr."

Their new assignment involved helping a team of scientists landed on a less known planet called Mirena. Federation was on good terms with their sentient inhabitants, who allowed a limited group to explore and research their specific habitat. Mirenans were known as peaceful, less developed race. They were slightly taller, but other than that they had all the features of humans. It would have been difficult to distinguish them, if it wasn't for golden sclera surrounding their pitch black irises and pupils.

Unfortunately, some technical difficulties occurred to the research team. It was expected to be a low risk mission, but since there was also a problem with communication, admiralty thought it to be prudent if rather higher ranking ship saw into it, in case of 'other'difficulties. The planet was quite distant place and it will take them few days to get there.

After few hours of discussing specific details of the mission, navigator's voice broke the mild murmur. "Keptin, ze ship is redy, sirr."

"Set the course." Captain said instead of reply.
"Course laid in." helmsman responded.

"Warp six. Mr. Sulu,"

"Aye, sir."

"Pinch it."

And Sulu did. Oh, he loved this.