Disclaimer: Not mine :(

Christopher Pike

It's in between surgeries when Chris reads the first article about the Enterprise and the Narada affair. The press has dubbed them the Federation's rising stars. As they wheel him into his next surgery, he thinks to himself that stars are an apt metaphor for his crew. Suddenly bright against the dark night and utterly captivating.

It's all so exceedingly poetic that Chris almost starts laughing at himself except for the fact that he can't help but think of falling stars instead of rising.

Such brilliance comes at the price.

James T. Kirk

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, cataloguing the many aches and pains that were clamoring to make themselves known now that the adrenaline high was finally fading.

The sudden jab of a hypo interrupts and Jim makes his complaints regarding Bones' bedside manner known while the good doctor simply rolls his eyes and proceeds to run the dermal regenerator over the Acting Captain. He wonders outloud at Jim's apparently inexhaustible energy despite all the damage he's been dealt in the past 24 hours.

Jim directs a shit eating grin at the other man.

I've never felt more alive.

A/N: A few drabbles to get the muse in shape. Hope you enjoy! Reviews are always appreciated. Suggestions for future drabbles also very welcome.