Even with his rapid-fire brain, there’s plenty about the world that Jim doesn’t understand. At seventeen that’s hardly unexpected, but Jim prefers to believe there isn’t anything anyone can tell him that’ll still surprise him. Perhaps it’s the belief that he’s all-knowing and invincible that gives the universe motivation to fuck him over time and time again. In all the classic stories Jim reads it’s hubris that falls heroes, although, Jim can hardly be called a hero -- he’s more of a public menace than anything else.
Hubris is hardly an explanation for why he wakes in someplace entirely new after hitting his head particularly hard. At first Jim thinks that maybe he got too drunk and ended up catching a shuttle all the way to San Fransisco; however, that’s soon proven false by the news headlines and the star date. A trip to San Fransisco would’ve taken him a day, maybe two. At the very least, a few hours would’ve passed since his memory blacked out. Instead, when Jim stumbles towards the city center, he realizes that -- at most -- fifteen minutes have passed since he fell and hit his head.
The next couple of weeks are strange. Jim does research, nabbing a PADD from some unsuspecting pedestrian before making a home for himself in some internet cafe where he could get off the street for a bit. The world he entered is so similar to his own, including their very own Jim Kirk (this Jim Kirk does seem to be well on his way to becoming a hero). Somehow he jumped universes, as unbelievable as that feels, and he’s got no way of hopping back to his own timeline. During all this digging is when Jim realizes that his best bet is joining up with Starfleet. It’s not his first choice by any means, but getting home sounds a hell of a lot better than staying here. Living under his dad’s shadow was bad enough; living under his own sounded like hell on earth. He’ll need a fake identity and a change of clothes, sure, but that’s nothing that can’t be accomplished with a little bit of help. His research goals change then as he seeks out a (hopefully) kind-hearted cadet who’s bright enough to give him a hand.
Jim’s research leads him to Cadet Sylvia Tilly, a brilliant first year student with a fast-track to a starship if she keeps up the good work. One shower and stolen cadet uniform later, and Jim’s ready to plead his case. He spots her during class turnover, minding her own business in a peaceful way that almost makes Jim regret interrupting with his bizarre request.
He approaches with the PADD tucked under his arm, attempting to manifest the confidence that’d been faltering ever since he ended up in this other world. “Cadet Tilly?” Jim calls to her, taking measured steps to catch up. “I hate to bother you but, uh, do you have a minute?” The polite tone feels foreign on his tongue, but Jim will just be screwed if he manages to scare her off right now with his usual brashness.
