More Academy Days

[Sam Kenobi]

~This next installment to the early years of some of the Skyline kids is one of mine. This is a sappy, yuppie story about Triam Paris and his old girl Meg. Please keep in mind, the sappiness is only to make something later on a lot more devistating (mwahaha). I'll post in a couple pieces.

Triam (tree-um) is the same age as Trip and Rab, this story takes place in their third year at the Academy and Triam doesn't know any of them yet....Tell me what you think etc...~

*****

Triam tugged uncomfortably on the bow tie that was part of his tuxedo as he walked through the Cochrane wing of Starfleet Academy. It never looked that uncomfortable in the movies but action heroes like James Bond and the more recent Phil Nightingale were pros though, he supposed, and that included dealing with the wardrobe.

It was the 110th year anniversary of the Academy, and Admiral Price had decided to celebrate with a formal ball in the Academy courtyard. Triam hadn�t been part of the decorating committee, but from what he had heard from Meg and Boothby, the gardener, the courtyard was quite a sight to behold. He didn�t believe it, of course, until he stepped outside.

The courtyard had been completely transformed, though still holding the natural charm and comfort of a familiar place. A dance floor had been added near the middle of the yard, about twenty meters from the door and up a small flight of stairs. Picnic tables that used to hold chatty cadets and that day�s lunch were now covered with elegant food, cakes and synthoholic champagne. He almost believed it was all on a holodeck, due to the fact that the perfectly moonlit night was neither too hot nor too cold, and no stray gust of wind came across his face. It was rather pleasant and for a moment, he forgot the nearly months supply of rations he had spent on the tux he wore.

The first person he recognized and actually felt like talking to was his friend Sari Glover, who stood just at the bottom of the flight of stairs, leaning on the balcony that overlooked the bay. She had obviously been waiting for someone to talk to as well and when she saw him come up to her, her face lit up.

�Hey Sari,� he said, not at all trying to hide the fact that he was looking her over, not used to seeing his friend so �prettied up�. �You look�� he paused, trying unsuccessfully to find the right word. ��nice.�

�Nice?� She asked. He strolled up to stand next to her, an apathetic, casual look on his face. �I spend forever picking out this dress and even longer doing my hair and makeup and all you can say is �nice?�� He paused and then broke out into a smile.

�Yeah. Well, you do. You look� very nice.� She looked at him and after a beat, hit him lightly on the shoulder, then resumed her position leaning against the balcony.

�Thanks, Paris, you don�t look too bad yourself. Nice tux.�

[Thomas]

It'll be interesting to see this one tie in,

[ILoveHarry]

Well you already know I love it! Then again, I'm lucky enough to have read the rest of that night too! I'm sure everyone will love it!

Choco... it will tie in but Triams does not tie in as tightly with Trip, Lyd and Rabs stuff... just lightly... well, you'lll see... OR... perhaps you already have... (re-read some of mine!) Who can spot the common thread?!?!?! HEHEHE! It's fun! There will be more to come of course as each of us write more... Well, Cappy D.'s story probably won't Have any of Triams characters in it... then again, what do I know?

[tom_88_2]

good start

[Sam Kenobi]

He stifled a small laugh. �You think your dress took a lot of rations. Where�s Meg?� He asked, not really in the mood for small talk. Silently, he recalled the conversation the two had had earlier that day.

�Pick me up at 1900?� She asked as they stopped at her quarters. He faced her and gently played with her hair, avoiding her stare. There was a short pause.

�No, I think I�ll just meet you there.� He said in a humdrum sort of way, but be the way she looked at him, he knew she had noticed the way his mouth edged on a smile. She knew there was more going on in his mind.

�Ok� why?� She took his hand from her hair and held it in her own. He finally surrendered and looked her in the eyes. Unable to hold it any longer he flashed a quick smile.

�I don�t know, I think the� Cinderella touch� would be more romantic. You know, meeting each other at the ball?� He raised his eyebrows seductively and put his arms over her head, over her back, trapping her in his playful embrace. �Catching each other�s eye from across the room and� knowing.�

She smiled, putting her own arms around his abdomen. �I thought we already �knew�.�

He shrugged, swaying them slightly in the hug. �Well,� he said, look down for a moment and then back into her eyes, �There�s an old saying. Something about�� he trailed off to kiss her on the lips, then broke away and continued, �keeping the romance alive.�

She smiled again, and they both stood for a second, he transfixed by her alluring blue eyes. �You�re too good for me.� She said.

He kissed her again and broke their embrace. �I know,� he replied with a hint of jest somewhere in his voice. He walked backwards a couple steps down the hall as he spoke, �I�ll see you there then.�

Sari broke his thoughts. �I don�t know, she said something about having to finish a diagnostic report for her quantum physics class and maybe being a bit late. Hey, want a drink?� Triam brushed off Sari�s casual disinterest in his inquiry and briefly glanced at the drinks table.

�Sure, why not. But I�ll go get it��

�No, you wait here for Meg,� she said, already backing away to the table. �Name your poison.�

He shrugged. �Suarian Brandy� Blood Wine�� he paused, remembering a term his cousin Tom had used once. �Saline IV. I don�t know, something strong.�

�It�s synthohol, hon.,� She said.

[tom_88_2]

very good

[Thomas]

Intriguing!

[Sam Kenobi]

He shrugged, smiling and turned back to the veranda and leaned against it, looking over the Bay, the balcony coming just to the right spot where he could comfortably rest his forearms upon it. The first slightly cool wind he had felt that night brushed lightly against his face. He turned his head to the right, closing his eyes and inhaling the ocean air. It was when he turned back around that he saw her.

Triam had to take a double take, but the first thing he thought when he saw her at the top of the stairs in her elegant black dress was that he had been absolutely right. There was something to be said for the Cinderella touch. She was talking to Commander Stout, who was obviously complimenting Meg on the d�cor in the yard; Meg had a smile on her face and thanked the teacher before Stout walked away. Meg turned her head to go down the stairs to where Triam was, but then her eyes caught his. He felt his face fall, as he saw hers do the same and he stared intently into her eyes for a moment before moving to go up the stairs, keeping her gaze. She left the banister she had momentarily rested her hand on and stepped down the stairs to meet him, as if the sudden spellbound moment had hypnotized her body as well as her mind.

She was more beautiful than he could ever remember seeing her, though it was only the change in clothes that was different about her. Her hair was still up in the same bun he knew, but he liked it like that. But her eyes, those beautiful blue eyes that he had forgotten so often to look this deeply into, were looking just as deeply into his and he felt a new wind pass across his body.

Meg would have said it reminded her of an old movie, the way they slowly made their way to the middle of the small staircase until she was only one step above him, causing them both to appear the same height. He forgot that there was no music playing at the moment, as if the sound of a heart beating with love was music enough. So this was what it was like to fall in love again. He had so often forgotten what it used to feel like.

Meg opened her mouth to say something, but Triam was ready for it, gently putting his fingers on her lips.

�Shh,� he said, eyes darting back and forth as he looked into hers. His brow was furrowed, wanting to say something but not knowing how to say it. Finally, he gave up, and found he was glad for it as he leaned in to kiss her.

[Voy_Girl]

Good job!

[Thomas]

I love the way that all of you guys update so quickly!

[Sam Kenobi]

�Hey, Meg� came a voice from another world. He scarcely realized it was Sari, but didn�t care to acknowledge it at the moment, even though she had not even addressed him. Meg didn�t seem to want to either, but broke the kiss slowly nevertheless. They lingered in each other�s gaze for a moment more as they slowly ebbed out of the lovers trance and back into reality. Triam looked away first to yell at Sari for being so inconsiderate, but the moment he saw her, he couldn�t help but break into a smile.

Sari was struggling with three drinks, two champagne glasses and an obviously custom exotic drink she had gotten for herself. Triam and Meg let her juggle the load for a moment before Triam finally stopped laughing long enough to grab two of the glasses from his friend. Sari smirked at him, and then took a sip of her coconut with a colorful umbrella coming out of it.

�Pena Coloda. Apparently they used to be pretty popular. Not bad.�

�Thanks, Sari,� Triam said, meaning for the two drinks he held in his hands. He handed one to Meg, keeping the messier one for himself, which was slipping with Sari�s drink that had spilled in her haste to get rid of them. Realizing he had no napkin, he subtly abandoned the drink on the balcony. Meg did the same and they turned back to face Sari.

�Oh�� the single said, looking up as Triam touched the back of Meg�s hair affectionately. �Did I interrupt something?�

Meg�s smirk was almost too quick to notice before she looked intently over Sari�s shoulder. �Oh my God, is that Jett Rushton?� Sari subconsciously looked over her shoulder as Meg grabbed Triam�s hand and took him down the stairs with her.

�Come on, there�s something I want to show you.�

[Thomas]

Nice.

[Sam Kenobi]

She drew him along with her for a while, down a small path off the main courtyard that he had never really gone down before. For a moment, he imagined she may have found this spot just for the two of them, but he remembered brilliantly when he saw the Bridge and the Bay. He had been here before, just not by night, or perhaps they had taken a different route. Lit beautifully by the romantic crescent moon, though, the Bay was an entirely different place.

There was a small terrace of the same stucco the rest of the courtyard displayed with a waist high wall surrounding it, ideal for sitting and watching the night. A comfortable looking sort of swinging sofa, something that he had never seen before, was settled cozily in the middle of the small terrace.

After the approached the Bay, they had stood there for a moment in silence, gazing out into the waters and the silhouettes of the hills just beyond. Triam stood just a few inches behind her, still holding her hand. He squeezed it slightly and she turned her head just as he emerged from the shadow.

�You know what today is?� he asked, the same cock-and-bull tone he knew she like coming through his voice. He knew that she knew, but she didn�t say anything. Meg would always rather hear it from him. There was a pause as they both looked out onto the reflection of the moon on the Bay before he furrowed his brow and spoke.

�I was about ready to give up on you, you know.�

�I know.�

Turning her to face him, he looked at her for a couple of seconds, smiled slightly and leaned in to kiss her softly on the lips. He broke away, but kept nearly as close when he opened his eyes.

�Happy anniversary, Meg.�

[ILoveHarry]

MORE MORE MORE!!!!!!

[tom_88_2]

^ yea more

[Josi Rockholt]

Read the whole thing just now. It's great and need more right now.

[Sam Kenobi]

ok, ok. Thanks all. More will be coming soon. that was actually the end of the sappy love story. The next installment will take place just about a year after this first one ^. But I have to finish it first, don't worry, its almost done

[ILoveHarry]

WOOHOO!!! I can't wait! Then again, who am I to talk? I have not added on to my story for a while... opps!

[Sam Kenobi]

Good morning readers... well, ok its afternoon, uh... anyway. Here's the long awaited next installment to the story of Triam Paris. This story in tenderly entitled... um... wait, no. I shouldn't tell you because that gives it away. So yeah. Be forewarned, later on there's a bit of language... but only to make the story more realistic.. ha.. haha. ok. *bumbubum!* oh yeah, this story occurs just about a year after the previous one.... ok

*********

The night found the two of them walking hand in hand next to the bay. Just beyond the bridge sat a nearly full moon, which lit the night sky enough so that each man walking on the beach could easily see the face of his lover, but little else. The black water splashed hungrily at the rocks and the passers-by, waiting for a soul to touch with its cold licks. Triam felt Meg shiver and chanced a sideways glance at her.

�Cold?�

�Only a little. I�ll be fine. Just one of those random shivers.�

�Somebody just walked on your grave.�

She didn�t look back at him, staring instead intently at the ground on which they were walking. He sighed at her silence and put his arm around her, pulling her close. By the way he felt her arm snake beneath his jacket and around his waist, he could sense something was on her mind. She rested her head on his shoulder as they continued to walk.

�What�s wrong, girly?� He asked softly, gently squeezing her shoulder with his left hand. �You don�t feel right.�

Again, she didn�t respond, but stopped them in their tracks, pivoting to face him and hugged him tightly. Triam wrapped his arms around her, rubbing her back comfortingly first, than moved to her hair, stroking it back gently so she would look up at him.

�Hey,� he said quietly, looking deeply into her eyes. Though he didn�t know the reason the mood had arisen, he smiled slightly to try and lighten it. Meg put a hand to his face and kissed him lightly on the lips.

�I love you,� she said, voice cracking a bit as her thumb ran up and down the light stubble he had neglected to shave that morning. He smiled fully now, moving his arms from her back to rest on her shoulders.

�Now I know something�s wrong. You never say that first. Come on, girl, what�s on your mind?�

Meg kissed him again, than took his arms from her shoulders and drew him to a nearby picnic table. Triam straddled the end of a bench, allowing her to stretch her legs out on the rest of it and lean back against him. They sat like that for a lingering moment, she in his arms, gazing at the water and crossing, and beyond, the moon, who smiled his omen upon the world. Finally, Meg spoke.

�I�ve been thinking. About us mostly. Our time is running out, you know?�

Triam furrowed his brow slightly. �No, I don�t know. Why do you say that?�

�We�ve got� seven months until graduation? You�ll be posted to a starship and I need to stay here to finish two more years in physics to get where I want to go.� She paused as she took his hand in hers, tracing his fingertips with her own. �There�s not much time for a relationship in either of those paths. And then we�ll be so far apart.�

[ILoveHarry]

MORE!!!!!!!!! I want to know what happens!

[Sam Kenobi]

He didn�t reply for a while, lost in his own thoughts. Of course, the prospect had crossed his mind, but he had pushed it back almost immediately. He had not wanted to be reminded every time that he looked at her that they would soon meet the parting of the ways in the road of providence that had been paved by their own choices. They both had known this time would come, but it almost seemed too soon. Triam shifted in his position a bit before speaking.

�We�ll make the best of the time we have, then. And�� he loitered on the thought, finally shrugging slightly, ��cross that bridge when we come to it.�

Meg smiled faintly. �I knew you would say that.� With a laugh, he hugged her.

�I guess I�m too predictable. But you try to come up with another analogy when you�re staring at that thing.� He nodded toward the Golden scenery in front of them. The moment and laughter, however, were short lived as they fell into a silence again.

After a drawn out beat, Meg spoke silently. �I don�t think I�ll be able to make it across.�

�I know,� he responded, as if to say he felt exactly the same way. He rubbed her upper arms, feeling her shiver again, and drew in a deep breath. �I know.�

********************************************

Later that night, just as the moon was about to reach its climax in the sky, the couple was on their way back to campus on a wide, well-lit path through the park. They passed a transport station and Triam looked over his shoulder, the building reminding him of something.

�You still thinking about going to see your mom?�

She shrugged. �I don�t know yet. I told her to expect me anytime this week. I wasn�t sure if we�d have plans or not. I�d rather just stay here, though.�

�Why?� he asked sardonically. �A nice bit of that mountain air would be good for you after being cooped up here for so long.�

�What good is the mountain air with only your mother for company?�

He looked over at her, almost patronizingly. �She misses you, that�s all. I think you should go.�

She scoffed. �Are you trying to get rid of me?�

�Yep,� he replied, but in a tone so she knew he was joking. She punched him in the ribs jokingly. They both laughed as he caught her in his arms before she could move away. He whispered in her ear as from behind as they struggled to move forward in that arrangement. �I want you to go and I want you to miss me so much that you can�t stand it anymore.�

She leaned her face against his. �Well, I figured there would be enough of that going on once we graduate�

�You still thinking about that?�

�Yeah.� After a pause, he replied.

�Me too. Listen��

Triam moved so they stood facing each other. Holding her hands in his, he avoided her eyes while trying to think of the right words. Finally, he looked at her.

�I� I don�t have to go out once I graduate. I can stay here while you finish school.�

[Sam Kenobi]

�Triam, no. You�re not wasting your time here when you worked this hard to get posted on a starship.�

He shook his head. �I don�t care right now how hard I worked for what. I want to stay. We�ll be together. We can get married. Everything we�ve talked about.�

She looked at him calmly. �Babe, I know you� I know how much you hate it here. I�m not going to sit by and let you miss out on all the adventures I know you�re after.� Letting out a short breath, he let go of her hands, crossed his arms and looked at her with an obvious cynical remark on his tongue.

�You can give me sentiment all you want. It�s not going to work; I made up my mind.�

�I just want you to be happy.� She said with an equally rising voice.

�I want me to be happy too, that�s why I�m staying.�

�Well, it�s always about you, isn�t it?�

�No, this is about both of us. I�d just like a little support about my decision.�

�I don�t have to give you support if I don�t support it, Triam.�

He looked her over for a second, confused by her rigor on the matter. �Whatever happened to what we were just talking about? I thought you wanted to be together.�

�I do, you know that.�

�Then why are you against this?� He said, putting his arms out exasperatedly.

�I already told you.�

�Well, if I�m wasting my life away, at least it will be with you.�

�Oh, that�s touching,� she said dryly.

�Meg, what the hell do you want me to say then?�

�I want you to say that you�re following your goals- everything you�ve worked for- instead of some fancy you�ve just thought up.�

He snickered before quickly retorting nastily. �I don�t need your opinion to help me decide what I�m going to do with my life.�

�Thanks, Triam, I�ll keep that in mind,� she turned and walked away, but he grabbed her arm harshly.

�Don�t walk away from me!� He said loudly as he turned her roughly to face him. She countered with a hard slap to his left cheek. He kept his face turned for a second, regaining his composure before he looked back at her. She shook his hand from her arm.

[Sam Kenobi]

*just a little warning, this next part has some mild language*
**************************************************

�I�m going to my mother�s for a couple of days. Maybe when I get back we can talk about this like civilized people.� He didn�t reply, not knowing what to say- he had never treated her like that before, but his face still burned with anger. Meg shook her head annoyedly at him. �You can walk me to the transport station.� Triam bit his tongue, forcing back a torrid remark and simply nodded.

The walk to the station was short and quiet. They walked next to each other, but kept their distance. Triam had to keep his hands in his pockets to keep from rubbing his stinging face. He opened the door for her and she walked past him without a word.

�Montrose, Colorado.� She said to the hologram manning the transport controls as she stepped up to the pad. The hologram nodded and began to put the coordinates into the computer.

Triam took a breath as he looked up at her. �Meg��

�I�ll see you in three days.� She interrupted coldly. The hologram initiated the transport.

�Bye,� Triam said in a goaded tone, just as she faded out of sight. He rolled his eyes and began to walk back toward the door, shoving his hands back in his pockets. The hologram manning the controls stared at him blankly, simultaneously finishing the transport procedure. Triam was about to make some flippant remark right before his big exit, but just as he opened his mouth, a sound from the console pierced a knife of cold fear into his heart.

The loud alarm signified that something had gone wrong with the transport. Before he really understood what was happening, Triam found himself across from the hologram, the transport panel separating them.

�What�s wrong, why is it doing that?�

�A problem has occurred with the transport.�

�No sh*t.� He said sarcastically. �What about it?�

�Interference from an unknown source is attempting to scatter the beam.�

�Unknown source? She�s going to her mother�s in Colorado. Why would anything be tampering with that?�

�Uncertain,� it stated simply.

�Well, get her the hell back then. Find out what�s wrong with your damn transporter and we�ll just go somewhere else.�

The hologram spoke as it tapped at the controls on the console in front of it. �That would be unwise. The strain from a reversal mid-transport has been known to have serious repercussions.�

�I didn�t ask for your f*cking opinion, hologram. Just get her back here.� Triam said, getting more and more desperate. It glanced at him, and then went back to work right as a signal began to flash in the lower right hand corner of the console. Triam recognized it from drills. But he couldn�t bring himself to speak the words, reminding the hologram that it was losing her.

As the hologram worked, Triam could see Meg�s faint form fading in and out on the transporter pad. Within a minute, however, the image became stronger, and he walked to the edge of the platform just as she appeared in full and the tumult passed.

After a sigh of relief, Triam bit his lip to hold back a smile, granted from his relief in her well being, but mostly because of the look on her face. She looked as though she had just gotten off a sickening roller coaster in one of her fairground holoprograms.

�You all right, girl?� he asked, finally letting the grin get the better of him.

Meg didn�t reply. Instead, her face paled suddenly and she began to crumple to the ground so slowly that he easily found time to both realize what was happening and get on to the pad to catch her before she hit the ground.

[Sam Kenobi]

�Meg?� he asked, trying to get her eyes to concentrate on his own. He moved to sit on the ground, holding her upper body in his arms and lap. He instinctively knew that something was fatally wrong, and could read his own fear reflected in her eyes. �Meg, what�s wrong?�

Her breathing came rapidly as she tried to respond. �My� chest� hard to breathe�� She was cut off by her own cry of pain.

He touched her face with his palm as he turned to shout behind him at the hologram. �Call a doctor, get someone in here.� As he turned back to face her, he took his hand away from her face as it grew colder suddenly. �Oh God��

�Triam��

�No, no, don�t talk, there�s a doctor coming. You�ll be fine.� His hand was shaking as he reached to hold hers. He could hear the call being made behind him and took his own shuddering breath. �Don�t you do this to me, ok?� Turning his face upward, he whispered to any god who was listening. �Don�t do this to me.�

She convulsed suddenly in his arms with an unnatural mix of a scream and a gasp. Not knowing what to do, he gripped her tighter, holding her to his body as he whispered into her ear, his voice involuntarily weak.

�Meg. Meg. No. No, don�t do this to me, ok? Don�t��

�Triam�� Her voice came almost unnoticeable. He held her body down a bit so he could see her face as she spoke. �What�s happening?�

He felt a hot tear roll down each cheek even as he tried to suppress a sob from escaping. Shaking his head slightly, he responded with difficulty. �I don�t know, girl. I don�t know, but you have to stick through it, ok? I�m not about to leave here without you.�

He heard a loud entrance from the door behind him and chanced a glance back to see a few medics enter.

�Over here,� Triam said impulsively, neither noticing nor caring that he and Meg were the only other beings in the station. The medics hopped up onto the transport pad, medical tricorders already scanning.

�I�m picking up vastly erratic heartbeats�� the one with the black hair said, interrupted by the younger looking medic who was scanning from behind Triam.

�Affirmative, something has put massive strain on the circulatory system. Sir,� he said, addressing Triam, �Sir, you�re going to have to move away from her.�

�No, I�m not moving, I need to stay right here with her.�

�Cadet, you need to move away, that�s an order.�

�I�m not leaving her!� Triam nearly screamed at the black haired medic. He felt the younger one grab him from behind and begin to pull him off the transport pad, but soon found the leverage for a well placed backwards jab with his right hand over his left shoulder which hit the man squarely in the face, knocking him completely off the pad. Triam hurried back to Meg�s side.

[Josi Rockholt]

Good job,now where's the rest? What happens?