EXETERRPG: (2, 20:00) CO, Captain Trip Williams, and FO, Commander Ailynn Bracken

[Will Banowsky]

Mission: A new day dawns
Day: 2
Stardate: 2446.01.29

(Earth- Home of Trip and Ashlyn Williams- CO, Captain Trip Williams, and
FO, Commander Ailynn Bracken - 2000)

"Do you regret not taking the hood?"

"Honestly? Not really. I mean, obviously I'll always wander 'what if?' I
know that there'll be another chance, but it's not me, not yet."

"yeah. I feel ya."

She sighed. "This is all so familiar." Turning to him she spoke gently, her
voice thick with emotion. "Do you remember the last time we left each other
like this?"

"that feels like a lifetime ago."


(Flashback to Earth- San Francisco, home of Aimee Bracken -  Trip Williams
(15) and Ailynn Bracken (18))

Ailynn left the house by the backdoor, and circled the pool, headed toward
the side fence, a well trodden path laid down by years of footsteps put
down by herself. As she reached the fence she pushed aside a couple of the
boards, and slipped through, ~this was easier when I was a kid~ she found
herself thinking.

“Trip?” She called. “Hey Yo! Flyboy!”

"Stop shouting," Trip said coming out of the house. He was dressed in
workout clothes. He had just gotten back from the gym and was drinking a
protein shake.

Ailynn looked at her friend, grown from ‘the boy next door’ he was only now
just able to look her in the eyes.

"so what's up?"

“You finally get your wish Trip…No not that one.” she smiled shyly, heading
off the next smart-arse remark that was going to be on the tip of his
tongue “The one that we always yell at each other when we argued? You know
‘go away and get lost?’”


"Damn and here I was thinking I'd get a show. " He said with a smile. He
had finally hit a growth spurt and knew he would soon tower over his
amazonian heighted friend.

“Not going to happen.” She blushed, certain things were a source of
embarrassment. “Asshat. I’m…leaving. INew Intake day.” The emotion was
palpable. She’d had a year that she shouldn’t have pulled through, faced
demons that she didn’t knew who knew about, had fallen from the highest
heights to the gutters.

"so get lost huh, orientation starts soon then?"

“Tomorrow.” she opened her mouth to say more but the words simply wouldn’t
form.

"I mean the academy isn't too far. I'll be able to go visit like all the
time." Trip said knowing it wasn't true. She'd be swamped and if he wanted
to get to the academy he'd need to bust his ass off for the entrance exam."

“Trip…” He was her oldest friend, but she knew she had to walk away this
time. “You…can’t. I know you get why.”

"I can at least $#@#$%# try,"

“Trip, our families have serious reputations. Names that go before us. I…”
She changed tack “...we have to work ten times as hard just to be treated
the same.”

"so what, that's it. Don't try, don't call. I'll see you when I see you?"

“I didn’t say don’t call. I…”

"you just don't want to be seen with a teenager, I get it. Itd uncool. you
don't want your new friends to see you with a high schooler. I understand."

“Dammit Trip…I am a teenager, and it isn’t about friendship. You and Sienna
are the only friends I’ve ever had, you think it’s easy for me to walk away
from this?” She motioned around her. “I am facing 4 years just to graduate
the Academy, then…IF I am lucky, and since mum is a medical Captain, I have
to ace every test I ever take just to prove I’m not sailing, then I might
get to do three more years stupidly intense work.”

"Well and you think I have it easier? Gramps ran the damn thing. Dad is
dean of engineering. You'll be fine. You pretty much date your books
anyways."

“You’re my best friend. Sooner or later, you are going to hit this wall
too.”

"Id rather hit something real instead."

“That will get you into trouble.” Ailynn said. “I’m sorry I shouted. On
edge.” The truth was so much more painful, but it was slowly abating.

"look its ok. We won't live next to each other. We'll survive. then in 3
years, I'll be there with you."

“I’ll always be there. I have no idea how, but I’ll always try, yeah?”

"me too, you big nerd " He said jokingly

She turned and took half a step away, they saw so much of each other that
‘goodbyes’ weren’t really a thing. This time though, was different, and at
their core, they both knew it. She bodily pulled him into a close hug and
then half-whispered. “Not ashamed of saying that I’m scared.”8

"you'll crush it. you always do."

She released him from the embrace. “Closest you’ll ever get to a Bracken,
Trip.” She teased him, trying to release the nervousness that she was
bottling.


“One day a bracken will show me her tits, you’ll see. Willingly, I might
add.” He said with a laugh.

“Keep dreaming Romeo, keep dreaming.”


"Hey, want to see my 6 pack. It's brand new. I've been working on it all
summer."

Ailynn smiled, “Not exactly my thing, but you’re getting there T.”

“Yeah, at my last check up, doc think’s I’m gonna be 6’4” with wide
shoulders that can support a pretty muscular frame. I’ll be a ^%#$%*@
 colossus.”

She opened her mouth to reply, but the next sentence was never uttered.
Ailynn turned as she heard her mom's voice over the fence. “Ailynn!”

Ailynn sighed, and beheld her oldest friend. “I gotta…”

“Go? Yeah I know. Her lordship, lady Aimee, empress of all is beckoning
you.”

On a whim, she leant forward, and kissed him gently on the cheek, as an
elder sibling would to a younger. As Ailynn walked away her soul was
disquiet, an emptiness that would take a long time to fill. As she slipped
through the fence that one last time, she wiggled her fingers in a little
wave.

It was a number of years before they properly reconnected.

(End Flashback)


Ailynn shook her head at the memory, a heavy heart. “Long time ago.”

“And look where we are now.” Trip said smiling. “The only thing I remember
about that day is that was the last time I saw you when you were either
taller or the same height as me.”

“This is true.”

“Oh that and I said one day a Bracken would willingly give me a show. I’m a
$@%#@@^ Prophet.” He said, giving her a gentle punch on the shoulder.

Ailynn took the punch, and nudged him with her shoulder playfully, her mood
shifting from disquiet to silly again. “Silly arse.” The smile however,
didn’t stay attached to her face.

(reply none)
(posted by Will and Mark)
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