<USS Avalon> "Building New Relationships: Part One"

"Building New Relationships: Part  One"
Captain Skyler and  Tavi
08.14.2006   
 

Having left Ketchum's office after telling him about  the stowaway, Tavi, 
Skyler returned to the station to gather the girl and her  meager belongings 
and 
get her settled in on the ship. She wasn't real sure how  she was going to do 
this as she was not much in the way of a motherly type. She  was hoping the 
girl would have some sense of independence, who was she kidding.  The kid had 
been hopping from station to station for most of her life. If that  wasn't 
independence Skyler didn't know what was.
 
Walking through the airlock to the station she made her  way to her temporary 
quarters and found Tavi where she had left her. Sitting on  the floor 
reading......or rather looking at the pictures of some books. The  first thing 
that 
would have to be done is to enroll her in school. The kid was  smart and it was 
time to put those smarts to work.
 
"Okay Tavi, gather up your stuff and let's go. We're  heading on back to the 
Avalon and get you situated in my quarters -- that  is, unless you have 
changed your mind?" What did she hope to gain by living  with the XO, better 
yet 
what was Skyler hoping to gain? Only time would  tell.
 
Skyler stood there watching the girl and wondered what  was going through her 
mind. 
 
Tavi hopped up and picked up the bag  containing the few things she'd brought 
from the station medical bay -- a  toothbrush, comb, and a clean set of 
pajamas.  She didn't own anything  else; Skyler had said she'd get what she 
needed 
aboard the Avalon.   Stuffing the book-PADD into the bag, Tavi was ready to go.
 
"That didn't take you long. You almost act as if you  are excited about 
going. I already talked to the CO and he doesn't have a  problem with you 
coming 
aboard. He's not real crazy about having kids on the  bridge, but we can work 
up 
to that."
 
Standing next to the door Skyler motioned to  her.....what should she call 
Skyler? She wasn't her mother, she hadn't adopted  her. Sometimes she came up 
with the stupidest thoughts. This was one of those  times.
 
"On the Bridge?" Tavi asked, wide-eyed.  And then  clamped down on her 
reaction and walked along as if it hadn't been said.   She would love to visit 
the 
Bridge of a starship and see how everything  worked.  Almost as good as being 
able to hang around in Engineering without  worrying about getting caught!  But 
she would need to read better to  understand what was going on with all the 
different consoles and things.   The Bridge wasn't like Engineering where she 
could go by the diagrams and  understand stuff that way.  She would need to 
read words better.  Her  reading was improving, since she'd started studying on 
board the former Avalon,  but she knew it wasn't good enough yet.
 
But she had noticed the change in uniform  insignia.  She was used to 
noticing details like that.  "Miz --  Captain Skyler?  Did you get promoted?"
 
Here it was, the moment she was dreading.....  "Yes, Tavi I did get promoted. 
In fact it happened shortly before I came back  here. That doesn't change the 
fact that you are still coming to live with me  unless......you haven't 
changed your mind, have you? You don't have to call me  Captain, at least not 
when 
we are together."
 
Skyler led the way out the door and toward the air lock  that would start a 
whole new chapter in her life. She just wished she had  someone to talk to. 
Someone like Moreya. I wonder what she is up to these  days? 
 
"No..." Her voice was very small.  "I haven't  changed my mind."  Have you? 
she wondered, but didn't ask  aloud.  She followed Skyler through the airlock 
and along the short length  of the docking tube.  Then they were aboard the 
ship, and the air even felt new.
 
Without even thinking about it, Skyler reached down and  grabbed the little 
girl's hand. "No, Tavi, I haven't changed my mind. Why do you  think I would 
change my mind? I made you a promise and I always try to keep my  promises. We 
are both starting a new adventure, on a new ship, together. You and  me."
 
Entering the nearest lift the two leaned against the  back wall. "Bridge." 
Skyler said with authority and a slight grin. She knew  Ketchum would be busy 
with reports and stuff, and that no one would be on the  bridge at the moment. 
She figured the surprise might gain her some points with  Tavi. Besides for 
some reason, she wanted to show off the new place and who  better to show it 
off 
to.

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