<USS Avalon> "More Alike Than Before"

"More Alike Than Before"
Skyler and Tavi 
 
Sitting in the  darkness of her office Skyler felt a mixture of emotions. She 
had done the one  thing she dreaded and that was to destroy the Avalon-B. To 
make it worse Tery  was gone without a note or any type of acknowledgment. It 
was as if their  relationship didn't happen or matter. She had never felt so 
alone and helpless  in a very long time. If it hadn't been for her talk with 
Moreya Skyler didn't  know what she would do. She still wasn't sure even though 
she knew she wanted  what would eventually come to pass.

 

Tavi had been  doing her schoolwork in the ship's library.  Now that she was 
done for the  day, she went to find Skyler.  Maybe she could get a good idea 
of something  to make for dinner -- not that programming a replicator meal 
really qualified as  "making" dinner.  She peeked from the turbolift onto the 
Bridge and didn't  see Skyler there, so she slipped down the short corridor to 
the 
Captain's office  and pressed the chime.

 
Hearing the chime Skyler automatically replied, "Enter."  She hadn't a clue 
as to who would be calling on her in her office. It certainly  wasn't Moreya, 
she had just left. 
 
The youngster walked  into the dim office, squinting as her eyes adjusted.  
"Do you have a  headache?" she asked.  Why else would the lights be turned down 
so  low?

 

Wiping her eyes real quick Skyler looked up. "Hey kiddo,  what brings you 
here? I don't really have a headache, just didn't feel like  having the lights 
on 
real bright." It was the truth afterall. She didn't want  anyone to see her 
the way she was at the moment. "Aren't you supposed to be  doing your school 
work?" 
 

"I  finished.  Miri said I could come and ask if you wanted me to get supper  
ready for us.  She said I shouldn't bother you too long, but I could come  
and ask," Tavi added, so Skyler wouldn't think the librarian was telling her to 
 
be a nuisance.

 

"I think if you want to start supper that would be  wonderful. And you tell 
Miri that you can bother me as long as you want. You  have my permission. So 
how is your school work coming?" 
 

Tavi made a  little face.  "I'm not sure I get Rigellian poetry," she 
admitted.   "It doesn't make sense.  But I like Level 8 Maths, and Lt. Price 
says I'm 
 doing real good in Physical Science."  She grinned.

 

 

"That is good news. Poetry never made sense to me either.  Let alone 
Rigellian poetry. It sounds like you are doing a great job. I am proud  of you. 
You 
have done a great deal of growing up since you came aboard this  ship. Have you 
decided on a family name for us yet?" She wanted to talk to her  about Tery, 
about destroying the Avalon-B and Moreya but wasn't sure how to go  about it. 
 

"Not yet, but  I've got it narrowed down some," said Tavi.  She didn't want 
to share her  choices until she was pretty sure.  "Maybe pretty soon."  Sensing 
that  it would be all right, she pulled up a chair and sat cross-legged on 
it.   "You didn't like blowing up the other ship."  Maybe that's why it was 
dark 
 in here.

 

"No, I didn't like blowing up the other ship. It was full  of memories. 
However it was neccessary. Or so I have been told. How do you feel  about me 
blowing it up?" She really was interested in what Tavi had to say about  the 
destruction of the Avalon-B. 
 

"A ship is a  ship."  Tavi shrugged.  "All the people were off of it, so you 
didn't  kill anybody.  The computer was already dead, so even if it's a 
person, you  didn't kill it.  We got all the important stuff.  So what was  
left?"  
She shrugged again.  "Your memories are in you, not in the  ship."

 


Looking at Tavi, Skyler was still amazed at the insight that came  from a 
child. Let alone one who had gone through as much as this one had. "I  suppose 
you are right, still...it hurts a little. Also we are still a family of  two. 
Tery won't be joining us." Skyler looked off into the distance wondering  what 
had happened.  


"Did I scare her away?" Tavi asked very quietly.

"No Tavi. You didn't scare her away. She just  left a note saying she had 
been called away. It had nothing to do with you. Why  would you think such a 
thing?" ~If anything I am wondering if it had anything  to do with me but I 
can't 
dwell on that like Moreya  said.~  


"Besides if she couldn't handle you then I don't  want her around or anyone 
else for that matter. We are a package deal.  Remember?"  


"I just wondered," said Tavi, still softly.  "Meg says a lot of  grownups, 
especially in Starfleet, don't like having kids around.  And she  says I might 
scare people if I'm like her.  She thinks I am.  But I'm  glad you want me 
around," she added, with a small smile.
"Of course I want you around! And don't you ever forget it turkey.  You are 
not like anyone. You are your own unique and special person." Skyler  extended 
her hand and waited for Tavi to take it and come sit next to her. She  pulled 
her close and held her tight. She needed to feel close to someone. 


Tavi snuggled close.  It felt so good to be wanted.  She  didn't want to 
spoil the moment by contradicting Skyler and explaining what her  friend meant.


"You don't have to worry little one, I know what  your friend meant and I 
also know you are not like her. Have you decided what is  for dinner or are we 
going to wing it?" Reaching down Skyler began to tickel  Tavi. 


Tavi squirmed away, giggling.  "Let's have a picnic," she  offered.  "In the 
holodeck."


"Hmm, a picnic you say. Sounds okay to me. I do  have one question. Do you 
mind if Moreya joins us?" Skyler was extremely nervous  at what Tavi would say. 
She knew Moreya was coming for the night but would Tavi  be upset by it.  


"Does Moreya like picnics?"  Tavi rather liked Moreya, even if  she was kind 
of mysterious.

"As a  matter of fact, I believe she does. How could anyone not like a 
picnic?  Especially one conjured up by you. Chef Extrodinaire!"  


"Oh, goodie!"  Tavi almost jumped up and down with glee.   "We can have a 
picnic like the one I was reading about last week.  Fried  chicken and potato 
salad, and pickles, and cake!"


Skyler chuckled at Tavi's reaction. "Fried  Chicken, potato salad, pickles 
and cake. That sounds like a utterly delicious  menu. Why don't you check the 
replicator and see if you can't find somekind of  Deltan dish for Moreya. I'm 
sure it would mean a lot to here. Knowing you were  thinking of her." ~It would 
mean a lot to me as well.~  


Tavi startled.  Had she really heard an extra comment after  Skyler's lips 
stopped moving?  She pulled herself together and went to the  replicator.  It 
took a moment, because this replicator didn't have all the  same things on the 
quick lookup that the one in their quarters did.  Tavi  pulled up the main menu 
and located the items she wanted, requesting them in  individual picnic 
containers with handles for carrying.  Her chosen menu in  two of them for 
herself 
and Skyler, and a third container of Deltan fish and  vegetables with steamed 
grain... and cake.  Even Deltans would like  cake!  Placing the picnic boxes 
on Skyler's desk as they materialized, Tavi  remembered to order a thermal jug 
of cold sweet tea, too.

"That smells good Miss Chef. Now, about this picnic. Would like a  lake to go 
swimming in, or rocks to climb? What kind of program would you like?"  


"Let's decide when we get there," Tavi suggested, picking up the jug  and one 
container.

"Okay, Let me send a message  to Moreya to meet us in the holodeck as soon as 
her shift is done. Or you can  send it if you would like?"  


"You can."  Tavi was a little embarrassed that she couldn't  remember 
Moreya's rank in order to address the computer for a message to  her.

"Her rank little one is Sr. Lieutenant Moreya. I  think it would be nice if 
you invited her."  


Tavi's jaw dropped.  If Skyler was hearing her thoughts, maybe  she had heard 
Skyler's!  "Sure," she agreed, after a moment of  getting over the shock.  
"Computer, message to Senior Lt.  Moreya."

Skyler looked at Tavi  somewhat bewildered. "Why is you jaw hanging down to 
your feet? You act as if  you just heard a ghost or something?"  


The girl just shook her head and responded to the computer's  prompt.  
"Message:  Ms. Moreya, would you please join Captain Skyler  and me in the 
holodeck 
for a picnic at the end of your shift.  We'll have  fun."  She grinned, trying 
not to giggle.  "See you  soon!"

Smiling Skyler commented, "That was well done.  Almost as if you have been 
doing it all your life." Standing Skyler picked up  the remaining basket and 
looked at Tavi. "Shall we go and program our picnic."  ~I hope you won't mind 
that Moreya may be spending the  night.~  

"No, I don't..."  Tavi stopped on the way out of the office and  turned back 
to Skyler, suddenly silenced.

"What?"  Skyler looked at Tavi with some concern. "Whats wrong?" 


"Am I supposed to hear you when you're not talking out loud?" she  asked 
plaintively.

Looking a little stunned  Skyler paused, "You can hear me when I am not 
talking? When did that start?"  


"I don't know, but I only noticed it just now today."  Tavi was  a little 
frightened.  Not of being able to do that, exactly, but of how it  happened so 
suddenly.  She was used to feeling when people were  nearby.  She had learned 
to 
listen to machinery in order to make it work  the way she wanted it to.  But 
this was new.

Putting her pail down she pulled Tavi next to her on the couch.  "There is 
nothing to be afraid of. Remember when you first came aboard we really  didn't 
know a great deal about you? Now we know that you have some abilities.  Similar 
to mine. You can sense what I am thinking and I can sense what you are  
thinking. It is nothing to be ashamed of. We may need to have a few lessons on  
how 
to control your shields so you don't go around hearing everyone's thoughts  
like I did when I first got my abilities. Boy did it irritate  my mother when I 
would go around telling everyone what she was feeling." Skyler  laughed at 
that thought.  


"I don't want to upset anybody."  Especially you.   Tavi sighed softly.  "Can 
we still have our picnic?  And worry about  it later?"


"Oh Tavi, your'e not upsetting anyone, especially  me. This makes us more 
alike than before. Must mean we were meant for each  other. As for our picnic I 
think it is a wonderful idea. And if you don't mind  Moreya staying the night 
everything will be perfect." Picking up her pail she  waited for Tavi.  

Tavi had spent her whole life learning to be  resilient.  She re-gathered the 
things she was carrying and, with a grin at  her adoptive mom, led the way 
out of the office and toward the  lift.





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