A/N: Part Two of Unchained Melody. Avon and Vila's paths begin to diverge.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, but I do enjoy messing with their lives.
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Arrival
Avon looked around, remembering the last time he'd come here, to scope out the complex. The low concrete buildings were the same as before, but the loneliness he felt was new. At least that other time he'd had Vila to talk to. It had been a grand adventure for both of them. They had explored the public buildings, peeked into the dorm rooms for the layout and appointments, strolled about the campus, watching students hurrying to classes. They had eaten lunch in the student union cafeteria, companionably criticizing the food and laughing quietly at the wide range of bizarre clothing and hairstyles affected by those around them, rejecting the notion that Avon would ever try them. All in all, it was a happy memory.
Now, he looked around as an outsider, alone and friendless. It was a new position for Avon. He could no longer remember a life without Vila, without someone by his side or within reach who knew and understood him. Someone who had a shared history, who understood his every look and word. For a moment, he seemed to see himself and Vila, chatting and strolling about this very stretch of campus. He didn't look forward to being alone, not at all. He would never admit it, though. He gulped back something like a sob, pulling a hand down his face, pausing briefly to rub his eyes. There seemed to be some allergen in the air that was causing them to water and burn.
"Excuse me, but you're Kerr Avon, right?" A stranger near his own age was approaching him from one side. "They sent me to meet you, to help you settle in."
Avon stopped, tilting his head and eyeing the man suspiciously. "Yes, I'm Avon. And just who are THEY?" He gave the man a speculative appraisal. The other was fairly attractive, with his curly rust-colored hair, freckled open face, and welcoming smile. Slightly shorter than Avon, he was more slender too. There was something coltish about him, though, like he hadn't quite got the hang of his body yet.
"Oh, you know," he said, with an offhand wave, "registration, administration. I'm to be your roommate, it seems." He offered his hand. "The name's Tynus."
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YEAR ONE:
I'm told by those who are supposed to know these things that a personal journal of my years here is something I should seriously consider. Who will want to read it, I'm not quite sure, but, since I'm new at the higher learning game, I will do it for awhile at least. I do wonder what will become of anything I might set down here. Perhaps someday in the distant future, when I've made a name for myself, these ramblings could actually be worth something on the literary market. One never knows, does one?
/END/
I've been here little more than a week. While I can't say I'm lonely, I do miss certain aspects of a life that no longer exists.
It's taken me several days to arrange my class schedule and labs and all the other things that go along with this. It is frustrating for me to be on the other side of the terminal while incompetents manipulate the data. I've been shuffled from pillar to post and back again for the better part of two full days, to do what I could have done in less than two hours! Maybe, for extra credit, I could volunteer to help out during the next enrollment and scheduling period. It would be an excellent opportunity to learn more of their systems and operation, knowledge that could prove useful in the future.
/END/
I really fail to see the logic of requiring certain courses of a first-year student, just because he is first-year. I am here to learn systems analysis, programming, systems repair and all that goes along with my chosen field of endeavour. What I am NOT interested in are courses in human relations or fine arts! I have no particular problem with physical education, since I understand the relationship between a healthy body and a healthy mind, but I am not interested in sweating and calisthenics, for their own sake. So, finding an appropriate course in the area of physical education won't be easy, though it is a requirement, at least during the first two years here. Since I won't have a choice, I'll just have to make the best of it.
/END/
It took awhile, but I finally got all my classes scheduled without conflicts. As I've already written, I am not happy about some of them, but if one decides that all knowledge is of some use, then nothing I learn will be entirely wasted. I chose a class in fencing as my physical education elective. I find that I'm almost looking forward to it, since I will confess to a secret fascination for swashbuckling novels and vid-casts as a child. I am grateful for one thing, however. Rather than requiring me to take lower level mathematics classes, I was allowed to test for competency in those courses. Thankfully, my scores proved more than adequate. If the truth be known, the grades I received were among the highest ever recorded. Now if I could just figure out a way to avoid some of the other classes I have no interest in.
/END/
It's been several weeks since I began attending classes. I've hardly had a chance to think of anything other than coursework and study. Sometimes, though, late at night, I realize there's something missing. I wish Vila were here. I haven't heard from him since I arrived and he did say he'd communicate regularly. I can't help but wonder if there's something wrong. However, as the old saying goes, perhaps no news is good news. I have heard nothing from my father either. He is sending regular deposits to my account here for expenses incurred, but there is nothing extra for personal pleasures. I have learned that there are ways to manipulate the financial computers here, unbeknownst to anyone but myself, which have allowed me to increase the balance in my account. At least I have money for entertainment, should I have the time and wish to use it.
/END/
I received some shocking news today. Vila was arrested, tried and convicted of grand larceny, breaking and entering and a host of lesser charges. In all the years I've known him, he's always been so careful in his 'dealings' that I must say I'm very surprised he was taken. I haven't heard from him personally and have no idea if he'll even be allowed to communicate with me. I will attempt to discover where he's being held and see if there's any way I can at least send him letters. I wish there was something more I could do for him and I do miss him, despite what I might say to the contrary. Unfortunately, I'm in the midst of a rather involved project for a statistics class and don't have the time it would take to pursue information on Vila's problem. It will have to wait.
/END/
Dearest Avon,
You may never read this. Right now, I'm not even sure I'll ever see you again. After our argument and you left for that fancy school, I went out on a job for the Terra Nostra. I knew I wasn't up to concentrating totally on that job, but you can't make excuses to the 'Nostra, can you? Anyway, I fouled up and got caught – just me, though. I got an 8-year sentence. It's as good a way to spend my time without you as any other, I guess.
I'll miss seeing Gabrielle grow up, though. Mum was right about Da forbidding me to see Gaby, but I did anyway. At least once a month I'd waylay her coming home from school. My, how beautiful she's grown! Now, I don't even dare write her – Da would just have a fit and tear up my letters. I'll try to get one of the inmates here that's getting out to tell her where I am. At least she and Mum can write to me, even if I can't write them.
I considered not sending this to you, but I'm so used to talking to you, sharing things with you, asking for your help or giving you help. Over the years, you've become a second self to me. I guess it was only one-way, though, since you seemed able to leave me behind easily enough. I think back (and I have lots of time for that) over our years together, trying to see where I failed. Or maybe it's something in you, I don't know. Oh, I'll try to write to you, but just the facts. I know they censor all our mail, in and out.
I do know I still love you and miss you more than I can say. It's a small comfort to me to write to you like this, to pretend for a few moments that you're still there for me. I hope you're happy at that school, I really do. Maybe someday we'll meet again. I wish I could ask Mum, like the first time you were taken away from me.
Be happy, Beloved,
Vila
A short, handwritten letter arrived for me today. It was from Vila. It was only a page and I could barely read it. It seems I'm to blame for his incarceration. The gist of it was that he was distracted because of missing me and apparently made several mistakes that led to his being taken by the law, as it were, in the act. I refuse to accept the blame for Vila's mistakes, but I will allow that it could have affected his judgment somewhat. In any case, because of his previous criminal record, he was sentenced to eight years in a Federation maximum security prison. Knowing my Vila as I do, I sincerely doubt that the Feds will have any more success in rearranging his scrambled gray matter that the local authorities have had on numerous occasions.
/END/
From what I have been able to learn, Vila will be allowed limited communication with me…very limited. Knowing that, I won't be surprised if I hear nothing from him for a long while. Perhaps now I can concentrate on my studies.
/END/
Dearest Avon,
Remember all those Delta street-fighting moves we learned when we were kids? Thought we were so tough? Well, they aren't good enough in prison. I'm sorry, Avon, but I had to make an 'alliance' in here, just to stay alive. The way they fight here – they don't care who dies! And they're mostly all bigger and older than me, too.
My 'alliance' is with a faction led by Sentairo. He's a big Gamma, but he's fast, too, and smarter than you'd expect. He said he'd fancy a small blond Delta with clever hands. I do my best to keep him and the others happy, but it's always you I'm thinking of. Does that make me unfaithful? Maybe, but I'm still faithful in my heart. I wrote about it to you so you'd know. I guess I want to tell you it was all right to 'form an 'alliance' of your own up there at school, I don't know.
Be happy, Beloved,
Vila
Another note arrived from Vila today. It seems I'm not the only one furthering my education. He's told me, without actually saying it, that he's learning things where he is that he would have never been able to learn elsewhere. I know that all incoming and outgoing mail is read by Security, so I wonder at the wisdom of his admissions. Maybe they don't quite understand what he's telling me. One thing bothers me, however. I've always told him I could not commit myself emotionally to him as completely as he wished, but now I sense that he may have formed an attachment to one of his fellow prisoners – and that bothers me! Jealous? I never would have considered myself to be the jealous type, but thinking of Vila with someone else, the way we used to be, well, I don't think I like it much.
/END/
My first full year here is completed. I have learned much, I will admit. However, it was not an easy time for me. Thankfully, I now have someone to share my time with. It seems my roommate and I have more in common than either of us realized at the beginning of the year. At least, with Tynus, I am not nearly so lonely as I was. I haven't written to Vila about it yet. Our communications have been fewer as the months have passed. Yet I find I still miss him, though not as much. I wonder if that part of my life is done with. I feel sure of my future now. At least my test scores were such that I was offered a full scholarship for the remaining portion of my education, assuming of course that I maintain a suitable grade point average, which should be no problem.
I won't be going home for the year-end break. There's nothing there I want to see or do. I've applied for and received a position as a tutor in computer sciences. It will give me extra income as well as something to fill my time while Tynus is away. There are days when I know I am lonely, but I now have the problem of deciding who I am lonely for. There are others here who have indicated that they could fill my hours quite nicely, but I find that my interest in sex is almost non-existent. Most of the ones who are available tend to bore me to distraction after just a few minutes, and any that I might have a remote interest in are not interested in me. Ah well, Tynus will be returning at the beginning of the Fall Quarter. I will just have to save it all for him.
/END/
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A/N: I have seen an avalanche of Australian readers and can't figure out why. Was there a B7 convention or speaking tour or a rerun of the series? If anyone can enlighten me, I would appreciate a private message about it, or a review with the information? Thanks for reading!
