"Oh, Walker, there you are. I've been meaning to talk to you like, forever, but I think you've been avoiding me." Tafton's lower lip curled in a pout and she placed her hands on her hips. "So, why haven't you returned my messages?"

Jack snickered, and then pretended to cough. Beverly pursed her lips and tried not to laugh. It was true that Walker had been avoiding Tafton at all costs, as he couldn't stand the thought of hurting the poor girl's feelings, no matter how she annoyed him. Now, though, he realized, a dawning comprehension washing over him, he had an out.

"Tafton, I've been wanting to speak with you also. Why don't you walk with us?" Walker put his arm around the brunette's shoulders as they traversed the hallway, heading for breakfast before their morning classes.

"Oh, Walker, I thought you didn't even care about me anymore," Tafton gushed. "I thought you'd forgotten all about me. But I see that you did read my messages."

"I…I did?" Walker said, and though it was a question, the girl took it as an acknowledgment.

"Of course you did! I told you that if I didn't see you before breakfast today I'd know it was over between us." Tafton smiled and then leaned over dramatically. "But, now I know that you feel as strongly about our love as I do." She pursed her lips to kiss him, but he pulled away. Jack's body was racked with unreleased laughter, and Beverly was torn between amusement and embarrassment for her friend.

"Tafton," said Walker, taking her hand in his. "I'm sorry, but I don't love you."

"Oh, you may not love me now, Walker, but you will." Her smile could have lit the room.

"Tafton, I'm sorry, but I can't, er, allow myself to fall in love with you. You see, I've been posted on the Stargazer. As soon as this term is over, I'll be leaving. For good. Who knows when we'll get a chance to see each other again? I can't hurt you like that." Walker sighed as though he were forlorn, but actually he was exasperated. This had gone on long enough.

"Oh, Walker! I didn't know you cared so much! You're right, my heart would just break if you had to leave. That's why you should stay here." There were tears in the girl's eyes. Suddenly Keel's easy out didn't seem so easy anymore.

"Tafton, I can't. I signed up for Starfleet so I could see the stars, now that's what I'm going to do. I'm sorry, but I can't stay here with you. I would lose everything I've worked so hard for.

Tafton suddenly jerked her hand away from Walker's and flung her chair back from the table. "FINE! I HATE YOU WALKER KEEL! YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU'RE MISSING!" She stormed away, and Beverly jumped up to console her.

"Well, That went well," Walker said miserably.

Jack silently patted him on the back.

* * *

"I can't believe he doesn't love me."

"Tafton, you can't make someone love you just because you love them. It doesn't work like that. Believe me, I know." Beverly was trying to be consoling, but she was also trying not to be late.

Suddenly, from out of no where, Mina appeared. "How would you know, Howard," she drawled, twirling a thick tendril of hair around a perfectly manicured finger. "You seem to have had your share of affections lately."

"Go away, Mina," Beverly raged, nervous because she didn't know just how much truth Mina believed was in her statement. "We really don't need your help right now."

"Well, I just hate it when people try to console others by pretending to feel the way they do. I was just trying to be nice. I care about poor Tafton, you know."

"You don't care about anything, Mina." Beverly shot daggers at the girl.

"Well, perhaps not. Don't you think everyone deserves to know the truth though?" Mina smiled maliciously. "I think things might be a little different were reality to rear its ugly head here."

"What's she talking about, Beverly," Tafton asked nervously. The blond looked positively vicious.

"it doesn't matter Tafton. She's just playing games. Let's go."

Mina snorted. "you're one to talk about playing games, Howard. How's this for a game? Why don't you lead on a man that dearly loves you, fall in love with an older man and have an affair with him, and then silence his best friend with a kiss. Those aren't games to you, though, are they Beverly? Those are just circumstances, moments that carried you away."

"Mina, shut up," said Beverly, glancing at Tafton, who was still trying to work out all that Coldwell had said.

"What's the matter Howard, can't stand to hear the truth about yourself?"

Though that was part of the problem, Beverly refused to relent. Suddenly, from out of the trees, Korbin Smith hurled herself at them. "Leave her alone, Mina. Just go on and do whatever it is you do to ruin everyone's days. Haven't you done enough damage here already." The girl's eyes flashed fire, and she stood with the strength of righteousness behind her. Mina just stared.

"Go on, get out of here, I said. I've had enough of you. There are too many good people in the world for us to have to put up with someone like you. Now leave!" Smith stomped her foot for emphasis and Mina, not knowing what else to do, slipped away.

Beverly and Tafton turned and stared. "What are you waiting for?" asked Korbin. "Come on, Beverly, she almost made you late for class." Beverly, dumbfounded, followed her friend like a leashed puppy.

Tafton stared after them, so shocked she forgot everything Mina said.

* * *

"Walker, she knows." Beverly caught up to the man early the next afternoon, just one day before her trial was to commence.

"Who knows?" Walker asked. He didn't need to ask what she was referring to. there could only be one thing.

"Mina." That was the last name he had wanted to hear. He sighed deeply.

"All right. I'll figure out something before she spreads it all over Starfleet." The look on his face aged him ten years.

"How'd she find out? I know she was no where around when we had our little, urm, discussion." Beverly looked troubled, but her comfort was the least of Walker's concerns right now. He had some major damage control to do, and he needed help. He had to enlist the only person he knew he could trust.

"Beverly," he said, taking on the commanding air that had so intrigued Picard, "find Data."

She nodded and scurried away, intent on saving her career.

* * *

Data and Walker sat with their heads together in the corner of the cafeteria late into the night, discussing and modifying their strategy. "If only she hadn't done that," Walker kept repeating. Data, much to his irritation, continued to give the same reply.

"There is an old Earth idiom that states 'If ifs and buts were confections and edible plant products we would all have a joyous holiday season."

"Whatever, Data," he mumbled under his breath. He was certain he had heard something similar before, but what the android said made no sense.

"Returning again to the question you proposed, Cadet Keel, 'How do we weasel our way out of this mess,' I have several other possible solutions." When Data repeated Walker's question he did so in the human's voice, which gave Keel the creeps.

"Well, go on then." Data rose to leave. "I mean, tell me your other ideas." Walker was glad he wouldn't be getting his own command anytime soon. For all his friendliness and help, Data's literal interpretation of everything made his teeth hurt.

"Perhaps, rather than confronting the problem immediately and being forced to bear all of the repercussions we should let the trial run its course and hope that no reference to the event occurs." Walker felt idiotic. The plan was beautiful in its simplicity. It was also the most obvious solution he had ever heard. He wondered why he hadn't thought of it before. "For example, in the 2207 case of McLeoud vs. Anderson…"

"Thank you Data, far more than I needed to know," Walker interrupted. Data nodded, unperturbed. At least I don't have to worry about hurting the android's feelings, Walker mused wryly. "What about when Mina brings it up?"

"We shall instruct every witness to answer the questions truthfully, as they are posed."

"Then what difference does it make if we bring up the subject or not. They'll find out soon enough." This really was hopeless, Walker decided. They couldn't lie under oath, yet they couldn't tell the truth without destroying lives. Walker wished he could curse Beverly, but he knew she was only human. Much as he thought what she had done was wrong, he couldn't act as though she were the only one to have ever done such a thing.

"They will answer the questions exactly as they are posed." Data said.

At last, Walker caught on. Maybe there was hope after all. "Data, you're a genius," he said.

"I have a positronic brain," Data replied.

* * *