A/N: Slow chapter this time, but I'm working up to bigger things in the
future . . .
***
The first thing he noticed when he slowly awoke in the morning was that no one was lying next to him, or in his arms, he couldn't smell her hair or hear or steady breathing . . . he slowly opned his eyes and found the spot next to him empty.
'She went home,' he told himself, 'on leave.'
Shaking his head, he got out of bed and glanced at the clock: 5:45 a.m. In his mind, he went over the day ahead of him, the tasks he would complete before the sun went down: Trip Regis, from Xybria, was going to be enrolled in Time Force Academy and he was his sponsor. He had a short, five-hour shift to get through. And he had a meeting with Captain Logan to discuss the reconstruction of Xybria, and the possibility of admitting them into the Federation.
He met Trip at HQ at six-thirty, and smiled a little when he saw the young boy sitting on the bench outside patiently, obviously having arrived early to avoid making Alex wait.
"Too early?" the lieutenant asked, raising his eyebrows quickly as Trip's eyes drooped visibly.
"No, sir," Trip yawned.
Alex chuckled, walking up to the door and pausing briefly to allow the lock to scan his eyes quickly, then the door unlocked loudly and slid open. "Come on," he said, gesturing to Trip, "you're with me, it's fine."
"No guards are gonna shoot me on sight?" Trip said, laughing but sounding nervous.
"No," Alex assured him, holding up his I.D. to one of the guards.
"What about him?" the gruff-looking, elderly man demanded.
"He's a civilian," Alex explained, "enrolling in the Academy. We have an appointment with Logan at zero-six-forty-five."
"Go ahead then."
Alex motioned to Trip to follow him and they went straight ahead to the waiting room, where other officers and new recruits were gathered, looking anxious. There was a heavy silence in the room, the recruits most likely contemplating their uncertain future in Time Force; the officers had nothing to say, some actually slept.
"What's the Academy like, sir?" Trip asked, sitting down slowly and uncomfortably.
"It's tough," Alex admitted, "but you'll do fine. The first six months are the hardest, lots of physical training to get you in the right shape for a soldier. After that it's mostly classes, and you seem to have the smarts for that. We'll see how you score on the entrance exam."
"Is that hard?"
"Not really," Alex said, with a shrug. "Just a review of everything you learned in school, make sure you carried it with you. You're barely out of school, aren't you?"
"Well, schooling on Xybria is different," Trip said, "than on Earth. I got out of school last year, at sixteen."
"Have you looked into Time Force before the attacks?"
"Yes, sir. Plenty of times."
"Good," Alex said, "while I would understand why you'd want to join just because of the attacks, but that's not a good idea."
"Revenge?" Trip shook his head. "No, I'm not out for that. I wouldn't be able to accomplish it anyway. I figure I'll end up leaving capturing Ransik and things like that to you and others like you."
"Like me???"
"You seem more . . . " Trip shook his head. "I don't know. I'm not very strong, I don't think I'd do any good against someone like Ransik."
"I don't think anyone ever has," Alex admitted, remembering his own battles with the mutant leader. "But we'll see how you feel once you complete you're training."
"Lieutenant Collins?" the secretary called, "Captain Logan is ready."
Alex led Trip to the captain's office, and Logan greeted the boy with a warm smile that instantly made him feel welcome. "If you were recommended by Collins," Logan said, "I know you're good. Welcome to the Force."
"Thank you, sir," Trip said, smiling.
"I have the test ready for you," Logan said, "but first we just have to go through this little interview to see if you're a suitable candidate, understood?"
"Yes, sir."
"I have to go," Alex said, "but don't worry, you can trust Logan. I'll be back by noon."
He left Trip with Logan, feeling confident that the officer would take care of the recruit; he wasn't assigned a partner for the short shift, so--- since Jen was away for the weekend---he would be on his own. He hopped into his car and drove off slowly, expecting a quiet day; with a smile, he grabbed his communicator and looked at the most recent messages.
From: JEN SCOTTS
Subject: HI
He quickly typed in the correct numbers and Jen's image popped up, smiling at him and blowing him a kiss; the message was sent the night before while he was sleeping:
"Alex,
I arrived safely and it's so nice to be home! I'll be coming back Monday morning, Logan said our shift began at ten so I'll be back in plenty of time. Be careful while I'm gone, and make sure to call for back-up when you need it, okay? Don't be stubborn!
I love you."
"I love you, too," he murmured as her image flickered and then disappeared, he closed the communicator and put it away again, finding a resting spot to monitor traffic. Ground cars were rare outside of Time Force, so all he saw for the most part were cars like his passing by.
Time dragged by, and he had to fight the urge to fall asleep by driving around the city occasionally, and all was still silent when he got off at almost twelve o'clock. Trip was just finishing up the exam when he entered and Logan was going over other papers while the boy worked, Alex sat silently for a few more minutes, patiently waiting for him to finish.
"I'm done, sir," Trip said, holding up the test sheet.
"All right," Logan said, "set it down on my desk and I'll get to it."
Trip nodded and joined Alex on the bench, obviously nervous. "I think I did okay," he said, chewing on his bottom lip, "it didn't seem very hard."
"I'm sure you'll pass," Alex said, "Logan will be finished soon and we'll find out."
Trip sighed. "Maybe---" he began.
"Don't think," Alex advised, "just relax. It's out of your hands now."
A half an hour passed before Logan rose from behind his desk and walked over to Trip, smiling. "Congratulations," he said, 'these are the highest scores I have ever seen on the exam . . . you've most definitely been accepted into the Academy."
"Thank you, sir!" Trip said, excitedly.
"No reason to thank me," Logan chuckled, "you did all the work."
"When can I start?" Trip asked.
"At the beginning of training in September," Alex answered, "housing will be provided by Time Force, you'll be living in a dorm at the Academy. I'll explain more when the time comes." He smiled. "For now, you can stay at my place---it's big enough. Until your mother finds a place."
"We all can stay with you?" Trip gasped.
"Yes," Alex said, "I imagine it won't take long to find somewhere for you to live though, possibly even in the same complex."
"Thank you, sir," Trip said, "my mother will really appreciate this."
"No trouble at all," Alex replied, "I'm not home for the most part anyway. Let's get your mother, you must be tired. Ready to get some sleep?"
"Yes, sir," Trip said, laughing. "I'm so relieved now!"
"I can understand," Alex said, "come on . . . "
*****
Alex sat alone in his car outside HQ and waited silently, his eyes were half-open and his breaths were beginning to get slower as he slowly fell asleep. He started and was brought back to reality by a loud tapping on the passenger side window, opening his eyes, he saw Jen outside.
"Let me in!" she yelled, laughing at him.
He leaned over and unlocked the door, allowing her to get in and sit next to him, greeting him with a friendly kiss before scolding: "Asleep on the job, Collins!"
"Waiting for my partner," Alex explained, "she was late!"
"Shame on her," Jen said, "so . . . anything exciting happen while I was gone?"
"No," Alex said, "have a good visit?"
"Oh yes," Jen replied, "it was wonderful. Mom and Dad say 'hi', by the way, they look forward to seeing you again."
"I just saw them a month ago," Alex laughed.
"Just be thankful they like you," Jen said, "they weren't always so fond of my boyfriends."
"You've had others?" Alex said, feigning suspicion.
Jen elbowed him in the side, giggling as he started up the car and drove away; he explained how Trip was accepted into the Academy, and how the boy and his mother were now living in his apartment. "Temporarily, of course," he added, "just until his mother can get back on her feet. Find a job around here someplace."
"That's nice of you," Jen said.
"Well, I'm rarely home anyway," Alex replied, "I don't even know the difference."
Jen shook her head. "Alex . . . we've got to capture Ransik," she sighed, "before he hurts more people. How could someone be so evil?"
"I don't know," Alex said, "there's no excuse."
"Of course not," Jen said, "all those people he's killed---I'm so grateful I've never suffered from his firsthand. It must be horrible."
Alex swallowed, he had never told Jen just how his mother had been killed. "Trip and his mother have certainly suffered," he said.
"Trip seems to be holding up well," Jen said, "considering everything they've been through."
"He's a lot stronger than he gives himself credit for." Alex glanced at her quickly. "Just like you. You were incredible on Xybria."
"I was not," Jen said, "it's just that . . . when I'm there, it's like the battle takes over and I don't even realize what I'm doing. I don't feel afraid, I don't feel anything."
"Good," Alex said, "it's best not to think about what you're doing---of course, you have to think things out beforehand. But if you realize what's going . . . you won't be able to move." He patted her leg. "But you'll always have me to watch your back. It's you and me, Jennifer."
She flashed him a beautiful smile. "Forever."
TBC
***
The first thing he noticed when he slowly awoke in the morning was that no one was lying next to him, or in his arms, he couldn't smell her hair or hear or steady breathing . . . he slowly opned his eyes and found the spot next to him empty.
'She went home,' he told himself, 'on leave.'
Shaking his head, he got out of bed and glanced at the clock: 5:45 a.m. In his mind, he went over the day ahead of him, the tasks he would complete before the sun went down: Trip Regis, from Xybria, was going to be enrolled in Time Force Academy and he was his sponsor. He had a short, five-hour shift to get through. And he had a meeting with Captain Logan to discuss the reconstruction of Xybria, and the possibility of admitting them into the Federation.
He met Trip at HQ at six-thirty, and smiled a little when he saw the young boy sitting on the bench outside patiently, obviously having arrived early to avoid making Alex wait.
"Too early?" the lieutenant asked, raising his eyebrows quickly as Trip's eyes drooped visibly.
"No, sir," Trip yawned.
Alex chuckled, walking up to the door and pausing briefly to allow the lock to scan his eyes quickly, then the door unlocked loudly and slid open. "Come on," he said, gesturing to Trip, "you're with me, it's fine."
"No guards are gonna shoot me on sight?" Trip said, laughing but sounding nervous.
"No," Alex assured him, holding up his I.D. to one of the guards.
"What about him?" the gruff-looking, elderly man demanded.
"He's a civilian," Alex explained, "enrolling in the Academy. We have an appointment with Logan at zero-six-forty-five."
"Go ahead then."
Alex motioned to Trip to follow him and they went straight ahead to the waiting room, where other officers and new recruits were gathered, looking anxious. There was a heavy silence in the room, the recruits most likely contemplating their uncertain future in Time Force; the officers had nothing to say, some actually slept.
"What's the Academy like, sir?" Trip asked, sitting down slowly and uncomfortably.
"It's tough," Alex admitted, "but you'll do fine. The first six months are the hardest, lots of physical training to get you in the right shape for a soldier. After that it's mostly classes, and you seem to have the smarts for that. We'll see how you score on the entrance exam."
"Is that hard?"
"Not really," Alex said, with a shrug. "Just a review of everything you learned in school, make sure you carried it with you. You're barely out of school, aren't you?"
"Well, schooling on Xybria is different," Trip said, "than on Earth. I got out of school last year, at sixteen."
"Have you looked into Time Force before the attacks?"
"Yes, sir. Plenty of times."
"Good," Alex said, "while I would understand why you'd want to join just because of the attacks, but that's not a good idea."
"Revenge?" Trip shook his head. "No, I'm not out for that. I wouldn't be able to accomplish it anyway. I figure I'll end up leaving capturing Ransik and things like that to you and others like you."
"Like me???"
"You seem more . . . " Trip shook his head. "I don't know. I'm not very strong, I don't think I'd do any good against someone like Ransik."
"I don't think anyone ever has," Alex admitted, remembering his own battles with the mutant leader. "But we'll see how you feel once you complete you're training."
"Lieutenant Collins?" the secretary called, "Captain Logan is ready."
Alex led Trip to the captain's office, and Logan greeted the boy with a warm smile that instantly made him feel welcome. "If you were recommended by Collins," Logan said, "I know you're good. Welcome to the Force."
"Thank you, sir," Trip said, smiling.
"I have the test ready for you," Logan said, "but first we just have to go through this little interview to see if you're a suitable candidate, understood?"
"Yes, sir."
"I have to go," Alex said, "but don't worry, you can trust Logan. I'll be back by noon."
He left Trip with Logan, feeling confident that the officer would take care of the recruit; he wasn't assigned a partner for the short shift, so--- since Jen was away for the weekend---he would be on his own. He hopped into his car and drove off slowly, expecting a quiet day; with a smile, he grabbed his communicator and looked at the most recent messages.
From: JEN SCOTTS
Subject: HI
He quickly typed in the correct numbers and Jen's image popped up, smiling at him and blowing him a kiss; the message was sent the night before while he was sleeping:
"Alex,
I arrived safely and it's so nice to be home! I'll be coming back Monday morning, Logan said our shift began at ten so I'll be back in plenty of time. Be careful while I'm gone, and make sure to call for back-up when you need it, okay? Don't be stubborn!
I love you."
"I love you, too," he murmured as her image flickered and then disappeared, he closed the communicator and put it away again, finding a resting spot to monitor traffic. Ground cars were rare outside of Time Force, so all he saw for the most part were cars like his passing by.
Time dragged by, and he had to fight the urge to fall asleep by driving around the city occasionally, and all was still silent when he got off at almost twelve o'clock. Trip was just finishing up the exam when he entered and Logan was going over other papers while the boy worked, Alex sat silently for a few more minutes, patiently waiting for him to finish.
"I'm done, sir," Trip said, holding up the test sheet.
"All right," Logan said, "set it down on my desk and I'll get to it."
Trip nodded and joined Alex on the bench, obviously nervous. "I think I did okay," he said, chewing on his bottom lip, "it didn't seem very hard."
"I'm sure you'll pass," Alex said, "Logan will be finished soon and we'll find out."
Trip sighed. "Maybe---" he began.
"Don't think," Alex advised, "just relax. It's out of your hands now."
A half an hour passed before Logan rose from behind his desk and walked over to Trip, smiling. "Congratulations," he said, 'these are the highest scores I have ever seen on the exam . . . you've most definitely been accepted into the Academy."
"Thank you, sir!" Trip said, excitedly.
"No reason to thank me," Logan chuckled, "you did all the work."
"When can I start?" Trip asked.
"At the beginning of training in September," Alex answered, "housing will be provided by Time Force, you'll be living in a dorm at the Academy. I'll explain more when the time comes." He smiled. "For now, you can stay at my place---it's big enough. Until your mother finds a place."
"We all can stay with you?" Trip gasped.
"Yes," Alex said, "I imagine it won't take long to find somewhere for you to live though, possibly even in the same complex."
"Thank you, sir," Trip said, "my mother will really appreciate this."
"No trouble at all," Alex replied, "I'm not home for the most part anyway. Let's get your mother, you must be tired. Ready to get some sleep?"
"Yes, sir," Trip said, laughing. "I'm so relieved now!"
"I can understand," Alex said, "come on . . . "
*****
Alex sat alone in his car outside HQ and waited silently, his eyes were half-open and his breaths were beginning to get slower as he slowly fell asleep. He started and was brought back to reality by a loud tapping on the passenger side window, opening his eyes, he saw Jen outside.
"Let me in!" she yelled, laughing at him.
He leaned over and unlocked the door, allowing her to get in and sit next to him, greeting him with a friendly kiss before scolding: "Asleep on the job, Collins!"
"Waiting for my partner," Alex explained, "she was late!"
"Shame on her," Jen said, "so . . . anything exciting happen while I was gone?"
"No," Alex said, "have a good visit?"
"Oh yes," Jen replied, "it was wonderful. Mom and Dad say 'hi', by the way, they look forward to seeing you again."
"I just saw them a month ago," Alex laughed.
"Just be thankful they like you," Jen said, "they weren't always so fond of my boyfriends."
"You've had others?" Alex said, feigning suspicion.
Jen elbowed him in the side, giggling as he started up the car and drove away; he explained how Trip was accepted into the Academy, and how the boy and his mother were now living in his apartment. "Temporarily, of course," he added, "just until his mother can get back on her feet. Find a job around here someplace."
"That's nice of you," Jen said.
"Well, I'm rarely home anyway," Alex replied, "I don't even know the difference."
Jen shook her head. "Alex . . . we've got to capture Ransik," she sighed, "before he hurts more people. How could someone be so evil?"
"I don't know," Alex said, "there's no excuse."
"Of course not," Jen said, "all those people he's killed---I'm so grateful I've never suffered from his firsthand. It must be horrible."
Alex swallowed, he had never told Jen just how his mother had been killed. "Trip and his mother have certainly suffered," he said.
"Trip seems to be holding up well," Jen said, "considering everything they've been through."
"He's a lot stronger than he gives himself credit for." Alex glanced at her quickly. "Just like you. You were incredible on Xybria."
"I was not," Jen said, "it's just that . . . when I'm there, it's like the battle takes over and I don't even realize what I'm doing. I don't feel afraid, I don't feel anything."
"Good," Alex said, "it's best not to think about what you're doing---of course, you have to think things out beforehand. But if you realize what's going . . . you won't be able to move." He patted her leg. "But you'll always have me to watch your back. It's you and me, Jennifer."
She flashed him a beautiful smile. "Forever."
TBC