A/N: As a reminder, this weird version of Star Trek is based on my life, so there's no telling what will happen because life is unpredictable.
Ode to A Starship by Lina Shay
Chapter Forty: Over the Ledge
The Vedek Nels, the teacher of the Will of the Prophets school decided it would be a good idea for us all to see the engravings of the first Kai. We all met together and packed into a desert speeder. I was sitting a row with Van Manda and Maran. They were quite interesting companions.
"Did you know that synthehol is named after an ancient substance called alcolhol which impaired your judgment?" Manda asked.
"That guy sitting behind us is cute," Maran announced.
Occasionally, Vedek Nels stopped the transport and pointed out a point of significance. I looked behind me and noticed that Kenned was sitting between two girls. I thought that was awfully weird. Kenned never deliberately sat beside a girl, he would be too scared to. I had to wonder if those girls sat beside him because they liked him. I felt a twinge of jealously. I shouldn't be jealous.
One of the girls took a glass of water from beside her and poured it on Kenned's head. I felt my shoulders go tense. Kenned was very sensitive. A lot of little things could set him off into a bout of panic. Kenned just sat there, a annoyed expression on his face.
"Get her back," a guy nearby said.
"I couldn't," Kenned muttered.
That girl took the drink he already had in his hand and poured it over her own head.
"Here we are," Vedek Nels told us as he stopped the transport. "Here's where we get off."
We all disembarked slowly and then followed Vedek Nels through a forest of prickly shrubs. The sun beat down on me causing beads of sweat to gather on my forehead. We reached a large rocky hill. Vedek Nels lead the way up a treacherous path.
"Lina, we should stay here," Sava insisted.
"Well, I don't know," I muttered. "There has to be something important up there if Vedek Nels wants us to see it."
"Do what you want, but I'm staying here," Sava told me adamantly.
I did follow the group up. Many times, I thought I was going to lose my footing and tumble down the rocky hill to a quite bloody death. I made it to a landing, gasping. When the rest of the group continued to climb higher, I made up my mind that nothing could be so important as to risk one's life for. I sat down on the ground until I heard Kenned swear he would climb no longer as well. He was a bit farther down than I was. I went over to a ledge and sat down, peering down at Kenned below me.
"Hey, Kenned," I greeted. "How are you?"
"Terrible," he muttered.
This seemed like quite the change of mood. I thought he was having fun before.
"I've decided," Kenned began, climbing up the ledge to where I was, "that I'm not meant to marry."
"I'm sorry," was all I could think of to say.
"It's all right," Kenned told me. "It's not a sad thing. It's just an old man saying that he is not meant to settle down."
"You aren't old, Ken," I insisted. "You still have time."
I couldn't believe those words were coming out of my mouth. How could I have said that? Maybe I had heard it said so many times to me that it just stuck in my brain. Eventually, I had to say it. I wished I hadn't, though. It might have been a good thing for Kenned to think. They say love comes to those who aren't looking for it. I should have just let him be and kept my mouth shut. I've always had a problem in the saying what I shouldn't area.
I left Kenned before I said anything else and made it down the rocky hill. I was glad to make it down alive and was quite proud of myself. No one else was impressed.