Cadet meet Gavin

Posted on Fri May 7th, 2021 @ 9:45am by Cadet Junior Grade Triston Montgomery [Lalor] & Gavin Lovejoy

Mission: Season 5: Episode 2: Operation Save Humanity
Location: Cadet Gym
Timeline: MD2 - 21h00
2048 words - 4.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Triston was pretty miffed, okay he was pissed. He had been planning to finally ask Miran out when he had found out that she was not coming back. Triston however was determined not to let the situation get to him... ok it was getting to him. He stood inside the doors to the cadet gym and sighed. He was glad it was empty for once. He moved over to the punching bags and pulled his gloves on. Maybe hitting the bag would help. maybe not.

Gavin had wandered into the gym. It was empty except for one guy who from this distance looked slightly older than him. He watched as the young man hit the punching bag. and walked closer to get a closer look at his style. He leaned against a door frame and watched. The guy was clearing angry about something . He was also telegraphing his punches, when he threw them.

Triston had been punching a while when a movement out of the corner of his eye had him stopping. He grabbed the bag as it swung back to him. And he looked at the young man standing in the gym. "Ah... did you want the punching bag?"

"No, no," Gavin said quickly. "I was just watching you.... not bad." he admitted. Not bad at all."

"Yeah well I am not in security but I can at least not break my wrist when i punch." Triston walked to his towel and picked it up. "you are new here." he stated.

"Yes." Gavin replied. "But your losing a lot of power when you throw your punches and you telegraph them as well." He stated.

Triston wiped his face. "Yeah i know, the instructors say it a lot. But I am a scientist. I am better with a sword."

"It's an easy fix if you just remember it. Want me to show you?" Gavin asked.

"maybe another time" Triston said "It served its purpose, and stopped me from marching to the bridge and using a sword against the captain."

*Oh boy! Looks like Raye was right* Gavin thought to himself. Aloud he said. "You don't want to go doing something stupid and taking a sword onto the bridge and using it on the captain is stupid." Gavin replied firmly.

"Oh I wouldn't take the sword to the bridge, I will use the one Captain Lalor left behind her chair." Triston replied. "And I know, killing that.... person,.. is not a wise choice."

*Geez!* Gavin thought *This crew is nuts* "Um, why are you so mad at the Captain if you don't mind me asking."

"Because I find someone who wears the rank pips of a Captain should not stoop to gloating about another's' misfortune and the fact that because of that misfortune, a 16 year old girl is being shipped back to a planet where women are stoned to death or whipped because they didn't do as they were told." Triston said. "frankly I would have thought a Captain would have more tact than to open gloat about another officer being arrested and her family being deported"

"Um, are you sure she was gloating? I mean did you actually hear her?" Gavin asked. "Maybe it was just how it came out." He suggested weakly.

"Are you her son or something?" Triston asked. "And yes kinda hard to miss when she is doing it because I was standing down the hall as she entered the captains Cabin."

"Nope not her son." Gavin replied "So you were eavesdropping on the Captain?"

"No. I was visiting the former captain's sister. I thought that Miran was back, heard that the captain was on board." Triston replied his tone going cool.

"Wait. You were visiting the former captain's sister? I thought you said she was deported?" Gavin questioned.

"Before i knew that" Triston ground out. "Miran is a good friend, who I will most likely never see again."

"And I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. However as you said she is 16 a minor. What would you have the Captain do?" Gavin questioned.

"how about not gloat about the misfortune of a 16 year old girl?" Came the reply. "Unless its they way captains are meant to be. Snooty and smug that a 16 year old's future is whipping and rape. When it should be painting and graduating high school." Triston finished that "And feel free to pass on that to the captain you are defending."

"You need to grow up. I said before I'm sorry for your friend and if the Captain was gloating that was wrong. However she has no choice but to send your friend home, she is a minor. You do know what that word means right?" Gavin fired back.

"She is a political refugee." Came the reply. "Sending her back is like sending those people we rescued from the Mirror Universe back to the MU. And the captain didn't send her back, she just profits from it." Triston straightened. "You are obviously not someone who has close friends or even knows what loyalty really is. Maybe you will learn that here. Or you may find that the Captain will screw you over as well." He headed for the door. "cause you know, you are under the age of 18 right? Makes you a minor as well. Wonder what will happen to you if your parents piss off the new Captain."

"And you do? Getting all weepy and throwing a temper tantrum helps your friend? I think not. That's not loyalty that's feeling sorry for yourself. You obviously don't know what your talking about to say the Captain profits from it. Your a freaking follower and not a leader. " Gavin answered hotly.

Triston smirked at him, eyes as cold as ice. "Captain Lalor imprisoned on false charges, Captain Carrington get the Command of this vessel over Commander Taylor. Seems like Captain Carrington and her lap dog Commander Lovejoy definitely benefits from it, and its not surprising Lovejoy ended up here, after failing to have Captain Lalor removed legally, he found himself a new set of coattails. And look what he gets for doing so. Executive Officer of the Elysium. Couldn't get it any other way. Wonder if he slept with Carrington to get the post."

"Your an idiot. You call yourself a cadet and your noting but a garbage picker who knows nothing about the working of command. Do everybody a favor and transfer off. Better yet go help your girlfriend."

"Something I say upset you?" Triston drawled coldly. "Hit a bit close to home there did I?"

"No more than I did talking to you. I thought you were going to break down and cry." Gavin replied with equal coldness.

Triston rolled his eyes. "Run home to mommy and Daddy. Tell them what is being said, maybe when Carrington throws whoever they are in the brig, you might be only sent to grandma."

Gavin laughed at him Laughed loud and long. "You really are stupid. Who took your entrance exam for you? Your deported girlfriend? Maybe that's why your all upset. Cause you don't have the brains to make it in the Academy."

"1, She is not my girlfriend. 2. Her name is Her Royal Highness, Princess Miran Lalor of Hiran. and 3, I am in my second year at the Academy and I passed my exams on my own. And 4. You might wanna watch your mouth before someone chooses to give you new dental work." Triston retorted coldly.

Whatever else was going to be said was stopped by the door to the gym opening and a slender redhead entering. "Trist?!" she called out not looking up from the PADD she carried.

"What is it Raye?" He asked not taking his eyes off of Gavin.

"Not by you stringbean," Gavin quipped.

Raye looked up. She took in the scene. And then she stood hand on hip, and affected her most exaggerated southern American drawl "Aww are you boys about to fight?"

"Go away Raye" Triston got out from between clenched teeth,

"Nah I don't think so." She said moving to stand between them. "I don't need you in the brig Triston for trying to fight the XO's son."

"Xo's... HE is LOVEJOY's SPAWN?!"

"Child, Trist, He is Commander Lovejoy's child." She patted his cheek and turned so she faced Gavin. "You fight him you have to fight me too Gavin. Kinda have to cause my best friend is his best friend you know, Loyalty and all that."

"Sure Raye. I understand. Gotta defend an idiot. The one who was just pushing for a fight. I'll leave you two alone, so you can be loyal with each other." Gavin answered testily.

"Boys" Raye said with a smile. "As charming as it is, Gavin, Triston is an idiot at times he just needs to vent and you seem to have copped it." She looked at Triston. "You are gonna be late." she said to him. "Malak..."

"I know." The blond got out. "Is that why you came here?"

"Nope. Mail call." she handed him the PADD. "From Miran. Enjoy." Then she with the expertise of someone used to shunting people along, grabbed him by the shoulders and turned him for the door. "go Read and go deal with Malak,"

Triston was out the door before he could speak. "Pushy Redhead,"

"Dumb Blonde" She replied and stepped back for the door to close, leaving her with Gavin.

She turned to Gavin. "Did he poke at you or did you poke at him?" she asked curiously.

Gavin met her look, "Probably about 50-50. One thing led to another and it just escalated." Gavin admitted.

"Right and being boys, it just escalated. Fun. You both would have been in the brig. Or the medical ward. And as the CMO is a gorn and not really nice when things happen cause of stupidity, I fully see him leaving the two of you to suffer," She sighed. And then she looked to the ceiling. "Why are boys so stupid!?!"

"Don't know maybe it's in the genes but in my defense I did try to avoid a fight." Gavin replied then continued, "Note to self don't bring Triston to meet the parents."

"yeah probably not a good idea right now." Raye agreed lightly.

" Ever." Gavin corrected firmly. "I'm sorry if that offends you as he is your friend but he was wrong and wouldn't listen to reason."

"Oh and I bet you were a rational person when you lost someone you cared about." She replied coolly.

"Matter of fact I was. But what does it matter? You've shown where your loyalty lies Raye. I'm the new guy, so I must be wrong." Gavin answered frostily.

"Really you assume so much." She replied. "A year ago, i was the new girl. Loyalty is earned Gavin. And you must understand that yes you are new, and you do not understand what has happened to the people on this ship. You say i am good at listening, well its time you listen as well and see what's going on."

"Maybe I do but you and your idiot friend need to listen and observe as well. Also who was it that said Fight Triston, you have to fight me? Oh, that's right you. So I appreciate the confidence you showed in me Raye. It was awe inspiring." Gavin replied.

"Boys!" Raye snapped. "Stubborn and pigheaded the both of you!"

"Yes." Gavin answered simply. "And I still like you."

"You barely know me." She retorted.

"So now your calling my preference of friends into question as well? I see. Guess there's nothing left to talk about. See you around Raye ." With that he turned to walk away.

Raye wanted to throw something at him "You like to hear what you want to hear." She replied to his back.

"If you say so Raye. I don't argue with a lady." He replied nd kept walking.

She did something she had never done in years, she cursed him, in Cardassian. Then she stalked out of the gym.

Only then did he turn around. "Well, this has been a day to forget. One budding friendship over and one enemy made. Things have to get better. At least I hope so." Gavin said to himself as he too left the gym.