driftfleet | 'cause it's better than nothing

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'cause it's better than nothing

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(last updated: 1/25/19)

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[They have just enough control to feel guilty for peering into the lives of others. It's great. Thanks, Atroma.

When Remy's fingers make contact with the badge, he's transported to a a busy shuttle bay. Starfleet cadets, all in red uniforms, are either waiting for their ship assignments or rushing to get to where they need to be. There's an air of alarm, but also excitement.

A seventeen year-old Pavel, also in cadet duds, runs by.] Alex! Alexandra!

[A woman--dark-haired and, like most of the other fresh officers, in her mid-twenties--turns to face him. As soon as he's in arm's-range, she pulls him into a big hug.] Pavel! Congrats, kid!

Ensign Kid to you, please. [He huffs, grinning in spite of his attempt at being offended.

She laughs and lets him go.] Sorry, sir. But seriously, the Enterprise? That's incredible!

The Farragut is good too! [Pavel's smile falters.] Although I was hoping that we would have the same assignment.

Starfleet would never put its two best navigators on the same ship. They've got to spread the talent around. [She ruffles Pavel's hair.] Anyway, we're just going to Vulcan. We'll be back in time for dinner.

[He perks up.] Is that an invitation?

You bet! I know Salla and Gaila will want-- [The buzz of her communicator interrupts her. She glances down at it, then back to Pavel.] That's my shuttle. Comm me after, okay? We'll meet up.

I will. [This time, Pavel is the one who instigates the hug.] What is it that you said before the last simulator? 'Break your legs'?

[She laughs.] Break a leg. Just one.

Then please only break one leg, Ensign Leigh.

Can do, Ensign Chekov. [She salutes him teasingly.] See you later, kid.

See you.

[She turns away.

The shuttle bay shifts back into the half-room with the console, bed, and bookshelf. Pavel, back to twenty-two (or twenty-six, or twenty-eight, or whatever he is), is looking down at the insignia.]

Lucky choice. Usually these memories are terrible, if I remember correctly.

[Remy hummed in agreement, turning the badge over in his hand as he kept a hint of a smile on his face, letting the feeling of the memory linger.] That must had been a real 'mazin' day, scary 'nd excitin' for ya.

[Also, he's totally trying to search his memory for any hints of The Farragut, it rung a bit of a bell, but not as clear as other names from Chekov's universe.]

It was many, many things, and I still don't have words to describe most of it.

[He's not going to volunteer further information without prompting.]

Something to think 'bout when ya eventually write ya memoirs, hein? Can make it sound all pretty then. [A bit of a tease and a grin to go along with it as Remy eventually put the emblem back where it belonged, careful to place it how it had been before.]

Ya know, even with the Fleet, can't still 'magine what it would had been like for ya. This, this we all just kinda got thrown 'nto without a say, but that, merde, how long did ya train for Star Fleet?

Oh yes, the inevitable memoirs. [Pavel smiles at the joke (it had best be a joke because he isn't much of a writer), as well as Remy's mindful placement of the insignia.]

Three years. [He's a little proud of that. It usually takes at least four.] I was the second youngest cadet in the Academy's history. I wanted to be the first youngest, but my application was rejected twice.

[Remy let out a chuckle at that.] Oh yeah? They thinkin' ya too young at first?

In the Academy's defense, eleven is very young. [A fact that he had not appreciated when he was eleven.] It was wise of them to make me wait until I was tall enough to operate the console in the training simulator.

[That got a laugh.] Yeaaahhh, I can see that. Bein' young 'nd that smart be one thing, but be a big step for a kid, really only get to understand some stuff with age. [Like you're one to talk Remy, don't you hold the youngest entry for the Guild?] Though always a waste if not to use those skills.

I didn't have many skills that were going to waste at that age. I suspect that, outside of science and mathematics, I wasn't intelligent at all. [He smiles a bit ruefully.] That may still be true.

Ahhh, mon Dieu cher, don't make me have to smack some sense 'nto that head of ya's, [It wasn't a real threat... ok, maybe it was a little, as Remy moved over to sling an arm around Chekov's shoulders.] 'd hate to hit something loose in there. That be hardly fittin' talk for a team member of the Enterprise, now be it? Or for someone who survived all the merde with places like this.

Survival often isn't a matter of intelligence. [He's pretty sure he's only alive (and relatively sane) through dumb luck. Still, there's no need to encourage Remy to smack him, so he tries for teasing.] This is my dream, Remy. I believe that means that I can determine what talk is fitting.

There be different types of 'ntelligence 'nd a good team has a range of them, like ya lot do.

[No, no smacking, just a smile back to him.] If that be the case, then let's keep up with the whole dream side of it, hein? What to pick next... [Remy shifted away from Chekov with that, though did so with a pat against his back as he looked over the wall panels Pavel had been at when Remy arrived.

Lifting a hand, Remy pointed to one at random, not quite touching it in case it did do something negative, though if there is no cry of alarm he would eventually reach out to do so.]

I will accept that.

[Pavel trailed along behind Remy, giving him the go-ahead to touch the wall panel. When he did so, it slid out to reveal a number of compartments. Each compartment held small, rustic-looking wooden boxes, and each box was cryptically labeled:]

undrgrnd_14 city.y2

ides_14 city.y2

latoli_17 df.y1

[...

Remy turned to look over at Chekov at the name choice. Honestly... he isn't really surprised now that he sees this, it really is well fitted.] Ya be a special kinda man, don't ever change. [The light teasing said with a mock serious face before Remy let it drop for a hint of a smile, looking back at his choices before moving to make his pick.

Reaching out for undrgrnd_14 city.y2]

Thank you. [He didn't know what Remy was referring to specifically (doesn't everyone file their memories away in boxes with labels like that? no?) and wasn't convinced that it was meant as a compliment, but hey. He'd take 'special.'

There wasn't time for further contemplation. The box opened slightly at Remy's touch and a memory unfolded:

The setting was dark. The landing could have been a stairwell in any seedy establishment with its grubby walls and poor lighting. Pavel, nineteen, was being thrown against one of those walls by a man who couldn't be more than a decade older than him. A dark-haired woman who looked about Pavel's age was receiving similar treatment next to him.]

It was my idea. [That was Pavel, afraid for both of them but doing his level best not to show it.] You can let Korra go.

[The man didn't say anything for a long while (it wasn't a particularly reassuring silence) and then, with a quiet zzt and a spark of electricity from the man's hand, the young woman fell to the ground unconscious.]

And here I thought chivalry was dead. [The man wrapped his hand around Pavel's throat and, with more strength than he looked like he should have, proceeded to haul the Russian up a flight of stairs. Pavel clawed at the man's gloved hand even though he knew that fighting was futile.] I should flaunt you to the whole City. An example for young men.

[Pavel stopped struggling to better focus on keeping his feet under him. The hand around his throat loosened.] What are you doing? [It was an honest question. This man was his friend once, the memory supplied. That seemed like a long time ago and Chekov now knew better than to trust him, but there was still a sting of betrayal... and maybe a glimmer of hope.

The man's only answer was to tighten his grip. Even if Pavel could have asked again, he didn't want to risk worsening the situation by doing so.

They reached a door and the man kicked it open, revealing a roof. It was a chilly night without any stars.

He hauled Pavel to the edge of the roof and looked down contemplatively.] This will do.

[A cold panic gripped Pavel and, aware that he couldn't fight his way free, he resorted to begging. He hated himself for it and he'd likely be too proud to beg for his own sake, but he wouldn't be of much help to his unconscious friend if he was dead.] I'm sorry. I promise that I will find a way to undo everything if you let Korra and I go, please.

[The man's response was to push Pavel to the very edge of the roof, his grip on the Russian's shirtfront the only thing preventing him from falling.

Pavel glanced down and quickly concluded that the ground was a lot farther away than he would like it to be. All cadets at the Academy were taught how to fall in order to minimize the chances of serious injury or death, but he didn't want to test that training. Maybe if he was just quiet enough, compliant enough, this would be okay. They had been friends. That had to count for something.

The man pulled him forward a foot or two and let go, allowing a surprised Pavel to fall free to the rooftop. Before relief could set in, the man grasped Pavel's head with both hands.

There was another zzt, another arc of electricity, and the memory ended abruptly.]

[A frown took over Remy's face as the memories started to fade, quiet as he pushed back the instant bite of anger he had felt. It's not like he could do anything about it now, it was in the past.

Otherwise he would had been tempted to boot the other man clear off the building.]

What was that? [He eventually asked, his words losing anything happiness they may had had before.]

[Pavel frowned at the screen wall, somewhat offended that it had decided to make that incident available for viewing.

He tried to keep his reply light, as if that could dismiss the memory of a former friend threatening his life.] Evidence that I once had extremely questionable taste in friends.

Edited 2019-02-25 05:10 (UTC)

[Clearly Chekov ended up ok from it. Well, he survived it at least, even if 'ok' might not had been the right way to put it. That was a hard life lesson to learn, one preferable to not have to live through, but one well learned once it happens.

And Remy may also now be planning to drag Chekov into doing training with him, get his hand to hand combat skills up.] I see. [He then let out a sigh of a breath and managed a glance back and a bit of a smile.] Ya look like ya hadn't planned for that one to pop up.

[Many things were learned that night. Never say no to a chance to train was one of those things.]

It wasn't one of my prouder moments, I admit. [He relaxed incrementally as Remy's expression lightened.] I would, of course, rather have you see me being competent and impressive.

Mon ami, ya only get to bein' competent 'nd 'mpressive by failin', all part of it. [That smile a little stronger now.] Ya know, I was taken off bein' a thief for 'while when 'm powers first came 'bout, I ended up blowin' up a paintin' while on a job. Merde, never heard the end of it for ages. Ya just get better for the next time.

[Remy then let out a chuckle,] Ah merde, that was more motivational poster than I planned to be. [Grinning over at Chekov.] Tell ya what, how 'bout we leave it at that, don't feel right pokin' 'round 'nymore than I have. [Though, there was a good follow up question.] Ah... if ya know how I can get out of here, that be.

I try very hard to bypass the failing. [Joking. ...Not really, but he was playing it off as a joke. At least he understood what Remy was getting at.]

You could use the door. [He nodded towards the sliding door set into the wall beyond the screens as if it had been there the entire time.] Or, alternatively, you could stay here and motivate me further.

[Again, joking. He was aware that these dreams were a little too personal to be comfortable.]

I would rather motivate ya out in the real world, lot more possibilities there, hein? [A grin to go with that before Remy looks to that door once Chekov points it out.] Thanks for showin' me 'round, cher, even if didn't totally go to plan.

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