"Control"

[Peyton Summers 0]

"Control"

A Log by Ensign Peyton Summers

Stardate 0406.20

 

 

 

(This log occurs prior to this week's sim)

 

Her quarters were small and her personal belongings, meager. She was sometimes surprised that she had not acquired more personal items during her studies at the Academy, but all in all, she kept things simple and to the minimum. The only things she really had an excess of was piles of PADDs containing engineering journals and papers, her engineering designs and holodeck programs about anything imaginable. Peyton entered her quarters and tossed her PADD down on top of the pile and noted first that her 'plant of the week' was already dead.

 

"Well, well .. it only took two days for you to die. Better luck next time." She said, picking it up and looking at it's pitiful brown leaves and withered petals. At one time, it was a vibrant and beautiful African Lily. Peyton didn't seem to have a knack for living things; just wires, circuitry and getting her hands dirty. That was why she had never really felt at ease in her former life. A princess and heiress to a throne; once she had been old enough to understands it's real obligations .. it had definitely lost it's appeal. In fact, the first time it had occurred to her that it was not the life she truly wanted was when she was freshly 16.....

 

....................................

 

Melina's dark brown hair whipped in the wind as she enjoyed her afternoon ride. Her white horse, Amaya, was strong and carried her over the green hills around her family's castle. It was these afternoon rides that truly made her feel free. Just her, her horse and the surrounding nature .. it was just what she needed for a break from royal duties such as public events, lavish banquets and 'dates' with annoying sons of nobility. She had increasingly become disenchanted with her life; but at times figured she could chalk it up to simple teenage angst. It made the most sense to her, and it was what her parents had told her she was going through.

 

"Princess Melina! Melina! Wait!" a voice called out behind her. Melina pulled at the reins, bringing Amaya to a halt and turning around to see her assistant, Solenne, riding up on one of the other horses. Melina sighed, hating being interrupted during her afternoon ride.

 

"Yes, what is it?" She asked, not at all hiding the fact she was exasperated.

 

Solenne brought her horse to a halt and came up along side Melina, "Your parents .. they want you to come back home. They said it was a matter of urgency."

 

Melina nodded, motioning her horse to get going again, "Urgency? This had better be good.." she muttered, heading back towards the castle, with Solenne close behind.

 

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Melina pushed open the ornate double doors to her father's chamber. It was a den like 'office', where he conducted his royal affairs. There he was, sitting at his desk, with several guards Melina did not recognize on either side of the room. The three chairs in front of the desk .. she could only see the heads of the people. As she entered, the guards looked at her and her father smiled broadly, "Ah... Melina! Come on in, dear .."

 

She placed a hand on her hip and looked at her father, "I was told this was a matter of urgency .. I cut my afternoon ride short .. you know I don't like that."

 

A voice spoke from one of the chairs, "I can see she is a feisty one, your highness."

 

"Father, what is going on here?" She stood there, still in her dirty riding clothes, her hair a travesty and completely confused. The three people from the chairs stood up and looked upon her. From their clothes she guessed they were royalty. But what were they doing there?

 

"Melina .. I'd like you to meet Queen Samara and King Kalen Bordeau, of Acksen. And this is their son, Quinn. Your mother and I .. we have called them here for a special arrangement."

 

She looked upon the three royals, her eyebrow raised, "An arrangement? What sort of arrangement?"

 

Quinn, the prince, came forward with a big grin on his face. He wasn't exactly the most handsome boy he had ever met. Obviously an awkward teenager with bright red hair and a toothy grin. He grabbed Melina's hand and kissed it, "It is a pleasure to meet you... my future queen."

 

"Future queen? Father! What is going on?!" She snatched her hand away from Quinn and walked over to her father. He looked embarrassed.

 

"Melina .. your mother and I have chosen your match. He will be at your side when you take over the throne after your mother! He is to be your King!"

 

"WHAT?!" Melina had never been the typical princess, "You expect me to believe I have to marry ... THAT!?"

 

"Melina! Please!"

 

"Screw this! Excuse me!" She darted a look at her 'future' in laws and stormed out of the room, with a bang of the double doors behind her.

 

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"Melina?" a soft voice called from the other side of her room door. Melina was sitting on her window sill, looking out at the majestic view. The sun was about to go down over the horizon and she loved to see it melt away in brilliant colours and be swallowed by the night. The door opened and her mother stepped in, "Melina ... I am sorry that you had to find out in such a way. Your father doesn't have much sense when it comes to dealing with you girls.."

 

"I am NOT marrying that boy mother .. and that's all there is to it."

 

"You do not have a choice, my dear .. as the future queen of this land ..it is your duty to take a husband to rule with you. And it's OUR duty to choose him for you."

 

Melina closed her eyes, "That isn't fair. I want to fall in love, Mother.. if I am supposed to be a queen .. why can't I choose who I love?"

 

"Sometimes love has nothing to do with it, my dear.. I did not think I could love your father when he was chosen for me .. but I grew to love him after we married and after you were born. We became a good match. And Quinn Bordeau is a wonderful young man with good parentage."

 

"I won't! I mean it ..."

 

"You have to, Melina..it's your duty. You have an obligation to your people. Sometimes your own personal happiness has to take the back-seat to your job. I know it's hard .. but you have to accept it. I did .. and I know you can. Besides... you know the punishment for not fulfilling your duties. I don't want to lose you.."

 

Melina didn't answer, and her mother left her alone. She was right. Melina did know the severe punishment for royalty that abandoned their duties. But could she really live with a man she didn't love .. and forget her own happiness? For her country. It was something she would think about for a very long time..

 

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Peyton blinked her eyes, snapping out of the temporary memory of her past. She made her way to her work table, picking up the half finished model of a Sovereign class ship. The models she made were placed all around her quarters. Even models of old Earth ships adorned her shelves. It was a hobby of hers, and she could sit there and piece together tiny parts and feel completely in control of her life. It was what she always wanted .. and here, on the Arcadia .. she seemed to have found it. Or did she?