"Speechless"

[Peyton Summers 0]

"Speechless"

A Joint Log by Lieutenant Trichon Light and Ensign Peyton Summers

Stardate 0407.14

 

 

Trichon walked out of the room. He was worried about Merri and how the fold had affected her. It had caused Dac some pain so what had happened to Merri? He walked down the corridor towards the room she was supposed to have been in.

 

Peyton had to get out of that room. Her 'roomie', an annoying Lieutenant named Rico, had hit on her the entire time. She was getting tired of his leering gaze and bad cologne. Didn't Starfleet screen these people before assigning them? Frustrated, she stalked out of the room into the corridor.

 

Trichon continued down the corridor checking to see if anyone had seen Merri. Peyton moved towards the left, heading down that way. She was willing to see anyone but Lieutenant Rico, who was leaning out the door asking where she was going and calling her 'baby'. Rolling her eyes, she rounded a corner.

 

Trichon saw Peyton round the corner. Another fellow engineer maybe she would know where Merri was. Her eyes focused onto Trichon as he walked towards her. Her

steps became slower, and she muttered under her breath. he was the last person she wanted to see right at that moment. Well, besides Lieutenant Rico.

 

He walked up to Peyton, "Hey. So where's the doctor. It looked like he was attached to you at dinner."

 

She raised her brow at him, was it her imagination of did he sound almost jealous? Her lips curled into a newly refreshed smile, "Oh, Aaron? I don't know.. we got separated into different rooms."

 

"Sounds like fun." he tried to keep the hint of jealousy out of his voice.

 

"And .. where is Merri? You don't seem as attached as you were earlier either.." Peyton smirked, crossing her arms and giving him a piercing gaze with her violet eyes.

 

Trichon slapped his forehead, "ahh Merri. Have you seen her? We got separated when they moved us all to different rooms."

 

Her gaze become a bit more piercing, ".. oh, lost her, did you? Well.. I'm sure she is around here somewhere. I mean, she is a big girl and can take care of herself, I'm sure."

 

"Well she's had it kind of rough sense we started this whole Paktar business. I just want to make sure she's okay."

 

Peyton rolled her eyes slightly, "Well, I suppose we can go find her .. have you already checked this way?" She motioned to the way he was walking from.

 

"Yeah that's where I came from. I think the commander is still back there."

 

"Then let's go this way... but we have to walk pretty fast past room 431. There is a Lt. I am trying to avoid..." Peyton turned on her heels, sure that her long and loose whipping hair would hit him in the face.

 

Trichon avoided the hair and then grinned at Peyton, "You want me to take care of him?"

 

"No, he is just a poor unfortunate soul who somehow passed the Academy exam. Some hot shot security guy. I wouldn't even waste my breath on him. Besides, his cologne is too strong..can't even breathe anyway. Let's go.." She glanced back over her shoulder at him, then started walking down the corridor.

 

Trichon followed Peyton down the corridor. "So what about the good doctor?"

 

"What about him?" She slowed her pace down so he could walk beside her.

 

"Well you two seemed to be getting along awfully well during dinner."

 

Peyton looked over at him, "Were you watching?" She smiled a bit, he seemed very interested in what her and Aaron were doing. It made her wonder.

 

"Well I did notice."

 

"You did, hmm? Well.. he's a nice man." Peyton paused. Aaron was a nice guy, but sometimes maybe a bit too nice. She glanced over at Trichon, ".. and anyway, what about you and Merri?"

 

"What about me and Merri?"

 

She laughed slightly, "I noticed a few things myself, Mister Light. Like.. the hands?" Peyton looked at him knowingly, somewhat awed that she was actually having this conversation.

 

"Ohhh that whole thing. Its a long story. But don't worry about that."

 

"Who said I was worried? Why would I be worried?" she blurted out quickly. Why would he think she was worried? She wasn't. Really. Peyton walked past her room quickly, staring straight ahead, hoping that Rico wouldn't pop out of the door.

 

"Your awfully defensive about that."

 

She stopped and turned around, glaring at him, "Defensive? Why would I need to be defensive? I couldn't care less if you hold her hands or wear her dress!"

 

"Do you think I would look good in her dress?" Trichon shot Peyton a sly grin. He was enjoying having the upper hand with Peyton for a change. Her eyes narrowed, "No.. you wouldn't. Your head would have a hard time getting through the neck hole.. you know, because of it's size." Peyton spied his grin, knowing full well he was enjoying every second of this.

 

"Ohhh so now were talking about the size of my ego again huh?"

 

"It's an easy subject.. don't you think?" She rested her hands on her hips, tilting her head and with a smirk on her face, "I mean, it's hard to miss."

 

"I know. My ego has its own gravitational field."

 

"You're right about that! No wonder people like Merri get sucked right in..."

 

"Ouch. Low blow."

 

Peyton moved closer, so she was face to face with him, "It's true though isn't it. I've heard all about your reputation. It's what you do, right? Suck people in before they know what hit them?"

 

Trichon looked at Peyton right in the eyes, "I don't know what you've heard, but I don't think I suck people in."

 

"I've heard quite a bit.. about your Academy days. Even here on this ship." Her gaze didn't falter, and she looked him right back in the eyes, "People talk. It's only natural."

 

"That doesn't really tell me what you've heard though. People could say lots of things." He continued to stare into her violet eyes. At this point he didn't know if he wanted to kiss her or kill her, "Doesn't really give me anything to defend myself with now does it."

 

"Well, okay.. does the name... Ruca ring a bell? Oh yes, I heard about her. Something about her running away on you?"

 

"She had things she had to take care of. I don't think she ran away." Peyton was treading on some sensitive ground there.

 

"See, I have this theory.. she got sucked in as well. But she realized it and escaped. She wasn't strong enough to handle you." Peyton's eyes never moved from his, she had a keen talent for staring.

 

"You make it seem like I'm some sort of force of nature or something." He stared in her eyes, "You think your strong enough to handle things?"

 

The question took her aback, she opened her mouth for a moment to say something, but had to swallow. A few moments passed, "I can handle anything, but why would I want to?"

 

Trichon thought for a second and picked his next words carefully, "Because I don't think you can. Ruca was stronger than you think and she still ran. So I wonder how you would fare."

 

Peyton inhaled an angry breath, "I am stronger than I appear.. that's for sure. It'd be more of a question of how YOU would fare." Her hands had since turned into fists, and they were trembling slightly. She couldn't understand why this man always got right under her skin like this. And why she allowed him to.

 

Trichon started to pace around Peyton, "Oh you've 'heard' all about my reputation. I think I would fare just fine."

 

She watched him as he walked around her, "Oh, I disagree.. because I think your reputation is just a result of an act you put on. You want everyone to THINK you are strong and confident. And you ARE arrogant, but I think that hides the simple fact that you are indeed weak."

 

"Weak huh, well would a weak guy do something like this," Trichon quickly moved forward and kissed Peyton.

 

Peyton's eyes blinked rapidly as she tried to register what was going on, but with all the anger and confusion inside her .. it wasn't working. Instead, it caused her to receive his kiss, and return it.

 

Trichon pulled away, "Now who's weak."

 

She let out a breath when her lips were freed, and eyes darted back and forth from the floor to Trichon and back again. For once, she was speechless.

Edited July 15, 2004 by Peyton Summers