More Than a Lifetime #3: Graduation

Chapter 4: Encounter

Dani stood in one of the Academy's many shuttlebays, anxiously awaiting the arrival of Will's transport. He was taking shore leave and was going to spend the entire week with Dani. They had planned it that way. Will would take his shore leave the same week as the Academy's spring break.

"Incoming transport," a technician said. Dani looked at him and then at the portion of the sky visible through through the shuttlebay's large doors. A shuttle transport was coming in for a landing.. She hoped this was Will's. She looked around at the others waiting at the station. Obviously, they were thinking the same things, only about their own loved ones.

The shuttle entered the bay and hovered above the ground for a few moments before finally settling. After a few more seconds, the doors rose and people began filing out of the transport. Immediately, people began to greet their loved ones. After about five minutes, Will stepped out. As soon as he was clear of the vehicle, Dani ran up to him jumped on him, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. The act attracted stares, but she didn't care. She kissed him.

"Hi," she said.

Will blinked a few times, surprised by her jumping him. He smiled. "Hello," he said.

xxx

"So, where are we going?" Dani asked. She and Will were on their way to their spring break destination, but Dani didn't know where they were going. Will had wanted to keep it a surprise.

"You'll see," Will said.

"Why can't you just tell me now?" Dani begged. They'd only left the Academy's shuttle bay 15 minutes before, but Dani just couldn't wait. She just had to know where they were going. "I can act surprised when we get there." She smiled at him hopefully. He looked at her. He wasn't going to tell her where they were going. "Well, you could at least tell me how long it will take to get there," Dani pried.

"Not long at all," Will said. "In fact, we're there now."

"Already? But we just left the station." Dani sat up and looked out the shuttle's viewports. "We're still on Earth." She looked at Will. "Aren't we?"

"Yep."

Dani was thoroughly confused.

"Dani - welcome to Alaska."

xxx

Dani and Will entered the modest two-story ranch-style house in Valdez, Alaska.

"I wish you had told me we were coming here," Dani said as Will closed the door behind them. "I thought we were going to Risa."

"Whatever gave you that idea?" Will asked.

"Well, you like Risa. It's one of your favorite vacation spots."

"I also like Alaska. It's my home."

"I didn't even bring any warm clothes."

"That's alright," Will said. "There are replicators here."

"That's okay." Dani let go of her bag and wrapped her arms around Will's neck. "We probably won't be going out that much, anyway."

Will looked as if she'd told him they were having grass for dinner.

"What's the matter?" Dani asked him.

"I wanted to show you the area, do a little exploring," Will told her. The last thing he wanted to do was sit around the house for the week. It'd been a while since he'd last been here. He wanted to get out and do things. Then he realized that Dani might have been having a rough semester, so he reconsidered. "But I understand if you just want to lay low for the week and relax."