A TOUCH OF REALITY
Reg reached for the bottle of wine and proceeded to pour two more glasses,
one for himself, the other for the lovely lady companion who had accompanied
him to this rendezvous. She smiled up at him as she held out her glass, her
hair flowed freely in the warm afternoon breeze. As Reg poured her another
drink, he couldn't help but notice the plunging neckline on her summer
dress. Her skin had the flawless appearance of silk. He sat the bottle aside
and took her glass from her hand, then placed it also to the side next to
the bottle. Slowly he reached out and placed his hand on her cheek, letting
it slide gracefully and with confidence down the side of her neck, onto her
bare shoulder, until his hand came to rest atop her cleavage...
"Commander La Forge to Lieutenant Barclay. Reg? I need you here in
Engineering. On the double! La Forge out."
Reg inhaled deeply and sighed. He brought his hand back up to the lovely
face that sat before him as he yearned to embrace and kiss this delicate
creature of beauty. He stared deeply into her eyes and leaned slowly towards
her...
"La Forge to Barclay! Reg! Do you read?" came the message again from above.
"Barclay to Engineering. Yes, Commander, I'm on my way," Reg answered as he
dropped his hand. He got to his feet, walked away from the intimate embrace
he had longed for, then stopped and turned to face the beautiful woman.
"Computer, save program," he ordered as he watched the vision of loveliness
fade into oblivion before him. As Reg stood alone in the Holodeck, he stared
at the bland emptiness before him. He closed his eyes and dropped his head
for a few seconds, then turned again to exit the Holodeck and report to his
post in Engineering.
*************************************************
CAPTAIN'S LOG, Stardate 43478.5
After having received somewhat of a distress call from the Princess Shayla
of the Planet Bertram, we are enroute to said location, following orders
from Starfleet Command. It appears there have been several attempts made on
the young Princess's life, and we have been called upon to assist in any
manner possible, although not to interfere with the ways of the princess and
her people. After the recent death of her father, King Merdoch of Bertram,
the princess was now heir to the throne of Bertram, located approximately
two days from here in the Galaxy of Lymania. The appearance of the Starship
Enterprise would be presented as nothing more than representation from
Starfleet Command, a friendly gesture of the Federation of Planets to attend
the coronation of the princess as she ascends the throne of Bertram. The
true knowledge of the presence of the Enterprise would be known only to the
princess and her closest confidants.
*************************************************
"Mr. Data, please set our course immediately for the Lymanian Galaxy, at
Warp 2," Captain Picard directed to his Second Officer. He then turned to
his right and addressed his First Officer Commander Riker. "I told the
princess we would reach the planet Bertram within two days, and that we
would be more than delighted to have her as a guest aboard the Enterprise,
prior to her coronation and ascent to the throne. From what I gathered
during our conversation of the other day, I do believe that her life may be
in jeopardy. Knowledge of this mission is to remain among the superior staff
officers only, is that clear? Oh, and I have asked for the assistance of
Commander La Forge and one of his crew from Engineering. I believe he
mentioned bringing Lieutenant Barclay along for back-up. We shall see
momentarily. They will be here any minute."
"Setting course for the Lymanian Galaxy, Warp speed 2," Data confirmed from
his station at the helm of the great ship.
*************************************************
La Forge turned and looked as the crew member entered the Engineering
station. He had run low on patience with this man long ago. He had tried
many times in the past to seek out the proper help and counseling for his
crew member in order to help with the man's obvious addiction to the ship's
holodeck. Without even having to ask, he knew where his man had been. "Well,
it's about time Reg! Where have you been? We were expected on the Bridge
fifteen minutes ago! Captain Picard has called together all senior staff for
a very important briefing. Let's get up there before he decides to take some
drastic measure to prevent this from ever happening again, shall we?"
"I...I...I'm s.s.sorry, uh, Commander, uh, I...I will try h.h.harder in, uh,
the future to, uh, t.t.to prevent this f.f.f.from happening...a.again,"
stuttered Lieutenant Barclay.
"Oh, Reg...you aren't falling back to your old ways on the holodeck, are
you? Don't let that happen again, huh?" replied La Forge. "C'mon, the others
are waiting."
*************************************************
Everyone on the Bridge turned to stare at the two men who had finally
arrived for the briefing. Those who were imperative to the mission at hand
were present: Captain Jean-Luc Picard, his First Officer Commander Riker,
more commonly known as Number One, Dr. Beverly Crusher, Counselor Deanna
Troi, Second Officer and ship's navigator Data, and Lieutenant Worf who was
in charge of the ship's security. They had just been joined by the head of
the Engineering department, Commander Geordi La Forge, and his crew member,
Lieutenant Reginald Endicott Barclay III.
"Glad you could make it, Geordi. I hope we haven't taken you or Mr. Barclay
away from anything important," the captain said from his chair.
"I'm sorry, sir. We, uh, Lieutenant Barclay & I were consulting briefly, uh,
back at Engineering and we, well, we just sort of lost track of the time. It
won't happen again, captain," explained La Forge.
"See to it that it doesn't. Very good then. Let us begin...," Picard said as
he began to fill everyone else in on the status of the mission.
Reg felt himself getting smaller by the moment. Everyone knew the truth
about why they had been late. He was sure of it. He shuddered at the thought
of the first time Commander La Forge had confronted him about his holodeck
addiction...
'I don't know. There's a part of this that's kind of therapeutic. Maybe you
better talk to Counselor Troi about it,' Geordi had begun over a drink in
the lounge.
'It...it's...uh, I...I...when I'm in there...it's just more comfortable.
You...you don't know what a struggle this has been for me, Commander.'
'Well, I'd like to help if I can.'
'Being afraid, all of the time, of...forgetting somebody's name. Not...not
knowing what to do with your hands. I mean, I ...I'm the guy who writes down
things to remember to say when there's a party. But when he finally gets
there, he winds up alone, in the corner, trying to look comfortable,
examining a potted plant.'
'You're just SHY, Barclay,' Geordi said.
'Just shy. Sounds like nothing serious, doesn't it? You...can't...know...,'
Reg concluded. Commander La Forge had looked at him sympathetically. At the
Commander's urging, Reg did finally resign himself to several sessions with
Counselor Troi. He had done well. Why, he had gained so much confidence at
one time that he had actually become part of Dr. Crusher's theatre group and
was even cast as the lead part in their presentation of Cyranno de Bergerac.
That had been a great accomplishment to him. He could still recall the words
that Counselor Troi had for him at the end of his first performance...
'You've come a long way, Reg,' Counselor Troi began as she confronted him
after his performance.
'Th...thank you, uh, Counselor,' Reg managed to say.
'Well done.'
'After, uh, more rehearsals than I can count,' laughed Reg.
'I don't just mean your acting ability. It takes a great deal of courage to
put yourself on display like that.'
'You...you...think...think so?'
Counselor Troi had looked at him and smiled. 'There was a time when NOTHING
could have dragged you on-stage in front of an audience. But you've made
tremendous progress.'
'I...uh...I...I guess...'
'Don't you think so?' continued Troi.
'Well, I...I just feel more comfortable, uh, playing somebody else. And
maybe all of this is...is not any better than...than escaping into a...a
holodeck fantasy,' Reg explained, trying to defend his past.
Counselor Troi would have none of it. 'I disagree. This isn't fantasy. It's
theatre! You used to withdraw onto the holodeck. You isolated yourself
inside your own imagination, avoiding contact with real people. Look at
yourself now! Look at all the other people you are with. You're not just
acting - you're interacting! Give yourself some credit, Mr. Barclay.'
'M...maybe...you're right,' Reg concluded. He had smiled and watched as the
Counselor turned and walked away.
"...and there you have it, people. I will expect your best performance here
in making the Princess Shayla feel welcome during her stay aboard the
Enterprise. Mr. Worf, you will be in charge of security for the Princess.
Feel free to call upon some extra crew members to assist you. Clear them
first with Number One. Dr. Crusher, Counselor Troi, I will expect the two of
you to be available for the Princess should she require any emotional
support during her stay. Commander La Forge, you and Lieutenant Barclay will
be available should the Princess have any questions about the operation of
our vessel. The real reason for her visit is to remain confidential. It will
not go any further than this Bridge. Is everyone clear on what they are to
do?" Picard asked as he looked around at his officers. There were no
questions. "Very well then. Dismissed."
"Reg? I think now would be just as good a time as any to confront Counselor
Troi with some of these, uh, recent situations you have been allowing
yourself to become involved with again," Geordi said to Barclay as they
stood off to the side in the Bridge.
"I...uh, I...um, I think I will be...be alright now, sir. I promise that
I...I will retire to my quarters and be well rested for the Princess's stay
aboard the Enterprise," Barclay said as he wrung his hands together in front
of him.
Geordi stood and stared at Barclay for a moment, then nodded his head.
"Alright. I'll overlook it this time, Reg. But I don't want to hear tell of
you being lost somewhere on the holodeck during the time when you should be
on duty at your post. If that happens, then we'll have no choice but to
confront Counselor Troi again about this recurring addiction of yours. Alright?"
"I...I understand, Commander. I will limit my time in the future," Barclay
said in a low and shamed voice.
*************************************************
Barclay had been walking for two hours, but it felt like forever. Deck after
deck, face after face, it was better than sitting alone back in his room. He
had tried once already to get some sleep, but it was no use. He got himself
up and dressed and tried to wear himself out by going for a walk. Before too
long he had ended up in the lounge and sat by himself in the corner.
"What'll it be, Barclay? The usual?" Guinan asked as she stood by the
Lieutenant's table.
"Uh, yes, p.p.please. I'd like that...very much," Barclay said as he spoke
his first words in over two hours. He always counted on Guinan's friendly
demeanor every time he ended up in the lounge. This was the last resort to
help him get some rest - a glass of warm milk. He smiled up at Guinan as she
placed the glass on the table. "Th...thank you, Guinan. I, uh, I'm having
t.trouble sleeping again at nights."
"It's no problem, Barclay. Listen, you know I'm always here if you want
somebody to talk to. Don't hesitate to call on me, okay?" Guinan looked at
Barclay in much the same manner as an older sister looking out for the
well-being of her baby brother. She saw a lot of him in the lounge, sitting
alone mostly. He didn't seem to have anybody he could call a friend, and
this tugged at her emotions.
Barclay finished his milk and returned to his quarters. In less than two
days they would be in the Lymanian Galaxy, a place he had not been before.
He didn't understand why the Commander had requested him instead of a more
popular crew member from Engineering to help out with the Princess's visit.
He certainly didn't consider himself to be 'company' material. No one else
on board had ever bothered with him. Nights alone in his quarters were long
and lonely, explaining the fact why he had slowly slipped back to his old
ways of spending all his time on the holodeck. In there he knew that he
could be anybody that he wanted to be. He also had the advantage of being
able to share intimate moments with a member of the opposite sex, something
that he so longed for in his real day to day existence. He expected that he
would end up just following the Commander around like a lost little dog
while they tried to entertain the princess. What did he know about proper
etiquette in the presence of royalty anyway? Oh, he didn't think he was
going to enjoy this at all.
*************************************************
Two days later, the Federation Starship Enterprise and her crew reached the
destination of Planet Bertram in the Lymanian Galaxy. Captain Picard and his
crew were attired in full dress uniform to greet Princess Shayla and her
entourage. Present in transporter room two were all senior officers and any
members of the crew assigned to assist them. Chief Miles O'Brien was in
charge of transporting the guests aboard the Enterprise. There were to be
twelve people in all. The first six guests were beamed aboard without
incident, then the Princess was beamed aboard in the second group, along
with her lady-in-waiting, two servants, her first cousin Patrick, Count of
Bertram, and a personal secretary. Everyone aboard the Enterprise was amazed
at how alike their royal structure was to that of Earth from many years ago.
Lieutenant Reginald Barclay stood in awe. Never before had he seen such
magnificent beauty as that which stood before him now. The Princess wore a
full length emerald green satin gown. She wore a small tiara and very little
jewelry and makeup. Everything seemed in perfect sync with her appearance,
right down to her long dark flowing hair and coal black eyes. Her skin had
to be of the milkiest texture that Reg had ever seen. He kept to himself at
the back of the crowd of people, and watched as Picard introduced himself
and the rest of his officers. Reg felt his knees begin to tremble when
Geordi stepped forward and was introduced to the Princess. Suddenly he
became mortified when Geordi stepped aside and outstretched an arm towards him.
"And this is Lieutenant Reginald Barclay, an outstanding member of my crew
of Engineers. The two of us will be at your service, Your Highness, to
answer any questions you may have of our operations here aboard the Starship
Enterprise," Geordi said as he began to introduce Reg.
Reg felt like he was going to faint. He stood there, dumfounded. He forgot
everything he had been instructed to do or to say in the presence of the
Princess. His mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. He was finally
brought to his senses again by a gentle nudge of Geordi's elbow in his arm,
and managed to hold his hand out to the Princess. He took her hand and bowed
slightly. He stole a quick glance at her smiling face, right before he
lowered his eyes, and at the touch of her hand he noticed immediately that
her skin felt as beautiful as it looked.
"Lieutenant Barclay, it's a pleasure to meet you," the Princess said as she
held Reg's hand.
Reg stood straight again and stared into the face of the beautiful princess.
He was still unable to make any words come out, but did manage to give the
princess a faint smile. He noticed that her eyes stayed locked on his, even
after she let go of his hand. From a far off distance Reg thought he could
hear the sound of Captain Picard's voice.
"Your Highness, if you will allow me," Picard said as he offered her his
arm. "We are pleased to present you and your entourage with a meal prepared
especially for you. After your meal you will be given ample opportunity to
rest up, then I'll see to it that you are given a personal tour of the
Enterprise."
Reg looked at the Captain as he spoke, then his eyes met once again with the
Princess before she turned to leave. She smiled up at him again, then turned
to take Picard's arm. Reg stood and stared as they filed out of the
transporter room. He hadn't even noticed that Geordi was still standing
beside him, even after the others had left.
"Reg, are you okay? You appear to be a bit peaked," La Forge said to him.
Reg snapped out of his trance. "Oh, y.yes Commander. I...uh, I j.just didn't
realize...uh...h.how beautiful the Princess w.was going to b.be. I...I'm
sorry i.if I caused you a.any embarrassment."
"Hey! Reg! No problem! Ya know, if there's one thing that I HAVE noticed
about you from your holodeck experiences, it's the fact that you have pretty
darned good taste in women! Now, let's join the others for some dinner. The
Captain may need us later to help with the tour of the ship," Geordi said as
he slapped Barclay on the shoulder. The two men headed off after the group
which had just left before them.
*************************************************
Reg and Geordi were seated for dinner at the opposite end of the table from
Captain Picard and the Princess. This was fine with Reg as it enabled him to
steal the odd glance at the Princess unawares. He also didn't have to worry
about dropping any of his utensils in front of her, or even if he was using
the right fork or not. He ate his meal in silence and tried to listen in on
the conversation.
After the dessert, everyone more or less mingled about the room getting to
know one another a bit better. Reg made himself comfortable near the corner
at the far side of the room. He had the advantage of being able to watch the
Princess from here and not look too overly conspicuous. He watched as
Geordi, the man he considered his only friend aboard the Enterprise, stood
and talked with Number One and Worf. They were no doubt discussing the best
way to entertain the Princess and how to begin with their tour of the ship.
Reg thought that maybe he was supposed to be in on the tour planning, but
had decided against intruding in on the discussion. Instead he stood
silently to observe as much of the Princess as he could.
All of a sudden he noticed that the Captain and Princess were looking at HIM
and smiling! Oh, no! What could he have possibly done now? He knew he must
have been an embarrassment back at the Princess's arrival aboard the ship.
As hard as he had tried, he just couldn't make his words come out. If he
had, he no doubt would have stumbled over them severely anyway. Yes, this
must be what the joke was about now. He was used to having people laugh at
his inability to fit in. He averted his eyes momentarily, looking about the
room at the rest of the crowd of people. Then when he looked back at the
Captain and Princess, they were still conversing and staring at him. He
thought this was no doubt even going to lead to a reprimand from the Captain
for the way he had behaved earlier. Oh, this was turning out to be an
awfully long evening.
Shortly afterwards the Princess and her entourage began to leave. Reg
watched as Worf lead the group away from the dining room and to their
quarters to rest for awhile. How he longed to be strong and courageous like
the ship's head of security. He began to imagine himself being the one to
offer the Princess his arm, to be fearless and to protect her from harm. He
continued to watch the Princess until she was out of sight, unaware that
Captain Picard had walked up beside him.
"Excuse me, Mr. Barclay, may I have a word with you please?" the Captain
asked as he took another sip on his drink.
Barclay, startled at the voice beside him, jumped slightly as he looked in
the Captain's direction. "Y.yes sir, Captain. I...I..uh, I wish t.to
apologize sir, f.for the way i.in which I acted earlier, upon the Princess's
arrival," Barclay said with his head hung low. He found it so hard to
maintain eye contact, especially when talking with the Captain. He awaited
to hear what he expected to be some sort of disciplinary action.
"Are you enjoying yourself this evening, Mr. Barclay? You don't seem to be
mingling much with the guests. No matter now, I suppose. The Princess has
retired to her quarters for the evening now, not wishing to tour the ship
until morning."
"I...I...y.yes sir," Barclay said. He wondered further what the extent of
his fate would be. Captain Picard would no doubt have him replaced
immediately with someone more competent from Engineering.
"Before the Princess left this evening, she specifically requested that YOU
be the one in charge of giving her a tour of the ship in the morning. Would
that be satisfactory with you?" the Captain asked a now stunned Barclay.
All Reg could do was stare at his Captain, eyes wide, mouth open, wondering
if he had even heard him correctly. He heard his pulse pounding in his ears
and wondered if Picard could hear his heart thumping in his chest. He
managed to regain part of his senses, take a deep breath, and put forth his
best effort to try to answer the Captain. "M.m.m.me??
B.b.b.b.but...but...why? W.why m.m.me? I...I...uh, I'm a.afraid I don't
understand, sir," Barclay said, now looking the Captain in the face. He was
sure that everyone could read the fear that must be etched upon his face.
By this time Geordi & Riker had joined the Captain and Barclay to see what
the fuss was all about. They were just in time to hear the Captain's response.
"Mr. Barclay, it appears as though the Princess is, shall we say, 'smitten'
with you. Most of the questions she asked me during dinner were concerning
you, your position here aboard the Enterprise, and so on. I would take it as
a personal favor if you were to make yourself available to the Princess
during her stay aboard the Enterprise. I'm sure Commander La Forge here will
be able to get along in Engineering without you for a couple of days. What
do you say?" the Captain asked as he stood waiting for a response.
Geordi reached out and slapped his Engineer on the back. "Barclay! You sly
devil you! Talk about cavorting with the higher-ups! Way to go! I'm sure I
can find someone to temporarily work your station for you while you attend
to, uh, 'other' matters," he said with a cunning grin.
Barclay looked at his commanding officer and friend, then at the Captain and
Riker as they stood, still waiting for a reply. He placed his hand on his
chest and made his best attempt to speak. "I...I...uh, y.y.yes sir. I..I
will do m.m.my best to a.assist the Princess in any way I can i.in order to
m.make her stay c.c.comfortable, sir," he said as he still reeled in shock
over the request.
"Very good then. We shall see you on the Bridge at 0800 hours sharp. At that
time I will fill you in on some of the Princess's likes and dislikes. Mr
Worf is to have her present on the Bridge at 0900 hours which will give us
an hour to prepare. Good evening, Mr. Barclay. Until tomorrow then." The
Captain nodded slightly, then he and Riker turned and left to retire to
their quarters for the evening, leaving Barclay standing there with Geordi
at his side.
"Barclay? Are you alright? Are you going to be okay with this?" Geordi asked
with concern for his friend's well being.
Reg still felt emotionally inept. "N.n.no. I...I m.mean yes! Oh, I...I'm
s.sorry, Commander. I don't th.think I know w.what I mean. W.why me? I...I
mean, she could have chosen YOU or...or Worf or...or Commander Riker.
S.someone in authority. B.but why me?"
Geordi laughed at the painfully shy Barclay. "C'mon, Reg. The night's still
young. Let's head for Ten Forward and have ourselves a man-to-man talk,
shall we?"
Reg experienced a restless, fitful night of sleep. He awoke early the next
morning and spent a great deal of time trying to decide which uniform would
best suit the occasion. Geordi had suggested that he just wear his everyday
uniform and work towards a more casual atmosphere with the Princess. After
he dressed, he studied his appearance in the mirror. Could this really be
happening to him? He looked up and began to speak. "Computer, end program."
Nothing. Everything stayed the same. So much for thinking that he might
still be lost on the holodeck somewhere. Fifteen minutes to go. He thought
he had better get to the Bridge for the pre-tour briefing with the Captain.
Reg heard the sound of voices when the door opened to the Bridge. When he
entered, all talking stopped and everyone's eyes were focussed on him.
Heaven forbid, but he had never had so much attention since that incident
with the Cytherians. They were a superior race who had designed a probe to
instruct outsiders on how to reach their system for communication. But the
technologies are not always compatible. Their first attempt with the Argus
Array computer had failed, as with the computer onboard the shuttle that
Barclay and Geordi had been in to further investigate the probe. However,
the Cytherians had been successful in their attempt to reprogram Reg. For a
time he had developed genius capabilities far beyond that of any normal
human being. The Cytherians were successful in bringing the Enterprise to
their part of the Galaxy after Reg himself had become the ship's computer
and completely overrode the existing operation of command.
When Barclay first took control of the ship from the holodeck, he could not
release himself from the ship's power. To do so would have caused his death.
Upon re-integration back to normalcy by the Cytherians, Reg managed to get
to the Bridge and offer the full explanation to his Captain. 'You're both on
the same mission, Captain.'
'Mission?' Picard inquired.
'Yes, sir. The Cytherians are exploring the Galaxy, just as we are. The only
difference is, that they never leave their home. They bring others here.
Their only wish - an exchange of knowledge. They want to know us!'
Later that evening Reg had been joined in the lounge by Counselor Troi and
Geordi.
'So how much do you remember?' Deanna had asked of him.
'I.I.I remember doing everything. I just don't remember h.h.how or why!' he
laughed.
'How do you feel now?'
'Smaller.'
'Just plain old Barclay, huh?' Geordi said.
'Always seems to come back to that, doesn't it?' he remembered saying,
keeping his eyes lowered and focused on his drink before him, clenching his
jaw as if it were something he had to be ashamed of.
Barclay tried hard to listen to everything Picard had been telling him about
the Princess and her activities aboard the Enterprise. He fought to
comprehend what her favorite music was, her favorite foods, her feeling
about the ascent to the throne of Bertram, right down to her favorite
flower. Picard made it clear to him that part of the tour would most
definitely include a visit to the Arboretum. Reg had been there before with
a woman - Counselor Troi. He always felt in the back of his mind that she
had done the walk with him out of having felt sorry for him. When he had
been Barclay the genius, he remembered that he had asked her to accompany
him for a walk in the Arboretum. She had refused, and he nonetheless brushed
it off as only a first rebuttal as he had returned to his work project he
had been busy with. In his normal, everyday existence, he would never have
had the nerve to ask ANY woman, let alone the Counselor, to accompany him to
the Arboretum. Reg felt an immediate increase in heart rate as the doors to
the Bridge opened and in walked the Princess, accompanied by her cousin The
Count, her lady-in-waiting, and an escort by Worf.
*************************************************
The Princess was dressed in a lilac colored flowing silk pant suit. Her hair
was pulled back into a partial bun with a long ponytail extending from it.
Around her forehead was a matching headband in pale pinks, purples and the
lilac of her pant suit. She greeted everyone in the friendliest of manners
as she strode regally towards Reg. The others aboard the Bridge bowed their
heads slightly in response to the Princess's greeting. Reg could only stand
and stare, that same stare he had at the time when, while in one of his many
holodeck fantasies, he had imagined Counselor Troi as his Goddess of
Empathy. He swallowed hard, then actually managed to bow slightly and take
the Princess's hand as she extended it towards him.
"Lieutenant Barclay, how very kind of you to be so courteous as to act as
our guide aboard this marvelous vessel," the Princess said to him as she
stared into his eyes.
"Your Highness, I.I.I am f.flattered that you requested my company for your
t.tour of the ship," Reg managed to say, hoping all the while that the
Princess wouldn't notice the slight tremor in his handshake. He had begun to
wonder if maybe he should try once again to end the program he felt must be
happening only within the holodeck.
"I am so looking forward to being in your company, Lieutenant. May I
introduce my cousin Patrick, the Count of Bertram, and Althea, my
lady-in-waiting. We are ready to begin any time that you are," she said
sweetly as she placed her hand through Reg's arm.
Reg felt that there must have been the power of some unseen force at work
upon the Bridge as he felt his feet move forward. He quickly looked around
at the smiling faces of Captain Picard and the others, and watched as they
bowed slightly, as he and the Princess made their way towards the turbolift.
*************************************************
Princess Shayla was delighted with the tour of the ship, as well as with the
company of the handsome Lieutenant Barclay. Her parents had been unlike many
other royal families and had not pressured her into marrying or having a
family early. She had been acquainted with many men during her thirty years,
but none thus far have come close to what she has been looking for in a
mate, the man who would become a Prince in her kingdom.
She found Lieutenant Barclay to be very knowledgeable about the ship and she
was most intrigued with the holodeck program onboard. Reg gave them a couple
of examples as to what could be done with such an entertaining venue as the
room before them. The Princess was also interested in the shuttle launch
area and asked the Lieutenant if he would be able to take her out in one of
the shuttlecraft before she had to leave the Enterprise for home. Reg looked
shocked at first, then said he would look into it and that it would have to
be cleared with his superiors.
The final part of their tour was fast approaching - the Arboretum. Reg had
begun to relax considerably throughout the tour of the ship and was enjoying
the company of the Princess immensely. As they entered the final phase of
their tour, he felt his heart heavy with sadness to think that the day was
nearly over and that his great experience with his lady companion would soon
be at an end. At the same time he couldn't help but feel somewhat curious as
to why the Princess would even want to be in his company. Would it be proper
to just come out and ask her himself? Maybe he should just let it be, and
for the time being enjoy the walk through the Arboretum with the Princess,
her cousin and lady-in-waiting. What happened next though had really taken
him by surprise.
The Princess gasped in awe at the beautiful gardens before them. She stood
momentarily, taking in the scene before her, then turned to her cousin and
lady-in-waiting to speak. "The two of you may be excused now. I should like
to take this opportunity to share some time with the Lieutenant and to get
to know him better," she said curtly.
Reg felt terrified at the thought of being alone with the Princess, and
stood helplessly by as he watched her cousin and lady-in-waiting bow
slightly and turn to leave. Now what? Oh, he hadn't discussed the situation
this far with Geordi from when they were in the lounge last evening. He
didn't think he was quite prepared or that he would be interesting enough to
keep only the Princess entertained. What could he possibly talk about now?
He knew very little of the plants and flowers which grew in the Arboretum.
More than anything he was afraid that she would notice how agitated he had
become, not knowing what to say or what to do next. He looked around and
noticed that they were very much alone. The move the Princess made next
prompted him to finally ask her some questions. She had let her hand slide
down his arm until she was now holding his hand. Reg could only lower his
eyes and stare at the ground, afraid to say anything at first. Then he
managed to look into the Princess'ss face and began asking questions.
"Uh...um, Your Highness, i.if you will f.forgive me for asking, why...uh,
w.why did you request me to act a.as your tour guide for today? I.I mean,
you could have had a.a.any number of people. F.f.for instance, Commander
Riker m.might have been more suited t.to your liking. W.w.why me?" Reg asked
as he managed to make contact with the beautiful Princess who stood before him.
"Lieutenant...may I call you Reg?" the Princess asked of him as she reached
out and took Reg's other hand. "I have admired you since the first time we
met. I happen to like your shy disposition. I saw the way you looked at me
when we first arrived. You most certainly didn't come across as some sort of
macho type of individual who tried to draw everyone's attention just to
impress me. Gracious knows I have met enough men like that in my lifetime.
You I find to be somewhat different. You are kind and gentle, and very
knowledgeable in your work," the Princess continued in a soft spoken voice.
"When I was talking with Captain Picard last evening during dinner, he said
that you are unattached. I find that hard to believe. I really do enjoy your
company, and I hope we can spend more time together aboard this ship before
I must leave to go back. I would even very much enjoy having you visit with
me back on the Planet Bertram." After having said this, the Princess stood
on her tiptoes and kissed Reg lightly on his cheek. "I would be very happy
if you would join me for dinner in my quarters this evening," she
whispered. "We could enjoy a private meal and some conversation, just the
two of us."
Reg could hardly believe his ears. Never in a million years did he think he
would ever be this close to a woman, and most certainly not anyone of a
higher standing than he. All of a sudden he found it easy to relax and to
just be himself in the presence of the Princess. He brought her hands to his
mouth and tenderly kissed her fingers, all the time maintaining eye contact
with her. "Shall we continue with our walk through the gardens?" he asked as
he lowered her hands. He still held tightly to one of her hands as they
began to stroll through the Arboretum.
*************************************************
Reg showed up promptly at 6:30 p.m. As he entered the Princess's guest suite
he was once again struck with awe as he gazed upon the beautiful lady who
would be his companion for the evening. He tried to overcome the millions of
butterflies within his stomach as he reached out and took the Princess's
hand, bowing ever so slightly as he touched his lips to her skin. She was
most certainly stunning to him, dressed once again in satin the color of
winter white, her hair pulled into a neat cluster at the back of her head.
Reg couldn't help but be amazed at the fact that this time when the wine was
poured, it was the real thing. They engaged in casual conversation, with Reg
telling the Princess more about his duties aboard the Enterprise, and he
watched as the Princess listened intently on his every word. An hour later
they were enjoying their meal of grilled peppered salmon with rice and fresh
vegetables, still laughing and chatting the night away. Reg also found it
very interesting to hear of the Princess's way of life on her planet and how
her family had been a ruling monarch for hundreds years. She explained to
Reg that since she had been an only child, that the throne would
automatically belong to her cousin Patrick, the Count of Bertram, should
anything happen to her. He was next of kin who was in line for the throne of
Bertram.
Nine o'clock came too quickly for Reg. The Princess did not want to see him
leave so soon, but he insisted that he must. He suggested maybe they could
take that ride in a shuttlecraft the next day depending on whether or not he
got permission from the Captain. They finished off their bottle of wine, and
Reg got up to leave. Not knowing what to do next, or even how to do it, Reg
could only watch as the Princess stood and kissed his cheek. She thanked him
for the wonderful evening together then saw him to the door. With a parting
smile, he turned away from her and exited her quarters.
Half an hour later, when Reg was ready for bed, the chime sounded at the
entrance to his cabin. Who could that possibly be at this time of night? Oh,
maybe it would be Geordi stopping around to see how his evening had gone
with the Princess. "Enter," he said as he stood to face his guest. Much to
his surprise, a cloaked figure entered his room. The door closed behind the
person, and a nervous Reg watched as the hood of the cloak was tossed back
to reveal the Princess Shayla standing before him. He couldn't say or do
anything, but just stood there, wearing only his pajamas. He watched as the
Princess walked over to him and let the cloak fall to the floor, exposing to
him a very revealing wine colored negligee. She reached her hand out and
touched her fingers gently against his lips as she spoke in a whisper.
"Please don't say anything, or question as to why I am here. No one knows of
my whereabouts," she spoke as she stared into his eyes. "I want to be here
with you. Please don't turn me away." With that, the Princess slid her arms
around Reg's neck.
Reg placed his arms around the Princess's waist and drew her tight against
his chest as their lips met. He couldn't tell which was louder - the
pounding of her heart, or the fierce beating of his own. She felt so
delicate and natural within his arms. The Princess released her grip from
around Reg's neck and stood back far enough to reach up and untie her hair.
Reg watched with fascination as her hair fell about her shoulders. The
Princess gave her head a slight shake, then looked Reg in the eye as she
reached for his hand. Without saying anything, he watched as she led them to
his bed.
As he stood there before her, Reg took a deep breath and felt a stirring
within his loins. He reached out slowly and slipped his fingers beneath the
straps of her negligee, sliding them down her arms, and watching as the gown
fell softly to the floor. She now stood before him naked. He placed his arms
around her shoulders and proceeded to lower her gently onto his bed. The
Princess gasped and moaned as he crushed his lips against hers, pinning her
arms over top of her head. He tore his mouth away from hers and began to
kiss the side of her neck, working his way down until his mouth sought out
her silky smooth breast. The Princess groaned with delight and Reg felt her
back arch as he tugged softly at her nipple with his teeth. He then placed
his mouth over her nipple and let the tip of his tongue delight her
sensitivity. He slid his hands down her arms and to her breasts, then raised
himself up onto his forearms when he felt her hands pulling at the front of
his pajama top. He shrugged out of one sleeve and then the other, then felt
his breath get caught in his throat as her tiny hands began to pull his
pants away.
Reg now lay completely naked with this beautiful woman. This was so
incredible, so far beyond belief as to what the holodeck could provide him
with, and he savored and treasured every single moment. The throbbing
between his legs was immense. So this was what it was like to be a man, to
provide pleasure to a woman, to seek that ultimate release. He had sat so
many times in the lounge and listened to other crew members talk and
exchange stories of past escapades. He had only hoped and dreamed that one
day it would turn into a reality for him, to feel like one of the boys, to
experience the wondrous coupling of a man and a woman and to reach the most
pleasurable of limits of intimacy. He looked deep within Princess Shayla's
eyes and felt her open her legs as she stretched and wrapped them around his
hips. He pushed himself up and part way onto his knees, not breaking eye
contact with his partner, then forcefully thrust himself deep within the
confines of her womanhood. Time and time again Reg withdrew his hardness and
strove to delve deeper and deeper within the tight moist concave of his
welcoming partner. With every driving thrust of his hips he felt her drawing
him even tighter with her legs. They moaned and groaned in total ecstasy,
their mouths seeking each other out in desperation, their breathing becoming
harsh. Their bodies clung tightly together as they reached climax. Reg heard
the Princess cry out with fulfillment, then groaned aloud at his own hot
release within her. He felt his body relax as he laid his head on the pillow
and closed his eyes. It took several seconds, but their breathing finally
reached normal rhythm once again. Reg rolled onto his back and put his arms
around Shayla to draw her near. Within minutes they were fast asleep.
*************************************************
Reg awoke at 0500 hours prompt and sensed the warmth of the body lying next
to him. He reached his hand out and tenderly brushed Shayla's hair back
where it had fallen across her face. She too awakened and looked up into
Reg's face, lifting her hand up to caress it, then letting it slide down to
the dark hair that blanketed his chest. As she circled her hand on his
chest, she smiled and stared into his dark, soothing eyes.
"I must return to my quarters now, before it is discovered that I am not
there," she whispered. A hint of disappointment lingered in her voice.
"Soon," Reg told her as he eased himself on top of her, his mouth seeking to
taste hers, their bodies becoming as one. "Soon..."
Half an hour later, Reg was up and dressed, helping the Princess to wrap the
cloak about her shoulders. There hadn't been much conversation between them
so far that morning. When they were ready to leave, Reg walked her to the
doorway, then stood and cupped her face with his hands. He leaned down and
spent several seconds with his lips pressed against hers, running his hands
back through her long dark hair, savoring every moment of their stolen time
together. When he was through, he leaned back and took a deep breath, and
continued to stare into her eyes as he spoke. "I'll walk you safely back to
your room."
"No, you mustn't. I do not want to make trouble for you should it be
discovered that we spent the night together," the Princess said. She fought
hard to hold back a small tear that had formed in the corner of her eye.
"Yes...I will. The ship's decks won't be busy this time of morning. Change
of watch isn't until 0600 hours here. Most people probably won't even pay us
any attention at all." Reg let his hands slide down her shoulders and
reached out to take her hand in his.
The Princess stood and stared deep into Reg's eyes as he held her hands.
"I...I want you to know Reg, how very fond I am of you. Never before has
anyone held my emotions captive the way I feel when I am with you. I'm not
going to apologize for coming to you last evening. I do beg your forgiveness
in hoping that you don't think poorly of me for being so...so forward, and
so soon. This is not my normal behavior." She continued to look into his
eyes, but was not successful in holding back that tear.
Reg reached out and wiped the tear from her cheek with the back of his
finger. "Beautiful lady, you are my dream come true. Until now...my
relationships have existed only within the holodeck. You have truly
fulfilled my every desire. You have awakened within me...what I have always
wanted to feel as a man. I do not have negative thoughts of you, nor will I
ever have regrets for last evening. Now, the sooner we get you back, the
better our chances that no one will have missed you. Shall we?" he said as
they turned to exit his cabin.
They made their way several decks above, unaware as to what they were about
to confront. They walked along the deck hand in hand, making light and
cheerful conversation, discussing what the day's activities had in store for
them. As they rounded the deck corner to the Princess's guest suite, Reg
stopped in his tracks when he saw Geordi and Commander Riker, along with the
Count and several security personnel standing at the door to the Princess's
room. Geordi was the first to spot Reg, then walked towards him immediately
before he even saw the Princess by Reg's side.
"Lieutenant Barclay! Where have you been? I've been trying to reach you! We
have a slight emerg...en...cy... Your Highness?" Geordi stood and stared,
then bowed slightly in the presence of the Princess. "Begging your pardon,
Princess, but we were alerted here to your quarters twenty minutes ago when
it was discovered that you were missing." Geordi's mind was racing at the
situation before him. He, along with everyone else in the vicinity, quickly
glanced over the Princess's attire. Putting two and two together, he
squirmed as he tried to talk their way out of the awkward predicament.
Captain Riker stepped forward to help alleviate the confrontation. "Your
Highness, what Commander La Forge is trying to say is how relieved we are
that no harm has come to you. From now on, perhaps it would be wise to
possibly inform some security personnel of your whereabouts on the ship at
all times. It's pretty obvious to us that you, uh, well...um, that you were
in the safe company of Lieutenant Barclay here, but it did cause concern
when your cousin reported your whereabouts unknown. Not meaning any
disrespect, but we would appreciate knowing your comings and goings in the
future," Riker concluded with a mischievous twinkle in his eye as he looked
over at the young Lieutenant before him.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause alarm for anyone. Thank you, Patrick. I
appreciate the fact that you are always caring about my well being. Reg...I
mean, Mr. Barclay and I shared a splendid evening together. I guess that,
after our meal, we engaged in such interesting conversation that we decided
to continue it in the privacy of Mr. Barclay's cabin and...well, as you can
see, the time just simply 'slipped' away without us even knowing it," the
Princess explained smoothly.
"I...I'm sorry, Commander Riker. It was my fault. Taking the Princess's
situation into consideration, I should have known b.better. I will see to it
that this doesn't happen again i.in the future," Reg explained, only this
time he spoke with confidence and looked Commander Riker in the eye as he
explained. He still held to Shayla's hand as she stood beside him.
"Your Highness, our first concern was for your safety, especially with that
attempt made against your life last month," the Count said as he joined in
the conversation.
Reg looked at the Count in surprise, then looked down at the Princess. She
had not spoken of any attempt having been made against her life. He now felt
that they may have made a mistake with their secret rendezvous from the
previous evening. He said nothing, but removed his hand from hers and stood
with his hands folded before him, waiting to see if he would be reprimanded
for his actions. The Count continued to speak.
"Perhaps Your Highness would like to retire to her quarters now and rest for
awhile."
"Thank you, Patrick. I will freshen up and maybe partake in a short break,
then Mr. Barclay and I have an appointment for a ride in one of the
shuttlecraft. Oh, if this is acceptable to you, Commander Riker. I'm sure I
will be very safe in the company of Lieutenant Barclay," the Princess added
with a smile.
Riker smiled and couldn't help but notice what an attractive couple the
Princess and Barclay made. This most certainly was a side of the shy crewman
that he had never seen before, and never would have believed if someone had
tried to tell him a month ago that this would happen. An all night tryst
between Reginald Barclay and a Princess? No, he never would have believed
it. He smiled graciously at the Princess as he spoke. "I'm sure we can
arrange for that, Your Highness. I can see no reason why you would not be
safe aboard one of the shuttlecraft with Lieutenant Barclay here. I will
clear it with the Captain, then let the Lieutenant know. Enjoy the rest of
your stay aboard the Enterprise, oh, and your trip aboard the shuttlecraft
later." Riker bowed before the Princess and instructed everyone dismissed as
they began to leave. The Count excused himself also and left the couple alone.
Reg stood and stared at the Princess. He reached out for her hands, then
leaned down and kissed her lightly on her lips. "I don't want to be away
from your side, not for a minute," he began. "You overlooked telling me last
evening that any attempt had been made on your life. Why?" He stood and
stared into her eyes, waiting for her response.
"It...it just didn't fit into our evening together, I suppose," was the
answer she gave. "I, uh, I was alone in my gardens one evening during our
full moon, silently meditating and wondering what my future would hold. All
of a sudden a statue came tumbling towards me as I sat on a bench, just
narrowly missing me. I managed to escape unscathed, but it was later
determined that there were footprints around behind the statue that was
meant to crush my skull. That's about it. Nothing has happened since. This
must be what caused such great concern here this morning. My cousin, the
Count, is greatly concerned with my well being. He has been looking out for
me for quite some time now. I believe we have a good and secure relationship
between us. He will remain close to me, both as a friend and as an advisor
when I ascend the throne in a couple of days," she said, looking up into the
handsome face before her. Slowly she withdrew her hands from Reg's and
placed her arms around his neck, drawing him close to her as their lips met.
Softly she moaned as she caressed the back of his head, feeling the security
of his strong arms around her back. After what felt like an eternity, Reg
stood and took a step back. He placed his hand on the side of Shayla's face
and spoke.
"I'll be here at 0800 hours to escort you to the shuttle bay. We'll be able
to spend more time together aboard one of the shuttlecraft." He leaned down
and gently brushed her lips again with his, then bowing his head, he turned
and walked away.
The Count stood along the hallway, not oblivious to what had been going on.
He had a vantage point of spying on the Princess and the Lieutenant without
being observed as he watched the intimate scene that had unfolded before
him. With a scowl on his face and a feeling of disgust, he turned to retreat
to his cabin, wondering if he should in fact approach the Princess about the
way she had been carrying on with this common crewman.
*************************************************
The morning ride in the shuttlecraft ran along smoothly and without any
complications. Reg and the Princess were escorted to their craft by
security, who then checked the unit thoroughly before they left for their
ride. They didn't cruise far from the Enterprise. It was hard to determine
what appealed to the Princess the most - the fact that she was riding aboard
a shuttlecraft, or just the sake of spending a couple of hours uninterrupted
with her handsome Lieutenant. They talked of many things during their ride.
She was able to reveal her true emotions and feelings about what her future
might have in store for her, and how things would be as Queen of Bertram. In
return Reg felt so comfortable in disclosing his true feelings to the
Princess, both about what his future aboard the Enterprise would no doubt be
like, as well as what he wanted out of the rest of his life. He explained to
his lovely companion how he looked forward to someday sharing his life with
a mate, to possibly raise a family and settle down somewhere. He let his
emotions flow honestly when he said that he would be forever grateful to the
Princess for her warmth and her sharing of herself unto him. After having
said this, they looked at each other for a long period of time, then shared
one of many intimate embraces and kisses they stole aboard the shuttlecraft.
As Reg returned the craft to the shuttle bay, the princess turned to him and
broke the silence. "I care for you a great deal, Reg. I know this has been
happening too fast for us, but I feel it necessary to reveal to you just how
I feel. It would mean so much to me if you would return to my planet with us
tomorrow, to be there with me during my coronation. Will you be there with
me?" she asked as she looked pleadingly at Reg.
Barclay felt as though his heart would burst. Never in all the universe
would he ever be able to understand the attraction between himself and the
Princess. It truly astonished him the way this turn of events had come
about. One moment he is in his cabin, worrying about what sort of impression
he would make upon the visiting royalty. The next minute he is lost deep
within the arms of the Princess, claiming her as his lover. He shut down the
controls of the shuttlecraft and turned to face his lady love.
"It would be an honor to be by your side during this most important occasion
of your life," he said softly. "You are very special to me also, Your
Highness, although I'm sure the entire crew of the Enterprise must be
wondering how the two of US ever got together." He smiled and reached to
hold the Princess in his embrace one more time before they retreated from
the shuttle.
The rest of the day went very well. The Princess and her cousin the Count
met with Captain Picard and his staff of officers to discuss the preparation
for her security at her coronation in two days. Lieutenant Reginald Barclay
was a permanent fixture by her side. He was included in the discussions and
considered as one of the people most important in playing a role in the
safekeeping of the Princess. He had neither been reprimanded nor cautioned
about his relationship with the Princess, not by Commander Riker nor the
Captain, however he had noticed that the Count did not look favorably upon
his presence by the Princess's side. He behaved as cordially as he could in
the company of the Count, but still felt that he was not fully accepted by
the Princess's cousin, the man who was second in line to the throne of Bertram.
The Princess asked to speak privately with Captain Picard when their meeting
had adjourned. Reg offered to wait outside the conference room until their
meeting was finished. The Princess wasted no time in speaking what was on
her mind to the Captain. "I would like to ask your permission for Lieutenant
Barclay to accompany me back to my home tomorrow. I know I have been here
only a very short period of time, but I must confess that the Lieutenant and
I have become very fond of each other. I would look upon this as a great
favor if you will grant him leave in order to be with me. I believe the two
of us will be seriously discussing what our future will hold in store as far
as our togetherness is concerned. I can't speak one hundred percent for
Lieutenant Barclay at this time, but I do know how I feel, and I wish to
spend more time with him in order for him to know just exactly how I feel
with regards to his being with me. At this time, I believe I feel strongly
enough about him to ask him to share the rest of his life with me, to become
my Prince within my kingdom. Will you grant him this leave?" The Princess
stood and waited for the Captain's response.
"Your Highness, it has been quite obvious to the rest of this crew how the
two of you have been getting along. I must confess that your relationship is
no longer any great secret. I'll see what I can do to have the Lieutenant
relieved of his duties in Engineering. I must first clear this with his
Commander. I cannot foresee any problems with your request. I'm sure the
Lieutenant will be most delighted to accompany you back. You will indeed
keep us wondering as to whether or not we will be losing our Diagnostic
Engineer in the near future. In the meantime, my security staff will see
you, your entourage and Lieutenant Barclay safely back to your planet
tomorrow, and we will look forward to seeing you the day afterwards for your
ascent to the throne. Is there anything else you wish to discuss with me?"
the Captain asked as he waited for the Princess's answer.
"Thank you, Captain. You are most kind. No, I have nothing further to ask of
you. Only that I might remain in the company of Lieutenant Barclay. I
appreciate your most valuable time." The Princess smiled at the bowing
Captain, then turned to meet with Reg who was waiting for her outside the
room. Smiling up at the handsome Lieutenant, she placed her hand in his and
they walked away together.
That evening Reg was in his cabin, preparing his things for his journey
abroad with the Princess to the planet Bertram. He smiled as he thought back
to the conversation he had with Commander La Forge earlier in the evening.
Geordi had asked to meet with him in his cabin.
‘Reg? The Captain has brought to my attention the fact that you wish to have
a couple of days’ leave of absence in order to accompany the Princess back
home. Is that right?’ he had asked as he stood and waited for a reply.
Reg smiled back at him, his heart brimming with happiness, feeling such an
abundance of confidence in everything he was doing now. He hadn’t felt this
way since his encounter with the Cytherians when they had given him the gift
of super human knowledge. ‘Yes, Commander. That is correct. I don't exactly
know how to explain what it is that has happened between the two of us. All
I know is that I feel like a changed man. I'm even told that I have been
behaving like one as well. I swear, I haven't even thought about the
holodeck since having met the Princess. She has brought into my life such
joy as I have never known before. I am undecided as to what my future might
be with her. I suspect she will be wanting to discuss a more permanent
arrangement with me once we arrive back at her planet.’
‘You lucky devil, you. Congratulations, Reg! We’re all very happy for you.
If you do decide to leave us in the future, I'm sure you will find great
happiness in your decision to be with the Princess. Good luck, buddy!’
Barclay pulled out an extra pair of shoes and decided to polish them and
include them with his packed bags. He would be needing them to wear on the
day of the coronation.
*************************************************
The Princess and her entourage, along with Lieutenant Barclay, arrived
safely back on the planet Bertram. Reg couldn't help but notice the tense
atmosphere that was apparently present between the Princess and her cousin
Patrick. Could it be that he has confronted her about her relationship with
him? Reg found himself putting a lot of thought into the fact that, should
anything happen to Princess Shayla, her cousin Patrick, the Count of
Bertram, would automatically ascend the throne of Bertram. Could this
possibly be a connection in the attempt which was made against her life
recently? He had hoped not. The Princess had spoken so highly of her cousin,
how he was supportive of her and how he would be there for her after her
ascent to the throne. It was too sad to think that the Count could possibly
be responsible for any evil doing against the Princess. He had seemed so
genuinely concerned for her well being, especially a couple of days ago when
she had been missing from her quarters. Reg decided to keep alert in the
presence of the Count, although he dearly hoped that his misgivings about
the cousin were wrong.
Reg was overwhelmed at the beauty and comfort of the palatial home of the
Princess Shayla. He stood and watched as she was warmly received by her
subjects and staff of servants at the palace. He beamed at her when she took
his hand and introduced him as her special and dear friend. The Princess’s
favorite man servant, an elderly gentleman named Ralston, escorted Reg to
his comfortable quarters. He was situated in a suite one floor down,
directly below the Princess’s room.
Later that evening there was a party in honor of the upcoming coronation.
Reg dressed appropriately in his full dress uniform, standing proudly beside
the Princess all evening as she kept her hand securely linked within his
arm. He was given the opportunity to meet with the many officials who were
involved in the everyday existence of the planet. All would be under the
rule of the Princess once she attained the status of Queen. Reg felt very
relieved with the appearance of Captain Picard, Commander Riker and Geordi,
as well as several other officers from the Enterprise. They had been invited
to the party and would now remain until after tomorrow’s ceremony. Reg was
also keeping an eye out for Patrick, the Count of Bertram. He was introduced
to the Count’s fiancée Rochel [pronounced Ro-shell] who was indeed a
beautiful jewel herself, although in Reg’s opinion, none could compare to
the beauty he had found within the Princess. For the rest of the evening he
let himself relax and enjoy the events of the goings-on around him, the
excitement of the coronation, the well wishes that were being given the
Princess.
As the evening drew to a close and the last of the guests were leaving, Reg
confronted his beloved and asked her to join him for a walk within the
gardens. Unfortunately, they were made to have security present during their
every move, so spending time alone in the garden was impossible. Instead
they opted for a quiet, handheld stroll amongst the many statues and
fountains, all the lush greenery and flowers abundant before them. Reg was
more than willing to settle for this time with Shayla as opposed to not
having any time with her at all. Deep down inside he longed to be holding
her and to be kissing her, all the time wondering if she might be
experiencing the same sort of feelings towards him.
When it came time to retire for the evening, Reg walked Shayla to her
quarters, along with two security guards. He held her hands and brought them
to his mouth, kissing them as he stared into her eyes. He then leaned down
and kissed her cheek, fighting back the desire to embrace her tightly within
his arms. He could tell by the look in her eyes that she had felt the same
way. Earlier when they had been walking in the gardens, she had explained to
him why Ralston was her favorite out of all of her staff. Apparently he had
been with the royal family since before she had even been born and had
remained a loyal and trusted friend to her for all these years. She
considered him to be more like family than any servant she had ever had.
With a faint hint of tears in her eyes, she bade Reg good night as she
entered into her room. Reg was walked downstairs to his room by a member of
the Princess’s security.
A short while later he was awakened by someone knocking at his door. He got
up from his bed in a groggy state of mind and was surprised to find Ralston
at his door. The elderly gentleman asked to enter and Reg granted him
permission to do so. The man closed the door behind him, then walked over to
the bookcases along the far wall. Reg watched as the man reached in behind a
row of books and flicked a switch. He then watched as one of the bookcases
slowly opened towards him like a door. Curiously he walked over and peered
behind, observing a spiral stairway. He stared confused for a moment, then
listened as the old man spoke to him.
"Following these stairs, sir, will lead you to the Princess’s room. She is
expecting you. When you return in the morning, engage this switch inside the
stairwell here and the bookcase will move for you again. There are no others
but the Princess and myself who know of this stairway. If you will excuse
me, sir, I must be on my way." With that, Ralston walked over to the door of
the room and left.
Reg watched the door close behind Ralston, then wasted no time in entering
the stairwell. Once inside, the bookcase closed back on him automatically.
The stairs were faintly illuminated with very dim lighting. He reached the
top within seconds and saw a button there to push. As the wall before him
moved outward, he noticed that the Princess was standing on the other side
waiting for him. He stepped into her room and firmly but lovingly scooped
her up into his arms, kissing her ears, her neck, walking her towards the
huge canopy bed that stood before them.
"Oh Reg, I missed you...mmm, oh...I missed you so much," the Princess
whispered as she clung to his neck. She looked into Barclay’s eyes as he
pulled her arms from around his neck, then stood before him as he began to
remove her outer robe. It dropped to the floor to reveal a low cut negligee
she had chosen especially for tonite. She gazed lovingly into Reg’s face as
his eyes moved over her body, then his hands continued to remove the last
article of clothing. The Princess reached out and unfastened Reg’s pajama
top and let it fall to the floor also. She inhaled deeply as he put his arms
around her once again and drew her tightly against his bare chest. He
lowered them onto the bed and continued to kiss and caress her naked form
beneath him. When she reached the point where she could hold back no more,
she reached out and pushed down his pants, revealing his silky hard sex. She
flung herself back onto the bed and raised her hands over her head, throwing
her legs around Reg’s waist. She closed her eyes and rolled her head from
side to side as she felt his magnificent form being thrust within her moist
interior. Time after time he inserted himself within her, his hands and his
mouth exploring her face and her breasts. Finally they reached one of many
climaxes they would share that evening, basking in each other’s happiness as
they lay exhausted in one another’s arms.
*************************************************
Reg awoke before dawn. He looked down and found that the Princess was sound
asleep across his chest. He chose to lay there awhile longer as he ran his
fingers through her hair. He contemplated what the future would hold in
store for him, and felt certain that the Princess was going to ask him to
remain there with her. He knew he would have to choose between her and the
work he so dearly loved within the Enterprise and the Federation of Planets.
When it came time for the final decision to be made, he already knew what
his answer would be. He just hoped he was making the right decision. He
smiled to himself, then looked down again as the Princess began to stir.
"Reg? Oh, Reg...you're really here. I thought it had all been just a dream,"
she said as she propped her head on her arm and looked into Barclay’s face.
For a long time they said nothing, just stared into each other’s eyes. Then
the Princess broke the silence. "There is something I have to ask you. I'm
sure you know by now just exactly how I feel about you, and about what has
been going on between the two of us," she began to explain softly. "I...I'm
sure you will consider this to be too soon to be asking of you, but...I need
you here with me. I want us to be together...always. I will respect any
decision that you make."
Reg reached out and put his hand around Shayla’s neck and drew her close
against him as their lips met for a lingering, passionate kiss. When they
were done, he looked deep into her eyes and answered her question. "I have
already made up my mind, Shayla. I want you to be my wife. Will...will you
marry me?" he asked with a smile on his lips. He felt as though his heart
would burst right through his chest.
"Yes! Oh, yes...I will be your wife, your mate in life. And you shall be my
Prince. I will bear your children, and I will honor and respect your word,"
she said as she continued to gaze into Reg’s eyes. She eased herself on top
of the Lieutenant and spread her legs over top of his groin. With loving
admiration she impaled herself with his hot ready sex and began rocking back
and forth, taking them both soaring to wondrous fulfillment. When they were
done, the Princess laid her head on Reg’s chest and felt the contentment of
being within his strong and loving arms. "After the coronation there will be
a huge celebration within the kingdom. I would like very much to turn it
into an engagement party for us, to announce our future plans to everyone
then." She looked up into Reg’s face to await his response.
"Whatever my Princess desires, so it shall be," he breathed as he looked
into her face. "But...for now anyway, I must be getting back to my room.
This part of our relationship might not be too acceptable to everyone. It
would be best to try and behave until...uh, when...when do you want to get
married?" he inquired.
"Right away!" Shayla squealed with laughter as she leaned down and began
biting at Reg’s neck. "I will let you go for now, my husband-to-be, and I
may not see you again until it is time for the coronation ceremony. But you
will be on my mind every minute from now until then," she cooed as she
rolled away to allow Reg to get up out of the bed. She watched with
adoration as he pulled on his pants and carried his shirt in his hands, then
headed for the bookcase and descended the stairway which lay beyond.
*************************************************
Reg felt as though he was walking around with his head in the clouds. Try as
he did, he just couldn't keep from smiling as he spent the day with
Commanders La Forge, Riker and Captain Picard. They were allowed free access
to most of the palace as they watched with interest the preparations being
made for the coronation of the Princess. They felt that the Princess would
be in no immediate danger as she was to have a guard posted outside her
quarters at all times. Her staff would be carefully screened as they entered
or exited the suite while they assisted in readying the Princess for the big
event. Princess Shayla’s cousin Patrick, the Count, kept a mindful eye over
the preparing of the palace for the ceremony. Reg couldn't help but wonder
what the Count’s reaction was going to be when he found out of the
Princess’s engagement to the Lieutenant from the Starship. He felt that it
might not be a favorable welcome but that he could deal with the Count’s
feelings toward him at a later time. Right now he just had so much on his
mind - when he should tell his fellow crew members of his plans to leave the
Enterprise, the upcoming coronation ceremony and watching his future wife
being crowned Queen among her people - sometimes he felt overwhelmed at the
sudden change of events within his life, and everything happening so
suddenly. This, he thought, had to be the true plan for ultimate happiness
and the reason for his existence.
Later that evening everyone had gathered in the grand ballroom of the palace
to await the arrival of the Princess. Reg took his place with his commanding
officer and the rest of the senior staff from the Enterprise. He felt a rush
of anxiety over how the news of his engagement to the
Princess-soon-to-be-Queen would be accepted among her loyal subjects. Could
it be possible that they just might reject the idea of their Queen taking a
common mortal as her mate? He pushed these ideas out of his mind for the
time being, then felt a surge of pride as the trumpets sounded for the
arrival of the Princess. All eyes turned to the back of the ballroom,
expecting to see the Princess’s arrival, but no one was there. Several
minutes passed and the trumpets sounded again. Still no sign of the
Princess. Reg looked about for the Count and immediately picked up on the
worried features on his face. The Lieutenant excused himself from the
Captain and the others, then made his way towards the front to where the
Count was seated. The low murmuring of the crowd could be heard as everyone
wondered the whereabouts of the Princess.
Reg reached the Count’s side and asked him what the delay in the arrival of
the Princess could be attributed to.
"Lieutenant Barclay, I have no answers for you at this time. Her wait staff
left her half an hour ago with the exception of the security guard still
posted at her door. She was aware of the time of her entrance into the
ballroom, and was to be here at the sounding of the trumpets," the concerned
Count relayed to Reg. "At this time, I am also unaware of the whereabouts of
my fiancée Rochel who was to be here at my side for the ceremony."
"If I may be excused, Count, I will go to the Princess’s quarters and check
on her. I'm sure it is nothing more than maybe just a sudden case of the
jitters," Barclay explained. With that he turned and made his way down the
aisle of the ballroom amidst the hushed whispers of the guests. He walked
down to where Captain Picard and the others were seated, and asked Commander
La Forge if he would please join him to go and check on the Princess. Geordi
readily agreed and the two men made their way from the ballroom.
They arrived on the Princess’s floor and made their way down the massive
hallway to where her suite was located. They made their way along the main
corridor that would lead them to the Princess. They got within several feet
of the Princess’s door when Reg felt a sudden surge of panic swell up inside
him at the sight of the security guard’s body lying on the floor. With an
immediate rush of adrenaline, Reg ran to Shayla’s door and tried to open it.
It was locked and very solid. He turned to Geordi. "Quickly! Go for the
Captain and the others! I know of another way to get into her room. I'm
going to try that now! Inform the Count, and bring extra security and the
proper tools to get inside in case I am not successful in my attempt to get
inside!" With that said, Barclay turned and ran down to the opposite end of
the hallway to the stairs that would lead down to his room. Once inside his
room, he ran over to the bookcase and flicked the switch that enabled him
access up the spiral staircase and into the Princess’s room. He made a dash
up the stairs two at a time, and pressed the button at the top to open the
entrance into her room. Without even thinking he made an immediate charge
into the Princess’s room and was shocked at the scene before him.
Standing in the middle of the room was the Princess, dressed in her full
coronation attire, but obviously suffering from cuts to her arms and her
hands. Over by the locked door was the Count’s fiancée, Rochel. She stood
with both arms extended and a foot long dagger in one hand. Her face was
that of contorted rage. It was obvious that the women had been fighting and
that Shayla had been trying to fight off her attacker from the visible cuts
and blood stains on her clothing. At the sight of Reg entering the room, the
Princess cried out and started to run towards him.
"NO! Stay where you are!" threatened Rochel. "Don’t move, or I will kill
you!" She had managed to overcome the initial shock of the Lieutenant
barging into the room the way that he had. She thought they were securely
locked inside the Princess’s room and was not aware of any other entrance or
exit for the room.
The Princess stopped in her tracks and watched as Reg held up his hands,
telling her to stay where she was. He then turned his attention to Rochel.
"What are you trying to do here? What is it that you want of the Princess?
You won't get away with anything. Security is on its way now as we speak,"
he told her, maintaining solid eye contact with their captor.
"They cannot get in here! That door is solid! No one will enter until I
finish what I set out to do. She doesn't deserve to ascend to the throne!
That honor should go to the next MALE member of the family, the Count! He
deserves to be King! She should NEVER become the Queen! I was meant to be
Queen! My future husband will ascend to the throne of Bertram upon her
death. I will not allow her coronation to commence!" she screamed, her eyes
wild and her emotions apparently out of control. After she had said her
piece, she screamed and lunged again at Princess Shayla. Reg was quicker and
managed to tackle Rochel. He grabbed her arm that held the dagger and
slammed it against his knee until she dropped it. She struggled fiercely
within his arms until he had no choice but to render her unconscious with a
blow to her jaw. She fell to the floor in a heap, and Reg kicked the dagger
a safe distance across the room. He turned to the Princess as she ran crying
into his arms and clung to his neck.
"Reg! Oh Reg, I didn't know! I was so frightened! I couldn't overpower her
and get away. She had no problem getting access to my room as we are nearly
related by marriage. She was to become Patrick’s wife later this year," the
Princess cried as she tried to explain the situation to Reg. The Lieutenant
pulled her arms away from his neck to examine the severity of her wounds
when there was a commotion outside the door.
"That will be the Count and everyone else by now, I presume," Reg said as he
turned around to head for the door and unlock it. He shouted to the others
that everything was okay and put his hand on the doorknob. He turned the
knob and began to pull the door open, his back still to the Princess and
Rochel. Neither he nor the Princess had noticed that Rochel had regained
consciousness and was stealthily reaching down her leg and into her laced
boot. Everything happened so quickly that Reg didn't have time to react. He
remembered hearing Princess Shayla scream before he turned around.
Rochel had awakened and withdrew another weapon she had secretly tucked
inside her boot. It was not as big as the dagger, but it was just as deadly.
Quietly she stole to her feet behind the Princess, although her attention
was centered on the man opening the door. She eyed her enemy at the door,
then drew her arm back to throw the knife into his back. Her movements
caused Shayla to turn around and comprehend what was about to happen. The
Princess screamed and ran for Reg, throwing herself in front of him as he
turned around. The blade of the knife sank deep into her body, just below
her left breast. Reg felt the force of the impact of her body as she fell
back hard into his arms. Chaos broke out as the mighty door swung inward and
everyone came charging into the room. Rochel was immediately accosted and
held with her arms behind her back, her legs kicking wildly as she was led
from the room, spewing profanities at everyone around her.
Reg was on the floor holding the Princess in his arms. "D.don't m.m.move,
darling," he whispered. "Help i.is here now. Everything w.will be alright.
I'm here with you." Reg’s chest heaved in agony as his tears streamed down
his face. He couldn't believe what had just happened. He felt as though he
was going into shock. He looked down at Shayla as she raised a feeble arm
towards his face. Tenderly he took her hand and brought it to his face.
"Reg," she whispered faintly. Her body writhed in spasm and a trickle of
blood flowed from the corner of her mouth. "M.m.my Prince...Reg, I love you
s.s.so...," she said as she struggled to focus her eyes on her beloved’s
face. She was having trouble keeping her eyes open.
Reg leaned down and kissed her forehead and then her lips. When he looked
back into her face, her eyes were closed and her hand fell down by her side.
He stared at her beautiful face for a moment, then looked at the others who
were standing around them. With his head back, he closed his eyes tightly
and screamed as he clutched Shayla to his breast. The last thing he
remembered was an arm around his shoulder helping him to his feet.
*************************************************
"Picard to Counselor Troi. Deanna, may I request your presence aboard the
Bridge please?"
"Yes Captain. I’ll be there shortly," the Counselor replied. She looked down
at Lieutenant Barclay laying on his side, staring blankly at the wall before
him. She reached down and touched his forehead, eliciting no response from
him whatsoever. Deanna let out a deep sigh and turned to leave the
Lieutenant’s quarters, heading for the Bridge as requested. Upon her arrival
she found gathered Captain Picard, Commander Riker and Commander Geordi La
Forge. The Counselor walked over and seated herself to the left of the Captain.
"How is he, Counselor? Should we be seeking further medical attention for
him from Starfleet Command?" the Captain asked of his ship’s counselor.
"Lieutenant Barclay is still somewhat weak, mostly from malnutrition from
not having been eating properly. He has suffered a severe shock to his
system. I'm sure you realize that. I would suggest that we give him another
week or two to come around, and if his condition still hasn’t improved, then
yes, I would suggest that he receive professional help from a higher level,"
Counselor Troi explained.
"I should never have agreed to let him stay for the funeral. He blames
himself for what happened, stating that if he had never met the Princess,
she might still be alive today. I'm afraid the Count’s fiancée was seriously
intent on doing away with her, no matter what the circumstances. From what I
have gathered during recent conversations with King Patrick, his ex-fiancée
is being held for psychiatric evaluation to determine whether or not she
will stand trial for the murder of the Princess. He himself has been
struggling with his emotions since having ascended the throne of Bertram. He
was very close to his cousin and misses her dearly. He spoke of even having
come to terms with the fact that she had chosen Lieutenant Barclay as her
life long mate. Apparently they had discussed the relationship in great
detail. He finally realized just how much the Lieutenant had meant to her,
and had given her and Reg his blessing, although not without some
reluctance," the Captain explained.
"Lieutenant Barclay is going to need all the nurturing and support we can
possibly offer to him, in order to help him through this difficult period.
It’s understood that their time together was so very short, but I honestly
believe that he was deeply in love with the Princess. I will be keeping a
close eye on him and will be counseling him with the hopes that he doesn't
retreat back into his shell, or...or lose himself again within his holodeck
fantasies. I have never seen such a drastic change in a man as with Reg,
once he had met the Princess," the Counselor added. "This has all been so
unfortunate. We were experiencing the transformation of Lieutenant Barclay
from being a shy, lonely introvert to becoming an extremely happy and
fulfilled man."
"I shall leave his emotional care within your competent hands...for now,
Counselor. Please advise me right away should his condition worsen," the
Captain said. "Mr. Data, set our course for the journey back at warp speed 2."
"Setting our course for the return journey, warp speed 2," repeated Data.
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