In the Blink of an Eye - Part 1

Posted on 29 Jul 2023 @ 10:04am by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Alexion Wylde

1,561 words; about a 8 minute read

:: USS Galileo ::

"Dad...Dad, are you here?" Laeon half stumbled into the quarters, looking around with worry until a long, shaking breath of relief escaped when he saw his father. "Dad..."

"I'm here," Alexion assured in their own language, wrapping his arms tight around his son as the youth grabbed him. He rested a hand on the back of his blonde head, squeezing him tight at feeling the emotions in him. "Hey, it's alright..." he said softly with concern. As soft as his usually gruff speech got anyway.

Laeon closed his eyes as he tried to relax, hugging him close as he rested his head against him. "What in the fires is happening?" he breathed. He'd been in Sickbay, helping out as a porter when everyone had crammed in, but so much had happened so quickly. "The boarders...then the Klingons fighting at dinner...the away teams coming back like they'd seen the world turn to ashes in front of their eyes...and there's a rumour that Mimi's in the brig for murder. Murder!"

Alexion swallowed back his pain at seeing his son's distress, gently taking his face in his hands so he could look him in the eye. "I know...I know, it's a lot, but it's okay. We're alright," he said firmly, as if to leave no room for doubt. He tried to look calm and resolute as he caressed his cheek with his thumb, but he couldn't quite hold his concern back. Laeon had been through so much over the years, and he deserved more than a lone parent stumbling around in the dark when it came to bringing up his son...so far away from home.

Laeon searched his father's eyes for any sign of a white lie that was meant to make him feel better. He slowed his breathing, finally nodding as he covered one of his father's hands with his own.

"There you go," Alexion said quietly, squeezing the hand as he felt the emotions start to settle through the touch. "I...don't think you should go out for a while. Stay in for a bit, hm? Why don't you get your sketchbook out?"

"What good would that do?" Laeon asked quietly, shaking his head as he watched him with dark violet eyes. "If you trained me more in medicine, I could be of some real use..."

"No," Alexion replied flatly as he moved to get them a drink, shaking his head at the familiar prelude to a well trodden argument. "Nothing's ever that bad."

"You were in Sickbay for hours, you can't say it wasn't needed," Laeon pointed out as he dropped down tiredly on to the sofa, rubbing his hands over his face.

"You're not me," Alexion moved to sit close to him, setting their drinks on the table as he watched him...even if the lad was hiding his face. "You don't have to be, and I don't want you to be. I don't want you wasting your life as a doctor."

"How can you say that's a waste, it's been your entire career," Laeon pointed out, shaking his head with a frown. He'd heard it so often from his father, but he still didn't understand what it meant.

"That's *how* I can say it's a waste," Alexion shook his head firmly, but let a hand settle on his son's back to soften the severity of his resolve. "It's...cold and filthy and reeking...and I don't want my son anywhere near it. You're meant for more. Light...warmth. Creation."

Laeon just watched him with confusion before giving up trying to make sense of it, reaching for his glass with a tired, pale hand. "You save lives."

"I play with death," Alexion corrected quietly, knowing he couldn't explain it anymore than his son could understand it. But he liked it that way. It was how it was meant to be, and he'd be damned if he let that change. "You know full well I didn't choose this life. The priests decreed that my Talent would make me a healer, and that was that. But we're not there anymore, your Talent doesn't have to dictate what and who you are. You can be anything you want to be."

Laeon fell silent for a long moment, just looking into the dark liquid in his glass. His throat tightened as his lips parted and he couldn't speak until he'd managed a couple more breaths. "I know we're not at home anymore."

Alexion looked down as he rubbed his forehead with the side of his hand, silently cursing himself for his clumsy choice of words. He drank awkwardly rather than reply. What could he even say to that?

Laeon glanced his way, regret pricking him for being so sharp. He should have let it slide, he knew he hadn't meant it like that. He reached out and took hold of his hand in apology, holding it gently.

Alexion gave a weak, half smile at the gesture...remembering years past when they'd been on their homeworld, before it had been invaded. And Laeon had been a young child, too stubborn to say sorry. He'd always gone for his hand instead. He lifted his son's hand, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of it before giving a soft sigh. "I wish you'd go and speak to a counsellor."

"Well, I know how that feels," Laeon pushed his shoulder to his with fond disbelief, looking to him with exasperation. "You need to go too! Leon said he'd make you go."

"Oh did he now?" Alexion tilted his head and pursed his lips, shaking his head lightly as he glanced towards the door as if he'd sight him there. "I should have left the bastard asleep on the desk..." he murmured, but with no real venom. "Laeon, we were split up when the invasion happened. I...have no idea what you went through during the attack. And that's...that's fine. You don't need to tell me, not if you don't want to. But...you should talk to someone."

Laeon just shook his head, looking away for a long moment in silence. He remembered what Leon had said, about not refusing to go to counselling as a bargaining chip to try and make his Dad go. But there was so much more to it than that. How could he even start to explain what he'd seen. He wasn't even sure what he had seen.

"Okay," Alexion whispered, wrapping his arm around his shoulder to press a kiss to his blonde hair, letting out a long, tired sigh. "It's okay. There's time. Loads of time."

~~~~~

:: 2366 - 26 years prior to current time
Capital City of Sol, Vaeron ::


Pausing to look up at the night sky, Alexion took a deep breath, drawing in the fragrant, Autumn night air. The dark street was quiet, despite how busy the thriving city could be during the day. A small smile pulled on Alexion's lips as he watched the stars, taking in the calm chill of the night. He loved it.

And it had been a good night after all. His pockets were full with other people's money after a successful evening at the gaming table. He was humming with alcohol and smoke, enough to make him sway lightly, but not so much to be completely intoxicated.

All in all, Alexion felt good.

"Beautiful night," a voice said lightly from behind him.

Alexion didn't look away from the sky, but nodded gently. "Aye, it is at that," he chuckled, running his hands through his dark blonde hair. He even enjoyed the coolness that came with night time. It made the night feel sacred.

The other man watched Alexion and then the dark sky, shaking his head slowly. "I was going to go and get a drink, but I might just take a walk."

"A good idea," Alexion agreed with a grin, breathing in the crispness, gently wriggling his fingers to feel the tingle. "The season is changing and we will fall into winter."

"All the more reason to enjoy the nights before they become too bitter," the other man nodded with a soft laugh.

Alexion smiled, his eyes still on the stars. They narrowed slightly when he saw movement, his head tilting to the side with curiosity as a light flickered and moved against the dark canvas.

"What's that?" the man moved closer to Alexion, his eyes also fixed on the tail of red light in the night sky.

"I don't know," Alexion shook his head with a frown, watching the shifting trail of light. He hadn't seen it before and none of their craft used red lights.

"A comet, perhaps?" the other man finally shrugged. "I'm sure we will see pictures on the news network in the morning," he laughed softly. "Anyway, I will leave you to your evening. Hearts be strong," he touched his chest and then his forehead with two fingers before motioning them to Alexion.

"Hearts be strong," Alexion said softly, using the same gesture to bid him farewell. His gaze was pulled back to the scarlet light streaking across the sky though, watching it travel on a steady course for a long moment. He finally shook his head with a soft smile, dismissing it as he made his way back home, a hand in his full pocket as he whistled gently.

[TBC]

RSS Feed