character aesthetics - lexanis “lexie” sentta, ship’s counselor to the uss enterprise (ncc 1701-f)
you can feel the whole world and still feel lost in it. so many people are in pain - no matter how smart or accomplished - they cry, they yearn, they hurt … we all want the same things: comfort, love, and a peaceful heart.
Baki absently rubbed at the long-disappeared needle scar in the crook of her elbow. He’s alone today, of all days…
Which is why I keep saying you should give him a call, Lexie answered patiently.
He wouldn’t want my pity.
Would he want your comfort?
He’d see it as pity too.
Five years ago, when he was first injured, maybe he would. Maybe four years ago, when he was still adjusting to the wheelchair. Now, though? You’re his sister, Baki. He loves you. Any comfort you give would be important to him.
Baki sighed and sat up, rolling the shoulder that had been leaning against the window. What does Naz think?
He’s worried about you.
About me?
Imzadi, you’ve been sitting alone in the back corner of his bar for over an hour. Yes, he’s worried.
Baki finally turned her head, just as T’Nazzn looked up too. She managed a smile for her husband, and he beckoned another server over, murmuring to him for a moment before ducking under the bar and making his way back to her.
I’m on my way, imzadi, Lexie said too.
“Hey, bach,” T’Nazzn said, turning her name into his favorite Welsh endearment. “How’s Tann?”
“I haven’t talked to him yet today,” Baki admitted as Naz pulled up another chair next to hers. “Lex is trying to convince me to.”
“Nosy bastard,” Naz said affectionately.
I heard that. Lexie’s amused voice echoed in both their heads.
Naz reached over to wrap an arm around Baki, tucking her close and resting her head on his shoulder. “He’s still alive because of you,” he said softly.
“Thanks,” Baki answered absently.
“We can talk to him together if you want.”
“Maybe after I talk to him,” Baki said, pushing her uniform sleeves up to her elbows and stretching her arms above her head. “Anyway, it’s probably not a good idea for everyone on this ship to see their superior cuddling with her husband. Much as I enjoy it.” She leaned down to kiss his ridged forehead. “Diolch, par’Mach’kai.”
“Rwy'n dy garu di,” Naz answered, smiling at her use of Welsh. “Tell Tann I say hello.” He watched her walk to the door of the bar, head held high as anyone there, and he suspected that she knew as well as he did that her timing was perfect to meet Lexie at the door.
Lexie greeted their wife with a kiss—for which she obligingly leaned down—and tossed a smile to Naz. I’ll take care of her. You take care of your customers, babe.
Naz watched them go, hand-in-hand, and smiled. Baki would be okay. She, just like Naz, had Lexie’s light with them always.
“We wonder who the next host will be. I’m getting old, but you’re far from it. When I’m gone, who will carry our memories?”
We like that boy. The blond one who repairs anything he touches.
“The only one who matches that description is a girl.”
We know that’s not true. He is only too afraid to make it public.
“We could help him there.”
We would like being joined with him, we think. His will be a unique addition to us.
“That it will.” Korian smiled up at the stars. “The boy it is.”
“So it was intentional?” Sindar asked.
Korian smiled with Lexie’s mouth. “It was Kee’s idea, of course. It was more perceptive than I was. When I joined with it, it gave me its wisdom so I’d stop leaping into dangerous situations all the time. And when you joined with it…”
“It gave me the confidence to know myself and own myself,” Sindar finished. “As did you.”
“Exactly.” Korian’s grin practically glowed. “And I still get excited when you figure something out like that.”
“Ever the teacher, Korian,” Sindar answered. “Though there’s something else that you don’t know that I also just realized.”
“And what is that?”
I wonder.
He stared up at the stars, worry wracking him. Would they accept him for joining? What symbiont would he be joined to? How would the influx of memories, emotions, other people’s existences, meld to his brain without drowning him out?
Would they reject him?
He wasn’t who the application forms said he was. He had been stubbornly convincing himself of that for years. But only himself. If someone else found out…
If Korian found out…
He turned and went back inside.
“I was looking up at those same stars, wondering.” Sindar smiled. “Thank you, Korian Kee, for believing in me.”
“You’re very welcome, Sindar Kee.”
At a nod from Korian, the Guardian began to chant once more, and a wisp of light flew from Lexie’s body and back into Sindar’s. It lodged itself in the warm place in his chest that he recognized as Korian’s.
When he looked up, Lexie was smiling, softer than Korian. “Feel better?”
Sentta’s face fell. It was only for an instant before he recomposed himself, but Tyler’s heart sank. “She doesn’t, does she?”
“Baki’s…struggling,” Sentta admitted. “The admiral was afraid of this when he assigned the both of you to the Enterprise.”
“Admiral K’Ralta?” The pieces were falling into place. “He assigned Krya to the Enterprise too…” Shit. “She was on the Genji, wasn’t she?”
“She was,” Sentta relented. “She was the conn officer.”
“So she was friends with my father, and every time she sees me—”
“No, actually,” Sentta interrupted. “Baki was never friends with Sloan.”
“Oh, even better. She hated my dad, and now she won’t look at me.”
“Tyler,” Sentta said softly. “James Sloan saved Baki’s life. She doesn’t know how to feel about him. Or, by extension, you. She first saw you at his funeral, you know.”
“Yeah, but I’d heard so much from him about his brilliant son. Most often when I made some stupid mistake.”
Sentta let out a breath and closed his eyes, even as Tyler whipped around to find Krya in the doorway. “Baki. You know that isn’t true. He talked about Tyler, yes, but—”
“You weren’t there, Lexie.”
Sentta looked up again, at Krya this time, and for the first time, he looked angry, and he did not speak. At least, not aloud. Tyler’s head went back and forth between the two before he shook his head and stood to leave. “I’ll let you two argue it out.”
As he stormed back to his own quarters, he couldn’t help but regret what he’d thought at the end of James’s funeral. He didn’t want his father back. He wished their lives had been entirely different.
His father’s shadow had never been an easy place to be.
“the point of closest approach between two orbits”
The harsh sounds of Klingon were audible even before the door to Admiral K’Ralta’s office opened. Tyler hesitated before ringing the door chime, but his only answer was an abrupt halt of the argument within and the admiral’s gruff, “Come in.”
Tyler touched the control, and the doors slid open to reveal the admiral sitting behind his desk and a woman who looked like she had just hastily backed up from leaning her hands against it to get in the admiral’s face.
Tyler had never known a Bajoran to go toe-to-toe with a Klingon like that, especially not if she were a commander and the Klingon an admiral.
“We’ll talk later, Krya,” K’Ralta said in a clear dismissal.
She shot him a quick glare and a word in Klingon that made Tyler’s eyebrows shoot up and walked out of the office, sparing Tyler a contemptuous glance.
“Please forgive the Commander,” K’Ralta said. “I don’t think she’s aware that you understand Klingon, but she will be soon, and I think the embarrassment will be sufficient reprimand.”
“Sir?” Tyler asked. “What do you mean?”
K’Ralta smiled. “I pulled some strings, Sloan. You have a new assignment.”
Tyler stepped out of K’Ralta’s office, his head spinning. An assignment to the flagship. As a bridge officer. As a twenty-four-year-old lieutenant junior grade. Pulled some strings, indeed. And he had a sneaking suspicion about the Bajoran woman, too…
Voices abruptly halted just a few yards from him, and Tyler looked over to see three people huddled together—and looking at him. The Bajoran commander’s gaze had lost none of its angry skepticism, and Tyler hoped it was just the ridges on the Klingon’s forehead making him look angry. The most human-looking of the trio looked almost…amused?
You must be Lieutenant Sloan. Welcome to the crew.
Tyler nearly jumped at the sound of a voice in his head. Sorry for the intrusion. Baki wouldn’t take kindly to me making nice with someone she’s mad at, the voice continued.
Tyler’s eyes flicked around the trio, landing on the human—no. Not human. His irises were pure black, no distinction between them and the pupil. Betazoid?
Correct, the Betazoid said in Tyler’s mind, amused. He turned back to the other two, nodding once, probably communicating telepathically with them too, and they started down the hall away from Tyler. I look forward to seeing you on the ship, Lieutenant.
Tyler watched them go, even more confused than he had been before the Betazoid spoke. Welcome to the crew? Were these three assigned to the flagship as well? The Klingon and the Betazoid had been in civilian clothes, though… And a full Commander, evidenced by the two silver bars on her jacket…oh fuck.
Dear Kiki, he started, composing his next message to his girlfriend in his head as he started the opposite way of the trio, I got my new posting two minutes ago, and I think the first officer already hates me.
“You shouldn’t be so angry at the lieutenant, Baki,” Lexie chided. “None of this is his fault.”
“He’s K’Ralta’s pet project,” Baki answered sullenly, leaning back against T’Nazzn’s chest on the couch. “And I don’t want to serve with Jimmy Sloan’s son. The father was bad enough.”
“At least the positions are reversed,” T’Nazzn observed. “First officer and helmsman. You’re his boss now.”
“He seemed all right,” Lexie assured Baki.
“Already poking around in his mind?” Baki asked, the first hint of amusement crossing her face. “Shouldn’t you introduce yourself first? Take him to dinner?”
“There’s our Baki,” T’Nazzn chuckled, hugging his wife closer.
“I don’t think you’ll have anything to worry about from Tyler,” Lexie assured. “Just don’t take out your anger at Jimmy on him.”
“We’re not on the ship yet, Lex; you don’t have to play counselor.”
“I’m your spouse, Bak. It’s my job even when I’m not on duty.” He leaned forward to lie against Baki’s chest, squishing his wife between him and their husband, to protests from them both. “We’ll be fine, Baki,” he assured her. “We’re going back to the stars, after all.”
