Echoes of Vaeron - Part 2/2

Posted on Sat Aug 2nd, 2025 @ 6:03pm by Chief Warrant Officer Alexion Wylde & Petty Officer 2nd Class Khlynt Medan

2,199 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: To Boldly Go
Location: Sickbay, USS Fenrir
Timeline: MD 10

PREVIOUSLY:

Khlynt watched him for a long moment, staying still, but he had a look of amusement in his eyes. "I was a survivor...but not a danger to you, or your people. I...liked it. Being there, having...a taste of power," he was honest with him about it. With his hand on his bare skin, a lie would be felt. "But I never wanted to hurt anyone. In a way, I wanted to help. As much as I enjoyed the luxury that my new friendships...allowed me. I have always liked comfortable living. And...it reminded me so much of a life I once lived."

Alexion met his eyes at the words, his throat growing tight with emotion. Not that it showed on his face, the only change was his frown growing a deeper shade of deep and his jaw clenching tighter. He could understand that...being reminded of a life once lived, wishing there was a way to turn back time and change the nightmare back to reality. "I miss it too," the words slipped out before he could stop them. He'd always noticed that around Khlynt. Words fell out of him.

ON - CONTINUED:

Khlynt gave a nod of acknowledgement, his eyes on him. "Have you made a good life for yourself and your son in Starfleet?" he asked, the words said quietly but with sincerity, a hope that Alexion would look at what he had built for himself and Laeon and go yes, this is good. Even if the last twenty years had not been easy for the Federation, for Starfleet. There had been bumps. There had been things that had briefly tarnished the brilliant blue of their flag. And yet, people were trying to rebuild and change that. For him, this ship was one of those instances. Everything about the Fenrir spoke of striving towards the core values of the Federation. The size, the civilian teachers, even the carpet.

"He is happy," Alexion nodded, a smile threatening at the corner of his lips, easing up the frown lines on his features. He turned back to the scan results coming in, searching through them, logging data, comparing to records. "It is all I want for him, and I will do anything to make it happen." And he really did mean anything.

Khlynt gave a nod, his heart tightening in his chest at that. He remembered that feeling. He could almost hold it in his hand again if he allowed himself. "And you'll succeed," he said softly. "Children...are our chance to do right by a world that has failed us. Not for us, but for the love we have for them."

"Would you like to explain that to him? To stop his complaining about me being too strict?" Alexion smiled at that though, a soft chuckle escaping as he saved his scans.

Khlynt looked down, his mind wandering for a moment with the feeling inside of him. "Eventually, he'll grow up and understand," he said, thinking of his own daughter. "For now...enjoy the complaints. It means he is safe under your roof, in your protection."

"I....am sure he would like to see you again," Alexion suggested with a weak smile, meaning it. Laeon had always been far more open with people than he was. He had been so young though when Khlynt had visited, he knew the other man would notice the years that had gone by.

Khlynt looked at him with surprise, the darkness leaving his eyes. He smiled, tilting his head at the thought. "And I would like to see him again. And conjure up sweets behind his ear..." the smile warmed, which softened the eyes and gave him almost a mischievous look. "Does he still draw? He was always drawing when I came and visited your father."

"Yes," Alexion's features softened with talking about his son, an easy smile even making it to his features as he scanned down the length of his back. "He is always working on something. I don't know where he gets it from, I haven't an artistic breath in my body. I blame his Uncle Jaq...becoming an actor, like a common drifter," the last was said with a playful note, the jibe taken at his brother not holding any bite.

Khlynt gave a small smile as he listened, nodding. He had seen Jaq, caught glimpses of him through Federation News. "Laeon always appeared to me to have an artist's eye, even as a child. His wonder at the falling of a leaf, or the patterns of a scarf." And Khlynt had always worn fabrics that seemed to capture the child's attention. It seemed like yesterday. And half a lifetime ago.

Alexion glanced to him with surprise as he shut his tricorder, letting out a soft breath. He hadn't realised that Khlynt had paid such attention to his son. "I would have him take the time to explore his skills before settling to a career," he admitted quietly, shaking his head with a gruff sigh. "You need to take better care of your back, I can see some inflammation there. And are we going to talk about your alcohol consumption?"

"No," Khlynt said, calmly but without hesitation, meeting Alexion's eyes. "We're not going to talk about that." A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, the kind that never quite reached his eyes. "My back was fine until I became a counselor. Too much sitting. Not enough dancing." For a moment, he looked away, thoughtful before he looked back at Alexion. "But I will listen, if you're worried, Doctor Wylde."

"There isn't enough damage to be of worry...yet," Alexion conceded, moving around to perch on the edge of the bed with him, watching with a deep frown. "But you should be taking better care of yourself. It will catch up with you."

Khlynt looked at him for a moment, his eyes on the man. "Some things are meant to," he said lightly, but he gave a nod. "I'll be careful with the back. Maybe I need to go back to my...exercises. Once I used to be quite fierce at staves."

"I can tell," Alexion motioned to his chest, at the old injuries he'd seen ghosts of in his scans. "Let me know if you need help with it. It...is literally my job," he added, sensing a note of reluctance from him.

Khlynt nodded as he looked at him, a small smile coming to him. "Yes," he said, meeting his eyes and holding them. "Keep me in shape to work. I'll...take care of myself. Physically, anyway. Perhaps not with the drink," he added the last with a smile, raising an eyebrow at him. "After all...I've been along for so long, some vices are useful. Balances a person."

"Hm..." Alexion shook his head with a soft tut, his eyes lifting in what might have become an eye-roll in a human. "I was about to say 'don't let a counsellor hear you say that some of your vices are useful'...and then I remembered you are one."

"Yes, but I am a new counselor. Just out of training," Khlynt said innocently as the smile almost became a smirk. "I think a person without a single vice...is lying to themselves. It does not have to be as easy to see in a medical scan as an enjoyment or overindulgence in real alcohol...but everyone has at least one vice."

"Oh, you're not living right if you don't have at least three..." Alexion teased lightly in response, but his features remained as dry and straight as ever, making it impossible to tell if he was joking. He imagined Khlynt would know though. The other man had always had something of a sixth sense...or at least, it had seemed so to him.

Khlynt chuckled warmly as he looked at him, shaking his head. "Ah, I have gotten soft in my old age then. Best claim a few more vices again...have to live right after all," he said and studied him, considering something. "I'm going to request that I will not be assigned as your Counselor, Doctor Wylde. I feel our...history would complicate anything." He decided to be blunt about it, in case the other man's thoughts drifted that way.

"You're under the misunderstanding I will be seeing one any time soon," Alexion replied pointedly, but nodded with understanding. He always avoided Starfleet counsellors whenever possible. He had no wish to share his inner most thoughts and secrets with strangers who would never understand. Who weren't there. "Does that mean you want another general doctor?"

"No," Khlynt said as he shook his head, meeting his eyes. Ah, Alexion was nothing if not stubborn and resourceful. He suspected any counsellor who got him on the books would need to find ways to slip past his defences. "The body is different from the mind. And for me, having someone like you is...useful. You’ll accept what doesn’t kill me, but make me confront what can."

"Oh, you can be sure of that," Alexion replied firmly, watching him with a furrowed brow and heavy breath. "So...I suppose now I shall just need to get used to calling you Khlynt."

"Only if it suits you," Khlynt said softly, his eyes calm. "I wouldn't presume." His voice held no injury, only a kind of practiced gentleness...a man long used to being remembered as a shadow rather than a presence. "Some ghosts prefer silence. Some don't even know they've lingered." He glanced to the side, not to avoid Alexion's eyes, but to give him space to decide what came next. "I can live with either."

Alexion watched him with the gruffness of a man who had already used up the little patience he'd been gifted in life on students and his son. He reached out and pinched Khlynt's side hard to make him jump. "Well, you seem pretty real to me..."

Khlynt jumped, his hand snapping down hard at Alexion's wrist for a brief second before restraint caught him. His eyes locked with the doctor's...shocked, clear, and for a breath he looked younger. Then his grip eased, fingers sliding away with practiced grace. He gave a genuine smile, a bit rueful, the sort that he never gave to people nowadays. He tended to be too guarded even now. "Ah," he said in a low voice. "You've always been the one to look straight into the truth, no matter how sharp the edge."

"I have no time for honeyed words," Alexion waved his hand dismissively as he pulled it away from him. If he'd been startled by his grabbing his wrist, it didn't show. "You have as much of a place in this...crazy world as I do."

Khlynt exhaled slowly, his eyes steady. He gave a small nod, his smile faint but sincere. "I forget sometimes that I no longer walk in shadows," he said, the words measured but not without a touch of playfulness. "No honeyed words, Alexion. I'm glad to see you're building a life for your son. And... I’m glad you're healthy. I thought of you and Laeon often, through the years."

"Laeon, Jaq and myself are the only members of the family that made it off the planet after the..." Alexion paused, the words almost catching in his throat for a moment, struggling between finding a word that did the massacre justice, and steering away from voicing it entirely, "...fall."

Khlynt frowned at the words, taking a sharper breath. A brief stab of grief that he kept off his face but still felt in his heart. "At least you three got out. At least Laeon still has you two," he said, quietly. It wasn't meant as comfort. It wasn't even meant as reassurance or hope. It was meant as fact. Because it could have gone the...other way.

Alexion remained silent, his thoughts briefly touching the memories of moments he thought he had lost Laeon during the assault...but he shook them quickly away. "It was Jaq...he kept him safe, got him out. He's a waste of space actor now, but I owe him everything..." he said the last with just a hint of a snigger in his voice.

Khlynt smiled at that, a chuckle coming through at it. "Details. He's your brother...if you started to praise him too much, he'd think something was wrong," he looked at him before he stood. Took a breath, brushing his clothes down...imaginary wrinkles. "Perhaps, soon...I could invite both you and Laeon to my quarters. I do have a kitchen there."

"We would accept," Alexion assured softly, nodding as he slowly got to his feet, as if suddenly feeling his age. "With gratitude."

Khlynt stood and watched him, reaching out. His hand touched his arm, giving it a squeeze. And then he pulled it back, his hand going to his own heart. "Your attendance would be welcomed with joy," he whispered...a promise.

OFF:


PO2 Khlynt Medan
Counsellor
USS Fenrir
[PNPC Hanlon]

&

Dr. Alexion Wylde
Medical
USS Fenrir
[PNPC Blake]

 

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