Lost in the Stars

Posted on 31 Jan 2022 @ 6:06pm by Petty Officer 2nd Class Leon Inaros & Laeon Wylde
Edited on on 15 Feb 2022 @ 8:08pm

2,517 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: Regula I - Level 16, Promenade
Timeline: MD 02, 1530 hrs

[ON]

One of the problems with being on the station waiting for his ship to arrive had been how to fill his time on leave. Leon had spent time relaxing. Then he had gotten bored. Shoreleave was fine but if you did not have any of your shipmates, your usual friendship group, you drifted. And it was how it felt for him, as if he was drifting. He had gotten some routines down though. Morning walks, working out, running, a trip to the bar...it did not change. Same time, same places, as he waited until he finally could get on the ship and settle in.

This was one of his walking times. He would walk down the promenade, watching the view and take it all in to the best of his abilities, trying to appreciate it. And he did. He just wish that he was working rather than on leave.

Near the large viewport, a young man had pitched up and settled down. He'd settled himself on the curved seat that ran alongside, giving him a grand view of the spacescape. He'd tucked his legs up on the bench, his feet planted on it so his bent knees made the perfect perch for his sketching pad to rest on. Even as he sketched, he spent more time looking out than on the old fashioned paper. His long, blond hair fell slightly into his face as he bent enough to smudge the edge of a line with an already darkened fingertip.

Leon stopped when he saw the young man...or boy. He looked like a teenager. It was the sketching that caught his attention. He hadn't seen anyone sketch here, not before. He walked over, coming up on his side so he could look at what he was doing without literally sneaking up behind him. "You're very talented."

Laeon Wylde looked up to him with surprise, but it became a warm smile as he registered the compliment. "That's nice of you, thank you. I have a lot to learn though," he chuckled, shifting to put his feet down on the ground and make room for him. "Do you...?" he motioned to the sketch.

"I..." Leon moved to sit down, shaking his head as he looked at him. "No, I'm not an artist. Maybe in another life, but I am not...very good at the creativity and imagination needed to be an artist. Much more of...relying on what I see."

"Really?" Laeon leant forward on a hand as he watched him, thinking on it for a moment. "Art is just...a representation of what you see," he said softly.

"Maybe, but expressing the unique way you see things onto paper? I couldn't do that..." Leon said and looked outside, thinking about it. "For instance, stars? I see those as just...little blinks of light. Nothing special. But if you were to describe the stars, how would you describe them?"

"Stars are life," Laeon smiled warmly, leaning forward to him as he rested his elbow on the back of the bench. "They're where we came from...they create life, but they're also one of the most destructive forces of nature in the universe."

"And there is the difference between us," Leon said before he chuckled warmly. "I'm Leon Inaros..." he introduced himself, realising they hadn't exchanged names. Besides, the young man might want to know who he was talking to.

"I'm Laeon," he emphasised the first syllable with a small smile, the 'a' sound the only differential between their names. He touched his chest then pressed two fingers to his forehead before motioning them towards Leon in the traditional greeting of his people. "Do you work here?"

"No," Leon said as he watched Laeon, chuckling at the similarities between their names. "No, I...I am between postings. My ship has come in though but I have some shoreleave to spend first." He then tried to do what he had done, to return the greeting.

Laeon smiled at the action, nodding quickly. "That's right; it's how we say hello or goodbye where I am from. I think....you might be human, so..." he offered his hand over, watching with curiosity to see if he'd gotten it right.

"Yes, I am," Leon said softly before he chuckled, reaching to push some of his own hair from his face. He was still getting used to it being longer now. And the grey streaks were a lot more noticeable now. "Although...only biological. I'm...spaceborn. My Dad was a Marine and my Mum was a teacher on the ships and bases he was assigned to."

"A marine," Laeon sat back as he thought on it, nodding slowly. "They are the warriors in Starfleet, yes?" he asked to be sure.

"Were," Leon said as he watched him before he smiled. "No such thing as the Marines anymore. But yes...the warriors. The soldiers. Sent to fight, and that was their job. Fighting."

"He must have been a tough man," Laeon chuckled softly at that, shaking his head. "I don't think I could do it. I doubt that's my Talent. Saying that, teachers are pretty tough too. At least, mine were..."

He chuckled softly, watching Laeon before he rubbed his hands together. "I suppose it isn't for everyone, but nothing is. I'm sure your talent is with art, which if you ask me...is a good thing. It'll last. A lot longer than anything else."

Laeon shook his head with a soft smile, pulling a knee up to hold. "Starfleet shapes worlds. Changes people's lives. That's a pretty strong legacy to leave behind," he said softly. "I think my Dad would prefer me being an artist any day over joining Starfleet."

"He must...worry. Changing the universe has a lot of dangers," Leon said and smiled gently to him. "I know we've just met, but...my experience? You can't live your life for others. You have to go down your own path."

The youth smiled softly that, nodding as he watched him with gentle eyes. "I suppose I just see what Starfleet does, what it stands for. It's...bigger than just the people in it."

"Something that is good, promoting...understanding and equality across the galaxy," Leon whispered as he held his eyes. "It's what the Federation is meant to be. They...haven't always succeeded, but it is what the core of it should be."

"Is that why you joined?" he asked with curiosity, smiling gently as he sat back to get more comfortable.

"It's the only life I have known. So...I joined because it made sense for me," Leon said as he looked out to the stars for a moment. "I couldn't see myself...sitting still."

"You don't have a home?" the youth asked quietly, watching him with interest. His concept of home was warped after what had happened to his. So it had become something of a fascination. What meant home to other people.

Leon met his eyes before he smiled, watching Laeon. He seemed...eager for an answer. So Leon could only be truthful. "I have a home. Wherever I rest my head is my home in that moment. Today it is here, this station. In a few days, it will be a new ship."

"Like me," Laeon said softly with a small smile at that, somewhat comforted to hear that from this man who seemed so calm and together. "At the moment, it's Galileo. We have shoreleave now. Well...the actual crew do," he laughed gently.

He watched him before he smiled, his eyes shining. "That's where I am going," he told Laeon, surprised at the coincidence of it. "The Galileo."

"Oh!" Laeon laughed, setting his things aside to pull his feet up and sit cross legged. "Are you a scientist? The ship is kind of full of those. Plant scientists...rock scientists...people scientists..."

Leon laughed and shook his head, unable to stop himself. "Oh, I am not a scientist. I...am in medical. A nurse," he said quickly before he shrugged. "Was never good with lab work. I get bored easily."

"Oh! You'll work with my Dad then," the youth grinned as he leant back against the curve of the bench. "Although...he doesn't actually like being a doctor. Do you like being a nurse?"

"I..." Leon chuckled at the words the youth had said, surprised by the bluntness but also oddly pleased. "I preferred being a Marine," he finally said. "I was a Marine Medic but since there's no Marines anymore, I am here instead."

"Oh!" he watched him with a soft smile, nodding slowly for a long moment. "So really you're a warrior then?" he said with a touch of curiosity. At how he saw himself.

Leon let out a soft breath before he looked down. "I know how to fight. And I know how to...help," he looked at him, just watching him for a long moment. "I suppose I was once a warrior if you put it like that."

"But...you don't feel like it anymore?" he asked quietly, trying to understand it as he rested his head in his hand. "Sorry, I...you don't have to answer that."

"I am trying not to feel like it. Might not be very well liked for a nurse," Leon admitted as he held his eyes. "But inside? I think I am that person who can pick up a phaser rifle as easily as a dermal regenerator."

Laeon shook his head with a gentle smile at the conflict. "Where I'm from, our priests look after our souls. But they're also deadly warriors. It's their duty to protect us, no matter what it takes."

"Ah...I don't worry about souls, young man," Leon laughed, but it was with a great deal of warmth. "Got my own to worry about...I worry about sticking you together long enough for a good doctor to heal you..." he reached out and poked his arm, just under the elbow. "Your priests sound a lot more interesting than the chaplains I knew on starships."

Laeon smiled weakly at that, nodding as he looked down, taking a deep breath. "I think people who fight to protect others...it's pretty much the bravest thing you can do."

Leon watched him before he looked to the stars, clearly thinking for a moment. "Thank you," he finally said and met his eyes, smiling gently. "It's a kind thing to say."

"Just what I think," he smiled softly to him, shaking his head. "Sometimes people have to fight. But when you don't have to but you do it for other people, that's more."

"I think you're older than you look," Leon laughed quietly, keeping his voice low, not wanting to draw attention. "Perhaps you should be an author as well."

He smiled softly to him, watching him for a long moment at the kind words. "I think I might be older than you," he whispered. "But...Dad says that doesn't make a difference."

"I suppose it depends on when you're considered an adult for your people," Leon said thoughtfully and shook his head. "Still. Old soul, you."

"Is...that a good or a bad thing?" Laeon asked with a soft chuckle, not entirely sure as he watched the human. He tried hard to fill in the gaps, not having been raised in the Federation, but there still seemed so much to learn, more notes on customs and cultures to take.

"Depends on who you speak to. I think it is a good thing," Leon said and smiled, nudging the youth. "Although it speaks of a childhood ended too soon."

Laeon smiled awkwardly at that, shaking his head. Humans had lots of expressions that really cut through the smoke and to the fire. He didn't deny it, but it wasn't something he talked about often. "I wish I could grow up a little quicker here," he admitted.

Leon nodded and reached out, patting his hand for a brief moment before he looked at the stars. "It takes awhile before you are seen as a man instead of a boy, regardless of age and maturity. You grow up in the time you do, nothing can...change that. You'll most likely be an adult inside before you are recognised as one by those around you."

"Do me a favour and tell my father that?" Laeon replied, but with a soft chuckle, clearly not meaning it. "Do you have children? You seem all...wise and fathery when you talk."

"I..." Leon swallowed, looking a bit caught in the question. He finally shook his head, slowly. "Not that I know of anyway," he said and smiled, shaking his head. "I suppose...I have my years behind me to help. And a hard career."

"I guess you have to know how to talk to people, to keep them calm?" Laeon guessed as he watched him before laughing softly. "Not that Dad's like that. He's better at berating patients until they're too tired to argue anymore."

Leon laughed at that, nodding as he watched Laeon. "I rather like the sound of your father," he finally admitted. "I think doctors need to be like that sometimes. Nurses...we are the ones who will sit beside you once the doctor is done and hold your hand."

"That sounds hard," Laeon admitted with a weak smile, shaking his head. "You must get invested. That must make it hard when it's not...the best outcome."

For a moment, Leon frowned as he thought about it. "It's one thing I got to learn," he finally said and met his eyes, a small smile coming to him. "I'm not experienced in being long-term invested. But one is never too old to learn."

Laeon's smile brightened at that, pulling a leg close to wrap his arm around. "I like the sounds of that," he admitted. "Things change. Sometimes too quickly. I guess we'd be left behind if we didn't have to keep learning."

"Not only that..." Leon said and stood, smiling as he looked at him. "Life would be extremely boring. And no one wants to be too bored..." he motioned to the stars. "Just imagine if that always stayed the same."

Laeon looked out, turning his head before resting his cheek against his pulled up knee as he watched the view. "We'd be out of choices pretty quick..."

Leon nodded, watching the youth for a moment. "Be bold," he said, gentle advice between two strangers. "And reach for the stars." He reached to give his shoulder a gentle pat before pulling away. "I will see you on the ship, Laeon?"

"I hope so," Laeon grinned to him, nodding as he pressed two fingers to his own forehead before motioning to him with them. "Hearts be strong, Leon."

Leon watched the movement before he copied him, giving a small nod. "And minds be wild," he said teasingly before he walked away, chuckling to himself at the unexpected...talk.

[OFF]

--

PO2 Leon Inaros
Nurse
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Rice]

Laeon Wylde
Civilian
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Blake]

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