Just The Two Of Us

Posted on Sun Jun 19th, 2022 @ 9:46pm by Lieutenant Xavier Leiko & Jerant van Rijn

Mission: Shore Leave
Timeline: Set right after Welcome to the Hotel Toram...ifornia
1507 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

Xavier led the other Betazoid away from the group towards the waterfront. They walked in silence for a few moments until they reached the other end of the beach, which wasn't as busy as the main front. He had strangely enjoyed the silence, just the sound of the waves out in the distance, the birds in the sky, the sound of laughter fading into the background.

When they eventually stopped, Xavier turned to face Jerant. "Sorry for dragging you away, I just didn't feel like being with a crowd of people, I hope you don't mind?"

"Not at all." Even though he would've enjoyed a good obstacle run, if there would've been obstacles anyway, he too currently didn't really like to be among a crowd. "To me, it feels so much louder than normal, I can't really explain how they're louder but it just is." He paused, studying the other man for a moment. "I'd much rather spend time with you anyway," he admitted slowly, "even though I hate not being able to just sense what you feel or think. Do you think...practice might help us?"

He really should have expected it, but this was the last thing Xavier wanted to think about and talk about. It was constantly on his mind and in a way he just wished his mind would shut up and let him breathe for a moment. The ironic thing was, that his mind shutting up was exactly the cause of all of his issues at present. A fractured mind causality loop, he thought to himself. "Maybe for you," he said finally, trying his best to keep the bitterness out of his voice. "You've had some whisperings or murmurs, whatever you want to call it. Me? Nothing, complete deafness," he used his fingers to air quote the word as his eyes drooped towards the ground.

"Just the odd flash of a feeling, but nothing more than that. Not even enough to get what sort of feeling," Jerant explained, reaching to gently make the man look back up at him. "We're in the same boat, and we'll get there," he promised, "and you can always have a rant at me about it if you like, I don't mind. I'm very sure there's no-one on board who understands more than I do, right now. And I'm happy for you to try and read me when you feel a desire to try, I want to be an open book for you." He sat down on what appeared to be a washed up log and patted the space next to him. "Maybe...." He looked up. "And this is just a wild thought...but maybe another telepath can figure out why ours isn't working? Maybe some kind of receptor or something is just blocked and needs unblocking somehow."

Though determined to not do what Jerant wanted, Xavier finally resigned and joined the man on the washed-up log. "Do you think that would work?" He asked, trying to not get his hopes up. For whatever reason, he hadn't considered using another telepath in such a way, he was more focused on himself finding his way through the fog. But what if someone else was searching in the fog for him?

"I honestly don't know," Jerant admitted, "but what have we got to lose? Telepathy is part of who we are, and we need it to function properly. I haven't had a decent thought on who could do it though. I know Savin would be willing, but another Betazoid might probably be more helpful. I thought... Maybe we could contact one of your or my siblings?" He gave the man an uncertain look. "It's just a thought... And I hate seeing you this unhappy, and I hate not being able to just sense how you feel and not being able to help."

Xavier thought about the idea of contacting one of his brothers. Quori would be the most willing but he had no idea where in the galaxy his wayward brother was right now. Edan would be easier to track down, a quick search in the database would tell him where the Atacama was, but would he drop everything to help Xavier out? Not likely. "Maybe you should try with Savin, he's like a brother to you and he's a skilled telepath, it might work."

"But he's not a Betazoid... I know he'd be willing to try with both of us, especially as counselor or probably because of the oaths he's bound to..." He looked up, studying the other. "I'd love to hear your train of thought right now, I'd give anything to hear it. Why do you think that might work? Rather than another Betazoid?"

"And why are you so adamant that it has to be a Betazoid?" Xavier asked, frustration creeping into his voice. "As an engineer, when you come up with a theory you have to test all the variables, not just jump to the one conclusion without data. We're asking someone to dive into our minds and find... us. It stands to reason that someone who is gifted in telepathy and who knows us intimately would stand a chance of doing the task. If Savin can't then we can explore other options, just seems silly ignoring someone who is here, now." What he didn't want to admit was the one person available to him was the one person he didn't want to ask for help. Maybe if Savin could help Jerant first, then he could help Xavier too.

"I don't know," Jerant admitted, looking away for a moment as he heard the frustration in Xavier's voice. "I just makes sense to me. I agree with the testing all variables but surely you'd start with the most logical one? How well do you know Savin? Do you trust him, because to allow him to do this requires a great deal of trust. Or would you trust me and my word? Because I trust him with my life and my darkest secrets... not that I got any of those..."

Xavier stood up, growing more frustrated. Jerant was looking at this problem like a civilian, with zero logically progression. That wasn't his fault, at the end of the day he was a civilian but it didn't make him any less frustrating. "You do start with the most logical," Xavier finally said, "and in this situation that is Savin. We see how the two of you do first, and if that doesn't work we look further afield. At this point it doesn't matter how close the two of us are, you two are close, I think that has a good shot at working."

"How both of us do," Jerant insisted, "there's no guarantee us being close will help any. And you as Starfleet officer need your telepathy as much as I do as civilian. We'll both give this a shot, you're not going to wait and see...I'm convinced that any practice at all will help us in the long run, and we will get it back." He stood as well, taking one of Xavier's hands in both of his. "We will get through this. Together, because there's no way I'm going to let you do this alone. And there's no way I'm going to let you sit by the sidelines, understand?"

"This isn't me being a martyr," Xavier said, a touch of humility in his voice. "I have no intention of not getting cured, or fixed, or whatever the right word is. But, you kinda need to be the guinea pig here Jerant, sorry," he quickly added, knowing how that must have sounded. "It's just we don't even know if this will work but my heart is telling me it will, and Savin is family to you. And if that's what it takes, it will mean I need to reconnect with mine."

"I know you're not trying to be a martyr, and I know you want this as bad as I do. Maybe even a bit more...." He smiled, reaching out. "And if this will help you ask your family, then I'll go see Savin. Just please understand... there's no guarantee. I may still have to ask my mom..."

"Speak to Savin first," Xavier said. "My family is a last resort. I know this may not work, we'll run it like a scientific experiment, agreed?"

"Sure." Jerant squeezed the hand he held and smiled reassuringly. "One way or another, we'll be ourselves again. Some day, preferably sooner rather than later." He nodded towards the shore line. "Wanna go for a stroll through water's edge? Or a swim?"

"Let's swim," Xavier answered as he started kicking off his shoes. He was already feeling better, well not better as such but... hopeful and that was a start. He had no idea if their plan would work but it was something to focus on at last, and he needed that, they both did.