Broken Road - Part II

Posted on Sun Nov 3rd, 2024 @ 2:59pm by Lieutenant JG Zai & Lieutenant Lanna Alexander

1,389 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Location: Counseling Office | USS Arcadia
Timeline: (Backpost)

ON:

"I am him." He sighed. "The one Fang is pining over. We...ran away from home we had nobody but one another and we bonded and I thought I'd fallen in love. We were going to get off Capella together and then I thought he'd betrayed me, sent a Starfleet officer to kill me. I vowed revenge. So I set to freeing my people and with the help of an outside group neither Starfleet nor Klingon I began getting my people to safety. I made a deal with Fang's brother, the sixth prince to help me and fight with me and bring others from different tribes and I'll support him as Tier over his father and brothers. Once I was sure all was well I got off Capella set on revenge...." He laid his head on Sabastian's shoulder. "Then I got in the Academy met Fang but...I couldn't do it. I couldn't see him hurt I still had feelings for him. Eventually I found out he had nothing to do with things. It was a Klingon who pretended to be Starfleet. We seemed to pick up where we left off on Capella, a bond, a closeness and I found that I needed him more and more. I wanted to be near him but being near him...was painful. He didn't know who I was, I mean really, and I would feel happy and miserable at the same time."

Lanna nodded. “Fang believed you were dead, and as much as I would love to say more it’s not my place to tell you what Fang should be saying himself. I know it must be very difficult, but what I don’t understand is how Fang hasn’t recognised you, if you knew each other so well.”

"I've changed a lot. I mean we were kids. My tribe we all have lavender eyes, we all have black hair... same build. But you are right. I would have recognized him anywhere. The fact that his soul hasn't recognized mine... that I don't know how to interpret."

He looked at Sabastian who gave me a reassuring nod.

"Anyway Fang graduated, left the academy a year ahead of me. I stayed behind and it wasn't a picnic. I started to..."

Sabastian took over. "He started to deteriorate. He couldn't eat, sleep, drink. I kept tabs on him because I..." He smiled sheepishly. "I fell in love with him the first time I saw him thank a horse for throwing him off."

Zai groaned. "Oh god. not that story."

Sabastian laughed. "Anyway he almost died. The not eating and all that with his Anxiety from the war...He was in a Coma and they told me that he was going to die. I did what all my family has been telling me not to do. I mind melded with him pulled him out and slowly he recovered."

“Ahh I see” Lanna nodded. “That was a big risk, you could have ended up in a coma yourself mind melding that way. Still it has brought the two of you closer.”

Zai gave a nod. "Yes, he saw who I really was, why I came, all that happened in my past and present and he still loved me." He shrugged. "That year...I was a mess but because Sabastian was there and I'll admit the three idiots, as I call them, the new hires I was upset about, they all pulled me out."

"And he became the real Zai. He joined dance, and he went on trips and grades improved." Sabastian interjected. "Then that idiot came back at graduation and..." Sabastian sighed. "Sorry. I shouldn't call him that."

Zai looked at him. "It's okay..."

"No it's not but it's hard to see someone you love hurt because of someone else."

Zai looked at the counselor. "Can I ask Sabastian a question and I've asked before but in the spirit of honesty you're an empath and we've agreed he would not block you or me during these sessions."

Lanna nodded. “Of course you can, this is your session.”

"Sab...why did you stay back. You graduated same year as Fang. I know you said you wanted to stay a year, give back to the academy take it off but...were you lying."

Sabastian stared at the ground so long. "You, I stayed back because I wanted to be here with you. The whole time we were at the Academy Fang did his best to ensure you and I never talked, but I would wait hours in the library just to see you and spend a few minutes talking. When he left I knew I had to stay... I knew you would be hurt when he left even if it was cause he graduated and I selfishly wanted to have you to myself for that year."

Zai's eyes filled with tears. "Oh my god. I'm so sorry Sab. I ..."

He held up a hand. "Maybe you don't understand but the counselor does. She's Betazoid. When you meet your Imzadi, your soul knows."

Zai looked at her. "Imzadi?"

Lanna looked towards Zai. “It’s a Betazoid term that means beloved, the one that holds your heart, your soul mate.”

Zai shook his head. "So I..."

Sabastian sighed and took Zai by the shoulders forcing him to make eye contact. "I didn't say anything because I don't want you to make your decision on me or Lee based on our needs. If you are aware of it or not you do tend to adapt to what others want without you looking at what you want. I need you to choose who your heart chooses not who you think you should choose so you wont upset or hurt them. Zai please just follow your heart and for once find your happiness and nobody else matters."

“We Betazoids bond with our Imzadi’s, but that bond is reserved for the one we truly want to spend the rest of our lives with.” Lanna explained. “For a Vulcan a bond is for life, breaking that bond means certain death if not bonded again within a certain timeframe. For Betazoids it’s not life threatening, but the loss of our Imzadi can be soul destroying, simply from their loss. Hence why we don’t take the bond lightly.”

Zai sat back his mind processing it all. "My people have it too. The Neyaku, the second par of our soul, the person to trigger metamorphosis within us. Our bodies physically change once we unit with that person. That is why our marriages must be approved by the soul reader." He sighed. He looked at Lanna. "I...this is a lot."

Sabastian reached over and took his hand. "It is but...we might have to face this. What is this metamorphosis. Is it dangerous?"

He sighed. "If you are my Neyaku then yes. Not to you but to me. Just being in your presence the kisses we shared it will activate what we call the inner crystal and I should know over the next while if you are that person, It must be confirmed with a soul reader."

"What happens if I am and we don't bond."

"The metamorphosis time frame is... a mystery even to my people, a year more then likely within ten years I will be dead if we do not complete the ceremony."

Sabastian sat up. "Damn it! Can we talk now, can we see a soul reader?"

"As I said it's a lot and I'll explain more on this later." He looked at Lanna. "This is really a lot. I don't feel strong enough...would it be okay end the session and maybe try again in a few days?"

“Of course” Lanna nodded. “If you need me I’ll be here.”

They left the counselor's office and as they boarded the turbo lift Zai leaned against the wall. Sabastian took his hand. "Deep breaths Darling. We'll figure everything out. There is an old Earth saying. Rome wasn't built in a day. It takes time to get everything sorted, but it will be sorted. I promise."

He gave a nod. "Yeah. Can we just go back home. I just want to spend time alone with you and be totally selfish."

Sabastian smiled. "I am totally on board with that."

OFF:

 

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