01-05-2026, 06:03 AM
Alex couldn't help but smile a little as Jez tried to impart to him her translation of the kiss and what she thought it meant. He even blushed a little as she did so. He was not used to discussing such potential relationships and was quite out of practice in the matter.
He did confide to her, "Well, we had been discussing our pasts and how one might try to deal with the loss of life caused by certain decisions we were involved with. I'm not exactly sure of the source of her troubling thoughts, but I did relate that I had such an event in my past that unfortunately involved a great many deaths. They were considered enemy combatants at the time, but still, the weight of so many deaths can weigh heavy on the soul. I hope that you never have to deal with such decisions, but the Academy doesn't really prepare you for that, at least not on that scale. So, my conversation with Beno might have entered into the personal side of such things. I do consider her a friend and as a Betazoid, I couldn't help but feel some of her internal struggle."
In an effort to drift away from the grim topic, he grinned and said, "So, you think she's crazy about me, huh? I will have to take that under advisement and consider it for future conversation."
He paused and then allowed himself to open up a little more, "My wife, well, she was quite a woman. We met under quite unusual circumstances and became very close while working together on...um...a special project. The cause of her death was that we were part of a large scale operation against a Borg fleet that had been discovered and she was part of a secret mission within that effort. We both knew her skills would perhaps be able to make a difference on such a mission and if I had tried to stop her from going, she might have resented me for it if I had not let her try to do everything she could to save as many lives as possible. I'll spare you the details of the battle, but even our own ship was boarded by the Borg."
He ran a finger along the scar at his temple while he continued to speak, "I fought the Borg that were trying to take over our main computer and was shot, but survived. In the end, our ship was spared, but many others were not so lucky. She's listed as MIA, but I know that she died because I could feel her loss with my mind. We had formed a link and...well...you just know when it happens."
There was a brief sadness to his eyes, but then it disappeared and he added, "There is still a lady in my life, but she is our daughter. I have to say that I did not see that one coming, but I have Cindy to thank for her. The original Cindy managed to exceed her original programming, as did the others I had made to that point. They are each quite remarkable and very different. I'm not sure if you could call them sisters, or if Cindy is technically their mother, as she helped me create them. They like family to me, as much as my parents and my daughter. It might sound a bit odd, but it's true."
He locked eyes with Jez, "I will always look back and wonder if I should have risked her wrath and talked her into not going on that mission. Can I be so incredible if I let her go on a mission we both knew she wasn't going to come back from? I could have lived with it, if she were still alive to be angry with me, but some things can't be undone."
Once again, deciding he should shift the conversation, he aid, "You know, if you decide you're ever up for trying the single mom thing, I know a guy who can set you up with an independently powered holo-nanny program that wouldn't require being tapped into ship's direct power system and could care for your child while you're at work or even away on missions. You've met Thor and Cindy, you've been to my quarters and seen the independent holographics and drone programs I've developed. I'm serious that if you need some help in that area, we can sit down and discuss what sort of program might meet your needs and still be acceptable by Star Fleet standards. I'm just saying..."
Alex left that topic hanging in the air between them as he leaned back in his chair and took another sip of his tranya.
== Tag Mala ==
He did confide to her, "Well, we had been discussing our pasts and how one might try to deal with the loss of life caused by certain decisions we were involved with. I'm not exactly sure of the source of her troubling thoughts, but I did relate that I had such an event in my past that unfortunately involved a great many deaths. They were considered enemy combatants at the time, but still, the weight of so many deaths can weigh heavy on the soul. I hope that you never have to deal with such decisions, but the Academy doesn't really prepare you for that, at least not on that scale. So, my conversation with Beno might have entered into the personal side of such things. I do consider her a friend and as a Betazoid, I couldn't help but feel some of her internal struggle."
In an effort to drift away from the grim topic, he grinned and said, "So, you think she's crazy about me, huh? I will have to take that under advisement and consider it for future conversation."
He paused and then allowed himself to open up a little more, "My wife, well, she was quite a woman. We met under quite unusual circumstances and became very close while working together on...um...a special project. The cause of her death was that we were part of a large scale operation against a Borg fleet that had been discovered and she was part of a secret mission within that effort. We both knew her skills would perhaps be able to make a difference on such a mission and if I had tried to stop her from going, she might have resented me for it if I had not let her try to do everything she could to save as many lives as possible. I'll spare you the details of the battle, but even our own ship was boarded by the Borg."
He ran a finger along the scar at his temple while he continued to speak, "I fought the Borg that were trying to take over our main computer and was shot, but survived. In the end, our ship was spared, but many others were not so lucky. She's listed as MIA, but I know that she died because I could feel her loss with my mind. We had formed a link and...well...you just know when it happens."
There was a brief sadness to his eyes, but then it disappeared and he added, "There is still a lady in my life, but she is our daughter. I have to say that I did not see that one coming, but I have Cindy to thank for her. The original Cindy managed to exceed her original programming, as did the others I had made to that point. They are each quite remarkable and very different. I'm not sure if you could call them sisters, or if Cindy is technically their mother, as she helped me create them. They like family to me, as much as my parents and my daughter. It might sound a bit odd, but it's true."
He locked eyes with Jez, "I will always look back and wonder if I should have risked her wrath and talked her into not going on that mission. Can I be so incredible if I let her go on a mission we both knew she wasn't going to come back from? I could have lived with it, if she were still alive to be angry with me, but some things can't be undone."
Once again, deciding he should shift the conversation, he aid, "You know, if you decide you're ever up for trying the single mom thing, I know a guy who can set you up with an independently powered holo-nanny program that wouldn't require being tapped into ship's direct power system and could care for your child while you're at work or even away on missions. You've met Thor and Cindy, you've been to my quarters and seen the independent holographics and drone programs I've developed. I'm serious that if you need some help in that area, we can sit down and discuss what sort of program might meet your needs and still be acceptable by Star Fleet standards. I'm just saying..."
Alex left that topic hanging in the air between them as he leaned back in his chair and took another sip of his tranya.
== Tag Mala ==