03-09-2026, 06:55 PM
== Talion family quarters ==
Alex was relaxing. It was a rare moment for him. Reyna was getting some one on one time with an instructor for her school work. Due to her unique learning method prior to them joining the crew of the ship, Reyna required a combination tutor and Academy liaison. She was an unusual child, to say the least. Compared to other kids her age, she was quite further along in her education than her peers. She also had emotionally developed more as a result, though physically she was still six years old. The upside of this was that she was now able to focus more on individual lines of inquiry, having the luxury of already possessing the equivalent of a high school education. It was easier not to try and describe to people how she arrived at this point. Instead, she simply tested out of the various classes and moved forward. If people knew the truth, they would have more questions and it was safer to avoid them entirely.
His daughter had also started to display signs of her Betazoid gifts. It was certainly nothing like it would be when she began to hit puberty, but more accurately said, it was the sort of interactions that were normal for close family members. When Betazoids formed very close personal emotional attachments, they sometimes formed empathic and telepathic links associated with those relationships. Reyna had started to display signs that she was stronger than might be expected. A normal child that was half Betazoid might not even display any gifts at all. Technically, she was more like 60% Betazoid, another anomaly of her parentage, but even then, Alex had been a little worried at first. A call to his mother had cleared it up somewhat, though he wasn't sure if it was his mother being his mother, or if she was actually being honest. Her response had been that the women of their family had always been remarkable in that way and he should prepare himself accordingly. After all, there was a reason that women ran most things in their culture. She even named some great aunt of his that had been an extremely powerful telepath, but he was pretty sure that the story was an exaggeration.
The door chime rang and with a wave of his hand, it opened to reveal a rather attractive young woman in civilian clothing who stepped in and asked, "Commander Talion, is now a good time?"
At first, he only narrowed his eyes at her, evaluating her like she were a chess board, but Cindy's voice came from the sound system in the room, [Alex, this is the nanny I told you about. her name is April Connor.]
Alex tilted his head back, still in thought, considering her with critical looking eyes, "What makes you think I need a nanny?"
April responded, "Actually it's Reyna that needs one, not you, though..." She gave him a look up and down, his bare feet, cargo shorts and t-shirt giving him the look of a beach bum and she tilted her head as if nothing more needed to be said.
That made Alex grin a little, but he countered with, "What makes you think you can handle the job?"
April's look became more serious and she took a single step closer, hands behind her back, "Well, in spite of all of your technological efforts, you can't cover everything. Also, even though Thor is quite impressive, including your contingency plans, you need to face the fact that part of why you're here is because you already know that your daughter needs direct organic interaction on a regular basis. I can provide that. I'm prepared to engage with her on a high level and I can step in where your own systems might fall short. Think of me as your organic backup plan."
He nodded and relaxed more, "You're Star Fleet Intel. Cindy was right, you're the devil I know, so there is that."
For a moment, April looked like she might deny it, but then she just smiled and shrugged, "So?"
Alex stood a little straighter and began, "Her safety is priority one. Never, under any circumstances go near any of my equipment, because if you trigger any protocols, you won't have time to regret it."
April smiled, 'Are you threatening me?"
Alex smiled back, "No, that part you can consider your safety briefing, because Cindy and my equipment have failsafes that give no warnings if you cross lines. However, here is an actual threat. If through an action or lack of action on your part, my daughter comes to any harm, you will be the victim of an accident that will never be known and you will never be found, do we understand each other?"
April opened her mouth to respond, but then said nothing as she realized there was no hint of humor in his voice. Her briefing had included that he was able to disappear from known space without a trace and that he had incredible resources at his disposal. His records indicated deaths attributed to him, though the number was classified beyond her level and there were whispers about some of his "creations" having trained a number of Marine forces at one time or another. She also knew how to tell when people were lying and this man was not bluffing.
She finally managed a subdued reply, "I understand."
Alex nodded, "Good. Cindy will be in touch."
April hesitated, "Commander, I'm here to help."
Alex took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "I know that you think you are, but I didn't request you. You were sent to me. You need to ask yourself deep down, why the people who sent you are scared, because they aren't scared of me...they're scared that I might be right."
April so badly wanted to ask so many questions right then, but she knew better. She just gave a nod, "Thank you, sir."
April then turned and left without another word. Alex let out another big sigh and got himself a drink. A real drink for a change. After that, he needed one.
Alex was relaxing. It was a rare moment for him. Reyna was getting some one on one time with an instructor for her school work. Due to her unique learning method prior to them joining the crew of the ship, Reyna required a combination tutor and Academy liaison. She was an unusual child, to say the least. Compared to other kids her age, she was quite further along in her education than her peers. She also had emotionally developed more as a result, though physically she was still six years old. The upside of this was that she was now able to focus more on individual lines of inquiry, having the luxury of already possessing the equivalent of a high school education. It was easier not to try and describe to people how she arrived at this point. Instead, she simply tested out of the various classes and moved forward. If people knew the truth, they would have more questions and it was safer to avoid them entirely.
His daughter had also started to display signs of her Betazoid gifts. It was certainly nothing like it would be when she began to hit puberty, but more accurately said, it was the sort of interactions that were normal for close family members. When Betazoids formed very close personal emotional attachments, they sometimes formed empathic and telepathic links associated with those relationships. Reyna had started to display signs that she was stronger than might be expected. A normal child that was half Betazoid might not even display any gifts at all. Technically, she was more like 60% Betazoid, another anomaly of her parentage, but even then, Alex had been a little worried at first. A call to his mother had cleared it up somewhat, though he wasn't sure if it was his mother being his mother, or if she was actually being honest. Her response had been that the women of their family had always been remarkable in that way and he should prepare himself accordingly. After all, there was a reason that women ran most things in their culture. She even named some great aunt of his that had been an extremely powerful telepath, but he was pretty sure that the story was an exaggeration.
The door chime rang and with a wave of his hand, it opened to reveal a rather attractive young woman in civilian clothing who stepped in and asked, "Commander Talion, is now a good time?"
At first, he only narrowed his eyes at her, evaluating her like she were a chess board, but Cindy's voice came from the sound system in the room, [Alex, this is the nanny I told you about. her name is April Connor.]
Alex tilted his head back, still in thought, considering her with critical looking eyes, "What makes you think I need a nanny?"
April responded, "Actually it's Reyna that needs one, not you, though..." She gave him a look up and down, his bare feet, cargo shorts and t-shirt giving him the look of a beach bum and she tilted her head as if nothing more needed to be said.
That made Alex grin a little, but he countered with, "What makes you think you can handle the job?"
April's look became more serious and she took a single step closer, hands behind her back, "Well, in spite of all of your technological efforts, you can't cover everything. Also, even though Thor is quite impressive, including your contingency plans, you need to face the fact that part of why you're here is because you already know that your daughter needs direct organic interaction on a regular basis. I can provide that. I'm prepared to engage with her on a high level and I can step in where your own systems might fall short. Think of me as your organic backup plan."
He nodded and relaxed more, "You're Star Fleet Intel. Cindy was right, you're the devil I know, so there is that."
For a moment, April looked like she might deny it, but then she just smiled and shrugged, "So?"
Alex stood a little straighter and began, "Her safety is priority one. Never, under any circumstances go near any of my equipment, because if you trigger any protocols, you won't have time to regret it."
April smiled, 'Are you threatening me?"
Alex smiled back, "No, that part you can consider your safety briefing, because Cindy and my equipment have failsafes that give no warnings if you cross lines. However, here is an actual threat. If through an action or lack of action on your part, my daughter comes to any harm, you will be the victim of an accident that will never be known and you will never be found, do we understand each other?"
April opened her mouth to respond, but then said nothing as she realized there was no hint of humor in his voice. Her briefing had included that he was able to disappear from known space without a trace and that he had incredible resources at his disposal. His records indicated deaths attributed to him, though the number was classified beyond her level and there were whispers about some of his "creations" having trained a number of Marine forces at one time or another. She also knew how to tell when people were lying and this man was not bluffing.
She finally managed a subdued reply, "I understand."
Alex nodded, "Good. Cindy will be in touch."
April hesitated, "Commander, I'm here to help."
Alex took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "I know that you think you are, but I didn't request you. You were sent to me. You need to ask yourself deep down, why the people who sent you are scared, because they aren't scared of me...they're scared that I might be right."
April so badly wanted to ask so many questions right then, but she knew better. She just gave a nod, "Thank you, sir."
April then turned and left without another word. Alex let out another big sigh and got himself a drink. A real drink for a change. After that, he needed one.