Posted by Lieutenant Commander Alexis Bonner (Assistant Chief Medical Officer) in Guest Quarters - Family Woes Part II

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Dr. Solomon Kane (Chief Science Officer/Research & Development) in Guest Quarters - Family Woes Part II

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Alexis Bonner (Assistant Chief Medical Officer) in Guest Quarters - Family Woes Part II
Posted by… suppressed (7) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
=/\= Going to my office. I would recommend you leave me alone. Lex too. There’s been enough damage done, we don’t need apologist garbage trying to smooth it over. Kane out. =/\= and the comm went dead. Into his earbud, he said “I’m fine. Do your thing, doll. I’ll be in my office. Love ya, Lex.”

Kane

Alexis was confused because she knew he was not fine. Then again ‘angry’ was his default mode. Then there was the way he said ‘do your thing’ and telling her where he would be like he always did when she’d go to the lab so she could work things out in her head. Like he knew what had happened, and he was just there in her head…well her ear. The random middle of the afternoon ‘Love ya’ made her smile. “I love you too.”

Anthony tapped his combadge to close the connection. He wasn’t going to push…right at this moment. The man had the grace to tell him where he would be and to stay away. What he didn’t like was being told to stay away from his daughter, and was rather insulted at the accusation of ‘apologist garbage’. He finished transplanting the angora bush he had offered to help with, then dusting off his pants he put the tools away and made his way back down to his quarters. He opened the door and looked at his wife, the mother of his incredible child and sighed.

Allison opened her mouth and began to rant about how rude Alexis and Kane were being. Could Anthony believe that Kane said she didn’t know her daughter at all? And the wedding was off? And Alexis said she was nothing like her and seemed rather proud of that. And she went and tattled to Kane about something because he just barged his way in and told her off. And wasn’t he worried about how Alexis would handle being married and....it went on.

Anthony put hands on her shoulders, kissed her forehead, steered her into the kitchen, and told her to make something, anything and then walked back out to the work area and sat down. Yes Allison was offended and upset, but usually it was her fault. He loved her, but the woman didn’t always see things how they were. The nice thing about star ships was most activity was recorded for familial or personal records. Anthony was able to pull up the recordings and watch. The more he watched the more irritated he got, until Alexis walked out and his heart ached. Then the conversation with his soon to be son-in-law. That just made him grimace. Anthony wasn’t sure if someone had spoken about Allison that way if he could have been so restrained.

Allison walked into the room and he looked up, “Allison…how could you? Really?”

---

A few hours later, Anthony hoped it was enough hours later, he took the lift, alone, to Alexis and Kane’s quarters. The system said that’s where she was. He approached the door knowing there was a good chance he’d be told to leave, but he rang the chime anyway.

Alexis had returned to her quarters awhile later. She’d considered going to the lab, but the truth was she’d been spending enough extra time working that GALEN would probably flag her for it. So she’d collected Frigga and then gone to the holodeck to work her through some skills programs Frigga needed for her recertification. They were sitting on the couch, Frigga draped over Alexis, refusing to let her move much when the chime rang. Alexis did not want to talk to anyone else. “GALEN who’s outside my location?”

=/\=Lt Cmdr Anthony Bonner=/\= Alexis got up, pushing Frigga off of her. It wouldn’t do to avoid it, and her father was always fair. He never just took her side or her mother’s side. Never on a whim. She pressed the control for the door and it slid open. Her father stood there staring at her a moment. “I understand if you don’t want to talk to me, but I would like to talk to you.” Alexis stepped back to let him in. The first thing Anthony did was pull her into a huge bear crushing hug, kiss her forehead and say, “Your mother is wrong.”

Alexis was not expecting that. She hugged him back tightly and then sighed as she walked back over to the couch and sat. Frigga stared back and forth between them before resuming her spot on Alexis’ lap. “You haven’t even heard my side of it yet. Mom must have said something awful to you for you to already decide she’s wrong.” That’s how it always was growing up. Her dad would talk to each of them then decided what to do. ‘Get all the facts, figures, and evidence before you decide anything, Alexis.”

Anthony sat on the opposite end of the couch, one leg bent, one arm draped across the back and turned toward her. He chuckled. “Didn’t need to talk to her. Growing up you didn’t live on a star ship, we lived in a regular old house in Walnut Grove. Star ships are amazing, they record everything, our house did not. All I had to do was pull up the video feeds to see, first hand, what had happened. So I know what she said and what you said.”

Alexis grinned a little, “Sounds like something Solomon would do.” Anthony nodded but then slid across the couch to her. He pet Frigga when she lifted her nose to glare at him. He grabbed her hands and squeezed them. “Alexis, your mother…” he sighed, “is wrong. About so many things. I had hoped after so many years that a short visit would be good. You both have managed to talk and converse, but the distance helps. She loves you…”

“No Daddy, she doesn’t. She loves the idea of me, but she doesn’t love me. I tried.”

Anthony shook his head, “Stop that. I told you and I’ll tell you again, you don’t have to try to be anything you aren’t. You are brilliant and caring and amazing. And you’re probably right, you usually are. But without her 23 chromosomes and my 23 chromosomes swirling and twisting and connecting together I wouldn’t have you. So even with her faults…”

What was Solomon always saying to her? What did she feel? Don’t think about it just tell him. “I could have put up with the inane wedding plans. It doesn’t matter to me, it doesn’t matter to Solomon, but it does to her. So I would have put up with it, to give her that moment, Daddy. To make up for all the normal moments she missed because I’m me.” Alexis sighed, “She thinks I am incapable of loving him. That I don’t know what love is or how to show it.”

Anthony hated this. “And you’re afraid she’s right?”

“For a long time I was. And then I realized I just show it differently, but people don’t really accept that either, do they. It’s always on their terms and their standards. Everything is like that. I put the data together and discovered I’m the lowest common denominator.”

“No.” Her father’s voice was harsh and quick and startled Frigga. “No you are not. There is nothing low or common about you, sweetheart. You are an outlier. Unique, unexplainable, and amazing. You show us truths about and new ways to look at ourselves and the universe. There is nothing low or common about that. Let me ask you, does he love you?” Alexis nodded. “How do you know?”

“He listens to me, he talks with me, even when I’m crazy and involved in my work. He gives me genuine answers when I ask him questions, even when they seem random or off tangent. He rolls his eyes and collects all the styluses I leave everywhere and just drops them in my bag. He always grumbles when I bring yet another PaDD home.” That one made her smile. “He respects me, he questions me about everything, the why’s and how’s and isn’t afraid to tell me when I’m wrong. He lets me work when I need to as long as I come home and talk to him. He talks to me and distracts me when I need it.” There were other things that couldn’t be mentioned with out that little black pyramid. “He keeps the blinds closed and never turns the lights off.” She sat up a little and reached into the waist of her pants and pulled out a clear square of some reflective flexible material. She squeezed her eyes shut and she wrapped her fist around it. “Computer turn off the lights.” And a blue white light lit up the room. Alexis opened her eyes and looked around, “He made me this.” Then she turned the lights back on.

“That’s amazing, Alexis. All of it. I already know you love him, so tell me, how do you show him?”

Alexis thought about that. “Patience and space when he needs it. I don’t let his anger frighten or offend me. I let him be himself and not judge. I model for him when I’m not looking.” She grinned and took a picture out of a box she had next to her and handed it to him. The one with the dinner invite on the back and their hands on the front with the cards. “He has a back injury that no one ever did anything about, so I’m trying even though he hates being a patient. I cook for him.” She didn’t say because he never ate the same thing twice in a week because the replicator made it the same very time, or the fact that replicator food was strange to him when he came from a time and a place that didn’t have them. So she cooked for him. “I never butt into his projects unless he asks.” A habit she had struggled to curb for a long time, even after joining Star Fleet. “And I watch I Love Lucy with him, without complaining…too much.”

“And does he ever complain about how you show him you love him? I wouldn’t imagine Kane is the type of man who wouldn’t speak up.” Alexis shook her head, he never had. “Then Alexis, why are you worried? He loves you, you love him, you’re happy. That’s all that matters.” He kissed her forehead again. “So be happy, whatever that looks like to you. Now, I think I’m going to arrange to take your mother home early. You think about it. If you want use to leave we will, or stay. But only if that is what you want. Think about it and tell me tomorrow, okay?”

Alexis nodded and then Anthony left. He tapped his combadge, =/\=Anthony Bonner to Cmdr Kane. I would like to speak to you, please, if you have the time and are willing.=/\=

Bonner

There was no response from Kane but GALEN responded with =/\= Lab 2 is now accessible. =/\=

Anthony moved toward the lift and took it down to deck 8 and moved around the outside hull until he reaches Lab 2.

Music blared out as the doors slid open. Some kind of angry, loud, fast paced cacophony of sound. Inside the lab it was mostly dark save for a light above a single work bench. Kane sat in the single pool of light, eyes fixed on a micro-viewer as he manipulated nano-welders making connections in a delicate framework of silver filigree that seemed to be some kind of headband… or maybe a tiara.

Anthony approached quietly a d stood just inside the light where he was clearly visible but not in the way. He studied the device silently. He was already quite well aware that no guess he could make would come close to whatever Kane was making.

Kane didn’t look away, but he muttered something that was wholly obscured by the music and suddenly the space was quiet.

Kane
(The song playing: )
https://youtu.be/3nb7DD7vdQ0

The elder Bonner waited, content to let the Kane work until he had come to a point to be distracted. It wasn’t hesitancy or cowardice, but respect for the work and the man.

When Kane seemed to be at a point where that wouldn’t disrupt the work, Anthony spoke, whether Kane looked at him or not. “It has been a pleasure, for me, to meet you at least once Solomon Kane. You make her happy and have shown her how to listen and understand with her heart, rather than hide inside her head. There is no greater wish I have for Alexis than that. Thank you.” He might have offered to shake Kane’s hand but he was fairly certain Kane wasn’t interested and Anthony didn’t want to risk the nano welders. “I have left it up to Alexis, but we will be leaving early if I can find transportation sooner. Either way, I promise Allison will leave her be.” He offered neither excuses or explanations and certainly not apologies. He abhorred them.

Anthony

Kane watched as the small probes connected a final circuit and small blue lights slowly came to life along the edge of the device, then danced off and on in a series of patterns before blinking off. Kane set the controls down and stared at the now blank screen for a long moment in silence before he said, very quietly and to the screen…

“I liked you a lot more before I knew you were a coward.”

Kane

Anthony stood there a moment and then nodded slowly. “I suppose from your point of view it looks like that. What Allison said,” he pinched the bridge of his nose, then dropped his hand to his side, “is inexcusable, and d@mn near unforgivable. I’ve talked to Alexis. I love her and I’ll support whatever she decides to do, now or in the future. I lectured Allison like a wayward cadet.” That was the only way to describe it given how mad he was. “It takes Alexis a little bit to work through what her heart is thinking rather than her head. Alexis is hurting and upset, and the best I can do right at this moment is give her the space she needs. We’re having breakfast in the morning. I will do my best to make them reconcile, to make peace between my wife and daughter. Ideally? Allison will make amends. She will stop and look at it, really look at how she hurt Alexis. But when it comes to her mother, Alexis has had very little voice. So if, in the end, Alexis says ‘go’ then we will. I will respect her wishes even if it’s not what I would do because I can’t tell her it’s her choice and her life and then tell her she’s wrong. Her mother has done enough of that. Now that might not be the way you would handle it, Kane. But that’s my wife and my daughter. That does not make my point of view better or stronger than yours. It just makes mine different. It’s the only way I know to give Alexis a choice, rather than her running to her lab and hiding in her work the rest of the time we are here. Make her an offer, give her a deadline and let her figure out her options. Then let that amazing heart and head of hers run with the clock and then make her decision.”

Anthony

Kane still stared at the screen for a long time, his hair hiding the majority of his face. What could be seen was hard to interpret… a flicker of rage here, sullen disappointment there. It was several minutes of silence.

“So our XO is a telepath, …” he began suddenly and without warning, “… but she has problems with getting overwhelmed. Too much telepathic noise and it wipes her out. Drugs make her too loopy, and isolation isn’t an option. So check this out.” and he pulled a chair over next to him and slid the device he was working on over in front of the chair.

Anthony didn’t miss a beat, he sat down in the chair and gave the device and Kane his full attention.

It was a headband of filigreed metal and wire with small, innocuous contacts on the interior. It looked like a piece of costume jewelry. “So the idea is that she puts this on when she needs a break. All telepathic communications fall within a specific range of ‘frequencies’ for lack of a better term, but every telepath has their own specific frequency they are naturally attuned to. And like fingerprints, no two are alike. Training broadens that range, but the root band is always the same. So… she’ll put this on and I’ll adjust the contact receptors to find her root band. Then the device broadcasts artificial ‘telepathic static’ on the bands above and below… essentially a white noise generator that blocks incoming signals to the receptors in her mind. Its like noise-cancelling auditory protection… but for telepathy.”

Kane

Anthony nodded, it wasn’t a field he was overly familiar with of course, but he followed along well enough. The device was brilliant. And this is what he was working on while he was so ticked off at Allison and himself he supposed. Anthony smirked slightly, just a twitch at the corner of his mouth. Kane and Alexis really were just two peas in a pod. And they’d managed to find each other over…nope Anthony was going to stop there, quantum mechanics, time travel, alternate universes…it gave that old man a headache. It happened that’s all that mattered really. “When you get the bugs ironed out,” Anthony had no doubt it would work in the end, “do you think you’d make it widely available? I had a student a few years ago - on Betazed she’s called a super sensitive. She can’t cut it off, can’t block it, for medications to work the dosage would be so high it would kill her. This headband could make life changing differences for people like her and your XO.” It was like Kane and Alexis were literally two halves of the same whole. Everything Alexis did was because she cared about and wanted to help people, in the only way she could. And here was Kane doing the same thing. Combined with Alexis’ own research the things the two of them could accomplish together professionally and personally were astounding. “Have you told Alexis about this? She told me she was working on trying to restore telepathy to brain damaged patients.”

Anthony

Kane shook his head. “Uh-uh. We usually talk about stuff like this in bed.” Kane said matter-of-factly. “But I will tell her about tonight, probably. As far as availability? Of it works for the Cimmander, I can make you one up to send to your student. Doesn’t have to look like this, either. I was just using this stuff because that’s what I was working with.” He pulled the device to him and started to make fine adjustments by hand, squinting at the headband as he did so.

“You know your wife treats Lex like shit… right?” he asked somewhat softly as he tightened a small bracket. “And I won’t stand for that from strangers, so imagine what I think of her mom doing it.”

Kane

Anthony didn’t make a sound, but gave the impression that he might be groaning internally. “I know, and I don’t have to imagine, I watched the feeds.” He scrubbed his face with both hands and then ran them back through his greying hair before resting them on the table in front of him. “When Alexis left us at 16, she was so unhappy. She was offered a position on a ship to do her residency and she wanted it so badly. She walked into my office with an armful of PaDDs each with a different argument and research about why she should be allowed to go. When Allison’s only objection was that Alexis would miss graduation and senior prom, which isn’t an Academy thing, it’s a high school thing, and Alexis would never choose to go to something like that, I signed the papers and let Alexis go. She was so happy, she wrote me all the time about the things she was learning, the projects she worked on, the people she worked with. That she was finally okay with being smart because she was helping people, making a difference by just being herself.”

“Allison was always worried about Alexis missing out on the ‘normal’ stuff. Sleep overs, dolls, dresses, make-up, boys, friends, dating, family, fun. Most of those things weren’t important to Alexis, not like they were for Allison. Allison could never understand.” He raised a hand palm towards Kane and waved it. “I’m not making excuses, there isn’t one. Allison was the adult, the parent, the responsibility was hers. Ours really and then mine when Allison couldn’t, maybe wouldn’t, adapt. I tried to help them find common ground, to accept each other and the fact they were different and love each other anyway. I was only occasionally successful. I hoped that time and experience would help them. I had hoped after so many years they could start fresh, see each other with new perspective. Allison missed her and Alexis…the last time we talked, so much had changed for her, she was different. So tomorrow, at breakfast, I will make another attempt to get my girls to reconcile. But what Allison said to her…I don’t know if Alexis can forgive, or will want to. I can’t blame Alexis if she doesn’t, I’m not sure I can.”

Anthony

Kane didn’t interrupt, and when Anthony finished he looked down at the desk for a minute and then drew in a quick breath and exhaled sharply before looking at the man.

“Look, I’m not a touchy-feely person. But I understand people… which is probably why I don’t like ‘em.” Kane ran his fingers through his hair, pulling the wild cascade off his face and looking fully at Anthony.

“You love your wife, I get it. You love Lex. Perfect. But I don’t think your wife loves your daughter. Lex is a symbol for her, not a daughter. She is a reminder that Allison was supposed to have this idyllic life she’s built in her head. Loving husband, beautiful daughter, white picket fence… all that. But Alexis doesn’t fit in that mold… and Anthony?” and Kane did something very un-Kane like and put his hand on the older man’s shoulder. “You’re wife resents the hell outta that. She acts like Lex is supposed to be this perfect daughter, and Lex isn’t perfect like that… she’s perfect like she is.” and he dropped the hand.

“You say your wife just ‘doesn’t understand’. I think you’re wrong. And I think you know you’re making excuses, and I get it… I really do. Allison isn’t stupid and she isn’t blind. She understands Alexis…” and he took a breath.

“She just doesn’t like her. I’d go so far as to say that if you two could do it all over again and you gave Allison the choice to have her dream or have Alexis as she actually is, she’d choose her dream over her very real and very amazing daughter. Because no mother who truly cares for her daughter tells them that they are flawed and broken and incapable of love while simultaneously talking about their wedding. That was meant to hurt, Anthony. And it was done on purpose, but maybe not conciously. It was meant to cause pain because that is what Alexis has caused her just by being Alexis. Pain. Pain and anger and resentment that Allison didn’t get her white picket fence life. And I’m sorry… but thats just a crap person. In this or any other universe.”

Kane