446: Wish You Were Here

By Zander Blakeslee
80801.15

Concurrent with The Visitor

-=Suite of Zander Blakeslee, Inn at Lake Cataria=-


Zander had sat quietly at the table and watched the interaction of the ships crew and the ships counselors’ family with interest. He had been enjoying his stay on planet but had not been looking forward to this dinner. It simply was not the same without his family with him.

He had wanted to come to Betazed ever since he had gained his empathic abilities on Delta IV. Of course he knew that limited empathic skills were far removed from the highly developed telepathic abilities of the Betazoids, still he wondered if being among the populace would help him master his abilities.

The past few years Zander had learned how to cope with the waves of feelings that he was bombarded with from those around him. He had learned to ignore them most of the time and was working on matching certain single emotions from several individuals in a crowd.

He missed his wife. His kids. He had looked around at the lush gardens and landscape. They would have loved seeing it all. Of course his boys would have most likely destroyed it, but they would have had fun doing so.

Suddenly his interest in the dinner party had waned and he simply wanted to go back to his room and talk to his family. First opportunity he got, that was just what he did.


-=/\=-

"You should see this room they gave me." Zander exclaimed to his wife. "I mean the view is great, so is the decor."

[Well you are the Chief of Security and Tactical now.] Samthia exclaimed with a smile. [They were not going to stick you in the basement.]

Zander smiled. "Yeah, I guess not." He winked. "If you were here it would be perfect." Samthia smiled in response but did not reply. She knew a response was not needed.

"How are the kids? Behaving I hope." He asked.

She nodded in the affirmative. [Yes. Also becoming quiet spoiled.]

Zander laughed. "Well I think that is in the grandmother's charter. Heck why not, they can get then all sugared up and simply hand them back to us." He laughed again. "It is the ultimate parent's revenge on their kids."

[So…will you be attending the wedding in traditional fashion?] She wife asked with a smile.

Zander laughed. “Yes I will. Why, jealous?”

[Of course. Because I will not be there to see.]

Zander laughed again. “That is probably for the best. A nude Deltan could cause things to get out of hand.” Suddenly Zander’s combadge chirped.

“Damn, I have to go.” He explained.

[I adore you, my One.] Samthia responded.

“Love you too. I’ll call tomorrow.”

The screen went blank just as his combadge chirped again. He tapped the badge.

“Blakeslee here.”

[Sorry to bother you on your down time Zander. But I think we have a security issue that I need your input on.] Came the unmistakable, monotone voice of TC Blane.

“Security issue?” Zander frowned. “Is everything alright?”

[Yes. But this is something the security chief should be aware of. I’ll beam you aboard, if you are ready. I promise I’ll have you back before the wedding starts.]

Zander stood up and walked to the center of the room. “I’m ready whenever you are sir.”

[See you in a few. Blane out.]

Zander stood waiting for the transporter to grab a hold of him. He wondered what kind of security issue would prompt the ship’s second officer, especially a officer like commander Blane, to pull him back to the ship.

Suddenly he felt the pull of the beam, it seemed as if he was about to find out.

Lt. Commander Zander Blakeslee
Chief of Security/Tactical
USS Alchemy NX 53099