Part II - Self Care and Memories
Posted on Sat May 3rd, 2025 @ 9:39pm by Lieutenant Xavier
1,190 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
Preservation Instinct
Location: Officer's Mess Hall | Deck 3 | USS Ontario
Timeline: Takes place after Checklist King
ON:
Xavier walked into the mess hall to grab a transportable cup of coffee. He opted for a latte, simple yet strong. He was trying to quiet his thoughts. His meeting with the Captain had gone well. He was to meet her in the shuttle bay soon. Xavier had moved the Lime House shuttle from the dock to the ship so they could all leave from there. The station personnel going with them were already aboard and he just wanted a well prepared cup of coffee.
Having procured it he headed towards the Shuttle bay and as he strolled the halls his mind turned to the conversation via message he'd had with KERBEROS two nights ago. Things were a mess in his mind. It's not as if he didn't want to find out more about the person he'd been writing to for fifteen years. He really wanted to know who the real KERBEROS was but a part of him was afraid. He'd never been good enough for anyone. Would KERBEROS see that if he knew who the real PLUTO was?
As he strolled through the hall his mind went to long ago, their first message exchange at the Academy....
=/\=Many Years Ago - Starfleet Academy=/\=
Xavier walked into his quarters and sat down on the weathered sofa that had come with his dorm room. It had an odor to it that no amount of airing out could take care of but it was alright. He'd been in worse places when he'd first arrived an earth a year ago.
The first week at the Academy had...certainly been something. He felt like he was experiencing mind overload but there were good things. The courses were interesting, the flight class was going to be a breeze and he had a stable home. He had a job too so that would be helpful.
Commander Tolsen had been kind. He'd ensured that Xavier had unrestricted access to the replicators so he could get a bit of clothing and a few cadet uniforms as well as some things he might need. It was a start. He was going to build his life here on Earth for the next few years and see how it went.
Xavier got up and dragged his tired body to the sink to pour a glass of water. Once he had it he walked over to the tiny desk and terminal logging in with his cadet credentials. There was the usual stuff from professors, work groups, and then a note from Commander Tolsen telling him about some Starfleet Letter Exchange Program. Something about pen palling with a student in a higher year. There was an elaborate questionnaire meant to match you with people who were similar to you or had similar interests.
He filled it out because he owed Tolsen for his kindness but had never expected to get anything so that night when his coms chirmed he was surprised to find a list of several second and third year cadets that were looking to mentor a first year student.
He sighed. He wasn't interested. he scanned the names because it was something to do and then just as he was about to close it a name caught his eye.
KERBEROS
"Alright...." He looked at the bio. KERBEROS was a third year student at the Academy. Science/Medical but not specific...by the name Science was more likely. They were not to share any personal information just questions about life and thus each member picked a nickname. Xavier had picked Pluto for himself.
Xavier kept looking at the name. KERBEROS as in the moon of Pluto? He had an urge to send a note. The program was pretty anonymous and he had no intention of joining it as anything more then on paper so that Tolsen saw his name there but...he couldn't resist sending this KERBEROS a message. It was a pull he could not explain.
Hello my name is PLUTO. I saw your name and it stood out to me. Did you know that KERBEROS is the moon of the best planet in the Terran system...Pluto AND before you say it's not a planet IT IS I HAVE A T-SHIRT TO PROVE IT!
He stood up and walked over to the closet taking the image of his most prized possession. A T-Shirt that said,
Also while Styx and Kerberos are the two smallest moons they are the only full resort moons with Kerberos being slightly larger and more luxurious.
Xavier smiled a little and shrugged. "Time for dinner." He sighed as he stood shaking his head. This was ridiculous.
Across the campus another student was about to turn off his terminal when a message beeped. He opened it seeing that it was from the SLEP division. He read the name "PLUTO." Letting out a little sound of curiosity he opened it and scanned the brief note and the attached image of a T-Shirt with bold lettering and a picture of a Terran system's planet. He smiled and then laughed.
Grinning he didn't think twice about replying
=/\=Hello PLUTO. It's nice to meet you. Thanks for the fun fact. Alright that T-Shirt of yours convinced me Pluto is a planet...and here is a fun fact back: I chose that name, KERBEROS , because I just had a vacation there at the Kerberos Floating resort. In fact, I just came back a week ago.=/\=
Smiling he hit the send button. He got up did a bit of a tidy and then was drawn back by a sound that signaled a reply. It appeared the PLUTO was awake and at the terminal.
By the Gods of Vulcan, I simultaneously despise you for going to a place I've wanted to visit and love you for admitting the truth about Pluto and perhaps a little for having gone where I want to, and have wanted to, go since I found out it existed... I just read what I wrote back...I am however too tired to correct it and thus I send this as is and without apology. Xavier hit the send button.
When he'd gotten the reply from KERBEROS he'd stared at it a moment and decided that he'd reply back. Maybe the Commander was right. He needed a place to just be himself and he'd never meet this KERBEROS so why not just allow himself some freedom. Plus the reply had made him smile so he decided maybe, just maybe, they'd share a few more messages.
=/\=Present time =/\=
Xavier snapped back to the present as the lift opened onto the shuttle bay floor. He headed towards the shuttle that would carry him, the CO, and a few others to a broken medical ship 8 hours away where they would pick up new crew for the station and ship and then take the 8 hour trip back. He had his diversion for now but he would seriously have to think about what he would do about KERBEROS.
OFF:
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Lieutenant Xavier
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Ontario
&
KERBEROS
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