BACKPOST - Feels Like the First Time pt3

Posted on Sat Jul 16th, 2022 @ 3:14am by Lieutenant Commander Bonnie "Bon-Bon" Durnell & Commander Dean House

Mission: *CD*
Location: USS Sunfire Cargo Bay
Timeline: While still docked at DS9

“You really want to hear that boring story? I thought you always snoop in and read the crews' bio files.” He knew that was not what she meant, but he had to tease her anyway. Considering that was just one of their things.

Playing all nonchalant she responded, "I cannot confirm nor deny the fact that I periodically may or may not have seen portions of locked personnel files. Still it doesn't change the fact I would love to hear your story from the horse's mouth, to coin a phrase." She smiled and looked at him with innocent eyes.

“There’s not really to me to spell out as far as the official logs go. I mean, you already know I cook, I tinker with things, maybe not so much as you do. I detest bullies. One in particular in high school. At my high school sweethearts birthday party it just got worse. I think you can see where this line of thought process is going.”

"Sounds like you had a rough time. Can't say as I've been bullied. Picked on maybe. But usually my bad luck acts as a bubble, impacting those who are mean. So, what did you do, um, to the bully at your sweetheart's birthday party?" She was also curious about how he became an augment or found out he was altered. It just felt to her like there was a story there worth telling.

“Well, physically Jacob was a beast. Two times my size. I constantly pushed Jacob verbally to leave Chloe alone. Just leave her alone. Jacob was a senior as well but he was eighteen and a jock. Jacob would not leave it alone and shoved me. Hard. Thinking that would do the trick. Which of course, started people gathering around for a 'fight.' It did, however, not go the way it was figured to go.

I’d stepped back up and told Jacob once more to leave Chloe alone. I guess that was the trigger because Jacob straight up knocked me on my ass. The oddity was, it didn't really hurt me as it should have. I may have had a little bruise later but that hit should have broken my jaw. So I got up and waited for the next one. All I did was roundhouse kick, Jacob. It should have just laid him out. It didn't. It sent him through a stone wall twenty feet away.” There was obviously more.

Eyes wide in shock, Bonnie had to ask, "Was he okay, I mean he lived right? Something like that would involve the citizen patrol or something. And you, so was that the moment you realized you had, like a superpower?" She was now genuinely curious and at the same time concerned for her friend's past well-being.

“That is what changed things. Aside from the police, the EMS, all the parents, and now the confused students.” Dean gave a shrug, “Even I didn’t know what was going on. So I became a recluse for months. I wouldn't talk to Chloe, even though she tried every single day.” Giving a little bit of a sigh. “I wouldn't talk to my parents. No one. Though finally, after getting five rejections to Starfleet Academy, I finally got one that said `accepted’.” Glancing back to her, “Care to guess where that lead to?”

“Um, here?” She answered. His question was a bit pretentious, but she understood maybe there was something else he was leading towards as far as his career was concerned. “I mean, obviously right? But surely there were other things that have happened to you along the way. Like when did you first get an official result telling you that you were special? That you were an augment?”

“I was absolutely thrilled, running down to give the news. However, that was not at all the greeting I expected to see. My parents, obviously, were sitting in the living room. So was Chloe. So I stopped at the opening to the living room. ‘Okay...what is wrong?’ Kaylee, my mother, motioned for me to sit down. The conversation took hours. There was anger, tears, hurt, feelings of rejection, on just about every side from every person. Chloe pulled me back from it at least.”

At one time, a sore subject, Bonnie could never understand how a family could reject one of their own for being unique. So they are not like you, so they are different, this does not impact who they are or who they've been. It only changes your understanding of them. By rejecting them all you are doing is rejecting your preconceived notions of who you thought they were and ultimately driving a hard wedge into your relationship. So he was an augment, so what. Bonnie reached out and touched his shoulder to show she understood and that he should keep going.

“Actually, it was apparently, to your question. That day of the fight. My parents knew before I was born. They had me altered because of medical defects. Only would have left me alive for two years at best. They were arrested and imprisoned for ten years. After appeals, it was found that the reasons for it were still illegal. They’d suffered enough.” Looking at her hand and giving her a warm smile.

She felt bad for him and his parents. "It's a shame. I heard they are trying to repeal the genetic manipulation laws for certain situations such as yours. No child should have to suffer and no parent should be punished because they want to help their child live a normal healthy, happy, life." Her kind eyes showed her sympathy. From behind her the transport console began beeping, indicating a problem. She ignored it because her focus was on Dean.

“I’ve not really talked to them since the last appeal to be honest."

"Well, I think you should. You never know when they will be gone from this life. Who knows, one day you'll be where I'm sitting, trying to go home to see your father put to rest, a pile of unresolved regrets and hurt feelings to deal with. Should that happen, just know that I'll be there for you, you know, should you need me." She smiled, but she was holding back her tears.

The console began a series of warning lights indicating something had gone wrong.

TBC