Finally, a Decent Conversation
Posted on Wed Jul 15th, 2026 @ 7:20pm by Lieutenant JG Tavian Rhos & Lieutenant JG Cayden Zahn
Edited on on Wed Jul 15th, 2026 @ 9:07pm
2,432 words; about a 12 minute read
Mission:
Mission 1: Through the Janus Gate
Location: Deck 7, Ship's Library
Timeline: MD003 - 1604 Hours
Cayden! the mental call went out in the crowded corridor, though with all the verbal noise it might have been missed or mistaken for just more spoken words amidst the din if not for being repeated a moment later. Cayden Zahn!
Shift change on board meant a lot of traffic in some places, and Deck 7 was no exception. Tav had to dodge around a couple of much taller people to catch a glimpse and confirm what he thought he'd seen just moments ago through the crowd. Tall, whip-lean, and now that Tav was aware of him, a mental signature that there could be no second guessing. It really was Cayden.
At last the pilot managed to break past a press of people headed to the library, where he'd been about to go himself too, and caught up to the other Betazoid, skidded to a halt almost right in front of him to intercept. It really is you! The shorter man was all big, happy eyes and a a bigger grin.
Tav? The mental signature brought him to a stop and he spun back toward the door where his friend stopped just short of crashing into him. What are you doing here? Surprise gave way rapidly to pleasure, his dark eyes shining with pleasure, as he hugged the younger man.
Around him, the quiet occupants of the library, looked up, watching the silent exchange, before dropping back into their studies. Cayden could feel the mixture of emotions surrounding them, curiosity, amusement, and on the other end, irritation and even annoyance. He ignored them all because here was a touch of home right here in the middle of a new ship, a new crew, and hundreds of non-telepaths who couldn't think a thought without shouting them. Haven't seen you in I can't remember how long.
Tav laughed and returned the hug, thumping the taller man's back a couple of times. He did try to sort of half-pull them to the side a bit, out of the flow of traffic before releasing Cayden, and cast a smirking yet apologetic shrug to one of those annoyed minds passing by. Not since San Francisco! Wow, it's good to see you. Part of that was delivered in words, but much of the exchange was also in emotions too; happiness, familiarity, surprise, excitement, wrapped up together with ribbons of nostalgia. Mixed together like that, there was no more honest way to share. The way people were meant to communicate with each other. I had no idea you were on the Resolute.
Same here. Like Tav, his own thoughts were carried along on a wave that wove together his delight in seeing an old friend, the joy of being able to communicate properly again, and the excitement of a new ship and an old friend. Just arrived and you know how it is, every ship... every place... is a bit overwhelming at first. I was looking around, figured I get something to drink and just take it all in. Adjust as it were. Things were settling down again though there was a non-telepath in the corner, broadcasting loudly, about how odd it was to see to grown men staring at each other. Know a place?
Tav turned his grin to that shipmate in the corner who was staring. He didn't say a thing, but the corners of his mouth curled up even higher, and his dark eyes glittered with knowing mirth. He could very well stare at and smile at whomever he pleased, thank you. Their watcher turned away first, and Tav laughed, amusement and a little twinge of mockery in his mood as he turned back to Cayden. Actually, I haven't even seen the lounge yet. I've only been onboard for three days, and that just barely. Nearly didn't even manage to get here in the first place! Long story. And knowing Tav, it would be a good story, embellished for thrills and drama. Not that he lied, exactly, and it was impossible for him to do so with a fellow Betazoid. Honesty wasn't just important, it was necessary. Instead, he practiced the fine art of storytelling, fully admitting through emotion what was exaggerated, while still making the tales he told as exciting or funny as he could manage.
He gestured towards the doors though, back out into the busy corridors of the ship, and started walking. A drink sounds good. Should I wait until after we've had a round... or several... before I ask how your family is doing? Maybe you can tell me what you've been up to since medical school first.
Longer than me. His thoughts split, the psychologist in him remaining behind in the library and in the crew members who felt awkward around telepaths Being left out of the conversation had levels. Acceptable when the speakers were out of range or talking softly but apparently less acceptable when one didn't have a chance at listening in. The other, larger part, was remembering previous experiences with Tav from shared childhood through the Academy. I've only been aboard for a few hours and as for stories, you start. You're a far more entertaining storyteller than I am.
The corridor leading to the lounge was by far the most crowded and as they walked, Cayden caught snippets broadcasted from the minds around them. Excitement mostly mixed the usual amount of nerves because you never knew when you headed out what was going to happen. If experience served, there would be bad dreams and one or two cases of anxiety among the newer members of the crew. Once they entered, Cayden headed straight for an empty table near the viewport that offered the illusion of privacy largely through architectural design and furniture placement. He dropped into a seat and turned his full attention to his friend. Since when did you start 'challenging' the non-telepaths?
As they had walked, Tav had regaled Cayden with a quick rundown of what he'd been doing since they'd last seen each other. His bouncing from post to post every two years, not really making much progress on rank due to some demerits. He carefully avoided the topic of the fate of his last ship, and the trauma of such a recent loss; this was time to catch up and have fun, not make his old friend have to work.
Not only had they known each other on Betazed, but Cayden had been a year ahead of him at the Academy too, and they'd had somewhat similar reasons for leaving home behind. It had been enough to ensure their friendship had endured onto Earth, but then life had gotten so busy. He'd been wrapping up one of his stories as they walked into the lounge. It was filled with all sorts of embellishments, from how bright the desert sun was, to how dangerous the villain. Tav didn't make himself out to be the hero of tale either, it wasn't that kind of story. It was a colorful one about an away mission gone wrong, a dashing Denobulan pirate that had swindled their Vulcan XO out of not just their ride back to their runabout but had run off with the Vulcan's clothes too, complete with modestly-edited visual recollections he'd sent to Cayden with the away team laughing away at their commander who had done the most commendable job at Vulcan stoicism they'd ever seen while walking kilometers in his skin. The pilot had laughed as they sat down.
Tavian waived over a server and spoke aloud, "Mocha latte for me, please," while at the same time projected, No synthehol for me today. Shift might be over but I still need to finish reviewing personnel files and duty rosters before tomorrow. But you go ahead if you like. As for challenging, well, I don't make a habit of it normally. Just didn't like what he was thinking at you. If it was noisy enough for me to pick up on it, I'm sure you heard it loud and clear. Cayden was the stronger telepath of the two of them after all.
"Macchiato for me," Cayden said, smiling pleasantly at the server before returning his attention to Tav. I did. Something I've had to get used to, I'm afraid. I was the only telepath aboard my last ship, well, except for the Vulcans and they don't invite casual contact. Good practice in shielding myself from they way they all shouted at me mentally. He shook his head ruefully. Can you imagine what our families would say, hearing that non-telepaths consider us to be a lot of 'peeping toms' to borrow the human idiom. Our mothers especially.
Ah, their mothers. Tav's smile grew a little weak as he settled back in his chair, and with it came a current of stress. Even after all these years, knowing how he'd left things with his family wasn't easy. That it had been the gossip of the planet that not one, but two important sons had been 'stolen' away by Starfleet in quick succession, hadn't made it any easier either. Have you been back home, since? I still haven't. Tav let the smile slide away for the first time since he'd seen Cayden. He had had it easier than Cayden in that regard too, a bit, and he felt for his friend and what he'd gone through that had pushed him to the point of leaving. "I still worry that I'm disappointing her, you know, even now?" he said that part out loud.
Cayden nodded, sympathy flooding through the connection, because he did know. First Minister Velara Rho was a formidable woman and with only sons to carry on, the situation was awkward at best. Has your mother eased up on her need to control the direction of your life at all? Though it might relieve you to know that Jenara is no longer available. In fact, I hear she's expecting her first child.
"Really?!" Tav winced and shut his mouth, that had come out a bit loud, and a couple of people glanced over. He switched back to the telepathic communication instead. If she were with someone now, then any idea that Tav was under obligations to her should be over and done with. Good for her! She's going to make a great mother. And you're right, that is a relief. Though some small part of him felt awkward about it. Not jealous of the man she'd wound up with, of course, he'd no romantic interest in Jenara at all no matter how well that had gotten along. She'd been such an incredible dancer, maybe the best he'd gotten to entertain at the state events and dinners, had glided like silk in his hands. Maybe jealous that she'd found her happiness while he was... well.
As for my mother, I haven't spoken to her since... uh... my last ship, there was an accident... Tav did his best to pull it all inside: grief, pain, loss, guilt, anger; trauma. Please don't start counseling, okay? You're off duty. What about you? Have your parents finally started thinking to you again?
Sorry. Sorry. Cayden shook his head, his expression turned rueful. Occupational hazard. My parents, especially my mother, have become firmly entrenched in their beliefs, I'm afraid. The last time I came home, it was all very superficial and polite. My sisters though. They made up for it and then some. He found himself smiling fondly as he told Tav about the all-night 'catch up' session complete with embarrassing stories of basically everyone. I was there for Kylara's wedding. You know she married a Starfleet officer ... and a human at that ... let me tell you the embarrassment coming off the groom's side of the aisle was ... interesting.
Tav sent Cayden gratitude without words, for dropping the matter he didn't want to discuss so readily. He might only be a year older, but Cayden had always seemed, in his eyes, to have a wisdom beyond that. Maybe Tav would come asking for his help someday. Maybe. Pushing would have only made Tav defensive, or deflective, or both. It was enough to trust that his friend would respect his choices and let him bring it up when he wanted. For now, he stayed away from the Meridian.
Changing minds is hard, Tav continued. Changing hearts is harder. I'm sure you know that better than most. I hope they come around soon, because they're missing out on their son, who is by the way a really great person. Sorry that their loss is yours too. He laughed along to the stories, glad that Cayden's sisters were doing well. He laughed even more at prudish humans and their silly notions of dignity. Why did clothes matter so much to them? I bet. They're so easily distracted sometimes. Shy about their thoughts. It's cute.
The pilot drained the last of his drink and held the empty glass between his hands. I'm glad we get a chance to serve together, Cayden. I thought this was going to be just another post, probably two years given my averages. Now I think maybe Resolute is going to be something different.
I am too, Tav. This is only my second ship since the Academy. Wasn't sure how it was going to be ... but now, well, I think it's going to be good. I'm really glad you're here.
Me too! This is actually going to be fun. Leaning forward in his seat, Tav's lips began to curl upward in a particularly mischievous cast, just like when they'd been kids and had snuck out of some stuffy government event to go get into trouble. His eyes almost sparkled with mirth despite their darkness. Already his mood had brightened again too, and he shifted into story mode once more, ready to entertain. So, I have to tell you about what happened the other day on Starbase 9, while I was waiting on my transport here. There was this Efrosian, you see, and this ice sculpture that looked suspiciously like..."
Lieutenant (j.g.) Tavian Rhos
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Resolute
Lieutenant JG Cayden Zahn
Chief Counselor
USS Resolute
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