The Wolf Unchained: Part 3/4

Posted on Mon Feb 23rd, 2026 @ 6:03pm by Petty Officer 1st Class Gabriel Stark & Civilian Lily Blake & Civilian Laeon Wylde & Lieutenant JG Aria Rice & Petty Officer 2nd Class S'Ralor & Civilian Jairic ch'Shaorhs & Civilian Temas Latham

1,428 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Prologue: To Boldly Go
Location: USS Fenrir - Security Office
Timeline: MD 14 - 11:15

= Below Decks - Security Office =

Lieutenant Aria Rice let out a breath as she shifted in her seat, looking over at the security team that were below decks. With the Chief on the bridge, this was briefly Aria's domain. She gave a small smile, shaking her head. "I wish we could get away with stationing people all over the ship for the chance to stretch our legs, but I suppose we get to sit here and enjoy the ride instead," she said, to make conversation in the silence.

"After searching the ship stem to stern and top to bottom, I'm ready for a nice sit down." S'Ralor remarked.

"I mean, I could always go and guard the lounge?" Gabriel suggested, but the sparkle in his dark eyes and the pull of his lips made it clear he was just joking. "The civilians have gathered there to watch the launch, I could be on hand to...well...do anything they might need..." his playful tone added a silent 'and get myself a drink while I'm at it'.

Aria laughed as she shook her head, smiling as she watched him. "How about, since we're all awesome, we...sit tight and relax. We've been on our feet since way before our shift started, we know there's no stowaways and the like here...we enjoy the win. For like...two minutes before something happens that we need to sort out!"

"Deal," Gabriel chuckled softly, sitting back in his seat in a more comfortable fashion to acquiesce to her suggestion. Besides, if something did go wrong, they'd need to be fresh and ready to move. At least they had a full security team, enough to avoid burnout at any rate. It was just always hard in moments like this, when there was nothing to do but sit back and put your life in someone else's hands.

"Copy that Bossss." S'Ralor said with a small grin. "Just what I needed."


~~~~~


= Lounge =

Temas sat with the other civilians, and by default, the children, in the lounge. He sat by the viewscreen, at times looking up when someone walked past. It seemed like this was a big deal, but Temas was new to ships and how they worked. Especially launches. It seemed strange to him.

"The Lady in the Ship must be really busy," Lily Blake looked up to Laeon with wide eyes. She could only imagine how hard it had to be for 'the lady in the ship' who seemed to do everything to make the ship work, *and* had to answer all their questions at the same time.

Laeon laughed softly as he squeezed the young girl's hand, heading to sit down in the seats next to Temas so they could get a better view. He'd known Lily on a previous posting, and had even babysat for her now and then. But most of their time together had been in these sorts of moments, where the civilians had come together. He knew enough to understand that 'the lady in the ship' was what she called the ship's computer. "At least she and the crew don't have to do everything by hand, like in the old days...." he nodded a greeting to Temas as they joined him.

Jairic was bored, or at least his face said he was. This wasn't his first time watching a ship launch. In reality, he was masking what he felt. Confusion. This was the first time he had watched such an event without his brother. He sat there on the corner of a loveseat, watching the viewscreen, his arms folded across his chest.

Laeon glanced over to see Jairic there, seeing the pensive expression on his young face. And it piqued his interest. Because he looked young, probably about the same age he appeared to humans. It wasn't often he found similarly matched youths on ships...they were usually younger or older. He lifted a hand, motioning in an invitation for him to join them if he wanted...he tried to look casual though, not wanting to look curious or, worse, excited.

The Orion caught Laeon's signal out of his peripheral vision. He hesitated for a moment. If Laeon had not been his age, or the age he assumed he was, he would have just stayed where he was. Or perhaps even walk away entirely. Instead, he turned toward the other teen then walked to him.

"Hi," he said with more uncertainty than he normally would. "I'm Jairic, There aren't too many guys our age on board. What's your name?"

"Laeon," he shifted up with a smile to make room for him, watching the hue of his skin with awe. Orion, perhaps? "This is Lily, the Captain's daughter," he motioned to the waving girl on the other side of him. He didn't introduce him to Temas, though, assuming they'd already met in the same kind of meeting he'd had with the teacher. "Have you lived on ships before?" he asked lightly, at how he had hovered at the back.

Jairic quirked his left brow. "Nice to meet you, Lilly," he replied with an easy smile. Turning to Laeon, he continued. "Nice to meet you, too, of course. I have been on ships before, quite a bit. My parents were, I guess are, pirates. This is only my second time on a Federation ship though."

"Oh, and I'm not a pirate. Trust me."

"Pirates?!" Laeon did a double-take, watching him with wide eyes that were suddenly full of awe. Had he really said his parents were pirates? "That may be one of the most badass things I have ever heard..." he murmured.

Jairic grinned despite himself. "Yeah, pirates. I don't know if that's badass or not. We don't exactly get along. I mean I haven't seen them in more than a year, and it wasn't exactly... Well, let's just say they aren't going to win any parent of the year award."

"I was living with my brother and his husband until he died. My brother, that is not his husband. Ren, he's the assistant operations chief here. He's my guardian now. He can be kind of a pain sometimes, but he's okay I guess."

Laeon smiled weakly to him at hearing how much he had gone through. He'd lost so many loved ones in one way or another. And as badass as pirates sounded on the surface...the reality had to be a whole other ocean of tears. "One of the upsides of living on a ship is being part of the crew."

"That's true," I suppose Jairic agreed. "But enough about me, tell me more about you."

"My Dad is a doctor, so we've done this a few times now," Laeon admitted with a soft laugh, shaking his head as he considered how many ships and bases they'd been on. And that one time a ship launch had almost ended in disaster. "I guess learning a new ship and crew can be fun, though."

"Yeah, it can be. I just can't decide if I'm excited or nervous, though. You said your dad is a doctor. Is that what you want to do when you grow up?"

"Me? Dad would kill me if I became a doctor," Laeon laughed at the prospect, shaking his head slowly. His father had never enjoyed being a doctor, it had been forced onto him. As a result, Laeon knew he'd never want him in the medical profession too. "No...I don't know what I want to do yet. Travelling is...interesting though. You never know what's around the corner..."

"I don't know what I want to do either, but we both have time, I guess. And, you're right, it's a big universe. Like I said, I don't know exactly what I want to be, or do. I'm pretty sure it doesn't involve Starfleet, though I don't have a lot of good memories."

Laeon watched Jairic with a weak smile, feeling a distinct pang of sadness tug at him with the words. He leant close enough to nudge his shoulder reassuringly to his. "Then it's time to make some."

To Be Continued...

---

Lieutenant JG Aria Rice
Assistant Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Fenrir
(PNPC Hanlon)

Petty Officer 2nd Class S'Ralor
Security Officer
USS Fenrir
(PNPC Masters)

PO1 Class Gabriel Stark
Security Officer
USS Fenrir
(PNPC Blake)

Temas Latham
Civilian - Teacher
USS Fenrir
(PNPC Hanlon)

Lily Blake
Civilian Child
USS Fenrir
(PNPC Blake)

Laeon Wylde
Civilian Minor
USS Fenrir
(PNPC Blake)

Jairic ch'Shaorhs
Civilian Minor
USS Fenrir
(PNPC ch'Shaorhs)

 

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