Revelations Part Two

Posted on Sun Jan 29th, 2017 @ 7:22am by Ensign Jonathan Forrest

Episode: Out of Sequence
Location: USS Relentless
Timeline: Both boys 11

=/= USS Relentless =/=


He chose a chainmail hauberk for his armor, and the biggest sword he could manage, which was a broadsword. He checked himself in the mirror before going out to meet Alex. His eyes got wide when he saw Alex’s costume, it looked so frilly. “Are you supposed to be a girl?” he asked.

“No!” Alex blurted out at first, his cheeks growing red. He had just spent the last few minutes making excuses for his outfit. The long, skirt-like tunic and tights were the style of the time. The frilly outer edges and the bodice design on the leather breastplate was because elves were kind of effeminate. The little bit of makeup…okay, he didn’t have a good excuse for it. A short, silver sword rested on his right hip and he had a bow and quiver over his shoulder. Alex met Jonathan’s eyes with absolute terror. He lowered his head. “Yes…”

Jonathan gave his brother a measured look. He didn’t understand why Alex wanted to be gir, but it didn’t really bother him.”Okay, well it’s kind of a little weird, but it’s your character, you can play a girl if you want to. So, are you ready?”

Alex lifted his head up. “Y-yeah,” he slowly responded, surprised by his brother’s relative acceptance. “Computer, continue program.”

The scene changed from the holodeck grid to a forest scene. A large horse appeared near each of them, laden with packs. A third horse appeared in the distance, trotting towards them. Sitting atop it was an elf boy about their age. His outfit was far simpler than Alex’s, less refined. “Princess Angela, I’m glad I found you. The <i>luhta</i> forest isn’t safe to travel alone, Highness.”

“It’s okay Taegan, I can take care of myself,” Alex said, stepping into the character role. His voice was confident, he stood up straighter, and Jonathan thought he saw the first sign of a smile on his brother’s face in weeks. “And, besides, I wasn’t alone. I found an ally to help us in our quest. This is--” he--or rather she--looked at Jonathan expectantly.

Hearing his brother referred to as Princess, was slightly more disconcerting for the eleven-year-old than seeing him dressed as a girl. But he was caught up in the moment and the excitement. This was something new and he loved novelty. And besides seeing a smile on Alex’s face, one that had been missing for so long was well worth it.

He was caught be surprise by the request for a name. He really hadn’t thought about it. It took him a few seconds to come up with something. “I am Lord Byron, of the Queen’s Guard. At your service.”

"Well met, milord" Taegan replied. "We should continue milady."

Alex walked over to one of the horses--a beautiful white mare--and climbed up onto the saddle. "Taegan is right, it's not safe to stay in one place for too long. There are trolls in <i>luhta</i>. We must travel swiftly but quietly so as not to alert them to our presence."

Jonathan had ridden horses before an exact total of one time. But as always in an unfamiliar situation, he put on an air of confidence. His horse, a roan mare, seemed calm, as he climbed in the saddle.

Then the trio started riding down the forest trail.

The holodeck knew what they were there for. They didn't have to go far when they heard a voice crying out for help further down the path. Alex spurred the white mare down the trail, trotting towards the call. Ahead was a wagon, one of its large wooden wheels cracked and broken. The owner, an older man, looked desperate and anxious.

Alex stopped the horse and climbed down. "What's the matter, good sir. Is there something we can do to--"

All around them leaf piles burst and Humans dressed in earthy browns and green popped up, aiming bows at them. A few drew swords and approached. One of the bandits wore a ring on every finger and had a thick mustache. "Ah, royalty, it must be our lucky day," he sneered. "And the princess no less. The king will pay anything if it means saving the life of his daughter."

Alex drew the bow and nocked an arrow. "I won't be going anywhere with you."

Jonathan had been about to jump off his horse and rescue his brother, or the princess from the bandit, when he/she aimed an arrow at him. So instead, he moved his horse forward with a bit of uncertainty, and attacked one of the other of the bandit crew, bringing his sword down on the man’s shoulders.

The man in front of him dropped. Alex's program was relatively bloodless, more focused on fun and adventure than realistic consequences. The bandits screamed and charged. Arrows flew loose at them.

Alex--the Princess--started to fire back, hitting a few of the bandits on their charge towards them. "We need to get the leader? Do you think you can hold them off?" she asked Jonathan.

“Of course, Al...my princess.” Lord Bryan declared as he moved towards the mustachioed man. There was a short but intense battle which Jonathan/Bryon won.

“Now what?” he asked turning towards the princess and her guide.

Alex was smiling. His brother had called him, 'princess.' It was such a small, stupid thing, but it made him happy, if only for a moment. "Now we continue onto the next challenge."

The boys played for over an hour, facing down trolls, and skeletons before reaching a dank dungeon hidden deep in the woods. That was when their holodeck time came to an end. As soon as it was over, Alex's face fell, as he was forced back to reality, where nothing at all had changed.

"That was fun," he said in a monotone. Trying to process everything he was feeling, and failing to do so.

“Yeah, it was kinda fun,” his brother replied still thinking about all the action. “Can we do it again next week? This was almost as much fun as Starship Captain. I told you, you had a good imagination, Alex.”

“Yeah, we can do it again next week,” Alex said. He turned his back to Jonathan. “Um, would you mind leaving first so I can change?” It was another bit of strangeness. When they were together, the boys always shared a room, but recently he wouldn’t change with Jonathan around, instead opting to do so in the bathroom right after a shower. There was a second reason for Alex, too. His costume was elaborate and somewhat thorough. After Jonathan’s initial reaction to the outfit, he didn’t want to give him more fodder by letting him see what the undergarments were like.

Jonathan rolled his eyes, “It’s not like we don’t know what each other looks like,” he commented, “but fine, I’ll turn back it if makes you happy.” And that was exactly what he did.

“Thank you.” Alex still felt awkward with Jonathan even in the same room. He hurriedly started to change, dropping his bow and sword on the floor of the holodeck first, then his armor. He glanced back over his shoulder at Jonathan to make sure he wasn't looking before taking off the tunic, revealing just how far he had taken to his female role.

Jonathan didn’t exactly understand what was going on with Alex, or why he had to keep his back turned to him, he wanted to talk to his mother about it, but he stood unmoving for about five minutes.  “Are you done yet?” he asked with a hint of impatience.

“Give me another minute.” Alex quickly dressed in his boy clothes and set his princess outfit to be destroyed by the holodeck, scrambled back into molecules. “I’m done.”

Jonathan, not caring that Alex was there took off his clothes and changed.

Alex’s mood was improved that evening. He even ate a little bit at dinner time, but by the late evening, it was business as usual, with his mood growing foul. The young Forrest-Samuel went to bed well before their bedtime, leaving Jonathan and Marcie alone.

“Mother,” Jonathan said, “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course dear, you know you can ask me anything. What is it?”

“Why would a guy want to play a girl?”

She did her best to mask her surprise wondering why he had asked such a question, especially just out of the blue.

Before she went too far out on limb or too lengthy of an explanation she asked, “Is this something you’ve been wanting to do?”

“Nah, not me,” Jonathan said, “but we were playing in the holodeck. Uh, Alex and I, and it was his program and he wanted to play a princess, not a prince.” Then he quickly added, “It was a fantasy thing.”

Marcie made a mental note to ask the counselor about that the next day, she wasn’t sure if it meant anything or not, but she would talk to the doctor about it. To Jonathan, she just said, “It’s nothing to worry about, I’m sure it’s just normal curiosity.  Did it bother you?”

“No, not really. It was just, I don’t know weird, but not icky weird. Just weird-weird.”

In the morning, Alex woke up late. Jonathan was already out of bed and it was their mother who had just entered the room. Alex quickly rolled over so his back was to her

“Boys,” she told them, you’re going to have to get up and changed. I want you both to take a shower. Then, you’re going to have to get breakfast on your own. We are all going to see Doctor Farys today. We have an appointment for 0930.”

Alex knew who Dr. Farys was, he was the counselor, the mind doctor. He sat up quickly and looked down off his bed at his mother. "We don't have to go. We're fine, we're not sick."

“Yeah Alex is right,” Jonathan quickly agreed with his brother. “I mean he’s a nice guy but there’s nothing wrong with us.”

“There are things going on,” Marcie said, “things we need to talk about. As a family.”

Jonathan cut his gaze between his mother and his brother and felt a sudden fear. “You, you and mom aren’t going to get a divorce are you?” he asked.

“No, we’re not. Not even close. But we are going to go and we are going to discuss some things with him.”

“You think there’s something wrong with me,” Alex said coldly, his eyes locked on his mother. “There’s not, I’ve just been tired. But I promise I’ll wake up early and go to school and eat my dinner. I’ll do whatever you want, just please, don’t make me go there.”

Jonathan looked over at Alex. “It’s okay little bro, I know it’s a pain but you know mother. She’s just, you know, being a mother. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with you. Let’s just do it and get it over with.”

Marcie looked at him gratefully. “Go and get in the shower. Don’t make me have to give you an order. You’re not too old to spank you know.” Then in a calmer tone, she continued, “Johnny’s right. There is nothing wrong with you. But we just need to talk to him. Now, please, go on.”

Pleading didn't work so Alex tried a different tactic, a dangerous tactic. He pursed his lips tightly. "No. I'm not going."

Jonathan gave his brother a look of surprise and stepped out of the way.

Marcie took a firm grip on Alex’s arm. “Alexander, I don’t recall making it a request. You are going and that’s final.”

Alex's eyes widened and he tried to squirm out of her grip like a fish on a hook. Within seconds he gave up. He remained held fast, whatever energy he had expended. "Please, don't," he said, trying pleading again.

Jonathan put a hand on his brother’s free shoulder, “There’s nothing to be afraid of Alex,” he said, reassuringly.

Marcie looked at both her sons sympathetically as she released her grip on Alex. “I’ll be back in thirty minutes. You are both to be ready to go at that time. Do I make myself clear?”

Jonathan nodded, “Yes ma’am.”

Alex offered up a much quieter, "Yes, ma'am." Both children stood there, not quite at attention, but close, as their mother, the captain, left their quarters.

Alex's shoulders slumped immediately like someone had left the air out of a balloon. He thought about running down to the holodeck or anywhere else on the ship, but it wouldn't delay the meeting for more than a second, and then he'd be in real trouble. So instead he curled back up in his bed, ignoring her other instructions, and sent an alarm on the computer for 25 minutes.

Jonathan debated with himself whether to go and comfort his brother or do what his mother had ordered. In the end, he did what he’d been told. When he was dressing with Alex still on the bed, he said, “What’s wrong Alex, it really isn’t that big of deal. Counselors aren’t that bad. Why are you so upset?”

Alex was quiet for a long minute. "Because I think there's something wrong with me," he said finally. "And I'm worried about what they'll do to me."

“There’s nothing wrong with you Alex. And, and I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

A few minutes later, the boys could hear the front door of their quarters open. “It’s mother, you better get ready, I’ll go out there and talk to her till you’re done.”

Alex didn't acknowledge Jonathan's help. It was all he could do to climb out of bed and put on clean clothes. He didn't bother showering or eating. He came out of their quarters, his long curly hair a mess, his eyes downcast.

Marcie looked at her youngest and almost said something, but decided against it. It would be something she would bring up with the counselor, though he was a very astute man, she doubted he would miss it.

TBC

Jonathan Forrest
Chief Helm Officer

& Karen Chester as Alex