Part 18
It took another ten minutes before Vin could bring himself to release Ezranok.
When he pulled back, he was slightly surprised to see tear tracks on Ezranok face, but a rapid check of the bond reveal that the had been tears of joy, not sorrow or regret as Vin had momentarily feared. Gently, Vin wiped the boy's face which brought a bright smile to his face. He was shocked when Ezranok lifted a hand to his face and wiped away the tears he didn't even realize he was crying.
Cleared throats brought their thoughts back to where they were and what was happening. Ezranok was delighted to note that the Vulcans were gone and only Admiral Travis and Captain Larabee remained.
Capturing their attention, Admiral Travis waved for them to sit down, before saying, "Would someone like to explain to me what just happened?" Chris was as much in the dark as Travis, so he turned to his first officer as well.
Clearing his throat, Vin glanced at the boy he had pulled into his lap a few moments ago. Sighing he looked up at the other Starfleet officers and began, "Ezranok invoked a very old Vulcan custom to ensure that he would be allowed to stay with me. In ancient times, the K'landain'esh was custom to repay a person for saving another's life if there was significant losses in the process. It is completely voluntary on the part of the person saved. Ezranok felt that my part in his rescue and the subsequent losses warranted this."
"Losses?" Travis asked, from the reports it didn't sound as if anything had been lost in the rescue.
"The bond," Ezranok informed him. "Even though it was not intentional, I violated the sanctity of Lt. Commander Tanner's mind. To some, that is tantamount to mind rape." Ezranok whispered the last, shame coloring his voice.
Tanner immediately grabbed his chin and gently forced him to look up. "You did nothing wrong, Ezranok. I treasure the link and wouldn't have it any other way."
Travis looked at the solemn faced child sitting on Tanner's lap closely. To a casual observer, he might look calm, but if one looked closely in his eyes, Ezranok was nervous. Travis could understand that. Ezranok had obviously done all this to stay with Tanner, but Travis had the authority to assign Tanner where he wished. "What was all that about radomartandar? Why did F'arnock say that they could not interfere anymore?"
Vin smiled a little at the Admiral's rotten pronunciation, then gathered his thoughts as he tried to think of the best way to explain this. "He had to ensure that he was considered a subadult before initiating it, since it is not allowed to have a K'landain'esh bond with a true child. The K'landain'esh is what you might call a life debt indenture. Due to the bond we share, Ezranok has linked his life to mine. If anyone tried to split us up now, it would result in both our deaths."
Travis' eyes widened in shock. "This is the bond that the boy accidentally created?"
Tanner ducked his head, "Not exactly. The bond was strong when it was created and has grown over the last couple days. Ezranok believed, and rightly so, that he would not survive the breaking of the bond so soon after his bond with Blair was broken." Travis nodded thoughtfully, he had forgotten the bond with the other boy had broken just two days ago. "He then offered me K'landain'esh, if it had been rejected it would have meant his death. When I accepted, it completed the K'landain'esh bond between us. I have chosen this, Admiral Travis. Ezranok is now bound to me with a bond tight and deeper than blood. If I should die violently, the backlash will kill Ezranok. He knows and accepts that. If I die from age or disease, he may survive me, and vice versa. The only way to break the K'landain'esh bond is through death," Vin stated flatly, pulling Ezranok closer, as if to protect him from the other men in the room.
Orrin Travis and Chris stared at the two of them, their thoughts going in a hundred different directions at once.
Chris couldn't believe what the boy had risked in order to have the chance to stay with Vin, then as he thought about it he came to understand. Ezranok would rather have died than be separated from the man that held him now. Chris knew they would have problems in the years ahead, but he would meet them happily, knowing that the two of them would always be there for each other.
Travis also couldn't believe what the boy had risked, and he was becoming even more confused as Vin explained the specifics. But then he hadn't seen the two together for the last three days either. As he watched the two together, he could see a little of the connection between them, but the extent of it boggled his mind. Shaking head to clear it, he said, "It may not be normal for a scout ship to carry children, but under the circumstances, I think an exception will have to be made. Captain Larabee, with your consent, Lt. Commander Vincent Tanner and his…ward, Ezranok, will remain stationed on the USS Wild Card. Tanner will retain his previous post as First Officer. What duties Ezranok may be assigned will be up to your discretion. Will that be satisfactory, gentlemen?" Travis stuttered a little over what to call Ezranok, but on the whole, he felt he handled it very well.
Chris smiled slightly as he accepted the order, then watched Travis leave, muttering about the counsel not believing this one. After Travis left he turned to see, Vin and Ezranok looking at him with trepidation in their eyes. Vin knew he was willing to have Ezranok on board, but there was still a little bit of nervousness about the way he would be coming on board.
"Well, welcome aboard, Ezranok," Chris said, a full smile stretching across his face. "We'll figure out something for you to do later. For now, let's get back to the ship and give everyone the good news, shall we?"
Vin and Ezranok smiled happily at this. "That would be great, Capt'n," Vin answered.
"I could help Dr. Jackson out in Sick Bay," Ezranok pointed out quietly. He had come to like the dark-skinned doctor after their little heart-to-heart talk. The man had been able to put the past behind him, and they were fast becoming friends.
Chris smiled down at the shy lad, "That sounds like a good idea, Ez. I'm sure Dr. Jackson would appreciate the help. Come on, let's go." Chris turned and led the way back toward the transporter room to head back to their ship.
Vin kept an arm around Ezranok shoulders as they followed the captain, but soon he noticed Ezranok casting glances back down the corridor. "What's wrong, Ez?" he asked stopping at a corner.
Chris heard the inquiry and walked back to see what was going on. Ezranok look nervous, biting his lip and shuffling from one foot to another. He looked so different from the confident child that had taken on the Vulcans and won.
Ezranok didn't really want to ask and make them angry, but he was worried. Glancing up at their encouraging faces, he drew a deep breath before asking in a rush, "What is going to happen to Blair and Commander Ellison? Where will they be sent?"
Vin closed his eye momentarily, of course Ezranok would want to know what was going to happen to his young friend! Looking toward his Captain, he cocked his head in a silent question.
Chris smiled sadly. Ezranok was still afraid to ask them for even this small request. They'd have to work on that, but they had the time, and he vowed they would undo as much of the damage done in the last eight years as possible. Slowly and carefully, Chris reached forward and grasped Ezranok's shoulder lightly. "Let's go find out." Together the three of them went looking for the Ground Operation Commodore's office.
It took a while, but Chris, Vin, and Ezranok finally traced Ellison and Blair back to Travis's office.
Ellison had convinced the Commodore that Ground Operations was no place for a child of Blair's tender years, and had requested a transfer to ship board duties. Starfleet had no wish to lose his services, especially since he had come back on line, and his request was granted. When Chris and Vin arrived at Travis's office, he had already been assigned to a ship and had met his new commanding officer, Commander Simon Banks of the USS Mystic.
Walking in, Chris recognized Simon Banks and the knot of apprehension that had started to form in his chest loosened. Simon Banks was a good man, a bit set in his ways, but he would be able to adapt to the situation and work with Ellison and Blair.
When Travis asked why they were there, Chris said, "Ezranok wanted to make sure that Blair and Ellison were okay, sir."
Travis smiled his understanding and introduced Banks as Ellison's new commander. "I'll leave you to get acquainted. Chris, after you're done here, the Wild Card is scheduled for patrolling the Four Corners area for the next month. That'll give you about thirty days to get your new crewman," Travis grinned when he saw the delighted look on Ezranok's face, "up to speed on procedures and make sure that everything is working out. If you have any problems, feel free to call me."
Turning to the other two officer present, he continued, "Commander Bank, Lt. Commander Ellison, the Mystic is due for launch next week after the rest of the crew have had shore leave. You will be headed for the border area between the Sun'patrise quadrant and the Was'ninton area next door to the Wild Card's patrol area. I suggest you all stay on good terms with each other as you may be seeing each other frequently." Travis laughed at the expressions ofn Larabee and Bank's faces on his way out the door.
All of the men left in the room looked at each other for a few moments before they too broke out laughing. Ezranok and Blair looked at them as if they had lost their minds.
Chris just shook his head as he gave Banks a sympathetic look. He had a K'landain'esh bonded human/Standai'ishi pair, and Banks had a newly bonded Sentinel/Guide pair to deal with. After a few minutes of reassuring that everyone was content with the arrangements, they exchanged official com numbers and parted for their ships. Chris and Simon secretly gave each other their private numbers too. They both had the feeling they were going to need a sympathetic shoulder once in a while.
As Chris strode through the corridors of his ship later that night, he thought of everything that had happened in the last few days.
Was it only four days ago they had run across the slave ship? Four days that had totally changed their lives, for the better definitely, but it had happened so fast that it was a bit disconcerting. They had extended a helping hand, and received back seven-fold.
Chris smiled as he found himself outside Vin's quarters. Vin and Ezranok had invited him to dinner this evening, and he was early.
They had decided to put Ezranok in the empty quarters that Ellison and Blair had stayed in for the two days they were on board. Chris could still remember Ezranok wide eyes when they had told him that he would have his own rooms, all to himself. Ezranok had objected, saying that he was happy to share with Vin, but Vin had insisted, pointing out that this way, Ezranok would be able to sleep in a real bed and wouldn't be disturbed if Vin was on swing shift or something like that.
Chris remembered the happiness on Ezranok face when he finally agreed, then took off to investigate the rooms that were to become his home. Chris had given Vin the rest of the day off to get Ezranok settled in his permanent home. There hadn't been that much to more, but he had slight Vin some money and told him to take the boy back to the Star Base and see about getting him some things to make the room his. He was interested in seeing what Ezranok had picked out. Ezranok had managed to surprise him every time he turned around since he had come about the ship, and he didn't expect anything different now.
This was bound to be a wild ride, but he didn't want to miss a second of it.