[BACKPOST] Stumbling
Posted on Sat Apr 5th, 2025 @ 1:59am by Ensign Khrys Ral
Mission:
Seven Souls
Location: Starfleet Academy, San Francisco, Earth
Timeline: Mission Day 1 at 0000
[Starfleet Academy, Earth — San Francisco Campus]
[Orientation Week, 2394]
The transport from the shuttle hub in the city to the Academy’s eastern dormitory complex hummed softly beneath Khrysaros Ral’s boots. The San Francisco air was brisk, the breeze curling in from the bay and tugging playfully at his tousled light-brown hair. A duffel bag slung over one shoulder and a small case in hand, Khrys stepped off the platform and took a breath that filled his lungs with salt, sunlight, and the unfamiliar scent of possibility. He exhaled slowly, steadying his nerves.
“Cadet Fourth Class Ral, right?”
The voice caught him off guard. Warm. Smooth. Almost musical. Khrys turned and nearly dropped his case.
The Deltan standing before him was radiant. Literally. The late afternoon sun caught the smooth curve of his bald head and bronzed skin like it was trying to outshine him and failing. He wore the cadet uniform with the sleeves casually pushed up and his posture was relaxed but confident. His eyes, a dark, smoldering gold, shimmered with practiced charm.
“Welcome to Starfleet Academy. I'm Cadet Second Class Vaeo. Dorm advisor for Echo Wing.” He extended a hand.
Khrys took it. Or tried to. His grip was a moment too late—awkward—and he prayed Vaeo hadn’t noticed.
“I—I’m Khrysaros. Uh, Khrys. Ral. Yes. Sorry.”
Vaeo smiled, and Khrys felt his heart stumble in his chest.
“No need to apologize, Khrys,” Vaeo said, holding his gaze just long enough to cause damage. “Happens to a lot of first-years. The first time seeing the campus or the view.” His grin deepened, teasing and not entirely innocent.
Khrys flushed, suddenly very aware of every inch of himself. The bag was too heavy. He was standing weird. Were his eyes too wide? Was he staring? Stop staring, Khrys.
Vaeo gestured toward the entrance of the dormitory. “Come on. I’ll show you to your room. You’re in 4B—shared suite. Good light. Great view of the gardens.”
Khrys followed, struggling to keep pace with Vaeo’s easy stride. “Thanks. I didn’t think upperclassmen did this kind of... greeting?”
“We don’t. I volunteered.” Vaeo glanced over his shoulder. “Deltan cultural interest in hospitality... and curiosity about the new cadets. Plus, it’s fun. We get all kinds here.”
Khrys tried to laugh but it came out as more of a hiccup.
The dormitory was clean, modern, and Starfleet-practical—but welcoming. Vaeo keyed in the access panel and stepped aside with a flourish. “Your domain, Cadet Ral.”
Khrys stepped inside, marveling at the high ceiling and large window. His roommate hadn't arrived yet.
“Let me know if you have any questions,” Vaeo said, lingering in the doorway. “Or if you get homesick. Happens more than people admit.”
“I... thanks. I might take you up on that,” Khrys said, his voice just above a whisper.
Vaeo winked. “I hope you do.”
Then he was gone, leaving behind only a lingering scent of citrus and heat, and Khrys standing in his new room, heart pounding, wondering if he'd imagined the entire thing.
[Starfleet Academy Orientation — Campus Gardens]
[Three Days Later]
Khrys hadn’t planned to end up at the orientation social in the Academy gardens. Not exactly. It was just... part of the schedule. Required attendance. Not his fault. The fact that Cadet Vaeo was listed as one of the event volunteers was purely incidental. Completely unrelated.
The gardens were lit softly by lanterns strung between the trees, casting warm glows on cadets mingling across the grassy knoll. Khrys stood near a table of replicator-crafted hors d'oeuvres, nervously sipping a fizzy violet drink and scanning the crowd with a subtlety that he hoped didn’t scream I’m looking for one specific person.
And then he spotted him. Vaeo, chatting animatedly with a pair of Bajoran cadets. Laughing. Gesturing. Radiating charisma like it was standard issue.
Khrys turned halfway around, pretending to inspect a display about "Interdisciplinary Collaboration in the 24th Century." He could not just walk up. That would be weird. Desperate. He needed a plan.
“Khrys.”
He froze.
Vaeo was right there, standing beside him, hands behind his back, eyes gleaming with amusement.
“You’ve been staring at that holo-display for five minutes,” Vaeo said. “Either you're very passionate about interdepartmental cooperation... or you were hoping I’d say hi.”
Khrys blinked. “I... it’s a really well-designed interface?”
Vaeo raised a brow, lips twitching. “Very diplomatic answer.”
Khrys flushed. Again.
Vaeo stepped closer, lowering his voice slightly. “You’re not doing a great job hiding that you wanted to see me. Not that I mind.”
Khrys nearly dropped his drink.“I didn’t... I mean, I wasn’t... I just happened to...”
“Relax,” Vaeo said gently, placing a hand on Khrys's arm. The touch was brief, but it sent a shiver of sensation up Khrys's spine, the faint echo of Deltan empathy brushing against his thoughts like warm silk. “I said I hoped you’d talk to me again. I'm glad you did.”
Khrys looked up at him, trying to keep his breath even. “I’m really bad at this.”
“At what?” Vaeo tilted his head.
“Talking to people I find... distractingly attractive.” The Betazoid bit his lip nervously.
Vaeo’s smile widened slowly, a little surprised, a little impressed. “Honest. That’s good. That’ll take you far in Starfleet.”
“I’m usually better at being smooth,” Khrys added, mostly lying.
“No, you’re not,” Vaeo teased. “But it’s charming.”
There was a long moment between them—then a shout from the far end of the garden called Vaeo away: “Cadet Vaeo! We need you at the sign-in kiosk!”
Vaeo sighed, rolled his eyes, and turned back to Khrys. “Duty calls.”
“Yeah,” Khrys said, still slightly dazed.
“But I’m off at 2100. If you’re free... we could walk the arboretum path. No assignments. No crowds. Just... you and me.”
Khrys blinked. “That sounds—yeah. I’d like that.”
Vaeo winked again, and just like last time, he was gone too quickly, leaving Khrys in the afterglow of charm, his cheeks hot and his heart doing somersaults.
