Chapter Text
ardently learning the feelings for who knows what inclination, awaiting us in space? --Ranier Maria Rilke
Telar of Vulcan tied back his hair and sat down at his desk to finish a progress report. The young Sentinel he'd been tutoring was progressing well, all five of her enhanced senses under control. She wasn't yet able to control them subconsciously, but she could manage her input with an impressively fine hand.
He allowed himself to feel pleased at how well she was performing; training young Sentinels was even more satisfying than training more Guides like himself.
The door chimed at him, and he saved the report and put the padd aside. "Come," he called, and the doors opened to admit Admiral Banks. Telar noted with amusement that at nearly two meters in height, the Admiral's head nearly brushed the top of the door opening.
"Admiral," he said, standing to attention.
"Lieutenant Telar," Banks responded. "I need to speak to you." Telar gestured at the armchairs in the living area, and they both seated themselves. "I'll be brief," said the Admiral. "We need you to guide an unbonded Sentinel in the field."
Telar leaned forward slightly. "There are no unbonded Sentinels currently in the field."
"This one's a late-activating latent. I have serious reservations, however, about the wisdom of assigning you as his Guide." He looked at Telar, who had drawn back.
"His. This is a male Sentinel."
"Yes. Captain James Ellison." The admiral held out a padd, and Telar took it reluctantly, skimming the information on it.
Ellison, James Joseph. Terran-born human, thirty-seven, captain of the Judicial Corps ship Justus Jonas. Telar laid the padd down on the table. "A male Sentinel." He shook his head. "I am sorry, sir, but no."
Admiral Banks frowned. "I'll be honest, Lieutenant. You really don't have a choice. All the healers confirm that you're suited as a Guide. Sentinels respond to you appropriately, you know all the techniques, and you haven't bonded with one yet."
"You know my reasons, sir."
"I understand that Vulcans do not encourage homosexual relationships." He sighed. "Lieutenant, I'm not asking you to bond with him. You're the best Guide instructor the Academy's had in fifty years--we'd like to keep you. But we need Ellison to be able to do his job more than we need you here. You're the only Guide with extensive deep space experience, the only one even close to his own age who is unbonded." He leaned back and shook his head. "I'm not making him wait for a Guide to grow up, and I'm not assigning a Guide to someone twice their age. You don't have to bond with him, but we need you to Guide him."
"Sir, this could compromise his chances of ever bonding. If he decides, even subconsciously, that I am his Guide, he may not be able to--"
Admiral Banks stood up. "You're joining the crew of the Jonas as Guide. That's an order, Lieutenant. How you choose to handle Ellison--bonded or unbonded--is up to you."
He left the room, and as the door whooshed shut behind him, Telar picked up the padd again and stared at the information: Human. Thirty-seven. The Justus Jonas.