The First Let Down

Posted on Thu Jan 6th, 2022 @ 9:15am by Lieutenant Baeryn Whavi-Tonelly

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Earth
Timeline: 2376 *FLASHBACK POST*
845 words - 1.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Baeryn stood before the communications screen stationed in her home. The screen seemed to grow in size and intimidation the longer the teenager stood in front of it. It had been weeks since she received any contact from her mother Tora, who had spent the last few years living on Betazed. Her father claimed her mother was happier surrounded by her own people, that she had work that could only be accomplished on planet. Baeryn never believed the lie, she knew her father just didn’t want to be the one to really tell Baeryn what was going on. He didn’t want to be the one to break her heart.

The day her mother left was like any other. She had come home from school to find a note explaining she was needed on her home planet and that she would be back as soon as she was able. She hadn’t even said goodbye. At first it hurt. There was a sadness, like an emptiness in her chest at the thought of her mother just up and leaving, but Baeryn hid those feelings. Buried them.

Taking a deep breath Baeryn finally initiated the call. It rang for what seemed like minutes when in reality was maybe only a few seconds. The ringing stopped and the fair face of her mother filled the screen. She wasn’t smiling and the stone faced expression gave little hint at what mood her mother was in. This caused the anxiety Baeryn felt to grow. Maybe this was a mistake.

“Hi Mom.” She said quietly. All courage and gull she had gone the moment her mothers face appeared in the screen.

“Baeryn.” The sound of her name made the young hybrid cringe. “Where is your father?” Tora looked behind Baeryn, scanning the background.

“He’s at work. I wanted to call because Dad doesn’t know when you’ll be home. Can’t you come home for a little while? It’s been 6 months, won’t they give you a vacation? Pia’s dad gets to come home every month for a few days.” The hopefulness in her voice was evident the more words she spoke. Baeryn seemed to hold her breath while she waited for a response.

Tora sighed and reluctantly made eye contact with her daughter. Obsidian meeting obsidian. “So he hasn’t told you.”

“Told me what?” Disappointment coated her words.

“I’m not coming back to Earth.”

“What?! Why not? This is your home.”

“No, it’s not.”

“I don’t understand.” Tears started to collect in the corners of the teenagers eyes.

“I don’t expect you to. Betazed is my home. It always has been. There is nothing for me on Earth.”

“Nothing for you….” Baeryn repeated her mothers words with anguish.

“Have your abilities surfaced?” The way her mother asked told Baeryn she doubted they ever would.

But she was wrong. Baeryn’s abilities had started years ago. First small, like being able to sense someone was close by, then she was able to identify the person she was familiar with before she saw them. Quickly she could feel what anyone around her was feeling, and strongly. It was so overwhelming that Baeryn spent the majority of her time blocking it out, shutting her senses off. But little did she know there was no shutting them off, there was only caging them until they got to be too much they couldn’t be contained anymore.

She caught herself speaking to her best friend without saying anything out loud. It had scared them both so much that Baeryn refused to speak with the girl again. She felt like a freak who couldn’t control herself and refused to get close to anyone who might throw it in her face.

Why she hid her abilities from her parents, she didn’t know.

Tora had questioned Baeryn numerous times over the last couple years, stating that she should have been able to use her abilities by now, that even a late bloomer would show some kind of sign. Her mother would grow angry and frustrated and ignore Baeryn for days after.


“No.” With the back of her hand Baeryn wiped away the unshed tears. Her expression changed to one of anger.

“Pity. There’s too much of your father in you. His human blood has diluted mine so much your Betazed half is useless.” Tora gave her daughter a look of disgust but Baeryn refused to be bated.

“Maybe it would have been different if you hadn’t left.”

“I doubt that child.” Her mother sighed once more, like she was bored of the conversation already. “It’s late here and I have a busy day tomorrow, Baeryn.”

Silence stretched between them. Her mother growing more and more impatient while Baeryn fought between what she wanted to say and what she should say.

“Okay.” She managed.

Her mother nodded and the screen went black for a moment before returning to its home state.

No goodbye. No I love you. No I miss you. Nothing.