The Roads We Leave Behind, Part 2

Posted on Sun Oct 19th, 2025 @ 4:45pm by Lieutenant JG Maël "Gideon" Beauregard & Commander Vincent 'Vin' Salvatore

1,802 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: EPISODE 1: SHAKEDOWN
Location: Hecate's Lounge
Timeline: MD037

Gideon tapped two fingers against the bar, signaling the bartender for another round. "Tell me somethin', Vin," he said after a slow exhale, his drawl softening. "You ever figure what it is you’re runnin' toward? Or you just makin' sure nothin' behind you catches up?"

"I guess, when I find it, I'll know what it is?" Vincent replied as he looked over to Gideon. "Maybe, I am running back home, just hitching a ride on Starfleet's dime." He gave a slight chuckle as the bartender put down a new drink. "Gideon, my friend, if I can call you such a thing this early in our conversation. Gideon, I am pretty sure I carry it with me. I'll always carry it with me, but it doesn't stop me from wanting to make sure the chaos I was raised in hasn't consumed it to the point where it can't be saved. Taking some people I hold dear to my heart with it." He looked away for a moment before taking the glass and bringing it to his lips for a sip."

Gideon leaned back on the stool, letting the curve of the bar cradle him. The ice in his glass clinked as he swirled it around, and he watched Vin raise that neat whiskey carefully. There was a weight behind his words that settled like an evening fog over marshes near Empire.

"Listen," Gideon went on, tilting his head, "ain’t no shame in carryin’ it, in lettin’ it bleed a bit. Course, some folks don’t get it--they’re too busy pretendin’ the past don’t exist. But you, Vin, you’re keepin’ it honest. That’s what makes you somethin’ else, see? Not just a man at the keys, not just a man in a uniform. A man who remembers. And remembers enough to keep himself from bein’ swallowed whole."

Vincent chuckled slightly, bringing the glass up to his lips, before stopping to take a sip. As he placed his glass back on the counter, he said softly. "I've been trying to keep myself honest for a very long time, Gideon." He smiled a bit, letting out a light sigh, as he continued on. "I told you my father ran an organization that wasn't very honest. A bunch of ne'er-do-wells looking for quick cash by using any means they can come up with. Many of them violent and cruel. He kept trying to pull my brother and I ,Carlo, in. Telling us, when out little brother, Niko, was old enough that it was out turn to teach him. Legacy, he called it. Family Business." He let out a slight scoff as he picked up his glass again. "Dysfunctional, maybe. My father had a habit of dealing with those, he knew or felt, was doing him or us wrong. If the problem couldn't be solved financially, he had the not so reputable ones. I'm sure you know where I am going with this." Vin took another sip of his drink.

"Slowly, but surely, he was pulling us in. Forcing us to tag along with uncles and family friends who were out running... errands, he called them. Sometimes we would watch. Other times, he would insist they have us participate." He placed both hands on his glass, allowing the moisture and cold to envelope his palms, as he looked down towards the liquid. "Nothing major. Robberies and rendezvous in the dark. Underhanded deals. The kind you know every has some kind of weapon or back-up plan because you yourself have your own." Vin let out a slight laugh, it was quick and almost seemed hesitate, as he looked to Gideon. "One wrong move from turning the deal into a modern version of the O.K. Corral." He looked away again as he brought his drink up. "What kind of man? What kind of father would put his children in danger like that? It shouldn't matter how old we were or if we had the stomach for it. He's our father and his first job is to keep his family safe." He took another sip from his glass before placing it back on the counter. As he looked back to the crowd of people in the lounge, all gathered in small groups, talking and laughing together. His eyes scanned the room, smiling a bit to himself, before looking back to Gideon. "He drew us both in. While I kept to my morals and did everything I could to not cross lines... Carlo wasn't so lucky. I did my best to keep him away, but he just could keep away." He turned to face the bar, tapping to get the attention of the drinkslinger, as he said firmly. "One more, then cut me off, my friend."

Gideon rubbed a thumb over the condensation ring his own ale had left behind, then said, "Sounds like your old man thought fear was the best kind of inheritance." His voice was slow, molasses-thick, but there wasn't any judgment in it. Just some sort of worn understanding. "Most men with that kinda power start thinkin' they can shape the world by passin' their shadow on to their sons."

The man from Louisiana leaned in, elbows on the counter once more, voice lowering. "But you--hell, you got out. That ain't nothin', Vin. That's a miracle with grease on it. Most folks raised in that kinda inferno don't learn how to stop burnin'."

The bartender slid Vin's next drink between them. Gideon watched it before adding, "I never knew my daddy." He paused a moment, thinking back. "I mean, I know who he was, I just never knew him." He shook his head as if he were shaking away some old memory, and took a heavy drink.

"What ever happened to Carlo?"

"Carlo?" Vin said softly as he turned to grab the glass from the counter, lifting it slightly as he smiled to the bartender a thanks, before turning back around. "He's probably deep in the family business by now." He took a sip as he turned to look Gideon in the eyes, a concerned look in his eyes as he spoke about his brother, which brought back memories of home and being around him. Getting into their own mischief. "Maybe he's working as a muscle or thief. I doubt he would be running his own crew by now, but maybe my old man would've rushed that along since I disappeared, to keep the family talking. Remind everyone his bloodline runs the family." He paused slightly, looking away for a bit, before focusing his gaze back to Gideon. There was a different look in his eyes. One of sadness as he knew what Carlo would eventually have to do in order to prove himself. Before taking the oath they all eventually would swear to his father when coming into his family. He knew his brother would go that far if it meant pleasing their father. Gaining respect and fear. "I'm sorry you never got to know anything about your old man. I couldn't imagine not knowing that part of your life. Feeling like a piece was missing. Questions remaining unanswered."

Gideon swirled what was left of his ale and watched the amber liquid circle slow, then stop.

"Don't be," he said finally. "Some men don't leave behind enough to know 'em by. When I was little, I used to to just make it all up for myself." He smiled faintly, though it looked tired on him. "Easier that way--to build a man outta the parts you wish were there."

He took another swallow, then tapped his glass against the bartop. You talk 'bout your brother like a man holdin' a rope that's slippin' through his fingers," he said. "I get it. Nothin' eats at a man more than watchin' someone he loves step into the same fire he's crawled out of. But lemme tell you somethin' I learned in the yard back home: some folks can't hear you callin' till they've run clean outta road."

Gideon turned his head, catching the Iotian's eyes. "Still. Don't stop callin', Vin. Universe is cruel enough."

Vincent nodded his head slightly as he drank from his glass. Gideon's words were a comfort, but it didn't alleviate the worry. He knew where the road ended when it came to his father's organization and it wasn't where he ever wanted it to go. Sure, that kind of end was a path that many people eventually led to, but for Carlo, it could be much faster than most. Of course, he could be worrying over nothing. Vin knew his brother was resourceful and there were plenty of people who would help him out of a tough spot, mainly out of respect and fear of their father. However, it was still an end he didn't want to see. At the very least, he wanted to help prevent.

"You're right, Gideon." He said as he took another sip from his glass. He eased the glass away, before adding. "I do everything int he world to push my brother away, but the decision is always gonna be his in the end. Whether he chooses to pick up the gun or keep it on the table. I should carry that guilt, but I can't let it go either. He's my brother and I don't want to see him die. Not if I can do something to help keep him from the mess. And then there is Niko, our little brother. Where would he be if there wasn't someone to show him a different way?" He finished the drink and placed it on the counter as he let out a deep sigh. "I got out... but I didn't have a choice. I was taken away from them. I didn't make the choice. It was made for me. I didn't know this life, traveling through space and being a member of Starfleet, until I was rescued from whoever captured me. I love my life in Starfleet. I enjoy the people I've met and places I have been, but a part of me, still want's to go home. To, at least, know it and the people I care about are going to be alright without me there. Hell, to at least let them know I didn't just abandon them and that I am alive."

Gideon nodded. "Vin... you can't carry their choices, see? Carlo, Niko... that ain't yours to make. All you can do is hold your end steady. Be the rope when they need it. Keep hollerin' when the fire's hot, sure--but don't let it burn you down tryin' to drag 'em out."

~TBC~

 

RSS Feed