Don't Shoot The Messenger

Posted on Mar 20, 2017 @ 11:41pm by Lieutenant Eve Dalziel
Edited on on Mar 20, 2017 @ 11:42pm

Mission: In Place of God

“Don’t Shoot the Messenger”
(Continued from “Genetic Progression”)

=/\=

Location: USS PHOENIX, Deck 12
SD: [2.17]0318.1030
Scene: Dalziel’s Office

A half dozen PADDs were scattered across the desk and the Counsellor was holding one, making her best attempt to absorb the contents. While it was true that Starfleet Command had allowed most of the original PHOENIX crew to remain after the repairs and the refit, that didn’t mean that the personnel were stagnant. There had been vacancies to fill. And while the holodeck malfunction may have mired the Senior staff in an unforeseen delay, the rest of the Federation had continued to move forward. And moving forward meant new faces. And it was her business to learn as much as she could about each of them, short of interrogation. Eve wasn’t confrontational until it became her business to be.

Naturally, news of their deployment to the Neutral Zone and their high-profile stowaway had spread through the ship with speed and curiosity. This seemed to send ripples of unease and fear of the unknown through some of the crew. She was already well on her way to monitoring those behaviors so she could interject when needed to ensure the health and safety of the ship and the crew. In many ways, it was more challenging than any Intel position she had ever held.

Her door opened, and while Eve had expected to see Owen or Xander, it was the form of newly elected Councilman Karimi’s attaché instead. She leaned against the door like she had found safe haven from a pack of hungry Vegan Fire Jaguars. “Hi,” Xana said underwhelmingly.

Eve smiled. “If you’re looking for the escape pods, you’re in the wrong place.” The truth was the Counsellor knew Jake better from both a work and personal standpoint than she had ever known his other half. But it was easy to see her social, outgoing nature eclipse that of their problem-solving ExO.

“Is it that obvious?” She walked forward and found one of the chairs facing Eve’s desk, sinking into it gracefully.

“What part of ‘hitching a ride on the same ship as my ex’ wouldn’t be awkward?”

Xana sidestepped the rhetorical question with the ease of the political realm she now worked in. “He isn’t my ex- yet.”

“Oh?” Eve cast a hopeful look.

“He’s too stubborn to sign the papers.” The half Bolian woman cupped her chin in her hands, examining the cozy room while she did so. “Is that what I think it is?” she asked, gesturing towards a tray of food.

“Cucumber sandwiches, gougerès, cranberry-orange scones, and English breakfast tea. I never did get that high tea I’d imagined while on the holodeck. Help yourself.”

Xana poured a cup of tea and grabbed a scone. “At least you had some R&R before setting out.”

“Uh, *no*, we didn’t,” Eve said with irritation as she took a crustless sandwich.

“What happened?”

The dark-haired woman nibbled and sighed. “FUBAR happened. We were stuck fighting a giant spider and a Necromancer in the middle of multiple storylines. No injuries, thankfully, but I’m just going to put it out there that nobody is going to want to go back anytime soon.”

“Professional opinion?”

Eve raised an eyebrow. “No, a lower than usual tolerance for bullshit.”

Xana laughed a little. “You wouldn’t last three seconds in politics.” The two women toasted each other with a clink of teacups.

Eve put her food down and leaned back in the chair. “So, you know I have to ask.”

Xana had moved on from the scones to the sandwiches. “Ask what?”

“Why are you here? I assume it’s not for the snacks and stimulating conversation.”

“I needed a ride to Bolarus,” she said passively.

Dalziel cast a doubtful glare at her visitor. “I mean, why are you in my office?”

“I need help,” Xana replied weakly. It was probably the first time Eve had seen the woman struggle with her words. “It’s about Jake. I’m worried about him.”

“You just saw him earlier when Smooshy was saying ‘hello’ to you. Did it ever occur to you to talk to him?”

Xana began gesturing with her hands in a purely Italian way. She’d been preoccupied with getting help with her medical issue, but there was no need to divulge that to Eve. “That’s just it- our ‘talks’ seem to end in raised voices and agina. He’s already under loads of stress.” The azure-skinned woman’s words and tone weren’t those of someone ready to end things.

“If you’re still in love with him, why are you getting divorced?”

The question was a deceptively simple one. But the answer was anything but. Xana cast her violet eyes downward. “Love isn’t always enough. I wish it was, but it’s not. The things we love about each other are the same things that keep us apart. Do you honestly see Jake being happy as the husband of a planet-hopping activist?”

The idealism that Eve had allowed to creep into her thoughts regarding Jake and Xana faded as she saw the look of despair on the older woman’s face. It just confirmed her suspicion that the solitary life was the best course of action as an officer. But could the Cardassian born woman turn away from love, if it ever presented itself to her? That was a query she never wanted to be forced to figure out. “No, I guess not.”

Xana nodded. “And I was miserable as an Engineer’s wife. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care about him.”

“You love him, we’ve established that,” Eve prompted, and when she heard no challenge, she continued. “So, you want me to *spy* on him?”

“No, no, I just want someone to check on him. I can’t set foot on the Bridge, which is where Jake is most of the time. Otherwise we’ll have a much larger problem than Jake’s state of mind.”

“Captain Kane?” The CO had never been the warm and fuzzy type, and his demeanor had only ratcheted up further towards taut caution since Bonviva’s arrival.

Xana ran her fingers through her white hair. She’d worn it loose, and was silently wishing she’d pinned it up. It would have made her feel more in control. “Word is there’s a bounty on my head if I so much as think about heading up there.”

“The rumors about him calling you ‘that woman’ weren’t just a story?”

“My reputation has preceded me. Especially where Michael is concerned. I’m ants at a picnic. The House of Mogh at a family reunion.”

“Vulcans at a ‘getting in touch with your emotions’ seminar.” Eve tossed her ponytail over her shoulder, thinking out loud. “Once the Captain sets his mind a certain way, it’s impossible to change it. And then if he did, we’d never know about it. So I guess the Bridge really is Xana non grata.”

Xana popped a cheese puff in her mouth. “Are you saying you’ll help, or not?”

Eve’s shoulders slumped a little. I’ll help. But I know I’m going to regret it.”


=/\=

Scene: Bridge
Time Index: 90 minutes later

Jake Crichton looked up from the display console to see the overly cheery presence of Lieutenant Dalziel, brandishing a PADD. “What brings you to the Penthouse Suite?”

“I wanted to thank you for your help on the holodeck, and figured I’d drop this by while I was here.” She presented him with a personnel report. “Also, I knew this was my only chance to get a glimpse of the Bridge before we set off. Besides, I wanted to reassure you that you know my door is always open should you need to drop by and talk.”

He shrugged and managed a grin. “Not at the moment. Kinda busy.”

Eve pressed on. “None of the past few months have been easy on anyone. New job, new living arrangements. I don’t want you to think you’re alone in all of this.”

That was probably the vaguest thing the Counsellor had ever said. Jake wasn’t sure what to do with that, so he responded in similar fashion. “We are a team. We all have jobs to do. And everything works better when we stick to our set responsibilities.”

“The mental health of this crew is my responsibility.”

Jake was starting to see what she was driving at. His focus narrowed. “Granted. But I don’t think I should be at the top of your list of pet projects. We have at least two officers I can think of right now, below decks, who were directly impacted by the Neo-Essentialist Movement. They need your help a lot more than I do.”

Eve wanted to tell him he had no business advising her how to perform her duties. But as Executive Officer, he absolutely had that authority. “If that’s the case then why haven’t you decided whether or not to sign the divorce decree?” The words had barely escaped her lips when she knew she had made a crucial mistake.

Jake attempted to look calm and affable, but something behind his eyes had been riled up. “What else did she say to you?”

“She’s worried about you. She wants to make sure you’ll be okay.”

“And she can’t tell me herself?”

“Not while you’re on the Bridge she can’t. She still loves you.”

Jake shook his head even though he knew Eve wasn’t making that up. “I see you’re on her side.”

“Actually, no. I’m on the side of your marriage. I don’t think either of you is trying hard enough before throwing in the towel.”

Jake lowered his voice, but his words were sharper and more intense. “You have no idea what amount of work that kind of commitment takes. That’s not fair.”

“No, it’s not fair. Do you know what else isn’t fair? She’s going to Bolarus IX. The PHOENIX is headed to patrol the Neutral Zone. How many chances at this do you think you’re going to get?” she asked in stinging tones.

He looked at the Cns sternly. “This conversation is over, Lieutenant,” Jake snapped.

“But Commander-” Eve looked away, embarrassed, and for a few seconds the two of them just stood there, dumb.

Finally, Jake offered the proverbial olive branch. “Listen, I’m sorry, I know you think you’re helping. But I’m serious.” He began to not-so-subtly walk her to the turbolift and usher her inside. “Your opinion is duly noted… and appreciated, for what it’s worth. But we have a ship to launch and work to do. Deck twelve.” He activated the door to close before Eve had a chance to respond.

The ExO chuckled to himself. It was nice to get the last word once in a while.

=/\=
Susan Ledbetter
Writing For

Lieutenant Eve Dalziel
Cns
USS PHOENIX