Catching up

Posted on Sat Nov 10th, 2018 @ 8:27pm by Admiral Deela T'Lar

1,984 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 96 - A Visitor From the Past
Location: Starbase 400, Promenade, Restaurant
Timeline: MD 01 1500 Hours

ON:

Lai'lira sat on her sofa thinking about the day. She was also thinking about Braxton and a few out of the ordinary things she'd noticed.

Sighing she got up to get her coco and her eyes wandered to an image of Deela and Earl.

She smiled as she thought of her friends. Walking to the table with her personal computer she brought up the research she'd been doing. Her mind, not on the task at hand wandered to her conversation with Deela earlier.

=/\= Earlier in the day =/\=

Lai'lira smiled as she watched the people strolling around. She sighed Dora had just promoted her and she was over the moon. She smiled as she spotted Deela. She waived.

Deela saw her and did the same. She approached Lai'lira with a smile, "Hello Lai'lira, how have you been?"

She smiled, "Excellent! I jut got promoted." She said with pride in her voice. "Today is my treat."

"That is great!" She wondered what else happened on the base on while she was in the Delta Quadrant, "So, besides getting promoted, what else have you been up to?"

She smiled, "Taking care of Splendora's dog, getting to know the station a bit more and pretty much trying all the restaurants. That and keeping the wolves at bay. How was your time away?"

This was one trip that she wanted to forget, "Well, on our way to the Delta Quadrant, we were attacked by some idiot, causing us to arrive late. Delta Quadrant, not a fan and we got in a fight with the Kazon, obviously, we won. That is about it." She added, "Oh, and the only good thing that happened is we got to meet Neelix and he is everything that I have heard about him."

Having been sheltered she didn't know who Neelix was. She was still catching up to things. "Kazon...they are the ones that have hair like those old Earth fans...they are worriers? Who's Neelix? Why did an idiot attack?" She had a thirst for knowledge that was insatiable.

"Yes, the Kazon are the ones with the weird hair." She chuckled, "Neelix is a Talaxian hybrid and he joined the USS Voyager when it was pulled into the Delta Quadrant. He served as the ship's chef, morale officer, ambassador to the Delta Quadrant and navigator."

"Wow. He sounds amazing to do all that." She smiled, "So he's like a celebrity of sorts. That's amazing." He took a moment to ponder. "How is everything else going? What about your beau?"

Deela smiled, "My beau is fine. And everything is going good, now that I am home. I missed the kids and my bed.'

"And Earl!" she said smiling. "I'm glad that you are back. I've missed our conversations and it's been...interesting and difficult as of late."

"Oh? What has been difficult?" She peaked her interest.

"Well learning all the manager things. I'm catching on quickly though. So not so bad." She thought a moment. How would she phrase this. "There was someone dangerous on the station."

Deela's expression changed, "Dangerous? Who was that?" This was the first she heard of it.

Lai'lira took a moment to phrase things right. "Do you remember when Braxton came on? I thought he was a wolf man. Well his old unit was here, I understand, helping out." She paused. "Most of them were nice but there was one...I couldn't read him well but the others feared him and the telepath in the group was angry with him. He was not a good man."

Deela sighed, "So where is he now?"

"He left but I think he might have done something to hurt Braxton." She remembered well what she'd seen. "I came by to visit Braxton and Dobbs, the telepath, and this...Nicky person were leaving. When I saw Braxton he ... was out of it as if his eyes were not focused. Also he had a hand on Braxton's face...like this." She proceeded to show Deela placing two fingers on Deela's temple and a thumb on her chin in what looked like a mind meld.

Deela nodded, "That is definitely a Vulcan mind meld." She hadn't heard about anybody in trouble on the base so this was news to her, "Have you seen Braxton since then?"

"No but I told Hades and he said he'd look into it. When I did see him after they left he was like a shadow. It was like his mind was torn apart and putting itself back together. I sensed...confusion, frustration. For a moment he didn't recognize me." Lai'lira sighed, "I'm worried Deela and not just because I like him. That man did not look like a Vulcan yet...his hair was long so I couldn't see the ears. Braxton...he's was having nightmares and I understand that those stopped when this Nicky left...which is good but something doesn't feel right." She looked at her friend. "Do you think I'm just bring dramatic?" She was hoping Deela would try to convince of her of that.

"I cannot honestly tell you if you are or not. I would have to see Braxton for myself before I can give you my assessment of him." She was a bit concerned though, " What exactly does not feel right about him?"

"He's not himself. He is a shell at times he gets this blank look on his face." She shook her head as she sipped from her drink. "Perhaps I am just worried because I...." She blushed a bit, "Because I like him."

Deela smiled, "I understand. I promise to look into it."

Lai'lira smiled. "Oh! I almost forgot." She pulled out a rather large cat toy from the bag she'd had at her feet. "This is for Earl. How is the little guy doing?"

Deela frowned, "I am a little worried about him. Earl is 23 years old and I believe that the oldest tiger recorded is 26. He is moving a great deal slower than usual. I can sense that he is a little uncomfortable. There really is not anyone here who knows anything about tigers so I do not know what I am going to do."

She looked at her. "What about Hades. In addition to his MD he got his veterinary license."

Deela nodded, "That is true. I had forgotten about that. " I will have to get him there when I have the time."

Lai smiled. "I have missed you being here and us having lunch or dinner or just talking. Can I ask you something personal?"

"Go for it." Deela smiled.

"You are part Betazoid...how do you avoid getting overwhelmed by all the people on this station?"

"Practice and lots of meditation. It is different for me as not only am I an empath, I also have telepathic abilities so it is a little more difficult. I still get overwhelmed and when I do, I meditate. I can teach you if you would like."

Lai'lira smiled, "I would love it. There is so much I have to learn and I don't know where to start." She was silent a moment and then reached into her purse and pulled out an emerald shawl that she had wrapped herself. "I got you something...as a thank you for all you do and for your friendship. It means a lot to me. I've never really had a friend." The woman knew her situation, being sequestered like that hadn't been easy. She'd had her hobbies but friends were rare and very much loved.

"Oh Lai'lira, you did not have to get me something but thank you." Deela opened it and put the shawl around her shoulders, "I love it!"

She smiled, "I'm glad you like it. I wanted to get you something. I have learned a lot from you and I am grateful to have you as a friend. I feel like I am still finding my way and you don't know what it's like to have a good friend like you."

Deela returned the smile, "I am glad that I can be that friend. I am so honored."

She smiled back at Deela while happily munching on her food and sipping her drink. Not knowing much about the past and going off a broken telephone like understanding Lai'lira asked, "How is the station contest going? I'm not sure where to enter...is it open to the whole station?"

"Contest? There is a contest going on?" Deela hadn't heard about it.

Lai'lira looked a bit confused. "Everyone is talking about entering for a prize." She looked at Deela, "Or is it enter then prize..."

Deela was just as confused until she got the issue. She couldn't help but laugh, "Oh! Enterprise! Oh no, the USS Enterprise is a ship from the past. Specifically, 2265. The ion storm had somehow brought them here." She hoped that this cleared things up.

Lai'lira sighed. "Ohhhh I get it now." She thought a moment, "Wait 2265? There is a ship that traveled through time?"

"There was. Fascinating, isn't it? Anyway, they're gone now." It was a little more complicated than that.

Lai thought a moment, "Did they know they were in our time? What did they think of the future?" She had a million questions.

"They found out but we made sure that they did not get a glimpse of it." There really wasn't more to tell.

She smiled, "Well it all sounds interesting." Lai'lira continued eating her meal. "Can I ask you something. Are Romulans allowed in Starfleet?"

Deela thought for a moment, "This is a hard one. Why a Romulan would want to is beyond me. There would be a constant distrust and suspicion among the crew. It did not go well for Crewman Tarses. He served on the USS Enterprise but lied about his family's background. It created a great deal of problems. I am not saying they cannot but it would depend on where the Romulan's allegiance lies."

Lai'lira sighed, her gaze downcast. "I see. I guess I can't apply to the Academy then." It was one of the things she was considering but with what her friend had just said she might as well scratch that off the list. She took a bite out of her sandwich.

Deela's eyes widened, "Really? You want to join? It is not my intention to discourage you but you need to know the bad with the good. If Crewman Tarses had just been honest about his family, it might not have gone the way it did. Run it by Dr. Hades and see what he thinks. And I will look into it more."

Lai'lira smiled, "Thank you!" She felt a bit better. She loved working for Splendora but she wondered if there was more. She'd helped out in sickbay, at the centre and she'd talked to so many officers that Starfleet started to sound like a place for her. She would talk to Hades tonight.

The continued their meal and their visit and soon Lai knew that it was getting late. "I know you have to get back but how about lunch again soon? Oh and if you like I will talk to Hades about seeing Earl."

Deela nodded, "Yes to both." She stood up, "I will let you know when I am free for lunch."

Lai'lira watched her friend go. She finished her drink and then headed out.

=/\=Present Time=/\=

Lai sighed. She turned off the computer and gave up for the night. Maybe things would look brighter in the morning. For now she would just rest the rest of the time, who knew what interesting adventures would lay ahead.

It was still early for bed but she needed sleep. It had been a rough few days.

Lai'lira changed for bed and slipped under the covers. Things were starting to change in her life and all for the better.

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