Friendship, Paranoia, and Lies

Posted on Sat Apr 20th, 2013 @ 10:13am by Lieutenant Anandra Delair
Edited on on Sat Apr 20th, 2013 @ 10:15am

937 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Mission 82 - The Aggressor
Location: Counselor Delair's quarters, USS Durga
Timeline: Immediately after "Tea and Conversation"

ON:

Anandra had just beamed up to the ship after tea with Brody, her mind reeling with the events of the afternoon, as well as her concerns over whom it was that was contacting her with the urgent personal message that cut the evening short. She rushed directly to her quarters, commanding the computer to turn on the lights as she breezed through the door and headed directly for the comm console at her desk. "Computer, display incoming transmission." The computer chirped in response and at the same moment the screen lit up and a familiar face appeared before her. Anan was instantly relieved.

"Dax, how are you?" she asked, beaming at his image on the screen. Daxod (or 'Dax' as Anan affectionately called him), was an old friend whom she'd met on Risa. He was the Reg Barclay to her Deanna Troi; except he was Andorian, moody, and prone to hypochondria and bouts of paranoia. They kept in touch fairly regularly, with Dax contacting her most often, usually when he had some kind of problem and needed help bailing out of it.

"I'm fine." he said with poise, but Anandra knew him very well and she could tell he was boiling inside. She gave him a look that suggested as much, and he responded in irritation.

"Well if you're expecting to hear 'I'm absolutely wonderful' I am afraid that is far too much to ask."

She sighed in a manner that suggested her friend was 'impossible'. "What is it, Dax?"

"I can't stand another moment on this fetid cesspool of a planet!!" He burst out, his tone clearly demonstrating an agitation about him. 'How quickly the pot boils over,' she thought, smiling affectionately.

"Relax and tell me what's wrong." Anan insisted, though she suspected she already knew, as the issue had been cropping up repeatedly over the course of the last six or so comms between them. "Is it about Mela?" Mela was Dax's girlfriend of sorts, a Bajoran whom he'd been involved with for at least a few years.

"She has been spending practically -every- free moment with that...that Vulcan!!" he was outraged. Anandra worked to diffuse him.

"Didn't you tell me you convinced her to take up meditation?"

"It's not just meditation - they're playing music, engaging in horticulture--" From the sound of his tone, horticulture was a disgusting and shameful activity. Anan couldn't help but laugh a little.

"Come on, Dax. You're being ridiculous, she's simply trying new things..you should be encouraging her!"

He seemed to mull over the suggestion of encouragement for a moment, then scoffed, his frustration reappearing. "I don't like it, I don't trust him one bit..so arrogant, and - all that time alone together, he's probably trying to sink his claws into her as we speak."

"Daxod! Claws?!" she was bemused by his absurdly negative outlook, yet empathetic of his mental position. "He's not a mugato, don't be so horrible." she hesitated briefly, ultimately unable to resist trying for a laugh..or at least a smile, with a reference to an old running joke between them. "Besides, Vulcans don't have sex." When that garnered little more than a 'hmph', Anan knew their usual playful banter wouldn't work this time. "Listen, you know she's been looking for new ways to occupy her time since she made the official move to Risa. Which she did to be with you, by the way - she sacrificed a lot because she loves you. Why would she throw all that away now?"

Dax seemed to ponder this. Anan pushed onward. "If you're really so worried about her relationship with S'Kel, why don't you spend some time together with the both of them? I see no reason why you couldn't meditate, or play music with them." His expression was skeptical. "Or barring that, just have him over for dinner once - you may find that you and he have a lot to talk about, you may even become friends."

Dax scoffed. "Friends with a Vulcan, of all the.."

Anandra's expression turned to one of annoyance. "You are not flattering yourself right now." she scolded. "I -know- you're better than this, Dax." she implored him. "Just give him a chance."

He seemed to ponder for a moment, his expression becoming less hard. "Dinner?" he said.

Anandra smiled. "Dinner. I'm sure Mela will be thrilled by the suggestion."

"And if you're wrong?"

"If I'm wrong?" Anan paused to think of an analogy that would clarify just how certain she was that she would not be wrong. "If I'm wrong, I'll resign my commission."

Dax smiled slightly and his tension seemed to dissolve. "So that's it then, just like that you're going to shrink my head back into the realm of reality..and, ironically, logic?"

"Mhm." she nodded, flashing a huge victory grin. "And for my next trick - prepare to be amazed - I am going to have a sonic shower and get some sleep."

"I don't know how you survive around all that excitement." Said Dax in a sardonic tone. "But as long as I have you here I'm not letting you go without an update on you - and no skimping, I expect all the lurid details. Have you finally thrown your baggage out the airlock and found yourself a man?" he teased.

"I was not aware I needed one."

"Liar." he shot back.

Anan smiled coyly at her dear friend. "Goodbye Dax."

"Anan." the Andorian nodded in conciliation (it was usually his way of saying 'goodbye'). She noted the familiar smile in his eyes as he ended the transmission.

OFF.

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