Order to Chaos

Posted on Sun Oct 20th, 2024 @ 8:29pm by Lieutenant Fang Lee & Lieutenant Lanna Alexander

1,014 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Location: Main Engineering | USS Arcadia
Timeline: Just Prior to Arrival at Base # 2

OOC: This is a back post

ON:

Fang watched the doctor leave and then he sighed knowing that the counselor would have a lot of questions. He rubbed the bridge of his nose feeling a sudden headache coming on.

"Not my finest hour." He said by way of start.

“Nope definitely not” Lanna offered a warm smile as she tried to lighten the mood. “So tell me all about it.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose a little. "Well to shorten a long story. Zai was in sickbay as you know, with him an Ito both...taking unnecessary risks and putting themselves there we were down hands in Engineering. I needed paperwork help and Rogers offered to help. I finished the protest letter for Ito and her actions and the reprimand on Zai's file for ignoring safety regulations. She was supposed to file the letter and then call Zai for a conversation so I could explain to him what's in the letter and let him know that he needed to take a few day suspension."

He sighed again. "She changed the letter to sound harsh and overly critical and sent it to him." Fang shrugged. "Zai was hurt and angry and he confronted me, touched on a few sore spots and we had an argument. That is the short version."

Lanna frowned. “That is a serious infraction for Rogers, I doubt she’ll be high on anyone’s list for a while. In-fact I’ll be recommending to Starfleet that wherever she ends up, she attends regular counselling sessions to sort out her behaviour.” She sighed. “As for Zai that certainly didn’t help matters, and I understand now why you’re so upset.”

He sighed. "It's not all her fault. I found out that my mother contacted her to try and set me up and encouraged her to not worry about Zai to just push him aside and try to get close me. My mother has a thing about me getting married. she tried to set me up with Adrianna too." He sighed. "So it's not all Rogers." He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes a moment.

"You know my mother has never liked Zai. I can't quite understand why but she was nice enough to him but always encouraged me to distance myself. "

Lanna shrugged her shoulders. “It’s odd, but some mothers are that way. Maybe she saw something in Zai that she didn’t like? Has she mentioned anything to you? Either that or she’s being the eternal overprotective mother.”

"I honestly don't know. I have told both my parents that I wish to take a break and not speak to either of them. I just...need a break." He looked at her. "Not the most ideal is it?"

“Not really” Lanna shook her head. “However, you need your space and I’m sure your parents will come to understand that. Just try not to leave them hanging for too long, even if you just send them a brief message every now and again.”

He smiled a bit. "This is by no means a long term thing. I just need to clear my mind and things with Zai are...not good. I have to figure out how to fix them." He sighed. "Then there is another person who...brought Zai to my attention who told me to be more cautious around him and now that's got my mind going in so many directions. I've known him since the Academy. He's saved my life so many times what is it that people see that I don't." He looked at Alexander. "Do you think he's hiding something from me?"

Lanna paused, she couldn’t betray Zai’s confidence. “That’s not something I can say Fang. You know how private a person Zai is. Maybe the two of you should just sit down together and talk things through.”

"Yes but this ... incident is going to make it tougher. Zai is ... one to hold a grudge. I don't even know how to approach him which is saying a lot with the many years of friendship between us." He studied her. "Let me put this another way. Do you sense anything malicious around Zai?"

“Malicious?” Lanna shook her head. “Certainly not, I’ve felt anger before now, mixed emotions, but nothing I’d call malicious.”

He sighed. "I thought so, honestly I was staring to doubt my sanity. So many people have been telling me to be careful but my gut...told me different I just needed someone to confirm this." He leaned back. "All this is rather exhausting. I can't wait until we get to Starbase. I think I need a few days."

Lanna nodded. “I would suggest you take a break, it would do both of you some good. Zai needs to clear his head as much as you need to clear yours. Perhaps then we can all sit down together and talk things through.”

He laughed. "Oh boy, like couples therapy? Don't let Zai hear you say that. He'll take offense to us being called a couple as he’s always done."

Lanna grinned. “The two of you have a wonderful friendship, but the air does need clearing in that respect I think. Maybe the line between friendship and something more personal is becoming blurred between you.”

He waved a hand. "I doubt it. I think it's just a deep friendship." He sighed. "Well then, I better get to work." He looked over at her. "Thanks for your time counselor."

He sat back. "Please keep an eye on Zai for me. I just wish to know he's okay."

Lanna nodded. “That I can do” She stood ready to leave. “I’ll keep you updated.”

“Thanks counselor.” He sighed as he watched her leave. Figuring he’d get some work done Fang turned to computer monitor. The bios of the three new Engineers were coming through and as he saw the faces and names he smiled. “Well… there goes the ship.” He approved them on sight.

OFF:

 

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