Temporary Truce - Part II - Next Steps

Posted on Fri Oct 18th, 2024 @ 10:18pm by Lieutenant JG Zai & Lieutenant Lanna Alexander

1,017 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Location: Zai's Quarters | USS Arcadia
Timeline: Just prior to arrival at Starbase #2

Previously On Temporary Truce...

Many Years Ago on Capella.....

The moonlight was bright tonight. The orb of light seemed bigger and brighter then any other and it was right, the Festival of Hosts was tonight. A night when the souls of the dead visited family to bless them and those left in this world honoured those gone before.

Fifth Prince Xingtian of the eleventh tribe sat on the cliff dangling his legs over and watching the moon. His mind was on his family, did they miss him? He'd been gone a year now, living in the forest with an unlikely ally Ainar of Capella Seventh Prince of the first tribe. The son of the mighty Tier and the person who was fast becoming as necessary as air to Xingtian.

"I thought I would find you here Little Moon."

Xingtian didn't turn around. He just smiled. "I thought I was the sun."

Ainar laughed. "You're both. Sunshine and moonlight but I say Little Moon because you are my light in the darkness." Ainar sat down beside Xingtian who gently laid his head on Ainar's shoulder.

"I like that name."

Ainar smiled and pressed his cheek to the head on his shoulder. "Then that is your name. Little Moon."


He snapped back to reality with a jolt. "No," he said as he sipped his water and took a moment. "I did not choose that name. It was chosen for me a long time ago on Capella. It's one that reminds me how bitter and sweet the clouds of life can be."

Before she could respond the door chimed.

And Now, The Conclusion....



They both looked up as the door chimed. Zai sighed looking over at his guest and he briefly closed his eyes. He could sense the energy. "That would be the counselor." He stood up and headed to the door. Pressing the release it opened to show him he'd been right about who was standing there. "Counselor. Please come in. Join Ms. Rogers and me."

Lanna had sensed that Zai wasn’t alone from outside the door, little did she know that Rogers was inside. Stepping inside she gave the other woman a stern look. “I don’t think you should be here Ms. Rogers, I believe you’ve been given your orders.” She looked to Zai. “I’m afraid Ms. Rogers has been ordered to leave the ship.”

"Oh she told me. She's been telling me a lot."

Rogers chimed in, "I told him about changing the letter and sending it when the Lieutenant wished to speak with him in person."

Zai snorted. "And Lee Fang's mother encouraging her to seek out a relationship with him."

Rogers sighed. "I took it a bit... overboard."

Zai pulled out the chair he'd just vacated. "Have a seat counselor. What are you drinking?"

Lanna walked across to the seat and sat down. “A lemonade please Zai, thank you.” She looked at Rogers. “You took it very overboard Miss Rogers, you did more harm than good.”

Rogers lowered her head and sighed. "I know."

Zai brought back a lemonade and just because he'd sensed Rogers' want of it too when the counselor asked for it he placed one in front of her.

She looked up. "No bread and water?"

He smiled a little. "You've been through enough. Besides took guts to tell me the truth." He looked at Lanna. "She came here to unburden her soul about her actions."

“Okay” Lanna nodded. “That’s a good start, honesty is the best policy as the saying goes. Question is what happens from here?”

"Well, I get off the ship." Rogers said. "Try to find another placement and we'll see from there."

Zai gave a nod. "I know a ship looking for a good engineer. Despite your villain vibes you are a good engineer. So I’ll put in a word." When he saw Rogers' face he laughed. "A good word."

He then turned to the counselor. "As for Lee Fang, as I told Rogers I doubted he wrote the letter anyway but there has been a lot building in our dynamic so to your question counselor, I don't know what happens from here. A lot of it is based on Lee Fang himself. I am not ready to speak with him in a civil manner."

Lanna nodded. “I can understand that, but at the same time I don’t want to see your friendship in ruins either.” She paused. “Fang is worried about you Zai.”

He sighed. "I know but there is a lot to unpack in our history. A lot of trust issues that have yet to be ironed out." He shrugged. "Maybe when things calm down we'll sit down and talk it out fully until then...well it's professional all the way." Zai was still angry at Fang for a lot and he wanted answers. This little event had brought to his mind how much he'd let himself get comfy and how much he'd forgotten the reason he wanted to get close to Fang for. There were questions that needed answering and he would get to them. He looked at Rogers. "Well Ms. Rogers. Are we done here?"

She drank the last drops in her glass and nodded. "I have some packing to do."

He saw her out and then turned to the counselor. "Well then. She's finally gone and I am guessing you have some stuff to say to me now that she's gone."

Lanna offered a smile. “I could talk about things until I’m blue in the face, but we both know that you and Fang need time to sort this situation. I don’t want to see the two of you arguing and not getting along, what you have, your friendship, is important.”

He sighed as he sat down refilling both their glasses. "I get it but right now...we need some space. It's hard to forget things when you're so close."

His mind was in turmoil but the temporary truce with Rogers brought him a sense of peace.

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