Information Hoarders

Posted on Fri Oct 18th, 2024 @ 1:01pm by Lieutenant JG Zai & Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami

1,217 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Location: Mess Hall | USS Arcadia
Timeline: After Arrival at Starbase - Present day

ON:

Zai was a pretty "in the know" guy. He knew a lot of things and sometimes he kept quiet, sometimes he dropped hints. It was time he had a little chat with a certain Coms officer. He found her in the mess hall and it was full so he walked up to the table with his tray and tea. "Mind if I sit?"

He sat before she agreed.

Adrianna looked up from a PaDD she was mulling over, "si, sit." She looked around seeing next to no seat free and assumed it was just a pleasantry, so went back to her PaDD as she ate. The chaos of a busy mess hall oddly helped her think-- so much better than being in a silent room, though the food probably helped too.

"So....we're friends right?" Zai began as he dug into his meal.

Adrianna didn't even look up from her PaDD, "if this is about the Fang-- I was doing my duty as an officer and as a pseudo sister." The response was almost flat and rehearsed.

"Yes well telling my friend to change his codes is okay. I'm not worried I would have done the same." He said and then paused.

Adrianna finally looked up from her PaDD, "What is it that you feel requires a set up of 'we're friends, right?'?"

"Warning my best friend that I'm up to no good. Is there any proof of that?" He smiled. "No it wasn't actually up to no good. You implied I had a hidden agenda."

She sighed, "what do you want?"

"Nothing. Just didn't think that was very friendly of you. Oh and you boy toy messing with my Engineers is not appreciated. Fang won't say anything but I will." He smiled. He looked at her. "If one of my Engineers is hurt I may have to point them in your boyfriends direction."

"I did what I thought was best for my brother-- I merely pointed something obvious out to him. I was clear in saying that I had no proof. That is what any sister or friend would do. Even you have to admit that your fated story seems all too convenient. Don't be so naïve," she almost hissed before placing her PaDD down, "you want to make threats, be sure that you can back them up, because as far as I saw, your engineer was in the wrong place at the wrong time on several occasions and even tracked down a member of staff outside of their shift, just to tell them something that could have waited."

She then leaned forward a little, lowering her voice, her eyes darkening, but her tone even and unwavering, "if you want to try threatening me, I suggest you write a will and fottuti testament. I've killed for less."

"I will look into my engineer's actions more. Now then I do know what you are capable of. As for Fang and I fate is fate." He kept her gaze. "That last bit I know too. But I thought you would have used the chance you were given all those years ago."

"What are you on about," she raised a brow, genuinely confused, sitting back a little.

"You should know, better then anyone that we all have secrets. Whether Fang and I are fated to follow one another is mine. You...you have your own too...I suppose. Sometimes these secrets are nothing more then bittersweet memories of love lost." He shrugged. "Or memories of betrayals that caused loves to be lost." He smiled. "I'm just saying. Its important to know the entire picture. We Engineers are a tight bunch we trust one another and when an outsider sows doubt...it's not good for the team spirit. Although I guess it's fair in a way. You warned Fang just as dutifully as I warned someone once that the person he loved was not what they seemed. But love is blind as they say."

"Say what you mean," Adrianna rolled her eyes, "I don't like to deal with cryptology outside of shift hours."

He smiled. "I like being the philosopher. But it's funny. You were granted a second chance." He stood up with his tray. "An honest life free from the past. Chief Coms officer, that's honest. What came before that... well I would have thought you'd learned that. Especially seeing an example of someone who gave everything for your second chance." He shrugged. "But I guess we all move on and forget our past loves. One asks was it really love if it was so easily forgotten." He shrugged. "Again your past is not mine to judge Ms. Reggimi." He shrugged. "Or was that Adams...but never got that far did it." He sighed. "Oh well. I should get back to work."

Adrianna reached up and grabbed his wrist, pulling him back down to the table, "I was prepared to give up everything for Vance. Everything. I had my resignation ready, but things went to merde. It took some time to get over him, and in truth, I'm not over it yet, but something like that could cost me my job. Whatever you think you know, you know nothing. I would do anything to bring Vance back, but I am no necromancer." She paused and softened a little, "what do you want?"

"Relax. I keep secrets Ms. Adri. Your secrets are not mine to tell and they are safe with me. Other wise I wouldn't have helped pull you out on Tripsis Four when you mysteriously had a clear path to safety just before your official switch to Coms officer. I made promises to a dear friend of mine too and your safety is one of them." He sighed. "That is my promise to you, that your secrets are safe with me. As for my secrets they are my own too. Sound good?"

She released his wrist, sitting back and mulling over what he had said. Adrianna didn't even bother with the response. She muttered something in Italian, a wound freshly reopened. Scooping up her tray and PaDD, she retreated, heading back to her quarters having lost her appetite.

"Oh before you go." Zai walked over to her. He studied her. "Can I say one further thing?"

"As I said I made promises but...ask yourself if what you told me is true. If you are ready to move forward and move on, do so but if not...I have no doubt you would make a great necromancer. That's all." He smiled and waved as he walked away to buss his tray.

Adrianna went a little pale. Was Vance alive? If he was, why didn't he reach out? Although, to be fair, maybe he came to his senses about her role in his downfalls. If he was alive, she had so much to talk to him about, so much to give back too. She had completely ransacked his place, ridding any trace of her, not to mention destroyed all of his physical journals.

Adrianna's hand went to her chest, a necklace that had the ring on hidden under her uniform. She felt the indentation of it, and then headed back to her quarters. She needed a minute. But also, she wanted to know for sure.

OFF:

 

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