Bad News

Posted on Tue Dec 30th, 2025 @ 3:03pm by Lieutenant Fang Lee & Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami

1,100 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Shore Leave - Starbase 1
Location: Baciami's Quarters
Timeline: Current

ON:

Fang pressed the chime on Adri and Vince's quarters. He sighed, he was tired, beyond exhausted but he had a job to do.

Adrianna groaned, "I swear, we are not permitted to have a date night, lately." Looking up from the sofa, she said, "enter." And sipped her wine. "Fang? Are you alright? She looked concerned seeing his tired eyes.

"Yeah. The engineers are just grating on me. Station has it's own ideas. Anyway I have...some news. Can we sit?"

"If my husband is adding to that frustration, I am sure that I can help," she playfully glared at Vance before gesturing for Fang to fit down in the armchair near the sofa the couple was sat on, "if this is work related, I would like to say that I am only half a glass in. Ergo, still sober, fratello." She pointed at the wine glass.

"Well for this first part no liquor is needed. Kelly and I are... in love. We're leaving the Arcadia to head to Andoria to build a home, a family, I hope."

Adrianna blinked. Fang had told her about a hook up but not about this. She nodded after a moment, "I wish you well." She couldn't help but feel a tonne of jealousy. Had date gone in their favour, her and Vance would have been retired in some planet somewhere and perhaps have had a family by now-- then again, she also would have been a fugitive and never would have seen her family again. Not allowing her thoughts to spiral she asked, "and the second?"

He took a breath. "Will require alcohol on both our parts and Vance too."

Vance stood. "I'll get the Grapa." He filled three glasses and brought them over. "What's going on?"

Fang took a drink. "You know how Zai and Sabastian went to Vulcan for their honeymoon and the second wedding with the Vulcan side of Sab's family?"

Adrianna picked up the glass and braced for whether it would be celebratory or otherwise. She nodded for him to continue.

"There was an accident...at a historical site. Zai jumped in to push a bunch of monks out of the way and...he got hurt. He spent the week in hospital and two days ago...he died."

Adrianna's heart sank. First her parents and now one of her best friends. She didn't drink the grappa. She stood up and wandered over to a vent, where she pulled out a bottle of something she'd confiscated from the lower deckers, knowing it would burn more than the grappa. She opened it and drank straight from the bottle. For the first time in a long time, the alcohol made her wince at the burn. "How is Sebastian?"

"The under estimated the strength of the bond. His Betazoid side ensured he wouldn't die with Zai...if he'd been human or even full Vulcan he would have died too based on the deep empathic link but...he's in hospital a couple more days before they are sure he's okay. He was on the brink...but he's awake, but...I can tell he's devastated."

Adrianna nodded, grimly and took another swing of the bottle. "This-- this is difficult news, Fang and ill-timed. Excuse me."

Vance watched her stand back up with the bottle and walk to their bedroom. "I assume with you being close, you heard about the recent Speight of misfortune for her. She'll be ok. Did you need her for anything else, I can calm her down and get her back."

Fang looked up. "What misfortune?"

"Have you not spoken to your parents? I thought they were close to the Baciami family," Vance looked confused but then he shook his head, "I promised her to keep it to myself. She doesn't want it to have her stripped of work and forced onto leave. She just wants to keep working."

"I will find out. I will meet Sabastian when he comes back. They are bringing Zai a few days later for a final goodbye." He shook his head his eyes misting over. "I was hoping you and Adri would come with me."

"I cannot speak for Adrianna. I may be too soon," Vance dropped his gaze before looking over at the bedroom door. He paused and then looked back at Fang, "I'll be there. I owe that man my life for killing the Klingons. If it weren't for him, I may never have found Adrianna again. I would have died being tortured by the Klingons."

"Okay. I'll send you the information once I know more. I know Sab is coming in first as soon as he's released from the hospital." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Do you want me to talk to Adri before I go?"

Vance thought about it for a moment, "right now, you're still in a position on this ship to step in and stop her from working. I suggest that you talk to your folks about what happened in the Baciami household. But I wouldn't talk to her about it if I were you. Gawd knows she is barely talking to me."

"Okay. I will let you handle it but tell her that I'm going to invite her to dinner tonight."

Vance nodded, "will do. Thanks for stopping by, Fang, and letting us know about Zai."

Fang gave a nod. "Vance...let me know if I can help with Adrianna. I'm heading to my parents so I'll know what's going on by end of day." He paused. "Also can you tell Giovanni...He and Sab got pretty close."

Vance nodded, "honestly, there's no helping her. She wants to handle this herself and keep working. So, I wouldn't even try unless you want your head bitten off. Trust me."

He grinned. "No I'm good." He stood. "Okay well I'm heading out to get a few things done. I'll check in on her later."

Vance nodded and smiled. He waited for Fang to leave before getting up and walking to where Adrianna was in their bedroom. Silently, he put his arms around her, his hand on the back of her head, holding him to his chest, "it's ok, dove."

"No it's not, amore mio," Adrianna muttered into his chest, "maybe I should take some leave. I can't deal with much else going wrong."

Vance sighed, "let's stick around for the funeral thing first though. After that, I'll double check my contract and see if I can take some time off to be with you too." Adrianna nodded in response, but otherwise, just held him, needing the comfort.

OFF:

 

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