The Problem Child

Posted on Thu Sep 3rd, 2026 @ 1:12am by Lieutenant Commander Sabastian Walker & Lieutenant Commander Elyse White & Lieutenant Tholos Th'Keal

2,058 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Blade of Deceit

ON:

Tholos knew that white would be hunting him down after the earlier antics in the transporter room. He was in engineering now finishing a few things before Delix took over as Temporary Chief. Tholos would then take his place as Assistant Chief until Walker woke up. He sensed her before he saw her. He lifted his head and smiled. "Elyse."

Elyse had not wanted to particularly check in on Tholos, having still felt the sting from the a few nights prior, but she had a job to do. "I'm here in the capacity of 'Lieutenant Commander White'," Elyse stated, "I think you know why."

He sighed. "The whole thing with Delix this morning. I kind of knew you would make your way down here. Thanks for...backing me up."

Elyse nodded, "you're welcome. I don't know much about him other than his file. But a file doesn't tell you the whole story. You, however, can enlighten me I will ask bluntly, Th'Kael: is he going to be a problem here?"

He sighed. "Complicated answer. If Sabastian wakes up...probably not if he doesn't...I'd get some industrial sized tranks and roll him off the ship." He rubbed the bridge of his nose clearly tired. "Look Del is... a good Engineer. Hell he's better then Walker, even walker would tell you that. His record will tell you that he's great but there is a long story a long... ass story that I am not fully in the know about when it comes to Walker and Del but I know some things and I will tell you what I know. Eli knows more. If I were you I would get her to the Cappy's office and get her to speak. Normally she'll tell you nothing but she loves Poe like a son and when she figures out that Del is .... a bit of a maybe danger to him she'll sing like a cannery."

Elyse listened and was silent for a moment, "I don't do cryptic, Th'Kael. Give me the damn spark notes. Will I have a problem on board this ship?"

"Not to anyone but Poe. Poe looks like Zai and Delix hates Zai. I mean granted he's the only one who called Zai's nature when we all thought he was a peach but. No he'll do the job but talk to Poe and keep him out of Del's way until we can um.... prepare him for Poe."

Elyse rubbed the bridge of her nose, frustrated, "and when it comes to you? He seemed to have an issue with you specifically."

"We were all in the academy together. He intimidates me like crazy but that's just because he's huge and scary. I mean he's huge. Anyway we'll be fine in engineering." He sighed. "I have a meeting with him in an hour I'm guessing he's in sickbay now. There is no way he doesn't go to see Walker."

Elyse's stern look faltered. And she snorted with amusement. "Gawd, the bigger they are the harder they fall. Men like him were the easiest to break in interrogation training. Gawd. Seriously? Wow. Here's me thinking you screwed up in his eyes or something. Wow. Ok." She shook her head, "I'll go find Poe. Need anything else?"

"Yeah there is something but keep in mind...I don't know the full story." He took her arm steering her to the side. "Eli knows the story but she won't say anything to anyone. Not even me and she's one of my best friends. When we were at the academy...I overheard Walker talking to Del one night. Just before Del came into the Academy. He promised Del that he would help him sever his ties with um... the Orions. I swear that's all I know. Eli helped Walker with this. I do know that Del is loyal and he's been loyal to Starfleet and the ship. There is only one person he has more loyalty to and that person is in sickbay."

Elyse didn't like being touched. When Tholos put his hand on her in such a manner, she flinched and attempted to pull away. Their night together had been the exception to the rule but now it was over the line. "Thol!" She yanked her arm away, almost in a panic. She tried to not allow it to show, doing everything in her power to calm down to listen to what he had to say but it was clear that her mind was running at a million miles an hour. Eventually, having tried to listen, she stuttered, "a-a-alright, I'll k-keep it in m-m-m-m-mind if things start g-going south. But until then, w-w-we have to assume that he is as any p-person is on this sh-ship."

Thol sighed. "Geeze I'm sorry Elyse. I just...I needed to take us to a quieter spot so nobody overhears. I know people will judge but you won't. I didn't mean to upset you again."

Elyse out her hands on her hips and hung her head a little, calming down. After a moment she shook her head and waved him off, "it's fine. You don't know me that well. I'm fine. Just-- just caught a little off guard. Sorry. Next time just tell me a conversation needs to be had elsewhere. Don't grab me-- not like this." Her shoulders seemed to drop in disappointment with herself, a true insight into just how human she truly was. After a few moments, she looked up at him, but not quite meeting his eyes, "and 'again'? Let's consider this a second time for upsetting me professionally, hm? Let's not even discuss why I'm upset at you personally. I need sanity in my mind right now."

He flushed. "Elyse I..."

Before he could say anything. Eli came around the corner. She smiled. "Commander White! Welcome to the mad house."

Elyse had never been so relieved to be interrupted. She looked over and smiled at Eli, "thank you. I hear engineering is full of... Quirky persons, in the best way, of course. Please don't break anything in my quarters." Elyse chuckled softly as if nothing was wrong, turning her attention completely to Eli, "do you have a moment to discuss... Your new work colleague."

She laughed. "Quirky is putting it mildly. Sure thing." She looked at Thol. "You good?"

He sighed. "Yeah. I should go get the hand over done."

"He's still in the bay. When he said one hour he meant it. You know Del does nothing early or late. It's on the dot."

Thol sighed. "Sure." Thol bid farewell to Elyse and left. Eli motioned. "Let's go to the small conference room. Well stocked with coffee and it's private."

Elyse didn't even look at Tholos, although her gaze did falter to the floor when he sighed and left. Quickly recovering to save face, she nodded and followed Eli. "If anyone asks, you asked to see me regarding a private matter regarding lower deckers," Elyse said as the door shut behind her. If Delix was going to be an issue, Elyse would ensure anyone who had something to say could do so without repercussions, "go ahead, Eli."

"Sure."

They came into the room and Eli handed her a hot chocolate smiling. "Thol mentioned that you are not too much of a coffee person." She poured herself a coffee and sat down. "So what's up?"

Elyse looked down at the hot chocolate, a thought running through her mind, but she cleared her throat, "outside of work hours, he is correct. But today is most definitely a coffee day. I'll drink it though, maybe the sugar rush and serotonin from the chocolate will help this mood."

Elyse sighed, "anyway, Delix has not particularly made the best of first impressions. Th'Keal seems to think you may have 'clearer opinions on the matter. I only know what I see in his file. That doesn't paint the full picture. I need an honest response: is he going to be a problem on this ship or to anyone in particular on board? If so, I need a why-- not rumour, fact."

She sighed. "I don't know how to answer that. I don't think he'll be a problem on the ship. Del's a great guy. Genius. Even the boss would tell you he's worth an entire ship of engineers and not overly ambitious just likes fixing things. He may...be a bit rough on Poe cause Poe is a lot like Zai and he hated Zai. We all should have listened in hind sight but..." She shrugged. "Del doesn't hold grudges so I'm sure its water under the bridge. He won't hurt him just probably be rude as hell." She smiled. "Del's a lover, not a fighter. He was that way even when he worked for the Orions."

Elyse listened and sipped her drink. She was silent, processing what had been said for a long while before finally nodding, "alright, I'll talk to Poe, but if things get out of hand, come find me. Whatever it is, I'll ensure that you won't be in trouble for whistleblowing. Gawd knows, myself and Baciami are the same in that respect: protective sources."

She smiled. "Not to worry." She sighed and ran a hand down her face. "This will be interesting. Poe is falling for the boss, the boss for him, Del is, from what I see, still deeply in love with the boss. I swear I feel like I'm in one of those alphabet drama things Poe is always on about."

"Firstly, even K-dramas aren't this complicated," Elyse chuckled softly, "but I must admit, this ship seems to be a magnet for relationship drama, especially where engineers are involved."

She snorted. "You have no idea."

"Nope, I think I have a vague understanding as I'm finding myself in a position that involves some of you," Elyse sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose as if to relieve some frustration. She sipped her hot chocolate and sighed, "right, well, I'll go speak with Poe and then leave you to the walking HR violation."

She snorted. "Ohhh new nickname. Don't tell him that though. He's crazy enough to have a name tag that says that."

"At least with a name tag, people will know from a distance," Elyse replied. She went to turn to leave, placing the half drunk mug to be recycled, "hey, umm, quick question-- personal question-- Tholos talk about me a lot?"

She laughed. "With pretty much every breath. Boss said, before all this, that if you didn't get together he'd lock you in a turbo lift until you did."

Elyse blushed a little, "what about since the day after Sabastian was 'killed'?"

She smiled. "Mostly muttering to himself that he was an idiot and that you'd never forgive him. I take it he did something stupid." She sighed. "He's not the brightest bulb in the shed. Give him some slack eh?"

"Normally if you screw up, you attempt to fix things, or you try and figure out if it is something that could be forgiven instead of assuming," Elyse sighed, "not avoid someone to the Nth degree. I'm not the one who needs to give him some slack. But yes, he did screw up and it hurt more than I thought it would, but the longer he doesn't get a grip, the worse he's making it." Elyse sighed and tightened her ponytail, "perhaps if Walker wakes up, being trapped in a turbo lift may be good for him."

"Known Tolly a long time. He's been through a lot. He's in his processing phase and he's really awkward. Give him some time. He needs to puzzle it out. Come to terms that he deserves forgiveness not hate. He'll come around. If not Momma Eli will knock him straight."

"It's fine," Elyse waved her off, "not really sure it's worth nudging him. Maybe he was right and things were too quick. I'm not going to flog a dead horse, so to speak. Leave it be. I'll just continue ensuring professional lines aren't crossed if I need him."

"Ahhh you young people always take the hard road."

"It's not a hard road," Elyse quipped, "it's a dead end until someone takes the signage away." With that Elyse left.

OFF:

Lieutenant Tholos Th'Keal
Engineering Officer

&

Lieutenant Commander Elyse White
Chief Communications Officer

 

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