Well that's a change

Posted on Sun Oct 4th, 2026 @ 9:40pm by Lieutenant Lanna Alexander & Lieutenant Delix & Lieutenant JG Aiden Poe

1,623 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Echoes in the Triangle
Location: Mess Hall

ON:

Poe sat in the mess hall waiting for the Counselor. She had invited him for lunch. Today the lip bruise looked worse than yesterday but the sickbay people said it was okay.

He was tired. He didn't sleep the last couple of nights and had had a long meeting with the Science Department. It was productive but long. He had been grateful for the coffee.

Lanna walked into the mess hall wishing she could tell Poe about the visit she had from Zai, but he had asked her to keep it a secret. Now she understood Poe’s importance she had to get him, Del, and Sabastian together. “Hello Aidan” She smiled warmly.

He grinned. "Hi. Sorry I look a little worse today but the Doctor said the bruise will get worse before it gets better." He stood up. "Why don't you sit and I'll get our food. Is there something special you would like?"

“Ohh err…I’ll have the Vulcan salad special with a chilled water please Aidan.” Lanna smiled warmly as she took a seat.

Aiden soon returned with the food and gently set it down in front of the Counselor. He was a bit curious as to why the woman invited him to lunch. When he sat down he looked at her. "Counselor can I ask you something?"

“Thank you, and by all means” Lanna nodded as she picked up her water and took a few sips.

"Um...not many people ask me for lunch..." He looked nervous. "Did I do something wrong?"

“Heavens no!” Lanna smiled warmly. “I just thought you’d appreciate getting out of your quarters, and enjoy some time having lunch with a friend. I normally either sit in my office, or meet Jarin if he’s available.”

"Oh..." He paused. "Nobody's ever invited me for lunch except the people I rented the room from on Earth."

Lanna smiled. “Well now they have, I thought it’d be a nice change of scenery. How are things going now? Any problems?”

"Not so far. Like I said I went to the med bay...I wasn't going to but that big Neanderthal made an appointment for me and threatened to drag me drag me there himself."

Lanna smiled. “That’s because he cares about you. Delix isn’t so bad once you get to know him. Why don’t you give him the benefit of the doubt? After all that would be an extra friend, and you could see Sabastian as well.”

He snorted. "I like my explanation better. He was possessed by some weird nice spirit temporarily."

Before he could go on one of the Engineers, an Ensign walked up. "UM...sorry to interrupt but..."

Poe flinched. It was the Engineer that pushed him the other day.

The Engineer looked at the Counselor. "Sorry to interrupt but I wanted to apologize to Poe." He turned to Poe, "I...um... I'm sorry I pushed you. I didn't foresee you would get hurt." He looked up across the room where Del stood against a wall his arms crossed a snarl on his face, he had clearly had words with the Ensign.

Lanna turned around to look offering a smile as she looked towards Delix, before turning back to Poe. “I’m sure it’s appreciated Ensign, but I think we need to have a talk later. Please drop by my office when you have a break in your shift.” She looked towards Poe waiting for him to acknowledge the Ensign.

"Um..." Poe started. "Okay. I..." Before he could finish Del's arm slung around the Ensign who flinched.

"Ensign you said you wanted to apologize, it's taking a while."

"Um...I just said sorry to Poe. I will see the counselor later to talk with her about my...behaviour."

Del have a nod. "Good, good. BUT Poe is not how you address him. You, for now, are wearing Ensign pips my engineer friend. He is wearing what?"

"Lieutenant pips sir."

"Excellent so do you see your mistake?"

The Ensign who was sweating now nodded. "Y...yes sir. So...sorry sir. Lieutenant Poe I'm really sorry, it won't happen again....Sir."

Poe looked at the Ensign and Del with wide eyes. "Um....great. Thanks. You can go."

The Ensign all but ran out the mess hall.

“Exactly what did you threaten the Ensign with Delix?” Lanna asked as she gave Delix a curious look.

"I did nothing. I just pointed out the error of his ways." He looked over at Poe and grimaced at the bruise on his lip. "Why is that not gone?"

Poe rolled his eyes. "It's fine the doc said it will get worse before it gets better. Seriously he was scared of you!"

Del's curiosity was clear as he regarded Poe. "He hurt you. I merely showed him the error of his ways in a fitting manner."

"Oh and how is that?" Poe shot back.

Del shrugged. "A bully needs a bigger bully to see the light. Besides he still hasn't learned that he'll be cleaning the poop shoots for weeks, he's on special loan to Ops."

Poe looked horrified. "Delix! You can't that poor man!"

Del was genuinely intrigued at how Poe could feel for a man who caused him trouble. He sat down staring at Poe. He was fascinated by him.

“I think becoming a bully to sort a bully is somewhat over the top Delix” Lanna added. “Saying that it appears to have worked. I’ll be reminding him of the chain of command when I see him for his session.”

Del turned to the counselor. "Meh, I used to work for the Orions I know how to handle trouble. He won't make a mistake again."

Poe's eyes widened. "You worked for the Orions..."

"Another life little science bug. I should go. Sabastian and his Gods awful meetings." He gave Lanna a nod once he stood and tapped Poe's nose lightly. "Stay out of trouble Firefly." He turned and walked away leaving Poe more confused then ever.

"What is his problem? Counselor do you think he's having a breakdown?"

Lanna shook her head. “No, he’s just becoming fond of you, I suggest you get used to it.” She grinned as she politely tucked into her food. Good job it wasn’t a hot meal or it would be cold by now.

He looked after Del. "That man fond of something or someone. Never!" But there was a curiosity in Poe. The nose tap..."I'm not a human...or er...Denobulan expert but what did that mean....the nose thing it's the second time he's done it...well third."

“It’s something people do when they like someone, kind of a find gesture.” Lanna smiled. “He obviously thinks that you’re sweet. At least that’s how I’d see it. Don’t let it scare you away though, it’s your chance to grab life by the horns and go with it.”

"Well I don't like him." He turned to his salad. Although he wondered if there was a kind side to Del. Everything he'd done was kind. "At least he stopped calling me worm boy."

Lanna rolled her eyes when Poe wasn’t looking. “Aidan don’t be so quick to judge, admittedly Del did judge you which wasn’t fair. You need to give one another a chance. You do want to be able to spend time with Sabastian don’t you?”

"Ugh. Why must he be the gatekeeper for that."

“He’s not a gatekeeper” Lanna added. “He loves Sabastian, he’s protective is all. Give him a chance Aidan, please.”

He sighed. "Just once I want to say no. I seem to give everyone a chance and it's like I have to earn a chance before anyone considers it," he said lowering his head. It was clear that Aiden had been hurt a lot in life.

“All I’m asking is that you try” Lanna gave him a caring look. “I know it’s difficult Aidan, but you don’t want to be all alone do you?”

He shrugged. "I've been all alone all my life. Honestly I think I may just be...unlovable."

Lanna shook her head. “Now you listen to me Aidan, you are NOT unlovable. You are your own worst enemy though. Try actually giving yourself a chance and you’ll be surprised.”

"My family said I was...I was just a freak to them."

“They shouldn’t have called you that, it’s their loss if they can’t see the person you are. Don’t let them bring you down, show them that they’re wrong.”

He shrugged. "It's not easy."

Lanna nodded. “I know it isn’t, but it’s all a part of you learning to move on. To become the person you’re meant to be.”

He smiled sadly. "I had to become the person I was meant to be early on in life. I left home when I was young. went to school daily on my own forged for my own since....I don't know I think i was 14 when I left home. So I've had to be grown up all my life but failing at it."

“Well you’ve come a long way Aidan, through the Academy, now you’re here. It’s your chance to start fresh here, don’t push people away.” Lanna added.

"Can I ask you for a favour?"

“Always” Lanna nodded giving Aidan a curious look.

"Since I'm not so welcome in Engineering will you meet me there an hour after we finish lunch?"

“Of course I will” Lanna nodded fortunately she didn’t have any immediate appointments straight after lunch.

OFF:

 

RSS Feed