The Odd Romulan Out Part 2

Posted on Mon May 13th, 2024 @ 9:16pm by Jaeih t'Dhar & Lieutenant Commander Ryssa Toric & Lieutenant Tristan Balor & Lieutenant JG Élan Val
Edited on on Mon May 13th, 2024 @ 9:16pm

2,128 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Upon Wings Anew

Previously

"Actually, Commanders, if I may offer my company I'd like to tag along with Commander t'Dhar. I can introduce her to Lieutenant Sato before I head back to my lab, since it's on the way," Élan spoke up. She had inched her way back towards the bulkhead wall when the conversation had turned unpleasant, mostly because she had encountered the security chief and his arrogance before and was in no mood or position to do so again unless absolutely necessary. Her past encounters had darkened her usually casually lighthearted mood when she was around certain officers, and knowing just how one bad encounter could ruin a decent day she wanted to try to ease the tension just a little.

"No... you won't." Tristan said, looking over to Elan with a cold look. As he turned to look at Commander Toric, the continues. "I will escort the Commander to her destination. It is, after all, my duty to provide safety for all officers in Uniform on board. Unless, of course..." He looked over to Jaeih. "That is another custom the Commander would like to set aside."

Now, the continuation

Despite the warning pulses she felt from Val, Élan bristled angrily and stepped forward, her eyes flashing with anger. "And just what do you mean by that?" the Trill snapped, her words coming out quick and with a biting tone she rarely ever used.

"Careful of your tone, Lieutenant." Tristan replied quickly and with a firm voice. He stood there quietly, staring at her, before replying. "My words were not remotely deceptive. I plan on escorting her to her destination. She has shown she has a hard time with Starfleet custom and protocol... so do I. On the way, I simply wish to converse with her about how she deals with being of a species not common to the Federation and Starfleet. Just like my own. A conversation, I feel, should clear up whatever tense that there is between us." He raised a brow slightly before adding in a calm tone. "Does my desire to better myself... offend you, Lieutenant?"

"Your manner offends me, Commander," Élan replied sharply, not backing down an inch despite the warnings she felt from Val and the fact that she was stepping far outside her usual comfort zone. "As well as it concerns me, as historically your manner of conversation has caused more tension with others than it has eased in my experience. To that end, I feel that any conversation between you and Commander t'Dhar should be witnessed by a neutral third party."

"If you have any evidence that I plan on harming the Commander, in any way, present it. If so, then I will honorably step down, because it is not in the nature of my race to be dishonorable or cause any harm to those who have done nothing to us!" Tristan replied quickly. "Is you intent to slander my name with false accusations without any proof behind them? You are aware, such an attempt, is a court martial offense in Starfleet?"

"If you think you can bring up any charges against me that will stand in any court before a Tribunal, then I invite you to try," Élan half snarled. "Because once again, you've twisted the words of someone else to suit yourself and justify your actions. I never accused you of making any attempt to harm Command t'Dhar. Perhaps you should visit sickbay, commander, if only to have a hearing test conducted on yourself."

"It is you who implied any 'conversation between you and Commander t'Dhar should be witnessed by a neutral third party', because your experience brought you to conclude that my intentions were not honorable. Which is not only an offense to a Dreq'an, but a challengeable offense in my culture. To do so would bring shame to my species and my house, as well as my family, which would counteract why I came to Starfleet to begin with, Lieutenant. My people are scattered without a homeworld any longer. I joined Starfleet in hopes to change that, instead our way has been met with clear hostility." He gestures to Elan. "You know nothing of my people. You know nothing of my intentions. And, further more Lieutenant, you know nothing of me." He took a step toward her and pointed to her. "Do not drag me down because you feel the need to bundle me in with everyone else you've had a bad experience with. Your words harm me more then any action you could take." He stared deep into her eyes, with a clear sign he was offend and also hurt by the position she put him in. "I have fought and bleed for my people, my culture, and to imply I would do anything to being them shame is a harmful accusation. I would sooner die before ever doing that."

"If I implied anything it's because your actions and words, both in the past and here and now, have led me to believe that you, either willingly or not, misinterpret the words and actions of others and are willing to twist actions and words of someone else to become something that justifies your actions," Élan growled, almost as surprised by the ferocity she was feeling as she knew Val was. "The cultural beliefs of your species, or my own, have nothing to do with my actions here today. Nor am I 'bundling you with anyone else I have had a bad experience with'. Instead, I draw my conclusions based on past experiences dealing with you personally. If my actions today have caused such offense that you feel the need to issue any form of a challenge, then, by all means, do so."

Almost instinctively Tristan placing his hand on the handle of his blade and tightened his grip. He stared into her eyes and took a step forward as he lifted the blade slightly from its sheath. However, he stopped himself, but his eyes never waivered. He eased his hand from the handle as he took a step back. He could cut her down, here and now, because his culture recognized her words as a challenge and, according to that, he was allowed to accept it. Starfleet and The Federation always made it a point to respect the culture and beliefs of its allied species and fellow officers, but he was beginning to believe, that wouldn't be the case here. Walking the line between his culture and the Federations rules was starting to take a toll on him. He was being attacked on all fronts, and the worst of it was, he could not fight back without being seen as the aggressor. The villain. Perhaps it was his strange appearance or the fact that he was in a room full of females of three species, but there was no way he could hold himself to his ways without breaking the one chance his people had to possibly become whole again. Tristan just stared intently at her and released a sigh.

'Furthering the universal rights of all sentient life.' He said softly as he looked away from Elan and focused on Commander Toric. "One of the mandates of the Federation, isn't it?" Tristan shook his head and soon scoffed before adding. "Not for the Dreq'an, I guess. We are not welcomed here because too many people believe they can decide how we think just by the look of us. Because they know our intention without being able to read our minds. To furthering the universal rights of all sentient life is starting to sound more and more hollow." He looked down and turned on his gloves, pulling them against his hand, before shaking his head again. "It's difficult to be the member of a house when they can't hold to their own ideals, just because you're different." He looked back up, to Val, and said softly. "If, in the past, I have offended you, in any way, I am sorry, Lieutenant." He looked over to Jaeih. "And you as well. I can't look at you without seeing the people who took away my home. For that... I am sorry." He walked off, going past the others and heading to the door of the transporter room. "Clearly, I have no place in this room..." As he doors opened and he walked through them, he added. "Or on this ship." Just as they closed.

"Lieutenant, I want to have a word with you. Now." Ryssa said before Tristan walked out the door.

Tristan stopped by the door and stood there, his arms crossed and head down, as he waited for the XO to address him.

She turned to the science officer. "And to you as well. Neither of you will escort our guest anywhere. She is officially a member of this crew and has gone through a basic Starfleet training course. If she wishes to take herself to sickbay, that is her right. Not yours." She looked from Tristan to Élan. "I am the senior officer here, remember? Your behavior here is deplorable. I will not tolerate it from either of you. You are both on report. I expect better from both of you and if you can't, I'm sure I can find extra duties to keep you busy. Do I make myself clear?"

Ryssa paused for a minute, still looking at the two officers. "That's all I have to say. Please, don't let this happen again."

Tristan remained quiet. His head down as he couldn't believe the fact that this Romulan was afforded more liberties and treat with such dignity after everything he had seen and heard her species had done. Not only to his people, but to the Federation as well. Of course, the Romulans he came to trust since being in Starfleet Intelligence were small but it didn't start out as smooth. One or two began far worse than this, but even his attempt to pull things back and apologize were met with anger that there was nothing left to do but give into his hatred and let go.

When Ryssa was done addressing him he left. Saying nothing and looking as fed up with all this as ever. Had he known bringing his people into this world would have been this difficult he would have stayed with them. At least, even there, things made more sense.

Jaeih had retreated quickly away from the two officers and quietly watched the exchange between the two. Wisely, she had decided to wait until the situation was under control before making her presence known once more.

Ryssa looked up at the Romulan. "I apologize for the welcome. We generally behave better than this. Feel free to head to sickbay as you like." It was an incredibly awkward welcome, and the captain would not be happy about it, but it was what it was.

"Well, it certainly was a bit more interesting of a welcome than I was expecting, I must say," Jaeih replied as she eased towards the first officer. "And I certainly must apologize if my presence was the cause of this... disturbance."

"If it was, it's not your fault," Ryssa assured her. "However, I have a feeling it was a simple personality clash combined with a misunderstanding. That's often how these types of arguments escalate."

Jaeih bowed her head in understanding. "In either case, please let me know if I am needed to offer any form of testimony," she said. "And if I may, I believe that I would much rather be on my way to sickbay at this time."

"Go. You're part of the crew now, and you're free to roam around the ship as you wish." Ryssa's smile was both friendly and apologetic. "I will let you know if the captain needs to talk to you. Otherwise, you're on your own."

"Oh, thank you Commander," Jaeih said, allowing some of the bright eagerness to return to her face. It was darkened somewhat due to the current mood but she wasn't about to wait around for anyone to change their mind. She offered the first officer a deep bow and quickly hurried towards the door, making good on the offer to be free.

Once Jaeih was gone, Ryssa turned to the two officers. "Now, you two. I need to report this to the captain before I get in trouble, too." Then she, too, left.

Élan said nothing, instead she simply hung her head and stepped out of the transporter room and into the corridor. After a brief moment, she turned and started off towards the science labs.

 

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