Part II - Interesting Lunch

Posted on Thu Jul 3rd, 2025 @ 12:14am by Lieutenant Xavier & Lieutenant Commander Yivliph Ra-Gruvloveii

1,977 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Preservation Instinct
Location: Station Riversong

ON:

Tolsen sighed. "Ah yes Gurulove, huh...what a great name." He waved his hand. "As for how he can help, both are introverts they need friends. I may send him a note asking him to keep an eye on them. They are both somewhat introverted although Tox, the nurse, he's a people person but still an introvert."

Eden sighed. "It's called Ambivert." She sipped her drink."

'I see, both need friends,' Yiv replied politely, not wanting to add that he, too, was at best an ambivert and looked forward to long recharges of his social battery. 'But you haven't yet introduced the pen pals to one another?'

He grinned. "Where would the romance be! They will come across one another and then they will fall in love!"

Eden shook her head. "Wonderful." She looked at Yivliph. "How about we finish dinner then the young man here can walk with me in the gardens?"

'A walk sounds quite lovely,' Yiv replied with a smile. Satisfied the admiral didn't have a typical view of Efrosian males. 'I'm sure there are a few gardens to see.'

Tolsen waved his hand. "They're flowers I never understood how people could be obsessed with them."

=/\= One Hour Later =/\=

Eden strolled with Yiv through the gardens. The silence had been companionable but she broke it in favour of an apology. "I am sorry about my husband. He is... a man on a mission."

'Some mission,' Yiv replied with a small smile. 'Interfering in officers' personal lives isn't something to do lightly.' Shaking his head, he concluded, 'the risk that it creates tension between key members of the crew is too great.'

She smiled. "Indeed it does and it comes from some selfish wants. Would you allow an old woman to tell you a story?"

'If I saw an old lady, I think I would,' Yiv flashed her a smile. He was enjoying Eden's company. 'But as it's just us two, you can go ahead and tell a story.'

She laughed. "Ah, that Efrosian charm." She smiled. "I have lived so long amongst your people some I forgot some of my people's customs...now let's see...how to start a story." She seemed to ponder it. "Ah, yes. A long time ago. this now, very old woman met the most charming Efrosion man. He was on Earth to attend the conference. They fell in love, both very young. She had just finished her time at the academy. They married a week into knowing one another and soon lived with his family, who rather disliked the young lady but, her husband would have none of it. They lived, they loved and soon a son was born. When the boy was about 18 there was a horrible accident and the boys father gave his life to save the woman he loved. She was then blamed for his passing and thrown out like trash. Her son, although he loved her, decided to stay with his father's family." She sighed.

Yiv's smile fell away as he heard the story, the mischief in his eyes dimming, going dormant. He took the liberty of putting an arm through Eden's and squeezing her hand in sympathy.

She smiled at Yiv. And patted his arm as she continued. It was not something she shared with many but somehow it was a moment of her feeling like she had her son back and a reminder of her home on the Efrosian planet. Maybe it was selfish but she would allow herself this.

Eden sighed, "Lonely, tired, and full of grief she returned home and just existed until she met a young a Captain her own age. They became fast friends. Loved one another but only as friends. He managed to bring a smile to the woman's face and a real zest for life that she'd forgot she had. He helped her through her grief by sharing his own. A love lost, a person he'd only met through letters and a holo screen while they collaborated from different planets. That young man, the one Captain Tolsen was in love with died. Sadly he'd never told the man he loved him and Tolsen's family... well they were not so happy that he loved this young man and ever the people pleaser her decided the only way to get them off his back was to marry his best friend. So the two friends, A Captain and a Botanist married. They were friends and loved one another dearly, but only as friends. Soon Tolsen's grief came back and to honour the memory of the love of his life he started an Exchange program remembering how much he loved getting letters from the person he loved. One day he met a young man whom he began to think of as a son. Someone who'd ... had a similar family upbringing but had been brave enough to leave. He encouraged the young man to join Starfleet and this program and then he found out that the young man was falling for someone across the stars." She paused letting the story sink in.

"Perhaps this explains why he choose to interfere in these particular officers' personal lives ."

'I suppose it does,' Yiv replied, looking up at the artificial sky for a moment. 'I'm just concerned for the two officers,' he said quietly as he broke the silence once more. 'Your husband means no harm, I know that. Not being able to live your authentic self is something I have no wish to experience.'

"Indeed. It was hard for him and I guess that he wants to see Xavier live his life and love freely and just be." She sighed. "I'm sorry if he's put you in an awkward position. I guess my comfort to you is that I know Xavier to be an excellent pilot and officer. The other officer involved I don't know very much. As for the concern I am too but life has a funny way of working out." She turned to study him. "Although that name GuruLove..." She laughed. "He's so clueless I swear it's endearing." She sighed.

"Now then, Yivliph. I'm officially adopting you so you can tell me a bit more about yourself as we enjoy the lovely flowers. I see you enjoying the gardens but there is some sadness to it too. I am a great listener in addition to being a person who talks a lot." She laughed.

'Well,' Yiv began as he looked at his feet, then back up at the landscape around them. 'It isn't as long or as involved as your husband's story.'

'We're recently returned from rescuing some scientists from a far-flung colony. A distress signal, so we sent a team, including our Chief Science Officer, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Counsellor to the surface to assist in the rescue. The shuttle was stranded, for a variety of reasons, and the crew were forced to shelter inside for an extended period of time.'

'We on the ship were unable to beam them out, or otherwise assist them due to an ion storm. So ... the Chief Science Officer has a breakdown, and is relieved of duty.' He smiled sadly, 'the Chief Science Officer, Percy, is a keen botanist, a wizard with plant life, and my fiancé. Unfortunately, it was decided he needed an ... extended break from ship-board duty.'

'So my partner has been sent to a psychiatric facility, and I am left here on the frontier with his replacements, and the ones that sent him there.'

Eden listened her eyes tearing up. "Oh my dear boy. You've been going through a lot and keeping things in. I can imagine how you feel. " She led him to a bench. "Sit. Now then the breakdown is understandable, Ion storms had be...difficult. Tell me about the ones that sent your love there. From your tone I take it that you feel...he should not have gone there."

'I feel, and know, that Percy was left to feel he had no other choice and that the Chief Medical Officer, a cranky man with few friends and even less desire to make friends, would forcibly relieve him of duty and send him to a facility.'

'The Chief Counsellor, well, she doesn't quite get along with Percy, but is professional, and probably wouldn't have done anything vindictive towards him.' Yiv sighed, 'I don't have an exact picture of what happened, but being helpless to influence the outcome has left me feeling powerless and impotent.'

"Hm...that is a pickle. But wait didn't they all write reports on what happened? Also what about an outside evaluation by a Starfleet HQ medical. Your doctor's ... disposition could work in your partner, Percy's favor. An HQ doctor can override the CMO of a ship."

'We'll see. They set off not too long ago, so they won't have arrived at their destination yet,' Yiv flashed a crooked smile, 'Percy agreed to it as well, remember, so there's that complication.' He shrugged, 'it will take some time to resolve.'

"Well if you need help you call me and I'll have the old man put his medaling to good use. I've now adopted you so there is that." She chuckled.

'An adoption so quickly?' Yiv chuckled, 'I must be very lucky,' he said affably. 'For what it's worth, I'll keep you abreast of how things develop between the two young officers in a non-sugar-coated way.'

She laughed. "Oh honey don't you worry about them. I believe if two people love one another they will find a way. But you have to take good care of yourself during this time. Promise me you won't sit with your worries and if you need mine or Admiral Meddler's help you'll call."

He pulled a face, then nodded, 'I promise that I'll call.' He perked up a bit, 'besides, then I'll be able to listen to another story. I'm sure you have many more.'

She grinned. "I do!" She studied him. "Can I leave you with one last bit of motherly advice?"

Considering for a moment, Yiv finally nodded. 'You may.'

"Always follow your heart. If you love your Percy and think he should be back with you, bring him back. Fighting for the love of your life is worth it."

Turning thoughtful, Yiv stroked at a moustache. 'Your words are wise.' The Efrosian stared into the distance. 'We shall see what happens.'

"Excellent. If your Percy has given up this is where you need to step in and fight for him, show him that he can fight." She sighed. "You are an XO. Percy loves you and maybe he didn't want to put you in a bad spot so he took off but it's not about position it's about what's right. If you believe your Doctor was wrong then fight for the person you love and remember you now have an adopted mother who is married to the ultimate meddler." She grinned. "I'm here to help when you need it and you know Tolsen likes to meddle." She laughed.

Feeling lighter than he had in a while, Yiv laughed at the comment. 'He sure seems to,' he teased, 'it comes from a good place though.'

Smiling and squeezed his hand. "Well I should go. I need to make sure Tolsen isn't contemplating opening a match making service."

'Could be good for the Fleet, get people to meet one another,' Yiv replied as he got to his feet. 'This has been an unexpected pleasure. You have my comm frequency, and I'll be sure to use yours.'


::OFF::

Commander Yivliph Ra-Gruvloveii
Executive Officer
USS Ontario

&

Eden Tolsen (NPC)
Botanist
Starfleet

 

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