Confessions Part I

Posted on Sat Feb 21st, 2026 @ 6:03pm by Lieutenant Lanna Alexander & Lieutenant Commander Sabastian Walker

1,023 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Forgotten Wounds
Location: Counseling Office | USS Arcadia

ON:

The three engineers stood outside Alexander's office door feeling like crap yet knowing that they had to get things off their chest. This was going to be a hard conversation...but they needed advice and having the counselor here helped. Sotep rang the chime. He shook his head. "Let us hope that the counselor has time for us." They didn't exactly make an appointment.

Inside Lanna could sense multiple people outside her door, which was unusual in itself. Walking across she opened the door greeting the trio standing outside. “Hello there, please come on in.” She motioned them inside as she stepped away from the door. “What can I do for you all?”

The Vulcan of the group stepped up. "We are here to request assistance with a...dilemma."

One of the men snorted. "Understatement of the year. We're here to talk about Chief Walker."

“I see” Lanna motioned them inside as three towards the sofa. “Please tell me what’s happened.”

The men all looked around and ran in. The third man, who'd remained silent spoke up. He was Andorian. "We haven't formally met. This is Lieutenant Sotep, This is Jon Tenson Warrant Officer, and I am Petty Officer Shrall. We are engineers and we are worried that Chief Walker is not moving on in a quick manner from a man who wasn't fit to lick his boots."

Sotep raised an eyebrow. "And Vulcans are said to be rude."

Shrall waived a hand. "Counselors, they promise confidentiality and why adopt the Human trait of saying things without saying them."

The Vulcan shrugged. "I do not understand why our people are enemies when we think alike."

Lanna smiled as she waded in on the conversation. “Chief Walker is going through a difficult period right now, you may have to learn to give him some leeway with your expectations.”

Tenson snorted. "Oh the Chief is fine at work but when he's alone he's mourning that bastard Zai and the whole department has the urge to shake him and say he's not worth your time!" He looked at the counselor. "So how do we get him through this so he can move on and forget that wretch."

“For starters you seriously need to learn to pay some respect to the recently deceased!” Lanna replied somewhat annoyed with the way they were slagging off Zai. “Zai happened to die a hero, saving the lives of important Vulcans.”

Sotep stepped in. "With all due respect you do not know who Zai was, we do. We know that Fang Lee was the best engineer this ship has seen until Chief Walker. We know that Lee was a horrible human and treated Zai badly but we also know that Zai was the one who ran the Engineering hooch on the ship, we know that he was a bad engineer taking ideas off others. We know that Walker was so in love with him he didn't see who Zai was and how Zai treated him. We know the numerous number of infidelities Zai committed while with Chief Walker. We know he was not a good person."

“I suggest you don’t make up your minds about people without truly getting to know them, if Chief Walker hears you talking about his husband like that you may find yourselves in very deep trouble.” Lanna added. “As for taking ideas off others, being part of a team makes that a necessity. If you aren’t willing to be part of the team, then perhaps working aboard a starship isn’t the best assignment.”

Tenson stood. "I don't know why we're here. She doesn't believe us. She didn't help Chief Walker with the Cappy why would she believe us. Forget it."

Sotep sighed. "Yes. I miscalculated." He too stood with the Andorian. "You are as blind to Zai's faults as the Chief."

“Tell me gentlemen do you not believe that people have faults? You have faults of your own, which you are displaying right now I might add.” Lanna said giving them all a good long look. “We all have our problems, our faults, our troubles, but what right do you have, does anyone have to speak of those faults behind those people’s backs?”

"Oh we spoke about them to Zai as well and he told us Walker would never believe us since he was so in love with Zai. That bastard was good at playing vulnerable." Tenson said. He sighed. "Boys we have video evidence let's just show the Chief. It'll break his heart more but maybe he can just move on."

"Logical." Sotep said. "Our apologies for disturbing you counselor." He turned to his two friends. "Let us go. We will find no help here. We'll see the Chief he will be in his office soon and bring the other engineers he shall require all our help to get through this since there is no help here."

Lanna frowned. “Hold on one minute, you have a recording that you want to show a grieving man? You do realise the harm that could do don’t you? Apart from the fact that the Chief may just eject the three of you out of an airlock.” She folded her arms across her chest. “Maybe you're right, maybe Zai wasn't all he seemed, what gives you the right to mar his memory? Have you never heard the term let sleeping dogs lie?”

"Not when it's hurting the man we all admire he needs to let Zai go." Tenson said.

“Perhaps, but it takes time to heal a broken heart.” Lanna added. “Your intentions maybe good, but you could do a lot more harm.”

"Thank you. We shall take it under advisement." Sotep stood again as did the other two. "We'll take our leave."

“Wait!” Lanna held up her hand motioning for them to stop. “If you’re still hell bent on this then I should be there in case I’m needed.”

"Very well. We will have the intervention in one hour." They gave a small bow and left.

Lanna sighed. Could this day get any worse?


To Be Continued...

 

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