Confessions Part II

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

1,171 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Forgotten Wounds
Location: Main Engineering Breif Room | USS Arcadia

ON:

The big engineering conference room was full of all the engineers and a counselor. Sabastian had received a call to go to the Engineer's brief room. He sighed. His upgrade would have to wait. Seldom did his top three call an emergency meeting. He'd deal with whatever wasn't working. He entered and his eyes locked onto Alexander. He raised his eyebrows "What is happening?"

It was Petty Officer Shrall who walked up. "This is...what do humans call it...ah yes. This is an intervention."

Sabastian raised an eyebrow. "A what?"

"Intervention," Shrall repeated. We have things to say and you to listen.

"And the counselor?"

"Our security that you won't air lock us."

Sabastian ran a hand down his face. "Engineering Hooch? I thought I solved this issue it stopped last month."

“They aren’t listening to me, they think they know better” Lanna added with a sigh. “At this rate I think I’m going to end up reassessing my position.” She looked to the trio. “Well… get on with it.”

Sabastian looked at the three. Three of his best. "The hooch stopped when you and Zai left the ship for your honeymoon. It hasn't started up again since he's dead. Frankly we all want you to stop grieving a man who didn't deserve your love or devotion. He was a bad apple, rotten, stuck in his own pain and frankly a liar and a cheater. We have proof."

Sabastian's had fisted but he kept his calm. The pain inside him was barley contained and it took everything for him to speak. "And...what makes you say that."

Shrall stepped up. "He treated us poorly, threatened us, lied to you, took our ideas and cheated on you." He pointed to screen. "Observe."

Sabastian watched, and so did all those gathered all fifteen engineers here along with the counselor. He heard words that he couldn't believe came out of his husband's mouth, saw Zai kissing a few other people and one coming out of the very quarters they shared. He'd known, he'd found Zai's ... box and had read Zai's personal journals that he'd kept hidden. Seeing it...it brought a fresh wave of pain unlike anything.

The video ended and there was silence. He could sense the fear in his engineers and he had to push down his own disgust and pain. He stood calmly. "Thank you, for telling me. Thank you all for having the courage to speak. I ..." He took a moment overwhelmed. "I am sorry you all have had to go through this, to have this weight on your shoulders. Truth is difficult to tell but liberating and I appreciate how much you cared for me to first let Zai get away with the bullying and then to tell me, I know you did it out of love for me and in the hopes of helping me move on. Now, we have people out there depending on us. The ship is leaving tomorrow morning. Let's get to work and get flying. Shrall I want you with me on the Engine flows. You're one of the best and the upgrades are not being cooperative. Meet me in J-701Q in thirty minutes. Dismissed." He watched them leave even moving to the door to give their shoulders a squeeze or shake a hand to assure them that he was alright. They needed leadership now. He noticed the counselor still there.

Lanna had stood watching totally shocked at what she’d just seen. She hadn’t sensed anything of that nature from Zai, though he had kept his mind controlled around her. Had she truly been deceived so easily? It seemed Sebastian hadn’t been as surprised as she was, her look was one of confusion and of hurt. She wasn’t sure if Sebastian would want her there right now so she turned to leave.

Sabastian looked up. "Counselor wait." He motioned for her to sit and then walked out to call the Engineering Yeoman. He handed her the tape. "I'll talk to the counselor make three, two copies of this. One send to T'Prel, Starfleet Counseling, Earth. One ... remove the images of infidelity and leave the ones where Zai bullied the team, those will be given to the Counselor to take to the CO. Schedule some time after my shift for me to review this again, and I wish to hold a team meeting just after the ship leaves dock."

"Yes sir," She hurried away.

"Can I get you a drink?" He asked the counselor."

Lanna nodded. “Yes please, If I wasn’t pregnant I’d say a very alcoholic one.” She sighed. “Was I really that blind? I’m supposed to be able to read people, how did I miss it?”

He sighed. "I missed it too. The infidelity...I found out about a couple of days ago but this behaving towards my engineers...that...was a blow." He brought her a sweet juice and water. "Sugar will help with the shock and the water is cold. Don't blame yourself. We were all blind, especially me. I should have known. But...I aim to fix this and I will need your help."

Lanna nodded and sipped her drink. “Thank you. I’ll do whatever I can to help, Zai fooled us both. I need to regain your trust Sebastian, and my own self confidence. That starts now.”

He sighed. "Zai has been through much in his life. He lead his people in a war on his world when he was but a child. Lost the love of his life, was driven by revenge. Fang treated him...poorly. He found the love he wanted from Fang with me but perhaps I was the surrogate, he used me to fill the love hole in his life, knew I loved him without condition and reservation but even that was not enough." He shrugged. "I am on the back burner in all this. If you will take the tapes to the Captain make sure he removes any and all commendations Zai received while on this ship. I will be getting to the bottom of who had what idea and will issue commendations to those engineers. I will also ask them to speak with you. Please help them move through any blocks or upsets. I also will be writing a letter of apology to each person affected. Had you and the Captain not removed me from my position I would have left. I need to take care of my department, my people here." He rubbed his chest. "There is not time for what I feel and how I feel I need to fix this as their leader. If you are worried about any of the engineers please set a meeting with myself and you and them and I will help work through it."

Tears came to his eyes. "I will... up my sessions with T'Prel and she wishes to speak with you if you are willing."

To Be Continued...

 

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