Questions and Insights - Part I

Posted on Tue Jun 30th, 2026 @ 8:49pm by Lieutenant Xavier & Lieutenant Commander Yivliph Ra-Gruvloveii

1,152 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Preservation Instinct
Location: XO's Quarters

ON:

Xavier walked down towards the XO's quarters. It was about dinner time. Normally Xavier was a solitary creature, liked to lick his wounds alone but...he had so much on his mind that even he didn't want to be locked inside his own head so he sought out the one person he had something in common with. Yivliph Ra-Gruvloveii.

It didn't take long to get to his quarters and he rang the chime. It would be around dinner time and he hoped he wasn't interrupting.

Making his way to the door, Yiv wondered who it could be. Since Percy had left he had usually retreated to what had used to be their shared quarters. The normally gregarious Efrosian had increasingly found that once his duty hours had drawn to a close, he was not interested in socialising with the crew overly much, and preferred to retreat to the shared space they had created.

As he released the door, though, his features broke into a smile. 'Lieutenant, this is an unexpected surprise.'

Xavier gave a nod. "Am I...intruding?"

'... No,' Yiv managed after a moment. 'Not at all. It was just unexpected to have a call at my door at this point. Please, would you care to come inside? Perhaps a hot drink?'

Xavier gave a nod. "Thank you. I will not keep you long."

Moving from the door to allow the Lieutenant access, Yiv waved him in. 'What tickles your fancy drink-wise?' He glanced about the room quickly, deciding it was appropriately tidied to receive guests.

"Peppermint tea?" Xavier entered and removed his shoes, as he did in his quarters, so as not to dirty the commander's floor.

'Peppermint tea coming right up,' Yiv replied with a smile as he indicated the sofa set in the room. 'Please, make yourself comfortable.' He set out for the replicator busying himself with preparing a large pot of mint tea and two mugs.

'So, how can I help you?' Yiv asked as he bussed the tray back and set it down on the coffee table between them.

"I..." He paused. "I could use your assistance. I am unsure as to how to handle something and it is...slightly personal. I do not wish to speak with the counselor as she can be a little...intense and overly analytical."

'That sounds like Amanda, but it is her job to be analytical,' Yiv replied with a smile, leaning back in his chair. 'I can assure you that I'll not breath a word to the Counsellor about this.' He felt bad about making the promise, he knew that if what Xavier presented to him was serious enough he would have to involve the Counsellor at the minimum.

He paused thinking of how to frame the question. "I guess the best place would be to ask you if I can ask you a personal question."

'Of course,' Yiv replied, leaning forward, 'as Executive Officer the welfare of the crew is my responsibility. As your friend too, Xavier, your welfare is my interest.'

"How did you woo your Percy? Lieutenant Tox found out I was Pluto and he is...perhaps not trilled or upset in some way and I have no idea how to proceed. I have not yet shown him the observation lounge flight with the stars but I feel as if that is something that will have to wait until he is more comfortable...How did you court Percy?"

'Court and woo?' Yiv asked with a raised eyebrow. 'I wouldn't quite use those words Xavier. Besides, if I were to be honest, I was the one that was wooed. Percy pursued me, and I found him to be ... delightful. Pools full of flower petals and the like, you know.' He restrained his smile as he remembered that particular date. 'But ... explain to me, what do you mean he found out you were Pluto?'

Yiv knew of course, but didn't want to let on that this situation had been manipulated to an extent by an interfering admiral.

He sighed. "One of the Coms officers...found our correspondences since joining the ship and then pretended to be me. Tox...found him out quickly for the charlatan he was although I understand him. He liked the Lieutenant and wanted Tox to like him and he pretended to be me. I can sympathize. While confronting the man who is with Counselor Rose now my necklace slipped out and Tox noticed it." He paused. "It was one he left for me at the Pluto Resorts in the Terran system when we were young. He left the gift at the front desk after he finished his leave and I started mine. He did not take it well. He has not spoken to me since we left the counselor's office." Xavier looked down at the floor. "I gave him the necklace back in hopes of having him want to give it back to me and now I must earn it." There was a moment of silence. "Pools of flowers?"

'A pool full of flowers,' Yiv corrected gently. 'Percy's speciality is botany and he arranged for a swimming pool to be topped with flowers while we, er, frolicked. Shall we say.'

He coughed. 'So, a comm officer impersonated you to trick Tox, and Tox is angry at you because you are the real deal? It sounds like you're in the blast zone for some mis-directed anger.' Yiv concentrated on the personal aspect of Xavier's problem for now, but was determined to have the name of the crew member who had broken into his comm logs.

"It may be that or it maybe that he is not happy with who Pluto truly is. I do not know but I plan to woo him. Flowers in the pool. Tox likes flowers but not that much...but the gesture is grand. Tox cannot swim so...it cannot involve water, although he likes to watch waterfalls but the holodeck is not...grand enough." He paused. "Perhaps I will start with the observation deck surprise but I must think bigger beyond that." He sighed. "I maybe getting an idea."

Xavier looked at the CO. "What other techniques did your Percy use?" He needed ideas and several grand gestures. The thought of not talking to Tox was bringing on more and more panic.

'He set a date based on the Phantom of the Opera - when they head into the subterranean levels. Again, it involved water, but in boats this time.' Yiv flashed a smile, 'Percy is better at the grand gestures than I am, and the dramatics. Do you really think the grand gesture is what Tox wants?'



To Be Continued...

===

Commander Yivlioh Ra-Gruvloveii
Executive Officer
USS Ontario

&

Lieutenant Xavier
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Ontario

 

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