Part One: Identification

Posted on Wed Jun 24th, 2020 @ 2:54am by Lieutenant JG Vecon Fick & Lieutenant Eiri Ashshy Ph.D & Ashshy Ayan
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:52pm

Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Crew's Quarters
Timeline: [Backpost] After returning from the Bubbleverse

Ayan brought Eiri a glass of wine and sat down at the small table. "Mmm, so, how was your day?" he asked the newly appointed medical doctor, taking a sip of his own wine before picking up silverware.

"It was... interesting,” Eiri replied. He also picked up his silverware and began to eat carefully. “There is so much to keep up with. Not that I am complaining. I like to stay busy. I am concerned about the people who spent time in the bubble universe."

Ayan tipped his head at Eiri and stopped eating. “Are you?" he asked. "Are you worried about their recovery?"

"Yes. I know that everyone recovers from trauma differently, but many of the returned crew seem depressed and mentally distracted. I am not certain that they do not need more time away from their duties."

Ayan’s head remained tipped. "Is there anything you can do about that?" he asked. "Maybe speak to the Captain? He seems to be the understanding sort."

Eiri nodded and sipped at his wine. "I was thinking about it. I am not certain what I am going to say though. You know how I like to be prepared for those sorts of conversations."

Ayan chuckled and picked up his fork again. “I know, love. Just don’t wait too long or it will be pointless. You don’t think that any of those people might endanger the rest of the crew, do you?"

Eiri shook his head, unsure. He thought about Mauricio. Was the jumpy marine capable of hurting someone? Of course he was. He had the training, but the real question was, would he? Eiri wasn’t sure where he stood and that uncertainty meant that he definitely needed to speak to the captain. "I accidently had lunch with Lieutenant Vecon. He talks a lot. I think he might talk more than you." Eiri took several bites of his food, chewing and swallowing completely before talking again.

Ayan tipped his head again. "Ve… con?" he asked, looking up at Eiri. "Who is that?" He was racking his brain trying to remember and trying to figure out why the name rang a bell.

"Fick? That little blonde Risian boy. Fick is his given name, like you, but also like you, no one seems to know how to deal with Bajoran names so everyone calls him Lieutenant Fick."

"Ahhh," Ayan said with a nod. "I did meet him, very emotional boy. He has a big heart." He smiled. "How was that?"

"I did not have to say anything,” the Vulcan half-breed deadpanned.

Ayan laughed. "Just listen and enjoy your salad?" he asked. "Anything worth noting?"

"He talked about the bubble and then his boyfriend. Did you know he was dating a Klingon? He really does talk more than you, love."

Ayan raised his eyebrows. "Oh, my," he said. "No, I didn't know about the Klingon," he chuckled. "That’s ambitious."

"It might take a Klingon to keep up with him." Eiri chuckled softly. "How was your day?"

Ayan chuckled. "Hope he has strong hips..."

----hours later---

Eiri nodded, his fingers playing in Ayan's hair. "But seriously. You should try and find your friend a boyfriend. Perhaps Fick would be willing to help. He seemed rather overeager."

"Well, if you can think of anyone we can play matchmaker," Ayan said. His voice faded at the end. "Vecon… oh... oh now I know why he goes by Fick," Ayan said quietly, his stomach dropping.

Eiri tipped his head to the side and looked at Ayan. "What are you talking about, love?"

"Vecon… his family name is Vecon," Ayan said, turning to look at Eiri. "Someone in his family was part of the fake Bajoran government on Bajor during the occupation."

Eiri's eyes widened. "Seriously? I thought all those people were dead..."

"Most are," Ayan said. "Some were off planet at the time. He is part Risan?" he wondered.

"Yes, he wears that circle thing on his head, but he has Bajoran nose ridges."

Ayan nodded. "His family was probably on Risa at the time." He shook his head. "No wonder he did not go back to Bajor."

"Do you think it is possible that Fick is not aware?" Eiri suggested. "He does not seem to know anything about being Bajoran. He did not say “Prophets” at any point during our lunch."

Ayan took a deep breath and nodded. "It's possible," he said. He closed his eyes. "If his parents kept him from learning about being Bajoran because of the shame," he said and shook his head. "But why let him become a Starfleet officer? Other Bajorans will recognize that name."

"Maybe his father wants to be found. Or maybe his father did not let him become anything. There are people's parents that do not approve of Starfleet and yet they still go."

Ayan let out a long breath. "Ooof," he said.

"Maybe you should speak to him," Eiri suggested. “You are both Bajoran.”

"How do I even do that?" Ayan asked. "Hello, one of your parents is a collaborator that's hated by the Bajorans?" he asked. "And Bajoran names are inherited from the maternal side," he said. "Although if Risan convention is fraternal, maybe that's the case, although that would seem cruel."

"Maybe you should approach it like you would like to help him learn about his heritage."

Ayan let out a little sigh and nodded. "I suppose… it's just… a terrible thing to tell someone."

"The boy should know the truth though, if he does not know. I know you might feel like it is not your place to tell him, but try and tell him in a way that will not force him to choose sides against his parent. I am certain that those Bajorans were under duress to serve the Cardassians so."

Ayan tipped his head back and forth. "Some yes, others no," he said. "Although, in the early days, no one really kept them around much to find out," he said. He had been fairly young then, so he did feel a little dispassionate about that.

"Well, we do not know his father's situation. We cannot hastily judge the man we do not know. I know that your people thought that they were traitors, but is it possible that they were threatened and tortured as well? Does anyone really know the truth expect those that lived that exact position?"

Ayan sighed and nodded a little, pulling the little scientist to himself and hugging him. This wasn't exactly the conversation he had been expecting this evening and he snuggled Eiri close. "Of course it’s possible..."

To be continued…