Nothing is ever simple

Posted on Thu Sep 24th, 2015 @ 12:11am by Lieutenant Daln Hadren

Mission: Where Angels Fear to Tread
Location: Daln's quarters

Daln had received an urgent call from his cousin, Trei, who needed his expertise to get Daln's cousin and Trei's brother, Ranel, out of trouble.

They were discussing it now. "He screwed up, Trei, I don't think he's going to get off as lightly this time," Daln was saying.

Trei was not happy about it. "Daln, there has to be something we can do. He's gotten off before--"

Daln cut him off. "Yes, and because of those times before he's not going to get off easy this time. He's done it once too often and they are not going to go easy on him. I wouldn't if it was someone on this ship."

"Damn it, Daln--" Trei began, but a beeping started on his console. "It's Naila. She just transferred to another ship."

Daln's shoulders relaxed a bit. "Bring her in."

A Betazoid woman with long dark hair, black eyes, and a certain resemblance to both of the men in the call. She smiled at them. "Hey, guys," she said.

Trei smiled at his older sister. "Hey, Naila. I was just talking to Daln."

Daln grinned. "Hello, Naila." Daln didn't have a sister, but if he could have one, he wanted her to be like Naila. He loved Naila like she was his sister, even though she was just his cousin. He could also read her even with hundreds of lightyears separating them. "You're in a good mood," Daln observed.

"Yeah, Naila, tell us what has you so happy this morning," Trei agreed. He had that teasing light in his dark eyes that he sometimes got when he was going to make a joke at someone's expense.

Naila shook her head at her youngest brother. "I was promoted to chief medical officer of the USS Niagara."

Daln's grin widened. "Great job, Cousin."

Trei's eyebrows had shot up. "I'll say! You're the first in our family to make it!"

Daln acted a little miffed, even though he wasn't. "What are Vien and I, neighbors?"

Trei shook his head. "You know what I mean. She's the first of the Jansum family to be a department head."

Daln grimaced. "And the last if Ranel doesn't stop sleeping with his bosses."

Lanaila's smile faded. "Oh, no, not again! This is the third time!"

Daln made a face. "I know." He grunted. "If he was on my ship, I would have had to place both him and his superior in the brig for fraternization."

Now Trei was mad. "You'd do that to your own cousin?"

Now Naila stepped in. She had done it before. Trei was just a shade too loyal to family to be a security officer, in Daln's opinion. "He wouldn't have a choice, Trei," Naila said. "Daln's right. You can date someone in another department, but not your own."

Trei scowled. "I know. It's just..."

"Family," both Lanaila and Daln said at the same time. "I know," said Lanaila. "I feel the same. But Starfleet can't just ignore it."

Daln nodded. "He's probably going to be reprimanded this time. How, I don't know, but he probably will be."

Lanaila looked down for a moment and then shook her head. "I need to get ready for tomorrow, guys. I'll talk to you after my duty shift."

The two men nodded.

"Bye, Naila," said Daln.

"See you tomorrow, Naila," Trei said.

The screen went back to just a video of Trei. "You will try to help him, won't you?" Trei asked.

Daln mouth tightened. "I can try, but I don't know what I can do. I'm just a security officer, and not a very well connected one either."

Trei nodded. "I understand. I was just..."

"Hoping," Daln finished. "Yeah, I know. I need to go too. I have fight training for my staff."

Trei grunted. "And I have to check the weapons locker."

"We'll talk again soon?" Daln asked.

"Absolutely," Trei agreed. "See you later, Cousin."

"See you." The screen went blank then showed an image of Starfleet Security's emblem. He tapped his commbadge. "All non-essential security personnel, report to the gymnasium for fight training!" He needed to work off some stead and he knew just the victim, um, person to help him...