Just a Tellarite Not Asking a Trill for Forgiveness

Posted on 15 Sep 2026 @ 6:54pm by Lieutenant Commander Apaxi Volcum & Chief Warrant Officer 2 Gorra

792 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: M0: Confidence
Location:
Summary:
Timeline: Date 2376-05-03 at 15:00

"You weren't the only person to spill something on their uniform the other day," the Tellarite greeted the Chief Engineer while she made herself comfortable in his office. She looked around, "Don't worry about yesterday, you don't have to apologize for being 'grumpy'."

"You do understand why I was pissed at you, right?" Apaxi said. His tone was still filled with a deep well of frustration, so much so that the PADD went flying from his hand onto the desk with significant force. "Or do I need to explain my thought process and emotional state to you step by step?"

"Yes," Gorra said without hesitation. "You were angry because I sabotaged your chair and you fell and hit your head and spilled soup on yourself. In that order." She settled further into the chair. "I understand your emotional state perfectly. I was there."

She tilted her head slightly. "What I'm waiting for is your actual argument. Because 'I was pissed' is not an argument, Spots. That's a mood."

Apaxi's hand came up, pinching the bridge of his nose. A habit he hadn't possessed before meeting Gorra. It seemed he found a modicum of patience whenever he did it though. "So, yes. You need me to walk you through it." He let out a long sigh as he threw himself back into his office chair.

"When Vale and Dahl were drug off the ship, who was put in command of the ship?" Apaxi asked, wondering not for the first time why his brilliant friend had to be possessed with the combative nature of a Tellarite and not, for example, that of a Bolian.

"I was," Gorra said without hesitation.

An unbelieving stare from Apaxi crashed down on Gorra. "I don't need you to be the perfect Tellarite right now. If you want to understand this, you need to work through these steps with me. So put that innate need to be contrarian away, and actually, truthfully answer the question."

She held the stare for a moment. "...It was you."

"And for six weeks I kept everything together with my bare hands. Being Chief Engineer is stressful enough, but it's something I'm used to. Suddenly being the captain I could handle, I've got the Command Training. Doing both at the same time however broke me. It broke me because that weasel Mitchell couldn't be trusted to do the work without supervision. Because almost everyone on this ship thought I was like those bastards and just dodged the hangman's noose." Apaxi's voice had climbed in frustrated anger, proving he hadn't really processed it all yet. "And then, after 35 days of burning the candle at five ends, you decide to sabotage my chair in one of the very few moments of quiet I've had..."

"I have stepped down as Chief of Operations."

Apaxi hadn't noticed he stood up, leaning over the desk resting on his balled fists. But Gorra's words broke his angry tirade, and doused his rising heat. He just stared at his friend, waiting for an explanation.

"I decided to step down as my joints aren't as agile as I use to be. Crawling through Jeffries Tubes isn't something I can do anymore and its time for some 'youngling' to step up to do the job."

"You're staying on the ship though?" Apaxi asked, feeling tired as the adrenaline released from his bout of anger dissipated. He lowered himself int the chair, relaxing his hands and slumping.

"Who else? Commander Kowal personally requested that I stay onboard to keep you and Amolyae in line." Gorra continued, "I want the Bergen to be my last posting in Starfleet. Rather that gets me my solid pip before I croak or retire. I'm not going anywhere."

"You keeping me in line?" Apaxi asked, incredulity coating his words. "If memory serves me right, I'm always the one trying to talk everyone from not grabbing your runty stature and throwing you out of the nearest airlock. You're a rude asshole, even for a Tellarite." That last came out with half a hearty chuckle and a grin, his anger having slipped away for the moment.

"I'm not interested in men, Spots so your flattery won't get you anywhere." Gorra smiled, "thank you for the compliment. I truly appreciate it."

"Good, I wouldn't want to imagine bedding you to begin with." Apaxi countered as he pushed himself up from the seat, grinning at the verbal sparring. "Now, are there any last bombshells you want to explode in my face, or can I get back to my work."

Gorra shook her head, "This is why we are friends, Spots. Until next time." She slowly backed away and exited through the door and then waved slowly at him before the door swooshed close.

 

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