Clearing the Air Part II
Posted on Sun Feb 22nd, 2026 @ 4:58pm by Lieutenant Vura & Major Edmund Merrick
Edited on on Wed Feb 25th, 2026 @ 9:44am
2,068 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Episode 17 - Going Home
Location: Holodeck 1 - Deck 5 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD005 1315 hrs
Vura wanted to be mad at Edmund. He just kept needling her and needling her and saying hurtful things. However, she had to remember that he was male and men were just stupid, especially non-Deltan males. Finally, she exhaled exasperated. He did apologize. Sure, it was at least a week overdue, but he did it. The least she could do was hear him out.
Not bothering to put on clothes and staying tucked her in towel, she walked around the chair and politely seated herself into it. "On our way to being friends?" She shook her head and rolled her eyes disbelievingly. "No, we were friends, Edmund. You trampled all over that and it hurt. I don't open up to many, Edmund. I opened up to you. I was vulnerable. You know some things that I don't share with anyone and then you tell me to seek counseling?"
She raised her nose in a small snarl. "Are you not aware that all counselors have to have a counselor? Do you think that I don't know what Cannir's death has done to me?" Her voice started to rise in pitch. "I trusted you, Edmund. Don't you get it?"
Her words didn't sting him, nor did it cause him to become irritated. "I am sorry that I hurt you and the things that you shared with me, I did not share with anyone else. That is trust that isn't broken. Also, Vura, we both were vulnerable," he calmly replied. "And the only reason why I suggested going to a counselor on the ship was, I was worried, and perhaps connections could have been made, with someone else who could also keep secrets as well. I am well aware that counselors do have their own counselors. My other counselors had told me about that." He shifted in his seat slightly to be more focused, upon Vura.
"I did say that we were on the pathway of friendship as, honestly, I wasn't someone who called anyone friend so easily. I cut myself off from making strong connections. For fear of getting too close and being hurt. And yes, I am talking about myself once more. That's beside the point, we both hurt each other, in ways maybe we both didn't understand yet. It does take patience to keep developing a friendship."
For an answer, Vura said nothing and merely crossed her arms across her chest. She wanted to tell him how good he was at pushing away people, but what was the point? He had projected much of that onto her in his letter. OK, so maybe it was not completely projected. After all, you know you run when you get too close too, Vura, and you know why. You don't want to feel what you used to with Cannir. You still want to keep that sacred and you slipped with Edmund and you paid for it.
Edmund noted Vura crossing her arms, at times it was more as a defensive posture and also one noting that they were irritated, of which it was very evident. Then also there was that possible look in Vura's eyes, a little bit of a flicker of the pain she was feeling.
"I don't want to reopen any other wounds that my letter had caused you. At the very first part of the letter, though, I did express my feeling rather uncomfortable with your over-the-top sensuality. Granted I could have said Vura please take it down a notch or three on your flirting, as that was making me rather---uncomfortable. I had to scramble to keep my wits around you, as you are a force of nature. Really you are. And I will confess that you are attractive and there was some attraction to you, was it due to the skin contact we had, with my not knowing much about Deltans?"
"I can't answer that last question. As to my sensuality, I am Deltan. I cannot help that non-Deltans are repressed. Would you ask me to repress parts of our personality or your traits?" she replied pedantically. "Did you perhaps consider that I don't repress anything because I felt like I could be myself with you?"
"In truth, that truly didn't occur to me. My brain was in a tailspin, what with the mission we had been a part of before you had arrived on the ship. Dealing with an entity named Kavicus. Then you arrived, causing me to really open up to possibilities, of getting over the death of my wife. You blasted open some emotions that--I wasn't prepared to truly face. Then that awful experience with Rowena being possessed and the department heads disappearing after I spoke to them. I was shocked, and filled with dismay, Vura. You disappeared after we had spoken, not only you, but others as well." He paused for a moment then added, "Speaking of Rowena, I don't think I'm ready to jump into a full-blown relationship with anyone right now."
"Have you told her that?" Vura asked in her serene voice.
"No, I haven't. In fact, I think you are the first person I've said something to that effect to. It's been nagging in the back of my mind. Also brace yourself---" he paused dramatically, having a twinkle in his eyes.
"Okay granted, you made me pissed off and also it hurt when you said repeatedly, I was naïve where women are concerned." He smiled. "Cut me some slack there but, reflecting upon how long I've been out of action...I don't know everything about women, each one is a different case. The best thing I can do is treat them with respect, unless they come a swinging and aim to injure or kill. Then the gloves are off; and, everyone deserves to be treated with respect. In essence on some points, you are right but not wholly right."
The smile returned to Vura's face. "I'll accept that. So, what are you going to do about Rowena?"
Edmund scratched his head as he wracked his brain as to just what he's done with her. "I don't know if I've done too much where she is concerned. I fixed dinner for her, when we were on Empok Nor before shore leave had been cancelled and we went to Wren IX. She did tell me that she'd like to do more interaction. And, before that, when we were on shoreleave on Poseidon Station, I took her out to dinner as well. He quietly muttered a curse under his breath as memories came to his mind.
"Vura, I am going to have to talk to her, just how to approach it in a way to not destroy her coming out of her shell. She's got a lot going on, and so do I. Right now, I am truly not someone who can commit to anything, except for a friendship. Okay, you can now call me a dolt." He shrugged resignedly.
"I'm well aware of Rowena's issues, Edmund." She gave him a small wink, trying to remind him that she was her counselor. "But why would I call you a dolt? I think you're right. You just started accepting and moving past your wife's passing. It was not a bad thing trying to start a relationship, but it may have been too much too soon. I should know as one of Edmund's Merry Maids." She giggled lightly. "Though, I have to admit that I'm curious who the third person on the shirt is."
"Merrick's Merry Maid Tee Shirt--" Edmund was confused for a moment then it was a light bulb moment or rather thunder struck. "Oof! I had forgotten about that t shirt." He smiled wryly. Pulling out his PADD to check the image of said shirt, he said, "I don't know who the artist that made the images--" he enlarged the image to look at the third image, he frowned at it then looked up at Vura, "The shape and vague imagery. I think that is--P03C Emiko Marley?" the shape, definitely was looking like it.
"Who is she?" Vura asked amusedly. "And how did you get involved with an enlisted?"
"She is in Intelligence. Also I am not involved with her, but I met her during lunch with two of my friends. We were talking about D&D and she got invited to the table where we were talking. Later, she showed up at my door, wanting to get involved in a d&d scenario. Stupid me. Being nice, I took her into a Holodeck program for Dungeons and Dragons adventure. I ended up noticing some behaviour that strongly indicated she was trying to get my attention. Especially the outfit she was wearing. A cat suit which would be perfect for someone who was playing a thief in a fantasy world. That though isn't going to happen again. As I said I was stupid. I have a feeling though that my stupidity is going to come back with a vengeance." Edmund grimaced.
"You're going to disappoint her, hmmm?" Vura mused. "What bothers you about attracting attention? You are a handsome man. You could ask my friends over there." She nodded her head backwards towards the waterfall and the water hole.
A slight chuckle as Edmund looked towards where her friends were. Turning his gaze back to her. "Thank you."
He rubbed the back of his head, moving down to his neck. "Vura, I am just me. I won't call myself ugly. I take care of myself. And yes could call myself attractive as what others have considered me to be. Maybe, I am worried I'd get a big head from all the compliments I've gotten."
"Humility is not a bad quality, Edmund, but when you're so humble that you cannot accept compliments, it starts to make your personality ugly. Accept who you are and how others view you. That's my advice. The only way you will get a big head is if you forget yourself. I don't think you're likely to do that."
Edmund chuckled wryly. "Bottom line is.. accept compliments gracefully and say thank you, then move on. I seem to have been told that before a few years back, and just well, forgot about it."
"I don't know about that.... Just move on? I think that if someone is offering a compliment that you must reflect on it or revel in it or something. After all, someone has found something that they see positively in you. Maybe you should start seeing it in yourself?"
Edmund went quiet, thinking over what Vura had said, it did ring true. "You are right, I have been way too down on myself, I haven't allowed myself to truly enjoy life. Looks like I am on the road of umm redefining myself?"
Vura shrugged while smiling knowingly. There was a sparkle in her eyes as she did so. "So, you could jump in the watering hole with the rest of us. Of course, I would have to unfreeze my friends. Maybe you would enjoy that." She giggled sweetly.
Edmund shook his head once more. "Nope." Moving past that, Edmund continued, "I have a question for you Vura, this program you have and about your people. Do Deltans cliff dive? Do you have hot springs?" Edmund looked towards where the waterfall fell into a pool. He didn't know much about Deltans.
What he had learned, back in the academy days, it got buried, a lot forgotten. That though can't be the case anymore.
"Seriously, I'd like to know a bit more about your people and your world. As I had said when we first met, I didn't know you were Deltan and I didn't remember any of the warnings, or cautionary information. You, after all, were the first Deltan I had ever encountered." Edmund wryly said.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Vura
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
Major Edmund Merrick
Company Commanding Officer Officer, The Cure
USS Pioneer
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