Clearing the Air Part III
Posted on Sun Feb 22nd, 2026 @ 5:00pm by Lieutenant Vura & Major Edmund Merrick
Edited on on Wed Feb 25th, 2026 @ 9:44am
2,348 words; about a 12 minute read
Mission:
Episode 17 - Going Home
Location: Holodeck 1 - Deck 5 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD005 1330 hrs
"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.
"Deltans do all sorts of things, Edmund. We're especially interested in anything that gives us new experiences and sensations. It is an overly broad and general rule, but like most stereotypes has a kernel of truth."
She then sighed and bit her lips. "Well, you took my arm without much warning, as I recall, and I should have said something. I didn't break my oath but, um, I danced along a fine edge that I should not have. I'm sorry for that. Though, I am glad it worked out for you." Vura smiled meekly.
Edmund gave a nod of acknowledgement to Vura at her apology.
"Humans generally are not permitted onto Delta IV. They're shuttled to two moons for their own safety. So, not many people get to see this." Making certain that the towel stayed on her so that he would not be distracted, she turned her body and left out an open arm to show the area. It was not her normal graceful movement, but it still directed Edmund’s attention away.
"Our planet is rather tropical for the most part, so these forests are not uncommon. We have cliffs and hot springs as well. But we are adapted for our environment. Not having hair allows us to cool much faster in our world, but it can lead to a build-up of salt, which can be an uncomfortable experience after a bit."
Remembering having been on an arid desert like planet, and how quickly the persperation had dried upon his skin, Edmund had a thoughtful expression as she explained this.
"Lots of baths, sonic showers that sort of thing. Plus a routine of skin care. in order to combat the overload." As his eyes panned over the scenery. Edmund spoke quietly. "Your touch did open things up," he said giving her a half smile. "More than what I thought it would. It definitely started causing the walls I had put up around me, to crumble." He gave her a sideways glance giving her a wink. "I will still consider you a force of nature."
"Tell me something. You stated that those who are not Deltans have to be taken to other areas in order for their safety, is that due to umm, not only the beauty but the natural ability that radiates from Deltans, where, a person ends up becoming enchanted by them?" Edmund truly felt that if there had been anymore contact between them, he might have fallen under her spell. He had resisted twice due to the restrictions he had placed upon himself and his martial arts training.
"That's right," Vura answered. "To encounter so many Deltans at once would risk too much and we would not wish to harm anyone." She swallowed hard. "Remember, the first contact between Deltans and humans resulted in a death of a human, just by the nature of our existence. We don't want to risk that experience again. It is a safeguard."
"That is quite the burden your people do bear, in order to interact with others." Edmund shifted where he sat, his eyes traveling from Vura towards the waterfall, the beauty of the scenery reminding him of his home, New Zealand.
"We cannot help that others cannot handle our unique physiology. Look at Orion women and their pheromones. Do they find it to be a burden? Some exploit them, right? It is all a matter of perspective, Edmund," she replied as if everything she said was common sense.
"Besides, we Deltans, generally are more focused on inner space than outer space. Why leave when there's so much that can be explored at home?"
"One never knows what can be found in your own backyard. Constantly changing even though it may seem like it doesn't change. I know that perspective most definitely." he said softly. "Then there are those who wish to go out and see, to learn, about the others who are not of said planet. To know that one isn't truly alone."
"I don't recall if I'd ever asked if you had family. Do you have family, as in siblings. Mother and Father?"
Vura laughed at Edmund. "Of course I have a mother and father, Edmund! I wasn't cloned!" She then smirked and asked, "Do you really think that anyone could clone me or manufacture me?"
She snickered lightly and said, "But I do have a brother, Latas, and a sister, Zaya. I was supposed to be the youngest, but my parents accidentally or purposely had Zaya later."
Edmund chuckled. "I don't think that anyone would be able to clone you. You are one of a kind and after you were born they broke the mold."
He crossed one arm across his chest, supporting his other elbow as he rubbed his chin which had stubble. "I should have asked if your parents were alive. Going from how you stated, they are both alive and the same for your siblings."
"Yes, they are. Alive and well." Her eyes twinkled a little as she told Edmund, "If you think I can be too much, I assure you that the rest of my family would make you quite uncomfortable." She paused before she added. "Not on purpose, though, of course."
He smiled. "Well, probably its due to them being a force of nature as well. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." The smile faded, and a hesitant expression gazed upon Vura.
"I've got to ask and its a painful subject. H-how did your love, uh Cannir was it? How did he pass away?" He hated to ask but Edmund remembered that she had mentioned of him dying and never really any details, and it was painful he knew that. It showed when Vura briefly mentioned him.
As if struck like a lightning bolt, Vura fell back into the chair that had been their originally. Her face became more pale, as she struggled with her thoughts. "Why?" Her voice fell to a whisper, "What does it matter?" Even Vura was not certain who she asked that question to. "Disrupter.... Supposed to be horribly painful death. Right in front of me.... Why?"
He saw the pain, the agony in her posture, heard it in Vura's voice.
"It wasn't idle curiosity, and I am sorry that happened." He couldn't reach out and touch her in a compassionate way. It would be detrimental, he paused having an idea.
"Computer make a hologram of me, to give Vura an embrace." An hologram of himself appeared, Edmund finding it a bit strange to see his own image, which approached Vura.
"Since I can't give you a touch of comfort, would you allow the other me to give you one? I am sorry if I brought up a painful memory, you knew how my wife died." He stopped, the image of him touching Vura's shoulder in a gentle manner. "Just I didn't know, and who killed him?" Edmund falling into somewhat of security mode.
"A holographic Edmund will have to do," Vura replied weakly. "Unless, of course, you wanted to be mine forever and I wanted to be drummed out of Starfleet," she continued morosely. "See, Cannir was not technically my fiancee'.... Not yet. We had decided that until I was done with my internship, that we would not get married. It was six weeks before I was to complete it and be fully licensed. Six weeks...."
Her voice became more hollow as she recounted the events. Cannir decided to take me on a getaway. I had purchased a couple of rings and intended to propose on this trip. His family had a small cabin that was off a lake in the Carabon Valley. When we arrived at the cabin, we knew something was wrong. It was already inhabited. We went to investigate and smelled gas and were instantly rendered unconscious. When I woke, we were no longer in the cabin. We were in space.
A rough looking man came into the room. He had a dark black beard and squinty eyes and told us, “Welcome to the Roughshod. I don’t suspect that you will be here too long, though. You’re both going to make me a very rich man.” He planned to sell us as slaves who would be used as a sort of sexual Russian roulette, figuring people would pay for the chance to see if they would not go insane by having sex with us.
Cannir punched the pirate and ordered me to run. I did. I got to a shuttle. Cannir ran in but as he was getting to the shuttle, the pirate fired a disrupter. I watched him disintegrate in front of me. I don't remember much after that but I apparently managed to escape back to Delta IV."
She paused as the weight of the story sunk between them. In a heavy whisper, Vura said, "So, now you know." She paused before saying, "I still have the rings."
Edmund was riveted in hearing this horrific experience, Vura suffered. His double having his arm around her shoulder crouching down giving her support. "Something like that isn't anything that one can ever forget, and not something that can be instantly recovered from either. I can understand why--you have put distance with those you have met. Much like what I've been doing." he paused, then remarked. "I still have the rings that my wife and I had when we got married."
"Such a tragedy!" he murmured softly. "I'm glad that it wasn't even more tragic, Vura. Glad that you were able to escape, and find your way back home. And even then finding your way to the Pioneer, I will say that the crew is lucky that you did come aboard."
"It has been nine years, Edmund. Nine. I remember it like it was yesterday and I've been gone for so long. I don't even know if I would recognize anyone or anything on Delta IV anymore." She sighed. "And this is the longest I've stayed on any posting. I was actually thinking of leaving...."
"You were?" Edmund looked at Vura sharply. "I am sorry to hear that you were considering that. Hopefully you're not going to follow through with that plan," he told her frowning. "You would be missed." The frown started to slip away. "Seriously you would be."
Vura immediately brightened. "Awwww! You'd miss me?" She squealed happily. "Well, if you would miss me, I guess I'll have to stay, now, won't I?"
A chuckle from Edmund, "Yes indeed you will." he shifted in his chair. And I am certain that there are a few others that would miss you as well."
He went quiet for a moment, pondering as to what they had discussed, then he said "Once again; I am sorry Vura."
The holo Edmund gave Vura one more embrace before Edmund dismissed him. It was truly starting to bug him, seeing his own copy even though he had made him. Especially the wink the holographic Edmund gave towards Edmund, before it disappeared. What was that about?
"Nothing to be done about it now." She watched forlornly as the holographic Edmund left her arms. "It is the past, but now that your hologram has entered my program, I may have to steal him from time to time." A smirk started to form on her face as her morose demeanor started to lighten.
"Vura!" Edmund exclaimed his face going rather red, at the moment he had no words, just staring at her.
She blinked sweetly several times, her Cheshire smile returning, as her mood lightened. "That is my name, Edmund."
Edmund was quiet now his face cooling down, then he chuckled.
"It is good to see you smile once more, Vura." His cheeks started to cool down.
There was a chime which caught his attention, then a voice came over the speaker.
"Major, you've got a call."
Edmund looked perplexed, "Strange, I wasn't expecting a call." He then looked at Vura. "Looks like I need to find out what that is about."
"Sure, get what you want and go." She stuck her tongue out playfully at Edmund. "I see how it is."
"Now look here Vura-" Edmund began then just grinned. "You got what you wanted as well a heartfelt apology," he said rising up from the chair. "I'll see you later, and thank you for the talk."
"You're right, Edmund! I got what I wanted." Her voice became extremely playful, "an Edmund hologram...." She let it drawl and then realized that Edmund might not find it funny, so she concluded, "that could hug me any time that I want." She stuck out her tongue at Edmund as he was leaving.
"Not gonna happen Vura; not going to happen," Edmund giving the computer a command to where his image won't be used unless he allowed it. He gave a smirk, and left. He used it to help out Vura but, he was protetive of himself.
As Edmund left, Vura stuck out her tongue at him. The man had no sense of humor and was wound up tighter than an inmate wrapped in a sleeveless jacket in a padded room. She would have to assist him with that at some point, just not today. She had more reminiscing to do.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Vura
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
Major Edmund Merrick
Company Commanding Officer Officer, The Cure
USS Pioneer
RSS Feed