Awkward Third Wheel

Posted on Mon Sep 28th, 2026 @ 12:29pm by Commander Zhora zh'Roothi & Lieutenant Commander Aidan Datari & Lieutenant Amber Laurell

2,190 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: 10a. Rumble - Short Treks
Location: Sickbay

After being cleared by Targaryen the youngest Zhora wanted to check in with Aidan and Amber before leaving sickbay and take that overdue shower. She'd need to assure them she felt much better than she appeared.

"Am I interrupting?" she asked gently as the two officers conversed with Aidan's faithful companion Sherlock draped over the Trill's legs looking rather besotted by the attention he was receiving.

"Not at all commander," Aidan smiled, genuinely happy to see her. "I'm relieved you made it out alive ma'am," he continued, nodding over to the bloodied commbadge that lay nearby. "We were led to believe you had not survived the cave-in."

"Come now, Aidan, you off all people should know how stubborn Andorians are. It would take more than a few rocks to put me down," Zhora smirked before picking up her lost badge. "Though, how did you find this?"

"Oh I know," Aidan laughed, albeit somewhat painfully, "I grew up with two of them. Their supreme leader had your badge, they found it somewhere. I asked if I could have it, so I could return it to your family if we couldn't recover you. If we got out at all because our situation was pretty dire too."

Absently Zhora scrubbed the dried blood with her thumb nail and pouted with thought imagining how the news of her death would have gone down with her now estranged family. "I'm sorry we were separated like that, I should have been with you and managed the situation."

"There's not much you could've done. And you were probably better off where you were ma'am. Andorian's aren't exactly bred for that kind of heat. I had great trouble with it as I'm arctic raised too, you would've been worse off. I'm alive thanks to the rest of the team and their quick thinking." Aidan stroked Sherlock's hide absently and the little dragon stirred and shifted into the touch. "Sherlock used his wings to cool the air for us."

“Considering how warm it was none of us would have survived for long if we hadn’t fixed that valve” Amber added. “That and your actions as well Commander” Amber added with a smile.

The XO grimaced at the praise from the counsellor. She didn't feel particularly heroic, in fact her actions had shortened their timeline dramatically, nearly costing the lives of the entire team, hers included. "Perhaps," she sighed. "But ultimately you were my responsibility. Thankfully Akaathaan was able to bring us in one piece, more to less." she glanced up again at the Trill noticing for the first time his exposed bare chest still red and tender from the exposure.

Uncharacteristically she felt her cheeks colour and quickly changed the topic towards Sherlock, the small dragon that lay across Aidan's lap. "He's a remarkable creature."

Noticing the shift in colour, Aidan pretended not to however. "That he is," he agreed, "and insanely loyal to me and those I care about. And if course anyone in my team when on a mission. He's also a very useful babysitter, and he adores my daughter. He hatched when I was barely 18, and I still don't know where exactly he comes from. I've never seen another."

"I'm glad you convinced me to bring him along," Zhora stuffed her soiled badge into a pocket and tickled Sherlock's crown. "What happened after the cave in?" she asked. "Enterprise said you were in their city, I don't suppose you were able to take any readings?"

"Barbax and B'Ree have most of the readings. I have readings too." He nodded over to the table where his belongings were displayed. Among them an ushaan and a somewhat battered tricorder. "We were captured and accused of causing the planet's pending instability. We were forced to make repairs to their ventilation system. I just hope we did enough to help them...I did make suggestions towards a water reclaiming cooling system as well as surface irrigation."

Amber smiled. “We saved them Aidan, I was on the bridge when the surface scan results came through. A whole civilisation is down there now.”

"We did?" Aidan tried to sit up a little further as surprise marked his features. "But how? We barely got started with what we were assigned to do."

Amber shrugged her shoulders. “I’ve no idea, maybe they listened to your suggestions and it pulled them through. We were in the planet’s past, but we didn’t know that. We saved them from themselves.”

"Perhaps. Without facts it would be hard to know for certain. The DTI team will take over a monitor from a safe distance. I suspect they'll be stopping by soon to take your statements," Zhora replied while her gaze drifted to Aidan's ushaan and stirred distant, unwanted memories. She shook them away: "We were three hundred years in their past, it's feasible our actions altered their future."

Amber nodded. “We didn’t know that though, so what we did can’t be held against us at least.”

"I'm not sure how we could have known we were in the past, and it'll be quite a puzzle to figure out how we got there in the first place," Aidan agreed, "temporal headaches aside, I'm glad they survived. It'll be interesting to watch them thrive from a distance as I doubt we'll be able to visit them again."

Amber nodded. “That’s if we’re even allowed to do that, we might be told to stay away from now on.”

"Mmm," the Andorian XO nodded thoughtfully as she continued to tickle Sherlock's scales. "We've certainly made an impression since we came into the quadrant, and unfortunately not always for the best," she sighed wearily. "This shoreleave will be most welcomed."

“Agreed” Amber added. “I’m looking forward to having some time to unwind.”

"I'm hoping to spend some time with my daughter," Aidan commented, "it's been a while since I've been able to give her the attention she deserves."

“I’m sure she’ll love that” Amber smiled warmly. “I’d like kids myself one day, but there’s no immediate rush right now. I guess it all depends on how my health goes.”

"Saeri wasn't exactly planned," Aidan smiled, "but she was a welcome gift, to me anyway. Unfortunately her mother decided otherwise and left us, but I'm always keeping the door open should she change her mind. I'm in no hurry to find a partner and give her a second parent, but who knows."

Amber nodded. “Mrs right may be out there somewhere, just wait and see what the universe has in mind. I never thought I’d see Joshua again, but now he’s here. The universe finds a way.”

"Mister right actually," Aidan answered easily, "I don't really want to go into my relationship with Saeri's mother. It was genuine, different and respectful, and it's past. But my preference has always been a man."

“I’m sorry! Forgive me for being so narrow minded in assuming you meant a woman.” Amber gave Aidan an apologetic look.

"Don't be silly," the Trill smiled, "you couldn't have known as it's not something I often mention. I don't hide it, but well..." He waved it off. "I had mister right, I was married before but sadly he was killed on an away mission. I'm in no hurry and as long as Saeri has female role models to look up to I'm happy."

“Well she’s always welcome to spend time with me” Amber smiled warmly. “You both are that’s what friends are for after all.”

"That is very kind of you counselor." He looked towards the XO. "An Andorian influence would be very welcome too ma'am... it'd greatly impress her grandfather."

The Commander had begun to shift her weight uncomfortably as their conversation continued seeking an escape. Aidan's request caught her off guard: "I'm not sure I'd be a suitable candidate," she replied hurriedly.

Amber noticed the discomfort at the request but said nothing, if Zhora wanted to talk about it she was sure she’d call.

"I'm not asking you to look after her ma'am," Aidan clarified, acutely aware of her discomfort by the way her antennae moved. "I'm asking you to be part of her education. You know I was raised by an Andorian right? I want to honour their traditions by teaching my child too, but there's things I can't teach her and my sister is out of range. Surely there are things only a female would be able to teach her?" He blushed slightly, feeling somewhat ignorant in that part and now he did wonder if there was anything because who would've taught his sister when there was no female role model for her either when they grew up?

"I see," Zhora recovered. "I'm sorry Aidan I don't think I could spare the regular time to bond with Saeri," she shook her head. "However Petty Officer sh'Voloq would be able to offer some useful insights and educational requirements on Andorian culture."

"I understand," the Trill answered, though he couldn't hide his disappointment. "Saeri needs education regardless, as broadly as possible but well .. there are just things I can't teach her and she needs female role models. Trill too, actually. I don't know if she is able to be joined and it's not something I can teach her about. I can't be joined, ever again."

“I can understand your longing for Saeri to have female role models Aidan” Amber offered a warm smile. “I’d be happy to help with her teachings from a Betazoid and Vulcan point of view. That, and from a female point of view.”

"That's very kind of you counselor, thank you." He smiled gratefully. "She means everything to me and I want her to be happy and not miss anything."

“There are ways to get her involved onboard ship, ways for Saeri to learn about all the cultures. I’m sure you’ll find more people willing to help you.” Amber smiled warmly.

"Ship's school, I hope. But it's more than that. It's...things a mother should teach a daughter...her mother preferably but that's not an option." He shook his head. "I'm taking all the help I can get."

Amber nodded. “You’re a wonderful father Aidan.” She gave Sherlock a gentle stroke glad to see the bright colours back again.

"I try," Aidan replied modestly, watching Sherlock shift his attention from Zhora to Amber. "He's sure enjoying all the attention he's getting," he observed.

“I have to admit I like Sherlock, it’s nice to be able to communicate telepathically, as well as verbally. I miss having the freedom to use my telepathy when amongst non telepaths.”

The little dragon warbled happily, fanning his wings to show the vibrancy of his scales hide. "You're welcome to use it with me counselor," Aidan offered, "I've got nothing to hide and perhaps it'll help this annoyingly erratic empathic skill of mine. I've always had it but it is so random.... I've been told if this was discovered when I was little I never would've been allowed to join Starfleet. I would've had to become a symbiont guardian." He shuddered visibly at that idea, the whole thought of being near those creatures was horrifying to him.

“If it will help you, and you don’t mind.” Amber smiled warmly. “It would certainly come in useful on away missions that’s for sure. I am bonded to Joshua so he’s always with me, in a manner of speaking.”

"I don't mind," Aidan consented, "and I don't know if it'll help but who knows... I didn't know you were bonded counselor, is your partner here with you on The Enterprise?"

Amber nodded. “He is indeed, Joshua Silas he’s a navigation officer. I’ll have to introduce you sometime.”

With the conversation again turning to personal matters the XO shifted once more: "I believe I've taken enough of your time," she softly interrupted. "I wish you a speedy recovery and hope you both enjoy some shore leave."

Amber offered Zhora an apologetic glance. “Thank you Commander, sorry to have gone off on a tangent there. I hope you enjoy some shoreleave as well.”

"Thank you commander," Aidan answered gratefully, "I hope to spend time with my daughter, be it here or down planet. I hope you find the time to relax too ma'am."

"I'll try," Zhora replied with a confirming nod and gave Sherlock one last tickle before departing.

Amber watched Zhora go before looking to Aidan. “I’d best be going or Josh will think I’m not coming. Rest up and get yourself well okay?”

"I fully plan to counselor," the Trill smiled, "once I'm released that is..."

Amber offered a nod of head. “I’m sure you’ll be up on your feet in no time. I’ll see you later.” She smiled warmly before giving Sherlock a gentle stroke, then headed on her way.

"Well you sure are getting spoiled," Aidan told his companion as the two women left. "I suppose we should follow that suggestion and get some more sleep."

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