Alice In A Not So Wonderland

[Capt Rian Kwai 0]

((Hey folks - this is before last week's sim. I didn't get a chance to finish it before Monday night so consider this a little back story.))

 

Alice In A Not So Wonderland

Capt. Rian Kwai & Cdr (ret.) Helen Gail Ranau

 

“Drink the tea, Alice.”

 

“What?!?”

 

“You heard me. Drink the tea.” Gail Ranau leaned back in her seat, and folded her arms across her chest as she gave Rian Kwai one of those “looks” the fleet must have taught medical personal in the Academy. Even through the vid-com it was effectively making Kwai antsy. “Look, I know Wydown seems like a nut. A Kamikaze nut. But she knows what she knows what she’s talkin’ about.”

 

“How do you know?” Rian raised a brow. Gail was one of three medical officers Rian would willingly trust and therefore subject herself to a medical scan: Huff & Weber rounded out the company at the moment. Not even Rian’s best friend (and ironically Gail’s cousin) Evie garnered such an honor. Still, even Gail’s advice was hard to swallow, figuratively and literally.

 

“ ‘Cause she was in some of my Academy classes. I’ve seen her in action first hand,” the former USS Daystrom first officer shrugged. “She grew up on one of the outer planets with some of the worse physical living environments this side of Rura Penthe. And that colony chose to live there. For fun. I think that’s why she’s so…warped. Never met someone who willingly and enthusiastically dives into danger.” She shook her head. “But she also knows her stuff. Usually aced the exam work. And picked up on half of the practical applications faster than I did. And that’s saying something,” Gail gave a meaningful look. “She didn’t happen to give you her banana smoothie recipe, did she?”

 

“No,” Rian bit her lower lip, thinking about what Gail had said.

 

“Damn. Been fifteen years and I still can’t find anyone who’s got it.”Gail scowled. “Congrats on the new posting, by the way.” Rian watched Gail shift in her chair.

 

“Thanks. Let’s hope I get to keep it.” Rian rubbed her forehead.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Oh, I just have the impression that the Admiral is still quite angry with me.” Rian rolled her eyes, then proceeded to tell Gail the pared down version of the DS9 experience, and editing out the aggravating news that Holly, the belligerent and psychopathic AI, was now XO of the new ship while Rian was stuck on the broken down hunk of junk. As she was wrapping up, she glanced at the chrono and realized it was time to eat something. She frowned as she unwrapped another MRE. Have no appetite to speak of at the moment, unless Rian was prompted by the alarm on her chrono, she’d forget to eat. What she wouldn’t give to have a craving for something, even if it was as distasteful as syto beans. As she bit into the tasteless biscuit, she wrapped up her summary, “I’m sorry, but if it’s a choice between your career or your life, I’m gonna pick your life any day of the week. What use is your career status if you’re not around to enjoy it? Besides, I was a security officer, not a doctor, damnit.”

 

“Careful Rye. I tried that same argument with Captain Acura once and it just about landed me a one way ticket to Earth through the torpedo tubes. And he was the best man at my wedding.” Gail smirked.

 

“Well, what do you suggest?”

 

“What you’re good at – be tactful when you talk to her.”

 

Rian sighed. “Yeah? Well, that’s a bit hard right now. My patience is paper thin. I’m so tired and….” She motioned with the half eaten biscuit. “…these don’t help.”

 

“Drink. The. Tea. Rye. Ann.” Gail enunciated each syllable of the sentence both verbally and by tapping on the vid-screen. “Now.” She motioned to the replicator behind her.

 

“Gail I---“

 

“Now.” Gail gave her a stern motherly look, probably perfected through use over the years on her now teenaged son.

 

Rian pouted as she stood and plodded over to the replicator. She returned a few moments later with a cup, a pot of hot water and the bag of ingredients that Cdr Wydown had given her. Following the nutty woman’s instructions, Rian prepared one cup of steaming stinky smelling tea. “Gail this smells….bleck.”

 

“I don’t care. Drink it.”

 

“I’m not drinking this.” Rian wrinkled her nose.

 

“Look missy, don’t make me come up there and pour it down your throat. I’ve still got quite a few favors out there I can call in. I can be at the UP before you all even engage the docking sequences.”

 

And Rian knew she’d do it too. She’d known Gail , her twin sister and Evie since they were children. Gail was the older sister that Rian never had, and Gail seemed to treat the Trill no differently that she had own flesh and blood relatives. She could be bossy and pushy sometimes, but she always had Rian’s best interest at heart. Rarely was her advice wrong.

 

“Oh Gaily, you should smell this.” Rian winced. “This is…words can’t describe this.”

 

“Drink it.” Gail encouraged her. When Rian hesitated, she continued. “Chug it. Come on. The longer you delay, the worse you’ll make it out to be. Chug-a-lug, Kiwi.” Rian pinched her nose with one hand and started to drink the pungent concoction, while Ranau continued her toast. “Over the lips, and through the gums, watch out stomach, here it comes.”

 

Rian’s gag reflects immediately kicked in. Her grimace must have been comical to Gail, as the human woman suddenly burst out laughing, but Rian didn’t care at the moment. She was too busy concentrating on not throwing up that vile tasting tea. She felt like she never had to work so hard for something in her entire life. After what seemed like an eternity, she turned back to the vid-screen.

 

“Happy now?” She wanted to add ‘sadistic witch’ to that statement, but managed to edit her thoughts just in time.

 

“Yep.” Gail grinned, then softened her expression. “It’ll be okay. Just hang in there.”

 

“Does this ever get easier?” Rian slid the almost empty putrid cup away.

 

“Just dump some sugar or honey in it next time.”

 

“No. I mean serving as a direct report to someone you think is your friend? I’m not even sure that’s possible right now -trying to maintain both relationships. Right now I’m torn between Rian the Captain who wants to just do her job and get on with her life. And Rian the……whatever…..who wants to tell the woman to knock it off and stop being so unreasonable – she knows me better than that. Or at least I thought so.”

 

“We fight the worse with the ones we’re friends with.” Gail shrugged again. “Kev and I were best friends until I moved into that chair.” Gail spoke about her former Captain. “Then all hell broke loose. I had a different role to play and neither one of us were prepared for how that would change the dynamics of our friendship. But if I can get over that hump, you certainly can. You were always the better peacemaker.”

 

“Yeah, I’ll remind you of that statement later when I’m demoted back down to Ensign tomorrow when we get to the UP.” Rian responded sarcastically.

 

“Welcome to Wonderland, Alice.” Gail grinned. “And don’t forget to drink the damn tea. Or else.”

[KhreRiovtRex 0]

I guess drinking the tea is better than drinking the koolaid? ::ducks:: Nice log Rian