The Bug Life Chose Me
Posted on Sun Oct 6th, 2024 @ 6:09pm by Lt JG Ansel Lund
Edited on on Tue Oct 8th, 2024 @ 1:21am
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 2 - The Sins of History
Location: The Quarters of Ansel Lund - USS Artemis
Timeline: MD011 0800 hrs
The tone of the half Tellarite was as sharp and nagging as Ansel remembered it had been. He had placed stars between them, even great bird of the galaxy's wing span could not bring them back together, but Doctor Percival Bálor grew on you like a fungus, and even the harshest and most aggressive topical ointments and cocktail of antibiotics could not guarantee he wouldn't resurface. "Aaaaaanie. Aaaaaaanie. Ah come on my little caterpillar, come out of your cocoon."
Ansel pulled the duvet over his head and rolled over in his bed. He had declined the call three times, but Tellarites were damn stubborn even if they weren't full blooded. "No," Ansel replied, firing back another rejection. The Irish were persistent, Percy was no exception. "You lost the privilege of cute nicknames when you showed your thorns."
How Percy had managed to circumvent the call being rejected several times and establishing a connection, a solid transmission was beyond Ansel's understanding of technology, communication interfaces, and security. Nevertheless, Ansel was quite literally giving this pork chop a cold shoulder. Percy was not going to leave the young entomologist alone. "Every rose has its thorns my dear," Perct stated and clearly the imagery of roses caused his stomach to churn.
Ansel sighed and rolled back over to face the screen of his computer that had been sitting nearby illuminated with Percy's face. "Alright, ten minutes. You have ten minutes to tell me what you want and what the strings are."
"None," Percy replied. "There are no strings, Ansel. Believe it or not I am not here to haunt your dreams. There are no strings attached. This isn't a personal call, it's professional." Percy's tone was interesting. It was enough to grab Ansel Lund's attention.
Pulling the duvet down and propping himself up, Ansel was listening. "Doctor Bálor, you have my attention. Do tell me how a humble little entomology that you left with a broken heart can do anything to help such a successful and renowned Botanist such as yourself?" Stroking Percy's ego was always a good way to get the knuckle headed pig to squeal.
Ansel watched the screen as he observed Percy picking up a mug and taking a sip. This was not the same Percy that broke Ansel's heart. He seemed more put together. "The USS Leinster, don't know it? Don't worry. I had not either. Sounds like an insignificant starship with an unknown bland Human Captain. What did catch my attention is they are getting ready for a voyage to Klendathu."
"Gesundheit," replied Ansel.
Percy snorted. "Klendathu is a planet with an abundance of life forms, your type. Insects, and the Leinster needs an entomologist. I know a guy who knows a guy who's third cousin is the First Officer."
The young entomologist groaned. "Why do you know the carrots to dangle?" He was interested. Of course he was. How could he not be? "I'm kind of in the middle of something here, Percy. I am aboard a starship and we kind of are doing important stuff."
Percy snorted. "I know where you are and what you are up to, Ansel. Poking about looking at the stages of insects to determine time of death sounds so interesting. When is the last time you got to run through green fields and look under rocks?"
The answer to that was without a doubt or skipping a beat Too long which was exactly what Ansel reminded himself of. "I don't know. It has been a long time. Certainly not since coming aboard here at least."
That was what would pull Ansel out from the bed. He looked around his quarters and realized how bare they were, mundane and sterile. They lacked his personality and some of his items he had not even yet unpacked. "When do they need an answer?"
Percival Bálor in typical Tellarite fashion had been assertive and aggressive, ready to argue if need be. "They already have your answer. I accepted it on your behalf or I supposed for your own good. You need this."
A frustrated Ansel glared at the screen. "Stop playing God, Percy!" That was something that had driven a wedge between the two of them. Percy had a tendency to do whatever he wanted and did not even bother to apologize afterwards. Typical Percy.
Lieutenant Ansel Lund shook his head. "Fine. Send me everything. I'll pack in the morning. Goodnight, Percy" Ansel said before severing the channel. He would have to pack and get his affairs in order, and leave some of his things behind, gifting them to Fenora. He knew she'd appreciate them and care for them including his creatures.
A Post By
Lieutenant Junior Grade Ansel Lund
Forensic Entomologist, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
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