"This is a switch! You calling me!" Troy exclaimed as he walked into Tarik's office. "Usually it's me wanting to bend your ear--pardon the expression."
"Actually, I contacted you with regard to a rather pressing matter, and a personal favor," Tarik said, smiling at Troy's unintended malaprops.
"Really?" Troy asked. "What can I do for you?" he asked, not yet certain if he wanted to do anything for Tarik. Troy's mistrust of anything Starfleet was running deep these days.
"In a moment. There's someone else I need to speak to; he'll be here momentarily. Have a seat," Tarik replied, indicating the couch in front of his desk. "Coffee?" Troy accepted, and Tarik made them each a cup.
Moments later, Paul Deveraux entered. "You wanted to zee me, sir?" he asked, looking worried as he saw Troy sitting in Tarik's office. "Ah! I know what zhis is about! You both want to yell at me at ze same time! You can count me out!" Paul said as he turned around to leave. The door would not open for him.
"What ees zhis about?" Paul demanded.
"Things have not been so great between the three of us," Tarik said. "We need to talk. This is all off the record, but it will get resolved for the sake of someone we all care about."
Troy understood immediately. "I've seen a difference in Kassia since she came back. On one hand, she seems stronger and more capable, but on the other hand, she seems troubled deep inside. And you're to blame for it!" he snapped, pointing at Paul.
"I zhought we already talked about zhis!" Paul answered, just as angrily. "What ees zhis about?" he demanded again of Tarik.
"No; we discussed this when you were half beaten to death, and half drunk, respectively. Now we're going to discuss this while you have control of your faculties. Paul, we've already covered how badly you blew that mission--that's not at stake here. You've paid your price for that. There's something else you need to think about," Tarik said.
Paul thought for a moment.
"Would you care to refresh Mr. Deveraux's memory, Troy?"
Troy saw his opportunity. "You bloody near got my sister killed with your antics. You wondered why the world has to stand still for Kassia. Well, I'll tell you why--she's my sister, dammit! She's the only family I've got! And if something were to happen to her, my world would stand still! And I know she's all Tarik has right now. So forgive us if we're not entirely happy with you!" he raged.
Paul was dumbfounded.
"You just don't get it, do you? You tried to make it all a nice, big laugh! Well, it wasn't. She's still having nightmares! And what did you do? You went and got drunk and accused me of wanting her, you bastard!" Troy couldn't contain himself any longer and launched himself at Deveraux. Tarik stepped in the way.
"And you," Troy said to Tarik, who was now physically holding the two apart. "I don't know whether to love you or hate you! You saved her life, but she probably wouldn't have even been in that situation had you not been around. Ever since you came into her life, she's not been the same. I feel like I'm losing her!"
"Who made you ze shining white knight anyway, eh?" Paul asked him. "Always stepeeng eento other people's problems az eef zhey were your own! Do you know how arrogant zhat ees?"
The three stood there, silent for a moment. Tarik eased up. "A fair statement, Paul. I take much more onto myself than perhaps I should. But do you think for a moment I would do any of it if I didn't care?"
"I'll give you that, Tarik," Troy said. "You're the only Starfleet officer around here who seems to give a rat's ass about what happened to Kassia. And you've been of help to me, too. But Paul's right--you do tend to take charge too much. Like calling this meeting."
"I did this because our fighting doesn't help Kassia. She needs all of us--her family and closest friends--right now. Not to tell her what to do but to offer support," Tarik said. "If it seems like I'm trying to take charge, so be it. Even if Kassia weren't involved, I don't like seeing my friends fighting. And you're both my friends!"
Troy, by far the more rational of the group, stepped back and sat down. "Tarik, you're right, and I apologize. You've been nothing but helpful and friendly to me, and all I've done is spat on you. I know you would never hurt Kassia or allow her to be hurt--but that idiot--" he started up, pointing at Paul.
"Troy, for your own sake, let it go," Tarik said. "Carrying this grudge isn't going to help you or your sister."
Troy backed down--barely.
"Why don't you tell Troy what your antics over the past couple of weeks has cost you," Tarik asked Paul.
Paul looked despondent. "Ten days een ze brig, loss of landing party privileges, demotion from Chief Science Officer, and my next promotion," he replied.
"And something else, Paul. I've taken you out of consideration to be my executive officer," Tarik said. Paul looked up with alarm. "If you shape up, and if you're still interested, I may have a position for you later on as a platoon leader. But not as my XO. You're too immature and unpredictable right now."
"What all this means, Troy, is that Paul has paid very dearly for his actions. "Don't forget that the Son'a also took their pound of flesh out of him as well--he was commander of the landing party! Your sister is safe, and the man who put her into danger to begin with has been punished for his actions. How much more does he have to pay?"
"If she had been killed--"
"But she wasn't, Troy! Take that one home," Tarik said. "If she had been killed, I would have settled that account for you," he continued, casting a very evil glare at Deveraux. "Don't think for a moment I wouldn't, Paul! Especially over something that stupid!"
"I doubt you not at all," Paul said. "I was wrong. I should have waited until ze briefing, and for zhat I am sorry," Paul replied.
"Don't apologize to me. Apologize to Troy!"
Paul was very quiet. Troy wasn't exactly vociferous at this point either.
"Gentlemen, this has cost us all dearly. Let's not prolong the agony by impairing our friendship," Tarik said at last.
A few minutes later....
"Troy, I acted very badly. I jeopardized your sister before she had training to deal with ze situation, and I behaved like an ass toward you. I want to apologize," Paul said, holding out his hand.
Troy thought for a moment longer. "Paul, I don't care for you much as a person. You are a buffoon and an ass but you are also one of my sister's best friends. I don't know what she sees in you, but I know you would never have knowingly risked her life. I don't want to be an impediment in her life any longer--I forgive you," he said, taking Paul's hand and shaking it.
"That's what I like to see!" Tarik said. "Now, I've got some apologies for you," he continued. That caught them both by surprise.
"Tarik, you don't have to apologize for anything!" Troy said. "You saved Kassia's life!!! And all this aside, I've never seen her happier than since she met you!"
"Yes, I do have to apologize to you, Troy. I stepped into your family as though I belonged there, and that was presumptuous of me. I should have gone to you to begin with--among my people, it's a requirement. And I ran roughshod over your relationship with your sister. So, as is Romulan custom, I formally ask permission of you, the head of your household, to court Kassia."
Troy's jaw dropped.
"Well, Troy? Are you goeeng to answer ze man?" Paul said, smiling.
"Of course," Troy whispered. "Of course! Tarik, you have my permission--you never needed to ask! Just don't send her in to assault a Borg cube or anything like that, okay?"
"You mean she told you about our next date?" All three men laughed.
"And you, Paul--I have never meant to minimize anything you've done. I would never have offered you a commission had I doubted your skill or courage. It was the most I could do for you to acknowledge your efforts. The offer may come up again in the future, so keep your nose clean! In the meantime, you are more than welcome to fight at my side anytime--and that's the very best I can offer!"
"Zhank you," Paul said. "I was drunk--I did not mean zome of ze tings I zaid. For both of you, I apologize."