Lair of the Vulcan - Part I

Posted on Sat Aug 9th, 2025 @ 2:18am by Lieutenant Xavier & Lieutenant Endymion Tox

911 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Preservation Instinct
Location: Lt. Xavier's Quarters | USS Ontario
Timeline: Just after: Calming the Pilot Down

ON:

The trip to sickbay had been quick. The doctor on duty had cleared Xavier and he'd left shortly after that.

Tox, who was off duty and had been just about to go to sickbay to grab something he’d left the day before had run into the XO and Xavier.

As promised to the XO he’d taken Xavier to sickbay and he had stuck around until the Lieutenant was cleared and now he was now following Xavier down the corridor.

The pilot sighed. "Mr. Tox. Why are you following me?"

Tox jogged and caught up. "Well the XO did say to talk about whatever happened....so....and he did say not to let you back on duty until I was sure. Can't do that if you don't talk."

Xavier sighed. "I see you're friends with the Counselor. She's as....determined as you are."

Tox sighed the smiled batting his beautiful eyes at Xavier. "Yeah well I do have a counseling background and am a great listener."

"Can you please just leave me alone?" He looked up and realized they were outside his quarters. "This is me. I am fine Nurse Tox."

Tox shook his head and said, "listen Lieutenant Xavier, I honestly want to help. I really do. How about we have a tea in your quarters and you can scowl at me while you tell me what happened today."

Xavier looked at him. "The lift broke."

Tox rolled his eyes. "Obviously. But why were you pale, the XO looked...."

"Uncomfortable."

"Worried. Did the lift plummet?"

Xavier was impressed with the correct guess. He paused and then said, "A little."

"Well that's scary. I would have been scared out of my mind! So there you've told me." Tox looked at the door behind Xavier. "Tea?"

"Why are you so adamant about getting into my quarters?"

Tox sighed. "Cause I'm genuinely curious. I don't mean a healthy curiosity either. I'm like dying to know what you have in there. You have this Vampire Vulcan Mystique going on and I'm dead, dead, dead curious."

Xavier's lip twitched. "Have you heard the Human phrase Curiosity killed the Cat?"

He grinned. "Yes, I have and if you're a real vampire what a way to go!" Tox smiled sweetly. “Come on, I won’t ask you what’s going on. I’ll just be nosy and snoop around.”

Xavier let out a chuckle. As if he couldn't hold it in. "Fine, tea and snooping around." He was surprised at himself for agreeing.

Tox grinned. "Great."

Xavier turned and opened the door. He entered and when he turned he saw Tox hovering at the threshold. "Problem?"

Tox's eyes were fixed on the large perches by the door. "Those are for?"

"Birds."

Tox's eyes widened. "You have birds?" He stepped back.

This would have been the opportunity to get rid of the annoying nurse but...Xavier could not bring himself to do it. He bit his lower lip a moment an then relented telling the truth, "Not at the moment. They are in the arboretum. Ensign Matthews from Ops took them so they could fly. She loves birds."

Tox sighed. "Okay, okay." He stepped inside.

Xavier studied him. "Do you dislike birds or is it an allergy?"

Tox held his thumb and pointer together. "Less dislike, more like...fear. Tiny bit."

Xavier was quiet for a long moment. "I am sorry. They will not be back for a few hours. My best friend also fears birds. Since we are on different ships it has never been a problem. I know that it can be a difficult fear. For him it causes a lot of anxiety."

Tox shrugged. "Yeah. Well, he's not the only one." He looked around as if for the first time noticing the surroundings. His mouth dropped open. "Dear Gods of Starfleet....you....you really go all out. All that's missing is the grey mist, oh and fangs....you'd look hot in fangs."

Xavier raised an eyebrow his lip quirked in amusement. "Are you scared Nurse Tox?"

"No!" Tox said quickly. This was a...gothic palace. He'd turned average quarters into something from a fantasy book. "Can...I look around."

Xavier sighed. He couldn't get those eyes out of his head. He watched Tox a while and made his way to the man who was completely not paying attention to him and staring around the room in what looked like awe. He couldn't resist and leaned over towards Tox's ear. "Feel free to look around Lieutenant Tox." He motioned to the quarters not feeling as disturbed as usual about all this.

Tox jumped letting out a yelp. "How the hell did you get from there to here?"

"Vulcan's are fast."

Tox's gaze narrowed. "Lies."

His lip twitched again and Xavier shrugged. "Please take your shoes off. I have slippers you can use."

Tox shook his head. "You so are a vampire," He muttered taking his shoes off and slipping his socked feet into the most comfortable black fuzzy slippers.

Xavier shrugged. "You seemed taken by the room. I think a Razor Beast could have clomped your way and you would not have noticed." He paused and tilted his head to the side. "Now, what tea are you drinking?"

"Surprise me Flyboy," He distractedly said as he moved around the little room.


To Be Continued...


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Lieutenant Xavier
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Ontario

&

Lieutenant Endymion Tox (NPC)
Head Nurse
USS Ontario

 

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