Reflection ...

Posted on Mon Mar 2nd, 2026 @ 3:21am by Lieutenant Endymion Tox

1,130 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Preservation Instinct
Location: Mess Hall

ON:

Tox stood staring at himself in the mirror. He was about to get what he wanted yet something didn't sit right in his gut. Days ago he and Pluto were exchanging letters, even though Pluto was here. When he'd asked to meet Pluto said it would happen on his birthday and here he was before his birthday meeting him. It had been a note out of the blue.

Kerberos,
Have dinner with me tomorrow. I can't wait to meet you any longer.

Tox had been excited but something clenched in his stomach. Something didn't sound right with that letter. He couldn't put a finger on it but the tone was all wrong.

He shook his head. "You're just being paranoid. Just go with it!" He scowled at the reflection in the mirror. Why was he even thinking about this? For years, years, he'd wanted to meet Pluto and now he was going to. Was it just nerves?

Just as he finished combing his hair for the thousandth time the door to his quarter's chimed. He raised an eyebrow and suppressed a groan. He didn't have time for this. Not wanting to be rude he called out, "Enter."

The door opened but there was nobody there. What did happen was something small, and fast, ran into his quarters zooming around it like a little tornado. He yelped at first and when the small ball of fluff stopped his lips opened in an 'OH'.

Tox blinked, he shook his head and blinked again.

There, in his living space, was a tiny creature with huge ears and a long tail. The distinct long snout and reddish cream coloring told him that this was his favorite animal in the world. A Fennec fox. It stared up at him with it's deep onyx eyes. Around it's neck was a ribbon with a note.

He watched as the tiny animal walked up to him and he knelt down slowly reaching out a hand. The animal began to make a chittering sound as it lowered it's head for pats.

Grinning Tox gave the animal's head a scratch and then gently removed the note. He opened it with shaky hands. There was only one person who knew that he dreamed about owning this pet. When he'd been in the Academy he'd rescued a baby Fennec Fox and it had been a pet for a while until he'd had to leave and had had to rehome it at one of the local petting zoos.

Tox opened the note and there in neat cursive writing was Pluto's heart.

My Dearest Kerberos,

I keep being drawn to that one Yule holiday that you sent me a voice message of yourself singing the Twelve Days of Christmas. It was...an interesting rendition of what you would give me for the holiday. I thought it best to revive this practice and call it the Twelve Days of Tox.

Thusly, this is the first Day of Tox...mus?

Tox laughed out loud. "Oh my gosh! Bunny you're such a goof!" He said as he wiped tears from his eyes.

Pluto was finally here and he was going to meet him. It felt monumental but at the same time if felt wrong. The gift, the note, yes but the dinner invite...it felt even more wrong now that this note and gift had arrived.

He would go. He would see this through.

Once Tox made sure that his new pet was comfy he left his quarters. He said a silent prayer to Trill Gods he wasn't sure existed and he walked on. A short walk to the lift, a short lift ride to the right deck, a walk to the double doors that held his destiny but felt wrong. He took a breath and entered.

Scanning the room his eyes landed on the one figure holding a purple rose. Tall, Green, Pointy Ears.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Soliane. Communications officer.

Tox's eyes widened. He walked up to the man slowly. "Pluto?"

Soliane smiled. "Kerberos. It's so good to meet you after all this time."

The meeting, a little awkward but something, in the back of his mind, again told him that something was off. He put out his hand to shake Soliane's and Soliane went in for a hug.

Tox could swear he hard a yellow alert signal in his head. He returned the hug quickly and accepted the purple rose. The flower and color were right. Pluto loved purple and black roses but Pluto was an introvert and from what he knew Soliane was an extrovert. Some of the nursing staff had attended his little dinner parties on the holodeck.

Tox tried to smile. "So. We finally meet. How long has it been now?"

Soliane waved a hand. "A long time, too long. I was so glad to find out we were on the same ship."

"Hm.. Yes." They ordered drinks and sat down to chat. The first hour was good, if not a bit confusing. Soliane knew a bit about Tox but Tox noticed only stuff he'd told him since boarding the ship. Perhaps a test.

"Soliane, I have always wanted to ask you something if I can."

Soliane smiled. "Anything!"

"You once told me, a long time ago, that your favorite place on Vulcan was Lake Yuron but never why."

Soliane grinned. "Oh well it's got great beaches, and it's a bit of a resort city. I just love to watch the people."

Wrong answer. You love Mount Seleya and the Fire Caves and you do NOT people watch.

"Fascinating. Now I know. Do you ever miss the simple times when back when you were on Betazed for that year for schooling?"

"Oh...yeah sometimes."

Tox noticed the flush. Pluto was never on Betazed for school.

"I'm sorry it's a bit awkward. I guess meeting the man you've loved all these years..."

Tox took a sip of his drink. He had one more question. "That's alright. I'm just glad to meet you. And besides I now get to to see that famous necklace you always used to tell me about. The one you got at Kerberos Resort."

Soliane smiled. "Yeah I'll show you sometime."

"You're not wearing it now?"

"Oh I forgot to put it on I guess." Soliane stood and took his jacket off.

Tox Zeroed in on blank forearms. He saw sheets of red. This was not Pluto. Pluto would never take that necklace off and there was no black rose tattoos, He'd wrote to Kerberos about them three months before Tox had joined the Ontario.

"You're not Pluto!" Tox stood. "You! Liar! You're not Pluto!" He threw the drink in Soliane's face.


To Be Continued...

 

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