Ace Ain't the Place

Posted on Sat Apr 25, 2026 @ 7:03am by Civilian Paula Pendergast & Lieutenant T'Lul

1,965 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Jubilee
Timeline: MD01 - late afternoon after Women in the Middle

Now that T'Lul had completed as much investigation that she could with Brianthe, she decided to get a first-hand report from Paula. Based on what she heard, Paula was a lot less in control of her emotions and was more likely to divulge information than Brianthe. Perhaps Paula also had more interests than plants, which apparently Brianthe did not.

She approached the woman who was spreading mulch. "Are you Paula?" the Vulcan asked. "I should like to speak with you, if you do not mind."

"Yes." Paula looked at the Vulcan with a raised eyebrow. "Can I help you?"

"Maybe," T'Lul answered simply. "I am Lieutenant T'Lul. I'm the Chief Counselor here. I was hoping that I could learn more about you and some people that have been here lately that I believe you know well. Would that be alright?"

"I don't know why you'd want to talk to me, and I won't talk about the people I work with."

The Vulcan mused about that. Something definitely carried over from Bri to Paula. Would she talk about Matilda or not? "I have heard that you have had some interactions with an Ace Cannon. Can you tell me about your history with him?"

Paula huffed. "Overbearing, arrogant, narcissistic, egotistical jerk Ace Cannon? He thinks he's irresistible to women and won't take no for an answer. He dragged me around the station when the Cardassians were in charge because he had to keep me safe for Bri. I was safe. I'm a civilian and a botanist. I'm no threat to anyone, especially not a Cardassian. But he refused to listen to me. Just like he refuses to listen to anyone who tells him no."

T'Lul blinked three times in perfectly time half second intervals. "Did he, what is the saying, make a pass at you? I can tell you have a great deal of hostility towards Mister Cannon. Also, can you explain to me why, as he said, 'keeping you safe for Bri," is a problem? In my estimation, that would seem to imply he has a high regard for Brianthe, and knowing your importance to her, wanted to protect you. I do not understand why that would make you upset. Can you please explain that?" Certainly Paula dislikes Ace as much as he does her but that does not seem logical. Is this a situation where the two of them claim to dislike each other and actually have stronger feelings for each other. Hate and love are two sides of the same coin, I am told. What is obvious is that Ace definitely has a strong emotional attachment to Bri, which Ace, Matilda, and Paula all confirmed in one form or another.

"As I said. I'm a civilian. I am not now nor was I then a threat to anyone. The Cardassians weren't rounding up civilians or merchants. They wanted Starfleet to surrender. They didn't care about the arboretum. It has no strategic importance and they didn't care about spending time here. I was safe here. I AM safe here."

Paula shook her head. "But having some half-crazed operations officer drag me down to the torpedo room and then back up by climbing ladders is not a way to go unnoticed. Not only was it fruitless, he could have gotten both of us killed. He didn't even listen to me when I tried to explain all this."

"What you say would normally be logical, but as someone that was leading people to repel the Cardassians, I cannot say that everything they were doing was completely logical." The Vulcan shook her head slightly. "I am curious how you tried to explain this to him and when. Furthermore, I am curious why you believe he is narcissistic. In my experience a narcissist does not think of others and based on what you just related, he was, whether justified or not, thinking of Brianthe and you."

"He was NOT thinking of me. He was trying to impress Bri because she's never been interested in anything more than friendship with him. So, he thought that by dragging me all over the station he was keeping an eye on me. It was not about me at all, but about what he wanted."

T'Lul considered Paula's statements and decided that they were faulty. If Ace was trying to impress Bri, he likely would have done something more. Furthermore, Ace was dating Matilda at some point, even if he did not realize it. Paula definitely ran hot when it came to Ace. She wondered if the same was true regarding Paula. "Interesting," the Vulcan replied noncommittally. "Can you explain to me Ace's relationship with Matilda, then, and your relationship with Matilda?"

"You're awfully nosy, even for a counselor. No, I can't. All I know is that the two of them slept together and he dumped her; and I know that because she came in here and told us."

"Curiosity is something that is far from unique to Vulcans." She then switched to the topic of Matilda and said, "I see. Was she upset? Angry? What did she say?" T'Lul asked in quick procession.

"She wasn't happy that Ace forbid her from coming here. He said this was his responsibility." She folded her arms across her chest. "It isn't. She only wanted a place to plant a little garden to take away stress. He causes stress."

T'Lul thought about Paula's statement. It sounded similar to what Matilda told her. "Do you know if she told Ace that she wanted a place in the garden? Did you verify anything, or did you just accept everything that Matilda told you at face value because you do not like Ace?"

"I accepted what she told me at face value because I don't think everyone I talk to is lying to me. She told me--us--that she and Ace slept together. That's no surprise. From what I hear, he'll sleep with anyone who's pretty and willing. She told Brianthe she wanted a patch of ground to grow something. Since we're an arboretum AND we have a section for folks on the station to grow plants and vegetables, why would I question that? I also didn't question her statement that Mister Canon forbade her from coming to the arboretum because he was mighty protective of it during the Cardassian invasion--even when I told him that his constant hovering would bring Cardassian attention, not protect from it." Paula paused to glare at the counselor. "And now I'm wondering why you're so protective of Mister Canon. You're awfully suspicious of me and I can only assume you gave Brianthe the same cross-examination. I think you're a busybody who won't accept any answer that doesn't align with her personal view of things--no matter how skewed they are."

T'Lul's eyes widened slightly at that accusation. "I assure you that I am suspicious of nobody, nor am I protective of anyone. I am only trying to understand some interactions that require my attention." Her personality could certainly be described as acerbic and narrow-minded by some. Perhaps she and Ace are too similar? Is that why they do not get along? Maybe they are harboring feelings for each other that they do not admit. At that thought, her eyes returned to normal and her head tilted. "Actually, I think that you and Mister Cannon have quite a bit in common. I might recommend that you both come to my office and try to work out your differences. Though, it is highly likely that neither of you would agree to such a meeting."

Paula almost told the counselor exactly what she thought of that idea, but she chose discretion. This time. "No, we would not. I want nothing to do with him and I don't want him here in the arboretum. The only nice thing I can say about him is that he's good at his job. But not here. We've already arranged for Matilda to be the person that comes here to make repairs."

"I have never understood why people would not want someone good at their job to not be doing it," T'Lul commented. "Nor have I ever understood why people would not want to make amends. Holding grudges inevitably harms oneself." The Counselor shrugged. "Are you married or dating anyone?"

"No. And I have nothing against Ace doing his job somewhere else. But he thinks he has some sort of authority here, that he is the only one who can or should protect it and he's wrong. We can do fine by ourselves. Besides, we have Matilda, so we're good."

"He is one of the Assistant Chief Operation Officers," T'Lul pointed out. "As I understand it, unless the Ops Chief, 2XO, XO, or Captain said that he could not schedule himself here, he could. Theoretically, he also could schedule Matilda elsewhere. Yet, that has not happened. I wonder why," she mused aloud, staring directly into Paula's eyes.

"He can't schedule himself here if we don't want him here," Paula replied. "And if you both insist we have no say over the department WE are in charge of--and I say we because I'm the assistant and am in charge when Brianthe is on Pangaea--then I will simply go to command and make sure neither you nor Ace tell us what we can and can't do with the arboretum." Then Paula remembered something and smiled. "I am a civilian, and so I technically have the right to tell Starfleet no."

"I never insisted on anything. Please do not put words into my mouth." T'Lul then turned to the next subject and said, "While you may be a civilian, the arboretum is part of the station, so it is under Starfleet, not you. Lieutenant Oaxaca is in charge. You are employed at her pleasure. Your rights are rather limited." The Vulcan concluded that this woman had anger issues and she would have to discuss it later with the new Chief Science Officer. Talking to her, though, served no further purpose. Therefore, T'Lul nodded towards Paula and said, "Thank you for your time. I appreciate you providing me with some of the information that I sought."

That first part got to Paula. It didn't matter that the other woman was leaving. "You know what? You can leave. Now. I'm done talking to you. Please, see yourself out." The counselor was nuts and Paula was done with her. "If I have to, I'll call Brianthe down here to confirm that I have the right to do so." The counselor had to right to tell Paula she had no authority here when Paula was in charge half the time.

T'Lul stared at Paula. Did she not tell Paula already that she was leaving? Highly illogical. A conversation with the Chief Science Officer and maybe even the XO was warranted. Meeting with the XO was not desirable, so perhaps starting with the Chief Science Officer was the better option. "I already thanked you for your time. That implied I was leaving and I will be leaving." T'Lul considered telling Paula her intentions but was there really any point in being logical with a woman that had such a hair trigger temper and was not listening? No, there was not. Let her think that she was forcing T'Lul out. It did not matter and her fate would be left to someone else. With that last thought, T'Lul turned on her heels and departed.

Paula waited just long enough to be sure the counselor left. "Good riddance," she muttered. Then decided she wasn't going to let the woman ruin her day and went back to her job.

A post by

Lieutenant T'Lul
Chief Counselor
Deep Space 5

Paula Pendergast
Botanist
Deep Space 5

 

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