Meeting Ranul Again-Part Three

Posted on Sun Jul 20th, 2025 @ 8:33am by Consul Andrinn Orin

Mission: WHAT IF?
Location: Orin's Office-Deck Two
Timeline: Unknown Stardate, 2130-0000 hours
1599 words - 3.2 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON:]

Andrinn and Ranul quickly made their way down to Andrinn's office on Deck Two without much of an issue. The only thing that happened was that the two men got some rather strange looks as they passed a few people. Andrinn wasn't sure if it was because of him, Ranul, or both men because he knew that something was going on. But, he wasn't entirely sure of what it was quite yet.

Upon arriving to Andrinn's office, the doors swiftly opened, allowing the two men to enter Andrinn's office. Andrinn let out a little sigh of relief, as it was a good sign. It must've meant that they were still in Andrinn's own universe, or at least a universe where Andrinn was recognized.

Walking over to his desk, Andrinn took a seat and offered up a seat for Ranul to sit in. Ranul didn't sit down. It was something that Andrinn remembered quite a bit about the man, even before Andrinn took over as the host for the Orin symbiant. Ranul was quite tall and imposing, but as Andrinn looked him over, he quickly realized how much...thought was behind those eyes of Ranul's when he looked into them.

Andrinn could understand. There was something going on, but he wasn't sure what it was quite yet. With everything that happened over the last few months, Andrinn wasn't entirely sure what to believe.

Ranul was the first to speak since leaving Sickbay. He stepped forward and said, "I don't even know what to say or what to believe myself. It appears that there must have been some crossover happening between my universe and yours. Especially since we both have different accounts of what happened to the other one, as well as what happened to Orin."

Andrinn couldn't argue with that. There must have been some entanglement going on and crossover happening, or Ranul wouldn't have been standing in front of him within his office. Andrinn just let out another soft sigh before standing up and walking to stand in front of Ranul again. This time, looking up into his eyes, Andrinn said, "One of the last few times that I saw you, you told me that I wasn't good enough for the Orin symbiant...or any symbiant at all. You basically said that I was a half breed that wasn't worthy of becoming a host. Now, you're here again and I think you said that I was the one saying those things because you are half Trill and half El-Aurian. Or something along those lines. It's just hard to believe that the man I remember would have been anything like this because of what I remember personally. But, it is good to see what a different man that you could be."

Ranul's shoulders started to slump and you could tell that there was a defeated look upon his face, like he wasn't sure what to say because he wouldn't have believed it either. Every time that Ranul tried to speak, it was like the words got stuck in his throat and his body just wouldn't let the words come out. After a few moments and a few tries at speaking, Ranul gave it up and just remained silent.

Andrinn could tell that what Ranul had said earlier must have had some truth to it because Ranul, both the one he remembered and the one standing in front of him, were strong willed individuals. So, for the Ranul standing in front of him to be at such a loss for words must have meant that this was truly affecting him.

Since Ranul was still at a loss for words, Andrinn decided to speak, in order to help break some of the tension that was building in the room and to figure some more out. Andrinn asked, "What was I truly like in this other universe? From your universe? I know you've spoken a little bit about him, but I want to know more and I would love to compare some notes on the similarities and differences."

Andrinn could easily see a visible shift in Ranul once he asked about Andrinn from his timeline. He thought about Andrinn's question for a moment, trying to piece everything together because of how long it had been since he had seen his Andrinn last. But, it didn't take long before Ranul finally found his voice again and began talking about Andrinn.

"Well, he was a bit harsh and a bit critical of myself. Since he was fully Trill from where I came from and I was had a mixed heritage of Trill and El-Aurian blood, he thought that I wasn't worthy of taking on the Orin symbiant. His father was some big whig in the Trill government and almost had my parents expelled from the Trill homeworld because of their 'blood mixing' as he called it. But, enough people fought back and helped us stay on Trill. It didn't stop Andrinn from my universe and his families taunts. He promised to make my life a living hell if I got into the program for symbiants, which I eventually did." Ranul replied, thinking as he began pacing the room. He walked over to the replicator before pointing at it and asking, "Mind if I get a drink?"

Andrinn nodded that it was okay and Ranul quickly got something to help make sure his throat didn't get too dry before continuing with his story.

"All throughout my program with Andrinn, he made sure that I knew how dirty my blood was and how impure that my family was. He was a bigot to the core and arrogant to boot. That's part of the reason why he ended up dying. My Andrinn was way too confident with his flying abilities before overcorrecting for something and crash landing. That's how I ended up with Orin myself," Ranul replied as he recounted a bit more of the story.

Andrinn walked over to the same replicator and got something himself. A lot of the details were spot on for him, but in reverse. It was eerily similar how this Ranul and Andrinn were, as well as prime Ranul and alternate Andrinn were. Subtle differences, of course. But, way too many similarities.

After taking a few sips of his own drink, Andrinn said, "That sounds like my version of you. Didn't think I was ever good enough to have Orin or any other symbiant. Too cocky and arrogant for his own good, eventually leading to his own death. I just want to know how you and I ended up together in the same place at the same time."

Ranul chuckled and said, "I just want to know if we both have an Orin inside of us and what their temporal and quantum signatures would look like." Andrinn shook his own head and was curious about that as well. Andrinn replied, "Something that I would like to figure out is would this affect either the host, symbiant, or both since we're both occupying the same space and time?"

"I don't know, which is why the medical tests and waiting for them have been killing me! I hate waiting for something so important like this," Ranul replied. He was just like Andrinn, as he hated waiting for something like this. Andrinn thought back to his time at Starfleet Academy, when he would have to wait for the grade for a big project that he might have turned in. Something that could have wiped out his entire grade in one foul swoop, but it was taking the professor weeks to get the grades back in.

Andrinn chuckled before replying, "God, you and I are so much alike that it's rather creepy! Now, if you tell me that you and I went to the Academy at the same time, that would be even creepier!"

"That's easy. 2278 was the year that I graduated from Starfleet Academy. I wanted to wait until Trill officially joined the Federation before I ever joined the Academy because I already knew how people felt when I was younger. I didn't want to betray anymore people, even though Trill society had become more tolerant by that time," Ranul said as casually as remembering an event like that should be.

Andrinn just looked at Ranul with a bit of a dumbfounded look upon his face. It was the exact same year that he had graduated from the Academy. Pointing at Ranul, Andrinn replied, "Now, that is a bit spooky. That's the same exact year that I graduated. God, I truly wonder if our worlds were truly just flipped? Now, I truly can't wait to see what the medical reports have to say about us and our symbiants."

Then, without missing a beat, there was someone over the comms calling for both Andrinn and Ranul by name. Andrinn tapped his combadge and said, "This is Andrinn. What can we help you with?"

The voice on the other side of the channel said, "Sir, this is Sickbay. We just wanted to let you and Ranul know that we have the test results back and need you guys to come back down here immediately." Andrinn replied, "Alright, we'll be right down."

Andrinn tapped his combadge to close the channel before looking at Ranul and saying, "Looks like we're needed down there. Maybe, tis time to get some more answers, now. Isn't it?" Ranul simply nodded before heading back towards the turbolift. Andrinn quickly followed and they were in the turbolift, heading down to hopefully get some answers.

[OFF:]

Consul Andrinn Orin
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Elysium