The World's All Asunder
Posted on Sat Jun 24th, 2023 @ 7:02pm by Ensign Connor Turner & Lieutenant Junior Grade Zhara Rynn
Edited on on Sat Jun 24th, 2023 @ 11:22pm
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 14 - The Poseidon Adventure
Location: Ship's Operations Center - Deck 6 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD013 1600
Connor started going through his new routine, moving from system to system, making sure that the computers were operating properly. In some ways, he was glad to be here in ops, away from Paisley.
In others, he was quite distraught. Paisley was still torturing him about Holly. Now, she was going on about Zhara. Lord knew what the heck Marjani was. He flushed lightly remembering their day together and quickly shook it off. What in the world did any of this mean? He simply could not sort it out.
His distraction caused a small spark on a panel he was repairing. "Bugger!" he cursed at himself and then got his mind back on an appropriate repair.
Zhara enjoyed walking through the ship from time to time to get a feel for how the crew was doing as a whole and to not feel so isolated in counseling. But as she approached operations, she remembered that there was a drip in the system that kept her fern watered. "No time like the present," she said, turning to walk into main operations to see if she could get someone to stop by her office.
As she looked around, she noticed Connor sitting in front of a console. "Ensign Turner, what brings you to operations?"
Startled by the sudden conversation, Connor bent his head forward and then turned to the side, causing it to meet the panel's door. He dropped his tool and rubbed his head. "Ow!" he complained before politely answering Zhara's question with a one word response, "Transferred."
Debating whether that was enough of an answer, he sorted his thoughts a bit more, "Lieutenant Diari did it." He sighed and complained, "Ensign F'rar....Called her something, um, well, uh, unpleasant," he told Zhara as he finally met her eyes....
Zhara came closer to Connor. "Ensign F'rar called Lieutenant Diari something unpleasant and you've been transferred to operations?" she asked, not sure she understood correctly.
Connor shook his head and took a deep breath. He looked away from Zhara and said, "No no. I, um, well, called, um, Ensign F'rar a, well, bint."
She raised both eyebrows. "And what did she do to deserve that?" As far as the counselor was concerned, Paisley probably pushed him far enough for him to lash out--even though as epithets went, it was fairly mild.
"Well, um, she's continuing to razz me about Holly, not believing she's, um, well, real. She, um, even implied...." He stopped and gulped hard and turned away, "She implied, well, that we were, well, a couple."
Connor realized that he may have inadvertently offended Zhara and his voice became more panicked. "Not that um, you're, well, not pretty. Just well, you know what I, well, mean, I hope." His face flushed slightly. "And then she went on about how she was involved with three women and so, well, I um, well, being cheesed off, I snapped a bit, and called her a 'bint.'"
His voice sounded more pained, as he continued, "And do you know what really got my knickers in a twist? She has the cheek to yell at me after she dumped coffee on my head. She said she was taking herself to the brig, she was, and she did not." He sighed, having exhausted his ability to speak full sentences before Zhara. "So there you have it."
"Oh, my." Zhara wasn't sure if she should laugh or not. Not at Connor, but at the situation. She would definitely look up Paisley's psychological profile when she got back to the office. "I have rarely met anyone in Starfleet who rivaled Ensign F'rar in sheer hubris. I have no idea how she can excuse her own behavior. I think I'll have a chat with Vura about her. From what I saw in the lounge and what you've told me, she seems a bit...off-balance."
Zhara hesitated for a moment. "You handled yourself well, by the way. It was an excellent start."
"I did?" Connor asked extremely confused. "I really thought I was, well, um, untoward. But Officers Llaxia and Reena applauded, so, um...." He sighed and looked down, feeling completely lost. "And, um, I, well, have, another, um, problem, um, if you have, um, a tic."
"You're just starting to work on it. It will take time and practice." She said, answering the first question. "I do have time. How can I be of help?" She was also curious. This was the first time he'd actually asked for help. More progress.
"Um, well, uh, I guess I should, um, just come out and say it...." He took a deep breath. "A woman kissed me.... Twice!" he squeaked. "On the lips. Or maybe one was on the cheek? Or was that a third one?" His brain tried to gather itself as he rolled his eyes backwards, trying to think. "I told her, well, I had a girlfriend, the first time, and well, she said she would be, um, hands off. But, um, that did not happen." He sucked in his lower lip. "I'm, um, really, not sure what happened...and, um, I'm not sure I, well, minded the second one." He gulped hard, "God, if Ensign F'rar knew about this...."
"She won't know unless someone tells her," Zhara said. "And it sounds like you didn't mind it. So it seems to me that the next step is to verify whether or not you still have a girlfriend."
Connor nodded weakly. "I haven't talked to this, well, other person, again, either. Just, well, I wouldn't know what to say. But, yes, first things first. I, um, well, have to find Holly.... Holly Moore." He said her full name as if trying to remember what it was like to say her name. "I just...I don't, well, how would I even, um, start a, well, conversation?"
"Ask the computer for her by name. Tell it that she's a Starfleet officer and when she graduated the Academy. Since you both graduated together, it shouldn't be too difficult to connect. If you can't find her, I can search through Starfleet records for her as this can be considered important for your mental health.
"Um, yeah. I guess I never thought about it. I mean, I'm, well, a computer specialist. Should be easy to find Holly...." Something about the way Connor said that showed his reluctance to do anything, inertia having set hold. "But, I mean, um, what would I say? How do I start? It has been, well, a year...."
"The way I see it, you have two choices," Zhara began. "Either you contact her this week and see how she's doing. Start with a general question about her job and her life and go from there, or write her off as a former girlfriend and explore what you may be able to build with this other woman. The choice is up to you." she knew better, though, and so added a third option. "But, knowing you, you'll need to find closure with Holly before you can move on to anything else. Right?"
Connor nodded solemnly. "I need to know, well, what our status is. I cannot do anything without knowing what, well, expectations are." He blinked a couple times trying to sort it all out in his brain.
"You do, and I think you're ready for the next step," she said quietly. His attitude had changed since she saw him last, and she felt he would come out of this even stronger. "If you need help, let me know. Or just let me know how it turns out." She smiled encouragingly.
"If I can't talk to my girlfriend, who can I talk to?" he asked more concerned. "Right?"
"I can look her up and find out a few things if you can't, and I'm always willing to be a sounding-board."
"Thank you," Connor responded after a big sigh. "I guess, well, I guess I have been avoiding this conversation." He sighed again. "I'm, well, not good at starting, um, things. Especially with, well, women. So, I thought, well, she knows me.... We're dating, right? She'll contact me. And, well, if she had not, it was because she was busy, and well, I don't want to intrude. It would, well, be, impolite. But, well, I guess I have to now, don't I?"
"I'm afraid you do. Just to know for yourself if it's over." She smiled sympathetically. "It has been a year, and if she hasn't contacted you, she's probably moved on, but you need and deserve closure." Zhara had little sympathy for the missing Holly who didn't bother telling him she was breaking up with him, and even less for Paisley and the way she'd treated Connor. But this was definitely something he needed to do so he could move on.
"Well," he replied, shoulders slumping, "if it has to be done, it has to be done. I best get on with it sooner rather than later. If I think too long, well, I might end up not doing it. My shift ends soon, so.... I guess straight away after that?"
"That sounds like an excellent plan." It would be far better to get it over right away than stew on it, and Connor had enough on his plate right now. This was something he could easily take care of now.
"Well then," Connor started, "Um, I suppose I should get back to work then...."
Zhara smiled. "And I should take care of some business. Good luck." She left him in peace and went over to file a request to have someone look at her office. She was quite pleased with Connor's decision. He was going to do well here.
A Joint Post By
Ensign Connor Turner
Computer Systems Specialist, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Junior Grade Zhara Rynn
Counselor, USS Pioneer
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