From The Deepest Inner Mind
Posted on Wed Oct 23rd, 2019 @ 11:38pm by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke
Edited on on Thu Oct 24th, 2019 @ 12:30am
2,065 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Episode 8 - The Silence
Location: Tallida Ovaa's Quarters - Deck 2 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD003 1300 hrs
Two lunch dates with the Counselor in as many days. Either something was up and she was trying to evaluate him, or the crew was going to start talking about the Captain's habits. Either way he made his way to her quarters. The crew was all smiles as he passed them in the corridors. They seemed to be happy to have a mission of exploration ahead of them. As for Tyler he did not like the timing of this mission but he was happy to be on it. It gave him a chance to forget about Cardassian politics and Starfleet politics for a time. When he arrived at the door he simply rang the chime.
"Come in," She called from the kitchen as her and Merriam finished pulled the meal from her little oven. She grinned over at her Captain. "Welcome, Captain." She beamed. "Have a seat." She motioned towards table.
"Thanks Tallida! Two lunches in two days people are going to talk." Tyler said with a chuckle as he sat down. "So what's on the menu?" He asked Tallida but his gaze fell on Merriam. He of course knew of the AI that resided in the Counselor's quarters, but had not had a chance to interact with it. In truth he found Merriam to be another one of Tallida'a quirks.
"Ooo, the boss man is here." Merriam said in a sing songy way as she finished draining the pasta. Tallida rolled her eyes as she moved out of the small kitchenette towards the table with a salad bowl in hand. "Don't mind her." She said simply. "And I wouldn't worry about your crew talking, they all seem to think I am weird." She smiled up at him.
"Meh, they will get over it. The food smells delicious." Tyler looked around as the food was laid out on the table. For the time being he hid the feeling that welled up inside him. He could almost sense there was an ulterior motive to this lunch. However, rather than call it out Tyler decided to see where Tallida was going to go with this.
Tallida watched him for a moment. "I won't bite, sir." The idea that Neil could prove that that was a lie made her lips turn up in a smirk. She returned to the kitchen for the final piece of their meal. "Lunches are going to get awkward if you are always so, skiddish."
"True, save for the fact that it is almost a Captain's job to be skiddish." Tyler laughed as he let the idea that he was her superior officer fall away. Tyler wanted to be friends and Tallida was making the effort, so he should do the same. "You know it is about time that I have a chance to meet the great Merriam. I have heard much about you."
Merriam leveled her eyes at him as she looked him over as if she was assessing him, which she was.
Tyler was amazed at the AI, both sentient and not at the same time. She was definitely something to behold. However, at the moment he felt like Merriam was an impatient mom sizing up her daughter's date. "Counselor I am sure that by now you have had a chance to get to know the crew. So tell me what do you make of them?"
"Mer," Tallida scolded. "Leave the man alone. I promise you can have your way with him later." She gave the Captain a satisfied grin when the women terminated her own program. She looked over at the man thinking over his question. "You have some with major skeletons in their closets but so far nothing that seems to be debilitating." she offered smoothly as she took a seat at the table.
"Ah well that means they are simply put normal. I mean who does not have skeletons in their closet. If there is nothing that effects their duty then all is well. And how are you adjusting? Getting into the swing of things I hope." Tyler smiled as he spoke and then took a sip of his drink. He would make small talk until she decided to open up. I mean who counsels the counselor after-all.
"Seem to be," She responded taking a sip of her iced tea with a shrug. She motioned towards the food. "Feel free to dig in, I made way more than we need." She laughed thinking about saving some from Neil later.
Tyler was pretty hungry, the life of a Captain meant so little time to take care of one's self. He took a few bites of the delicious food. "This is delicious. Thank you."
"Just because you are the Captain doesn't mean you should always eat a less then stellar meal." She grinned as she took a few bites. "Is the tea ok?" She inquired. "It is not my recipe and I haven't decided if I like the sweetness level."
He sipped the tea and smiled as the warmth trickled down his throat. "The tea is good. However, much like many Captains before me I am typically a coffee drinker. However, the food is excellent. You caught me and I will try to take care of myself better. But the arguement for that fight begins behind my wife." Tyler chuckled.
"Well, I will help her however I can." Tallida replied with a smile. "And a little tea never killed anyone." she sat with the Captain in silence for a moment. It was easy between them which was nice. "So,"
The many years that Tyler had spent with Kat had taught him one thing about women. He knew when they were trying to lead him somewhere. "Buttons..." He replied quickly and with a smile. "However, I doubt you wanted to play word association. So pretend I am one of your patients and give it to me straight Doc."
"Word association would be easier." She admitted over her tea rim before setting the glass on the table. "What would you like to know?" she asked playing dumb quite well.
"It doesn't take a therapist to know that something is on your mind. So out with it... If you need I can take my Captain hat off." Tyler said with a grin as he sipped the tea and then took a few bites of food.
"It isn't really my mind that I am interested in." She replied taking a bite. "It is more your mind that I am curious about." She cleared her throat before taking another drink.
"And here I thought we were going to have lunch as friends." He smiled and took a bite. "i thank you for your concern, however, I am perfectly fine thanks." Tyler could smell that something was up and he did not like it one bit. Calm down she is only doing her job. The one you hired her for. He told himself.
The Angosian rolled her eyes. "A girl can't even have a meal with her boss without him thinking that she has an ulterior motive." She took another bite. "Making an psychological evaluation of you doesn't require you to talk to me, I can do that based on your body language and decisions." She shook her head. "I just wanted to have a chance to have a conversation with you, sir." Her tone was emphatic on the 'sir' to make her point.
Tyler raised his hands in supplication. "Alright, alright I am sorry. It just seems that I am getting hit on all sides lately. I most likely jumped the gun there. So tell me Doc what do you have on me so far?" He spoke in a less official tone, truth was he liked Talli. Closest thing he had to a friend on the whole ship. Well save for his wife that is.
"Other than being phobic of counselors despite befriending one." she smiled as she looked him over. "It isn't anything bad," She finished chewing. "I don't like that fact that you internalize your stress and take on full responsibility but it appears to be a pattern in commanding officers." She shrugged.
He smirked and pointed at her. "That is just it. In Command Training right before you sit for your Kobyashi Maru they drill it in you head. You are responsible for the actions of those under your command..." Tyler said the last words robotic like he had said them a hundred times before. "...I know it did not sound like it but I believe in those words. They are part of my soul. So, yeah I wind up internalizing a lot. Having Kat here helps with dealing with it a lot." Tyler added as he thought about how Quinn snuck that transfer in.
"So," She started crossing her hands as her elbows rested on her the table and her chin rested on her hands. "Do you not think that is why they insist on a counselor on every active ship?" She offered simply.
"And you said you were not ready to be a Counselor. I think there is a lot more to Tallida then she lets on." Tyler said with a smile as he took a few bites of his meal. "In truth, I always thought they put a Counselor on starships to make sure that no one actually snaps. I mean the void can cause some serious problems with people's mental health." His smile broadened, his answer was construed to simply not admit that she was right.
"You know what? You might be right." She replied not giving up that easily. She gave him a knowing smile. "Isolation not only in the void of space but the gap between him and the crew, it would make sense that the CO of a ship is the most in need of what you speak of." She nodded knowing he had walked right into her trap.
"And what does the good counselor recommend to remedy that situation?" He replied continuing with her premise. Not only did Tyler Malbrooke feel that she was correct, he wanted to see where she was going with this.
"Weekly lunches with your neighborhood Angosian, completely off the record" She grinned. "Tyler, you need someone to talk too. Especially about the things that you might not want to weigh your wife down with." She took a sip of her tea emptying the glass. "Besides, everyone needs a friend."
The words that he said to her on their first meeting, when she boarded now rang back in his ears. If he wanted her to listen to him, then he needed to listen to himself. "I think a friendly lunch can be arranged, just so long as you don't let the rest of the crew know that this isn't lunch. I do have an image after-all." Tyler mused and then drained his tea.
"Would you rather I let them think it is a date?" She teased. "Do you think they won't be lunches?" she asked.
"You know you could double talk a Romulan into a corner. The point is the Captain is to appear to be above reproach. You and I both know that they will be more than friendly lunches, you will be using them as sessions and that is fine. The crew however, cannot know that." Tyler sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "A lot has happened since I took command of this ship. I am proud of each and every moment, and would not change a thing."
Tallida laughed as she gave him a mocking saulte. "Yes, sir." She mocked. "Honestly, they are lunches with friendly conversations. I swear." She looked over at his plate. "Still hungry? I have more."
"More would be great..." He said with a smile. Tyler could not decide if she was keeping with the charade or if she truly was not ready to be a counselor. What he did know was that she was a friend, which was something he needed. Although he was waiting for the inevitable question about his mother. For the time being he was contented with simply enjoying the company of a friend.
A Joint Post By
Captain Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Tallida Ovaa
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
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