Sitting on The Couch
Posted on Mon Jan 8th, 2018 @ 6:33pm by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Lieutenant Amelia Zano Psy.D.
Edited on on Thu May 31st, 2018 @ 9:54pm
1,647 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Episode 2 - The Enemy Within
Location: Captain's Ready Room - Deck 1 USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD002 0900 hrs
Tags: SD 71373.0900
She had yet to meet her boss, the head honcho of the ship, Commander Malbrooke. Having read a little about him from his service record and psychological profile she was apprehensively looking forward to meeting him, although she often found that reading about someone and actually meeting them often are not the same.
Always being the curious bookworm she did like to do her homework before any situation so she had hoped this would be a pleasant experience. People can often be off put by her teenage appearance rather than appreciate the person behind it. The curse of an El-Aurian that she would no doubt deal with for a while.
Walking up to the door via the corridor, not wanting to enter the bridge without permission, she pressed the door chime and waited.
Tyler sat at his desk as he enjoyed a cup of coffee and a moment of peace. He was simply staring at the starfield as it passed the window at warp. He thought that as much as he longed for command he was beginning to feel the isolation of the big chair. The door chime snapped him out of his revelry. "Come on in..."
Amelia stepped through the door and smiled as the man turned to her. "Lieutenant Junior Grade Amelia Zano, your new Chief Counsellor, reporting in sir." she said standing to attention.
Tyler looked at the young woman before him, pretty and young he thought. Then he chuckled to himself as he remembered her service record, she was El Aurian youth was relative to them. "At ease Counselor, no need to stand on formalities here. Have a seat... Is there anything that I can get you?" Tyler stood as he motioned to the chair in front of his desk. He went to the replicator and ordered a fresh cup of coffee, and waited to see if the counselor wanted anything.
"Thank you sir." Amelia replied moving to sit down. "Can I have a hot chocolate please, honestly think I'm addicted that that stuff." She had no idea why she added that last part, it just seemed to come out freely. She was supposed in instil that in others, not the other way around.
Tyler had the replicator create a hot chocolate and handed it to her. "You should try the stuff with a little cayenne pepper. At least that is they way my mom used to make it, guess I got hooked to. Well, what can I do ya for?" He said as he smiled and sat back down.
"Cayenne pepper? Oh no sir, couldn't do that, too spicy for me." she laughed lightly taking the cup from him. "My father always tried to make an old family version of hot chocolate from El-Auria but it... ehm... didn't go so well for him, or the kitchen."
She watched as Malbrooke sat back down and asked what she was here for. "Just in to say hello sir. Put a face to the name so to speak, your service photo doesn't do you justice sir." she paused realising she may have over-stepped unintentionally. "Also to see if there's anything you need from me, any issues I need to look at, and also if you would like me on the bridge? I know some Captains like counsellors present but I'm happy with whatever your preferences are." She smiled taking a sip of her drink.
Tyler smiled at the compliment, and chuckled. "Service photos are uniquely horrible, but thanks. Cayenne pepper in hot chocolate must be a midwestern thing." Tyler had never met an El Aurian before and he was experiencing the unique aura that they had. There was a growing part of him that wanted to tell this woman his life story, and then he placed that feeling in check. A Captain must be detached... he told himself.
"Personally, I do not have any need for your counselling services..." His smile alluded to both the fact that he felt fine, and the fact that even if he didn't he probably wouldn't tell her. "...However, I plan on tapping you to be my Diplomatic Officer as well. This is not an unheard of concept on Federation Starships. In terms of the bridge the Pioneer was not designed for diplomatic missions and as such there is no station for you on the bridge. However, I plan on borrowing a tactic from an officer that I admire, Admiral Janeway. She used a man named Neelix as her diplomat and counselor. When he was needed as a diplomat he was summoned to the bridge. Would that be an issue for you?" Tyler leaned back in his chair and sipped his coffee as he reached behind his back for the hat rack that was there. His father's rancher hat sat on that rack, without thinking Tyler placed it upon his head.
"From Scotland sir, as long as it's hot and tastes good we tend to be quite happy. My father on the other hand loves spice and has tried to 'poison' me a few times!" she laughed slightly as she listened to what else he had to say.
She smiled as 'the wall' came up, even though she had meant ship wide issues for her to look at but she didn't want to say anything to correct him. He seemed like a nice guy, she had read his file and he was indeed an exceptional commander but sometimes that can take its toll on a person. "No sir, no issue at all. My experience in diplomacy is limited I must admit but I can definitely look into it some more to bring myself up to speed. Just don't throw me in with any jittery Nausicans and I think I'll be OK." she paused to take another sip of her drink noting his subconscious action of putting a hat behind him upon his head. ~Must be important to him~ she thought as he handled it with care.
"In terms of the crew a few of them have never been on deep space assignments before. I worry that they don't fully know what they are getting themselves into out here. I would like to also use you to gauge the crew morale. I have discovered that as much as I want this crew to be a family and come to me with anything, they most likely won't due to my rank and station on the ship. However, they would you... I am not asking you to breach doctor, patient confidentiality. Simply to let me know the mood of the crew at large, I guess a morale officer of sorts." Tyler chuckled... "...And I don't think we will be dealing with Nausicans, Cardassians however will be in abundance."
"Tell me Counsellor... Who councils the counsellor?" he added as he sipped his coffee again.
She had no problems with Cardassians, or in fact any species, maybe except The Borg, for obvious reasons. She liked that he wanted the crew to be like a family, that was nice to hear as she too felt that was important in bringing people together and instilling trust, good for bonding. Whereas they may not run to the Captain with every problem that was indeed what she was for, an ear to bend and a shoulder to lean on. 'A race of listeners' can somewhat be expected of her but in her case she was more than happy to hear people.
"Mostly my mother if I'm honest... have yet to need clinical help but who knows this could be the assignment to change that!" she finished jovially.
Tyler laughed "Oh, I don't think that we will drive you to professional help. However, I know that dealing with everyone's problems can be draining as I am sure you have some of your own. I want you to know that I am here as a friend and as your commanding officer should you need. You have to understand that we can't call mom all of the time..." He smiled again and sipped his coffee...
"Thank you sir, I'll remember to call on you if I need too but doctors are the worst patients, don't forget that." she laughed a little also. "I think my mother would love to hear from me more, she's the worrying type so if I don't call her every week she's calling me." she said rolling her eyes.
Leaning forward, "I'm also here for you too sir, anything you say to me is always in the strictest of confidence and I hope, in time, that you'll feel comfortable in coming to see me if you need too. I know not all Commanding Officers like to talk to members of their own crew as it may be a conflict of interest but I assure you I am the utmost professional." She finished smiling.
Tyler smiled and nodded curtly. "Indeed, well counselor you will find that I have the best counselor already. My wife Katherine, I am sure she would love to meet you when we return to the station." He chuckled, "but I will keep it in mind, and thank you."
"No problem sir." She finished off her drink and placed the cup on the Captain's desk. "It was nice to speak to you sir but I know you're a busy man, I'll get out of your hair." she said smiling.
"Counselor, my door is always open to my crew. Even if it is just to say hi. Welcome aboard Amelia." He said as she got up to leave. Tyler thought well she will be a fine addition to this crew.
A Joint Post By:
Commander Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Junior Grade Amelia Zano PsyD
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
RSS Feed