What To Do, What To Do?
Posted on 11/29/2020 @ 10:45pm by Captain Cian D'Anvers
Mission:
S2E2: The Auction House
Location: USS Crazy Horse, Counselor's Office
Timeline: Day 52 at 1530
Tahlin knocked on Richards's office door. Released from Sickbay two days before, she'd been taking it easy... If, by easy, you meant getting yelled at by a Klingon via hologram.
Siobhan had her hands full with colonists, but as a chief counselor, she made sure to be available to the crew in regular fashion. So hearing a chime to the door, she was not surprised. “Enter.” She called unlocking the door and leaned forward to switch off the screen of the console. Standing up, she was wondering who was going to visit her.
Tahlin entered. "Sorry to bother you, you've got to be busy, but if you have a moment?" The Bajoran dithered a bit before coming in.
Siobhan raised her hand and invitingly waved over. "You never bother me. Come on in. What can I get you?" She walked toward the replicator.
"I know its afternoon, but I could really use some coffee... Preferably black." The Bajoran flicked a bit of lint off her shirt. "Ugh, doesn't feel right, me not back in uniform, but the doc says I should be able to put that back on in a day or two."
"Funny, as I do prefer civilian clothes over uniform any day. But since I am on the ship, I have to wear this bland uniform." She gave Tahlin a grin before she stopped by the replicator and ordered. "Black coffee and a glass of water." And as the request materialized, she picked the cup and the glass and moved to the sofa. Putting them on the table, she pushed coffee toward the place next to her and invited the Bajoran lieutenant to seat with a gesture of her hand. "Please sit down. So what brings you to me, other than desire to drink a coffee with your counselor?"
Tahlin sat. "Well... After getting yelled at by my girlfriend over hologram, and a tense conversation with my brother and brother-in-law... I could use another perspective... Counselor, how close have you come to death?" She sipped at her coffee.
Siobhan raised her eyebrow. "Girlfriend? What happened to your Klingon potential?" She asked deciding to forgo the question for the moment in favor something else. Partially, to keep the Lieutenant a bit off and not let her dwell on things on things in the direction she decided.
"Er, sorry--we're officially together now... Granted, we're both probably going to be spending time with our other friend in both just friendly... And more intimate... settings when we get back to Earth, but things have always been a bit... Fluid between the three of us, ever since we were at the Academy together... K'Taal made sure I knew she was playing for keeps this time."
"Well, it's not that uncommon to have more than one love interest at the same time and even make such polyamory relationship." Siobhan said understanding. "I am guess that everyone is on it openly?"
Tahlin gave her a look. "Quite... Could you imagine a Klingon taking her partner cheating on her with another woman secretly very well? Hell, I think, if I remember correctly, they both asked me to... Join them... And that was that... But, setting my love life aside..." She took another sip of the coffee. "I don't think I can serve in Security anymore, but I still want to be a part of this ship, still a part of Starfleet... I don't know what to do."
"All right. Tell me about it. From the start. Where you realized you can't serve in Security?" Siobhan asked. "What happened exactly, as you feel it."
Tahlin bowed her head over her coffee, as though, through the act of putting herself in a postulate position, she could gain strength from some inner core. Looking up, she began: "After I got shot, I had a lot of time to think... In Sickbay, there's not much to do once you've exhausted the supply of work you can do by PADD, and if you find reading electronically after that much work difficult... Especially at night, when the lights were dim, if I couldn't sleep, I'd think... This continued when I got back to my quarters, and I had several discussions with K'Taal... This is the second time I've been severely injured in my line of work, and this time... I almost died... Consider, Counselor, if you can, being five, ten minutes away from death. All the regrets, all the things you haven't done, all the risks you've taken... It weighs on you..."
"I still want to serve," the Bajoran went on, taking another sip of coffee, almost desperately. "I do have other skills... But this captain needs a Security chief... If you weren't a Counselor, what would you be?" she asked the human.
"I don't know, maybe a diplomat. Or a spy?" Siobhan said lightly. She thought of lightening up the atmosphere and discuss the sudden idea but she could see that Tahlin didn't came here to talk before making a decision. "I see you've already decided, haven't you?"
"Well... Not exactly... I have some idea, at least... What did you have in mind, Counselor?"
"Nothing yet, that is why I ask, Lieutenant. If you are willing to remain on your post and want to work this out, this will require a different approach than if you want to change the post, or even change the ship." Siobhan explained. "I would like to talk to you about your plans. If you have at this point any, or maybe you have some leanings."
Tahlin sighed. "Well... I'm qualified for Flight Control... It would take some work, but I could transfer there... Its relatively easier to find a new Chief of Security than a Conn officer--I don't know if you've noticed, but they haven't given us a permanent one yet."
"I noticed." Siobhan replied. "But why would you be the one to take it over? Isn't the security yours first choice? Isn't this like running away?"
"Not... Not exactly... A ship needs a helm officer to direct her course... I have competent people in my... Well, former department, if it goes through..." She rose, taking her coffee with her, and moving to one of the view ports. "All I need is a tall ship, and a star to steer by," she said softly, almost to herself. "Seven stars, seven stones, and one white tree..."*
Siobhan smiled at the Bajoran. "That's what I mean. Part of you... I think bigger one, already decided on the move." She said encouragingly. "It seems that this is what you really want, at least for now." She pointed out. "Or am I wrong?"
"I... I think so, too..." Tahlin's shoulders shook, and she drained the rest of her coffee. "I think I just needed confirmation... Thanks, Counselor... But... Could we... I don't know--set up another session? I'm still having trouble with... what happened at the Auction House."
Siobhan leaned forward and nodded slightly. "Of course, Lieutenant. Anytime you want."
"Thank you, Counselor." Tahlin rose, putting her coffee on the table. "Well, I'd better get going... Thank you for the advice." She turned to leave.
"My pleasure, Tahlin," Siobhan said. She waited until the Lieutenant had left and began dictating notes from the session into her files. Once she'd finished, she sat back and thought about her question. The moment when one recognizes that life is finite was a significant one, no doubt exacerbated by a life that put one on the front lines. It made sense to reflect, make changes where warranted. I only hope, Siobhan thought, that the choice she's made is one that she can life with.
She looked up as the chime sounded, announcing her next patient and an end to her reverie.
*The two quotes are, respectively, from John Maysfield and J.R.R. Tolkien, the second being from a poem in Book III, Chapter XI of The Lord of the Rings.
A post by:
Lieutenant JG Lae'Or Tahlin
Chief of Security
USS Crazy Horse
and
Lieutenant JG Siobhan Richards, PhD.
Chief Counselor
USS Crazy Horse
