Meeting of counselors

Posted on Sat May 29th, 2021 @ 1:20am by Lieutenant Alyssa Walker & Ensign Arianna "Ari" Connolly

2,204 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: [USS Ottawa]Bendy and the Dark Star Trek
Location: Chief Counselor's office
Timeline: MD001 2000 hrs.

Alyssa had finally found time to set up her book shelves. With everything that was happening, she barely had time for her own things. She had also put them in alphabetic order. She looked satisfied to the work she just had done. She put the empty boxes together behind her large chair in the room. As her work for the day was done and she was just waiting for her night shift on the bridge. Which should start in about an hour. She decided to put on some music to loosen herself up.

"Computer....put on some music...." She paused a moment to think about what she wanted to hear. "some 20th and 21st century pop style music."

The computer tjirped. "Specify artist."

"Computer play playlist Walker 2." She called out. The computer tjirped once and the music started to play the list she had compiled. She smiled. "Much better."

Ari sighed. She was supposed to meet with a woman named Alyssa. And she was supposed to live behind the door Ari currently stood in front of. She drew in a breath and knocked on the door. Not at all certain as to what to expect, she waited patiently.

As Alyssa was swaying to the music she suddenly heard a knock on her door. She walked to the door and pushed the botton next to the door and the doors open to reveal a young ensign with green eyes and blond hair. She blinked a little as she tried not to look in to her eyes. "Ensign, no one ever knocked on my door." She pointed to the small console next to the door. "I have a door chime, it works as a door bell. If I am in session the computer will tell you that. But I am not in session now, so please come in. I have a little time before my shift on the bridge." She walks in and just moved her hand around the room. Pick yourself a chair and have a seat. Can I get you something to drink?"

The room was spacious, with a desk and two and session area where Alyssa had a cough, a large chair, a corner full of pillows, two smaller chairs and two yoga balls.

"If you have some water, I'd appreciate it. I literally just arrived here", Ari said as she studied the brunette in front of her. The woman seemed kind, but also determined. The latter had to be a given. No one got into a Chief of Department position without determination. "Sorry about not using the door chime. My childhood home wasn't exactly advanced in technology", Ari told the woman, thinking back to her adoptive parents and their small Antiques' shop on Earth.
"The USS Ottawa is quite a change. Though, it's a good one", she went on as she sat on a small chair. She wondered what kind of personalities she would meet at the Ottawa. So far, everyone had been kind, but she had learned by firsthand experience that kindness didn't always go bone deep.

Alyssa walked to the replicator and ordered two glasses of water and then walked to the table in the middle of room in front of the chair Ari was sitting in. She put the glass in front of the young ensign. As she spoke to the Ensign she looked to her glass. "It's quite alright, Ensign. Everything is still a learning experience in the fleet. You'd be surprised what new things Captains, or even Admirals learn in their career." She smiled. "Before you ask, I have a condition that makes me not look people in their eyes. If I look in their eyes I get feelings and images from them in my mind. I am human, this...gift, you might call it. Seems to not stop giving. I recently discovered it can also now project feelings, thoughts, and emotions from me to others. It took me a bit to get used to doing my work like this. But I have found out, that the crew sometimes ask me to read them like that, but I find it rude to just do it like that. So I will look away from time to time. Unless you want me to read you.
"

"I appreciate your honesty", Ari told the woman. She wondered how it would feel to not be able to look people in the eye. She wouldn't like it, that was certain. Ari liked watching people, learning how they interacted with others. She sipped her water. "It sounds a bit, complicated", Ari commented. "I can't even start to imagine how it must be". Suddenly, a pounding started in her head. Like the beat of a drum.
It wasn't the first time lately, that it had happened. She had found out during her time at the Starfleet Academy that she was part human, part betazoid. It had explained a lot, but so far, she hadn't had a chance to find someone who could teach her how to deal with her empathy and telepathy. While it wasn't always that she felt other people's emotions, and at times a thought or two, she sometimes felt like quite the outsider. She didn't how to deal with the influx of emotions she sometimes felt from others. It was overwhelming
Before she had attended the Academy, she had thought she was human. It was first in 2nd year at the Academy that she had sought out sickbay to see what was wrong. Her self-defense teachers had urged her to go there. And, after months of headaches and the feeling of losing control, she had gone there. It had been a relief to know what was going on, but there hadn't exactly been many who had had the time to teach her.

"It does, empaths or telepaths, like Betazoid are able restrain themselves, as they are taught at an early age by their parents. I still sometimes am tempted to look up and look someone in their eyes." Alyssa smiled. "But my patients don't seem to mind. Some even request it. Would you like a reading, Miss Connolly?"

"I don't know", Ari admitted. "I'm currently dealing with headaches. Being part Betazoid has been a literal headache. I haven't had anyone with the time to teach me. It's been... tough. I've tried to see if there was anything I could do on my own, but I haven't found anything that helps". She sighed. She had spoken the truth. For one, because being honest had gotten her far, and second, because she hated lies. Being honest and truthful worked for her. And she wouldn't have it any other way.

"Oh, I see." Alyssa. You're part Betazoid, I am surprised you didn't detect my ability. Most Betazoids usually do. Somehow Betazoids are not effected by it, and usually seem to regulate my power. Which is interesting." She made mental note to look further in to it. She then turned her attention back to Ari. "You should meet with Cadet O'Donnaghue. She is the Captain's Yeoman, but she is the daughter of Commander Layla Meran, who is Betazoid, and that makes the cadet a half Betazoid. She maybe just a Senior cadet, but don't be fooled, she is pretty smart, just like her mother. I am pretty sure she can help you with your problem."

Ari looked gratefully at Alyssa. "I'll do that. It's getting tiresome to have constant headaches", she said. It was nice to know there was help to get here. It had been years with the headaches. She was looking forward to meet Cadet O'Donnaghue. It would be nice to meet someone who might have dealt with the same she was going through.

"I can imagine. Luckily I don't experience that. But I just don't want to make people feel uncomfortable with my ability. Though it sometimes can't be helped. It's hard not looking people in the eyes, sometimes." Alyssa shrugged. "So how do you find the Ottawa thus far?"

"I like it. The few people I've met have been friendly and welcoming", Ari said honestly. "I'm looking forward to meet the rest". She struggled a bit with finding the right words. It was the first time she had met such a friendly bunch of people. Her adoptive parents loved her, of course And the Academy had been good for her, but it had been more... formal. And her first years of life had been at an Orphanage, where she had basically been resented from day 1. She had never found out why, but it had been hard to have no friends there.
She was a woman who valued loyalty and kindness, and it had stung that she had had no one to rely on during those first 5 years. With an inward sigh, she forced her mind away from the past and back to the present. The past had happened and she couldn't change that. What she could do was affect how her life would be from now on. "It's going to be interesting, working here. I look forward to it"

Alyssa smiled. "Well that is good to hear. So what are your expectations of the job? Are you aware what you are supposed to do in your position, your role as counselor's aid?"

Ari shrugged. "I applied, as I want to help other people. I'm not a 100% certain what an Aide does, but to me, it seems like assisting the chief counselor with whatever is needed", she said. "I'm hoping to get a lot of experience. As for expectations, as long as I get to help people, I'm fine", she added with a smile.

"You're a counselor's aid, and this ship has a counselors department. This means that you not only assist me, you also assist the other ship counselors in the department," Alyssa explained. "Not only do you prepare counselor rooms for sessions, you could also assist me during sessions as well as group sessions. As Chief counselor I also lead this department and set up the departments schedule. I will ask you to assist me with that as well." She thought a moment and then turned over a little more to Ari's direction. "Tell me, Ari, do you aspire to be a counselor some day?"

"At some point, yes. However, as I'm not exactly experienced with my empathy/telepathy, I figured Aide would be a good place to start. I need some guidance on those powers. "There wasn't anyone at the Academy who had the time to teach me properly", Ari said with a small smile. "I'm looking forward to start learning. Being an Aide is going to be interesting". She thought over what she had said, wondering what else there was to add.

Alyssa smiled, "You do understand that you don't need to have emphatic or telepathic abilities to be a counselor, right?" She continued on, "Betazoids and other telepathic species are often filling other positions than that of counselors. Some find it would come very in handy when practicing, but the majority of counselors in the fleet don't have the abilities. They rely on their training and experience."

"From what I've read about counseling, I found out that the majority of counselors aren't empaths or telepaths. I understand that experience is important to be a good counselor. I didn't really think of my abilities when I applied", Ari admitted. "I like working with people and I want to be able to do a difference for them. I don't need to save the whole ship. If I can do 1 good thing for a person, and they get better from it, then I will be happy", she went on.
"Not saying that I won't do more than that, but I find it important to help each person who needs it".

"Very good, ensign. I will have to assemble some easy crew you can handle for me then. And you can assist me in group therapy sessions." Alyssa smiled. She probably would find it a bit hard to do, but Alyssa was sure she could handle them. "And don't worry, I as psychiatrist will always remain responsible. And if you need any help, I am not far away. I will find you a session room if you like."

Ari smiled gratefully at the other woman. "That would be lovely. And much appreciated", she told Alyssa. "I'm looking forward to it". She meant was she said. Ari was the type who detested lies and hidden agendas. Better to say things as they were, even though they might hurt to be said, and heard, for that matter. It was going to be interesting to see how her work, and her life, would be from now on.

Alyssa nodded. "Very good." She picked up her glass and emptied it and put it back down. "You're welcome to stay, but I have a lot of work to do. Maybe you can go about and meet the crew?"

Ari nodded. "I'll do that. It'll be good for me to meet the people on the ship. Thank you for the talk", she said and stood.

---

Lieutenant Alyssa Walker
Chief Counselor
USS Ottawa-A

Ensign Arianna Connolly
Counselor's Aide
USS Ottawa-A

 

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