Interesting Questions

Posted on 03 Jul 2013 @ 6:04am by Lieutenant JG Jacrux & Commander Scarlet Blake

2,028 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo Deck 3 -- Counselor's Office
Timeline: MD 09 1430 hrs

[ON]

Jac looked upon every mandatory counseling session with somewhat fond tolerance. While he thought they served no use for his peace of mind in the way they were meant to for other individuals, Jacrux appreciated the opportunity to probe a counselor's mind, to turn the tides on the person who was supposed to be questioning him. Sometimes it was tiring to have to listen to everything a counselor had bottled up inside.

The young Ensign sighed and straightened in front of the door, giving it a knock with his right hand and bringing a sharp metallic noise from the surface thanks to his prosthetic. Jac summoned every bit of the haughty Romulan pride he could and cloaked himself within, ready to keep the meeting short so he could be finally cleared for duty.

Scarlet glanced up from her desk, laying the old fashioned pen down on the notebook. She pushed herself back with a small smile, moving to order a jug of lime cordial, filled with ice. "Come in," she called out.

Jac stepped inside and stood in front of the desk. "Ensign Jacrux, reporting for evaluation," he introduced himself in simple terms. The woman behind the desk got a quick glance, but Jac was more interested in the large window behind her.

Scarlet straightened up to watch the man with clear Romulan heritage. "It's good to meet you, Ensign, I'm Counsellor Scarlet Blake. Call me whatever you want," she assured with an arched eyebrow of amusement before motioning to the sofa. "Please, take a seat, get comfortable. Can I get you anything?" she carried the jug of cordial over with two glasses even as she asked if he'd like anything else. She knew some people still found it hard to trust Romulans. For herself, she didn't have the same feeling, she'd much rather share a drink with a Romulan than a Cardassian or Vorta. And she didn't care how 'wrong' it was to think that, she couldn't help it.

The staff of his new assignment seemed inclined towards more informal settings, Jac decided as he sat comfortably on the sofa. Then he reminded himself that counselors were supposed to try and make their 'patients' comfortable, though Jac was acutely aware of who was on the couch and who say behind the desk. He shook his head politely at the offer of a drink. "I am fine, ma'm," he assured her as he sat straight backed with his hands folded over his knees, "I don't plan on wasting much of your time." The words implied that the counselor would not waste much of his, either.

Scarlet's lips twitched, just for a moment, but she managed to hold back the smile. She didn't miss the meaning. She'd been a player far too long. "Don't you worry yourself about that, I have all the time in the world," she said with a reassuring voice, but the shine in her eyes made no doubt that she'd caught his meaning. She poured herself a glass of the iced drink before settling in the chair next to him. "So how do you like Galileo? Have you had the chance to see much yet?"

Jac's lips twitched like they wanted to form a smirk. If Blake wanted to compete with his 'knack,' then he would play the game. For now he played up the tightly-wound new crew member aspect.

"I haven't seen much, ma'm. She seems well run by the XO," Jac said solemnly, "He conducted the funeral quite well. Is that the normal state of affairs?"

"Usually the Captain would lead such a service, but she has been called away," Scarlet explained, shaking her head with a small smile. "How has life been treating you?"

Everything Jac had heard about the Orion Captain made him more curious to meet her. The XO showed enough control for Jac to feel the beginnings of respect, but he had yet to meet the rest of the higher command staff to see if they showed the discipline of the Commander or the more relaxed style the department heads seemed to prefer.

"I look forward to her return," Jac answered simply. He went on to address the question posed to him, "What sense do you mean? I received a new assignment, as you know."

"I meant in general," Scarlet assured, leaning forward a little. "It's a counsellor's attempt to not be so blunt and boring as to say 'how have you been feeling over the last months'," a small smile came to her lips at that.

"I appreciate the attempt," Jac shook his head. He didn't think there was anything to be done to make this any more entertaining. "The answer remains the same. I received a new assignment. I like novel situations, so it was a welcome change."

"And your previous assignment? How was that?" Scarlet asked as she crossed her legs, sipping her drink as she watched him with calm eyes over the rim of her glass.

"It was good training. They thought there were remains of a civilization on an asteroid, but everything was too damaged to be of use," Jac shrugged, "It was a six month waste of everyone's time. Rojar has not been so fruitless, has it?" He posed the question calmly in her direction.

"Not at all, I think you'll find a lot to do here," she assured with a soft laugh at the prospect. Indeed, it had to be a paradise to the science team. So many different things had already been found. "So you felt frustrated in your last position?"

"Not frustrated," Jac frowned slightly at the limitations of language, "Everyone was annoyed our time was not fruitful."

"What about ~you~?" she replied softly, but firmly. She didn't need to know what 'everyone' felt, only him.

Jac's frown deepened. "I was part of that group, of course. If we shared conflicting opinions about our goals, I would not have included myself." He thought his phrasing had been correct. In group and out group were extremely important designations to the Rihannsu.

Scarlet was silent for a long moment, watching him. It wasn't unusual for some people to hide their own emotions behind that of 'the group'. She didn't push it though, it could just as simply be as he said, that he shared the feelings and hadn't felt the need to elaborate. "How did you feel when you learnt you were going to be put onto a Science ship?" she asked, her smile returning; she'd have been excited herself, being put somewhere she could really sink her teeth into her work.

Another useless question. "I am a scientist officer. The most useful place for me is on a Science vessel," Jac pointed out.

Scarlet nodded to what he said, but also motioned to him briefly. "Of course, life isn't just about being 'useful', it's also about being content, happy even."

"If I can fulfill my goals, I am content and happy," Jac accepted. His goals, of course, included being as useful as possible.

"And what are your goals in life, Jacrux?" Scarlet asked with a small smile, interested as to what might make this man live.

He doubted the counselor would approve of him expressing the desire to be useful, to discover and fulfill the purpose given to him at birth. Jac used a bit of diplomacy he had learned in the few years he'd been among the Federation. "I wish to view and understand the galaxy, I guess," Jac shrugged.

Scarlet laughed gently at that, nodding in agreement as she shifted position, leaning on her other arm in her chair. "It certainly fuels a lot of us up here. It's one of those age old things that connects into 'the meaning of life'."

"Does it fuel you?" Jac returned the question. He thought to himself, with a slight surge of superiority, he would have a lot longer then the rest of his crewmates to experience the mysteries of the galaxy.

"Maybe," Scarlet replied with a small smile. What did motivate her would take far too long to explain, and it wasn't something she discussed lightly. "How have you been in general, Jacrux? Appetite, sleep, health?"

Jac pouted slightly. His knack wasn't working as well as he'd like. "Isn't a counselor strategy to express vulnerability by opening up about their own experiences to form a kinship feeling in their subject?" Jac shook his head. "No fun at all."

"I think you're far too sharp about all this to fall for that," Scarlet replied, but there was something close to playfulness in her eyes and she gave a small smile. "In fact, I suspect you would only use it to try and lead me off course."

"But we are still on course, travelling it together in partnership and harmony," Jac returned a slightly playful grin, "Doesn't the Federation favor a mutually beneficial exchange of information and values?"

"Oh, absolutely," Scarlet agreed readily, smiling as she held his eyes. "So how ~has~ your appetite, sleep and health been?" she added, as if it were part of that information they spoke of.

"Acceptable, yours?" Jac asked. He continued on without waiting for a response, knowing none would probably come. "I was Gamma shift, before, so there is an adjustment period."

Scarlet nodded with understanding, offering a small smile as she leant forward to refill her glass. "Have you had the chance to meet any of the people you'll be working with yet?"

"No, I'm getting acclimated first. I think I'd rather avoid the questions for as long as possible," Jac shrugged, "Unless you count meeting Security on my first day?"

"They count. If I said they didn't, I'd be in serious trouble," she said lightly, a small smile on her lips. "What questions would you need to avoid, Jacrux?"

Jac shook his head, motioning with his hands, "They range from, 'when are you going to kill us?' to, 'how can you get me some Romulan ale?" Usually they weren't phrased as questions, either."

Scarlet frowned as thought on how a diverse organisation like Star Fleet could still have pockets of prejudice in it. Still, she could hardly talk, she still had problems with Cardassians and Vorta. "How do you deal with it?"

"Depends on my mood," Jac gave Scarlet a grin that had a touch too much aggression in it to be comforting.

Scarlet smiled back, a shine in her eyes as she motioned to him. "Why don't you give me some examples on how you'd handle it in different moods then."

Jac bet that Scarlet was disappointed he didn't immediately admit to punching possessors or offending questions. "I usually turn it into a joke," at the other's offense, of course, "Or ignore it. Others are not worth the time it takes to acknowledge them." Slightly elitist, but it got the job done.

"Ignoring it is always a good strategy, and not rising to the bait usually makes them bored and drop it," Scarlet nodded in agreement. "Does it give you any regrets? Working for Starfleet?"

"Regret is not a productive emotion, so it is discarded," Jac shrugged. For now, Starfleet suited his purpose. He had plenty of time to investigate other avenues.

Scarlet watched him, wondering if it was truly so easily to just discard an emotion. Oh, people might want to, but actually doing it was a different matter. "Do you have any questions that I can help with? Or anything else you would like to discuss?"

"Ah, not that I can think of at the present," Jac inclined his head, "The conversation has been more enjoyable than I expected."

"I'm glad I could oblige," Scarlet chuckled, reaching out for her padd to tap for a few moments. "In that case, you're cleared, and free to go. You know where we are if you need to speak to anyone at any point."

Well, Jac could check this meeting off his list. "I will remember that. Be well, Lieutenant," Jac inclined his head politely and departed happily from the office.


[OFF]

Ensign Jacrux
USS Galileo
Anthropologist

Lt. JG Scarlet Blake
Chief Counsellor
USS Galileo

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