The Anti-Interrogator

Posted on 23 Sep 2013 @ 10:48am by Lieutenant JG Delainey Carlisle & Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Commander Scarlet Blake
Edited on on 23 Sep 2013 @ 11:00am

1,039 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 04 - Exodus
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 4, Sickbay
Timeline: MD 01 - 1530 hrs

[ON]

Delainey left Allyndra to return to the Triage Center and true to her word, she set her attention to speaking to as many of the alert Venture survivors as possible. Carlisle decided to start with the two survivors who were questioned by Intelligence. While the officer in her understood and appreciated the importance of gathering as much information as possible, the healer in her was protective and a bit resentful of the trauma such questioning likely left in its wake.

Approaching the older woman she saw Amynta speaking with, Carlisle noted she was still alert and staring at the ceiling. "Excuse me, ma'am, my name is Delainey Carlisle, I'm a counselor and physician here. I don't wish to disturb you, but I saw you speaking with a member of our intelligence team, and I figured that couldn't have been easy for you. If you'd like someone to just listen to how you're feeling, I'm here."

Taking notice of the blond, blue-collared counselor who had wandered over after the not-so-personable intelligence officer had just thankfully left, the woman let out a quiet sigh, then forced a smile on her face in an attempt to be pleasant to the lieutenant. "Hello counselor." she began, then lightly shook her head, "Honestly...I've been through a lot just now and I don't think talking more will really help. I'm pretty exhausted, mentally and physically, as most of us probably are."

"That's alright," Delainey replied gently. "I really just wanted to let you know I'm here if you find yourself having trouble sleeping or bothered by memories of what happened. I appreciate your willingness to share details of what happened, but I expect it wasn't easy to talk about. Sometimes having time to think after the danger has passed creates more questions than answers. If you need to vent, don't be afraid to reach out."

The survivor shook her head, more out of frustration than disagreement with the counselor. "I just want to know that our captain is alright. I've heard she wasn't recovered with the rest of the escape pods...along with some of our other crew." she sighed.

"That's correct," Delainey offered with a sympathetic nod. "I'm sorry for all you're going through. Is there someone in particular you're looking for besides the Captain? Perhaps I can see if certain people are amongst the wounded for you."

The woman briefly glanced back at Carlisle then returned her eyes towards the ceiling. "No, no one else. I don't have any family on board but I've been closest to the captain during my time on board. I suppose...I would like to know if the rest of the science team is alright?" she asked, her own blue collar revealing the obvious that she worked in that department.

"I'll see what I can find out on both counts. In the meantime, is there something else I can do to make you more comfortable? Perhaps get you some water?"

"No, I am fine. Thank you." she answered. There was nothing more she really wanted to talk about and while she appreciated the gesture, all she wanted at the moment was some time by herself without having to talk to anyone else.

Taking her cue from the woman's demeanor and her words, Carlisle smiled. "I'll let you get some rest." With that, she turned and headed to the next bed. Softly, she said, "Hello."

The man looked up from the bed, frowning for a long moment. "I don't know anything else. I've already told you everything I know," he said quietly, assuming that they had more questions.

Delainey shook her head and placed a reassuring hand on the man's shoulder. "My name's Delainey Carlisle. I'm a doctor and counselor aboard. I'm not here to ask you any more questions, just to tell you I'm here if you want to talk. I saw one of our intelligence team talking with you and figured that wasn't easy given what just happened."

He shook his head as he took a deep, tired breath, as if it actually ached to take it. "I couldn't tell them much. It happened too quickly. I don't think I was much help really." He was clearly distracted, vague and distant with it all, a frown etched into his brow.

"I'm sure you answered the questions as best you could. That's all anyone can ask of you. We all appreciate your willingness to share what you could."

He met her eyes before giving a slight nod. "There's hardly any of us left, is there. From such a big ship."

Delainey wasn't going to lie to the man, but she also didn't want to take away his hope either. "There are a good number of people missing, but we've also been able to recover more people than we expected. "Is there someone in particular you're awaiting word on?"

He shook his head with a frown, his breath unsteady as he rubbed his face harshly with a hand, as if to wake himself up or get a grip on himself. "You just get to know everyone. They become like family," he whispered.

Delainey nodded silently. She understood the sentiment. This crew felt like family to her too. "Losing family and friends is never easy, and not knowing is worse, I know. This may be of little comfort, but you're not alone in your feelings. Perhaps I can see if there's someone up and about from your crew to talk to? Sometimes just sharing your feelings with someone in the same boat can be comforting."

"That could be good," he admitted quietly, nodding slowly with a frown. "Only if they're up to company though. I think a load of us are in our own head at the moment."

Delainey nodded. "I'll see what I can do. In the meantime, if you need me, just ask."

He offered a small smile before nodding, settling back as he let out a long breath, trying not to let his mind drift too far from the Sickbay holding him.


[OFF]

--

Patient #1
USS Venture
NPC'd by Lirha Saalm

Patient #2
USS Venture
NPC'd by Scarlet Blake

Lt. Delainey Carlisle, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Chief Counselor/ Doctor
USS Galileo

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