Life is a Mystery

Posted on 06 Dec 2013 @ 12:51pm by Commander Luke Wyatt & Commander Scarlet Blake

2,144 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 04 - Exodus
Location: USS Galileo: Counsellor's Office
Timeline: MD 8, 1400hrs

[ON]

Counsellors. There are three things in the world that Marines try to avoid. The Borg, Showers and Counsellors, or at least those were in the top ten and not particularly in that order however Luke had just dealt with the Borg, had a warm shower and was now on his way to see the ships counsellor Lieutenant Commander Scarlet Blake, today was not a good day. He had previously tried warning her that he was a lost cause and that he had so many thing swirling around in his head that even he didn't want to think about them.

None the less Luke was stood outside the Commanders office having just pressed the bell chime. He wondered what she would start with first a drink? Or was she one of those 'lets get down to it' sort of types. Luke had even tried thinking of a way in getting out of the entire situation but for the only Marine on board a scientific vessel it was kind of hard to have anything to do at all.

His last counselling sessions a good few years back before he was stationed at Aleron Base ended up with the famous and desirable quote of Lieutenant James Wilson who had said trying to talk with Luke was like trying to get blood from a stone. Impossible. But since then the years have passed and he felt more vulnerable than ever. Even Luke was worried about what secrets he had locked away from himself, and the last few weeks had been especially an emotional train wreck. He thought back to Abbey who had now probably received news about the destruction of half of the Venture and now not only grieving the death of one but two parents.

Uncontrollably the Image then changed to the dominion war as if he was watching his life through a screen. He was commanding his platoon in an assault on one of the jem'hadr ketracel-white facility. The Marines that day were praised for the bravery though they had lost over half their numbers and if it wasn't for the Klingons coming to there aid in the last few hours of the battle he wondered if he would have been amongst the dead.

Before Luke had chance to recall another event in his history he regained his composure feeling slightly ill. He hoped this session would be less painful as any before though he had his suspicions.

As the door slid open, Scarlet Blake was stood on the other side of it, having got up to physically open it herself. She gave the man a small smile, already knowing who he was. "Gunnery Sergeant Luke Wyatt," she nodded to him before motioning with a hand for him to follow her inside. "Please, come in, get comfortable. I'm Lt. Commander Scarlet Blake. Can I get you anything?"

"Besides a good nights sleep away from the nightmares just passed, no thankyou" he said smiling as he stepped into the threshold of the counsellors office and towards the chair.

Scarlet shook her head briefly, her lips pulling with a barely concealed smile as she moved to grab herself some coffee before sitting with him. "Well I tend not to dish out the sleeping vials until I'm on a first name basis. How has it been on you? The last few days I mean," she asked, knowing it had been rough on everyone.

Like slouched in the chair closing his eyes and slightly embracing the comfort before replying. "I am doing great actually, I'm in my element" He lied. "What about you Commander?"

"Oh, just about the same as you, I suspect," she offered in return, smiling gently but knowingly as she sipped her coffee. "I suspect you'd feel much more in your element if you were surrounded by a platoon of marines, hm?"

"Ofcourse, and you would rather have a fleet of ships rather than just one?" He countered again, so far his usual tactics were working. "However all we have is one Marine and a half destroyed ship."

"So we must make do with what we have," Scarlet searched his features for a long moment. She finally let out a long breath. "Okay, I'm going to level with you. I'm an ex-Marine. I'm used to the mindset, and the avoidance games, and I know just how much we like to avoid the shrink. So why don't we skip the crap, so I can make sure your head is screwed on straight, which we both know it probably is, and then I can let you get on with your job?" she arched an eyebrow and sat back with a small smile pulling at the corner of her lips, watching for a response.

Luke took a moment to swallow the sudden outbreak. Apart of him resented her for coming straight out with it whilst the other half wanted to just give in. "I am not good with these sort of things, but I guess I can do my best" he finally offered.

Scarlet shook her head with a smile, leaning forward to him to lower her voice. "Gunny, it's not about being good or bad at this. You have my word. I don't even think you can be good or bad at it. All I want...is the truth. Simple as that. So...why don't we start with what it's been like for you moving to a Starfleet ship...?"

Luke shrugged uneasily "Hard ofcourse, I don't belong here and everyone knows it even if they don't say it but you can tell. I am Marine after all as you said out of the entire ship I actually only feel comfortable round one or two people. Even then I catch their gazes as if i'm gonna turn crazy"

"And is that what you think?" she asked, but with a small, half smile. "That you're going to 'turn crazy' here?"

"Ofcourse not!" He objected shaking his head disagreeably "it's just everything is different it's the opposite of what I do but I feel that after everything I have something here... People that I enjoy the company and would happily risk my life for" Luke shoulders slumped "but then I think of home and my daughter abbey everything's just so damned confusing. And people wonder why I prefer not speaking about them" Lukes mind wondered between the last week of events from the venture, to waking up on the Galileo and everyone he had met, Rhodes, the doc, the captain and even Blake. And of course aria who he had tried to distance himself from but failed. And eventually getting out of the nebula and all the people they had lost.

"Maybe talking about them will help get everything...unconfused," she chuckled at her own use of a stupid word. "Why did you join the Marines?"

"I joined up because I just wanted to do something that made a difference in a way that I understood. I've always understood the Marines the way we operate and why, we're not what people think we are as you probably know." A soft smile developed on his lips "ofcourse starfleet has its own comradery but in the marines you're not just colleagues or friends your brothers and you'd die for anyone of them. I just don't know if making the change would make me a better person or worst off"

Scarlet couldn't help but smile at that as she held his eyes. How familiar it sounded. "I always thought that the feeling of brotherhood came from the knowledge, deep down, that at some point, you were going to put your life on the line for the people you work with, and they were going to do the same for you."

Luke nodded, "What's the rules with having family aboard the ship? Its just that the main reason I was on Ds5 is so that I could keep Abbey close and now after this, I don't know what to do. feel as if I have dropped anchor here and met some really good people"

"I don't think there are fast rules, rather Command judges each case as it comes," Scarlet offered with a small smile before sighing softly. "Actually, I have my own daughter with me onboard. There is no one else who can look after her, so...she stays with me here."

"Oh right, No - Urm - father?" He asked trying not to sound personal but since he was giving this while session ago he thought he would make it two ways "Of course we don't have to talk... but I do wonder who councils the counsellor?"

"I get by," Scarlet replied with an edge of humour in her voice. "No. No father," she replied all the same. "If you wish to have your daughter onboard, it would be something you have to ask the Captain about. Although...don't be fooled. This isn't a quiet little ship, as recent events can confirm. It's an uncertain and sometimes dangerous place for a child. It's also why I'm sure you could feel comfortable here in your career, as you get used to it. I don't think you'll be bored, put it that way. I'm certainly not. I miss my sniper rifle at times, but, well, you still get that part of it," she laughed gently.

Luke was grateful that the conversation turned away from loved ones past "A Sniper huh? So you never actually got into the combat like a real solider then huh?" He joked meeting Blake eyes this time. He could see why she made an excellent counsellor thought behind the upper crust he wondered how she had changed away from being a Marine.

"Oh I was," she assured with a soft laugh, shaking her head. "I wasn't a specialist sniper, just something I took to. I was a psych officer, but ended up in the field and in the fight often enough to miss it now," she shrugged lightly, holding his eyes. "So I can understand your reservations, about serving somewhere different," she held his eyes at that, letting him know she meant it and wasn't just spinning a line. "You can still make a difference here, the reason you joined. The - lines will just shift a little. But you're an intelligent man, you can - relearn."

Luke appreciated the soft words and was determined to not let them fall on death ears, he liked the commander and Ex Marine does go a long way in terms of respect and over the last few days she had shown she could command both intelligently and without hesitation "Maybe you're right, I do like the most... well some of the security guys"

Scarlet had to chuckle at that, unable to help it. "Well, that's a start, right?" she teased lightly. "Luke, I have no worries about your mental fitness for work. You're clear from my side of things. You know that this could be a challenge, I'd be worried if you thought everything was going to be nice and easy when you change gear."

Luke pretended to be shocked "Its not going to be nice and easy?" He winked cheekily before giving a tentative smile "Thanks for the chat Commander!"

"Anytime," she nodded, holding his eyes. "And I mean that. Anytime. Doesn't need to be a full on session just to come and have a chat if you want and need."

"I'll make sure, maybe you can tell me more about your times as a Marine. I am sure we both have some crazy stories!" Luke stood up first pulling his tunic down and putting out his hand towards her.

She shook it firmly as she stood, a smile of amusement pulling at her lips before she pressed them together. "Indeed. That would be one way of describing it..."

Settling his hand to his side He shared a moment of awkwardness not really knowing if he should wait to be told to move or just to move. Finally he began to make his way to the door.

Scarlet laughed softly as she watched him leave before sitting back at her desk, looking across to a picture of her and an old friend in Marine uniform, and then the picture of her daughter, Lily next to it; the reason she left. She smiled softly before making the entry to clear Luke in the computer.

Luke continued down the corridor, the session running back through his mind. He was at least glad to have someone who had shared the same experiences he had even if they were somewhat different but she was still a Marine and that held a lot more than rank to him.

[OFF]

Gunnery Sergeant Luke Wyatt
Marine Liaison
USS Galileo

Lt. Commander Scarlet Blake
Chief Counsellor/2XO
USS Galileo

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