New Session

Posted on 12 Feb 2015 @ 10:07pm by Lieutenant JG Ethan Walker M.D., Ph.D
Edited on on 24 Feb 2015 @ 3:05am

1,374 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: USS Galileo, Deck 6, Wintrow's quarters
Timeline: MD42 1600 hours

ON:

Ethan was still getting used to the size reduction of the Galileo. After spending the last couple of years on a Luna-class vessel, he'd gotten used to the somewhat open spaces and wide corridors often wishing that the vessel was a bit bigger. Now, aboard this ship, it was like life aboard a tin can. Everything was close together from stem to stern to say nothing of the more cramped crew accommodations. It'd be a long time since Ethan had shared quarters with anyone - not since his days in the Academy. Walker might not have worn the rank of a Starfleet Officer, but that didn't mean he hadn't trained as one.

Walker had just found his way to the Counseling suites aboard the Galileo when his commbadge chirped. He frowned curiously at it, uncertain why he would be summoned so soon after coming aboard.

The commbadge chirped again as the 'caller' waited somewhat anxiously for a response. He had no idea who exactly he was calling since he'd asked the computer to page a chaplain, but since there were apparently more than one, the computer had opted to just direct him to the one with an active commbadge. "Paragon to uhm...any chaplain available," he tried again. He was sitting in his own quarters, feeling a little lost and confused.

'Well that's a first', Ethan mused to himself as his badge chirped. He'd been paged as a Doctor, Counselor, general crewman as Father Walker and just about everything else but he'd never been just paged as a Chaplain, and certainly not just 'whichever was available'. He smirked at the reality of it and tapped his badge.

"This is Father Walker, go ahead." he replied.

Caught off guard by the word 'father', Wintrow took a few seconds to respond. "Can we talk?" he asked, coming straight to the point. "I'm not certain where would be appropriate sir, but I need to talk to someone." He also wasn't sure what was proper protocol since he'd only spoken with a chaplain once so far, and he'd pretty much walked in on the man.

"Well... I'm sure I could manage a counseling suite in the next few minutes, but if there's somewhere you're more comfortable, I'm happy to meet you there? Your quarters, maybe?" Ethan pressed back.

"I'm in my quarters sir," Wintrow replied, "if..if it's not too much trouble, can you meet me here?"

"Consider me on my way." Ethan nodded, turning about to the nearest terminal to find where he was going.

As expected, the trip to Wintrow's quarters was a short one, considering the Nova-class vessel was so expansive. Barely ten minutes had passed before he was standing before the door and pressing the chime.

"Come." Wintrow sat on the floor before the couch, leaning his back against it, having his legs pulled up, his arms wrapped around his legs. He wasn't in uniform, instead wearing something akin to a robe and bright yellow fluffy socks. Obviously, the young man was not on duty and wasn't going to be anytime soon.

Ethan looked around and spotted his sudden patient sitting on the floor by the couch, but he didn't comment on it, he just walked across the room and did the same opposite him, though Ethan sat with his legs crossed Indian-style. "Hi." Ethan smiled patiently.

"Hi," the boy returned softly, "I'm Wintrow...I mean, Cadet Sophomore Wintrow Paragon. Why did you call yourself my father?"

"I am a Priest of the Catholic Faith. Father is the moniker we go by." Ethan answered, "Father of the church, leader of the faith. It can be a complicated explanation, but the point of it is, it's simply a name. You may call me Ethan, Father, Mr. Walker, Doctor Walker or whatever you feel most comfortable with. Provided it's not hateful." he smiled back.

"Oh no, I'd never do that!" the boy exclaimed, an expression of horror crossing his pale face. "I don't know what'd be more comfortable, what do you prefer? I listen to Wintrow, or Win..." He hesitated. "My callsign was Farseer....that'll do too, especially when I'm piloting..." He relaxed a little. "I spoke to another chaplain a while ago, and well...I still don't know where I belong. I feel I'm missing something vital in my life, and I don't know what it is."

"Well, Wintrow, why don't you call me Ethan?" he smiled patiently back. "Wintrow, when you say that you feel as if something's missing, can you be more specific? Is it a person? A hobby? A focus?" he asked, "Was there a time recently where you felt like this missing thing wasn't truly missing at all?"

Considering the questions, Wintrow looked down at his hands, fidgeting a little under the chaplain's scrutiny. "I'm not really sure," he finally said, "I suppose, my hobby is my work now. I love to fly, and I don't really care what I'm flying though I do miss my fighter. As for a person, I miss Alex, he's sort of a brother to me, and the only person who's as close as family to me. But, I miss something to believe in I suppose. I've never believed in God you see, I was never raised to believe in anything. Not even myself..."

Ethan kept any expression from crossing his features, though he certainly would have liked to smile - anytime someone came to the faith was something someone like him celebrated, but that was not set in stone just yet. "There is an expression, in my faith: God helps those who help themselves." he offered back patiently, "Believing in yourself is the first step to a healthy relationship with anyone. With colleagues, friends, shipmates. God will believe in you no matter what - but I think before you can have a healthy relationship with anyone, including Him, you must learn to believe in yourself." he now smiled, "I can help you - if you would like."

The teenager nodded solemnly. "Except...if he helps those who believe in themselves, how is someone who never learned to get any help? Or someone who was always told he amounted to nothing and thus believed such?" Doubt crossed the younger man's features as he looked up at the chaplain.

"Well you have to decide for yourself if you're going to let those people determine who you are and what you're worth, or if you're going to decide that for yourself?" Ethan asked, "He'll be there to hold your hand along the way, but it is you that has to get up and walk." he smiled, "Why don't we go back to the beginning - what you like best, your focus." Ethan redirected him, "Let's talk about flying. When you're in the cockpit, or the pilot's seat, do you still feel like you're nothing?"

Wintrow smiled, a little brighter now. "When I'm flying I feel free," he replied, "Then I feel as if I'm valued, because it seems it's what I do best. But dealing with people..." He shook his head. "I sat in to learn counselling techniques,but that's not my thing. I do love to tinker..." And anyone who had ever seen him work on the craft he was expected to learn how to fly, could verify the young half-Betazoid pilot was perfectly happy in his own little world at such times.

"Well that's the feeling we should focus on. Center in on that feeling you get when you're in the cockpit and take control now. Would you like to close your eyes and try? I can teach you some common meditation techniques that can help you find that place in your own mind, like when you're in the cockpit, so you can approach day to day life with it."

"I would like that," the teenager answered, pushing himself up to go and sit on the couch instead. "Does it take long to learn?"

"Not at all." Ethan smiled back, "Why don't we start..."

"How?" Wintrow asked, dark eyes focusing on the chaplain.

OFF:
Cadet SO Wintrow Paragon
Support Craft Pilot
USS Galileo
[PNPC T'Vanna]

Ethan Walker, MD, Ph.D
Ship's Chaplain
USS Galileo

RSS Feed