See What's Inside (the mind of an Ensign)

Posted on 14 Jun 2012 @ 11:56am by Lieutenant Aria Rice & Lieutenant JG Brayden White Ph.D.

1,649 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 01 - Project Sienna
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 3, Counseling Office
Timeline: MD08 - 0700 hrs

[ON]

Ensign Aria Rice felt a bit more refreshed after some sleep. Not much though...she still had that weird 'what time is it?' feeling in her head. But hey ho, she had her uniform on and she had her hair pinned up. And she needed her head checked. Well, needed and needed...she needed to see a counsellor. Check up. Same as a medical, just a brain. She knew who she was seeing as well...Lt. jg Brayden White. And his office was easy to find as well. She rang the chime, humming to herself as she waited, her eyes shining. Okay. Yeah. She would be okay. She had been more scared about meeting her Chief, this was going to be a walk in the park.

"Come in!" Brayden set the surfboard against the wall beside the door. He'd only learned of the new Chief Counselor that morning and, while he was overwhelmingly glad to have someone else on board to share the counseling workload with, he was still trying to figure out how office hours would work. He assumed, since she was the Chief, that he'd be spending most of his time back in sickbay and just roaming the halls, but in the meantime... He turned to find the ensign stepping inside and held out a hand to her, "Aria, right? I'm Brayden. Have a seat. Want anything? Tea, water, mangoes?"

"Mangoes?" she asked with confusion, but a smile. "Real ones, not replicated?" she sat down, watching him...whatever she had wanted to say, to introduce herself and be all polished...the idea of fresh fruit had completely gotten her attention.

Brayden sighed, "Well, yes, they're replicated, but I've found they're one of the better ones the replicators can manage. Just the right amount of give. Have a seat," he waved generally around the office. "Wherever you like." He fetched a bowl of fresh sliced fruit from his desk and brought it back to her. "So. You've done these evaluations before?"

She smiled gently and nodded, taking a piece. She smiled gently, the taste good. "You're right, these are one of the better ones..." she said and considered it. "Yes, I've done these evaluations before. Last time I was awfully nervous, it was my first one..."

"How did it go?"

"Well, I didn't get kicked off ship," Aria admitted and smiled weakly at the memory. "But I made a complete idiot of myself, talking and talking and talking...sort of like I am doing now.." she grimaced and looked down. "Sorry, Sir."

"Brayden," he reminded her. "And talking is what you're supposed to do with counselors. That's why we're here." He took a seat across from her and set the mangoes between them. "So. What's on your mind?"

She finished her mango and rather than wiping her hand on her uniform (tempting, but out of question), she licked her fingers quickly to get the juice off them. "I..." she considered it before taking a breath. "A lot. Like...everything under the sun. It's so weird being here. And I know I have to do very well to stand a chance."

"Welcome to Starfleet," he told her with a smile and fetched the box of tissues, nudging them towards her. "What about it is 'weird'?"

She took one and wiped her hands. "I suppose it is just how I see it. I mean, Nova class ship...so we're hardly talking a Miranda class here, a nice size though. A bit of a...well...it's very brainy, isn't it?" she held his eyes, shrugging weakly. "I never thought I'd be transferred to a ship like this. Saying that, I am lucky I even got this far, you know?"

Brainy, he thought amusedly, and nodded slightly in agreement as she went on. "What do you mean 'lucky'?"

"Security," she said and motioned down herself. "Shortest on the team actually. Well, in my class. Well, in my combat class...anyway. Short. And I am smart, but not Intelligence smart so really...can't be an Investigator anyway. Besides, do I look like Sherlock Holmes? Don't think so...." she watched him before smiling weakly. "Know short man syndrome? I have 'little girl' syndrome. It's...sort of an issue for me. A bit. I mean...it's unfair..."

"What's unfair?"

"Genetics," she said and met his eyes with a small smile. "I should be tall. But nope...no such luck..." she shrugged, her eyes shining with warmth.

"You think your height would make a great difference in your ability to carry out your job?"

"I think it matters. I'm Security. Basically, if things get ugly..." she held his eyes for a long moment. It wasn't said in a self-pitying way, more a wistful one. She knew this was a weakness for any security officer. Physical skill mattered, no matter what people said. "I have to rely on a good aim with a phaser rather than anything else. Not like those with muscles. I try to use my head, use compassion...to stop things from getting that far. I try to disarm...and I can. Sometimes, being me is a plus. No one wants to hit me. The guilt trip would be massive! Like kicking a puppy..."

Brayden nodded, listening. They seemed like perfectly valid concerns to have and she was capable of seeing both sides of her situation.

She watched him before stopping, her eyes shining. "Look. I can wish to Santa Claus that I will gain five more inches...and a bit more here and there...but you know what? Despite it...I am happy, you know? Strap on some heels and I have another five inches...shame I can't wear those babies on duty."

Brayden smiled, sympathizing. "You were saying you didn't think you'd be transferred to a ship like this? Did you mean its size or specialization?'

"Specialization. Served on the USS Nova, so I can deal with the size...and hey, not a Defiant!" she smiled warmly and shrugged, reaching for another piece of mango. "I just thought...well...I don't know what I thought. Not this. Because I am...not exactly viewing myself as the one with plenty of gifts in the old brain department. I feel a bit...not useless, just...unsure. Insecure. That's it! Insecure!"

You and everyone else, Brayden thought with a small nod. "Do you think it's the prospect of the research missions that concerns you, or the fact that half the population of the ship are scientists, or...?"

"It's the brainy people, without a question!" she smiled as she shook her head, with clear warmth. "I mean, scientists are really intelligent...more so than you and me," she winked playfully, shifting where she sat. She took another tissue to take care of her sticky fingers, her eyes warm as she looked at Brayden. He was difficult to read...she wasn't sure whether he liked her or not.

Brayden carefully maintained his neutral listening expression as she talked. Her demeanor was at odds with her words, leading him to think she might be working overtime to appear less concerned. Or she was trying to be funny for some reason. To get him on her side, maybe. As though he'd have been anywhere else. "Oh, yes?" he queried, nodding for her to go on.

"Oh yes indeed," she said and smiled gently to him. "But I mean, it doesn't matter...here to do a job, a good job, and maybe even gets some good friends. I would quite like that..." she admitted and held his eyes, her own warm.

"Fair enough," he smiled, snagging a slice of mango for himself. "How's that going for you so far?"

"Got a roomate who doesn't snore," she said and the smile become far more cheery. "I suppose it is still early days, I need to see what happens and that stuff. I think I might like it here," she held his eyes and arched an eyebrow.

Lucky girl, he thought about the maddening snoring of his own roommate for a moment before dropping the thought and refocusing on her. Brayden watched her arch her brow and rearranged his expression slightly off neutral with a slight smile. "You've oriented yourself with your department?"

"I am due in soon..." she glanced at the time and grimaced. "Relatively soon, actually. Alpha shift...well, I think it would be? My inner clock is totally messed up..." she smiled warmly, shaking her head. "I will get my head around it. But I met my Chief, and now I just need to find my feet and then...woo! Happiness and normal working days. Or nights."

Brayden nodded. "Well, you're just down the hall. You're free to head over whenever you think you need to. I should say, I and the Chief Counselor will both be around the ship should you find yourself needing any assistance getting your footing."

"I think I will," she said and smiled warmly, standing as she watched him. "I...am I cleared for duty?" she held his eyes, clearly nervous.

She'd just been through a counseling program and her record from that had been enlightening; coupled with her current attitude and her ability to communicate her needs and feelings, he could see no reason to keep her any longer. He nodded, "I'd like to see you in again in a few days, just to see how things are going once you're more settled, but yes. Go. Get to work. I'll see you around." He smiled at her.

"You bet your behind you will," she said and winked, her eyes warm. "Just schedule me in and I will be there. Promise!" she waved before almost running out, eager to get to her first shift...and feeling better for being cleared.


[OFF]
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LT JG (Pr) Brayden White Ph.D.
Counselor
USS Galileo

Ensign Aria Rice
Security Officer
USS Galileo

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