Orbit of Glass

Posted on 28 Feb 2016 @ 7:35am by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Anthony Duval & Lieutenant JG Drusilla McCarthy

4,317 words; about a 22 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo: Counsellor's Offices
Timeline: MD 82

[ON]

Sitting back in her chair, Dru was aware of the pile of PADDs still awaiting her attention. With shore leave nearing an end, there had been a sudden influx in new crew members to fill the positions left open by leavers resulting from their last mission. A number of people had found that the impact of the alternative universe had been too much to cope with both mentally and physically; the scars left behind being of the kind that would require months or even years of rehabilitation. She had tried to do what she could but for those she knew needing more; she had ensured a smooth transition back to the primary care psychiatric facilities back on Earth. It was the least she could do.

As her own memories threatened to come flooding back, the counselor pressed her fingers against her eyes before forcing herself to turn back to her desk. There was sufficient work here to help keep her mind occupied for days...perhaps it was just what she needed right now.

A few meters away, one of the new Engineers walked down the hallway but as he tended to be rather heavy on his feet, one could hear him coming with firmer then average footfalls. 'thunk, thunk.'

Duval glanced at the PADD in his right hand. He sighed before he tapped the doorbell. He settled in to wait.

With one PADD held idly in her hand, Dru found herself reading the same sentence over and over but yet eachtime the information didn't sink in. The sound of her office door was a salvation of sorts as she locked the PADD screen and stood up to welcome whomever had thought to save her from her own thoughts.

"Enter."

Duval gently touched the door release button on the small display before him, the door parted and her entered the counselors office.
"Counselor, I was ordered to come see you before reporting for duty."
he addressed the rather attractive woman seated behind her desk.

Holding out her hand, Dru's eyes darted to the collar of the man's jacket, finding that she nearly had to tilt her head back to see what she was looking for. "Chief Warrent Officer Two...?"

"Anthony Duval." the massive man responded as he slowly blinked his eyes as he gently took her comparatively small hand compared to his massive one. "You don't have my service record?" as he lifted his PADD so he could see it, before he began tapping on its surface, his fingers making odd sounding 'thump' thump' sounds as he worked before he presented it to her in silence.

Taking back her hand as her eyes watched the man closely, Dru was amazed at how a man with such an imposing presence could manage such a delicate handshake.

Taking the offered PADD, the counselor's eyes skimmed down over the information as she indicated for the enlisted man to take a seat. "I apologize....We'd had a sudden surge on new crew members and I'm a little behind on my reading. Can I get you anything? A drink of some sorts?"

Duval regarded her. "A glass of Orange punch please... The replicators on Jupiter station can't seem to get the taste quite right and the glasses are too small... so I end up ordering three glasses with lunch.."
he shook his head. "Pitiable really." he paused a moment as he regarded her. "I read about your last mission... I'm not surprised that you're losing a third of your crew... considering." he sighed. "No apologies are needed. I was something of a last minute addition to your crew..."

Dru found herself smiling at the man's words as she made her way over to the replicator and programmed one orange juice for her colleague and just a plain water for herself. "How much have you been informed about regarding our last mission?" The counselor didn't offer up much information herself as she understood that lot of the information was classified.

"Not much.... Mostly that something went wrong and the Galileo ended up in an alternate reality that was downright hostile, people got killed and maimed, not to mention a lot of trauma cases and half of your ship needed to be rebuilt." Duval explained. "I was on a temp assignment on the Tempest, the ship that rescued you... thats how I know even that much... we were encouraged to not talk about it but since you asked."

As she watched the drinks materalise, Dru placed the PADD under one arm before moving back across to Duval with a drink in each hand. "In which case I owe you the greatest of gratitude. Were it not for your crew and ship, god only knows how long we would have been adrift before we were found. You're crew helped save alot of people we would have otherwise lost."

"You owe me nothing..." Duval accepted his drink. "Nice... a decent size for a change.." he rumbled. "We were fortunate to be in the right place at the right time.... had our places been reversed, you would have done the same for us." he then regarded her abdomen. "I assume congratulations are in order?"

As Dru headed for her own seat, she acted a little in surprise at the man's prompt. Perhaps it's just that people were used to her pregnancy by now but she didn't encounter many people who brought attention to it. Uncertain what to do, she instead focused on his first words, "Sometime's its nice though for something good you do to be acknowledged, especially where it comes from the person whom you indirectly helped."

"Aye... That it is." Duval agreed. "As I said.. we were fortunate.."

Sitting into her chair, Dru sipping her drink a little as she studied the man more carefully. "How do you feel about your transfer here? Gally is a smaller ship then what you are used to i believe?"

"She is several times smaller... the smallest ship I have ever been assigned to was an Akira class starship... Galileo will be the smallest.." he admitted. "it will... be a challenge."

"Why do you foresee it was a challenge? Surely a smaller ship means less for engineering to worry about?" Dru asked the question with a small smile on her lips, watching the man as he sat into the seat infront of her.

"It could also mean more for Engineering to worry about." Duval responded. "With the new guys... will they be trained?" he regarded her.

Dru was intrigued by the question as she shifted slightly in her chair before resting her free hand against her abdomen. "Well now...I imagine to a certain degree. There will be some new warrant officers who are only started their career in starfleet and engineering but they are here to learn and no better way to train them than to do it yourself."

"Well." Duval responded. "I will see who needs what and arrange to provide for them." he regarded her.

Frowning a little, Dru glanced back at the man's record. "I am correct in saying that you are joining us as an engineering officer? Would it not fall to your department head and assistant department head to worry about the experience of the people working for their department?"

Duval raised an eyebrow, he then saw his error. "Well. I have been asked to serve in that capacity before... assisting with the training of younger enlisted personnel and the like."

"Have you met yet with your department head? Perhaps it could be a proposition to put to them that you would be willing to help in a training element? Your file seems to speak for itself in relation to your experience." Dru smiled as she tried to put the man back at ease.

Duval sipped his drink as he considered her words. "I'll talk to the Chief... and see what they want to do... Some Chief Engineers don't mind where as others do... I don't know this Chief Engineer."

Dru checked her PADD as she realized that she wasn't quite sure if a new engineering chief had been found yet. "Lieutenant Junior Grade Natalya Kirilova I believe...would you like me to see if I can put in a good word for you?"

Duval shook his head. "I appreciate you're offer but.... Its best I meet her on my own terms." he replied quietly as he polished off his drink. "You're replicators make good punch.... but all joking asside." he paused. "Its best I don't complicate matters before my first day on the job."

Dru smiled at this, the man seemed reserved, not wanting to make ripples in the water before he found his feet. "Tell me about your family, how do you find being separated from them while serving in space?"

"I'm not married, no children to speak of.... well that I know about anyway.. "Mom and I coexist well enough.. considering that my brother and I are the product of a one night stand.... and yes, we did find our father.." he regarded her. "But other then that.... my family are well."

Dru was surprised at how the man had volunteered so much information, it made her wonder about the situation with his father but unless he offered the information it wasn't very important right now. "Your brother is Marcus? Are the two of you very close?"

"Yes." Duval answered. "Commander Marcus Duval. Assigned to the USS Spirit of Winter." Duval responded. "He's the respectable one, ended up with a wife and four kids and a commission."

Dru was surprised, she would have expected a softening in Duval when he spoke of his brother but instead he remaining very formal, not giving anything away. "Your mother must be delighted to be a Grandmother? Getting to witness the coming and growth of the next generation."

Duval raised an eyebrow. "Ahh... Mom." he sighed softly. "She lied to me about my father.... I know Marcus yelled at her about it and thats between him and her... but I myself still have issues with her.." he paused. "Last time I visited his children, they kept getting the two of us confused... which while amusing at times also got irritating.... I am not a father. At least not yet..."

Duval had brought the conversation back around to his father again which made Dru think that there was more than met the eye. "What issues do you find that you have with your mother?"

Duval let out a breathe he did not realize he was even holding, it came out as a soft wheeze. "Well.. Mom never told us about our father and..... Yet she named me after him. Marcus was named for her father.."

Dru paused for a moment as she ensured that Duval wasn't about to pass out on her. "Was there bad water between your parents that your Mum felt she needed to not tell you both about him?"

"I honestly have no idea.." he paused. "Why do you ask?"

"I'm trying to understand your thought process and the reasons behind why you have issues with your Mum. It all makes up part of who you are and the person you present yourself as being in society."

Duval raised an eyebrow. "My mother had a one night stand with my dad, Marcus and I were the product of that... whats more to understand?"

"If it's that simple then why do you continue to have issues with your mother and her treatment of what she choose to tell you?" Dru was pointed with her question but if Duval continued to talk around the situation it wasn't a problem for her, it would just need to be a situation she would need to monitor.

"She never expected me or Marcus to find our father... But we did." Duval explained evenly. "Thats why.... because she never bothered to tell me about it."

"Perhaps she felt that the reasons behind you and your brother conception were insignificant? Have you ever talked to her about it?" Dru moved slightly in her chair as her hand moved to rest against her own bump.

"I did..." Duval admitted as he regarded her. "She said it was a simple one night stand and my brother and I were not planned or expected." he shrugged.

Dru chewed on her lower lip as she wondered if she should keep pressing. Moving her hand away from her stomach, the counsellor leaned forward a little. "Do you love your mother?"

Duval's eyes narrowed as he regarded her. "What kind of a question is that?" he responded quietly but there was no mistaking the hate and the anger in his voice. "Of course I do." as he now looked angry. "What does this have to do with me being certified to do my job?" he inquired, not raising his voice in the least.

Dru hadn't envisioned this turn and flinched in her seat as Duval's temper became apparent. Taking a breath, she forced her body to relax as she addressed him directly. "My role is to establish your mental capacity to be able to do your job. To figure out your mind's current state in order to ensure that you can fulfill your role with a clear head. Numerous times during this session, you have brought up your Mum and mentioned issues. I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't try to get to the root of what is evidently something forefront in your mind."

Duval regarded her, his face becoming impassive as he cleared his mind. "Professionally.. I'm fine, I can handle anything... That is my job after all... Personally... Well my personal life is not worth much.."

The chance in Dru caused her body to visibly relax as the hand over her abdomen loosened. His anger seemed to seep away before she leaned forward to place a hand against his arm. "That's not true. You have hobbys, likes, enjoyments, family, friends. All of that is more valuable than you give credit for and your valuable to each person who is in your life."

Duval regarded her. "I do... now.." he responded. "My childhood wasn't worth much and neither were my early years in the service" he shrugged. "Now I make do with what I have.."

Leaving her hand there for a moment more, Dru pulled back as she resettled into her seat. "I think you don't give yourself as much credit as you deserve...you've made a good and solid life for yourself."

Duval regarded her as he calmed down. "You're probably right.." he responded. "Sometimes my work helps me get through the day."

"Can I ask...if you didn't have work, how would you feel?" Alarm bells started going off in Dru's head as she listened to his words and how he spoke.

Duval regarded her. "I've never been good with sitting around... so I have to be doing something.."

"You mentioned though that your work helps you get through your day. If you didn't have work to get you through your day, what do you foresee that you would be doing instead?" Dru leaned forward slightly, she had backed down previously on the mans mother but now she needed a few answers, she needed information before jumping to conclusions.

"I'd honestly like to try my hand at rebuilding old Federation Starfighters but... The Galileo doesn't have the room for it." he shrugged. "I'm sure I'll find something.."

"Did you have many friends on your last posting? Have any oppertunities in which to socialise much?" Dru said.

"I made friends on duty.... off duty I more or less kept to myself... but then my last posting was a short one, shaking down the improvements to the USS Nebula, her new armor tech and her mark fourteen phasers.." he smiled. "the ship was a gem... the people... less so."

"What was it about them do you think that lead you too feel more connected to the ship than to the crew?" Dru shifted in her chair a little as she felt her thigh begin to cramp from sitting for so long.

Duval regarded her. "Because ships don't cause me problems.." he shrugged. "The less people bother me, the less I hate them." he regarded her. "Please don't label me as 'crazy'. I prefer to think of myself as 'misunderstood'. Its easier."

"Why would you think that I would label you as crazy." Dru easily replied.

Duval sipped his drink as he calmed himself. "Because many have said that.." he explained. "Commander Nicole Bolton on my last assignment said and I quote. 'My insanity is an act to get people to feel sorry for me, if I wanted to really connect with people then I need to figure out my issues and deal with them.' Unquote." he regarded her. "Unfortunately.... My various therapists have not been helpful with my concerns." he shrugged. "I however... do not know you." he added. "However.. they have made it hard for me to want to get to know you."

Glancing at the chrono, Dru made a basic calculation in her mind, "But yet here you have sat for approximately thirty minutes and talked to me. You talked about family, career, hobbies, attitudes towards certain topics...do you still feel that you haven't created a situation in which you are trusting me?"

Duval raised an eyebrow, she did make an excellent point. "Has it been that long?" he paused. "But you have a point and my reason is simple... I don't know you... you might be different.... or more of the same.."

"Do you always give people your life story upon meeting or do you general wait until you have a feel for them before giving over information?" Dru easily replied.

"Sometimes a bit of both.." Duval responded as he finished his drink. "Mmm... but then infomation is free... so is respect... trust however... is not free."

Dru struggled to follow the man's train of thought. Some information was free but other pieces were only available where a person choose to give it. She wasn't sure about much but she felt that she had already deduced that Duval didn't go around announcing to everyone that he had issues with his mother and he was the result of one night stand.

"Do you trust me?"

"I respect you... Trust... thats a little harder." Duval admitted. "No offense."

Dru shrugged her shoulders as the smile on her lips never faltered. "My dear, you learn not to take offense or serious most things said in this room."

Duval regarded her. "But you are a therpist... How do I not take things said in here seriously?" he said with a straight tone. "I do not understand your logic... you're confusing me."

"I said most..." Shifting in her chair, Dru's hand cradled her child as she thought out how to answer the question, "Some poeple who come into this room might be in the throngs of suicide, depression, anxiety or any other mental disorder which may cause them to act a way different to normal. It may mean that they get angry or upset when I ask certain questions and act out at me for this. Would you suggest that I take serious threats to mine or my child's life? Insults aimed towards my looks or my pregnancy or the fact that I am unwed? I understand that more often than not it is an illness talking...not the person themselves and therefore some situation give cause for not taking things seriously."

Duval raised an eyebrow while he regarded her. "At the end of the day, what I say is irrelevant." he responded after having taken a moment consider what to say to her statement. "I do not know how to give others therapy... I do know how to give ships and hardware therapy." he rumbled. "But then... things can be fixed again and again and again... people, not so much... but should you take insults and things said in the heat of the moment seriously..." he let out a long breathe of air. "I dunno really.."

Dru blinked as she took a moment to go back over the man's words...she wasn't certain if he'd meant them as a threat or a friendly warning to be careful. For someone who claimed to not trust her, she wondered why he took an interest in her attitude to crew members.

"Did someone say something to you in the past which they followed through with Duval?"

"My last two counselors did... Nicole Bolton wanted me removed from duty because I wouldn't tell her what she wanted to hear... and Lt Commander James Munroe and I did not get along... he's assigned to Starbase 45." he responded.

This actually made Dru angry...people who were meant to be counsellor's and help people instead made things worse for the person and the counsellor's left to pick up the pieces.

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Dru moved forward a little in her seat before addressing the man directly, "Will you give me a chance to show you I am different to them? Perhaps over time you might come to trust me."

Duval regarded her. "I did from the moment I walked through the door." he responded quietly. "I have had mostly bad experiences with Counselors.."

If it'd been a different situation, Dru might have given Duval a hug but instead leaned over to gently touch his arm instead. "Hopefully I can show you that your trust in me isn't misplaced."

Duval regarded her as a soft smile started to appear on his face. "Your colleagues assigned elsewhere have been very unfair to you." he responded. "But then... part of that is my fault too.... they wanted something from me I was simply not prepared to give them..."

Dru left her hand were it was as she sought to try out him at ease. "Some people forget themselves, without knowing the people I can't say why but it happens and I've seen it happen. All you need to know is all I expect is honesty and just a tiny gap which given time I'll manage to wriggle my way through."

Duval regarded her in silence, considering what to say. "Fair enough.." he responded. "I've never been good at lying to people... too easy to get caught in a web of lies..." he shrugged. "I prefer my distance from most people... At least until I get to know them..."

"In which case..." Dru turned in her chair as she reached back for the closest PADD on her desk, "...how would you feel if we scheduled a follow up appointment?"

Duval had honestly come in here expecting to dislike the woman facing him on principle considering his past reactions and actions with counselors who demanded a lot and gave little in return but this one seemed a cut above so he would work with her and see where it went.
"When did you have in mind?" he inquired.

Dru's eyes scanned over her diary as she pulled up the entries. "Well...you tell me. You want to see me sooner or later than two weeks form now? Give yourself time to settle into the ship, evaluate me and what you'd like to share with me and work with me on?"

Duval gently ran one of his own fingers across his right cheekbone, just under his eye as he considered it. "Two weeks does sound like a nice round number... Unless you have another date in mind."

"Nope! Surprisingly I've a fairly empty diary...people don't like to come see me for some bizarre reason." A smile hinted on Dru's lips as she looked back up at the man, "Have you been assigned to a shift yet?"

"Well.." Duval responded. "Its not you... Its.. well just your job..." he responded. "and yes, I've been assigned to Alpha Shift." he rumbled.

A fact which Dru knew all too well she scaled through times in her diary. "1600hours? We may need to meet in a different location depending on which of us has the office that day but we can easily work around that."

Duval raised an eyebrow. "1600Hrs sounds good... but why don;t you come to me?" he inquired. "It'll be interesting and I can work and talk at the same time."

Dru looked up in surprise. One she wasn't sure why he assumed that he'd still be at work after his shift finished but two, she wasn't used to attending people's places of work for counseling sessions. "If your sure that's what you'd prefer...."

"I never pay attention to the time when I'm on the clock... I sometimes skip meals and I frequently finish hours later then I should." Duval explained.

"Well...I'll give you a shout ten minutes before our appointment to see where you are and I will go to you." Dru made the notation on her PADD before putting it away with a smile. "Have you any questions that you'd like to ask me?"

Duval nodded. "That sounds good." he responded. "Just a couple... Are there any areas of the ship you will have issues reaching because of the little one?" he inquired.

Dru was abit thrown by the question for a moment until it dawned on her the practicalites. "Ah...I'd rule out any jefferies rubes, anywhere that requires crawling or climbing or squeezing through narrow spaces?"

"Then... I'll make sure its somewhere you can easily get to." Duval responded.

Leaning forward, Dru offered the man her hand, "I look forward to seeing you then Duval."

Anthony regarded her before he gently shook her hand with his own. "Alright then... I'll be seeing you." and with that, he made his departure.

[OFF]

Warrant Officer Second Class Anthony Duval
Engineer
USS Galileo

&

Lieutenant JG Drusilla McCarthy
Chief Counsellor
USS Galileo

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