Awkward meeting

Posted on 25 Feb 2016 @ 1:29pm by Ensign Jaana Voutilainen

1,257 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 03 - Counseling Offices
Timeline: MD 92 - 15.00 hours

[ON]

Jaana, now dressed in her duty uniform headed for the Counselling Offices. She wasn't looking forward to it, but knew it was a necessity for her to continue to see a counsellor. She'd seen Dr. Mercy once before she left for the clinic and was relieved to be assigned to him. At least she wouldn't have to explain everything once more. She fidgeted with her hair before taking a deep breath and announcing her presence at the door.

Naois rarely used the counselling offices, preferring to use his own quarters or anywhere his patient requested for the session to take place. But Jaana had come to the office, so he had reserved the space for this time frame. "Come in Miss Voutilainen," he called, while setting down a tray with a teapot and two cups and saucers on the table. "Would you like some tea?"

"Yes, please," she said as she entered the room and fidgeted with the sleeve of her jacket. "Before we started I would like to apologise. I read in the reports that my MU self treated you very badly. Would that be a problem for my counselling. I would understand."

"Not at all Jaana. May I call you Jaana?" He gestured for her to sit as he poured the tea for her. "I am fully aware that you are not her. Your twin was there too...her MU version and your real sister. This version, here in this universe, she was of great help to me. I am forever grateful to her saving my life."

"Off course you can," she said at his request to use her given name. "I'm glad Tuula managed to make up to you. I have quite a few people to offer my apologies, even though its not my fault."

"You should not ask apologise for something you had no part in." He offered her one of the cups then sat back in his chair. "How did your treatment regimen go? Are you feeling better?"

"Good, good," she said as she sat down. "Considering the reason I was there. I learned a lot about how to prevent a relaps. Like handling stress and my insecurity. And I'm working very hard on improving my selfimage." she explained. "Offcourse I'm not there jet, that's why I'm here."

"Then I will do what I can to help you," the Vulcan smiled, "but first you must understand that our insecurities are what make us who we are. There is no such thing as a completely confident individual. Everyone has imperfections even if they try to convince you otherwise. It is all about perception."

"I've been though that, and am trying hard to believe that." It was difficult to believe that you can't endeavour for perfection. Well, you can, but it isn't healthy for you. This was one of her biggest difficulties during therapy. "But it's very hard to accept anything less then perfection."

"No, it is very hard to accept that others might think less of you and that you achieve to be perfect to be accepted by them," Naois corrected mildly. "Just look at yourself, and at your twin. So much the same and yet so different. One could say you are more perfect than she, because you can go wherever you please and are not impaired by an inability to walk. But your sister may perceive this quite differently. I perceive a young woman who is learning to accept who she is, and who no doubt will achieve what she aspires to achieve."

"You have a point there." she said, talking about his comparison with her sister. "Thank you for your confidence. I really hope I will achieve my goals."

"And you will," the counsellor replied, taking a sip of his tea. "Tell me about your goals, what would you like to accomplish?"

"Well, I'm kinda working on finding new goals. My big goal was to get my PhD. But since I've just submitted that I need a new goal in life."

"What did you write your dissertation on?" Naois asked curiously, leaning forward in clear interest. "How did that make you feel, accomplishing it towards submission?"

"I investigated how the five original Federation members discovered their Heliopause through the years." she replied.

"Heliopause?" Naois arched an eyebrow. "You didn't answer my second question."

"My apologies, I missed that. It feels awesome to accomplish it. I've been working on it for years, specially with my Dyslexia." She said enthusiastic. "The heliopause is the theoretical boundary where the solar wind's strength is no longer great enough to push back the stellar winds of the surrounding stars." She tried to explain it as simple as she could.

"And what did you discover?" Naois continued to challenge her in telling him about her discovery. He was trying to make her see that she had in fact accomplished something, despite her feeling of shortcoming.

"That all five planets followed mostly the route over the years, although each planet in a different time. Earth being the latest. Which is very remarkable because the planets didn't know about the existance of each other. It's like five person all living on different planets and mostly do the same things in life."

"Each their own Einstein?" Naois suggested. "Are you planning to do any follow up studies, given your discoveries?"

She smiled. "I wasn't reffering a specific person, just a example." She leaned forward and took the cup of tea, which was almost cold now. "I might extend the research in the future. We might be able to discover an even bigger pattern that could help us predict the development of other planets. Pre-warp planets."

"That is a commendable goal," Naois agreed. "See, you do not have to look far to find new goals."

"Well, I was more thinking of focussing on advancing my Starfleet career and get a personal life. I've spend the last decade on my academic life and although I love it, I got to see the last few months that I need and want more out of life then my research."

"In which case you will need to socialize and get to know your fellow crewmembers," the counsellor suggested as blue eyes stared at her over the brim of the cup. "You could start with your fellow scientists. Consider that an assigment, go out once or twice a week and socialize with other crew on a non-duty premise."

"I could do that," she said. She wanted to mingle more with the crew, but the thought alone made her very nervous.

Sensing her nervosity, Naois cast her an encouraging smile. "Babysteps," he suggested. "Start by going to the bar and order a drink, and talk to the first person that walks up. From there, expand."

I'll try that." she said, thinking that actually wasn't such a bad idea.

"And if you need to talk, you can always come see me," he added with a smile. "How about we start with meeting twice a week and depending on how you feel and how well you are doing we can reduce to once a week or as necessary."

"That sounds like a good idea." She wasn't a fan of counseling but she knew it was nessesary for her.

Naois nodded and gestured for the to relax and finish her tea. "Then that is what we shall do. I will send your next appointment to your schedule."

[OFF]

Lt. JG. Naois Mercy
counsellor
USS Galileo
PNPC Tyrion

Ens. Jaana Voutilainen
Stellar Cartographer
USS Galileo

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