Meeting the Counselor Part II
Posted on Tue May 16th, 2023 @ 11:32am by Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren & Lieutenant Vura
Edited on on Wed May 17th, 2023 @ 10:19pm
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 14 - The Poseidon Adventure
Location: Counseling Office - Deck 5 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD006 1000 hrs
As good as the Deltan was about keeping herself in check, Alyssa caught a quick mental flash of pain and loss. "Sometimes we all need to leave our past behind to find a new future. I hope yours will be a happy one."
"As do I." She only wondered how a Deltan could be happy without her potential husband and being cut off from at least half of her senses. Nonetheless, it was a choice she made and would have made again, if given the choice. At least she could try to make others happy. "I am curious, though, how did you end up on Earth?"
"My parents had better work opportunities, so they chose to relocate. It was on earth where I fell in love with history. It has such a diverse past."
"So, I understand. Violent, too." Vura did enjoy speaking with Alyssa, however, she suspected that Alyssa, like Mignon, was seeking clearance. So far, all the boxes seemed OK but they had not discussed anything of what happened. "Speaking of violence, why don't you tell me about what you experienced on your last mission?"
She closed her eyes to better remember and to not get too emotional. "We were tied up and drugged," she said. "There was a Romulan female who spoke to us once or twice. She wanted us to amputate a limb for her research and promised we'd be able to go home if we did. When we became susceptible to the drug, the guards untied us so we could get to the assortment of blades on a table. Mignon had amputated her foot when we finally were alone. We were trying to get out when we were rescued." Her biggest regret was not being able to stop Mignon, even though she knew she wasn't in a position to prevent it.
Vura noticed that Alyssa had closed her eyes. Was it to remember or fight tears? It was something that pained her, which was hardly a surprise. "Do you know how long that you were subjected to the drug?"
"No. We were unconscious for part of the time. I also don't know how long we were in the facility before the drug was administered. Perhaps Lieutenant Tohoyia has the information. He was undercover at the facility and was the person who rescued us." Jayna found information on the research project, but it didn't have the specific notes on the science team.
“I see,” Vura answered. “Was it applied once or multiple times? Do you even know how it was applied?”
"More than once, and hypospray, I think."
Vura nodded solemnly. That would make sense. If at first one did not succeed... "Were you together with Mignon and others, or alone?"
"They kept the four of us together. I'm not sure if it was because it would be easier to monitor our reactions or if they thought we might feed off each other. That if one of us amputated something the others would follow along." Alyssa shrugged. "I don't know for sure what they thought, but that's my assumption."
"Who could say?" Vura agreed. "Normal beings do not do these to other beings, now do they?" She paused and then made sure she understood the facts. "So, it was you, Mignon, and who else, again?"
"Shayla Kunadt and Sha'Zen D'Tem. Shayla's a Marine."
"Have you talked to them since the incidents?"
"Just Mignon. Hermia said the others were being treated. Sha'Zen fought against the effects of the drug. Shayla took a knife at one point. I think she wanted to cut off her hand, but she didn't." She paused, then admitted. "I wish I could have done more, but I was fighting to maintain control as much as the others were." It had actually been an old earth book she read that helped her concentrate on something other than what the drug was urging her to do.
That's an interesting statement. She wishes that she could have done more. What exactly did she think she could do? Her eyebrows furrowed slightly in thought. "What do you mean when you say that you wish you could have done more, Alyssa?"
"I was in charge of the team," the scientist said. "I was responsible for keeping them safe. I know there was no way we could have known, but I still feel like I should have done more simply because they were under my supervision and care." She also knew it wasn't logical, but it was still how she felt.
"Do you think that you could have done anything differently?" Vura prodded.
"Not with the knowledge I had at the time." Alyssa smiled wryly. "It doesn't keep me from feeling like I should have done more. The feeling will ease with time, but I do tend to feel protective of those under me."
"And that is the sign of a good leader. As you recognized, though, you can only act with the information that you had at the time. You did the best you could. There was nothing more to be done. That's the hardest part about leadership.... Knowing that we cannot be omniscient and that we can only do the best we can with what we had at the time. Guilt is a tough emotion, but at the end of the day, it is not logical, nor does it advance bettering ourselves."
"True, but knowing it and convincing yourself not to feel it aren't always compatible." Alyssa chuckled. "Sometimes I feel more like a mother hen. I'm not as detached as some of my colleagues."
"Do you think that you should be?" Vura asked curiously, as she crossed her legs.
"Heavens no. But there are some in science who feel that the only way to be truly objective is to be what they consider emotionless. They generally just end up being condescending."
Vura squirmed and then rolled back slightly, laughing heartily. "I am pretty sure that Vulcans would not have the same opinion."
Alyssa grinned, tickled by the Deltan's laughter. "Yes. There are. But they at least try to be logical about everything. Some of the humans I've worked with pick and choose what they consider logical. It's often what makes them look better, or what they think is right." She shook her head. "Most scientists are honestly trying to do the right thing for the right reason, but I've met a few who believe that science is unchangeable solely based on their own bias. Most Vulcans are very open-minded about science." She knew they weren't about everything, but she did enjoy their views on science. "And there's my bias showing. Sorry."
The Counselor shook her head lightly from side to side. "There's no reason to be sorry or concerned about bias. We all have them and this is a judgment free zone. Feel to express anything you want here. The thing about biases is that we have to be aware they exist so that when we encounter something that pulls into a bias, we have to know whether we are making a decision solely on the bias or based upon objective information."
Alyssa had worked with a number of scientists who refused to believe they had any sort of bias. Those were the ones who resisted change and generally blamed someone else for anything that went wrong. "Ideally, yes. It doesn't always work out that way, but I agree with you."
Vura gave a small helpless shrug. "Those who do not evolve get left behind."
It was blunt, but accurate... "Cosmic evolution." Alyssa chuckled. "It's all how you look at it." She raised an eyebrow. "Getting back on track--sort of--do you have any other questions or comments?"
"Who said we were off track?" Vura asked with a secret smile. "So anxious to get back to something else, eh? So, what will it be, getting to know you more, talking more about the traumatic events, getting to know more about your concern for your departmental fellows, or you getting to know more about me? Hmmm?"
Alyssa smiled. "I think it's your turn to tell me something about you." Part of why she came was to meet the counselor and learn more about her.
"Very well," Vura answered with a proud smile, her bracelet sliding down her arms as she folded them into her lap and then crossed her legs, allowing her hands to neatly fit onto her knee. "I would say that I'm a quintessential Deltan to look at and not touch, but that would be too easy. I enjoy making jewelry, sculpting, and pottery. I also rather enjoy dancing and acting, but I promise that I will not be singing in any musicals in the near future." She laughed at herself prettily.
"We discussed our mutual love of dancing," Alyssa began, "So tell me what sort of jewelry you like to make. Do you ever use pottery in it?" She'd seen some stunning jewelry made out of pottery from ancient cultures and wondered if the Deltan did anything similar.
"I have not made jewelry of pottery since I was a child. I have a strong preference for shiny and sparkly." She held up her arm and showed over her intricately laced platinum bracelet that had a serpentine design. "Today is a light day. Usually, I'll have two or three on each arm, a necklace, and earrings." Her hands moved to her ears where she wore two large, hooped platinum earrings. "See, just a simple day. I did not wish to be so ostentatious on my first day on the job."
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Vura
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren
Chief Science Officer, USS Pioneer
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