Baby Steps (Part II)

Posted on Thu Jun 8th, 2023 @ 7:55pm by Ensign Connor Turner & Lieutenant Junior Grade Zhara Rynn & Sophia
Edited on on Fri Jun 9th, 2023 @ 8:14am

0 words; about a 1 minute read

Mission: Episode 14 - The Poseidon Adventure
Location: Counselor's Office, USS Pioneer
Timeline: 1030 hrs.

[PREVIOUSLY]

"The force of nature referred to engineers as a whole, not you specifically," Zhara gently assured him. "Generally, if you don't hear from your significant other in a year, it's an indication they've moved on. However, there are rare instances when that is not the case." Although she was pretty sure the girl ghosted Connor. "Do you remember what she said the last time you were together?"

[CONTINUED]

"Um, what did Holly say?" he wondered aloud. "Maybe we can still get together when we're on shoreleave." He pondered it for a moment and said, "I think that's it." He then looked at Zhara and said, "She never said that we were done, so how could we be? I know I didn't say it." He blinked a couple of times, trying to integrate what Zhara was trying to tell him.

Zhara nodded. "You're right. That doesn't sound like she was ending things. However, I've seen a lot of Academy relationships that fell apart once the couple separated to different parts of the galaxy. Have you considered contacting her? Or even seeing what she's been doing?" That neither of them tried to make contact didn't sound good. But if Connor still cared about his girlfriend, why hadn't he looked for her?

"I figured that she was busy. I mean, um, first assignment and all. And, well, I was busy. It is, um, much more different being an ensign than, um, a cadet. Lots of work. Lots of orders. Not a lot of sleep. Lots of learning, right?" His eyes fixated back on Sophia.

"Yes, indeed. And that is precisely why most Academy romances fail. How often have you thought of her in the past six months? How many times did you think about contacting her?" It was a legitimate question. She wanted to know if he was still thinking of her, or if Ensign F'rar's advances had brought it up as a defense mechanism.

"Um, well," Connor thought for several moments. "I don't really count, but I mean, I do wonder what she is up to and how she is doing at least once a week, I guess. But, um, thinking of contacting her, um, well, I figured that would happen when we got notice of a shoreleave...."

"We're on shore leave now," Zhara reminded him. "However, there's no guarantee that she is as well. It's highly unlikely, though." She wondered if this was a case of Schrödinger’s girlfriend. She was his girlfriend as long as he didn't actually verify it.

Connor looked up at Zhara, his jaw dropping. "Um, I, I.... I guess I, um, did not think to contact her.... I can't believe that I, well, did not, um, think of it." He blinked a couple of times. "I should have contacted her but I, well, just thought about getting to the ship...."

"It happens quite often. You make connections in the Academy, you spend a lot of time together, then you get assigned to different places and you get busy with your new crew and make new friends. Some keep in touch, but many drift apart. Consider contacting her later when you're back in your quarters. In the meantime, you wanted to get your initial evaluation out of the way, correct?"

"Uh, yeah, um, I guess I do," Connor admitted. "Um, so, what do you want to know?"

"Tell me a bit about where you grew up," she began to set a foundation for other questions. She liked to know something about the person's life before Starfleet.

"Um, well, I grew up in Exeter, England. Pretty normal life, really. Was an only child. My family had a dog. Had a few friends. Always liked working with computers. Like watching football, not that rubbish that is hand-egg ball. Um...."

She made a notation on her PADD. "I tend to refer to that as American football." Zhara smiled. "I do prefer the other kind, too. I visited northern England once. It's a beautiful country. What made you decide to become an engineer?"

"The accents get more troublesome and Scottish as you go north. By the time that you get to Edinburgh, Scotland, you wonder if they're still speaking the same language." He gave a short laugh and his voice became more certain and more animated as he proceeded. "Not that I travelled much save on holiday. I always liked the computers. They can do virtually anything. And if you can work with them, the whole universe opens up to you, because you can know anything they can calculate or do."

She smiled at his comment on the Scots, but chose to focus on his answer. "Very true. Computers have opened up whole worlds to us. Do you find your work on a Starship as fulfilling as you expected?"

"I, uh, I don't know. I mean, I just got here when everyone was on shoreleave. I was on Utopia Planitia before that, so, this is really my first time working on a starship. I think, uh, maybe I was coming out here to see why Holly wanted to go out into space. I've never really, well, been that interested in going out into the unknown."

"So, you're only out here because of Holly?" Zhara made more notes and wondered why he was doing so much for Holly when he hadn't tried to contact her in a year. Was it that he was afraid she moved on and didn't want to verify it, or was he really thinking that an entire year without contact was normal?

"Um, well, I guess. I mean, she always said I should get out more and try more things, soooooo.... I'm trying, but honestly, I could work on computers anywhere."

"You could. A good computer tech is valuable anywhere," Zhara said, making another notation. "And it is true that getting out of your comfort zone and doing things you find a challenge will help you grow as a person. I suggest that each month you try something new. A new activity, a new food, a new type of music. Go out and meet people. Maybe go to After 11 one night and talk to someone. That will help you get more comfortable with new things." She looked at him for a moment. "Do that for six months, then switch to once a week for the next six months."

"New?" Connor's voice asked haltingly and hesitantly. "But...but...."

She gave him a reassuring smile. "Not now. I'll give you time to settle in. But within the week. Then come back and report to me." Connor needed help, and Zhara was sure she could help him...in time. But she'd have to proceed slowly and carefully. She also needed to end this on a positive note. "Tell me about your time on Utopia Planitia."

"Well, it was quite a bundle of work, repairing everything after the station was destroyed. I guess you could say it was an engineer's dream, rebuilding everything better than it was before. I designed several of the computer systems.... It was a welcome challenge but the station got back up and running and well, I had not that much to do but make sure everything was running."

"You prefer being on the creating and building side rather than the repair side?" Zhara asked.

"I think so," Connor replied tilting his head slightly, considering the question. "I just like computers. If they're sick, I make them well. Building them is like giving birth. But sitting around waiting for one to break, well, that's, um, practically like wishing them harm and I can't do that."

That was an astute way to look at it. "I've never thought of it like that, but I see your point. In some ways it's like counseling. We do routine checks every year and when someone new comes aboard, but apart from that, we're here in case anyone needs help. We don't like to be bored, but we don't wish anyone ill, either." She paused while she switched mental gears. "What other things do you like to do?"

"Chess," he answered simply. "Um, what else? Read? Computer games? Maybe a puzzle?"

"Those are excellent hobbies. I think for now, I'd like you to take the written tests so I can compare them with your last results. Then I'd like you to come see me next week and report on one new thing you've done."

Connor exhaled deeply. "If I must...."

Zhara couldn't help smiling at his response. "I'm afraid you must, but I'm not expecting anything grand. Just one small thing, and you can decide what that will be. Anything that takes you a tiny step out of your comfort zone." She handed him a PADD. "Select the most correct answer. I'll be at my desk so you have some privacy." She smiled down at the dog. "Sophia can keep you company if you wish."

"Most correct answer...?" Connor answered as well as asked at the same time, while shaking his hand. "It is clear that these tests were not written by an engineer," he continued, as he accepted the PADD. "Whenever I see that, I find it rather frustrating. After all, someone else is giving me statements that can be so far out of left field that none of them are remotely close, so it is almost like playing eenie-meanie-miney-moe." He sighed resignedly then looked at Sophia. "Do you want to take this questionnaire with me?"

The dog, recognizing her name, looked up at him and put a paw on his leg as if saying yes.

"I understand," Zhara said from her desk. "I have to take it, too. Just do your best and it'll be good enough."

Accepting his fate, Connor sighed, officially admitting defeat. He smiled at Sophia and pet her before telling Sophia, "Alright, let's see how we can blunder through this thing." Connor started staring at the PADD. Every once in awhile he would mutter, "Uh" or "Hmm," but he worked through it methodically, rolling his eyes and huffing every time that a statement did not make sense to him.

When he finished the task, he called out, "Um, Zhara, I'm done." With a hopeful voice he asked, "Do you think I can go now?"

Zhara chuckled. "What do you think, Sohia?"

The dog wagged her tail.

"I agree." The counselor smiled at Connor. "Yes, you're done. I still want to see you in a week's time to hear what new thing you've tried." She paused, an idea coming to her. "Or we could meet in After 11 and I could observe you trying something new."

Connor's eyes widened in horror. "Why would you want to do something like that?"

"If I observed you trying something new, you wouldn't have to report back," she stated simply. It was a logical option. Seeing how he reacted to the choice also helped her understand him a little better.

"But, I have to come back anyways, right? So, what is the difference?" Connor asked logically.

"How long it will be before your next appointment," she replied. "But since you're so hesitant, you can simply return one week from today and tell me what you've accomplished."

Connor sighed. "I might not do it on my own. I tend to get wrapped up in my work," he admitted.

"I know a number of crew members that do the same. So why not meet in the lounge? This is a business meeting. You can order something you've never tried from the menu, talk to someone, anything that is out of your comfort zone. Then you won't have to see me for a month." She raised an eyebrow. "Does that work for you?"

Connor started calculating in his brain, Talk to someone, don't see Zhara for a month. Don't, and come back next week, which means less time with the computers. He paused during his thoughts and asked, "When you say meet and talk to someone, how do I quantify that?"

"A brief exchange of words. Say, three to six sentences." She wasn't going to make it difficult at first. He'd need to slowly build to more.

"I might faint," Connor admitted. "But, I'll try. Three to six.... That's a decent variable...."

"It is indeed." She gave him a reassuring smile. "See you then."

"I guess..." Connor finally answered before giving Sophia a little pet and turning on his heels.

____
OFF

Ensign Connor Turner
Computer Systems Specialist, USS Pioneer


Lieutenant Junior Grade Zhara Rynn
Counselor, USS Pioneer


Sofia
Therapy Dog, USS Pioneer

 

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