Checking up on Vura
Posted on Sun Jul 2nd, 2023 @ 3:11pm by Lieutenant Vura & Captain Edmund Merrick
Edited on on Mon Jul 3rd, 2023 @ 8:59pm
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 14 - The Poseidon Adventure
Location: Counseling Office - Deck 5 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD010 0900 hrs
It was sometime o'clock, Edmund hadn't checked on the time yet. However, he woke up from a dream which was rather strange. He had dreamt that the counselor was in a DnD world, running away from something that was hidden in a dark cloud of mist. He wasn't certain what was inside, but it soon caught up to her and enveloped her. He had been there not being able to move, and he hated that feeling of helplessness. This woke him up rather suddenly. Having heard her scream cut off. He wiped off the perspiration from his brow, and groaned slightly. Edmund punched his pillow to try to get more sleep but it was evasive. Finally, he asked the computer where Vura was at.
The computer answered that "Lieutenant Vura is in her quarters."
Bleary eyed, he noticed that it was way too early in the morning, so he needed to get more sleep. He decided he would check on her after he finished his sleep.
Morning came, and Edmund awoke, grabbed some breakfast. As he ate his oatmeal, the thought of last night's dream invaded his thoughts once more. He tapped on his commbadge, and requested the location of Vura.
The computer answered, "Lieutenant Vura is in Lieutentant Vura's Office in Counseling."
That being the answer, Merrick finished up his breakfast, made certain he was presentable. Long sleeve shirt, a dark grey in color, black slacks and a pair of runners. And off he went, arriving at Vura's office. He pressed the chime just to let her know there was someone there, hopefully she didn't have any appointments he might be interrupting.
Vura was just handling paperwork. Nothing was pressing. She had several concerns about several crewmates but nothing so far that could not be handled. But paperwork had to get done. Nobody explained how much there was as a Chief, but there she was. Maybe she would find someone to handle some of it at some point.
Then the chime rang. She had no scheduled appointments, but Vura never minded visitors, "Come in!"
In stepped Edmund, giving a bit of a smile, looking at Vura. "Hello Vura, I came to see how you are settling in. Are you doing all right?" his eyes glancing around at her office. This was the first time he'd been in her office so he was looking at it with an artist's eye.
At the entrance to her office, she placed some blooming lavender plants, which gave off a pleasant soothing smell. On a wall, over a couch, she had put up a copy of Katsushika Hokusai's "The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife" above a periwinkle couch that swooped up and then down in the middle and then back up again. The couch had definite sensual innuendos written all over the convenient shaping.
The walls of her office were of a deep rose with hints of purple hues. From there, she opted only for a small desk, so the desk would not set a barrier between her and her clients. It was a semi-circle and she placed it carefully in such a way where she could swivel on a chair and quickly type something on a computer or PADD and not interfere with her relationship with her client. The color of the desk nearly blended into the wall but was more mauve on closer inspection.
Warm wooded mahogany chairs were available in case her clients did not prefer to be on the couch. There was a small glass circle table between the chairs. The table contained a small zen sand garden and rake for clients to manipulate.
Vura's eyes widened when Merrick stepped in. Her heart fluttered for a moment. What was Edmund doing here? Was he not 'cured'? Should he not be off with his mystery woman? She put on a pleasant smile, knowing that she had no way to make an excuse to leave her own office. She knew that he had interests in someone else and even if she wanted him, which she refused to admit that she had any such interest, she could not because of the Oath. More seriously, he risked insanity if they did do anything. She had to remain professional. Yes, that was how to handle this situation.
"Good to see you again, Edmund. As you can see, I am doing well and have finished decorating my office. What do you think?" Why exactly are you inviting more conversation, Vura?
Edmund took a few long moments to look at how Vura's office once more. He liked what she did, the color scheme as well as the miniature zen sand garden. "This is amazing, Vura," his rich baritone voice intoned. "Your artistic nature is certainly showing in this. I do truly like it. The flow of the furnishings and of the color of the walls, gives this room a good feeling to it," his blue eyes warm and kind. He did not approach Vura.
"Thank you. It took a few days, but I am happy with how it turned out." Vura purposely took her hands and locked them behind her back. "So, what brings you by, Edmund? You're not still feeling effects of my touch, are you?" she asked concerned. After all, Hermia ended up in critical condition from Hermia kissing her.
Her touch. Edmund hadn't even thought about that with how busy he had gotten. His eyes widened, "I don't think you will have to worry about that. I've been so busy afterwards I hadn't had the time to think about it." He rubbed the back of his head worried that he might cause some offense towards Vura. "However, I also came to check on you, to see if you've been able to make a connection with other members of the crew."
"Check on me?" Vura asked with a laugh merely. "Oh, my goodness, Edmund, you're too much. I'm doing just fine. There's no reason to worry about me." Becoming slightly more skeptical, she asked, "Are you sure there's no other reason that you're coming by? Perhaps you are here to tell me about your Miss Fabulous?"
"No not really," Edmund began. He went to have a seat in a chair, which he found quite comfortable. "Actually, I had a dream about you. And even though you are beautiful, it wasn't sexual in nature. I do not know if you've ever played Dungeons and Dragons, but the dream I had of you, was a little bit disturbing. I was watching as if a spectator. You were running along a cobblestone path, and being chased by a dark cloud. It finally caught up with you and enveloped you. I couldn't move, I stood there helplessly, hearing your screams then there was silence." Edmund definitely seemed rather uncomfortable in telling Vura this.
Oh, God! He has no idea what he's saying! He's obviously got feelings for me and realizes that they cannot be consummated. The dream is all too clear! Vura stood still for a moment and then sat down near him in the other chair. "I've not played Dungeons and Dragons, but I definitely know about it from my client." Her hands fidgeted and then clasped in her lap. Hesitantly, she asked, "Edmund, you do know that dreams have meanings, right?"
"Yes I do, a tornado depending on the size it is in the dream can vastly tell you what is wrong and the stress level a person is at. Why what would be the interpretation of my dream, to you?" Edmund asked.
Hastily, Vura told Edmund, "It is irrelevant." She then sighed and looked down. It was not fair to hide the information from him. "Look, Edmund, I'm concerned that my pheromones may still be doing a number on you. See, black clouds represent strong emotions that you're having about a person. The fact that it worried you and that you could do nothing, represents the strong feelings you have towards me." She shook her head despondently. "I think you should concentrate on this Miss Fabulous, whoever she is. Forget about me."
"Then why were you screaming in the dark, then was silent. Sorry, that disturbed me. Sure, the pheromones may not have completely cleansed themselves out or I just don't care. I genuinely was worried. Hence my coming to check on you. However, if you do not wish me to come talk with you, then so be it. You know something Vura, sometimes there are bad effects from pheromones, an opposite effect...." Edmund gave pause. "Perhaps I should go. Just know that this was an actual honest looking in on a friend as well." Edmund rose from his seat.
He looked around at the decor once more. "At least I got to see your office, and also know you are alright. I will not trouble you anymore." he headed towards the door. "Take it easy, Vura."
Vura closed her eyes and then got up. "Edmund, stop. That's not what I want or meant." She exhaled heavily, not knowing what to do or say. "I'm concerned about you, Edmund. That's all...." And you and I are so much alike and share the same pain. I just want you to be happy. Why can't I say all of this and more?"
Edmund stopped just short of the spot which would open up the door. He turned around. "Vura, we've already been through something together so, be honest and open with your feelings. Hmmn? There is a lot going on with you, and a can of worms ended up being opened between us. I won't be pursuing you but let's be honest about what is going on between us. If you don't confront what could be bottled up inside then you are sending yourself into a tailspin. As I had said I know the signs."
"I'm alright, Edmund," Vura lied. The fact that he was so blunt about not pursuing her twisted her stomach in knots. "Why don't you sit down and tell me more about your Miss Fabulous?" Maybe that will help me stop thinking about the impossible "Besides, I still have to teach you how to properly talk to a woman, do I not?"
For Edmund, there was a niggling at the back of his mind. "I am not going to talk about her, as that is in the air. As for teaching me how to talk to a woman," he closed his eyes for a moment or two taking in a deep breath, then he opened them up. "Vura." Edmund's voice was softer. "I do apologize for being harsh. You were very straight forward with me, and maybe I am a bit more direct than I ought to be." He saw the signs of him being too blunt. It had been reflected in his wife's eyes when he lashed out after work. He didn't always do such but it happened on occasion. Edmund never said he was a saint.
Vura favored Edmund with a genuine, warm smile. Her cheeks pinkened lightly. "You're a sweet man, Edmund. Just a little confused from time to time." Her voice took on a more playful tone. "It is a darn good thing for you that I'm a counselor and can see through it all, isn't it?"
"Perhaps, Vura." A smile played at the corners of his mouth. "If I were a Deltan male, I do not think we'd be just talking right now." Edmund replied, giving a bit of a laugh. "However, as to what you said, it is far too dangerous, and I do have someone I am interested in. Granted yes there is an attraction. I'm not going to lie about that. I would be a fool to lie. What with all that has happened though in the past mission, I think that there is just something more about that dream, than my still harboring feelings from our exposure to each other."
"If you were Deltan, Edmund, we would not have been talking on our first meeting. Remember, to us, sex is like a handshake. It is a friendly welcoming gesture." She smirked at him. Cupping her chin in her hands she asked playfully and flirtatiously, "And seriously, Edmund, how could anyone NOT be interested in me? Hmmm?" Curiously, she tilted her head slightly and asked, "What do you think that there is to your dream, Edmund?"
"I am not certain really, but I firmly believe, and you can call me superstitious, but at times dreams have layers to them. Perhaps it is a vestige of what I saw on that mission when we went for our missing people." Edmund's light mood drifting away.
"What do you mean? Tell me about it," Vura asked concerned. Edmund drifting away was something more foreign to her, so she took it seriously.
"Vura, there were some horrible things that had been witnessed. One of our people got possessed by some substance earlier from what I had found out. That other thing, it had meat puppets. It was like some chuthloid monster coming to life. These gelatinous tendrils connecting to bodies, who seemed to still be alive. And moving forward as if to add me and the away team to its collection. And voices calling to me like my wife and seeing her in that gelatine state but I knew it wasn't my wife. A zombie had been blasted and it turned to goo, Vura. Black Icarus goo, scattered then it started pulling itself together. " That image from his dream was now coming to the forefront of him having thought of the blackness chasing after Vura then her screams. "And that was what was chasing you and it caught you. I couldn't do anything, and I don't know why."
"I did not realize that you had seen this event, Edmund," Vura replied sympathetically and with some concern. "This is work related now. I need to know everyone and everything you saw and did with this substance. Did you black out at any time?"
"Nah I didn't black out or even get covered in the black substance. It was just awful and well, Commander McGowan I thought she was right behind me, and I looked back and found that she was unconcious on the floor. I had to get her and the others out of there. It was an awful mess, Vura. I picked her up on my back and had the others move, even to set the phase rifles to explode. Just to hopefully let us get out of there."
"Who did get covered?" Vura asked, continuing to probe the subject. "And you're sure that nothing touched you?" her voice rang out concerned. "Despite Commander McGowan's situation?"
Edmund froze for a moment, his thoughts going back over that day, that awful horrid day. He felt a bit dizzy and made his way back to the chair he'd been sitting on. "I don't recall if I had any skin contact with that black ooze, but it did splatter all over the place even upon the suits. I saw it pull itself back together. After seeing Rowena on the floor unconscious in that engineering room. I had to get our people out and destroy that monster. I did take my gloves off when we got into the Serenity, to check on Rowena. We weren't even thinking of getting cleaned up and disinfected. We were just needing to get out."
"I just... I just couldn't allow anyone to die in Engineering, like what happened to my wife. I couldn't let anyone die when on an away mission. I was not going to allow that. We all got away.... Barely." Edmund said softly, then he buried his head in his hands, taking a moment to pull himself together.
"So, when you saw Miss Fabulous unconscious in engineering, was she covered in any of the ooze? Was any of it touching her? And when you say that you barely got away, what happened to the ooze? Was it destroyed?"
"I didn't see any of the goo touching her, the ooze though didn't burn when it was shot by the phaser rifles. And I do not know if the explosions of the phaser rifles were effective. However, I didn't see Rowena covered in any of the goo at all. We just got out of there. Wait Miss Fabulous? What are you going on about?" Edmund was slightly confused about who Vura was speaking of.
Vura chuckled lightly. "Edmund, I have been a counselor for a long time and a woman since I was born. Certain things are just very obvious, now. Your love interest is Commander McGowan. You called her Rowena. You went directly to save her. You compared her to your wife. In short, you're pretty darn obvious for someone who already got to know you extremely well." But does he know what I know? I cannot warn him. Ethics are a tricky topic, aren't they, Vura?
"She was unconscious, but I won't deny that I have developed feelings for her. I want to make certain though I am not superimposing the feelings I have had for my dead wife onto Rowena as to my getting her out of engineering. I did feel, like I told Zhara like I have some redemption. Maybe that is a stupid feeling to think that." Edmund said, feeling just a tad bit frustrated.
"Why would you say that? I don't think there's anything stupid about you, Edmund. I told you before that you're very insightful and could have been a counselor, if you wanted." She then smirked and playfully told him, "Though, you still need to work on your conversations with women...."
Her smile faded slightly as her eyes peered into the distance. "Edmund," she started with her voice drifting off as she thought, "I am getting the impression that you appeared after the event occurred, or at least most of if. How many were saved and who? Do you know?"
"The little base that I was talking about, where Rowena had collapsed that was an underwater laboratory. We had gone into teams. Rowena was with me for the time being but I don't know everything as to what happened. All the people that had gone with me, we made it back. rather worse for the wear. Also, something was told to me but I do not think I have permission to convey that knowledge to anyone else. The next part was where the scientists were being held, Ja'sol and I teamed up to deal with that. I am putting things together. Anyway." Edmund was back to his feet. "I think I need to go. I need to find out if I missed something when I, when we came back to the Pioneer. "
"I'll come with you," Vura replied rising. There was something to this mystery and pieces were starting to fall into place. She needed to know more and Edmund knew more.
Edmund stopped short and turned to Vura, "Vura... I can't let you do that right now. I need to go ask questions, and maybe even see if there are recordings from what had been going on. Even though I am not in security perse, old habits die hard, and there needs to be some invetstigating or see if the others have noticed something. I still need to go talk to Corporal Shy as well as, Lieutenant Jayna. I still don't know everything what happened, it's still just filtering in. Heck right now, I am feeling like I have been doing a rotten job of being an XO for the Marines."
"Don't tell me you can't let me do anything, Edmund," she told him playfully but also with a tone of seriousness. "I need to go, Edmund. I have questions too. As I said, this discussion has been work related." She moved closer to him, invading his body space, but not touching him. She looked up into his eyes and said, "It is important, Edmund...for my patients. And by the way, you're not a rotten XO. If I hear you say that again, I'll have Rowena spank you." She grinned mischievously at Edmund mischievously at the last comment.
Edmund actually got a rather firm set to his jaw as well as in his eyes. "Vura, this time I need to say no, not right now. Let me look into some things before this gets into something really involved and bringing you fully into it. Right now, don't push it. Please," he told her with an entreating look in his eyes now. He did hear her comment about Rowena and her little tease, "I need to work this out in my mind, Vura, going through my memories and seeing if I had written anything down. I need a clear head to do so. And trying to chase this down, with you in the near vicinity. I won't be able to concentrate, and sorry if I am being harsh about this. I just need the time, and a clear head."
The Deltan was torn. She needed information to help Rowena and Shy and even Edmund. However, the man had a determination and she did not want to take that away from him. She lightly bit her lip and made a decision. "On one condition.... I get to see everything after you."
"I am in agreement with that." He then paused, thought for a moment and decided to not be cheeky. "Definitely everything I do find out I will share with you," Edmund stated firmly.
"Everything?" Vura replied flirtatiously.... "Not sure that Rowena or Starfleet would approve of that." She then turned off the charm and sincerely replied, "I appreciate, Edmund. I need this more than you know and I wish I could share more than that."
Edmund gave out a laugh "I do understand fully besides there is that oath of being a counselor, of not sharing what is found out. Just need the proper protocols, and the go ahead of sharing what you and I know. About the same for Security. Old habits die hard." he grinned. "Well, I am going to leave now, will keep you posted as much as I am able to do so."
"I am full of oaths, Edmund. Hippocratic, Counseling, Celibacy.... Anymore oaths and I might explode." She gave a short giggle before turning serious. "I'll look forward to your update. Just don't make me come and chase you down."
"You summon and I will answer." Edmund teased. His tone changed back to seriousness. "I will let you know what I hopefully will find out." taking in a little bit of a breath, he stepped back and got closer to the door. "have a lovely day Vura." he rolling the r's like a cat purring. A chuckle and then he stepped beyond the threshold, the door closing behind him. He needed a cold shower, and a bit of meditation.
A Joint Post By
Captain Edmund Merrick
The Cure Executive Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Vura
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
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