Getting Settled Q&A

Posted on Wed Mar 8th, 2023 @ 6:38pm by Lieutenant Rowena "Rena" Campbell & Lieutenant JG Aurora House of Kor

2,189 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Mission One: Goodwill Tour [Part One]
Location: Counselor's Office

Aurora didn't REALLY want to be there, but she was supposed to check in with the Base's Counselor as a new crewmember, and she'd put it off as long as she dared.

"Gulp...welp, here goes nothing," Aurora rang the door chime.

Rena sat at her desk, finishing treatment notes. Vi was going to put her through her paces and make her really USE her training, Rena knew. She absently sipped some coffee, wiping it off her lower lip with the edge of her uniform sleeve, like a child would. Her office was already set up for the day, and she was ready for her first patient, but Aurora wouldn't be there for a few minutes. After a few minutes, though, the chime rang. She stood, and smiled as she opened the door.

"Miss Aurora, please come in." She indicated the settee for her. "Sit down! Can I get you something to drink?"

"Ththanks...ahem...Thank you, Ma'am. Um...Kiwi Mango smoothie?" Aurora rubbed her neck, feeling like a fish out of water.

Rena nodded, and turned to the replicator, telling it to produce a mango smoothie. After a moment or so, the machine did so, and she turned back to the other woman. "Here. Please, sit down. Make yourself comfortable." Rena herself settled her curvy frame into the armchair she preferred-across from the ancient but still comfortable burnt-orange couch. It was hers-sort of, she'd found it in an "antique" shop on Earth but she didn't really understand what that meant. She sipped some water before setting it aside.

"What brings you to my office today?"

"Well...officially, I am here because I have not had my psych evaluation yet...but I also haven't had a chance to introduce myself either. My name's Aurora of the House of Kor, and this is my first official assignment," Aurora held out her hand, wondering if it was the right move. Some culter's would be highly offended by a handshake, and Aurora hadn't had a chance to as thorough of a back ground check of the crew as she had wanted to.

Rena smiled warmly, and took the woman's hand, shaking it firmly but gently. "Nice to meet you, Aurora, House of Kor. Please, get comfortable." She paused to let the woman settle in. "Well, if it's just for your yearly evaluation, let's start somewhere fun. How did you meet the Captain?" Had he, like he'd done with Rena, sought the woman out? If yes, why? If they had known each other already, how? A part of why Rena was a good counselor was that she was ALSO nosy.

"Well, I recon part of how I 'met' the Captain was because of what I am. My Mother's race is a bit reclusive...in fact, my Father and his crewmates would have been killed by the Aquadians if my Mother hadn't stepped in! That's what drew him to her...she was a warrior of equal ferocity to himself," Aurora chuckled as she remembered her parents telling her the story and the love she saw in their eyes.

Rena nodded gently.. "I see!! And how did the Captain fit in?" She inquired. "I know the El Aurians have traveled extensively about the universe; my people have interacted with them, as well. Betazed is a tourist destination, apparently." She shrugged. She hadn't actually spent that much time there. "Is it difficult for you to be mixed race?" Rena was battling with her own issues about that, being half Terran. She always appreciated others' inputs.

"It is hard to be different. The Captain saw me doing what I usually did: saving people from bullies. I'd just put the bullies to flight when the Captain came up and introduced himself...well, TRIED to introduce himself anyway. I actually almost flattened him! It was before I went to the Academy, so I was still a bit rangy and...come to think of it...he didn't recognize me when I came aboard because of that!" Aurora snickered at her first memory of Captain Max backing away from her swing.

Rena laughed at her tale. "Oh my Goddess, that's amazing!" She pulled herself together. "I only ask because I am mixed race, as well, and it's sometimes...hard to figure out where you fit in in this universe. This base? It's a great place for people like us. Small, quiet. Max is good." She nodded.

"Tell me a little bit about your experiences with the Fleet. Did you go to the Academy? Where was your first posting?" Since Aurora didn't come to see her to discuss a *particular* problem, she decided she would just run down the standard list of questions.

"This is actually my first assignment. The Academy was ok...when the other cadets left me alone. Despite the Federation being all: 'We're equals and no species is subpar' or whatever, I was still sneakily picked on and discriminated against. I made some friends...well...'friends' is a bit of a stretch. They weren't afraid to be seen with me...but they always wanted me to do stuff for them: get stuff they'd 'accidentally' dropped in any and every kind of water...ridiculous stuff like that," Aurora dropped a bit in her chair, staring into her drink like she could see the scenes of the past in it.

Rena smiled lightly. "I am sorry you experienced that. It was rough for me, too. I am half Betazed, a woman of color, and fat. You do the math." Besides, Rena had always been a bit of a loner; she had only two very close friends. "It was the opposite for my brother, though, don't you know? He was the BMOC (big man on campus). SO embarrassing to only be two years behind him-I could never keep up." She smiled a little again. "But you're here now! And the rest of us? We don't care what or who you are, so long as you can do your job and do it sufficiently." She reassured the other woman. "And you have, so far!"

Aurora had to giggle at that. "Thanks, Doc. You know...this trip could very well define my direction in life," Aurora took another sip and relaxed a little in her chair.

Rena smiled. "I am glad. Mine, too. I was planning to probably just process cadets for awhile. This is much more fun. A lot of work, but much more fun. Have you made friends with the rest of the crew yet? I know some of them are hard to get to know, but they're all fantastic."

"Not yet...still trying to get my ship legs before I start stumbling into introductions...I mean! See!? I'm a cluts out of water!

Put me with sea creatures and I'm a natural, put me with bipeds and...yeah...it ain't pretty," Aurora groaned, ducking her head as she blushed.

Rena laughed again. "No offense taken. I, too, connect better with four legged creatures and sea life, and the like. Fauna, I guess, is the term. I had to leave my cat behind on Earth with my mom, but I definitely would rather spend time with a pet than a person in general. There's a few beings who I don't mind. Also, being bipedal isn't all bad, at least we can use our hands for things more deftly. It'd be cool to have a tail, though." She was mostly kidding, trying to calm the other woman. "Seeing as this is your first appointment, I DO need to ask you a few serious questions. Are you feeling safe in general? No feelings of harming yourself or others, even when Max is a little hyper?"

"True that! I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't pet animals! Huh!? Hurt anyone!? Gagzuks, I wouldn't hurt a Chimaquile! Well...unless it was him or me," Aurora blushed a little.

Rena laughed. "That's good. I just have a list of standard questions I am required to ask, is all, if a patient doesn't come to me with a specific problem. There's no judgement or trying to find something out. It's just what I have to do." She went on. "The next one is...how do you deal with stress?? Do you, for example, run? Eat sweets? Drink in the lounge?" She asked.

"No worries, Doc. No, I never touch drinks...seen the darkside of them one to many times," Aurora shuddered as memories surfaced...thankfully not of her parents, but the parents/children she knew. Aurora shook her head, hissing softly. "That's not what you wanted to hear exactly. I blow off stress by swimming, hiking, parkour, and drinking fruit smoothies," Aurora lifted her head and looked the counselor in the eye.

Rena smiled warmly. "Those are very healthy ways to cope with stress!! There's no one or two "right" ways. We're all different. It's only an issue for me when you're seeking unhealthy outlets! Ok, next dumb question I need to ask: if things went South here with our Romulan hosts, are you in a position to defend the Federation? Caitians are a neutral species, right?" She asked. "I promise this is the last question that StarFleet wants me to probe." She made a face. She didn't see how these lists actually *helped* people.

Aurora smirked. "Yeah, that is a stupid question, but I will answer your question like this: if those I call family are put in danger...it doesn't matter if it's Starfleet itself...the perpetrators are gonna get what's coming to them!" Aurora's claws and fangs elongated as her fin stood straight up.

Rena smiled. "Well, that's the answer that the Fleet wants to hear. Let's move on to some other things now. Tell me a bit about how your culture works. Where does the "House of Kor" come from? Is it like on Betazed, where we have the various Houses of the Goddesses? My father was a child of the third house."

Aurora blinked a little. "[Ok...that was a subject switch] Ahem...in Klingon culture, there are houses that are in different positions of power in the Empire. Kor is a powerful military house...despite my Father not being of a man of war. Don't get me wrong! He will lay down his life for the Empire, but he will try to resolve whatever in a non-violent way fist before he resorts to violence," Aurora quickly corrected, her eyes snapping a little.

Rena nodded. "I see!! I didn't know that!" She didn't know many Klingons, though. "My mother was Betazed; we have houses but they're based on deities. I am a daughter of the 12th house. It's our Goddess of Air." Rena explained. Wow, they had a lot in common!

"What about you? How do you find your glory??"

Aurora almost spit out her tea at that. "[Oh boy] Well...I've actually never sought glory. Many think I'm un-Klingon for not seeking glory, but I'm like my Father in that I seek adventure instead. I've learned to ignore those who hiss at me as I walk by. I've had to use my fists a few times to 'talk' my way out of a few stickier situations...but nothing to drastic," Aurora had to snicker at the memories she had of her more harrowing adventures.

Rena smiled. "Our CMO is also Klingon, and says much the same. Interesting that you two are getting away from that old way of thinking. In my personal opinion, it's how societies grow for the better." She remarked. "I think that finding "adventure" is its own form of glory-isn't the greatest battle to fight your own insecurities and take a leap?" She asked.

Aurora had to think about that one for a minute...then began to laugh! "Couldn't have said that better if I had spent a year trying! I agree wholeheartedly! Hm...sounds like we should get together and talk...perhaps we have similar interests as well as ideals!" Aurora grinned.

When Aurora answered, Rena nodded. "Ok, one final question for today, then we can discuss if you'd like to have any more sessions." She paused. "Tell me about your goals for the month. Personal, work, whatever!! I just like to be able to check in on folks occasionally, in case they need help to reach them or revamp them."

"Well, other than not getting attacked again, I guess transitioning into my new rolls as smoothly and cleanly as possible. I can tell the Captain's expecting a lot from me, and I'm going to do my best to reassure him that he has made the right choice in the responsibilities he has given me," Aurora sat up straighter in her chair, determination flashing deep in her eyes.

Rena nodded. "I think you will do fine. You've done well enough to earn a promotion!! Congrats on that, by the way." Then, the computer chimed. *It is currently 2 o'clock.* She smiled. "That is the end of our time today. I hope I'll see you again soon!"

Off:
Lt. Rowena "Rena" Campbell
Chief Counselor
Titan SeaBase

 

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