Another Week, Another Checkup
Posted on Thu Oct 3rd, 2024 @ 5:15am by Lieutenant Vura & Lieutenant Mignon Mejia
Edited on on Thu Oct 3rd, 2024 @ 6:51pm
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: Counselor's Office - Deck 5 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD002 0900 hrs
Mignon didn't want to go see the counselor again, but she knew it was necessary--for now, anyway. She was over the desire to hurt herself, but she still had occasional nightmares about what she'd done. She knew it was because of the drugs, but she still felt guilty that she was the only one of the four who actually cut off her foot.
She checked the time again and sighed. She couldn't put this off any longer. Taking a deep breath, she rang the chime to Vura's office.
Vura checked her schedule and did not think she had anyone at this hour. However, being a counselor meant being available and Vura certainly enjoyed it. After all, each new person, each moment was a new sensation, and she enjoyed them all. So when the chime rang, she eagerly rose, started walking to the door, and called, "Come! Come on in!"
Carefully shielding her thoughts, Mignon walked in. "Hello, counselor. I had some free time and thought I should check in."
Free time? Unlikely. Something is bothering her. She was anxious to get back on duty and had made progress. Relapse, perhaps? Vura extended her lithe arm out gracefully, welcoming Mignon to sit anywhere. "Well, it is always a pleasure to see you and you are always welcome here."
She nodded and took a seat. As much as the counselor tried to be welcoming, Mignon often felt like she was being evaluated every time she walked in the door and she often felt like she the counselor found her lacking wanting for one reason or another.
Vura sat down near Mignon and said nothing for a few moments. She had hoped that Mignon would start the conversation, but the junior grade lieutenant obviously was not ready. "So, Mignon, it has been a little while since you have come to see me. How has it felt being back on duty?"
"It's been good to work again. The nightmares are few and far between now, too. I figured that since it had been a while I should check in."
"Check ins are good. It is nice to hear that the nightmares are becoming less frequent. Are they becoming any more or less intense?"
"Yes, although I'm still frustrated that I'm the only one who couldn't hold out against the drugs." She didn't know if it was because she was a full Betazoid where others, like Alyssa, were half, or if it was that she wasn't as strong, mentally, as they were.
Vura's eyes widened and softened, going from sultry to puppy dog sized. Being the only one to have been affected was still affecting Mignon's self-confidence. "Tell me more about that feeling. Why do you feel frustrated?"
"There were four of us. We all had the same injections, but I was the only one who couldn't fight the overwhelming feeling that my foot wasn't part of my body, that it was some alien entity and I had to get rid of it." She looked at the counselor. "I don't feel that way anymore, but there are times when I still think I should have fought harder or done something more."
"Like what?" Vura offered to allow Mignon to continue with expressing herself.
"I don't know. Alyssa used something from a book she read. I don't know about the other two, but they're both strong women."
"And you are not?" Vura countered.
Mignon chuckled. "Mostly, but that was...not something I ever want to go through again."
"It is certainly understandable that you would not want to endure that again. I cannot imagine that any sane person would want to go through what you did. Yet, not only were you strong enough to endure that pain, but you were strong enough to come out on the other side. Your strength allows you to continue fighting that battle."
Vura leaned forward slightly, a small, warm smile on her face. "Maybe we can try this from another angle. Four people eat the same meal. One has an allergic reaction and gets ill. Does that make the person who got ill weaker as a person?"
"No..." She shook her head. "I get your point."
"Perhaps intellectually," Vura replied with a knowing nod. "But feelings and emotions are quite a different thing, are they not?"
Mignon nodded. "And there's the rub. Sometimes I wonder if the Vulcans have the right of it." She smiled at the counselor. "But only sometimes."
"Oh, gosh!" Vura replied and then giggled sweetly. "Did you ever get the wrong counselor to talk about Vulcans with!" She giggled a bit more, also enjoying Mingon's smile. "Regardless, for now, some of the best things that you can do are to remind yourself that these feelings are incorrect. With time and practice, your feelings will start to match your thoughts. Unfortunately, the process takes time. It won't happen today or tomorrow or likely even a month from now." Vura's light smile curved slightly downward sympathetically.
"I know, but knowing and accepting aren't always the same thing," Mignon admitted.
"And that's why it will take time," Vura replied, while nodding your head. "I'll be here, too, for as often as you need or want. Tell me, how are you doing other than this?"
"Good. I'm working all my shifts now and helping with the garden bay." She smiled. "Alyssa really needs to come up with a permanent name for the garden cube. I think it's changed three times so far."
Vura laughed heartily after hearing that, her head tilting back, as she did so. "Well, maybe Alyssa needs some counseling, eh? Dare I ask what her names were thus far?"
"No, since none of them were made public. So far, it's just the scientists. Garden Cube is the one used most, though. It's more utilitarian. However, there are a number of ancient cultures that were known for their gardens. She wouldn't use any of those because ours doesn't measure up to what they had."
"I see," Vura answered, making a mental note. "Well, I'm certain that she will come up with something that suits her." I should probably check on her and the garden anyways. "Are you doing anything else besides work and working in the garden?"
"Reading. Talking with some of the other scientists. Oh, and I've been to the lounge twice." She smiled at the counselor.
"The lounge? That's wonderful. Did you go with friends or just by yourself?"
"I went once with Fathom and once by myself." She shrugged. "I go there to eat and sometimes to people watch. Fathom and I happened to be working on scans and went there for lunch. Sometimes it's better than a replicator in the lab."
"People watching is supposed to be my job," Vura teasingly told Mignon. "Now you just be careful about that, you hear?" She giggled lightly before continuing. "Fathom? Who is that? I don't believe that I've met this person yet."
"She's the marine biologist. We've been looking over data from the last couple of planets we visited. She's been studying the oceans and I've been looking at the land and its inhabitants."
"I've yet to get down to Aquil. Tell me about it and what you have found."
"There was an ancient civilization on the surface. There are still remnants if you know where to look. There hasn't been much research because the natives don't trust Starfleet. The same goes with the merfolk. But they do have a small dome where they sell souvenirs and food for tourists. Major Tremble and Lieutenant Mira went to an underwater cave system that has displays about some of the history of the Aquil."
"I wonder why they don't trust Starfleet," Vura responded curiously. "And merfolk sound rather unique. I shall have to make it a point to go down and visit."
"You should. So, what do you like to do for shore leave?" She might as well ask the counselor since they'd switched to talking about shore leave.
"Experience anything new," Vura replied proudly, straightening in her chair. "I have a grand sense of adventure."
The scientist laughed at the sentiment and Vura's pride in her desire. "You should have been here when we went to Risa. Several members of the crew went orbital skydiving. Not me, though. I went to a different restaurant every night and caught up on my reading."
"Orbital skydiving does sound like fun." Vura's tone almost had a salivating quality to it. "Reading can be done anywhere or anytime."
"Reading can be done anywhere and anytime, but I prefer a quiet place where I can get comfortable and lose myself in a book. So, my quarters are often best. But I spend a good part of my shift working with other people, so I have plenty of opportunities to chat if I wish."
"I do imagine that it would be difficult to read around other people," Vura conceded. "Ultimately, what you do, does not matter as long as it you enjoy it and it is mentally healthy."
"I agree." Mignon smiled. "Is there anything else you want to know? I don't want to make your next appointment have to wait."
"I think we are good for today, Mignon. If there's anything else on your mind, please reach out. I'm here for you, always."
"Thank you." Mignon stood, pleased the meeting went well. "See you later."
"I look forward to it!"
A Joint Post by
Lieutenant Junior Grade Mignon Mejia
Alien Archaeologist/Anthropologist, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Vura
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
RSS Feed