Progress Report Part I
Posted on Wed Feb 26th, 2025 @ 4:48pm by Captain Edmund Merrick & Lieutenant Junior Grade Zhara Rynn & Sophia & Sergeant Miranda Schultz
Edited on on Fri Feb 28th, 2025 @ 5:32am
1,757 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: Office of Zhara Rynn - Deck 5 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD003 2100 hrs
Edmund was quick to leave the knife practice with Jayna, he was definitely in the mood to talk, but as he made his way out of The Snake pit, his steps slowed down. Edmund realized what time it was. If he went to go see Zhara, that would be eating into her personal time, as in she might be getting ready to sleep.
"Am I daft?" Edmund muttered to himself. "I can make an appointment to see her in the morning. Now wouldn't be a good time to go see her." Edmund deciding to just head to his quarters on Deck Three to get some sleep.
"Deck Three" Edmund told the computer and the lift headed for that level. "Yup, Zhara is probably getting ready for bed right now."
Zhara was in counseling. Half way through her shift. It was a slow night and she was spending her time tending to her plants while she listened to a string quartet play quietly in the background.
Because it was so quiet, Sophia was stretched out on the floor outside Zhara's office so she wouldn't be in the way. It also let her listen for people passing by. Or nap in the quiet.
The lift opened on Deck Three, and Edmund stepped out. He took three steps, the door closing behind him. A few more steps, he stopped abruptly. "Okay you said to Jayna you would be going to see Zhara. That is a promise I need to keep." turning around and heading back to the turbo-lift. He stepped into the lift, the door closing and the lift waited for his command, "Deck Five." he said, the turbo-lift moving, stopping to let others on the lift on Deck Four. Edmund was lost in his thoughts that he stepped out on Deck Four instead of Deck Five.
The conversation he had with Jayna, was playing in his mind, and then also the conversation he had with Shy previously. And then his mind went back to the fight he had with Vura. His steps quickened as if he was trying to escape those memories when Edmund ran into someone.
Miranda stepped back, putting her hand up to make sure the person she collided with didn't fall over. She had no idea if she'd been at fault or not, but she could at least apologize. "I'm sorry. Are you okay?"
That sudden stop brought Edmund out of his thoughts, his mouth turning downwards." Watch where you are going!!" he growled out not recognizing Miranda Shultz. "And why are you prowling around Deck Five, aren't you supposed to be somewhere else?!" his voice going slightly louder.
Miranda jumped to attention. Literally. "Sir, no sir. I didn't consider that someone would come around the corner just then. It was entirely my fault, sir." She hesitated. "Begging the captain's pardon, but this is deck four, sir."
Edmund raised a finger to argue against that, " No it is Deck Five!!" his voice faded away when his eyes caught the sign which told him that he was on Deck Four. His cheeks flushed red, a garbled "sorry' came out. Turning on his heel, Edmund headed back towards the Turbo-lift to make his way down to the proper level. Not looking back towards Miranda.
Schultz watched him go, concerned. Something was definitely wrong with the captain. She'd never seen the captain lose it like that. She hoped she never would again.
The doors to counseling opened up with Edmund having a dark cloud hanging over him. He was still in a foul mood, trying to contain it. "Zhara are you in?" he called out loudly, while in the foyer of the counseling offices.
His voice echoing in the lobby made Edmund wince, "gotta get a hold of myself, this isn't boding well. " Edmund taking a seat in one of the chairs in the reception area to await Zhara. He didn't know if she were seeing someone or if she were there. Groaning out his frustration, he bowed his head to his chest, his forearms resting on his lap.
Sophia walked out of the door and sat on Edmund's feet, leaning her body against his legs to give him comfort.
"In my office." Zhara felt the wave of emotion enter with Edmund and wondered what happened to put him in such a foul mood. She immediately prepared hot water to steep some herb tea for him.
Feeling the weight on his feet, then the warm pressure of Sophia leaning against his legs, Edmund opened his eyes, and leaned forward to gently pet the dog. "Hi there Sophia." feeling himself start calm down, a little bit. He nuzzled her head with his forehead, then looked towards the door of Zhara's office having heard her calling out to him. "C'mon Sophia, she heard me.: Edmund moving to stand up, he clenched and unclenched his fists, drawing in some breaths to try to calm even more before he stepped inside. At the threshold he paused for a moment, as if he were blocking his own way from stepping inside. With a frustrated growl Edmund made himself move forward, to be able to close the door.
"H-hello Zhara."
"Hello, Edmund. Have a seat. What sort of tea would you prefer? Not white, black, or green. You need something soothing right now. Do you have a music preference, or should I put on something quiet with strings?"
"Do you have a tea with the herb Ashwagandha in your cupboard? I had been told that it helps with stress. I just haven't tried it yet. My last counselor had recommended that I take it, I wasn't in the mood to listen to her at that time..." gritting his teeth. Realizing back then he was a bit of a moron. And maybe even now he was one as well. "And please choose, I trust your instincts." sitting down. Edmund bounced his right leg a little bit, just to try to ease off the tension he was feeling
"I have a blend with ginseng and basil." Zhara went into a small cupboard and selected two tea bags.
She prepared two cups of tea on a tray with sugar and honey and set it on the coffee table, then prepared another one with cookies and biscuits.
She set it next to the other tray and sat across from him. When she did, Sophia took her place next to Edmund. "Try the tea and tell me what's got you so upset tonight."
As if he were lost in his thoughts Edmund quietly uttered, "Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast, to soften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak" he blinked as if coming from his thoughts his hand reaching out and touching the top of Sophia's head.
The scent of the tea drew his eyes, and picked up the cup to breathe in the aroma, then took a sip. He could feel his tensed up shoulders relaxing even more. Once the warm liquid made its way down his throat, Edmund lowered the cup.
"A combination of things wanting to fight their way to be first in my attention. The mission to that underwater lab, forward time, what happened a little bit ago, Rowena and Tyler becoming possessed by entities and Department heads being swept away into a pocket dimension. And the latest, the latest is, the Chief Counselor, Lieutenant Vura. " decidedly putting her into a box, by not calling her, Vura. "And the cherry on top is, that I kissed a beautiful woman while at Never Winter, I liked it but afterwards I felt like I had cheated on my dead wife."
Zhara watched him for a moment, gauging his emotions, his tension, and how Sophia was reacting. She was a trained therapy dog and how she chose to comfort Edmund told her a lot. Plus, she was an empath. It didn't answer the whys, but it gave her a baseline to work from. "That's a lot to unpack. We'll start with what happened in the underwater lab. I've talked to a few people about that experience and the entity involved. It was truly horrific, as was what happened to Rowena and Commodore Malbrooke. But for the most part, they have both been resolved. That gives you something to hold on to. To help you let go while your mind and heart slowly heal. I find that the company of others helps a great deal." She raised an eyebrow. "Does it for you? Did kissing that girl help you feel better?"
"I am torn . I will say, yes, kissing that beautiful woman, it made me feel better. Maybe I am afraid for what may come next where my heart will take me. I've been tying myself in knots thinking of that." Edmund's hand started to stroke Sophia's fur coat. "As for what happened in that lab, I have had some nightmares about it. Just hadn't said anything, to anyone, until now."
With his free hand, Merrick took another sip of his tea. 'I had thought to make a holoprogram to maybe help me deal with the nightmares, to hunt a monstrosity that I had seen and kill it, I don't know if that would be a good idea though. Would it?"
"It might. Different people need to deal with trauma in different ways. As long as it doesn't get too violent, it should be therapeutic. It also helps to talk it out." She paused. "It also helps to talk about why you feel guilty about having feelings for another woman. You're not betraying your wife, or your memories of her. She'd want you to move on with your life. That doesn't mean she won't always have a place in your heart and in who you are. It means there's room for both." She paused, hesitating before moving on to another question. "Aren't you also interested in the chief intelligence officer?"
A Joint Post By
Captain Edmund Merrick
Company Commanding Officer, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Sergeant Miranda Schultz
Communications Specialist HQ, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Junior Grade Zhara Rynn
Counselor, USS Pioneer
Sofia
Therapy Dog, USS Pioneer
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