Tour: Counseling

Posted on 11 Nov 2024 @ 11:56am by Lieutenant T’Mari Rael & Commodore Harvey Geisler

1,536 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Bait and Switch
Location: Counselor's Office
Timeline: June 29, 2390

As was common for the first morning of a new mission, Harvey took it upon himself to tour the vessel, stopping by each of the major locations aboard the ship and check in with his senior staff. This leg of the journey brought him to Counselor T'Mari's office. Considering that they had left Gavara yesterday, along with most of the survivors, he hoped that he would find the Counselor in a good mood, or at least able to take advantage of the calm before a storm.

He stopped at her front door and tapped the door chime. Hopefully, he was not interrupting anything.

T’Mari was indeed enjoying a rest now all their guests had departed. Her job had been pretty full on looking after their guests, but now she had time to breath. She walked across to the door to answer it personally, smiling warmly as she saw Harvey. “Commodore, please come in. What brings you to see me?”

Harvey stepped inside the room, commenting, "It's that time of the week, Counselor." Chuckling as he looked around the room, taking note of the decor as he did, Harvey added, "Truthfully, Counselor, it's been a while since I've done a full inspection of the ship. I thought I'd drop by, check in, and ask your thoughts about the crew."

“In that case make yourself at home” T’Mari motioned to the chair and sofa letting Harvey take his pick. “To be honest after recent events I’m glad to have some breathing space, and I think the crew feel the same. After the hostage situation I needed some time to...settle I guess.”

There was no hesitation in Harvey as he immediately selected the sofa. He might be in command of the ship, but this room was the Lieutenant's domain and he would respect that. Harvey also hadn't forgotten about the incident on the holodeck, but he had not been diligent in checking up on her since then. "How are you coping with that?" he asked her. Surely a counselor would have known better words to use, but Harvey did the best he could.

“It’s been...difficult” T’Mari took a seat in her favourite comfy chair. “It’s not the first time I’ve been in that situation, it probably won’t be the last, I just need a little time to get myself level headed again. That, and to talk with someone. I am planning to speak with Kennedy, she’s the nearest thing we have to another Counsellor.”

The Commodore nodded, glad that she was taking the actions that she had shared. "You know, I've met counselors in the past who were not very good at taking their own medicine, so to speak. I'm grateful you're recognizing the challenge right away and seeking help where available."

“I learned the hard way that even Counsellor’s need help from time to time” T’Mari smiled warmly. “I wouldn’t be of much use to my patients if I was a wreck, so I seek help when it’s needed.”

"That's an absolutely fair point," Harvey stated. "So, aside from seeking help, how are you doing? I know we've only been totally underway for about a month. How are you settling in?"

“Pretty well actually” T’Mari smiled. “You get used to moving around but I’ve come to realise that I feel more at home here than I did my last assignment. It’s nice to feel at home.”

Home. It was an odd thought, Harvey considered, thinking of this ship as home. That is not to say that he didn't think that the Black Hawk was home. Harvey still thought of the last Black Hawk, the Century, as his most recent home, one that was lost thanks to the wonders of the Gamma Quadrant. Perhaps one day that ship would be reborn as something else and given a chance to fly once more.

"It's nice indeed," Harvey found himself agreeing with T'Mari's statement. "It's been odd for me. This is the second Akira I've commanded, and I'm still expecting to see portions of that ship everywhere I go. The bridge is obviously different, so is the paint scheme, and some things are still in the same place. I don't know, it's just... strange."

T’Mari nodded. “I can imagine it must be, this is the first time I’ve served aboard an Akira so I’ve no comparison from one to another really.”

"My first home," Harvey said, leaning back on the couch a bit and sipping his coffee, "was Starbase 211 near Betazed. I think I maybe spent... six or seven years there. It was also the last time I wore medical blue."

“You were in medical?” T’Mari gave Harvey a curious look. “I’ve always thought of you as being in the chain of command rather than medical or science.”

The Commodore smiled, the question bringing back pleasant and unpleasant memories. "I started as a medicinal researcher focusing on combatting diseases," he shared. "The Dominion war forced me into a physician role. It was difficult to return to research after that, and the pain of losing my first wife wound up causing me to leave medicine altogether."

T’Mari nodded. “I can understand that, but maybe fate had a plan for you. Perhaps you were always meant to wear that colour uniform, to be in command. Who knows!” She shrugged her shoulders. “There’s times I believe in fate, and times I don’t.”

"If fate is real, then it is not something to trifle with," he remarked with a frown. "There are those who have told me in the past that there is a great force that orchestrates things. If so, then I think it is a rather cruel force, especially with all of the lives I've seen snuffed out. Now, luck... that I believe in."

T’Mari nodded. “Let’s hope for good luck then. Not that my father would have any of it, logic rules in all things. He was most...displeased, when I decided not to purge my emotions. Vulcans may not show emotion, but parents have a way of showing their disapproval if you do something they don’t agree with.”

Harvey scoffed, thinking of how his parents reacted (and still continue to act) to how his older siblings decided to live their lives. Even in a utopian society there was always room for addicts and unsavory types. "That is certainly the truth," he confirmed. "What about your mother? Is she also... displeased?"

“Not at all” T’Mari smiled. “My mother is a Counsellor and Doctor, I followed in her footsteps in taking up a career in the medical field. My father is currently one of several Vulcan Ambassador’s.”

The Commodore nodded. "That's good at least. Both of my parents were established in medicine, so for a while it was nice following in their footsteps. But only recently do I actually feel like I've started to become my own person."

T’Mari nodded. “That I can understand, parents have a powerful influence over their offspring. As much as that’s a good thing, it can influence us in ways we don’t realise when we’re young.”

"Not just when you're young, but also when you're older," Harvey observed. "I had helicopter parents, for example, after my older two siblings turned to a path of drugs and crime. Because of that, we were estranged for a while, and we're only starting to have a relationship again. In fact, we were talking about them coming to Gamma Command the next time the Black Hawk makes port."

“That’s wonderful” T’Mari smiled warmly. “It’ll give you some time to spend together as a family.”

Harvey grinned, thinking ahead to a moment past all of this uncertainty. "What about you?" he asked. "Any plans to see family, or at least regarding your next leave?"

T’Mari shook her head. “Not really. I tend to just enjoy my time aboard ship or station, just having time to myself is a nice break from the usual routine.”

He could not argue that perspective, especially since it was one that he had held himself for many years. "Well, there's something to be said for some fresh air. The next time we're near a planet, you might take a transport or shuttle down."

“That’s a good idea actually, getting some fresh air sounds wonderful.” T’Mari smiled warmly. “I’m not averse to transporting down either.”

"Statistically speaking, transporters are the safest way to travel," Harvey said, shifting on the couch. With a nod, he added, "I'll let you know the next time we make port then. Anything else on your mind?"

T’Mari shook her head. “Not that I can think of right now.” She smiled warmly.

Harvey rose from the couch, making sure not to spill his coffee as he did so. "Then I'll let you get back to it. Be sure keep me informed if there are any changes in morale. I think we all know it's going to get a little rougher before it gets better."

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