[Legacy] Artemis: The Marine is In-Sane
Zack Fester
The Marine is In-sane
Jenny couldn’t believe her bad luck. She wasn't even on the ship for 24 hours and they already wanted her to check in with the ship’s counselor. She hadn’t even gotten her uniform...or the sleep she so needed. Still dressed in her civilian attire, she pulled her black headband on as she approached the counselor's office and hit the button. Nothing seemed to happen, or she was just impatient.
“Why shouldn’t I be...this is vindictive bull shit” she muttered tapping her foot to a sporadic rhythm. If anyone were to see her, they would see a young purple haired woman, clad in a denim skirt with ripped leggings, a sleeveless black tee shirt and a old heavy cloth jacket outside a corridor looking like a lost tourist. She tapped the button again then reached out with her senses….the room was completely empty.
Thani rounded the corner and suppressed a wide smile, but she still did grin.
“Hello. I’m guessing you're looking for me since you’re standing outside my office.”
She turned about to make a snide remark when she came face to face with a young Andorian woman. She raised one eyebrow in surprise, maybe this session wouldn’t be so bad. She gave a warm smile then offered her hand.
“Sergeant Jennifer Byrd...here for my session” she offered warmly.
Thani smiled warmly back at her and held out her hand.
“Ensign sh’Rothe, but call me Thani. I wasn’t expecting you until you settled in. Please, come in.”
Jenny walked inside her hands in her pockets as she looked around. “That was the plan until I read over my transfer orders...It indicated that I needed to well….report immediately.” she groaned “You punch one XO in the face and next thing you know….vengeance.” she glanced around the room then looked to Thani “So where do I sit?” she asked knowing all counselors have certain set ups.
Thani gave a soft laugh and gestured for the small lounge area.
“Please, sit. Would you like a cup of tea or coffee or anything?” Thani moved to the replicator.
“Coffee please” she asked as she took a seat. “So how do I do this, do I talk first...do you talk first?” she asked “What's your mode of interview...I’ve been in so many counselor quarters they all blend for me.” Normally she would toy with the counselors but not this one. Since boot she had always had a strange affinity and respect for the Andorians, maybe because of their warrior spirit.
Thani got her coffee and a tea for herself, and handed the mug to her with a smile. She sat down opposite her in an arm chair.
“Well, firstly, if these were my quarters they wouldn’t be so crowded. Luckily I’m slowly getting this office decorated the way I like it. And secondly, it’s just whatever you want it to be. Come to me to talk about life, work, family, friends, sex life - or lack there off in my case but that’s a story for another day.” Thani’s grin was wide, her eyes warm. “Basically, I’m just here to help you get settled in, send off a boring dry report once a month to say you showed up and all that malarkey? I think it is how you humans say it, and just basically be here if you need me to be.”
“Well no Disrespect intended but this isn’t my idea.“ She let out a sigh “This part of my welcome aboard was ordered as part of my plea agreement….The only difference initially I didn’t need to report till tomorrow, now they wanted me to complete my first of probably many sessions today.” Jenny let out a sigh and took a quick sip of her coffee. One of the many perks of being on the starship, no such thing as a bad cuppa coffee
Thani raised an eyebrow at that as she sipped her tea. She picked up her PADD that she had placed down and opened a file with one hand. She then frowned.
“Yes, I can see here that not only are you meant to report to me, but also medical, Major Bamber and a few others.” Thani put her tea down and quickly began typing a few things. She threw her a cheeky grin. “Well, Major Bamber is a bit more flexible than these silly orders, so we can put him off until tomorrow, and this one as well,” Thani began to mumble to herself. “And this one, this one and that one... “ She looked up with a smile. “There we go, all changed. Instead of doing it all today, you can do it all over the next two days. That way, once you have finished with me, you can go to medical and then that’s it for today. Is that okay for you?”
“I just came from medical” she explained “They let me know of the update...also I have one more stop today..My sister’s quarters” Jenny groaned it out as if it were a death sentence to see her. “And all this because I decided to get into a bar fight...I didn’t even throw the first punch”
Thani gave a soft laugh.
“Doesn’t matter sometimes, if you were there, you were there and you did it. At least, that’s what I've found. And your sister huh? You sound like you don’t really want to go see her?”
“Does a Klingon hate attending a peace conference hosted by Vulcans and Vegans'' she asked “As for the bar fight I never got to speak my peace about it really” she growled “I didn’t start the fight but I finished it….and I still feel I was justified.” she said “Any man who thinks being an officer makes him superior and can treat anyone like scum…” she was clenching her hand so hard it was shaking.
Thani noticed the shaking hand and looked at her curiously.
“So, that’s obviously a sore spot. So, tell me what happened, from the top, and we’ll see what we can do okay?”
“Ok I will” she nodded “our team had just gotten back from the patrol and we were given shoreleave on the station” she started “Before we went in would all pulled our dice” she pulled the item out “There were 15 of us and we all rolled off...lowest roll got a two drink maximum and soda the rest of the night...I lost” she explained “So I had all my faculties intact when the trouble started Thani nodded.
“That’s a good system. SImilar to what we use back home, but please, continue.”
“So here we are being rowdy and fun when the man chucks a whisky tumbler at us and tells us to….do something colorful involving intercourse.” she grumbles “This leads to laughter from him and his officers but nothing else.” she took a sip of coffee “Normally I would ignore a man like that but he got a little too handsy with another bar patron;” she explained.
“So you were defending someone from unwanted attention? Why didn’t you tell security?” Thani was genuinely curious about how she had ended up here.
She let out a sigh. “Believe it or not I did talk to security for the place..but as he was a VIP all they did was tell him to ease up….I was rewarded by having another full drink tossed my way.” she let out a sigh “It was around that time that a young woman who was at the bar tried to leave and he drunkenly grabbed her around her waist and demanded a kiss for the senior officer…” she let out a sigh “My parents may not have been in my life that much but even they press on me what you can and can’t do around a lady…” Thani frowned slightly.
“Surely they watched the security footage? I can’t believe that they would take his word over the video evidence surely?”
“Now you're thinking like me on my court martial...apparently the bar security was down...and witnesses were very tight lipped but I think it was just bad luck” she explained “so at that point I went up to tell him let her go...that no means no you know the usual stuff...then I saw it.” SHe paused for effect just for the hell of it. “He finished a shot of human whisky then turned his glass face down on the bar….then came the first punch”
Thani winced slightly.
“I think I can see where this is going, but please, keep going.” Thani sipped her tea.
“Well I’ve been punched in the face so it hurt but I recovered quickly...he then swung again as I backed off hands up….third punch came and I laid him out flat with a single blow...broke his nose and knocked out two teeth...then the brawl started.” she explained “And well if you know Marines we fight to win...and well we won...and lost at the same time.” Thani blew out a sigh of frustration.
“Dam. I’m sorry that it went down that way. But rest assured, I can tell you now that you’re here, and if your as half as good as your record states, that Major Bamber and Lt Aiden won’t let you go.” Thani grinned at her. “They even let some of the security guys train with the marines. I do myself occasionally, to keep my hand in.”
“Well I bet I could teach them a thing or two” she stated “I learned by combat style in the prison yard...and battlefield” she laughed “I was even trained on Andoria for basic.” She said proudly as she leaned back “Hell my training sergeant even gave me my nickname.” She removed her jacket and showed her tattoo to the woman. Thani was suitably impressed and smiled warmly at the other woman.
“That’s terrific. Great art work as well. I’m pleased you are familiar with our standards of training - Andorian I mean.”
“I like Andorians...you're not like other Federation members, you're both fearless and at times wise” she stated. She knew they were much more but that fact was to be kept to herself. There were some things you didn't even tell your shrink. “But back to the bar fight long story short I get a kangaroo court room...and….it forces my sister to give up her plush doggie job on Earth to enlist and save me.” Thani winced.
“Ah, that doesn’t sound very fair. And I’m going to go out on a limb here that your sister isn’t best pleased?” Jenny reached out to feel her sister’s emotions. SHe made out mild annoyance, anger and strangely happiness to be back on a ship.
“She has mixed feelings but I think I hurt her.” she admitted “Then again I don't if I should care or not” she explained “My sister basically left me for her career ages again...when I needed her the most...when my mother and father...were lost.”
Thani looked at her for a long moment.
“Sounds like your sister resents you, and you resent her. Especially around the loss of your parents. I mean, your file says that they were lost, but not how.” Thani gave her a gentle smile. “Do you feel up for telling me about it?” That statement puzzled her...but then again the paper work was slow as hell. She looked at her and spoke.
“The Borg….they were taken by...the Borg.” she offered “I don’t remember much of it other than my sister running away while my mother and father screamed at use to run….but I didn’t want to run…” she let out a sigh “Where I hate the Borg...my sister turned them into a career….so heartless” she took another sip, draining the cup. “My life can best be described as a human soap opera.” Thani gave a soft laugh and held up her hand to stop her from saying anything.
“I’m sorry. Human soap opera, I have not heard that one before.” Thani sobered. “But as for your parents, I’m sorry. And your sister is turning them into a career you say?” Thani frowned. “Maybe I should be talking to her, instead of you. You seem to have your head on fairly straight.”
“You can try...but it's impossible to get her nose out of a test tube...hell I doubt she has ever been laid…” She felt herself go red “Ok maybe that is too harsh...she is good looking but good luck unless ordered she might not show up.” she explained. Thani gave her a warm smile.
“Sounds like a challenge, I could use one of those.” Thani noticed her blushing and gave a little laugh. “And don’t worry, anything you say in here is just between the two of us. If you want to talk about your sex life, or the lack of my sex life, please, go ahead.” Thani grinned at her. “I’m fairly open minded.”
“Oh well….” Jenny let out a sigh...she so could have fun with this but now was not the time or place for her sex life...in fact what did she want to talk about. “Maybe we should wait on that topic just in case we need something for next week's session.” she handed her padd over. “According to my deal I have to have weekly visits for at least 3 months” Thani smiled and nodded at her.
“Sounds good to me. We can talk about anything and everything. I just want you to feel comfortable here is all. This is a good ship and crew, they’ve been through a lot, even in the short time I’ve been aboard.”
“Thanks” she smiled as she stood up “I look forward to it, now I best find my sister’s quarters…” she explained “Before either of us turn in she wants a meeting….a not so fun one if her mood is any indication…” she let out a sign “Maybe I should put a greek warrior on he favorite holodeck program to seduce her next time.” She muttered “Do you think that would get her to be more social?” Thani laughed as she stood as well.
“It might do. I can tag along if you want a witness?” Thani teased her slightly.
“Maybe later” she glanced around then smiled “Oh boy...that dirty dirty woman…” she frowned “ Thani laughed again.
“Want some help finding her quarters?” She shook her head.
“My Sister gave me directions..perks of being part Betazoid” she explained “My sister and I have a mental link...it only works when we are in the same area like a town or starship.” she explained “It's the only Betazoid trait we share...my sister lost the DNA lottery.” Thani looked confused by that but then shook her head.
“You’ll have to explain that to me next time we meet. You’d better get going, you don’t want to make things worse by being late. I’ll be here when you need me.”
“Thanks Thani…” she let out a small sigh. “Hope we can hang out sometime as fellow crew members...not just patient and doctor.” SHe smiled and headed out of the room.
“Any time, I’m just a com call away. Good luck.” Thani watched her leave and then went back into her office. They were off to a good start she felt, and she hoped that in time, they would become friends as well.
END.