Lieutenant JG Renaie Shortrith - Taboo
Renaie Shortrith
((Counselling Care Centre, Medical Centre, Amity Outpost))
Shortrith: I suppose that's what creates the strength in the 'Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations' philosophy comes from.
Saavei: This is the first counseling session I have ever attended. I am... unsure what the normal protocol is. You will need to guide me.
Shortrith: No worries! Everyone has their first session at some point.
Saavei: I will make an effort to not overthink the situation.
Shortrith: How did you find yourself faring over the course of the underspace investigation?
Saavei: Better than many of the others. Losing the first ship into the Underspace rift was unfortunate. It was through no amount of quick work on the part of all involved that we were able to retrieve the missing vessel and its crew.
Shortrith: Did you find yourself in any distress because of your actions or the situation?
Saavei: Underspace was... interesting. Poorly understood then, as now. Entering it required a degree of mechanical flexibility which took its toll on the Independence-B. I would prefer future ventures to be better researched to minimize that.
Shortrith: That makes a lot of sense, I think I remember strain being on the Daintree as we got pulled in.
Saavei: The Vaadwaur took advantage of the situation to attack the ship, once we had entered Underspace. We were at a tactical disadvantage and I was in Main Engineering at the time. It was my first time being under fire in a real situation, not a simulator. There was an element of stress but I was able to control the emotion with little effort.
Shortrith: If needed, I can provide techniques for subduing stress without suppressing it.
Saavei: Our rear torpedo tubes were disabled. I made the descent with ARIA, Commander Taelon's bot, to attempt repairs. My ankle was injured in the process and there were two crew members dead in the room. The launcher was irreparable and I used the Jeffries Tube between the two compartments to traverse to the other side. While there, the ship was struck by enemy fire, and the tube suffered an explosive decompression. I was able to catch myself but was nearly expelled into Underspace.
Renaie couldn't stop their jaw from dropping in surprise.
Shortrith: You… you almost fell into Underspace? How long did it take for you to get back into the Independence-B?
Saavei: I was able to maintain a hold on the hatch into the next torpedo launcher bay. The emergency force field activated in short order, two-point-three seconds when I checked the logs later. Subjectively, however, the moment appeared to be longer when experienced directly.
Shortrith: May I ask what you felt during that time?
They were aware of the fact that talking about emotions were typically taboo in Vulcan culture, but they hoped they were providing enough of a safe space for Saavei to be able to talk about her feelings free of judgement.
Saavei: That is not something I am used to speaking of.
Shortrith: Rest assured, this room is not a place of judgement. Anything you say in here will stay in here, unless it puts someone in danger.
Saavei: I appreciate the confidentiality but it is a cultural taboo. Expressing emotion for an adult Vulcan is akin to attending a Betazoid wedding then realizing one had the wrong day.
Renaie nodded, silently understanding.
Saavei: As I importuned my roommate about the matter, perhaps it would be more logical to discuss it here. It was her suggestion that I speak with you.
Shortrith: If you're not comfortable discussing, feel free to not discuss it.
They went silent after that, allowing the Vulcan to
Saavei: At the time I felt surprised. Then I was afraid. The hull breach appeared much larger in my mind than it was in reality. I believed that was where my journey would end, my katra drifting unclaimed through those corridors in perpetuity. ::Her eyebrow raised:: Please understand I immediately controlled these emotions to continue my duty.
Shortrith: I understand, those emotions typically arise in stressful situations.
Saavei: I was reflecting on it later, on the bridge, during the battle outside the Outpost. I believe it is possible Commander Ukinix may have sensed a lack of discipline in my thoughts during that time, between my recent experiences and concern for First Secretary Aitas, who was injured. The Commander was polite enough to not point it out, if so. Vulcans are supposed to be sources of strength in a crisis, not weaknesses.
Renaie's eyes shot up in surprise, but knotted themselves together in concern a second later.
Shortrith: Saavei, no matter what species you are, you don't have to be a source of strength. Everyone has a breaking point.
oO I've reached that point before. Oo
Saavei: Response
Shortrith: I understand that. But people can't bottle up their emotions, it's not healthy.
It was blunt, but the Klingon knew it to be true.
Saavei: Response
Shortrith: What do you mean?
Saavei: Response
[Tags/TBC]
Lieutenant JG Renaie Shortrith, MD
Counsellor/Medical Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
They/Them (Player and character)
A240204RS3