Lt. Cmdr. Herrick & Lt. Cmdr. Saa: Discomfort
Mark P
OOC: This is not the mission start, but a small teaser. ;)
((XO’s Office, Deck 1, USS Thor))
The low hum of the warp core reverberated faintly through the deck plating, a feeling familiar to almost any engineer, current or former. Josh stood behind his desk, a PADD in hand, the orange text outlining their new orders.
Thankfully, Starfleet had elected to give them a relatively tame assignment with a bit of a twist, which had prompted him to invite the second officer for a discussion before they set out.
Herrick: It’s open.
Saa: Commander Herrick.
Stepping inside, Sevantha greeted Herrick with eye contact and a small bow of her head, before she looked around to admire his officer decor. The Captain's ready room had been well decorated, so well Sevantha wondered if he'd spent any time on his actual quarters, and naturally she was curious of Herrick's interior decorating style.
The office was relatively spartan, with several paintings of various Norse gods hanging on the walls. Josh, a polytheist, couldn’t help but think that a deity was pulling the cosmic strings in such a way that landed him on the Thor. When he took in all the wonders science had to offer and the untold number of unexplainable phenomena, it led him to his now-deeply held belief. He didn’t advertise it, but he never shied away from it either.
He motioned to the seat across from him, inviting her to sit down.
Herrick: Please.
He gestured to the chair across from him. As she sat, he realized how rarely the two of them had spoken one-on-one. Always briefings, crisis rooms, and bridge shifts. Never just this; a quiet moment between the ship’s first and second officers.
Herrick: Our next assignment just came in. Starfleet wants us to conduct an interstellar survey in a region of the Syren Hinterreach, a system designated V-X-L-O-N. ::spelling it out, then smiled:: I imagine they’ll let us call it ‘Vexilon.’ There is currently a small planetary survey happening there, and we’ll be bolstering their studies.
Settled into the chair, Sevantha had admittedly suspected this may have had to do with a rather intense encounter Morro's thoughts had eluded but never elaborated on. She'd been prepared for a professional opinion, steeling for objectivity, only to find herself being briefed about their next mission. Relief washed over her but she did tilt her head curiously as he explained.
Saa: The Science department will enjoy surveying. ::She paused:: Usually the Captain is with us to discuss the next assignment.
Herrick: The captain won’t be joining us this time. He’s been pulled into diplomatic duty, another peace summit between New Gaia and Nova Terra on Deep Space 14. Their ambassadors requested a neutral venue, and, apparently, specifically asked for him. Starfleet Command signed off without hesitation, I suspect eager to make an early friend in the region.
Saa: So, Thornman and Mosta'An will be getting their first real taste of what the Federation is, I do not envy the Captain or the Federation Diplomacy Corps navigating those civilizations' idiosyncrasies.
Josh nodded.
Herrick: Neither do I; both the Chief Minister and Councillor Kessa proved particularly difficult to get a read on. They may be our distant cousins, but the apple had certainly fell a bit further from the tree than I’d anticipated.
Favoring what had been a more witty yet factual observation in regards to her feelings on the subject, Sevantha missed the revelation of what the Captain's absence meant. Herrick would be taking the role of active Captain and that meant she…
Saa: You’ll be acting Captain for the mission then ::considering:: And it is protocol for the Second Officer to step into the role of First Officer.
Herrick: Aye, which is what I wanted to discuss.
Saa: Are you alright with that prospect? ::she inquired bluntly:: I understand what I am is not terribly comfortable for you.
It was a subject written in his file before she'd arrived on board the Butler. As an intelligence officer and her superior, along with her being a reader, professionally addressing it in counseling had never felt right to her. Now, however, their positions put them face to face with the issue and his expectations.
Herrick: Uh…
The verbal utterance that left his mouth before he knew better was a dead giveaway that he knew exactly what she’d talked about. One of his less ideal and definitely non-Starfleet traits. He let the room soak in silence, trying to craft an appropriate reply while also wondering if she was reading him now in this moment.
Herrick: I’m able to manage my feelings on the matter.
Which was true. He’d found the techniques his previous counsellor, Nesre Salo on the Butler, had provided to help with his claustrophobia had proven transferable to other challenges he came up against.
Saa: You may manage them, but would those feelings hinder your trust in me, we are supposed to serve our ship as a cohesive team.
Of course, he wasn’t off the hook that easily. She made a fair point, they needed to be a team.
Herrick: Honestly, the thing that throws me off the most about telepathy is that… there’s no sensation if I’m being read. Someone could be going through my thoughts, even explicitly telling me that they aren’t, and I’d have no clue if they were being honest with me.
Sevantha gave a small nod of her head, understanding his viewpoint, appreciating the honesty from Herrick in this moment.
Saa: You’re right, Betazoids hear thoughts as clear as voices, which can be unnerving to non-reader species though I will say there is a difference between hearing and actually listening. ::She assured:: But do you feel this trait would hinder your trust in me as a First Officer?
Herrick: I do trust you. ::considering:: As a proven counselor yourself, perhaps it might be appropriate to ask exactly what you recommend to help steward me though… this.
Admittedly, Sevantha herself was a little surprised at his inquiry, and extended the options she had learned about during her time at Starfleet. One from the security officers she had known and the other from her certification program.
Saa: There are two methods I’d suggest, and as much of your avoidance comes from a lack of control, pursuing telepathic resistance training should be the priority. ::She considers:: Starfleet’s method is based on using basic, easily remembered information as a baseline of thought to mask your thoughts. Many use poetry or songs to keep someone actively out, and in time it becomes a rote skill.
Josh nodded. He’d gone through the base level of training that Starfleet had offered when he’d moved to the intelligence duty post. Starfleet’s Command Division had him on the docket for a more intermediate level of training, but that required him to head back to the Alpha, and that didn’t seem to be happening in the near future.
Perhaps Sevantha, with her abilities, could offer the same or similar. And, if things got uncomfortable, he’d be able to walk away -- or order it -- to stop.
Herrick: Alright. What’s the other idea that you had?
Saa: The second would be exposure therapy, familiarizing yourself with the experience to create an understanding and learning to manage the anxiety that emerges with telepaths. ::She faintly smiles:: I could also recommend xenobiological studies on reader species to memorize those with T4 abilities.
Betazoids, Ullians, Vulcans, Rodulans, and the Dabh'aelisu, a subspecies of Romulans. These were the highest ratings, and each species had its own unique manifestations. Betazoid and Ullians being the most subtle with their gifts, where Rodulans could hear thoughts even clearer than them but could not communicate telepathically with any non-Rodulan without causing extreme pain. Something she had been on the receiving end of.
Saa: I feel, Commander, that a sense of control would be most beneficial for yourself.
Exposure therapy seemed in line with the line of thinking he’d started with the first idea. He wondered… or perhaps more accurately worried that studying each species might lead him down the road of thinking ‘telepath first, person second.’ Though, having an honest moment with himself, he was already there.
Herrick: I don’t disagree. And, perhaps getting comfortable with my discomfort. Despite being a former engineer, I don’t expect miracles in a day. We can get something on the books during our voyage to Vexilon. Something short to start.
Saa: You are not adverse to a session then?
Shaking his head, smiling.
Herrick: Nesre has helped me discover the benefits of counselling. I suspect the same here, but I would prefer to limit this to the command team. The last thing I need during my first ‘command’ is a negative reputation about leading telepathic officers.
Saa: Counseling matters are already subject to immense discretion in Starfleet, but I will assure your file is accessible only by Trake and myself.
He leaned back in his chair, ready to move on from the topic.
Herrick: So, let’s talk duty assignments… number one.
The serious expression on her features faded a little. Number one rang in her ears and she couldn’t help but feel a small smile tug at the corners of her lips. She did not have grand aspirations for her own ship, but there was momentary swelling of accomplishment that settled over her. The feeling of trust and acceptance was more rewarding than she wanted to admit.
After a moment she took a seat across from him and lifted her PADD.
Saa: Of course….Captain.
—
Lieutenant Commander Josh Herrick
First Officer
USS Thor
O240005JH3
he/him/his (player/character)
&&
Lieutenant Commander Sevantha Saa
Counselor | Head of Health | Second Officer
USS Thor
A240105SS2