[sb118-valkyrie] Ensign Arthur Strathmore - Survivor's Guilt

[Arthur Strathmore]

((Counselor Strathmore's Office, Deck 5, USS Valkyrie-A)) 

Strathmore: Tell me more.

Janai remained silent for a moment, tried to think of the best words to express herself. In the end, she decided to answer with a question.

Zol: Counselor, are there times in your life where you think you are not doing enough?

Strathmore: All the time.

Zol: There are thousands of Trill who request to be Joined each year. Only a fraction get accepted. Of those, the vast majority have spent years training for the Joining and gaining distinctions in a variety of fields, all to ensure the Symbiont will absorb those memories and skills. I didn't do any of that. I applied for a Symbiont on a dare. I don't regret it, not one bit, but I'm very confused as to why I was chosen.

Arthur quickly typed some notes into his PADD before asking his next question.

Strathmore: Does Zol feel like not enough is being done? Or Janai? Or both?

Zol: Zol is a part of me. But sometimes I feel like I'm not doing enough for him. It feels like someone made a mistake somewhere. I'm not the first Trill to be in Starfleet, nor the last - what do I have that others did not, that I was selected for the Joining?

Strathmore: Have you ever heard of Survivor’s Guilt?

Zol: Response

Strathmore: It doesn’t always just involve literal survivors of a tragedy or disaster. It can also involve accomplishment. “Why did I get into the Academy? Why did I get that promotion? Why was I selected for the Joining?” It embodies the struggles of sentience and empathy. The self awareness of one’s own situation and you relating to other lifeforms’ disappointment. Know that these feelings are quite normal.

Zol: Response

Arthur smiled and leaned forward.

Strathmore: Absolutely.

Zol: Response

--

Ensign Arthur Strathmore

Counselor

USS Valkyrie, NCC-76418-A

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