Cross Space Counseling

Posted on 24 Apr 2021 @ 4:44am by Lieutenant Commander True Keading & Lieutenant Commander Aidan Datari

Mission: Mission 5 - Season of the Witch?
Location: USS Copernicus/USS Andromeda - Counseling Offices
1443 words - 2.9 OF Standard Post Measure

Glad for the solitude of his office, and grateful for being allowed to use it despite being relieved of duty, Peter gingerly slid into his seat behind his desk. Though physically in a little better shape, he somehow felt unhinged, un-whole and still in pain even though he shouldn't be.

He glanced sideways at the PADD he'd been given, the display showing a single name. Since the Copernicus had no other counselors beside himself, he was resigned to speaking to another over subspace, and this one had come recommended. "Computer, initiate subspace connection to Lieutenant True Keading, USS Andromeda."

He gasped, as the small pup jumped on his lap, wagging her tail as she rested her front paws on the desk, barking at the computer screen as if to say hello too.

Atlas was sound asleep on her computer and there was just enough room for True to still use it without disturbing him and causing more trouble. She scrolled down through some records. As today was Monday it was paperwork day as far as she was concerned, even if there was no actual paper. True frowned slightly as a noise interrupted her thoughts, the monitor in front of her was beeping, an incoming transmission. She moved Atlas aside and he batted her hand, obviously annoyed that she dared move him. She tapped the panel and smiled slightly wondering what this might be about.

She was first met with the image of a white puppy happily barking at the screen. Within seconds, it was replaced with a pale looking Vulcan who was out of uniform and seemingly dressed in sickbay attire which had a robe quickly thrown over to give a sense of modesty. (or perhaps some warmth)

"Counselor," the Vulcan greeted slowly, as if he had to think hard on his words, "am I calling at a convenient time? I am Counselor Peter Horn, I have been referred to you."

"Yes, it's fine. Very cute dog Mr. Horn. Referred?" True questioned. "I'm afraid I don't know what this is about. I guess you'll have to enlighten me."

"I will do my best," the Vulcan looking male on the other end said. "I am the chief counselor on the Copernicus, and there are no other counselors here. I was recently injured, severely..." He paused as the pup turned to lick his face then jump out of view. "I do not have much memory of what happened, exactly. It is as if a part of my memory is somehow missing."

Peter paused again, visibly struggling as he finally lifted his right arm, which obviously missed a hand. "I do not recall how this happened, though according to the chief medical officer, I smashed through a glass canopy."

True raised her own eyebrows in a curious fashion almost imitating Vulcans. "Well that's a bit odd. None at all of the event? Do you remember other things from the same day though? Is it just a very short period or hours that you are missing?" She felt like the questions rambled out. "Sorry. Maybe we better start at the beginning. "Before the incident happened were you experiencing any symptoms or was anything strange happening on board the ship?"

I remember having to run from strange creatures, I remember getting on a shuttle with my team, and crashing as the engines failed. I remember entering a cave to tend to a fallen crewmember, but beyond that.... I vaguely remember walking down a path but after that nothing, until waking up in sickbay."

He gave a frustrated sigh. "I have been given a recount of the event, but I have no recollection of it. They say I was somehow connected to a kind of machine or computer, that I barely responded to my teammates. They tried to stun me in the hope of disconnecting me... I understand the captain suffered something similar but he is in better shape." He paused, looking directly at the montitor. "I am not quite certain how to deal with this. I was hoping you could help me with that." This time he gave her an almost wry smile. "Counseling is a recent switch for me, I have been in security for most of my career."

"Well normally when you suffer a traumatic situation there are a lot of feelings about it but if you don't remember what happens then the typical response is probably guilt. However, you are Vulcan. That doesn't mean of course that you can't experience guilt, only that you suppress it. Do you have any such feelings about the incident?"

"One quarter Vulcan," Peter corrected without thought, "my father was Human. I am not experiencing any kind of guilt, it was beyond my control. My intent was to get us to safety before the shuttle crashed. It was not far to the Copernicus, which had landed, but the engines failed. I know I did the best I could have done, so no I do not experience guilt." He briefly looked away. "Not about that anyway. I do feel guilty for causing my family grief and worry. My youngest child is mad at me for getting hurt."

"I see." True said, though she really didn't. If there weren't lingering feelings that were bothering him then why was he referred to a counselor. "I guess I'm a bit confused as to why you felt you needed to speak to me. If you aren't having trouble dealing with the aftermath of the situation and you don't have lingering feelings that need dealt with, why am I here?"

"Because I do not know how to deal with this frustration," Peter answered, "the fear of not being able to function or not remember what happened. I do not experience guilt over what happened, because I did what I thought was best. But I did something I cannot remember, something that caused me to lose a limb. I can feel the agony the injury caused me, but I cannot place it because I cannot remember." He looked down at his injured arm, at the stump which was neatly wrapped in a clean bandage. "I can barely look at it, I can barely accept that the doctor had no choice but to amputate."

"Ahah, so there are unresolved feelings. Honestly, maybe that's for the best. There have been situations where the brain forgets in order to protect the body. It might be a while before you regain them or you may never. But if I might make a suggestion, there are therapies we could try including hypnosis."

"To regain the memory, perhaps," Peter agreed, "but as you said perhaps it is for the best that I do not. But I do need help accepting that I am no longer whole. That part of me is missing. I am not new to counseling sessions ma'am, not as a patient anyway. But I am as a counselor, and not only would this help me deal with this, but it may also teach me how to help others who may endure a similar injury."

"Well see I find that a difficult thing. I don't believe one can truly come to terms with the situation you find yourself in now without going through what happened in the past but again, it's also traumatic. Hopefully you are not still in pain? Are you having any phantom feelings from the missing subject?"

"My pain is medicated," Peter admitted, "without it, I would likely not be able to function at all. Yes I do feel pain in my hand, even if it is not there. My brain is telling me my hand is damaged, when it is no longer attached. It is severely frustrating, especially when i am incapable of even looking at it. I feel damaged, and afraid that people will think less of me. I fear their pity, when they look at me and see less of a man."

"That's a fairly common reaction but you should not think about the feelings of others with regard to your own body or life. Let me think on this and prepare a few things for a future session."

"I blame my Human half for that inescurity," Peter answered, offering a thin smile before slightly inclining his head in gratitude. "Thank you counselor, I appreciate that. I have taken up enough of your time now, when shall we meet again?"

"Tomorrow? I can give you an hour at 1900 hours if that works?" True waited for his response.

"That is acceptable." Peter nodded in confirmation. "Thank you counselor."



Lieutenant Commander Peter Horn
Chief Counselor
USS Copernicus
PB Aidan Datari


Lieutenant True Keading
Chief Counselor
USS Andromeda