Welcome Aboard

Posted on Sun Sep 9th, 2018 @ 3:25pm by Commander Rita Paris & Captain Enalia Telvan & Ensign Avendar Jurot

Mission: Holographic Horrors
Location: USS Hera, Deck 6, Transporter Room 2
Timeline: 2395, in drydock at Artan Fortress, Kabul system

There were few parts of a starship that the transporter-phobic first officer tried to avoid, but here she was, waiting on the arrival of one of the onboarding senior staff. So far she had been here for three minutes and watched three people beam out and one beam in, and in her head she was working very hard not to look up and watch every time. And failing, watching people get turned into light and working very, very hard to keep herself rooted to the spot instead of locomoting at a nice military pace that wouldn't look like she was running away from the transporter room as fast as her legs could carry her.

The hairs on her arm rose, then she heard the twang of an incoming transport. Beads of sweat formed on the anachronistically uniformed officer's forehead as the light assembled energy back into matter to form the new ship's counselor.

Avender Jurok waited until the world once more came into focus, then stepped from the transporter pad. She saw the transporter technician and a woman dressed… in an old Starfleet uniform? Was there a costume party she was unaware of? And why was the woman so tense? I could read her tension even if I were asleep, she thought.

Avender hoped her own tension was masked. Despite winning the Starfleet Decoration for Gallantry on her last ship, she was still an Ensign. She accepted the rank as the consequence of her… previous breakdown… but that was two assignments ago. She’d hoped by now that she’d proved her worth. After all, she had her pride, and taking orders from people half her age who were fresh from the academy bothered her more than she would admit. Still, Avender thought, this was a new assignment. Anything could happen.

She stopped and stood at attention. Best to get off on the right foot, she thought. "Counselor Avender Jurok reporting for duty. Permission to come aboard?”

Snapping to attention, the anachronistically-uniformed officer returned the salute, snapping up a crisp military recognition before releasing it. Once the military formalities had been tended to, the buxom blonde offered a smile and a handshake. "Permission granted. Welcome aboard, Counselor. I'm Rita Paris, the first officer of the Hera. Let's take a walk and get you settled in, shall we?" Even as she spoke the statuesque young woman, maybe half Avender's age, had already moved toward the door. Her desire to get away from the transporter room was readily evident, even as she still had that handshake offered.

Avender took the offered hand, shook it and released it quickly. Partially because she was sensing the First Officer's tension, and partially because the offered hand was a bit clammy. Is it something I said? she thought? No, it's something deeper. Perhaps this room?

The two women left the transporter room, and Avender immediately felt Rita Paris relax. She filed away the observation for later.

"Thank you for coming to meet me. I didn't expect such a high ranking reception," Avender said, matching Rita's pace.

The minidress wearing executive laughed musically at that. "Lieutenant commander, not that high ranking, Counselor. The captain asked that as we have some senior staff onboarding today, I make sure you are all welcomed aboard and seen to quarters. This," As they had walked along, the first officer seemed to be increasing the pace up to a martial march, as she handed over a PaDD. "Has your welcome aboard package, including your quarters assignment, maps of the Hera, limited computer access and some appointments to keep. You need to check into the command in order to have full access, so that means a meeting with the first officer, a meeting with the captain, a meeting with your department head and a physical. Once everyone signs off for you, you're set and you'll have full access and be checked into the command, active duty."

Arriving at the turbolift, the cheerful commander pressed the down button then beamed a smile as she asked, "Any questions so far, Miss Jurot?"

"I'm a counselor. Please call me Avender."

That got her a half smile as the turbolift arrived and the short-haired buxom blonde stepped in, waiting for the Counselor to step in before calling their destination. "As you like. So, any questions so far, Avender?" the first officer redirected with the course correction. "Deck 8, please, computer."

Avender contemplated the officer with her. Lt. Commander Paris' anxiety level dropped significantly after leaving the transporter room- indeed she seemed calmer the further away she moved. She was tall for a human female, and the heeled boots she wore accentuated that trait. I wonder if she has encountered any prejudice due to her height and appearance?

"Commander, I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't ask this. I felt your deep anxiety when I beamed aboard. I've also noticed that your anxiety level has dropped considerably since leaving the transporter room. If there is anything you wish to talk about, I'm always available."

That got her a chuckle as the turbolift arrived at deck 8, and the old school uniformed officer stepped out into the corridor. “Good call, Counselor. Transporters and I don’t get along at all… I seem to disrupt their flawless functioning, and I’m rather paranoid of them. I spent five years as a warp ghost at one point after a transporter accident, and my last transporter accident shunted me a dimension over and 127 years into the future.” The casual way she expressed the traumas of her life indicated a certain resignation to the facts. “So yes, transporters give me considerable anxiety. And I’d be happy to discuss it- at least in my case it is less a phobia and more PTSD. But one I have lived with since 2260, so I’ve had lots of time to talk about it.”

The cheerful commander flashed a smile to break up the mood. “How about you? Looking forward to seeing what’s out there now that you are on an intel science vessel? Into the black, as they say?”

The counselor returned the smile, sweeping her long hair to the side of her neck as she did so. "That's why we're all here! I chose fleet duty instead of station duty. There I worked with the Department of Temporal Investigations, so I've seen more than my share of people out of time, dimension hopping and timeline shifts." She laughed a bit to herself. "Perhaps that's why I was re-assigned here- because of that experience. After all, how many other ships in the fleet have a woman out of her time AND dimension?" She smiled more broadly.

"I'm very much looking forward to this assignment."

“Good to hear!” the comely commander responded brightly. It was the first question the woman had actually answered, which Paris took to be a heartening sign. While on Deck 6 the anachronistic astronaut had marched along at a martial pace; now as they made their way forward, the pace was more of a casual stroll. While the corridors of the starship were sparsely populated with most of the crew on shore leave, as they moved forward they passed fewer and fewer enlisted crewmen.

“As for why you were assigned here… we’re in a stressful business. A surprising number of our requested transfers cited PTSD as the reason. I’ve been aboard for two months, and in that time we’ve faced possessed crew members and the shipwide holographics going crazy and birthing some rather hazardous circumstances. The future, as I’ve observed, can be nerve-wracking."

Avender thought for a moment, then answered "I can't say I've experienced anything like what you describe, but I've seen my share of weirdness and... loss."

“So I've read, you have my sympathies,” the first officer offered- apparently she had read the counselor’s service jacket and done a touch of homework.

The counselor looked at the PaDD. "I haven't accessed this yet. May I ask where we are going?"

“Of course, you can ask me anything. We’re currently on Deck 8, moving forward to the bow, which is colloquially referred to as Officer Country. The senior staff quarters are in these forward compartments, and as the ship’s counselor, you are considered senior staff. So I thought you might enjoy some spacious quarters with a view.” The minidress uniformed executive was still all smiles, though this one seemed to be more bemused than anything else.

"A view?" Avender said. "That would be a pleasant change! On my last assignment I stayed with the crew in a dorm. At least I had a bottom bunk!"

That brought forth musical laughter. "Ooof, I remember stacked racks! These quarters, I kid you not, are the size of a stadium. The furnishings are a bit generic, but very comfortable, and you can recycle them and request whatever you matter allotment is, which is surprisingly generous. And there are viewports in the ceilings. I kind of turned mine into an apartment with dividers and such." The friendly first officer chattered on, her enthusiasm clear as she was obviously impressed with the quarters herself.

Avender looked at the PaDD for a moment, then back at her guide. They were approximately the same height and of similar stature. Yet this human was so young! I'll never get used to the short human life span, she thought. And yet, she was born over a century before me! I'm sure she is utterly fascinating to speak with socially.

"I just had a thought- I haven't eaten since yesterday. Is there a ship's lounge aboard? I'd like to watch the crew interact- and if you'd care to join me?"

Stopping in her tracks, the gold-clad glamour gal pivoted to grin a bit at the counselor. "Absolutely! I have a little time, I think. We have options- if you'd like to see the crew be nervous around me in the enlisted mess, that's on Deck 9. If you would prefer to see the officers be nervous around me, we can hit the officer's mess, also on Deck 9. Or we have a 10-Forward, on Deck 10, of course. What strikes your fancy, counselor?" As she spoke, Paris had stepped over to one of the public access replicators in the corridor and produced herself a PaDD.

"As fascinating as watching the crew react to you would be," Avender said, "I think 10-Forward would be a better choice. I'd like to observe the crew relaxing. Besides, no one can really... interact in the mess. At least not on my last ship."

"They are a bit more spacious on the Hera, I'd wager," Paris expressed, then tapped at the PaDD as she began navigating them back to the nearest turbolift. "Relaxing it is, Ten-Forward ahoy. So your last assignment was a hospital ship, was it not? The USS Nobel was the transfer order, right?" As she walked the first officer appeared to be working on a spreadsheet of some sort, which was likely her schedule as she moved blocks of time around.

"Yes, she was Olympic class," Avender replied. "All the space was given over to hospital wards and operating theaters. There was deck for psychiatric care, and councilor's barracks were on the same deck as the wards. It was a way to save space."

Avender took a few steps before adding "Perhaps, if they are not on duty, you could contact the Captain, first officer, or chief medical officer to join us. I think it would be wonderful to meet them all in a relaxed setting, and it would be an efficient use of time."

That got a curious smile out of the first officer. Hand her a map and she asks where we're going. Introduce yourself as first officer and she asks when she can meet them. Ah, the 24th century. Tapping her comm badge, Paris' gaze rose to the ceiling. "Computer, please patch me through to Captain Telvan."

After a chirrup from the computer and a brief pause, Enalia came across the comm line. "Captain Telvan here."

"Thank you, computer. Captain, this is Lieutenant Commander Paris. The new ship's counselor is onboarding and she's requested to meet with the captain and first officer at Ten Forward. Are they currently available?" Paris asked with a wry humor.

"Ahhh... I'm not sure about the first officer. She might be showing the new ship's counselor around right now so you'll have to ask her yourself. The captain is in Ten Forward finishing up a box lunch her wife made for her at a table by the window so she's free." Enalia definitely knew how to play along.

"Delightful. We'll see you there. Paris out," the leggy lieutenant commander gestured down the corridor with an accommodating smile. "Looks like we're in luck, Counselor? Shall we?"

Avender smiled in spite of herself, and walked with the superior officer. Such informality! Is this because we are in dry dock? Is there a dynamic at work here to which I'm unfamiliar? She remembered the rigidness of the command structure aboard the Nobel, and the suffocating strictness at Temporal Investigations at Starbase 410. Could they really be this lax here? Perhaps this is some sort of test? Well, better safe than sorry.

"Commander, what can you tell me about the Captain? I heard that she actually defeated the Kobyashi Maru?"

"Did she? I hadn't heard that," the cheerful commander commented as they approached the turbolift. "The captain is a complex woman with a very colorful past, who is very passionate about what she does out here. She's honest, forthright," Paris paused to press the down button on the turbolift. "Direct for the most part, sometimes a bit blunt. But she's got a good heart, and a very good head on her shoulders."

As the turbolift arrived, Paris gestured for the counselor to precede her. "Does that tell you more about her or me, Counselor?" the buxom blonde asked with a slight smile.

Avender returned the smile. "Both, actually. I guess I'll learn more when I meet her. If I may say, Commander, you're not the first person I've met from your era, but I'm guessing you stood apart from your peers then as well as now."

I wonder if she was cleared for duty by Temporal Investigations? They MUST be aware of her by now. the counselor thought. She filed that thought away for the moment. There was so much she wanted to know about Lt. Commander Paris and the "senior staff." I could easily find out with a quick telepathic search, but I don't want to invade her mind without permission. Besides, I don't want wish to open my mind to... Avender shuddered involuntarily, then quickly recovered her smile.

The turbolift doors opened, and she stepped out, as two crew members who were waiting for the lift made way.

"Thank you," Paris offered with a nod and a close-lipped smile to the crew who'd made way, then she double-timed it a few steps to catch up to the counselor. "I suppose. I've always been a hard worker, I'm a bit taller than the crowd and I'm neither subtle nor easy to miss. And I've been told I make an impression," what started as a grin spread to become a full smile, which seemed to be the woman's default nature. Which certainly lent credence to her being perhaps a bit unforgettable. "As it turns out, my era was a little different than the local timeline, according to all reports. But it's always possible you might have met someone from my timeline and era. If not, you'll meet another soon enough."

As they'd strode along chatting, they arrived the 10-Forward, now a standard on many Starfleet starships. The lounge where everybody knew your name. The doors slid open at their approach, greeting them with the familiar comforting sight and soft music.

As they entered, Enalia spotted them right away and waved to them. Ten Forward was fairly empty since they were on shore leave, save for those on break from skeleton crew duties and the lounge staff. Still, seeing her fortress just from the outside, was an interesting change as she finished up her lunch. Maica had packed her up a nice variety of sandwiches and a couple small containers of various sides to go with them. On top of that, the thermos of tea was divine today as well. She couldn't quite place it, but it tasted like a Bolian blend.

But now she had guests so the remaining food would have to wait a bit. Setting the lid back on top of her lunch, she stood to greet Rita and the new counselor. "Rita, glad you could make it. Ensign Jurot, I presume? It's a pleasure to meet you. We have some counseling staff aboard, but no one near your caliber of expertise." Enalia offered a handshake and a smile, her mind its normal secretive self. She'd been through training at Intel command to encrypt her thoughts and it was second nature now. Her emotions on the other hand, were generally pretty open and honest most of the time these days.

Avender was slightly taken aback by the informality. She expected to stand at attention, report for duty, and formal introductions. She smiled and accepted the Captain's hand.

"Thank you, Captain. That's very kind of you to say. As I am a counselor, please call me Avender. Unless that's against your protocol?"

The Betazoid kept her smile and looked directly into her new Captain's eyes.

"Avendar it is then. Please, have a seat." Enalia motioned to the other seats at the smallish table before returning to her own chair as one of the local wait staff came up with a menu to take the newcomer's orders. "While we're docked with the Fortress, the kitchen staff have some extra resources at hand so if you'd like something made with real food now's the time for it. It takes a little longer, but I think it tastes so much better."

"People complain about the replicated food, but I can't tell the difference. Still tastes like Starfleet chow to me. Hasn't changed that much since the fifties," the first officer commented as she sat down, smoothly sliding her hands over her skirt as she did so. It was a clearly practiced maneuver of which she was barely conscious, even as she scissored her long legs to cross them. Sitting back, she offered an indulgent smile. "Well, here we are. Counselor, Captain, Captain, Counselor. It's your meeting, I'm just the sidecar here."

The counselor smiled. "I somehow doubt that you're ever 'just a sidecar,' Commander." She then turned to the Captain.

"Captain, thank you for accepting my assignment to the Hera. I'm delighted to be here." She then turned to the wait staff. "Do you have Oscoid?"

The waiter checked his list of resources for a moment before nodding and smiling. "We do have some. How would you like them prepared?"

Avender smiled brightly. "Lightly broiled with Terran lemon, please."

"That's not an often requested dish. Rita, anything for you?" Prompted Enalia, her lopsided grin creeping onto her face.

“Spring medley stir-fry, hold the tofu, extra edamame peas, slice of New York cheesecake with strawberry drizzle, 30 ounces of water and a cup of black coffee,” the first officer ordered without hesitation. Noting the curious looks it got her, the anachronistic officer shrugged slightly. “What? I need to regain a few pounds…”

"Lt. Commander Paris told me about some of the crew's recent...adventures, Captain. I hope my assignment here will help with helping the crew through trying missions."

Enalia grinned a bit at the mention of the Hera's past missions, knowing exactly what would have been mentioned, though not really how. "Yeah, we've faced quite a few dangerous missions. As you've worked closely with Temporal Investigations and Intel before, I assume you've come across your fair share of terrifying scenarios. I guarantee that compared to them, we have them all beat. Either way, you came highly recommended in your line of work, so that's why you're here now with us. We've sent too many people to the SS Sanity's End and we need you."

"Yes, I've seen my share of unusual things, some that even threatened our reality as we know it. Obviously, I can't say more than that. I saw that you actually defeated the Kobayashi Maru scenario! That is an impressive feat! Your file also says you're a level six pilot. You must be very proud."

Avender smiled broadly. She's hiding deep sadness behind that smile.

"I did, actually. I don't believe in 'no-win scenarios' and I refuse to give up so on my third try I called in some help from my family and linked the sim's sensors to my family's fleet's." The captain's grin widened a bit, though it remained the same emotionally. "Six waves of Klingon battle cruisers and one super dreadnaught later, the crew of the Kobayashi Maru was rescued and the mission was clear. The Academy didn't like it but Intel Command took a liking to me and brushed it under the rug." The spotted woman shrugged a bit. "A sizable donation from my family might have helped as well. We're responsible for the running platform around the top of the academy. And the McDawlson Pool House. And the diving training lab in the bay. And the tea ceremony club's equipment. And the park bench dedicated to Markl Sprgenmeijer, may he rest in peace."

The captain was looking off towards the window now, somewhat lost in memories of simpler and easier times before she turned back towards the counselor as the wait staff returned with their orders. "But enough about me. What about you? You seem to be looking forward to dealing with the literal nightmares and demons that plague this ship."

"Everyone has nightmares, Captain. And most of them live with those nightmares every day. These nightmares may dwarf the ones that the ship has encountered, as they build through time in their minds. I have experience with nightmares... and demons." Avender paused for a moment- a distant look in her eyes, then refocused. Her voice sounded determined, even icy. "I joined Starfleet to help others, and to make the universe a better place, in my own small way. I think that perhaps my being here was meant to be. Perhaps this is my destiny. Who knows?"

The counselor stifled a morbid giggle. "Besides, it can't be any harder than a Plasma Flu outbreak among the telepathic settlers on Azyek VI!" She smiled, trying to lighten the mood.

"I understand that I need to be briefed by the chief medical officer, Dr. Lysander. Is he aboard?"

"I haven't seen him for a while, truth be told," Paris observed from behind her hand through a mouthful of stir fry. "I think he might be on shore leave. At least get Dr. Dael to give you an onboard physical and you'll be basically checked into the command. Did you know that the reason Starfleet demands a physical before being certified access to the command is in part to weed out shapeshifters?" The time-tossed trouble magnet shook her head. "The 24th century is amazing."

"Ah, yeah I think I saw him in the fortress the other day enjoying shore leave. I'm sure you'll meet him soon enough." The talk of destiny was a bit off putting to Enalia so since the other two had food now, she popped her box lunch back open and nibbled on a cucumber and egg sandwich with horseradish. "Hopefully Intel sends us on a few less dangerous missions for a while. We could use a break."

"In my experience that seems unlikely, Captain," Paris opined. "We just had a break, remember? So Counselor, I'm curious," Paris turned to regard the new ship's counselor. "What's your particular style of dealing with the crew and our problems? Do you draw us out to get us to talk, do you predetermine what's wrong- you're a telepath and an empath as well, right?"

At the mention of her skills, the counselor's smile remained fixed, but her eyes became a little colder.

The Captain and Lt. Commander heard Avender Jurot's voice in their heads, as if she were speaking, but her mouth didn't move. The tone was lighter than her voice, soothing, almost sing-song.

Yes, Commander, even among Betazoids, I am considered a formidable telepath. I can read your thoughts, communicate with my mind, and, thanks to my training, implant thoughts, change emotions, and even erase memories. I can slip into and out of an untrained mind undetected.
And, as the Captain has this in my file, I will say that is why I was assigned to Temporal Investigations. The admiral in charge specifically wanted an asset who could break through mental deceptions to uncover truths. Others in Starfleet wanted me to create sleeper agents, or erase the memories of time travelers.

For a time, I followed the lawful orders given to me by Temporal Investigations. After a personal tragedy, I started to refuse orders I found unethical. And I always refused to manipulate beings against their will into sleeper agents, or to implant false memories in prisoners. That is one of the reasons I was demoted, and the main reason I requested starship duty away from Temporal investigations.

I know the purpose of this ship. And, Captain, I will follow all lawful orders. However, I will NOT manipulate people against their will, unless it is a 'life or death' situation. I would rather be sent to a Penal Colony.

Avender smiled more broadly and her eyes became warm again, looking at the gold clad woman. "I let the crew member tell me their problems. It is almost always therapeutic to have the patient explain their issues with their own words, and as doing so is the start of their road to the problem's solution. If they are having problems articulating, I will ask them questions hoping to open the locked doors to their emotions. Emotions are really the key, especially for Vulcans, even though they deny it."

She turned to the Captain. "On my last ship, the Captain requested that I passively scan the crew's emotional well being while I am on duty. I can do that here as well, if you wish, or not."

Eyes wide in amazement, Paris fairly boggled. "That... was INCREDIBLE."

Enalia's mood had darkened considerably. The last time she had had someone else's thoughts in her head, they were her demonic doppelganger's and they were not pleasant. Setting aside the sandwich she had been eating, she found she no longer had an appetite. "Please refrain from that sort of thing with me. In fact, I prefer you not use any of your more advanced skills unless it's absolutely necessary."

"As for passively scanning the crew, please feel free to do so. You'll also likely be called in on future interrogations if we do any of them, so please be prepared for that. Don't worry, we follow the book to the letter. I haven't spaced anyone, but as a pirate queen heiress I have an image to uphold so I occasionally make threats." Enalia rubbed her forehead a bit, trying to clear her mind again. She just wanted to forget about everything that had happened. "And I agree that talking is a lot more effective than digging through someone's mind. You can't get the conscious mind to grow if you just waltz through pulling strings."

"Absolutely Captain. I prefer not to use those 'skills' at all if I don't have to do so. I sense I've upset you. I'm sorry, that was not my intention."

"It's not your fault," Enalia replied. "It just reminded me of something I've been trying very hard to work through and get past. It seems I still have a long way to go."

Standing and collecting her lunch box and thermos, the spotted woman smiled at the other two women, still looking rather grim and shaken. "If you'll excuse me, I should get back to work. Please enjoy your meals. Once we leave the fortress most of our food will be replicated again. Counselor, I look forward to working with you."

Taking a chance, Paris reached out a hand to touch the back of the hand of the Counselor. Don't... let her go, she tried to impress upon the empathic telepath. Though she had no psychic ability of her own, Rita Paris was no stranger to telepathy, or the moods of Captain Telvan.

As the captain departed, her first officer spoke in hushed tones. "Dunno what it was, but it sure looked like you hit a sore spot, Counselor. Give her a little time to process it and she'll come round to talk to you about it. She's accountable that way." Standing up, tugging the hem of her skirt down in a practiced motion as she did so, Paris sought the eyes of the Betazoid beauty.

"Would you like me to show you to those quarters, or would you just like to people watch for a while, Counselor?" Paris produced her PaDD and tapped it to life. "I have other onboardings to meet, but I can see you home if you wish."

The Betazoid looked toward the door through which the Captain had exited.

"I know exactly what I triggered," she said quietly. She paused for a heartbeat with a concerned look on her face, quietly sighed, then smiled at the Commander.

"Yes, Commander, I'd like that." Avender stood, and the two beautiful women left the lounge.