Counselor Needs Counseling...

Posted on Fri May 9th, 2025 @ 4:09pm by Lieutenant Rowena "Rena" Campbell & Jeyson Zarland

1,719 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Short Treks
Location: Ten Forward
Timeline: MD-08

An exhausted Rena made her way to the lounge. She was tired, overworked, and annoyed. Not by anything happening on the ship-some changes at HQ were driving her crazy. They had changed some policies so now Rena couldn't file her reports daily-they were due weekly, and on a combat ship, that wasn't always feasible.

She slid onto a stool. "Do you have any ice cream?" She asked the bar tender. "And a synthale," she said, her voice droopy. "A pint," she said.

The brow of the round faced Bolian crinkled at the unusual request. "A rough day I assume Counsellor?"

Rena sighed. "Yeah," she said. "Just...a lot going on," she said. She smiled weakly when the requested foods appeared in front of her. "Thanks," she said. "What about you?" She couldn't help but ask-she WAS a counselor, after all.

"No complaints," Zarland replied tilting his head slightly as she attacked the bowl of ice cream with gusto. "Though I don't have the same levels of responsibility you or the rest of the crew have. I only hope I can help ease those heavy shoulders with pleasant exchanges and a soothing beverage."

Rena smiled tightly. "Thank you," she said. "Your job matters," she said. "It's nothing really with the crew, per se, though Captain Lorut is...uh, tough at times to crack, but just a bunch of changes at headquarters and I don't have the time to run my department AND keep up with their demands. Normally, we turned in client reports and such weekly. Now they want it daily!" She sighed.

"Ah," the barman nodded understanding the nature of her issue. "How many of these reports are there to complete daily?"

"One for each patient I see," she said. She was now halfway through the ice cream, and feeling slightly better.

"This would be required by all Starfleet vessels or just something the Captain wants?"

Rena nodded. "Everyone. Starfleet Medical and the Mental Wellness program have made some internal changes. We knew that something was down the pike, but not what," she explained. "The idea is that most of us don't see more than five patients per day. Normally, this is correct. However, some of the Task Forces are out here, and we're battling, and some of us are facing changes...not to mention the fact that our crew personally need extra care due to Culver's absence and Captain Lorut's taking over..." Lorut was equivalent to five patients on her own. The woman had had to speed run some character growth that Rena would normally prefer to have spread out over a year or more, but things couldn't be helped. At least Vila was keeping her regular weekly sessions, and, unlike Max, didn't also lean on her for personal things, too. Not that she'd minded, of course, but it was...strange, falling back into being just a regular counselor again.

"Can you request additional crew to aid you, or special dispensations given our circumstances?" Zarland asked while his eye lingered on the ice cream and contemplated generating another portion.

Rena sighed. "I have extra crew, but I am a bit of a perfectionist, and I like doing it myself and making sure it's done correctly and on time," she said.

The Bolian's brow rose at her own admission. In his humble opinion she'd found the root cause of her current situation and should try to either off load and step back. He was about to comment when Rena continued as if sensing he was about to interject.

"I am working on that. PLUS S'Tera has been working A LOT. Lorut is a stickler. She's been nicer to people lately, but she still requires us to give our all all of the time - I mean, as it should be, but it doesn't leave a lot of time for romance," she said.

"Or down time it seems," the barmen added.

She passed him the empty bowl. "Thank you," she said. She sipped her synthale finally. "Maybe some real food will help. What's on the menu?" She asked him, leaning forward on her elbows.

"Come now, counsellor I have a replicator here - the world's your oyster. I'm afraid that's as far as my culinary skills go. Ask me to mix up a beverage to suit a mood, an expression or whatever challenge you can draw up - that I can do." The Bolian smiled with a hint of pride. "And a friendly, confident ear as I've already said."

She nodded. "Ok, fair point," she said. "Um, maybe some penne and cheese?"

Jeyson winked and went to reply however Rena went on without pause:

"I am just...overwhelmed. Like I said...besides the changes at HQ, there's the new orders. I just worry that..well. That Lorut isn't ready yet. On the other hand, there's no way for her to learn if we're just patrolling," she said, careful to not divulge any of Vila's personal details. S'Tera knew more, of course, and Rena's own counselor did, too. "Sometimes I just feel like...do you think Culver could've done this on PURPOSE?" She sighed. "Nah, that's the exhaustion talking..." Was it?

"Woah, let rewind a touch," Jeyson signalled for her to slow down. Counsellor - Rena take it easy you don't have to take this all on yourself. Despite you wanting to - and I can tell - delegate! You'll only burn out otherwise and we can't be having that."

"Now for Captain Lorut," the barman continued. "In my opinion she's perfectly capable to carry out this role otherwise the Admiralty would have appointed someone else - yeah sure she's not experienced running the show, but like you she has a good team around to support her. We both know sometimes despite all the perpetration and ground work there is no substation for the real thing. It's sink or swim and there's no pretty way of saying it. If she starts to demonstrate signs of weakness Commander Lyo will be there to help, along with the good Doctor."

Rena nodded. "Yes," she said. "That's true," she said. "I know she's ready. I don't know if SHE knows, though," Rena said.

"As for Culver disappearing on purpose?" Jeyson inhaled through his teeth. "Well, that's just absurd. Why would he stage such a thing for starters - and at the cost of the Loveless crew? Culver may have had an agenda but he wouldn't endanger the lives of others deliberately."

She nodded. "I know it's irrational. I didn't mean intentional, exactly, but more like...he didn't have a choice. Maybe some kind of special ops I wasn't privy to," she said, thoughtfully. "But you're right. He wouldn't purposely put anyone in danger or force needless suffering. I just...I can't believe he was gone without a trace, you know?" She said. Savagely, she stabbed her fork into a pickle that was on the table-as garnish for drinks, she assumed. Soon, her pasta appeared.

"In time I'm sure we'll learn what happened," Jeyson sighed. "For now though, we must continue on in their memory."

Rena sighed, and nodded.

Placing the pasta in front of his guest Jeyson studied her for a moment. "Do you blame yourself for his disappearance?"

Rena shrugged a little. "Not exactly," she said. "I just feel like I should've been there. They needed someone who could mind read. Max could, but he had other things going on," she explained. "But not all El Aurians can. Some can, and his skills weren't as good as mine," she said. "I just...I should have done more." She sighed deeply again.

"Don't misunderstand me, I know the crew are off balance but you seem more so than others. Why?"

Rena smiled lightly. "Well. Some of it is my own fault; I take on too much. I know this. I am working on it," she said. "Not just the empathy and not just the counseling, but I also sometimes feel like the others need a mother and a friend, and since that's my personality, I like to be there for them," she said. "But you're right. The others are Ok. And they know I am here," she said. "I need to let them just live," she said.

Jeyson nodded slowly at Rena's confession. It made sense - her desire to protect everyone was unfortunately her undoing at times. "Indeed they do - after all it's how we learn especially the young - but don't forget to live yourself." He warned, "Take time to reflect on what you want from time to time."

She nodded again. "Thank you," she said. "I know. You're not the first person to tell me that," she said. She was nearly done with her meal-eating too fast was another downfall. That one was harder to overcome-she was used to having to eat as much as possible as quickly as possible before the next crises. It'd been awhile since she'd been able to fully relax. Maybe she should use the Holodeck with S'Tera for a date or something.

While Rena ate the rest of her meal Jeyson wondered how the counsellor fended off indigestion at her pace and made another request to the food replicator.

"Here," he passed her a large bowl of red juicy strawberries complete with chocolate sauce. "Something to share with someone in private, or not of course." he added with a slight tip of his head. "Just promise me to have fun and switch off for the rest of the evening."

Rena smiled as the strawberries appeared. "Thank you, Jeyson," she said. "I appreciate it. S'Tera will, too," she said. "I DO need to spend more time with her. Work or not, we're not too busy to cultivate relationships," she said. Her spirits were lifting, and she was nearly back to her normal self. "How are you doing on that front?" She asked, conspiratorially. "Any cute ladies or gents you've got an eye on?" She asked.

The barman chuckled at the question. "Ah, that would be telling," he tapped the side of his nose with a cheeky grin.

Rena laughed. "I think S'tera has siblings, if you're ever interested in Caitians," she offered. "I only have brothers, and Ron is married," she shrugged. "I am feeling better. Thank you, Jeyson," she said.

"My pleasure, Rena."

 

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