A Hard Case

Posted on Saturday, 6 June 2020 - 3:27pm by Lieutenant T'Lanna Vali

Mission: Operation: Iktomi
Location: USS Standing Bear | Counselor's Office | Deck 04
Timeline: 2393 - MD 01

{ON:}

Tilian Grol walked into the medical bay and headed for the counseling office. He hated all these formalities. It felt like just yesterday he was qualifying for this medical mumbo jumbo. He sighed. He'd gone through medical exams now the counseling part. He was lucky he had it all in on day and tomorrow he'd have a full day to unpack and then off to work. He sighed as he straightened his shirt. He took three deep breaths and rang the chime.

T’Lanna was just settling down at her desk when the chime rang. “Come in.” She smiled warmly as the door opened and another new face entered her office. “Hi there, please come on in and make yourself at home.” She tucked her hair behind her pointed ears as she rose from her seat. “Can I offer you anything to drink?”

"No, Thank you. I am Petty Officer Grol, Tilian Grol. I have come for my clearances." He eyed the seat and then decided to take it.

T’Lanna nodded and returned to a seat opposite Grol picking up a PADD on the way. “Tell me about yourself Tillian, is it alright to call you Tillian?”

He gave a nod. "What would you like to know specifically?"

“I’m not your a-typical Counsellor who believes everything personnel files tell me, I prefer to hear about people from a personal perspective. “Do you request a transfer to the Standing Bear or were you simply assigned here?”

"I was assigned here."

“Fair enough” T’Lanna nodded. “I can sense that you’re pretty ... shall we say uptight? About being here. It’s not unusual for people to be nervous about visiting a counsellor."

Uptight was mild. "Indeed. What is required next?"

T’Lanna smiled. “What is it that makes you feel so nervous? Are you a naturally nervous person or is there something in particular that’s bothering you?”

"Perhaps both. I am a complicated person."

“Yeah I kind of noticed that” T’Lanna smiled. “Trills are generally quite an easy going people, is there something that started off your worries or have you always been a worrier?”

He studied her. This was starting out like any other Starfleet counseling session he'd been to. He was a worrier, he was not good enough. She might as well have spots and be his mother. "I am what I am counselor." He paused "I am a good worker, I do my job, did well in school and I am extremely organised."

T’Lanna held up her hands. “Hey I’m not saying there’s anything wrong With that.” She lowered her hands offering a smile. “Your personnel file is full of nothing but good reports about you, from the Academy to your last assignment. I can’t fault that and sometimes worrying is good, it keeps you alert.”

He sighed. "I'm sorry. I should not be rude. I am not comfortable talking about myself. Let us start over. What would you like to know? I am not good with vague questions...only specific ones."

T’Lanna smiled. “Please tell me what it is that makes you so ... uncomfortable.”

"There is simply nothing to tell. I work, I sleep, I eat, I work. That is the essence of my life. It is all that I require. I get great satisfaction from my job and it is what I wish to do until I am ready to retire."

T’Lanna nodded. “Fair enough, if that’s what you enjoy, but don’t you take time to socialise with your crew mates?”

"No. They do find me odd. I have accepted that."

T’Lanna nodded. “I’m not going to start telling you to force yourself into socialising but it would be good for you to have some friends.” She smiled warmly.

He made a non committal sound.

T’Lanna grinned. “Okay enough of my talking about that. Now do you have any concerns about your duties?”

"Not particularly. I have met the XO and am confident I can help. I have yet to meet the CO but I have met the doctor and was able to take up helping him too. I am looking forward to it."

“Excellent” T’Lanna smiled warmly. “Now I’m happy to sign you off, but I would like to see you interacting with the crew a little. It doesn’t have to be a massive leap, maybe just a few minutes to start even if it’s just lunch in the mess hall rather than lunch on your own in your quarters. You might be surprised to find that people here are nice.”

He sighed. "I shall try."

“I can’t ask for more than that” T’Lanna smiled warmly. “In that case you’re free to go, it’s been nice meeting you Tillian.”

"Thanks. It was nice to meet you as well." He hurried about before she changed her mind.

T’Lanna watched him go before sighing, she had a feeling she had her work cut out with Tillian.

{OFF}