Be Careful With What You Need

Posted on Mon Jan 24th, 2022 @ 12:31am by Lieutenant JG Faith Vianelli

Mission: The Dexic Negotiations
Location: Counselor's Office
Timeline: Backpost: Prior to Everything Current

The older woman swiveled back and forth in the chair behind the desk, hands steepled in front of her as she waited for her... Victim? No, not the right word for the situation. She'd been asked to take a trip on this ship, the Chimera, for a few months in order to mentor a young woman and mold her into a proper counselor. A Cadet with a provisional rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade, and Gabrielle Kennedy remembered those days of being one of them. So long ago, far far away. She checked the chrono and noted the time, that young woman should be in at any time now...

It had been an incredibly long night of unsettled toddler and broken sleep when Faith walked into her office, thoroughly surprised to see the stranger sitting behind the desk that she had been sitting at the day before. She paused, glancing about uncertainly. "Uh... I'm sorry..." she murmured softly, unable to hide her confusion. "I wasn't expecting anyone to be here, can I help you with something?"

"I do believe, my dear, that I'm actually here to help you." Yes, this was the right person, "Oh, I'm in your chair, aren't I?" The elderly woman pushed herself up to her feet, "My name is Gabrielle Kennedy, I'm an Arbiter for this sector of space and the surrounding sectors. I'm a civilian rather than Fleet, employed directly by the Federation Council to be an impartial counselor to review potentially controversial decisions, such as say... When a ship's Captain gets relieved, someone like me goes out to make sure it was done properly and legally. I also act as a Special Master in the cases where a counselor is being investigated, to go through their files to find the information and only the specific information being sought by the court." She smiled like a grandmother as she rounded the desk, "And I'm also able to mentor young counselors like yourself, when they're on their maiden cruises before they're fully certified."

"Oh." The response was simple, yet still betrayed her uncertainty. "So you'll be supervising me until I graduate?" she asked softly as she moved to her desk, picking up the two personal photos that sat on the desk top and moved them to the top drawer of her desk. "I'm Faith, but I guess you already knew that."

"Faith Vianelli, provisional Lieutenant Junior Grade, awaiting final certification before officially graduating the Academy." She spoke from memory, "Lovely two year old daughter, Brielle, devoted mother, etcetera, etcetera." Gabrielle confirmed, "I'm literally here as an observer so you can start seeing patients. Apparently Lieutenant Balcers didn't make the ship and isn't coming, so you're going to be the departmental decision maker, dearie. Do you know the rules of having an observer, by chance?"

"Briella," Faith corrected quietly before she sank down into her chair, crossing her legs neatly, hands folded in her lap. "I don't know anything about observers," she added. "I had expected to have a department head. I'm not an officer, I'm still just a cadet."

Gabrielle eased herself down into one of the chairs on the other side of the desk, "Oh, you're an officer, that's what cadets are, larval officers." She waved away the complaint she knew was incoming, "I was once a Lieutenant myself, over forty-five years ago when I retired, been in your shoes, well, I had that department head there when I was on my first cruise. But here? On this ship? You're it. The big cheese. The head honcho. The one that gets to tell the Captain she's about to screw up completely if she makes that bad decision on a moral level." The smile she had on her face reflected her knowledge that it made Faith uncomfortable, but it had the tinge of sympathy. "You're the moral compass of the ship and crew, follow it. Follow what you believe in, From an old lady to a young one."

Faith waited for a few moments, remaining silent, just contemplating. "What if I'm not ready to be a moral compass?" she asked softly.

Rather than answer Faith's question, Gabrielle asked one of her own, "What made you want to be a counselor?"

"I knew I wanted to go into medical from when I was young," Faith replied quietly. "I was almost thirteen when my Dad died. He was an engineer, he was on a transport back to Earth for my thirteenth birthday. The transport was attacked by pirates. My father was seriously injured. There was no medical staff on the transport. He died before help got to them." She paused and drew in a quick breath. "That was when I decided I wanted to go into medical, I wanted to help people." She paused, biting down on the inside of the corner of her mouth. "It was during my first quarter at the Academy that I knew I wanted to become a counselor. Most people that go into medical want to heal the physical body, so few want to help heal the mind."

"And helping heal the mind can be done in several ways. What I found is that helping prevent that damage from occurring is the best way to do that little thing." Gabrielle peered at Faith, "No one expects you to be perfect, my dear, only to give the best advice that you believe in. You want to help people. What are you willing to do to help them? Tell them what they want to hear? Or tell them what they need to hear? Even knowing that it could cost them everything they know and hold dear?"

"There is always another way," Faith responded simply. "There is never a reason to destroy a person, even if it is intended with kindness."

"There is?" Gabrielle asked, "Oh certainly there are always several options, some better than the rest. And I never said anything about destroying someone, but I'm still glad to hear that you don't intend to do it. You may still accomplish it, but without meaning to, but that comes with the job. I think you've got a better head on those shoulders than you think you've got. The only thing you need is experience in using it." She leaned back with a bright smile, "So then comes the question: When do you intend to start with it?"

"Apparently tomorrow," Faith replied quietly. "My schedule is already being filled by medical. I think mostly it's just basic follow up visits and such, but I guess we'll see as the appointments start happening."

"Then we'll start tomorrow." Gabrielle smiled brightly, "I'll just be in the corner, listening and taking notes on you, not on your patients. Starting with Medical is a good place, then bring in the Executive Officer at some point soon, then the Captain. If she argues against it, you're possibly the only one that can actually require Commander Skyie to come in or relieve her if she doesn't comply. I don't see that happening, though."

"One of my lecturers at the Academy told me a story once about the time they attempted to relieve their CO from duty for failing to comply with a counselors appointment," Faith said with a small smile. "After their experiences, I'm not sure it's a tact I'll ever try."

"Probably for the best." The old lady agreed, "Doesn't mean you can't use it as leverage to get her in. Some people will go to extraordinary lengths to avoid seeing doctors of all types." Gabrielle stood up and stretched, "Then, I suppose that unless you have any questions for me?"

Faith paused for a moment before offering a smile. "If you don't have plans tonight, would you like to join me for dinner?" she asked. "I'd love to hear more about your experiences."

"I've got no real plans for the next couple months." Gabrielle pointed out, "And I would love to. I've got sixty-five years of experience, so believe you me, I've got plenty of stories I can tell you."

Faith smiled. "Great, I'll see you about six? I assume you know where my quarters are?"

"I think I can find my way there, somehow." Gabrielle returned the smile, "Six o'clock it is."