Counseling Staff Get-Together

Posted on Wed Oct 18th, 2023 @ 4:46am by Cadet Sophomore Grade Dane Pines & Cadet Junior Grade Noxi Harrison

3,104 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: 1 - Cruising through the galaxy
Location: Medical Break room
Timeline: MD-02

As Cadet Chief Counselor, it was important to Noxi that she meet the people she'd work with-some of them she already did know, but some she didn't. Both of her parents were department heads in their jobs on the Starship where they both worked and lived now-the USS Arcadia-and both had held get-togethers like this, leaving Noxi and her siblings alone for the evening a few times after they were teenagers and no longer needed a babysitter.

She went to the break room to set up. It was a simple meeting of sorts, but since it was early in the day, it was brunch, really. She placed out some donuts, coffee, fruit, and Jumja sticks. After admiring her handiwork with the Replicator, she smiled. She looked at her chronometer-it was time! She checked her makeup quickly in a compact she kept in her pants' pocket and then waited for the new Morale officer to come. She put a chocolate donut on a plate, poured out some coffee for herself, and slipped a Jumja stick into her hair for later-holding the ponytail she wore in place instead of an elastic band.

Dane had gotten the message for the get together jumped at the chance! New people meant new friends. Even if this person was technically the head of his specific department. While he'd been busy flying around the ship trying to take care of everyone settling in and head off the blues of a changing environment, he showed up just a minute or two later.

Just the small trill of warning as the doors opened and revealed him, stepping into the room rather excitedly! Almost blindingly. The harlequin romance cover level of human male walking up, radiating happiness like a golden retriever, to offer a hand to shake.

"Sophomore Cadet Dane Pines reporting, ma'am! Sorry I couldn't be a bit early, I'm on a bit of a tight leash," he offered. Just flashing her the best looking smile he could manage.

Noxi smiled. This must be the changeling! She'd read his file. "Hi. Welcome. It's ok," she said. She blushed a little. He really WAS good looking-she had to admit that much. "Well. Sit down!! Have a donut if you'd like," she said. "I always make too much food, but I figured the medical staff would like it, too," she said. "Tell me a bit about yourself. I am Cadet Lt. Noxi Harrison, half human, half Bajoran."

Quite a few people had access to that file on the ship, at least. It made things easier.

Nodding at her offer, he was quick to sit down and put a donut on this plate as well. Not seeming to be a chocolate fan, going for one with filling.

"Thanks! I haven't had these in a long while. But it's really good to meet you Cadet Lt. Harrison, I've heard a bit about you as well since you'll be overseeing my work here!" he offered. Though he looked a bit bashful at the next part.

"Not much to tell if you've already read my file! I think they loaded that thing a little too much. Kinda embarrassing. You can call me Dane, if you like! Raised in Oregon, on Earth. You already know I'm a Federation aligned Changeling, too! And before you ask - yes - anyone and anything. You'd be amazed the party trick requests I get."

Dane let out an genuine chuckle at the statement, seeming more than happy to do said party tricks.

Noxi smiled. "Well, that is helpful for your work here," she said. "Do you have any ideas already for morale building activities? As you know, the war is starting, and I think that may impact some of our schoolmates-my father is already being asked to come out to the Colonies to run triage clinics," she said. "He's a CMO at the USS Jupiter," she said.

Hearing that the war was starting did seem to put a little rain on the changeling's sunshine of an expression, but it quickly bounced back. Learning something new about someone, and sitting up! Scooting forward impressed and obviously a little starstruck.

"The USS Jupiter! That's a Heavy Cruiser, right? That's awesome. Is your family career Starfleet? Oh! Sorry, your question. Yes, I have a whole list. I've already carried a few out. Cadets with certain requirements being tended to, I'm installing suggestion box terminals in the mess. I'm even already putting in permissions for a weekly cadet holodeck social. Pseudo live music, food, a different theme every week."

Noxi nodded. "Yes, it is. Yes, both of my parents were in the Fleet for a long time-my mother was actually Bajoran militia before, but when she met my father, she joined the Fleet," Noxi explained. "We were all born on various ships-except my brother. He was born at Starbase 21," she explained. "Oh, neat!! THat's perfect. Any help I can give you, let me know and I will make it happen. I am supposedly getting a Sophomore cadet to train under me, and of course, Dr. Nairut will be here as the Supervising Fleet officer but I am essentially the Chief Counselor," she said. It was such an honor and hopefully, she wouldn't screw it up. "Perhaps we should also start a ship wide newsletter or paper or something like that! Like on Old Earth, you know?" She said. "Just so we keep up to date!"

Dane seemed pretty taken with the idea of a newer kind of much bigger make of ship. Like many boys, he once had little models of a few types in his room, though he'd never say so now as a man.

"Well your family certainly sounds interesting! I'd love to hear more sometime. But as for you being the Chief Counselor, I certainly consider you that! Which meaaaans, you're technically my boss! So expect me to bother you here and there," he chuckled. Finally taking a bite of the donut he'd picked out, somehow avoiding all white powder around his mouth! Changeling tricks.

"But sure! I had something similar planned, I was going to set up a board in the cadet mess with planned activities. But a newsletter would make things a lot easier! Give people contact information to set things up. My first big project was going to be testing animal therapy. I know at least on earth, it's a huge relief for many species just to pet a dog or cat!"

Noxi nodded. "That sounds good," she said. "I will let you arrange a few cadet volunteers for it, then!" She said. She bit into the donut she'd picked for herself-chocolate iced. "Animal therapy would be amazing!! How would you propose to go about it? As far as I know, we don't have CetOps or anything aboard," she said.

"Volunteers for certain projects would be great! But I'd prefer it's not pushed too hard. People need to warm to me slowly." Standing up slowly after another bite of his donut. Why he was standing up wasn't clear for a few moments. Clapping his hands and rubbing them together.

"But no need~! For you see, I am strange," he announced, a voice full of mischievous pride.

Before Dane fucking liquified. All at once his body turning into an orange gold...juice! Hitting the ground with a strange thud and bouncing back up where, in his place, was a Golden Retriever. Wearing a little perfectly tailored Starfleet uniform. Licking their chops and doing a lap around the table and sitting next to Noxi. Letting out a little bark!

Looked like a dog, sounded like a dog, and if Noxi had ever been around them even felt and smelled like a dog. Her morale officer was now...a dog.

Noxi had forgotten that he was a changeling. "Oh, my...Let me get the UT," she said. Would they even WORK on dogs?! She had no idea but she had no other ideas. "You're a cute dog, though," she said. She stood up to go to her desk. She returned a moment later with the UT, which she had meant to attach to the wall. "Anyway. I agree. I won't push anyone too hard," she said. "And yeah, you...are a bit strange. But the crew will adjust in time!" She said, confidently. She was trying to not be too rattled-she was a counselor, she was supposed to be prepared for weirdness!

Dane said nothing when Noxi seemed to think about translating dog barks, letting her head over and grab one and following her there. Then back. The perfect behaviors of a dog. Maybe changelings even shifted how they-

"I hope so!"

Nope! The UT showed sol English. With a mouth structure like that, he shouldn't have even been able to talk. But it flowed and the mouth moved, it looked weirdly natural. Like a work of fiction! Before he lowered his front, tail wagging, and readied a jump! Lunging up onto the table and liquifying again midair. Hitting the table with...nearly no sound or impact. Suddenly now a black cat in a Starfleet uniform standing on the table.

Pressing his paw in the powder of his donut and then making one perfect little footprint on the suface.

"Thank you though, I like to always be cute. Though my human me is...well, that's actually me. Even got albums of me growing up. And thank you for taking me into consideration. How about you though? This is...a lot, and you're a department head, even. Has to be a lot," he offered. Laying and crossing his front legs, one over the other.

Cat Counsellor.

She shrugged. "It IS. I would be lying if I said it wasn't," she said. "However, I try to be kind to everyone, and I understand that you can't help it," she said. "Though I am sure there are ways we can learn to perhaps warn people when it's about to. I will look into it," she said. "Is it...is it painful when you change?" She asked. She'd always wondered.

Though expressions were difficult on a cat's face, the twitchy movements of the tail did give away some light distress. But it didn't show in his voice.

"I'd prefer if we didn't. I'd like people to see it as normal, eventually," he offered. Carefully standing back up as a cat, walking back to his chair and melting into it. Soon enough back as his usual human self.

Not a hair out of place.

"And no, I don't feel pain. It's...a hard thing to describe. I can turn into gold, that's easy. But to mimic organs, nervous systems, bioelectricity? I've had to study. Had taste for a year or so. Smell I'm still working on. Pleasure when I was a tween. But pain...I don't plan to study. I'm sorry if that sounds a bit concerning."

Noxi simply nodded. "Well, I can't fault you for that," she said. "I don't know if they'll ever see it as "normal"," she said, making air quotes with her fingers, "BUT hopefully they will at least be accepting and kind," she said. "We're all adults here." She sighed. It was easier said than done, she knew. "I am glad it's not painful, at least. It is understandable that you wouldn't want to feel pain. It sucks," she said, plainly. "Physical AND emotional. Sometimes the emotional sucks more, because it takes longer to heal. Sometimes you don't," she said. She thought about her mother for a moment-she had survived the Occupation, and Noxi knew how it had changed her. "What are you hoping to accomplish in your studies? I mean, what is your ultimate goal "change", if that makes sense?"

Dane could only give a slightly sad smile, nodding. "Us all being adults...somehow makes it worse. Never had a child scared of me. They ask about a character, and then they light up when it's in front of them," he laments. Carefully taking another bite of his donut as they talk and digest each other's words. "Emotional pain is...mental, though. I've got the full spectrum of empathy. So I understand."

Just a little bit of an awkward topic, there. But he doesn't press it. Happier things on the horizon.

"Ah. Well, to be honest, I'm not sure. Graduate and help for as long as I can, of course, but I'll likely leave after the war for awhile. Picked my majors and minors to play to strengths. I'm good with people. Have a head for chemistry. And if anything bad happens, people can hide behind me. How about you? Looking to follow footprints? Or do you have other dreams?"

Noxi nodded as he spoke. "I understand. I definitely was more...naive as a child, for sure. I would've loved to have met a changling back then," she said. "My parents would've freaked out, though. They're both old-school Fleet. I wanted to be a doctor like my father, but I don't like blood. I wasn't into science like my mom," she said. "So I did this. I like to help people, and listen and learn about how the different races and cultures work." She found it fascinating. "I don't blame you for wanting to leave if the war breaks out. My mother survived the Occupation, and she sometimes says she wishes she'd gone to New Bajor," Noxi shared.

Dane thought it through for a moment, mulling his words and giving a small smile at the Counsellor's words.

"Well, you're kind of paying both of them homage, don't you think? You're healing, and you're learning about the mind. Plus, if they're old school, they'll know about the stress of a ship in conflict. I'm sure they're greatly proud of you. And if you ever need to hear it from them, just give me a call," he joked. Flashing the woman a big smile as he relaxed back a little. Enjoying the conversation.

"And yeah. If people die fighting the Dominion, and the war ends, people won't stop being angry. It's just...practical if I take a break. You sure seem to love your parents, though! I can relate, my folks are Federation Science Council. Mother a geneticist and father security. I'm already writing home!"

Noxi smiled. "I do!! They're good parents. They tried their best, but the Prophets know that us kids were kind of feral. We didn't make it easy for them," she said. "I have two brothers. They're quite...rowdy. Or they were, when we were children. I don't know how familiar you are with family suites on the ships, but they're not large. Imagine two fairly large boys roughhousing in a space about the size of the medical bay. I am surprise my mother didn't throw herself out of the airlock," Noxi said. "And I am the baby, so they always picked on me." She said. "But...I wouldn't change it. I learned a lot about tolerance, respect, and love out there." She said. "How about you? What was your childhood like?" She asked. "My mother is also a member of the Science Council, but just a general member. She is a chemist, specifically."

"I'll bet your parents were like that too, growing up!" Dane laughed, enjoying the stories. "Brothers had to get it from somewhere. But that sounds like times I wouldn't change either."

Asked about his home, he did some thinking back, a bit of a homesickness in his gut.

"Well we lived in the pacific northwest, on earth. Nice little old-world town, foggy mountains and an ocean inlet port. Dad retired when I was young, to be a house husband. Was nice! Exploring, lots of friends, kids my age. Lots of teen heartbreak and romance, lots of pranks, school troubles. Summers suuucked, though. I spent every summer in an FSC or Starfleet Security testing lab."

Finishing off his donut, the Morale Officer licked the pads of his fingers and thought it through a bit. Looking like he was keeping something back, but changed the subject.

"We should get our moms together. Maybe they know each other, or could just use another friend, with the anxiety of their kids first solo foray into space."

Noxi nodded. "You were lucky to live planet-side," she said. "I sometimes wish we had had that opportunity. To go to a "real" school, have real friends, things like that. It wasn't a BAD childhood, just...hard sometimes. If one of my parents took a posting on a different ship or Base, we'd have to leave our friends, and learn to settle in on a new ship, or base. I preferred the Bases and stations-there's far more things to do and people to meet. But every two to four years, it's moving. It sucks," she said. "And yes, we should! That would be weird, but fun!! My mother is dealing with it better than my father-I am a bit of a Daddy's girl, and I don't think he was ready for it, though he knew it was coming," she said. She wiped some errant crumbs from her chin. "Ask her if she knows a Lorut Vila or Vila Harrison; when she married my father, she dropped the Bajoran naming customs," Noxi shared.

Dane listens empathetically, thinking on the differences. Really, it sounded like a hard lot. Not much that they could do to advocate for themselves at that age.

"Sounds like it sucks, for certain. And like that's going to be a continuing trend in Starfleet. Assignments don't last forever. But at least now we have the age and agency to talk to others abroad more easily. But yeah! Here," he started. Taking out his Padd and typing a few things down, sending the names to his personal calendar to follow up when he had downtime next.

"There. I'll add it into the message I send home. Hopefully they can be shoulders to cry on while we're out here training to the best officers we can be. Or at least the best officers we can be while keeping out of trouble. I'm not sure I'd enjoy getting sucked into a big hubub."

Noxi laughed. "Yes, hopefully," she said. "Are your parents both still together?" She asked, not realizing she'd accidentally fell back into "counselor" mode.

Well, the Changeling noticed it just fine. Smirking a little and seeing if he could turn it on her.

"I'm not sure. I mean, my mother does work, y'know. So unless she's got the day off, or it's evening on Earth, probably not."

Noxi nodded. "I understand," she said.

Off:
CDT (Jr) Counselor Noxi Harrison

CDT (Sph) Morale Officer Dane Pines

 

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