Time to be counseled

Posted on Fri Aug 22nd, 2025 @ 2:34am by Ensign Serena Bailey & Lieutenant Aelia Painswick

1,017 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: 1 - Third Contact
Location: Counselor's office

Serena let out a huff, in the ensign briefing the Captain told her she needed to go see the counselor. And what the Captain said in front of many witnesses, which meant she had no choice but to go see the counselor. She reached out towards the office door which opened with her motion. Dang it the sensor was working. Okay well here goes nothing. The dark haired ensign stepping inside the counselor's office. Maybe she wasn't in, this way Serena can say she went and the counselor said everything was all checked out.

"So," a voice said from the chair, back turned to the door. It was dimly lit. Some would say a villain's lair. Painswick turned and the chair and looked at Serena. "Computer, lights." The lights turned on and she watched the other woman closely. "Ensign Serena Bailey. What brings you to my office."

Serena felt goosebumps running up and down her arms, giving a slight shiver, having a deer caught in the headlights look. "uh er well I was told by the captain I needed to come and address an issue I had. It is about the briefing for the new crew." rubbing her arm to quell the goosebumps.

Painswick motioned for her to sit, her eyes on her as if she was a hawk watching her prey. She sat back, her hands resting palm down on the desk as she studied her. "What was the issue?"

"Well, during the orientation the hologram we were watching for part of it, was quoting the odds of surviving the first cruise. We were already told the statistics during academy and once again we heard, the statistics and I felt it wasn't a good thing to bring that up again. I said with respect that quoting the chances of survival and us losing those we get close to, makes it to where we may not want to make connections with our fellow crew members."

"Well, you're not wrong," Painswick said as she considered what the woman was saying. "And you might want to guard yourself against the potential loss of your fellow crewmembers. So. You got sent here for talking back during a briefing. Congrats, Ensign. You get a square in Ensign Bingo."

Serena raised an eyebrow rather vulcan like. "Ensign Bingo? What in the world is that? You have my interest."

"Stuff that every Ensign will experience in the first year serving on a ship. If on a planet, first three years. If on a starbase, first two weeks," Painswick said and looked at her then sighed, as if she had to figure out a way of explaining it. Flowcharts maybe. Instead she leant closer to the woman, her hands folded in front of her on her desk. Her eyes regarded her, serious, as if she was giving someone a serious diagnosis rather than explaining it. "There are things that will happen you here. Superiors will send you to me, because that means that I'll be too busy to see them and stars know that they need to see me more than you do. You will mess up, it will feel like the end of your career...newsflash, it isn't. It'll be forgotten within a week as long as you don't eject the warp core or get the Captain killed. First Officer's fine, they're like annoying backups that we blame everything on. Oh, and the sonic shower..." she shook her head, gravely. "It will make your hair frizz. I can tell with your texture. Sorry. Wear a wig. It's what a lot of Captains do, female ones anyway."

Serena's mouth formed a small 'O' her eyes were squinched before then they started growing rather wide. "That is a lot to take in and wow, I am almost speechless. Uh... I don't like wigs but would like to have some curl to my hair."

Serena ended up going quiet as she contemplated the counselor.

There was a chime at the door, the receptionist for the office stepped inside walking over to the counselor and whispered to her. The counselor gave a nod, and left rather quickly.

Serena was at a loss, okay now what was she supposed to do.

"Um Ma'am." looking at the receptionist, "Now what?"

The receptionist paused to look at Serena, the woman being a strawberry blonde , "Well at this moment consider your time with the counselor is at an end. You have a good evening Ensign. And I will enter it into your record that you complied with the Captain's orders. You may leave now, and I hope that you learned something." a half smile dance upon the woman's lips.

"Oh and in case you are wondering my name is Lieutenant Sorenson. Have a lovely evening and don't get into too much trouble." with that she left.

Serena was a bit confused. then she grinned, she was done with the counseling meeting. The counselor was rather different to say the leaast.

"I wonder if Ava knows that I am here, maybe I should go suirprise her." A devious expression came to view as Serena rubbed her hands together. "yes, I must announce my presend to Ava and we can have a sort of reunion."

Giving a little bit of a hop skip and jump, Serena gave out a laugh. This was going to be really good. Can't get caught though, don't want to end up in the brig. What kind of practical joke can she pull?

Walking out of hte office she waved goodbye to the receptionist, as she made her plans. What should she doi? or maybe just sneak into her cousin's quarters and be dramatic about it, with a lamp light strategically placed to surprise Ava.

The receptionist waved at Serena in return, just shaking her head. She saw the look and knew what it meant, Ths ensign had something she was planning, what that could be? One never knows.

As for Serena she was already working through what she could do. Maybe just sneak up and say 'Surprise' that will work out. Serena gave out a laugh.

 

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