Posted by Lieutenant Commander Vanessa Lofton (Counselor) in Counsellor’s Office: Cadet Noah Parata checking in
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Noah looked around the room with suspicion, whilst doing his utmost to appear calm and in control. He shook her hand with a conviction he was missing. The question about the replicator threw him as he did his best to figure out what would be best. No drink? Might seem like he was uncomfortable. Water? No, too boring. But he didn’t want to get too relaxed so it had to be something that could help....

“A coffee please sir. Uh, Vanessa, I mean.”

Noah took a seat on the sofa , his face locked onto the painting. Something about it bothered him, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. Suddenly he sat up, remembering something. “Oh just a black coffee thanks! No, uh, no sugar or milk. Thank you.”

-Cadet Noah Parata

She nodded and walked to the food slot. “One coffee, black, and one hot chocolate,” she requested. She lifted the two saucers as the whine from the machine died down and returned, passing one to him and keeping one for herself as she sat.

“I have such a sweet tooth. You look nervous,” she said, and blew on her cocoa. “This really is a very casual meeting,” she repeated. “If Starfleet didn’t think you were ready to be here, you wouldn’t be here.” She sipped the cocoa and hummed.

“You and your grandfather are among only a handful of Maori to ever join Starfleet. Do you think that’s a cultural thing? What prompted you to join?”

Lt. Cmdr. Lofton - CNS

“I’m sorry,” he said, his eyes cast down to the coffee that he sipped slightly. “It just…joining Star Fleet means a lot to me. I didn’t want to do anything that’d screw that up. Plus, if I’m honest, I don’t understand what counsellors do. “

He perked up at the mention of his grandfather, a warm smile spreading onto his face. “I joined because Grandad convinced me to. He didn’t force me to or anything, but he saw how stuck I was in life. I grew up in the same town, never travelling far, living a very boring childhood. I was frustrated at home and kept arguing with my parents and the only thing that sounded good was getting out. He told me that with star fleet I’d travel the galaxy and learn to appreciate everything. Home and afar.”

Noah took a sip of the coffee, closing his eyes. It still wasn’t quite right, not quite like the coffee he made at home, but he figured he’d get used to it. “Did you know New Zealand was one of the last countries on earth to be settled by humans? In around 1200 AD. That’s so late! They travelled across huge oceans to do it, in these special rowing boats. Hundreds of miles like that. I feel closer to my history, doing this. Travelling into the unknown.”

He looked at the coffee again, a little uncertainty on his face. “I think.....I think home is important to us, culturally. Having the earth under your feet, we have a very outdoor oriented life in New Zealand. Leaving that all behind was harder than I thought it might be.”

-Cadet Noah Parata

Vanessa chuckled. “Well, counselors don’t bite,” she replied with a smile. “We are psychologists or psychiatrists, trained in techniques to help members of Starfleet grapple with the weight of actions and decisions they make every day. We help people come to terms with trauma and emotions; with handling stress and anxiety.”

She mulled the rest of his response, nodding. “That makes sense. Were you able to make friends at the Academy to help alleviate that sense of loss in any way?”

Lt. Cmdr. Lofton - CNS

Noah shifted slightly in his seat, feeling awkward. “I’m not the most…outgoing person. I joined up with a friend, Benem, so to be honest I didn’t feel the need. I should probably try a little harder.”

He took a sip of his drink, “We could have done with a counsellor back home. They should hire more of you.”

-Cadet Noah Parata