Posted by Lieutenant Piper Grant (Chief of Operations) in Counselor’s Beware

Posted by Lieutenant Alex Cross (Chief Counselor) in Counselor’s Beware

Posted by Lieutenant Piper Grant (Chief of Operations) in Counselor’s Beware
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Having finished her medical check in, she headed for the counseling offices. She still didn’t quite understand why new crew had to go see the resident shrink. She knew she was crazy, and that should be enough. She took her time on things and knew it was important. She also knew that there was a note in her file from her time at the Academy that explained in detail how she felt about this particular check in. She sighed as she neared the door, taking a breath and putting on her most winning smile, she rang the chime, almost hoping that the counselor with with another crewmember, on leave or something.

COO

A strong, deep voice came from within.

“Enter.”

The doors slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a counseling office that felt deliberately at odds with the sterility of most Starfleet interiors. Warm lighting washed over muted earth tones—deep blues and soft ambers—offset by subtle LCARS panels dimmed to a non-intrusive glow. A broad desk sat to one side, neatly organized but clearly secondary to the seating area: a curved sectional couch, two comfortable chairs angled to invite conversation rather than interrogation, and a low table bearing a small ceramic bowl filled with polished stones. New Orleans jazz played quietly in the background—barely audible, more felt than heard.

Alex Cross rose smoothly from his chair as Lieutenant Grant stepped inside. Tall, broad-shouldered, composed. His expression was open, calm, and entirely unhurried.

“Lieutenant Piper Grant,” he said, voice warm and steady, “Chief of Operations. Welcome aboard.”

He offered a genuine smile—not the sharp, clinical kind, but one practiced in putting people at ease. He gestured toward the seating area rather than the desk.

“Please—have a seat. Wherever you’re comfortable. Can I get you a drink?”

“Bajoran coffee please, with goat milk.” Piper said

“Ah a good drink, I will have one myself. Bajoran coffee has an interesting flavor.” Ordering up the two coffees he turned to join the Lieutenant in the sitting area.

As the doors closed behind her, Cross took a moment to observe—not to judge, but to understand. The practiced smile. The measured breath before stepping in. The faint tension around the eyes that didn’t quite match the humor in her words outside. He’d read the Academy note, of course—every counselor did—but paper never told the whole story. What interested him more was the confidence layered over skepticism, the kind that usually came from someone who’d learned early on to rely on competence rather than introspection.

Operations, he thought. Figures.

He sat opposite her, posture relaxed, hands loosely folded.

“And for the record,” he added lightly, a hint of amusement in his eyes, “this isn’t a test, an evaluation, it’s just a conversation. One officer to another.”

A small pause, letting the space breathe.

“So,” Cross continued, tone easy, “before we get into anything official—how are you settling in so far?

Counselor Alex Cross

Piper laughed heartily “Not a test…okay that’s a new statement from Counseling.” She said not unkindly “I take it you read my file before I showed up.” She said “So, the reason I joined StarFleet was to get away from Bajor and this seemed like a decent job.” She said taking a long drink of the dark beverage that had been handed to her.

COO

Cross smiled as he shrugged slightly, “Of course. But notes do not always tell the whole story. I prefer my own observations. I approach everyone with an open mind and with an interest to get to know you. It’s a fresh slate here, Lieutenant. So no epiphany from meeting another Starfleet officer? You were just looking for a likely gig?” He asked as he sipped his own coffee.

Counselor Alex Cross

“Something like that.” Piper said “I was an instructor at the Academy for a few years after being an engineer within the fleet, and decided something new was always a good thing.” She added taking a long drink of coffee “So here I am. My only epiphany was that I wanted to be back in space again.”

COO

OOC: My apologies that this post got missed!

IC:

Cross smiled. “Not a bad reason for coming out. How are you finding the Ark Angel so far?” Cross asked as he sipped his own Bajoran coffee. It was kava based and comparable to the earth coffee bean but with a slightly different flavor.

Counselor Alex Cross