Posted by Lieutenant Commander Serena Stone (Executive Officer) in Holosuite HIke

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Counsellor) in Holosuite HIke

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Serena Stone (Executive Officer) in Holosuite HIke
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Janna gave a soft smile. “I can’t think of one,” she said honestly. “There are always opportunities that could arise, but that’s in a future we have no knowledge about. As much as it’s useful to know what you might want in the future, it’s equally important to live in the now and be happy with where you are at. And sometimes our loved ones won’t always understand why we want to do what we do.”

She gazed at Serena. “And you are building things. Just not quite so obviously. Building a community on a ship and helping shape a team is very important. Maybe it’ not what your parents are familiar with, but I think there’s room for them to see that what you’re doing on the Athena isn’t so different than what you might do here,” she said, gesturing to the setting.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Serena nodded. “Suppose you’re right.” With a sigh she continued along the trail, lapsing into thoughtful silence as a gentle breeze kicked up, cooling and caressing their skin. The smell of trees, especially evergreens, loamy earth, decaying leaves, and a hint of ice on the air from higher elevations. The XO’s shoulders rode high and she could feel the tension in them, but took a deep breath and let it go, relaxing and releasing layers of tension she’d been carrying.

Glancing over at Janna, she chewed her lower lip, contemplating. The gears in her head turned as she walked in silence, but then seemed to shift focus on the trail in front of them.

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

Janna could read body language incredibly well, and had built that skill over her years as a therapist. That everything was now enhanced by the changes within her was more of a bonus than anything. She walked with Serena in silence for a little bit before smiled and said, “You don’t have to have everything figured out today. Not even tomorrow. And for what’s it’s worth, I’m glad you’re on the ship with us, Serena.”

Taking in the beautiful scenery, her own mind fell into series of thoughts that finally percolated to the surface after a few moments. “I have to keep reminding myself that I don’t have to have things figured out either. A harder proposition for a therapist whom others think she have their sh*t together, but alas, we’re often as messy as the rest of you,” she said with a teasing wink.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

“No, I know that.” She took a breath and sighed, flaring her nostrils. “It’s the nagging feeling of not doing ‘enough.’ It’s just a feeling and one I know isn’t true. I’ve got the workload of shepherding a thousand people on a long haul ship out in the Wild West where you have to live by your wits and your guns. So I know my plate is already pretty full. Taking care of my section on the Valkyrie was a full-time job too.”

“I can imagine it was,” Janna said seriously.

“And sure, y’all might not have everything together, but at least you’ve got a better toolset and understanding than most. Which is a leg up. But at the end of the day, we’re all stumbling around in the dark. We all have different skills to help navigate, and also to share with each other, or use to help one another.”

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

Janna nodded. “Exactly. And why I’m happy to be here with you now, exploring this place that is important to you. We wanted to be more social and as a friend I can get to know you better here. Believe it or not, I don’t have a lot of true friends on this ship. I’m friendly with a lot of people, but only a few know the nitty gritty. Recent events in my life have reminded me that having so few people I let in that far could be a problem. But like you said, toolsets. In this case, I am aware of the need and I now have an opportunity to do something about my dilemma.”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Serena nodded. “I know the feeling. Ship’s counselor can e a tough gig socially. Everybody questions your motives in and out of the office. Trying to make small talk, people wonder what you’re really up to. It can be the same for Security. And then if you’re up Top, it’s kind of the same. I show up and the first thing that goes through people’s heads is that they’re in trouble, or something is wrong. And true, I’m responsible for disciplinary action unless it goes to Captain’s Mast. My job is just to make sure everything runs smooth, not to break anybody down.”

Janna nodded. She knew that about Serena and it’s what made her a good first officer. Tough, but compassionate too.

“I do feel like I’ve made a couple friends or potential ones on the ship so far. As for you, aren’t there ethical matters to consider. Like a doctor not operating on their family members. In your case, not treating anybody you form a connection with? Which … to my mind, a good counselor has to form some kind of connection with their patients, otherwise they can’t reach them and do the work.”

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

“We do, for sure,” Janna said. “The therapeutic relationship is founded upon trust, and rarely does a person trust a stranger wholeheartedly, even if they are expected to. My approach has always been a bit different than some therapists. Some prefer to keep a clear separation between them and the patient, and some patients prefer this. But it’s not my way. I prefer people to see me as a coach, not an arbiter. Yes, I wield the power to affects their lives and careers, but I treat them first as the complex persons they are and I want them to know that I am just as flawed and searching as they are. Like you said, I have an extensive toolkit I know how to use and I like people to see it in action and that it’s safe to do so. This does mean that I share more of myself than might seem advisable at first, but especially lately there’s been no other option.”

Janna sighed a little and came to a stop. “Is there a place we could stop and sit, maybe talk and enjoy the view? There are things I need to talk to you about, both as a friend and the first officer.” She smirked a little. “We’re going to put our complicated situations into practice here and blur the lines.”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

The redhead nodded as she plodded along. At the request for somewhere to stop and rest she broke into a smile. “I know just the place, just a couple minutes that way,” she said pointing ahead and off to the right, off the trail. “Let’s go.”

“Lead on,” Janna said with a grin, happily trailing after Serena.

The distance went by easily as she diverted the two of them down a side trail. After a couple minutes the air grew a little cooler, thick with moisture, and the sound of babbling water reached their ears. The path parted through some conifers, their piney scent filling the air as they walked on a bed of dead needle-like leaves. The side trail dumped them into a small clearing maybe ten meters wide on the edge of a mountain stream almost as wide. There were a couple fallen logs, a few large rocks or small boulders, but in the middle of the clearing was a man-made fire pit a half-log bench, and a few other seats. Slightly off to one side was a wood and steel picnic table. It seemed a spot the locals liked to visit for recreation and relaxation. It was a perfect little camping spot, and good for fishing, bird watching. The water was quite cool, even in summer, and as Serena stopped to survey the place, memories of her own visits flooded back, just for a moment before she put them away.

Kingston took in the setting and beamed. “It’s perfect,” she declared, picking up on the flutter of emotion from her friend.

Turning to Janna, she smiled. “Make yourself at home.” As she spoke she raised both arms expansively. They had the run of the place after all.

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

Janna beelined for the log bench and took a seat, glad for the fact that it was the holodeck and she could simply ask for warmer clothing should she need it. She rested her arms across her legs and gazed at Serena. “He and I keep meaning to do something more… official, but it’s also been deeply personal.” She took a steadying breath. “Has Orvos discussed any… changes with him lately with you, related to me?” Her used of his first name was entirely intentional.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Stone didn’t move to sit just yet, instead she made her way over to the base of a nearby pine-like tree with a wide base, branches so low to the ground it looked as though it were flat against the earth. Carefully pushing aside the branches she disappeared under the tree itself, which seemed large enough that several people could fit under its boughs. Moments later, she reappeared with a bundle of wood, some thin as pencil lead, others pencil-thick, then finger, thumb, and up to wrist sized. Coming back to the log bench she arranged the mass the way she wanted. Turning to the log bench she reached under it and pulled out a metal box, hinged lid, with a rubber seal and opened it. From inside she fished out a few pieces of wood, a small shredder with a box, and then began grating the wood into the box. Dumping out the pile of shavings, she fished out a rod with another piece of metal attached on a lanyard. Using the piece of steel against the rod, she sent a bright shower of hot sparks into the shavings which caught flame in a spot immediately before quickly spreading. This she rolled the smalls of the pile on top of, letting the flames lick up through the fuel, spreading and growing as she added more.

Shifting back to sit on the log, she let the growing heat from the fire begin to settle into her skin. At the first mention of “He” a flicker of confusion crossed Serena’s consciousness. What “he” was she speaking of. But then the context became clear. “Honestly, we’ve not spoken of any personal matters since I transferred. I’ve noticed something going on with you two. But it predates me being here, and whatever it is… You’re adults. I expect you, ship’s lead counselor, to be mature enough to handle any personal business. And he’s the Old Man in Charge, so it’s pretty much as high as a complaint could go.” Unless someone went to the Admiralty, but she left it unsaid. “I figured it wasn’t my business, whatever it is. As XO, that is.”

“But as a friend, if we’re friends, I’m more than happy to listen, help, and support in whatever way I can.”

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

Janna closed her eyes and felt her skin soak in the heat from the growing flames. She allowed herself to tun in to that mysterious part of her that was still revealing herself, and when she opened her eyes there was something deeper there than Serena perhaps had seen before. “We’re… together, though it’s been a long time coming. And the whole situation is very complicated and difficult to explain. I’m not even sure I can. But what I can say, is that myself, Stark and Orvos were involved in a rather dramatic event that involved what the El Aurians call The Nexus. Orvos was the Chief Engineer at the time and in the aftermath he became XO. We had formed a connection soon after he first came aboard, but it was a bit more one sided for a time,” she said with a smirk. It was okay that she had been the one aware of her own feelings and willing to bide her time.

“When we finally were able to confront and admit our feelings for each other we noticed other things happening. Specifically, that I could do things that technically I shouldn’t. And we’ve since been to see Doctor Grey and the scans confirm that my brain has been altered and is continuing to evolve. We don’t know why, or even exactly how, other than it’s likely that the Nexus changed me. I’m becoming empathic, Serena. Or rather, I already am to a degree, but it’s been increasing. And contact with Orvos seems to allow me to tap into whatever is happening with me more easily. There’s a tangible energy present.” She smirked. “It’s nice to know it’s nt just in our heads .” She paused there, knowing that was more than enough for Stone to wrap her mind around.

~Janna Kingston, CNS