Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Counsellor) in Pre-sim: Psych eval for the CTO

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Harrison Callahan (Chief Tactical Officer) in Pre-sim: Psych eval for the CTO

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Counsellor) in Pre-sim: Psych eval for the CTO
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻

<snip>

“When your life becomes a series of high stakes adventures, and what is asked of you continues to grow, you crave those moments. It’s not about simplicity, it’s about connection. To ourselves, to our purpose, to those around us. We cannot survive without at least some connection. And I don’t even have to specify species or culture here. At least as far as Humanoid species go, we’re all wired to follow what drives us, and I tell you, after years of counselling people and studying behaviour, those mundane moments are worth more than anything in the universe. They remind us as members of Starfleet of what we do out here. We all are defending the Federation and exploring the limits of our being in each our own way. And those beautiful mundane moments are the fuel that carry us even when we don’t realize it.” The intensity remained in her eyes and Janna herself seemed lit up in some sort of way. Perhaps a psi-positive person could more accurately gauge the shift in the psychologist, but for someone like Callahan who was keyed to observe minutea, it was like a different Janna had slipped into the room, or perhaps more accurately, she was revealing something about herself.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Harrison kept his gaze locked with Janna’s as he leaned forward. “You know,” he said quietly, “for someone talking about mundane moments, you make it sound almost sacred. Are you this intense about other things, as well?”

“Absolutely,” she said frankly, not clarifying which comment she was replying to. Maybe both?

He smirked faintly. “Though I’m still not convinced replicated French toast qualifies as a spiritual experience.”

“Maybe I just haven’t had the right person make me French toast for breakfast yet.”

Lt. Cmdr. Harrison Callahan
CTO-USS Athena

She laughed and the intensity softened. “Perhaps. But it doesn’t have to be French toast, either. But I think a life in space can make us jaded far too easily the longer we’re out here. Some days it’s enough to remind ourselves to look for something small that is magical. That makes us feel like all is right with the Universe. it can ground us.”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

“I’ve spent most of my career treating peace and quiet like a temporary thing. Needed, but still temporary. I try to stay sharp because the next crisis is always around the corner.”

“Maybe that makes it easy to stop noticing the smaller things.”

Harrison studied the counselor for a moment longer.

“Maybe you’re right about needing a grounding? In my line of work, it’s easy to start measuring life only by emergencies, tactical reports, losses, near misses. Maybe finding something small that feels… normal…” He shook his head faintly. “Maybe that’s what keeps people from turning into machines.”

Lt. Cmdr. Harrison Callahan
CTO-USS Athena