Posted by Lieutenant Commander Katie Nunn (Counselor) in Counselor’s Office – Molly Holloway

Posted by Captain Molly Holloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Counselor’s Office – Molly Holloway
Dead man walking!

Molly took a deep breath as the doors of her quarters opened in front of her and she left to the corridor. The old Earth words ringing in her mind as she did so.

The moment she had set foot back on the Dresden, she had noticed a change on the crew’s roster. A new counselor. Certainly Cal’s work while she was away. And now, he had made an appointment for her.

A she walked the Dresden’s corridors, the longest way around, Molly recalled the exchange between them when Cal had told her. What she didn’t tell him was that she understood. As her boyfriend, he was worried about her. As her CO, it was his job to make sure she kept the records she needed in order to be cleared for duty. And from now on, she knew he was going to make sure she did.

Katie Nunn was her name. Molly had made sure to look up her file before she left.

Holloway didn’t like counselors. She never had. And by now she was sure Nunn already knew all about the string of psychologists, psychiatrists, and behavioral experts that had been in her life — from the one that quit after a session with her, to the one she almost married. Of course, Molly doubted the last piece of information was in her file.

Most of the problem was that Molly had always kept her cards close to her chest, and when in a counselor’s office, she kept them extra close. So close that sometimes, she could not see them herself. If Nunn had watched any of the recordings or notes from her counseling records, then she probably already knew that Molly’s most uttered sentence was ‘I don’t want to talk about it’. Her only hope was that her very recent change of surname might had made it more difficult for the counselor to access her records. But she doubted that as well.

Nunn would also know that Starfleet required her to see a counselor once per month, or more if deemed necessary. She would also know that Molly hadn’t been keeping up with said requirements. The last record from a psych eval dated December 2392, two months prior her being relieved from command of the USS Turing, and also two and a half years ago.

Nunn would also know by now that she had risen through Starfleet’s ranks fast, and fallen even faster. It wouldn’t be a stretch to assume she had never recovered.

As she made the last turn before reaching the CNS’s office, Molly couldn’t help but seeing the irony in the woman’s name. Nunn. The old spelling of someone dedicated to the same symbol she carried around her neck under her collar. The symbol of a belief her mother had held so dear but in which Molly did not believe at all.

Finally reaching the office’s door, Molly straightened her uniform’s tunic. The space blacks of Intelligence making it clear who she was. With a last deep breath, Holloway’s finger pressed the chime.

Capt. Holloway, CIO

“Come in!” a soft but commanding voice came in from the interior of the office and the door slid open. The office was strangely comfortable for being on a Starfleet ship; clearly, Katie had spent some time redecorating upon her arrival. The pale blue walls accentuated a pair of soft cream and brown couches that were so overstuffed that they looked perfect for a nap. Several throw pillows tied the blue in with the softer, more neutral colors and a warm, fuzzy throw was tossed over the back of one couch. A matching arm chair stood between the couches and Katie had eschewed a coffee table or similar in favor of an extremely fluffy rug. A small basket stood nearby with a variety of children’s toys rested near the rug. There was no desk and no other work surfaces that would take away from the homey appearance of the room.

As the doors slid open in front of her, Molly was taken aback. This was probably the friendliest and homiest counselor’s office she had ever been to. And yet, the lack of the usual office furniture unsettled her. Molly had never gotten along with counselors mostly because she didn’t like to talk about herself or her private life, especially to someone she knew was going to analyze it. However, over the years she had learnt what to expect and how to get around certain aspects of the meetings. That fact alone made Molly feel like she had the upper hand. It gave her the control she needed to have. So the fact that Nunn’s office was completely different than what Molly had expected seemed to take away the lifeline Holloway so desperately clung to.

As the door slid open, Katie had gotten to her feet from her perch on one of the couches. A second blanket stood in a pile on the floor beside it, indicating that she had been curled up there, tucked under it, before the CIO arrived. She automatically bent to retrieve it and toss it along the back of the couch.

“Why, hello,” she greeted Holloway with a smile. “As you likely know since you’ve made your way to my office, I’m Commander Nunn, the new counselor aboard the Dresden.” She held out her hand in the typical human greeting, waiting for the officer to introduce herself in return. While she was aware of each of the crew members on board the ship, especially the senior staff, she never missed an opportunity to exchange a proper hello. It seemed to set things off on the right foot.

Lt Cmdr Nunn, CNS

Molly gave Nunn a polite smile and shook the Counselor’s hand. Her grip was not too loose or too tight. It was remarkably standard, in the same way something practiced many times would be.

“Molly Wright.” Holloway said out of habitude before shaking her head. “Pardon me. Molly Holloway.” There was no explanation as to why she seemed to have gotten her own name wrong. “I’m the Dresden’s Chief Intelligence Officer.” She paused for a split second before continuing. “But if I had to guess, I’d say you probably already know that too.” The tone was calculated, typical of the Intelligence personnel. “I don’t mean to take a lot of your time, Commander, but I think we have an appointment right now?” It would be clear that Holloway was a woman of few words.

Capt. Holloway, CIO