She knew the drill. Fifteen years as a Starfleet officer had done nothing to temper her unease around counselors. Her tour as the captain of the USS Viking had done everything to prove to her how much she relied on their wisdom and their sense of calm. Her last counselor on the Viking, prior to her own disappearance, had been not only her closest confidant but also her most cherished friend. Gods, she missed Tal’ahali Beveres so much.

But this was a new beginning, or so the ARU had attempted to convince her when ordering her into this assignment. A chance to “get back onto the horse”, Admiral Roebuck had insisted, not that Nakuto had any hint of prior equestrian experience, nor a desire to acquire any in the near future. But still, perhaps there was some truth in their threats masquerading as friendly advice. If nothing else, the transfer to the USS Leviathan had allowed the half-Klingon to escape the clutches of the Viking once and for all.

Or so she prayed it would be true.

It was late in the day when she arrived at the office of Lt Casela Synthi-er, but the computer had assured her that the Betazoid counselor had not yet signed off on her shift. So Nakuto pressed the chime and waited…hoping to once again find a friend amongst the ever-present chaos that had become the very hallmark of her existence.

• Kara Nakuto (Consultant Researcher)