Posted by Lieutenant Commander Royal Sinclair (Counselor) in CNS office - Kane meets the counselor

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Royal Sinclair (Counselor) in CNS office - Kane meets the counselor

Posted by Ensign Kalani Kāne (Scientist) in CNS office - Kane meets the counselor
Posted by… suppressed (6) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Kalani stood in front of the door to the counselor’s office. With her father being a diplomat, Kalani had a lot of experience with these types of people and their personalities. So many people thought they were desperate to find some deep seeded mental illness. Others thought they were nosy busybodies. Kalani thought they were just people. After her meeting with him, she would decide if she liked Royal or not. Activating the door controls she waited to be let in.

Ensign Kalani Kane

The door slid open to reveal a slightly less harshly lit room with a desk in one corner, a chair facing away from it directly in front. That chair faced a seating area with two other chairs and a couch surrounding a small, low table on which sat a glass bowl filled with various colored semi-transparent beads. Each gave of a soft glow that lit the bowl slightly, but nothing else. On one wall was a low shelf containing books, PaDDs, and a few items interspersed between. Behind the desk was a tall set of glass shelves on which set various objects, most notable of them was a small glass display containing a medal: The Star Fleet Marine Corps Distinguished Service Cross.

Kalani took in the room and instantly knew, even if she hadn’t beforehand, that the counselor was not a woman. There was not a large selection of seating options to optimize comfort or be the first tick in your chart based on the seating of choice you took. Her father once explained the personality types that chose different seating and what it spoke to about your demeanor. Kalani was just happy that the room had a typical living room feel. Walking over the man across the room, Kalani extended her hand as she walked.

Seated at the desk was a very muscular blonde haired human man with blonde hair cut in a regulation high and tight style. As the doors opened, he stood up and his height was far above average. Almost seven feet tall and with the frame of a Marine or Security officer more than a ship’s Counselor, Royal smiled a warm and welcoming smile and said “Hello. I am Lieutenant Commander Sinclair. What can I do for you, Ensign?” His voice was pleasant, with a pronounced Scottish brogue.

Sinclair, CNS

“I’m Ensign Kane,” she said smiling as they shook hands. “I just joined the crew a few days ago and wanted to stop in and say hi as required per regulations. Gotta make sure you are sane before the Federation locks you up in a tin can for nine months with people you will either love to death or want to strangle,” she joked. “Do you have a moment or should I come back. I don’t have an appointment but some free time and they hope we could marry up for an hour.”

Ensign Kalani Kane

“By all means, please have a seat.” the big man said with a smile. “Would you care for something to drink?” he asked politely as he stood up, picked up a PaDD and began making his way to the chair in front of the desk.

Sinclair, CNS

“Coffee please,” she said taking a seat and setting her backpack next to her almost gingerly. “I think I run on the stuff as I bet you do. I can give you the high points for starters if you like. I find it saves time,” she offered good naturedly as Sinclair appeared to be moving to get thier drinks.

Ensign Kalani Kane

“Sounds good to me.” he said as he retrieved drinks and took a seat in front of her. He sat the coffee down and said “So hit me with the high points. We can get to the low ones later.” he added with a smile.

Sinclair, CNS

“I don’t believe in low points. Everything has an upside. You just have to know where to look for it,” Kalani said with a grin. “My name is Kalani Kane which you already know. I am an only child but a Starfleet brat. My father is a diplomatic ambassador so I spent my childhood bouncing all over. I majored in biology at the Academy with a specialization in climatology and evolutionary biology,” she introduced herself handing over her PaDD. “My most recent assignment was on the USS. Ark Angel. I loved the ship but it was like a city within a few other cities,” she laughed. “An incident eighteen months ago busted me down from Lt. (j.g.) to Ensign. Basically a long story short, our away team was attacked by poachers and everyone killed but me. Turned out I knew the guy that led the assault so a disciplinary council decided it was partial negligence on my part and I was demoted.” It was clear Kalani was uncomfortable talking but she tried to hide it the best she could with an even tone and maintaining eye contact when speaking. “Hard to get an upsdie from that buuuut,” she drew out the word, “everything is a learning experience right?”

Ensign Kalani Kane science

Sinclair made a few notes as Kalani spoke, but didn’t say anything until she finished. “Indeed they are. So tell me about the process you went through in your demotion. Was it handled on the ship or in a more formal situation?”

Sinclair, CNS

“Oh it was formal,” Kalani rolled her eyes with a sigh that might be disgust. “Every person there had enough fruit salads on their uniform to feed a buffet line with leftovers. That is how it goes though ya’ know. Accidents happen and sometimes accidents require someone to pay. I don’t hate them for it or hold any ill will. I was lucky. I got out with only a demotion and people that support me. Drudoc fought tooth and nail over it but in the end crap rolls down hill and by the time it got to me it was a huge ball.”

Ensign Kalani Kane Science

“You are not the first person dirtied by said ball.” Sinclair said with a slight smile. “Would you mind telling me about the mission that caused all of that?” he asked. His words were direct, but his tone was questioning, not ordering.

Sinclair, CNS

“I doubted that I would be able to leave here without sharing it,” Kalani said with a tight smile. It was not that the situation haunted her but it still was on her mind. Somethings you just don’t ever forget. “I was just off my cadet cruise. We went to the jungle planet of Ravi VI studying the critically endangered Ravis IV Pangolin. I was asleep that night and woke to the sound of a phaser shot,” Kalani shifted in her seat trying to work out some of the anxious twinges in her body. “I flew up from my sleeping bag thinking an animal was attacking the camp. Fire and sonic emitters usually keep everything at bay but at times curiosity does take over for creatures. I think that is where I realized people can be the real monsters that come out of the shadows at night.”

Kalani pushed her hair behind her ears trying to avoid feeling guilty like she did every time she told the story. “A few nights before however, I met a man named Justin Wright. I thought he was a scholar. He turned out to be a smuggler/poacher dealing with rare and exotic goods. With only 40 Pangolins on the planet that defined rare and exotic. Local mythos claimed grinding up the creature’s scales gave you eternal life. Justin used me to find the last remaining population on them on Ravis IV and then slaughter everyone in the camp. He shot me once in the arm and I went down hard into the nylon of the tent. So there I was lying on the floor rolled up in the nylon tent when I heard this sound.” Her face took on a confused expression as if she were having a hard time remembering the event. “The jungle was eerily silent except for the…screaming. It was so hard to understand what they were saying,” she let the words trail for a second not able to still find a word to describe it.

“The other docs say it was never animals I heard screaming but chose to selectively remember it that way. In the end it didn’t matter. Jonas killed everyone in the camp to cover his tracks except for me. He would have killed me but the tent fabric skewed his aim. He hit my stomach and not heart so I was alive to tell the tale.” Kalani let out a deep breath.

“And the rest as they say is history. Starfleet busted me down a step in rank saying while I was not outwardly guilty of the event my actions on shore leave constituted an avenue for the act to be perpetrated. After I felt I needed a change of scenery and transferred to the Saracen.” This was the basics of the story. She hoped it would be enough for Sinclair.

Ensign Kalani Kane Science

Sinclair listened as she spoke, listening to not only her words but also to how she said them. He saw the guilt she felt in her movements, in the pace of her words, and in her facial expressions. Once she had finished, he made a few notes and then said “How long after your demotion did you transfer here?” he asked. His tone was warm, not judging.

Sinclair, CNS

“Five months, three weeks, two days and,” she looked at her watch, ” sixteen hours.” Kalani let her eyes meet Sinclair and hoped he at least got half a smile. She knew it was not a topic to be flippant with but it was also one Kalani was uncomfortable speaking about. Defaulting to humor was her main way to cope probably because of her father being a diplomat and one on the sarcastic side at that. “The sixteen hour part is a guess but the rest was pretty accurate. After the demotion I was stuck in mandatory counsleing for about month,” she let out a frustrated sigh. “Do you know how painful counselling sessions can be with the ‘how do ay feel ta’day’ or ‘Are you feeling dat your ego or superego is contemplating da event more’,” Kalani said obviously pretending to be the stereotypical German psychologist loving the Freudian way of thinking. It was a second later her face fell and she looked sheepish.

“I mean of course your sessions would not be mind numbingly dull right,” she forced a grin. “Can I get some more coffee,” she held out her cup.

Ensign Kalani Kane Science

Sinclair made few more notes and said “Of course. Need a new one myself.” and he sat the PaDD on the table and went to the replicator to retrieve the drinks. He said over his shoulder “I miss the replicator on my last ship. It had an amazing Zernian blend that was about two pots of caffeine in a single cup. Made night watch almost tolerable.” and chuckled.

After a few moments he came back and sat them down and said “I hope my sessions aren’t dull. If they are, I’m not doing my job right.” and he smiled. “But I will ask… hoe do you feel now? After the ramifications have been settled, the whispers have died down… how do you feel looking back on it?”

Sinclair, CNS

Kalani laughed so hard her cup shook. Several drops of coffee sloshed over the side. “Ya I feel gud,” she shot back with a wink shaking her hand and then wiping it on the back of her pants.

After the moment of brief levity, Kalani knew she had to give a serious reply. “Looking back I have to feel good about myself. There is no other way to feel about it. I survived. Why should I feel overwhelming sadness about something I could not control. My dad always told me that you can be happy or sad. Both take the same amount of energy. I am not saying I don’t think about it. I think about it a lot in certain situations. I can’t ever really forget about it,” Kalani had a sombre tone to her voice. “I move on though because I decided to focus my energy on the future instead of the past. I can’t change what happened but I can live my life and not be bogged down by it. Right,” she looked at Sinclair for the first time as if seeking his approval.

Ensign Kalani Kane Ensign

Sinclair made a few notes and then said “That is a very healthy attitude, Ensign. Your Dad seems very wise. I’m glad that you listened to him.” and then he leaned back a bit. “I wouldn’t expect that you will ever forget what transpired. And I would never tell you that you should try to forget it. That incident is what we refer to as a ‘defining moment’. Not that it defines you, but it defines a specific moment where your perception of yourself is either reinforced or changed. How that works? Well, that’s mostly up to you.”

Sinclair, CNS

“You know what…I like you,” Kalani grinned at Sinclair’s unexpected comment. “It will be nice to be able to come here and vent when things go sideways from time to time. So do we have to spend the entire time talking about me,” Kalani leaned back in her chair. “Tell me something about you. Favorite hobby, are you married, what makes you crazy and want to find some other counselor’s couch to kick back on and spill the beans,” she asked good-naturedly.

Ensgin Kalani Kane sciene