Posted by Captain Calvin Marius (Captain) in How to Make a Counselor Mad as Hell

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Vanessa Slade (CNS) in How to Make a Counselor Mad as Hell

Posted by Captain Calvin Marius (Captain) in How to Make a Counselor Mad as Hell
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Vanessa looking irritated was not a common site but also not an uncommon one, especially when on her personal communicator. Usually, the person on the other end of the line causing her to wrinkle up her nose paired with a huff or eye roll was named Slade. The occasional nod of her head and smile to those watching her as they passed her in the halls was the only thing that melted her expression into the more familiar optimistic expression she tended to show. Vanessa was on her way to the mess hall for her lunch date but stopped just before entering to speak to the other person on the line. Turning to face the wall of the corridor, however, the tone of her voice was anything but perky. “Listen to me you,” she erupted into a flurry of expletives that seemed to center largely on their intelligence or apparent lack of it. It was clear whoever was on the other end was not someone Vanessa was pleased to be talking to. “I will make it my personal mission to hunt you down and destroy you. Not just destroy but completely annihilate every scrape of self-worth you possess.” The fire and anger in her voice were mirrored by the redness in her cheeks and death glare shooting out of her eyes.

“Oh oh oh you don’t think I can handle you. I swear to God,” she belted out raising her voice from an icy whisper to a much more audible threat. “There is no place you can hide from me.”

Vanessa Slade CNS

“Is there a problem Lieutenant,” Calvin stated in a controlled tone reaching the door to the mess hall and seeing what possibly was the exact image of what his adoptive mother termed a conniption fit.

Instead of replying, she held up a finger as if Calvin was a small child interrupting a comm call. “I am warning you. Stop calling or I will show up on your doorstep. Remember you can’t hide,” she growled before snapping off the call and directing her attention at Calvin forcing a smile. “Nope. No problem at all,” she said trying to make it seem as if everything was normal.

Calvin was briefly taken aback. No one gave the Captain the finger, but it only took a moment to figure out that she was on some sort of call, either on the ship or more likely to her family at home.

“There are few places to hide on a star-ship…” Well actually there were many, but few that the ship internal sensors couldn’t penetrate.

Calvin Marius

“Yes and even fewer places on a starship to eat so,” she gestured at the door, “shall we.” Vanessa did not wait for Calvin to reply. Trying to explain to him what was going on would be a disaster. She just needed to get through the lunch and then she could deal with it. Stepping through the pneumatic doors, she immediately moved to the replicator, replicated a bacon cheeseburger, and took a seat waiting for Calvin to sit down.

“I guess,” there was no evidence to suggest that he was hungry and he was a little surprised the counselor would imply she could schedule parts of his day. He tilted his head. He would see what was going on then decided what he was going to do about her business.

“Are you coming,” she asked seeing Calvin standing there looking slightly baffled.

“Life might get easier when we get further from Earth. If they can’t talk in real time and have to send video packages to communicate the arguments decrease significantly.

“Oh that is not going to make life easier,” she rolled her eyes clearly still frustrated. “I mean how am I going to sell communication failures between Earth and Vulcan with any plausibility and telling my family I am on a starship is not something I am prepared to do. I live in a comfy but sparce apartment on Vulcan remember?” Vanessa led the way to the table and sat down.

As soon as Calvin’s butt hit the seat across from her, Vanessa started and so did her personal communicator. “So Ensign,” she began only to have her phone start to chirp as an endless stream of messages beeped like a metronome to her words. “Ensign Palole,” she talked over the chirp, “is fine and I think ready for duty.” The chirp was so annoying, Vanessa casually moved the comm from the table to her uniform pocket. This only dulled the sound and did not stop it.

“Oh, its actual ship work. I thought it was your family.” Calvin glanced at her over the screen.

“Why would you think it was about my family,” she looked at him with an expression only the naive and distracted could muster. While Vanessa’s hair was as dark as coal, there were times people might wonder if it was just a wig disguising a blonde underneath. “Of course it is ship work. I was gone for a week at that training,” she reminded him. “I know you all were doing refueling and recalibration but I was stuck in a human relations conference for seven days and nights. Mind numbingly boring,” she let out a half laugh knowing she had had to convince Calvin to send her to the conference and then complained about it once she got there.

“Nothing gets a person more upset than the people you love.” Calvin pursed his lips, what was behind those words were unknown aside from they sounded very true.

The rules about naming names was different on a ship. He was a captain and had to know if he could rely on his crew, but he didn’t need to know the ins and outs of each session. Although there was no proof that a session was going on so it was all a presumption.

“Lt. Sertoa,” she raised her voice as if trying to talk over the myriad of incoming messages before she scowled at Calvin clearly irritated. “One second,” she raised her finger and pulled out her personal communicator. “I am just gonna turn that thing offffffff,” her words trailed as her mouth dropped open as she scanned the messages on her personal communicator. Her face showed pure shock and irritation. “Ughhh look at this. Look at this,” she suddenly lost control and spun the communicator towards him however instead of holding it still she waved it about clearly furious at what she saw.

“I can’t read it with you shaking in fury.” He muttered as he grabbed at her wrist. “Would you stop it.”

As mad as Vanessa was about the contents of the comm call, she did find a modicum of humor seeing Calvin minorly flustered. It was of course with her but the man on duty was a man of few words and normally they were more clipped commands than casual banter like he was now.

When Calvin stabilized the comm in her hand, he would see a series of images depicting a loser, chicken, idiot, and moron. The images however were almost adolescent in nature with a few of them waggling a bum, fireworks around the words, and young sexy adults putting an L to their forehead. If they were in middle school, it would be crystal clear someone was bullying Vanessa but they were not in middle school but Starfleet officers.

Vanessa Slade

“I’m afraid I don’t understand emote cons. Or whatever that gibberish is.” Calvin said honestly.

Marius

“Okay so this,” Vanessa pointed to one, “is the equivalent of being called a loser. This,” she scrolled to the next image of someone raising a single digit, “is self-explanatory and the last one is a snarky comment about my ability to command my elite team of tactical warriors.”

“Well psychologists aren’t renown for their Klingon like combat skills and their Romulan tactics.”

“I took tactics 101,” she let out a laugh before waving off the comment knowing how absurd it sounded sitting across from a battle-hardened combat marine.

“Anyway, I am the Captain of a competitive paintball team. We meet via the IFEA F-Box to link into the same game and play together. Our team is Balls of Duty and we are playing our rival Blood Splatter this weekend. The text is the other team heckling us. We are down a player and without Bruiser there is a chance we are going to get crushed. Ever played,” she asked Calvin as she began to type out a message replying to the slew of images that had caused her personal communicator to act like a red alert klaxon instead of just a communicator.

Vanessa Slade CNS

“Oh of course as a Captain. They just give those out at the Paintball Academy.”

“I don’t know what you all did in the academy,” she let out a genuine laugh, ” but I can tell you what us psyche types used to do in the academy.” Leaning in she pretended to look around conspiratorily as if they were in a clandestine intelligence briefing. “When you all played your war games out in the field as a cadet, we would watch it via comm feed like it was a movie. At times there was even popcorn.” Sitting back it was not clear if the popcorn comment was sarcasm or the truth. “Cadet Billy “the Bruiser” Elkins, Cadet Pete “the Pulviriser” Smith,” she let her voice trail off. “We would watch the feed as an exercise in what our fellow officers had to endure on the battlefield. Obviously, it was as relevant to a real situation as a holomovie but,” Vanessa paused slightly, “it did give some insight as to the conditions security officers face. As you so eloquently stated,” she gave him a wink to ensure Calvin knew she found his comment as humorous, “we counselors are not known for our Klingon like combat skills and their Romulan tactics.” Taking a bite of her food she mulled over the conversation thinking about what she saw and now what she knew. “So you did not use paintballs in those academy-approved training exercises?” Until this moment Vanessa never thought about it but it did make sense it wasn’t paintballs. The cadets came limping off the fields but never looking like a Jackson Pollock painting.

“Yes I did some paintballing, but the majority of my simulated combat was with the phaser tag systems. A much more real combat simulator. Paintballs have a much shorter range, the balls even though round aren’t aerodynamic and given their velocity they tend to knuckle, so you have to fire bunches to reliably hit your target.”

“Knuckle,” she said nodding. “Is that what you call the five bruises in the same spot when they have pinned you against the wall and unload the weapon on you as you dance around like you are standing on a hot stove?” There was no humor in this comment but more Vanessa taking in the information and storing it for later use. It also gave Calvin vast insight as to how well she played the game.

“Last time I played you weren’t allowed to fire at a target at under 10 feet because of that and you weren’t supposed to repeat hit a target that was already painted.” Although the rapid firing that was frequently done would lead to 3 or 4 hits before you even knew that you had ‘killed’ your target.

He leaned back and crossed his arms. “Are you allowed to bring in outside players?”

Vanessa dropped the fry she was eating and sat up straighter with an excited look in her eyes. “Are you offering?”

” I would think the league wouldn’t let you, just to keep you from bringing in ringers.” That is what Calvin would be, he worked in the SOG from a decade. He fought in Dominion war and was decorated several times in short range combat. Unless he forget everything, he was going to be better than most of the paint ball gamers.

“I am the commissioner of the league and the other team has done it so what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. It is a small elite league,” she immediately added as she began to type out a message occasionally looking up at Calvin as she chewed her bottom lip wearing a smug smile. Most people had a few splinter skills that they didn’t tend to brag about or mention in work related situations.

“I think you should have gone with Balls of Fire.” He said non-commitally. He actually didn’t really like playing at combat, unless they were training. Killing wasn’t a game.

Marius

“Sir if you are honestly planning to help a crew member out with this I will change the name to anything you want to be plastered across your chest. What size are you extra or X-extra large?”

“Just one extra, we aren’t talking about my codpiece.” He nodded affirmatively.

His comment made Vanessa choke on the swallow of her drink as she tried to both swallow and laugh. People were so dynamic and fascinating. Some threw out boisterous comments and found humor in themselves. Other people’s humor was more subtle with a higher degree of nuances and innuendos. Calvin was one of the latter. He might come off taciturn but it was just because few took the time to really get to know him. “Of course, that would require a special order for appropriate sizing.” Picking up a french fry she popped it in her mouth with a wry smile indicating she found his comment amusing. “So you are in Sir,” she looked to him for confirmation as she drowned another fry in cheese sauce so it had more cheese on it than potato.

“What’s the point of fighting a war and spending a decade in the Marines if you can’t fictionally kill some squids who have gotten too cocky.”

She spun the comm back around and showed Calvin the design of the shirt. The shirt’s base color was a bright neon yellow with paint splatters in additional neon colors. They were very reminiscent of something you would see a roadside crew wearing or someone hunting in the forest for deer. “We went with the splatter design to help hide how badly we are defeated but I am liking the idea of the phaser tag better. I am pretty sure it will hurt less the next day no matter what. Anyway, I just contacted the other team to see if they want,” her words were cut off by another series of beeps and vibrations making Vanessa roll her eyes.

“Well that’s low visibility, they’ll never see us coming.” He didn’t want to wear something so bright. Cover and concealment was going to be a valuable advantage.

“Sir you are six two and two hundred and twenty pounds. Like anyone could miss you regardless of what you are wearing.” Her phone beeped and she picked it up with a smile and a seat dance. She did not look like a grown woman but more like a toddler with the way she wiggled her butt in the seat and moved her shoulders in rhythm. The phrase ants in your pants was literally built for this motion.

“They accepted all terms. You are in as well as the venue changing from paint to phaser.” A small line of worry creased her brow as she leaned back looking at Calvin with a serious expression. “The guns are physically lighter right? Those paintball things weigh a ton and we need the tactical advantage in the field.”

Vanessa Slade CNS

“Yeah in a way. The paint guns are pretty light it’s not the weight its the balance, they’re bulky. The paintballs, the air pressure canisters take up a lot of space.”

“A good paintball gun can be pretty accurate. I saw a paintball sniper in ghillie suit rain death in a battlefield. Not that that’s going to happen if both sides have uniforms that look like a bowl of fruity pebbles.”

Marius

“Let me guess you would have us in black and camo,” she let out a laugh. “We did try that once, but the other team used neon paint and as I just said,” she let out a small defeated sigh, “it showed us how badly we were defeated. By all means, if you want to pick out the shirts to give us a tactical advantage go for it,” she handed over the PaDD. “Not sure it is going to help but you know me. I am a fricking ray of sunshine.”

“Well, camouflage is better tactically. And you don’t have to worry about being shown up by neon paint if it isn’t your intention to get hit.”

Looking at her comm, she tapped a few buttons and altered the color of the shirt to camo. “Better,” she smiled, “although I feel like we are doing cadet training if that is what it takes to win guess who is willing to look like she is a security officer instead of a counselor. This girl,” she hooked her thumbs back at her chest.

Her phone buzzed one more time this time causing Vanessa to jump up from her seat with a scowl as she read the message. “Tomorrow sixteen hundred hours,” she looked up only after issuing her command and reading the message. “Don’t be late.”

“What that’s it, no team briefing, no knowledge of the numbers, terrain, what is the scoring system?” Calvin could see that this wasn’t going to be the most tactically intense scenario. Or this might be why the team didn’t win that often.

“We can do that the day of and it’s like 10 or 12 to a team. The scoring for us is don’t get hit. We haven’t scored a real point in two seasons but that does not mean we won’t now right?”

Turning she shoved the personal comm device into the back pocket of her uniform skirt letting out a groan as she felt no longer pinging but trilling. “What,” she snapped before turning her tone a bit calmer. “I told you only to call in an emergency and I can guarantee Todd that whatever you have to say is not an emergency,” were the last words uttered in the mess hall as Vanessa walked through the pneumatic doors clearly as frustrated as when she entered it.

Slade CNS

Calvin thew up his hands. He wasn’t about to lose so he would have to get focused all on his own. He turned his wrist over and activated his monitor system. He started the muscle monitor - he would have to go holodeck and have a little practice time. Which mean about 4 hours of different combat scenarios. No pain, no gain.

Calvin

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Holodeck entrance the next day
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Vanessa stood outside the holodeck and for the first time in weeks was actually there before the set time. She wore the camo shirts Calvin had suggested and dark pants. She had pulled her hair up in a high ponytail making her vaguely look like she was an extra in a comedy holo-movie about a security officer than an actual security officer. It did not help the visual any more when Vanessa pressed her body against the tan wall of the corridor and hollered out, “can you see me” as she stood still watching Calvin approach, “because no one is going to miss you even in camouflage.”

“You’d be very surprised on how well camouflage works. Also standing still and not visibly breathing.” He moved two fingers in front of his face. “The eyes are drawn to motion like the ears are drawn to sound. Once you have someone’s attention they lock into you. Thats why the where’s waldo books are so hard. Waldo, being a picture, never moves or makes a sound making the red striped person impossible to find. Imagine if Waldo was dressed like everyone else… you’d never find him.”

Pushing off the wall Vanessa stared at him in rapt attention. Half of it was her secretly gawking at how good he looked but the other half was processing his words. “I am glad you are on my team,” she nodded listening to him. Calvin was not doing this half-arsed which is exactly what Vanessa and her team needed.

Calvin was an impressive form walking down the hallway. Calvin spent a lot of time in the gym and the typical duty uniform did a great job of masking what the phaser tag shirt displayed prominently. The cut of the shirt was meant to be fitted and showed just how well-defined his arms, chest, and shoulders were. It was not just his build however but his pace and stride. It exuded confidence and authority. Calvin might not be in command but he was still a commanding presence. “Nice guns,” she said with a smirk staring at his biceps before following up with, “so that is what we are using instead of the paintball ones,” she nodded to the equipment he was carrying.

Vanessa Slade CNS

He pointed at his skull. “This is the most important weapon.” He said as if he were lecturing at a school.

Now a days the phaser tag sensors were unblockable. So the little tricks like covering them with your hands wouldn’t work. But something like an old school shield would work on the light sensors. It wouldn’t help with a real phaser blast… but that’s the difference in games. “So can I bring a barrier with me during the encounters?” He questioned.

Marius

“Wait there are shields for this game?” Chewing her lip, Vanessa began to realize almost immediately how little she knew about the rules of the game and how Marius was going to be the quintessential ringer for the team.

“Absolutely we can use them,” she stated as her hand hit the door control opening up the holodeck.

The room was still the black walls with the sensors indicating the program wasn’t running yet. Walking over to the console she began to explain. “Okay, so we are in a public game of sorts. Since we aren’t all dirtside, we are hooking up to a relay system that will transmit what we do to a mainframe and then send it out to everyone. You know like when you game on an IFEA F-Box. Same principal basically.” After inputting the correct program, Vanessa stopped and looked at Calvin with a concerned expression on her face.

“Calvin,” she stopped talking and licked her lips pausing to gather her thoughts. It was clear she was nervous about something.

“These people we are about to play with are arseholes. If it gets to be too much or you want to quit in the middle I get it and I swear I will not hold it against you…for too long,” she let out a chuckle before turning serious again. “Just don’t leave me out there hanging without a heads up…okay. We are counting on you but,” she gave him a way out, “don’t let them see you rage quit. You might not have to come back but I will. Oh and just ignore Todd. In fact, if you could kick Todd’s arse or toss him off a holographic cliff during the game I will make it worth your while.”

Touching a button on the wall, the room changed from non-descript walls to that of a forest with thick pines, moss-covered stones, and a leaf-littered floor. Over at a table were three of four middle school-aged kid dressed all in black. Looking over at Vanessa and Calvin, one of the kids pulled out a PaDD and began to play a song. It was an irritating diddy by The Klingon band the Descendants that was popular among teenage slackers. If the tune wasn’t annoying enough the lyrics being sung by presumably the opposing team made it so.

You know it’s kinda hard just to get along today
Our subject isn’t cool but she fakes it anyway
She may not have a clue and she may not have style
But everything she lacks well she makes up in denial

Reaching over and grabbing Calvin’s wrist she whispered, “Don’t let them see you are scared of them.”

Vanessa Slade CNS