Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Vanessa Slade (CNS) in CNS Office- Ensign’s Psych Eval

Posted by Ensign Kylie Brecker (Engineer) in CNS Office- Ensign’s Psych Eval

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Vanessa Slade (CNS) in CNS Office- Ensign’s Psych Eval
Posted by… suppressed (15) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Kylie stepped off of the turbolift onto deck 8. The ensign walked around the corridor of the deck until she was able to find herself standing infront of the door to the Councilor’s office. Wasting little time the woman reached up and pressed the call button next to the door.
Ensign Kylie Brecker, Engineer

From inside the room there was the sound of loud clacks and clicks. From where Kylie was standing she might hear the sounds or possibly the muffled voices of two people that seemed to be yelling. The buzzing of the call button immediately silenced the yelling. A few seconds later the door opened.

“Slade you are mine the next time I am in here so prepare yourself,” a large man dressed in a security uniform replied exiting the room. He took several steps into the hall before stopping and looking back at the counselor’s office and Kylie at the door.

“Ensign,” he nodded and jerked his head toward Vanessa inside the room. “See you next week Lt,” he addressed Vanessa before leaving the space.

“Ensign Brecker,” Vanessa extended her hand, “come in come in,” she pushed some loose hair off her face. The counselor’s cheeks were blushed and she seemed to b breathing a bit faster. Gesturing to the room, Vanessa took a step out of the doorway so Kylie could enter.

Slade CNS

Kylie blinked giving a nod to him and adressing him by his rank as he had done her. She raised an eyebrow and stands in the doorwat for a few moments more. “If this is a bad time I can come back in a few hours…” she shook her head as the Lt. offered her hand, Kylie reached and grasped Slades hand firmly. When she stepped inside she just looked like she was at a loss for words at least a little bit. “Did I intrupt something?” She asked two ideas of what could have been happening formed in her head.
Ensign Kylie Brecker, Engineer

“No not at all,” Vanessa sucked one of her knuckles and then shook out her hand. “It just got a bit physical in here but it tends to happen with the security types.” Gesturing with her head over to the Foose ball table in the corner, she let out a laugh. You would think that game is safe but your knuckles can sure take a beating if you are not careful. Can I get you something to drink,” she motioned for Kylie to take a seat in the room. There were a lot of options and depending on what Brecker choose would key Slade into her personality. There were the two chairs facing her desk, two recliner-like chairs, and a couch.

Standing at the replicator, Vanessa ordered herself a coffee and waited to see what Brecker wanted if anything.

Vanessa Slade CNS

The ensign looked a little relieved, she stepped further into the room and took in her surroundings. She looked thoughtful for just a moment before she spoke. “Coffee, black would be nice, thank you.” The ensign gravitated towards the desk, and sat in one of the chairs facing it. She felt that it was only right. She saght straight and placed her hands into her lap. She kept her head turned at an angle that allowed her to keep the councilor in bsight, not wishing to be rude. “I’ve seen the game played… but I admit I dont understand its purpose.... or function.” She said somewhat honestly as she indicated the same table as she had earlier.
Ensign Kylie Brecker, Engineer

Vanessa moved to her desk and sat down handing the Ensign her coffee. “Well, the purpose is to have fun and to win. The function is to give some people something to do as they talk. It’s the equivalent of a kid’s spinner or fidget. A colleague of mine named Heathcliff Rinker was the one that inspired me to use it. He was treating a kiddo once who had zero interest in therapy. So instead of just sitting and staring at her for an hour he did a modified take on play therapy and kept throwing a ball at her. The physical nature of tossing the ball took the tension off and subliminally encouraged a back-and-forth exchange. The foosball table serves the same purpose. Sometimes people come in and are not ready to talk but really don’t want to leave.” Vanessa took a sip of her coffee and leaned back in her chair. This was a simple check-in and meant to get to know each other so Vanessa started off as casually as possible.

Kylie nodded and listened. Though she didn’t seem interested her face remained as if she was in thought. “I could see the benefits… the more one puts their body into the physicality, the less they think about what comes out of their mouth, at least unless they remain hyper conscious of it all. I can understand. The deeper I get into my work the more approachable I can become.” She said and chuckled softly. “I’m not a people person per se. But I had a decent relationship with both councilors on my academy ship.” She took a sip of her coffee and smiled down into the cup, clearly thinking of a memory or two.

“So how was your trip over? No headaches I hope?”

Vanessa Slade CNS

Kylie looked up from the cup and gave a small chuckle. “As it was my first transfer, it went as smoothly as I can imagine one can go. It just took some time to clear duty on the USS Challenger.” She explained softly. “There were some difficulties with repairs at Jupiter station. Or rather not with repairs, but with the station..” She shivered slightly. Her face going grim. “But the rest of it was a pretty good trip.” She tried to shake the grim expression on her face off but couldn’t exactly get it to go completely away.

Vanessa could not miss the expression.

Taking a breath and to avoid the subject she looked thoughtful for a moment. “But that is neither here nor there.. I’m an engineer… I would like to think I’m good at what I do but I don’t have the hubris to say that really… I grew up on a ship, so I’ve been around it all and been working on stuff since I was knee high to a Bynar.”
Ensign Kylie Brecker, Enigneer

“You know the one challenging thing about being a counselor,” Vanessa took a sip of her coffee, “is when to push and when to back off.” The comment was loaded but also subtle. Kylie had put out that something bothered her but deftly changed the topic. Vanessa wasn’t sure if it was an invitation to get hip deep into a conversation or put a pin in it for later.

“I am going to suggest two topics. This is an intake eval so wanna share about the crazy fun stuff that makes us us or talk about that grimace?” Vanessa took a long sip of her coffee. There was nothing prying about the statement. Vanessa’s emotions were neutral enough. The worst thing one could do was hostage therapy which to Vanessa meant you were strapped to the proverbial couch and forced to talk. Whatever topic Kylie chose, Vanessa would be happy to explore.

Vanessa Slade CNS

Kylie sighed softly. “It’s not that traumatic in the fact that no one died… it was the potential that everyone could have died and it would have been my fault at the time… I got many congratulations on saving everyone in the room… but the fear of if something had gone wrong, again… then I would have killed a handful of people including myself.” Kylie sighed heavier and then went to explain more about her time at Jupiter Station.

“While I was on the USS Challenger we had docked at Jupiter Station for repairs and resupply. Well it was set up that we would get a tour of some of the laboratories within the station. Don’t get me wrong, seeing all that equipment and the technical implications as it was discussed, would have been some engineer’s wet dream I’m sure. Then we were taken to a special lab. This lab was a restricted access lab that they were doing research on the effects of tachyon particle radiation on organic matter. there have been a few cases of strange things happening to both organic and inorganic matter when exposed to high density tachyons. Well… the eps manifold that powered the chamber and shield that protected the chamber and helped to eliminate the escapage of the particle radiation to protect the occupants of the lab had been tampered with. Someone had sabotaged the connecting wiring and literally crossed some wires. This caused the chamber to overpower the shield at an alarmingly fast rate. This caused the Tachyon radiation to leak into the lab, and seal off the lab as there was now technically a containment breach. Safety protocols are what they are for a reason. I had a few ideas to try and boost power to the shields, but was told to cut the power. It ended up being on my shoulders… I had to cut the power, which could have gone one of two ways. One way is that it would have caused an instant power failure to the shield, and we all would have been irradiated, and the perfect test results… at least for studying it on humanoids… which would have killed us. OR what actually happened is that a secondary safeguard had switched on and caused the entire chamber to shut down. I’m glad that we got out… but as a cadet being responsible for the researchers and fellow cadets lives? I’m a little traumatized.” She explained softly and shrugged slightly.
Ensign Kylie Brecker, Engineer

Vanessa nodded and drank her coffee as Kylie recanted the events. “Over responsibility or the event. It is two different things.” She did not chatter or press the conversation one way or another. Off duty, nothing could shut Vanessa up on a topic but she was not off duty. It was not the time to influence Kylie’s response one way or the other. It was more about getting an honest and unfettered response to explore in more depth.

Vanessa Slade CNS

Kylie nodded. “Yes they are different, however I believe it is a bit of both. Though it was mostly the event itself. I do not think that many cadets however coolheaded, would be able to handle themselves very well in an actual life or death circumstance, despite what they may say. Experience is the best teacher in this regard.” She then let out the rest of her breath in a sigh.
Ensign Kylie Brecker, Engineer

It was time to play devil’s advocate Vanessa thought. Kylie was entirely correct. It was a huge burden regardless of years in service or experience. “The weight of knowing you directly or indirectly hold someone’s life in the balance is heavy and one you will come into contact with over and over in your career. As a cadet, we try to show this through all the training scenarios however training is one thing and reality another.” Taking a sip of her coffee, Vanessa got comfortable. She rarely had such deep talks during an intake but every intake was different.

“You are right about coolheadedness in a hot situation but over your career you will be placed in so many situations like that with a vast majority of ones you can’t control and are just at the mercy of. When the Captain goes into battle and you are thrust into a situation where you are a cog in a bigger plan can really make or break people. The stress can get to some and for some it makes them rise above. As a counselor, I deal with the long-term cumulative effects of these situations. Before here I worked in Veterans Affairs out of the Boston office. I dealt with most individuals that have survived the Dominion War. These guys were rock-hard for twenty, or thirty years of service and then just snapped in one form or another. They held the lines, fought the battles, liberated civilians, and fought next to people were the ones to their right and left fell but they remained only to form up again and be redeployed where they were needed. They were heralded as heroes and they were only the weight of those medals around their necks eventually brought them to their knees. Starfleet is a rewarding but challenging career. So why do you think you remained so coolheaded and efficient at the Jupiter Station? Was it training or instinct?”

Vanessa really liked Kylie. She thought the officer was chock full of potential and had no doubt the ensign would rise through the ranks due to hard work and dedication. It was interesting however to get a peek at what was going through someone’s head about topics.

Vanessa Slade CNS

Kylie looked thoughtful for a moment. “Well I think I have some experience in life threatening situations. Growing up on a freighter… especially an old one, pirates often were brazen enough to attack us. But we were good at our jobs, and protecting our ship. So maybe I have already been desensitized just a little bit already through my upbringing. I have not had any official training on the matter however. I had thought about if I do well, and gain the trust and support of others going into the command program when I was in the Academy. I don’t know if I will be able to take command… but either way to be considered for it I would be honored.” She explained and gave a small smile. She wasn’t too sure how to feel about the councilor yet. I know she herself would need to talk to her outside of sessions to truly judge for herself..
Ensign Kylie Brecker, Engineer

“So what do you like to do for fun,” Vanessa brought the conversation around to less intense. The last thing she wanted was for Kylie to be tense or stressed out. If the Ensign wanted deep contemplation, Vanessa would explore it with her but Slade was not the type to force issues. It tended to shut people down or worst stopped them from coming back. Besides, there would be plenty of time for Kylie to become a client if she wanted to.

Vanessa Slade CNS

Kylie’s face adopted a warm smile. “I cook. I use to have to do it as something of like a sub job back on the Diaportha. But here, Ocassionally when stressed I’l slip to the holodeck and program some random 21st century resturant and just cook.” Kylie seemed relaxed enough, some of her unease had went away, a little more with her trauma dump.
Ensign Kylie Brecker, Engineer

“What kind of food is your favorite to make? Are you a comfort foodie or an exotic dish foodie?” Vanessa liked the Ensign’s enthusiasm and the fact she liked to cook.

“Well I suppose I’m more of a homey type cook. I have many things I like to cook, though I find making fajitas, a somewhat ethnic dish that oiginated somewhere between the border of two countries on Earth. Though I enjoy making things from all over earth.. I havent really tried making too many things from other parts of the galaxy, though I’m not opposed to trying.”

“When I arrived on the Genny,” Vanessa let a huge laugh and shook her head taking a sip of her coffee. “I threw a clam bake. I am not sure the crew was ready for it. They came but looked at me like I was a ring leader of a one-man circus. We should plan something in the future. Not only am I Vanessa Slade counselor extraordinaire but I am also the point of contact for HR. I actually only concentrate on the Human Relations part of the job so you have an issue with your paycheck don’t call me,” she let out a laugh.

Vanessa Slade CNS

Kylie blinked and raised a hand to her lips, her face twisting in a look of horror. “Wait? You’re getting paid?”

“I ain’t doing this for my health,” Vanessa laughed.

She gave a good natured laugh and then dropped her hand. “Fair enough. So what about you?”
Ensign Kylie Brecker, Engineer

“What do I do for fun or what do I like to cook,” she threw out two questions. It was slightly rhetorical. She didn’t mind answering either one.

Kylie shrugged, “Either, or..” sheleaned forward a little to show she was intently listening.

“Well, fun fact I have nine brothers so cooking was more of a steady chore than a passion. In fact, I don’t think I know a recipe that won’t feed a small army, and every time I try to cut it back it never tastes right. Most of it is pure comfort food or seafood recipes. A couple of my uncles work on the docks and are fishermen. Replicator credits don’t grow on trees and when you need ten of everything it tends to add up. As a girl, however, I never got hand-me-downs. My brothers however were always griping about hand-me-downs.” People rarely thought about poverty in the Federation because the essentials of food, shelter, and medicine were readily available. What no one ever talked about was that while conventional money like dollars didn’t really exist, every society had those that had things and those that didn’t. Vanessa’s family was squarely on the side of those that did not have luxuries.

Kylie nodded. “I can understand that. Im use to feeding a crew of 15 then 10 or so more kids… you see… I kind of had little choice myself. I grew up on an Antares Class Freighter. Well shes old, but still flies like a champ so some of her subsystems don’t exactly function the best. The replicators were the worst. The protien resequencing was just aweful… inorganic materials? No problems whatsoever. But Biological matter?” Kylie paused to gives a small chuckle and flick her head to the side with a small amount of rushed air pushed against her teeth to make a tch sound. “Well… it wasnt that bad. The biological matter could be resequenced normally when it was made raw… but asking for anything cooked, either you’d get it raw anyway or you’d get charcoal. So we adapted and made a makeshift kitchen on the ship. Just to satisfy our needs.”

“For fun, I tend to hang out in the lounge.”

Vanessa Slade CNS

“I see, fancy a stiff drink?” She asks raising an eyebrow.
Ensign Kylie Brecker, Engineer