Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Vanessa Slade (CNS) in Office of the Counselor = Psych Eval

Posted by Lieutenant Edelu (CMO) in Office of the Counselor = Psych Eval
The corridor outside the counselor’s office was quiet, with only the low hum of the ship underfoot and the occasional muffled hiss of a distant door opening. Dr. Edelu paused there—not out of hesitation, but out of habit. The Mintakan way was to observe before acting. And though Federation culture leaned more toward efficiency than contemplation, some instincts refused to be unlearned.

He adjusted the edge of his medical coat, simple and traditional in its tailoring. A visible badge of belonging, and yet still a symbol of distance—of a journey traveled farther than most Starfleet physicians would ever imagine.

He had read what was available about Lieutenant Junior Grade Vanessa Slade. South Boston roots. Big family. Big energy. No patience for nonsense. The kind of person who probably made her patients talk even when they didn’t mean to. He imagined her office smelled like burnt espresso and lavender hand lotion.

He didn’t mind that.

The real question, as always, was whether she would mind him—a Mintakan, trained off-world, charting a life far beyond what his own people still believed possible. He had met counselors who recoiled at his logic, or tried to coax out trauma where none had been claimed. But something about Slade’s file told him she didn’t deal in fragility. She dealt in real.

That, at least, they would have in common.

He stepped forward and tapped the chime, his voice smooth and even:

“Lieutenant Commander Edelu, reporting for onboarding psychological clearance.”

Then he waited, standing at ease, expression composed—ready to face the first of what would be many first impressions aboard the Genesis.

-Lt. Cmdr. Edelu
Chief Medical Officer

His response was not immediately met. Instead small grunts and soft pops could be heard if Edelu was listening carefully enough. About ten seconds after he reached out, he heard a breathy yell of “okay be right there,” followed by some more soft pops and grunts. A minute later the door opened and Vanessa along with another crew member appeared in the door way. They were dressed as if they were playing tennis and breathing as if they just competed in something like Wimbledon.

“I am really sorry about that vase Vanessa,” the officer said. “My back hand can get a bit crazy at time.” He had a sheepish look and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Its fine,” she waved him off. “I mean it was only something my grandmother made in her pottery class at the senior center. I will just get her to whip me up another one. Next week same time,” she said.

“Yeah but can we do something less physical. Maybe we can play scrabble. See you. Sir,” he nodded at the CMO before walking out of the room.

Edelu nodded in acknowledgement of the young officer.

“Sorry about that,” Vanessa said dropping the racket into a basket by the door. “I sent a timer on the program but it didn’t seem to go off. I will get engineering on it. Come on in. Can I get you something to drink?” Heading to the replicator, Vanessa replicated a large iced coffee.

“I’ll have whatever you’re having,” as was Mintaken tradition, you always followed your host’s lead.

After finishing with the replicator she plopped down into one of the large living room type chairs in the space. Her outfit was not the tradition counselor uniform. It was in fact a white tennis skit with navy trim and matching white v neck sweater with with navy trim. Her hair was pulled back into a long pony tail that bobbed with each step and movement. “So how was your trip here? Easy enough of I hope?” Vanessa had an easy and relaxed quality to her personality. She greeted the CMO as if he was a friend stopping by for a long overdue chat and not with the formality of an intact meeting.

Vanessa Slade CNS

Edelu appreciated the informality immediately. Protocol, rigidity, and formality—these were all constructs he’d had to learn when he joined what he often referred to as “the advanced universe.”

“I always find long trips on quiet transport vessels rather relaxing,” he said, settling in. “It’s the closest I get to feeling like I’m back on Mintaka III—outside a holosuite, that is.”

-Lt. Cmdr. Edelu
Chief Medical Officer