Posted by Commander Janusz Korczak (Counselor) in I’m All the Family You Got

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) in I’m All the Family You Got

Posted by Commander Janusz Korczak (Counselor) in I’m All the Family You Got
Posted by… suppressed (14) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
The door slid open to reveal Korczak’s office. It had the feel more of an old fashioned den or study than an office. It was lit in a more subdued manner than the rest of the ship by wall mounted lights; and bookcases now lined one wall, filled with copies and originals of many texts on many different subjects and in more than a few languages. The desk was moved, set against the opposite wall facing away from the corner, window to the left of a person seated at the desk and allowing for a large open space in the middle. Here there was a couch and a few chairs, one chair which sat in front of and facing away from the desk. A low table graced the middle of the area, and on it was a small bowl filled with softly glowing crystals. Pictures hung on the walls, some were even old photographs.

Korczak looked up form behind his desk and smiled. “Dr. Fayth, very good to see you.” and he rose to his feet politely. “Is this a social visit to see how I am settling in?” he asked with a smile, knowing all-to-well that Sharah’s schedule left little time for social calls.

Korczak, Counselor

Sharah looked around the office and the tension in her body seemed to drain like a plugged pulled from a tub. It brought back memories of being a cadet. How much simpler and how much more complicated things had been back then. “I wish it was. I am in need of both personal and professional advice, and I can’t think of anyone else I would rather ask.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Korczak scowled slightly in concern and gestured to the seating area while walking from around the desk and taking a seat opposite her. “I am both flattered and concerned. Are you alright? Start with the personal… unless the professional is the cause of the personal matter; in which case start there.”

Korczak, Counselor

Sharah sighed and sat gingerly on the couch and then leaned back. “They are tied together, but it starts with the personal.” Sharah began by telling him about Charles family arriving and then outburst at dinner, how Abigail walked out, the call that Abigail had assaulted Lord and Lady Duroc (she added in an explination just in case Korczak wasn’t aware of who they were yet) and then going to the hospital to see her. Then the very long and tense conversation with Abigail. “She doesn’t feel like a truly hateful person to me Korczak, but she is filled with it and pain and loathing and hurt. I want to help her, but I don’t know how.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Korczak was silent, remaining deep in thought. After a few minutes, he said “Alright. So tell me… do you know where this pain and loathing- I am assuming self-loathing?- comes from? And people who are racist or species-ist are typically filled with hatred and animosity. Indeed, if you feel it is self-loathing, that would be an anomaly.”

Korczak

Sharah sighed, “Jealousy and a feeling of being forgotten. From what she’s said, she was kind of a golden child growing up, she was the center of attention and everyone needed her. Then along came her younger brother and sister, and to quote her ‘they were better than her, everything she wasn’t’ and everyone forgot about her. No one needs her, no one pays attention to her. She thought her brother would come home when his Star Fleet career went wrong. He didn’t and she said that she saw me and Yavia and knew he’d never come home. She said she knows it isn’t our fault, but we are the reason he won’t come home. She said he was ‘screwing around with two alien s/~ts’ and called me ‘a lover of Itsike’. I’m not sure what that is, but the feeling behind it was quite insulting.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Korczak stood and walked to his desk tapped a few commands, and then smiled ruefully. He came back and sat down. “Itsike. The trickster deity of the Osage and other Dhegiha tribes. He is less important to Osage mythology than to the neighboring Omaha and Ponca people, and some of his stories are told with Coyote as the protagonist instead by Osage storytellers.” Korczak recited verbatim from the search he conducted. “The Coyote was and is a somewhat fluid character, morality-speaking, in the mythology of the Indigenous People’s pantheon of spirits.” he said and then smiled at Sharah with warmth. “I would take the declaration as meaning something negative at that time, but perhaps future comparisons cane be more positive.” He exhaled slowly and then said “So her spirituality is very important to her… a cornerstone of her self-image. And her brother and sister have, somehow, made her participation in that faith somehow… ‘less’… is that correct?”

Korczak

Sharah laughed ruefully, “Well it’s not the worst thing I have ever been called.” She nodded confirmation, “That is the feeling I get from her. Though to hear Charles speak of her, she is the reason he is everything that he is. He looks up to, is very proud of her. Or… well he still is though he is hurt, disappointed, and scared too.” Sharah sighed; it was a nasty situation.

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

“Which is entirely understandable.” Korczak said. He looked at Fayth for a moment and then said “So what do you need from me, Sharah? What is it you are looking for here?”

Korczak, Counselor

“Advice, help, perspective. The whole family is hurting and it’s hard, Janusz, to remain outside of it. I’m not outside of it, I know. I want to help, but even Abigail, but,” she smiled ruefully, “I understand psychology, but I am not a counselor. There is also a part of me that wants to walk out every time she insults me. But I can’t…” she sighed. “I can’t walk out on her, give up on her. She already feels like everyone has. I’m also too much in the middle of it to be that outside voice of reason. How do I help her, or what help should I get her?” Other than a really good lawyer?

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Korczak thought for a moment and then said “Where does the greatest amount of stress and anxiety exist for you and the rest of your family right now?” He stressed the word clearly to drive home that the family was now hers as well. “Is it the legal aspect? Is it the possibility of public humiliation? Or is it fear of the damage that Ms. Tenkiller is facing due to her actions?”

Korczak, Counselor

Sharah closed her eyes and sought out those people, her family. She’d seen only Charles briefly. “Loosing Abby. Whether to the legal process or the argument her hate and anger this has caused. I think more than that is a fear of loosing family. Not just us here, but their tribe. Loosing that connection.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Korczak nodded. “Very well. So we should deal with that before we try and process anything else at the moment. Now, Lady Duroc. You have a relationship with her, do you not? Is it one where you could suggest an alternative to judicial involvement? Oed V has a long standing legal tradition of mediation prior to legal disputes. Perhaps they could be convinced to go that route? I could mediate, if that would help.”

Korczak, Counselor

“I’m not sure. Under normal circumstances I would say yes. She is not like typical Klingons. When I checked on her while she was here, she was more annoyed at the fussing than upset.” Sharah knew her friend was struggling with her new position though. “It won’t hurt for me to ask though.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Korczak looked at her. “Perhaps you could present the option to all involved. Or… I can speak with Abigail. Either way, both would have to agree to participate. But I am sure that more… level heads… can prevail where emotions were suddenly uncontrolled.”

Korczak

“I don’t know where the legal matters are at this point. She is in the security ward, under guard, and once she is healed from her injuries she’s being transferred to the jail.” Sharah nodded, “I think maybe you should try. She goes between believing I want the best for her brother and I’m an alien psychotic out to play tricks on her and hurt her.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Korczak nodded. “Alright. Take me to her.” he said. “Then contact Lady Duroc and see if you can convince her. If we eliminate, or at least minimize, the threat of jail and juries and the like, then it will be easier for everyone involved to focus on the real issue… helping her express her pain in less destructive fashions.” and he stood up. “Come. No time like the present.”

Korczak

“Thank you, for listening and for the help.” She stood and together they made their way to Sacred Heart’s security ward. Sharah signed them in and led the way to her door. “Do you want me to introduce you?”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

“Please.” Korczak said, and stepped aside as the door slid open when Sharah got close.

Korczak

Sharah stepped into the room, feeling a surprising amount of apprehension, though she was too professional to let it show. “Abigail, I’d like to introduce you to someone. This is Cmdr Janusz Korczak. He’d like to talk to you.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Korczak smiled at her and said “Hello, Ms. Tenkiller. And please, you may call me Jansuz.” Abigail’s eyes narrowed and she looked at Sharah, waves of confusion tinged with fear coming off of her. “What do you want?” she asked flatly. Korczak took a moment and pulled a chair over near the bed. “Commander Fayth came to me and asked if I may be able to help you in your current situation. I am not an attorney, but in discussion with the Commander I brought up the idea of mediation. Doctor Fayth believes that she can convince Lady Duroc to agree to a mediation between her and you. I was hoping to try and talk with you about the same.”

Abigail looked at Sharah and then back at Korczak. “What does that mean? We sit at a table together and talk about our feelings? I say ‘Sorry’ and she forgives me and we all go our separate ways?” Korczak chuckled dryly and shook his head. “No… nothing so simple I am afraid. But yes, the three of us would talk and try to come to a resolution. In exchange for whatever Lady Duroc and you agree is fair restitution- be that financial or social-, she would drop the charges against you and you would not go to jail. But I want you to make the decision fully informed. Klingons are not known for their tolerance of slights to their honor. What you will have to do to secure her agreement will most likely be… intense.” He crossed his legs at the knee and set his clasped hands in his lap. “You have little to lose, Ms. Tenkiller. You are not required to come to an agreement and you can always go before the judiciary. But mediation may allow you to make amends without going to prison. It is certainly worth the time, I believe.”

Abigail stared at Korczak for a long time before looking at Sharah. “What do you think? Is this worth it?”

Korczak / Abigail Tenkiller

Sharah was surprised Abby even asked her. She more expected Abby to demand her brother again or for them both to leave. Her answer was simply two simple words, “I do.” Sharah knew what kind of woman Jal’na was. She wouldn’t know if Jal’na would be willing until she spoke to her. Her friend was having trouble adjusting to her new responsibilities, but this was the kind of thing that Jal’na had always preferred.

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO