Posted by Commander Jason Reilly (XO) in Pre Sim - XO Psych Assessment

Posted by Lieutenant Kadence Argona (Counselor) in Pre Sim - XO Psych Assessment

Posted by Commander Jason Reilly (XO) in Pre Sim - XO Psych Assessment
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻

Reilly walked down the passageways towards the CNS office. *This is gonna be weird. he thought to himself, but he shrugged internally and kept walking. He nodded at a few crew, calling out to one as he passed, but not turning “Lieutenant McCann, I have yet to see your application for OJT on the bridge! I said today and I meant by shift’s end, not midnight!” in a friendly scolding fashion. “Aye, aye sir! You’ll have it in twenty minutes!” cane the response. “I better or you’re walking back to the Academy, dammit!” and he rounded the bend out of sight. Coming to the door of the CNS, he pressed the chime.

Reilly, XO

“COME!” Came Kady’s voice. When he entered, she was standing up but bent over her desk looking at the console. She had her uniform on, almost Parade Ready in its pristine press and creasing. Her hair was in an intricate knot at the base of her head. “Ahhh Commander Reilly, please come in.” She finally looked up and smiled. “I record sessions so you aren’t made uncomfortable with my padd in my hand constantly being messed with.” She stood up the rest of the way and motioned to the couch and chair set. “Come in and get comfortable.” She was polite like she was the day he met her. She was guarded, but not cold and aloof.

“The first thing I want to tell you is this is whole and separate from what we are, Reilly. I will never speak up about what is said in here in our personal day to day exchanges. I take my vow solemnly and will not break it. I need you to know that. Nothing leaves this room for any reason, unless you are a danger to the Captain, crew or ship. All right?” She was waiting to see where he would sit.

Kadence Argona
CNS

Reilly grinned and flopped down on the couch, his head towards her desk and feet towards the door. “Wouldn’t have it any other way, Doc. So let’s do this! Shrink this head!” and he chuckled.

Reilly, XO

She knew he was joking and it helped her relax a bit as well. She moved to the chair near the foot end of the couch so she could watch him and vice versa. “Wow… if only everyone was so simple, this ship would be the second most deadly in the Fleet.” She laughed and kicked her boots off to curl her legs under herself in a familiar position.

“So this is technically a two fold meeting. The first is a belated boarding eval. You were supposed to have it before seeing the Captain the first time.” She laughed slightly. “But with no one here, I guess this is more a formality in the files. The second is for me. I am getting baseline evals for everyone on the ship while we are not on a mission so that when we are in a stressful situation, I can help you. I will be able to identify ‘unusual’ activities, actions, and reactions that are a manifestation of the stress. Does that make sense to you?” She leaned back in the chair and admired how calm he seemed.

Kady
CNS

He nodded and said “Makes perfect sense. Not sure what a baseline for a ship will look like, but I’d like your impression when you are done. Myself and the Skipper both. Yay, another meeting…” and he chuckled.

Reilly, XO

“The baseline is more on a personal level for each crewman.” She shifted and got more comfortable. “Say, for instance,” she motioned to him, “you are always calm, cool and collected. Then when on a mission, you panic, stutter, and get easily overwhelmed. I will then know, if I see you in the hall panicked and overwhelmed, I know something is amiss. I also know when a situation is coming up, we can sit down and discuss beforehand how to help you keep those negatives in check in the coming moments.”

Kady
CNS

He smiled and said “Sweet. Cannot wait. So… lead on, Doc. Where do you want to start?”

Reilly, XO

Kady laughs. “We already did. How are you settling in on the ship? You come from a demanding and high profile life. Now you are on a ship in the middle of nowhere. I don’t see you being invited to some sophisticated soiree. Do you miss being out there,” she motioned to the expanse of space.

Kady
CNS

He shrugged and said “Yes and no. My life prior to here was… nomadic. I mean, I had a nice place to live… several nice places actually… and I enjoyed my work. But I’m excited about this opportunity, too. And I think my skill set will mesh well with this ship in particular. So all in all, I think it’s a positive change.”

Reilly, XO

“I’ve had that nomadic life. I agree. It’s not all the glamour it’s cracked up to be, huh?” She smiled, “though I admit I didn’t have vast estates all over.” She shrugged and looked back at him. “This is a Deep Space ship with Black OP orders, no idea when we’ll get back to Earth. So what do you want to accomplish while you are here? And what obstacles do you think you’ll come across in reaching those goals?”

Kady
CNS

“Oh, the obstacles number about seventy. Oddly, the exact same number as the number of people on board.” and he laughed. “Look, this is not a standard crew, and I know that and I know why. That being said, I am also not naive, and I know that these individuals have exhibited strong self-destructive tendencies. My goal is to make sure that all of them come back from whatever hell holes we get sent to. I know I will most likely fail in that regard. But I’m going to do my best to protect them and makes sure they have all the tools they need to thrive… even if I have to protect them from themselves.” and he chuckled.

Reilly, XO

She listened and smiled. “Well, it’s good as the XO that you recognize the uniqueness of the ship. Remember, though, just like any other resource, I am one as well. Keep that in mind as you bump into those 70 obstacles. And with that being said, what about you do you think you will struggle with on this ship? Either as the XO or just as a functioning member away from your usual, comfortable, environment and duty assignments.”

Kady
CNS

He thought for a moment and then said “Well, if you are anything like other Counselors you’re gonna hate this, but… nothing, really. I mean, I adapt. It’s what I do, why I am good at what I do. And while I know these circumstances are somewhat unique… I adapt. See, my strength, I think, lies in how my brain works. I dont see circumstances and situations and think ‘Gee, how do I make these circumstances and situations change to fit what I want.’ That to me makes no sense. I see how a situation is, and I work in it. That’s how I operate. Does that make sense? Because it really pissed off the last two psychologists at me evals.” and he laughed.

Reilly, XO

She shook her head and smiled at him. “There is no reason for me to be pissed off. That would be like being mad at an predatory animal for stalking its prey.” She laughed. “You are a creature with skills and habits. Understanding how those work is my job, Reilly. It’s not my job to tell you how you ‘should’ act.” She put her feet on the floor and leaned over, her elbows resting on her knees. “Reilly, just like this ship is different, this ship’s Counselor is different. I cannot come into a place like this and force it to be something it’s not. I come to this ship to see that is ‘maintains’ what it is. A well oiled machine with twisted and warped cogs and conduits that has come to excel both within and without its mission parameters. I want everyone on this ship to know they can come to me for anything, at any time, for whatever they want. I’m not here to judge, or change or mold. I am here to hold and maintain. Can you accept that role from me? Because I am able to accept your XO role as an overseer of all of us under your command.” She wanted him to know that she was aware she was part of the crew and part of who he looked after, as well as letting him know she was here for him as well.

Kady
CNS

He looked at her with a confused look and said “Why would I not? That’s why you’re here. To be the Counselor. And your file says you’re a good one, so who am I to tell you otherwise?” and chuckled.

Reilly, XO

She smiled and sat up. “I’m glad to hear you say it. Just like your past Counselors may have been mad at your responses, most Counselors aren’t viewed in a good light either. Many tell me, tell Counselors in general, that we are tolerated as a necessity to speak to twice a year or when something goes sideways. I don’t want just that from this ship. I want to be a trusted person that anyone comes to as first choice, or second,” she laughed, “not just because they were ordered.”

She leaned back and crossed her legs, once more relaxing. “So before we wrap up, is there anything you want to ask me or request as part of my duties here?”

Kady
CNS

He thought for a moment and then said “I have two requests. First, make sure that any red flags are brought at least to me if not the Captain and I immediately. I dont want to be caught after an incident saying ‘Be he was always so quiet except for…’ and the second… well… that’s a specific request not having to do with metal health and hygiene, so I would prefer we discuss it off the record. It concerns a specific member of the crew.” and he nodded once to indicate he was done.

Reilly, XO

She smiled and nodded. “I will certainly do that. I am here to find the flags, and then contact you both as well. If you want, then I am here to assist with them. As to your other comment, we can discuss that after this session if you wish.” She uncrossed her legs and smiled. “Well, I would say we are done then. Once my notes are transcribed, this recording will be deleted so you have no worries about it.” She rose and moved to her desk. Thank you for coming and speaking with me Commander Reilly. I hope the rest of your day is pleasant.” She went to her desk, noted time of end of session and gave her name, typed in her command code so she didn’t have to speak it aloud and turned off the recording. Her back was to Reilly as she half bent over her desk, resting on one hand as the other typed, her hip shifted to the side to compensate her slightly bent form.

Kady
CNS

Reilly stood up completely silently and moved up behind her. Placing his hands on her waist, he said “Excuse me Doctor, but that other matter? The one about the specifc crew member? Well, that crew member is me, and me is starving. You free for dinner?” and he laughed.

Reilly, XO

She laughed and nodded. “Yes, Mr Reilly, I’m free for dinner. How about now?” She laughed and moved to shut the rest of the console down so they could spend the rest of the evening together.

Kady
CNS

(END)