Getting Inside My Head

Posted on Sun Feb 15th, 2009 @ 9:48pm by Lieutenant Cress Maven & Lieutenant JG Lucy Carter

756 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Citadel Prime
Location: Counselor's Office

Ensign Skanda Sheedy trotted down the hall. She was a little late, according to her own personal schedule, but the counselor really wasn't expecting her. So why was she hurrying? Because she wanted to, that was why. Shaking off the rather disturbing argument with herself, she sighed deeply and pressed the buzzer beside the door of the Counselor's Office. Here we go, she thought.

Sheedy caught Carter unawares as she entered the Counsellor's office. Carter had her back to the door, making notes on her previous patient whilst ordering a tea from the replicator. The noise of the door made her turn round in surprise. There was a tall, slim woman with green skin, blue hair and intense yellow eyes. Pleased that she had managed to keep her tea upright, Carter asked "hello. I am Lucy Carter the Ship's Counsellor. Would you like a cup of tea?"

Skanda shrugged. "Tea'd be wonde'ful, if y' don' min'." The woman normally didn't drink tea, but she wasn't averse to it and, of course, when in Rome...

Carter ordered another tea from the replicator and both women took a seat, each at an angle to the other. Carter leaned on one arm of her chair and said "thank you for coming to my office so promptly after the request to report here. How long have you been on the ship?"

The woman's yellow eyes rolled in thought. "A week or two, a' leas'. Seems like fo'eve', I've been s' bored." Her long fingers laced in front of her and she let out a slow breath. "Everythin' on the ship works!"

Carter laughed "yes, I can see how that must be a problem for you. I suppose it's sort of the same for me - I can't do my job unless someone needs help!" She laughed again then took out her PADD. "Now I have to ask you a few compulsory questions. Please try to answer them as honestly as you can. Oh and everything you say here is confidential".

"Question 1. Do you ever feel very down or deliriously happy for no real reason?"

Skanda answered this question promptly and with little thought. This one was easy. "When I'm ti'ed, some'imes."

"2. Have you ever had thoughts to harm another sentient being?"

"On'y me sibs when they're on abou' somethin'." She laughed for minute, then became serious. "I did wan' t' kill once," she said in a low voice. "When Subrahmanya viola'ed me and killed m' brothe'... I would'a..." She stopped and looked up. "So'ry, next ques'ion?"

"3. Have you ever been convicted of a serious crime?"

"No." After the last question, Skanda was in little mood for elaboration.

"4. Have you ever taken illegal mood enhancing substances?"

"No."

"5. Have you ever lost your temper so badly that you lost control of your actions?

"No' ye', but if I don' get some more 'elp in Enginee'in' soon, I migh'!" The green-skinned woman tried to make light of this last. The interview was affecting her more than she thought.

Carter could see that Sheedy was unused to answering such probing questions so stopped. After all, much more could often be gleaned from what people didn't say and through observation. However, one of Sheedy's answers had concerned Carter. It was the one about her violation. She decided to press her further.

"After your terrible ordeal, did you ever seek medical help of a non physical nature? I mean, do you want to talk about what happened to you if you think it would help?" Carter did not want to be intrusive, but needed to ensure Sheedy knew she had someone on her side, if she needed them.

"N-o," the engineer said slowly. "I don' like t' talk abou' it." Her eyes closed and she shook her head briefly as if trying to clear images from her mind.

"OK, that's fine. Nobody will force you to talk about it if you don't want to. Just remember that if you do, then I am always here to help you.

"Thank you for dropping by today. I hope your engineering crew appear soon". Carter smiled and watched the other woman as she got to her feet.

Skanda set the tea cup (which she had not ended up touching) on the counselor's desk and unfolded her legs. "Thanks for y' time, Couns'lor." She walked to the door, then stood in the opening for a minute. The yellow eyes tracked back to Lucy. "I- I may come again some'ime," she said quietly before letting the doors swish shut behind her.

 

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