CAG - Afternoon Sessions - 2nd One

Posted on Saturday 31 December 2016 @ 14:23 by Commander Save'ena (Sav) Tillatix & Captain Melody Jones & Lieutenant Caleb Mitchell & Major David Scarlet

Mission: Old, New Ship
Location: CAG Office - Deck 39, Drop Bay Upper
Timeline: MD9 Late Afternoon
2865 words - 5.7 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

==== Deck 39, Outside CAG Office ====

Inside the office, Lt. Scarlet and Lt. Tillatix had just finished their closed door meeting.

Thus, outside the office, there was a click heard at the doorway. At the same time, a new person approached the CAG Office.

Wyn was still hovering outside, not far from the door. Just in case Sav needed her. She involuntary came to attention as the newcomer approached. However, the door seal opening held more of her attention as now Sav could be gotten to and checked up upon. Wyn saluted the officer and said, "This way, Sir," and led the way into the office.

==== Deck 39, CAG Office ====

Sav smiled as Wyn came back into the office, followed by Caleb.

Wyn cleared her throat "Sorry for the interruption, but...." her voice trailed off as she indicated to Caleb.

Sav saw the new person and raised an eyebrow, "Another visitor? Our office is getting rather busy this afternoon." She smiled to Caleb, "Greetings, Sir, please have a seat. Lieutenant Scarlet and I were just finishing up." She looked back to Scarlet and started to speak when Caleb spoke up to her.

Caleb, looked over at Sav, "Would you like to talk more about it, what's been happening to you recently?"

Sav looked confused as she turned to face Caleb, saying, "Umm, excuse me, Sir? A lot has happened, and, why for you would want to know?"

"Because," he replied, "it's what I do, I help people deal with issues, I listen to them and sometimes I try to give them advice."

Sav shook her head in confusion, even as she touched the panel before her. Information came to her about Caleb, *New Chief Counselor for USS Merlin, Human/Elasian mix, warrior race for Elasian, females having exotic effects on males. males tall with authority auric specifics*. The immediate concerns for her were 'auric specifics' and 'counselor'.

Sav began backpedaling to the rear of the CAG Office. She put a hand up to her throat in fright as she said, "New Chief Counselor, Lieutenant Caleb Mitchell, Human/Elasian, Elasians are Male authority figures with Auric specifics for command... Counselor... have you... have you... talked to Wolf?" She was barely able to get that out as her entire body trembled from her phobia of counselors.

Caleb made no effort to move towards her. He held up both hands in the air above his shoulders. "I'm not going to hurt you," he said, "and yes, I've talked to Wolf. I know you have issues with counselors. So do I, I've had two working on me at the same time to try to rob me of my identity, of who I am, make me into something I'm not. And I'm not especially a male authority figure either."

Sav was working on trying to calm down, but it was not working, not yet. She glanced at David and Wyn, so happy both were there. While 'counseling' sessions were supposed to be one on one, Sav had just started getting used to Wolf, and now a newcomer was there in the room. She then forced herself to think, then glanced about the office, and remembered it was HER office, not a counseling office. She closed her eyes and touched the LCARS panel behind her. The trembles and fright seemed to melt right off of her.

Sav opened her eyes, saying, "Okay, better." She smiled to Caleb, "Let's try this again. Greetings Lt. Mitchell, what brings you to the CAG office this afternoon? Lt. Scarlet and I just finished outlining some future training programs for flight personnel on the ship."

"Good morning, Lieutenant, I'm the new ship's counselor. I'd like to have a conversation with you. I thought it might be more comfortable for you if we discussed things in your office, instead of mine," Caleb responded.

Sav nodded, still within her centered zone as she flew along with the ship without the current helmsman knowing. "Yes Sir, you thought correctly. CAG office will do just fine. One second please."

Sav looked over to David, "Will there be anything else, Lieutenant Scarlet?" Sav was really hoping he would stay there, but knew the CTSO was a very busy guy. While Caleb said he was not an authority figure, when you have a doctor who can remove any crew at any time for any reason, that was the ultimate male authority figure, and someone to be truly scared of.

"No, as I said. I have matters to attend to." Scarlet firmly replied. He glanced at Caleb and then back to Tillatix. "If you have any more security concerns, I have flagged your office to have a security team nearby for the rest of the day."

Sav genuinely smiled as she said, "Thank you, Sir," and watched him go. As she was still in contact with the ship, she was calm and smooth in her actions and reactions.

Sav returned her attentions to Dr. Caleb Mitchell. She was not sure what Caleb had meant about the two counselors trying to rob him of his identity. Maybe he had suffered an implanted overlay as well? But, nobody knew that about her as not a single Telepath had been used upon her yet, and the overlays always made sure to force their truth out. Well, maybe that was what this talk was about. She asked, "Lt. Mitchell, this is Crewman Rhoderick, my CAG Assistant. As this is an initial conversation, did you mind if she stayed here? Or, is this going to dive into confidentiality and she needs to leave?"

"She can stay," Caleb said, "but I'm not going to ask you any questions to start. I'm going to tell you my story first. I'd prefer that the two of you keep it just between us. I don't talk about this with too many other people. You're the first patient I've ever told it to. But I need you to be able to trust me, so I'm willing to take that risk if you're willing to listen."

Sav blinked, light confusion in her from what Caleb had said. She was not sure why he was doing this, or where he was coming from. Wolf didn't know about the overlays, or them trying to kill her psyche and implant another, or how Diostros had almost fully destroyed her. Still, the new Chief Counselor was trying to reach out to her, so, she would do what she could. She nodded to him, "I am a good listener, sir." And, Sav did not lie, as she was a great listener and confidential it for the last six years for college and academy for other couples around her. Yes, that was her, always helpful, supportive Sav, always for others, always for Diostros.

He looked over at Rhoderick and noticed the crewman wasn't leaving and assumed that everything that was going to be said was going to remain confidential. He would have preferred to stand and pace, it would have been more comfortable for him, but though it might have been his story he was about to unfold, this wasn't about him.

"I grew up on a small colony world. In many ways, it was quite backward. Not with its technology, but just their attitude. I knew from early on, that there was something different about me, but I wasn't sure what it was. When I got older, started to go through puberty, I figure out what it was. I was gay. I had no interest in girls romantically or physically. Being at an all boys boarding school, well, let's just say it was interesting."

Sav's ears focused on him intently as she followed his words. Upon the word 'gay', she immediately associated it with 'joyously happy', as per ESL standards. But then, as she continued, she realized he was talking about a specific Terran slang term for guys who chased other guys. That was an association for dating and among close friends. So why was he telling her he preferred guys over girls and had no interest in kitlings or a future by them? She barely managed to not look surprised and kept listening, even though she was still confused in why he was telling her this part of his life as that was private, not for others to hear or ponder about.

"I'm not the smartest guy in the room, but I knew I couldn't go broadcasting that there. My roommate, who I guess I had a crush on, or at least thought was hot, pretended to be nice to me, but he gave me a bracelet. Long story short it was a listening device. He thought it was going to funny to record me in the holodeck, doing things. They just thought it would be with a hologirl, it was with a hologuy. That was the end, I thought. The entire school found out. It got so bad I even considered killing myself. The administration wanted to do something then, but I had to lie and say it was just a mistake, an experimentation. Then, the next year we got a new teacher. A really nice guy."

Sav shook her head. That was a very mean thing to do, to spy on a fellow classmate in during their personal time. Then again, she had been at the brunt of that at the Academy during the Senior/Freshman 'hunt', and all the counseling and anger management that had went on their. However, Caleb's words rang true about 'experimentation'. All kitlings went through that, discovering who they were mentally, and as physical beings. It was up to the parents to guide and show and help them along as all kitlings were blank slates when born. She did smile, though, at hearing he had found a really nice teacher, and one who accepted who Caleb had decided to be. She spoke out, "That was very mean, not nice at all. I'm glad you found a teacher who took you at your core self to help guide and teach you."

"I don't know who seduced who, but he became much more than a teacher to me. Until we got caught. Then there was nothing that my father or anyone could do, I had to go to counseling. I had to be fixed."

Sav's eyes widened in horror as her facial expression showed angst. "That was.. wrong... the teacher abusing his position of authority to take advantage of you like that, forcing you down a path." She closed her eyes, "Let me guess, you were sent in for counseling to force you to change the course you truly believe you follow, which cannot be done, while the teacher got off Scott free?" She took in a breath and sighed it out, "Bedroom antics does not make a person who they are, their core, of their morals, ethics, and dealings with other sentients. Why didn't they just leave you alone? And, why for are you telling me this... " She trailed off, then opened her eyes and asked, "So you believe your issues with counselors equates to my phobia of counselors, and for similar reasons?"

"Not exactly. Did he take advantage of me, I don't know maybe he did. I didn't think so at the time. It was pretty mutual. He certainly didn't force me down any path I wasn't already going. I realize now it was inappropriate, but I don't think his intentions were evil and I was technically old enough to consent. And the teacher did not get off. He was fired and deported from the colony. But yes, I am telling you the story because I think our issues are similar. I spent six months under the care of a pair of counselors who used an ancient and discredited treatment called conversion therapy. I'm sure it is not exactly like what you had to endure, but it was, well bad. And that's the main reason I became a counselor to help people, not torment them."

Sav scrunched up her muzzle, saying "Conversion Therapy?" It sounded bad to her, anything doing with conversion, especially after what she had seen in the dungeon, taking men and women and reshaping their brain neurons and minds from their sweethearts and into fully desiring of anything a master wanted the to do, same/opposite/animal/machine/etc, no escape, fully changed. Well, fully changed until gotten into care to help a person change if they were truly desiring of it. The brain was a wonderful thing. It could focus and change pathways for desires for anything, if a sentient truly wanted the change. Hence all the self help books. But, if a person did not want to change, or was told wrongful information, then only bad could come of it. And then, it hit her, and her overlays, what Caleb said about 'what you had to endure.'.

Sav stepped from the wall, straightened up into an attention pose, and immediately snapped out in a monotone voice, "I did not endure any conversion or other type therapies dealing with change from one to another. I had had a fantasy dream from blood loss during my incident on Apollonia about Aristocrat Thompson and Councilman Eurytlus that I was unable to separate from reality. The esteemed Starfleet Strom Thurman Medical Research Center enlisted the aid of specialty Starfleet Counselors for deep, psychosomatic counseling to bring my ravings back to reality. I suffered no trauma, was cleared as sane and released. All court documents are bound and sealed in accordance with the court findings." Suddenly, Sav's voice went deeper as she continued, "Your services are not required, Counselor, understood?" Sav's entire body flinched at the last as she did not know where that had come from as she had never had that happen before. What had happened with Wolf? Had he done something to allow the Overlays to start winning?

Caleb knew bullshit when he heard it, but he also knew conditioned bullshit and it wasn't her fault. He nodded as she spoke though, not daring to call her on it. "I'd like to talk about things later if that's okay. I don't want to push you."

The words 'push you' brought out a slight jerk in the Mephetian, as though someone had stepped on her foot or pulled upon her tail. Within her mind, the Overlays, now having once again gotten a foothold over Save'ena's psyche, began once again to push to erase her personal memories of what happened even as they stepped further into her presence. Much to Sav's chagrin, the Uniqueria persona was fighting with her to not have those memories erased. Those memories were needed by Uniqueria to take over Sav for herself and get back to Diostros to offer her pelt to him, as she had been bought by him.

Saveena sweetly smiled to Caleb, "My dear counselor, we have no idea what you are talking about. I, Saveena Tillatix, am as I should and will be, and am documented to be as such. Please, return your attentions to others who are actually in need of your services." Saveena moved to her desk as sat down, dismissing Caleb with the wave of a hand, as though she was one of Commodore rank or higher, "Dismissed."

Caleb looked at her, the smallest of tics around his eye displaying his only emotion, he said nothing to her.

However, that was the downfall of the overlays. They did not know about Save'ena's cyberapathy, and without constant psychic pushing and imprinting, could never know. As soon as she placed her hand upon the console. a shudder went through the Mephetian as there was a sharp intake of air. Save'ena was now fully back in control, the overlays once again shoved into her telepathic communications area within her brain. She shook her head, then looked up at Caleb, trepidation once again in her voice. She had to cover, say something, anything, and what sprang to mind was, "Sorry, Couns... Couns... umm, umm, Lt. Mitchell, sometimes I forget my place. Please forgive my rudeness, and, as this is my office, please come by anytime for business you need."

The counselor rose, "There's no need to apologize," he said, "I appreciate your time, and I'll be in touch."

Sav nodded to him and watched him leave the office. She took in a deep breath, then let it out. Looking over to Wyn, she shook her head lightly, "And, in the cross-hairs again. Wyn... just, please, look in on me once in a while to make sure I'm still me, okay?"

Having watched the whole exchange with Caleb as Sav's temperament swung from timid to something quite forceful Wyn just studied her face for a moment. Finally she smiled and said "Sure, no problem." She thought to herself 'maybe this has something to do with why Melody slapped her' and 'that a conversation with the Second Officer might be a good idea.'

OFF:

Lieutenant Save'ena Amilia Tillatix
CAG/Uroboros Squadron Leader
Bridge Command Specialist
USS Merlin

Lieutenant Caleb Mitchell
Counselor
USS Merlin

Crewman Wyn Rhoderick
CAG Personal Assistant
Fighter Maintenance Tech
USS Merlin