Catching Up With New/Old Friends

Posted on Thursday 15 November 2018 @ 09:20 by Commander Cale Llewellyn DSci & Commander Caroline Miller

Mission: The New Collective
Location: Main Crew Lounge
Timeline: After Merlin Entering 'Twilight Zone'
931 words - 1.9 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Caroline tapped her glass with the spoon and watched the colours swirl and merge. She took a sip of the sumerian sunset, closed her eyes and sighed. Everything had happened a little too fast for her liking and although she was thrilled to be back on the Merlin, the ship and clearly the crew had moved on. At incredible pace. She felt a duck out of water, yet surrounded in a familiar environment. It was an odd feeling.

She heard the person behind her approach before opening her eyes to see who it was.

Cale wandered into the lounge for no apparent reason except to blow off some steam. Since he rarely came here, he figured it could use his presence right about now. And luckily there was a much more present reason to stay as he saw Commander Miller sitting at a table alone. He knew that the two officers had never been close but he decided that now was the perfect time.

As he strode up to the table, he cleared his throat and said, "May I?" simple as that.

Caroline smiled and indicated the chair. "Cale, off course. How are you?"

"I'm just fine, Doctor and you? I see you were promoted in my absence and I'm pleased that you were. So what's new with you, besides your rank?" he asked her.

"Well if you don't know, I am your counselor now. Still qualified as a doctor so if you get shot up on an away mission with me your still in safe hands, but I can help with the mental stuff as well as the physical now," she grinned at him. "What's new with you?"

"No I didn't know that but that's great news. If you couldn't tell by the color of the uniform, I'm back in command at least the command department. I'm Chief of Strategic Operations and Second Officer. After I left the ship, I took a position on the Grissom as Science Chief. I needed to get away from the command side of things. When we were assigned to assist Captain Barstow with finding the Merlin, I was exhilarated.

"So later I asked him if he still needed a Chief Science Officer, he told me yes and here I am. Shortly before we started this mission I asked to take over strat ops and was granted this transfer. I'm glad you're back Counselor. I needed to see another familiar face mainly because Sav and I will never be friends; not after that unfortunate incident that happened between us before I left. I was sorry to her about Mel leaving. She and I had grown quite close as friends. But I was even more sorry to hear about Caleb's departure. We were just starting to become close on another level and could have become something more if it weren't for my damnable empathic abilities," Cale orated all in nearly one breath.

"It almost seems like fate has conspired to bring us back together," Caroline mused. "In Mels case, I have stayed in touch with her. She's doing very well, has a beautiful baby girl and is currently working on a Starbase heavily involved in some top secret engineering projects.

"Caleb, sorry I can't quite remember him but from what your saying, you two were becoming an item?" Caroline asked coyly. "I'm sorry to hear things didn't work out Cale.

"I didn't know you had empathic abilities. I bet that can be quite overwhelming. Hopefully we can work on some coping strategies," she suggested.

"I'm pleased to hear about Mel. He held your position, Caroline. And yes, he and I had become quite the item but all that's over now," Cale said with sadness in his voice. "And yes, I have empathic abilities, how did you know? I've kept it hush hush before and still as I've come back. I've only told Captain Barstow and Dr. Ki."

Caroline looked at Cale confused. "Are you okay?" She asked concerned. "I know because you have just told me things went wrong with Caleb and stated that your damable empathic abilities prevented things from becoming something more."

"Yes I'm fine. Thank you for asking. Yes I did and as ships' counselor I may need to speak more with you about these issues," Cale said. "I'm entrusting you with this information because we're old...'friends'."

"Well as counsellor you can be assuring that doctor/patient confidentiality will not be violated. As old friends you have nothing to worry about," she told him warmly.

"Thanks, Counselor. I very much appreciate it. Now tell me how you became qualified to be a counselor," Cale asked her rather pointedly.

Caroline laughed, "Oh Cale. Why so suspicious? I went back to the academy and worked my arse off doing courses. Not that I have to justify myself or position to you." She downed the rest of her drink.

She stood up and smiled at him, deciding in her mind that for him to feel the need to do that when Bairstow and the XO had no issues was both unprofessional and uncalled for. This idea of "old friends" he had just dangled seemed somewhat one sided.

"Don't worry, we will work on your trust issues in our first session. Good night Commander."

Cale merely looked at Counselor Miller quizically. "Yes good night, Counselor. Wait, what?! Our first session? Did I just agree to be analyzed by an 'old friend'? What have I gotten myself into?"

OFF

Commander Miller
Chief Counselor
USS Merlin

&

Commander Cale Llewellyn, DSci
Strategic Operations Officer
Second Officer
USS Merlin