Healing First Impressions

Posted on Thursday 10 December 2020 @ 17:13 by Major David Scarlet & Commander Caroline Miller

Mission: A Whale of a problem (We're going to need a bigger boat)
Location: Counselling offices
Timeline: MD9 1300
1641 words - 3.3 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Scarlet did his best not to audibly grumble as he approached the councilors office. The injury had been years ago and he'd been coping fine with the 'disability'. Frankly, he'd hoped the mandated therapy was behind him.

He stood ramrod straight at the door and briskly pressed the chime. He didn't have to wait long before the door opened.

"David," Caroline beamed. "I did wonder when you were going to get round to looking me up again. I hear there's been interesting things going down in engineering," she gave him a wry smile.

'I am glad to see you," she added. "Come in. Take a seat. How can I help?"

If it was possible, Scarlet stiffened even more at the mention of engineering. He audibly grumbled before walking in and taking a seat.

"I will be speaking to Lieutenant Rathburn regarding her help with training exercises soon enough." He said crisply. His hands were placed firmly on his lap, still in fists.

"I would like a release from this mandated therapy." Scarlet said firmly. "The accident was many years ago and I have been feeling fine for a long time. Therapy is no longer required."

"When you can walk into a session, sit down and not grouse or ball your fists," Caroline observed, "I'll consider that request. Also its not about feeling fine physically, its about coping up here," she tapped her forehead. "And just by walking in, in that angry demeanour its not convincing me that you are.

"Shall we talk about that one first then? Engineering. What happened?"

Scarlet sighed. "Nothing report worthy." He caught a glance from the Commander that made him realize he'd have to say more. "There was a false alarm raised for Engineering. I followed orders to defuse the situation. Unfortunately the situation deteriorated."

"And how did it deteriorate?" Caroline asked.

"I recommended Lieutenant Rathburn be brought up on charges of mischief and creating a disturbance but I was overruled. Instead the blame fell to the individual who had been also following orders to create the scenario. Would you like me to bring in my report to you?"

"If it would make you feel better to share it," Caroline stated simply. Her gut feeling was telling her it was pretty much a break down of communication and both over exaggerating to events.

"As I said, I am fine. I was following orders and the last time I checked being... abrasive is not a crime." Scarlet said firmly.

"No its not but its a trait that rubs people up the wrong way. For instance in this situation could you not have tried to bottom it with the Engineering chief first before suggesting charges?" she suggested.

"My concern is the safety of the crew and this ship. That is first and foremost. I don't consider talking it out with disruptions or threats to that security and safety a good use of my time." Scarlet grumbled and adjusted himself in the chair.

"Besides, I've already spoken to some of her staff." Scarlet sighed. "They're loyal to her, which is a good sign of leadership. I may... have over reacted in my initial judgements on her."

"Hmmm do you think that's something to do with the fact and you don't do well hiding it or possibly even try, that you like the whole commissioned officers thing?" the blond asked.

"My personal views or feeling on the matter will not affect the work that has to be done." He said firmly. "You don't have to be friends to work well together and get the job done."

"No but you need to have an element of trust." Caroline said firmly. "And in recommending she go up on charges from one of your earliest interactions with her, your not going to have helped your cause there. Nor for future."

"I consider that just as much her problem as I do mine." He said firmly. "Just because there are pips on a collar doesn't mean all their decisions are correct or should be without consequences."

"You need to quit that attitude David," Caroline said firmly. "Its not a case of us and them. Everyone's decisions can have consequences. You know that. Its just life. Everyone is responsible for what the do and how they do it regardless of who they are and what job they do on this ship."

Scarlet narrowed his eyes and sighed. Right now, he was done fighting a useless fight and just wanted to get out of the councilors office and back to work.

"Where it comes to Lieutenant Rathburn specifically, I'm not going to shy away or go stomping around to make a scene. I raised my concerns, they were ignored. Now I'll move on and get the job done. That's what I'm here for."

"I doubt that this is the last I will hear of things in terms of your actions with Lieutenant Rathburn. And you don't shy away from anyone. She's under your skin for some reason," she told him. "You were never this abrasive with anyone last time you were onboard. I don't believe you have changed in personality that much in the time you have been apart from the Merlin so that leave it as she specifically is under your skin. An instant dislike for one of the first times you interacted together. One bad first impression can lead to an avalanche of negativity.

And I want you both to get to know each other better as like I said this situation has broken some trust. You both need to make steps to rectify it. I will organise an official exercise," she decided.

"If you feel you have to do that, go ahead." Scarlet said with a non-committal shrug. "Speak with Lieutenant Godding regarding my availability and I will attend."

"Is there anything else you'd like to discuss councilor?" He asked slowly.

"Its not about "me" David. Its never about me," Caroline told him. "I am hoping your going to show me something of the old David I used to know though. What did you do when you were on break from the Merlin?" she asked him.

"I returned to the academy to teach and train new cadets." Scarlet said quietly, almost wistfully. "There are a lot of new tactics and weaponry coming down. I'm hoping to get Merlin integrated with them sooner than later."

"And how did that go?" Caroline asked.

"I didn't like how the cadets responded to me when I had pips. They didn't think for themselves. Officer says jump, they jump off a cliff." Scarlet continued. "So I got rid of the pips and the change was night and day. They listened and understood instead of just doing."

"You shouldn't group one everyone into one camp because of the actions of one group of cadets," Caroline told him. "It also sounds like you got a dud group of cadets if anyone wouldn't question jumping off a cliff. I went back as well and did my elective to become a counsellor. I had both commissioned, non commissioned teachers and some were privately based counsellors. All of which were excellent in their knowledge and interactions with our group."

"I'm glad you had a better experience." Scarlet said quietly. "They did too, once the pips disappeared."

"The pips changed very little I will wager. You changed from the decision to drop them," Caroline observed. "And that change made you more approachable to them and them willing to stop being idiots."

"Approachable?" Scarlet couldn't help but chuckle. "I take offense to that."

"Not all officers are useless. But there are enough that abuse their power and position that it's a problem." Scarlet said firmly. "Which means it should be everyone's problem."

"And I will agree when I come across such officers," Caroline said a brief thought on O'Hara and her shenanigans flowed through her mind . "But you can't go into life on this ship always assuming and looking for that. Because that's what you will decide to see."

"Hazard of the job." He replied with a shrug. "I expect the worst and then I'm not surprised when it happens. I know that isn't what you want to hear, but that helps me do my job."

Caroline looked at him sadly and shook her head. "No. It allows you to alienate yourself and justify it to yourself."

"Maybe your right." Scarlet said with a shrug. "But right now, it's ingrained in me. Not even just a habit."

"That's because you choose to do so," Caroline told him. "If you choose to make a change then that itself changes."

"I'll consider what you've said doc." He looked at her squarely in the eyes. "I will. But at this point I'm not sure what would have to change to make a difference."

"Well in the first instance you could try make the effort to get things with Chief Rathburn in a better place and stop looking for and deciding people are corrupt officers," Caroline suggested. "You just need to get to know people better to see there's far more to them I think."

"I will attempt to make amends with Lieutenant Rathburn." Scarlet said with a sigh. "An olive branch so to speak."

"Maybe take her to dinner or something," Caroline suggested. "And if you sort things then I don't need to make you do a trust exercise. A dinner out is a far nicer experience. Report back on how it goes," she told him.

"I have to return to duties. Unless there is something else that needs discussing." Scarlet calmly said as he stood up from his chair.

"Not unless you do," Caroline replied. After all counselling was all about the patient not her.

"Very well. Good day Councilor." Scarlet said as he turned and left the office. He had a lot to digest.

OFF