In depth with Fay

Posted on Thursday 10 December 2020 @ 16:45 by Commander Caroline Miller & Civilian Sansa Draxx-Jones

Mission: A Whale of a problem (We're going to need a bigger boat)
Location: Caroline's office
Timeline: MD9 1100
1201 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Fay had decided to go and talk to Caroline. Sansa had suggested it might be a good idea to talk about things with her. To Fay, this was an unusual concept. "We don't have anything like a counsellor on our world."
She had thought to Sansa.

"Well, this will be another new experience then." Sansa thought back.

Fay pressed the chime on Caroline's door.

The blonde counsellor opened the door and smiled. "Well hello ladies. How can I be of assistance?"

Fay smiled at the greeting. "Hello Caroline. Sansa suggested that we should come and see you. I explained to her that we have no concept of a counsellor on our world..."

"Interesting. Well if you see any benefit in what I do it might be something to introduce back on your world," she smiled. "I'm responsible for the mental well-being of the crew and civilian staff. A sounding board for advice and someone who helps people. We have doctors who help keep peoples bodies healthy, I try to help keep peoples heart and souls happy. Come in, come in. Sit down. Refreshment?"

Fay thought for a moment. "A traditional lemonade please. Sansa introduced it to me and I rather like it. It has a... distinct flavour."

"That it does. Would you like to try a pink variation?" Caroline asked. "It's a little sweeter on the taste buds."

"That does sound interesting." Fay said "Yes, I'll have one of those, please. So people come to you and tell you what is troubling them?"

"Pink lemonade," she said to the replicator, "And a caramel coffee,"

She picked up both drinks and indicated the sofa. Handing the pink lemonade to Fay, she sat down and answered her question. "Yes, exactly and I try help them process everything and come to the action they want to do in situations."

"Well I'm still getting use to life away from my home, and sharing Sansa's body." She paused as she looked at her hands again before continuing. "I'm the first one of our kind ever to leave our planet. Also, I'm missing Tann."

"What your doing is amazing and so brave," Caroline told her. "I understand," she said at her comment on Tann.

"Can you not contact Tann via subspace? We have our people down there still. I'm sure if you want to speak there is a way to connect you both," the thought occurred to Caroline.

Fay shook her head sadly. "Before I left, Owan asked that I not contact Tann until he had a chance to... sort things out with him. It still shook Owan to his core, having Tann turn against the council. Even if he was right. Those two have still got a lot to sort out, Owan is Tann's father after all. Tann said he would call me as soon as he could but time works differently in the Etheria so... who knows when that will be."

"Lets try to be positive that its sooner rather than later," Caroline said with an encouraging smile. "In the meantime your not alone. We are all here for both you and Sansa."

"That's very kind of you Caroline. I must say everyone on the Merlin has been nothing but pleasant and welcoming. Why were the tales and information we got from our communication with the whales of your planet so different?"

"I have no idea, I'm sorry," the blond admitted. "Perhaps there was some misunderstandings or communication nuances?"

"It was a very sad time for my people. The communications from the whales kept getting darker and darker. The communications became less and less until one day, they just stopped..."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Our people, well let's be honest. We took some time to grow up and our first encounter at that time you probably didn't see the best of us. We weren't warp capable then and had no understandings of the bigger picture out here. I do sincerely hope that who we have become now, it's better for relations," the blond said thoughtfully.

Fay nodded "Agreed. It does take some time for us to know what is happening with the Whales on your planet, due to its great distance. That's why the decision was made to send the probe. But as you say, that is in the past now. Thanks to Melody, a new age of peace and cooperation had begun."

"Well I'll certainly drink to that," Caroline clinked her own pink lemonade to Fays. "Are you looking forward to seeing Earth? I can't wait to get back to Sweden. That's where my family hail from," she told her.

”Yes I am looking forward to seeing Earth.” Fay replied. ”Sansa very kindly shows me some information on the ship's computer. So many different environments. Will you be visiting your family?”

"I certainly will. We hail from Sweden. In fact, it's an odd situation. But one of the Darwin crew believes himself to be my great grandfather. We are going to work out if that's true. I assume you will be visiting Sansa's family in Italy?"

"Yes, Sansa had mentioned her father has relatives who own a restaurant there, it will be interesting to meet them." Fay finished her drink. "Thank you for your hospitality, Caroline. I enjoyed our chat," she said as she stood. "I hope you have a.... pleasant day."

"There's something else isn't there?" Caroline asked as they seemed to suddenly run away. "You seem different. Has something else happened? How are you mixing with the rest of the crew?"

Fay stopped. "I seem to be developing Feelings towards Mathias. He... He reminds me of Tann and the other day in the holodeck, I kissed him. This has caused some conflicting emotions in both myself and Sansa."

Caroline opened her mouth stunned. Where had that come from? Well clearly she was an idiot. That one meeting with Matthias she had come away from it thinking something was starting there. He had said he wanted to take her to dinner after all. What was all that act about? the flowers, the arbetorum, pan pipes. poetry ... telling her how beautiful her name was ...... Oh yes she was a fool.

"How exactly did that happen?" she asked regaining her composure. "And yes I can imagine, conflicting emotions and feelings. Are you exploring it further? What about Hayley in all this?"

"I was on the holodeck swimming with whales. Sansa helped me write the program. Mathias turned up and I invited him to join us. I find him interesting and very complex and before I knew what I was doing, I kissed him. Sansa is concerned about what Hayley will think and for the moment, I have agreed with her not to do anything further until we have spoken with Hayley. But... I would like to see him again."

"Then you should see him again," Caroline suggested. If the man was interested in her not Caroline she was mature enough to step aside completely there. .. " You don't have to be physical with him to get to know him more."

"Thank you Caroline, you have given me a lot to think about," Faye replied.

"Any time," the blond nodded.

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