Violation Of One's Self

Posted on Tuesday 26 October 2021 @ 15:17 by Lieutenant Nir’anyar & Commander Caroline Miller

Mission: First Contact
Location: Chief medical officers office
1173 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

After reporting back into Melody and Rejal, Caroline made her way to sickbay. She knew her friend would need her from being told what had occurred on the planet. She had had no idea that they had been at the same facility. They had just missed each other.

"Anya," she said quietly at the door way as she watched her friend looking like she was poised between bursting into tears and staring into space.

And she was still a wash but this time the emotions were conflicting. Sorrow, upset, anguish and disgust at herself for her inability to lead on the planet, but the flip side was shock and pride that the captain would allow her to take the bridge officer examination and would not allow her to resign. She had taken a moment to just hide away having missed the recital as well. The soft tones of her friend at the door was all it took for the upset to bubble up. She was so happy to see her again and the tear started to fall as she stood and ran around the room to throw her arms around Caroline.

Caroline recipitated in a hug. "Hey its okay. I'm glad to see you too. I hear you had just as bad of an experience on that planet as I did."

"I made a mistake and the Captain, the crew and the inhabitants of the planet nearly paid the price!"

She left her friend go, now having joy in the mix but the tears were still flowing even if the sobs had settled enough for her to still function.

"Nearly Anya, nearly. And everyone makes mistakes. You just have to take away from it what you can to try to avoid something happening next time round," Caroline said. "Don't torture yourself."

The Doctor heard Caroline's words but they were not going in. She was still responsible no matter what anyone else said. She had to take solace in the fact the Captain wanted her to stay and would be putting her through the bridge officer examination even if it did mean she would likely be putting her career progression on hold for the time being until she could prove her worth once more.

"Welcome home.... I missed you!"

“Thank you. Well I made a mistake too,” Caroline said sadly. “I trusted orders blindly. I should have insisted on contacting my family first. Wouldn’t have got held captive then and you all have to rescue me.”

"I think it was a mess all around... Although having nearly wiped an entire biosphere out I think I have you beaten!"

She felt it was too soon to joke but perhaps she just needed to start laughing about it now and making light of it to help her get past it. "Sit down, do you want anything to drink?"
She moved out of the way allowing Caroline to sit down while she went to get herself some tea.

"Im dying for some coffee but ... i need to ask you to confirm if I'm pregnant first. Anya I got assaulted by one of the men who took me," she said.

"I beg your pardon?" a look of horror and shock started to spread across the amphibious beings features, something that did not enhance her lack of natural beauty by conventional standards. "How long ago was this?"

"The night I was taken," Caroline said. "So just over 2 months ago."

Anya said nothing more but collected up a Tricorder and rounded the desk and started to run the activated wand devise from the underside of the handheld scanner. Its soft hissing noise almost soothing given the tense nature of the visit. One women scared through her own poor judgement, the other scared because of being subjected to an assault. What came next was difficult for Anya to have to say.
"Caroline... You are pregnant!"

The blond nodded. “I’m not quite sure what to say now it’s confirmed.”

"There are a number of options available but you will need to consider heavily what you want to do... As your friend I will support you completely in whatever you decide to do but regardless of that I would like to refer you to a Counsellor" she could see that Caroline was about to object but before she could say anything Anya had raised a hand, motioning for her to allow the Doctor to continue. "What you have been through is a trauma and the circumstances you now find yourself in will be taxing beyond belief whether you feel you can handle it or not... As this ships Chief Medical Officer I can and will make this an order and the Captain will support me completely... You know this. I don't want it to come to that however so i am asking you to speak to someone. I can refer you through subspace to Commander Horn on the Copernicus or Lieutenant Zacci of the Majestic. I would suggest not speaking to one of your own staff as that could compromise your integrity as the ships Counsellor!"

“Anya why are you coming on so strong?” The blond asked. “Of course im going to talk to someone. Please make the referral. And I will be bringing this life into the universe. It’s innocent. It’s father might be a terrible being but you can’t blame the child for the sins of the father.”

"I have to propose all options to my patient, which is what you are first and foremost... I apologise if I came on a little strong" she squeezed Caroline's hand a little. "Do you know anything of either Counsellor... do you have a preference?"

"I have heard of Horn," she said. "He was one of the possible mentors when I joined the programme to retrain as counselor. I picked Liam Reynolds instead as he was quite dreamy to look at."

"Reynolds... Is he any relations to that hunky specimen that Captains the Andromeda? Now, I don't normally go for Humans, far to plain and boring to look at... He however, hmmm, one fine specimen of man!" She leaned forward a little at her desk. "Do you know where I can find Mr Reynolds? The Counsellor, not the stud muffin!"

"Yes they are twins," Caroline said with a grin. "Jon. He's spoken about his brother to me. The universe decided they had to use that mould twice," she joked.

"I will track him down and schedule some subspace consultations... if that suits you!" Anya asked, feeling a little more like herself just knowing that her friend was back.

"Most definitely," Caroline said. "Thank you Anya. And for confirming this," she said patting her stomach. It was strange but suddenly that felt like the first beginnings of a proper connection.

END

●●● Commander Caroline Miller
Chief Counselor
USS Merlin


●● Lieutenant Nir’anyar
Chief Medical Officer
USS Merlin