*This post is a bit in the future of current events.*


Stardate: 2368.04.10
USS Discovery, Bridge – 1500
Ensign Burrows looked at the ships sensors readings as he calibrated. Unexpectedly, they registered something odd. “Sir. I detect a ship coming out of warp. Bearing 3479 mark.”

Lt. Tzi looked up, “On screen. Check with Starbase and see if they expected a visitor.”

Burrows did as he was ordered, putting the view on the location of the disturbance and sending a message at the same time. “Starbase reports the Valmont is due in eight hours.”

As if the mention of the name was enough to conjure the vessel, the Vlamont appeared on screen as it came out of warp speed. A Norway class ship, the Valmont was a diplomatic ambassador vessel that was the centre of the Federations efforts to broker peace to the civil war of the Torkin Manes system. The ship was damaged - phaser and disruptor burns scorched the hull as a testimonial of how the peace process had a few challenges. Some large holes remained unpatched and held by force field.

“They are early then, “ Lt. Tzi commented outloud.

“Sir. They are hailing us. Captain Horatio wants to speak to our captain.”

“Very well. Patch the message through to the Captain in his ready room.”

Stardate: 2368.04.10
USS Discovery, captain’s ready room – 15:05
=^=Captain Blair. The USS Valmont has entered this sector of space and Captain Horatio wished to speak to you=^= Came the voice of Ensign burrows over the comm..

“Very Well. Patch him through to my console.”

The screen flickered and the image of an old friend appeared. Horatio was stilling in the dark, of course, but there was no mistaking his old academy roomie.

=^=Captain. Good to see you again.=^= Horatio said.
"Captain Horatio!" Blair answered in a warm tone. "What brings you to this neck of the woods?"

=^=Crew transfer. I understand you need a first officer. I got one here that has grown a bit too big for this ship. Needs a bigger boat to move around so he doesn’t bang his head. =^=

Captain Blair's eyes narrowed a bit as it began to dawn on him who Horatio was referring to. "Avanti? Are you serious? But... Horatio, may I ask why?"

=^=Noah, you did me a favour give me Avanti, and believe me when I say, the mission would never had succeeded without him abroad. But the Valmont is going into dry dock for awhile and someone will grab him – I’d rather it be you and return the favour.=^=

"I honestly don't know what to tell you," Blair responded. "There's not an officer in the entire fleet that I'd rather have as my XO." Noah shook his head slowly. "Thank you, Horatio. When should we expect him?"

=^=He is finishing up some business abroad, saying goodbyes and all. I’ll shuttle him over around 17:00. Enough time for you to make arrangements?=^=

"Of course, old friend. We'll have everything ready for him before then. Thank you again, Captain. If I can ever do anything for you, don't hesitate to ask."

"You already did Noah, you already did."

Stardate: 2368.04.10
Time: 12:23 IN tubolift stopped at deck 2

Antoinette was rubbing her worry stone again.

Its not fair. Just because I am the last to be assigned, it is just not fair.
She look again at her PADD, there was a detailed digram of the deck and a gold dot representing herself and and blinkng hot pink for where she was headed, with a gold line marking her path along the corridors. She was stuck down at the end of a hall of the circular corridor surrounded by Senior officers. Deck three had all been assigne to Junior grade officers before she arrived and the only Jr Officers berths avaiable were on deck 2, with all the Senior officers.

Maybe she sould be glad for one thing, she had no roommate unless some poor schmuck was suddening transferred aboard in the next two days, but the Lieutenant, in Ops said she was the last one to report aboard. Of course it did not mean someone else was scheduled to come in after her.

=/\\\\=Deck 2.=/\\\\= chimed the lift

Toni took a step out of the lift and gave a quick look both directions before following the PADD to her assigned room. Once she keyed the door she lipped in a allow it to shut behind her before taking a deep breath and letting it out.

The she took it in again. A WINDOW!!! There in front of her was space, some apparatus of the dock, and some of the little Worker Bees buzzing about the hull of the Discovery. Toni lost track of time until she finally tore herself from the view, and went to pick a bedroom. IT did not take long to stow her gear and find a safe place to stow her case of stones and her box of tarot.
decks.

Now she had two things to do, one to learn the ship and two to learn the Lieutenant’s nickname. The man had all but challenged her openly about it. He was not the only one she wanted to learn about, but he would be first. The Senior cadet underground was a fount of information and it was there that Toni’s best friend, Jenny St. George, had given her the computer program that would allow her to “break” into security files of a higher level security clearance than her own. Jenny was a master computer whiz, so she had tweaked the program to go deeper and leave less trace that the one commonly circulated among the 4th year cadets. In fact Jenny stated with bragging, “It’s a whole new program really, the other was out dated and it left bits of a trail.”

Jenny synced her personal computer PADD to the service PADD and started the program.

“File search, Access personnel file of Lieutenant Nickolas Briggs.” While she waited for the program to worm itself in she went to her nightstand and grabbed a deck of cards, she might as well see what they had to say. After shuffling and cutting them a number of time she spread them in a fan and ticked 3 and turned them over one by one.

The Ace of Wands was a powerful male symbol, Lt Briggs was surely that, and there could be a number of males onboard to fit that. But the meaning was more that a powerful male. It stood for the initiation of creative ventures and physical actions. It told of Leadership potential through self-sacrifice. In all the card’s meaning was of power, activity and sacrifice to produce creativity and leadership.

Leadership again. That was twice in back to back readings.
The Emperor, another strong male figure wisdom through worldly experience, powerful creative energies, action as the road to fulfillment. Wisdom. Self-discipline. Authority. Protection. Self-control.

the Captain? Possible.
Turning over the last card, The Five of Cups. She paused to look at the female depicted on the card. She knew it meaning and it was her for it meant emotional motivations, loss, sadness, regret and failure to enjoy life.

The truth of the card hit home. The box of Tarot decks had been bequeathed to her by her Cajun grandmother, she had died at the beginning of Toni’s third year. Yes and there was regret, an old regret tied to why she was in Starfleet in the first place. Regret in giving up her dream, and in that was born her failure to enjoy life.

She sat staring at the cards until her PADD signaled that the Jenny’s “Snake” program was finished.

“Ah, ha!” she exclaimed as she read through the file. She smiled when she read his nickname. Maybe he should contact Jenny, she could probably get it erased off of Star Fleets records. In fact that was where she ended up, in Star Fleet’s Computer Security Department on Earth.

With a good sense of Lieut. Briggs she now went for files on Mactavish and Captain Blair. She gathered up her cards, placed then back in the box and left her PADD connected to the ship’s computer to bring up the files on the next two.

Toni straighten her uniform and headed back to the lift, “Deck One,” she announced. She might as well start at the top little knowing that it was to be her first duty post.

Stardate: 2368.04.10
USS Discovery, Main Bridge/Captain’s Ready Room – 1020

Doctor Solkar exited a turbolift and strode across the main bridge. His eyes and ears took in every detail of the place, down to the text on the displays on the science terminals at the back of the room. He could almost feel the sensory input being moulded in his mind into cognitive forms, easily compressible into his short term memory. As he stopped outside the door to Captain Blair's ready room, he let each of his senses lose focus, leaving him feeling quite ethereal for just a few moments, concentrating himself inwards and allowing himself to process everything he had observed.

"… won the wager on MacTavish. He just knew he'd go crazy without her."
"… he'll never go and see Venn, that's for sure. I've got my bet on him spacing himself before the year's out..."
A conversation he had overheard between two security NCOs on his way to the bridge had informed him that the crew had been making wagers on the psychological collapse of the CTO. A sinister demonstration of the depths of the human emotional world. As much as Solkar appreciated the diversity of cultures within the Federation, he could never understand why humans and other species, who so regularly complained of the problems caused to them by negative feelings, whose health, longevity and professional performance could be so easily damaged by stress and sadness, had almost unilaterally rejected the teachings of Surak. Never in his career had he met a non-vulcan who had even attempted vulcan emotional control methods, despite the obvious benefits it could have provided to some of the more unstable individuals he had encountered.

Perhaps I should try and encourage Mr MacTavish to utilise vulcan techniques before he resorts to "spacing himself".
Pulling himself out of his momentary trance, he sounded the chime, awaited the Captain's invitation, and entered.

Solkar swiftly appraised the man who awaited him behind the sliding doors. A tall, thin figure, implying physical fitness, was betrayed only by the slightest grey in his hair. Like most human high ranking officers, Noah Blair was, Solkar surmised, past his prime physically, although he still appeared to have plenty of strength left in him. As Solkar met his eyes he noted a great intellect behind them. Although it was an unscientific and unreliable method, the doctor had learnt that you can sometimes tell a great deal about a mind by observing the ways it perceptually interacted with the world. The way a person looks at things, listens to them, touches them, all seemed to him to betray a small component of how that person thinks about things.

"Commander Solkar, I presume?" the Captain asked.

"Yes sir," the doctor replied, noting the difference in address here. On DS6, everyone would call him doctor. Now that he was back on a starship, rank started to be more important again. "I am here to report for duty Captain."

"Welcome aboard the Discovery, doctor. Please, take a seat." Solkar took the Captain's hand, and moved to the seat offered to him, and sat down. He had returned to his state of concentrated alertness, being sure to observe each detail of the situation.

"I trust that you have found everything that you need so far," the Captain continued. "Your service record indicates that you are well qualified for this posting, though it seems that you had had issues with equipment in the past?"

He knows.
Solkar fought internally for a moment, and his perceptual clarity collapsed about him. He had not believed that Commander Lane would have told anybody, not even his new commanding officer, about the time he chose to breach his oath to do no harm.

No, the Commander would not betray my trust. Captain Blair is simply curious.
With barely a moment's effort, Solkar reasserted his concentration, and made his reply.

"Yes Captain, an unfortunate error that allowed one of my patients to take his own life. The experience has taught me not to permit a re-occurrence."

The Captain nodded. "You will find me to be a hands-off commanding officer – you are an expert in your field, and I will give you free reign to manage your own responsibilities as you see fit. That being said,” he continued. “If you have need of me, my door is always open."

"Thank you Captain." Solkar replied, observing no clues in the Captain's response as to whether he knew more than he was letting on. "I should inform you that I will be subject to the pon farr next year, and it would be advisable to permit me to return to Vulcan for that period."

OOC: allowing the Captain to respond

"Very well," Blair concluded. "I’m sure that you have enough duties to attend to, so I will not keep you any longer, doctor. Again, welcome aboard the Discovery."

Solkar stood up, thanked the Captain, and left.

He made his way back through the bridge and into the turbolift from which he had initially entered. As the lift descended, he let go of the outside world.

I have now made attempts to deceive two commanding officers in a row. How many more will it be?

Stardate: 2368.04.10
Time: 13:30
USS Discovery, in a Turbolift heading down to Main Engineering
What I still don't understand is... Why did she wait until the end of the conversation to put that... thing... away? It's not part of standard uniform, so she should have apologised or hidden it, not just kept on... holding it.

I know who can answer these questions. Well, Ensign La Rue probably can as well. But I don't trust her to answer accurately about her own personal habits...yet.
Touching his combadge, Nick placed a call to the one person he believed could help him. "Briggs to Counsellor Constantine." He ordered the combadge, before opening the actual call with "Lieutenant Diagram?" Nothing like low impulse control to scupper my chances of getting along well with a lady. That Klingon from shore leave doesn't count... "A quick question, if I may. Coping mechanisms. I think I remember one of my previous counsellors talking about some kind of balls that could be used to reduce stress, or something... Do you know what I'm talking about, or has my memory tricked me again?" As I remember, she was talking about balls and stress relief. If I'd paid more attention and made fewer rude jokes, I... would probably have had a better score on my psych eval, for a start.
OOC: Waiting for Venn's reply... and/or irritation at the obvious, and annoying, nickname. Assuming she remembers what worry balls are, and isn't too angry to tell Nick that:

"I see. Only my new ensign was using something along those lines, and I was wondering what it was for. Thank you for your assistance." I'll have to see about blasting that ball the first time I get La Rue onto a shooting range. If *I* can cope without mechanical aid, so can she.
Time: 14:00
USS Discovery, security post by Main Engineering A quick nod and a quiet 'as you were' to the Ltjg on duty were all Nick indulged in before heading to the terminal. Additional messages to go out: Informing the other department heads who their security officers for the next voyage would be, and asking if any of them had problems with the deployment. Average stuff. A check for a reply from their illustrious captain.

OOC: I'll insert something relevant if the Cap has replied by now.

The usual scanning of his current business.

OOC: Handy placeholder for if anyone else is after him.

Which just left... Drills. Jack gets to schedule attack drills. Vulcan Guy - I'll learn his name eventually! - gets to schedule medical drills. Callie gets to use actual drills. I get to do boarding drills - and I do have a new ensign to break in... A grin slowly spread across Nick's face. Everyone loves getting to pretend to board the ship. Likewise, everyone hates us running mock phaser battles through their department. So... which other department head has been naughty... and which has been nice?

...to me?

Stardate: 2368.04.10
Cmdr. Kennedy – Deck 12: Counselor’s Office – 1720
“I’ve just had difficulties focusing. But that’s typical during shore leave. I like being out there…” she waved toward the window looking out over the dark vastness of space. “I can think better out there. It’s easier to concentrate.”

Callie had come by the counselor’s office when she found herself staring at readout of antimatter performance in low gravitational fields. It was a project she was working on during her free time. Today though she couldn’t even focus on her hobby. For half an hour she had tried, cranking up the music until she felt the hairs on her arm rise with the base that pounded the engineering lab she was in. Finally she gave up and sent a message to Lt. Constantine asking if she could come talk to her.

Now here she was sitting in the plush green couch again, rambling on about shore leave and her inability to stay focused. Really it was ridiculous, but that was Constantine’s job: listening to her complaints.

The day had gone well all things considered, the torpedo exchange had gone on with nearly no hitches. It was now in the competent hands of her aCTO, Garrish. She trusted Garrish and had no doubt that they would get done with the project before the deadline she had set, the end of tomorrow’s Alpha Shift. Throughout the day she had hoped that her disinterest was due to the fact that it was simply routine that she was supervising. There was nothing to get passionate about, they were teleporting war heads and putting those beautiful new weapons into their homes. She had hoped that the antimatter would get her attention that a few hours working on her pet project would get the blood pumping and her brain cells snapping again; it didn’t. Her choices at that point were a trip to the Ten Forward or Constantine’s office.

Thinking of who might be already in the Ten Forward, and the lecture she would get from Garrish if he found out she had spent another night in the lounge, she went for the counselor.

Stardate: 2368.04.10
USS Discovery, Counselling – 1330

=/\\\\=Briggs to Counsellor Constantine. Lieutenant Diagram? A quick question, if I may. Coping mechanisms. I think I remember one of my previous counsellors talking about some kind of balls that could be used to reduce stress, or something... Do you know what I'm talking about, or has my memory tricked me again?=/\\\\=

Venn slid soft hands along her neck, working her fingers into knotted flesh. "It's Constantine," she reminded, making an effort to remove the edge from her tone. "I belive you refer to Tai Chi Balls, drivating from Earth's Ancient Chinese Healing practices. Similiar devices are used as focusing tools."

=/\\\\= I see. Only my new ensign was using something along those lines, and I was wondering what it was for. Thank you for your assistance. =/\\\\=

"We can discuss it more at your next session, if you like."

Musing that this was going to be a very long day, indeed, she tapped out a reminder to thhe Captain that he, too, was due on her couch, though she often allowed him the freedom of choosing where they met. Thoughts wandered to the end f the day, wondering what she would do with herself, wondering what Maressa would say, and sighed. It didn't matter, her mother had no voice here, and even if she ad, Venn knew the conversations would have ended up badly, defending herself and her solitary, stationary life aboard a ship like this.

Venn Constantine rubbed her eyes and pushed aside al thoughts of self and service, and instead returned to pouring over evaluations and reports.



Stardate: 2368.04.10
USS Discovery, Counselling – 17:20

Callie had come to her almost tentatively, and she welcomed her in. Venn drew her legs beneath her and shifted into amore cmfortabe spot, pushed the hair away from her eyes as she listened, nodding encouragingly.

“I’ve just had difficulties focusing. But that’s typical during shore leave. I like being out there…” she waved toward the window looking out over the dark vastness of space. “I can think better out there. It’s easier to concentrate.”

"Completely natural, Callie. It'sn entirely healthy response in certain types of individuals. What are sme of the things you've been doing to refocus?"

Venn's soft green eyes watched Kennedy's shoulders, the set of jaw and hands, and noted the faint signs of fatigue around the eyes.

((OOC: Allows for respnses))

"And how are you sleeping? Are you getting enough rest?"

It was a window to the issue lying beneath the conversation, the ones which she had been gently coaxing from Kennedyfor some time. Many found it difficult to open up initially to someone they did nt know, fearful of judgements or being told they were wrong, r even fearfull of being right. But in the time she had worked with Callie, Venn had found her emtionally guarded, and new it was because f great pain that she did not feel ready to part with yet.

Some needed to hold on to it, Venn herself was more than aware of that, but she hoped Callie would open up to her more often, as she had been doing lately.

"I'm not here to judge," venn added softly. "I'm just here to help you find a way through it."

Stardate: 2368.04.10
USS Discovery, Deck 7, PO2 Ruea Nami's Quarters – 0945
If one entered Ruea's quarters, they would immediately wonder if they had stumbled into a water reservoir, just from the sounds within. A wide fish tank lined one wall, on top of a chest of drawers, while miniature fountains were placed sporadically around the room, yet seemingly in such a manner that gave the room a very tranquil feeling. Ruea's blue hair was all that was visible, as she lay beneath the covers of her bed.

Ruea awoke to thunder. She blinked sleepily, glancing upwards, her blue eyes half expecting to see the sky covered with clouds, smiling with the promise of rain... instead, they saw the normal ceiling that lined most people's quarters. The thunder was just the alarm she had set. She sighed, and slowly got to her feet. The first thing she did was wander over to her aquarium, and looked at the fish inside.

"Good morning." She said gently, her hand reaching for the fish food shaker in the drawer under the tank, "Did you all sleep well?"

She chuckled as she felt the response. No, they didn't sleep that well, because Plecky must've been doing her routine tank clean, and kept waking them up.

"Oh well, you can always take a nap later." She told them, "Time for some breakfast, and Gus, I expect you to share this time." She chided, much as a mother would chide their child, gently, but firmly.

With a couple shakes, she watched the flakes of food sink from the surface of the water, to be quickly snatched and gobbled up by the fish inside.

"You'd think I haven't fed you for a whole day, the way you all eat so fast." Ruea giggled.

Within a short amount of time, half an hour, Ruea got herself ready for the day, and left her quarters. It was only a short walk to her destination, the cetacean tanks.

"Good morning." She said, and was immediately welcomed by Merrows swimming up to the transparent metal. The dolphin chirped excitedly, twirling around in the water, and Ruea couldn't help but laugh.

"I know, I know," She replied, "But I need to sleep now and then too, you know. Just give me a moment."

Then she heard Aqua. A mellow call, soft and loud at the same time.

"It's okay; I don't mind. I'm a bit impatient myself, to be honest." Ruea replied.

With a quick change, Ruea swapped her uniform for diving gear, and plunged into the tank. Merrows was already there, and nudged her gently as she entered. Taking a brush from her belt, Ruea began washing her friend. She knew that the waters were sanitized, filtered and so forth, but there really was no replacement for actual, physical care...

Stardate: 2368.04.10
USS Discovery, Counselling – 1720
“I’ve just had difficulties focusing. But that’s typical during shore leave. I like being out there…” she waved toward the window looking out over the dark vastness of space. “I can think better out there. It’s easier to concentrate.”

"Completely natural, Callie. It’s entirely healthy response in certain types of individuals. What are some of the things you've been doing to refocus?"

Callie shrugged, growing a bit tense at Constantine calling her ‘Callie’ at least it wasn’t ‘California’ but... she wasn’t that comfortable with the woman, then again she knew that Constantine was doing it to make her more comfortable, so she let it pass. “Work. My pet project with the antimatter… music… Music usually works. But not today.”

"And how are you sleeping? Are you getting enough rest?"

Again she shrugged. “Fine I guess. Maybe a bit too much honestly. Although I often don’t feel rested even after 10 hours of sleep. I just want to be back out there. I know you don’t feel it, but I do. When this ship is out there… I can feel it… here it is just sitting. Just sitting. With no purpose. Once it gets out there though…” she sighs and shakes her head trying to put words to feelings she feels but can’t fully understand herself. “But out there, she’s alive. Everywhere I go I can feel her around me, pulsing with power and almost throbbing with anticipation. It’s a high.” She almost laughs and shakes her head as she looks over at Constantine’s green eyes.

"I'm not here to judge," venn added softly. "I'm just here to help you find a way through it."

“I don’t want to –get through it- though. I just want to be able to stay focused. I hate being docked. This ship…” and she runs her hand down the couch as if for emphasis, “is nearly everything I have left. When she’s docked it’s like… it’s like… I… Garrish is so lucky!” She spits this last bit out, seemingly at random, but with great emotion. Cheeks flushed now, her eyes glistening with threatened tears.

“God… It’s ridiculous! Truly it is. I’ve accomplished so much with my life thus far, and there is no reason to believe I’ve plateaued. And I don’t wish to…”

With a sigh she turned her head back toward the window, a tear falling coolly down her cheek. “I just want to get on with the launch.” She finished quietly.

--------------------
Stardate: 2368.04.10
USS Discovery, Counselling – 1720
--------------------

"I'm not here to judge," venn added softly. "I'm just here to help you find a way through it."

“I don’t want to –get through it- though. I just want to be able to stay focused. I hate being docked. This ship…” and she runs her hand down the couch as if for emphasis, “is nearly everything I have left. When she’s docked it’s like… it’s like… I… Garrish is so lucky!” She spits this last bit out, seemingly at random, but with great emotion. Cheeks flushed now, her eyes glistening with threatened tears.

“God… It’s ridiculous! Truly it is. I’ve accomplished so much with my life thus far, and there is no reason to believe I’ve plateaued. And I don’t wish to…”

With a sigh she turned her head back toward the window, a tear falling coolly down her cheek. “I just want to get on with the launch.” She finished quietly.


Venn eased back into the sofa and cocked her head as she brushed aside the warwrd bangs, making mental note o visit the salon soon. Ignoring the comment about not feeling the same about docked versus in motion, she sank her teth into another issue entirel.

"Do you feel he's lucky because he does not share the same emotional connection to the ship that you do?"

Nodding encouragingly, she entered observation mode again, eyes trained to register the slightest change in body language, listening for strain and inflection.

"And do you think," she asked, following the thread she'd intended, "that you resonate so closely with this ship because it is, like you, a vesel of life, capable of creation and more directly, of change?"

Reaching under her seat as she gave Kennedy time to absorb her meaning, she removed a small flat box ad set it between them. when she opened the package, her heart hitched again at the monogramed MR o the white linen handkerchiefs. They'd been intended for her father years ago, but never made it.

Forcing asoft, reassuring smile to her lips, Venn leaned back angain, resting herhands on her thighs.

"When one suffers a tragedy," the counsellor began, "it is completely natural to form an attatchment to someone or even something that makes us feel safe, be it frm fromther physical or emotional harm. But it's etirely possible to let go of the pain without letting go of ones self, and how that pain has shaped you."

Stardate: 2368.04.10
Cmdr. Kennedy – Counselling – 1725
"Do you feel he's lucky because he does not share the same emotional connection to the ship that you do?"

She shook her head at that and frowned deeply.

"And do you think," she asked, following the thread she'd intended, "that you resonate so closely with this ship because it is, like you, a vessel of life, capable of creation and more directly, of change?"

Her face tightened at that, and she wondered just what the counselor had read off her file and if she was teasing her or not. But she grabbed one of the offered handkerchiefs though and dabbed at her eyes while she listened to Constantine talk.

"When one suffers a tragedy," the counselor began, "it is completely natural to form an attachment to someone or even something that makes us feel safe, be it from either physical or emotional harm. But it's entirely possible to let go of the pain without letting go of one’s self, and how that pain has shaped you."

And this is why I hate doing things like this… she thought gloomily to herself but tried to work with Constantine.

“This has nothing to do with the fact that I lost the Gallant. There is no life creating and no change! Garrish has a family to go home to, he loves this ship just as I do, but he has more to his life than that. He has something in his life that can love him back! That appreciates him… he has more than ambition to drive him.” The tears flow now and she wipes at her cheeks with the kerchief.

“The Discovery and I run on pure raw energy, I need her… she needs me… but sometimes… sometimes I need more. I need…” but she stopped herself short there and shook her head.

Those green eyes looking at her were too much and she turned her head back toward the window, staring out at the stars.

Stardate: 2368.04.10
Cmdr. Kennedy – Counselling – 1725

“This has nothing to do with the fact that I lost the Gallant..."
This did not go unnoticed. Venn pulled back from the subject and picked up a different thread. "It souds like this is the first time ou have cme to admit that, out loud. And I commend you for finding it in yourself to verbalize that need. I have something I would like you to try. It's my own personal program, and it takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour from start to finish. I'd like you to run Program Costatine XA-Beta."

Venn smiled. "You take care of this ship. You feel connected to it, you empathize with it, and you humanize it. And that's fine, there is nothing wrong with that at all. But It's time to take a step back now, and realize that you are going to do no good for her if you can not do goo for yourself. The program is designed to allow you to be taken care of, to be pampered. It stimlates and refreshes your mind as wel as your body, while relieving you of the responsibilites you are consumed with. Now you may find it frivolous, and you may think it's not something you have time for. But i would, in the net 24 hours, like you to run it at least once, and come see me after."

Venn shifted in her seat, repositioning, to uncramp her legs.

"Are you willing to step outside yourself for an hour?"

Stardate: 2368.04.10
Cmdr. Kennedy – Counselling – 1725
A holodeck program... so that is the answer huh?
She looked at Venn a bit skeptically.

It's either that or make some mistake in the Ten Forward with that ****ed cowboy... or... she wouldn't even let herself finish that statment.

"Fine... I'll try it. Sitting here at dock there isn't much else for me to do anyway. Thanks. I hope I wasn't interrupting your night or anything..." She sighs and finishes wiping at her cheeks before setting the the kercheif down.

Stardate: 2368.04.10
Counselling – 1730


"You are never a disruption. I'm here to help you, day or night."


to be honest, she had nothing planned and usually never did. She thought of pringing up her fathers last recrded class, but she sisn't think even the Great Max Romanov's voice would drive away the restlessness. And while she remained professionally warm and inviting, Venn had never gone out of her way to form the kind of friendships that would stand a quick commcall and an invite to Ten Forward.

Besides, she still had some correspondence she should take care of, and maybe swim a lap or two, but nothing sounded good. Her stomach growled and, ignoring it, she eached up to pull the band from her hair.

Raven waves fell in a shining sheet that she brushed through with her fingers, sighing as she checked her PADD for messages and issues.

Might as well be social, she thought. Ten Forward, here i come...

Stardate: 2368.04.10
Cmdr. Kennedy – Holodeck 1800
The steam of the hot spring she rested in rose up and swirled around her arms and face, droplets of moisture clinging to her pale skin and slicking down her dark hair. She took a deep breath of it, and smelled the coolness of the cucumbers on her eyes, smelled the cleanness of the water and the crispness to the mountain air. In the distance a bird made a slow sweet song.

She had slightly changed the program Constantine had told her to run when she saw it. Shifting the setting to something more familiar to her, the cool crisp mountains of her homeland, but the rest she had kept as Constantine had programmed it. For nearly half an hour now she had been pampered by a handful of holo-servants and finally allowed to soak in this tub.

"And do you think, that you resonate so closely with this ship because it is, like you, a vesel of life, capable of creation and more directly, of change?"
Out of the steam came the voice of the ship’s counselor. Callie tried to shove it back into the steam, tried to loosen the muscles in her face that had tensed. Instead her face tightened even further and her hot frustrated breath mingled with the steam and only seemed to draw in memories and thoughts she didn’t want to face.

When a strong but soft hand touched her shoulder she jumped. Cucumbers fell from her eyes and floated in the water as she turned quickly, her hand already forming a fist. The handsome younger man in the white robes looked startled at her reaction for a minute but then offered a smile of perfect white teeth.

“Time for your massage sir…”

The fist splashed down into the water, spraying little droplets across her own body and onto the bottom of the masseuses robe. Tears threatened to spill over and she turned her head to where she knew the exit was.

“Sheila! Get me out of here!” She commanded.

Everything flickered for a moment and suddenly she was in a white locker room. A towel hung next to her clothing on a nearby bench. Cursing lightly to herself she toweled off and then squirmed into her jeans and black t-shirt. A few minutes later she was stalking down the hallway toward the turbolift, hair still dripping down the back of her shirt.

Stardate: 2368.04.10
USS Discovery, Deck 11 Holodeck 1800
Ruea stepped out of the turbolift. It was rare that she left the cetacean quarters, but she did have a habit of playing in the holodeck.

This way, She added to herself, I do have an excuse that I lost track of time, and so missed the appointment... why Rena thinks I need counselling, I don't know, since if I do, then she does too.
It was almost her own program, rather unique considering its specifications and content, and she did feel a bit self conscious carrying her prop. Slung over her shoulder was what appeared to be a short staff of some sort, seemingly made from woven branches. On one end, the branches took on a blue, translucent tone, bent and gently holding an aquamarine gemstone, while on the other end, the branches appeared to be frosted over, and held another aquamarine stone. Yet, as she headed down the hall, she heard the sound of approaching footsteps.

"Oh! Commander!" She said in surprise, honestly not expecting a higher officer on the deck. Yet, as she looked at Callie, her eyes immediately were drawn to her still wet hair.

Taking an educated guess, but still a guess, Ruea quickly composed herself and added, "Um, I didn't know you swim..."