Post Number: 297 *Reluctant Conversation*

Posted on Sat Aug 23rd, 2025 @ 3:50am by Ensign Erin Couldis & Lieutenant JG Jason Neniphim

1,401 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: A New Beginning

On:

Erin glanced at her schedule as her current patient left her office. She did a double-take, the name being unfamiliar with her. Jason Neniphim... Who was this? She quickly did a database search, and learned of his recent arrival and some small amount of his backstory. She knew that he had been assigned Counseling both because of the trauma they had all faced, but also because of his personal experiences. She expected their meeting to be interesting to say the least.

Looking up from my console, I frowned. Counseling? Sighing heavily, I stood, locking the console like I would have in my time. As I keyed in for directions to the office I was requested too, I followed the blinking blue lights. "How odd," I mused as I kept walking. It didn't take long, then again, the star base wasn't that big. As I knocked on the door frame I looked in to see Erin. "You called?" I asked softly.

"I did," Erin said with a welcoming smile, and motioned for the man to enter her office. "It looks like the Chief Medical Officer put in for some mandatory counseling." She studied his expression as he entered, the practiced look of someone used to therapy and doctors. "Let's just have a chat," she said.

"Let me guess." Jason said staying in the door. "I have nothing to fear, this isn't what I think it is. You're just wanting to see how I'm doing." He says, almost angrily. "I'm fine, works fine, everything's fine. Is that it?" He asks, forgetting the councilor can bench him at any time.

Erin didn't react, but instead let him vent. She sensed a lot of pent up frustration and anger in the man, her Betazoid senses picking up that and more. She gave him a small smile, not patronizing, but friendly, and finally spoke when she was sure that he was done.

"Honestly I am afraid a lot of the time these days," she admitted to the man. "Telling you there is nothing to fear after all that we have gone through is simply a lie, and I would not lie to you. I DO want to see how you are doing, but that's true with everyone I see here. We have all endured something absolutely terrible, and I don't see how any one of us, from the Senior Staff on down, could be fine and okay."

"Like I said, I'm good," Jason said still not moving from the door jam. Instead he closed himself off, crossing his arms over his chest. "Captain gave me a purpose, so I'm going to go back to that." he said a little hostile. "Look Ensign, it's not you. I've been through this too many times to even try to be cordial."

Erin watched his body language for a moment.

"A purpose is good," she said after a moment. "Purpose can be extremely helpful when trying to handle everything that life seems to throw at us." She glanced down for a second, and then back up at him. "I understand that you have had many meetings with Counselors, but this is mandatory, and while I do not want to force you, the Doctor has. So, why don't you come sit down and we can just have a friendly conversation."

"Know what's funny Ensign? I havent even seen the good doctor yet." Jason said as he pushed off the door. "Why dont I make that my priority over some therapist that couldn't care-"

Erin held up her hand to stop him.

"With all do respect, Lieutenant, you do not know me or what I possibly care about. You haven't even stepped foot in my office, how could you possibly know what I may or may not care about?" Erin's eyes flashed for a moment, and then calmed herself. "I have lost almost everyone I care about in this life, and have dedicated my life to helping others through their pain and trauma as a way of honoring them. So forgive me, Lieutenant, but I do care, deeply." She cleared her throat and took a deep breath. "Doctor Stokes didn't have to see you to order you to see a Counselor. You have a medical file, one that she was given up on your arrival on this station. She used that to determine that speaking with me would be helpful for you. Believe it or not, we care about the crew that works here- and that includes you now."

Jason sighed as he shook his head. "So what's that file say? I was on Earth when we got attacked? I got lucky? Again?" He said still not stepping into the office. "But that's not what youre going to look at. You're going to ask how im holding up, knowing my families land, land they havent owned in generations is destroyed. You're going to ask if I feel the loss. No. Not yet. Maybe when I find a signal from somewhere. Anywhere. Because right now? Right now all I have is Signal Lost. And that's not what the Captain needs to hear. Or the new President. They need to hear that im working hard, setting up communications, getting us information as quickly as possible." He said not as angrily.

"We all got lucky," Erin replied simply. "That's obvious, and frankly I don't care what the file says." Erin pushed the data padd to the side as she spoke. "The Captain needs hard working crew, yes of course, but he also cares that everyone is healthy, both in the body and the mind. I've known Captain Pontmercy for several years now, and I can say with absolute certainty that he would rather know that his people are well. Lieutenant, look at this from my perspective for a moment. You just arrived here, after enduring something horrible. You throw yourself into work, and despite a Doctor's orders, can't even bring yourself to cross the threshold of my office. You're angry, and while that raises some alarm bells, you have every right to be angry. You have things that need to be dealt with, and I'm happy to help you. Please make this easy on yourself and get some assistance. There's no shame in it."

"Never said there was. And I used to believe in therapy." Jason said softly. "When im ready, ill come see you. The job... that's got to come first right now. Sitting here telling you I feel nothing about the loss of a planet that isnt... isnt what I remember doesnt help anyone," he said in a controlled manner. His arms sagged a little. "But if I remember correctly, it only works if both parties are invested in it. Im not, and I dont know when I will be."

Erin didn't speak for a moment, but instead looked at the man, his defiance a self protecting behavior, and knew that there was a lot beneath the surface that needed to be discussed, but maybe not then. Maybe.

"These are orders from the Chief Medical Officer, Lieutenant, and not something to be ignored," she said after a while. "Be that as it may... Here is what I am going to do." She stood up and walked to the front of her desk before speaking again. "If you agree to come to my office once a week, just to check in, then I will count them as completing your required therapy. However, if you refuse or ignore this, I will have no choice but to inform the Chief, who will relieve you of duty. I don't want to force you to have therapy when you're not ready, so compromise with me."

"I cant promise that ill be here the same day each week," Jason said softly. "Or that I'll ever be ready to talk about... it." He looked away as if he were squashing memories, or looking for happier times. "BUT, I can try to be here once a week." He said with a note of finality. "The job has to come first, or everyone that died, did so in vain."

Erin nodded, assured that he would show up. He seemed earnest, if not haunted by his demons, and trusted that he would stick to his word.

"Good enough for me. I'll see you next week, Lieutenant."

Off:

Lieutenant Jason Neniphim
Intelligence Officer
Starbase Obsidian

Ensign Erin Couldis
Assistant Chief Counselor
Starbase Obsidian

 

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