Reporting for Duty!

Posted on Wed Dec 2nd, 2020 @ 6:59pm by Cadet Senior Grade Kedar Rackthorn & Lieutenant Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik

Mission: Season 4: Episode 3: Guided by Starlight
Location: Counsellor's Office
Timeline: Current
1748 words - 3.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Kedar entered his quarters and looked around. He'd been here just a short while ago, but had been so busy with guests he hadn't taken a proper look at the place.

On a ship the size of this, even the Cadets and Junior Officers got pretty sweet accommodation and for that he was happy. Back in the academy, his room mate used to complain about fur everywhere, but he didn't even molt that much!

Kedar slipped the necklaces he'd bought into a storage drawer and checked himself in the mirror, making sure he was neat and spraying some breath freshener into his sharp-fanged maw before heading out and towards the Turbolift which he entered and stated: "Deck 11".

The doors opened onto the Counselling deck, his first time here exploring where he would hope to be working one day as a commissioned officer. He looked around, the walls all looking the same but eventually found the office for the Chief Counsellor and headed to the door, pressing the chime and waiting.

Alicia was sitting stretched out on the sofa and was pouring over reports, catching up as well as scheduling appointments and psych evaluations for new arrivals when the door chime rang. “Come in.”

Kedar entered the room, looking around at how the Lieutenant had chosen to decorate it and then looked at her. "Reporting as promised, Ma'am".

“Cadet Rackthorn, come on in, make yourself at home” Alicia smiled warmly as she rested the PADD she was holding on her bump. “How went your trip to the station?”

He smiled, noting that she had remembered where he was. "Oh it was nice, I met the new Ensign, Luen? She was on her way onboard, then I took a walk around, bought some nice things and just came back here. I'm looking forward to getting started, eager to see what a cadet does in their final year alongside classes, working on a Starship is a dream!" he said, doe-eyed.

Alicia grinned. “Oh I remember that feeling! Just remember that it’s not all excitement and fun, being aboard a starship can see you dragged into all kind of dangers and we as Counsellor’s are on the frontline of the mop up squad.” She motioned to the seats. “Feel free to use the replicator if you’d like.”

He nodded and walked to the replicator. "Raktajino, sweet" and grabbed the drink before sitting down at the seat Alicia had pointed to.

“We all experienced a mirror universe that’s turned all our worlds upside down” She paused to take a sip of her drink. “For me, I came back with a twelve month old baby boy, the son of my mirror counterpart and the counterpart of Commander Taylor. Connor is now almost a year and a half and I’m six months with my own baby. As of next month I’ll be dropping back my duties for my maternity leave, I’ll still be around but Lieutenant Sullivan will be carrying more of the working load.”

Kedar blinked. "Wow, that's some story..." he said with a smile. "I guess I'm gonna have to learn to deal with situations of all kinds onboard." He sipped his drink but it was too hot so he blew it to cool. "I've wanted to be a Counsellor for a long time and the opportunity to do my final year on a real ship was just too hard to pass up. I know it's dangerous but it's also exciting."

Alicia smiled at Kedar’s enthusiasm. “For me Counselling was a natural thing to do, I’m half Betazoid and for us our empathic abilities come in as a plus point when dealing with patients. Do you see yourself as a Starship based Counsellor in the future?”

He nodded softly. "I do yes, for me, my interests have always been Social Psychology and Anthropology, I like to understand how and why people are the way they are. I think I'd be suited one day to be on the bridge advising on cultures and such, but also doing things like crew evaluations and such, also I hope to try my paw at diplomacy." he said confidently.

“Wow you’ve certainly got good aspirations Kedar” Alicia smiled warmly. “While you’re here it’ll give you a chance to try those various areas and see what suits you best. As a Counsellor you’ll automatically advise your CO when dealing with new or known cultures.” She moved slightly to sit more comfortably, “I’ll see if I can get you onto the bridge every now and then too. It’s all good experience.”

The Caitian grinned at hearing that, sipping his hot drink. "That would be amazing, thankyou." he stretched his arms out a little. "Will I be reporting to you for my assignments this year or is there someone in the Academy here I need to talk with?" he asked. "Gotta make sure I don't miss anything."

“Now that ...” Alicia looked at her pile of PADDs. “Is a very good question! I have a feeling I read somewhere that we’ll be responsible for Counselling cadets, at least for now. There’s lieutenant Tate as well as Commander Savar, my husband, in the Counselling department so there’s enough of us to teach you.”

He smiled mischievously. "Husband and Wife, both Counsellors, I bet that makes arguments fun.." he joked. "Both trying to psychoanalyse the other. Gives a whole new meaning to 'Couples Counselling'" he said, then realised that could have been super rude. "Sorry Sir...I mean Ma'am...I meant no disrespect." he bowed his head slightly.

Alicia grinned seeing the funny side. “Actually my husband is a Vulcan, which makes arguments completely moot! Not that we have any. I consider myself very lucky to have him.” She looked at Kedar curiously. “Do you have a special lady at all?”

The question made Kedar blush wildly and his eyes widen. "Oh uh...no Ma'am, nobody in my life but me" he said with an awkward chuckle. "But there's always the future to meet someone special, especially when the whole Galaxy is to be explored."

“Very wise thinking” Alicia nodded and smiled warmly. “To be honest I know very little about Caitians, so I’d appreciate it if you could teach me about your people?”

He smiled, if he loved anything, it was talking about himself. "Oh, sure, well, what do you wanna know? I suppose I can give just an overview and then you can pipe up with questions?" he asked, not really waiting for an answer.

"So, Caitians are from the planet Cait and surrounding system. We're a felinoid race and our females tend to resemble what humans would call domestic cats, whereas males like me are more akin to your "lions". He continued. "We're generally more lithe than humans and shorter, though some are impressively tall, if from certain climates."

Kedar stretched, thinking of what else to add. "Oh, our immune systems aren't the best as a species, so we need regular check-ups, plus we're particularly affected by poisons more than other species, even alcohol." he said with a nod, looking to the Counsellor to see if she had any more questions.

“To coin a Vulcan phrase, fascinating!” Alicia smiled warmly. “So you’re very similar to the big cats of Earth just a more evolved species. The domestic cats of Earth used to be worshipped by the ancient Egyptians.” She offered a smile. “So do you only take mates of your own species?”

He blushed once more. "Well, some of us do, traditionally in the olden times, we mated for life, one partner, from adolescence to old age, but like other species, we've evolved past the need for rapid procreation and are free to explore mates of all species, I certainly wouldn't limit myself to a Caitian." he said with a chuckle.

Alicia nodded. “Sorry I didn’t mean to embarrass you, I’m just curious. Enough personal questions for now. How have you been getting along in your Academy studies? Anything you’re finding difficult or you feel you need more information or practice on?”

Kedar flicked his tail a bit. "It's okay, just we Caitians mature a little later than most humanoids so I'm barely out of puberty, thinking of a mate is just a bit crazy to me so early in life." he said with a smile. "I'm finding my studies are going well, I'm particularly enjoying my Xenoanthropology classes and my Diplomacy classes. I really think I can make a difference with cultural studies." he said with a thoughtful expression. "The difficult one is Xenobiology, I'm medically trained but I do tend to forget the latin terms. No wonder humans stopped using latin!"

“They are difficult that I’ll grant you!” Alicia grinned. “We barely use Latin terms out of the Academy, unless you specialise in that area in which you’d need the knowledge. If cultural studies are your thing then concentrate on that, it’ll give you the grades you need to follow that as part of your career.”

He nodded. "Yeah, hoping so, now I just need to work out where everything is on the ship, it's bigger than I expected!"

“I suggest downloading the map of the ship onto a small PADD, either that or just ask the computer to guide you.” She smiled warmly. “Even now I still carry a map around incase I need to get somewhere I’m not used to going.”

He nodded. "Already got it on my PADD, I figured I'd take a walk around after this, see what's where, find out where to eat, drink and socialise as well as maybe meet some of the other cadets and Officers. Does the ship have any social activities or...?" he trailed off, realising this wasn't the academy any more.

Alicia smiled. “There are places to gather, there’s a theatre, gym, lounge, art workshop and gallery, holosuites, and more. Have a tour around and see what you like.”

Kedar hopped up and off of the chair. "Thanks so much, this has really helped and it's lovely to meet you. Congrats on the baby too. I guess I'll go look around and find places. I'll see you around soon?"

Alicia nodded. “You certainly will, have fun touring!”

The Caitian smiled and whistled as he left the office, heading for his tour of the ship, unsure who he would run into next.