Facing your demons

Posted on Sun May 28th, 2023 @ 8:45am by Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Lieutenant JG T'Kek [Naxea]

Mission: Season 6: Episode 2: Survival
Location: Commons Tent
Timeline: MD 07; 1130 Hours
865 words - 1.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Naxea entered the commons building, thankful for the reprieve from the cold. She was getting tired of the cold. Currently, Gami was watching Sle'anna as she needed a break and some time to herself. As she fixed a cup of hot coffee and moved to sit down at a table near one of the heaters, she paused as she spotted a medical officer sitting at a table alone. The other tables were nearly full as she made her way over to the Vulcan Medical officer.

"Mind if I join you, ensign.." Naxea asked, unable to place the ensign's name.

T'Kek was lost in thought. Things were as bleak as they could possibly be. He had had trouble sleeping since being marooned on this ice planet. First was surviving the ordeal that got them here where he had lost his first patient and then Miraj had been brutally attacked. He honestly wasn't sure how much more he could endure at the moment. It seemed the only thing keeping him from losing control of his emotions was busying himself with work, which left him feeling more alone than ever. At least until Dr. Sthilg had ordered him to take some time off.

"Hello? Lieutenant?" Naxea repeated, tilting her head to the side slightly.

It took a moment to realize that the Marine Detachment Commander was standing at his table. "Oh," he replied standing up quickly. "I apologize, Colonel. Of course," he gestured to one of the empty chairs. "Lieutenant T'Kek, ma'am."

Naxea sat down, studying the young man for a moment as she took a sip of coffee from her cup. "You seem preoccupied with something. Care to tell me?"

T'Kek hesitated at the offer. He didn't want to burden the lieutenant colonel with his problems and yet he needed to speak to someone, yet nobody was around most of the time, either working or spending time couped up in their tents with loved ones.

T'Kek looked up from his cup of warm green tea and at the colonel. "Well, during our ordeal, I lost my first patient ever and under normal circumstances, I would have saved him without much issue. But because of the power loss and lack of access to more appropriate medical equipment, I lost him. And now someone savagely beat Ensign Derani. I believe for the first time in my life..." he took a deep breath, shaking his head slightly in defeat. "I am unsure of myself."

"I see..." Naxea said softly as she mulled over how to approach T'Kek. She recalled seeing T'Kek and Miraj together at the Lalor's wedding reception. "I take it you are attracted to Ensign Derani?"

"I was, but it is apparent that she does not reciprocate those feelings," T'Kek replied. "Does it ever get easier, ma'am?"

Naxea shook her head as she finished a sip of her coffee. "No, and if anyone ever tells you otherwise, they are either lying or mental."

"How do you deal with it then ma'am? I feel lost...alone," T'Kek said, staring into his cup of tea.

"Well, in regard to death, especially in your case, I am sure you did everything possible to save the man. Sometimes things happen that are out of our control, especially in Starfleet, out here in uncharted space. Take that instance and strive to become a better doctor. How many lives have you saved since our ordeal?"

"Fifteen I believe, ma'am," T'Kek said after a moment of thinking over the past several days.

"That's fifteen crew that are alive and going back to their families," Naxea grinned at T'Kek. "Focus on that. From what I have heard, you appear to be a competent and intelligent doctor or else you wouldn't have graduated Starfleet Medical or receive a promotion to lieutenant."

"Now," she continued. "As for Ensign Derani, I am sorry if she doesn't share your feelings, but right now she needs all the medical attention she can get. Just be there for her and make sure she doesn't die, ok? As the human saying goes...there are plenty of snails in the ocean. Stop being so hard on yourself."

"T'Kek grinned at the colonel getting the human saying wrong. "I believe the saying is 'Plenty of fish in the sea.'"

"Ah, that does make more sense..." she pondered the saying, feeling foolish at getting it wrong.

"But thank you, ma'am. I needed to talk to someone about this."

"Of course. Stay positive, Lieutenant T'Kek. There are plenty of officers in the Federation, but the great ones are the ones who have fallen and picked themselves back up."

"Thank you, ma'am," T'Kek replied looking at the colonel. He truly did feel better having vented to someone about his issues.

"You're welcome," she replied, taking one long last sip of coffee. "Well, I better get back to Sle'anna before Gunnery Sergeant Gami comes to find me," she chuckled as she stood. You look like hell. Try to get some rest, lieutenant."

"Aye, ma'am," he replied, standing as Naxea left the table.

He sat back down in his chair, downing the last bit of green tea in his cup as he mulled over his conversation with the colonel.