Catch up with Alicia

Posted on Thu Feb 1st, 2024 @ 7:12am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Lieutenant Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik

Mission: Season 6: Episode 4: Memory Lane
Location: Commodore's Ready Room, Deck 1, USS Elysium
Timeline: MD6- 14h00
962 words - 1.9 OF Standard Post Measure

Phoenix wanted to check in with each of her senior staff to see how they were getting on.

So, she made up a timetable and sent it out to the Senior staff, asking them to present themselves at a set time to her office for a one on one.

08h00 – Chief of Intelligence
09h00 – Marine CO
10h00 – Chief of Science
11h00 – Chief of Security/Tactical
12h00 – Chief of Medical
14h00 – Chief of Counseling
15h00 – Chief of Engineering
16h00 – Chief of Operations
17h00 – Chief of Flight Control
18h00 – Group Commander
19h00 – Chief Diplomat

Then she set up her office, ruthlessly moving her desk to the far corner of the room and shifted her couches closer to the window as she wanted this to be a relaxed meeting.

Alicia arrived exactly on time for her meeting with Phoenix, she was used to sticking to a timetable. Bringing with her a PaDD with departmental statistics incase Phoenix wanted to see it, she pressed the door chime and awaited admittance.

"Come in Alicia!" Came Phoenix's voice as the door opened. Phoenix was standing by the couches. "How are you counsellor?"

"I'm alright, thank you Commodore" Although she offered a smile, she didn't seem to be her usual cheery self. "Apologies, Little Lia suffered a setback during a Counselling session and it's got me a little rattled. Not one of my better days."

"Little.. Lia...oh right, the child Gary and Aurelia adopted." Phoenix had to get her mind around the name. "Its not surprising that there will be rough times, things being what they are."

Alicia nodded. "True. Little Lia collapsed during a Counselling session, it seems there's underlying trauma from the loss of her parents, although as you said it's to be expected." she offered a brief smile. "As for the Counselling department in general, after everything that's happened it's keeping us all busy."

Phoenix nodded. "And your team? They are coping okay with everything?"

"About as well as can be expected given the circumstances" Alicia offered a smile. "Everyone knows that if they need to talk, or they need a break that all they have to do is let me know. Savar is as always the strong one, both at work and at home."

"Good. And I do hope that people are coming to your department with their issues, the nightmares that people are suffering..." Phoenix said softly. "If you have not seen people for a bit, please let their team leads know."

"I will" Alicia nodded. "To be honest, I was having nightmares like everyone else, but they seemed to die down for a short while. They've recently started coming back, but so far I'm managing to control it. How about you?" she looked at Phoenix curiously.

"Bad dreams follow me" Phoenix shrugged. "They vary from dreams of past missions to an old recurring nightmare from my childhood. I have always had bad dreams. Mattias is more attuned to my sleep than prior partners so I try not to wake him."

Alicia nodded. "To be honest I think those who normally have recurring nightmares have been fairing better than those of us who don't. It's hardest on the children, it worries me what long term effect it might have on them."

"This whole thing will have long term effects on them." Phoenix said softly, "Only infants may never remember."

Alicia nodded in agreement. "I'm just glad that we've managed to find homes for the majority of the children who lost parents. Savar and I have adopted a Vulcan boy, I believe Emily Charles has adopted a little girl, Lia and Gary with Little Lia, it goes on..." she smiled warmly.

Phoenix nodded. "Its good. I know its hard on the children the most. I would ask that you get Tate to make sure she checks in with all children and their adoptive parents. Lets make sure they know counseling is a must."

Alicia nodded. “Of course. We’ve already had an incident with Little Lia, she completely shut down after she realised she wasn’t Human. The trauma of that happened to her parents is very deeply imbedded, so much so she either forgot, or purposely buried the fact that she’s Betazoid.”

Phoenix nodded. She had, had her own brush with that. "I heard that group sessions were being offered for the children, is that true?"

"To be honest I haven't caught up on that memo yet, but I believe Tate would have that idea. It's a very good one, and it would benefit all the children." Alicia smiled stifling the urge to yawn at the same time.

"And their parents as well." Phee smiled. "I am seeing a lot of tried people around."

Alicia grinned. “Of course, as I tell all my patients, my door is always open. Being a parent myself I understand how hard it is, as do you.” She smiled warmly at Phoenix.

"Two teenagers and two toddlers are keeping me awake." Phoenix smiled.

Alicia smiled. “I haven’t gotten as far as teenagers yet, i’m doing my best to be a good mother to a tween Vulcan boy, besides my own two little ones. It’s an adjustment but I think I’m getting there.”

"Boys have to be easier than girls right?" Phoenix said wistfully. "I mean I have been a single mother since my sister was 12 and a half. But its getting harder the older she gets.."

Alicia nodded. “To be honest all children can be difficult in their own way. They say teenage years are the hardest, but that’s not always true.”

"Agreed." Phoenix smiled. "Thank you for your time today Alicia."

Alicia nodded. “No, thank you for checking in on how we’re all doing Phoenix.” She smiled warmly.


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