First Meet

Posted on Wed Sep 28th, 2022 @ 7:40pm by Lieutenant JG Kell Asaa Dr & Lieutenant Freya Savette

Mission: Trapped in Time
Location: USS Liberty
Timeline: Just after the Mission Briefing

As everyone exited the briefing, rife with thoughts thereof, Kell pushed some of that aside as she caught up to Freya, tapping her lightly on the elbow.

“Do you have time to get together? We can go to your office or mine, although mine is empty at the moment so I can’t offer you anything besides a chair.” She smiles at her own predicament.

Freya grinned. “How’s about my office? I’ve got comfy chairs and a sofa, cushions, throws, the lot! I’m someone who loves creature comforts.”

"Nice," Kell replies. "Maybe your decorator can talk to my decorator."

The lift was slightly crowded as everyone was exiting the meeting, but the wait wasn't long and the duo were in Freya's office in short order.

"Oh my, I do love the vibe," said Kell as they walked in.

"I don't think I'll need quite as extensive a makeover for my office, it will be more utilitarian I'm sure, but I can get how this would be beneficial for you. I may find myself in need of counseling now and then, just to relax eh?" She said as she took a long look around the space.

“Well if you’d like any help decorating just let me know” Freya smiled. Her office was warm and cosy, as well as having comfortable seating, throws, and cushions, there was also a children’s corner with bean bag seating, books, teddies, and toys.

Kell points to the kiddie corner. "That I may need. Do you find what you have there all-inclusive or are there unique or otherwise uncommon needs you've run into so far in your tenure on the ship? I'm actually almost surprised, with our tactical mission, is that for visiting guests or do we have crew with younger family members aboard?"

“As a Counsellor I cater for all, not sure if we have any children onboard as yet though!” Freya grinned. “If not I’ll willingly sit there and chill out!”

Kell nods, "Gotcha. Can't say that that's not tempting! I'll let you know if I run across any when I review the personnel files. I'm planning to review my staff first, then other related departments, like yours, and expand out to high-risk positions and onward. With 475 souls aboard, that will take me a while to do any more than cursory reviews unless something catches my eye... some xenobiology need I'm not already familiar with."

"How long have you been aboard so far? Can we discuss recent missions or is that 'need to know'?" Kell smiles good-naturedly, trying to keep light with a sometimes dark mission outlook.

“I’ve been aboard since the mission prior to the explosion that almost claimed Captain Shannon’s life.” Freya smiled. “So I guess you could say that I’m now a part of the furniture around here.”

"That shocked me! I almost asked in the briefing... was it just an assassination attempt or something else? I couldn't figure out why they'd attack the Captain, and in the Ready Room. At least she looked like she was well recovered. For a second there I thought that was why the new CO-XO posting, but that was just recently..."

Kell shrugged, hoping she got up to speed quickly. She dreaded falling behind and not being up to date on all that was going on. She definitely would not be bored for quite a while... if ever!

Freya shrugged her shoulders. “It came as a surprise to all of us, a bomb which could have been big enough to destroy the ship if they’d have wanted. The Captain got seriously lucky!”

Kell nodded. "That's for certain and for true! I don't remember hearing anything about it, but then unless they sent someone to the infirmary where I worked, I wouldn't have had any reason to. I imagine the incident itself was kept rather quiet given the circumstances. And now the perpetrator is near... or never left the station?"

Kell considered that. "It's bad enough that the Dominion won't relent, even after their loss. But, I suppose, there will be another faction trying to wreak havoc or take over or attempt to commit genocide or or or..."

Kell sighed, "A day at a time, right doctor? We do what we can do, and keep moving on?"

Trying to lighten the mood she asks her new crew mate, hopefully new friend sooner than later, "What else do you do for fun or relaxation? Besides playing in the kiddie corner?"

Freya grinned. “Well I love to read, and not on a PADD. I prefer real books, there’s just something about the feel of paper I love. There’s also movie nights, holodeck time, hydroponics... I could go on!”

"I love to read as well, fiction and non-fiction, depending on the genre. I don't mind the digital format but I do enjoy turning a page. I didn't bring any books from home, but I've picked up a few while I've been here at the station. There's this little bookstore/cafe' just off the promenade that has a few pets at large. They have the most comfortable chairs and divans!"

Kell was quite excited to spend some off-duty time on the ship now. "Movie night sounds intriguing. Is that something MWR puts on or just an informal gathering?"

“Actually it’s something I normally do in my quarters, or even on the holodeck!” Freya grinned. “There’s nothing like being in an old cinema. Maybe we could both go sometime?” Freya smiled. “You’ll have to show me that bookstore too.”

Kell nodded in agreement. "Yes on both counts. Now that I'm ship-bound, visits to the cafe' will be a treat rather being able to go whenever i want."

“Very true” Freya smiled and nodded. “Ships can be very restrictive, that’s why you need to have a routine with time for yourself. You could soon go stir crazy on a long mission.”

Kell smiled, glad for the reminder. "I might have to have you remind me of that now and then my dear counselor."

Freya nodded. “Don’t worry I will” She sighed and massaged her temples. There were times when her abilities proved to be hard to control, the downside of developing her gifts early in her life.

Kell looked concerned. "Do I need to reciprocate Freya? Physician heal thy self?" She tried to remember what she had briefly read when she was initially looking over the medical personnel files. "Do you read just emotions or thoughts too? I imagine that's a constant running battle, especially in the tight confines of the floating box we find ourselves in..."

Freya nodded. “I don’t know how much you know about Betazoids, but I developed my abilities earlier than they would normally develop. As a result my telepathic and empathic gifts are always switched on, it can be stressful and exhausting just keeping out thoughts and emotions.”

Kell grimaced. "I can imagine why you became a counselor, if nothing else but to properly manage your own challenges. Is there a distance or distraction that gives you relief? I have a cohort I've known since my residency at the Academy who was working on a dampening effect. Her talent didn't emerge early, like yours, but she also can't turn it completely off on her own so she was doing research on a way to do it with technology. I can see what kind of progress she's made if you like?"

Freya nodded. “Sounds interesting. To be honest I usually use a neural inhibitor if it gets too bad, but only as a last resort. I hate feeling cut off from my senses, so blocking them out isn’t really an option. Though toning them down a bit would be a good trade off.”

Kell nodded. "That what Juany said too. The neural inhibitor isn't a great idea beyond short term. That might give you a quick break but I wouldn't recommend it for extended periods without the proper monitoring. She wanted something to inhibit, especially if she had to be in or near a crowd, or certain individuals that she said were very loud. Something she could adjust accordingly. But she couldn't stand what she called the 'abyss' when she tried conventional methods."

Freya nodded. “It’s nice to have someone who actually knows, and understands what I’m talking about. When you’re used to the constant company of voices in your head, if you have to use an Inhibitor for any reason it’s like...being shut in a sound proofed room, you’re completely alone and it’s...deafening in a whole different way. It drives me crazy!” She smiled. “Same problem with too much input though, it just ramps up my stress levels.”

Kell bobs her head. "Right! That's what she was working on. It needed to be adjustable, she said, depending on where she found herself at any given time, and if she needed to be on her game, or not so distracted or tense. I'll get on that asap! With at least three Betazoids on the crew, I need to make sure you're all in good spirits."

“You’ll probably find there’s more than just three of us, add on other telepathic species and that research could prove invaluable.” Freya smiled warmly. “I’ll pop by Sickbay later if you don’t mind? I need to renew my sleep aids, but right now I have to go see Captain Finchley.”

"I should be there most of the time. I'm heading there now to see what I can find on this bomber and any medical background to review." Kell smiled and stood, waving goodbye. "Thanks for sitting with me. I'm sure we'll have many more opportunities in the near future!"

Freya smiled warmly. “I’m sure we will. I’ll see you later.”