STF

Alt Timeline - CNS Office

Posted May 7, 2019, 10:26 p.m. by Lieutenant Riley Dekker (CNS & 2O) (Charley Gilmore)

Posted by Ensign Reia Shandy (CIO) in Alt Timeline - CNS Office

Posted by Lieutenant Riley Dekker (CNS & 2O) in Alt Timeline - CNS Office

Posted by Ensign Reia Shandy (CIO) in Alt Timeline - CNS Office
Posted by… suppressed (8) by the Post Ghost! 👻
<snip>

Reia stepped into the office with a air of quiet confidence. Her diamond white eyes sized up the man in front of her but she remained polite.

“Good morning Counselor. Ensign Reia reporting for my psych eval.” she said pleasantly.

Being half Human, Reia’s Orion pheromones were more subtle than others might have expected. She hated the fact that they were there at all and did her best to downplay that part of her heritage.

  • Reia, CIO

If Riley hadn’t been thinking of Marishka earlier, he most certainly would now. There were few women who were able to pique Riley’s interest, but Marishka had. He knew then, as he knew now, that emitted pheremones were the cause and as with Marishka, Reia’s diverse heritage combined with Riley’s own predominant orientation made their effect mild.

“Welcome, Ensign,” he held out his hand in greeting. “I’m Counselor Dekker. Please take a seat. Can I get you anything before we begin?”

Dekker, CNS

Reia shook his hand politely and nodded before sitting.

“Black tea, hot, with honey.” she said a bit sleepily.

  • Reia, CIO

Riley ordered the new intelligence chief her tea and himself a mug of black coffee. He set her drink down on the table in front of her and settled into his chair, coffee cradled in his palms.

“This morning’s session is routine, as you know. I have a few questions I like to ask, to help me better know new officers, but we can move beyond those if there is anything you wish to discuss. Why don’t we start with a little background. Please, tell me about yourself.”

Dekker, CNS

Reia didn’t let her guard down but she had decided not to be cruel to Riley. He hadn’t reacted to her the way many men had and right now that was working in his favor.

“Well I’m not that big on talking about myself. I grew up on the Australian coast with my Gram and Gramps after mum was sent away. Don’t ask about dad yet because I really have nothing to tell, never met him. I’m not actually sure why I joined Star Fleet but I like it here and I can be pretty good at my job.” she explained and took a long drink of her tea.

  • Reia, CIO

“Okay, I won’t ask about dad. What about Gram and Gramps? Can you tell me what it was like with them?”

Riley was accustomed to patients who sought to control the conversation within his office and he had long ago learned how not to react. It was rare for him to meet those who were able to so effortlessly steer the conversation in the direction they wished. He imagined that was a valuable skill in Reia’s line of work.

Dekker, CNS

Gram and Gramps was a subject Reia didn’t mind talking about at all for the most part.

“Gramps was an archetect who loved redesigning historical buildings. I guess you’d call it a hobby. Gram was a nurse and I was probably the healthiest kid in my class. After Mom left, I really loved living with them. It was quiet and stable. Sure we had our share of dust ups, especially when I got to be about 12, damned Orion blood.” Reia said with a frown.

She had a feeling this counselor would want to get into that at least a little bit, everyone did.

  • Reia, CIO

And the counselor took her cue. It was almost embarrassing how frequently he had to ask people to cast their mind back to memories of puberty and all the hell that comes with it, but it was a period of life that punched above it’s weight class when it came to personal formation, especially when one felt different from those around them.

“How as that? An Orion coming into adulthood on Earth must have been challenging at times.”

Dekker, CNS

Reia rolled her eyes and sighed.

“Luckily I am only half Orion. It was the strangest feeling waking up one day around… Um… Eleven, getting all the wrong kind of attention, even from male teachers. Of course they didn’t like the way I reacted to them either. I got suspended from School several times for fighting. Sometimes I just don’t want to be touched or looked ot. Is that a problem?”

Reia was speaking calmly, it wasn’t Dekker’s fault this happened to her all those years ago and, even though she didn’t really care for most counselors, taking it out on him would have made a bad first impression.

  • Reia, CIO

“That is certainly not a problem,” Riley reassured her, even though he was pretty certain her question was rhetorical. “So suddenly things were changing for you, as they do for all of us around a certain age, but you were changing is ways unlike most of those around you, and, I’m assuming, in a way that was rather foreign to Gramps and Gram. So beyond the few dust ups and suspensions, how’d you work through it? When did you find that point when you felt comfortable?”

Dekker, CNS

Reia decided to be honest with this new counselor. Her white eyes looked into his dark ones for a few seconds.

“Perhaps, in a few years, but not now. I haven’t found it yet. I’m surrounded by Humans and I look quite Human, no green skin here. I’m just fine most of the time but then I’ll say or do something a certain way and some male will look at me and I can tell my Orion is flaring up again. I don’t like it very much.”

Reia fell silent. She had only meant to be honest with Riley, not fill his morning with her problems.

  • Reia, CIO

OOC: Ooooo I quite like this new character!!!

Riley pondered two avenues of inquiry from this point and masked the moment of silence by jotting down short notes on a PADD. His dark eyes returned to Reia’s white eyes, and a smile softened his face. He’d decided to go with the less personal question for now.

“Have you spent much time among Orions?”

Dekker, CNS

Reia shook her head instantly.

“No. Not really. I have three pictures of my parents together and my grand parents don’t really associate with much of anybody. They’re lovely people but they’re near ninety. When I was growing up they really just wanted the best for me and I’m incredibly unhappy with my Orion side and I think they were too. So no, not really.” she finished.

  • Reia, CIO

Riley wrestled with how deep to dig in an initial evaluation. His duty in these situations was clear. He had to discern whether or not an officer, new to the Genesis, was mentally fit to serve. That was it. Only those officers who sought to delve deeper into personal issues sought him out afterward. He was comfortable clearing Reia for duty right now, and yet he was reluctant to let her leave his office. So he pushed forward.

“Why are you unhappy with your Orion side?”

Dekker, CNS

Reia couldn’t blame Riley fro his question. She had opened a door and any good counselor would walk right through or, at least, peek in.

“Well there are several reasons. One, I am unhappy because I never knew him or anything about the culture from my own personal experience or point of view. You can read a lot about something but that just doesn’t cut it if it’s a part of who you’re supposed to be. Two, all the preconceived notions of what an Orion woman, especially, is supposed to be like. I’ve felt that off and on my whole life but, when I came on board the Genesis I feel like everybody expects the second coming of my predecessor. They’re going to be sadly mistaken.” Reia concluded.

  • Reia, CIO

There were multiple things to unpack in what Reia had just said. He started with the part he felt was easier, “Lt. Marishka made an impression on this crew both professionally and personally. It can be hard for anyone to fill the shoes that came before them, and doubly so when you are of a similar background, but I don’t expect that to be an issue for long. The crew will know you as you let them and I think you’ll find them with fewer pre-conceived ideas than you expect. Only time will figure that out for you. What interests me more is your own detachment from a significant part of your heritage. It’s always been the half of you that set you apart from those around you, yes? And you combine that with the fact that you had no role model at home to help you understand it. Have you sought out other Orions? I know their numbers in Starfleet are limited, but you aren’t going to lose that part of you, ever.”

Dekker, CNS

Reia could tell the Riley was a kind man and not just because he was half Betazoid still, he gave her a bit to think about.

“No, I’ve never intentionally sought them out. I got the feeling my mother regretted my father and the whole situation upset my grand parents immensely. As I grew up I was content with leaving the whole thing alone and, after going through puberty, I certainly wasn’t interested in seeking them out. I think I wish I could blame my mother for this but it’s hard to blame someone you only see a few times a year. Circumstances permitting of course.” she explained.

  • Reia, CIO

“It isn’t something I would recommend doing unless you are ready, but fully understanding yourself means understanding even the parts others may have told us are to be suppressed or ignored. The other part of that is the fact that our biology is not our destiny. I am too the product of a union between two species. My mother is Betazoid and my father Human. I grew up on Earth and it wasn’t a guarantee that I’d develop empathic abilities. I did, around puberty, and it was difficult when most of my peers were human. It engendered a certain distrust. My own heritage is more common in the Federation and my mother was there to help me through it, so I am not equating one struggle with another, but I do understand what it’s like to have a foot in two different worlds. Should you seek to talk about it more, I am here. For now, however, I am happy to clear you for duty and welcome you aboard.”

Dekker, CNS

Reia thought about it for a few seconds.

“After I’ve settled in a bit I’ll let you know my decision on that subject either way. Thank you for the offer and, I suppose, I should be leaving.”

Reia stood and made her way to the door.

  • Reai, CIO

Riley stayed in his seat after the door closed. He was intrigued by Reia. She shared Marishka’s Orion heritage and position aboard the ship, but there was little else that reminded him of her predecessor. The new CIO had a keen intelligence, but a vulnerability underneath. It was his favorite sort of patient.

Dekker, CNS


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