Mental Evaluations

Posted on Wednesday June 1st, 2022 @ 11:10pm by Lieutenant Commander Niali Deval Dr & Lieutenant Finchley Kerr

Mission: Days of Our Lives
Location: Chief Counselors Office

There comes a time in every crew members life whether Captain or Chef that can often lead to despair, depression, avoidance or just plain neutrality. That time had arrived for the crew of the USS Oberon. When a new Chief Counsellor checks in so does everybody else. Lieutenant Niali Korial had begun her day with a run and several cups of coffee before she felt able to face her new crew. Her office was sparsely decorated to avoid overstimulation or avoidance and a couple of cosy armchairs were off set against each other to avoid directly challenging the client. Her certificates of qualification were the only things that decorated the walls apart from a large art work of the pools on Trill. A large cat tree occupied a space in the corner upon which a large ginger cat slept. She brushed her uniform off and picked up the first PaDD of the day, the worst one to get through. Commander Finchley Kerr Executive Officer of the Oberon, problem was she already knew him well, too well. She poured herself another coffee and reviewed the history that was not redacted although she knew a lot of the Freda Ted notations because she had been there with him. *this might be a short one* she thought to herself. She checked Brutus was asleep and waited for Commander Kerr.

"Trick cyclist" had been a term people had referred Counsellors as to Finchley. He'd never really understood the term for therapist had been twisted into trick cyclist, but that was the slang term used, so he guessed it had stuck. Arriving at Niali's office door, he pressed the chime and waited.

“Please come in Commander Finchley.” She said.

The doors opened and Finchley walked in and began looking around, intensely.

“Good morning Commander,” she thought formality between them in this situation was best.

"Good morning Lieutenant, I'm looking for your trick bike" Finchley answered.

She smiled this was just like him. “I left it outside on the pavement this morning, please, sit down, or not when you are ready.” She sat crossing her long legs with her PaDD on her knee sipping her coffee. “Help yourself if you want anything.” She pointed to the replicator.

"Thank you" Finchley answered, walking over to where thee replicator was and ordering a camomile tea. Collecting it, he walked back to one of the comfortable chairs and sat down, looking at Niali, waiting for her to begin the session.

“Firstly I have to tell you that this session is mandated by Starfleet Psychological services. It happens once a year or when a new Chief Counsellor starts in office namely me. If, at the end of this session any serious problems arise then I have the right to take said officer off duty If I deem it necessary and perform further mental and possibly physical evaluations. If the problems are not serious then you would continue and have further sessions as needed. Do you understand and consent to this process Commander Kerr?”

"Yes, that's perfectly well understood Counsellor and I give you my consent" Finchley replied.

“Thank you, so we will get started, if at any time you wish to stop or ask questions just raise your hand!” She laughed, “I didn’t mean that, just say.” she looked at the PaDD. “You have a large family Commander all of whom are in the service so why did you choose intelligence?”

"I shall do, and yes, I have a large family who all serve in one capacity or another serve in the fleet. As to why I decided on work in Intelligence, I admired my Fathers work there" Finchley replied "though he never spoke directly about any mission or planning he was involved in, he taught me the basics of how to encrypt, decrypt, read cyphers, hide in plain site, become another character, live and hunt off the land, have endurance in what you're doing, even when your body wants to give up, use your wits, sell yourself as a decoy or plant, how to break into buildings, how to break codes and get into computers. Basically, it was all a boys adventure dreams come true" he finished.

Niali sipped her coffee. “So becoming another character beside yourself appeals to you?”

"Appeals, no, is part of the Intelligence process in order to gather information, yes" Finchley replied.

“But I believe you are rather good at it?”

"That's your personal opinion Counsellor, and I'll take it as a compliment" Finchley said "I like to be able to carry out my duties and missions to the best of my abilities."

“I do not have personal opinions Commander, this information has been obtained from your commanding officers,crew mates and from Academy records. Your Commanding Officer from the USS Baxter stressed your loyalty, what do you think makes a loyal person, not just a Starfleet Officer?”

"When you can walk a mile in the shoes of the person who's your Senior and better, and not complain about it" Finchley replied honestly.

Niali smiled, “you were transferred here recently as XO, two questions here, do you think you will stay? And how do you feel your position as XO may change your ‘intelligence’ identity?”

Finchley pondered the questions, then replied "Yes, Captain Bennett asked for me personally, something I found odd being as we never served together. Now that I'm here, I can see myself staying for a while...given that Captain Bennett is no longer CO."

At this point he looked at Niali, a serious expression now showing "No-one else knows this for the moment Counsellor, so I will very much appreciate our Counsellor/patient confidentiality clause. The Captain has been recalled to Starfleet HQ, I don't know why, I wasn't party to any other information other than he was leaving and for the meantime, I'll be Interim Commanding Officer of this ship till a new CO is announced and takes over. As for your last question, I don't have an Intelligence identity. I served, and at times am called back 'to' serve, with them in whatever capacity they see fit. Yes, I'm a Senior asset, yes, I have level nine clearance and am a capable mission leader. However, if I'm asked to join an Intelligence mission team as Chief cook and bottle washer, then that's what I serve as and I have absolutely no qualms over that. I serve at the behest of those who are my Masters."

Niali nodded recording information on her PaDD. During this chat you used the words ‘betters’ ‘Masters’. Do you feel that orders from these people should always be obeyed without question even to the detriment of you fellow crew members?” Niali was slightly worried as to his new post. A commanding officer should be responsible and caring for his crew sometimes unwary and questioning of superiors, not following orders blindly. She waited for Finchley’s response, her breath held, how he answered might have an effect on his career.

"The terms 'Betters' and 'Masters' is a reference to their Seniority of rank, not that they're actually better or more masterful" Finchley replied "You have to remember my background Counsellor, I come from a military family, so the terminology I use will be of that ilk. To answer you're question, orders from Senior Officers should be followed, that's why they're Senior Officers, they've earned the right to give them. However, one should also use their own judgement and speak up if you think those orders will be detrimental to those who will serve under you, the one's you're giving the orders to. 'If' the Senior Officer is determined that they're orders should be carried out, regardless of cost, then disobeying those orders should be considered, even at the cost of your own career" he finished.

She smiled broadly and gave herself a mental sigh of relief. Perfect answer to what seemed like a difficult question.

“Thank you for your candor Commander. “Where do you see yourself in, say twenty years time?”

"Always Counsellor" Finchley replied "Well, let's see, I'll be 57, hopefully still fit and able to lead an active lifestyle. I'd like to think I'll still be involved in the Intelligence community, perhaps even on the Directorate."

*here comes the hit* she told herself. “And what about personal relationships Commander, is there any room for those in your life of service, or do you see yourself always alone?"

"I'd like to think there'd be room for romance Counsellor, if I may ask, how do you see your own future?" Finchley said.

“I think that is a fair question Commander. Just let me make a notation in your file and sign you off as being fit for duty mentally” Niali affixed her thumb scan to her PaDD and put it down.

“My own future, yes romance is already most definitely in the air. She stood and moved over to him straddling him in the chair and kissing him. “Most definitely Commander.”

"I take it the session is now over Counsellor?" Finchley asked as Niali leant down to kiss him. He kissed her back, then leant back in his chair and asked "Who's the lucky person then?"

“Why my cat, Brutus! Come over here.” She asked him. Brutus opened one eye and looked at her. He stood, yawned and then stretched and sat down again. She sighed, “okay then Brutus is not a person, actually well he is to me. In the meantime Brutus had decided to pay a visit and jumped down off his tree. He sauntered over and jumped up between Niali and Finchley looking him in the eye and swishing his huge ginger tail. “Brutus meet Finchley, Finchley meet Brutus. This was the little kitten I rescued." Brutus began to purr.

Finchley put his hand out, palm down so Brutus could get his scent "Hey there guy..." then he looked at Niali "He is a guy...right?"

“Yes he is a’ guy’ although his balls have gone. Didn’t want him screaming all night in the holodeck. See, he likes you. How about a game of chess tonight and we can finish off that Glenfinnan or I can get some bloodwine from Karadis, any better ideas?”

"'m glad he likes me" Finchley replied, reaching up and tickling Brutus under his chin, "but I have to say, I'm hopeless at chess, though I do like the way you can move the 'horsey' at an odd angle. I prefer 'kerplunk', very funny and infuriatingly annoying at the same time. We can have both, though I'm not sure where Karadis keeps the Bloodwine. Every I ask her, she growls at me and says things like 'You touch it, you die!, so I never go looking for it. Karadis is a bit scary sometimes, I really wouldn't want to see her angry."

“Now you’re teasing me. I know we have both seen Karadis angry, and as for the bloodwine remember she promised me some the other night. In fact why don’t we have her over to talk over old times and cover ourselves in Klingon glory.” Brutus, bored, jumped down and wandered back to his perch.

"I think that's a great idea" Finchley said "When would you like to do it?" he asked.

“Whenever you’re free, and, why don’t we book ourselves a holodeck and re create that Klingon hall we visited,” she snapped her fingers trying to remember…”you know the one with the torture implements hanging on the walls and the huge fire pit.”

"Oh, you mean Karadis' living room?" Finchley laughed.

“That’s the place,” she said, “well?”

"I'm happy to do that, but I will warn you, Karadis will want to embellish her stories with the implements" he replied.

“So long as the bloodwine flows.” Niali flung back her head with a pretty good approximation of a Klingon laugh. “Then who knows!”

"How about this evening?" Finchley asked.

“I think that would be fine, I don’t think I have anything else to do. She jumped up off him. “Well I am expecting someone else for their evaluation in a few minutes. I will see you later.” She kissed him again feeling him respond she pulled away. “Let me know what time and make sure she brings the bloodwine.”