by Ensign Vol Tryst
80622.18
During and After The Order of the Day
-=Office of the Ship's Counselor, USS Serendipity=-
80622.18
During and After The Order of the Day
-=Office of the Ship's Counselor, USS Serendipity=-
"Computer!" Vol was finally alone and his office, therefore did not bother to check the volume of his voice. "Cancel all appointments for tomorrow."
^Acknowledged.^
Vol let his back fall back against his chair, and pressed his hands against his temples, before letting them run through and pull his hair softly. He was literally going to lose his mind any second now.
That was true, unless the entire ship had already done so. He'd just spent what the past several hours speaking with patients emergently about sudden rushes of emotions, intense nightmares, all of which they wanted to discuss in more detail. What did it all mean?
Vol had taken the decision to clear his schedule for tomorrow now, even though it was by this point almost tomorrow already- because he strongly suspected there was some sort of far-reaching problem at work aboard the Serendipity. First O'Sullivan, and now apparently many of the rest of the crew were targets of painful resurfacing memories and emotions. Something else was going on here, and it was making his job impossible. The strain on his empathy was making it really difficult to concentrate on a single patient, he could literally sense that most of the entire ship was in disarray.
What was more, the replicator wouldn't work. All he wanted was some tea...
The small noise that signaled somebody on the outside requesting entrance sounded within the Counselor's office. Vol perked an eyebrow, as he raised his neck and back again to look at the closed door.
"Who the hell...?" Vol stood, and walked to the door and it opened to reveal...
A queue.
It was at least ten people long, and every one of the officers snapped to look at Tryst as he exited his office.
"What's taking so long Ensign?"
"I really need to talk to you!"
"We haven't got all night."
"I need to tell you about a nightmare I had,"
"It was awful!"
Vol's eyes widened as he found that he just couldn't think, the headache that had begun before, now became fully felt, and it hurt.
"Counselor?"
Vol whipped around to look into the eyes of the XO.
"Commander." Vol was a tad surprised to see him here. The Vulcan's eyes scanned the line of disgruntled patients before speaking to Vol once more.
"Are you occupied at the moment?"
"Yes, he is!"
"Don't take him away Commander."
"He's got obligations here."
The voices got louder and louder, and increasingly more rude. Vol had reached his limit, and he didn't so much care that the ship's Executive Officer was right next to him, either. He spun on his heal, smashed his foot down, raised himself to his full height with his shoulders back, facing the 'mob' that were his patients.
"Silence!"
The command was obeyed almost immediately, and Salvek was slightly shocked.
"I understand that you are all in need of someone to talk to. Unfortunately, you cannot all share the same ears of this one Betazoid. I only have two after all. So, as your Psychiatrist, I counsel you all to do each other a favor and talk about your experiences with one another."
The idea was first received with mumbles and grunts.
"None of you are imbeciles, and neither are you emotionally retarded, or incapable of offering advice. Find a partner, someone you find comfort in speaking to, and relay your thoughts and emotions to each. Don't bother lying either, because then your just wasting your partners time, instead of mine."
The corridor was silent once more.
"Dismissed."
Everybody did as they were told by the Counselor, even though he was significantly lower in rank than most of them. Some of the officers even offered their thanks. Once they had all dispersed, Vol turned to Salvek once more. Resisting the urge to breathe a sigh of relief, finally; a mind void of emotion.
"Yes, Commander?"
"Never mind Counselor, you've already answered my question more than sufficiently. I am sorry to have to ask you to do this, but you must clear your schedule for tomorrow. The Captain is in Sickbay and your services are required."
"Does the replicator work in Sickbay?"
The question caught Salvek off guard.
"Of course, but--"
"It'll be my pleasure." Vol stepped past the XO and his feet pounded hard on the ground as he walked quickly towards Sickbay. Salvek following in step after a moment.
Some people could only function after a cup of Joe, others needed a fix of nicotine.
Vol just wanted some freaking tea, and if he needed to work in order to get him some, then so be it.
Ensign Vol Tryst
Ship's Counselor
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
Ship's Counselor
USS Serendipity NCC-2012