Counsellor’s advice

Posted on 18 Aug 2025 @ 9:37pm by Master Sergeant Thomas Zang & Lieutenant Lamia ‘Mia’ Kildare

2,380 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: S04 Episode 02 The Hackers Backdoor (Incidentals)
Location: Counsellor’s office
Timeline: right after "Never a peaceful moment"

[ON]

Thomas carried the sack in his left hand and the box in his right hand as he walked down the corridor. He had left the holodeck not too long ago and had decided he needed to talk to someone, but he couldn't figure out who he might be able to get good advice from. He had first thought of talking to Dr. Ross but had decided that a guy probably wouldn't be the best for that as it was technically a female problem and guys just never really had good advice about women. He let out a chuckle. No, guys were not the right answer for his problems, but his mind had then gone to what women he really knew and there were none, that is except for Cassandra. Then he had thought that maybe it would be best to go see the ship's councilor.

As soon as he had thought of that, he had headed that way and it wasn't long before he stopped outside her office. He had met her briefly and had actually even talked to her though not that much on the mission where they had gone to retrieve the missing scientist and to sabotage the federation equipment that was on the planet before the syndicate had arrived. He took a deep breath before he palmed the chime to announce his presence to the councilor and hoped that she was in. He knew from that mission that she was due soon and hoped that she hadn't gone on maternity leave yet.

In her office Lamia was just getting a snack when the chime rang. “Come in” she offered a warm smile as the door opened to reveal Thomas. “Hello Thomas, what can I do for you?”

Thomas offered a smile, but it wasn't his usual energetic smile. "Sorry for bothering you Ma'am but I was hoping to maybe have a talk with you. I seem to have a problem that came up and when I tried to fix it, I kinda made it worse." He said after he had stepped in, and the door closed behind him. "Do you have the time to talk to me about it, or should I make an appointment to come back and see you?" He asked hesitantly.

“It’s fine, I don’t have any appointments scheduled right now, so please take a seat and tell me all about it.” Lamia smiled as she walked across to her seat with a tray of healthy snacks. “Feel free to grab a something if you’d like.”

Thomas took the seat and sat the bag he had been carrying down on the table. He sat the box down next to it before he spoke. "Well... I'm in a relationship with someone and they asked me something but my answer kinda caused a fight. I will admit that we do have a large gap in our rank and position, and I was afraid that if I answered it a certain way it could cause both of us to get in trouble, but she thought that I was more concerned with my reputation and what others would think about it." He let out a sigh, trying to fight back the pain at the thought that they might end up no longer together. The fear gnawed at his guts like rats. he could feel the itchy burning feeling in his eyes as the fear threatened to cause his eyes to tear up. He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths to try and control himself.

Lamia nodded. “I see, may I ask what the question was, and what your answer was? It’s just to put it into more context that’s all. Also are you concerned about yours, or her reputation?”

"Well, I had asked her what I could get her that she wouldn't have already, and her answer was a husband. I really do want to marry her but I'm only and enlisted while she is an officer. A large gap in rank and that's what I'm worried about us getting in trouble over. I had answered that I wanted to wait until I was able to become an officer as well and just happened to not say it properly." Thomas took a deep breath. He could feel the tears trying to form again and forced himself to calm down again. He continued talking. "She got upset saying that I was using her and didn't really care for her. I had given her a promise ring." he slid the box containing the simple gold band into the center of the table. "She then threw it back at me before storming out of the holodeck. I tried to call after her, but she didn't really respond to me and was gone. I sat in the empty holodeck for i don't know how long before I started to walk the ship. I was trying to think of what I could do or who I could go to for help and advice." The tears had started to slowly form in his eyes and roll down his cheeks. "And here I am. Can you help me?" he raised pleading eyes to Mia.

Lamia offered a box of tissues, which always sat at the centre of the small coffee table. “Of course I’ll help you, I’ll do whatever I can to see the course of true love run smooth.” She grinned. “I can understand your worries about being involved with an Officer, I’m married to a Marine so I understand only too well. Regulations can make things awkward, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t permitted to fall in love. Perhaps we could all get-together here in my office and talk it through?”

Thomas took one of the tissues and quickly wiped his face. He forced himself to get his emotions back under control. He had never broken down like this before, even when he had lost his parents. Sure had cried and mourned his father but never a full breakdown. "I... I don't think Cassandra would be willing to come in with me. She thinks I must be using her as a way to advance myself in the ranks, but I would never do that. I truly love her, and I do want to be her husband, but I fear that I might have ruined that possibility." He stood up and started pacing, his hands clenched in fists. He could feel the fear and sadness being drowned out by anger, anger directed at himself. "Why am I such an idiot when it comes to women and getting to know other people." He mumbled angrily at himself as he paced.

“When it comes to love, have you ever heard the saying the course of true love never runs smooth?” Lamia offered a caring gaze. “Have you actually had the chance to tell Cassandra what you just said? Does she know you want to be her husband? That could be a big step towards getting your relationship back on level pegging.”

Thomas stopped pacing for a moment and glanced at Mia. "I tried to tell her, but she thought that I was just saying that to make her happy. that was when I gave her the ring." He said as he pointed at the box on the table. "I even put it on her finger. That just seemed to make her even more mad and that was when she threw it at me and stormed off." He went back to pacing, wishing he had something to punch to release this anger he felt at himself. If he had been another person, he would have punched himself in the face for being an idiot. "I've never been really serious in a relationship until I was with Cassandra and now, I seem to have messed it up. I don't know what to do to try and fix this. But if you think that it might be better if Cassandra was here, please message her to come in." He looked pleadingly at Mia. "I'm afraid to do it in case she says no."

“I think right now, we need to get you settled down first.” Lamia offered a warm smile. “Seeing you in this state might make Cassandra feel like she’s being faced with pleasing you to make you feel better. You both need to be calm, and clear headed for this.”

Thomas nodded as he closed his eyes. He concentrated on the void. The mental state he would go into when he was preparing to fire his sniper rifle. He had used it to calm himself in the past and figured he might do so this time. He visualized a flame in the center of the void and fed his emotions to the flame. He felt them leaving his mind as he visibly calmed down. He opened them and took a seat a minute later and in a calm voice said: "I'm calm now though could I possibly get some camomile tea please or another drink that has a calming effect?"

“By all means” Lamia nodded as she moved to stand up to go to the replicator. Walking across to it she ordered a camomile tea and a warm drink for herself. Returning to the coffee table she placed both down before sitting back down. “I’m impressed with your calming technique, not many people can calm themselves so quickly and easily.”

Thomas picked up the tea and took a sip. He wasn't a tea drinker, but he knew that this tea had a calming effect on him. "It's a trick my father had taught me when we would go hunting, I use it to clear my emotions when I'm firing my rifle while hunting or on missions. I just know that sometimes I can use it to help calm down." He took another sip before he continued. "What advice can you give me about my current problem Ma'am?" He asked

“I would suggest trying talking with Cassandra again, don’t rush into offering your engagement ring straight away. Talk over how you both feel, and when she’s ready then ask her that all important question.” Lamia smiled. “It maybe that she felt totally overwhelmed, we do odd things when we’re in that state of mind.”

"May I ask you to call her in? I don't know if she will respond if I try to ask if she will come here." Thomas asked Mia, he could feel the nervousness starting to rise again so he took a small drink of his tea. "But that ring wasn't an engagement ring but a promise ring. It was supposed to signify that when I made officer that we would get married. If I made officer, we would be a lot closer in rank and thus wouldn't be such an issue." He took a deep breath. "It was actually her that had asked me to marry her and that's where the problem started. I had technically turned it down in place of the promise. I do want to marry her, but I don't want to cause problems due to the large difference in our ranks."

Lamia nodded. “I understand, let’s arrange a separate time for you to both come and see me. I’ll need to talk with Cassandra, make sure she’s happy to come. I can’t force her if she’s not willing though.”

"I know. Is there anything I can possibly say to her to try and start the process if I see her before then?" Thomas asked with a pleading look. He really wanted to fix things with Cassandra. He picked up the box from the table and placed it inside the bag then picked up his tea and took a drink.

“You could start by simply dropping by to see her, explain that you’re worried about her.” Lamia offered a caring smile. “I know it isn’t easy, she’ll come round but it might take a little time.”

Thomas nodded slowly, his fingers tightening briefly around the cup before relaxing again. “I’ll try,” he said, his voice softer now, thoughtful. “I’ll stop by and check in on her... just let her know I’m still here, and that I care. I won’t push or bring up the ring again unless she does. I just…” He trailed off for a moment, staring into the tea like it might offer the answers he lacked. “I don’t want her to think I’m giving up. Because I’m not.”

He looked up, his expression more grounded now, though the pain still lingered in his eyes. “Thank you, Ma’am. For listening. For the tea. For not just brushing me off like I was being dramatic or something.”

He stood and glanced toward the door, then turned back. “When you talk to her... just, please let her know that I never meant to hurt her. That everything I said, even if it came out wrong, was because I do love her, not because I don’t.” A pause. “And if she’s willing... I’ll be there. Anytime.”

Lamia nodded. “I will, and try not to worry yourself too much. Just be there for her when she needs you, and you’ll know when the time is right to give her that ring you have for her.” She smiled warmly.

"Thank you, Lieutenant, I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me and to help me out." Thomas said with a warm smile. "I hope you have a good pregnancy and have a healthy child." He offered a slight bow and turned to leave.

“Thank you Thomas.” Lamia smiled warmly. “I’ll be in touch.”

Thomas nodded his head, a small smile on his lips as he turned to the door. He stepped through the opening as the door slid opened and he was gone down the hall, heading back towards the Marine's deck.

[OFF]

 

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