Life in the Void

Posted on Sun Dec 3rd, 2023 @ 2:07pm by Lieutenant JG Summer Wyse & Lieutenant JG Sol

1,173 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Shoreleave
Location: Counselling office

ON:

Sol stood outside of the office door, not noticing the people walking past that watched him with mild confusion. His own gaze was fixed on his tricorder, watching the time. When it counted down to being exactly on the hour, he pressed the chime on the office, promptly on time.

Looking up from her PADD Summer offered a warm smile, “You must be Sol, you’re right on time. Please come in and make yourself comfortable.”

"Thank you," Sol bowed his head with respect to her before moving to sit as instructed. He glanced around, taking in the surroundings and making mental notes. "It has been some time since my last check up."

“Well you’re here now, that’s what matters” Summer smiled as she moved across to her seat and made herself comfortable. “How have you settled in aboard the Wolff Lieutenant?”

"It is quite adequate here," he nodded lightly as he watched her, taking time to consider her question properly. It only seemed respectful. "The medical team are efficient and skilled, my patients have all been cooperative...so far," he added the last quite seriously, seeing as some officers could make quite a fuss about medical appointments.

“I’m sure that’ll change” Summer grinned. “There are those who try their hardest to avoid check ups and counselling appointments.” Looking across the room she noted that her Calathea plant was in need of watering, she did tend to forget from time to time. “I’ve no doubt we’ll be working together as we’re both part of the medical department.

"Such collaboration can be very effective," Sol agreed with what she said, but his gaze naturally followed hers with curiosity. He spotted the plant, his head tilting as he studied the stripe like markings down the leaves and the reddish colouration on the underside. "Calathea makoyana?"

Summer nodded as she looked at Sol. “Do you like plants Lieutenant? I find that gardening helps keep a sense of calm. I like to go to the Arboretum, and I like to buy plants when I get the chance during Shoreleave.”

He nodded quickly, looking back to her with the same stoic expression that graced most Vulcan features, but somehow more relaxed. "I grow as many specimens as I can in my quarters. It is not a natural habitat, but a surprising amount of life can thrive in space."

“Really? I would like to see those sometime if you don’t mind Sol?” Summer smiled warmly. “You could say I love being green fingered, as the saying goes.”

For the briefest of moments, Sol glanced to her hands...before quickly recognising it as an expressive way to say she liked growing plants. "You would be welcome to see them. Have you always been....'green fingered'? Or did it emerge when you started to travel the stars?"

“Well it’s kind of grown on me! No pun intended” Summer grinned. “Being out here amongst the stars gives us chance to explore worlds with so much difference, not just culturally but where flora and fauna are concerned as well.”

He nodded with understanding, perhaps a little caught off guard at sharing the same experience, but there was no doubt he related to what she was saying. "It is one thing to try and save life, but another to create it and make it flourish."

“Indeed” Summer nodded. “So do you have any other hobbies during your off hours? Vulcan’s obviously have a certain amount of time set aside for meditation.

"I mediate," he confirmed, the slightest frown of thought coming to him even as he nodded. "I exercise a lot, take part in a lot of sports. I started during training and continued throughout my years in the marines."

Summer smiled. “That’s good, have you encountered any problems with your meditation sessions in the past?”

He hesitated for a long moment, before deciding he couldn't respond in anything but an honest way. "Yes," he said quietly, even if his tone remained even. "Sometimes it is...difficult to push all thoughts aside."

Summer nodded. “I fully understand, my abilities developed before they were supposed to so it’s an ongoing battle for me. What can I do to help assist you with your meditation? I could make suggestions but you know your meditation techniques better than anyone.”

He lifted his eyebrow with surprise...he hadn't expected an offer of help. It caught him off guard and he had to think more deeply on the problem. "Do you meditate?"

“Generally only when I feel a severe need” Summer offered a smile. “I could probably do with meditating more often, it does help with controlling my senses. More or less it could benefit both of us.”

"What is good for us and what we would prefer is often not the same thing," there was a lilt in Sol's voice, which could have veered suspiciously close to humour, but his features remained Vulcanoid cool.

“That’s very true” Summer smiled warmly. “Anytime you’d like my assistance, please let me know.”

"Thank you, that is very generous," he said quietly, pausing for a long moment as he considered how much he should say. He weighed up pros and cons, even though he didn't consider he had anything to hide. "I have sometimes had difficulty with meditating since my time in the marines," he finally said, quietly by evenly. "It is hard to still the mind on a backdrop of violence."

Sky nodded. “So it could almost be classed under ptsd, post traumatic stress. I’m not sure if that would truly apply for a Vulcan, but I think maybe that could be part of the problem.”

Sol fell silent for several long moments, and despite his stoic features, there still managed to be a chill in the air with it. "As a marine, I served during the war. I served 5 years in total before resigning. I...reacted badly, after a mission, to my friends. I did not want to be that person. I could not be that person. So I left, travelled, and retrained."

Summer nodded. “You did what you knew you needed to do, others want to but don’t. I’m glad you made that move, it’s made you stronger for it.”

Sol blinked. It was as far as an outward show of surprise that would grace his features. "This ship...it is a very satisfactory place to work," he acknowledged, a sign that he certainly preferred his current position.

“I’m glad you think so” Summer smiled warmly. “Well I think I’ve asked all I need to know. That offer to meditate still stands if you’d like anyone to meditate with.”

“I would appreciate it,” Sol assured as he got to his feet, taking it as his cue that he could go. She hadn’t called security, so it couldn’t be a terrible result.

“Just remember if you need anything my door is always open” Summer smiled warmly.

 

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