A friendly ear

Posted on Sat Jan 2nd, 2021 @ 12:03pm by

1,667 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 2 - Echoes Of An Empire
Location: XOS Office
Timeline: Back Post, pre launch

On:

”Hey Tam... I mean Lieutenant, ” Charlie said fast. It was certainly differed now remembering both Tamaska and Keiben were much higher up the chain then they had been before the attack. Her family had known them so it was a case of remembering protocol and not going for the familiar.

”So mum. She suggested I speak to you. As she's pretty much having to try cover the counselling role she said it was a conflict of interests, ” the teen pulled a face at that.

"Sometimes its easier to have someone to talk to who's not your parent. Also Charlie, you can call me Tam if you'd like. Its just you and me, plus we'll follow protocol on the bridge when we're on duty. Here..." she shrugs. "This so, so different being in the XO office." looking about then back to Charlie. "A lot of things to get used to. Do you want a cup of hot chocolate, or tea to drink, while we talk?"

"Oh a hot chocolate sounds lovely Tam," Charlie beamed. "Yes please."

Tam programmed the setting in the replicator, "Marshmallows? Whipped cream?" she programmed some hot chocolate for herself as well." When I get the chance, I'll acquire some real chocolate to make this from scratch, and also chocolate cake. Hmmn I must be in a chocolate phase Today." She brought over marshmallows and some whipped cream in case Charlie would like either one. Tam also brought over the hot chocolate as well, setting it down on the desk, turning the desk into a makeshift table.

"Now what shall we talk about? Boys? Fluffy pets?" Tam asked with a twinkle in her eyes. "Art work?"

"What boys? Greg died," she said sadly. "And only me and that weird Lance are left. You only have 2 school kids now and believe me I am NOT interested in him. Fluffy pets?" she looked at Tam confused. "Are you getting a pet? Mum won't let me."

Tam looked stricken when she realized what she had stated in a flippant way. "Oh Charlie... I was just trying to be lighthearted and had momentarily forgotten about.. Greg." picking up her own cup of chocolate and taking a bit of a sip. She lowered it and continued. "As for the fluffy dog, I won't be getting one. I had joked around with you mother, about my getting a miniature horse for me to keep on the ship. However, that won't be happening. Would not be fair for me or the horse."

Tam wasn't going to be ruining the surprise that she figured Mel would be giving to Charlie. "I take it you like Fluffy dogs?" dropping a couple of marshmallows in her chocolate.

“A miniature horse would be awesome though,” Charlie grinned. “Who doesn’t like fluffy dogs?” She asked.

“At least you got mum joking. She’s just kind of gone quieter on me. Her hosts are loud Tam. Should I be worried? I thought about calling my uncle Tay and asking. He’s the only other Trill I know.”

Tam was quiet as she thought over what Charlie had said. " I'm sure her voices will quiet down, with things starting to shift to something somewhat more routine, a new groove with come about." looking at Charlie. "I know she is starting to get realigned. She got me settled about a certain matter that crept up from my past. And the fact that she and I shared a laugh, indicated to me that she is on the road of recovery." picking up a marshmallow and popping it into her mouth, her eyes crinkled up. When she was done eating it, Tam stated, "With what happened earlier, I think we all have some voices in our heads, memories and such. When Keiben and I went to the bridge after avoiding it like a plague, I thought I felt the captain's hand on my shoulder as if to welcome me. I even felt a surge of energy like the Copernicus accepted me as one of her own."

She stopped and looked at Charlie, "I know that sounds bizarre but its what I felt."

"It doesn't sound bizarre. I believe in an afterlife. It makes sense that the prior captain and maybe lost crew would be behind us and you should take that as you have their backing and blessing to keep this ship on its mission," Charlie said after some thought. "We do however have to find out who attacked the ship and caused all this loss. We owe it to those people lost. Sorry, you and Kieben are the command staff. I got a little passionate there. I just feel though that we owe them justice or something. Not that I can do much. I'm sure you right about mum."

Tam nodded, "I will agree with you on that, we do need to find out who attacked us and why. I am in some aspect wanting just a little bit of revenge, for what happened to us. Even though I've been told that when seeking revenge, its best to dig another grave. Perhaps I should better have said something like this. I want information and find out why." Tam stated, then took another sip of her slightly warm chocolate.

Charlie nodded and took a sip of her drink. She turned serious for a moment. "How do you stop seeing it? I mean thinking about it. What happened. Will it get less vivid?"

Tam set her chocolate down upon the desk, "It may fade away a little bit at a time, then something may bring it up when you least expect it. From what I've been told, that is a case of PTSD. There are exercises you can do to help you ease the anxiety that comes with that memory. It takes meditation and other exercises to help you cope. Maybe even do a memorial service in honor of those who are gone. In my background, my parents and my grandparents, they set up a memorial of those who have passed away and take a moment to talk to them, to tell them of the day. Even if it is an image of them or even something they used to have. They say that an item of said person helps to create a door for them to come and visit. Even just the thought of them and they come near to hear you."

"Can we do that Tam? Some sort of memorial? Or should I do something just me and Greg. Say goodbye ..." she looked pensive. "Maybe that will help."

"You and I can do that, do you wish to involve anyone else in the memorial? Whichever you would like to do or feel comfortable with." Tamaska replied. " Saying goodbye does help, it helps to bring some closure, to be able to express what you hadn't been able to say, when said person was there."

"I think I want to do a school one. I didn't just lose Greg. They were my closest people. The teacher even though she didn't stay on and now we have Holo bossypants, she could remote in I guess, any parents still here mum will come and well I guess Lance," she muttered. "I'm sure you and Keiben have plans for something for the bigger crew."

Tam shook her head, "I hadn't even talked to Keiben about it yet, in fact, I hadn't even thought about a memorial service until talking with you. I will have to make certain to bring that up with him." she looked at Charlie, "Hmmnn, guess this proves that we do need you as a yeoman." giving a brief smile.

Charlie beamed. “As mum says I have my moments.”

“So are you gonna get a bit more life in this new office?” She asked. “It needs the Tamaska stamp on it.”

Tam looked around the office. "I'm getting there, I at least have my teapot with its cups. Over on that shelf." Indicating a black teapot with a wolf and trees upon it. "That is a start, I just need to figure out just what else to put here."

“You need a miniature horse. An ornament. Yes we have to get you one, ” Charlie said excitably.

Tamaska chuckled, "A horse, that sounds spectacular. And I've got some pictures of my horses back home. I'll have to put some of those on my walls." Tam mused starting to imagine what the office could look like.

“It will be spectacular, ” Charlie agreed. “And one day I might have an office of my own. Imagine that, ” she grinned.

Tamaska nodded, she could actually see Charlie in her own office. "You might just do that, and I can imagine it." giving fist bump to Charlie.

"I'm making it a goal," Charlie said simply. "And I shouldn't take up any more of your time. Your right mums going to calm it down again. She's just in shock right? Like everyone else."

Tamaska nodded, "I would say that she is in shock, Charlie, such... devastation that we faced, your mother more seeing more of it than the rest of us, I'm glad she didn't go totally insane. Maybe the voices that have been woken up, maybe they actually have helped to keep her amongst the living. Kept her from completely shattering. Just that much is enough to make anyone shatter at some point and then the pieces have to be glued back together somewhat. Or a different mosaic can be made. Our lives have been forever changed, we can't go back to what we used to be. We will never be able to. The best things we can do is try to piece ourselves together and move forward. Rediscovering whom we truly are."

Charlie nodded. “All true and you have the heart of a poet Tam. Okay I'm really going to go. I have a math test, ” she pouted. “Catch you later.”

Tamaska chuckled "Me a poet? Anyway, sound good, we'll definitely have to chat again."

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