I Am Greep

Posted on Wed Jun 24th, 2020 @ 3:29am by Lieutenant Krysia Kaleri-Smith & Lieutenant Commander Greep
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:54pm

Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Counseling Office
Timeline: current

ON

Chief Greep walked through the corridor leading to Lieutenant Kaleri's office. His throat clicked quietly as he walked, a behavior most people didn't understand. There wasn't much to understand about Greep, but he was sure Kaleri was going to try. He'd been dodging it for almost a year, but Kaleri finally managed to get orders for Greep's psych evaluation. Greep was not looking forward to this.

Without chiming at the door, Greep stormed into the office where Kaleri sat at her desk and said, "OK Counselor, let's get this over with." His voice sounded much like that of an Earth parrot, as his vocalization of conventional language was quite different from normal humanoids.

Krysia wasn’t sure how the psyche evaluation on Greep was going to go, she’d never really spoken to him before but at least she could understand him which was a bonus. “Please take a seat Petty Officer, May I call you Greep rather than by your rank?”

Greep cocked his head to the side. "I am Greep," he said, his voice a somewhat high-pitched squawk. "That's my name."

Krysia grinned and nodded. “I guess I walked into that one! Okay Greep, there’s a fair amount of...practically nothing in your medical file where a psychological assessment is concerned. I don’t honestly see how you’ve gotten away with not seeing a counsellor for so long!” She gave him a curious look. To her Greep was a total blank slate, it was like he wasn’t even in the room where her senses were concerned and it was a little unsettling.

Greep sat down in the chair across Krysia's desk and stared at her. "My mental stability has been reviewed by several of Starfleet's top psychologists. They have all cleared me for duty. This meeting is more of a formality."

"I see" Krysia put down the PADD that she was holding. "So your records are obviously classified for whatever reason, something I wouldn't be permitted to see or know, so how's about we start with the usual question...how are you settling in?"

Greep made an odd clicking noise before squawking, "This chair is comfortable. I feel settled."

Krysia smiled. "I actually meant, how are you feeling about being part of the Pandora crew? Are you happy here?"

Greep's head jolted, but his eyes stayed with hers. "The Pandora is a good ship. Her crew is quite efficient. I am... satisfied being here."

"That's good" Krysia smiled warmly. "How do you find working with Lieutenant Mindo?"

Some clicking again, then Greep squawked, "I ask the computer to locate him."

Krysia had to stop herself from bursting out laughing, this was one of the more humorous and enjoyable psychological evaluations she'd done in a long time. "Let me re-phrase that!" She grinned like a Cheshire Cat. "Do you like working with Lieutenant Mindo?"

There was a low, growling, guttural sound before Greep said, "I knew what you meant. I was joking. We like to joke in Engineering. Most of the time I'm not very good at it. Did I do it right this time?"

"I would say you did it perfectly!" She grinned. "If I might ask is there a particular reason that I can't sense you?"

"I'm an Ontarion," Greep answered. "Our brains are not compatible with telepaths. We are not a humanoid species."

"So tell me more about Ontarions Greep" Krysia looked at him curiously. "You're the only one of your kind serving in Starfleet I do believe?"

"Correct, Counselor," Greep replied. "You probably also know that neither Ontarions nor my home planet of Torontoa are part of the Federation. In fact, the names of our species cannot be pronounced by humanoids. We gained our name from a Starfleet officer from the USS Artemis, who first encountered a ship of ours in the Gamma Quadrant. Have you ever been to a place called Canada?"

Krysia shook her head. “I’ve never been there but I’ve seen holo’s of it and experienced it on the holodeck. I take it that it resembles your homeworld?”

"Actually, yes," Greep said. "But I was meaning to tell you that your name of our race was given by an officer from Ontario, Canada. I went there once while on leave. It's a very beautiful place. Maybe you should go there."

“Ah I see!” She smiled warmly. “Perhaps I will now that you’ve recommended it. Please tell me more, this is completely fascinating and it helps me with understanding of your people and culture.”

Greep made another clicking noise. "I like this conversation too," he said. "What else would you like to know?"

"Oh...just about EVERYTHING!" Krysia grinned. This had turned into more of a 'get to know you' session than a psychological evaluation but not a lot was known about Greep and she was interested in knowing.

Greep made a strange coughing noise before squawking, "That would take a very long time. Are you sure?"

Krysia checked her appointment calendar. "Well I have exactly...one hour to spare so you have that long to teach me as much, or as little, as you like!" She smiled warmly. "Excuse me if I take notes though."

"OK," said Greep. "You may have noticed I have what you would call a 'beek' instead of a mouth. Many people want to know how I can talk. It has taken a lot of practice, but I manage to form your language by using muscles in my throat to create an imitation of your speech. It can be very tiring, so I'm afraid I won't be able to talk for a full hour, but I can answer a few more questions."

“Is there a particular reason why your records are unavailable to me?” Krysia looked at Greep curiously.

Greep cocked his head back and forth, clicking as he did so. "My records as an engineer should be available to anyone."

"Yes they are, those I can see" Krysia looked at Greep curiously. "The records of a normal serving officer I'd be free to see, but your records are hidden from me. There are no other psychological evaluations listed for me to view and there are other files that are above my clearance level. Is there a reason for that Greep?"

Greep cocked his head. "Yes," he said at last. "There are some... sensitive details about my history I was assured would remain private. I'm sorry for the difficulty this may cause you." There were a few more clicks, deeper ones this time, before he said, "You are a very kind person."

"I do what I can and I care for those in my extended family here aboard the ship, that includes Mindo." She looked at Greep. "Is there something about your relationship with Mindo that I should be aware of or is that something else that I'm not permitted to know?"

Greep clicked twice before saying, "Lieutenant Mindo and I have served together on three different ships, but have never been involved with each other on a personal basis. We are both committed to Engineering and respect each other as fellow officers. The Chief has never made any inappropriate advances toward me. I do consider him a friend, though."

“That's good" Krysia smiled warmly. "It's good to have friends that you can turn to if you need them. Mindo is quite the character he has a whole circle of friends. Do you have many other friends aboard?"

"Petty Officer Zo is also a friend," Greep replied. "But I'm afraid I'm not asked to very many social occasions. Much of the crew find me..." he clicked twice, "...weird."

Krysia smiled warmly. "If there's one thing you are not Greep, it's weird! You are different but aren't we all? Life would be pretty strange if we were all the same!"

"Yes, it would be," admitted Greep. "There are different cultures. I learned that quickly in Starfleet. Religion, for example. Ontarions have none. The Bajorans believe in the Prophets, while the Klingons study the teachings of Kahless. Humans are particularly strange on the subject. I find the matter confusing. Why are these things so important to people?"

Krysia smiled. “People need something to believe in, especially when times are hard. Faith can be a powerful thing to some, civilisations can be built or toppled depending on beliefs. It can be difficult to understand though.”

"Yes, it is." Greep made a strange motion with his head. "You are Terran and Drax, correct? How does that affect your religion?"

"To be honest I don't have one!" Krysia smiled. "It's not I don't believe it's just that it doesn't hold an interest for me." She shrugged her shoulders.

Greep made a rapid clicking sound before asking, "If it's not that you don't believe, what do you believe?" he asked. "I want to know, even if you're not interested."

“I believe...” She paused. “That there are things that happen that can’t be explained. Call them miracles if you like but things happen for a reason.” She looked at Greep curiously. “What do you believe Greep? Do things happen for a reason?”

Click, click. "Things happen because they happen," Greep squawked. "That is all there is to explain."

Krysia smiled. “I like the way you think Greep. Well I’m happy that you’ve got a level head on your shoulders and I’ll put a note in your report to say that you’ve attended your review.”

Greep stood. "Thank you, Counselor. I found this meeting satisfactory as well."

“I’m glad” Krysia smiled. “Anytime you need to talk, you know where to find me!”

OFF