History

Posted on Wed Jun 24th, 2020 @ 3:35am by Lieutenant Commander Mindo & Lieutenant Krysia Kaleri-Smith
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:55pm

Mission: The Evils Within
Location: Counselor's Office
Timeline: current

ON

Mindo had no idea why he suddenly received an "urgent" request to report to Counseling. He was still working on fixing the buggy turbolifts, which apparently had retained some damage during their latest encounter with the Breen. He felt a bit disgruntled because he was sure he'd been on the home stretch of finishing repairs, but the saying kept proving true: if it isn't one thing it's another. And now this. What the hell was so important to the Counselor that he be ordered away from his duties.

To be fair, this was not the first request Counselor Kaleri-Smith had sent. In the past two days his presence "was requested" in Counseling at least four times. Maybe it had something to do with Greep. The Ontarion had told Mindo about his "interesting" chat with Krysia. Mindo thought it was a little strange that Greep would so easily be comfortable about a counseling session, but then even he couldn't figure out Greep sometimes. Personally, Mindo hated Counseling. He'd found the less information he shared with Counselors the better. He wasn't about to break his resolve now.

Without hitting the chime, Mindo stormed into the Counselor's Office and said, "OK, let's do this. Why am I here?!!"

Krysia smiled and waved Mindo across to a seat. "Relax Mindo it's not that bad reporting to me is it?" She waited for him to sit before picking up the PADD she had nearby. "Having had a very interesting chat with Greep, I thought I'd follow it up with you. How are things going for you?"

Mindo rolled his eyes. "Fine. I'm fine. We're all fine. Just fine. It's fine. Can I go now?"

"Seriously Mindo?" Krysia smiled. "You're not leaving here until I'm satisfied all is as fine as you make out."

Mindo scoffed. "Everything's fine when I'm making out, but you have a husband."

Krysia raised her eyebrows in a surprised gesture. "So If I wasn't married would you be trying to get out of this by tempting me into bed with you?"

"No, not exactly," Mindo replied. "But it's worked before..."

"Yes, I know" She shook her head and looked at his file. "Tell me about your time at the Academy Mindo."

"What do you want to know?" Mindo asked.

"You spent some time in therapy at the Academy, tell me about that." Krysia made herself more comfortable. Having a six month pregnancy with a bump that looked more seven or eight months due to the twins, made getting comfortable in any seat awkward.

Mindo sighed. "My 'lifestyle,' as the Academy put it, wasn't exactly popular with the higher-ups. As you know, Fesarians drink a lot. Alcohol has a reverse affect on Fesarians than other races. It acts as a stimulant, and it helps with our anxiety, depression, and mania. Of course, no one in the Academy believed that. Their medical and psychological records on Fesarians was practically nonexistent. Their only encounter with Fesarians had been limited to the time they encountered The Great Balok on Stardate 1512. Balok had not given a lot of details of Fesarian physiology, and only a little information about our race still existed in the records. Remember this was over a hundred years ago. So I was ordered to see a Counselor and after a couple weeks and further medical tests I was cleared to continue in the Academy. I was given a short leash, but I managed to graduate just fine."

"Fair enough" Krysia nodded. "As you said not much was known about your people then but at least there's a little more known now and I have seen for myself that alcohol doesn't effect you the way it does others. As for your 'relationships' with others, it's no business of mine who you have fun with. We're all entitled to let our hair down and enjoy ourselves."

"Was that all you wanted to know?" Mindo asked.

"Far from it" Krys smiled warmly. "What made you choose to be an engineer Mindo? Is it something you have a passion for?"

"Yes," Mindo replied. "But not always. I didn't really get into Engineering until my second year at the Academy. Originally, I wanted to be in Command. I thought commanding my own starship sounded amazing. But after a few failed simulator sessions I realized I wasn't cut out for the responsibility of the job and set my sights elsewhere. I had a girlfriend in Engineering who was ecstatic over the subject so I decided to enroll in a few courses. As it turned out, I was really good in that department, and I found the idea of being a Chief Engineer aboard a starship very exciting. So far it's been even better than I thought."

"According to your file you reached the rank of Lieutenant, before you were demoted to Ensign upon your transfer to the USS Tornado. What happened for you to be demoted?"

Mindo shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Do I really have to tell you?"

Krysia gave him a relaxed smile. "I can't force you Mindo but you've been avoiding this for a long time. I want to hear it and believe me when I say it will stay between us."

Mindo sighed. "I spent over a year and a half assigned to the USS Rhys. I was a Lieutenant, and I was Chief Engineer. It's the only ship I've served aboard that I've secretly wished would get sucked into a black hole. Captain Davies was charismatic, likable, and capable. Officers were proud to be led by him. Everyone but me."

"I take it you didn't get along with your Captain?" She put down the PADD she was holding just to sit and listen to what Mindo was saying.

"I got along just fine," said Mindo, "as long as I kept my mouth shut. Davies wasn't the man people thought he was. He... was abusive. And a liar, thief, and traitor. He made me lie for him. I ended up taking the fall for his transgressions. That's why I was demoted. There were other people involved too. People in high places who do not deserve to be there. Greep was there for me during that hard time, but I had no knowledge of his extra involvement in the issue. In the end, Davies got what he deserved, but not after... well, let's just say there's a lot of unfinished business in the matter." Mindo swallowed. It was clear he was rather emotional discussing the topic, and was being extremely cryptic. "Captain Temple doesn't know about this, but I have friends on the ship who are aware of the situation. Needless to say, I brought a lot of baggage to the Pandora when I was transferred from the Tornado. And part of me thinks the Pandora or someone on it is also involved in the matter."

"Exactly what kind of transgressions are you talking about Mindo?" Krysia looked at him more seriously now. "You said he was abusive? Did he hurt you or anyone else? What exactly went on?"

Mindo shifted uncomfortably. "Let's just say he engaged me in some... non-consensual activities," he said, which only answered one of her questions.

Krysia nodded understandingly, that was something they could talk about later. "I want to hear it all Mindo, you've held it all back for long enough." She offered a warm smile. "Tell me about what happened and don't exclude any details. I know it's difficult but you have to trust me."

Mindo drew a deep breath and let the air out slowly. He was conflicted. He'd confessed all this before. He could do it again. Mindo knew Krysia fairly well at this point and had a very positive impression of her counseling skills. He knew he could trust her. But it wasn't a guarantee that she would trust him, and even more so Greep, if he spilled it all. The only other people on the ship who had all the details were Commander Griffin and Lieutenant Brennan. Mindo's dark past began as a rift between them, but had later become a part of their trust and friendship. Perhaps telling Krysia would do the same. Nevertheless...

"There may be some things I say that may cause you to notify the Captain. Are you sure you can keep this confidential?" he asked.

Krysia nodded. "Maybe I'm throwing myself in at the deep end here Mindo but..." She nodded. "As far as the Captain is concerned it's called patient confidentiality Mindo. I swear to you what you say to me will stay within these four walls."

Mindo drew in a breath. "During my time on the Rhys, I became aware of Captain Davies' dealings with a man named Robert Willford. Willford was the husband of a prominent Federation diplomat. Long story short, they were embezzling money from various diplomatic accounts and putting the money in false accounts under my name. Because of my troubled past, Davies knew it would be my word against his. So I became a scapegoat. When the ordeal was discovered, I was forced to confess to the crime.

"I was ready to resign anyway," Mindo continued, "At the time, I was tired of Starfleet and the Federation. My difficult life back home started to look pretty good. And then I received a message from a Vice Admiral named Bradford Chase. He's since been promoted to Admiral, or so I've heard.” Mindo paused to clear his throat. “Admiral Chase had also been blackmailed by Davies, and Chase managed to arrange a deal for me to be demoted and reassigned instead of discharge or forced resignation. But it didn't end there.”

Mindo paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts. Finally he continued. “Admiral Chase works for Starfleet Intelligence. His position in SI is very prominent, and since promotion has probably become even more so. Admiral Chase ordered a hit on Captain Davies. Davies' death is listed as 'unknown causes.' The truth is, he was executed. Don't ask me how I know this. There are some secrets that must be kept... for the safety of the ship.

“Since then,” Mindo continued, “it's become clear to me that Admiral Chase did not save me out of charity. I fear my sudden reassignment to the Pandora is part of a larger plan. Something of which I am unaware.”

Krysia sat speechless for a moment, Mindo was telling her things that she should be telling Nyx but this was confidential between them and that was how it would stay. "What kind of plan could involve this ship Mindo? I take it Greep is also aware of all of this? After all he's extremely loyal to you."

Mindo nodded. "It's possible Greep is even more aware of this than I am," he said. "I can't explain further than that."

"May I ask why?" She gave Mindo a curious look. "You've brought me in this far Mindo, you might as well pull me in the rest of the way!" She hoped she wasn't going into territory she wasn't going into dangerous territory. It wasn't even something she could confide in James as it was a matter of patient confidentiality.

"I really, truly can't tell you why," said Mindo. "The reasons only lead to speculation, and uncertain truths. There's a lot we don't know about Greep's past. He told me you had a nice conversation with him. Take it from me, Greep only told you what you wanted to hear."

Krysia nodded. "Okay Mindo, as I promised none of this will leave this room and I haven't made any records of our conversation either. It will remain strictly between us." She offered a warm smile. "I'm always here to talk to Mindo, remember that okay?"

"Good," said Mindo. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a turbolift to fix."

Krysia nodded. "Thank you Mindo and remember my door is always open."

[OFF]