Inaccessible

Posted on 22 Nov 2025 @ 5:28pm by Ensign Ryan Collingway & Lieutenant Commander Riah Amberlyn XMD
Edited on on 22 Nov 2025 @ 5:29pm

1,486 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: The Displaced
Timeline: Morning

// CMO’s Office //

“ Thank you, Counselor Barda. I will discuss this with Ensign Collingway and his counselor and see how the topic is received. I understand how important it is for there to be closure on your side, and I appreciate your patience and consideration in not wanting to trigger more trauma in Ensign Collingway’s life. And yes, you can expect a reply in a couple of days.”

“That would be excellent Dr Amberlyn,” replied the Bolian counselor. “Thank you and good bye.”

Riah sat for a moment before sending a comm to Ryan Collingway’s current counselor, Dr Kris Emerson and asking her to come by Riah’s office when she had a little time. Kris replied she would be right there.

// Five Minutes Later //

Kris knocked gently on the door frame of Riah’s office. “ I had a cancellation so I got a whole hour. Is this a big deal?”

“Might be. I’m not sure. I just got a vid comm from a Benzite counselor. It seems there are some irregularities in parts of Ryan Collingway’s version of what happened with his senior officer and the Benzites would like to discuss it with him. They contacted me as head of medical because they don’t want to traumatize Ryan anymore than necessary. They said it’s voluntary that he talked to them at all. Seems a little odd, but I don’t know Benzite law or their medical community. What has been your experience with Ensign Collingway so far?”

“He's cooperative, but elusive. Believes that he has it all figured out and he’s now ready to quit counseling. I explained that that would be up to Dr Vettalin, and that he and I need to show some kind of work having been done over the time that we’re together to have something to show to Dr Vettalin. He’s cooperating with that. He’s supposed to come in tomorrow and see me for a second visit.”

“How do you think it would be best to handle bringing this up to him?” asked Riah.

Kris bit her lip for a moment, thinking, and replied, “ I think very straightforward just tell him exactly what happened that the Benzite called and wants to talk to him. Is he willing to do that? He may take a while to think about it. When does the Benzite want an answer?”

“Two days.”

“So, we can call him in today and talk to him or we talk to him tomorrow in his regular session,” suggested Kris.

“I’m glad that two of you have maybe not hit it off but can work together. I think it would be better if you talk to him rather than us ganging up on him. I’ll let you watch the vid com so you have the story first hand. Would you be comfortable with that?”

“Yeah, sure, if I can see the vid com. Send that to me and if I have any questions, I’ll check back with you. Then I’ll bring it up tomorrow at his session in the morning. It may be a good idea that he doesn’t have an unlimited amount of time to make a decision. Voluntary? Interesting. I look forward to seeing the vid com.”

—Next Day—

// Dr Emerson’s Office //

“Hey there Ryan,” Kris greeted as he entered the office. “Something to drink?”

"Just water, please," Ryan said, but there was something wrong. His eyes were darker, indicating lack of sleep, and he was figgiting more. Something had rattled him, and it didn't have anything to do with the upcoming Benzite news.

“Water it is,” she said, processing his countenance, which was profoundly different today from their first meeting. As she placed two glasses on the table, she decided to not immediately call attention to that, but to allow him to direct the conversation for a while before introducing the Benzite agenda. If it took longer than 2 days to satisfy the Benzite, that was ok. Her primary concern was Ryan’s health, not Benzite curiosity.

“Thanks for coming in today. I’m guessing you considered cancelling. I’m glad you didn’t,” said Kris.

"It's...just a rough night. It's fine," Ryan said. "As they say at the academy, if you can't survive on a few hours of sleep, then you have no business being in Engineering."

“I sympathize. Hence, I’m a counselor, not a medical doctor,” she chuckled. “You do look a little tired. I hope they let you sleep tonight instead of recalibrating EPS pressures or warp reactor diagnostics.”

"It wasn't quite an engineering problem," Ryan confessed. "There's this girl and..." He sighed. "You know what? Nevermind. It's hard to explain.”

“Females usually are. You don’t have to talk about it, as per our agreement, but you have me curious now. Indulge me just a little more?” she coaxed very gently.

Ryan paused to think about it. "She wants...or at the very least least, is actively encouraging a relationship. It's just not the right time for me. That's all," he said. There was a lot more to it than that, but that was about as much as he was willing to indulge.

“A relationship is very complicated,” Kris agreed. "And if you’re not ready, you’re not ready. That’s okay. That assumes you like her back some, maybe not a long-term commitment, but as more of a friend than a casual ‘let’s have a beer buddy’. There’s levels between those two that still count as a relationship. Hate that you are losing sleep over it. Sleep is highly underrated.”

"I do like her," Ryan admitted, and that immediately brought a fresh wave of guilt, as though he didn't deserve that much. "Like you said, it's complicated. But thanks for the advice.”

“I’ve got something else I want to talk to you about. A Counselor Barda from the Benzite Medical Assembly contacted Dr Amberlyn and asked if they could talk to you,” explained Kris.

As soon as Kris said the 'word' Benzite, it was like a switch had turned on. Every single wall came up and his stance became neutral and relaxed. It was a stance he had practiced very well. The uncertain Ensign asking for relationship advice had left the appointment. In its place was a stranger. "What do they want?”

The walls were palpable and basically what Kris had expected. She silently cursed the Benzites. “Dr Amberlyn made it clear that it is entirely voluntary. The case is closed and Starfleet will not allow it to be reopened. Barda was not specific as to his inquiry, and he was concerned about reopening that wound in your life. So please be honest and cautious about whether you decide to be that volunteer. You take as long as you want, if you choose to engage with him at all.”

Ryan said nothing for a moment. Internally he was panicking, not that it was obvious. The Benezites knew...something, perhaps. Some detail he had missed or overlooked. The bruises on his neck, perhaps, from the medical reports? Borg don't usually strangle people. But whatever it was hadn't been strong enough to overturn the Starfleet report. So they were presenting it as a medical query instead, while acting 'cautious' about his medical health. He didn't trust a word of that. He calmed himself down. The report was closed, as Counselor Emerson had just said. "They have my report on what happened. I don't have anything to add to it.”

“Then you don’t have to talk to him,” replied Kris, a decisive voice. “Dr Amberlyn and I will stand behind you and ultimately so will Starfleet. I know this has been a big shake up. Please be gentle with yourself. I need to know you are okay. Maybe not good, certainly not ideal, but okay. I’d like you to be able to process this here with me, but I’m guessing that’s asking a lot. You may not be ready to talk about it. So if you want to cut this session short, I’ll agree to that, if you will comm me before 1900 to let me know how you’re doing.”

"Yes, let's do that. I have a lot of work to do, anyway. Potential mission boarding ahead," Ryan said. The ship in question was an engineer's dream. A mysterious puzzle in space with all kinds of new technology. And, at the moment, completely inaccessible.

Almost as inaccessible as him right now. "I'll be fine, Doctor. Thank you.”

“I’ll let Dr Amberlyn know your decision and she’ll handle getting in touch with Counselor Barda,” Kris assured him. “Let me hear from you. Sorry to bring this up, Ryan. Life is really never fair."

~~~
LT Kris Emerson, PhD
Counselor
USS Arawyn
&
Ensign Ryan Collingway
USS Arawyn

 

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