Missed the Party

Posted on 08 Feb 2026 @ 2:36am by Captain Sabrina Corbin & Lieutenant Nicholas Miller

1,316 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Lathira Shoreleave
Location: Counseling Offices

=*= Lt Miller's Office =*=

Nick sat back and just savored the moment, finally everything was unpacked and things felt in order. If he were going to help another officer with anything the first step was to be comfortable himself. He hadn't gone too extreme with office decoration but had still made an effort to make his new office his own. A few simple paintings and a large rug from his Dad had already made the surroundings feel more like home. With most of the crew on shore leave Miller had been able to navigate unfamiliar terrain mostly unseen, a rare luxury when adjusting to new surroundings. He'd always leaned heavily on his natural ability to navigate life without being noticed, to observe and analyze without drawing too much attention to himself. His tendency to stay up way past "bedtime" was taking its toll as well but with motivation and a sensation of accomplishment Nick couldn't imagine going to sleep just yet. He was just too damned excited.

Someone was going to need a fresh voice and he was determined to try and be just that. While his Dad had been a Security officer and had always tried to steer his son in that direction it had been his Mom that coaxed him towards the path of empathy and guided him through the Academy. Dad had demanded results and accountability, Mom had always seen the other side of things even painfully at times. Only his sister, Lucy, had been there as a reminder that neither had mastered life and had served to encourage him with the fact that nobody alive had ever encountered the current moment before.

"We're all making it up as we go...." Nick said to himself with a wry grin as he took yet another look around the office. Things felt "right" and it was rare in his field to ever allow himself time for his own mental health. He'd done his best to take advantage of the crew's shore leave in order to get a head-start on getting settled, the best possible path to being an asset to the Arawyn.

"Computer. Coffee. Columbian blend, black, hot" he said aloud, debating what the next step in is preparations would be.

The corridor outside Counseling was quiet, softened by design. Captain Sabrina Corbin paused at the door long enough to read the nameplate, then pressed the chime.

When it opened, she smiled, genuine and unguarded in a way few ever saw on the bridge. “Lieutenant Miller,” she said. “Captain Corbin. Welcome aboard the Arawyn.”

She did not rush the moment. “I wanted to come by personally before the day carried you off. Counseling is an important space on any ship, and I prefer new faces not to feel like strangers for long. If you have a moment, I would be glad to say hello properly.”

Nick nodded and smiled, he'd been anticipating that he'd be noticed eventually. It did surprise him that the CO had made time to visit, particularly when the crew was just ending what had been an eventful shore leave according to what little he'd heard through random encounters. "Well you picked a good day Captain, I still haven't been present enough to be noticed." He took his mug in hand and after a small test sip put it back down and looked around the room. "Of course I have time, being available and waiting for the opportunity to interact with those around me is how my corner of this world works."

He hadn't started decorating the office yet but had taken the time to add a few details. A small bonsai on his desk, something to fiddle with between sessions as well as a few art pieces just to create the aesthetic of a comfortable space. The one thing he'd carried with him from his Academy days was a dartboard just to the side of the door. It had been his father that had gotten him addicted to darts and the time spent conversing between throws had been a large part of developing his ability to listen. Hearing his Dad's stories about service in Starfleet during many hotly contested matches had also ignited his interest in applying to the Academy yet it had been his mother's stories of being an officer's spouse and what that role entailed that had steered him towards Counseling.

"But rest assured Captain, I'll never be intimidated by the prospect of being busy. If anything that's the reason I'm here, to be ready and available to respond. There's a good chance I'm going to just leave that door open...." he said with a gesture of his mug to the door behind Sabrina. "Worst case scenario is the entire crew needs someone to talk to and here I'll be waiting. Best case? Everyone is enjoying what time they have and thriving. Which means I have zilch to address and can always find something to occupy myself with."

Corbin listened without interrupting, her attention settling easily into the rhythm of his words. There was no urgency in her posture, no sense of a captain measuring outcomes. Just presence. When he finished, she smiled again, softer this time, the kind reserved for people who made their intentions clear without needing to justify them.

“That is a remarkably healthy outlook for someone this newly arrived,” she said lightly. “And an appreciated one.”

Her gaze flicked briefly to the open doorway, then back to him. “You will find this ship keeps people busy even when they are thriving. Sometimes especially then. Knowing there is a door that can stay open matters more than most realize.”

She inclined her head, a quiet acknowledgment rather than a dismissal. “I am glad you are here, Lieutenant Miller. Take the time to settle. When the crew needs you, they will find you. Until then, enjoy the rare luxury of being ahead of the curve.”

Nick took note of his new Captain's relaxed posture and appreciated it, a good relationship with Corbin would not only help both of them but others as well. He knew all the common views of what a counselor was there to do, having the CO to vouch for his ability would encourage others. It was his sincere hope that the crew find him or at the least anyone when they were in need of help. Far too often officers kept things internal, a repeating monologue that could be painful to endure. It was his mission to prevent just that. "I'm glad to be here as well Captain. Top of the line shiny new vessel and a crew that's just starting to depend on each other."

Miller sipped his coffee and nodded. "But if my Dad ever taught me anything, it's that being 'ahead of the curve' is an illusion. He was a Security officer so you know how they can be, that man was always waiting for something to happen. He always said 'Being ahead of things is no time to relax, it is only being prepared for when those things go wrong.' . But for a Counselor, that's why we're here. To be needed."

Nick smiled at a thought. "I think you're right Captain. I'm gonna just leave that door open. If and when the time comes, it'll be one less thing to slow anyone down."

Corbin’s expression softened just slightly at his words, a hint of understanding there. “Prepared is good,” she said evenly. “Present is better. If you manage both, this ship will be well served.”

She shifted back toward the doorway, giving him the space back without withdrawing the welcome. “Thank you for your time, Lieutenant. I am glad you are here. We will speak again.”

With a final nod, she stepped into the corridor and let the doors close behind her, leaving Counseling quiet once more.

Lt Nicholas Miller
Counselor

Captain Sabrina Corbin
Commanding Officer
USS Arawyn

 

RSS Feed