Meeting the New Counselor

Posted on Wed Apr 15th, 2020 @ 12:56am by Candy Templeton & Lieutenant JG Kara Quinn-Chaim

1,446 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Mission 3: Diplomacy, what’s that?
Location: Counselor's Office

A new counselor, Candy mused. It was good to see that Casshan had been transferred by M'Mira. Mint never had the courage to do so, though to her credit, she did tell the Betazoid to stop actively reading her thoughts and interfering in her work. Then again, seeing that the new counselor was part-Betazoid was not thrilling either. Before heading over, she researched everything about her. It was a reporter's job to be well informed. If you did not know the answers to questions, what was the point in asking the questions? It was more satisfying catching people in lies that way.

Scrolling through her profile, she was interested in Kara's father, a Captain on another Starship, and one that she did not know until she got on it. More interesting was that she was recently married and was expecting a child with another officer on the station: Tomer Chaim. That certainly would explain the strange last name for a Betazoid-Trill.

Once she was satisfied with her information, she headed over to the Counselor's Office and rang the chime.

Kara was busy sorting through a pile of PADDs when the chime rang. Looking up she called whoever was at the door to enter.

"Good morning! So nice to meet the new counselor!" Without any disguising of her disdain for Casshan she continued, "Especially after the last one. Hopefully you will have a much better grip on appropriate protocols regarding use of your abilities."

Kara gave the woman standing in front of her a long hard look before motioning to a seat. “Use of my abilities is kept within accordance of the rules of my job, Miss?”

"Templeton," Candy responded. "But you can call me Candy," she replied, sticking out her hand with a wide and pleasant smile. Well, that verifies that she has Betazoid abilities. I wonder how far they stretch.

Kara gave Candy a curious look as she shook her hand before letting it go. “Ahh, you’re the Federation news representative here on the station.” Kara nodded as she relaxed back in her seat and rested her hands on her rounded stomach. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit Miss Templeton?”

"Again, please call me Candy!" she bubbled. "I was curious to meet the new Counselor, of course. It is my job to be atop all the latest information on this station and what better place to start than with the new Chief Counselor?"

"By all means Candy, so what is it you wish to know?" She motioned Candy to a seat. "Please make yourself at home, can I get you a drink?"

"Feel free. Maybe a daiquiri?" Candy sat down and crossed her legs as she sat down. "As to what I wish to know, well...." Candy smiled and then laughed. "Would everything be too much to ask?"

Walking over to the replicator Kara got Candy her daiquiri, returning to the desk she handed the glass to Candy. "So is this an interview or are you just curious?" Kara gave the woman a curious look.

"Is there a difference?" Candy asked, curious to hear the Counselor's answer.

“Well that depends I guess, I don’t mind interviews providing their truthful and I’m not misquoted.” Kara offered a wry smile. “So where would you like to start?”

"Have you had poor experiences with other reporters?" Candy wondered, somewhat suspicious that someone had already poisoned the counselor against talking to her.

“Not really” Kara shook her head. “I’ve listened to one too many bad stories about reporters, I apologise. Please ask your questions and I’ll do my best to answer.”

"And what bad stories have you heard?" Candy asked curiously. There was a small smile on her face as she felt that there was an interesting story in here somewhere.

"Just the usual, rumours about the press misquoting people and exaggerating storylines to make an impact" Kara gave Candy a curious look. "I'm sure you aren't like that though are you?"

"I'm only interested in the truth," Candy responded simply and honestly. "I swear that such stories are no better than all lawyers being crooked. The few bad apples give the rest of us a bad name."

“That’s true” Kara nodded. “So what makes me such a good story? I’m just a Counsellor.”

"It depends on the situation," Candy replied in a thoughtful tone, crossing her legs slightly less provocatively and quicker than that of Shannon Stone in Basic Instinct. "Much of it depends on timing. What would make a good story in one environment, would not in another."

“That’s true” Kara nodded. “Ask your questions, I’ll do my best to answer them.”

"Thank you," Candy answered pleasantly. "So, tell me, why did you come here? I mean, sure, it appears that Commander M'Mira is making life rather boring here, but what attracted you to Faltan Station? Are you not concerned about your unborn child?"

Kara nodded. "Of course I am, what mother wouldn't be!" Kara paused. "We came to Faltan after our previous ship was decommissioned. A station seemed a better, more stable place to be to raise our baby."

Candy did not know whether to laugh or to cry. "More stable?" she asked. "Well, perhaps in the last few months since M'Mira has been running the show. Makes for a rather boring job, if you ask me. If things do not pick up soon, I may have to leave."

"You find that amusing?" Kara looked at Candy curiously. "Is there not enough action here for you?"

"Depends on the kind of action that you're talking about," Candy replied with a helpless shrug. "Remember my job, Kara. May I call you, Kara?" she asked with a hidden smile. "You never really gave me permission to do so." Without waiting for an answer, she continued on, "Nobody cares about what's boring or routine. Those are for your normal reports to your superiors. Ratings and public interest are all that matter for me to survive."

"Of course" Kara nodded. "And yes, you may call me Kara. So what do you get out of interviewing me? Surely I'm not going to be that interesting to your readers?"

"Maybe. Maybe not. One can never be too certain," Candy practically purred at Kara. "After all, you came here with your husband, if I recall from your files and pregnant. I would say that is pretty interesting. Besides, you may have insights on some of our newest recruits here. There seem to be a fair share of people from Kumari. Was the Captain there a problem?"

"Not at all" Kara shook her head. "The Kumari was decommissioned and the crew were given the option of where we wanted to go. Tomer and I chose to come here, along with several others. We thought it better than my having a baby aboard a Starship who knows where!"

This interview was not going as well as Candy had hoped. "That is certainly true. However, you should be able to tell me something about all the people that came with you from Kumari, no?"

"Are you do desperate for a story that you want to try digging up some dirt on others." Kara smiled. "I'm afraid I wasn't aboard the Kumari very long when she was decommissioned."

"I am not desperate for a story," Candy replied. "However, after my Crystal Fruits leads dried up and the Faltean Governor playing games with me, I will not tell you that I am not getting close. M'Mira has run a tight ship and I'm not exactly a person that likes rules."

“How’s about I make you a deal” Kara looked at Candy. “Nothing underhanded just an offer to get you the best line on the next newsworthy thing to happen?”

"In exchange for what?" Candy asked interestedly.

"I'm not sure yet" Kara paused. "So interested or not?"

"Do fish swim?" Candy replied with a satisfied, wide, glowing grin.

Kara nodded. “Don’t worry you’ll get a story as soon as a newsworthy one comes up.”

"I rarely worry. You can ask Mr. Turner about that."

Kara smiled. “I believe you. Anyway I have to get back to work, I’ll be in touch when I have something for you.”

Candy grinned, flashed her pearly whites at Kara and said, "I will look forward to that moment. Thank you, Counselor. I have a feeling that things are going to get interesting around here again." With that, Candy turned and walked out, her hips swaying purposefully and practiced as her heels clicked, one in front of the other until she finally exited the room.

 

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