Counselling

Posted on Sat Oct 31st, 2026 @ 1:58pm by Lieutenant Kara Quinn-Chaim & Lieutenant Commander Kenji Mori

1,446 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Mission 6 - Candy Leads to Cavities
Location: Counsellor’s office

Lt. Commander Kenji Mori had clocked his annual counselling session already in the diary by the time he had settled into his quarters. He had enough time to grab something to eat, his belongings still not unpacked, before he made his way to the Chief Counsellor's office. Truth be told, he didn't mind counselling. It wasn't his favourite thing in the world but neither was end of year departmental reports. You just got used to it. And this was at least just his own psyche that got evaluated, rather than having to evaluate performances of people under him. He rang the chime and waited.

Kara looked up from her PaDD, getting up she walked over to the door smiling warmly as it swished open to reveal someone she hadn’t yet met. “You must be Commander Mori, please come on in and make yourself at home.” She stepped aside allowing Kenji to enter.

"Thank you, Counsellor...Quinn-Chaim?" he tried the name, wanting to get it right as he met her eyes. He did enter, but almost carefully and certainly with respect for her space.

“That’s correct” Kara smiled and nodded. “Please feel free to call me Kara whilst here, it saves on the titles.” She motioned to the choice of sofa or chair. “Make yourself at home.”

"Thank you," he said and took a seat on the sofa, tugging his uniform jacket down with a practice movement as he gave her a small smile. "And you must call me Kenji then." From where he was sitting, the lack of formality should go both ways in this interaction, or else the balance would be off.

“If that’s what you’re comfortable with, I don’t mind.” Kara took her seat. “How are you settling in?”

"It takes a while to get used to the stars being the same," Kenji said with a small smile as he met her eyes. "I am settling in well, thank you. Unpacked. Know my way around Engineering, even had my medical. I've been very efficient."

“It certainly sounds like you have.” Kara smiled warmly. “I’m glad you’re so organised, it saves me having to chase you. As you’ll see I’m not the a-typical Counsellor who looks at a file and automatically assumes anything. I prefer to get to know people, rather than their records, so tell me what I should know about you.”

"There is not much of interest," Kenji said, and meant it as he met her eyes. "I've been in Starfleet since I was eighteen. I have no spouse or children. My parents are still alive. They are on Earth now. I have always enjoyed engineering. I like swimming. I also enjoy reading..." he looked to the view for a moment. "So quite...uninteresting, in the grand scheme of life."

“No one is ever uninteresting” Kara smiled warmly. “What made you want to join Starfleet? Has it lived up to your expectations so far?”

"I wanted to see the universe," he said and then let out a soft breath. "I suppose I have been in Starfleet so long that it must have some...fulfillment for me." He met her eyes again, studying the woman across from him. "It is coming up to thirty years since I started at the Academy."

“Thirty years? Wow!” Kara smiled. “It’s only been eighteen years for me, it’s a life I always wanted. I enjoy what I do, helping others is a rewarding task. Do you have plans? Want to get your own command, or anything like that?”

"No," he said and met her eyes, giving a shake of his head. "I never liked the...politics of command. It's a different world than being an Engineer. I think this is where I see my career until retirement. Chief Engineer, working until they make me leave."

Kara nodded. “That’s fair enough, you have a clear goal in mind and that’s what’s important. Do you have any family? A wife? children?”

He looked at her for a moment at her choosing that question...and clarification. "No, no wife or children," he said, his voice quiet. "Parents are alive, no other family."

Kara nodded. “I’m sorry if that was a sensitive question, I tend to use it as a get to know you question more than anything else.” She offered a warm smile. “Is there anything you’d like to ask?”

"No," he said as he met her eyes, studying her for a moment. He considered it for a moment before he let out a breath that always sounded like a chuckle. "Or perhaps, yes. Why did you ask if I had a wife or children?"

“Well some do, some don’t. Though your reply seemed to hold a note of almost sadness, or regret to it.” Kara gave him a curious look.

"It is not sadness or regret, merely...curiosity, perhaps even surprise..." Kenji said as he watched her for a moment and then sat back. "That the options were only wife or children. Not girlfriend. Not boyfriend. Not spouse, not partner...just very traditional. Wife. Children."

“ I see your point” Kara nodded. “You are correct, I tend to avoid prying into patients sexuality, unless they offer that information to me of their own will. Some don’t like to openly admit that they’re in a same sex relationship. As for boyfriend or girlfriend I guess I’ve just gotten stuck in a rut, it’s a habit I need to adapt.”

He nodded before he gave her a small smile. "Although by framing the question with wife and child, you made an assumption about my sexuality," he said and the smile warmed a little. "I suppose there was a fifty percent chance of you being correct."

Kara smiled. “I apologise for my assumption, I will make a point of not doing that anymore. I do appreciate you making me think about it though.”

Kenji let out a breath and shook his head. "I wasn't going to," he admitted openly. "I tend not to share too much in counselling. I'm...not going to say private, but it doesn't always occur to me to do it. Sharing information beyond what is in my record."

“It’s not a requirement unless you feel you need to share it” Kara added. “It’s truly no one’s business but yours. Thank you for feeling that you can share it with me though. What is said here is strictly confidential anyway.”

Kenji looked down with a small smile, shaking his head. "It isn't. But I have never hidden it with colleagues or anyone else," he said as he met her eyes. "So. I guess the question is...what do we talk about now?"

“Whatever you feel the need to talk about, if there’s nothing you feel you need to share right now then I’m happy for you to get back to your duties.” Kara smiled warmly.

He nodded, considering it for a moment...genuinely tempted to get up. But it was his annual counselling session, and she had been pleasant. He was decently sure he had not offended her, yet it felt rude to just get up. "How long have you been on this base?" he asked, partly due to curiosity. He had gotten different impressions from people about the base, how it was to live somewhere with a fast turnover.

“Gosh erm…around nine years now.” Kara smiled warmly. “My children have grown up here, my daughter is nine and my son is five.” She paused remembering that Tomer didn’t want her telling everyone that she was expecting their third child. “Hard to believe it’s been so long.”

"Time...flies I guess," he said with a nod, watching her for a moment before he chuckled. "You blink and ten years are gone to routine and...just Starfleet life."

“That’s very true.” Kara smiled warmly. “It’s been nice getting to know you Kenji.”

"And you," he said and stood, taking it as a signal that the session was over. "I am pretty sure I will see you around, Kara. These stations have a way of being surprisingly small."

Kara nodded. “Indeed they do Kenji, my door is always open if you ever need to see me, or just chat.”

"And if you need anything...I hope you know where the engine room is," he said with a small nod in return. "Have a good day." He turned and left the office.

Kara smiled to herself it was certainly nice to have met Kenji, she was sure they’d get along just fine.

 

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