His Corps requirement (Part 1)
Posted on Sun May 4th, 2025 @ 1:18am by Lieutenant Amanda Rose & Lieutenant Robin Maxwell
2,311 words; about a 12 minute read
Mission:
Preservation Instinct
Location: Counselor's Office
Maxwell was in his BDU's as usual while making his way to the weekly Counseling Appointment for his continued enlistment to the Corps. This would be an initial session since his arrival prior to the departure on this mission. He would have been more comfortable with a male and even a computerized hologram would be ideal as then no one would wish to delve into the depths of his mind.
He pressed the chime to announce his arrival and wait to be allowed access.
"Come in," called a pleasant voice. The door opened to a neat but cluttered office. There was a couch, chairs, and a beanbag chair all placed around the room, as well as a desk, which the counselor presently rose from to greet her guest. The auburn haired woman took a look at Maxwell and smiled, "How are you today?"
"I am here for the first of what will be steady sessions." Maxwell stepped into the office and gave what could be a casual glance about the room noting the surroundings. "You seem in good spirits Counselor Rose?"
"Is there a reason that I should not be in good spirits?" she asked with a warm smile. "And you are?" Amanda asked proddingly. "And please, make yourself comfortable.
"Thank you, Counselor." Maxwell moved to the nearest chair. "I am good ma'am."
"Real carnivore." Maxwell said calmly. " Like to cook with real meats, not replicated and when possible the entire meal is genuine. I am a generalist as I explore xeno-cheif type of calling. Special dishes from other cultures are fun."
"Please, call me Amanda. Things do not have to be formal here. How would you prefer that I address you?"
"Since you have offered a First Name Basis, Robin will be fine." He sat properly in the chair. "But would it be improper for me to continue calling you Counselor?" He asked. "It seems more appropriate for our respective relationship, I am told you should keep a certain objectivity so use of familiars so early might send the wrong signal?"
"I appreciate your concern for my ability to keep professional objectivity, but I assure you that calling you by a first name and vice versa does not jeopardize that. Usually, it makes people feel more comfortable. If Counselor works better for you, then call me that. I'm not particular." She smiled at Robin warmly. "Why don't you tell me about yourself, Robin?"
"I am a Marine to the Corps." Maxwell started. "I do enjoy the company of people; a lovely woman's company is appreciated more but I get along with most." He admitted. "I have a few hobbies that fill in the time and I like to cook a bit." Shrugging. "The important parts I am sure you have already read and have your own deductions?"
"When I get someone that is automatically assigned to do counseling with me, I do review their file. Yours is, interesting, shall we say. However, I do not come to conclusions based on what others write. I'd rather make my own conclusions. It eliminates more biases, which makes me more effective as a counselor."
"It would be best if you ask, and I answer as I do not know what you need of me." He shrugged. "I would tell you about my recipe for Fried ice cream or something if left to my own." He gave a sly grin. Picked it up on a tour of Italy before this assignment." He shrugged. "But then I like to talk about things away from work, cannot dwell on the duty all the time, I have been told I needed some hobbies and such by a few members of your profession Counselor."
Either he's completely distrustful or completely uncomfortable. Either is not a good start. "What do you enjoy doing when you're not working, Robin?"
"Like to read for sheer pleasure to relax." He nodded. "As I said I have been known to cook a dish or two that people commented were pretty good and I especially enjoy the look of almost decadent pleasure when she has the nirvanas of tasting something that touches her like an unseen caress. Like a Neapolitan Fried Ice Cream." He shrugged. "Aside from that I really enjoy surfing."
"Surfing? Really? That's an interesting hobby? Do you prefer it in person or on the holodeck?"
"I have surfed on more than thirty worlds. I also love the smell of Napalm in the morning..." HE quoted from an old Holo based on a famous movie. "But to relax in my Bunk I read actual novelizations."
"I see...." Something in the back of Amanda's mind tickled to some old movie. Perhaps it was with someone she dated but since it was probably a man, action flick, she likely fell asleep. "So you like reading.... What do you do for a social life?"
I attend the Formal events and dance with those that are both required and any that seem open to the idea," he replied. "I cook a little for the Last Galley Manager I had and have been known to throw together something nice for a candle light setting upon occasion." He replied. "I socialize with my Marines and crew in open areas and have even played a game or two with people , though I think chess is challenging but boring outside strategic planning."
"It sounds to me as if you do not prefer being with people. Am I correct?"
"I am considered an odd-ball of sorts," Maxwell said. "Reputation is faster than Trans-warp and while I am a good Command Officer, I get along with my Marines but regular folks are a little more complicated." He kept looing above her shoulders. "I can cook; trust me, I could be popular, I just like the quiet of small gatherings and more than surface small talk."
Amanda sympathized with Maxwell. "I understand that. I do not care for large gatherings, myself. They can be uncomfortable. I prefer one on one conversations. It is a better way to get to know a person, in my opinion. There's less pressure to perform, so to speak."
"With a Marine contingent crowds are the norm; I do like to get away from it," Maxwell admitted. "I prefer one galley on the ship for dinner so I might cook real food, otherwise I tend to dine in my quarters. Sometimes I have company to enjoy real food but it is also a place I can create better."
Curiously, Amanda asked, "Do you have any specialties or cooking preferences?"
"Real meats and other stuff for the most part." He shrugged. "I pick up a little here and there along life's journey. I have a great dish for Earth Chinese noodles sand a variation of the sauce used for Gagh." He smiled. "Mine a a little more on the sweet side."
"So, for the most part, you're a steak and potatoes type of guy? Though, I am curious as to your Chinese noodles. You seem quite proud of them."
"More of a man who can enjoy diffrent foods , I like the taste of real cooked food and it is the meats that are hadest to aquire and making food with more exotic flavors is the cooking challenge." Maxwell nod. "I do not like replicated food as much as actual cooked foods and learning from some Chefs throughout the places I visit is a hobby."
"Tell me about the places that you have visited."
"The unclassified ones would include Vulcan homeworld, Bajor, the Andorians invited a group of us to train in their conditions and I did enjoy my time with the Klingons." He shrugged. "The others I would have to kill you if I speak of them." He gave a sly and maybe playful grin.
"Are you certain of that?" Amanda asked uncertainly. "After all, I'm a counselor. I'm sworn to secrecy and to handle your matters with the utmost discretion. Otherwise, how else could I help you?"
"Of course some of the 'Accessment Reports' re rather graphic and the data stream from the post incident report can be something you would not want to look through after a meal." HE gave a sly grin. "Devron three after the supposed Pirate attack upon the colony; later we found mercenaries were hired cause a diversion while munitions shipped to a near by faction in a Civil War. The resources focused away from the patrol pattern the Mercs desired clear and Federation humanitarian practices served to give that diversion." He shrugged. "It was resolved later but that is all in the Classified report if you can get the clearances." He nod. "The universe is not the calm place most of the Federation likes to believe in."
"If it was calm, we would not be exploring the unknown, would we? I don't believe that anything is perfect. But, for whatever there is, I just hope that I can do whatever it is I can to make it a bit easier for everyone."
"This may sound strange Counselor..." He chuckled to himself a bit. "But maybe we keep this strictly personal and leave my work aside." He nod. "That way no danger of my putting you in danger?" He tried to joke to lighten the mood. "I hope that makes sense?"
"It does," she admitted. "However, I seem to find trouble wherever I go. I seem to have a knack for it." She smiled and shrugged helplessly.
"You do not have to worry about trouble on my Watch, what good are Marines if not to defend and protect?" HE said with a slight grin. "Damsels are also our specialty ma'am."
"Oh?" the Counselor asked interested. She wondered if he viewed all women as being in distress or whether he was claiming that he was a ladies' man.
"Damesls are not all defale; it is a term of recent slang for any weaker person that is in distress." HE nod. "So protecting the weaker part of the population is the implied "Damsels' in the refernce." He explained. "Or did I read more in your 'Oh' tone?"
"Surely you don't mean to say that women are weaker than men, do you?" Amanda asked cautiously.
Maxwell hesitated for a few seconds, closing his eyes to think of his answer, when they opened to three quarters and he look the counselor directly.
"Upper body strength is genetics, legs are women by far as superior . Pound for pound, humans are my basis, but I know women cover both sides of the spectrum better than any man." He gave a sly grin. "Among humans only the women give life and I know women that can take it with mote efficiency than any man. So, no, I do not think women are weaker over-all; just when they find themselves; or anyone, in distress that little saying seems to fit." Damsel in distress and al, just an old Earth Saying."
"I'm from Earth. I know it well. However, I find that our words have hidden meanings and adopting sayings that we know to be false can sometimes carry connotations and send wrong messages to people."
"People are people ma'am." He said calmly without breaking eye contact. "They do what they wish and take things as they please." He shrugged. "I am not in a popularity contest, as Lincolns said 'you can please all of the people some of the time, some of the people all the time but cannot please all the people all the time.' So I deal with it as it comes."
"How do you think that Robin would deal with it, though?" Amanda asked the man who she knew had switched over to his alternate personality.
"What do I care?" He chuckled a bit. "I have to be here so what is your question Lady?"
"Amanda or Counselor, please," she instructed Chaotic. "And you should care because at one time or another, one of you may be in the position of the other. It might help to understand what the other would be thinking."
"Your next question Counselor." He suggested with a stoic gaze. "You have an agenda, best we stick to that should I want to remain in my Duty Slot. "What do you want to know ma'am?"
"Are you always so direct? And do you like sharing one body with Robin?"
"Yes and it comes with the territory." He said with a slight grin. "Someone has to do the heavy lifting; or the job nobody wants."
"Why do you think that it is you that does the heavy lifting?" she asked curiously. "Or even a job that nobody else wants?"
Do you read what I do; or the definition of demolitions in a Military sense?" Leaning back. "Would you want to be the one to do it, the fact that I am good at it has kept me in my CORPS."
"Oh, I know what you do. However, I was not clear if the job nobody wanted was being with Robin. You don't appear to think highly of him."
"He tends to be a bit less than what I would think he should be; I do all the really Heavy Lifting and he allows me to." Chaotic replied. "The jobs NO One wants, the destruction on a larger scale or even... individuals, tend to be My job." He nod. "So Yes, he is not my favorite."
"You say that nobody wants it, but you are not the only person in this universe that does it. Someone trained you. There were those who did it before you and those who will do it after you," Amanda pointed out. She waited silently to see if Chaotic had a response to that.
*Reference Robert Duval character in Apocalypse Now*
[TO BE CONTINUED]
Lieutenant Amanda Rose
Chief Counselor
USS Ontario
Lieutenant Robin Maxwell
Chief Intel Officer
USS Ontario
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