Therapy & Gossip - Part II

Posted on Tue Jun 24th, 2025 @ 12:16am by Lieutenant Amanda Rose & Lieutenant Endymion Tox

1,165 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Preservation Instinct
Location: Counseling Office | USS Ontario

[PREVIOUSLY ON Therapy & Gossip...]

"Maybe, but right now, I am more interested in your origin story. We can talk about mine another time."

He groaned. "OMG can we not." He sighed. "I'm not that interesting."

"I disagree. However, it is part of my job and we are in my office. Perhaps when we're out of my office, we can talk more about me, alright?"

He sighed. "I suppose. What would you like to know?"

"Everything," Amanda said simply. "Well, that might be a bit too much. Why don't you tell me about your family, what made you want to join Starfleet, any significant relationships, and improvise from there."

[AND NOW THE CONTINUATION....]



He sighed. "Well, as I said I am the youngest boy of seven brothers, whom all wanted to be joined since they were able to speak. My sisters, as well. My parents worked for the symbiosis commission. Everything was about these parasites." He pointed to his stomach region.

He snorted. "Yes, I understand you detest being called a parasite." He looked down poking his stomach. "Deal with it." He turned back to the counselor. "Anyway. I never found them...interesting. I found the stars more interesting, and I knew that one day I would sail amongst them, and the only way was to join Starfleet. I wanted to see the universe, meet others who shared a love of the stars." He sighed. "I was kind of glad when the commission refused me joining." He laughed. "Apparently the fact that I only have some spots and none on the visible," he pointed to his face and neck. "That and I had grey eyes, somewhat rare on Trill and disliked...well that barred me from being a host."

"And yet you are one. Explain that to me."

He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "That was..." He seemed to furrow his brow. "That is a long story ... and while my mother threw a party inviting the entire symbiosis commission with the theme of take that I was...less pleased."

"I don't understand," Amanda said plopping down on the replicated rug, settling in for the long story.

He took a shuddering breath. Tox, the symbiont was prompting him to tell his story; yet he didn't want to. "It means that I was at the academy and the symbiosis council deemed me unfit for joining on the account of the fact that I didn't have all my spots and on the account of me having grey eyes. My parents were furious. I was happy. I wanted Starfleet and I finally got it, a trip to Earth. What I didn't know is that Tox, the parasite always chooses its host, and he'd made the decision that I was the host. Volen Tox was the pilot and he and his wife had arranged a shuttle to Earth where there was only one unjoined Trill. Guess who that was."

"Well, I always understood that the joining had to be consensual. So, that does not explain too much. Besides, wouldn't Volen Tox have to die?" Amanda's eyes crossed momentarily. "There is so much here that I don't understand yet."

"You're right. Volen Tox was going to die due to an incurable illness. One that affects only Joined Trills. This was going to be his last trip as a pilot and then the symbiont would be with a new host when he returned to Trill." He sighed and then continued, "There is a lot here can we save this for another time...I could use your help with something else though..."

"Oh?" Amanda asked curiously, allowing the other conversation to drop.

"I like someone...er...well more then like I think I'm in love and I have no idea what to do. How do you tell a friend you are in love with them?"

"The simple answer is that you just do it. However, by the way that you ask that, I presume that there is something more going on here. Are you uncertain whether this person loves you back? Perhaps it would be best to tell me more about your relationship with this person."

He sighed. "Yeah...I'm worried they don't feel the same." Tox rubbed the bridge of his nose. "We've known one another for a long time. We've shared so much of who we are, our hopes, our fears, and I've pretty much been in love since day one. They are.... calm, cool, stoic on the outside but inside warm, loving, kind, insecure, it's like...a whole new world when you get them know them."

He sighed again. "It's stupid right? Falling in love having never actually met someone."

"Wait! You've never met this person?" This could not be coincidental. Could both people be on the same ship and not realize it? Damn counselor ethics! I can't share!

He sighed. "Sadly no. I don't even know their real name. They have been surprisingly good at keeping the little details out. I know that they left home when they were young, lived on the street their first year on Earth, they are Vulcanoid Vulcan or half Vulcan ... I'm not sure. I know that they have anxiety issues, and they are a people pleaser. They play the violin beautifully, I heard the sound clips. They are a dreamer who is obsessed with the Terran System's Pluto." He smiled. "They will hear of nobody saying it's not a planet." He shrugged. "PLUTO...and I have communicated through letters for fifteen years now and even though we don't know the important things like who the other is I'm still in love. This is all stupid huh?"

It took every bit of restraint for Amanda to keep her poise and not get excited or have her hand rush up to her mouth. A true love story! She was going to get to be in a real love story! She just had to make them see! They're both on the same ship! I have to make it work. "Have you ever heard this Vulcan or half-Vulcan's voice? Why have you not met? Have you ever asked?"

"No voice. They've heard mine. I mean I've sent voice messages. I mean I have a great voice, who wouldn't wanna listen." He laughed nervously. His habit of bad jokes came out when nervous or tired. After a pause he said, "I've asked but...I only get the response that it's important we stay anonymous. I think it's a ... Psychological thing. Every time feelings were involved or they loved someone or something they were hurt by them, from family to friends. I think if we met in person...and things worked out they worry that I would betray them or break their heart."

"I see," Amanda replied thoughtfully. "And yet you continue to wait for this person?"


To Be Continued...


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Lieutenant Amanda Rose
Chief Counselor
USS Ontario

&

Lieutenant Endymion Tox (NPC)
Head Nurse
USS Ontario

 

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