Luna walked back into her counselling suite, padd in hand. It seemed having met her next patient outside of Counselling before-hand wasn’t a conflict of interest, at least not yet. They were only acquaintances, although Luna had been told to let the higher-ups know if that changed. With a sigh the padd was placed on her desk and, sitting at the computer terminal, she checked the file over again.

Counsellors aboard Starbase Bravo tended to have specialisms. Luna often handled fairly PG13 and family-oriented things, such as children, couples counselling, and group therapy, but there was still plenty of variety. She was also a specialist in personality disorders, and while she loved the subject, it was a double-edged sword, as she had recently discovered. The variety of work on Starbase Bravo was obvious by her impending first-ever appointment with a Romulan patient. Luna hoped her limited knowledge of the Rihannsu wouldn’t cause any offence.

Having attended enough counseling sessions during her Federation in processing, Hilea sat randomly on one side of the office. She wore an immaculate uniform and ultra-thin gloves, so dark green they looked almost black. Her amber eyes were inquisitive and bright.

Hilea smiled just a bit, enough for Luna to notice. “Good day, Luna. This is a surprising coincidence, or you requested me. Not an accusation, mind you, just banter. Being requested would be flattery, I suspect. ”

Placing a wrapped bag on the table, she added, “Mexican wedding cookies. They came up in the database. Please help me eat them.” She said, her smile growing a bit.

Luna rose from her desk as Hilea came in and offered her usual slightly uncertain smile.

“Ooh! Um, I don’t think a patient ever b… brought cookies before,” she observed, crossing to the seating area and inspecting Hilea’s handywork with curiosity. “I um, well. A counsellor must be honest with her patient. It was chance, um, actually. I checked just now, I told my b… my boss that I know you… it’s not a problem. Starship counsellors know their patients well so… same for the Starbase. It’s fine. Can I get you something to drink?” This was a brighter start than most appointments, and Hilea’s approachable disposition guided the oft-timid Luna into a comfortable place.

“Yes, please. A mug of dark hot chocolate. Thank you.” Whether you are my counslor or not, or spheres of unfluence parallel somewhat. Might as well be with someone I already know and immediately don’t hate.” Hilea teased, adding enough of a smirk to get Luna’s recognition.

Taking the mug from Luna, Hilea wasted no time. So how much of my personal history do you have access to? ” She asked point-blank.

Not wishing to be rude, Luna leant forward after sitting and unwrapped the cookies, looking up at Hilea’s Amber eyes piercing the cosy lighting of the counselling suite.

“Well, um, we um, we have, um, well. Everything Starfleet knows about you, I know. Everything official anyway. In the same way you probably know stuff about me… I’d rather you didn’t? Or um, you could. If you read my medical file,” Luna responded with her typical uncertainty.

Hilea actually laughed at that. “A Romulan you would not need to even voice that thought If they didn’t already have it commited to memory, their subordinates has.  My sense of honor has been tempered a bit shall we say. The thought actually hadn’t occurred to me, in my past, that would not have happened. Just for different reasons that my differently enlightened brothers and sisters would scrutinize your records.”

She sipped her cocoa, savoring the less sugary, hard-hitting dark chocolate. “To be frank, this is more a yearly certification requirement. Though I know some of the former counselors have suggested far more therapy considering my past and the current political situation.” She paused, taking another sip of the mug before continuing. “I can see through the ones that don’t bother to hide the disdain. Luckily, most people are open or becoming more so.”

“Well,” Luna responded quickly, “in Starfleet counselling is to help. So um, if you need it, for recertification, or if you make a mistake and mess something up, if people can see you’re not doing well then maybe? And of course you always can if you want to. B… b… but otherwise we um, trust people to um, well to just recognise when they need help. Try not to make it stigmatised. All part of the whole Starfleet… Federation… supposed to be all good things kinda vibe thing we have going? It’s a shame when people ruin it with being mean. Do you get that a lot from people?”

“I find it interesting in the sense of every organization has propaganda. Some is just more palatable.” Hilea offered honestly. “Experience has taught me people are people when treated properly. It should be that easy.” She paused, “It isn’t something I spend time thinking of. Besides, no cookies for them.” Hilea added with a chuckle.

Luna smiled and took a cookie, giving it an experimental bite.

“Mmm! They’re missing out,” she commented after swallowing. “Now um, I was l… looking through your file. The psych eval you did when you qualified as a Starfleet doctor was um, informative? You’ve been through a lot, seen lots of combat. Does that… stick with you?”

“Do I dwell on the negative, you mean.” Hilea countered. “The images come back from time to time, but it is starting to seem like another life.” She semiconsciously rubbed the brand from the Dominion War. Stopping her hand, she added, “Thank you, they are nice and light. Glad you enjoy them.”

Luna nodded. She meant more haunting than dwelling, but if Hilea was doing well in that regard, she deemed it less necessary to press any further. She nodded, still experiencing the sweetness of the biscuit on her tongue.

“Now, um, I’d like to touch on integration. You have already touched on some mild issues already. How do you feel you are settling into life in the Federation?” Luna asked. Any cultural grating points?”

Instantly, Hilea responded. “Banning coffee would be a start.” She teased. “Such a nasty burnt fluid.” Her nose even wrinkled in response. “I am somewhat used to it, and the nasal suppressants help: the vile solution seems to be omnipresent. ”

Hilea paused, thinking about the time she had had to adjust. “Culturally, it has and continues to be difficult making friends. My former culture isn’t one for honesty. Political officers being standard issue, it can foster careless habits. Romulans don’t make much small talk.”

Luna nodded. She was hoping for slightly more verbose answers, but Hilea was guarded and that was very understandable, given the circumstances of her past. She asked another question, hoping her patient wouldn’t find the probing intrusive.

“So do you think that comes more from you? Or more from people here being a bit wary? Or both?” She asked.

Hilea thought about the question. “The assignment I received was helping to rebuild the Utopia Planetia shipyards. A posting that was innocuous enough, but easily for anything to keep and eye on me.” She flexed her balled right hand, the soft glove just touching the tip of one of her lips.

As for friends, initially, myself, more often than not. Cultural differences, being too involved in establishing my worth to the Federation. Unused to…everything.” She paused, setting down the mug.”

“More recently, it seems to have been far easier. A mishap during the refit of this vessel introduced me to my neighbor in a most interesting way. Rock music blaring through the misinstalled wall panel between our quarters. Then there is you.” Hilea said.

“Mmm,” Luna nodded again as she listened. “Have you treated many people since you arrived?”

“It took an accident to make that happen. Not that I was averse to it, but it was made clear to me that my privileges would not extend to performing Medical procedures. A parting gift from my former government. After that, Medical tested me out and recertified me as a field medic so I could work my way back to my doctorate.”

She got up and recycled her cocoa. “Would you like something while I am up?”

Luna had read about this, of course, but hearing Hilea speak of it made the reality of it more prominent to the Counsellor.

“I um, no thanks. Um,” Luna watched Hilea as she moved about her office. “Okay so I’ll say a phrase that I try to avoid, b… because it’s… awful… but… how does that make you feel? What they did?”

The cup whirled into existence. She remembered the first time that question was asked. Time had slowed as her brain raced, as Hilea’s mind focused and understood what the therapists always asked her. Turning back, she sat down, looking straight towards but through Luna. Violated, angry, depressed, dirty.” Hilea said.

Mostly anger and the need for retribution. My mother always said I was born with too much Fire. Using the word in a religious sense. They branded and processed us like cattle.” Hilea’s face recovered and her gaze shifted so Luna saw her amber eyes. “Over the years, I have also realized that we weren’t the animals and the wasted energy spent on such beings is fruitless.”

Looking around, she added with a quip, “Similar to this monotone room, fruitless. Can I add a flowering or colored plant?” A slight smirk appeared on Hilea’s face.

Luna looked about the space. She’d tried to make it more comfortable, pillows, throws, a nice textile tissue box cover, but an interior designer she was not.

“Oh um, if you think it would feel more welcoming…” The counsellor was a little lost for a moment before picking up the threads of the session. Hilea obviously knew herself and was adept at answering but closing a topic at the same time. Luna squirmed a little mentally, she wasn’t sure where to go next.

“How so you find your colleagues at the hospital?” She asked, after a flash of inspiration. “Any acquaintances there? How do they treat you?”

“During the incident at Utopia Planetia, the medical staff was quite receptive, though perhaps too astonished at first. Mix that in with past trauma, and it is a small wonder I open up to anyone, ever. They treated me more fairly than I expected. So it was immediately suspect in my mind. ” She said, sipping her cocoa and examining the plants in the corner.

“That took a few counseling sessions to unpack. I had to find someone I could trust enough to pull back the blanket. But back to your question. To their credit, the staff treated me more than fairly.  At the surgical rotation, the food patients’ families brought in, I started to do a bit of cooking myself, and the brownies were always welcome. Which was a turning point. I believe the quote I heard the most, “She baked these herself? Hmm, she can’t be all bad. But said in jest, I suspect.”

Luna looked a little sad at this. It was a shame Hilea couldn’t take people at face value, but this was no failing of hers. On the contrary it was indicative of how she had been treated before coming to the Federation. Perhaps she could assist. But helping a naturally suspicious person and a doctor to boot wouldn’t be as simple as some C.B.T. coaching.

“Um, I think it’d be worth trying to actively remind yourself that these people around you are Federation, rather than Romulans. I know that you know that, but some active, mindful re-enforcement might help you to change your assumptions… your very understandable assumptions given what you’ve b… been through. I know… the Federation aren’t perfect and I know… some people will be suspicious. But mostly we are, or should be used to dealing with all kinds of cultures and races. I’m sorry some of the other officers here haven’t b… been as welcoming as they should. And they have their reasons, good or bad. B… but I’d like you to try to be mindful going forward of the assumptions that you’re making going into new acquaintances. Whether it’s expecting subversion or ostracization, or expecting to be treated like any other colleague. I’ve… I’ve found that a lot of people will simply fall into line if they are met with pure confidence by someone unconventional, but if that person projects anxiety or suspicion people around will pick up on that. Does that make sense?”

“It’s something of a work in progress,” Hilea said smiling weakly. “Oh, people suck. A person can be genuine, such as yourself. Don’t get me thinking on that dark path.” Hilea said, her face changing in anger. “I’m mad at myself, not you, Luna. Growing up Rihannsu, the Universal forces running through everything aren’t always truth, honesty, and compassion.” She looked at Luna hard for a few seconds. Then she calmly said, “Please retrieve a medkit.”

Hilea sat on one of the couches, starting to remove her uniform tunic. Underneath were long-sleeved silk thermals.

“Um, why?” Luna asked, concerned. “Are you okay?”

“I am finally deciding on something I have been, as humans say, on the fence about. The threat from the Tal Shair has always been omnipresent in my psyche. However, given the time  that has passed and the reality of the power vacuum, it is time to heal.”

Taking off the thin leather gloves, she folded them carefully and placed them on top of her tunic. Hilea slipped her left arm outside the thermal top, exposing the thoroughly scarred Romulan branding under the left shoulder blade. “I was considering a tattoo, but I want it gone,” Hilea said with finality, power in her voice.

“They burnt my name,” Hilea said, the Fire present in her eyes, anger obvious in her tone and body language. Her fists were balled up tightly. “They want to give me Fire, I will use it to forge my defense for my heart.”

Turning to Luna, she offered, “Burning of the name is to be declared unworthy of recognition, honor, or even existence. It’s an extreme punishment, reserved for actions that are considered disgraceful or unforgivable.”

Luna’s insides were filled with a mix of different emotions, pulling her in very opposite directions. For now she stayed seated and tried to remain unflustered by this unexpected move. She failed.

“I’m sorry that happened to you,” she said earnestly. “B… b… but um, maybe you should g… go to the hospital for that? It’s um, it’s not far… um…”

She knows that Luna, she works there.

“Neither is the tattoo salon,” Hilea responded as she put her clothing right. Recycling her mug, half full, Hilea sat back down. “Thank you for your time, Luna.” She didn’t look upset, but inside, a different story was unfolding. With finality, she put her gloves back on, making sure the uniform was perfect.

Completely uncertain of what to do, Luna quickly composed five possible responses in her mind, all of them dismissed as useless. Then after an awkward pause that went on a little too long, an idea was manifest.

“Why don’t we go together?” She asked. “To have it removed. I’ll come as a friend.”

“A solid proposal.” Hilea replied. “Then maybe a drink and not hot chocolate.” A slight smile crept across Hilea’s face.