Never Going Back Again - Part 2

Posted on Tue May 26th, 2026 @ 3:02am by Lieutenant Daltom Vesper

2,260 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Friends and Traitors
Location: Counselor’s Office
Timeline: MD01 - 2000

[LAST TIME ON NEVER GOING BACK AGAIN]

"Were you here during the last incident? With the counselor who killed themselves after turning out to be a spy?" Daltom asked softly.

“No,” Jade shook her head. “I’m new aboard, I’ve only been here for a few hours.”

[AND NOW FOR THE CONCLUSION]

"That's right.... You're as new as I am. So, I am told that the previous counselor was a Marquis plant and after causing a great deal of trouble on this ship killed themselves rather than give information." He clucked his tongue before continuing. "Now, it is quite possible that a lot of people on this ship will be wary of me, thinking that I'm just like that other counselor when it is not true. It is the exception that something like that could happen rather than the norm. This is no different than your scenario. You were involved in something exceptional and now your brain is trying to categorize it. The brain is nervous and says, 'I know that this is an accident, but there was this other situation, so maybe it was not....' Sound about right?"

“I thought maybe it was just that the wounds, the sounds and smells, all of it was the same. The way those young men died at Strawberry Fields, and the way the engineer died today. It took me back to that day.” Jade sat in quiet thought for a moment. “Perhaps, amongst it all, my mind was connecting dots.”

"Probably," Daltom told Jade. "Our minds do have ways of playing tricks on itself, especially after traumatic events." He paused and straightened up, then asked, "When everything happened on Cardik Prime, you said that there was a reckless stunt. Did you look to see if there was any evidence of something like that this time? Did you talk to anyone in security or to anyone doing an investigation of the accident?"

"No. Honestly, I've barely talked to anyone except the CMO. All I knew was that there was an explosion. I was one of the first on-scene in the shuttlebay. I mean, it looked like an accident. I think things just lined up a little too well. I just hope that if someone is responsible, they are found and made accountable. But that isn't under my control. Ensign Jolley died today... we did all we could, Doctor Sylar told me that. And the day when those pilots died, my last CMO said the same to me. I gave my best... it didn't work out." Jade sat forward a little. "You know, Daltom, I transferred Chris... Ensign Jolley... to the morgue just before, took care of him, stayed with him. He had a sister who he adored, just like me. God... maybe I should call my sister."

Daltom considered Jade's state and asked her, "How do you know so much about Ensign Jolley? His first name and how he had a sister he adored. That's a lot to find out from an explosion and what I would suspect was not a lot of medical treatment." Is Jade a spy? No, she seems too neurotic for that. Is she fit for duty? Is every trauma going to be like this? I'm going to have to keep a close eye on her and help her past her issues.

"I processed his body for storage in our morgue and completed his death certificate, names and next of kin are a part of that." Jade explained.

"That part I could understand," Daltom replied while nodding. "What I cannot understand is how you could find out he had the tight relationship with his sister. There's something that you're not telling me."

"Doctor Sylar." Jade let out a breath. "He performed some sort of... mind meld on Ensign Jolley before his death. The Doctor told me about a close connection with his sibling."

"I'm going to have to have a talk with the new doctor," Daltom grumbled. Why in the world would he perform a mind meld rather than concentrating on healing the patient and why would he feel the need to inform Jade about it? "Was there anything else this Doctor Sylar told you?" Daltom inquired with a dour tone.

"Not a lot more, he was exhausted by the time he'd finished," She sighed. "I did find out a little bit about him, though. Interesting guy."

"Oh? Please tell me about him from your perspective."

"I guess on the surface he's what you expect of a Vulcan. He is logical, to the point. He was tied up in the Wolf 359 commission a few years ago. As a medical officer is highly competent, but most of all," Jade searched a moment for the words. "I found him... reassuring... steadying."

"It sounds like you have a great deal of admiration for someone that gave you such unsettling news."

“He is a healer too. He was kind to me when I doubted myself, reassured me that my triage in the shuttlebay was adequate, encouraged me as we worked in the sickbay. Doctor Sylar and I had both been aboard this ship less than an hour, had never met and weren’t even officially part of the crew. And even though we lost Ensign Jolley, we also saved a life.” The hint of a smile danced across her face. “Daltom, we saved a life. A pilot from the Starbase.”

"That's wonderful," Daltom replied honestly. "I am certain that you have done this before, though. You are a doctor."

"Oh, yes, of course!" Jade nodded. "I've saved many patients before, but I'm just... taking my wins where I can get them. Yes, a man died under tragic circumstances, but I know that another will live because of what we have done."

"That is very true," Daltom answered. "Hopefully that can carry you through all of the more challenging circumstances."

“It will have to do for now.” There was a moment of reflective silence between the two before she looked toward Daltom and let out the hint of a breathy chuckle. “I don’t suppose you have any problems I can fix?”

Is she making a pass at me? It is a rather clumsy one, if she is. "Not at the moment. I'm still concerned about what was going on in the corridor. After all, we are on a ship where accidents could happen again. From the history of this ship, it is likely to do so." The unspoken question hung in the air. Could she handle it or would she break?

“I know, and it’s my job.” Jade nodded. “This is the first time something like this has happened. Though… I guess, what led me to the corridor was a perfect storm. It wasn’t just losing a patient, it was not being able to get into my quarters, the… the crew seemingly ambivalent to what had happened to their crewmate in the mess hall. Perhaps it’s the minor things that push us over the edge?”

"Do you know where your quarters are or do you need someone from ops to assist you?" Daltom offered generously. "However, I do not think the crew is ambivalent. They do not experience what you do. For example, if I told you that someone died of a heart attack on Andor, would you grieve for them? You don't know them. You have no experience with that person. You don't know if they are good or bad. They are no more than a statistic to most - a blip in the history books."

"Surely Chris Jolley, their crewmate, is more than a blip in the history books," Jade's face became slightly flushed. "He was a member of this crew."

"And how many members of this crew are new, like you and me? How many actually knew Chris?" Daltom countered calmly. "How many still don't know this happened?"

"I'm sure they'll know soon, but he is not a statistic." She asserted. "As for my quarters, I believe I still need to have a formal meeting with my department head to approve my arrival. That hasn't happened yet."

Daltom told Jade, "Everyone is a statistic, Jade. However, what a being means to you is a completely different discussion. You, obviously, are very empathic. The problem with being so empathic, though, is that everything is going to hit you harder. It must be very difficult for a doctor."

"At times," She nodded. "Sometimes it just mounts up and becomes too much. I just... overflow."

"So, how have you handled that in the past?" Daltom wondered.

"Cried." A laugh accompanied the comment. "Normally, I had my mentor there to guide me through it. When those pilots died, Doctor Fitzgerald was always there for me, I never had to question it. This time, I don't have that figure... at least not yet."

"Well, I am here for you," Daltom answered. It is my job, after all. "And while crying is important, I do think that we will have to develop some stronger coping mechanisms."

"That sounds like a good idea," Jade smiled. "I appreciate your support, Daltom."

"It is my pleasure," he told Jade with a small smile. "Hopefully, though, I will not have to go looking for you in strange corridors anymore."

"Well, hopefully I can contain my outbursts to the privacy of my quarters." She ran her fingers through her hair. "Speaking of which, I really should organise access. One thing at a time to fix this whole mess."

"I think it would be more constructive to work through your trauma so that you will no longer have outbursts, don't you?" Daltom replied with a small shrug and smile. "But everything, is as you say, one step at a time. You cannot build a building without a foundation. We just need to help you find yours."

“Agreed.” She sighed. “It’s going to take time, isn’t it?”

"It will," Daltom confirmed. "However, you do not have to do it alone. You have me." He smacked his lips quickly and asked, "Why did you want to become a doctor anyway?"

“I suppose I’ve always enjoyed science, and enjoyed helping people even more.” Jade smiled again, thinking of the faces of thankful patients and grateful families. “I volunteered in medical clinics when I was a teenager. Working with my head, heart and hands, I guess it’s something I was drawn to.”

"Do you know what specifically drew you to it?"

“Kilara,” she uttered quietly.

"Who is that?" Daltom asked, interested.

“Kilara was a little Bolian girl. They used to bring her into the clinic I volunteered at as a teenager. She was on the Coote Outpost and developed a lung disease after what happened with the Tzenkethi. Of course I had no idea what the doctors were doing, but I would help them when they were treating her, spend time with her and her family. Many ups and downs, but she eventually recovered to lead a normal life. She’s applying for the academy this year.”

"How long ago, then, was this, for you? Have you stayed in touch with her and her family or do you just watch from afar?" Daltom wondered.

“This was a little more than ten years ago. I had met with her family a few times over the years at their invitation, but we kind of lost touch. I found out about Kilara’s academy story through the FNS.”

"Really? Why was FNS interested in her?" Daltom wondered. "Was the reporter, Candy Templeton?"

“Kilara had recovered from her disease, which had impacted almost every aspect of her life, to apply for the academy. That’s no mean feat, Daltom.” She looked at him curiously. “Do you know Candy Templeton?”

"I know of Candy Templeton. I would be interested in meeting her. I am certain we would have a rather interesting conversation." A devilish smile appeared on his face.

“Do you…” Jade giggled, “Do you fancy her!?”

"No," Daltom replied definitively. "I've never met her, but from what I have seen, I respect her work. She is very interested in exposing dark truths or things that others do not wish Federation members to know."

"Hmm. Interesting." Jade stretched the words behind a bit of side eye. "What 'interesting' conversation would you be having with her, then, Mister Daltom?"

"I'm afraid that topic is not something I can readily discuss here and now. Besides, you came here for me to help you," Daltom replied with a sympathetic smile and slight shrug.

“Well played, well played. I’ll have to ask you about that some other time.” Jade grinned. “At least you got me to laugh.”

"Indeed. Step one, achieved," Daltom responded sagely. "Now, do you think that you can sort out your quarters and get ready for tomorrow? I am told we are to be off after the Marquis."

"I think so. I'll report in and contact the quartermaster," Jade let out a yawn. "At least I'll be able to get some sleep."

"That sounds like a good idea, given all that you have been through today. Perhaps we should continue this conversation in a couple of days and check in on you then. What do you say?" Daltom asked in a soothing tone.

"I think that sounds like a plan," Jade fixed her eyes on the Counselor. "Thank you, Daltom."

"You're welcome, Jade. Now, go get yourself sorted."

Lieutenant Daltom Vesper
Counselor
USS Thunderbird

Lieutenant JG Jade Petracca
Assistant Chief Medical Officer
USS Thunderbird

 

RSS Feed