Providing a Listening Ear - Part 1

Posted on Sun Jun 15th, 2025 @ 7:13pm by Captain Daegan Baas & Aseek Tarnala & Lieutenant Niami Troga
Edited on on Sun Jun 15th, 2025 @ 7:20pm

1,522 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Sole Survivor
Location: Counselor's Office
Timeline: After Ghost Story

As the briefing was called to an end, Niami whispered to Aseek, "Would you like to come to my office to talk? Away from all of the noise? I have time available." A caring expression was evident in her gaze.

He had no idea who the woman was but so far the people on this ship had done nothing but try to help him, but then he had no idea how these people were, what they stood for, what their goals were...nothing. All he knew was what they told him, and now they were heading back to the hell they had fled. "And you are?"

"I am Niami Troga, ship's counselor, and someone who might be able to help you get the questions you have answered." she rose from the chair and waited for Aseek to join her before she went to her office.

Glancing to the Captain, who nodded in his direction. "It will take us about 2 days to reach your world. You've been through quite an ordeal. It wouldn't hurt to talk it out."

Aseek looked back to the woman and accepted her offer. "Lead the way."

To the turbo lift then down to Deck 11, where medical was at, Niami regarded Aseek. "A bit overwhelming isn't it."

He scoffed at the obvious. "Huhhh...Well let's see. In a matter of a few days I've woken up on and alien spaceship, my world gone. Found out my wife is dead, my team dead, our mission failed, my history and culture gone. I've come face to face with multiple alien races that I never even thought could exist. And now I'm being taken back to face the horror that started it all. Did I miss anything?"

Niami shook her head as they stepped inside her counseling room. "It appears that you haven't missed anything." her voice soft. "Please have a seat." gesturing towards the small sofa that was in there, taking a seat in a chair that is near the sofa. "Would you like something to drink?"

He moved to the couch to take a seat, He cocked his head slightly and it shook a bit, as he hummed a "Hmm".

Niami having just sat down in her chair, looked at him quizzically. "What?"

"Oh just that it must be a universal constant for counselors to offer their patients a couch."

"Well, that maybe true, however there is an unknown element, myself as counselor I've taken a few naps upon that couch, it is quite comfortable. If it bothers you, you can have my seat and I can take the couch." Niami giving a slight smile. "Or we can converse you on one end of the couch and I on the other end, like, two friends would do or just two people having a conversation. Which would you prefer? Since I don't know what taboos your culture has against someone sitting upon the same couch I had chosen the most common safe choice. Which is the usual someone sits on the sofa and someone sits on a chair. You do have a choice."

"No no, no taboos or anything like that, not that that matters anymore. But I'm fine...I wouldn't want you to nod off on you comfortable couch."

"My knowing of your customs is still important." a serious expression in Niami's eyes, then they softened. "I do thank you for looking out for my comfort. Now though, you have questions that I may be able to answer. One of them would be, why are we wanting to help someone who we know nothing about? It is in our nature, those of us who are part of the Federation, to help those who are needing it. And especially we don't like the fact of a whole race being obliterated by some catastrophe."

A part of him still had trouble believing the benevolence of this Federation of their's but their action thus far seemed to be backing up here statement. "Too bad we hadn't met your kind earlier. With your technology maybe you could have saved us."

"180 years in the past, long before I was born." Niami commented. "There is a Directive, Prime Directive that the Federation had created, this is in order for various civilizations to develop on their own, without outside influence. Otherwise it could mean a detriment to how the societies develop. Develop to where they might destroy themselves due to what some could view as misguided help. Or even be brought into some sort of slavery by other governments promising advance technologies for them to win a war.I don't know if back then the Federation would have deemed your society advanced enough to help out. It sounds harsh I know that. There is also the fact they didn't know of you, until now. Now though, we're going to help you out to figure out a way for your people to survive to also gain your history from your planet."

Raising his hand. "Woowowowo...Let me get this straight. So if what happened to my world was happening now, where we were fighting for our lives. Your Federation wouldn't have helped us just because we were less advanced that you?"

"That I am not certain about." Niami being honest. "They might have, they might have come across a distress signal and investigated much like what we are doing now. Your ship was found adrift, and was investigated to find out why. And finding out information about your race and you, they are helping out now. And isn't that important as to the here and now? I am truly sorry for your loss, and it is a horrible burden to be having to bear."

Getting hacked off and his blood flowing there for a bit have actually been a distraction but now she refocused the conversation and now his was back to where he started. He stared at the floor for a moment. Had these aliens not intervened his pod would have failed, the embryo pods would have failed and his people would have vanished forever. At least now they had a chance and for that he was grateful.

Lifting his gazes to hers. "Well I appreciate what the people here have done for me. I truly am."

Niami gave a nod, acknowledging what Aseek said. "Would you like walk somewhere, a change of scenery from these walls? We have a place where we can refresh our minds, and even our souls. A little bit of nature."

His curiosity was peaked. His people had speculated and planned on hydroponics for oxygen and food on any compounds they established on the worlds of their solar system, but they never got the chance. "Your technology can produce food from energy and you still have hydroponics?"

"Yes we do. We value also the natural grown foods, that we can harvest with our hands, it tastes better to us. When traveling upon a ship, and we are not where we can be around things that are green, it tends to make us saddened. Gardening can be rather soothing, and take away stress. Come with me to go see what we have." rising up from her chair and giving a smile to Aseek, moving to the door of her office.

[Hydroponics]

Stopping just outside of the door, Niami turned to Aseek, "I think you will be amazed as to what there is." stepping inside. She took a deep breath, enjoying the scent in here and also the atmosphere as well.

Aseek stepped into the large space. Large racks with multiple varieties of plants growing, being harvested, or having some of seed pod inserted into the bedding tray. In the center was an area with taller plant and even a sections that looked like some kind of grain actually growing in soil. In another section, an even deeper soil bed with what appeared to be some kind or root vegetable peaking out of the soil. There were vines with and bushes with color fruits. "All this advanced technology and you still employee people to grow food....amazing. Doesn't coming here to be around, as you said, a little bit of nature, get in the way of those working in here?"

"Not really, here try some of this. "Niami plucking a ripened piece of fruit handing it to Aseek. "There is another place I can take you. To where you won't be feeling that you are interrupting their work."

Taking the small oblong purplish object he bit into it and his eye widened as juices filled his mouth as well as his chin and hand. "UMMmmm..."

Niami smiled sensing and seeing his pleasure and surprise at the taste. She retrieved a towel leading him to where Aseek could clean his hands. "Isn't it delicious? And this is why we like having the hydroponics. Food made out of energy is okay but, the true flavor, is there."

"No argument here." Wiping his hand and chin he returned the towel, "Though the meal I had last night was very flavorful. But I'm sure you didn't want to talk to me about your ships cuisine."


TBC...

 

RSS Feed