Getting Ready

Posted on 10 Feb 2026 @ 12:15pm by Lieutenant Nicholas Miller

723 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Silent Inheritance
Location: Counseling Offices

=^= Counseling Offices, USS Arawyn =^=

Nick was surprised to start his shift, there were more appointments than he'd anticipated. Captain Corbin had been right, he'd been found and it hadn't taken long at all. There was only a half hour until he had to get started but while part of him was anxious about that he'd also known that the moment was going to arrive, He'd found the role he had seemingly felt destined to fill, the only question remaining was how well he'd do just that.

"Reception, Miller. When is my first scheduled appointment?" he asked through the office comms, already a bit anxious to get started but at the same time more than ready to delay a touch.

"Fifteen minutes Lieutenant" came the reply. Miller sipped the espresso he'd brought with him and for a moment felt genuine concern over being ready to start this adventure. Another sip gave him a few seconds to compose his thoughts. "When they arrive please send them at first opportunity." The confirmation was quick and Nick partly regretted reporting in so early, he'd have to be on top of things now. He had tried his best to make his office as ready as he could but it still looked entirely too basic and bland for his liking. There was definitely more customizing to do before it would really feel like an area he felt an influence over. For now there were appointments already scheduled and those were of far more importance than whether or not he himself felt comfortable. Mental health was far too easily overlooked, often attributed to personal weakness or an inability to "suck it up" as his father had often put it, and too many times had resulted in situations that could have been avoided. A Starfleet officer with the wrong frame of mind was dangerous, both to themselves and those around them, so providing a place to step back for even just a moment and give one's thoughts a chance to catch up provided the opportunity to prevent tragedy. If even just once."

"Reception, Miller. First appointment is whom?" he asked back, still warming up via his morning espresso.

"Ensign Lucas Scott. Security" came the response. It wasn't a name Nick was familiar with from his pre-boarding research of the Arawyn's roster. This was going to be a challenge, a new patient without a lick of foresight. "Nothing like a total lack of warning to see what you got" he whispered to himself, smirking a bit at the fact he sounded like his Dad and at his core despised using one of his father's favorite catchphrases. It felt weird for a moment, to be standing up for the voice of reason and yet at the same time having zero confidence in the ability to do so. "Only one way to find out..... dammit." Another one of Dad's favorites.

The one decoration Nick had added since he'd last had a visitor was a new painting. It was one of his favorite artists, Salvador Dali, and in his mind was just weird enough to be understandable. Miller had grown up hoping for the same, between a CSec father and a mother with a heart that couldn't give enough. Somewhere in the middle had to be a 'sane' path to tread. Art if anything as a manifestation of self, designed to elicit a response from others and as much an expression of personality as any other expression. The first piece of art in his office was chaotic yet defined much like Nick himself.

He had five minutes left until the first appointment and decided another espresso was likely the key to a genuine effort at being useful. Miller had brushed aside the pressure for as long as he could but as the seconds ticked past the situation grew clear. Years of experience and training were about to either give him an advantage or cause him to question his own ability far too much.

"Dammit." Miller sipped the espresso again and focused just on the flavor. Every path began with a step. Another of Dad's favorites. And as much as he had always loathed being too much like his father in this moment being prepared for whatever was coming his way as only going to help.

--- End Log ---

Lt Nicholas Miller
Cns
USS Arawyn

 

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