Medical <> Counseling
Posted on Wed Aug 5th, 2026 @ 2:29am by Lieutenant Commander Nathan Lake
Edited on on Fri Aug 7th, 2026 @ 10:33am
568 words; about a 3 minute read
Mission:
Mission 1: Through the Janus Gate
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: MD003 - 1500 Hours
Cayden Zahn found his way to Sickbay without much trouble; he paused before the wide double doors and frowned at the sign because Sickbay just... well, it sounded wrong for a place of healing but that was him. He entered and stopped the first nurse he saw, receiving directions back to office held by Commander Lake, the ship's Chief Medical Officer. He stopped in the doorway and waited for the commander to notice him.
Nathan was reviewing several medical readiness reports when he caught movement in the doorway.
He looked up.
A man stood just outside his office, waiting rather than interrupting.
He set the PADD aside and offered an easy smile.
“Either you’ve been standing there long enough trying to decide whether to interrupt me…”
He glanced toward the rest of the medical bay.
“…or one of the nurses told you doctors are easily startled.”
Cayden laughed, easily, and entered the room. "One of them might have hinted at something of the sort," he said. "Didn't quite believe them but I figured I'd err on the side of caution. I'm Cayden Zahn, Counselor. Thought I'd introduce myself."
Nathan’s smile broadened as he rose from behind his desk and extended a hand.
He shook it firmly.
“Doctor Nathan Lake. It’s good to finally put a face to the name. The Captain gave me a heads-up about your arrival. Please have a seat.”
His grip was warm and steady before he motioned toward one of the chairs opposite his desk.
While Betazoids seldom shook hands, he had been well-versed in greeting customs from an early age, and so, his handshake was natural and firm, returning equal pressure. He smiled as he took a seat across from the the Commander. "Thank you," Cayden said. "It's good to finally be here. Mostly, I wanted to introduce myself and talk a bit about how our disciplines sometimes intersect. If you have the time, of course."
Nathan settled back into his chair, immediately relaxing into a more conversational posture.
“For the ship’s counselor?”
He smiled.
“I always have time.”
There was no hesitation in his answer.
“In fact, I was hoping we’d have this conversation before our first “real” emergency.”
He folded his hands on the desk.
“I’ve served on ships where Medical and Counseling functioned as separate islands. We shared patient files when regulations required it, exchanged the occasional referral, and otherwise stayed in our respective lanes. I've never thought that was the best way to care for people.”
Cayden nodded.
“I’ve seen that model before.”
“And?”
“It usually means both departments are working twice as hard and the crew gets half the support they should.”
Nathan smiled. “Exactly.”
He leaned back slightly in his chair. Then suddenly, a soft chirp interrupted them. Both men glanced toward the counselor’s combadge.
Cayden tapped it.
“Zahn.”
The voice that answered sounded hurried.
“Lieutenant Zahn, sorry to interrupt. We have an officer requesting immediate counseling services. It’s urgent.”
Cayden’s expression changed immediately. He was not alarmed, but focused.
“I’m on my way.”
The channel closed. Cayden walked out of sickbay without saying goodbye.
For a moment, Nathan looked genuinely disappointed to be cutting the conversation short. He hoped everything was ok.
A post by
Lt. Commander Nathan Lake
Chief Medical Officer
USS Resolute
Lt. JG Cayden Zahn
Chief Counselor
USS Resolute
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