Kassia's consciousness returned to her slowly, as the computer announced the time for her wake-up call. She sighed and smiled as she stretched, before sitting up and swinging her legs off the bed. She smiled as she looked around. For the first time since the interrogation, she had slept without nightmares and she really felt great! And she felt better than she had in awhile. Standing up, she went through a mental list of what she was going to do for the day. But the first thing was grab a shower and get dressed.
Swiftly, she washed up and put on a nice clean uniform. She looked at her reflection in the mirror for a moment, making sure she looked good and that everything was in order. Then her stomach rumbled. She looked at the replicator, but she wasn't really interested in dining in her quarters alone. Quickly, she headed out the door and to the Mess Hall.
Kassia had chosen a plate of fruit and cheese for breakfast. She wasn't in the mood for anything heavy. She also had a cup of hot, herbal tea. She had picked an empty table by the porthole. She loved staring out into the dark expanse of space . . . Though it made her mind wander to Tarik. She wondered how he was . . . She sipped at the tea as she nibbled on some Danarkin grapes. Suddenly, her mind was bombarded with images from B'aku . . . The Commander holding her off the ground by her neck choking her . . . Paul bloody and broken . . . and then the interrogation. She shuddered. Quickly, she tried forcing the thoughts away. She had a job to do and she wasn't going to allow this to stop her from her duties! She took a bite of cheese, but was quickly losing her appetite. Here, on the Arizona-A, her emotions and memories has increased in intensity. She didn't like it, but she would have to deal with it. She would find a way to deal with it. She had to . . . Sighing, she picked up her mug once more, enveloping it in both her hands as if trying to warm them. Then she sipped at it, hoping to settle her nerves. At least she had gotten a good night's sleep, she thought . . . That was a start.
Mikarsh walked into the mess hall. He headed to the replicator and produced a plate with a piece of steak and some vegetables. He also produced a tall glass with a light violet drink inside. He turned and noticed Kassia sitting alone.
He headed towards her. "May I join you, Lieutenant?"
"Of course," she replied with a gentle smile. "You're more than welcome."
He sat down opposite Kassia. "I hope you had a chance to rest," he said as he sat. "You certainly look a little more rested."
"I slept good," she replied, her green eyes twinkling. "Probably the best sleep I've gotten in awhile." She took another sip of her tea.
Mikarsh also drank some of his Andorian Plava Juice. He glanced out of the window. "You know," he said "I often find the stars very relaxing. If I can't sleep I watch the stars. Before I know it I am asleep . . . I'm glad the medication worked. I have scheduled our first session for two days after our return to the base." He told her.
She nodded. "All right," she replied taking a deep breath in. So rarely was she the one being counseled. She was so use to helping those around her that it was strange to be getting help. And this was different. This wasn't her being treated for something physical. This was dealing with her mind . . . And the mind was what she knew the best . . . The heart of all emotion lay within the mind. Yet, she couldn't help herself.
Mikarsh smiled. "There is nothing to worry about Kassia, or to be ashamed of," he said "And in answer to your next question, my grandfather was Vulcan. I have empathic powers. That is how I could tell you were worried."
She was happy to meet another empath and was surprised that she hadn't picked up on it sooner. Then again, she had been quite focused on her work, or on her flashbacks to have picked up much of anything. "It's always nice to meet someone else with that ability." Her smile was bright.
"Indeed it is, Kassia." He smiled as a thought crossed his mind. "But it can also be rather annoying at times. If you will excuse me, I have medical reports to write." He told her as he rose from the table.
"I'll see you in sickbay, then," she replied. She would have loved to have talked with him further, especially since she was sensing something from him . . . A childhood memory . . . Pleasant, yet unpleasant . . . about his grandfather . . . but she just smiled and looked at him meeting his gaze.
Mikarsh returned his plate and glass to the replicator and left, smiling at Kassia as the doors closed behind him.
Kassia watched as he vanished out the doors of the Mess Hall. Soon, she would report to Captain Wallace and spend some time on the bridge and then she would return to Sickbay and start running diagnostics on the equipment. One thing for sure, she liked Mikarsh and felt in time they would become good friends. She turned her gaze once again out to the darkness of space and took another sip of her tea.