Counseling the Other Pilot (Part 2) (Backpost)

Posted on Thu Nov 3rd, 2022 @ 4:26am by Lieutenant JG Takumi Fujiwara 'Tak' & Lieutenant Commander Brennyn Scott M.D.
Edited on on Thu Nov 3rd, 2022 @ 8:30am

1,399 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Insurrection
Location: Counselor's office, Deck 7
Timeline: After "Counseling the Other Pilot (Part 1)"

Previously, on Star Trek Myogi:

There was a brief pause before Takumi spoke:

"Perhaps it has something to do with the long stretches of time that pass between when we talk:" He speculated. "We didn't really speak much after Junior High when I punched out the guy she was dating at the time until the last year of High School. Things seemed to be going well between us until I began receiving anonymous notes that I later learned were from her friend about how she was dating a salaryman who drove a Mercedes. I didn't believe the notes until I saw her leaving a love hotel with said salaryman. That started a long and somewhat ugly breakup."

And now, the continuation:

Takumi leaned back.

"We hadn't really spoken to each other since she left to attend university in Tokyo. That was until recently, and that's when I discovered she's been buying hard into this big lie bullcrap. It makes me wonder if she had become radicalized at some point in the ten years or so since we last spoke."

"So you're telling yourself her radicalization is your fault because when you discovered she was cheating on you, you didn't choose to keep in touch? Is that why you're telling yourself you're a failure?"

"I suppose so." Takumi admitted. "I mean, if I had kept in touch with Nat... I mean, her, as like just a friend, I might have noticed sooner if she was starting to develop these radical behaviors and might have been able to talk some sense into her then."

"Wouldn't that require you to not only read her mind, but predict the future?" Scott asked. " to my knowledge, that is not a talent you possess, so what evidence would you have had then that this was going to be the outcome?"

"Sadly, I'm no telepath, and to my knowledge, there's not a species in the galaxy capable of predicting the future." Takumi responded to Scott's first question. "I don't know; perhaps if I had seen her gravitating towards these right wing ideas back then, I could have had a discussion with her about them a lot sooner. At least one that was more sane and less accusatory name-calling. And if I'd had that discussion, and she still radicalized anyway, at least I could have said I tried, which is certainly more than I can say now."

"That's a lot of hypotheticals," Scott remarked. "Tell me, was she radicalized back then? Was there even something to notice?"

"That's the thing;" Takumi said. "The last time we talked, there was no indication of radical leanings."

"Given all that we've established," Scott offered patiently, "what evidence do you have that you could have, let alone should have been able to stop your friend from getting involved with this group? Keep in mind, I'm not asking what you wish had happened, I'm only asking what was reasonable given what you knew to be true at the time?"

"Frankly, going off only what I knew at the time, more than likely nothing could have been done to prevent this from happening..." Takumi sighed and hung his head.

Bree paused, then offered, "Penny for your thoughts?"

"I don't know;" Takumi said. "All it feels like we've done is go around in circles, and we haven't really gotten anywhere."

He stood up.

"I'm sorry if I wasted your time." He said.

Scott was perplexed. "You haven't wasted my time, but I'm wondering if you think I've wasted yours? I am a bit confused. Did you want me to blame you for this woman's indoctrination?"

"No, it's just that..." Takumi muttered. "This has all felt very futile, and you're implying that there's nothing I could have done differently to change the outcome, even without the benefit of hindsight."

"I think that's the conclusion you have drawn based on the evidence," Bree pointed out. "My intention was just to help you examine it. I'm wondering, is this the first time you have experienced something this personal outside of your control?"

"Does getting into a bad crash on a practice run count?" Takumi asked.

"Of course," Brennyn replied. "Might how you're feeling now have something to do with that?"

"Unlikely;" Takumi said, sitting back down. "The crash happened several years after Natsuki and I stopped talking. Hell, when the crash happened, she didn't even lift a finger in my direction."

"I'm sorry. A crash sounds traumatic enough to deal with, but not having support from someone you cared for, no one deserves that."

"It's not like I was entirely without support;" Takumi responded. "In fact, the crash helped bring me closer to, and eventually tie the knot with, the woman I now call my wife. She's a different person from whom we've been talking about. We met about a year or so after I stopped talking to the last girl. I'm sorry I didn't bring my wife up earlier, but I don't prefer to share that kind of personal stuff about me."

The more he talked, the more she found him to be an enigma. His marital status was too personal, but he was perfectly willing to talk about his disappointment in an ex girlfriend who was radicalized well after they dated, and to hear him tell it, wasn't even a fair partner or a friend? What was she missing? A thought occurred to her. "At the risk of getting more personal than you are ready for, I'm wondering, are you happy in your marriage?"

"Of course I am." Takumi responded almost dismissively. "Mika- my wife, and I are closer than I ever got with Natsuki, the one I've been talking about. We understand each other's passions and goals, and on the other hand, I felt like I had to hide my passions from Natsuki until shortly before she left for Tokyo."

"Why was that?" Bree asked. She wasn't sure she understood him any more than she had when they first started talking, but confident that she would in time, she knew she needed to explore whatever he brought up to her.

"Well, you see; up until I was about 18, I didn't really like driving all that much." Takumi began. "Back then, driving to me was simply work I did for my old man to help keep the lights on. But, that all changed when my dad made me run a street race for him. It was against Commander Takahashi, and at the time I only agreed to do it because it was for a tank of gas, but afterwards I had an epiphany, and realized that driving, especially in a society when hardly anyone drives anymore, is something special. But, since I had known Natsuki since before I had that epiphany, I didn't feel it was necessary to share my change in opinion until graduation. She wanted me to come to Tokyo with her, but I knew that if I were to truly pursue my dreams, I'd have to stay in Gunma, and that was when I took her on a downhill run to show her what I was talking about."

"It seems like your life has turned out well, all things considered," Scott commented. "We've established you couldn't have been all knowing and you can't control other people's choices. Perhaps your continued sadness just means you're coming to terms with your own vulnerabilities?"

"I suppose so," Takumi sighed rather defeatedly. "Well, Counselor; you've certainly given me a lot to unpack;" He said, standing up once again. "Unless we need to discuss things further, I think it would be best if I mull upon our discussion alone in my quarters." There was a few more hours before Takumi's shift started, so he knew he wasn't urgently needed anywhere.

"Alright," Bree nodded in agreement. "Know I'm here if you need another sounding board," she added. Admittedly, she was perplexed by his defeat, but she wasn't troubled by it, as she knew all she could ultimately do was plant seeds of thought that would hopefully grow to create understanding on some level. It was also going to take time for Takumi to get to know her and share more as he felt comfortable. This was a good start.

Posting by

Lieutenant Brennyn Scott
Chief Counselor

Ensign Takumi Fujiwara
Flight Control Officer

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