Pass marks

Posted on Mon Nov 3rd, 2025 @ 7:08pm by Lieutenant Ayryn Trynn M.D. & Lieutenant JG Caitlyn MacRae

1,286 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Wolf in the Fold: Hide and Seek
Location: Counselling office
Timeline: Prior to rendezvous with the Odett

Amid ongoing crew evaluations, some of which she had brought forward in light of the previous mission, Lieutenant Trynn had kept herself occupied during since the mission briefing. Unlike her colleagues in the medical bay, she could do little to prepare for whatever they would face when the former prisoners came aboard. And so she continued with business as usual. For now, that meant meeting another newcomer to the Thunderbird crew.

Aside from a new commanding officer, there had been a handful of personnel changes - mostly amongst the lower decks and enlisted crew. For now, her attention was on the woman seated opposite, Lieutenant JG Caitlyn MacRae.

“How are you settling in?” Ayryn Trynn queried as she poured two cups of tea from the antiquated teapot, whisps of fragrant steam rising from each cup. They had exchanged formalities, and having already scanned the woman's file ahead of time, Ayryn did not have any particular concerns coming into this meeting. While she waited for an answer she added a small scoop of sugar and stirred the beverage before sitting back, nursing the cup in both hands. For a Human the heat would have been uncomfortable if not downright painful but, to her, the warmth was comforting.

Seated opposite, Caitlyn MacRae bypassed the tea for one of the little sugar coated biscuits. “Self reflection makes me hungry,” she confessed, "and these are good!"

There was no doubt her guest was genuine in her praise and Ayryn smiled, "help yourself. Most people are uncomfortable whenever they hear the words psych evaluation. Or psychiatrist. Or sometimes even doctor... so I try to make my office space as informal and welcoming as possible."

“Makes sense,” Caitlin nodded, her blue eyes surveying the room even as she picked up an extra biscuit. It was certainly designed more to resemble a home than anything cold and clinical, with only the workstation in the corner breaking the illusion. There was even a small library of books and, sweet treats forgotten, she left her seat to study the titles, studying the spines as if they contained some hidden secret.

How long she was lost in her survey of the bookshelves she had no idea, only interrupted when she had a teacup being set down on a saucer, the noise seeming loud in the silence that had fallen.

“Sorry. Back home my grandparents had this massive library, and some first editions. On stormy days it was my favourite place to be,” she explained, turning her attention back towards the counsellor. "This is quite the collection."

Ayryn smiled, accepting the compliment in good grace. “Thank you. And there is certainly something more enjoyable about reading from a printed book, something that can be hard to define. Unfortunately a lot of my collection was destroyed but I’ve been rebuilding.

So, tell me a little bit about you,” she prompted. “I’ve read your file but I prefer to hear it in your own words.”

Taking a moment to collect her thoughts, Caitlyn tugged on the tight ponytail currently keeping her mass of red curls tightly in place. “Nothing too remarkable. I grew up on the Isle of Harris, off the coast of Scotland. I’m the youngest of five, but the only girl. My mother would say I'm as stubborn as a Highland cow, mostly because I was always getting into scrapes trying to prove I could do anything they could do and never took no for an answer.

Joining Starfleet was, perhaps impulsive. I love home, I do. But I wanted to explore, to travel to new places. Harris is the kind of place where everyone knows everyone, nobody locks a door and I love that most of the time. But I think growing up in a very loud, often insanely crazy household, has definitely made me both appreciate and be suspicious of silence."

"Suspicious?" Ayryn queried, curious. "In what way?"

"Silence usually meant my brothers were plotting, or off doing something that was a bad idea," she shrugged as she returned to her seat, "but less so when I got older and learned how to fight back."

"Ah," Ayryn smiled, understanding. "Well, fortunately I am sure you are quite safe from sibling shenanigans. And of course, it is rarely silent, the sound of the engines alone can sometimes take some getting used to. Especially if you have not been serving aboard a ship for a while. I noticed your previous assignment was on Earth. You were assigned to Admiral Schofield, yes?”

“Yes, one of many officers helping to coordinate efforts after Wolf 359,” she confirmed. “Although thankfully I did not have many direct interactions with him. He was … loud. And did not suffer fools. But if you worked hard, did your job, then he allowed us to work with minimal interference. I don’t regret my time there, but I did start to feel like…. Like I needed to be back out here?”

“In what way?”

“I transferred to Earth just weeks before 359,” Caitlyn explained, looking uncomfortable for perhaps the first time. “My former crew mates… all gone. It seemed surreal. So I did bury myself in work. Making sure memorial services were held, organising reassignments and helping reassign ships to the command of various admirals while the fleet tried to rebuild.

And then one day I was having coffee, out by the harbour and I was just struck by this thought- what am I doing here? I had this plan. Wanted to be out there, not essentially working nine till five in an office. Everyone else facing the danger and discovering whatever there is out here for us to find. So I requested a transfer.”

Ayryn offered her visitor a reassuring smile, even if a small part of her suspected that was not the whole story. At least not quite. “Not an uncommon event,” she assured her. “And those who perished on that day were not the only victims. Those left behind had to rebuild not just ships but lives. You were exactly where you needed to be.”

“Maybe,” Caitlyn conceded, although her tone made it clear she was far from convinced. “In any event, that is why I am here. On your couch."

“Well we are delighted to have you,” Ayryn assured her, “and if there is anything I can do to help you, please do not hesitate to ask. Even if it is just to borrow a book.”

“I may take you up on that,” Caitlyn accepted, "but for now I am midway through Hound of the Baskervilles.”

“Sherlock Holmes, yes?”

“Yes. My grandfather was a big fan and my brother writes holonovels, usually murder mysteries. He always imagined back home was full of ghosts as a kid and now that imagination of his is his career," Caitlyn replied.

"Sometimes life surprises you and leads you to places you did not expect," Ayryn pointed out. "In any event, I see no reason not to give you a clean bill of psychological health. But if you do think of anything, or find it is a bigger adjustment than you thought, please do not hesitate to get in touch."

Caitlyn nodded as she stood, tugging on the sleeves of her uniform to smooth the creases. "May I?" she asked, gesturing towards the forgotten biscuit.

"Please do," Ayryn grinned, "otherwise I will end up eating them all by myself and that is never good."

With a wave, Caitlyn departed with her unexpected snack, grateful to have gotten one more thing out of the way. Next up, meeting up with Lieutenant Malbrooke and then getting her first official duty shift underway. So far, she was sure she was going to like it here.

OFF

 

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