Right & Wrong (2/2)

Posted on Sun Aug 9th, 2026 @ 10:37am by Lieutenant Elara PsyD & Lieutenant Noxe (Cogenitor 125) Tome

1,365 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 1: The Fissure
Location: Deck 5 - Counsellor's Office
Timeline: Day 1 Post-Launch

Noxe nodded. "Yes, that's right," she said. "Unfortunately, most of the crew chose to be relocated but the few of us that remained is nice. It's comforting to know that there are some people I already know. I find it difficult to make friends with new people," she said. "I wasn't allowed to be a part of the regular Vissian society until I was an adult," she explained. "But having a Captain that I am familiar with is the best part. I don't have to learn their command style. I hate when I have to figure out what people need. I...strive for perfection in all the things I do," she said. "With Captain Jaro, I already know how he operates in the Command chair. I know what he accepts, what he expects, and so on," she said.

"It's sounds like you're very structured in how you're managing; surrounding yourself with the familiar for stability. How do you think you will manage new crew, new faces? Especially if you find it difficult to make new friends? While it's good to stay with familar, especially in a job like yours your going to meet a lot of new people." Elara gently pushed the woman a little.

Noxe sighed. "At the academy, I tried to just be friendly, but mostly I kept to myself. Most people don't understand Vissian life. The few friends I did make tried their best to understand and accept. In a lot of ways, Vissia is behind much of the Federation, at least in terms of human rights and such," she said.

"You mentioned earlier that you hadn't been allowed into Vissian society until you were an adult? I understand that in Vissian society there is a kind of 3 sexes considered; male, female and cogenitor and you are a cogenitor? It must have been extremely difficult for you to have wants and wishes that went beyond the Vissian expectations of you?" Elara replied gently.

Noxe nodded. "Yes, that's right. One of my last...I suppose you could call them clients, though we just called them families, that I assisted were more liberal minded. There's a small but growing movement on Vissia to give us more rights," she explained. "They gave me the push to leave and come to Starfleet," she said. "But I won't be allowed back. Once we leave, as Cogenitors, we can't be allowed back. It's a weird class system," she said. "We're key to keeping Vissians alive and avoiding dying out, but we don't have any rights or autonomy. For myself, I chose to adopt more female appearances and mannerisms,"' she said. "The only other Cogientor that left had lived as a male. As far as I know, he's now long passed. That was about fifty years ago." She sighed. "I think in Standard, they call us hermaphrodites, or intersex. I don't have developed sexual organs of either gender," she said. "It makes some things difficult...dating was tough in the academy, and sometimes, medical exams are invasive and intrusive."

Elara frowned a bit at the last piece of information, "Thats not ok...was it a recent experience you had with medical? No matter the species or biology they are dealing with, everybody deserves respect, especially when you're vulnerable which can often happen when medical history is laid bare."

"No. It was while I was at the academy," she said. "And the doctor before this was ok. The EMH is...not as nice," she explained. "After our last mission, I was slightly injured. He had a lot of...questions that were..a lot to answer. Especially when I was already stressed out," she said. "I have not yet seen the new doctor."

"Did you consider filing a complaint to Star Fleet? Genuinely Noxe...when it comes to the medical profession everyone deserves to feel both physically and psychologically safe in the presence of their Doctor; hologram or not. While I know holograms can be clinical and a little sterile, it shouldn't be to the point of you suffering from discomfort." Elara expressed her concerns, trying not to push on the woman but very concerned with this information. "Our new medical officer is Lieutenant Zhol, a Bolian I believe. Bolians would be good natured in their personality; easy to approach and the opposite to a hologram in all terms. If you maybe still felt uncomfortable with a male; I'm sure I could ask him for a recommendation for one of his female Doctors, only with your permission of course."

Noxe shook her head. "I don't want to cause waves," she said. "I worry that if I draw too much attention to myself, it'll cause scrutiny and I can't risk getting in trouble. I am the first and only Vissian in Starfleet. I just think that if no one has any reason to think we're unfit, more can follow," she explained. "And yes, I would appreciate that if you could," she said. "Thank you."

"Of course, I'll speak in confidence with Dr. Zhol." Elara leaned forward in her seat, bridging somewhat the gap between her and Noxe. "The Captain wouldn't have you in a chief position if he felt you needed scrutiny and were a risk of trouble. Chief is a position if responsibility, responsibility for other people as well as your duty. I think you need to hold your head up a little higher and realise, you've come through a lot and thats ok. While you might be a Vissian, you're also Noxe. As Noxe you are your own individual person who has achieved a lot already in life and your achievements shadow the moments things have gone wrong."

Noxe nodded. Logically, she understood. But emotionally? It had been a long road to get here and she was still learning how things worked. "Thank you. I am me, and I chose this. But I still feel like...what's that phrase? A fish out of water. I've only been away from Vissia and living like this," she gestured to herself, "For five years. I think I still have a lot of the old expectations and culture I need to still process," she said. "I HAVE learned how to dance, though!" She perked up a little. "At the academy. My roommates took me out once," she said. "The first time I wore a dress, too." Noxe was always dressed very demurely, modestly. She didn't judge other people, of course, she just wasn't comfortable yet with being a "woman" as it were.

"And I appreciate your offer to talk to the Doctor ahead of time. That would be helpful,"' she acknowledged.

"There's a wondering few lines I always remember from a old Earth song that I remember during lessons in the academy a fellow student once rattled off dance like there's nobody watching, love like you'll never be hurt, sing like there's nobody listening; and live like it's heaven on Earth" Elara reached for a PADD on her side desk as she brought up her schedual. "I'd like to see you back in the coming weeks if that's ok? In the meantime, why not try dance? Book in a holodeck session or I'm sure some of the crew could spark up and evening of music and dancing. Either way, relieve how it made you feel to learn to dance and embrace those emotions. Remind yourself what Noxe is capable of."

Noxe nodded. "Dancing. Ok," she said. "Maybe that would be fun." It would certainly be and she was overdue for fun. She was worried about being the right kind of Officer that she often forgot to just be a person. "And yes. Next Wednesday at 1600?" she asked. The very end of her shift and before she ate her dinner. Her life was very regimented-wake up, exercise, work, eat, read, sleep. Repeat.

Inputting the information info her PADD, Elara nodded her head before looking back up at the officer."In the meantime you know where to find me should you need to see me before then. Take care of yourself Noxe...be kind to yourself."

Lt Noxe Tome
Chief Operations Officer
USS Amazônia

Lt Elara PsyD
Chief Counsellor
USS Amazonia

 

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