Counselling a Joined Trill: Proceed with Caution
Posted on Wed Jul 29th, 2026 @ 8:03am by Lieutenant Commander Ariana Monroe-Wayne & Lieutenant JG Deezell Vox
1,454 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Episode 121 - "Where There's A Section, There's A Way"
Location: Deezell's Quarters - Starbase 400.
Timeline: Current
Deezell sat back in the comfortable armchair near the window of the quarters she shared with Jaxon Ruveer, resting both hands over the prominent swell of her seven-month belly. The quiet hum of the station was soothing, but her mind was miles, and months, away.
Feeling a sudden, firm kick from within, Dee let out a soft laugh and stroked her abdomen. It was hard to believe how fast time had flown. Seven months ago, she’d been sitting in her quarters aboard the Essex, nervously nursing a mug of decaf while trying to deal with the trauma she had just experienced, a new counselor.
She smiled fondly to herself as the memory drifted back to her, clear as day—the walk back to her quarters, the unexpected warmth of Counselor Kaleri, and that first real step toward opening up about carrying Vox, her past, and her future with Jaxon.
As she sat back she recollected the counselling session she has aboard the USS Essex which helped her deal with the trauma she had experienced but it also helped her in other ways which she was grateful full, 7 months later.
<-7 months ago, USS Essex->
Counsellor Kaleri and Deezell were making their way, gradually, towards Deezell's quarters.
"I do appreciate your help, Counsellor. I should warn you about two things, though. First, my quarters are not exactly in showroom condition at the moment. Second, I am not the easiest patient when it comes to counselling.
Don’t misunderstand me. I know perfectly well how important mental health is. I just don’t tend to enjoy anyone getting too close to my own mental health. I was more open to it when I was younger, but I suppose being thrown into the world of a joined Trill with almost no preparation didn’t do me any favours.
Honestly, the so‑called ‘training’ I received was laughable. A few books, two hours of counselling, and then off I went, expected to manage five lifetimes’ worth of memories and instincts. So if I seem a little… resistant, it’s not personal. It’s just the history I’m carrying."
“From what I’ve learned about the joining between Trill’s and their symbionts, I can’t say I’m surprised.” Krysia smiled. “I’m pretty new to the whole Counsellor role, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get good advice. Actually, I’d like to know more about the whole joint process so this is beneficial for us both.”
"It certainly will be," Dee replied as they reached the door of her quarters and stepped inside. "Please have a seat," she added, once the door had closed. "I find talking about it kind of therapeutic. Although I must warn you that I tend to ramble on about any topic that I have a keen interest in. I have bored many people with my interest in warp core thermodynamics."
Krysia grinned. “I used to hate engineering classes at the Academy! Though I somehow managed to pass that class with honours,” she took a seat. “I do enjoy studying.”
"Can I offer you a beverage? I'm getting myself a cup of coffee. I've loved engineering, how things work, really, since I was a small girl. "
“Just a lemonade, please” Krysia smiled warmly. “So how many hosts has Vox had so far?”
" Well." She paused, handing Krysia a lemonade. " I'm the sixth host, after Torbin, Azrel, Lerani, Jorran and Raekwon."
“Five extra lifetimes of experience” Krys paused. “I can’t even imagine how you’d start integrating that.”
"Normally" Dee replied sipping her coffee. "You would have extensive training and counselling as an initiate through the Symbiosis Commission but I, as an Emergency Joined Trill, got none of that. I got a 20 minute talk by the Ship's Chief Medical Officer and then, after it was all done, a few books to read and three counselling sessions."
“Is that all?” Krys shook her head. “That’s crazy! Have you been in touch with those on Trill at all?”
" Yeah that's all I got. I have been in touch a few times but there's pretty much nothing else they can do when it's all said and done. I'm doing pretty well, in their reviews so I guess that's good."
“Very good” Krysia smiled warmly. “I’ve met a handful of Trill’s at the Academy, most unjointed. There was a tutor there who was a joined Trill but I didn’t want to pester with a million questions.”
" You are welcome to ask me any questions you would like, but I prefer to have a good coffee in my hand before I get pleasantly interrogated. "
Dee replied with a smirk, which then turned to a frown when she remembered.
" Uggh decafinated coffee, now I'm pregnant."
“Congratulations!” Krysia smiled. “Hold on one minute and I’ll get you something.” She walked over to the replicator returning a few moments later with a mug of coffee. “Try this, it’s a Betazoid decaf blend that my father used to drink. It’s not one of my kinds of drink but he seemed to find it enjoyable.”
Dee nodded. "Thank you." She took the cup and took a sip. "This is decafinated? " She replied look surprised. "You could have fooled me. It tastes anything but. This is great. Thank you so much. I might not miss my normal coffee now for the next 38 weeks."
“I’m glad you like it, I’ll give you the replicator code for it before you go so you can get it yourself. Though the fresh stuff is so much better, at least that’s what I’m told. I don’t drink it myself” Krys grinned.
"I so appreciate this. The one thing, so far, I'm still getting used to being pregnant, is my heightened sense of smell. Can be handy, but then again, can be a nuisance."
“Of that I’ve no doubt” Krysia grinned. “Some scents are pleasant, others can be awful. Have you spoken to the doctor about it? Maybe there’s something they can give you to help with that.”
"Well, there are treatments for it, but they can have other side effects, and some of those are just as awkward as the heightened sense of smell. So, do you take the chance? "
Dee explained, sipping her drink, really enjoying how it doesn't remotely taste decaffeinated.
“I guess that’s the trade off, if you can manage without it then I think I’d leave it.” Krys added with a smile. “Maybe carry something around that has a pleasant scent that you could use when other scents get too much?”
"I have, actually. I have this," she pulled out a small cloth from a pocket."I have a sample of my partner's cologne on this cloth, so if I get overwhelmed by a scent that isn't so pleasant, I can use this to both deal with that and bring myself closer to my partner, even when we are apart, as we are now."
“That’s wonderful, keeping a connection with the man you love as well as getting relief.” Krysia smiled. “Hopefully you’ll see him again soon.”
"He's my everything," she smiled, her hand resting on her abdomen.
“I’ve no doubt he is” Krys smiled warmly. “How did the two of you meet? Have you been together long?”
" A few years now. We met by chance. I was working on several fighters that needed urgent maintenance and somehow, Jaxon wasn't aware that I was going to be in the hanger and was caught off guard when he found me laid underneath one of the fighters."
“Feet sticking out from underneath huh?” Krysia grinned.
"Indeed. He got down on the floor next to me to see what I was working on. He helped me out a fair amount with the job as well. He then asked me if I'd like to meet up later for a drink and that's how it all began.."
“Sounds lovely” Krys grinned.
" Working with our partners really does help with mutual support, understanding and bonding "
<-Present day.->
She had come along way since that session. It clearly helped her deal with many things as she often drifted her mind back to it when she needed to.
She tapped her combadge. " Vox to Counsellor Kaleri, are you free to join me for a coffee in my quarters? A quick catch up?"
Krys was surprised to get the call, now they were back on station she was expecting Ariana to take over. A look in Ariana’s direction and a nod of permission later she tapped her comm badge. “I’ll be there shortly Vox. See you soon.”
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