The councilor says Melly is a good girl
Posted on Tue Jan 31st, 2023 @ 11:07pm by Lieutenant Commander Cyrus Marner & Lieutenant R'elle & Crewman Melly
Edited on on Wed Feb 8th, 2023 @ 12:00pm
3,927 words; about a 20 minute read
Mission:
Short Treks
Location: R'elles office
Timeline: 2431-03-12, 09:00
Disclaimer: Adult Content, Discussions of Abuse (M/P/S)
R'elle was in her office sipping on her hot chocolate/coffee mix. She was waiting for Melly to show up to their first counseling session.
Melly was hurrying about, she had just moved into Ash's quarters the night before so she was ansy still. Safe but ansy was the best way to describe things. She would do her best to make sure she would serve wherever she was assigned as she pended her asignment. Even if she was assigned to scrubbing a floor as her full time job she would do it to the best of her abilities.
Walking up to the office she slipped in looking around before knocking on the door. "May I please come in Ms R'elle?"
"Please, come in and have a seat Melly and you don't need to call me Ms. R'elle. You can call me R'elle or councilor. Either one works." She says with a smile.
Melly smiled and moved to sit in the big chair in the Counselors office and by instinct put her arms to the chair arms and legs to the legs of the chair. "I am in position if you wish to turn on the magnetic field R'elle, I will be good but... oh wait thats likely only done at the Penal Colonies.."
Turning a deep red of embarrassment Melly peeked up to the nice Catwoman who helped protect her the day before. "So I am by order of my release to go to regular counseling sessions. I know how they work at the penal colony, but I will adapt here. May I ask what you wish to talk about Ms.. I mean R'elle?"
"OK Melly, there is no Magnetic field. You are not in a penal colony any more. We work on trust here. I trust you Melly. So first let me ask do you consider yourself a good girl or a bad girl?" R'elle figured that would be a good place to start.
Melly sat there doing her best to relax now. She folded her hands in her lap and gave a happy smile up toward the nice 'older' woman. She then thought a moment, thinking long and hard. It was a question she was not used to thinking of. Well she knew the truest answer and then looked up again.
With a meek whisper, "I am a bad girl. I did bad and thus am bad. Anything that happens to be is because I deserve it for being bad."
"OK, so tell me what you did and why?" R'elle said. This was just a preliminary session but still this was giving her an idea of where Melly was emotionally and mentally.
Melly lowered her head, if she could lower it to the floor she would but she kept her eyes to her lap. "I stabbed Admiral Edmund Norith forty times in the stomach with the intent to kill him because I am a bad person who is not a good girl and thus not pleasing."
Hmm, interesting. Definitely going to take a lot of work. This girl was convinced the was a bad girl even though she really wasn't. OK, well she knew it wasn't going to be easy and she did love a challenge. "OOk Melly, what made you decide to stab the admiral. I don't want you to say you're a bad girl. I want details. Were you mad at the admiral? Did he do something bad to you?" Of course R'elle had read the details but she wanted to hear it from Melly.
Melly was quiet for a few moments, she knew she could not answer with she simply she was a bad girl. Keeping her head lowered she sighed, "He learned of me after I transfered from the USS Enterprise-G and was assigned to the USS Spectre. He took interest in me as a promising young officer as he had others. He met me and told me he would be taking me on to mentor me. It's considered a honor. Every single one of his students have gone far.. and with my lifespan I could do wonders he said. He would request me for periods from the USS Spectre and give me rewards if I was a good girl. He would beat me if I was not a good girl. Threaten to sell me to Orion. He trained me to be a good girl for him. Finally.."
Pausing Melly looked up to R'elle with tears building, "He decided he wished to.. test drive his work."
As she said that 'metaphor' which the official court filing officially states is only her opinion and the Admiral claimed never and that he was a innocent victim, "I couldn't... he.. I couldn't. I saw a knife on the table and I'm too small, his hands were so strong."
Melly covered her face in her hands as she began sobbing loudly, "I stabbed him, over and over and over and over.. when he hit the emergency security call.. I was curled in a ball on the floor in his blood with the knife in my hand. Sobbing, in a fetal position, wetting myself, and sucking my thumb."
"I see. So do you think what the admiral did to you is good?"
Melly was dumbstruck, keeping her face in her hands she dug her fingers up against her temple slightly painfully to punish the error and then placed her hands back to her lap, "No. It wasn't good. I told him many times no, he would just introduce me to other apprentices who would explain for him that I have no choice. I can be good or I can be sold off. There was no going back. He didn't want me flying starfighters, too much a risk to his investment. So no it wasn't good.. but two wrongs don't make a right. I was bad as was he."
"I see." Well that wasn't the answer R'elle expected but it was the one she had hoped to hear. At least the first part. "Ok, so you say you were as bad as him. What other options did you have? What he did to you was wrong. was there another way to stop it?"
Melly shook her head, "Each time I was defiant he would discipline me harshly. Each time I said I would go to the news or contact his superiors.. he would have his others tell me that I would be ignored. He would have me polish his medals while they did that to show I am nothing and he is untouchable.. If I was too defiant I was told I would be sold to Orion. Which seem's he did... least from that Bounty Hunter?"
"Yes the bounty hunter. Well he will get what's coming to him! So, you have told me what you couldn't do. Was there anything You could have done differently to stop him? The admiral?"
Melly nodded sadly, "Be a good girl. Do as told... Let him... have his way with me..."
"Ok why do you think that would be the right thing to do? You have stated that what he was doing was wrong. Why is going along with a bad thing make you a good girl?"
"Good girl's don't argue, good girl's don't talk back, good girl's do as told.. I don't know what I could have done. It's not like I planned to stab him going there. I just didn't want him to do that. If I ran he would report me for desertion.", Melly lowered her head back down.
"Who told you that Melly? Who told you that good girls always do as they are told? That they don't talk back? That they don't argue?"
Melly looked up, "Admiral Norith. He told me, then punished me so I knew what to expect. Knowing what to expect from punishment before hand is a much stronger deterrant he said."
Hmm, yes of course he punished her. Conditioned her. "So admiral Norith is a bad man and a liar, is that true?"
Melly shook her head emphatically, "He doesn't lie. Everything he said came true. People didn't believe me, but Section 31 for some reason supplied enough data to make things seem murky. But everything he said came true. If I was bad he would punish me like he said, people would side with him like he said, and if I was too bad he would sell me to Orion like he said. He is very truthful!" Melly whimpered softly, "Sir is always right. Sir is always right."
Hmm, gonna be harder than she thought. "He is a very bad man and he shouldn't have done those things, Before you met the admiral, what was your definition of a good girl?"
Melly thought a moment, "One who follows orders, who helps those in need, and puts others before themselves?"
"Isn't a good girl supposed to stop the bad people? Shouldn't a good girl try to stop the bad man?"
Melly started to look distressed, "I tried to speak up, I tried to stop him.. no one listened. No one would trust me. Hurting someone shouldn't be a option unless the last option.. I.." Melly placed her hands over her face and curled up in the chair pulling her knees up to her. "I was bad, I didn't stop him.. he's still here."
"Melly you tried to stop him! That's the important thing. What you have been through doesn't make you a bad girl. Despite what he said. It never should have happened! You are the victim. Melly, you were a good girl because you tried to stop a bad man. " she wanted to say that it was a shame she didn't succeed but that would be unprofessional.
Hearing R'elle, Melly had a short and quiet cry before looking up with tears rolling down her cheeks. "I understand.. but the courts? The FNN? They all say he is the victim? That I am the bad one? It's why he had me polish his medals while his other girls told me what would happen.. because thats what happened. He was decided by the courts.. by the press.. by the penal colony.. he was the victim. The counselor Lady Lyndisty, she replaced Ms Tavera.. she was one of his girls. She reminded me often I was bad. Had me look in a mirror each and every morning in the Penal Colony and repeat I am a bad girl and deserve everything that happens. How can I view myself as a good girl?"
Melly looked to R'elle hoping to have some answer to make her mind agree to what R'elle was saying.
"She was wrong Melly! She should never have said that or did that!" Now that made her blood boil. That was terrible counseling. She would have to get Counselor Lyndisty investigated. She would have to talk to the Captain and get Dr Marner in on this as well.That and see what happened to Tavera and maybe get her insight on Melly. "Melly we are your friends here. We know the truth. You are safe here."
Melly cringed back against the chair as the Counselor got angry and she was about to ask if she was in trouble but quickly realized she was not. Gulping she whispered as her face brightened, "Thank you for trusting me, I will be a good girl and do whatever I am told here. If I can continue to Yeoman I will, if I am assigned to scrub the plasma conduits I will, I want to be good and show I am good."
"Melly, you are not a slave. For now you are under probation. We will work to see that the truth comes out and he is exposed for the monster he is. Until then, you have a home here. We won't let anybody hurt you!"
Melly stretched her legs out and settled them firmly on the floor before hurrying around and hugging to the Counselor to cry against her as she hugged so so so tight and just let all the bad feelings out. After a minute of tears she looked up, "You remind me so much of Ms Tavera. You are so wonderful."
R'elle smiled. "Thank you. From what you told me, that is quite a compliment! Maybe someday I can meet her. I think we would like each other."
Melly was looking up to R'elle as she heard her words and all the joy, happiness, and stability slowly drained from Melly's face in real time. "She.."
Melly slipped back from R'elle and kneeled on the ground covering the back of her head with her hands and after a moment she choked out, "She.. died. A client killed her at the penal colony. She always called me a bright spot in her schedule.. and he killed her in the session before she was to see me." After a moment more, "I miss her so much... we made so much progress and she made me feel like a person. Lady Lyndisty.. she then worked to undo it. She reminded me I am bad and punished me. But always left her punishments off the record. That way I could be released when there ready... right back to Him..."
She was able to get this out, which she had hoped before she layed on the floor and pulled her knees in and had a loud, sorrowful, cry. Her face hidden in her hands as her tears dripped threw her fingers.
"There, there Melly. Go ahead and let it out. It's good for you. As she hugged Melly she used one hand to tap her cam-badge, "Counselor R'elle to Dr. Marner, could you come to my office please? I have a patient who could use your help." Not wanting to mention Melly's name over an open line.
Nestling into the hug Melly sobbed and cried, getting out a lot of pent up emotions. The problem was it may have just been how much emotion but she didn't stop crying. So much pain was repressed that she seemed to have endless tears. She looked up at R'elle during the hug and whimpered between sob, "I don't.. want to bother the Doctor. He has more important things to do."
Cyrus heard the call and set down what he had been working on and immediately called R'elle as he headed out of his office. "I am on my way"
The door opened and Cyrus walked in, not seeing Melly at first. "What can I do for you, R'elle?"
R'elle looked down. "It's ok Melly. Cyrus is here and he will help. I'm afraid some bad memories were dredged up. Her former therapist was killed in the penal colony. Maybe an accident, maybe not. Melly really liked her. She was very good to her! Her replacement, not so much."
Melly continued to sob loudly against R'elle and shook slightly as she held to the counselor. Turning to look to Cyrus she reached a small trembling hand out and then hugged against Cyrus crying against his uniform also. She seemed to have been crying for some time but with no natural stop seeming to come, the tears just not ending.
Cyrus pulled Melly close and then looked at R'elle, "I think something to calm her down would be a wise thing to do." Patting the distressed Melly upon the back gently. "If you would please do so?"
"OK, I can do that!" she took out a hypo and measured the tranquilizer for the appropriate dosage for Melly's weight and height and injected it. "Ok sweetie, take it easy! Just relax." Fortunately, r'elle had some medical training at the academy and kept it current.
Melly was curled against Cyrus, hugged tightly sobbing as she felt the hypospray. She looked up to Cyrus and R'elle before closing her eyes and drifting off. She instantly was calm, her body relaxed as she laid limp against Cyrus.
Cyrus picked up Melly in his arms. "She's out for a good nap, where shall we set her at? Would be best if she's not alone when she wakes up." taking a look at R'elle.
"Let's just put her on the couch. I'm not going anywhere. I'm free for several hours today. She can stay here." R'elle said.
Cyrus gave a nod to R'relle. "Very well, that will work out great." carefully walking over and placing Melly upon the sofa. He looked about and spotted a comforter and placed it over Melly. "Sleep well Crewman Melly." he said softly, then looked over at R'relle, "Let me know how she is doing when she wakes up. I've got to get back on my rounds." he stretched his back a little then moved to head back to the door to leave.
After close to an hour Melly woke on the sofa, rubbing her eyes she looked around as she slowly came to her senses from the deep sleep. Looking over to R'relle, "I am sorry.. the drugs were strong. Umm."
She started to look around, "No one touched me when I was sleeping right?"
"Only the doctor and myself. We put you on the couch. Other than that, no Melly. None touched you while you were asleep!"
Melly seemed visibly relieved and rose from the couch. Walking back to R'relle's desk she looked over, "I hope I didn't overstep my session. If you want I can come back later or do you have further questions?"
"You are fine Melly. I have plenty of time to talk to you. So tell me, why don't you like being touched in your sleep?" Now the answer seemed pretty obvious but still you never know. She was not telepathic so she needed to ask to hear Melly's answer.
Melly sat back in the comfy chair and started looking at her feet that did not reach the floor as she remained in the chair. She then looked around and to different places hoping to stretch it out so she would not have to answer. "He..", she paused. "Well..", another pause. "Do I have to say.. I don't want to say it.." She seemed distressed and uncomfortable but no where near the level she was at before.
"I know it is uncomfortable Melly but it would be better if you said it."
Melly looked to the counselor and in a rare moment her fear was pushed down in the way her courage usually was. Looking up into R'relle's eyes Melly sighed, her grey eyes cried out so none came forth. "According to court records I am lying despite I passed the detector, but he touched me. Often. And I would wake up feeling... like he touched me in my sleep. He was never shy about touching but it made me not want people touching me in my sleep.."
Yes just as she suspected. She was hoping it wasn't true but she was pretty sure and now she knows for sure. "OH, I have to call the doctor. he wanted to know when you were awake." She tapped her combadge, "Counselor R'relle to Dr Marner. Our patient is awake."
Melly sat in the chair, a lot calmer still but slightly antsy. She looked over to R'relle, "I do hope I wasn't too much a bother for the Doctor?"
Looking to the Counselor, Melly asked matter of factly, "So... am I a threat to the station or the people here Counselor?"
"No Melly! You most certainly are not a threat in any way, shape or form. In fact I believe you will be an asset to the station. You want to do a good job and you are very capable and have a friendly attitude. I very much think this will be a good match!" R'elle said
Melly sighed in complete relief. She felt more safe and relaxed. "So R'relle.. You have asked me a lot of deep questions. Is there anything you are wanting to know I have not answered? Anything at all. I am not allowed secrets."
"OK so how is it livng with Ash? Any problems?"
Melly thought a moment and shook her head, "She taught me to jump on the bed and she made a pillow fort in the corner of the living room between the couch and wall where I planned to sleep on the floor. She felt a pillow fort would give more comfort and feeling of safety? She is so so so kind."
"Yes she is. A pillow fort huh? Wow! Used to make those when I was a little cub. So you don't like beds?"
Melly looked to R'relle and lowered her head, "People deserve to sleep on bed. I.. do not."
At that moment, Cyrus walked in, "What's this about you not deserving to sleep on a bed? Melly, you are a person. You deserve to sleep in a bed, like others do. Something comfortable, and something to help you get some sleep."
Melly gulped looking to the Doctor, "I am sorry. Please Sir, I just want to be a... good girl." She paused a moment, "I will try harder but the pillow fort is nice."
"It's ok Melly. If you want to sleep in a pillow fort, than that is ok. However, I do want you to realize that you are a good girl." R'relle thought it better not to push it right now. This was going to take time for Melly to come around.
Cyrus looked at Melly after hearing her words. "Melly you are a good girl and as what R'relle has said, you can sleep whereever you wish as it is your choice, you are free to choose. A pillow fort does sound like a comfortable place to sleep. therefore, you can choose. As long as it is something comfortable and makes you feel safe and sound so that you can rest easily."
Melly brightened several times, it might have been all the good girl words or the okaying to be able to sleep where comfortable but it helped. She was smiling big as she said, "Thank You both and I am glad to be a... good girl."
Cyrus gave a nod, "I best get back out there and see to other things. Melly you are doing a fine job and R'relle thank you again." with that final thought, Cyrus headed out of the counselor's office, and back to his.
Melly smiled brightly and waved to Cyrus before looking to R'elle, "Anything else before we wrap up? I need some Nutri-goop and this was... exhausting."
"Melly, you don't have to eat nutri-goop. You can eat regular food. OK? So I think we are done here for today! I will see you next week."
Melly smiled and hugged R'elle and then waved slipping out, not responding to the comment.
Location: Medical
Cyrus went back to his office, a furrow of concern in his brow. Something was nagging at him, something that Melly had said and it had also been said by the Ensign whom he had allowed to come back. I want to be a good boy. I want to be a good girl... A chill decended upon Cyrus it sounded a lot like what Melly had said where Norith was concerned. He had no proof... why did the young man say those words. Cyrus had a mystery to solve but that will have to take place later on. He had been notified that he had somewhere to go and he will have to investigate this later one.
END
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