Mindfulness

Posted on Tue Jun 22, 2021 @ 11:36pm by Ensign Goban Quinn & Ensign Kanani Jha

Mission: Episode 4: Infiltration
Location: Counselor's Office
Timeline: MD 01 - 2110 hours
550 words - 1.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Kanani inhaled deliberately.

Her officer's top was folded on her chair, and her boots were tucked under her desk.

She exhaled.

It left her barefoot and in only the most comfortable parts of her uniform.

She inhaled.

It was one of the calming breathing exercises she taught to the more fraught crew members.

She exhaled.

Calmly sitting cross-legged on her desk facing the office door, she had her eyes closed and her hands resting palms up on her knees.

She inhaled.

The door to her office unceremoniously opened and Goban marched in, grumbling. He flopped down on one of the chairs and put his feet up on the desk.

Kanani exhaled.

She didn't open her eyes, "You're late."

She inhaled.

"Someone had the bright idea to re-route the EPS conduits symmetrically instead of sequentially to see if it would increase efficiency."

Exhale.

"In addition to nearly blowing up a crewman who was just trying to do an EPS tap--"

Inhale.

"--it created a nearly irreversible directional plasma flow that would have ripped the ship off of its moorings and sent us hurtling to the surface."

Exhale.

"You're always late," she mused.

Inhale.

"People are always having bright ideas," he pointed out.

Exhale.

"Have you been doing any of the exercises we talked about?"

Inhale.

"Sure."

Exhale.

"Okay, no I haven't."

Inhale.

"But I also haven't cursed anyone as an incompetent fool."

Exhale.

"Out loud."

Inhale.

"That's a step in the right direction."

Exhale.

"I was sure you'd scold me."

Inhale.

"Small steps in the right directions are still progress."

Exhale.

Goban took his feet off of the desk and wrestled his shoes off.

Inhale.

"I'm leaving my shirt on. I'm more comfortable in uniform."

Exhale.

The engineer rearranged himself onto the sofa where he could mimic the counselor's position.

Inhale.

"Close your eyes."

Exhale.

"Remember to breathe."

Inhale.

"Now think about the stress from your day."

Exhale.

"Picture it as a physical entity."

Inhale.

"Give it form."

Exhale.

"Is it a Solid? Liquid? Gas?"

Inhale.

"Is it bright? Dark? Shiny?"

Exhale.

"Does it smell like anything?"

Inhale.

"Try to form it into a mass."

Exhale.

"Gather it all up in one place."

Inhale.

"Feel it."

Exhale.

"What does it feel like?"

Inhale.

"Now, push it out of yourself."

Exhale.

"Replace it with fresh air."

Inhale.

"Find anything left and push it out."

Exhale.

"Feel yourself refilling with clean air."

Inhale.

"Instead of thinking about what you didn't like from before--"

Exhale.

"--think about what you're looking forward to later."

Inhale.

"Good."

Exhale.

Kanani opened her eyes and observed Goban. She quietly stood up and walked over to him. He was his usual collapsed self, but he was pretty much doing the exercise correctly.

Goban yawned.

"That's normal. Keep breathing." She lightly twisted his wrists further into the right position, and pulled up on his spine so he'd sit up straight.

"Good. How do you feel?"

Goban opened his eyes and looked up at her, "I'm happy the ship didn't rip itself out of its moorings."

Kanani rolled her eyes, "Fine. Let's see if that new roommate of yours is around."

"He might be coming off shift of shuttling people around. Let's see if we can get into some trouble. That's how I relax."

"That's probably why your were sent here."