Two Way Mirror: Part 1/2

Posted on Tue Mar 24th, 2026 @ 8:32pm by Lieutenant Darik Moreau & Lieutenant Alice Penrose

2,562 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Ghost Starship
Location: En Route to Counsellor's Office

ON:

Lt. Darik Moreau rolled his neck slightly as he walked down the corridor, features set in what may look like disapproval to some...but in truth was just him thinking. A counselling session was standard for Starfleet, for transfers, for those yearly reviews. He wasn't surprised by it. It had shown up in his diary like a bookmark: there, but for the grace of someone forgetting to put it there. It was fine. He didn't mind it, because there was nothing he had to hide. And no major hangups that had ever stopped him working. All in all, not that bad.

He stopped outside the office of Lt. Penrose and straightened his uniform. He had replicate it to accommodate the shape of his neck better than those standard shapes you got. It...wasn't a big deviation from the standard uniform, he just preferred not feeling like he was being strangled. He took a moment and moved his hand over his hair, making sure it was neat. Tied back, it was in a low tail rather than cut short or anything...elaborate. Satisfied that he looked presentable, he rang the chime.

"Come in," Alice called out, walking around the desk with a book in her hand, reading it while half distracted. She looked up when the door opened though, placing a bookmark inside before snapping it shut. "Darik Moreau?" she asked, but more out of politeness...she recognised him from his file.

"Yes," he said as he looked at the book in her hand, and then the woman holding it. "And you must be Counsellor Penrose." He walked in, looking around with a hint of curiosity.

"You can call me Alice, if you prefer," she offered as she set the book back into the rotating bookshelf, moving for the replicator. She wore her uniform, as she often did during therapy, but her dark hair was only half pinned back by an antique silver clasp. "Can I get you anything? I'm going to have some hibiscus tea."

His eyes stayed on the rotating bookcase for a moment, a small smile coming to him. "Antique? 19th Century or replica?" the words escaped before her question registered. "Black cardamon tea, a little bit of honey. Please."

"Sounds nice..." she moved to replicate two cups, glancing back to the bookcase in question. "It's real, and spot on with the date...are you an antique enthusiast?"

"By accident...my father's a museum curator," Darik said as he walked over to inspect it. Real books. He suspected they were first editions. "I admire the workmanship of antiques. Hand made, pre-replicator."

"You can borrow one if you like," she assured with a small smile as she carried the drinks to the table, seeing how he admired the books. "I prefer the real thing. There's something about reading from a page that feels more...grounded."

He nodded, glancing at her before he gave a small smile. "I understand that. And I think they are more comfortable to read, over a PADD." He knew it made him sound...quaint. But he could only blame his father for that. "I appreciate the offer. I...am not as much of a reader as I should be."

"No 'should' about it," Alice assured as she took a seat, motioning him to join her. "How have you been?"

"Well, thank you," he said and walked over, sitting down to meet her eyes. "A new posting is...always an adjustment. I spent some years on my last ship, had gotten...used to it. A bit compliant perhaps."

"What is it you do?" she asked lightly. She knew, of course, but it was better to let a new crew member explain. She sipped the tea, her eyebrows lifting with approval at his choice.

"Intelligence," he said and took the tea, holding the cup for a moment. He looked at her, his blue eyes focused on her. "Feel free to insert a joke here, I have heard most of them by now."

Alice arched an eyebrow, watching him with mild surprise before shaking her head. "I think it suits your skillset rather perfectly."

He gave a small smile at that, nodding before he sipped the tea. "When I joined, I wanted to be Security," he admitted, glancing at her. "I liked the idea of...protecting people. But it was clear that Starfleet felt I would be better suited for Intelligence. I...didn't disagree. But I think a part of me felt it...leant more into their perception of me."

Alice nodded softly with understanding, carefully sipping her tea as she watched him. "Perhaps....you felt you were being profiled for your race?"

"I did," he said and looked down into the tea, considering it for a moment. "No perhaps about it. Yet..." he met her eyes again, the smile curling his lips. There was humour there. A bit tired, but it was still there. "...I did agree. And it has been my career ever since."

Alice searched his eyes. She agreed with his assessment, and it didn't sit comfortably with her. "And how has it been?"

"It's been...thirteen years since I graduated," he said as he sat back, with a small smile as he held her eyes. "I'm a Lieutenant. But I am also Chief Intelligence...so it has been up and down. Things have held back advancement...not just this," he gestured to his face and his blue eyes warmed a little. "But principles too."

She wondered if he believed his heritage really had held him back, but she knew it wasn't the time to ask. "Which are?"

"Wetwork isn't for me," he said, lightly, with a soft chuckle, because it was an extreme statement and a paraphrasing for what the work had actually been. He sipped his tea, enjoying the taste of it. She clearly had a good touch with the replicator. "And if something can be solved in the light, it's better than hiding it under...secrets. I also have a bit of a sarcastic streak...can't help it."

"So what do you enjoy?" she asked softly, crossing her legs as she settled back to watch him.

"With work, or outside it?" Darik asked as he held Alice's eyes, his head tilting just a little to the side as he considered her words.

"Either...whichever you'd like to talk about," she assured with a small, half smile, setting her cup on her knee.

He chuckled at the way she put it, his instinct to keep it professional. But truthfully, anything could expose him...and it didn't matter. It wasn't like she was out to get him. It was a counselling session. "I enjoy finding the puzzle pieces," he said, nodding. "And working with other departments. Intelligence isn't just...writing reports. It's translating the intelligence into action. And then handing that over to Security, the Captain, or Marines. Outside of work?" he raised an eyebrow, his blue eyes shining with it. "Archery."

"Archery?" Alice said with surprise before glancing down with a soft chuckle. "Sorry," she shook her head at her own reaction. Why shouldn't he enjoy archery? "It's just an unusual pastime these days. How did you get started?"

He smiled warmly, at the way she had reacted. "I was a teenager on the Moon," he said and gave a small shrug. "I did not have many past times. My class did a day of activities, Archery was one of them. I really liked it. The instructor...Shreya zh'Thenis, she asked if I wanted to come back. And I said yes and...just started doing that," he met her eyes, the smile fading a little bit. "She was a Dominion War vet, medically discharged from Starfleet. And she looked at me and didn't see anything except a teenager who could stand still."

"That matters to you, doesn't it," Alice said softly with a slight frown. "That someone can be comfortable around you."

"It's always been a priority," Darik said openly, because he knew there was no point in denying it. It was written between the lines since he had been a child. "To be...above reproach. Or if not that, certainly...easy to be around."

"You say that like their prejudices are your responsibility," she replied softly but candidly, sipping her tea carefully.

"I couldn't control how I looked. I could control how I presented myself," he said and then took a sip of his tea, mirroring her. A little on purpose. But the tea was soothing on his throat. And warm. "Some things are trained into you as a child and they stick. Lately, I have...stopped smoothing down the edges. Be more true to who I am. Maybe a sign I am getting older, or times are moving on."

"Or that it's time for people to take responsibility for their own biases..." she pointed out lightly, but arched an eyebrow with a small smile to soften the words.

He chuckled softly, nodding as he looked at her. "Or maybe enough distance is happening for people to...read my age. I was eight when the war broke out."

"It shouldn't matter either way," Alice replied delicately as she leant forward enough to set her cup on the table. "Judging someone for their heritage wasn't okay then, and it isn't okay now."

"Yet you know as well as anyone that we can only do better today than yesterday," Darik said as he looked at her and then gave a small smile. "It was a dark time for the universe, the war touched many. It might not have felt fair to be judged based on my mother's people, but it can't be changed. And what matters is that not everyone judged based on that."

"You have a very calm head on your shoulders," she noted with a small smile as she leant back, letting her hands clasp and settle in her lap to keep them still and herself centred.

"Somewhat...trained," he admitted openly, because he had been through enough psych evals in Starfleet to know it was written down somewhere. "I became very good to hide how I was feeling, to...conform to whatever was easiest for those around me. I'm calm when the situation...needs me to be calm. Doesn't mean I don't feel, or have preferences. Besides, you do not want your Intelligence officers be...vindictive. Or worse, have a temper problem."

"Are you masking with me now?" she asked bluntly as she met his eyes, but she was smiling gently. It wasn't to rebuke...she just wanted to know what she was dealing with.

"I'm being civilised for a first encounter with another officer," he said and his blue eyes seemed to warm a little bit. "One I know has the power to, should she wish, remove my...operational status." He chuckled and shook his head. "I'm cautious. But I am also being honest. Does that count as masking?"

Alice tilted her head in thought, a piece of dark hair falling from the clip with it. "No," she finally replied, firmly. "No, I think that's just being sensible. Although, I want you to know I wouldn't remove your operational status, not like this. Not ever, unless I had no other choice. I believe in making things work for everyone."

He studied her, leaning a little closer, elbows going to rest on his knees. His eyes narrowed a little bit, which emphasised the shape of the ridges around his eyes. He then smiled, and that was a far more human expression. "I believe you," he said and sat back, slowly. "And it says a lot about you for acknowledging it, but declaring your intention."

"We can't ever have a conversation with honesty and trust if you think that power dynamic is between us," Alice replied gently, shaking her head with a slight frown. "Many people think we are here to catch them out...I can't speak for others, but I'm here to make things easier for you."

Darik let out a breath before he nodded, watching her. "I...find counsellors very useful," he finally said. "For a crew. And for advice...some of the best profiles I have ever had put together have been from counsellors."

"Would we ever tempt you across to the team?" she asked lightly, but the quirk of a delicate eyebrow and a small, half smile gave the the joke away.

He laughed, throaty and short, his blue eyes shining with it in a way that made him look more animated. "And miss out on the chance to brood in shadowy corners? People adore mystery...makes a man very attractive..."

"Well, that is in the eye of the beholder," Alice tilted her head in acknowledgement.....not actually denying it though. "Is that what you enjoy, Darik? Unlocking mysteries?"

"I do," he admitted and made a small gesture with his hand...and then looked thoughtful. "I always liked seeing what was there all along, but not many people saw. When I was a teenager, I read a lot of books. Fantasy. That sort."

"Fantasy?" she asked softly, hoping he'd explain a little more on that. It was a very specific genre, especially for a young man who had been through as much as he had.

He met her eyes before he gave a small smile, almost ironic. "I...kept myself to myself a lot when I was a kid. I was...thirteen when I started reading Rix Pusain's books. And that spiralled...I may have read every single one of the Oceans of Azure series..." he leant closer, just for a moment. "Including the 2397 release."

"What kind of stories are they?" she asked with a soft smile, genuinely curious as to the kind of stories he enjoyed.

"Oh...mythic creatures," he said softly and his blue eyes were unguarded and warm as he spoke. "Worlds beyond these, where there's magic and anyone can become the hero...where evil is easy to recognise and defeat...and there is good in most."

"And elves with bows?" Alice asked softly and lightly with a small smile as she tucked her feet up onto the sofa, not sure if he'd made the connection.

Darik let out a soft chuckle at that, nodding. "Not...the reason I got into archery though," he admitted and took a sip of the tea before putting it down. "I was a teenager on the Moon and our year did a sports week. Trying out new sports for teamwork, for...something to make the Academy applications sound more interesting. I hated it. Not...the exercise. Not even the games. I hated the falseness of it, the way the team sports were...built up to support the strongest. But one of the things that we did was archery and it just clicked with me. It's a solo sport. It takes concentration, aim...and yes, I wasn't terrible at it when I first picked up the bow, which always helps on the ego of a boy."

She chuckled softly with understanding, encouraged by his opening up with the story. There was no rush though, and she was patient. And they were his stories to tell...or not, if he preferred. "Those are all good reasons to do something."

To Be Continued...

---

Lieutenant Alice Penrose
Chief Counsellor
USS Missouri

&

Lieutenant Darik Moreau
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Missouri

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