I think we need answers...

Posted on Monday 11 July 2016 @ 22:28 by Captain Melody Jones & Lieutenant JG Velin Ikiri & Commander Caroline Miller

Mission: Old, New Ship
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: Current
1504 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Melody followed Velin into sickbay "Caroline, we need your help. Something weird just happened in engineering."

"Take over here Nurse," Caroline said looking at the concerned faces of 2 of the senior officers. She clicked a few buttons on the piece of equipment she had been running tests on and walked over to them both. "What happened in Engineering?" she asked.

Melody was having a hard time putting the experience into words "When I touched Velins' hand it's like we could hear each others thoughts. We're not sure what caused it" She looked over at Ikiri who was still affected by the experience.

Velin looked to the doctor, "i thought telepathic contact was impossible, my telepathic centers were burnt out shortly after i was rescued by the Patomic. This is most... disconcerting."

Caroline nodded, " would you both lie down on these bio beds for me?"

She ran some scans and furrowed her brow a minute later. "Lieutenant Ikiri, There's showing some cell growth in your paracortex. In fact you now have nanoprobes regenerating there. Perhaps when everything burnt out those probes didn't and have been lying dormant. I theorise your interaction with Melody has somehow triggered this."

Velin looked to the doctor and to melody very uncertain... "Does this mean ill regain my telepathy?" He could not imagine this ever happening. In fact after his discussion with the elders on vulcan he had eliminated this as a possibility of ever occurring. it was so surprising that he didnt quite know what else to say.

Melody also looked rather concerned. "Are you saying I caused this? She asked Caroline.

Caroline looked at the redhead softly. "Not intentionally Melody but yes, it looks like something in your interaction with Lieutenant IKiri triggered a response from his nanoprobes. I don't fully understand it. And will speak with Science to try work out the specifics."

Turning to Ikiri, she looked at him a little concerned. This was huge. He had gone years not having to contend with hundreds of voices in his head and now it looked like he would be placed in that situation. He would need to retrain his brain to shield it out. If he couldn't do that, manage some element of self control this could possibly push him into madness. She didn't need to tell him that though. Betaziods knew more about living with their abilities and the strategies to cope than she would ever understand. She just knew this would be an intense adjustment period for him. One she had to try make as easy as possible if he wanted to progress.

"Yes Lieutenant, at present they have started to repair your tissues in your paracortex. If they continue your telepathic abilities will return. I know this is likely a shock," she faced him directly. So like Tolan. She felt like she wanted to reach out. Hug him. Support him. But he was not Tolan, she reminded herself. She would never feel his kind loving embrace again or be able to try comfort him. It dawned on her if he went down this road he would be able to read her thoughts about him. Would that cause an akwardness between them?

"Like I said I can halt it if necessary. If you need some thinking time. Or permanently if you do not wish to go down that road. The decision is yours."

Velin sat up, "Do you think you could actually halt the nanoprobes trying to repair my paracortex? How long before the repairs are unstopable?" He was confused and didnt know what to think or what to do... he didn't have anyone onboard this ship to talk to about such things... he looked down trying to decide what to do. On one hand his telepathic abilities were his birthright... but then again he had been so separated from that part of his life for so long. He barely understood his own emotions let alone others and then to have those emotions and thoughts pile in upon him? What should he do?

"Close your eyes Lieutenant," Caroline said softly. "What you really want is always the first thing you think. Concentrate on just my voice and breath. In a few moments I am going to count to three. And then ask you a question. Say the first thing that comes into your mind."

He did as she instructed trying to calm himself, but it was difficult. It felt like there were 3 voices inside his head all arguing for their own viewpoint. One wanted to stop it now and said that he didn't need his telepathic abilities the other said that he should just put it off but then what if he just ended up putting it off forever... and the other voice... the other voice was himself when he was first removed from the collective confused and angry still able to hear the voices but they were so discorded. Then he had a memory a flashback something he rarely experienced. So rarely in fact that he could recount each time it had happened. It was himself as a child before he had left Batazed for his fateful journey. He was having problems with his abilities he was at a school with several diffrent alien races and he couldn't stop himself from hearing them. Feeling how different and truly alien their minds were. He had come home scared and shaking, he had told his mother that he hated how strong his gifts were ... and she had said that it may be hard at times but that they were a part of him, a gift to him. He in turn could be a gift to Batazed.

"Do you miss your telepathic gifts?" she asked.

He didn't even realize she had asked a question but found himself surprised as he said in a child like voice no less, "Im not supposed to reject my gifts." He opened his eyes and looked up himself again, "We should allow the nanoprobes to continue." He was back to himself again and once more in control, "But i might become a danger to this crew. I suggest you set up a telepathic suppression field outside of wherever your going to have me put untill i can learn control. I would also recommend contacting starfleet and asking for a telepathic specialist. Don't get me wrong doctor i trust you but if you've read my files i was highly gifted when it came to telepathy."

"Melody," Caroline said turning to the redhead. "As far as I can tell you are fine, so free to go. Lieutenant Ikiri, I don't know how fast all of this is going to happen and your going to need monitoring so your coming into sickbay for a while. If you need anything, PADDs to read, clothes etc. please go get them now. I will be putting you in one of our single rooms. I will contact Starfleet and request a specialist come join us or at least be in correspondence via subspace if that's not possible. In terms of suppression field, we need to stagger your exposure. I think, if we can block out everyone not in sickbay to begin with, give you chance to get used to some voices. Then we look to slowly decrease the field building up your exposure to more people. It will be less of a shock on you. Can engineering set that up for us?" she asked.

He nodded, "I will return to my quarters and obtain anything i require, we will also have to set up a portable regeneration matrix. As for the suppression field im aware of its existence but it is a very precise piece of engineering work and will take time to put in place. Also i belive you should let anyone working in sickbay while im here and going through this that their minds may be read or ... to be honest i do not know what might happen, to be honest i would suggest that primarily Vulcan's or Betazoids and species that already have telepathic ability and therefore a resistance factor to my telepathy be involved in my treatment. That however is completely up to you.

Melody placed a reassuring hand on Ikiri's shoulder feeling somewhat responsible for the lieutenants condition "I'm sure you'll be fine, we have one of the best doctors in the fleet. I'll come back and check in with you soon" and with a nod in Caroline's direction, Melody left sickbay.

He nodded to her and said, "I believe i will need it by that point." He was already feeling things he was unaccustomed to but he tended to think that it was his own chaotic emotions. If he had to put a word to it he would call it fear and anxiety. He stood and started heading for the door, "I will return shortly."

OFF:

Lieutenant JG Melody Jones
Chief flight control officer
USS Merlin

Lieutenant JG Velin Ikiri
Chief Engineer
USS Merlin

Doctor Caroline Miller
Chief Medical Officer
USS Merlin