A Cry in the Dark

Posted on Monday 1 August 2016 @ 22:26 by Captain Melody Jones & Commander Cale Llewellyn DSci

Mission: Old, New Ship
Location: Cale's quarters
Timeline: Mission Day 7 later that night
1521 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

As Cale sat in his quarters sobbing, he tapped his combadge ad said "Melody, can you come to my quarters at your earliest convenience?"

Melody picked up on the pain in his voice. She touched the comm panel on her wall "Sure thing, I'm on my way."

She had just returned to her quarters from seeing Caroline. She was still carrying the neocortical monitor. She threw on a dressing gown over nightdress and headed straight back into the corridor.

She stopped at Cale's door and pressed the chime.

Cale, still cradling his head though now in the fetal position on the floor, said "Enter, please." He began sobbing when his 'caller' entered the room. He felt a surge of concern and emotional pain from...from Melody. "Oh thank God you're here..." he said before being racked with physical pain from another source.

Melody rushed over to his side and crouched down next to him "Cale! What's wrong?" She helped him up and placed him in a chair, then going over to the replicator "Computer, 2 glasses of warm milk with a dash of nutmeg."

She hurried back over to Cale and handed him a glass. "Here, this will help you relax. Now what's wrong? Do you want me to call Caroline, I mean Doctor Miller?"

"Thank you, Mel. I'm better now. As for what's wrong, I'm not sure. I've been overwhelmed by sudden waves of emotion and I don't know for sure where they're coming from. All I do know is this; they're not coming from me. But again, I don't know how I know this all I do know is that somehow I'm feeling the collective emotions of the crew. Also I don't know if Doctor Miller can do anything for me," Cale said shaking. "Do you know of any telepaths on board?"

Melody thought for a moment. "There was a Vulcan nurse in sickbay when I reported for my medical." She paused "Lieutenanr Ikiri also has some telepathic ability but they only started recently. I know how confusing it can be when someone else's thoughts pop up inside your head."

"Wonderful! Can you get her down here soon please? I need some clarity. Really? Oh the ex-drone thing huh? I can feel how confused you are about that, Mel. I'm sorry I didn't mean to invade your feelings. It's just so hard to shut out!" Cale said cradling his head in his arms. Wasn't this how he started out tonight? he wondered.

Melody looked down briefly "There as also that incident in engineering this morning........"

"Incident? What incident?"

Melody shifted, still uncomfortable at the memory "In engineering this morning when I touched Ikiri's hand we read each others thoughts. The first time it was only a brush, then I decided to grab his hand and the rush of thoughts I got felt like a Klingon had walked in, gabbed me and slammed me into the bulkhead. Caroline believes his telepathic centres have repaired themselves and I was somehow the cause. I don't know if he has informed the captain yet so can we keep this between you and me for now."

Melody shivered slightly "I've had a funny feeling all day afterward and just now seeing my mother, I'm a bit out of sorts. You just caught me as I came back from seeing Caroline myself."

"I'm sorry, Mel. I had no idea," Cale said suddenly feeling very crestfallen, sheepish even. Here he was dropping his problems on her while she had problems of her own. What kind of friend was he when he couldn't see or feel how she felt. And there it was again, a pang of confusion from Melody.

She put her hand on his shoulder "Hey, it's Ok" Melody smiled warmly " I've been worried about you since you left the bridge this morning, I just haven't had chance to speak to you. Not only do you get the first officer position sprung on you. You deserve it by the way, but now you're coping with this as well. Let it be said there's never a dull moment of this ship. My problems can wait for a while. Come on, we'll see about that Vulcan shall we?"


Melody then rose her voice to address the computer "Computer, tell me the name of the Vulcan nurse assigned to the Merlin."

The computer responded "There is one Vulcan currently assigned to the medical staff, Ensign T'Lar."

Melody continued "And her current location?"

"Ensign T'Lar is currently located in Sickbay, deck 7"

Melody looked at Cale "Do you want to go to her, or have her come to you?" She asked.

"Yes please, if you could, that would be most appreciated, Melody," Cale said haltingly trying to get a grip on the torrent of emotions assaulting him.

Melody rose "I'll go get her. It's a bit more discreet than broadcasting over the comms. I'll be right back" she added reassuring.

With that Melody headed for sickbay

Ensign T'lar was just going over some notes when she turned upon hearing the doors open. At this late hour, it was unusual to get many visitors to sickbay. She raised an eyebrow as the the ships second officer walked in wearing a dressing gown and approached her. "Ensign T'Lar?"

"Yes Lieutenant Jones, how can I be of assistance?"

"Ensign I need your assistance and it's a sensitive matter. Can I count on your discretion?"

"Of course lieutenant."

"Good. Follow me please." Melody turned and lead her back to Cale's quarters.

As they entered, T'lar raised an eyebrow in the typical Vulcan manner "Good evening Commander. Is there something I can do for you?

"Greetings Ensign, I am in need of some of your,..." Cale paused. "Vulcan talents. Yes, yes let's call it that. More to the point I am experiencing some 'empathic flashes'," he went on to say after gesturing quotation marks with his first two fingers of each hand.

"Hmmmm, fascinating. The human predilection for using air quotations. I could try an initiate a mind meld to find out what is causing these empathic flashes."

"That's exactly what I had in mind, Ensign. Proceed, please."

"Very well" She brought another chair over and sat down facing him. Placing her left hand on Cale's face "My mind to your mind......... my thoughts to your thoughts.................Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm" She frowned.

Melody who was standing nearby looked on, concerned.

'Can you hear me commander' T'Lar projected to Cale.

'Yes I can Ensign. Now what?"

Melody looked up "Yes you can what?" she asked.

T'lar let out a sigh "Please lieutenant, we are trying to concentrate."

"Oh, Sorry" Melody added sheepishly

"Now commander" T'lar continued "I'm going to have search your mind to see if I can find the cause of these flashes. Please try and relax. If there is something you do not want me to see imagine a door and close it. Like just there........... And there.............................. Why would Lieutenant Jones, Doctor Miller and Lieutenant Tillatix be engaged in that activity. I fail to see the logic in the captain doing that............Why is a green Jell-O substance important?'

There was a dull thud, as Melody slowly pickled herself up off the floor "Sorry. I think you're a little...........of topic here ensign" she said, trying to keep her quiet in low tone.

"Of course..........There.............That is it." She said as she broke the meld. " I saw an image of a tropical world, a pollen infiltrating your system. It appears that is what is causing your flashes Commander. I would hypothesize that this pollen to have activated something inside you which is giving you these abilities" T'Lar concluded.

"The Niga Incident? Yes now I understand. That entity took possession of several crew members including myself. So is there a part of that entity still within me?"

T'Lar looked inward and analyzed the experience "No, I don't believe there is another presence, just yourself. Maybe the entity enabled a ability that was dormant within you.

"Is there any danger to Cale?" Melody stepped forward, still concerned.

"I don't believe so Lieutenant." T'Lar responded. "It will take some time, but I believe the commander will be able to integrate this into his being. Vulcan mediation may help give you some control. Several sessions would be required to master the technique. I could be of assistance."

"I can do that, Ensign. When do we start? I'm eager to get rid of these flashes..." Cale said.

T'Lar thought for a moment then went on "The meld should give you some temporary control for now, you should get some rest. I Will return tomorrow when it is convenient Commander, Will that be satisfactory?"

"Yes, Ensign, that will be more than satisfactory. Thank you, again, Mel. I hope the both of you have a good night. I am going to go back to bed now. Good night."

Melody led ensign T'lar back into the corridor, turned back to Cale and smiled "Good night. Hope you sleep well."

OFF:

Lieutenant Commander Cale Jason Llewellyn
Executive Officer
USS Merlin

Lieutenant Melody Jones
Chief Flight officer / Second officer
USS Merlin