XO check up

Posted on Fri Jul 6th, 2018 @ 11:49am by Commander Bertrand Cuprum & Lieutenant Sara'draphia T'eseri

Mission: Trills and Thrills
Location: sickbay
Timeline: When the team is back on the ship

Bertrand had filed his report with the Captain and knew the man was talking to the Brass back home. He had done a quick check of his crew as they had been coming up, and they seemed to be none the worse for their encounter emotionally, except for Cor.

Cor he had granted some extended leave to. Hel had the repairs under way and Cor needed... well, time. Being held captive and forced to fight was a particular trigger for the Chief.

There was one other person that Bertrand found difficult to read, because his own emotions got tangled. So he would need to check in more directly. He was also required to do a standard health check after an away mission, so the two coincided well.

He arrived at medical and took a moment to breath deeply. He had not yet found a moment to spend time with the crystal his psych had lent him. he could feel some of the old anxiety sitting deep. Or maybe this was new...

He stepped into medical.

Sitting on top of one of the empty biobeds, Sara was refocusing herself and processing what had just happen during the away mission. With every breath in, a blue aura would emanate from her. It was still strange to her how curious these Federation Species were. From her perspective, they were rash and quick to act without any knowledge of what was ahead, a dangerous trait in her opinion.

As soon as Bertrand stepped into sickbay, Sara could feel his anxiety and the strain on his mind. “Hello Commander, is there something I can do for you?” She asked, not moving a muscle from her position.

There was something about the Medic, a pool of calm, that reminded him a little of his time with the Aulian Crystal. It settled him.

"I am reporting in for my post-mission medical," he responded. "Make sure those pods didn't mess with me in some way. Need to check it is still me they dragged out of that pod."

Taking a final long breath, Sara opened her eyes, stood up from the biobed and smiled. "Then let's not waste anymore time," she said, grabbing a medical tricorder from a nearby tray and starting her scans.

He watched her face as she ran her scans. Finally he tried a simple, "How are you doing?"

Sara sighed, "I was a little unsettled by what happened. Forcing people to fight against one another for entertainment is such an arcaic thing to do, it is a wonder that such things still exist."

Bertrand harrumphed, "You read much galactic history? Seems the one consistent trend among cultures that are moving into decadency is blood sport for entertainment. I am frankly surprised by cultures that haven't indulged in it for a period. Even the Vulcans still use it, though they like to pretend otherwise."

He took a deep breath, "Sorry. I am dark and cynical and grumpy. I always get like that after being shot. Ah, hell, who am I kidding? I am always like that."

He frowned, "You're not though. You must have easily seen as much of the universe as I, probably a lot more. How do you not end up in a fetal position, wishing it would all go away?"

"50 years ago, I might have" Sara replied, completing her scans and closing the tricorder. "For the first few years away from my people, I felt completely lost and unsure of myself. It took me a while to understand your culture. I also meditate from time to time to recenter myself. I could teach you if you wish."

Bertrand pulled a face, "I have been through more meditation classes than the Kai. I know they work for lots of people but... I'm not one of them."

"I am not sure what you mean by 'your culture', either. I would say my people are culturally different from Andorians, Humans, Bajorans and any of the other races that make the Federation. Even then, I would say that the people of the Devoras Peninsular are distinctly different from other Betazoids. Are we all really that much the same and then so different from your people?"

Sara looked surprised, "I'm did not meet to insult you, however from an outside perspective, the United Federation of Planets appear to be one culture. Every race within the Federation follow the same laws, the same morals, and all seem to happily identify as a Federation citizen along with identifying as an Andorian, Vulcan or Human. To answer your question, yes, your people are different to the Nissari Republic."

"I'd..." Bertrand floundered. "I would like to know more about you... your people... Gods! I sound like a pubescent human. With Betazoids, emotions and intentions are plainly obvious so there is very little of the delicate wrangling everyone else seems to prize so highly. My parents shook hands on the partnership they both knew they wanted without even talking about it. I don't think I heard them speak directly to each other in the whole time I lived there."

A little surprised by his awkwardness, Sara thought for a moment, "if you are willing, I believe I have a solution to both of our problems. My people are able to create telepathic links between ourselves and others for the purpose of exchanging information. It is not as commonly practiced in modern Nissari culture as it was in the past, but we are still taught the practice from a young age."

"I'm not opposed to telepathy, obviously, but there is a big difference between a Vulcan Mindmeld and a Betazoid Emzadi. I also think you might not like the deal you get, linking with my mind. There is a lot of dark there that I don't even like being connected to."

"I can choose the direction of information flow through the link, though you may feel as if you are reliving some of those experiences," Sara said.

"All right," Bertrand agreed. "What's involved?"

"Well, first I will need some time to focus myself before we attempt the link. I may also need to conduct some research on Betazoid physiology in order to know how you might react to such a telepathic link. Otherwise, you have to do very little besides sit or stand where you are. In general, it is the person who initiates the link who controls its strength and what is shared."

"Betazoids are a very open telepathic race, some consider us to be too much so. We are known to be sensitive to races who are only moderately telepathic, such as humans and Argosi. I don't think there will be any issues on that score."

He stepped off the bio bed, "I will leave you to do what you need to. Let me know when you are free, all right?"

"That would be acceptable. Would you be more comfortable in your quarters rather than down here in sickbay?" Sara asked, trying to make him feel as comfortable as possible to make her job easier

"Your place or mine?" Bertrand quipped. "Sorry, bad taste. Either is fine. Just let me know when you need me."

"Excellent" Sara replied, turning around to face the biobed, "Are you involved with anyone?" She asked, half under her breath, not really meaning for him to hear.

It was a shame Bertrand had missed it. He was already out the door chiding himself on how badly he had handled himself.