Hang In There

Posted on 22 Dec 2015 @ 11:17pm by Ensign James Langley

2,153 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo; Deck 5; Intelligence Office
Timeline: MD09; 1400 Hours

ON:

Ah, the intelligence office, the home away from home... which was also away from home. Though with the Galileo being his newly assigned home James thought perhaps that last bit of thought was a little unnecessary. But whatever subbranch of a true home he now occupied he decided it would still be nice to give it a personal touch. And so, while he was awaiting the head of the department to arrive so he could make his introduction, he quickly set up a few knickknacks on his desk and hung up a poster on the wall across it. A somewhat distressed looking feline hanging from a branch with the writing underneath it “KDQJ LQ WKHUH.” He leaned back in his chair and contemplated the words when moments later the door to the office opened.

Walking back to his own office, after taking a brief break, Tyrion noticed one of the previously vacant desks was now occupied. He first continued to his own office, retrieved a PADD to check for any transfers, then returned to the priorly passed desk. "Hello," he greeted, "you must be new here. I'm Tyrion." Studying how the man would respond, Tyrion withheld mentioning his last name, rank or even position. He wondered how much homework the person had done.

James stood up and gave a salute to his superior. The uniform and the way he went about the office was all he needed to see to know who he was talking to. "Ensign James Langley, sir. Pleasure to meet you."

The Betazoid grinned in approval. "And you. Tell me ensign, what is your specialty?"

"Spending hours sifting through endless amounts of information for that one nugget of gold, you know, intelligence gathering, and of course... Hmm." James brought a finger up to his lip and thought for a moment. "Let me show you," he spoke with a hint of playfulness in his voice. "How about you ask me a question about me? Anything. I answer in my way and then I get to ask you any question."

"I just did...but very well." Tyrion paused. "What is your favourite food?"

“Well I shall answer your first question while answering your second then,” James replied with a smile. He then ripped a small piece of paper from his notepad and wrote out a small note 'FKLFNHQ QRRGOH VRXS' without even the slightest hint of effort. “Cryptology is my specialty and that is my favorite food,” he said as he handed Tyrion the note. “Now I do believe you owe me a question, but I'd rather hold onto that for another time. Nothing like having a bit of leverage on someone, right,” he questioned with confidence and an accompanying, albeit deliberate looking, wink.

The Betazoid stared at the jumble of words, then gazed back at the man. "Cryptology goes well with my specialty," he grinned, "and while leverage is good, be careful how you use it."

“Oh, don't worry, I'm only having a bit of fun,” James said assuringly. “I promise the question will be harmless. Probably.” He then sat back down in his chair and continued to mull about his new station and getting situated. “So, and this is by no means the spending of my free question, let me make that clear, but what is your specialty? I'm eager to know how a cryptologist will be of use to you. It's kind of what I do, after all.”

Black eyes sparkling, Tyrion bared his teeth in a grin. "Computer systems," he answered simply, "I can get into any computer."

“So you break what I make,” the fresh ensign spoke in a tone that almost denoted actual distaste. “Though I suppose if we were to just respect the hard work of anyone good with encryption we'd never find the information we need, huh?”

"Technically," Tyrion agreed, "and I don't break computers, I break into them when it's required to do so. I don't break into private and personal files, that's unethical."

James had to think about what his superior said for a moment. He did one quick spin in his chair and that was all the time he needed for a suitable reply. “Like leverage, it's all in how you use it. I don't snoop around for no reason, but you can be sure if I have a hunch I'm going to investigate it no matter how inane it may sound, privacy be damned. Besides, I'm good at keeping secrets. You wouldn't believe some of the stuff I've read.”

"Ahh...but you're not a telepath, ar you," Tyrion pointed out, still smiling though the sparkle in his eyes dimmed a little. "and I meant files here on this ship. But as far as intelligence goes, enemy ships are an open playing field."

Those words sure sounded like a challenge to the new subordinate of the Chief Intelligence Officer. It was a challenge he was willing to accept. “I could tell you were a telepath by the way you look at me. Care for some fun? My cryptographic skills extend beyond more physical methods of encryption. Read my thoughts. Start from the surface and work your way in. I promise it won't be as easy as you think.”

"That I look at you, doesn't mean I'm reading you beyond your surface emotions. There's ethics, even for me but I'll humour you." He stared intently at his subordinate, as if his black eyes were staring right into his soul. At first his expression remained vacant, a mask of concentration but no more. Gradually, it made way for frustration. At first he felt nothing. Just a stoic calm. But as he pushed on he felt a very strange sensation enter his thoughts. It could have been what would best be described as the spot where one's internal monologue would reside, but in its place Tyrion had more of a sensation of tactile feeling and motion than of words and voice.

James had not so much blocked his thoughts out as that would have either been too difficult or too aggressive. No, James' method was much more unique than a simple lock. He was thinking in sign. He wasn't completely fluent in it so his thoughts sounded somewhat jumbled even to him, but to the reader of his mind it was probably completely unintelligible, alien even, as the thoughts were sensed more as physical ques than as a spoken voice. But it wasn't flawless. It could be broken through. Pushed aside to reveal his deeper thoughts and experiences. Past the thoughts and into the memories.

Tyrion watched and studied the thoughts, but brushed them aside. He wasn't a linguist but even in intelligence one could use signals to make oneself understood if it was dangerous to speak. So while he wasn't fluent either, he did understand some signals. And from understanding, he went to piecing bits and pieces together. He smiled as he saw a younger man stroll down an all too familiar path and be encountered by a professor and reprimanded for walking on the grass. He knew that part all to well too, any cadet was at least told off once for treading onto the carefully maintained lawn. Interesting.... He thought as he pushed on.

But when he continued to press further James brought up the next layer of protection. It came at a heavy cost but it was a method that worked well. Suddenly all Tyrion could feel was a sinking sorrow like no other. The pain became all encompassing as it covered up every memory and feeling otherwise in James' mind. It had now become all the two of them could feel.

Tyrion almost recoiled from the utter sadness that threatened to overwhelm him. However, this had been a challenge and to him it was like hacking into a mind, instead of a computer. Closing his eyes in concentration, he gathered his own strength and started to push on. He knew fear and dread, he had experienced it for himself not too long ago.

James quickly turned his chair away from his superior as Tyrion continued to push through the viscid anguish, tears beginning to stream down his face. It was horrible, but it was working. But the telepath was strong and apparently could get through the fact that he was feeling the crippling feeling of dread as though it were his own. Images began to form once more. A woman. Then a name. 'Matilda.'

"Stop," James whimpered quietly in a plea for the little exercise to end.

Shaking his head, Tyrion blinked a few eyes and felt his own tears forming in his eyes, some already spilling down his cheeks. He staggered and caught himself against the desk. "Who is she?" he asked hoarsely, as he tried to compose himself.

"Someone lost," James replied rather cryptically. He took a moment to strengthen his composure and then turned the chair to face his superior once more. "My expertise extends to cryptography of the mind as well. What do you think," he questioned with a bit of a forced smile as he moved the subject matter in a different direction.

"That's a very useful skill to have," Tyrion agreed, reaching to wipe the tears from his eyes. His breath came in harsh gasps and his eyes were even blacker than normal, filled with emotion. "Do you think you could teach me? Does this also extend to partners?"

"It's through force of will, so you can let down the wall for anyone at any time. Though your question makes me wonder if you could allow certain people in while blocking others at the same time. I'll have to think on that one. And of course I can teach you some time. You know, I could maybe make a class of it. I'm sure quite a few operatives would find it useful!" James' mind was already contemplating implementing his methods. It could be the James Encryption Method or some otherwise appropriately named technique. "Maybe you can be my first student and test subject? See if I can improve it while I teach it?"

THe CIO nodded in agreement. "That sounds like a good idea," he said while smiling slightly, even though he still couldn't shake that utter feeling of sadness and despair. He shivered and rubbed his temples. "We would need a second telepath, as my partner isn't currently available. He's very ill, and is being held in sickbay."

Some of the sadness seemed to return to James' face at Tyrion's words. It didn't take an empath to feel empathy and with still open wounds he certainly knew what the fear of loss felt like. “You have my condolences. I pray his situation is stable and improving?”

"He's conscious and stable, but not yet allowed to leave. He was badly injured when we were transferred to the mirror universe. I've been visiting every evening, even when he was in stasis." Tyrion forced himself to smile. "Sadness is a good way to incapacitate a telepathic intruder. However you can be assured that unless there's a medical emergency, I won't ever read you beyond surface emotions without your consent. "

The Betazoid still rubbed his temples. "Now I have a headache..."

“Much appreciated, spymaster,” James said with another forced wink. He could never quite get such a simple motion down and it always looked like half his face was being scrnuched up. He was never much for winking but the cues they gave were better than words alone sometimes. “And I know just the thing to take care of that headache of yours. Whatdaya say we go and hit the bar?”

"Hmm I suppose I could join you for a drink... I'm about to go off duty anyway. But I can't drink too much, I have a child to take care of and I can't do that intoxicated. Plus we're in a state of emergency so getting drunk isn't advisable anyway."

"Of course." It seemed his boss was a man of duty. James couldn't fault him for that. He wasn't much of a drinker either, but that didn't mean he wouldn't test his new department head. As he made his way for the door he thought Tight-ass in clear-as-day Federation Standard.

Tyrion turned and flashed him a grin. "And how would you know this for certain?" he queried innocently.

It was obvious the Betazoid didn't know a human-born insult when he heard one. More obvious though was that he heard it at all. James would have to watch his thoughts around this one, but not for now. “I'll just take your word for it. Now, let us discuss the liberal use of human slang and other such colloquialisms over a bit of the ole social lubricant, shall we?”

[END]

Ensign Tyrion Faye
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Galileo

Ensign James Langley
Intelligence Officer
USS Galileo

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