African Greys

Posted on 04 Feb 2013 @ 8:47am by Crewman Athlen
Edited on on 04 Feb 2013 @ 8:48am

1,324 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo: Multi-purpose Laboratory
Timeline: MD 1 1320

ON:

Athlen shook his head. "No, no. He's saying you need - give me this," he grabbed Liyar's PADD and pulled it toward him, laying it in front of him on the table and scratching out Liyar's horrible translation. "He is saying that Trill telepathy developed as an evolutionary appendage. The same way that most humanoids evolved overbites due to their style of cutlery. The presence of the symbionts... uh..." he looked up at the older Trill wearing a labcoat who was superimposed on the large screen in front of them.

Dr. Nor Kiskath smiled warmly and allowed them time to scurry around. The teams on the Chesapeake were working strenuously to develop a cure for a virus that some of their officers had contracted, and since his part was done, he had no more pressing matters to attend. So it was a break in his routine, and he always enjoyed breaks. "Because of the symbionts, yes. They induced the humanoid Trills, us," he gestured to himself, "To develop the process of telepathy to communicate with them."

Liyar blinked a few times in a row. "Is that not what you just said? That is not a clarification."

"Oh, for -" Athlen pressed a small thin needle into one of the ports on the communicator in front of him. "Try now."

"A psi-native Vulcan. I can't say I've met many of them. That could be why we're having this bit of trouble," the neurologist said patiently. "Our telepathy is all to do with neuroelectric impulses, the same as any other. We can communicate with the symbionts with far more accuracy than between hosts, or with another species."

Liyar felt like he had water in his ears. He even tilted his head downward as he tried to absorb what Kiskath was telling him. "Neural impulse," he repeated a little inaccurately. "We know this. Is there any precedent for discipline?" he asked, spreading his hands over the table again. "I am not interested in evolutionary tales. I require to understand the process itself. How does it work? How are you taught?"

Athlen sighed. "He's trying to tell you that. The symbionts have the telepathic ability, it comes from them. The Guardians are like the teachers for them. You would need to contact a Guardian. The symbionts have the knowledge, it's how they communicate. So they teach the Guardians, who teach the telepathic Trill. But the thing is, most Trill telepaths become Guardians, is that right?"

Kiskath nodded deeply. "That is so, yes. We do not prefer to waste talent, you see. We recognize value," he said airily.

Athlen looked over at his superior, who was giving him a stare as if he'd stuck the tuning needle into his eye. The Rigelian tried not to smile. "Once again, Doctor, I do not comprehend the relevance of your statements."

"I believe your young friend is trying to tell you, Lieutenant, that whoever it is you are endeavoring to teach, should be aware of the possibility that they may be approached were this to become public knowledge. Trill authorities look at the big picture. They may not be of our world, but they could fit in well enough, certainly," he nodded. "Enough that our authorities would ask, at least." He steepled his fingers.

Liyar twitched. Just a mild, tiny one. "I see. Please return to the topic at hand," he tried again for the seventh time. "If symbionts teach Guardians, how is this taught? Is it done telepathically?"

"To a degree, yes," Kiskath nodded. "Each joined Trill undergoes the zhian'tara, which is the telepathic experience of most Trill. Dreth, my telepathic host, chose not to become a Guardian. Instead he found it more curious and exciting to join a traveling circus on Bolarus IX. He made quite a sum. He -"

"The point," Liyar repeated while Athlen forced himself bodily not to laugh.

"As I was going to say," Kiskath continued mischievously with a glint in his eye, "Dreth was taught by Betazoids. Since he would not become a Guardian, the symbionts did not feel it was prudent to extend to him the passing of our teachings. And it will likely be true of your protege as well," he warned.

Finally. An answer. Of some kind. So he was trying to say that the symbionts had the knowledge, but would only give it to those who would become Guardians. Either that, or they were reluctant to part with it. He wasn't sure exactly yet. "Is there any precedent for imparting this knowledge in disparate circumstances?" Liyar asked.

"Not recently. Remember, we have never had a need for drastic measures in our history. Our society is peaceful and well-contained. For instance, I understand the Vulcans developed some very nifty telepathic training because of their wars?"

How is it that this doctor could take the most simple of sentences and turn it into a spiel about something completely and utterly beside the point? He felt himself grow well and truly frustrated, but it was hidden beneath his usually icy demeanor. It wasn't like arguing with Maenad. That didn't frustrate him very much. This reminded him of being on Terra all over again. "That is accurate," he nodded stiffly. "The Betazoids as well developed their abilities to combat what they say were ancient spirits but were more than likely alien invaders. So you are saying the Trill only ever truly developed their abilities to facilitate the joining process." Once again he brought the conversation on target, at least he tried, while Athlen adjusted the translator a little further.

"Ah, yes, the story of Eiya," Kiskath leaned forward, fascinated. "Betazoid mythology, if you haven't read it, you're missing out."

"I believe I have just indicated otherwise." Liyar arched an eyebrow, asking himself for the third or fourth time how this individual had managed to become a doctor.

"So you have, so you have. For the most part, you are right. And I am well and truly sorry. I do encourage you to contact the Symbiosis Commission, though. They could have changed from Dreth's time." He doubted it, but it was possible. The Trill were a slow-moving society, like a current in the ocean. Moving back and forth, ebbing and flowing. They liked things just the way they were.

Hours. Two hours of talking for an absolutely useless answer. Liyar shook his head. "Thank you for your time, Doctor, we shall contact you again if we have any further questions."

"Oh, at your convenience." Kiskath smiled again. The young were so high-strung. Even Vulcans, he mused, had their moments. Vulcans, he thought to himself, were more like the sullen, stoic older brothers of Terrans. They wouldn't stomp their foot and yell, but they'd give you The Glare and ignore you passively for days on end. Silly children. "I won't keep you, Lieutenant. Crewman Athlen. Thank you both. A nice break for the day," he concluded happily. He bowed and then disconnected his feed.

"Next time, I'll make the call," Athlen chirped up from his spot at the table, a grin on his face. "You two, wow. Oh, don't get in a huff. Look, I'm working on it. See? Work. Work, work, work. I'll be done soon. That way if we get any more pure Trill on this ship you won't spin around in circles for hours on end."

Liyar grabbed his PADD and information and stalked out of the room. At least, Athlen suspected it was stalking. Brooding, melodramatic-something. Liyar really didn't deal with impatience well. Athlen shrugged and kept working.

OFF:

Lieutenant (JG) Liyar
Diplomatic Officer, VDF/SDD
USS Galileo

Crewman Athlen
Sociologist, SSC
USS Galileo
(PNPC Liyar)

Nor Kiskath
Clinical Neurologist, CIV
USS Chesapeake
(NPC Liyar)

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