Like a ball in the park

Posted on Sun Jul 24th, 2022 @ 7:30pm by Commodore Keiben Haistro & Commander Peter Horn & Lieutenant Commander Tiandith 'Tia' Tobru

1,868 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 5 - Objects In Motion
Location: Promenade
Timeline: Mission Day 2 @ 1100 Hours

ON

The bustle and life on the promenade seemed to have landed here a lot quicker than Keiben would have anticipated. Traders from all corners seemed to be selling their wares, travellers on their way to Ba'ku, Betazed and Benzar all seemed to pass through here now and compared to how he had first found the station to feel, it was now completely different, buzzing, electrified with the cultures and life. It was refreshing.

"What about this?" Keiben lifted a hard carved wooden box, delicately decorated with a floral design inlaid with gold and some rarefied gems in greens and reds which contained traditional Ba'ku glassware which was equally as delicate and beautiful to look at. "Would Junjie and Tam like it do you think?"

"Tam maybe," Charlie said. "Im not sure about Junjie."

Feeling more comfortable in command red, Peter actually felt a hell of a lot more confident than he did before, even though he was still -unconsciously- trying to hide his injured hand. Or rather, missing hand as he still did need to talk to Melanie about his options, now that he was coming to accept what they were. "Why not just read them?" he suggested almost too innocently, as he overheard the captain speak. "You are a telepath, it is in your nature. Why not read them and see what they prefer?"

"Commander, are you suggesting a Starfleet Commodore should flout protocol and use his innate telepathic ability's for an unethical invasion of someone's personal space?"

The larger man flashed a wolfish grin at the other man as he took in his new Strategic Operations Officer. "Red suits you Commander."

"Thank you, and yes I suppose I did." Peter smiled back, though it was an almost undetectable smile, at least to a non-telepath. "Though I did not suggest reading their private thoughts, but certainly you could get a feel for their likes and dislikes, just by conversing with them? Just as you are now doing with Miss Brooks and myself?"

"And if every telepathic species did this, would you trust them not to invade your personal space? Just because one can, does not mean one should!" the Betazoid instantly regretting his words hearing his mother with every syllable.

"Does not this cause justify the means?" Peter arched an eyebrow at him, "you are in search of a gift yet you cannot outright ask her. Scanning surface thoughts is not an invasion of privacy, you are a trained telepath this is not something you can constantly avoid. Just as much as I cannot avoid surface feelings, or indeed surface thoughts if someone accidentally touches me. I probably do have control you do not possess, but that does not mean it does not happen."

Tia had been out 'patrolling her new beat' as one of her new subordinates called it. He called her the new bobby in town and even though she had an understanding of Human culture some things still threw her. Simply frowning at the man she told him to go away and that she'd be getting used to the promenade.

Whilst doing another lap she couldn't help but overhear the conversation between Commander Horn and the newest flag edition to the world of the fleet. She couldn't help but feel memories flood back as Horn spoke of exactly what her alternate universes Betazoid used to do... but she did remember how they used to be pre-Dominion.

"I always believed that Betazoids trained to keep the thoughts of other species out.." Tia chimed in. "It can be easy to let thoughts slip in, and the desire to break from that tradition must be difficult... but if I remember rightly even reading surface thoughts, no matter how private, is still an invasion of privacy on that individual and against Betazoid culture... of this universe." she had to add that last bit in.

"I am of the belief that surface thoughts cannot always be helped, especially if they contain strong feelings," the Vulcanoid answered calmly, acknowledging the new arrival with a polite nod, "however I did not suggest to actively pry into her private thoughts. That is both unethical and unlawful, but when speaking to her, there is no harm in just sensing what she feels, regarding certain topics."

"I would tend to agree. As an empath myself sensing the feelings of others is natural and can be very helpful in seeing which direction to go but sometimes feeling are deceptive and can lead you down the wrong path." Tia spoke of experience of such as memories of incorrect assumptions based on emotion got the better of her. She broke from this and looked at the gift. "Do they like trinket boxes?" She asked the Commodore. "The craftmanship is acceptable." she commented.

"If you want my opinion, if my step dad read my private thoughts for whatever reason, I would be pissed," Charlie offered. "Even if it was to find a gift and had good intensions. Its bad enough he knows if I'm in a bad mood or not but at least you don't decide to push and ask why. Cause that would get tedious too. What about these?" she picked up some cushions. "Something to help chase the gloomy Cardassian decor away in their quarters."

"I think you are probably right... and lets get the throw as well!" Keiben indicated to the shop assistant, turning away from Horn, trying to push down his distaste at the suggestion from one of his senior officers that a casual telepathic scan, however superficial, would be acceptable.

The shop assistant returned, a paperbag in hand with the wooden carved box, throw and cushions.

"And how about you Lieutenant. How are you finding station life?"

Peter watched the exchange in silence for a moment, before allowing his mind to wander as he started to glance around the store. Perhaps, he mused as his attention to his companions waned, he might find Harley something new and useful, or just simply nice, in the process.

"Uncomfortably stable, sir." Tia replied to Keiben, but she noticed she had a habit of being quite droll. "But I am happy to be here... although sometimes the large crowds on the promenade can be quite overwhelming." she admitted. Large crowds drew attention, and that was the last thing you wanted when the Dominion was looking for you.

"Well, I'm glad I bumped into both of you" he said, starting to wind his way through the crowds once again on the promenade. "I know you have both been thrown in at the deep end, so to speak, so I wanted to check in with both of you... How are you finding the transition Commander, and how are you adjusting Lieutenant?"

"I am...more at ease in this position," peter confessed, "I find myself unable to not think as a security officer, so this does suit me better. Counseling was... unsettling."

"I don't feel as if I've been thrown in, sir. It took a little time to get my bearings again as it has been a long time since I've worked in Security but it is like piloting a ship. You don't forget." Tia smiled at the newly pipped Commodore.

"Although I do agree with Cmdr. Horn. Counselling would be quite uncomfortable if anyone who did not think the way they do were to be placed in it." she added as she brushed her left hand through her long brown hair.

"I am a qualified counselor," Peter reminded her, "but it took actual experience to work as one, to realize that I am not suitable for the position. I have always been tactically trained and minded, and I have realized that while one can take the person out of tactical, one cannot take the tactician out of the person. I did do the best I could while I was chief counselor, I have just realized that I am not a very good one."

"Well, to get your feet wet, I need a meeting with the pair of you, Commander Carter and Lieutenant Verona... We have had some unsettling reports filter in from Starfleet Intel. This is where I need you to jump right in Commander. Make as much sense of these reports as you can... I have a feeling this could lead to some rather unsettling discoveries... We will talk more in the meeting on this as most of the information is classified as need to know only!"

He looked between both of his officers and noticed the look in Charlies eyes, she was going to be a Starfleet Officer and this was something he could already tell from how she performed as Yeoman and her strength of character.

"I look forward to hearing more." Tia interjected. "I will be sure to keep security alert for anything out of the ordinary here on the station."

"I trust I need to know?" Peter asked, arching a single eyebrow at his commanding officer, "how else am I to read these reports?"

“I find coffee and cake helps when reading reports sir,” Charlie stated. She was starting to get bored of this whole shopping trip.

"Does it?" He turned towards the teenage girl. "Howso?"

“Sugar makes the information a little sweeter,” Charlie smiled at him.

Tia turned to the younger girl and smiled at her. "Cake solves a lot of problems." she said simply. "Especially stuffy report reading." she made a funny face at the mention of them.

"I see," Peter mused out loud. "Then I suppose we had better have both while we pore over these reports. As long as there is no lactose or alcohol - or even synthehol - involved..."

"I'm not going to disagree..." Keiben turned to Charlie "But you won't be attending that meeting... Sorry kiddo, Lieutenant and above only!" he patted her on the shoulder knowing she would be disappointed, and he had no reservation in believing she would be hounding him for information!
"Commander, if you could organise the meeting. The three of us, Commander Holt and Lieutenant Commander Carter... lets say tomorrow morning at ten hundred hours".

"Yes sir," Peter answered, then cast Charlie a covert sly look "actually sir, do we not need a note taker, and someone to provide refreshments? Perhaps Miss Brooks can tend to those?"

Charlie did the best she could to not glare at the Vulcanoid who was deliberately putting that idea out there. She slapped the sweetest smile possible on her face instead and stated, "Sure I'll bring another ice cream cake."

Apparently being in her role meant you were good for refreshments. How demeaning!

"I'm almost starting to think that you two are in cahoots... Fine, but this does mean that you will be taking over her pre-academy appointment training Commander!" Kei chuckled as he pitched to the left and into one last store leaving Charlie, Tia and Peter on the Prominade.

"No," Charlie said. "I would prefer to stay with who I started with. I do get a say in some of this stuff. So no .... " She shot off after Keiben not even giving either of them a chance to explore that further. After she had looked out for his son too.

END

 

RSS Feed