Mastering Memories

Posted on Mon Feb 8th, 2010 @ 2:18pm by Lieutenant JG Hannah Andeti & Commander Earlond

Mission: Episode 1.1 - "Now Boarding"
Location: The Orient Express, USS Pandora
Timeline: MD 03, 1900

Hannah was early to the lounge, but she'd had an early dinner and had found her way there immediately after. She always enjoyed watching other people at leisure, relaxing and unwinding with friends, even if she was alone herself. PaDD in hand she slipped into a table near the window and glanced around. Almost at once a server came over to her and she ordered her drink, before returning to the casual work she had brought along. It had been a long while since she'd had a free moment to work on her music and now was as good a time as any.

The drink arrived and the counselor sipped it, enjoying the babble of voices around her that seemed to mix and mingle with the music in her mind. The synthahol was remarkably good, actually, and she was even more impressed with the new ship. She could learn to live with luxury like this.

"Counselor Andeti?"

Hannah looked up and took in the thin figure before her. A Trill with a remarkably charming smile that only quirked further as they made eye contact. If she were five years younger . . .

"Yes?"

The man's smile widened and he offered her his hand. "Ensign Myrin Nezar, m'am, your new assistant counselor."

The counselor grinned and the PaDD made a clunk as she dropped it to the table, grasping his hand and motioning to the chair opposite. "I didn't expect you until tomorrow." She was actually very grateful for the man's arrival. She might have been able to handle the mental health of a ship like the Tethys, but the Pandora was significantly larger and his help would be very much appreciated.

"Couldn't wait to get on board, m'am." He dropped himself unceremoniously into the chair.

She eyed him carefully and raised a hand to summon the waiter over to them. "Please, Myrin, I'm Hannah." She offered a half-smile of her own. "And you're Myrin, unless you really annoy me."

The man had a full laugh and he threw it around the room now. "Glad to hear it, m'am." The corner of his mouth twitched upwards. "Hannah." Myrin's drink arrived and he sipped it with relish.

"So tell me about yourself." Hannah queried with a drink from her own glass.

"Trying to get inside my head already?" He countered from over the top of his glass and they laughed together.

"Alright then, how about something simple: are you joined?"

Most people weren't that direct about it and he appreciated her ability to be comfortable with the worm in his belly. Maybe this would go better than his previous assignment had done. He nodded. "Yes, but I've just had two previous hosts, Elina and Nali."

Her expression told him at once that she knew enough about Trill names to know that he was the first male host. "Well that's psychologically intriguing." Hannah grinned to show him that it was a joke and he threw his head back and laughed again.

At that moment, Earlond walked up to the table. "Good evening," he said.

Hannah stood and introduced Myrin and the commander, watching as the two men grasped palms.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." The young man said, obviously not having expected to run into the executive officer. Andeti almost laughed at the way he tried to force himself to look eager and efficient. Had she ever been that eager to please? It was nice to have the help, but this man was making her feel old.

"I wish I could say the same," Earlond said. Why did they say that when they didn't know if they meant it yet? "Calm yourself, Ensign. I'm just here to meet Lieutenant Andeti."

Ensign Nezar glanced between them, looking uncertain about what he should do until he turned to the commander. "Would you care to join-"

Hannah didn't let him finish. "I'll see you tomorrow, 0700, Myrin."

He looked at her for only a moment before scooping up his glass. "Got it." He flashed his half-smile at her and nodded, then glanced at the commander. "It was nice to meet you, sir."

The counselor watched the young man disappear towards another table where he apparently already knew some of the crew before turning to the commander. "Evening, sir. Glad you could make it."

"I wasn't aware my ability to be here was in question," Earlond remarked, sitting across from her. He watched Myrin move across the room. "Exciteable fellow, isn't he?"

Hannah chuckled, watching the young man as he sat down. "I'm sure he'll calm down after a few days." Seeming to feel her eyes on him, Myrin turned and offered an exaggerated wink from across the room, making her laugh. Amusing as she found him, maybe it hadn't been the right move to take their association out of a professional sphere. Then, noticing the Commander's eyes on him too, he flushed and turned resolutely to his new companions. Hannah laughed again. "But he certainly is young."

"Young is a relative term," Earlond pointed out. "Even for us."

The counselor sipped her drink. "So how are you settling in, sir?"

"As well as can be expected," Earlond replied. "My office chair was far too comfortable; I'm still trying to get it replaced."

"Only one complaint? I'd say that's distinctly better than expected." Hannah grinned. "Would you like a drink, sir?"

"I'm fine, thanks," Earlond said. "And I already took care of the rest of all my problems."

"Alright." The counselor paused, pondering whether or not to jump right in. "Alright, I guess we should get started then." She pushed her glass and PaDD to one side, as though worried that she might accidentally knock them over.

Earlond watched her closely. "Are you sure you're ready?" he asked.

Andeti cocked an eyebrow at him. "I believe so, sir. I've had a productive day, but not an exhausting one." She paused before asking. "What makes you think I'm not?"

"Did I say I thought you weren't ready?" Earlond asked.

"No, but you didn't sound exactly confident." She provided a small smile. "Alright then, I'm ready if you are."

"Really?" Earlond asked, raising his own eyebrow. "As ready as, say, Tyros?"

Hannah's smiled faded away as the woman's image came up before her again. It was easier this time to hold onto the less painful image and she focused on it, concentration and attention solely trained on blocking out the other memories. She was vaguely aware that her breath had become steady and rhythmic. After several long minutes she managed to fight it off and she opened her eyes. She hadn't even been aware that she had closed them, but a triumphant smile lit her face. "Who knew a little rest could be so useful?" She asked rhetorically.

"Apparently not useful enough," Earlond said sternly. "Why did you stop smiling?"

"As successful as I was at avoiding the unpleasant memories this time it still isn't exactly fun," Hannah explained, but the corner of her lip twitched in a smile. "Should I have kept smiling?"

"If you can't keep a smile, then you are hardly blocking the memory, are you?" Earlond asked pointedly. "Why were you even thinking about Tyros at all?"

Hannah was beginning to understand. "You're right, of course. I was avoiding the particularly painful memory, but the point is to avoid any memory of the subject." She eyed the commander, wondering once again at his remarkable mental abilities. "Do you have any suggestions, sir, about how to do that or should we just try again?"

"It would seem the logical choice to continue," Earlond said. "But I warn you, my patience won't last forever. This time, don't think about anything."

The counselor nodded and sat in silence, focusing on her breathing and the stillness that had settled between them. A wave of anxiety and discomfort came over her but she focused hard on the present, on herself and blanked her mind to the oncoming stab of memory. The image of Earlond, a grinning happy Earlond, swam in front of her but she focused resolutely on nothing and let her mind blank. She could hear each breath as though there were an infinite universe in each one but was equally aware of a cold sweat that had come over her face and palms. Without realizing it she clasped her hands together on the table top and focused on the steady inhale and exhale.


Andeti opened her eyes, completely at a loss as to where she was. She was lying down and it was comfortable, very comfortable but she sat up.


She had succumbed for only a few seconds before successfully blocking the oncoming memory out, but it was still there and each breath was not as even, nor as steady as she would have liked. The memory seemed to intensify and Hannah felt her eyes roll beneath her closed lids.


The room was brightly lit and Hannah could feel the sunlight warming her skin from the window. Then she remembered and settled back into a smile as Earlond rolled over in the bed next to her.

"Morning," she said and her voice was still heavy with sleep.

"Good morning," Earlond said, sounding fully awake as usual.

Hannah smiled softly and leaned down to kiss him but stopped. This was wrong, this was all wrong. Still feeling the warmth of the sun on her neck and shoulders she forced her breath to become steady and her eyes to close, focusing on nothing, as Earlond had instructed. Part of her mind was still trying to shuffle through why she wasn't letting herself kiss him but the larger part of her mind forced it into silence.

She didn't notice when the memory had disappeared, focused as she was on the stillness and darkness of nothing. She was aware that her heart-rate was decreasing and her hands weren't feeling quite as clammy as they had a moment ago, but somehow none of that mattered much in her lack of conscious thought.

A sudden splash of water startled Hannah. She opened her eyes and cocked an eyebrow at Earlond, even as she sputtered and looked around for something to clear off her face. She had to suppress a laugh, but was aware that she was smiling. "You couldn't think of a more appropriate way to get my attention?"

"It sufficiently got your attention," Earlond replied, handing her a napkin. "Now, what did you remember?"

Andeti toweled off her face and threw a mocking glare towards Earlond, allowing herself only a small laugh. She had to hand it to him, he did keep things interesting. "It was another memory from the alternate universe. You and I were in bed together," she said it very quickly, assuming that, like removing a bandaid, it would be less uncomfortable that way. Nevertheless she felt herself going pink. "But it was only a moment. I managed to remember if not who I am, then . . . well, that that wasn't reality and managed to fight it off," she explained.

"So you fought it directly," Earlond asked, frowning.

Hannah shook her head at once. "I wouldn't say it was direct," she began. "I focused on nothing, as you instructed, and it faded away."

Earlond grew thoughtful. "Perhaps we should retire to a quieter place," he suggested.

The counselor looked at her drink, realizing then that it was what was covering her face. She nodded. "Alright. Where would you suggest, sir?"

"My office should suffice," Earlond said. "Though if you'd like to clean up, you can do that first."

"That's probably a good idea." She laughed, her skin was beginning to feel sticky where the synthahol was drying. She stood up. "Meet there in twenty minutes?"

"Very well," Earlond said, standing. "I would not suggest being late."

She nodded, but with a half-smile, reaching to retrieve her PaDD. "See you in twenty, then." With a small nod to Mr. Nezar, Hannah strode from the lounge.

Earlond watched her go. He wasn't looking forward to the next part, but the sooner they got it over with, the better. At least Hannah didn't have to deal with the people who had taught Earlond these techniques.

OFF

by

Commander Earlond
Executive Officer
USS Pandora

Lieutenant JG Hannah Andeti
Chief Counselor
USS Pandora

and

Ensign Myrin Nezar (NPC)
Assistant Counselor
USS Pandora
(played by: Lt. JG Andeti)