A Trip to the Counselor

Posted on Fri Mar 5th, 2010 @ 10:34am by Commander Earlond & Lieutenant JG Hannah Andeti

Mission: Episode 1.2 - "A House Divided"
Location: Counselor's Office
Timeline: MD01 1130

Andeti had just let Myrin go for lunch and was turning to the replicator to order some of her own when the chime rang and she turned with a slight scowl. As relaxed as she tended to be, she was pretty neurotic about getting her regular meal times and hesitated for only a moment before calling "Come in."

Drake Lexon (NPC) walked into the room and looked around. "Oh," he said, recognizing Andeti. "So that's why she told me to come here..."

Hannah stepped towards him, she recognized the man, but couldn't put a name to the face. "I'm sorry, I know we've met but . . ." she shook her head and laughed lightly. "I don't seem to remember where."

"You were having a drink with Commander Earlond, I believe," Drake replied. "It was a while ago..." He stepped back towards the door. "But you look busy, so I shouldn't take up your time."

"Oh," It took Hannah a moment to remember and when she did she shook her head and smiled. "No, please sit down. I was just getting myself a coffee, would you like something?"

"No, thank you," Drake replied, sitting down in the chair.

Hannah came over to her chair and sat, mug in hand. "I'm sorry, but you'll have to remind me what your name is," she coloured a little as she continued. "Please don't take it personally, my memory is not . . . great."

"I'm Drake Lexon," Drake replied. "Lieutenant, Shuttle Pilot. And you're Lieutenant Andeti."

"Yes I am." She smiled, impressed and took the introductory sip of coffee. "Was there something you needed?"

"Well, I'm new on board, and I guess I'm supposed to have a psych eval..." Drake said slowly.

Andeti chuckled. "Actually, I don't really insist on that," she commented, as their previous encounter slowly came back to her. "It's kind of difficult to get the inside-out of someone in one sit down," she continued. "Was there something in particular you wanted to discuss?"

"You may have noticed my...ability last time we met," Drake said. "I apparently seem to be answering people's thoughts, rather than what they say. Ensign Moretti suggested I come here."

"Well, that's . . . very interesting." She couldn't help but wonder if he would have been better going to Earlond about this. Then again based on how he'd reacted to Drake last time maybe that wouldn't have been such a good idea. "I take it the ability is getting stronger, if you're just looking for help now?"

Drake shrugged. "I don't know," he said. "If you really think you should involve Earlond. I'll try not to get him angry again."

Hannah blinked at him, but then laughed. She did not see Earlond responding well to Drake's presence here, let alone her referring him as a mental trainer. Training her was one thing but somehow she didn't think what little there was to his good nature would stretch that far. "No, I don't think that will be necessary." She smiled. "And I can see how this would be a problem. Have you had any experience blocking this ability out?"

"Not much," Drake said, eying her. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize. Are you and Earlond...?"

"What?" Hannah felt herself begin to flush and laughed. "No, no, no. We're not . . . no." She took a long drink of her coffee, willing her colour to go down. First Myrin and now Drake . . . "But we were talking about you. Why this sudden desire to 'deal' with your particular ability?"

"Who's Myrin?" Drake asked without thinking, then shook his head. "Sorry. It just seems to be causing more trouble than it's worth."

"I can imagine." She laughed. "Actually, I can do more than imagine." She took a moment to focus on nothing and when she felt her mental state calm she continued, hoping that would help him, at least slightly. "Most people who have your particular ability do manage to develop certain blocks without being trained in it, but if you'd like some help I'm sure I could teach you a few things."

"Like the commander is teaching you?" Drake asked. "Maybe I should just go to him, if you don't have much time..."

She frowned, disappointed that her own skills were not yet up to par. "He does have more experience than I do." The corner of her lips twitched upwards. "If you don't think he'll kill you, maybe he would be better."

"I didn't mean to imply you were not adequate in your skills," Drake hurried to say. "In fact, I thought you might have some connections with people that could help me."

"I've got to ask, Drake, is it that you are unable to differentiate between thought and vocalization or is it that you've gotten into the habit of responding to the mental?"

"I just reply to what I hear," Drake answered with a shrug. "Sometimes, it's mental, sometimes it's vocalized."

"That's certainly unusual. Do you find that other peoples' mental blocks tend to keep you out?" She asked, vaguely remembering him saying some vastly inappropriate things to Earlond . . . on second thought, maybe he wouldn't be the right person for him to go to.

"I'm sure Earlond wouldn't mind me visiting," Drake said easily. "But I don't think I've encountered many mental blocks."

"Well you seemed to break through his pretty efficiently and that's no small feat," she laughed.

"You don't have anyone else you know that can help?" Drake asked. Despite his earlier nonchalance with Earlond, the idea somehow didn't look so good anymore.

"The ship isn't exactly brimming with trained telepaths," she said with a smile. "So I think you're choice is going to be either myself or . . . risking Earlond's wrath."

"Perhaps we could start with you?" suggested Drake. He wasn't exactly anxious to meet Earlond just yet.

Hannah chuckled and nodded. "That sounds like a good idea." She didn't need to have his ability to tell that he wasn't eager for another encounter with the Commander. "You said you haven't had much experience with blocking. Why don't you tell me about what you have had?"

"Well, when I was on the Tigris, the counselor there knew someone who was going to help me," Drake replied. "But we didn't get into too much before I...was transferred."

"I see." The counselor thought for a moment. "Would you mind if I contacted them about this? That way I can get an of your history before we get started."

"Well...if you really think it would help," Drake said. "I mean, I didn't do much with them..."

"It sounds like you knew the counselor on the Tigris fairly well and I've never dealt with a human with these sorts of abilities before so I could use some input." Hannah looked at him. "Is there some reason I shouldn't contact them?"

"No, no reason," Drake said, only a hair too quickly.

The counselor spoke as though she hadn't noticed. "If you'd like to come back for another appointment in a couple of days, I think that should give me plenty of time to speak with them."

"Well, if you really want to..." Drake said quietly.

"Does the counselor in question have a name?"

"Rayne," Drake said reluctantly. "Lieutenant Rayne Tiger."

The counselor eyed the man for a moment. "If you're not comfortable with my contacting her, it's not absolutely necessary, Mr. Lexon. I don't have your particular ability," which wasn't 100% true, but now was not the time to split hairs. "You'll have to tell me if you'd rather I didn't."

Drake sighed. "I suppose it's better if you do contact her," he said. "What is your ability, then?"

"Well I am a telepath," she said, simply. "But I keep up enough blocks so I don't usually pick up much. Vague emotions sometimes."

"Is that why you're training with Earlond?" Drake asked. "Or is it just because -"

"That is a long story," she responded, consciously not thinking about anything related to her recent training. Her coffee cup was still warm and she focused on that and the delicious contents. "But what the commander and I do together is . . . more extreme than what you should need for basic telepathy."

"Extreme?" Drake asked, perking up. Then he frowned slightly. "Why do you like that drink, anyway?"

She smiled and looked down into her cup. "I didn't at first. But the more you try it the more . . . depth there is to it and once you get past the strong flavour it's actually kind of comforting. Like wine, I guess." She said with a smile, realizing with a stab that she could just as easily be describing the Commander. She felt her cheeks warm and focused hard on the coffee again. "Was there anything else you needed some help with?" She smiled a little. "Not that you haven't offered me enough of a challenge."

"I don't think I could ever describe the commander as 'comforting'," Drake said. Then, he noticed Andeti's reaction. "Oh...was that not what you said? I'm sorry."

"It's alright." Andeti swallowed and tried to calm her mind again, this time focusing on the picture of Fred Astaire she had on the opposite wall, she still wasn't sure it belonged there. "I have a feeling I'll have to get used to it." She smiled. "And I hope that you're not as gossipy as my assistant."

"Don't worry," Drake said with a smile. "Your secret is safe with me."

The counselor shifted slightly, but nodded. "Thanks." She didn't like the idea of anyone knowing about her feelings for the Commander, but at least he seemed to respect her situation. It was probably something he had a great deal of experience with, after all. "If you don't mind, Mr. Lexon, I'd like to get some lunch before my assistant shuffles back in here . . ." she trailed off, but stood.

"Of course," Drake said, also standing. "Thank you for your time." Turning, he headed for the door.

"One last thing, if you don't mind," the counselor called after him. "More a point of . . . curiosity. Is your ability mainly telepathic, picking up other people's thoughts alone, or are you also empathic?"

Drake turned back. "So far, I've only ever picked up on lines of thought," he said. "Well....I did get pictures once..."

"Interesting," she commented and her bottom lip disappeared as she considered this. From her experience empathy had been the lesser form of telepathy and almost always existed in tangent with the telepathic ability. She blinked and looked at him, realizing that she had disappeared into her own thoughts. "I'll see what Ms Tiger has to say and see you in a few days." She smiled.

"Thank you, ma'am," Drake said, turning again and continuing out the door.

Hannah watched Drake leave, mind still on his particular dilemma. She would probably start him off with some of the basic blocking she had learned to do over the years, but his telepathy was certainly unique and she wasn't 100% certain that it would work for him. Well, she would have to contact Rayne and see what she had to say on the matter.

[OFF]

by

Lieutenant Drake Lexon
Shuttle/Runabout Pilot
USS Pandora
(played by Commander Earlond)

and

Lieutenant JG. Hannah Andeti
Chief Counselor
USS Pandora