04-10-2024, 07:08 AM
== Warning, I apologize in advance for the long post...==
Alex listened intently and attentively to Jez. He did take a small slice of the papaya and nibbled a little as she spoke. He gave a nod or two as she spoke, obviously maintaining his undivided attention to what she was saying, never once stopping her or giving any indication of displeasure to anything she was offering up about herself and her family. He was well practiced in polite conversations, though he would confess that he was no diplomat.
When she was finished, he began, "Well, thank you for sharing all of that with me. I know how some people can feel uncomfortable speaking about such things. Having grown up with Betazoid parents, I can certainly relate to much of what you spoke of. I'm glad to hear that you were given instruction from a young age, as that certainly helps, but I have concerns. Please, let me be clear, I mean this with the best intentions and intend no offense, but I'm worried about what I would best describe as possible misconceptions that you might have. In complete fairness to you, these details are often simply small gaps in training and unfortunately Star Fleet has no official means of rendering any assistance in this area other than sending people to a Counselor that is educated in mentoring people like us with specific gifts. Even then, there are far too few of those and far to many of us."
He gave another small sigh at his own frustrating lack of words, but then said, "How to begin? As an experienced officer, I feel a certain obligation to help junior officers when I see some evidence that they would benefit from some kind of mentoring or at the very least, a voice to perhaps nudge them in a direction that will help them avoid trouble in their future. You seem to be a very good officer and your record indicates you likely have a very bright future ahead of you. With Commander Kurasa as your role model, I look forward to following your career as you move up the ladder. It's because I see such potential in you that I wanted to take this moment to have an unofficial conversation about this, because it is far too often overlooked for people like us."
He ld up a finger, "For example, Klingons and Ferengi are minds that you can't read or link to, no matter how good you are. In spite of what you might have been told, their brains are not wired the same and they are incapable of it. It's a little something I learned when studying brain wave patterns for neural transmitters in some of my research. It isn't a lack of our abilities, it is a lack of the right kind of anatomy on their part. By the way, I don't suggest saying that to a Klingon, as they don't like hearing that they lack anything. However, you bring up a very strong point, that it doesn't take an empath or telepath to pick up on strong emotions or intent. As a Security Officer, you're trained to watch body language and look for all of the many small non-verbal clues that reveal what an individual might be thinking and intending, or perhaps if they're lying. Anyone can learn those skills and put them to good use. When combined with certain gifts, many people can be read like a book without even trying hard. It is a bit like saying that you don't have to use an active sensor sweep if you have really good passive sensors and know what to look for."
Taking another sip of water, he continued, "Vulcans require touch to mind meld for their more limited form of telepathy. It is also very dangerous in that it tends to be a very strong connection that goes both ways and allows the potential to give both people complete access to the other's thoughts and memories. Frankly, I find the idea frightening to even contemplate, but it does explain why Vulcans aren't eager to employ it, nor do they like discussing it much. Vulcans hate people knowing they have a lack of control over anything, especially their own minds, so that's another minefield I wouldn't recommend bringing up in casual conversation. The idea that your father could mind meld with an object that has no mind to meld with...that...I can't even really address that in a way that sounds intelligent, I'm sorry. I can't speak to whatever else he is able to deduce from objects, but it isn't telepathic, nor is it empathic. If there is a clairvoyant aspect to your father that is unique to him, then I am certain that Star Fleet would be very interested to discuss it with him, but it isn't an ability that is typical in either of our cultures. I'm not saying I have never heard of it, but the kind of thing you're describing is quite unusual and very rare. I have known one person that might know more about that, but that is perhaps another topic for another time."
He leaned forward and grinned, "I'm sorry, I can get carried away. I just realized I was carrying on with what my wife would have called the long answer. You didn't come here for me to give you a long lecture on all of this, so I'll try to get to my point and why I'm worried for you. What I'm going on about is that I noticed something on the Bridge. It was subtle, but like most people, there were what are called tells. Although I was not picking up the specifics of your telepathic efforts, I did register broadcasts of emotions that coincided with looks, facial expressions and gestures that to any trained eye would have indicated that you were using such abilities, not only on the Bridge, among non-users, but in the presence of your Commanding Officer, who is also a non-telepath. Not only is that considered quite rude, but can and has caused all sorts of problems in any number of situations."
"The thing is, those who don't have our gifts tend to be VERY uncomfortable around those of us who have them. If they think we're using them around them, many presume we're using them ON them. Yes, there are many who have no issue at all with it, but all it takes is the one person who thinks you're crossing some line with them and it suddenly can turn into an issue on a ship about trust and privacy that spirals out of control faster than a warp core losing containment. I can't stress to you strongly enough that you need to be more careful. If you're good, and I mean very good, you can hide your use of it and avoid anyone noticing, but it takes practice. Having grown up around humans most of my life, I learned the hard way. believe me, you need to learn to play poker if you want to use gifts around others. Unfortunately, you yourself have said how much you didn't grow up around such people. That isn't your fault, but it creates a complacency that could be very dangerous. I will also tell you that using your gifts with even a willing non-telepath can open you up to problems, so avoid it more than you would drawing your phaser on someone, because you're not talking about facts, you're dealing with perceptions and paranoia. There are entire star systems that forbid our kind from being there, simply because they don't trust us not to use our gifts around them. Imagine how easy it would be to start an interstellar incident if such a person were in the room and you didn't know it until it was too late."
Setting down his water, he looked her in the eye, "Our abilities can also be dangerous in ways you can't imagine. A friend of mine, who is a very strong telepath, was used by an alien entity, because of how strong she was. They detected her making contact with the ship telepathically and then used her to destroy every person on that planet except our team, just because they could. I was on that mission and it nearly killed her in the process."
He looked down, embarrassed, "Forgive me, that was perhaps a bit out of line. I can be passionate when it comes to my friends and family." His had absently went to the small scar on his temple and ran his finger across it before he looked back at Jez and his expression, which had become more serious, once more softened and his grin returned, "Listen, I know what it can mean to make mistakes and as mistakes go, yours was pretty small. Sadly, sometimes even the smallest mistake can cost lives and I have made my share of those too. We're now part of a crew and as a crew, we have to take care of each other. I didn't sit down in this chair to talk to you as Commander Talion. I am a guy who saw something in a crewmate that I shouldn't have seen and it scared me, it scared me for you. If I saw it, then others can see it. Please, think long and hard about what I said." He chuckled, "I know there was a lot there, but try not to hold it against me. I haven't had anyone around to tell me to give the short answer for a few years now."
He looked at Shione and said, "Me without adult supervision, sounds pretty scary, right?"
== Tag Shione and Jez...not sure if anyone else is joining us...sorry for the long post. ==
Alex listened intently and attentively to Jez. He did take a small slice of the papaya and nibbled a little as she spoke. He gave a nod or two as she spoke, obviously maintaining his undivided attention to what she was saying, never once stopping her or giving any indication of displeasure to anything she was offering up about herself and her family. He was well practiced in polite conversations, though he would confess that he was no diplomat.
When she was finished, he began, "Well, thank you for sharing all of that with me. I know how some people can feel uncomfortable speaking about such things. Having grown up with Betazoid parents, I can certainly relate to much of what you spoke of. I'm glad to hear that you were given instruction from a young age, as that certainly helps, but I have concerns. Please, let me be clear, I mean this with the best intentions and intend no offense, but I'm worried about what I would best describe as possible misconceptions that you might have. In complete fairness to you, these details are often simply small gaps in training and unfortunately Star Fleet has no official means of rendering any assistance in this area other than sending people to a Counselor that is educated in mentoring people like us with specific gifts. Even then, there are far too few of those and far to many of us."
He gave another small sigh at his own frustrating lack of words, but then said, "How to begin? As an experienced officer, I feel a certain obligation to help junior officers when I see some evidence that they would benefit from some kind of mentoring or at the very least, a voice to perhaps nudge them in a direction that will help them avoid trouble in their future. You seem to be a very good officer and your record indicates you likely have a very bright future ahead of you. With Commander Kurasa as your role model, I look forward to following your career as you move up the ladder. It's because I see such potential in you that I wanted to take this moment to have an unofficial conversation about this, because it is far too often overlooked for people like us."
He ld up a finger, "For example, Klingons and Ferengi are minds that you can't read or link to, no matter how good you are. In spite of what you might have been told, their brains are not wired the same and they are incapable of it. It's a little something I learned when studying brain wave patterns for neural transmitters in some of my research. It isn't a lack of our abilities, it is a lack of the right kind of anatomy on their part. By the way, I don't suggest saying that to a Klingon, as they don't like hearing that they lack anything. However, you bring up a very strong point, that it doesn't take an empath or telepath to pick up on strong emotions or intent. As a Security Officer, you're trained to watch body language and look for all of the many small non-verbal clues that reveal what an individual might be thinking and intending, or perhaps if they're lying. Anyone can learn those skills and put them to good use. When combined with certain gifts, many people can be read like a book without even trying hard. It is a bit like saying that you don't have to use an active sensor sweep if you have really good passive sensors and know what to look for."
Taking another sip of water, he continued, "Vulcans require touch to mind meld for their more limited form of telepathy. It is also very dangerous in that it tends to be a very strong connection that goes both ways and allows the potential to give both people complete access to the other's thoughts and memories. Frankly, I find the idea frightening to even contemplate, but it does explain why Vulcans aren't eager to employ it, nor do they like discussing it much. Vulcans hate people knowing they have a lack of control over anything, especially their own minds, so that's another minefield I wouldn't recommend bringing up in casual conversation. The idea that your father could mind meld with an object that has no mind to meld with...that...I can't even really address that in a way that sounds intelligent, I'm sorry. I can't speak to whatever else he is able to deduce from objects, but it isn't telepathic, nor is it empathic. If there is a clairvoyant aspect to your father that is unique to him, then I am certain that Star Fleet would be very interested to discuss it with him, but it isn't an ability that is typical in either of our cultures. I'm not saying I have never heard of it, but the kind of thing you're describing is quite unusual and very rare. I have known one person that might know more about that, but that is perhaps another topic for another time."
He leaned forward and grinned, "I'm sorry, I can get carried away. I just realized I was carrying on with what my wife would have called the long answer. You didn't come here for me to give you a long lecture on all of this, so I'll try to get to my point and why I'm worried for you. What I'm going on about is that I noticed something on the Bridge. It was subtle, but like most people, there were what are called tells. Although I was not picking up the specifics of your telepathic efforts, I did register broadcasts of emotions that coincided with looks, facial expressions and gestures that to any trained eye would have indicated that you were using such abilities, not only on the Bridge, among non-users, but in the presence of your Commanding Officer, who is also a non-telepath. Not only is that considered quite rude, but can and has caused all sorts of problems in any number of situations."
"The thing is, those who don't have our gifts tend to be VERY uncomfortable around those of us who have them. If they think we're using them around them, many presume we're using them ON them. Yes, there are many who have no issue at all with it, but all it takes is the one person who thinks you're crossing some line with them and it suddenly can turn into an issue on a ship about trust and privacy that spirals out of control faster than a warp core losing containment. I can't stress to you strongly enough that you need to be more careful. If you're good, and I mean very good, you can hide your use of it and avoid anyone noticing, but it takes practice. Having grown up around humans most of my life, I learned the hard way. believe me, you need to learn to play poker if you want to use gifts around others. Unfortunately, you yourself have said how much you didn't grow up around such people. That isn't your fault, but it creates a complacency that could be very dangerous. I will also tell you that using your gifts with even a willing non-telepath can open you up to problems, so avoid it more than you would drawing your phaser on someone, because you're not talking about facts, you're dealing with perceptions and paranoia. There are entire star systems that forbid our kind from being there, simply because they don't trust us not to use our gifts around them. Imagine how easy it would be to start an interstellar incident if such a person were in the room and you didn't know it until it was too late."
Setting down his water, he looked her in the eye, "Our abilities can also be dangerous in ways you can't imagine. A friend of mine, who is a very strong telepath, was used by an alien entity, because of how strong she was. They detected her making contact with the ship telepathically and then used her to destroy every person on that planet except our team, just because they could. I was on that mission and it nearly killed her in the process."
He looked down, embarrassed, "Forgive me, that was perhaps a bit out of line. I can be passionate when it comes to my friends and family." His had absently went to the small scar on his temple and ran his finger across it before he looked back at Jez and his expression, which had become more serious, once more softened and his grin returned, "Listen, I know what it can mean to make mistakes and as mistakes go, yours was pretty small. Sadly, sometimes even the smallest mistake can cost lives and I have made my share of those too. We're now part of a crew and as a crew, we have to take care of each other. I didn't sit down in this chair to talk to you as Commander Talion. I am a guy who saw something in a crewmate that I shouldn't have seen and it scared me, it scared me for you. If I saw it, then others can see it. Please, think long and hard about what I said." He chuckled, "I know there was a lot there, but try not to hold it against me. I haven't had anyone around to tell me to give the short answer for a few years now."
He looked at Shione and said, "Me without adult supervision, sounds pretty scary, right?"
== Tag Shione and Jez...not sure if anyone else is joining us...sorry for the long post. ==