<USS Avalon> Hypothetically Speaking

HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING
 
by Major Adrian Jackson Phillips and Lt. Jr. Grade T'Leara
 
The ship wasn't nearly as busy at this point of the day, but that didn't mind 
Adrian as he strolled into the science lab. He needed to get information, and 
if anything, ideas as to what he was up against. Who else to ask about 
biological anything except for science huh? He said to himself as he scanned 
the lab, looking to see who was available.
 
T'Leara entered science, heading straight to supply. Syringes, beakers, and at 
least one more burner would be needed if she was going to do this right. 
 
"Ah, Ms. T'Leara, do you have a moment?" Adrian's voice flowed out as he 
spotted a familiar face, at least more familiar then the others. He needed 
information, and a Vulcan seemed like a knowledgeable voice. 
 
T'Leara recognized the voice at once. She continued gathering her supplies 
without turning around, but answered pleasantly enough for a Vulcan, "Indeed, 
Mister Phillips. How may I help you?" 
 
He paused for a moment while she gathered her things. I can understand someone 
who's still workin' at it while they're answering questions. "Have you heard of 
our current assignment?" 
 
Blanching slightly, T'Leara gave a curt nod. "I have." Turning then, her arms 
well over-filled, she made for the exit, hoping to avoid this particular 
discussion. 
 
Adrian followed her, not quite giving up just yet. Her response and tone said 
something... just wait he didn't know. "I don't a whole lot about Vega Prime, 
but I do know that they are in the business of biological weapons. That's a 
pretty wide range of options for what we are dealing with." He left it there, 
hoping the Vulcan would catch on to his lead. 
 
T'Leara considered his comments carefully. She knew she shouldn't be saying 
anything. The information was classified. Revealing any of it at all could get 
her court-martialed again, or worse. However, her silence could get this man 
and his entire team killed, as well as the "weapons" they hunted. Was there 
perhaps a way to tell him something without actually saying it? She wasn't 
sure. Prevarication, even of the minor sort, had never been her forte. 
 
Did she really have a choice, though, whether or not to try?
 
At long last she responded, very quietly, "If you will accompany me to my lab, 
I would be willing to enter into a hypothetical discussion regarding such 
matters." 
 
"A hypothetical discussion? ...Sure?" He nodded in a fair bit and then followed 
her... Hypothetical? Ok... 
 
She entered her lab and quickly deposited the collected items in their 
appropriate places. She checked on the currently running experiments, made a 
few notes and considered carefully how best to proceed. In truth, she had no 
idea how to go about telling him what needed to be told without coming right 
out. 
 
"What precisely have you been told thus far," she began at long last.
 
The wall was cool as Adrian leaned against while she finished up what she was 
doing. "I was told, well nothing honestly." He said after a thought. "Were 
going to find this stolen weapon and either try to save it or destroy it. It's 
from Vega Prime, so it's something biological." 
 
Another moment paused before hand. "Whatever it is destroyed the Resurgence. 
That means it's got lots of potential to destroy all of us. I know your a plant 
person, but I'm just looking for ideas as to what this thing could be." 
 
T'Leara looked at him sternly. "Whatever it was, no doubt was frightened. I 
have no doubt that the destruction of the Resurgence was not her intent." 
 
Wha... Adrian stared at her for a moment, studying what she said. "No doubt it 
was frightened, or should I say, she was frightened? I'm not dumb ma'am, but 
your new onboard and we've now gotten this assignment. What's up?" We'll try 
this one, though it looks like she's got something up. 
 
T'Leara refused to be insulted by the implication that she was somehow 
responsible for their mission. She would always be mistrusted, she knew that, 
and had no choice but to accept it. Still, she clarified, "I am not the reason 
the Avalon received this mission. 
 
However, I may have some more intimate knowledge than others as to the nature 
of the weapons. I cannot give you specific answers, due to the classified 
nature of the Vega Prime Research. However, as I stated before, were we 
speaking hypothetically, I may be of some minor assistance to you." 
 
He stared at her again, this time for a bit longer. The cool wall had gotten a 
little warmer, but he didn't move. "Look, I'm not saying anything along those 
lines, cause obviously the other ship was sent first. But clearly, like you've 
said before, you know something about what were facing." He paused again before 
continuing. "I know it's most likely classified, but I'm dealing with the lives 
of my marines, not to mention the lives of this entire ship. I'm not spilling 
any beans about you telling me whats up, but it's the only way I see for us to 
get this accomplished. No one will know what you tell me, cause I'll present 
this information to my men in a completely different way." He tried again, 
hoping to avoid this mind game.
 
"Do you believe that all things living...all self aware and sentient 
beings....have souls, Mister Phillips?" T'Leara asked, her voice tinged with a 
sadness she could never have explained.
 
A long pause as Adrian thought of the question, and the pain he felt from her. 
"Yes." 
 
"I agree. Unfortunately, those who would create weapons of this sort do not. 
They call them "Tibon". - "soulless ones". This makes creating them, and 
destroying them, acceptable to them. They are not truly living beings. Only 
prototypes." The sadness seemed to inch toward anger as she finished speaking, 
though her outward appearance of Vulcan stoicism remained intact. 
 
"So... they're like people then?" He asked, trying to get a better 
understanding. "What is it that they do exactly?"
 
"Each is different, based upon the unique xenobiological blend and how far 
they've been "de-evolved" by the scientists in question after exiting the 
womb." she answered honestly. "all are telepathic, capable of immense personal 
shielding. After that point, however, their abilities are quite varied."
 
She thought a moment, knowing full well which had mostly likely escaped, since 
they were, in fact, the only viable Tibon birthed thus far. "You could find one 
capable of pushing you, mentally, to a thought or action not your own, though 
it might seem completely reasonable to you at the time. You could find one 
capable of simply baring her fangs and letting the blood drain from your pores 
without ever being in your line of sight. It is possible you could find one 
capable of altering your emotional state at a whim. Or opening a wormhole to 
another, more or less desirable location, simply by choosing to do so. One 
could, drive you mad with a glance. Or melt the flesh from your bones, or 
possibly even cause you to explode, as a result of her fear." She looked him in 
the eye. "These are the possibilities you could face." 
 
She drew a breath. "These same beings can cast a shade of themselves to take 
food to an abandoned infant, left to die within the bowels of the lab by their 
frightened creators. Or stop the flow of blood from a wound that should have 
bled out within mere moments, giving one another chance at life. Or heal a 
wound, taking the injury into themselves and experiencing your pain so that you 
might live." She shook her head. "These are not weapons, Mister Phillips, they 
are children, though none will ever see them as such." 
 
The last bit of words echoed through the lab as they were absorbed by Adrian 
and his surroundings. She's really involved with these things, I wonder if she 
helped to make them. Finally, he pushed off the wall and nodded to T'Leara. "I 
don't mean to push you any further since you are clearly emotional about this 
situation. Do you think we can save them?"
 
"To be vested in a thing, is not to be emotional. Remember, I am Vulcan." 
T'Leara reminded him dully. Busying herself with her experiments, she 
continued. "It is my belief that all life is worth saving, Mister Phillips. 
However, I am unconvinced that preserving their lives to return them to Vega 
Prime qualifies as such." 
 
"Would you like to be down there with us when we go looking for them? I can 
request you on the away team." He asked simply, after considering her words 
very carefully.
 
T'Leara leveled her gaze at him. "It is Admiral Taggert's desire that I 
convince you I should be. However, I cannot guarantee that I will follow the 
orders as he has given them if I were to join you. I do not believe that it is 
in the best interest of Starfleet, or these...bioweapons...that they should be 
returned to Vega Prime." 
 
His gaze met hers as he tried to read the Vulcan once more. She's obviously got 
something against whatever has happened there, but thatʼs not a conversation 
for now. "The question is, can you control them if we come into contact with 
them? What happens once we have the situation under control is a different 
matter, but I need to know if you think you can stop them from killing all of 
us, or is there something we can do to stop them from killing us?"
 
T'Leara nodded. "I do not believe they will harm me. If you would have them 
rendered harmless, choose to be harmless. They are no threat so long as they 
are not threatened
"Alright..." Adrian said at last again, doing his best to process all of this 
information. "I will think about what I believe is the best course of action in 
regards to bringing you along or not. Is there anything specific you think we 
can do to our equipment to protect ourselves, should they deem us as a threat? 
Anti-Psionic shielding of some sort perhaps?" 
 
"If they deem you a threat, I do not believe there is anything you can do, save 
convince them otherwise and quickly." T'Leara responded matter -of- factly. 
"Anti-psionic shielding has already been proven ineffective." 
 
The shock and a bit of uncomfortness was starting to set inside of Adrian. "So 
your saying there's nothing we can do, save from convince them that were not 
gonna hurt them
"Correct," T'Leara answered. 
 
"Wonderful, well thatʼs just what I wanted to hear." He said at least, giving 
up to the fact that the Vulcan was probably right, considering she seemed to 
know a great deal about these creatures, or weapons, or whatever there were. 
"Alright, I'll need to prep my men accordingly. I'll keep you informed about 
what happens regarding the mission and personnel." 
 
T'Leara nodded. "Candor is in everyone's best interest. Should Taggert become 
aware that the classified status of this information has been disregarded, all 
who are suspect of collusion in the breach will be at risk." Her voice dropped 
slightly as she added, "There are far more dangerous things than those which 
you now seek to reclaim." With surprising sincerity, she concluded, " Please be 
careful." 
 
He was about to turn and leave, but he refocused on the small Vulcan in front 
of him. "I'm always careful, thatʼs why I'm still here."

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